Hansard: Members ’s Statements /Response by Minister of Home Affair on Xenophobia in Alexandra / Response by Minister of Communication on Comments made about SABC
House: National Assembly
Date of Meeting: 13 May 2008
Summary
No summary available.
Minutes
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Tuesday, 13 May 2008
TUESDAY, 13 MAY 2008
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
-
The House met at 14:00.
The Speaker took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or meditation.
Notices of motion
END OF TAKE
Start of day
NOTICES OF MOTION
Dr S M VAN DYK: Madam Speaker, on behalf of the DA, I will move:
That the House debates the continued existence of aluminium smelters in South Africa given that their electricity consumption is equivalent to the required national electricity saving.
Ms J A SEMPLE
END OF TAKE
Dr S M VAN DYK
Ms J A SEMPLE: Madam Speaker, on behalf of the DA, I will move:
That this House debates the rising rates of xenophobic attacks against refugees entering the country; and the government's response to the problem.
Motions without notice
END OF TAKE
Notices of motion
EARTHQUAKE THAT THE HIT THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
(Draft Resolution)
The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY:
Tshivenda:
Mulangadzulo, ndi a livhuwa.
English:
Madam Speaker, I move without notice that...
[TAKE IN FROM MINUTES]
Agreed to.
Dr S E M PHEKO
END OF TAKE
The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY
VIOLENCE AGAINST PEOPLE FROM OTHER PARTS OF AFRICA
(Draft Resolution)
Dr S E M PHEKO: Madam Speaker, I move without notice that...
[TAKE IN FROM MINUTES]
Agreed to.
The SPEAKER: I hope hon members have applied their minds to the content and the actual proposal. But I guess there's no objection in principle.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION
END OF TAKE
Dr S E M PHEKO
INTERNATIONAL NURSES' DAY
(Draft Resolution)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Madam Speaker, I move without notice that...
[TAKE FROM MINUTES]
Agreed to.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION
END OF TAKE
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION
WINNING OF THE ITALIAN OPEN BY SOUTH AFRICAN GOLFER
(Draft Resolution)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Madam Speaker, I move without notice that...
[TAKE FROM MINUTES]
Agreed to.
MEMBERS' STATEMENTS
END OF TAKE
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION
FREEDOM OF THE CITY OF TSHWANE TO FORMER PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA
(Member's Statement)
Mrs M A A NJOBE (ANC): Madam Speaker, the ANC commends the initiative taken by the Tshwane Metropolitan Council to offer its highest and greatest honour, the freedom of the city, to former President Nelson Mandela.
This award has been conferred by the Mayor of Tshwane, Gwen Ramokgopa, on Madiba in Tshwane this morning at 11:00. This calls on the giant of South Africa to continue to stride the globe; and to inspire millions in the world today who values peace, human dignity and freedom. This takes place two months before his 90th birthday. This award couldn't have come at a more appropriate time.
The ANC calls on all South Africans and the citizens of Tshwane, in particular, to use this occasion to rededicate themselves to the democratic ideas that Madiba has dedicated his life to and continues to live for, so that current and future generations will emulate his life of honour. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mrs S M CAMERER
END OF TAKE
Mrs M A A NJOBE
XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS IN ALEXANDRA TOWNSHIP
(Member's Statement)
Mrs S M CAMERER (DA): Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Democratic Alliance, the public representatives involved with the Alexandra Township, including Councillors Peggy Chauke, Caro Blamer, Allen Folkes, David Quale, the Member of the Provincial Legislature, Mr Shadrack Mkhonto and I, would like to register our deep concern and outrage over the attacks against, mostly, Zimbabweans in the past couple of days in Alex. These attacks were allegedly as a result of xenophobia against perceived illegal aliens.
We make an earnest appeal to all concerned for calm and to restore peace in Alex. While the Democratic Alliance condemns xenophobia, it must be acknowledged that the reason for this boiling over of resentment is more complicated. The large majority of the residents of the Alexander Township lives in appalling socioeconomic conditions and social services have all but collapsed.
