Hansard: NA: Plenary

House: National Assembly

Date of Meeting: 26 Feb 2015

Summary

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Minutes

UNREVISED HANSARD

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

26 FEBRUARY 2015

PAGE: 1

THURSDAY, 26 FEBRUARY 2015

PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

______________

The House met at 14:00.

The Deputy Speaker took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayer or meditation.

NOTICES OF MOTION

START OF DAY

NOTICES OF MOTION

Ms C DUDLEY: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:

That the House debates the importance of protecting freedom of religion and belief.

Mr J VOS

Ms C DUDLEY

Mr J VOS: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:

That the House debates the reasons for the sudden withdrawal of the tender process for the construction of a dedicated cruise-liner terminal for Cape Town harbour.

Ms S R VAN SCHALKWYK

Mr J VOS

Ms S R VAN SCHALKWYK: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:

That the House debates the implementation of instruments aimed at rooting out illegal and manipulative job recruitment agencies that charge work seekers fees.

Mrs V BAM-MUGWANYA

Ms S R VAN SCHALKWYK

Mrs V BAM-MUGWANYA: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:

That the House debates the implementation of a holistic approach to low-cost housing developments that include local recreational facilities, retail opportunities, as well as community, social and health services.

Mr J A ESTERHUIZEN

Mrs V BAM-MUGWANYA

Mr J A ESTERHUIZEN: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:

That the House debates government’s continued failure to recognise the voices of communities situated in our mining areas in respect of issues relating to the draft framework for sustainable mining practices, as well as government’s clear favouring of the rich mining elite over the interests of poor mining communities.

Mr S A TLEANE

Mr J A ESTERHUIZEN

Mr S A TLEANE: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:

That the House debates dealing with racism in all its forms, especially in our schools, as we strive to inspire our people towards creating a nonracial South Africa.

Mr L J BASSON

Mr S A TLEANE

Mr L J BASSON: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:

That the House debates the Mokolo-Crocodile River water transfer to Medupi, the impact the conditions of the World Bank will have on the additional usage of water at the power station, which is fitted with a flue gas desulphurisation mechanism, and the impact on farmers who use water from Hartbeespoort Dam.

Mr S J F MARAIS

Mr L J BASSON

Mr S J F MARAIS: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:

That the House debates how the increase in the minimum wage of farm workers has contributed to these households being disqualified from the housing subsidy scheme and what can be done to remove the unfair, discriminatory consequences.

Ms E N LOUW

Mr S J F MARAIS

Ms E N LOUW: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:

That the House debates the provision of free quality education up to undergraduate level for all South African students and the means of ensuring a transformed and competitive society.

Ms S V KALYAN

Ms E N LOUW

Ms S V KALYAN: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:

That the House debates the urgent implementation of a youth wage subsidy, as the youth accounts for 67,4% of the unemployed in our country.

Mr M HLENGWA

Ms S V KALYAN

Mr M HLENGWA: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:

That the House debates the recent report by the SA Journal of Science and its findings that genetically modified maize does not bring significant benefits to our small-scale farmers, the high costs associated with GM maize in general, as well as its overall unsuitability for the South African market.

Ms N A MNISI

Mr M HLENGWA

Ms N A MNISI: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:

That the House debates dealing with racism in all its forms, especially in our schools, as we strive to inspire our people towards creating a nonracial South Africa.

Dr M B KHOZA

Ms N A MNISI

Dr M B KHOZA: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:

That the House debates the combating of the rise of gangsterism, which seems to have serious ramifications for mostly black South African communities.

Mr N P KHOZA

Dr M B KHOZA

Mr N P KHOZA: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:

That the House debates the notion of equality before the law for all South African citizens and the perceived or real notion that access to fair justice is determined by race and proximity to senior politicians.

Ms T E BAKER

Mr N P KHOZA

Ms T E BAKER: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:

That the House debates the effects the increased number of raw sewage spills into our rivers have on the environment and the health of the communities that reside in areas alongside these polluted rivers.

Mr A M MATLHOKO

Ms T E BAKER

Mr A M MATLHOKO: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:

That the House debates reforming South Africa’s agrarian economy to ensure that in a country that is supposedly food secure, household food security is also guaranteed and that agriculture plays a key role in industrialising our economy.

Ms Z C FAKU

Mr A M MATLHOKO

Ms Z C FAKU: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:

That the House debates the combating of the rise of gangsterism, which seems to have serious ramifications for mostly black South African communities.

Ms S V KALYAN: That motion is a repetition, Deputy Speaker.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I noticed that.

Mr M S F DE FREITAS

The DEPUTY SPEAKER

Mr M S F DE FREITAS: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:

That the House debates the Makhura advisory panel on e-tolls and recommendations made in its report to the Gauteng premier and what the Department of Transport and affected entities will be considering in this report to solve the current e-toll crisis.

Ms S P BOSHIELO

Mr M S F DE FREITAS

Ms S P BOSHIELO: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:

That the House debates reducing transport costs for the urban and rural poor by facilitating access to affordable, safe and convenient public transport.

Rev K R J MESHOE

Ms S P BOSHIELO

Rev K R J MESHOE: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:

That the House debates how to popularise the drip irrigation system among farmers, particularly at a time when we are experiencing a scarcity of water in our country.

Mr P G MOTEKA

Rev K R J MESHOE

Mr P G MOTEKA: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:

That the House debates the local beneficiation and industrialisation of South Africa’s mineral resources to create millions of jobs and grow our economy.

Mr S J MASANGO

Mr P G MOTEKA

Mr S J MASANGO: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:

That the House debates the benefits of an open-opportunity society for all.

Mrs C DUDLEY

Mr S J MASANGO

Mrs C DUDLEY: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:

That the House debates the need for an audit across departments of interventions aimed at countering gender-based violence in order to assess their relevance and impact to date.

Ms A MATSHOBENI

Mrs C DUDLEY

Ms A MATSHOBENI: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:

That the House debates the impact the energy crisis has on our economy and the short and long-term alternatives to solve this crisis and grow our economy.

Ms D CARTER

Ms A MATSHOBENI

Ms D CARTER: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:

That the House debates the impact on the credibility of police professionalism as a result of high-profile cases in the courts collapsing one after the other to the dismay of the law-abiding citizens of South Africa.

MOTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

NOTICES OF MOTION

SOCIAL WELFARE TRADED IN FOR OFFICE FURNITURE BY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

(Draft Resolution)

Ms D VAN DER WALT: Deputy Speaker, I hereby move without notice on behalf of the DA:

That the House‑

notes that the Department of Social Development has traded in social welfare for office furniture to the value of R27 million;

also notes that this department’s budget realignment during the annual budget adjustment late last year, approved that the budget for the programme of social welfare services was decreased by a staggering amount of R54 million;

further notes that the programme of social welfare services is aimed at helping organisations in the province that assist the government in looking after the aged, disabled, sick and destitute. These organisations will now be forced to either close their doors or look elsewhere for funding;

acknowledges that Mpumalanga has the second highest HIV/Aids prevalence rate in South Africa, while the Gert Sibande District Municipality has the highest prevalence rate of any district in the country. However, despite this fact, the department slashed the budget for the HIV/Aids subprogramme to R44 million, which is R18 million less than the previous financial year, ending March 2014;

further acknowledges that Social Relief, a subprogramme designed to temporarily provide assistance to persons in dire material need, is virtually nonexistent, with the department spending a mere R9 million compared to the previous financial years’ R45,5 million; and

further expresses our concern that this Department of Social Development would rather invest in comfortable furniture while thousands of ill, aged and disabled people struggle to make ends meet.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Are there any objections to the motion? [Interjections.] There are objections, so the motion falls away.

Mr M WATERS: On a point of order, Deputy Speaker: We distributed the motion as agreed and there was no objection from the ANC. [Interjections.]

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: There is now, sir. [Interjections.] The House prevails on anything done outside of here. [Interjections.]

Ms H MALGAS

Ms VAN DER WALT

SADNESS OVER SAD PASSING OF TV PERSONALITY, SIMBA MHERE

(Draft Resolution)

Ms H MALGAS: Deputy Speaker, I hereby move without notice on behalf of the ANC:

That the House‑

notes with great sadness the sudden and untimely tragic death of 26-year-old TV personality Simba Mhere, who died after he was involved in a car accident on William Nicol Drive near the N1 in Johannesburg on Saturday, 31 January 2015;

further notes that a friend who was travelling in the same vehicle was also killed;

acknowledges that Mr Mhere was the youngest presenter of the magazine programme Top Billing on SABC3, after he won the Top Billing Presenter Search in 2010;

further acknowledges that his death is all the more tragic as he was at a high point in his career, a role model and an inspiration to other young people;

believes that his charisma, passion, hard work and dedication to entertain, educate and inform the public will be sorely missed; and

extends its condolences to Simba Mhere’s family, friends and colleagues.

Agreed to.

Ms O MAXON

Ms H MALGAS

27 FEBRUARY MARKS 37 YEARS SINCE UNTIMELY DEATH OF ROBERT SOBUKWE

(Draft Resolution)

Ms O MAXON: Deputy Speaker, I hereby move without notice on behalf of the EFF:

That the House‑

notes that 27 February marks 37 years since the untimely death of the founder and first president of the PAC, Robert Sobukwe Mangaliso;

further notes that Robert Sobukwe was a founding NEC member of the ANC Youth League in 1994 and, together with A P Mda, was the brain behind the 1949 programme of action of the ANC, which, among other things, called for political and economic freedom for African people;

notes that after breaking from the ANC and forming the PAC in 1959, he led what will go down in history as a defining moment in the struggle for national liberation, the pass boycott, which resulted in the massacre of hundreds of black people in Sharpeville, Langa and elsewhere in the country;

further notes that because the racist and apartheid government was so afraid of his Africanist ideas, the minority Parliament passed the Sobukwe Clause, empowering the then Justice Minister to prolong his sentence to an additional six years after the three years that he served;

notes that they further held him in solitary confinement on Robben Island, disallowing him reading material, radio or conversing with anyone, including the guards, for three full years, breaking the very brilliant and radical mind they so feared into madness;

further notes that all audio material of Robert Sobukwe is nowhere to be found today, that he remains the only liberation struggle leader in South Africa of his proportion whose voice has been completely erased from the archives by the apartheid regime;

notes that this signifies that the apartheid government was most afraid of Robert Sobukwe and that, had he lived to see the dawn of liberation, and due to the quality of leader that he was, he would not have compromised on the most golden demand – that of genuine decolonisation, which is land expropriation without compensation for equal distribution; and

that his legacy remains incomplete until the land has been restored to the indigenous South Africans who have seen the greatest crime against humanity: genocide, colonisation and apartheid.

Motion not agreed to.

Mr S C MOTAU

Ms O MAXON

XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS ON FOREIGN SHOP OWNERS CONDEMNED

(Draft Resolution)

Mr S C MOTAU: Deputy Speaker, I hereby move without notice on behalf of the DA:

That the House‑

notes the recent spate of what is believed to be xenophobic attacks on foreign shop owners and residents in parts of our country;

further notes that countless foreign-owned shops are looted, businesses vandalised and properties destroyed during these inexcusable attacks;

acknowledges that not a single successful prosecution of a South African who has attacked foreigners or looted their shops has taken place;

further acknowledges that these alleged xenophobic attacks are shameful and despicable acts that must be strongly condemned by this House and by all South Africans; and

calls for the perpetrators of the violence to be brought to justice and appeals to all affected communities to end the violence and to adopt an attitude of tolerance and respect towards those who come to South Africa in search of a better future.

Agreed to.

