Hansard: NCOP: Unrevised Hansard

House: National Council of Provinces

Date of Meeting: 15 Nov 2017

Summary

No summary available.

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Minutes

WEDNESDAY, 15 NOVEMBER 2017


PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES


The Council met at 14:01.


The Chairperson took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or meditation.


The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES: Hon members, I

have been informed that the Fourth Order on our Order Paper has been deferred to a later date.


NOTICES OF MOTION


Mr J P PARKIES: Hon Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the Council, I shall move on behalf of the ANC:


That the Council —



 notes and debates the World Prematurity Day and the need for more resource allocations for neonatal facilities and programmes to support premature babies; and


also notes that the World Prematurity Day is scheduled this coming Friday, 17 November, to educate citizens on prematurity and to rally support of the Fourth Millenium Development Goal to halve the under-five mortality rate between the years 2010 and 2025.


Agreed to.


Ms L L ZWANE: Hon Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the Council, I shall move on behalf of the ANC:


That the Council —


notes debate the World Prematurity Day and the need for more resource allocations for neonatal facilities and programmes to support premature babies;


also notes that the World Prematurity Day is scheduled this coming Friday, 17 November, to educate citizens on


prematurity and to rally support of the Fourth Millennium Development Goal to halve the under-five mortality rate between the years 2010 and 2025; and


further notes that 15% of babies in South Africa are born premature and premature birth is the leading cause of death worldwide in children under the age of five and babies born too early are more susceptible to long-term health problems that affect their brain, lungs, hearing and vision.


Agreed to.


Ms T G MPAMBO-SIBHUKWANA: Hon Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the Council, I shall move on behalf of the DA:


That the Council —


(1)        debates the deteriorating school infrastructure in Limpopo, with an emphasis on classes and bathrooms.


Agreed to.


Mr O S TERBLANCHE: Hon Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the Council, I shall move on behalf of the DA:


That the Council —


(1)        debates the deterioration of governance within the national government of South Africa.


Agreed to.


Mr O J SEFAKO: Hon Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the Council, I shall move on behalf of the ANC:


That the Council —


debates the Metrorail theft;


notes that Metrorail cable theft affects the automated signalling system for the trains, forcing Metrorail to use authorisation of train passage, which is not only time- consuming but a lethal threat to passenger safety; and


further notes that over 200 incidents of copper cable theft are recorded by Metrorail every year, which continues to leave commuters throughout the country stranded and late for work.


Agreed to.


Mr J P PARKIES: Hon Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the Council, I shall move on behalf of the ANC:


That the Council —


(1)        debates the general politics financialisation and the need to diversify and transform the financial sector in our country and its critical role in our land.


Agreed to.


SABC PAYS ACTING GROUP CEO, NOMSA PILISO EXORBITANT BONUS DESPITE HUGE FINANCIAL LOSSES


(Draft Resolution)


Mr W F FABER: Hon Chair, I hereby move without notice:


That the Council -


notes that the SABC paid out a bonus of R877 000 to its Acting Group Chief Executive Officer, Nomsa Piliso while the SABC was making huge losses;


further notes that Ms Piliso earned a massive total of R3,37 million in 2016 while financial losses were the order of the day; and


summons the SABC to appear before the relevant select committee to account how it is able to afford paying out this proportionally-large bonuses or commission while waiting for yet another governmental financial bailout.


I so move.


Motion not agreed to.


ZIMBABWEAN FORCES INVADE HARARE AND COPE CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION OF PRESIDENT MUGABE


(Draft Resolution)


Mr J W W JULIUS: Chairperson, I hereby move without notice:


That the Council


notes today’s news reports that the Zimbabwean Force has moved into the country’s capital, Harare to target so-called criminals aligned to President Robert Mugabe;


also notes that the first signs indicate a military coup;


further notes that this follows President Mugabe’s decision to fire his vice president, Emerson Mnangagwa last week;


also notes that more than ever, it is critical for fresh elections to be held in Zimbabwe as soon as politically possible, and for Robert Mugabe to immediately resign as president of Zimbabwe;


calls on the Minister of International Relations and Co- operation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane to provide South Africa with an urgent briefing on the nature and extent of this


crisis in Zimbabwe including what action government will take; and


notes that in the midst of this crisis it is morally imperative for South Africa to ensure that one dictator is not simply replaced by another.


I so move.


Motion not agreed to.


SERIAL KILLER TERRORISES WORMEN IN ALICE AND SURROUNDING AREAS



(Draft Resolution)


Ms Z V NCITHA: Hon Chair, I hereby move without notice:


That the Council -


notes with deep concern that people who live in Alice and the surroundings area now living in fear because of the presence of a serial rapist and killer in the area;


also notes that this serial killer has already claimed three lives from last weekend and he targets women only;


further notes that even though the surrounding communities and the police have been trying to follow up on hints on his appearances, no detention has been made yet;


extends our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the victims;


appeals to the people of the surrounding areas to exercise their maximum level of vigilance; and


pleads with the law enforcement agencies to intensify their operations in order to apprehend this culprit that terrorises people and women’s lives in the area.


Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.


MINING COMMUNITIES UNITED IN ACTION, WOMEN FROM MINING COMMUNITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY NETWORK OF SA JOIN MINING CHARTER REVIEW PROCESS


(Draft Resolution)


Ms N P KONI: Hon Chairperson, I hereby move without notice:


That the Council -


notes the judgement by the North Gauteng High Court allowing Mining Communities United in Action, Women from Mining Communities and Environmental Justice Community Network of SA to join the application of the Chamber of Mines to review the Mining Charter;


further notes that these three organisations had to go to court because the Chamber of Mines and government refuse to allow them to join the application against the Department of Mineral Resources;


acknowledges that the Chamber of Mines’ refusal success would have meant the battle over the Mining Charter would have resulted in white monopoly capital and the zuptas;


further acknowledges that by joining the review process, these organisations would ensure that the interest of women


in mining communities and the environment, just two factions of capital, would now be considered; and


congratulates these organisations in their victory and encourage them in their review of the Mining Charter.


Motion not agreed to.



CALL FOR MORE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AWARENESS PROGRAMMES ON DIABETES



(Draft Resolution)


Ms L C DLAMINI: Hon Chair, I hereby move without notice:


That the Council -


notes that yesterday, 14 November marked World Diabetes Day 2017, which was established in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organisation in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat posed by diabetes;


further notes that the theme for this year’s World Diabetes Day is “Women and diabetes our right to a healthy future” which is intended to highlight women’s rights to a healthy future and their vulnerability to diabetes;


further notes that the World Health Organisation estimates that about 205 million women are living with diabetes and that by 2040, at least 313 million women will be diabetic;


acknowledges that diabetes is the country’s deadly silent killer and the ninth leading cause of death in women globally, causing 2,1 million deaths each year; and


takes this opportunity to call on the Department of Health to come up with more awareness programmes to teach our people, especially women and girls about the cost-effective diabetes prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and care.


Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.


OUDTSHOORN MUNICIPALITY UNDER GOOD GOVERNANCE



(Draft Resolution)


Mr J J LONDT: Chairperson, I move without notice:


That the Council:


congratulates the Oudtshoorn Municipality under the leadership of Mayor Colan Sylvester who with the help of the financial recovery plan paid off all its debt to Eskom;


after seeing first-hand the neglect in Oudtshoorn following years of maladministration when we visited the municipality during the Taking Parliament to the People in 2015;


thank the leadership for the hard work they are putting in to turn around the finances and better serve the voters;


notes that Mayor Sylvester and his team inherited a municipality with enormous debt and in a dire financial situation;


also notes that according to the mayor, the settlement of Eskom’s arrear amount of R54 million since last year is an indication that the municipal financial recovery plan is yielding positive results;


further notes that the municipality is now only awaiting the reversal of the interest charges on the account as agreed upon with Eskom which was subject to the arrangement being honoured;


recalls that Eskom had, at some stage, threatened to switch off the town's lights after the previous administration failed to pay Eskom; and


notes that this is one of the major achievements since the current administration took over the control of the municipality last year August, thank you and keep up the good work.


I so move


Motion objected to.


REVISION OF RAINBOW NATION



(Draft Resolution)


Mr O S TERBLANCHE: Chairperson, I move without notice:


That the Council resolves to act as a role model for South Africans by promoting cohesion in the Council by not using racial or other discriminatory slurs in the Council, its committees or activities and to stress the common goal to revive the ideal of a rainbow nation as espoused by President Nelson Mandela.


Thank you.


