What is the (a) make, (b) model, (c) price (d) date on which each vehicle was purchased for use by (i) her and (ii) her deputy in the (aaa) 2014 – 15 and (bbb) 2015 – 16 financial years and (bb) since 1 April 2016.
(i) In the period under review the following vehicles were purchased for use by the Minister of Science of Science and Technology:
(aaa) 2014 – 15 Financial year for Pretoria Office:
- Audi Q7 3.0 TDI 180 kw Q TIP;
- 2015
- R697,733.58 and
- 23 July 2015 (invoice date)
(bbb) 2015 – 16 financial year for Cape Town Office:
- Audi Q7 3.0 TDI quarto;
- 2016
- R798,020.53 ...
(1) Whether any (a) internal and/or {b) external forensic reports pertaining to (i) her department and /or (ii) each entity reporting to her were completed from 1 January 2009 up to the latest specified date for which information is available; if not, in each case, why not; if so, what is the (aa) name, (bb) subject matter and (cc) date of conclusion of each of the specified forensic reports?
Whether, with reference to her reply to question 456 on 14 March, the specified investigation into the project manager at the Nkowankowa Demonstration Centre has been finalised yet; if not; if so, (a) what were the findings and (b) is the specified project manager still under suspension?
Whether any environmental impact studies were conducted for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope; if not, why not; if so,
(2) Have the specified environmental impact studies been completed; if not, why not; if so, in each case (a) on which dates were the specified studies completed and (b) who conducted the specified studies;
(3) Are the specified studies available for residents of the SKA region to read; if not, why not; if so, where can copies of the specified studies be obtained?
Whether, with reference to her reply to question 456 on 14 March 2016, the specified investigation into the project manager at the Nkowankowa Demonstration Centre has been finalised yet; if not, why not; if so, (a) what were the findings and (b) is the specified project manager still under suspension?
(a) The forensic investigation into alleged maladministration at the Nkowankowa Demonstration Centre (NDC) has been finalised. The investigation confirmed that there was gross financial maladministration of NDC affairs as well as other forms of unethical conduct.
(b) Given the serious findings of the investigation, the Departmental terminated its relationship with the project manager.
(1)Whether an implementation plan for multi-wavelength astronomy has been submitted by the National Research Foundation to her department; if not, why not; if so, (a) when was the specific plan submitted and (b) what are the further relevant details;
(2) whether in the budget allocation to the SA Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) has been increased as a result of the specified plan; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the relevant details and (b) what is the status of the student programme at the SAAO in terms of being continued or discontinued?
Whether any (a) internal and/or (b) external forensic reports pertaining to (i) her department and/or (ii) each entity reporting to her were completed from 1 January 2009 up to the latest specified date for which information is available; if not, in each case, why not; if so, what is the (aa) name, (bb) subject matter and (cc) date of conclusion of each of the specified forensic reports?
(a) No internal forensic reports
(b) External forensic reports – 2
(i) Pertaining to the Department of Science and Technology (aa) Forensic investigation into the Nkowankowa Demonstration Centre. (bb) Forensic investigation into various allegations regarding irregularities pertaining to the Nkowankowa Demonstration Centre, which was a Department of Science and Technology led community project. The period under investigation was from 01 December 2013 to 31August2015. ...
(1) Whether any environmental impact studies were conducted for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope project; if not, why not; if so, (2) have the specified environmental impact studies been completed; if not, why not; if so, in each case, (a) on which dates were the specified studies completed and (b) who conducted the specified studies; (3) are the specified studies available for residents of the SKA region to read; if not, why not; if so, where can copies of the specified studies be obtained?
- A number of impact assessment studies have been conducted on the SKA site since 2006. The first Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study which focused on a 5km radius around the proposed KAT 7 radio telescope site was conducted in 2006 and a Record of Decision (RoD) was issued in October 2007. The second EIA study was undertaken in 2008, after the acquisition of the ...
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(1) Whether an implementation plan for multi-wavelength astronomy has been submitted by the National Research Foundation to her department; if not, why not; if so, (a) when was the specified plan submitted and (b) what are the further relevant details; Friday, 14 October 2016 805 INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY NO 30 - 2016 (2) whether the budget allocation to the SA Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) has been increased as a result of the specified plan; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the relevant details and (b) what is the status of the student programme at the SAAO in terms of being continued or discontinued?
1. The NRF submitted the Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Multi-Wavelength Astronomy to the DST in November 2015 and it was approved by the DST Executive Committee in March 2016. The Implementation Plan outlines the proposed programmatic focus and consequent financial implications for astronomy initiatives in South Africa, and it was approved as a framework within which various astronomy-related interventions, projects and ...
Whether she has instituted an investigation into the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) following a protected disclosure by an employee; if not, why not; if so, (a) when will the specified investigation be concluded and (b) wo has been tasked with conducting the investigation;
2. Whether the findings of the investigation will be made public; if not, why not;
3. Whether the Chief Executive Officer of the CSIR has been informed of the nature of the specified disclosure; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?”
