Hansard: Questions for Oral Reply ; Cluster 2: Social Services
House: National Assembly
Date of Meeting: 06 Mar 2012
Summary
No summary available.
Minutes
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 147
WEDNESDAY, 7 MARCH 2012
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
_________________________
The House met at 15:03.
The Speaker took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or meditation.
QUESTIONS
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 147
START OF DAY
QUESTIONS
Question 55:
The MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS: Hon Speaker and hon members, in response to the question asked by the hon member Wenger from the DA, I would like to indicate that the total cost outstanding owed by the municipalities to the water boards as at 31 December 2011 amounted to R2,1 billion. We have a detailed breakdown of this outstanding amount, which will certainly be circulated with this response. I just want to also say that nine out of 12 water boards were owed R1,1 billion by municipalities as at the end of December 2011.
The highest debt was in three water boards dealing mainly within the rural areas which are Sedibeng District, Bushbuckridge Local and Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipalities. Together they owed R1 billion. This is as a result of the structural challenges that are faced by those water boards that are delivering water in the most rural areas. The contributing factor is partly being the fact that there is also poor management of consumer demands and payments by those municipalities who are responsible for retail services. More importantly though, these are areas where you mainly find the indigents.
The debt age analysis indicates that a significant part of the debt is above 120 days. Bushbuckridge has been owed, for instance as an example, over the last two year. The debt indicates to be over 120 days. The impact on this matter is resulting in actual inability of those water boards to expand provision of water services to the communities, and also the inability to achieve their mandate. Credit rating is also affected. The tariff increase is affected negatively as well by the current debt.
However, the water boards' annual sales are almost a billion rand and the debt add up to only about 10% of the annual sales to municipalities. There have been financial disputes in these municipalities which are affecting them and the department did not sit back. We have, for instance, intervened. Amongst others, the interventions deal with the very complex process of getting into meetings with separate parties to actually resolve those; collecting relevant data and documentation; analysing that documentation; preparing reports and recommendations, and also obtaining comments from other departments. We are working with Treasury and the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Cogta in this regard.
The department, Treasury as well as Cogta have also done the interventions in Sedibeng as we allude to in the document. We have an outstanding amount of about R14 million and Matjhabeng Local Municipality is duly paying monthly, but some of the debt is being disputed. The dispute is being handled though. Thus in Bloem Water vs Kopanong Local Municipality, we have also intervened. To date, the board is receiving part of the payment. This applies to Lepelle Water vs Mopani District Municipality, where the head of department and the provincial head of Cogta are also supporting that municipality in terms of resolving that dispute. It is the same in Bushbuckridge.
I would like to indicate that broadly, in the department, we are currently working on a plan of finalising the work on institutional re-alignment that is intended to ensure that we lead to a situation where the water boards that are wealthier or that are empowered actually function in the areas that are poorest. Thank you. [Time expired.]
Mrs M WENGER
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 147
The MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
Mrs M WENGER: Mr Speaker, hon Minister, thank you very much for the reply regarding the question. Minister, there has been some improvement in payment to the water boards by the municipalities. However, too little, too late! Some of the water boards are experiencing major crises and problems in extending their services to needy communities. Though it is commendable that you will be liasing with the Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, I would like to know other water boards that are being crippled in extending their services and maintenance to the communities in order to provide water? Thank you.
The MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS: Hon Speaker, what I actually said is not that we will be working with Cogta; we are currently working with Cogta and Treasury, and we have also been working with them. It is a challenge indeed, as I have indicated to you, that there are some challenges that are referred to, ranging from the capacity of those water boards to manage their own affairs, but also their inability to achieve their mandates.
This is not suggesting that the situation is that bad. I have also illustrated that there are some water boards, especially those that are in dire trouble, where we have intervened. The municipalities have already begun paying back to those boards. So, the repayment sometimes stops and we intervene, and at times it doesn't. The situation is not as bad as we think, but we should really ensure that we work on the electorate who are actually supposed to be paying for those services.
I did indicate that these are the boards that are mainly operating in areas which you find the poorest of the poor; the indigent. The question is not only about intervening ourselves as a department but to work on ensuring that our people are empowered and are also getting jobs so that they are able to pay for these facilities. Thank you.
Ms PBHENGU
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 147
The MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
Ms P BHENGU: Speaker, thank you, Minister. My follow-up question is to what extent is the Department of Water Affairs prepared to advance Section 44 of the MFMA to hold the municipalities accountable for their bad debts and whether there has been any discussion between Cogta, National Treasury and SA Local Government Association, Salga, to ring-fence the moneys allocated for water service delivery and provision by the municipalities. Thank you.
The MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS: Hon Speaker, as I indicated, we are intervening collectively with Treasury and with Cogta. One of the things that we have not started doing is to consider how we must compel. We do believe that those municipalities and the water boards require our undivided support in ensuring that the debts are paid. I did indicate that there is part-payment from time to time.
So, we actually can say let there be ring-fencing of this money, and let Treasury pay it over. The reality of the matter though is that as we do that, we will also be crippling those municipalities at the same time. We do understand that the challenge is not only with our water boards, it is also with those municipalities that are in the poorest of the poor areas. There is a twin challenge here, which we have to ensure that we solve at all times. Thank you.
Mr D A KGANARE
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 147
The MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
Mr D A KGANARE: Speaker, Minister, at the beginning of Water Week, there were workers of Johannesburg Water who were marching, and amongst the placards they were carrying, one said:
Imagine a day without drinking water.
Basically, many people in South Africa still do not have access to water, so they cannot even imagine a day without drinking water.
The issue with regards to these municipalities which do not pay is not only that they serve the poorest of the poor, but it is because those particular municipalities are also being run by people who are incapable of running them.
Are you, in terms of your interaction with other departments, insisting that the municipalities appoint people who are able to deliver the services that are required?
The MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS: Hon Speaker, I am sure the Minister of Cogta will be able to talk about the appointments of people in those municipalities. What am I doing? In our support to those municipalities, we have set up teams that are called rapid response teams. Amongst these teams, members are engineers, technicians, and people who are administratively clued-up in order for them to support those municipalities so that there are responses to the biggest challenges that we are facing on continual basis where people still do not have access to water.
We are mindful of that challenge. It is not something that we think should stay as it is, but it is also a problem that is not insurmountable. We are working with those municipalities on a daily basis. Of course, we must also acknowledge that there are some areas, in those municipalities, where our own infrastructure is badly worn out, very old, and funds being so limited as well, which is something that we must consider dealing with.
I am happy that through the PICC, the programme that our President is leading, we are working with Cogta and other departments in relation to ensuring that we actually assist those municipalities, either financially, resources wise, skills wise, and so forth in order to be able to capacitate them adequately for them to function properly and supply people with water, as hon Member Kganare is saying. Thank you.
Mrs C N Z ZIKALALA: Hon Speaker, my question was about the water boards. Fortunately, the Minister has replied to my question. Thank you.
QUESTION 67 - The DEPUTY MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 148
QUESTION 55 - The MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
Question 67:
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE: Hon Speaker and hon members, in addressing the issue of redress regarding the discrimination and alienation of some of our South African languages, which were reduced in status in the past, we are guided by section 6 of the Constitution. In section 6(5), we are mandated to create the Pan South African Language Board, PanSALB, for the promotion, development and use of all official languages, including the Khoi, Nama, San, and South African Sign Language, and to further ensure the promotion and respect of indigenous languages with historically diminished status.
In pursuance thereof, PanSALB is been assisted in its intended purpose to achieve the appropriate balance in the work it was discharged to carry out.
Flowing from the Constitution, as our legal framework, as I have already said we are obliged to take measures to ensure that national and provincial language policies are in place for all official languages to enjoy parity of esteem and to be treated equally. As a result, the National Language Policy Framework was developed and adopted by Cabinet in 2003.
Apart from the promotion of equitable use of all the 11 official languages, this policy also aims to facilitate equitable access to government services, knowledge and information, and also encourages the learning of other official indigenous languages to promote national unity, as well as linguistic and cultural diversity as required by the democratic dispensation. It also ensures working in collaborative partnership with other government structures to promote all languages.
Arising from the Constitution and based on the National Language Policy, the Department of Arts and Culture is finalising the National Language Bill, as well as a draft South African Language Practitioners' Bill, which is also in the process for the purpose of promoting language practitioners in all our indigenous languages. Furthermore, in collaboration with other national departments and provincial language units, the department has projects and programmes in progress to advance the development of indigenous languages with historically diminished status.
The department develops literature by way of reprinting African language classics, provides translation services for government departments in official and foreign languages, and produces and co-ordinates terminologies in various technical domains in all official languages. The department has also instituted capacity-building for language facilitation through the human language technologies, producing applications like spell checkers for all our languages. Our department also instituted a bursary programme focusing strategically on scarce skills, such as translation, editing, terminology development, interpreting, human language technologies, language planning, etc.
Universities which have benefited from this scheme since its inception in 2004, include the University of Limpopo, University of KwaZulu-Natal, University of Zululand, University of Pretoria, Stellenbosch University, University of the Free State, Rhodes University, and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Thank you.