Motion objected to


EFF CHIEF WHIP ASSAULT JUNIOR STAFF

(Draft Resolution)


Mr E MAKUE: Chairperson, I move without notice:


That the Council:


notes with utmost contempt reports that the Chief Whip of the EFF in the North West province, Bunga Ntsangane, has assaulted a junior party employee and threatened to mutilate her last week on Thursday, 9 November;


further notes that a case of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm has been opened against Ntsangane;


takes this opportunity to condemn in the harshest possible terms this incident as nothing but a reckless and senseless abuse of authority;


calls on the police to ensure that Ntsangane is brought to book to face the full might of the law for his hideous actions; and


further calls on the EFF leadership stern action against Ntsangane and ensure the protection of its employees against violence and abuse by the likes of Ntsangane.


I so move.


Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.


SUSPENSION OF RULE 17(1) FOR HON D B NGWENYA


(Draft Resolution)


The CHIEF WHIP OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES: Chairperson. I

move:


That the Council, notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 17(1) of the Rules of the National Council of Provinces, grants hon D B Ngwenya leave of absence from proceedings of both the Council and committees of the Council in terms of Rule 17(2) until the hon member is ready to resume her duties.


Question put: That the motion be agreed to.


IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.


Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.


CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON SECURITY AND JUSTICE OVERSIGHT VISIT TO THE FREE STATE PROVINCE TO CONDUCT OVERSIGHT OF THE WINBURG CORRECTIONAL CENTRE IN MASILONYANA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY HELD FROM 14 – 18 AUGUST 2017.


Mr S G MTHIMUNYE: Hon Madam Chair, the Select Committee on Security and Justice undertook an oversight visit to the Free State province


to conduct oversight on the Winburg Correctional Centre in Masilonyana Local Municipality policing area. This oversight was undertaken from 14 to 18 August 2017. The report was considered by the committee on 6 September 2017 and published in the Announcements, Tablings and Reports, ATCs, on 7 September 2017.


The select committee visited the correctional centre which is situated in the Masilonyana Local Municipality. The Winburg Correctional Centre has an approved and funded post structure of 43 staff members of which 41 posts are filled. There is one professional nurse on duty. Winburg Correctional Centre has an approved bed space of 148 with 92 sentenced offenders and 17 remand detainees for a total population of 109 inmates. The current population stands at 74% capacity.


The Free State region, in an effort to relieve the overcrowding in the Western Cape received 150 inmates from the Western Cape. The current Pollsmoor inmates at Winburg Correctional Centre are eight as a result of moving inmates around and within the region to lessen the overcrowding at certain centres.


The committee made the following observations: Firstly, they have noted that inmates from the Western Cape are far from their


families; secondly, that all inmates do not have uniforms and staff had to procure their own stationery due to budgetary constraints; thirdly, that there is a challenge with regard to the kitchen facility and usables thereof and lastly, that the delegation was informed of the R396 million per annum expenditure for the Mangaung Private Correctional Centre which the delegation of the committee has noted in the face of the challenges that are faced by the public facilities.


The committee makes the following recommendations therefore, that the Department of Correctional Services must investigate the possibility of providing video calling facilities to inmates to connect with their families; that the department should provide the committee with  pertaining to the private correctional centres; and also that the department should furnish the committee with a written report within 14 days of the date of visit on how the challenges regarding uniforms and other challenges that are faced in that particular correctional facilities will be attended to. I therefore, on behalf of the committee would like to table the report to the House for consideration. I thank you.


Debate concluded.


Question put: That the Report be adopted.


IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.


Report accordingly adopted in accordance with section 71 of the Constitution.


CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON SECURITY AND JUSTICE - OVERSIGHT VISIT TO THE FREE STATE PROVINCE TO CONDUCT OVERSIGHT OF POLICE STATIONS IN MASILONYANA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY AND TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE RURAL SAFETY POLICING STRATEGY IN THOSE AREAS, HELD FROM 14 – 18 AUGUST 2017


Mr S G MTHIMUNYE: Madam Chair, the Select Committee on Security and Justice once more undertook an oversight visit to the Free State to conduct police stations in the Masilonyana Local Municipality and to determine the effectiveness of the rural safety policing strategy in those areas. Such an oversight was conducted form the 14-
18 August 2017 and the report of the oversight was considered by the committee on the 6 September 2017 and also published in the Announcements, Tablings and Reports, ATCs, on 7 September 2017.


The Select Committee on Security and Justice visited the Winburg Police station situated in the Masilonyane Local Municipality. The Winberg policing area consists of both urban and rural components and these places are called Makeleketla and Baipeing Township. These areas approximately consist of about 2000 residents.


The police experienced the following challenges in the area during the execution of their duties: amongst others, these includes bad roads, lack of lighting in the streets, lack of house numbering, and lack of street names in the informal settlements that hinder the response time of the police. The station has eight vehicles which are in good condition. The crime stats in the area includes amongst others, stock theft, common assault it and assault with an intent to do grievous bodily harm, which is also known as assault GBH, as well as house breaking and theft.


The committee made the following observations: the committee was concerned with the downgrading of the police station which meant that the level and resources allocated to the Winberg police station will be affected. Vehicles with high kilometres are usually decommissioned and replaced; however, the station’s vehicles have very high kilometres and are still in service.


The station reported having successfully reduced farm attacks and this was largely attributed to the level of co-operation between the police and farmers. The staff moral was reported a good as this certificate issues certificates to members of staff on annual basis as a reward for good performance. The Community Police Forum is fully functional and conducts its mobilisation in fight against crime. The police station reported that many of the cases do not always result in convictions and many people make use of the mediation process to dissolve their cases.


Therefore the committee made the following recommendations: The police station must report back to the committee within 14 days in writing about the downgrading of the police station. The police station should provide the statistics on convictions and the mediation cases in writing to the committee for the past year 2016. Therefore, the Select Committee on Security and Justice tables this report before the House for considerations.


Debate concluded.


Question put: That the Report be adopted.


IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.


Report accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.


CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON SECURITY AND JUSTICE – OVERSIGHT VISIT TO THE FREE STATE PROVINCE TO CONDUCT OVERSIGHT OF A POLICE STATION IN MAFUBE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY AND TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE RURAL SAFETY POLICING STARTEGY IN THOSE AREAS, HELD FROM 14 – 18 AUGUST 2017


Mr S G MTHIMUNYE: Madam Chair, the Select Committee on Security and Justice undertook an oversight visit to the Free State province to conduct oversight on a police station on Mafube Local municipality to determine the effectiveness of the rural safety policing strategy in those areas. Such oversight was conducted on 14 to 18 August 2017. The report thereof was considered by the committee on 6 September 2017 and such detailed report was published on the Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports, ATC, on 7 September 2017.


Madam Chair, the local municipal policing area following observations by the select committee about the need to ensure that SA Police Service, SAPS, are equipped and resourced to reduce the levels of crime in the rural areas. The Mafube Police Station has 42 visible policing members, 10 detectives and 25 support personnel staff. The station has an approved and funded staff compliment of 86 police officials but only 77 of those posts are filled.


The crime rate in the area is focussed mainly on assault that has to do with grievous bodily harm, house breaking and theft, common assault and stock theft. The station increased the visibility policing patrols and performed random stop and searches, which proved usefully in respect of reducing number of illegal firearms and dangerous weapons.


The policing area has 491 farms of which 298 are occupied with 193 unoccupied. The area has rural safety co-ordinators and rural safety portfolio of evidence in place. The station in collaboration with the farming community has blue-white patrols, which regularly patrol the farms and schools. The police also visit the auction sites to check in their course of investigation to check for stolen livestock. The auction assists the police in identifying stolen livestock and so on.


Therefore, the committee makes the following observations: that the Community Policing Forum, CPF, structures are functioning and are meeting regularly on monthly basis; that the station has a healthy working relationship with the municipality and regularly holds joint operations; that the station reported the following challenges in respect of the rollout of rural safety strategy: there was only one police vehicle available to patrol the farming community; the staff shortages are also a challenge. A further challenge is that fewer community stakeholders attend CPF meetings, which impacts on having a joint approach to address rural safety issues in the area.


The SAPS acknowledged that staff morale at Mafube was addressed when morale was low. The SAPS has a chaplain and the psychologist present to assist the members. The are challenges but the SAPS has internal support and external support mechanism assisting them with regard to personal problems faced by police officers, which negatively impact on the performance of their duties.


The committee noted that the gender-based violence statistics are not correctly classified as they are recorded under assault. The SAPS acknowledged that this was a problem. The committee makes the following recommendations: that the police station must ensure that it works with the municipality and develop its crime fighting


strategy, which must be submitted to the municipality to be included in the municipal Integrated Development Plan, IDP; that SAPS must conduct an evaluation of the root causes of personal problems impacting on police officers’ low morale and then develop a strategy to improve the morale of police officers; that the police station must improve its awareness raising strategy in respect of gender- based violence and report back to the committee on progress.


