Hansard: NCOP : Plenary
House: National Council of Provinces
Date of Meeting: 24 Jun 2014
Summary
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Minutes
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
24 JUNE 2014
PAGE: 1
TUESDAY, 24 JUNE 2014
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
_________
The Council met at 14:00.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: The Chairperson took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or meditation.
NOTICES OF MOTION
Start of Day
NOTICE OF MOTION
Mr H B GROENEWALD: Hon Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the DA:
That the House-
notes South Africa's poor performance in subject knowledge and teaching competency in Maths, Science and Technology education and measures that can be put in place to address it.
Mr D L XIMBI
Mr H B GROENEWALD
Mr D L XIMBI: Hon Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the Council-
(1)notes that the DA leader, Mrs Helen Zille, refuses to take up a seat in Parliament as the leader of her party and instead clings to the premiership of the Western Cape for dear life because of the status and the lucrative salary and other benefits attached to the premiership, including an official residence, support staff, bodyguards and the like, while it is by implication her view that no other leaders in the DA, including the Western Cape leader are competent to take over the premiership from her;
(2)further notes the desperate attempts by hon Zille to persuade the public to believe that only 22% of voters voted for her to lead her party in Parliament while almost 60% of the Western Cape voters chose her for a second term as premier;
(3)takes this opportunity to call on hon Zille not to underestimate the intelligence of the public and to stop her cheap political opportunism and misleading of the public in her desire for power; and
(4)also calls on the South African public to open their eyes to the lies of the DA and its leader.
Thank you, Chairperson.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon members, I think we should start correctly, maybe I was also amiss. Will hon members please identify themselves as and when they take motions. Secondly, please remember that we should try and put motions without notice that are without controversies, but if it is notices of motions we should also have an indication on whether or not the members agree to them.
Mr W F FABER
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP
Mr W F FABER: Hon Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the DA:
That the Council-
(1) notes that the DA welcomes the announcements and comments that the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, Amcu, and platinum mining companies reached an agreement on wage improvement settlements after the five months wage strike;
(2) regrets that this agreement was reached in the noticeable absence of government; and
(3) notes that if this strike had been given the same attention as the farm workers' strike in the Western Cape, this matter could have been resolved much sooner with less loss of lives and irreparable damage to our economy and the image of South Africa.
Mr B G NTHEBE
Mr W F FABER
Mr B G NTHEBE: Hon Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the Council-
1. notes that the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, Amcu, accepted a wage offer on Monday to end the five-month-long strike in the platinum sector;
2. further notes that the strike has had a devastating effect on the platinum mining sector, not only on the economy, but also on the lives of the families and children of the mineworkers while many of the workers have last earned a salary months ago and some have been kept at home as a result of intimidation without income and their food cupboards becoming empty,
3. also notes the open hands and hearts of various organisations such as the Gift of the Givers, the E G Jansen High School in Boksburg and the Wonderboom High School in Pretoria in Gauteng
Mr W F FABER: Madam Chair, on a point of order, the motion has already been done, the exact same motion.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Ntate Nthebe, remember the rules that once a motion on a particular subject has been done, you cannot repeat it. Thank you.
Mr B G NTHEBE
Mr M KHAWULA: Hon Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the IFP:
That the Council-
debates the lack of service delivery of basic services like water and sanitation against the background of allegations of corruption and the municipal funds used as a lifeline for a political party in the Zululand District Municipality.
Mr M I RAYI
Mr M KHAWULA
Mr M I RAYI: Hon Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the Council-
(1) notes with sadness the recent passing of Mama Epainette Mbeki, the 98-year-old mother of former President Thabo Mbeki, who was laid to rest near the family home in the Eastern Cape;
(2) notes that, as we mourn her passing, we also celebrate her life and salute her, not only for her selfless and immeasurable contribution in the struggle for liberation for all South Africans, but also for the immense suffering, hardship and sacrifice that she has endured in being separated from her children for long periods at a time and also spending more than 20 years of her life as the sole breadwinner for her family while her husband was jailed for his beliefs and his role in the struggle for freedom and democracy for the whole nation;
(3) also notes that Mama Mbeki has touched the lives of so many people and as such she was a true inspiration to many other women and mothers;
(4) acknowledges that she was a true icon of her own time and a humble servant of her people always rooted in the struggle of the people; and
(5) takes this opportunity to pay tribute to her and to convey its sincere condolences to former President Thabo Mbeki and the whole family for their loss. May her soul rest in peace!
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon members, I do know that you want to bring points of orders on. It would seem to me that the on-boarding has not worked so well. Hon members cannot make the distinction between a notice of a motion and a motion without notice. That is the first point that I want to make. The second point is that, perhaps we were not very good at all to say all motions are timed. Therefore, it makes it a little bit difficult for me to call anybody at this first sitting of motions to order. I think we need to go back to explain the differences between a notice of a motion and a motion without notice. They are decidedly different.
Mr L P M NZIMANDE: Hon Chairperson, I needed clarity because the items are separated. Are we dealing with them concurrently? If we are still busy with notices of motions, let us do that and then we exit and get into motions without notice so that we are all clear.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: We are all clear. We have new members in the House. If you listened to Ntate Nthebe, he gave us a motion without notice; if you listened to Ntate Rayi, he gave us a motion without notice, but his motion without notice at the time of notices of motions was also so long that it could qualify as a member statement. I am trying to say that today we should exercise that patience. New members, I am sure you are beginning to notice, if it is a motion without notice, it has to be uncontroversial because the House must agree to it. Is it so?
If one member of the House says no, that motion cannot be carried and if it is a notice of a motion, members can decide at a later date to come back to the motion and to debate that. So, it is not a train smash. I am going to ask the other members who have their hands up to please stick to notices of motion.
Ms T MPAMBO-SIBHUKWANA
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP
Ms T G MPAMBO-SIBHUKWANA: Hon Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the DA:
That the Council-
(1) raises the issues of the kidnapped girls whose lives are in jeopardy held by the Boko Haram and had to suffer though they are innocent;
(2) calls on the South African President, hon Gedleyihlekisa Jacob Zuma, to urge the African Union to prioritise the kidnapping at the upcoming AU assembly of heads of states of governments scheduled to take place tomorrow on Wednesday 25 June up until Thursday in Equatorial Guinea.
Ms E PRINS
Ms T G MPAMBO-SIBHUKWANA
Ms E PRINS: Hon Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the Council-
(1) notes the recent resignation of the former DA Parliamentary Leader of the Opposition Party, Ms Lindiwe Mazibuko, and her decision to leave the DA and active politics when it became clear to her that she and other talented black people are elevated into positions by the DA leader, hon Helen Zille ...
Mr W F FABER: Madam Chairperson, on a point of order, the speaker is definitely misleading the House.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Madam, is it a notice of a motion?
Ms E PRINS: Yes Chair, it is.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Ntate Faber, monghadi, I would allow the notice of a motion to go on and then get into a debate on the motion and do what parliamentarians do, defeated by a vote in a debate. That is how motions are contested, please continue hon member.
Ms E PRINS: Thank you, Chairperson.
... solely for the purpose of window dressing and to make the DA appear more black in order to attract black support while such black leaders are in fact being used and remote-controlled and more than often ridiculed, humiliated and undermined;
(2)notes that Ms Mazibuko's departure confirmed the concern in the DA that the party has deteriorated into an intolerant, paranoid, fearful, vengeful and malicious one-woman organisation that is subservient to hon Zille, who is reportedly increasingly becoming a dictator;
(3)further notes concerns of Ms Mazibuko's departure confirms that the DA is an association of the former democratic party that was the home of the rich white liberals. There is no change in its values and policies and still regards Afrikaans-speaking as well as black and coloured supporters as inferior and as electoral fodder to enable Mrs Zille and her rich white elite to remain in control;
(4)condemns such values and policies of the DA; and
(5)calls on the DA to take these people, and in particular black people, seriously and to stop misleading and misusing them.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Is there any other hand? Hon Faber, I take it that at the right time you will ask to debate this particular motion?
Mr W F FABER: Yes, Madam Chair. You will excuse me, I thought it was still on the normal notices. That is why I stood up. I was not sure if it was still on the notices of motion.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Yes, it is on the notice, the notice of a motion is motion that ... . Ntate Tau, can you explain? Can you explain to the House the difference between a motion without notice and a notice of a motion? Advocate Phindela?
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Chair, I think you are absolutely correct and just like hon Louise was also trying to intervene. The best way would have been to deal with the motions separately because a notice of the motion is what a member would propose, for instance, it should be a subject for discussion in the next sitting and then a notice without a motion would be a subject matter that needs to be decided by the House. Therefore it would either be accepted by the House or rejected and if it is rejected, it becomes a notice of a motion.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: It therefore seems to me that we have two such notices of motion, one by the hon Ximbi and the other one from the hon member sitting next to Ntate Ximbi. There are notices of motions which the DA might want to debate. If the DA does not have an appetite in the future sittings on these motions, they simply fall away, is it so?
Members, you also must remember that you must time yourself when you give motions. Is that the end of our notices of motions?
Ms C LABUSCHAGNE
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP
Ms C LABUSCHAGNE: Hon Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the DA:
That the Council-
(1) debates with urgency the high TB infection rate in South Africa as there are 1 400 new cases reported daily;
(2) calls on the Minister of Health, Mr Motsoaledi, to declare TB as a national health crisis with specific focus on the impact thereof on the mining industry.
MOTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
NOTICES OF MOTION
CALL FOR INTERNSHIPS IN PRIVATE SECTOR
(Draft Resolution)
Ms V KNOETZE: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the Council-
(1) notes that hon President Jacob Zuma stated in his state of the nation address on 17 June 2014 that government must implement one million internships for the youth to gain experience;
(2) calls on the ANC government to initiate incentivised internships in the private sector to match the one million internships of the public sector; and
(3) finally notes that this will be the ideal opportunity to form partnerships to address amongst others the skills mismatch and the current market demands.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
Ms P C MQUQU
Ms V KNOETZE
CONGRATULATIONS TO PRESIDENT ZUMA AND NEWLY APPOINTED CABINET
(Draft Resolution)
Ms P C MQUQU: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the Council-
(1) notes that President Zuma's inauguration as the President of the fifth democratically elected Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, and the announcement of his new Cabinet, was indeed a historic occasion as it not only coincided with the commemoration of Africa Day but also marked 20 years of freedom and democracy since South Africa's liberation from apartheid and colonialism;
(2) further notes the announcement by the President that South Africa has entered the second phase of its transition to a national democratic society and that this would be a radical phase of socioeconomic transformation to push back the triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment;
(3) also notes and welcomes the commitment by the President that his executive team will implement the five-year Medium-Term Strategic Framework of government, which has been developed and is based on the National Development Plan and the ANC manifesto; and
(4) congratulates President Zuma on his election as President as well as all members of the national executive on their appointment and wishes them well during their term of office and in fulfilling their task to improve and accelerate the implementation of the government's progressive policies and programmes.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
Ms E C VAN LINGEN
Ms P C MQUQU
ARREST OF BUFFALO CITY LEADERS BY HAWKS
(Draft Resolution)
Ms E C VAN LINGEN: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the Council notes-
(1) the DA welcomes the arrests of several high-ranking Buffalo City leaders by the Hawks;
(2) that those arrested include the executive mayor, her deputy, and the speaker of the council, Luleka Simon-Ndzele;
(3) that these arrests are a result of their alleged involvement in the Nelson Mandela memorial taxi scandal;
(4) that the DA wishes to congratulate the National Prosecuting Authority on the arrests made after the alleged fraud and money laundering at the Buffalo City council became known; and
(5) that the DA is encouraged by the good work to date and commends the National Prosecuting Authority in its fight against corruption in municipalities and state departments.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
Mr M J MOHAPI
Ms E C VAN LINGEN
COMPOSITION OF WESTERN CAPE LEGISLATURE AND CITY OF CAPE TOWN MAYORAL COMMITTEE
(Draft Resolution)
Mr M J MOHAPI: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the Council-
(1) notes that-
(a) the composition of the new executive council of the DA-controlled Western Cape legislature, where hon Premier Zille and 50% of her executive are white, with 80% of the executive council again being dominated by men, whilst black representivity is limited to only 10%;
(b) the new mayoral committee of the DA-controlled City of Cape Town likewise consists of more than 63% whites, whilst the representivity of coloured and black people is limited to 27% and 9% respectively;
(c) this is a clear motion of no-confidence by the DA in not only women but also in black and coloured people, whilst it displays the reluctance of the DA and its leaders to promote transformation and employment equity and to apply gender equality and the demographics of the city and province, thereby demonstrating that the DA is still a party for the whites;
(d) this discriminatory policy by the DA is also evidenced by the fact that three of its representatives in this National Council of Provinces are white; and
(2) condemns these discriminatory practices and policies of the DA on behalf of the ANC and calls on the DA to stop its contempt for gender and employment equity, to recognise and apply the demographics of the province and the city, to respect and uphold the provisions and the values of the Constitution of South Africa and other legislation.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Does the House agree?
HON MEMBERS: No!
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: In light of the objection, the motion without notice may not be proceeded with. It now becomes a notice of motion on the Order Paper.
