Hansard: Celebrating a vibrant Youth Voice / Readoption of the Rules & Orders of the National Assembly at the start of a new Parliament without a formal process of reapproval
House: National Assembly
Date of Meeting: 09 Jun 2009
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Minutes
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 10 June 2009 Take: 66
WEDNESDAY, 10 JUNE 2009
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
________
The House met at 14.01.
The Speaker took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers and meditation.
Mr M G ORIANI-AMBROSINI
START OF DAY
READOPTION OF THE RULES AND ORDERS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AT THE START OF A NEW PARLIAMENT WITHOUT A FORMAL PROCESS OF REAPPROVAL
(Point of Order)
Mr M G ORIANI-AMBROSINI: Mr. Speaker, on a point of order: We have given notice of this point of order both in the Rules Committee and directly to yourself, Mr Speaker, and we feel that a formal ruling from the Chair is now required.
The past National Assemblies have, as a new Parliament begins, followed the practice of adopting the rules tacitly and implicitly, without any formal process of reapproval. In terms of the Constitution, each new Parliament is not bound by the Rules of the previous one, which lapse at each election. After each election, the NCOP explicitly readopts its Rules, and so do many other parliaments.
We have given notice that we are not willing to lend our consensus to the process of implicit and tacit reapproval of the Rules and have requested that an open question be put to the House in order for the Rules to be readopted. We have specifically pointed out the unconstitutional and undemocratic nature of the Rules which expropriate all members of this House of their constitutional right to introduce legislation directly in the Assembly and their committees, without prior approval from the private member's committee and from the majority controlling it.
Therefore, I submit that this House now has no Rules. Because this House must have Rules in terms of section 57[2] of the Constitution, we submit that it incumbent upon you, Mr Speaker, to put to this House the question of whether this House intends to readopt the Rules which were in force at the end of the third Parliament.
RULING - The SPEAKER
POINT OF ORDER - Mr M G ORIANI-AMBROSINI
READOPTION OF THE RULES AND ORDERS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AT THE START OF A NEW PARLIAMENT WITHOUT A FORMAL PROCESS OF REAPPROVAL
(Ruling)
The SPEAKER: Order! Hon Dr Oriani-Ambrosini of the IFP has, on several forums and on various occasions, put forward the argument that it is a constitutional requirement for the National Assembly to readopt its Rules and orders with or without amendments at the start of each new Parliament before it can proceed to conduct its business.
The standing Rules are not safeguarded by any special procedure against amendment, repeal or suspension, whether explicitly or by any order contrary to their purport. Each House has full authority over its proceedings, except in so far as such procedure is prescribed by statute. There is, however, no specific constitutional requirement that enjoins the House to readopt its Rules and orders at the start of each new Parliament. Rules which the House or its predecessor adopted, bind it, subject to its own power to suspend, amend, replace or repeal them.
In other words, the existence of a new Parliament does not invalidate the decisions and resolutions of previous Parliaments; they remain valid until such time as they are amended or rescinded by a new Parliament. The same argument applies to the Rules of the Assembly. They were adopted by the House and remain valid until amended or adjusted by a new decision of the House.
Also, should the House be required to readopt its Rules at the first sitting of each new Parliament, newly elected members who are not familiar with the complexities and details of the Rules will be at a definite disadvantage. It would, of course, amount to best practice if proposed rule amendments are first properly discussed, debated and considered by the Rules Committee, a forum in which all parties are represented.
For the reasons stated above, I am therefore ruling that the House is not required to readopt its rules at the start of a new Parliament. Thank you. [Applause.]
NOTICES OF MOTION
RULING – THE SPEAKER
NOTICES OF MOTION
Mr P D DEXTER: I give notice that I will, on behalf of the Congress of the People, move:
That the House –
(1) notes the ongoing harassment and victimisation of some public servants and local government officials because of their political association with COPE;
(2) further notes the statement by the President of the Republic that the public service belongs to all South Africans;
(3) calls on the Ministers of Public Administration and of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to investigate these and any other instances of victimisation and harassment and take steps to ensure that workers in the public service and local government are protected from such harassment and victimisation. [Applause.]
Dr S M VAN DYK
Mr P D DEXTER
Dr S M VAN DYK: I hereby give notice that I intend moving the following motion:
That this House –
(1) debates Eskom's proposed tariff hikes and Eskom's management of the electricity crisis; and
(2) comes up with long-term solutions to ensure a sustainable and affordable energy supply.
Thank you.
Mr P VAN DALEN
Dr S M VAN DYK
Mr P VAN DALEN: I hereby give notice that I intend moving the following motion:
That the House –
(1) debates the continuous underperformance of a number of state-owned enterprises and the merits of selling off unprofitable state-owned enterprises to the private sector.
Mr M WATERS
Mr P VAN DALEN
Mr M WATERS: Mr Speaker, I hereby give notice that I intend moving the following motion on behalf of the DA:
That the House –
(1) debates the current problems surrounding the country's human resources for health care that has resulted in large numbers of South African medical practitioners leaving the country to work abroad; and
(2) comes up with possible solutions to these problems.
Thank you.
Mr M H STEELE
Mr M WATERS
Mr M H STEELE: I hereby give notice on behalf of the DA that I intend moving the following motion:
That this House –
(1) notes the ruling in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on 12 September 2008 supporting the establishment of a commission of enquiry into allegations concerning corruption relating to the arms deal; and
(2) resolves to call on President Jacob Zuma to appoint an independent commission of inquiry, headed by a retired judge, to investigate whether any abuse of power, and or corruption, and or any other irregularities, occurred during the arms deal.
Thank you.
Ms C DUDLEY
Mr M H STEELE
Ms C DUDLEY: On behalf of the ACDP, I give notice that I shall move:
That the house –
(1) debates the following statement: Prostitution, sex tourism, trafficking in women and other such practices reduce women to sexual commodities and have a devastating impact on women in developing countries, and oppressed groups in developed countries. Decriminalisation causes an increase in these practices to meet the demand created by a legalised sex industry.
Thank you.
MOTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE – THE CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION (Mr I O DAVIDSON)
Ms C DUDLEY
BAFANA BAFANA'S PREPARATION FOR THE CONFEDERATIONS CUP
(Draft Resolution)
Mr I O DAVIDSON: Mr Speaker, I move without notice:
That the House –
(1) notes that Bafana Bafana beat Poland 1 – 0 in their final warm-up match for the Confederations Cup on Saturday, 6 June 2009;
(2) further notes that they beat Mauritius 2 – 0 in a friendly match on Saturday, 30 May 2009;
(3) acknowledges that both these wins are a great boost not only for Bafana Bafana, but for all South Africans ahead of the Confederations Cup;
(4) recognises that around 20 000 spectators came to watch Bafana Bafana play against Poland at the Orlando stadium, highlighting the great excitement felt by the country for the upcoming Confederations Cup and the 2010 Fifa World Cup; and
(5) congratulates the team and Coach Joel Santana on their victories and wish them well for their opening Confederations Cup Group A match against Iraq on Sunday, 14 June 2009.
Agreed to.
MOTION OF CONDOLENCE - THE CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY
Mr I O DAVIDSON
MOTION OF CONDOLENCE
(The late Prof Dirk Cornelis Du Toit)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Hon Speaker, I move:
That the House –
(1) notes with profound sadness the untimely death of hon Dirk Cornelius du Toit on Monday, 1 June 2009;
(2) further notes that Dirk du Toit matriculated from Hoërskool Boshoff with the best results in the then Orange Free State and received a bursary from the Department of Defence to study Chemical Engineering and that he gave this up in order to read law at the then University of the Orange Free State;
(3) recognises that in 1994 he was among the first representatives of our people dispatched by the ANC to serve in the first ever democratic Parliament and that he was considered an expert in Legal Hermeneutics, Constitutional Law and Administrative Law and hence was intimately involved in the drafting of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa;
(4) recalls that, long before he became a Member of Parliament representing the ANC, Dirk was strongly motivated by a desire to establish the rights of farmworkers, who, under apartheid, were entirely at the mercy of farmers, and that he believed was a necessary precondition for the development and upliftment of the rural areas;
(5) remembers that he had a gentle personality, was a lucid thinker, deeply committed to the cause of justice and social progress;
(6) acknowledges that his untimely death has robbed South Africa of one of its exceptional academics and politicians who contributed immensely to the liberation of South Africa;
(7) believes that he discharged his responsibilities with dedication, discipline, diligence and humility and that the life of this great leader epitomises heroism and commitment to the cause of the poor; and
(8) conveys its condolences to the Du Toit family, the ANC and the trade union movement in general, and assures them that the loss sustained by them is not theirs alone, but equally felt by Parliament.
Mr M J ELLIS
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY
Mr M J ELLIS: Mr Speaker, I rise in support of the motion proposed by the Chief Whip of the ANC.
There are not many members of the first democratically elected Parliament - perhaps we can call it the class of 1994 - left in this House. For those of us who were here in 1994, remember the excitement and the sense of anticipation that surrounded the formation of that new Parliament.
One of the new boys in that Parliament was a Free Stator with a very strong Afrikaans accent sitting in the ANC benches. In many ways he seemed to be out of place, at first. His background seemed to suggest that he should have been anywhere but as a member of the liberation struggle. As the Sunday Times dated 7 June 2009 reported, his father was rumoured to be a member of Broederbond and after matriculating he received a bursary from the Department of Defence to study Chemical Engineering.
Dirk du Toit was a very proud Afrikaner and was, in fact, a very staunch opponent of apartheid. He had been a member of the Progressive Federal Part – a party which I was also a proud member of – and from there he moved easily into the ANC where he had an illustrious career.
As the Chief Whip of the ANC has pointed out, Prof du Toit clearly was an excellent academic. He did not complete his degree in Chemical Engineering but gave up his studies to study law. He was – as we know – an advocate of the Supreme Court but, more importantly, after completing a Doctorate in Law in the Netherlands, he returned to the University of the Free State in 1975 and became the Head of Department of Philosophy and Law, in fact, a professor of law, at that university.
It was from this position that he became a Member of Parliament in 1994 and one can recall the gravelly voice of Dirk du Toit making his point as a new Member of this Parliament. His commitment to his ideals and to his party was never in doubt and he spoke with passion about matters close to his heart. It was well known that his particular area of concern was about the rights of farmworkers who were very much at the mercy of the farmers during the years of apartheid.
What was interesting about Dirk is that he was never a farmer himself and had no background in farming. Certainly, this raised the ire of some in this country when he was appointed as a Deputy Minister of Agriculture in 1999. But Dirk did not allow that to stop him from doing his job and he ensured that his position gave him a platform to do what he could to end the exploitation of farmworkers and to stop the unfair evictions. He was also heavily committed to the Land Reform Programme and to the development of emerging farmers.
I must say, Mr Speaker, that as a party we did not necessarily agree with everything he said or did. We sometimes believed that the way in which he approached things was incorrect, but we never ever doubted his deep commitment to his job as the Deputy Minister and his party, the ANC.