To address the slum conditions of the similar unrest in 2001, President Mbeki announced with great fanfare the Alexandra renewal project. Seven years later, despite promises of fundamentally changed living conditions, very little has been done and the dynamics of Alex have not changed as so often there has been a failure of implementation, coupled with inflexibility and inertia on the part of government.
In its national action plan for the provision and protection of human rights published nearly ten years ago, government acknowledged that we had a problem of between 2, 5 and 8 million undocumented aliens - the terminology used in that plan - as well as the need to do something about it. Well, ten years on, the problem got worse and very little has been done. In the meantime, the Democratic Alliance's local government team in Alex is very much on the spot, hands on and attempting to assist victims and to restore calm. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mr V B NDLOVU
END OF TAKE
Mrs S M CAMERER
SABC MANAGEMENT SCANDAL
(Member's Statement)
Mr V B NDLOVU (IFP): Madam Speaker, the Inkatha Freedom Party agrees that there are serious political problems with regard to the governance and management of the SABC.
These problems can, however, be blamed on the alliance which has taken power since 1994, who has consistently politically manipulated appointments to both the boards and management of the SABC and abused the public broadcaster to boost his own image. The fact that the ANC alliance is now calling for the vote of no confidence on its own decision-making, is wrong and an abuse of Parliament.
The IFP, therefore, gives notice that its supposed cause for this House to consider amending legislation to be enacted to ensure that in future independent skilled and social representatives, SABC board members and managers are appointed beyond party political control, and that the public broadcaster is not abused by any political party. Thank you. [Applause.]
Ms T V TOBIAS
END OF TAKE
Mr V B NDLOVU
THE ANC, SACP AND COSATU ALLIANCE SUMMIT
(Member's Statement)
Ms T V TOBIAS (ANC): Madam Speaker, the African National Congress, the South African Communist Party, the Congress of South African Trade Unions, together with the South African National Civic Organisation met at a highly successful Alliance Summit at the Gallagher Estate from 9-10 May, last week. The summit agreed that the alliance remains on course to play its historic role as the leader of South African society, if the effort to realise our liberation goes on to build a better life for all.
We welcome the summit's collective commitment to work together on a number of key areas, including food and fuel price rise, unemployment, poverty, inequality, electricity and the 2009 elections in Zimbabwe.
The alliance has entered a new era of unity and commitment to the struggle to transform the lives of our people. Therefore, the ANC calls on all South Africans to join us as we work together to realise the noble aspirations of a truly democratic, nonracial, nonsexist, prosperous and united South Africa. Thank you. [Applause.]
Rev K R J MESHOE
END OF TAKE
Ms T V TOBIAS
ATTACK ON REFUGEES
(Member's Statement)
Rev K R J MESHOE (ACDP): Madam Speaker, the ACDP is shocked by the senseless xenophobic attacks on foreigners in our country. We want to remind our communities that during the struggle against apartheid thousands of South Africans were given refuge all over the world, particularly on the African continent. They were given job opportunities and access to schools and universities. What has been happening in Alexander Township is totally unacceptable and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
Hooligans who rape, loot homes and rob people, irrespective of whether they are foreigners or locals must face the full might of the law. We believe most foreigners in our country are law-abiding people, just as most South Africans are. But there are a few dishonest foreigners just as there are dishonest South Africans who have no regard for the law and the rights of others, and as a result are involved in criminal activities. The ACDP appeals to church leaders to get involved as peacemakers in order to bring about reconciliation between foreigners and locals and encourage members of communities to extend kindness to foreigners. Thank you.
Mr I E JENNER
END OF TAKE
Rev K R J MESHOE
INEFFICIENCY AT LICENSING CENTRES
(Member's Statement)
Mr I E JENNER (ID): Madam Speaker, government's R400 million plus Enatis traffic system still continues to present millions of South Africans with long queues, overworked and demotivated public servants and frustrating long delays in licensing centres around our country. The high levels of frustration at many of these licensing centres coupled with a severe lack of resources presents a looming crisis. Police officials have been called in on several occasions to calm angry applicants in various licensing centres around South Africa. Many people are forced to stand for hours in the queue and are forced to take more than a day's leave because they failed to get service on their first visit.
