Hansard: NA: Unrevised Hansard
House: National Assembly
Date of Meeting: 08 Nov 2018
Summary
No summary available.
Minutes
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THURSDAY, 8 NOVEMBER 2018
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
The House met at 14:01.
The Speaker took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayer or meditation.
CONSIDERATION OF BUDGETARY REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON BASIC EDUCATION – DEPARTMENT OF BASIC EDUCATION
There was no debate.
The Chief Whip of the Majority Party moved: That the Report be adopted.
Declarations of vote:
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Ms C V KING: Speaker, I am standing here: For the 78% of Grade
4 learners who cannot read with comprehension; the child who is preparing for exams without a textbook; for the teachers and learners who do not have a safe school environment for teaching and learning to continue; and for the 3 898 schools still with pit latrine toilets.
Twenty-four years later, the outcome of our education system is a generation that is largely not equipped to find jobs and will add to our unemployment crisis. With the curriculum system testing memory instead of intellect, I think the point is made. Despite 6,4% spent on education, South Africa’s primary education system was ranked 126 out of 138 countries.
The department’s response - just a dismal state of education - is not to raise the education standards but to lower them.
Politics of the ANC demanded the number passing look good in the short term regardless of the long term consequences for families and the economy. R3,68 billion of the Education Infrastructure Grant was unspent for 2011-17 and more importantly, the unspent amount of 30% of the total grant
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allocation implies that there is enough money available in the system to address historical backlogs in the infrastructure.
The Department of Basic Education should get the basics of education, as in the Western Cape Education Department where year-on-year they receive clean audits. It is not rocket science. Create clear norms and standards for management and resources. Have stringent penalties in place. Minimise political and union interference and make certain the curriculum prepares learners for the world of work.
Parliament really needs to keep the department in check properly instead of just expressing concerns or noting challenges. The Department of Basic Education needs to get its act together and not sugar-coat the facts. Education is a Constitutional right and the best possible vehicle to empower South Africans and develop our country. [Time expired.] I thank you. Vote DA! [Applause.]
Ms Y N YAKO: Madam Speaker, possibly the greatest crime the ANC has committed in its 24 years of being in government has been the failures in Basic Education. I will be using the
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Eastern Cape, where I come from, as an example of why I say this. But, before I start, I just want to make it clear that every statistics I am about to quote comes from the Department of Basic Education. So, in reality, the numbers are probably much worse.
In the Eastern Cape, there are 4 472 teaching vacancies. There are 205 schools, both from inappropriate materials, like mud and wood and makeshift crates called desks. There are 25 schools without any sanitation; not even pit latrine toilets. There are 105 schools without electricity. There are 4 734 schools without computers, in 2018; 3 778 schools without internet, in 2018; and a backlog of 307 special schools.
When we talk special schools, we need to make sure that we are not talking about special schools but schools for children who are disadvantaged mentally. This is just one province.
Organisations like Equal Education have to take the Department of Basic Education to court constantly so that they deliver and stick to their deadlines. But, in violation of the court orders, they continue to miss these deadlines and refuse to fulfil their constitutional obligations.
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So, it is clear that the ANC doesn’t care about children. It steals money meant to build and it deploys incompetent cadres in positions in the various education departments, collapsing capacity to deliver basic services. The ANC has failed the children of this country. And, by failing our children, you have condemned our future and this we can never forgive. So therefore, the EFF will not support this Budgetary Review and Recommendation report, BRRR. Thank you. [Applause.]
Ms N V MENTE: On a point of order, Speaker!
The SPEAKER: What’s your point of order?
Ms N V MENTE: Speaker, it is very demoralising to speak to the BRRR of a department led by a Minister and yet the Minister is not here. [Interjections.]
Mr M WATERS: Point of order, Speaker! [Interjections.] Point of order Speaker! Speaker, point of Order! [Interjections.] Which rule is the hon member standing up on, please? [Interjections.]
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Ms N V MENTE: Can we get the whereabouts of the Minister, please?
Mr M WATERS: Which rule is the hon member standing up on? [Interjections.]
The SPEAKER: Hon Mente ... [Interjections.]
Mr G A GARDEE: Sit down chief, please! Stop that thing! You have not been recognised by the Speaker here. Why are you talking; you have not been recognised? [Interjections.]
The SPEAKER: Hon Gardee, I also have not recognised you! I also have not recognised you, hon Gardee. Hon Mente, you know that the practice is to say what rule you are getting up on. I know it is a point of order, but remember that you should also quote the rule on which you are standing. Hon Mente, the expression that you are demoralised and what is going wrong, really ... Let us note it, correct it and let us allow hon Esterhuizen to make his declaration.
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Mr J A ESTERHUIZEN: Madam Speaker, I deliver this Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report, BRRR, on behalf of my colleague the hon Ngwezi. This government has the responsibility of providing the children of South Africa with sound education that will equip them to lead successful lives as citizens, positively contributing to the betterment of themselves, their families and the nation.
Basic education is the foundational building block upon which the very future of success or failure of any country lies, yet in South Africa, it is beset by corruption, maladministration, ineffective service delivery and held hostage, on occasion, by certain teacher trade unions such as the South
African Democratic Teachers’ Union, Sadtu. All of this comes at the expense and opportunity cost of the learners, most of whom at primary school level are still semi-literate.
South Africa has massive youth unemployment and an almost debilitating skills shortage that is increasing rapidly. Why is this? From where I am standing, it is apparent that the principal reason is that our basic education system is severely compromised on all levels. It is inefficient, is
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faced with a high dropout rate, and is compromised by substandard teaching. Many no-fee schools complained about not receiving government financial support on time. The basic education system is in dire need of an entire overhaul.
The IFP supports South African learners and therefore supports this BRRR in the hope that it will positively affect the much- needed turnaround strategy that is required in this department. I thank you.
Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Speaker, when I saw you walk in, I thought there was a little schoolgirl. I didn’t realise that you have gone so much younger. [Laughter.]
The NFP welcomes the report tabled here today, but allow me to express my concerns. We have reiterated in this House that
even the Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Delivery
setting up structures, and every structure that we seem to be putting in place seems to be failing us. Let me give you an ideal example and, for that purpose, I am going to deviate.
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I had the opportunity of visiting a school in Dannhauser on Friday. I must admit what I saw was shocking. There are up to
76 learners in one classroom, no sanitation, and no water. The toilets are being cleaned by the learners and the teachers.
[Interjections.] I think the time has come to deal with this, and that is why I say again that the three-tier system does
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not work. The provincial department should be disbanded. Thank you.
Mr L M NTSHAYISA: Speaker, it is in accordance with
section 5 of the Money Bills Amendment Procedure and Related Matters Act, Act 9 of 2009, that our committee considered this report. The necessary procedures have been followed for the purpose producing this report.
Basic Education has important targets for 2030, including improved retention of learners and improved learning outcomes. Also, it is important to note that the strategic goals of the Department of Basic Education for 2017-18 are connected to the 2014-19 Medium Term Strategic Framework, MTSF, and the action plan. According to the 2017 state of the nation address,
R2,6 billion was allocated to the school infrastructure backlog grant, formally known as Asidi. Having this big amount, the incidents of those like young learners falling into old pit toilets should have been avoided. It is also unfortunate that there are many recurring challenges that we thought would have been sorted out – challenges like
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underspending on the Asidi programme, irregular expenditure, and fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
However, the fast-set plans to improve performance in respect of these targets have been set for infrastructure and have been drawn up by the Department of Basic Education. The allocated budget of R22,9 billion for 2017-18 should be used effectively by the provinces, as the big amount is always transferred to provinces, amounting to about 82% of the budget.
We accept the recommendations by the South African Auditor- General, as these will improve the performance of the Department of Basic Education. The National School Nutrition Programme is doing well. Funds have been well spent. Thank you very much. [Time expired.]
Ms C N MAJEKE: Speaker, the UDM welcomes the Constitutional Court ruling granted against the department on 29 October 2018 in favour of equal education. Whilst we acknowledge that the substance of the court ruling is not about any wrongdoing on the part of the department, it is important that the
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department is compelled to fix all the loopholes in the relevant legislation and that it meets all the deadlines for the completion of schools infrastructure.
The slow delivery pace, irregular and fruitless and wasteful expenditure, and the disturbing underspending in the Asidi programme are causes for great concern and a clarion call for urgency. The fact that 24 years into democracy, there are still learners that go to the bush to relieve themselves is rather disgusting. All schools in South Africa must, with immediate effect, meet the agreed to basic minimum standards of safety. There can be no effective learning and teaching in circumstances where school buildings are posing a danger to both learners and teachers. We hope that the education council, in its meeting, would have appreciated the guidance from the highest court of the land and, accordingly, would have considered convening an urgent session with all the relevant government agencies and entities responsible for school infrastructure, so as to facilitate the development and adoption of a comprehensive and integrated strategy and implementation plan with clear timelines.
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Finally, internally, the department must, as a matter of legislative dictate, improve its internal controls, enforce consequence management and always observe the provisions of the supply chain management. We support the report and look forward to a sense of urgency in addressing these weaknesses. I thank you.
Ms D CARTER: Speaker, it was our founding President that said:
Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation.
Education is key to breaking the shackles of our past and the ravages of poverty and inequality, pivotal in achieving our national development objective. Unlike other socioeconomic rights enshrined in the Bill of Rights, the right to basic education should, according to our Constitution, be immediately realisable. As such, it must be prioritised by government, yet, despite spending the most globally as a
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percentage of GDP on education, government fails in its constitutional obligation, fails our youth, particularly those from poor and marginalised communities, and condemns them to a life of joblessness, poverty and despair.
We note with concern the regression in the department’s audit opinion, as well as the resistance of Sadtu and many educators and principals alike to embrace reforms to measure and improve their skills, competence and performance, the failure of the Asidi programme to deliver, the maladministration, corrupted governance and misappropriation of funds by provincial education departments, and the inability of the department to stop this rot and looting. We once again express our grave concern at the inability and failure of government to deliver upon a most basic and fundamental right. Thank you.
Ms N GINA: Speaker, the portfolio committee welcomes the report from Basic Education and notes with great concern some of the areas the department needs to take care of, like the issues of infrastructure, where we are saying, as one of the recommendations, that the Minister and the department must make sure that when it comes to the issues of infrastructure,
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the eradication of poor sanitation in schools is one area where they need to concentrate further.
Also, we acknowledge the achievements of the department. I am proud to stand here today and say it is a fact that education prior to 1994 – we have never reached the stage where we are. There is so much that we have achieved now in education, but we need also balance what is happening in the provinces. If we continue to have provinces that don’t perform well, where we still continue to have provinces that when it comes to issues of transformation, they resist, like what happened in one of the schools in the Western Cape, Rustenburg, where a black teacher for the first time ... when we talk of transformation, they will chase that teacher on the basis of colour. That is what needs to be addressed when it comes to education in the country. [Interjections.] When we have provinces when it comes to the introduction of African languages for the sake of cohesion in the country, we find such provinces are resisting. Those are the things that we need to deal with when it comes to education.
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Through the recommendations that we have come up with, as the Portfolio Committee of Basic Education, we have talked to the Minister about the issues of Asidi and the issues of infrastructure because that is where our department is not performing well. That is where we have been promised and told the Minister is going to take care of that. We want to thank the President of the country for the quick intervention when it comes to the issues of the sanitation backlog, the manner that he has interjected on that and the manner the private sector is coming onboard to make sure that they pump in money so that, by the end of 2020, when it comes to the dignity given to our learners at school, the issues of sanitation will be the issues of the past.
We really encourage the department to keep up the good work. For the first time, in 2018, we are going to be seated for South African Sign Language. That is a huge achievement to show that this one department and one government is taking care of all the learners in the country. We are going to be playing our oversight role, making sure that where there are shortcomings within the department, the portfolio committee is
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there to make sure that they deliver. Thank you very much, Speaker.
Question put: That the Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education on Department of Basic Education be agreed to.
Division demanded.
The House divided.
[TAKE IN FROM MINUTES.]
Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Speaker, on a point of order: Isn’t it time we did something about the hon Nhleko? His thing never works? This is going on and on and on! [Laughter.] [Interjections.]
The SPEAKER: We shall note that. [Laughter.]
IsiZulu:
Nk M S KHAWULA: Hhayi, sengathi kufuneka uhlanguhlangu la. Azisebenzi nezami lana. [Uhleko.]
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USOMLOMO: Kulungile, sizwile.
