Hansard: NCOP: Unrevised Hansard
House: National Council of Provinces
Date of Meeting: 28 Feb 2019
Summary
No summary available.
Minutes
THURSDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2019
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
The Council met at 14:02.
The Deputy Chairperson took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or meditation.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: We’ll get straight to the orders of the day. The Secretary will read the first order.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE NCOP: Chair I just wanted to say we need to ascertain whether all members have found their way here because there was a little bit of a communication breakdown just in a minute’s time
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: I will the rely on the Whipery to assist with that regard.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A J Nyambi): Chair, I can confirm that the confusion was created. There was communication that we’ll be in our Chamber and the Chairperson even yesterday indicated as such so even today Mam Dlamini and Mam Zwane I saved them they went to our Chamber. If we can task the Chief Whip to go there and get the other members that might be in our chamber as we know that this is not our chamber. It’s an arrangement because they still busy with renovations in our chamber.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Before we proceed, can I take advice?
BUSINESS SUSPENDED FOR FIVE MINUTES
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Don’t be traumatised it’s just procedure.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE NCOP: Thank you very much for consideration Deputy Chair. I was also informed that the bells cannot ring on that other side of the House due to construction disruptions. Thank you very much and my apologies for the slight delay.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF TAKING PARLIAMENT TO THE PEOPLE, GAUTENG MAIN VISIT: 19 TO 22 NOVEMBER 2018
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Deputy Chairperson, hon members, ladies and gentlemen, 29 years ago in February Nelson Mandela took the first free steps out of prison and began to work and to walk to integrate South Africa towards nationhood. Suddenly the words liberation and sovereignty were no longer treasonous, the words nation, people and freedom were no longer far an aspirational. We began to work towards services common to all our people. The Freedon Charter stopped being what Madiba described as a mixture of practical goals and poetic language. Every man and every woman in South Africa felt counted but, of course we know that, that did not automatically mean all South Africans were equal.
We know that the demographic barriers, social chains, the language, religious and cultural realities of the past 300 years of inequality remained even as we inaugurated the first democratically elected President of South Africa.
The people shall govern, was possible we said. So, our programme of Taking Parliament to the People is a direct response by Parliament towards the inclusive and participatory government of the people
that gives voice to the voiceless within our electorate. Our decision to review this programme in 2014 was meant to sharpen the voice of the public and to give ourselves the courage to tackle societal matters that we would necessarily not have had on our programmes. We then adopted the sector approach while still being open to any other business that the public might want to put before us.
Hon member we’ll remember that we had our pre-visit to Gauteng from the 17th to the 21st of September 2018 following our research and desktop study which we had started conducting in early 2017. In November we visited the province and verified our research on the Gauteng Province. This report reflects on the sites we visited during both the pre-visit and the main Taking Parliament to the People.
This report captures the views of the people on many issues that affect them. Many people spoke to us. They raised concerns which ranged from the quality of education and the facilities of learning, from sanitation to water, housing, equality of housing, clinics and the crimes and scams within the service delivery chain. The people spoke out on the crimes, they did not spare the police nor did they spare the home affairs. They were quite forthright about what they
thought about us as politicians and they were also quite forthright about our public service. The discussions on the movements of South Africans across the provinces shed light on their perception on quality of services in the different spaces. This actually talks to the human and material resources which are deployed within these provinces and in particular within Gauteng.
We had commitments from the executives from local, to province, to national government. We held public hearings on education, health, safety and security of infrastructure and human settlements. We had inputs on economic growth and research. We visited various sites of service delivery in Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni Metro as well as the Westrand in the Motsweding District.
Throngs of people of Gauteng attended our programme. Chair, we are very proud to say that the commitments of members of this House, some members of the NA, member of the provincial legislatures and various councillors, mayors and speakers who worked with us throughout this very difficult period. We have learned a lot from this period. We get immensed in this programme, in the lives of those who have sent us here. We are driven to push forward for the integration of different races, languages and beliefs in South Africa.
Taking Parliament to the people both in Gauteng and elsewhere, brought to our attention certain matters which include the fact that Gauteng has been able to deliver and is usually considered to be the main driver population changes. Migration continues to be significant, not only demographically but also politically, economically and socially. Statistics South Africa report shows that South Africa is estimated to receive a net immigration of 1.02 million people between 2016 and 2021. Some of the challenges which are faced by the Gauteng Province are that the public held system services almost three times the number of people it serviced in 1994, a growth of 7 million to which is a growth from 7 million to about 20 million per annum.
The number of learners in the public education system grew from 1.2 in 1994 to 2.3 in 2018. Urban poverty is acute with close to 20% of residents experiencing food insecurity leading to increase in city slums. Crime, unemployment and the use of illicit drugs are the top three various concerns for the Gauteng residents. Education health and housing delivery is under pressure due to immigration and rapid urbanisation. The housing back log remains at 1 million people and 30% of the people who use the public health service are patients from the Sadaq region. Some of the consequences of migration for Gauteng highlighted during the Taking Parliament to the People
public hearings and sites visits includes the influx of workers in urban areas, increases the competition for jobs, house, educational facilities and other services. Having a large population puts pressure on the natural resources. The children of the migrants grow up in poverty and have little or no access to proper nutrition, education or health. Migrations surges can increase slum areas in cities and may increase many problems such as health, crime and pollution etc. I thank you Chair.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Thank you very much hon Chair. I should have started by warning members that we don’t have the luxury of the monitors like in our House, so, there might be an inconvenience with that sound
Ms L C DLAMINI: Deputy Chairperson, I’m not going to greet everyone. Let me take this opportunity to congratulate the Gauteng province on their successful joint programme on Taking Parliament to the People from 19 to 23 November 2018. It proves that the ANC has nothing to hide. We are very open. Where we are lacking, we are prepared to deal with the issues.
As we know, the Taking Parliament to the People programme looks at unlocking the inefficiencies of service delivery. The focus was on
the impact of migration on service delivery in the various key sectors, through site visits and public meetings across the Gauteng province.
As we debate, we should take note of the fact that South Africa is one country. Therefore, Gauteng serves as the nerve centre of our country, in that most people migrate to Gauteng looking for greener pastures. As an economic hub, Gauteng is the preferred destination for many people looking for greener pastures. Over the years, Gauteng’s in-migration and rapid urbanisation is distinct and incomparable to any province in the country. Since 1996, the population in Gauteng has grown from almost 7,8 million to
14 million, as the Chairperson has indicated.
This has both a positive and a negative impact. On the positive side, it increases the revenue of Gauteng. The skills base, or personnel, is in abundance in Gauteng. In addition, our health facilities are used as referrals for Africa, thus increasing revenue coming into Gauteng.
However, it also has a budding negative impact, in the sense that those people who are coming to Gauteng from different provinces within the country and from outside the country come to Gauteng
without a budget, and they are not budgeted for. This therefore puts pressure on health facilities in Gauteng.
The ANC’s vision for health in South Africa is founded on its National Health Plan of 1994. The plan states that the approach to primary health care should be founded on the five guiding principles: political will; accountability and community participation; social and economic justice; changing the medical culture; and providing the best possible care. This approach to health care in South Africa becomes essential in the context of upholding the value of promoting and preserving life.
The ANC is conscious of the fact that the Life Esidimeni tragedy represents the opposite of what the ANC-led government is all about. Once this heartbreaking tragedy happened, the Gauteng government took responsibility and put in place corrective measures and fully implemented the recommendations of the Health Ombud, Prof Makgoba. [Interjections.] Currently, the province is working with the Office of the Master of the High Court to ensure that the new set of claimants, who came forward after the awards by Justice Moseneke, are also paid. As the Premier announced in his state of the province address earlier this year, an amicable solution has been reached
between the government, the Master’s Office and the affected families, and this will ...
Mr F ESSACK: Deputy Speaker, on a point of order: With all due respect, the member at the podium is misleading South Africans, because the Esidimeni matter has still not been settled and the promises that were made have still not been fulfilled. So, she is misleading South Africans.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Essack, that is not a point of order because you are now engaging in debate. Please continue, hon Dlamini.
Ms L C DLAMINI: ... the remaining claims are settled speedily, as we did with the first ones.
Ms T J MOKWELE: Deputy Chair, on a point of order: The hon Essack is en pointe because the hon Dlamini is misleading South Africans. It is in the public domain that the issue of Esidimeni has not yet been settled. So, I am appealing to you, as the Chair ...
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Mokwele ... hon Mokwele ...
Ms T J MOKWELE: Listen, let me finish. So, I appeal to you to make the speaker on the floor withdraw that.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Mokwele, you are extremely out of order, in the sense that I have made a ruling on the matter. I don’t know why you want to continue with a debate on a matter that is out of order. That point is out of order because it is not a point of order and I have made a ruling. Hon Dlamini, continue with the debate.
Ms L C DLAMINI: Thank you very much, Deputy Chair. They must listen.
Despite these challenges, the ANC-run province of Gauteng continues to be a leader ...
Ms T J MOKWELE: Again, on a point of order, Chair ...
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Is that on the same matter? Hon Mokwele ...
Ms T J MOKWELE: No, it’s on what the hon Dlamini ...
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: No, no, no, I still have the floor. Hon Dlamini, can you take your seat? Is it on the same point?
Ms T J MOKWELE: It’s on what the hon Dlamini has just ...
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: No. Is it on the same point, hon Mokwele?
Ms T J MOKWELE: It’s on what the hon Dlamini has just said now.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: What did she say?
Ms T J MOKWELE: That we are not listening. We have heard her and ...
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: No. Hon Mokwele, I think the hon Dlamini was addressing me, because she said “you”. Therefore ...
Ms T J MOKWELE: No, no, no.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: No, no, no.
Ms T J MOKWELE: No, don’t ...
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Can I just explain something to you?
Ms T J MOKWELE: Hayi, Chair. Don’t do that!
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: No. Can I explain something to you? [Interjections.] Any member in the House addresses the House through the Chair, and if she says, “May you please listen?” ... if I heard correctly, it’s me ... [Interjections.] ... and I didn’t take offence at that. Hon Dlamini, can you continue, please?
Ms T J MOKWELE: Hayi, Chair. Don’t do that. On a point of order ...
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Mokwele, please avoid engaging in a debate with me.
Ms T J MOKWELE: No, I’m not engaging with you because you will end up running this House in an unruly fashion, so ...
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Mokwele, can you please take your seat?
Ms T J MOKWELE: ... I’m requesting that ...
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Mokwele, can you please take your seat?
Ms T J MOKWELE: ... I’m requesting that ... ai, Chair!
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Dlamini, can you continue?
Ms L C DLAMINI: Despite the challenges, the ANC-run province of Gauteng continues to be the leader in primary health care. It has the highest number of clinics – 75%, to be specific – that meet the highest national core standards on ideal clinics. [Interjections.] These clinics are clean, opened on time, and well run. They have reduced waiting times and have high rates of medicine availability. [Interjections.] This is crucial in preparation for the introduction of national health insurance.
To date, the Gauteng public health system has served 20 million health care users, per annum, compared to 7 million, in 1994. The built environment of the province has changed profoundly as a result of the scale of investment in the socioeconomic infrastructure and hospitals. It is encouraging that Gauteng has managed to build seven new hospitals and 40 new clinics and community health centres.
According to the Premier, access to basic services is much higher than it was in 1994. To date, formal dwelling is at 81%; piped water, 91%; electricity, 92%; sanitation, 91%; and refuse removal, 83%. This is a great achievement, compared to what it was in 1994.
Gauteng’s infrastructure development programme has managed to provide basic social services, such as 1,2 million government- subsidised houses; 335 new schools; and upgrading water and sanitation infrastructure. It is also encouraging to note that formal dwelling has increased.
Due to in-migration and urbanisation, the size of public education has almost doubled. In 1994, Gauteng had 1,2 million learners. In 2018, it had about 2,3 million. Gauteng has immensely improved the performance of township schools and is ranked among the top two performers in Grade 12, as a result.
Setswana:
Moh T J MOKWELE: Ke ne ke batla go tlhola gore a sebui se ka kgona go araba potso.
English:
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Dlamini, are you prepared to take a question?
Ms L C DLAMINI: Outside, Chairperson, outside. [Interjections.] Gauteng has improved the performance of township schools tremendously and it is in second place in terms of Grade 12 results.
Gauteng provides for 1,1 million learners with meals on a daily basis, through the school nutrition programme. It is worth mentioning that Gauteng has also provided 1,2 million girl learners with dignity packs, and 500 000 learners from poor households with uniforms, as the Premier said.
Mr M M CHABANGU: Deputy Chair, I rise on a point of order: The hon member is misleading the nation. Gauteng got first place, not second, with regard to education. Thank you. [Interjections.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Is that what you said, hon Dlamini? [Interjections.] Can I give the hon Dlamini an opportunity to correct that? Hon Dlamini?
Ms L C DLAMINI: Yes, yes, yes, Deputy Chairperson. Yes.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Thank you very much.
Mr M KHAWULA: Deputy Chairperson, on a point of clarity: Is the hon Chabangu correcting the hon Mokwele or the hon Dlamini? I am confused. [Laughter.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: No, that’s not a point of order. We know what has happened. [Interjections.] Hon Dlamini, can you continue with the debate?
Ms L C DLAMINI: To date, 30 community health care centres in the province operate on a 24-hour basis. In 2017, 160 ambulances were purchased. However, there were no funds for paramedics. Funds have now been raised and the vacant posts for paramedics will be filled.
As much as we appreciate the achievements made by the province, with all the constraints, as mentioned earlier, in terms of service delivery to the people of Gauteng, there are still challenges that need to be addressed. During the NCOP in loco visit and interaction with the stakeholders, we observed some challenges in our public health facilities. A case in point is the Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital, which was upgraded to a tertiary hospital in 2012. However, the hospital is not yet offering all the tertiary
services of a fully-fledged tertiary hospital. The hospital is old, with old infrastructure and dolomitic conditions that restrict renovations. These challenges should be addressed. These issues were raised by the hospital management.
During the public hearings, someone by the name of Lerato Masogane reported that in Ward 40, they do not have a clinic. They have to walk about 8km to access health facilities. We say therefore that the province must look into that and make sure that those people are provided with health facilities.
The Department of Social Development should respond to the challenges that are facing Aganang, a nonprofit organisation that provides home-based care services for sick people and support for their vulnerable families. This facility has challenges ranging from a lack of security and transport to proper infrastructure.
In summary, people of Gauteng said to us they need more access to health facilities and that staff attitudes have to change. The issue of long queues in other facilities has to be dealt with. The question of infrastructure should be addressed.
It was also indicated that urban poverty is more acute, with close to 20% of Gauteng’s residents experiencing insecurity. As a result, the provincial government has adopted a food security project. Thank you very much, Deputy Chair. [Time expired.]
Ms B A ENGELBRECHT: Hon Deputy Chairperson, in 1886 gold was discovered in Gauteng, this gold rush ushered in an era of hope and fulfilled many dreams. Gauteng should be the golden opportunity province, alive with possibilities, where people can dream of opportunities and a promise of a better future. Yet, this government has stolen this dream through their corruption, cronyism and mismanagement of this beautiful province. I would begin by offering my deepest condolences ... [Interjections.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Order! Order, hon members!
Ms B A ENGELBRECHT: I would begin by offering my deepest condolences to the family, friends and teachers at Hoërskool Driehoek where three young boys and one young girl were killed earlier this month when a concrete slab linking two school buildings came crashing down on 26 pupils. One of the deceased students was a star athlete and had a bright future ahead of him. A young girl of 13 fractured her hip, her liver and her stomach wall was torn, leading to intense
internal bleeding and head injuries. A young pupil of 14 suffered a ruptured spine and spinal cord with head injuries. She survived but will be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. More than 10 pupils are still recovering in hospital from their various injuries. This is not the dream they deserved, but is the price our families and children must pay because the Gauteng Department of Education yearly fails to spend its infrastructure budget.
Taking over Johannesburg and Pretoria from the failing ANC, there were no maintenance plans in place with much of the infrastructure on the brink of collapse. It is this ANC that has allowed the cancer of corruption to kill the dream of Gauteng ... [Interjections.]
Ms T J MOKWELE: On a point of order, Deputy Chair. Thank you very much. I think there was a ruling late last year about the DA controlling Johannesburg and Tshwane. Therefore, it must not be said again in this ... [Interjections.] ... keep quiet, wena [you.] You must keep quiet. Keep quiet; I’m not talking to you. Keep quiet.
Keep quiet; I’m not talking to you.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Mokwele, can you address me, please.
Ms T J MOKWELE: So, I will appeal that the hon member ... [Interjections.] ... keep quiet, wena [you] white boy. Keep quiet.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Mokwele, can you please address me.
Ms T J MOKWELE: It must be corrected that hon Engelbrecht must not mislead South Africa; they are not in control of Johannesburg and Tshwane. They are not ... [Interjections.] ... you are not.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon members, can I just respond to that quickly.
Ms T J MOKWELE: You must keep quiet, chief ... [Interjections.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Mokwele, may you please stop pointing or using your finger to refer to other members who are honourable in this House. The second issue is that, what hon Mokwele raised, yes, it is true that it was raised. I can remember that I was preceding that day and we agreed as a House that it is a matter that belongs to the two parties because as a House we are not involved in how Tshwane is being governed and all that, but it is the two parties that must sort out their own issues. Do not drag the
House now to debate whether if hon Engelbrecht is correct or not. So, please, I’m appealing again to the House and especially to members of the EFF and members of the DA, may you please not bring such matters to then drag and reduce a sitting or such strategic debate to be debating if it is related to who governs what.
Ms T J MOKWELE: May I address you, Chair ... [Interjections.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: I thought that I was ruling on the matter and by so doing ... [Interjections.]