We have all observed that Dirk looked frail in his last years at Parliament and it was not a surprise to us that he decided to retire in 2009. Nevertheless, we were saddened to hear of his sudden passing away at the beginning of the month. His memory is etched into the Constitution of this country because of the prominent role he played in the writing of it. Those of us who remember him, will certainly remember that new boy of 1994 and never forget him.
To conclude, we do offer our sincere condolences to his wife, his family, and his party, the ANC, which certainly has lost a deeply committed member. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Mr M E GEORGE
Mr M J ELLIS
Mr M E GEORGE: Hon Speaker, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, I also wish to rise to support the motion of the Chief Whip of the ruling party. The passing away of Dirk du Toit has robbed the South African community of one of the brains, architects and practitioners of social transformation. Having known and worked with him as a colleague in the last Cabinet, Dirk has at all times presented himself as a man of reason and principle. His organisation, the agricultural community at large and indeed the people of South Africa surely must draw inspiration from the work of this man of exceptional commitment.
Dirk, as a warm and welcoming person, did not shy away from confronting problems directly. He applied his mind on all discussions at Cabinet level and presented his ideas without fear or favour. Dirk passes away at the time when our country is in dire need of leaders of his calibre. As Cope, we mourn and grieve with his family, his organisation, the ANC, and the South African people. In this regard, we want to thank his family for lending him to us. We celebrate his life and contributions in making South Africa a better place to live in. The people of South Africa will always remember him as one of them. I thank you. [Applause.]
Mr M B SKOSANA
Mr M E GEORGE
Mr M B SKOSANA: Mr Speaker, on behalf of the IFP and its president, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, I stand to express our deep and sincere condolences: Firstly, to the family and close relations of the late Deputy Minister Dirk du Toit, who was an MP, for their loss; and secondly, to the ANC for the loss of a dedicated cadre and comrade. Indeed the national organised agriculture and farmworkers in particular must feel robbed of the compassion that he brought into his portfolio as a Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs.
Much has been said and written since the departure of Prof Du Toit about his history, his family and his achievements. I will therefore not repeat this today. It is however important at this juncture to mention that in my contact with Prof Du Toit while in the executive, I found him to be a man of good character, with immense intellect. He always made insightful contributions, be it in the constitutional negotiating processes that brought about this democratic dispensation, or in the Cabinet where he served as the Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs. He will surely be missed, and may his soul rest in peace. [Applause.]
Ms P DE LILLE
Mr J J SKOSANA
Ms P DE LILLE: Hon Speaker, on behalf of the ID, we bring our condolences to the family and friends of the late Prof Dirk du Toit and to the ANC. Prof Du Toit was a man of principles. He refused to sacrifice his principles when he came under attack for his association with the ANC and oppressed people.
In 2007, I approached Prof Dirk du Toit with a number of outstanding land claims in the Free State, the Western Cape and the Northern Cape. He worked together with us to solve many of those land claims. That is the kind of person he was – accessible. I used to write him a note many times here in Parliament, and the next day I would get a response to the query I had raised with him. We are certainly going to miss him.
He has made his contribution. He fought in the struggle against apartheid. When he came here in 1994, while we were busy writing the final Constitution, he also made his contribution.
Lastly I will always remember him because he was the first chairperson of the disciplinary committee established by Parliament to discipline me when the ANC wanted to throw me out of Parliament. So, I will always remember that. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mr N M KGANYAGO
Ms P DE LILLE
Mr N M KGANYAGO: Mr Speaker, Ministers and Deputy Ministers and Members of Parliament, ...
Afrikaans:
... dit was regtig vir ons almal 'n groot skok om van adv Dirk du Toit, die voormalige Adjunkminister van Landbou en Grondsake, se afsterwe te verneem. Hy is, soos ons almal weet, verlede Vrydag ter aarde bestel. Al was ons ten volle bewus daarvan dat sy gesondheid die afgelope tyd veel te wense oorgelaat het, het geeneen van ons so 'n skielike wending verwag nie.
English:
Realising to the fullest extent the heavy loss sustained by those nearest and dearest to him, the UDM tenderly condoles the family and friends of our deceased brother and colleague in the period of trial and affliction, and commends them on the keeping of him who looks with compassion upon those who mourn.
Afrikaans:
Sy skielike heengaan word deur ons almal betreur.
Sepedi:
Re re robala ka khutšo, Moafrika. [We say rest in peace, South African citizen.]
Afrikaans:
Dankie.
Dr C P MULDER
Mr N M KGANYAGO
Afrikaans:
Dr C P MULDER: Geagte Mnr die Speaker, agb kollegas, die skielike dood van ons kollega, adv du Toit het ons almal herinner aan die kosbaarheid, maar ook die tydelikheid van die lewe.
Ek het adv du Toit leer ken na 1994, spesifiek met die grondwetonderhandelingsproses. Ek en hy was betrokke by die formulering van artikel 185 wat tans in die Grondwet is. Ek onthou sy insette en die gestoei wat ons gehad het onder mekaar oor die bewoording daar. Die van u wat vir Dirk goed geken het, sal hom onthou as 'n persoon wat sterk gestaan het by sy standpunt, wat graag gedebateer het en wat nie bang was vir 'n argument nie. Hy was altyd deel van 'n groter gesprek waar hy met oortuiging sy party en die saak waarin hy geglo het, gedien het op 'n waardige en 'n respekvolle manier.
Ek wil graag namens die VF Plus ons medelye oordra aan sy party, wat 'n kollega verloor het, maar ook veral aan sy gesin, wat 'n pa en 'n eggenoot verloor het. Dit is tragies en jammer dat 'n kollega wat maar so pas 65 jaar oud geword het en op die vooraand was om sy aftrede en sy oudag te geniet, skielik weggeruk is en sy gesin alleen agterbly. Ons dra graag ons simpatie en hulde oor aan sy party en familie. Baie dankie.
Ms C DUDLEY
Dr C P MULDER
Ms C DUDLEY: Hon Speaker, the ACDP is saddened by the death of Mr Dirk du Toit, former Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs from June 1999 to May 2009.
During my time as a member of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Land Affairs, I knew Mr Dirk du Toit to be a man who took his work very seriously. We also acknowledge and commend Mr Du Toit for his contribution to drafting and finalising the country's Constitution in 1996.
The ACDP sends heartfelt condolences to Mr Du Toit's family and friends and we pray you will experience the comfort and peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
The great responsibility on the shoulders of Ministers and the enormous work to be done by both Ministers and Members of Parliament can place a tremendous strain on the physical bodies of mere human men and women. Dirk du Toit's untimely passing is a reminder to us all that in the midst of the enormous demands, a healthy balance must be found if we are to continue to be able to give of our best. Thank you.
Mr L M MPHAHLELE
Ms C DUDLEY
Mr L M MPHAHLELE: Speaker,
Sepedi
...mokgapa o mogolo o wele, dithakga tša lla botsororo. E ile tšweu e kgolo ya go hloka kgethollo ka mmala.
English:
The PAC sends its deepest sympathy to the family of Prof Dirk du Toit and also to his political family, the ANC. Those who walked this path before us have constantly admonished us that in days like these, it helps to recall that there have always been days like these.
IsiZulu
Hamba kahle qhawe lamaqhawe.
English:
Thank you. [Applause.]
Mr R B BHOOLA
Mr L M MPHAHLELE
Mr R B BHOOLA: Mr Speaker, there are many sorrows in life and one of the greatest sorrows that nobody would like to experience is the sorrow of death. On behalf of the MF we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of the beloved Prof Dirk du Toit.
At the age of 65, we are certain that Prof Dirk du Toit had experienced South Africa through the difficulties of apartheid to the liberation of a democracy. We are each given this life for a reason, purpose and meaning. We convey our condolences to the ANC on the loss of this great comrade and pray that his work and influence will be carried through.
Prof Dirk du Toit is also reported to have been a great academic and active in politics where he has shown tremendous passion and desire to establish the rights of farmworkers.
The MF prays that others who have emulated him will hopefully continue to live in his spirit. We pray that the deceased may rest in peace in high heavens through the grace of God Almighty. Thank you.
Mr M A MANGENA
Mr R B BHOOLA
Mr M A MANGENA: Mr Speaker, hon Members, Azapo joins the family of Adv Dirk du Toit and his organisation, the ANC, on their sorrow over his untimely passing; untimely because at 65 Dirk could still have made a lot of contributions to his country and his family.
I spent eight years in the executive with him and I always had the impression that Dirk du Toit read most of the more difficult legal documents a lot more thoroughly than most of us.
He shared his considerable knowledge in constitutional law and land issues generously, in the process helping many of us with our own legislation. He did all this with humility, grace and a genuine smile.
Dirk du Toit was a great human being, a gentleman and a great patriot. May his soul rest in peace. [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND REFORM
Mr M A MANGENA
The MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND REFORM: Speaker, hon members, I read this on behalf of the Departments of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Rural Development and Land Reform. These are the two departments for which the late hon du Toit was Deputy Minister.
Today we celebrate a life well led and dedicated to our movement and to the service of our people. We have been blessed to have had within our ranks a true cadre, a man of the people and a man for all seasons, Comrade Dirk du Toit.
Comrade du Toit was a brave and honourable man, who was willing to sacrifice his own privileges under apartheid for the greater good of all our people. In his own way, and through a different route, he too understood that it was no easy walk too freedom.
He chose a journey that took him not on a separate path, but on a common road along which all freedom-loving people travelled fighting for an end to injustice, to arrive at a shared destiny of freedom and sustainable development.
He led an exemplary life, because he believed with all his heart and mind that it was not right for one human being to oppress another and that the system that entrenched racism and apartheid needed to be brought to an end. He did not vacillate, but stood by his beliefs and over the years has strengthened his resolve and sharpened his determination.
He knew that an idea emerging from an Afrikaner community could only flourish if it also became an African idea; that our different languages and cultural manifestations, together, would make us a great nation and enrich our contribution to the world knowledge and culture.
Here was a man who understood that at the heart of our quest for equality is the desire for all humankind to be free. He believed in the attainment of non racialism, nonsexism and democracy. He embraced the struggle, not for selfish reasons, but as an act of selflessness and a bold statement of conviction to strive towards an egalitarian society.
When he joined the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Affairs as Deputy Minister, his various roles came together and crystallized. His legal insights and understanding of agriculture and land reform served us as a nation extremely well in the 10 years that he held this post.
He recognised that freedom should not be only for the farmer, but also for the farmworker and that the sons and daughters of farmworkers should also be able to emerge as farmers, entrepreneurs, as those at the forefront of our development and at the vanguard of change. He championed the cause of the poorest of the poor knowing that our biggest challenge is to fight poverty and to restore productivity, pride and creativity of our people's labour.
