Hansard: NCOP: Unrevised Hansard
House: National Council of Provinces
Date of Meeting: 18 Nov 2016
Summary
No summary available.
Minutes
UNREVISED HANSARD
FRIDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 2016
____
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES IN BUFFALO
CITY IN EASTERN CAPE
____
The Council met at 9:14
The Chairperson of the NCOP took the Chair and requested
members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or
meditation.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS – see col 000.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon President, before you address
us. Members of the public, you have been invited to the formal
sitting of the National Council of Provinces and here you are
expected to listen but you are not expected to disrupt the
proceedings of this House.
Ndiyacela bandla, niza kucula xa sesigqibile. Ndicela nisiyeke
siqhube umsebenzi wolu suku. Uza kwazi sisi ... (Translation
of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
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[Please, people, you will be able to sing after we are done.
Please, allow us to proceed with the business of the day. You
will be able to, lady ...]
... otherwise I will be forced to take you out of the sitting
and ...
... andifuni ukuyenza loo nto. Masizame ukuba sibenembeko
bantu bakuthi, sivumele uMongameli ukuba athethe kule Ndlu.
(Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[... I do not want to do that. Let us show some respect,
people, and allow the President to speak in this House.]
Moh M P KONI: Motl Modulasetilo, ke ne ke kopa go go gopotsa
gore malobanyana fale re ne ra ikuela gore Rre Zuma a se ke a
tlhola a tla mo Ntlong eno gonne o paletswe ke go obamela
Molaotheo wa Aforika Borwa.
Ke boe gape ke ikuele gore maloba ka kgang eno, motl Mokwele o
ne a e tlhagisa mo Ntlong fela ga a ka a tsewa tsia mme ga
feleletsa motl Mokwele a robegile letsogo. Jaanong ke ne ke
kopa gore mma, ka botlotlegi jwa setilo sa gago, ka
boikokobetso gore rre a se ke a letlelelwa go bua sepe mo
Ntlong eno gonne ga a tlotle molao. Ke a leboga. (Translation
of Setswana paragraph follows.)
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[Ms M P KONI: Hon Chairperson, I would like to remind you that
we have previously made a plea that Mr Zuma must refrain from
coming to this House because he has been unable to uphold the
Constitution of South Africa.
And, still on the same matter, hon Mokwele raised this issue
in the House - nobody listened; she ended up with a broken
arm. So I am on my knees appealing to you, as the Chairperson,
not to allow this man to address this House, as he does not
obey the law. Thank you.]
THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon President, please take your
seat. Hon Koni, you are raising a point of order which was
raised at a sitting a few weeks ago in Cape Town in the
National Council of Provinces. At that point you raised the
same point of order. I ruled then that the President will be
allowed to address the House and proceed to do what is
expected of him to do as per the programme of the NCOP. I want
to sustain the ruling I made on that day and that your point
of order is not carried and therefore, I hope it is not
repeated because the ruling will stay the same.
Hon President ...
Please take your seat Hon President; there is another point of
order
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Moh T G MOKWELE: Ke a go leboga Modulasetilo. Ke leboge le
tšhono e o mphileng yona ya gore ke emelele go ya ka molawana
wa Khansele ya Bosetšhaba ya Diporofense. Re le mokgatlo wa
EFF, re buile maloba le fa o tsweletse go diragatsa molawana o
o seng mo molaong wa go netefatsa gore o neela Rre Zuma maatla
a gore e nne Moporesitente le fa gone a tlotse molao wa gore a
tlotle kantoro ya gagwe jaaka Moporesitente, re go itsise gore
... (Translation of Setswana paragraph follows.)
[Ms T G MOKWELE: Thank you, Chairperson, I appreciate the
opportunity that I have been afforded, as per rules of the
National Council of Provinces, to address this House. We, the
EFF, have previously stated that this man must not be allowed
in this House. However, you still continue to give him the
powers to be the President, though he disregarded the law that
states that he, as the President, must respect his office. We
would like to inform you that ...]
... as the EFF, we are not going to listen to him, we are
going to move out and after that [Interjections.]
Ms N P KONI: We will come back once Zuma is finished
[Interjections.]
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Ms T G MOKWELE: We want to make you aware that you have
crowded the ANC mob with our monies. We are moving out and we
will come back. [Interjections.]
The CHAIPERSON OF THE NCOP: Order! Order! Hon President, you
may take the stage. [Applause.]
The PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: The Chairperson of the National
Council of Provinces, Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP, hon
Ministers and Premiers, Deputy Ministers and MECs, Members of
Parliament and Provincial Legislatures, executive mayors and
the leadership of the SA Local Government Association, Salga,
traditional leaders present, councillors ...
mphakathi wase Buffalo City namaphethelo ... [community of the
greater Buffalo City ...]
Ladies and Gentlemen, molweni, sanibonani, dumelang.
[Interjections.]
We thank the NCOP for bringing us together for another session
of Taking Parliament to the People.
We meet in the beautiful home province of Oliver Reginald
Tambo. Next year, in October, the country will celebrate the
centenary of his illustrious life. An inter-ministerial
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committee has begun planning this momentous celebration for a
national hero and a man who sacrificed a lot for the
liberation of our country and people.
One of the highlights of the year 2016 is that it marks the
20th anniversary of the signing into law of the Constitution
of the Republic of South Africa, by His Excellency, President
Nelson Mandela. This took place in Sharpeville on
10 December 1996.
The executive, judiciary and legislature and our people, will
come together in Sharpeville on 10 December, next month, to
mark this historic occasion.
The anniversary is an opportunity for us to recommit ourselves
to building a truly nonracial, nonsexist, democratic and
prosperous South Africa, as called upon by this progressive
Constitution.
Inhloso kahulumeni ukuthi abantu baphile kangcono, bahlale
ezindaweni ezinezinsiza – ugesi, amanzi, imitholampilo,
imigwaqo, izikole kanye nokuphepha kuphele nobugebengu.
Asisoze siphumule uma kusekhona abantu abalala bengadlile,
abahlala ezindaweni ezingaphephile, abangenawo ugesi namanzi
nezinye izidingo. Kuningi osekwenziwe uhulumeni. (Translation
of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
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[The government‘s objective is for people to live a better
life, live in places where there‘s service delivery –
electricity, water, clinics, roads, schools and safety and
with no crime. We will never rest if there are still people
who go to bed on empty stomachs, who live in unsafe places,
who do not have electricity and water and other basic
services. A lot has been done by the government.]
Hon members, just over three months ago, over 15 million South
Africans came out to vote in the local government elections.
Of the 257 councils, only two have not been constituted as a
result of court processes — Nquthu Local Municipality and
UMzinyathi District Municipality, both in KwaZulu-Natal.
The success in constituting councils means our local
government sphere has come of age.
On 9 November, the first by-elections of this new
administration were held in 15 wards, across six provinces,
and these also went very well.
The task now is to continue improving the performance of local
government so that services to our people can be delivered
better and faster each day.
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Progress is being made in many areas. Let me talk about
housing, for instance. Government has an impressive record of
delivering over 4,3 million houses and subsidies since the
dawn of democracy. [Applause.]
We are happy to announce that the Eastern Cape province has
contributed close to 600 000 housing units since 1994 ...
[Applause.] ... providing shelter to more than 2 million
people in the province.
Since the beginning of the current financial year, which is
April 2016, we have successfully delivered more than 1 500
houses and services to the people of various communities in
the Buffalo City Metro at a cost of about R125 million.
Government is also hard at work fast-tracking the issuing of
title deeds to the beneficiaries of our government subsidised
houses.
Access to water remains a critical priority, not only now
during the crippling drought but also generally, as an
essential service for our people.
Water is life and
sanitation is dignity. We expect to see the beginning of the
construction of the Umzimvubu Dam. The detailed design work
for this ground-breaking mega-project is already nearing
completion. The highly anticipated new Foxwood Dam in Adelaide
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and the Zalu Dam near Lusikisiki are also advancing well and
are now in the planning stages. The construction of the Xhora
Dam is 57% complete while the Mbashe Dam is also on schedule.
Other newly completed dams in this province are the Ludeke Dam
at Bizana, which is now 100% complete, and the Mdwaka Dam
which is 100% complete.
We are a nation at work, building a better life for and with
our people.
Hon members, I know that all of you care about the future of
our youth and about education. Our host, the Eastern Cape, has
amongst the best schools and universities. I am happy to
report today, that this province is now the leading
beneficiary of government‘s school infrastructure programme
under the Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Delivery
Initiative, popularly known as Asidi.
The objective of Asidi is to build decent, modern schools with
water, sanitation and electricity. It is also to replace
schools constructed from inappropriate materials such as mud,
plankie or asbestos with proper structures.
In the Eastern Cape alone, government has, to date, built one
126 new state-of-the-art schools. Just yesterday, the Minister
of Basic Education handed over yet another state-of-the-art
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school, namely Bhungu Primary School in Libode at the OR Tambo
District Municipality. The school, among other things, boasts
a nutrition centre, an internet connection, a science
laboratory and a resource centre, to name just a few.
This school shows how far we are prepared to go to provide a
better education for our children in this country. Nationally,
to date, a total of 217 replacement state-of-the-art schools
have been built and handed over to the communities.
And, since 2014, we have provided electricity to 180 schools,
sanitation to one 167 schools and water to another 248
schools.
At the same time, government is aware of the perennial
problems of shortages of vital resources, such as learning and
teaching support materials, school furniture, and teachers.
The Department of Basic Education has assured me that it has
completed a comprehensive needs assessment for all schools in
this province. Together, with the provincial authorities, they
are in the process of addressing the identified needs. All
hands are on deck to address the reported problems as they
arise.
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Compatriots, we are a nation at work, building a better life,
for and with our people.
Hon members, the fight against extreme poverty continues.
Government‘s social assistance programme plays an important
role in protecting the poorest households against poverty,
supporting 17 million South Africans, especially vulnerable
children, older persons and people with disabilities.
In the Eastern Cape, government provides about 3 million
social grants. Within the Buffalo City region, government
provides social grants to about 200 000 child beneficiaries —
located particularly in East London and King Williams Town —
in order to alleviate poverty. [Applause.]
Government is also keen to provide income generating
opportunities for beneficiaries of the social grants.
Opportunities exist in the provision of school uniforms to
vulnerable children, food to the network of food distribution
centres and also the provision of other goods and services.
One hundred and thirty-nine cooperatives in the Eastern Cape
have been contracted to provide Social Relief of Distress
packages or food parcels at a value of R6 million.
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In 2013, Cabinet approved the National Policy on Food and
Nutrition Security, together with the Household Food and
Nutrition Security Strategy. In line with this policy, food
distribution centres were established, with food being bought
from local producers and suppliers. [Applause.]
To date, over 200 distribution centres have been established
nationally and are operating at a budget of R100 million. In
the Eastern Cape, a total of 25 centres were established. Six
of these centres are in Buffalo City Metropolitan
Municipality, located in Embongweni, KwaZakhele, Dimbaza,
Abbasford and two in East London.
Sithi komame masiwasebenzise lamathuba afika nohulumeni,
sixoshe indlala. Masakhe izakhiwo ezibizwa omasibambisane
silime, sidayisele uhulumeni, uhulumeni uzothenga kinina
sixoshe nendlala emakhaya. Akufuneki ukuthembela kuhulumeni
kuphela. Amathuba avulekile ukusebenzisa amandla ethu
nesinakho esingakwenza siziphilise. (Translation of isiZulu
paragraph follows.)
[We are saying to women, let us use these opportunities
provided by the government, and fight hunger. Let us establish
the co-operatives and farm, and sell to the government, the
government is going to buy from you and you will be able to
fight hunger in the households. We must not rely on government
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only. Opportunities are open we just have to use our power and
a little we can do to survive.]
I believe that we all share the concern about the future of
our youth and the need to provide the best opportunities for
them which we did not have during our time when we were young.
We would like to reiterate that we have heard the legitimate
concerns of our students, especially students from poor
households, who have been protesting about fees.
We all support the call to make education accessible to the
poor, which is why we will continue to expand access for the
poor through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS.
The scheme currently supports close to 500 students at
university and Technical and Vocational Education and
Training, TVET, colleges.
This year alone, NSFAS has disbursed loans and bursaries to
the tune R14 million.
Government will also provide an additional R9 billion rand for
Nsfas over the period ahead, raising its funding to
universities by over 18% a year over the next three years.
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Sifisa ukugcizelela ukuthi uhulumeni uyavuma ukuthi izingane
eziphuma emakhaya ampofu kufanele zisizwe uma zifunda
emanyuvesi nasemakolishi. Uhlelo lwemali i-NSFAS luyaqhubeka
nokusiza intsha. Siyaqhubeka futhi nokufuna amakhambi
okusweleka kwemali yokufunda emakhaya amaningi adingayo.
Kunekhomishana ehleli sikhuluma nje, eholwa ijaji uHeher
ebheka ukuthi singayixazulula kanjani lenkinga yokufunda
kwabantwana – njengoba abantwana babekhalile ukuthi bafuna
ukufunda ze, ukuze lokho uma sithi siyakwenza sizokwenza
kanjani ukuze kwenzeke. Singasho nje kanti asizukukwenza. Lowo
msebenzi usaqhubeka. Ikhomishana maduze nje izobika ukuthi
isihambe yafikaphi. Lokho kuzosisiza ukuba isizwe sonke
sizwane ngokuthi sizokwenza kanjani ukuthi abantwana bafunde,
kungabikhona umntwana ongezukufunda ngoba kuthiwa uphuma
emzini ontulayo.
Sinxusa izinhlangano zomphakathi nezemfundo zibambisane
nekhomishana, zihambise imibono khona ukuze izwe lithole
ukusizakala. Bonke abanemibono abangase babenamasu okuthi
singafinyelela kanjani kuleli thuba elifunwa yisizwe ukuthi
abantwana abathole ithuba lokufunda kungathi abangenalutho
bangalitholi ithuba lokufunda.
Siyokhumbula ukuthi bakwethu lolu daba lokuthi imfundo
iyohamba kanjani, lwashiwo emashumini amaningi eminyaka
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eyedlule ukuthi uma sesikhululekile kofanele ukuthi
iminyangoyezemfundo ivulwe kuwo wonke umuntu. Kuthi labo
abahluphekile uhulumeni abasize ukuze bafunde. Ngakho-ke
ukuthi imfundo ibaluleke kangakanani yinto esayisho
nangenkathi kulwelwa inkululeko - kwakungenye yezinto
ezazihamba phambili. Uhulumeni usenze lukhulu ke ekuzameni
ukugcwalisa leso sithembiso. Sikhuluma nje kunezikole
ezingasatheli imali emfundweni ephansi, osekungenwa kufundwe
mahhala. [Ihlombe.] Lokho kusho ukuthi uhulumeni le
ngqubomgomo yakhe ngokwezemfundo ukuthi abahluphekile
abangasali ngemuva useyayenza. Useyiqalisile kumanje.
Kwezemfundo ephakeme le-NSFAS engikhuluma ngayo iyona
ehlangabezana nezingane ezihluphekileyo. [Ihlombe.] Into
efunekayo ukuthi siyicacise kahle le nto uma sekuvela umbiko
wekhomishana. Yingakho sithi bonke abantu abaye kukhomishana
bayobeka imibono yabo ukuthi ithini na ngoba imfundo yiyona
nto esiyibeke phambili ngoba asikho isizwe esingathuthuka
singenabo abantu abanikezwe amakhono bafundiswa. Izizwe
eziphumelele emhlabeni yizizwe ezatshala kakhulu kwezemfundo
ngoba ngemva kwamashumi ambalwa eminyaka leli lizwe lingaba
izwe elihamba phambili kwezemfundo.
Akekho ke umuntu othi ayingabi khona imfundo. Sonke sisho
njalo, asingakubangi-ke lokho. Silwe sengathi kukhona abathi
abayifuni imfundo. Siyifuna sonke ukuthi nje sizoyenza
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kanjani. Siyenze kungekho ukungezwani. Yingakho sithi abazali
nabo bonke abantu mabasukume. Sijabule kakhulu ukuthi
basukumile njengoba abantwana bebebhikisha. (Translation of
isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[We wish to emphasise that the government agrees that the
children from the poor households must be assisted when
studying at the universities and the colleges. The NSFAS
funding programme continues to help the youth. We are
continuously looking for remedies with regard to lack of
education money in many needy households.
There is a commission meeting as we speak, which is led by
Judge Heher which is working on the solutions of how to assist
with regard to the education of the children – as the children
asked for free education, so that we know if we were to do
that what are we going to do to make it happen. We cannot just
say we are not going to do it. That exercise is still
underway. The commission will soon report on their progress up
to now. This will help the whole nation to understand what
needs to be done for the children to be able to study, no
child must not be able to study because he or she is from a
poor household.
We urge community organisations and the Department of
Education to work with the commission, and submit their
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opinions so that we can assist the country. All those who have
opinions who might have strategies on how we can reach this
opportunity dreamt of by the country for children to be
afforded an opportunity to study so that the poor are not
deprived and not get a change to study.
Compatriots, we will remember that this matter on how
education should go, was mentioned many years ago that when we
are free, education doors must be open to all. And the
government must help those who are poor so that they can
study. So, the importance of education was mentioned even
during the fight for freedom – it was one of the priorities.
Government has done so much in attempting to fulfil that
promise. As we speak, there are primary schools that do not
pay school fees, they study for free. [Applause.] That means
that government is following the education policy that the
poor must not be left behind. It has started already.