MS T J MOKWELE: Jaa, may I be given an opportunity to address you?
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: By so doing ... can you take your seat, hon Mokwele? By so doing I was just reminding the House
... [Interjections.] ... Hon Mokwele, I was just reminding the House of the ruling of that day. May we stick to that? Hon Engelbrecht, can you continue with the debate.
Ms B A ENGELBRECHT: Deputy Chair, let me share with you the DA’s dream, of the 172 O00 jobs created in Gauteng during the fourth quarter of last year, 94% were created in the DA-governed Johannesburg and Tshwane. We achieved this by creating an
environment for people to prosper by rooting out corruption, building investor confidence, revitalising our inner cities, and attracting direct investment - resulting in R12,49 billion investment in Tshwane and Johannesburg. The DA ... [Interjections.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Engelbrecht! Hon Mokwele, on what point are you rising?
Ms T J MOKWELE: I don’t work with your rules; I work with your rules of the ... [Interjections.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Mokwele can you please stick to one thing, address me ... [Interjections.]
Ms T J MOKWELE: You must tell them to stop ... [Interjections.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Address me.
Ms T J MOKWELE: But tell them to stop, okay ... [Interjections.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Mokwele, can you take your seat. Let me just address you one thing. Can you just take your seat? You see, hon members, we have tried on many occasions as
presiding officers to warn members when debating. The minute you then get fall into a trap of addressing another member directly, the temptation is that you are going to ... the result is that you are going to get a response. Therefore, avoid doing that and stick to the rule by addressing the House through the Chair or the officer presiding. Can you concentrate on that, hon Mokwele?
Ms T J MOKWELE: That is exactly what I’m doing, but again to be provoked, especially by white people, I cannot allow it ... [Interjections.]
An HON MEMBER: You are racist.
Ms T J MOKWELE: Yes. What is your problem? So, I’m saying to you, Chair, let me address you. Leave them; we are going to deal with their whiteness.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Mokwele, can you address me.
Ms T J MOKWELE: Yes, I’m addressing you, Deputy Chair, and I’m saying that they must go back the DA ... [Interjections.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: I don’t know why you are speaking because I’m still ... hon Mokwele, just hold. I’m still waiting and I’m still talking ... [Interjections.]
Ms T J MOKWELE: You can’t see a black person being a racist ... [Interjections.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: ... can you just take your seat.
An HON MEMBER: ... [Inaudible.] ... point of order.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: I don’t understand what point was that, therefore, I can’t make a ruling on it. What point are you rising, hon member?
Ms T J MOKWELE: I’m saying that the speaker on the floor is ... [Interjections.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: No, no, I’m not recognising you. I’m recognising another member.
Ms T J MOKWELE: Oh, you are not recognising me.
Mr F ESSACK: Deputy Chairperson, I would just like to address you and inquire from you. Are you going to allow yourself to be abused to this level by this hon member, or are you really going to apply the rules and take a stand? That is all I would like to know.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Member, I made a ruling on the matter, therefore, I won’t engage on that. Can you continue, hon Engelbrecht.
Ms B A ENGELBRECHT: The DA will stimulate our economy by providing policy certainty ... [Interjections.]
Mr G MICHALAKIS: Thank you, hon Deputy Chairperson. My apologies to my colleague, but the hon member from the EFF was just recently - just now two minutes ago – bluntly racist. I really need your ruling on this. Thank you.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Racist in terms of?
An HON MEMBER: White people.
Mr G MICHALAKIS: By deliberately saying that she will not ... [Interjections.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Mokwele, let’s just be serious now and respect the House. There is nothing wrong. The Constitution of the Republic recognises the diversity of our society. However, by referring to an hon member in this House in an official sitting as a white people. Can you please just withdraw that?
Ms T J MOKWELE: Deputy Chair, yes.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Thank you very much. Hon Engelbrecht ... [Interjections.]
Ms T J MOKWELE: Deputy Chair, on a point of order.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: No, no, I have not recognised you for any other thing.
Ms T J MOKWELE: But, I’m ... [Interjections.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: No, hon Mokwele, I have not recognised you for any other thing. Hon Engelbrecht, can you continue with the debate.
Ms B A ENGELBRECHT: The DA will stimulate our economy by providing policy certainty and direction for growth and by ensuring ... [Interjections.]
Ms T J MOKWELE: On a point of order, Deputy Chair. Earlier I rose here trying to alert you that hon Engelbrecht is misleading the House and South Africa because most progressive decisions that Tshwane and Johannesburg are taken is on record that the mayors of Tshwane and Johannesburg have highlighted that it is because of the motions raised by the EFF. Therefore, it cannot be that you take the glory of that. It is our glory, programme of action.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon members, two members are on their feet and I don’t know why. Can you please just take your seats? Hon members, I’m not just going to allow this as a matter that we will continuously debate in the House. I’ve made a ruling on the issue.
Mr F ESSACK: You are allowing yourself to be abused.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: No, no, well that is your own view. Hon members, I am not going to allow this issue to come up again. Please, I’m appealing to the House. Let it not be raised
again, in whatever forms because there is a ruling on the matter. If you are not satisfied with the ruling, I would then be left with no other options but to really act now on members who are deliberately now derailing the progress of the sitting. Hon Engelbrecht, can you continue.
Ms B A ENGELBRECHT: Deputy Chair, I trust my time will not be affected by these disruptions. The DA will stimulate our economy by providing policy certainty and direction for growth and by ensuring a job in every home. The DA will eradicate employment corruption and ensure labour unions protect the interests of their workers, and not just their pals.
Under a DA government, we will root out corruption and send corrupt officials and politicians to jail for 15 years. The DA has a plan to stimulate the manufacturing industry and unleashing small business growth, creating job opportunities. We will introduce a jobseeker’s allowance for the jobless youth and unveil a job centres project.
For small businesses, we will provide funding and reduce the red tape, implementing a tax amnesty and exempt them from certain labour and black economic empowerment, BEE, laws, making them more competitive in creating thousands of jobs. These workers, however, will need an effective cheap transport system, yet the ANC-led
Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, Prasa, is unable to provide a timely service and cannot maintain the train infrastructure. The ones who suffer are the commuters, who are constantly late for work, while the ANC are surrounded by their protection services and driven around in their blue light brigades. Taxis and driving have become more and more expensive with the ANC government insisting on e- tolls, coupled with the value-added tax, VAT, increase.
In the past, the Expanded Public Works Programme, EPWP, jobs were only provided for ANC card-holders, while those without political connections had no hope of accessing job opportunities. Many were forced to submit to sex and cash-for-jobs scams, out of shear desperation to improve their lives. This is not ... [Interjections.]
Mr S G MTHIMUNYE: Point of order, Deputy Chair. Now, hon Michalakis is overstepping the mark. She’s making white allegations and presenting them as though they were facts. I think that is out of order.
An HON MEMBER: It is a point of debate.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: On what point are you exactly referring to?
An HON MEMBER: It is a point of debate.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Mthimunye, can you assist me with that.
Mr S G MTHIMUNYE: She makes a point that employment is given to card-carrying members and sex is involved. Hey man shut up, you. Shut up!
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon members, I don’t want ... [Interjections.] ... hon Chabangu! Hon members, I don’t want and I’m not going to allow you to degenerate this House sitting. I’m not going to allow you to do that. Please, I’m appealing to you not to allow yourself to degenerate the House. There are rulings that were made on such statements of buying of membership employment for that, and so forth, which are not factual. Therefore, if a member has said that, hon member Engelbrecht, can you please withdraw from that ... [Interjections.] ... hon, no, no, I don’t know why you are standing. I don’t know why you are standing because I’m saying ... [Interjections.]
Ms C LABUSCHAGNE: I’m standing on a point of order, Deputy Chair.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: No, no, hon members ... [Interjections.]
Ms C LABUSCHAGNE: I’m standing on a point of order, Deputy Chair.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Michalakis, can you take the seat ... [Interjections.] ... You are not going to take your seat.
Are you not going to take your seat, hon member?
Ms C LABUSCHAGNE: Deputy Chairperson, I stand on a point of order.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: I am still addressing an issue and I’m not going to address the House whilst a member is standing. So, you are refusing to take your seat. Hon members, I had checked hon Engelbrecht on the basis of a statement that people are being offered jobs because they are members of the ANC. To what effects
... [Interjections.] ... e-e, I don’t know why you are clapping hands. To what effects can you present this House with facts?
Ms B A ENGELBRECHT: Deputy Chairperson, I’m on willing to bring people to this House who will contest for that. Thank you. Can I continue with my speech?
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: No, how can you continue if your members are on their feet in a first place. In a first place, they are on their feet. Now, all I’m saying ... [Interjections.]
Ms B A ENGELBRECHT: Deputy Chairperson, I can bring proof to this House.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: All I’m saying, hon members, should it be established and I’m going to do that. I’m going to do it deliberately to establish ... Hon Labuschagne, can you please take your seat. I’m addressing the House. I’m still addressing the House. I’m addressing the House. For so long as I’m still addressing the House, may you please take your seat? Hon members, I’m going to deliberately investigate this matter because I know that there is a ruling that was made before. Therefore, should it come out that there is a consistency, definitely and I’m promising to the House that the matter will be reported to the Chair of the Council. Hon Labuschagne, on what point are you rising?
Ms C LABUSCHAGNE: Deputy Chairperson, this is the first time in five years that the presiding officer in this House goes to the point where a debate is being taken into proof what you say. This is a one thing when someone says there is no truth in that then we go back to
the rule which says that you have freedom of speech in this House. The freedom of speech in this House has continuously from the first year up till now, not being utilised up to a point now that everything hon Engelbrecht said was contested in this House. This is closure of the freedom of speech in this House from the presiding officer because we all know that it is a common thing that card- carrying people get EPWP jobs.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Labuschagne!
Ms C LABUSCHAGNE: It is common thing. There is a lot of common things that has been said by the ANC people in this House for the past five years that has never been investigated.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Labuschagne, you are now debating.
Ms C LABUSCHAGNE: Well, the hon from the EFF has allowed the debate with you.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Can you take your seat, hon Labuschagne, please.
Ms C LABUSCHAGNE: I will challenge your ruling.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: I’ve made a ruling on the matter. I’ve said that the matter shall be brought to the attention of the Chair on the basis that ... [Interjections.]
Mr G MICHALAKIS: On a point of order, Deputy Chair.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: ... on the basis that there was a ruling on such a matter in a previous sittings, and that is the ruling. I don’t know what is it that members are debating on.
Mr G MICHALAKIS: On a point of order, Deputy Chairperson.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Can I get your point of order? If it is on the same matter, can you please refrain from that because there is a ruling already.
Mr G MICHALAKIS: Respectfully Deputy Chairperson, not much has happened since we have actually argued this side is on the same point. My point is ... [Interjections.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Are you contesting the ruling? I’m asking you, are you contesting the ruling?
Mr G MICHALAKIS: Deputy Chairperson, I’m asking you. I’m not contesting the ruling, but I am asking you as the presiding officer who is supposed to actually make sure that freedom of speech is protected in this House that once points of debate are considered as points of order, it is very, very, very concerning situation if a presiding officer themselves and the members of the five years don’t know the difference between the point of debate and the point of order. Then the electorate out there should seriously consider if it is the kind of people they want to be presented ... [Interjections.]
... Thank you.
Ms T J MOKWELE: On a point of order, Deputy Chair.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: E-e, take your seat, hon Mokwele.
Ms T J MOKWELE: On a point of order, Deputy Chair.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Mokwele, can you take your seat. Hon members, I’ve made a ruling on this matter and I’m not
going to repeat myself. If the ruling is wrong there are processes that you can follow. It is as simple as that. For now, we continue with the debate. Hon Engelbrecht!
Ms B A ENGELBRECHT: Under the DA-led coalition, the reformed EPWP programme has created almost 25 000 job opportunities based on a fair and equitable system for all South Africans. The ANC has also failed in delivering the dream of access to housing. Despite their rapid land release programme, many incomplete and abandoned housing projects were listed as units delivered, creating false dreams, like the incomplete River Park Development in Alex and the community residential units in Rotunda. Often in places like KwaThemba, not one but two residents are given the same stand, and further destroying dreams. In Emfuleni, at least 70 homes have been damaged and 13 families have been left homeless after years of neglect and corruption with R872 million lost by the municipality through fraud and corruption. They do not care about bringing housing to the people; they only care about ways to make themselves and their cronies richer.
The DA will create a single national housing list, linking every local municipality to eliminate the current corruption ensuring that only the real owners live in them. The 144 Life Esidimeni patients
who died and the 17 who are still missing two years later, they also had dreams. There is no closure for these families. There have been inexcusable delays in payouts to the victims’ families, blamed on technical issues, while no action has been taken against Qedani Mahlangu or Brian Hlongwa. The DA will build a caring social assistance system as a safety net for child headed households, the old and disabled, ensuring the most vulnerable in our society are properly cared for, not left to die in unthinkable conditions, like the Life Esidimeni patients.
The DA will provide new and sufficient mobile clinics for existing settlements whereas this government cannot even provide clean linen. In Vosloorus, the Thelle Mogoerane Hospital cancelled operations due to a shortage of clean linen. The Dunswart Provincial Laundry run by the ANC-led government Department of Health cannot even provide that service. The DA wants Gauteng to be the golden opportunity province, where people can realise their dreams in a thriving economy, where there is a job in every home, where people feel safe and secure, excited about what tomorrow and the future holds. As the DA transformed the Western Cape, under the leadership of Helen Zille, the DA will transform Gauteng, where our people deserve to dream again. The DA shares that dream. A dream we call one South Africa for All. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Ms B TUNYISWA (Eastern cape): Hon Chair of the NCOP, The Deputy Chair of the NCOP, permanent members of this House, members of the Provincial Executive Council present, special delegates to the NCOP, ladies and gentlemen. Chair, it gives us a great pleasure as the people of the home of legends that is the Eastern Cape Province to form part of this important debate, considering the report of the taking Parliament to the people as it was held in Gauteng Province in the city of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality last year. Same as the people of the Eastern Cape had of similar opportunity of inter-acting with Parliament directly in 2016.
We stand here as a living testimony that, once the NCOP had visited your province results can be seen and felt. Our people are only convinced when they see practically that we are serious about delivering services to them, so that they improve their conditions and standard of living. They become content when they see that our actions and messages are coherent in responding to their demands and expectations.
Therefore this places a duty and responsibility that as leaders of our people, wherever we are, must place at the centre of our actions the plight of our people. Our exercising of leadership role is required to be for the benefit and interest of our people. The
current epoch demand that all of us must uphold ethics and morals, values of ubuntu at all material times. As we do that important work, we must inspired by Amilcar Cabral who correctly puts it that:
Our struggle is for our people, because its objective, its purpose, is to satisfy the aspirations, dreams and desires of our people, to live a decent and worthy life, as all the peoples of the world want. To have peace, in order to build progress in their land, to build happiness, for their children. We want everything we win in this struggle to belong to our people and we have to do our utmost to form an organisation such that even if some want to divert the conquests of the struggle to their own advantage, our people will not let them. This is very important.
Chairperson, there is no doubt that the NCOP remains the hope of the provinces for fair representation in the governance of our country. We are delighted that provincial delegates continue to do us proudly in ensuring that people’s interests are considered and taken seriously at the national level. The NCOP and its committees had done its work in uncovering the shortcomings or grey areas on the work of the government commonly across the provinces.
The main responsibility is now left with the public representatives assigned with responsibility of playing executive authority role in government departments to ensure that those shortcomings in the delivery of services are attended to. Chair, it is important to remember that every time we get together in these gatherings, we must recall as public representatives that it is our job to legislate and work with an eye to the short, medium and long term future. As well, we have to look over the horizon beyond the next general elections and ensure that as far as we can, what we do today will make South Africa a better place and a safer place for future generations to live in.
By having this debate, we are indeed practically sending a positive message to our people that when they give us their issues, they are giving them to people who caring and having their interests at heart. As people’s representatives to all decision making platforms, we have a responsibility to work on these people’s issues diligently because we know them.
IsiXhosa:
Asibabizi ngamagama esingawaziyo apha.
English:
There are still people who are trying to pronounce our names for the first time because they are in Parliament, yet for the past 300 years we had to learn their names. As well, we make sure that our created oversight structures and monitoring mechanisms assist us in responding to all the expectations of our people without failing.
In conclusion Chair, our functions as decision makers in life must not to be that of politicians in Parliament only, we must get things done. The report is clear; those who are supposed to deliver services must do so with zeal and zest. Those who are assisting with every important work of playing oversight role, as NCOP do through its vital select committees.
On behalf of the people of the province of Eastern Cape, the province that is led by the ANC, as it is going to win again after the 08 May 2019. We support the report and calling for the implementation for the benefit of our people. We are ready; we are ready for the new mandates.
IsiXhosa:
Siyakholelwa, abantu baya kulawula.
English:
Thanks you very much for the opportunity.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Thank you very much hon Tunyiswa. Hon members, there is a consistent cry in the House that we must stick to the rules, the proceedings and everything. One such member is hon Michalakis, who should have understood and known better that, you do not pass between a member addressing the Chair and the Chair, and he did that. Can you please refrain from doing that?
Mr G MICHALAKIS: My apologies to the House Deputy Chair.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A J Nyambi): I wanted to raise the very same point Chair, because I thought he knows the rules very well.
Ms T J MOKWELE: Hon Deputy Chairperson, the theme for the Taking Parliament to the People which we are currently debating was the impact of migration in Gauteng, was a reactionary and an anti- African theme. During the Taking Parliament to the People, and in the report a picture was painted of foreigners coming to our country and draining the resources of the country, resources and services that should instead be going to South Africans.