Ms T B SUNDUZA
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 148
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE
Ms T B SUNDUZA: Speaker, hon Deputy Minister, thank you for mentioning the issue of the South African Languages Bill. I must really commend the department on taking the issue of language very seriously, as we have said that if you want to destroy a nation, you start by destroying the language because you destroy the identity.
However, on the issue of the legislation that you have just raised, there is a fear which you have addressed briefly, especially regarding minority groups. Lately the Afrikaans speaking people have been saying that we are trying to alienate other languages. Can you just help us to allay the fears, in terms of the legislation you mentioned? Thank you.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE: Hon Speaker and hon Sunduza, the aim of the Bill which we have tabled is the promotion of all 11 official languages. In cognisance of the mandate of the Constitution to promote all languages, there is no way in which Afrikaans would suffer because, unlike other indigenous African languages, Afrikaans is already well-developed. The idea there is to make sure that all government departments, national and provincial, will be legislated to make sure that when we print documents we do not only print in two languages or sometimes even in one language, but that we increase the minimum number of languages in which various government documents will be printed.
At the moment, we are looking at a minimum of three languages, which, inevitably, would mean that even if a department was to use English and Afrikaans, it would be compelled to also use an indigenous African language. I know that a number of submissions have been made with the suspicion that in that process Afrikaans will be disadvantaged, but I can assure hon members that Afrikaans will be treated like any of the other 10 official languages and will be promoted accordingly. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mr N J VAN DEN BERG
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 148
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE
Mr N J VAN DEN BERG: Mr Speaker, thank you hon Deputy Minister for your answer. I think a lot of people will feel very encouraged by what you have just said.
In the beginning of your first answer, you said there are specific programmes that the Department of Arts and Culture tries to enhance all the different languages with. You talked about the interpreters, translators and everything, and it is very good that all these programmes have been done. But, there is just one thing I want to ask you, why does the National Language Service supply a term equivalent to HIV/Aids in only two African languages? As we know, HIV/Aids is very important, so the terminology pertaining to it must be accessible to all the language speakers, so that they know exactly what is going on, and are enhanced by it. Thank you.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE: I think what the hon member has just said confirms the legacy of what we are dealing with, in the sense that over the years only two languages were developed properly, in order to be able to have most of the terminology, even in various specific areas such as medical language, legal language, technical or scientific language and so on. So, that is the only shortcoming we have. Therefore, we have to plough more resources into making sure that we can train more language practitioners, so that they can also specialise in various areas, such as medicine and science, so that we can develop terminology in all our 11 languages. It is just a legacy of the underdevelopment of the majority of our indigenous African languages. Thank you.
Mrs C DUDLEY
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 148
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE
Mrs C DUDLEY: Speaker, hon Deputy Minister, has the Minister undertaken or considered undertaking research into whether or not and how ethnic and linguistic minorities have benefited from radio and television policy changes in this new democratic era? If so, what are the results or when are they expected? Some are arguing that, in spite of the change from apartheid to democracy, the indigenous African languages remain marginalised on television. Thank you.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE: Hon Speaker, while we have not specifically done such a study, we are aware of the fact that the use of most of our indigenous African languages has not enjoyed the same opportunities as English, predominantly, but also Afrikaans. So, these efforts which I am talking about, working together with PanSALB in terms of promoting the rest of our 11 official languages, are specifically to make sure that those shortcomings can be addressed. Thank you.
Prof C T MSIMANG
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 148
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE
Prof C T MSIMANG: Hon Speaker, hon Deputy Minister, thank you for all the programmes that you are going to introduce at universities.
My problem, however, is that since the introduction of the Outcomes-Based Education system, students, especially at universities, have been lured away from the humanities and attracted to commercial sciences and information and communications technology, to the point where researchers in African Languages are virtually nonexistent. Are there any plans in place to attract university students back to African languages departments to make your programmes viable? Thank you.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE: Hon Speaker, I think the challenge which the hon member is illustrating here is broader, in the sense that, as we have said, the promotion of other essential skills at our tertiary education centres has had something which may be termed as unintended consequences, where the humanities have generally suffered and the language sector has specifically suffered. I believe it is because of that that the Minister of Higher Education has been very vocal about the fact that African languages need to be promoted more at tertiary institutions.
It is also because of that, as I mentioned in my response earlier on, that as a department we also do offer bursaries at universities to make sure that there are more language practitioners produced at tertiary institutions because it is only through that, that we can be able to capacitate our education system.
As we have also alluded to earlier on, the South African Languages Bill's intention is to make sure that even government departments are forced to use more languages. Once that is adopted, it will create more opportunities for language practitioners to be employed in various government institutions, as well, and facilitate the promotion of all the 11 languages. Thank you.
QUESTION 90 - The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 149
QUESTION 67 - The DEPUTY MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE
Question 90:
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION: Hon Speaker, I would like to thank the hon member for his question. We must recognise that the role, responsibilities and functions of principals are somewhat unique and distinctive. To that end, there is a strong argument that principals, being professional leaders and managers of schools, should have special skills, particularly with regard to governance, implementation of the curriculum, financial management and the ability to liaise with communities.
There is also a view that the locus of a principal is an extension of a head of department in a sense that he or she acts as a functionary of the department in fulfilling its strategic objectives. Most political parties, if not all of them, share the view that there should be a distinction in the appointment of principals, as opposed to educators, given the importance of that particular role.
For these reasons, the Department of Basic Education, having listened to the political parties and other stakeholders, as well as analysts, are of the view that a review is necessary in terms of ensuring that we look at a procedure where the efficiency and competence of the principal becomes a pre-eminent function, rather than the choice of a governing body, especially where it does not have the capacity to distinguish between a more efficient and competent leader and manager, than one that is competent and efficient. I thank you.
Mr A M MPONTSHANE
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 149
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION
Mr A M MPONTSHANE: Hon Speaker, I must say that I am happy that the Deputy Minister acknowledged that there will be different laws and rules governing the appointment of school principals. Having said that, the Deputy Minister will agree with me that many principals who are manning our schools are products are what we call politification, rather than qualification.
Politification allows no room for experience and merit. In 2007, to be specific, the former Minister proposed that any person to be promoted to the position of a principal, must have taught for at least nine years – five as a post level one teacher, two as a head of department, HOD, and two as a principal. It seems as if this has not been implemented. Why?
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION: Hon Speaker, as I have indicated in my principal reply, the skills that a principal requires, would be, amongst others, the ability to govern efficiently and competently, to have the skills for fiscal and financial management, to be able to implement the curriculum, to liaise with the senior management in a democratic way, and to liaise with communities given his or her role and responsibility as a professional leader and manager.
To that end the Department of Basic Education established an Advanced Certificate in Education, Ace, course more than five years ago which looks at these particular areas. More than 3 000 principals and deputy principals have already been beneficiaries of such a course to enhance the capacity.
The discussion and the discourse that is taking place now between the national department and the provinces is whether indeed there should be an additional requirement to being a principal, other than being a teacher for a particular period of time. It is a combination of experience and skills. That matter is currently under review by the MECs of Education and the national Ministry. I thank you.
Mrs H H MALGAS
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 149
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION
Mrs H H MALGAS: Hon Speaker, my question to you, Deputy Minister, is: You spoke about the incapacity of the school governing bodies, SGBs. Is that the only reason for the review or are there more others? Thank you.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION: Hon Speaker, there are many reasons. With regard to the school governing bodies, there are those that have the capacity and ability to make the appropriate selection, choice and recommendations, but there are also those that can be influenced, as the hon member from the IFP had correctly indicated; for reasons of community, political, and other choices.
Given the importance of this particular functionary, it is important that we choose a person on the basis of merit and experience, who would be able to lead the institution appropriately. That is also the approach of public service and administration that is being proposed in relation to officials who assume certain responsibilities.
Yes, we do have difficulties, but the legislation, as it stands now, does not distinguish between the appointment of an ordinary educator, deputy principal or a principal. For that reason, the review has indeed been invited and is being responded to. Thank you.
Mrs A T LOVEMORE
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 149
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION
The SPEAKER: The last two supplementary questions will be asked by the hon Steenhuisen, to be followed by the hon Madisha.
Mrs A T LOVEMORE: Hon Speaker, the hon Steenhuisen is in fact, myself, Mrs Lovemore. I pushed the wrong button by mistake. My I speak?
The SPEAKER: Yes, you may continue. Go ahead and speak.
Mrs A T LOVEMORE: Hon Speaker, through you, Deputy Minister, there is a proven direct link between the professionalism and performance of a principal and the performance of learners at the school that he or she manages. This country has at least two options to ensure that we rid our education system of underperforming principals. One that you certainly have alluded to was that of competence. You have also spoken about the review that has been called for.
A study conducted by a consortium, including the Human Sciences Research Council, recommended that competency tests be introduced. These should be completed and passed by any person applying for the post of a principal before appointment to that post can be countenanced.
Secondly, the Western Cape has implemented a performance management system for principals, holding them directly accountable for learner achievement or otherwise at their schools. They must perform or face being managed out of the system. In fact in January this year, Minister Motshekga promised to hold principals exactly so accountable for underperforming schools. She said that if schools' poor performance was found to be due to weak leadership or management, those principals will be demoted. That was in January 2012.
