Hansard: NA: Motions
House: National Assembly
Date of Meeting: 13 Jun 2012
Summary
No summary available.
Minutes
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Thursday, 14 June 2012 Take 48
THURSDAY, 14 JUNE 2012
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
______________
The House met at 14:03.
The Speaker took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or meditation.
NOTICES OF MOTION – Mrs S V KALYAN
START OF DAY
NOTICES OF MOTION
Mrs S V KALYAN: 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 human rights crisis faced by the people of Tibet.
Mr C M MONI
Mrs S V KALYAN
Mr C M MONI: Hon 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 extension of community service to all newly qualified graduates, to inculcate patriotism and a spirit of service.
Mr N J J VAN R KOORNHOF
Mr C M MONI
Mr N J J VAN R KOORNHOF: Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of Cope:
That the House debates domestic tourism and ways and means of growing this sector in South Africa.
Mr P F SMITH
Mr N J J VAN R KOORNHOF
Mr P F SMITH: 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 recognition of 20 June as the international day in support of the people of Tibet and that their struggle for freedom be respected henceforth in our Parliament, as it will be in all other democratic parliaments of the world.
Ms A M DREYER
Mr P F SMITH
Ms A M DREYER: 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 current condition and continuous upkeep of properties belonging to the Department of Public Works, and comes up with feasible solutions to address this situation.
Mrs F F MUSHWANA
Ms A M DREYER
Mrs F F MUSHWANA: 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 addressing the challenge of the high dropout rate between Grade 7 and Grade 9.
Mr A P VAN DER WESTHUIZEN
Mrs F F MUSHWANA
Mr A P VAN DER WESTHUIZEN: 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 rising unemployment levels in our country, government's role, and possible alternatives to turn the situation around.
Mr G P D MACKENZIE
Mr A P VAN DER WESTHUIZEN
Mr G P D MACKENZIE: Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of Cope:
That the House debates the continued oppression of the Tibetan people by China, by various economic and political means, and the fact that the international community should prevent the deliberate policy of the Chinese government of colonising Tibet.
Mr M G ORIANI-AMBROSINI
Mr G P D MACKENZIE
Mr M G ORIANI-AMBROSINI: 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 need of our Parliament and government to follow the example of the Canadian Parliament and government, and that of many other parliaments and governments, which have awarded His Holiness the Dalai Lama honorary citizenship in recognition of what he represents for the righteous struggle for freedom and democracy for the people of Tibet, rather than continuing to follow the absurd policy of barring his entry into South Africa.
Mr W M MADISHA
Mr M G ORIANI-AMBROSINI
Mr W M MADISHA: Hon Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of Cope:
That the House debates the continuous brain drain of teachers – about 4 000 a year – from South Africa's schooling system, and its debilitating effect on the delivery and quality of education.
Ms M C DUBE
Mr W M MADISHA
Ms M C DUBE: 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 mechanisms to decrease the rates of maternal and infant deaths.
Dr S M VAN DYK
Ms M C DUBE
Afrikaans:
Dr S M VAN DYK: Agb Speaker, by die volgende sitting van die Huis sal ek voorstel:
Dat die Huis debat voer oor die dissipline wat departemente toepas op die mediumtermyn-bestedingsraamwerk, en dat besteding en investering in departemente sinkroniseer met die beleid en doelwitte van die betrokke departemente.
Mr B M BHANGA
Dr S M VAN DYK
IsiXhosa:
Mnu B M BHANGA: Somlomo, ndinika isaziso sokuba kwintlanganiso ezayo yale Ndlu ndiza kuphakamisa:
Ukuba iNdlu ixoxe umba wentsebenziswano nokusebenza kwe-Arhente yoPhuhliso loLutsha yeSizwe
Mr L RAMATLAKANE
Mr B M BHANGA
Mr L RAMATLAKANE: Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of Cope:
That the House debates effective intervention to fight the corruption and nepotism that has put South Africa on the brink of collapse, which has been reported by Amnesty International to have given Brand South Africa a negative image, and is in violation of the rights enshrined in our Constitution.
Mr M S F DE FREITAS
Mr L RAMATLAKANE
Mr M S F DE FREITAS: 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 immigration permitting and legislative enforcement problems experienced at sea ports and comes up with solutions for these problems.
Mrs J D KILIAN
Mr M S F DE FREITAS
Mrs J D KILIAN: Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of Cope:
That the House debates the role of the Khomani San leader, Oom Dawid Kruiper, and his passionate fight for the proper recognition of the Khomani San people in the Northern Cape.
Mr D A KGANARE
Mrs J D KILIAN
Mr D A KGANARE: Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of Cope:
That this House debates the ever escalating violent service delivery protests, which are a result of inefficient municipalities, and how these need to be turned around.
Mr R N CEBEKHULU
Mr D A KGANARE
Mr R N CEBEKHULU: 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 complete lack of border control by our defence force, which has resulted in many instances of stolen vehicles and livestock crossing our borders into Mozambique.
MOTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE – Mrs M T KUBAYI
Mr R N CEBEKHULU
UN INTERNATIONAL DAY IN SUPPORT OF VICTIMS OF TORTURE
(Draft Resolution)
Mrs M T KUBAYI: Hon Speaker, on behalf of the Chief Whip of the Majority Party, I move without notice:
That the House-
(1) notes that the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is annually observed on 26 June to remind people that human torture is not only unacceptable but also a crime;
(2) further notes that the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment came into force on 26 June 1987 and was an important step in the process of globalising human rights and acknowledging that torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment should be universally illegal;
(3) recognises that the Prevention and Combating of Torture of Persons Bill, which was recently introduced in the National Assembly, gives effect to the Republic's obligations in terms of the United Nations' Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment;
(4) acknowledges that the day provides time to honour victims and survivors of torture across the world and to gather strength to work together for a world without torture;
(5) further acknowledges that for torture to end, we must constantly break the silence around torture, condemn it whenever it happens, demand laws against torture and demand that torturers are made fully accountable; and
(6) appeals to government, members of civil society and human rights activists to take action to defeat torture and torturers everywhere else.
Agreed to.
Mrs S V KALYAN
Mrs M T KUBAYI
CALL FOR DAY OF SOLIDARITY FOR PEOPLE OF TIBET ON WORLD REFUGEE DAY
(Draft Resolution)
Mrs S V KALYAN: Mr Speaker, I move without notice:
That the House-
(1) notes that amidst the peaceful festival of Saga Dawa, upon which Tibetan Buddhists observe the birth, enlightenment and passing of Buddha, the people of Tibet are suffering gross human rights violations;
(2) further notes that in view of recent self-immolations, the International Network of Parliamentarians on Tibet is calling on parliamentarians worldwide to observe a parliamentary solidarity day for the people of Tibet on World Refugee Day which is celebrated on 20 June 2012;
(3) acknowledges the request by the International Network of Parliamentarians on Tibet to include the Tibetan plight in local World Refugee Day celebrations; and
(4) calls on governments and civil society not only to address the plight of the Tibetan people and other refugees worldwide, but also to include human rights protection as a key agenda item in all bilateral and multilateral discussions.
The SPEAKER: If there are no objections to the moving of the motion now, I put the motion.
Mrs M T KUBAYI: There is an objection, Mr Speaker!
The SPEAKER: Is there an objection?
Mrs M T KUBAYI: We have indicated, as the ANC, that we received the motion late, and we were not able to consult and deal with it. Therefore, we would like to object to the motion. We have also informed the DA of the process.
The SPEAKER: Noted.
Mrs S V KALYAN: On a point of order, Sir, may I address you?
The SPEAKER: Yes, please go ahead.
Mrs S V KALYAN: The motion was sent on time, and it was not accepted by the ANC. It was reworded and sent at 12h33. I was informed 15 minutes before the sitting that the Chief Whip of the Majority Party had not seen the motion, and therefore there would be an objection. Sir, I think that that is not acceptable, and I ask you to reconsider.
The SPEAKER: Hon member from the ANC?
Mrs M T KUBAYI: Mr Speaker, I think hon Kalyan should correctly inform the House that the first motion that we objected to was the motion on World Refugee Day, on which we indicated, as per Rule 95, that you can't have the same motion passed by the House twice in the same term. [Interjections.] Hon Kalyan, will you allow me to finish?
The SPEAKER: Order, hon members!
Mrs M T KUBAYI: That is when we rejected the motion. She confirmed that she would go and work on the motion.
The motion that is before us now is a new one, which arrived 15 minutes prior to the sitting, as she has said. I received it just five minutes before I came to her. Therefore, we had no time to consult. She is correct in saying that the Chief Whip of the Majority Party, as the leader of the caucus, did not look at the motion, for it arrived five minutes before the bells rang. What else did she expect me to do? [Interjections.]
The SPEAKER: Order, hon members, order! Hon members, we will treat this as a notice of motion. It won't be a motion for today, but it will be a notice of motion. Shall we proceed?
Mrs M T KUBAYI
The SPEAKER
INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST DRUG ABUSE AND ILLICIT TRAFFICKING
(Draft Resolution)
Mrs M T KUBAYI: Speaker, on behalf of the Chief Whip of the Majority Party, I move without notice:
That the House-
(1) notes that the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed annually on 26 June and is a day dedicated to strengthening action and co-operation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse;
(2) acknowledges that drug markets have reached global dimensions of huge magnitude and that the networks of this crime syndicate have grown in their reach and sophistication across national boundaries;
(3) believes that there is a need to enhance our systems of border control and to improve the capacity of our Defence Force and intelligence agencies to secure the integrity of our nation state; and
(4) calls upon government and civil society to mobilise to prevent the sale and distribution of drugs and to develop a comprehensive and effective drug prevention strategy which promotes healthy and safe lifestyles amongst the youth.
Agreed to.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION
Mrs M T KUBAYI
BABY BOK PERFORMANCE IN 2012 IRB JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
(Draft Resolution)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Speaker, I move without notice:
That the House-
(1) notes that the South African Under-20 Rugby Team surged into the semi-finals of the International Rugby Board, IRB, Junior World Championship with an emphatic 28-15 victory over England at the Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday;
(2) further notes that South Africa will take on Argentina in the semi-final at Newlands Stadium on Sunday;
(3) acknowledges that as the Baby Boks lost their first game of the tournament to Ireland, they faced the daunting task of having to not only beat England, but to score more than four tries in order to qualify for the semi-finals;
(4) further acknowledges the spectacular second-half performance of the Baby Boks, who at half time still trailed 0-3; and
(5) congratulates the team and management staff on this achievement and wishes them the best of luck in the remainder of the tournament.
Agreed to.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION
THE CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION
CONGRATULATIONS TO MOEGAMAT ROGERS ON HIS SELECTION TO CARRY OLYMPIC TORCH
(Draft Resolution)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Speaker, I move without notice:
That the House-
(1) notes that Hanover Park learner Moegamat Rogers is one of 20 young people from around the world who have been chosen to carry the Olympic torch in a relay event in Nottingham, United Kingdom, on 28 June 2012;
(2) further notes that Moegamat Rogers, who is a learner at Mountview Secondary School, has received this privilege because of his work for the International Inspiration programme, which connects children through the inspirational power of sport;
(3) acknowledges that Moegamat Rogers is being recognised in particular for his contribution to promoting youth leadership and good values at his school; and
(4) congratulates Moegamat Rogers and Mountview Secondary School on this wonderful achievement.
