Thank you for your question, hon member. We are working very closely now with the Setas - save one. We are working very closely with 20 of them. We have mandated the new boards of the relicensed Setas to place this issue as a priority. But we are not going to end there. We are in the process of finalising service level agreements between the department and each of the Setas and will be able to set targets in terms of how many artisans they will be able to produce. In the meantime, we are also working at building a common standard or a common information and communication technology, ICT, framework within which to collect this data and be able to track the artisans.
In fact, I might as well say that in the discussions that I have had with the Setas regarding how many more artisans they are able to take, they have indicated that they can double this. The critical issue, on which we have been working with Minister Patel, is to get workplaces and employers to open up their workplaces so that we are able to place these artisans. For instance, we can place 26 000 in terms of our plans with the Setas, but the challenge is that we need employers to open up their workplaces so that we can train these artisans. From the discussions that we had we are confident that we will be able to achieve that. Siyabonga. [Thank you.]
Steps to be taken regarding the private interests within the housing and construction industry of certain persons at the NHBRC
58. Mr A C Steyn (DA) asked the Minister of Human Settlements:
(1) Whether he had been informed of the private interests within the housing and construction industry of certain persons (details furnished) at the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC); if so, (a) when and (b) in what way has he been informed; if not, (2) whether he intends to conduct an inquiry into the matter; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether he intends taking steps in this regard; if not, how are the private interests of the said persons reconcilable with the positions they hold in the NHBRC; if so, what steps?