The ID calls on the government to adopt urgent corrective strategies and reinvest the millions of rands raised for license renewals into better infrastructure and proper and more accountable management at all licensing centres around our country. If we are truly serious about putting people first, then we must instil values in our public servantsso that they treat our people as priority customers. Thank you.
Mr S J NJIKELANA
END OF TAKE
Mr I E JENNER
ATTACKS ON FOREIGN NATIONALS
(Member's Statement)
Mr S J NJIKELELA (ANC): Madam Speaker, the ANC is deeply disturbed by the recent attacks on foreign nationals in Alexandra, north of Johannesburg. We condemn such xenophobic acts unreservedly and call on all South Africans to take a firm stand against such violent acts. These acts are not only on foreign nationals but are also an assault on the values of our democratic society. Such acts can only take our society backwards and open the wounds of racism and intolerance against which so many of our people fought. We call on all South Africans to spare noeffort in speaking out against acts of xenophobia in any form.
We believe that through the recognition of the crucial role played by the international community in South Africa's liberation, all South Africans will work together to ensure that we build a better world where all shall live in peace and harmony. Ndiyabulela. [Thank you.]
Mr S SIMMONS
END OF TAKE
Mr S J NJIKELANA
PUBLIC SERVICE VACANCIES
(Member's Statement)
Mr S SIMMONS (NA): Madam Speaker, two weeks ago it was reported in the media that the hon Minister for the Public Service and Administration has stated that any person, irrespective of race, must apply for the vacant posts in the Public Service. The sad truth is that people of all races are applying for these posts but are hindered by government's employment equity policy. This call by the hon Minister is most certainly an acknowledgement that employment equity, as it is currently applied, is counterproductive and a failure.
The National Lions has today formally requested the hon Minister to suspend the current employment equity policy in favour of a nonracial recruitment policy, in order to improve the quality of service delivery throughout the Public Service to the benefit of all South Africans. Thank you.
Adv P S SWART
END OF TAKE
Mr S SIMMONS
SUSPENSION OF SABC OFFICIALS
(Member's Statement)
Adv PS SWART (DA): Madam Speaker, our airwaves are filled with speculations concerning the suspensions and proposed enquiries into Dr Snuki Zikalala and CEO Dali Mpofu of SABC.
The SABC atmosphere is thick with conspiracy and political purges, worse than the plotlines of the very same soapies they air. Is this driven by the SACP with Mr Blade Ndimande leaping to the defence of CEO Dali Mpofu after a memorandum from the Chair of SABC Board was leaked to the Sunday Times? Who is driving the ANC MPs who are so desperately trying to get rid of the new SABC board?
We agree with Mr Kgalema Motlante who, referring to policies and procedures, suggested that the ANC MPs were effectively passing a motion of no confidence in themselves since they voted the three board members imposed on them into office.
Did Dr Zikalala's suspension result from him trying to prevent the reappointment by Advocate Mpofu of dismissed Mr Hlaudi Motsoaneng of Free Sate radio station's Lesedi FM on instruction of Minister of Communications herself? Motsoaneng's close ties with the Zuma camp are allegedly well-known.
Is Advocate Mpofu now seemingly implicating Minister Pahad in coercion by the SABC board to get rid of him, whilst the executive management of the SABC, inclusive of Mrs Mpulele Ntombela Ndimande, wife of the same Mr Blade Ndimande of SACP, by letter demanded his immediate reinstatement?
The Minister of Communications owes Parliament the details of, and the reasons for the latest circus acts at our public broadcaster.[Applause.]
Ms J E SOSIBO (ANC)
END OF TAKE
Adv PS SWART (DA)
FIGHTING OF CRIME
(Member's Statement)
Ms J E SOBISO (ANC): Madam Speaker, the Ethekwini Metropolitan Council has set aside more than R432 million for the development of crime fighting strategies. An amount of R23 million of the budget has been set aside for the recruitment of new staff in the police force.
