Hansard: NCOP: Unrevised hansard

House: National Council of Provinces

Date of Meeting: 10 Jun 2015

Summary

No summary available.

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Minutes

WEDNESDAY, 10 JUNE 2015

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PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES

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The Council met at 14:03.

 

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

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS – see col 000.

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon members, I am informed that the Whippery has agreed that there won’t be any motions, so we will then take the opportunity ask the secretary to read the First Order.

 

 

APPROPRIATION BILL

 

(Policy debate)

 

Policy debate on Budget Vote No 37 – Arts and Culture:

 

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE: Deputy Chairperson, Members of Executive Councils of provinces, and hon members of the NCOP, we gather here on this occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Freedom Charter beholden to those men and women who came together on 26 June 1955 at the Congress of the People in Kliptown to craft a vision for a free and fair South Africa.

 

This month of June is dedicated to celebrating another important milestone on our national calendar. We have the common responsibility always to recall the events of 16 June 1976 so that the bravery and sacrifices of the generation of young people, whom Oliver Tambo was inspired to describe as young lions, should serve as an inspiration to the youth of today to work hard to contribute to the solution to the challenges they and our nation are confronted with.

 

Today, 39 years later, ours is a country with a wealth of arts, cultures and languages. Our country consists of nine provinces which we have made a collective commitment to knit together into a nation united in its diversity. That challenge is at the core of the Department of Arts and Culture and our heritage. Pursuant to these goals, I can report the following provincial achievements and plans.

 

In 2014-15, the Department of Arts and Culture’s TrendSetter Initiative recruited and trained 90 young people. These young people underwent vigorous on-the-job training in various facets of the arts, culture and heritage sector. We can report that we convened a social cohesion report-back summit in Nelson Mandela Bay that was a massive success. The attacks on foreign nationals demonstrate the need to have a proactive approach to nation-building and social cohesion, particularly in hotspots around the country. Furthermore, our social cohesion advocate programme would enable us to integrate them into our national days programmes and have more of their involvement in our Department of Arts and Culture programmes in order to make them relevant to our people in the provinces.

 

Through the Mzansi Golden Economy, MGE, programme, we continue to support the development of the creative economy across the country. The open calls for public art, touring ventures and cultural events have sparked interest, creativity, innovation and a wave of applications from the arts sector. The department received over 1 000 applications and made awards to 173 projects. The provincial breakdown of these awards shows that we still have a lot of work to do to ensure that there is participation in the process by artists from the Free State, North West and Eastern Cape, in particular.

 

We acknowledge the challenges faced by the crafters in our country, especially the ones residing in the rural areas, thus the co-ordination of the crafts izimbizo across the country in partnership with the Departments of Small Business Development and Trade and Industry. There are opportunities for craft enterprises and organisations to get support through the Mzansi Golden Economy’s cultural events and tourism ventures under a category called “Miscellaneous”. We found that crafters have the challenges of the market, of getting the money, and training – they still need a lot of training – so that they are able to sell at even an international level. To date, we held izimbizo in Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, North West, Free State and Gauteng. We are still waiting for the days for KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Cape. The Western Cape imbizo for the crafters will be on 19 June.

 

In our drive to instil a civic consciousness and national pride among our youth, we committed to install 22 193 flags over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, cycle as part of the Department of Arts and Culture’s flag in every school campaign, which was also announced by the President during the state of the nation address. This campaign involves, amongst others, hoisting the national flag, the correct etiquette of singing the national anthem, the recital of the Preamble to the Constitution by the learners, distribution of South African hand flags and publications on national symbols as well as the CD tool kit on how to sing the national anthem. We have now printed the passports of patriotism that include all of that. So, by being a Chair, you are going to get this as your bonus.

 

In addressing the need to popularise our African identity, we will be launching a competition for schools on the African Union anthem. We are supposed to sing the AU anthem and then our national anthem. The anthem has been made available to schools online to mark Africa Month, and we encourage our youth to learn the anthem. I have a copy here. We are going to be distributing them. It starts with the AU anthem, followed by our national anthem. [Applause.]

 

We have successfully implemented and expanded the artists in schools initiative over the MTEF cycle. About R45 million over the MTEF period will be dedicated to placing arts facilitators and educators at schools around the country as part of integrating arts and culture into the school curriculum.

 

A number of heritage sites associated with the Khoi and San communities have been identified in the Northern Cape, and a budget has been allocated. A consultation process with the San and Khoi communities to trace other heritage sites is ongoing. In 2015-16, we will continue our work on the transformation of the heritage landscape through the Legacy Projects, including, amongst others, the following: working towards the October 2016 opening date of the Sarah Baartman Centre of Remembrance which is located at her grave site in Hankey in the Eastern Cape; the renovation of Bram Fischer House in the Free State which will be completed this year; the completion of the Dr J L Dube project in Inanda and the Ingquza Hill Museum in KwaZulu-Natal; work on the Winnie Mandela House, in Brandfort in the Free State; and the National Heritage Monument in Tshwane, Gauteng. This year, we will start work on a range of new projects including Isandlwana in KwaZulu-Natal and the Khoi and San Heritage Route in Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and Western Cape.

 

Hon members, there is no more important developmental policy than one oriented towards eradicating illiteracy, promoting information literacy and building a modern, efficient, and equitable library and information system. Significant progress has been made in the past year in the provision of library and information infrastructure. We completed 13 libraries countrywide. In 2015-16, through the library conditional grant, with a budget in excess of R1 billion, we will be completing 20 more libraries in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and North West.

 

Through the Mzansi Libraries On-Line project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Library of South Africa has installed IT equipment to 27 libraries composed of 20 computers, 10 e-readers, 10 tablets, one printer and one scanner. This means that our communities, visually impaired people and children are connected to the world. They are also connected to the small ones.

 

The 2014 and 2015 World Book Day took place in the Northern Cape and Gauteng, on 22 and 23 April, respectively. We conducted door-to-door reading awareness campaigns, and we donated 12 400 books to schools, households, old age homes and correctional services. We moved in the streets asking people which languages they speak. If they said, Afrikaans, we gave them books. If they said Setswana, we gave them books, so we covered that.

 

We are preparing to host the 81st International Federation of Libraries Association conference and assembly in August 2015, which will be held in Cape Town, under the theme “Dynamic libraries: Access, development and transformation”. This conference will attract more than 3 000 librarians from Africa and worldwide.

 

Given the need to establish a clear model for the establishment of the national art bank, a detailed study was conducted to identify the most appropriate institutional model for the project and to develop key processes and policies such as the commissioning and procurement of art work. Based on this study, the National Museum in Bloemfontein, which houses the Oliewenhuis Art Museum, was identified as the most appropriate host in the pilot phase of the organisation. This year, we will begin procuring art works that will be exhibited to prospective renters.

 

Last year, we announced that we would be embarking on a strategy to launch creative arts incubators. To date, we have launched three incubators. These are the Casterbridge Academy in Mpumalanga launched on 10 April, the Performing Arts Centre of the Free State incubator launched on 15 May, and the Artscape in the Western Cape launched on 18 May. On 20 May, we launched the State Theatre, and this month the Market Theatre and Playhouse Company incubators will be launched in Gauteng. The total number of individuals incubated is 408. These incubators are a very important tool to ensure that we create local content and unleash the economic potential of the creative sector.

 

Language development is one of the most important aspects of our work, and when we introduced the National Language Policy Framework in 2003, it was clear that we needed to make a major investment in our future language professionals. Since we initiated the programme, we have supported a large number of students that have studied indigenous languages and sign language at universities all over the country. We are supporting 15 of them. This year, the following universities will offer these bursaries for the next 3 years: the University of Limpopo, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, North-West University, the University of the Witwatersrand, the University of South Africa, and the University of the Western Cape.

 

Given the importance of archives as a repository of the collective memory of the nation, recapitalising the National Archives of South Africa will be one of our national priorities this year. We are presently dealing with the funding implications of this project through our budget reprioritisation process. In this regard, we are in the second year of rolling out a trial digitisation project. This is a first for the archives, and we can report that the first phase of the digitisation process has been successfully executed. We also plan to launch the automated archives system in the coming weeks as part of the department’s capital works project.

 

During the celebration of the World Day for Audio Visual Heritage, we renamed the Craigielea Building as Dolly Rathebe Building and the Milkboard Building utilised by National Film Video and Sound Archives as Ken Gampu Film Preservation Centre. This year, the 12th National Annual Oral History Conference will be held in KwaZulu-Natal. This conference has been rotated across all provinces to make sure that we engage with all communities across the length and breadth of the country. We hosted the Zwakala Awards in February 2015 wherein 88 children with impaired hearing from 11 African countries participated.

 

In 2014-15, the Department of Arts and Culture supported 22 national and regional flagship events, including the National Arts Festival and Cape Town international Jazz Festival, and a range of regional festivals as such the Kalahari Desert Festival in the Northern Cape, Mpumalanga Comes Alive in Mpumalanga, the Mangaung African Cultural Festival in the Free State and the Marula Festival in Limpopo. These events are catalysts for economic development given that artists are reliant on events for income and economic sustainability. Through an ongoing monitoring and evaluation programme, using surveys and other instruments, the Department of Arts and Culture has been able to determine the impact of some of these events on the local economy.

 

Over 80% of the Department of Arts and Culture’s annual budget allocation is transferred to 26 public entities. The governance and monitoring of the work of these entities is a major focus of efforts in the department. In the year under review, a sector-wide strategic planning framework developed in 2013-14 was implemented through a series of sector-based workshops that culminated in a large strategic planning session involving the Department of Arts and Culture, its entities and provincial government departments. In refining this process, a series of indicators for each sector was developed, including a baseline report which provides baseline data on each of the indicators identified. In support of good governance, the boards and councils of 12 public entities were reconstituted and inducted in the year under review. Moreover, shareholder compacts were signed with all entities to ensure alignment of their programmes.

 

Africa Month, a massive showcase of Africa in South Africa, has just concluded, and I am proud to say that each and every province hosted at least one event that was part of the Africa Month programme; we look forward to building on this legacy in the 2016 edition. The Africa Month programme is a festival of ideas expressed. Everything was there. We had workshops. It is about using the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance to promote the AU Agenda 2063 for the integration of the continent. This is a wholesome integration on social, political, cultural and economic matters. Our theme is “We are Africa: Opening the doors of learning and culture for peace and friendship from Cape to Cairo”. The Africa Month programme will be an annual event.

 

We are in the process of engaging in substantive consultations with stakeholders and interested parties in all nine provinces as part of the process of reviewing the White Paper on Arts and Culture. We have already conducted some workshops in some of the provinces. The process of consultation in all remaining provinces will continue until September. Once public inputs have been made, we will write up a first draft to be tabled to Cabinet early next year. The parliamentary processes can then take place.

 

In conclusion, our appreciation of the developmental role of government in moulding a cohesive and responsible citizenry is in our appreciation of the role of learning and culture as transmitters of our history and our heritage. Hon members, our goal has always been, and remains, the transformation of our society into a prosperous and socially cohesive nation. Our hard-won freedom has set us on this path. I thank you. [Applause.]

 

Nksz L L ZWANE: Sihlalo, ngiyabonga ngaleli thuba onginikeza lona lokuba ngibe yingxenye yale nkulumompikiswano. Ngibingelela uSekela Ngqongqoshe woMnyango wezobuCiko namaSiko, amalungu ahloniphekile ale Ndlu, kanye nezivakashi zethu ezikhona laphaya phezulu.

 

UMnyango wezobuCiko namaSiko uye wavela phambi kwekomiti lalo Mkhandlu weziFundazwe elibhekelele iMfundo nezokuNgcebeleka. Isizathu salo mhlangano bekuwukuthi uMnyango uzokwethula uhlelo lwawo lokusebenza lweminyaka emihlanu, uhlelo lokusebenza lonyaka kanjalo nesabelo sezimali. Ikomidi-ke belizobheka ukuthi kukhona yini ukusebenzisana okwenziwe phakathi kohlelo lokusebenza lweminyaka eyisihlanu, uhlelo lokusebenza lonyaka kanye nemali, ngokuphathelene nohlelo lokusebenza lwaleli lizwe, esilubiza ngoHlelo lukaZwelonke lweNtuthuko, i-NDP. Saphinde sabheka ukuthi kukhona yini ukusebenzisana phakathi kohlelo lokusebenza koMnyango nenkulumo kaMongameli wezwe uBaba ohloniphekile uJacob Zuma, kanye-ke nemithetho eminingi eshayiwe okuyiyo eqondisa ukusebenza kwalo Mnyango.

 

Njengekomiti-ke sizanelisile ukuthi kwenzekile lokhu, ngakho-ke sasithatha isinqumo, ikakhulukazi thina malungu akuleli komiti aKhongolose, ukuthi asisekelwe lesi sabiwomali ngoba kuyabonakala ukuthi uMnyango uyakwazi ukulichazela ikomiti ukuthi lezi zimali zizosetshenziswa kanjani. UMnyango uphinde waziklamela amaqophelo othe uzokwazi ukufinyelela kuwona ohlelweni labo lonyaka, nathi njengekomiti savumelana nabo, sizobe sesilandelela ukuthi uma beqhubeka besebenza bayakwenza yini lokhu.

 

USomqulu weNkululeko, ngaphansi komkhakha wezobuciko namasiko uthi, (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)

 

[Ms L L Zwane: Chair, thank you for the opportunity you’ve given to me to be part of this debate. Greetings to the Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, the hon members of this House, and our guests who are seated up there.

The Department of Arts and Culture appeared before the Select Committee on Education and Recreation. The aim for this meeting was for the department to present its five year plan, its year plan and the budget. The committee was going to check if there is any co-ordination between the five year plan, the year plan and the budget, in relation to the work plan of this country, which we call the National Development program, NDP. We also checked if there is any co-ordination between the department’s work plan and the speech by the President of the country, the hon Jacob Zuma, as well as the various laws set which will govern this department.

 

As the committee we were satisfied that this happened, therefore we took the decision, especially we the members of the ANC, that this Budget Vote must be supported since it is clear that the department is able to justify to the committee how the money will be used. The department also set targets which they said they would be able to reach in their year plan, we as the committee also agreed with them, we will do an oversight as they work to see if they are actually doing that.

 

The Freedom Charter under the arts and culture section says,]

 

“There shall be peace and friendship amongst all the people, and peace shall be secured,”

 

Kanti uBaba, u-O R Tambo, umholi wethu odumile nesimaziyo, wake wathi ngelinye ilanga, ngiyacaphuna: [Hence, Mr O R Tambo, our well known leader, once said, and I quote:]

 

“It is our responsibility to break down barriers of division and create a country where there will be neither white nor black, just South Africans, free and united in diversity.”

 

To that extent, ...

 

... ngifisa ukuthatha leli thuba, egameni lesiFundazwe saKwaZulu-Natali, ngidlulise ukubonga kuMongameli wezwe, uBaba ohloniphekile, uJacob Zuma, uMkhandlu ophethe uhulumeni, nePhalamende laseNingizimu Afrika ngezinyathelo abazithatha uma kuqubuka ukungahlalisani kahle phakathi kwabantu, lokhu esikubiza phecelezi, ngama-xenophobic attacks.

 

Ngendlela okwenzeka ngayo, kwabonakala ukuthi iNingizimu Afrika inobuholi obuphusile, obuzinzile, obuzwakalayo kubantu kanti futhi iyizwe eliphethwe umthetho; akwenziwa noma yikanjani ngoba emva kokuba sebekhulumile, kwathula kwathi du ezweni, asizange sizwe ukuba kwaba khona ezinye izinkinga zokuhlukunyezwa kwabantu, ingabe ngaphakathi ezweni noma abangene ngaphakathi ezweni ngezizathu ezithile. Siyafisa-ke ukuthi sikubonge lokho sikushayele nezandla ngoba kusho ukuthi izwe lethu liphethwe yizandla ezifanele ngobuholi bukaKhongolose.

Sithe-ke uma sibheka, sixoxisana ... (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)

 

[... I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the KwaZulu-Natal Province, I would like to extend my gratitude to the President of the country, the hon Jacob Zuma, the Cabinet, and the Parliament of Republic of South Africa about the steps they took when there were xenophobic attacks.

 

Based on the turn of events, it was clear that South Africa has smart leadership, stable, which is sensible to people and it is a country that is controlled by the law; things are not done just anyhow because after they had spoken, there was peace in the country, we never had of any other incidences of people being ill-treated, within the country and those who came to the country for certain reasons. We would like to extend our gratitude and applaud them in regard to that because it means that our country is in capable hands under the leadership of the ANC.

 

Upon checking,and talking ...]

 

Mr J W W JULIUS: Chairperson, I am very sorry to disturb the hon member, but there is a noise in one of these things somewhere, I don’t know where, but I can’t hear a thing.

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: You mean there could be unattended gadgets? Can we just make sure that all our gadgets are switched off, or even those next to us? Thank you.

 

Nksz L L ZWANE: Sithe-ke uma sibheka uhlelo lomsebenzi loMnyango wezobuCiko namaSiko, sabheka ukuthi phakathi kokunye okuzokwenziwa ukubhekela ingqalasizinda yokuba kukhuselwe futhi kushintshwe isimo sezamagugu nokukhuseleka kwawo ku-Afrika eseningizimu. Okunye, uMnyango othe uzokwenza ngokohlelo, ukwakhiwa kwemitapoyolwazi ukuze kusatshalaliswe ulwazi; kuqashwe abasebenzi abanobuchwepheshe bokusebenza kuleyo mitapoyolwazi; kuthengwe konke okudingeka ukuba kusetshenziswe; kanjalo nokuthi izincwadi ezizongena kule mitapoyolwazi kube ngezolimi olwaziwa noma olusetshenziswa umphakathi wakuleyo ndawo; kwenziwe imibhidlango yokuqiniswa komkhuba wokufunda.

 

Okunye okuzokwenziwa uMnyango, ukwakha amathuba emisebenzi ngohlelo lweMzansi Golden Economy. Njengoba sikhuluma nje kunamathuba emisebenzi uMnyango owenzile ayizi-28 200. Kungaba amathuba esikhashana noma kube ngaqhubekayo, kodwa amathuba emisebenzi ayenziwa kulo Mnyango. Okunye okukhulunywa ngako, ukwakhiwa kwezikhungo zobuciko emiphakathini, nokuhlela ukuthi amaciko akwazi ukubambisana noMnyango wezeMfundo angene phakathi ezikoleni asebenze. Sikhuluma nje ezikoleni, ngaphansi koMnyango wezeMfundo, kukhona amaciko angama-240 asebenzayo, afundisa izingane ngezobuciko nokuziphatha kanjalo nolimi nakho konke okunye okufana nokulingisa.

Kukhona futhi nezinhlelo zokuqinisa ukuhlalisana ngokuthula nokwamukelana emphakathini, social cohesion, ukuze kungabi khona ukucwasana ngokwebala noma ukukhiphana inyumbazana phakathi kwezamakhamuzi zomphakathi zihleli, kanjalo nemizamo yokufundisa ngemigubho yokuthuthukiswa kwesiko. Uma sikhuluma ngesiko, sikhuluma ngento ejulile ngoba iphatha izinto eziningi.

 

Enye yezinto engifisa ukuba ngikhulume ngayo uma ngikhuluma ngendaba yamasiko, usiko lokuhlonipha. Usiko lokuhlonipha ngesintu – angifuni ukuthi ngesiZulu ngoba lokhu engikushoyo okwenzeka kuzo zonke izifundazwe, yonke indawo. Ngesintu kukhona le nto okuthiwa ukuhlonipha. Ngesintu umzali wami endaweni lapho ngizalwa khona ngimhlonipha ngokulinganayo nomzali ongangizali kodwa ongangaye. Ubaba ongizalayo, ngokokuhlonipha uyefana nobaba ongangaye noma engangizali endaweni, ngakho ungubaba wami noma uwumama wami ngenxa nje yokuthi usezingeni lomzali ongizalayo. Ngakho-ke kuba khona nendlela yokukhuluma uma sikhuluma nabantu abakulelo zinga ... [Ubuwelewele.] ... - cha bayeke, uhlobo lwabo – kuba khona nendlela yokukhuluma uma sikhuluma nabantu abakulelo zinga lokukhula. Uma ukhuluma nabo awukhulumi noma ikanjani; awukhulumi ubakhombe ngomunwe. Umuntu omdala umnika indawo yakhe uma ukhuluma, awukhulumi sengathi udilika esihlahleni. [Ubuwelewele.] (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)

 

[Ms L L Zwane: Upon analysing the work plan of the Department of Arts and Culture, we figured that amongst the things that are going to be taken care of is the infrastructure for national heritage so as to protect and change the situation in regard to national heritage in Southern Africa. Furthermore, the Department according to the plan, is going to build libraries so as to spread knowledge; employ people who are professionals in library work, but everything that is required for usage; and that books that are kept in those libraries are in a language that t is known or used by the community in that area; do projects that will enhance the habit of reading.

