Hansard: EPC: Debate on Vote 9: Government Communications and Information Systems (E249)
House: National Assembly
Date of Meeting: 15 Jul 2014
Summary
No summary available.
Minutes
"Committee Room E249 Main",Unrevised Hansard,15 Jul 2014,"[Take-30] [Committee Room E249 Main][NW-2-49][mn].doc"
Proceedings of extended public committee – committee room e249
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Members of the Extended Public Committee met in Committee Room E249 at 19:15.
The House Chairperson Ms M G Boroto, as Chairperson, took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or meditation.
Appropriation bill
Debate on Vote No 9 – Government Communication and Information Systems:
The[mn1] MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS: Hon Chairperson, hon members, Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services and the Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, the Minister of Tourism, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, guests in the gallery, chairpersons and board members of the SABC, Brand SA, MDDA and Icasa councillors, Icasa and management of all entities present, members of the media, it is a very special honour for me to present my first Budget Vote as Minister of Communications in the fifth administration of a democratic South Africa.
In the year in which we are celebrating 20 years of freedom, we must all pause in this esteemed Parliament of the people and in every corner of our country to reflect with pride and a sense of accomplishment on the road we have travelled as a nation.
This is a road we have travelled on our own since December 2013, when we bade farewell to our beloved founding President and leader of our struggle, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. In two days' time, South Africa and the whole world will be celebrating Mandela Day.
When we observe the birthday of our departed leader, we have a special opportunity to reflect once again on the life and influence of Madiba, and to recommit ourselves to keeping his legacy of humanity, humility, generosity of spirit and firmness of principle alive. Let us dedicate the 67 minutes informed by these values and keep the legacy alive.
This very democratic Parliament is where the vision and principles of Nelson Mandela found expression in the policies that were developed here to formally consign apartheid to its deserved grave. Hon Chairperson, as we introduce the GCIS Budget Vote for 2014-15, it is worth noting that this is the last Budget Vote of the department. As you will be aware, the President of the Republic of South Africa, the hon Jacob Zuma, has signed a proclamation to disestablish the GCIS and establish the Department of Communications.
This new department combines the old GCIS with Brand SA, the Media Development and Diversity Agency, MDDA, Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, Icasa, and the SABC under our Ministry. Our mandate is that of overarching communication policy and strategy; information dissemination, publicity and branding of the country abroad.
This House will also be aware that the new Department of Communications in addition forms part of the new Inter-Ministerial Committee on Information and Publicity established by President Jacob Zuma to provide multidisciplinary guidance and support to this important portfolio of government.
As we approach this reconfiguration, we are excited by the new possibilities this opens up for more effective and meaningful communication with citizens, our partners and stakeholders internationally.
We wish to pay tribute to our predecessors, Minister Collins Chabane and Deputy Minister Obed Bapela, for the sound legacy they have left to us. We also look forward to a productive and constructive relationship with the Portfolio Committee on Communications, led by the passionate and vigorous hon Joyce Moloi-Moropa.
Hon members, in South Africa lives are being changed for the better every single day thanks to the work of this government and its partnership with all sectors of society. Every day we are building new homes for people who need them. Every day we are feeding children at schools who may have no food at home. Every day we are helping mothers give birth in safe and dignified facilities. Every day we are apprehending criminals and abusers, and dismantling large-scale criminal networks.
The communication programme of government must keep pace with our underlying programme of delivery. There are many times that we do not communicate as much as we implement, and this creates a lag in public awareness of or sentiment about the extensive work we do to realise Vision 2030 of our National Development Plan.
The GCIS Budget Vote for 2014-15 is the first phase of a new communication vision for government in which our point of departure will be the overwhelming mandate given to this government by the people of South Africa.
Our communication approach will balance our respect for this clear public mandate, as well as our confidence that South Africans overwhelmingly support our vision of the future. Our communication practice will also be rooted in understanding that we are engaged in disseminating information for empowering citizens, nothing more and nothing less.
Our mission is to give effect to President Jacob Zuma's expectation that:
Improved communication and marketing will promote an informed citizenry and also assist the country to promote investments, economic growth and job creation.
I wish to give you the assurance, and comfort you with the thought that, the GCIS will leverage its budget allocation of R437,2 million for this financial year to achieve continuous engagement, consultation and partnership-building with citizens and stakeholders, and sustained sharing of information.
As we do so during this year, our aim is not just to inform South Africans about what is happening around them, but to involve our people in adding to the good story that our country is able to tell.
At the same time, we know that the fight against poverty, and unemployment demands intensive communication of socioeconomic opportunities created by government for vulnerable citizens and communities in terms of the key priorities of government.
Hon Chairperson, the work we will be doing during this financial year builds on the proud record the GCIS has established during the course of a number of years, of working creatively and energetically with its limited resources to achieve the desired outcomes, and 2013-14 was no exception in this regard.
The GCIS complied with all legislative requirements prescribed by the Public Finance Management Act, PFMA, and other Treasury regulations. It tabled the 2012-13 annual report in Parliament as well as quarterly performance reports as well as corrective action plans.
Ninety-four percent of GCIS staff signed performance agreements in 2013-14, exceeding the 90% target for the year. In addition, 97% of the department's bi-annual assessments were signed within the legislated timeframe. The GCIS has maintained a vacancy rate below the Department of Public Service and Administration's 8% standard.
In terms of finance, supply chain management and auxiliary services, the GCIS received an unqualified audit report for its 2012-13 annual financial statements, and it adhered to all budget cycle deadlines. During 2013-14, the GCIS implemented cost containment measures in line with National Treasury's instructions.
During 2013-14, the GCIS implemented 2 961 development communication projects, reaching more than 36 million people, and conducted 3 876 community and stakeholder liaison visits. These visits have intensified platforms and opportunities where the public can access government information and have been implemented through community and stakeholder engagements, face-to-face activities and community media events. Political principals interacted with communities through 346 public participation events, izimbizo.
The GCIS further held 654 marketing events to increase the visibility of Thusong Service Centres and intensify the use of integrated mobile units. A total of 736 879 copies of government information materials were distributed in communities as were 48 copies of the weekly electronic newsletter, My District Today.
The media bulk-buying services have also taken shape and assisted government to realise economies of scale. In the financial year 2013-14, the GCIS conducted 150 media bulk-buying campaigns, with a total value of over R220 million and realised R28,6 million in savings. We intend to grow this work and ensure that government's limited budget is used effectively.
It is not practical to list all our achievements or challenges in this format or in this forum, but I hope the overview I have provided demonstrates how seriously we take our task and how diligently and responsibly we work with the public funds entrusted to us.
In this financial year 2014-15, the GCIS has been allocated R413,1 million, which represents less than R10 per citizen for the year, even before we take operational costs into account. This illustrates how hard and innovatively we need to work to reach and interact with South Africans on such a tight allocation.
In the 2013-14 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework Cabinet introduced baseline efficiency savings measures, which has resulted in the baseline being reduced by R8,3 million in 2014-15 and by R13,1 million in 2015-16.
The national communication strategy tasked the department with working with other departments to align their communication campaigns and programmes with the strategic priorities of government.
In implementing the national communication strategy, the department will focus on ensuring that the strategy's framework is adopted at the provincial and local government levels and that their development communication campaigns and programmes are aligned with the government communication programme.
The department will continue to conduct information campaigns such as the state of the nation address; develop communication activities aligned with the government communication programme; co-ordinate the government imbizo programmes; and produce government publications such as Vukuzenzele over this period.
Almost 63,7% of the department's allocation over the medium term is spent on the administration, intergovernmental co-ordination and stakeholder programmes. The bulk of the expenses in these two programmes includes governance-related costs, such as audit fees, information technology, which is central to the manner in which we communicate, and human resources, which is central in our provincial and district offices in facilitating the face-to-face communication.
Spending on goods and services over the medium term is expected to be primarily on the publication of the monthly Vukuzenzele newspaper and the South Africa Yearbook; 20,4 million copies of Vukuzenzele are set to be produced in 11 official languages, including braille, distributed monthly over the MTEF period.
In addition, the department plans to issue 42 cluster reports on the perception of government delivery and performance; conduct 8 250 community and stakeholder liaison visits; and align 6 552 development communication projects with the government communication programme over the medium term.
The imbizo platform is the bedrock of government's face-to-face engagement with citizens, which creates an opportunity for people from all walks of life to share their ideas, hopes and frustrations with national, provincial and local leadership.
At the apex of this outreach programme is the presidential Siyahlola programme, which allows the President to monitor and give personal attention to difficulties being experienced in various parts of the country.
With regard to the Media Development and Diversity Agency, R21,8 million has been allocated to enable historically disadvantaged communities and individuals to gain access to the media. The Deputy Minister will provide further details in this regard.
Hon members, our department is new, and therefore what we are presenting to you is an interim budget that will be improved once all the groundwork to establish the new department has been concluded. For now we invite you to approve the budget of the Government Communication and Information System.
In this regard, we felt it appropriate to share with you our emerging vision of how we intend tackling the mammoth task that the President has given us to revolutionise the use of information to empower our people.
I wish to reiterate what President Zuma said in the state of the nation address, we are indeed a nation at work. There are huge opportunities that this government is making available to our people to partake in rebuilding our economy. Such interventions will and must result in the empowerment of our people and a clear victory against the difficult challenges of unemployment, inequality and poverty.
Our job therefore is to answer the question, how do we use information to empower our people? How do we use the very same information to enable our people to partake in the radical economic interventions that are already being rolled out by this government?
We have therefore set ourselves a simple goal, that of an information revolution. We must put in place an overarching communication strategy that will guide our work. All of us must answer this question: How is our work contributing to the implementation of the National Development Plan?
All public servants need to understand that every act of service to the people is an act of information that empowers them and improves their lives. Making available information about jobs and opportunities that this government creates is crucial and must be a central part of what all political principals and all public servants must implement with vigour.
Hon Chairperson, the realignment is a work in progress. However, we can announce the following: This week is the National Imbizo Focus Week. This is the beginning of a process to strengthen our interaction with our people. The adoption of the izimbizo as a mechanism for communication between government and its citizens bear testimony to the democratic government's commitment to transparent and accountable service delivery, and where challenges are encountered, to listen to them and bring solutions.
As we have said before, and committed to our people, we will work with them to take South Africa forward. In moving South Africa forward, government can never tackle the triple challenge alone. Stakeholders and civil society, business and communities will be taken along to shape how we position this country both domestically and internationally.
