2021-w1015 - 02 July 2021

Shaun Nigel August to ask the Minister of Communications

Whether, in light of the recent announcement by the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) of its intention to publicly auction the Rocklands Villas residential property in Sea Point, Western Cape, she has considered leasing the specified building to any other government department, particularly to provide social and affordable housing within the Cape Town Central Business District; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details (2) Whether she intends on having discussions with other government departments regarding making the best use of the property in order to address spatial justice within the society; if not, why not; if so, which government departments

Reply from the Minister of Communications on 2 Jul 2021

1. On 21 September 2020, the SABC was granted concurrent approval by the Ministers of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) and Finance to dispose of 25 non-core properties including Rockland Villas through an open market auction in terms of section 54(2)(d) of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999. The concurrent approval was also granted in keeping with National Treasury’s prefunding conditions which were attached ...

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2021-w1358 - 04 June 2021

Zakhele Njabulo Mbhele to ask the Minister of Communications

Whether, with regard to the preparations of the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) for the coverage of the upcoming 2021 local government elections, and with reference to the mandate and obligations of the SABC as the national public broadcaster to educate and inform the public, the SABC will be broadcasting any practical and specific public education content related to municipal governance, especially with reference to sections 151 to 164 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, as well as its Schedules 4 and 5; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply from the Minister of Communications on 4 Jun 2021

I have been advised by the SABC as follows:

Yes, public education has historically formed part of the SABC’s standard elections coverage mandate and will continue to do so during this current election cycle. The SABC News will drive this process from an editorial perspective as has always been the case post democracy with covering and contextualizing the elections, Constitution and functioning ...

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2021-w318 - 16 April 2021

Cameron Mackenzie to ask the Minister of Communications

(a) What is the total number of bank accounts that the SA Post Office have and (b) will she furnish Mr C MacKenzie with the account balances as at (i) 31 March 2020, (ii) 30 June 2020, (iii) 30 September 2020 and (iv) 31 December 2020?

Reply from the Minister of Communications on 16 Apr 2021

I have been advised by the SAPO as follows:

a) SAPO has fourteen (14) bank accounts for different operational requirements.

b) The request for the bank account balances is noted. SAPO is however mindful that responses to parliamentary questions are public documents and given the sensitivities surrounding its finances, the bank account balances cannot be provided.

 

MS. STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS, MP

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS ...

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2021-w175 - 16 April 2021

Willem Frederik Faber to ask the Minister of Communications

With reference to the branches of the SA Post Office that closed down, (a) what number of post offices have been shut down by the owners of the buildings and/or premises in 2020 due to non-payment of the monthly rental and (b) how does the SA Post Office intend to solve these closure problems that occur on a regular basis?

Reply from the Minister of Communications on 16 Apr 2021

I have been advised by the SAPO as follows:

a) Of the 1 110 premises that are leased only 43 have been closed. The closure is mainly as a result of under utilisation of the core business of the SA Post Office by the customers.

b) The SA Post Office is currently embarking on processes to re-purpose its business model to adapt to new technologies, ...

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2021-w317 - 16 April 2021

Cameron Mackenzie to ask the Minister of Communications

(a) What is the total number of retail post offices in the Republic, (b) of these post offices, what number is (i) SA Post Office (aa) owned and (bb) rented and (ii) postal agencies premises and (c) will she furnish Mr C MacKenzie with an aged analysis of all rentals due to landlords for each retail post office?

Reply from the Minister of Communications on 16 Apr 2021

I have been advised by the SAPO as follows:

(a) 1 414 Post Offices

(b)(i)

(aa) 458 owned Post Offices

(bb) 956 rented Post Offices

(b)(ii) 694 postal agencies

(c) Age analysis of rentals due as at January 2021 which includes 154 other rented

sites such as mail centres, depot’s box lobbies, etc. (A detailed list is attached hereto)

+30 days

+60 days

+90 days ...

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2021-w174 - 16 April 2021

Willem Frederik Faber to ask the Minister of Communications

What has she found to have been the impact of the closures that were as a result of late or non-payment for the monthly rental to owners of the buildings utilised by the SA Post Office on (a) SA Social Security Agency grants and the (b) renewal of motor vehicle licenses that took place at the specified Post Offices?

Reply from the Minister of Communications on 16 Apr 2021

(a) & (b) The closure of any SA Post Office as a result of late or non-payment for the monthly rental to owners of the buildings - or for whatever other reasons - is a concern and can be an inconvenience to all parties concerned.

The impact to both the SA Social Security Agency grant recipients and the renewal of motor vehicle licenses is ...

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2021-w184 - 15 April 2021

Cameron Mackenzie to ask the Minister of Communications

(1)   (a) Why and (b) for how long has the electricity been turned off at the Reygersdal Post Office in Atlantis; (2) What steps are being taken to ensure power is restored? (3) What steps are being taken to ensure a backup power system is put in place?

Reply from the Minister of Communications on 15 Apr 2021

I have been advised by the SAPO as follows:

1. (a) The Reygersdal branch’s electricity was disconnected due to cable theft in the area.

(b) The electricity was disconnected in mid-January 2021.

2. The electricity has since been restored.

3. The disconnection of electricity due to cable theft can not be predicted and planned for due to its nature. However, in instances where cable ...

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2021-w579 - 09 March 2021

Cilliers Brink to ask the Minister of Communications

Whether she has been informed that the Post Office in Highveld Park, Centurion, was closed during business hours for a number of days in November 2020; if not, why not; if so, what (a) were the reasons for the closure and (b) steps will she take to ensure that the unnecessary closures do not recur?

Reply from the Minister of Communications on 9 Mar 2021

No, I was not aware of the closure of the aforementioned Post Office branch as SAPO did not provide such information to the Department.

I have since been informed by the SAPO as follows:

a) The Highveld Park Post Office, Centurion branch was locked by the landlord on 13 November 2020. The reason for the closure is due to non-payment of rent as the ...

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2021-w480 - 09 March 2021

Chantel King to ask the Minister of Communications

(a) What are the reasons that the Pefferville Post Office in East London was closed and (b) on what date will services resume at the specified post office? (b) on what date will services resume at the specified post office?

Reply from the Minister of Communications on 9 Mar 2021

I have been advised by the SAPO as follows:

a) The Pefferville Post Office in East London was closed in March 2019 following a housebreaking/robbery which caused extensive damage to the building and point of sale equipment. Despite the numerous attempts to repair the damages and equipment, several further incidents of housebreaking were reported and criminals continue to vandalise and steal the equipment of ...

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2021-w173 - 04 March 2021

Willem Frederik Faber to ask the Minister of Communications

(a) What total number of buildings and/or premises are currently utilised by the SA Post Office under lease agreements and (b) at what total cost?

Reply from the Minister of Communications on 4 Mar 2021

I have been advised by the SAPO as follows:

a) SAPO is currently renting 1 110 premises from landlords and is currently considering ownership option in some areas and releasing some where they are under-utilised.

b) Currently, the total rental bill is approximately R30 million per month.

MS. STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS, MP

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

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