In light of the application by Monsanto South Africa (Pty) Ltd to proceed with the general release of a genetically modified multi-event maize product, MON 87460 x MON 89034 x NK603 for the entire region of South Africa, can the Minister confirm or deny that the approval of the trials was based solely on safety and efficacy reports provided by the company? (1) Whether, in light of the application by a certain company (name furnished) to proceed with the general release of a genetically modified multi-event maize product for the entire region of South Africa (details furnished), the approval of the trials was based solely on safety and efficacy reports provided by the company; if not, can he provide the list of all the independent non-industry aligned studies taken into consideration in this process; if so, why were no independent studies conducted or reviewed in this regard; (2) if the trials of both the specified company and independent studies were considered, what differentiates the outcome in South Africa from the findings made in the 39 countries where the specified products and their related herbicides are currently banned entirely; (3) whether, in view of the fact that some of our agricultural produce is exported to various countries, including the countries where the specified products and related herbicides are currently banned, he has considered the ramifications if our agricultural produce for export to these countries is affected by cross-contamination? NW644E

Whether his department procured any services from and/or made any payments to (a) Mr Mzwanele Manyi, (b) the Progressive Professionals Forum, (c) the Decolonisation Fund and/or (d) the Black Business Council; if not, in each case, why not; if so, what (i) services were procured, (ii) was the total cost, (iii) is the detailed breakdown of such costs, (iv) was the total amount paid, (v) was the purpose of the payments and (vi) is the detailed breakdown of such payments in each case?

What is the (a) make, (b) model, (c) price and (d) date on which each vehicle was purchased for use by (i) him and (ii) his deputy (aa) in the (aaa) 2014-15 and (bbb) 2015-16 financial years and (bb) since 1 April 2016?

Has (a) he and/or (b) his Deputy Minister ever (i) met with any (aa) member, (bb) employee and/or (cc) close associate of the Gupta family and/or (ii) attended any meeting with the specified persons (aa) at the Gupta’s Saxonwold Estate in Johannesburg or (bb) anywhere else since taking office; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, in each specified case, (aaa) what are the names of the persons who were present at each meeting, (bbb)(aaaa) when and (bbbb) where did each such meeting take place and (ccc) what was the purpose of each specified meeting?

(1)     Whether his department was approached by any political party for any form of funding (a) in the (i) 2013-14, (ii) 2014-15 and (iii) 2015-16 financial years and (b) since 1 April 2016; if so, what are the relevant details in each case; (2) whether his department provided any form of funding to any political party (a) in the (i) 2013-14, (ii) 2014-15 and (iii) 2015-16 financial years and (b) since 1 April 2016; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?

(a) What amount did (i) his department and (ii) each entity reporting to him spend on advertising in the 2015-16 financial year and (b) how much has (i) his department and (ii) each entity reporting to him budgeted for advertising in the 2016-17 financial year?

Whether, with reference to the takeover by his department of the function of monitoring the conservation and usage of marine resources from Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, his department has enough resources to fulfill this important role; if so, what are the relevant details in respect of the human resources that his department has allocated for the specified monitoring?

(a) Has any of his senior officials met with certain persons (names furnished) during the period 1 January 2009 up to 31 December 2015 and (b) has any of the entities reporting to him awarded any contracts to Sahara Holdings, Comair, Oakbay Investments, Islandsite Investments, Afripalm Horizons Stakes, The New Age Media, JIC Mining Services and Vusizwe Media in the specified period; if so, what (i) are the relevant details and (ii) is the amount of each specified contract?