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JHB Regional Office
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QUESTION 774 Mr CM Lowe (DA) to ask the Minister for Public Enterprises: Whether his department makes use of private security firms; if so, how much money was spent on such firms in 2007; Whether these firms are used on a contractual basis; if so, (a) how many contacts did his department take out in this regard in 2007, (b) with which firms were these contracts taken out, (c) for what specific purpose was each contract taken out and (d) what was the value of the contract in each case; Why is there a need for his department to use a private security firm as suppose to state security? NW1463E REPLY: (1) The Department of Public Enterprises makes use of a private security firm. Money spent in 2007 is R105 591.51. (2) Yes, the firm is used on contractual basis: Only one contract was entered into. Magnum Shield Security Physical security operations The value was for R105 591.51
-------ooo0ooo------- NW1465E REPLY Yes, the DOD does make use of private security firms in some of its units. These contracts run over different periods with a total contract value of R28, 310,141. Yes, these firms are used on a contractual basis. No contracts were taken out in 2007. The details of the existing contracted security service providers are as follows:
There is a need for the Department to make use of private security firms because of the following reasons: The Service Corps Guard duties at DOD facilities are performed by serving SANDF members at specific facilities. The Centre for Advanced Training, (CAT) provides for the re-skilling of exiting DOD members into society and thus do not have a sufficient and stable workforce on which to call to perform guard and physical security services, and is thus reliant on an outsourced capability. Joint Ops Division. In the past military members of the SANDF, the SA Army Engineering Formation performed the technical maintenance of the fence systems along the RSA borders. Due to lack of skilled DOD HR resources to maintain the technical upkeep of the border security fence systems (high level technical maintenance of UPS; zoning equipment and other IT systems) this function was outsourced to the private sector by means of the allocation of comprehensive maintenance contracts over 3 and 4 years contract periods. These security maintenance companies are only responsible for the technical maintenance (electronic, electrical and civil works) of these systems. The SANDF troops are responsible for the conducting of borderline operations, using the fence systems within the design concepts to deter, to detect, to delay and to follow up any infiltration from a neighbouring country. The technical maintenance companies have no mandate to conduct any security tasks. These contracts served as a force multiplier in that the SANDF was only required to deploy a company to these areas instead of a battalion, which had been the case in the past. However, I have asked for a review of this issue. QUESTION NO. 777 (Internal Question Paper No 13 – 2008) Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government: (a) How many of and (b) which of the 136 municipalities did he visit in (i) 2005, (ii) 2006 and (iii) 2007 to listen to problems and concerns of the communities with regard to the Imbizo Programme under Project Consolidate? ANSWER
QUESTION 780 Mr L W Greyling (ID) to ask the Minister for Public Enterprises: (1) Whether Eskom gave power contracted from Mozambique for South African use to Zimbabwe; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether Eskom invested funds earmarked for power station maintenance in money-market instruments that falsely boosted the corporation’s financial results and earned them massive bonuses; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether he has taken note of the allegations that were reported in the media on 11 May 2008 (details furnished) against Eskom’s maintenance and financial policies relating to investments; if so, (4) whether he will make a statement on the matter? NW1473E Reply:
As Eskom cannot take delivery of the power, HCB is therefore in a position to sell this stranded power to other parties. Rather than leaving power stranded and facing the risk of HCB selling this power, Eskom agreed with HCB in 2004 to enter into annual supply contracts with Zimbabwe. Eskom in turn is paid a margin by HCB on the power sold to Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA). HCB assumes all the contractual and payment risks associated with this transaction. The HCB-ZESA contract is for 50MW firm capacity and 100MW non firm capacity, which portion can be withdrawn by Eskom should Eskom be in a position to bring this power into South Africa. This will be possible as soon as the refurbishment at the Apollo converter station is completed. In March 2008 Eskom also concluded a new contract with HCB for an additional 250MW. Upon completion of the refurbishment a portion of this additional power will be imported into South Africa at Apollo. However it will be necessary to route the remaining portion through Zimbabwe and Botswana. As part of this additional 250MW contract, Eskom had to agree to the continuation of the HCB-ZESA contract, which will result in the 50MW firm portion of this agreement continuing until 2014. Due to its strategic location ZESA is a crucial player in the SADC, i.e all the power from the North has to be transported via their transmission network.
Eskom does not have, nor is there any incentive to have, a strategy to defer necessary maintenance in favour of increased interest income. As interest & finance charges on the income statement are “contaminated” with unrealised fair values the incentive scheme does not reward this line item from an income statement perspective but rather focuses on market benchmarks on the underlying transactions. Eskom’s Treasury has as its primary focus management of financial instruments to ensure robust liquidity management i.e. access to cash as and when required. In the near term this necessitates that Eskom’s significant financial assets are invested efficiently to meet future obligations. (3) The statement was noted by the Minister. (4) The Minister will not respond to the allegations, misguided and inaccurate as they may be, as they are allegations raised in the media and not the subject of a formal investigation or assessment. The Minister wishes to highlight that the “emergency multi-sector summit” referred to in the media report was successfully concluded with all parties agreeing to a number of important issues which will serve to take the country forward on the many crucial matters the electricity supply industry is currently faced with. Question 781 Mr L W Greyling (ID) to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises: (1) Whether the Government of Zimbabwe is indebted to South Africa for an amount arising out of the supply of electricity to Zimbabwe; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what is the total amount indebted and (b) what steps are being taken to recover the money owed; (2) whether Eskom is still supplying electricity to Zimbabwe; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what quantity per month is being supplied and (b) at what price is it being supplied? NW1474E Reply: The Government of Zimbabwe and its utility ZESA are not indebted to Eskom for any amount arising out of the supply of electricity. Eskom is entering into non-firm annual agreements with Zimbabwe which allows for the sale of power, by either party. These transactions are concluded on a day-ahead basis subject to the availability of power. There is no obligation on either party to supply the other. No power has been scheduled for sale to Zimbabwe since July 2007 as Eskom does not have sufficient generation capacity to allow for such sale. QUESTION NO 782 DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 16 MAY 2008 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 13/2008) Date reply submitted: 12 June 2008 Mr M H Hoosen (ID) to ask the Minister of Safety and Security: (1) Whether the National Commissioner of the Police Service appointed a council of senior retired police officers in 2006 to advise him on the state of the SA Police Service and the country’s crime fighting capabilities; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (2) whether he has received the report of this council; if so, what were its findings and recommendations; (3) whether he will make this report public; if not, why not; if so, when? NW1475E REPLY: (1) Yes. (2) Yes. The findings and recommendations were intended for the National Commissioner. (3) No. The report was for the National Commissioner’s attention. QUESTION NO 783 DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 16 MAY 2008 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 13/2008) Mr M H Hoosen (ID) to ask the Minister for Safety and Security: (1) (a) How many incidents of (i) rape and (ii) assault have been reported as having occurred in the Polokwane Police Station’s cells in the past year, (b) on what dates did each of the incidents of (i) rape and (ii) assault occur and (c) what steps have been taken to prevent this from occurring again; (2) whether the (a) rapists and (b) assaulters have been (i) charged and (ii) convicted in each case; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1476E REPLY: In the past financial year of 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008: (1)(a)(i) 4 incidents of rape (ii) 13 incidents of assault (b)(i) Rape: 2007-06-05 2007-11-02 2008-01-07 2008-02-02 (ii) Assault: 2007-04-30 2007-07-25 2007-10-10 2007-11-06 2007-11-02 2007-11-04 2007-12-14 2007-12-14 2008-01-11 2008-01-15 2008-01-27 2008-02-01 2008-03-19
Dangerous suspects are taken to prison. Prisoners are detained according to the category of the crimes in different cells (e.g a suspect for murder is not detained with one for shoplifting). Juveniles are detained separately, are taken to court immediately and are taken to a Place of Safety as soon as possible. Undocumented immigrants are detained separately.
QUESTION NO 784 DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 16 MAY 2008 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 13/2008) Date reply submitted: 29 May 2008 Mr M H Hoosen (ID) to ask the Minister of Safety and Security: Whether he intends implementing any short or long term plans to try and prevent any further xenophobic attacks, such as the attacks that occurred in Alexandra and across the country in recent times; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1477E REPLY: Yes, in the short term the following process was implemented: * The situation was assessed, hot spots were identified, and members were deployed to enhance police visibility and manage the incidents. * A committee comprising various Ministers and MEC’s is evaluating the situation daily and providing guidance in dealing with the situation. * All possible police personnel were made available from the Metro Police, local stations and units, specifically members of the Crime Combating Units (CCU) who are experienced in crowd management incidents. * Routine patrols were implemented in high risk areas as both a proactive measure and in order to report related incidents. * Communities are being sensitized concerning incidents of xenophobia through the existing community police forums in order to discourage further incidents and to assist the police in locating such incidents. * Social support through churches and welfare organizations is being mobilised to provide shelter and food to those housed at various police stations, as well as involving Disaster Management Structures. * A meeting chaired by the acting National Commissioner, was attended by senior police management on 19 May 2008, in order to develop a strategy to counter any further outbreak of incidents of xenophobia. * The Provincial Joint Operational Centre has been activated and is coordinating the management of the current situation. * Additional police resources from the Free State, Limpopo and North West were deployed in Gauteng. * SAPS will be working with the Gauteng Provincial Government, to address the situation from a broader perspective than policing. * The National Joint Operational Centre has been activated to co ordinate all National Operations. * The SANDF has been deployed in a support role in Gauteng. Regarding long term plans, a committee of Ministers has been established to investigate the causes of the situation and to come up with proposals in this regard. QUESTION 786 WRITTEN REPLY DATE OF PUBLICATION: FRIDAY, 23 MAY 2008 INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO.: 14-2008 DR R RABINOWITZ (IFP) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF DEFNECE
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(b)(i) The energy used in the offices of the Department of Defence includes electrical energy supplied by municipalities from the national electricity grid, with standby units powered by diesel. As such, no alternative or renewable energy sources are currently in use. (b)(ii) An Annual Department of Defence Environmental Management Competition was introduced initially in 1983 as an incentive programme to promote overall improved environmental performance within the department. Various categories are entered by military units and bases nation-wide to include such issues as ecological management, base environmental management gravitating toward the so-called “brown” issues, and others. By 1997 the base environmental management category included a sponsored subsection on energy efficiency. Reports from those military units and bases that have entered since reflect significant savings after implementing simple strategies and tactics. Whilst these baselines have been sustained to constitute best practice models throughout the Department of Defence, the most recent departmental project in this regard was launched in 2008 to assist ESKOM in reducing electricity demand by 10% for the immediate future in an effort mainly to curtail the necessity and frequency of electricity rationing. Military bases and units are consequently required to accede to an energy efficiency campaign through the local implementation of decisive energy saving measures. All military bases and units are therefore required to complete the Department of Defence Annual Environmental Management Report with particular reference to the section on energy efficiency, which serves to lead progress in the development of a local energy efficiency programme based on monitoring and reduction of electricity demand and consumption. Parallel strategies are currently waged by the Department of Minerals and Energy (Central Energy Fund) in partnership with the National Department of Public Works and the Department of Defence to institute measures for energy demand side management. Defence has been chosen to pilot national energy saving initiatives on grounds of its pro-active efforts in government in the domain of energy-efficiency. Under this co-operative governance mechanism it is envisaged with immediate effect to replace electricity-demanding fixtures such as lighting and hot-water systems with more contemporary, energy efficient technology. Also on the agenda of this partnership, are plans to invest in renewable energy devices such as wind and solar energy installations at military bases and units. In the domain of transportation, the main equipment (aircraft, corvettes and submarines) being received by the Department of Defence as part of the strategic defence packages, effectively phases out old technology that is less carbon efficient. The Department of Defence is further considering a proposal by the Department of Science & Technology to accede to a pilot project aimed at developing a market for bio-diesel.
(2) whether this will include the phasing out of glossy publications from all agencies or councils reporting to him; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) (a) what is the estimated cost of all such (i) reports and (ii) publications per annum in the case of these agencies and all other working documents of his department and (b) what kinds of (i) energy are being used in the offices of his department and (ii) energy saving measures are being implemented in these offices? DR R RABINOWITZ (IFP) SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT HANSARD PAPERS OFFICE PRESS 787. THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM ANSWERS: (1) (a) Yes. The Department has already started informally monitoring its carbon footprint in several areas; and (b) Among the most notable initiatives is the fact that the Department has drastically reduced the number of flights officials have to take both nationally and internationally as well as the delegations that attend meetings. Several other initiatives in this regard have been started as well, including scheduling meetings to allow for use of one vehicle instead of separate vehicles. In terms of its energy efficiency programme, the Department is one of the forerunners with regard to putting in place energy efficiency measures which indirectly benefit the environment. In its efforts to reduce the use of paper, the Department has introduced electronic filing and routing systems. This has drastically reduced the amount of paper required for the Department to attend to its administrative duties. Additionally, meeting documents are circulated electronically and accessed during meetings via the internal system installed for this purpose. The Department is also investigating the use of recycled paper and the introduction of printers that would facilitate this process. The Department implements greening initiatives across the country (town beautification, green gardens, etc). It implemented video-conferencing technology that facilitates linkages for meetings between Cape Town and Pretoria offices. (2) As indicated above, the Department is also investigating the use of recycled paper and the introduction of printers that would facilitate this process. Currently, there is no plan for the phasing out, but the matter will be considered and integrated into the paper reduction process and communicated to reporting entities as well. (3) (a) Costs of reports and publications indicated below: DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM:
SOUTHAFRICAN WEATHER SERVICES:
ISIMANGALISO WETLANDS
TOURISM GRADING COUNCIL OF SOUTH AFRICA
SOUTH AFRICAN BIODIVERSITY INSTITUTE
SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL PARKS:
SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM:
(b)(i) The Department is currently using electrical energy from the national grid; and (ii) The energy saving measures prescribed by the Department of Minerals and Energy are being implemented as well as certain Departmental initiatives as mentioned above. It must be noted that the Department is in the process of procuring a new building for its Pretoria Head Office where environmental and energy efficiency measures feature prominently in the design, construction and operation. Our initiatives in this regard are limited in that we occupy long established, privately owned buildings.
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE INTERNAL QUESTIONS PAPER: 23 /05/08 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 14 -2008) NW1216E
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