Hansard: NA: Unrevised Hansard

House: National Assembly

Date of Meeting: 21 Feb 2017

Summary

No summary available.

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Minutes

UNREVISED HANSARD

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

21 FEBRUARY 2017 ____

PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ____

 

The House met at 14:02.

 

The House Chairperson Ms A T Didiza took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayer or meditation.

 

As we do so, we remember those men who died in the shores of the English Channel when the S S Mendi sank. We also remember the members of the Navy and officials of the Department of Public Works who died in the naval base in Durban when they were doing some of the maintenance work. And also those who got hurt yesterday when the trains in Pretoria actually collided. Thank you very much, can we be seated.

 

CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF CONSTITUTION AND CONVENTION OF THE AFRICAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS UNION (ATU)

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

21 FEBRUARY 2017

Page 2

CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL ACTS OF THE PLENIPOTENTIARY CONFERENCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS UNION (ITU) GUADALAJARA 2010

 

Ms D R TSOTETSI: Thank you, Chairperson. I will speak on the Ratification of the African Telecommunications Union Convention of 1999 and the Plenipotentiary Conference of 2010. South Africa values its membership in the African Telecommunications Union in line with our foreign policy objectives for strengthening regional institutions and promoting developmental agenda.

 

The International Telecommunications Union, ITU, remains the only fully intergovernmental body responsible for satellite, terrestrial and submarine broadband, spectrum and orbital slot programme and co-ordination in Africa, African ownership of critical resources remains a central focus of the ANC and a need search of a forum as ATU for Africa to collectively fight for its economic resources in order for Africa to self provide.

 

Just in the recent World Radio Communications Conference Africa was successful in fighting for more spectrum allocation

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 3 for developmental programmes, such as rural access through satellite communications. We know of the challenges facing rural areas regarding Information and Communications Technology, ICT, development. That is a range of issues impacting negatively on connectivity.

 

To also maintain the spectrum for broadcasting in order for us to reach our citizens and allow for the emerging black-owned broadcasters; that is the radical transformation that talks directly to the quest to communicate. It hampers the growth of the ICT, Mobility Management Entity, MMEs, SMMEs and communities, especially poor communities whose welfare or wellbeing is solely dependent on the government.

 

The work of the International Telecommunications Union is critical to both the developmental and the economic agendas of the country, that to you aligns closely with the Chapter of the National Development Plan, NDP as it is strongly focused on the development of the economic infrastructure.

 

In the ICT sector to name a few: Universal broadband rollout; spectrum allocation for services inclusive of broadband; broadcasting satellite aircraft; maritime and the ocean

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 4 economy programmes; environmental public protection and disaster relief; emergency and security as well as other future programmes to support economic transformation, including internet to usher the industrial revolution and internet of things.

 

South Africa remains a member of the ITU in line with the foreign policy objectives of the country of strengthening the rules based multilateral system as well as promoting the developmental agenda in favour of millennium development goals; as well as the sustainable development goals.

 

The ITC are seen as catalysts towards achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs as well as addressing the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequalities; just to mention some of the issues dealt with by the ITU and resolutions adopted supporting the developmental agenda: That is resolution 7 on land protection; resolution 11 on ICT application for E-health; resolution 6/5 facilitating digital inclusion initiative for indigenous people; resolution 70 on gender mainstreaming and promotion of gender equality through ICTs.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 5 The ICT environment is historically in the man‘s world hence the mainstreaming. For South Africa some of the significance achievements and resolutions adopted include the adoption of the review of the International Telecommunication resolutions. The ITU agree to convene the 2012 work Conference on International Telecommunications in order to revisit the International Telecommunication Regulations, ITRs.

 

This is significant for the developing countries as Special Air Traffic Rules, SATRs, resolved to have transparency on wholesale tariff charges to mitigate the cost of communications. The average true range, ATRs, continue to be a hostile issue, as the private sector interest is on commercial profit. For us ratification will assist in regulating the wholesale costs towards affordable communication prices for poor communities. The Portfolio Committee on Telecommunications and Postal Services having considered the final ... [Time expired.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order hon member! Your time is up.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 6 Ms D R TSOTETSI: We request the House to consider the reports. Thank you. [Applause.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Can I ask the timekeepers to sort out the time. Declarations have been requested, and I now recognise the DA.

 

Declarations of Vote: Ms M R SHINN: House Chairperson, hon members, the agreements this house is being asked to approve today set the stage for South Africa to next year seek electoral office on both continental and international telecommunications forums.

 

It seeks continental leadership in things ICT throughout Africa; through the ICT – through the African Telecommunications Union, which is a specialised agency of the African Union, and the International Telecommunications Union.

 

Through these potential leadership roles the South African government will be decisive on issues such as, spectrum allocation, satellite deployment, human resource and business development, internet and broadcasting content development,

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 7 child online protection, cyber security and internet governance.

 

Our government‘s strategy comes at a time when African governments‘ communications activities are making media headlines for all the wrong reasons.

 

Instead of seeing ICT as an economic and social liberator of African citizens, use of the internet is increasingly being seen by some governments as a threat to their longevity. These governments pressure private sector internet operators to shut down the internet or lose their operating licences. This is the new tool of Africa‘s oppressors.

 

The internet shutdown in Cameroon – now in its 36th day - has cost the businesses in that country, many of them small, about R18 million. The Speaker of Cameroon‘s National Assembly refers to social media as the new form of terrorism. Human rights activists have taken their protest about Cameroon globally, and specifically to the African Union.

 

The AU‘s Declaration on Internet Governance, tabled in Mali last September, reaffirms that one of its principles is

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 8 ensuring that the management and administration of the Internet is inclusive, transparent and accessible to all.

 

The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion has asked governments not to bully private sector companies to take steps that unnecessarily, that disproportionately, interfere with the freedom of expression, whether through laws, policies or extralegal means.

 

Research by Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, published last December, listed 30 out of 54 African countries that violated digital rights last year. At least, 11 of these shut down the internet. Last June, the UN Human Rights Council declared that access to the internet is a human right. It stated that people have the same rights and freedoms online as they have offline.

 

South Africa voted against that, along with the world‘s energetic cyber bullies, such as Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and India; because our government deems that the right of freedom of opinion and expression is not absolute.

 

Governments seeking to control internet access rationalise their actions by hiding behind legitimate concerns. These

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 9 include deterring cyber fraud, child pornography, hate speech and terrorism. The reality in many African countries is the throttling of legitimate expression and citizen activism in the name of protecting national security or the public good.

 

But Africa‘s citizens are fighting back against suppression of their rights. Following internet shutdowns in Uganda, the top 12 apps downloaded were for virtual private networks. In Zimbabwe, internet shutdowns galvanised further civic protest.

 

Paradigm Initiative Nigeria observed that the incidents of internet shutdowns and violations across Africa suggest that governments got away with encroaching on rights only to the extent that citizens allowed them to. South African democrats must demand our government protects these rights throughout Africa should it win positions of power in these bodies.

 

Our legislature‘s programme this year promises many new laws that will control internet and broadcasting content, inhibit internet access and increase user surveillance in an increasingly restive political environment.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 10 It is the duty of all legislators, which is us, and civic activists to up our vigilance to ensure our government does not join the internet oppressors through legislation or extralegal means. South Africa must use its prospective elected positions on the ATU and ITU to promote citizen-centric freedom of access to the internet for the public good.

 

I call on the South African government to use its positions in these international forums to take the lead in promoting and safeguarding citizens‘ internet freedoms in Africa. [Applause.]

 

Ms V KETABAHLE: House Chairperson, the EFF agrees to the request for approval of the Constitution and Convention of the African Telecommunications Union. African Telecommunications Union is crucial to the development of our continent‘s ability to communicate and network internally through its ability to provide a forum for stakeholders involved in ICT to formulate effective policies and strategies aimed at improving access to information infrastructure and services.

 

In an era of accelerated technological trade, Africa‘s technological dependency and underdevelopment utterly impairs

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 11 its ability to compete in the global economy. To remedy this situation, the African Telecommunications Union has articulated its mission to effectively promote the rapid development of information communication‘s technologies in Africa in order to achieve universal access and full intercountry connectivity.

 

The welfare of the people of Africa and the development of an integrated regional economy requires the empowerment of regional organisations to achieve concerted and higher levels of co-ordinated regional institutions and actions.

 

In the process of promoting intraregional trade and supporting industrial development and growth, the upgrading and development of the telecommunication sector must remain a priority in Africa as to redress its marginalisation in an increasingly integrated global economy.

 

The Final Acts of the Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunications Union does the same. These acts encourages member states of the International Communications Union to co-operate with African countries in promoting regional sub-regional, multilateral and bilateral

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 12 projects and programmes for the implementations of the smart Africa manifesto.

 

The smart Africa manifesto seeks to broaden access to ICT across the African continent and to use this catalysed self perpetuating development in the continent without having to rely on Western countries for the continent‘s technological needs. As a progressive movement deeply concerned with the advancement of the continent and for the strengthening of pan African trades, the EFF supports the approval of both the constitution of the ATU and the final acts of the ITU. Thank you.

 

Mr M L SHELEMBE: Chairperson, we cannot deny that the Information Technology and Communication will increasingly underpin socioeconomic development in South Africa. To remain competitive will lead to developing a dynamic information society with a learning culture and strong infrastructure.

 

In short, South Africa will be required to participate fully in the global ITC interaction to share our knowledge with others and benefit from the expertise of global resources. Approval of ratification of the two international instruments

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 13 addressed in the report of the Portfolio Committee on Telecommunications and Postal Services tabled here today is of great importance if our country is to achieve its ITC goals.

 

We will need to harmonise our ITC development with emerging regional, continental, intercontinental and internal norms and standards to ensure that our country participate meaningfully and ratification of this instrument are of great importance if we are to achieve our goals.

 

However, ratification of international instrument does not address the ITC obstacles we face in South Africa. If we are to embrace and expand our ITC footprint, we also have to find ways to make ITC accessible to all our people. For example, a recent study comparing mobile data within the BRICS countries as well as Kenya and Australia shows that South African data is the second most expensive when measured against the cost living index; and on average more than 134% more expensive than the cheapest prices in the group.

 

We have to ask how is it possible that data cost in South Africa is noticeable higher than in Tanzania, Egypt, Rwanda, Uganda and Nigeria to mention just a few. As the leading

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 14 country in Southern African Development Community, SADEC, region, one would imagine than our data prices ought to be much lower than in our neighbouring countries but this is not the case.

 

The NFP believes that we will not see a significant decline in the cost data in South Africa anytime soon whilst data operators focus on return in investment.

 

Our government does not have a national policy aimed at lowering the cost of communication but the Department of Telecommunication and Postal Services is failing to implement a vision 2030. Until such time as government is prepared to be proactive in its intervention to lower the cost of data, our people continue to pay an extra-ordinary high price for data. And our people will continue to be excluded from full and equal participation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution

 

In conclusion, the NFP supports the telecommunication contained in the report tabled here today. I thank you.

 

There was no debate.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 15 Question put in respect of the approval of the First Order: That the Constitution and Convention of the African Telecommunications Union approved.

 

Question put in respect of the approval of the Second Order: That the final Acts of the Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunications Union – Guadalajara 2010 approved Announcement

 

FILLING IN OF VACANCIES OCCURRING IN THE NA

 

(New members)

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Hon members, I wish to announce that the vacancies which occurred in the NA due to the resignation of Dr H Chewane and Mr N P Khoza have been filled by the nomination of Dr S Thembekwayo with effect from 4 January 2017, and Ms L S Thlaole with effect from 1st February 2017, respectively. The members have taken their oaths and affirmation in the Deputy Speaker‘s office. I would like to welcome you, hon members. [Applause.] If I may ask the two hon members just to stand because members are asking:

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 16 Baphi? (Where are they?) You are welcomed, hon members. Thank you.

 

Hon members don‘t ask people who have not been sworn in. You will be advised when they are. Order, hon members! Order! We have just welcomed the members that have been sworn in.

 

CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON PRIVATE SECURITY INDUSTRY REGULATORY AUTHORITY (PSIRA) FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 2015-16 AND FINANCIAL YEAR 2014-15

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Hon House Chair, I move that the Reports be adopted by this House:

 

There was no debate.

 

Declarations of vote: Mr F BEUKMAN: Hon House Chairperson, hon members, fellow South Africans, thank you for the opportunity this afternoon to introduce the two reports on the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority, the PSIRA, that was adopted by the Portfolio Committee on Police and tabled in the Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports, ATC, on 6 December 2016. The P

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 17 Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority SIRA was established in terms of section 2 of the Private Security Industry Regulationory Authority Act. Its mandate is to regulate the private security industry and to exercise effective control of security service providers in the public and national interest and the interest of the security industry itself.

 

The aAnnual rReport of the aAuthority forms the main service delivery instrument for the entity and how funds were utilised to ensure the achievement of these targets as outlined in each Annual Performance Plan. There were a total of 8 692 registered businesses in Psira‘s database during the 2015-16 financial year compared to 8 195 registered businesses in the previous financial year.

 

It is important to note that the aAuthority does not receive a budget from the National Treasury. It generates its own revenue through different sources, including registration, annual fees and courses. During the year under review, revenue increased by R81 million from R134 million in the 2014-15 financial year to R216 million in the 2015-16 financial year. The year-to-year surplus was R31 million, which has

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 18 contributed to the turnaround in the negative solvency situation that was present in March 2015. In both years, PSIRA received an unqualified audit opinion, although several compliant methods were raised by the Auditor-General, namely going concerned issues, irregular expenditure, fruitless and wasteful expenditure and material impairments. Noncompliance with legislation and sections of the Public Finance Management Act, PFMA, was also raised by the Auditor-General.

 

In the 2014-15 rReport the committee proposed the set of remedial actions to address the concerns of the AuditorGeneral, the vetting of the senior staff was also highlighted, staff retention strategy and the implementation of programmes to improve stakeholder relationships. The committee has also engaged with the Auditor-General of South Africa on the audit outcomes on 11 October 2016. Additionally, the committee met with the Audit Committee of PSIRA on 6 November 2016 as part of a combined assurance approach to ensure that audit findings made by the Auditor-General of South Africa are addressed and not repeated. In terms ofConcerning the recommendations made by the committee, House Chairperson, our view was that the aAuthority should increase the focus on aspects of human

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 19 rights during the training of security guards and provide an action plan to address this important matter.

 

Further engagements with thea pPrivate sSecurity iIndustry, institutions of higher learning and the SA Police Service, the SAPS, to clearly define the role and responsibilities of security cars during public protest are needed. We also recommended that PSIRA should implement adequate consequence management practices and conclude disciplinary steps against noncompliant officials speedily. The committee also recommended that the aAuthority should continue to expand its drive to extend greater economic opportunities to previously disadvantaged communities and small businesses to enter the private security industry.

 

Compliance inspection should also be intensified to ensure that security guards are not exploited and adherence to the basic conditions of employment is ensured. Concerns were also raised about the uniforms, logos, badges, insignia vehicles thathas closely resembled that of the SAPS and the SA National Defence Force, SANDF. The aAuthority should also provide a report to the committee on the steps that will be taken to address these challenges.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 20 One of the matters raised by members of the public is where do they go if they have complaints about the conduct of security guards. The committee recommended that PSIRA should develop steps to improve the aAuthority‘s complaints mechanisms to facilitate service delivery complaints against the private security industry. We also welcome the launch of Operation Clean Audit to ensure that PSIRA receives a clean audit in 2016-17 financial year.

 

House Chairperson, a new bBoard was originally appointed by the eExecutive aAuthority, the body starts with the governance of PSIRA. The committee expects from the new bBoard to strengthen corporate governance, oversee the implementation of the Auditor-General and Portfolio Committee on the Police‘s recommendations and to ensure adequate consequence management practices and conclude disciplinary steps against noncompliant officials speedily.

 

In closing, House Chairperson, the committee believes that there is a positive improvement in both service delivery and financial performance of PSIRA. The aAuthority should continue to make progress in areas that needs improvement. I thank you.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 21 IsiZulu: Mnu Z N MBHELE: Ngiyabonga Sihlalo, ...

 

English: ... over the two financial years, PSIRA has made progress in some key areas that‘s aware of ongoing concern. However, a persistent problem that continues to this day as highlighted in the recommendations of the committee, is the weak internal systems and capacity for compliance assurance, which has led to the aAuthority being found wanting by the Auditor-General on repeated occasions. In other aspects, the challenges faced by PSIRA stem from being led down by other stakeholders in the public sector. The most notable issue reflected in the reports is the chronic matter of the Arcadia building, which must be finalised and has been dragging for years. In this respect, the Department of Public Works has failed to come on board in order to bring closure to the matter. The appeal goes out to Minister Nxesi to bring his department into line so that the PSIRA can perform as it needs to.

 

In another respect, the Department of Llabour is also hobbling the work of PSIRA because the labour inspectorate is understaffed and under resourced. Therefore, while PSIRA has

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 22 been working to build their own capacity for inspectors and investigators, they are often unable to get the level of cooperation they require from the Labour Departments to conduct inspections and ensure human rights compliance, as mentioned now by the Chairperson. The biggest irony of this is when the ANC sees fits to make allegations about human rights abuses on farms in the Western Cape, when in fact it is the capacity of the Department of Labour at the national level that is the key mechanism and instrument for ensuring compliance in this regard.

 

IsiZulu: Yenzani umsebenzi wenu.

 

English: Chairperson, the other issue that has been raised in the reports, is concerning the increasing role and involvement of private security in policing protests at university campuses given the ongoing and deepening crisis of higher education funding. This area has been of deep concern to the committee because it is very clear constitutionally that the legitimate exercise of coercive force can only be done by the state. We cannot have a situation where the use of coercive force has to

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 23 sip into being used by private players, who do not fall under the same oversight and the same supervision, as this Parliament can do for the state organ and state bodies.

 

The matter of the PSIRA Amendment Bill also still lingers. This Bill has been sitting on the President‘s desk close to more than two years now. It must be brought to a conclusion. The one object of the aAuthority is to promote stability of the private security industry, but the expropriation clause of this Bill directly undermines this goal. The Bill must be sent back to Parliament and the Portfolio Committee on Police in order to be rectified.

 

The final matter to mention is that of the leadership at mMinisterial level. To put it mildlyouthful, when it comes to the PSIRA, performance in this regard has been less than optimal. The latest example has been that of Minister Nhleko taking far too long to approve the appointment of new members of the PSIRA Council, despite repeated attempts by the outgoing council to follow up and assure compliance. Deadlines were missed, and the committee has had to condone the late appointments of the new council members. However, I suppose when one‘s concern is primarily the politicisation of the

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 24 portfolio as opposed to professionalisation that can be quite time consuming and leads one to not be able to do their job properly. Chairperson, the DA supports these reports. [Applause.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T DidizaIDIZA): Thank you very much, hon member. Just to indicate to hon Nxesi that the hon member was referring to the accommodation issue and the role of Public Works vis-à-vis the accommodation of PSIRA. So that is what he was saying, maybe you might speed up. Njomane, I initially thought you were now a leader of the DA, but I realised that you were mistaken. The seats are too close.