In higher learning the NSFAS I am referring to is the one that
assists the poor students. [Applause.] This is what must be
made clear when the commission report is available. That is
why we are saying everybody must approach the commission and
submit their comments because education is our priority
because no country has ever developed without people who have
been equipped with necessary skills. The successful countries
with regard to education are the countries that invested a lot
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on education because after a few years this country too can be
successful in respect of education.
No one says that there must be no education. We are all for
it, let us not argue about that. Let us not fight like there
are people who say they do not want education. We all want it,
it is just that we must find a way of how are we going to do
it. We must do it in one spirit. That is why we are saying
that the parents and everybody else must do something about
the situation at hand. We are very happy that they have done
something about the situation at hand since the children were
on strike.]
Hon members, beyond higher education, we are acutely aware of
the challenges, particularly of unemployment, among our youth.
Our university graduates sit on street corners and road
pavements, crying out for something to do. Anything, as they
say.
Government is doing its best, working with business and
labour, to create the right environment for job creation. We
are also creating more opportunities for business to thrive.
Right here in the Eastern Cape, government has, through the
Department of Trade and Industry, made possible approximately
R23 billion rand private sector investment through various
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incentive programmes that have supported over 33 000 jobs.
[Applause.] Over R9 billion of the investment was made
available through the Automotive Incentive Scheme that
supported investment from Mercedes Benz SA, Volkswagen South
Africa, Goodyear South Africa and FAW Vehicle Manufacturers.
Last week, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies,
and the Eastern Cape government launched the Komani Industrial
Park revitalisation project in Queenstown. [Applause.] This is
the fourth industrial park to be launched this year. To date,
the four launched parks combined employ almost 40 000 people.
Indeed, we are a government at work, building a better life,
with and for our people.
Building a better life includes ensuring safety and security
of the most vulnerable, especially women and children. On
25 November the campaign of 16 Days of Activism for No
Violence Against Women and Children will begin.
We call on all our citizens to join hands with government and
civil society organisations to fight the scourge of abuse and
violence against women and children. We urge the police to
treat these cases with empathy, seriousness and urgency. Let
us increase the conviction rates so that we eradicate this
scourge.
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Bakwethu, njengoba sesizowuqala umkhankaso wokulwa
nokuhlukunyezwa kwabesifazane nezingane, sinxusa isizwe sonke
ukuthi sibambisane nabomthetho ukulwa nalesi sihluku kanye
nobulwane lokhu esithi ngesiZulu ubunswelaboya obubhekiswe
kwabesimame kanye nezingane. Uma sibambisene, sizokwazi
ukubhekana nalenkinga siyinqobe futhi. (Translation of isiZulu
paragraph follows.)
[Compatriots, since we are about to start the campaign against
the abuse of women and children, we urge the whole nation to
work together with the law enforcement in fighting against
this cruelty and barbarism which is called ‗ubunswelaboya‘
(person with animal behaviors just missing the animal hair)
directed to women and children. If we are working together, we
will be able to face this problem and overcome it.]
Building a better life means ensuring that ...
[Interjections.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon President, could you
hold on, please. Yes, hon member? Is that a point of order? On
what point are you rising, hon member?
Ms C LABUSCHAGNE: Chairperson, I rise on the point that the
President is allocated 30 minutes on the Order Paper. He is
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now already speaking for 32 minutes. Thank you.
[Interjections.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: No, no, no, no! Ha ah!
Whoa! Whoa! In terms of the Rules of this House that guide the
speaking time of the President, the President is allowed to
speak as long as he is allowed to speak. [Interjections.]
[Applause.] Yes, hon Labuschagne?
Ms C LABUSCHAGNE: Hon Chair, according to the Rules of this
House, no person may speak for longer than 30 minutes. If he
had an open slot, then it should have been indicated on this
Paper that the President has an open slot.
All parties had to give away 1 minute to lessen the procedure.
The House must thus be consistent in its application of the
Rules.
The Rules indicates 30 minutes, and the Rules of this House
say no person longer than 30 minutes. Thank you.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: In terms of the Rule Book
in front of me, there is no allocation of 30 minutes. The
Speakers‘ List that you have is the one that speaks of it.
[Interjections.] Thank you very much.
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Hon President, please continue.
The PRESIDENT OF THE RSA: Chairperson, building a better life
means ensuring that our Constitution ... [Interjections.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon President, could you
hold on, please. What point are you rising on, hon member?
Mr C HATTINGH: Hon Chair, it is about my Rule Book. I don‘t
know whether it has been replaced. I don‘t know whether we are
using the same Rule Book. My Rule Book at 45(1) states the
following:
Except where these Rules provide otherwise, members may not
speak in a debate of the Council longer than the time
allocated to them on the list of scheduled speakers.
Now, 45(2)(a) makes provision for where there is no such list.
There is such a list, and I think you must either ask the
President to stop, or you must take a decision from the House
to suspend the Rules. There is no other way out.
[Interjections.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Okay ... [Interjections.]
No, no, no, Chief Whip. Let me just make a ruling on this.
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The member is reading the Rules very selectively. If you read
Rule 2, it says that the President and the Deputy President
may speak as long as they may be allowed.
Secondly, the presiding officer may use his or her discretion
insofar as allowing a speaker at the podium to speak.
Therefore, I am using two things ... that is 2 and, at the
same time, my discretion. And I am allowing the President to
continue. Continue, hon President. [Interjections.]
The PRESIDENT OF THE RSA: Chairperson, building a better life
means ensuring that our Constitution and the laws of the land
protect our people from the violation of their rights to human
dignity and from discrimination on the basis of colour or
race, among others.
In this regard, allow me to strongly condemn the painful
treatment meted out to Mr Victor Mlotshwa from Middleburg, who
was beaten up, put in a coffin ... [Interjections.] ... and
threatened with being burned alive by two men who reportedly
accused him of trespassing.
This incident, which was posted on social media, is shocking,
painful and despicable in the extreme. The incident is a
reminder of the deep-seated racist attitudes that still
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prevail ... [Interjections.] [Applause.] ... among some in our
country, who still regard black people as lesser human beings.
The perpetrators of this crime and all others who commit
various acts of racism in our nonracial democracy must face
the full might of the law.
This incident is also a reminder of the need to continue
fighting for a better life for farmworkers. Given the secluded
nature of farm work, many suffer in silence.
We have urged the Department of Labour and other departments
to ensure improved monitoring of the working and living
conditions of farmworkers.
This matter has also brought into sharper focus the question
of access to land by black people. Since 1994, the Department
of Rural Development and Land Reform has transferred
4,7 million hectares of land through the redistribution
programme. This is made up of 5 281 projects amounting to
R12 billion.
More than one 120 000 households have benefitted from the
redistribution. In addition to the above, the Commission on
the Restitution of Land Rights has transferred more than
1,9 million hectares to restitution beneficiaries since 1994.
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The programme continues to be implemented and government will
continue to process land claims and assist communities to get
their land back. Government continues to look for ways of
speeding up the process and also to support those who have
regained the land to use it profitably.
Hon members, the promotion of access to justice is one of the
key achievements of our democracy. On 29 November this year,
we will reach another milestone as we open the Limpopo High
Court. [Applause.] This is the first High Court building to be
constructed since 1994 and the first High Court for the people
of Limpopo province, who have had to travel to Gauteng before.
In terms of the jurisdiction, the court has its main seat in
Polokwane and two local seats, in Lephalale and Thohoyandou.
The services that reside in the Limpopo High Court are the
Master of the High Court, Office of the State Attorney, Legal
Aid South Africa, the National Prosecuting Authority, the
Provincial office of the Office of the Chief Justice, Office
of the Family Advocate and the Directorate Legal
Administration of the Department of Justice and Constitutional
Development.
We are very pleased to bring the wheels of justice closer to
the people of the Limpopo province.
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Let me also take this opportunity to remind hon members that
November is Disability Awareness Month, during which we
promote equality and opportunities for persons with
disability. On 3 December, the country will commemorate the
International Day for Persons with Disabilities.
Malungu ahloniphekile nomphakathi wonke, uhulumeni uyaqhubeka
nokusebenza kanzima ukulungisa izimpilo zabantu. Abaningi
sebekutholile ukusizakala. Siyazi futhi ukuthi baningi
abasalinde izidingo nempilo engcono. Ngeke siphumule uma
impilo yabamnyama ingakalungi futhi ingakaphucuki ...
[Ihlombe.] ... ngoba kulomshikashika owadlula yibona
ababecindezelwe kakhulu ... [Ihlombe.], ... ingakafiki
esimweni esigculisayo kwezomnotho nasekuhlaleni kahle. Uma nje
singakafiki lapho siyolokhu sisebenze njalo. Siyoze sifike
ekugcineni ngoba siyazi phela ukuthi indlela eya ekugcineni
yinde. [Ihlombe.]
Njengoba siqhubeka nalo msebenzi wokwakha impilo engcono,
sigqugquzela amazinga amathathu kahulumeni. Uhulumeni
wasekhaya, oweziFundazwe nokaZwelonke, ukuba basebenze nabantu
ngaso sonke isikhathi. Babambisane nomphakathi ezinhlelweni
zabo. Imihlangano mayibizwe kuxoxwe nabantu, babeke izimvo
zabo ngezindawo abahlala kuzo nangezinto eziyizidingo zabo.
[Ihlombe.] Abantu akufanele baze bagcwale emgwaqeni bebhikisha
ngenxa yokungalalelwa abaphathiswa ... [Ihlombe.] ...
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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emazingeni ahlukene. (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs
follows.)
[Hon members and the whole community, government continues to
work hard in making people‘s lives better. Many have received
help. We also know that many are still waiting for services
for a better life. We will never rest when the lives of the
black people has not gotten better and civilised ...
[Applause.] ... because in the past struggle they were the
ones who were more oppressed ... [Applause.], ... before it
has reached the satisfactory socio-economic standard. If we
are not there yet we will continue working. We will finally
reach our destination, we all know that it is a long walk to
freedom. [Appaluse.]
As we continue with this work of building a better future, we
encourage all the three spheres of government. The Local
government, Provincial government and the National government
to work together with people all the time. They must work
together with the public in their programmes. There must be
public hearings, people must have their say about their places
of residence and their needs for service delivery. [Applause.]
People do not have to take it to the streets protesting
because they are not treated ... [Applause.] ... in different
levels.]
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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Xa siqhelile ukuthetha nabantu, besazi ukuba zindawoni na
iingxaki nezizathu zokucotha kophuhliso, abasokuze
baqhankqalaze baphumele ezitalatweni bekhalaza kuba baya kube
besazi. [Kwaqhwatywa.] Isizathu sokuba baphumele ezitalatweni
kungokuba abaqondi ukuba kwenzeka ntoni na, bayarhana kwaye
bamamela namahumhum. Ezo zinto zenza ukuba babenomsindo. Ukuba
sisoloko siqhagamshelana, sithetha nabo oko, baza kwazi ukuba
ixinge phi na kananjalo bazi nokuba luyeza nakubo uphuhliso
abalubona kwabanye. Kubalulekile ukuba siqhagamshelane kakhulu
nabantu kuba xa singayenzi loo nto abantu baza kuzikholelwa
izinto ezithethwa ngaba baphambili abasoloko bethetha izinto
nabangazaziyo, begxeka kanti akunjalo. Kufuneka singabavumeli
aba bantu bathetha nje ukuba balahlekise abantu bethu.
Masithethe nabantu ukuze bazi ukuba yintoni ekufuneka
yenzekile. [Kwaqhwatywa.] (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph
follows.)
[When we are used to talking to the people, and they know what
the problem areas are and the reasons for the slow pace of
development, they will not go out on the streets and protest
because they will be informed. [Applause.] The reason they go
out on the streets is because they do not understand what is
happening; they have suspicions and they are listening to the
rumour mill. Those things make them angry. If we always
communicate with them, they will know where the delay is and
also know that the development that they see out there will
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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reach them too. It is important that we communicate with the
people as much as possible because if we do not, they will
believe the things said by those who always talk about things
they know nothing about, always criticising. We must not allow
such people to confuse our people. We must talk to the people
so that they know what needs to happen. [Applause.]]
Hon members, South Africa is a great country and has great
people. Our country has enormous potential and can be a real
powerhouse of the continent and create a better life and
prosperity for all.
To achieve the country‘s true potential, we need to spend less
time on political squabbles, and dedicate more effort to
working and building our country together. We have seen the
value of working together, in the collaboration between
government, business and labour to reignite growth and avoid a
sovereign downgrade of our country.
We need to find ways of translating that spirit to all walks
of life and to all battles that we need to fight as a nation.
We cannot defeat poverty, inequality and unemployment, if we
continue to spend so much time fighting amongst ourselves.
Our country is a much better place to live in than it was
before 1994. [Applause.] An independent agency, the SA
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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Institute of Race Relations, has pointed out in its latest
report that life in South Africa is much better since 1994.
[Applause.]
We should build on these achievements as we create a more
prosperous South Africa. My plea is that we should unite, pull
together, and build our country.
I thank you, Chairperson, for this opportunity to once again
meet with the NCOP on its important programme of Taking
Parliament to the People. I thank you all.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Order, hon members! Just
before I call the Chairperson of the NCOP, can I bring
something to the attention of members who just walked in? I
hope you are aware that, in terms of the proceedings and
processes in the House, a member is not supposed to cross a
line and you know what it is to cross a line. That is exactly
what you did now. Please, I hope that it will not happen
again. Thank you. [Interjections.] No, hon member, I don‘t
need a response. I was just cautioning you that you crossed
the line.
Moh T G MOKWELE: Ke a itse gore ga ke a tshwanela go feta,
fela o tshwanetse go bo o itse gore lefelo leno ga se le re le
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tlwaetseng, ke ka fao o boning re dirisa tsela e re tsentsweng
ka yona mo Ntlong.
Gape re tsene go santse go na le sebui gonne nako e ne e le
bogologolo fedile - ka metsotso e le sometlhano. Ke a leboga
Modulasetilo. (Translation of Setswana paragraphs follows.)
[Ms T G MOKWELE: I am well aware that I am crossing the line;
however, I am doing exactly what I was taught on arrival in
this House.
Furthermore, I had to interrupt the speaker, as his time
expired a long time ago – 15 minutes ago, to be exact. Thank
you, Chairperson.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: That is why I was saying
that I was just cautioning the member. When a member is
speaking, members must just wait. You should have just waited
until ...
Mr A J NYAMBI: Deputy Chairperson, it is about the point of
order that was raised earlier on and you made a ruling. Now it
is coming back again in a different form. Aspersion was cast
on you. So, I want you to rule in terms of Rule 46(b), when a
member deliberately makes a statement in the House, while the
member knows very well that it is false.
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Earlier on, it was the issue of time. Now, it is coming back
again as if you have deliberately allocated more time. Yet,
the Rules are very clear. If you read Rule 45, the issue of
time is very clear and you made that ruling. So, I want you to
deal with that issue because it is creating an impression that
you have deliberately allocated more minutes to the President.
Yet, it is not the case. Our Rules are very clear. Thank you.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: It is very simple. Members
must familiarise themselves with the Rules of the House and
that is it.
Moh M P KONI:
Ke kopa gore o se ke wa tla go sotlakaka ka
rona ka ntata ya dikgatlhego tsa gago gonne re itse melawana
ya NCOP. Ntlo eno ga re a e tlwaela, re tsene ka gonne nako ya
sebui mo phodiamong e ne e fedile.
Gape ke kopa gore selo se sa gago sa gore batho ga ba itse
melao, o se tlogele. Gape, o tlogele go re nyatsa. E le e le
maikaelelo a gago gore sebui se bue nako e telele.
(Translation of Setswana paragraphs follows.)
[Ms M P KONI: Could you please refrain from abusing us because
we do not know the Rules of the NCOP? We are not used to this
House; we have interrupted because the speaker at the podium‘s
time is up.
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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Please stop undermining us by alluding to the fact that we do
not know the Rules. It was on purpose that you let the speaker
continue talking even after his time had expired.]
DEPUTY CHAIPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon member, that is not a point
of order and I will not continue to entertain that point.
Ms T R MODISE: Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP, His Excellency,
the President, members of the executive, the Speaker of the
Eastern Cape and other provincial Speakers, Members of
Parliament, members of provincial legislatures, ...
... Magosi a rona a a fano. [... Chiefs present ...]
... abantwana begazi ... [... members of the royal family ...]
... we are honoured to have you here.
... oomama nootata ... [... ladies and gentlemen ...]
Our theme, Following up on our commitments to deliver quality
education and ensure economic advancement of our people sums
up the work that we started in June when we first sent our
research team to the Eastern Cape. This visit of the research
team was preceded by discussions of various materials,
analyses of various reports, statistics of Stats SA, matric
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results, the Annual, National Assessment, ANA, results, the
Auditor-General‘s results, and perusals by the different
portfolio and select committees of reports on education.
We know that the NCOP took its provincial week. It also took
its oversight week and we asked hon members to focus on issues
of education throughout South Africa. We know that we did this
because there was no way Parliament could remain immune and
deaf to the national cry and unease of the student movement
who were calling for speedier and greater access to free
education.
We also had to take into cognisance that it is the 40th
anniversary of the 1976 student uprising. We were aware that
in the sluggish economic times, worldwide, where South Africa
is affected like any other economy, unemployment and
especially, youth unemployment becomes a big issue in any
country.
As a legislative sector, we had to be part of the solutions.