Mr N SINGH

Mr S C MOTAU

WORLD RARE DISEASE DAY RECOGNISED ON 28 FEBRUARY

(Draft Resolution)

Mr N SINGH: Deputy Speaker, I hereby move without notice on behalf of the IFP:

That the House‑

recognises World Rare Disease Day, which will be marked on 28 February this year, and its call and objective to raise awareness among the general public and government about rare diseases and the plight of those living with them;

acknowledges that those afflicted and suffering from rare diseases form a small minority in our society and receive little or no help or attention;

further acknowledges that 80% of rare diseases have identified genetic origins while others are the result of infections - bacterial or viral, allergies and environmental causes or are degenerative and proliferative and that 50% of rare diseases touch children;

applauds the tireless efforts of organisations such as the Rare Disease Society of SA, which is a registered nonprofit organisation initiated to advocate for patients’ rights and to create awareness of various life-threatening rare diseases; and

finally calls on government and the Department of Health to commit to the ongoing implementation of a better and more comprehensive approach to rare diseases and to the development of appropriate public health care policies.

Agreed to.

Mr S C MNCWABE

Mr N SINGH

WISHES FOR SPEEDY RECOVERY TO NEIL TOVEY

(Draft Resolution)

Mr S C MNCWABE: Deputy Speaker, I hereby move without notice on behalf of the NFP:

That the House‑

notes that former Bafana Bafana captain Neil Tovey was hospitalised in Durban on Tuesday, 24 February 2015, after suffering three heart attacks;

further notes that Neil Tovey was the captain of Bafana Bafana when the team won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996;

recalls that Neil Tovey captained our national team, Bafana Bafana, in 29 international games during his career; and

calls on this honourable House to wish Neil Tovey a speedy recovery.

Agreed to.

Mr N L S KWANKWA

Mr S C MNCWABE

SA UNDER-17 AMAJIMBOS WIN AGAINST NIGERIA’S UNDER-17 TEAM

(Draft Resolution)

Mr N L S KWANKWA[mm1] : Deputy Speaker, I hereby move without notice on behalf of the UDM:

That the House -

notes that the South African under-17 national soccer team, the Amajimbos, played against the Nigerian national soccer team on 25 February 2015 and won the match by 1-0;

acknowledges that this victory booked the South African under-17 team’s place in the finals of the African Youth Championships competition, which will be played on Sunday, 1 March 2015;

congratulates the team and the technical staff on their sterling performance; and

wishes the team all the best in the finals of the African Youth Championships.

Agreed to.

Mr P J MNGUNI

Mr N L S KWANKWA

RELEASE OF FINAL THREE MEMBERS OF CUBAN FIVE IN USA

(Draft Resolution)

Mr P J MNGUNI: Deputy Speaker, I hereby move without notice on behalf of the ANC:

That the House –

welcomes the release in a prisoner exchange between the US and Cuba of the final three members of the Cuban Five, jailed in the United States in December 2014;

further notes that with the exchange for the release of the three Cubans, the American Allan Gross was released on humanitarian grounds by the Cuban government from a Cuban prison after five years as part of an agreement that also includes senior US officials;

recalls that the three men of the Cuban Five were convicted in 2001 in Miami on charges including conspiracy and failure to register as foreign agents in the US;

further recalls that the two members of the Cuban Five were previously released after finishing their sentences earlier in 2014;

acknowledges that the US government is in talks with Cuba, aiming to restore full diplomatic relations for the first time in more than half a century; and

congratulates both the governments of the US and Cuba on the successful co-operation between the two countries and hoping that this will lead to more constructive relations between the two countries.

[Applause.]

Motion not agreed to.

Mr A M MATLHOKO

Mr P J MNGUNI

100 BLACK FAMILIES IN PORT ELIZABETH EVICTED IN YEAR OF FREEDOM CHARTER

(Draft Resolution)

Mr A M MATLHOKO[mm2] : Hon Deputy Speaker, I hereby move without notice on behalf of the EFF:

That the House –

notes that in the year of the Freedom Charter, according to the ANC-led government, 100 black families in Port Elizabeth were harassed, their shacks destroyed by the police and they were evicted from unoccupied land that they occupied since 2012;

further notes that many of the residents have been on the housing waiting list since 2010 and the government evicted them without giving them alternative land;

acknowledges that the provincial government obtained a court order to evict them, giving them only six months to leave;

reckons that this is contrary to the principles and values of the Freedom Charter;

condemns the use of violence by the police on unarmed, poor and defenceless people; and

calls on government to give the people of Port Elizabeth alternative land.

Motion not agreed to.

Mr M A MNCWANGO

Mr A M MATLHOKO

LIGHTNING KILLS AND INJURES PEOPLE IN KWAZULU-NATAL

(Draft Resolution)

Mr M A MNCWANGO[mm3] : Hon Deputy Speaker, I hereby move without notice on behalf of the IFP:

That the House -

extends its deepest condolences to the families, friends and community of KwaNongoma over the recent tragedy that saw a lightning strike kill nine people and injure another 17 people who were attending a traditional ceremony in Mthonjaneni;

further extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and communities in Colenso and Paulpietersburg, which claimed the lives of six people in other lightning strikes;

acknowledges that storms of this nature are prone to occur around this time of the year in KwaZulu-Natal and encourages citizens to be mindful of inclement weather and take the necessary precautions when planning gatherings of any kind;

calls on the national government and the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Co-operative Governance to ensure that the necessary disaster relief teams are deployed to affected areas and to provide the necessary support to affected families; and

applauds the efforts of our disaster relief teams and thanks them for their courageous service to our communities.

Agreed to.

Ms V QEDABAHLE
Mr M A MNCWANGO

LOWER ZINGCUKA VILLAGERS AGRIEVED OVER LOST 1996 LAND CLAIM IN KEISKAMMAHOEK

(Draft Resolution)

Ms V QEDABAHLE[mm4] : Deputy Speaker, I hereby move without notice on behalf of the EFF:

That the House –

notes that the Lower Zingcuka villagers in Keiskammahoek in the Eastern Cape, who lost their land claim back in 1996 for land that was violently taken away from them during the apartheid era, are yet to either get back their land or any financial compensation for their land;

further notes that the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform has been toying with the villagers’ emotions for a number of years and many old people who directly experienced forced removals have even died before seeing the return of their land or having compensation paid for their loss;

reckons rather that they are in cahoots with white forestry companies like Rens Holdings and together they are preventing our people from accessing their land;

acknowledges that this department, and government as a whole, does not take the issue of redressing historical injustices relating to the land question seriously, to the extent that instead of returning this land to its rightful owners, it now allows white people to also lay claim to the land under the pretence that they were also removed as a result of racial laws;

further acknowledges that for communities such as Lower Zingcuka, the only option left will be to embark on the EFF land occupation campaign to forcefully reclaim what is rightfully theirs.

[Applause.]

Motion not agreed to.

Mr T Z HADEBE

Ms V QEDABAHLE

2014 SIEMENS AFRICA GREEN CITY INDEX REPORT

(Draft Resolution)

Mr T Z HADEBE[mm5] : Deputy Speaker, I hereby move without notice on behalf of the DA:

That the House –

notes that the 2014 Siemens Report recently featured several South African cities in its Africa Green City Index report;

further notes that the report looked at 15 African cities that have committed to improving their environmental footprint and scored each city on issues including land use, transport, waste management, water, sanitation and air quality;

acknowledges that the City of Cape Town was well above average in the category of land use and was the top-performing African city in this regard;

further acknowledges that Cape Town was recognised as one of the continent’s top cities in the index for superior forms of public transport, and it is one of only three cities in Africa noted for actively promoting greener forms of transport, the other cities being Dar es Salaam and Tunis; and

congratulates the South African cities that were featured in this report and encourage all metros and towns to redouble their efforts to become more environmentally conscious.

Agreed to.

Mr N S MATIASE

Mr T Z HADEBE

Sesotho:

TLHOKO YA METSI YA BAAHI BA MASHAENG

(Tshisinyo Ntle Tsebiso)

Mong N S MATIASE: Motlatsamotsamaisi wa Lekgotla, ke ema ho hlahisa tshisinyo ntle le tsebiso lebitsong la mokgatlo wa EFF:

Ho re Ntlo –

e hlaholla hore baahi ba motse wa Mashaeng, masepaleng wa Dihlabeng, ba na le matsatsitsatsi ba se na metsi, e tswe dipompo tsa bona di omme ngele, mme mathata ana a tlhokeho ya metsi a qadile ho tloha ka selemo sa 2012;

e boela e hlaholla hore le ha mmuso o re o na le 90% tsa Maafrika Borwa a nang le metsi a hlwekileng, baahi ba Mashaeng ha ba na le letho, e tswe bosiu le motshehare metsi a a kwalwa mme baahi ba hloke ho itlhatswa le ho phetha mabaka a itseng ka metsi;

e ellelwa hore baahi ba Mashaeng, jwalo ka ha ba timelwa metsi, baahisane ba bona ba motse wa sekgoweng, Fouriesburg, ha ba sitwe ho fumana metsi ha baahisane ba bona ba sitwa ho fuwa metsi ke Masepala wa Dihlabeng;

e boetse ya elellwa hore metsi ke bophelo mme moahi e mong le mong o lokela ke hore a fuwe metsi jwalekaha mmuso o tshepisa hore ke mmuso o sebeletsang baahi;

e ipeletsa ho Lefapha la Nehelano ya Metsi le Tlhwekiso ya Dikgwerekgwere le tse ding ho netefatsa hore baahi ba Mashaeng ba fuwa metsi, seriti sa bona se tle se kgone ho kgutlisetswa ho bona.

Ke sisinya jwalo!

E dumelletswe.

Circulated in English as:

PLIGHT OF WATER COMMUNITY FOR MASHAENG COMMUNITY

(Draft Resolution)

Mr N S MATIASE: Deputy Speaker, I hereby move without notice on behalf of the EFF:

That the House –

notes that in the community of Mashaeng, in Dihlabeng Municipality, taps are dry and inhabitants have been experiencing water cuts since 2012;

further notes that despite government’s claim that 90% of South Africans have clean water, Mashaeng does not have water and if they do, the municipality cuts water by 12pm every day;

recognises that the challenge of water is only experienced in the township and not in Fouriesburg, where mostly white residents live;

further recognises that water is a basic human right, which is denied the people of Mashaeng because of incompetent councillors; and

calls on the Department of Water and Sanitation to immediately intervene to ensure that the people of Mashaeng have clean water and sanitation.

Agreed to.

Mr M HLENGWA

Mr N S MATIASE

VIOLENT PROTESTS AT UKZN WESTVILLE CAMPUS

(Draft Resolution)

Mr M HLENGWA[mm6] : Hon Deputy Speaker, I hereby move without notice on behalf of the IFP:

That the House –

notes with concern and condemns the violent protests that took place at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Westville Campus, which resulted in the burning of property;

further notes the lack of constructive engagement by the protesters in expressing their concerns and urges for more responsible protesting to allow for appropriate steps to be taken to resolve issues;

acknowledges the concerns of the protesting students with regard to the shortage of student funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme and the alleged maladministration surrounding the disbursement of loans;

calls on the Department of Higher Education to interact with the relevant government departments and to relook the funding models and criteria used so as to better manage the distribution of NSFAS loans; and

applauds the efforts of the Wits Student Representative Council to raise funds in order to help pay for students who have no proper access to funding, and encourages the University of KwaZulu-Natal Westville’s SRC, as well as other university SRCs, to emulate this model of sourcing funding for students who need it.

Agreed to.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER[mm7] : Order! Hon Matiase, it has been brought to my attention that your motion had not been circulated. You know you are supposed to do that. Do not raise a motion without notice like that again, sir, if you did not circulate it before the sitting; before 12 o’clock every day.