Will the Ministry, now consider and implement either or both of these options? If not, why not? Thank you.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION: Hon Speaker, you may well be aware that the initiative to have principals sign performance agreements is presently with the Education Labour Relations Council and the unions are considering that. There is such an initiative that has taken place.
Long ago, the issue of performance management has received the collective support of all provinces. It might well be that, before the process unfolds and is formalised in the Chamber, the Western Cape is indeed implementing it informally. It is indeed the intention of the Department of Basic Education.
We have often spoken quite publicly about the relationship between performance functionality of a school and the leadership and management of schools, so we cannot disagree with you in that particular regard. What we can say is that we can take heart from the fact that there are 18 institutions of higher learning that are providing opportunities for the Ace programme to be followed. The uptake is increasing year by year, because communities, educators, deputy principals and principals in particular, recognise the value of those skills that should be a requisite for a person leading an institution as complex as a school. I thank you.
Mr W M MADISHA
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 149
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION
Mr W M MADISHA: Hon Speaker, I think it needs to be taken further. When the Minister announced the annual results of the national assessment in July 2011, she gave an indication that all school principals and deputies would in future enter into performance contracts with a clear target.
We supported that indication because it would help to identify principals with proper management skills. It would further identify principals who have the capacity to help in the assessment of educators, where such principals are heads. It would help in the proper learnership programmes. Our question is whether the Minister has gone on with the implementation of that and how far that has happened.
Secondly, we would like to know whether there has been any consultation with various structures, like the principals' forum, principals associations and the unions.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION: Hon Speaker, more than anybody else, the hon Madisha as a former President of a very big teachers' organisation, would have known that you can't arbitrarily implement a policy without consulting with the unions. As I have indicated, the matter is up for discussion and decision in the bargaining Chamber. With the feedback that we are getting, it does appear that it is going to be supported by all and sundry. Therefore, we are just awaiting the formalisation and finalisation of the process which has been agreed to between the Department of Basic Education and all the unions and the stakeholders, as alluded to by the hon Madisha - the governing bodies as well as the unions. I thank you. [Applause.]
QUESTION 76 - The MINISTER OF HEALTH
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 150
QUESTION 90 - The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION
Question 76:
The MINISTER OF HEALTH: Hon Speaker, in the Negotiated Service Delivery Agreement, the issue of maternal and child mortality is number two on the outcomes. A number of measures have already been taken to reduce maternal and mortality rates in South Africa. The National Committee on Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths has recently provided the latest tri-annual report on maternal and mortality for the period 2008 to 2010 which records the number of institutional deaths, causes of mortality, as well as recommendations to reduce mortality.
The report found that by far the major cause of maternal mortality is ...
Mr E J LUCAS: Mr Speaker, sorry, I think the Minister is reading the wrong reply.
The SPEAKER: Yes.
The MINISTER OF HEALTH: No, no, no.
The SPEAKER: The Minister is reading the correct reply, but to the wrong question. [Laughter.]
The MINISTER OF HEALTH: No, no, no. Oh yes, my apologies.
The SPEAKER: This is Question 76.
The MINISTER OF HEALTH: Apologies! It is the manner in which I have put them here. My apologies, hon Speaker, that one is still coming. I am very sorry. [Laughter.]
The improvement of the performance of provincial health departments to spend funds does not entirely rely on the implementation of the National Health Insurance, NHI. The national and provincial Departments of Health are already implementing a number of programmes and initiatives to spend funds earmarked for vital infrastructure and health care improvement.
The Department of Health is already implementing a number of concurrent interventions to improve spending on health infrastructure. These interventions include the establishment of dedicated project management support units to focus on effectively managing the spending and performance of the hospital revitalisation and health infrastructure conditional grants.
The interventions that have already borne fruit in this area include co-ordinated monitoring and proactive interventions in collaborations with the provinces through specific service level agreements and business plans. As a result, spending on the infrastructure conditional grants is definitely improving. With regard to health care improvement, funding has been allocated as part of the equitable share to provinces. Work is under way with regard to the finalisation of the health facility audit and the determination of interventions that will be implemented for health care improvement and the overall management and functioning of health facilities.
To this end, health facility improvement teams have been established to focus on the improvement of facilities and we will put mechanisms in place to improve quality of care and health outcomes within identified districts.
Under the NHI, it is envisaged that the improvement of the health care will be achieved through various interventions, including the accreditation of providers according to criteria set out by the office of health standards compliance. Thank you.
Mr D A KGANARE
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 150
The MINISTER OF HEALTH
Mr D A KGANARE: Speaker, through you to the Minister, the infrastructure is going to play a very important role as far as the roll-out of the National Health Insurance is concerned. The Auditor-General's report, together with the research that has been released by the Health Systems Trust, on the infrastructure depicted that the provinces were faring very badly as far as the expenditure is concerned, and found that in about four District Municipalities of Motheo in the Free State, Sedibeng in Gauteng, Zululand in KwaZulu-Natal and Pixley ka Seme in Northern Cape interventions were necessary.
In Motheo in the Free State alone, 77% failed in terms of cleanliness, 64% failed on availability of medicine supply and 60% failed on improved patient safety. In Sedibeng in Gauteng, 79% failed in terms cleanliness, 58% failed in terms of the medicine supply, etc.
The issue here is that if the people employed in these institutions are unable to do the basic things which they are employed for, how can we expect them to implement the infrastructure, especially because we all know that Public Works is a mess?
The MINISTER OF HEALTH: Hon Speaker, I need to inform the hon member that the report he is talking about was commissioned by me. It is not a coincidental report. We are the ones who commissioned a report on facility audit, and I am the one who released those results publicly in a press conference about cleanliness, safety and security of staff, drugs stock-outs, the long queues, as well as infection control. That is our own report. So, what you are quoting comes from us, by the way. [Applause.]
The districts that you have identified, Motheo, Sedibeng, Zululand and Pixley ka Seme, are where the facility improvement teams are going to start. We just chose these districts as a starting point to improve the issues you are talking about. That is the first thing I want to say.
The second thing about infrastructure is that we are also painfully aware of the weaknesses of infrastructure delivery, especially within the Department of Public Works; the Minister has said that publicly. I have just informed you about the steps that we are taking, including hiring engineers within the Department of Health to form these tasks teams. I want to inform you that since that has happened, there is definitely visible improvement. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mrs S P KOPANE
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 150
The MINISTER OF HEALTH
Mrs S P KOPANE: Speaker, hon Minister, according to the ministerial task team report, it is clearly stated that no part of the health system is held properly accountable for the poor health outcomes and for poor service delivery. This makes it virtually impossible for the system to improve, as people lack the incentives to make it better.
Hon Minister, what will you do to make sure that the MECs and the heads of department will be held accountable for the poor health outcomes and for the poor service delivery? How will you make sure that the provincial departments are assessed according to the standardised benchmark or the target, so as to evaluate their performance?
The MINISTER OF HEALTH: If I am not mistaken, hon member, the ministerial task team report you are talking about is the integrated service delivery report which was commissioned by former Minister Barbara Hogan. We have taken that report and formed task teams consisting of various financial managers and chief financial officers in the provinces headed by the national chief financial officer. Firstly, we have gone through that report line by line to see what needs to be improved, and that is work in progress. Secondly, regarding the health outcomes, I have signed the Negotiated Service Delivery Agreements with the President and also with the individual MECs. During the National Health Council meetings, we go through those reports to see how far we are, and that is how we hold each other accountable. Thank you.
Mrs T E KENYE
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 150
The MINISTER OF HEALTH
Mrs T E KENYE: Speaker, the Minister stated that health facility improvement teams have been established to focus on the improvement of health care and infrastructure and will put mechanisms in place to improve quality of care and health outcomes. The Minister also indicated that the NHI, which is a universal coverage, will achieve quality health care for all.
Minister, based on your answer, do you think that we will meet the target of the Millenium Development Goals, MDGs, 4, 5, 6 and 7 – improvement of maternal health, reduction of infant mortality, HIV/Aids reduction and also health environmental sustainability – in 2015? Thank you.
The MINISTER OF HEALTH: Hon Member, the issue of MDGs 4, 5 and 6 is a very big challenge for the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa because of the very high incidence rate of HIV/Aids and tuberculosis, TB. It is not only a challenge here in South Africa; it is in the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa but we are not giving up. As I have told you, we have put our plans in terms of reducing maternal mortality, child mortality and fighting HIV/Aids.
Here in South Africa, you are aware that out of the four Negotiated Service Delivery Agreements which I signed with the President, three are about these MDGs. That's just how seriously we view this issue. Within the African Union, a project called Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa, CARMMA, has been launched within the African Union for each of the African countries, and we are still preparing to launch a similar thing here in South Africa in pursuit of the MDGs 4, 5 and 6, and we believe 2015 is still some distance away, so we will check where we are when we arrive there. Thank you.
Mrs C DUDLEY
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The MINISTER OF HEALTH
Mrs C DUDLEY: Hon Speaker and hon Minister, I know legislation aimed at ensuring compliance is in committee right now, but what incentives and/or penalties for timeous and appropriate spending do you envision, and will these mechanisms be in place in time to meet the significant health department infrastructure spending proposed for this year?