Given the negative publicity we have received internationally, Brand SA has provided us with a comprehensive report on how the world perceives our country. The positive positioning of our country is crucial for job creation through the strengthening of our competitiveness as a nation. As we celebrate 20 years of freedom, it is inspiring that we hear Brand SA telling us that 91% of the population are proud to be South Africans. It further says that more than 85% of the population believe that South Africa is competitive, innovative and capable of achieving greatness as a country; and 95% of citizens express a sense of belonging in the country, with a strong desire to remain here.
The stabilisation of the public broadcaster is at the top of our agenda. So much is hinging on this public broadcaster being stable that we are leaving nothing to chance. There is, of course, already a lot of interest, correctly so as this is a public broadcaster that must act in the interests of all the people. We do not intend to be hands-off and allow a deterioration of the public broadcaster. We have instructed the board to ensure that a chief executive officer is in place before the expiry of the three months' extension of the acting CEO position that we have granted. We expect that the filling of the COO, CEO and CFO positions will subsequently result in clarity of purpose for the SABC.
We wish to assure the people of South Africa that our intention is to make the SABC play its role in the national project of fighting poverty, inequality and unemployment through total citizen empowerment. A new strategy for funding the public broadcaster is one of the urgent tasks that we will be putting forward for the leadership of the corporation.
The GCIS, in its current form, has done a sterling job in holding the fort as we establish the new department. To this end, we have presented the national communications strategy to Cabinet and this will assist us to improve communication with our people. Various interventions in this regard around the theme of "Together we move South Africa forward" have been adopted and will be implemented with the necessary vigour. We will be improving government's own media by ensuring that more and more information about jobs and opportunities are made accessible more frequently.
The growth in digital and mobile communications present government with the opportunity and challenge of engaging interactively with citizens and stakeholders, and to join in social conversations rather than producing one-way communication.
As a government of the people, we will listen closely and share openly, but we will also attend vigorously to issues that threaten to undermine the reputation of our government or country.
We will reach out directly to communities. We will leverage the communication platforms that we have created ourselves. We will work with the public media. We will create communication partnerships across various sectors and we will project our country with pride internationally.
We will be mindful of our obligations to communicate effectively with people with disabilities, and to present information in all official languages.
We will further work to make government communications more effective and professional and secure greater value for government's considerable spend on advertising so that our messages and information can reach more people in more places more frequently.
In view of the limited reach of commercial media, we will work closely with community, commercial and international media as conduits of the extensive range of information that government generates through its transformation programme.
The year ahead will see new departures and new practices in government communications as demanded by this new administration.
The 2014-15 fiscal year is therefore one of transition and one that we hope will inspire South Africans that we are a listening, sharing and caring government that places a high premium on daily and continuous communication with people. Together we move South Africa forward. I now commend the Government Communication and Information System Budget Vote to the House. I thank you. [Applause.]
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Ms J C MOLOI-MOROPA
The MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS
Ms[mn2] J C MOLOI-MOROPA: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister of Communications, Ms Faith Muthambi, hon Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Dr Siyabonga Cwele, Deputy Minister of Communications, Ms Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Prof Hlengiwe Mkhize, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Telecommunications and Postal Services, Ms Mamoloko Kubayi, members of the Portfolio Committee on Communications, members of the Portfolio Committee on Telecommunications and Postal Services, all Members of Parliament present, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, good evening.
An HON MEMBER: That was a long list!
Ms[mn3] J C MOLOI-MOROPA: Very long!
It is indeed a great pleasure and honour for me to stand before you this evening and introduce the debate on Budget Vote 9 of the Department of Communications.
After much consultation between me, who chairs the portfolio Committee on Communications, and hon Kubayi, who chairs the Portfolio Committee on Telecommunications and Postal Services, we resolved to embark on a joint committee programme. I must add that this process was a strategic success for both committees in their quest to execute their mandate for the annual performance plan processes and for the realisation of the task ahead of redefining their roles.
Budget is an essential economic tool for our government and provides a measurable account of the nation's priorities. Parliament, by its nature, is a mirror of the people of this country, responsible for monitoring and evaluating the allocated resources and their relevance to the needs of the nation. In this regard, our role as committee is to exercise financial oversight over the departments.
The mandate of the Portfolio Committee on Communications for the Fifth Parliament is governed by Parliament's mission and vision, the Rules of Parliament and Constitutional obligations. The mission of the committee is to contribute to the realisation of a developmental state and ensure effective service delivery through discharging its responsibilities as a committee of this Parliament.
In terms of the Public Finance Management Act, the accounting officers must provide Parliament or the relevant legislatures – nine of them - with their respective institutions' medium-term strategic plans and, where applicable, with their annual performance plans. The Money Bills Amendment Procedure and Related Matters Act, promulgated in 2009, provides Parliament with the powers to reject or to recommend the approval of the department's budget. In this case, the majority counts, even if there are rejections, but if the majority goes along with it the majority counts in this case.
The work undertaken by the Joint Portfolio Committee on Communications and Telecommunications and Postal Services started by looking into the previous work of the Portfolio Committee on Communications through the legacy report, the research work and the outline of the annual performance plan processes. In that instance, both Ministers and their deputies led the process of interaction with all entities of the department. This process culminated in the adoption of the joint committee report on 11 July, which was last Friday. What one is trying to outline here is that the joint committee has done all it could to comply with Parliament's requirement of the budget processes. A special thanks to all committee members and parliamentary staff who supported us throughout this process. Of course, there were very long and tedious days.
In particular, key issues highlighted in the report have specific focus on the spending trends of the department and its entities as well as following up on matters as raised by the Auditor-General of South Africa as we utilise that tool of that independent entity to do our work.
What was of particular focus during the presentations by the department and its entities is how the department intends to spend over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework cycle, and whether their programmes are aligned to the broader government policy frameworks such as the National Development Plan, NDP, New Growth Path, and the state of the nation address, which dictated the tone of government for the Fifth Parliament. The department has to do this by implementing programmes that communicate, market and publicise government's infrastructure-led economy.
Broadly, the Communications department has to contribute to the development of an efficient, effective and development-orientated Public Service and an empowered, fair and inclusive citizenship, which is outlined in Outcome 12.
The Department of Communications, again, is tasked with communicating government programmes. It becomes important for the committee to evaluate in detail how departments aim to unpack the NDP utilising the National Communication Strategy. This is a key area that we have also identified.
The Government Communications and Information System, GCIS, was established in terms of section 7, subsections (2) and (3) of the Public Service Act of 1994, as amended, in order to provide professional services; set and influence adherence to standards for an effective government communication system; drive coherent government messaging; and proactively communicate with the public about government policies, plans, programmes and achievements.
Likewise, the Media Development and Diversity Agency, MDDA, was set up in terms of the Media Development and Diversity Agency Act of 2002 to enable historically disadvantaged communities and individuals to gain access to the media. The committee acknowledges the major role that the MDDA has to play in the coming years. As the committee, we will ensure that the mandate in terms of the transformation agenda becomes pivotal. I know that the Minister has articulated at length about the MDDA. Again, as a committee, this will be our main area of focus.
It remains a challenge that departments must continue to support community media by ensuring that they use these media outlets as platforms to communicate government programmes. This is very critical. This is a matter that also relates to the sustainability of community media, and therefore the onus will be on the committee to conduct oversight consistently and to monitor whether the department is able to implement a functional model that continues to support community media. We have prioritised that as well.
Therefore, as the ANC-led government, we applaud the MDDA for its continued efforts with advocating and campaigning to make the media and literacy a priority on the agenda of different stakeholders and to create momentum for joint accelerated literacy efforts. The efforts are in line with the international launch of the United Nations Literacy Decade, which took place in New York in February 2003, and had highlighted the importance of literacy. We will work more with the MDDA around that in our oversight task.
During our interaction with the department, we also noted the slow pace or the lack of transformation in the print and digital media. Therefore, it will be the basis point of departure of the committee to expedite the review of legislative and policy environments that govern the communications systems of the country. It is indeed a prerogative of the committee to assess the performance of the GCIS and MDDA in working together with the Advertising Standards Authority of South Africa, and the Department of Trade and Industry, in order to expedite the transformation of the advertising industry. This, again, will be at the cornerstone of our oversight role over the department.
On key issues in the report, it is the duty of the committee to ensure that the department and its entities maintain a low rate of funded vacant positions. Only a fully equipped department can expect to deliver on its mandate and this is a key focus of the committee to ensure that all departments and entities that report to it are fully funded and are without vacancies and can deliver on their mandates.
Need I remind this House that the work of this committee is pre-empted by the priorities of the ruling party's 53rd National Conference's resolutions such as the prioritisation of roll-out of bulk infrastructure in rural areas and, in particular, communication and information communication technology.
The technological advances have put tremendous pressure on our government and its quest to make its citizens relevant in an information society and knowledge economy. This will also form the cornerstone of our work. Improving systems of interaction between citizens and all tiers of government remain important as well. Therefore, the adoption of new technologies is of high importance and of high priority. We are well aware of the great strides made by our government in a short period of time to reverse the imbalances created over centuries of our historical past, when we would undergo education and finish school without even having seen a computer or anything that is electronic. That is the past we come from. We are well aware of that, but the government was, in a short space of time, able to bridge that gap to a particular extent.
In our work as the committee, we shall also endeavour to work closely with all organs of the state, including the Auditor-General, the Public Service Commission, and other committees of Parliament to ensure that we relentlessly continue the work started during the Fourth Parliament.
In conclusion, the Communications department is an important arm of government and will continue to be so in bridging the information gap in this vast country. The portfolio committee fully supports the ideals of a developmental state as articulated in the 2007 strategy and tactics document of the ANC. It is dependent on the capacity of the state to intervene in the economy in the interest of higher growth rates and sustainable development. As much as there is real, good progress and good work done by the department previously, we believe that there is much more that needs to be achieved. The committee, together with the Ministry, will consistently steer forward the transformation of society in this beautiful country of ours, South Africa, which we are very proud of.
I would like to, in conclusion, again thank the co-chairperson, hon Kubayi, for having worked on these two committees to ensure that we ensure a smooth transition once the functions and the proclamations are made by the President. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Mr G R DAVIES
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Ms J C MOLOI-MOROPA
Mr G R DAVIS: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister and Deputy Minister, hon members of this House and guests in the gallery, let me begin by congratulating the hon Minister and Deputy Minister on their appointments to the Cabinet. I look forward to working with them. Let me also pay tribute to every journalist who reports the news without fear or favour. Our democracy depends on each and every one of them.