I therefore, table the report on behalf of the committee, Chairperson, for the House for consideration.


Debate concluded.


Question put: That the Report be adopted.


In favour: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.


Report accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.


CHALLENGES FACING FARM LEARNERS THROUGHOUT THE WESTERN CAPE, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS SUCH AS IN WOLSELEY, STELLENBOSCH, WELLINGTON AND GRABOUW


(Subject for Discussion)


Ms L L ZWANE: Hon Chairperson of the NCOP, the hon Minister of Basic Education, hon Motshekga, hon members of the NCOP and distinguished guests, it is an honour to participate in this very important debate, where we are going to be focussing on challenges facing farm learners throughout the Western Cape, especially in areas such as in Wolseley, Stellenbosch, Wellington and Grabouw. This debate comes during a very important year which has been declared as a year to pay our respect to a gallant fighter of freedom, Tata O R Tambo, an activist, a teacher, a lawyer, a natural born leader, a commander- in-chief of military veterans in exile. Tata Mandela once said of him and I quote: “A great giant who strode the globe like a colossus.” The right to education is recognised by international law, that is, states are obliged to provide a minimum of free basic education, of which primary education is considered a component. The ANC-led government of South Africa has made significant strides in incorporating international principles on the right to education into domestic law. Section 21(1)(a) of the Constitution of the


Republic of South Africa, flowing from the Freedom Charter, which stipulates that the doors of learning and culture shall be opened to all, recognises that everyone has a right to a basic education thereby placing a primary obligation on the state. The SA Schools Act elaborates on this right in its attempt to redress the past injustices based on discrimination in the provision of basic education.


With specific reference to farm schools on private property, the 1995 White Paper on Education and Training states that and I quote:


The duty of public educational institutions is to facilitate the access to education of all eligible members of the public not to frustrate such access.


It further makes a reference to those schools in 1995 that were in receipt of public funds, such as subsidies for farm schools and unequivocally states that these schools have an obligation to observe scrupulously the provision of the Constitution with respect to rights, such as nondiscrimination and equal access to educational institutions.


The White Paper also points out the reality of the difficulties of farm schools, namely that the situation of the farm-workers’ children may be a special case, since the farmer where the school is built can at the same time be the owner and at the same time be the chairperson of the governing body, and also the employer of the workers whose children attend the school. He has the powers to issue instructions for child labour.


Farm schools are mostly the only accessible sites of education for many children whose families live on commercial farms. However, since 1994 there has been a decline in the number of farm schools. The reasons being that the enrolments may become low because of evictions of families from those farms or farm owners can request to close the schools and demand compensation from the Department of Education or schools become rationalised since they become nonviable due to low enrolments.


Section 14(1) of the SA Schools Act states that “a public school may be provided on private property only in terms of an agreement between the member of the executive council and the owner of the private property.” It also provides for a range of options with regards to the ownership rights of the school, for instance, the farm owner can give the right of the use of the land to the school


either free of charge or they can charge rent. In instances where a decision is taken to close the school, all improvements to the school buildings will either become the property of the farm owner free of charge or in exchange for agreed payment by the farm owner to the provincial Department of Education. Provision is made for a pre-existing agreement between the state and the farm owner to remain valid for as long as it is consistent with the SA Schools Act and the relevant regulations.


Even after years of democratic dispensation, farm schools still remain pathetic, especially in the areas like Wolseley, Stellenbosch, Wellington and Grabouw. You will find that the structures are old and dilapidated. In other instances, you find that it is only one room that is used as a classroom, office, storeroom, and a kitchen. That is a kind of scenario that would come across as you pay a visit to some of these farm schools. You will also find that it is very rare to find running water and electricity.


There is a problem, particularly in the Western Cape of a condition called foetal alcohol syndrome, where children are born mentally retarded simply because during pregnancy mothers consume a lot of alcohol. We call upon the mothers to ensure that they desist from


alcohol consumption during pregnancy because in the final analysis that kind of behaviour is going to affect the child leading to mental retardness in most cases.


The schools are subjected to extreme poverty because the provision of learner-teacher support material and staff provisioning norms aren’t observed. You find that one teacher teaches from Grade R up to Grade 2. He has to prepare for all these grades. There is limited space and therefore all these grades are lumped in one room – one at each corner. The effectiveness of the dispensation of the curriculum is really compromised – that is multigrade teaching. At the same, the very same teachers are also expected to conduct assessments for all these grades and it creates a burden on them.


The information and communications technology, ICT, connection is a pie in the sky. In most instances, there is no such facility.


IsiZulu:

Kukhona ke okubuhlungu okwenziwa abanikazi bamapulazi kulezi zindawo esezibaliwe lapho uthola khona ukuthi bekungabakhona indlela emfushane nje izingane ebezingayisebenzisa ukunqamulela. Zusuke la zihlala khona ziye esikoleni kodwa uthole ukuthi umninipulazi uyayivala leyo ndlela.


English:

You can imagine how big some of the commercial farms are. Some of the commercial farms range between 500 to thousands of hectares. How are these children expected to go around and be able to reach their institution? In the process as they walk, there many things that can happen. Some of them get mugged; some of them are prone to instances of rape and it is not a safe kind of arrangement. Farm owners are hard-hearted and do not care about the distance the children are going to walk as long as they have stamped their authority. What happens to the children is none of their business.


So, it is important that the executive authorities of the Department of Education who are in charge in the province ensure that these agreements provided for in section 14 of the SA Schools Act are adhered to so that it’s very clear as to who does what and what would be the conditions of the school operating in a plot of land that belongs to the farm owner.


The provincial Department of Education should in line with the SA Schools Act and the Constitution develop guidelines for the expropriation of land in the public interest in instances where agreements cannot be reached. Measures to resolve these matters have not been exhausted.


IsiZulu:

Kusho ukuthi kuyodinga kwenziwe izinhlelo zokuthi umhlaba uthathwe ngodli ukuze izingane zikwazi ukufunda uma kuwukuthi umninipulazi akafuni ukudedela izingane zikwazi ukufunda kuleyo ndawo ngoba ngokoMthethosisekelo izingane kufuneka zifunde. [Ubuwelewele.]


English:

The lack of state funded transport from home to farm schools further hinders the right of access to education in most farm schools.
Commercial farms are often very large and therefore lack of adequate public transport often makes it difficult for children in commercial farming districts to attend school regularly. Fatigue and exhaustion is likely to affect their learning. Many are unable to participate adequately in learning activities in the classroom. This could result in nonattendance or irregular attendance, thus increasing the rate of dropouts, which we are trying by all means to fight. We don’t want children to drop out of school prematurely. We want them to finish the grades where they are and proceed with their education. However, in the absence of learner transport, then it is going to be almost impossible to achieve. In the Winelands, here in the Western Cape, for instance, learners are not immune to those challenges. It was reported that farm schools in those areas are


victims of rape, robbery or assault due to lack of transport provision.


Education in South Africa is compulsory between the ages of seven and 15, which includes the first two years of secondary education. The inaccessibility of secondary schooling within the vicinity of a primary school severely hampers the opportunities for learners to have completed their primary school education.


The additional costs for a school-going child, such as food, clothing and transport are a disincentive. Sending a child to a secondary school is often beyond reach to most of the parents as a result of living costs, rent and transport. What would be ideal is that when the children finish at a primary school close by, they proceed to a secondary school close by and if there is a need for them to be transported, then the Department of Education in that province is obliged to make ensure that there is that flow. Parents cannot afford a situation where their children have to leave the area where they live and go to other areas and be subjected to rent payment and food and all other costs that are associated with that move.


The provision of learner transport is one of the progressive means implemented by our government to redress the inequalities of the past. However, the provision of learner transport is constrained by financial shortages. The promulgation of learner transport policy and its implementation thereof remains critical to ensuring improved access to quality education.


The Department of Transport promulgated the National Learner Transport Policy on 23 October 2015. Both the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Transport as referred in the policy have clearly defined roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders and seeks to standardise ways of managing and operating learner- transport systems across provinces against what was used in the past. The roles includes ... [Time expired.] [Applause.]


Ms B A ENGELBRECHT: Hon Chair, earlier this year the international news magazine, The Economist, declared the South Africa education system as amongst the worst in the world, ranking 75th out of 76. That is even worse than poorer countries in Africa. Shockingly, 27% of our pupils cannot read , after six years at school and this compares badly with 4% in Tanzania and 19% in Zimbabwe. The publication reported that the South Africa’s primary education system was rated 126th out of 138 countries. The responsibility for


education is shared by the Department of Basic Education which is responsible for Grade R to Grade 12, plus adult literacy programmes, and the Department of Higher Education and Training dealing with universities, and other postschool education.