Mr N S MATIASE[mm8] : Deputy Speaker, it was circulated in the English version. All I did was read it in Sesotho.

DEPUTY SPEAKER[mm9] : I am placed in an awkward position because the people who are responding to you ...

Sesotho:

... ba tseba Sesotho ntate. Ha se wena fela ya tsebang Sesotho. Jwale, ke nahana hore o utlwisise hore ha ba tjho ba re ha wa fetisetsa tshisinyo eo ho bona, ha re e etse jwalo ha e ba e sa etsahala re tle re tsebe ho lokisa ditaba.

Mong M Q NDLOZI[mm10] : Motlatsa Modulasetulo, re rata ho netefatsa ho Ntlo ya setjhaba hore tshisinyo e ile ya romelwa bathong, ene hape re kekebe ra kgutlela morao hobane e se e le taba e kwetsweng eo. [Kena hanong.]

MOTLATSA MODULASETULO[mm11] : O bona, o tla kgutlela morao hobane o bua o sa fuwa tokay a ho bua. [Kena hanong.] Dula fatshe!

Mong M Q NDLOZI[mm12] : Ke kopa tshwarelo Motlatsa Modulasetulo! [Kena hanong.]

MOTLATSA MODULASETULO[mm13] : Dula fatshe! Dula factse he morenaka! [Kena hanong.]

Mong M Q NDLOZI: Ke kopa tshwarelo Motlatsa Modulasetulo, ke ne ke re ke hlakise fela. [Kena hanong.]

MOTLATSA MODULASETULO[mm14] : Atjhe, ha e hloke hlakiso ntlha eno! [Kena hanong.] Tloyo, tlo mme ... [TRANSLATION OF SESOTHO REQUIRED.]

English:

Hello, yes, please take your chance, hon member.

Ms C N MAJEKE.

Mr H HLENGWA

DEATH OF NORTH WEST CHILD AFTER EATING DUMPED FOOD

(Draft Resolution)

Ms C N MAJEKE: Deputy Speaker, I move without notice on behalf of the UDM:

That the House—

(1) notes that on Friday, 20 February 2015, a child died after eating chicken dumped by a farmer in Ottosdal, North West;

(2) further notes that while other children had been discharged from hospital, some were reportedly still recovering;

(3) acknowledges that the North West department of health has launched an investigation into the matter;

(4) encourages the department to leave no stone unturned to discover the circumstances that resulted in the loss of an innocent life;

(5) calls on members of the public to exercise extra caution with regard to eating dumped food; and

(6) conveys its condolences to the family of the deceased child.

Agreed to.

Ms D CARTER

Ms C N MAJEKE

WITS STUDENTS’ STRUGGLE WITH REGISTRATION FEES

(Draft Resolution)

Ms D CARTER: Deputy Speaker, I move without notice on behalf of Cope:

That the House—

(1) notes that many students who are eligible for financial assistance do not have the financial support to make the upfront payment demanded by Wits University;

(2) further notes that for these students, who are desperate to enrol at university, the window for meeting the registration requirements will close and the university’s system will remove their names and thus shatter their dreams;

(3) recognises that many of these students worked very hard at school under very trying and difficult circumstances to attain the marks necessary to meet the entrance requirements at Wits University;

(4) further recognises that the advent of democracy in 1994 gave real hope to formerly disadvantaged communities that henceforth all learners who worked hard and achieved matriculation exemptions could entertain real hopes of going to university and achieving their ambitions in spite of personal financial constraints;

(5) acknowledges that Wits University has to secure its own financial situation in order for the university to be financially sustainable and for it to remain an institution of excellence;

(6) further acknowledges that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme has been of considerable benefit to thousands of university students, although its administration has not always been as sound as students and society expected;

(7) believes that students who qualify for NSFAS should be supported in some way or other to make the initial payment to have their names entered into the system;

(8) further believes that the Minister of Higher Education should reach out to social partners to create a revolving fund that can provide bridging finance for students to meet their initial registration obligations; and

(9) applauds the Student Representative Council at Wits University for trying to raise R1 million to help their fellow students pay their registration fees.

Agreed to.

Mr N SINGH

Ms D CARTER

ZERO DISCRIMINATION DAY

(Draft Resolution)

Mr N SINGH: Deputy Speaker, I move without notice:

That the House—

(1) recognises Zero Discrimination Day, marked on 1 March this year, which promotes diversity and recognises that everyone counts;

(2) further recognises that this day is a UNAids initiative aimed at eradicating the deeply rooted stigma and discrimination that HIV-infected groups face every day and touches on discrimination in a general sense;

(3) acknowledges that organisations like the United Nations actively promote the day with various activities to celebrate everyone’s right to live a full life with dignity, regardless of age, gender, sexuality, nationality, ethnicity, skin colour, height, weight, profession, education and belief;

(4) further acknowledges that many countries have laws against discrimination, but it is still a problem in all layers of society in every country in the world; and that many countries have and still use discrimination as a way of governing;

(5) applauds the efforts of organisations such the SA National Aids Council, which, in partnership with a number of organisations and institutions, has taken the first National Stigma Index Survey among people living with HIV in 18 districts across South Africa; and

(6) calls on the government to pay greater attention to the plight of people with HIV, the discrimination associated therewith and, in particular, the broad disparities in access to evidence-based HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services.

Agreed to.

Ms H MALGAS

Mr N SINGH

DEATH OF STRUGGLE ACTIVIST REV MCEBISI XUNDU

(Draft Resolution)

Ms H MALGAS: Deputy Speaker, I move without notice on behalf of the ANC:

That the House—

(1) notes that on Wednesday, 21 January 2015, a prominent human rights leader and anti-apartheid struggle activist, the Rev Mcebisi Xundu, died of pneumonia in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape;

(2) further notes that, before his death, the 80-year-old Xundu was a canon of the Anglican Diocese of Port Elizabeth and a board member of the National Development Agency;

(3) recalls that he was a fearless leader who made a huge difference in many communities, through projects aimed at uplifting and educating the less privileged;

(4) further recalls that Xundu is credited for playing a critical role in the struggle against apartheid as one of the brave clergymen who used the church as a site to fight injustices and human rights violations;

(5) acknowledges that he was a former president of the National Interfaith Leaders’ Council, as well as a veteran of the liberation struggle and the civic struggles in KwaZulu-Natal townships, in particular, during the 1980s; and

(6) extends its condolences to the family and friends of the Rev Mcebisi Xundu.

Agreed to.

Mr P J MNGUNI

Ms H MALGAS

ZAMBIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

(Draft Resolution)

Mr P J MNGUNI: Deputy Speaker, I move without notice:

That the House—

(1) notes that the Zambian presidential election of 2015 was held on 20 January, following the death of the previous incumbent, President Michael Sutta;

(2) further notes that the ruling party’s candidate, Edgar Lungu, won by a narrow majority of 48,3% to 46,7% of the votes for his closest rival, Hakainde Hichilema from the United Party for National Development;

(3) recalls that President Lungu will serve the remainder of the five-year term left by President Sutta, until the next general election in September 2016; and

(4) congratulates him on his election and commends the people of the Republic of Zambia for a peaceful and successful presidential election and for their steady steering of the country of Zambia following the tragic passing of President Sutta in November 2014.

Agreed to.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Hon member, why are you rising?

Mr N F SHIVAMBU: I am rising on a point of clarity and perhaps of order as well: Yesterday, the EFF rose to make the same observations about Zambia and to convey congratulations to the newly elected leadership of Zambia. Are we to repeat the same thing here, time and again?

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Do you want clarity, hon member?

Mr N F SHIVAMBU: Yes. Is it allowed to simply repeat the same motions?

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: All Members of Parliament can raise on any issue they wish.

Mr N F SHIVAMBU: So, can we repeat motions, as well? [Interjections.]

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Take your seat, hon member. That is not a point of order.

Mr N F SHIVAMBU: So we are allowed to repeat … [Interjections.] Can I get clarity on this, please? [Interjections.]

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Hon member, members can raise issues from whatever angle they wish to rise on, on any matter. [Interjections.]

Mr N F SHIVAMBU: All right, that’s fine. At least they are drawing inspiration from somewhere. [Interjections.]

Mr M Q NDLOZI: Hon Deputy Speaker, on a point of plagiarism ... [Interjections.] [Laughter.]

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Take your seat, hon member. What are you studying, hon Chief Whip of the Opposition?

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Hon Deputy Speaker, it is Rule 95.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Yes?

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: The guidelines state that a motion may not be moved that is the same, in substance, as one that has been passed, rejected or accepted within the same session. So, perhaps you could take that into consideration when you give us your guidance, Deputy Speaker.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I will. I will give guidance on that: “The same, in substance”. That is the distinction, sir. Yes, so... [Interjections.]

Mr N F SHIVAMBU: Then, hon Deputy Speaker ...

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: No! Don’t ... [Interjections.] ... No! No! Hon member, take your seat! I have not asked you to speak.

Mr N F SHIVAMBU: But we want to object to the motion ... [Interjections.]

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: No! No, sit down, hon member.

Mr N F SHIVAMBU: ... and record the objection, even though ...

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: No, it is not recorded. Sit down, hon member! [Interjections.] You have not been recognised to speak. Sit down! You only speak when you are asked to speak. Please, just respect the basic requirements and decency of the ...

Ms O MAXON: Deputy Speaker, may I be recognised? [Interjections.]

HON MEMBERS: No!

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! What are you rising on?

Ms O MAXON: I am objecting to that motion, Deputy Speaker.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: It’s gone, hon member. [Interjections.] [Laughter.] Hon member, please take your seat. What are you rising on, hon member?

Mr M Q NDLOZI: I have not risen yet!

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! What are you rising on, hon member?

Mr M Q NDLOZI: Hon Deputy Speaker, on a point of order: We were still seeking clarity and direction from you on the following: Is it possible for a motion that is the same, in terms of substance, to be repeated by another party the next day? We were doing that ...

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: If ...

Mr M Q NDLOZI: Can I finish, hon Deputy Speaker? We were doing that because we wanted to object to that motion and we think it would be safe that we don’t set the wrong precedent of coming and repeating each other. That motion must be withdrawn because the EFF objects to it. [Interjections.] It is the same. It is plagiarism. [Interjections.]

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Please proceed, hon Filtane.

Mr M L W FILTANE

Mr P J NGUNI

Mr M L W FILTANE: Deputy Chair, I move without notice on behalf of the UDM ... [Interjections.]

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: On a point of order, Deputy Speaker!

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Proceed, hon Chief Wwhip.

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: I had ~~lifted~~ raised my hand before he started speaking.

Afrikaans:

Mr M L W FILTANE: Wragtig? Ag nee, man! [Laughter.]

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon member, take your seat! Okay, just hold on, hon member.

IsiXhosa:

Mnu M L W FILTANE Hayi bo!

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Are ~~Is a~~you rising on a point of order? [Interjections.] What is ~~the~~ your point of order ~~about, hon speaker?~~?

IsiXhosa:

UMBHEXESHI OYINTLOKO WEQELA ELIKWISINZI: Sekela Somlomo, thina asiphakami sithethe, siqale siphakamise isandla ukuze sikwazi ukuphakanyiswa sithethe.

Mr M L W FILTANE: I was rRecognised! [Interjections.] No, I was recognised.

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: I was not objecting ... [Interjections.]

Mr M L W FILTANE: No, I was recognised before this nice discussion.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: No, hon members, please ... [Interjections.]

Mr M L W FILTANE: I was, indeed. Maybe your mind was elsewhere, sir.. So I’ am sorry, but I suspect so, honestly.

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Can I help you, chief?

Mr M L W FILTANE: No, you are wrong. I don’t need your help.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: No, hon members!

