Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698928006391.pdf (South Africa)
REPORT OF THE TAKING PARLIAMENT TO THE PEOPLE HELD AT OUDTSHOORN, EDEN DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY, WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE, 13 – 17 APRIL 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.

Background 2.

Activities of the Taking Parliament to the People 3.

Section A: Public Hearings 4.

Opening Ceremony 5.

Public Hearings on 13 April 2015 (Day 1) 6.

Public Hearings on 14 April 2015 (Day 2) 7.

Public Hearings on 15 April 2015 (Day 3) 8.

Public Hearings on 16 April 2015 (Day 4) 9.


Section B: Site Visits 9.1 Agriculture and Land Affairs 9.2 Education 9.3 Health 9.4 Home Affairs 9.5 Social Development 9.6 Police and Justice 9.7 Human Settlement and Water and Sanitation 10.

Conclusion 3 5 5 5 9 15 25 31 36 36 39 44 52 52 62 66 68 2 CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF THE TAKING PARLIAMENT TO THE PEOPLE FROM 13 – 17 APRIL 2015 OUDTSHOORN 1.
BACKGROUND The first Taking Parliament to the People (TPTTP) programme of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) in the fifth Parliament took place at Bridgton Sports Grounds, Oudtshoorn Local Municipality in Eden District Municipality from 13 – 17 April 2015.The programme is conducted over a period of five days with the Deputy President addressing the full sitting of the House on the last day.
The NCOP TPTTP programme highlighted the important role of oversight in ensuring that priorities of government are implemented in order to realise the objectives of the National Development Plan (NDP) and that local development is sustainable.

The programme took place within the context of the planning session of the NCOP held at Lagoon Beach Hotel, Milnerton, on 19 – 20 August 2014 where co-operative government and intergovernmental relations were adopted as the over-arching theme of the current NCOP.
Through this, the NCOP also seeks to give effect to the objectives of the NDP.

In the said session Chairperson of the NCOP, Hon Thandi Modise stated that the mandate of the Fifth Parliament was based on ensuring that the commitments/priorities of the South African government are realised.

These are the economy and jobs; rural development, land reform and food security; human settlements and basic services; education and training; health; and fighting crime and corruption.
The Chairperson further referred to the following 14 priorities of government, which are contained in the Medium-Term Strategic Framework Plan recently adopted by Cabinet:1  Quality basic education  A long and healthy life for all South Africans 1Medium-Term Strategic Framework Plan (2014 – 2019) 3  All people in South Africa are and feel safe  Decent employment through inclusive growth  A skilled and capable workforce to support an inclusive growth path  An efficient, competitive and responsive economic infrastructure network  Vibrant, equitable, sustainable rural communities contributing towards food security for all  Sustainable human settlements and improved quality of household life  Responsive, accountable, effective and efficient local government  Protection and enhancement of our environmental assets and natural resources  Creation of a better South Africa and contribute to a better Africa and a better world  An efficient, effective and development-oriented public service  A comprehensive, responsive and sustainable social protection system  A diverse, socially cohesive society with a common national identity These, as outlined above, are government outcome priorities that the Members of the National Council of Provinces (public representatives) should keep an eye on.
During the same session, Hon Tau, the Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP, stated that the TPTTP programme was initiated to enhance public participation.

Further, that, it is intended for places that are regarded as „the back of beyond‟ and that the programme encourages citizen involvement and participation in responding to service delivery challenges facing communities.

It also provides an opportunity for oversight.

This is the programme that brings all spheres of government together under one roof.

4 2.
4 2.

ACTIVITIES OF THE TAKING PALIAMENT TO THE PEOPLE FROM 13 – 17 APRIL 2015 HELD IN OUDTSHOORN, EDEN DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY The report is divided into two sections, namely; Section A and Section B.

Section A captures service delivery issues raised by members of the public during the public hearings and Section B captures service delivery issues emanating from the sites that were visited.

2.1.
2.1.

SECTION A: PUBLIC HEARINGS The public hearings dealt with oral submissions made by the members of the public as well as the responses and commitments made by the government authorities.

This section includes all the public hearings held, on Local Government, Human Settlement, and Water and Sanitation, Education, Health, Social Development and Home Affairs, Agriculture, Labour and Land Affairs, and Police and Justice and Energy.

2.1.1.
2.1.1.

OPENING CEREMONY Welcome remarks by Cllr W van der Westhuizen, Executive Mayor of Eden District Municipality: in his opening r e m a r k s , Cllr W van der Westhuizen expressed a word of gratitude to the NCOP for awarding the people of Eden District Municipality an opportunity to raise their service delivery issues through the programme of Taking Parliament to the People.
He indicated that the Municipality has made admirable achievements on the following:  Flush toilets are currently at 78%,  Piped water in dwellings are currently are currently at 71.8%,  Refuge removal are currently at 86.4%, and  Electricity for lighting is currently at 91.10%.

The executive mayor said that notwithstanding these achievements, the district is still facing challenges such as high rate of unemployment, reliance on hand-outs, 5 drug and alcohol abuse and suicide amongst youngsters.
In his conclusion, Cllr van der Westhuizen said that partnerships with relevant spheres of government and the NCOP is needed in order to address challenges faced by the people of Eden District Municipality.

Remarks delivered by Hon.

S Fernandez, Speaker of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature: the Speaker expressedher appreciation to the NCOP for convening the Taking Parliament to the People.
She said that the Western Cape provincial parliament prides itself in conducting its constitutional functions efficiently and effectively with specific emphasis on oversight.

The Speaker informed the gathering that the Constitution provides a framework for a system that is representative and participatory.

She said that such constitutional obligation requires public participation that is meaningful in improving the quality of policy, legislation and strengthen accountability.
She indicated that such constitutional obligation is not fully implemented as there is no integrated approach in fulfilling this constitutional mandate.

She emphasised that the less powerful and organised should not be excluded to participate in the parliamentary processes.
She said that the following key principles are effective for public participation:  Inclusive participation (especially traditionally excluded groups)  Scope of participation initiatives (from identification and design to monitoring and evaluation).

 Provision of quality information  Commitment to respond to inputs.

 Coordination and operational efficiency.


In her closing remarks she said that the Legislature remain committed to engage people on issues affecting the people and further to cooperate with other spheres of government to fast-track service delivery.

6 Remarks delivered by Cllr.

D Qually, SALGA Provincial Chairperson, and Western Cape Provincial Legislature: Cllr Qually acknowledged that over the past 21 years government has made significant progress in many areas.
However he conceded that the country has yet to overcome all the negative legacies of its past .She said that the synergy of the coordinated strengths and resources, and cooperative efforts will make a positive and substantial contribution to improved development of the citizens.

Cllr Qually shared with the gathering that no municipality in the Western Cape is the Auditor General‟s 2001 red zone.

He said that audit outcomes have improved generally in the Western Cape.
He further stated that the Kannaland Municipality has received an unqualified report for the 2013/14 financial year.

Cllr Qually indicated that SALGA supports the concept of “Back to basics” which includes the principle of differentiation between municipalities that functions well and those that are still experiencing challenges.
He said that despite these achievements, there is still a need for the NCOP and SALGA to play a significant part in addressing some of the more fundamental issues impacting on service delivery.

Cllr Qually indicated that excessive legislative, regulation and reporting requirements are having negative impact on municipalities.

He expressed his gratitude on the willingness by the NCOP to take an active role in addressing these impediments.
Cllr Qually said that SALGA is committed to working with the NCOP and other spheres to find sustainable and long term solutions to the fundamental challenges facing the communities.

Address by Hon.
Dr I H Meyer, MEC for Finance in the Western Cape Province: In his address, the MEC highlighted the following interventions that are being implemented in the Eden region by the provincial government:  Infrastructure spending on education, housing, health and transport totaling R1,43 billion is allocated to the Eden District with transport receiving R788,1 million, education R319million, health R41,6million and human settlements 7 R279 million  A total of R40 million is to be spent on road infrastructure in the Stillbaai area, which includes the rehabilitation of the road linking the town with the N2.
 Blanco is allocated R22 million under the transport infrastructure and R26 million is set aside for the Glentana road upgrade.

 The health infrastructure budget includes allocations for health technology infrastructure at George Regional Hospital (R1, 84 million), Mossel Bay District Hospital (R2, 5million) and Oudtshoorn District Hospital (R2 million).
 Building will start on the new Eden Nursing College in George at a cost of 6 million in the 2015/16 financial year and a further R15, 3 million in the following two financial years.

 George will be getting two new primary and two new secondary schools in Thembalethu and Pacaltsdorp, Knysna will receive two primary schools and one secondary school, Hessequa and Mossel Bay will get primary schools.
 A massive rollout of broadband internet through free Wi-Fi hotspots, also in rural communities and for small businesses.

 A total of R7.7 billion is to be spent on housing and related infrastructure in the region over the next three years.

Closing remarks by Hon.

R J Tau, Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces: In his closing remarks, Hon.

Tau gave a contextual background to the Taking Parliament to the People Programme.
He said that the NCOP established the Taking Parliament to the People Programme in 2002 so as to give ordinary South Africans a voice in the business of Parliament and to deepen public participation.

Hon Tau emphasised that the programme brings together all spheres of government in order to respond decisively to the core elements of the National Development Plan (NDP)‟s 10 plan.
He informed the gathering that in preparation for the proceedings of the programme, the NCOP had undertaken a number of important activities to ensure that the discussions and engagements are driven by verified facts which must be responded to.

He made a commitment that engagements will continue to use the oversight and accountability mechanisms in order to ensure that 8 undertakings made are adhered to.

2.1.2.
2.1.2.

PUBLIC HEARINGS ON 13 APRIL 2015 (DAY 1) Public hearings on Local Government took place under the theme “Working together to ensure the delivery of quality services to communities” This section captures key service delivery issues raised by members of the public as well as the undertakings/commitments made by the authorities.

2.1.2.1.
2.1.2.1.

ORAL SUBMISSIONS BY THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC LOCAL GOVERNMENT The following key service delivery issues emerged from the public hearings on Local Government:  Use of fictitious/outdated statistics in development of IDPs: Over the past few years allocations have been made based on outdated statistics contained in the IDP such as the one that says that Mosselbay is the second largest municipality in the District whereas in fact, Oudtshoorn is in terms of Stats SA.
 Inequalities with regards to the distribution of equitable share to municipalities: The Ministry of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs should review the distribution of equitable share to municipalities as there is lot of inequalities in this regard.
 Allegations of political allegiance in the allocation of funding to municipalities: It was alleged that the allocation of funding to municipalities for infrastructure was seen to be based on political allegiance since Kannaland Municipality was only allocated R30 million whereas George Municipality was allocated R300 million.
 The report on the investigation of alleged councillors’ intervention in municipal administration reported to be kept under wraps: Even though an “out of the blue” report has been completed to address the matter of councillors‟ interfering in the work of the municipal administration, this report has been swept under the table by the DA.
9  Lack of integration of neighbourhoods in the George Municipality: Notwithstanding the fact that SA has been in democratic dispensation for more than 20 years, none of the neighbourhoods in George are integrated.

 Lack of user-friendly transport for people with disabilities:There is no transport that is user-friendly to people with disabilities in Oudtshoorn such as dial a ride.
 Allegations of political allegiance in the provision of job opportunities: Allegations were made that job opportunities in the Oudtshoorn Municipality are given to people based on political allegiance.

 A delay in allocating a house to an elderly resident: Mr M Dalasile from Oudtshoorn asked government to prioritize elderly people when it comes to house allocation as he has been applying for one since 1991.
 Poor responsiveness by police and municipal officials to a resident’s complain: Mr Lukas Dyalvani of Oudtshoorn, Duduza no.5 complained that a building contractor by the name of Power is claiming his house which he built out of his earnings and now the contractor is claiming some money to be paid back to him.

His concern is that the police and municipal officials are not responding or acting on the complaint that he has lodged with them.
Responses by the Executive Mayor of Eden District Municipality  The Executive Mayor of Eden District Municipality stated that the statistics that are used in the IDP were correct at the time that the IDPs were adopted and whenever statistics are updated the Municipality will amend them and the 2015/2016 IDP statistics are still in draft form.

 The Deputy Mayor of George also offered advices to the people of the Eden District Municipality about saving water and electricity.
Responses by the Deputy Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs  The Department has initiated a programme titled “back to basics” through which it will support municipalities to ensure that a minimum basket of services are provided to households across the Province.