The MINISTER OF HEALTH: Speaker, the Minister of Finance has already set such penalties, one of them being that on the conditional grant, if a province does not spend, that money will not be transferred to the province. The next tranche will kept by the national Minister of Health. That, by the way, has already happened. So, we don't just release money to a province that is not able to spend it. We keep the money here, and the Minister is working on a mechanism to see how we can help from here to implement that project if the province happens to be failing. Thank you.
QUESTION 68 – The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION
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QUESTION 76 – The MINISTER OF HEALTH
Question 68:
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION: Hon Speaker, the Department of Basic Education encourages the use of mother tongue instruction – where learners learn in their home language – during the Foundation Phase.
In this regard the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements are made available in all languages. The provision of learning and teaching support material on the National Catalogue is also made available in all languages in the Foundation Phase.
The Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements for the Intermediate, Senior and the Further Education and Training, FET, phases for content subjects will be made available in all languages, to bring the content subjects in line with the incremental introduction of African languages, where African languages will be used as languages of teaching and learning. The incremental introduction of African languages would then invite non-African learners to also learn an African language.
Furthermore, the Department of Basic Education is planning to establish a language unit as per stipulation, or as suggested or alluded to by the hon Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, in terms of the SA Languages Bill as well as the SA Language Practitioners' Council Bill.
Amongst other things, the language unit will be responsible for the development of relevant African language terminology for all content subjects, which will enable our learners to access knowledge and skills in these subjects more effectively and with greater understanding, since it will be offered in their mother tongue.
For the benefit of the House, we may mention that the institutions of higher education – universities – have also taken it upon themselves to develop languages. For example, the University of KwaZulu-Natal is developing IsiZulu, the University of Pretoria is developing the Pedi language, the University of the North West is developing Setswana and the University of Free State is developing the Sotho language.
This is a process and, as a result of a discussion with Higher Education and Training and the Higher Education South Africa, Hesa, component, this particular aspiration for the parity of languages and the development of languages will see the light.
We want to caution that we cannot introduce – even though it is available, and is in fact policy for Foundation Phase – teaching to take place in the mother tongue. We cannot compel learners to go beyond that because it requires the requisite resources and the requisite skills of an educator to teach in another language. In recognition of the fact that learners can speak their mother tongue as well as English in general, a further additional language is being supported from Grade 1.
With regard to the second part of the question, the Department of Basic Education is working closely with key education stakeholders, including unions, school governing body associations, universities, NGOs and other departments, such as the Department of Arts and Culture.
All stakeholders contribute within their areas of expertise. Unions and universities have assisted with the workbook project. There are 54 million workbooks in all 11 official languages that will be distributed during this year.
We can also indicate that the departments of Arts and Culture and Basic Education are in discussion with regard to the libraries that have to be provided to schools and communities, and the books in the different indigenous languages. I thank you, hon Speaker.
Mr D C SMILES
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The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION
Mr D C SMILES: Speaker, thank you, hon Deputy Minister for your response. The Human Sciences Research Council, HSRC, in collaboration with the Project for the Study of Alternative Education in South Africa, yesterday presented research work on African languages in schools.
Hon Deputy Minister, my question to you is whether you will consider implementing the mother tongue-based, bilingual education programme as promoted and researched by these two bodies and, just in case you do not want to implement that model – which we think is a very good and a very well-researched model – I would like to know what else you have in mind as a workable solution? Thank you.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION: Hon Speaker, the hon Smiles would know that we have always advocated the promotion of multilingual education and not of bilingual education. We are a diverse nation that speaks many languages and we think that multilingualism should be at the heart of our endeavours.
We will certainly take note of the HSRC's research and report. We certainly are, and have always been of the view – that is why we have mother tongue language in the Foundation Phase – that mother tongue instruction contributes to the conceptual and cognitive development of learners, especially in the early years.
We are also saying that we are endeavouring to introduce indigenous languages incrementally and progressively in our schools, because not only would this make our learners more in tune with our diversity, but it will also contribute, in a very significant way, to social cohesion, as language is a bridge to other communities. For that reason we will work very closely ...
The SPEAKER: Will the hon members who are standing up there for no reasons at all, please take their seats. The noise level is very high in the House. Continue, hon Deputy Minister.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION: Thank you for your intervention, hon Speaker. What we are saying is that, for purposes of social cohesion and for the celebration of our diversity as South Africans, it is very critical that we promote our indigenous languages as far as possible.
We will do so in a responsible way, on the basis of language and teacher development that is in step with what we are offering, in order to ensure that the learners will qualitatively not be at a disadvantage, given the realities and complexities of language. In fact, one of the hon members from the other side spoke about the lexicon and terminology in different languages which is a deficit as we speak right now. Thank you, hon Speaker.
QUESTION 58 - The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION
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QUESTION 68 - The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION
Question 58:
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION: Hon Speaker and hon Smiles, the Minister of Basic Education did not conclude an agreement between the MEC for education in the Eastern Cape and the SA Democratic Teachers' Union, Sadtu, on 8February 2012. Thank you.
Mr D C SMILES: Deputy Speaker, I think the hon Deputy Minister and the Ministry have to take account of what should be done in the Eastern Cape. Learners in the Eastern Cape are being let down on a daily basis by the Eastern Cape department of education and indirectly by the Department of Basic Education.
They have surely been let down again today when the SA Democratic Teachers Union's teachers abandoned classrooms and participated in the Congress of SA Trade Union's national strike to end toll roads in Gauteng even though this is an issue that has nothing to do with education in the province of the Eastern Cape. This action goes against the letter and spirit of the agreement which was signed by Sadtu and the Eastern Cape provincial government on 8 February, and that helped to bring to an end the go-slow in that province.
Now that the union is on strike again for reasons unrelated to its work, what does the Minister plan to do to make sure that Sadtu members abide by the agreement? [Time expired.]
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION: Hon Deputy Speaker, the question is whether the Minister was party to the signature of an agreement. The follow-up question is certainly not consistent with the principal question, given the reality that the Minister was not party to the agreement. I think the follow-up question should be addressed to Cosatu as well as to the provincial department of education. Thank you very much.
Mrs A T LOVEMORE
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Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 152
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION
Mrs A T LOVEMORE: Deputy Speaker, thank you, Deputy Minister, it's quite amazing that you have just said that the last question should be addressed to the provincial department of education when the intervention in terms of section 101(b) means that the national Department of Education is actually controlling education in the Eastern Cape.
Two nongovernmental organisations have filed an application in the Eastern Cape High Court in Bisho, seeking an order to direct the national Cabinet and national department to clarify their obligations in terms of the President's order that the national department take over the running of the Eastern Cape's provincial department of education. Lawyers for the National Education department have filed notices of opposition to the court case. This is bizarre. There exists a continuing lack of clarity as to precisely what powers, responsibilities and administrative functions have been taken over by the national government pursuant to the intervention, severely undermining education in the province.
Deputy Minister, why does your Ministry not wish to clarify obligations in respect of the constitutional rights of Eastern Cape children to quality education? Why does your Ministry not want to state publicly exactly what the department is and will be doing in the Eastern Cape? Thank you. [Applause.]
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION: Hon Deputy Speaker, I think the hon member is trying to sneak in a question from the side. For clarity, I am not going to evade the question. I will assist you. [Interjections.]
You don't have the patience to listen, so why should I answer? Then I would say to you that it's not relevant to the principal question - thank you very much - because you don't have respect for a response that is going to come from the Ministry. So, if you want to be quiet and if you want listen attentively, please say so. Sit quietly and I will explain. [Applause.]
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, hon members! Could the Deputy Minister answer the question please? Could you give him that opportunity?
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION: Firstly, with regard to litigation, all the members, I assume, have knowledge of the fact that you cannot speak on a matter that is sub judice. With regard to the intervention ... [Interjections.] ... No, that is true. It is sub judice; I cannot speak on the matter. [Interjections.] Perhaps since they do not have the patience or the indulgence to listen, I would say that the follow-up question does not correspond with the principal question and therefore I am not obliged to answer it. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Mr A M MPONTSHANE
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The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION
Mr A M MPONTSHANE: Deputy Minister ...
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Are you Van der Merwe today?
Mr A M MPONTSHANE: I am sorry. I pressed the wrong button. Could I speak, hon Deputy Speaker? Hon Deputy Minister, during our oversight visit to the Eastern Cape recently, we learnt that there was an agreement between the unions and the Department of Education to co-govern. As a result, many directives from the national department cannot be implemented because of that agreement to co-govern. For instance, as I speak, there is a special transfer for infrastructure development to the Libode District. That directive or that money cannot be used because there is that confrontation between the unions and the department. Deputy Minister, how are you going to intervene so that learners and everybody benefit?
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION: Hon Deputy Speaker, hon members, indeed we are opposed to any form of co-governance between the union and any government, whether it's in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal or any other province.
With regard to the intervention itself, the national government is completely intent on fulfilling its obligations in terms of section 101(b). The provincial government has agreed to the full implementation of section 101(b). A report has been submitted to Cabinet with regard to recommendations that have been made by a task team of Deputy Ministers who visited the provinces and consulted with all the stakeholders over the two-day period. Cabinet has considered the matter for over a year, and an announcement will be made with regard to the recommendations.
