Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694846663399.pdf (South Africa)
Wednesday, 10 March 2021 10 [No 2 – 2021] Third Session, Sixth Parliament NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ________________________ QUESTION PAPER ______________________ Note: 1.

 Indicates an oral question.
Table of Contents Basic Education ......................................................................................... 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18 Health ......................................................................................................... 10, 11, 12, 15, 17, 18 Higher Education, Science and Innovation ...................................................... 11, 12, 13, 16, 17 Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation ................................................ 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 Social Development ......................................................................................... 11, 13, 14, 15, 17 Sport, Arts and Culture .................................................................................... 11, 13, 17, 18, 19 QUESTIONS FOR ORAL REPLY WEDNESDAY, 10 MARCH 2021 CLUSTER 2: SOCIAL SERVICES 63.
Mr M S Sokatsha (ANC) to ask the Minister of Health: Whether, in view of the speculations by various science experts on a potential resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic and cautioning South Africans about the possibility of a third wave, it is still the Government’s conviction that the possibility of a third wave holds true, even now that the roll-out of the coronavirus vaccine is in place; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NO663E 64.
NO663E 64.

Dr K L Jacobs (ANC) to ask the Minister of Health: In view of the Government’s goal to vaccinate 65% of the adult population of the Republic, amounting to about 40 million persons in order to reach population immunity to be able to manage COVID-19, what (a) progress has been made in the latest rounds of negotiations with the vaccine manufacturers and (b) are the projected dates of receipt of the vaccines?

NO664E QUESTION PAPER: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY NO 2 - 2021 Wednesday, 10 March 2021 11 65.
Mr D M Stock (ANC) to ask the Minister of Social Development: Given that temporary relief measures have been proven to make a significant impact in the lives of those who are in need and, in reducing the challenges for the recipients, what (a) progress has been made on the 80% completion of the reassessments of lapsed grants by 31 March 2021 and (b) measures have been put in place to ensure that the provinces that struggle to meet the specified deadline are supported?

NO665E 86.
NO665E 86.

Ms B S Masango (DA) to ask the Minister of Social Development: What are the details of all the steps taken by (a) her department and (b) the SA Social Security Agency to assist persons whose temporary disability grants lapsed on 31 December 2020 to reapply for disability grants?

NO686E 106.
Ms L H Arries (EFF) to ask the Minister of Social Development: Whether, with reference to a briefing by her department in October 2020, wherein the Deputy Minister of Social Development indicated that there were 9 000 unemployed social work graduates in the Republic, most of whom had their studies financed by her department, her department has any plans to absorb the unemployed graduates to assist society to cope with the impact of COVID-19; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
NO706E 66.

Mr A M Seabi (ANC) to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture: With reference to the third phase of the COVID-19 Relief Fund for Sport, Arts and Culture, (a) what comprehensive range of support measures have been implemented by his department to support the needs of the sector and (b) how have the specified support measures contributed to the livelihoods of those within the sector who have been severely affected by COVID-19?

NO666E 80.
NO666E 80.

Mr M N Nxumalo (IFP) to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation: (1) What are the reasons that his department has decided not to fund the engineering and nursing programmes in 2021; (2) whether he has found that the skills obtained in the specified programmes are needed to ensure the future health and economic recovery plan of the Republic; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

NO680E 60.
Mr P A van Staden (FF Plus) to ask the Minister of Health: (1) With reference to the fact that the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS), that is in the running to be appointed as administrators of the proposed National Health Insurance, is currently embroiled in a web of alleged fraud and corruption claims totalling over R300 million, what steps will he take to ensure that the persons allegedly responsible for the fraud and corruption are prosecuted; QUESTION PAPER: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY NO 2 - 2021 Wednesday, 10 March 2021 12 (2) whether he will still allow GEMS to administer the NHI if it is launched and GEMS wins the bid to be appointed as administrators of the NHI; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
NO658E 67.
Mr E K Siwela (ANC) to ask the Minister of Basic Education: With reference to the rationalisation policy of schools that has a negative impact on learners in the affected communities which are particularly in poor rural and farm areas, as some of the school closures are due to poor performing schools not having enough enrollments despite the schools being located in areas with a substantial population, what (a) progress has been made in implementing the rationalisation policy and (b) steps has her department taken to address the specified policy in schools with a community population large enough to sustain the schools?
NO667E 99.

Ms S Gwarube (DA) to ask the Minister of Health: What are the details of the progress the Government has made to date in terms of its acquisition plan for the vaccination of 40 million of the population against COVID-19 in the various phases?

NO699E 59.
NO699E 59.

Rev K R J Meshoe (ACDP) to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation: Whether Cabinet has considered the SA Human Rights Commissioner’s proposal that the national Government should intervene in the Vaal sewage crisis; if not, why not; if so, (a) what practical steps will be taken to resolve the sewage crisis and (b) by what date will work commence?