English:
Ms T V TOBIAS: Speaker, I shall not allow my member to be harassed by the hon Shaik Emam like that. Please. His thing will work very soon. [Laughter.]
The SPEAKER: That is noted!
Motion agreed to.
Report accordingly adopted.
IsiZulu:
Nk M S KHAWULA: Uxolo, Sihlalo wami omuhle. Ave umuhle Jesu wami kulezi zinsuku. [Uhleko.] Sihlalo ngiyabonga, Somlomo.
USOMLOMO: Yebo Mama uKhawula.
Nk M S KHAWULA: Uyabona ibuhlungu lento eyenzakalayo yokuthi abantu izinto zabo zingasebenzi. Izinyanga zikhona abahambe
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abantu bayochatha ... [Uhleko.] ... izinto zabo zisebenze. Ngiyabonga.
USOMLOMO: Kulungile Mama uKhawula uzobaluleka ngaphandle uma sesiqedile thina la.
CONSIDERATION OF BUDGETARY REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON LABOUR
There was no debate.
The Chief Whip of the Majority Party moved: That the Report be adopted.
Declarations of vote:
Mr M BAGRAIM: Hon Speaker, the Department of Labour has failed South Africa, where almost 10 million people are unemployed. [Interjections.]
Mr M WATERS: Shame on you, ANC!
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Mr M BAGRAIM: The various interventions of the department are similar to rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic.
Unfortunately the high-level report has condemned all our labour legislation which not only has acted as a handbrake to job creation, but has also send such a negative message to the business community that the retrenchments are now at an all time high.
The department has the unfortunate reputation of a negative experience whenever a claim has to be lodged. We have had 20 years of nondelivery with no end in sides. The DA does not accept the report. Minister, you have failed the unemployed, you have failed the youth and you have certainly failed the business community. Thank you. [Applause.]
Dr S S THEMBEKWAYO: Madam Speaker, the EFF rejects the Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report of Portfolio Committee on Labour. South Africa is on the verge of a major labour and unemployment disaster and nothing has been done by the Department of Labour.
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A question we ought to be asking ourselves therefore is: Why are we unable to hold on to the jobs we have at the moment, other than the structural impediments to job creation and economic growth characterised in the main by the monopolisation of key industries critical for growth by a few people? The very nature of racialised capital monopolising the South African economy is such that it has built over the years and impeccable ability to exploit cheap black labour. When this labour is no longer amendable to slave wages and demands a living wage, captains of industries are only too quick to replace warm bodies with machines. As a result, black labour is easily dispensable.
One of the most urgent interventions needed now is an enactment of a Job Protection Act to protect existing jobs and not to make it easy for capital to just retrench people. When capital is caught in a cesspool of its own creation, workers have to pay the price. This cannot be allowed to happen unabated any longer. Over and above, the need to create and sustain new jobs, there is an urgent need to protect the jobs we currently have.
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This we believe must be done through putting legislative measures in place to protect existing jobs. It must not be easy for mining companies such as Anglo, to milk our mineral resources dry, super exploit African labour, pay them slave wages and then just decide to pack and go, leaving behind a trail of destruction behind. I thank you, Madam Speaker. [Applause.]
Mr J A ESTERHUIZEN: Madam Speaker, the Department of Labour and its constitutionally mandated duties must create, maintain and enforce these unemployment labour standards, protection of fundamental rights of the labour force in the workplace by ensuring employer compliance with the South African labour legislation. Yet there are many instances, some of which have been brought to the attention of myself and other members of the IFP caucus where this is simply not the case.
Employers and especially foreign-owned employers are in many instances trampling on the Basic Conditions of Employment Act by making employers sign unlawful employment contracts with unreasonable restrains of trade clauses and then subjecting them to atrocious working conditions and when these employees
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decide to finally leave such workplaces say on the grounds of a constructive dismissal, they are then subjected to a lengthy Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, CCMA, processes whilst being unable to work because of existing restrains of trade clauses which causes them to default on their mortgage loans and other financial obligations as they cannot work due to the period of restrain for fear of legal action being commenced against them. What are you doing to protect South African labour force from such kinds of employer abuse? The IFP supports the Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report, BRRR.
Mr W M MADISHA: Hon Speaker, at the outset Cope expresses its grave concern with regard to the Compensation Commission obtaining yet another disclaimer, its fifth in a row, despite attempts to turn it around. It is unquestionable that an entity set up in law to consider and provide compensation for occupational injuries and diseases sustained in the workplace is riddled by fraud, corruption and inabilities in to deliver upon its mandate.
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We also wish to commiserate with the families and colleagues of the firefighters who lost their lives gallantly fighting the Bank of Lisbon building ablaze. Had the prescripts of our occupational health and safety regime for which the Department of Labour is ultimately responsible had been applied and enforced, this tragedy would surely have been averted.
One shudders to think how many other government workplaces are just as noncompliant. Whilst we note that the department itself obtained an unqualified audit, one must question whether the department is delivering upon its mandate. The vision of the Department of Labour is to and I quote, “Strive for a labour market which is conducive to investment, economic growth, employment creation and decent work.”
Whilst we appreciate the work done by the department in addressing inequality and discrimination in the workplace and in promoting union and worker rights, we ask: Have we got the balance right? Is our labour market conducive to economic growth and job creation? Our sickening and escalating unemployment rates shout out a clear no.
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The current unemployment rate in South Africa is beyond 40%, but government insist that only 27% of the population is unemployed. The problem is much more dire than has been given forth and cannot change with the current dispensation. This government has and continues to fail. The working class and the poor of our country are in trouble. Thank you, very much. [Applause.]
Mr S C MNCWABE: Hon Speaker, the NFP supports the Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report, BRRR, of the Portfolio Committee on Labour as presented. However, we note the observations of the committee that the Auditor-General found that effective steps were not taken by the department to prevent irregular expenditure amounting to almost R1,2 million and also that the Auditor-General found that effective steps were not taken by the department to prevent fruitless and wasteful expenditure amounting to further R4 million. We view this as a very negligent act by the department. It cannot be correct that such a bad habit cannot be attended to by those in position of authority within the department.
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We therefore support the committee recommendations that incidents of irregular expenditure and fruitless wasteful expenditure be fully investigated. Officials who are found to have flouted regulations be dealt with timeously. We also share on the view of the committee that the funding of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, CCMA, be made available to enable it to fully implement its statutory obligations in terms of the National Minimum Wage, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and the Labour Relations Act. Thank you, very much.
Ms S R VAN SCHALKWYK: Hon Speaker, the ANC supports this report. I want to stand here and confirm to the people out there that indeed the working class and the poor are in safe hands of the caring ANC government and results are there. We cannot blame people if they do not want to see what is going on around them, but we are there to see it.
The Compensation Fund’s turnaround plans are yielding results with far fewer matters of concerns now than previous years.
Those members who were part of the committee can attest to that, although the hon Madisha does not want to agree to that,
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that indeed we have come a long way in terms of the mess that was there with regards to the Compensation Fund, but we have dealt with it through the turnaround solutions and increased the services to our people.
Nonadherence for occupational health and safety regulations in terms of government buildings, but also in terms of private institutions is a point of concern to the committee. We want to urge people out there, the employers to adhere to occupational health and safety regulations to ensure the safety of our workers in their workplaces.
We are concerned about the under expenditure on the allocated budget especially in terms of the vacancies that has not been field. However, we share the same comment in terms of the unemployment rate, but we need to realise also that there are notably increase in terms of the year-on-year employment figures that has just been released by Statistics SA and we need to acknowledge that.
We also have to acknowledge the proposals by the recent Job Summit, as well as the Investment Conference which will assist
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in mitigating the unemployment challenges. Continuous Unemployment Insurance Fund, UIF, interventions also create job opportunities for young people and we cannot force the persons to see what they do not want to see. Therefore the ANC supports this report. I thank you. [Applause.]
Question put.
Division demanded.
The House divided.
[TAKE IN FROM MINUTES].
Motion agreed to.
Report accordingly adopted.
CONSIDERATION OF BUDGETARY REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON POLICE – INDEPENDENT POLICE INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE
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There was no debate.
The Chief Whip of the Majority Party moved: That the Report be adopted.
Declaration(s) of vote:
Ms D KOHLER: The SAPS hated the Independent Complaints Directorate, ICD and today it hates the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, IPID to the extent it’s now begun reinvestigating cases the IPID has already investigated. It seems that to many; SAPS is in the business of protecting criminal cops. They even exclude the IPID from internal disciplinary processes and then declare the matter closed. For cases – well - you and I may end up in jail having committed. The police want to police themselves and yet police torture is at 25%.
The IPID still sits in the dilapidated city forum building owned by – wait for it – Roux Shabangu, who holds public works in the palm of his hand. He is doing to them exactly what he did to the then National Police Commissioner, Bheki Cele.
Public Works sits with thousands of empty buildings, I mean
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the ones they haven’t lost, but somewhere can’t locate a single one for IPID or even manage to rent one. And indeed, straight after one of their meetings an IPID member went down, who should be waiting there? But Roux Shabangu who knew everything that has been said in that meeting and tries to strong armour into buying his slum building.
Oddly enough, while the lease was declared invalid by the courts, Roux Shabangu is still paid a huge amount monthly by whom? That’s the million dollar question. IPID is dealing with the police force’s rapists and murderers but couldn’t for example, move on the ever protected Richard Mdluli because intelligence declared the files covering his looting, to be a big fit secret - talk about state capture.
The IPID is coping but just, and like its predecessor, the IDC, its underfunded, undermined and actually with very little it has, it has no option but to choose which cases to take on, which means certain cases falls through the cracks. They work with a bitter knowledge that their top structure was arrested and removed on fake rendition charges. Crime intelligence sent in to vet and destroy any cases of cops that needed protecting
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and it has cost over R20 million to re-establish what crime intelligence destroyed. That was the work of the then Minister and now thankfully, ordinary MP, Nhleko. This report reflects much but not necessarily all. [Applause.]
Ms N P SONTI: Speaker, the EFF rejects the Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report on the IPID. The unit has failed in a spectacular fashion to hold the police accountable and to ensure they are tried to their crimes. When our people were protesting for housing at Zwelihle township here in the Western Cape, the police responded with brutal force and none of them have been brought to book.
In August, the police shot and killed a student at the Tshwane University of Technology, unprovoked cat without any danger to their lives of any kind. None of those police have been brought to account. What role does IPID play therefore? Other than the limelight that comes with following politically charged cases. IPID must present the vulnerable and the poor who faces persecution daily by the police. We reject the Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report, BRRR. Thank you. [Applause.]
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Inkosi E M BUTHELEZI: Hon Speaker, it is disheartening to know that steps were not taken against officials within IPID that were responsible for incurring irregular expenditure at this entity. There was absolutely no consequence and therefore once again repeating ourselves. Year after year, there is no action taken against those implicated. How do we then turn the tide?
This institution is very important in terms of its mandate which is to conduct independent and impartial investigation on specific criminality committed by members of SAPS and municipal police. Given these mandate, the measure oversight role on members of SAPS; we do know that the budget given to this institution is limited which does not enable the department to meet its obligation.
Furthermore, the IFP wishes to express serious concern, while we are pleased with the decreased in the number of cases reported to IPID, there still remain a high number of cases of torture and death as a result of the actions of the police.
This certainly does not work well with the public, as there is already loss of trust and confidence in the police and citizen
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are actually fearful of the police. This shouldn’t be the case in our country. We need to strengthen the capacity of IPID to hold the police accountable and regain the confidence in the police force by the public. The IFP supports the report. Thank you.
Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Hon House Chair, the NFP notes and supports the report tabled here today. Now, allow me to start off by highlighting some of the challenges that we seem to find particularly in IPID. There are some very serious allegations that when IPID has its briefings, AfriForum appears to be present there - AfriForum appears to be present, let me reiterate that, when there is briefings at IPID, which is a matter for concern and I think the matter needs to be looked into.
Now, I must agree that there are lots of complains that are coming from the public in terms of police brutality. But equally, I think what we must understand is that the police have the responsibility to create a safe environment. I don’t think IPID is making it easier for police officers and for that reason, you find that people officers are reluctant to
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actually act because for the slightest evidence that appears and where they are protecting themselves, what happens? They have to be charged - they have to be suspended.
And it appears that IPID to a very extent has been focusing on certain individuals in the SA Police Services and they are not being impartially in terms of the investigation. I must also add and admit that yes indeed, lots and lots of police officers who are responsible for corruption and collusion and police brutality are not being brought to book timeously and of course, we call on IPID to deal with them. But we are saying that they must be impartial in the way they deal with these matters. The NFP supports the report tabled here today.
