→ House of Assembly → 1989 → FEBRUARY, 1989 → House of Assembly: Vol13 - MONDAY 27 FEBRUARY 1989

House of Assembly: Vol13 - MONDAY 27 FEBRUARY 1989

MONDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 1989 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS

†Indicates translated version.

For written reply:

General Affairs:

Pope’s visit: amount spent by Government 7. Mr J J S PRINSLOO

asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs:†

(a) What amount did the South African Government spend on the Pope’s recent visit to Southern Africa with regard to (i) services, (ii) supplies, (iii) equipment and (iv) other commodities provided to the papal party and (b) what are the particulars of each of these items?

B55E

 The MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

(a) and (b) It will be contrary to courtesy etiquette and not in the interest of South Africa to state the amount. I can assure the Honourable member that the amount is minimal. I shall inform the Honourable member what the amount was on a confidential basis.

 Chieftain Airlines: aircraft used by Department 8. Mr C J DERBY-LEWIS

asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs:

  1. (1) Whether his Department has at any time chartered aircraft from a certain airline, the name of which has been furnished to the Minister’s Department for the purpose of his reply; if so, (a) what is the name of the airline and (b) what are the relevant details;
  2. (2) whether tenders were invited prior to chartering aircraft from this airline; if not, why not; if so, from whom?

B56E

 The MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

(1) and (2)

I should like to refer the Honourable member to the remarks I made on this subject in the Joint Meeting of Parliament on 20 February 1989.

The Department of Foreign Affairs constantly makes use of a variety of aircraft to carry out its functions. Over the past 4 years the Department made use of aircraft from 13 different companies to undertake 94 charter flights. Chieftain Airlines provided three of these chartered flights for journeys to African countries. Aircraft which have the capability of flying long distances without landing, are scarce. There are only a handful of companies in South Africa, of which Chieftain Airlines is one, that dispose of such aircraft. The Department of Foreign Affairs often finds itself in the unenviable position where such aircraft are in no way available for important journeys that have to be undertaken unexpectedly.

For this very reason on 24 May 1984 the Department of Foreign Affairs was exempted from tenders in respect of chartered flight transport. Furthermore, last year I obtained Cabinet approval to conclude a firm arrangement with a company to ensure that the Department’s special air transport requirements are satistied. The company concerned is not Chieftain Airlines.

 SADF: failure to report for service 12. Mr R R HULLEY

asked the Minister of Defence:

  1. (1) Whether he will furnish information on whether any persons failed to report for (a) military service in July 1988 and February 1989, respectively, and (b) (i) Citizen Force camps and (ii) Commando duty in 1988; if not, why not; if so, how many in each case;
  2. (2) whether the South African Defence Force keeps statistics on whether any of those who failed to report in 1988 were (a) traced and (b) charged; if not, why not; if so, how many in each case?

B65E

 The MINISTER OF DEFENCE:

(1) and (2) The honourable member is referred to the reply in this House to written question number 194 of 1988.

 SADF members exceeding bounds of duty intownships 13. Mr R R HULLEY

asked the Minister of Defence:

  1. (1) Whether, with reference to his reply to Question No 192 on 2 March 1988, he will reconsider his decision not to furnish statistics in future on members of the South African Defence Force who exceeded the bounds of duty while serving in Black townships; if not, why not; if so,
  2. (2) whether, in 1988, any members of the Defence Force were (a) charged with and (b) convicted of exceeding the bounds of duty while serving in any Black townships; if so, (i) how many and (ii) in respect of what offences in each case;
  3. (3) whether in that year, any civil actions were instituted against (a) him and/or (b) any members of the Defence Force for acts committed by members of the Defence Force while on duty in Black townships; if so, (i) how many, (ii) what were the circumstances surrounding each claim and (ii) what was the nature of the claim in each case;
  4. (4) whether any of these actions have been finalized; if so, (a) how many as at 31 December 1988 and (b) what was the outcome in each case?

B66E

 The MINISTER OF DEFENCE:
  1. (1) No. The circumstances are still unchanged.
  2. (2), (3) and (4) Fall away.
 National servicemen requesting not to do duty in townships 14. Mr R R HULLEY

asked the Minister of Defence:

  1. (1) Whether any national servicemen requested the South African Defence Force in 1988 not to require them to do duty in any townships in the Republic; if so, how many;
  2. (2) whether any of these requests were acceded to; if not, why not; if so, (a) how many were acceded to and (b) what were the circumstances surrounding each of these cases?

B67E

 The MINISTER OF DEFENCE:
  1. (1) No.
  2. (2) Falls away.
 Pietermaritzburg area: SADF members deployed 42. Mr M J ELLIS

asked the Minister of Defence:

  1. (1) (a) How many members of the South African Defence Force are currently deployed in the greater Pietermaritzburg area, (b) where are they stationed, (c) in which areas are they deployed and (d) in respect of which date is this information furnished;
  2. (2) whether any members stationed in such areas have been involved in illegal practices or other forms of misconduct; if so, (a) how many, (b) in which of these areas and (c) when;
  3. (3) whether any steps have been taken against such members; if so, (a) what steps and (b) when?

B101E

 The MINISTER OF DEFENCE:
  1. (1)
    1. (a), (b) and (c) There is a number of SA Defence Force members deployed in the greater Pietermaritzburg area. It is, however, policy not to divulge personnel strengths or details of operations.
    2. (d) 15 February 1989.
  2. (2) No (a), (b) and (c) fall away.
  3. (3) Falls away.
 Strikes/work stoppages: workers involved 45. Mr P G SOAL

asked the Minister of Manpower:

(a) How many workers in each race group wereinvolved in (i) strikes and (ii) work stoppagesin 1988 and (b) what was the total number ofman-hours lost in respect of workers in eachrace group as a result of such (i) strikes and (ii) work stoppages?