 

Mr S P MHLONGO: Madam Chair, the EFF notes with serious concern the report of the Portfolio Committee on Police on 2015-16 annual report of the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority, Psira, as well as the 2014-15 annual report and budget. The primary objective of the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority is to regulate the private security industry and exercise effective control over the practice and of the occupation not mainly quality.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 25 The responsibility of setting quality standard is left up to organisations such as the SA Intruder Detection Services Association, Saidsa; and these are still voluntary with no obligation by companies to comply with minimum standards. This leaves massive room for corruption and collusion by these private security companies with criminal elements.

 

Annual report after another, the regulatory authority has been unable to plug these gabs and ensure that the private security industry does not become a means through which criminals can operate under the guise of being private securities. In the report presented here today, the authority was requested to provide information on cases of complaints lodged by the public against security guards, for example in the area of Glebelands in KwaZulu-Natal where many people have been gunned down, allegedly with strong involvement of the private security firm employees in those serious murder cases.

 

The regulator is also unable to deal decisively with the ongoing trend of companies violating the basic human rights of security guards as well as their basic conditions of employment in terms of minimum wages. Security guards remain some of the most abused, overworked and underpaid workers in

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 26 South Africa. The government has showed neither willingness nor capacity to liberate poor black security guards from tentacles of at times racist exploitation by owners of these security companies.

 

We therefore call on Psira to develop some backbone and deal with the many abuses perpetrated by private security industry. But at time as the EFF we are calling on Psira to ensure that the minimum standards of equity are applicable in this particular sector because local business people find it very difficult to penetrate this industry; it is only open to foreign nationals. And this creates a serious security threat to the sovereignty of the country as a whole.

 

It is on this basis that as the EFF we say, the report must be rejected up until it complies with these minimum standards that EFF says need to be observed by Psira.

 

Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: House Chair, hon members of this House and our esteemed guests in the gallery. The NFP welcomes the report of the Portfolio Committee on Police tabled here today. The NFP further welcomes the unqualified audit opinion by the Auditor-General; however, expresses its concern, amongst

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 27 other, the high vacancy rate at Psira. A matter for further concern in this regard is the number of employees that leave the industry and the replacement thereof which puts the industry at great risk.

 

Another matter of concern is the inadequate training for security officers especially those at the different universities in the country and the manner in which the Fees Must Fall protest was handled. In this regard the NFP calls for Psira to pay great attention to this to prevent any loss of life or injury.

 

The NFP further expresses its concern with the noncompliance with legislation as alluded to by the Auditor-General. The vetting of senior management is also a matter for concern and calls on Psira to treat this matter very seriously. Of great concern to the NFP is the issue of liquidity of Psira wherein the expenditure far exceeds the revenue and more importantly, expenditure appears to be growing at a faster rate than income generated.

 

The NFP notes with concern the Auditor-General‘s report that the regulatory body is technically insolvent in that its total

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 28 liabilities exceed its total assets by R85 million, including a loss of approximately R17 million in the last financial year. What is required as a matter of urgency is a turnaround strategy to curtail expenditure and ensure the viability and self sustenance of the regulatory body. The NFP supports the report tabled here today with the concerns expressed. Thank you.

 

Mr J J MAAKE: Madam Chairperson, the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority, Psira, is one of the most important regulatory bodies in South Africa, as it looks after a sector that deals with organisations and companies that as members or employees handle security and weapons. What is to be noted is that the total numbers of members in this sector are more than the total number of security forces that we have in this country e g, the police and the defence force combined.

 

This is not the only serious factor in this industry; another factor is that we have foreigners owning most of these companies. It is not only ownership that is of concern, but that some of these companies employ foreigners too. All this clearly tells us that great care needs to afforded to this

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 29 area as it has a potential to be a danger if not properly regulated.

 

We are however satisfied with the management of the authority as of now. The fact that the authority is a member of the Security Cluster working very closely with State Security Agency, SSA, as part of the counterintelligence section of SSA somehow mitigate in the positive.

 

The Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority collects its own revenue through collection of registration fees, levies, et cetera. Unlike some of the agencies and institutions it turns not to be a burden to state coffers and does not need any bailout from time to time.

 

An issue, however, that needs to be looked into is the recent protest in educational institutions. The security officers in these institutions are not trained for crowd control, e g they are not trained to use force. Therefore there is a need to have a close co-operation between the police and the authority.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 30 There has been a request from the security industry and companies to have a capacity for data collection in these institutions. The question is: Will that be advisable if some the companies are foreign-owned and employ foreigners. Data collection is some sort of intelligence gathering. Should foreign-owned companies or organisations be allowed to do that in this country?

 

Madam Chairperson, if property is destroyed there can be no justification for that. But if property is destroyed in a military-style plan, then that is not the rioting of students but that is clear sabotage. It is planned and executed during the night, military style. We then need to start asking ourselves: Who are these people? Who is sponsoring them and for what object? What organisation do they belong to? Which organisations are happy when this happens? Which organisations want the ANC-led government discredit and destroyed? Why is the opposition in South Africa always talk about the destruction of the ANC?

 

Is it not funny that in countries where they are being handled from, their sponsors are not destroying each other? They are not unruly in their parliament. They do not sabotage their own

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 31 governments. They do not destroy their own parliament. [Applause.] Is this maybe because they take the opposition in this country as their necessary fools who cannot think for their country and its people? Stooges who cannot think for themselves? Fools who are allergic to patriotism? Fools who use obscenities in the land and do it in front of the Constitutional Court? [Interjections.]

 

Mr M S MBATHA: Point of order, House Chair.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order! Hon Maake, can you take your seat. What is the point of order, hon member?

 

Mr M S MBATHA: I just want to check with you: Is it parliamentary to call some people here fools?

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order, hon member, I will get the advise from the Table and then advise you correctly.

 

Mr M S MBATHA: But this is easy; it is not supposed to Mathematics but just a question.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 32 The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order, hon member, can you please take your seat. Hon member, you can proceed. Mr J J MAAKE: If was to help, no member of this House has been called a fool. African culture hates with passion children ...

 

Sepedi: ... ba go telela.

 

English: Mr J J MAAKE: And our people are looking, analysing and taking stock of this unAfrican behaviour ... [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Hon Maake, order. If I may just ask a question for clarity: The reference you were making; were you referring to members or who?

 

Mr J J MAAKE: Hon Chairperson, I never referred to any individual in here as a fool.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Thank you. Can you take a seat? Hon member, what is your point of order?

 

Mr M M DLAMINI: No, there were two issues, Chairperson.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 33

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Hon member, you can take a seat.

 

Mr M M DLAMINI: Yes, sit down. There were two issues ... [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Hon members, can we please allow the Chair to chair. I am just asking you to give your point of order.

 

Mr M M DLAMINI: Okay.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Yes.

 

Mr M M DLAMINI: Two issues, Chairperson. You said you are going to refer to the Table, but secondly, this guy must not be a coward ... [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Hon member.

 

Mr M M DLAMINI: ... he said opposition members are fools.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 34 The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order.

 

Mr M M DLAMINI: So, we are not scared of him. He is a fool.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Hon member. Hon members, in terms of our own rules ... [Interjections.] ... Order! Your member raised a question ... [Interjections.] ... Order! Order! ... and correctly so, I checked with the Table, and that is why I had to check ask the member whether he was referring to any member in the House, and he said, ―No.‖ [Interjections.] Can I just clarify? Hon member, in the course of the debate when you do not refer specifically to the opposition - like you would sometimes refer to a party or government - that does not necessarily refer to an individual. Hon member, can we proceed, I have made a ruling.

 

Mr M M DLAMINI: African culture hates with passion children ...

 

Sepedi: ... ba go telela.

 

English:

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 35 Mr P J MNGUNI: Order, Chair. House Chair, this side, on your right ... [Interjections.]

 

Mr J J MAAKE: And our people are looking, analysing and taking stock of this ... [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order! Hon Maake!

 

Mr J J MAAKE: ... foreign unAfrican behaviour ... [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Hon Maake, order! [Interjections.]

 

Mr J J MAAKE: ... to the detriment of the blind fools.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order! Hon member, can you please take your seat. What is the point of order, hon member?

 

Mr P J MNGUNI: House Chair, with due respect, in raising a follow-up point of order the EFF member absolutely landed with the words that hon Maake is a fool. We may not take that in

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 36 the House. We ask him to withdraw; it was very direct reference to him.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order, hon members, I will reflect on that and come and rule. Can you please round up your speech, hon member?

 

Mr J J MAAKE: It must be very painful to be a fool and blind to reality at the same time. It does not only pain the fool himself or herself, but the whole nation; not only the nation, but the continent; and not only the continent, but the whole humanity who at some stage fought for liberation.

 

We can talk about Che Guevara, Tiro Okgopotse, Eduardo Mondlane, Amilcar Cabral, Thomas Sankara, Solomon Mahlangu, Ruth Feast, Steve Biko, Hogia Hende, Patrice Lumumba, Kwame Nkrumah ... [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order, hon member, can we be please be relevant to the topic under discussion.

 

Mr J J MAAKE: Thank you.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 37 The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): You can proceed and round up.

 

Mr J J MAAKE: Hon Chairperson, there are some of the critical issues that this authority is supposed to grabble with. The authority is in talks with the universities and partnering with them in dealing with these issues. The engagements are about the usage of private security in terms of public protection. The ANC would move for the adoption of the report.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): The motion is that the report be adopted. Are there any objections? Agreed to. Hon members, can we now have the secretary read the next order. [Interjections.]

 

Mr S P MHLONGO: We would like to register the rejection of the report by the EFF.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Thank you, hon member, I must apologise, I did not recognise your hand. We can now proceed; secretary can you read the Sixth Order. He is objecting to the earlier report; I did not notice his hand. Can you please read the next Order?

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 38 CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM – 2016-17 QUARTERLY (QUARTER 1) AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REPORT

 

CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM – QUARTER 2 FINANCIAL AND NONFINANCIAL PERFORMANCE FOR 2016-17 FINANCIAL YEAR

 

Ms B T NGCOBO: Chairperson, the Department of Tourism had its first quarter report adopted on 2 February and reviewed the 2015-16 financial year, both in terms of governance and service delivery.

 

This is a highly successful department that continues to receive multiple awards, including the best performing department at the National Batho Pele Excellence Awards and a clean audit award from the Auditor-General. We congratulate the department for this.

 

The work done by the department and its entities is visible in the significant improvement in tourist arrivals. The tourist arrivals increased to nine million, an increase of more than one million arrivals in 2015. This represents 30% growth. Both government and private sector have turned tourist arrivals

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 39 around. Tourism figures released by Statistics SA in December indicated that the tourism sector created 32 186 jobs in the preceding year. The figures indicate the contribution to GDP increased from R83,9 billion in 2011 to R118,9 billion in 2014.

 

For the first quarter of 2016-17, the department planned to achieve 91 targets but achieved only 70 of those. A total of 21 were not achieved. This is a total of 76% achieved and 24% not achieved. The department could have performed better had there been no delays in finalising the terms of reference for projects. This resulted in delays in procurement and service providers for various projects. The lost ground would be recovered in the subsequent quarters.

 

With regard to financial performance, the department has a budget of just more than R2 billion for the 2016-17 financial year. A total of R1,27 billion was transferred to South African Tourism. The department had to allocate overexpenditure of R353 million against the budgeted R320 million for the quarter. However, spending will normalise in the subsequent quarters and is expected to be within the allocation for the 2016-17 financial year.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 40 Finally, currency exposure has always been a concern for South African Tourism, given that government entities are not allowed to implement currency hedging. National Treasury allows the department to make these advanced payments. However, a permanent solution is required. Through partnerships with the private sector – the Tourism Business Council of South Africa – South African Tourism received R10,7 million for the levy collected by Tourism Marketing SA, Tomsa. That is the first quarter.

 

In the second quarter, the Department of Tourism is expected to continue making a meaningful contribution. It calls for all sectors and stakeholders to play their roles in effective implementation of departmental programmes, as contained in the 2016-17 annual performance plan. As outlined in the National Expenditure Estimates, the purpose of Vote No 33: Tourism is to promote support and growth for development and equitable competitiveness, as well as a sustainable tourism sector, enhancing its contribution to the national priorities. In striving to achieve these national priorities, the department had set 80 targets and had managed to achieve 56, which equates to 70% of the targets met in the second quarter of the

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 41 2016-17 financial year. The effects of the delays experienced in the first quarter were still felt in the second quarter.

 

Of more concern was Programme 4: Domestic Tourism where 21 targets were planned but only 11 achieved. The overall underperformance was 46,62%. Programme 4: Domestic Tourism is crucial in job creation and rural development, and underperformance is of serious concern.

 

The committee addressed issues with the department, and it is confident that the targets will be attained by the end of the financial year. The department had done a substantial amount of work in the areas where targets were not met. This will be reflected in their performance in the third quarter. The committee was pleased with the expenditure patterns, as an amount of R1 billion out of the R2 billion appropriated was spent by the end of the second quarter, as indicated in the report. This amounts to 50%.

 

The challenge experienced by South African Tourism is executing its mandate, especially with regard to increasing foreign tourist arrivals and domestic tourism performance. The private sector, as well as the airline, was invited by the

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 42 committee in an effort to facilitate travel and tourism during the 2016 festive season – a period that constitutes a peak season for this industry in the country. The congestion at the ports of entry was raised as a major challenge, particularly at the O R Tambo International Airport.

 

We also note future plans by the Department of Home Affairs in which immigration officials will provide a permanent solution. This is a good example of co-operative governance. If government could maintain this interdepartmental co-ordination in its activities, it would improve the situation in tourism. Despite challenges, the overall performance of this sector is commendable, as we witness continuous improvement in the quarterly figures. This is due to value for money, the devaluation of the rand, an economic recovery by some markets, additional facilitation centres across China, the reintroduction of direct flight routes between Brazil and China, improvements in visa processing in Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria, as well as various in-market promotional activities. This is in the wake of global terrorism activities. South Africa is viewed – or perceived – as a relatively safe destination.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 43 I thank you.

 

Debate concluded.

 

The Chief Whip of the Majority Party moved: That the Reports be adopted.

 

Declaration(s) of vote: Mr J VOS (DA): Madam Chair, last year we were informed of the approximately R50 million worth of tourism infrastructure projects that were halted due to poor management and alleged corruption - all under forensic review. This is very disappointing because these projects form part of the Social Responsibility Implementation Programme which is an Expanded Public Works Programme aimed at poverty alleviation and job creation through tourism.

 

Even more concerning is the fact that some of these projects and investigations date back to 2010. These failed projects are therefore a lost opportunity to create jobs and economic stimulus for normal South Africans, because if implemented successfully, we could have had millions of rands worth of job creation projects implemented in those rural communities.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 44 Revenue from tourism has a deep running effect on the local economy because tourism is a labour intensive industry and because most of the participants are micro to small business operators. The effect is felt quickly and directly through local spending, because for those communities that do have the potential to become successful tourism destination and are willing to commit to its ongoing development, the benefits are more than just economic.

 

In the committee, the DA pointed out that with the failure of so many projects; the department has failed to develop these tourism infrastructures in these much needed rural communities to advance job creation for the many unemployed people and to boost domestic tourism in those provinces.

 

The department must act swiftly to implement a turnaround plan to ensure that these projects are implemented with the aim of creating opportunities, especially in those communities in order to overcome the limited geographic obstacle that we are faced with.

 

The DA will be conducting oversight visits to some of these places to ascertain all of the facts and to evaluate progress.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 45 We believe that any failure by the government to deliver projects within budget and on time will stand in the way of our country achieving its goals of creating jobs for the almost nine million unemployed citizens, which brings us to today.

 

Never has the opportunity to travel been opened up to so many people so quickly. As a major tourism destination, we need to ensure that we offer attractive and exciting opportunities – whether that is for travellers or investors. To achieve economic growth in this sector, which translates to jobs and economic opportunities, the solution lies in the following: revive state tourism projects; establish destination marketing strategies and implement product development programmes.

 

I am speaking from experience because when I say that these strategies work, it is because these are the things that we are doing in the cities and towns where the DA is governing with arrival figures and infrastructure spent, reaching record levels. For an example, in the Western Cape during the month of December 2016, there was a massive 30% increase to our visitors compared to the previous year in 2015.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 46 It goes without saying that these successes must not be limited to one province only, we must expand on these strategies to the other parts of our country because given the job losses in the mining and manufacturing sectors, we need the tourism industry to keep South African working.

 

We need to address the two major obstacles to boost domestic tourism in our country and that is the limited geographic spread and affordability. We need to look at ways to make domestic tourism much more affordable to South African citizens. It is for this reason that the DA has pointed out, on several occasions, that we need to consider discounted access or free access to South African citizens into government parks, national resorts and other places managed by government so that we can entrench a travel culture amongst all South Africans. It is only through job creation and robust economic growth that we will be able to unlock opportunities for all South Africans and give life to the freedoms on which our democracy is based. Thank you. [Applause.]

 

Mr T RAWULA (EFF): The EFF rejects the report for the Portfolio Committee on Tourism on financial and non financial performance for the six months of the 2016-2017 financial

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 47 year. The performance of the department thus far shows no new thinking, no initiative and offers no significant imagination to realise the full potential of tourism in this country.

 

The performance of both the department and South African tourism was below 50% of their pre-agreed targets at the end of the second quarter. The major issues are with programme four which is far below the targets on both financial and non financial performance.

 

South African Tourism boasts that it is constantly increasing the number of graded establishments but the report indicates that their target for the number of graded establishment was not achieved by 3% with 1 321 achieved out of 1 362 plans for the quarter.

 

They also boast that, 13 new hotels joined the Star Grading System which boosted the number of graded rooms. But the reality is that, most of these graded establishments belong to a tiny minority of white people who have property and there have been very few attempts to bring emerging black players into the mainstream of the accommodation industry. This limits the real growth potential of the industry and unfairly directs

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 48 government funding to support an industry that refuses to transform.

 

The EFF wants to see the Department of Tourism and tourism South Africa take radical steps to transform the tourism industry. Support to establish tourism players should be conditional on them showing demonstrable support to emerging black operators. The EFF rejects the report. Thank you.

 

Mr M S MABIKA (NFP): House Chairperson, the NFP views the two reports tabled by the Portfolio Committee on Tourism with the sense of disquiet. We share the concern of the portfolio committee that the performance of both the department and South African Tourism was below 50% at the end of the second quarter.

 

The general downward trend of underperformance is very disappointing, particularly so since the Department of Tourism has consistently performed reasonably well over the past two decades. Once we are aware that the national and international economic climate does not have an adverse effect on tourism as a contributor to Gross Domestic Product, GDP, and such an

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 49 obstacle should not prevent a department from executing its mandate.