Mr W M MADISHA: Hon Chair, history will record how much and how our criminal justice system came under attack. And further, how much of it was repurposed and corrupted to create immunity from investigations and prosecutions for those involved in the capture and looting of the state.
In this regard, history will record how IPID and its head came under deliberate, malicious and fierce attack including from
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its then political head, but stood firm. The extent of corruption at senior levels of the police service, beggars believe. It represents a major threat to our safety and security as a society and our very national security.
If we are to claw back and rebuild public confidence in SAPS and in our criminal justice, we will need a strengthened, resourced, capacitated and supported IPID.
We welcome the improvement in the audit opinion of the directorate and hope to see further improvement herein. We express our concern at IPID’s under funding and its need for additional man power specifically in relation to investigators. We support the call that to ensure IPID’s independence and it’s funding not to be allocated through SAPS budget. But for now, we support this. Thank you.
Ms M A MOLEBATSI: Hon House Chairperson, hon members, the ANC supports the Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report, BRRR report on the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, IPID. The IPID must execute its duties and responsibilities without fear, favour or prejudice.
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The Portfolio Committee on Police recommends the following; the audit action plan must be strengthened and implemented as a matter of priority in order to ensure that the department improves on its audit outcomes in the 2018-19 financial year. It is further recommended that improvements should not extend over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF period but prioritised within the next two financial years.
The directorate must develop an action plan to improve its financial health, specifically related to the net liability, management of budgetary controls and cash flow position to ensure the supplies are paid within 30 days. The directorate must review its annual performance indicators and targets, to ensure they reflect performance and encourage service delivery. The directorate should review its performance management system in order to provide accurate and reliable performance information. This is specifically related to the flow centric system.
The ANC is in favour of the accountability in the police sector to ensure that human rights centred law enforcement
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culture. Ipid must execute this important mandate. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Question put.
Division demanded.
The House divided.
[TAKE IN FROM MINUTES].
Motion agreed to.
Report accordingly adopted.
CONSIDERATION OF BUDGETARY REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON POLICE - CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR POLICE
There was no debate.
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The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY: House Chair, we move that the report be adopted.
Declarations of vote:
Mr Z N MBHELE: Chairperson, the department has experienced a number of improvements in a few performance indicators over the past few years, which is something we do acknowledge and would encourage the continuation of this trend. A clear achievement in this regard was the attainment of a clean audit opinion in 2017-18, which was an improvement on the unqualified audit opinion in the previous financial year.
A key concern though is the underspending in the legislation sub-programme because legislative drafting is a crucial part of the secretariat mandate. The fact that it took almost three years before the Critical Infrastructure Protection Bill was able to come to the committee after the DA’s Private Member’s Bill suffered a procedural miscarriage because it was understood and the committee was convinced that at least the ANC members were convinced that the department Bill was in the pipeline and eminent is demonstrative of the inadequate capacity for this task within the secretariat.
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In addition, the amendment of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, Ipid, Act has ordered by the Constitutional Court in 2016, ultimately required parliamentary intervention through a committee Bill in a rush chase for that deadline. We need to see an improvement in that regard, otherwise it will be forever and a day before the amendment to the SAPS Act will see the light of day in order to enable professionalisation and demilitarisation.
A key trust going forward in the short to medium-term must be for the secretariat to flex its muscle, use its oversight and scrutiny powers in order to enforce stronger accountability and ensure that the SAPS do not continue to underperform as they do. I thank you, Chair. [Applause.]
Mr S P MHLONGO: The Civilian Secretariat for Police could be a progressive tool in the fight against crime. But like so many things in the ANC-led government, its ability and capacity is limited. One of its key mandates is to deepen public participation in policing, strengthening policing forums in order to ensure that our people co-operate with police in a bit to fight crime countrywide.
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Crime in South Africa is as much a societal problem as it is a policing problem. The Civilian Secretariat for Police is the organisation best place to bridge this gap. But if you go to communities in this country, especially where crime is on a high rise, you will see that secretariat plays no meaning role at all.
In Nyanga, the murder capital of South Africa, people have been crying for something to be done about the high levels of crime in the area. But Civilian Secretariat availability is not there. But the department has done nothing in most areas where communities are raising their voice, including Westbury in Gauteng. The reason why there are so many instances of mob justice in the country is because there is such a large gap between police and ordinary South Africans. This shows the failure of the Civilian Secretariat for Police. The secretariat is failing to live up to its mandate. If you want to prove, go to speak to the people on the ground, ask the mothers of the Cape Flats what the Civilian Secretariat has done in the fight against gangsterism and you get answer from those people.
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The federal structural outlook of this organ, where national directorate has no administrative authority over provinces makes it worse. Therefore, the EFF rejects this Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report, BRRR. [Time expired.]
Mr J J MAAKE: Madam Chairperson, the ANC supports the report. It is very clear that it’s only under the ANC government that the police were put under scrutiny because of what used to happen. It’s very surprising why people don’t support Ipid, the Civilian Secretariat and so on.
These institutions were established because of what we used to experience under apartheid. So, if anybody doesn’t support the report, it gives me an impression that they are nostalgic for the old order which we would never go back to. The ANC support the BRRR.
Division demanded.
The House divided.
[TAKE IN FROM MINUTES]
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Motion agreed to.
Report accordingly adopted.
CONSIDARATION OF BUDGETARY REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION REPORT OF PRTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON POLICE ON SA POLICE SERVICES
There was no debate.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY: House Chair, we move that the report be adopted.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): I now put the question. Are there any objections?
HON MEMBERS: Yes!
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): There are objections, and I’ve also seen the hands for declaration. Let me recognise hon Mbhele.
Declaration(s) of vote
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Mr Z N MBHELE: Chairperson, the depth and the extent of dysfunction in the SA Police Service, Saps, is utterly dire and little shorts of a disaster. After years of chronic mismanagement, especially during the Selebi and Phiyega years, the police service is simply not up to the task of crime fighting and ensuring public safety.
The National Police Commissioner himself, admitted as much at the Police Portfolio Committee meeting last Tuesday, when he said that the police’s mandate is, “impossible to fulfil.” The longstanding problems of understaffing; underresourcing; underequiping and undertraining at station level, is well known and quite evident.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order, hon member! Can you please lessen your voice, there is too much noise! Thank you. Proceed hon member, I’m sorry to disturb you!
Mr Z N MBHELE: Thank you Chair! The problems at station level are well known and quite evident, leading to many stations’ floundering, neglect and shoddy policing, is a status quo.
What emerging and great detailed over the last year or so,
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against the backdrop of across the board state capture, is the extent of financial mismanagement and procurement corruption due to supply chain processes being beholden to suppliers or contractors who collude with the cabal in Saps management to rouge tenders.
Billions have been misspent, with too little bank for buck and now, with the budget baseline cut happening, the Saps has started to shrink. The blame for this crisis lies squarely at the feet of the ANC for its sponsorship of cronyism and of cadre deployments that has undermined the professional management of the police service.
The only chance this country has, for the reduction of crime; for the improvement of the police service to become effective, efficient and responsive, is to boot the ANC out, and give the Saps new political leadership. [Applause.]
Mr S P MHLONGO: A farmer in KwaZulu-Natal loved his sheep equally the same with his wolf, but one day the farmer decided to keep both his sheep and wolf in one kraal. Early in the morning, the following day as usual, he woke up to watch his
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flock of sheep with the wolf, and found all his sheep dead and only the wolf was standing.
The farmer tried to run back to his house to fetch his gun to kill the wolf. However, the wolf ran faster behind him and killed the farmer as well. This is what happened with ANC after ruling by justice choirs on the matter, state versus Schabir Shaik. The ANC got overpowered by love of Zuma, elevated him to the highest office and later, all hell broke loose, leading to the anarchy facing the country and the nation at large.
Our police services find themselves in an uneasy situation as they must first arrest their political bosses who celebrate birthday cakes in Luthuli House as they represent nothing but access of evil, which has taken our country down the corruption lane. Hence, the assassination of one of the vocal persons in Estina Dairy Farm, who raised corruption that touches on the Secretary-General of the ANC and one member of this House.
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It would be naïve to think that people like Brigadier Gopal in Durban Port, who actually authorised passage of the container full of mandrax which was later convicted at Walvis Bay in Namibia with authorisation stamp of South Africa, while this Brigadier is acting alone, here we’ve got a simple case that this Brigadier is supported by some people in higher offices. [Interjections.] Therefore, as the EFF we cannot support fiscus dumping [Inaudible.] ... Budget Review and Recommendations Reports, BRRR. [Applause.] [Time expired.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order! Hon member, please assist the Chair that when you are asked to actually stop your intervention and you yourself can see the time that it has passed, please make sure that you do move out of the podium.
Mr E M BUTHELEZI: Chairperson, 20 366 murder cases were recorded across the country in 2017-18. On average, 57 people were killed each day. From the 3 915 women and children were murdered; over 40 000 rape cases were recorded and millions of other crimes were committed during this financial year. These chilling stats and increasing rate of violent crimes in our
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country begs the question if our current tactical, strategic and prevention system are enough to detect criminals from committing these horrendous crimes.
We cannot work in silos in tackling crime. There’s a great need for the department to work in a more coordinated way together with all government departments to address socioeconomic conditions our people finds themselves in. Saps cannot address these issues alone. When our young people cannot find work, millions of South Africans remain unemployed. Many have given up on seeking jobs thus, they are more likely to commit crime, take drugs and become part of gangs.
These initiatives are failed by the very system designed to assist our most vulnerable and poor in communities across the country. Hon Chairperson, we also would like to tackle violence, looting and arsenal attacks during service delivery protest. If and only if government departments; local departments and provincial administration can do their work properly the first time, there would be no need for community members to resort to violent means to have their plea heard.
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While the Saps must behold over the call of their exuberance in spending the public money on frivolous items, real crimes are taking place and real action needs to be taken for justice, law and order to prevail. The IFP supports the report. Thank you.
Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Hon House Chair, the NFP welcomes the report tabled here today, also allow me to advise you that the NFP supports the BRRR report of the Portfolio Committee on Police tabled here today. Hon Chairperson, the easiest thing to do, is to come here and criticise. That is what we appear to be doing.
Have we ever asked ourselves, why is the situation of crime such a serious problem in South Africa? It is one of the contributing factors which we seem to forget about, and many of us in this House are responsible for the contributing factors in this country, like the spatial planning; poor housing more water and sanitation and high unemployment.
We talk about corruption, and particularly I see that we talk about it in the police force. We are forgetting that even in
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this House there is corruption; even members in this House are implicated in corruption. So, corruption exists in all aspects of governance in South Africa. Therefore, let us be mindful of that.
I think that what we should be doing, is working with men and women in blue. Let me tell you that they have a very difficult task; absolutely difficult, under trying conditions. Also, we cannot paint all of them with the same brush; there are many good police officers there. But equally, there are challenges. What then are we supposed to do? We need to work together with them to find solutions.
For the last four and a half years, all we find in this House is that we insult them; we abuse them and we criticise them, but we never sit down with them to find solutions. The NFP believes that time has come for us as public representatives to put our differences aside and find solutions in the interests of the people of this country. [Interjections.]
The NFP supports the report tabled here today.
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Mr W M MADISHA: Hon Gwede! What a bad and sorry story to tell. If Saps BRRR report were a mirror, I would be inclined to ask ANC to hold it up and have a long heart look. What they would see is the manifestation of their immorality. What the ANC has allowed is shameful, facilitated, and been complicit with respect to the SA Police Service.
What transpired amounts in part; to treason; organised crime and corruption. Today, our police service is a mere shadow of its former self. Its former Commissioner and CFO, currently faces criminal charges. Its shop management are riddled with appointees whose skills, experience, integrity and loyalty are questionable.
We are still to get to the bottom of how public funds were channelled to repurpose by crime intelligence to manipulate voting at, at least, two ANC national conferences. Whilst shocking beyond belief, it hardly comes as a surprise to learn of the reported involvement of at least 20 of Saps top management staff, in colluding to reprioritise and siphon millions from the criminal justice system.
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It’s no wonder that last year the Head of Ipid ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order, hon member, your time is up! Let me recognise hon Beukman.
Mr W M MADISHA: They are taking black bags.
THE HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order, ho members! No gestures in the House!