NO657E 68.
Ms M R Semenya (ANC) to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation: Given that COVID-19 has had dire implications for the Republic and in view of the steps taken by her and other government departments in assisting the Khayelitsha fire victims, as her department’s objective of the emergency housing programme is to provide temporary housing relief to persons in urban and rural areas who find themselves in emergency situations, what progress has her department made in ensuring that human settlement infrastructure are readily available to residents at (a) Masiphumelele in Hout Bay and (b) Taiwan in Khayelitsha?
NO668E 61.

Mr A M Shaik Emam (NFP) to ask the Minister of Basic Education: With reference to the fact that many learners have still not been placed in schools, what measures has she put in place to ensure that all learners will be placed?

NO661E 69.
Ms N T Mkhatshwa (ANC) to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation: Given that the scourge of gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide is of great concern and remains a crime against humanity, and with reference to the presentation by the Human Sciences Research Council to the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation regarding The SA National Survey on health, life experiences and family relations and other related research on GBV (details furnished), how can South Africans be assured that the specified research will be different and will QUESTION PAPER: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY NO 2 - 2021 Wednesday, 10 March 2021 13 bring forth relevant and empirical recommendations in supporting the mandate of the 6th pillar of the Gender-based Violence and Femicide National Strategic Plan?
NO669E 102.

Mr B B Nodada (DA) to ask the Minister of Basic Education: What is the total number of schools that still (a) make use of pit latrines and (b) do not have access to permanent reticulated and/or borehole water?

NO702E 107.
NO702E 107.

Ms L H Arries (EFF) to ask the Minister of Social Development: Whether her department has done an internal investigation of the circumstances that led the police to spray water cannons on the elderly and the disabled who had gone to the offices of the SA Social Service Agency in Bellville, Cape Town, to renew their grants on 15 January 2020; if not, why not; if so, what were the findings of the investigation?

NO707E 70.
Mr P R Moroatshela (ANC) to ask the Minister of Basic Education: Given that socio-economic conditions are one of the key factors which has an impact on the performance of learners and taking into consideration the outcomes of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study and how learners from different socio- economic conditions are performing differently, how does her department intend to close the gap with regard to access to learning resource materials such as workbooks and textbooks for all learners to avoid sharing of such resources?
NO670E 71.
Mr M P Mapulane (ANC) to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation: In view of the pivotal role that research and development plays in the development of the social, political and economic aspects of the Republic and the world and how imperative it is that investment in research and development must be increased towards the target of 1,5% of the Gross Domestic Product of 2019, what (a) are the key reasons for the decline in research and development expenditure by the Government and (b) specific actions and/or policy directions has he found will reverse and/or mitigate the declining research and development expenditure by the business sector?
NO671E 72.

Ms B N Dlulane (ANC) to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture: (a) What are the fundamental issues that arose from the National Reconciliation Dialogue on Racism and Gender-based Violence and Femicide, Social Cohesion and Nation-building and (b) how does his department intend to forge working relations with social partners and civil society?

NO672E 100.
NO672E 100.

Mrs V van Dyk (DA) to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture: (1) Whether his department received any letters of demand from lawyers of any arts organisation for unpaid grants since 1 January 2018; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) what is the total current amount of unpaid grants to arts organisations?

NO700E QUESTION PAPER: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY NO 2 - 2021 Wednesday, 10 March 2021 14 108.
Mrs N R Mashabela (EFF) to ask the Minister of Basic Education: In view of the fact that over 1,1 million learners had enrolled for Grade 1 in the Republic in 2009, but just over 570 000 learners sat for their matric examinations in 2020, (a) what has her department found to be the conditions that led to the massive drop-out rate and (b) in which parts of the Republic is the highest drop-out rate?

NO708E 73.
NO708E 73.

Mr M Gungubele (ANC) to ask the Minister of Social Development: What (a) are the relevant details of the extended roll-out of the special COVID-19 social relief of distress grant and (b) measures have been put in place to ensure improvements in the administration of the grant during this round?

NO673E 81.
NO673E 81.

Mr S L Ngcobo (IFP) to ask the Minister of Basic Education: What has she (a) found to be the reasons for the approximately 4 573 000 matric students who dropped out in the past 10 years and (b) done to prevent the staggering number?

NO681E 74.
Ms C Seoposengwe (ANC) to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation: With reference to the commendable progress of her department on the Master Plan for the development of the Lanseria Smart City, how can her department replicate the good planning work that has gone into the Lanseria Smart City in terms of water and sanitation such that all the towns and cities across the country can adopt smart city principles in relation to this function to keep up with the current 4th Industrial Revolution and the coming 5th Industrial Revolution?
NO674E 96.