 

Among several failures highlighted in the report tabled here today, the NFP is particularly disappointed in the failure of the department to implement its plan to support 100 rural enterprises on mentorship, market access, business development and training. Of the 100 enterprises targeted, only 12 were achieved.

 

Such failure is completely unacceptable; our rural population is facing increasing levels of poverty and every effort must be made to arrest this slide into deepening poverty. Tourism is a perfect sustainable resource for rural job creation and entrepreneurship, yet our government is dragging its feet in facilitating the exploitation of this golden opportunity which could make a significant difference in the lives of our people.

 

Finally, the NFP agrees with the recommendations of the portfolio committee contained in the reports tabled here today. In particular, we would urge the department to take heed of the recommendation pertaining to management and

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 50 internal control processes and to tighten its oversight over South African Tourism which seems to be on a steady declining trajectory with regards to performance. The NFP supports the adoption of the reports tabled by the Portfolio Committee on Tourism. Thank you.

 

Ms L S MAKHUBELA-MASHELE (ANC): Hon members, tourism has undoubtedly supported growth and development in a competitive and a sustainable tourism sector, enhancing its contribution to national priorities. The department is appropriated for about R2 billion for each financial year which is expected to undertake all these national priorities in enhancing growth and promoting job creation with such limited resources.

 

Although the performance on some of the indictors in the first six months of 2015-2016 was slow and below target, the department is expected to meet all its targets by the end of its financial year. The national Department of Tourism‘s contribution to the economy is measured by the jobs created to the GDP revenue generated from tourism activities and is in line with the vision 2020 of the country which should be promoting sustainable growth throughout tourism products within the means that are there.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 51 South Africa is a destination of choice and many across the world still find South Africa competitive and would want to visit South Africa and come and spend. Tourism‘s contribution to GDP is about 9,4% which is about R375 billion. A total of about 1,5 million jobs are currently created within the tourism sector - which is about 10% to the total employment throughout the country.

 

Tourism relies on many sectors to achieve its targets and without those sectors playing on ball, the department will always have targets that are not met because tourism in itself is a component that has other stakeholders that rely on it or it relies on other stakeholders to achieve its targets.

 

However, when conducting our oversight in many of the provinces, we have seen that there is misalignment on tourism products and tourism projects within provincial departments, local government and the national department. We call upon the department to ensure that it works seamlessly with provincial departments to ensure that tourism realises its full potential and creates the much needed jobs that the economy needs. Thank you. [Applause.]

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 52 Motion agreed to.

 

Report on 2016-17 Quarterly (Quarter 1) and Financial Performance Report accordingly adopted (Economic Freedom Fighters dissenting).

 

Report on Quarter 2 financial and non-financial performance for the 2016-17 financial year accordingly adopted (Economic Freedom Fighters dissenting).

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Hon members, we will now come to the Subject for Discussion and debate for today, which is a motion. I would like to remind members that every time it comes to the point of motions, we always stand up and say, ―On the next sitting day of the House, my party will move ...‖. This is, then, an opportunity afforded to parties to, indeed, table the discussions that they have said they wish the House to debate.

 

It is, in most instances, political. It is a political debate, so we debate and persuade one another on the viewpoints that we have on the issues. We may agree or disagree, but we can do so in a nice way.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 53 We also want to welcome the guests in the gallery, who have come to observe this debate.

 

Today is an opportunity for us to debate what the DA had said they would ask this House to debate at its next sitting.

 

GOVERNMENT’S FAILURE TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF YOUNG SOUTH AFRICANS WITH REGARD TO EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING

 

(Subject for Discussion)

 

Mr Y CASSIM: Hon House Chair, before I begin, I would like to take this opportunity to recognise the Democratic Alliance Student Organisation, Daso, and DA Youth members who have joined us here today. [Applause.] I would also like to make a point: Were we debating an impeachment motion of President Jacob Zuma, this entire gallery would be full of bussed in ANC supporters – all 100 of them that exist in this metro. [Laughter.] [Interjections.]

 

Today, however, we are debating a lost generation. It seems that, not only has the ANC lost a generation, they have lost half of their caucus, who have not seen fit - or this topic

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 54 fitting enough - to come and debate here, today. What is most concerning is that the relevant Ministers - Ministers Buti Manamela, the Deputy Minister in the Presidency responsible for the youth; Minister Angie Motshekga, the Minister of Basic Education; Minister Lindiwe Zulu, the Minister of Small Business Development - are lost. It does seem that the ANC, as is apparent here today, has certainly lost.

 

I would like to start by posing this question: What hope is there for poor, black children in South Africa? Surely, this is the question that should have preoccupied every administration seeking to build a just society in the more than two decades since we attained liberation? Yet, today, as I address you, a black child in South Africa is still a hundred times more likely to grow up in poverty than a white child. This is no coincidence. It is the direct consequence of subsequent administrations caring more about setting up political patronage networks than caring about what hope they can give to a poor, black child in South Africa.

 

The reality is that if you had the misfortune of being a poor, black child growing up in South Africa, you would in all likelihood be one of the 50% of Grade 1 pupils who will never

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 55 write a matriculation examination. Most certainly, you would be one of the 80% of children who would receive an education that is considered to be amongst the very worst in the world – an education that will consign you to a lifetime of poverty. Even if, through sheer grit and determination, you managed to beat these odds and actually write and pass a matriculation examination, chances are that you would be part of the 75% of matriculants without a Bachelor‘s Pass.

 

Perhaps I ought to break this down into language that the ANC Members of Parliament can understand. It would be like telling you that for every eight of you, only one would make it back as a Member of Parliament - and that, perhaps, because we have to make space for a certain Brian Molefe. [Laughter.] These would be the odds that you are giving to young South Africans in this country, and I warn you that if you continue taking our generation for granted, this is going to be your reality. One out of only eight of you will return to this House – and no, I‘m not looking at you, Minister Blade Nzimande. [Interjections.]

 

It is therefore no coincidence that young, black South Africans face unemployment levels of over 60%, or that over

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 56 3 million South Africans are referred to as ―Neets‖ - not in education, employment or training. It is certainly no coincidence that over 9 million South Africans are unemployed. These are the lost generation – the children who have long been forsaken and forgotten without hope of succeeding in a just society; the youth of this country who have been set up to fail, never to make it out of poverty.

 

The DA believes that rescuing the lost generation is our greatest challenge. It is a challenge that the ANC-led government refuses to face. This is why, since the advent of the DA-led government in the Western Cape, we have broken new ground, in that we have the highest retention rates and Bachelor‘s Pass rates in the country. We have cared about what hopes we can give to a poor, black child in this county. This is why the pass rate for the most disadvantaged schools in the province has improved to 75%. It was 57% when the DA took over from the ANC, in 2009. Indeed, the Western Cape‘s top learner in Physical Science hails from Phundulwazi Secondary School in Phillipi, a disadvantaged school. It is under a DA-led government that this learner achieved 100% for Physical Science.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 57 With a DA-led government in 2019, opening opportunities for young South Africans and preparing them for these opportunities will be our greatest focus. We will join hands with the thousands of truly committed teachers and principals to turn our schools around. Whilst protecting each teacher‘s right to strike, we will limit this right to ensure a minimum core of teaching hours. We will also ensure that unions do not encroach on the day-to-day running of education departments.

 

We will invest in the training of existing teachers and recruit more teachers with excellent skills, particularly in Mathematics and Science. We will explore the feasibility of bringing back teacher training colleges, which the ANC shut down; and we will make it easier for excellent teachers from abroad to help plug skills gaps in our education system.

 

We will empower parents through a voucher system and we will seek to create a national education inspectorate to ensure quality. We will create Collaboration Schools, as we have done here, in the Western Cape. We will also incentivise schools to retain learners so that they do not join the ranks of the lost generation.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 58 We will do all this, and more, because a just society will never stomach producing a lost generation. [Applause.]

 

Ms T MAHAMBEHLALA: House Chairperson, hon members, guests in the gallery, I greet you. I wish to remind hon members of the first speech in this House by our liberation stalwart, former President Nelson Mandela, in which he said:

 

The youth of our country are a valued possession of our nation. Without them, there can be no Reconstruction and Development Programme. Without them, there can be no future.

 

The ANC has always placed the youth right at the centre of this country‘s trajectory. At the heart of this nation‘s reconfiguration and development is the youth, our future. It can only be in an alternative state which relies on alternative facts where our youth are defined as ―a lost generation‖. Yes, there are several challenges that our youth face because of the structural inequalities in our country. Let me pause here to explain this lost-generation jibe.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 59 The concept of a lost generation is a Western one. It was a phrase coined by Gertrude Stein, who, after the First World War, referred to expatriates who returned after the war as being a desperate, directionless, unemployable mass of youth who see no future for themselves. Later, Ernest Hemingway added that the Lost Generation was a hard-drinking, fastliving set of disillusioned young expatriates. This generation was lost in the sense that its inherited values were no longer relevant in the post-war world. These were youth who suffered psychological and physical wounds as a result of war.

 

Is this how you define the youth of this country, hon Cassim? [Interjections.] To these hon members, I say I am reminded of Franz Fanon, who said: ―Each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfil it, or betray it.‖

 

Fellow South Africans, from the generations of 1944 and 1976 to the Fallists and to date, the South African youth has been able to define its mission and purpose. Moreover, this administration of President Zuma is actively confronting the legacy of apartheid, especially in so far as the youth are concerned.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 60 Our National Youth Development Agency, NYDA, has several interventions. Some of them will sound familiar to you because the hon Maimane has plagarised these programmes in your socalled rescue plan for your lost generation. For instance, in Johannesburg, we have the 32-year-old Shadreck Sithole. After receiving a grant of just under R44 000 from the NYDA, he built a company called Silverback World Infrastructure, a 100% black-owned, youth company with 27 employees. Silverback offers many services. Chief among those is network engineering. This involves IT support, network design and cybersecurity, as well as the rolling out of fibre cables, which enhances Internet quality. Silverback has been operating for over three years and has listed multinational companies as its clients.

 

I am also certain that this administration has recognised that data costs are a barrier in a world that is fast becoming ICTintensive. There is certainly a commitment to ensure that the price of data falls. Had you not walked out of the President‘s state of the nation address, you would have picked this up. [Interjections.] [Applause.]

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 61 In Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, 34-year-old Sandile Dube approached the NYDA. He was given just under R50 000. Today, he runs a manufacturing business. His company, Sentifique Kreations, makes leather handbags and other leather products quite successfully.

 

Then there is Umtata-born Siya Xusa, our own rocket scientist, who has a planet named after him. Siya won a gold medal at the 2006 Eskom Expo for Young Sciencists when he was still in high school. Today, he has a planet named after him, 23182 Siyaxusa, in the main asteroid belt next to Jupiter. You are the lost generation. [Applause.] [Interjections.]

 

According to Statistics SA, the Western Cape recorded the largest increase in unemployment in the first and second quarters of 2016. During this period, 49 000 people were added to the unemployment register. In contrast, the provinces you have labelled as ―premier league‖ provinces, the Free State and Mpumalanga, recorded the largest decrease, in the same period. By way of further amplification, between the first and second quarters of 20i6, the largest increase observed in the metropolitan municipalities‘ unemployment rate was here, in the city of Cape Town. During the same period, the city of

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 62 Johannesburg, under the stewardship of Cde Parks Tau, recorded the largest decrease in the expanded unemployment rate. It is one thing to characterise a problem in society. It is quite another thing to eradicate a problem.

 

There is an age-old adage: Those who live in glass houses shouldn‘t throw stones. I would urge DA members to take heed of this because I find it mind-boggling that their party that is aiding the rich gentrification of Woodstock and Sea Point can accuse our organisation of creating a lost generation. Perhaps, in an alternative universe, where you strip and dehumanise the lived experience of other humans, their offspring do not suffer. In this nation, however, that, in itself, is the creation of a lost generation.

 

I would like to point out the opportunism from this side of the House. They are desperate to appear as people who champion the interests of blacks, and the youth, in particular. We know all too well, however, what happens beneath their veneer.

 

President Zuma has correctly set Human Rights Day as a day during which we commemorate the legacy of Steve Biko. Steve Biko had a very clear position on white liberals, pretty

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 63 similar to that of James Baldwin. In fact, James Baldwin once said:

 

Everywhere I have been in this country, white people think race relations are excellent. Liberals are looking for alleviation, a protection of their own consciousness. Liberals cannot be fake and be heroic too.

 

In other words from James Baldwin that Mr Maimane quoted in his pseudo state of the nation address, I would like to say to you, the hon members on this side, you cannot be fake and a hero at the same time.

 

Similarly, your leader cannot be a proxy of white monopoly capital and also mushroom as a champion of the poor and disenfranchised. In their wisdom, the 1944 generation of the youth league warned us of your type, the so-called trustee and trusteeship. Hon members, like O R Tambo and Anton Lembede, defined trustees as pawns of white supremacy. As the 1944 ANC Youth League Manifesto put it, the role of trustees is to mislead the world and make it believe that they are helping most South Africans. In fact, they are aiding white supremacists and aggregate this nation‘s wealth to themselves.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 64

 

Hon Steenhuisen, before I answer where I stay, you must tell South Africans why you left the KwaZulu-Natal legislature before your term of office could expire.

 

Hon MEMBERS: Why? Why?

 

Ms T MAHAMBEHLALA: Tell them! [Interjections.]

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Madam House Chairperson ...

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order! Hon Mahambehlala, can you take a seat? Order, hon members!

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: House Chairperson, I am happy to answer the question. I left the KwaZulu-Natal legislature because I got elected to the National Assembly! [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order! Hon member, order! Order!

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 65 The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: She may be referring to the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, in which case ...

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order, hon Steenhuisen ...

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: [Inaudible.] ... the members in your benches ...

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Hon Steenhuisen! Hon Steenhuisen!

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: ... including some sweetheart meetings that have been coming out of ... [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order, hon members! It is a Rule that when a member is asked a question, you allow the Chair to ask the member whether he or she will be able to answer. [Interjections.] Order, hon member! Order! [Interjections.] Hon members, can we allow the hon Mahambehlala to proceed? [Interjections.]

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 66 Ms T MAHAMBEHLALA: The ANC initiated a grant programme, called Vulindlel‘ eJozi, in partnership with the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, aimed at training young people to access employment. The DA-led government stooge, Mr Herman Mashaba, cancelled that initiative in the City of Johannesburg. The DA also cancelled Jozi My Beginning, which formed part of the Jozi@Work programme. This was aimed at funding local talent with innovative business ideas that could benefit the public and enrich the lives of the local residents. You are the embodiment of a lost generation.

 

To truly reconfigure our economy, we need not be apologetic, of course, as we have come to learn that apologetic conduct falls in the parlance of Pinky and the Brain – also known as Julius and Floyd. It is only a matter of time before they apologise for endorsing the egocentric Mr Mashaba.

 

Ms H O HLOPHE: On a point of order, House Chair ...

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order, hon member.

 

Ms H O HLOPHE: ... who are ―Julius and Floyd‖, here?

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 67 The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Hon member, order!

 

Ms H O HLOPHE: Who are ―Julius and Floyd‖, here?

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order, hon member! Order!

 

Ms T MAHAMBEHLALA: Pinky and Brain.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order, hon member! Order! You asked for a point of order. You should allow me to take your point of order. [Interjections.]

 

Ms H O HLOPHE: Chair ...

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Hon Mahambehlala, can you take your seat?

 

Ms H O HLOPHE: Chair ...

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): What was your point of order?

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 68 Ms H O HLOPHE: Chair, I want to check: Who are ―Floyd‖ and ―Julius‖ in this House? This Mahambehlala must not lala [sleep] here.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Hon member, can you please take your seat?

 

Ms N V MENTE: House Chairperson, on a point of order: Is it parliamentary to refer to members of this House as the cartoon characters, Pinky and Brain? If not, could you please ask the member to withdraw that statement?

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Thank you. Hon member Mahambehlala, were you referring to any member of this House?

 

Ms T MAHAMBEHLALA: House Chairperson, I don‘t watch cartoons, so I don‘t know what she is referring to. [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Were you referring to members of this House?

 

Ms T MAHAMBEHLALA: No. No. [Interjections.] No, I was not.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 69 The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Thank you. Hon Mente?

 

Ms N V MENTE: House Chair, the member at the podium clearly defined Pinky and the Brain. Then she went on to say, ―Julius and Floyd‖. They are not cartoons. She must withdraw that. [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Hon member Mahamehlala, I have asked you and you said you were not referring to any member of the House. [Interjections.] However, in keeping with our Rules, can I ask that we not make inferences or impugn the character of members? [Interjections.]

 

Hon MEMBERS: She must withdraw!

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order, hon members!

 

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES RESPONSIBLE FOR JUSTICE AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT (Mr J H Jeffrey): House Chair ...

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order, I was still speaking to the hon member at the podium. [Interjections.] Hon

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 70 member, in terms of our Rules, we cannot impugn the dignity of members of this House. I asked whether you had made a reference to members of the House and you said you had not. [Interjections.] A point of order has been raised by other members that, in their understanding, that‘s what you did. I will consult the Hansard and come back and rule on this matter. [Interjections.]

 

Order, hon members! Can I please ask that we be in order? We have all agreed this is a political debate. Let‘s conduct it in a manner that is, indeed, honourable. The hon Jeffrey?

 

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES RESPONSIBLE FOR JUSTICE AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT (Mr J H Jeffrey): House Chair, when you consider the matter, could you take into account that it is common knowledge that former President Nelson Mandela referred to Tony Leon as ―Mickey Mouse‖? [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order, hon member!

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 71 The DEPUTY MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES RESPONSIBLE FOR JUSTICE AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT (Mr J H Jeffrey): It is common cause that ...

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order! I will actually be guided by the Rules of this House in my consideration of the matter. [Interjections.] Can I close ...? Hon member, are you rising on the same point? [Interjections.] Can I please ... order! Can I please ask you to allow the Chair to look at this matter and come back to the House?

 

Mr M M DLAMINI: House Chair, I must rise on the same point of order.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Is it a new point of order?

 

Mr M M DLAMINI: No, no, no. It‘s on the same matter. It‘s critical, Chairperson. [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order, hon member!

 

Mr M M DLAMINI: Yes, but can I speak now? Please?

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 72 The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Can I ask you to hold on a bit?

 

Mr M M DLAMINI: I am asking you nicely.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Can I ask you to hold on, because two of your members have raised an issue. I have said I would look at the matter, because I asked the hon member in front of you and she said, ―No‖. The other member did say, in her own view, this was a clear reference to members of this House. I asked you to allow me, as the Chair, to reflect, in terms of the Rule and by looking at the speech in the Hansard, on what the member actually said, and come back to the House. So, if it‘s still on that matter, I would ask you to take your seat. Thank you.

 

Mr M M DLAMINI: No, Chairperson, I have already risen on a point of order. [Interjections.] Can you allow me to speak?

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): No, hon member. It is on the same point.

 

Mr M M DLAMINI: No, no, no. I am asking nicely, Chairperson.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 73 The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Is it a different point of order?