Agreed to.
Mrs M T KUBAYI
The SPEAKER
MOTION OF CONDOLENCE
(The late Mr David Dlali)
Mrs M T KUBAYI: Speaker, on behalf of the Chief Whip of the Majority Party, I move:
That the House-
(1) notes with great sadness the tragic death of former ANC member Mr David Dlali on Monday, 11 June 2012 at the age of 52;
(2) further notes that Mr Dlali was a Member of Parliament from 2001 until 2009, representing his constituency in the Gugulethu township and serving on various portfolio committees, which included provincial and local government, minerals and energy, and defence;
(3) remembers that after the 2009 national elections, Mr Dlali joined the Ministry of Women, Children and People with Disabilities as special advisor to the Minister;
(4) further remembers that Mr Dlali was a long-standing member of the ANC and a former Umkhonto we Sizwe underground operative;
(5) recalls that he served in various capacities within the ANC, including as a member of the provincial executive committee in the Western Cape and as chairman of the Dullah Omar region;
(6) further recalls that he was a talented, diligent cadre and a remarkable strategist;
(7) believes that Mr Dlali was a hardworking and committed servant of the people;
(8) acknowledges his dedication and courage, which he proved in true selfless service to his people and the country; and
(9) extends its heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Mr Dlali, and to the members of the ANC.
The SPEAKER: Hon members, before we proceed with today's business, I wish to announce the presence of the Dlali family in the public gallery. Namkelekile. [You are welcome.] [Applause.]
Mrs D ROBINSON
The SPEAKER
Mrs D ROBINSON: Hon Speaker and hon members, I was shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic and untimely death of former ANC Member of Parliament David M Dlali when I heard the news on Monday morning. I see his smiling face before me now. He was always courteous, friendly, cheerful and approachable. He was also a positive person who left one smiling and feeling cheerful too after having chatted to him, however briefly.
Our paths first crossed when he served in the Cape Metropolitan Council, CMC, and I, as a public relations councillor, was working in Mfuleni, Khayelitsha and the Tygerberg area. Later, we both served as councillors in the City of Cape Town, where he represented Gugulethu. He was a hardworking, committed councillor who was determined to improve the lot of the people he represented.
He served as the public liaison officer, PLO, on the Independent Electoral Commission, IEC, for many years and played a positive and responsible role.
Our paths crossed again when we both moved up to Parliament. He served on various committees, including local government, minerals, energy and defence.
David suffered an injury in a motor car accident and for a while his walking was impaired. I too was suffering after surgery, and we would sometimes stop and commiserate with one another, but we always parted on a cheerful note.
David Dlali also made a positive contribution when he served on the board of trustees of the Parliamentary Medical Aid Scheme, Parmed, initially as a full member whilst in Parliament, and subsequently as a continuity member while serving as an advisor to the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Lulu Xingwana. As a Parmed trustee, he served on a number of ad hoc committees, and he always served with diligence and integrity. His contribution in the interests of the members was unfailing. His calm approach and demeanour enabled him to influence and ensure fairness but, above all, he made sure that what was best for the scheme and its beneficiaries prevailed.
He acquired a farm in Matatiele some time ago and over the years developed a good relationship with his neighbour, Peter Muir, who was a DA councillor in the Matatiele Local Municipality. Together, as neighbours, they solved numerous problems associated with farming in that difficult area where stock theft and criminal activities were rife. He was a hardworking, progressive farmer, who was improving his farm and preparing it for his retirement. Sadly, his life was cut short before he could realise his dream. His tragic death is a loss, not only to his family and the ANC, but to the whole farming community, where he could have continued to make a difference through his positive approach.
On behalf of the DA, I would like to extend our sincere condolences to his family, the ANC and to all who were close to him. Hamba kakuhle, mhlobo wam. [Farewell, my friend.] May your soul rest in peace. [Applause.]
Mr L RAMATLAKANE
Mrs D ROBINSON
Mr L RAMATLAKANE: Hon Speaker and hon members, I rise in this debate on the motion of condolence for the late Comrade David Dlali to express our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Comrade Dlali, and to his big family, the ANC. We wish to express our heartfelt sympathy. We received the news of his passing with sadness.
Comrade Dlali was a working-class leader, who had working-class interests at heart, and who at all times worked for this cause. As has been said about him, he was there during the struggle for freedom, and during the peace protests by South Africans before the 1994 democratic breakthrough. He was there during the struggle to form strong Cosatu affiliates that would fight for the restoration of the rights of the workers, and he was there during the 1998 labour relations battles, as you will remember. He was a key fighter to defend the workers' rights with his paralegal skills. He was there when South Africans were marching and calling for the unbanning of political parties and political organisations. We know that he made an immense contribution in the field of local government elections, where he fought, as always, for the underdogs, the downtrodden and the poor people.
As Cope, we are truly saddened by his sudden and terrible passing on, which will go down as murder. We wish the perpetrator of this crime could have known who he was and what contribution he made to our life today. The police must obviously do what needs to be done.
I would like to end with a poem by Yo Tomita:
You never thought that it would end this way,
Yet such an end does not at all seem strange.
If love is true, then death must make the change,
Ending love by taking life way.
Yet though our love is over, mine will stay,
A triumph over death I will arrange,
Rechanneling a fate I cannot change,
That we might still on fields of fancy play.
You never thought we'd share such months of pain,
That you would die in agony, while I
Would be as much a nurse for you as friend.
Yet I would live the whole thing through again
Just once more to look you in the eye
And tell you, yes, this is how it should end.
May his soul rest in peace. Hamba kahle, qabane! [Farewell comrade!] [Applause.]
Mr V B NDLOVU
Mr L RAMATLAKANE
Mr V B NDLOVU: Mr Speaker and honourable House, I stand here as a former member of the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans with Mr Dlali. We worked very hard with him, in our understanding of the task before us as parliamentarians. We agreed that when we were in the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, our politics had to be left at the door before we entered into the discussions, so that we made sure when we were dealing with Defence Force matters that we were all united, because we were defending the country. He was a loyal member of the committee and a hard-working member of the ANC as I knew him.
He was a good gentleman, full of jokes, full of understanding of what was happening around the Defence Force and full of understanding of what the discussion was all about.
We pass on our condolences to his family and friends and to his organisation.
IsiZulu:
Okubi ukuthi abantu bafe ngezandla zabanye abantu. Kuhle uma umuntu ethathwa yiNkosi ngoba egulile kodwa ukufa ngokubulawa yikona okungafuneki ngempela. Siyethemba amaphoyisa azokwenza umsebenzi wawo abambe izigebengu. Ulale ngoxolo Dlali siyokukhumbula njalo. Ngiyabonga.
Mr I S MFUNDISI
Mr V B NDLOVU
English:
Mr I S MFUNDISI: Hon Speaker and hon members, we in the UCDP learnt with shock of the death of Mr Dlali at the hands of the prowlers that are all over the country.
I came to know Mr Dlali with his trademark walking stick. He was a jolly and ever happy man as he trundled along the corridors of Parliament.
He served on the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, amongst others, with the late Mr Ditshetelo, our leader then, and this allowed me greater access to him.
These meetings paved the way for greater interactions between him and me, as I later came to serve on the board of theParliamentary and ProvincialMedical Aid Scheme,Parmed, with him. I found him already a member, and he held a responsible position as he served on the executive of the board.
We used to have discussions and more often than not he would say he wanted to get me Umrabulo, and I would squeal but, diplomatic as he was, Mr Dlali prevailed upon me to subscribe to the magazine New Agenda which he and Prof Turok, a doyen of this House, worked on. It was an academic and informative publication that dealt with contemporary issues, particularly of an economic nature.
It is unfortunate that David Dlali died the way he did. Our hearts in the UCDP go out to his family, the department where he was an advisor, and his political fort, the ANC. May his soul rest in peace. [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Mr I S MFUNDISI
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Hon Speaker, hon members and the Dlali family in the gallery, I stand here today to celebrate the life of a loyal servant of the people of South Africa – a comrade, friend, brother, father and committed cadre of our movement, who devoted most of his adult life to the service of his people. He was a humble yet fierce defender of the gains of our democracy and freedom.
Many of us are still struggling to come to terms with the shock and pain of the passing away of this great patriot, whose real contribution to our government and our people is still to be fully acknowledged and recognised.
He clearly understood the aspirations of the people of South Africa, and the great sacrifice that is necessary to achieve the goal of liberation. He contributed immensely to the downfall of apartheid and was one of the architects of our new democracy.
I stand here to pay tribute to one of the unsung heroes of our struggle for liberation, who served our young democracy with selfless dedication. Those in our country who are committed to the vision of a better life for all will sorely miss his passion and commitment to serving the poor and vulnerable masses of our people.
I have no doubt that David Dlali's name will be mentioned alongside those of the best sons and daughters of our country who passed away in the service of their people. All those who worked closely with him will treasure his memory as one of our most distinguished sons, who consciously chose a dangerous path that naturally invited personal suffering and sacrifice, state brutality, callous oppression, torture and police harassment.
He pursued this path with single-minded purpose, for he knew that, indeed, there comes a time in the life of every nation when it is faced with two choices: to fight or to submit. David chose to fight and dedicate his life to the struggle for freedom and democracy.
The people of our country will treasure his memory as one of our most distinguished sons, who consciously chose to fight a cruel and inhumane system at a time when it was extremely dangerous to do so. From a young age he demonstrated his commitment to the liberation of our people. He joined the Umkhonto we Sizwe underground structures, as part of the liberation movement's objective to intensify the people's war against the tyranny of apartheid.
He joined the trade union movement and served as the National Union of Mineworkers, NUM, legal officer, where he first worked with Comrade Cyril Ramaphosa, now an ANC National Executive Council, NEC, member, and later with Comrade Gwede Mantashe, now ANC Secretary-General. Comrade Dlali also worked for the SA Municipal Workers' Union, Samwu, as well as the Food and Allied Workers Union, Fawu, as their legal officer. He never resigned as a trade unionist.
In the department he always fought for the underdog – junior staff and workers. He once told me about a problem concerning the women who cleaned in the department. I don't know how he found out about the fact that they were having problems with their supervisor, but he was soon in the forefront of the dispute with that supervisor. Whenever he felt that the people were being marginalised or their rights were being abused, he would stand by their side.
He was also elected a councillor in the Cape Metropolitan Council, where he became the chair of a committee of the Cape Metropolitan Council, CMC, with 60 councillors reporting to him. He was part of the formation of the SA Local Government Association, Salga, where he chaired the committee responsible for drafting Chapter 7 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
He served Parliament selflessly for almost 10 years, because he knew that it was a critical institution for our democracy and a crucial pillar of transformation. In Parliament he served in the following portfolio committees: Provincial and Local Government, Minerals and Energy, Defence, Trade and Industry, Agriculture and Land Affairs.