However, this is incorrect and must be dismissed. Firstly, the simple reason why South Africans are not getting services is because of government’s failures. However, secondly and more importantly we as South Africans must disabuse ourselves of the idea that any African is a foreigner in South Africa. And I will now provide historical perspective as to why I say this.
Africa’s borders were not decided by African people. Instead they were decided in Berlin, Germany in 1885 when the major powers of Europe gathered to discuss and negotiate how they were going to divide Africa amongst each other.
While colonialism was not new on the continent at that time, in fact it had been taking place in Africa for over 400 years. The decisions taken at the conference cemented and formalised who would control what territory, and have a direct impact on the material conditions, but also the psychology of all Africans till today.
In a space of four months, the fate of a continent and its people were decided for centuries. And from that point on, the continent has been curved up with unnatural borders drawn up by criminals, barbaric, mass murderers and whose only intention was to exploit the
people and resources of this continent in their narrow and twisted pursuit of profit.
These very same borders which were imposed on us by white colonisers for our exploitation are used to divide us, and we must be reminded that the goal of total liberation of this continent and its people will always remain distant if we cannot break down these physical borders, and the psychological barriers created by the colonisers.
Yet today in South Africa, where we have experienced over 350 years of oppression, dispossession, exploitation and humiliation at the hands of the white man, we still continue to welcome white foreigners. However, our black African brothers and sisters with whom we have so much in common, are looked down upon, abused, discriminated against, attacked and blamed for any and every challenge that is facing this country.
Some also forget that people do not come here because they want to leave their homes.
Chairperson, they come here because they have no other choice. They are forced to leave their homes because of war, economic collapse,
the destabilisation of progressive governments by the worst, corrupt leaders, and the consequences of centuries of colonisation.
However, instead of embracing them with open arms our fellow Africans are rejected, not only by the people, but by politicians and government officials who feed the people with lies and blame their own failures on our African brothers and sisters.
In an ANC government whose comrades were fed, clothed, trained, and kept safe across the continent, you have Ministers blaming Africans for their own failures and incapacity. At the same time, you also have the DA embarking on an all-out xenophobic campaign, taking their queue from their father who is the most racist person by the name of Donald Trump.
The irony of this of course is that the very same people whose ancestors arrived in Africa from Europe with boats are now telling us that we must prevent our own African brothers and sisters from crossing borders those very same Europeans invented.
Some South Africans must not allow themselves to be blinded to why they are not receiving services. It is not because Africans are
taking services meant for them; it is because government is failing to deliver services to its people, regardless of their origin.
Whose fault is it that children die in the pit toilets at schools? Whose fault is it that the black majority continue to own no land? Whose fault is it that we have over 40% of youth ... [Time expired.]
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Let us start by
appreciating the NCOP for having in the past years strategically chosen communities with differentiated developmental characteristics; rural, farming, small towns, struggling and progressing municipalities.
Hon Chairperson, the NCOP would not have chosen any other community as a closing engagement in our term than Ekurhuleni Metropolitan municipality in Gauteng. Ekurhuleni is the hub of industrialisation in South Africa and the largest industrial zone in the continent thus far.
The profile of its population and communities is a reflection of a microcosm of South Africa as a whole – industrial concentration, an aerotropolis, hosting the main port of entry to this country, South
Africa by all foreign nationals travelling by air, Oliver Regional Tambo International Airport.
Ekurhuleni contains all national geographic characteristics; metropolitan character, urban; township, rural and farm land, mining villages inhabited by upper income groups, Middle income groups, lower income groups, the unemployed and employers.
The homeless and toiling masses of South Africa and the world, which were displaced by either hunger, adverse economic conditions or war of destabilisations somewhere else, who came to Ekurhuleni with a hope of finding peace and economic prosperity are found here also.
IsiZulu:
Bathi abaziyo, eGoli kukwanyama ayipheli, kuphela mazinyo endoda. Kukwamfazi oshaya indoda ...
English:
... Because she refused to tolerates abuse. Some of these people survived through profits generated by inheritance of their fore fathers, who hire others for production; others use their professional expertise and their artisanal skills to earn a living. Others survive through small, medium and micro enterprises
initiatives and others through entrepreneurial initiatives, solidarity economic activities, like economic cooperatives and stokvels. Others are trying to work the land and small scale stock and poultry farming.
While others try to survive through informal business initiatives and dirty jobs that hardly pay beyond hand to mouths. Therefore the concerns raised at the taking Parliament to the people during the public hearings and site visits on Growth and Development is consistent with the character of what Ekurhuleni is and that’s why they raised a need skills development and mentorships; unregulated foreign ownership of spaza shops; limited economic development in some areas; lack of transformation of the economy and a lack of jobs being created; Poor access to finance and high cost of lending; limited access to land, red tape and legislation inconsistencies; shortage of sustainable jobs; need for coordinated support from the different spheres of government and the private; sector to establish and expand businesses; and call us to reduce communication and transport costs.
If you look at the variety of these concerns and needs, they tell you that all nations, all the people of South Africa, nations of the continent and across the world have descended into Ekurhuleni and
they want their representation to be reflected when these needs are addressed
As we are concluding a 25 years journey of change that has been travelled since 1994, the concerns raised by the above are heartening in that they adequately reflect progress – what have been concluded, what is to be done and support for skills and policies need to be improved to carry us forward.
They give us a barometer and projection of what is still to be done into the future, if you like a new mandate and applause of some areas of work well done.
As the ANC-led government, we are committed to advance the values of our constitution that place at the centre of our national agenda, the needs of the poor, unemployed, marginalised and dispossessed.
In honour of the centenary of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and Albertina Sisulu, we shall continue to devote our action of the vision of democratic future, just and equitable society.
In response to the challenges raised by the people of Ekurhuleni, we want to indicate that government is well aware of them and is for
these reasons that we have decided to adopt a number of programmes to respond to them. We know this because we interact with them on a daily basis and also they constitute the highest number, the majority of them belong to the ANC which is the governing party.
As a start, we needed to get people of South Africa’s efforts to be aligned and focussed. And secondly we need to ensure that we assure foreign investors and professionals that South Africa was on a path of prosperity and that it was worth investing in for good returns.
We also needed to ensure that our own resourced people believe in their own country, end what is normally called investment boycott and start investing.
We are glad that out of this, we have seen the presidential investment conference raising a minimum of about R300 billion ready to be implemented investment plans and not a talk shop.
The investment conference was preceded by a job summit that identified a number of initiatives to catalyse job creation, including strengthening of support for small, medium and micro enterprises and cooperatives; and activate and define the role of informal business can play and the required support in this regard.
Through the stimulation packages, the President has also outlined a number of actions that will facilitates process towards actioning the above. These include; immediate removing obstacles to travel of minors, and reducing number of countries that require visas, to allow high skilled foreigners to enter the country, and allow more tourist to enter our country, and strengthen our economy. Approving the revised mining charter that would provide certainty to investors to allow growth in investment in mining and therefore create jobs.
Prioritising of R50 billion in spending towards focus on agriculture, township economy and rural areas, support measures for black commercial farmers. Township and rural entrepreneurship fund would be created to scale up jobs in this regard.
These broad countrywide investments, in as much as they facilitate growth and creation of jobs, impact remains to be felt at a local level, that is why we are very hearten that the provincial government with the support of national and local government have made strides in the area of supporting township development in Gauteng. These include support for SMMEs and formal enterprises. Through Gauteng’s township revitalization strategy, progress has been made registering a roll out of enterprise hubs and industrial parks.
Hon Deputy Chair, we are also happy that Gauteng has provided non- financial support, which includes access to markets, provision of support and invested substantial resources, Industrial Parks, agri- parks and eKasiLabs to township entrepreneurship towards pitching posters and boosters
Members of this House have tasted a bit of benefits of some of these investment initiatives, including the Automotive Industry Development Centre, AIDC, in City of Tshwane Metropolitan, an example of good partnership in the Automotive Industry, that has ensured that beneficiation in that space assist locality is realized. Although challenges remain, success stories of this programme are demonstrated that we are moving in the right direction
The Gauteng NCOP’s visit has highlighted urgent areas around policy, regulation, partnership, facilitation of access to resources that must be dealt with by government to ensure that we build on the progress that we have currently registered
The issue of economic integration is one of the critical issues that have been raised by the people but the President has actually addressed and asked us all to collaborate between departments and the provinces, it is for this reason that its not appropriate, hon
Engelbrecht to be provincializing yourselves because if we are to go through that, we are going to tell that the ports that are here and are employing people, the initiative of Special Economic Zone, SEZ in Saldana and Atlantis, the financing of infrastructure including your MyCiti, your Waterfront, these are all projects that are financed at the national level.
THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON: sorry hon Deputy Minister, Hon member, what point are you rising on?
Mr C HATTINGH: I see you are listening attentively but you ruled earlier that the speaker should not address other members but should address them through you. Can you please apply that ruling that you made earlier, thank you.
THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON: Like you said it, I was listening attentively because much as he was looking at you but he said chair. He made reference to the chair. Let me just remind and re-emphasise that for the satisfaction of the House. May all members addressing the House address it through the Presiding Officer, thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: hon Chair, indeed the
oil and gas resources that are identified here and also the air-
storage that are going to be coming into the Western Cape are an initiative of South Africans rather than… inaudible
And hon Chair, in the Western Cape, we have 10 MECs and one Premier. All of them are protected by the SAPS and are using blue lights when there’s an emergency. And these aspects here….
THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON: hon Deputy Minister, on what point are rising hon members?
Mr C HATTINGH: point of order Chair, the hon member is misleading the House; there are specific regulations that blue lights will not be used in the Western Cape. The hon member is misleading.
THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON: hon member that’s a point of debate therefore I would not take that. Hon Deputy Minister can you continue
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: thank you, I’m saying
that all us will remember that the province doesn’t have the competence on that therefore you can’t away blue lights from SAPS because SAPS provides protection on all of us across the spectrum. You can only do it with Metro Police but you can’t do with SAPS.
In closing hon Chairperson allow me to quote from Nelson Mandela” Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people” A fundamental concern for others and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of “Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do” Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
Together we are committed, we can turn around the economic state of our country, together we can boost the state of our local economy, unity and cohesion, and supporting our localities, lets join hands together to address this matter. We need to stop provincializing because if I want to enter a frail on that I might even ask, why is that in the Western Cape we don’t have zero unemployment when you are there, that is very petty because I understand the environment within which South African is in terms of the economic challenges that is having including the Western Cape. I can’t do that, so for me it is the right thing to do, to collectively hold hands and recognize each other’s effort and do so. Thank you, hon Chair
Mr M KHAWULA: Hon Chairperson, hon Deputy Ministers, hon MECs, colleagues, the NCOP Taking Parliament to the People programme on 19 to 22 November 2018 was the last such programme for this Fifth
Parliament. On behalf of the IFP, I take this opportunity to applaud this programme of the NCOP in reaching out to the people of South Africa. This programme gives Members of Parliament an opportunity to get insight into the operations of government at national, provincial and local government spheres.
It also offers our people on the ground an ideal opportunity to engage directly with government and with Members of Parliament. I can assure you that if the IFP emerges victorious on 8 May 2019, this is one programme that we will maintain and improve on. This having been stated, it worries the IFP that the responses to issues raised by communities have been very poor on the side of government. This is one area that needs focussed attention. Our going out to the people as Parliament must not amount to mere formality and adherence to the programme set. It must amount to results and actions on the issues that people have raised with us. For the future, What the IFP will do, which this current ruling party has failed to do, is to design an effective tracking system and effective monitoring of all the issues raised by the people, and all the commitments made by the government. This will allow for effective monitoring of commitments made. Our people should not be merely taken for a ride just because the government or Parliament has decided to visit them. There must be honour, respect and integrity on what authorities are committing
to deliver. I see that commitment to one’s word and commitment to promises and delivery is not a culture in the ANC. In future, if the country is unfortunate that the ANC wins again, the IFP is going to vigorously pursue you in this area of honouring your commitments.
IsiZulu:
Kungalesi sizathu-ke, Sihlalo, kufanele ngikhumbuze abahlonishwa abakuHulumeni ukuthi abantu base-Gauteng bakhale kakhulu ngezinto ezibaphilisa lubhojozi okunguntuleka kwezindlu. Nalezo ezakhiwayo uma seziphelile, ezinye zazo zidliwa ngobuqili abafowethu abaqhamuka emazweni angaphandle abaningi babo abangenazo izimvume ezisemthethweni ezibagunyaza ukuba lapha eNingingizimu Afrika.
Abanye babo bayenza lemikhuba yobuqili bebambisene nezinye iziphathimandla zikaHulumeni ezinobugebengu bokugwazelwa kanye nokuthengisa ngamathuba omphakathi ngokungemthetho. Abantu base- Gauteng bakhale kakhulu ngezinga eliphezulu lobugebengu okubukeka uHulumeni ehluleka ukubulawula. Nakhona lapho, abantu bakhale ngokuthi kwezinye zalezi zenzo zenkohlakalo nezobugebengu kubuye kuwaqede amathemba ukumbandakanyeka kwamanye amaphoyisa angcolile aye abonakale emdibi munye nezigila mkhuba. Abantu bakhalile ngokuntuleka kwamathuba omsebenzi. Kuye kuthi nalolo badlana oluvelayo kubonakale kuhlomula bona abafowethu bangaphandle ngenxa yokuba uHulumeni ehluleka ukwalusa imithetho yezwe ehambisana
nokuqashwa kwabantu bangaphandle. Abantu bakhala kakhulu ngeziphathimandla zombuso, ikakhulukazi amakhansela ayaye akhohlise izakhamuzi ukuze kuzuze wona kwezombusazwe. Nezinye-ke zezinto eziningi, Sihlalo, engingeke ngiziphinde ngoba sezishiwo ngozakwethu la eNdlini.
English:
The IFP appeals to government to also begin to listen to the pleas of the people. It has been too long that the people of Gauteng have been complaining about the e-tolls but government is closing ears to this plea. You claim to be a caring government but you fail to listen to a simple plea to relieve the people of Gauteng from the burden of e-tolls. [Time expired.]
IsiZulu:
Ngiyathokoza weSihlalo ohloniphekile.
Ms L L ZWANE: Chairperson, hon members of the august House, the Deputy Minister, honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen, may I, at the outset, convey our condolences to the families of the students of Hoërskool Driehoek in Gauteng that were involved in a tragic incident. It is not something that you can actually use to garner for votes. It is something that has touched the hearts of all of us
as South Africans and I do want to quote from the good book, Psalm 34:18 where it says, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed spirit of His children.”
I do want to also continue and convey our deepest appreciation of the performance in education by the Gauteng province. They are the top province in the Republic of South Africa and that Province is run by the ANC. [Applause.] So, whoever thinks that good things can only happen in the Western Cape, is a liar. We are in charge of that province and we are producing results. They have actually increased even the Bachelor’s passes from 36% to 43,6%. The overall performance in matric in this country has risen from 75,1% to 78,2%. It is the ANC that is in charge. Throughout the course of the last century as a time-tested and dynamic leader of society, the ANC has defined the content, the tempo, not only of discourse but of social agency and human action, so said one of the brilliant scholars of the ANC. The ANC has moved with speed to change the history of this country and has stirred generations of South Africans and has inspired many across the world. It is my pleasure to participate in this very important debate of the report of our oversight visit to Gauteng and it would be important to give a balanced view of the issues. One would actually accept the fact that there are a lot of challenges that we are still experiencing. There are a lot of issues
that we as the government of this country, led by the ANC, need to address in the Department of Basic Education. But, it would not be fair to say that, all is not well. There is a lot of good that Gauteng, as a province, is doing in the Department of Basic Education.
Some of the issues that the Chairperson of the Council alluded to as she opened the debate were challenges that we are still faced with in Gauteng. There is overcrowding in the classrooms. But, the Gauteng government did not sit ...
IsiZulu: 15:31:13
... wahlala wathula walindela uHulumeni, singeyena ukhamisa ngithele.
English:
The Gauteng government actually went out to the private sector, and they lobbied for assistance from the private sector to ensure that they address this issue of overcrowded classrooms. They did not wait for manna to fall from heaven. They showed that, if the government does not have enough of a budget to address these issues, they can lobby for other partnerships through the Partners for Possibility Programme, PPP, to ensure that these issues are addressed. Gauteng
receives 85 000 new learners every year, and they need to build about 85 new schools every year and no government can be able to meet that kind of demand. But, as time progresses, as the economy of the country improves, we are more than absolutely sure that we are going to be able to gradually address these issues but thanks to the private sector that have been willing to partner with us to ensure that our children are not stranded.
The Chairperson also alluded to the issue of that there were complaints from the citizens regarding the impact of migration in the province. People felt as though preference is given to migrants whereas our own people that vote for us as a government are given second preference. I do want to say that, whilst we recognise the fact that the ANC-led government, cannot be an enclave of the rich surrounded by the sea of poverty and underdevelopment. Any government, the world over, will prioritise their own citizens that put them in power. We are not against assistance being given to foreign nationals; I do not want to be misunderstood but we are saying that our priority is our own and if there are further resources we can then be able to extend those to those that are coming from outside of this country.
Ms T J MOKWELE: Chairperson, on a point of order: With due respect, I don’t know whether the hon Mangethe [Zwane] is referring to everybody that migrates to Gauteng as foreigners because in that Taking Parliament to the People there were statistics highlighting people from different provinces ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A J Nyambi): Hon Mokwele! Hon Mokwele! Hon Mokwele!
Ms T J MOKWELE: Yes Chair?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A J Nyambi): Can you take your seat. We have got speakers, it is a debate. What you are raising is a point for debate. Can you continue hon Mangethe?
Ms L L ZWANE: When we speak migration we speak of people migrating from other provinces to Gauteng simply because Gauteng is an economic hub. There would be migrants also coming from countries outside of South Africa.
