Chairperson, hon members, with regard to whether a national audit is being done to track beneficiaries of the indigent policy, we do keep data, but we cannot say that it has been professionally audited. The indigent policy covers all areas of social services. Households earning below R800 per month, as per the census of 2001, are classified as indigent. Should their circumstances change, they are removed from the beneficiary category. New ones are added accordingly if they fall within the category. Those falling within this category benefit from the various services of government: health, education, basic services and other related initiatives that relieve distress. For example, municipalities retain the details of those falling within the category of free basic services. The Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs only stores statistical data on the number of households which are benefiting. The statistical data is updated annually. So, regarding the second part of your question, which is whether national government keeps data, the answer is yes, but only to the extent that the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs collates data from municipalities and aggregates it.
With regard to beneficiaries, in March 2009 there were 3 226 000 out of 5,5 million households who were classified as indigent as per the census. Significantly, over half of the households that qualify for free basic water do benefit in all provinces. The picture with regard to free basic electricity is mixed with some provinces doing better than others. The provincial breakdown shows that with regard to free basic electricity the Western Cape province and the Free State province are in the highest bracket, while provinces in the lowest bracket are the North West and KwaZulu-Natal. With regard to free basic water, both the Free State and Gauteng provinces fare much better with 99% and 90% respectively.
The Minister of Education declared 40% of learners to be in no-fee schools in 2009. Individual provinces, given the availability of provincial funding, have exceeded the 40% determined by the Minister. The School Nutrition Programme is targeting 5,6 million learners in 18 000 quintile 1, 2 and 3 primary schools. About 6 053 schools have vegetable gardens as a result of this programme.
The majority of the municipalities are in the process of reviewing their indigent registers to ensure that services are provided only to intended beneficiaries. This will include child-headed households as a means to protect and cater for the most vulnerable in our communities. Yes, there are plans to retain such information to determine the effectiveness of the indigent policy. This information is housed in the database within the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs. Follow-ups are conducted with respect to local municipalities that are not performing well.
To improve systems, speed and capacity to deliver on our commitments to the poor is our priority. We are fully aware of the role of other spheres and we are accordingly engaging them to intensify our efforts. We believe that through initiatives like integrated planning, capacity-building and performance monitoring the identified weaknesses will be eliminated in due course. I thank you.
UMBHEXESHI OYINTLOKO WEBHUNGA: Sihlalo, Sekela-Mongameli, kubakho oomasipala abaye bathi bona abaphisi ngambane, ingakumbi apho umbane uza ngo-Eskom. Urhulumente uthini kulo ndawo?
USEKELA-MONGAMELI: Mhlalingaphambili, lungu elibekekileyo, yingxaki leyo urhulumente azimisele ukuba uza kuyicazulula ngoba njengokuba sisazi ukuba ngeli thuba imilinganiselo ikwinkqubo yokumiselwa. Sibonisene ukuba oku kubalulekile. Lo mba wokuba ngowuphi umboneleli oza kubonelela ngombane ubaluleke gqitha ngoba oomasipala abaninzi bafumana ingeniso yabo ngokubonelela ngombane. Ngalawo mazwi ke ndithetha ukuba yingxaki esiyaziyo leyo, umcimbi uphethwe. Ndiyabulela. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[The CHIEF WHIP OF THE COUNCIL: Chaiperson, Deputy President, there are municipalities who say they don't provide free electricity, especially electricity provided by Eskom. What does the government say about that?