He was always up to date and ahead of every director-general and official in this Parliament. He read every document that was put before him. He understood that it was through this institution of public accountability that we would be able to realise the vision of "The people shall govern."
Even up to his last day he placed his life and service in the hands of the ANC and the people of this country. Beyond the 1994 breakthrough he continued to serve the ANC with loyalty, to ensure that it continued to be a movement of transformation and a disciplined force of the left.
Adv Duminy, who was his next-door neighbour on the farm, informed me that David had mobilised most of the farmers in the area to ensure that they understood the mass democratic movement. He was always engaging them on this.
At the time of his death he was serving the people in the Ministry of Women, Children and People with Disabilities with unparalleled commitment and loyalty. In his own humble way he taught all of us about patriotism, accountability and loyalty to our country and its people.
He did not resign as a Member of Parliament, but continued to play an oversight role over the officials in the department. He always called them functionaries. He always agonised about corruption in the civil service, and was very sad that public funds were not reaching the poor and vulnerable who were the rightful beneficiaries of these funds.
As a cadre of our movement and a servant of the people of South Africa, his contribution was not aimed at seeking personal glory, fame or material rewards. His was a genuine commitment to building a future for our people that was qualitatively better than our ugly past. He was dedicated to building a nonracial, nonsexist and prosperous South Africa. Indeed, his was a selfless contribution to the advancement of all the people of our country.
To David I would like to say: Go on your journey with courage, my dear comrade and colleague. Those of us who remain behind will be forever grateful for the sacrifices you made. You left us a proud legacy, and it is this legacy that will propel us on as we confront the challenges that lie ahead. In you many of us saw the personification of patriotism, dedication and selfless service.
As we struggle to come to terms with the reality of David's untimely death, our thoughts and prayers are with his family and with all who grieve over his passing. To the family we wish to say: We are with you in your hour of pain and darkness. Your pain is our pain in the ANC. We hope that you will find solace in the knowledge that you are not the only ones who have lost a loved one. Indeed, the whole country and the entire democratic movement have lost a committed and loyal servant. You must find comfort in the knowledge that his life touched and influenced so many of us.
We shall leave no stone unturned in ensuring that those responsible for this dastardly deed meet the wrath of the law.
As a tribute to Comrade David Dlali let us continue to work tirelessly in pursuit of the kind of society for which he sacrificed most of his life. In his memory let us build a society that enables all its citizens, including women, children and people with disabilities, to taste the fruits of our liberation. This will be a fitting tribute to Comrade David Dlali, who dedicated his entire life to these ideals. Let us pick up his spear and continue where he left off.
IsiXhosa:
Hamba kahle Mkhonto! Lala ngoxolo, Duma!
English:
May his soul rest in peace. I thank you. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
The SPEAKER: Order! The Deputy Speaker and I join in expressing our condolences. The condolences of the House will be conveyed to the Dlali family and to the ANC.
Motion agreed to, members standing.
Mrs D M RAMODIBE (ANC)
The SPEAKER
SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST CHILDREN
(Member's Statement)
Mrs D M RAMODIBE (ANC): Hon Speaker, South Africa is currently faced with significant challenges relating to sexual offences perpetrated against children.
The Constitution clearly stipulates in section 28(1)(d) that children have the right "to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation". The scourge of incidents of sexual violence perpetrated against children is clearly an indictment in relation to children's rights.
There appears to have been an escalation in the number of incidents reported in the media recently, such as that of the 17-year-old girl with a disability from Soweto, who was gang-raped. The issue of missing children also continues to be a problem in South Africa. As recently reported by the Sowetan, Danielle Camillia Gaysma, a nine-year-old girl from Eersterust near Mamelodi in Pretoria, went missing on Saturday afternoon and her body was subsequently found in the family's deep freeze by the police, leading to the arrest of her 48-year-old stepfather.
Despite the sound constitutional imperatives pertaining to children's rights and the legislation in place, these rights may not always be protected, fulfilled and/or promoted. We hope and plead that justice is done, and that the perpetrators face the full might of the law. I thank you. [Applause.]
Ms A M DREYER (DA)
Mrs D M RAMODIBE (ANC)
DA'S GAINS AND WIN IN BY-ELECTIONS HELD ACROSS SOUTH AFRICA
(Member's Statement)
Ms A M DREYER (DA): Madam Deputy Speaker, yesterday successful and peaceful by-elections were held in three wards across South Africa.
In Ward 12 in the Blouberg Local Municipality in Limpopo the DA maintained its share of the vote at 16%, whilst support for the ANC declined by 13% to only 66%. [Applause.]
In Ward 33 in the Matjhabeng Local Municipality in the Free State the DA retained the ward, while growing its percentage share of the vote from 62% in May 2011 to 77% yesterday. [Applause.] Support for the ANC dropped by 12% to 21%.
In Ward 8 in the Matatiele Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape the DA won 27% of the vote. This represents a significant increase from the 4% obtained in May 2011. In absolute terms, the DA won 444 votes, as opposed to the 77 votes obtained in the last municipal elections.
The DA continues to gain growing grass-roots support in the Eastern Cape. This is a remarkable show of growing support and trust of the voters in the DA message. It is evident from these results that the DA continues to grow, as more and more people flock to our DA banner and the blue wave of the DA gains momentum. [Time expired.] Woza, 2014! [Come, 2014!] [Applause.]
Mr D A KGANARE (Cope)
Ms A M DREYER (DA)
MINISTER'S INTERFERENCE IN PROCESSING OF PROTECTION OF STATE INFORMATION BILL
(Member's Statement)
Mr D A KGANARE (Cope): Deputy Speaker, the recent attempts by the Minister of State Security to muzzle inputs on and block amendments to the Protection of State Information Bill cannot be ignored by the National Assembly. [Interjections.] The disruption of the committee in the NCOP is what happens when arrogance and utter disdain for the institution of Parliament become entrenched in a governing party that is at war with itself.
The Constitution provides for a distinct separation of powers between the three arms of state – the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. Several rulings by the Constitutional Court have reaffirmed the doctrine of the separation of powers, as enshrined in our Constitution.
However when the NCOP Ad Hoc Committee dealing with the Protection of State Information Bill met to process amendments presented by all parties – amendments largely influenced by the multitude of representations made by civil society groups and supported by the majority of the MPs in the NCOP committee, including the ANC MPs – Minister Cwele, through his department, rejected the proposed amendments to provide greater protection to whistle blowers; to remove all minimum prison sentences from the Bill; and to narrow the definition of national security.
All MPs sign an oath of office to respect and uphold the Constitution. Section 44(4) compels MPs:
When exercising its legislative authority, Parliament is bound only by the Constitution, and must act in accordance with, and within the limits of, the Constitution.
The message from Cope to Minister Cwele and his departmental officials is to back off and allow the NCOP and the National Assembly to amend the Secrecy Bill without any further interference by the executive arm of the state. [Interjections.] [Applause.]
Mrs H H MALGAS (ANC)
Mr D A KGANARE (Cope)
ADMISSION OF NEW LEARNERS INTO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
(Member's Statement)
Mrs H H MALGAS (ANC): Madam Deputy Speaker, the South African Schools Act, Sasa, of 1996 is a law that governs the admission of learners to any public school in South Africa. Section 5 of the Act advises on the reasons for which schools cannot refuse admission to learners.
Be that as it may, scores of learners are being refused admission to schools and this is most importantly due to the neglect of parents and guardians of the processes and requirements for the admission of learners.
While it is indeed against the law to refuse admission to any child in South Africa, this statement today from the ANC serves to remind parents and guardians that they must assist the Department of Basic Education by following all the processes for admission well in time and not leaving anything to the last minute or to chance.
For the 2013 schooling year, the registration period for learners commences in July and closes in September. However, Gauteng has brought its registration period forward to May 2012 in order to get ready to deal with the influx of learners. It will close at the end of July 2012. Late registration and placement of learners will be completed in September 2012. I thank you. [Applause.]
Mr V B NDLOVU (IFP)
Mrs H H MALGAS (ANC)
CONGRATULATIONS TO LEADERS OF IFP ON WINNING BY-ELECTION
(Member's Statement)
Mr V B NDLOVU (IFP): Deputy Speaker, the IFP wants to congratulate the leaders of the IFP, led by His Excellency the president of the IFP, Prince M G Buthelezi MP, for the hard work done to achieve a goal of the IFP, the resounding win of the by-election at Nquthu by a big, big margin, ... [Laughter.] ... bigger than the combined number of votes received by the ANC and the NFP. [Applause.]
Those who are punting money on destroying us as a party should know by now that we will fight till the end, because we know what we stand for, and the people know our stance and policies as a party. By-elections are a barometer of the strength of the party. Forget about us! Go about your own business! [Applause.]
Mr L W GREYLING (ID)
Mr V B NDLOVU (IFP)
GLOBAL 20-YEAR ENERGY PLAN
(Member's Statement)
Mr L W GREYLING (ID): Hon Deputy Speaker, the global energy sector is an extremely dynamic one, characterised by emerging technologies and fast-changing cost curves. It is therefore vital that in the decisions we take regarding our energy plan we are awake to these changing dynamics, so as to avoid locking ourselves into a future which could make us globally uncompetitive.
In this regard, we should be constantly reviewing and, where necessary, revising our 20-year energy plan. The National Planning Commission calls for this approach and specifically argues for us to debate the financial viability of our proposed nuclear build programme.
Despite this call, the Minister and the ANC government have refused to open up this debate and seem determined to push ahead with the programme, regardless of its financial consequences for the country. It is absurd that Treasury has not done a financial viability study on this programme, and that we have not been able to debate it properly in Parliament.
The ID also calls upon the Minister to table in Parliament South Africa's Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review, which was completed as part of the International Atomic Energy Agency's requirements.
The Deputy President assured me in this House last year that these decisions would not be taken in dark corners, but would be thoroughly debated by the public. So far the ID has not seen any evidence that this commitment is being kept. Thank you. [Applause.]
Ms A Z NDLAZI (ANC)
Mr L W GREYLING (ID)
DEATH OF RAILWAY DRIVER
(Member's Statement)
Ms A Z NDLAZI (ANC): Deputy Speaker, the ANC shares the sadness and concern over the recent brutal and shocking incident where a female Transnet freight train driver, Miss Nare Mashamaite, was strangled to death while she was inspecting a possible mechanical problem on a train outside Makhado station, in Limpopo.
Her assistant driver, who also joined her in inspecting the train, but on the other side, heard her screams and then fled the scene and called the police who later found the driver's body lying next to the train.
The Railway Safety Regulator indicated that it would be investigating the incident, and urged all operators to provide sufficient security for their stuff, in line with the risk assessment profiles. The ANC urges the SA Police Service to leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrator of this heinous crime to book.
We offer our sincerest condolences to the family, friends, colleagues and children of the late Miss Mashamaite. A mowa wa gagwe o robale ka kudu. [May her soul rest in peace.] Thank you. [Applause.]