Ms T J MOKWELE: Chair, on a point of order: I think you have made a ruling. Chair! Chair! With due respect ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A J Nyambi): Hon ... [Interjections.]
Ms T J MOKWELE: ... on this matter. I am not going to engage you further but request hon Mangethe that she must not engage it further because it will create another debate. [Interjections.] Can you also deal with her?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A J Nyambi): Hon Mokwele, can you take your seat. I have made a ruling. Let us allow the debate to continue. Can you continue hon Mangethe?
Ms L L ZWANE: Some of the challenges that we picked up as we were conducting oversight are the issues of infrastructure. [Interjections.] There are beautiful schools that are built but without a maintenance budget and creates a huge problem because those schools are not going to be sustained for long. Whenever a capital project is erected, it has to go together with the maintenance budget and I think that the Department of Education should actually take note of that.
When we visited the Morris Isaacson High School, it is a beautiful high school but one wondered how long that school is going to be sustained if there is no maintenance budget. The spatial classrooms
are of critical importance. We actually went into one of the classrooms, a virtual classroom. It is beautiful but the question is how long is it going to be sustained if there is no money put aside to maintain it? With libraries, the Department of Education is promoting reading. It is a huge campaign that they are running but in that library that we visited there were no books. These are the issues where we are saying that the Department of Basic Education should actually roll their sleeves and begin to address this. The issue of safety in schools is a very painful kind of topic because we can count numbers and numbers of teachers, of learners that have killed themselves within the school premises. I mean this in all the other provinces – I am not only referring to Gauteng – we can count the teachers that have been shot dead in full view of learners in the classrooms because of a lack of safety. So, it is very important.
When we went to Diepsloot Secondary School, that school is actually built next to the taxi rank. Can you imagine? When there are protests by the taxi owners, they affect learning in the institution which means whenever we plan our infrastructure or any other site for whatever; we must take cognisance of the fact that if it has got a negative impact or there is a potential negative impact it should
not be built close to the institution. The issue of taverns next to institutions are actually killing our nation.
These are the issues that we need to take into account as we plan our infrastructure for our schools. And one other issue that we picked up, in Diepsloot again, is the issue of the Post-Provisioning Norm, PPN, where teachers are in limbo, they do not if they are in that institution or they are supposed to go to another institution. [Time expired.] It is a huge problem that would need the attention of Basic Education. Thank you, Chairperson. [Applause.]
Mr G KGANYAGO (LIMPOPO: CHAIRPERSON of PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE on
EDUCATION): Hon Chairperson, hon members, greetings to you all, during the month of November 2019, the NCOP invited delegates from provinces including we, as the Limpopo province to partake in the Taking Parliament to the People Programme. The significance of this exercise lies not only in oversight work and learning best practices from one another as provinces but, more importantly to affirm the activist character of our democratic state. A state and government that is firmly placed in the hands of and entrenched among the people of South Africa.
This exercise is a continuation of a tradition that is deeply rooted in indigenous African philosophy of governance based on consultation in key decision making processes. In other words, the people shall govern and the Freedom Charter and the Constitution of South Africa states so.
Hon Chairperson, taking Parliament to the people is an important mechanism in fast-tracking service delivery to our communities in that, where they are service delivery backlogs affecting vulnerable communities and citizens who their socio-economic needs are to take longer to address in some instances, the NCOP Taking Parliament to the People Programme come in handy as an intervention mechanism. The enthusiastic participation of the communities who came to the public hearing on the last day is a validation of how important taking Parliament to the people is. Thus, affirming, like we said, not only the developmental character of the state and government but also its activists character.
The challenge of migration and its inevitable link to access to socio-economic opportunities and services is one that not only does it require integrated and interprovincial co-operation but so also a forward planning an initiative by provinces that are point of origin for migrants.
Having understood what the causal factors of migration are, the Limpopo province following on the clarion call by the hon President of the Republic Mr C M Ramaphosa, has embarked on a massive investment drive to grow our economy. Currently, the process for the establishment of special economic zones in Musina and Tubatse is on course. With an estimated investment attraction of R150 billion in the special economic zones, the province envisaged that through this over 21 thousand permanent jobs will be created.
Access to various forms of economic opportunities in the special economic zones forms part of the Limpopo growth and development strategy to ensure that unemployment, inequality and poverty are eradicated. As the Limpopo province, we mention these forms of intra provincial interventions as part of mitigating the effect of migration from the point of origin through to other neighbouring provinces such as Gauteng, where the majority of residences happens to be migrants from our province.
The measures our province has already embarked on of growing the economy in our home province will go a long way to alleviate the pressure on the social services brought to bear on Gauteng especially. In this connection, integration of economic strategies among provinces especially Limpopo and Gauteng will ensure a
progressive realisation of an interdependent model of governance to achieve a better life for all people irrespective of geographic space they occupy like the Chairperson said in her outline of her programme today within the borders of our motherland South Africa.
The Limpopo province would like to congratulate you and the NCOP for the excellent programme of coal face interface or interaction by the public representatives with communities on the state and quality of social services provided to them that you sent us to the people. We thank you very much. As this is in line with what the President has said in his acceptance speech to Parliament of February 2018 when he said or coined the clarion call “Thuma mina” send me to the people to solve their problems.
In this manner, you have remained consistent to the tradition and example of service set by some of the noble sons and daughters of our country notable among them, the former and late President, Nelson Mandela and mama Albertina Sisulu who traversed the length and breadth of our country in the 1950s consulting the people about their vision of a new South Africa. A consultation process that led to the documentation and adoption of the Freedom Charter in 1955 and by extension, which became the foundation of the Constitution of the
Republic of South Africa as we know it today. As Limpopo province we would like to support the Report. Thank you very much.
Mr M MADLALA: Hon Thandi Modise, Chairperson of the NCOP, Deputy Chairperson, the Chair of Chair, the NCOP Chief Whip, delegations from Salga, hon members of the NCOP, Deputy Ministers present, Members of Executive Council, MEC’s present, traditional leaders, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here to debate issues of national importance on the Report of the Taking Parliament to the People main visit that occurred on 19-22 November 2018 in Gauteng.
Indeed, this was a progressive flagship programme by the NCOP to host the Taking Parliament to the People main visit as a tool to allow national, provincial government and municipalities to sit under one roof to improve the lives of our people. The Taking Parliament to the People visit to provinces is on a rotational basis and in 2018 it was Gauteng’s turn.
As Gauteng, we supported this initiative from its conception including the previsits as well as the main visit to tackle the impact of migration on service delivery under the theme and I quote:
“Impact of Migration Deepening Cooperative Governance for Accelerated Service Delivery and Development”.
It is therefore, a great pleasure and honour to be afforded the opportunity to debate on behalf of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, GPL, at this important NCOP debate.
Migration is described as the movement of people from one place to another, either within a country or from one country to another.
Migration happens when people are seeking employment, escaping wars, or looking for better opportunities.
Gauteng is South Africa’s economic hub and has experienced migration since the gold mining boom of the 19th century. Since the first democratic elections in 1994, Gauteng has seen a dramatic growth in domestic and international migration and attracts the highest number of migrants of all South Africa’s provinces.
As a result, the province is home to a wide variety of people, from many parts of the country, the continent and the world, which will need basic services at some point, as provided for in the Bill of Rights. All migrants, regardless of immigration status, enjoy these constitutional rights. In this context, Gauteng is expected to
include provision for healthcare, access to education and housing for all in its provincial Budget allocation.
As we will be celebrating 25 years of democracy, we wasted no time in building the GPL to be an activist and transformative legislature that inspire public confidence by operating in a manner that places the people at the centre of its business, vigorously advocating and promoting public interest in a nonpartisan way. In this way, the GPL is a true tribune of the people.
Over 60 service delivery sites that include schools, immigration offices of the Department of Home Affairs, hospitals, police stations and early childhood development institutions were visited. There were also public meetings that took place at the Alberton Civic Centre in the City of Ekurhuleni, to find out what service delivery issues the residents were grappling with and to hear their views about possible solutions.
The NCOP’s Taking Parliament to the People, as a dynamic and progressive flagship programme of closing barriers between representatives of the people in Parliament, to realise a true people’s Parliament that makes a difference in the lives of the
people. The NCOP visit to Gauteng was the last outreach programme during the fifth term of Parliament.
There has been a lot of effort and emphasis on the work bestowed upon us, as custodians of law making, oversight and public participation. This is what characterises the GPL as the epitome of creating opportunities for the people of Gauteng to participate in law making and oversight processes.
Pixley ka Isaka Seme, the founder of the ANC, once said and I quote: “the regeneration of Africa means that a new and unique civilisation is soon to be added to the world”.
The profound words of Pixley ka Isaka Seme still hold true and have reverberated in the chambers of the Alberton Civic Centre, summoning Africa and the world to a new way of thinking and a new way of doing things.
The people of Gauteng have spoken. They have told us in so many ways about the stresses caused by migration in Gauteng and the pressure placed on existing health care facilities.
They told us about a series of challenges facing education, including lack of schools, poor infrastructure and overcrowding. We responded that everything was being done to deal with the challenges, most of which resulted from exponential growth of the Gauteng population, because of migration and rapid urbanisation.
I can safely indicate that currently in Gauteng, a new school is built every month in previously disadvantaged communities. These schools have been furnished with specialised equipment, including smart boards, science and computer labs and smart classrooms. The future of our children is now brighter than ever before.
Through the NCOP’s Taking Parliament to the People, we have managed to tackle the triple challenges facing our people, poverty, inequality and unemployment, which remain the key socio-economic and developmental challenges in South Africa.
We are well aware that the restructured programme of Taking Parliament to the People includes a report back session, which enables the NCOP to monitor progress in implementing undertakings and accountability on the part of the executive. We are looking forward to the report back session, wherein we will provide a comprehensive report to the citizens of Gauteng and to the NCOP.
Indeed, can we claim that, in the tradition of Seme and other intellectual giants of his generation, the ANC-led government has enormously brought the National Development Plan, NDP, goals of 2030 within reach?
It has put us on a firm trajectory to being a developmental state that is accountable, focused on citizen’s priorities, and capable of delivering high quality services consistently and sustainably through co-operative governance and participatory democracy.
These are some of the measures of political maturity and progress that underpin Seme’s vision of Africa’s regeneration. Let us first remind ourselves of the words, during his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, where Chief Albert Luthuli declared and I quote:
“Somewhere ahead there beckons a civilisation which will take its place in God’s history with other great human syntheses Chinese, Egyptian, Jewish, European. It will not necessarily be all black: but it will be African”.
The paradigm that underpins this yearning is about long-term strategic thinking informed, at the same time, by the kind of pride in history that acknowledges and draws lessons from NCOP’s Taking
Parliament to the People experiences. It is a mindset that takes pride in the unique contribution that the NCOP has made to the historical advancement of humanity, as Seme did so eloquently, in his magnificent speech in Columbia University in 1906.
Let me indicate to say that in a demographic movement of people, it is generally understood that people would always move from where it is perceived there is none to where it is perceived there is plenty. So, it is not an anomaly that people are moving from anywhere else in the world coming to Gauteng, it is because they perceive there is plenty in Gauteng. It is not necessarily that there is plenty but it is perceived that there is plenty.
In conclusion, we support the recommendations of the report and you can count on our continued support of the NCOP Taking Parliament to the People Programme as we continue to improve the lives of our people. I thank you.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF POLICE: Hon Chairperson of the NCOP hon Thandi Modise, the Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP hon Tau, the Chief Whip of the NCOP hon Seiso Mohai, permanent members of the House, distinguished guests, MECs present, ladies and gentlemen, it is with great pleasure and privilege that I rise before you this afternoon
to provide an account on the Ministry of Police and the Department of Police activities since the NCOP event of Taking Parliament to the People which took place in Gauteng from 19 to 22 November.
The overall theme for the 2018 Taking Parliament to the People programme was, I quote, “The impact of migration in Gauteng and its implication with a special reference to peace and stability, social services, education, growth and development as well as infrastructure and human settlement”.
Hon members, our democratic processes encourage us to constantly engage our communities in a meaningful and constructive way. The efforts by Parliament like the Taking Parliament to the People need to be commended and continued because they form the corner stone of our participatory democracy and community engagement which in essence means the issue of people centred approach is the fundamental principle of our democracy.
We met our people between 19 and 22 November 2018 at Ekurhuleni Municipality. They raised several issues which include police resource constraints, ration of police members to population, vehicles and police stations. They also raised their concerns of the illegal immigration or immigrants into the Republic of South Africa
which poses threat to policing, peace and stability. They went further to raise the impact of violence in our schools and universities.
Hon members, one of our challenges, as said by the people, is the environmental design and town planning of our residences and towns including the scourge of drugs and alcohol abuse. We can proudly say, as the police, that we made follow ups with all the complaints laid with an aim of resolving them. For example, the implementation of the National Drug Master Plan is in place, which involves all critical departments – Education, Social Services, Health etc.
This plan is already implemented and we are beginning to see positive results. As a result of this plan, we have signed a trilateral agreement, immediately after the Taking Parliament to the People event, with Tanzania and Mozambique with the aim of stopping drugs and illegal immigrants, human trafficking and all other forms of transnational crime.
I am happy to report that, because of this trilateral agreement of co-operation between these countries, we have managed to confiscate drugs at the port of Ngqura with an estimated street value of
R720 million. Our department has put in place a community policing
strategy, as announced by the President of the Republic of South Africa, with the aim of mobilising all sectors of our communities in the fight against crime. These include church leaders, community policing forums, community safety forums at a municipality level, youth organisations, schools and universities, traditional leaders and many more.
Chairperson, it is our belief that, whilst our police are doing their level best, they can’t win this war against crime without the active participation of our people on the ground. The issue of environmental design need to be addressed very urgently. This speaks to challenges of no street lighting in some of the areas; no roads; no parks; and no sports facilities for our youth.
These are the reasons why at the end of 2018 the South African Police Service, Saps, hosted the National Youth Crime Prevention Summit that adopted the National Youth Crime Prevention Framework that is going to be officially launched during the June, Youth Month of Action this year.
This is coupled by socio-economic challenges facing our society. Therefore, the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security cluster is
fundamentally addressing cross sectional issues relating to crime in our society- issues of managing the parolees and illegal immigrants.
Hon Chairperson, the principal challenge in the fight against crime is insufficient resources dedicated to the security cluster in response to cover the genuine needs and demands of our people. It is in this regard that the Ministry of Police has undertaken many visits to schools, universities and many other hotspots including Hillbrow, Port Elizabeth etc. That is why the Independent Police Investigative Directorate is at hard work investigating corruption with regards to police that are working together with criminals and put them into books.
Hon members, with the new budget presented by the Minister of Finance, Mr Tito Mboweni, during his budget speech on 20 February 2019 in the National Assembly, the Saps recommits to reprioritise the budget to respond to the cries of our people. So, they are prepared, within the constraints of such a budget, to increase the number of boots on the ground, the number of police stations and the number of vehicles to reduce crime in our communities.
However, Chairperson, I must demystify some of the issues here. The position of the police and that of the Republic of South Africa is
to deal with illegal immigrations and not general immigration. Immigration is a function of human progress which makes people move from one country to another because of developments in a particular region in the world. That is a function of human progress, and because of that it affects the economy of a number of countries positively or negatively.
In relation to the Republic of South Africa, because we know that the economy is a state of production and consumption in a particular country and moreover the circulation of money, the constraints ... when people come into the Republic of South Africa illegally they impact on the state of production, consumption and the circulation of money which makes them vulnerable to committing crime. Therefore, it is not our policy as the ANC to talk about general immigration, but to talk about illegal immigration – people who come to South Africa illegally and run away from the proper processes.
Secondly, I want to endorse the issue ... It is not true that cars of MECs in the Western Cape do not have blue lights. I am a police and we never took out those blue lights. So, you must come here with facts and not talk about blue lights that you do not know. We know because we put those blue lights. If those people in those cars are
in danger, we, as the South African Police Service will respond and not you. We are going to be accountable, not you.
So, don’t come here to grandstand and not talk about the rate of crime here in the Western Cape. You only talk about unemployment or employment. In statistics, Africans in particular and black people in general here in Western Cape are unemployed. The Statistics SA tells us that the majority of the people here in managerial positions are white males followed by white females, followed by Indians, followed by coloureds and Africans are at the bottom of the equation.
So, it is untrue that you are doing work here. We know that you have relations with gang leaders for your elections campaign. You make sure that you use gangsterism to fight the national government. You wanted an army and we came with the Antigang Unit and now you are criticising the Antigang Unit that is doing good work here in this province. [Applause.] So, it is not true.
You killed Bambanani here that was intervening in schools safety. We were intervening in schools safety guarding our children. In your Bill you proposed that we must sell alcohol and cigarettes in schools – mobilising our young people to be confused and not focused
in schooling but go back to gangsterism because you use gangsterism as a political weapon.
Corruption is rampant here. Go to Knysna today. When there were fires in Knysna, we mobilised food parcels for our people and they put DA logos on those parcels and campaigned there in Knysna. They did it in George. The DA is preying on the difficulties and pains of our people for political ends.
The public works programmes that you are talking about, in George here generally in the Western Cape, are given to DA card-carrying members. We know that thing. If you are ANC you are not employed here. Tell me, in the government of the Western Cape, who is an ANC member that is there? No single one – all of them are DA members.
You talk about one single South Africa in your posters but you propose that you must have your own police army and own railway here in the Western Cape. You propose a contradiction between a united country and federalism. So, it is a confusion of policy. Come with a proper policy here in this province.
I want to say that we must not use Parliament and the pains of our people for expediency. We must use this platform to develop our own
minds and common thinking to push back the frontiers of poverty and unemployment for our own people. This grandstanding is the one that is killing our children in these schools. You do not want to resolve that matter because if it is resolved it would mean that the ANC would be in power for the next 20 years.