We had to try and find better space and time to discuss the
solutions and importance of a South Africa that begins to
marry its education endeavours, from early childhood learning,
to primary school, to institutions of higher learning, to the
very precept of what is now a blueprint of South Africa - the
National Development Plan.
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So, we have concentrated on Alfred Nzo. We were drawn there by
the results of the district. We have visited various early
childhood learning centres, public libraries and schools. We
have visited and had discussions with various school governing
bodies, SGBs, and school management teams. We have inspected
classes and laboratories, where they exist, libraries,
toilets, playgrounds and hostels.
We have been thrilled and we have been shocked. We have seen
good schools and sorry, bad schools. Throughout our
interactions with the various institutions of learning, we
were impressed with the quality and commitment of the SGBs in
the Eastern Cape. [Applause.] What impressed us was the fact
that, even where it was quite clear that the leadership of the
school SGB was not very educated, they were no different from
those that we met who were graduates and postgraduates. They
were committed to ensure that the schools work well.
We have witnessed poor morale and work ethic. We have listened
to queries on policies, which come from either the provincial
or national executive regarding the filling of vacancies. We
listened to complains around the centralisation of the
acquisition of student learning materials. We have listened to
good teachers frustrated with the policies of the Department
of Education.
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We met teachers who are unable to converse to the learners in
English. That is a problem because in matric, most of the
subjects are written in English and if a teacher cannot impart
that material in English, it means that the levels of
acceptance and recognition of material, and passing the
subject is an issue.
We have visited schools that have confident and competent
learners as well as leadership.
We agonise over what South Africa thinks of early childhood
development, ECD. We do not want to see ECD centres as just
places where children are dumped while parents go to work. We
want to draw a thread between ECD and the South Africa we want
to see tomorrow. So, we are worried about the training of ECD
educators and the conditions of the ECD structures. We are
worried about the payment and the nutrition that our children
are given. We are worried about sanitation at ECD level as
well as at school level.
We are worried about nutrition because we have noted that
there are even discrepancies with regard to the subsidisation
of food to schools. We are worried about where our children‘s
food is being prepared and about the state of refrigeration.
Generally, we are worried about the cooking conditions. We are
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worried about the value of the nutrition that our children
get.
Water and sanitation is an issue at schools. We are worried
about unsafe toilets and we must say again that in the previsits, we took issue with certain schools. We were quite
happy when the Eastern Cape came to the party and promptly
delivered temporary structures for sanitation and water to
those schools. [Applause.] We will continue to monitor until
the permanent structures are in place.
We are worried about discipline and drug abuse at schools. We
are worried about what happens in public libraries and the
custodianship of public libraries ...
... kuyamangaza. [... is shocking.]
Do they belong to the municipalities or to the Department of
Arts and Culture? Who determines the contents and quality of
the books for public libraries? What percentage of public
libraries must be allocated to school children? So, we are
worried about this. We are worried about the training of
librarians at public libraries. We are worried about the
safety in public libraries, schools and in clinics.
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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We are worried about the looting of laboratories across the
board. We want the Department of Education to come together
and review the situation.
We were also appalled by the condition of the school
playgrounds. Some schools don‘t even have and the ones that
have are not fenced.
Izinto ezimdaka ezingcolisayo zikhona ezikolweni. [There is a
lot of litter in schools.]
So, as Members of Parliament, both in the NA and the NCOP, we
want to say that there are issues.
We are worried about the structures of the schools. [A gap of
50 seconds in the sound.] ... about confusion of policies
because the schools we visited have children with
disabilities. We are worried about the funding models, the
training and what is expected of these children later on in
life.
We then had public hearings, together with the Eastern Cape
Provincial Legislature, in this very hall. We have visited
almost 50 sites in Buffalo City and the areas.
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We have had issues relating to the police. The Minister of
Police was in the House yesterday. He has made certain
commitments, which we will follow up. We have had issues
raised around the access and the quality of roads. The Deputy
Minister was in the House yesterday. We will follow up on the
commitments they have made.
The public also complained about tenders. They made an example
and they said that one person can have up to 10 contracts. In
any given instance, that is rather overdoing it.
So, the public has not only concentrated on education; they
have also told us that the queues at clinics and hospitals are
too long. They have taken us back to the quality and the
availability of medication at clinics and hospitals. They have
also spoken to us about the quality of service.
So, we want to look at policy gaps. We want to look at
centralisation of procurement in the Department of Education.
We want to look at schools with special needs and we want to
look at the curriculum. We want to look at giving space and
consultation.
As I conclude, we want to look at the closure of schools. And
refresher courses on subjects for teachers become very
important.
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We will continue to follow up. We will continue to pester the
executive on all three levels, to make sure that when we come
back next year, we bring delivery on the promises made. Thank
you. [Applause.]
DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Members, you have the speakers
list. So, if you are aware that you are the next speaker,
please, make use of this chair, so that we speed up the
process.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon members, you have a
Speakers‘ List. There is a chair here, right at the back. So,
if you are aware that you are the next speaker, please make
use of this chair so that we speed up the process. Hon
Magwebu?
Mr V MAGWEBU: Deputy Chairperson, hon members, I stand here
before you today with a very heavy heart. This province is my
home. Born and bred in this province, I was born in the
township of Dimbaza, 18km from where we are sitting this
morning. I have lived in this province for 48 years of my
life, so I understand this province, its challenges and its
frustrations. [Interjections.]
As a father myself, I, like many parents, understand and worry
about the many frustrations and shortcomings of our education
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system. This week, I have had the privilege of going with
other members of the NCOP to visit many sites. Amongst them
was Sinovuyo High School. What we saw and witnessed at that
high school was very, very depressing and painful. It is a
school without a ceiling, with broken windows and completely
shattered infrastructure. As we, the members, sat there, we
pondered and were all worried, as this school represents many
schools we have throughout this province.
I shall mention one school that the members know in
Dalibhunga, near Qumbu. The children there still have no water
or sanitation today. I shall mention a school in Matatiele.
Again, it is very depressing and shocking, today.
[Interjections.] In that school, there are 13 learners sharing
one textbook. These are learners who must write their
matriculation exams at the end of this year.
Again, at Sinovuyo High School, in Braelyn, close to here, we
also found that the teachers have many challenges, which they
told us about. In our meeting with the school principal and
the acting district manager, they mentioned that - because we
wanted to understand why and what it is that they are doing,
what interventions and remedial action they were putting in
place to improve the performance of these schools. The
response we found was that the district has 13 cars which they
use and share. It therefore becomes difficult for school
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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inspectors to go and inspect the schools and assist the
schools to perform. These problems are not unique to that
school. They are found in many other schools.
Sinovuyo High School‘s performance on its matriculation pass
rate last year was 26%. In 2014, the pass rate was 35%. In
2013, it was 34%. So, you can tell that there are serious
problems in our education system.
This is an issue that has been there for many of us to see. As
we sit here today, I want to remind hon members who are here
to deal with these matters that the education department in
this province has failed our children. These are the failures
that I want to mention here today – things that are still in
existence.
There are still 600 schools in this province that lack water,
electricity and sanitation. These schools are many and vast.
Another problem we have is that the mud schools have not been
eradicated. Yet, according to the 2014-15 figures, the
education infrastructure grant was underspent by the Eastern
Cape department. This money was meant for building the schools
and it was underspent by – how much? – R211 million. In the
current financial year, the Minister of Finance, Mr Pravin
Gordhan, cut the Eastern Cape‘s education infrastructure grant
budget by 12%, from R1,7 billion in 2015-16, to R1,5 billion,
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in 2016-17, due to the grant being underspent by the
department. Interventions were made ...
Mr S G MTHIMUNYE: Hon Deputy Chair, I would like to check if
the hon member is prepared to take a question.
[Interjections.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Are you prepared to take a
question?
Mr V MAGWEBU: Not today. I have limited time. No, Deputy
Chairperson.
Ms L C DLAMINI: Deputy Chair, the hon member is deliberately
mispronouncing ...
... amagama esiXhosa, sicela uwabize kakuhle. [... Xhosa
names; we would like him to pronounce them correctly, please.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: No, no, hon member. That
is not a point of order. Hon member, can you continue with the
debate? [Interjections.]
Mr V MAGWEBU: Deputy Chair, hon members, interventions were
made. Cabinet, in 2011, took over the education department by
invoking provisions of section 100 of the Constitution. They
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took it over because there were problems of underspending by
the department. These problems ...
Mrs T G MOKWELE: Ke kopa gore ka sebui e le motho wa Kapa
Bokone, se bue eleme la fano. Ke a leboga. [Can the speaker
use the language used in the Northern Cape? Thank you.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon member, that is not a
point of order. Can you continue, hon member? [Interjections.]
Mr V MAGWEBU: Interventions were made to correct the state of
education in the Eastern Cape department. In 2011, Cabinet
took over the provincial education department by invoking
provisions of section 100 of the Constitution after the
department overspent its staff salaries‘ budget and had to lay
off 4 000 temporary teachers, suspend school transport at the
time and terminate the school nutrition programme. While it
overspent on salaries, the department failed to repair the
dilapidated and derelict schools and replace mud schools.
Instead, it returned a whopping R530 million back to Treasury.
The Eastern Cape is South Africa‘s worst performing provincial
department, home to the lowest matriculation pass rate. Hon
members ...
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... bazali bethu nabantakwethu ... [... parents and brothers
...]
... in the past five years, the Eastern Cape department has
had to be dragged to court to force it to supply learning and
teaching resources for the children in our public schools.
Several education izindaba were held by the province, yet the
department is failing our children. The question is, Why?
It is clear this morning that all of this is sufficient
evidence that the education department in this province, my
home province, is on a downward spiral. This downward spiral
is characterised by eroding the culture of teaching and
learning; low staff morale; the failure to provide the
necessary resources; and the fact that these schools have
therefore become dysfunctional. This is a fact. We have seen
it this week. We have visited the schools. The people have
spoken during the public hearings where they voiced their
frustrations. The question is, For how long must learners
suffer? For how long must learners suffer at the hands of
those inefficient bureaucrats that we have in this province?
Education is the only ticket out of poverty for our children.
The truth is the causes of these failures by the department of
education in this province are the following. I will quickly
remind you and spell them out for you, this morning.
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There is a lack of political will to ensure that this
department delivers. This is evidenced by the following: the
failure to inspect and monitor our schools; the appointment of
incompetent political heads and senior managers in the
department of education; inefficiency and maladministration;
and the resolutions that are taken at the izindaba are never
followed up, therefore it becomes a futile exercise.
The DA understands the importance of getting the education of
our children right in this province. We have, where we govern,
delivered. Therefore, it is important ...
Mr S G MTHIMUNYE: On a point of order, Deputy Chair ...
... uMhlekazi makangakhwazi kakhulu, siyalimala ezindlebeni
makathethe kakuhle. [Kwahlekwa.] [... the hon member should
not speak too loud but normally, our ears are getting hurt.
[Laughter.]]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: That‘s not a point of
order. Continue, hon member.
Mr V MAGWEBU: Ladies and gentlemen, for the DA, the education
of our children – even in the Eastern Cape – matters. We have
a traceable track record where we govern. Where we govern, the
recent 2015 matriculation results in all districts showed a
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performance of nothing below 80%. That should tell you how
seriously we value this matter.
In conclusion, this has been a difficult week for all of us.
So much has been said.
Mr S SOMYO (Eastern Cape): Deputy Chair, on a point of order:
Can the hon member indicate to this House which school he went
to? In which province did he learn? What were the teachers
like in his school?
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: That is a question. Is the
member prepared to take a question?
Mr V MAGWEBU: In conclusion, Deputy Chair and hon members,
this week has been difficult for all of us. [Interjections.]
So much has been said and done. These are the issues that seek
to racially divide us. [Interjections.]
True to the values of our legends in this province, however,
uTata Mandela, Oliver Tambo, and many others that fought for a
racially inclusive country, a country that is nonracial, we
want to say the following to all those who committed the
wrongs during this week. Those people are nothing but idiots
and criminals ...
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The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon member, your time has
expired.
Mr V MAGWEBU: ... and they must be dealt with as such.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon member ...
Mr V MAGWEBU: Ladies and gentlemen, as I conclude ...
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Magwebu, your time is
up.
Mr V MAGWEBU: ... as the DA, this is what we promise, true to
our values ...
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Magwebu ...
Mr V MAGWEBU: ... of freedom, fairness and opportunity for our
children.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon member, your time has
expired.
Mr V MAGWEBU: I thank you, Deputy Chair.
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Nks P C SAMKA: Sekela Sihlalo weNdlu yeBhunga lamaPhondo
leSizwe noMongameli weRiphabhliki yoMzantsi Afrika,
Ndiyanibulisa. Ndivumele Sekela Sihlalo wale Ndlu ndithi
ngqanga neentsiba zayo. Kuluvuyo nochulumanco kum xa ndimi
phambi kwale Ndlu yephondo leMpuma Koloni, ekhaya, ndize
kuxoxa ngemeko yezemfundo. Ndiyazingca kakhulu ke ngeli phondo
kuba thina sivelise iinkokheli eziphume izandla kuzwelonke.
IMpuma Koloni ingade ibesekugqibeleni kwiziphumo zebanga
leshumi, kodwa xa sijonga umgangatho wabantu abaphuma apha,
singatsho sithi ziinkcuba buchopho. [Kwaqhwatywa.] Namhlanje
xa sithetha siyi-ANC sithi imfundo sesona sixhobo
sibalulekileyo, ilifa elingatyiwa nundu nangumhlwa. Kungoko
singurhulumente kaKhongolose sisithi gqolo ukunikezela
ngemfundo esemgangathweni nengahlawulwelayo kubo bonke
abantwana abaselungelweni lokufunda.
Xa ndithetha ngemfundo engahlawulelwayo ndithetha ngezinto
ezifana neencwadi zokubhala nokufunda, ezihlawulwa
ngurhulumente ukuqinisekisa ukuba bonke abantwana bafumana
iincwadi zabo ngethuba. Ndifuna ukugxininisa kwinto yokuba
nanjengoko abantwana benalo ilungelo lokufumana imfundo
esemgangathweni, luxandavu lwabo ukuba bafunde ngokuzimisela
ukuze baqaqambise ikamva labo.
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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Urhulumente we-ANC uyibona imfundo njengomba ophambili
ngaphezu kwayo yonke imiba kuba uye waphumeza le mithetho
ilandelayo. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[Ms P C SAMKA: Hon Deputy Chairperson of the National Council
of Provinces and the hon President of the Republic of South
Africa, I greet you.
Hon Chairperson of this House, allow me
to say protocol observed.
It is a great pleasure for me to
stand in front of the Eastern Cape Legislature, my home, to
debate about education.
I‘m very proud about this province
because it produced successful leaders nationally.
Eastern Cape may be at the bottom in the list of the matric
results, but if we can look at the level of education of
people who are from here, we can say they are intelligent.
[Applause.] Today, when as the ANC say education is the
important key, an inheritance that cannot be destroyed by
anything. That is why as the ANC government we keep on
providing free quality education to all learners who are who
have a right to learn.
When I talk of free education I‘m talking about things like
stationary and textbooks that are paid by the government to
ensure that all learners receive their books on time. I want
to emphasise that although they have a right to access quality
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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education, it is their responsibility to study seriously to
brighten their future.
ANC government sees education as the first priority more than
other things because it came with the following policies.]
... no-fee schools, learner teacher support material, scholar
transport, school nutrition and basic services.
Konke oku kuzama ukuthi utitshala ame phambi komntwana. [All
this tries to make the teacher to be in front of a child.]
Ms T G MOKWELE: Chair, I rise on a point of order.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Yes, can I take your point
Ms T G MOKWELE: Modulasetilo, ke emelela mo ntlheng ya ...
[Chairperson, I am rising on a point of ...] [Interjections.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Members of the public, you
were warned from the beginning that this is a formal sitting
of the House ... .
Ms N P KONI: A ba ye kwa ntle! Ba kobe! [Kick them out!]
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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SEKELA SIHLALO WENDLU LEBHUNGA LAMAPHONDO LESIZWE: Ngoko
siyanicela ukuba niphulaphule kuba ngamaLungu ePalamente la
athethayo. Kule veki yonke benilifumene ithuba lokuthetha
namaLungu ePalamente kwaye athula amamela izikhalo zenu. Ngoku
lithuba lenu lokuba nimamela amaLungu ePalamente. Ndiyanicela.
(Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES:
Therefore we request you to listen because it is Members of
Parliament‘s turn to speak. In this whole week you had an
opportunity to speak with the members of Parliament and they
kept quiet and listened to your complaints. Now it is your
time to listen to them. Please.]
Ms T G MOKWELE: Ke emelela ka ntlha ya gore sebui se se mo
seraleng ga se bue nnete ka gonne porofense ya Kapa Botlhaba
... [I am rising on a point of order: The speaker at the
podium is not telling the truth because the Eastern Cape
province ...] [Interjections.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: No, no, no, hon member,
you are debating now.
Ms T G MOKWELE: No, but you must listen to the point of order.
The member is misleading the House.
18 NOVEMBER 2016
PAGE: 53 of 140
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: By saying what?
Ms T G MOKWELE: It is not true that the Department of
Education and Training is providing transport, food and proper
education material. That is not true. She must withdraw that.
She is misleading the House. Thank you.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon member, can you take
your seat. Hon members, there is a difference between a point
of order and a point of debate. The minute you rise and negate
what a member is saying, then you are debating with the
member. You are on the speaker‘s list.