Mr E MAKUE
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP
COMBATING OF CABLE THEFT
(Draft Resolution)
Mr E MAKUE: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the Council-
(1) notes with concern the high level of cable theft and illegal trade in second-hand goods in South Africa, which seems to be on the rise, costing the country millions every year despite the existence of the Second-Hand Goods Act, Act 6 of 2009, and its provisions;
(2) further notes that only recently the Johannesburg metro police discovered a full truckload of stolen electricity cable, belonging to City Power, worth about R5 million when they pulled over a truck for a routine roadworthy check, also finding that the truck had different business names, with different addresses on each of its doors;
(3) commends these officers for their commitment and efficiency in dealing with this incident and also in enforcing the law in general and condemns the scourge of cable theft and illegal trade in second-hand goods across the country; and
(4) takes this opportunity to call on the Ministers of Police and of Justice and Correctional Services to review existing legislation in order to make provision for more efficient and effective monitoring and measures to combat this scourge as well as much harsher sentences for those involved in this crime and who are found guilty.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
Mr C B F SMIT
Mr E MAKUE
CALL FOR REPORT ON N1 AT HLANGANI AFTER FATAL ACCIDENT
(Draft Resolution)
Mr C B F SMIT: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the Council-
(1) notes the fatal accident in which 10 South Africans died in a car accident over the weekend on the N1 at Hlangani outside Makhado;
(2) futher notes that the DA offers its heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased;
(3) also notes that this stretch of road is very dangerous and has claimed many lives over the years; and
(4) calls on Sanral to provide a report to the Select Committee on Transport on:
(a) accidents that occurred on this road over the last 24 months;
(b) risk factors that prevail along this road;
(c) traffic capacity, condition and lifespan of the road;
(d) proposed infrastructure expenditure to improve the condition of the road; and
(e) a law enforcement programme for the road on a daily basis.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
Mr L P M NZIMANDE
Mr C B F SMIT
GOOD WISHES FOR RECOVERY OF SENZO MKHIZE
(Draft Resolution)
Mr L P M NZIMANDE: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the Council-
(1) notes the sad moment that befell the Chief Whip of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature, honourable Senzo Mkhize, who fell ill after the state of the nation address was delivered week and was admitted to hospital;
(2) further notes that he underwent surgery, which proved to be successful, at the Chris Barnard Memorial Hospital in Cape Town;
(3) acknowledges the caring spirit and principle of the provincial government of KwaZulu-Natal and the ANC for releasing Dr Dhlomo to be at his bedside until he is fit enough to be escorted back home; and
(4) takes the opportunity to express good wishes for a speedy recovery.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
Ms L L ZWANE
Mr L P M NZIMANDE
CELEBRATION OF YOUTH DAY
(Draft Resolution)
Ms L L ZWANE: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the Council-
(1) notes that Youth Day in 2014 marked the 38th anniversary of the Soweto uprising on 16 June 1976, which tragically ended with hundreds of young black children being killed and over 1 000 wounded by the apartheid government when these children protested against the unjust imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction;
(2) further notes that South Africa celebrates Youth Day on 16 June each year in memory of all those young children who so tragically lost their lives in pursuit of their dream of freedom, equality and democracy;
(3) also notes that Youth Day is also an occasion for celebrating freedom and democracy as the commitment and heroism of the youth of 1976 laid the foundation for the release and freedom of former President Nelson Mandela and ultimately the end of apartheid and the freedom of all South Africans;
(4) salutes the youth and the fallen young heroes of those years for their commitment and their bravery, while noting that the struggle of the youth still continues as they are faced today with different challenges, amongst others poverty, unemployment, inequality, lack of personal and economic development as a result of the legacy of apartheid and colonialism; and
(5) takes this opportunity to call on the youth to remain as committed and as brave as the youth of 1976 in tackling these challenges.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
Ms G M MANOPOLE
Ms L L ZWANE
LWANDLE EVICTIONS
(Draft Resolution)
Ms G M MANOPOLE: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the Council-
(1) notes with shock and utter dismay the brutal and inhumane apartheid-style evictions in Cape Town recently of 843 residents of Lwandle near Strand, including pregnant mothers, babies, children, as well as elderly, sick and disabled people;
(2) further notes that disabled people living in poverty were evicted in freezing and wet winter conditions following a court order that was obtained long ago;
(3) further notes that these residents were thrown out and chased off the land and left destitute, with nowhere to go and with nothing but the clothes that they were wearing, while their homes and belongings and everything else, from the food of the children and babies to the study notes and study material of learners and students busy with exams, were destroyed;
(4) acknowledges that although the illegal invasion and occupation of land cannot be tolerated or encouraged, the timing and inhumane manner of these evictions are evidently illegal and in fact criminal in the circumstances and are condemned in the harshest possible terms;
(5) also notes that the DA-controlled City of Cape Town, as well as the DA provincial government, and in particular hon Premier Zille, who so keenly posed for photo sessions during the election campaign, pretending to be a caring person, stirring a big pot and cooking for poor black communities in informal settlements solely for the purpose of obtaining their votes, was nowhere to be seen while they simply played the blame game and claimed that it was not their problem;
(6) welcomes the intervention by the Minister of Human Settlements and her appointment of a task team to investigate these evictions as well as the timing and inhumane manner in which it was carried out; and
(7) calls on the Minister to put appropriate measures in place to ensure that this never happens again.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
Mr H B GROENEWALD
Ms G M MANOPOLE
CONGRATULATIONS TO SA NATIONAL TEAMS ON GOOD PERFORMANCES
(Draft Resolution)
Mr H B GROENEWALD: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the Council-
(1) notes an exciting weekend of sport in which the junior Springbok rugby team lost the World Cup final against England by only one point, 21-20;
(2) further notes that the second rugby test match between the Springboks and Wales was won by the Springboks by one point, 31–30, and that makes them the winners of the series as they beat Wales in both test matches;
(3) also notes that the Protea netball team made us proud by winning their test series against Scotland 3–0; and
(4) wishes them all the best for their participation in the League of Nations games in Glasgow next month.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE COUNCIL
Mr H B GROENEWALD
FIFTH GENERAL ELECTION DECLARED OPEN, FREE AND FAIR
(Draft Resolution)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE COUNCIL: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the Council-
(1) notes that South Africa's fifth general election on 7 May 2014 was not only once again open, free and fair but was in fact an historic milestone as it marked 20 years of democracy;
(2) commends the Independent Electoral Commission, its officials, law enforcement and other agencies who were involved and assisted in the election and who, despite criticism and challenges, performed their tasks with distinction to ensure that the election went peacefully and was open, free and fair;
(3) commends the South African public on their commitment, not only during the campaigning period but also on election day and beyond, to ensure that the election was peaceful, free and fair; and
(4) takes this opportunity to congratulate all representatives of parties who have been elected to Parliament and provincial legislatures, and wishes them a fulfilling term of office.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon members, that certainly concludes the time allocated for motions. Motions are usually regulated. I want to advise the Chief Whips' Forum to really get to work, so that we work systematically. Today is the first day, and I can understand that all of us have something to say and all of us must reflect the concerns raised in our parties and constituencies. It will work better in future when all of us, firstly, know how long, and, secondly, know who rises where on motions.
Networking between all the Whips will ensure that motions are not repeated, because all parties will know which motions will not be fought against and which motions they would like to sink their teeth into. Is it agreed, members?
HON MEMBERS: Yes!
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Congratulations on having delivered your first notices of motion and motions without notice.
FIRST MOTION ON ORDER PAPER
MOTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE COUNCIL: Hon Chairperson, I must say from the uninitiated point of view that, where I come from, we were doing things a bit differently. May I be advised here as to where we actually are in our proceedings for this afternoon?
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Chief Whip, we started off with meditations and/or prayers, we then went on to ask for notices of motion, and thereafter we proceeded to motions without notice. We have interacted with those types of motions. We now have moved on to the item on the Order Paper called motions, which in terms of the advice I have, I must give the space to the Chief Whip of the Council to address us.
MEMBERS DESIGNATED TO SERVE ON THE JUDICIAL SERVICES COMMISSION
(Draft Resolution)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE COUNCIL: Hon Chair, I move that we proceed with matters as they appear on the Order Paper.
I move accordingly that, in terms of section 178(1)(i) of the Constitution, the Council designates the following members to serve on the Judicial Services Commission:
a) Ms Thandi Ruth Modise;
b) Ms Tsapane Kgwedi Mampuru;
c) Mr Dikgang Stock; and
d) Mr Dumisane Livingstone Ximbi.
Question put: That the motion be agreed to.
Ms E C VAN LINGEN: Chair, there are four members nominated and we entirely agree to that. However, we would like to amend that nomination to add the honourable George Michalakis, who is a practising attorney and a member of this Council, as an alternative to that list of nominees. Thank you.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Is there any other view on the matter?
Mr L SUKA: Chairperson, I think I will stand by the first proposal without amendment, because I think this matter has been processed through the right channels of the NCOP, hence it has been brought here and there has been a consensus on the matter. So, I will stand by the first proposal. Thank you.
Ms LABUSCHAGNE: Hon Chair, I would move that I second hon van Lingen's proposal and I would like to state in front of this Council, with regard to oversight and representation, all parties represent a certain percentage in this Council, and this committee consists of only one party. I think in the light of oversight, it would be preferable to not pass this motion. Thank you.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon members, I have three versions from your responses. One says: Yes, amend, but add one hon member as an alternative. The second input says no, let us keep to the original four names as proposed. The third input says no, we propose differently because the four names are not representative of the Council.
I have been advised and referred to the Constitution. In terms of the Constitution, section 178(1)(i), says:
Four permanent delegates to the NCOP designated together by the Council with a supporting vote of at least six provinces.
In other words, we don't seem to have the powers to go beyond four delegates.
The first proposal was seconded albeit with a tail in the end. I want to put the question again to the Council. Does the Council agree to the draft resolution by the Chief Whip of the Council?
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West.
AGAINST: Western Cape.
Motion accordingly agreed to in accordance with section 178 (1)(i) of the Constitution.
SECOND MOTION ON ORDER PAPER
FIRST MOTION ON ORDER PAPER
DESIGNATION OF MEMBERS TO SERVE ON THE MAGISTRATES COMMISSION
(Draft Resolution)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE COUNCIL: Chair, I move the draft resolution printed in my name on the Order Paper, as follows: That, in terms of section 3(1)(a)(xi) of the Magistrates Act, Act 90 of 1993, the Council designates the following members to serve on the Magistrates Commission:
a. Mr Raseriti Johannes Tau, with Ms Galerekwe Mase Manopole as the alternate;
b. Ms Tasneem Motara, with Mr Emannuel Musawenkosi Mlambo as the alternate;
c. Mr Moses Titus Mhlanga, with Mr Simphiwe George Mtimunye as the alternate;
d. Mr George Michalakis, with Mr Mergan Chetty as the alternate.
Question put: That the motion be agreed to.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 3(1)(a)(xi) of the Magistrates Act, Act 90 of 1993.
THIRD MOTION ON ORDER PAPER
SECOND MOTION ON ORDER PAPER
ELECTION OF MR ARCIHBOLD JOMO NYAMBI AS THE HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: COMMITTEES WITH EFFECT FROM 24 JUNE 2014
(Draft Resolution)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE COUNCIL: Chair, I move the draft resolution printed in my name on the Order Paper, as follows: That the Council elects Mr Archibold Jomo Nyambi as the House Chairperson: Committees with effect from 24 June 2014.
Question put: That the motion be agreed to.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
FOURTH MOTION ON ORDER PAPER
THIRD MOTION ON ORDER PAPER
ELECTION OF MRS MASEFAKO CLARA DIKGALE AS THE HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND MEMBERS SUPPORT WITH EFFECT FROM 24 JUNE 2014
(Draft Resolution)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE COUNCIL: Chair, I move the draft resolution printed in my name on the Order Paper, as follows: That the Council elects Mrs Masefako Clara Dikgale as the House Chairperson: International Relations and Members Support with effect from 24 June 2014.
Question put: That the motion be agreed to.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
isiXhosa:
Nksz P C MQUQU: Ndicela uxolo bekungumnqweno wethu okanye umnqweno wam ukuba aba bantu bachongwayo njengoosihlalo ukuba sibazi ukwenzela ukuba siqhelane nobuso babo. Enkosi sihlalo.
USihlalo we NCOP: Enkosi¸ lungu elihloniphekileyo.
English:
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: I think the sentiment is largely carried that the hon Nyambi and the hon Dikgale should please stand up so that the House can recognise them and know who their chairpersons are. [Applause.] As we proceed we shall then ask the next person to do the same. Please proceed, hon Chief Whip.
FIFTH MOTION ON ORDER PAPER
FOURTH MOTION ON ORDER PAPER
APPOINTMENT OF MR JONAS PHELLO PARKIES AS THE PROGRAMMING WHIP WITH EFFECT FROM 24 JUNE 2014
(Draft Resolution)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE COUNCIL: Chair, I move the draft resolution printed in my name on the Order Paper, as follows: That the Council appoints Mr Jonas Phello Parkies as the Programming Whip with effect from 24 June 2014.
Question put: That the motion be agreed to.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Would the hon Parkies please stand and be recognised. [Applause.]
SIXTH MOTION ON ORDER PAPER
FIFTH MOTION ON ORDER PAPER
DESIGNATION OF MEMBERS TO THE PAN-AFRICAN PARLIAMENT
(Draft Resolution)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE COUNCIL: Chair, I move the draft resolution printed in my name on the Order Paper, as follows: That the Council designates the following members to the Pan-African Parliament:
a. Dr Zweledinga Pallo Jordan;
b. Ms Thandi Cecilia Memela;
c. Dr Hunadi Euphemia Mateme;
d. Ms Santosh Vinita Kalyan; and
e. Mr Nqabayomzi Lawrence Saziso Kwankwa.
Question put: That the motion be agreed to.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North west, Western Cape.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Since we agreed to all these motions, I would like to congratulate all the members together with those of the National Assembly who have been identified to represent the NCOP as designated delegates to the Judicial Council, to the Magistrates Commission, and to the Pan-African Parliament. I would also like to congratulate those members who were elected to serve as our House Chairs. Congratulations to everybody!
FIRST ORDER
SIXTH MOTION ON ORDER PAPER
ADOPTION OF THE RULES OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
Order disposed of without debate.
Question put: that the Rules be adopted.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
SECOND ORDER
FIRST ORDER
ORATION OF CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT, MR MICHAEL COETZEE
Mr C J DE BEER: Hon Chairperson, John Maxwell wrote the book, A Purposeful Life. The life of the late Comrade Michael Coetzee can be described as a purposeful life. Comrade Michael was born on 25 August 1959 and grew up on a farm near Loerie in the Eastern Cape. He was raised in a family where they had a sense of what was right and what was wrong; about justice and injustice. His father and mother were teachers.
He was exposed to the Black Consciousness Movement during his high school years in Uitenhage and set up a branch of the SA Students' Movement.