Chairperson, in conclusion, we further recommit to work with all our people to realise the objectives of the National Development Plan to make all South Africans feel safe. Thank you very much.
Mr J P PARKIES: Hon House Chair, let me respect the Chairperson of the NCOP, the Chief Whip of the NCOP, special delegates and my colleagues. Chair; allow me to have an entry point in the debate my quoting one of the military genius, the master of tactic and its applications, General Von Nguyen Giap:
If a nation is determined to stand up, it is strong. A commander’s greatest source of happiness is to stand by his soldiers on the battlefields. We can put the past behind, but we cannot completely forget it.
This connects to the quote that I want to lift up from the political report of the SACP Central Committee February 2019. It avers:
The crisis of social reproduction is most of our communities manifest in many ways including many ways including economic challenges of location of most of our communities far away from the centres of economic production.
This is ingrained in the systematic reproduction of the apartheid spatial planning and human settlement which is the continuation of the past in the present. We have a sacred duty to restore the integrity of our democratic revolution.
The revolution must use its discursive power to imperiously intervene in the desperate conditions of the mass forest of our people. Because optimism is radical and therefore the hard choice and most needed in the face of despair just as the car as most useful when there is a distance to close. History and fable show nothing is ever entirely lost. No hope is ever too small optimism is our instinct to inhale while suffocating. Our need is to declare what needs to be in the face of what is. Optimism is our instinct to inhale. Optimism is not uncool; it is rebellious and daring and vital because believing is an act of rebellion.
I am quoting a person called Guillermo Del Toro. Governance is a process structured organisational tradition that determines how
power is being exercised and how decisions are taken and those involved be held accountable. Governance is about methods used to establish strategic goals and development of strategies and space given to evaluate accountability.
Elements that are involved are accountability, authority, decision- making processes which form the basic facets of governance. Hon Chair, just make me aware when I am left with two minutes so that I reprioritize. The current equitable share model or formula is not helping our municipalities. It needs a serious review in the immediate future of the Sixth Parliament. The local government raises revenue mainly from the charges, rates and taxes. As a state and society we need to synthesise the past experience and seriously analyse the concrete conditions with an implacable will power to change what is not working.
We stand for all strength without any fear or doubt in the face of the suffering of our people and the tormenting poverty that characterised their daily lives. We need serious focus on local economic development and business initiatives by our people within the context of sustainable development, strategic planning and monitoring economic activities laced with co-ordination for the benefit of our people.
The issues of demarcation of municipality boundaries, at the centre, should be the needs of our people, the social progress and the enhancement of strategic objectives of planning and deepening democracy. This should be the scientific outcome that advances transformation and accountability in local government. That should be developmental in content and form. Once we understood the above, it is our sacred duty to fight and defend parasitic forces with their sordid schemes and charge all master grand larceny who are looting our state resources.
Our people cannot suffer because of the connivance of leaders with their grisly schemes. We must interrupt the intersections that produce conditions for corruption. Our war against corruption must be caustically with political sanguine that gives hope to our people. We need a responsiveness and efficient governance in our institutions on the basis of the social needs of our people and the centre of this is integrated approach on development and planning with the shrewd foresight.
In this process of Taking Parliament to the People we interact with our people by public hearings. Allow me House Chairperson to lift up two desperate cases which need imperious intervention. The case of Vanilla Mkhonza from Tembisa who is visually disabled since 2012 and
wants her job back and be allocated a school to continue working. The case of Sylvia Mabona, Ward 94 is struggling to get a space for a child and was taken from pillar to post. It is only good to highlight and appreciate the good work of our nonprofit organisations’ initiatives by our people in our communities. We need to pay special attention to the expenditure of the centre we visited during that process. The repatriation centre which its operations and workings takes R9 million monthly for taking illegal foreign nationals back to their original country and this is not sustainable.
The financial sector must be forced to transform and invest in productive investment in our society. This sector should be forced to invest in housing, skills development and education. We do not need makeshift projects which are far lesser on impact and the dignity of our people. We need to give momentum to the process of land access for human settlement in our municipalities. Our municipalities should be discouraged to sell land to developers who make profit out of these transactions whom people cannot even afford to buy such serviced sites.
This approach undermines strategic objectives of land distribution and ownership by the people. We need to firm up our efforts and
impetus to allocate adequate houses for disabled people. We remain tenacious that all challenges in local government can only be surmountable with judicious leadership and commitment to serve our people. Thank you. [Applause.]
Cllr S MONDLANE (SALGA): Chairperson, hon Chairperson of the NCOP, members of the NCOP, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, let me take this opportunity on behalf of the collective leadership of South Africa Local Government Association, Salga, to thank you for allowing us to comment on a very successful and momentous occasion of the NCOP visit to the Gauteng province on “Taking Parliament to the People” programme that took place from 19 to 22 November 2018.
House Chairperson, migration and urbanisation have been described as major issues on the economic, political and social landscape worldwide. It has emerged as a dominant topic in the global political discourse and international relations. The steady movement of people to urban areas, towns, cities and metropolitan regions relates to a search for a better economic opportunity. Countries in developing and developed regions face various challenges and opportunities associated with migration. Understanding planning discourse for the current projected migration patterns in South Africa is a call for concern. Not only does migration have negative
impacts for local government, but it creates a huge strain in the municipal cash flows. For migration to respond to the developmental state of local government, it is imperative that socioeconomic growth and development be entrenched in municipalities. The continued spontaneous movement of people to Gauteng province leads to policy and co-ordination challenges. These challenges require nonlinear planning and intergovernmental process to resolve tensions and commitment from all spheres of government and relevant stakeholders to find a balance.
The rapid urban growth of the Gauteng Province and in migration exert tremendous pressure on the provincial infrastructure and impact on provincial and municipal functions, especially the planning and delivery of services. It is astounding that as the smallest province in South Africa, geographically speaking, Gauteng is the second most populous province accounting for around one third of the GDP and experiencing population growth higher than any other province in the country. Clearly, the allure of the golden province brings with it both challenges and opportunities.
Chairperson, as the collective leadership of Salga we acknowledge the concerns raised by our communities during the NCOP visit to Gauteng and we commit ourselves to work together with the other
spheres of government to address these challenges. Thank you, Chair. [Applause.]
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS: Chairperson, the Chairperson of the NCOP, colleagues and hon members, thank you very much, and once again, congratulations to the NCOP for Taking Parliament to the People. I think it’s a very, very worthwhile thing for Parliament to be doing and it always gives us pause to think about whether our practices and our processes are actually having the desired effect when it comes to service delivery.
I must say that I just returned this morning from East London in the Eastern Cape, where I had been since yesterday. Yesterday in Port Alfred I met a lady who had been trying to register her son to receive an identity document. He was 16-years-old and he is doing his matric this year. She told me that she had come from Alexandria to Port Alfred on three occasions, having to travel by taxi to Home Affairs. Now, that Home Affairs office is an old, renovated church. It only has six officials and, geographically speaking, it services a very, very large area. It took me about 25 minutes of talking to her one on one just to try and establish what the problem was. What I realised was that actually she wasn’t the mother of the child. She was the guardian. She happened to be the aunt of the child. Both of
the child’s parents are deceased and the person who originally registered the child for a birth certificate was the biological mother. So, when she arrived and she said, my son, there was a discrepancy in the information on the system. Now, it took me about
25 minutes, but with the number of people having to be serviced in that office there is just no way that one of our officials could spare that time to sit with her and discuss this matter through to a solution. Happily, we were able to assist her. However, my point is simply this. For us to really be of service to people — because people do not always fit into the administrative and bureaucratic box — you actually need to be able to spend that time. So, across the board, we do need a whole lot more resources than we have at the moment.
As we know, Gauteng is one of the largest provinces with one of the largest citizen populations, but also as members have pointed out, the largest migrant population. So, if you consider that we have about 14 million people in Gauteng; we have 33 different offices, the largest one being in Harrison Street in Johannesburg with
117 officials in that particular office, and we still cannot cope with the numbers of people arriving at our offices, I think that as the report indicates, many of the recommendations that you make ultimately speak to resources. We need much more in terms of
personnel. We need better offices and we need better capabilities in terms of our systems. We need more technical skills in our outfit.
At the event where we were on the East Rand I mentioned that Home Affairs has fewer than 10 000 personnel and to adequately meet the large client base we probably need double and triple that number.
As South Africa we host one of the largest asylum populations in the world. Ninety per cent of all asylum applications are brought at the Desmond Tutu Refugee Reception Center. Now, most countries that are signatories to the refugee convention do not allow asylum seekers freedom of movement, nor do they allow asylum seekers to work. South Africa does both.
Most of these asylum seekers are in fact from the continent. Other countries, including fellow African countries, will only allow refugees to work — and these are refugees not asylum seekers — and live where the state designates.
So it’s untrue, and I think we must be very careful as members, to perpetuate this notion that South Africa is Afriphobic. I think we have one of the more liberal systems of migration and of asylums, and it comes at a huge cost. Most countries that host refugees
within their borders spend huge amounts of resources to manage these communities.
Our asylum services are inadequately resourced. If you consider that in our offices in Gauteng, with those large numbers of migrants, we have 32 members of our inspectorate services, you’ll understand the huge challenge that Home Affairs faces.
I have looked at the recommendations of the report and, as I say, many of the recommendations made will require a rightsizing, both in terms of personnel numbers and technicians, etc. So, I want to assure the House that your ambitions for Home Affairs are our ambitions as well.
I just wish to respond to a few issues which again I think must be placed in perspective. I don’t agree that boundaries are determined by colonisers. I think we must all remember that we have a little thing called the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, wherein we are defined as a sovereign country, and that our sovereignty is defined ... [Interjections.]
Ms T J MOKWELE: On a point of order, Chair. On a point of order.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A J Nyambi): Sorry, Deputy Minister, let me take a point of order. What’s the point of order?
Ms T J MOKWELE: I think we must not distort our history. [Interjections.] We must not distort our history.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A J Nyambi): Hon Mokwele!
Ms T J MOKWELE: Boundaries in Africa were determined by colonisers. It’s a fact.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A J Nyambi): Hon members! Hon Mokwele!
Ms T J MOKWELE: It’s history. Or am I lying?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A J Nyambi): Hon Mokwele, can you take your seat? Hon Mokwele, let me remind you. [Interjections.] Hon Mokwele, let me remind you that the issue of you debating with the speaker who is at the podium is totally disorderly.
Ms T J MOKWELE: {Inaudible.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A J Nyambi): No, don’t do that!
Ms T J MOKWELE: {Inaudible.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A J Nyambi): You are not allowed to debate. You had your own chance. You were respected. You debated. Let’s allow the Deputy Minister to continue. Continue Deputy Minister.
Ms T J MOKWELE: [Inaudible.]
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS: The Constitution in its founding provisions states as follows, “The Republic of South Africa is one, sovereign, democratic state”. [Interjections.] It also goes on in section 21(3) of the Bill of Rights ... and it doesn’t matter how loudly you speak, hon member, the Constitution is a written document which you have sworn an oath to uphold, and I think your behaviour at the moment says that you don’t agree with the Constitution. So, I don’t know what you’ve sworn an oath to uphold.
The second thing that it says is that every citizen has a right to enter ...
Ms T J MOKWELE: On a point of privilege, Chair. [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A J Nyambi): Hon Mokwele! Sorry hon Deputy Minister, can you take your seat? In terms of our Rule 37, the officer presiding may order a member to leave the Chamber immediately for the remainder of the day’s sitting if the officer is of the opinion that the member is in contempt or is disregarding the authority of the Chair, pr the member’s conduct is grossly disorderly.
Hon Mokwele, I am warning you. Can you allow us to continue with the debate? You can’t be doing what you are doing. I am not going to allow you to debate with the speaker at the podium. Hon Deputy Minister, you are protected. Can you continue? [Interjections.] Sorry, Deputy Minister. Hon Hattingh, I hope you’re not taking me back to my ruling. If it’s a new matter I’ll allow you. You are recognised. [Interjections.]
Mr C HATTINGH: Hon Chair, while the hon Deputy Minister was speaking, this hon member shouted across the floor that she is a coloniser. She is not going to listen to her. I would like ... [Interjections.] Don’t! I’m not talking to you; I’m talking to the Chair. Just ... [Inaudible.] [Laughter.] Hon Chair, you can check the record, but I would request that the hon member withdraw that.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A J Nyambi): We will definitely check the record so that we can make the proper ruling. Let’s allow the Deputy Minister to continue.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS: I just wanted to point out that, in support of this notion that it was the people of South Africa who passed this Constitution and who established the boundaries for our new country of South Africa, the Bill of Rights says everyone has the right to leave South Africa, but it says, “Every citizen has the right to enter South Africa”. This is a very, very important part of our Constitution that I think we very often tend to forget. As citizens, only we enjoy the right ... [Interjections.] ... to enter our country legally. Everybody else has to do so by invitation of a visa.
At the time we were in Ekurhuleni, I raised very sharply the issue of the Border Management Authority Bill. I don’t want to go back to that, but it will also be a mistake to think that our borders are completely insecure. Last year alone one of the companies on the border between South Africa and Mozambique apprehended about
6 462 attempted illegal entrants, and this was because people were apprehended by the SA Defence Force there. Hijacked vehicles worth R28 million smuggled from South Africa into Mozambique were seized.
I want to remind those who think that illegal migration into our country is benign that, and I’ll quote Major Manganye who operates near the Lebombo border post, who reports about the smuggling of rhino horn and wildlife products. He reports about illicit cigarettes and contraband, all of which damage our economy; illicit products and drugs that harm our children; 344 rhino carcasses and
65 elephant carcasses that were discovered in the Kruger National Park last year; 406 suspected poachers that were arrested; and
156 dangerous weapons that were confiscated, including homemade gun silencers. Should these weapons have gotten into our country we can only imagine what they could’ve been used for.
The thing that I do want to agree with though is that border management is not going to be the only solution to the issue of illegal migration into our country. I do think that one of our tasks as government in our international relations and in our trade dealings internationally, etc is to look at the development of our neighbouring countries, particularly in the Southern African Development Community, SADC, and across the continent. We have to start somewhere, and I wonder if we don’t give sufficient consideration to the issue of security on our continent.
Today I was very, very heartened to hear that the UN together with the AU has resolved that the guns in Africa will be silenced. I think this is something that we as Africans must support and get behind because a lot of migration into our country is about insecurity.
The other issue ... I was very interested ... I bought this book called Oliver Tambo’s Dream at the East London Airport this morning, and one of the things I read was that in one day Oliver Tambo flew from the one party state of Zambia to the people’s Republic of Mozambique. He was then driven up to the monarchy of Swaziland before flying to the military ruled Lesotho. And I’m wondering, if Comrade president O R Tambo was alive today and was travelling through Africa, how many different types of states would he be flying through? Would we still see military rule on the continent?
Would we still see monarchies on the continent? I think our response is, yes, we would. I think this is the kind of thing that we as Africans need to start talking about more and more. How do we bring freedom and economic prosperity to all the peoples of this wonderful continent? It is only when all of the countries on the African continent are as free as we are here in South Africa; are as free as our children are in South Africa; are able to speak to a Bill of Rights; are able to speak to a constitution; and are able to have
faith and trust in their institutions of democracy, that we can really say that we are all prospering together. [Applause.]
Mr F ESSACK: Chairperson and fellow South Africans, the Taking Parliament to the People programme in Gauteng was, of course, another eye-opener to the blatant, careless and inhumane ANC-neglect of the past 25 years. It is a pity that the hon Dlamini is walking out because I wanted her to digest some facts for future reference.
If we are then to understand the severity of the ANC’s failures, we need not look further than the Life Esidimeni tragedy. Yes, my ANC colleagues, I can understand that you might right now be thinking the following: Here we go again, same old story by the opposition to attack us. Bear with me. My dear ANC colleagues, I say to you, bear with me.
I can tell you right now who isn’t thinking like that – the families of the 17 missing victims that are still anxiously waiting for the return of their loved ones. These are the families that are still waiting for the compensation they so rightfully deserve. These payments are unsurprisingly being delayed by the inefficiency of the failing Office of the Premier in Gauteng. Hon Makue, you know that as well as I do.
Hon Madlala, digest this: Maybe you should go and have a chat over coffee with your friends at Marshalltown and tell them to get cracking. South Africans are growing tired of unnecessary delays. At the same time, perhaps, tell them also to enjoy their last few weeks in office because come 8 May, the people of Gauteng are not only going to fire you but instate a capable, DA-led government to fix this mess you have created. Welcome! [Interjections.]
Chairperson, the problem with the Taking Parliament to the People programme is that it is a complete farce. I will tell you why. ANC members of this very House, colleagues of mine, only utilised these oversight trips to boost their political profiles within the party structures, with the sole purpose of retaining their seats for the next Parliament. If they really cared for the people of Gauteng, why then, I must ask, are they not more critical of this failing government in Gauteng? The primary duty of a Member of Parliament is to hold the executive to account in both provincial and national spheres. However, we are all being fooled. The ANC remains a patronage state that demands loyalty from its members – so much for your Thuma Mina! Digest that for immediate reference!
I heard the failing ANC is taking credit for the number of jobs that are being created in Gauteng. Let me then remind you that you got
your facts from the back of a Chappies wrapper. Let’s set the record straight, shall we? Of the 172 000 jobs that were created in the fourth quarter of 2018 – yes, the fourth quarter of 2018, now the other day – in Gauteng, 94% of those were created in the DA-led coalition metropolitan municipalities of Johannesburg and Tshwane. [Interjections.] The ANC-run municipalities like Merafong, Rand West City, and Emfuleni can no longer provide basic services to residents.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A J Nyambi): Hon Essack! Hon Essack, sorry
...