I think that it should be said that he truly loved this land, that he identified deeply with our history and that the South African soil gave him the roots of his devotion to freedom. It is because of people like him that bridges are built between different people, conversations are started and debate and dialogue become affinity and empathy and result in "toenadering" [Closer relashionship.] and togetherness. He was truly collegial, comradely, generous, compassionate and honest to the core; qualities befitting a parliamentarian.
Let is console ourselves that after the dark days of apartheid he lived to see the results of our struggle, he lived to see our people come out in their millions to vote in the fourth national democratic elections that were conducted in peace and harmony. He lived to see the decisive electoral mandate given by our people to the ANC.
Let us be grateful that we had the opportunity to be in the trenches with him. Now he has joined the ranks of all our departed warriors, heroes and heroines. Today he walks tall in the company of O R Tambo and all those who fought for freedom.
It is said that each generation should fulfil its mission and I believe that Prof du Toit fulfilled his mission as a champion of our freedom, a promoter of human rights and a leading light of transformation.
He leaves us a living legacy to build on his work in fighting racism and inequality; in working towards national unity and reconciliation; in stepping up the struggle for human development and a better life for all and in transforming Africa and the world into a more caring society. That we have lost our comrade so suddenly is tragic.
May you, the family of Comrade Du Toit, continue to draw strength and inspiration from his words and actions. May you take comfort in the love he felt for each one.
We join the entire democratic movement in expressing our heartfelt thanks to the family for having given him to our struggle for freedom and justice and we pledge to continue his work to strengthen our democracy and to do so with the same passion, energy and love that he had for our land and for our people.
We pledge to build a strong administration, to cultivate solid institutions and to make ourselves a caring and prosperous nation and people.
Lala ngoxolo, Qabane. [Rest in peace, Comrade.] I thank you. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
Motion agreed to. Members standing.
THE CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY
The MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND REFORM
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY:
We move that, notwithstanding the hours of sitting the House has provided for in rule 23.2, the extended public committees may sit as agreed to by the National Assembly Programme Committee. Thank you.
FIRST ORDER
THE CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY
CELEBRATING A VIBRANT YOUTH VOICE
(Debate on Youth Day)
isiXhosa:
Ms S T NDABENI: Somlomo obekekileyo, maLungu abekekileyo ale Ndlu ngokubanzi, Lutsha lomZantsi Afrika jikelele, zidwesha ezihloniphekileyo, maqabane omzabalazo nabahlobo, egameni loonyana neentombi,egameni loxolo, kwintando yesininzi nenkululeko echulumancisayo eyankcenkceshelwa ngegazi lamaqhawe omzabalazo eli lizwe, ndiyanibhotisa.
English:
I might not be categorised as a youth of 1976, however, everything that took place during that time is still vivid in my mind, as if it happened just yesterday and, furthermore, it's a legacy that can never vanish.
Hon members, allow me to begin by looking back at the role which was played by the youth of 1976 in liberating our country. The class of 1976 bravely took to the street of Soweto, and challenged the apartheid regime. They did not have any munitions. Their weapons were stones, but sadly, their opponents had guns. Their victory created a legacy as it meaningfully contributed towards the liberation of black people in South Africa. The Soweto uprisings and the 1976 massacre clearly indicate that the youth represents a leading motive force in the liberation struggle.
The month of June - which is dedicated to youth in our country - marks a very important event that contributed immensely to the democratic dispensation that we are celebrating and benefitting from as a society and people living in South Africa.
The dawn of democracy in 1994 became a qualitative breakthrough as the youth stood at the forefront of political engagement against apartheid. In April 1994 the youth as the motive force achieved a voice in the state. This House will agree with me when I say that, for the first time in the long and bloody history of our country, the voice of the youth could be heard, and their needs and interests were placed at the centre of government policy.
Subsequently, the aspirations of the democratic South Africa championed the interest of the majority who had been disadvantaged by the then apartheid government.
The primary task for us, now, is to work towards the emancipation of the black majority, the working people, the urban, the rural poor, the women, the youth and the disabled.
Consistent and reliable programmes that articulate youth interests were developed and implemented. Relevant structures such as the Umsobomvu Youth Fund and the Youth Commission were put in place. Policy frameworks were developed to give clear guidance to those institutions. The government introduced the policy of black economic empowerment, not only as a moral initiative to redress the wrongs of the past, but also as a growth strategy that aimed to realise the country's full economic potential, promoting active participation of the youth in our country.
In 2006, our democratic Parliament established the Youth Parliament as a national discussion forum to encourage the youth to debate, and have their voices heard in a purely democratic manner. Through this initiative our Parliament continues to encourage the youth to play a critical role in the transformation, reconstruction and development of our country.
Youth Parliament is a global phenomenon that serves as the consultative forum between policy makers and the youth. Serious challenges facing the youth - such as unemployment, poverty and discrimination - are discussed. Through this forum the youth is encouraged to take part in decision-making and legislative processes which directly affect their lives. Young people are enabled to articulate their views within Parliament, the provincial legislatures and other relevant national youth structures.
We have realised that together we can do more; hence the merger of two institutions that gave birth to the National Youth Development Agency whose mandate is to create a platform for the massification of youth development in general and of skills development in particular. This is an institution by the youth for the youth and by an organised and vibrant youth voice, that seeks to emancipate itself from poverty and underdevelopment. We, as the youth, acknowledge the loopholes of the past youth development institutions and we are going to capitalise on lessons learnt, and the new opportunities that come from the successes gained from the Umsobomvu Youth Fund and the National Youth Commission.
Without downplaying the constraints brought about by the economic downturn that is affecting the world and our country in particular, we stand by the words of that freedom fighter and stalwart of the struggle:
A nation that does not invest in its youth does not deserveits future.
The youth will have a sense of belonging and feel the importance of being active participants in the development of our country once their plea for decent jobs, better education and others are well attended to and the health system is in place.
A platform to showcase their talents as young people and also to have a say in the operations of the country through youth izimbizo, dialogues and effective participation in all structures, will definitely built confidence, and a vibrant, active youth voice.
With the high mortality rate among adults, young people are forced to give up their youth and become parents instead. This leads to an increase in the number of child-headed homes. We are opportunistically referred to as the lost generation because of a lack of a better understanding of what we stand for.
We need to strengthen the notion of moral regeneration to bring back the value system and morality of our youth through cultural and religious activities. We further need to acknowledge the fact that, because of the dawning of democracy in 1994, we became a cosmopolitan country, a rainbow nation with different cultural values. In instances of this nature we need to be tolerant of each other, and acknowledge the fact that respect is a two-way street that applies equally to both the elderly and the youth.
Mr President, when you said in your presidential address:
We must work together to improve the implementation of the comprehensive plan for the treatment, management and care of HIV and Aids, so as to reduce the rate of new infections by 50% by the year2011...
...you poseda challenge to us as young people, as we are the ones mostly affected by this scourge.
As we mark the start of Youth Month, a group of young people in KwaZulu-Natal, led by Pastor Vusi Dube of Ethekwini Community Church and Centre of Hope, are walking 250km this week in the Abstinence Walk. This event is aimed at encouraging young people to abstain from premarital sex as the key preventative measure in our society.
This, Mr President, is an indication that young people are taking charge of their lives. On 16 June, the youth of Mvezo Traditional Authority, under the leadership of Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandlesizwe Mandela, will kick off HIV and Aids in the playground. This is our life, our future and our vision.
Therefore, Mr President, hand in hand, we will work with all sectors to ensure that we make our contribution to achieve the target of the National Strategic Plan for 2007 to 2011.
This will only leave a clear footprint when we strengthen operation siyabangena, as we did KwaNongoma and Orania and declare war on the epidemic. [Applause.]
This can only be achieved through gatherings such as youth izimbizo, where youth will share information and experiences. Memorial lectures in commemoration of our legendary comrades, such as Steve Biko, Helen Joseph and Beyers Naudé - who died while fighting in honesty and integrity for equality, justice and liberation - provide a platform to conscientise the youth about how far we have come in terms of fighting for liberation and equality in South Africa. We are happy to see that all the abovementioned have been made part of the priorities of this current administration.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the ruling party and the President of the Republic of South Africa, on winning the elections. I would also like to congratulate all the Members of Parliament and legislatures, most especially the young individuals, as they bring the concept of generational mix, both in Cabinet and in legislatures, to life. We trust that this act will be emulated throughout all sectors of the economy and development centres of our country.
Hon members, the Confederations Cup is just the start of good things that will show our vibrancy, as stadia will be filled mostly by young people. Through this we will also be celebrating the fruits for which Tata Mandela fought. The President declared July 18 Mandela Day. As young people, we will engage the National Youth Service to mobilise young people to participate in programmes related to home-based care visits, orphanages and old age homes.
As the ANC Youth League representatives, we humbly appreciate all the support that had been given by the youth of our country, as indicated during the 2009 general elections. Our youth demonstrated patriotism and pride for their country. This is a clear indication that the ANC will obtain a 100% vote come next election, as it is the people's choice. [Applause.]
This defines the role that the youth can play in the trajectory of this democracy, just as much as the youth of 1976 played a role in this South Africa that you are celebrating today. A nation that does not invest in its youth is doomed. Therefore, let us all go and celebrate a vibrant youth voice.
isiXhosa:
Elokuqwela lithi, Lutsha lomzi wakowethu, masibe yimbumba enyamanye sitshatshele kwiinkqubo zophuhilso nokuba lilizwi elitsolileyo. Sibe negalelo elihle ekuncediseni urhulumente wethu ukuze sibe nekamva eliqaqambileyo. Ngombulelo omkhulu. Ndiyayisha indawo. [Kwaqhwatywa.]
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, hon Ndabeni. That was hon Ndabeni's maiden speech. By the way, it will also be hon Ollis's maiden speech.
Mr I M OLLIS
Ms S T NDABENI
Mr I M OLLIS: Hon Deputy Speaker, hon members and guests, creating a vibrant youth voice. South Africa belongs to the young! They are in the process of inheriting this country from the generations that went before them. They will ultimately take over the reigns of power and face a daunting task as they do.
Unemployment among youth is a scourge on our society. In 2008, the Centre for Development and Enterprise wrote in their publication, South Africa's Door Knockers, regarding unemployment:
It's most serious aspect is the staggering number of young jobless people. In 2005, four million young people between the ages of 15 and 24 were part of the South African labour force, which means they will be available for a job. Of those 65% - 2,6 million – were unemployed.
As the result of improved rates of economic growth during the past five years, the situation has improved slightly; however, youth unemployment will not be quickly reduced at the current rates of economic growth. Until it is, South Africa will have to cope with threats of social stability, including high levels of crime, associated with endemic unemployment.
That was written before the economic crisis.
Young people are at risk. They often have bad role models and are exposed to things that they never should be exposed to. We have seen the shocking pictures of child headed households where children raise each other because their parents have died of HIV or TB, and they are left alone. Just a few minutes from this parliamentary complex, teenagers are sniffing glue, ingesting tik and mandrax, and caught in the crossfire of gang warfare. On the streets of Johannesburg, some parents force their children out on the streets to beg for money when those children should be at school. Others suffer the physical and emotional abandonment from alcoholic parents and are regularly beaten and physically abused.
