2023-w1985 - 19 June 2023

Thapelo Mogale to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Considering that financial insecurity has over the past years caused numerous problems pertaining to food insecurity for university students and noting that with the rising cost of living on a daily basis, the situation could only be exacerbated, what (a) steps has his department taken to date to resolve the crisis of food insecurity for university and tertiary students and (b) different and specialised interventions in different facilities has his department implemented over the years to curb the frustration and inhumane conditions?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 19 Jun 2023

a) I reported that the South African government allocated R47 billion to fund approximately 900 000 NSFAS beneficiaries in the 2023 academic year. This represents a 7% increase in the number of students that are eligible for NSFAS compared to the previous fiscal year. In 2023 academic year, an inflation linked increase of 5% was also applied on all allowances (excluding living allowances). Living ...

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2023-w2016 - 19 June 2023

Thapelo Mogale to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Considering that financial insecurity has over the past years caused numerous problems pertaining to food insecurity for university students and noting that with the rising cost of living on a daily basis, the situation could only be exacerbated, what (a) steps has his department taken to date to resolve the crisis of food insecurity for university and tertiary students and (b) different and specialised interventions in different facilities has his department implemented over the years to curb the frustration and inhumane conditions?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 19 Jun 2023

a) I reported that the South African government allocated R47 billion to fund approximately 900 000 NSFAS beneficiaries in the 2023 academic year. This represents a 7% increase in the number of students that are eligible for NSFAS compared to the previous fiscal year. In 2023 academic year, an inflation linked increase of 5% was also applied on all allowances (excluding living allowances). Living ...

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2023-w1804 - 19 June 2023

Annacleta Mathapelo Siwisa to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Considering the continued attacks and killings of staff members of the University of Fort Hare (UFH) amidst allegations of corruption in that institution, what measures has he put in place to ensure the safety of whistle-blowers and staff members at UFH?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 19 Jun 2023

I am concerned about the safety of students and staff members at all the institutions of higher learning.

Following certain outbursts by senior management in the media, I have tabled the protection of whistle blowers on the agenda for discussion with the Council of the University of Fort Hare.

The University of Fort Hare has in the interim confirmed that the Council expedited the ...

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2023-w1672 - 30 May 2023

Nomsa Innocencia Tarabella Marchesi to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

(1)Whether the National Advisory Council has advised him on research and development and the promotion of Mathematics, Natural Science and Technology; if not, why not; if so, what advice on the specified issues did the council give him in the past five years; 2) whether there were any discussions regarding the advice given; if not, why not; if so, what was the outcome of the specified discussions; (3) what has been the budget allocation of the council in the past five years?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 30 May 2023

  1. Yes, the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI) conducted and submitted advice on the effectiveness of mathematics and science education initiatives in schools.
  2. there has not yet been a discussion between NACI and the Minister on the advice provided; and
  3. The budget allocation of the Advisory Council in the past five years is R90 million.
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2023-w1716 - 30 May 2023

Wynand Johannes Boshoff to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Considering the demand for radio silence over a great part of the Northern Cape for the purpose of radio astronomy, how will the radio silence be impacted by the global coverage of Starlink’s satellite-driven internet coverage?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 30 May 2023

The proliferation of satellites launched into low earth orbit around the earth for internet coverage by companies such as Starlink, Oneweb, Amazon and others, is posing a threat globally to astronomical observations and not only just on the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope. South Africa together with the international astronomy community is working closely with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the United ...

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2023-w1697 - 25 May 2023

Janho Engelbrecht to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Whether he will furnish Mr J Engelbrecht with a comprehensive breakdown of the procurement allocation of (a) his department and (b) every entity reporting to him in terms of the percentages allocated to (i) small-, medium- and micro-enterprises, (ii) cooperatives, (iii) township enterprises and (iv) rural enterprises with a view to evaluating the effectiveness of the set-aside policy of the Government in fostering an inclusive and diverse economic landscape (details furnished) in the (aa) 2021-22 financial year and (bb) since 1 April 2023?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 25 May 2023

During the 2021/22 and the current 2023/24 financial years, the Department of Higher Education and Training did not identify procurement allocation for small, medium, and micro enterprises; cooperatives, township and rural. However, a 40% procurement from women owned business was a target. The main challenge experienced in pursuing procurement targets with the previous Preferential Procurement Policy (PPP) Regulations of 2017, was that it did ...

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2023-w1740 - 25 May 2023

Sanele Sethembeni Zondo to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Whether his department has any interventions in place to address the situation where at the end of each academic year hundreds of thousands of graduates do not have any prospect of employment due to the absence of an investment into and/or demand for certain skills and degrees by industries; not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of the interventions?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 25 May 2023

Due to the limited number of jobs which are readily available in the country, university graduates are not always able to secure immediate relevant work opportunities once they have completed their studies. The Department of Higher Education and Training (the Department) is participating in the Presidential Youth Employment Stimulus (PES) programme. The programme offers opportunities for unemployed graduates to gain useful university-based experience in ...

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2023-w1673 - 25 May 2023

Nomsa Innocencia Tarabella Marchesi to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

(1)What number of learners with Mathematics, Natural Science and Technology (a) enter and study science-related degrees in the institutions of higher learning, (b) eventually complete their degrees and (c) further their studies up to the level of a (i) Master’s degree and (ii) Doctorate; (2) what amount did his department spend on the science, innovation and technology-related degrees in the 2022 academic year?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 25 May 2023

1. (a)The tracking of data of learners who enter higher education (public and private institutions) with Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology (STM) has not been actioned. The Department mostly tracks subject neutral data of students that fall within the public university sector. For instance, tracking of studies related to Engineering between 2019 to 2021 shows there has been a decline in the number of ...

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2023-w1378 - 22 May 2023

Nomsa Innocencia Tarabella Marchesi to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

What (a) are the details of the profit revenue that has been generated from Cannabidiol (CBD) as at the latest date for which information is available, (b) is the actual variation in percentage between use of the CBD for recreational purposes versus its use for health, (c) total number of jobs have been created from the CBD economy and (d) total number of (i) women and (ii) persons living with disabilities are employed in the specified sector?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 22 May 2023

a) South Africa is in the process of developing the Cannabis Industrialisation Masterplan, which is led by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development (DALRRD). The Master Plan has several pillars in regulatory systems, sustainable seed supply systems, research and innovation, enterprise and suppliers and market development, and education and communication/awareness – lead by the Departments of Justice (DOJC); Health ((NDOH); Agriculture, ...

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2023-w1546 - 22 May 2023

Chantel King to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

What is the cost of the expenditure on the 89 individuals assisting with accreditation of student accommodation service providers?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 22 May 2023

The response from National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) indicates that there is no expenditure relating to accreditation of student accommodation incurred to date. The scheme has not approved or paid any invoices from student accommodation accreditation.

The student accommodation accreditation is a new project and there is no past information from which realistic projections of expenditure can be made. The cost of accreditation ...

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