FRIDAY, 18 MAY 2012

115. Mr R S Stevenson to ask the MEC responsible for Provincial Planning and Finance:

(1) In terms of his Department’s monitoring of municipal finances, (a) which specified municipalities in the province have been identified as owing outstanding amounts to Eskom and (b) for how long have these amounts been outstanding in each case;

(2) whether any steps have been or are to be taken with a view to ensuring that these outstanding amounts are paid to Eskom; if not, why not; if so, (a) what steps and (b) when;

(3) whether it is anticipated that any of these municipalities will have their electricity supply disconnected; if so, what are the relevant details;

(4) what are the reasons for the non-payment by municipalities to Eskom?

116. Mr R S Stevenson to ask the MEC responsible for Provincial Planning and Finance:

(1) (a) Which specified municipalities in the province are experiencing a cash flow crisis which is preventing them from meeting their commitments on a regular basis and (b) what are the relevant details of the cash flow crisis in respect of each specified municipality;

(2) whether any steps have been or are to be taken with a view to assisting these municipalities; if not, why not; if so, (a) what steps and (b) what are the further relevant details;

(3) which of these municipalities did not have a permanent Chief Financial Officer as at the latest specified date for which information is available?

117. Mr R S Stevenson to ask the MEC responsible for Provincial Planning and Finance:

(1) Whether any austerity measures have been put in place to curb overexpenditure on the cost of employees, as mentioned in his Budget Speech; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) which specified departments have top-heavy organisational structures with too little capacity at point of delivery, as mentioned in his Budget Speech;

(3) whether any retrenchments are anticipated with a view to addressing this matter; if so, what are the relevant details; if not, how does the province intend rationalising its bloated bureaucracy?

118. Mr D B Haddon to ask the MEC responsible for Local Government and Traditional Affairs:

(1) Whether all municipalities in the province had updated municipal codes in terms of section 15 of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act as at the latest specified date for which information is available; if not, (a) why not and (b) which specified municipalities do not have such updated municipal codes;

(2) by when will all municipalities in the province have updated municipal codes?

119. Mr D B Haddon to ask the MEC responsible for Public Works, Roads and Transport:

(1) What was the cost of using municipal traffic vehicles to transport the ANC centenary torch in Matatiele on 8 May 2012;

(2) whether the ANC is to pay for the use of these vehicles and personnel; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) why were vehicles with flashing blue lights used to transport the torch;

(4) whether the practice of using vehicles with flashing blue lights to transport the torch is being done throughout the country; if so, (a) why and (b) what are the further relevant details?

120. Mr D B Haddon to ask the MEC responsible for Public Works, Roads and Transport:

(1) Whether the Department of Transport has undertaken a complete asset audit in respect of (a) existing kilometres of provincial rail network, (b) rail network to be repaired and upgraded and (c) rail rolling stock lying idle in marshalling yards and rail sidings; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details in each case;

(2) whether any steps have been or are to be taken with a view to upgrading the provincial rail infrastructure; if not, why not; if so, (a) at what cost and (b) when?