The tragic day of 16 June 1976 in Soweto and the death of Comrade Steve Biko in 1977 had a crucial influence in shaping his progressive consciousness, standing up for justice for all and fighting against the apartheid regime. As a student at the University of the Western Cape, Comrade Michael started a difficult task of establishing organisations from the ground upwards - civic organisations, workers and youth organisations.
He was there for the launch of the UDM and there when Cosatu was formed. He helped shape these organisations, the strategies and tactics of the revolution was something he delved into with great detail and insight. He set an example of what we as comrades in organisations must do.
As an activist, he paid attention to detail. He related his work to a firm ideological base, pursuing the broader goals of the national democratic revolution. He was an active cadre at work. The security police of the apartheid regime was after him, hunting him. He was hung by his feet, over the Van Stadens River Bridge in Humansdorp - just imagine yourself in a position like this. He was tortured severely. Michael was not deterred. He was a courageous fighter with a determined spirit, driven by a deep commitment to his organisation, the ANC.
In 1991 he was recruited into the ANC underground and arrested in 1983 after information linking him to the banned organisation which was found during a raid by a SA Defence Force in Lesotho where some of the ANC underground structures were based. About a month later, Comrade Headley King and Zelda Holtzman were arrested too.
The state had expected him to appear as a state witness in that case and sell out his comrades. Instead, Comrade Michael Coetzee took the stand and said, "I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me Oliver Tambo". This was a calculated move, done with and in his own style. This took some courage, and we can learn from this, but he did it standing up for what was right and what was wrong, for justice and injustice. He spent a year in Albany prison, took charge of the library and encouraged his fellow comrades to read.
He helped form Cosatu in East London and worked as a human resource manager in Parliament. With the advent of democracy in 1994, he became the secretary of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature. In 2002 he was appointed Deputy Secretary to Parliament and in 2012 Secretary to Parliament.
He rose from a position of rebellion to one of power. He was shaped intensely by the idea of radical equality, not just politically, but socioeconomically. We have to finish Michael's unfinished business, a more equal, socially just society.
He showed us what to do, to struggle for what is right and to stand up for work ethics. We can learn from that, the example he set for us. He was a consummate public servant, determined to transform Parliament into an institution that advances the interests of the people. We celebrate a life well-lived, in a service to his people, his country, and the ANC he helped to establish. For all you have done, we say thank you, Michael. Your life has been a purposeful one.
The ANC express sincere condolences to his wife Bridgette, his son Matthew, his mother Bertha, his sister Alexandra and his brother Reggie.
May his soul rest in peace.
Ms E C VAN LINGEN
Mr C J DE BEER
Ms E C VAN LINGEN: Hon Chairperson, the passing of the Secretary to Parliament, Michael Coetzee, on Friday the 13 June after a long struggle with cancer was embraced with great sadness. Mr Coetzee joined Parliament in 2002 as its Deputy Secretary after being secretary of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature for many years. Coetzee was appointed Secretary to Parliament in 2012.
Mr Coetzee was responsible and participated in the training of new members, even for the Fifth Parliament, so much he cared. His exemplary life to work to the last day in ensuring that the institution properly represented the interests of the people must be a lesson to us all.
Parliament has been enriched by his contribution and he will be sadly missed. He served Parliament loyally for over a decade. As my colleague stole all the thunder from my speech, I will agree with him that Michael was a huge anti-apartheid activist and a community organiser. As a cancer survivor for so long, he has been an inspiration to us all. He fought a brave battle and we thank his wife Bridgette and his family for the continuous support they gave him over such a long period.
We were friends and we were both Stormers supporters. As you know, his brother, Alistair Coetzee, was the Stormers coach. We communicated via SMS during many matches, and when there were tough moments when the Stormers had to score before the whistle had gone. I will remember that very dearly.
Our deepest condolences go to his wife Bridgette, the family, colleagues and friends during this tough time. I thank you. [Applause.]
Ms L MATHYS
Ms E C VAN LINGEN
Ms L MATHYS: Hon Chair, hon members of the NCOP, the EFF sends its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Mr Michael Coetzee on his unexpected passing. We were fortunate enough to have encountered Mr Coetzee on our parliamentary journey. He struck us, and pleasantly so, with his fairness and his exemplary assistance during our calls of duty.
This was particularly surprising given his political party of choice nightmares. How unfortunate that we were robbed the opportunity to work with him for the duration of the Fifth Parliament as the third largest political party. We would have welcomed Mr Coetzee's acceptance to remain in his role during the Sixth Parliament under the EFF government. Mr Michael Coetzee, go well. [Applause.]
Mr M KHAWULA
Ms L MATHYS
Mr M KHAWULA: Chairperson, on behalf of the IFP I offer our sincere condolences and support to Mrs Bridgette Coetzee, to Matthew and to the family of the late Mr Michael Coetzee, whom we remember in this condolence motion today after his unexpected passing. I say unexpected because although Mr Coetzee was waging a long fight against cancer, he was always available, always in the office and always hard at work. He seemed invincible, and I think that we had all forgotten that his health was not what it should be.
Cancer didn't slow Mr Coetzee down, but neither did it make him self-focussed or less patient with those around him. When Mr Coetzee was appointed Secretary to Parliament, the IFP welcomed his appointment. We knew that he was qualified both in skill and in character, and we looked forward to working with him. We are saddened that we lost his contribution so soon. He should not have died in office at such a young age.
Sadly, however, what should happen and what does happen seldom converge. Life often plays out in unexpected ways. This is a lesson we have learned through painful experience in the IFP, as our own colleague, Dr Mario Oriani-Ambrosini, is also waging the battle against cancer. Dr Ambrosini has taught us to live fully and to fight hard for that which is possible.
We have witnessed him fight even harder for the impossible, and we have seen him achieve it. Therefore, we join Dr Ambrosini and Mr Michael Coetzee and every individual who has fought or is fighting this tragic disease in fighting to achieve the possibility, to see the end to cancer.
In memory of our Secretary to Parliament we call on Parliament to expedite the passing of the Medical Innovation Bill so that South Africa might lead this noble fight. We do this in tribute to Mr Coetzee, as a way of thanking him for his service to our nation. May he be remembered when we recount the heroes of our democratic Parliament and our democratic South Africa. He will surely be missed. Thank you.
Mr L B GAEHLER
Mr M KHAWULA
Mr L B GAEHLER: Chairperson, on behalf of the UDM, I extend our sincere condolences to a phenomenal man who served this institution of Parliament with distinction from 2002 to 2014. Mr Michael Coetzee was a man who was dedicated in all he did. As an activist who played a critical role in the anti-apartheid struggle for freedom and democracy, he was a man who fulfilled his duties. This is evident as he worked as the institution's top official and an accounting officer for five years.
We say farewell to an extraordinary human being. To his family, friends and his party, we pray that peace and comfort find you during this difficult time. As a wise man once said, we should let graceful memories survive in the time of sorrow. Maya Angelou said, "A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies. It brings us together again and again."
IsiXhosa:
Somlomo, masimvumele ukuba aye kuphumla nezinyanya zaseMzantsi Afrika, ahlale nooMadiba, oo-Oliver Tambo nooChris Hani basijonge kwezi ngxaki zikhoyo. [Enkosi.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP
Mr L B GAEHLER
Mrs T R MODISE (Chairperson of the NCOP): Hon members, today the NCOP pays special respect to the late Secretary to Parliament, Mr Michael Benjamin Coetzee. We acknowledge the role he has played. We also acknowledge the huge role he played in the building of the new South Africa and particularly in supporting our work in our democratic Parliament.
His passing has left us not only with a feeling of grief but actually with a sense of accomplishment. At the time he died, at age 55, he had fought many struggles. He fought the struggle of being born in a country that was divided by race. He had to contend with a label of being coloured; he had to contend with a label of being an activist; he had to contend with and take the decision to actually stabilise his personal life by getting married, hung upside down; and he also had to contend with being a father who was almost never there.
As a consequence, he fought and reflected the struggles of many of our people in this country. For a while before he died he waged a struggle against the ravages of cancer. He fought these struggles with a great resolve and a clear sense of direction. Mike was never one to cower to fear, pressure or ignorance. He was above all of these phenomena. He was fearless and calm even under the most turbulent of tides. He was an outstanding proponent on intellectual leadership.
One of the outstanding things about Mike was his sincere and enduring love for his organisation, but even greater, his love for the welfare of the workers. It was easy to identify the source of this abiding love, because, as a result of his understanding of the struggle, its values and principles, he was unshaken.
Mike excelled to the point that he was unshaken by criticisms against his own organisation, the ANC, by populists' views that were sometimes portrayed in very loud and colourful language. Michael defended it. He would defend it with clarity and a deeper understanding of the past and present. He always asked his comrades and compatriots to focus on a united future.
Of course, he was also quick to point out the weaknesses of his own home organisation. However, he did so with a clear appreciation of the contributing factors. Some commentators have described Mike as a professional with a strange ability to defuse complexity and render disabling phenomena easy to work with. They sometimes say he did this to the point that one would think that the complexity had vanished.
It is such a remarkable ability that made us admire Mike and his leadership style. We hope that current and future leaders will be able to acquire the ability to lead people who are, first and foremost, challenged with complex, unpredictable and often predictable but seemingly unsolvable challenges that face the society, in a quick fix manner. They must do so and be able to lead in these complex situations; they must be able to do what Mike was renowned for, to understand people, the environment and their relationship.
Parliament is such an example of an organisation that needs to understand its society, aspirations, and its challenges. Parliament is probably an example of just how complex these relationships can be, if one considers the multiplicity of the stakeholdership that Parliament is composed of. We have the political environment with contesting ideas regarding what is best for the electorate. To be effective, our institution needs to manage inherent tensions that result from such contestation. Otherwise we would be unable to facilitate the implementation of solutions that are directed at addressing the needs of our people.
We are also faced with a global environment that is also complex. As Parliament, we also have to offer a range of services that must be performed in support of public representatives. We constantly need to find the balance between the services better due because of limited resources. We need to find the capacity and expertise to manage and deliver complex and varying degrees to the needs of all our people.
At the most critical levels are the officials who must help to conceptualise, package and present these services to the people. They may have different ideas, may be engendered by different contexts that shaped them on how these could be achieved, but must be united behind a commonly determined goal in order to maximise the quality of services that we are offering to all South Africans.
At the centre of these efforts must be the people, the South Africans that we serve, who constitute the sole reason for our existence as Parliament. For one to manage such a set up, one must have the ability to lead. He or she must have the capacity to connect with the people at all levels. Like Mike, he or she must possess a natural bond with the constituencies we find in an institution that serves the people. In short, he or she must be a leader with a skill and heart.
We saw these important qualities in our late Secretary. He knew that a leader would not be liked by everybody. However, he also knew that a leader must be driven by conviction to do good.
To the Coetzee family, we thank you for sharing Mike Coetzee with us. We will always cherish the fruitful and productive time he spent in the struggle and in this Parliament. A person that departs from this earth never truly leaves, for they are still alive in our hearts and minds. Through us, they must live on. We hope that the family of Mr Coetzee will accept our condolences and those of this institution. The memory of Mike Coetzee will continuously be etched in our personal and institutional memories.
I wish to take this opportunity then to ask members of this august House to stand and observe a moment of silence for our departed Secretary. Thank you. Please be seated.
Debate concluded.
The Council observed a moment of silence in honour of the late Mr Michael Coetzee.
SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION
ORATION OF CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT MR MICHAEL COETZEE.
DEBATE ON YOUTH DAY: 20 YEARS OF DEMOCRACY: TOGETHER ADVANCING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND EMPOWERMENT
(Subject for Discussion)
The DEPUTY MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY (Mr K B Manamela): Hon Chairperson, hon members, I must declare that this is my maiden speech in the NCOP. [Laughter.]
I would not have been blessed with the podium of this august House today and the gratitude of your attention had it not been for the sacrifices of the youth of June 16, 1976. For that, we will forever be grateful to them and we will continue to pay homage to their struggles.
When the light of freedom was dimmed by the heightening oppression of the apartheid regime, their having locked our leaders in prison or forced them into exile, it was the workers of 1973 and the youth of 1976 who took to the streets to rekindle the hope that one day Harry Gwala would be released and that Adelaide Tambo would return from exile. All these freedoms of speech and association, this Constitution, this vote and all these liberties we enjoy are a result of the gallantry of our youth. In every epoch of the fight against colonialism and apartheid, the youth of this country made an indelible mark in pushing back the frontiers of oppression and bringing about their freedom. We should continue with their clarion call, "We are our own liberators".
Our youth, mainly signified by their collective selflessness of 1976, refused to be spectators in the course of their own liberation, and never apportioned an inch of this role to any messiah. We mark June 16 to symbolise these acts of bravery by all young people who gave their lives for the liberation of our country. Hector Pieterson, Hastings Ndlovu and Tsietsi Mashinini are part of a gallery of young people which includes youth, such as Solomon Mahlangu, Steve Biko, and many others, who all remain a symbol that the freedoms and liberties we enjoy are a cost too much to repay so soon into our democracy. This freedom was not for free, and should therefore be defended with our lives.
Just a few weeks ago, despite the repeated shouting from the prophets of doom, the youth of South Africa once again put their trust in the ANC through the power of the vote. [Applause.] This was despite the sidewalk ramblings that the youth of this country would vote against the movement of their forefathers.
As we bring Youth Month to its close, we must thank the various sectors of society that continue to uphold the important historic role that the youth of this country have played in our country's social, economic and political evolution. It is therefore timeous that we respond to the question: What should be the focus of the ANC-led government in meeting the needs, interests and aspirations of young people? In responding to this question, we also need to appreciate the current conditions in which young people find themselves.
In the state of the nation address, His Excellency President Jacob Zuma said, "Youth empowerment will be prioritised in our economic transformation programme." In order for us to comprehend what the President meant, we need to appreciate the existing challenges that need to be solved and reappraise the methods by which this can be achieved. We need to understand that the South African economy remained underdeveloped as a colonial economy for a while, and was further distorted by apartheid. This has disadvantaged the youth in more ways than we can ever imagine, and this status quo needs to be resolved.