As we deliberate today on the Government Communication and Information System, GCIS, Budget Vote, we must acknowledge that for this department it is a period of great uncertainty. The changes under way are far-reaching, with profound consequences for our democracy. The splitting up of the former Department of Communications has raised many questions, but the most important questions are why and why now? We have entered the age of convergence, where traditional broadcasting is merging with new digital technologies. So, why is the department diverging when everything else is converging? There may be very good reasons for this, but we have yet to hear them, and we didn't hear them today in this debate.
In the absence of any reasonable explanation, our thoughts must turn to more sinister motives. What exactly is behind the creation of this propaganda department? Well, as with all things pertaining to this government, the answer is purely political. The governing party is losing its grip on power. [Interjections.] It is a fact that under President Zuma the ANC recorded its worst ever election results in this election. [Interjections.] The party dropped by 10 percentage points in Gauteng, and at the next election the ANC is in danger of losing three major cities. Guptagate, Nkandlagate, spygate and Marikanagate. [Interjections.] All of these have shredded the government's and the President's reputations. To survive the next five years, the President really needs a good story to tell, and he needs all the help he can get to tell it. [Applause.]
When the President appointed his Cabinet in May, he really put his faith in communications. Make no mistake, Minister Muthambi is a very strategic deployment. In her first few weeks in office, we have learned that the Minister wants to create what she calls "a professional army of government communicators" to bring about an information revolution.
The hon Minister has been at pains to deny that this is a propaganda Ministry, but her constant criticism of the media suggests otherwise. Last year, when she was still a member of this portfolio committee, she said in this very Budget debate:
The media continues to publish negative news on government, disregarding the good service delivery record of government.
Since assuming Ministerial office, the Minister has continued in the same vein. She says the government is out there doing good, but the story is not being told. Clearly, the Minister thinks it is her job to tell this good story. Well, it is not. [Interjections.] It is not her job to tell the story. [Interjections.] That is called propaganda. [Interjections.]
The GCIS, with a budget of R413 million, is at the heart of this propaganda machine. It should concern all of us in this room that the GCIS is now working much more closely with the SA Broadcasting Corporation, the SABC, under the aegis of one Minister. It is this arrangement, more than anything else, which signals the move from a public broadcaster to a state broadcaster.
An HON MEMBER: That's right.
Mr G R DAVIS: The Minister knows how much she needs the SABC for this information revolution to succeed. She said last week that:
"The effective use of the 18 radio stations of the SABC stands between us and reaching millions." [Interjections.] So, it must be of some concern to the Minister that fewer people are watching and listening to the SABC than ever before. Internal research commissioned by the public broadcaster – which was quickly buried, I might add – has shown that the key reason for declining audiences is the perception that the public broadcaster is partisan. It is not hard to see where this perception comes from.
Over the last few years, we have seen the appointment of SABC boards stacked with ANC deployees. We have witnessed opposition party adverts being banned from SABC-TV at election time. [Interjections.] We have heard that SABC journalists are under surveillance and that their phones are being monitored. Last, but not least, we have seen the rise and rise of Hlaudi Motsoeneng, who has joined us in the gallery today. [Interjections.] This is a man who interferes in editorial decisions, who says that 70% of the news must be happy news and who says journalists must be licensed. It is an indictment on the SABC that his rise through the ranks has gone unchecked.
If the Minister wants to regain lost viewers and listeners, she needs to show in word and deed that she is committed to protecting the SABC's independence. Instead, she has already done the precise opposite. Since assuming office, the Minister has given the impression that the SABC must compensate for negative stories in the press. She has said that she wants to give herself absolute power, absolute power, to hire and fire the SABC board. [Interjections.] Inexplicably, she has protected and promoted Hlaudi Motsoeneng when he should have been fired following the Public Protector's report. [Applause.] It is no wonder that people are switching channels, Minister. [Interjections.]
But where do people go when they leave the SABC, since most people cannot afford satellite TV and the big commercial radio stations just don't have the reach of the SABC? This is where the Media Development and Diversity Agency, MDDA, can play an important role. This year, the MDDA will transfer R34,4 million in state funds to community and small commercial media and, inn collaboration with the GCIS, will ensure that R30 million, or 12% of all government ad-spend, go to community media. Now on the face of it, this appears to be a noble objective. The question is, can community media be independent if most of its funding through advertising and grants comes from the government.
When former GCIS chief executive officer, CEO, Jimmy Manyi, centralised all government ad spend in the GCIS, he threatened newspapers by saying that he would pull government advertising if they did not toe the government line. His recent appointment to the MDDA board is therefore an ominous development that should concern everybody who cares about the independence and sustainability of community media.
Ms M T KUBAYI: Chair, on a point of order: Can the member refrain from making remarks about a person whose appointment to and removal from office is dependent upon the House. That is not correct. He
needs to be in order. [Interjections.] It is Rule 66.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr B L Mashile): Hon Davis, the hon member is correct. I think you need to withdraw that statement. [Interjections.] Hon Davis, can you take your seat.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Chairperson, that Rule applies if the integrity of that member is impugned. It does not relate to the member's conduct. Therefore, the point of order doesn't stand. Sir, I also wish to draw your attention to the fact that when I raised a similar point of order about the Public Protector, the Speaker of the House ruled against me and said that the Public Protector did not fall under the same protection. I would submit to you that the Rule does not apply unless the integrity of the member or person is being impugned, and not the conduct of that member.
Ms M T KUBAYI: Chairperson, I would request the hon Chief Whip of the Opposition to respect procedures as well. When a point of order is made, he needs to allow the Chairperson to make a ruling. [Interjections.] There are procedures. He needs to allow the Chairperson to make a ruling and make a decision. [Interjections.]
I am also requesting the Chairperson to make a ruling because the member is reflecting on someone's capacity and integrity. He implies that Mr Manyi's integrity is not acceptable, and therefore, he does not deserve to be on the board. That is why I am saying his appointment and removal depend on a decision of the House. If the member deems that Mr Manyi is not suitable to be on that board, he knows the procedure that should be followed.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr B L Mashile): Thank you very much. Hon Davis, can you desist from making such statements in future.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Chairperson, on a point of order ... [Interjections.] ... just for the elucidation of ...
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr B L Mashile): Hon member, can I request hon Davis to continue with his speech?
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Chairperson, I seek clarity from you, because this ruling is going to impact on the Extended Public Committee debates. I need to understand exactly what hon Davis has said, that you are ruling he must not continue with.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr B L Mashile): Hon Davis, I do agree that you have not reflected on the integrity of the employee, which is why I said that in future please just be aware that what you say does not reflect on the integrity of the official. Can you continue with your speech?
Mr G R DAVIS: Chairperson, each entity in this new department is a cog in a powerful propaganda machine. Taken together, they give the Minister enormous influence over national television, radio and community media, either through direct control or dependence on state funding and government advertising.
Hon Minister, you have asked us to engage constructively with you on the future of your department. So, let me propose seven steps you could take to immediately restore public confidence in your department.
Firstly, go back to one converged communications department in line with global trends; secondly, move the GCIS away from the SABC and put in place clear guidelines to protect the abuse of the GCIS for political purposes ... [Interjections.] ... thirdly, break the cycle of dependency that makes community media reliant on government hand-outs for survival. [Interjections.]
Fourthly, reject the "happy news" quota and distance yourself from this talk of the licensing of journalists. [Interjections.]
Fifthly, allow the SABC board to take steps to remove Hlaudi Motsoeneng from office. [Applause.] He is bad news for the SABC and he is bad news for South Africa. [Interjections.]
Sixthly, move to limit, not increase, political and ministerial influence over the appointment and removal of SABC board members; and, seventhly, allow an independent SABC board to appoint the chief operating officer, CEO and chief financial officer without ministerial influence. [Applause.] [Interjections.]
In conclusion, let me say that we support a government communication system that informs people of their rights and the services they are entitled to. That is a good thing. However, we reject the creation of a communications machine obsessed with telling good stories about this government. The jobless and poverty-stricken are not interested in the government's good stories. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Mr M Q NDLOZI
"Committee Room E249 Main",Unrevised Hansard,15 Jul 2014,"[Take-33] [Committee Room E249 Main][NW-2-49][mn].doc"
Mr G R DAVIS
Mr[mn4] M Q NDLOZI: Hon Chairperson and fellow South Africans, I would like to take this opportunity to greet everybody in the House. Today, Parliament is asked to vote on the budget of the communications function of government, as led by Minister Muthambi.
The Government Communication and Information system, GCIS, which is the machinery she will use to execute her functions, indeed faces many problems, and these include the filling of key positions of leadership, not just in the GCIS, but in the Media Development and Diversity Agency, MDDA; proper financial administration that yields results in a quantifiable manner; and the lack of sound strategy on how to transform the print media and advertising industry. At the centre are the MDDA programmes, which must, using indigenous languages, break the monopoly of the mainstream media in both the production and distribution of news as well as other information.
Here lies the centrepiece, as it were, of a people-centred media. The MDDA needs to ask how, through its programmes, it can inculcate literary abilities in communities. The forms of community media that, at the same time, have ways of unleashing the writing capacity of our people, embrace organic film and documentary products that tell stories with world class standards and sensibility, in particular, because the digital age casts the local onto a permanent global platform. Most importantly, community media that is people-centred has the capacity to improve literacy through inculcating a festival of ideas, but also affirming the questioning power of our people. Our people ought to be able to rise constantly and question power and question those in power through their own media activities.
It is safe to say, the EFF does not think the government has anything to communicate but lies. It is asking for more money to mask the broad kleptocratic drama that has been unfolding since the resumption of President Zuma in the highest office in the land – the age of eating!
Today, the country is waiting to hear what Parliament will say to the Minister as she asks for parliamentary approval for her budget, when she has appointed Hlaudi Motsoeneng as the SABC's chief operations officer, COO. [Interjections.] This is after she assured the joint committee that she would make sure that the Public Protector's report on the SABC is complied with, as it is a Chapter 9 institution. The Minister understood what she meant when she said "a Chapter 9 institution". The Constitution compels her and the SABC board to respect the findings of that institution.
The appointment of Hlaudi must signify government's disregard of the law. It must signify the era of the triumph of the mythomaniac – the pathological liar who is so proud of his lies that he tells us that parliamentarians are just making a noise and that is all they can do. Yes, these are the words of Mr Motsoeneng to me just before his interview with Justice Malala on eNCA last Monday.