The city is aware that crime fighting is not the preserve of the law enforcement agencies alone, but that communities have a pivotal role to play in ensuring safe streets and neighbourhoods for the people. The fight against crime is a central part of the priorities of the ANC that define the programme for the betterment of life of all our people. Since the democratic government came into being we have consistently tackled issues of crime and criminality.
The people should remain at the centre of any crime fighting project as no police force, however strong, would succeed in its work if it does not enjoy the support and active participation of the people in the fight against crime.
The ANC comments the Ethekwini Metropolitan Council on its effort to fight crime. I thank you. [Applause.]
Mr N SINGH (IFP)
END OF TAKE
Ms J E SOBISO (ANC)
RISE IN FOOD PRICES
(Member's statement)
Mr N SINGH (IFP): Madam Speaker, for more than a year now food price inflation has outstripped headline inflation by a significant margin, leading to all food products becoming much more expensive and out of the reach of the public. Hon members of this House will know what effect high food prices have had on the poor as we witness it every day in our constituencies.
The poor are suffering the most and the IFP therefore welcomes government initiatives such as food vouchers to alleviate their plights. But, the IFP feels that much more can be done. In our reaction to the 2008 Budget we made our disappointment clear that the Minister of Finance, when looking at tax, did not heed our call to zero rate more food items such as chicken, for instance. The Minister definitely missed an opportunity to help the poor in that respect. But, it seems all is not lost. Just this past weekend the ANC also called on the Minister to scrap VAT on a wide range of food items.
The IFP welcomes the thinking in the ANC for finally seeing the light and for supporting the IFP's policy on zero rating more food items. The IFP has been propagating this move for some time and while the ANC was a bit tardy in accepting our recommendations at least they have now done so.
The IFP therefore calls again on the Minister of Finance to immediately scrap VAT on more food items. We do not accept the argument that the VAT regime can only be changed in next year's Budget. The VAT Act is a law of Parliament and as such can be amended at any time, if there are sufficient political will to do so. We call on Minister Manuel to show that political will now, for the benefit of the country's poorest. I thank you.
Mr Y WANG (ANC)
END OF TAKE
Mr N SINGH (IFP)
DONATING OF BLOOD
(Member's Statement)
Mr Y WANG (ANC): Madam Speaker, the ANC wishes to commend our fellow South Africans for their selfless sacrifices to save life through donating blood. The use of Nucleic technology as an amplification technology has successively reduced window period to 5 days during which infection cannot be detected. The technology has the ability to trace genetic materials of HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses in the blood and thereby ensuring the safety of the recipients of our blood transfusions.
Due to this method of screening blood we have seen a significant increase of donors of all races throughout South Africa. The South African National Blood Transfusion Services is to be commended for encouraging people of all races to come forward to donate blood and save lives.
This is one more example that can serve towards South Africans building the kind of caring society that we desire. We should donate blood where we can. Thank you.
The LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
END OF TAKE
Mr Y WANG
A CALL FOR A FULL REVIEW OF JIPSA
(Member's Statement)
The LEADER OF OPPOSITION (DA): Madam Speaker, the DA reiterates its call for a full review of Jipsa. When we made the call earlier this year, Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka suggested that the DA had no understanding of Jipsa's mandate. The inconvenient truth is that the Deputy President was trying to obscure the fact that two years into its three-year mandate, Jipsa had failed to meet any of the expectations created by the government. From the 2007 Jipsa annual report, it is apparent that this initiative will fail to bring about the skills revolution that was promised with its launch.
In turn, the DA welcomes the belated announcement that the ANC Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe relinquished his position as Jipsa Technical Working Group Chairperson at the end of December 2007. Under Mantashe's guidance, Jipsa achieved little notable success.
However, the stated time of his departure does leave us somewhat confused. The Deputy President still fiercely defended Mantashe's involvement in Jipsa after the DA called for him to be dismissed in mid-January 2008. The DA will be asking parliamentary questions about this anomaly, trusting that the answered will not add further credence to the contentions that Jipsa is in fact little more than a PR exercise. [Applause.]