In the 2013-14 financial year, South Africa spent almost 20% of total government expenditure on education, yet only 50% of our initial Grade 1 learners will make it to Grade 12 and only 12% of those little children will eventually qualify for university entrance. Providing quality and basic education should be given top priority by this government that has promised so much yet delivered so little.


In spite of national government’s education failure, the Western Cape province has become a beacon of hope for school learners, radically paving the way and providing quality education for all its children. Achieving a clean audit for two years in a row is a wonderful achievement and even more memorable when looking at the statistics with 11 Western Cape schools in the top 20 of the country and 44 schools in the top 100 schools. Where the DA governs, the vast majority of resources are invested in schools that serve poorer communities and 92% of Western Cape’s budget allocations go towards


items such as textbooks, stationery, learner transport and feeding schemes.


However, due to a failing economy and impending junk status, our people are suffering and problems abound. Many of our learners grow up without parents and are heading households themselves. Hunger is a stomach-wrenching reality and therefore, to assist, the Western Cape has ensured that 478 144 of the poorest learners receive not just one, but two nutritious meals at 1 010 schools every day, costing over R337 million.


Transport is another problem faced by our learners, as those who have to walk a long way to school are particularly vulnerable to violence and harassment. We are opening up health and safety concerns with bullying, violence and sexual advances experienced on their way to and from school particularly in the Wolseley, Stellenbosch, Wellington and Grabouw areas. Even where learners make use of trains they are robbed of their few possessions and three in five learners have witnessed a violent event, while one in 10 has been personally assaulted.


To assist, the Western Cape department provides transport for pupils from poor communities who live more than 5km from their nearest


school, if they don’t have access to hostels, and if no public transport is available. Even pupils that stay late at school can benefit from prearranged transport. To further assist, the Western Cape invested over R32 million this year into the Safe Schools Programme to be used to provide and reinforce targeted security infrastructure and behavioural interventions. Sadly, only about 12 learners called the Safe Schools Call Centre hotline in two years, indicating that this needs to be promoted by schools and teachers.


Given all the problems with the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, Prasa, and Metrorail, the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape continues to work endlessly towards making transport accessible and cost-effective. Due to the downgraded status of our economy, there is an increased number of parents who simply cannot afford to pay school fees. With 569 public ordinary fee-paying schools, the Western Cape has supported these schools by providing yearly fee compensation.


This year alone , fee compensation was provided to 551     out of the

559       schools, quite memorable I must say, with R50 million paid out for more than 77 000 learners. This means that over 97% of fee paying schools are being assisted to provide quality education to poorer learners. Added to this, many learners face disabilities and


barriers to learning. The Western Cape has invested heavily in the provision of special needs education and just in this year alone, over R1,2 billion was allocated to special needs education.


Due to the increasing numbers of learners, there is a huge demand on the Western Cape, yet the budget allocation from government is just not sufficient with class sizes increasing while the budgets are getting smaller. Maintenance of schools is a top priority and
499 schools needing maintenance and upgrading were identified. The province started with upgrading 50 schools in 2015, and in spite of severe budgetary constraints, increased their budget for maintenance by more than 50% every year, planning to upgrade 100 schools yearly, with R602 million allocated towards maintenance just in this financial year.


The old adage that says, “It takes a village to raise a child,” is critical in our poorer communities where there so many difficulties. To keep our children safe from harm, we need community involvement. Parents and family members must start standing together to protect the future leaders of this country. Sadly 85% of police stations are understaffed in the Western Cape. The inability of SAPS to support some schools at critical times is a great concern as it leaves learners and educators vulnerable and at the mercy of invading


gangsters. However, the department continues to liaise with local police offices within the affected areas for assistance in terms of visible policing.


There is still much to be done to improve education, especially in terms of the inequalities that still exist, yet the Western Cape education department is a province that has put its heart and education where its mouth and where its budget is. I thank you.


The MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION: Chair, let me acknowledge the leadership of the NCOP. Also, thank you for giving us this opportunity. Let me just quickly help the last speaker before I get to my notes because I am not in the business of comparing one province to the other. Kids in the Western Cape are also our kids nationally. But I have to say for fact that it is not true that the Western Cape has the best education system. In the sector the Free State is leading in all indicators. They did not only lead in the 90% break which no one has ever done, but the Free State is leading in different indicators. [Applause.]


The other one which I also think I have to raise as a fact is that we have just compiled a report on the schools that work. We have picked up the top 150 schools in the country that serve the poor


best, and the Western Cape could not feature. The provinces that serve the poor best are Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal. In Limpopo we have schools like Mbilwi Secondary School which has produced 100% for 10 years and 80% bachelors in a deep rural area. And the Western Cape has not been able to produce that.


The report of the economist that you are quoting is an opinion of business and you know who run business in South Africa. It’s not a scientific analysis of the education system. You must go and read the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, Timss, report which is scientific and vigorous; you must go and read the Southern and Eastern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Educational Quality, Sacmeq, report which is also scientist. The things that you are saying are old stories that you heard as rumours from somewhere. We have as a country in the last Timss report reached the 500 points, which means that our kids are now performing at the level at which their peers are performing. The system is improving, but if you don’t want to be part of the new South Africa, I’m sorry. This is a black continent, it’s a black country. As the DA you can only rule in Tshwane and in Johannesburg only if you have the support of the majority of people. So, embrace the country, embrace its improvements and don’t be the worst critics of your own country like the economics who bad-mouth the country and give it a bad name.


[Applause.] Embrace the country. Welcome to South Africa! If you think you can [Interjections.] I thought as you raised it. Be scientific and be at home. We love the kids in the Western Cape. As the ruling party we love them, we care about them and they are our kids. So, we won’t compete with you.


Having said that, I have to say, indeed, as the chair has said, most of our schools in rural areas nationally are confronting lots of problems and we have to acknowledge that. Despite the fact that section 14 of the SA Schools Act, Sasa, which pronounces a legal route to address this challenge, I must upfront though say that indeed we have a number of challenges including the Western Cape. I am not going to criticise as if they are the only ones. It’s a national problem.


What make matters worse in the Western Cape again is the low enrolment numbers and unviable schools. I must acknowledge that the Western Cape indeed on multigrade schools they are leading in terms of the pedagogy and we are even using their systems to train other people. So, we will acknowledge where things are right and take lessons from them, but we will refuse negative propaganda from people who constantly want to paint this country negative even if when they are making progress.


Chair, I have established a task team because indeed there are problems and challenges in rural areas to help us from the old White Paper that we had on rural education to say what more can we do. As I said we need to continue doing interventions because we did interventions from 1994 when we inherited everything else in that regard even wisest people, let alone as citizens. I must remind this House that since 1994, there are various interventions that have been driven nationally and provisionally in respect of reducing the number of small schools for reasons of sustainability and unviability and that is why again we are in the case of the Eastern Cape that they have to reduce the number of small schools. As I will show you they are very expensive and nonviable.


Some of the interventions have been very successful and they have been driven by criteria which have to help us to focus on pedagogic, social and political considerations. Because here in the Western Cape African kids are made to drive past schools because IsiXhosa is not provided. Tell me if it is not racist. They pass existing schools.


On the oversight visits in the Western Cape and nationally, a number of concerns were registered around farm schools and they have revealed that it is necessary to re-examine some of the criteria as


well as political considerations which I have spoken about at the beginning. I also have to acknowledge that small schools are unviable and very costly to provinces. Chair, I will just share with you the challenges that provinces encounter and they really affect the entire system. For instance in the Western Cape, in the Karroo there are 3102 learners in 62 schools and the province has to provide 192 which is extra 78 teachers. In total of the schools that are provided, the number of learners, what the province has to provide and what the financial commission give the province, the province is caring 248 more teachers because of the problem of rural schools or small schools. And it affects the budget of provinces.
That is why people don’t understand. They would say the teacher ratio is 1:40, but in urban areas you find that we have overcrowded classes because the majority of teachers are taken out by these small and nonviable schools because you cannot give a school only one teacher. So, it is a very expensive exercise.


Indeed, we agree that there is a need to improve the quality of education in rural areas. Some of the implications are that we have to define classification of rural schools. We have to review the aligning curriculum offered in rural schools. The recruitment, retention and resourcing is a major issue and a challenge in these schools.