 

Moreover, the Department, is going to create job opportunities through the Mzansi Golden Economy programme. As we speak, the department has created 28 200 job opportunities. They’re either temporary job opportunities or the permanent ones, but job opportunities are being created in this department. Furthermore, the building of art institutions in the community, and the plan that artists be able to work together with the Department of Education by going to the schools and working there. As we speak, in schools, under the Department of Education, there are 240 artists working there, who are teaching children about the arts, how to behave, language use and other things like acting.

 

There are also programmes to strengthen social cohesion, so that there won’t be racial discrimination or residents discriminating against each other, it also attempts to teach about the celebrations of developing culture. When we speak of culture we speak of something sensitive because it involves a lot of things.

Another thing that I wish to touch on, when I speak of culture, is showing respect. Showing respect in an African tradition – I don’t want to say it is a Zulu tradition because what I’m talking about happens in all the provinces. According to custom there is something called respect. According to custom I respect other parents equally to my own parents as long as they are of the same age group. My own father, based on respect is the same as any other father who is of the same age group as him even if that father is not my own. Therefore there is a manner in which to address people from that level... [Interjections.]... – no leave them, their type - there is a manner in which to address people who are at that level of maturity. When you talk to them you do not do it anyhow; you do point at them while talking. You give an elderly person their place when you speak to them, you don’t speak anyhow. [Interjections.]]

 

Mr G MICHALAKIS: Hon Deputy Chairperson, I rise to enquire whether the hon member would be willing to take a question.

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Are you prepared to take a question, hon member?

 

Ms L L ZWANE: Afterwards, during lunch.

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: She is not prepared to take a question.

Nksz L L ZWANE: Awukhulumi noma yikanjani. Sibona isimanga-ke la kuleli Phalamende esinalo; izingane ezincane zithi uma zisukuma ziyothula izinkulumo zazo zifike zikhulume sengathi zidilika esihlahleni, zikhombe abantu abadala ngeminwe. Umuntu akhombe umuntu omdala ngomunwe, nalapho futhi uMongameli, sengathi ukhomba umfana wakhe amzalayo, emthethisa. Ngokwesintu akwamukelekile lokho. (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)

 

[Ms L L Zwane: You don’t speak anyhow. We see a disgrace in the Parliament that we’re in; when young people deliver their speeches they talk anyhow, point at elders. A young person pointing at an elder, especially the President, as if they are pointing at their son, and they shouti at him. According to custom that is unacceptable.]

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Zwane, can you take a seat while I take a point of order?

 

Ms T J MOKWELE: Modulasetulo, ke ne ke botsa gore a ke molao wa palamente gore maloko a a tlotlegang a bidiwe bana ba ba nnyane. [Chairperson, is it parliamentary for honourable Members of Parliament to be addressed as young children?]

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: No. It is not supposed to be like that. Therefore, I will take the order. Let us refer to each other as honourable members.

Ms T J MOKWELE: May you please ask the hon member to withdraw?

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: I have already ruled on that.

 

Ms T J MOKWELE: Alright. Thank you.

 

Ms L L ZWANE: I will withdraw, hon Deputy Chairperson, but you are called honourable if you do honourable deeds.

 

Ukudelela abantu abadala ... [being disrespectful to elders ...]

 

... is not an honourable deed. [Interjections.] I did withdraw but you must not commit dishonourable deeds.

 

Ingane uma isuke izelwe emphakathini yingane yami futhi yingane yakho. Singabazali sonke sinomthwalo wokuthi uma sikhulisa izingane ezindaweni sizikhulise ngendlela yokuthi zamukeleke emphakathini, ziphile ngendlela efanele nencomekayo emphakathini. Bengithi nje angidlule lapho.

 

Okunye okubalulekile, uma sikhuluma ngosiko ngeke singakhulumi ngokuhlonishwa kwamakhosi ... (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)

 

[A child within a community is both mine and yours. As parents we have the responsibility of making sure that when we raise children we raise them to being people that are acceptable in the community, they must behave in an acceptable and impressive manner within the community. I thought I should mention that.

 

Another important thing, when speaking of custom is respect for the traditional leaders ...]

 

... traditional leadership. Traditional leaders are custodians of culture and tradition. Therefore, they play a very specific and important role in terms of ensuring that there is stability, peace and social cohesion.

 

Ngakho-ke kufanele ukuthi abaholi bomdabu sibahloniphe ngoba yibona abavikela isiko. Kukhona isiko lokubuthwa kwabafana, bafundiswe ngokuziphatha; kukhona isiko abanye asebelibiza nge-“abuse” namhlanje, isiko lokugcinwa kobuntombi bamantombazane. Kukhona isiko esingavumelani nalo thina njengabesifazane, ukuthi kuthwalwe izintombi. Umuntu ofuna intombi uyayincenga nje kahle, akhulumisane nayo, baxoxisane bese bevumelana; hhayi ukuthi izintombi zithwalwe ziyoganiswa ngenkani. Lokho ngeke sikuvume ngoba ngokwendlela yokuphila esiphila kuyona kuwukuhlukumeza. Futhi-ke thina sakhula kuthiwa uma ngabe uphoqa umuntu wesifazane ukuba enze into angayifuni uyisishimane; kusho ukuthi awukwazi ukukhuluma yingakho nje uhlukumeza, uthatha nje ube yisidlavela.

 

Siyajabula futhi ukuthi uNgqongqoshe ukukhulumile – ngeke ngisangena kulokho kakhulu – ukuthi laphaya ekwakhiweni kwemitapoyolwazi nasekusatshalalisweni kwalokhu esithi izimpawu zezwe. UMnyango wenze umsebenzi omuhle kakhulu ngoba sinemitapoyolwazi engama-60 emisha, kanti engama-244 iphuculiwe yenziwa yaba ngcono kule minyaka esiphuma kuyona emihlanu.

 

Siphinde futhi sahamba saya eMpumalanga Koloni sihambela izikole njengekomiti lezeMfundo nezokuNgcebeleka, sabona ukuthi uMnyango wenze umsebenzi omuhle ngokuthi kube khona amafulegi, ama-CD, amaculo esizwe, kanye nezincwajana ezisiza ukuchaza ngendaba yamafulegi nezimpawu zezwe. Siyawuthakasela kakhulu lowo msebenzi. Isabelomali lesi naso siyaseseka. Ngiyabonga. [Ihlombe.] (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)

 

[Therefore we have to protect traditional leaders because they are the ones who preserve tradition. There is a custom of of taking boys to a camp, and teaching them how to behave; there is a custom that some used to call it “abuse”, it’s the custom of preserving girls’ virginity. There is a custom that we don’t agree with as women, that the one of “ukuthwala” where a girl is forced into marrying a stranger. If someone wants a girlfriend they must speak to them nicely, propose to them, and agree; not to drag a woman and forcefully marry her. We will not agree to that because it is in contradiction with our way of living. When we were growing up it was said that if you force a woman to do something they don’t want to do is a “sishimane”(someone who can’t get girls to fall for him);which you are not good with words that is why you choose to be abusive, you just become a bully.

 

We are glad that the Minister spoke – I won’t get deep into that – the building of libraries and expanding landmarks. The department did a great job because we now have 60 new libraries, and there are 244 which were renovated and improved from the previous five year period.

 

We also went to visit schools in Mpumalanga as the Select Committee on Education and Recreation, we realised that the Department did a great job in regards to the flags, CDs, national songs and the booklets which help with explaining about the flags and the national symbols. We greatly appreciate that. We also support the Budget Vote. Thank you. [Applause.]]

 

Ms T J MOKWELE: Hon Deputy Chair, I am an African. So, you must get used to me!

 

Modulasetilo ke a go dumedisa. Ka Setswana go na le puo e e reng: Susu ilela suswana, suswana a tle a go ilele. Ke e tlogela foo. [Chairperson, I greet you. There is a saying in Setswana whereby one is advised to respect the kids for them to return that favour. I will leave it there.]

 

The EFF rejects this budget for two reasons. The first is that, from an administrative and oversight point of view – who gave you the mandate to be the Whip of the North West, hon member? – this department is literally falling apart. Eight of the entities reporting to the department presented sloppy annual performance plans, to the extent that this committee had to order these entities to rewrite them. By doing nothing to ensure proper financial control in the department and its entities, the Minister, as the executive authority, must take full responsibility.

 

The second reason we reject this budget is that this department has failed and continues to fail in redefining a new vision for an African country free of colonial constructs. However, the ANC did not need to define a new vision for South Africa. A new South Africa was already emerging in 1897, when Enoch Sontonga composed that historic song, Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika, locating our struggle and aspirations in a continental context, and not merely on a local and regional basis. Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika rallied black people towards a single vision of freeing our nation and continent from the stranglehold of white supremacy. It became not only a South African song but a continental one.

 

The contamination of Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika by Die Stem, an Afrikaner war song in the national anthem is a negation of all the struggles waged by black people over many centuries. The inclusion of Die Stem in the national anthem is a celebration of white superiority and continues to give white people the wrong impression that they are superior and blacks are inferior. It cuts off our consciousness that we are also part of the African continent.

 

It is for this reason that we have black South Africans killing blacks from other parts of the continent. You must take personal responsibility for this, Minister. You have cut off South Africans from the rest of Africa. It is for this reason that we also support the call for the removal of all symbols of colonialism and apartheid and to replace them with statues of the likes of Enoch Sontonga, Vuyisile Mini, Chris Hani, Malume Moses Kotane, and many more.

 

More fundamentally, we reject this budget because it does very little to start the process of repositioning this department and the arts and culture industry, generally, into a growth sector. A nation such as Nigeria has developed its film and video-making industry into a multibillion dollar industry, producing over 2 500 films a year, and employing over a million people who are telling African stories to African people. In South Africa, not more than 100 films are produced per year and only 11% of these films shown are South African. Of that 11%, only a very small percentage tells stories from the perspective of black South Africans.

 

This department, through the budget, is showing us that it is just business as usual, and introduces no significant changes in the manner of doing things. You are suggesting that no new challenges are needed to reclaim our culture and heritage and use that to drive economic development.

 

The state must design a state-of-the-art recording studio for use by African artists at no cost – you must listen, hon member. This studio must produce Pan-African content to show and celebrate our lived experience, as blacks.

 

We want 75% of music played on South African radio stations to be South African music. We want the symbols of colonialism and apartheid removed from public spaces, such as the one of Louis Botha in front of Parliament. We demand the recognition of the Khoi and the San languages as official languages in South Africa. We cannot support a Budget Vote that does not take this into account. We therefore reject this budget. Thank you, Deputy Chairperson.

 

Mr H B GROENEWALD: Hon Deputy Chairperson, hon Deputy Minister, hon Minister of the Western Cape, Members of the NCOP and guests, President Zuma’s ANC reminds me of a quotation by Indira Gandhi. It starts:

 

One must be aware of Ministers who can do nothing with money, and those who want to do everything with money.

 

This seems fitting for a department that had an increase in fruitless and wasteful expenditure of 106% between 2012-13 and 2013-14. To put it into monetary terms, fruitless and wasteful expenditure went from R2,7 million to R5,6 million. This does not include the R171 million of irregular spending in 2014.

 

It seems the only thing this department knows how to do is to lose money to an extent that we cannot account for it. Need I remind the hon Deputy Minister that the money being lost does not belong to the government? It is taxpayers’ money from the most vulnerable South Africans – South Africans who depend on our government to do the best with their hard-earned cash, and South Africans that she will have to account to. The DA will make sure of this.

 

The biggest challenge for art and culture in South Africa should be how to find ways to sustain industry growth and to spread the benefits to more parts of our society with a strong focus on job creation, poverty alleviation and cultural preservation. It is unfortunate that the Minister has shown no clear direction for the department with his mandate in mind. What is your vision for the department, Minister? If you have no vision and direction, how do you lead a department to fulfil its mandate? How do you ensure that the Department of Arts and Culture becomes a key economic growth driver?

 

What you are sitting on is a department ...

 

Ms L C DLAMINI: Hon Deputy Chairperson, on a point of order: Can I do the honours and read the vision and mission of the department for the hon member?

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Mr R J Tau): No, you can’t. [Interjections.] Can you continue with the debate, hon member?

 

Mr H B GROENEWALD: Thank you, hon Deputy Chairperson. I know exactly what it is. It is not necessary for the member to give it to me.

 

What we are sitting on is a department that has the potential not only to put social concord first, or that can ensure the pride of the nation, but you have a department that, through this, can also create jobs in a country with an unemployment rate of 36%.

 

Minister, wat positief en duidelik vir my is, is dat die idealistiese droom van ’n reënboognasie uiteindelik in stukke voor ons voete lê. Die verwikkeling het die geleentheid geskep om kritiese dialoë oor ons geskiedenis en toekoms te voer. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)

 

[Minister, what is clear and positive to me, is that the idealistic dream of a rainbow nation is ultimately lying in pieces at our feet. The development created the opportunity to have critical dialogues about our history and future.]

 

This year, we had an opportunity to start a dialogue about our history and how we, as a diverse nation with a painful past, are able to live together, as former President Nelson Mandela envisioned in 1994. We cannot erase history by destroying statues. We can portray the triumph of justice and democracy over injustice and oppression by showing, through these monuments and statues, how we have progressed as humanity within South Africa. This can be achieved by continuing the process of building statues to contemporary heroes to reflect human progress.

 

Statues and symbols should serve the primary purpose of enriching us with an education around our spaces of learning. It should also serve to remind us how far we have come within our democracy. The principle of reconciliation is that we develop an inclusive vision, rather than the outright obliteration of them. We cannot erase the past, but we can learn from it.

 

Bou eerder nuwe standbeelde as om die oues af te breek, en daardeur ook die geskiedenis onvoltooid te laat. Belê meer en vergroot Vryheidspark langs die Voortrekkermonument vir die geskiedenis van alle mense in Suid-Afrika.

 

Op Grant’s Hill in Bloemfontein staan Oliewenhuis, wat in die Unie-jare as ampswoning opgerig was, en wat na Republiekwording die staatspresident se blyplek in die Rosestad was. Die pragtige Kaaps-Hollandse gebou is nou ’n kunsmuseum. In die tuin toring besonderse bronsbeelde uit wat prominente figure uit die vryheidstryd herdenk. Dit is nie name wat mens 30 jaar gelede juis in ’n museum sou raakgeloop het nie: John Dube, Sol Plaatje, Olive Schreiner, en nog meer. Dit is ’n mooi voorbeeld van hoe ons op konstruktiewe manier nuwe betekenis by ons geskiedenis en verlede kan voer.

 

Die SA Instituut van Rasseverhoudinge het gewaarsku dat as ’n kultuur van onverdraagsame straatboewery eers opvlam, dit later moeilik sal word om dit te beheer. Agb Minister, dit is presies die punt. Respek vir gesagsfigure en staatsinstellings is reeds ’n kwaai knou toegedien weens korrupsie en wanadministrasie. Wanneer jy ’n bevolking het wat nie glo in of respek het vir gesag nie, eindig ’n mens met ’n onregeerbare staat. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)

 

[Build new statues, rather than demolishing the old ones, and thereby leaving also the history incomplete. Invest more and expand Freedom Park next to the Voortrekker Monument for the history of all people in South Africa.

 

On Grant’s Hill in Bloemfontein Oliewehuis is situated that was an official residence during the Union years, and which after the country became a republic, was the residence of the state president in Bloemfontein. The beautiful Cape Dutch building is now a museum. In the garden distinctive bronze statues towers which celebrate prominent figures from the freedom struggle period. These are not names that one would have come across in a museum 30 years ago: John Dube, Sol Plaatje, Olive Schreiner, and many more. It is a beautiful example of how we can in a constructive way add new meaning to our history and our past.

 

The SA Institute of Race Relations warned that once a culture of intolerant street gangsters is formed, it later will be difficult to manage it. Hon Minister, it is precisely the point. Respect for figures of authority and state institutions have already suffered a bad blow because of corruption and maladministration. When one have a population that does not believe in of have respect for authority, one will end up with a ungovernable state.]

 

Hon Minister, this is not the country of the ANC. It is the country of South Africans. [Interjections.] It is high time that you show leadership for the department to re-instil passion and integrity for all the people. It is what one of our greatest leaders, former President Nelson Mandela started, but sadly, what your current President Zuma is trying to end.

 

Hon Deputy Minister, because you have not shown the leadership needed to effectively manage this department and its budget, here is the DA vision and challenge to you. Use this budget to preserve, protect and promote our cultured diversity and legacy beyond a narrow ANC agenda. Implement the arts curriculum at schools, consistently, to the right standards.

Have a greater emphasis on extending art to rural communities. Conduct proper oversight of art centres where they are managed by municipalities or private organisations, as we constantly see poorly managed facilities that can affect our tourism industry and ultimately, job creation. Enhance the Department of Arts and Culture’s school programme and co-ordinate a better engagement with the Department of Basic Education. Finally, act professionally, to deliver value to the South African economy and our people.

 

The Department of Arts and Culture must become the reference point with appropriate research, monitoring and evaluation capacity to enhance the intellectual edge of divisions that can inform planning. This department and its effectiveness has become a ticking time bomb, and you are currently responsible.

 

The DA has a solution to manage this department and our national government far more effectively. Our vision for freedom, fairness and opportunity is not a secret, and I have given you a lifeline on what you should prioritise.

 

This is a reminder that when the DA takes over and cleans up your mess, we will implement our vision, and show the ANC how good, clean governance can change the lives of South African people and our economy. I thank you. [Interjections.] [Applause.]

 

Mr M T MHLANGA: Hon Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, hon members of this august House, hon special delegates, hon Deputy Minister, hon Chief Whip of the National Council of Provinces, esteemed guests, fellow South Africans and all protocol observed. In terms of the ANC Mangaung resolution, arts and culture policy deal is with custom and tradition, belief, religion, language, identity popularly, history, crafts as well as all the arts forms, including music, theatre, dance, creativity writing, the fine arts, the plastic arts, photography, film and in general is the sum of the result of human endeavours.

 

Culture is an integral component of the process of development, in that it contributes to such processes, but also it can play a facilitating or destructive role in the unfolding of the developmental process. Culture also seeks to inform and contribute to nation-building efforts. Those two processes are of the highest priority in our country at present, and culture has a central role to play in the successful unfolding of those.

 

Colonialism and apartheid neglected, distorted and suppressed the culture of the majority of South Africans. The freedom of expression was destroyed and systematic efforts were made at stifling creativity. Communities were denied resources and facilities to develop their own culture expressions, unless they coincided with the aims of the colonial master. The absence of an effective educational system, high rates of illiteracy and extreme poverty compounded the culture deprivation of the majority.

 

In response, the culture of the majority of South Africans became one of resistance to colonialism and apartheid, which became a major instrument in the achievement of political democracy in our country. The priorities of nation-building and development determine that energies of culture of resistance be rechanneled in order to promote and sustain a culture of democracy, development and human rights, based on the fulfilment of the entire range of socioeconomic aspirations of the country’s people.

 

Our objectives are to affirm and promote the rich and diverse expirations of South African culture. All people must be guaranteed the right to practice their culture, language, beliefs and custom. The freedom of creative without interference as well as the freedom of expression must be guaranteed; promoting the development of a unifying national culture, representing the aspirations of all South African people. This cannot be imposed; it requires educating people in principle of nonracial, nonsexism, human rights and democracy. While it is recognised that cultures of South Africans are derived from African, European and Asian strand, it will become necessary to give particular attention to the promotion and development of African strand, which more than any other, has borne the brunt of official and social repression in the past; ensuring that resource and facilities for both the production and the appreciation of arts and culture are made available and accessible to all. Priorities must be given to those people and communities, who have preserved, revitalised and promoted our nation culture heritage.

 

Historical and culture collection, resources and sites should fully reflect the many components of our culture heritage, and should be accessible to all communities. In particular, efforts must be made to conserve neglected and suppressed aspects of our people’s culture. Place arts and culture firmly within the national education curricular, as well as nonformal education efforts. Establish a language policy that encourages the growth of all our people’s language within a multilinguistic framework. This must include the rehabilitation and development of all indigenous languages.

 

Develop the human resource pool available to culture life by emphasising training in the art forms, management and administration of the arts and culture, and heritage preservation. Launch and sustain a national literacy campaign, with clear targets, through which the art forms, broadcasting, radio and the printed media will contribute to the development of our people. Link culture firmly to areas of our national priority, such as health, housing, tourism, town planning, architects, etc to ensure that culture is entrenched as a strong link forged with the traditional art forms. Ensure the implementation of culture research to promote those histories which have been marginalised with specific emphasis on popular history.