Mr M J G MZONDEKI
END OF TAKE
The LEADER OF OPPOSITION
SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE
(Member's Statement)
Mr M J G MZONDEKI (ANC): Hon Speaker, the province of KwaZulu-Natal hosted the workers' parliament on Tuesday 6 May 2008. The purpose of the gathering was to highlight the rights of workers. Workers were urged to be actively involved in their safety, by electing health and safety representatives and form committees to analyse, monitor and voice their concerns about safety conditions at work with their employers.
Inspectors from the Department of Labour were urged not to hesitate to recommend prosecution should an employer be found that he blatantly disregarded the obligation of providing a healthy and safety working environment.
Health and safety legislation introduced by the ANC-led government over the past 14 years give the workers the right to monitor health and safety in the work places through joint committees with the employers.
Unions have the power to monitor occupation safety and workers can refuse to work in dangerous conditions.
The ANC-led government has also ensured that all workers have equitable access to compensation funds for injuries suffered at work.
The ANC urges all employers to adhere to the Occupational Health and Safety Act which requires employers to bring about and maintain a reasonable practicable work environment that is safe and without risk to the health of workers. I thank you.
Mrs T J TSHIVHASE (ANC)
END OF TAKE
Mr M J G MZONDEKI (ANC)
CONDOLENCES TO THE KHARIVHE FAMILY
(Member's Statement)
Tshivenda:
Mrs T J TSHIVHASE (ANC): Mulangadzulo, dzangano la ANC li tama u swikisa ndiliso dzalo kha muta wa ha Kharivhe. Hu pfi munna wa minwaha ya 35, ane a vha murado wa mmbi ya vhupileli ya Afurika Tshipembe, Vho Meshach Kharivhe, vho vhulaha muta wavho wa vhathu vhana nga ndila ya tshituhu, nga mugivhela wa 12 Lambamai 2008.
ANC i a zwi sasaladza zwa vhukuma zwithu zwi fanaho na izwi. Fhedzi-ha, hezwi zwi kona uri sumbedza mutsiko une vhathu vha tsireledzo vha tangana nawo. Tshiwo itshi tshi sumbedza nndwa ya khakhathi dza mitani ine shango lashu la khou lwa nadzo. Hezwi zwi a vhanga khombo kha vhafumakadzi, vhana na vhasidzana vhane vha sa kone u di tsireledza.
Mutheo wa Mulayotewa wa Afurika Tshipembe u nekedza mudzulapo munwe na munwe pfanelo dza vhutshilo; na u ri sumbedza uri pfanelo iyi i tea u tsireledzwa na u thonifhiwa sa tshipida tsha u lwa na khakhathi dzine dza itelwa vhana na vhafumakadzi. Muvhuso washu wo ta duvha la 25 Lara sa la mashangodavha la u lwa na dzikhakhathi dzine dza itelwa vhafumakadzi, ngeno la dzi 16, lone lo tetshelwa u dzhenelela kha khakhathi dzine dza itelwa vhana na vhafumakadzi.
Nwaha wo fhiraho, Mufarisa Phuresidennde, Vho Pumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, vho thoma mbekanyamushumo ya maduvha a 365 a Maano a Lushaka a u Dzhia Vhukando [National Action Plan], u itela u fhedza dzikhakhathi dzine dza itelwa vhana na vhafumakadzi. Vhanna na vhafumakadzi vha Afurika Tshipembe vha tea u farisana kha nndwa ya u lwela uri vhafumakadzi vha vhe na nyandano ya vhudzulapo, u itela u swikelele u tsireledzwa nga muvhuso na tshitshavha.
Zwe nda vha ndi tshi khou amba ngazwo ndi hezwi zwine vha khou zwi vhona hafha kha heli bammbiri. Vhana vhothe vho vhulaiwaho nga munna muthihi – wa lisole, ndi havha. O fhedza havha vhana vhothe, na mme avho. Zwi a pfisa vhutungu musi ri tshi zwi lavhelesa. Sa vhafumakadzi, zwi a ri vhavha. Ri khou ita khuwelelo ya uri vhathu vha vhanna vha ri fune ngauri na rine ri a vha funa. Ndi a livhuwa. [U Vhanda Zwanda.]
