Whether, based on Mr Edwin Sodi’s recent testimony at the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector including Organs of State, which implicated her Deputy Minister as a beneficiary of Mr Sodi’s company, her Deputy Minister declared the funds she had received in accordance with the requirements of the Executive Members’ Ethics Act, Act 82 of 1998, to the Registrar of Members’ Interests in Parliament; if not, what (a) total number of contracts have been awarded to Mr Sodi’s company under her leadership in her (i) previous and (ii) current executive position and (b) is the monetary value of each specified contract so awarded?
I have been advised by the Deputy Minister as follows:
a) No payments were made in the current financial year as well as in the previous financial years.
b) Not applicable.
MS. STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS, MP
MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
Whether, with regard to reports that the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) News Division has spent R1,8 million on bulletproof vests for staff, she will furnish Ms L van der Merwe with the relevant details as to (a) on what date the vests were deemed necessary equipment for SABC staff, (b) which company received the tender, (c) the total number of vests that were purchased, (d) the total cost per unit vest and (e) which staff members the vests were assigned to; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) Whether she will confirm that the SABC incurred an R11 million independent contractors wage bill for its News Division for July 2020 alone, which constitutes a R4 million increase from the previous month; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the relevant details in this regard, (b) is it the case that the SABC cannot function and/or execute its mandate with its current staff complement only and (c) what is the SABC’s total spend on independent contractors from 1 April 2020 up to the latest specified date for which information is available;
(3) what is the (a) SABC’s total legal bill as at the latest specified date for which information is available and (b) total breakdown of amounts spent per legal firm;
(4) whether, with regard to the lockdown period, wherein the SABC News Division made use of the Nasrec facilities for a period of five months for the rental fee of R1 million a month (details furnished), she will justify the overspending during a time where austerity measures should have been the primary motivator behind spending; if not, why not; if so, what are the further relevant details;
(5) what measures has she put in place to ensure that the low staff morale at the SABC is addressed?
I have been advised by the SABC as follows:
(1)(a) The signed Business Case was received by SCM on the 9 March 2018. This is a date in which vests were deemed necessary equipment for staff in the SABC News Division.
(1)(b) Mayehlome Communications
(1)(c) A total of 100 vests with various sizes were purchased
(1)(d)
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Bullet proof vest Sizes
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Number
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Price per ... |
With reference to a certain post (details furnished) within the Department of Communications being filled by a Ms Kamogelo Mgotsi, what (a) is the level of the specified position and (b) level was the specified person appointed at?
I have been advised by the Department as follows:-
The person in question is not an employee of the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies.
MS. STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS, MP
MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
(1)Which public relations (PR) company has been hired to clean up the image of the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC);
(2)(a) what is the total monetary value of the specified contract and (b) why was it deemed necessary to hire a PR company to do work for the SABC considering that the SABC does have an internal PR component and personnel;
(3) Whether proper procurement processes were followed to appoint the specified PR company; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
I have been advised by the SABC as follows:
(1) PR WORX
(2)(a) R2,3 million including VAT
(2)(b) To further add to the SABC’s turnaround strategy, addressing and better managing its reputation and corporate image is a priority for the broadcaster. The SABC therefore sought a suitably qualified and competent firm as the reputation management; corporate image building; and market research services that the ...
Whether, with regard to the urgent need to restore financial stability at the public broadcaster, as well as the abrupt departure of a former manager (name furnished) in 2013 who left the employ of the SA Broadcasting Corporation within only a 24-hour notice under a cloud of financial mismanagement, an investigation was ever conducted into the allegation that the specified former manager employed and paid approximately 31 ghost employees for a period of two years; if not, why not; if so, what are the further relevant details in this regard?
I have been advised by the SABC as follows:
The SABC confirms that Mr Manamela left the employ of the SABC in 2013. He resigned with immediate effect and stated reasons for leaving as career progression. Furthermore, the SABC confirms that no investigation was ever conducted against Mr Manamela. The SABC has no record of an allegation or complaint of the 31 ghost employees ...
Whether (a) her department and (b) any entities reporting to her paid any bonuses to senior officials in the past two financial years; if so, in each specified case, (i) to whom and (ii) what total 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?
I have been advised by the Department and SOCs as follows:
As stated in the Annual Reports to Parliament for the said financial years regarding the department and entities, the details of the payments are as per the tables below, namely;
Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services
1(a) 2017/18:
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(i)To whom
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(ii)Amount Paid
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(DTPS)
Senior Managers
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Yes, cash bonuses were ... |
What is the total number of (a) legal matters in which the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) was the defendant in the past two financial years up to the latest specified date for which information is available and (b) the specified legal matters that were dealt with by (i) the State Attorney and (ii) private counsel during the specified periods;
(2) what (a) are the reasons that her department was not represented by the State Attorney in each specified case and (b) total amounts were paid by the SABC to (i) the State Attorney and (ii) private counsel during the specified periods?
I have been advised by the SABC as follows:
1. (a) 87
(b)(i) 0
(ii) 29
2. (a) There was no reason for the department to be represented in these matters as they related to the operations of the SABC.
(b) (i) 0
(ii) R 65 351 000.00
MS. STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS, MP
MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
(1)What total number of executive management positions are currently (a) vacant and/or (b) filled by a person in an acting capacity in (i) her department, (ii) the SA Broadcasting Corporation and (iii) each of the entities reporting to her;
(2) (a) on what date was each specified position (i) vacated and (ii) filled by a person in an acting capacity and (b) what are the reasons for the (i) resignation, (ii) dismissal, (iii) suspension and (iv) special leave that resulted in the position becoming vacant in each case?
I have been advised by the Department and Entities as follows:
Department of Communications and Digital Technologies
(1)(a)(i) 3
(1)(b)(i) 4
(2)
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POSITION (a)
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DATE VACATED
(i)
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DATE FILLED BY A PERSON IN AN ACTING CAPACITY
(ii)
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REASONS FOR RESIGNATION
(b)(i)
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REASONS FOR DISMISSAL
(b)(ii)
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REASONS FOR SUSPENSION
(b)(iii)
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REASONS FOR SPECIAL LEAVE
(b)(iv)
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Director-General: Communications and Digital Technologies (New)
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The post of DG: ... |
1. With reference to industrial relations of the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), which unions are recognised by the SABC management;
2. whether any other unions have not been recognised by the SABC management; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what criteria are used for the recognition of unions;
3. whether the processes in respect of the recognition of unions have been found to be fair and in compliance with the constitutional principles of freedom of association; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
I have been advised by the SABC as follows:
1. There are two recognised unions, namely, BEMAWU and Communications Workers Union.
2. Prior to its deregistration, MWASA was not recognised by the SABC. MWASA failed to fulfil the 500-membership threshold. The threshold was decided upon through a process of negotiation between the SABC and unions that were seeking recognition within the SABC.
MWASA ...
Whether the South African Post Office currently holds and / or has ever held a corporate membership at the Irene Country Club in Tshwane; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details with regards to the (a) date the membership was taken out, (b) duration of the membership and (c) total cost of the membership broken down into annual payments since the inception of the membership?
I have been advised by the SAPO as follows:
Yes, the SAPO has held a membership at the Irene Country Club.
a) Initial membership commenced on 30/09/2012
b) The membership was from 30/09/2012 to 01/08/2020, for the approximately 8 years.
c) The total cost broken down into annual payments is as follows:
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Year
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Amount
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Type
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2012/2013
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R79 036.80
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Annual Membership
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2013/2014
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R87 679.68
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Annual ... |