Mr M L W FILTANE: No, the Chair is there ~~I will change that~~ to regulate ... [Interjections.] ~~...~~ No, no, no!

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Mine is a point of order!

IsiXhosa:

Mr M L W FILTANE: Hayi! andikaqali nokuthetha, andinguye uMongameli, akunalo igunya lokunika imiyalelo apha.

English:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon members, hon Chief Whip, please take your seat.

IsiXhosa:

Mnu M L W FILTANE: Uyakutsho kuMongameli. Enkosi.

English:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: hOrder! Hon members, can you please ... ~~because~~ It is not proper for you to just rise and speak when you want to. It is also improper that we continue to debate this thing. It iIs not worth debating. [Interjections.] Proceed, Chief Whip.

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Hon Deputy Speaker, ~~we ris~~we risee to withdraw the motion. They are right, and I think we should respect that. [Applause.]

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you. Proceed, hon member.

~~ivory~~IVORY ~~coast~~COAST ~~NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM WON~~ WINS 2015 ~~THE~~ AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS ~~2015~~ ~~HOSTED IN EQUATORIAL GUINEA~~

(Draft Resolution)

Mr M L W FILTANE: I move without notice:

That the House-

notes that on 8 February, Ivory Coast national soccer team won the Africa Cup of Nations 2015 in Equatorial Guinea, beating Ghana in a sudden death penalty shoot-out;

further notes that the Ivory Coast has been crowned champions after several attempts, loosing in the finals of 2006 and 2012 Africa Cup of Nations; and

~~(1)~~lastly, congratulates the team of the “Mighty Elephants” on its victory.

~~Thank you, Deputy Chair.~~

Agreed to.

MOTIONS OF CONDOLENCE

MOTIONS WITHOUT NOTCE

MOTION OF CONDOLENCE

(The late Ms Y Botha)

The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Hon Deputy Speaker, I move without notice:

That the House-

notes with great sadness the untimely passing of hon Yolanda Botha at the new MediCClinic Gariep in Kimberley on Sunday, 28 December 2014, following a long battle with cancer;

further notes that her untimely death robbed the ANC, the people of the Northern Cape and South Africa as a whole of a dedicated and selfless activist and a leader who dedicated her life to the service of our people, especially the poor;

recalls that Ms Botha was known for her strong views on gender issues, which resulted in her being elected a nNational eExecutive cCommittee member of the ANC Women’s League;

further recalls that she made her mark in the legislature and provincial government, as a mMember of the pProvincial lLegislature and as head of the Department of Social Development, before returning to national Parliament;

thanks her family for having shared her valuable life with the majority of disadvantaged South Africans;

believes that as a Member of Parliament, she made a notable contribution to building a caring society through her oversight work, her deep understanding of the plight of the poor and her unwavering desire to play a role in achieving an equal society and eliminating poverty, and that she will be sorely missed by those who worked with her;

further believes that her mark will be a symbol of determination to be emulated by future generations; and

extends its heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and the ANC.

Ms D ROBINSON

CHIEF WHIP OF MAJORITY PARTY

Mrs D ROBINSON: Hon Deputy Speaker, hon members and relatives of the late Yolanda Botha, on behalf of the DA I wish to convey to you all our condolences on the passing of your former colleague and family member.

I did not know Ms Botha personally, but I am told that she was a dedicated and hardworking[nm15] member of the ANC and of the parliamentary caucus. She served as chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Social Services and had a good understanding of the needs and challenges encountered in this field of work about which she really cared. She encouraged members of the portfolio committee to increase their knowledge by arranging workshops to improve their skills and expertise so that they could make meaningful input into legislation. She was opened-minded and worked well with all members of the committee, taking on their good proposals for the benefit of all. Her last days were marked by suffering from ill health.

To her family who suffered with her and to her friends and colleagues, our condolences on your loss. May she rest in peace.

Mr N S MATIASE

Mrs D ROBINSON

Mr N S MATIASE: Deputy Speaker, on behalf of the EFF, we also rise to deliver our condolences on the passing of our former colleague, Ms Yolanda Botha. At this very sombre moment, when we have to cast our minds back in reflection on her contribution and role in the struggle for building a democratic, nonracial, nonsexist country, the EFF expresses its condolences to the family of the deceased. We further express these condolences to the people of Northern Cape, where she was born and brought up.

She served in the provincial legislature in various positions and also served in this very House as a member of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development and Social Services.

The EFF notes the sterling work that she did in uplifting the socioeconomic conditions of the people of the Northern Cape and note that, as we reflect on her contribution, the mere mention of the Northern Cape province, both the good and the bad of that province come to mind.

According to an African proverb, at a sombre moment such as this, when the deceased person is being bid farewell, all that we are called on to do is to refer to positive aspects and the contribution of the life of the deceased person. We want to bow our heads in memory of our deceased colleague, Ms Botha, and wish her family and colleagues well. Thank you.

Mr N SINGH

Mr N S MATIASE

Mr N SINGH: Hon Deputy Speaker, yet again, hon members, yet again, this House finds itself losing one of its members to the ravages and scourge of cancer.

On Tuesday, I moved a motion on World Cancer Day. Many of us know of loved ones who have passed on from cancer, among those our colleagues Ms Botha and Dr Mario Oriani-Ambrosini. There can be no doubt that this dreaded disease will affect us all, personally or through family, friends and colleagues.

Ms Botha sadly passed after having been diagnosed with metastatic melanoma, a form of skin cancer, which had spread to her brain. In this context, I would like to urge the hon Minister of Health to introduce better public education, especially to parents, on the dangers, causes and risks of skin cancers, as most of these can be prevented if diagnosed in their early stages.

Hon Deputy Speaker, we have an opportunity and, I dare say, a duty through the Bills before us, such as the Medical Innovation Bill, to take the fight to this dreaded disease and we sincerely hope that innovative draft legislation such as the Medical Innovation Bill finds its way into law in South Africa soon.

Ms Botha was an active parliamentarian and she added value to the institution and the country, particularly in the areas of social development, in which she served as chairperson of the portfolio committee, as well as a member of the Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology.

I met Ms Botha in 1995 when she served as Senator Botha in the first Senate of the Republic of South Africa - Senator James Selfe will know that. I choose to remember the good that Ms Botha did, which was plenty. In the words of Shakespeare’s Antony: “I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones.” I don’t agree with that, hon Speaker, because the good should also live on after us.

In a similar context, I recall a senior hon member on the right side of the House, who is not here today, refer to the private matters of a member on the left side of the House. In my view this was unfair and uncalled for. I remind this House of John 8 and I quote:

And they brought unto Him a woman taken in adultery ... [saying] “In the law Moses commanded us that such should be stoned.” ... They continued asking Him. He stood up and said unto them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.

On behalf of our leader, hon Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, and all of our Members of Parliament and members of provincial legislatures, I extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Senator Yolanda Botha. May her soul rest in peace. I thank you.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon members, I just want to draw your attention to the fact that the family of Ms Yolanda Botha and that of Frans Nkoana are in the gallery here with us. Welcome, family members. [Applause.]

Mr S C MNCWABE

Mr N SINGH

Mr S C MNCWABE: Deputy Speaker, hon members of the House, the NFP notes with great sadness the motion of condolence tabled for the late hon Botha, a valued member of the ANC and a colleague of this hon House, who passed away on 29 December after a long illness.

We have not as the NFP had the good fortune of knowing hon Botha or working closely with her, but listening to the tributes paid here today, we understand that she was a person who dedicated her life to public service and made a great contribution to the struggle against the social injustices of the past.

As the NFP, we wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of hon Botha, to the ANC, her political home of many years, and to this hon House for the loss of a dedicated servant of the people. I thank you.

Ms C N MAJEKE

Mr S C MNCWABE

Ms C N MAJEKE: Deputy Chair, on behalf of the UDM we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, the ANC and friends of the late member of the NA, Ms Yolanda Botha.

The late Ms Yolanda Botha served people of South Africa in various positions as part of her contribution to the making of a better society for all to live in. At the time of her untimely departure, she was continuing her service to the nation as a dedicated member of one of the challenging and overworked portfolio committees, the Portfolio Committee on Social Development. It is clear from her choice of committee that her passion for the care of the most vulnerable was primary in discharging her political responsibility to the nation. Her contribution to the work of the committee and the nation is surely being missed already.

To the family, we hope with time you will be able to close the chapter and keep her in your minds for the good she was among you. You know best that indeed she played her role and did the best she could to discharge her family responsibilities. We say to you, keep loving her so that she can always be part of you. It is when great souls die that, after a period, peace blooms slowly and irregularly. Indeed, it will never be the same but we all know that she existed and we know this because of her work. May her soul rest in peace. I thank you.

Ms D CARTER

Ms C N MAJEKE

Ms D CARTER: Hon Deputy Speaker, it is indeed with sadness that we in the NA once again lose a colleague to cancer. Cancer is a complex, life-threatening disease that affects millions of South Africans and this requires us to do more.

Yolanda, or Ms Botha, was one who cared for people and if she was standing here today, she would also have said that we need to do more. One in four South Africans is affected by cancer through family, friends or oneself directly. Only those who have nursed the loved one to the bitter end will know the hardship and the frustration of trying to get care and support for the patient, and what effect it has on the family and the loved ones.

Cope would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to hon Yolanda Botha’s family, friends and her colleagues in the ANC. I thank you.

Ms C DUDLEY

Ms D CARTER

Ms C DUDLEY: Deputy Speaker, the ACDP recalls hearing shortly after Christmas about the death of Ms Yolanda Rachel Botha, a fellow Member of Parliament in the NA and a member of the ANC in the Northern Cape. We understood from reports that hon Botha died in Kimberley after having been diagnosed with metastatic melanoma, a skin cancer that spread to her brain.

Ms Botha matriculated from Carlton van Heerden High in Upington in 1964 and obtained a BA degree at the University of Western Cape, followed by a Higher Diploma in Education in 1989. These achievements alone made her a role model. My impression of hon Botha was that she was a dedicated, hard-working and determined woman. She was a former chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development and a member of the Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology.

It was very sad that despite pleading not guilty, Yolanda died with a cloud over her head, facing charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering related to leases for government buildings. I bring this up only because it is an important reminder for all of us - and even more so for those who take on the responsibilities of government - to be meticulous in their dealings and super alert to questionable practices and potential pitfalls.

The ACDP notes the Minister of Social Development, Bathabile Dlamini’s praise of hon Botha for her deep understanding of the plight of the poor and her unwavering desire to play a role in achieving an equal society and eliminating poverty. The ACDP extends heartfelt condolences to the family of Yolanda Botha, her friends, colleagues and members of the ANC for their sad loss. Thank you.

Mr M A PLOUAMMA

Ms C DUDLEY

Mr M A PLOUAMMA: Hon Deputy Chair, it is with great sadness that I offer my sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the late hon Botha and also to the ANC.

It is especially difficult to deal with this loss given the calibre of the public representative, the late hon Botha, something that is a scarce commodity in the modern day. Hon Botha was well known as a selfless activist and a leader of the poor of the Northern Cape. Others draw inspiration from the life of hon Botha and gave us a model of how to build a caring society with an unwavering desire to achieve an equal society.

We will forever cherish your contribution as long as we live. We will remember that you laughed without fear and the joy you derived from serving our people. Thank you.

Mr S P MABILO

Mr M A PLOUAMMA

Mr S P MABILO: Deputy Speaker, Ministers and hon members, once again, on behalf of the ANC, we want to extend our sincere condolences to tannie Gesina Botha, the mother of the late Yolanda; her brother, Jean-Jacques Botha; her daughter, Jacqueline; and her son-in-law, Quinton. We laid our beloved Yolanda to rest a few weeks ago. We recall her selfless dedication to the struggles of the working class and the poor.

