Whether, as the co-ordinator of anti-poverty initiatives, he has commissioned any short-term interventions to mitigate the effects of the increase in petrol prices in light of the persisting high levels of unemployment, poverty and deepening inequality; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
The Deputy President has not commissioned any short term interventions to mitigate the effects of the increase in petrol prices. The Basic Fuel Price consists of factors outside of South Africa’s control, hence international fuel prices fluctuate from day to day. South Africa is a net importer of Petroleum Products, and has no control over crude oil prices, exchange rates, and any factors informed ...
(1)With reference to his most recent trip to the Russian Federation to receive medical treatment, what are the details of the (a) total cost and (b) itemised breakdown of the specified total cost incurred by the Government in terms of (i) transportation, (ii) accommodation, (iii) medical treatment and (iv) any other related costs for (aa) him and (bb) any other person accompanying him on the trip;
(2) whether he covered any of the costs related to the trip from his own pocket; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
As indicated under question 1874 from the same Honourable member, the Deputy President paid for his flight costs to and from the Russian Federation as well as medical expenses.
The breakdown for the costs incurred for the support staff are hereby attached as Annexure A.
ANNEXURE
With reference to his most recent trip to the Russian Federation to receive medical treatment, what are the details of the (a) transport he used to travel (i) to the Russian Federation in June 2021 and (ii) back to the Republic in August 2021, (b) number of person(s) who accompanied him on the trip, (c) accommodation (i) he and (ii) any person(s) who accompanied him used during the trip and (d) transport he and any person accompanying him used while in the Russian Federation on the trip?
In his oral reply to similar question posed by Mr Steenhuisen of the DA on 03 September 2021 in the National Assembly, President Ramaphosa outlined matters of principle with regard to the security and travel arrangements of the President and Deputy President.
The President said: “Deputy President, is entitled to security wherever he is, including that of the President. This is not a ...
(1)Whether the Surgeon-General of the SA National Defence Force referred him for any form of medical treatment to the Russian Federation since 27 February 2018; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) on which date(s) did the Surgeon-General refer him for medical treatment in the Russian Federation, (b) why was the Surgeon-General and the SA Military Health Service not able to provide the medical treatment that he required in each case and (c) what costs were incurred by the Government in each case for referring him to the Russian Federation;
(2) whether, in light of his numerous postponements and cancellations of question sessions in the National Assembly, the Surgeon-General has found that in his current state of health he is fit to hold his current Office and perform the various duties as required by his Office; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
The Deputy President like any other South African is entitled to choose his or her preferred medical practitioner. In recent past in Parliament, the Deputy President took South Africans into confidence about him taking ill and how he ended-up receiving lifesaving treatment from doctors in the Russian Federation.
It would thus be medically imprudent for anyone to abruptly abandon medical treatment by medical practitioners who are intimately au fait with one’s medical profile. Further details regarding the ...
1. Whether the Eskom Task Team has considered the plight of the communities of Bethal and eMzinoni in the Govan Mbeki Local Municipality in Mpumalanga who have had to endure daily power interruptions of up to 12 hours at a time since the end of March 2020; if not, will the task team consider the plight of these communities at its next meeting; if so, what are the relevant details of the (a) discussions it held and (b) solutions it proposed;
2. whether he has been informed that this part of the Govan Mbeki Local Municipality has a lower maximum demand limit imposed on it by Eskom in comparison to the rest of the municipality;
3. whether he has been informed that Eskom refuses to lift the lower maximum demand limit imposed on this part of the local municipality due to the municipality’s failure to honour a debt repayment arrangement with Eskom;
4. whether he and/or any other member of the Eskom Task Team will meet with Eskom, the Mpumalanga Provincial Government and/or the local municipality as a matter of urgency in order to relieve the social and economic plight of the residents of Bethal and eMzinoni? NW1976E
As the Eskom Task Team, we have committed to ensuring that we expedite the payment of outstanding debts owed to Eskom while also directing all national and provincial organs of state to settle all outstanding debts to municipalities.
More importantly, we have a responsibility to improve a culture of payment for services such as electricity and water by our communities to avoid unnecessary disruptions ...
(1) (a) What is the annual budget of the SA National Aids Council (SANAC), (b) what amount of the budget comes from (i) international organisations and (ii) the private sector in South Africa and (c) how (i) is the budget spent and (ii) does the SANAC audit its books;
(2) to what extent has (a) SANAC engaged mining companies to implement social labour plans to ease poverty, unemployed and determinants on health and (b) SANAC helped District Aids Councils and Local Aids Councils to be effective;
(3) what innovative programmes is SANAC contemplating for reducing unplanned teenage pregnancies and HIV incidents amongst teenagers;
(4) whether SANAC will intervene with regard to the poor attendance by the health representatives to Aids meetings at District Aids Councils and Local Aids Councils;
(5) how is SANAC tracking its performance on planned activities and what measures are in place to achieve the implementation of its National Strategic Plan 2017-22?
(1) (a) What is the annual budget of the SA National Aids Council (SANAC),
The Annual budget of SANAC for the period 2017/18 was R66, 275,268
(b) what amount of the budget comes from
(i) international organisations?
Funding from International donors for the period 2017/18 was R22,324,975
(ii) the private sector in South Africa and
SANAC did not receive any funding from the ...
What are the relevant details of the total (a) annual salary of and (b) performance bonus amounts paid to each of his four advisors (names and details furnished) in the 2016-17 financial year?
(a) The total annual salary paid to each of the Deputy President’s three advisors in the 2016-17 financial year was:
- Mr SE Speed R1,912,911.15
- Dr NP Simelela R1,698,106.59
- Adv N Jele R1,698,107.40
Note that Dr G Koornhof is not a Special Adviser to the Deputy President and his salary is not paid by The Presidency. He remains in the employ of Parliament.
(b) ...
With reference to the Presidency’s 2016-17 Annual Report, what was the (a) total cost and (b) detailed breakdown of the costs of the 10 international trips that he undertook from 6 April 2016 to 10 February 2017?
The Presidency does not make direct payments for the Deputy President’s international trips, save for instances where use is made of commercial flights (economy class locally and business class internationally). The Deputy President is flown by the SA Air Force through arrangements that are coordinated by the South African Police Service and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.
Further details on the cost ...
(1)Whether he is monitoring the impact and effects of the recent drought on Government’s War on Poverty Programme; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether the specified programme has put any measures in place to ensure that there is no drastic increase in the number of citizens without access to food due to the recent drought; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of the measures that have been put in place in this regard?
(1) Whether he is monitoring the impact and effects of the recent drought on Government’s War on Poverty Programme; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether the specified programme has put any measures in place to ensure that there is no drastic increase in the number of citizens without access to food due to the recent drought; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of the measures that have been put in place in this regard?
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) is monitoring the impact and effect of the recent drought throughout the country. The Department is a lead institution for the National Agro-meteorological Committee (NAC) which provides monthly advisory and early warning information on the rainfall season and impact on agricultural production for the whole country.
The drought is causing higher food prices in South Africa. ...