Mr F ESSACK: No, I am very sorry! Just watch my time.
Ms T J MOKWELE: With due respect, Chair, we don’t have a coalition in Johannesburg and Tshwane.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A J Nyambi): Hon Mokwele, there is a ruling to that effect.
Ms T J MOKWELE: Yes! So, you must not allow the member to mislead
...
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A J Nyambi): I am not going to enter that space. There is a ruling to that effect.
Ms T J MOKWELE: Why are you so impatient with me, my friend? Don’t be impatient.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A J Nyambi): I am very patient with you. That is why ...
Ms T J MOKWELE: You must be patient.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A J Nyambi): ... I am kindly requesting you to take your seat.
Ms T J MOKWELE: We are here to work. Just be patient.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A J Nyambi): I am kindly requesting you to take your seat. I am very patient with you. That is why you are still in the House. Hon Essack? [Laughter.]
Ms B A ENGELBRECHT: Chairperson? Chairperson?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A J Nyambi): Hon Essack, let’s take the hon Engelbrecht’s point of order.
Ms B A ENGELBRECHT: Chairperson, can I just inform the EFF that we have a formal coalition between the DA, Cope, and the FF Plus?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A J Nyambi): Hon Engelbrecht, you are out of order.
Ms B A ENGELBRECHT: No, Chairperson ...
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A J Nyambi): Take your seat. I have made a ruling. I am not going to enter that space. There is a ruling in the House about that issue. We are not going to entertain it. Continue, hon Essack. You are protected.
Mr F ESSACK: Chairperson, I appreciate it. If only people would listen and apply their minds. I said very clearly “in the DA-led coalition” metros of Johannesburg and Tshwane. Perhaps they will be digested into the ANC come 9 May. We never know.
ANC-run municipalities in Gauteng, such as Merafong, Rand West City, and Emfuleni, can no longer provide basic services to residents. The
only mistake these residents made was to believe an ANC-led government would ever care about them. The failing ANC only cares about itself. That is not something new. I mean, it is well known. That is why these municipalities invested the people’s money in VBS Bank, these very same municipalities. Who was charged, I ask? No one! No one, up until today! You will not find this under a DA-led government because where the DA governs, we do not loot the people’s money.
In conclusion, residents in Gauteng are faced with the most important decision of their lives: They can vote for an uncaring and corrupt ANC-led government in Gauteng that is only concerned with filling its pockets, or they can vote for a government with a proven track record, a government that is transparent, accountable and competent, and that government is the DA. Watch this space! I thank you. [Applause.]
Mr E MAKUE: Hon Chairperson, members of this House and representatives from provincial legislatures, our hon Deputy Ministers and hon councillor delegates from SA Local Government Association, Salga. We are gathered here, inspired by the vision that the people of South Africa, defined for the South Africa of the future, when the people met in 1955. It was in Kliptown, which is in
Gauteng Province, that our forebears declared that, “The people shall govern!”
In the words of Gauteng Premier, the hon David Makhura, during Gauteng 2019 State of the Province Address, Gauteng 2019 Sopa:
As government, we need to understand that the people of our province are proud people and believe in doing things for themselves, instead of depending on government for everything. They often say to me, during Ntirhisano, that they need a helping hand from their government, not handouts and patronage. This is their attitude; this is their spirit.
The spirit of the people of Gauteng! It is in this spirit that this democratic government, led by the glorious ANC, has adopted the Taking Parliament to the People programme since 2002. The ANC’s firm principle is that no government may claim legitimacy unless it is based on the will of the people. An economy of inclusive growth and an economic development project that benefits all people of South Africa remains the fundamental policy position for this ANC-led government.
In his state of the nation address, our beloved President, Matamela Ramaphosa, emphasised the need for inclusive economic growth. This clarion call resonates well with the Freedom Charter’s declaration that, “The people shall share in the wealth of the country”. Job creation, poverty alleviation and fighting inequality remain apex priorities of the ANC. Decent and sustainable jobs for women and our youth is paramount in the ANC policy. Interventions of the Gauteng Provincial Government indeed impressed us during the time we spent in Taking Parliament to the People of Gauteng.
The Gauteng Government convinced us that the National Development Plan’s Outcome 4 is being implemented with seriousness. The National Development Plan requires government to find a balance between a stable economic environment and investment. The ANC leadership in Gauteng successfully implements inclusive growth and challenges the structural inequalities, so as to ensure more equitable distribution of wealth.
In his 2019 State of the Province Address, our hon Premier David Makhura, correctly characterises what he calls, “The Spirit of Gauteng”, as the resilience and determination of people to succeed. Gauteng is the most populous province in our country owing to its economic and industrial edge, as compared to other provinces.
This may serve as strength as well as a challenge to the province. It is strength because the population provide human resources which are essential for economic growth. Like many other ANC-led provinces, Gauteng has recorded commendable milestones in growing our economy to benefit all our people.
The ANC has laid the legislative framework to transform our economy to benefit the majority of South Africans. However, there is much more to be done. The struggle continues! As we say in the ANC: Aluta Continua! As of 2017, the economy of Gauteng recorded R1,5 trillion as GDP. We have seen 5,163 million people being in employment in Gauteng province in 2018.
The Socio-Economic Review journal of the province of Gauteng in 2018 highlights some of the achievements recorded in the province since 2016. The review shows that the economy of the province has grown faster than that of the country - in the last three years. However, the review highlights the persistent challenges of unemployment and inequality in the province, which are still defined by race, geography, generationalism and gender. Some of the challenges which contribute to unemployment, inequality and poverty were highlighted by the citizens of this province when we were there in the 2018 leg of Taking Parliament to the People programme.
The people of this province indicated, amongst other things, the challenges of: Lack of transformation of the economy and lack of jobs being created; poor access to finance, especially for SMMEs; the challenge of urban poverty; the need for industrial parks, especially in the townships; and the reduction of red tape in policy, legislation and regulations.
Therefore, we have our hon chair of chairs here today; so that he can go back to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature and make sure that we do better than what we have done in the last five years. These challenges are indeed a serious concern to us, as people’s servants in the NCOP, and must be addressed accordingly.
The ANC, in its 54th National Congress Resolutions, resolved to strongly advocate for the need to diversify the economy to benefit rural and township areas with a special focus on women and youth in poor communities. The people that suffered economic exploitation, job reservation and discrimination for over 300 years of colonialism
- which we still hear the Premier here in the Western Cape supporting ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A J Nyambi): Hon Makue, sorry. Let me take hon Essack. Hon Essack, why are you standing? [Laughter.] You laugh!
Mr F ESSACK: Chairperson, with due respect, I apologise. However, through you I just want to take hold of the member on the podium and ask if he can take a simple question.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A J Nyambi): Hon Makue, are you ready to take a question from hon Essack?
Mr E MAKUE: Unfortunately not! I don’t have the chance ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A J Nyambi): No, he is not ready! Can you continue, hon Makue?
Mr E MAKUE: There are some members of this House whom, when they have the floor, pretend as if they know everything but when we are on the floor, they have questions. [Interjections.]
Building on the 54th ANC Conference resolution, the Gauteng Provincial Government undertook various interventions to grow the township and rural economies. These interventions include the transformation, modernisation and reindustrialisation programme, TMR programme, of the five city regions, as a focus of the provincial mandate for the ‘fifth administration’. Our Premier is working with
the mayors of all municipalities in the province to implement the transformation, modernisation and reindustrialisation programme.
As further part of the TMR, the ANC in the province of Gauteng has developed the Gauteng Industrial Development Zone in Ekurhuleni to provide duty-free importation of production-related materials and inputs, reduced corporate income tax and VAT exemption in respect of export products manufactured in the zone. The hon Deputy Minister Masuku has adequately explained in the House some of the details with regard to the development zone in Ekurhuleni.
The Gauteng Provincial Legislature and the ANC, through our Tshepo
1 Million programme ensured that young people acquire appropriate skills, entrepreneurial opportunities and job placements. Whereas two year ago, this was Tshepo 500 000 programme, we have done so well as a province that we immediately changed it to Tshepo
1 Million programme. The Tshepo 1 Million programme has thus far benefitted 510 000 young people in terms of demand-led entrepreneurship development projects. Better and more are to follow!
With regard to the ‘township economic development’, the province is providing both financial and nonfinancial support for township
economies through the industrial infrastructure developments such as agri-parks, industrial parks, automotive hubs and eKasiLabs. If we hear about the progress in Tshwane, it is because of what this ANC- led government is doing in the automotive hub in that city.
The province has undertaken initiatives to ignite creativity in the townships through the Township Entrepreneurship Award for entrepreneurial spirit, the creative energy and for innovation within the township economy.
Currently, the ANC-led government of Gauteng spends 23% of its goods and services budget supporting women-owned businesses. More than
7 000 women-owned enterprises are also getting financial and nonfinancial support from Gauteng Government. [Applause.] Sixty percent of the beneficiaries of the agri-enterprise programme, 60% of Tshepo 1 Million and 65% of housing-delivery beneficiaries are women. [Applause.]
Prior to 2014, the Gauteng Provincial Governments procurement spent on township businesses was only R600 million. This, the fifth administration, over the past five years have procured goods and services to a total of R22 billion. The ANC’s procurement strategy has enabled the provincial government to procure services from local
SMMEs, ranging from furniture to catering services. During our process of Taking Parliament to the People, we had visited some of these projects within the East Rand.
The Department of Small Business Development in Gauteng successfully focussed on small enterprises and cooperatives, throughout the province. This enhances the fight against poverty, unemployment and inequality. [Interjections.] We don’t just talk; we do, as the ANC! The ANC-led government is at the forefront of developing the township economy through financial as well as nonfinancial support, in establishing incubators and through public-private partnerships. [Applause.]
The Gauteng Province has introduced the township stock exchange in partnership with the private sector. To have a citizenry with the kind of attitude and spirit that we observed in Taking Parliament to the People of Gauteng is a blessing and not a curse. It is an honour, hon members, for the ANC to lead this province and serve its people. [Time expired.] The ANC will continue creating a better life for all. Thank you! [Applause.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Chairperson, from the onset let me say that we started very badly. We started a debate which affects the
lives of the poor, of the rich, of the aspirants and of the ones who no longer have hope. This is not only about the people of Gauteng, because Taking Parliament to the People brings other provinces on board too through out our programme during the previsits and during the main project.
I think that I have expected a discussion on the report about Taking Parliament to the People to reflect on the issues that the people of Gauteng come across, and also the experiences which were obtained from other provinces were put in front of the NCOP. I do not expect this House to degenerate into party lines. The pain of the South Africans, of those people who need help and the people that we represent, do not always find joy in the expression of the party colours.
They see this House as the House and a vehicle that would represent them when they can’t represent themselves. So, I would really hope that the next discussion on the report tabled by the NCOP on any province, will not be like what we’ve started off today. Today, I want to take this opportunity to hope that for once, we will all come together and remember to stand close as South Africans, not only the black South Africans, on the issue that is facing Caster Semenya, because it faces us as women in a different form.
When we face this experience, we are reminded about what we went through. It says to us that, in fact, a black woman does not have a chance anywhere. We did not have a chance to express ourselves in our own country, and when we finally had it in 1994 to open up the little gates that enable us to run somewhere to express ourselves and conquer somewhere, it becomes our biological makeup that is now used against us.
Therefore, I’m one of those who will standby and scream for Caster Semenya to be allowed to do what she does best, to run. [Applause.] Also, I think that we would be united as this House, that we will remember that some of us are in semimourning. Not long ago, I lost a man I used to call my friend, Tuku, and I have just lost another big sister, Dorothy Masuku. Dorothy Masuku is that woman who composed the song with the lyrics ...
IsiXhosa:
... undibona ndinje nje, ndilinxila, kungenxa yamaBhulu.
English:
... because at that time ... [Interjections.] ... Yes, I can sing it. At that time it was necessary for us to reflect on what was happening to us and our men. Now, I don’t want to get to this point
concerning the clash between the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and hon Mokwele. But I do agree, hon Mokwele, that in fact, the petitioning of Africa was done in Europe.
Its whole aim was to decimate and to destroy the Africans, to take over the mineral resources, to cut them out in ships, to put us in slavery and to rewrite the history of this continent which was rewritten in such a way that we actually believed that the first literates of African descents came after we had the colonisers in Africa, and that is not true. One should go back to looking at Europe and who, in fact, emancipated and brought education to Europe, it was black people from this country.
Yes, we want to give you the due because the Europeans were not the first colonisers and we know that. We know who first came to colonise us and we know who the second trench was, therefore, hon Mokwele, it would seem to us that before we talk about this equality of Africans, we must also talk about the impact, the repackaging, the cutting of countries, the pitching of Africans against one another and the migration down south.
We must look at all those issues because they are what we are still reeling from. Also, we need to be careful when we talk about these
issues because, I don’t agree with you when you say, no African is not a foreigner in South Africa. Instead, no African must be a foreigner in Africa. I also think that we must always remember that in our different ways, even as they came to colonise this continent, we had different systems, we had different traditions, we were at different stages of development and we had different minerals.
In our own way, we were developing this country. Therefore, it is a fallacy that when we look at Africa, and South Africa in particular, the only time we got developed was when the Drommedaris came, it is not true. I am speaking as a great-great descendant of Mogale. So, I want to say that we need to really begin to work as this House because I don’t ever want to debate in this way from this House. We want to use this House to reunite South Africa.
We want to use this House in order for the pains of the past to be put behind by the South Africans. We do not want to see the debates on the floor of the NCOP delivered in a manner which continues to dig the holes and the scars of the past. So, I want to thank the special delegates, you did us proud. I also want to thank permanent members of the NCOP for the respect you have shown to the special delegates, at least, you did not harass them. We want to say to Gauteng delegate members, continue doing what you’re doing.
You’ve got the eKasi Labs, which are something that the other provinces should actually consider having; you have a promotion of young people in innovative hubs, which I think it’s something that must make all South Africans feel that they are equal. The most important thing for me is that the Constitution must make us all equal. The Constitution must be about anybody living anywhere feeling as equal as anybody, whatever the race, whatever the language and whatever the colour.
We need to begin to use the NCOP in such a way that we can really talk on behalf of South Africans. So, I was a bit ashamed today, to listen to the takes from you. I am very happy that the DA wants to build one South Africa, but let us begin looking at those municipalities that you now govern, where you have taken the indigent policies and the basic services to the poorest of the poor.
So, as one South Africa, which minimally we started off by introducing free basic services to the poorest people, was in effect to ensure that the poorest of the people had minimum allocation of water and electricity. Now, let us start with the basics so that when we go, we don’t talk on behalf of only those who can talk for themselves, who are literate and who earn something.
Again, when we talk about a South African country which is a sovereign state, let us talk about all of us standing together to protect our sovereignty. For instance, I was very proud when the hon Julius was debating during the state of the nation address. He mentioned that we went to the borders because it was the responsibility of all of us. Therefore, there must be a time for South African politicians to recognise that we can tear into each other as much as we want, but at the end, we are South Africans.
We have a country to build, we have a nation to build and we have children that we must raise better than the way we were raised in this country. This means that the connotations of racism, the way we treat each other’s dignities, and egos, is not building. So, again I want to say to the Deputy Ministers that, I do notice the support you are giving to us.
I also notice that you give as much support as we push you to give. We thank you for that. We also thank you that you have never actually said to us that you are not available for our problems. We thank you, Deputy Minister of the Police, for the commitments that you are not only following through in Gauteng, but in other provinces also.
We have privately raised the issues of the trains and the violence that is occurring in the trains of the Western Cape. In our own thinking, the violence that occurs in the trains was targeting the workers who were travelling from as far as Stellenbosch, to come to work in the city. The violence was actually disrupting the economy of the province and the economy of the country. Let’s face it, the people who would revolt are not the rich people from the suburbs, it would be the poor people that are using the trains. Therefore, we thank the police for that intervention. [Applause.]
If you remember, Eldorado Park and Reiger Park communities raised the issue of the impact of drugs in their social systems. Therefore, we are also hoping for such intervention to these communities. Also, the people from the informal settlements have reported that there are people that are peddling in their areas. Therefore, we are happy that you have been working very hard to come up with a programme that will arrest the spread of drugs, which will actually make sure that the perpetrators that are destroying South Africa with drugs will spend a very long time in jail. [Applause.]
I also want to highlight that there are areas and offices where the Department of Home Affairs really excels. Therefore, we thank the people who work hard from that department. However, during the
Taking Parliament to the People, we received complaints from the public which concern the department. But we also know that there are pockets of excellence in the Department of Home Affairs. The complaints will be taken into consideration because we’ve heard your complaints.
Where we can, as the NCOP, we would push for more resources, and perhaps, even for different working hours also. It’s a pity that the people who belong to the Department of Health are not here. In fact, one of the concerning issues which shocked us was, how the people would simply abused drugs which are given for free to the people who are living with Aids or the people that are HIV positive.
We agree with Dr Motswaledi, the Minister of Health, that in fact, South Africa cannot just distribute drugs to her citizens. He also made mention of the point that the neighbours may come into the country illegally, but in the long run, the issue of distribution helps us, because the spread affects all of us across the borders. So, in being these good neighbours, there are issues that we must remember. Just now I was writing down, trying to remember, in how many countries I’ve been in Africa as a refugee?
What you said hon Chohan, is true. As I arrived in Botswana I was registered. In fact, I was arrested first and then registered as a refugee. The same chance was not given to me in Zambia when I was in transit to Tanzania. As I got off the plane, the ANC was organising for my United Nations passport, but they would not release me until I could prove the address. I also knew that I was not allowed to work, allowed trade and allowed to do whatever.