The Minister of Basic Education, Comrade Angie Motshega, in her capacity as president of the ANC Women’s League - the late Comrade Yolanda was a member of the National Executive Committee for many years - described the late Yolanda Botha as a beautiful soul who dearly loved her family.

She further said that whenever she was in the area of Kimberley, she knew that she could come and go from her house, because that was how welcoming Comrade Yolanda was. She was not just a comrade but a friend and we served the organisation together. To the ANC she was really an organiser who would sort out organisational matters without any difficulty. She took her work seriously and had the brains, the skills and the commitment. She was such a beautiful soul, and she loved her family. Indeed, as the ANC, we agree that she was a beautiful soul who bestrode the narrow world like a colossus.

We have fond memories of her as a loving, compassionate, kind reliable, dedicated, firm character and a true cadre of the liberation movement. [Applause.] As we recall the role she played in the movement and in society broadly, we must understand that history and our strategic vision place critical responsibilities on all of us in the here and now. She clearly understood her role and responsibilities in the revolutionary struggle and we can say without a doubt that she never betrayed our cause. She never divorced herself from the daily struggles of the masses. Comrade Yolanda believed clearly that in order to study, sum up and apply the revolutionary experiences of the past, we must cultivate a culture of selflessness and, first and foremost, be there for the people.

Comrade Yolanda always encouraged revolutionary discipline among all our cadres at all times. She was totally committed to collective leadership and democratic centralism as a hallmark that distinguishes the ANC as a liberation movement compared to other parties. Self-criticism, introspection, correcting shortcomings and admitting mistakes are the proper ingredients that Comrade Yolanda believed made a true revolutionary advance and improve herself or himself in order to discharge one’s revolutionary tasks effectively.

Comrade Yolanda Botha participated in the underground liberation movement in Cape Town, where her father later became the first branch chairperson of the New World Foundation at the Lavender Hill branch. After the unbanning of the ANC in 1990, she was entrusted with the responsibility of becoming the first branch secretary of the extension branch of the ANC in Upington. This was in 1993.

Comrade Yolanda Botha lived the life of an activist until her death. She was actively involved in broader community and education struggles. She was an educator by profession and understood the nobility that went with the profession. Comrade Yolanda understood the importance of education in the lives of our children and in the reconstruction and development of our country. She was part of the revolutionary intelligentsia. She was uncomfortable with armchair critics, naysayers, a negative perspective and doomsayers. She believed that all of us had a contribution to make to the wealth of this country.

She was loyal to the profession and respected her job during all her years as an educator. She and many others taught us that there was nothing wrong in being an educator and a trade unionist at the same time. It is no wonder that she was active in union politics as a teacher and as a member of the National Education Union of South Africa, Neusa. Comrade Botha was one of the progressive educators in this country, who established what is now the largest teachers’ union in the country, the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union, Sadtu.

As a trade unionist, she taught us that trade unions are not and cannot become political parties. She taught us that to maintain the distinction between trade union politics an overall revolutionary leadership was imperative. She further taught us that a trade union cannot carry out this dual role and that if it attempted to do so, it would change its basic character and risk committing suicide as a legal force. In addition, the very nature and purpose of a trade union disqualifies it from carrying out the role of a revolutionary vanguard, which is the task of a party. She was totally committed to the unity of the tripartite alliance and would always make herself available for the activities of the alliance. As a result of her hard work, dedication and consistent service to the people, she was entrusted with the responsibility of being the youngest senator in 1994.

She served in the highest structures of the ruling party, the ANC, in the Northern Cape as a member of the provincial working committee, a member of the provincial executive committee, an official and as a treasurer for many years. She was deployed to Parliament as a Member of Parliament. She always performed her duties with diligence at all times. As a former chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development and Science and Technology, she was proud that the World Bank recently declared South Africa number one in Africa and number five in the world in the provision of child support grants in an efficient, effective and robust manner. [Applause.]

Let me repeat and paraphrase: She was very excited and happy recently that the institution called the World Bank, after its international survey, regarded South Africa, in terms of social development, as one of the best in Africa and number five in the world in the provision of grants.

Today, as the ANC government, we have a record of outstanding achievements in terms of changing the lives of our people for the better and Comrade Yolanda Botha played an active role in that regard. As a former member of the ANC, she was proud of the following achievements and would always celebrate these achievements: Firstly, that the ANC government, over the period under review, has built more than 3,5 million houses; secondly, that the ANC government allocated free basic services, water and sanitation and electricity to the poor; thirdly, that more than 15 million people have access to social grants; and fourthly, that more people have access to education, which is a remarkable achievement in a short space of time.

In conclusion, the best tribute we can pay to all our fallen heroes and heroines is not to be complacent but to be vigilant at all times. We have to redouble our efforts and resolve to accelerate the pace of addressing the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality. We need to resharpen our revolutionary firmness and courage in the struggle for our democratic South Africa.

Finally, we who remain behind dare not fail her. We will remember her for being a loving, caring servant of the people. May her soul rest in peace.

AFRIKAANS:

Laat haar siel in vrede rus. Dankie. [Applous.]

English:

The HOUSE CHAIPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): That concludes the speaker’s list on this matter. I take it that there are no objections to the motion being adopted. Can members please rise to observe a moment of silence in memory of Ms Y R Botha? The presiding officers associate themselves with the motion. The condolences of the House will be conveyed to the Botha family.

Debate concluded.

Agreed to, all members standing.

MOTION OF CONDOLENCE - MR H F NKOANA

MOTION OF CONDOLENCE – Y BOTHA

MOTION OF CONDOLENCE

(The late Mr H F Nkoana)

The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: House Chairperson, I move without notice:

That the House-

notes that on 19 January 2015, ANC Member of Parliament Frans Hlakudi “Tommy” Nkoana died at a Pretoria hospital following an illness;

further notes that Mr Nkoana was born on 13 September 1963 in Moutse in the Sekhukhune region, received his primary education at Rathoke Primary School, matriculated from Mabake Secondary School and qualified as a teacher at Kwena Moloto College of Education;

recalls that Mr Nkoana was elected to the National Assembly in the 2014 general election and served on the portfolio committees on Labour and Communications;

further recalls that despite his brief tenure in Parliament, Mr Nkoana was truly a reservoir of political knowledge and his immense contribution to debates, both within the structures of the ANC caucus and Parliament, will be sorely missed;

remembers that Mr Nkoana served in various structures of the ANC and its alliance in Mpumalanga, including being the longest-serving regional secretary of the ANC in the Nkangala region, as branch leader of the SA Democratic Teachers Union, Sadtu, as well as being an advisor to Premier D D Mabuza;

acknowledges that Mr Nkoana was an embodiment of the qualities that are rarely found in one person – a fearless freedom fighter, an astute educator, a skillful organiser, a unifier, a problem solver and a tireless revolutionary;

further acknowledges that the people of South Africa have lost a dedicated servant of the people, a selfless patriot and a disciplined activist; and

conveys its condolences to his father, his wife, Florah, and his children, as well as to the ANC.

Agreed to, members standing.

Mr I M OLLIS

The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY

Mr I M OLLIS: Chairperson, as you have just heard, today we remember the passing of hon Frans Hlakudi Nkoana, otherwise known as Tommy. He passed away on 19 January this year in Pretoria after an illness, and I would assume that it was quite a long and protracted illness. He would have been 52 years old this year, which is quite a young age for a Member of Parliament and for a person to pass on.

As the DA, we associate ourselves with the motion of condolence. We would like to say to the family that we express our condolences and our sympathies to you at this difficult time.

On a lighter note, I have seen on a number of occasions that children always remember what one says at a funeral or a memorial service. They always remember if you have privately expressed concerns about a person but then you stand up in public at a funeral and say what a wonderful person he or she was! They remember. So, today I am not going to say a whole lot of things that are untrue.

I think Mr Nkoana was an honorable man, a hardworking Member of Parliament, a hardworking politician, a teacher and a member of his Sadtu branch. However, Chairperson and Members of Parliament, the truth is that I did not know him very well. He was only elected to Parliament in 2014 and he was only able to serve a couple of times on our committee as a full member before taking ill, so he was not around for a long time.

So, we cannot stand up today and say a lot of things about the member who was here in Parliament for such a short time, but we do want to express our condolences to the family. Hon Nkoana is survived by his father, his wife, Florah, and four children. We would like to say to you that we are sorry that your father, husband and son have been taken away from you so early in life.

Members of Parliament often look forward to their retirement years and to spending more time with their families because they spend so much time travelling as members. We travel to Parliament in Cape Town, we travel to our constituencies and then we travel to do oversight work, conduct public hearings and so on. Your relatives are not with you when you travel. Unfortunately in this case, he did not get the opportunity to retire after a long career and spend that retirement time with the family. We are aware of that; we are conscious of that and we express our condolences to you, the family, and also to his colleagues in the ANC.

Fellow Members of Parliament, as the DA we express our condolences to you and say, may his soul rest in peace. Hamba kahle.

Mr M Q NDLOZI

Mr I M OLLIS

Mr M Q NDLOZI: Hon Chairperson, on behalf of the EFF we would also like to associate ourselves with the motion as proposed. We further express our condolence to the colleagues, friends and family of Ntate Nkoana.

SESOTHO:

Lefu ke ngwetsi ya malapa oohle. Modimo a le tshehetse.

ENGLISH:

May the eternal peace of God bind the wounds that you would have sustained from losing your loved one. Death happens to all of us and we are grateful that Parliament continues to take the opportunity to stand in silence and recognise when one of our own passes away. To the family, we repeat: May God’s peace bind the wounds and close the gap that his passing has left.

SESOTHO:

Ha Ntate Modimo ha ho na dikgutsana, ha ho na bahlolohadi. Ke a leboha. [Mahofi.]

Ms S J NKOMO

Mr M Q NDLOZI

Ms S J NKOMO: Chairperson, the IFP notes with sadness the passing of a member of this House, Mr Frans “Tommy” Nkoana, on 19 January 2015, who died at a Pretoria hospital following illness.

Mr Nkoana was born on 13 September 1963 in Moutse in the Sekhukhune region and qualified as a teacher at Kwena Moloto College of Education. Mr Nkoana was with this Parliament for only a short period of time. His presence in both the Portfolio Committees on Communication and the one on Labour had a positive impact and his presence will be missed.

His service in this House was a continuation of the work he had already done in his home province of Mpumalanga, which included being the longest-serving regional secretary of the ANC in Nkangala. He showed himself to be more than capable in handling the demands that being a member of this House imposes on any elected official.

The IFP would like to convey our condolences to Mr Nkoana’s political home, the ANC, to his father, his wife, Florah, and his four children, as well as to his friends. May his soul rest in peace. Thank you.

Mnu S C MNCWABE

Ms S J NKOMO

Mnu S C MNCWABE: Somlomo ohloniphekile, angibingelele amalungu ale Ndlu ahloniphekile.

English:

The NFP notes with great sadness the motion of condolence tabled for the late hon H F Nkoana, a valued member of the ANC and a colleague in this august House. We wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the late hon Nkoana, knowing that their grief is deep and their sadness immense. It is our prayer that in time the good memories will triumph over the dissolution they now feel.

On behalf of the NFP and on behalf of our party leader, Mrs V Z kaMagwaza-Msibi, we extend our condolences to the ANC, his political home of many years, on the loss of - in the words of the hon Chief Whip of the ANC - “a dedicated servant of the people, a selfless patriot and a disciplined activist”.

May the soul of hon Nkoana rest in eternal peace. I thank you. [Applause.]