Nonetheless, the majority of our youth continue to be economically marginalised owing to the structural defects engineered into the fibre of our society and economy by the political repressions of the past. Black people, in general, undeniably, and women, in particular, continue to suffer the worst in terms of unemployment, poverty and inequality.
The 1994 democratic breakthrough occurred against a backdrop of various social, economic and political conditions that made certain aspects of our transition into the new democratic dispensation possible, whilst some challenges were, due to the then given prevailing circumstances, deferred. It was Joe Slovo who coined our transition as a "sunset clause", which became the solution to prioritising a political solution as the most immediate tactic to end political violence and usher in majority rule.
In reality, young people constitute 75% of the unemployed, and with South Africa being a young nation, it means that any programme of youth development should target young people. It is our contention that those statistics justify that all major problems facing our society, including the structural defects in our economy, are largely problems pertaining to youth development. It will be critical for us to mobilise all structures and spheres of government and state-owned enterprises in the project of youth development.
Since 1994, this government has invested in education more than any other departmental Budget Vote. This is because we have come to appreciate that education is the key to unlocking all the developmental challenges that we face as a nation. Whereas apartheid sought to underdevelop the majority of our people through inferior education, which was one of the major reasons that the youth of June 16, 1976 took to the streets, we realised that this was key to the structural underdevelopment of the Black majority.
Through education, we will effectively capacitate our youth to take an active part in their own development. In this regard, "Making education fashionable" will be central if we are to invest in human capital as a core of our development strategy and in breaking the vicious cycle of poverty.
As you may know, the NA was tasked with the legislation of the National Youth Development Agency Act. This legislation is under review because we noted that, in its current configuration, it is wholly inadequate to address the structural challenges of youth development in our country. To this end, I will be organising meetings and engagements with youth stakeholders to discuss what kind of input must inform the review of the National Youth Development Agency Act. We will need the full support of both Houses of Parliament to ensure that youth development is properly submitted to all structures of government.
Critical to the review will be an appreciation of two very key aspects. Firstly, that the problem of youth development cuts across all sectors of the economy and all spheres of development, and that, owing to this reality, youth development must be integrated into all spheres of national, provincial and local government. There must be a single national consensus on youth development that mobilises all young people behind a prosperous, democratic, nonracist and nonsexist South Africa.
Secondly, youth development must occupy centre stage in all development strategies and plans of our country, because young people constitute the most excluded and because we are a young nation.
It is important that we have a comprehensive plan for youth development so as to ensure that we do not fail our youth and, by extension, the very future of our country. I must, however, caution against the usual assumption that youth development must be a programme separate from the mainstream programmes of our country. We cannot compartmentalise youth development. It cannot be that we configure youth development in a piecemeal fashion outside the various megaprojects and infrastructure that government has already put in place.
Besides all the differences that we may have in relation to the National Development Plan, the national consensus must be that it will not succeed if it is not for, with and about the youth of this country. I will be listening to young people in the countryside, in universities, in schools, in townships, in the workplaces, on the sports fields, in social clubs and in every nook and cranny of this country. There we will challenge them to think differently about the review of the National Youth Policy and the Integrated Youth Development Strategy.
We merged the Umsobomvu Youth Fund and the National Youth Commission because, as separate entities, they did not have the capacity to match the magnitude of the challenges of youth development.
The current leadership of the National Youth Development Agency, NYDA, has made various efforts towards changing the public perception about the institution and its ability to lead youth development. We believe that at the centre of a 360-degree turnaround of the NYDA would be to hear what young people out there are saying. We have already started talking to them, and there are good stories to tell by the NYDA.
These include the projects which the NYDA supports, such as Yes to Sport and No to Drugs, and supporting the Super Puma Strikers Senior Team in the Overberg, here in the Western Cape, with full kit donated by the NYDA Thusano Fund. Some of the beneficiaries, since receiving this NYDA support, have grown to accommodate more young people in their sporting activities. There is also Karabo Robaya, who is 22, and who has gone to Alabama to study thanks to the support that the NYDA has given him.
Other support includes that given to entrepreneurs in the field of agriculture, such as Bahlakoana Moleko, or BK, who is a farmer in De Deur, south of Johannesburg. He is one of the NYDA entrepreneurs who runs his own fresh produce farm. He grows spinach and other vegetables, and has employed more young people as a result of the support that the NYDA is giving them.
Yet, the issues of perception of the NYDA will have to be confronted, and it is only through input and listening to young people that we will be able to change these perceptions. However, in the current trajectory, the NYDA obviously cannot address all the challenges of youth development because the long-term vision of an integrated youth development strategy fell through the cracks. With our Ministry and the NYDA at the apex, we have to mobilise all structures, including state-owned enterprises and the private sector, to prioritise youth development.
Apartheid and colonialism created political consciousness by virtue of the glaring and self-evident racial polarisation and repression that it perpetuated. It may be easy to forget this past, or to succumb to the insistence that we do so, under the guise that all young people born after 1994 are born free. This we do not subscribe to, and until such time as the quality of life for all South Africans is better, irrespective of their race or gender, we can therefore collectively declare that we are free.
As the state of the nation address indicated, this government will prioritise youth development as part of its radical economic transformation programme. What this essentially means is that the state will have to use its political power, authority and resources to change the structure of the economy and ensure that those who were historically excluded are broadly empowered so as to do things for themselves. In this regard, various interventions were announced, which included the President's announcement to create more than 6 million jobs; place more than 1 million young people into community works projects; place another million into internships and as artisans and apprentices; increase state investment in access to higher and further education; implement national health insurance; and place young people at the centre of the state's strategic infrastructure programmes.
For the past five years, this government has used its national fiscus to intervene in social areas, such as education, health and rural development.
The Youth Employment Accord, which was signed with the Nedlac constituencies on 18 April 2013, provides six pillars for increasing economic opportunities for the youth. These are education, work exposure, youth brigades, youth target set-asides, youth entrepreneurship and co-operatives, and private sector measures to create jobs.
At the indaba held in February this year, we collectively reviewed progress and recommitted ourselves to the continued, intensified implementation of these commitments. I can only present a summary here and highlight some of the progress that has been made since the adoption of the Youth Employment Accord. I must say that the youth wings of most of the political parties represented here in Parliament were co-signatories of the Youth Employment Accord.
Youth employment has begun to grow more rapidly after young people faced sharper job losses in the downturn and a slower recovery. In the year to March 2014, youth employment climbed by more than 140 000, or 2,5%, to just under 6 million. This is largely because the share of youth outside of employment, education and training fell from 46% to 44%, meaning more young people are going to schools, universities and FETs. In fact, more than in any other period since 1994, the intake of students in FET colleges has more than tripled, which I think takes the number of young people going to FET colleges to more than 700 000.
As these findings suggest, the national infrastructure build programme has become a significant source of employment for young workers. For the third period ending March 2014, 27 000 job opportunities were created. Both the Industrial Development Corporation, IDC, and the Small Enterprise Finance Agency, Sefa, expanded their funding in order to support youth employment or youth employment initiatives. In addition, through its Youth Enterprise Development Strategy, the Department of Trade and Industry has also supported more than 80% of beneficiaries in its Business Process Services Support programme.
Based on the discussion emanating from the indaba and the commitments that have been made by the ANC-led government, we expect an overall increase in the number of university places by the end of the year, and an even larger increase in FET intakes. Over the past two years, accommodation for more than 4 200 students and 500 lecture theatres, laboratories, and so forth, have been completed at universities. This, we believe, contributes towards the expansion of access to education, therefore meeting the call in the Freedom Charter that the doors of learning and teaching shall be opened.
In 2013-14, almost 11 000 young people entered artisan programmes, and 13 000 completed their training. This, in our view, is part of the continuation of a good story to tell.
Finally, the Youth Employment Accord targets a substantial increase in places in public employment schemes for young people. By the end of this year, the total number of work opportunities for youth was almost half a million, or half of that total. That was an increase of more than 72 000 compared to the previous year. Obviously, we will have to go much further to alleviate youth unemployment, as part of the critical mandate that was given to the ANC in this fifth administration and term of office. However, these areas of progress indicate that we have the confidence in our ability to address this scourge over the next few years.
As I conclude, allow me to quote the responsibility that the RDP document of 1994 indirectly enjoined us to do as our mandate, when it observed that:
No political democracy can survive and flourish if the mass of our people remain in poverty, without land, without tangible prospects for a better life. Attacking poverty and deprivation must therefore be the first priority of a democratic government.
If this government fails in that regard, it will have failed the youth of June 16, 1976. I am confident that we can learn from the successes and failures of the past 20 years of democracy, and that, as we forge ahead to move South Africa forward, together we will strive to advance youth development and economic empowerment.
In the name of Hector Pieterson, in the name of Tsietsi Mashinini, and in the names of many other young people who perished in the struggle against apartheid, let us not dare fail the youth of 2014 in their quest to take South Africa forward. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mr G MICHALAKIS
The DEPUTY MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY (Mr K B Manamela)
Mr G MICHALAKIS: Madam Chairperson, the hon Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Members of Parliament, MECs present, ladies and gentlemen, on 16 June we celebrated our annual Youth Day, commemorating the 1976 student uprising in Soweto. It was a historic moment in our collective history. Historians are in agreement that June 1976 marked the beginning of the end of apartheid. The dedication and commitment to rise up against an unjust system was initiated by a few Black Consciousness activists under the leadership of Teboho Mashinini.
This is a clear example of visionary leadership coupled with determination. What started as a peaceful protest from Morris Isaacson High School and Naledi High School, soon gripped the imagination of marginalised youth across South Africa. Tens of thousands of black youth rose up in protest against the unjust system of apartheid and inferior Bantu education. The youth then took the lead in defining the destiny of their own lives. Sadly hundreds died at the hands of the apartheid regime.
However, almost 40 years after that fateful day, the legacy of apartheid still persists. Twenty years into our democracy we have achieved many commendable milestones. Our rights and freedoms are protected. We have a very progressive Constitution and a democratic Parliament, but South African youth are still marginalised even today.
The successes of the past decades are grossly overshadowed by the work that still needs to be done. More than half of the 8 million unemployed South Africans are youth under the age of 35. Although there is no certainty as to what the exact unemployment rate of the youth in South Africa is, an independent research estimates this figure to be around 36% and it could even be higher. This is the third highest youth unemployment rate in the world after Greece and Spain.
A recent report by Statistics SA also shows that the percentage figure of young people between the ages of 15 and 24 in skilled jobs has increased by only 0,4% between 1994 and 2014 - the figure being 12,7% and 13,1% respectively. The figure for the age groups between 24 and 34 years old is a slightly higher, that is 0,7% to 21,2% in 1994 compared to 21,9% in 2014.
Youth unemployment is one of South Africa's biggest challenges today. We are all in agreement on the extent of the problem, and we all agree that urgent attention must be given to get our youth employed. How fortunate that we already have solutions on the table to turn youth unemployment around.
The National Development Plan, NDP, details constructive plans to change the way South Africa's economy functions and to restructure the economy in such a way that would see growth and job creation across all sectors. The youth wage subsidy has already proven successful as business makes use of this opportunity to employ and develop young people. The NDP also recommends changes to our restrictive labour legislation. We have some of the most rigid labour legislative frameworks in the world and it has been cited as a deterrent to both domestic and international investment as well as employment and job creation. The World Economic Forum argues that South Africa's labour market regulations are the 5th worst in the world.
If we are serious about creating opportunities for the South African youth, it is now more than ever vital for this government to create an environment of stability, both politically and economically, in which growth can be stimulated through investment. Confidence in this government and its commitment to the constitutional values and a free market, will bring stability and ultimately growth that will see the decline of the number of unemployed youth. Government should take the first step to regain all lost confidence and to build on that which we currently have to ensure this.
Between the years 2000 and 2011, permanent employment declined, whilst temporary employment increased - a trend which brings about all but stability to our economy. In 2011, the National Planning Commission recognised that this time bomb is the greatest risk to social stability in South Africa.
It is estimated that if a young person fails to become employed by the age of 24, they are almost never likely to become formally and permanently employed at all. As a consequence, an estimated 60% of an entire generation of South Africans could live their lives without ever holding a formal job.
Like the youth of 1976, the youth of 2014 also face a failing education system. Our education system is failing in capacitating learners to become successful and productive individuals within an increasingly knowledge-based economy. It is of no use to individuals seeking to enter the labour market and even being successful therein, only to find themselves inadequately qualified for what the market demands.
The World Economic Forum's, 2013 Global Information Technology report placed South Africa fourth last out of 144 countries in terms of its education system. We come in second last in terms of Mathematics and Science education.
Taking into account that the unemployment rate of students with a degree in South Africa is currently at around 5%, it is a clear indication that something at school level is seriously wrong. Although many schools were left underresourced and neglected by the apartheid regime we must admit, in our 20th year of democracy, that more than an entire generation of young South Africans has passed through those school benches under a democratic system.
There are few things more important than establishing an environment that is conducive to the creation of opportunities for economic growth and job creation. However, there is one aspect that the South African youth have to endure other than finding jobs, which politicians have been ignoring for perhaps too long. We claim that the youth will move South Africa forward, but how will they do that when we shout orders of how they must be, what they must do, what they must think, what to believe and what aspirations they must harbour.
South Africa has a youthful population, full of promise and potential, yet we look upon the youth as children rather than citizens. They are just so busy most of the time trying to be what society expects them to be. But it is a wonder where and whether they will ever find the time and opportunity to reach their full potential. As a prominent journalist recently stated:
When you've repeatedly been promised a better future many times but have had a poor education, can't find a job, or don't feel your voice will be listened to, despair is a friend.
The youth of 1976 gave their lives to give us the opportunity to sit in a chamber together like this, to give the youth of 2014 the opportunities that they never had, by leading by example; by listening and by giving young people a voice in their own future and ultimately by honouring our Constitution and ensuring that the values therein become tangible opportunities within an open opportunity society for all that will lead to a better future.
