Whether he has been informed that (a) consumer’s complaints are not being taken up by the National Consumer Commission and (b)(i) retailers and (ii) service providers continue to flout the Consumer Protection Act, Act 68 of 2008; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

(1) Whether he is aware of the visa problems that the business people from other African countries are experiencing; if not, what is the position in this regard; (2) whether he has made an assessment of these challenges with the intention of sustaining the country’s status as the gateway to Africa; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether he will make a statement on the matter?

Whether, with regard to the widening of South Africa’s trade deficit level in several years, the economic diplomacy training given to South African diplomats and mission staff and the existence of several international bilateral trade agreements have (a) yielded any growth in bilateral trade between South Africa and its international trading partners, including Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRICS) during and since the previous financial year and (b) contributed in any way to attracting foreign direct investment to South Africa during the same period; if not, (i) why not and (ii) what are his department’s plans in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

What is the progress in respect of the amalgamation of the Southern African Development Community, the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa and the East African Community in so far as intra-African trade is concerned?

(1) How many legal matters were dealt with by his department (a) in the (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11 and (iii) 2011-12 financial years and (b) during the period 1 April 2012 up to the latest specified date for which information is available; (2) (a) how many of the specified legal matters were dealt with by (i) the State Attorney and (ii) private attorneys during the specified periods and (b) what are the reasons why his department was not represented by the State Attorney in each specified case; (3) what total amounts were paid by his department to (a) the State Attorney and (b) private attorneys during the specified periods?

(1) Whether (a) his department and (b) any entities reporting to him paid any bonuses to senior officials in December 2012; if so, in each specified case, (i) to whom and (ii) what amount was paid; (2) whether the specified bonuses were performance-based; if not, what is the justification for each bonus; if so, in each case, from which budget were the performance bonuses paid; (3) whether, in each case, (a) a performance agreement was signed with the official and (b) regular performance assessments were conducted; if not, why not, in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?

(a) How many tickets did (i) his department and (ii) any of its entities purchase to attend business breakfasts hosted by a certain newspaper (name furnished) (aa) in the (aaa) 2010-11 and (bbb) 2011-12 financial years and (bb) during the period 1 April 2012 up to the latest specified date for which information is available and (b) what was the total cost in each case?

(1) Whether he has been informed that (a) only locally recruited marketing officers and not departmentally appointed trade representatives are stationed in (i) Bangkok and (ii) Singapore and (b) neither marketing officers nor trade representatives are currently stationed at (i) Jakarta and (ii) Kuala Lumpur; if not, (2) whether he intends to investigate the matter; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) what are the reasons for not appointing adequately trained (a) marketing officers and (b) trade representatives at missions within (i) the Southeast Asian economic bloc and (ii) other missions globally; (4) whether he intends taking any corrective steps to rectify the shortages of adequately trained (a) marketing officers and (b) trade representatives at missions within (i) the Southeast Asian economic bloc and (ii) other missions globally; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (5) whether he has found that his department is doing enough to assist in the facilitation of trade with the Southeast Asian economic bloc; if not, how was this conclusion reached; if so, what are the relevant details?

Whether South Africa has crafted a more vigorous trade and investment programme which (a) encourages African integration in trade and policies with the other four BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China) countries, (b) enables the voice of the African continent to be heard on the broader international platforms that BRICS offer and (c) positions South Africa to benefit from the association by creating job opportunities for the country and Africa in general; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

(1) How many applications for finance did the National Empowerment Fund (NEF) receive from each province in the (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11 financial years; (2) (a) how many (i) persons and (ii) companies were financed by the NEF in each province in the (aa) 2009-10 and (bb) 2010-11 financial years, (b) what amount was allocated to each (i) person and (ii) company in each financial year, (c) how many of the specified companies are still in operation and (d) what type of assistance was given to those who did not make progress?