As I said and I want to repeat this is that the Western Cape, indeed, in terms of pedagogy, multigrade teaching, they are one of the best in the country because they have a strong information and communications technology, ICT, back. This does not mean that I accept what the member of the DA said that the Western Cape has the best education system - no, it’s not. Take it from us we will tell you about the best provinces. Poor kids in the Western Cape, those migrants, are still struggling.


Secondly, we said we have identified these schools which are pedagogically unsustainable and we are working with provinces. But as the speaker said it is not possible to close some of the schools. Unfortunately, the more there is urbanisation the more they get smaller, and the more they get smaller the more they become unviable and very expensive. There are all lots of dynamics about private land where provinces cannot do much, where private scholar transport is also another financial burden for the provinces to really be providing transport to rural areas because those transport reside in urban areas. Provinces have to pay for dead miles to go pick up kids from farm schools and take them to schools. Again, it’s a major economic burden for provinces and that is why there are these challenges. But we are doing all we can.


Fourthly, different provinces have explored models of dealing with small schools. Some of them are socially and also problematic. For instance, for Mpumalanga to respond to small school has decided on bigger boarding schools. It’s a viable option for high school kids, members. You can’t socialise small kids. A small child is better off with the poorest mother than to be in an institution because it has long-term social problems. Those are the problems that are facing the province to say, yes, indeed Mpumalanga you can build these boarding schools, but you can’t institutionalise children too early. They have to grow up in families. You have this major problem where you do it you are doomed and if you don’t do it you are also doomed.


We have started as a sector to explore models which include the provision of hostels. Yes, it is good, but is also has its challenges. We are encouraging it only for senior and further education and training, FET, phases. This still leaves the sector with a challenge of these small and unviable schools.


On the other side provinces are embarking on rationalisation of schools. Again, they are not able to rationalise all of them. Again, it is a very difficult process as we have it experienced here in the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape. Communities object and oppose it and it really creates a lot of challenges for the sector. Each of


the models that the provinces are using carry with them costs and social implications for the learner.


What is very critical is to stress that we cannot always assume that small schools should be closed because there is no alternative. The Western Cape has created a very good model in terms of usage of the ICT and we find that it is even more effectives than in the schools that are not small because of the power and the strength of the ICT.


Let me conclude by saying that we can see from my enrolment data that the percentage of learners in towns and cities is continentally increasing and one may think that this will lead to fewer small schools in rural areas and farm schools. In fact, the opposite applies. As rural areas and farms become depopulates, schools that are medium-size become even smaller. Rural areas and farms become less populated, but they seldom close out together. There are always some learners that are left behind who continue to need schooling and there is a limit to how much one can merge small schools. A school with 10 or 20 learners in a remote area or farm, is often more efficient than transporting those learners every day elsewhere or placing them in a hostel school.


Some years ago we decided that the minimum number of educators per learner should be two, but this rule was applied throughout the Western Cape though not in several other provinces. In 2016, there were only three schools in the Western Cape reporting to have just one educator in the snap survey. As I have said this burdens them because they had to increase the number of teachers to make sure that those schools have to offer a broader curriculum. But then it robs them of those teachers who are supposed to be deployed elsewhere.


Nationally, there were still 362 such schools and most in the Free State and Eastern Cape. In the Eastern Cape we have almost 1000 schools which we have declared as unviable. As I said it is not a very easy exercise to go around. In 2016, 164 schools in the Western Cape reported having two educators. The implications are dire for the province because it means they have to rob Peter to pay Paul.
So, they have to put more resources in rural areas and as a result it affects their urban schools. Maybe that is why they are not able to feature in the 150 top schools in the country that serves poor learners efficiently.


We agree that we have as a sector to accelerate the policy formulation for public schools in rural and farm schools because


these schools have to be turned into viable and sustainable centres of excellence. The Western Cape has started and is leading in terms of the best practices of how to accommodate and work with rural schools in a very efficient way as compared to any other province in the country which makes them not to be the leading system in the country. Free State is leading.


Setswana:

Mme N P KONI: [Go se utlwagale.] ... ka nako tsotlhe Mma. Ke a leboga motl Modulasetulo. Ke dumedise Aforika Borwa ka bophara.


English:

Chairperson, farm workers, farm dwellers and their children are arguably the most vulnerable group in our society today. They don’t only face slave like working conditions on a daily basis, but they also live under constant fear of being evicted, of being beaten up, or even being raped, and of having their children denied opportunities to study.


The DA does not tell their friends, the Afriforum, their right wing members, that what they are complaining about is nothing compared to the pain white farmers subject black farm dwellers to, which


includes denying the full rights of young children to be educated. A white person will never allow a black child to access education.


Mr W F FABER: Hon Chair, I really take exception when the hon member is talking about the DA and the right wingers of the DA or the DA as the right wingers. I really take exception to that.


The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Faber, I will look at what you are saying but hon Koni said the DA and their friends, Afriforum. Yes I will go and look at it and I will come and rule. Hon Koni, please proceed.


Ms N P KONI: The documentary, Bitter Grapes, shows the extent of this slavery in the farms of the Western Cape. Tom Heineman, the journalist who made the documentary, had this to say:


"I saw housing that was literally falling apart, rain coming down the roofs. I saw people having to live off water from a drain ditch alongside a road. I saw toilets that were locked up, so they had to walk into the vineyards to do their toilet. I saw very depressing things”


Under such conditions, we cannot expect any proper teaching and learning to happen. Farmers are doing this deliberately to ensure generations of dependent and cheap labour. And they are being assisted by their pals, the DA. The DA government itself here in the Western Cape led a vicious campaign over the past few years to close down farm schools, under the pretext that these were no longer able to run.


In 2015 alone, they aimed to, and closed more than 300 Western Cape schools with fewer than 250 pupils. Most of these were obviously farm schools. How does the DA expect to have more than 250 children per school in farming areas? Theirs was just a deliberate attempt to make schooling more difficult for black and coloured children in farms, to ensure an endless supply of labour for their constituency.


Mr W F FABER: Hon Chair, as hon Koni is so well informed; would she take a question please?


The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Koni, are you willing to take a question?


Ms N P KONI: We are both from the Northern Cape so I will gladly take a question in Kimberley on Saturday. [Laughter.]


The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: In Kimberley Sir, not in the House. Please proceed.


Ms N P KONI: They are well versed in the price of everything but they don’t care about the value of anything. In this case, the values of all students receiving high quality, progressive education that will help them become active participants in society. First teachers are retrenched, and then new schools are built that will require more teachers, and then schools are closed; that’s absurd.


The irrationality of the system boggles the mind. Of the schools that are still open, the challenge persists. It is difficult for the DA administration to prioritise getting good quality teachers to teach in rural and farm schools. It is difficult because prioritising good quality education for black and coloured children is not a priority for them.


The future of schooling in this country rests in prioritizing the education of our youth, wherever they may be, however, untenable to others, the idea of universal quality education may be. Education must be free to all.


Setswana:


Ko diporaemari tsa kwa magaeng, bana ba rona ba setse ba duela madi a go teng ke a pholishi [polish], motlhagolo kgotsa a mokgabo. Selo seo fa o se lebelela sentle, e setse ele dituelo tsa sekolo [school fees] tse di patelwang ka tsela e e sa siamang [back door].


English:

Because of their history and their vulnerability, farm learners remain at the margins, and their fate has been predetermined by the political elite in power. We need a proper focus on the quality of education from Grade 1, and not only focus on Grade 12.


Setswana:

Ka gonne lore lo ojwa lo sale metsi.


English:

When we have expropriated all the land and these farmers annexed from our people, we will ensure that farm schools are properly equipped with libraries, with laboratories and good quality teachers. That will happen when the EFF comes into government. We will revitalize the farming economy and bring back life to the death bound subjects that ... [Interjections.]


The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Order! Order! Don’t drown the speaker.


Ms N P KONI: ... white oppressors have made out of our people in the farms. When the EFF takes over, we are going to start by expropriating our land and then build quality schools and that will be in 2019, watch the space. I thank you very much Chairperson.


Ms P C SAMKA: Hon chairperson, allow me to say all protocol observed. As we are nearing the end of 2017 which was dedicated to the celebration of O R Tambo I wish to appreciate this opportunity to represent the ANC of our forebears such as the stalwart himself. Indeed as we celebrate 20 years of the existence of the Constitution of South Africa, we revel in the knowledge that O R Tambo, a revolutionary par excellence fought the good fight till the end.