When you add up the statistics of the various forms of abuse young people suffer, they are staggering. In one university class I attended when I was young, we were asked after a psychology lecture how many of us had been sexually abused as children. Over 50% of us raised our hands in that university classroom as being people in silent protest of having suffered abused, 50% of the class!
Apart from the unemployment, drugs and abuse, young people are at risk because of a defective education. So many drop out because they cannot afford the tertiary studies at university or college. A friend of mine from the Alexandra Township in Johannesburg completed her BA degree from one of our Ivy League universities. After trying for nearly two years to get work, she ended up doing washing and ironing for one of the madams in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg, as her mother and grandmother had done before her. Eventually she emigrated to the United States and found much better work there. We cannot allow these scenarios to be played out over and over again in the lives of countless young people and feel nothing. We must do more to provide bursaries for those who work hard and get good grades. We must support companies that take on young people in apprenticeships and train them. We must ensure that career guidance is received at the appropriate time.
However, we must ask ourselves: What do young people need of us in this House? Reminding young people on 16 June about the horrors of apartheid year after year is simply not enough. Like those who return over and over again to see the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps at Auschwitz, it can become quite pathological for us to stare at the horrors of the past over again. One of the survivors of those concentration camps, Victor Frankl, went on to become a world-renowned psychologist. He told the world that it is not so much what we believe about or past that holds us back, but what we believe about our future. It not the fact that we have suffered which will prevent us from succeeding but what we believe is that we can do a difference tomorrow. It is my firm belief that it is not so much the horrors of apartheid that will affect young people today, but the example and inspiration of good leader who will sketch a realistic and positive dream that we can all live and strive for. That is the genius of somebody like Nelson Mandela.
Today, our young people are watching us as supposed leaders of this country and they need to see real leadership from us. They need to see a leadership that cares and understand their situation and you can inspire them and us to do better. Wearing Armani suits, driving an SLK Mercedes Benz and paying homage at Kliptown once a year will not inspire people. They need leaders who will listen and who will take them seriously. They are not there to provide the cannon fodder for our political agenda. We must help them to become the best that they can be.
I close with a quote from one of those young people, a 20-year old called John Harold Benn, who posted a letter on a facebook to President Zuma because he didn't know how to get to him:
You do not know me, my family, my friends, my opinions, thoughts or emotions. You do not know how many times I have shed tears and been heartbroken and hopefilled when I have looked and pondered at the tragedy, beauty and potential exists in our country. I do not know you, your story, your struggles, or how many times you have stepped back and looked at what South Africa is at this point in history.
I am writing this letter because I have some of the things that I want others to know, things that I hope will get my fellow South Africans to stop and ponder and turn and face the imminent future with courage and hope and a desire to live with purpose and meaning. I live each day in a personal and dynamic and often difficult relationship with a God whom I believe created the universe, each continent, the country we live in. The God that since the beginning of time knew that He would send His most precious and treasured Son, Jesus Christ, down to earth to live and die for the helpless and stubborn humans that He had created. And I believe that God has everything under His control, including our President.
I am sorry, Mr President is not here to hear this -
You are in the position to make South Africa a great nation, not for herself, but a great nation that will show what living with hope can do in the lives of everyday people. You are who God has placed to govern South Africa, and we need to give you an opportunity to show what God can do with and through any human being. I wish you all the best during your time in office and hope that you might be able to see and have the courage and strength to follow the right - not the easy, or self-serving, or popular path - in every situation you are lead to deal with.
Yours, John Harold Benn.
Young people, by the sound of that facebook post, are very interested in what we are doing here, in spite of what we might think. They want leaders who are there for them. What kind of leaders are we? Let us not disappoint them. I thank you. [Applause.]
Ms A MDA
Mr I M OLLIS
Ms A MDA: Deputy Speaker, hon President of the Republic in absentia, members of the executive present here today, hon members, ladies and gentlemen, guests in the gallery, as the Congress of the People, we believe that South Africa belongs to all its youth across racial, gender and cultural divide.
To us it is very clear that the relevance of youth today cannot be a question that we must all ask. But the question that we must seek to answer is the question that says: What is it that is relevant that the youth of today do that was done by the youth of 1976? What are the issues at hand that the youth of 1976 sought to address, and what are the issues at hand that the youth of today should seek to address?
Young people are the future of this society. It is for this reason that all societies should nurture young people to play a meaningful role in their affairs and beyond. In turn, young people are expected to explore the limits of their opportunities and responsibilities in society.
In other words, the youth grow into the society, becoming part of it, they grow with it and eventually it grows them. This year marks the 33rd anniversary since the Soweto youth uprisings which was characterised by the firing of bullets, spraying of teargas, killing and assault of young people whose sin was to demand their freedom, democracy and their right to education without being confined by language. The above explain how the body of a 12-year old, Hector Peterson, was swooned by bullets of the agents of apartheid, dying in front of his comrades as they paved the way for the coming generation to take the spear and advance further.
The commemoration this month is coincidentally also in the month in which one of the greatest sons of this continent was born, one of the leaders produced by this country, one of the intellectuals that has defined and redefined the African Renaissance, our one and only, former President of this country, Thabo Mbeki. [Applause.]
As the youth of this country, it is in that spirit that we must take this opportunity to wish him an early happy birthday and thank you, Zizi, for leaving a traceable legacy for us as the youth.
The current state of youth development of our country continues to be a worrying factor as this celebration of the 33rd anniversary bears no significance of change of the situation to us as young people, but as young people it is rather celebrated with our heads bowed down, shame written in our faces as we continue to witness democracy contributing immensely to the misery. We call this a misery because the level of youth unemployment continues to escalate with young people being the most affected group. This is witnessed on the statistics that show unemployed young graduates who haven't even yet gotten the opportunity of ploughing back to their communities, despite the fact that as they were studying they were the investments of their families, their parents and their societies.
The Extended Public Works Programme and the government internships have become the most prominent measures of how government exploits young people, especially at local government level. With regard to the Extended Works Programme, it should be mentioned that it would be by luck if you find a young person having ascended to a foreman position as if this is the programme that the hon President was alluding to when talking about 500 000 jobs that will be created this year.
It means then the current youth joblessness is still a dream perpetually to be deferred. We acknowledge though the good intention that was intended by the programme itself, but our emphasis is made in order to get the real sustainable job opportunities and also call for more citizen-focused interventions that are less frustrating and giving young people equal opportunities.
As a solution from Cope, we recommend that a youth cadet service, where school leavers serve and support communities while they continue to be empowered, should be offered and government should consider this. This will help in alleviating the roaming of youth who are neither employed nor attending school and the emphasis in this particular instance must be made because young people continue to suffer from the unemployment that is out there and the escalating statistics really indicate this.
The lack of universal access to qualitative education continues to subject young people to unintended misfortunes of finding themselves drowning in debts of sharks that pretend to be financial rescuing mechanisms for them to access education, yet they eventually get to be listed in credit bureaus before they are even employed.
To this effect, it must be mentioned that NFSAS are amongst these giants who continue to swallow the dreams, aspirations and future of young people. This scheme has left many casualties along the way. I must also mention that government is accountable for all this mess and it has continuously made promises it has never been able to keep. Young people have continuously been told of and promised free education, but our parents continue to suffer in giving us the education that our government is providing for us, because the quality of education itself leaves a lot to be desired.
Also, it must be emphasised that the state of our tertiary institutions is an issue of concern where we are calling on our Minister of Higher Education and Training to intervene, especially in making sure that these institutions are not used for any means of political point scoring We have seen various institutions where various academics are under fire and some of them, including the University of South Africa, where you find that the SACP and its youth wing continue to draw young people to streets for things that are really not education-related.[Applause.]
Again, it is on this matter that we would want to see both the Ministers of Education taking a firm stand against teachers in Soweto who have continuously held the future of our brothers and sisters at ransom by invading classes, jeopardising our learners by keeping them from writing their exams during a critical time where they are supposed to be subjected to pass. [Applause.]
The aspirations of young to become businessmen and women is often hindered by the fact that institutions that government has created are such that these services are accessed by certain spheres of society and not all our youth. To this effect, I would like make mention of the Umsobomvu Youth Fund, Seda and ICD, who continue to shut out rural youth to the system that is used to get financial assistance in order for one to become a successful and sustainable entrepreneur. As a result of this, young people end up subjecting themselves to unwanted tendencies of fronting for the wealthy who seek to get wealthier and the question that this must provoke to us: What kind of government enjoys seeing its future leaders being prisoners of the haves?
The critical task of the National Youth Development Agency among other things will be to make sure that all these bottlenecks are dealt with and the economic freedom is enjoyed by the youth of this country across rural divide, race or gender. The lack of service delivery that has been observed by the current government continues to be evident in areas where even the recent Christmas of food parcels could not even reach. [Applause.]
This is on the basis that roads have not been constructed and water, sanitation and electricity are not by any means in the pipeline. In this particular aspect, I would like to make mention of a certain Xolobeni administrative area in the area of Bizana, Transkei in the Eastern Cape where the previous Department of Minerals and Energy wanted to impose mining in an area where... Thank you very much. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Ms S P LEBENYA-NTANZI
Ms A MDA
Ms S P LEBENYA-NTANZI: Madam Deputy Speaker, I am delighted to rise to the podium today to once again remember and honour the commitment and example of South Africa's heroes of June 16, 1976.
The day June 16, 1976, is a day violently imprinted on South Africa's collective conscience. Commemorated over 33 years later as Youth Day, it is a day that honours the deaths of hundreds of Soweto school youths. On that day the apartheid regime and its police force were caught off guard when the simmering bubble of anger of school-going youth finally burst, releasing an intensity of emotion. On that day, voices of a generation of inspired youth resonating through the valleys and hills of South Africa were heard. Their vibrant youth voices cried: "This is our day." On that day, hundreds of youths lost their lives; but it was the day that ultimately changed the future of our country forever.
I believe that this is the true living message conveyed to us by the heroes of June 16, 1976 - the message of courage and hope. The vibrant youth voices of 1976 taught us that there is no challenge too big to overcome. The chief aspiration at that time was freedom from oppression. But today, despite the fact that we have made great strides since achieving democracy, unemployment - particularly among the youth - remains a major concern.
Madam Deputy Speaker, the reality is that after 14 years of democracy, we still can't boast that a better life for all youths has been achieved. In some instances, we have even gone backwards. Food prices are skyrocketing; electricity supply is unstable; fuel costs are exorbitant and rising very fast; criminality is rampant; jobs are scarce; and, for many, houses are still unaffordable. Education is not up to scratch. During the apartheid era, school children were exposed to intimidation and violence by police. Today, school children experience intimidation and violence in their own classrooms from their own teachers and classmates. [Applause.]