 

A flourishing cultural life is important for the wellbeing of South Africa. The ANC aims to give all South African the chance to take part in and enjoy the arts, music, photography, fine arts and theatre. So all South Africans will have a right to follow their own religion, speak and write their own language and enjoy their own culture. These are the rights that must be protected and encouraged in the national democratic society that we seek to build.

 

Let us remember once more and remind those who quickly forget that we have a rich history. Yes, it is rich because of the heroes and heroines who have bitterly fought in the wars of resistance from 1652 to 1906 and they further on their soldiering

 

Obaba uBhambatha, oSekhukhune, onkosi uDingane, oHintsa, oMakana, oCetshwayo. Madoda ... [Heroes like Bhambatha, Sekhukhune, King Dingane, King Hintsa, Makana, King Cetshwayo. My fellow men ...]

 

... we speaking about oBhambata, who fought in the rebellious battle of iSandlwana and the resistance against the taking over our land and slavery, colonialism of a special type.

 

Hon Chair, compatriots and South Africans remember in 1912, when Pixley ka Seme said: “Mazulu, Mapedi, aMaxhosa, Mshona, all of us hlanganani” [be together as one]. And from there the African National Congress was formed. Henceforth after all the battles fought it was out of this background that our heroes and heroines ooTata uSisulu, Anthony Lembethe, O R Tambo, Nelson Mandela ...

 

Madoda, ndibiza obani kanti? Oo oomGov. [Compatriots, whom am I talking about? Oom Govs.]

 

It was out of this background that in the 1944 the above heroes and heroines formed the ANC Youth League in defence of our education, culture, religion, language and heritage, which was undermined by colonialism of special type since 1652 on the arrival Jan van Riebeeck.

 

All African young people from this generation in memorial were taught of their history in history textbooks and in museums that were built and developed by our colonisers who chose what was to be put on it. Yes, when a young black and white boy and girl went to those museums they saw a black Senzangakhona with a big belly which suggested that they were lazy, eating too much hence the distortion of our heroes and history, culture and language.

 

Contrary to what is unfolding today our heritage in South African museum, its preservation has been selective because outside you will see Cecil John Rhodes, Louis Botha, Verwoerd and Queen Elizabeth and inside our key points, in particular Parliament, you will find our heroes behind them and that must change urgently. [Time Expired.]

 

Chairperson, we support this Budget Vote. Thank you. [Applause.]

 

Ms A MARAIS: WESTERN CAPE MEC: Chairperson, the preservation and maintenance of our rich and diverse culture are vital for the emergence of a united, tolerant and self-confident nation. The Department of Arts and Culture plays a critical role in this regard. Art can help to build appreciation for different perspectives and deepen the understanding of the different experiences of being South African. This is why this department is vitally important.

 

I would like to congratulate the department on the recent appointment of the new CEO for the Robben Island Museum, Mr Paul Langa. We look forward to see some positive changes in the efficient management of the museum, which forms a critical link in our heritage chain.

 

It is unfortunate that there are a number of examples that demonstrate that the department and its affiliated institutions are underperforming. An example of this is right here at the Pan South African Language Board, Pansalb. The challenges facing Pansalb need to be addressed as a matter of urgency, in order for South Africans to pride themselves in the official eleven 11 languages.

 

There is much work that is required to be done in language development and the standardisation and co-ordination of the inactive or nonexisting language bodies of Pansalb. There are just too many public stories of mismanagement over too many years about this organisation.

 

In the Western Cape, we pride ourselves on the successful management of our affiliated museums. At present, the Western Cape government is in negotiations to secure premises for the new Cape Town Museum. We are in negotiations with various stakeholders to make use of artefacts and collections currently being held by other heritage institutions and organisations to develop the first exhibitions to tell the stories of the Mother City.

 

Over the next five years, the Western Cape Provincial Museum Service will adopt a programmatic approach to broaden and deepen our impact on museums and heritage sites. This ongoing transformation initiative has contributed to making museums more representative of the cultural heritage of the diverse communities of the Western Cape.

 

The introduction of new technology has improved the experience of visitors, as has seen by the increase in visitor numbers. Over the next three years, exciting new exhibitions and upgrading ...

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES: What sign is that? I can’t read it. [Interjections.] Now that is disruptive. [Inaudible.] May we respect other speakers?

 

Ms A MARAIS: WESTERN CAPE MEC: Over the next three years, exciting new exhibitions and upgrading of facilities are also planned for one of the most popular museums in the Western Cape – the Bartolomeu Dias Museum in Mossel Bay.

 

In the Western Cape, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport are strongly aligned to the One Cape 2040 vision and the Connecting Cape strategy of the Western Cape government. This will contribute to the development of welcoming, inclusive and integrated communities.

 

Of particular significance is that together with the conditional grant allocation that provinces receive via the national Department of Arts and Culture, we have increased the budget allocation for public libraries. This will offer improved access to our libraries.

 

The Western Cape Provincial Library Service turned 60 in May this year, and has been working diligently to expand access to its services throughout the province.

 

To address the unfunded mandate of public libraries, the department has been receiving financial support from National Treasury and the Provincial Treasury via the national Department of Arts and Culture.

 

The enhancement of community libraries will certainly provide huge financial relief and I would like to acknowledge the department’s contribution in this regard.

 

The Rural Library Connectivity Project that has been running since the 2008-09 financial year is part of the Western Cape Broadband Initiative.

 

By the end of the coming financial year, our rural library staff and users will have access to high-speed internet. A total of R19 million has been allocated to this project over the 2015 Medium- Expenditure Framework period.

 

A highlight of the library agenda this year is the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions World Congress here in Cape Town, in August, expected to be attended by almost 4 000 delegates from 150 countries. It will be the third congress of its kind in Africa, since its inception in 1927.

 

We are in the process of appointing the new Western Cape Cultural Commission, the provincial arts and culture council. An accredited training programme for community artists has been negotiated with the University of the Western Cape and the department intends these to be the benchmark for future interventions in music training. Just over R14 million in subsidies were transferred to successful applicants for arts and culture funding.

Die departement het weer met die samewerking van die professionele kunste-organisasies soos Kaapstad Opera en die Kaapse Filharmoniese orkes onderhandel om langtermyn interaksie en vennootskappe tussen die departement en landelike kunste-organisasies te verseker, om voort te kan gaan met die uitbreiding van die teikenmark van die kunsdissiplines en genres in die Wes-Kaap. Die departement gaan die ontwikkelingsprogramme vir die landelike kunste uitbrei om programme in te sluit vir die jeug op plase wat in die Witzenberg Munisipaliteit geloods gaan word. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)

 

[The department has in co-operation with professional arts organisations like Cape Town Opera and the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra once again negotiated to ensure long-term interaction and partnerships between itself and rural arts organisations, to continue with the expansion of the target market of the arts disciplines and genres in the Western Cape. The department is going to expand the development programmes for rural arts in order to include programmes for the youth on farms to be launched in the Witzenberg Municipality.]

 

Drama development has been expanded to the Overberg towns of Swellendam, Bredasdorp, Caledon and Grabouw in phased programme from June to November.

 

During the course of this year, the initiation programme will expand its work the beyond the health and safety aspects of the practice. We are facilitating dialogue with communities and stakeholders to establish whether there are other ways in which government can contribute to the preservation of this cultural practice.

 

While Afrikaans remains the first language of about half of the province‘s population, the proportion of isiXhosa speakers has consistently increased, since l996. The proportion of English first language speakers has remained consistent at about 20%, since 1996. Slightly more than 5% of the Western Cape’s population speak a first language that is not one of the three official languages of the province. These trends have provided clear direction for the Western Cape Language Committee and the department’s language services component.

 

We have budgeted R4,75 million for an electronic heritage information management system for the province. Its completion will, through automation of many processes, lead to far greater levels of efficiency and greater transparency of the process. Heritage Western Cape is the lead agency for this project, which will be integrated with the province’s My Content programme and will also serve the needs of the Museum Service and Geographical Names Service.

 

In the past week, we have also announced two Western Cape sites that have been declared as provincial heritage sites — the Blombos Cave in the Blombosfontein Nature Reserve, Southern Cape and the Elandstontein Fossil Dune Site on the West Coast. These sites are closely associated with the emergence of modern humans and will form part of the proposed nomination as a World Heritage Site.

 

During the next five years, the groundwork will be laid for the establishment of the Khoekhoen heritage site in the Two Rivers Urban Park in Observatory, Cape Town. This will form part of the national Khoisan Legacy Project.

 

In conclusion, it is clear that planning and efficient management is the first step to achieve the objective to preserve and maintain our rich and diverse culture. Funding allocations need to support priorities, and looking at our budget allocations, we are achieving this goal. I thank you.

 

Mr M RAYI: Hon Deputy Chair, hon Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, hon Chief Whip of the Council, hon Members of the NCOP, special delegates and ladies and gentlemen in the gallery, South Africa has a very rich, diverse and dynamic heritage. Our arts and culture sector is one of the country’s richest and most important resources. It has the capacity to generate significant economic and social benefits for our nation.

 

However, long years of colonialism and apartheid, has resulted in enormous neglect, distortion and suppression of our rich cultural heritage. For many years, the apartheid regime used all efforts to stifle the identity and creativity of our people. Our people were denied resources and facilities to develop their own cultural expressions, unless they coincided with the aims of the colonial masters.

 

Our cultural heritage was made even more difficult by the absence of an effective educational system that prevented our people from using their creativity to support themselves and their families. Our musicians, imbongi’s [Praise Singers.] and all forms of creativity by our people was made illegal and banned from public display and development.

 

After the demise of apartheid in 1994, as the ANC we committed ourselves to promoting the arts and culture sector and the rich heritage of our communities as part of our national efforts to empower local economic development initiatives and build a caring and cohesive society. We affirmed the rich and diverse expressions of South African culture.

 

As the ANC, we said all our people must be guaranteed the right to practice their culture, language, beliefs and customs. We said our people must have the freedom of creativity without interference. We said our people must be guaranteed the freedom of expression, as one of the pillars of our democracy.

 

According to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996, every one has the right to freedom of expression, which includes freedom of artistic creativity and academic freedom and freedom of scientific research. Persons belonging to a cultural, religious or linguistic community may not be denied the right to enjoy their culture, and to form, join, and maintain cultural associations and other organs of civil society.

 

As the ANC, we said we need to work tirelessly to promote the development of a unifying national culture that represents the aspirations of all the people of South Africa. We said we need to move with utmost speed and decisiveness to educating all sectors of our society about the values of our democracy, especially the principles of nonracialsim, nonsexism, human rights and democracy.

 

As the ANC we have said we need to ensure that resources and facilities for both the production and the appreciation of arts and culture in our country are made available and accessible to all people and in the communities where they live. We said we will ensure that priority is given to those people and communities who have previously been denied access to these resources.

 

Today we rise with utmost humility and pride to say our country has changed. Many people across the globe flock to the shores of our beautiful country to enjoy not only our majestic beautiful country, but also to experience the rich cultural diversity of our nation.

Since 1994, we have moved with profound speed to ensure that the identity of our people and their rich heritage is not only preserved but also ensured that it is promoted and that our people benefit economically. We have made great strides to ensure that we use our rich heritage and cultural diversity to building a socially inclusive society.

 

We want to take this opportunity to congratulate the Deputy Minister and the Ministry of Arts and Culture and all his predecessors for being in the forefront of our national efforts to unite our people. The events and activities that this department leads continue to bear fruit.

 

The Mzansi Golden Economy, which was initiated in 2011, continues to make significant gains in our quest to ensure that our people benefit from our rich and diverse cultural heritage. We have also noticed how the establishment of incubators to nurture entrepreneurs and produce local content through a dedicated venture capital fund continues to make inroads.

 

Today, our creative economy is one of the most rapidly growing sectors of the world economy, not just in terms of income generation but also for job creation and export earnings. The creative economy contribution of R90,5 billion directly to the country’s gross domestic product, GDP, in 2013-14, is driven primarily by the design and creative services, cultural and natural heritage and information books and press clusters.

 

Relative to the total gross domestic product, the creative industries sector contributes about 3% to our GDP. The creative economy in South Africa accounts to almost 600 000 jobs a year. Over 50% of enterprises in the sector are black-owned by women and over 30% are owned by young people.

 

As the ANC, we support this Budget Vote. We want to say to you, hon Deputy Minister, we support the initiatives and interventions of your department in our national quest to transform South Africa. We want to say you must continue to mobilise society in its entirety, to work together to build a caring society proud of its heritage, based on shared values and a vision informed by our Constitution.

 

We must continue to ensure that social cohesion and nation-building underpins all national, provincial and local government strategic priorities. We must continue to promote and preserve progressive indigenous cultures and knowledge systems of our people.

 

We must continue to ensure that all our heritage resources such as statues, names of our towns, streets and buildings give meaning to our national commitment to transform our society. We must ensure that our arts and culture sector in totality continues to derive meaning from our Constitution, which embodies the guiding principles of the new nation.

 

I hope next time, as Parliament we will take lead in reviewing some of the names, statues and symbols that are found in many parts of this Parliament. We must start renaming some of these buildings in honour of our national heroes and heroines who dedicated their lives to the fight for the liberation of our people. It is very sad that not even a single room or building in this Parliament is named after any of our tireless freedom fighters. [Applause.]

 

As the ANC, we want to reassure you, hon Deputy Minister, that we will use every effort to ensure that we transform this Parliament. We will ensure that soon we will have parts of this building renamed in honour of the likes of Nelson Mandela, John Langalibalele Dube, Alfred Xuma, James Moroka, Albert Luthuli, Oliver Tambo, Ida Mntwana, Lillian Ngoyi, Dorothy Nyembe, Ruth Mompati, Helen Joseph and other champions of our national liberation. [Applause.]

 

We also welcome and thank the national government and provinces for ensuring that remains of our martyrs are repatriated and are given the reburying that they deserve. I thank you. [Applause.]

 

Mnu M KHAWULA: Ngiyabonga Phini likaSihlalo, ngibingelele umhlonishwa iPhini likaNgqongqoshe, ngifisa ukuqala ngokushayela ihlombe uMnyango wezoBuciko namaSiko ngesibindi sawo sokuphumela obala ngezinkinga eziwukhungethe. Akujwayelekile lokhu enikwenzile mhlonishwa.

 

Usomqulu wamaqhinga walo mnyango, i-Strategic plan, embikweni kaMncwaningimabhuku kunyaka wezi-2013/14 ubeka imibiko eminingana ekhomba ukungasingathwa ngendlela efanele ngokulandelwa kwemithetho ebekiwe. Okunye kwakhe yiloku okulandelayo: Ukuba kufishane koMnyango ukulandela inqubo ewumgomo ebekelwe ukuthenga ngendlela efanele; ukungasayindwa ngesikhathi kwezivumelwano zokusebenza wabaphathi boMnyango, kanjalo nokungahlolwa nje komsebenzi wabaphathi; kusetshenziswe budedengu inkece eyizigidi zamarandi ezingama-74 ngonyaka wezi-2014, kwasetshenziswa budedengu eyizigidi zamarandi ezingama-95 ngonyaka wezi-2013; nombiko yokusebenza kwenkence kayigcinwa ngendlela efanele, nokunye nokunye okushiwo nguMcwaningimabhuku Omkhulu.

 

Sinethemba-ke, Mhlonishwa, siyiqembu leNkatha elimele abantu baseNingizimu Afrika, ukuthi lezi khalazo zikaMcwaningimabhuku Omkhulu nizozilungisa. Kuyihlazo kona ukuba kuleli zinga likahulumeni kubikwe ubudedengu obufana nalobu ngezimali nokuphathwa kwazo. (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)

 

[Mr M KHAWULA: Thank you, Deputy Chairperson. Greetings to the hon Deputy Minister, I would first like to commend the Department of Arts and Culture for their courage by speaking out about challenges they are faced with. What you have done is not common, hon Minister.

The Strategic Plan of this department reveals that in the 2013/14 Auditor General’s report, it was revealed that there are many claims which indicate that things are not done according to the set regulations. The following are other issues that he raised: the department’s inability to follow proper procurement procedure; the delay of the signing of performance contracts of the department’s management, as well as general assessment of the management performance; there was a wasteful expenditure of R74 million in 2014, there was also a wasteful expenditure of R95 million in 2013; and the financial reports are not kept properly, including other issues that were mentioned by the Auditor General.

 

Hon Minister, as the IFP, the party that is representing the people of South Africa, we hope that you will address the complaints that were raised by the Auditor General. It is a shame though, that at this level of government there would be such damning reports concerning money.]

 

In the strategic plan of 2015-19, the Annual Performance Plan, APP, 2015-16 the department touches on a number of challenges, some of which are the following: Deep economic inequalities in our society, race-based economic and social divisions, disproportionate high levels of unemployment especially among black communities, rising inequality, rising social tensions, economic development neglect in the townships, uneven pattern of investment, skewed development, duplication and overlap of the Department of Arts and Culture entities and functions, and many other challenges.

 

Mhlonishwa sivumelana ngokuphelele noMnyango wakho siyiqembu leNkatha kulezi nselelo ezibikwa yilo somqulu futhi ukuba besingeke sizibonele ngamehlo lo somqulu besingalutheka sithi hleze nithume ilunga leqembu leNkatha lanilobela le nselelo. Lezi zinto sekunesikhathi eside sikhala ngazo nakweminye iMinyango kahulumeni ngoba ezinye zazo kazithinti nje ukusebenza koMnyango wezoBuciko naMasiko kuphela.

 

Kungakho-ke nezinhlelo ezibekwe nguMnyango ukubhekana nalezi zinselelo zifanele zesekwe. Nokho-ke nakhu lapho sifike sihlukane khona, uma sekwenziwa izinhlelo, mazingakekeli izinhlelo zikahulumeni, zihambise okwelanga lasebusika, zikhethe amabala kuhle kwexoxo. Kepha mazibe yizimpendulo zemiphakathi yonkana ngobunjalo bayo. Ngiyathokoza nje ukuthi enye yezimpendulo zezinselelo nithi umnyango awenze lokhu: (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)

 

[Hon Minister, as the IFP, we fully agree with your department about the challenges that were raised by this document and if we did not see it with our own eyes, we would be fooled and think that you sent one of the IFP members to write this challenge for you. It is a long time since we have been talking about these challenges even in other government departments as some of these challenges do not only affect the performance of the Department of Arts and Culture.

That is why, therefore, programmes that have been set by the department to resolve these challenges must be supported. We differ when it comes to the implementation of the programmes though, the implementation of government programmes should not take sides, they should not emulate the movements of a crab - jump other places like the way a frog jumps. They should be the response to all the communities’ complaints as a whole. I am grateful that you said one of the solution to the challenges is that the department should do the following:]

 

“Create more inclusive ways of celebrating national days.”

 

Uyazi, Mhlonishwa ukuthi besilokhu sikhalile ngaloku kuphendulwa kwemicimbi yobunye yesizwe yenziwe imibungazo yeqembu elilodwa lezombusazwe. Uma-ke sewuze wasisukumela lesi sikhalo waloba phansi okufanele kwenziwe sithi siyathokoza; sengathi kungaba njalo impela.

 

Udaba lokusukunyelwa kokuqhakanjiswa kanye nokusetshenziswa kwezilimi zabomdabu zase-Afrika lubalulekile. Imihlahlandlela yokuba lokhu kwenziwe kanjani ibekwe yacaca laphaya KuMthetho Wezwe Wezilimi, oluswe yiwo lo Mnyango. Nokho-ke okushiwo yilo mthetho besingakakuboni kwenzeka. Kuhle-ke ukuba kusukunywe ukuba umthetho wezwe oshaywe yiPhalamende wokuthuthukisa izilimi zonke usebenze. Abahlulekayo kuyo iminyango kahulumeni bajeze ngokuhluleka kwabo nanjengoba ulandisa umthetho.

 

Impela udaba lokuziphatha kwabantu bawo wonke amazinga emphakathini, nalo lubalulekile. Kungakho phela thina eqenjini leNkatha yeNkululeko sikholelwa futhi sikaqhakambisa umgomo wobuntu. Ukwehlelwa kwabantu yizimilo sekudale omkhulu umonakalo esizweni. Kuyofanele-ke izinhlelo zokuvuselelwa kwezimilo ziqhutshwe ngobunono. Kufanele futhi uhulumeni abasebenzise labo abayizakhamuzi zezwe nabasemagunyeni athile, abanolwazi nobuchwepheshe ngalolu daba lwezimilo. Lapha singabala abantu abafana namakhosi, abefundisi abaphathi bezindaba zemfihlakalo kanye nabezinhlangano zokubambisana, imibutho yabesifazane nezinye izinhlaka. Lokhu kuyoluthuthukisa lolu hlelo lokwakhiwa kwezimilo lokuhlunyeleliswa kwezimilo.