We must implement the NDP without any delay and we must not waver. We have lost too much time already as it is. We dare not fail the legacy of the youth of 1976 and we dare not fail the youth of today. I thank you. [Applause.]
The GAUTENG MEC FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (Mr L Maile)
Mr G MICHALAKIS
Mr L MAILE (Gauteng): Madam Chair, Deputy Minister in the Presidency, members of this august House, it is now more than a mere formality to say South Africa is a democratic country. It has become clear for all to see that, indeed, ours is a democratic state. Ours is a country sustained by an abiding hope and great optimism for the future.
Our public institutions such as the Constitutional Court, the Office of the Public Protector, the Electoral Commission and many other institutions charged with the responsibility of safeguarding our democracy have shown resilience, drive and determination to carry out their mandate without fear or favour. These very institutions have been among the first to acknowledge that our democracy, with all its challenges, is alive and well.
Today we stand shoulder to shoulder with our heads held high next to the rest of the world, as we celebrate the maturity of our institutions and as we make a solemn pledge that we, the youth of our land, will be the first to stand guard in defence of these institutions because we understand that it has taken the hard work of our forebears to be where we are today.
This year, 2014, marks the second decade of our liberation. We are also marking 38 years since the 1976 revolution of students who took to the battlefront to confront the might of the racist state of the time; essentially declaring their own preparedness to occupy the front trenches in the struggle for the total liberation of our nation.
Like generations before them, they conducted themselves with discipline, having understood that the realisation of our purest ideals and our most vital aspirations can be achieved through a deep understanding of the material conditions, attitude of the enemy and dangers that it posed not only to them but to the oppressed majority as well.
These young people became the torch bearers of a vision articulated by leaders of then ANC Youth League - Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu and others of that generation - who declared "Freedom in our Lifetime".
This solemn declaration was a response to the challenge posed, later, by Franz Fanon when he called on generations to identify their mission - to pursue or betray. Now that we have come where we are today, democracy has made it possible for us to elevate the struggle and give practical expression to the Freedom Charter, which asserts that the people shall share in the wealth of the country.
The struggle for economic emancipation of the youth is principally a struggle to overcome the challenges of inequality, poverty and underdevelopment or economic neglect, including the improvement of the quality of life for the people of our country.
It is a struggle that requires us to properly understand our challenges against the progress we have made since 1994. We must understand that it is a struggle that we wage in conditions not of our making. Thus, our task is to use the tools at our disposal to ensure that we overcome our challenges.
During the election campaign, people of our country from different areas spoke unequivocally about the challenges of the provision of water and sanitation that they face. President Zuma also spoken unequivocally on this matter and Minister Mokonyane is on top of her game in addressing this challenge.
Despite the challenges faced by the people of Bekkersdal in Gauteng, they too have demonstrated their confidence in our ability to tackle all problems however difficult they may be. In Sedibeng, we are moving full steam ahead with the consolidation of the local government dispensation in order to ensure that we extend the frontiers of delivery to the poorest in Midvaal, whilst ensuring that the development moves at an equal pace for all the people of that region.
Our agenda is geared toward the revitalisation of strategic economic infrastructure aimed at ensuring that we stimulate economic growth and development through state-led initiatives on industrialisation, broad-based black economic empowerment, and the provision of social services.
Young people are an integral part of our society; they constitute an equally critical part of the leadership battalion that must work hard to build a better South Africa. Therefore, young people are leaders today and our task is to ensure that we contribute to building and engendering a culture of activism that affirms the charge that the people are their own liberators.
Therefore, the starting point is that we must conduct any discourse about youth development in the context of a comprehensive understanding of the challenges of development, both historically and contemporary.
Today, education stands as the fountainhead through which we must pursue knowledge for the betterment of our society. Education is vitally important in our drive to ensure that we imbue a culture of learning in order to prepare the youth for the next phase of our revolution.
Therefore, our universities and colleges must stand ready to welcome in their ranks the many young people who graduate from our basic education system every year. The state must also be ready, at all times, to ensure that we extend the frontiers of access to basic and tertiary education. Universities must progressively implement policies that eradicate the barriers to gain entrance into their institutions by ensuring that greater numbers of the historically disadvantaged become part of this civilising mission.
Given their energy and vigour, young people are one asset that is indispensable to our nation and, as a such, we are duty-bound to ensure that we take a conscious decision to, among others, restate the assertion that education is not a commodity but a fundamental right, not only for the development of an individual, but for the noble objective of the pursuit of knowledge for the betterment of the society.
Thus, this places an obligation on both the state and business to act in partnership in pursuing a vision that is about the long-term investment in the education system, in a manner that is targeted and seeks to provide skills required for development.
We should all be concerned about sections of big business that have seemingly refused to discuss the issues of an equitable share of the wealth of our economy at Nedlac last week. Such intransigence on the part of our fellow patriots constitutes a behaviour that is not in harmony with the objectives of moving the country forward.
Let me hasten to say that we have been the first to acknowledge critical points in relation to both education and the economy in order for us to grossly improve the structure of opportunities in our society; we require radical outcomes from the education system. To overcome and eradicate poverty and overcome inequality in our transformation agenda we must be a class that also embraces a nonracial entrepreneurial society. Such a class, including the pursuit of progressive broad-based black economic empowerment polices, must be about providing productive input in the economy beyond shareholder transactions including building strong co-operative institutions and other forms of social ownership.
Therefore, ours is a call to young people to take ownership and lead the process of implementing the National Development Plan. The success of the National Development Plan depends on the actions and the commitment of young people. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Mr D M STOCK
Mr L MAILE
Mr D M STOCK: Chairperson of the NCOP, the Deputy Minister in the Presidency, hon Buti Manamela, all MECs present here today, special delegates, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, the theme for this debate is: 20 Years of Democracy: Together Advancing Youth Development and Empowerment. The President of the Republic, hon Jacob Zuma, during the state of the nation address said:
Youth empowerment will be prioritised in our economic transformation programme. The government will introduce further measures to speed up the employment of young people, consistent with the Youth Employment Accord.
Hon Chairperson, the generation of 1976 confronted a brutal system of apartheid that had been, by the nations of the world, viewed as a crime against humanity. This generation of young people also ignited a widespread resistance around the country and exposed the brutality of the apartheid regime to the world. The generation of 1976 also laid down their lives so that you and I today can enjoy the freedom we are enjoying. We continue to appreciate their efforts and our tenacity towards that is through working with the young generation of today.
It is evident today because in the sitting of the Council we have got former leaders of the youth movements in the name of the Deputy Minister, Buti Manamela, who is occupying a key position; MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation of Gauteng Provincial Government, Lebogang Maile; and a number of other young people who are also occupying these positions today.
We are doing this because we understand that it is only through involving young people as compounds of change and development that we can sustain the gains realised by our democracy. Available estimates show that we have many young people across the globe compared to children and adults. In South Africa, for example, the children and youth constitute 70% of the population, whilst youth aged between 14 and 35 constitute 41,2% of the population.
The demographics which I have just highlighted clearly indicate that our youth population continues to grow in absolute numbers. It is therefore undisputed that young people deserve a bigger share on development investments. Therefore, addressing youth issues should remain salient for the global and South African community. This is essential considering the fact that the majority of the young people account for the large share of the working population, and the hurdles they experience need to be attended to during their youthful period before they enter adulthood.
In response to the protruding youth population, there have been activities that are geared towards addressing the continuous challenges these young people experience on a daily basis. Some of those challenges are poverty; poor access to education; unemployment; increased exposure to risky lifestyles and behaviours; violence; and conflicts. The ANC-led government will provide job placements; partnerships; internship schemes for our youth; and students from the FET colleges and universities of technology will be placed in the workplace to gain practical work experience. Our skills plan will direct contractors to help increase the number of engineers and artisans; project managers; machine operators; and financial managers. The state-owned enterprises will be required to increase the number of training opportunities offered to young people between the ages of 14 and 35. The public agencies responsible for co-operatives and small enterprise development will be required to develop special programmes. The private sector will also be encouraged to target the youth and make use of youth employment incentive schemes.
I think it is also important to correct one of the statements that was made earlier on by one of the hon members from the Council. The hon member from the DA, hon Michalakis, in his speech, indicated that it was only Tsietsi Mashinini who led the 1976 protest action. I want to correct the hon member by saying that he cannot speak about Tsietsi Mashinini outside the ANC. [Applause.] It was not only Tsietsi Mashinini who led the protest action; there were other young people such as Nelson Mandela. It is important that, when you make reference, you do not forget to indicate and mention the proper context of the historical evolution of our struggle.
Kofi Anan once said:
Young people should be at the forefront of global change and innovation. Empowered, they can be key agents for development and peace. If, however, they are left on society's margins, all of us will be impoverished. Let us ensure that all young people have every opportunity to participate fully in the lives of their societies.
We urge all young people to take full responsibility for their future, our country's future and the future of our society. Young people must lead and the ANC-led government will provide with support. We should always be brave, bold and courageous in espousing the values of tolerance, respect, humility and selflessness as we take our country forward with a sense of purpose and unity in action. Militancy and radicalism of young people should never be confused with disrespect, recklessness and lack of tolerance.
Setswana:
Motswana wa pele o rile: Kgakakgolo ga ke na mebala, mebala e dikgakaneng. Ka jalo, re ikantse bašwa ba ba nang le maitseo ka bokamoso jwa naga ya rona, ka gonne bokamoso bo mo go bona. Ke a leboga. [Legofi.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon members, I think the hon member has set the tone. We have a number of official and equal languages in South Africa. You are free to debate in any of those languages.
MS P MPUSHE
Mr D M STOCK
Ms P MPUSHE (Eastern Cape): Hon Chairperson, greetings to the Deputy Minister, Mr Buti Manamela, members of the NCOP, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I carry with me warm revolutionary greetings from the Eastern Cape Province, the home of legends. It is indeed an honour for one to be part of this first sitting of the NCOP.
Hon Chairperson, this debate on Youth Day marks the 20th year of our hard-earned democracy to celebrate the 38th commemoration of Youth Day. We celebrate this day to remember and salute the bravery of young people whose noble actions dealt a deadly blow to the apartheid regime. We also take this opportune moment to reflect on the achievements recorded to change the lives of our youth for the better.
Sixteen June 1976 marks a remarkable day in the history of our country, when young people stood up for what they believed in, despite the oppressive opposition regime, whose policies were highly effective in achieving its goals of preferential treatment for whites.
The youth of today must unequivocally note that basic services are enjoyed by the majority of young people in our country. Many have access to clean water, electricity, healthcare, housing, and proper sanitation, which is what some of us do not enjoy in this home province of Parliament.
Now, 80% of our schools are no-fee-paying schools, and the others receive meals daily. The National Student Financial Aid Scheme, Nsfas, in Further Education and Training Colleges increased from R318 million in 2010 to approximately R2 billion in 2013, thereby increasing access from just over R61 000 to over R222 000. At university level, Nsfas funding increased from R2,2 billion in 2010 to over R3,5 billion last year. The increasing coverage is from just over R148 000 to R210 000. The National Student Financial Aid Scheme covers all costs for students in their final year of study. In critical cases Nsfas covers full costs for needy students in scarce skills areas including transport, food and accommodation.
Much has been done to decrease the burden of killer diseases as tremendous progress has been made in the fight against HIV and Aids and TB. There has been a decline in child immortality rate. Over and above, we now have young people in managerial positions. We also have young people who are entrepreneurs in various fields. We have young people who are architects, chartered accountants and youth in Parliament who are part of decision-making; despite those who are masquerading themselves as the messiahs of the people. Others are the pilots, which was not the case during the apartheid regime.
However, there is still a need to expand and intensify the FET education system; and the seriousness of government about FET colleges will ensure that we deliver on our NDP objective.
Skills remain critical for the state to perform and recruit young graduates who must be part of improving the skills profile of any nation. We welcome the call by the President for the need to intensify the intake of graduates for internship programmes, both in the public and private sectors. By doing so, we will be closing the gap on scarce skills for the advancement of economic freedom in our lifetime. The issue of labour brokers remains a critical challenge that confronts young people, as it is used as an exploitation tool. The sooner we as government ban labour brokers the better.
In conclusion, the youth of 1976 sacrificed all their youth years to ensure a better South Africa. Therefore, this leaves us, as the youth of today - the generation of Tata Mandela - with a task of ensuring that we do not water down their democratic gains. And as young people, we must not be misled by the anti-majoritarian neoliberals who are best at throwing water at our democratic gains. We must take the lead - forward ever, backwards never.
Hector Pieterson was one of those brave, bold and courageous people killed by the merciless forces of the apartheid regime. During the era of apartheid, Sam Nzima captured the burning image of the limp body of Hector Pieterson that was carried whilst his sister ran beside him. Today, that picture remains a permanent reminder of the great sacrifices that was made by all.
Also today, we as young people must bear in mind and draw strength from the last words of the late Solomon Mahlangu, who said:
My blood will nourish the tree that will bear the fruits of freedom. Tell my people that I love them. They must continue the fight.
The struggle is not yet over. Thank you. [Applause.]
Ms T J MOKWELE
Ms P MPUSHE (Eastern Cape)
Setswana:
Mme T J MOKWELE: Motlotlegi Motlatsamodulasetulo, Mme Thandi Modise, Motlatsamodulasetulo, Rre Tau, Semesegolo sa rona, Ngaka Mme Matime, batlotlegi botlhe go ya ka ditulo tse di farologaneng, ke lo dumedisa ka leina le legolo la Jesu Keresete.
DITOKOLOLO TSA PALAMENTE: Amen!
Mme T J MOKWELE: Ka boripana, a ke tseye tšhono eno go fana ka puo ya setlhogo se se beilweng fa pele ga rona eleng, ke tla se lokolola ka puo ya seěng.e leng:
English:
Twenty Years of Democracy: Together Advancing Youth Development And Empowerment.