Today, many youths still face the same problems as the generation of 1976. The question is: How can we make this better? The answer is: Let us get involved. The torch has been passed on to a new generation of South Africans. It is now time for us the young people of our country to become politically active and rally against the many challenges we face in all its forms. Our generation must feel the same spirit of patriotism that drove our peers to become politically active. We must become the vibrant youth voices for change.
The relationship between society and the youth is extremely complex. Nevertheless, it has been possible to describe a clear theme in this relationship - the theme between the belief in the strength, innovative changes and improvements of and by the youth and the fear of change and an arguable increased loss of norms. This paradox is not particular to South Africa, nor to this generation of young people. It is a paradox that has probably applied in every age and culture.
Youth development remains one of the complex challenges facing democratic South Africa. Fifteen years after the transition to democracy, it is young people who are severely affected by negative socioeconomic factors such as HIV and Aids, high levels of unemployment, poverty and the lack of participation in political and economic development processes.
The Presidency launched the National Youth Development Agency recently. It is an open secret that this development was, among other things, due to the IFP which raised a number of concerns over a decade ago about the incompetence of the erstwhile National Youth Commission and the Umsobomvu Youth Fund. Therefore, to the IFP and the millions of our citizens, the launch of the new agency, though not perfect, presents all of us with a rare window of opportunity to fix what is wrong with our youth sector.
Unlike before, government and youth formations have an opportunity to address collectively challenges facing young people in our country. The IFP believes that the importance and effectiveness of the agency ultimately relies on youth formations themselves and government departments and their willingness to enforce youth-centred policies and programmes.
The message to the new agency and its leadership is clear. To those young people in the rural areas and slums, struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, you should pledge your best efforts to help them help themselves - not because you seek their votes, but because it is right to do so. This is the hope and the faith that young people and citizens have in the new agency and its leadership. So, they dare not fail. I thank you. [Applause.]
Mr M H HOOSEN
Ms S P LEBENYANA-NTANZI
Mr M H HOOSEN: Deputy Speaker, as the recent elections have displayed, the youth of South Africa are dynamic, opinionated and energetic. They have claimed their space in our society and, in doing so, they have made a significant contribution towards democracy in our country. This is why the ID believes that we must use their inspiration, abilities and energy to help us build South Africa's tomorrow.
The ID welcomes the establishment of the National Youth Development Agency to tackle economic issues and the establishment of the Department of Women, Youth, Children and People with Disabilities. We call on government to ensure that these initiatives are prevented from becoming as dysfunctional as the National Youth Commission and extend a call on government to investigate incentives for businesses which employ the youth as first-time jobseekers. These interventions will go a long way in equipping our youth with the necessary skills and experience which will make them more employable for the future.
The daily challenges and barriers facing our youth must become the central focus of our new government. The ID would also like to see the government focus not only on the economic challenges that affect the youth, but also on the social. The youth still have the highest infection rate of HIV and Aids. Many are also affected by the death of family and the resulting burden of heading households. We hope that the new government shall focus on these challenges with the urgency and the importance it deserves.
The ID applauds the fact that greater attention has been focused on admission in tertiary institutions in terms of transformation. The ID would also like government to look at implementing more integration programmes to bridge the many divides that exist within our tertiary institutions.
The ID is looking forward to participating in the first National Youth Conference on Youth Day. We hope that this initiative will enable the youth to make an even more significant contribution towards nation-building under the fourth democratic government. I thank you. [Applause.]
Mr S Z NTAPANE
Mr M H HOOSEN
Mr S Z NTAPANE: Deputy Speaker, hon members, the youth of today is well-versed, well-informed and very competitive. All that it wants is assistance from the government. In his reply to the President's address, Genl Holomisa said: "The cake we are all looking at is shrinking." I am saying that the cake shrunk a long time ago, and the means of expanding it have to be devised.
Creating jobs is welcomed. However, many of our youth have business acumen but lack funds to start businesses. They are not creditworthy for financial institutions loan them money. My understanding is that - I am actually subject to correction on this one - there are financial institutions which are out there to assist in starting businesses but have problems, among which is the requirement made on applicants to contribute. This contribution makes it very difficult for some applicants to afford starting their own businesses. They consequently end up increasing the rate of unemployment.
Our youth must be assisted in starting their own businesses, and government must, at the inception of those businesses, nurture and incubate them until they find their feet. By so doing, government will be indirectly creating jobs because the youth in those businesses will definitely need to employ more people to assist them.
In the same vein, for any business to succeed, perfect discipline is one of the most important requirements. Having said that, I therefore submit that it is also incumbent upon government, in the process of developing the youth in entrepreneurship, to also bring back values and instil them. [Time Expired.] Thank you.
Mr S E KHOLWANE
Mr S Z NTAPANE
Siswati:
uMnu S E KHOLWANE: Sekela Somlomo, Tindvuna Nemasekela ato, malunga lahloniphekile Esishayamtsetfo Savelonkhe, balingani, nebangani, nine nonkhe bekunene, wena weluhlanga, wena lowacedza Lubombo ngekuhlehletela, Ngwane, kwami kutaba kuhlahla indlela nje etintfweni umlingani wami lasetawuchubeka akhulume ngato. Kodvwa ngifuna kusho kutsi etinyangeni letimbalwa letendlulile sive sonkhana besiphishanekile siya enhla nentasi – kuhle kwekuhlafuna kwentjwebe, sitilungiselela kuvota. Nangempela-ke sigcine sivotile.
Balingani bami sebashito kutsi kuhambeke njani ngoba vele kuyakhanya kutsi Khongolose walutsatsa ngemalengiso lolukhetfo. [Tandla.] Loko kwenteka ngesikhatsi tonkhe tinhlangano letikhona kulelive tiye taba nesikhatsi lesenele kutsi titjele sive kutsi titakwentani natingaluwina lolukhetfo. Kodvw-ke nakhona betishito njalo kutsi titakwentani, lolusha lwakulelive letfu lubonise ngekwenta kutsi ngempela luyamtsandza Khongolose.
Angisho nje kutsi lokuphindze kujabulise kakhulu kutsi nawubuka inombolo yelusha loluphumile lwahamba lwayawuvota kuyakhombisa kutsi noko belumlalele Khongolose ngesikhatsi atsi abaphume babe njengesikhonyane sitseleka emasimini, bayewuvota bavotele Khongolose. Ngaloko kufanele sihalalisele labasha betfu ngekutsi bakhonile kuphuma bayewuvota njengobe bentile nje.
Kubalulekile kutsi siyibonge lenhlangano yaKhongolose ngekutsi ichubeke futsi ikhombise kutsi lusha lwetfu alusiwo emathulusi ekutsi luphume luyewuvota nje kuphela. Nawubuka lapha Kulendlu Yesishayamtsetfo Savelonkhe, utawubona kutsi ngalapha Kakhongolose lusha lunyenti kakhulu. Loko kukhombisa kutsi lapha Kakhongolose lusha lutsatselwa etulu, hhayi kutsi lube lithulusi lekuvota nje kuphela emvakwaloko kubuye bomhlatsucinile bodvwa batewuhlala kulesishayamtsetfo.
Angisho futsi kutsi, Babe wesive, Umhlonishwa longangaMengameli lohlonishwako - kumbe lesingatsi nguMengameli wekucala, Babe Nelson Mandela lohlonishwa emhlabeni wonkhe, buholi bakhe wabucala khona lapha elusheni Lwakakhongolose. Wachubeka wahola wadzimate wagcina anguMengameli walelive. Lengetama kukusho kutsi ngempela bacinisile laba labayihamba lendlela embikwetfu nabatsi inkundzi itfolakala ematfoleni.
Ecinisweni, lenkhulumo yalamuhla ingikhumbuta ngesikhatsi siphishanekile sehla senyuka sikhankhasa, singena emakhaya ngemakhaya sikhulume nelusha... [Kuhlaba Lulwimi.]
IsiZulu:
MnuB W DHLAMINI: Ukukhalima ophambukayo. [Point of order.]
English:
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: What is the point of order?
IsiZulu:
Mnu B W DHLAMINI: Deputy Speaker, Ukukhalima ophambukayo, [On a point of order.] ngicela ukubuza ukuthi kuwulimi olwamukelekile la ePhalamende ukuthi abantu abadala omhlathi qinile.[Uhleko.]
English:
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I am trying to find the interpretation, hon member, what does that mean?
IsiZulu:
Mnu B W DHLAMINI: Yikho ngibuza kuwe Somlomo, ngoba nami angazi, akuzwakali kahle.[Uhleko.]
English:
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Please proceed, hon member.
Siswati:
uMnu S E KHOLWANE: Ngiyabonga kakhulu, Sekela Somlomo. Nangichubeka, sikhulumi lebesikhuluma kucala kunami sike sasho sabuta umbuto ngendzima leyake yadlalwa lusha lwangabo 1976. Sibuye sasho nekusho kutsi asati kahle kutsi ingabe lusha lwanamuhla ludlala yiphi indzima? Kuloko, lengifuna kukubuta kutsi, tsine njengelusha lwalamuhla, ngutiphi tifundvo lesitifundzile kulendzima leyadlalwa ngulolusha lwangabo 1976?
Kungabe seloku lolo lusha lwangabo 1976 lusakhutsele yini kufaka sandla ekutfutfukiseni bonkhe bantfu emimangweni yakitsi kuleli lanamuhla? Ngabe sijula kangakanani ekwatini tinselele letibukene nemimango lamuhla? Sikuvisisa kangakanani kwakhiwa kwesive lesibumbene nalesingabandlululi ngekwebulili, ngekwebuhlanga kanye nekuba sive lesitfutfukako kuyo yonkhe imikhakha? Sikuvisisa njani kulwa nebuphuya, kusweleka kwemisebenti, kwemakhono ekutsi lusha lukhone kutiphilisa.
Lungagcugcuteleka njani lusha lwanamuhla kuze lukhone kutimela kungafani nangesikhatsi lapho lusha lwalungafundziswa kutsi inyamatane itingelwa njani, kodvwa lwalufundziswa kutsi lenyamatane ihlindvwa njani naseyitingelwe yabanjwa. Loku lengifuna kukhosho kutsi lusha kufanle lufundziswe kutsi itingelwa njani inyamatane ehlatsini bese uyabuya uteyihlindza, hhayi kutsi lufundziswe kutsi ihlindvwa njani sebakutingelele yona. [Tandla.]
Noko-ke liciniso lelikhanya bha, kutsi itolo besisive lesehlukaniswe ngekwebunjinga kanye nangekwebuphuya betfu. Laba lababenelutfo kanye nalaba babebomntjingozi ushaywa ngubani – bomntjingozi ushaywa ngubani-ke, Sekela Lasomlomo, ngulabo lababeswele lababengenalutfo. Ngiko loko lokwabangela kutsi kubete kulingana ekutfutfikisweni kwemnotfo etindzaweni lesasihlala kuto ngekwehlukahlukana kwetfu. Lusha aluzange luphunyuke kuloko kwehlukahlukana kanye nekungalingani kweminotfo etindzaweni tetfu.