Mr F BEUKMAN: Chairperson, hon members and fellow South Africans, the ANC supports the report of a portfolio committee that was adopted on 17 October 2018. The committee made 16 recommendations, focusing on financial management and implementation of the Auditor-General’s recommendations, steps to deal with criminality in the criminal justice system, as well as the independent review of all high level contracts prior to approval and the implementation of the fully-fledged combine insurance model within Saps.
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Now, since our last BRRR report in 2017, a new permanent National Commissioner was appointed by the Saps. We have seen in 2018 that the ANC government has been resolute to strengthen criminal justice system with special reference to Saps. We will highlight few matters:
The appointment of a new Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, DPCI; the appointment of a new Head for Crime Intelligence and a turnaround strategy; the reintroduction of Specialised Units and the anti-gang unit that was launched last Friday by the President in Cape Town.
Also, the rest of high ranking police officers allegedly involved in corruption and manipulation; the rest and successful prosecution of members of Hawks and Saps for criminality and corruption and the establishment of the multitask team, including the Hawks to investigate Steinhoff and VBS.
It is quite clear that on a strategic level, Saps must contribute to the strengthening of the criminal justice system, the professionalisation of Saps and the building of
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safety, using the community as integrated approach. An adoption in a number of reported contact crimes and increase in the proportion of households who are satisfied with police services in the area is a non-negotiable for the ANC.
The Saps need to step up efforts to deal with organised crime, violent crime and corruption. In closing, ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Thank you, hon member, your time is up!
Mr F BEUKMAN: The ANC supports this report. Thank you.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Are there any objections that the report be adopted? I now put the question. Those in favour will say aye.
HON MEMBERS: Aye!
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Those against will say no.
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HON MEMBERS: No!
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): I think the ayes have it.
Division demanded.
The House divided.
[Take in from Minutes.]
Motion agreed to.
Report accordingly adopted.
CONSIDERATION OF BUDGETARY REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON MINERAL RESOURCES
There was no debate.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY: House Chair, we move that the report be adopted by this House. Thank you very much.
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The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Thank you very much. Are there any objections?
HON MEMBERS: Yes!
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Minister of Mineral Resources, there are objections and a call for declarations. I am sure you will hear why members are objecting or agreeing when they present their declarations. Thank you.
Declarations of Vote:
Mr J R B LORIMER: House Chair, this is a fair report with which we are in general agreement, but there have been other budgetary review and recommendation reports in the past and they contained some good recommendations, but the recommendations were ignored by the department. So, what is the point of this process if the department just ignores the portfolio committee?
Of course it needs political action to correct this. It needs the political will to make things better and not just accept
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the behaviour of officials because you are the party in control. But that’s not what we have seen so far.
This is part of a pattern; we see this across the mineral resources portfolio. Nothing has stark as when we get the official line on the recently passed Mining Charter. The ANC’s line on the charter is, “It’s a great success; mining companies will love it. It will bring loads of new investments and create new jobs”. Unfortunately, this line is far from reality.
Why would any change in the law that makes it less profitable to invest bring a new investment? Well, we are told “because the charter has made the rules more certain”. Firstly, they are not, because we don’t know the rules yet. Secondly, the major certainty is that the rules are bad and not attractive to investors.
Certain big mining companies with existing mines are pouring honey into the Minister’s ears and he is spinning it to us. They are just pleased they will not have to close their mines.
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Of course the only new mines they will open are outside South Africa.
All this new capital that is being promised will just keep current operations going; we don’t see it creating many new jobs. And the truth is that the mining industry will continue to decline. [Applause.]
Ms Y N YAKO: Madam House Chairperson, as the EFF we reject the Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report of the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources. What is shocking is the recent appointment of Minister Gwede Mantashe.
The Mining Charter drafted by the Chamber of Mines, big businesses and global capital and the misguided intention to withdraw the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act Bill that has been in Parliament longer than any Bill since the advent of the democracy, has eroded some of the small transformation gains in the mining sector.
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This was only possible because the portfolio committee have sat and watched as the former ANC constitutional delinquent President refuse to sign the Bill.
We wrote to the Minister of Mineral Resources to ask him on what constitutional or legal basis is he withdrawing the Bill that was adopted twice by National Assembly. He has not responded because he is fully aware that he is breaking the law.
We would like to take this opportunity to welcome the Constitutional Court judgement on the community’s right to say no. And we will not “mantash” on mentioning instances such as eXolobeni where people were busted in from as far as Cala and that was called a public participation.
It is only through state ownership and control of mines that communities will be fully engaged and participate in mining for the betterment of our people. We continue to own more than
63 000 of 69 000 metric tons of the world’s platinum yet we are the least beneficiary. It must stop and it must stop now. Thank you. [Applause.]
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Mr J A ESTERHUIZEN: House Chair, mining, by definition, decline as resources are extracted. Each kilogram mined is one less available for future mining. Also, as economies develop, mining has to compete for labour and other resources of other industries.
The new Mining Charter that promised to break regulatory logjams that have beset the industry for so long unfortunately does not deal with all the key obstacles this industry faces.
The industry requires clear and certain long term reliable policy if it is to commit the billions of dollars needed to drive the projects that will have lifespan measures in decades. The charter proposes free equity in projects of 5% for employees and communities ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T DIDIZA): Order! Hon members, can you please lessen your conversations so that they do not drown the speaker. Thank you.
Mr J A ESTERHUIIZEN (IFP): ... that is a straight forward capital surcharge. It simply translates into a fewer projects
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that will be bankable and therefore there will be less production and less employment.
In the past, we had the right mechanism to deliver co- ordination and planning, the National Development Plan, NDP, we must recommit ourselves to re-establishing the role of the NDP for the guiding vision for the economy as a whole.
The President, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, was one of the architects of the plan. He must ensure that it is placed back in the centre of the national policy and especially in mining. The IFP supports the report.
Prof N M KHUBISA: House Chairperson, the mining industry employed a total of 450 429 individuals in March 2018 which was a regression from the 462 870 people it employed in 2017.
There has been a fall of 74 000 in mining jobs since 2012. The main focus of the NFP is on the mandate of the Department of Mineral Resources which is to promote and regulate the minerals and mining sector for transformation, growth,
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development and to ensure that all South Africans derive sustainable benefits from the country’s mineral resources.
We are aware of the threats that are there - job loses, volatile commodity prices, mounting costs and logistic issues. The Department of Mineral Resources we said employed almost
500 000 people - men and women - and is responsible for a quarter of export foreign earnings in our country.
Now Minister, I want to focus on five entities of the department. We need to ask ourselves as to whether these entities are performing their task. For instance, MINTECH which is responsible for research is it doing enough research development and developing business in the mineral sector and ensuring that the products are used accordingly? Is it doing enough for everyone to acquire access into mineral resources?
When it comes to Mine Health and Safety Council, the NFP wants to see no fatalities in the mining sector, even if they are reduced but one person dead are too many. There are too many fatalities in the mining sector and we hope that the Minister will attend to that.
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This question needs to be attended to and I am sure that MINTEC, working with the mining council, will have to ensure that there are no deaths in the mining sector ...
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T DIDIZA): Order! Hon member, your time is up.
Prof N M KHUBISA: ... and those communities within the proximity are assisted accordingly. The NFP supports the budget. [Time expired.] Thank you very much.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T DIDIZA): Hon Khubisa, you went much over your time.
Mr W M MADISHA: Analysts warned that our remaining mining production could be halved over the next five years if our mineral resources sector is not responsibly managed. We are endowed, as a nation, with a treasure chest of mineral resources.
In terms of our new legislative order, the state now holds custodianship over our mineral resources on behalf of us as a
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nation. In return, we as citizens trust that government will exercise its custodianship responsibly and promote the expectation of our mineral wealth for our benefit and wellbeing. This includes our transformation imperatives.
The Department of Mineral Resources has, in the recent past, been one of the better performing departments as far as audit outcomes are concerned. But has it delivered on its responsibilities and mandate? Is it delivering upon its vision which is, and I quote,
To enable a globally competitive, sustainable and meaningfully transformed minerals and mining sector to ensure that all South Africans derive sustainable benefit from the country’s mineral wealth.
In this regard, we know that the department was targeted in the state capture project and that its power and authority was corrupted and abused. It abused its custodianship over our mineral wealth. It has therefore failed and we therefore cannot support. [Time expired.] Thank you.
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Mr Z M D MANDELA: Hon House Chairperson, hon members ...
IsiXhosa:
...nakumtshakazi obekekileyo, molweni.
English:
In accordance with the mandate of the portfolio committee, the committee has made the following recommendations: The administrative systems of the Department of Mineral Resources should be reviewed and remedial measures instituted to address critical capacity areas that lead to errors and delays in the processing applications and a lack of enforcement of financial provisions for mines; that an above inflation budget allocation be considered along with a specific intervention programme to ensure that the Department of Mineral Resources administration, enforcement and monitoring systems are integrated and world class so that investment in this critical sector can be facilitated and encouraged; that the Department of Mineral Resources considers interventions to support its wide and essential responsibilities with long term implications as the custodians of the nation’s mineral resource for present and future generations.
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As part of this new system, the Department of Mineral Resources’ performance measures for South African Mineral Resources Administration, Samrad, should be included in the 2019-20 Annual Performance Plan. These should allow monitoring of the performance of the regional offices as well as the administrative database for the rights to minerals as a whole.
The Annual Performance Plan should include a formalised report on the work and challenges of the environmental mineral resource inspectorate. The high quality of mine health and safety report is a significant aid for performing oversight of the work of the Department of Mineral Resources for occupational health and safety on the mines. The same standard for monitoring is a required ... [Time expired.] We therefore, as the ANC, support this BRRR. Thank you.
Division demanded.
The House divided.
[TAKE IN FROM MINUTES]
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Motion agreed to.
Report accordingly adopted.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T DIDIZA): Order! Hon members. Hon Ntlangwini...
IsiXhosa:
... umtshakazi uyahamba ngoku.
English:
I was just about to celebrate you as a new bride and say that...
HON MEMBERS: [Ululating.] [Applause.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T DIDIZA): Order! We had hoped that we were going to get some meat. When I looked at your dress code I thought, “Voila! We are having meat this afternoon”. Thank you very much and congratulations.
HON MEMBERS: [Ululating.] [Applause.]
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Ms E N NTLANGWINI: House Chair, on a point of privilege.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T DIDIZA): Okay, what is your point of privilege?
Ms E N NTLANGWINI: House Chair, I have been married for three years to the same man. It was just my traditional ceremony this weekend. [Interjections]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T DIDIZA): That is precisely what we are recognising.
HON MEMBERS: [Ululating.] [Applause.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T DIDIZA): Order!
Mr M L W FILTANE: House Chair, on a point of privilege.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T DIDIZA): What is the point of privilege?
IsiXhosa:
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Mnu M L W FILTANE: Uza kuyalwa ngubani apha ePalamente? [Kwahlekwa.]
English:
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T DIDIZA): Order! Hon members.
IsiXhosa:
Mnu M L W FILTANE: Uza kuyalwa ndim. [Kwahlekwa.]
English:
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T DIDIZA): Order! Hon members, can we now move to the next order in our Order Paper.
ANC MOURNS THE PASSING OF ROYAL EAGLES HEAD COACH ROGER SIKHAKHANE
(Draft Resolution)
Mr S M RALEGOMA: Hon House Chair, I move without notice:
That the House –
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notes with sadness the death of the Royal Eagles soccer club head coach, Roger Sikhakhane, on Saturday morning, 3 November 2018, at the Melomed hospital in Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal;
understands that the 42-year-old Sikhakhane joined Eagles towards the end of last season and saved the club from relegation;
acknowledges that he had been away from his club for almost two months after he had a minor operation;
remembers that two seasons ago, Sikhakhane helped promote Thanda Royal Zulu soccer club to top flight football;
affirms that in the 2011-12 season, Sikhakhane also propelled Chippa United soccer club to the Absa Premiership via the playoffs;
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appreciates that Roger was a very good coach and had a good eye for talent as well as a proven ability to nurture talent; and
conveys its condolences to his family and the Royal Eagles soccer club. I so move.
Agreed to.