Mr L J Basson (DA) to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation: What are the reasons for her department not having produced the (a) Green Drop and (b) Blue Drop reports in 2013 and 2014 respectively, given that the Republic is a water- scarce country?

NO696E 75.
NO696E 75.

Ms M E Sukers (ACDP) to ask the Minister of Basic Education: (a) On what date will elections of the school governing bodies take place and (b) how will her department ensure that parents exercise their democratic right to vote in light of the Adjusted Level 3 lockdown regulations to curb the spread of the virus?

NO675E 62.
NO675E 62.

Mr A M Shaik Emam (NFP) to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation: In view of the fact that Government will no longer be building Reconstruction and Development Programme houses and will instead provide fully serviced sites, what difficulties has she been experiencing with municipalities in this regard?

NO662E QUESTION PAPER: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY NO 2 - 2021 Wednesday, 10 March 2021 15 84.
Ms A L A Abrahams (DA) to ask the Minister of Social Development: What are the details of the (a) policies and (b) programmes of her department to combat childhood stunting in the Republic?

NO684E 109.

Mrs N R Mashabela (EFF) to ask the Minister of Basic Education: What (a) initial assessments and findings has she made on the schools that obtained a 0% pass rate for the 2020 matric examinations and (b) interventions will she be making in those schools?

NO709E 85.
Ms A L A Abrahams (DA) to ask the Minister of Social Development: What mechanisms will her department put in place to ensure that persons and organisations that provide physical, psychological and/or social assistance to victims who are not able to meet some of the standards and regulations set out in the proposed Victim Support Services Bill of her department are not automatically (a) closed down and/or (b) criminalised without taking the circumstances of the continued rendering of social services into consideration?
NO685E 110.

Mrs M R Mohlala (EFF) to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation: Following the release of the SA Human Rights Commission report titled Final Report of the Gauteng Provincial Inquiry into the Sewage Problem of the Vaal River, what actions has she taken to ensure that the issues raised in the report are resolved?

NO710E 82.
NO710E 82.

Ms L L van der Merwe (IFP) to ask the Minister of Social Development: What has she done to ensure that the SA Social Security Agency is more customer- friendly and improves the manner in which they deliver their services?

NO682E 87.
NO682E 87.

Ms B S Masango (DA) to ask the Minister of Social Development: Whether she has been informed of the closure of a number of facilities of the SA National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (SANCADD) in Gauteng; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what steps is her department taking to assist SANCADD to open its facilities again?

NO687E 76.
NO687E 76.

Ms M E Sukers (ACDP) to ask the Minister of Health: Whether he will implement a programme of home-based care to meet the challenges of a third wave of COVID-19 infections and ensure that the carers are prioritised for vaccination so that they can safely care for ailing persons; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NO676E QUESTION PAPER: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY NO 2 - 2021 Wednesday, 10 March 2021 16 103.
Mr C H M Sibisi (NFP) to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation: What (a) total amount does his department intends to spend on National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) in 2021 and (b) measures will he put in place to avoid the challenges that the students usually face when it comes to the allocation of funds, given that there is already a high number of drop-outs due to the NSFAS problems?

NO703E 88.
NO703E 88.

Ms C V King (DA) to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation: What are the details of the (a) reasons for the cancellation of the initial tender for the procurement of laptops to assist beneficiaries of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme to study remotely during the Government’s extended lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19 and (b) costs associated with cancelling the tender?

NO688E 111.
NO688E 111.

Mrs M R Mohlala (EFF) to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation: What (a) has she found to be the cause of the financial problems faced by many of the water boards in the Republic and (b) responsibility does she take as a Minister for the mess caused by the fact that many of the water boards do not have permanent leadership in place?

NO711E 89.
NO711E 89.

Ms C V King (DA) to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation: What total number of students studying at (a) universities and (b) technical and vocational education and training colleges were found to be financially excluded in each of the past two academic years?

NO689E 112.
Mr S Tambo (EFF) to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation: In light of the fact that student debt is a major stumbling block for students who want to register for the 2021 academic year, and in view of the fact that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has delayed settling accounts of funded students, what has his department done to encourage institutions of higher learning to allow students funded by NSFAS, but whose accounts are outstanding due to NSFAS administrative glitches, to register?
NO712E 79.

Mr M N Nxumalo (IFP) to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation: In light of his announcement that the University of South Africa would need to cut their first-time entry students by 20 000 admissions citing over-enrolment for the 2020 academic year and pressure on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme as the reasons for the announcement, what is his plan with regard to the massive cut in admissions given the number of first-time entries that are expected?
NO679E QUESTION PAPER: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY NO 2 - 2021 Wednesday, 10 March 2021 17 90.