Umbuso welubandlululo, njengobe besengishito kutsi awuzange usifundzise kahle kutsi sitingela njani, wawusifundzisa kutsi siyihlindza njani inyamatane leseyitingelwe.
Lokunye lakwentile Khongolose, ekuboneni kwakhe kutsi impela kubalulekile kutsi sakhe sive lesibumbene nesive lesisinye, kwekutsi kuletinye tinchubomgomo takhe atsatse inchubomgomo lebeyikhuluma ngekutsi: Khongolose cobolwake kufanele kube nguye longumgijimi weluntjintjo kuze akhone kugucula simo emimangweni yakitsi.
Loko uyakubona ngisho nanyalo kutsi injongo yahulumende Wakhongolose kutfutfukisa tenhlalakahle kanye nekutfutfukisa bantfu labahlala kuyo yonkhe imimango.
Kungumsebenti wahulumende wentfutfuko kutsi adlale indzima lebalulekile ekutfutfukiseni labasha. Kusungulwa kwalomtimba labebakhuluma ngawo laba labakhulume ngembili kwami, baka-National Youth Development agency, kusibonakaliso mbamba sekutsi Khongolose utimisele kutfutfukisa lusha.
Ngiyabeva nebalingani bami bayasho kutsi letinchubomgomo nome letinsitasive besinato kucala, boMsobomvu nalokunye bekumancikancika kuphi. Kodvwa phela, ngiko nje sicale le-National Youth Development agency, kuze sikhone kulungisa lobuncikancika lobebukhona kucala.
Angisho nje eNdvuneni Yetemfundvo Sisekelo nakhona mine bengifuna Indvuna Yetemfundvo Lephakeme Nekucecesha, kutsi njengobe nami ngingulomunye welusha loluchamuka eMpumalanga ngitsi, njengobe besiphishanekile sehla senyuka sikhankhasela lukhetfo nje, Ndvuna ngiyetsemba kutsi nitawukhulumisana kuze umnikete lomlayeto wami. Umtjele kutsi lusha lwaseMpumalanga belusikhumbuta lutsi; sesimehlwana, Ndvuna ngobe site tsine sikhumulo setemfundvo lephakeme - inyuvese kulela lakitsi eMpumalanga. [Tandla.]
Natsi siyabona kutsi mhlayimbe selitfuba lelikahle lekutsi natsi singabalwa kanye nalmanye emaprovinsi lanemikhakha yetemfundvo lephakeme. Liciniso kutsi ayikho Indvuna Yetemfundvo Lephakeme Nekucecesha, kodvwa ikhona Indvuna Yetemfundvo Sisekelo itangiphatsela lomlayeto wami.
Angisho kutsi ngalesikhatsi siphishaneke ngelukhetfo, lusha lwasho kutsi shangatsi lapha lapho kwakhiwe khona ema-FET, Further Education and Training, kumbe lapho abekwe khona nyalo, lusha alukhoni kufikela kahle. Lufisa shangatsi lamanye angasondzetwa etiswe etindzaweni letisedvutane nalo lolusha lwaseMpumalanga. Kungadzingeki kutsi umuntfu lomusha adzimate agibele ibhasi letawuhamba 50km nakaya etikolweni kuyawufuna imfundvo lephakeme. Ngiyetsemba kutsi lesicelo selusha lwaseMpumalanga sitawuvakala eNdvuneni lephetse lelitiko.
Umhlaba wonkhe ubukene nesimo sekushisa, nelutulu, kanye nekubandza lokwengcile, loku labakubita ngekutsi yi-global warming laba labafundze kakhulu. Singukhongolose sitsi lusha alusukume luhlome ekufundziseni imiphakatsi yetfu kutsi kufanele yetame njani ekwenteni kutsi sincandze lesimo se – global warming.
Lokunye lokutasisita kuloko kutsi sitsatse lamatfuba emabhizinisi ekutsi sihole lemiklamo lefanana nekutjala tintfo letimilako, loku lokutsiwa ngema-greening projects, nalokunye.
Mengameli Wakhongolose ushito watsi sekunjalo sive sakitsi, njengaloku sishito kutsi kufanele sibambisane kuze sente lokunyenti. Ngaphandle kwaloko ngeke sikhone kutfutfuka, nine bekunene. Ngiyabonga. [Tandla.]
Mr W D SPIES
Mr S E KHOLWANE
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The hon Spies? How do you pronounce that?
HON MEMBERS: Spies! Spies!
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Spies?
Mr W D SPIES: Hon Deputy Speaker, it is Spies. It's the Afrikaans word for umkhonto or assegai, not the English word for impimpi! [Interjections.]
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: OK, that's what I thought, thank you! [Interjections.]
Afrikaans
Mnr W D SPIES: Adjunkspeaker, verlede week op 4 Junie was dit presies 20 jaar sedert studente van Beijing Universiteit en ander kampusse op Tiananmen-plein in Beijing teen 'n ondemokratiese kommunistiese bevel in opstand gekom het. Meer as 100 000 studente het op die plein bymekaargekom en die tenks van die sogenaamde People's Liberation Army openlik uitgedaag.
Die soldate van die People's Liberation Army het op hulle losgebrand en tot vandag toe weet ons nie presies hoeveel jong Chinese studente daardie dag doodgeskiet is nie. Die syfer wissel van die amptelike Chinese een van 250 tot die 10 000 wat volgens die intelligensie-owerhede van die destydse Sowjet-Unie bekendgemaak is.
Op 6 Junie vanjaar was dit presies 65 jaar sedert D-dag. Op dié dag in 1944 het 160 000 jong geallieerde soldate van 16 jaar en ouer in amfibiese voertuie op die seestrand by Normandië geland en Duitse Nazi-masjiengeweervuur trotseer om uiteindelik Europa te bevry van Nazi-oorheersing. Vandag is die 110 000 grafte van jong soldate aan albei kante die stille getuienis van hierdie bloedige slag.
Op 16 Junie word weer twee gebeure in Suid-Afrika herdenk. Ons ken almal die gebeure in Soweto – hier's baie gepraat daaroor – maar ook op 16 Junie, 109 jaar gelede, is 'n bevel uitgevaardig deur lord Roberts wat bepaal het dat die plase van boere in daardie oorlogstyd afgebrand sou word en wat sodoende die tafel gedek het vir die sogenaamde verskroeide aardebeleid waarin 26 000 jong vroue en kinders gesterf het.
Die stemme van al hierdie geaffekteerdes het een ding in gemeen, of dit nou die uitdagende jong student op Tiananmen-plein was of die dapper jong soldaat in Normandië of die begeesterde aktivis in Soweto of die desperate boerekind in die Britse konsentrasiekamp: al hierdie mense is in omstandighede geplaas deur idealisme, deur 'n ideaal wat groter was as hulleself. Dit is dikwels hierdie idealisme wat veroorsaak het dat hierdie mense op 'n dikwels onkeerbare manier hulle stemme losgemaak het, hulle stemme laat hoor het oor waarin hulle geglo het. Mag ons nooit hierdie stemme stilmaak nie! Ek dank u.
Mr S N SWART
Mr W D SPIES
Mr S N SWART: Chairperson, hon members, the ACDP wishes all South African youth well as we prepare to celebrate national Youth Day next week. Let us also celebrate the wonderful contribution made by the talents, resources and ideas of our young men and women. Young people who have acted as drivers of change and have participated actively in the development of our socially inclusive society for which we can be very grateful.
We also, however, need to pause to remember those youth at risk, which includes youth living with HIV and Aids, youth-headed households, youth in conflict with the law, youth abusing alcohol and drugs, and unemployed youth living in, often, extreme poverty. Besides the vibrant voice that we hear there is also a heartfelt cry for help, for guidance, for love and acceptance.
The ACDP believes that the main reason why there are so many young people at risk is the absence of fathers, and I will focus on this aspect as a father. This is not to detract from the many mothers, particularly single mothers, who are doing their very best to raise their children and who were acknowledged during the International Day of the Family on 29 May by the hon Minister of Social Development. She emphasised what the ACDP has continuously promoted; that it is strong families that build and ensure a better life for children and our country.
Let us then not forget the crucial role that fathers play. One of the key elements in assisting youth at risk will be when the fathers take up their rightful role to love, guide, protect and provide for their children. A well-known Argentinean author, quoting from Malachi, has said that for true transformation to take place in any society, the hearts of the fathers must turn to the children and the children to the fathers. It begins with the fathers.
As we prepare to celebrate Youth Day next week, let us as fathers take up our God-given role to provide the exemplary role models that we need for our children. Thank you. [Applause.]
Ms I C DITSHETELO
Mr S N SWART
Ms I C DITSHETELO: Chairperson, hon members, sweet and fast-talking, clear and energetic, powerful and demanding - that's the vibrant voices of our youth.
How many of us are giving them an ear? Are we really listening to give help, or just criticising because they are young? It's high time that we adults adopt the listening skills of our youth. Times have changed. Youths are just not the same as in the 19th century.
Regarding them in the highest esteem and not just taking them for granted would be fruitful for our country. This is not just their vibrant voice, but their high-class actions, taste, art, sport and music compel us adults to support their institutions so that they can be a force to be reckoned with. Are we considering them in society communications? Do we share ideas with them, mould them in their speech and actions, accept them and let them belong to everything we do, tell and teach them beautiful things in life, let them know what is wrong and right? Authority is an awesome word that can be intimidating for young people as well as adults. However, without authority the youth's voice is a hollow cry in a loud argument.
Building the skills of our children and youth, and engaging them in democracy, adults can provide practical steps toward empowerment instead of just words. They must involve young people in activities that are actual, powerful, purposeful and rewarding. Things have now changed. Our country is at a stage of rebuilding from its ugly past. We are faced with so many challenges that require participation of the youth. Their agenda for a better life is even more pronounced than before. The youth are not only in the majority, they are the ones most affected by the socioeconomic and political ills of the past.
Youth unemployment, their underemployment and employability will remain a primary policy challenge ... [Time expired.]
Ms L D MAZIBUKO
Ms I C DITSHETELO
Ms L D MAZIBUKO: Mr Chairman, hon members, following the first voter registration drive for the recent 2009 general election, it was reported by the IEC that out of the 1,6 million new voters it had registered for the upcoming poll, over 1,2 million – that is 75% - were between the ages of 18 and 29. This was an encouraging signal that we could expect a substantial youth voter turnout in the election.
This was very good news indeed, particularly since it came at a time when concerns were growing about the apathy that many young South Africans seemed to feel towards politics and government, and when questions were being asked about how this situation could be remedied the incongruence was very clear for all to see: In a country in which young people had made a defining contribution to the recent passage from oppression into democracy; in a country in which young people had stunned South Africa and the world with their extraordinary courage, who had faced the tanks and the bullets of the apartheid machine and marched defiantly for their right to a better education and a better life, it was absolutely astonishing that less than 20 years after that freedom had been won, the youth of South Africa could not muster up the interest to exercise their hard-won democratic right to vote.