B111E

 The MINISTER OF MANPOWER:
  1. (a)
    1. (i)

Whites

138

Coloured

15 693

Asians

5 503

Blacks

127 635
  1. (ii)

Whites

7

Coloureds

880

Asians

805

Blacks

11 018
  1. (b)
    1. (i)

Whites

2 403

Coloureds

630 437

Asians

163 317

Blacks

6 356 212
  1. (ii)

Whites

21

Coloureds

5 566

Asians

4 813

Blacks

152 338

NOTE: These figures are in respect of the notification of the discontinuance of work received in terms of section 65A of the LabourRelations Act, 1956.

 Farm/domestic workers: report on working conditions 49. Mr P G SOAL

asked the Minister of Manpower:

  1. (1) Whether, with reference to his reply toQuestion No 88 on 2 March 1988, consul-tations concerning the report of the Na-tional Manpower Commission on theworking conditions of farm and domesticworkers have now been completed; if not,(a) why not and (b) what remains to bedone to complete this investigation; if so, when;
  2. (2) whether the report has been released; ifso, when; if not, (a) why not and (b) whotook the decision in this regard;
  3. (3) whether any action affecting the workingconditions of farm and domestic workersis to be taken as a result of the findings ofthis commission; if not, why not; if so, (a) what action and (b) when;
  4. (4) (a) when was this commission establishedand (b) what was the total cost of thecommission as at the latest specified datefor which figures are available?

B129E

 The MINISTER OF MANPOWER:
  1. (1) No.
    1. (a) As the consultations progress mattersare identified which require furtherinvestigation and consultation.
    2. (b) The consultation still have to be concluded, after which proposals which may arise therefrom will be cleared with interested parties at regional and agricultural sector level.
  2. (2) No.
    1. (a) The Labour Relations Act, 1956, provides for the National Manpower Commission to submit its reports and recommendations to the Minister of Manpower. The report concerned served as advice to the Minister and was not meant for publication.
    2. (b) The Minister of Manpower.
  3. (3) As indicated in the Minister’s previous reply the question whether or not any action is to be taken will be considered once the consultations have been concluded.
    1. (a) Falls away.
    2. (b) Falls away.
  4. (4)
    1. (a) 1 October 1979.
    2. (b) The total cost of the Commission up to 31 March 1988 amounted to R6 164 000. Apart from the recommendations of the National Manpower Commission to the Minister of Manpower on labour relations in the agricultural sector, 53 others reports and investigations have also been completed during this period.
 Jan Smuts Airport: checks on security fences 52. Mr C J DERBY-LEWIS

asked the Minister of Transport Affairs:

  1. (1) Whether regular checks are carried out on the security fences at Jan Smuts Airport; if not, why not; if so, at what intervals;
  2. (2) whether an unauthorized person gained access to a runway at this airport on or about 14 January 1989; if so, (a) how long before the above date was the last check carried out on the section of the security fence where this incident occurred, (b) what were the circumstances surrounding this incident and (c) what was the (i) nature and (ii) cost of the damage to the aircraft involved?

B142E

 The MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AFFAIRS:
  1. (1) Yes, inspections are carried out twice during each eight hour shift over every twenty four hour period.
  2. (2) Yes, on 14 January 1989.
    1. (a) On 14 January 1989, approximately two hours prior to the person having been observed at 11h49.
    2. (b) A Black man gained unauthorised access to the runway area and proceeded to run across the take-off path of an Air Zimbabwe Boeing 737 aircraft. The captain of the aircraft therefore had to brake sharply to avoid running down the person concerned.
    3. (c)
      1. (i) Two tyres required replacement; and
      2. (ii) Approximately R1 200,00.
 Passenger transport: subsidies paid to bus companies 68. Mr D J N MALCOMESS

asked the Minister of Transport Affairs:

What total amount was paid to bus companies in respect of subsidies for the transport of passengers in the (a) Johannesburg/Pretoria, (b) Cape Town/Peninsula, (c) Port Elizabeth/Uitenhage and (d) Durban/Pinetown areas in the 1987-88 financial year?

B169E

 The MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AFFAIRS:
  1. (a) R115 053 011,99
  2. (b) R 37 211 683,61
  3. (c) R 11 994 578,78
  4. (d) R 55 652 221,87

The honourable member’s attention is drawn to the fact that the amount reflected under (b) above includes payments in respect of commuters of the magisterial districts of Cape Town, Bellville, Simon’s Town, Wynberg, Stellenbosch, Kuilsriver and Goodwood.

 Conciliation boards/mediators 72. Mr P G SOAL

asked the Minister of Manpower:

(a) How many applications for the (i) establishment of conciliation boards in terms of sectino 35, and (ii) appointment of a mediator in terms of section 44, of the Labour Relations Act, No 28 of 1956, were (aa) made and (bb) approved in 1988 and (b) in respect of what percentage of the approved applications were the disputes settled in each case?

B173E

 The MINISTER OF MANPOWER:
  1. (a)
    1. (i)
      1. (aa) 3 035
      2. (bb) 1 550
    2. (ii)
      1. (aa) 1
      2. (bb) 1
  2. (b) Conciliation boards — 29,6 per cent Mediators — Nil per cent.