Mrs D A SCHÄFER (DA)
Ms A Z NDLAZI (ANC)
RECOGNITION OF ADV GERRIE NEL BY INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PROSECUTORS
(Member's Statement)
Mrs D A SCHÄFER (DA): Madam Deputy Speaker, this week Adv Gerrie Nel was recognised by the International Association of Prosecutors for his role in the Jackie Selebi matter. It is somewhat ironic that Adv Nel, a South African, has to achieve such recognition outside his own country, when he has received nothing of the sort inside it; in fact, quite the contrary.
The reward he got in South Africa for his efforts was to be persecuted by his junior, Adv Nomgcobo Jiba, who was suspended as a Senior Director of Public Prosecutions in December 2007, reportedly because she was involved in a conspiracy to have Nel arrested before he could charge Selebi with corruption. Nel was duly arrested on 8 January 2008 and subsequently released because of lack of evidence.
Nel was reportedly also involved in securing a conviction against Adv Jiba's husband for stealing monies from his trust account. It has also recently emerged that Richard Mdluli was involved in ensuring that the case against Adv Jiba did not proceed.
When we take a look at where all these individuals are today, we see that it paints a very sad picture. Disgraced ex-police chief Jackie Selebi has finally had his conviction confirmed, after spending about R17 million of our money to do so! Yet, because of his almost immediate contraction of Shaikalitis, he has spent barely a day in prison. This, after abusing not only his position as South Africa's police chief, but at the same time the position of head of Interpol, which he held.
Adv Jiba is now acting National Director of Public Prosecutions, NDPP, a position requiring the ultimate integrity. Her husband has been pardoned by President Zuma. As for Richard Mdluli, we all know that the only reason he is not still heading up the Mangaung spy operation within Crime Intelligence is because, once again, civil society has had to take the matter to court to try to preserve what is left of the integrity of our criminal justice system.
This would be funny if it were not so serious. [Time expired.] The DA congratulates Adv Gerrie Nel.
Ms A Z NDLAZI (ANC)
Mrs D A SCHÄFER (DA)
BID TO HOST GLOBAL SKA RADIO TELESCOPE PROJECT
(Member's Statement)
Ms A Z NDLAZI (ANC): The ANC congratulates the Minister of Science and Technology, her Department, and the Square Kilometre Array, SKA, Project Office for successfully leading the bid to host the global SKA radio telescope project. The unambiguous recommendation of the SKA Site Advisory Committee, SSAC, that the project be located in Southern Africa, is noted as the soundest scientific outcome.
On Friday, 25 May 2012 the SKA organisation met at Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands and concluded that, in order to be inclusive and to make the best use of existing investments in the project, one of the three SKA receiver components should be constructed in Australia. We accept the compromise in the interest of science and as an acknowledgement of the sterling work done by our scientists and the SKA project, as well as the importance of international collaboration in this global project.
An important aspect of the site decision is the recognition of the MeerKAT telescope, being designed and built in the Northern Cape Karoo by South African scientists and engineers, as a critical step towards the implementation of the SKA. [Time expired.]
Mr M A MNCWANGO (IFP)
Ms A Z NDLAZI (ANC)
INTERNATIONAL PARLIAMENTARY ACTION IN SUPPORT OF TIBET
(Member's Statement)
Mr M A MNCWANGO (IFP): Madam Deputy Speaker, today is the first day of international parliamentary action in support of Tibet, which will culminate on 20 June, Parliamentary Solidarity Day for Tibet. We are proud that this process begins here in Cape Town today.
The Chinese government has all but declared war on the peace-loving monks of Tibet. Armed only with their prayer beads and Holy Scriptures, these monks face off against the daily wrath of heavily armed Chinese security forces. Monks are often brutally beaten and regularly detained without cause by Chinese security forces. The human rights abuses perpetrated by China are on a scale so large that it should shock the conscience of all mankind.
The IFP is not as weak and meek as this current government, and we say an emphatic "No!" to human rights abuses in Chinese-occupied Tibet. We say to China, "Stop this horror story. Reclaim your humanity. Leave Tibet and leave it now!" I thank you.
Mr G P D MACKENZIE (Cope)
Mr M A MNCWANGO (IFP)
CALL FOR CHINA TO RESPECT CULTURAL AND OTHER FREEDOMS OF PEOPLE OF TIBET
(Member's Statement)
Mr G P D MACKENZIE (Cope): Deputy Speaker, all political parties that are aligned to the principles of a people's democracy and fundamental human rights and freedoms should call on China to acknowledge and respect cultural differences and freedom of opinion, assembly and religion in Tibet and elsewhere in its territory.
Like the people of South Africa did, the Tibetan people have been fighting a struggle for freedom, for a decade long. However, the current wave of Chinese atrocities and human rights violations in Tibet, including arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances, demand public pronouncements by all freedom-loving parties and parliamentarians. The deteriorating situation inside Tibet since the 2008 uprising has led to an alarming rate of self-immolations – by 38 Tibetans since 31 May 2012.
Cope is calling on our government to request the Chinese authorities to engage in good faith negotiations with the central Tibetan administration to provide Tibet with political, cultural and religious autonomy; to respond positively to the memorandum on genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people presented in 2008; and to reject threats of abrogation of the nominal minority status for Tibetans provided for in the Chinese constitution, thereby removing the basis for negotiations for real and substantive autonomy.
We further call on the government to include human rights protection as an agenda item in all bilateral and multilateral discussions, venues or engagements with China, so as to hold China to the same standard of human rights protection as any other country, without lowering the measure of human rights protection expected from China on account of its economic, financial and trade power. [Time expired.] Thank you. [Applause.]
Dr Z LUYENGE (ANC)
Mr G P D MACKENZIE (Cope)
PARLIAMENTARY SPORT AND RECREATION COUNCIL OUTREACH PROGRAMME IN KWAZULU-NATAL
(Member's Statement)
Dr Z LUYENGE (ANC): Hon Deputy Speaker, the Parliamentary Sport and Recreation Council outreach programme in KwaZulu-Natal, KZN, at kwaMthethwa in the Mbonambi Local Municipality on 21 April 2012 saw all spheres of government exhibiting the importance of the promotion of sport for wellness and unity amongst the communities.
The KZN Legislature speaker, some MECs and MPLs, as well as mayors, councillors, traditional leaders and clergymen, joined our own MPs and took to the bushes in a 10 km fun run with community members! Community members, whilst engaging their public representatives in different sporting codes, also took advantage of being able to share problems with their public representatives.
Persons with disabilities were handed wheelchairs, crèches received educational material, and schools and youth sports clubs received sport equipment from the relevant line function department.
We thank the speaker of the KZN legislature, hon Peggy Nkonyeni, and government for demonstrating activism, and call upon other national departments to participate fully in the Sukuma Sakhe integrated programme in the premier's office, which is led by Social Development, as a vehicle to co-ordinate service delivery as a united force, like Home Affairs and Justice.
IsiXhosa:
Oku siphinde sakubona kusenzeka eNgqungqu eMqanduli, kwesikaNkosi uNodumile Holomisa, iququzelelwa lilungu laleNdlu namaqumrhu azimeleyo kula masipala kaKumkani uSabatha Dalindyebo. Sisitsho sisisthi njengombutho wesizwe, senza oku bekukhwazwa apha nguMongameli, kwabethelelwa nguMphathiswa wezeMpilo, ukuba masidlaleni ukuze siphile. Enkosi. [Kwaphela ixesha.] [Kwaqhwatywa.]
Dr A LOTRIET (DA)
Dr Z LUYENGE (ANC)
MANAGEMENT AND GOVERNANCE OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING INSTITUTIONS
(Member's Statement)
Dr A LOTRIET (DA): Deputy Speaker, the Department of Higher Education and Training has a crucial role to play in providing employable candidates for the job market. In this regard, the management and governance of higher education and training institutions are of outmost importance.
The problems faced at a number of these institutions, such as the Central University of Technology, CUT; the Vaal University of Technology, VUT; the Tshwane University of Technology, TUT; Walter Sisulu University; and the University of KwaZulu-Natal are an indication that higher education is not functioning at the level it should be.
The allegations of financial mismanagement, racism and nepotism at the University of KwaZulu-Natal are shocking to say the least. This is a university that was considered to be one of the best, in particular its medical faculty.
Although the Minister of Higher Education and Training has reacted by stating that the university council should look into the matter, this is not going to solve the problem. The fact of the matter is that this council has done nothing in the past few years since these allegations and complaints have been surfacing to deal with them. The Minister should know by now, given the experience at the CUT that councils and vice-chancellors often protect each other. This was also clear from the reports of the independent assessors regarding CUT and VUT.
The councils at these universities do not fulfil their governance and fiduciary responsibilities in the interests of the university and the community, and are in many instances a central part of the problem.
The Minister should not wait until there is a total collapse at the university before he acts. The proper thing to do now is to appoint an independent assessor. [Time expired.]
Ms M C C PILANE-MAJAKE (ANC)
Dr A LOTRIET (DA)
IMPROVED STATE LEGAL SERVICES
(Member's Statement)
Ms M C C PILANE-MAJAKE (ANC): Hon Deputy Speaker, the ANC would like to thank the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development for its plans for improved state legal services. This initiative was unveiled to address the need for efficient, co-ordinated legal services and to promote the values and obligations arising from the Constitution.
The aim of these plans is to revolutionise the public legal sector to be able to provide legal services of the highest standard that protect and safeguard the interests of the state and advance access to justice for all our people.
The reforms will help to broaden the pool of legal practitioners who are briefed by the state, to ensure that it reflects a fair representation of black and women practitioners consistent with the racial, gender and geographic demographics of our country.
Government also wants the proposed framework to help it win more court cases and to provide alternative remedies for disputes, other than litigation.
The goal of the policies is a transformed, integrated, professional, cost-effective and highly skilled state legal service. I thank you. [Applause.]
Ms M J SEGALE-DISWAI (ANC)
Ms M C C PILANE-MAJAKE (ANC)
START-UP CAPITAL FOR BAKERY IN NORTH WEST
(Member's Statement)
Ms M J SEGALE-DISWAI (ANC): The ANC welcomes the initiative of the North West government which, through its Department of Social Development, Women, Children and People with Disabilities, donated start-up capital of R760 000 to the women in the remote village of Masamane to establish a proper bakery in the village. The women will also receive a further R1 million for training and buying equipment for the bakery. The bakery is expected to create jobs and improve the livelihoods of the people in the remote village. The Ratlou Local Municipality has already provided land and fencing for the property from which the bakery will be operating.
The ANC views the deployment of resources, the education of our people in entrepreneurial skills, the provision of financial support, and training for small businesses as a step in the right direction in building the capacity of the people as a whole, especially the poor, in order for them to act as their own liberators. Thank you. [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF STATE SECURITY
Ms M J SEGALE-DISWAI (ANC)
MINISTER'S INTERFERENCE IN PROCESSING OF PROTECTION OF STATE INFORMATION BILL
DA'S GAINS AND WIN IN BY-ELECTIONS HELD ACROSS SOUTH AFRICA
(Minister's Response)
The MINISTER OF STATE SECURITY: Deputy Speaker, let me give just two short responses. The first one is to hon Kganare, who is misleading the public and this House with his false claim that my department and I are muzzling the debate on the amendments in the NCOP.