 

Mr M M DLAMINI: No, it‘s the same point, but I want to deal with the issue, Chairperson, because when people start calling others names and then deny it, it‘s going to become very dangerous because ... [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Hon member ...

 

Mr M M DLAMINI: ... and then, we‘ll keep on saying, ―Refer to the Hansard.‖

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Hon member ...

 

Mr M M DLAMINI: We have got the capacity to ...

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Hon member, will you please take your seat?

 

Mr M M DLAMINI: ... so, she must not do that.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 74 The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Can you please take your seat?

 

Mr M M DLAMINI: We are just warning you.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Can you take your seat? You cannot warn any member. [Interjections.] Hon member, can you take your seat! [Interjections.] I have said I will come back on this matter. Furthermore, can you please allow the Chair to rule? Hon Steenhuisen?

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: House Chair, may I address you in terms of Rule 84? It is in response to what the hon Deputy Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Responsible for Justice and Constitutional Development said. When you are considering it, you ought to consider history in its fullest sense. The insult was directed at a political party. He said that the honourable Leon had a Mickey Mouse party, to which the honourable Leon replied that he had a Goofy government. It was parties, not persons.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Hon member, hon members, I realise that this debate is really hotting up, but

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 75 can you please allow us to rule in terms of our Rules in the consideration of the matter? Hon Mahambehlala, you may conclude your speech. [Interjections.]

 

Ms T MAHAMBEHLALA: House Chair, in conclusion, it is little wonder that the hon Cassim and his organisation find it hard to condemn white monopoly for their egregious conduct in the finance sector; or, at the very least, to commend the Competition Commission for its dedication to rid our economy of the vestiges of apartheid. Thank you very much. [Interjections.] [Applause.]

 

Mr M N PAULSEN: Hon Chairperson, we can‘t expect the lost ANC to recognise the lost generation. South Africa is at a crossroads. South African youth, black youth, who should be the bedrock of our socioeconomic life are trapped in a system that seeks their destruction. At school, they have to face the daily dehumanisation of having to study under trees in the Eastern Cape, or having to study without textbooks in Limpopo, or of having unqualified teachers teaching them in KwaZulu-Natal.

 

At university, for those who are lucky enough to access these institutions have to put up with systems that do not seek to build them into confident and competent human beings, rather, they are

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 76 seen as cash cows for the universities and get kicked out when they can no longer afford to pay. In the workplace, for those who are lucky enough to work, they face daily struggles of dehumanising exploitation with minimal pay. South African youth are the most vulnerable to unemployment, to diseases and to crime because the ANC government has not presented and implemented any vision for ensuring full participation of young people in the economy.

 

As things stand, young people are loitering on because they are unemployed and mostly unemployable. Most are in jail because the economic system would not have them anywhere else. In this very wicked system it is okay for the Department of Correctional Services to use R9,8 billion per year to keep mostly young black prisoners behind bars instead of investing in comprehensive development of our young people to ensure that they do not resort to crime.

 

According to Statistics SA‘s quarterly labour survey released early in February, young people aged between 15 and 34 years are the most vulnerable in the labour market with unemployment rate of 37,1%, which is 10,6% each point above the national average. Education is the ultimate decider of whether one is employed or not. Those with education levels of less than matric contribute to almost 60% of the unemployed with unemployment rate of 31,2%. On the other hand, the unemployment rate among graduates is 7%. So, what this says is that

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 77 the ANC‘s continuing neglect of education threatens the very basis for the future of this country.

 

The EFF has always been clear about what needs to be done to fully incorporate young people to the economic life of this country. We need the state to provide free quality decolonised education which will break the intergenerational colonial curse condemning black people to a lifetime of glorified slavery. Young black people, with full access to quality education, will have no incentive to resort to crime and will contribute immensely to the development of our country. We need to reopen teaching and nursing colleges which were foolishly closed down by this corrupt ANC. This will ensure that from this basic level, our education system is of good enough quality. This will also ensure that rural young people have access to good quality health care provided by properly trained nurses.

 

We cannot do all these things if we continue being led by the corrupt old men who knows nothing about contemporary youth challenges. The EFF is the only party that offers visionary alternatives for the full absorption of young people to the economy. Thank you very much, Chairperson.

 

Mr M HLENGWA: Hon House Chairperson, in the final analysis all these niceties may be said about development, but they have not resulted in the alleviation of the plight of young people.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 78 Unemployment remains high at 27,2%, to an extent it is at 35%. So, you can come here and sing your praises, but in the final analysis jobs continue to be lost and young people continue to be jobless.

 

Why is this happening? Maybe let us take this example. On average 1000 0000 learners enter Grade 1 and about 300 000 of them at the end of 12 years reach Grade 12. On average 500 000 of them pass, but in fact that pass not more than 200 000 gainfully make it onwards to higher education. Thus, after 12 years every year we lose 800 000 young people to poverty, hopelessness and lack of opportunity.

 

Why is it that? Currently, we have 446 schools which need to be replaced because they have mud constructions; 514 schools also need sanitation and need basic toilets; 714 have no electricity; 1069 are without water; 4050 have no sports facilities; 13717 are without computer centres; 14989 are without libraries; 15368 require multipurpose centres; 15435 have no nutrition centres; 16516 are without administration centres; and 18258 are without laboratories.

 

The question then is ... [Interjections.]

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 79 Mr M L W FILTANE: Chair, are all these happening under the ANC rue?

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order! Hon member, do you want to ask a question? Hon Hlengwa, continue with your speech.

 

Mr M HLENGWA: This is the situation South Africa is faced with. Young people are given no opportunities. Yes, strides may have been made that is all good and well, but ultimately when you‘ve young people who are not gainfully employed, where there is a mismatch in terms of what we are producing in our technical and vocational education and training, Tvet, colleges, and not the market needs, that tells us that something is fundamentally wrong.

 

We urge everybody on the benches of the ANC not to take criticism negatively. Take the merit that it deserves because young people are just desperate and you are failing them day in and day out.

 

Let me conclude by answering the question why the ANC is actually giving young people this kind of education. Well,

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 80 this is a desperate attempt of killing the quality of education deliberately designed to keep schools underresourced in an attempt to consolidate a desperate move voter fodder through the creation of a culture of dependency. It is a direct result of a strategic ploy on the part of the ANC government to hold young South Africans to ransom. Guys, really, shape up or ship out. You can‘t continue like this.

 

IsiZulu: Nidlala ngabantu abasha. Niyasixhaphaza. Akukwazi ukuqhubeka kanjena. Uma sikhuluma iqiniso, [Honestly speaking] nithi niwuhulumeni ngempela uma nenza kanje? Hayi...

 

English: ... guys, take us serious. We cannot continue like this. [Applause.]

 

Mr N M KHUBISA: House Chairperson, today, we are essentially debating the state of our youth in our country and perhaps we will take a minute or two to reflect on how to map the way forward for our nation's most precious resource, which is our youth.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 81 Statistics suggests that youth unemployment in our country averaged 51,14% from 2013 up to 2016. Currently, our national youth unemployment rate stands at 54,2% compared to our national unemployment rate which is at 26,5% which clearly shows that unemployment is prevalent amongst our young people. We can argue about ideology, but we cannot argue with figures and facts. Unfortunately, these figures tell a sad story. These figures tell us loud and clear that we are standing at the edge of abyss where the gap between the haves and the have-nots is bound to increase and that government is indeed failing to improve the lives of the majority of our youth.

 

On the other hand, recently, Statistics SA reported that the majority of our young people aged between 20 and 34 in South Africa have a higher level of education than their parents. The NFP believes that this is a fact that deserves to be acknowledged. However, to contextualise this achievement we also consider the past generations of black South Africans who were subjected to colonial and Verwoerdian education systems which were designed to prevent black South Africans from attaining meaningful education. The fact that our young people are now more educated than the previous generations does, however, not automatically mean that the government has

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 82 succeeded in improving the lives of our young people through education. Our education is grappling with the problems of poorly qualified educators that have to teach under crumbling infrastructure and lack of resources. Our students are performing poorly in mathematics, science and reading.

 

According to the World Economic Forum's Global Information Technology Report 2014, South Africa ranks 144 out of 148 in terms of the quality of maths and science education, which is a statistic which we are not proud of.

 

Our education system has an unacceptably high dropout rate which severely undermines skill building and employability amongst our young people. To compound the problems associated with the high dropout rate, our Tvet colleges that should be providing vocational and practical skills training to those who dropout, are not functioning near the maximum capacity. Community colleges still have to define their role as well because these are the colleges that should be providing the needs of the local communities.

 

Looking at the way forward, the NFP believes that government intervention is required to address youth unemployment

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 83 indirectly at the level of policy to stimulate economic growth, and directly to sustainable Public Works projects. [Time expired.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Thank you, hon member. Hon Bucwa? Hon members, this is her maiden speech so we need to be kind in our howling and I‘m sure she will also be kind in not throwing stones. Thank you very much. Over to you, hon member.

 

Ms H BUCWA: Thank you very much, Madam Chairperson. As a young, black South African I feel obligated to remind us about the purpose of this debate. A few days ago I had a conversation with Shireen Africandor, who like me had been raised by a father who never had the opportunity to attend a university. Our fathers, like many fathers in the Eastern Cape, committed to a life of hard work so that we can have a different lifestyle. Understanding her father‘s commitment to better her life, she surpassed all expectations when she was accepted at the University of the Free State. She was meant to become the first in her family to attend a university. Today she sits at home, idle, with nothing more than a matric certificate and a university acceptance. She is one of the

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 84 many silenced, hopeless, rejected voices of the lost generation. She is part of the 53 000 unsuccessful applicants of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS. I am moved to share the words of W B Yeats that state:

 

But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

 

These are the words echoed by my fellow young South Africans. These are the words of a generation whose dreams have been denied; whose hope has been diminished; whose trust has been broken; whose talents have been crippled. These are indeed the words of a lost generation – a generation of born-frees that are victim to two decades of compounding government corruption and greed. This is a lost generation whose government has turned its back on its people.

 

When the young people of South Africa and Sharpeville stood tall, as you like to remind us, and sacrificed their lives, they believed they were doing so for the greater good of South Africa, for democracy, education and opportunity. If they were to see this government today they would cringe in their graves

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 85 because this government is no longer a self-less government. Instead, it has turned its back on its people and its young people.

 

Today we find ourselves with a government that is scared of its own young people. That is why they will bring us 40-yearolds to this stage instead of people my age. We find ourselves with a government that has leaders ... [Applause.] ... who loot and steal from the people; a government that fails to eradicate the social ills in our communities; a government that is self-serving, suppressive and refuses to be corrected. Essentially, we find ourselves with a government that has failed young people.

 

The DA believes that the youth should be encouraged to acquire an education with the necessary support and structures that will ensure not only access but success in institutions of higher learning. Our reality is that of a collapsing basic education system that fails to teach our children to be critical thinkers. We are taught just to get by. We are taught to look for jobs and not to create jobs. This is a lost generation.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 86 In the Eastern Cape, which remains one of the poorest provinces in the country, my young brothers and sisters ought to wake up in the early mornings and walk to school. They are subjected to inhumane conditions. The conditions which they study under are not conducive to a sustainable learning environment. The lives of young people have not been improved. This indeed is our lost generation where we have three million South Africans under the age of 25 – who by the way are my age – who are mainly black, that are not in education, employment or training. They have been left behind. Madam, they are a lost generation.

 

The Department of Higher Education and Training has set a target of merely one million to enter institutions of higher learning. What has happened to the rest? Where are they in the system? Why have they been excluded? They are indeed a lost generation.

 

In our Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Tvet, colleges, only 41% of the candidates that sat for the N2 examination passed. In the National Certificate Vocational, NCV, only 10% of our public Tvet colleges managed to get an average of 60%. Many students today sit at home with no

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 87 certificates. What ought they to do? After they surpassed so many obstacles they are still not given the opportunity to get a job or employment.

 

If we are to change this it is clear that there must be a change in governance. We ought to have leaders that put the people first. It is the DA‘s mission to rescue this lost generation; to create a better future for all South Africans, not only those who are connected. We will create a free and fair society with equal opportunities for all because it is this generation, my generation, that will change the status quo. It is my generation that will successfully eradicate the social ills that still prevail in society. We will not allow ourselves to be divided by race, gender or religion but instead we will be unified because we understand that we are all fellow human beings. It is this generation that will become the beacon of hope to the young developing world because you as adults have failed to provide that for us. [Applause.]

 

The DA will rescue this lost generation and ultimately rescue this country by creating diverse education, training and internship options. We will introduce a well-expanded NSFAS

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 88 through which the poorest students will be comprehensively supported and the missing middle will receive support proportional to their family income. NSFAS does not do that. The DA will bring back teacher-training colleges to ensure that we have the best skilled teachers in our institutions. The DA will offer a year of free technical vocational training to all matrics because we believe that no-one ought to be left behind. [Applause.]

 

As we continue with our daily business and as we squabble in this House, let us be reminded of Shireen who needs us to ensure that she is able to further her education that she has worked hard for and dreamed of. Let us be reminded of these young people that have placed their dreams beneath our feet, and as such let us tread softly because we tread on the dreams of a lost generation. [Applause.]

 

Mr N L S KWANKWA: Hon House Chair, ...

 

IsiXhosa: ... basaqhwaba ke siza kulilinda nexesha lam.

 

English:

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 89 In other words, they are calling this generation a generation betrayed.

 

IsiXhosa: ... amasela. Bangazama abahloniphekileyo uManamela noLuzipo ukuzithethelela kodwa soze siyeke ukutsho.

 

English: Former President Woodrow Wilson once said at Princeton University in 1907 that:

 

We live in an age disturbed, confused, bewildered, afraid of its own forces, in search not merely of its road but even of its direction. There are many voices of counsel, but few voices of vision; there is much excitement and feverish activity, but little concert of thoughtful purpose. We are distressed by our own ungoverned, undirected energies and do many things, but nothing long.

 

I say to you, the ruling party, it is your duty to find yourselves as they say.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 90 Last night the Minister and Deputy Minister of Finance made a commitment to the funding of skills development as an input towards growing and transforming our economy. Naturally this creates an expectation that in tomorrow‘s Budget Speech they will announce bold steps to address the funding shortfall in our higher education. Minister, we are waiting.

 

Fellow South Africans, statistics have already been cited by previous speakers about deliberate government failure to provide for the people of South Africa, in particular the youth. To regurgitate these statistics would be an exercise in intellectual laziness.

 

However, that being said, the challenges facing South Africa at the moment such as youth unemployment; poor education and training; and alcohol and drug abuse, are not just a problem for government alone. All stakeholders, including the private sector, have an important role to play in helping to find solutions to these problems.

 

However, we should pose a more fundamental question. Does our education system provide the youth with educational experiences and skills that equip them with the necessary

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 91 tools they need to understand and impact on what is happening in the world around them and more importantly, in the African continent?

 

We should use our education system as a tool to search not only for our road but also for our direction. In other words, we should develop an overarching national narrative not only on education but on all matters of national importance.

 

For instance, as the biggest and most sophisticated economy in Africa, we should be producing graduates that contribute to Africa‘s development. For instance, Africa is battling with energy shortages and yet in the same continent we have countries like Guinea that has enormous hydropower potential due to it being the wettest country in West Africa with an average rainfall at 4 300 milliliters a year. In fact, with all this rainfall the people of Guinea do not have reasonable access to improved water sources.

 

This means we should be producing young intellectuals that also seek to ensure that our natural resource endowment and booms in Africa do not only serve as a catalyst for economic

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 92 growth but also serves as catalysts for socioeconomic development in the continent.

 

We need to arm young people through mentorship portals with skills they require to be economically active. Online portals on mentorship, leadership, life skills, among others, would empower the youth with the relevant knowledge.

 

IsiXhosa: Masiyekeni ukulwa koko sizeni nemfundo eza kunceda abantu. Amasela.

 

Adv A D ALBERTS: Hon Chairperson, ...

 

The MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Hon Chair, my apologies to hon Alberts. On a point of order: The hon member who has just left the podium has twice referred to ―amasela‖. I don‘t know what it means. [Interjections.] I asked hon Nkwinti and I ...

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T DIDIZA): Order, hon members!!! Can we allow the hon member to raise a point of order?

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 93 The MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: I asked hon Nkwinti and I am told he is referring to members on this side of the House as thieves. [Interjections.] I am not a thief and if the hon Kwankwa knows who is a thief, could he please give us the names and also give it to the police? I am certainly not one and I object to that offensive referral, in terms of the Rules. Thank you.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T DIDIZA): Hon Kwankwa, did you refer to any member in the House?

 

Mr N L S KWANKWA: Well, I did not refer to anyone. I just said la masela [these thieves]. [Interjections.] I did not say the ANC, the DA or the opposition la masela [these thieves]. I just said la masela [these thieves]. So, what is there to withdraw? [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T DIDIZA): Hon member, take your seat. I will refer to Hansard, as with regard to another matter and come back to the House.

 

Adv A D W ALBERTS: Hon Chairperson, while developed states are struggling with an aging population and have to deal with the

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 94 complex problems of immigration to ensure the continuity of a younger work force, South Africa is blessed with what is called a demographic dividend. This basically means that, at this stage of the country‘s history, we have a large pool of young people that, should they be employed, will play a significant role in creating economic prosperity for all South Africans.

 

However, this is the gist of the problem that South Africa is facing. For most of these young people, jobs do not exist. So, while the country could have enjoyed the blessing of its demographic dividend with massive economic growth, it is now facing the curse of massive unemployment, civil unrest and political instability. In short, it is very clear that the ANC‘s economic policies have failed, relegating young South Africans of all races to a life of unemployment, hopelessness and extreme frustration.

 

Afrikaans: As ‘n mens eqter die ANC-reqerinq vra waarom hierdie situasie bestaan, is hulle vinniq om te antwoord dat dit eksterne faktore is wat dit veroorsaak. Die fout lê by die internasionale ekonomie en wit ekonomiekapitaal. Ek het nog

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 95 nie een keer van ‘n ANC-Minister of direkteur-generaal gehoor dat hulle eie beleid wel tekortkominge het nie. Wanneer ons die betrokke Ministers en hulle departemente uitvra oor interne tekortkominge, word dit eenvoudig ontken dat daar foute is. Dis altyd die internasionale ekonomie, interne markfoutlyne en wit ekonomiekapitaal wat die skuld dra en dit verdien dan ‘n verskerpte weergawe van die bestaande ANC ekonomiese beleid.