10  It is imperative that councillors provide regular feedbacks to their communities.

 National government would ensure that there is no political interference in municipal administration by councillors.
 The Ministry undertook to make a follow up visit in order to attend to some of the issues raised by the community HUMAN SETTLEMENT The following key service delivery issues emerged from the public hearings on Human Settlement:  Inadequate ablution facilities: Five families in the Bongolethu, in the Oudtshoorn Municipality were reported to be sharing one ablution facility – a challenge that needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
In fact, in every municipal area and especially in the former “blacks only” residential areas and human settlements, whether formal or informal, there is this challenge of many people sharing ablution facilities.

This cuts across all municipalities and that all of them should do something about it.
 Lack of development in the Protea Park informal settlement: Despite the fact that Protea Park informal settlement has been in existence for more than 15 years, nothing has been done to develop it even while new areas have been properly developed.

The affected municipality plus the Department of Human Settlement and the local government in the province should take action to address this lack of development, plan and budget for it.
They must thus report what progress has been made to resolve this and what are the challenges.

The land ownership question is also key.

The municipality should verify landownership and report to the NCOP during its follow-up visit.

 Alternative site for housing construction is needed in Basildorp: Basildorp has been declared a wetland area and as a result, no proper houses could be constructed in it.

There is therefore a need for the community to be provided with an alternative site.
 A house built on water course: Mr Mandela, an elderly person from Mosselbay has been engaging with the provincial department regarding his 11 house which has been built on water passageway, thus causing damage to the house.From a land use perspective, no building should be allowed on any water course way or flood zone.

An alternative site of equal size would be necessary to help the person affected.

The municipality has a responsibility to do so together with the Human Settlements Dept.
 A delay in allocating a house for Ms. B Stuurman of Bongolethu: Ms. Stuurman, a disabled woman from Bongolethu, alleged that she was promised a house since 2009 when a plot was allocated to her but nothing has been done since then.

 No access to electricity for Mr J Pietersen of Bongolethu: Mr J Pietersen raised a concern about the fact that he does not have access to electricity.
 Corruption in the provision of RDP houses: A challenge of incomplete and incorrect data base system of housing in the Oudtshoorn Municipality that results in corruption where some people get double RD housing benefits whilst others are still on the waiting list for more than 10 years.

Municipal workers who own government subsidy housing are also reported to be benefiting from the RDP housing system.
Mr Wanda Erick Nkwenkwe complained about the plots in Bitou which are still standing empty; he further complained about the RDP houses that are sold by the municipality officials and politicians including the mayor and he even asked the MEC why he is still allocating houses whilst investigations are still underway.
 Poor quality of RDP houses: For instance, Bertha Madi of Vaal Huis in Mosselbay complained about the poor quality of RDP houses built after 1994, indicating that most of them were falling down.

 Poor housing conditions in some informal settlements: Mr Solomzi Mbamba, a blind man from Thabo Mbeki informal settlement threatened to commit suicide as a result of her unbearable living conditions in the informal settlement.
Thembinkosi Dyasi of Lawaaikan in George also complained about poor housing conditions affecting people with disabilities.

Ms Sindiswa Mathiso of ward 10 in George also raised poor living conditions as a challenge to her particularly because she lives with a disabled child and a TB-suffering child in those conditions.
12 Responses by the MEC for Human Settlement in the Western Cape Province  The national government has developed three levels in dealing with ablution provision and the one where five families share one ablution is a first level, however plans are in place to ensure that each family has its own ablution facility.
 George has been identified as one of the municipalities in which “catalytic projects” will be rolled out over the three years and this will result in 15 000 housing opportunities that will be delivered as an integrated development.

MEC Madikizela indicated clearly that priority will be given to people with disabilities, elderly people and child-headed homes.

Residents such as Ms B. Stuurman, disabled woman from Bongolethu, should benefit from these planned housing opportunities.
Mr Mandela (of Bongolethu) is one of people who were to receive houses built as part of private sector corporate section responsibility initiatives, however various challenges emerged with the construction of those houses but now the provincial department has allocated funding for the completion of these house.

 A housing project has been approved for the Bongolethu community.
 The provincial minister undertook to have a meeting with the local community in order to address some of the issues raised with regard to housing.

 The provincial minister undertook to engage with Ms Stuurman, of Bongolethu, soon in an effort to resolve the challenges she raised.

 Government always ensures that all houses that are built are user-friendly for people with disabilities.
 He undertook to attend to Mr Dalasile‟s (of Oudtshoorn) concern as it is a government policy that elders should be prioritized when it comes to house allocation.

 Mr. Erasmus, a Director in the Department of Human Settlements in the George Municipality, made an undertaking to assist Mr Solomon Mbamba, the blind man from Thabo Mbeki informal settlement.
In addition, the Director gave out his cell number so that Mr Mbamba can contact him in order to 13 provide him with more details on the matter so that he can assist him to resolve it.

Mr Madikizela, MEC for Human Settlement in the Western Cape, undertook to intervene so as to resolve the raised challenges especially the issues involving the blind and the disabled people.
He also admitted to knowing some of the issues but because some of them fell amongst the responsibilities of the MEC for CoGTA Mr Bredell, who was absent from the session, Mr Madikizela could not speak to them (intra-co-operation).

On the critical issue raised in Bitou regarding the continued allocation of some houses whilst there is an investigation -relating to the selling of RDP houses- that is underway, he said his department is still waiting for the outcome of the investigation.
However, he indicated that on the issue of the continuing provision of houses, that should be the decision of the Municipality and Mr Bredell the MEC for CoGTA in the province.

He indicated that he was not in a position to stop the housing allocation because he has to comply with national departmental policies.
WATER AND SANITATION The following key service delivery issues emerged from the public hearings on Water and Sanitation:  Huge water shortages in Kannaland and Oudtshoorn Municipalities: There is an urgent need of water in the two municipalities to unlock their economic potential and the residents wanted to know what plans government had in place to assist them in this regard.
 Government intervention needed to resolve high bills for water rates: Residents of Mosselbay need government to intervene in resolving the exorbitant amount of water rates that they owe the municipality.

 High municipal water bills: More than 25 residents of the Eden District complained that their municipal water bills were very high and not affordable.

For instance, an elderly woman, Mrs Maranene of Bongolethu Oudtshoorn, complained that her water bill was more than R4000.00.
Mrs Bertha Madi, a 14 69 year old woman of Vaal Huis in Mosselbay also raised the issue of high water bills as a concern to her.

Responses by the Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation  Funding allocations are made according to priorities, however, government acknowledged the water problem in Kannaland and Ladysmith hence an amount of R9 million has been allocated to address this water shortage in these areas, including the installation of boreholes.
 The Department has developed a programme known as “war on leaks” to train communities, especially women and youth, regarding water conservation, especially with respect to leaks since currently the dam has only enough water to supply the area until the end of this financial year.

 Government is against families sharing one ablution facility and plans are in place to ensure that each family has its own ablution facility.
 A meeting would be organised with the community members to discuss service delivery issues, especially around water and sanitation, since it is imperative that services be provided on an equitable basis without any bias.

 Government would ensure that the dams support the communities surrounding them.

 Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation Ms Pam Tshwete also undertook to take the water issues seriously and she promised that she will report the issues to the Minister.
She also advised residents to repair water leakages immediately because they are amongst the causes of high water debts/bills.

The Deputy Minister also mentioned the problems caused by vandalists and CHICKS Company in the water and sanitation challenge throughout the country, which she suggested the Police Department should do something about.

 The Deputy Mayor of George also offered advices to the people of the Eden District Municipality about saving water and electricity.

2.1.3.
2.1.3.

PUBLIC HEARINGS ON 14 APRIL 2015 (DAY 2) 15 Public hearings on Education, Health, Social Development and Home Affairs took place under the theme “Working together to expand education opportunities for our people” 2.1.3.1.
ORAL SUBMISSIONS BY THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC EDUCATION The following key service delivery issues emerged from the public hearings on Education:  A representative of George‟s visually impaired persons requested the assistance of the Deputy Minister of Basic Education to provide the community with a machine that would be able to print their documents in braille.
 Victimisation of educators by schools principals: it was reported that some principals in certain schools, for instance in St Konrad Primary School in Dysselsdorp in Kannaland Local Municipality, have a tendency of victimising educators by dismissing them without following proper disciplinary processes and relevant labour laws.

 Racism in Valithuba Adult Learning Centre in George: It was mentioned that departmental officials are racist against black educators and learners.
The consequences of racism have caused serious divisions and tensions between the coloured and blacks, especially after black educators were unfairly dismissed and subsequently replaced by coloured educators.

Some challenges facing the Centre relates to dismissal of qualified educators who were replaced by those who are unqualified.
 Racism and unfair discrimination in Africa Skills College (Private Technical, Vocational Educational and Training College (TVET):Students have been protesting for more than six months against elements of racism, unfair discrimination and victimisation of black students who are academically oppressed and find it difficult to complete their studies.

White students are 16 being favoured and as a result they complete their studies in record time through the assistance of lecturers.
Students raised the following concerns: o That the current College Principal was dismissed from his previous employment after he was found guilty of fraud and corruption.

o That the college principal has recruited students from Kuruman in the Northern Cape Province to enrol in his college under the false pretence that the students will receive stipend of R1500.00 while studying, whereas in actual fact the students are being paid a stipend of between R700-800 a month.
This is contrary to the terms and conditions of their academic contract.

Majority of the students have since returned back to Kuruman without having completed their studies.

o That the management of the college comprised of whites only and the wife of the principal is the director in the college.

o Students live in fear of intimidation on a daily basis and are interdicted from exercising their constitutional right of embarking on a peaceful protest.
o The students said they have raised these concerns in March this year during the NCOP pre visit public meeting held in George.

 Lack of job opportunities for Matriculants: A call for the district and local municipalities to create jobs for the matriculants through internships and learnership programmes was made.

Members of the public complained that there is a high rate of unemployment particularly amongst the matriculants.
 Lack of bursaries and skills academy: Local students within the district who are studying at universities are struggling to fund their studies due to the poor economic background of their families.

This is a serious challenge as it impede them from completing their studies and in some instances some were reported to have dropped out due to lack of funding.

Following this concern an appeal was made to municipalities to provide bursaries for academically deserving and financially needy students.
Further to this appeal a request was made that the government should consider providing a skill academy for purposes of empowering and skilling the local community with the necessary skills that can enable them to get employment.

17  Reopening of the Southern Cape Education Training College:It has been reported that this college is vandalised and is not operational.

The community pleaded with the Department of Higher Education and Training to start the process of revamping and reopen the college.
 Concern on the increasing number of street kids:The cause for this concern was based on the overcrowding of learners in class rooms.

It is believed that some learners are dropping out from schools due to the high ratio of teacher to learners, leading to them becoming street kids.

A call for parents to provide an effective parental care to their children was made.
 Concern over unlawful deviation from appropriate school quintiles:It was reported that there are schools within Eden District which are classified as quintile three but deviating from their classification by operating as quintile four schools.

This was cited as a grave concern as most learners who are coming from economically poor families are seriously affected by this unfair deviation and change from quintile three to four.
Schools in quintile 1, 2 and 3 have been declared no-fee schools, while schools in quintiles 4 and 5 are fee- paying schools.

Calitzdorp High School in Kannaland Local Municipality was mentioned to be one of the schools where these challenges are happening.

Responses by the Deputy Minister Hon.

E Surty highlighted the following:  That the school principals are important because they are leaders and managers of the schools.

It is important that they have appropriate skills.


The skills include ability to the implement the curriculum, capacity to manage the fiscal affairs of the schools, ability to communicate with learners and educators of the schools and the capacity to demonstrate leadership to manage the schools.

The Department of Basic Education has discovered that schools that are functional are being led by people who have the appropriate and relevant skills.
The Department has a programme of capacitating and empowering principals with necessary leadership skills and the following are the examples of the programmes that the Department has provided in up- skilling the principals: 18 o More than 1500 school principals have been trained and more than 4000 schools have taken part in training thus far.

This training has yielded positive results for the principals and their deputies.
The Department has reviewed policies to enable the deputy principals to get better training.

The SGBs do not have powers to take decisions that are supposed to be taken by the Department.

o The Department has a responsibility to employ principals who possess the necessary leadership skills.
 The Deputy Minister made the undertakings that he will meet with the Minister of Higher Education and Training concerning the issues of racism and unfair discrimination which were cited as prevalent in TVET within the Eden District in the near future.