DA CONGRATULATES PROFESSOR LINDA-GAIL BEKKER’S AWARD OF THE 2018 DESMOND TUTU AWARD FOR HIV PREVENTION
(Draft Resolution)
Ms E R WILSON: Hon House Chair, I move without notice:
That the House –
notes that Prof Linda-Gail Bekker, an HIV scientist, was awarded the 2018 Desmond Tutu Award for HIV prevention research and Human Rights at a conference in Spain;
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observes that the award which is presented every two years, is awarded to an organisation or individual that has worked tirelessly to advance HIV prevention research and protection of human rights of people affected with HIV;
acknowledges that Prof Bekker was recognised as a tireless and innovative leader of efforts to ensure effective HIV prevention for all;
recognises her role in clinics in the communities of Masiphumulele and New Crossroads in Cape Town, as well as in her role as Chief Executive Officer of the Tutu HIV Foundation;
appreciates that Bekker has fiercely, fearlessly and passionately saved many lives, and helped break down the stigma and discrimination against HIV patients; and
congratulates Professor Bekker on her outstanding achievement and recognises the important role she has
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played locally and internationally in protecting the lives and rights of all HIV sufferers. I so move.
Agreed to.
EFF REMEMBERS THE INDEPENDENCE OF ANGOLA 11 NOVEMBER 1975
(Draft Resolution)
Ms N V MENTE: Hon House Chair, I move without notice:
That the House –
notes that this weekend, on 11 November, the people of Angola will be celebrating 43 years of independence;
observes that it was after 14 years of armed resistance against the brutal and barbaric colonial regime of Portugal that the people of Angola were finally able to claim their independence;
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understands that the Portuguese, like all colonialists, had exploited the resources and people of Angola to enrich themselves while impoverishing the country, but like all colonial rulers they eventually fell;
admonishes that while African countries like Angola are politically free, neo-colonialism has meant that economic freedom still remains a distant dream for the people of Africa;
acknowledges that Angola has an abundance of natural resources, but these only benefit a handful of international and local elite, while the people live in poverty;
realises that for this generation of Africans, the struggle is not for political freedom but for economic freedom, and total liberation against white supremacy and institutional racism; and
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calls on the people of Angola to continue the struggle for a truly free and liberated country and continent. Viva economic freedom.
Agreed to.
KWAZULU-NATAL’S EBOMVINI PRIMARY SCHOOL WINS WATER EXPLORER INTERNATIONAL FINAL AWARDS 2018 IN LONDON
(Draft Resolution)
Mr D J KABINI: Hon House Chair, I move without notice:
That the House –
notes that a rural KwaZulu-Natal school won two top awards at an international water conservation competition on 24 October 2018, for its effort to save water resources;
appreciates notes that Ebomvini Primary was representing South Africa at Water Explorer 2018 in
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London when they received the Innovation and Students’ Choice Awards;
acknowledges that pupils from 11 participating countries including Turkey, Germany and Malta agreed that Ebomvini’s projects were creative;
understands that these projects included turning chip and sweet wrappers — which often end up in local rivers — into eco-bricks which were used to make outdoor furniture;
recalls that Ebomvini was chosen to represent South Africa after impressing a panel of judges in August this year; and
congratulates the two young learners Esihle Gasa and Asiphile Mkhonde who presented their school’s projects at the event as well as the team co- ordinator. I so move. [Time expired.]
Agreed to.
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SABC’S LOOMING RETRENCHMENTS AND CALLS FOR INTERVENTION
(Draft Resolution)
Ms L L VAN DER MERWE: Hon House Chair, I move without notice:
That the House –
notes that the South African Broadcasting Corporation, SABC staff wore black on Wednesday, 7 November 2018, as part of protest action against planned retrenchments at the public broadcaster;
observes that the protest action was symbolic of staffers “mourning” the direction the public broadcaster is taking;
understands that the SABC, as part of its turnaround plan is said to axe a third of its workforce;
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marks that the SABC Chief Executive Officer is on record stating that the struggling public broadcaster is once again hovering on the brink of financial collapse;
calls on all role-players to intervene as a matter of urgency to ensure that job losses are averted, that costs are cut at the SABC especially on excessive executive salaries and bonuses; and
(7) thanks all loyal SABC staff members who remain committed to the SABC, despite difficult circumstances, thereby ensuring that the SABC is able to execute its public mandate in the public interest.
Agreed to.
NFP DISHEARTENED BY THE KILLING OF ACTING DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICES IN UMVOTI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY
(Draft Resolution)
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Mr S C MNCWABE: Hon House Chair, I move without notice:
That the House –
notes that Mr Thobani Ndaba who was the Acting Director of Community Services in Umvoti Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal was gunned down by unknown hit men;
observes that Mr Ndaba was killed with almost 20 bullets from an AK47 rifle while he was in his office which is not far from the police station of the area;
admonishes that no-one has been arrested for this terrible incident;
understands that the killing of municipal officials as well as councillors in KwaZulu-Natal seems to be getting out of control;
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extends its deepest condolences to the Ndaba family;
calls upon law enforcement agencies to work day and night to arrest the perpetrators; and
orders the police to continue working hard to fight and overcome the scourge of political killings in the KwaZulu-Natal province.
Agreed to.
RACISM IN RUSTENBURG GIRLS’ JUNIOR SCHOOL IN CAPE TOWN
(Member’s Statement)
Ms N P NKONYENI: Hon House Chair, I move without notice:
That the House –
notes that the ANC learned with shock the news that Ms Nozipho Mthembu, a black African educator who was employed by the Rustenburg Girls’ Junior School in
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Cape Town, was forced to resign by the school including its School Governing Body, SGB;
acknowledges that Nozipho is the daughter of the University of Cape Town Economics Professor Mr Martin Wittenberg;
observes that this move was the result of questions posed over the competency of black educators;
appreciates that a Grade V learner at the school was heard asking her surprised parent if black educators are real educators;
declares that Ms Mthembu began teaching at the school in January this year, and within nine months she was admitted to hospital suffering from stress and anxiety;
understands that she was coerced into leaving the school by the principal and the SGB;
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regrets that she was racially discriminated against, and that in early September 2018, she was told by the principal that she should consider resigning;
admits that this matter had to be taken to the commission for Conciliation, Mediation and arbitration, where Ms Mthembu agreed to a settlement;
conceives that in August last year, three parents resigned from the SGB saying they were alarmed by the way the school blocked transformation;
believes that the Western Cape Education department lacks the will and is ineffective in addressing racism in Western Cape schools. I so move.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Thank you hon member, but I think that is a Statement and not a Motion without Notice. So, I will not put it because it was not on those that were tabled for the motions. So, we will ask if you can contact your Whip in that regard.
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UDM WELCOMES WESTERN CAPE HIGH COURT’S GUILTY VERDICT FOR THE RAPE, MURDER AND ATTEMPTED MURDER OF HANNAH CORNELIUS AND CHESLIN MARSH
(Draft Resolution)
Mr N L S KWANKWA: Hon House Chair, I move without notice:
That the House –
notes that the Western Cape High Court reached a guilty verdict on the three men who raped and murdered Hannah Cornelius and for the attempted murder of Cheslin Marsh;
condemns the gender-based nature of the violence that was evident in the events that led to the death of Hannah Cornelius;
denounces any gender-based attacks on all women, especially young women;
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sends its well wishes to Cheslin Marsh, the survivor of this brutal and heinous attack;
hopes that he will fully be reintegrate into society;
acknowledges that the accused went on a crime spree attacking other vulnerable women, in which one who was robbed of her belongings and another who was kidnapped after the murder of Hannah Cornelius;
sends its well wishes to all the victims and the families;
calls for the appropriate punishment that is equal to the heinous nature of the crime when a sentence is passed down on these individuals in order to send a clear message to any potential perpetrator of gender-based violence, murder and assault that violence is not acceptable in society;
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welcomes the verdict by the Western Cape High Court; and
congratulates the National Prosecuting Authority on a successful prosecution. I so move.
Agreed to.
DA CONGRATULATES PROFESSOR BASSIE VON SOLMS’S INVITATION BY THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM TO ITS GLOBAL FUTURE COUNCIL ON CYBER SECURITY
(Draft Resolution)
Mr C MACKENZIE: Hon House Chair, I move without notice:
That the House –
notes that the World Economic Forum has invited Professor Basie von Solms to join its Global Future Council on Cyber security;
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understands that Professor von Solms is a Research Professor at the Academy for Computer Science and Software Engineering at the University of Johannesburg;
recognises that he is also the Director of the Centre for Cyber Security at the University of Johannesburg as well as an Associate Director of Oxford University’s Global Cyber security Capacity Centre;
acknowledges that Professor von Solms is an honorary member and former President of the International Federation for Information Processing, and is also the Vice-Chair (Africa) for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE’s Special Interest Group on Big Data and Cyber Security;
observes that he is a Fellow of the Computer Society of South Africa, a Fellow of the British Computer Society, a Fellow of the Oxford Martin School of the
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University of Oxford and a Chartered Information Technology Professional (CITP);
appreciates that he is also a Member of Academy of Sciences of South Africa (ASSAf);
realises the leading role played by Professor von Solms in emphasizing the importance of South African cyber security initiatives in a global context; and
congratulates Professor von Solms on his appointment to the Global Future Council on Cyber security. I so move.
Agreed to.
EFF WELCOMES UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY’S LIFTMENT OF EMBARGO AGAINST CUBA
(Draft Resolution)
Dr S S THEMBEKWAYO: Hon House Chair, I move without notice:
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That the House –
notes that last week Thursday, 1 November 2018, the United Nations General Assembly voted in favour of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba;
observes that 189 of the 193 member states of the United Nations voted in favour of ending these sanctions, placed on Cuba by the United States which had been enforced since 1960;
realises that the lesson with the General Assembly we must all take, is that because its decisions are not enforceable, its time the world rethinks the roles of the UN General Assembly and Security Council and finds more democratic means to ensure world peace;
understands that the sanctions placed on Cuba are nothing more than economic terrorism against a socialist regime which through example, has shown
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the successes and humanity of socialism despite all attempts by the most powerful nation on earth to destabilise the regime and the country;
affirms that Cuba has always shown solidarity with the people of South Africa, and it is time the favour is returned; and
calls on the House to condemn the US sanctions on Cuba and calls for the embargo to be immediately lifted. I so move.
Agreed to.
ANC WELCOMES DR THULANI MAKHALANYANE’S APPOINTMENT TO THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF MICROBIAL ECOLOGY BOARD OF DIRECTORS
(Draft Resolution)
Mr R T MAVUNDA: Hon House Chair, I move without notice:
That the House –
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welcomes the election of the University of Pretoria academic Dr Thulani Makhalanyane to the International Society of Microbial Ecology Board of Directors on 16 October 2018;
notes that Dr Makhalanyane, who is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology at the University of Pretoria, becomes the first African to be elected to this international board of directors;
acknowledges that the 34-year-old Dr Makhalanyane becomes the first African to join the prestigious board of directors, taking up a four year term;
recognises that the society, which is based in the Netherlands, hosts the biggest biannual symposia on microbial ecology, with the most recent meeting, held in Leipzig, Germany, attended by over 2 300 delegates;
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recalls that Dr Makhalanyane also serves on national and international review panels representing South Africa in the Department of Science and Technology bilateral discussions; and
congratulates him on his latest appointment to this prestigious international global network. I thank you.
Agreed to.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T FROLICK): Is there a motion from the ANC?
Ms A T MFULO: Yes Chair.
Mr S N SWART: Sorry Chair! May I?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T FROLICK): Yes, hon Swart are you going to move for a motion.
Mr S N SWART: Yes.
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The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T FROLICK): Let me allow the ACDP.
Mr P D N MALOYI: On a point of order Chair, absolutely, Chair, I’m here next to you, point of order! Our member is disabled and ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T FROLICK): No, no, just calm
down, just relax.
Ms A T MFULO: No Chair, no.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T FROLICK): Who is now objecting here?
Ms A T MFULO: I have been raising a hand.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T FROLICK): No, I didn’t see you hon member.
Ms A T MFULO: Thank you.
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The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T FROLICK): No, I’m not skipping you the ACDP is before the ANC. So we will do the ACDP and we will come back to the ANC.
Mr S N SWART: Hon Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move on behalf of the ACDP:
That the House debates steps necessary to return Sars to the international playing position it once held as the best performing government agency in the country.
I so move.
The House Chairperson (Mr C T Frolick): If there are no objections, I put the motion?
Mr P D N MALOYI: Chair, it is not an objection. That is a notice of a motion. We are on motions without notice.
The House Chairperson (Mr C T Frolick): Is it a motion without notice, hon member? Is it? It is not.
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The House Chairperson (Mr C T Frolick): Then, we go to the ANC.