 

English: There exists ample evidence that the ANC government has failed young South Africans. The private industry is firstly, creating fewer jobs than the public sector. Industrial policy is not energising the economy. The ANC is more interested in the redistribution of assets in a shrinking economy than growing it. More people are becoming dependent on social grants. The basic education system has failed spectacularly in preparing young people for the challenges of a globalised economy and continues to do so. Tomorrow, we will probably see the ANC‘s solution to this conundrum by the increased taxation of the already overburdened taxpayers, thus depressing and harming the economy even further.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 96 Afrikaans: Daar is dus geen twyfel nie. Die grootste rede waarom daar tans nie hoop vir die jongmense van Suid-Afrika is nie, is te vinde in die ANC se swak ekonomiese beleid, en onvermoë om foute te erken waar hulle dit maak en die nodige aanpassings te maak. Die situasie sal ongelukkig nie verander, totdat die ANC vervang word deur ‗n toekomstige koalisieregering op nasionale en provinsiale vlak nie. Daardie proses is alreeds in verskeie stede aan die gang en sal voortgesit word tydens die verkiesing in 2019. Dankie.

 

Mr W M MADISHA: Hon Chairperson, about our youth, the late Mandela said: ―There can be no keener revelation of a society‘s soul than the way in which it treats its children.‖

 

Despite continual protestations by the opposition and millions of South Africans, the ANC and its alliance partners have created a perfect storm and Cope says to them firstly, you have mismanaged the economy so that it now borders between stagnation and recession and cannot attract investment or grow employment. Unemployment stands at minus or plus 40%, contrary to what the ANC says. They always say 25% or 27% and that is not scientific.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 97 Secondly, we say that you have created a failing and incapable state, wrecked by ineptitude, gross indifference and rampant corruption.

 

Thirdly, we say that the nation is now faced with a failing basic education system that is destroyed by you not having proper planning. That is a major problem for the people of our country.

 

The immorality of the ANC and its bad governance of the state are clearly mirrored in the way that it has failed our nation‘s children and their future.

 

Go to, if I have to give examples, Vhembe in Limpopo today, to Bhisho in the Eastern Cape, to Botshabelo in the Free State and you will find that there are serious problems where our children do not have books and they have been in the streets both yesterday and today. We say that the people of South Africa cannot take this kind of thing. We call on them to rise and deal with problem that we face.

 

I must say that we at least agree with the Deputy Minister of Finance when he indicates: ―Simply put, without growth,

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 98 transformation will make us poorer; without transformation, growth will exacerbate inequality, which will make the growth itself unsustainable‖.

 

Cope agrees with the Deputy Minister. I want to repeat that what we need is a national obsession with inclusive growth that will grow ... [Time expired.] The ANC has failed. [Interjections.] Thank you.

 

MS L S MAKHUBELA-MASHELE: Hon members, allow me to remind South Africans this afternoon, that, to date over 1,7 million South Africans has joined the ranks of the middle class. These are young professionals, artisans and a well skilled force that is much needed by the economy.

 

Majority of this population of the middle class strata are black middle class, who benefited from the National Skills Fund, NSF. The NSF is government vehicle to educate and skill the youth and labour force of the country. What we should be discussing this afternoon is to call upon private sector to come on board and absorb these qualified young people into formal and full employment.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 99 We should call upon the private sector to open their doors, so that artisan learners can get exposure or experiential learning in order to qualify as full competent tradesmen and tradeswomen.

 

The role of government is to make sound policy and regulations for the private sector to flourish and it is never to create employment. Government cannot be the main employer in a mixed economy system.

 

What I do not hear form the DA is concrete proposals on attaining the mission of government towards the country‘s Vision 2030. I also do not hear them making a clarion call on private sector to absorb and employ the skilled workforce that is being produced by our institutions of higher learning.

 

All of us in this house are representing our constituencies as public representatives and our role in our constituencies is to channel the youth to programmes designed to empower and develop them.

 

Our role is never to label them as the lost generation. The symbolism of a lost generation leaves a bitter taste and can

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 100 discourage young people who have failed once or twice in their quest to stand on their two feet and construct a bright future. Ours is to encourage the young generation to see a brighter tomorrow.

 

The youth of this country is the future of South Africa, which must be empowered to realize their full potential and understand their roles and responsibilities in contributing towards a meaningfully and a prosperous South Africa.

 

The ANC-led government, has established a wide range of support programmes and strategies to empower the youth in various sectors, and millions of South Africans are benefiting from these programmes.

 

To deliver to the NDP target of producing 30 000 young artisans per annum, by 2030, our government has taken various initiatives to achieve this goal.

 

Allow me to give you facts, and for those who are most educated would say, based on empirical evidence, about R175 million from the NSF was allocated to Transnet to train over 1 000 artisans, over three years. Transnet leveraged on

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 101 its existing capabilities and facilities to ensure an increased number of qualified artisans.

 

Training is delivered at 18 centres across the country, which when you are conducting oversight you should go and see for yourself first-hand information of a government of the ANC that is delivering on its goal and its mandates.

 

To date, our government has allocated millions and millions to Denel, South African Airways, SAA, and Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, PRASA, to train young people on artisanal training, technical skills, and civil engineering and ensure that we produce a workforce that is much needed by the economy. I am not thumb-sucking these figures, and they are there in black and white, for all of you to see.

 

Mr Cassim, ask your colleagues, during constituency period to go through the length and breadth of the country, go to these institutions and check for yourself. These are government programmes that are geared at empowering young people that are there and are working for the people.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 102 Let me give you the statistics, absorption rate on artisans by the industry and self-employment can be tracked to over 79% of artisans that have been absorbed and that have find meaningful employment since the inception of the programmes.

 

Two new universities are in operation and functioning in our country. These universities are vehicles that transform, educate and professionalise young people. This is a government in sync with its youth population and its developmental agenda.

 

The ANC government continues to invest in the South African child and particularly the youth of the country. How then do you turn a blind eye on so many initiatives and structured programmes tailor-made to benefit the youth?

 

University head count and warm bodies, is over a million across the length and breadth of the country. Higher education and training, has been structured and tailored to meet the demands of the economy. The question is: what stops the industries and private sector to absorb these graduates and artisans into the mainstream economy and full employment?

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 103 Recent developments, tells us how the banks and monopoly have colluded to weaken our currency and stifle economic growth. How do you explain the number of graduates and highly skilled young people who are finding it difficult to find employment after completing their higher education and training, despite the fact that they are trained in industry demanding fields?

 

In conclusion, the same monopoly capital that has worked against our currencies and weakened our rand, are working against the economy and ensuring that our young people are not absorbed into the mainstream economy and aren‘t getting full employment.

 

The ANC is on course to deliver on programmes designed and geared at ensuring that young people are trained and absorbed into the mainstream economy.

 

Allow me to tell you that during the 2015-16 financial year, a total of 231 learners were registered by Sector Education and Training Authority, SETAs, and these learners have been certified in the programmes. They have received their qualifications and are within a space where they can go to the market and look for employment.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 104 To date, SETAs and the programmes that are there are ensuring that, they are certifying young people, young are being absorbed into these programmes, but the problem is of those that are getting out of the system, does the industry absorb them and give them full employment? No, your call, hon Cassim is to ensure that your monopoly capital and those that are within your benches should give young people an opportunity to get full employment into the economy.

 

This ANC government is a government that is working for its people and that is ensuring that young people are benefiting from all the programmes that are geared and designed to ensure that they are trained and skilled. I thank you.

 

Mr S M JAFTA: Hon Chair, our fledgling democracy has blossomed consistently for two decades. The international community embraces our democratic institutions and their ability to contribute towards our economic growth. However, there is a cynical view by the young people about the commitment of the state to narrow the levels of unemployment, including introducing measures to quantum leap to access education and training.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 105 This view is echoed in quarter 2 of the Statistics SA Labour Force Survey on unemployment, released in 2016, which indicates that about 47,6% of young people are unemployed. South Africa had about 19,5 million youth population in 2014, therefore the current youth unemployment figure should raise alarm to every single South African committed to eradicating inequality, social injustice and servitude. Lame-duck Ministries, such as Labour, Mineral Resources and Small Business Development should alleviate the plight of the youth in this country through enforcing compliance with employment equity laws, igniting beneficiation for small co-operatives and promoting small and medium enterprises owned by young people, funding skills development and prioritising local content and production amongst big sector contractors.

 

The education sector in South Africa is in dire strait. Mahatma Gandhi has stated the need to embrace universal education in the following terms, and I quote, ―The aim of university education should be to turn out true servants of the people who will live and die for the country‘s freedom.‖

 

Government has dilly-dallied around policies on basic education, changing them as if they were a piece of garment.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 106 We call upon policy consistency and institutional memory in basic education. We implore Minister Motshekga to place nonperforming education portfolios in provinces under administration.

 

Minister Blade Nzimande is a mire of contradiction. Parliament allows him to exploit the current budget ... [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order, hon member, your time is up.

 

Mr S M JAFTA: Thank you, very much.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): You will conclude the sentence with the Minister outside this House. Hon Mbinda. [Interjections.]

 

Mr L R MBINDA: Hon Chair, I think there was a project called the National Empowerment Fund and there was another one called Umsobomvu Youth Fund and there was the Jobs Fund, but all those projects have not contributed more especially to the young people. Do you know the reasons why? It is because we are just missing the boat. The problem here is that as African

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 107 people we were robbed of our land and we know who the robbers are. So, what I can suggest to Mr Nkwinti, is that you must just bring section 25 here in this House, so that it can be repealed...

 

IsiXhosa: ... ukuze sibone ukuba le ngxolo ...

 

English: ... about our people suffering and all that, ...

 

IsiXhosa: ... iza kuphelela phi na.

 

English: Bring section 25, so that we can repeal it. And then once it is repealed, I am sure other people will have to keep quiet. If you look at who controls the means of production, the shareholders – I know some of the ruling party members are also shareholders in some of these big banks and corporations - you cannot put the same people, people who must protect their interests, to transfer the economy to the poor of the poorest.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 108 Another problem with the South Africans is that they keep on voting for leader they know to be corrupt. They will continue suffering if they do not change their mindset when it comes to the issue of voting. We cannot have a country where only about nine companies own about 75% of the stock exchange. You look at the wealth of this country, more than 50%, is controlled by three people and those are white people. So, white people must talk to their white counterparts, so that they can release some of our mineral resources and our wealth, in order for our young people to benefit. So, we must not come here ...

 

IsiXhosa: ... nize kwenza iintsomi; ziintsomi ezi sizenzela abantu.

 

English: Talk to your brothers, your sisters, your uncles and whoever and ask them to transfer power and the economy to the rightful owners of this country. Those are the South Africans, the African people and the citizens of this country. We must not come and talk crap here everyday. Africans must not listen to this crap. [Interjections.]

 

Mr C MACKENZIE: Hon House Chairperson, on a point f order.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 109 The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order, hon members! Hon member, can you take a seat, there is a point of order. Hon member, what is your point of order?

 

Mr C MACKENZIE: House Chair, my point of order is: I think it is a matter of public and I hate to go on record being as the ―SH 1 T‖ MP, but I see it is a matter of a record on the Hansard the word ―crap‖. Is that parliamentary, House Chair?

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order, hon member. Hon Mbinda, did you say that word? Did you say it?

 

Mr L R MBINDA: Yes, I said ―crap‖ and maybe I should have said nonsense. I said ―crap‖. [Applause.] You see, because they are misleading the voters more especially the African people. [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Your time is up, hon member. We will check whether the name is parliamentary or not. Hon Mackay. [Applause.]

 

Mr G D MACKAY: Hon Chair, in turbulent times it is affirming to remember that we are free. Free from the oppression, free

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 110 from colonialism and free from domination by one race over another. A high price has been paid for this freedom, extracted as it was from the lost generation – the generation of 1976.

 

Let us take a minute to fully appreciate their sacrifice. For it was a sacrifice of this generation of youth that, more than any other, defeated white supremacy, ended institutionalised racism and provided the impetus for the peaceful transition to democracy brokered by Tata Madiba and others in 1994.

 

Our debt to the lost generation runs deep. We dare never forget that an entire generation sacrificed themselves, their individual dreams, hopes and prospects so that we, as a nation, might reap the benefits of freedom, namely: full political and economic emancipation and participation.

 

And yet, political freedom has not resulted in meaningful economic participation for the very vast majority of our people. The reality, instead, is a precarious situation in which two thirds of adults are jobless and where 64% of young adults aged 15 to 35 are damned to a life of unemployment.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 111 This is the new generation or this is the new lost generation brought to you by the ANC. A generation of young people without meaningful employment prospects, without any hope for better opportunities in the life ahead.

 

How can it be, Chair, that under a democratic and a free society so many are not free to live the lives of their choosing? How is it Chair that the liberators of our nation have constructed a democratic society which so ruthlessly excludes the young?

 

I put it to you Chair that the ANC of Jacob Zuma has failed, primarily, due to its failure to undertake the responsibilities concomitant with the rights associated with freedom. These responsibilities at the very least mean adhering to the rule of law, defending our Constitution and governing in the best interests of all our people. Chair, I put it to you further that Jacob Zuma‘s ANC has failed on all three of these accounts. One need only to reflect upon the Public Protector‘s State Capture Report or, remembers that our President racks up criminal offenses like most of us rack up speeding fines. [Interjections.]

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 112 Ms Z S DLAMINI-DUBAZANA: Hon House Chair, on a point of order.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order, hon member, what is your point of order?

 

Ms Z S DLAMINI-DUBAZANA: My point of order is: The hon member is really violating the rules here. He says the administration of Jacob Zuma, instead of the President, irrespective that he does not like him he still has to use the name President and he is doing it for the second time. [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order!

 

Ms Z S DLAMINI-DUBAZANA: I do not care.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order, order, hon member, can you take your seat! The reference was to the party and mentioning the party leader. [Applause.] Can you please proceed, hon member. [Interjections.]

 

An HON MALE DA MEMBER: Weak, weak, weak, point of order!

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 113 Mr G D MACKAY: Chair, is summary it is just easy to point out what a disaster the presidency of Jacob Zuma has been for our country. For instance, economic growth has slowed to a crawl of less than 1% per annum, government debt service costs amount to R163,6 billion or 3,5% of the gross domestic product, GDP, eroding any real chance our country has of realising the progressive provision of health care, welfare and education for our people.

 

With over 100 dead at Life Esidimeni, with the imminent collapse of the social grant provision to the most vulnerable of our society and with our 3 million young adults not in education and training – ours is not a caring state, ours is not a competent state, ours is a state against the nation.

 

We in the DA are not, however, blind to the structural challenges bequeathed by apartheid to the democratic state. It is plainly evident that the apartheid policy framework created an enormous financial, human and social capital deficit within South Africa. Apartheid created inequality not only in terms of education, but also in terms of other kinds of capital that enable or impede social mobility.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 114 Capital in its broadest sense includes: Financial capital such as ownership of financial assets; human capital which refers to health and education; cultural capital which refers to knowledge of institutions and in the economy such as the labour market; social capital which refers to our ability to make networks and symbolic capital which refers to the status of our place in the society.

 

That whites have enjoyed dominance over these forms of capital, is indeed a legacy of apartheid. The failure to advance broad-based black capital accumulation is, however, a legacy of our ANC present.

 

A 2015 report entitled the SA Child Gauge notes critically that government‘s narrow focus on black ownership of financial capital at the expense of broader capital accumulation will be insufficient to raise the vast majority from deprivation.

 

The government‘s single-minded focus on capital accumulation, mired in corruption as it is, has become nothing more than an elaborate ruse for the empowerment of the politically connected of the ANC elite. As such the ANC-led government is failing the very black majority that bled and died for our

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 115 freedom. This failure is resulting in yet another lost generation – except this time the generation is not sacrificing itself for freedom, it is a generation being sacrificed by the ANC elites on the altar of greed and selfenrichment.

 

The DA will not stand for it. We will continue to fight corruption with the full might of the law, while ensuring our metro and provincial governments give real hands up to our people by developing their human, cultural and social capital. Rescuing the lost generation is our nation‘s greatest challenge and is the DA‘s biggest mission.

 

Just like the rising tide of 1976, the so-called lost generation swept away apartheid. Come 2019, so, too will this ANC-birthed lost generation of the 21st century sweep away the ANC and all its forms of rancid corruption. I thank you. [Applause.]

 

The MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE: House Chairperson and hon members, we have gathered here in this august House to debate a very important matter, a matter of national importance: the

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 116 issue of our youth, thus the future of the country, the future of humanity.

 

Our point of departure is informed by the following understanding that all societies, without exception, bear the imprint, the birthmarks of their own past. For over 342 years, colonialism and apartheid has engineered a system in our country of what I will call the production of two nations. One nation is white and enjoys exclusive access to the developed economy, education and infrastructure. The second and larger nation of South Africa is black and poor, with the worst affected being women in rural areas, the black rural population in general, and the disabled. This second nation lives under conditions of grossly underdeveloped economic, physical, educational, communication and other infrastructure.

 

This reality of two nations born of a very long period of colonial and apartheid white minority domination is what the ANC and its government is addressing. The intention of this policy was well articulated by that apartheid ideologue, Hendrik Verwoed, when he said and I quote,

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 117 Blacks should never be shown the greener pastures of education. They should know that their station in life is to be the hewers of wood and drawers of water.

 

He continued – and he will be turning in his grave today – by saying that there is no place for the Bantu in the European community above the level of certain forms of labour. So, what is the use of teaching the Bantu child mathematics when it cannot use it in practice?

 

The impact of these beliefs and practices entrenched a superiority complex in our white compatriots. This is a byproduct of the system. Despite the efforts by our democratic government, this situation persists.

 

The interrelated antagonistic contradiction forming the basis of colonialism of a special type, class, race and patriarchal power relations inhibit the achievement of social progress in our country. The persistence of these conditions puts a strain on the efforts of nation-building and social cohesion.

 

Your myopic and twisted logic that seeks to suggest that a mere 20 years are long enough to remove from our national life

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 118 the inheritance of a country of two nations which has persisted for 342 years, is flawed.

 

To deal with this reality, we will need an honest and sustained effort from all South Africans ... [Interjections.] ... especially those like yourselves who benefited from apartheid - an effort that was demonstrated by Germans in pursuit of uniting East and West Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall. As the hon members are aware, the two post-war German states unified into one country in 1990. After 45 years of division into two states with competing social systems, the German leaders and people understood that truly to become one country and one people, they had — like us — to address the pertinent question of nation-building and social cohesion.

 

The commitment of the German people in the way they treated that process of nation-building and social cohesion is demonstrated, amongst other things, by the extraordinary volume of resources which the richer developed West transferred to the poorer and relatively underdeveloped East during the first five years of unification after 1990. Public funds to the value of $585,8 billion were transferred from West Germany to East Germany to contribute to Germany‘s

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 119 project of nation-building. [Interjections.] Our own solidarity tax — which was imposed for one year only — attracted criticism in the main from those who had benefited from apartheid.

 

The question that we need to ask ourselves as members of this body and society at large is this: Does the DA and its surrogates, through their negativity towards our efforts of nation-building and social cohesion as envisaged by the supreme law of the land, assist this agenda? [Interjections.] In my experience and observation, unlike the German people, South Africans — especially those who benefited from apartheid — who, in the main, happen to be white, are not prepared to go the extra mile to generate the material resources we need for investment to change the conditions of the black poor more rapidly than is possible if we depend solely on severely limited public funds. [Interjections.] [Applause.]