So, South Africa does have these liberal of benefits which we give to the people coming to our country, and I think that the people in Gauteng and across the country are not contesting that. What we are saying as South Africans is that, by all means, one can come to South Africa illegally, but if there is anything that has brought you to come to South Africa illegally, show yourself to the authorities so that you can be processed and be protected.
We are also saying, once you are within the borders of South Africa; respect our laws so that we can protect you within the provisions of these laws. [Applause.] So, I also want to say that, migration is also not just about looking at the people who come across the borders, it is a fact. I was the Premier of the North West, therefore, I know how much the North West owed Gauteng on medical bills and I also know how much the Northern Cape owed Gauteng.
I remember that I knew because the Northern Cape was our neighbour and I know that almost all the provinces referred to Gauteng for medicals, and it carried their burden. In fact, if the health system of Gauteng collapses, we must also look at what we do across the provinces, to make sure that in fact, the proper citizens of Gauteng are not treated badly because the North West has interfered. Also, I have failed to give back to Gauteng what the citizens are contributing in the province.
I also think that at some point we need to relook at how the equitable share is allocated. The model that suggest to count the heads and thereafter an allocation can be made, is not going to help us, if we want to develop this country and if we want to push the agenda of equality. I am saying this because, the poorest people are not able to contribute to tax, and where are they found? They are found in the rural provinces. Now, if you want to equate South Africans and you do not want them to creep into Tembisa ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): Order members, order!
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: ... [Inaudible] ... you then need to look at to what processes and projects you are putting in place, to
make sure that you make the economy work for people where they are. Therefore, the clashes that are taking place between the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape about people who comes in for jobs will not exist, because the citizens of the country would then communicate to one another.
I have been an advocate of the decentralisation of the economy simply to address rural development. I have said that you must also go back and have village economies and ensure that there is no South African that actually begins to feel inferior simply because they are not in the cities and do not ride a bus to work. We also need to begin to look at what China did.
Hon Mkongi and hon Parkies, you would remember that, actually, China took 1999 year suspension of pure communism, to deal with issues of the economy. By taking that cause, it helped to propel the Chinese economy. Therefore, we need to look at our policies and ideologies so that we can begin to strategise to merge them so that we do not get to each other’s throats in our houses ...
Setswana:
... ka jalo, ke a lo leboga ...
English:
... I also want to say that, in reality, when a child dies in school, it must be a tragedy. Therefore, we must make sure that all our schools are maintained. We must look at where the maintenance budget of our schools goes and we must also not be shy to say what the role of our school governing bodies, are.
In the North West, we trained the governing bodies, and I can tell you that one of the reasons they collect money is to maintain the schools. So, we must apportion the blame where it is, but we must also take the blame if it fits, as private citizens and as public representatives. But at all cost when we fight, there are things to remember.
You’re fine that you’re a Member of Parliament; you are fine that you’ll be going to your beautiful house; you have a car and you’ve been getting a nice salary, but it is that person who has been hungry that does not understand the altercations that happens in this House. What I am saying is that, we can politicise issues and debate about them, but please remember to take your constituency along with you.
So Chair, allow me to say that, it was a very constructive debate that I am hoping will ensue again when we have a chance. I use the word ‘we’ because, whether you return as an individual or not, the NCOP will exist, and it must go on to do the report back to the people of Gauteng Province and other provinces also. Thank you.
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
[TAKE IN FROM MINUTES.]
Report accordingly adopted in accordance of section 65 of the Constitution.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS - INSPECTION IN LOCO ON NOTICE OF INTERVENTION ISSUED IN TERMS OF SECTION 139(1)(B) OF THE CONSTITUTION, 1996, IN RAMOTSHERE MOILOA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY
Ms T J MOKWELE: Chair, on a point of order, I do not know if, as we see the order paper, we are primarily dealing with the report from one committee and dealing with the same issues. So I was wondering
if maybe we can allow the Chairperson to sum up, and then as we do the voting, we will then deal with individual report. Just a sum up because it is the same thing. It deals with the same thing. I am suggesting that the House, if it allows us to do that. I don’t know if it allows that.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C DIKGALE): Thank very much hon T J Mokwele, I do not want to open this for a discussion, because all us were here when we were starting. Can we allow the hon J M Mthethwa to continue.
Mr J M MTHETHWA: Hon Chairperson, hon members, Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality in the North West, is one of the eight municipalities in the Province under section 139 (1b) constitutional intervention. The increase number of municipalities necessitating immediate rescue operation, due to collapse of systems internal to municipality is worrying. It is a serious cause for concern. In most municipalities under intervention the root cause is non performance, non compliance and lack of oversight. Refusal to embrace and officiate the essence of reporting and accountability. Internal municipality instability due to councillors fighting among themselves, in the wake of this turmoil. Senior management is forced and expected to favour particular internal factions in the fight for
tenders and neglect of service delivery. The very purpose of local government while senior management is paid their salaries without fail.
Work is not done and there are no consequences. Local municipal political instability continues to affect service delivery and the deteriorating state of these dysfunctions, push the government to take the remedial majors to bring about a conducive local government environment that will enable beneficial local communities to have access to service delivery. This is the constitutional obligation, municipal leadership. I am tempted to do as hon member mentioned, because I got the report here.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): Order, hon Chairperson, are you saying you are going to make all the reports at once?
Mr J M MTHETHWA: No, I will take the major points and summarise and per report not all at once.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale: ...oh per report. Thank you Chairperson.
Mr J M MTHETHWA: Despite the progress report, the major challenges facing the municipality is the resignation of municipal managers, negative audit opinion and lack of capacity. There is a report on absence of audit committee and lack of internal audit capacity, convergence and sabotage by some officials. Security threat hampering the smooth operations of the municipality and the involvement of senior managers in business, neglecting their judiciary responsibility.
“Select committee observation and opinion”. All representative of political parties serving in the municipal council has acknowledged the Provincial Executive Committee, PEC decision to evoke section
139 (1b) of the Constitution, further acknowledged the progress made by the administrator, stakeholders accordingly, recommended the extension of the period of secondment of the administrator to enable implementation of outstanding work related to intervention.
Recommendations: Having conducted the oversight visit to Ramotshere Local Municipality and interacted with the local structure of political parties. The local community and the representative of organised labour, youth, ward committee members, and South African Local Government Association, the Select Committee of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, recommend as follows; The NCOP
approves the intervention of Ramotshere, Moiloa Local Municipality in terms of 139 (1b) of the Constitution. Administrator should fast track the process of implementing the municipal turnaround plan in accordance with the term of reference assigned by the North West MEC for Cogta.
Administrator should ensure that the municipal turnaround plans improve and provide solutions on all issues related to non functioning of the local labour forum, absence of the youth desk in the municipality and capacity of ward committee members. The North West MEC for Cogta should table quarterly progress report to the NCOP on the status of the intervention in the municipality, including challenges encountered. The Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs incorporation with relevant portfolio committee in the North West, State Provincial Legislature should in future conduct a follow up oversight visit o municipalities in order to evaluate the progress made in respect of the intervention in this municipality. I table this report.
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
Voting.
Report accordingly adopted in accordance of section 65 of the Constitution.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS INSPECTION IN LOCO ON NOTICE OF INTERVENTION ISSUED IN TERMS OF SECTION 139(1)(B) OF THE CONSTITUTION, 1996, IN DITSOBOTLA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY
Mr J M MTHETHWA: Chairperson, the North West Provincial Executive Council, on the recommendation of the MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs, resolved at its meeting held on 22 August 2018 to place Ditsobotla Local Municipality under intervention, in terms of section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution of the Republic.
Accordingly, intervention in the municipality commenced on 1 September 2018 for a minimum period of six months, renewable for a further equivalent period. The aim and purpose of the intervention, as defined in section 139 of the Constitution, are to enable the municipality to recover from the endemic governance and
administration, service delivery and financial management challenges.
These key functional areas are the backbone of a municipality. If a municipality is discovered to be weak in terms of these key areas, it means it is dysfunctional – a situation which inevitably requires government intervention, in order to bring out a desirable turnaround and normality in service delivery implementation.
Regarding the progress report, the administrator presented the intervention report on the municipal council adopted on 18 November 2018. The municipality has managed to appoint three section 56 managers such chief financial officer, director of planning and economic development, as well as director of community services.
The major service delivery progress report related to completion of the water treatment plant, unblocking of sewage, waste treatment plant in Lichtenburg and payment of creditors.
The governance progress report includes the improvement of governance within the municipal council, stabilisation and improvement of governance and administration, provision of
intervention plans and reports, and scheduling of portfolio committees to consider and adopt reports.
In terms of the Constitution and procedural matters, the select committee observed that the national Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Cogta, the NCOP, the North West Provincial Legislature and the local municipality were notified of the intervention and substantive matters related to the invocation of section 139(1)(b)of the Constitution.
The select committee also noted a general concern raised by the stakeholders on matters related to a lack of security and involvement of senior management in municipal business.
With regard to recommendations, having considered the oversight visit to Ditsobotla Local Municipality and interacted with the local structures of political parties and a wide range of stakeholders within the municipal area, the committee recommends as follows.
Firstly, the NCOP should approve the intervention in Ditsobotla Local Municipality, in terms of section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution. Secondly, the administrator should fast-tract the process of implementing the municipal turnaround plan in accordance
with the terms of reference, as assigned by the North West MEC for Cogta. Thirdly, the administrator should provide a report on the allegation that senior managers are doing business with the municipality and ensure the implementation of consequence management.
Furthermore, the North West MEC for Cogta should table the water progress report on the status of the intervention at the municipality in the NCOP, including challenges encountered.
Lastly, the Select Committee on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, in co-operation with the relevant portfolio committee of the North West Provincial Legislature, should in future conduct a follow-up oversight visit to the municipality, in order to evaluate the progress made in respect of the intervention in this municipality. I table this report.
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Report accordingly adopted in accordance of section 65 of the Constitution.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS – INSPECTION IN LOCO ON NOTICE OF INTERVENTION ISSUED IN TERMS OF SECTION 139(1)(b) OF THE CONSTITUTION,1996, IN KGETLENG RIVER LOCAL MUNICIPALITY
Mr J M MTHETHWA: Hon Chairperson and hon members, the state of local government is arguable, deteriorating yet our Constitution acknowledges. It has an important sphere of government closer to the people which must in its own capacity, complement the work of the state in service delivery implementation. Whilst some local government are busy, hands on deck, driving to work hard towards efficient realisation of the goals of our democratic and sovereign state. It is ascertained that what is taking place in North West is unprecedented. As I am standing here in front you in this august House, the National Council of Provinces, eight municipalities in the North West Province are under intervention in section 139 (1)(b) of the Constitution and 137 of the Local Government Municipal Finance Management Act, Act 56 of 2003. During the select committee in-loco oversight to the North West, the committee had to tackle eight municipalities in one province, all of which are
underperforming and noncompliance. Eventually, in all of them service delivery is at its lowest ebb, local beneficiary communities are visible frustrated while most in positions of power in the corridors of local government institutions are now utterly self- serving.
On 1 February 2019, the delegation of the select committee conducted in loco oversight and site inspection in the Kgetleng River Local Municipality in order to interact directly with the municipal council and the local community through a wide spectrum of stakeholders and local structures of political parties. Equally, this was an opportunity to enable the select committee to arrive at an appropriate determination when considering whether to approve or refuse an intervention.
It is also an opportunity to interact with a relevant provincial department staff and senior management on the need and desirability for an intervention in the municipality. The provincial department responsible for local government provided a synoptic oversight over challenges affecting the functionality of the municipality. All representatives of political parties serving in the municipal council has acknowledged the PEC decision to invoke section 139 (1)(b)of the Constitution. Further acknowledges the progress made by
the administrator, stakeholders accordingly recommended that extension of the period of secondment of the administrator to enable the completion of outstanding work related to the intervention. The select committee also noted the concerns raised by both internal and external stakeholders, especially with regard to low-staff morale, nonpayment of employee benefits and Eskom debt. The select committee is of the view that the initial process of stakeholder engagement will influence the focus of strategic planning and any other planning and intervention initiatives within the municipality.
Guided by the requirement of the Integrated Development Plan, IDP, the municipality should ensure a culture of community participation and plan with the beneficiary local communities, which should be allowed to have ownership of their municipalities.
Having conducted the oversight Kgetleng Local Municipality and interacted with the local structures of the political parties as well as the various stakeholders, the select committee recommends that the ANC approves the intervention in the Kgetleng Local Municipality in terms of section 139 (1) (b) of the Constitution. The administrator should fast-track the process of implementing the municipal turnaround plan, in accordance with the terms of reference assigned by the North West MEC for Cogta. The administrator should provide progress reports on payment of employees’ benefits and
arising Eskom debt. The North West MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Cogta, should table quarterly progress report to the NCOP on the status of the intervention in the municipality, including challenges encountered.
The Select Committee on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, in co-operation with the relevant portfolio committee in North West State Provincial Legislature, should in the future conduct a follow-up oversight visit to the municipality in order to evaluate the progress made in respect of the intervention in the municipality. Chairperson, I table this Report.
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
IN FAVOUR OF: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Report accordingly adopted in accordance of section 65 of the Constitution.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS - INSPECTION IN LOCO ON NOTICE OF INTERVENTION ISSUED IN TERMS OF SECTION 139(1)(B) OF THE CONSTITUTION, 1996, IN MAHIKENG LOCAL MUNICIPALITY.
Mr J M MTHETHWA: Hon Chairperson and hon members, the current state of the local government performance and compliance of Mahikeng Local Municipality is a serious cause for concern in that, by location, this municipality is the capital city of the North West Provincial Legislature and the provincial government. It is therefore reasonably expected that this municipality should strive to function optimally and deliver services to the local community without fail. Its performance and execution of its role and mandate is hampered by its inherent failure to embrace good governance and accountability, failure to acknowledge and appreciate the essence of oversight and monitoring and evaluation of performance. It is one of the municipalities which are notably reluctant to report openly on how it is using funds allocated for service delivery implementation.
In line with the mandate of the NCOP, the select committee embarked on a loco oversight visit to this municipality with the sole objective of interacting with the internal and external stakeholders to elicit their opinion on the constitutional, procedural and
substantive matters related to innovative of section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. The North West Department of Local Government and Human Settlements briefed the select committee on the constitutional procedures and substantive matters related to the invocation of section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution.
The representation focused on service delivery, governance, administrative inability and financial challenges. In terms of constitutional and procedural matters, the select committee has observed that the national Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Cogta, the NCOP, the Free State provincial ...
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): Order, hon members!
Mr J M MTHETHWA: The select committee has further observed service delivery in financial management challenges related to sanitation, water litigations, irregular payments, outstanding creditors’ debts and nonpayment of pension funds. During oversight, the committee observed that there is no progress made with regards to the intervention, notwithstanding the date of invocation of intervention. The root cause of this sheer lack of progress is the reluctance and failure to appreciate the purpose and objective of
section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution which focuses on ensuring that a required turnaround in the municipality is instituted. This entails hands-on support and assistance to the municipality on all the terms of reference coined from the series of challenges affecting the functionality of the municipality.
Having conducted the oversight visit to the Mahikeng local Municipality and interacted with the internal and external stakeholders, the Select Committee on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs recommends the following: the NCOP approves the intervention in Mahikeng Local Municipality in terms of section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution; administratorship fast-track the process of implementing the municipal turnaround plan in accordance with the terms of reference assigned by the North West member of the executive council, MEC, for Cogta; the administrator should provide progress report on the implications of the nonpayment of pension funds, criminal steps and unaccounted funds of the municipal plan to pay Eskom debt; filling of critical vacant positions; recovery plan and service delivery plan; the North West MEC for Cogta should conduct forensic investigation on supply chain management in the municipality and table the report to the National Council of Provinces; and the North West MEC for Cogta should table quarterly
progress report on the NCOP of the status of intervention in the municipality including challenges encountered.
The Select Committee on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs in co-operation with the relevant portfolio committee in the North West Provincial Legislature should in future conduct a follow- up oversight visit to the municipality in order to evaluate the progress made in respect of the intervention in the municipality.
Chairperson, I table this Report in the House.
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
In favour: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Report accordingly adopted in accordance of section 65 of the Constitution.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS – INSPECTION IN LOCO ON NOTICE OF
INTERVENTION ISSUED IN TERMS OF SECTION 139(1)(b) OF THE CONSTITUTION, 1996, IN KAGISANO MOLOPO LOCAL MUNICIPALITY
Mr J M MTHETHWA: Hon Chair, it is common knowledge that the South African local government environment coupled with its turbulent political landscape which differs from one municipality to another, is a cause for concern to the citizens of this country. It is a serious cause for concern because local communities are deprived of their right to service delivery due to internal, political and administrative instability in these municipalities. The same is true about a series of municipalities in the North West, where there is a collapse of service delivery and financial capability of the third sphere of governance.
Kagisano Molopo Local Municipality in the North West province, is counted among these unstable municipalities which have now being placed under section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution of the Republic. This step is necessary to bring about the desired normalcy in the municipality for the general good and beneficiary of local communities, when it comes to service delivery implementation.
Whenever an intervention has been preferred in terms of the provision of section 139 of the Constitution, it is imperative and
procedurally correct for the Select Committee on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs to interact with the internal and external stakeholders of a municipality. It is equally necessary to ensure compliance with the constitutional, procedural and substantive matters relating to the invocation of this section of the Constitution, section 139(1)(b).
The select committee noted general concerns raised by stakeholders on matters related to corruption, misuse of municipal vehicles, as well as lack of consultation on the notice of intervention.
The select committee also noted with concern the absence of the municipal manager during the oversight visit to the local municipality. It further noted with concern the failure of the municipal manager on 19 February 2019, to provide a status report on what the municipality has done during the period of interventions.