We are intent on dealing with the issues. We must recognise that at the time of the commencement of the intervention, there were children who were not receiving nutritious meals. There were textbooks that were not delivered, transportation had been suspended and a range of other challenges faced the province. Transport has been provided, children are being fed every day in school, textbooks and workbooks have been delivered - there may be challenges in certain areas - and the temporary teachers who had been suspended are now back in the classrooms.
Now, nobody can pretend that nothing has happened in the past year. What I am saying is that the progress may well have been uneven. There is a monitoring team that has been appointed for that particular purpose. Strict, firm recommendations have been made and will indeed be implemented in due course. But there is no challenge about the validity, legality or otherwise of the implementation of section 101(b) as a complete intervention. I hope this will assist the other side to have a better understanding. Thank you. [Applause.]
Ms N GINA
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The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION
Ms N GINA: Deputy Speaker, Deputy Minister, I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in the Eastern Cape in making sure that you improve the delivery of quality education in that province for the benefit of the African child. We would like to thank you very much for such efforts, and we promise you that we will give you the necessary support to make sure that things change in that province and that quality education is delivered.
But then, Deputy Minister, coming to the original question that has been asked around the issue of the agreement that was made on 8 February - since you have just mentioned that the Minister was not part of that agreement - I just want to know whether there was any consultation leading to such an agreement or whether you were aware of this, because in the end, we really need to see all the stakeholders working together to make sure that the African child in that province does benefit from a quality education. Thank you very much.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION: Hon member, indeed you are correct. I think all stakeholders, whether they are members of unions or members of governing bodies or political parties, have a particular responsibility regarding the interests of the child in the Eastern Cape. In that regard we have to work together.
The information which I could share with the House - because it was put in such a dignified way - is that the agreement that the hon member might be referring to in the original question is one that was facilitated by the secretariat of Cosatu and ANC alliance partners, especially the secretary-general of Cosatu. The parties involved, we understand, were the premier, the MEC for Education and the head of department over there.
We are of the view that we have an institutional, political and governance responsibility. But given the nature of the problem, if political solutions can be found, which would further promote the interests of the child in the Eastern Cape, we will not stand in the way of those solutions. I think it is critical that we recognise that if at all teachers are on strike, we would have to speak to the union leaders and ask them whether this was appropriate and proper.
We tend to distort realities. For example, in the Western Cape there are teachers, we understand, who belong to unions other than Sadtu, that were on strike, but that was conveniently omitted from the statement. In fact, the MEC for Education in the Western Cape - recognising the political reality that members of unions other than Sadtu would be on strike - said that alternative arrangements would be made in classes to ensure that the interests of the child would not be prejudiced whilst the were on strike, legitimately and legally.
What I am appealing for is recognition of the depth and scope of the problem and the need for all of us to pull together as political parties and as stakeholders, because the realities of the Eastern Cape and the legacy of educational problems are not a matter of one or two years. They go back over more than a decade. This is something that should preoccupy each and every one of us.
Let me conclude by saying that just yesterday I was in the Eastern Cape to satisfy myself, as you would be concerned, about whether infrastructure development was taking place. I visited a school to ensure that indeed there was work being done in relation to an identified site. I visited two other schools to ensure that the Annual National Assessment, ANA, exercise that we had carried out in the country was indeed a reality. Not only did we visit the school, we visited the classroom, sat in the classroom, engaged with the learners and tested them in terms of their ability to read, write and calculate. Now if that is not sufficient in terms of an intervention, I don't know what more you want. I thank you, hon Deputy Speaker. [Applause.]
QUESTION 65 – The MINISTER OF HEALTH
UNREVISED HANSARD
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Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 153
QUESTION 58 – The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION
Question 65:
The MINISTER OF HEALTH: Deputy Speaker, I have already started answering part of this question by mistake. I was saying that in the four negotiated service delivery agreements, this issue of maternal and child mortality is Outcome 2, and a number of measures have already been taken to reduce maternal mortality.
The National Committee on Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths has recently provided the latest triannual report on maternal mortality for the period from 2008 to 2010, which records the number of institutional deaths, causes of mortality, as well as recommendations to reduce mortality in both public and private hospitals in the country. The report found that by far the biggest cause of maternal mortality is HIV/Aids. It is then not by accident that out of the four major announcements made by the President on World Aids Day 2009 on our new approaches to treat HIV/Aids and tuberculosis, three were targeting women and children. This announcement was implemented on 1 April 2010, and we believe that the results will have a dramatic change in the number of HIV positive pregnant women who pass away.
Another major cause of death was found to be obstetric haemorrhage. I am happy to announce that, working with the SA Blood Transfusion Service, all public health facilities that perform caesarean sections have dedicated fridges for blood installed and managed by the SA Blood Transfusion Service and are now ensuring that blood is easily available when a life-saving transfusion is needed. In addition, working with universities' in-service training programmes, a process called Essential Steps in Management of Obstetric Emergencies, ESMOE, has been initiated. The report further identified 25 districts in the country which carry the highest burden of maternal mortality. The ESMOE process will then be expanded to all of these districts in the financial year 2012-13.
To improve rapid transport of women in labour in emergency situations, provinces have purchased and employed obstetric ambulances and, to date, 105 dedicated obstetric ambulances have been purchased and are in use nationally. In addition, a plan to expand the number of maternity waiting homes has been developed within provinces.
As with interventions to reduce maternal mortality, a number of initiatives have been put in place to reduce infant mortality. The Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission programme has already yielded good results, with transmission rates at six weeks post delivery cut by 50% from 8% to 3,5% nationally. In addition, pneumococcal vaccines and Rotavirus vaccines were both introduced in 2008 and accelerated in 2009 as part of our routine immunisation programme. Coverage has improved significantly, and this will reduce deaths in children from pneumonia and diarrhoea.
Research has also found that a large number of children do not survive simply because they are not being breastfed. This became worse in sub-Saharan Africa because, as part of the fight against HIV and Aids, many women were discouraged from breastfeeding. This was found to have had negative effects on child survival. A national summit on breastfeeding was held last year, and it adopted a declaration on exclusive breastfeeding, at least for the first six months of life. The promotion of exclusive breastfeeding will play a significant role in decreasing infant mortality as well. In this regard, a number of hospitals have already introduced breastmilk banks whereby even children whose mothers cannot breastfeed can get breastmilk from these banks. Thank you.
Mme M J SEGALE-DISWAI
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The MINISTER OF HEALTH
Setswana:
Mme M J SEGALE-DISWAI: Motlatsa Mmusakgotla, ntetle ke leboge Letona ka mo a arabileng ka teng le go tlhalosa. Go bontsha e le ruri gore lefapha la gagwe le na le maikaelelo a le magolo e bile a le mantle go bona gore setšhaba se phela bophelo jo bontle. Ke kopa o tshware ka thata mme fela, ke ne ke kopa go itse Letona gore lefapha le a go dira jang gore maikemisetso le maikaelelo a mantle a o ntse o a tlhalosa, a ya go diragatswa ka dinako tsotlhe? Ke a leboga.
English:
The MINISTER OF HEALTH: Deputy Speaker, yes, we are making sure that all of these programmes we are speaking about are reported on in terms of progress in every National Health Council meeting which is held where MECs and their heads of department sit, where the SA Military Health Service sits, and where Salga sits. We give progress reports about these issues and then interrogate them. We also invite the chief executive officer of the SA National Aids Council to sit there, so that we can assess the progress together. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mrs D ROBINSON
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Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 153
The MINISTER OF HEALTH
Mrs D ROBINSON: Deputy Speaker and Minister, it seems that we are one of a handful of countries where child and maternal mortality rates are increasing and it may happen that we do not meet our Millennium Development Goals. Regarding the measures that you have just referred to, we would like to know whether there is going to be regular evaluation of those. However, I would like to refer to the recent tragic deaths at Baragwanath hospital where you gave the personal assurance that you would investigate to ascertain accountability. Did the medical staff adhere to all prescribed medical processes, also to maintain strict hygienic conditions, and was there any indication of negligence with regard to treatment? Have you been able to determine who was accountable for those tragic deaths? Thank you.
The MINISTER OF HEALTH: Deputy Speaker, to the hon member, yes, we do regular evaluations. As to the report that you are talking about, I haven't yet received the final report. Where there are cases of negligence detected, you are aware that these are referred to the Health Professions Council of South Africa to determine whether there was any negligence. As I am saying, I am still waiting for the final report on the matter. Thank you.
Mrs C DUDLEY
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Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 153
The MINISTER OF HEALTH
Mrs C DUDLEY: Deputy Speaker and hon Minister, will the measures to improve the situation at district hospital level be enough to make a significant difference? I refer here to papers produced by Prof Pattinson, director of the Medical Research Council of South Africa's Maternal and Infant Health Care Strategies Research Unit, and his research partners showing that thousands of deaths of mothers and babies can be prevented at district hospital level, where little has changed since the audit of 34 such facilities five years ago. What are the challenges there?
