2024-w4095 - 08 January 2024

Frederik Jacobus Mulder to ask the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition

(1) (a) For what period has the position of Director General in the Department of Trade and Industry been vacant and (b) what are the reasons for the delay in filling the position; (2) whether there are plans to fill the position soon; if not, why not; if so, what are the timelines for filling the position, including a deadline for the final appointment of a new Director General?NW5377E

Reply from the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition on 8 Jan 2024

The post of Director General was advertised, and applications were considered by an Inter-Ministerial Committee. However, during the process, the Minister was requested to consider whether structural changes should be proposed involving the responsibilities within the dtic, which would affect the selection of a suitable candidate. This has taken some consideration during the second half of 2023. The Department intends that the position will ...

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2024-w4219 - 02 January 2024

Erik Johannes Marais to ask the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition

(1)Whether, with the reference to the 5-year tax rebate offered to businesses that invested in the Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone (SBIDZ) to cushion them from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, he will consider extending the tax rebate period with at least another two years; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details? (2) what additional benefit would be added to attract further investment in the SBIDZ to advance job creation efforts?

Reply from the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition on 2 Jan 2024

I am advised as follows. On 6 July 2018, the Minister of Finance issued Government Gazette 41758 indicating that companies located in the Saldanha Bay IDZ can be eligible for tax incentives/rebates based on qualifying criteria.

These incentives include:

    • A reduced corporate income tax rate of 15%.
    • An accelerated depreciation allowance of 10% on cost of any new and unused buildings or improvement owned ...
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2024-w4212 - 02 January 2024

Dean William Macpherson to ask the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition

(1)Whether he has found that the ideology of the Government’s appointment of cadres from a certain political party (details furnished) and the policy of preferential procurement was responsible for the deindustrialisation, unemployment, inequality and corruption that has been serious failures in Government policy; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (2) whether he intends to review his department’s policies that are undermined by these specified failures; if not, why not; if so, (3) whether he intends to set aside the policies of his department in favour of policies favouring industrialisation similar to those of economies that successfully grew their industries; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details? NW5495E

Reply from the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition on 2 Jan 2024

Appointments made within the dtic-group are based on suitability of candidates for the job. In addition, the dtic-group has taken action to address any instances of corrupt and/or inappropriate financial behaviour, as evidenced by steps taken in respect of the National Lotteries Commission.

The reasons for deindustrialisation can inter alia be traced back to premature and sharp reductions in trade support to industry, following ...

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2024-w4206 - 02 January 2024

Dean William Macpherson to ask the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition

Whether the National Empowerment Fund paid for the Chief Executive Officer to be in France during the September and October months; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply from the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition on 2 Jan 2024

I am advised that the National Empowerment Fund did not pay for the Chief Executive Officer or any other official to travel to France during the stated period. The NEF pays travel and related expenses exclusively for official business trips.

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2024-w4079 - 02 January 2024

Mathew John Cuthbert to ask the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition

Whether he will furnish Mr M J Cuthbert with a list of special economic zones that offer a reduced income tax rate; if not, why not; if so, what (a) total number of companies have utilised the specified benefit in the (i) 2021-22 and (ii) 2022-23 financial years and (b) is the corresponding value of the tax discount for each specified financial year?

Reply from the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition on 2 Jan 2024

a) The Special Economic Zone (SEZ) tax incentive was introduced into the Income Tax Act to promote investment, growth and job creation in the South African manufacturing sector and the development of designated regions. On 6 July 2018, the Minister of Finance issued Government Gazette 41758, with the following SEZ’s eligible for purposes of the reduced income tax rate:

• COEGA Special Economic Zone ...

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2024-w4227 - 02 January 2024

Mathew John Cuthbert to ask the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition

Whether he will provide Mr M J Cuthbert with a full list of the current investment portfolio of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC); if not, why not; if so, what is the a. Size of the investment in each case, b. Nature and/or classification of the IDC investment instrument in terms of debt, equity, or any other classification and c. In which sector do the companies in which the IDC invested operate?

Reply from the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition on 2 Jan 2024

I have been furnished with the information below by the IDC:

The IDC’s investment portfolio, in terms of exposure, is currently at R98.9 billion, made up of R65.7 billion (66%) in Debt and R33.2 billion (34%) in Equity. Debt investments are classified as Solely Payments of Principal and Interest (SPPI), and Equity investments are classified as Non-SPPI. The ...

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2024-w4218 - 02 January 2024

Darren Bergman to ask the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition

What total number of (a) local companies closed down as a result of the ban of ferrous and non-ferrous metals and (b) businesses that are backed by the Industrial Development Corporation have shown growth as a direct result of the ban? [

Reply from the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition on 2 Jan 2024

Restrictions on exports of certain scrap metal and copper cable products have been put in place since 30 November 2022, following research done on measures to curb widespread theft; and at the request of law enforcement and other entities.

Concerns have been raised by companies in the blast-furnace value chain and by scrap metal exporters. Support has been expressed by companies in the arc-furnace ...

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2024-w4221 - 02 January 2024

Erik Johannes Marais to ask the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition

Since Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone is the first special economic zone in the Republic to include a commercial port, what additional incentives will be given to investors that specifically invest in (a) oil and gas and (b) marine repair and engineering?

Reply from the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition on 2 Jan 2024

I am advised that the following key tax incentives and support apply:

  • A reduced corporate income tax rate of 15%
  • An accelerated depreciation allowance of 10% on cost of any new and unused buildings or improvement owned by the qualifying company, where applicable.
  • Customs Control Incentives (CCA).
  • Building of Top Structures for tenants in the SBIDZ.

These incentives and support are subject to applicants ...

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2023-w3778 - 24 November 2023

Darren Bergman to ask the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition

(1)What (a) total number of the Standards, Quality Assurance, Accreditation, and Metrology institutions that report to him have Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) that have been appointed on a full-time contract or on a full-time basis, (b) number of the specified institutions have acting CEOs and (c) are the reasons for an acting CEO being in the position; (2) Whether the positions of CEO have been advertised; if not, why not; if so, (3) Whether any of the entities produced shortlists; if not, why not; if so, what number of the entities have (a) submitted candidates for the position of CEO to him for approval and (b) not submitted such a candidate; (4) What steps does he intend to take to fill the position of CEO in instances where no candidate for the position was submitted to him?

Reply from the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition on 24 Nov 2023

Work done by the National Treasury over the past number of months has pointed to the need to identify ways to reduce the levels of public expenditure, including structural costs due to the number of public entities.

the dtic-group is therefore reviewing the Standards, Quality Assurance, Accreditation, and Metrology entities to identify whether potential mergers of entities can be effected, whilst enhancing ...

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2023-w3785 - 24 November 2023

Jan Naudé De Villiers to ask the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition

With reference to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and its impact on the small business sector in the Republic, what are the details of the (a) total number of small businesses currently integrated into the AGOA value chain, (b) total number of jobs created in the small business sector as a direct result of participation in the AGOA value chain and (c) quantifiable impact the involvement has had on our Republic’s economic growth?

Reply from the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition on 24 Nov 2023

In 2022 South Africa’s goods exports to the United States amounted to about US$14.4 billion. Of this, 21% ($3 billion) entered the US under AGOA. Over the recent five years since 2018, on average 16% of SA exports entered the US under AGOA.

Some sectors utilise AGOA for a significant portion of their US exports. I attach a revised copy of a presentation made ...

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