MINISTERS' RESPONSES
END OF TAKE
Mrs T J TSHIVHASE
PROTECTION OF WORKERS BY THE ANC
THE EMPLOYMENT EQUITY ACT
(Minister's Responses)
IsiXhosa:
UMPHATHISWA WEZEMISEBENZI: Somlomo, okokuqala, mandimbulele okaMshudulu ngokwazisa le Ndlu ukuba i-ANC ayisayi kuze ivume ukuba abasebenzi baxhatshazwe, bangcungcuthekiswe, babulawe, balinyazwe okanye benzakaliswe xa besiya emisebenzini, ngoba abayelanga kwenzakala nakufa emisebenzini, koko bayele ukuya kuxelengela iintsapho zabo. Ngoko ke bonke abaqeshi abangawusanga so lo Mthetho ngabo abayakungcikivwa, ikwangabo nabayakutshutshiswa.
English
Madam Speaker, the Employment Equity is an Act of this Parliament. It was passed by this House, and by the hon members sitting in this House. Our duty as the Department of Labour is to implement and enforce the law. Any employer, be it government or private employer even those hon members -in particular the one who was raising this matter -must realise that we will be strengthening the enforcement mechanisms of the law. Therefore, any company or employer that does not comply with the law will be dragged to the labour court screaming and puffing.
The ANC fought against racism. We never fought against people as human beings, and therefore my brother, I want to indicate to you that the Employment Equity Act is an enabling piece of legislation. It is enabling us to implement what is in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. I do not see the ANC retreating in this regard instead you will see greater enforcement of the law. So go and plead to your colleagues on whose behalf you are talking to comply with the law. Unless this Parliament decides to repeal the law for now I am very sorry, my brother...akuhlanga lungehlanga, lala ngenxeba. [I empathise with you, but you should accept the situation.]
UMPHATHISWA WEMICIMBI YEZEKHAYA
END OF TAKE
UMPHATHISWA WEZEMISEBENZI
THE XENOPHIBIA-RELATED INCIDENTS IN ALEXANDRA
(Minister's Response)
IsiXhosa
UMPHATHISWA WEMICIMBI YEZEKHAYA: Sihlalo, amalungu amaninzi kule Ndlu namhlanje aphawule ngengxaki yocalu-calulo ngokobuzwe, okanye i-xenophobia. Ndifuna ukuthi phantse yonke imibutho ibe igxile kwisehlo sase Alexandra sokubethwa kwabantu. Masiyithethe into yokuba owona mceli-mngeni wolu calulo bubuhlanga bawo, ngoba kunqabile ukubona lujoliswe kubantu abangekho mnyama. Ixesha elininzi lona luthande ukuba kujoliswe umnwe kubantu abamnyama nangabalapha e-Afrika.
Ndicinga ukuba iluxanduva lwethu sonke into yokuba siyigxeke singamaLungu ePalamemnte kunye nabanye abantu ekuhlaleni.
English:
The problem is that it also erodes the moral fibre of our society, and not only that, but it also does undermine Ubuntu, which is one of our principles that we as South Africans cherish.
IsiXhosa:
Somlomo, sithe kwezi nyanga ziphelileyo xa kusenzeka oku sathi siza kubiza Indaba esiza kuyilungiselela ukuba ibe phaya ekupheleni kuka-Julayi, apho thina singurhulumente kunye noluntu, abahlali kunye nabantu bamanye amazwe siza kuthi sihlale khona, sixoxe, sibonisane, ngoba eyona ngxaki inkulu nesinayo eMzantsi Afrika ngabantu beli abathi ngesiquphe ngoku baphose zingxaki zabo kwabanye, besithi ziza nabantu basemzini, kanti ubuninzi bazo zimayela nokuziswa kwenkonzo eluntwini. Enkosi.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS
END OF TAKE
UMPHATHISWA WEMICIMBI YEZEKHAYA
COMMENTS MADE ABOUT THE SABC
(Ministerial Responses)
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS: Madam Speaker, I just want to respond to the two hon members who made comments with respect to the SABC – the public broadcaster. Let me firstly refer to the address by the hon member from the IFP. I think it is completely incorrect for the hon member to contend that the difficulties in the SABC lie at the door – as he blames the members - of the alliance. It is completely incorrect to do that. The difficulties are certainly centred on the internal issues pertaining to internal management within the board.