He said that any form unfair discrimination cannot be tolerated.

The Department has discovered how people use clever ways to manipulate the process of denying learners access to schools.
There are many examples where schools have not changed their racial integration policies.

He said that we all have the responsibility to integrate the institutions of learning to deal with racial divisions.

TVET is the competence of Higher Education and Training.

 On the matter of quintile four schools who are supposed to operate as quintile three, the Deputy Minister made a commitment that he will meet with the MEC for Education in the Western Cape to resolve the matter at the next meeting of MINMEC.
 He said that the Department has decided that every learner must as from next year be taught in his indigenous language at school.

 On the victimisation of educators, he said that principals have no right to victimise educators and the care-givers.

Part of the training that the Department is providing is to include the democratic process for disciplinary hearings in schools.
The Constitution is very clear that all hearings must be fair and if any hearings were unfair that particular hearing can be challenged through an appeal process.

The Deputy Minister further said that hundreds of disciplinary proceedings have been set aside on the basis on unfair process.

He appealed to Mr Jacob who raised this concern to provide him with details 19 of the concerns so that he can raise these matters with the MEC for Education.
 Every province receives funding from the Department and the Department will ensure that all unsafe schools are replaced by safe schools.

He said that on 11 September 2014, the Department built a state-of- the-art school in Kensington in the Metro (Cape Town) for about R35 million and that it has all facilities and the principal beneficiaries are Coloured and African learners.
 He said that The Department of Basic Education has to date completed a process of building 11 schools in the Western Cape through the ASIDI Project and some were officially handed over at a well-attended events that were widely covered by local and national media.

 In the past 18 months the Department of Basic Education has built more than one school per week and 80% of these are primary schools.
 The Department of Basic Education has recapitalised more than 300 technical schools and the plan is to provide them with state-of-the-art facilities.

In the past three years the department has increased the student enrolment from 300.000 to 700.000 in TVET.

Students in these TVET receive funding from NSFAS and the budget for NSFAS is R9.1 billion rand.
 The complaints on allegations of racism in a private college in George which were initially reported to the NCOP during the Pre Visit Public Meeting held in George in March 2015 have been referred to the Select Committee on Education.

Responses from Mr McKenzie:  Mr McKenzie that he was shocked to hear about the allegations of misconduct of the principals who were reported to have victimised learners and educators.
 Mr McKenzie concluded by saying that the contract of the school principal of Dysselsdorp will come to an end at the end June 2015.

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT The following key service delivery issues emerged from the public hearings on Social Development: 20  Concern about NGO’s that have pretended to initiate community projects that will benefit the community: Several meetings were held and people volunteered to assist.
The NGO informed them that they needed to pay to be part of the project and many of the residents bought into the idea.

Funds were collected and to date no benefits were received by the community.

 Early Childhood Development Sector (ECDS) reported that they experienced serious delays when they required Transfer Payment Agreements (TPA’s) to be signed by the Department of Social Development (DSD): This problem worsened towards the end of the financial year.
The centre required additional funding and they would appreciate a subsidy from DSD.

Means test: The current requirement per household is that the combined income of a household should be R3000.

The ECD representative made a plea that the amount be increased to R5000.

 Allegations of abuse of elderly people in Khayalethu Township: Representatives from the Khayalethu Township in Knysna were motivated to take care of the elderly people who were being abused.
A resident indicated that she reported several of the abuse instances to the Provincial DSD who then referred her to the Knysna Municipality.

Neither the municipality nor the provincial DSD wants to take responsibility, hence they requested her to continue with her project.

She has requested that the Minister of Social Development assists her in obtaining premises in order for her to accommodate the abused elderly people.
 Lack of availability of rehabilitation facilities for recovering addicts in Knysna: A volunteer Mr Scullen has managed to locate facilities however they cost R5000 per month which isn‟t affordable to many of the families of the addicts.

He requests information on how he can be assisted in applying for finances to secure these premises to assist the addicts.
 A representative from Velmont Old Age Home in Knysna has requested assistance from the Department of Health to pay for nursing assistants that are currently serving the Old Age Home.

They further require financial assistance in order to employ warders that could assist with the elderly.

21  Serious concern by members of the public in George that individuals had SASSA grant cards of other elderly people and that the funds were being withdrawn fraudulently.
 Lack of waiting facilities for pensioners: Elderly people in George don‟t have waiting facilities when they go to fetch their grants.

The individual that raised the concern said that the grants are currently being collected in a run-down building.

Responses by Hon.

Fritz - MEC for Social Development:  The ill treatment of patients isn‟t condoned and should be reported to the nearest provincial Department of Health offices.

The MEC undertook to investigate the incidences of abuse.
 He also requested that the name of the fraudulent NGO that took money from innocent people be submitted to him and he made an undertaking that his Department will try to resolve the matter.

 He appealed to the public not to undermine the professionalism of doctors and that they can rather go and get a second opinion from other doctors.

 In the absence of the MEC for Health in the Western Cape Province, he undertook to communicate the concerns pertaining to health to his office.
 He informed the public that in the Western Cape there were 1100 ECD Centres.

This was one of the biggest sub-directorates that the province has and one of the disadvantages of being so large is that payments are sometimes delayed hence a review has been undertaken on the sub- directorate.

In order to enhance efficiency various posts have been advertised the filling of which would result in better service.

 Means test: The policies of the provincial Department of Social Development are being reviewed.
The MEC was in agreement that the amount of R3000 is too little.

The concern will be placed on the agenda for discussion at the next MINMEC meeting.

 He also emphasised that there were 300 service centres currently available for the elderly.

These centres assist in providing one meal a day to the elderly.

There are, however, limited funds available for expansion.

22  With regards to the rehabilitation centres there is one currently operating in Knysna.
He requested that Mr Nathan Scullen (from Knysna) contact him after the meeting to get advice.

He also informed the public that no one has the right to have another‟s SASSA card and that it was illegal to possess another person‟s SASSA card.

HEALTH The following key service delivery issues emerged from the public hearings on Health Development:  A Chronic diabetic patient (from where?)
reported that in 2013 he was given a wheel chair: A gentleman by the name of Mr Delport arrived at his house and took the wheelchair away from him with the undertaking that he will return it soon thereafter.

The wheel chair was never returned.

He would like assistance in getting his wheel chair back.

 Residents from Leviekamp in George complained that they were medically unfit and that the state medical doctor has refused to attend to their applications for disability grants.
They requested the assistance of the Minister of Health to speak to the state medical practitioner to revaluate their medical health status.

 The local medical clinic in Knysna requires maintenance and they are appealing to the Minister of Health to award these maintenance contracts to locals rather than people from Cape Town.

 Inadequate patient transport: there is one bus that services all the patients in the Knysna Area.
Transportation of patients to the hospital is problematic, due to the non-availability of ambulances.

 Residents were upset that the nursing sister at the clinic in Mossel Bay informed them that government policy limited patient visits to the clinic to 3 visits per annum.

Residents wanted to know if that was true.

 Mobile clinics often visit the Knysna Municipality and the doctor doesn‟t examine them but he provides them with a wildcard diagnosis.
 Representatives from Section Clinics in Thembalethu, informed the meeting that clinics were being built in their area since 1986 and the population had 23 grown.

Their concern was that only two people from the district have been permanently employed by the clinic.

Patients are being severely neglected and the number of out-patients are restricted to 70 patients per day.

 Clinics in Thembalethu often run out of chronic medication.
 Dumping in the Almark Municipality in Mossel Bay: The area is very dirty and the health inspectors neglect their duties.

 Residents of Dysselsdorp request that the Minister of Health appoint more staff to the health care centres in order for residents to get better services.

 A suggestion was made that the mobile clinics should be parked at the nearest house in the farm in Dysselsdorp.

Response by Cllr Combi:  Allowances are paid in order to attract skills to the rural areas.
There are plans in the pipeline to open a nursing college in George.

 Limited services are available at the old age home and that interested persons should liaise with the National and Provincial Department of Social Development in order to find a way forward.

 Transport to and from the clinic: In the Eden District Municipality an investigation is currently on its way to find a solution in order to render medical services to individuals nearer to their houses.
This will eliminate the situation whereby individuals have to walk home during the late hours of the evening after having received their medical treatment.

 Further confirmed that government doesn‟t have any policy that limits medical care for indigent persons.

 It is not policy to limit health care to anyone.

Ill treatment isn‟t permissible.

All patients should be treated equally.

The councillor gave out his contact number to assist any individual that has been a victim of abuse i.e.

079 958 8392.
079 958 8392.

He encouraged the public to note down the names of any officials that treat them badly and to report these individuals directly to him.

24 There‟s an international challenge in providing chronic medication to patients.

He recommended that patients go to the hospital and speak to them the doctor on duty in order to get assistance.
HOME AFFAIRS The following key service delivery issues emerged from the public hearings on Home Affairs Development:  Problems related to Identity Documents: Applications have been made for ID documents and the ID was received with a picture of another person.

The IDs also have the incorrect ID Numbers.

When the aggrieved person approached the Department of Home Affairs they requested the aggrieved person to apply for another ID at his own cost.
Responses by the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs:  When applying for a new ID the current policy of the Department of Home Affairs provides for an applicant to receive a copy of the application form to take home and has 7 days within which to rectify mistakes, if any, on the application form.

 If the Department is at fault they will rectify this immediately otherwise there will be a charge to rectify the mistake.
The Deputy Minister agreed that she will look at a complainant‟s ID after the session to try and assist him.

 She also recommended that he uses the ID number that is on his current ID book up until such time that it is changed.

2.1.4.

PUBLIC HEARINGS ON 15 APRIL 2015 (DAY 3) Public hearings on Agriculture, Labour and Land Affairs took place under the theme “Ensuring the protection of the rights and livelihoods of farm dwellers and workers” 2.1.4.1.
ORAL SUMBMISSIONS BY THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC 25 AGRICULTURE AND LAND AFFAIRS The following key service delivery issues were raised by members of the public during the public hearings on Agriculture and Land Affairs:  Transformation within the agricultural sector in the Western Cape is almost non-existent.

 The process of acquiring and distributing land in the Western Cape is very slow and lengthy.
 Blacks are being sidelined by the Western Cape government to participate in the Ostrich farming, as funding is only extended to the previously advantaged farmers.

 The Eden District Municipality wants to evict the Vuk‟uzenzele farming association from the land that is owned by the municipality.

In the event that the evictions of the farmers are carried out, the affected farmers will have no any other place to keep their farming equipments and livestock.
 Monies relating to land claims that were settled under the Land Restitution Programme have yet to be paid to the claimants of Lavay in George.

 There is a decline in productivity on redistributed farms and urgent government intervention is needed.

 Farms that were given to a group of 40 emerging farmers in Oudtshoorn are in a poor state of repair and therefore no production is currently taking place.
Government has failed to ensure that skills are transferred to the emerging farmers at the point of acquisition.

Adequate farmer support and development is needed to ensure that farms are rehabilitated.

 The National government is requested to intervene on the matter of evictions that are taking place, following the granting of the court order that was instituted by the Eden District Municipality.
 The district municipality is refusing to release the identified hectares of land in George for agricultural production as the municipality claim that the land belongs to the Department of Public Works.

The Department and the municipality have been promising for years to resolve the matter but to date the affected emerging farmers are still waiting for a feedback on the matter.
26  A strategic partner in Oudtshoorn (name known by the Executive Mayor) has misappropriated funds earmarked for agricultural production of the cooperative.

Responses by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries:  The MEC of Agriculture in the Western Cape had conceded that transformation is at the snail pace in the province.

 Black farmers constitutes only 1% in the province.
 The province was allocated a budget of R100 million for CASP, R64 million for Ilima and R164 million for disaster funding.

 All other issues regarding the land reforms will be communicated to relevant Minister.

 Concerted efforts are needed in order to avert the farm workers evictions.

Responses by the MEC of Finance on behalf of the MEC of Agriculture:  The Western Cape provincial department is committed to addressing the issue of transformation within the sector.
 Feasibility study has already been undertaken with regards to the Agri-park Project and the project will be piloted in George.

A total of R250 million has been allocated to the emerging farmers.

 Extended support is rendered to the emerging farmers.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND YOUTH Public hearings on economic development and youth were conducted under the theme “Working together for economic advancement and youth development”.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The following key service delivery issues were raised by members of the public during the public hearing on economic development: 27  The Provincial Government of the Western Cape expects taxi owners to pay unreasonable amount for taxi permits failing which they would be charged and their vehicles impounded.