Our glee is expressed concisely by Justice Albie Sachs who maintained that if the Constitution of South Africa would be dissected into DNA strands one would definitely find traces of O R Tambo in its genetic makeup. If one doubts that the ANC fought tooth and nail for the freedom which we now, one should consider the utterances of former president of the minority rule, Hendrik


Verwoerd, the architecture of apartheid who asserted that there is no use to teaching the black child mathematics and science because:


There is no place for the Bantu in the European community above the level of certain forms of labour. What is the use of teaching the Bantu child mathematics when it cannot use it in practice?
That is quiet absurd. Education must train people in accordance with their opportunities in life according to the sphere in which they live.


This arrogance shown towards fellow beings is telling of the bleak future that black people have been doomed to. Had the ANC not established means to bulldoze the anti-apartheid struggle for the realisation of the rights of the black population, one is left asking these questions: could it be this arrogance towards non-white people that has led to such disparities in the provision of recreational facilities that are in essence geared towards in stimulating the mind of the so-called coloured and black child?
Could it be the case that libraries and other mental stimulating equipment is the preserve of the erstwhile model c schools whose demographics are largely and general middle income to wealthy in nature?


The ANC maintains that there is a need for more and better school buildings and other education and training facilities which should be addressed as a matter of urgency. The gaps between schools are found in historically and coloured areas or homelands and those that in historically white areas is fundamental. The infrastructure recreational facilities and furniture or lack thereof in a school becomes a mitigating factor in the outcomes and work that a learner produces. It does not only affect the learners but also the teachers during the process of teaching and learning.


Lack of infrastructure and facilities also play a role in the lack of qualified teachers in rural and farm areas thus making the achievement of quality rural education a great challenge. A closer look at the South Africa survey 2017 issued by the SA Institute of Race Relations reveals that in 2016 66,8% of schools in the Western Cape do not have laboratories; 40,7% were without computer facilities; only 30,1% of the schools had a stocked library and 359 schools were without sports facilities.


The presentation of...


Ms B A ENGELBRECHT: Hon House chair, I just like to know whether the hon member is prepared to take a question.


Ms P C SAMKA: Not at all, hon Chair. The presentation of these statistics is of outmost importance as it is these very facilities which foster social cohesion in earnest. The ANC maintains that in order for us to contribute in a meaningful manner towards the development of a better South Africa, sport and recreation infrastructure and services must be accessible to all South Africans as they are central to the improvement of the quality of life of all citizens.


Furthermore, the National Development Plan confirms that the best place to instil changes and lifestyles is at schools. This is confirmed in that young people of school going age spend a vast majority of their day tending to schooling activities. It is thus of crucial importance that these facilities are provided. Any shortages or challenges thereof pose a serious threat to the overall development of young people. In this case, these shortages add insult to injury as a young people in question are already found in farm schools on the outskirts of the main towns or cities and face other challenges such as scholar transport shortages.


The disparities found in the farm schools must, as a matter of urgency, be dealt with. As the ANC is of the view that the march


towards a truly constructed, transformed, unified and developed South Africa whose citizens enjoy better and unfulfilling lives.


IsiXhosa:

Ndikhulele phaya ezilalini apho kubakho amadoda phaya ngasebuhlanti oyakufika besebenzisa intonga xa besoja inyama. Uyakuphawula ukuba le ntonga kojiwa ngayo inyama ayisayi kuyifumana le nyama xa kusityiwa. Le nyama iza kutyiwa ngabathile. Kwenzeka loo nto kule Ndlu esihleli kuyo namhlanje. Kukho abantu abazinkuni zokoja kodwa ekugqibeleni abaxhamli nakuloo nyama bebeyoja. Yimeko leyo yabantu baseMzantsi Afrika abaphila kuyo. Bazinkuni zokoja ukuze kuxhamle abanye abantu kule nyama bebeyoja. Enkosi Sihlalo.


Mr B KIVEDO (WESTERN CAPE CHAIRPERSON: STANDING COMMITTEE ON

EDUCATION): Hon Chairperson; hon Minister of Basic Education, hon Angie Motshega; hon member; our people form all corners of South Africa; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen; good afternoon colleagues.


It is common knowledge that our children who reside in farming communities across the country are amongst the most vulnerable people in our society. A failure to address the needs of learners living in farming communities opens the gate for young people to be


exposed to numerous social ills which exacerbate their vulnerability and kill their chances of a prosperous future.


Presently, major strides have been taken in the Western Cape to address the challenges experienced by learners in farming communities, and we remain committed to expanding the educational opportunities for those learners living in each and every one of our communities.


Hon Chairperson, several challenges pertaining to farm learners in the Western Cape persist in areas such as Wolseley, Stellenbosch, Wellington and Grabouw. Before I touch on the progressive actions undertaken by the Government to tackle these challenges and issues, I will highlight what the exact challenges are that our government is working on to eliminate.


Although evaluating the situation of farm learners is complicated by a lack of reliable data regarding their circumstances. The availability of literature and documented research on the status of farm learners is limited. However, it is clear that farm learners face extremely difficult circumstances which are being addressed as a matter of urgency. The Western Cape government has continued to invest in the development of strategies and interventions to improve


the educational opportunities and outcomes of not only our farm learners but all the learners living in our province.


Hon Chairperson, addressing the learner problems in our farming communities requires a multidisciplinary and multi-institutional approach. The eradication of the problems experienced to this day, remain dependent on all elements of the public service sector working together through research, education, health promotion, surveillance, regulation, and advocacy, to empower farm learners and all learners in our province in particular and the country in general.


Hon Chairperson, a major challenge plaguing many of our farm learners remains the burden of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, FAS, in farming communities like Wolseley, Stellenbosch, Wellington and Grabouw. Many of the learners from farming communities are found to have several learning disabilities as a direct consequence of their mothers consuming large amounts of alcohol during pregnancy, usually in a binge drinking pattern. Research conducted in the South African Medical Journal showed that this form of binge drinking occurs in over 20% of women in the Western Cape.


Hon Chairperson, drinking during pregnancy remains a problem despite considerable media attention drawn to this social catastrophe.
Increased efforts are being made by our provincial government to limit alcohol harm in farming communities in our province. Heavy drinking has been socially entrenched and ‘normalised’ through a history including, but not restricted to, the “Dop system”. For many women, the underlying social determinants of heavy alcohol consumption remain unchanged, and include poor socioeconomic conditions, single-parent families, and low levels of maternal education, ongoing use of tobacco and other substances and a lack of alternative recreational opportunities.


Our government has not only recognised this challenge in our respective farming communities but has taken the necessary steps to address the problem of FAS. The Western Cape Government has implemented a Pregnant Women Mentoring Programme, PWMP, which trains and equips community members with the relevant information about FAS; as well as the techniques and measures that can be used to raise awareness about the problem across their communities. This method is largely successful as it is community-driven. Through this programme, women together with their partners, are educated about FAS and Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, FASD, and are also provided with continuous support from mentors to abstain from


drinking and to make healthy lifestyle choices. Furthermore, through this programme the rate of FAS in the Western Cape and the burden on health, education and social services are seen to be reduced.


Hon Chairperson, the achievement of real quality in education for farm learners and all learners comes about when there is significant social and economic development in those areas. Until then, the education provided in rural areas, limits young people's opportunities to lead long, healthy and creative lives, or to acquire knowledge and enjoy freedom, dignity and self-respect.


Hon Chairperson, in light of this, the Western Cape Government has established Mass participation; Opportunity and access; Development and Growth, MOD, programmes across both urban and rural areas. When in the past, limited extramural activities used to be on offer to farm learners, that in instances, may lead to the youth being left wondering and more likely to partake in deviant behaviour. Our government has been quick to jump onto the challenges that a lack of after school activities possess for these learners. MOD programmes have been central to creating a socially inclusive, creative and active Western Cape. There are currently 181 MOD Centres across the province that provide sport and recreational activities to over


40 000 registered participants from disadvantaged communities and under-served schools in both urban and rural areas.


Hon Chairperson, attracting quality teachers to our rural areas so that farm learners can be given the necessary educational tools to live a life of value is a major challenge; not only in the Western Cape, but all farming communities across the country. Every year, the Western Cape Department of Education places hundreds of new educators into vacant teaching posts around the province. However, the applications for these posts are mostly educators opting to apply for teaching posts in the urban areas.


Hon Chairperson, this has made it difficult for schools in rural areas to attract well qualified educators, especially those qualified to teach maths, science and languages. In acknowledgement of this problem, our government is addressing this by creating added incentives for newly qualified educators to opt to teach in such areas. The incentive scheme, to attract qualified educators to rural and farm schools, was first launched in 2012. On average, 1 100 educators are awarded an incentive which amounts to 10% of the basic salary of a teacher entering the profession with a four-year qualification. Ultimately, we would like to see as many qualified


educators as possible working in all areas of provinces to improve quality education across the board.