I ask you, Minister, have we no shame? Have we no regard for the law? Have we no respect, or even self-respect, to take a platform and force a man who has forged and lied about his qualifications down the throats of South Africans? As the head of Communications, your legacy will always be the communicator of lies, the promoter of liars and the bearer of mythomania – the very disease of the government of the day. People for whom lying is fashionable seek for lies, promote lies, pay for lies and ask for more and more money for the people to hire, to pay for lies, and lie about what government is doing.
The truth is: the most important communiqué we would have wanted to hear and to vote for would be doing away with lies and doing away with Hlaudi Motsoeneng, whose lies are turning our country into a mockery and a banana republic. [Interjections.] It does not matter what you think – whether Hlaudi is a hard worker or a good CEO - every time men and women of power break the law without any consequences, they delegitimise their role as bearers of social order. More dangerously, however, they condone evil, disorder and disregard for the law for the broader public.
The EFF does not have faith in you, hon Faith. Hence, we will go to court to stop you from making a mockery of the findings of the Public Protector. [Interjections.] Let it go on record that we did caution about the manner in which your government has reduced the running of this country to a battle of courts, even on simple, obvious, political issues – but because you are driven by lies, one day you will be forced to corrupt these courts. But before you go to the courts and corrupt them ... Thank you very much, Chairperson. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Ms S J NKOMO
Mr M Q NDLOZI
Ms S J NKOMO: Chairperson, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, members and guests, as we debate government's communications arm, the GCIS, and its performance vis-à-vis its spending, the IFP is aware of the important role it plays in managing the image and messaging of our government, especially that of our country abroad. We are equally aware of its mandate to mobilise the nation behind the National Development Plan and in celebrating 20 years of freedom. In previous years, the GCIS budget was reduced, but its appropriation is again expected to rise to R430 million in 2015-16.
It is against this background that the previous Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan, acknowledged that there should be better use of GCIS facilities to reduce the state's advertising expenses. In the past, we have seen excessive amounts for advertising being channelled to the Gupta-owned The New Age newspaper for advertising projects instead of channelling it to community papers and radio stations, which would be a much more sensible way to communicate government's messages, especially to rural communities. Minister Gordhan is also one of the few people in government who recognised that the government communication system can be used more optimally, instead of the media and speech release distribution agency it now functions as. Already, the government's 20 Years of Freedom project seems to have been overtaken by campaigns like Lead SA and The New Age's Business Breakfast shows.
The government communication system has tremendous potential to improve the image of the state and the flow of information to and from the public. At present, both the Presidency and GCIS are restrained in their communications. They seem to work in silos, which is why the government is constantly battling in a sea of bad publicity.
May I state that the new Communications Ministry, led by Minister Faith Muthambi, is now a reality.
Tshivenda:
Ro takala nga maanda uri vho dzhena kha hetsho tshidulo vho dzhenaho khatsho. Nne ndo takalesa nga maanda.
English:
I would like to state that, on the matter of the COO of the SABC, honourable Hlaudi, we are extremely disappointed as the IFP that we are sending a message out to our country and to our children, especially, that it is acceptable to rise as high as you can without the education that you deserve - you don't even need a matric certificate. We will find out from the investigation, but the message that is being sent to the South African children, to the South African nation and to the nation at large is one that is extremely misleading, and this is worrying for us as the IFP. The IFP is therefore abstaining from voting on this Budget Vote. I thank you. [Interjections.]
Dr P W A MULDER
Ms S K NKOMO
Dr[mn5] P W A MULDER: Chairperson, we have a new Minister and we have a new term. Congratulations to both of you on your appointments.
Surely, it is then time to ask questions at the beginning of a term like this. The first question may be very simple, but it is: Is a government information service necessary in a democratic state? This was a hot debate in all democratic states after the Second World War, and it is fascinating to read those debates. Dictatorships have propaganda services, but do democratic states need them as well? The question thus, is: Why must we allow a government to use taxpayers' money to communicate with the voters, giving them an advantage over opposition parties? That was also the debate after the Second World War.
The FF Plus believes that a modern state must communicate with its citizens. That is why the GCIS is so important, and we support them. Surely sir, however, if one studies the debates in those days – and all debates in all democratic states – there is one very important condition. There must be strict rules, strict guidelines to distinguish between what is government information, on the one hand, and what is defined as party-political propaganda by the governing party on the other. One needs those if one really believes in democracy.
Minister, my question is: Are there clear guidelines that all departments and provinces must follow? I am not really aware of such guidelines. I can give you many examples of departments and provinces that misused taxpayers' money for ANC party-political propaganda, and they called it government information. That can clearly not be proscribed.
Let me give you an example. The official colours of the Gauteng provincial government are gold, blue and grey. Just before the election, 51 huge advertising billboards appeared in Gauteng. The message on those boards was in green, yellow and black – the ANC's colours. [Interjections.] Now surely sir, we are not stupid. Why? Other political parties that wanted to use billboards had to pay for them from their party-political funds. The ANC did not pay for those billboards; the taxpayers did, not only the ANC taxpayers, but also the FF taxpayers had to pay for them. [Interjections.] Why these boards, just before the election? Surely, we are not stupid and seriously seek clear guidelines. If we had had clear guidelines, this surely would not have happened.
Let us look at the SABC. The SABC wants some money from government, and more for certain projects, while we are forced by government's law to pay for licences. Now, people can't say they don't want to watch the SABC, or that they don't want to pay in that sense.
Afrikaans:
Nou is daar by die Afrikaanse televisiediens besluit om byvoorbeeld die Afrikaanse televisienuus van TV2 na TV3 te verskuif. Daar is geen regtige navorsing nie. Die harde werklikheid is, as u na 'n taalkaart van Suid-Afrika kyk, en word dit met TV3 se uitsaaivoetspoor vergelyk, dan is daar groot gedeeltes van die Afrikaanstaligers in die Noord-Kaap, in die Oos-Vrystaat, in die Oos-Kaap, en in groot dele van die Wes-Kaap wat nie weer televisienuus sal kan sien nie, wat nie weeraktualiteitsprogramme sal kan sien nie, of Fokus in Afrikaans sal kan sien nie. Onthou, die meerderheid Afrikaanssprekendes is nie wit nie, dit is mense van kleur.
Nou is daar 'n ernstige vraag: Waarom moet hierdie mense televisielisensies betaal as hulle dan nie enigsins 'n diens van die SAUK kry nie? [Tussenwerpsels.] [Tyd verstreke.]
The DEPTUY MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS
"Committee Room E249 Main",Unrevised Hansard,22 Jul 2014,"Take 34 [Committee Room E249 Main].doc"
"Committee Room E249 Main",Unrevised Hansard,15 Jul 2014,"[Take-34] [Committee Room E249 Main][NW-2-49][mn].doc"
Dr P W A MULDER
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS: Hon Chair, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers present, members of the Portfolio Committee on Telecommunications and Postal Services and of the Portfolio Committee on Communications, hon members in your different portfolio committees, ladies and gentlemen, members of the media, chairs and CEOs of the state-owned entities and ...[Interjections.] ... and, of course you, Chief Whip of the DA, molweni, dumelang, avuxeni, thobela, ndi madekwana, lotshani, good evening.
One interesting thing that only happens in my country and only in this Parliament is seeing people who were defeated during an election process, after people had made their choice, and we know you were there too, and are now making all this noise, trying to tarnish all the good work that has been done. But, as South Africans, we are clear about one thing; we know who our true liberator is. We know, when politics are played, who those are that seek to be popular at the expense of the poor people of this country who face challenges. Indeed our people took a conscious decision and said, again, we are going to give the ANC another mandate to go and govern everybody, including those that contested power. [Interjections.] Now they think that they have a mandate to come and tell us what to do. It does not work like that, gentlemen. I know that maybe in your past life you were the ones who made the decision on behalf of others, but gone are those years. Now the people of South Africa are cleverer than before.
Brutally beaten, handcuffed and tied to the back of the police van, he was dragged for about 500 metres and later found dead in a police cell. The incident of Mozambican taxi driver, Mido Marcia, was exposed by ordinary community members of Daveyton, who used their cellphones to capture the video that is evidence of the whole brutal activity.
As a result of this vigilance, through citizen journalism, we recently saw nine police officers being dismissed and charged. As we tell the good stories that we have, we also encourage South Africans also to share with us the stories that are difficult, painful and troublesome. Believe you me, this will help our country to move forward.
Ladies and gentlemen, from pigeons to twitter, telegraphs to e-mail, communication has come a long way. It is almost impossible to imagine a world without social media, instant messaging and live chatting. Today's news break on facebook, accidents are reported on twitter and citizens assist authorities to capture criminals. This is the evolution of communication.
Fellow South Africans, join me as I tell you this good story. In 1994, we saw the first community broadcast, which was Bush Radio. Today there are more than 150 radio stations, 5 community TV stations and a number of small commercial media newspapers and magazines published in indigenous languages owned by various media owners and communities.
From Musina to Stellenbosch, there are over 8,6 million community radio listeners. Community television has grown in number and in viewership. The support, both financial and nonfinancial, these stations receive from government is unparalleled in this world. These stations have not only added to media diversity in the republic, but have also further provided communities with a platform to hear themselves and listen to their own stories. The stations have actually become the heartbeat of the communities. Almost every district municipality has a community and small commercial media in the form of a community radio station, a newspaper or a magazine.
Following the establishment of the Media Development and Diversity Agency, MDDA, and through its advocacy and lobbying, we have seen a number of changes that have led to the sector's growth and development of a diverse media. These changes include, amongst others, an enabling regulatory environment created by the
Independent Communications Authority of SA, Icasa, reduction of tariffs for community broadcasting signal distribution by Sentec and discounts provided by printers for our community and small commercial newspapers and magazines.
IsiXhosa:
Iyabukeka loo nto. [That is impressive.]
English:
When we see all these developments we cannot hide our excitement. We nod our heads and say, indeed there is a great story to tell, because 2014 is definitely better than 1994.
IsiZulu:
Bakithi kuyasijabulisa lokho. [My fellow colleagues, that is really exciting.]
English:
The reality of the matter is that there is still a lot of work to be done, especially with regard to content as we still find radio stations that only play music and do not give attention to other aspects such as news, education and information dissemination, which is what community media was created for. As the father of our liberation, Tata Nelson Mandela, taught us:
The ANC is the repository of the aspirations of the overwhelming majority of our people. We must both lead and learn from them.
It is this principle that we live by to engage our communities through various platforms such as izimbizo, radio and TV talk shows, government publications, social networks, live chats, ri khou kandela phanda. [We are moving forward.] Hon members, as the President Jacob Zuma-led administration, we cannot be joyful that despite its consistent audience growth in the past five years, community broadcasting accounts for only 2% of the total expenditure on advertising. Neither can we be content that 20 years into democracy, black participation in the South African print industry stands at 14% and gender representation is still low.