AN ENGINEER ‘S IDEA SPARKS INTEREST IN SCIENCE IN THE VILLAGE
(Draft Resolution)
Ms A T MFULO: Hon Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the House –
notes that a North West engineer has come up with a new way of stimulating young people’s interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics in his rural village;
further notes that Thabiso Kgotlaetsile has erected a solar street light that has raised much interest in one of the provinces deep rural villages called Mantsa;
understands that Mantsa village, about 25km south of Mahikeng is one of the poorest in the province;
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further understands that the 37-year-old electrical engineer, who has been working at Eskom for six years, has committed to expose pupils from the village to the practical side of maths and science;
recalls that he chose Mosikare Secondary School for his solar light and the school has availed four classrooms for Kgotlaetsile to turn into a science centre;
realises that Kgoatlaetsile’s ideas sparked interest in a village where there was no interest in science and technology; and
commends Kgotlaetsile on his commitment to making his village a science village.
Agreed to.
CONGRATULATES TREVOR SIMELANE AND JOSEPH MDLULI FOR THE HIP2B23M INNOVATION CHALLENGE - A PROTOTYPE ROBOT
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(Draft Resolution)
Ms H V NYAMBI: Hon Chair, I move without notice:
That the House –
congratulates Trevor Simelane and Joseph Mdluli for being crowned the winners of the HIP2B23M Innovation Challenge on Wednesday, 24 October 2018;
notes that the two high school pupils from Kanyamazane in Mpumalanga, have successfully developed a prototype robot to help with extinguishing fires;
further notes that their prototype robot, which was made out to look like a wire toy car, can be plugged into an electrical socket and be controlled with their cardboard box remote to move around and pick up objects such as a cool drink can;
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realises that the robot is meant to detect people in the building and extinguish class A to F fires, and uses dry powder and wet chemicals to stop the fire instead of water;
recalls that the competition was founded in 2002, and is the brainchild of billionaire businessman Mark Shuttleworth;
applauds the two pupils for their ability to make their prototype with the few tools and materials they had access to in their village; and
wishes Joseph Mdluli and Trevor Simelane success in their future endeavours.
Agreed to.
A CALL FOR EIGHT PRASA BOARD MEMBERS TO PAY BACK R3 MILLION INCORRECTLY RECEIVED
(Draft Resolution)
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Mr M S F DE FREITAS: Hon Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the House -
notes that during the 2016-17 financial year, eight Prasa board members incorrectly received a total of R3 million that they were not entitled to receive;
further notes that there is no plan to ensure the millions are paid back to the embattled entity;
understands that this violates sections 38(1)(c)(i)-
(iii) of the Public Finance Management Act of the general responsibilities of the accounting authority, which in terms of section 86 justifies criminal proceedings to be instituted;
further understands that this is especially disturbing considering that the entity’s annual report, recently released by the Auditor General, found R1 billion in fruitless and wasteful expenditure;
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realises that Prasa’s net loss for the previous financial year was R925 million;
further realises that Prasa is in shambles and is plagued by scandal after scandal;
acknowledges that, to date, the Minister has done nothing to recoup this money and is thus protecting the board members in question; and
calls upon the Minister of Transport, Dr Blade Nzimande, to immediately implement a plan to ensure that this money is repaid with interest.
Agreed to.
THE CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Chair, whilst we would not have a problem I rise just on a point of privilege under Rule 31. We would really appeal that it is helpful to all of us if all motions of this nature are circulated to everybody. This one was not circulated, that is our difficulty.
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The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T FROLICK): Yes. Hon members, can we stick to the agreement amongst Chief Whips that these motions are circulated. I’m informed hon Chief Whip that the motion in fact was previously circulated on the 29th October.
It was not re-circulated for today. Right so, but let us just ensure that out of courtesy that we just alert the political parties that the motion that was previously circulated will be considered for a specific day. I don’t think there will be any difficulties for that.
SHOCK NEWS OF THE DEATH OF YUNUS KATHRADA, THE NEPHEW OF LATE STRUGGLE STALWART AHMED KATHRADA, AND HIS SON
(Draft Resolution)
Ms S R VAN SCHALKWYK: Hon House Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the House –
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notes with great shock the news of the death of Yunus Kathrada, the nephew of late struggle stalwart Ahmed Kathrada, and his son on Thursday night, 1 November 2018;
further notes that the 65-year old Yunus Kathrada who was a Muslim cleric, and his 28-year-old son Ahmed, were killed after an attempted house robbery in their home in Schweizer-Reneke in the North West;
understands that the cleric had just returned home when two people attacked him, and he died on the scene, whilst Kathrada’s grandnephew died in hospital;
deplores the senseless killing of good citizens daily due to crime;
applaud the quick action by the police were suspects, nine suspects aged between 16 and 60 were arrested and appeared in court today for the murders;
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conveys its condolences to the Kathrada family, relatives and friends.
I thank you.
Agreed to.
ANTI-GANG UNIT LAUNCHED IN THE CRIME-RIDDEN HANOVER PARK, IN THE CAPE FLATS
(Member’s Statement)
Mr J J MAAKE (ANC): Chairperson, the ANC welcomes the launch of the anti-gang unit in crime ridden Hanover Park in the Cape flats by the President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday 2nd November 2018.
This demonstrates the commitment of the ANC government in fighting gangsterism, drugs and guns, which bedevilled and terrorise this community for years. The Anti-Gang Unit has members from the specialised unit and has been in operation from 8 October 2018.
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The deployment of this unit to Hanover Park, Nyanga cluster, Bonteheuwel and Bishop Lavis will assist in weakening the criminal activities of gangs, as well as disrupting the criminal economy linked to gangsterism, drugs and firearms supply lines. The unit will continue to be in full operation at the peninsula until communities in the Greater Western Cape experience a return to normality.
The ANC policy on safety and security is paramount and our commitment to ensure the safety and security of the law abiding citizens in their homes and environments where they live, work and engage in extra-mural activities must be safe guided at all times.
We call for the community of Hanover Park to mobilise themselves and to report activities of crime and drugs to make life difficult for criminals to operate in their communities. I thank you.
PROBLEMS FACING THE SOL PLAATJIE MUNICIPALITY IN THE NORTHERN CAPE
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(Member’s Statement)
Mr S J MARAIS (DA): Chairperson, the Sol Plaatje Municipality is in shambles, like so many other ANC-run municipalities. It has been pushed to the edge of administrative dysfunction to what it appears to be corruption by the ANC officials.
The section 106 investigation has found a number of suspicious transactions. These includes Audi Q7 and a fleet of vehicles at the cost of more than R5,5 million, which were bought from a company which is not a recognised vehicle dealership.
The report reveals that chief financial officer was involved. The report was drawn up after the municipal manager and the chief financial officer, CFO, were suspended. There was a vote of no confidence in the mayor and he left.
The eleven rebel ANC councillors who voted with the opposition to elect the new mayor were suspended from the ANC, because they didn’t vote for the candidate approved by the ANC headquarters.
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The solution is simple. There must be lifestyle audit on all the officials who have been removed. The must be a full investigation of the municipality finances and the decedent ANC councillors and voter must realise that the only way to good government is to reject the ANC and elect the DA.
HOUSING AND LIVES OF BLACK PEOPLE IN SOUTH AFRICA
(Member Statement)
IsiZulu:
Nk M S KHAWULA (EFF): Ngiyabonga Sihlalo ngifuna ukwazi ukuthi uma kuthiwa kule Ndlu alufuneki ubandlululo. Yini eyenzeka laphaya ezweni lethu eNingizimu Afrika. Uma ubheka izindlu ezihlala abantu bakithi, impilo abayiphilayo emapulazini bayaxoshwa emhlabeni yokhokho babo, kumbiwe amathuna emindeni yabo. Kumanje kunamalunga omphakathi abulawa yibhunu eMadlanzini. Nisho kanjani ukuthi siyafana kodwa akukho noyedwa umlungu onukelwa yindle.
Lapha e-Cape Town eGugulethu, kwaLanga ... heyi wena uyaphapha. Nicabanga ukuthi siyakhohlwa kalula njengoba
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uMandela yena owaphuma ejele wangabanandaba nomuntu omnyama
... [Ubuwelewele.] njengoba namanje sizithola sikulesi simo esikuso senhlupheko. Abantu bakithi baxoshwa emisebenzini, bayathukwa babizwa ngawo wonke amagama. Abanye bahlaliswa nguhulumeni emijondolo ebizwa ngokuthi oLindela. Nalapho behlala khona bayanethwa yizimvula futhi bayahlupheka abanye bayasha. Kuyimanje njengoba ngikhuluma nje laphaya eThekwini kunemindeni ebihlala koLindela ikhishiwe uMeya wakhona uZandile Gumede. Njengoba ngikhuluma nawe le mindeni eyingama-
30 yabantu besifazane isihlala ehostela. Yingakho sithi siyi- EFF abantu abakhohlwe ukuvotela i-ANC manje, abavotele thina ngoba sizobakhombisa ukuthi kuphathwa kanjani. Sihlalo nawe sicela ulekelele.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon Member, your time has now expired. When your time is expired you must take your seat.
SOUTH AFRICA SUPPORTS ENDING OF CUBA EMBARGO
(Member’s Statement)
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Ms R M M LESOMA (ANC): Hon House Chairperson, South Africa reaffirms its continued support and solidarity with the Cuba by voting with other progressive countries in favour of the resolution calling for the end to the unilateral economic commercial and financial blockage. We thus, urge the USA government to reconsider its policies towards Cuba.
The ANC commends the United Nation, UN General Assembly for the overwhelming approval resolution condemning the American economic embargo of Cuba after rejecting the proposed United State of America, USA, amendment criticising the lack of human rights in Cuba on Thursday 1st November 2018 at the UN headquarters.
The USA has imposed the statutory embargo on Cuba for the past
56 years and the severe economic and financial restrictions under embargo continue to stifle the economic and social development of Cuba.
The current USA policy towards Cuba under President Donald Trump not only enforces, but intensifies the embargo which ignores the majority support of the international community to
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the lifting of the embargo and the normalisation of Cuba-USA relations. South Africa will continue supporting and stand in solidarity with Cuba for the removal of economic embargo against this country. I thank you, House Chair.
DIRE NEED OF SERVICES IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS
(Member’s Statement)
Mr K P SITHOLE (IFP): Hon Chairperson, it is not the secret that the state of public health in many parts of South Africa leaves a lot to be desired. However, a life need to be shown into a specific healthcare facilities in particular public hospital in greater parts of this country are in a dire needs of urgent attention from the government, one of such hospital in Ekombe Hospital in the Nkandla District Municipality. This hospital is quite a sizeable one as it service the areas of Ekudeni, Angono, Jokweni, Tulane, to name but a few.
The hospital is in deplorable state and is in dire needs of intervention from both provincial MEC and the national Ministers. That is the constant problem regarding this
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shortage of medication at this facility more often than no patients are left untreated due to these reasons.
The hospital also suffers a shortage of employees. There are not enough doctors and nurses to serve a massive number of patients. The doctor’s quotas are also in a very poor state. There is recurrence issues of nursing staff only being employed on a temporarily basis and have been there for fifteen years, yet externally permanent staff get hired in that hospital.
The road infrastructure leading up to the hospital, also ... [Time Expired.]
CHALLENGES FACING TRANSNET
(Member’s Statement)
Afrikaans:
Dr C P MULDER (FF PLUS): Agb Voorsitter, die feit dat daar geen skikking tussen Transnet en die Transnet-pensioenarisse gevind kon word nie en dat die hofsaak nou voortgaan, gaan
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groot probleme skep. Dit dui daarop dat Transnet geen morele kompas het om hulle beloftes teenoor hul bejaardes en verarmende ou werknemers, wat die instansie opgebou het, na te kom nie. Van menseregte is daar geen sprake nie.
Die aangestelde Transnet trustees van die pensioenfondse wat nie baklei vir hul mense nie, moet ook aangespreek word. Daar berus ’n morele plig op Transnet en die trustees om die pensioenarisse tegemoet te kom en beloftes van ’n goeie aftrede uit te voer.
Verder het Transnet en die trustees van die fondse, die hele land onderhewig gestel aan ’n groot risiko wat groot skade aan die eknomie kan veroorsaak. Tans is die pensioenarisse se eis teen Transnet se waarde meer as R100 miljard weens rente wat by die aanvanklike eis van R79 miljard oor die tyd gevoeg is. Dit kan die land se kredietgradering laat tuimel, rommelstatus veroorsaak en groot skade vir die ekonomie maak.
English:
Mr C P MULDER (FF PLUS): Given the dire prospect, we employ Transnet and the trustee of the funds to go back to the negotiation table and fix this mess.