Ms T G MOKWELE: Chair, the Rules of the House say, if a member
is misleading the House, he or she must be called to order.
Therefore, that is what I am doing. That member is misleading
the House. It is not true that the Department of Education and
Training is providing transport. I was doing my oversight
here. I saw that.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Mokwele, can you take
your seat. That is not a point of order, and I am not carrying
that point. Can you continue, hon Samka?
Nks P C SAMKA: Kukulo rhulumente we-ANC kuphela apho abantwana
abasezikolweni bengama-90 ekhulwini kubantwana abazizigidi
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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ezi-12 abanelungelo lokufunda. La manani angaphezulu kunawo
onke amazwe asaphuhlayo.
KuMasipala oMbaxa weSixeko iBuffalo bangama-99 ekhulwini
abantwana ababhalisileyo ezikolweni. Isiphatha kakubi kakhulu
imeko yokunqongophala kwezikolo ezikhethekileyo kweli phondo
kuba kusekho abantwana abangafundiyo abaziipesenti ezili-17
abangafundiyo ngenxa yokungabikho kwezi zikolo.
Inkcitho kwezemfundo inyuke kakhulu xa kuthelekisa nexesha
lengcinezelo. Ngonyaka we-1994 iSebe leZemfundo lachitha
izigidi ezingama-31,8 kwezemfundo. Le mali iye yenyuka
ngonyaka wama-2006 yaya kufikelela kwizigidigidi ezingama-92,1
nto leyo yenza inkcitho karhulumente kwezemfundo ibe li-17,8
xa iphelele. Kulo nyakamali wama-2016-17, iSebe leZemfundo
kwiMpuma Koloni labelwe izigidigidi ezingama-31 xa
kuthelekiswa nawo onke amanye amasebe. Oko kubonakalisa
ukuzimisela kwethu ekuphuhliseni imfundo.
Xa siqwalasela uMasipala oMbaxa weSixeko i-Buffalo pc iBhunga
leSizwe lamaPhondo liye lahambela izikolo ezithile, kule
ngingqi, ezisedolophini nakwezo zisezisezilalini. Izikolo
zabantu abamhlophe zohlukile kwezo zaseMdantsane nezinye
iingingqi ezihlala abantu abantsundu. Loo nto ibonakalisa
indlela urhulumente awayebacalula ngayo abantu bakuthi. Nesimo
ke singqina olo calucalulo.
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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Kubalulekile ukuba singurhulumente sisebenzisane xa sithatha
izigqibo ezingqongqo ukuze sikwazi ukuqinisekisa ukusonjululwa
kweengxaki isebe lezemfundo laseMpuma Koloni elijongene nazo.
Xa besijikeleza siliBhunga leSizwe lamaPhondo, siye safumana
ezi ngxaki zilandelayo: ukunqongophala kwamagumbi okufundela;
izikolo ezakhiwa kudala ezikwimeko engaginyisi mathe, njengoko
setshilo usihlalo wale Ndlu; izindlu zangasese ezikwimeko
embi, ukushokoxeka nokungafiki ngethuba kweencwadi ukungabikho
koonogada, nto leyo ebeka ubomi babafundi nootitshala
emngciphekweni kwizigilamkhuba nezikrelemnqa, nephinda
ibangele izikolo zethu ziqhekezwe.
IBhunga leSizwe lamaPhondo kufuneka lincedise iphondo
laseMpuma Koloni ngokuthi lithethathethane nePalamente ukuba
kunyuswe uhlahlo- lwabiwo- mali kumaphondo ahlelelekileyo
afana neli laseMpuma Koloni. Amaziko okuqeqesha iititshala
mawavulwe nanjengoko zinqongophele iititshala. [Kwaqhwatywa.]
Kungumthetho ukuba bonke abantwana bathuthwe xa besiya
ezikolweni okanye benzelwe iindawo zokuhlala ezikufutshane
nezikolo ezo bafunda kuzo. Abafundi abasi-7,7 ekhulwini
bayaxhamla kuthutho lwabantwana ukuya nokubuya esikolweni,
kodwa siyazi ukuba basekho abo bangaxhamliyo. Ndizama
ukuphendula intetho ebithethwa apha ngabo bangaphulaphuliyo
kakuhle ngendlebe. [Kwahlekwa.]
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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INdlu yeengwevu izimisele ukuthethathethana nozwelonke ukuze
kunyuswe imali yothutho lwabantwana ukuya nokubuya esikolweni.
Ukuthi gqolo kwesebe lezemfundi lisebenzisa inkqubo yosasazo
zititshala. Le nto ke amakhumsha ayibiza ngokuba yi-Post
Provisioning Norms. Oko ke kukuthi ootitshala balishiye eli
sebe lezemfundo bahlale emakhaya. Oko kukuthi ke. (Translation
of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[Ms P C SAMKA: It is only in the ANC government where 90
percent of 12 million learners at school have a right to
learn. These numbers are more than any other developing
countries.
In Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality there are 99 percent
of learners who registered in schools. The scarcity of special
schools in this province doesn‘t go well with us because there
is still 17 percent of children who are not at school because
there are no schools.
Expenditure has increased very much in education when you
compare with the apartheid era.
In 1994 Department of
Education spent 31, 8 million for education.
In 2006 this
money has increased to 92,1 billion which made the government
expenditure for education to be 17,8 in total. In 2016-17
financial year, the Eastern Cape Department of Education has
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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been allocated 31 billion when compared to other departments.
This shows our commitment in developing education.
When we look carefully at the Buffalo City Metropolitan
Municipality pc, the National Council of Provinces visited
certain schools in this area, in towns and villages.
White
schools are different to those in Mdantsane and other areas
where black people reside. This shows how government was
discriminating our people.
The appearance confirms
discrimination.
It is important to cooperate as government so that we know
when we take important decisions we ensure that we resolve
problems that are faced by the Eastern Cape department of
education. When we were on the oversight as the National
Council of Provinces, we found out the following problems:
shortage of classrooms; old schools that are in bad condition,
as the hon chairperson of this House has said; bad condition
of the toilets, shortage and late arrival of books and lack of
security guards, which put lives of learners and teachers at
risk against criminals and perpetrators, and also make our
schools to be targets of house breaking.
The National Council of Provinces needs to help Eastern Cape
Province by negotiating with Parliament to increase the budget
in underdeveloped provinces like the Eastern Cape. Teaching
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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Colleges must be opened because there is a decline in number
of teachers. [Applause.]
It is the policy that learners should be transported to school
or an accommodation should be built next to their schools.
7,7% of learners benefit from scholar transport, but we know
that there are those who do not benefit. I‘m trying to answer
something that was said by those who do not listen carefully.
[Laughter.]
The Senate is committed to negotiate with national so that
scholar transport money can be increased. The department of
education to continue implementing the Post Provisioning
Norms. That means teachers leave the department and stay at
homes. That means.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Samka, your time has
expired.
Ms P C SAMKA: Liphelile? [Kwaqhwatywa.] [Did it expire?
[Applause.]]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES:
Liphelile mama. [It expired mama.]
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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Mr M M CHABANGU: Chairperson, chiefs, members of the NCOP,
members of legislatures, officials, and the House at large,
hon Chairperson, the manner in which this Province and the
country are being run is an absolute travesty. The EFF is
disappointed in the manner in which the province, and South
Africa as a whole is being governed.
The education of a black child is meaningless here, and
treated with contempt by an inept government, for instance ...
[Interjections.]
Ms T WANA: Can the hon member take a question?
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Are you prepared to take a
question, hon member?
Mr M M CHABANGU: Yes, in my office in Parliament.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: No, he is not prepared to
take a question.
Mr M M CHABANGU: The education of a black child is meaningless
here, and treated with contempt by an inept government, for
example, in Ntabankulu Municipality, Damba High School, the
school does not have access to basics things such as water,
toilets, books, desks, chalkboards just to mention but a few,
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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and let us not even mention the structure of the building - it
is in shambles to say the least – and yet, education is a key
to success.
This sad state of affairs is a reflection of a situation in
the country as a whole leading to gross unhappiness amongst
our people. This is especially hurting the black poorest of
the poor. When our people rise up to protest the poor service
delivery, and fees must fall, you not only offer feeble
excuses, but bring your merciless security forces upon our
innocent and vulnerable poor — your insolence and arrogance
knows no bounds.
It is actually shocking that while Minister Malusi Gigaba, is
busy looting the money for his mistress, and his fancy suits,
learners at Alfred Nzo in Matatiele do not have birth
certificates or identity documents, that then deny them the
opportunity to retrieve their Grade 12 matric certificates.
The education and the wellbeing of our black children are of
no concern to this self—centred factionalist ANC government.
Our little children at the age of one to four years do not
have access to decent sanitation, water, and proper shelters
while the chickens and cattle of your number one — Zuma — has
a kraal worth millions. Clearly, the lives of animals mean
more to this ANC government than the lives of our people.
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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[Interjections.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Is that a point of order
hon member? Hon Chabangu, can you just take your seat?
Mr J M MTHETHWA: Deputy Chair, I rise on a point of order. The
hon member is referring to the President of South Africa as Mr
Zuma. [Interjections.] This is the President of South Africa,
elected by the people of this country. He must withdraw that.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: In terms of the last
ruling that was made in the House, it was ruled that it may
not be unparliamentary to refer to the President as Mr Zuma.
Can you continue, hon member!
Mr M M CHABANGU: The inconsistencies of the services in the
crèches in this area show no vision in this government‘s
planning. This should not take away our appreciation for the
efforts made by the dedicated people working in these
difficult conditions. The EFF will ensure that the government
builds a reasonable crèche in every ward in this country to
ensure easy accessibility for the community, and also to
enable sound foundation phase development of our children —
our future leaders.
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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Government is encouraged to take these crèches under its
direct administration. This would not only create worthy
employment but also formalise and appropriately structure the
service. We must also point out that the issue of
centralisation of procurement, and other administrative
responsibilities in education to provincial levels is leading
to massive poor service delivery, and compromising the
education of our youth on a massive scale as the Chairperson
has alluded to. This is just not working, and the government
needs to intervene as a matter of urgency and rationalise the
service accordingly.
There is nothing more disgusting, cheaper, and nothing more
painful to the people of our country than corrupt politicians,
who exploit the poorest of the poor to enrich themselves, for
example, Macadamia Nut Project in Ncera — a very good project
— but the chairperson, who is a former MK cadre owns 49% as an
individual. On top of that, he made the poor chief to sign a
lease for the land for 80 years — an apartheid era practice —
what a shame - what a disgrace — who exactly is behind such
disgusting practices?
If you are not politically connected in the Eastern Cape
Province, then you will get no assistance from any government
departments or entities — a glorified form of cash for votes
... [Time expired.] Amandla.
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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Mong S MBALO (FREE STATE – Motlatsa Sepikara): Motlatsa modula
setulo, ntumelle ke dumedise Mopresidente wa naha e leng
Mopresidente Zuma. Ke dumedise le ho ananela ... (Translation
of Sesotho paragraph follows)
[Mr S MBALO (FREE STATE – Deputy Speaker): Deputy Chairperson,
allow me to greet the President of the country President Zuma.
I want to greet and acknowledge ...]
... uSihlalo weNCOP umama uThandi Modise, uSomlomo waseMpuma
Koloni okhoyo apha, amalungu onke ahloniphekileyo aphuma
kumaphondo ngamaphondo, ooMeya, abantu besiXeko esiMbaxa
saseBuffalo, molweni. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph
follows.)
[... the hon Chairperson of the NCOP mama Thandi Modise, hon
Speaker of the Eastern Cape Legislature present here, hon
members from different provinces, Mayors, Buffalo City
Metropolitan Municipality residents, greetings.]
Deputy Chair, let me not be counted amongst those who will
turn your session into a complain session without a concrete
proposal. It is important for me to indicate the following:
The advancement of our people requires that we do things
differently to take advantage of the current momentous towards
2063.
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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Hon President, in order for us to achieve the African Union‘s
vision of an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa,
driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in
the global arena, significantly, more action is still required
on a number of fronts. Quality education and radical economic
advancement of our people cannot be put in abeyance.
Hon Chairperson, Agenda 2063 provides the roadmap. It is the
approach as to how the continent should effectively learn from
the lessons of the past, build on the progress currently
underway, and strategically exploit all possible opportunities
available in the immediate and medium-term so as to ensure
positive socioeconomic transformation within the next 47
years.
In the main, Agenda 2063 emphasizes the importance of success
in rekindling the passion for Pan-Africanism - a sense of
unity, self-reliance, integration, and solidarity - that was a
highlight of the triumphs of the 20th century.
Agenda 2063 has seven objectives that Africa aspires to
achieve, and history demands that we succeed. One of these
seven aspirations is a prosperous Africa based on inclusive
and sustainable development. As a country therefore, we are
determined to eradicate poverty and build shared prosperity
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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through social and economic transformation.
We also aspire that by 2063, we shall be a prosperous
continent, with the means and resources to drive our own
development, with sustainable and long-term stewardship of our
own resources.
South Africa is a country rich with both natural and mineral
resources. It will therefore be a mockery for us to expect
political democracy to survive and flourish, if the masses of
our people remain in poverty, without land or tangible
prospects for a better life.
Without proper education, and of course, meritorious access to
institutions of higher learning, our country and continent
cannot realise advancement.
Kungoko siliphondo laseFree State ... [That is why as Free
State province ...]
... we are spending a whooping hundred R105 million on
bursaries on students who are studying scarce skills courses
like medicine, science, technology, and innovation in other
countries.
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We are proud to declare that this far, we have 905 students
placed in seven countries, namely, in Germany, we spend
R153 000 per child; in Cuba, R252 000; in China, R162 000; in
Turkey, R209 000; in Russia, R153 000; in Belarus, R132 000;
and lastly, in India, we are spending almost R207 000 per
child in the current financial year. That is the government at
work, Mr President.
Upon completion of their studies, these students will be
employed and absorbed by both government and private sector.
In pursuit of the 2014 ANC manifesto, which dictates that the
Technical Vocational Education and Training, TVET, college
sector will be expanded with greater support for the needs of
students, and compulsory community service for all graduates
will be introduced.
It is therefore against this background that, as the Free
State provincial government has place it as compulsory measure
that, the students, after completion of their studies they
ought to come back and work in remote areas where their
services are needed the most. This is in line with, once more,
on advancing the AU aspirations of ensuring that African
people have a high standard of living, quality of life, sound
health and wellbeing, irrespective of their area of origin.
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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The National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS, which was
established in 1999, and since then its growth has been
phenomenal and has assisted 1,4 million students in total.
Well, I am not claiming this, but it is according to the
20 Year Review - South Africa 1994 to 2014 document.
A number out of this particular student aid ...
[Interjections.]
Mr C HATTINGH: Deputy Chair, on a point of order!
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON: On what point are you rising, hon
member?
Mr C HATTINGH: Hon Deputy Chair ... [Interjections.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON: Hon member, can you please speak to
your microphone!
Mr C HATTINGH: ... I would like to know whether the hon member
will take a question.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON: Hon member, are you prepared to take a
question?
Mr S MBALO: Can I take it on the 32nd of this month, sir?
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON: No, he is not prepared to take a
question.
Mr C HATTINGH: Running away!
Mr S MBALO: The number of NSFAS beneficiaries increased from
41 600 in 1996 to 77 000 in 2008, and about 430 O00 in 2014.
Between 1999 and 2008 the funds managed by NSFAS grew from
R441 million to R2,4 billion. In the last five years, the
amount further increased by more than 300% to more than
R9 billion.
The country underpinned by good governance, democracy, respect
for human rights, justice, and the rule of law can only be
realised through the programmes such as the Free State Growth
and Development Strategy.
Hon Deputy Chairperson, let us not be apologetic when we
engage in any programme that is aimed at people-driven
development, relying on the potential of African people,
especially its women and youth, in caring for our children.
Therefore, strategic investment in our own people remains at
the core of our government. Attacking poverty ... [Time
expired.] Thank you very much.
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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AN HON MEMBER: I will always respect your ... [Inaudible.]
[Laughter.]
Mr L B GAEHLER: Hon Chairperson, education is a social
mobilisation tool that is able to address socioeconomic
conditions of the past. Education breaks the cycle of poverty
in homes where there is no hope, therefore it is a weapon
available to fight poverty. However, the issue with regard to
school infrastructure must be attended to urgently. In fact,
the mud schools must fall. In Iqonce Junior Secondary School,
hardly 10 kilometres from the education department head office
in Buffalo City, must have proper classroom and related
facilities. They are currently writing Grade 12 in a crammed
garage.
The chronic situation in Xhentse Senior Secondary School in
Libode where there is almost no space to move its Grade 12
classroom due to overcrowding must come to an end. At Esethu
Primary School in Mthatha teachers are forced to use toilets
as their staffroom and learners are taught in a tent that was
used by a former contractor. The better performing
Ngangolwandle Senior Secondary School ...
... phaya kuthi. [... in our area ...]
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... learners sit outside in the scorching sun, cold and windy
conditions because there are no classrooms. In Sandiswa Public
Primary School in East London learners and staff are forced to
use old decaying toilets to attend classes. These are few
examples.
There is a saying that, when you find yourself in a whole the
best thing you can do is to stop digging, because continuing
to dig will lead to a point where you bury yourself. I make
this observation because part of the contributing factor is
the dismal failure of the education system policy.