We are still experiencing challenges when it comes to the sustainability of community and small commercial media. There is a need to ensure that the advertising cake is shared by all and distributed in a manner that supports media diversity. This is an issue that the Department of Communications will address with all relevant stakeholders.
In addition, the print media partners' contributions have decreased in recent years to only four million. This has resulted in a revised strategy regarding the support of print media projects with the focus on consolidating and strengthening current beneficiaries rather than funding new projects. A swi tsakisi [It is not good.]
All these issues require our urgent attention because they are at the core of building this country. As the new Ministry of Communications, we therefore undertake to tackle them with great zeal and vigour as part of consolidating the democratic transformation of our country. Dit is belangrik. [It is important.]
Compatriots, on the print media side, which is still dominated by the big four, we have within government Vukuzenzele, Public Sector Manager magazine, GovComms and My District Today, which are produced by the Government Communication and Information System, GCIS as well as a broad range of publications by national, provincial and local departments and entities.
We are also seeing the emergence of a number of independent newspapers and magazines throughout the country. Through the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, No 53 of 2003, we will enforce greater transformation in this industry throughout the entire value chain, which is publishing, printing, distribution, advertising and ABC certification. This is an on area which we will work earnestly with, amongst others, the newly formed Department of Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises. We will pursue our objectives in line with the goals of the National Development Plan, NDP, and this administration's commitment to radical socioeconomic transformation, and placing the economy in the hands of millions of our people who were previously excluded from participation.
We know from our history that the media sector was characterised by economic exclusion and the suppression of content reflecting the experiences and the struggles of the majority of South Africans. I will take you through some of the things that, as MDDA, we have achieved whilst others are howling as usual.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr B L Mashile): Hon member, you have one minute remaining.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS: Thank you, Chair. In this financial year we will further engage with the relevant stakeholders to launch sport programming on community radio stations. The department will work together with relevant stakeholders to review the existing media accountability. I want to assure this House that the Department of Communications will continue to support and increase the work of the MDDA throughout the transition period.
Allow me to express our heartfelt gratitude to the funding partners of the MDDA, who committed to supporting government in the implementation of the objectives of the MDDA. Fellow South Africans, as we continue to tell the good stories that we have built in the past 20 years, we invite you to utilise the platforms that we have created to tell us your stories and please tell them robustly and accurately without fear or favour. Tell them movingly.I It is only the ANC that has fought for them; there is nobody else who can be the champions of freedom of expression. Thank you, hon Chair.
Ms M V MAFOLO
"Committee Room E249 Main",Unrevised Hansard,15 Jul 2014,"[Take-35] [Committee Room E249 Main][NW-2-49][mn].doc"
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS
Ms M V MAFOLO: Hon Chairperson, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers, hon members, board members, department officials...
Setswana:
... baeti ba rona mo lefelotheetsong, ke a le dumedisa. Ke motlotlo go bo ke tsaya karolo mo ngangisanong ya Tlhopho ya Tekanyetsokabo, ya monogwaga, ya Lefapha la Tlhaeletsano. Re le ANC, re semeletse go dira tiro ya rona e re e romilweng ke baagi ba Aforikaborwa. Re ka se ka ra boela morago mo go diragatseng thomo ya bona mo ntlheng eno.
English:
This debate takes place at a time when we as a nation celebrate 20 years of democracy, which is marked by the sterling work done by the ruling party, the ANC. Among many achievements, we pride ourselves on the rebranding of South Africa as a way of reinforcing the reality of a new world free of racism and any other form of discrimination. We are proudly South African in all our diverse cultures and races.
When the overwhelming majority of the people of South Africa gave us a mandate to rule this country in 1994, we undertook to take this country forward without compromise – the real Asijiki.
It is in this context that we as the ANC proudly recall what hon President Jacob Zuma said on the occasion of the state of the nation address on 13 February 2014, when he said:
South Africa is a better place to live in than it was in 1994. Liberation and democracy have also created space for an active civil society and a free media. The democratic government supports the right of citizens to express themselves.
Expression is another form of exposing one's identity. In seeking to realise this vision, also having taken its cue from the President, as quoted in the state of the nation address, the ANC-led government mandated Brand SA as the official marketing agency of South Africa to create a brand that would serve as the best instrument to tell the good South African story to the international world. This would then be a way to cement a well-established sense of patriotism and pride that continues to tell the good story we have as the ANC.
This brand serves as the face of the new South Africa in the international community...
Setswana:
Re motlotlo jaaka Maaforikaborwa.
English:
This is indeed a good story for the ANC-led government to tell.
Brand SA is a product of the well thought-through aim of presenting a coherent image of the country's message to the international audience that translates into a good South African story that always creates music to the ears of its audience.
As a department, we are sure that all our efforts are driven in the direction of realising Vision 2030, as expressed in the National Development Plan, NDP. To cut to the bone, the NDP has itself the priority the management and communication of South Africa's reputation in an effective manner. In this respect, Proudly South African is a good story to tell as it moves South Africa forward through good and effective communication. What a good story to tell!
The process of popularising South Africa would have been a difficult task were it not for the brilliant brains that created Brand SA.
The majority of South Africans who wish to celebrate 20 years of democracy will never be silenced by any section of the population. We proudly use Brand SA as the best instrument to proclaim such achievements. Halala, Mzansi! Halala!
South Africa's position in the global world stands high and unashamedly good as it is well known for having survived against all odds. Neither countless years of expulsion nor the pre-1994 political turmoil could dim the light imbued by the vision of a South Africa reaching out to fellow Africans in their desperate hour.
To achieve this mammoth task, the South African government – of course led by the ANC – has put in place measures to promote active citizenship, social cohesion and advocacy by South Africans living outside the country. This is by means of initiatives by Brand SA to introduce global South African programmes in which there are constant engagement and communication networking among people living outside the country. What a good story to tell!
As South Africa, we are on the move. This esteemed House will recall that this department has the sole responsibility of seeing to it that these programmes are followed to the letter.
Hon Minister and Deputy Minister, we are always there to support and assist you to achieve this.
Let me share with this House just a few mechanisms used by Brand SA to make sure that the story we tell always remains good and sound. Some story to tell indeed! In order to manage the reputation of South Africa it has the task of inspiring South Africa's story.
Brand SA has key programmes. One of these is Play Your Part. This is a domestic programme that is focused on active citizenship and building pride among South Africans.
Remember not to call people refugees in their own country, like the Premier of the Western Cape, hon Helen Zille, did or to call the electorate dogs, as hon Mike Waters did.
Setswana:
Tlotlo ga re e itshase, re tsetswe ka yona; ga re e ipateletse. Serodumo le seriti sa motho ga di tsamaisane le lefelo la tsalo kgotsa botlhokatiro.
English:
When South Africa consults with stakeholders on key issues that have an impact on the reputation and its global competitivity, it is done in the South African Competitiveness Forum.
Setswana:
Re motlotlo ka lenane le ka gonne motho ga a ke a iphetsa a le nosi, e bile diatla di a tlhapisana. Re dikala tsa setlhare sa medi e le mengwe.
English:
International media tours are the tours that are designed to showcase the uniqueness of the South African infrastructure and innovation. They help to fly the flag of South Africa high.
The Department of Communication, under the guidance and stewardship of the hon Minister, is equal to this task. We assure this august House through you, hon Chair, that our sleeves are rolled up, and that we are ready to dirty our hands in the noble pursuit of the mandate given us by our electorate. We will, without fail, roll this wheel of chance to move the vehicle of transformation to its intended destination. Our first stop is Vision 2030, as indicated in the NDP. This is the real Asijiki, not the fake one of the EFF.
We are assured that we have refuelled and we will again surely get to the destination without having lost one of the passengers. We will intensively welcome potential passengers to join us and sit back. The ANC-led government, through this department, will drive you safely in the world of transformation. We are proudly South Africa. We are Brand SA.
Setswana:
Gaabo motho go thebe phatswa.
English:
The ANC supports Budget Vote 9. [Applause.]
Mr S S A MPHETHI
Ms M V MAFOLO
Mr S S A MPHETHI: Chairperson, Minister, all protocol observed.
We are here today, after 20 years, debating communication in the country. The programmes that the department is promoting are only for the benefit of the ruling party. During the state of the nation addresses that we had in February and now in June, we heard Ministers from the ruling party attacking members of the opposition. It is unfortunate that when we come here with questions, they are not even answered. [Interjections.] The President comes in with a prepared speech to address the nation and to answer a question that he was not even asked. [Interjections.]
It is unfortunate that today we are saying that the national communications strategy benefits the people of South Africa when only those in the ruling party are benefitting. It is not true that 91% of South Africans are happy. We support the recognition of all 11 languages in the SABC, but we don't know if this promotion of indigenous languages led to the appointment of Ntate Hlaudi Motsoeneng, because he can be understood and he understand indigenous languages. That is why he was even given a woman in Venda.[Interjections.]
It is unfortunate that we, the members of the committee, learnt about the appointment of Ntate Motsoeneng from the news. People asked us what was happening. I thought maybe the SABC board procedurally was supposed to make a recommendation to the committee, who would then advise the Minister. [Interjections.] But you did it the other way round.
There are areas in South Africa that don't even have a cellphone signal. There are areas in South Africa where one cannot even pick up the signals for SABC1, SABC2 or SABC3. People there have to rely on DSTV, but we say we are moving South Africa forward. I think the PAC will never support this. Thank you.
[Applause.]
Ms D CARTER
"Committee Room E249 Main",Unrevised Hansard,15 Jul 2014,"[Take-36] [Committee Room E249 Main][NW-2-49][mn].doc"
Mr S S A MPHETHI
Ms D CARTER: Chairperson, the thing about Nelson Mandela was, he meant what he said and he did what he meant. There was no hypocrisy. He inspired trust because he practiced transparency. If everyone else in government, including those on the right, did the same as Nelson Mandela did in his time as President, the whole country would be behind the government and a high level of trust would continue to exist. [Interjections.]
The stated objective of the government is to facilitate the involvement of the majority of South Africans in governance, reconstruction and development, nation-building and reconciliation – which on the right-hand side is a joke. These are worthy objectives and not a joke.
This is not surprising, however, because it is section 195 of the Constitution of 1996, which Nelson Mandela had the honour of signing into law, that obliges government to provide information that is timely, accurate, accessible and in support of the constitutional principles of freedom of expression, transparency and openness of government.