 

Ngiphetha ngokuthi ngizwile Bab’uRayi futhi ngiyafisa ukukukhumbuza ukuthi uNgqongqoshe wokuqala wezoBuciko naMasiko kuhulumeni wentando yeningi, kwakunguDokotela uNgubane, owesibili kwabanguDokotela uMtshali - ngithi asisuke lapho siqhubeke siyofika kumama uMabhudafhasi. Ngiyathokoza. [Ihlombe.] (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)

 

[Hon Minister, you know that we have been complaining about the fact that national events are turned into one political party’s celebrations. I am saying that we are grateful that you are finally going to do something about this complaint and that you have written down what needs to be done about it – we really hope that it would be fulfilled.

The issue of standing up and highlighting the use of indigenous South African languages is important. The guidelines of how this should be done is clearly stated in the South African Languages Act that is overseen by this department. We have not seen the implementation of what is prescribed by this Act, though. It is a good thing for people stand up for the implementation of the Act that was passed by Parliament which was meant for the development all the languages to work. Those who are in government departments who are unable to implement it should be disciplined as per the Act.

 

The issue of the behaviour of the people of all levels in the communities, is also important. Hence we, in the IFP, encourage the principle of ubuntu. The moral degeneration have caused a great damage in the nation. It would therefore, mean that the moral regeneration programmes should be conducted carefully. The government needs to use those citizens and individuals who are in certain positions of authority, who are knowledgeable and have technical knowledge of this moral regeneration issue to assist with these programmes. These can include people like amakhosi, ministers of religion – people who deliver spiritual messages and the co-operatives, women organisations and other structures. This will develop this rebuilding and moral regeneration programme.

 

I conclude by saying that I heard you, hon Rayi and I want to remind you that the first Minister of the Department of Arts and Culture in the democratic government was Dr Ngubane, the second one was Dr Mtshali – let us proceed and get to hon Mrs Mabhudafhasi. I thank you. [Applause.]]

 

Ms M O MOLOI (Limpopo: Deputy Chairperson, Deputy Minister, Chief Whip, distinguished guests, hon members of the NCOP, I wanted to start by commenting on the insinuations by the hon member of the EFF. But then, I thought I should not try to justify the response because the DAEFF is an organisation of identity crisis. [Interjections.] That says to you Deputy Minister, your department still has a lot of work to do in making sure that these young people are educated on the kind of South Africa that we want to build, which is a nonracial and nonsexist South Africa where all black and white should live together in harmony.

 

Mahatma Gandhi said “A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.” and on the other hand Kwame Nkrumah said “I am an African not because I was born in Africa but because Africa was born in me.”

 

Our mandate is of most importance as custodians of transformation and nation building. As the Minister’s budget speech has clearly indicated that arts and culture is therefore an expression of convergence between social groupings that were artificially torn apart by the construction of racial categories, coinciding in a large measure with social and economic divisions during colonialism and apartheid.

Our strength lies in discovering who we are. It is through arts and culture where we plan to redeem the dignity of our people which was taken away. Our unity and strength of patriotism is the manifestation of what we hold dear in our hearts and that is Africa. Arts and culture is basically what tells us that we are indeed human because we are more than flesh and blood.

 

The recent xenophobic attacks we experienced as a nation reflected badly on all of us. It was not a reflection of hatred towards our brothers and sisters from other parts of Africa, but a reflection of an identity crisis. It is therefore imperative that in our interaction with the society, that we sound a clearing call of patriotism.

 

The efforts by the department in teaching the children and all of us the African Union, AU, anthem is going to go a long way to build a united South Africa. We will continue to appreciate the leadership that was provided by, the commander in chief, President Jacob Zuma ... [Interjections.] ... in dealing decisively with this act of xenophobia and we continue to say that he is leading us correctly, and we will continue to say this without fear or favour. [Applause.]

 

As we continue to appreciate the heroism of the young people of the generation of 1976 and the years after that, we also appreciate that this debate coincides with the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Freedom Charter. We can hold our heads high as a nation for they showed us a deep sense of patriotism, laying down their lives for our country. On the other side we are saying that these young people have paved a way for all of us as young people of this country, black and white.

 

As the Limpopo government, we are led by the ANC and we are a government at work. This debate coincides with the meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture that sat yesterday, wherein the MEC has said unassuming, that we have done a lot in terms of social cohesion and nation building, but there is a lot that still needs to be done.

 

As I have mentioned earlier that our mandate is that of national importance, it is important to mention that we are presiding over an era that needs social cohesion more than ever before. It is an era where the social realities and social cohesion should not be threatened. It is unfortunate that it is also a season where opportunists continue to hijack the issue of social cohesion to advance their cheap politics. As the ANC led government, we will not allow that to happen in our country.

 

In Limpopo we had various consultative forums on the issues of the statues which started with the appointment of the national transformation task team on 17 April 2015. We were honoured as a province to be the first to host the provincial consultative forums under the theme ‘transformation of the heritage landscape.’ It is important to mention that as a province we are honoured to host one of the most wonderful flagship events which is the Marula Festival in Phalaborwa. This festival has made sure that it puts Limpopo in the map.

 

In line with Agenda 2063, we are saying that not only should the door of learning and culture be opened from Cape to Cairo but amongst people of the diaspora. We are certain that Africa can and shall move away from economic difficulties that she so finds herself in.

 

I find no fault in the programmes that the department is going to embark on. I actually wish that the budget was bigger, for the foundation of any nation’s development is in societal cohesion. A transformed society is a foundation for a prosperous nation. Arts and culture have proven everywhere around the world as a platform which speaks to the soul of our people and appeal to their humanity.

 

I stand here on behalf of the people of Limpopo to say that we support this budget 100%, and we implore upon the Minister and the Deputy Minister, to continue to ensure that they lead this country and continue to forge social cohesion amongst our people in nation building. In so doing, we will be honouring the former President of our country Tata Nelson Mandela, O R Tambo and all the founding fathers of our nation. Thank you. [Applause.]

 

Nks B S MASANGO: Sekela lomphathi Sihlalo, ngibonge nokubona isekela likaNgqongqoshe lwezamaciko. Sihlalo ohloniphekile, ngesikhathi ethula inkulumo yakhe yesabelomali kwi-National Assembly uNgqongqoshe uMthethwa wacaphuna amazwi aMengameli waphambilini, uMengameli uMandela. Ngicela-ke ukucaphuna. (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)

 

[Ms B S MASANGO: Deputy Chairperson, I’m grateful to see the Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture. Hon Chairperson, when Minister Mthethwa presented his Budget Vote in the National Assembly he quoted former President Mandela. May I quote.]

 

Let each know that each the body, the mind and the soul have been freed to fulfil themselves. Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another and suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the world.

 

Indida-ke engifike ngaba nayo phini likasihlalo wethu ohloniphekile ukuthi lamazwi asetshenziswa kunconywa lo-Hulumeni esinaye manje, uHulumeni owenganyelwe ubaba uNxamalala nangendlela ahola ngayo ekulondolozeni ezobuciko namasiko akuleli laseNingizimu Afrika.

 

Ngicela ungivumele-ke phini likasihlalo ngisho ukuthi yini ngingavumelani nalawo mazwi uma esasetshenziswa ngalendlela asetshenziswe ngayo. Ngikhuluma nje phini likasihlalo, ubumbano kwezokuhlala noma-ke kwezenhlalakahle kuleli lakithi lusengcindezelweni, asikwazi asihlalisene ngokuzwana. Abantu. bakulelizwe futhi loMnyango lo esikhuluma ngawo namhlanje iwona ophethe ekutheni kube iwona osiqondisayo ukuthi makwenziwe kanjani. Ngicela nje ukubuza phini likasihlalo ukuthi kwenzakalani ezindaweni ezifana no-Robben Island, izindawo ezifana no-Nelson Mandela Museum eQunu. Akuzona yini lezizindawo okufanele ngabe sizigqaja ngazo sithi siyaziqhenya ngalezi zindawo ngoba yizindawo ezigcina amasiko ethu ezigcina namaciko ethu

 

Sidlule lapho sekela mphathi sihlalo ohloniphekile ngithi kuwe sifisela uMnumzane umfo wakwaLanga akhulume ngaye uNgqongqoshe wesifundazwe saseNtshonalanga Kapa athi uthole umsebenzi ukuthi kube uyena ophatha i-Robben Island, simfisela inhlanhla ekutheni alungise okukhulu kangaka osekonakele sekwenze singabe sisaziqhenya ngalezi ndawo ezisemqoka kangaka emacikweni alelizwe lase Ningizimu Afrika.

 

Kukhona lesi saga esithi inyathuko ibuzwa kwabaphambili. Ngokubona kwami, uNgqongqoshe noMnyango wakhe abasebenzise lesi saga ekutheni babuze inyathuko kulaba ababuse ngaphambi kwabo ekutheni kwenziwa njani uma kuphathwa izindawo ezifana no-PanSALB. Sizwile ukuthi i-PanSALB isegunjini lalaba ekuthiwe sebegula kakhulu kuthiwe ingasishiya noma inini. Okwenza ngisho njalo wena sekela likamphathi sihlalo ukuthi eminyakeni emithathu kuphela i-PanSALB ikhule njengoHulumeni walelizwe okhula njengolamthuthu, ikhule ngo 49% kodwa lokukhula awukuboni emisebenzini eyenzayo i-PanSALB.

 

Ikhula nje ekutheni iholele abantu izimali ngoba ezokuphathwa kwayo kukhule kusukela ezigidini eziyisishiyagalombili ukuya kwezilishumi nanye kodwa uma kuyiwa isebenzise imali yokuthi yenze imisebenzi emiselwe yona yehlile lemali kusukela ezigidini esingamashumi amabili nantathu kuya kwezilishumi nesikhombisa.

 

Ngikhuluma nawe nje sekela mphathisihlalo ukusetshenziswa kwezimali okungemukelekile kwalePanSALB kuthiwa kulinganiselwa ezigidini ezingamashumi amabili nesishiyagalombili.

 

IPHINI LIKASIHLALO WENDLU: Mhlonishwa Masango, uzongixolela ngoba isikhathi sakho sesiphelile. (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)

 

[What confused me, hon Chairperson, is that these words were used to praise the current government, the government under the leadership of Nxamalala (clan name for President Zuma) and his style of leadership in preserving arts and culture in South Africa.

 

Please allow me, Deputy Chairperson, to say why I disagree with those words if they are used in this manner. As I speak Deputy Chairperson, the unity in the social welfare in our country is under pressure, we are not united. The people of this country and the department that we are talking about today is the one which is supposed to let us know what to do. I would like to know, Deputy Chairperson, what is happening in places such as the Robben Island, places like Nelson Mandela Museum in Qunu. Are these not the places we should be proud of because they are the ones that preserve our culture and heritage?

 

Let’s leave it there, hon Deputy Chairperson, we congratulate Mr Langa who was mentioned by the Premier of the Western Cape who was appointed to be the manager at Robben Island, we wish him luck to put right a lot that has gone wrong which has made us not to be proud of the most important places with regard to the arts of South Africa.

 

There is an idiom that says a way is asked from those who have walked on it. In my opinion the Minister and the department should use this idiom by asking the way from those who were before them on how to manage places like PanSALB. We heard that PanSALB has a lot of problems and it can be dissolved at any time. The reason I say this, Deputy Chairperson, is because in just three years PanSALB grew like the Government of this country which grows like the battery chickens, it grew by 49% but you can’t see this growth in their work as PanSALB.

 

It only grows in paying salaries for people because its management budget has grown from R8 million to R11 million but when it comes to the money to allocated to the work that they should perform, the budget has decreased from R23 million to R17 million.

 

As I’m speaking to you now, Deputy Chairperson, the wasteful expenditure at PanSALB is estimated R28 million.

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON: Hon Masango, you will have to forgive me because your time has expired.]]

 

Ms M F TLAKE: Hon Chair, hon Deputy Minister, hon members in the House, MECs from provinces, heads of department, ladies and gentlemen in the gallery. This year South Africa marks and celebrates the 60th year of the Freedom Charter which is the founding document of the ANC-led government. It is a founding document that guides South Africans to hold hands and to hold high on the humanity practices such as our values and more especially the value of ubuntu and the promotion of social coercion.

 

Hon Mokowele, you proudly said that the EFF does not support the budget. I wonder how will things you aspire for be implemented if you do not support this budget. For me this is a high level of confusion and contradiction on the interpretation of budget. [Interjections.]

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES: Do not engage with the member when she speaks. You had an opportunity to participate in the debate and there was no interference during your participation. May we please be consistent with what we experience when we are at the podium - consistency. [Interjections.] No, she mentioned your name within the context of the debate. Hon member, you can look at any member. They are all beautiful, look at them as you speak.

 

Ms M F TLAKE: This is one of the principles of public speaking, eye contact, whether it is on the left, in the middle or at the centre. Hon Mokwele, you further do not understand that South Africa is a democratic, free and united country. There is no way we can exclude other nations in our national anthem. Through the Freedom Charter and Chapter 2 of the Constitution, which is the Bill of Rights, go and learn so that you can be able to read the facts, and as a member of the public and as a Member of Parliament you will be able to educate your constituency, unlike coming here to manipulate facts so as to gain cheap political victory.

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES: Hon Zwane!

 

Ms L L ZWANE: Deputy Chairperson, I rise on Rule 32 which states, “During a debate in the Council no member may converse aloud”.

 

There are members in this House who are conversing aloud and shouting.

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES: Can I say the following based on that point of order. Hon members, it is there in the Rules. Do not interfere with a member who is at the podium. I had requested for us to respect members who are at the podium.

 

Secondly, conversing out is also not correct. Maybe just to caution the member standing on the podium addressing members, may you please address members through me. Do not engage with them directly because it can also provoke them to want to respond to comments that you are making. Let us adhere to those basic things of engaging in a debate. Thank you very much. Can you continue, hon member.

 

Ms M F TLAKE: Hon Groenewald, there is a saying, “Rome wasn't built in a day”. Your predecessors failed whilst in power for a period of 48 years. You say you can’t erase the past, but you can learn from it. How are you going to learn when you boldly reject the budget? On your learning curve you have to support the budget because it will enable you to give quality service to the society. So, when you reject it, it is like you are losing the focus when you say you will build South Africa, but at the same time you saying you do not support the budget. I think it will be best for you to support the budget so that you can be able to give life and integrity to those people that you always dream you will one day ... [Interjection.]

 

Ms E C VAN LINGEN: Chair, it is not a point of order, but a point of clarity. I believe that according to the speaker at the moment she is saying that you are rejecting the budget, and that your ancestors and your predecessors, she is referring directly to you if that she is speaking to you.

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES: No, that’s not a point of order. Hon member, you may proceed. There’s no point of clarity here. [Laughter.]

 

Ms M F TLAKE: I think that was not a point of clarity, but it is English. You must understand how English goes. The late Tata Mandela once said:

 

I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.

 

In this way I want to congratulate the Department of Arts and Culture for what they did, for educating our people and for making them aware of the importance of social coercion so that we can be able to hold hands when we go forward and take South Africa forward.

 

In conclusion, before I leave the podium, hon members, we must applaud the Department of Arts and Culture for bringing back the remains of our heroes and heroines into their motherland to be reburied. Let me mention but a few of them, namely, J B Marks, Sarah Bartman and Moses Kotane. We therefore encourage this Department to bring back all South Africans homes in particular the dead defiance soldiers of the uMkhonto weSizwe. We salute Bonny Molokoana, Mary Konde, Kalusha Mahlangu and million others. That is why we support the budget.

 

The ANC-led government under President Zuma is the government of the people. It knows that every nation must respect its culture no matter how diverse it could be. It respects the fact that as human beings we must know where we come from and we must know where we are going because without taking pride in our culture as a nation, we will perish. I thank you.

 

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE: Hon Deputy Chair, MEC of Cultural Affairs and Sport, hon members. Surely, you know - a survey that we did in the department discovered that 14% of South Africans cannot read. If I say ‘read’ I don’t mean when one is studying for exams. The percentage includes both students and even people in the communities, it is 14%, and only 5% of parents read for their children. This proves that if one can read one will be able to have knowledge. One will have knowledge.

 

I am saying so because if you were able to read you won’t be saying some of the statements that some parts of the national anthem must be removed because the late Tata Madiba Mandela said we are going to make South Africa reconcile. This is a process of reconciliation. So, if you are able to read, you won’t be saying such statements. I won’t be commenting on everything that was said. I appreciate the constructive inputs that were given. There is a fight.

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES: Hon members, order, please! Did you point at her, hon Mohale? She is denying [Interjections.] I don’t have facts about it. [Interjections.] Continue.

 

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE: I won’t be commenting on things piece by piece, item by item, but what I would do is that I appreciate those positive and constructive inputs when you were telling us on how to build our country through arts, culture and heritage. I appreciate all what you said, and whatever ... I didn’t hear you.

 

To say that we are doing nothing with the budget is not true. I have also mentioned libraries that we are building, the Mzansi Golden Economy that we are implementing and the imbizos that are being held. We are finding out what programmes are there and what challenges are our people experiencing. The money will focus on the challenges that they have as you know now that June is youth month. We will be calling imbizos in all the provinces. Just watch the space. We will be going to all the provinces one by one. We already have a programme for imbizos for the youth where we should hear what their challenges are. It is not only challenges we should listen to, they should also say what they like to be done.

Most of the things that ... Yes, the PanSALB story, when you go to the Independent Electoral Commission, IEC, it doesn’t mean that it equals death. The hon member was talking about it. Yes, it doesn’t mean that we are dying. We are busy with that. Even those entities that were ailing, they will be very strong. You will be surprised. Watch the space.

 

We really thank you for contributions that were given. We know that we haven’t done everything. There are challenges. Let’s hold this fort and attend the challenges that are there. But progress has been made. We have made progress, you have heard us talk about what we had done through Mzansi Golden Economy last year, 1 173 applicants got their monies. They are working and we are monitoring them. We don’t just give them money and then leave. Even with the imbizos, next year during this time we will be going back to those provinces to see what has been done. Thank you very much for your contributions. Thank you. [Interjections.] [Applause.]

 

The MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: Let me take this opportunity to commit both myself and the Deputy Minister to working together with you, hon members, to ensure that we dedicate time, energy and space as we live up to the clarion call which says, “The People Shall Govern.” We commit ourselves to govern with humility as we render the services in accordance with the mandate of this department.

 

For the downtrodden, particularly the marginalised and ordinary people like uMama Dlamini — who has to share water from a river with animals while facing security challenges of abuse and molestation — radical socioeconomic transformation in the area of water and sanitation cannot be delayed any further. She still doubts that is a fact that the people are indeed governing.

 

We therefore want to commit ourselves that ... through that commitment and a demonstration that, yes, the people of South Africa are now governing through a democratic dispensation. We will reach out to her, as we have for those who came before her, and for those who did not have a hope a year ago and who are today celebrating access to clean water and dignified sanitation.

 

As guided by the NDP, the ANC’s Manifesto and the Second National Water Resource Strategy, we will also continue to apply a seamless, integrated approach to managing out water resources. It will be a co-ordinated approach that is interdependent and inter-related to other departments across the three spheres of government, working in partnership with the private sector, civil society and various other sectors that have an interest in the water and sanitation area.

 

As we work in pursuance of a better life for all, we will continue to engage with local government. Local government has identified a number of challenges through the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs. Of significance in that space is the area of aging infrastructure, lack of budgets for operations and maintenance, poor technical capacity as well as lack of proper water and sanitation plans.

 

Among other things that we are consultation with the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs with regard to the status of local government, is the verification including assessment of some of our local authorities, in view of their incapacity to provide what is their core mandate in terms of service delivery.

 

We do believe that the time has come that that we definitely have to not just patronise one another, but also appreciate the role of local government on the basis of them being able to generate revenue, provide basic services, and make sure that the IDP becomes a living document that informs their budgets. We do believe that, post-2016 local government elections, we will actually have dealt with those municipalities that are not functional or capable of becoming a water service authority.

 

We do believe that the one-size-fits-all of a water service authority has to come to an end. You have to demonstrate on the basis of plans, resources, leadership and, most importantly, consistency in the provision of basic services. Our people do not demand much, but they demand a functional and viable local government. That is part of what Minister Pravin Gordhan, supported by all of us in government, has actually termed “Back to Basics.”

While the Back to Basics programme focuses in general on the 27 district municipalities that are dysfunctional, on the other hand, the department, in co-operation with the provincial governments of the North West and the Eastern Cape, have made section 139(b) interventions on water and sanitation matters in Madibeng, Makamodire Molema, Makana, and — of late — in Nelson Mandela Bay.