Mr M L W FILTANE

Mr S C MNCWABE

Mr M L W FILTANE: Hon Speaker, hon members, yet another member gone. Another sombre moment engulfs this House and his family. The UDM extends its heartfelt condolence to the family, the ANC and friends of the late member Tommy Nkoana, as he was affectionately known.

During his short service the late Tommy served the nation with dedication through the National Assembly and as a member of the Portfolio Committees on Labour and on Communications. As this House, we will miss his contribution and wisdom. We have been robbed of a rare opportunity and the possibly to benefit from a reservoir of knowledge drawn from various and daily interactions with the realities confronting the majority of our people on the ground.

This knowledge, shared through the relevant portfolio committees and debates in this House, would have sharpened our capacity to make laws that would bring a fundamental change to the lives of our people. Ours is to pick up where he left off, redouble our efforts in serving the people of this country with humility, selflessness and dedication.

The best we can do in this regard and in memory of his humble service to the nation is to ensure that we develop and adopt laws that create a labour environment that absorb as many people as possible from the army of the unemployed while ensuring freedom of the media and access to information. Success on these fronts shall ensure that his legacy and dedication to the nation remain with us forever.

To his family, the ANC and its alliance and friends, we hope that over time you will be able to close this chapter and allow him to rest in peace, as the heavens have already integrated him as part of the family. May his soul rest in eternal peace. I thank you.

Ms D CARTER

Mr M L W FILTANE:

Ms D CARTER: Chairperson, Cope joins all the members in this House in mourning the passing of the hon Nkoana on 19 January 2015. After a lifetime serving different structures of his party, he had the privilege of representing the people of Mpumalanga in the national Parliament. Regrettably, his stay here was too brief for us to interact with him in a mutually co-operative manner to take South Africa forward.

In our country, unifiers in politics are most in demand. The inimitable and late Nelson Mandela imprinted on our minds the importance of the role of a political unifier. The ANC, we note, valued the hon Nkoana greatly for being a unifier. It is our loss that at a time when our Parliament and our country need all the unifiers we can muster, he will no longer be among us. May his example as a unifier live on.

As Cope we send our condolences to his father, his wife, Florah, his four children and all of those who were close and dear to him. We trust that the warm tributes that his comrades and his colleagues are paying to him will give you some comfort at this time of great grief. We join all those in this honourable House to reflect on our mortality and to remind ourselves that life is for doing the best we can, so that when we depart, we would have left a little bit of ourselves in those whom we inspired and in those we have built. Farewell, hon Hlakudi! Hamba kahle! [Farewell!]

Ms C DUDLEY:

Ms D CARTER

Ms C DUDLEY: Chairperson, the ACDP notes the death of Member of Parliament, Mr Frans Hlakudi Nkoana, who died in Pretoria on 19 January, following an illness.

My colleagues and I did not have the privilege of working with the hon Nkoana during his brief time at the Parliament. Nevertheless, we take special note of the words of his colleagues who describe him as very knowledgeable politically, an astute educator, skillful organiser, unifier, problem solver, a tireless revolutionary and a man passionate in his desire to see factionalism and corruption in the institutions of governance rooted out.

The ACDP joins this House in conveying sincere condolences to his wife, Florah, his four children, his father, his friends and colleagues. Thank you.

Mr M A PLOUNAMMA

Ms C DUDLEY

Mr M A PLOUNAMMA: Chairperson, sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family of the hon Nkoana and the ANC.

Sepedi: [15:34:11

Nako ye nnyane yeo ke bilego le Ntate Nkoana, ke ile ka re ke be ke na le yena mo Portfolio ya Labour, o ile a nhlalosetša bagešo ba gaNkoana gore nna gabotse o a ntseba, ke ile ka rutwa ke motswalagwe e lego Mna Mashishi kua Bingweni.

Nako ye nnyane yeo ke ilego ka ba le yena, o ile a nthuta dilo tše dintši ka gore Agang e be le mathomo e e ba mo Palamenteng. O ile a mpha chance a lebala le gore ke leloko la Agang mola e le wa ANC. O ile a nhlalosetša gore ka ge Mna Mashishi a ile a nthuta kua sekolong se se phagamego sa Bikweni, yena bjale o ntšea bjalo ka motlogolo wa gagwe. Ke a leboga ba gaNkoana ge le kile la fa senatla se sa mokgalabje gore a be le sebaka sa go serva Afrika-Borwa le rena a re rute. Ka mokgwa wo ke re le be le rena, ga gona a mantši a re ka a bolelang, ao a ka fodisang bohloko bjo le nago le bjona. Efela ke leboga go menagane. Mo go rena le na le leloko, re tla dula re mo gopola, gape re ka se lebale mešomo ya gagwe. Ke a leboga.

MR M S MASANGO

Mr M A PLOUAMMA

Mr M S A MASANGO: Hon House Chair, hon members, the Botha and the Nkoana family, distinguished guests, on 18 January 2015 the cruel jaws of death snuffed out the precious life of Comrade Tommy Nkoana, a freedom fighter, a people’s tribune and a tireless revolutionary. Today, the ANC, the glorious people’s movement, lowers its banner in honour of and in fond memory of one of its most illustrious sons and an hon Member of this Parliament, Frans Hlakudi “Tommy” Nkoana.

Comrade Tommy Nkoana was born on 13 September 1963, in Rathoke, Moutse West, a very dusty rural village mired in abject poverty. But Moutse West is abundantly rich in its propensity to produce freedom fighters. Moutse West is home to many worthy heroes and heroines of the struggle for liberation, such as the late Ephraim Mogale, the very first president in 1979 of the Congress of South African Students, Cosas; Comrade Piet Mello, Comrade Rooi Diphofa and Comrade Menemene Lesu, just to mention but a few.

Comrade Tommy started schooling at Rathoke Primary School, proceeded to Mabake High School and completed his tertiary education at Kwena Moloto College of Education. Because of his skillful soccer wizardry, he earned the nickname “Tommy” among his peers and had a visible social presence at a young age. I have known Comrade Tommy for 23 years and I had the privilege of doing political work with him. While I served as the regional chairperson, he was regional secretary.

One day he told us that he joined the progressive revolutionary youth organisations Cosas and Sasco because he could not countenance the stark social, economic and political contradictions that characterised apartheid South Africa; a South Africa characterised by white opulence on the one hand and abject poverty for blacks on the other. In his book titled For Whites Only, Charles Cilliers, a white compatriot who is not an ANC activist, says, and I quote:

The world of apartheid was so perverse that if I could have been given the choice to be a very clever black kid or a very stupid white kid, if I wanted to live a good life I might have been well advised to choose being a stupid white kid. During apartheid, the cleverest black kid was likely not to achieve a quality of life that the dumbest white kid could achieve.

Comrade Tommy hated “Bantu education” and the general oppression of his people by the apartheid system. He said that he joined the liberation struggle because he was inspired by the valiant heroism of the warrior kings such as Sekhukhune, Thulare, Nghunghunyani, Nyabela, and the bravery of young lions such as Comrades Fawcett Mathebe, Njinga Sindane, Ephraim Mogale, Peter Mokaba and others. His yearning for freedom was rekindled by the liberation of Mozambique and Angola in 1975 and the seizure of power by the revolutionary forces in Zimbabwe in 1981.

Comrade Tommy is a product of the tumultuous mid-80s, when P W Botha, “die Groot Krokodil”, contrived a total strategy to stem what he called the total onslaught against his government. This securitisation of the state made it as totalitarian as it was authoritarian. Comrades will remember that two states of emergencies were declared in 1985 and 1986 respectively, but people decided to defy it.

Afrikaans:

Die Groot Krokodil het nie gedink die ANC sal regeer en ons mense se nasionale doeleindes bewerkstellig en verwesenlik nie. Die ANC is nou besig om die Vryheidsmanifes se beleid te implementeer.

English:

Mr P W Botha inadvertently unleashed the political radicalisation and militancy of the youth at that time. Comrade Tommy was in the front trenches of the struggle led by Cosas and Sasco, such as consumer boycotts and making South Africa ungovernable.

He was a very diligent teacher who was passionate about his profession. His students say that he was always on time and he was a disciplinarian. As a teacher, he joined the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union, Sadtu, a union whose mission was to fight for a nonracial people’s education and to better the working conditions of educators.

No sooner had President De Klerk in 1990 announced the unbanning of the ANC and other political organisations than Comrade Tommy joined the ANC in Rathoke branch, where he soon became a branch secretary and later a Moutse West zonal secretary. We were impressed with his monthly political reports to the regional executive committee and Comrades Sello Matshoga, Viljoen Mtsweni, Speedy Mashilo and me decided to campaign for him to be regional secretary.

He served as regional secretary for 13 years, making him the longest-serving secretary of a region in Mpumalanga province. It is for this reason that he was affectionately known as mongwaledi [secretary] even when he was already here in this Parliament. I remember vividly that as a secretary, he was time conscious, and he kept his reports and the minutes properly. He had an amazing memory for remembering the names of many comrades, the branches they came from and the troubles they caused, if any.

He communicated organisational decisions very well and implemented even the unpopular ones fearlessly because he understood the principle of democratic centralism. Not only was he a lucid thinker, but he was also a combative debater. He did not suffer fools. As secretary, he was centrally involved in all the general election campaigns, from 1994 up to 2014, including the local government elections. He ensured that the election structures, the branch election teams and the regional election team were functional and able to prosecute the campaigns.

We deployed him to be regional director of sports, arts and culture in the Nkangala region, while I was MEC for sports, arts and culture in Mpumalanga province. Once again he distinguished himself in this responsibility. Comrade Tommy also served a stint as political advisor to the premier, Comrade D D Mabuza.

As I conclude, he was deployed here in Parliament after the 2014 elections and he served in two committees, that is, the Portfolio Committee on Communications and the Portfolio Committee on Labour, chaired by Comrades Joyce Moloi-Moropa and Lumka Yengeni respectively. He was deployed in the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality’s Parliamentary Constituency Office to do constituency work. Around August or September 2014, his health visibly deteriorated. Hon J J Skhosana conferred with me that we must advise him to go home and we persuaded him to do just that. Unfortunately, on 18 January 2015, the heart of this stoic fighter ceased to beat.

Comrade Tommy was a loving father and husband to Mrs Florah Maja-Nkoana and they were blessed with four children. We owe the family a deep debt of gratitude for supporting him while he was doing political work for the ANC and the alliance - a freedom fighter, a people’s tribune and a tireless revolutionary.

IsiNdebele:

Khamba kuhle mongwaledi [secretary], khamba kuhle kutana, khamba kuhle kur’narha yomzabalazo.

English:

May his revolutionary soul rest in peace.

IsiNdebele:

Ngiyathokoza.

English:

Debate concluded.

Agreed to, all members standing.

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

MOTION OF CONDOLENCE

MANDELA’S RELEASE FROM PRISON REMEMBERED

(Member’s Statement)

Ms D D RAPHUTI (ANC): Chairperson, I rise on behalf of the ANC to make this statement: Mandela’s release from prison remembered. The 11th of February 2015 marks the 25th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison after he had served 27 years of incarceration. His release was a victory against colonial and apartheid oppression. Furthermore, this day signaled an important turning point in our country’s history and the beginning of a long walk towards a free, united and democratic South Africa.

While the country and the world celebrate this day, we should not lose sight of why the late President was incarcerated for so many years. It was because of the ideals of a united, nonracial, nonsexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa. These ideals are enshrined in the Freedom Charter, and this year the country celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Freedom Charter under the leadership of the ANC.

The Freedom Charter was drawn up by the people of South Africa and adopted by the ANC as a lodestar for almost all the policies of the ANC, the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and many other progressive policies of the ANC government. This is a document that has become the cornerstone of our democratic dispensation, whose values and principles form the basis of our Constitution ... [Time expired.] [Applause.]