It was very unfortunate then, that in the midst of this all-important national debate about how to inspire young people into civic action, the response of some political parties and of their youth organisations was instead, in far too many cases, to take political engagement down to the lowest common denominator.
In the pre-election buzz, when searching for contemporaries in the political arena who might speak to the issues that touch them and were of deep concern to them, such as high rates of unemployment and underemployment, the crisis in our education system or the scourge of HIV/Aids, young South Africans were more likely to hear youth leaders declaring their intention to "take up arms and kill" for their political benefactors, or to hear them argue that rape victims have usually "had a nice time" with their alleged aggressors if they "requested breakfast and taxi money".
There hasn't been much improvement in the wake of the election. Certain of this country's young political leaders, instead of offering proactive solutions to the most pressing problems facing the youth of this country, have instead spent their time pursuing political agendas against those whom it is not in their mandate to wage battle, launching libellous, sexist attacks on democratically elected leaders and engaging in absurd debates about the definition of "sleeping around," whilst all the while schoolchildren continue to be neglected by errant teachers, young girls remain vulnerable to sexual predators and our youth remain trapped in a cycle of unemployment, poverty and lack of access to opportunity.
I won't go any further into the failings of well-known youth organisations, Mr Chairman, since they are surely well known, both to you and the hon members present here today. The question, then, which has to stem from what we know, speaks to the central premise of today's debate: How do we celebrate a more vibrant youth voice in South Africa? How do we do justice to the memory of the brave principled young people who came before us and whose sacrifices we commemorate on Youth Day this month? How do we change youth political engagement in this country from a sordid spectacle into an honest discussion about how the youth of this country can increase their civic participation and contribute to the drive to address the critical issues facing them and their peers? [Interjections.]
Mr K B MANAMELA: Comrade Chair, on a point of order: The speaker is breathing into the microphone and she is speaking softly. We can hardly hear her. [Interjections.] The fact that she speaks softly doesn't necessarily increase the level of her intellect, so could she please speak into the microphone? [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M B Skosana): Hon member ... [Interjections.] Order, please! Order! Hon member, I'm sure you were speaking for yourself and I'm sure the hon member heard you. [Interjections.] Please proceed.
Ms L D MAZIBUKO: Thank you, Mr Chairman ...
Mr P F SMITH: Sorry, just to assist the Chair, could we not suggest members on that side of the House get hearing aids? [Laughter.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M B Skosana): That's not a point of order. Please proceed, hon member.
Ms L D MAZIBUKO: I will repeat the question: How do we change youth political engagement in this country from a sordid spectacle into an honest discussion about how the youth of this country can increase their civic participation and contribute to the drive to address the critical issues facing them and their peers?
I believe that the answer to these questions, or at least the beginnings of the answer, lies here in this august House, which has recently seen the entrance of a number of talented young public representatives, following the elections of 22 April. It is amongst these young MPs that the debate about the challenges facing our youth may take on a more dignified and respectable tone, one which is in keeping with the gravity of the challenges that lie ahead for South Africa's youth and one which recognises that although we may be young it remains incumbent upon us to conduct ourselves with dignity as the adults that we are. [Applause.]
This is the vibrant youth voice which must begin to supplant the shrill, combative, irrelevant voices which have come to define youth political engagement in South Africa ... [Applause.] ... a voice which speaks not only to the fears, but also to the hopes, dreams and ambitions of all the young people of this country.
Mr Chairman, I'm very pleased that we've all had the opportunity here today to see the calibre of young MPs which this fourth Parliament now has within its ranks, and I therefore issue a challenge to my fellow young hon members here today, both from the incumbent party and from the opposition: Let us begin to set in motion here today a youth discourse in South Africa which will do justice to the hundreds of brave, principled young people who gave their lives in 1976 so that we would be able to stand here today. I thank you. [Applause.]
Ms B THOMSON
Ms L D MAZIBUKO
IsiZulu:
NK B THOMSON: Sihlalo, abaphathiswa bonke abakhona, amalungu ahloniphekile akhona onke eNdlini kanye nentsha. Angibonge ukuthola leli thuba lokuphonsa esivivaneni kule nkulumompikiswano ekhetheke kangaka. Asiyibonge kakhulu intsha yethu eyabona kufanele ukuthi ibambe iqhaza ekukhululeni izwe lakithi.
Kukho konke lokho ukuzinikela kwayo, sithi entsheni yonke siyayithanda futhi siyaziqhenya ngayo. Sithi-ke nayo ayizithande futhi iziqhenye. Ingani naku simi kuyo impela iNdlukazi Yesishayamthetho Sezwe, sidingida ikusasa layo intsha. Yithuba leli elakhiwe nguye lo hulumeni wentando yeningi, uhulumeni kaKhongolose.
Ake sibuke isitha esibhekene naso namuhla, isitha sendlala, ubuphofu, izifo, izidakamizwa, izinselelo zemfundo nokunye okuningi. Mangidlule ekutheni sinethemba elikhulu koNgqongqoshe bethu Bezemfundo umama uAngie Motshekga kanye nobaba uBlade Nzimande, impela sengathi inkomo siyidedele nabakwazi ukuyisenga.
English:
It is encouraging to all of us to see some of our youth who have forgone the luxury of this world to go and study at some of our institutions. In this effort we hope that they do realise that they are doing nothing more than to better our very beautiful country South Africa, and also to better the lives of all South Africans. During one of his manifesto addresses Ubaba Madiba mentioned that the most powerful weapon is education, education, and education.
Hon members, we are inspired by the good will of our youth and also proud of what they shall become in the near future. We also hope that they shall become good citizens of this country. We have all tried to build and shall endeavour to continue to build... [Interjections.]... that will not disturb me. We are all aware that as we congregate here, there are some of our brothers and sisters who have not had the opportunity to study as some of us have, then how do we breach the huge gulf where we coexist as the literate and the illiterate; where we all as a nation seek as a path of building and rebuilding the South Africa which we all aspired to enjoy?
It is common course that our very families, churches, communities and society at large, nurture and guide us as we walk this long road. I have said that we coexistence in society as the privileged and underprivileged. The youth I am referring to is the youth who have been privileged to get the opportunity to study while others have not.
Our youth, unlike the masses of our people that have not had the opportunity to study, have it right in their hands. How do we lift these deprived masses, so that they too can enjoy the fruits of this liberation that has brought us thus far? Some of our youth students will become social scientists, accountants, medical practitioners, legal practitioners and the list goes on. I think it is our duty to commend them and also humbly request from them as learned people to lend a helping hand to our fellow brothers and sisters.
We all know that there are so-called change agents, our very youth are those very change agents, they will after completion of their studies venture into the world of work, they must bear in mind that as they venture into this world of work they will not only be sustaining themselves and their families but they will be contributing to society and South Africa at large. Their contribution will definitely filter and make way, and to other institutions like churches and business society and will eventually make a mark on the global world. As they progress in their achievements, let them not leave their brothers and sisters behind.
Hon members I therefore humbly place the great task before them on this wonderful month of the youth, that they transmit their skills, knowledge and experience to those who have not had the opportunity. There has been much effort on the part of our government to accelerate the path of skills development, theirs is to accelerate this more and more, I want to say to them that in the midst of this road, they will encounter many, many challenges and also gain unexpected experience too.
Out there in the world of work, there is a vast store of knowledge. One will be surprised by the vast knowledge that exists in our communities, despite their deprivation of education. This is the so-called indigenous knowledge, for example: you will go into a farming community, only to discover that one's academic career is so supplemented by the indigenous knowledge that exist out there, therefore to our youth, I do hope that they will realise the experience of mutualism that they could enjoy.
This also brings me to the recognition of prior learning; prior learning is gained as you travelled the route of life and gain experience. Our government has realised that such learning has to be recognised and as such it is recognised by the SA Qualification Authority.
In conclusion, having encouraged our youth, both black and white, to hold hands with their fellow brothers and sisters to transmit the academic achievements and in that process they will reap the fruits of unselfishness and development. They could also contribute to Adult Basic Education. Even on a small scale it will make a vast difference. This will not only develop their personal careers, but at the same time enhance a better life for all, which our government has always pursuit and continue to pursue.
IsiZULU :
Phambili ngenyanga yentsha, phambili!
Mr L M MPHAHLELE
Ms B THOMSON
Mr L M MPHAHLELE: Chairperson, it should be on record that former PAC president, Zephaniah Mothopeng, was the only leader of a then banned political party to face charges related to the June 16 student uprising. The PAC regrets the fact that people who contributed towards June 16 are hardly mentioned when the day is remembered. Government must recognise and memorialise people such as Tsietsi Mashinini and Kgotso Seatlholo. We disapprove of the tendency by the ruling party to monopolise youth funds and projects.
The PAC calls for justice and equality among all youth formations of our land, nothing less. The youth should not be hindered from participating in shaping the destiny of our country. By eliminating the scourge of alcohol abuse, promiscuous sex, drugs, crime, disease, corruption and other ills, the youth of today will be emulating their June 16 predecessors. They must also cure themselves of a disease of the mind that manifests itself either in inferiority complex or superiority complex. I thank you.
Mr R B BHOOLA
Mr L M MPHAHLELE
Mr R B BHOOLA: Chairperson, on 16 June 1976, multitudes of South African youths emerged from township schools to confront a brutal system of racial oppression, universally condemned as a crime against humanity. We commend our hon President, Mr Jacob Zuma, for highlighting the importance of youth, especially in sports and other areas, and trust that we will continue to engage our youth in extensive, supportive programmes that empower them as future leaders.
What then are the challenges the present generation has to grapple with? What kind of youth consciousness is needed today to address the kind of issues thrown-up by a free, nonracial society? Indeed, what are the characteristics required for the present generation to measure up to the challenges faced by the democratic order? Importantly, how does the current generation ensure continued contribution to the systematic national effort to undo the pervasive social realities spawned by apartheid?
These are the questions that must be answered during the process of building a better society for all our people, black and white. This would allow the youth to enjoy their lives in conditions of total freedom and have them mark out a role for themselves, necessarily to help bring to fruition the objectives of this free society set in motion by the 1976 youth.
The MF has a turnaround strategy that has placed much emphasis on the empowerment of our youth. We have always maintained that by cultivating young social minds through appropriate social support programmes, we will see an emergence of youth that will mobilise our communities for a better future. The MF has proposed that the National Youth Commission should reflect the broader spectrum of the population of South Africa.
Furthermore, all ward committees and municipalities should have youth commissions. The kickoff of the countdown to the 2010 soccer World Cup means our youth should have positioned themselves to assist our country and continue to engage various role-players in the opportunities arising from hosting the 2010 soccer World Cup.
We also need to learn from the experiences and programmes of other youth commissions in other countries such as India and Canada, where the motto is: "Be the change you seek."
Entrepreneurship is the power to change. Make entrepreneurship a credible alternative to getting a good job or being a victim of the system. We also need to engage young people by demonstrating that they have the power to create change and that they have a voice through their participation in the exchanges in markets that have a direct impact on their communities.