 

We do also believe that as we make those interventions through section 139, there also has to be consequence management. Where resources have been abused, where services have not been rendered, we need to make sure that those who at the helm take full responsibility, not only at local government level, but also across the three spheres of government. Where there was bad planning, those who were planning must take responsibility. Where we have funded that which is not viable, those that are in the Department of Water and Sanitation must take responsibility. Where there has been abuse of a contract that has been granted to a service provider, there has to be consequences as well.

 

We do believe that there is a corrupter and a corruptee. We have to deal with both sides of the sword.

 

In support of the National Development Plan in regard to forward strategic planning, we will also prioritise the implementation of Water Resource Strategy 2 and, moving forward, the strategic framework articulated therein shall serve as a guiding document for all stakeholders in the water sector in pursuit of the effective and efficient delivery of services.

 

In the drive towards improved service delivery to our people, our primary focus will be on the following: on water resource management, on water infrastructure development, on water and sanitation services, and on water sector regulation and policy.

 

Hon members, this Budget Vote today takes account of all the policy and strategic imperatives as well as the implementation of our annual performance plan for the financial year 2015-16. The total budget for the 2015-16 financial year is R16,4 billion. Over the medium term, this budget is expected to grow to more than R17 billion by 2016-17, as we strive to improve the delivery of services to the people.

 

Our budget per programme is as follows: R1,5 billion for Administration; R880 million for Water Planning; R12,4 billion for Water Resource Infrastructure Development, R1,4 billion for Water and Sanitation Services; and R231 million is allocated to Water Sector Regulation.

 

In addition, we will also transfer R3,7 billion in 2015-16 and R4 billion in 2016-17 to the Water Trading Entity, WTA, through the Water Infrastructure Management Programme.

 

With regard to the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Programme, we will ensure that we provide a sustainable and holistic value-chain of water supply and sanitation infrastructure. In this regard, we are pleased to announce that, in this financial year, we will be spending in excess of R6 billion on various projects across provinces through the regional bulk infrastructure grant in order to address these infrastructure challenges. We will also focus our attention on acid mine drainage in this financial year with a view towards turning this environmental hazard into an opportunity to produce water.

 

In Mpumalanga, hon members, we will be spending R286 million towards water infrastructure development and maintenance this financial year. The projects that will benefit from this programme include Msukaligwa Regional Water Supply Scheme, Amsterdam, Sheepmore bulk Water Scheme, Carolina/Selobela Water Supply Scheme, and Emalahleni Bulk Water Supply Upgrade, and Northern Nzikazi Bulk Water Scheme, among others.

 

In the Eastern Cape, on the other hand, we will be spending R1,2 billion during this financial year. The focus will be in the areas are OR Tambo District Municipality, the King Sabata Dalinyebo Water Supply Scheme and Sanitation, the Xhonxa Bulk Water Supply in Chris Hani, the Mbizana Bulk Water Supply in Alfred Nzo, and many others that are going to be presented to us. It will also include interventions in Makana and the support to complete the Nooitgedacht Coega Low Level Scheme in Nelson Mandela Bay.

 

In Limpopo, we will be investing a total of R955 million towards regional bulk infrastructure. The focus is on the Mopani and Waterberg areas, as well as Vhembe and Sekhukhune District Municipalities. That will include the bulk distribution system that have to be connected to the De Hoop and Nandoni dams, respectively.

The North West province will receive an amount of R757 million to implement various infrastructure development and maintenance schemes in the Greater Taung Local Municipality under the Dr Ruth Mompati District Municipality.

 

This budget will thus address challenges with ground water quality in the North West, as well as inadequate bulk supply. Other projects in the North West include the Pilanesberg Bulk Water Supply Scheme which will benefit various municipalities for both domestic and industrial use.

 

In the Northern Cape we will invest an amount of R341 million in the bulk infrastructure grant projects.

 

Several bulk water schemes are currently under construction. These are the Namakwa Bulk Water and the Heuningvlei Bulk Water Supply Schemes which will ensure sustainable water supply to Springbok and the surrounding towns as well as the John Taolo Gaetsewe Municipality, respectively.

 

The construction of the Kalahari East Pipeline Extension and the Vaal Gamagara Bulk Water Supply Project will also be pursued to unlock the economic opportunities that are coming with the mining opportunities in the province of the Northern Cape.

 

In KwaZulu-Natal will invest an amount of R1,4 billion this financial year. Among the schemes to benefit will be the Lower uThukela Regional Bulk which will deliver potable water southwards to local developments and rural communities. This will also link into the existing Umgeni Water North Coast Supply System, supplying 586 000 people with water.

 

The raising of Hazelmere Dam will augment the water supply to the KwaZulu-Natal north coast for domestic use and for irrigation downstream of the dam. The Jozini-Ingwavuma Bulk Water Supply Project ...

 

I hope Mr Khawula is here!

 

... will provide the Jozini Local Municipality with additional sustainable water supply. [Laughter.]

 

The Free State province is currently implementing ten projects which are all aimed at increasing its capacity for water supply. Critical for these projects is the size optimisation, routing and integration of a pipeline to supply water to Mangaung Metro Municipality directly from the Gariep Dam on the Orange River.

 

In Gauteng — my home — we will invest R349 million for bulk infrastructure projects. These include the Sedibeng Regional Sanitation and Westonaria Regional Sewer Schemes. The Sedibeng project was initiated due to spillages of raw sewage into the Vaal River. The Westonaria Regional Sewer Scheme covers parts of the City of Johannesburg, Randfontein, Westonaria and other projects that were initiated to address the backlog of sanitation services.

 

The other two strategic projects in Gauteng will be the buld infrastructure for Syferfontein between Johannesburg and the West Rand, and Lion’s Park. These will also open up opportunities in Randburg in the City of Johannesburg. These will unlock infrastructure development in the south and north of the City of Johannesburg.

 

Here in the Western Cape, we will work together with our regional office in completing an exercise to determine the bulk and water infrastructure needs for the province for the next 15 to 20 years, because that plan does not exist. So we are now working together with them, having consulted the provincial government and the mayors just yesterday. We will assist them to develop that plan. [Interjections.]

 

That included Kannaland, my dear.

 

To date, department has invested R533 million and we have put a further amount of R194,8 million towards accelerated infrastructure community projects here in the Western Cape.

 

We will also spend significant amounts of money through the following grants and programmes.

 

The Accelerated Community Infrastructure Programme will receive R254 million. This programme will also attend to managing the revenue system.

 

We will put an amount of R2,5 billion into the Municipal Water Infrastructure Grant. I will hasten to say that we want to refrain from a situation where we have just been making grants available to municipalities. We want to make these conditional grants to actually be conditional. They will be based on a viable, bankable plan, the capacity of the municipality to implement it, and the allocation of 7% for maintenance. If those conditions do not exist, no senior manager in the department will release money to a municipality. We will go in there, deliver the service, and ensure that, through the Department of Co-operative Government and Traditional Affairs, the municipality sorts out its inabilities as we accelerate delivery to our people. [Interjections.]

 

In conclusion, hon members, one of the things we want to commit ourselves to in this financial year is the eradication of the bucket system in the old townships. This will happen in some of our own areas as we roll out regional bulk infrastructure including rural sanitation.

 

We are also going to introduce alternative technology in areas that do not have access to water. We want to promote water security, promote the re-use and recycling of water, and also the use of recycled water for sanitation. We do hope that members will understand that we are a water-scarce country; it cannot be business as usual. Thank you.

 

Ms L C DLAMINI: House Chairperson, tThank you very much Chairperson for the opportunity. M, my greetings goes to the Minister, the Deputy Minister, hon members and our special guests in our midst., Hon Minister, wwhathat else can I say , hon Minister after you have speakingspoken to us as provinces?. You know that we are representing provinces. As a committee after interacting with your department, wWe are very much excited and interested in knowing that there is hope in terms of water provision after interacting with your department, as a community. We really do support the budget. I don’t want to miss this point because sometimes they tell me that I would be told that my time has expired.  We do support the budget of the department.

 

Water supply and sanitation remains the the key challenges to many communities in our country. The ANC-led government has established a new Ministry and Department of Water and Sanitation in responseding to thesese needs ofwithin our communities. The department’s legislative mandate is to make sureensure that the country’s water resources are protected, managed, used, developed, conserved and controlled through regulating and supporting the delivery of an effective water supply and sanitation.

 

During the budget speech on 21 May 2015, tThhe hon Minister of Water and Sanitation during the Budget Vote speech, on the 21st of May 2015 concluded that approximately 88% of South Africans have access to clean drinking water, and 78% have access to decent sanitation. Furthermore, Minister Mokonyane also stated that, “plans are underway to explore and exhaust alternative solutions to reduce pressure on water resources and ensure that the remaining percentage is also served” to our people. The people’s movement – , the ANC’s vision for the future – is one which sees a country where millions of South Africans have decent employment opportunities, modern infrastructure, a vibrant economy and where the quality of life is both sustainedable and equitable.

 

We acknowledge that through government the ANC continues to strive to improve the quality of government services for our people, where they live. The unwavering commitment by the ANC is emphasised by the Constitution through the Bill of Rights, which guarantees human rights and the dignity of all, including the right to sufficient food and water. The government led by the ANC, has a legal mandate to perform with regards to water and sanitation. Water contributes to growth, and development and job creation through integration and partnerships with social and economic sectors. Water is a catalyst and an enabler for the development agenda forof the state.

 

Kute kujika-jika. Ushaya tinyoni letimbili ngelitje linye [There is no beating about the bush. You kill two birds with one stone.]

 

You provide water and at the same time create job opportunities. The department is also committed to skills development. It is very much important, so so that we have a pool of skilled people who with skills who are deal with water and- so that we do not have a shortage of skills. The department is providing bursaries with regard to that. The vision outlined in the Nnational Development Plan, NDP,  2030, to ensure water security for economic growth and to increase household access to waterwater is operationalised in outcomes four, six, seven, nine and ten10. We are not just talking ...

 

Ms T J MOKWELE: Modulasetilo, ke ne ke botsa gore a mme a ka tsaya potso? [Chairperson, I am asking if the member will take a question?]

 

Ebhasini uma sesiya e-Acacia ngingamphendvula. [Luhleko.] [I will answer in the bus when we are going to Acacia.]

 

Ms L C DLAMINI: We also acknowledge that the Department of Water and Sanitation’s responsibility has increased because of the shift of the sanitation function in October 2014 from the Department of Human Settlements. We welcome the increase ofin the budget as an indication forof commitment to increase water provision to our people. The overall budget of the dDepartment has increased from R12,9 billion to R16,4 billion in 2015-16.

 

In his state of the nation address, His Excellency the Presidentcy of South Africa, urged all in the country to conserve water because the country is losing R7 billion due to the loss of water loss. He further reported that the department will train 15 000 artisans or plumbers who will fix the leaking taps in their respective communities. This is an effort which will assist in terms of dealing with leakages. We are also pledgingurging our communities that they should not to ignore those leakages because theyit happens in their yards.

 

In the state of the nation address, the President also announced a target of six6  million work opportunities over athe five-year -period, which translates into 1,2 million per year. Thus far, we appreciate the work that has been done by the department forin creating 850 000 work opportunities. We are not just talking; we are implementing.

 

We also welcome the programmes of skills development and retention in the dDepartment, and also the involvement of our young people in the programmes of the department. The department will be hosting the seventh Youth Water and Sanitation Summit this year in Johannesburg this year. In the last financial year, this summit attracted 560 young people from all nine provinces. ThisIn this financial year, the department is targeting 800 young people. These people will be representing the youth who are out of school youth and young water professionals. The Youth Water and Sanitation Summit is about information sharing and knowledge acquisition inon topical water and sanitation sector issues.

 

We also commend the department oin empowering women and people with disabilities; the department Within the water and sanitation sector, it has four programmes that are deliberately aimed at empowering women and people with disabilities within the water and sanitation sector. These are the programmes that the department is involved in are: Women in Water Awards; Adopt a River programme; the supply of resources for self-h elp centres for people with disabilities and accelerated development programmes for people with disabilities; and War on Leaks.

 

The department has also made also a significant impact by intervening where there is a critical failure by local government to deliver water services.

 

The hon Minister has spoken toto some of the areas where they have intervened. We really appreciate that, hon Minister, and we are saying that this must continue because you can’t just give money, then and sit back and think that money will perform miracles down there. It must be monitored and followed up. In partnership with the provincial governments of the Eastern Cape and North West, the department intervened in municipalities which have been placed under aAdministration. Hon Chair, I’m am not going to go back tospeak about those areas because the hon Minister has already spoken about that.

 

Some of the impacts that the department has made includess the budget for the 2015-16 - Municipal Water Infrastructure Grant. Also hon Chair I am not going to repeat these onesit, but the very critically that there are a number of projects that hashave been implemented by the department.

 

I do want to gospeak about the challenges because there are those who want to be popular by looking only at negative things. only. However, I want to address those issues. We do acknowledge that d. Despite progress made so far,, there are delays in some of these projects which has resulted in a series of service- delivery protests regarding the lack of access to water by some communities such as those in the North West, Mpumalanga included and other provinces.

 

The use of the bucket system remains unacceptable, hon Minister. As a committee, wWe have prioritised that as a committee that we will be monitoring that oneissue very closely, as it strips people of their dignity. The ANC remains committed into restoringing the dignity of the people by ensuring the implementation of programmes that are aimed at the eradication of inadequate sanitation.

Significant strides have been made to eliminate thisthe bucket system. The department’s water and sanitation services – ofin the Budget Vote – which addressaddressesing this programme, has increased and w. We appreciate that. However, there isare still backlogs in thiswith regard to this programme within those informal areas where they still use the bucket system.

 

The department needs to improve its working relationship with other government departments such as the dDepartments of Human Settlements, Rural Development and Land Reform, Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Education and National Treasury, to find workable solutions to address these challenges. In using this approach, a number of job opportunities wouldwill be created for local communities. We therefore support the bBudget, hon Minister. [Applause.]

 

Mme N P MOKGOSI: Ke dumedisa Aforika Borwa ka bophara. Ke rata go tlhalosa gore ke dumedisa jaana gonne Motl Nzimande are ga ke dumedise pele ke ngangisana. Ke ne ke ratile go bua jaana a le teng, ga ke motho yo o ratang go seba. (Translation of Setswana paragraph follows.)

 

[Greetings to all South Africans. I want to explain that I am greeting because Hon Nzimande has accused me of not greeting before I start with the debate. I wished he was here to witness this, I hate gossip.]

 

Early in 2014, the township of Mothutlung erupted in a violent service delivery protest over lack of water. Four people died. Under pressure, the government restored the water. In January this year, the water provision was disrupted again, and when connected, the water was brown, not suitable for human consumption. As we speak now, there is no water in Mothutlung. Hon Minister, it is true that the last time you were there, there was water but now there isn’t.

 

The small town of Grahamstown has been experiencing severe water supply challenges for the past three years and the problem still continues to this day. These are just but two examples of a deeply embedded problem with water provision in our country, which affects millions of South Africans. The problems are caused by a variety of problems, such as, shortage of skills at a municipal level, to sheer the management incompetency to the most significant way and the lack of maintenance of aging water infrastructure.

 

The problem of water supply is one of the most urgent problems we need to face, with possibly devastating effects for our economy and livelihoods, perhaps more devastating than Eskom crisis. In light of these, what does the Minister and the department do? They allocate funds to administration that is four times more than the funds set aside for water infrastructure development. The Minister and her department continue to do nothing about the massive water channelled to the mines, at almost next to nothing ...

 

Fa metsi a le teng ka nako e o etetseng lefelo leo, ke ka lebaka la eng gore o re o a dira? Ke eng se o se dirang? (Translation of Setswana paragraph follows.)

 

[If there is water at your destination, why are you saying you are serving? What is it that you are doing?]

 

... compromising the ability of our communities to access water. She still does nothing to mines operating without water use licences, despite several warnings to her to stop this shameful practice. Furthermore, this ministry does nothing to prevent the dangerous acid mine drainage which will damage our groundwater resources and threaten our ability to have a sustainable supply of water in the near future. We have a future to think about!

 

The future of this country’s water supply is under great danger under this Minister and the ANC. Respectively, 55% and 65% of South Africa’s ...

 

HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms. M C Dikgale): Hon Mokgosi, please take your seat, Mma! Hon member, why are you rising?

 

Ms L C DLAMINI: I don’t know if this is parliamentary, I’m trying to prevent herself from herself. She must just relax, she’s too serious.

 

HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms. M C Dikgale): Hon member, please take your seat! Continue hon Mokgosi!

 

Ms N P MOKGOSI: I’m here to represent more than one person out there. So, whether, I’m serious or not, I’m delivering the message to South Africans at large. Respect is earned once again. Respectively, 55% and 65% of South Africa’s river and wetland ecosystem types are threatened, putting the ability of our natural system to provide and purify water at great risk.

 

There is no well thought plan by this department to put as much effort into maintaining our ecological infrastructure as if not more than the effort put into physical infrastructure. Furthermore, an estimated 2, 2 million households in this country use pit-latrines, bucket toilets or have no sanitation at all.

 

Batho ba dirisa dintloboithusetso tsa khuti, bagaetsho. Ke kopa gore lo gopole ba bangwe fa lona lo dirisa tsa metsi. [People are still using pit-latrines. Please bear that in mind when you use the ones with sanitation.]

 

This should make us hang our heads in shame as the elected representatives of our people. But no, we will continue to lie and claim that this budget is going to be better than the last, - talk is cheap! – that things are getting better for our people.

 

Ms M F TLAKE: Is it parliamentary for a member to say that the Minister is lying?

 

HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms. M C Dikgale): Hon member, it is not parliamentary, but she never referred to the Minister, I was listening. Take your seat, Mma! Continue!

 

Ms N P MOKGOSI: Listening is a skill! The country has invested in the Lesotho Highlands Project to secure water for this country, but the country has never bothered to look at the social implications of this project on the people of Lesotho who had to be relocated from their ancestral land to make a way for this project. Our water security should never come at the expense of other people’s well-being.

 

We should be using the vast scientific innovation we have in this country to invest in the desalination of sea water for use by households and industry. The country needs to invest in maintaining its ecological infrastructure, so that our rivers and wetlands do not get degraded any further, which will then ensure a sustainable supply of water.

 

The people of Lelifontein in Namaqualand have shown that with very little investments in rehabilitated wetlands, huge rewards can be reaped. But the ANC is not interested in local based and job creating interventions to secure our water resources and create jobs. [Interjections.]

 

Ke kopa gore re tlhomphane mo Ntlong e. [Lets respect each other in this House.]

 

Mr C J DE BEER: Chairperson, will the hon member take a question?

 

HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms. M C Dikgale): Hon Mokgosi, are you ready to take a question?

 

Mme N P MOKGOSI: Ke tla tsaya potso fa re le mo beseng e e yang kwa Acacia Park maitseboa a gompieno. [I will take a question on our way home – Acacia Park, later tonight.]

 

HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms. M C Dikgale): She’s not ready, ho member.

 

Mr C J DE BEER: Because she does not know Namaqualand.

 

Ms N P MOKGOSI: I’m from the Northern Cape, remember! I’ve been everywhere.

 

HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms. M C Dikgale): Conclude, hon member!

 

Ms N P MOKGOSI: Therefore Chairperson, the EFF rejects this budget.

 

A ke dirise nako yame e e setseng. [Let me use my remaining time.]

 

Hon Zwane, I want to say to you that, I’m a mother and I’m a wife.

 

Ga ke ngwana. [I am not a child.]

We are all equal in this House. We are all hon members.

 

A ke nopole moporesidente wa ka, CIC ... [Let me quote my president, CIC ...]

 

HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms M C Dikgale): Order, hon Mokgosi. You cannot address the hon member, hon Zwane straight, you need to direct that to the Chair ...

 

Ms N P MOKGOSI: Noted, noted, Chair!

 

A ke nopole moporesidente wa ka, CIC, Julius Malema, ke re le fa o ka itima metsi o tla e bona e nwele ... [I will quote my president, CIC Julius Malema: Even if you close doors of opportunity, I will succeed.]

 

HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms M C Dikgale): Order, hon Mokgosi! Why are you raising, Mma?

 

Ms L L ZWANE: Ingane ezifana nale ngizifaka impama. [I give a clap to children like this one.]

 

Ms N P MOKGOSI: O tla eletsa o mpona ke feta fale. O ka se ntire sepe, ebile ga ke go tshabe! Susu ilela suswana gore suswana e tle e go ilele. [You wish. There is nothing you can do to me, I am not afraid of you. Respect the youngsters so they can return that favour.]