With regard to recommendations, having conducted the oversight visit in this municipality and interacted with internal and external stakeholders, the Select Committee on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs recommends that the NCOP approves the interventions in Kopanong Local Municipality in terms of section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution.
The administrator should fast-track the progress of implementing the municipal turnaround plan in accordance with the terms of reference assigned by the North West MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs. The administrator should provide progress report on the allegations of corruption and misuse of municipal vehicles and ensure the implementation of consequence management.
The North West MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs should table quarterly progress report of the NCOP on the status of interventions in the municipality, including challenges encountered.
The Select Committee on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs in co-operation with the relevant portfolio committee in the North West provincial legislature should in future conduct a follow- up oversight visit to the municipality in order to evaluate the progress made in respect of the interventions in this municipality.
Chairperson, I table this report in the House.
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
In favour: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Report accordingly adopted in accordance of section 65 of the Constitution.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS – INSPECTION LOCO ON NOTICE OF INTERVENTION ISSUED IN TERMS OF SECTION 139(1)(b) OF THE CONSTITUTION IN MAQHUASSI HILLS LOCAL MUNICIPALITY
Mr J M MTHETHWA: Hon Chairperson, hon members, broadly speaking, local government performance and compliance is hampered by inherent failure and the will to embrace accountability, oversight, monitoring and evaluation of performance as well as failure or reluctance to report openly on how these institutions use funds allocated for service delivery implementation.
When we speak of the institutional performance of local government, we tend to shy away from the real problems affecting local government. When municipalities fails to adhere to the general acceptance, recruitment and appointment practices, there is no way that local government can be indulged with appropriate skills to
execute their daily operations. A combination of both the absence and depth of skill at the administrative and municipal, political leaders with leadership level of a municipality equally hampers local government to execute their service delivery role and mandate.
The root cause of the current problem facing our local government is poorly man-made and deliberate. The way local government municipal leadership conducts their business and execute their judicially responsibilities is the root cause. Institutions fail because of human failure, some, while holding positions of power refuse to embrace servant leadership as a key aspect of municipal leadership.
The report presented by the administrator on the
18 [Inaudible.] 2018 and which the municipal council on this intervention adopted, reflect that the municipality has managed to appoint three section 56 managers such as Chief Financial Officer, Director of Planning and Local Economic Development and Director of Community Services.
On the select committee’s observation and opinion; all representatives of political parties serving in the municipal council, has acknowledged the Provincial Executive Committee, PECs’ decision to invoke section 139 (1) (b) of the Constitution. Further
acknowledges the progress made by the administrator. Stakeholders accordingly recommended the extension of the period of the secondment of the administrator to enable completion of outstanding work related to intervention.
The select committee noted the concern raised by the stakeholders on matters related to higher level of corruption, instigation of municipal employees by some senior officials to embark on a protest. It further noted with concern the allegations on nine co-operations of senior officials with the staff of the Auditor-General’s office and councillors benefiting from the municipal tendering processes and systems.
Under recommendations; having conducted the oversight visit to Maqhuassi Hills Local Municipality and interacted with the local structures or political parties and a broad range of stakeholders. The Select Committee on Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs recommendations are as follows; the NCOP to approve the intervention of Maqhuassi Hills Local Municipality in terms of section 139 (1) (b) of the Constitution. The administrator should fast track the process of implementing the municipal turnaround plan in accordance with the terms of reference assigned by the North West MEC for Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
The administrator should conduct forensic investigations on all allegations of corruption, non co-operation and of senior official to comply with the auditing requirements and co-operation with the audit stuff from the office of the Auditor-General. The administrator should also ensure that the scope of forensic investigation include the allegation of councillors’ involvement in municipal tendering processes and systems.
The North West MEC for Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs should table quarterly progress report to the NCOP on the status of the intervention in the municipality including challenges encountered. The North West MEC for Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs should after completion; table the forensic investigation report to the NCOP.
The Select Committee on Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs in co-operation with the relevant portfolio committee in North West states provincial legislature should in future; conduct a follow up oversight visit to the municipality. It should evaluate the progress made in respect of the intervention in the municipality, especially the expected outcome as per approved terms of reference as the basis of municipal performance improvement.
Chairperson, I table this report in the House.
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Report accordingly adopted in accordance of section 65 of the Constitution.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON FINANCE FIVE METROS OF NELSON MANDELA BAY, ETHEKWINI, BUFFALO CITY, CITY OF CAPE TOWN AND MANGAUNG
Mr C J DE BEER: House Chairperson, the Select Committee on Finance had engagements with National Treasury and the executive mayors of the five of the eight South African metros between August and September 2018, namely Nelson Mandela Bay, Buffalo City, Mangaung, Ethekwini and the City of Cape Town. The committee has previously engaged the three Gauteng metros, namely the City of Tshwane, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni in August 2017.
The objective of the engagement was to assist efficiency, effectiveness and the value for money in service delivered by the metros in line with the fiscal oversight role of the committee.
Engaging the metropolitan forms part of the committee’s strategic goal of ensuring effective oversight over government finances to ensure responsiveness of the budget to the needs of the people of South Africa. The metros have an important role to play in stimulating economic growth. The metros economic growth has been growing faster than the national economy. The metros are the engines of job creation and economic activities generating close to 60% of the GDP. Statistics SA has shown that about 50% of all employment created, formal and informal was in the eight metros. About 60% of South Africa’s population is also concentrated in the metros due to the better economic performance.
The metros engaged by the committee presented socioeconomic objectives and progress made with the implementation of the respective growth and development strategies, the built environment performance plans, Bepps, integrated development plans, IDPs, and local economic development, LED, plans. More importantly the metros reported on the overall budget implementation. The National Treasury also presented progress in its continued assessment of the metros based on their financial position, audit outcomes, service delivery
performance and the Medium-Term Revenue and Expenditure Framework, MTREF.
Six of the metros experienced a decline in cash for the financial year ending 2016-17. On average the metros performed at 96,2% on the operating revenue and 96,8% on the operating expenditure. The Buffalo City Metro cash and cash equivalents decreased in 2016-17 as compared to the previous financial year. Now Nelson Mandela Bay metro’s cash and cash equivalents increased much in 2016-17. The Mangaung Metro and the City of Cape Town audit outcomes regressed while Buffalo City improved when compared to the previous financial year. The rest of the metros audit outcomes remain unchanged. All metros except for Nelson Mandela Bay and Mangaung presented funded budget for the MTREF period.
Hon House Chair, with regard to recommendations - there are 16 recommendations, and I would just highlight a few. In future engagements, and that would be in the Sixth Parliament, metros have to present progress made in resolving the challenges identified in implementing respective economic growth and development strategies, the Bepps and the economic projects that would grow their respective economies to create jobs and source much-needed revenue to address service delivery. The metros such as Mangaung which are depending
heavily on conditional grants for their operations to develop own internal resources of revenue to supplement conditional grants in the next engagement with the committee these metros should report measures taken to boost the internal resources of revenue.
We also recommend that Mangaung Metro should address all the challenges it identified, which include cash performance, billing revenue and expenditure. And these action plans are already in place and are being implemented. The metro should report progress made in implementation of these action plans but we received a report from the Auditor-General already. The metro should address service delivery challenges identified, particularly the water and electricity loses that are huge and effect revenue collection. The metro should also report on progress made in addressing the challenges and they should strive towards obtaining clean audits, develop action plans to resolve the audit findings of the Auditor- General.
The national and provincial Treasury should take into consideration the capacity of the municipalities to spend additional budget allocated during the adjustment process and to transfer monies to metros and provinces on time. Higher cost of personnel is considered a historic problem. The affected metros should put effect of
measures in place to turn this situation around and report progress made in the next engagement that will be in the Sixth Parliament.
National and provincial Treasury should in addition, also to the comprehensive support that they provide to metros and municipality conduct robust fiscal oversight to verify alignment between budgets spent and actual service delivery on time. The City of Cape Town should put pressures in place to address high crime levels with support from other stakeholders and spheres of government, but in the meantime, since August last year, the Minister of Police made interventions in this regard – that is known to us.
The committee also urge the City of Cape Town to address the informal settlement spatial planning. Furthermore, the City of Cape Town should plan properly and budget for in-migration exploring various implementation models and co-operation option, including triple Ps - profit, people and planet, and to look also to international models. Buffalo City should address all challenges raised by the National Treasury in the assessment of their performance and report progress to the committee. I submit this Report for adoption by the House. Thank you.
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Report accordingly adopted in accordance of section 65 of the Constitution.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON PETITIONS AND EXECUTIVE UNDERTAKINGS - HEARINGS OF THE MANTSOPA PETITION HELD AT PRESIDENT HOTEL IN BLOEMFONTEIN, FREE STATE PROVINCE ON 16 AUGUST 2017 AND AT PARLIAMENT ON 25 OCTOBER 2017, AS ADOPTED ON 24
OCTOBER 2018.
Mr D L XIMBI: Chairperson, I hereby present the Report as printed on the ATC. I can just mention that the petitions raise a number of largely service delivery complaints against the municipality and seek the intervention of the NCOP in resolving those complaints. The complaints include the following: The failure of 2010 Municipality- run Skills Development or Leadership programme; the failure of the municipality to pay the Lehlomo Guest House for the catering, accommodation and stationery provided to the learners in terms of
the programme; the failure of the municipality to maintain the roads and sewerage infrastructure in Manyatseng township, Ladybrand.
Chairperson, the committee deliberated on the submission made during the hearing of the petitions. The committee decided that the Office of the Premier should develop a skills development or leadership programme which will incorporate qualifying learners from the failed 2010 Municipality-run Skills Development or Leadership programme.
The petition is pursuing a civil claim against Mbonela Phanda on the strength of the written acknowledgement by Mbonela Phanda that it has erroneously engaged Lehlomo in the absence of the service agreement. Without wasting time, I therefore officially present the Report for adoption by the Council. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Report accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON PETITIONS AND EXECUTIVE UNDERTAKINGS - EXECUTIVE UNDERTAKINGS MADE BY THE MINISTER OF POLICE DURING THE HOUSE SITTING OF 23 FEBRUARY 2016, AS ADOPTED ON 24 OCTOBER 2018
Mr D L XIMBI: Chairperson, again, I hereby present this report as printed on the Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports, ATC. I don’t want to repeat it. There were only two executive undertakings by the Minister of Police - special cases with regard to Gqaga in Ngcobo. I think I can do consultations after the cession to make follow up on the specific cases about issues of electricity and so forth.
Therefore, the committee discussed this and further note the progress report made by the Minister of Police. Lastly, the committee observed that the executive undertakings under review have been adequately implemented and therefore recommend that they be closed. I submit the report, Chairperson. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
In Favour: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Report accordingly adopted in accordance of section 65 of the Constitution.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON PETITIONS AND EXECUTIVE UNDERTAKINGS – EXECUTIVE UNDERTAKINGS MADE BY DEPUTY MINISTER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DURING HOUSE SITTING OF 3 MAY 2016, AS ADOPTED ON 24 OCTOBER 2018
Mr D L XIMBI: Chairperson, I am singing the same song. I hereby present the report, as presented in the Announcements, Tablings, and Committee Reports, ATCs.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A J Nyambi): “As printed”.
Mr D L XIMBI: As printed, sorry, in the ATCs. Allow me to highlight just a few things. Actually, there were nine executive undertakings from the Deputy Minister of Economic Development. Then, the department has supported a number of interventions relating to the skills and youth records. The Industrial Development Corporation hosted the International Youth Conference in October 2016. In
November 2016, the Deputy Minister participated in the Limpopo youth career development expo in the Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality.
The department has engaged in a number of economic development activities in the country’s nine provinces. These activities include working with the lead departments to accelerate the implementation of the agri-park in Musina, Limpopo, the implementation of the township economy strategy, and automotive value chain maximisation in Gauteng.
Further, in noting the progress by the Department of Economic Development, the committee, lastly, observed that the executive undertaking review has been adequately implemented and therefore recommends that it be closed.
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
[TAKE IN FROM MINUTES]
Report accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON LAND AND MINERAL RESOURCES - OVERSIGHT VISIT TO THE FREE STATE PROVINCE DATED, 27 NOVEMBER 2018
Mr O J SEFAKO: Deputy Chair and hon members, as we close the term, we are challenged to reflect on the highlights of the year. The celebration of the centenary of our revolution revered world renowned stalwarts - Ms Albertina Sisulu and Dr Nelson Mandela.
In reflecting on the role of these giants of our revolution, I dedicate this Report and the work of committee to their memory. In our reflection, we must critically assess whether our committee work was informed by the commitment and dedication to the service and upliftment of the poor and the vulnerable.
During one of our numerous site visits, our committee was inspired by the work of a family in Thaba Nchu, in the Free State. The family is involved in farming in line with the injuction of the Freedom Charter – the land shall be given to those who work it. What made us proud was that an emerging farmer has now graduated to a commercial farmer. This experience is already shared amongst the youth in the area. His farm is sustainable and has employed four permanent
workers, six family members and 15 casual workers who get called especially during the harvesting periods.
Clearly, Mr Thekiso is a good example of his people. The essence and significance of this is the developmental impact in the area. One of the most positive spin-offs is its contributions to food production and therefore food security. To some extent, Mr Thekiso is playing a vital role in the economy.
We have observed that there is value for money in the project. The quality of spending in the project has been a useful investment that has created a sustainable enterprise.
As I said earlier, in the spirit of honouring our late stalwarts, Mr Thekiso has played a key role in creating jobs in order to change his life and the lives of those close to him. Our country needs men and women of his calibre in the struggle to build a developmental state through rural development. I therefore, table this Report for adoption.
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
[TAKE IN FROM MINUTES]
Report accordingly adopted in accordance of section 65 of the Constitution.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL SERVICES OVERSIGHT VISIT TO XHARIEP DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY AND MANGAUNG METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY IN THE FREE STATE PROVINCE FROM 30 JULY –
3 AUGUST 2018
Ms L C DLAMINI: Hon Chair, I will not like to be popular by repeating everything that has been printed on the ATC. I will rather focus on the highlights that we consider important.
With regard to the infrastructure, the committee observed that in all clinics that we visited, paving was done, fencing was erected, rails and ramps for people with disability were done. Medical waste
... Storage rooms were built and painting was done in all those clinics that we visited.
We also recommend that the Free State province consider building clinics that are adequate for the people that they are serving over the long term.
With regard to fleet, the committee observed that in all clinics that we identified as clinics without fleet, fleet was bought, was stationed in the state garage, ready to be transferred to the different health facilities in the district and Mangaung metropolitan.
With regard to medical equipment, we observed that most clinics received medical equipment in both Mangaung and Xhariep. However, during our visit, there were still clinics waiting for their medical equipments.
With regard to human resources, where all managers were acting, during our visit, we observed that almost all of them were permanently appointed. What was remaining was the payment of acting allowance because most of them had been acting for more than five years.
With regard to emergency services - the shortage of ambulance - the committee observed that the province had procured over 100 ambulances of which six were delivered and they were waiting for the others.
With regard to mobile units, the committee observed that 24 mobile units were procured, stationed in the state garage, waiting for modification because they could not be used in the rural areas.
With regard to medicine availability, about 98% of the medicine was available in all the clinics that we visited.
With regard to security matters, about 200 security posts were advertised and they were in the process of short listing for the appointment.
We therefore recommend, as a committee, that the province should look into the issue of private ambulances. In one hospital, we found that the private ambulances were more used than the government ambulances. We also recommend that serious attention be paid to Pelonomi Hospital because it left much to be desired. So, I table the report.
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
In Favour: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Report accordingly adopted in accordance of section 65 of the Constitution.
CONSIDERATION OF ANNUAL REPORT OF JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2018
Mr J P PARKIES: Hon Deputy Chair, let me appreciate the opportunity, I am hereby presenting the Report of the Joint Standing Committee of Intelligence for the Financial Year 27 April-18 March 2018. It is safe to say and highlight that the Report is only submitted now because the activities of the committee were affected by the departure of the Chairperson and the committee resolve and recommend that the rules must apply where the acting Chairperson should be appointed and in the long term there must be a space for the Deputy Chairperson of the Committee to come in.
The committee had different activities in this financial year under review. We interacted with all organs of our intelligence community, Inspector General, IG, the Financial Sector Intelligence Centre Judge Mmusi for interception. We interacted again on the IG, the
kernel of the issue was the submission of the certificates issued by him regarding the assessment of the intelligence community.
We also discussed in this activities on the basis of the certificate, the so called principal agent network and the committee recommends that this matter was not fully investigated and no prosecutions were instituted by the National Prosecuting Authority, NPA and we persuaded the President to re-open the matter, investigate and the prosecution must be made and those who are found to have been involved they must face the extend of the law.
We also recommended the reconstruction of the intelligence services that a panel must appointed by the President and the panel has been appointed and with the recommendations of the Report but we have not yet reached that stage of adopting the Report of the Panel.
On the legislation, this committee instituted a small group of a sub committee to look on the gaps and the loop holes that governs the workings of the intelligence and our security organs. We found different loopholes that needs to be closed moving forward to the 6th Parliament. We met visitors from the Republic of Italy, we had visitors from the Parliament of Nigeria, the committee that works on
the security matters and the intelligence. The committee visited Sweden and Netherlands.
We want to recommend that a number of this need to be given attention in particular and the relations between the office of the IG and the intelligence community. The issues that relates to cyber crime, the issues that relates to the calibre of people who are deployed to the intelligence organs and there must and overarching assessment to the technologies that we need to advance and secure our country. We want to recommend that the Presiding Officers, if required to ponder the process of appointment of the member of the committee as acting Chairpersons in the absence of the Chairperson. We therefore submit the Report for consideration.
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
In Favour: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Report accordingly adopted in accordance of section 65 of the Constitution.
The Council adjourned at 18:44.
Audio
No related