The truth is that we as a department were invited by the committee to comment on issues that had been raised during the public hearing and their consideration of this as a committee. As a department we respected that committee and we went there twice. We were twice invited by the committee to make such responses, and we did make those responses.
In the last meeting, the committee concluded that they would consider all the responses, including our input, which had alternatives. On issues where we agreed with the committee we indicated this; and on issues where we cautioned the committee, we provided an alternative in order to solve the issues. The committee agreed to adjourn the meeting so that they could go and consider the issues.
Cope and its new mother, the DA, have tantrums – they sit in committees, agree and then run outside the committee and make these statements. Since yesterday they have been trying to make these false accusations. The chairperson of the committee, Mr Tau in the NCOP, responded correctly yesterday, to put the matter at rest. I would like to emphasise that the member is misleading the public and this House with his false accusations.
The second response, Madam Deputy Speaker, ... [Interjections.]
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, hon members! Some of us want to hear.
The MINISTER OF STATE SECURITY: ... is to the statement where the hon Dreyer said, "Woza 2014!" ["Come, 2014!"] We as the ANC also say, "Woza 2014!" ["Come, 2014!"] [Applause.]
What we have seen today is that the DA is celebrating 16% and 20%. As the ANC we celebrate victories; we do not celebrate losses! [Applause.] The reality is that our public are starting to see through the racist policies of the DA. Our public are starting to see through the intimidation and fear tactics of the DA. Our public will never abandon the liberation movement, the ANC. I thank you. [Applause.]
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I see the hon Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform. [Interjections.] Hon members, Ministers are responding! Please!
The MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND REFORM
The DEPUTY SPEAKER
INERNATIONAL PARLIAMENTARY ACTION IN SUPPORT OF TIBET
CALL FOR CHINA TO RESPECT CULTURAL AND OTHER FREEDOMS OF PEOPLE OF TIBET
(Minister's Response)
The MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND REFORM: Hon Deputy Speaker, let us appreciate the fact that while members of the parties across the floor are speaking loudly about human rights, they are by implication decrying the fact that the ANC continues to have good relations with the People's Republic of China.
I want to remind hon members that the ANC's struggle against apartheid took 82 years. Many people on the continent were blaming the ANC for taking so long to change the situation. They were asking them why they didn't fight and defeat the oppressors as the latter were few in number. The ANC, because of its inherent belief in human rights, went on and on with discussions, negotiations and persuasion. That is the way the ANC will do things. Thank you, hon Deputy Speaker. [Applause.]
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I see the hon Kubayi. [Interjections.] Can we have order, please, hon members? Can we have order? We want to listen.
Mrs M T KUBAYI
The MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND REFORM
EDUCATION AND LEARNING TO ADDRESS YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT, POVERTY AND INEQUALITY
(Debate on Youth Day)
Mrs M T KUBAYI: Hon Deputy Speaker, I want to take this opportunity first to congratulate our colleagues who are newly appointed as members of the executive. I especially want to mention the youngest executive member ever, the hon Mr Mduduzi Comfort Manana. [Applause.] We want to wish them well in their executive responsibilities.
On 16 June 1976 the youth marched against oppression. They marched fighting for better education, because they believed that it was their only hope for a better life. They were innocent, they were unarmed, and all they did was to sing and march against what they believed would make them worse off. The enemy then fired live ammunition, without retreat or conscience. The children filled the streets, running, screaming and calling for help, traumatised by the brutal adults in front of them. They were only children exercising a right to protest against what was being forced on them. However, the enemy did not see them as children who had rights, but as children who deserved to die.
As we commemorate this day, it is important for us not to forget the pain of the past, so that we can build a better future. This year's theme, "Education and learning to address youth unemployment, poverty and inequality", is relevant to both the 1976 generation, and also the 2012 generation. Even today, education is a tool to change the lives of ordinary young people in order for them to become better citizens.
My speech this year is dedicated to a young person in Orange Farm, whose name is Thando Tiger Ngoma, a founder of Sisonke Agri Co-op Project that today employs 60 young people and addresses the issues of food security. He did this on his own, without any support. He started small, and yet today he is a small entrepreneur. We are hoping that he grows his business even further.
His Excellency President Jacob Zuma, in the state of the nation address 2012, highlighted three major challenges that South Africa is faced with, namely unemployment, poverty and inequality. These three challenges affect young people across race and gender, and especially in working-class communities.
Education and learning are a source of growth in communities to provide support in dealing with the challenges of youth unemployment, poverty and inequality. It is important for us as a society in general to support the War on Poverty Campaign led by the Deputy President, Kgalema Motlanthe. We call on government to intensify this campaign, therefore identifying change agents in the households that are being profiled. These change agents, being young people, will help change the cycle of poverty and improve the lives of their families.
The persisting growing inequalities will have dire consequences for young people if not urgently addressed. We continue to see the majority of young people in rural areas, informal settlements and townships suffering the consequences of these inequalities. They grow up in communities without recreational facilities, and with less access to services which are critical to their growth, such as libraries and laboratories. The plight of young black women in these communities also cannot be ignored, as they are more vulnerable to abuse and to being taken advantage of.
Currently unemployment in the country is at 25,2%, and 72% of that is the unemployment of young people. This poses a huge challenge, as the majority of these young people are unskilled and therefore have less chance of being absorbed by the market.
We need to call upon the private sector to stop being spectators, and to partner with institutions of higher education, especially FET colleges, in order to provide young people with workplace experience. There is a need for companies to seriously consider intense mentoring programmes to support the absorption of young people.
I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to the Presiding Officers of both Houses also to play a part by bringing young graduates into their offices, either as interns or as learners, in order to give them exposure to how Parliament functions. Parliament as an institution needs to play its part in building better future leaders of our country.
In order to resolve these challenges faced by young people, we need to stop theorising and be more practical. We need all parties to come together – public, private and nongovernmental organisation, NGO, sectors – and build a better environment, with opportunities for young people. There is a need for patriotic businessmen and businesswomen of South Africa to contribute to the development of young people because they believe in this country's future; to contribute positively because it is a good thing to do so; and to contribute because it is morally correct to do so.
Hon members and members of the public, the youth wage subsidy is the initiative of the ANC government. The ANC government budgeted for this programme and is committed to implementing it. [Interjections.] However, it is concerning that opposition parties, especially the DA, have been pushing government to implement this and have been disregarding the concerns of the stakeholders.
So, President Zuma and Minister Gordhan must just ignore a critical process of the National Economic Development and Labour Council, Nedlac, and implement the initiative! This is inconsistent with what they are always saying, that the ANC government bulldozes things through without listening to dissenting voices. I can only imagine what this country would be like under the rule of the DA, if they were to bulldoze things through and forget the issues that other people were raising. It is concerning, and I am actually scared to think about this! There are concerns regarding the youth wage subsidy that need to be addressed. These need to be addressed because they are acknowledged by all parties.
We do not want to see what we saw when learnerships were implemented, where in some companies learners were given the responsibilities of making coffee and photocopying, rather than being skilled. These are some of the issues that have been raised and that people are saying need to be addressed. Young people in this country deserve better. We want permanent solutions to the challenges that they are faced with.
I would also like to express my concern about leaders who go around instigating violence by saying young people must rise like those people involved in the so-called Arab Spring. My understanding is that during this so-called Arab Spring there was violence and people died. I do not understand how you can be inspired by a process that ended with citizens' losing their lives. We need to condemn this totally. We cannot afford to have leaders who instigate violence in our communities. South African young people have been taught to resolve issues through dialogue and not violence. We saw this in the process towards democracy.
As I conclude, let me say that President Mandela continues to inspire us as a nation. I would once again like to quote famous remarks of his. He said:
Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that a son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farmworkers can become the president of a great nation. It is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another.
I thank you. [Applause.]
Mr G G HILL-LEWIS
Mrs M T KUBAYI
Mr G G HILL-LEWIS: Madam Deputy Speaker, this debate honours the youth of 1976 who, when faced with the brutality of a government that did not care about them, rose up and made themselves heard. As a young South African I am always inspired by the example they set - of bravery, determination, hope for a better future, and literally changing the course of history.
South Africa today is a much more just and humane society, but millions of our young South Africans feel that they still live under a government that has turned its back on them. Nearly four decades ago a generation of youth rose up, and acted, and began a movement that would eventually topple a government. And the same will happen again if this government continues to turn its gaze from the many ordinary people who are the face of unemployment in South Africa.
They are people like Christina Mosito, whose story I read this week and it touched my heart. Christina Mosito is 22 years old and lives in a backyard room in Diepsloot Extension 2 with her mother. Although she has a diploma in travel and tourism from an FET college, she has been unable to graduate because she requires in-service training. Many of her former classmates are in exactly the same position. "Most of the jobs I see want experience," says Ms Mosito. "I have applied at Unisa, and other colleges, to further my studies. I would love to do a diploma in tourism, and I hope it will increase my chances of getting employed." In the meantime, though, she is looking for temporary employment, anything to help her pay for her studies, and to get some experience. "I'm up for anything," she says, "even restaurant work. I want to do something, because sitting at home is not doing anything for me."
Hon members, take a good look at these photos. Here is Donovan Abrahams, 27 years old and unemployed. Then there are Arnold Ndlovu, 30 years old and unemployed; Bongani Mondlane, 27 years old and unemployed; Aubrey Jantjies, 21 years old and unemployed; and Mjabulisi Jili, 21 years old and unemployed. [Interjections.] You have a job hon member – do not laugh at them! There are also André Gates, 23 and unemployed, and Sharmima Vala, 30 years old and unemployed. [Interjections.] This is the face of unemployment! [Interjections.]
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Deputy Speaker, is it parliamentary to say, "Don't laugh a damn", because the word "damn" is like "damned".
Mr G G HILL-LEWIS: I didn't say that! [Interjections.] I didn't say that! I said, "Don't laugh, hon member – you've got a job!"
These are the faces of unemployment in South Africa today, Deputy Speaker. When the DA asked unemployed youth to send us their photos, we got hundreds of replies in minutes. And there are roughly 7 million more photos like this in South Africa today. All of them are watching you and all of them are waiting, but they won't wait much longer.
If this government does not wake up to the reality of youth unemployment today, and begin to act on it immediately and with the necessary urgency, it too will find itself at the mercy of a generation that is fed up, ignored, marginalised and angry. And it may already be too late for the ANC, I am afraid. You have ignored young people, and now they are beginning to ignore you. Just look at Matatiele. [Applause.] Even Zwelinzima Vavi has spotted the trend! He often seems to spot the trend first, even if he is the source of the trend! He has warned that unless you change your ethos soon, you will suffer defeat by the DA in 2019. [Applause.]
The fact is that all young, unemployed people who continue to hope for a more prosperous future now know that you oppose that vision – and we stand shoulder to shoulder with them! [Applause.] They look to a DA government that is already implementing the youth wage subsidy, that is growing the economy, that is creating jobs, that is delivering services to the poor, and that is improving the lives of the poor, a government that, according to the Public Service Commission, is the most inclusive and diverse government in the country. Sorry to take the wind out of your sales, hon Kubayi, ... [Applause.] ... but you can't hide from the truth!