 

Respect is not demanded, it is earned.

 

Fa o ka mpetsa ka tlelapa, le nna ke tla e busa, nana! Sala sentle! [If you slap me, I will slap you back. Goodbye.]

 

Mr C F B SMIT: Jy weet mos ... [You know, of course ...]

 

Hon House Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon members, members of the public and guests in the gallery, good afternoon.

 

Hon Minister of No Responsibility and Excuses; I think it is important for you to see how your department is perceived on the ground. Chairperson, okay.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): Order, hon Smit.

 

Mr J P PARKIES: I want to request the Chairperson to refer to the Hansard and rule over the remarks made by the hon member; because this is a respectable House. We can’t just pass remarks recklessly so. Thank you.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): Okay, thank you Hon Parkies, which member are you referring to?

 

Mr J P PARKIES: I mean the EFF member.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): Okay, let me take a ruling now. The hon member Zwane and the hon member Mokgosi, please make sure that whatever you utter in this House, you remain hon members. Both of them were out of order. And I want to ask the hon members to respect the orders of this House. Thank you very much. Can we continue? Continue hon Smith.

 

Mr C F B SMIT: Hon Minister of No Responsibility and Excuses, I think it is important for you to see how your department is perceived on the ground, and I have taken it upon myself to make sure that you know what it looks like.

 

This is Maria Hlongwane from the Ndebele Matebeleng Village in Mogalakwena, who is waiting the whole day for the water trucks to arrive. And, by the way, this village doesn’t have a single toilet. So, you can imagine where they are going to do their things. This is ... [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): Order, hon Smit. Please take your seat!

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE NCOP: Hon House Chair, to use phrases which are intended to demean hon Members of this Parliament is not parliamentary. Thank you.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): Thank you, hon Chief Whip. It is indeed not parliamentary. Can the member please cease from doing that? Continue.

 

Mr C F B SMIT: Hon Minister, this is Johanna Maloka from Ext 19 in the RDPs. Sewerage is constantly flowing out of her house. That is how it looks around her house. This is Phomolong township, just outside of Mookgophong town with maize fields covered in sewerage. Sewerage flowing towards Nylsvley in Mookgophong farms flooded with sewerage in Mookgophong. This is the Dorps River in Mogalakwena.

Luckily for you, Minister, you have only to look at this. You don’t have to smell it; you don’t have to walk through it; your children don’t have to play in it. O’ no! But, of course, it’s not your responsibility. You only look after bulk water services and oversee those big tenders allocated from your department’s massive R16,5 billion. Your department smells of the ANC, Minister – the smell of a so-called good story. It is time for you, Minister, to get out of your comfortable chair ... [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): Order, hon Smith. Please take your seat! Hon ... [Interjections.]

 

Mr S G MTHIMUNYE: My submission is that you do not rule now. The photographs that are submitted here, a digital camera takes a second or so to take a photograph. These photographs cannot be presented in this House as empirical evidence of lack of service. Now, my submission Chair is that these photographs not be admitted as empirical evidence in this House, because it cannot hold as empirical evidence.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): Okay, thank you very much. I will. ... Why are you on your feet? I am still responding to what the hon member was saying and you are on your feet. Please take your seat! Thank you very much. I will check and ask an advice from the Table, and then I will come back on that one. Thank you very much. The hon Labuschagne, please take your seat! Hon member Dlamini stood before you and I ask her to sit.

 

Ms L C DLAMINI: Hon Chair ... [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): Hon members, can we listen to the hon member Dlamini?

 

Ms L C DLAMINI: Hon Chairperson, I think for me this is racist. Are the owners ... [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): Which one are you referring to, Ma’am?

Ms L C DLAMINI: Let me finish. I am not finished.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): No, I want you to tell me, which one you are referring to?

 

Ms L C DLAMINI: Can I continue, and then you will know it?

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): I want to know what is it that you are referring to before you continue.

 

Ms L C DLAMINI: Now, I don’t know how to ... [Interjections.]

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): Order, hon member.

 

Ms L C DLAMINI: ... because my continuation will answer your question, Chair. Allow me to proceed because I will answer what you are asking.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): But you have the answer. Please help us. Help the House.

 

Ms L C DLAMINI: Yes, tha’s what I want to do, Chair.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): Okay, continue.

Ms L C DLAMINI: I am saying for me this is racist. I’m not sure if the owners, those people in the pictures are aware that they are displayed here in the House.

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): Okay, I have already ... Order, hon members! Order! Hon Tebogo! Hon members, order! I have already ruled on that one. I said I’m going to consult and then I will come back with a ruling. We need to continue on this one. The hon member Labuschagne was before you, hon member.

 

Ms C LABUSCHAGNE: Hon Chair, I am very concern that this is becoming a custom in this House that members stand up and ask the Chair to rule, for instance, on the ruling of photos, on things that are not in the Rules. The procedure is that these things should be taken to the Rules committee. We can’t start a ... [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): Can I ask you to take a seat, hon member.

 

Ms C LABUSCHAGNE: According to the Rule member ... [Interjections.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): Order, hon Labuschagne. Can you please take your seat? Take your seat, Ma’am! I have heard what you were saying.

 

Ms C LABUSCHAGNE: ... because he is a member of the ANC.

 

Previously I was ruled to sit down, no, hon Nel, I was reasonable up to now. Don’t let us get into a fight because the ANC will not win this fight. We are creating Rules in this House which are not fair and we cannot stand for this any longer.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): Hon Labuschagne, with all due respect, that is why I said to the hon member who stood before all of you, I will go and make a research and check and come back with a ruling on the next sitting. That is what I said. Now the hon member is on his feet. Oh! My apology! The hon member raised his hand before you. Order, hon members. Order, hon member from Mpumalanga.

 

Mr T C MOTLASHUPING: Hon Chair, I’m not sure if its partliamentary for the insinuation that the Minister represents the party that smells. I’m not sure if he is referring to a good smell or a bad smell. Is it parliamentary? I’m not sure what type of a smell he was referring to, that he represents the party that smells.

 

An HON MEMBER: It smells fishy!

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): Okay, thank you hon member. Hon members, you cannot do this! It’s not allowed. I am still with the hon member here. Can both of you take your seat, please? Take your seat! I am still to respond to this, hon member. Hon Van Lingen, please take your seat! I want to check with you, hon Smit. Did you refer to the hon Minister that she smells?

 

Mr C F B SMIT: Not at all, Chairperson. I can ... [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): Okay, if you did not, then please take your seat. He is refusing. We are done with this one, because he is refusing. Hon member Zwane, take your seat! There is an hon member behind you. Yes, hon member.

 

Mr M CHETTY: Chairperson, I am rising on Rule 30, members.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): Rule?

 

Mr M CHETTY: Thirty?

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): Thirteen or 30?

 

Mr M CHETTY: Okay, Rule 30.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): Rule 30. Okay.

 

Mr M CHETTY: It states that members (a) have freedom of speech in the Council and in its committees and subcommittees, subject to these Rules; and (b) are not liable to any civil or criminal proceedings, arrest, imprisonment or damages for (i) anything they have said in, produced by or submitted to the Council or any of its committees or subcommittees; or (ii) anything revealed as a result of anything said in, produced before or submitted to the Council or any such committee or subcommittee. Thank you.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): Which one are you referring to?

 

Mr M CHETTY: To the first one.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): Okay, I said I will rule at the next sitting. Can we now continue?

 

Mr M CHETTY: [Inaudible.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M C Dikgale): Okay, thank you that you heard me now hon member. Hon members, Order! I have ruled on the matter. Now I want us to continue.

 

Mr C F B SMIT: House Chairperson, luckily for you, hon member, you only have to see a snapshot. If you want, I can take you there.

 

It is time for you, hon Minister, to get out of your comfortable chair in your luxury office and start attending to these issues that rob our poor, defenceless communities from their basic human rights that is enshrined in the Constitution, and stop pleasing your beloved No one. Yes, No one; how high, No one; what else, No one. [Laughter.]

You can start with Madibeng Municipality that is currently making headlines from the stink of corruption by Mr Cash that bankrupted the Council to such an extent that the sewerage is flowing freely into the Crocodile River system. O’ no! It is actually pumped into the river system.

 

In fact, I read an article this week that indicated that 65% of our river systems are now so polluted that it is no longer good for agricultural use, not that the farmers already have more than enough to handle, hon Minister, they will now have to setup purification plants to clean the water before it can be used. This is a crisis, Minister, and a serious one, as water is life.

 

The World Economic Forum’s 2015 Global Risk Report indicated that a water crisis is its highest concern. Minister, looking at our other ANC crisis; electricity, can you please indicate to us sufficiently how your department will ensure that Medupi has enough water supplied to be able to operate, and how will it affect other water users in an already water constrained area? Minister, you look far too relaxed. You should be worried and highly stressed, as you have the department of crisis.

 

Will I mention the acid spillage in Modimolle that polluted the ecologically-sensitive Nylsvley river system, Or Mookgophong that is supplying asbestos-infected water to the community – that might even be the cause of the massive spike in throat and stomach cancer cases? You see, Minister, your ANC has now become so obsessed with self-enrichment and clinging to power that it just doesn’t care anymore.

 

It is estimated that water usage in South Africa would have grown to 2,7 billion m3 of water by 2030, leaving a mere 17% gap in supply and demand. Minister, please don’t wait until the sewerage hits the fan. Start now to plan for the future, as water is life.

 

Minister, your department has a very ambitious target to eradicate bucket toilets in formal areas by 2015-16, as well as to provide over 40 000 households with sanitation services over the medium-term. Is this achievable while the Department of Human Settlements struggled to spend its budget in the 2012-13 financial year with an underspending of 39,6% to the value of R139 million? Minister, only under a DA government will the people of South Africa experience real freedom, fairness and the opportunity to live decent lives, which they deserve, because the DA is the only party that really cares about the future of our people and has proven to be capable of delivering quality services to all. As the ANC’s water is either yellow or green or black, the DA will deliver blue water, as blue water means clean - clean government. South Africa, reach out and have a sip. I thank you. [Applause.]

 

Mr A J NYAMBI: Chairperson, Minister, Deputy Minister, hon members, ladies and gentlemen, we have three things that we must not loose as human beings, but, I will focus on one thing and that is being honest.

 

Hon Smit, the pictures you presented here today, to some of us, it is not pictures that you just take, it is a life that we have lived. And we know that out of practical experience. [Applause.] For the ANC to have a Department of Water and Sanitation, it is because they are trying to address the legacy of apartheid. I was listening with a serious interest and I thought out of the pictures you will show a picture of Mrs van der Merwe - it was missing and that was very serious to me.

 

Hon members, sometimes we enjoy this comfort of opinions coming here trying to play to the gallery and forgetting the issue we are dealing with. We can’t do cheap politics. To the EFF, the very same Thomas Sankara you love to quote once said “being negative is not revolutionary and being negative has nothing to do with being progressive”.

 

Hon Minister, rest assured even if you were in this podium and said the red overall colour is red – we object to that, the overalls are not red. They were going to object. They are objecting everything that is being said by the ANC.

 

The other thing that I would like appeal to both hon Smit and hon Mokgosi is that sometimes we have people who people prepare speeches for you and when you come here - you have heard the Minister and the Chairperson of the committee ...

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms M C Dikgale): Hon Nyambi, order! Please take your seat.

 

Mr C F B SMIT: hon Chair, on a point of order: I believe that there was a ruling before that it is not allowed to indicate that Members of Parliament speeches are written on their behalf. It is in fact infringing on the integrity of a member.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms. M C Dikgale): Thank you, hon Smit. I need to re-check with hon Nyambi, did you say the speeches were written on their behalf?

 

Mr A J NYAMBI: ... let me repeat ...

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms M C Dikgale): Order, hon members! You will never ever be hon Nyambi. Hon members, hon Dlamini, hon Tebogo, please, let us have order in this House! Hon Nyambi, can you respond to that?

 

Mr A J NYAMBI: listening is a skill. Let me repeat it ... if you come hear with a written speech and we don’t bother to listen to what is being presented, you will contradict what is being presented here, I repeat that listening is a skill ...

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms M C Dikgale): Continue hon member.

 

Mr A J NYAMBI ... You are suffering from selective memory. The budget presented today is one of many examples ...

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms M C Dikgale): Order, Hon Nyambi!

 

Dr Y C VAWDA: Hon Chair, he is saying exactly the same thing that hon Smit is raising. He said it clearly now that if their speeches are written for them, they should listen. It’s the same thing that he is saying. There is no difference in what we are saying and he must do the hon thing and the hon Nyambi must withdraw.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms M C Dikgale): Hon Vawda that is not what happened. Please, take your seat. Hon Mokgosi, do you still want to say something? Hon Khawula, please take your seat.

 

Ms N P MOKGOSI: Chair ...

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms M C Dikgale): Take a seat hon Nyambi!

 

Ms N P MOKGOSI: Sit down! I’m addressing the Chair. [Laughter.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms M C Dikgale) Eh! Eh! Eh! Eh!  No! No! No! No! Hon Mokgosi! Hon Mokgosi!

 

Ms N P MOKGOSI: No, but I ...

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms M C Dikgale): Hon Mokgosi, Order! Order Ma! Can we have order in this House?

 

Ms N P MOKGOSI: Okay Chair!

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms M C Dikgale) Order! Order Ma! Can we have order in this House?

 

Ms N P MOKGOSI: Sure, Chairperson sure! I wanted to address...

 

HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms M C Dikgale): Continue. Why are you standing?

 

Ms N P MOKGOSI: ... Chairperson ...

 

Ngangisano ya me e ne e re ... [My argument is ...]

 

... Like I said, listening is a skill ...

 

Hon Nyambi ga a nkutlwa sentle ga a sa utlwa a botse fela jaaka fetsa go bua gore ... [Hon Nyambi must ask if he did not hear me correctly, I said ...]

 

... Listening is a skill ...

 

Ke e busetsa gape kwa go ena. Ke a leboga. [Back to him, thank you.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms M C Dikgale): Eo ga se ntlha ya kgalemo ngwana wa mma. Nna fa fatshe. Tswelelapele Mot Nyambi. [That is not a point of order, take a seat. Proceed Hon Nyambi.]

 

Mr M KHAWULA: on a point of order: I think the contestation is with the loyalties of the Chair. Maybe if you take off your jacket it would be clear. [Laughter.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms M C Dikgale): That is not a point of order hon member. Please take your seat! Continue hon Nyambi. Order hon members!

 

Mr A J NYAMBI: Sihlalo, eh ... bengicabanga kutsi Make Zwane namuhla nakakhuluma ngeLwabiwomali Lwelitiko Letebuciko Nemasiko, asifundzisa ngenhlonipho, sitawetama kutsi silalelisise letimfundziso takhe.

 

Mine-ke lapho ngikhulele khona, umuntfu nakasukuma akhuluma, nome ngabe ukhuluma nemuntfu lomncane nome lomdzala, ngibona batali bakhe kuye, ngibona likhaya lekaphuma kulo.

 

Ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi umuntfu nakakhuluma usuke aveta sitfombe salapho aphuma khona. Kimi-ke loko kubese kuba yinselele, ngibuke kutsi hheee, ingabe lapho aphuma khona!

 

Ngako-ke akuhlale kuyinselele ngasosonkhe sikhatsi. Nami, nangime lapho ngime khona, angikatimeli mine kodvwa ngimele inhlangano yaKhongolose; futsi-ke kuhloniphana kubaluleke kakhulu. (Translation of Siswati paragraphs follows.)

 

[Mr A J NYAMBI: Chairperson, eh ... I thought that today when Ms Zwane talks about the Department of Arts and Culture, teaching us about respect, we will try to pay attention to her teachings.

Where I grew up, when a person speaks, even if he is talking to a young person or an adult, I see his parents in him, I see the home he was raised in.

 

Every time when a person speaks he presents a picture of where he comes from. To me, that becomes a challenge, then I am like wow! And wonder of the place he comes from!

 

Therefore, let it be always a challenge. Even myself, where I am standing, I am not standing for myself but on behalf of the ANC; and respect is very important.]

 

The budget presented today is one of the many examples that indicate the mobility and the relevancy of our democracy. In the previous dispensation, meaningless budgets were drawn behind closed doors by an elite minority who carried no mandate. The same budget was implemented sparingly making its waves in areas occupied by rich and offered nothing to those that continued to be marginalised, hence the pictures we saw today.

 

Today, we are afforded an opportunity to rise and comment on the budget knowing very carefully that it is the budget that considers South Africa and all people regardless of race, gender and creed.

 

We have no choice but to appreciate this opportunity on behalf of people we represent. It continues to perplex me how some people choose to stand on this podium and boldly rejects this budget with nothing better to offer.

 

Chairperson, I stand firmly concur with the sentiments echoed by the Minister and the Chairperson of the committee. And further notes with joy the aspect of public participation exercised by the department through Imbizos wherein traditional leaders are represented.

 

We further welcome the commitment made by the department to mobilise civil society in all nine provinces, as we are the House that is representing the very same provinces.

 

We will continue through our committees to exercise oversight over the department making presence in these respective provinces to see how the projects that were outlined are unfolding. Already we are aware that in relation to 2020 Vision, for Water and Sanitation Programme, the department plans to reach out five 5500 schools and already this number was exceeded by over 2000.

 

It gives us great pleasure to know that the schools that have done well with the campaign have also been awarded with extra classrooms; a need that can never be ignored. We applaud the department for this success and hope that other schools in other provinces will also benefit.

 

Hon Chair, we are also excited that the department is working with the Department of Public Works to provide training and development to our youth. We hope that this initiative and many more will provide a wholesome support to our communities by providing both skills and water.

 

While we place the department in the forefront of water provision and water sanitation we also acknowledge the role played by all members of the society and ourselves as gathered here. It is for this reason that we pledge our support to continue educating our families and members of the community at large about the importance of water preservation.

 

We are cognisant of the water leaks in some of the parliamentary villages and in Parliament. It remains our responsibility to report these leaks, because for every leak, litres of water are lost. The health of our water has a direct impact on the different uses and values of our water including drinking, industrial use and aquatic eco system that water body can assort.

 

The protection of beneficial uses can be achieved through maintenance of the current level of environmental quality, realistically and achievable improvement.

 

Hon chair, in view of the time, allow me to remind members that the slogan of the department that has been made known by the Minister that “water is life and sanitation is dignity” we truly agree with that.

 

Water helps us to regulate the temperature in our body. Sanitation more than many other human rights issues evokes the concept of human dignity. Consider the vulnerability and the shame that so many people experience everyday when they are forced to defecate in the open using a bucket system like the pota-pota we saw in Khayelitsha. It is the indignity of the situation that causes the embarrassment.

 

In conclusion, it is a fact that we use water for cleaning, washing, cooking, and drinking in our homes. Water is life, let us all respect it, conserve it and enjoy it. Every time, every second when being afforded an opportunity as hon members to have this podium, let us not use it for cheap political gains, because, people on the ground are expecting much from us irrespective of political affiliation. We support the Budget Vote. I thank you. [Applause.]

 

Mr M KHAWULA: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister and hon Deputy Minister, the programmes of water provision and sanitation services is part of the indications of how much a democratic government in the country has been able to bring back the dignity of the previously oppressed African majority. Denial of clean reticulated water provision to black people in the apartheid government was a practice not very far from the notorious Group Areas Act. Reducing the dignity of the oppressed African communities to the level of a bucket system of sanitation was also a practice not isolated from the notorious Group Areas Act.

 

I’m saying this because bucket systems and denial of reticulated water to the first-class citizens of our country during the apartheid era was something that was never dreamt of. A pipeline would go through a vast hinterland area inhabited by African majority and provide no service to them and will stop at the doorstep of just one homestead only because of race. Therefore, if this democratic government was absolutely and totally serious about and committed to bringing back the dignity of the African communities, these services would have been amongst the top priorities of the past 21 years of democracy. It does not reflect well on the government of the day which has been in power for 21 years that even today we are still talking about prioritising bucket system eradication in South Africa.

 

That is how fortunate the people of KwaZulu-Natal have been in having someone like Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi with them. Whilst the apartheid imposed homeland system was unacceptable and challengeable, but even within that system Umntwana tried his best to bring back the dignity of the black people by totally eradicating the bucket system in the township of KwaZulu even before 1994. The erstwhile KwaZulu government inherited townships like KwaMashu, Umlazi, KwaMakhutha and others which had the bucket system. These were all dealt with swiftly by KwaZulu. All the new townships that were developed after that by Umntwana never had a bucket system as sanitation service. These are townships like Ulundi, eSikhawini, Gamalakhe, Ezakheni, Mandeni, Madadeni and others.