What a wonderful country we would have if everyone in government passionately believed in our Constitution, and in transparency and openness. [Interjections.] However, if the President is involved, wittingly or unwittingly, in something that warrants questioning, the iron curtain is brought down and security is invoked to trump transparency and openness. A shutdown, ducking and diving occurs.
We have one of the best constitutions in the world, thanks to Nelson Mandela. But this government acts as a reluctant inheritor of his great legacy.
The Government Communication and Information System, established in terms of the Public Service Act of 1994, is meant to meet all the demands of our democratic human rights environment. With the loyal support that this government has had from its voters in successive elections one would have expected a quid pro quo from this government.
Unfortunately, South Africans who were made to enjoy information deficit as a result of apartheid and poverty are still lagging behind today – 2014. They do not have the information to engage in meaning dialogue with government. Citizens with grievances therefore have to take to the streets and, shockingly, continue to resort to mindless vandalism in making their point.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr B L Mashile): You are left with one minute, hon member.
Ms D CARTER: Democracy has not made itself a people's tool of choice for engagement. Violence and vandalism highlight the failure of government to communicate and empower South Africans to have full access to information. Cope urges the government to get on and do what it knows has to be done urgently. It must enhance access to information that will enable the public to participate in our country's transformation and in bettering their lives.
The sooner this government returns to thinking like that of Nelson Mandela and the sooner the SABC is freed from subserviently serving the interest of the ruling party, the better it will be for government and the people of this country.
The Mandela road was opened and the people responded positively. The tendency of the present government is to be obeyed and therefore, as it must see clearly, its credibility is always being called into question. It isn't the right of only those whom President Zuma terms "clever blacks" to ask questions and contribute to transformation. Everyone in this country should be doing the same. I thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Ms L M MASEKO
Ms D CARTER
Ms L M MASEKO: Chairperson, in the month of the birthday of Dr Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela of the ANC, who is doing ANC work, ANC wherever he is. He is doing recruitment for the ANC, the work he started doing when he arrived in the next world, which he continues to do, hence we are here today. Thank you very much.
Ministers and Deputy Ministers, I would like to congratulate you on your appointments to these strategic departments that are key to bringing about radical changes to the lives of our people, growing the economy and taking the country in the direction outlined by the National Development Plan, NDP, information and communication technologies, ICT. [Interjections.]
I am talking. [Laughter.] ICT, particularly the Internet, is the future. It is about transforming all human activities. ICT presents new opportunities for individuals and communities, not only to be consumers, but also producers of information. When you think of this it is indeed another revolution.
Through media convergence, ICT can also build on and integrate the capacities of other media, for example, radio and television. This enables low-cost creation, access and distribution of information, which requires a networked rather than a centralised approach.
In order for content to be relevant to communities there are fundamental factors that need to be considered. It is also imperative that local content be linked to development. Indeed ICT can facilitate this process. It is not about the concept of ICT, but rather about the use of ICT as an enabler for communities to achieve development.
The UN Food and Agricultural Organisation workshop emphasised that beyond physical access it is essential that information is timely, retrievable and easily applied by a broad range of users; further that it is accessible in their own languages and consistent with their values.
Information and Communication Technologies have enabled a variety of information and or content to be placed on the Internet in order to share it with people all over the world, thus opening the doors for content globalisation. The invention and manufacture of the Gutenberg press revolutionised communication during the first industrial age. Today the Internet and web are doing this.
Today, huge amounts of information is available on the Internet in text or document format, like market prices, poverty alleviation, government schemes, hospitals, the weather, educational institutes, telephone directories and much more. While urban citizens increasingly upload content available to and for them due to greater awareness on the part of urban organisation, that is still ignored or not available in local content accessible to and for rural communities.
In building an inclusive information society, care should be taken not to perpetuate the domination of nations of the world by certain languages and cultures. A big challenge that we have currently is that the dominant language and culture in terms of the content available on ICT is that from the West. While this is understandable as a historical issue; however, to ensure that the information society is fair, just and contributes to a better Africa and a better world, more effort needs to be exerted to ensure that content available on the ICT is relevant and appropriate for all communities, and also available in their languages. This will ensure that all communities feel part of the global information society.
The strategic plan for the International Marketing Council, renamed Brand SA, focuses on programmes aimed at building a strong nation brand reputation for South Africa. This contributes to nation-building, patriotic pride, social cohesion and a strong competitive identity for South Africa.
Patriotism is devotion to one's country. It is devoted love, support and defence for one's country and it is national loyalty. Nation-building aims at the unification of the people within a state so that it remains politically stable and viable in the long run. It includes the creation of national paraphernalia such as flags, anthems, national days, national stadiums, national airlines, national languages and so on.
National identity needs to be deliberately structured by moulding different ethnic groups into a nation, especially since our country comes from an era of colonialism and the practice of divide-and-rule that resulted in ethnically fragmented populations.
While the country's image is not a static phenomenon, however, the image of a country is long-lasting and difficult to change. That is why, in order to improve a country's image, it may be easier to create fresh, positive associations rather than to try and refute old ones.
As the governing party, the ANC supports and acknowledges the work that Brand SA is doing in marketing our country positively to create opportunities for foreign direct investment that will result in employment creation for our people, especially women, young people and people with disabilities.
According to the 2011-12 global competitiveness rankings by the World Economic Forum, South Africa's ranking has improved from 54 in the previous year to 50. Whilst we celebrate these gains, there is scope for improvement and effective marketing of Brand SA. In particular, more work must be done in promoting the brand to South Africans and utilising government centres such as Thusong Service Centres and also exposing South Africans to their country, hence programmes like Sho't Left are important.
Chapter 15 of the National Development Plan is dedicated to transforming society and uniting the country. It contains the ideas and visions of all sectors of our society and calls for a number of things to be done to move South Africa forward towards Vision 2030.
It is important to acknowledge the fact that, as a nation, we are not just building bricks and mortar, but are also building hearts and minds. We must build the values, the spirit, the soul and the energy of the nation in order to create jobs, build roads, create safer communities and secure the economic growth that the NDP foresees for our future.
The National Development Plan dictates that we must build a common understanding of what South Africa stands for. It also highlights the fact that the key to our country's unity is embracing the reality that South Africans have many identities, and yet, are South African. It also reminds us that being South African has never been premised on the notion of a melting pot. South Africans need to work continuously to build unity in diversity as espoused by our coat of arms.
It is for these reasons that we need to educate the people we represent here, with special focus on learners and young people on the importance of national symbols, especially the national flag and the national anthem. It is important that every school in the Republic hoists the flag, to know its meaning and foster patriotism around it. It is important for the national broadcaster, since it is not a private, but a national broadcaster, to ensure that there is a rendition of the national anthem every day to show respect to the country we love so much and fought for.
As a people, as a nation and as South Africans, we have to work together to protect our national symbols, especially the national anthem and the flag. If not for us, let us do it for the generations that come after us who do not know the racial divide that we talk about and who do not see colour, but South Africans, united in diversity and a rainbow nation.
The state which rises on the will of its people has a moral responsibility to lead the process of nation-building, based on the above-mentioned principles. It is in this process, given our fractured and divisive history, that we must work hard to agree on that which brings us together rather than that which divides us. We must agree on a common set of values, norms and standards of what makes us South Africans, thus this requires immense self-sacrifice and across racial lines to act in the interest of what is best for humanity rather than that which is good for our immediate conditions. We must work together to undo and, perhaps even vigorously, undermine the legacy of patriarchy which to this day leaves our womenfolk behind as we progress on this path of nation-building.
The scourge of poverty and underdevelopment, which, in the case of South Africa, has both a racial and gender face, continues to undermine our efforts towards a common nationhood. We have to work to build the confidence of our people in the democratic dispensation to ensure that together we can equally claim with authority that we share a common citizenship. We have to work towards ensuring that we address the lack of interest by all national groups in the work of Parliament and legislatures in order to achieve fair representation and participation. Thank you very much. The ANC supports the Budget Vote. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Ms V VAN DYK
"Committee Room E249 Main",Unrevised Hansard,15 Jul 2014,"[Take-37] [Committee Room E249 Main][NW-2-49][mn].doc"
Ms L M MASEKO
Me V VAN DYK: Agb Voorsitter en lede van die Huis, advertensiepamflette van Brand SA sê, "Kry die groter prentjie", "the bigger picture". Dié prentjie, geskets in komiteevergaderings van die departement Kommunikasie, is beslis nie oral kleurvol nie. Suksesse van Brand SA om beleggers te oortuig om in Suid-Afrika te investeer, word bevraagteken.
Die toename in werkloosheid, met 'n groeikoers van 25,2% en ekonomiese groeikoers, die laagste sedert 2009, met die logiese korrelaat tussen investering versus werkskepping, hoë misdaadvlakke en 'n onstabiele arbeidsmark, is 'n spyker in die beleggersdoodskis.
Miljoene word bestee om moontlike beleggers te lok, met geen meetbare maatstawwe om die sukses van uitsette te meet nie. Die swak rand is dalk die rede vir toeriste. Kaapstad, onder die top 10 gewilde wêreldstede – in die DA-beheerde Wes-Kaapprovinsie – het wel 'n mooi storie om te vertel, 'n bewys dat 'n skoon regering, wat korrupsie teenstaan en diens lewer, toeriste en beleggers lok.
Die blinde oog vir korrupsie met die aanstelling van Motsoeneng op senior vlak in die Suid-Afrikaanse Uitsaaikorporasie, SAUK, ten spyte van die Openbare Beskermer se verdoemende verslag, laat rooi ligte flikker vir demokrasie.
Onder sy beheer, het die SAUK die swakste verslag van die Ouditeur-Generaal ontvang, en is die kontroversiële SAUK-MultiChoicetransaksie gesluit, waarin ongeveer 38 jaar se argiefmateriaal aan Multichoice verkoop is.
DA parlementêre vrae het uitgewys dat geen waardebepaling vooraf gedoen is nie en dat geld grootiiks operasioneel aangewend word, nie as 'n bate nie. Die transaksie mag strydig wees met artikel 8(j) van die Uitsaaiwet van 1999, naamlik dat die SAUK biblioteke of argiewe met relevante materiaal moet bewaar en beskikbaar stel aan die publiek. Die DA ondersteun die Independent Communications Authority of SA, Icasa, se ondersoek hierin, en het artikel 4(213) uitgewys as moontlike oortreding van die SAUK se mandaat as nasionale uitsaailiggaam.
