(1) Whether the SA Customs Union (SACU) will be disbanded to promote free trade amongst the Southern African member states; if not, what is the position in this regards, if so, what are the proposals; (2) whether certain member states will be compensated for any loss of income that will be foreseen as a result of disbandment of the SACU; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

(1) Whether any cases where the details of companies in the register were changed fraudulently, to effect so-called company hijackings, have been identified by (a) the CIPC or (b) its predecessor, the Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office (Cipro), during the period 1 January 2011 up to the latest specified date for which information is available; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether any progress has been made in the forensic investigation into the (a) fraudulent removal and/or (b) instatement of directors of companies; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether a certain person (name furnished) who has been placed on precautionary suspension, was still suspended; if not, what were the results of the investigation; if so, what are the reasons for the delay in finalising the matter; (4) whether there are any staff from CIPC who have been suspended for more than 90 days; if so, (a) what are the (i) dates and (ii) duration of suspension and (b) why have these cases not been resolved?

(1) Whether he has been informed that staff at the National Consumer Commission (NCC) have brought complaints against a certain person (details furnished); if so, what are the relevant details; if not, (2) whether he will investigate the matter, if not, why not; if so, when; (3) whether he will launch an investigation into the person’s conduct; if not, why not; if so, when?

Whether the Government intends to alter existing trading paradigms by restructuring its economies to support (a) the addition of value, (b) industrialisation and (c) intra-African trade; if not, why not; if so, how does he intend to alter existing trading paradigms? NW4408 <b> 3630. Mr L S Ngonyama (Cope) to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation: </b>Whether the Government’s foreign policy is regularly evaluated to ensure that its national interests are maximised; if not, why not; if so, (a) when last was the foreign policy evaluated, (b) who is involved in this process, (c) how is the process guided, (d) which national interests were pursued in the process and (e) what are the further relevant details?

(1) Whether any officials in his department (a) have been investigated, (b) are currently under investigation and (c) have been charged for alleged (i) corrupt or (ii) fraudulent activity; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether any disciplinary action has been taken against employees of his department for (a) fraud and/or (b) corruption; if so, (i) how many instances of disciplinary actions have (aa) been finalised and (bb) not been finalised and (ii) in each case, (aa) what sanctions have been meted out and (bb) how long has it taken to finalise such disciplinary actions; (3) whether he has found that his department has adequate investigative capacity inclusive of manpower and infrastructure in respect of disciplinary proceedings; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

What is the reason for the delay in the publication of the report of the interministerial task team into steel pricing (details furnished)?

Whether, with regard to the Consumer Commissioner’s assurance to the Portfolio committee on Trade and Industry that the Commission would be able to handle the volume of complaints arising from municipalities, he intends to revoke the deferment of the applicability of several sections of the Consumer Protection Act, Act 68 of 2008, to low and medium capacity municipalities?

Whether, with reference to the economic progress made by the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries as a result of their trade in manufactured goods that were once the preserve of Europe and USA, the Government has emulated any lessons from this in order to improve economic and trading capacity; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what lessons?

(1) Why did the (a) director: Asia Bilateral, (b) deputy director: Asia Bilateral, (c) deputy director: Investment Promotion and Facilitation and (d) deputy director: Export Promotion accompany him on his trip to the Rugby World Cup from 8 to 11 September 2011; (2) whether there are any achievements to report from this trip; if not, how can the R252 000 bill for the trip be justified; if so, what are the achievements?

(1) With reference to his reply to question 3307 on 7 November 2011, what are the full details of the R3.8 million pay-out to project number 46506 in the Khara Hais Municipality; (2) with reference to the disclosure by the National Lotteries Board on page 75 of its 2011 annual report, what (a) are the names of and (b) total amount paid out to, each of the ten beneficiaries to whom payments to the value of R10 217 295 million were disbursed?