→ House of Assembly → 1971 → JUNE, 1971 → House of Assembly: Vol35 - TUESDAY 8 JUNE 1971

House of Assembly: Vol35 - TUESDAY 8 JUNE 1971

TUESDAY, 8TH JUNE, 1971

For oral reply:

Procedures for the award of bursaries by local authorities *1. Mrs. H. SUZMAN

asked the Minister of Bantu Administration and Development:

  1. (1) On what dates were procedures for the award of bursaries by local authorities laid down;
  2. (2) whether any local authorities have ceased to make bursaries available since that date; if so, which local authorities.
 The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BANTU ADMINISTRATION AND EDUCATION:
  1. (1) 6th May, 1970.
  2. (2) As far as can be ascertained, none.
 Infant mortality rate *2. Mrs. H. SUZMAN

asked the Minister of Statistics:

What is the present estimated infant mortality rate in respect of each race group in the Republic.

 The MINISTER OF STATISTICS:

The 1970 mortality of infants; that is to say the number of deaths of infants under one year per 1 000 live births, is as follows:

  • Whites: 21,1.
  • Coloureds: 136,2.
  • Asians: 37,1.
  • Bantu: Not available because the registration of Bantu life-occurrence (births and deaths) is not complete.
 Life expectancy i.r.o. Whites and non-Whites *3. Mrs. H. SUZMAN

asked the Minister of Statistics:

(a) What is the latest period for which statistics in respect of life expectancy are available and (b) what was the expectation of life at birth of males and females, respectively, in each race group at that time.

 The MINISTER OF STATISTICS:
  1. (a) 1959-’61 (the three years around the 1960 census).
  2. (b) Expectancy in years.

Males

Females

Whites

64,73

71,67

Coloureds

49,62

54,28

Asians

57,70

59,57

Bantu

Not available
Retention in Railway service of official connected with alleged assault on junior official *4. Mr. W. V. RAW

asked the Minister of Transport:

  1. (1) Whether the official who was found by the Assistant System Manager, Durban, to have acted injudiciously in connection with an alleged assault on a junior official is still in the Railway service; if so,
  2. (2) whether he has since been promoted; if so, to what post.
 The DEPUTY MINISTER OF TRANSPORT:
  1. (1) Yes.
  2. (2) Yes; to the position of Assistant Port Goods Superintendent (Indoor Duties), Durban
 Dairy Industry Control Board: New office block *5. Mr. W. V. RAW

asked the Minister of Agriculture:

  1. (1) Whether the Dairy Industry Control Board is building or intends to build a new office block; if so, (a) where is it to be erected and (b) what is the estimated total cost;
  2. (2) whether the services of any architects who had been commissioned were subsequently terminated; if so, (a) for what reason, (b) what fees were paid or payable to them, (c) what percentage of such costs were wasted costs, (d) who has been commissioned to replace them and (e) at what stage of planning did the new architects take over.
 The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE:
  1. (1) No.
  2. (2) Falls away.
 Dairy Industry Control Board: Value of dairy products under control; revenue derived from dairy products *6. Mr. W. V. RAW

asked the Minister of Agriculture:

(a) What was the total value of dairy products under the control of the Dairy Industry Control Board during the last annual period for which figures are available and (b) what was the total revenue derived by the Board from (i) the internal dairy industry, (ii) exports and (iii) imports during the same period.

 The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE:
  1. (a) R78 458 000 in respect of locally produced and imported butter and cheese and in respect of locally produced condensing milk and milk powder for the year ended 30th September, 1970.
  2. (b)
    1. (i) R3 065 115 in respect of administrative and special levies on butter, cheese and condensing milk.
    2. (ii) Nil.
    3. (iii) R190 000 from imports of butter.
 Acquisition of land for school for neurologically handicapped children *7. Mr. P. A. PYPER

asked the Minister of National Education:

Whether his Department has acquired land in Pretoria for the establishment of a school for neurologically handicapped children; if so, (a) where is the land situated, (b) when will the building work be commenced and (c) for what type of neurologically handicapped children will the school cater.

 The MINISTER OF NATIONAL EDUCATION:

No; (a), (b) and (c) fall away. I can, however, assist the hon. member by informing him that there are other bodies in Pretoria who have, in fact, acquired land for this purpose.

 Exemptions granted i.r.o. Bantu building workers engaged in skilled work in Natal White areas *8. Mr. L. E. D. WINCHESTER

asked the Minister of Labour:

Whether any applications have been received for exemptions for Bantu building workers employed in White areas in Natal to be engaged in skilled work; if so, (a) how many contractors have applied for such exemptions, (b) how many exemptions have been granted, (c) what is the nature of the work permitted and (d) what is the minimum rate payable for such skilled work.

 The MINISTER OF LABOUR:

Yes; from employers in Empangeni and Richards Bay only.

  1. (a) 15.
  2. (b) 15.
  3. (c) Bricklaying, plastering, carpentry, plumbing and painting.
  4. (d) In the areas in question the building industry is not, as yet, subject to any minimum wage regulation.
 *9. Mr. L. E. D. WINCHESTER

—Reply standing over.

Replies standing over from Friday, 4th June, 1971

Drug abuse amongst Bantu

The MINISTER OF BANTU ADMINISTRATION AND DEVELOPMENT replied to Question *2, by Mr. G. N. Oldfield.

Question:
  1. (1) Whether his attention has been drawn to the recommendation of the Committee of Inquiry into the Abuse of Drugs in regard to the desirability of instituting a comprehensive inquiry into drug abuse amongst Bantu; if so, what steps are contemplated;
  2. (2) whether the problem of dagga smoking amongst Bantu is to be investigated; if so, when; if not, why not;
  3. (3) whether his Department intends to establish rehabilitation centres in terms of the Abuse of Dependenceproducing Substances and Rehabilitation Centres Act in respect of Bantu; if so, what steps are contemplated; if not, why not.
 Reply:

(1), (2) and (3) My attention has been drawn to the recommendation of the committee concerned. The matter is being considered, but no inquiry has as yet been instituted, and it is not possible to indicate at this stage whether an investigation will be instituted and, if so, when.

 Import of fully assembled commercial vehicles from Japan

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS replied to Question *9, by Mr. H. A. van Hoogstraten.

Question:

Whether it has come to his notice that a certain firm is reported to be continuing to import large numbers of fully assembled vehicles from Japan; if so, (a) which firm, (b) what types of vehicles are being imported, (c) how many units have been landed in Durban since 21st May, 1971, (d) of what make are they and (e) what percentage of them are sedans.

 Reply:

Fully assembled commercial vehicles are imported by more than one firm from Japan. The following particulars relate to the largest importer:

  1. (a) Toyota South Africa Limited.
  2. (b) Passenger sedans and commercial vehicles.
  3. (c) 1 272.
  4. (d) Toyota.
  5. (e) 88 per cent.
 Import permits granted to Toyota South Africa

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS replied to Question *10, by Mr. H. A. van Hoogstraten.

Question:

Whether permits have been issued to Toyota South Africa to import (a) passenger sedans and (b) light commercial vehicles during the calendar year 1971; if so, (i) what permits and (ii) why.

 Reply:
  1. (a) Yes.
    1. (i) For 1 800 units.
    2. (ii) To tide the firm over the inevitable disruption consequent upon the relocation of its manufacturing facilities.
  2. (b) Yes.
    1. (i) For 11013 units.
    2. (ii) Permits for the importation of commercial vehicles are granted fairly freely to all approved importers.