 

If we are serious about nation-building and social cohesion and treat the obligations contained in our Constitution as more than words on paper, we have to think hard and make the necessary and meaningful contribution towards this national effort. We are told here about the ANC creating unemployment

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 120 when you, in a very succinct way, are showing a lack of understanding of the global economic situation. [Interjections.] What has happened after the 2007 depression is what the whole world is still grappling with today.

 

The ANC came to power in 1994 after the economy had been declining for more than 15 years in this country. The last thing which you from the DA benches have to recognise is the fact that you have not made any positive contribution towards taking the country forward. [Interjections.] Your narrative is negative. You thrive on negativity all the time and believe that that is going to attract people make them listen to you. [Interjections.]

 

Faced with this difficult situation, the ANC has managed to hold the decline of the economy. It has restructured many sectors of the economy and achieved stability by laying the foundation for faster progress in the rebuilding of the economy. [Interjections.]

 

An HON MEMBER: You honestly have no idea!

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 121 The MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE: I don‘t know from where you get your views about what is happening in South Africa. You are talking about the youth – a lost generation. I think you are a lost generation ... [Interjections.] ... because the youth today is a generation of heroes. Today‘s youth is a generation of people who are active in their own right, who are carving their own niche and showing all of us the mission of their generation. They have undoubtedly explained that theirs is a generation of radical socioeconomic transformation, and on that they are on course. [Interjections.]

 

Let us use the power we have at our disposal to make our country better for humanity, a place where future generations will not know what war is, a place where poverty will exist only as part of records that indicate humanity‘s passing stage. It is within our power. Let us put our shoulders to the wheel.

 

The challenges of our time have charged us with the responsibility of transforming our society into that which is envisaged by the Constitution. This concept of a lost generation must be dispelled and debunked for what it is – a

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 122 myth. It is repackaged from a past generated by colonialism and apartheid in an effort to discredit the struggle for national liberation. Every time it raised its ugly head in the past it has been defeated as a myth. This time around, it will be defeated again because the youth of today is not lost. It is a generation of heroes and heroines with a clear mission of achieving what they want to achieve. [Interjections.]

 

You can say whatever you want to say. The fact of the matter is that your negative narrative is not going to take us forward. [Interjections.] You are not going to succeed. The way you are canvassing for your votes ... you think that you must say negative things about South Africa and not put anything positive. You are not going to succeed. [Interjections.] We will be with you here, now and in the future. You talk about 2019. Twenty-nineteen is coming and we will defeat you in 2019! Thank you. [Interjections.] [Applause.]

 

Mr Y CASSIM: Hon House Chair, let me begin by thanking all of those who contributed to this debate in good faith. I think there were many good points that were raised, but I think it is sad that everyone besides the governing party realised that

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 123 there is a problem and has given solutions and suggestions to the problem. I think that is the state of politics in this country and I think it is very sad.

 

Let me start with the hon Mahambehlala. [Interjections.] I think when Mathews Phosa was speaking about the intellectual funeral of the ANC, he was speaking about the hon Mahambehlala. Clearly ... and I think there is one thing that needs to be cleared up very quickly. In the first quarter of 2016, the highest increase on unemployment came from the Gauteng province with 179 000. In the second quarter, it was from Limpopo with 40 000. In fact, there was not a single quarter where the Western Cape had the highest increase in unemployment.

 

But, that is not even the tip of the iceberg. In fact, all that she brought to this debate is her mention of the National Youth Development Agency, NYDA, whose administration and staffing costs amount to more than 50% of its budget. All that she and others like her have brought to this debate is an attempt to debunk the notion that there are young people who have no hope in this country and who are a lost generation.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 124 I think that was true of the hon Makhubele-Mashele who said that it is not the role of the government to create jobs. She then said that it is the role of the government to create an environment to create jobs. Now, it‘s either one or the other. This is the same hon member who, in 2000, when she was with the ANC Youth League, said that Julius Malema is the future of the ANC. It is not surprising to see that she was flipflopping then and flip-flopping now. She flip-flops more than a pair of Havaianas! The point is that there is a lost generation. [Interjections.] Hon Hlengwa mentioned 800 000 of people who are lost every year. Only the ANC can‘t see it and these people are going to vote the DA ... [Inaudible.] ... into government in 2019. [Time expired.] [Applause.]

 

DEATH OF FORMER SPRINGBOK SCRUMHALF JOOST VAN DER WESTHUIZEN

 

(Draft Resolution)

 

Mr P J MNGUNI: House Chair, I move without notice:

 

That the House -

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 125 (1)

 

notes with sadness the death of the former Springbok scrumhalf, Joost van der Westhuizen on Monday, 6 February, after losing his battle with motor neuron disease;

 

(2)

 

acknowledges that the 45-year-old van der Westhuizen made his debut as a rugby player in 1993 at the age of 24, and represented South Africa for 10 years notching up to a record of 38 tries from 89 caps before retiring;

 

(3)

 

remembers that van der Westhuizen played an integral part in the team that gave South Africa one of its most iconic moments in sporting history - the 1995 Rugby World Cup;

 

(4)

 

further remembers that it was at this World Cup that South Africa‘s first democratically elected President, Nelson Mandela wore the Springbok jersey and lifted the trophy, a powerful moment that signified our commitment to social cohesion and nation building;

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 126 (5)

 

recalls that in 2012, van der Westhuizen was honoured with a Steve Tshwete Lifetime Award;

 

(6)

 

believes that he was one of the best sportsmen South Africa has ever produced and his passion for life will never be forgotten; and

 

(7)

 

conveys its heartfelt condolences to the van der Westhuizen family, friends and the sporting fraternity at large

 

Thank you.

 

Agreed to.

 

DEATH OF MENTALLY ILL PATIENTS

 

(Draft Resolution)

 

Dr W G JAMES: Chair, I move without notice:

 

That the House -

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 127 (1)

 

notes that more than 100 mentally ill patients died after being sent to NGOs that were ill-equipped to care for them in Gauteng;

 

(2)

 

acknowledges that the health ombudsman, Prof Malegapuru Makgoba, has found that 1 900 patients were moved from the licensed life health care facility to 27 unlicensed facilities;

 

(3)

 

condemns the failure to identify the problems in time and to act timeously to prevent the tragedy from happening;

 

(4)

 

urges the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, to ensure appropriate actions are taken and that the recommendations are fully implemented as a matter of urgency; and

 

(5)

 

conveys our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to assure them that we share in their pain and their loss.

 

I thank you.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 128 Agreed to.

 

ABUSE OF WORKERS AT LEAR CORPORATION

 

(Draft Resolution)

 

Mr T RAWULA: I move without notice:

 

That the House-

 

(1)

 

notes that the continued abuse of workers at Lear Corporation manufacturing plant in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, workers are unfairly treated, their dignity is violated, their rights as human beings and workers are undermined and as such workers remain trapped in a slavery system of more than 180 years ago since legal slavery was abolished;

 

(2)

 

further notes that because workers are hired through labour brokers, they are hired for nine years, yet they are still considered temporary workers;

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 129 (3)

 

recognises that Parliament needs to ensure that the Department of Labour accounts to the House on the matter of the poor performance of labour inspectors;

 

(4)

 

condemns the continued abuse of workers at Lear Corporation manufacturing;

 

(5)

 

calls upon Parliament to devise means to ensure that the phenomenon of labour brokering is finally eliminated in South Africa.

 

Thank you.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): If there are no objections, I put the motion. No objection. Yes?

 

Ms N R MOKOTO: Chairperson, we object. The ANC object.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): There is an objection and the motion is thus not agree to.

 

APPOINTMENT OF DR AYANDA NTSABULA AS ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF SA NATIONAL AIDS COUNCIL

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 130 (Draft Resolution)

 

Ms N R MOKOTO: Chairperson, I move without notice:

 

That the House-

 

(1)

 

welcomes the appointment of Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba as Acting Chairperson of SA National AIDS Council, Sanac, by the Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa on 15 February 2017;

 

(2)

 

acknowledges that Dr Ntsaluba has been a member of the trust for the past two years and is a former Director-General for the Department of Health and International Relations and Co-operation;

 

(3)

 

understands that SA National Aids Trust is responsible for overseeing the Secretariat of the Sanac, which is chaired by the Deputy President;

 

(4)

 

recognises that the appointment of Dr Ntsaluba follows the immediate resignation of Dr Gwen

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 131 Ramokgopa as a trustee of the SA National Aids Trust in order to ensure stability and continuity; and

 

(5)

 

congratulates Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba on his appointment and new responsibility.

 

Thank you. [Applause.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon members, if there are no objections, I put the motion.

 

An HON MEMBER: Object on that thing. Thank.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): There is an objection and the motion is thus not agree to.

 

CONGRATULATING SA CRICKET TEAM FOR THEIR VICTORY OVER NEW ZEALAND

 

(Draft Resolution)

 

Mr K P SITHOLE: Hon House Chair, I move without notice:

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 132 That the House-

 

(1)

 

congratulates the SA Cricket team for their victory over New Zealand in a rain-affected first day international in Hamilton on Sunday;

 

(2)

 

acknowledges that the SA captain A B de Villiers calmly guided his side to test four-wicket victory with just one ball to spare;

 

(3)

 

notes that de Villiers scored 37 not out and ensured number eight batsman Andile Phehlukwayo kept a cool head as the pair put on 54 to reach their 208-run victory over and earn a 1-0 lead in the five-match series; and

 

(4)

 

encourages the team to push on forward with more determination and confidence for the remaining matches in the series and we wish them all the best.

 

Agreed to.

 

FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS IN THE COUNTRY

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 133 (Draft Resolution)

 

Mr M L SHELEMBE: I move without notice:

 

That the House-

 

(1)

 

notes that the SA Revenue Service, Sars, customs have made a major breakthrough and a fight against drugs in the country;

 

(2)

 

further notes that at the OR Tambo International Airport, the biggest single drug burst was intercepted - cocaine with a street value of R78 million;

 

(3)

 

further notes that this major breakthrough will go a long way in fighting the scourge of drugs in the country; and

 

(4)

 

calls upon this hon House to commend the Sars customs and call upon the Sars customs and SA Police Service to intensify the fight against the illegal flow of drugs into the country, and ensure

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 134 sufficient mechanism are put in place at all ports of the entry.

 

I thank you.

 

Agreed to.

 

DEATH OF AWARD-WINNING GOSPEL ARTIST LUNDI TYAMARA

 

(Draft Resolution)

 

Mr P J MNGUNI: House Chair, I move without notice:

 

That the House-

 

(1)

 

notes with sadness the death of an award-winning gospel artist, Lundi Tyamara, on 27 January 2017, after a short illness;

 

(2)

 

recalls that Tyamara began his careers as a back-up singer for Rececca Malope, and in 1998 he received his big break and released his first solo album;

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 135 (3)

 

remembers that the 38-year-old artist has produced many gospel hits, most notably, Mphefumlo Wami, which has won him SA Artist Awards, Sama, Kora AllAfrica Music Awards and Crown Gospel Music Awards;

 

(4)

 

believes that through his music and powerful voice, he has touched many lives and healed many souls;

 

(5)

 

recognises that he has contributed a lot in enriching our cultural heritage; and

 

(6)

 

conveys heartfelt condolences to the Tyamara family, friends and the music industry at large.

 

Agreed to.

 

CONGRATULATIONS TO ADVOCATE THULI MADONSELA

 

(Draft Resolution)

 

Ms A M DREYER: I move without notice:

 

That the House-

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 136 (1)

 

notes that our former Public Protector, Adv Thuli Madonsela, has been awarded the 2017 Commonwealth law Conference Rule of law Award;

 

(2)

 

also notes that Adv Thuli Madonsela was nominated for this prestigious award by the Law Society of South Africa;

 

(3)

 

further notes that the award will be presented to her by the Commonwealth Lawyers Association during the conference set to take place in Melbourne next month;

 

(4)

 

acknowledges the outstanding contribution Adv Madonsela has made to the rule of law;

 

(5)

 

further acknowledges her excellent work in protecting our Constitution and pursuing the truth; and

 

(6)

 

congratulates Adv Madonsela on this remarkable achievement.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 137 Agreed to.

 

SINKING OF THE SS MENDI

 

(Draft Resolution)

 

Mr M S MBATHA: I rise on behalf of the EFF to move without notice:

 

That the House-

 

(1)

 

notes that today marks 100 years since the sinking of the SS Mendi, a South African Navy ship carrying mostly black soldiers to the First World War to help our then colonial master, the Great Britain;

 

(2)

 

further notes that in 16 January 1917, the SS Mendi troopship sailed from Cape Town en route to La Havre Port in France, carrying the last contingent of the SA Native Labour Corps comprising 805 black private officers, 5 white officers and 17 non-commissioned officers, as well as 33 crewmembers;

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 138 (3)

 

acknowledges that the SS Mendi was rammed by another ship, killing 607 black troops, 9 white instructors and all 33 crewmen;

 

(4)

 

further acknowledges that the troops who died, including Pondoland chiefs - Henry Bokleni, Dokoda Richard Ndamase, Mxonywa Bangani, Mongameli - and the Reverend Isaac Wauchope Dyobha, died en route to fight a war that was not theirs in the first place;

 

(5)

 

notes that the white South African government at the time had refused to have black troops carrying guns by law, because they feared that the blacks carrying guns would be a danger to white minority;

 

(6)

 

further notes that most of the families of the black troops were never informed, or were informed later on after the burials , while some were never informed at all; and

 

(7)

 

moves that the House honours the descendants of our departed countrymen and soldiers, to ensure that they are given the honour they deserve for the

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 139 ultimate sacrifice of their good deeds by being recognised internationally, nationally and everywhere they are supposed to.

 

Agreed to.

 

MOTION OF CONDOLENCE

 

(The late Thandi Klaasen)

 

Ms N R MOKOTO: House Chair, the ANC moves without notice:

 

That the House-

 

(1)

 

notes with sadness the passing of a popular South African jazz legend, Mama Thandi Klaasen on Sunday, 15 January 2017, at the age of 86, after a battle with pancreatic cancer;

 

(2)

 

recalls that Ms Klaasen was a world-renowned jazz musician hailing from Sophiatown and was famous for her role in the internationally acclaimed musical, King Kong;

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 140 (3)

 

remembers that she received many accolades including the Woman of Distinction Award in Canada in 1999, and the Lifetime Achievement Award received at the 12th MTN South African Music Awards;

 

(4)

 

recognises that she was a role model to many young and upcoming musicians and her legacy will live on for generations to come;

 

(5)

 

believes that her death is a huge loss to the music fraternity and country at large; and

 

(6)

 

sends its heartfelt condolences to her family and friends and music industry at large.

 

Agreed to.

 

HIGH RATES OF FARM ATTACKS AND MURDERS IN SA

 

(Draft Resolution)

 

Mr M G P LEKOTA: Chairperson, I move without notice on behalf of Cope:

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 141 That this House-

 

(1)

 

notes, since the beginning of February to date, that some 30 reported verified farm attacks and 15 murders had taken place;

 

(2)

 

further notes that the actual number of people in the countryside that lost their lives are more than this figure;

 

(3)

 

recognises the critical role that agriculture plays as the primary industry in the production of food in this country;

 

(4)

 

resolves that farmers and farmworkers must be encouraged to form security networks so that they collaborate with the police to protect themselves;

 

(5)

 

acknowledges that in this way, we can encourage young people to get trained and enter this industry to expand domestic production of food and therefore reduce South Africa‘s dependence on imported food.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 142 The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon members, if there are no objections, I put the motion.

 

Mr P J MNGUNI: House Chair, the ANC objects. It was not even circulated for that matter!

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon members, may I draw your attention to Rule 123 which spells out the procedure for Motions Without Notice. These motions must be circulated and reach the Secretary to the National Assembly by 10 o‘clock on the day, and it must still be circulated to all political parties by 11 o‘clock. So, if you can follow that procedure, then it will assist us.

 

The motion was not agreed to. Therefore the Motion Without notice will now be a Notice of Motion.

 

ALUSHCA RITCHIE BECOMES PRESIDENT OF WORLD’S TOURIST ASSOCIATION

 

(Draft Resolution)

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 143 Ms S R VAN SCHALKWYK: Chairperson, the ANC moves without notice:

 

That the House–

 

(1)

 

welcomes the appointment of South African tourist guide Ms Alushca Ritchie by the World Federation of Tourist Guides Associations as its new president on 15 February 2017;

 

(2)

 

further notes that Ritchie, a registered tourist guide from the Western Cape, was appointed to head the internationally recognised body at the 17th biennial World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations Convention which took place in Tehran, Iran, recently;

 

(3)

 

acknowledges that Ms Ritchie has been a wine specialist for the last 6 years, owns and manages a tourism business and has served as the chairperson of the Cape Tourist Guides Association;

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 144 (4)

 

believes that her appointment presents another opportunity for South Africa, to elevate the status of the guiding profession and to acknowledge the important role that our tourist guides play in providing superb visitor experiences; and

 

(5)

 

congratulates Ms Ritchie on her appointment, which presents an opportunity to promote a sector which is very rarely recognised as a profession.

 

Agreed to.

 

APPRAISING DEVELOPMENTS IN FOOTBALL FRATENITY

 

(Draft Resolution)

 

Mr M P GALO: Hon Chairperson, I move without notice on behalf of the AIC:

 

That the House-

 

(1)

 

appraises the current developments in our football fraternity;

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 145 (2)

 

notes the poor performance displayed by well-known and celebrated football team, Orlando Pirates, is an indication that football in this country is at stake;

 

(3)

 

further notes that what is more worrying is that that the Premier Soccer League affiliated clubs rely heavily on foreign strikers;

 

(4)

 

acknowledges that this has adverse effect on national squad‘s efficiency, sustainability and development; and

 

(5)

 

recognises that it is in the local football that the national squad is to be strong; and

 

(6)

 

therefore, proposes that South Africa should be one of the countries to be reckoned with when it comes to sport, which is for peace, love and working minds.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon members, I now put the motion if there are no objections.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 146 Mr P J MNGUNI: The ANC objects, House Chair. The motion was not circulated.

 

The motion was not agreed to. Therefore the Motion Without notice will now be a Notice of Motion.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon Minister, why are you rising?

 

The MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Hon Chairperson, I thought it was a South African team – Sundowns - that beat Pirates; not a foreign team! [Laughter.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Yes, that is noted!

 

Mr M P GALO: You will be out very soon!

 

AMATEUR BOXING LEAGUE LAUNCHES IN MDANTSANE

 

(Draft Resolution)

 

Mr P J MNGUNI: House Chair, the ANC moves without notice:

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 147 That the House-

 

(1)

 

welcomes the opening of the Open Boxing League by the SA National Amateur Boxing Organisation on Saturday, 18 February 2017, at Mdantsane Indoor Centre;

 

(2)

 

notes that the aim of this initiative is to produce boxers for both Commonwealth Games in 2018 and Olympics in 2020;

 

(3)

 

recalls that South Africa had no boxing representatives in the 2016 Rio Olympics;

 

(4)

 

believes that the opening of the boxing league is going a long way in reviving development and boosting of boxing as a sport in South Africa; and

 

(5)

 

congratulates the SA National Amateur Boxing Organisation for this wonderful undertaking.