The MINISTER OF HEALTH: Deputy Speaker, in trying to deal with the problem the hon member had raised, we have come to the conclusion that because of a lack of senior staff, especially in rural areas where senior people didn't go, we have to embark on the appointment of district specialist teams, where we will have a district obstetrician, a district paediatrician, a district family physician, a district advanced midwife, a district primary health care nurse, and a district paediatric nurse. As I am speaking, these people are being appointed, and they will start on 1 April. The role of these teams is to ensure good clinical governance, to provide training and mentorship, and to ensure clinical guidance and clinical protocols are in place and being used. In some areas, people just ignore protocols.
The guidelines have been produced to assist health professionals – doctors, midwives and nurses – in care for women and infants. These include the reports on obstetric haemorrhage, caesarean section, hypertension in pregnancy and guidelines for maternity care and they are being used in community health centres and district hospitals in South Africa. We believe that these measures will go a long way in reducing some of the deaths you have spoken about which are, we agree, actually preventable. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mr D A KGANARE
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Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 153
The MINISTER OF HEALTH
Mr D A KGANARE: Deputy Speaker, to the Minister, there are certain hospitals, for example the East London complex, where the issue of infant mortality – where babies die – and then, after a few years, it happens again. Basically, in hospitals like that where there has been a repetition, has there been anybody who has ever been held accountable for the causes of the deaths in those particular hospitals?
The MINISTER OF HEALTH: Deputy Speaker, I am not sure which particular hospital in the Eastern Cape the member is referring to, but there is a report that has been released about what actually happened there. We released it publicly; it was in the papers. There was a parliamentary question where I responded to that question. I am sure you need to refer to that, hon member. Thank you. [Applause.]
QUESTION 69 – The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
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QUESTION 65 – The MINISTER OF HEALTH
Question 69:
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS: Deputy Speaker, allow me to thank hon Dambuza for the question. The reply is as follows: Despite the huge advances made since 1994 in providing over 3 million subsidised housing opportunities, the housing backlog refuses to be eradicated and it currently stands at 2,3 million. The Department and the Ministry of Human Settlements realises that it cannot do this alone. Last year it launched, Each One Settle One, to get South Africans from all walks of life to contribute in reducing the huge housing backlog.
The responses from corporate South Africa and ordinary people have been overwhelming. Besides those who pledged to provide a house for a domestic worker, building material, skills and land, Anglo American Platinum Ltd pledged to build 20 000 houses for its employees in the Limpopo and North West provinces.
The first phase of the project was launched in November last year,totalling 8 000 high quality housing units in Limpopo and 12 000 in the North West, primarily for employees of the mining company in the two provinces. I thank you. [Applause.]
Ms B N DAMBUZA
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Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 154
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
Ms B N DAMBUZA: Deputy Speaker and hon Deputy Minister, we believe that for the campaign to be successfully expanded, even to the rural communities, strategic intervention is very, very crucial.
Does the department have a comprehensive and collaborative plan, strategy and programmes – together with the Departments' of Rural Development and Land Reform, and Public Enterprises – to exploit the opportunity in the government's infrastructure roll-out programme and to ensure that job creation opportunities, People's Housing Process,PHP, promotions, as well as the development of a vibrant and sustainable housing co-operative movement,are developed to advance the developmental agenda? I thank you. [Applause.]
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS: Hon Deputy Speaker and hon member, yes, we do have a clear programme to roll out this programme in the rural areas. We have a Rural Housing Loan Fund where we have housing vouchers that people can use to get material and build their own houses. At the same time human settlement is high on the agenda of the Presidential Infrastructure Co-ordinating Committee, PICC, where the issue of housing is at the centre of that process.
As we speak, we have the Vulindlela PHP Building Programme in KwaZulu-Natal, where 25 000 housing units are being built through the PHP process. We are encouraging ordinary people to be on board in order to build houses for themselves, and we will give the necessary support to the PHP process. I thank you. [Applause.]
Mr S MOKGALAPA
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The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
Mr S MOKGALAPA: Hon Deputy Speaker, thank you, hon Deputy Minister for your response. We welcome this public-private initiative between government and the private sector which is very important in addressing the housing backlog.
However, Madam Deputy Speaker, funds are being pledged and/or donated by the private sector to this initiative. Hence it is very important to know that it is well accounted for, for the continued support of this private-sector initiative.
Hon Deputy Minister, the question is, what accountability mechanisms are in place to ensure that all the pledges and donations from the private sector to this campaign is being used to build houses for this specific purpose? I thank you.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS: Deputy Speaker, hon member, you must understand that as Human Settlements we are really anticorruption. As a result we are going to make sure that every cent that gets donated for the building of houses is utilised for that purpose.
We have systems in place to ensure that in each province there are units that are ready to absorb this kind of donation, and to make sure that people see value for money for every donation that we get, from ordinary people as well as from the private sector. I thank you.
Mrs M A A NJOBE
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The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
Mrs M A A NJOBE: Deputy Speaker, hon Deputy Minister, indeed the cost of providing houses for the poor has thus far been phenomenal, though unnecessarily so. The backlog is huge. Had there been strict monitoring and supervision of the housing projects right from the beginningand all of the time, a lot of waste could have been avoided and government would not be talking of cut-off dates.
The principle of Each One Settle One is a noble one. In fact it tallies very well with the principle of ubuntu, both at company and at individual level. However, government should not use this to abdicate its responsibility towards providing houses for the poorest of the poor.
What mechanisms are being put in place by the department to monitor the success and effectiveness of the project to ensure that it makes a difference, and what has been the response so far, from the private sector in particular? Thank you.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS: Deputy Speaker, Ma Njobe, we have already said that in terms of the private sector and ordinary people the response has been overwhelming. In terms of ensuring that we monitor what is taking place, we have the Project Management Unit, PMU, which is the monitoring unit of the department.
Each province has a monitoring unit to ensure that the development of houses is monitored from the foundation stage. Each stage of the development gets monitored until the roof level, so that at the end of the day even the kind of products that get produced are quality products, even if those are the houses that are given through donations.
At the end of the day what we need are quality housing units. Our monitoring unit is in place, but at the same time we also have the National Home Builder Registration Council, NHBRC, which is our quality assurance unit that makes sure that these houses are of good quality. I thank you.
Mr K P SITHOLE
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The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
Mr K P SITHOLE: Deputy Speaker, hon Minister, thank you for the answer that you have given. What I want to find out is how many housing units has the campaign facilitated since the date it was launched, up to date?
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS: Deputy Speaker, I have said that we have a pledge from the platinum mining industry that they are building 20 000 houses, and from that there are many other pledges that have been coming in. It is coming in drips and drabs, but the response itself is very, very positive. We are also encouraging members of Parliament to donate houses to other people. You can afford to do that as well. I thank you. [Applause.] [Laughter.]
QUESTION 53 - The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
UNREVISED HANSARD
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QUESTION 69 - The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
Question 53:
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS: Deputy Speaker and hon member Mokgalapa, the department has commissioned the assessment study with KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape as a pilot project. Plans are ahead to extend the study to other provinces. This will provide the department with sufficient information on extend of the problem and cost implication as a portion of the GDP.
The National Home Builder Registration Council, NHBRC, was established in terms of the Housing Consumer Protection Measures Act 95 of 1998 and its reason of existence and authority remains valid and necessary in the fast growing human settlement sector. Thank you.
Mr S MOKGALAPA
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 155
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
Mr S MOKGALAPA: Hon Deputy Speaker and hon Deputy Minister, in light of the tarnished image of the NHBRC and its failure to perform its mandate in ensuring that quality houses are being built and the recent media reports about the alleged graft activities by the CEO of this council, Mr Mashinini, who is facing a disciplinary hearing amounting to R35 million of tender irregularities, given the fact that you just said that you are not going to terminate the mandate of this institution, what steps is the Ministry taking in recouping the money and ensuring that the NHBRC performs its mandate and restores its public credibility? I thank you.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS: Deputy Speaker, it would be incorrect for the hon member to tarnish the NHBRC as a failure because of the individuals concerned. We have reported to this House that the process is in place to bring those perpetrators to book. The NHRBC has been an entity that has assisted government in terms of quality assurance. We have no reason to terminate its mandate because we are happy with its performance. We are dealing with the individuals concerned and the matter is on record in this Parliament. I thank you. [Applause.]
Mrs G M BORMAN
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 155
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
Mrs G M BORMAN: Deputy Speaker, I thank the Deputy Minister for the replies given. The Minister is on record as saying that they have built houses that have lasted last for 300 years in this country and yet they build low-cost housing that don't even last for as many days. This is evident in the huge rectification programme in how to deal with this issue. We need to be putting all our efforts, Deputy Minister, into building new houses and providing the 2,3 million people with their first house, instead of putting money into rectification programmes. What steps are being taken by your department to ensure that all housing projects are enrolled with NHBRC; and that NHBRC measures up to its vision to be a world class organisation that ensures that home builders deliver sustainable quality homes? Thank you. [Applause.]
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS: Deputy Speaker, hon Borman, thank you for that question. What we are saying with regard to the issue of quantity is that we have stopped building houses in terms of quantity where we are chasing numbers. We have to ensure that we build quality homes. In fact, not even houses but quality homes. We have put in place systems to ensure that at the end of the day there is a strict monitoring of each housing unit and we have urged provinces to put the issue of quality high on the agenda.