Hon Chairperson, although learner transport remains a major hurdle for all farm learners across the country, the DA-led Western Cape government has had considerable success in expanding transport opportunities to farm learners. The Western Cape Education Department’s learner transport scheme provides transport for about
57 O00 learners on over 500 routes, in mainly rural areas. The Department of Community Safety has also assisted by launching the “walking bus” initiative to help create safer routes to and from school in certain communities across our Province.


In education, we deal with the effects of poverty every day with thousands of children from poor communities arriving at school hungry.


Hon Chairperson, In the Western Cape we have ensured that over

400 000 of our poorest learners receive not just one, but two nutritious meals at 1010 schools every day. Our government is well aware of the need to address the challenges facing farm learners throughout the Western Cape. The future of farming in particular,


will ultimately be dependent on a younger generation that is open to new ideas.


In conclusion, our government has accepted and taken the necessary steps to ensure equal treatment of all our learners is granted irrespective of the background that they come from. We see that in numerous cases, the same outcomes are expected from schools and learners that operate under very different circumstances, and this is simply unrealistic, hence why the initiatives and programmes adopted and launched by our government have remained committed to ensuring that equal opportunities in education are granted to all our learners across the Western Cape. Our main vision should be access and equal opportunities in education for all learners countrywide. I thank you so much. [Applause.]


Ms L C DLAMINI: Hon Chair, my greetings to you, Minister in abstention, hon members, special delegates and the public out there. The issue of challenges in farm schools will take time to be finished because most of the people who own farms are people who got those farms during the apartheid regime. Some of them are still using that little control they have to exert the apartheid policies, which they were imposing before, not only in the Western but


throughout the country. It is very difficult to deal with issues in rural areas - yes, the majority of them.


The importance of education cannot be overemphasised because education is a very vital tool that is used in the contemporary world to succeed. The knowledge that is attained through education helps to open doors to a lot of opportunities for better prospects in the career growth, especially learners from the farm communities.


Based on this, it would be important to focus on the need to protect farm learners by ensuring that ... [Interjections.]


The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Dlamini, just a bit. Hon members, the Northern Cape!


Afrikaans:

... asseblief tog.


English:

... do not drown out the speaker at the podium. [Interjections.] No, the Kimberley stories ...


Afrikaans:


... ons wil dit nie hier hoor nie.


English:

Please proceed, order! Order! Order, hon members.


Ms L C DLAMINI:           Thank you very, hon Chairperson. I was saying it will very important to focus on the need to protect farm learners by ensuring that farm schools have better facilities, not only in the Western Cape but throughout the country.


For the sake of the first DA speaker, who spoke before me and who seemed to know it all on education but implements  nothing. Let me borrow the words of Mark Twain when he said:


The trouble with people  is not ignorance, it is the number of things they know that are no so. It is a problem to think that you know, yet you know nothing.


May be it is too much to expect from the Western Cape to understand the education policy. Just to remind all of us that during negotiations, none of the political parties had a     plan how        to run this government, after democracy except the ANC, which had the Reconstruction and Development Plan,


RDP. You can think of any government policy today, it is informed by that plan which was informed by the Freedom Charter.


Just to refresh ourselves, Chair, I am starting from the Women’s Charter in 1954 prior to the Freedom Charter, the ANC Women’s League, ANCWL, Women’s C harter had this to say, “we   declare the following aims:


This organisation is formed for  the purpose of uniting women in common action for the removal of all political, legal, economic and social disabilities. We shall strive for the development of every child through free compulsory education for all, for the protection of mothers and child through maternity homes, welfare clinics, crèches and nursery  schools, in countryside and in towns - for those who don’t know what countryside means, it includes the farm communities.


Sixty three years  down the line there are  people who claim to know the policy of education more than anyone else forgetting that this is the ANC policy and that is why I am giving a history to this policy.


It is not a sin to ask from  the  authors  of  the  education policy, which is the ANC, where you don’t understand because what  we are saying in that policy, it is possible if you were not part of the development of it not to understand. There is a great a difference between people who are representing Western Cape or the DA in this House and the people from the province. I must give them credit.


Always when they talk about the Western Cape Province – I am referring to the province - the delegates, they are talking about realities. If you had listen to what hon Kivedo and what the first speaker was saying, total different things. She was somewhere up where everything is well in the Western Cape and she was talking about the facts that we all know what is happening in the Western Cape.


Even though the farms are described as privately own, despite the fact that we understand how those  people got the land which was more than the evil to be honest with you, taking the land from the original owner and give it to somebody else and control that person. It is more than evil, I don’t know and I don’t have words to describe that. However the government has come up with the Act that deals with that. I am not going to speak about that the Chairperson


spoke to the Act especially section 14 and section 58 about how to deal with this.


The protection of learners does not only lie in ensuring that schools have fencing and adequate security. It also includes protecting learners from misplacement, where relocation is made to seem like the  merging of schools,       when it is fact creating bigger problems for learners. This leads to learners being placed in schools much further from their homes, in areas where scholar transport is already a major concern.


Hon Kivedo you still has a lot of challenges in terms of scholar transport. If you could look at the research or audit that was done by the equal education they are also open letters of the students where they are talking abut transport. In fact, they went further to request for the bicycles in order to use them as a scholar transport.


It is imperative that the Western Cape Education department plays its role in the development of learners in farm schools.    We are no longer under t h e apartheid government where farm owners were able to open and close state-subsidized schools situated on their property, as they wish. Now we have an Act; in fact, the Act says:


It is the responsibility of the provincial government and the MEC to make agreements with the farm owners on the schools or public schools to be build.


Some of the challenges were mentioned by both hon Kivedo, the Chairperson and the Minister. However, I want to say that it was disturbing to learn that after the audit was done – the audit was not only done in the Western Cape by the equality education - it was done throughout the country, especially in the Gauteng. They audited
200 schools but when they presented the report, difference between the Western Cape and the Gauteng was that the MEC was there to listen on the outcomes of the audit. He committed and acted on some of the challenges that were presented. Contrary to the Western Cape the MEC said the report was submitted to her in a very disorderly way but did not dispute the outcome of the audit.


Hon Zille, the premier of the province spoke about the methodology that it was not properly formulated, but both of them don’t deny the outcomes. Some of the issues raised by the audit were talking about broken toilets, shoddy infrastructure, and wild use of corporal punishment.


In fact, 83% of the schools in the Western Cape are still using corporal punishment. Lt is talking about student’s safety and some of the issues, especially the sanitary pads for the school especially in the farming communities are not an issue at all. What is pathetic in that audit is that like what I was presenting in the health department on Khayelitsha District Hospital, principal, teachers and administrators were afraid to talk because they thought they will be punished, meaning that Western Cape is living in another land. The issue of safety in terms of sanitation, they are not reaching their own standard, 57% of schools are failing to meet the standards. In terms of infrastructure, and about 41 schools were built on appropriate material. The rest of them are inappropriate material.


IsiXhosa:

Into ebuhlungu yeyokuba ...


English:

... i-Western Cape does not accept the responsibility of fixing schools in the farming communities which is the responsibility. I hope with the representation by hon Kivedo, they will be able to deal with those issues. About 47 have access in libraries it has been covered by hon Samka. Thank you very much. [Applause.]


Mr C HATTINGH: Hon Chair, I think there is consensus amongst all the speakers here that school transport is a problem and that it exposes our children to unnecessary risks. We can also refer to the women on the farm’s project who had interviews with 320 pupils of Grade 6-12 in the places that were mentioned earlier on.


Thirty percent of the respondents had been robbed while walking to and from school. Twenty five percent girl respondents had been approached for sex, and two girls were raped on their way to school. Sixty percent said they could not attend extra classes or play sport because of the lack of transport. So, the physical safety of our children is compromised by the lack of transport.


Now, let me get back to what the Minister said. I really welcome her back here because she always brings some balance into the House.
Then she didn’t disappoint when she started off in saying that she does not compare provinces: They are all her children; and she looks after all of them. Then in the same breath, she repudiated herself and continued with the typical Luthuli House lying to use the Western Cape out of jealousy as a punch bag.


She brought in some statistics to prove her point, which reminded me of Benjamin Disraeli’s statement when he said, “There are three


types of lies: It is lies, damned lies and statistics”. [Interjections.] There is also another quote, “Facts are stubborn things; but statistics are more pliable”. It is the ANC who is lying to use the Western Cape as a punching bag all the time. The question is: Why?


Let me come back and refer to hon Samka who also used the punching bag tactics, but then, she went off complaining about not getting a meal. This reminded me of hon Julius, who said here, “Those koekoe revolutionaries are looking for food, everywhere.” [Laughter.] They are looking for food and forgetting about the looting that is happening out there. [Interjections.] Don’t worry about the food worry about our children, hon Samka.