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The Transnet pensioner possesses a leverage that can bring the country into dire stress. The responsibility they have to the old employees at Transnet and therefore, government needs to act immediately. You have a moral duty and the legal duty so. Stay away from the fraud case and settle this matter once for all.
BLACK TEACHER IN CAPE TOWN’S PRIVATE SCHOOL FORCED TO RESIGN
(Member’s Statement)
IsiZulu:
Nk N P NKONYENI (ANC): Ngiyabonga sihlalo, ngidlulisa lokhu - uKhongolose ushaqekile ngesenzo sobandlululo olunyanyisayo esenzeke esikoleni esikhona laphaya eKapa okuthiwa yi Rustenburg Junior School, lapho uthisha uNk Nozipho Mthembu bemxoshe ngenxa yebala lakhe esikoleni salabo abandlebezikhanya ilanga ngoba abanye abazali abamhlophe abafuni ukuthi izingane zabo zifundiswe uthisha onebala elimnyama.
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Uthisha uNozipho Mthembu wayefunda kuso lesisikole esimbandlululayo kumanje. Siyakuncoma ukuthi bakhona abanye abazali ababemeseka. Bamphoqile ukuthi ashiye esikoleni ngenxa yokuthi bamsola ngokuthi abamnyama abakwazi ukufundisa.
Usephuma esibhedlela ngenxa yokuthi ebephethwe yisifo sengcindezi nokuphatheka kabi. I-ANC iyalugxeka lolu bandlululo olwenziwa kwezinye zezikole zaseKapa. Sithi uMnyango weZemfundo lapha eNtshonakoloni mawuthathe izinyathelo. Abaphathi besikole abanobandlululo kanjalo nebhodi lesikole malimiswe ngokushesha. Siyaphakamisa. [Ihlombe.]
INDUSTRIAL PARK TO INSPIRE CONFIDENCE IN SA ECONOMY
(Member’s Statement)
Ms A TUCK (ANC): Chairperson, as the ANC we welcome the launch of the first phase of the revitalised R50 million industrial park held at the Phuthaditjhaba Multi-Purpose Centre in QwaQwa, in the Free State on Tuesday, 30 October 2018. The revitalisation of this industrial park, will seek to address
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the unemployment in that province and will increase investment.
The ANC urges the Free State Development Corporation to convince other small, medium and micro enterprises to consider setting up shop in the park, thereby helping to reduce the high rate of unemployment in the area. The black industrialists in the province should also seize the opportunities presented to them by the government.
Furthermore, it has been announced that R216 million has been set aside for the revitalisation of industrial parks and Phuthaditjhaba, is one of the five industrial parks that stand to benefit from the ongoing phases of revitalisation. This supports the ANC policy increasing the rollout of the economic zone incentives in support of job creation. This launch also follows the completion of the first phase of the Botshabelo Industrial Park in Free State. I thank you.
SEWERAGE SPILLS HOLTED GLEBELANDS HOSTELS IN KZN
(Member’s Statement)
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Mr R T HUGO (DA): Chairperson, the ANC government took a policy decision to convert hostels into family units more than twenty years ago. The hostel dwellers of Glebelands in KwaZulu-Natal hope for better living conditions from the ANC which came across as a caring government. Little did they know that four families would be sharing one room and a bath room twenty four years into democracy?
Little did they know that sewage spills will be a daily occurrence exposing their children to health hazards that at least one person is murdered on a weekly basis in that hostel? That the hostel has become a hiding place for criminals due to no records of hostel records. The broken windows and collapse roofs have not been fixed, since the storm that swept across KwaZulu-Natal in 2017.
The DA calls upon the ANC to stop playing lip service to service delivery and be brave enough to go face Glebelands Hostel and face the people it lied to. The ANC needs to introduce honest policing, regulatory controls and reconstruction. It needs to put money where its mouth is and
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give hostel residence hope for a better future, the DA as a party for all South African was there and engage Glebelands residence. We only wish the ANC will do the same. Thank you.
PSBC RULING ON SALARY UPGRADES FLOUTED BY LABOUR DEPARTMENT
(Member’s Statement)
Ms N V MENTE (EFF): House Chair, in 2012, the Public Sector Bargaining Council, PSBC, ruled that all those employed in the public service as assistant directors must have their salary level upgraded from level 9 to 10 and all deputy directors must have their salary level upgraded from level 11 to 12.
However, the Department of Labour decided to only upgrade the salaries of those employed before July 2012 therefore excluding many. In 2014 the PSBC reiterated its ruling but yet again the Department of Labour refused to comply and despite the department’s chief financial officer, CFO, and director- general approving the necessary upgrades and back payments in March this year, yet ‘til today, salaries have not been updated and back payments still have not been paid. As a
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result, the affected employees are frustrated, demoralised and discouraged and this will no doubt affect the ability of the department to deliver.
This is an embarrassment for the Department of Labour because it is failing its employees when it is meant to protect the rights of all labourers in the country. We call on the Minister of Labour to address this matter with urgency and comply with the ruling of the PSBC. It should also be noted that this problem is not only limited to the Department of Labour but to National Treasury as well. Thank you.
GAUTENG ROADS AND TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT OPENS UPGRADED D1944 ROAD NEAR RUST DER WINTER
(Member’s Statement)
Mr A M SEABI (ANC): Chair, the ANC commends the Gauteng provincial government on the recent official launch of the R158 million D1944 road project near the Rust der Winter and Mkhombo Nature Reserves, north-east of Tshwane. The 11,5 km
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tertiary road project entailed the full construction and upgrade of the road from a gravel to a tarred road.
This road infrastructure investment underpins the ANC-led government’s commitment to stimulating economic development and foster social integration in this region. The increased flow of goods and services along this route will assist in stimulating the local economy as well as integrating agricultural and tourism opportunities with transport corridors. The project shows the commitment by the ANC-led government to provide world-class road infrastructure, enabling new investments and unlocking potential for local and regional economic development. The upgraded road is expected to reduce travel times as well by allowing for the safe transportation of people, goods and services between Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. Thank you, Chair.
MUNICIPALITIES FAIL TO DELIVER SERVICES
(Member’s Statement)
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Mr L M NTSHAYISA (AIC): Chairperson, the poor spending on the grant allocation to municipalities and the noncompliance with the Municipal Finance Management Act and chief financial officers, CFOs that are not qualified for their positions are some of the reasons why many municipalities have failed to deliver services to the people.
In the Eastern Cape, more than 64% of municipalities have CFOs who do not qualify for their posts. In accordance with municipal regulations and the minimum competency levels, these CFOs should have been fired within 18 months of their appointments.
The requirements for the appointment of CFOs include, a minimum higher education qualification, work-related experience and core managerial and occupational competencies. There are two municipalities in the Eastern Cape, Sakhisizwe and Sundays River Valley, that did not submit their 2017-2018 financial statements to the auditor-general. And these CFOs should not be blamed alone; the municipal managers should also be blamed for this. The failure to submit financial statements is an offence. More than 50% of municipalities are in
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financial distress and many of these municipalities have incurred irregular expenditures. Thank you very much. [Time expired.]
RAMATLABAMA SIX-HUNDRED DUAL PURPOSE LIBRARY LAUNCHED IN NORTH WEST PROVINCE
(Member’s Statement)
Ms N ABRAHAM-NTANTISO (ANC): The ANC believes the recent official opening of the Ramatlabama Six-Hundred Dual Purpose Library in Batloung Baga Shole community in the North West will assist to instil the culture of reading and acquiring knowledge amongst the community. The library, which will be utilised by learners and community members at large will also have Internet connection and will also be able to be used by visually impaired residents.
The opening of the library is a reminder of the statement by Nelson Mandela when he declared that, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. The ANC commends the provincial government of the North West for
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this development in Batloung. We however call upon residents of this area to be vigilant and guard against the demolition of public amenities like libraries when raising community challenges. We need to jealously guard against the destruction of important community properties such as a library. The government is doing everything in its power to change the lives of our people and we need to unite and work together in this regard. Let us find progressive ways of raising our grievances and not destroy great legacies. I thank you Chair.
ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS AND PHYSICAL VIOLENCE
(Member’s Statement)
Ms G S A NGWENYA (DA): House Chairperson, there is a party of blood and brutality among us that only sees red. We have seen it in action in this House and this week we saw EFF members assaulting MPs and one of our Whips was assaulted. But the violence is not only reserved for us, in August, the City Press reported on the case of two female members of the EFF who had gone to court alleging physical abuse by male members of the EFF.
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A junior staff member in the North West has charged the party’s deputy chair in the province with threatening to assault and mutilate her. A similar event had happened in Limpopo; both victims say that their party did not take their issues seriously. Mr Shivambu was also famously seen manhandling a journalist. The EFF may not be a party of the equal opportunity economy but they are certainly a party of equal opportunity violence, MP or journalist, man or woman, we are all fair game. It stems from the attitude that individuals have no rights, no right to speak the truth, no right of not to be beaten up if you reveal the truth about the EFF’s fascist nature and its fatal attraction to other people’s money.
Nobody is safe. Sixty-Three percent of the EFF members who first sat on these benches at the start of the Fifth Parliament have been purged. The EFF must answer this, for South Africans, if they were to be in government will it purge and beat up citizens like it has done to the opposition and its own members? [Applause.]
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Ms N V MENTE: House Chairperson, on a point of order: I am rising on the use of the word “fascist” ... [Interjections.]
AN HON MEMBER: On what Rule?
Ms N V MENTE: Rule 92! [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order hon members!
Mr M WATERS: Chairperson, which Rule is this member standing on?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon members! Hon members, just calm down ... [Interjections.]
Mr M WATERS: What Rule is the member standing on?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): No, no. Hon Waters ... [Interjections.]
Ms N V MENTE: Will you just sit down Waters.
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Mr M WATERS: No, I won’t.
Ms N V MENTE: Sit down. Sit down. [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon Waters! Hon Waters, take your seat please.
Ms N V MENTE: You must open your ears.
Mr M WATERS: What Rule is the hon member standing on?
Ms N V MENTE: You must sit down ... [Interjections.] Argh! You Kohler-Barnard must just shut up. [Interjections.]
Mr M WATERS: What Rule is the hon member standing on?
AN HON MEMBER: Easy! Easy maqabane! [comrades] Easy!
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: What Rule? [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon members! Hon members! [Interjections.] Just, calm down.
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The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: No! There are different Rules for different people.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Just relax. The hon member is rising on a point of order ... [Interjections.]
Ms N V MENTE: And I said Rule 92.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): ... and it clearly states that the member may refer to the exact Rule or may state what the point of order is about.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Oh! [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): That is in the Rules hon ... [Interjections.] yes, just read the Rule. So ... [Interjections.] no, don’t shout at me, it won’t assist you. Don’t shout at me. Let’s maintain common decency and not shout at one another. What is the point of order hon member?
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Ms N V MENTE: Chair, the member of the DA just spoke about speculation and things that she doesn’t know about and lied to the House, misleading the House.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): That is not a point of order.
Ms N V MENTE: She must withdraw the word “fascist”.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Please take your seat.
Ms N V MENTE: We are not fascists. She must withdraw that, she’s from a racist party. [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Take your seat please.
Ms N V MENTE: You must sit with your racist party and stop calling us fascists. [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, take your seat. Take your seat. The reference has been made to a political party ... [Interjections.] will you take your seat
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hon Steenhuisen. ... and not to any specific member in the House so it is not a point of order. I want to remind members, in terns of Rule 92(3) – I want to read it to you very slowly so that you can listen carefully – the member raising a point of order must commence by quoting the exact Rule - and it doesn’t stop there - or standing order or at least the principle or subject matter upon which the point of order is based.
So, shouting and screaming “point of order” “which Rule?” is completely inconsistent with the Rules that you hon members have adopted and I will apply the Rules in that way and I will not be prescribed to and force any member to quote the exact Rule if that member does not have the exact Rule at hand but we’ll implement it in terms of the Rules that are here.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: House Chairperson, I have a point of order. I rise in terms of Rule 85 of the Rules you may not impute improper motives to a Member of Parliament, the hon member, hon Mente, said that the hon Ngwenya had lied.
That is unparliamentary and she must please withdraw that.
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The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Did you say that hon member? [Interjections.] I am asking the hon Mente, I am not asking you, hon member?
Ms N V MENTE: Now, I said the black member of the racist white DA must stop lying and misleading the country. [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): No hon member, you are out of order. Will you withdraw the remark?