 

There was an objection.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 148 The motion was not agreed to. Therefore, the Motion Without Notice will now be a Notice of Motion.

 

MOTION OF CONDOLENCE

 

(The late Phumelele Nkwenkwe Gaqa)

 

Mr L R MBINDA: Hon Chair, the PAC moves without notice:

 

That the House-

 

(1)

 

notes the passing of Tata Phumelele Nkwenkwe Gaqa in Bhaziya;

 

(2)

 

also notes that Tata Gaqa is the only survivor from the 16 Poqo martyrs that were hanged by the then racist regime;

 

(3)

 

reckons that he collapsed whilst he was talking in a funeral of one of those that were hanged, in Bhaziya;

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 149 (4)

 

acknowledges that he was released from jail in January 1979 and he survived a death sentence, but today is no more;

 

(5)

 

further acknowledges that the human remains of those hanged were handed to the families for the first time after 53 years, and this shows how cruel the racist regime were

 

(6)

 

wishes that his soul rest in peace.

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: House Chairperson, this motion doesn‘t appear on our list of circulated motions.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Well, that motion was also not circulated. Hon members, we have very important motions that are moved. Can we just stick to the rule to ensure that all parties receive the motion beforehand? I am sure hon member wouldn‘t have been parties objecting against the motion if that procedure was followed.

 

The motion was not agreed to. Therefore, the Motion Without Notice becomes a Notice of Motion.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 150 MOTION OF CONDOLENCE

 

(The late Peter Abrahams)

 

Dr G A GROOTBOOM: Chair, I hereby move without notice on behalf of the DA:

 

That this House-

 

(1)

 

notes that on the 18 January 2017, renowned South African-born Jamaican novelist, Peter Abrahams passed away;

 

(2)

 

recalls that Abrahams was born in 1919 in Vrededorp near Johannesburg;

 

(3)

 

further recalls that he worked as teacher in Cape Town and later as a journalist in Durban, before leaving the country;

 

(4)

 

acknowledges that Abrahams led the way as an impassionate critic of South Africa‘s racial inequity;

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 151 (5)

 

also acknowledges that his first novel, Mine Boy, focussed on the country‘s system of racial oppression and was internationally acclaimed;

 

(6)

 

further acknowledges that many of his other works also received international bestseller status including Dark Testament, Return to Godi and The Black Experience in the 20th Century;

 

(7)

 

conveys our sincere condolences to the family of the late Peter Abrahams.

 

Agreed to.

 

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS WINS THE CAF SUPER CUP

 

(Draft Resolution)

 

Mr P J MNGUNI: I wish to move on behalf of the ANC:

 

That the House-

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 152 (1)

 

notes that Mamelodi Sundowns made the country proud when they won the Confederation of African Football Super Cup, CAF Super Cup, on Saturday, 18 February, after defeating T P Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 in Pretoria;

 

(2)

 

understands that Saturday‘s Super Cup contest pitted the Champions League winners Sundowns against the Confederation Cup holders, T P Mazembe;

 

(3)

 

recalls that Sundowns became just the second South African team, after Orlando Pirates in 1996, to win the Super Cup;

 

(4)

 

acknowledges that Sundowns‘ victory at Loftus stadium completed a one-and-half year cycle, which saw the Brazilians crowned 2015-2016 Premiership champions and 2016 Confederation of African Football Champions League, CAF Champions League, winners;

 

(5)

 

believes that Sundowns‘ success will serve as inspiration to other local clubs as they will strive for success in continental tournaments; and

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 153 (6)

 

congratulates Mamelodi Sundowns on their continental victory and wishes them well as they will start defending their African Champions league title soon.

 

I so move.

 

Agreed to.

 

TRAGIC ACCIDENT AT THE DURBAN NAVAL BASE

 

(Member‘s Statement)

 

Ms L N MJOBO (ANC): The ANC regrets the tragic loss of lives which took place as a result of a gas leak in the Durban Naval Base on Friday 17 February 2017. We offer our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the three workers killed, as well as the three members of the South African National Defence Force who were also killed in the accident.

 

We commend the heroic actions of those members of the South African National Defence Force who went to the aid of the distressed workers, and we also pray for the speedy recovery of those who were injured in the accident.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 154 The accident occurred when the service provider, Kwayando Investments, a registered mechanical contractor with a Construction Industry Development Board, CIDB grading, contracted by the Department of Public Works to carry out repairs on the naval base septic tank, attempted to re-install a pump which had been removed for repairs. The six deceased were overcome by the deadly methane gas which had built up in the septic tank.

 

The Departments of Defence and Public Works are cooperating fully with the investigation led by the Department of Labour. In the meantime the Department of Public Works is also conducting an urgent [Time Expired.]

 

FARM ATTACKS ON THE RISE AS 15 PEOPLE DIE IN 30 FARM ATTACKS

 

(Member‘s Statement)

 

Ms A STEYN (DA): The current spike in farm murders highlights this government‘s failure to tackle this problem. In February alone, 30 farms have been attacked, during which 15 people have been murdered. This weekend, the bodies of Christine and

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 155 Roger Solik were found bound with wire and bags pulled over their heads near their farm in Nottingham Road.

 

We just received a report that Sue Howarth passed away after she and her husband, Roger, were brutally tortured during an attack on their farm near Dullstroom. She was burned, cut with knifes and a black bag pushed down her throat.

 

Despite this, too many in the ANC still insist that there‘s no special targeting of farmers by criminals and refuse to properly resource police to deal with this crime.

 

As if this is not enough, police are badly led. Here is a statement made yesterday about one of our own provinces which can be applied countrywide:

 

Our policemen and women are not coping; they‘re not getting the leadership that they require from the top management due mainly to incessant infighting among the leaders of our law enforcement agencies.

 

This, were the words used by your own government Premier, David Makhura, in his State of the Province Address.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 156 The lives of South Africans should come before the ANC‘s squabble over resources. We are sending our condolences to the families of all these murdered farmers

 

COMPETITION COMMISSION ON THE COLLUSION OF BANKS TO FIX PRICES

 

(Member‘s Statement)

 

Mr P G MOTEKA (EFF): The findings of the Competition Commission against banks involved in price fixing and market allocation in the trading of foreign currencies is a clear indication of a capitalist system underpinned by greed and corruption. The Competition Commission found that from – at least – 2007, the banks had a general agreement to collude on prices for bids and manipulation of prices for bids, to refrain from trading and creating fictitious bids.

 

We call on the Competition Commission to impose maximum sanctions. Such acts of collusion around South African currency are deceitful and it is, therefore, necessary to discontinue the operating licenses of the banks involved immediately.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 157 The EFF has been at the forefront of fighting financial crimes in South Africa and these revelations show that such crimes must be dealt with decisively.

 

South African government must commence processes of establishing a viable, efficient and sound state bank which will insulate our country from commercial thirst for maximum and immoral profits persuaded by the existing banks.

 

The South African government and all state institutions must disassociate from the banks that are involved in the collusion.

 

We call on the ANC government that they must take decisive actions against these banks and stop wasting our time.

 

THE ANC WELCOMES THE SIGNING OF THE PROPOSED NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE

 

(Member‘s Statement)

 

Ms L E YENGENI (ANC): The ANC in its 2014 Manifesto has asserted the need to investigate the modality for the

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 158 introduction of a national minimum wage as one of the key mechanisms to reduce income inequality.

 

In so doing, the ANC welcomes the historical signing of the national minimum wage agreement set at R20 per hour or R3 500 per month for those who work 40 hours a week. This was agreed to by all stakeholders except Congress of South African Trade Unions, Cosatu, on Tuesday 07 February 2017, which is expected to take effect from May 2018.

 

This is an indication that the ANC is serious about addressing its objective of eliminating poverty, reducing inequality and creating jobs. It also views the agreement as providing a platform to improve income levels of our people and lifting the income levels of 6.6 million workers who are currently earning below R3 500.

 

The ANC believes that the agreement will go a long way in giving effect to the electoral mandate of its government to introduce a national minimum wage, which is an important step in creating a more equal, just and prosperous society as envisaged in the National Development Plan, NDP, Vision 2030.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 159 SASSA GRANTS PAYMENTS CRISIS

 

(Member‘s Statement)

 

Ms L L VAN DER MERWE (IFP): House Chairperson, at the end of last year the Minister of Social Development promised us that everything was on track for her department to takeover the grant payment system. It now appears that the Minister might have misled this House. Back in 2014, the Constitutional Court declared unlawful the current contract with Cash Payments Services and Net1, the company that pays out social grants on behalf of the state.

 

The court instructed the Minister to ensure that by 17 April 2017 herself would be able to payout these grants. However, the Minister ignored the Constitutional Courts‘ instruction. As April draws near there is still no progress and South Africans‘ 17 million grant recipients are rightly worried whether they will receive their grants or not.

 

Despite expectations last week, Minister Dlamini, has not approached the Constitutional Court for a review of the matter. Treasury had warned Minister Dlamini that applying to

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 160 seek and extension of an unlawful contract is simply that; unlawful. But it now seem that she will simply ignore Treasury, defy the Constitutional Court, and go ahead with signing an emergency contract with CPS and Net1.

 

This is a clear disregard of the Constitutional Court order and a deliberate and intentional violation of the courts‘ dignity, repute and authority. We need answers from Minister Dlamini today but she is again not here and neither is her deputy.

 

We need to know as to what is her game plan to avoid a looming national grant payout crisis. And whose interest is Minister Dlamini serving? Minister Dlamini has shown a complete disregard for her office, and the most vulnerable South Africans whose interest she is supposed to protect. [Time expired.]

 

NSFAS FLOODED WITH STUDENT’S APPLICATIONS

 

(Member‘s Statement)

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 161 Prof N M KHUBISA (NFP): Chairperson, many of our promising young people have dreamed of studying this year have their dreams dashed. In fact, more than 53 000 young people have had their applications for financial assistance turned downs by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS.

 

To date NSFAS has only approved a total of 309 788 applications to study at universities and TVET colleges; but has funding available to assist another 100 000 students. While the NFP is encouraged by that NSFAS‘ appealing to prospective students who were turned down to re-apply, we question the soundness of the entire application processes.

 

The new process has resulted in widespread disappointment and unnecessary hardship among our fine young minds who are eagerly awaiting an opportunity to improve their lives through higher education. We are also aware that lack of sufficient and safe student accommodation is becoming a huge problem.

 

Many of our students come from rural areas and are in need of accommodation in an environment that is safe and conducive for learning. The NFP believes that our students deserve a fair opportunity in life to make the best of the opportunities

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 162 which might be available to them. The current state of our higher educations is likely to result in yet another academic year which would be charecterised by student‘s dissatisfaction and discontent.

 

South Africa cannot afford such a situation to arise again. Government has an obligation to ensure that the twin higher education needs of access to learning and suitable accommodation for our student are addressed while there is still time; tomorrow might be too late.

 

RETENTION OF THREE BY ELECTED WARDS

 

(Member‘s Statement)

 

Ms M P MAFOLO (ANC): House Chairperson, the ANC is delighted by the outcomes of the results of the recent by-elections held in four wards contested in three provinces on Wednesday, 01 February 2017. The ANC, with the continued overwhelming support of the people, retained three of the wards contested and won a Ward from the DA in George, Western Cape.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 163 Further, the ANC retained the highly contested Ward 12, Metsimaholo Municipality, in the Free State Province, which is an indication that the people of Metsimaholo have rejected the inexperienced EFF who had high hopes of winning the Ward. The people of George also rejected the DA by ensuring that the ANC won Ward 11, in George.

 

These results serve to confirm that the people of South Africa still have confidence in the governing party and their movement, the ANC. This is further testament that no other political party has the proven track record, experience and vision to unite the people of South Africa and move our country forward.

 

The ANC appreciates our people's support and thanks them for their continued trust in the ANC, as well as sincerely expresses its gratitude to our committed and selfless volunteers who continued to work tirelessly and ensured this victory for the ANC and the people. Siyaqhube. I thank you

 

BANKS’ COLLUSION IN MANIPULATION OF CURRENCY

 

(Member‘s Statement)

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 164 Mr P P MABE (ANC): Chairperson, the ANC welcomes the Competition Commission‘s referral of the banks, specifically ABSA, Investec, Standard bank and 14 others to the competition tribunal for collusion in manipulating trading in the rand. If the tribunal finds the banks guilty we believe they must be punished swiftly and severely.

 

This comes in the wake of several other cases globally in which banks have been fined huge sums for illegal trading. Once again, banks are being accused of unethical behaviour.

 

It the low-income and poor strata in our society that suffer disproportionately from such greed and corruption. The ANC government is right to regulate the banks more stringently through the new Twin Peaks model, with a much more powerful Market Conduct Authority. We need to observe developments in the tribunal to decide what further regulation we need to prevent the banks manipulating the currency again.

 

The competition commission‘s investigations also reinforce the need to reduce the monopoly of four banks of 90% of the market, allow new entrants, including the Post bank, and

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 165 transform, including through de-racialisation, the financial sector.

 

We also fully support the 14 March parliamentary public hearings on the transformation of the financial sector. Let‘s act decisively!

 

PREMIER OF GAUTENG SHOULD OWN UP OR RESIGN

 

(Member‘s Statement)

 

Mr M S F DE FREITAS (DA): House Chairperson, the DA believes that David Makhura, the ANC Premier in Gauteng should resign. I know that there will be someone in the ANC benches who will agree. [Interjections.] That is because they are in the Zuma faction of the Gauteng faction. They believe he is too honest about the ANC‘s problems. We don‘t agree.

 

We think he should resign because he is refusing to take responsibility for failures he was involved in. In his state of the province speech yesterday he continued to deny that he knew about the movement of mentally ill patients into inadequate facilities of which more than 100 patients had died

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 166 to the ANC‘s eternal shame. Yet the DA in Gauteng legislature warned repeatedly over the past year that patients were in danger.

 

Makhura also yesterday washed his hands of the e-tolls, and in a stunning admission he said the Gauteng e-tolls was a mistake. And he said now he has given up and kicked it back to national government. Here is what he should have done. He should have taken the Sanral to court like the DA did in the Western Cape. Here the court has stopped trolling and has ruled in favour of the motorist instead of turning to fat cats who makes so much money out of the Gauteng e-tolls projects. The DA shows how to govern on behalf of the people and not for the elite.

 

CORRUPTION: DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND AFFAIRS

 

(Member‘s Statement)

 

Mr L S TLHOALE (EFF): House Chairperson, the EFF is deeply disturbed but not surprised by the corruption being headed by Mr Gugile Kwinti at a Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. The department aught to the vehicle for the

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 167 reclamation of our stolen land for the development of rural areas and for providing economic opportunities for the most marginalised of our people. And this has been reduced to a private enrichment machine for Mr Nkwinti and his accolades. Mr Nkwinti helped his friends and the ANC comrades ... [Interjections.] ... on

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, can you please sit down a moment, please.

 

Mr P J MNGUNI (ANC): The principle is impugning the dignity of hon Nkwinti. Therefore, we suggest that the hon member must withdraw that or do it via a substantive motion, House Chair.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order hon Members! Hon member, when we make certain references and accuse members of this House of very serious allegations; ... [Interjections.] ... it must be done in the form of a substantive motion and not in a statement. So, that must be submitted to the Secretary to the National Assembly as a substantive motion not a statement.

 

Ms H O HLOPHE: Order, Chair.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 168 The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, take your seat, I have not recognised you, I am still addressing the member. [Interjections.]

 

Ms H O HLOPHE: Yaa! But I want you to recognise me!

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Take your seat! Take your seat! Hon member Take your seat!

 

Ms H O HLOPHE: How are you going to recognise me? [Interjections.] Can you recognise me?

 

Mr L S TLHOALE (EFF): Can I be recognised, Chair?

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, take your seat.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): So, it must be submitted to the Secretary. Order, hon members! Order! It must be submitted to the Secretary of the National Assemble as a substantive motion, so that the rules can be applied in dealing with the matter that you are raising.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 169 Mr P J MNGUNI (ANC): Mr Nkwinti ... [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): No! Hon member, you cannot continue to read your statement or your allegations any further, you must take your seat. Follow the Rules. Take your seat, Order members! Take your seat please.

 

Ms N V MENTE: Chair, which Rules are you applying because this is a member‘s statement that he is reading?

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): No! Hon member ... [Interjections.]

 

Ms N V MENTE: No! Which rule, Chair? I am challenging you to tell us which rule?

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon members, if you read the Rules, which you should do before you move the statements, you will see that the same rules of debates also apply to members statements and motions and motions without notice. So, that is the rule that is currently being applied. And that is my ruling.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 170 Ms N V MENTE: Chairperson, your ruling is inconsistent, earlier on during the debate people were impugning on others and there was no such rule being applied on them ... [Interjections.] that is inconsistent. It is unfair.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, take your seat please!

 

Ms N V MENTE: No! That ruling is wrong! It was not applied earlier on.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, take your seat, I have made my ruling. Take your seat! Thank you.

 

PRESIDENT ZUMA LAUNCHES REVAMPED REFUGEE CENTRE NAMED AFTER TUTU

 

(Member‘s Statement)

 

Mr S G MMUSI (ANC): The ANC welcomes the launch of the revamped Marabastad Refugee Centre by President Zuma on Friday 17 February 2017. The centre has been renamed after the struggle stalwart and retired Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 171 and is officially known as the Desmond Tutu Refugee Reception Centre.

 

President Zuma had promised in one of his addresses to the nation that he would ensure that the refugee centre would be revamped. This was after he visited the centre and received complaints from foreign nationals of long queues and other difficulties such as slow information technology infrastructure, inadequate filing systems and poor management practices.

 

President Zuma made an undertaking that the matter would be followed up by the Department of Home Affairs, and indeed the Centre has been upgraded. It has been refurbished with new signage, counters, lighting, the installation of a new security system and electrical fencing.

 

Tshivenda: (17:23) Mudzulatshidulo, ANC i khou shuma nga maanda. [Applause.]

 

THE 2016 SCOURGE OF DROUGHT IN OUR COUNTRY

 

(Member‘s Statement)

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 172 Mr M P GALO (AIC): House Chair, the scourge of drought that has been in our country in 2016 has subsided a little bit. However, the sporadic heavy rains in the past weeks are beginning to threaten the lives of our living in the informal settlements, including subsistence farmers.

 

While water is central for human life to sustain, its excessiveness may harm our people‘s investment in food security and impact negatively on our socioeconomic outputs.

 

The AIC calls upon the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Rural Development and Land Reform to focus on heavy rains with a view to introduce stringent measures to manage erratic episodes of this nature. It is important to have contingency measures to guard against the bad weather that may negatively impact on us as a nation. Dineo is threat; we are living in fear. So, Dineo must also resign. [Laughter.] Thank you.