Nationally, things are not getting any better, hon member. On Monday this week we were shocked to hear that annualised employment figures for May dropped by a staggering 3,1%. That figure might seem cold, but what it really represents is thousands more faces like the ones I've shown you today. It is their plight and their prospects for the future which should weigh heavily on our hearts today.
Christina Mosito, and the many millions like her, just want a fair chance at accessing the job market for the first time. They need to get their foot in the door. Countless studies from nearly every developing country have shown that if a young person can get a job and keep it for at least one year, they stand an excellent chance of being employed for the rest of their working lives. But if they do not get a job within three years of graduating, they are more likely to be indefinitely unemployed.
That is why the youth wage subsidy is such a crucial policy intervention. It is not the panacea. [Interjections.] It is not the panacea, but it does open the door of the job market just wide enough for first-time job seekers to get their foot in. This is the bizarre thing about this debate, hon Kubayi. This is the bizarre thing – we agree on the youth wage subsidy! It doesn't matter who came up with it first. Take the credit – no problem! We agree. Every single member in this House, with the exception of a few maybe, agrees that the youth wage subsidy needs to be implemented.
President Zuma announced it in 2010. Minister Gordhan has budgeted for it – R5 billion. The KwaZulu-Natal, KZN, Premier Zweli Mkhize has declared his support for it, along with countless other people. We agree on this. That is not the debate. The only question you need to answer, hon member, is why, after two years, this government is still allowing itself to be dictated to by its union allies, who have never stood for election, who haven't a single seat in this House, and who don't understand the first thing about unemployment, because by definition they represent the employed. [Interjections.]
Mrs M T KUBAYI: Deputy Speaker, I would like to ask if the member will take a question.
Mr G G HILL-LEWIS: Of course! Of course! Do your worst!
Mrs M T KUBAYI: Hon member, you were saying that ... [Interjections]
Mr G G HILL-LEWIS: But be quick! I have only two and a half minutes.
Mrs M T KUBAYI: I am going to be quick. Are you confirming to this house and to the public that the youth wage subsidy was originally developed by the ANC ...
Mr G G HILL-LEWIS: It is irrelevant where it comes from, hon member! It is irrelevant! We agree!
Mrs M T KUBAYI: No, I am asking whether you can acknowledge that it is a policy of the ANC that is ... [Inaudible.]
Mr G G HILL-LEWIS: Thank you very much. I understand your question. Let me tell you, it is irrelevant where it comes from. What is relevant is that after announcing it two years ago, you have let Cosatu determine your economic policy for two years. That is the question you have to answer today, hon Kubayi. That is the question on the lips of every unemployed young South African.
Deputy Speaker, the ANC and the DA are united on this policy. We are united in our support for a policy intervention that will have an immediate and tangible impact on unemployment. But we can't wait any longer for the youth wage subsidy, and young South Africans can't wait any longer. So, my message to the ANC today is this: Let's work together to beat youth unemployment. Tell Cosatu that they can't block a policy agreed upon by everyone in this House, and if they want to, they can stand for election! [Applause.] Most of all, please put the people ahead of your own politics, and implement the youth wage subsidy now. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mr B M BHANGA
Mr G G HILL-LEWIS
Mr B M BHANGA: Hon Deputy Speaker, Cope wishes to pay tribute to the life of Asemahle Ntsabo from Mbekweni in Cape Town. She was a victim of child brutality and abuse, and was murdered. May her soul rest in peace.
IsiXhosa:
Kusapho lwakhe sithi akuhlanga lungehlanga, thuthuzelekani.
English:
Hon members, it is a fact that South Africa as a nation comes from a very dark past. We are the product of racial division. This alone has contributed immensely to the socioeconomic divide confronting the majority of South Africans. Our youth are affected most by this venom of economic division. Cope admits that our society is extremely fractured, which is the legacy of the two nations economy. Many South Africans, because of the above, live in poverty and with unemployment.
We must indeed change the ownership patterns of the wealth in this country in a spirit of national reconciliation and unity for all. The lives of the black majority must change, and this we must do in solidarity, black and white. Also, all the youth of our country, black and white, must take hands and fight this divide, using one voice.
However, the approach of the ANC Youth League on economic matters is foreign to our democracy and does not represent the collective thinking of the youth of South Africa. It is a divergence from O R Tambo's call for a shared vision in building a nonracial, nonsexist South Africa. The ANC Youth League message is racist, and represents the divisive attitude of Hendrik Verwoerd.
I attribute the challenge of youth unemployment not only to the apartheid regime, but also to the ANC government. The ANC is responsible for today's bad policies. Amongst others, there are the lack of a clear education policy vision and inconsistency in policy choices.
Also, the private sector is lazy, and comfortable with business as usual. There is no investment in the economy of the future and in youth innovation. They do not support good business initiatives from the youth.
Speaker, the youth only hope that the National Youth Development Agency, NYDA, has created laptop and restaurant entrepreneurs, people who do not create work but depend on tenders. We have not made the uTat'uMaponya and uTat'uMantuntu type of entrepreneurs. The youth of today are obsessed with wealth and money, not service to the people, and the ANC have created that culture in this country. The majority of South African youth continue to be used for wrong reasons, for destruction in public protests and political battles.
It is said that more than 90% of the productive land transferred to the ownership of the people is no longer producing food for the nation, because of a lack of skills and of support for small-scale farmers. We need an agricultural revolution of young farmers – youth that are skilled in farming. Government must review its policy on land distribution. We must adopt a transfer that introduces partnerships with existing skilled farmers for the land that is transferred.
We must optimally use the capacity of the SA National Defence Force in training a youth brigade for a skills revolution. Let's draw the unemployed youth into the army, not only for national security, but also in the war against skills shortages. Our Further Education and Training, FET, colleges are not ready for this new struggle in our country.
In conclusion, in his book The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte, Karl Marx has this to say:
Men make their own history, but they do not make it just as they please; they do not make it under circumstances chosen by themselves ...
We, the generation of 2012, must make history by celebrating the decision of the Constitutional Court on the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union, Satawu, that if you burn up a street, break property, intimidate other citizens and block their right to protest, you will be punished. That, Chairperson, is true democracy in action. Our Constitution must be celebrated.
Long live the spirit of Siphiwe Mthimkhulu! Long live! Long live the spirit of Andries Tatane! Long live! Thank you very much. [Applause.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M B Skosana): Hon members, can we please pay attention and listen to other members? I believe that the hon Chabane will agree with me that this is one of the important debates of the year.
Before I call upon the next speaker, I wish to say that I am informed that this is the hon member's maiden speech. The tradition here is that we simply listen and hear what is said to us in the maiden speech.
Mr M HLENGWA
Mr B M BHANGA
Mr M HLENGWA: Thank you, House Chairperson. Hon members, we stand in solidarity with the people of Chinese-occupied Tibet.
Hon Chairperson, at the outset and as this is my maiden speech, let me convey my gratitude to the IFP, under the visionary leadership of that great son of Africa, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, for granting me the opportunity to serve the people of South Africa as a member of this Parliament.
Sir, 36 years ago the youth of South Africa, who were zealous and enthusiastic about education and committed to a South Africa free of apartheid, injustice and oppression, selflessly gave of themselves through courageous uprisings throughout our country. It is 36 years on and 18 years into our freedom and democracy, and we salute their resolute courage and honourable sacrifice, which contributed to our today being a politically free generation.
Yet, young South Africans today are struggling to get by. Patience is fast dwindling and hope is fast wearing thin.
Education must be improved, teachers must be capacitated, schools must be fully resourced, and skills development must be a priority. The youth wage subsidy must be implemented now. [Applause.] The Setas must get their act together. Labour laws need to be relaxed. Further Education and Training, FET, colleges must be refurbished in such a way that they become institutions of choice, not circumstance. Let us put an end to this foolish debate on nationalisation! Colleges of education must be reopened. Importantly jobs, jobs, jobs and more jobs must be created.
As we celebrate the memory and legacy of the youth of 1976, let us redirect our focus, attention and commitment towards alleviating the plight of all youth. Let us genuinely strive to develop young men and women who will deliver our second phase of liberation, that of economic freedom – a liberation of opportunities that will improve our lives by creating jobs, eradicating poverty and fighting inequality.
The argument, hon members, that 18 years is not enough time to sort out our problems amounts to hogwash of the highest order. This argument simply does not hold water. It bears no merit.
South Africa, having only been at work on it for six years, was able to deliver a Soccer World Cup Tournament in 2010 that was beyond successful. The same energy, commitment and passion should be applied to improving the lives of all South Africans in general, and the youth in particular. The success of the World Cup Tournament proves that South Africa is not short of capacity. The current state of poverty, poor education, endemic corruption, and high levels of inequality proves that those in power lack, beyond all reasonable doubt, the desired and necessary political will, leadership and commitment to changing our country for the better.
In conclusion, the high levels of unemployment point to a failing system and a failing government. Government has two options: to shape out or to ship out. Failing that, 1976 will repeat itself sooner than we think. [Time expired.] The IFP wishes all South Africans well as we celebrate Youth Day 2012. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mr L W GREYLING
Mr M HLENGWA
Mr L W GREYLING: Hon Chairperson, this is not my maiden speech but today is my birthday, ... [Interjections.] ... and birthdays are a time when one reflects on more youthful days. In my youth I was filled with idealism and had a strong determination to change the world for the better. I have been immensely fortunate to have obtained an education that has allowed me to take advantage of the opportunities that have come my way to give some effect to these ideals.
I firmly believe, therefore, that every South African has, at the very least, to be given an education that grants them an opportunity to live out their dreams and ideals. In my discussions with the youth of today I still hear echoes of that idealism and the energy and determination to make this a country that works for all.
Unfortunately, though, that idealism is in too many instances clouded with a sense of anger and betrayal that they are not being given the education and opportunities to live productive lives. Practical solutions like the youth wage subsidy, which can provide a much needed step up, are thwarted by vested interests while the majority of our youth remain locked out of the job market.
The Deputy President yesterday referred to the situation in the Mbashe municipality as tragic. I worked in that municipality and I have seen first-hand how children with all the potential and promise in the world are being denied anything resembling a quality education. Many of these children come out of Grade 7 not even able to read and write, and have to suffer the indignity of teachers' only coming to school for three days of the week! This is certainly a tragedy, and it requires real political will and leadership to ensure that the current lack of accountability in the education sector does not deny our youth the opportunity of living out their dreams.
The 1976 uprising was essentially about the youth rising up against an oppressive education system that was curtailing their opportunities in life. It is therefore right that we reflect on whether our current education system is offering the youth a real path out of poverty. Unfortunately for millions of South African youth this is sadly not the case. In order to live up to the spirit of Soweto we must be resolute in our commitment to changing this. I thank you. [Applause.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M B Skosana): Thank you, hon Greyling, and happy birthday!