We are also encouraging them to do is to be strict in terms of project management so that, at the end of the day, the housing projects that are taking place are those that we could be proud of when handing over the keys to the beneficiaries. But, at the same time, we have to ensure that, when the houses are delivered, people should not just sign happy letters whilst the houses have cracks. Before the beneficiary can accept the key, he or she must make sure that the house is of quality, and bring to the attention of the authorities if the house is not of good quality.
At the same time we want to ensure that, as far as the NHBRC is concerned, strict monitoring is done because we want quality assurance which is provided by this institution to the government. It is already there to ensure that government gives quality to its population. I thank you. [Applause.]
Mrs M A A NJOBE
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 155
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
Mrs M A A NJOBE: Deputy Speaker and hon Deputy Minister, while, it is understandable and in fact welcomed that badly constructed houses has to be rectified, if the lives of the occupants are to be any better, we have a concern as to how sustainable the project will be.
Can the Deputy Minister assure this House that it will be possible in the near future to rectify each and every house of substandard work? I am thinking, in particular, of the Eastern Cape where the smaller municipalities - such as Amahlathi Municipal, which is located in the Amathole District Municipality - don't even appear in the future plans. Yet, even as we speak, the RDP houses there are falling apart and the NHBRC is not even known to exist in spite of its well thought out mandate, which is to promote potential housing consumers from unscrupulous builders. I thank you.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS: Deputy Speaker, it is our hope that every single house that needs rectification, particularly those that were built before the breaking new ground strategy was put into place. We understand that those houses are of bad quality and we hope that all those houses will be rectified. Rectification depends entirely on the availability of resources to do exactly that. We must remember that we have limited resources. We can only do as much rectification as the fiscus provides us to do. But we want the municipalities and provinces to come on board to prioritise those houses that are health hazards. In particular, in the rectification process, we should start with the houses that are falling on people.
We hope that in terms of working together with MPs in areas where we are not being visible in terms of rectification processes that those areas will be brought to us so that we can take those matters up with the respective municipalities, Ma'am Njobe. I thank you. [Applause.]
Mr K P SITHOLE
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 155
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
Mr K P SITHOLE: Deputy Speaker, I thank the Deputy Minister for the reply. What I want to find out is whether any full-scale investigation was launched into the process that has now led to a large scale situation of rectification occurring. Has there been any prosecution of parties found guilty of awarding building tenders to ill-treated building contractors? Thank you.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS: Deputy Speaker, yes, the matter has been given to the Special Investigating Unit, SIU, for investigation. We have reported to this House that certain officials were brought under investigation in terms of that. And the companies which were responsible for building shoddy houses were also blacklisted. So, the process is under way to ensure that we get to the root of the corruption as far as building shoddy houses for human settlement is concerned. So, the matter is with the SIU. I thank you. [Applause.]
QUESTION 89 – THE MINISTER OF HEALTH
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 156
QUESTION 53 - The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
Question 89:
The MINISTER OF HEALTH: Deputy Speaker, indeed we succeeded in decreasing the number of pulmonary TB cases between 2009 and 2010 by 1,1%. This decline also applies to extra pulmonary TB. Since February 2011, we started an active community-based care funding initiative on a large scale. Significant progress has been made with the diagnosis of TB, whereas in the past we used to rely on microscopy and that would take days; or on sputum cultures it would take weeks. We are now rolling out Gene Expert Technology, which enables us to diagnose TB within period on two hours. Currently the gene expert detects TB on an average of 17% of tested subjects, compared to between 4 and 9% when we were using the old method. I thank you.
Mrs S P KOPANE
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 156
The MINISTER OF HEALTH
Mrs S P KOPANE: Deputy Speaker, hon Minister, I appreciate your response to this matter. The progress is there, but very poor. According to the World Competitiveness Report, out of 142 countries, South Africa is ranked 141 in terms of TB incidents. According to the SA Health Review and the District Health Barometer that you released two weeks ago, it clearly states that although the Department of Health has put a lot money into the TB and HIV/Aids programme, we have increased the expenditure on primary health care and also invested a significant amount into the infrastructure and the human resource. Yet South Africa still has one of the highest TB incidents in the world. Hon Minister, it would appear that expenditure of more money is not the primary obstacle to better the health care system in our country. What are the main reasons that South Africa cannot achieve quality health care and reduce TB incidents?
The MINISTER OF HEALTH: Deputy Speaker, I am not exactly sure what the hon member wants. It is a known fact that we have one of the highest TB incident rates. I have said many times that out of the 22 high burden countries that carry 80% of TB of the world, in terms of infection per population, yes, South Africa is ranked at number one; there is no question about that. We disclosed those results long ago. What we are saying is that there is definitely an improvement, for instance, the cure rate for TB used to be 60% and is now at 71%.
The World Health Organisation says we must reach 85% and we are moving towards that figure. There has never been any denial that we have high incidents of TB. That is why, if you look at the National Strategic Plan for HIV and Aids, we said because TB is also driven by HIV/Aids, it must treated as two sides of the same coin under one roof. The New National Strategic Plan shows that.
On 24 March, the Deputy President of this country will choose World TB Day to launch the implementation of that strategy. So we are definitely taking strides. I told you about this Gene Expert Technology; it is one of the technologies we are using to combat TB. As a result, we now know the diagnosis within two hours and not only days later. We are no longer only picking up between 4 and 9% of the people infected with TB; we are actually picking up 17% using this technology. We acknowledge that the incidents are very high but we are making progress and good progress at that. I thank you.
Ms B T NGCOBO
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 156
The MINISTER OF HEALTH
Ms B T NGCOBO: Deputy Speaker, thank you, Minister, for the response. I have noticed that you are very passionate about various diseases and TB in particular. Do you think you have enough Directly Observed Therapy, Dot, supporters to help in the follow-up of patients who are receiving treatment at home and also in the identification and management of defaulters?
The MINISTER OF HEALTH: Deputy Speaker, indeed we have. Out of the 72 000 audited people, when we were conducting an audit about people who are doing Home-Based Care, community development work and primary health care work, 40 000 are actually Dot supporters. So we have enough.
In addition, we have established 190 teams consisting of five people each who have been doing family visits since March last year. In our database, we have 405 000 families where there is TB and we have agreed that from March last year until March this year we should have at least visited half of those families and we are doing so. We are on course to do that.
QUESTION 63 – The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 157
QUESTION 89 – THE MINISTER OF HEALTH
Question 63:
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: Deputy Speaker, maybe we should say it is a verification process and not a registration process. Firstly, a comprehensive communication strategy that will ensure that all beneficiaries are informed and educated about the process of re-registration has been developed by SA Social Security Agency, Sassa.
The strategy entails reaching beneficiaries through different modes of communication, including but not limited to the following: Letters to individual beneficiaries providing full details of the processes; media briefings by the officials, which is already happening; communication via television and radio, which is already done by myself and then Minister; and distribution of pamphlets at all Sassa local offices, taxi ranks, schools and other public places. All these combined will ensure that all beneficiaries are reached, and will thus minimise misperceptions and concerns that are likely to arise.
Lastly, yes, there is a plan and or mechanism in place to support the re-registration. Sufficient resources will be deployed for the re-registration. The deployment of the resources is based on scientific calculations based on the numbers and location of our beneficiaries in relation to the minimum distance they have to travel to the place of registration. To further ease the tension, most registration locations are situated closer to the current pay point locations that beneficiaries are accustomed to visiting during their pay days and are familiar with. There are no additional details, except that things will be evident as the process unfolds. If there are problems, there are numbers to call: for CPS it is 0800 600 160 and for Sassa it is 0800 6010 11. I thank you. [Applause.]
Ms E MORE
UNREVISED HANSARD
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Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 157
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Ms E MORE: Deputy Speaker, Deputy Minister, you are the overall accounting officer for the Department of Social Development. The Minister was quoted repeatedly assuring South Africans that there will be no interruptions during the re-registration process, but irrespective chaos erupted. What steps will the Deputy Minister take to ensure that Sassa complies with the measures you have just alluded to, particularly in terms of rudeness, impatience and unhelpfulness of the staff as it happened at the West End Community Centre in Port Elizabeth and in all other affected provinces? I thank you.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: Deputy Speaker, hon member, I think you raised a statement on that yesterday as well. Nobody's grant will be cut. That is the first assurance that I want to make. People must not panic; they will be assisted at pay points on their pay days. Only those who have passed away will be removed from the payroll.
IsiZulu:
Lokho kuzokwenziwa ngesizotha nangobuntu obukhulu, lokhu kuzosisiza ...
English:
... if there are also changes in procurators. It also gives us an opportunity to get correct addresses, telephones and cell numbers so that Sassa can have direct contact with the beneficiaries not procurators; and also to ask them about the deductions, particularly regarding funeral schemes. Some old people have four to five funeral schemes and some don't even know about those funeral schemes.
IsiZulu:
Laba abasusa uthuthuva ezindaweni zezimpesheni yilaba abangafuni ukuthi kulungiswe le nkohlakalo. Uma ngingakutshela nje, lungu elihloniphekile, ukuthi njengoba kunesamba ...