 

Hon Minister, on behalf of KwaZulu-Natal let me thank you for the big projects that you have announced here for KwaZulu-Natal. We thank you very much for that. Out of the total budget of the department amounting to R16 billion, a large chunk if it goes to transfers and subsidies. These are transfers to water boards and grants to municipalities. Transfers amount to R6 billion making 37% of the budget; this is where your biggest problems are hon Minister, Khabazela, wena waseMbo!

 

The social service in the committee has had consultation with your boards. Your water boards are underspending, not all of them of course. How can funds allocated to supply water to communities not get spent when people do not have water? This is so negatively ironical. Your second challenge is funding that the department allocates to municipalities. Some of them do not spend adequately on what they’re given. There is a challenge of skills shortage and challenges of mismanagement with your implementing agents. I’m glad that you have now announced that you are going to do these projects on your own.

 

In some instances, with some of these municipalities this mismanagement may seem deliberate water schemes do not get implemented timeously and when the dry season comes, water tankers are sourced from companies to supply water. Huge sums of funds are spent on these water tankers. Who do these water tankers belong to? They belong to friends and family of the powers that be. The department must put very strict measures and controls on the issue of water tankers through your grants to municipalities, hon Minister.

 

The other area of concern is the insurmountable water links and illegal connections. There are illegal connections by communities for consumption purposes. There are also illegal connections by big farming corporate for farming purposes. The department once started the process of inspectors around these matters. This is a programme that must be intensified because it will save government huge amounts of resources. Linked to this is the connection rate of the municipalities on water consumption which also remains poor. In the areas where it is happening ... [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms M C Dikgale): Your time has expired, hon member.

 

Mr M KHAWULA: Awu, kodwa ungenzani, Sihlalo ohloniphekile! [What are you doing to me, hon Chairperson!]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms M C Dikgale): Time is ready for you. Check on your right hand side.

 

Mr M KHAWULA: Well, because of the plight of the poor constituents that the IFP represents the poorest of the poor, the IFP supports this budget hon Minister. [Applause.]

 

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: Hon Chairperson of the NCOP, Minister of Water and Sanitation, Minister of Transport, hon members of select committees, hon members, officials of Water and Sanitation, guests in the gallery, ladies and gentlemen, I am coming here for the second time full of memories of reception when we represented our new department for the first time in this House.

 

Since then as outlined by the Minister we have done a lot of work in terms of infrastructure development and provision of services to the most remote communities of our country. The plans and budget presented here today will go a long way in consolidating our efforts of meeting the needs of our people. This budget we have presented here today remains the only developmental tool to change the lives of our people.

 

Our successes in the last financial year included improved international relations. We were hosted by different nations of the world through participation in conferences, we have also hosted the world in conferences such as the Gender, Water and Development Conference and we have sourced the services of Cuban nationals for deployment in municipalities where we do not have the required technical skills. [Applause.]

 

Through the Echo Schools Programme we have received a United Nations award for “Water for Life Best Practice”. This has been about innovation in technology in water usage and conservation. Siyaqhuba [We are moving forward.] Also working with water MTN Foundation we have delivered five media classrooms. Two of these media classrooms were given to schools in Limpopo, and other two schools in the Eastern Cape and one in Gauteng.

 

The department has built very strong relations at the political and administrative levels with all the nine provinces in terms of planning and budgeting. We are working with the nine provinces to develop water and sanitation plans that will inform our broad strategy on the work to be done in the resolution of challenges and backlogs facing the sector. The premiers and Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs members of the executive council, MECs, are championing and supporting our work in the respective provinces. This is reflected in the widespread of developmental and infrastructural programmes planned throughout the country in this financial year.

 

Hon Smit, you don’t have to go to Limpopo for photos; you can go here in Khayelitsha and get the photos of pota-pota, we would like to see the photos of pota-pota. We’ve never seen pota-pota and I want to see it. If you could bring one of the photos of pota-pota because you don’t have to travel all the way to Limpopo, just go here next door and get photos of Khayelitsha; our own poor people.

 

The department has managed ... [Interjections.] I’m coming to you. The department has managed to mobilise the civil society into the water family. In KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo the traditional leadership has committed and rallied around the programmes we are unfolding. The problem is that we grew up fetching water from the rivers. Hon Smit you’ve never experienced fetching water from the river. You’ve never experienced going to the bushes and help yourself without a toilet paper and using grass.

 

Mr C F B SMIT: But you must deliver the service is ... [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms M C Dikgale): Order, hon Minister! Mama, order! Please take your seat, hon Deputy Minister. Hon Smit.

 

Mr C F B SMIT: Hon House Chair, I think the Deputy Minister does not know me and where I come from. However, in any way I stay in Limpopo so I don’t have to travel there. I am concern that the Deputy Minister is trying to tell me where I come from and what my background was. If she has sometime afterwards I can actually tell her where I come from.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms M C Dikgale): Okay, take your seat, hon member. Hon Deputy Minister ... [Interjections.]

 

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: If you hear hon ... [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms M C Dikgale): Hon Deputy Minister, take your seat. Hon Nyambi I’ll come to you after the hon member Van Lingen. Hon Van Lingen.

 

Ms E C VAN LINGEN: Hon Chairperson, we’ve ruled earlier in this House today that when the sweeping statements are made at the end of the debate, those statements are still made through the Chair and that members are not addressed directly. Therefore, we are asking the Deputy Minister to make those addresses to the members through you Chairperson to stick to the ruling.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms M C Dikgale): Thank you hon member Van Lingen.

 

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: I thought it’s a norm here because ... [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms M C Dikgale): Order, order, hon Deputy Minister! Order, order! Actually the hon member Van Lingen is referring to Rule 43 of this Rule book which says “a member must address the Chair when speaking and if possible must stand while doing so”. So that is the order we are taking here ... [Interjections.]

 

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: I would like to apologise I thought it’s a norm here because you are referring to the Minister. So I want to apologise. The department has managed to mobilise the civil society into the water family. The Water and Sanitation Summit ... [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms M C Dikgale): Sorry hon Deputy Minister. Hon member Nyambi, my apology.

 

Mr A J NYAMBI: Hon House Chair, with utmost respect, I want you to make a ruling about the issue of hon Smit for abusing the Rules that we have, raising a point of debate knowing very well that he has got nothing to do with the violation of any Rule about what was said by the Deputy Minister because that’s what he did.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms M C Dikgale): It was not a point of order that is why I asked the hon member to take a seat. Thank you. Continue hon Deputy Minister.

 

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: The Water and the Sanitation Summits which the department successfully held introduced new partners and identified new game changers in the provision of water and sanitation services. We have seen both water and sanitation technologies never seen before. We believe through these new technologies in water and sanitation we will change the lives of the people for the better. Our social and operation base was increased by the involvement of both rural and urban communities, district and local municipalities, academics, business people, youth participation and women involvement in the work we are doing.

 

The apartheid infrastructure planning discriminated against the rural and poor communities. With this progressive and developmental budget the department will change this skewed provision of services. The reason why we are taking our time and you know it is clear that we sound like or when you feel you are in a hurry we sound like we are not doing anything, it is because we are responding to what was never happened before. Because water supply was only going to the elite the white people not our people in rural areas. Now we are building ... [Interjections.] Yes, we are building boreholes that are going to rural areas.

The department will continue to address the skills shortage through the youth development skills targeting youth throughout the country and place them in various municipalities as part of job creation. Their skills will assist municipalities to rollout infrastructure development and continue to fight against water leaks.

 

Hon chairperson Dlamini, the President of the Republic of South Africa will be launching the first intake of the skills development programme in Nelson Mandela Bay on 18 July 2015. Thank you very much. [Time expired.] [Applause.]

 

Mr D STOCK: Hon House Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Ministers, hon Chief Whip of the NCOP, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, comrades and friends. Hon Chair, in terms of graphic designing in the Information Technology, IT, there is a technology or software which is called CorelDraw used to manipulate some of the pictures taken. In terms of CorelDraw, you take a picture of myself standing next to hon Mthimunye and before you flog and flag it into social networks, you can manipulate it. Even if hon Mthimunye was not wearing a cap, you can put a cap on his head and even put sunglasses. You can also depict a person who is able as if he is disabled person. So, some of the hon members that come here, for whatever cheap political point scoring or for whatever the agenda they represent, they come here and present manipulated pictures.

 

The pictures that are being presented here by hon Smith today do not reflect a true reflection of the people that we were speaking about in the province of Limpopo. I am 100% sure about that. You are coming and presenting them here to us as the truth and you have never experienced that. Just like the Deputy Minister was saying to you, you have never experienced how painful it is to go and fetch water from the river using a wheelbarrow or to go into the bush and help yourself. You have never experienced it. We are looking forward for you to come and when you come next time for the debate come with a picture which you have taken here in the Western Cape of the pota-potas or a picture of some white man in Limpopo who was fetching water with the wheelbarrow, then we will start to believe you.

 

During this year’s state of the nation address, the President of the Republic highlighted a number of massive infrastructure projects to be implemented by the Department of Water and Sanitation during this financial year. These massive projects are extensively addressed in the department’s Budget Votes and amongst others are the 21 of those 229 projects are massive projects to the total tune of R1 billion, 10 of which are in the construction phase as we are currently engaging this particular debate.

 

The project expenditure of the department is actually R9,1 billion over the Medium-Term Strategic Framework, MTSF, period and approximately one million people are expected to benefit from this particular initiative. There are largely 60 large infrastructure projects and a total projects cost of about R250 million but less than R1billion of which 34 are in the construction phase. These projects are expected to benefit over two million and expenditure is projected at R10,9 billion over the MTSF period.

 

Water and Sanitation in our entire country in the main is characterised by both major achievements and challenges. Immediately after dealing with the brutal system of apartheid in 1994, the ANC-led government struggled with the then growing service delivery backlogs in relation to water and sanitation. In relation to that this progressive government thus made a strong commitment to high service standards and to high levels of investment subsidies to achieve these particular standards.

 

The country has made some significant progress with regard to improving access to water, supply and sanitation. It is evident that the ANC-led government has made significant strides in improving water supplies to its community members. In this regard according to the results of the Statistics SA 2011 census, 46,3% of the household in South Africa has access to pipe water and just over 85% has access to water. This level of access however, is not reflected to across all provinces in the country. For example, in the Eastern Cape, where the hon Minister has reflected on, 31,1% of the households do not have access to water and it has been prioritised in the budget provision of the Department of Water and Sanitation. Also in Limpopo, 27,2 of the households have no access to clean water and sanitation.

 

South Africa has made significant strides in improving the access to sanitation for its citizens. The Statistics SA 2011 census results showed that over 60% of the households have access to sanitation with clean flushable toilets while just over 70% of the households have access to sanitation.

 

Although the ANC-led government has made this significant progress in providing access to water and sanitation, the country continues to face challenges such as vandalism and theft of the public infrastructure which is believed to hamper the ability of the municipalities to provide quality and reliable of services; the non-collection of revenue in some areas which is also believed to cause a non-viability of credible metering systems; the inadequate supply of water reticulation infrastructure to rural communities; the shortage of technical skills to address the growing demand of water and sanitation provision and management in the poorer municipalities throughout of our country; the persistent low levels of understanding around the issues of water and pollution and environmentally-friendly sanitation system.

 

The department continues to support the building of water distribution infrastructure through an initiative of that particular department which is called the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant, RBIG programme. The department is planning to spend a total of R6 billion in the 2015-16 financial year.

 

This project supports local government in bringing water from the source to be closer to the people such as in the presidential intervention project from the town in Mthatha in King Sabatha Dalindyebo Local Municipality which the hon Minister which the hon Minister reflected on in the Eastern Cape. The bulk water supply in Moses Kotane Local Municipality in North West, Jozini-Ingwavuma bulk water supply projects in KwaZulu-Natal, hon Khawula. Other projects planned for over the MTSF include Umzimvubu multi purpose development project which will cost the department at a total cost of about R20billion. The Lesotho Highlands water project, the sanitation infrastructure, the management of water resource infrastructure as well and the then safety rehabilitation programme.

 

South Africa indeed is a much better place to live in than it was before 1994. We have indeed a good story to tell as the ANC. Although it has been tremendous improvements on the provision of water services since 1994, there is still room for improvement in this regard. The ANC-led government highlighted and acknowledged the water services successes and challenges throughout and we are not shying away from highlighting these particular challenges.

 

The department also has outlined solutions to the identified challenges. For instance the establishment of the Interministerial Task Team to address the water service challenges in the country. In conclusion, hon Minister I have got a few suggestions which I want to highlight and bounce off with you which might be considered for this current financial year, the 2015-16. Firstly, in terms of moving forward, I would like the department to consider building a dam in the lower Orange River in the area of Viooldrif in the Namaqua region in the Northern Cape.

 

Secondly, the people of Magareng in the Frances Baard Northern Cape live just about less than a kilometre away from the river but that community continues to experience serious challenges in regard to water supply. Amongst other critical areas of intervention and also being cognisant of the fact that our government has competing priorities, I personally think that when these two issues are prioritised and or preference to a particular extent, then it will bring back the pride and dignity of our people in those areas which I have mentioned.

 

Let me also thank your department in conjunction with the national Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in terms of the good work that you have done in the Valharts irrigation system in Frances Baard District Municipality where the ANC-led government has spent a lot of money and that project is being completed and the people in those areas are very excited and have got access to water.

 

As the ANC we support this Budget Vote of the department because we think it is a good thing to do and we are also calling upon those rejectionist opposition to learn good lessons because if they do not support the budget how are they going to address all their proposals that they have. Siyaqhuba, siyasebenza; [Moving forward, we are working.] re dira go tlala seatla [what we are doing is visible.] I thank you. [Applause.]

 

Ms C LABUSCHAGNE: Hon Chairperson, then it would have been very good. You must admit that. We cannot deny that we are at the brink of the national water crisis. A crisis that could have been avoided if the hon Minister was able to show us how she would look into the critical water issues that we face. A crisis could have been avoided if the hon Minister had more than only a plan for this department. A crisis could have been avoided if the Minister was present to see how it is affecting our municipalities, especially poor municipalities in South Africa. The lack of interest from the hon Minister comes as no surprise because we have seen the ANC’s disdain for the people of South Africa.

 

Water and sanitation is merely a symptom of the ill state of our country. Hon Chairperson, need I remind the hon Minister that her department has a direct impact on sustaining the livelihoods of our people and job creation within major industries like agriculture, mining and energy. You indicated last year, hon Minister that we require an estimated R617 billion on water and sanitation infrastructure over the next 10 years. The reality is that only 45% of this is being allocated.

 

What this means on a municipal level, hon Minister is that in Nooitgedacht, in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality, the focus point of the ANC these days, we can just wonder why, only R120 million can be mastered by your department out of the R450 million needed for the low-level water scheme that is needed for this area. This is an area that serves water to over 300 000 people.

 

For a scheme that has been critical in providing water to the metro, a metro that the DA will win in 2016, we found that this project has been stalled. Why? Due to typical ANC in-fighting with funds being squandered, the ANC-run metro blaming the ANC national government and incompetent officials and leadership. All this is happening whilst no solutions are being offered. Today almost 40% of our waste water treatment is in a critical state increasing the risk of pollution and water-borne diseases and yet three quota of this House cannot face the reality by the photos that have been shown in this House. We are still in denial while we have a crisis.

 

More than ever the demand for water is increasing, ...

 

Mr J P PARKIES: Hon Chair, I want to pose a question to the hon member.

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms M C Dikgale): We need to first ask if the member is ready to take the question. Hon member Labuschagne, are you ready to take the question?

 

Ms C LABUSCHAGNE: Hon Chair, when I am finished and there is still time left, I will decide. Thank you.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNMENT (Ms M C Dikgale): She still has to decide, so she is not ready.

 

Ms C LABUSCHAGNE: More than ever, the demand for water is increasing but the availability has taken a dip. It is time that the Minister stop blaming South Africans for wasting waste to dodge taking responsibility. This is not all about cable theft and technical glitches. It is about the national management from your department. Hon Chair, a water crisis in South Africa is a double-edged sword. These might just be figures to the Minister but the socio-economic impact is a real factor to our people, their health and the functionality of industry for job creation.

 

Industry experts estimate that the long delayed Medupi Power Station, now there is a big problem, will require 19 billion litres or about and they are all inter-linked if you do not know, that is one of the problems of this department or this government, or about 7600 Olympic-size swimming pools of water annually. You would like to know that because there is one in Nkandla, you would recognise that. [Laughter.] You need to operate at its full capacity but it will be competing with the surrounding communities in Lephalale in Limpopo for water where we are already witnessing chronic water shortages with continuing delays in the construction of phase two of the Mokolo and Crocodile River Water Augmentation Project, MCWAP.

 

A water crisis is looming and if the Minister only plans but does not take control of her department, not only will we have a national blackout but a lack of access to water that will have consequences beyond her and our expectation. Thank you Chair and Chair, no I am not going to take a question.

 

Cllr P RAMAREMELA (Salga): Hon House Chairperson, the Minister of Water and Sanitation, the Minister and Deputy Minister of Transport, MEC Komphela, the Chief Whip of the NCOP, hon members, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to reconfirm our commitment towards the implementation of the constitutional mandate and the National Development Plan, NDP. Since the advent of democracy, it is evident that many of our communities are benefiting from the fruits of democracy particularly as it relates to the provision of water and sanitation. These fruits were bore out of our strategic collaboration between the municipalities and the Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation. In this regard, we appreciate the Minister’s visionary approach and thoughtful leadership in taking the sector forward. The Minister’s passion for water and sanitation is symbolic of water being life and sanitation dignity.

 

Beyond these collaborative efforts lie a number of critical challenges. Key amongst these challenges is the fact that some of our communities within our local spheres still do not have access to water and decent sanitation, or are suffering the impacts of dysfunctional infrastructure. Service delivery failures are not only unacceptable but also a major public concern. However, strategies have been developed to address these challenges and risks. The recent Sanitation Indaba bears testimony to the sector’s joint ability in resolving some of these challenges. The revolutionary sanitation pronouncement by the Minister to ensure a different tactical and methodical approach in delivering of sanitation is a game changer.

 

The proclamation by the Minister that says, “It’s not all about flushing”, is revolutionary, and it is what we are agreeing to as SA Local Government Association, Salga. It goes beyond flushing. It’s about water conservation, equity, dignity, health and hygiene, science and technology, beneficiation, and most importantly localised decision making. With these in mind, we welcome the announcement for the development of a sanitation policy. The sanitation revolution is fully supported by local government.

 

We look forward to working together with the department towards the eradication of bucket system by December 2015. One of the key requirements for a successful water services business is investment in infrastructure, where success or failure is highly dependent on the type and levels of the investment. Recent studies illustrate that infrastructure maintenance and renewal - in this regard we are referring to rehabilitation and replacement - require significant investment compared to developing new infrastructure.

 

At the municipal level, our financial resources must address these major two challenges. We welcome the significant investments in raw and potable bulk water infrastructure outlined in the budget speech. Furthermore, the Department of Co-operative Governance has suggested 7% investment in maintenance, of which we are actually agreeing to as Salga. In ensuring protection of our infrastructure investments, we must re-examine water and sanitation pricing structures. Our recent cost of services study indicates a huge pricing gap between water production costs and service charges to end users. In this regard, we must collaborate and explore better pricing instruments and structures.

 

Local government’s involvement in the implementation of the National Water Resources Strategy-2 is of paramount importance.

 

You will be pleased that local government’s role in achieving the five identified priorities in the strategy were collaboratively defined with the various inputs of the departments and will be presented to our structures for political buy-in and support.

 

We collectively implement the National Development Plan priorities and we must acknowledge the centrality of water in achieving some of these priorities. In this regard, water security and assurance of supply must be a dominant feature in all our water management efforts. Significant water losses must be a challenge of the past. Such losses compromise our ability to use water as a catalyst for social and economic growth. In an effort to address the challenge, the department’s war on leaks programme is supported. Further, Salga, in collaboration with Rand Water, recently launched two major water conservation initiatives, namely water conservation and demand fund and water saving community outreach programme under an inspirational theme, “Be the hero and save water.”

 

In a quest to intensifying the “Be the hero and save water” outreach programme, the water and sanitation family will be walking to promote water conservation at the Discovery 702 Walk the Talk. The Minister is invited to join, and we have received confirmation as Salga that the Minister will actually be part of the walk.

 

As we deliberate water management, we must also define the institutional landscape to optimally manage water resources and services. Catchment management agencies are the appropriate vehicle to achieve some of the water management objectives and thus this model is being advocated with our member municipalities.

 

To this end a green light has been granted by our members to pursue collaboration and define areas of interface. Suggested areas of interface include, amongst others, localising the 10 year infrastructure plan, facilitating alignment and coordination of infrastructure grants to respond to municipal infrastructure plans inline with National Development Plan, integrated information sharing, and management. Some of these areas were discussed in the Water Summit and we are taking them forward in collaboration with the established catchment management agencies.

