Hon Chairperson, the next question is from hon De Villiers from the DA in the Western Cape, with regard to infrastructure.
What is the number of the question?
It is Question 57.
The question number is Question 11 of 2011, if I am not mistaken. I am so sorry, it is Question 57. Am I going beyond what I should?
Chairperson, I have been counting the number of questions answered so far, and they seem to be more than the required number.
Hon Ntwanambi, it is already on the paper and listed here. Therefore I thought that he should rather do it and then that would be the last one.
Madam Chair, this is the last one. It should be the sixth question - with your and the hon Chief Whip's permission.
Yes, it is the last one.
She is indeed correct. The convention is that it should be six questions per Minister. Chairperson, with your permission, may I deal with the last one, which is a very important one raised by the hon De Villiers? Shall I proceed?
Yes.
The question deals with the issue of infrastructure, and the response to the question is that we are committed to the eradication of 395 mud schools. All these schools are in the Eastern Cape. The verification of mud schools is ongoing, but for the 2011-12 financial year an amount of R420 million has been set aside to replace those schools.
Jobs to be created will be quantified once implementation plans have been finalised by the implementing agencies. Obviously we will look for job opportunities that can be created within communities.
Then, a further 1 370 schools will be provided with a water supply. All nine provinces will benefit from this particular programme. The verification of water backlogs is ongoing. For the 2011-12 financial year an amount of R94,397 million has been set aside for water supply. Jobs will be created and quantified on the basis of implementation plans by the relevant agencies.
With regard to section (c), 536 schools will be provided with sanitation and that has been taken into account. All nine provinces will benefit from this programme. The verification of sanitation backlogs is again ongoing. However, for the 2011-12 financial year an amount of R119,152 million has been set aside for sanitation. Jobs will also be created in terms of the implementation programme.
With regard to the final part of the question, that is electricity, all nine provinces will benefit from it. About 1 434 schools will benefit from this particular programme across the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF period. Whilst the verification process is ongoing, for the 2011-12 financial year an amount of R66,451 million has been set aside for the electrification of schools. Jobs will also be created in terms of the implementation plans by the relevant agencies. I thank you.
Chairperson, my follow-up question to the hon Deputy Minister is in connection with the supply of water and electricity in the deep rural areas. Sometimes there are problems with the supply of water and electricity; as a result, residents have to use boreholes and so on. What is the department's plan in addressing those problems? Thank you.
Chairperson, in fact the hon member has answered the question. We cannot have a particular mode that will apply universally. The circumstances in a particular environment will determine what the best possible innovative solutions for that particular area are. If it means that an area is so sparsely populated that it would cost billions of rand to supply electricity to a small learner population, then we might want to consider the possibility of generators for the generation of electricity. Similarly, where there isn't a sufficient supply of water or boreholes, we would have to look at other forms of sanitation that would be appropriate. South Africa has done quite well in regard to innovative methods for the provision of sanitation, particularly in deep rural areas. Thank you.
Thank you very much; you may be excused.
Chairperson, I would like once again to thank the hon Ministers for the indulgence and the permission to go back to my task of dealing with the Apex Priority of government. Thank you. [Laughter.]
Hon members, before I call on the Minister of Health, I would like to make an announcement that the hon Minister Peters will answer the questions on behalf of the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs.
Requests for assistance from municipalities and provinces faced with disasters during rainy seasons regarding prevention of diseases
31. Ms D Z Rantho (ANC) asked the Minister of Health:
Whether his department has received any requests for assistance from any municipalities and provinces that were faced with disasters during the rainy seasons regarding the prevention of diseases; if not, what role does his department play in assisting municipalities and provinces when similar disasters occur in this regard; if so, which municipalities or provinces?