Now the question will come up. Yesterday, we had a confession on this House, where the member said he defrauded the Auditor-General, AG, by cooking the books. He is a fraudster, and he is a member here! However, I must also confess today: I believe that hon Zwane - the Chairperson of Select Committee on Education - was honest in bringing the topic here.


No, she was not honest! She could have brought another province. She could have brought KwaZulu-Natal, the worst performing province in


scholar transport – spending 37,1% of their budget. The Western Cape had assessed their demand – with 58 000 children. They complied 100%. KwaZulu-Natal only planned for 69,13%.


She could have also brought the Free State - the Premier’s blue eyed province. But hey, she could not also bring that because the Free State overspent their budget with 126%. [Interjections.] So, why do we have the showcase province here always being abused by the ANC’s instructions from Luthuli House as a punch bag? It is jealousy and it is part of a plan to always attack the Western Cape.


We have been to the Free State. We saw a school there with no furniture. We went to an adjacent school where furniture was stuck to the ceiling. We’ve been to other provinces. [Interjections.] We have been to a place where we saw the books stack - not being used. The neighbouring school didn’t have any writing books or text books. You know that! Why don’t you bring those provinces here? Do you care about the ANC? I want to confess: You don’t care about children; you only care about the ANC. Come here and do what you preach. Care about the children and their fate. Thank you, Chair!


Ms L L ZWANE: Chairperson, let met take this opportunity to thank all members that took part in the debate and they spoke


constructively except those that will always brag that they are the best but when it comes to implementation, they are lacking very badly, like the DA.


Let me just respond to hon Hattingh’s argument. [Interjections.] We could have taken any province in this regard because we wall agree that farm schools in all provinces have challenges. Let us agree that Western Cape has many farms and therefore, many schools are affected.


IsiZulu:

Ngoba nalidla lonke izwe labantu abamnyama kulesi sifundazwe [province] ...


English:

... and therefore, you subjected our children to farm situation. We have to on them and remove them out of that poverty. Even the money that is being used for these farm schools is the equitable share allocation by the ANC-led government. If you speak school nutrition, it is the ANC-led government – issuing out grants to rescue those children. Goodness knows, what would have happened if the ANC-led government was not there.


Let me go to hon Engelbrecht.


Mr C HATTINGH: On a point of order. Chairperson, I would like to know whether hon Zwane can take a question from me about her prove of caring about children?


The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES: Hon

Zwane, will you take a question?


Ms L L ZWANE: I will not. Just to prove that the ANC-led government is serious about access to education by providing transport. Listen to these figures: The Eastern Cape province budget for transport is R4,35 million; Free State is R40 million; Gauteng is R535 million; KZN is R186 million; Limpopo is R226 million; Mpumalanga is
R445 million; Northern Cape is R121 million; North West is

R272 million; and Western Cape on R359 million. Of the R359 million, I would like to know how much of it used for children that are in poverty. My suspicion is that it is used for cities. In the Western Cape the tendency is that services starts in the cities and people in the periphery are forgotten. [Interjections.] Go and work on your sums.


Hon Engelbrecht, I want to say to you that before you talk a lot, listen to the voices of these children. This is a learner called Sinethemba Njweza, 17-year-old:


We have gone a period without reliable transport to school. Officials here, drive expensive cars. They are only thinking about themselves and their families. What about us? We are the future of this nation. Please take responsibility.


This is a young child looking at the behaviour of the government officials of the Western Cape neglecting them. I want to tell you that one day they will rise. Hon Samka, thank you for reminding us that we are in this mess because of the apartheid orchestrated by Verwoerd. Least did he know that the very blacks that he was oppressing were going to rise to power through the struggle of the ANC.


Today, we are leading as a government not only the ANC but the DA, the EFF and all opposition parties in the country because we are leaders of society ... [Interjections.] including the IFP.


Another child says: Enough is enough. I go to school by train and we get robbed. We have no protection.


Ms N P KONI: On a point of order. The hon member on the podium is misleading South Africans that ANC is leading the EFF. ANC is not leading the EFF.


The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES: Hon member ...

Please take your seat ma’am! Hon members, it’s a moot point, all parties lead themselves. Let’s not get there. Hon Khawula!


Mr M KHAWULA: On a point of order. Chairperson, the hon member is misleading the country. I am glad you have corrected it. The ANC is not leading the IFP. I am glad that she has confirmed that we were together in the struggle because she is a product of the IFP. If she was in the struggle and the ANC was in the struggle, then it confirms that the IFP was in the struggle with everybody else.


The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES: Hon Khawula,

Thank you. Order members! No, let me address this. Members, the struggle was also about the right of people to associate. It was also about growth and sometimes growth is positive or negative, it depends on where you are standing. Let us just take it that we are growing as a democracy. Hon Zwane, please continue.


Ms L L ZWANE: Thanks for the correction Chairperson, but I was referring to leadership in government. I want to thank hon Minister Motshekga for raising issues and correcting hon Engelbrecht by saying that she is mistaken that the Western Cape is the best; instead, the Free State is top of list by all indications. Don’t claim easy victories.


Hon Kivedo, I am impressed by your standard of debate. You are always very objective. [Interjections.]


Mr J W W JULIUS: On a point of order. Chairperson, the member is engaging directly with other members in the House.


The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES: Yes, sir. Your

point of order is sustained. Hon Zwane, please address the member through me.


Ms L L ZWANE: Through you Chair. Hon Kivedo is always very objective and tells what happening on the grounding, unlike the other DA members, whenever they assent the podium, they speak about the ANC. They don’t tell the public about what they are going to do for the people. Their style of debate is how bad the ANC is and how good they are, forgetting to teach the people what is it that they are


going to do for the people other than blaming the ANC all the time. [Applause.] You are missing a point there.


The issued of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome that you are raising is a real problem. I think we need to come together on it. Why is it rife in the Western Cape? Not because we singling out the Western Cape but because most of the farms in the Western Cape are about the production of wine and those people are actually working there and they binge.


Mr W F FABER: On a point of order. Chair, if I can just assist the speaker ... [Interjections.]


The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES: No, please

address me on something else. Are you on a point of order or you want a member to take a question?


Mr W F FABER: The hon member is misleading the House ... [Interjections.]


The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES: Order! Let me

hear what the misleading point is?


Mr W F FABER: Foetal Alcohol Syndrome is the biggest in the Northern Cape where I live. We know that.


Ms L L ZWANE: Your committee Chairperson actually said that it is a syndrome that is bugging women that are pregnant in the Western Cape. Now, if you speak in disjuncture between yourselves, it is a problem. It is a DA problem.


Ms N P KONI: On a point of order. Chairperson, forgive me if I am off-ramping. The hon Zwane is correct to say that the syndrome affecting pregnant women is a problem in the Western Cape. I just wanted to add by saying that the cause is as a result of our people being paid of alcohol.


The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES: Hon Koni, you

are misusing the podium because you wanted to elaborate a point of debate when you had long finished debating.


Ms L L ZWANE: Hon Dlamini, thank you for your contribution. Yes, indeed, education is a vital tool to use in order for us to succeed in whatever endeavour. Yes, indeed, there will always be fellow travellers that have no contribution to make but all they do is bark


at those that are trying to do their level best. Fellow travellers are always there.


IsiZulu:

Umongameli [President] uke washo ezinsukwini ezidlule [the other day] wathi,


English:

It is very difficult to lead because there will always be fellow travellers that we must take along even though they aren’t going to contribute anything in your endeavours.


The last person I want to thank is hon Koni. Hon Koni, yes, indeed, hon member, you are right in saying that the focus of quality education starts at lower grades. It doesn’t start at Grade 1 but at Grade R because that’s where you lay the foundation. If the foundation is shaky at that level, forget about the rest of the grades, you are not going to be able to make up if you missed it at the beginning.


Chairperson, I do want to take this opportunity to thank all the members that made substantial contributions. Indeed, this is a problem affecting all the provinces. However, remember that the


focus was on the Western Cape as per the indication in the speakers’ list. Thank you very much. [Applause.]


The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES: I do know that

the House is very cosy but I do want to finish my job today. That concludes the debate and the business of the day. I want to thank the hon Minister. You will remember that we are putting a lot of pressure on both the national department and the provincial departments on education in the Eastern Cape. The Minister was rushing off to the Eastern Cape. We want to thank her for coming but also thank our special delegates in hon Kivedo.
Debate concluded.


The Council adjourned at 16:13.

 

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