This policy says that a learner can not repeat a grade twice
and therefore he or she must move to another level. The sad
part about the implementation of this policy is that there is
no supporting system. These learners are treated like any
other learner during the course of the year. The UDM
suggested, amongst others, a therapist be involved in the
schools with special focus on learners who are academically
challenged.
Secondly, there must be a strong collaboration between the
Department of Sport and Recreation and the Department of Basic
Education to increase the mass of participation so that those
who can not academically survive are able to go through sport.
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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We visited some of the health centres and one of them is in
Maluti. That health centre has got no facilities and
structures.
Kunzima phaya, akukho neeglavzi ezi zokusebenza. [It is tough
out there, so much that even the gloves that are required for
work are not available.]
It has got committed staff, it has got a doctor ...
... ogugileyo. [... who is very old.]
The condition is very bad. There are 3 000 patients who are in
that health facility. So, we urge the department to assist
those people.
Xa ndigqibelisa, enye into ebalulekileyo kodwa ingekho apha
kwingxoxo yezemfundo: [In conclusion, another item that is
important but not included in the education debate:]
Last week, people died in Alfred Nzo Municipality, where we
come from.
Aba bantu batshayiswe yilori kwaye ndifuna ukudlulisa ilizwi
lovelwano. [These people were hit by a truck and I want to
send my condolences.]
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About 28 people died. Now ...
... ingxaki yeli phondo yeyokuba umntu okhekeleyo phaya
kwezokhuseleko unengxaki yokukhokela kuba akukho namagosa
endlela la. Okwesibini ... (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph
follows.)
[... the problem with this province is that the person
responsible for security has a leadership crisis because even
traffic officers are not available. Secondly, ...]
... there are weighbridges ...
... zokuveyisha iilori ezinemithwalo emikhulu. Ezi lori
zibulala abantu ... [... for weighing lorries with big loads.
These lorries kill people ...]
... because there is no leadership.
Sibhekisa kwinkulumbuso yeli phondo ukuba ibeke abantu
abalungileyo bokusebenza kuba bayaphela abantu. Masiyeke
ukwenza iphulo lika- Arrive Alive ngenyanga yoMnga kuphela.
Kufuneka ufake abantu abasebenzayo qha wena. Enkosi.
[Kwaqhwatywa.] (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
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[We appeal to the premier of this province to appoint the
right people for the job because people are dying in numbers.
Let us stop having the Arrive Alive campaign only in December.
All you have to do is to appoint diligent people. Thank you.
[Applause.]]
Ms B N SITHOLE: Hon Deputy Chair,
Ngizibongele ukuba ungiphe leli thuba. Ngiyathanda ukuba
ngibingelele kuSihlalo we-National Council of Provinces, NCOP,
uMama u-Modise, kuMongameli wezwe uBaba u-J G Zuma, kumalungu
wonke ahloniphekile akhona lapha ngaphakathi, amaKhosi esinawo
neziNduna, nabaholi bonke abakhona bezinhlangano ezehlukene,
umphakathi wonke okhona lapha eNdlini, ngiyawubingelela
egameni lesifundazwe saKwaZulu-Natal. Ngimi lapha ngithanda
ukuqala ngokuba sibeke isixoliso esivela kuNdunankulu
wesifundazwe uBaba u-T W Mchunu ongakwazanga ukuba azoba kanye
nathi lapha ngenxa yezimo abengeke akwazi ukuba aziyekelele
ebeziphuthuma.
Eminyakeni yonke i-NCOP yenza uhlelo lokuba ihambele
ezifundazweni ithathe iPhalamende noma isiShayamthetho
esikhulu isiyise kubantu ukuba izoletha ukuthi yenzani iphinde
izwe ukuthi abantu bafisa ukuthi kwenzekeni, nalokho okuhle
nalokho okungenzekanga kahle. Sithi lolu hlelo olwenziwa iNCOP njengeKwaZulu-Natal, silushayela ihlombe ngoba
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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liyasilekelela. Ngesikhathi niza nizobheka nani ukuthi
emisebenzini esiyenzayo ngokulawulwa yinkulumo esuke ibekwa
minyaka yonke uMongameli wezwe bese sibheka ukuthi ngabe
siyazenza yini lezo zinto, kuyasilekelela kakhulu ukuba sibone
ukuthi lomsebenzi esiwenzayo uyawenza yini umehluko ebantwini
bakithi. Njengabantu abakhethiwe bekhethwe abantu kuye
kubaluleke njalo ukuba sibuyele kubo siyobuza, sibazise futhi
nezinto esingekwazi ukuzenza.
Ngenxa yalolu hlelo, nathi sithatha kanjalo ukuthi kufanele
sibuyele emuva sibabuze abantu silalele futhi sichaze lapho
singakwazanga ukwenza khona. Yingakho ngoba lokhu siyakuqonda
kahle kamhlophe ukuthi uma singakwenzi lokhu lokho kuyodala
ukuba sibone abantu bakithi begcwele izinkalo bekhalaza
ngokuthi izidingo nezinsizakalo zabo azifinyeleli kubona bese
bephumele ezinkalweni bekhalaza. (Translation of isiZulu
paragraphs follows.)
[Thank you for affording me this opportunity. I would like to
thank the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces,
NCOP, hon Modise, the state President hon J G Zuma, all the
hon members present here, the Chiefs and iziNduna who are
present here, all the leaders of the different political
parties present here, all the members of the public who are in
the House today, I greet them on behalf of the province of
KwaZulu-Natal. Firstly, as I am standing before you today, I
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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would like to tender our premier, hon T W Mchunu‘s apology who
could not be with us here today, due to urgent matters that he
could not leave unattended.
Every year the NCOP conducts the Taking Parliament to The
People programme where Parliament or National Assembly is
taken to the provinces to showcase what it is doing and hear
what it is that the people wish to see being done, good things
and those that are not done well. As KwaZulu-Natal, we applaud
and support this programme that is conducted by the NCOP. By
the time you come to see the work that we do as guided by the
President‘s State of the Nation Address, in the process we are
also determining whether we are doing what we are supposed to
be doing – it helps us a lot in determining whether what we
are doing makes a difference in our people‘s lives. And as the
elected representatives who are elected by the people, it is
important to always go back to them to ask, and to inform them
about things that we cannot do.
Because of this programme, we are also following its example
that we should go back to the people to ask them, listen to
them and explain things that we cannot do. We do this because
we know very well that if we do not do that that would result
in our people taking to the streets to protest about not
receiving their services and needs.]
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Hon members, guided by the theme of this sitting, Follow-up on
our commitments to deliver quality education and ensuring
economic advancement of our people, as KwaZulu-Natal
government we have taken the position that good quality
education has to be relevant to the needs of our economy. We
say our education system should be judged by the extent to
which it makes individual learners self-sufficient and able to
maintain sustainable livelihoods on leaving school,
irrespective of the level attained. We understand that quality
education depends on the linkages between education and a
variety of other social and economic outcomes, such as health
and social stability.
Imfundo esezingeni eliphezulu siyithatha njengemfundo
ebalulekile ngoba izofanela ukuba ihlanganyele nokuthi
kwenziwe ezinye zezinto ezizoyenza ukuba ibonakale ukuthi
isezingeni elifanele. Izinto ezincike ekutheni sikwenze lokho
kube yimpumelelo yizinto ezifana nokuba sakhe izikole
ezizobakhona zibe sezingeni futhi elifanelekile. Ziphinde
futhi zibe nazo izidingo ezifanelekile njengokuba kube khona
amanzi, kubekhona nezingqalasisinda zokuba kube khona
ukukhanyisa, kubekhona nemigwaqo kube khona nezempilo
ezisezingeni elilingene nelifanelekile ukuba umtwana abone
ukuthi ufunda endaweni ephephile. (Translation of isiZulu
paragraph follows.)
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[We regard higher education as the important phase of
education because it is supposed to be linked with certain
things and that certain things should be done, things that
would enable it to be seen as being at the appropriate level.
Things that depend on us being able to make it a success are
things such as building institutions that would be at the
appropriate level. They should also have appropriate
facilities like water, electricity infrastructure, roads and
health facilities with appropriate acceptable standards that
are befitting for a safe schooling environment for the
children.]
Over the past few months the whole provincial executive
council has been visiting schools in various parts of our
province to assess the schools functionality. We have done
that through our programme which is called Operation Sukuma
Sakhe. According to this programme on every second Wednesday
of the month, we visit different districts to assess whether
the Operation Sukuma Sakhe is functioning and people are
getting the services that they deserve. We are doing that
noting and also encouraged by the fact that if we do not do
that and we ask people to go long miles to come and ask for
assistance in towns, it will be a futile exercise because
those areas will not be developed.
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Sisho ukuthi njengoKwaZulu-Natal, umkhandlu iyaphuma ihambe
iyobheka. Sithe uma sibheka sathola ukuthi zikhona ezinye
izinto ezinhle ezenzekile kwezinye izikole kukhona futhi
nokunye okungenzekile kahle futhi nalokho sangagcina ngokusho
njalo sase siqhubeka sithi sizozilungisa zonke lezo zinto
esizibonile ezingenziwe kahle ikakhulukazi siyafuna ukusho
ukuthi siyibekile imali eceleni yokuba sakhe ingqalasizinda
nezizinda zokufundela imali engu-R2,5 wezigidi zezigidi
ekuyiyona esilekelelayo ukwenza lokho - ikakhulukazi
ezindaweni ezingaphandle kwasemadolobheni.
Uhlobo nezinga lezikole esizakhayo KwaZulu-Natal yilezo
okungathi noma umtwana ephuma kuyiphi indawo asibone
esifanelekile. Siphindile futhi sabeka imali yokuthi sakhe
izikole ezingamashumi amabili nesikhombisa. Kulezi zikole
kukhona ezakhiwa kabusha, siqalwe phansi, kuhona futhi
ezilungiswayo. Siyafuna ukusho ukuthi sithe sisephezu kwalolu
hlelo kwafika isichotho, ezinye zezikole ebe sesizilungisile
zaaphindela emuva ngenxa yalokho kodwa lokho akusho ukuthi
amandla aphelile, siyaqhubeka. Sinezikole esingazigagula
esizakhayo kabusha, izikole ezifana ne-Illovo High School,
Inanda Special School, i-La Mercy Maths and Science Academy
eThekwini Metro, Emadungeni High School, Xoloxolo Primary
School e-Harry Gwala, Cosmo Primary eMgungundlovu kanye
neMlokothwa High School Kwazulu lezo izikole esizakhayo.
(Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
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[What we are saying is that, as the KwaZulu-Natal executive
council we go out there to do oversight. When doing oversight
we noticed that there are some good things that were done in
some schools but, there are some things that were not properly
done and we did not end by saying so but we went on to say
that we are going to correct all of those things that were not
done properly. Moreover we want to say that we have kept aside
funds to build infrastructure and schooling structures – there
is an amount of R2,5 billion to see us through - to use
especially in areas that are in the outskirts of towns.
The kinds of schools that we are building in KwaZulu-Natal are
the kinds of schools that would appeal to any child
irrespective of where they come from. We have also kept aside
funds to build 27 schools. Amongst these schools, there are
those that are being built afresh, started from the scratch
and there are some that are being renovated. I want to say
that whilst we were busy with these developments we
experienced hailstorm, some schools that we have already
repaired were relegated to their previous state because of the
hailstorm but that does not mean that we have given up, we are
pushing forward. I can mention some of these schools that we
are renovating: they are Illovo High School, Inanda Special
School, La Mercy Maths and Science Academy in eThekwini Metro,
Emadungeni High School, Xoloxolo Primary School in Harry
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Gwala, Cosmo Primary in Mgungundlovu and Mlokothwa High School
in Zululand.]
Hon members, since our province has dropped in the matric
results in 2015, as a province we have set ourselves the
following targets: To improve the overall pass of the province
this year 2016 at least by 10% in all 12 districts as there
are other districts where some schools obtained 30% pass rates
in 2015; and secondly, increase the number of passes in key
and large gateway subjects.
In order to achieve our targets we have made unannounced
school visits as part of promoting the culture of learning.
The Department of Education has also put a clear programme ...
[Interjections.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon MEC, your time has expired.
Ngiyabonga. [Thank you.] [Applause.]
Ms B N SITHOLE: Thank you. [Applause.]
Councillor N PIETERS (SALGA DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON): Hon
Chairperson of the NCOP, His Excellency President Jacob Zuma,
hon Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP, hon premiers, hon Speakers
of the provincial legislatures, hon Ministers, hon members,
mayors speakers and councillors present, distinguished guests,
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ladies and gentlemen, we thank the President as SA Local
Government Association, Salga, of this country for his
continued support for improving the lives of all its people
through the commitment on delivering quality education from
foundation phase all the way through to higher education and
training and beyond. We thank you for the opportunity to
address the House on this timely and critical matter facing us
as a nation.
We cannot decide for people where they choose to live.
However, the access to opportunity in cities, towns and rural
areas across the country, drives migration and where people
decide to live. For the poor, access to land and services is a
critical determiner of where in cities and towns they live.
This choice, determines the kind of head-start in life our
children will get, it also determines the social and physical
environment which will affect their future; and unfortunately
to a large extent it will determine the quality of education
they have access to.
It is this inequality we must fight collectively, and which I
believe, local government has a contribution to make in our
unequal society. It has been reported that South Africa has
the highest private returns to tertiary education in the
world. What does this mean? Well it means that the system
works for some, it also means that our education system serves
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a segment of the population and certain sectors of the
economy. For this to change it needs to change at the bottom,
from the basic and further education level.
As a country, we have made inroads in providing much greater
access to the education system with fee exemptions and no-fee
schools. Similarly, we have seen the expansion of early
childhood development, ECD, centres across the country, a
function local government has been instrumental in as well.
But we need greater emphasis on the quality of education at
the general education and training, GET, phase. The quality of
the infrastructure, the teachers and the curriculum must offer
a child choice for his or her future. Equitable access to
quality education in the general education and training phase
is the pivot which should offer our children the choices they
need to live fulfilled lives and remain competitive in the
economy. It must also offer our economy the ability to adapt
and be competitive.
The economy is shifting. Some would say it has irrevocably
shifted from the primary and secondary sectors to the tertiary
sector. Where will it be competitive in the future? Therefore,
we must develop the basic skills that all South Africans need
to survive an uncertain future, this especially in the
information age. A diverse and competitive future is made up
of more than university graduates. It also comprises highly
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skilled artisans and creatives in every sector and in every
region in this country. This quality and diversity must be
accessible throughout the country. We need an education system
to serve people and the economy where people are and what the
economy needs, especially taking into account subnational
economic needs and specificities.
We need a system which makes the best of each of our
children‘s capabilities within a competitive economy; a system
which gives us all a future, and one which provides for our
collective future.
Hon members of the House, we all have a responsibility towards
delivering on our commitment as spheres of government,
national, provincial and local government. In particular,
local government has a specific role to ensure that water and
sanitation services are provided reliably and to affordable
specifications. That roads can travelled along safely, that no
schooling is delayed by shortcomings in electricity
reticulation. Local government needs to plan adequately and
implement its duty to the benefit of the learners and students
of South Africa.
However, local government is also well placed to integrate
planning and co-ordinate development in local space. We urge
greater co-operation and planning especially at a regional
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scale towards more competitive economies and more equitable
access to both quality and diversity of education
opportunities.
We believe that as local government, it is our duty to promote
social and economic development, to ensure that adequate
social services are planned for the communities within our
jurisdiction. That is, if we collaborate, we are well placed
to indicate where the needs are and can facilitate for the
planning and supply of adequate education and the related
services. But we also believe that we should be able to hold
those responsible for delivering education services to
account, it is a service which affects the very fabric of
society and our local communities. For this reason we call for
greater co-operative planning and accountability mechanisms to
be put in place to better and more equitably serve local
communities.
In closing, Salga supports the hon President as Head of State
and government, as he charges the country with a renewed
commitment to quality education, which will provide us all
with a future. I thank you. [Applause.]
Mr R W TOOLEY (LIMPOPO: MEC – TREASURY): Hon Chairperson of
the NCOP, His Excellency hon President of our country, Mr
Jacob Zuma, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Chairperson
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and Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces,
premiers and members of the executive council, MECs, that are
present, Members of Parliament and the National Council of
Provinces, members of the provincial legislatures,
distinguished guests and ladies and gentlemen, Limpopo is
honoured by the special opportunity to share with the esteemed
members of the NCOP and the nation at large about the progress
that is taking place in our part of the country.
Ours is indeed about working together, to deliver on the
commitment to better the lives of our people. The greatest
weapon we have on our side is the unwavering support of our
people. This is the support we have never take for granted.
The ever present support of our people is a fuel that powers
our pace to deliver on the shared commitment of a better life
for all. Our collective experience has proved that the task of
creating a better life for all our citizens is not an easy
one. However, it is a task that we have vowed never to betray.
We have over the past 21 years of our freedom and democracy
worked harder to perfect the art of taking services to the
people in order to help realise the dream of a better life for
all. [Applause.] We continue to do our work under the very
hostile conditions; mostly imposed on us from our ugly past.
Compounding this is the reality of limitation of resources.
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Hon President, we have been advised that the theme for this
interactive session with our people is ―Following up on our
commitment to deliver quality education and ensure economic
advancement of our people‖. I will indeed say a few words on
behalf of Limpopo in line with this theme. However, I
understand that it is of national interest that I share with
you developments relating to the dust that had characterised
our province in the past few years.