Ms D KOHLER

Ms D RAPHUTI

ILLEGAL RENDITION OF FOREIGNERS

(Member’s Statement)

Ms D KOHLER (DA): Chair, the DA is in possession of the final Independent Police Investigative Directorate, Ipid, report into the rendition of Zimbabweans in 2010. This final report, completed in March 2014, confirms that the national Hawks boss, Anwa Dramat, and Gauteng Hawks head, Shadrack Sibiya, had no hand in the illegal rendition of foreigners. The Minister’s reliance on an outdated report is suspiciously convenient, given that he would have had access to both reports.

The Portfolio Committee on Police must therefore refer this Minister of Police, Nathi Nhleko, to the Powers and Privileges Committee for misleading Parliament. The final Ipid report clearly recommends that no charges be brought against Lieutenant-General Dramat and Major-General Sibiya. The investigation established that there is no prima facie evidence against them. This comes after the Minister acted unlawfully by going against a Constitutional Court order prohibiting him from suspending the general outside consultation with Parliament. The Police Minister did so anyway, claiming that the Ipid report implicates them in the illegal rendition. It is not true! Minister, explain! [Applause.]

Mr M Q NDLOZI: Hon Chairperson, before you call for the EFF member’s statement, under your guidance and very respectfully, may I address you?

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Yes, you may proceed.

Mr M Q NDLOZI: We want to second that motion that the Minister be taken to the Powers and Privileges Committee. I do not know what the procedure around that is. [Interjections.] It is serious and gross misconduct.

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon member, I think you and the DA can come together and pave your way forward, but not in the House, please.

Mr M Q NDLOZI: Okay, we will come and advise the House on how to take the Minister of Police to the Powers and Privileges Committee. [Interjections.]

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): The Table staff ... [Interjections.] Hon Ndlozi, please do not do that.

Ms M S KHAWULA

Ms D KOHLER

LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES BY DURBAN MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

(Member’s Statement)

IsiZulu:

Nk M S KHAWULA (EFF): Ngiyabonga Sihlalo weNdlu, kunenkinga enkulu laphaya eThekwini selokhu kwakhiwa ngonyaka we-1992 ayikho ingqalasizinda. Abantu abahlala ewadini le-19, 20 kanye 22 uma befuna ukuyozikhulula baya ehlathini, abanazo izindlu zangasese. Abanawo ugesi, bapheka ngama-primer stove. Uma kufanele bakhanyise bakhanyisa amakhandlela - okuyingozi ebantwini abadala nasebantwaneni kodwa abaholi bonke balaphaya emkhandlwini ngabe-ANC futhi bakwazi konke okwenzekayo.

Okunye, kunombiko kaManase esingazi ukuthi uphelelaphi. Abantu balapha eNingizimu Afrika abakhululekile neze. Uhulumeni we-ANC akacabangele abantu. Abantu abanayo imisebenzi futhi nemisebenzi ekhona ngeyesikhashana. Kusasa abantu bazomvukela uhulumeni ngoba bengenamisebenzi. Uyazi ukuthi umuntu uyakwazi ukukuvukela esiswini njengotshwala obudla bumnandi kuthi uma sebuxakile esiswini bukuphendukele. Ekugcineni bese kuthi ... [Kwaphela isikhathi. [Ihlombe.]

Mr L RAMATLAKANE

Ms M S KHAWULA

SACP DONATES SCHOOL SHOES TO FOUR WEST COAST PRIMARY SCHOOLS

(Member’s Statement)

Mr L RAMATLAKANE (ANC): Chair, as part of the annual Joe Slovo Right to Learn campaign, the SA Communist Party in the Western Cape donated 380 pairs of new shoes to children at four West Coast primary schools on Monday, 16 February 2015. The shoes were donated to pupils from Grade 1 to Grade 4. Children who benefited from the donation were from Carl Schreve (Mor) Primary, Stawelklip (Mor) Primary, Masiphathisane Primary and Chatsworth AME Primary.

The ANC commends its ally the SACP for this venture, given that a number of children are walking barefoot to school in this province run by those who care nothing for the poor and the underprivileged. This annual campaign is of significance in light of the recent ongoing treatment of working-class learners in the Western Cape. Three-hundred-and-eighty pairs of school shoes from different shops were given to four schools in Piketberg, which is very good.

Mr M HLENGWA

Mr L RAMATLAKANE

VIOLENT PROTESTS LEADING TO DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY

(Member’s Statement)

Mr M HLENGWA (IFP): House Chairperson, recently, over the past few weeks, we have seen very violent protests which resulted in the destruction of property throughout the country, whether it is in Malamulele or yesterday at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Westville campus. In this regard, we would like to appeal for calm and for our people who are protesting not to vandalise the little that we have. We are taking steps backwards and this does not bode well for progress in the country.

While there are many problems, we believe that discussion and engagement with the relevant stakeholders should take priority. For as long as we are burning schools and libraries, we are burning our future, and so we want to appeal to all South Africans that in light of all the failures of the present government - which are very explicit, one might add - and despite all those failures, they should not take the country backwards.

We are appealing to all government departments to respond proactively and positively to the concerns of South Africans in order to ensure that we do not end up being a country that is burning. What is happening now does not bode well for progress.

Therefore, at the end of it all, we appeal in particular to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme to restructure itself in such a way that it responds to the needs of students because the corruption that is taking place there is a catalyst for the problems and violent protests that we have been seeing in institutions of higher learning. I thank you.

Ms C N MAJEKE

Mr M HLENGWA

PATIENT’S DEATH IN BLOEMFONTEIN HOSPITAL DUE TO LOAD-SHEDDING

(Member’s Statement)

Ms C N MAJEKE (UDM): House Chair, recently an incident in Bloemfontein was reported where a 61-year-old man, Mr William Engelbrecht, died when an oxygen machine could not assist him to breathe after the second power cut in one day. One of the Eastern Cape’s oncology facilities has reported that cancer patients have started to feel the impact of load-shedding as their treatments are interrupted. Once they are in the middle of treatment the electricity goes off, which results in patients missing out on their treatment for the day and then having to be rescheduled for the following day.

Some of these patients come from very distant areas and they have nowhere to wait for the electricity to come back on. This has an emotional impact on patients’ treatment and it is quite traumatic when it is interrupted: They doubt whether the treatment will work or not.

While most facilities may have generators, some are using linear accelerator, Linac, machines for radiation, which is safer and more accurate for radiation therapy. However, these machines use too much electricity to be connected to generators.

It is important for Eskom to investigate whether the different times in which schedules are being implemented does not create a challenge with the management of patients’ treatment in various health facilities and homes; whether more aggressive, regular and timely warnings in the event of a change in published schedules should be considered to prepare alternative arrangements; and whether the capacity of some ... [Time expired.]

Ms F S LOLIWE

Ms C N MAJEKE

WAGE INCREASE FOR WHOLESALE AND RETAIL WORKERS

(Member’s Statement)

Ms F S LOLIWE (ANC): Hon Chair, the approval of the new minimum wage for the wholesale and retail sector by the Department of Labour, as one of the key mechanisms to reduce income inequality, further shows the commitment of the policies of the ANC to improve the lives of all our people. As such, workers in the wholesale and retail sector are now entitled to minimum wage increases that vary from 6,1 % to 8,1% in various job categories.

The new wage determination stands to benefit various categories of workers. This includes cashiers, clerks, assistant managers, displayers, forklift operators, security guards, merchandisers, managers, sales assistants, salespersons, shop assistant supervisors and trainee managers. The ANC commends its government for the bold implementation of policies geared at affirming South African workers and reducing income inequality as we undo the legacy of discrimination aimed at the working class on the grounds of race and gender, as well as the disabled. Furthermore, we also welcome the government’s commitment to set up ... [Time expired.]

Rev K R J MESHOE

Ms F S LOLIWE

INCREASING INCIDENCE OF PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS

(Member’s Statement)

Rev K R J MESHOE (ACDP): Hon House Chair, in April 2013 the British Parliament met to discuss the increasing incidence of the persecution of Christians in Africa. The discussion was requested by the hon Naomi Long, who said:

The right to have a faith and to practise that faith, both in private and in community with others, and to change one’s faith and not be disadvantaged or endangered for reason of one’s beliefs, are basic and fundamental human rights that should apply universally.

The ACDP believes the time has come for our Parliament to also discuss the global persecution of people of faith. While we acknowledge government’s condemnation of all forms of terrorism, we nevertheless believe that with the increasing reports of abduction, rape and slaughter of Christians and the burning down of churches, our government must be heard to be strongly condemning these acts of terrorism against the church, particularly in Africa and the Middle East.

On behalf of the ACDP, I want to reiterate my call on government to lead the international community in defending the right of freedom of religion and in the promotion of a culture of peaceful coexistence between Christians, Muslims, Jews and all other religious minorities. I thank you.

Mr I MOSALA

Rev K R J MESHOE

CONVERSION OF HOSTELS INTO FAMILY HOUSING UNITS

(Member’s Statement)

Mr I MOSALA (ANC): Chair, increasing access to secure and decent housing for all through government’s newly adopted housing programme, including the conversion of hostels into family housing units, is one of the cornerstones of the ANC’s housing policy. The North West ANC government is preparing to demolish the mining hostel of Khuma township to make way for decent family units for hostel dwellers.

More than 250 people are currently occupying the hostels and stand to benefit from the subsidised family units with proper sanitation and infrastructure. The hostels were originally built for migrant workers and are now no longer conducive for human habitation as there are no proper services and some unoccupied hostels have become a nest for criminals.

This project will fulfil a call made by the Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa, for residents to be provided with proper shelter. During his visit to Khuma in March 2014, Deputy President Ramaphosa made a commitment that he will personally monitor progress on the demolition of the hostels and the building of new houses for its dwellers. The ANC applauds its government in Bokone Bophirima for acceding to the call made by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, as well as in ensuring that all South Africans have an opportunity to live in decent conditions within suitable human settlements. I thank you. [Applause.]

Dr W JAMES

Mr I MOSALA

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order! Hon member, just before you proceed, we are aware that there is a problem with the sound and vision in terms of what is being displayed on the screens at the moment. This is being attended to. You may continue, hon member.

NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE

(Member’s Statement)

Mr W G JAMES (DA): Chair, the National Health Insurance is at the heart of the national government’s offer on health for the poor but it seems to be that there is no money for it. Yesterday the Minister of Finance, Mr Nene, announced that National Treasury will release a discussion paper. I quote:

A discussion paper on financing options will be released shortly by the National Treasury, to accompany the NHI White Paper.

However, in last year’s Budget Speech we also heard that the White Paper on the NHI and the Financing Paper would be tabled shortly. I wonder what they mean by “shortly”. Bear in mind that the NHI Green Paper was released almost four years ago. We want to give government the benefit of the doubt, but the delay in the finalisation of these documents and a healthy dose of scepticism based on this government’s record suggests that the NHI cannot be financed because it depends on decent growth, which we simply do not have.

It is therefore time to go back to the drawing board. The NHI is a dream turned illusion wrapped in a fantasy. By all means, spend NHI pilot project money on building clinics and hospitals and other necessary infrastructure but let us start again by putting together a viable offer to poor South Africans so that they can in fact access quality health care. Thank you. [Applause.]

Ms T P MANTASHE

Mr W G JAMES

UNEMPLOYMENT DECREASES IN FOURTH QUARTER

(Member’s Statement)

Ms T P MANTASHE (ANC): The decrease in South Africa’s unemployment rate from 25,4% in the third quarter to 24,3% in the fourth quarter, as reported by Statistics SA on Tuesday, 10 February 2015, is indeed part of our good story to tell. While the decline in the unemployment rate is good news, we cannot rest in ensuring that we create more jobs, as unemployment still remains exceptionally high and there is unlikely to be significant improvement in the year ahead, unless conditions in the labour market gradually change and become more favourable and the economy accelerates more convincingly.