Setswana:
Motlotlegi Modulasetulo, re tsaya jang kgato e e masisi jaana re le naga re sa laole leruo kgotsa moruo le lefatshe? Ke potso e e tshwanetseng go nna mo ditlhaloganyong tsa rona le mo menaganong ya rona.
English:
As we celebrate 20 years of democracy we must also bear in mind that for this to be achieved, people died and people were murdered by the apartheid government.
Setswana:
Ke rata gape go tsaya tšhono eno go tlotlomatsa bašwa ba ngwaga wa 1976 ...
English:
... for making sure not to be taught in Afrikaans during the struggle, because they considered Afrikaans as the apartheid language. As Africans, they wanted the NP government to make sure that it recognises the languages of the African people, as they were Africans. I want to say to the youth of today that we must stand firm and make sure that we take this opportunity to lead in our struggle, and make sure that our lives are improved.
We will only better our lives when government takes a stand to make sure that mines are nationalised and it expropriates land without compensation, so that it can create jobs for our youth build proper schools, provide free education from Grade R to the attainment of the first degree and to build industries in order to create sustainable work opportunities. [Time expired.] Thank you.
MS T MOTARA
Ms T J MOKWELE
Ms T MOTARA: Hon Chairperson of the NCOP, Deputy Chairperson and members of this House, as a young woman, it is indeed an honour to be addressing this House in front of many whom we have learnt from, who have lead us and who continue to lead South Africa.
No debate on the status of youth would ever be complete without owing our consciousness, vigour, militancy and discipline to the fallen heroes of 1976. It was in that fateful year that students took to the streets protesting against what would ultimately result in producing students equipped with a substandard level of education. This would only allow them limited capacity to perform as meaningful role-players in South Africa, as they would have been taught in a language that they could not read, write or speak, much less understand adequately – if at all.
These heroes and heroines understood then, that their futures were bleak and meaningless, and thus channelled that energy to protest in the only way that they could then, ultimately sacrificing their lives. Young people today still present the nation with a magnificent human resource and capital, endless ideas, boundless energy and an imagination that both fascinate and stimulate others into action. We, as youth of this country as well as young leaders of a democratic South Africa, face the huge responsibility of not only galvanising young people into taking steps to empower their lives, but also to be active agents of change.
We have a responsibility not to mislead the electorate, while raising critical issues on their behalf remains our mandate. Practical expression that the ANC continues to place the agenda of youth in this country as a continuous priority can be seen by the President's appointment of a current youth leader, hon Bhuti Manamela, as the Deputy Minister in the highest office of the land. The ANC in Gauteng went further and appointed another youth leader, hon Lebogang Maile, to drive the economy of the country's economic hub. Both have eloquently articulated the role of the ANC and government, and there can be no doubt that the future of this country remains in safe hands.
While others would have us believe that the ANC has done nothing or very little in the advancement and empowerment of youth in this country, these myths are continuously being dispelled. The stories being told, not by us, but by ordinary South Africans, bare testimony to that fact.
In his state of the nation address, His Excellency President Jacob Zuma, told the country of the great advances being made in the roll out of educational infrastructure. Not only are new schools being built, but also further education and training, FET, colleges and two new universities. While some amongst us would want the nation to believe that a university should be up and running and perhaps even have doctoral graduates in the first year of its existence, the ANC-led government is much more practical than that. We live in the real world where resources are shared amongst all its citizens in order to provide for the holistic development of its citizens. We can only continue to build more schools and expand the current universities that we have undertaken to build.
Education remains a key priority of this Fifth Parliament. However, it is up to us as young South Africans to take the lead in our own lives. Education is a necessary tool and form of advancement for any individual who really takes their own empowerment seriously. In his address to the nation at the launch of Youth Month this year, Mr Yershen Pillay, the Executive Chairperson of the National Youth Development Agency, NYDA, further highlighted the role that education plays in society. In responding to this critical need, Mr Pillay told us of the success of the NYDA's Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship Fund, which disburses R20 million worth of funding to young people wanting to further their studies. This disbursement has reached the majority of rural youth and has to date given the opportunity to 236 young South Africans the opportunity to advance their lives. The second chance matric rewrite programme offers thousands of young people a second opportunity to obtain their National Senior Certificate and boasts an 87% pass rate - a further indication that we should leave nothing to chance and allow every person an opportunity to make their mark in society.
We must ensure though that education must not be a means of oppression but be a tool to liberation. If we are truly to see the economy growing, education must be both relevant and comprehensive. The ANC has made great strides in this regard, particularly in Gauteng. Education remains a societal priority. In its 20-Year Review of education in Gauteng, a review undertaken by Wits University told a story of great advances in the status of education in Gauteng.
In special schools, numbers have risen by 65%, from 25 000 to 42 058 learners today. The recruitment and distribution of teachers has increased from 44 000 across the public school system in 1995 to 54 803, to meet the challenges of increasing learner numbers. Ordinary schooling has grown by 59%, from 1,3 million learners in 1994 to 2,1 million today - a massive increase of over 809 000 learners.
If young people do not take advantage of the structural support provided for by this government, we will only have ourselves to blame for not being adequately empowered. If indeed we call ourselves the future, if indeed we call ourselves today's leaders, let's lead by example. Hope cannot be given to the hopeless if we ourselves are not disciplined, not morally sound, not a mirror of self-worth or self-respect.
In the words of Steven Covey, and I quote:
I am personally convinced that one person can be a change catalyst, a transformer on any situation, any organisation. Such an individual is yeast that can leaven an entire loaf. It requires vision, initiative, patience, persistence, courage and faith to be a transforming leader.
We are definitely capable and willing to do more. The opportunity that presents itself in the form of young minds, willing to take active roles in a prosperous society must be harnessed to its full potential. We remain committed to work with everyone and anyone who shares this vision for South Africa, and if others won't the ANC will move South Africa forward without you. Thank you. [Applause.]
Ms B MBINQO-GIGABA
Ms T MOTARA
Ms MBINQO-GIGABA (Northern Cape): Hon Deputy Chair, Madam Chair, Deputy Minister, the member of the executive council in Gauteng, special delegates and the members of the Council, this month's celebration comes against the backdrop of both extreme joy and sadness. We are sad because we have paid homage to pillars of strength and stalwarts of liberation struggles and civil rights movements. We laid to rest a veteran in Mrs Epanaitte Moerane Mbeki, Maya Angelou, a USA civil rights leader alongside Dr Martin Luther King as well as Godfrey Mashope, the former secretary of the Northern Cape Legislature. To their families we say may their souls rest in peace.
We are however rejuvenated with hope and joy when we draw from the vigour and braveness of the class of 1976 and subsequent groups of 1985 and 1990. They demonstrated that the banning orders, arrest, detention without trial and including gallows will not silence their call for freedom from subjugation and oppression. We therefore celebrate this year's celebration as a key milestone in our 20 years of democracy and we consistently advocate the message that we have a good story to tell. We can comfortably say that we have come a long way and we are moving young people to greater heights.
We think that a fair and contextual perspective of 16 June 2014 will do justice to tell our own contribution to the student revolution. We made Sam de Beer and John Vorster sweat in our ranks in our own backyards as learners of Carlton Van Heerden in Upington. A march organised by William Pescod High School, Tshireletso High School and St Boniface High School in Kimberley ended up at Transvaal Road Police Station and the vibrant protest at Batlharo Tlhaping High School in Mothibistad in Kuruman.
In all these protests, the common issue was the objection of the imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction; the demand of the democratic student representative council, SRC, to replace the bureaucratic prefect system as well as the end of the gutter education. This education trained a black child to become a true gardener and fodder for the employment needs of exploiting the mining and agricultural sector rather than becoming skilful entrepreneurs, engineers and job providers under the system of lifelong learning.
Our province, the Northern Cape, took their cue from Tsietsi Mashinini, Khotso Seahloho, Seth Mazibuko and Sibongile Mkhabela. Our heroes and heroines of the ilk of Phakamile Mabhija, Sabelo Ntwasa, Totts Tlhomelang faced the cold-blooded apartheid police system and the brunt of their cruelty armed only with stones and their schoolbags. These students went up the ranks of MK and led the reconscientising of our community.
The so-called void left by the banning of the ANC, immediately filled with the roaring young lions who fled the country to take up arms. We have indeed contributed to ferry MK combatants through the Kgalakgadi corridor to Botswana as it was already culturally dating back to the times of John Taulo Gaetshewe and Joe Morolong. We are celebrating the 2014 Youth Day under the theme: Together, Advancing Youth Development and Empowerment.
There were no new high schools built in Soweto between 1962 and 1971 because of the government's homeland system. Students were forced to move to their relevant homelands to attend to newly built schools. The Northern Cape did not escape the brutality of the apartheid system as the only high schools found in Kimberley were Tshireletso, St Boniface and Tidimalo High Schools. Our students in Upington had to travel to the Eastern Cape because there was only school - Monwabisi High School - in De Aar.
We had no high schools in Warrenton, Postmasburg, Olifantshoek and all students from those areas had to come to Kimberley for their secondary education. The emergence of high schools was only started in 1983 with Pabalelo and Mogomotsi High Schools.
I will not speak on the National Youth Development Agency, NYDA because the Deputy Minister has covered me on that part.
Lastly, despite the many inroads we have made, youth unemployment remains a very real challenge. To counter this, a range of initiatives from formal education and training, learnerships and internships as well as support for youth entrepreneurships have been introduced. Government has also established a dedicated Ministry to deal with issues of the development of SMMEs. The Ministry will provide support for young entrepreneurs to ensure that they can contribute to a more inclusive economy that will help to overcome the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality.
Youth have an opportunity to reskill themselves through our second chance programmes at technical and vocational education and training colleges. Government has introduced a youth Employment Tax Incentive, Act 26 of 2013 to support youth employment. For the first time in the history of this province, the Northern Cape, our youth now have the option of not going to seek for tertiary education in other provinces because of the construction of Sol Plaatjie University that will be built in our province.
We know that the child support grant will now be extended to people up to the age of 23. Indeed, these are some of the good stories we can tell in relation to strides made by this democratic government over the past 20 years of freedom and we still believe that together we can make our country, South Africa, move forward.
The implementation of the National Development Plan, NDP, will see South Africa becoming a nation that collectively cares for its youth. The plan must culminate into a more united and cohesive society. We own the power to build South Africa and we want to see beyond 2030. Projects like the Youth Build programme and the activation of solar geysers to youth-headed households are tangible interventions by our ruling party in the true spirit of its promises to drive the implementation of the National Development Plan recognising he role young people must play in our country's development.
The NDP presents an unprecedented opportunity to harness the talent and passionate energy of youth to help boost economic growth and development by being innovative and creative through sport, arts and culture and tourism projects. We will further make a glue of social cohesion to bond our youth by creating platforms for meaningful and gainful employment for them. We are committed, as hosts for extreme sports like the Bloodhound Project skateboarding competition in our province, to deliver sustainable jobs to cut down youth unemployment.
In conclusion, we urge the youth to start planning for International Nelson Mandela Day, not only the 67 minutes but the whole day, as we usher in voluntarism month to effect changes in communities so that we can give meaning to a better life for all. We remain resolute in our philosophy that we have a good story to tell. Therefore, roll up your sleeves and reach out to the needy. Thank you. [Applause.]
Ms T K MAMPURU
Ms B MBINQO-GIGABA (Northern Cape)
Sepedi:
Moh T K MAMPURU: Ke tla fihla Motlatšamodulasetulo. Motlatšamodulasetulo a ke go dumediše. Pele ke tsena ditabeng, ka boikokobetšo ke tla kgopela go eletša mohl Mokwele gore a tsebe gore ...
English:
... service delivery is not an event but an ongoing process. That is why as an organisation on a five-year term, we are given the responsibility to renew our mandate.
Sepedi:
Mopedi o re "Go totompetša ke go rata, go bala ke go hloya", ke rata go bolela se ...
English:
... because, as the ANC and as the ANC-led government, we are able to produce leaders from the ranks of our youth. We have a Minister by the name of Fikile Mbalula, and also a Minister by the name of Malusi Gigaba, just to but mention a few. The debate of today is on Youth Day: 20 Years Of Democracy: Together Advancing Youth Development and Empowerment.
Sepedi:
Baswana ba re "Ngwale'a hloka moditi o tšea molao ka tsela".
English:
The South African youth is the cornerstone of the future of this country and their contribution to the liberation struggle cannot be ignored. When it was difficult for the ruling party during the early 40s to convince the colonial architects about the liberation of Africans, young people like Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo, Anton Lembede and others influenced the formation of an organisation of young people within the liberation movement and developed a radical political programme of action of mass mobilisation, protests and boycotts as a tool to fast-track the liberation of the country.
Since that time, the youth of the country were at the forefront of the struggle as we witnessed the 1976 Soweto uprisings spread across the length and breadth of South Africa and culminated into the June 16th celebration day. During the January 8th Statement of 1985, the then President-General of the ANC, Comrade Oliver Tambo, issued an instruction to render the apartheid system unworkable and the apartheid government unworkable, and the youth of the country heeded that call and demobilised the country for the liberation of the majority of our people.
Sepedi:
"Mahlako a maswa a ema ka a matala".
English:
This short history should be the basis of our understanding in terms of challenges facing young people, unemployment, poverty and inequality. As we are building the country we need to put the interests of young people at the centre. We need to get more young people in the workplace, through collaboration between the private sector, public sector, youth organisations and trade unions.
Sepedi:
Mogologolo o re, "Moetetša serathana o re ka moso se tle se mo etetše". Bana ba rena ke tshepa gore le theeditše!
English:
Government must act to improve the quality of active labour market policies, and create incentives for absorbing the young unemployed so that young unskilled job seekers can gain entry into employment more easily. The expansion of vocational training, linking the skills development with industrial growth and job creation and expanding the support for youth, especially the previously disadvantaged, in accessing and developing skills are also critical ingredients for our response to challenges facing the young people.
We need continuously to encourage the creation of new business,
co-operatives and the expansion of small business by reducing the costs of compliance with government regulations and making it easier for young entrepreneurs to do business with government - noting that the road ahead of us is long and that there are no shortcuts for doing things - I discourage that. Maturity and discipline go hand in glove - that is why we have the likes of Maile as MEC in Gauteng.