Mr N M KGANYAGO
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M B Skosana)
Mr N M KGANYAGO: Chairperson, the June 16, 1976 Soweto uprisings represent one of the most effective efforts by the people of South Africa, the young lions in particular, in the fight against the diabolic system of apartheid. It is through their willingness to sacrifice their lives for our freedom that we are able to stand here today. We owe our political freedom to their gallant efforts.
However, for many of our youth around the country political freedom has yet to translate into economic freedom. We must remember that freedom is not just a political condition; freedom is also a social and economic condition. The political freedom the youth enjoy, without social and economic freedom, is a hollow concept.
The current youth unemployment figures are alarming, as you all know. So the youth bear the brunt of poverty and unemployment. We cannot easily overcome youth poverty without investing heavily in human capital development. Without investment in quality education, very few young people will be able to open businesses and create job opportunities for our people in this country.
In our efforts to address youth challenges we also need to do away with the culture of materialism which celebrates instant success and ineptitude. Too often we see the rise of politically connected individuals, who become instant millionaires. Now these overnight millionaires achieve this without any contribution to the gross domestic product, GDP, of the country.
In short we need an education system and a culture that celebrate industriousness, initiative and self-discipline. We need to establish a culture that celebrates hard work and dedication. We need more than just creating decent work for the youth; we also need a culture of decency in work in South Africa. Thank you very much.
Mr Z S MAKHUBELE
Mr N M KGANYAGO
Mr Z S MAKHUBELE: Hon Chairperson, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, hon members, distinguished guests, and ladies and gentlemen, let me, firstly, take this opportunity to indicate that I'm actually concerned by the fact that the DA has come here today to display or parade the photos of African youths, while in fact it is their predecessors who designed their fate! [Applause.]
When our people were suffering under colonialism and apartheid, there was a saying in Xitsonga:
Xitsonga:
"Vusiwana byi na xilandzu".
English::
What that meant was that hope would always follow you, as if it was God-given. This was because of the lengthy period our people suffered under colonialism and apartheid. Today they still come here and have courage to display the photos of African youths, saying, "Look at them – they are actually suffering." That, when they caused it in the first instance! The ANC ... [Interjection.]
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Hon Chairperson, on a point of order: ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M B Skosana): Order! Hon member, I think there is a point of order. Is there a point of order?
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Chairperson, yes, there is a point of order. This young speaker is deliberately misleading the House. I'm saying "deliberately" because our speaker never said "African" youth. They are South African youth. Please ask him to change it.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M B Skosana): Hon member, you are the one ... [Interjections.]
Mrs M T KUBAYI: Chairperson, on a point of order: ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M B Skosana): Will you take your seat? Hon member, will you take your seat? I am capable of dealing with this.
Hon Chief Whip of the Opposition, you are the one who is out of order now, because if you had said he was "misleading" the House, that would have been one thing. However, you are now saying that he was "deliberately" misleading the House. In fact, when one refers to the Rule Book here, one sees you are saying he was lying! That is not the language we should use, hon member.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Hon Chair, when the ANC used exactly the same words yesterday, the Chair allowed it. [Interjections.] We can't have double standards – one Rule for that side and one Rule for this side.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M B Skosana): Hon Chief Whip, take your seat please. Hon member, continue.
Mrs M T KUBAYI: Hon House Chair, on a point of order: Before the hon Makhubele continues, I want to note that the hon Watson called him a "young speaker". I want him to address the hon Makhubele as "hon member". It's unacceptable to address him with a reference to his age, even if he is young.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M B Skosana): Hon member, I heard you. Hon members ... [Interjections.]
Adv J H DE LANGE: Chair, on a point of order: It is definitely out of order. The Chief Whip of the Opposition, who should know better and behave himself, knows that it is completely and utterly unparliamentary to say that someone is "deliberately misleading the House". I ask you to get him to withdraw it. He can't just sit down and say what he thinks about the situation. He must withdraw it.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M B Skosana): Hon member Kubayi, let me attend to your earlier point of order. Hon members, it is unparliamentary simply to call hon members by their names. They are "hon" members. We need to use that term to respect them. They are members of this House and you respect them in that way.
I have dealt with the issue of "deliberately misleading the House". I dealt with it, I interpreted it to the hon Watson, and I will end the ruling there. Hon member, continue.
Mr Z S MAKHUBELE: Thank you, hon House Chairperson. I am still saying that fortunately the ANC is not just a political party ... [Interjections.]
Adv J H DE LANGE: Chair, on a point of order: Unless you are ruling that it is no longer wrong to say that someone is "deliberately misleading the House", there can't just be a ruling only; the member must withdraw the statement. I would ask that the House Chairperson please get him to withdraw the statement. He can't just sit there now and not withdraw it.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M B Skosana): Hon Watson, let me indulge the House because I did say that you are accusing another member of lying and that is not how we speak in this House. Can you please withdraw that?
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: I will gladly withdraw that remark but, Chair, I must point out that ... [Interjections.] No, no! No, no, I withdraw it unreservedly, but I must point out that it is also ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M B Skosana): Hon Watson, you must please withdraw it unconditionally and take your seat!
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Chair, I just ask you to look at the ruling that was made at the meeting yesterday. I withdraw it.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M B Skosana): Thank you. Continue, hon member.
Mr Z S MAKHUBELE: From time to time emotions will rise, but we need to contain them. We need to handle them in a proper manner. I say this because we were equally emotional when we saw you displaying those photos. Indeed, I did see that most of the photos were of African children.
The ANC remains not just a political party. [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M B Skosana): Order, please! Order! Order!
Mr Z S MKHUBELE: The ANC is a liberation movement and part of what we were doing was to liberate all South Africans, you included! We as the ANC have always represented fighting and winning ideas. Even this time around we will be able to lead the country in dealing with the huge challenges that we are facing, including the issue of the youth wage subsidy that you want to come here and brag about today. [Interjections.]
The country is commemorating Youth Month in the midst of an economic recession which is exacerbating youth unemployment, poverty and inequality. Furthermore, the country is continually being hit by the structural unemployment of both adults and young people.
Most of our young people are either inappropriately or inadequately skilled for them to be able to take up the few jobs that are available. And, what is worse, there is a significant gap between the education and skills provision on the one hand and the economic expectations on the other hand. This means that as a country we are lagging behind in closing the gap so that every young person can get an opportunity to meaningfully participate in the economy of the country. The other aspect is that the country has no effective skills plan that willprovide industry information to institutions of higher learning on the skills required for immediate interventions.
The country's economy used to need skills that could respond only to the mineral manipulation processes of the time. Today this sector is vulnerable to any economic shift. We have seen on the news since last week that Aquarius Platinum Mine in the North West Province is suspending operations at Marikana Platinum Mine, owing to the unfavourabletrading conditions in the platinum industry. This means the retrenchment of over 10 000 mine workers, of whom the majority are in low skill level positions. Research studies have also found that the majority of mine workers have a low education level and, therefore, they will need reskilling, as their current skills may not fit in with other sectors of the economy. The retrenchment of these employees will add to the already alarming unemployment and poverty rates, and the livelihoods of their families will also be negatively affected.
Our democratic government has had to devise economic development initiatives that will respond to the global economic demands, instabilities in market forces, macroeconomic shocks and rising unemployment rate. The country has had to start planning for the kinds of skills needed, and the urgent processes of offering such skills. This is no easy task, particularly if you have to work against time to deliver to our impatient, aspirant young people.
South Africa has made great strides in shifting its demographic profile towards greater population representivity and increased participation in higher education since 2004. The higher education sector is achieving the transformation objectives set out in the White Paper, one of which is to promote equity of access and fair chances of success for all who are seeking to realise their fullest potential through higher education, while it is eradicating all forms of unfair discrimination and advancing redress for past inequalities.
The 2010 general household survey found that 63,9% of those enrolled at higher educational institutions were Africans. There has been an increase in the number of female students in the institutions of higher learning. Currently, 53% of the total student population in higher education is female. Though there has been an increase in the number of female students at the institutions of higher learning, the throughput rate of female students is not well matched with the enrolments.
The report of the Ministerial Review Committee on the National System of Innovation released in March 2012 has revealed that, despite sustained efforts to increase admission to higher education for academically deserving but financially disadvantaged students, there is a continuing low throughput rate and high attrition rate or dropout rate at all levels of study. [Interjections.] You will be responded to in time. Give me a chance. [Laughter.]
The National Development Plan: Vision for 2030 has identified education and training as central to South Africa's long-term development. The world is shifting from a resource economy to a knowledge-based economy, and this will need well-educated young people to contribute to socioeconomic development. This assertion therefore makes higher education relevant, as it has the potential to contribute to the growth and development of the economy by producing high-level skilled people who are capable of doing research that will translate into innovations needed for the development and growth of the economy.
In South Africa only 11,2% of persons aged 20 years and older have tertiary qualifications, as opposed to 26,2% with Grade 12 and 37,5% with some secondary education. This poses a challenge to
government to expand post-school education in order to enable the majority of those in Grade 12 to access higher education in order to improve their employability prospects.
The Labour Force Survey reported that unemployment declines as people achieve higher education qualifications. This simply means that those who are in possession of higher education qualifications are likely to be employed, compared to those who do not, and the challenge is that those who do not have higher qualifications are in
the majority. They are also at risk of long-term unemployment. Therefore, there is a need for both short and long-term interventions in this regard.
Business should partner with government in sharing the cost of education, as it also benefits from the skilled workforce. We should also appreciate the role that business is already playing through its contribution to the skills development levies, which are allocated to the Sector Education and Training Authorities to develop the skills of the employed and unemployed through learnerships, apprenticeships and funding of occupationally directed qualifications.
South African youth need skills in order to counter unemployment, inequality and poverty. Access to and success in higher education for previously disadvantaged individuals, especially Africans, women, rural people, and people with disabilities, should continue to be facilitated. One factor which is worrying is the lack of access to information in regard to scarce skills programmes and funding opportunities for the majority of learners in schools. Career guidance programmes targeting the youth must be widely spread in order to reach even those who are in remote areas.
There are government projects under way that will create jobs for many of the youth in the country – infrastructure development projects, for instance. In his 2012 state of the nation address, President Jacob Zuma announced that government would embark on massive infrastructure development in 2012 and beyond. The sectors that are targeted are rail, ports, roads and water infrastructure. These projects will need skilled people in the low, middle and high-level skills categories in construction and engineering. Institutions should increase enrolment in these fields to ensure that there are adequate skills during and after construction of these projects.
Climate change poses challenges and also gives employment opportunities for South Africa. The recent Green Jobs Initiative by the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training highlighted the dual challenge of green jobs: to make economic growth and development compatible with climate stabilisation and a sustainable environmental footprint. The organisations claim that the shift towards greening the economy will require the second greatest economic transformation after the industrial revolution.
Green sectors will require new jobs, but they will also need to redefine many existing job profiles. To meet this challenge education and training systems will need to supply a well-trained, highly skilled labour force. Training and guidance services that steer people towards jobs in growing sectors should focus on skills related to energy efficiency and renewable energy implementation.