 While government talks about economic development, only 30% of blacks and coloureds were economically active in George Local Municipality.
 Emerging black business struggle to do business in the Southern Cape.

 In George, people with qualifications were unemployed due to the fact that they were inexperienced.

 There was a call for investigation of a farm that was allegedly purchased by the Democratic Alliance below its market value.

 George Local Municipality never invited SANTAGO to meetings pertaining to Go George Project.
 Go George Project transport people around the entire area while taxis were not permitted to transport people in certain areas.

 It was alleged that Go George Project was corrupt and the taxi owners called for an urgent investigation.

 It was alleged that some people were awarded BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) tenders without those tenders being advertised.

 Petro SA which is based in Mossel Bay was accused of employing people from Durban and disregarding the people of Mossel Bay and George.
Owing to these accusations, the public called for an investigation of Petro SA.

Deputy Minister of Economic Development responded as follows:  The Department ensures that the National Development Plan is implemented at every sphere of government.

 BRT falls under a programme adopted by the national government which is aimed at developing the public transport system which includes the taxi industry and also helps to address racial divisions within the industry.
 The Department works cooperatively with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and Department of Rural Development and Land Reform to look at land reform issues.

The Department will convene Imbizo to deliberate on this issue.

28  The Department will engage Petro SA regarding allegation of nepotism and also deliberate on issues of local procurement, economic development and future programmes for youth training.
 It will ensure that Integrated Development Programme (IDPs) respond to the economic needs of a specific municipality.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT The following key service delivery issues were raised by members of the public during the public hearing on youth development:  In George Local Municipality, Ward 24, youths were not provided with any programmes aimed at economic development.

Youth development was only happening in areas dominated by white people.
 The public wanted to ascertain the exact amount of funds that were allocated to the municipality which are aimed at youth economic development and training.

 There is an office situated in George responsible for youth programmes, but it operates only for 4 hours fortnightly, which makes it difficult to be accessible.

 Farm owners in George were blocking access to development programmes that were targeting youth living in farms.
 Most of the provincial departments were dominated by old officials who care less about the interests of the youth.

 Learners were subjected to travel a long distance between Silvertown and Thembalethu due to the lack of learner transport.

George Local Municipality does not issue permits to applicants so that they can transport learners.

The Departments of Education and Transport should be actively involved in scholar transport arrangements for learners who are in need of it.
Responses by the Deputy Minister in the Presidency:  Both Ministry in the Presidency and Ministry of Monitoring and Evaluation were adopting a policy which is aimed at strengthening the youth programmes for the next five years.

29  The Ministry in the Presidency had convened a National Consultative Conference which was aimed at deliberating on youth issues.
 The Ministry has reached an agreement with South African Local Government Association (SALGA) to set up offices in municipalities which will be aimed at youth development programmes, including those in the Eden District Municipality.

 The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) has spent a lot of money sending trucks to a number of municipalities in order to establish mobile offices for youth development programmes, including the Eden District Municipality.
 The Ministry will continue to provide services to youth through NYDA.

 At the end of April 2015, government will sign a National Youth Policy and the Ministry will ensure that the Policy is implemented at every sphere of government.

 The public was reminded and encouraged to use the Presidential Hotline number whenever they want to register a service delivery complaint.
Owing to the information received through the hotline, the Ministry had conducted announced and unannounced visits to departments to ensure that services were provided appropriately to the people.

Responses by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry:  The Department has rolled out a number of job opportunities and works with the Department of Public Works in order to ensure that people benefit from those opportunities.
 The Department will work with the Ministry in the Presidency in order to create job opportunities for the youth of Southern Cape through NYDA.

 It will request the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) to investigate whether funds allocated for Municipal Infrastructure Grants (MIG) were benefitting the people.

 The alleged sale of the farm below its market value will be referred to the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform for further investigation.
30  The issue of the learner transport will be investigated because government provides free learner transport.

 The proposal to establish Regional Economic Development Agency will be taken forward.

In order for this proposal to be expedited, it should be submitted to the Department of Small Business Development.

Responses by the Executive District Mayor of Eden District Municipality:  The municipality has limited resources as the equitable share only grows by 3% on each financial year.
This impacts negatively on service delivery.

 Services in the municipality are not rendered on the basis of race.

 The municipality is supporting the emerging farmers that are involved in the honey bush tea and cattle grazing projects.

Eden District municipality is not selling the land but leasing it to the farmers, so as to generate extra revenue for the municipality.

2.1.5.
2.1.5.

PUBLIC HEARINGS ON 16 APRIL 2015 (DAY 4) Public hearings on Police and Justice took place under the theme “Working together to promote safe communities and ensure equal justice for all” and public hearings on Energy took place under the theme: “Working together to ensure reliable, safe and affordable energy for our people”.

2.1.5.1.
2.1.5.1.

ORAL SUMBMISSIONS BY THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC POLICE AND JUSTICE The following key service delivery issues were raised by members of the public during the public hearing on Police and Justice:  Police were accused of arresting Calitzdorp residents who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.

It was further alleged that a sentences imposed by local magistrate were racially motivated.
31  Drug and alcohol abuse in Oudtshoorn was cited as a challenge and police should address this problem by conducting community outreach programmes targeted at schools.

It was further suggested that visible policing at night and over weekends would assist in addressing the problem.

 Concerns were raised regarding unaffordable fees charged by some firms of attorney in Oudtshoorn that lead to people incurring debt which they struggle to repay.

It was requested that this matter be investigated.


 Marian, a resident of George who works for a child welfare organization stated that doing child welfare work is dangerous especially when workers have to collect children from their homes.

She requested the police to assist in the collection of children, as the welfare workers‟ lives are endangered when executing their duties.

 Police were accused of slow reaction times when responding to emergencies.
Police vehicles were often used by South African Police (SAPS) members to visit friends and family while on duty.

A Uniondale Community Police Forum (CPF) member claims that several police vehicles are being used as taxis.

 It was reported that the Detective Service Centre (Crime Office) in Oudtshoorn will be terminated by the end of April 2015.
The Centre performs a vital function in the community and a question was raised whether or not the Detective Service Centre will be reinstated or if a new unit will be established.

It was requested that the decision be reconsidered.

 A member of the Marlem CPF accused the police of corruption and that police stations in former white residential areas were better resourced than those in former black areas.
She stated that after transformation in the Uniondale sector police took place, a senior black police official was accused of unethical behaviour.

The Western Cape Provincial Minister for Community Safety was requested to investigate the matter.

 Police officials in George at the Thembalethu police station were accused of not responding to residents‟ complaints about people who were in possession of illegal firearms.
It was further reported that police were not doing their work and that residents were patrolling the area themselves.

A request was made for black police officials to be appointed at Thembalethu police station.

32  An Oudtshoorn resident claimed that the Oudtshoorn SAPS informed the public of a fitness boot camp.

Several members of the public skipped work, college and other plans to attend the boot camp which did not take place.
As a result, they incurred expenses and/or penalties at their places of work.

There appeared to be a communication break down between the police station and members of the public.

 Mr Prince who worked as a car guard claimed that on 3 April 2006 he received a letter from the municipality allowing him to work as a car guard in Oudtshoorn.

He claimed that he was forced to stop his work as a car guard by law enforcement officers.
He reported an incident whereby his colleague was unwillingly transported to and dropped off in another town, Dysselsdorp, and was left to walk back to Oudtshoorn.

He requested the Western Cape Provincial Minister for Community Safety to intervene in addressing the matter in order for him to continue his duties as a car guard.

 A Mossel Bay resident alleged that Minister Plato works with and orders SAPS officials to work with gangsters.
The resident further raised concerns regarding allegations of rape and physical abuse of detained females by police officials.

The resident further alleged that one POPCRU leader is a drug dealer.

 It was reported that there are several inmates at the various correctional service centres who are awaiting appeals despite being incarcerated between 5 and 10 years.

The waiting period for inmates‟ trials exceeds two years.
Parolees found not guilty have to wait for months before their release was considered by the parole board.

Skills development in correctional centres were taken very seriously by inmates.

However, the Z83 application process hinders the application process for gainful employment after their release from incarceration.
Responses by the MEC for Community Safety in Western Cape Province, Dan Plato:  Regarding the arrest of people who appear intoxicated, MEC for Community Safety in Western Cape Province, Dan Plato, stated that arrests of inebriated persons were often misunderstood by the public.

Inebriated persons pose a 33 danger to themselves and others and arrests were sometimes a preventative measure.

Senior police officials who were present have taken note of this matter and will investigate possible abuse.
He said that the issue of the magistrate and his alleged racist judgements will be dealt with by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) officials who were in attendance, who are based in Oudshoorn.

 Senior police officials, including the Provincial Commissioner and Cluster Commanders of the Oudtshoorn area have noted the proposal for community outreach programmes targeted at schools to address the issue of drug and alcohol abuse in the Oudtshoorn community.
There are existing government programmes that assist with rehabilitation of youth, such as the Chrysalis and Wolwekloof academies.

 MEC Plato assured those who incurred debt due to unaffordable attorney fees that the relevant officials from the Department of Justice who were present will address the matter accordingly.
 The matter regarding the child welfare workers whose lives are endangered during the execution of their duties, MEC Plato requested them to work with the Department of Social Development and other government departments, as well as the SAPS to address the concern raised.

SAPS officials present were requested to note the concerns raised and the suggestion made regarding visible policing in George and other areas.
 MEC Plato further referred all other concerns related to operational matters like the allocation and abuse of police resources, corruption, and abuse of authority by law enforcement officials and racism within the police sector to the senior police officials present.

He requested them to address these matters as soon as possible.

 Candidates who passed the SAPS fitness tests should be considered for positions in the SAPS.
MEC Plato requested the senior SAPS officials present to address the several complaints regarding the rejection of applications by members of the public.

 MEC Plato advised Mr Prince to direct the complaint regarding the car guarding service to the Oudtshoorn municipal manager.

His friend can also 34 lay a charge with the police against those law enforcement officials if they removed him from his town of residence and abandoned him in another town.
 He reiterated that operational matters fall within the mandate of the Provincial Police Commissioner.

He, therefore, does not give orders to police to work with gangsters.

Proof to support the allegations that police were working with gangsters and that orders were given to SAPS members to work with gangsters should be made available.
The Western Cape Minister of Safety requested that information be provided in respect of the allegations that females detained in police cells are raped and physically abused.

He further said that that proof should be provided in respect of the allegations regarding the POPCRU leader dealing in drugs.

Minister Plato undertook to address the concerns raised by the residents with Provincial Commissioner Lt Gen Lamoer.
 Questions raised regarding correctional services must be answered by the National Minister of Justice and Correctional Services as those issues fall within his mandate.

The MEC said that questions will be escalated to the National Minister, apparently by officials in the Office of the MEC.

Responses by Cllr.

W. van der Westhuizen, Executive Mayor of Eden District Municipality  Cllr.

W. van der Westhuizen agrees that there is a perception that the police arrest persons without valid reasons.
He stated that this perception has to be addressed.

 The allegation of police officials reporting on duty while still under the influence of alcohol could be addressed by subjecting police members to the same alcohol test conducted on motorist during road blocks, In conclusion Cllr.

W. van der Westhuizen warned those corrupt SAPS officials that they will be uprooted from their position within the ranks of the SAPS if found guilty of such practices.
ENERGY 35 The following key service delivery issues were raised by members of the public during the public hearing on energy:  There is an insufficient supply of electricity in Dysselsdorp area, with a reported total lack of supply to farm workers.

 Electricity supply cut-off: There is a reported problem of consistent cut-off of electrical supply in some households in the Oudtshoorn Municipality, despite the payment for services.
The main problem here appears to be that people are unable to pay the required connection fee.

The problem extends to Dysselsdorp where some residents‟ electricity supply is reported to have been cut off for about 10 years largely because residents are unable to pay reconnection fees.
 Disparities in the supply of free electricity: A resident of Oudtshoorn wanted to know why there were differences in the supply of free electricity from region to region, as well as who was responsible for determining the provision of such electricity.

 Need for gas energy in rural areas:The residents of Dysselsdorp wanted to know what happened to the geyser project.

They urged government to pay attention to rural areas with regards to the supply of gas energy in rural areas.
 Need for information on solar energy rebates:The solar geysers co-operatives in Kannaland wanted to know how they should go about applying for rebates for solar system and if the Department of Energy will support the system of the solar geysers.