Gebrek aan ferm optrede van Minister Muthambi, die SAUK se politieke hoof, ter ondersteuning van die Openbare Beskermer se verslag, stel teleur. 'n ANC-komiteelid het gesê, "Don't kick the man, kick the
ball." Maar Motsoeneng moes die skoen gekry het. Hy is prominent deel van die probleem van 'n disfunksionele SAUK sonder voldoende kundige personeel, wat ook uitgewys is deur die Ouditeur-Generaal se verslag.
Bogenoemde is 'n bewys hoekom die DA model van oop geleenthede vir almal, waar die bes-gekwalifiseerde persoon die posisie kry, gebruik behoort te word in werksonderhoude.
Projek Kindle, die SAUK se marknavorsing, het bevind dat kykers eerder alternatiewe mediabronne raadpleeg vir ware feite rondom nuusgebeure soos Marikana en Nkandla, met geen vertroue meer in die SAUK nie. Kykergetalle daal as gevolg van swak programinhoud en voortdurende herhaling van programme. Daar is tereg geen waarde vir geld nie, met 'n verwagte styging van 6% in televisielisensies.
Grondwetskrywers het voorsien dat die regering taaldiversiteit sou bevorder. Twintig jaar later word daar met erns op verskeie vlakke
teen Afrikaans gediskrimineer, 'n taal wat op eie bodem ontstaan het – dit is inheems - en wat die derde meeste in die land gepraat word.
Die DA het reeds 'n ondersoek na die SAUK se voorgestelde programverskuiwing van Afrikaanse programme van SAUK 2 na SAUK 3 aangevra. Swak grondverbindingsnetwerke in Afrikaanssprekende
gebiede soos die Noord-Kaap en Noordwes, kan Afrikaanse gemeenskappe toegang tot programme in hul voorkeurtaal ontneem en moontlik die reg tot inligting skend. Elke landsburger behoort die reg tot diverse media en inligting te hê, vo|gens hoofstuk 2 van die Handves van Regte. As een van die 11 amptelike tale ondersteun die DA ook
Afrikaans.
Die GCIS, die regerings-mediaverteenwoordiger, versprei die goeie storie van die regering. Hul loonuitgawes van 43,7%, en goedere en dienste van 45,5%, wat huur en reiskoste insluit, is oormatig. Die hoofuitvoerende beampte is na twee jaar steeds nie permanent aangestel nie en die GCIS het ook nie kwantifiseerbare doelwitte nie. Bewyslewering dat publikasies wel gelees word vir die mark waarvoor dit bepian word, ontbreek. 'n Totaal van 76% van The New Age-advertensies in November en Desember 2013 het van die GCIS gekom, maar geen kontrole is toegepas rondom die lees en verspreiding van leesstof nie. Die DA het die Ouditeur-Generaal gevra om hierdie vrugtelose uitgawes te stop.
Op die bestedingspunt, word Parlementslede digitaal bemagtig. Duisende rande word egter steeds daagliks spandeer op onnodige drukwerk. Parlementslede moet die voorbeeld stel - gaan groen!
Icasa, as onafhanklike reguleringsliggaam, se grootste uitdagings is,eerstens, kostebesnoeiing rondom telekommunikasie deur kompetisie in te bring, ontbondeling, asook besnyding op saiarisbesteding; en
tweedens, uitstaande personeelvaardigheidsverslae. In 2012-13, is slegs 18 uit 43 doelwitte bereik.
Die DA ondersteun kommunikasie-uitbreiding in landelike gebiede; dit bemagtig mense. As die regering ernstig hieroor was, hoekom is die leemte na 20 jaar steeds so groot? Die Wes-Kaap het binne vyf jaar tegnologie rondom breëband infrastruktuur geimplimenteer. Die vinnige telekommunikasienetwerk gaan Kaapstad binne vyf tot sewe jaar die digitaal mees gekonnekteerde stad in Afrika maak. Die vraag is, wanneer gaan breëbandbeloftes wat deur die President gemaak is in die res van Suid-Afrika gerealiseer word?
Gemeenskapsmedia, onder die Media Development and Diversity Agency, MDDA, is in baie gevalle die enigste medium wat gemeenskappe bereik en waardeur hulle opgevoed, ingelig en vermaak word in inheemse tale. Byvoorbeeld, Radio NFM98.1 in Namakwaland diens 37 000 luisteraars in onder andere Nama en Xhosa.
Die MDDA, die enigste kommunikasiedepartement met 'n skoon ouditverslag, se uitdagings is kundige personeel, oorbesteding op konsultante en'n groter allokasie om hul werk te doen, onafhanklik van regeringsinmenging. Meer spesiale programaanbiedings vir 5,3% gestremdes in SA behoort ook geakkommodeer te word.
Agb Voorsitter en lede van die Huis, ingeligte burgers maak ingeligte besluite. Dit bevorder die proses van demokrasie, want nie net ontvang luisteraars inligting nie, maar hulle kan ook opinies vorm, en die regering tot verantwoording roep en die politieke uitkomste beinvloed. Dit is dus verstaanbaar hoekom die ANC die media wil beheer en waarom te meer almal in Suid-Afrika vrye media moet onderskryf. Baie dankie. [Applous.]
Mr M U KALAKO
"Committee Room E249 Main",Unrevised Hansard,15 Jul 2014,"[Take-38] [Committee Room E249 Main][NW-2-49][mn].doc"
Ms V van DYK
Mr M U KALAKO: Chairperson, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, distinguished guests and hon members, as we continue to tell the good story of 20 years of ANC-led government, we move from the solid foundation of our democracy, the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996. The Constitution of South Africa has guaranteed media freedom, freedom of expression and access to information.
The ANC-led government has put measures and a number of statutes in place to give effect and meaning to the Constitution of South Africa. Amongst them is the establishment of the Media Development and Diversity Agency, MDDA, which is tasked with creating and enabling an environment for media diversity also entrusted with the responsibility to promote media development and diversity by providing financial and other support to community and small commercial media.
Amongst its achievements, the MDDA, in the past 10 years since its establishment, has been successfully receiving unqualified, clean audits. It has spent more than R30 million in advertisements which it has allocated to community and small commercial media. Twelve percent of government advertising expenditure amounting to R60 million have been spent on community and small commercial media from April 2011 to March 2013. State-owned entities have committed to allocating their spend to community and small commercial media. Readership of community and small commercial media newspapers has increased to 3 million. These are the achievements which we must continue to talk about and make public to our people.
Twenty years of democracy are indeed a good story to tell. As we continue to outline these achievements, the ANC-led government acknowledges the challenges faced by the department in its efforts to transform print media and television. We are not blind to resistance and opposition to transformation from those who were beneficiaries of successive white colonial and apartheid governments of the past.
We know that media, especially print media, has allocated itself the role of opposition to government. Independent media has put itself in the position of critics of government, which the ruling party welcomes, but they are opposed to all that seeks to address the imbalances of the past.
Despite all this, the ANC-led government is committed to continuing to find ways of working with the independent media so that together, we can become compatriots. The ANC-led government does this without seeking to turn the media into its mouthpiece. We encourage independent media to criticise government fairly where it is necessary and expose wrongdoing by government at whatever level. What we appeal for is fair, objective and constructive criticism. There is no way that media can be hostile to government to an extent of becoming an adversary and at the same time being patriotic.
We have always cherished the idea of a free press, which all of us have fought so hard for. Let us all be vigilant because there are those who want to use the media as a tool to depose the ruling party from government. [Interjections.] We are raising this mindful of the fact that, as government, we always want to convey to citizens positive messages about our programmes and progress. We do not deny that we, as the ruling party, attempt to frame our ideas according to government's political agenda. What must not be overlooked is, equally so, journalists also always try to frame their reporting based on the ideas, opinions and agendas of their masters. Neither of these institutions is neutral. There is no such a thing as independent or neutral in a class-divided society. There will always be a battle for dominance of ideas in any class-divided society. Ours is not an exception.
The fundamental function of modern governance is the capacity to effectively communicate government programmes and policies to society. The key to this is how government, citizens, leaders and public institutions relate to each other in order to change society. Without communication structures and processes that government uses it will be difficult to have an exchange of information between state and citizens. This two-way process assists the state to be responsive to public needs and expectations.
Media, especially print media, is still in need of urgent transformation. The print media is still dominated by four big players who control the entire value chain of the market, which creates a barrier to market entry for small and emerging players. The Media Development and Diversity Agency and Print Media of South Africa recently indicated in their report that despite some transformation that has taken place since 1994, black ownership in the South African mainstream print media to date is 14%. Women's participation at board and managerial levels is 4,44%.
In order to create and maintain a politically conscious and active, vibrant society, where citizens are able to hold public servants and politicians to account about their work and actions, we need to further broaden access to choice of a diverse range of media. Every citizen, irrespective of social class, wherever located, rural or urban, poor or rich, must have access to television, radio, and print media. Access to communication and information empowers citizens to facilitate participatory democracy and assists in defending, advancing and deepening democracy.
Brand SA is doing marvellous work for this country. The results are there for everybody to see. The South African Broadcasting Corporation, SABC, continues to play a pivotal role in educating, informing and entertaining the people of South Africa. We are happy that despite some constraints in revenue, the SABC continues to deliver on its mandate of unparallelled public value proposition of educating, informing and entertaining all South Africans in 11 languages by means of 19 radio stations and 3 television channels.
We have also noted that SABC has committed itself to driving the information economy utilising the dividend that enables its TV platforms to evolve from linear to nonlinear broadcasting. This makes it possible for both poor and wealthy South Africans alike to participate in accessing knowledge and interacting with specialised services in a meaningful and reasonable way. The intention of SABC to review and revise its 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016 corporate plan due to transformation that broadcasters are undergoing globally, and taking into account shifts in the world economy, new technologies, and changes in audience behaviour are encouraged and supported as they are steps in the right direction.
We also welcome efforts by the SABC to devise new pillars and goals in order to align itself to a digital world. It is important for the SABC to sustain and reinvigorate itself because it exists and functions in a digital world in which information is increasingly delivered on diverse platforms and sources. This is a challenge as forces of globalisation within media continue to influence and dilute local and national culture as never before. As one of the pillars of enhancing our culture and nationhood, the SABC has to be alive to these influences and make sure that South Africans are made aware in order to preserve our national and local culture.
The SABC must continue to grow its audience share on all platforms, reposition television channels and radio stations by introducing new content that responds to audience needs. As part of its commitment the SABC has made the following undertakings relating to television. Firstly, servicing diverse audiences to ensure that the demographics of all its services reflect those of the country; Secondly placing audiences at the centre of its business to maintain high-quality content distinct from commercial content, content that is educational, editorially independent, universally accessible, culturally diverse, nation-building, and that resonates with audiences.