The greening of the economy presents a major opportunity to start new businesses, develop new markets and lower energy costs. All these can create employment opportunities for the youth.
The study conducted by the Higher Education HIV and Aids Programme in 2010 revealed that there is a high prevalence of HIV/Aids among students in higher education.
Tenders without skills are not sustainable, and therefore our people need skills to be able to sustain all these endeavours. [Time expired.] I thank you. [Applause.]
Mr G S RADEBE
Mr Z S MAKHUBELE
Mr G S RADEBE: Hon House Chairperson, it has been seen that jealousy is written on people's faces. [Interjections.] I suppose I was expecting the opposition to acknowledge and congratulate one of our own, a young person, hon Mduduzi Manana, who has been appointed in a new position. But it's fine – when you are jealous, you no longer see the future! [Interjections.]
The essence of the 1976 struggle was about opening the doors of learning for all. We stand here today in commemoration of the gallant bravery they displayed in front of the brutal police and military forces of the then apartheid colonial regime, which denied them the basic human right of the opportunity to learn and acquire skills. Their struggle for better education was inspired by the Freedom Charter's message that states, and I quote:
The aim of education shall be to teach the youth to love their people and their culture, to honour human brotherhood, liberty and peace;
Education shall be free, compulsory, universal and equal for all children;
Higher education and technical training shall be opened to all by means of state allowances and scholarships awarded on the basis of merit;
Consistent with this message, the ANC, when it came to power in 1994, gave priority to the education of our youth, to the development of their skills, and to job creation, so that poverty could be eliminated. The future prosperity of our country depends on the youth of today, for they are the custodians of the future.
As South Africans, we are all aware that the history of the youth in this country is the history of struggle – of triumph over adversity, of success against all odds, and of victory over oppression. Every generation of our youth has gone through these historical moments, as evidenced by the struggles of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and, currently, 2012. Each of these decades emphasised different issues, reflecting specific challenges that faced the youth of the day.
We all agree that one of the biggest challenges facing the youth of today in this decade is that of unemployment. Notwithstanding the fact that unemployment is the number one challenge facing the nation as a whole, it is the youth who are to a large extent being affected by it. The National Youth Development Agency, NYDA, has estimated in their report of 2009-10 that about 73% of all people who are unemployed in the country are young people. This has to be taken within the context of the estimated total rate of unemployment of between 24% and 35% of the economically active population.
The magnitude of youth unemployment has in turn exacerbated its associated problems of high levels of poverty, increasing rates of underage and youth pregnancies, alcohol and drug abuse, crime, and in recent times, increasing numbers of child-headed households. Youth unemployment has also contributed to an increased number of young people of various vulnerable categories who are catered for by the social security system to pull them out of the poverty trap.
According to a Human Sciences Research Council report, international studies and benchmarks have identified the following reasons why we need to focus on youth development. They make up a significant proportion of the global population and their increasing interconnectedness means that they comprise a significant local, regional and national constituency. Creating livelihood opportunities for young people helps to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. Five of the eight Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, speak directly to improving the situation of young people. Failure to invest in young people can lead to their involvement in crime, violence and other social ills.
On a positive note, this study also shows that the current cohort of the South African youth is the best educated ever, they are the healthiest sector of the population, they are technologically confident, they have high hopes and aspirations for the future, and they can influence the national and civic life.
Siswati:
Kuchaza kabanti, i-ANC yente umsebenti lomkhulu ngekudlala indzima lebalulekile ngekwakha inhlangano yalabasha letokwati kusebenta matima kukhulula bantfu labasha nekutsi batfole nemakhono. Kungako kulesikhatsi sanyalo i-ANC yatsi uma ivula inhlangano yalabasha lebitwa ngekutsi, pheceleti, i-ANC Youth League yafundzisa lusha kutsi lucine kute lutekwati kuphatsa lelive ngoba bantfu labasha balikusasa lemmango.
Kubaluleke kakhulu futsi kutsi sati kutsi konkhe loku lesikubona kumitsetfomgomo yahulumende lamuhla kungenca yenhlangano yalabasha be-ANC leyasebenta matima kute ihlangane naletinye tinhlangano lebambisene nato kucinisekisa kutsi tonkhe tidzingo tebantfu labasha tiyafezeka. Nguloko lokwenta inhlangano yalabasha be-ANC kutsi ihlale phasi iphakamise kuvulwa Kwemkhakha Wetekutfutfukisa Wavelonkhe lobitwa ngekutsi, pheceleti, yi-National Development Agency. Loku kutawenta kutsi yonkhe imitsetfomgomo isebente kutfutfukisa bantfu labasha kute kuvuleke nematfuba emsebenti. Siyabonga.
English:
The adoption of the National Youth Policy 2009-14 as government policy, and the establishment of the National Youth Development Agency represented a big step forward in the development of the youth of our country.
In addition to these efforts, the ANC government has prioritised the promotion of a culture of learning and teaching in education as one of the key pillars of the strategy to address the skills deficit which is contributing to the current massive youth unemployment.
Chairperson, it is very important that people realise that the ANC's 2009 manifesto speaks to all the issues around the youth wage and job opportunities that the President always speaks about. This manifesto is being realised today and shows that the ANC really cares about its own people.
As we commemorate Youth Day through this debate, we as Parliament must ensure that through our oversight work the commitments we have made to the youth of this country are indeed implemented and realised. We must not fail those who sacrificed their lives in their struggle for a better education and the attainment of the freedom that we enjoy today.
It is very important for me to highlight the fact that we must teach political education and educate the people on my left-hand side so that they learn about and respect other peoples' cultures. That is why, in most cases, you find young people disrespecting their elders. It is because the latter don't have respect. Some of them are old but they don't even notice that we don't need toys here; this is a respected House. However, they play as if they are playing with toys! [Interjections.] It is very important that we should notice that other people just speak, but some of them have factory faults! [Interjections.]
It is also very important that we notice that when we say that young people must be capacitated and given opportunities, ...
An HON MEMBER: Are you a factory fault?
Mr G S RADEBE: ... it is the IFP that took one young women out of Parliament and put her outside – today she is unemployed. This simply means that they don't care about women's empowerment. [Laughter.]
It is also very important that we need to notice that the DA always claims victory without having won it, but they have forgotten that they went to Cosatu House and they got something on their faces. I thank you. [Applause.]
The MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY: PERFORMANCE MONITORING AND EVALUATION AS WELL AS ADMINISTRATION IN THE PRESIDENCY
Mr G S RADEBE
The MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY: PERFORMANCE MONITORING AND EVALUATION AS WELL AS ADMINISTRATION IN THE PRESIDENCY: Thank you, House Chair and hon members.
When I saw the photos being flashed here, I remembered an election in another country, where there were images of people which were being used in adverts for an election campaign. We discovered that the people in the pictures didn't know that they were going to be used for adverts. [Laughter.] It is very possible that those who submitted photos were thinking that they are dealing with a labour broker so that they could get jobs! [Laughter.]
The discussion today is about the remembrance of the contribution made by the young people of this country to liberation, and the brutal repression they suffered as they attempted to liberate themselves from the yoke of apartheid.
It is a call to the nation for all of us to put our heads together to look for solutions to the problems which beset our young people today. It is in this context that I hope that, as we commemorate 16 June and engage in the activities of Youth Month, all of us are going to put our political egos aside to work towards finding solutions for challenges which face our young people. The problems facing our young people are not theoretical; the problems facing our young people are not imaginary; the problems are real. These are the problems that every South African should be concerned about.
With the current economic situation in the world, many countries are struggling to create sufficient jobs to feed their nations. It is, therefore, important that all of us – politicians, labour, business and religious leaders – work together to try to find solutions to deal with these problems which are facing the world, and not only us.
It does not help us to stand on rooftops and shout at each other. Those shouts will never create jobs for the young people. We do not depend on photos. Those of us who stay in rural areas, townships and informal settlements, day in and day out, are faced with a stark reality. As people wake up in the morning, they do not know where to find food. When they come back in the evening, they do not have shelter. [Interjections.]
Mr G G HILL-LEWIS: The government should be ashamed.
The MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY: PERFORMANCE MONITORING AND EVALUATION AS WELL AS ADMINISTRATION IN THE PRESIDENCY: The government cannot be ashamed, because we understand the problems that are faced by our people. [Interjections.] All of us are striving to put systems together to help the young people get what they want. We believe that the only way to the prosperity of this country and the building of a successful nation is to invest in the education of our children and of young people. Therefore, the government has taken several steps and has increased the participation of young people in the education system.
We are quite aware that the more we train young people, the more we flood the job market, which is not ready to absorb them because there are no jobs in the economy. However, that should not stop us from making sure that we create sufficient skills through the FET colleges, the state-owned entities, SOEs, and the private sector, especially now that we are embarking on a roll-out of infrastructure. We believe that this infrastructure roll-out will be able to create sufficient skills through training programmes. The roll-out will also be able to create jobs, although not sufficient to wipe out the backlog of unemployment.
Thatevery month the youth have to depend on the child support grant is not something they can be proud of. That young people always have to depend on their parents or grandparents for support is not something they can be proud of. It is important for all of us to look for solutions that will create not only entrepreneurs, but also a skilled workforce that will be able to participate in the economy of the country.
As we speak here today during this Youth Month, young sportspeople in our country are preparing themselves to participate in the London 2012 Olympic Games. We wish all South Africans to give them support, because we hope that with the support of the nation we will be able to encourage them to excel. [Applause.] We would like to call on all our young people – students, unemployed and the working youth – to participate in sporting activities which are being championed by the Department of Sport and Recreation. This will ensure that we have a healthy nation that is competitive and ready to compete with the rest of the world.
In this information age, we hope that young people are going to take advantage of the availability of opportunities in the ICT sector to participate in the innovation and creativity that is required to take this economy forward.
We would like to call on young people to participate in the Square Kilometre Array, SKA, activities which are going to unfold, since South Africa has been awarded the SKA project. We believe that the SKA award is going to create many opportunities for research and innovation, and the participation of young people in the scientific world.
We believe that our young people need to participate in politics to ensure that they equip themselves with the knowledge of running the country and its political affairs. However, we are aware that in this process there are those who will seek to exploit the problems of our young people for their own political gain. We believe that our young people should not allow themselves to be used by those who want to up the stakes in their political game on their back. [Interjections.]
We call on our youth not to engage, in the course of the protests that are taking place in the country, in activities that destroy properties that have been built by government or individual citizens. We would like our young people not to be tempted to be used by way of their staying away from school because somebody else has a problem somewhere which has nothing to do with the school. We would like to call on student organisations from all political affiliations to support the call to strengthen our education system to ensure that our young people are not used in the streets of our country by those who want to achieve political gains other than those which are supposed to help young people. [Applause.]
We in South Africa participate in all the programmes of the United Nations, the African Union and international organisations, and in bilateral relations with other countries in programmes which are going to assist our youth to participate equitably in the international affairs of young people. We believe that all of us working together – the government, the private sector, NGOs, and co-operatives – stand a better chance to roll back the wheel of poverty and inequality, and create jobs for our young people. I thank you. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
The House adjourned at 16:24.
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