One strategic initiative that the ANC government adopted in the National Development Plan, NDP, whose vision, critical instruments and policy initiatives will continue to drive government's medium-term policy agenda, such as the national infrastructure plan, the New Growth Path and the industrial policy action plan. This reaffirms our commitment in promoting local youth companies, young entrepreneurs and co-operatives as part of creating a platform for young people to participate in the economy of the country through sector opportunities.
All the economic activities that are available in the country are geared towards ensuring that the youth of the country should benefit through government intervention and policies that are sympathetic to the historical past, and it is within this context that we should do the following: continue to build capacity to drive the socio-economic agenda in the country including absorbing young people into economic activities; employing young professionals; and investing in skills required by the economy and investing in research and development to respond to the demands of the knowledge economy. Young people should take advantage of the Ministry of small, medium enterprises, SMMEs, and cease opportunities available to play an important role in their business development. The diversification of their business initiative should be relevant to the growth path, as encapsulated in the NDP.
Sepedi:
Re hloga kudumela ge re le fa, ke ka fao re re go "Kodimela moepathutse gobane ga go lehumo leo le tšwago kgauswi", le gona, "mphemphe e a lapiša motho o kgonwa ke sa gagwe".
English:
We are the ANC in government and we are proud. Together we move South Africa forward. This is a plea to our young people ...
Sepedi:
... tlogelang go llela dinakana tša mekhura le swaneng le diphuthiana tša boya bonthlana magola ka go ikilela. Le tlo ba setšhaba se sekaone sa gonabjale le ka moso.
English:
Thank you.
Mr W F FABER: Hon Chair, on a point of order: I would just like to know if you are alright. You looked scared of hon Mampuru with the kierie. I see that, as a young man, you were a bit worried there at one stage. I just want to know if you are alright, hon Chair.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE COUNCIL: That is not a point of order. Hon member, you may proceed with the debate.
Mr L B GAEHLER
Ms T K MAMPURU
IsiXhosa:
Mnu L B GAEHLER: Sekela Somlomo, Sekela Mphathiswa, abaphathiswa kumaphondo, Malungu ePalamente, masibulele nathi ukuba nisiphe eli thuba lokuba singene kule ngxoxo.
English:
On 16 June, South Africa commemorated the 16 June 1976 Soweto uprisings when young people fought for a better education. Those young people had a struggle and their struggle was to stand up against an unjust system of oppression. With young people being the future of every generation, 20 years into our democracy we have young people who have the potential to be pioneers in their own right, but these young people face many challenges which include poverty, a nonfunctioning education system, alcohol, drug abuse and a high rate of youth unemployment.
The UDM believes that we should get our youth working through education, skills development, vocational training, job creation and opportunities for young South Africans should be created. In addition we believe that we should arrange youth mentorships and exchange programmes through bilateral agreements with other countries so that our youth can gain expertise in a variety of things to help them grow in their particular careers and be self-sufficient.
The youth of today need a leadership that they can look up to. It is also their responsibility to work hard and keep in mind that their future is in their hands. Their struggle is to be pioneers of change and create a better South Africa. Thank you.
Mr L N MOKOENA
Mr L B GAEHLER
Sesotho:
Mong L G MOKOENA: Ke dumedisa ho wena Modulasetulo le ho ntlo ya hao e hlompehileng.
English:
Youth development in the historical context of a colonial past cannot be divorced from current land and minerals debates. The 21st century youth is relegated to a permanent landless underclass in a country deemed to be one of the richest in mineral and agrarian resources. Three hundred and sixty years ago, the African was dispossessed of his land, his minerals and his labour abused for enrichment of foreign capital.
Today, in what seems like an historical rut, 14 generations down the line, the youth find themselves stuck in the same draconian conditions: landless and working - if they are - but not progressive. An estimated 3,3 million youth which is 71% of the total unemployed people in South Africa live in unacceptable conditions of the nomadic, landless and shack-dwelling masses whom history has dealt the heavy blow of a seemingly permanent impoverished existence.
Landlessness has rendered them victims of harsh conditions of crime, bad health, squalor and - may I add - displacement of apartheid-style demolitions and evictions. While we give them temporary relief through archaic labour programmes such as Extended Public Works Programmes, EPWPs, and youth wage subsidies, and while to them quality service delivery seems but a distant dream, their overarching plight of homelessness and landlessness continues to render them permanent tenants indebted to their historical landlords - the white minority.
The education we provide them cannot sustain them through institutions of higher learning or merely help them enter the job market for that matter. So, it seems that while government is in cahoots with white minority capital, tip-toeing around the fundamental land rights debates and turns a blind eye to capital flight, especially in the mining sector, robbing the country of much-needed resources, the youth are being further relegated into perpetual ineptitude.
Land is home. Land is asset. Land is work. And, land is dignity. To deprive the youth of South Africa of this fundamental right is to sell out on a dream espoused by the conscientious and decisive generation of the 1955 Freedom Charter. It is also to negate the dream that, "Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another".
There is not a single programme in this world that we can conjure up that can lift the collective disenfranchisement of the youth out of perennial hopelessness if land is not at the core of that discussion. [Time expired.] I thank you. [Applause.]
Ms N MBOMBO (Western Cape)
Mr L G MOKOENA
Ms N MBOMBO (Western Cape): Hon Chairperson, hon members of the House, it gives me great pleasure to be here today, speaking of the strides we have made as a country after 20 years of democracy, more so in terms of developing and empowering young people.
Thousands of South Africans fought vehemently against an unjust system of apartheid for us to be where we are today. Many laid down their lives and paid the highest price for South Africa to be truly free. The DA understands the sacrifice and values that it represents. We work tirelessly to ensure that the vision of our forefathers is carried out and that the people of South Africa are the true beneficiaries of this freedom.
The people of this country are yearning for rapid change. Young people specifically demand more from us leaders. South Africans want a government that will grow the economy, create jobs and reduce poverty for a better future. They want a transparent and accountable government that prioritises service delivery and takes their plight seriously. The DA is and will continue working hard to deliver on the mandate that we have been given by the people of the Western Cape.
You see, many young South Africans do not share the ANC's good story, whilst some of us may agree on the gains made as a country since our democracy. You can never compare the South Africa of today with the South Africa of yesterday. There is no comparison. We have been part of one government post-1994 and therefore let us measure ourselves against our potentials and strides. We need to be realistic that the majority of youth were not even there during apartheid. We are setting the bar far too low if we measure our performance and our record of delivery against a system that excluded a population that is in the majority.
After 20 years of democracy, the unfortunate reality is that much needs to be done to improve the lives of young South Africans. Let me paint a picture of the life of a young person in South Africa today - you be the judge whether this is a good story or not. A young girl that is born in a poverty-stricken township like Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape - where I was born and bred - is faced with a number of challenges. She attends school more often than not with few teachers, no text books and no proper infrastructure. [Interjections.]
It is likely that, just like a millions of other young girls who have been victims of gruesome crimes, she might be sexually assaulted on her very doorstep by a parent, relative, teacher, neighbour or stranger. [Interjections.]
Mr W F FABER: Scumbags!
Ms N MBOMBO (Western Cape): Chances are that she contracts HIV, be physically abused by her partner and becomes a teenage pregnancy statistic. She might struggle through school like many others across the country who had been left with no text books. If she is lucky to make it through matric, she would only form part of the few who get the opportunity. She will no doubt struggle to find funding for her higher education studies. She will most certainly struggle to find a job, like the three million other young people seeking employment opportunities today. This is not the life that South African young people must be subjected to. This is certainly not the life that was envisioned by the class of 1976.
You will agree that this is not a good story! It is a story of an abundant youth and an abundant promise of 1994! In the Western Cape, the DA has strived to change the trajectory of young people. We aim to improve the lives of young people by creating multi-opportunity platforms in partnership with private sectors, civil societies, communities and all spheres of government. We adopt a whole-society approach involving all stakeholders in developing these young persons, with an aim to produce a responsible skilled well-resourced adult.
In the Western Cape, the young girl I spoke about earlier will attend a school where she will have a textbook for every subject! [Interjections.] [Applause.] She will be in a school that excels in Languages and Mathematics, with access to a library, in an area no matter how remote. Where there are no formal structures, mobile libraries are provided. We have initiated book clubs as early as from primary school level in all corners of the province.
The Western Cape government understands the importance of a reading nation. No matter where you are or where you come from, you have to read. This girl will have dedicated and well-trained teachers in that school. She will enjoy the benefit of attending a well-equipped school with better infrastructure; not mud schools or classes under trees. [Interjections.] She will be able to access the internet at her school at a fully-functioning Science laboratory.
After school, she will be able to attend one of our 181 Mass-Participation, Opportunity and Development centres, Mod, centres. These are Mass-Participation, Opportunity and Development centres that operate after school hours which have been implemented by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports in partnership with schools and communities. Here, she will be able to enjoy a safe place to play sport, participate in cultural activities and study after school hours. We envisage a social, inclusive, creative and active environment for this young person.
The Western Cape government appreciates the role that sport plays in unifying a nation. Sport is a vehicle to promote reconciliation and community development. As a form of recreation, sport is a life skill for individual personal development. Through our sports development, we have initiated and financially supported more than 200 sport clubs in all six districts within the province. These clubs include classes for youth with disabilities. Young people compete among themselves locally and internationally.
We make use of accredited sport coaches to develop and identify young talent in different sport codes from a very young age. The coaches also provide the presence of an adult whom the young person can bond with, trust, and act as a mentor and role model where there is no other support system. The majority of our youth come from broken homes, with no functioning family support.
Culture and arts, a fundamental human right to freedom of expression, creates the platform for young people to learn from each other's culture in a diversified environment. The Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport has taken art galleries and exhibitions to the streets and to communities where young people can showcase their work for human capital development. This is youth entrepreneurship.
Within the Mod centres, this young girl would also be able to benefit from the meals supplied to all learners after school hours. She can also participate in the Youth Gap Year volunteer programme. This initiative involves top matric and university graduates, locally and internationally, taking part in a gap year to tutor learners in our Mod centres after formal school hours.
Other incredible opportunities for young people are Youth Cafés. For example, there is one in Mitchells Plain, with others in the pipeline, where young people participate in a range of entrepreneurial skills development programmes. [Interjections.] This young girl's future is already more promising compared to her equals in other parts of the country, especially considering this massive rollout of the broadband access and free Wi-Fi hotspots in every corner of the province. The technology to access information, free online books and job adverts are of significance to a young person.
The Western Cape government has developed various initiatives to combat drugs and substance abuse. An example is the structured residential programme for youth at risk, where they receive occupational and life skills training to further education and work opportunities, like the Chrysalis Academy, for instance.
The Western Cape is one of the provinces leading in rapid economic growth and job creation. This is largely due to clean and efficient governance. We have fully utilised funds that we received from the national government, using innovative ways of getting young people working. The Department of Economic Development and Tourism has budgeted over R120 million for the next three years on skills development programmes alone.
Young people continue to benefit from the premier's advancement of youth project, which provides internships for matriculants with on-the-job training in government departments for a year. Through the Artisan Development Programme, ADP, in partnership with the private sector, Setas and FET colleges, we have created a pipeline of young qualified artisans who can contribute to growing the emerging sectors of our economy, such as the oil and gas industry.
The DA-led government has been at the forefront of implementing the youth wage subsidy. We have placed about 1000 young people in different companies. Our agricultural department, together with our private sector partners have awarded 147 bursaries to deserving students to further their education in the agricultural sector. This opportunity has allowed these young people to either work for the department or private companies creating real jobs. [Interjections.]
There is no doubt that this young girl can tell a better story in a DA-led government: A story of a caring government; a story of a working government; and a story of a government that puts its young people first. [Applause.] [Interjections.] Young people in the Western Cape will tell a story of a political party in South Africa that has the know-how to deliver on the promise of 1994. We invest in our youth, our future leaders. All of us should do the same. I thank you. [Applause.]
Mr W F FABER: Hon Chair, on a point of order: I was just thinking that on maiden speeches we should not comment, because ... [Interjections.] ... we did not comment on other speakers' speeches. So, I would appreciate the same from other parties as well. [Interjections.] Thank you.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Can I be allowed to rule? That was a point of order and there is nothing wrong with it. However, the issue is that whenever a maiden speech has got contents that would be regarded as either controversial statements or provoking responses, then it would therefore be difficult to maintain that order. For now, I would rule against that order and request those members who will be presenting their maiden speeches to locate them within the spirit of not provoking members to respond to their speeches and so on.
Mr M KHAWULA
Ms N MBOMBO
Mr M KHAWULA: Hon Chairperson, may I declare upfront that this is my maiden speech?
The IFP joins millions of South Africans and hopefully, billions of citizens of the world in saluting the bravery of South African youth leaders and the young people of 1976. These were determined, selfless, young South Africans who dared the arrogant, oppressive powers of the regime and stood for the recognition of the rights of equality and universal suffrage. They fought for their freedom, and the freedom and rights of generations to come. Whilst the uprisings of June 1976 reached its peak and indeed became popular in Soweto, we acknowledge that young South Africans throughout the country contributed significantly to this memorable, honourable and historical event. In Zulu we say ...
IsiZulu:
... indlela ibuzwa kwabaphambili.
English:
The IFP also acknowledges the role played by political leaders of the time who gave political guidance to the youth of our country. Leaders such as Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi and others prevented large scale bloodshed and spoke about tolerance and peaceful resolution. In doing so they assisted in calming the anger of young people in the country as well as the totalitarian wrath of the destructive South African regime. Little credit has been given to these leaders and the roles they played as peaceful intermediaries to the anger that persisted on both sides at the time.
Even before the founding of the political formations in 1912 in our country, South Africans of all clans have always been at the centre stage of protecting the wealth, culture and the property of our different backgrounds. For example, King Shaka of the Zulu nation was a young person when he ascended the throne as the king of the Zulu nation, and there are many more examples like these throughout the history of our proud nation.