At the same time, all of us must understand that we cannot fulfil the dreams of a better life for all when our communities are faced with serious problems of young drug addicts and alcoholics, who face a bleak future and who constitute a liability to society.
We live in a globalised world, shaped by powerful forces that impact on the destinies of weak, poor and developing nations. Understanding globalisation issues enables us to develop a critical consciousness about responsibilities in the world. So, based on this knowledge, we can correctly wage struggles for global justice, peace and equality. Thank you. [Time expired.]
Mr M A MANGENA
Mr R B BHOOLA
Mr M A MANGENA: Chairperson, hon members, on Sunday 14 June the Confederations Cup kicks off in South Africa. Our youth will run on to the field of soccer to compete against champions from all continents of the world. Their counterparts in cricket are in England, mixing it up with best. The junior Boks are in Japan where they are doing our country proud by all accounts. The senior Boks are flexing their muscles in anticipation of a royal battle against the visiting British and Irish Lions.
The June 1976 lot faced the might of the state with their bare chests to ensure that we join the ranks of free nations, to make it possible for their younger brothers and sisters to mix and play with other youth of the world.
We look up to our youth to pass mathematics so that they can fly the modern fleet of aircraft at SAA; help build and maintain the power stations required to ensure our security of electricity supply; and assist the country in shifting to cleaner energy sources.
We look up to them to join their counterparts in Japan, Korea, Finland, Egypt and other countries in mastering the intricacies of biotechnology, so that they may exploit our rich biodiversity to defeat malaria, HIV and tuberculosis. This country is there for them to serve, modernise and bequeath to their own children. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mr M MNQASELA
Mr M A MANGENA
Mr M MNQASELA: Chairperson, hon Members of Parliament, ...
IsiXhosa:
...ndiye ndavuya xa bekuthetha uSisi wokuqala apha, ilungu elihloniphekileyo uNdabeni, ngoba uthe i-ANC iza kuthandaza ukuba ifumane ikhulu ekhulwini ngowama-2014. Bendifuna ukuthi kuye - ntonje andimboni ukuba uhleli ndawoni na ngoku - umthandazo lowo unga ungangowokuthandazela isibini kwisithathu, ngoba naso sele iyinto yamandulo.
English:
I stand here today in memory of our fallen soldiers, the heroes and heroines, young men and women of the 1976 era. It is indeed a fact that, as we are sitting in this Assembly, we do not seem to take seriously the issues affecting young people and the vulnerable groups.
IsiXhosa:
Ndiyabona ukuba abamajelo eendaba bayanqaba xa kuza kuthethwa ngemicimbi enje ngale. Amalungu nawo awabikho ngobuninzi bawo ngoba le micimbi ayisiwa ngqalelo kakhulu. Kodwa ke, ...
English:
... I think there are a number of issues that we need to pay attention to: Firstly, this House must redefine the true meaning of youth in this country. Being a young person in this country takes more than what is being said here. Maybe we need to ask ourselves as to what is it that propels desperation and juvenile delinquency, despite prudent policies that exist in this country? It is because of the two worlds that describe the youth of today.
We have two worlds: the world of the poor, whose greater posterity is black and underprivileged; the other is made up of the few elite, and in most cases they belong on the other side. The latter consists of those people that are connected to senior officials of the ANC, and they enjoy the gravy train of this country. That must be something of the past. What is it that government does to correct the situation?
We need to be realistic here. We are talking about the masses of young people in this country who live in remote places, far from public transport. They are in places where there is a lack of education facilities and there aren't any job opportunities or access to jobs. That is hard reality.
IsiXhosa:
Abanye ke zange baya ezilalini, abayazi le nto ndithetha ngayo. Mna mntu wakuTsolo, eQolombane, ndiyazi ukuba ndithetha ngantoni.
English:
An Arabic proverb says: "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." My friends are on this side. My enemy are those who continue to undermine the silenced voices, and that is the government.
IsiXhosa:
Abantu abatsha bafuna iinkokheli ezingumzekelo ukuze nabo bafunde, babe ziinkokheli zangomso. Sinoxanduva ke lokwenza njalo, ukuqinisekisa ubomi obungcono.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M B Skosana): Hon member, could you just take your seat, please; there is a point of order.
The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Is the hon member prepared to take a question?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M B Skosana): Hon member, are you prepared to take a question? [Interjections.] Please, let me hear from the hon member himself.
Mr M MNQASELA: I see the attempt is to delay me. If, by taking a question, Chairperson, you will allocate me more time, I will take the question. If not, then I'm unable to take the question.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M B Skosana): It is clear that the hon member won't take a question. Could you proceed then?
Mr M MNQASELA: I have much to talk about that affects the people of this country. As I have said, the government of the day must begin to talk openly about these challenges and bring about intervention methodologies, given to the hard reality that we are talking about. The DA is an answer. [Interjections.] The DA always has an answer.
Firstly, education remains the edifice to many, if not all these challenges. If you educate our people, they will be free: Skills development; access to finance; creation of jobs; entrepreneurship; HIV and Aids; teenage pregnancy, to mention but a few; all of this can only be true if it is founded on the premise of an open opportunity society for all the people of this country, as presented by the DA. This is the answer I am talking about. [Applause.]
Young people from all walks of life remain marginalised owing to a lack of access to resources. This does not preclude any of the parties present here from standing firm and addressing these challenges.
Remember, "besigaya iivoti sonke" [We were all campaigning.] and we all promised the people that we would improve their lot. When we campaigned and put out in the public our glossy manifestos, we all said that we would improve the lives of the people. Are we doing that? Women, people with disabilities, children and the youth; all of them are vulnerable groups and we need to help improve their lot.
IsiXhosa:
Ndifuna ukugqibezela ngombuzo obalulekileyo kuMphathiswa ophethe eli sebe. Ngaba siza kukwazi na ukuxoxa banzi ngeArhente yoPhuhliso loLutsha yeSizwe?
English:
I think it is important to talk about that, especially where it affects provinces and municipalities in this country. For some reason, provinces seem to be left in the dark because the DA is running the Western Cape. Thank you, Chairperson. [Interjections.] ... [Applause.]
Mr D K MATABOGE
Mr M MNQASELA
Mr D K MATABOGE: Chairperson, the recognition and appreciation of what happened in the past and atrocities that were committed by one racial group seeking to dominate the other, is an important cornerstone of national reconciliation in South Africa. Therefore, it is a history and the past that we cannot relegate to some textbook and not even talk about.
So, Hon Ollis, 16 June in particular represents the day where young people took to the streets and sacrificed their lives against the high and mighty apartheid regime. It is something that we will continue to celebrate. [Applause.]
Anele spoke about a youth dream deferred. As she said that phrase it reminded me of a book called The Dream Deferred written by Mervin Gumede on Thabo Mbeki. It is important that, when you plagiarise, to acknowledge your sources.
The other point that was raised by hon Mda is that democracy is a misery. It is a unfortunate that a young South African women of your age is able to stand in the fourth democratic Parliament of South Africa and say that we need to scrap the Expanded Public Works Programme and we need to scrap the National Youth Service Programme and replace it with what is called the Young Cadets, which is an old Bantustan and apartheid government form of indoctrination. [Applause.] It used to be done and is called compulsory military conscription. In the Bantustans they used to call them cadets. It was a tool for indoctrination. I am surprised that a young woman of your calibre is saying that we need to reintroduce those oppressive programmes.
On the day of his execution in 1979 when he was making his last statement before the judge, Solomon Mahlangu said:
Mama, tell my people I love them and they must continue to struggle. My blood will nourish the trees of liberty and freedom.
In exactly six days from today millions of people within and outside the borders of our country will commemorate 16 June and the connected uprisings. This historic moment in the history of our liberation struggle marks the resilience of our youth who laid down their lives in defiance of a regressive government whose order was to confine the majority to the margins of the labour market through inferior education and ultimately exclude them from the mainstream economy.
Chairperson, I would like to request to put my notes in front of me. As you can see, I am a special type of white man. I did not eat enough carrots. [Laughter.]
In the current political epoch we call on the youth of our country to draw inspiration and emulate the 76 generations and the likes of Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu, who laid down their lives for democracy and the freedom we have today. Indeed, some of these generations live amongst us today and they resemble the battle cry for freedom in our lifetime, which the 44 generations of the Sisulus and Mandelas committed itself to.
The youth of this generation have demonstrated against all odds their commitment to deepening democracy and defend the gains of our revolution. Millions of ordinary South Africans from the length and breadth of our country cast in their votes on 22 April. However, there are two interesting things about 22 April: Firstly, the majority of our people, unlike what many spectators and speculators had wished, demonstrated an overwhelming confidence in their glorious organisation, the ANC; secondly, this election became a true celebration of the youths' voices, as multitudes of young people made their mark in the polls and recorded an unprecedented youth voter turnout since the inception of democracy in South Africa. It is important, Anele, that we note that the youth of this generation will not, because of the democratic rule we acquired in 1994, behave similarly to the '76 generation. Indeed they will demonstrate their willingness and commitment to defend this democracy through their electoral power. [Applause.]
These youths voted in large numbers, because they celebrated a number of successes over the past years. Amongst those is that some sections of the National Youth Development Agency Act came into effect ushering in a new and cohesive development agency, whose first key intervention was the implementation of the National Youth Service Programme in various areas such as creation of decent work and sustainable livelihoods.
Our youth continue to be ravaged by unemployment and lack of participation in the economy. The call for the One Company One Learnership Programme to ensure that there is greater experience acquired by our young people continues. A further call made by the President in his state of the nation address on the creation of 500 000 jobs is a programme also geared towards the empowerment of these young people, ensuring greater access to basic and higher education through compulsory and free education and through the review of various funding models, as done by National Student Financial Aid, to ensure that we avoid the consistent exclusion of university students.
If the Young Communist League makes a clarion call based on observation: If I, as a young South Africa person, am sitting somewhere and I am told that a vice-chancellor excluded 20 000 black students from enrolling in a university, I would get worried. It is a point to get worried about and it is important that civil society organisations and political youth formations in the country begin to speak on those issues. Unfortunately those who do not have organisations to speak on these issues will not have the platform to do so. Those who do will continue to engage on this.
It is also about ensuring healthy positive lifestyles for our youth and constant education on the HIV/Aids pandemic. The problem is, when I mispronounce it, is not because I cannot read English properly, but because of my poor eyesight. Be sensitive, please. It is also necessary to instil a belief that a hub, a robot, a clinic and a multipurpose community centre in Soweto is just as much needed in rural Kganyisa or any other part of our country. We need equal development opportunities in all our areas, despite whether they are rural, urban or otherwise. We further need to respond to the call made by the Minister of Police, Minister Mthethwa of a roll-out and maximum participation of youth against crime and corruption. It is true that this programme will further add an inch to the continued effort for moral renewal and the Reconstruction and Development Programme, RDP, of the soul. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
The House adjourned at 16:26.
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