Hon members would indeed be interested to know if the
financial mismanagements that were synonymous with Limpopo are
being addressed. Over the past three years the provincial
administration has done fairly well to rescue the province
from a total collapse. Noting the progress that we have made,
the Auditor-General, AG, said on Wednesday and I quote:
―Limpopo registered a 26% improvement over the past three
years‖.
He went further to acknowledge that the section 100(b)
intervention of the past few years has been useful in stemming
the tide of mismanagement in our province. However, the
Auditor-General noted the need for our province to work harder
in order to sustain what he called the huge improvements made
during the 2014-15 financial year. Part of matters emphasised
by the AG relating to our audit outcomes was the issue of high
vacancy rate at the strategic leadership level. In this
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regard, I am able to report that we have already covered much
ground.
Two months ago we appointed four accounting officers in the
Departments of, Health, Education, Roads and Public
Infrastructure and Social Development. On Wednesday, as the AG
was releasing his report, we were appointing the accounting
officer for the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human
Settlements and Traditional Affairs. We are also in a process
to finalise the appointment of the accounting officer for the
Department of Sport, Art and Culture.
In about two weeks time we would have finalised the
appointment of the director-general for the Province. These
appointments will go a long way in assisting to address some
of the concerns raised by the AG. We are also able to report
that there has been improvement in the area of consequence
management. Action is being taken against poor performance this has led to officials bearing consequences for poor
performance and transgressions.
Hon members, we have indeed put all the energy and attention
to ensure that the province radically cuts fruitless and
wasteful expenditure so that resources can be directed to
important areas such as education, health and economic
development. There is no doubt that we are on track towards
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fulfilling the dream of our forebears of ensuring that the
doors of learning and culture shall be opened to all.
[Applause.]
In 2015, Limpopo registered an unprecedented enrolment of
101 575 sitting for Grade 12 examinations, an increase of
39,2% from 2014. The figures have increased this year. This is
a massive achievement, particularly for an underresourced
province such as ours. This year we have put most of our
attention and resources in the two underperforming districts,
namely: Sekhukhune and Waterberg. Special attention has also
being given to Vuwani area following the much publicised
disruption of learning following the redetermination of
municipal boundaries. I can assure hon members that Vuwani and
the rest of Vhembe region will not disappoint. You can be rest
assured that; come the announcement of the Grade 12 results,
the Minister of Basic Education will be shaking hands with
learners from that area.
Mr President, the creation of a conducive environment for
learning and teaching is also high on the agenda of our
government. To that end, we have prioritised addressing such
critical issues as the inappropriate school infrastructure,
the repairs to storm damaged schools, the provisioning of
additional classrooms to areas experiencing growth, and the
provisioning of water and sanitation in all our schools. Over
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the past three years we have spent R2,9 billion on school
infrastructure to address the areas I have already mentioned.
We have also budgeted R2,4 billion over the next three years
to continue with this infrastructure delivery work in our
schools.
On higher education I am proud to announce that the idea of a
medical school in Limpopo is no longer just a pipe-dream. It
is a reality. The medical school which is at the University of
Limpopo admitted its first group of 60 students at the
beginning of this year. As the provincial government, we have
since offered these students full bursaries to the tune of
R10 million for their studies.
Consistent with the National Development Plan, the year 2014
saw us in Limpopo convening an all-inclusive provincial
development summit to discuss and adopt the Limpopo
Development Plan. The plan clearly defines and provides a
framework for the economic growth and development agenda of
our province. Most importantly, it reflects our shared vision
and strategic imperatives towards poverty reduction,
elimination of social inequality and a creation of sustainable
jobs in our province.
It is in this context that about two weeks ago we convened a
Provincial Economic Summit to give more meaning to the Limpopo
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Development Plan. We have anchored the Limpopo Development
Plan around mining, agriculture and tourism as strategic
economic growth points and competitive advantages of our
province. The resolutions of this summit I am talking about
are going to guide us on the route to industrialise through
mineral beneficiation, development of agro-processing cluster,
development of viable tourism offerings and logistics. We can
confirm that there are already significant number of economic
projects and infrastructure investments that are being
implemented in various regions of our province currently. They
include the Presidential Strategic Infrastructure Programme
targeting both Waterberg and Sekhukhune District
Municipalities, and the envisaged special economic zones
earmarked for implementation in both Greater Tubatse and
Musina Local Municipalities.
In this regard, hon President, we would like to take this
opportunity to thank the Cabinet for the positively
considering our application for Musina to become a special
economic zone. It will really go a long way towards developing
the economy of our country in that part of the land.
Nevertheless, we would like to implore on you, Mr President,
to once again persuade the Cabinet to also consider Tubatse as
a special economic zone, SEZ. Tubatse Municipality has a huge
economic potential to become the future platinum province
production hub of our country. We continue to work in
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partnership with our social partners to place Limpopo on a
higher economic development trajectory. Once again, I thank
you very much for the privilege to speak to our people through
this platform of the NCOP. I Thank You. [Time expired.]
[Applause.]
Ms W NELSON (North West): Hon Chairperson of the NCOP, His
Excellency the President of our country, hon MECs, hon members
of the NCOP, mayors, traditional leaders and fellow South
African, dumelang [good morning]; goeie môre [good morning.]!
Twenty two years into our democracy has afforded our
government the opportunity to gain practical exposure to the
education challenges faced by many learners – particularly
African learners coming from poor households. Over the very
same period, we have managed to increase the number of African
students passing matric from 201 971 in 1994 to 369 903 in
2015. This is a huge achievement to be recorded over such a
short period of time. However, we still need to establish what
happens to those students who drop out and we need to address
this matter.
Our government has increased access to universities for
African students. Currently, African students constitute
approximately 70% of the student population, compared to 47%
in 1994.
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A few ways in which government has demonstrated serious
commitment to ensuring the delivery of quality education
include the creation of learning incentives such as providing
free scholar transport, feeding schemes, free learning
materials and financial support for those who have worked hard
to gain access to institutions for higher learning. Bursaries
are also provided to those studying to become educators in
mathematics, science and technology. Financial support is also
given to those who enrol at Technical and Vocational Education
and Training, Tvet, colleges to become artisans and
technicians.
Mr President, with regard to economic advancement, the fifth
administration in Bokone Bophirima has sought to implement the
National Development Plan, NDP, through the rebranding,
repositioning and renewal, RRR, approach, anchored on a new
approach of the five concretes, namely: Agriculture, Culture
and Tourism, ACT, and mining as tributaries; Villages,
Townships and Small Dorpies, VTSD, Reconciliation, Healing and
Renewal, RHR; and Setsokotsane which is a comprehensive and
integrated service delivery campaign and Saamtrek-Saamwerk
being a call for unity of purpose above racial divisions.
To ensure effective and successful implementation of ACT, in
his 2015 state of the province address, our hon premier
pronounced that the province would spend 60% of its 2015-16
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procurable budget on villages, townships and small dorpies. By
the end of the financial year, provincial departments recorded
an expenditure of R1,8 billion or 34% of the procurable budget
spent towards VTSD compared to the R1 billion of the previous
year. An upward revision to 70% was made for 2016-17.
Since the introduction of this policy pronouncement,
progressive improvements have been noticed on provincial
government spending in VTSD areas. As at the end of September
we have spent 39,5% or R879,5 million on villages, townships
and small dorpies. To date, we have been able to support 4 880
suppliers in the VTSD areas and the number increases on a
monthly basis. I can proudly announce that the departments are
complying and we have star performers to date, namely, economy
and enterprise; development; social development as well as
culture, arts and traditional affairs.
Through interaction with various stakeholders across the
province, we have realised the need for development of village
plans for each one of the VTSD areas. This approach assisted
government to identify the economic opportunities that can be
pursued by small, medium and micro enterprises, SMMEs, and cooperatives within the VTSD areas.
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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Mr President, in order to assist with the development of small
businesses within the VTSD areas the provincial government
resolved ... [Interjections.]
Ms T G MOKWELE: Chairperson, I rise on a point of order. I
would like to ask the member if she is willing to take a
question that says we are still waiting for ...
[Interjections.] ... the murder of Wandile Bozwana please. ...
[Interjections.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Just wait. Hon Nelson, are you
prepared to take a question?
Ms W NELSON: Hon Chairperson, I would be obliged afterwards,
but not during my time.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: She is not willing, madam.
Ms W NELSON: As a proactive measure to prevent harmful
competition between small business owners, the provincial
government assisted business owners to establish organised
VTSD chambers of commerce with representation from the
respective communities up to the district level. Through
interaction with various communities, we realised that there
was a serious market failure regarding agriculture, culture
and tourism which are sectors with long-term economic
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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development potential. The development of these priority
sectors is one of the main focus areas of the current
administration in the medium to long-term.
In terms of Agri-parks, grain silos in one of the villages
called Springbokpan are now operational and construction of a
milling plant is underway. To date, 3 000 tons of maize
received from Mexico en route to Zimbabwe has been stored in
these silos. Furthermore, the process of providing
infrastructure for the establishment of abattoirs in two
villages is under way and the Mahikeng abattoir is at an
advanced stage and would be concluded over the Medium-Term
Expenditure Framework, MTEF, period.
The province is currently diversifying its economy in order to
mitigate against the risks of over-reliance on the mining
sector. Agriculture and manufacturing – which jointly
contribute about 5% towards the provincial economy – should
substantially be supported in order to increase the percentage
contribution to the economy of the province.
It is the view of our province that all the initiatives we are
undertaking be accomplished through the working together in
the context of Saamtrek-Saamwerk. It is for the very same
reason that the fifth administration adopted the SaamtrekSaamwerk philosophy as the provincial policy implementation
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strategy until 2019 for strengthening our efforts towards the
economic advancement of our people.
In conclusion Mr President, in order to revitalise the
economies of the villages, townships and small dorpies, the
Province has embarked ... [Interjections.]
Moh N P KONI: Modulasetilo, ke kopa tshedimosetso ya gore
sentlentle ke eng gompieno go sekiwa dilo tsa kwa Bokone
Bophirima mo Porofenseng ya Kapa Botlhaba e e nang le dikgang
di le dintsi tse di masisi? Batho ba bua dilo tse dintsintsi
tsa gore Moss Phakoe o bolailwe ke mang? Go diragala eng? ...
[Tsenoganong.] (Translation of Setswana paragraph follows.)
[Ms N P KONI: Chairperson, may you please clarify to me as to
why we are talking about the issues of the North West Province
when the Eastern Cape Province has so many critical issues?
People are saying many things regarding who really killed Moss
Phakoe. What is happening? [Interjections.]]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Koni, that is not a point of
order.
Ms M P KONI: ... Eastern Cape is in crisis. Thank you very
much.
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: That is not a point of order.
Continue, hon Nelson.
Ms W NELSON: In conclusion, in order to revitalise the
economies of the villages, townships and small dorpies, the
province has embarked on the process of establishing People‘s
Chambers of Commerce as centres of economic development. The
process of establishing these chambers is near completion and
the VTSD Economic Lekgotla will be held on 30 November to
2 December 2016, with the intention of developing
comprehensive VTSD industrialisation action plans geared
towards the revitalisation of the VTSD economy.
I wish to take this opportunity to invite hon members to the
first ever unprecedented ... [Interjections.] ... economic
revolution Lekgotla. I thank you. Time expired. [Applause.]
[Interjections.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Order members! You are of course
able to converse without drowning out the speakers. Can I ask
for that, please?
Mr M KHAWULA: Hon Chairperson, hon President, I note that the
observation of the President is different from that of the
NCOP Chair on the state of education in the Eastern Cape. In
writing sonnet 94, Shakespeare says the following in the
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couplet of his sonnet and I quote, ―For sweetest things turn
sourest by their deeds; lilies that fester smell far worse
than weeds‖.
This is not far from the story of our country, its leadership
and governance after 1994. While South Africa in 1994 provided
the country and the world with a promise of a bright future,
such hopes are slowly diminishing and fading away for millions
of South Africans.
The hopes of a prosperous South Africa have been substituted
by desperate pleas. These are desperate pleas for a caring
leadership, for a caring government, for honesty, for
integrity, for Ubuntu. Unfortunately, the noises that South
Africans are making are not audible to those in the top room.
The people of South Africa want to be listened to by the
government that they have put into power. People want a
government that provides services and development, not a
government that hands the country over to connected friends
through business deals.
The government must be serious in growing the economy in order
to provide job opportunities. The government must create an
equilibrium between the previously disadvantaged and the
developed communities. The government must stop hiding behind
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the legacy of apartheid for its failures. Twenty-two years of
democracy must have given reasonable time for schools to be
made equal, for health services to be made the same, for rural
roads to be improved, for clean water to reach all areas, for
electricity to reach informal settlements and rural areas and
for education to be made free.
Instead, the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting
poorer. The government must begin to realise the importance of
doing the right thing, not because of money or power, but
because doing the right thing is the right thing to do. Even
if it means losing a few compromising, yet powerful friends,
doing the right thing is always the right thing to do, Mr
President.
When Dr Nelson Mandela took over the reigns of this country in
1994, South Africa‘s credit rating at BB was very bad, but it
was stable. Through the leadership and economic focus of
President Thabo Mbeki, the country‘s credit rating improved in
the early 2000s. President Motlanthe‘s short spell saw the
ratings improving to A3. But during the current presidency,
the country‘s credit rating has deteriorated to slightly just
above junk status.
Two days ago, the Auditor-General presented his audit reports
for 2014-15. Notable in his report is the increase of
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irregular expenditure from R32 billion in to R46 billion in
2014-15. Wasteful expenditure has increased to R1,3 billion.
In this report the Auditor-General laments the substantial
levels of abuse of financial management and systems and noncompliance. The hon Vincent Smith also greatly lamented the
lack of consistent management. People steal government money
in broad daylight, but nothing gets done by the powers that
be.
While government does provide houses, infrastructure,
electricity, roads, clinics and other development programmes,
the country would have been very far by now if it were not for
these drawbacks. I thank you.
Ms M R MHAULE (Mpumalanga: MEC for Education): Chairperson of
the NCOP, Mam Modise, His Excellency the President of the
Republic of South Africa, hon members of the NCOP, MECs who
are representing their provinces today here and the entire
leadership of the Eastern Cape, receive greetings from
Mpumalanga on behalf of the premier, Mr D D Mabuza.
[Applause.]
Mr President, as Mpumalanga province under the leadership of
our premier, we are still shocked about the Middleburg saga.
We hope out of it we will intensify our struggle to build a
nonracial, democratic and prosperous South Africa. Our
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commitment will also be compelled by the assistance of the
victim himself so that justice is done. In Mpumalanga we had
an incident in Lily Mine wherein our workers are still
missing. We are going to support and work with government
until this matter is closed but to the benefit of our members.
Again as Mpumalanga, we regret the incident at uMbhaba Farm
wherein one farmer decided to take away the right of
association of the workers, and when they insisted he expelled
them all - more than 300 workers. We say as government we are
going to support those workers until justice is done.
Coming to the issue on the table today under the theme, ―To
deliver quality education and ensure economic advancement of
our people‖, the strength of a building is in its foundation.
To make sure that the foundation of education is strong, as
Mpumalanga government we are strengthening the early childhood
development programmes. To do that we have established an
early childhood development institute which aims at training
our practitioners especially those that are teaching the 04-age cohorts. We have started and 1000 practitioners have
been trained on Level 1 and 700 practitioners have been
trained on Level 4. As Mpumalanga again, we were able to
migrate the practitioners who were officially teaching Grade-R
but qualified as teachers to be teachers and are receiving the
salaries of teachers. [Applause.]
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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We also looked at the condition of farm dwellers and their
children and the schools in those farms. Most of the schools
in the farms are multigrade schools wherein one teacher is
teaching all the grades and all the classes in one room. As
Mpumalanga government we then resorted to building boarding
schools. To date, we have built five functional boarding
schools and we have closed 30 dysfunctional farm schools for
that regard. [Applause.] The boarding schools are working very
well and you can even see the lives of the young ones have
changed. Their level of competency is very high.
On school nutrition, in Mpumalanga we are feeding 901 378
learners. There is nothing that will hold them to stay home
and not come to school because they are hungry. To make sure
that education is accessible in Mpumalanga and that we want to
address the needs of the economy of the province and the
economy of the country, we have established a maths, science
and technology academy. The academy is supported by four
subhubs in each district. It aims at capacitating maths,
science and technology teachers as well as learners because it
is e-teaching wherein one teacher would be in the hub teaching
hundreds schools at the same time. That has started to work.
[Applause.]
We have a strategy in place. It is a strategy that we were
using since 2010. We don‘t believe in changing strategies if
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it works. You can remember that in 2009, Mpumalanga was number
last in the country and we were at 48% in terms of the Grade
12 pass results. We have seen the strategy that we were using
yielding fruits. We are no longer operating on the bottom of
the ladder, but we are positively competing with other
provinces on top and that will take our country to be on top
[Applause.]
If you can recall last year when our Minister Angie Motshega
announced the results, though as Mpumalanga we say that we
were at 78,6% last year, but she insisted that we are at 82%
because she removed the other learners -
the progressed
learners - and we were at 82%, but we maintained that we were
at 78%. That is why even this year as Mpumalanga we set a 10%
target of improvement. This means that if it goes well we will
be at 88%. [Applause.]
To motivate our learners that they should continue with
education, all bursaries from all departments in the province
are housed in the Department of Education because we are the
custodians of the future of all professions. As we speak, we
are supporting 3000 learners in all the universities of South
Africa. We are supporting them with tuition, accommodation,
food and all the necessities that they need as they do their
work.