Ms N V MENTE: She’s being used by white people while being a young black female but you go ahead at being used.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): No, you withdraw. Hon member, let’s not degenerate this now. You must withdraw the remark.
Ms N V MENTE: Unfortunately I won’t withdraw.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Then you must leave the House please. [Interjections.]
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Ms N V MENTE: I will not withdraw.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Will you leave the House.
Ms N V MENTE: White people using black people. [Interjections.]
Ms M S KHAWULA: Chairperson., I have a point of order.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): What is the point of order hon member?
Ms M S KHAWULA: Thank you very much Chairperson.
IsiZulu:
Nk M S KHAWULA: Bengifuna ukwazi ukuthi kwenzakalani nganele ngiphume ngiye emnyango nisale nihlukumeza izingane la.
Kwenzakalani bafowethu. [Ubuwelewele.]
English:
No, no, no, you mustn’t do these things. [Laughter.]
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The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): No hon member, you missed the action then.
Ms M S KHAWULA: No Chairperson, no.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): No hon member, there was a point of order that was taken and the hon member refused to withdraw the remark.
Ms M S KHAWULA: Can you explain to me as to what had happened when I was not here? [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): No, I am not going to do that. There will surely be a highlights package available later on TV and you can see that.
Ms M S KHAWULA: Okay, I will see you next week Tuesday. I need an answer.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Thank you.
CONGRATULATIONS TO DEMOCRATS ON MIDTERM RESULTS
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(Member’s Statement)
Mr M U KALAKO (ANC): The ANC congratulates the Democrats’ victory in the House of Representatives in the mid-term elections in the US held on Wednesday, 7 November 2018 and more so the victory for women as 99 women were elected to the House and recorded the highest number of women ever elected before. This number surpassed the previous record of 84 in the past elections.
The ANC believes that this victory signals the dissatisfaction and the rejection of the US citizens of unprogressive especially the foreign policy founded on aggression, anti- immigration and anti-multilateralism, the pursuit of trade and tariff wars in the quest to make the US great again.
The ANC hopes that the Democrats will use the power that they have recently acquired in the House of Representatives in a positive way by restoring checks and balances in president Trump’s administration. The ANC is of the view that the Democrats will usher the US into contributing positively to
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the world agenda of building a better world order characterised by respect for multilateralism, world peace, free-trade and stability, global partnerships geared at eradicating global poverty and the realisation of a more equitable global economic system. [Time expired.]
BLACK TEACHER FORCED TO RESIGN
(Minister’s Response)
The MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: Hon Chair, there are several statements that talk about racism and are taking the African National Congress government. There is a statement that talks about distraction of property. I just want to make this comment that we are reaping the bitter sweet fruits of the democratic success of our country. That is what is happening here because hon members who are saying all of these things - just can imagine - most of us know you would never be here. They are speaking here in the National Assembly of the Parliament of the Democratic Republic of South Africa. Yet, they stand with some kind of courage to attack even Nelson Mandela.
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I’m talking about those members on the other side who were enjoying the fruits of our democracy, when they look at the legacy of apartheid because the bitter one of the fruits is the enduring legacy of apartheid. That is exactly the major success of the African National Congress government. The African National Congress has made us to be here, all of us. It took the National Party government, how many years did it take, brutal as it was. We are a democratic government that is qualitatively different from what the racist apartheid government was. [Applause.]
We should make sure that Afrikaners particularly and whites in general in this country enjoyed freedom. Was the African people in particular and black people in general were living in squalor and that is what is happening today. Look at what is happening in the Vaal ... I wish I could make that point. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
BLACK TEACHER FORCED TO RESIGN HOUSING AND LIVES OF BLACK PEOPLE
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(Minister’s Response)
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Hon House
Chair, unfortunately those who raised these issues have chosen to left. However, nonetheless the answer to the question follows up from what Minister Gugile Nkwinti has said that racism, eviction of people from farms, desecrating of graze and all things are not necessary in our country. We need to ensure that our people live in harmony and for that to happen we should respect the rights of farm workers. If we are to deal with the legacy of racism and apartheid we need to understand where we come from. Even those who try to deny that they ever lived in a segregation society of South Africa by the apartheid regime because today everybody is like an angel that nobody lived during that period should shame themselves when they see these things happening.
They believe that even the way we deal with each other in this House reflects of the need for us to grow up and regard each other as human being. We are deployed to this Parliament by our people. They want to see in us dignity and where we deal with each other. I think that opposite site should have a time to talk to each other because they share some of the platform
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in some of the municipalities. I wonder why they come and fight in Parliament. Thank you, Chairperson. [Applause.]
TRANSNET PENSIONS
(Minister’s Response)
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF MINERAL RESOURCES: Hon House Chair, we
note the statement by hon Mulder on the Transnet pensions and the court cases that ensue. Clearly his appeal we hear what he’s saying and we will do follow up on the matter because no pensioner is supposed to be subjected to long court processes. We do know that within the provident and pension schemes in general, there is a bigger problem of unclaimed benefits delay in payments. The financial services board is sitting with
R45 billion of unclaimed benefits which include some of the pensions and provident funds - the bulk of it also being for mineworkers and ex-mineworkers.
Therefore, we have looked into these matters in general and try to look into some integrated one stop service of these benefits that are unclaimed. We do know that even with those
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there are teachers, nurses and police, men and women who are still sitting with this. We are sitting with a huge level of poverty whilst there are billions of people who are supposed to benefit from this.
On the DA motion that is raised about the Glebelands residence and squalor that is there we do know that. obviously, as a country we have also done very well in other areas where we have converted hostels into family units including also in the mining sector where a lot of families are in decent human settlements. However, having said that we do acknowledge that we need to do better and we are going to continue to do that. But, the DA must also not talk, in Gugulethu, Kwa-Langa, we have a lot of squalor in those hostels as well that are converted. Therefore, don’t just rush to KwaZulu-Natal whilst your house is burning right here where you are governing.
Lastly ... thank you very much. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
LAUNCH OF ANTIGANG UNIT
(Minister’s Response)
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The DEPUTY MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND REFORM: Hon
House Chair, on the statement made by the ANC on the launch of the antigang unit, people would appreciate that there were huge, huge banners from the people of Hanover Park and there were all written: “Thank you President Ramaphosa.” This was a cry from people who have - for many, many years - been suffering from crime. They have been suffering instead of getting protection; the provincial government of the Democratic Alliance has been making wild noise about bringing in the Defence Force which has been a clear vote of no confidence by the DA government on the SA Police Service, SAPS. [Applause.]
Instead of behaving like the DA provincial government, Minister Bheki Cele has rolled up his sleeves indicated that the people of Hanover Park are people of South Africa. The people of Hanover Park have been noting those people who during elections rush to them and ask for their votes but stand aside instead of protecting them. The antigang unit is welcome. South African government is part, Hangover Park is part of South Africa and Minister Cele and the ANC government
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will ensure that the people of Hanover Park are safe. Thank you. [Applause.]
INDUSTRIAL PARK INSPIRES CONFIDENCE IN SOUTH AFRICAN ECONOMY
(Minister’s Response)
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Hon House Chair,
the Free State is in the radar screen of the national government because the Free State in itself has got within the economic profile of all provinces is the one that is actually a little bit lower, but in that area what we have realised is that there is a lot of vibrant small, medium and micro-sized enterprises, SMMEs, and co-operatives that are energetic that are able to identify opportunities in various areas. The province has given us five areas of work that we must work on that they have identified as their economic drive. The President was there interacting with the people, just recently on Monday. The communities have pointed out areas in which we should actually be assisting them.
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Therefore, the opening of the Phuthaditjhaba Industrial Park as one of the 11 is answering the outcry that is being raised by these SMMEs and co-operatives on the need for work places that they can actually work in, in terms of their own initiatives. These 11 identified industrial parks on average each one is to employ 5 000 people. It must be welcomed. It is actually a welcome opportunity and all of us should be supporting these initiatives because it is going to take us a step forward and more and more from the province have been identified that they are going to actually build on to allow more and more SMMEs to assist us to develop here. Thank you very much, Chair. [Applause.]
DIRE NEEDS OF SERVICE HOSPITAL
(Minister’s Response)
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF TRANSPORT: Hon House Chair, we note the statement made by the member of the IFP on the Ekombe Hospital. Maybe to mention that we do take note of the fact that he says that there is lack of treatment in the hospital. However, I must indicate that all senior management positions
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in that hospital are filled by relevant people and experience people. The nursing service manager is an experience nurse, the chief executive officer, CEO, is a doctor, the clinical manager is a doctor and the finance person is appointed.
Therefore, you have top management being appointed at the hospital.
I must further mention that this, indeed, the hospital that is located in the deep rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal and very old. It is established in 1876 as a Lutheran Church Mission Hospital and it was only handed to KwaZulu-Natal in 1976. Of course, in 1994 it was renovated. We take into account all issues that have been raised. But, I think that also this hospital recently was accredited for infection control, and you cannot as a hospital be accredited for infection control if you don’t have the resources for doing so and for controlling infection. I thank you.
In fact, lastly, I think on the matter related to women abuse, I think that it is important that we start by referring to the abuse of Mayor De Lille, then point fingers at other people. [Applause.]
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NOTICES OF MOTION
Mr A M SEABI: House Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That this House debates the active steps to achieve accelerated economic growth to avoid further downgrades of South Africa’s credit rating and the regaining of an investment grade. Thank you.
Mr M WATERS: House Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting of the House I shall move on behalf of the DA:
That this House debates the role of Venezuela’s socialist policies in creating what is arguably one of the world’s worst human caused humanitarian and economic declines in recent times and the lessons that South Africa can learn from these failures. I thank you.
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Ms N ABRAHAM-NTANTISO: House Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That this House debates strengthening the oversight mechanisms on state-owned enterprises, SOEs, to ensure that this sector is properly managed and monitored. I thank you.
Ms L L VAN DER MERWE: House Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting of the House I shall move on behalf of the IFP:
That this House debates the unacceptable and inadequate funding model of the Department of Social Development as it pertains to shelters for women and children who are victims of abuse going severely and critically under funded. I so move.
Mr S C MNCWABE: House Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting of the House I shall move on behalf of the NFP:
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That this House debates the ever increasing number of the unemployed graduates in this country. I thank you.
Ms N P NKONYENI: House Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That this House debates the introduction of a worker empowerment component in the policy framework to massify share-ownership among workers and to provide for worker representatives sitting on the boards of companies. I so move.
Ms C N MAJEKE: House Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting of the House I shall move on behalf of the UDM:
That this House debates the state of violence in schools and how they affect teaching and learning processes.
Ms A TUCK: House Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting of the House I shall move on behalf of the DA:
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That this House –
notes that after 12 main entities subdivisions in rail, road, aviation and maritime, 36 board positions are vacant;
further notes that even more disturbing is the concerning new trend of the establishment of so-called interim boards which undermine due process and legal requirements; and
debates the reason for the deliberate clambering of boards within the transport sector’s national structures. I so move.
Ms X S TOM: House Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That this House debates improvement in the uptake of science, technology and innovation output within government or public sector.
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Mr S N SWART: House Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting of the House I shall move on behalf of the ACDP:
That this House debates the implications of Chief Justice Mogoemogoeng’s statement in the My Vote Counts judgment that “every adult citizen may in terms of the Constitution stand as an independent candidate to be elected to the municipalities, provincial legislatures or national assembly.”
IsiXhosa:
Nks X S TOM: Sihlalo weNdlu ohloniphekileyo, ndenza isaziso sokuba xa le Ndlu ihlala kwakhona, ndiza kwenza isiphakamiso egameni le-ANC:
Sokuba le Ndlu ixoxe ngokubonakaliswa kwe-Agenda 2063 yeManyano yamazwe e-Afrika yokuqhubela phambili impumelelo ye-Afrika enoxolo nekhokelwe ngabantu abazingcaphephe kwimiba yomhlaba. Enkosi.
Mr L NTSHAYISA: House Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting of the House I shall move on behalf of the AIC:
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That this House debates whether South African Airways should be closed down or not. This is a matter of do or die; to be or not to be.
Mr J J MAAKE: House Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That this House debates the preservation of indigenous cultures and knowledge systems. I so move.
Ms J STEENKAMP: House Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting of the House I shall move on behalf of the DA:
That this House debates the establishment of a social protection floor and the relevance of the United Nations’ Economic and Social Council recommendation that South Africa considers the possibility of introducing a basic income grant, echoing one of the proposals made in the early 2000s by the committee of enquiry into a comprehensive social security system for South Africa. I so move.
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The House adjourned at 17:12.