 

TASIMA LOSES CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CASE AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT

 

(Member‘s Statement)

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 173 Mr G S RADEBE (ANC): House Chair, the ANC acknowledges and is pleased that yet another ruling by the Constitutional Court on 13 February 2017, found in favour of the Department of Transport in its long running battle with Tasima Company. This delivered a final blow to Tasima‘s attempts to hold on to the electronic National Traffic Information and Vehicle Management System despite the court‘s ruling that it should be handed over to the Road Traffic Management Corporation, RMTC.

 

In the latest ruling, the court dismissed Tasima‘s urgent application with costs as it bears no prospects for success. This is a vindication of the RTMC‘s position that Tasima has to hand over the system within 30 days and vacate the premises it currently occupies. The RTMC is ready to take over and start operating the system immediately. Thank you, Chair.

 

GOVERNMENT UNABLE TO CURB CHROME ILLEGAL MINING

 

(Member‘s Statement)

 

Adv H C SCHMIDT (DA): Hon House Chair, this government is unable to stop illegal mining. There are two possible explanations for this: It is either incompetent or corrupt.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 174 Despite the Gauteng High Court Order, the Department of Mineral Resources and the SA Police Services, Saps, are failing to stop illegal chrome mining near Burgersfort, in Limpopo.

 

Illegal mining continues in broad daylight with the Department of Mineral Resources continuing to neglect its role as the custodian of South Africa‘s mineral resources. A growing syndicate transports illegally mined chrome to Maputo in Mozambique as well as Durban and Richards Bay harbour. No taxes, royalties, pay as you earn and export duties are paid, causing Sars to forfeit revenue on illegal revenue amounting to as much as R1 million per day.

 

This illegal mining is done with knowledge and an apparent acquiescence of the Saps, the Department of Mineral Resources and the Department of Environmental Affairs.

 

In a lame explanation to the portfolio committee last week, the Department of Mineral Resources admitted a police raid that failed because the illegal miners had been tipped off. It also revealed that it is not looking for leaks on its own staff, preferring to shift the blame to others.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 175 The Constitution requires the state to ensure that all mining and environmental laws are effectively enforced and that police investigations are initiated and pursued where individuals break the law. I thank you. [Applause.]

 

MILLIONS TO BENEFIT FROM BUS SERVICE IN EKURHULENI

 

(Member‘s Statement)

 

Mr L RAMATLAKANE (ANC): The ANC is pleased that over three million Ekurhuleni citizens are to benefit from the bus rapid transit (BRT) system, Harambee, which is 100% owned by taxi operators, as from July 2017. Ekurhuleni is the last metro in Gauteng to have a BRT system, which is set to change the face of public transport and infrastructure in the region.

 

The city launched routes and systems of the phase one of the BRT on 7 February 2016, which included the testing of the buses and routes between Kempton Park and Tembisa. The testing of the BRT system with the infrastructure costing R800 million, would commence with eight buses.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 176 The next phase of the BRT according to the Mayor of Ekurhuleni, Mzwandile Masina, will commence with the operation of 40 buses in the area of Tembisa and Kempton Park. The new buses will connect the nine towns of Benoni, Germiston, Springs, Kempton Park, Edenvale, Nigel, Brakpan, Boksburg and Alberton - that makes up Ekurhuleni and are part of the plans to overcome the problems created by apartheid spatial planning. Thank you. [Applause.]

 

Ms N V MENTE: House Chairperson, can I address you?

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): On what point do you want to address me, hon member?

 

Ms N V MENTE: On point 92(3)(a)(b). And let me read it for you. ―The member raising the point of order must commence by quoting the exact Rule or standing order or at least the principle or subject matter upon which the point of order is based. If the member does not do so, the presiding officer may insist on him or her doing so,‖ which you didn‘t do because it is an ANC member. And you forced our member to sit down without quoting a Rule that allows you to do that.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 177 The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, take your seat, please?

 

Ms N V MENTE: Why are you allowing the ANC member to speak without a Rule? And allow ... [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, take your seat!

 

Ms N V MENTE: ... no, Chairperson, speak to the Rules.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): The principle was raised, take your seat! Hon member, I am now going to switch off your microphone ... [Interjections.]

 

Ms N V MENTE: You must be fair.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): ... because I have ruled on the matter.

 

Ms N V MENTE: You cannot allow ANC people to speak in this House. We are not your children.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 178 Ms H O HLOPHE: Chair!

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Yes, hon member!

 

Ms H O HLOPHE: As the EFF, we want to point out to you that you are not neutral in chairing this House because in terms of the Rules, member‘s statements ... you didn‘t even care to read us a Rule, which EFF didn‘t follow.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Okay. Let me assist you then. Take your seat.

 

Ms H O HLOPHE: Yes.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member let me refer you to Rule 85 on page 69 under paragraph two. It says, a member who wishes to bring any improper or unethical conduct on the part of another member to the attention of the House, may do so only by way of a substantive motion, comprising a clearly formulated and properly substantiated charge that in the opinion of the Speaker, prima facia warrants consideration by the House.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 179 Now, go to page 94. Are you on page 94 at the top? Under 8 it says, the Rules of debate applies to member‘s statements and ministerial responses. That is my ruling and that is what my ruling was based on. Is it a different matter that you want to raise, because I have ruled on this matter?

 

Ms H O HLOPHE: It is a follow up, Chair, on the same ruling.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, I will give you the last opportunity but the ruling has been made.

 

Ms H O HLOPHE: Yes, Chair. Rule 132, statement by members. According to us as the EFF, we think that we have followed all procedures. [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon members, order!

 

Ms H O HLOPHE: According to this Rule. When the ANC member stood up to say, we have faltered the Rule, you as the Chair, didn‘t even take us through, you even told us to sit down without pointing at the wrongs we committed. That is our main problem with you.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 180 The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, I think the matter has now been sufficiently clarified and we expect all members to observe this Rule. Hon member, I am not going to take another point of order.

 

Ms H O HLOPHE: Chair, it is not resolved.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, I didn‘t even recognise you, take your seat, please.

 

Ms H O HLOPHE: No, Chair. Don‘t take shortcuts. Chair!

 

TRAGIC ACCIDENT AT THE DURBAN NAVAL BASE

 

(Minister‘s Response)

 

The MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS: Chairperson, my thanks to hon Mjobo for the statement. As the leadership of the department we are indeed saddened by the loss of life in the tragic incident that took place at the Durban Naval Base. We have already visited the families of the deceased to express our condolences and to share in their pain.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 181 The heroic actions of the soldiers who came to the rescue of the workers – although three of them perished in the accident – must indeed be commended.

 

The Department of Public Works will assist and co-operate in all investigations to be conducted in this matter including investigations by the Department of Labour in terms of compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act in determining the cause of the accident which led to this tragic loss of life. Thank you.

 

THE SIGNING OF THE PROPOSED NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE

 

(Minister‘s Response)

 

IsiZulu: [17:33] UNGQONGQOSHE WEZEMISEBENZI: Sihlalo weNdlu, kusitatimende esiphakamiswe nguNkz Lumka Yengeni ngiyafisa ukuqinisekisa ukuthi wonke amalungu amele [constituencies] i-Nedlac avumelene ngomklamo kazwelonke wamaholo aphansi [national minimum wage] engu-R20. Ngiyafisa ukucacisa futhi ukuthi la eNingizimu Afrika sisebenza amahora angama-45 ngakho-ke ...

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 182 English: ... in terms of the calculation of national minimum wage ...

 

IsiZulu: ... kulabo abasebenza amahora angama-45 kuzoba ngu-R3900.

 

English: Secondly, we have agreed that the implementation date should be May 2018 depending on the finalisation of the amendments of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and the Labour Relations Act.

 

IsiZulu: Sengigcina, ngiyafisa ukusho ukuthi i-Cosatu ayisayinanga ngomhlaka-7. Yacela ukunikezwa ithuba lokubuyela emuva ku-CEC ukuze bayoyibikela bese bathola igunya [mandate] ...

 

English: ...

 

and they have said they will be coming to sign soon.

 

Thank you very much.

 

FARM ATTACKS ON THE RISE AS 15 PEOPLE DIE IN 30 FARM ATTACKS

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 183 (Minister‘s Response)

 

The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: House Chair, in responding to the matter raised by the hon Steyn ...

 

IsiXhosa: ... ililishwa into yokuba xa sijonge ukubhubha kwabantu ezifama amehlo ethu aba ngamagxwem singababoni abasebenzi ababulawa ngabaqeshi babo. Ewe, kuyinyaniso ukuba ukufa kwabantu ezifama yinto ebuhlungu kwaye akufanelekanga ukuba ijongwe ngeliso lebala.

 

Kule veki iphelileyo nje kuphela, sivile ukuba kukho umzingeli odubule waze wabulala umsebenzi wasefama kuba ebemfanisa nehodi. Ngoku ke iyamangalisa ukuba ngumntu onjani lo ongakwaziyo okwahlula ihodi emntwini. Masilingane isidima sabantu ezifama kwaye akekho umntu kweli sebe ndikulo ocinga ukuba ukubulawa kwamafama yinto eqhelekileyo.

 

Yinto engantlanga ukubulawa kwamafama nabasebenzi basezifama kuba ukufa kunye kwaye kubuhlungu kuzo zonke iintsapho. Makhe sitshintshe xa zijonga ezi zinto siwasuse amehlo ocalucalulo namehlo okungahoyi bantu. Imbeko iya kuvela ezifama xa umfama

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 184 ephethe abasebenzi ngendlela ephucukileyo nto leyo eya kwenza uxolo. Uxolo luqala ezindlini.

 

English: Ms A STEYN: House Chairperson, on a point of order.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Yes, what is the point of order, hon member?

 

Ms A STEYN: I have never used race in this discussion. [Interjections.] There are black and white people killed. [Interjections.] The Minister is misleading the House.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): No, hon member, that is a point for discussion and further debate. I also struggled to get the interpretation properly on the earpiece here. Why are you rising, hon member?

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: May I address you in terms of Rule 85, House Chairperson?

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Yes, hon member.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 185 The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: House Chairperson, there have been several rulings in this House that one may not impute that another member of this House is a racist. I am not sure if it was a problem with the interpretation but, certainly, the last part of that particular excerpt indicated that what the hon Steyn was doing in this House was racist ... [Interjections.] ... and used racism in order to make this ... [Interjections.]

 

So, either way, there are two things need to be done. The first one is that I would like you to check the Hansard for the proper transcription. Secondly, if our interpreting service needs to be upgraded, then we must do so. Because we need an accurate translation of what is happening in this House. [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): We will do that, hon member. Why are you rising, hon Minister of Science and Technology?

 

The MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: I think it is important, Chairperson, that we clear up the matter of interpretation. [Interjections.]

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 186 The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order! Order! hon members.

 

The MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: The hon member said all of us should not use a racial connotation when we raise such matters. He did not refer to an individual. [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon members, I will check the Hansard and, if necessary, I will then come back to the House.

 

THE 2016 SCOURGE OF DROUGHT IN OUR COUNTRY

 

(Minister‘s Response)

 

The MINISTER OF CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS: House Chairperson, I must indicate that the question that is related to the state of readiness to deal with any incidents of emergency or disaster should be responded to.

 

Currently, we have what we call National Disaster Management Centre which is administered by our ministry of Co-Operative

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 187 Governance and Traditional Affairs. And it is working jointly with provincial disaster management centres. I must indicate Chair that we usually activate the operations of these structures when there are emergencies or disasters.

 

The recent example of Cyclone Dineo is a typical example showing the state of readiness of our country.

 

But maybe just to manage the concern of the member around the impact of Cyclone Dineo, I must indicate that the Dineo phenomenon has had a minimum impact on our shores and it has left our shores. Currently, what we are doing through the structure cited ... we are obviously monitoring the reported damages, but we are also monitoring the secondary effects that came as a result of this particular phenomenon.

 

But we are also observing a new weather pattern which is likely to affect North West, Eastern Cape and Free State. There are heavy rains that are currently falling in those three provinces and we are urging our communities and all concerned to make sure that they adhere to all the alerts as issued by our reliable weather services. And they must also not underestimate the speed of moving water because it has

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 188 been shown that most of the incidents that have been reported are as the results of people underestimating the speed of moving water. Thank you very much Chair and we hope our people will observe ... [Inaudible.] [Time expired.]

 

BANKS’ COLLUSION IN MANIPULATION OF CURRENCY

 

(Minister‘s Response)

 

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Chair, I want to welcome the comments by hon Dlamini and hon Mabe. Indeed, radical socioeconomic transformation will not be possible if we still have others who engage in unfair practices and lay traps for others who wish to participate in the economy.

 

We must welcome and applaud the Competition Commission of SA for continuing to keep a hawk‘s eye out for anticompetitive behaviour and throw the red card in the face of those involved in such, as it did in the case of the 17 financial institutions.

 

We also agree that those involved in such heinous acts must face harsh sentences. And we are confident that the

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 189 Competition Tribunal of SA will uphold the findings of the Competition Commission of SA and impose a higher sentence to them. It is important because this goes well with the comment that the President has made that if we are not responding to this, we are not going to be able to transform our society, nor end racism in our society.

 

On other hand, we also agree on the need for the diversification of the financial sector. Thank you, Chair.

 

TASIMA LOSES CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CASE AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT MILLIONS TO BENEFIT FROM BUS SERVICE IN EKURHULENI

 

(Minister‘s Responses)

 

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF TRANSPORT: Chairperson, we welcome the statement by hon Radebe and hon Ramatlakane.

 

In November 2016, the Constitutional Court delivered a judgement ordering Tasima to hand over the traffic information system to the Road Traffic Management Corporation, RTMC, within 30 days.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 190 However, Tasima, in trying to hold on to the system, lodged an urgent application seeking direct access to the court to interpret its November 2016 judgement.

 

Hon members, on the 13th of this month, the Constitutional Court judgement once and for all closed the dirty chapter of Tasima who tried to bully us to serve the South African people by force. The people of South Africa‘s traffic information will now be in the hands of the state – to the disappointment of the DA, that covertly supported the looting of the state by Tasima.

 

On bus rapid transport in Ekurhuleni, we want to ensure that our people have accessible transport, affordable transport and of course, a secure and safe transport. Siyaqhuba [We are moving forward.] Ngiyabonga [Thank you.] [Applause.]

 

NOTICES OF MOTION

 

Ms M V MAFOLO: House Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 191 That the House —

 

debates the development of joint campaigns of programmes to mobilise and unite the broadest cross section of the South African people behind the goals of the national democratic revolution.

 

I thank you.

 

Dr M J FIGG: House Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the DA:

 

That the House -

 

in the light of increased irregular expenditure by the ANC government, debates measures to prevents this from happening.

 

Thank you.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 192 Dr S S THEMBEKWAYO: House Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the EFF:

 

That the House -

 

debates the need for a nationally co-ordinated, comprehensive plan to look after vulnerable and mentally ill people which includes health, education, and social components so as to give them a dignified life.

 

I thank you.

 

Mr B M MKONGI: Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:

 

That the House -

 

debates strengthening the working relations between government, the private sector, and organised labour in order to create more jobs.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 193 I thank you.

 

Mr M HLENGWA: House Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the IFP:

 

That the House -

 

debates—

 

(a) how it was both conscionable and possible for the Secretary to Parliament – who earns R2,8 million per annum – to award himself a bursary to study a Masters Degree whilst at the same time turn down the study funding applications of 50 junior staff, claiming that the legislature had no more budget for same; and

 

(b) the clear message that this sends to the broader South Africa that black economic empowerment is a myth paid lip service to by this government which should, in fact, be called black elitist empowerment.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 194 I thank you. [Interjections.]

 

Prof N M KHUBISA: House Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the NFP:

 

That the House —

 

debates the challenges faced by children who are undocumented and do not have birth certificates and are refused enrolment at schools as a result thereof, thus undermining their basic rights as children to receive education.

 

I so move.

 

Ms L N MJOBO: House Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:

 

That the House —

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 195 debates the collaboration between government and artists, athletes, academia, the faith-based sector and other civil society formations involved in working with government to strengthen nationbuilding and social cohesion initiatives.

 

Thanks you.

 

Mr M L W FILTANE: Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the UDM:

 

That the House —

 

debates the impact of the scourge of armyworms on small, commercial and subsistence farmers.

 

IsiXhosa: Le nto Sihlalo weNdlu isikhumbuza ngeenkumbi ze-1935 ezenza indlala engummangaliso. Amafama asekhasayo awakafundiswa ngeendlela zokuzikhusela kule ntsholongwane.

 

English: I so move.

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 196 Afrikaans: Mev A M DREYER : Agb Voorsitter, terwyl ons vandag internasionale moedertaal herdenk, gee ek hiermee namens die DA kennis:

 

Dat die Huis tydens die volgende sitting, die waarde van moedertaalonderrig in Suid-Afrika debateer.

 

Tshivenda: 17:48:15 Vho T E MULAUDZI: Mudzulatshidulo, ndo imela ḽihoro ḽa EFF, ndi dzinginya uri kha dzulo ḽi tevhelaho kha ino Nnḓu ri ambe kana ri ṱaṱisane nga nyambo kana khanedzano zwayo nga ha u sa tholiwa ha mapholisa vho imelaho vhane vha khou thusa mapholisani fhedzi vha fhedza vha so ngo tholiwa na musi vha na tshenzhemo i no fhira miṅwaha miraru, ha fhedza ho tholwa vhathu vha no bva nnḓa ngeno hu litshwa vhane vha khou shuma tshipholisani vha sa holi. Ndi khou dzinginya.

 

Mr S G RADEBE: Hon Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 197 That the House —

 

debates strengthening the call for the two states solution in the resolution of Palestine‘s rightful quest for self determination.

 

Shukran [Thank you.]

 

Mr P P MABE: I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:

 

That the House –

 

debates taking decisive steps to promote greater economic inclusion and advance black people‘s ownership control and real leadership of the economy.

 

Mr L RAMATLAKANE: Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:

 

That the House —

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 198 debates ensuring that the economic strategy finds an appropriate balance between meeting our developmental objectives and promoting inclusive growth.

 

Mr C MACKENZIE: House Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the DA:

 

That the House —

 

debates the proposed corporatization of the Post Bank and its implications for an inclusive yet robust South African financial services sector.

 

I so move.

 

Setswana: Rre S G MMUSI: Mo boemong jwa ANC kopanong e e tlang:

 

Ntlo e –

 

ke tsitsinya gore mo

 

 

 UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 21 FEBRUARY 2017 Page 199 e ngangisane kgotsa go ganetsana ka go gagamatsa le go emana nokeng le go tshegetsana mmogo mo go tliseng ka potlako kemonosi ya Western Sahara e e tlisiwang ke lebaka la gore Morocco o setse o ikamantse le dinaga tsa Aforika go nna enngwe ya dinaga. Ke a leboga.

 

Debate concluded.

 

The House adjourned at 17:50.

 

 

  

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