(1)On what date(s) did the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) hold its scheduled meetings in the (a) 2021, (b) 2022 and (c) 2023 calendar years to consider applications for all the (i) import and (ii) export permit applications as defined by the National Conventional Arms Control Act, Act 41 of 2002;
(2) whether the NCACC has considered the instability that prevailed between Russia and Ukraine in both 2021 and 2022; if not, why not; if so,
(3) whether the NCACC has considered any applications for imports and exports to and from Belarus, which has provided its territory to Russia since its first attacks on Ukraine, actively supported and participated in the Russian invasion of Ukraine and now houses the Russian Wagner private military group; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
1.
1.1 The NCACC Meetings are scheduled to take place on the last Thursday of each month from February to November in each year. Dates of scheduled NCACC meetings for 2021, 2022 and 2023 are as follows:
1.2 The 2021 meetings though scheduled as per ussual, were held virtually due to the protocols that were under COVID 19 Controls as prescribed under the State ...
In light of the fact that in October 2023, the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) employees embarked on a strike, requesting a 7.5% remuneration increase, (a) how did the strike impact SITA in its mandate to provide Information Technology services to various Government Departments, (b) what were the outcome of the agreement made with the Public Servants Association to end the strike and (c) how will SITA finance the remuneration increase?
(a) The impact of the strike was mitigated through a robust business continuity and contingency plan. Critical ICT services continued to be provided during the strike.
(b) SITA and PSA agreed on a 5% salary increase across the board and a once off ex-gratia payment of R8326,45 per qualifying employee.
(c) The salary increase was fully funded from the planned 2023-2024 financial year labour ...
Whether, with reference to the institution of an inquiry by the President of the Republic, Mr M C Ramaphosa, into matters surrounding the docking of the Russian vessel, Lady R, in Simonstown in December 2022, the import permits granted in 2019 and 2020 were still valid to offload Russian ammunition while the ship was docked and/or any applications for export permits for munitions to be loaded onto the specified vessel were received; if not, was the validity of the import permits extended by the National Conventional Arms Control Committee; if so, what are the details and reasons that the extension and the export permit application were not reported to the Joint Standing Committee on Defence?
- The NCACC confirms that the import permits granted in 2019 and 2020 were not valid at the time of the offloading Russian ammunition while the ship was docked and/or any applications for export permits for munitions to be loaded onto the specified vessel were received.
- This is because the Permits issued at any given time have a limited lifespan and may only be extended to keep ...
Whether the SA Broadcasting Corporation has relinquished its part ownership on videos that were produced during the 1980s in partnership with record companies; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what were the terms of the termination?
The Rules Committee took a decision on 4 and 23 November 2022, in respect of questions requesting information prior to 1994, that such questions should take into account the possible non-availability of information before the pre-democratic era (see page 10 of attached ATC).
The SABC has indicated that it is proving difficult to track information dating back to the 1980s.
Thank You.
On what date was the last SA Social Security Agency (SASSA) payment technical infrastructure and software updated by the SA Postbank, (b) what (i) year and (ii) model is the payment technical infrastructure and software currently in use for SASSA payments and (c) what is the cost of the payment technical infrastructure and software for the current financial year?
(a)-(b) The South African Postbank SOC Ltd processes and pays SASSA grants using an Integrated Grant Payment System (IGPS) based on FSS Tech 5.1.0 Software and a payment switch, Postillion Switch 5.6 Software. The payment switch was last updated on 28 September 2023, version 2023.V1.5.0.
(c) The payment technical infrastructure and software, IGPS are licensed until March 2024 for R32.2 million for the duration of ...
What is the number of (a) international and (b) domestic trips undertaken by senior officials in each entity reporting to him in the 2022-23 financial year?
|
ENTITY
|
INTERNATIONAL
|
DOMESTIC
|
|
BBI
|
8
|
52
|
|
FPB
|
2
|
3
|
|
ICASA
|
13
|
18
|
|
NEMISA
|
0
|
11
|
|
POSTBANK
|
2
|
162
|
|
SAPO
|
0
|
6
|
|
SABC
|
0
|
64
|
|
SENTECH
|
46
|
2413
|
|
SITA
|
11
|
50
|
|
USAASA
|
1
|
42
|
|
ZADNA
|
9
|
29
|
Thank You.
(1)Whether the Government and/or his department initiated a programme such as Dubai’s National Programme for Coders to attract coders and programmers from around the world to create the best eco-system in the world to allow coders to develop, grow and thrive; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so,
(2) whether the Government intends to emulate Dubai’s initiative of attracting 100,000 golden visas for coders and establish 1000 digital companies in the next five years; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details,
(3) what widescale internship opportunities are offered to South Africa’s youth in collaboration with global technical companies such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Cisco, IBM and Facebook?
1. No.
2. No
3. In partnership with Huawei, the DCDT implements a yearly programme called ‘Seeds for the Future.’ The programme targets students from previously disadvantaged universities at third or fourth year level who attend a two-week training programme in China. The programme offers training in various fields such as Internet of Things (IoT), 5G, cloud and Artificial Intelligence. Moreover, as part of ...
What measures have been put in place to fast-track, expand, and improve digital infrastructure and broadband access across the Republic, particularly in underserved rural areas, to ensure equitable access to information and communication technologies?
South Africa’s broadband policy (SA Connect) was adopted by Cabinet in December 2013 to meet the country’s vision of a seamless network by 2030. This will make broadband universally accessible at a cost and quality that meets the needs of citizens, formal and informal businesses, and the public sector. In September 2021, the Department embarked on a process to consider an alternative approach to ...
(1)Whether his department has any targets for the attainment of full internet connectivity and/or access in the Republic; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether his department has recorded any tangible achievements following its commitments made at the 2005 Internet Governance World Summit on the Information Society; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
1. South Africa’s broadband policy, called SA Connect was adopted by Cabinet in December 2013 to meet the country’s vision of a seamless network by 2030. This will make broadband universally accessible at a cost and quality that meets the needs of citizens, formal and informal businesses, and the public sector. In September 2021, the Department embarked on a process to consider an alternative ...
What are the relevant details of the (a) budget allocated for, (b) actual expenditure and (c) developments regarding the building of a national broadband network to connect government departments, hospitals and schools?
In January 2022, Cabinet approved the implementation of SA Connect Phase 2 revised model. The revised model comprises:
- Community and household connectivity.
- Connectivity to government facilities.
- Universal Service Obligations to connect amongst others: schools and health facilities.
Broadband Infraco (BBI) and SENTECH will extend their networks and onboard Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to deploy Wi-Fi hotspots and enable household coverage. SITA will provide and ...