The IFP has always been part and parcel of the mainstream programmes of youth development in our country. We were part of the National Youth Development Forum, the NYDF, before 1994, hon MEC. We also served in the NYDF executive structure which had youth leaders like the late Comrade Zenzele Phakathi, Ms Febe Potgieter, Ms Thoko Msani and others. We were one of the founding organisations of the now defunct African Youth Council and served in all its structures at all levels. We participated in the Youth Indaba in Kempton Park in 1996 where I was a delegate, which culminated in the establishment of the National Youth Commission and the first Youth Parliament of South Africa in September 1996 where I spoke on behalf of the IFP. We served in the first National Youth Commission of our country through Comrade Otto Kunene, and subsequent ones. Hon Deputy Minister, since the inception of the National Youth Commission in 1996 our proposal at the summit, going forward, has always been that South Africa needs to establish a fully-fledged youth Ministry in the government, at national and provincial levels.
The role of the National Youth Commission as a structure was limited and is still minimised by the legal and legislative deficiencies of its being. The same applies to the National Youth Development Agency, the NYDA.
The theme of today's debate is: 20 Years of Democracy: Together Advancing Youth Development and Empowerment. It is a pity that the road travelled thus far has not been an enriching one from the standpoint of youth development and empowerment. We hope this will change and that our country will begin to receive the recognition it deserves, and that the powers that be concede to the establishment of a fully-fledged youth Ministry. I thank you on behalf of Inkatha. [Applause.]
Cllr C G CAVANAGH (Salga)
Mr M KHAWULA
Cllr C G CAVANAGH (Salga): Yes, that's right, the SA Local Government Association, Salga. Hon Chair, I have a 40 page speech, because I do believe that this is a maiden speech on behalf of the youth of South Africa.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: As long as it is within the 10 minutes allocated.
Cllr C G CAVANAGH (Salga): I have 10 minutes, Deputy Chair. Hon Deputy Chairperson of NCOP, Deputy Minister in the Presidency, members of the NCOP, and our very special delegates here today, Salga is very honoured and pleased to participate in this debate today on the theme: 20 Years of Democracy: Together Advancing Youth Development and Empowerment. Indeed, we have come a long way on a journey that started many years ago amid the injustices of the apartheid regime.
On 16 June 1976, a revolution took place in Soweto, which was to change our history and its course. The story of 1976 has been told countless times here today and there are many versions of it. However, through all the narratives of June 16 one fact remains, and that is that young people driven by ideals of freedom, peace, and equality died on that day in pursuit of their rights. Their sacrifice should inspire us to honour their legacy by reliving and practicing the aspirations they lived for. It is, of course, our duty today not only to commemorate their legacy but also to live it and ensure that our policies and programmes as government are honouring it.
As we commemorate Youth Month, the challenge of youth unemployment dominates our discussions. In his state of the nation address, the President, His Excellency hon Jacob Zuma, mentioned: Firstly, that youth empowerment will be prioritised in our economic transformation programme.
Secondly, government will introduce further measures to speed up the employment of young people, consistent with the Youth Employment Accord.
I am certain that all segments of society echo the same sentiment, that youth development must be at the epicentre of the national development agenda. Local government can therefore play its role by taking active steps to ensure that the overall economic and social conditions of the locality are conducive to the creation of employment opportunities primarily targeted at the youth, including making local government their career of choice through appropriate incentive schemes, internships and learnership programmes.
The National Development Plan highlights the need to step up measures to include young people in democratic governance processes and in the development of plans to address the concerns of the youth. The active involvement of young people in governance processes, including local governance, is especially critical in order to properly understand and appropriately respond to the current and future development needs of this large segment of the population. I believe that local government has a mammoth task of cascading programmes since it is the most critical sphere of government in terms of civic participation and broader community development.
With regard to youth development in local government, the Salga youth development programme aims to define the unique value-added role of local government towards the achievement of a better life for all young men and women in our country. A number of proposals have been put forward to identify and position the youth development agenda in local government, driven by some of the following principles: Firstly, to continuously engage in research projects and assist in informing, breaking new grounds, monitoring and evaluating youth development interventions;
Secondly, to develop and harness partnerships and relationships with strategic role-players which include the private sector, government agencies, civil structures and independent donor agencies in the youth sector with a view of attracting additional resources for youth programmes.
Finally, to facilitate the development of youth leadership skills, thereby ensuring that young men and women participate in decision-making processes and inform youth development.
The participation of young people in municipal Integrated Development Planning, IDP, processes is particularly important in order for youth interests to be effectively integrated into the mainstream and goals that are being set out in the strategies, projects and, critically, the budgets of municipalities. Most municipalities have dedicated mechanisms to enable and encourage youth participation, for example, through the establishment of the youth forums, the councils and its advisory committees.
The SA Local Government Association has worked closely with various partners, for example, the National Youth Development Agency, the German International Co-operation and the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs with the aim of developing approaches and models for enabling youth participation in local governance. This resulted in the development of the draft youth development strategy for local government in 2010. The draft strategy is aimed at providing guidance for the design, implementation and monitoring of youth development programmes at the local government level.
Other interventions include the identification and documentation of good practices on youth development programmes in local government. The establishment of the Youth Development Forum, for example in Ikwezi Local Municipality in the Cacadu District and the youth working groups at the Amahlathi and Great Kei local municipalities are some of the examples we are very proud of.
On a very practical level, the Youth Development Forum demonstrates how youth can be mobilised and equipped to get on board, and competently and effectively to enter the domain of local governance together with a key player and partner in this space – local government. Municipal youth development forums are vehicles that make it possible for the youth and municipalities to meet and deliberate on issues of shared concern, to collectively prepare plans for youth development and to jointly implement these.
The SA Local Government Association as a body representing organised local government wishes to continue and further its support of job creation and entrepreneurship initiatives targeting young people in local government. We therefore encourage all municipalities to participate in our Youth Employment Accord, and most importantly, to consider job creation and entrepreneurship for youth as part of both integrated development plans and local economic development strategies.
Young people today are hardest hit by the challenges of poverty, unemployment and acute global economic and social challenges. Whilst we may not have solutions to all these problems today, we do have hope that with the right skills, support and enabling opportunities, our endeavours to bring change in the lives of young people will bear fruit. Local government is doing its bit and we look forward to partnering with key stakeholders and development partners to give our youth the future they deserve. I thank you. [Applause.]
Mr S J MOHAI
Cllr G Cavanagh (Salga)
Mr S J MOHAI: Hon Deputy Chairperson and hon members, this year's debate on the national Youth Day in South Africa coincides with the 20th anniversary of our freedom and democracy under the leadership of the ANC. This poses a fundamental question to this august House as the voice of our people about the character of this debate.
At the heart of this question is whether the debate should assume a normal political posture or should inspire unity of purpose across political spectra, reflecting where the country comes from, where it is presently and where it is going, as a fitting tribute to the successive generation of youth who sacrificed their lives for our freedom.
The Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Comrade Manamela and the Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Comrade Lebohang Maile, led us into this debate and the rest of other speakers from the ANC shared progress with regard to provinces in responding to the question I posed. They also shared the good stories about the ongoing agenda for transformation unfolding in South Africa.
We also heard from the other side, of a party which belongs to a backward ideology, the DA, which, in any case, is a party that is antitransformation. [Applause.] It is a party that perpetuates that, we have found conditions as they are, so we must leave them as they are. There is no attempt at transformation.
However, the only new thing is that they have found a new sound box in the MEC present with us today, not to share with us progress with regard to the ongoing transformation. [Applause.] We know, as the people of South Africa, that we are witnesses to the developments that have taken place in the last 20 years and the recent one about the 2010 developments.
South Africa, under the leadership of the ANC, has helped the majority of young people to realise their dreams and to break narrow stereotypes, to deal with self-perceptions and also to make South Africa a country for all our people.
There is always an attempt by the DA to reduce the lives of our people to statistical data. They always use data to undermine the ongoing transformation in South Africa. We, in the ANC, ...
An HON MEMBER: You are just talking.
Mr S J MOHAI: We, in the ANC, agree -
An HON MEMBER: Put the facts on the table.
Mr S J MOHAI: ... That's a fact.
An HON MEMBER: You're always referring to the Western Cape. What about the rest of South Africa?
We, in the ANC, agree that the significance of June 16 stands out in the annals of South African history of the liberation struggle for two important reasons. One is that June 16 is a great historic moment that depicts the decisive and heroic role played by the youth in the struggle for a liberated South Africa. The second is that June 16 commemorates the brutality of the apartheid regime.
Both these factors carry great contemporary significance that is instructive as we mark 20 years of democracy, gearing ourselves for advancing youth development and empowerment. In any case, before 1994, the issues of youth were not even institutionalised. Young people were relegated to the dustbin of history by the racist minority regime. [Interjections.]
June 16 is a point of reference for the historic role the youth played in the struggle for national liberation, because from 16 June 1976, South Africa was never the same. The youth of 1976 stood up and challenged the apartheid regime in an area that was core to the apartheid policy - the education system.
We've just heard the DA saying the democratic dispensation has not opened access to education. Today South Africa prides itself as a nation that has increased universal access to education to almost above 97%. What is it compared to the apartheid system? We cannot even compare ourselves to the apartheid system. It was never a system that was aimed at addressing the needs of humanity.
They stood up and fought against Bantu education with abhorrence in attitude and a radical militant political outlook. Their victory did not only defeat Bantu education, but also registered a decisive blow to the entire system of apartheid. This way the great impetus and victory of our youth of 1976 revived the liberation movement and mass struggles that had suffered a strategic defeat in the preceding decade of the 1960's with the banning of the ANC and other liberation movements, the banishment, imprisonment and forced exile of many leaders and activists of the liberation movement.
June 16 created a mood and momentum for intensified mass struggles that was to spur the liberation struggle in the 1980's. Indeed, the decade of the 1980's was a decade of people's power. This could be observed right from the late 1970's with the formation of Congress of South African Students, Cosas, the United Democratic Front, UDF, the militant mass youth struggles that rendered the country ungovernable. This made apartheid unworkable between 1984 and 1986, until the Defiance Campaign of 1989, which culminated in the unbanning of the ANC in 1990.
We pay tribute to the leaders of the Soweto students of 1976: Khotso Seatlholo, Dan Montsitsi, who was a former member of this Council, Tsietsi Mashinini, Murphy Morobe, and many others. In the same vein, we do not forget Steve Biko, Onkgopotse Tiro, Ephraim Mogale, the founding president of Cosas in 1979, and others. Oliver Tambo gave the title of young lions to the generation of youth of the 1980's for their relentlessness in fighting the ignoble regime of apartheid. They earned their stripes in the battlefield.
The young lions radiated an amazing amount of energy, resourcefulness, confidence, assertiveness, fearlessness, wit and deep intellect. We remember Comrade Peter Mokaba, Parks Mankahlana, Ephraim Mogale, Siphiwe Mthimkulu, Frans Mohlala, Ncumisa Kondlo, Mzimasi Mancotywa, Bachana Mokoena, Rapu Molekane, Jazzman Mokgothu, Stanza Bopape, Sipho Motsi and many others who epitomised the spirit of young lions through their great leadership. [Applause.]
We are now marking 20 years of democracy and have declared the current period going forward as the second phase of transition from apartheid to a national democratic society. This second phase will be characterised by a radical programme of socioeconomic transformation. The youth must continue to be inspired by the fighting spirit of Soweto. I did not make a mistake, a radical programme of transformation. We do not take a posture of militancy and not understand the substance of struggle. We go beneath the surface and understand where we are going. [Applause.] Understanding that youth development is an important part of national development, the youth of today must push for vigorous implementation of the 2013 National Economic Development and Labour Council, Nedlac, Youth Employment Accord, whose commitment has been highlighted by the Deputy Minister, around education and training, work exposure, youth targets set aside, and other issues as highlighted.
These measures are, on their own, not adequate, especially to the undereducated and unskilled section of our youth. In the state of the nation address, President Zuma said, and I quote, "Change will not come about without some far-reaching interventions".
Government should work very hard to implement the Industrial Policy Action Plan, Ipap, so as to expand and develop productive sectors of the economy to create jobs on a large scale. We particularly yearn for bold measures in the economy, because we regard economic transformation as a burning question of the current phase of our social transformation.
The consolidation of our democracy going forward, seems to be largely dependent on the progress we make on the economic front. The industrial development programme and big industrial projects such as Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, Prasa and the locomotive contract, as announced by the President in the state of the nation address, and the revitalisation of the mining communities, among others, Lejweleputswa, in Welkom, were highlighted. This will prominently create more opportunities for work and training on a large scale of artisans, which we need in our country. The further education and training colleges must therefore feed expanding industries with requisite artisanal skills. The Deputy Minister earlier indicated that this band of education remains critical because of the large number of young people that it enrols. It also remains important because, as the changing structure of the South African economy, it must provide much needed skills to our economy.
We regard youth development as a process of all-round development and empowerment of young men, women, and youth with disabilities, to realise their aspirations, potentials and talents in all spheres of human endeavour, in politics, sports, arts and culture, economy, social development and other spheres. Our definition of youth development is not narrow, it is not about handouts, and it is about young people who must participate in a real economy.
The Deputy Chairperson: Are you rounding up, hon member?
Mr S J MOHAI: Whilst academic outcomes are essential for the performance of our education system, educational programmes must inculcate the spirit of patriotism, community service and activism must be the cornerstone of our young people. I thank you. [Applause.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: That concludes the debate. There are just a few announcements that we need to make.
Firstly, the Chief Whip of the institution requests all members to remain behind, because there are few announcements that she wants to present.
Secondly, there is a process of loading members' fingerprints onto the current computer system for capturing. If you have noticed the extent to which the system works; it works with fingerprints and so forth. So, there is a process that has already started and those members who are not in a hurry are encouraged to load their fingerprints onto the system. I know workers would accuse the institution of introducing a clock-in system. It's a nice way of having a clock-in system. Those who can do so today are encouraged to proceed and tomorrow others would then continue to do so.
The Council adjourned at 17:28.
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