The ANC therefore calls on the government, private sector, labour and civil society to come together to deal comprehensively with the constraints that are facing our economy, to mobilise resources and to strengthen the state policy programme. All this is geared at supporting decent work outcomes, including employment creation and broad economic transformation. The ANC believes that in so doing, South Africa will make significant progress in changing our economy to benefit our people and contributing positively to reducing unemployment, poverty and inequality. I thank you. [Applause.]

Mr M A PLOUAMMA

Ms T P MANTASHE

TRANSLATOR PLEASE ADD HEADING HERE

(Member’s Statement)

Sepedi: 16:05:07

Mr M A PLOUAMMA (Agang): Mohl Modulasetulo, on behalf of Agang, re be re kgopela mo dipolitical parties tsohle, gore re thusaneng go thibela taba ye ya go attackiwa ga MaSomalia. Re bona gore ga e bee naga ya rena gabotse.

Re be re kgopela gore le ge re ka fapana ka dikgopolo goba revolutions, mara ye e dira gore naga ya rena e feleletse e se sa ratwa ke dinaga tse dingwe ka ntle. Le ge re ka fapana mara ye ke maikarabelo bja rena ka moka. Re swanetse re itšhireletse democracy y arena ka gore e tlile boima ene re ihweditse mafaseng, ba ba re lwetseng. Re be re kgopela bjale ka Agandg gore a re tshwaraneng re tieng gore re se ka ra tsoga re boetse marago, re tšweleng pele, re thibele because dilo tše di diragalago, ke tše di hlotšeng dintwa tša semerafe dinageng tše dingwe. Ke a leboga.

Ms B T NGCOBO

Mr M A PLOUAMMA

ROLLING OUT LIGHTNING CONDUCTORS TO MITIGATE EFFECTS OF LIGHTING STRIKES

(Member’s Statement)

Ms B T NGCOBO (ANC): Chairperson, recently the provincial government of KwaZulu-Natal laid to rest nine people who were struck and killed by lightning. This event left the entire community in mourning. We appreciate the provincial government’s assistance in organising the funeral for the victims at Mthonjaneni. This week, we once again lost more lives due to lightning. This happened in the northern parts of KwaZulu-Natal, when a group of young boys were struck by lightning while playing soccer in another ward of Mthonjaneni.

The growing incidence of people who die due to lightning are worrying and, as the ANC, we welcome the ongoing initiative by the provincial administration of the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Cogta, to provide lightning conductors to mitigate the effects.

We send our condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. I thank you. [Applause.]

Mrs M R SHINN

Ms B T NGCOBO

(Member’s Statement)

Mrs M R SHINN (DA): Chair, a legal nightmare for the information and communications technology sector was created eight months ago when President Zuma split asunder the Department of Communications to create a broadcasting empire for a loyal cadre. This led to a turf war over which department is responsible for the much delayed transition to terrestrial digital broadcasting. The Minister of Communications, Faith Muthambi, has vociferously fought to control this transition, although the outcome of this has more to do with delivering the digital dividend than TV. To let this Minister have her way, an unworkable mishmash of unworkable laws was created.

While the President may not be able to discern where the responsibility for this transition should lie, National Treasury has no doubts. Yesterday’s budget makes it quite clear that its money is on the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services. Treasury has allocated R3,8 million to Minister Muthambi’s Ministry, to, among other things, play an important role in creating and supporting SMMEs in the digital domain. Telecoms, on the other hand, has R371 million to spend on the entities that are actually responsible for making DTT happen. That is a magnitude of difference in power and responsibility. The SABC gets a billion to spend on digitalising its platforms but that does not address bridging the digital divide.

Thanks are due to the Treasury for making it crystal clear which department has the right to manage the project. Minister Muthambi must step aside and let the department with the requisite skills get on with the job... [Time expired.]

Ms J V BASSON
Mrs M R SHINN

NATIONAL ADOLESCENT SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS FRAMEWORK STRATEGY

(Member’s Statement)

Ms J V BASSON (ANC): The approval of the National Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Framework Strategy by Cabinet is one of the strides taken in the building of a healthy society. As the ANC we believe that this strategy will assist in the advancement and promotion of health outcomes, especially those aimed at the sexual and reproductive health of young people. The strategy will further ensure improved co-ordination, synergy and alignment with the programme of government among civil society and development partners who are currently working in the area of adolescent sexual and reproductive health.

With this strategy coming into effect, we hold the view that it will bring about necessary change in the determinants of the country’s population trends, so that these trends are consistent with the achievement of sustainable human development. We hope that this strategy will pave the way for addressing the gaps and challenges that adolescents are faced with to fully realise their sexual and reproductive health and rights.

MINISTERIAL RESPONSES

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS - Ms J V BASSON

MANDELA'S RELEASE FROM PRISON REMEMBERED

SACP DONATES SCHOOL SHOES TO FOUR WEST COAST PRIMARY SCHOOLS

(Minister’s Response)

The MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Hon Chairperson, I wish to respond to three statements, if I may. Firstly, I wish to agree with the hon member of the ANC that we should continue to celebrate the life, history and contribution of former President Nelson Mandela. We must certainly recall the immense role that he played in creating the democracy that we enjoy today. Of course, Mr Mandela would always remind us that as we celebrated, we should remember the contribution of all the people who had the courage to participate in the struggle for freedom in South Africa. He always said that he walked with many and did not walk alone. However, his contribution is without weight in comparison to others. We certainly recall his release and the wonderful image we all have in our heads of when we stood out in the square, waiting to hear him speak from the balcony of the city hall. It is a memory we can never erase and his contribution can never be forgotten.

The ANC is implementing the Freedom Charter and its core principles remain the principles that are being advanced by the ANC. When anyone weighs the work that we have done as this government since the advent of democracy, it would be very clear to the true historian that we remain true to the principles and objectives of the Freedom Charter.

We also welcome the announcement by the hon Ramatlakane of the Right to Learn campaign contribution to support children who are vulnerable and who lack basic commodities and requirements for schooling. We would also like to join all those who have congratulated the students at Wits University for what they have done to raise funds to support poor students at their institution. Perhaps we, as Members of Parliament, should create a fund ourselves to support talented young people in our country and join those young people at Wits. Thank you very much. [Time expired.] [Applause.]

The MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY

The MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

UNEMPLOYMENT DECREASES IN FOURTH QUARTER

(Minister’s Response)

The MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY: Chairperson, I am responding to the statement that noted the small but nonetheless welcome reduction in the rate of unemployment. I think it is also important to take note of the fact that there were two other important statistics that came out earlier this week. They were about seasonally adjusted figures for growth, and they showed that in the fourth quarter of last year we were at 4,1% and that 9,5% was the contribution of manufacturing.

Now, I am not so naive as to assume that one quarter’s figures tell us that everything is well. Of course, we are now in the quarter where we are going to face the impact of the energy crisis. But I think it does tell us that it is possible to gain real momentum from changing the growth path towards one that is led by productive sectors - value-added sectors in particular.

The nine-point programme that was announced by the President and elaborated on by some of my colleagues in the state of the nation address debate represents government’s efforts to try to address the binding constraints on our economy and then to accelerate the work that we are doing to place our economy on a newer, higher value-added growth path, which is the only one that is compatible with developing our countries. In that whole debate I did not hear any coherent alternatives. Therefore, I am assuming that there is consensus that we are moving in the right direction. Thank you very much.

The MINISTER OF LABOUR

The MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY

WAGE INCREASE FOR WHOLESALE AND RETAIL WORKERS

LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES BY DURBAN MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

(Minister’s Response)

The MINISTER OF LABOUR: House Chair, I will be responding to the statement made by hon Loliwe. Thank you very much for raising that, particularly the new minimum wage in the retail sector. I must say that, as government, we will continue to intervene through the Basic Conditions of Employment Act by setting the minimum wage through sectoral determinations while we are still processing the investigation of the modalities of a national minimum wage.

I also want to respond ...

IsiZulu: 16:15:59

... kumhlonishwa uKhawula, siyabonga ngokuthi namhlanje akwazi ukuveza ukuthi kunamawadi KwaZulu-Natal angasebenzi kahle ...

English:

... of which she was a ward counsellor. She was in one of the wards up until ...

IsiZulu:

... kuwine omunye okuKhongolose, yingakho namhlanje aku-EFF.

English:

Thank you very much.

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS

The MINISTER OF LABOUR

ROLLING OUT LIGHTNING CONDUCTORS TO MITIGATE EFFECTS OF LIGHTNING STRIKES

(Minister’s Response)

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS (Mr A C Nel): Chairperson, I would like to thank the hon member Beatrice Ngcobo for the statement she made regarding the tragic loss of life in KwaNongoma and in KwaZulu-Natal as a result of lightning strikes. We would like to join in expressing our condolences to the families and those who have lost loved ones. We would also like to commend the disaster management centre, both nationally as well as in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, for the prompt action that was taken. In particular we commend the MEC for co-operative governance and traditional affairs in KwaZulu-Natal who visited and assisted the families who were affected by this terrible tragedy. We note that the MEC has undertaken to assist the families with burying their loved ones and is also undertaking to assist them in installing lightning conductors to prevent future tragedies. Thank you very much.

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF MINERAL RESOURCES

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNANCE

NEW HOSTELS FOR MINEWORKERS

(Minister’s Response)

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF MINERAL RESOURCES: House Chairperson, let me start off by welcoming the statement from the hon member and comrade from the ANC on the matter relating to the conversion of hostels in the North West. This really confirms that South Africa is hard at work in the provision of decent human settlement for our people, who had been neglected over many years by previous regimes.

South Africa, under the leadership of the ANC government, is one of the few, if not the only country in the world that gives people houses for free. It is in fact in that context that even the mining sector was compelled by law and under the Mining Charter to provide decent accommodation for mineworkers. A lot of progress has been made in this regard and a full report on the assessment of the progress that was made over the past 10 years should be available by the end of March 2014. We have indeed made significance progress in that regard, but there are still some areas that need attention.

The ANC government, together with various teams and stakeholders, as well as the team that is led by the Deputy President and Minister Jeff Radebe, are actually committed and hard at work to achieve the maximum progress in this year of the Freedom Charter, where we want to provide decent housing and human settlements to all our people. Thank you very much. [Applause.]

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF MINERAL RESOURCES

VIOLENT PROTESTS AND DESTRUCTION OF SCHOOL PROPERTY

(Minister’s Response)

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION: Hon Chair, I would like to express my gratitude to hon Hlengwa for raising the important issue of the destruction of school property. For too frequently now our children are being held hostage because of civic and political demands. I think we have a collective and individual responsibility as public representatives to make the appropriate intervention and try to educate our communities. The effect of this destruction is that school learning is interrupted, facilities for learning and teaching are destroyed and have to be replaced at enormous cost, and the value of education is diminished among learners and within society.

I believe we have to make a concerted effort to ensure that under no circumstances is quality education compromised because of political or civic demands, whether in our schools or in our tertiary institutions. I thank the hon member for raising this very important issue. I am not going to deal with the issue of hon Ramatlakane; I think Minister Naledi Pandor has dealt with it. Thank you very much. [Applause.]

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Thank you, hon member. That concludes ministerial responses and the business of the day. The House is adjourned.

Debate concluded.

The House adjourned at 16:20.

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[nm15]One word – no hyphen

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Hansard: NA: Plenary

House: National Assembly

Date of Meeting: 26 Feb 2015

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