(a) How does the SA Qualifications Authority (SAQA) intend to utilise the R1,2 million which has been reallocated towards Covid-19 expenditure and (b) what exact effect will the specified reallocation of funding have on SAQA’s other expenses?
(a) The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) is using the reallocated budget to reduce the spread of COVID-19 when employees are at the office. Management has earmarked and reprioritised R1.2 million for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as masks, gloves, sanitisers and disinfectants for 197 SAQA employees, and to procure cleaning equipment and consumables, as well as deep cleaning services, as and when necessary ...
Given that the Council on Higher Education (CHE) has for years been underfunded, (a) in what precise ways will the cut of R1,4 million affect CHE’s operations, (b) what will be cut and (c)(i) what necessary information and communications technology architecture mentioned in his department’s presentation to Parliament has been and/or will be purchased and (ii) at what cost?
The CHE has indicated the following:
(a) The cut of R1.4 million does not have any negative impact on the CHE operations because the cut is linked to information declared by entities for funded vacancies that could not yet be filled. In addition, an additional amount of R25 million was allocated to the CHE baseline for 2020/21 to address critical service delivery areas in ...
What will be the specific effect on normal university expenditure in each university resulting from (a) the cuts in the university block grant of R2,5 billion and (b) the reallocation of the university block grant of R2,1billion towards the Covid-19 expenditure, with special reference to activities and expenses that will no longer be able to take place?
The COVID-19 pandemic has already had an impact on normal university expenditure, allowing for substantial savings due to the postponement of a range of activities, especially due to cancelled conferences, and limited travel and accommodation being undertaken. In addition, general savings on services (electricity and water) have also been experienced. Many institutions at the same time, recognising the context, have made decisions not to ...
Which (a) infrastructure and (b) other projects will be postponed and/or stopped in each university in the sector as a result of cuts and reprioritisations of funding?
At this point in time, the Department has not received any confirmation from universities of projects that may be slowed down or postponed as a result of the cuts and reprioritisation of funding. A large amount of the reprioritised funds comes from interest accrued on earmarked grants that had not yet been specifically allocated to any projects. No currently approved projects have been stopped.
All ...
(1) How precisely will the cut in the funding of technical and vocational education and training colleges, resulting from the reduction and reprioritisation of funds, affect the 2021 new student intake in each centre of specialisation;
(2) whether fewer students will be admitted; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) by what number will the intake be reduced and (b) what other costs will be cut?
(1) In November 2019, an allocation of R170.293 million was made from the 2019/20 budget to the Centre of Specialisation students for the year 2020.
This comprised of:
- 1 210 returning students from 2019 (1stcohort) =- R 84 million
- 840 new enrolments for 2020 (2ndcohort) = R 86 ...
(1)What total amount in funding does eThekwini College in Durban, KwaZulu- Natal, receive from his department;
(2) whether the specified college provides his department with a budget for funds received; if so, what is the proposed budget for each line item;
(3) whether the college received Covid-19 relief funding from his department; if not, on what date will the college receive Covid-19 relief funding; if so, what (a) total amount of funding has been allocated to the college for Covid-19 relief funding and (b) is the breakdown of the specified funding?
(1) For the 2020/21 financial year, an amount of R198 734 325 was provided to eThekwini TVET College with regards to programme funding. This amount is the budget before the special budget adjustment announced by the National Treasury in June 2020. The new budget allocations will be issued to the TVET colleges as soon as it is approved.
(2) The initial 2020/21 budget allocation of R198 734 325 ...
(1)What (a) number of African, indigenous and/or traditional medicines has each of the entities reporting to him develop to the point where it has undergone clinical testing, been shown scientifically to have beneficial effects and put into production, sale and prescription by qualified medical and traditional professionals (i) in each of the past five financial years and (ii) since 1 April 2020, (b)(i) is the name of each of these medicines and (ii) diseases does each of the specified medicines treat and (c)(i) number of these medicines are currently under investigation, (ii) are the details of the reasons why each is under investigation and (iii) is the current status of each investigation;
(2) what were the details of the cost to develop each of these medicines according to each stage of development as at the latest specified date?
1. (a) There are eighteen (18) African natural medicines that have been through various levels of the value chain of medicines development, to the point of being prescribed by traditional health practitioners (i) of which fourteen (14) were in progress since 2015, and (ii) four (4) were since 1 April 2020.
(b) The (i) names and (ii) treatment purposes for each of these African natural ...
(1)On what grounds are the examination of theses and other similar activities by academics at other institutions of higher education and training considered part of the collegial contribution of any academic while the examination of theses and other similar activities by academics not employed by the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), particularly by the Business School, are considered to be private work;
(2) what (a) amount does an external academic who examines (i) Masters and (ii) Doctoral theses usually receive in remuneration and (b) form does the specified type of remuneration take;
(3) what (a) number of other institutions of higher education and training consider the external examination of theses and other similar collegial activities to be private work and (b) are the financial implications for external academics who examine theses and perform collegial activities;
(4) whether he has found that the UKZN Business School’s determination that the external examination of theses is private work has discouraged academics from doing their collegial duty; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has provided the following response to the questions posed:
(1) In general, the examination of theses by academics is considered as a collegial activity and part of academic citizenship. Some colleagues have declared the external examination of theses as part of the private work declaration as an indication of transparency for additional funds received. It is thus not a ...
In light of the recent judgment of the Supreme Court of Appeal reinstating Afrikaans as a language of instruction at the University of South Africa, what are the details of engagements that he has had with universities to ensure that language does not continue to be used as a tool of exclusion for many university students?
The Department is aware of the recent judgement by the Supreme Court of Appeal reinstating Afrikaans as the medium of instruction at the University of South Africa, alongside the current medium of instruction, which is English. The Department has been closely following many other judgements, notably by the Constitutional Court, rightfully upholding decisions by university Councils at a number of universities, to move away ...
With reference to the Services Sector Education and Training Authority Services (SETA) Programme on Plumbing and Bricklaying running in Aberdeen that undertook to pay a stipend of R2,500 per month until September 2019 and thereafter R3,500 per month, what action can be taken against the service provider who has failed to meet the services SETA payment obligations for the months of July 2019 to December 2019 and from March 2020 onwards and for underpaying in January 2020 and February 2020 to one specific learner (name and details furnished) who despite numerous attempts at resolution, continues not to perform in this regard?
The explanation received from the Services SETA is that the payment of stipends is based on attendance registers submitted by the training provider and/or host employer. Accordingly, Mr Lizo April was paid as follows:
Period: July 2019 – December 2019
The learner was paid a stipend for each month, except for the months of September 2019 and November 2019 where attendance could not be confirmed by way of ...