English:
... there is a total number of investigated cases of 94 292. Cases that are taken to court are 20 121, convict cases are 17 411 and finalised cases are 18 845. The acknowledgement of death is 44 874.
When you look at all of these things and also look in our banks, we have more than R100 million ...
IsiZulu:
... eziduve emabhange zabantu abahola sebashona. Manje sibanjwe wukuthi kwenziwe lolu hlelo lokubhalisa kabusha ukuze sibazi abantu esibaholelayo, abaphilayo kanjalo nalabo abadla imali ngokungemthetho. [Ihlombe.]
Nks H N MAKHUBA
UNREVISED HANSARD
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Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 157
IPHINI LIKANGQONGQOSHE WEZOKUTHUTHUKISWA KOMPHAKATHI
Nks H N MAKHUBA: Sekela Ngqongqoshe, ngiyathokoza ngempendulo osinikeze yona namuhla, ngisho futhi nokuthi siyakweseka nathi kulolu hlelo olwenziwayo lokubhalisa kabusha ngenxa yezizathu ezinikeziwe, ngakho siyabonga.
Kodwa kunesikhalo esisodwa esinaso engizocela ukuthi uSekela Ngqongqoshe asichasisele kuyona. Laphaya KwaZulu Natali abantu abazobhalisela kabusha imali yesibonelelelo okokuqala baphindiselwa emuva kuthiwe kungenxa yokuthi uMnyango usaxakekile nokubhalisa abantu kabusha. Ngicela ukuchasiseleka lapho ngoba ngokwami ukwazi, ngisho nangenkathi siluxoxa lolu daba ekomidini ...
English:
... it was said that no other activities that are done by Sassa will be affected by the re-registration. Thank you.
IsiZulu:
IPHINI LIKANGQONGQOSHE WEZOKUTHUTHUKISWA KOMPHAKATHI: Ngibonge kakhulu Lungu eliHloniphekile, ngempela kunjalo, akufanele ukuthi kube khona okuphazamisekayo ezikhungweni zokuholela, njengoba bengishilo nayizolo ukuthi akusizo zonke izifundazwe ezithikamezekile...
Bengishilo ukuthi lapha sikhuluma nge-Gauteng, ingxenye ethile yeMpumalanga Koloni, ingxenye ethile yeNtshonalanga Koloni, iMpumalanga kanye ne-Free State. Lezi zifundazwe engingazibalanga angeke zithikamezeke. Ngamanye amagama kusafuneka uma kuvela izinto ezinjengalezi – njengoba sengininikeze nenombolo okufanele niyishayele - ihhovisi lami lihlezi livuliwe njengoba ngihlezi ngisho ukuthi wozani nizosho uma kukhona okonakalayo ezindaweni, sisheshe siphuthume ngoba ziningi nezigebengu; zikhona kubasebenzi kanjalo nakubantu abathatha imali kahulumeni ngokungemthetho. Ngicela ukuthi impela sibambisane kulokhu.
Mrs Y R BOTHA
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 157
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
English:
Mrs Y R BOTHA: Deputy Speaker, in view of the Deputy Minister to responses, does she agree or not that the re-registration process is crucial to maintain the integrity of the social grants system; and also further ensuring that those who deserve to receive the grants, especially in our rural and urban poor, receive it as reflected and confirmed by the recent research completed by the centre for social development in Africa at the University of Johannesburg?
In a study that looked at the impact of the child support grant in households in the Doornkop area of Soweto, the research confirmed that the perception that the child support grant abuse is merely anecdotal.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: Deputy Speaker, yes, it is true, hon member. We want uniformity in Sassa. We cannot afford to have different institutions paying grants charging different fees. With the new system, you can get money anywhere if you are a beneficiary. If you are in KwaZulu-Natal or the Free State you can also get your money there. You are therefore correct, hon member.
IsiZulu :
Siyabonga ukuthi usilekelele kulo mzabalazo wethu wokuqeda inkohlakalo. Ngiyabonga.
NOTICES OF MOTION
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 158
QUESTION 63 – THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
NOTICES OF MOTION
MS M R SHINN: Deputy Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the DA:
That the House debates the future of government's majority shareholding in Telkom and the role government should play in the wholesale and retail sector of South Africa's information and communications landscape.
Mr P S SIZANI
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Ms M R SHINN
Mr P S SIZANI: Deputy Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the House debates strategies to produce thriving rural economies and ensure sustainable development.
Mr D C SMILES
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Mr P S SIZANI
Mr D C SMILES: Deputy Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the DA:
That the House debates the shortage of Mathematics and Physical Science teachers in the high schools of our country, and comes up with solutions to address this shortage.
Mr A M MPONTSHANE
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Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 158
Mr D C SMILES
Mr A M MPONTSHANE: Deputy Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the IFP:
That the House debates the causes as to why over 50% of the children eligible to attend preschool do not do so, and the remedies involved in correcting this situation.
Mr M C MANANA
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Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 158
Mr A M MPONTSHANE
Mr M MANANA: Deputy Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the House debates the improvement of human resources through investments and skills building, education and health.
Mr M S F DE FREITAS
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Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 158
Mr M C MANANA
Mr M S F DE FREITAS: Madam Deputy Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the DA:
That the House debates-
(1) the need for Home Affairs to speed up the processing of work visa applications from applicants that have technical and specialised skills, so that we can benefit economically from these skilled persons, and
(2) solutions on how to speed up these processes.
Mr M JOHNSON
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Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 158
Mr M S F DE FREITAS
Mr M JOHNSON: Hon Deputy Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the House debates the effectiveness of food production schemes in rural and peri-urban areas.
Mrs Y R BOTHA
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Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 158
Mr M JOHNSON
Mrs Y R BOTHA: Madam Deputy Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the House debates the assessment of food assistance projects and food relief programmes in communities in South Africa.
Mr L L BOSMAN
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Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 158
Mrs Y R BOTHA
Mr L L BOSMAN: Deputy Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the DA:
That the House debates ways to improve the intake of medical students at universities to curb the chronic shortage of doctors in the country, and come up with solutions to improve this situation.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon members, the noise ... I cannot even hear the speakers. Are there any more notices?
HON MEMBERS: Yes.
Mr N J VAN DEN BERG
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Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 158
Mr L L BOSMAN
Mr N J VAN DEN BERG: Madam Deputy Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the DA:
That the House debates the importance of mother-tongue languages for communications by government with citizens, and vice versa. Thank you.
Mrs E M COLEMAN
UNREVISED HANSARD
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Mr N J VAN DEN BERG
Mrs E M COLEMAN: Hon Deputy Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the House debates measures to ensure more access to markets, finance and skills transfer to small farmers.
MOTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
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Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Take: 159
NOTICES OF MOTIONS
WORLD CONSUMER RIGHTS DAY
(Draft Resolution)
Ms M L DUNJWA: Deputy Speaker, I move without notice:
That the House-
(1) notes that World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated annually on 15 March and that it is an occasion for celebration and solidarity within the international consumer movement;
(2) further notes that the theme for World Consumer Rights Day for 2012, is "Our money, our rights: campaigning for the real choice in financial services";
(3) acknowledges that Consumer International is an independent global campaigning voice for consumers that has over 220 member organisations in 115 countries and seeks to build a powerful international consumer movement to help protect and empower consumers everywhere; and
(4) calls on all consumers to demand that their basic rights as consumers are respected and protected, and to protest the market abuses and social injustices that undermine them.
I thank you.
Agreed to.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION
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Ms M L DUNJWA
MAYENZEKE SHWENI CROWNED AS WORLD CHAMPION BLADE SHEARER AT WORLD SHEARING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN MASTERTON, NEW ZEALAND
(Draft Resolution)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Madam Deputy Speaker, I move without notice:
That the House-
(1) notes that South African shearer, Mayenzeke Shweni, was crowned world champion blade shearer at the World Shearing Championships in Masterton, New Zealand;
(2) further notes that Mayenzeke Shweni's teammate, three-time champion, Zweliwile Hans, finished second in this division;
(3) recognises that wool shearers from 25 countries competed for the world crown in the hand and blade shearing events at the biennial competition;
(4) acknowledges that sheep shearing is recognised in South Africa as a national sport;
(5) further acknowledges that the Sheep Shearing Federation is affiliated to the SA Sports Confederation and the Olympic Committee; and
(6) congratulates the entire coaching staff and members of South African team.
I so move.
Agreed to.
Mrs C DUDLEY
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The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION
GRADUATION OF FIRST ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING STUDENTS
(Draft Resolution)
Mrs C DUDLEY: Deputy Speaker, I move without notice:
That the House-
(1) notes the graduation of the first electronics engineering students from a private business academy in Gauteng last month;
(2) further notes that the academy has provided graduates with skill and well-paying job opportunities and is committed to supporting the drive to address the problem of youth unemployment while assisting the nation in the alleviation of scarce skills;
(3) encourages private enterprises to follow this example by establishing academies to train people to a standard of excellence and to provide South Africa with much-needed skills and employment opportunities; and
(4) commends Samsung and its academy for its vision of fast-tracking the entry of African youths into the electronics job market and its short-term goal of developing 100 000 electronics engineers across the continent by 2015.
Thank you.
Agreed to.
The House adjourned at 17:06.
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