Ms E L Powell (DA) to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation: What (a) total number of violations of the provisions contained in the National Housing Code, Volume 4: Part 3 – Emergency Housing Programme, in the establishment of temporary residential units between 1 March 2020 and 31 August 2020 have been identified to date and (b) action was taken in each case?

NO690E 77.
NO690E 77.

Mr W M Thring (ACDP) to ask the Minister of Basic Education: (1) Whether her department has completed a research study into the efficacy of the Comprehensive Sexuality Education trial programme in schools; if not, by what date does her department expect it to be completed; if so, (2) whether she will share the research findings with Members of the National Assembly; if not, what circumstances require secrecy regarding the findings; if so, what are the relevant details?

NO677E 104.
NO677E 104.

Mr C H M Sibisi (NFP) to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture: (a) What is the current status of and (b) how far does his department intend to go with Ms Caster Semenya’s case, since the case is of international interest?

NO704E 91.

Ms E L Powell (DA) to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation: (a) What is the current status of the Dodoma Avenue Housing Development in KwaZulu-Natal and (b) by what date is it envisaged that the development will be completed?
NO691E 113.

Mr S Tambo (EFF) to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation: What are the reasons that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme has decided to not fund first-year nursing and teaching students in institutions of higher learning?

NO713E 92.
NO713E 92.

Mrs G Opperman (DA) to ask the Minister of Social Development: With reference to the State of the Nation Address by the President of the Republic, Mr M C Ramaphosa, on 11 February 2021, what are the details of (a) the efforts that the Government will undertake to provide greater opportunities for persons with disabilities to participate in the economy in particular and in society in general and (b) the steps her department will take in this regard?

NO692E 114.
NO692E 114.

Ms N N Chirwa (EFF) to ask the Minister of Health: What (a) are the reasons that the Eastern Cape Department of Health has terminated the contracts of over 1 000 community healthcare workers and (b) impact will this have on the ability of his department to respond appropriately to the COVID-19 pandemic?

NO714E QUESTION PAPER: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY NO 2 - 2021 Wednesday, 10 March 2021 18 94.
Ms H Ismail (DA) to ask the Minister of Health: Whether any mechanisms have been put in place to minimise opportunities for employees of his department to commit corruption when procuring COVID-19 personal protective equipment; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

NO694E 78.
NO694E 78.

Mr W M Thring (ACDP) to ask the Minister of Basic Education: Given that in the court case regarding the Matric rewrite, the court indicated that she made the decision to rewrite whereas this was supposed to be a decision made by the Director-General along with certain other officials, how does she intend to strengthen compliance within her department to ensure that such mistakes are not made again?

NO678E 95.
NO678E 95.

Ms H Ismail (DA) to ask the Minister of Health: What is the total (a) number of cases of tender irregularities related to the procurement of personal protective equipment for the COVID-19 pandemic that is currently under investigation and (b) amount of money involved?

NO695E 115.
NO695E 115.

Ms N N Chirwa (EFF) to ask the Minister of Health: In view of the fact that prior to the destruction brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, his department had a high vacancy rate already, what (a) total number of healthcare workers has his department employed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in each category of profession and (b) is the overall vacancy rate at the moment?

NO715E 97.
NO715E 97.

Mr L J Basson (DA) to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation: What steps does her department intend to take to assist the (a) Water Trading Entity to recoup more than R13,2 billion and (b) various water boards to recoup almost R13 billion owed by municipalities in overdue payments?

NO697E 116.
Mr B S Madlingozi (EFF) to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture: Whether, in light of the fact that music from South Africa and the African continent generally are the biggest revenue spinners in the world today and music is continuing to be the key driver of the internet culture, his department has thought of plans to protect the intellectual property rights of South African artists against being exploited by the big streaming services like Spotify, who are now the most profitable ventures in the music industry; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
NO716E 98.

Ms S Gwarube (DA) to ask the Minister of Health: What remedial action has his department taken in terms of (a) the findings of Special Investigation Unit (SIU) investigations and (b) any other instances of corruption related to the procurement of personal protective equipment for the COVID-19 pandemic identified after the conclusion of the SIU investigations to date?

NO698E QUESTION PAPER: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY NO 2 - 2021 Wednesday, 10 March 2021 19 101.
Mrs V van Dyk (DA) to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture: What (a) is the current status of the second wave of Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme funding for artists and sport and recreation professionals and (b) are the details of the third wave of funding?

NO701E 117.
NO701E 117.

Mr B S Madlingozi (EFF) to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture: What are the details of his department’s (a) plans and (b) time frames to rename the remaining offensive geographical place names in the Eastern Cape?

NO717E QUESTION PAPER: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY NO 2 - 2021