2.1.5.2.

UNDERTAKINGS/COMMITMENTS MADE BY GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES ENERGY NB: There was no government authority to respond to the above-listed service delivery concerns from residents of the Eden District Municipality.

2.2.
2.2.

SECTION B: SITE VISITS 36 This section outlines key service delivery issues that emanated from the site visits in five local municipalities in the Eden District namely: George, Kannaland, Oudtshoorn, Knysna, and Bitou.

During the TPTTP event, Permanent Delegates and Members of the Provincial Legislatures were divided into 3 groups and visited identified sites and held meetings where possible at their base points.
This part of the report is divided into sectors that include: Agriculture and Land Affairs, Education, Health, Home Affairs, Social Development, and Police and Justice.

2.2.1.

AGRICULTURE AND LAND AFFAIRS 1) AMELIENSTEIN FARM (Kannaland Local Municipality Background The Amelienstein farm is administered by Casidra on behalf of the government with the aim to transfer administration to the community in future.

Previously, it was a Section 21 company.


The farming activities undertaken in this farm include; dairy (with 160 dairy cows, with plans to increase them to 300) and vegetable farming.

The farm has a staff compliment of about 80 people who are government employees.

Presently, it is reported that the farm is not making any profit, it relies more on R1.5 million government grant per year.

The farm supplies Parmalat with milk for the manufacturing of cheese.
The major challenge is high spending on operational and maintenance costs.

The farm has 3 dams that provide it with sufficient water.

It has a potential to diversify its production and become self-sufficient.

Observations/findings  Mr Richard Jacobs, the Farm Manager, mentioned that the farm although currently has a staff compliment of 80 workers, the staff compliment used to be around 400 people during the fruit harvesting season.

The farm was then turned into a dairy farm.


 According to Mr Jacobs, the community was disputing the land ownership of the farm and had lodged a dispute with the Land Claims Commission.

A legal 37 finding had indicated that the land ownership must be resolved.

The major dispute was that the Department of Agriculture had not consulted the community when it developed the business plan for the farm.
 According to Mr Jacobs, the cold storage facility and the packing facility were not being utilised since the turning of the farm into a dairy farm.

Recommendations All matters raised must be resolved and there should be a follow-up visit by the Department of Agriculture, Land Affairs, and relevant Parliament Committees.
2) JMHP PRIMARY SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COOPERATIVE - DRIED FRUIT PROJECT (Zoar, Kannaland) Background This project (formerly known as Dried Fruit Project), is run by the JMHP Primary Social Development Cooperative (the Cooperative) assisted by the Zoar Health and Welfare Organisation.

The project operates on state owned land sublet to it by Amelienstein Farm.

The Cooperative has been supported by the National Development Agency (NDA) and in the past was able to make close to R200 000 per annum.
The project collapsed when the coordinator passed away, but some of the members wish to revive it.

It currently has approximately R179 000 from the NDA in the bank for purposes of chicken farming.

The project has further potential for vegetable gardening and poultry farming.

According to the project leader, Mrs. Berry, the NDA rendered further assistance to the project by supplying a manageress to assist with the day to day running of the business after the passing of the coordinator.
The Department of Agriculture was not involved with the project since its inception but became involved when the Cooperative leased the land from Amelienstein Farms through the Department of Agriculture‟s managing agent Casidra.

The Department assisted the cooperative by supplying water reticulation for the vegetable garden and teaching best practice farming methods.
Observations/findings 38 Members noted the viability of the project but indicated that lots of money had been invested in the project throughout the years but the project had not become self- sustaining.

The Members requested a comprehensive report on the problems the Cooperative experienced in previous years and whether these problems had now been resolved.
The delegation noted that there were too many departments involved in the Cooperative without a lead department taking responsibility for the Cooperative‟s success.

The delegation further noted that the Cooperative was paying R200 rental per month for the use of the land from Amelienstein farm whilst it was not making a profit.
Recommendations The following recommendations were made:  The NDA, having assisted the Cooperative in the past, must submit a report to the NCOP on the monies allocated to the Cooperative, the lessons learnt from the Cooperatives failure, and its viability going forward within 14 days of the adoption of this report by the NCOP.
 The Department of Agriculture must enter into discussions with other related and involved departments to resolve which department would be the lead department to take responsibility for the success of the Cooperative and report to the NCOP within 14 days of the adoption of this report.

 The Department of Agriculture must investigate funding for the rental fee until such time as the Cooperative becomes viable and report back to the NCOP within 14 days of the adoption of this report.

2.2.2.
2.2.2.

EDUCATION 1) GEORGE HIGH SCHOOL (George Local Municipality) Background George High School, also known as George Secondary School is an Afrikaans- medium school in George.

It was established in 1947.

As of 2006, the school had some 1,662 students and 45 educators.

During the same period, the Western Cape Education Department designated it as one of 10 "Arts and Culture focus schools" in the province.

The teacher to leaner ratio is 1:32.


However, it was reported that grade 39 8 has 54 learners per teacher, and grade 12 has 39 – 42 learners per teacher.

One of the challenges reported by the School Governing Body is that since the school‟s establishment in 1947, it was in dire need for an upgrade in the form of additional classrooms, hostels and sports fields.
While there is a problem of drug abuse and crime amongst learners, the school achieved 85% pass rate in matric examination in 2014, with 422 learners who passed.

Observations/findings It was observed that:  The teacher to learner ratio is a serious challenge confronting the school, it does not create a conducive environment for learning and teaching.

This is a matter that requires urgent address.


 In an attempt to deal with the problematic teacher-learner ratio, the Western Cape Department of Education is planning to build a new school in the Protea Park area.

It is envisaged that this will take the load of learners from George High School.

It‟s a project that will take between two to three years to complete.
 The Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports has allocated R100 000 for sport facilities in the school during the current financial year.

Last year, R50 000 was transferred to the school for sports material.

 The school has an asbestos roof which could contribute to acquisition of diseases like TB.

However, during the beginning of the school term the pupils were all screened and no TB infections were detected.
 The District Circuit Manager confirmed that a new hostel will be built in 2017.

 In 2014 the school was identified by the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports as a sports focus school but progress has since been made.

Recommendations The following recommendations were made:  The prefabricated containers should be provided as a short-term measure by the Department.
40  There should be regular interaction between the school and the Department of Education with regard to the confirmed plans for additional classrooms, sports field and the refurbishment of the hostel.

 Since the school was identified as a sports-focus school, the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports should provide implementation plan of its structured sport, recreation, arts and culture development curriculum for learners.
2) ST PAUL’S PRIMARY SCHOOL (George Local Municipality) Background School was established in 1929 as a Mission School by the Anglican Church of South Africa.

The school has about 715 leaners and 16 teachers.

Approximately six mobile and/or prefabricated units for use as classrooms were erected since 2000.

The teacher to leaner ratio is 1: 38-40.

The school has Grade R to Grade 9, and the medium of communication is Afrikaans.
The school was built within the premises of the Anglican Church, and the school building belongs to the church.

More than 50% of learners are comes from poor background, mostly from farms and informal settlements.

However, the school is categorised as a quintile 3 school, although only 17 learners are staying within 1 km radius of the school.

Challenges confronting the school include the need for more classrooms and chairs.

Currently there are more than 50 learners in a class.
The number of learners increased by 100 last year (2014).

These factors have impacted negatively on the school resources.

There are socio-economic problems which include, exposure to violence, bullying, low self-esteem, language barriers.

Observations/findings  The fact that the land on which the school is built belongs to the Anglican Church of South Africa limits intervention by government.

 In terms of infrastructure, there is a need for additional classes, especially for grade 6, 8, and 9.
Further, the school needs fence and an alarm system to curb persistent vandalism.

41  The school requires a library, stationery supplies and computer library.

 The school has forged partnerships with the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University to assist with the teaching of languages and mathematics.

 Tekkie Town has provides printing papers for the school monthly, and Cape Pine has painted the school during the beginning of the school term.
 The school applied for more classes to be added, and the Western Cape Education Department has approved 4 mobile classes to be added by the end of May 2015.

 There are current discussions between the district circuits to procure the school land from the church, however to date, no formal offer has been received from the South Cape Bishops of the Anglican Church.
Recommendations The following were recommended:  George Local Municipality should consider assisting in the upgrading of the school‟s sport fields.

 While there are discussions on the ownership of the land on which the school is built, land should be identified to build a new school to address the decaying infrastructure.

 The Western Cape Department of Education should consider providing mobile classroom to address the overcrowding in classes, as a short term measure.
 The Social Development Department should allocate a social worker to the school, to assist and deal with the social ills affecting learners at home.

3) TSIBA EDUCATION SCHOOL (Knysna local municipality) Background The Tertiary School in Business Administration (TSiBA) is a unique private school.

It started in 2004 and its focus is on business and entrepreneurial skills.

It has campuses in the Western Cape only, with the headquarters in Cape Town (Pinelands).
The Knysna campus is situated in the town of Karatara, near Knysna.

It occupies the municipal buildings on a no-lease agreement.

The Cape Town Campus 42 is renting an Old Mutual Building in Pinelands.

TSiBA is also registered and accredited with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private higher education institution.

Currently the school has an urban campus in Pinelands, Cape Town and a rural campus, TSIBA Eden.

It starts at Grade 12 until post graduate level.


It has recently started a new grade 12 entry level certificate.

It has 87% placement record or rate.

It has won numerous awards such as for green technology, business skills, etc.

It offers scholarship of R50 000 to its 500 students to the amount of R26 million per year.

This amount is from private donors.

The recruitment policy is in place, based on interviews and aptitude tests.
60% admission/access is reserved for students from the Western Cape and the other 40% for all other provinces.

Seta (Thetha) has recently come on board to partially subsidise the school.

TSiBA‟s Higher Certificate in Business Administration is NQF level 5 qualification that is uniquely positioned to address the skills and knowledge gap to enable people to progress to tertiary degree programmes, find meaningful employment, be promoted and also flourish as entrepreneurs.
Observations/findings  The Knysna campus is rural and far from resources.

  Inadequate funding, especially from government.

Inadequate infrastructure.

 The school does not have enough partners.

There is a needs to grow the pool of partnerships.

 Inadequate water supply to the school.

The Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation promised to give the school water tanks, especially for the food garden, but did it only in 2013.
 The school is boosting the economy of the area, hence the Knysna Municipality is continuing its partnership with it.

 The Municipality also outsources some soft skills (interns) to the school.

 The success of the school sends a positive message about the people of the area.

Recommendations 43 A follow-up visit on the issues raised is necessary.

4) PHAKAMISANI PRIMARY SCHOOL, Plettenberg Bay Local Municipality Background The school is located in Kwanokuthula Township next To N2.
The school starts from grade R to Grade 3.

Observations/findings  The school is overcrowded with 2411 enrolled learners for 2015.

 The principal has had no deputy principal for more than two years now.

 The school is using an old unused clinic and an old crèche for additional space for Grade R. Learners.

 The principal also complained about much vandalism and lack of security.

 Some of the buses that are used to transport the children to and from school are not in good condition.
 School needs renovation of floor, and toilets but the problem is funding.

 The school has 4 cleaners, 1 gardener and 7 cooks who are paid stipend by the provincial department of education but are always changed after every 12 months.

 Workers need uniforms and cooking utensils.

 The kitchen needs to be renovated.

Recommendations The school needs to be visited again for further oversight purposes.

2.2.3.
2.2.3.

HEALTH 1) PARKDENE CLINIC (George Local Municipality) Background Parkdene Clinic is located at Parkdene in George, and it is owned and funded by the George Local Municipality.

The clinic services the community for five days a week, with all its staff being trained to provide primary health care.

The comprehensive package of services provided includes HIV, AIDS and TB-related treatment, care and support services.
The clinic has a community oriented primary health care 44 programme that monitors and proactively works towards the improved health and well-being of families in Parkdene.

It provide HIV counselling and testing (HCT/VCT), and if necessary, does a further test to determine the CD4 count.

More than 3000 patients are attended to per month, with a minimum of 134 being treated per day.

The doctor attends mainly to serious cases.


The clinic‟s ground space is very small and further construction is required to accommodate the amount of patients who are treated there.

The renovation plan of the Department of Public Works has already commenced to expand and refurbish the facility.

Equally, due to the NHI programme, the building will be extended to a tune of R10 million, including furniture provision.
In terms of staff compliment, there is 1 professional nurse, 1 staff nurse, 1 nursing assistant, 1 data capturer.

