With regards to the evaluation of safety at Lily Mine in Mpumalanga South Africa, the world and the community members of Mpumalanga were shocked with the incident that occurred in Lilly Mine in Nkomazi Mpumalanga where 3 mine workers went down 80m into a sink hole. The communities across the country shared a hope and anxiety of the families and miners at Lily Mine that are distraught. In your recent media and public announcement you made the point that it will take between 6 to 8 months for the rescue team to reach the container. Up to the date “The families of Mnisi, Mazibuko and Nyerende are still in our prayers and we trust that the emotional and psychological support they are receiving will assist them to cope with the traumatic experience.

With reference to the court decision in Glencore Operations South Africa Proprietary Limited Coal Division v Minister of Mineral Resources and Others (JR91/2014) [2016] ZALC JHB 49, dated 3 February 2016, where the decision was handed down to impose an administrative fine of R500 000 on the South Witbank Colliery after a worker died in a mine accident, (a) why did (i) he and (ii) the Mine Health and Safety Inspectorate (MHSl) fail to submit answering affidavits when the specified colliery challenged the decision in court, (b) how has the MHSI changed its operating processes to avoid this precedent being used by mines to avoid fines in future and (c) what amount is to be paid back to the mine as a consequence of the specified judgement?

With reference to President Jacob G Zuma’s undertaking in his State of the Nation Address delivered on 12 February 2015, that the Government will set aside 30% of appropriate categories of state procurement for purchasing from Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs), co-operatives, as well as township and rural enterprises, what percentage of the total procurement of (a) his department and (b) every entity reporting to him went to (i) SMMEs and (ii) co-operatives from 1 April 2015 up to the latest specified date for which information is available?

(1) How many prosecutions for illegal sand mining has his department initiated in each province in the (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15 financial years; (2) (a) how many convictions have been secured and (b) what are the relevant details of each specified penalty imposed; (3) has there been any rectifications performed; if not, why not; if so, (a) what rectification and (b) in which areas? (2)(a) how many convictions have been secured and (b) what are the relevant details of each specified penalty imposed; (3)has there been any rectifications performed; if not, why not; if so, (a) what rectification and (b) in which areas?NW3563E Reply (a) 2012 – 13 :- 07 Limpopo Region, 05 KwaZulu-Natal, and 01 Eastern Cape (b) 2013 – 14 :- 0 (c) 2014 – 15 :-17 Limpopo Region (2) (a) one (1) and (b) sanctions included three (3) years imprisonment suspended for five (5) years. (a)(b) Illegal miners were advised to apply for mining permits and follow up inspections were conducted.

Is his department currently involved in a work exchange and/or employment agreement with the Republic of Cuba; if so, (a) what number of Cuban nationals (i) are currently employed and (ii) are due to be employed by his department, (b) what specific work roles are envisaged for the Cuban nationals, (c) what are the specific skill sets of each of the Cuban nationals (i) currently employed and (ii) due to be employed, (d) what are the details of the process followed to ensure that the same skill set was or is not available in the country and amongst South African citizens and (e) what is the total cost of the (i) employment or (ii) prospective employment of such Cuban nationals?

How many work days has his department lost to (a) sick leave and (b) strike action in the (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14 financial years?