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We have joined other provinces to take advantage of our
relationships with other countries in South Africa which is
led by His Excellency, the President. We have sent 110
students to Cuba this year and to Russia to do medicine,
engineering and teaching. [Applause.] Some have left on 14,
Tuesday.
We are not only considering those that are at the school, we
are also considering the out of school youth. We have many
programmes as the government of Mpumalanga that is addressing
the out of school youth. We are using our wing which is called
the Mpumalanga Regional Training Trust, MRTT. We are
developing artisans, contractors and all these. As I close,
Madam Speaker ... [Interjections.] [Time expired.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: You have closed mam, and your
time has expired. Thank you very much.
Ms M R MHAULE (Mpumalanga: MEC for Education): Thank you so
much. Mpumalanga is at work. [Applause.]
Nks T G MPAMBO–SIBHUKWANA: Sihlalo weNdlu leBhunga lamaPhondo
leSizwe kunye negqiza lakho, ndiyanibulisa. Okokuqala, lihlazo
elihlasimlisa umzimba into yokuba kude kube ngoku, emva
kweminyaka engamashumi amabini anesibini, sibe sisayibetha
ngoyaba imfundo yabantwana beli kule Mpuma Koloni.
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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Umnqa ngowokuba kwingqaka yoMgaqo-siseko woMzantsi Afrika,
ecace gca okwekati emhlophe uhlungwini ...
Nks P C SAMKA: Enkosi Sihlala, ndicela ukubuza ukuba ingaba
ilungu eli likungele kusini na ukuthatha umbuzo?
Nks T G MPAMBO–SIBHUKWANA: ... imfundo elilungelo labantwana
beli ngokoMgaqo-siseko ayigungqi. Isanxwe esivakele kubahlali
base-Alfred Nzo nakwisixeko iBuffalo siphuhlisa into yokuba
kukho ukungoneli okuninzi apha kweli liphondo. Izindlu
zangasese zootitshala kunye nabafundi besikolo esiphakamileyo
iHlokoma azinazo iingcango, kukwazibonele. Ndiyazibuza ke
ngoku ukuba liphi na elaa lungelo labucala ... (Translation of
isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[Ms T G MPAMBO-SIBHUKWANA: Chairperson of the National Council
of Provinces and your delegation, I greet you. Firstly, it is
a serious disgrace that up to now, after 22 years, we do not
pay attention to the education of the children of this
province, the Eastern Cape.
This is rather surprising considering that in the Constitution
of South Africa, where this is stated as clear as crystal, ...
Ms P C SAMKA: Thank you, Chairperson. I would like to find out
whether the member will take a question.
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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Ms T G MPAMBO-SIBHUKWANA: ... the children of this country‘s
right to education is firmly entrenched. The cries coming from
the residents of Alfred Nzo and Buffalo City show that there
is a lot of dissatisfaction in this province. Teachers‘ and
learners‘ toilets at Hlokoma High School have no doors; there
is no privacy. Now I am asking myself, what about the right to
privacy ...]
... that is being compromised.
Iincwadi zokufunda azikabikho nangoku. Xa besingcambazisa
inqununu ngemibuzo, uphendule ngelithi akukho le, kungekho
naleyaa. Ukuba ke basabika imbiba nebuzi oonqununu, loo nto
ithetha ukuba imfundo yabantwana bethu isemngciphekweni.
Mandiyithethe phandle into yokuba ayikho le nto kuthiwa
luhlolo novavanyo kwezemfundo [monitoring and evaluation]
eziqhutywa kwii-ofisi zeli phondo laseMpuma Koloni.
Enxarhuni, lo gama Momgameli idama lakho ligcwele ngamanzi
nje, kukho izikolo ezili-13 ezingenamanzi, awafiki kubahlali
baphaya kodwa idama lona laseNxarhuni ligqitha eBeacon Bay.
Hayi imbi into, iincwadi zifika emva kwexesha kodwa ziyafika.
kwisikolo apho wayefunda khona uSomlomo, uMama uNoxolo
Kieviet. Iifestile ezikolweni zophukile. Sihlalo, mandilume
ndivuthela. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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[Set books are still not available. When we questioned the
principal, the official said that this and that are not
available. So long as teachers make conflicting statements,
the education of our children is at stake.
Let me state categorically that what is happening in the name
of monitoring and evaluation in the offices of the Eastern
Cape province is not acceptable.
At Nxarhuni, while the President‘s dam is full of water, there
are 13 schools that have no water; water does not reach the
residential areas yet the Nxarhuni dam stretches past Beacon
Bay. Things are bad; books are delivered late, but they are
delivered. At the school that the Speaker, Ms Noxolo Kieviet,
attended the windows are broken. Chairperson, let me juxtapose
the good and the bad.]
[Inaudible] ... the rights of the people with disabilities.
Mongameli, utyikityile njengommi waseMzantsi Afrika, imbi ke
loo nto. Ndifuna ukuyicacisa into yokuba eHlokoma bade bancama
ibhasi bayenza iklasi. Indawo yokuphekela ayikho, kuthathwe
iklasi yenziwa ... [Kwaphela ixesha.] [Uwelewele.]
(Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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[President, as a South African you signed, and that is bad. I
want to explain that at Hlokoma they even turned a bus into a
classroom. There is no kitchen; a classroom was turned into
... [Time expired.] [Interjections.]]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Mpambo-Sibhukwana! Don‘t ever
do that again! Order, order! [Intejections.]
Ms T G MPAMBO–SIBHUKWANA: Bendisafuna ukubanika. [I still
wanted to tell them more.]
It‘s such a pity.
Bendisafuna ukubanika. IMpumalanga yona uMphicothi-zincwadi
uthe ... [I still wanted to tell them more. The AuditorGeneral said Mpumalanga ...]
... is one of the worst performing province.
Moh N P KONI: Modulasetilo, ke kopa gore o tlhomame. Fa e le
baetleetsi ba ANC ba goeletsang, o a wa didimala, mme fa go
fologa maloko a EFF le a DA mo seraleng ke gone o rayang batho
o re ba dira modumo. Ke kopa tlhomamo Modulasetilo.
Didimalang lona ga ke bue le lona [Tsenoganong.] (Translation
of Setswana paragraphs follows.)
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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[Ms N P KONI: Chairperson, may you please be consistent. When
it is ANC supporters who are screaming, you remain quiet.
However, when it is either the EFF or DA members getting off
the podium, you then call people making noise to order. Be
consistent.
Keep quiet, I am not talking to you [Interjections.]]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Koni, please take your seat.
I have been consistent and I don‘t have to explain myself to
you. Order!
Mr J MAMABOLO (Gauteng): Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of
the NCOP, His Excellency the President of the Republic of
South Africa, Jacob Zuma, hon Ministers, Deputy Ministers, hon
premiers, MECs, delegates to the NCOP, representatives of
local government, our esteemed traditional leaders and fellow
South Africans, good afternoon.
On behalf of the Premier of Gauteng, hon David Makhura, I am
honoured to contribute to this debate forming part of the
programme Taking Parliament to the People. Let me thank and
congratulate the NCOP for choosing a profound theme for this
debate: Following up on our Commitments to Deliver Quality
Education and Ensure Economic Advancement of our People.
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Firstly, allow me to acknowledge and welcome the address made
by His Excellency President Jacob Zuma. Let me also agree,
upfront, and appreciate the profound and groundbreaking inputs
to this debate, made by the NCOP Chair, by all hon members of
the ANC. I would like to thank and congratulate them for
demonstrating beyond any shadow of doubt that only the ANC has
answers and solutions to the historic and objective problems
facing our people.
Let me reaffirm the point that the basis of our commitment to
deliver quality education and ensure economic advancement of
our people can only proceed from the clauses of the Freedom
Charter, the country‘s Constitution and the National
Development Plan. I am sure that the people of our country and
this province will agree that only the ANC can correctly
represent and outline the contents of these documents. Others,
as you have seen and heard them, can only huff, puff and
waffle merely blasting hot air.
As I listened to the speakers, one can easily detect best
quality and inputs from the hon members of the ANC and hot air
from the rest. [Applause.] Let me say that as I was listening
to hon members of the ANC, they reminded me of a very historic
and important development in Cuba where one of the Batista
police who was meant to shoot El Comandante Fidel Castro
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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refused to shoot and said, ―... ideas will never die.‖ That is
why he could not kill Fidel Castrol.
I want to take this opportunity to say, you can hear from the
ANC members that the ANC will never die because its ideas will
never die. [Applause.] That is why we say ... [Interjections.]
Ms T G MOKWELE: The ANC is dying.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Order!
Mr J MAMABOLO: ... the ANC lives and the ANC leads.
[Interjections.]
Ms T G MOKWELE: Statistics do not lie.
Mr J MAMABOLO: Let me also take the opportunity, on behalf of
our province, to thank you hon president Jacob Zuma for a
prompt and swift action you took to visit our province
following devastating floods. You led from the front and
demonstrated that government must at all times be found
amongst our people as the commander in chief, hon President
Zuma, we would like to thank you very much. [Applause.]
Our contribution to this debate is that fifth provincial
administration in Gauteng defines itself as an activist
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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government; a government that engages with all sectors on a
continuous and sustained basis; a government that listens and
is responsive; and a government that works in partnership with
stakeholders towards common goals. This posture of our
government has find expressions in the highly celebrated,
highly acknowledged Ntirhisano Outreach programme and the
Service Delivery War Room.
Let me share with you some of the remarkable achievements we
have made through Ntirhisano: Firstly, in our province it is
well known that we deliver one of the best quality state of
the art schools. The schools are equipped with the best
facilities and capabilities to enhance public education. In
Gauteng we believe that innovation based on smart technologies
enhances the quality of public education.
Let me also announce that since July this year, we - in the
province - deliver one smart school every month to the people
of our province. Whilst the smart schools are at a high cost,
they are but an important investment that will go deep into
the future. They are an investment worth it; they are schools
certainly of deep into the future.
Two weeks ago, in our Gauteng province, we hosted a delegation
from the legislature of KwaZulu-Natal. They came to Gauteng to
share experience on smart schools and were very interested in
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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this initiative. We therefore took them to the City of Tshwane
in Ga-Rankuwa and showed them a smart school – the school of
the future. When they left our province they agreed that in
actual fact the smart schools are a best investment for our
people and they enhance public equality education because the
future is technology and as Gauteng that is where we are.
We have also signed a memorandum of understanding with
tertiary institutions with the Department of Higher Education
and the Department of Public Works in order to help tertiary
institutions expand and grow on their infrastructure
requirements.
I would like to say that, whilst we are making progress to
deliver public quality infrastructure and smart technologies
for public education, we are very much concerned because there
are still challenges. Following our engagement with Statistics
SA, it is pointed out that in our country - and I guess it
will be high in our province - many of the learners and the
students at tertiary institutions spend less time in class and
as a result the success rates are going down which in turn
increases unemployment. That is a problem we must confront,
address and deal with.
We might need to look at an initiative to encourage learners
to spend time in class; students at universities need to spend
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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more time in class because they come out and increase the rate
of unemployment. I can confirm that, just in Expanded Public
Works Programme, EPWP, we see many of the young people coming
without skills, education or work experience and are desperate
for education. So we have to address the issue of our students
not spending time in class and lecture halls because that
breeds unemployment, contributes to negative effects on the
economy and leads to poor quality of life. This is a matter we
want to raise.
The other challenge, is that while we are delivering on good
technology infrastructure ... [Time expired.] [Applause.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Mokwele, you will not touch
that mic again without being recognised. The next speaker is
the hon MEC – Economic Development, Environmental Affairs And
Tourism, the hon Somyo. [Interjections.]
Ms T G MOKWELE: On a point of order, ma‘am. [Interjections.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Take your seat, I have ... You
will not touch that mic unless you are recognised.
[Interjections.]
Ms T G MOKWELE: On a point of order, Chair.
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: On what point of order are you
rising?
Ms T G MOKWELE: Chairperson, the manner in which you are
addressing me is as if you are threatening me. That tone of
your voice is like you are threatening to do something. I
would like to be treated like a member of this House; you must
treat me as ... [Interjections.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Take your seat, ma‘am.
[Interjections.]
Ms T G MOKWELE: ... you treat other members of the House. You
cannot use that tone ... [Interjections.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Take your seat, hon Mokwele!
[Interjections.]
Ms T G MOKWELE: ... because it is as if you are threatening
me. Please I‘m appealing to you because I can ...
[Interjections.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Take your seat!
Ms T G MOKWELE: ... use that tone as well. [Interjections.]
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Take your seat! Hon Mokwele. You
will be treated with respect when you learn to respect the
House. Your rights will always be protected within the rules
of this House. You will take your seat because I am not going
to recognise you. Hon Somyo, please continue. [Interjections.]
Ms T G MOKWELE: On a point of order, Chair. [Interjections.]
Mr S SOMYO: Hon Chair. [Interjections.]
Ms T G MOKWELE: On a point of order, Chair. [Interjections.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Mokwele, you will not hold
this House to ransom. What is your point of order?
Ms T G MOKWELE: I am still repeating, with due respect, Chair.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: I have responded to you, respect
this House.
Ms T G MOKWELE: The manner in which you are addressing me,
even now when you give me the chance to ... [Interjections.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Please continue, hon Somyo.
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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Mr S SOMYO (EASTERN CAPE: MEC – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM): Hon Chairperson of the
NCOP, His Excellency the President of South Africa, all
protocol observed. [Interjections.]
Ms M P KONI: On a point of order, Chairperson. Chairperson,
point of order!
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: What is your point of order, hon
Koni?
Ms M P KONI: Don‘t be emotional; relax!
Mme ke kopa gore melao yotlhe mo Ntlong e dirisiwe. Fa o bua
le motl Mokwele ... [Madam, let all the Rules of this House be
used. When you address hon Mokwele ...]
... the member at the podium must at all times sit down,
according to the Rules of the NCOP. The member over there was
not sitting down; you did not order the member to sit down
either. So, I am appealing to you that at all times, the Rules
... [interjections.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Your point is sustained. Can you
please take your seat now? Please continue hon Somyo.
18 NOVEMBER 2016
PAGE: 118 of 140
Mr S SOMYO (EASTERN CAPE: MEC – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM): Hon Chairperson, as the
province of the Eastern Cape, we acknowledge the daunting task
which we face. It is indeed not frivolous that you have met,
encouraged the numbers of our own people right through the
week. We have been listening to them because we have been
together with them for the rest of the time. These matters are
very serious matters. Many of our people, those we went to
school with and even those who strive to get better education
we want to say: Yes, indeed, as the province of the Eastern
Cape, we are so committed to provide quality education in
their lifetime.
Many of us had to brave very difficult conditions, even the
ultimate price that had to be paid at the time when we
realised the hardship that this is indeed a course to die for.
We are proud that this morning you have taken time, not only
to respond to those calls, but to commit to our people that
indeed we will make this province a better province and a
better country for the people to live in.
Nje mhlali ngaphambili ... [Hon chairperson ...]
Fifty-one percent ownership of the company is in the name of a
trust which recognises the people of Ncera Village; ...
18 NOVEMBER 2016
PAGE: 119 of 140
[Applause.] ... forty-nine percent of it, goes to the private
sector.
Xa nihamba niphulaphula ... [When you go and listen ...]
That is why we made a telling presentation to the institution
that deals which the actual distribution of the resources of
this country. The manner in which we made that contribution is
the recognition of the fact that the Eastern Cape won‘t be
equal to any other province because of its own past which had
endured very harsh realities of the former Transkei, the
former Ciskei and the former Republic.
Indeed, the equation will never be reaching equilibrium for
over a time, not unless resourcing does observe equity.
However, if that equity is observed, we will not come onto
this podium and cry on matter that we experience – not only
experience – and we deal with on a daily basis. We are so
grateful to be the leadership of this province who have
contributed in improving the lives of those who have been
affected by such harsh conditions, whether in education, the
economy or health. Those are daily experiences which our own
people are confronted with.
Thank you, Madam Chair, and your team, for having come to this
province. Thank you Mr President for having led in a
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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resounding way those who have taken upon themselves to say:
The infrastructure in our schools must be developed. In your
own words you said: The Minister yesterday went to open one
other school. We celebrate each and every month for a new
school to be opened which is for us a reality of taking our
own people away from mud schools, but that is not an easy
task. That needs resources.
When the time the country, not only the country of South
Africa, but the world over experiences the economic hardships
which we must be able to look after and work together with the
private interest to ensure that our people, our children would
enjoy better life in our own lifetime.
Yes, hon Chairperson, if we want our learners to have the
highest of discipline, we must start here. You can‘t have a
member who doesn‘t want to shy away from the fact that he or
she is a parent and parade this house with his shirt and
overhaul which is hoops in his own structure, the zip that is
loose. [Laughter.] That is the hardship which our teachers
experience on a daily basis. That sense of discipline ...
[Interjections.]
Ms N P KONI: On a point of order, Chairperson! On a point of
order Chair!
18 NOVEMBER 2016
PAGE: 121 of 140
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES: Hon
Somyo, please take your seat. Hon Koni, you are rising on a
point of order. [Interjections.]
Ms N P KONI: Sit down, sit down, sit down! I want to address
the Chairperson.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES: Order! I
want to hear the point of order.
Ms N P KONI: Modulasetilo, ke kopa gore re seke ra tla go
nyatsiwa, re gatakakiwa ka maoto ke abuti yo o ntseng fao yoo.