Observations/findings  The clinic is an accredited antiretroviral (ARV) treatment initiation and on- going treatment site.

    It refers patients to George Hospital if they require further treatment.

It distributes fortified porridge and nutritional milkshakes to underweight, malnourished, TB and HIV patients.

It provide assessments and referrals for people with mental health issues.
It offers treatment for opportunistic infections and maternity services for pregnant women.

The referral point from the clinic is 1 kilometre away.

 In the 2030 Health Plan of the Western Cape, there is a hospital planned to be built in the area.

 The clinic is not doing emergency or life threatening cases.

Such cases are referred to bigger hospitals that provide 24 hour service.

 In addition, there is a family planning unit The clinic is forbidden to provide services in places such as schools, e.g.
assisting learners with family related matters.

Recommendations The following was recommended:  The expansion and refurbishment of the clinic by the Department of Public Works, should not disturb services to patients.

45 2) KNYSNA HOSPITAL Background The Hospital is a 90-bed district hospital and also a primary service hospital with a functioning Board.

It is a very clean hospital with cleaning services that are both in- house and outsourced.
It also services Knysna Community Day Clinic (CDC) and Plettenberg Bay CDC as well as other 13 facilities from the surrounding areas.

It has 18 permanent doctors with 9 at the Hospital and other 9 distributed among the various CDCs.

It has no specific TB ward, but there are isolated wards for all infectious diseases.

The TB-specialised Hospital in George is assisting by sending specialists to it.

The mortality rate is very low with only 2 infants‟ deaths in the last 4 years and none this year.
The Nurse-patients ratio is 4 nurses per 25 patients, 2 for 16 children and 2 for 6 new born babies.

There is an employee-management caucus that meets monthly.

The security at the Hospital is fairly enough, but it is being improved on an on-going basis.

The Ambulances have their own management line and are enough on site.

Emergency centre, Pharmacy and the Maternity section were upgraded 3 years ago and the Theatre and the Kitchen are next.
The Hospital engages NHI doctors and the upgrades that are coming are NHI projects.

There are also contracted NHI dentists that will be joining the Hospital.

The waste management is done by an outside company.

Observations/findings  Infrastructure and staff challenges at the feeding facilities spill over to the Hospital.

 Turnaround time for NHI is problematic for the Hospital.

 There is a shortage of pharmacists and therapists.
 There is a backlog on data capturing, mainly due to the recently stopped intern programme.

 The hospital is a Experiencing the same national wide shortage of TB and chronic medicine.

 There is a need for infrastructure for Primary Health facilities.

 There is shortage of nurses, pharmacist, occupational therapist and physiotherapist 46 Recommendations There is a need for this hospital to be visited again.
3) ZOAR AND AMALIENSTEIN CLINICS (Kannaland local municipality) The delegation visited two clinics in Zoar Town, namely: Zoar Clinic and Amelienstein Clinic.

It should be highlighted that these two clinics are managed by one sister in charge.

(a) Zoar Clinic The Zoar clinic building is a fairly old structure built out of prefabricated material.

The clinic falls within the Ladismith management area which is approximately 23km away from Oudtshoorn.
The clinic renders all primary health care (PHC) services.

It has a staff compliment of 1 sister, 1 staff nurse, 1 clerk, 1 data intern, 1 cleaner and 1 guard.

The clinic sees approximately 800 patients per month.

It has 25 TB patients and one extreme drug resistant (XDR) TB patient that passed away in March 2015.

The nurse reported that the clinic deal mostly with chronic patients.

In this regard, the clinic sees about 600 chronic patients a month.
It was reported that the clinic has 74 patients who are on antiretroviral (ARV) medication.

There are 1187 child patients under the age of 5 years.

The clinic reported that not many children suffer hygiene related illness like diarrhoea and mostly recorded cold and flu symptoms.

With regard to its outreach programme, the clinic started a youth initiative called the “Koffie Kroeg” or “Coffee Bar” on Fridays after 16:00.
The Zoar clinic uses this initiative to educate youth about issues related to sexual reproductive health i.e.

Family planning, teenage pregnancy prevention, HIV counselling and testing and other health related matters.

The clinic has a mobile clinic that makes visits to the settlements between Zoar, Ladismith, and the surrounding farm areas.

A doctor comes twice a week for 1½ to 2 hours to see 14 patients per visit.

The clinics operate 5 days a week from 07h30 to 16h00.
For after hour emergencies, patients must call the ambulance from Ladismith.

The ambulance response time is approximately 30 minutes but is affected by other emergencies that occur at the same time.

47 Observations  The Operational Manager reported that the clinics receive their chronic medication via courier from a central packaging distribution point in Cape Town.
The Operational Manager indicated that this central packaging point distributed the chronic medication to all clinics within the Western Cape.

In this regard, the Delegation indicated that whilst the central distribution point was convenient, it did not address the matter related to a shortage of pharmacists at the provincial hospital situated in Ladismith.

The Delegation proposed that the supply of medication should be distributed from the closest regional office to the community.
 There was only one guard at the clinic and the clinic was not complying with the core norms and standards.

The District Manager reported that they were finalising a new security contract and that this would resolve the security staffing issue.

 The Operational Manager reported that a complaints box was placed in each clinic.

The Operational Manager reviewed the complaints every morning and had 25 days to resolve complaints.
Copies of the complaints along with the file were submitted to the District Manager.

If there was a complaints that the Operational Manager was unable to resolve are escalated for assistance.

The complaints were mainly related to the time it took for patients to be seen by the Sister.

The Operational Manager indicated that this usually occurred when certain staff members were off sick or on leave but was not a norm.
The Operational Manager noted that with only one Sister at each clinic, if one was sick or on leave, the affected clinic had to close until that Sister returned.

 The Delegation registered their concern that the clinic was not staffed by Sisters that were doing their 2 year compulsory community service.

 Other challenges that were highlighted included old infrastructure, too little staff compliment and transport related problems (emergency services).
Recommendations  The delegation made a recommendation that the National Department investigate the matter around the central packaging distribution point in the 48 Western Cape.

This is because the packaging distribution model used by Western Cape is different from other provinces.

 The National Department should report on the reason graduates were not diverted to the rural communities to complete their 2 year community service.
(b) Amelienstein Clinic Amelienstein clinic is situated 3 km from the Zoar clinic but is housed in an old brick structure.

This clinic was built to accommodate people from Amelienstein who used to travel 3 km to get services in Zoar Clinic.

It falls under the management of Zoar Clinic.

It has a staff compliment of 1 sister, 1 staff nurse, a cleaner and a data- capturer.

The clinic uses the services of 1 counsellor, 1 operational manager and 1 physiotherapist.
It should be noted that the same staff also work in Zoar Clinic.

The Amelienstein clinic sees 1100 patients per month.

Observations  The clinic is very small and can only accommodate few people in its in-house waiting area.

Other patients are required to wait outside.

This poses a challenges especially during winter as people will be out in the cold while waiting for services.

 The clinic is well fenced but there is not security guard.
 Same as Zoar Clinic, the Operational Manager noted that with only one Sister at each clinic, if one was sick or on leave, the affected clinic had to close until that Sister returned.

Recommendations There were no recommendations made by the delegation in this clinic.

4) CALITZDORP CLINIC (Kannaland local municipality) Background The Calitzdorp Clinic is situated in Calitzdorp Town.

This clinic provides a full primary health care (PHC) package.
It opens five days a week (Monday to Friday) from 7:30am to 4pm and is closed on weekends.

It also provides mobile clinic services to the surrounding areas 2 days a week and every second month to communities situated 35 km away.

49 The clinic renders services to more than 2500 patients per month.
The staff compliment includes: 3 Sisters, 1 staff nurse, 3 clinical nurse,1 HIV counsellor, 1 Chronic Adherence Counsellor, 1 male medical circumcision practitioner, 1 admin clerk and 1 doctor who comes four times a week (working 4 to 5 hours).

This is a private doctor contracted under the National Health Insurance (NHI) initiative.

There is 1 dentist who comes only once a month (only for extraction).
An Occupational Therapist and 1 physical therapist render services once a month whilst 1 Psychiatrist comes in once every three months.

According to the Sister, all vacancies have been filled but there is no substitute if the core personnel are off sick or on leave.

Currently the mobile clinic operational manager is ill and when off sick the mobile clinic closes.

The clinic is working with other government departments and NGOs on the issue of teenage pregnancy and grant administration.
The clinic and the local schools have a close relationship and jointly run programmes to speak to children and teenagers about family planning, teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

The clinic reported that they have a volunteer service that assists with caring for bed ridden patients.

Out of the 2500 patients that the clinic provides services to, a large percentage is chronic patients while the rest of the patients are treated for drug and alcohol related incidents.
The clinic has 145 patients on TB control and medication.

It reported 50 people on HIV anti-retroviral medication with 1 under 5 year old child being HIV positive and 3 babies exposed to HIV but still negative.

Observations/findings  There is no security at this clinic and this poses a threat to the hospital staff and patients.

The delegation felt that this is an urgent matter that needs to be resolved.

 Foetal Alcohol Syndrome due to alcohol abuse by pregnant women is a serious challenge.
50  There is no backup generator.

In cases of load shedding the staff members struggle to perform their duties.

 There is no laundry equipment and the laundry is done in Ladismith which is 50km away.

 Drug stock outs – the clinic receives its ARVs from Oudtshoorn which is a challenge.

 The mobile clinic does not have a laptop to capture data and it is done manually which adds more administrative work for the sisters.
 The ambulance services is very slow because the clinic must first phone Oudtshoorn, which then calls Ladismith.

 There is no sonar system for pregnant women.

Pregnant women must be taken to Oudtshoorn for sonar.

 The clinic was clustered under the Oudtshoorn Municipality but has since been moved to the Kannaland Municipality.
The problem occurs with referrals as all chronic patients are referred to Ladismith, which is approximately 70km away but all other referrals, including acute cases, are sent to Oudtshoorn which is 47km away.

 Patient transport is a problem that impacts on the travel to Oudtshoorn and Ladismith.

The clinic has no control over the transport service that is run by the Emergency Medical Service (EMS).

EMS dictates the amount of seats available for Calitzdorp.
The clinic reported that many times the chronic patients who make appointments to see the medical staff in Ladismith are not picked up on the day of their appointment.

They then have to make another appointment as the medical staff in Ladismith will not see patients without an appointment.

 The community reported dissatisfaction with the service rendered by the doctor at the clinic.

It is alleged that the doctor does not perform physical examinations and merely extends chronic medication prescriptions.
The doctor would also not see patients without an appointment.

 On the site visit the TPTTP delegation was informed that part of the clinic is leased to a private doctor and was off limits to staff of the clinic.

The matter was not adequately explained as the Sister did not have details or knowledge of the terms of the contract.

51  Concerns were raised that the clinic does not operate for 24 hours or seven days a week clinic.
 The community complained about the ambulance services and the airtime it takes to call them.

Community members indicated that it took R20 airtime to make the call and wait for a response from the operator before the details of the patient is taken.

If a follow up call is needed then it would cost another R20 for an impoverished community to call for emergency medical aid.

Recommendations  The clinic must supply the staff organogram.
 The clinic must supply a written proposal to the NCOP on its challenges and the proposed solutions to improve the service it renders.

This was because the clinic did not prepare a written presentation for the members of the delegation.

 The delegation required a review of the service radius to determine if it fell within the norms and standards of the National Department of Health as well as those provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
 The Department of Health must indicate the required staffing complement and respond on its plans to assist when key staff members are ill or on leave.

 The Department of Health must indicate its plans to improve the infrastructure of the clinic considering the new housing development in the area and the subsequent increase in population.

 The delegation requested that a thorough investigation to determine whether the building the private doctor is renting belongs to the Department of Health.
The delegation felt that this was a strange practice considering the clinic requires additional space.

2.2.4.

HOME AFFAIRS HOME AFFAIRS SATELITE OFFICE (Bitou local municipality) Background 52 This office is situated in Thusong Service Centre.

It provides Home Affairs services to the township of Kwa Nokuthula and other townships in the Bitou Local Municipality.

Observations/findings  There is a problem of the broken door which has been reported to the head office in George.
 There is lack of security  Illegal immigrants require or need birth registrations and refugee status papers.

 There are direct toilets.

Employees are using neighbourhood toilets which becomes a problem when they have to work on Saturdays.

 The centre is under-staffed.