 

In conclusion, this year marks 15 years of democratic local governments. As we celebrate local government landmarks, it is perhaps an opportune time to reflect on our water service delivery track record. I have no doubt that we have done well. However, there remain pockets of poor delivery due to a number of factors that are both within and beyond the municipal spheres of influence. This state of affairs cannot be left unattended. Some revolutionary actions are necessary.

 

Finally, going forward, our collective obligation in executing our respective constitutional mandate should be informed by, amongst others, accountability or in particular community-centric consultation and decision processes, science and technology, sound policy, appropriate funding instruments, sustainable solutions and political will. Salga supports the budget. Thank you very much. [Applause.]

 

Mr T C MOTLASHUPING: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, Deputy Minister, hon members of this august House, comrades and friends, I wanted to read a speech but I’m tempted not to read it.

 

There are certain things that need to be clarified very clearly. Hon Minister, I was born in a tiny town called Schweizer-Reneke in a township called Ipelegeng. Some of us at one stage stood against the bucket system and shortage of water. We were arrested. Some of us took these buckets to their municipal offices so that they must feel the smell and we were arrested.

 

I have worked in that municipality. I was the head of administration in that municipality. I can tell you that what the ANC government did after 1994, my dignity is restored. [Applause.] The dignity of the people of Mamusa in Schweizer-Reneke is restored. They now use flush toilets in the ANC government. No other government did it.

 

I will tell you hon Van Lingen, in 1979 there was a judge called Roman Leon, when Solomon Mahlangu said Mama, “My blood will nourish the tree that will bear the fruits of freedom” There was no water. That judge, who is the father of Tony Leon, sentenced him to death. [Applause.]

It is a shame that he had to sacrifice his own blood to provide water for that tree. As if it was not enough, in 1986, Andrew Zondo was also sentenced to death by the same judge. Is that what you represent?

 

Let me come back and talk about an issue here which is very serious. I want to tell the interpreters, you must interpret well because I was a Tswana teacher. There was a statement made by hon Mokwele:

 

Susu ilela suswana. [One has to respect the younger person to also get respect.]

 

A very good Tswana expression, but ...

 

Ngwana yo o tlhogokgolo o sira rraagwe. Ngwana yo o sa utlweng molao wa batsadi o utlwa wa manong. [A child with a big head obscure his father’s view.The disobedient child always suffers the consequences of his/her actions.]

 

You cannot come here, not even at one stage and say the freedom that we enjoy today was not brought about by the ANC. [Applause.] I like it when you acknowledge. You are the product of the ANC. You have been coming here and saying that listening is a skill but you are the one who is making more noise in this House.

 

The ANC has 103 years of existence. The ANC has even produced you. That is why I wanted to tell you how old I am. I respect elders because this thing that ... [Interjection.] [Applause.] Utata Nzimande whom you have quoted in absentia, that he said, “Learn to greet”. He was not criticising. He was teaching you the procedures of Parliament, and he was correct. You must learn to greet.

 

Let me read the speech that I have written. Nobody wrote it for me. I wrote it with my handwriting and my pen. On behalf of the glorious movement, the ANC, I stand in this podium today in support of the Budget Vote 36: Water and Sanitation. It is from this budget that many people are saying that the Western Cape is the best and performing. This budget is from the national Parliament. We allocate the budget.

 

Indeed, it is true and common knowledge that water is life and sanitation is dignity. We never had that dignity before 1994. Some people who are sitting here never tasted what we have tasted. Sixty years ago, the people of South Africa from all walks of life gathered in Kliptown to adopt the Freedom Charter. The Freedom Charter document does not belong to any other organisation. It belongs to the ANC. Anybody who quotes it must quote the ANC.

 

A year ago, in pursuit of these ideals enshrined in the Freedom Charter, the National Development Plan was adopted as a programme that was to take South Africa forward towards the radical, socioeconomic transformation. That is what the ANC represent. People come today and say that we have torn politics...  [Interjections.]

 

Ms C LABUSCHAGNE: Hon Chair, on a point of order, I just want to know if the hon member would take a question.

 

Mr T C MOTLASHUPING: I want to take your question. I want to deal with you like a dog dealing with a bone.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: COMMITTEES AND OVERSIGHT: He is ready to take your question.

 

Mr T C MOTLASHUPING: I’m ready.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: COMMITTEES AND OVERSIGHT: Pose your question.

 

Ms C LABUSCHAGNE: Hon member, you said that the Freedom Charter is the document of the ANC. In the Freedom Charter, it refers to all the people of South Africa. Do you thereby imply that if you are not the member of the ANC you are not the people of South Africa?

 

Mr T C MOTLASHUPING: Exactly what I was referring to, any revolutionary document would never come from the DA. The people who drafted this document, that included all South Africans, were leaders of the ANC. [Applause.] Much as we drink from the tap and that we have made significance strides in turning the tides, we remain with the challenges that impact on our people from accessing water.

 

Mr F ESSACK: Hon Chairperson, on a point of order, the way I understand the subject for discussion is on water and sanitation. Would the hon speaker at the podium please just point out to the South Africans what he thinks ... [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: COMMITTEES AND OVERSIGHT: No, no, no! Hon Essack, what is your point of order?

 

Mr F ESSACK: Well, I would like to know if he knows what the budget is this year for water and sanitation. Let him please explain to the South Africans because he is giving us a political rhetoric here. [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: COMMITTEES AND OVERSIGHT: Hon Essack, take your seat. Continue hon Motlashuping.

 

Mr T C MOTLASHUPING: We are delighted Minister, you must listen very attentively. We are delighted that 88 000, bucket systems will be eradicated in the formal dwellings in this financial year 2015-16.

 

Mr F ESSACK: [Inaudible.]

 

Mr T C MOTLASHUPING: I’m talking to the budget, you are not listening. I’m saying 88 000 bucket systems will be eradicated. In addition, 11 960 inhuman sanitation systems will be replaced with decent sanitation in 26 000 rural households. Give credit were it is due. “Asinamona” [We are not envious], “Asinasondo” [We have no sin] [Laughter.]

 

Ms T J MOKWELE: “Asinamanzi”. [We have no water.]

 

Mr T C MOTLASHUPING: “Siyayidumisa i-ANC”. Chairperson, allow me to pay a lot of respect to the Ministers of the ANC and to members of the ANC in this Parliament, that South Africans up there ...

 

...go na le lefokonyana le ke batlang go le kgalemela, ba le bitsa dipopae. [... is a word that I would like us to stop using, they are calling you cartoons.]

 

When you voted for them, they come here when you dig trenches.

 

Ba re le bo epa wena popae. [They are saying you are the digging cartoons.]

 

That word is derogatory to our South Africans people. You must be very careful about the people that you vote for, who continue to call you Popae. I’m calling upon the South African citizens ... [Interjections.]

Mr J W W JULIUS: On a point of order Chairperson, Oh, I thought he is sitting already. Chairperson, the word Popae was ruled out of order in this House the other day. Can you please rule on that because even though it is not referring in a bad manner, we shouldn’t use it. Otherwise, I can also say hon member is Popae for not sitting over.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: COMMITTEES AND OVERSIGHT: Hon Julius, that is not a point of order because he is not referring to a particular hon member as Popae. It is a reference. Conclude hon Motlashuping.

 

Mr T C MOTLASHUPING: South African citizens, you are dignified. The ANC has brought a plate of food in your table. And, we will never accept that people come here and undermine you. You are our people and you would remain our people. The ANC trust you. The ANC will be there forever and defend human rights. Thank you, hon Chair. [Applause.]

 

Ms T J MOKWELE: On a point of order, Chair, is it deliberate that you are not recognising me, Chair?

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: COMMITTEES AND OVERSIGHT: No, he has concluded his speech.

 

Ms T J MOKWELE: No, but I raised my hand before he concluded.

 

Goreng o sa mpha tšhono. [Why won’t you give me the opportunity?]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: COMMITTEES AND OVERSIGHT: Take your seat, hon Mokwele.

 

Ms T J MOKWELE: Ke tla go roga ka Setswana ntate. O ka se rata. [I will insult you in Setswana and you won’t like it sir.]

 

The MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: Hon Chairperson presiding here, hon members, let me appreciate the recommendations that have come from those who have a responsibility of moving South Africa forward. I do hope that working together with organised local government, we will be in a position to make sure that we strengthen partnerships in terms of community participation and stakeholder relations. We will also be intensifying the work that we are doing in some of our own rural areas.

 

Let me share this with you: I cannot take pictures of a place where I was born because, for me, standing here is not just having an opportunity to show you. I have spent time and given birth in a single cell, with a bucket that I had to drink water from and another bucket that I had to use as a toilet. I gave birth alone in a single cell! Therefore, I do not need a picture to be reminded about the plight of our people.

 

I have lived in a two-roomed house in Munsieville, where six families had to share a bucket toilet. My conviction and my being here is not because of a political career; it is because of the love of the people of South Africa. I would have preferred that we would be dealing with this issue as a human rights issue, and not an issue where people would want to say ‘our people,’ You bring pictures while you fail to just go across the road into Khayelitsha, in Nonqubela, in Knysna, in Stellenbosch and in Theewaterskloof. This is where our people have to use buckets as their pillow cases because they have to live with them. They live with them not been collected for over three days. [Interjections.]

 

It is not my intention to play politics, but it is also to remind ourselves that we are not dealing with something that was created in 1994. We are dealing with a mess that many of us have lived with. We are investing a lot of our time and energy trying to sort out because sanitation is dignity and water is life.

 

We have seen women who had given up their own experience of being raped because they had to go and fetch water. I am not talking about strangers; I am talking about my own families. Not people who vote and support my party; my family! We do have family members in KwaZulu-Natal and in the very Limpopo - ...

 

... bona ba ha Makwanyane - ... [... look at the Makwanyanes - ...]

 

... who have been victims of an abuse over a tendering process by some of those who had opportunities in terms of business procurements, and they never actually delivered. Those are some of the problems that we have to deal with.

 

I also want to say here - what is of importance - is that if we deal with second generational rights and social justice, we all have to look at what is the long-term plan of this country. It is to deal with inequalities. Some of you, who are sitting here and grandstanding in this podium, have more than six taps in your houses. You have got a system of water that consumes more than 25 litres a day.

 

Many of our own communities, before 1994, had no access to sanitation. Only 36% of South Africans had access to decent sanitation. It was 36%! For the fist time, today, we are over 80% on access to sanitation, achieved in 20 years. [Applause.] Why must we be accused? Before 1994, 42% of South Africans had access to portable and drinkable water. Today, we can proudly say 94% has access to water, in a period of 20 years. [Applause.] [Interjections.]

 

Yes, the focus now is to deal with the unserved, with sustainability; and with operations and maintenance. What is of importance currently also is to make sure that we create the skills capacity. We deal with consequence management for those who underperform. What is important is that we have to make sure that we empower communities together.

 

We must make those that have been exploiting water aware, especially the agricultural sector in South Africa, which has been abusing portable water. 67% of South African portable water is used in agriculture.

 

Today, we want to be reminded that the agricultural sector, the water licences and all those matters need attention.

 

In fact what we want to deal with as a game changer is to reclaim water authority: To bring it back to government; and issue licences that do not give total ownership, but those granting opportunity, to use South African resources.

 

The other issues that we also have to deal with are all these matters that people continue to say here, like “Our people! Our people!” I would love that when we say ‘our people,’ we must say it from the bottom of our hearts, with conviction. It should not be for the purposes of gunning votes, and not even for you to try to rubbish the attempts that have been made by this government for the first time in the history of this country.

 

I want us to tell the truth, and nothing else but the truth, when we are in this podium. The people of Lesotho are quite grateful about the interventions that we have made through the Lesotho Water Highlands project. They have got decent houses. They have got jobs. They have got new roads. They have got better infrastructure. Most importantly, tourism has also grown.

 

Of importance, we said, we will share our resources together with the people of Southern Africa and Africa. On phase 2, we are even going beyond what we have done previously. So, don’t come here and not tell the truth, wanting to mislead the people of this country by saying the people of Lesotho do not know anything. By the way, those are my in-laws: They are not people that I only read about; they are people who have put a ring on my finger! [Applause.]

 

So, I want to also say ...

 

Ngesintu kuthiwa, ikhonkotha ehambayo; emileyo iyayichamela! [Traditionally there is this saying, people pay attention to successful people, not failures.]

 

Some of the posture that we find in this House, and stupidity that is presented through the posture, does not actually show that members seriously come here to represent the interests of their provinces. [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: COMMITTEES AND OVERSIGHT (Mr A J Nyambi): Conclude, Minister!

The MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION (Ms N Mokonyane): ... Ungiphazamisile; bengingekaqedi! [Uhleko.] [You disturbed me; I was not done! [Applause.]]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: COMMITTEES AND OVERSIGHT (Mr.A J Nyambi): Okay, take your seat. Hon Labuschagne?

 

Ms C LABUSCHAGNE: (POINT OF ORDER): Hon Chairperson, is it parliamentary for the hon Minister to talk about the stupidity of some people in this House?

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: COMMITTEES AND OVERSIGHT (Mr.A J Nyambi): I will have to consider Hansard and see the context on which she spoke, ... [Interjections.] ... because from what you are saying, it is a reference. Conclude, hon Minister.

 

The MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: Hon members, there are those of us who thrive on confusing and sowing confusion in our communities. They have disrupted service delivery in Madibeng and in Limpopo because they want to gain fame and popularity. You can even see them through their inability to articulate themselves and being rude standing on the podium. We come a long way with the people of South Africa. Factory faults will never influence where we have to go to. That is why you have been taken out of the ANC because you have never been part of a course that can change South Africa for the better.

As for the EFF, it is not a case that can help us to go anywhere. We are stuck with the problems in Madibeng. We are stuck with the challenges in Moogopong because of the corruption that happened in Limpopo. [Time expired.] Dankie; ngiyabonga! [Applause.]

 

Budget Vote No 35 — Transport:

 

The MINISTER OF TRANSPORT: Hon Chairperson, hon Members of the National Council of Provinces, Ministers who are here, Deputy Ministers and MECs, representatives of Salga, the Director-General, Mr Pule Selepe and the management and staff of the Department of Transport, the leadership and representatives of transport entities, all members of the transport fraternity, members of the media, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to take us back many years ago when India and its leadership had to find solutions to many problems they faced and give direction to the nation. And I quote:

 

Long years ago, we made a tryst with a destiny and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure but substantially. When we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends and when the soul of a nation long suppressed finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity.

 

These words were said by the first Prime Minister of India, Nehru, and their symbolism resonates with our own South African reality of the triple ills of poverty, inequality and unemployment. When we delivered the 2015 Budget Vote on 5 May in the National Assembly, we anchored our message on the election manifesto of the governing party, which gave clarity on political direction and delivering mandate.

 

Over and above these, we also focused our efforts on our new priorities. Firstly, we have said to strengthen the Road Accident Fund for expanded access to much needed benefits for road users through the introduction of the Road Accident Fund Benefit Scheme, RABS, Bill which provides for the establishment of a new “no-fault basis regime” called RABS to replace the current Road Accident Fund.

 

Secondly, we demonstrated that we are on course to improve our public transport system including passenger rail, to benefit our people, thirdly, committed to accelerate road infrastructure development both as an important lever of economic growth and a catalyst for job creation, and finally, to ensure the important role of integrated transport planning both horizontally and vertically across all spheres of government.

 

Whilst outlining this scenario, we should bear in mind that our focus must be where the buck actually stops in the provision of transport functions and services in the various spheres. In short as the three spheres of government we have specific, exclusive and shared responsibilities that we must exercise. It is for this reason that in the year 2014 we established the National Transport Planning Forum which has representation across all the spheres and government entities. This forum will lead strategic planning across the transport sector in the interest of promoting an integrated transport policy and strategy.

 

Let me also remind you that the driving force behind our transport policies is the National Development Plan, NDP. The department’s contribution to the NDP will be underpinned by the National Transport Master Plan 2050 vision which is aimed at delivering a dynamic, long-term and sustainable transportation system framework for the whole country.

 

In 2013 we concluded a National Household Travel Survey in order to understand the travel patterns of our people across the country. We analysed the survey data with a view to produce provincial reports that will provide valuable information on how our people travel to work, to schools and places of worship as well as to recreational places. This will indeed assist provincial, metropolitan, district and municipal authorities to tailor their integrated transport plans accordingly.

 

The year 2015 is the half-way mark for the implementation of the 2011 to 2020 United Nations, UN, Decade of Action on Road Safety – a multisectoral campaign to reduce road carnage by 50% of what it was in 2010. We have committed ourselves to achieve this by implementing a 365 day road safety programme focusing on the 4Es of education, engineering, enforcement and evaluation. We are in the process of drafting the mid-term road safety country report as required by the UN.

 

On 23 June of this year, I will be launching the long-awaited road safety advisory council which among other things will be advice government on interventions to further reduce carnages on our roads. The implementation of our Public Transport Strategy and its major initiatives in all spheres of government is undertaken to deliver to our people a better life for all. And the realisation of the pledges we make in our government’s founding philosophy as codified in the Reconstruction and Development Programme – the RDP document.

 

In 2014-15 the public transport infrastructure and systems grant and the public transport network operations grant covered projects in 12 cities with approximately R5,87 billion in grant funding. George Municipality and Tshwane Metro launched their pilot operation to test their bus rapid transit systems which are called “Go George” and “Are Yeng” respectively. This brings to four, the total number of cities in South Africa running the Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, operations, which include the MyCity in the Western Cape and the Rea Vaya in Johannesburg. In these four cities the incumbent minibus operators on the affected routes formed the core of the new operating companies where over 1 000 direct jobs have been created.

 

Remember that the Freedom Charter says that the people shall govern, which reminds us that government must involve communities in the design and implementation of programmes. This is one instance we would like cities to be alive to the voice of communities when laying out the infrastructure and providing services. We wouldn’t like to see communities forcibly removed to make way for the infrastructure. This, however, does not detract from the drive by government to provide accelerated public transport infrastructure. We know that when communities are adequately consulted, they would not resist this much needed development.

 

In the 2015-16 financial year the ANC-led government will proceed to invest R5,95 billion through public transport network grant in the 12 identified cities. We expect Ekurhuleni to be the third metro in the Gauteng province to launch this pilot services in keeping with advancement of intelligent transport systems, ITS, we will continue working closely with the Gauteng provincial government and the three metros as well as Passenger Rail Agency of SA, Prasa, the Gautrain Management Agency and the taxi industry to integrated all subsides modes in the province into a single interoperable smart card by the end of 2016-17 financial year.

 

Let me reiterate that our objective to ensure safety in the taxi industry has been a resounding success. The scrapping of old taxis and replacing them by safety vehicles has been a major stride for us. Since 2006 we have scrapped a total of 61 254 old taxis with a total payment of R3,4 billion for scrapping allowances.

 

The taxi recapitalisation programme will, however, undergo an extensive review focusing on its sustainability, affordability and the mapping out of a future integrated rollout solution. We also intend to strengthen our support to empower the taxi industry to participate in the entire value chain.

 

Another element which is central to the provinces is the issue of bus subsidies. The public transport subsidy is allocated to the Department of Transport, however, the actual design, the day-to-day administration and management of bus services are devolved to the provinces. The Division of Revenue Act dictates that the National Department of Transport monitors that the requisite minimum public transport standards are met and financial rules and regulations are consistently adhered to.

 

The National Department of Transport is ultimately responsible for ensuring that these services are provided to all commuters in a safe, reliable, affordable and cost-effective manner. The funding of contracts is currently being implemented through the public transport operations grant, PTOG, which has grown from R3,5 billion to R4,9 billion in the year 2015

 

It is important to note that the growth of the PTOG funding has lagged far behind the actual cost escalations of the bus contractors. Another challenge has been the alignment of these bus contracts to the integrated rapid public transport network, IRPTN. We are in the process of finalising the transformation plan that will ensure this alignment in order to roll out quality integrated rapid public transport networks.

 

We are also considering a phased implementation of IRPTN while ensuring that current subsidised bus contracts do not collapse. It is for this reason that the Minmec meeting of 6 May gave approval to provinces to sign three-year bus contracts in order to enable planning to develop appropriate transport network plans as well as securing funding for the implementation quality public transport.

 

With regard to passenger-rail services, I am satisfied that there is a fair balance in increasing the capacity of Metrorail in all metropolitan areas. We have allocated R4 billion for rail operations and R4,1 billion for the capital programme which will enable Prasa to upgrade and strengthen the capacity of our passenger rail services.

 

In this 2015-16 financial year, