Date: 01/09/2010
Source: The Presidency
Title: SA: Motlanthe: Oral reply by the South African Deputy President to Parliamentary questions

Mr N Singh (IFP) to ask the Deputy President: Whether the key proposals as outlined in his speech to the Energy Advisory Council on 8 December 2009 are being implemented; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

REPLY Yes Honourable Singh there has been progress with the implementation of the key agreements made at the Electricity Advisory Council meeting on 8 December last year. For those in this House that are not aware, the Electricity Advisory Council arose out of the Energy Summit convened by NEDLAC in May 2008. It consists of government, business, labour and community as represented at NEDLAC. The Advisory Council is supported by a national electricity response team comprising all social partners. I would like to highlight some of the key areas of implementation, as more details can be obtained from the Minister of Energy. · Improvement in efficiency of generation Since the last Advisory Council meeting, Eskom's generator performance level has improved to the required levels. · Support municipalities in maintenance for high demand period of June 2010 In anticipation of increased electricity demand during the World Cup, a programme was initiated at all the Host Cities to identify critical infrastructure that needs urgent attention. A more comprehensive strategy has since been completed to address the rehabilitation of municipal distribution infrastructure, as a specific focus in the current government program of action. · Policy framework for private sector participation and introduction of non-conflicted independent system and market operator Since the last meeting the issues have been addressed through various processes under the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Energy that was created through a Cabinet decision. The Committee comprises the departments of Energy, Public Enterprises, National Treasury, Economic Development, Science and Technology, Trade and Industry and the Presidency. The following has been achieved in relation to each of the elements above: o The Integrated Resource Plan will be promulgated by the last quarter of 2010. The plan will indicate the generation technologies that South Africa will require over the next 20 years, in a manner that diversifies our energy mix from being coal-dominated. o The process to revise the regulations promulgated under the Electricity Regulation Act of 2006 has been completed after consultation with lenders and potential investors. The draft regulations, licensing framework and a standard power purchase agreement provisions, together with the evaluation criteria for Independent Power Producers (IPP) will be issued by end-November 2010 to coincide with the conclusion of the Integrated Resource Plan. o Perhaps the most critical element for private sector participation relates to the resolution of the conflicted role that Eskom plays as both a generator and buyer - the introduction of an Independent System and Market Operator will address this conflicted role of Eskom. o The cost recovery mechanism, in terms of which private sector generators are given the assurance that their costs will be recovered from the electricity tariff over the term of the power purchase agreement, has been concluded in consultation with NERSA. · Solar water heating and Standard Offer incentive One of the other initiatives introduced since the last Advisory Council meeting involves providing Solar Water Heaters to all residential users of hot water, in place of electric geysers. The public consultation process was concluded in July 2010, for the Solar Water Heaters financial incentive scheme. The process will culminate in the determination of the level of the incentive in Rands by NERSA and this is scheduled for later this month. I thank you.

Ms S T Ndabeni (ANC) to ask the Deputy President: Whether the Government has strengthened its cooperation with the neighbouring countries on security and border control; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

REPLY In April 2009, Cabinet took a decision to return the responsibility of border security to the South African National Defence Force. This therefore makes Defence the principal Department on border security. Very strong defence cooperation exists with all our SADC neighbors with whom we share a border. These are underpinned by a SADC Cooperation Agreement. In addition South Africa has signed a memorandum of understanding with all our neighboring countries. For each of our neighboring countries we have a Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security. These ensure maximum cooperation from state to state and at the levels of affected Departments like: 1. Home Affairs 2. State Security 3. South African Revenue Service 4. Justice 5. Correctional Services The Commissions meet annually to review cooperation and conduct joint operations to combat crime and exchange information. There are quarterly border forums with all our neighbouring countries and from time to time they deal with matters that may affect our common border security. Even though this level of cooperation has not been in existence for long it has yielded very good results. The World Cup was not only protected by South Africa but all our neighbouring countries stepped up security at their own borders to ensure a secure World Cup. I thank you.

Dr A Lotriet (DA) to ask the Deputy President: Whether he has considered a proposal to devolve the management of the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities from the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to the Department of Arts and Culture; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details regarding the timeframes envisaged for the implementation of the proposal?

REPLY Honourable Member, I assume that you are referring to the proposal of the ad hoc Committee for the Review of Chapter 9 and Associated Institutions that was made to the National Assembly on 31 July 2007. With regard to the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities, the ad hoc Committee recommended inter alia the incorporation of the Pan South African Language Board into the Commission and the designation of the Minister of Arts and Culture as the member of the Executive dealing with the Commission. The ad hoc Committee further outlined a process which involved the appointment of a task team consisting of three members of the Commission, three members of the PANSALB and six members of the National Assembly to report to the National Assembly with a practical plan for implementing the proposal. I note that when the National Assembly dealt with the ad hoc Committee's report in the last Parliament on 21 November 2008, whilst adopting the recommendation on the establishment of a Parliamentary Unit on Constitutional Institutions and other Statutory Bodies; it resolved that the rest of the report - including the provisions I have referred to - be held in abeyance with a view to allow the Fourth Parliament - that is this Parliament - to consider the matter in a manner it deems fit. It is therefore up to this Fourth Parliament to debate and discuss these issues relating to the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities, and determine whether there is a need to devolve its management to another Department. I thank you.

Mrs J D Kilian (Cope) to ask the Deputy President: Whether the Government is actively monitoring the increase in the number of child-headed households; if not, why not; if so, (a) how frequently is it done and (b) what are the relevant details?

REPLY Yes. The National Department of Social Development receives reports on the number of Child Headed Households identified and serviced, and the types of services rendered to them on a quarterly basis. The statistics that Government relies on are received from Home and Community Based Care organizations which are reporting to Provincial Departments of Social Development on the number of Child Headed Households identified and serviced, and the types of services provided. Government attempts to assist Child Headed Households through social workers at the district level who are assigned to these households and whose responsibility it is to link the children to all government services including, but not limited to: * Psycho-social support; * Linking children with relatives and extended family; * Facilitating access to official documents; * Application and access to social grants- such as the child support grant, foster care grant, grant in aid and also social relief of distress and * Food parcels The reason for the continuing phenomenon of child-headed households in South Africa is primarily attributed to HIV and AIDS. Other reasons identified are unemployment that results in people leaving home to seek employment elsewhere; desertion or abandonment of children; and excessive abuse of alcohol, which renders adults incapable of parenting. We all have a collective responsibility to ensure that the hardships suffered by children who have to assume responsibility for their families, are minimised so that all children in South Africa can experience the true joy and freedom of childhood. I thank you.