 There are no smart card facilities.

 There are there are delaysrelating to ID applications -.
 No detainee facilities to hold illegal immigrants - detainees are kept in rooms  There is also shortages of trucks for moving around townships for ID registrations.

Recommendations This satellite needs to be visited to assess whether the above mentioned challenges have been attended to.

2.2.5.

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 1) VERMONT CARE CENTRE (Knysna local municipality) Background The Centre was established in October 1995 by Government loan and currently has 76 members.
It consists of two components: a Residential Home Facility and a Community Centre.

The Residential Home Facility has a Frail Care Unit for 50 permanent frail older persons, disabled and psychiatric adults.

It also has six Double Flats for 12 older and disabled persons who are assisted with daily medical/health and social needs.

The Community Centre has a hall used for fund-raising to meet diverse institutional needs.

It has a Board and the Mayor is a member of the Board.
53 Its operational costs are R180 000 per month.

It currently owes the Knysna Municipality about R171 300.

It recently got funding of R50 000 from the Municipality.

The Municipality also secured it R100 000 from private donors.

It recently proposed 60% increment, but this is now off the table.

The local groups from the community always help with regard to wellness programmes.

There is also a food garden that provides the kitchen with vegetables.

Observations/findings  Poor management.


The Municipality did write off the debt in the past, but it recurs because of bad management.

 The Vermont Centre urgently needs support in the following: o Funding o Security and o Management support from the Board.

 Knysna Council Speaker informed the delegates that the Municipality can‟t every time write off debt for Vermont.

There is still R171 000 still owed to the Municipality.
Recommendations There is a need for the Municipality to intervene by providing necessary support to the Vermont Centre which has operational problems due to inadequate funding.

2) SIYAZAMA CRECHE (Oudtshoorn Local Municipality) Background The site is a municipal property formerly used as a school.

It is a dilapidated and unsuitable prefabricated structure which is not safe for use especially for children.
Other classrooms are used as a church and venue for old age activities, pottery, sewing and a gymnasium.

Observations/findings  The crèche is not yet registered pending consideration and compliance with national norms and standards by virtue of its close proximity to two other crèches.

54  It is currently funded by its founders on all its operations.

 Notwithstanding its current multi-use, the site has no security service.

 Has only two toilets which are not suitable for children of this age.
 The gymnasium is reportedly being run as a private business belonging to a municipal official of the Oudtshoorn Local Municipality.

 The site has no recreational facilities for children Recommendations  The Department of Social Department should facilitate registration of the crèche subject to national norms and standards and ensure that the site is used for a single purpose meant for a crèche and its concomitant activities.
 Oudtshoorn Local Municipality should deal with maintenance of the property and the general up-keep of the yard and major repair works to the pre-fab structure to ensure safety of children, conduct building inspection to determine suitability of the existing structures and provide a Building Inspectors Report with necessary recommendations.
 Department of Health should ensure provision of, and monitoring of adherence to public health standards, for example, regular inspection of the facilities, in particular, ablution facilities and the food quality.

 Department of Basic Education should ensure provision of necessary support and intervention relating to its mandate, for example, learning material for Grade R and training.

3) ZANOXOLO CRECHE Background The facility has many children and is thus over-crowded.
It is currently run by 6 qualified staff members responsible for a school compliment of 100 Grade R children and pre-school Observations  The facility requires allocation of suitable land to effectively pursue its social and educational role responsibility.

55  The property used belongs to the municipality yet it is failing to maintain it.

And the delegation felt that this is an urgent matter that needs to be resolved.
 The crèche has been in operation for 5 years without any financial support except dependency on donations from parents.

 It requires a container as an additional classroom to reduce over-crowding at a monthly rental of R500.

 There are delays in the receipt and payment of monthly subsidy by the Department of Social Development.

 There is an urgent need for suitable ablution facilities suitable for children.
 Unavailability and lack of visibility of the Department of Social Department in providing needed assistance.

Recommendations However, there is a need for:  Department of Social Development to ensure timeous payment of the monthly subsidy to enable the facility to fulfil its mandate in compliance with the Children‟s Act.
 Department of Health to ensure facilitation of, and monitoring of compliance with standard health requirements, for example regular inspection of school ablution facilities and school nutrition programme food quality and suitability of the building for this type of service from a public health perspective.

 Oudtshoorn Local Municipality to ensure there is suitable land is made available for the crèche whilst in the meantime maintaining and repairing the existing structure as an interim measure.
 Department of Basic Education to ensure that there is provision of services, resources and facilities relating to the mandate of this Department, for example, learning material for Grade R children and teacher in-service intervention.

4) ALABAMA CRECHE (Kannaland local municipality) 56 Background The creche has been in existence for 20 years.

It currently has 75 learners between the ages of 1 – 4 years old.
The creche receive a subsidy of about R17 000 a month from Department of Social Development and only charges learners R50.00 for transport.

There are four teachers who recently completed their FET Level Five qualifications at the Klein Karoo Resource Centre.

The crèche also has one cook and one gardener.

The building structure, housing the crèche, belongs to the municipality but the process of transferring it to the crèche is under way.

The crèche has a functional governing body.


The Departments of Health and Department of Social Development regularly visit the crèche.

The Department of Health provides immunisation services to the children.

The Department of Social Development assists the creche with services such as programmes and management needs.

Observations/findings  The premises is fenced but there is no security guard.

 The structure is very small.

Therefore, there is a need for additional space.


The creche principal reported that once the structure has been transferred from the Municipality to the provincial department there will be refurbishment of the structure as well as building more rooms to accommodate the children.
 According to the creche principal, the crèche follows the Department of Education‟s curriculum to prepare learners for Grade R. The principal also mentioned that the creche has good relationship with the principals of the surrounding schools.

Consequently, the crèche acts as one of the feeders for the two primary schools in the area.

 The crèche‟s budget is approximately R17 000 per month but it is not supplemented by any sponsorships.
The crèche works according to a 3 year plan but it informed the delegation that if the Department of Social Development were to stop funding it, it may continue on its own for a few years before the funding dried up.

 The Department of Social Development indicated that they performed regular visits and assessments and had arranged workshops to improve financial management skills.

They indicated the crèche was well run and working efficiently.
57 Recommendations  The delegation recommended that the Department of Social Development must provide a list of activities or roles they are playing in the management and monitoring of the creche.

The social worker who is directly involved in the day to day running of the creche should have been part of the people that made briefing to the delegation.
 It was also suggested that the management of the creche must provide a written historical profile of the creche as it emerged during the deliberations that the creche used to be in a community hall before it occupied the Municipal building.

5) ACV OLD AGE HOME Background This facility is under the supervision, management, financial support and administration of the Department of Social Development.

Observations/findings  Internal security services, dependent on only one security officer.
 Lack of maintenance of the existing building structure by the municipality, for example, dysfunctional of the water heating system, poor electric wiring, water pipe leaks, falling ceiling and poor sanitary and ablution facilities.

 Failure of the municipality to take charge of the building structure.

 Monthly rental of R250 charged from the elderly is very high and unaffordable.

 General health standard and level of cleanliness in the facility is very low.
 Elderly people are required to buy and cook their own food.

 Problem of local youth also staying in the facility thus posing an internal lack of proper security.

 Social Workers reported on the poor quality of life and general living conditions of the local people and how these conditions impact on the Home.
They reported that high levels of poverty, unemployment, homelessness, hunger, dependency on social and child support grants, teenage pregnancy, high school drop-out rate, drug and substance abuse, misuse of the Social 58 grants (SASSA GRANTS) and other social ills compel local people to seek refuge in the Home thus causing the Home to over-stretch is ability and perhaps budget to the extent of sacrificing accommodation meant for elderly people.
They also reported that there was a lack of local business facilities, thus requiring the unemployed, poor and elderly people to travel long distances to town at high costs; and the abuse of the elderly and the disabled as major factors affecting their functioning.
Recommendations  Oudtshoorn Local Municipality is expected to effectively play its role and responsibilities regarding all the above challenges as the owner of the building, to provide a comprehensive progress report to the NCOP on actions taken to turn the situation around including its role regarding the challenge of strengthening the management of the centre where appropriate.
The municipality should in line with its IDP, draw up a Youth and Women Sector Plan as an instrument to advance Women and Youth programmes and to justify budget and funding allocation and as part of its Community Services Delivery Intervention.
 Department of Social Development should ensure it effectively plays its role per its mandate in assisting the elderly, revisiting the operational and management regime of the facility, for example, investigating and addressing the requirement of monthly rentals and self-catering by the elderly and re- align the mandate of the facility accordingly to enable proper supervision, support, monitoring and reporting lines.
 The Social Work component of the Department of Social Development to enhance its role to improve the functionality of the Centre as funded by the Department.

The Department should equally target the special needs of children in compliance with the Children‟s Act.

The Department should implement training and capacity building programmes suitable for these people to keep them active.
 Department of Health should strengthen its role of monitoring adherence and compliance with, and maintenance of the required health standards in the Centre through regular health inspections and must urgently assess the health requirements of the building and provide a report to the NCOP with 59 recommendations for compliance within stipulated time frames, citing the responsibility of the relevant implementing sector institutions regarding the Centre functionality.
 Office of Women and Youth in the Presidency to ensure that crucial challenges relating to Women and Youth are urgently addressed in the area with the Office in the Presidency playing a leading role.

Youth in Dysselsdorp are reportedly making use of the Old Age facility and this is not acceptable.

6) OLD AGE HOME – ROSEMOOR HOME FOR THE AGED (George local municipality) BackgroundThe Rosemoor Home for the Aged was established in 1971.
It then became a haven to older persons of the communities of George, and the Southern Cape.

In later years, it opened its doors for the physically and mentally disabled members of the communities.

The home presently has 97 residents, plus an emergency bed.

The only income for the shelter is derived from the monthly social grants and pensions of the residents, which at present is R1, 410 per person, per month.
Out of the pension, R200 is given back to the residents towards pocket money, R70 for funeral insurance payments, plus their monthly church dues or pledge.

The accommodation and overhead expenditure, includes staff salaries and municipal services.

Since 2012, the Board of the Rosemoor Home for the Aged could not manage any salary increases to staff, due to the lack of funds.

Some of them earned as little as R1, 400 per month.
Observations/findings  There are financial challenges confronting the Rosemoor Home for the Aged, due to its income being social grants.

 Furthermore, there has not been any major maintenance done to the structure since 2012.

 The Home is well maintained, despite the challenges relating to lack of funding.

Equally, the Provincial Department of Social Development confirmed the Home was complying with all the funding requirements and conditions.
Sadly, there was no support and communication from the George Local Municipality with the Home, despite various attempts by the Home.

60  The Home has applied to the Lottery for funding in September 2012 to the tune of R1, 9 million, and only received R574 000 towards the end of 2014.
Recommendations The following recommendations were made:  The Western Cape Provincial Department of Health should consider subsidizing the salaries of nursing staff, in order to reduce the financial challenges confronting the facility.

 The Select Committee on Economic and Business Development in the NCOP should invite the Department of Trade and Industry and Rosemoor Home for the Aged to a meeting, in order to address some of the challenges in the old age Home.
 A meeting should be held urgently between Rosemoor Home for the Aged and the Mayor of George Local Municipality, to discuss and explore possibilities so that the Home can be assisted where possible, and for it to become sustainable in order to be able to serve the elderly community in a dignified and secure manner.
7) PHAMBILI REFUGECENTRE FOR BATTERED WOMEN – ROSEMOOR (George Local Municipality) Background The Phambili Refuge Centre for Battered Women was stablished in 1999 by the Business Professional Women (BPW), and is a shelter for abused women and their children.

Before it became a refuge centre, it was a craft centre.

The shelter provides a place of safety for up to 25 women and children at any given time, aiming to empower the women and their children and to reintegrate them into society.
The shelter offers secure accommodation, therapeutic programmes for women and their children, counselling and life skills training to help the women regain confidence and a healthy self-esteem.

The staff in the Centre are not remunerated, since it is a charity and a non-profit organization.

One of the main challenges for the Centre is the building which belongs to Department of Public Works, which has never been maintained.
The Centre can‟t do refurbishment in the structure since it is owned by the Department of Public Works, 61 and the Department intends to give the Centre to the Department of Health as a clinic.

The Department of Public Works intends to get rid of all its rented properties, including the Phambili Refuge Centre for Battered Women.

Hence the Centre requires a new secured building or buying the existing building with the donation they have received.
Currently the Centre services women and children from the Karoo, garden route areas.