The ANC has repeatedly called for a credible public broadcaster that must undertake its work and fulfil its mandate on a completely nonpartisan basis. Time and time again the ruling party has consistently indicated that this is its position on the public broadcaster. The hon member does in fact say in his closing remarks that it would be necessary to consider a review of the legislation. I think that in the light of the current developments we could share some sympathy with that particular sentiment.
Secondly, the hon member from the DA is a member of the Portfolio Committee on Communications, and being a member of that particular committee I think he is quite well-aware of all the developments that have happened in the portfolio committee, which have resulted in a report that is to be presented to the NA for discussion some time later on. My response to your comments -as you did say that the Minister ought to be called upon to give a report to Parliament on developments within the SABC – is that I think the Minister has indicated very clearly that she would be making a statement to Parliament in the near future. She has also issued statements in the media to explain very clearly our focus in the particular matter.
Our focus in the Ministry is to ensure that there is stability, and effective governance within the SABC in the midst of all the difficulties that the board and its management are presently faced with. Our central concern in the midst of all of this is to ensure that the public broadcaster executes its particular mandate.
We have three particular issues for which we want to plead that all of us who have the interest of this particular national asset at heart, and that is firstly, to focus in supporting its mission to ensure that technologically we can make certain that the digital migration process that we have a responsibility to execute, is not interfered with. Secondly, to ensure and guarantee our delivery on the 2010 preparations, and thirdly, to ensure that South Africa and its public broadcaster play its rightful role in the upcoming national general elections.
So, for all of that to be discharged properly we need an effective and stable broadcaster and we want to call upon all forces that are external to the broadcaster to play your role in ensuring that stability remains within the broadcaster, and that they remain focused to deliver on this particular mission. I also want to appeal to all members of the House that we should act accordingly and in that spirit. I thank you.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SAFETY AND SECURITY
END OF TAKE
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS
ETHEKWINI METRO'S EFFORTS TO FIGHT CRIME
(Minister's Response)
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SAFETY AND SECURITY: Madam Speaker, the SA Police Service would like to welcome the effort made by Ethekwini Metro in fighting crime. Any effort which intends to form partnerships in our country in fighting crime is welcome. I must say that this is not the first time we are having this particular effort with Ethekwini Metro. We've had this for the past three years and now as this partnership has been strengthened, we are once more saying that we are ready and, at all times, we will make sure that we strengthen any partnerships which happen in our country.
As far as the issue of violence committed against women and families in our country, may I say that this government has a clear policy, which condemns any form of abuse and violence against women and children. In this particular instance, I want to say that this poses a much bigger challenge to all of us as South Africans if at this point in time we still have men who believe that, for whatever reasons, they've got to vent their anger on women and children. It's just unacceptable.
As the law enforcement agencies, we will make sure that we take all the necessary steps, we support the programme of the 365 days of activism and make sure that it is realised in our country. However, that can only happen if real men can stand up and make sure – like the hon George Mluleki – that they rally and work together in making sure that those few men who are refusing to change and transform are able to be part of this new democracy. We cannot continue to have men who brutalise women and children.
With regards to the last issue, I would also like to say that we need both men and women in our country to fight violence against women, not only that but also protect men and women and treat them as equals. We can't continue to have a society and a community that see women as minors or individuals who can be abused and be expected to do as the men wish. Women have rights and, as we all know, women's right are also human rights. I thank you. [Applause.]
The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY
END OF TAKE
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SAFETY AND SECURITY
MOTION ON THE ORDER PAPER
The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Speaker, I move the motion as it stands printed on the Order Paper.
[TAKE IN FROM MINUTES]
Agreed to.
APPOINTMENT OF AD HOC COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER BILL
The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Speaker, I move the motion as it stands printed on the Order Paper.
[TAKE IN FROM MINUTES]
Agreed to.
The House adjourned at 14:48.
Audio
No related
Documents
No related documents