[Chairperson, can the gentleman sitting over there refrain
from undermining us.] [Interjections.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES: Thank
you ma‘m. That is not a point of order. Please sit down!
Ms N P KONI: Moaparo wa rona ga o dire sepe le ene, ga a tsene
gope mo moaparong wa rona. Ke kopa gore o bue le rre yoo. [Let
the gentleman know that our attire has nothing to do with
him.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES: That is
not a point of order! Hon Koni, thank you! Hon Somyo!
18 NOVEMBER 2016
PAGE: 122 of 140
Mr S SOMYO (EASTERN CAPE: MEC – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM): Thina sikweli phondo ...
[We are in this province ...]
This Eastern Cape, yesterday was a consumer of power. Today,
this Eastern Cape is the producer of power – not only just
power – but renewable energy. [Applause.] You will see the
windmill turning all the time, feeding into the grid for us to
have that contribution. [Time expired.]
Mnu J P PARKIES: Masihloniphe uMongameli, sihloniphe uSihlalo
weNCOP, sihloniphe amaLungu ePalamente akhoyo, sihloniphe
nabantu bethu basekuhlaleni. Ndiqale ngokuzithoba kuSihlalo,
nceda xa ndishiyekelwe yimuzuzu emine undazise. Ndinomphako
Sihlalo we-EFF neDA, umphako wami ekumele ukuba sibaphathise
wona esandleni uthi: (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph
follows.)
[Mr J P PARKIES: Let us respect the President, respect the
Chairperson of the NCOP, respect Members of Parliament present
here and respect our people in their communities. Let me make
a humble request to the Chairperson first, to please inform me
when I have four minutes left. I have a provision,
Chairperson, for the EFF and the DA; the provision that we
have to place in their hands goes thus:]
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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In terms of the political spectrum when you deal with the
extreme left simultaneously with the white liberals there is
always a connection in terms of their behaviour and conduct.
[Applause.]
When you talk about the EFF, they say they are on the left and
they denounce capitalism, but they unconsciously fortify
capitalism in proportion to their deeds, desperate resolve and
sense of emptiness. The same happens with your white liberal
party in the form of the DA. [Applause.] When Lenin in 1918
talked about the ultra lefties he said, and I quote, ―They
devote more efforts to learning by hearts and committing to
memory revolutionary slogans than to think them out.‖
Hon Chair, the DA in our society remains an embodiment of an
incorrigible white liberal party and with the tinge of
desperate engorged black elites. [Applause.] First, they
manipulate our people ... [Interjections.]
Mr W F FABER: Chairperson, on a point of order.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Parkies, please take your
seat. Hon Londt.
Mr W F FABER: Chairperson, it is hon Faber actually.
18 NOVEMBER 2016
PAGE: 124 of 140
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Farber!
Mr W F FABER: Chair, my point of order is: It is the
[Inaudible.] party. [Interjections.] Now Chairperson ...
[Interjections.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Faber, what is your point of
order?
Mr W F FARBER: My point of order is: We are the most diverse
party in the country of all races.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Thank you, sir. That is not the
point of order. Please, continue.
Mr J P PARKIES: Chairperson, the DA has appropriated our
leaders but failed to appropriate correct revolutionary
values, of which honesty is one of them. Honesty in society
and in politics will never win or secure you victory, but it
can only secure you integrity. The same Leader of the DA,
because of the dishonesty, undermined whimsically the rules of
Parliament that require Members of Parliament to declare.
There is money which the Leader of the DA did not declare in
Parliament. Instead, as it normally or usually happens, they
used our courts and the courts favoured them. That is why this
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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hon member from the DA has the guts to tell the leadership of
the ANC about integrity and dishonesty ... [Interjections.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Parkies, hon Parkies, please
take your seat. Hon Hattingh, you are on your feet.
[Interjections.] Order members, there is a member on the
floor. Hon Hattingh.
Mr C HATTINGH: Hon Chair I was wondering whether a member can
take a question, specifically on the topic that he is now
addressing?
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Sir, I did not get your point of
order, Can you please repeat yourself.
Mr C HATTINGH: Hon Chair, it is unfortunate the ANC members
sitting on my left are busy shouting!
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon members, order! I can not
hear the member on the floor! Hon member, can you please
proceed!
Mr C HATTINGH: Very little discipline, hon Chair. I would like
to know whether the member will take a question on the issue
he is now addressing? [Interjections.]
18 NOVEMBER 2016
PAGE: 126 of 140
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Parkies, will you take a
question?
Mr J P PARKIES: Ixesha lam lincinci, Sihlalo. [I have a little
time, Chairperson.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Are you saying yes or no?
Mr J P PARKIES: Ixesha lami lincinci. [I have a little time.]
I am saying no.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: He is saying no, sir. Please,
proceed.
Mr J P PARKIES: Chairperson, with regard to education all
things are subject to interpretations and whichever
interpretation prevails at a given time is the function of
power and not the truth. It is an honour to me to be part of
this debate on education because education is the master
determinant of change and the heartbeat of our revolution. We
want to acknowledge and appreciate the commitment ...
[Inaudible.] ... that our education in the province is still
continuing. [Applause.] For, Chairperson, we ...
[Interjections.]
18 NOVEMBER 2016
PAGE: 127 of 140
Ms M P KONI: Chairperson, on a point of order.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Parkies, please take your
seat. Hon Koni.
Ms M P KONI: Thank you, very much. I want to ask if the member
will take a question.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Parkies, will you take a
question?
Ms M P KONI: The Chief Whip of the NCOP is accusing him of
rape ... [Interjections.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Koni, the hon member will not
take a question. Please proceed, hon Parkies.
Mr J P PARKIES: Chairperson, the moral basis of our collective
efforts is its rootedness in the social needs of the great
masses of our people and we dare not feign dishonesty and
populism. An artificial climate of crisis cannot be a regular
diet to us and the masses. The opposition will always spell
horrible inventive to justify the avalanche attacks on the
ANC-led government and its policies, and still implement the
same policies because our revolutionary ideas will always
prevail. [Applause.]
18 NOVEMBER 2016
PAGE: 128 of 140
Chairperson, there are two fundamental issues that I want to
deal with on policy level. We need to review, Mongameli,
[President.] the quintile system, because it is not
scientific; it is not assisting our schools. That is one
policy issue that we need to review as the ANC-led government.
The second issue that needs to be reviewed is the one that
deals with learners with learning barriers, the connection
between the implementation of inclusive education and
curriculum adaptation. [Interjections.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon member, you are left with
four minutes.
Mr J P PARKIES: Four minutes. Alright. Oh shit!, Sihlalo,
[Chairperson.] it is normal in life that people who are
confabulated experience their false memories as true and
always fumble, and it is not a unique situation that currently
the DA and the EFF will always behave as such.
Chair, because we refer to ourselves as revolutionaries we
always need to be honest. As the ANC we do not withstand or
dismiss the fact that there are challenges facing our
education, and not only in the Eastern Cape but in South
Africa as a whole. And because of that honesty, we want to say
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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any policy that does not assist must be challenged ...
[Interjections.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Parkies, take your seat. Hon
Essack.
Mr F ESSACK: Hon Chairperson, with your permission ...
[Interjections.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Order, I want to hear the member.
Hon Essack, please.
Mr F ESSACK: Hon Chairperson, yes, with your permission may I
address a question to the confused speaker. [Interjections.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Parkies, will you take a
question?
Mr J P PARKIES: Chair, I will not take any question.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Essack, he will not take a
question. Please proceed, hon Parkies.
Mr J P PARKIES: Chairperson, the point I was making is that
any policy that is not working must be reviewed in the best
interest of our people. Any bureaucratic element that makes it
impossible and retards the progress must be changed and be
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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tampered with for the betterment and the common good of our
children. We say to the DA and the EFF, the ANC will never
take any gelatinous view on issues that affect our people
because we are leading the society and we are a revolutionary
movement. [Interjections.]
Ms T G MOKWELE: On a point of order, Chair.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Parkies there is a point of
order. Hon Mokwele.
Ms N P KONI: A ke nnete gore ... [Is it true that ...]
[Interjections.]
Ms T G MOKWELE: Modulasetilo, ke ne ke re ... [Chairperson, I
was saying ...] [Interjections.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Mokwele is on the floor! Yes
Ma‘m, proceed.
Ms T G MOKWELE: May I proceed, Chair?
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Yes Ma‘m.
Ms T G MOKWELE: I heard you raising your voice. I was so
scared, please. [Interjections.]
18 NOVEMBER 2016
PAGE: 131 of 140
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: I was asking hon Koni to respect
you.
Ms T G Mokwele: But you are raising your voice too much,
Chair, man and you are scaring us. Please, stop that. Chair, I
want to check, how many times will you review your policies?
[Interjections.] Do not refer to us; we are not in government
yet. [Interjections.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Mokwele!
Ms T G MOKWELE: We are going to be in government and we are
going to teach you how to run the education. Do not refer to
us we are not in government! We are coming, victory is
certain! [Interjections.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Mokwele, please take your
seat! Wait! Hon Mokwele, do not abuse the privilege to speak
in the House. If members wish to pose a question to the person
on the podium, that person must give permission. You cannot go
straight to the question. Hon Parkies is indicating that he is
not taking a question. Please proceed, hon Parkies.
Mr J P PARKIES: Chairperson, we call ourselves public
representatives, that is why we decided to come to the Eastern
Cape and focus on education because education is a master
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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determinant of change and the heartbeat of our revolution.
Anywhere where there are gaps and challenges, it is us as the
ANC leadership who must identify the gaps and deal with them.
It is not for the opposition to tell us how to deal with the
challenges that are facing our society. We are aware of
challenges in our education system because honesty to us as
leadership is the revolutionary value. Thank you. [Applause.]
Ms N P KONI: On a point of order, Chairperson ...
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon President, please take your
seat. Hon Koni? Please take your seat, sir.
Ms N P KONI: Sit down! Sit down! [Interjections.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Koni, address me!
Ms N P KONI: Chairperson, I just want to put it on record that
the EFF will not be part of ... [Interjections.] ... Zuma‘s
closure and that the EFF will not listen to a thug! We don‘t
recognise this man. Thank you.
An HON MEMBER: A thief!
An HON MEMBER: Murderer! [Interjections.]
18 NOVEMBER 2016
PAGE: 133 of 140
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Your point has been noted. Order,
members! [Interjections.] Order! Order! [Interjections.]
Members, order! The members of the EFF, you have given notice
that you are leaving the House. Do so orderly.
[Interjections.] Order! Hon President, please proceed.
The PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: The Chairperson of the NCOP and
leadership present from all the categories, I must thank the
speakers who participated in the discussion today on the very
important issue of education in our country. Many provinces
reported on what they are doing and have done, including this
province hosting this Parliament today.
Indeed, it has been very informative in terms of each province
giving an account of what they have done and what they are
doing. I am sure that has helped the country to appreciate the
work of the NCOP, in particular, that gives us the opportunity
to listen to our colleagues in the provinces. I must
congratulate you, Chair, for choosing the theme of education
when you came to the Eastern Cape this time around, precisely
because the matter of education is the apex priority in our
country. It does, therefore, need reflection by those in
government as to the issues. I must also say that education is
very important for us to look at on a continuous basis, partly
because education in our country has a very unfortunate
history.
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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I was taken aback when I heard one of the speakers saying that
we should not be talking about the past when we talk about the
conditions in this country, particularly education. It is just
20 years since we defeated apartheid. I doubt that we have
forgotten the history and background with regard to education
in this country and why we had to identify education as an
apex priority. I am saying this because it is very common for
analysts and commentators to talk about South Africa, perhaps
in comparison with the countries at the same level as South
Africa, and forget the matter of education in South Africa. In
other countries, there was never education for some groups and
not education for other groups.
What South Africa did in the apartheid days, and we cannot
glide over this, was to develop policies that excluded the
black majority from the education system of South Africa, thus
creating a huge majority that was not necessarily skilled and,
others, deprived of education. That was the reason why, when
the people of this country met at the Congress of the People
in 1955, they identified the issue of education as one of the
key issues and said ―the doors of learning ... shall be
opened‖ to all because they were closed to the majority.
You cannot then, when you are discussing education, say people
should forget that and ask why education is an issue today,
and why, in this very province, we have to replace mud schools
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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with real schools. It is not a joke. It is not history from
1994. It is a history that affected the education system in
this country for decades. Therefore, to identify this as an
important issue to talk about has been one of the perfect
decisions that we took as the NCOP – in other words, to ask:
Where are we with education? What is happening? Why do many
children fail in South Africa and not in other countries? Why
do we have problems of children that are said to have
difficulty with mathematics? I am sure many of you will recall
that one of the Prime Ministers historically said something
very telling – that the black people do not need mathematics
because they have no place to use it, as their jobs are to be
just clerks and other inferior types of jobs.
We are almost like starting afresh to correct the unfortunate
historic problems that were created by wrong policies. That is
why we talk about this, and that is why we can talk about
replacing mud schools. Education was not meant to accommodate
the black majority. That is why we have a shortage of
universities, particularly in the areas where the black
majority stays. So, it is an important debate that you brought
about, and one is very pleased that there is an effort to
change that bitter and painful history.
The MEC from the Eastern Cape, Somyo, refers to that history
as harsh reality. That is what we are dealing with, and I am
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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happy that you, Chair, made very important observations on
this key national task of our country with regard to schools,
particularly the question of water and sanitation in schools.
This is a reality in the areas that are populated by the black
majority. There is not a single school in the former white
areas where you will find that children, when they want to
relieve themselves, have to walk out of the yard and go to the
bush. There isn‘t, and therefore the appreciation of the
problem is different from those, even different from those who
are now conniving with them, even if they come from the black
majority. [Applause.] They pretend these problems do not
exist, but they do exist, and we will talk about them because
we need to address them.
I must also underline the point you made with regard to
educators – their quality. They are affected by the same
history. You said we need to prepare the educators better so
that they can produce better students. I think it is a matter
we need to focus on, particularly because education is one of
the key activities for any nation. We need to invest
deliberately in education because when we are investing in
education, we are investing in the future of the country. So,
it is a matter on which I think we cannot just raise issues
and then end there. I would be happier if, when the NCOP
perhaps does its evaluation, it takes these matters and tries
to bring concrete proposals that indicate you have observed a
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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number of things and that you believe we need to do something
about them – these problems – so that it must begin to
influence even how the budgeting is done to address these
issues.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon President, I have a member on
his feet. Please take your seat. Hon Hattingh?
Mr C HATTINGH: Chair, I would like to know whether the
questionable ruling by hon Tau earlier in terms of Rule 45(1)
and (2) is still in existence, as the President has
considerably exceeded his time.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: President, please take your seat.
I want to address the member. Please take your seat, hon
Hattingh. The earlier ruling by the hon Tau is still in place.
The second matter that we must be conscious about, as the
NCOP, is that, in fact, we are doing two things in one. We are
dealing with the President‘s Annual Address to the NCOP, and
his response to the conclusion of the Taking Parliament to the
People programme. President, you are in order. Please
continue. [Applause.]
The PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: Madam Chair, the point I was
making was that to take your very useful interaction forward,
I would propose – because we have touched on the matters that
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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are known, matters that are a problem – that there should be
very specific resolutions the country should consider to
further improve education. It is very important for you to do
so ... [Inaudible.] ... of the important factors. That is why
our leader, Madiba, referred to it as an instrument to change
the world. If we want our country to change, deal with the
legacy of apartheid and really become a democratic country,
you would want to invest properly and deal with some of the
matters that you made observations on.
So, I am very happy that the discussions today focused on this
very important issue that we were dealing with. Whenever we
deal with it, we should not shy away from remembering the
harsh realities of our history of education in our country.
I would like to thank you and thank, in particular,
representatives from the provinces who have participated in
the discussions and made very clear contributions. I am happy
that their reports are saying we are doing something on it.
Therefore, we are changing the face of basic education in
terms of the schools. I would also venture to say that you
need to raise the issue of higher education facilities. There
are not enough universities in our country. You therefore need
to say we must open up the space and invest in creating
universities and Technical and Vocational Education and
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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Training colleges so that our young people spend time at
school to empower themselves.
You will agree with me that in January, there is almost
without fail a stampede with kids trying to find a space to
further their education. Indeed, the space is not enough. The
cost of education, if you take into account the harsh
realities of our history, where we come from, is very
important.
I must thank the MEC from Gauteng who has moved in terms of
mud schools and ICT. They call it e-learning there, and they
are trying to get rid of paper by making use of technology.
Gauteng could, of course, succeed in doing so. It was another
element that was put here. Education is something that is very
important. I will say, as the NCOP that goes to provinces, you
must encourage parents, in particular, not to be hands-off in
education but to participate to ensure that education becomes
a societal task. It is not the task of teachers only; it is
the task of all of us. Thank you very much for taking this
important issue into discussion. Thank you very much.
[Applause.]
Debate concluded.
18 NOVEMBER 2016
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The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Order! There is no point of
order. [Laughter.] Hon members, before I adjourn the sitting,
I would like to request you to remain standing and, even
before I do that, take just a moment to appreciate the warmth
we have experienced from the people of the Eastern Cape in the
time we have spent here. Siyanibonga! [Applause.]
This concludes the business, and the House is adjourned.
The Council adjourned at 12:59.
__________
ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
Please click on the following link to access the relevant Announcements, Tablings and
Committee Reports for this day.
https://www.parliament.gov.za/parliamentary-papers?sorts[date]=-1
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