In terms of staff compliment, there are six permanent staff members who are working in the Centre.

Equally there are safety challenges, especially fencing to protect the battered women and children.

Observations/findings It was observed that:  The Centre provided support to strengthen women in order to enable them to break free from physical, emotional and economical abuse.
 Drug and alcohol abuse contributed to the abuse women and children, who are currently in the Centre.

 The Australian donors, who annually provide funding to the Centre, wanted to involve the Mayor in partnering with the Centre, however, the Mayor is forever not available.
Recommendations The following recommendations were made:  The Select Committee on Social Services in the NCOP should have a joint meeting with the National and Provincial Departments of Public Works, Social Development, Health, the Eden District Municipality and George Local Municipality, in order to address the accommodation crisis in the Centre.
 The Centre should be continually assisted by the Western Cape Provincial Department of Social Development, in order for it to provide and sustain a place of safety for abused women and their children.

62 2.2.6.

POLICE AND JUSTICE 1) OUDTSHOORN MEDIUM A CORRECTIONAL SERVICES CENTRE Background The Oudtshoorn Medium A Correctional Service Centre is located in the town of Oudtshoorn.

Observations/findings  Unfilled key vacant posts hamper the functionality of the centre.
 Chronic problem of over-crowding in the centre due to slow court processes in the disposal of cases presented to it  Absence of hospital cell due to the structure of the building.

 Absence of promotion policy has led to general low morale of members/staff.

 Shortage of tools of trade, for example, motor vehicles.

 Lack of training for offenders in specific skills areas due to their lack of Identity documents.
 Weaknesses in the implementation of Employee Wellness programme and Employee Assistance programmes (EAP).

 Limitations associated with the current management system staffed by one roving manager for all the centres in a single Parole Board.

This is a manifestation of under-staffing.

 Absence or shortage of people in the key skills areas, for example, artisans.
Recommendations It would be necessary for Correctional Services Department to:  address the problem of staff shortages by filling all key funded vacant posts  provide tools of trade, for example, motor vehicles  Plan and budget for the establishment and construction of a new and bigger facility to speedily address the reported over-crowding in the Correctional Centre.
 address the problem of low employee morale by reviewing its promotion policy, 63  address the challenge of absence of artisans through recruitment, appointment of qualified persons or provide training of its members in this skills area and train offenders as artisans,  Work with the Department of Health to effectively address its challenges relating to Integrated Employee Health Awareness and Employee Assistance Programmes over and above the reported use of the regional structure.
 Ensure that the Department of Home Affairs to assists in the provision of Identity Documents (ID‟s) for all inmates/offenders (who qualify) without ID‟s to enable them to be considered and selected for training in the key skills areas as part of preparing them for re-integration upon release on parole or completion of imprisonment period.
The Correctional Services Centre is reportedly having a Partnership Agreement with the Department of Home Affairs and so it should not have a problem in facilitating ID‟s acquisition for offenders.

 Ensure that in its reported partnership with the Department of Social Development, it prioritises joint programmes meant to enhance the capacity of each department as they perform related functions in some functional areas.
2) OUDTSHOORN POLICE STATION (Oudtshoorn Local Municipality) Background The police station is located in the town centre in Oudtshoorn.

Observation/findings  Poor implementation of Sector Policing plan  Shortage of the necessary resources, for example, human, vehicles, radios and cell-phones.

 Shortage of Human Resources, for example Visible Policing (VISPOL) short of 11 members and 1 Central Intelligence Office (CIO).

Staff shortage in key positions, for example the vacant post of 1 Sector Commander.
 Vispol vehicles taking a very long at mechanical garages.

 Release of parolees that become repeat offenders.

64  Ostrich Farm closed thus leading to more people coming to the Riemvasmaak informal Settlement Area.

 More people from Dysselsdorp and De Rust now preferring to settle in close proximity to the Oudtshoorn Town Area in search of opportunities, thus increasing the population of the police‟s jurisdiction.
Recommendations It would, be necessary for the Department to integrate support functions in Oudtshoorn Police Station.

It should be sufficiently resourced in terms of tools of trade, for example, motor vehicles, human resources or adequate staff provisioning by urgently filing all vacant, funded posts across all functional units.

3) GEORGE POLICE STATION (George Local Municipality) Background The size of the Police Station is 2215 square km servicing a population of about 65 559 in George.
Unemployment rate in the area is approximately at 8 per cent.

Informal population is about 2 per cent.

The Station has staff complement of 342; however it is currently working in partnership with other relevant structures which include Community Policing Forum (CPF with 18 members); Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP) volunteers with 4 members; Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) members and street committees.

The Station has two satellites, namely Herold and Wilderniss.
The Station had recorded 428 number of burglary cases at non- residential premises at the end of the 2013/14 financial year, which has declined by 20.8 per cent compared to the 2012/13.

Cases of burglary at residential premises also declined by 20.4 per cent to 790 in 2013/14 financial year.

Significant decrease was also on cases that relates to theft out of or from motor vehicles which decreased by 21.4 per cent from 2012/13 to 767 cases in 2013/14.
Cases of sexual assault declined by 44.1 per cent in 2012/13 to 34 cases in the 2013/14.

Drug-related cases have increased by 20.4 per cent between 2012/13 and 2013/14 to 894 cases.

Common assault cases have increased by 4.6 per cent to 481 cases in the 2013/14 financial year.

65 Observations/findings  There is an increase in a number of Spaza shops in the area which are not regulated.
 Violent public protest and civil intolerance are draining resources because of a number of incidents that are handled by the Station.

 Accessibility to liquor outlets due to increase in number of taverns leads to crime and cases of driving under the influence of alcohol.

 Domestic violence in most cases is linked to substance and alcohol abuse in the area.

 Socio-economic conditions which include poverty, unemployment and inequalities contribute to crime statistics.
 There are high level of drug abuse case, however the source of drugs or suppliers which have not been identified by SAPS.

 Teenage pregnancies are registered as statuary rape cases in terms of Sexual Offences Act since its inception, and that has escalated rape cases in the area.

 Reduced sentences for offenders through mediation process especial assault cases leads to repeated cases being registered with SAPS.
 That there is huge backlog of cases in courts, and the delay in processing these cases affects the performance of SAPS in the area.
 Some members of the community do not have sufficient information on the steps to report cases which require outreach programme for awareness  Not all departments are on board to cooperate with SAPS as some of the cases require them to do so, among them is the Department of Social Development (which has to be on board in placing minor offenders and sometime does not even attend to meetings with SAPS) and the Department of Home affairs when dealing with illegal immigrants.
 That 10111 services are provided at George Police Station while there is no dedicated staff establishment for the centre.

 That the replacement of police officers who resigns, retire, dismissed or passed away take long and in some cases not at all, 66  Some victims‟ loose case as a result of poor statement taking by police officer, however the Department indicate that plans are in place to train police officers in this respect.
(I think the observations/findings are too brief/summarised and therefore difficult to comprehend) Recommendations  The Department of Police should brief the relevant committee of Parliament on resource allocation guide and its implication to Police Station.

 The Department of Police should provide 10111 staff for George Police Station and presents its plans on roll-out to Parliament within three months.

2.2.7.
2.2.7.

HUMAN SETTLEMENT AND WATER AND SANITATION 1) BITOU WASTE WATER PLANT (Bitou Local Municipality) Background This plant services the entire Bitou Municipality.

Its establishment and upgrading costs amount to R15 million.

It supplies9 mega litres of water to the Bitou Municipality.

Observations/findings  This plant experience challenges when there are load shedding as it does not have a back-up generator.

 Thieves around the community are stealing copper that is used in the plant.
This poses a challenges.

More security is, therefore needed.

 There seems to be a looming challenge in terms succession and skills transfer that will be occasioned by the retirement of Mr. Pirky Lombard sometime this year.

The 2014/2015 Audit of National Water Affairs Department shows that in the Western Cape Province, Bitou Waste Water Plants are ranked first and second out of 107 waste water plants in the province, beating even the City of Cape Town Metro Municipality.
These results are attributed to a collective effort of the Municipality but in particular the good management skills and good efforts of Mr. Lombard who is the current Water & Sanitation Manager of Bitou municipality.

67 Recommendation  The waste water plant needs to be visited by the Parliamentary Committees that deal with Water and Sanitation matters for oversight purposes.
In addition, the committees will be in a position to ensure that the good work being done by this waste plant is shared among other waste water plants in the country for purposes of improving their performance.

2) BERGSIG 602 HOUSING PROJECT AND WASTE WATER RETICULATION PLANT (Kannaland Local Municipality) Background The Bergsig 602 Housing Project was started in 2012.

The initial plan was to build 602 housing Units in three phases.
The Municipality reported that, to date, only 250 housing units have been completed.

The Municipality reported that they have secured a service site to complete the project.

According to the Municipality, the service site for the remaining phases of the housing project is ready for completion with water connections, sewerage connections and storm water infrastructure already installed under-ground.
However, the Municipality reported that the project is stalled at this stage due to shortage of water caused by an old pipe line structure.

In order to continue with the housing project, the Municipality reported that it needs to replace the existing pipeline from a 110mm pipe to a 330mm pipe to feed the storage dams that would supply the 602 housing project.
The Municipality reported that it requires R10 million that was not budgeted for, to upgrade 3.5 km of water pipe from a 110mm pipe to a 330mm pipe to feed the storage dams.

Observations/findings  The remaining phases of the housing project is stalled as a result of water shortage caused by an old pipeline structure.
 According to the Municipality, a further complication occurred when the R10.5 million that the Western Cape Provincial government allocated for the building 68 of the 602 Housing Project in 2014/15 financial year was retracted by the provincial government.

The municipality reported that the reason given was that the municipality did not have sufficient water supply.
 The municipality further indicated that the serviced sites were in danger of illegal land occupations if the money for the upgrading of the water pipe and the money for the building of the houses were not allocated.

 The municipality reported that it has a backlog of 1200 houses dating back to 2010.

It had 80 shacks but with the completion of the 250 new houses it moved 30 shack dwellers into the new homes.
These are supposed to be observations by the delegation and not submissions by the Municipality.

 The delegation was not impressed with the fact that the Kannaland Local Municipality accounting officers were not present at the briefings.

Therefore, some of the answers required could not be provided.

Recommendations  The Delegation indicated that the matter was not as straight forward as it appeared and that there were political differences that needed to be resolved.
As a result, the delegation proposed a meeting that would include all the relevant stakeholders to resolve the issues that were raised by the municipality.

 The Delegation agreed that the municipality together with the Department of Housing, Department of Water Affairs and the relevant Western Cape Members of the Executive Council should attend a meeting with the relevant NCOP committee to resolve the political issues raised by the Municipality.
This meeting should look into the following issues: o The R10 million allegedly taken back by the Western Cape Department of Human Settlement; o A background profile of the projects that were visited; and o A thorough presentation on the expenditure of the MIG projects.

3.

CONCLUSION Once more the NCOP has successfully held its Taking Parliament to the People programme.
It succeeded in carrying out its constitutional function of ensuring direct engagement between citizens and their government represented by the leadership of 69 the three spheres of government.

It also used the opportunity to carry out its oversight function.

However, the absence of several Ministers due to other competing government commitments may undermine the success of the programme in future.
It would be vital for the NCOP to make sure that all the Ministers are available to respond to service delivery issues raised by citizens in all public hearings.

A number of key service delivery challenges emerged from the engagements between the residents of the Eden District Municipality and the three spheres of government.

These ranked from allegations of unequal allocation of resources, lack of integration in spatial planning to lack of service delivery in general.
The service delivery issues included poor responsiveness by police, health and government officials across the spheres to residents‟ needs and complaints; delay and alleged corruption in allocating RDP houses to people on waiting lists, particularly the elderly people; poor quality of RDP houses; lack of access to electricity for some areas of the municipality, especially the poor farming areas; water shortages in some areas; racism and discrimination in some schools and FET colleges; inadequate rehabilitation for recovering drug addicts; inadequate patient transport; lack of scholar transport in areas such as Silvertown and Thembalethu; issues of drug and alcohol abuse; need for gas and solar energy; and the need to empower and include black residents in farming activities such as ostrich farming.
Last but not least, the NCOP should ensure that the Executive across the spheres carries out all the undertakings and commitments it made in its response to some of the key service delivery issues raised above.

A clear follow-up plan to track and assess progress in addressing the key service delivery issues that have been identified is necessary.

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