Thirdly, the SABC must connect and engage with the viewer through offering compelling content with a long shelf-life that can live on multiple platforms, delivering credible, relevant and trustworthy content at the right time. The committee, on behalf of Parliament, will continue to monitor and hold the SABC to account for its undertakings. We expect the broadcaster to honour and fulfil its undertakings, which are so progressive.
Let me just outline one thing here. The issue of the CEO – members come here as if it has never been discussed, or mentioned and acknowledged by the committee. [Interjections.] In fact, the Chairperson of this committee has ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Order, hon members!
Mr M U KALAKO: ... responded to Mr David or hon David, whoever is David or Davis, where he acknowledged receiving the letter from the DA to actually ...
Mr C MACKENZIE: I rise on a point of order. Hon Chairperson, we do respect the members of this Chamber and if the speaker could please ...
Mr M U KALAKO: Hon Davis, I withdraw. Hon Davis.
Mr C MACKENZIE: Thank you, Chair.
Mr M U KALAKO: The Chairperson did explain in detail that the committee would look into the matter when all the due processes of Parliament have taken their course. It's not an issue that the committee did not notice. I do not know why the DA thinks if they say anything, everybody must jump. [Interjections.] I don't know why you DA people still have this white supremacy attitude and baasmanskap. I do not know why do you think ... [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon member, please wait. Hon members, we have rules. If you need to raise something, stand up and call for a point of order. Do not just interrupt continuously. Thank you.
Mr M U KALAKO: And really, as the ANC, we cannot jump ...
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon member.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Madam Chairperson, there have been rulings in this House on racial stereotyping before, and I would ask if you would rule whether it is parliamentary for the member to refer to this side of the House as suffering from "white supremacy" and "baasskap".
Mr M U KALAKO: Yes, white supremacy ...
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: I am making a point of order. I'm not talking to you.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (MS M G Boroto): Hon member, please sit. Hon member, could you continue. [Interjections.]
Mr M U KALAKO: Thank you. And also, Chair, I do not know hon Ndlovu ... [Interjections.] ... Ndlozi, I'm sorry, - I do not know where you live, chief. If you stand up here ...
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Madam Chair, I rise on Rule 63, for your edification, Madam Chairperson, to say that I find it offensive to be compared to white supremacy and baasskap and will ask you to rule whether that is parliamentary or not. [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon member, I did not hear anything of what you are referring to. Please allow the member to continue. [Interjections.] Hon member.
Mr M U KALAKO: Thank you, Chair. [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon members, please respect this chair. I make a ruling and you continue to speak. [Interjections.] Hon member at the podium, continue.
Mr M U KALAKO: Chair, as I was saying, hon Ndlozi, you cannot be serious and say this government has done nothing; all it says is lies in the papers. In fact you are here, and you are a beneficiary of this democracy which this ANC has brought about. You have been able to form a political party and be allowed space to express yourself, because this government has brought about this democracy. [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon members on my left, before you speak, please, we have Rule 46 and Rule 47. I know what it entails, and you also know. I'm not going to explain. Is that a point of order?
Mr M Q NDLOZI: I'm rising to ask if the hon member who is speaking will accept a question?
Mr M U KALAKO: No, we can meet outside. You see, I do not know whether you want to deny that there is democracy in this country, and you want us not to say that. [Interjections.] Also, I do not know whether you want to say to us there is no political dispensation in the country. You know, when you criticise us, criticise us fairly, and when you speak, speak the truth. I understand why the DA ... in fact, I understand why people who come from a culture of oppressing and suppressing people fear the Department of Communications. [Interjections.] No, rest assured, we are not like you. [Interjections.] We won't do that.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon member, address the House. Hon member, will you please address this House and not the members.
Mr M U KALAKO: Okay, okay. The ANC has brought about this democracy and will continue to preserve and defend these rights that are enshrined in our Constitution. We have fought for that Constitution and those democratic rights that are there. Thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Order, hon members! Please sit down. [Laughter.] [Interjections.] There is no point of order now, please sit down!
The MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS
"Committee Room E249 Main",Unrevised Hansard,15 Jul 2014,"[Take-39] [Committee Room E249 Main][NW-2-49][mn].doc"
Mr M U KALAKO
The MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS: Hon Chairperson and hon Moloi-Moropa of the ANC, I agree with the hon member's observation that an effective government system must have at its centre alignment to the National Development Plan, NDP. We also agree that the transformation agenda must be a priority. In this regard, we will be reviewing the transformation trends over the last 20 years and take appropriate action to accelerate media transformation. Of that one we can assure you, hon Chairperson.
There is also an interactive link between transformation of society and the improvement of information dissemination to our people.
To my colleague hon Davis, the issue of convergence is misunderstood deliberately by you, I believe. The issue of information is, indeed, political. I can assure you of that. It is political if our people are denied information for economic empowerment. There is no apology for revolutionising communication to empower our people. [Applause.] We confirm that the SABC will remain a credible public broadcaster. Of that we can assure you. You see, the SABC needs stable leadership to do its work. ... [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Order, hon members!
The MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS: The appointment of the chief operating officer, COO, and the chief financial officer, CFO, are in the interests of the stability of the SABC. I want to reiterate my statement that I made in the committee last week, that the SABC board and I will respond to the Public Protector's report before the deadline.
We also need an SABC that does its work ... [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon member, hon Minister, a moment. Please, hon members, could you allow the hon Minister to finish. These interruptions are becoming too much, now, please. Continue, hon Minister.
The MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS: We are saying that, hon Davis, we need an SABC that does its work in the public interest and we can only achieve that through stable and consistent leadership. The SABC board has recommended Mr Motsoeneng to be appointed in order to take it to greater heights and, after due consideration I, as Minister and shareholder, confirmed his appointment.
You raised the issue of propaganda, hon Davis. All these entities that report to us have the responsibility to communicate with the people of South Africa and the world. To communicate, they have to communicate the opportunities brought about by this democracy. You are also sitting in this Parliament by virtue of the democracy that we have brought about. These opportunities must assist them to change and improve their lives. This configuration is in the interest of reducing information ... [Interjections.]... empower our people to enjoy the fruits of this democracy.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Order! Order, hon members! Hon members on my right, you are disturbing the Minister. You have added seconds, Minister, please continue.
The MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS: The SABC board is elected by this democratic Parliament. Its constitution must reflect the will of the people. We are tired of apologising for being the majority party.
Regarding work of the the Media Development and Diversity Agency, hon Davis, is to empower community media. We are saying as the ANC, as you have heard the Deputy Minister saying, that we are going to intensify to empower community media. You are not complaining about the lack of independence of commercial media when government spends millions on them. But the minute we spend money on communities you complain about independence. I think this is hypocrisy of the highest order, hon member. [Applause.]
Let us deal with your seven suggestions. You have made seven suggestions and they have already been considered in the past over the years and have led to information disempowerment, so we cannot take those suggestions. [Laughter.]
Hon Ndlozi of the EFF, thank you so much for your theory of how to improve literacy ability. We have already started implementing the transformation of the media landscape. Hon member, we have created and supported the existence of courts and have proved over and over again that we respect their outcome. We are clear that the SABC must serve an agenda of poverty eradication.
Hon Nkomo of the IFP, The New Age accounted for no more than 3% of the government's stand. Please, check your facts. We are determined to redistribute the state funding to invest in the upcoming media and community media. [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Order, hon members!
The MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS: Hon Mulder of the FF Plus, information is, indeed, necessary to build democracy and uninformed citizenry is as poor as a "kerkmuis", as you always say. I want to indicate to you that the Public Finance Management Act is enough. No one is allowed to abuse state funds for political purposes.
Hon Mphethi of the PAC, government communication is not for the benefit of the government, but for the benefit of the nation, including your members. Job opportunities are for all citizens. I urge you, hon member, to familiarise yourself with the laws governing the relationship between the SABC board and Parliament. There are clear separations of roles and responsibilities.
Then there was an hon member from Cope. [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Just wait, hon Minister. Hon Chief Whip of the Opposition, I have been duly informed by the Table that the hon member now has 10 minutes. Thank you, very much.
The MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS: There was an hon member from Cope here who ... [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon Chief Whip of the Opposition, I am aware that you were not informed, hence I had to come in and inform you now. Thank you. Can you allow the speaker to finish? [Interjections.] Order, hon members! Please sit, I have just told you. I have been told that ... okay, hon members, you will be added as you continue. What is happening is that I have been informed that the Minister saved five minutes from her 25 minutes to add them at the end. That we will allow. Unfortunately it was not communicated and that is why I am raising it now. Could we allow the Minister to continue? Please, check the door. Thank you.
The MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS: Thank you. There was an hon member from Cope.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon member, sit down.
Ms M T KUBAYI: No, no, Chair, there is a precedence that has been set, which is wrong. We cannot allow a precedence to be set. The presiding officers have the authority and the final word in terms of managing the time of the House. Once we start setting the precedent of presiding officers consulting an opposition party on time ... they can approach the Table when they want to do. That is the wrong precedent. You should not ... [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon member, thank you. There is no precedence that has been set. Hon members, we had to explain, because they were not informed and that is correct. So, hon member, continue with your added minutes. Thank you.
The MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS: Thank you, hon Chairperson. There was an hon member from Cope who came in here and made her speech. It is a pity that immediately after doing that she decided to leavethe House. I think it is highly ill-disciplined of her, but I was nevertheless going to respond to her and say that the information deficit will be fixed, hence this integrated department.
To the hon Maseko of the ANC, you have correctly linked the information communications technologies and service delivery. We cannot overemphasise the use of the ICTs to improve lives. The link with people across the world is important to ensure that we do not become an island. I endorse completely a proposal about the showing respect for our national symbols.
To the hon Van Dyk of the DA, madam, the DA government ... [Interjections.] [Laughter.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): We do not have a madam in this House, hon Minister, please.
The MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS: I withdraw.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): The Minister has withdrawn. Thank you.
The MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS: Hon Van Dyk, I withdraw, unconditionally so. My hon colleague, the DA government might have a good story to tell the people of Constantia, but the people from Khayelitsha would argue against the DA's good story. [Interjections.]
It is important that members contribute constructively about how we can together build the SABC. By simply complaining about Motsoeneng is not a contribution, but just a cheap shot. If he goes tomorrow, what will the agenda be? [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
The Committee rose at 21:31.
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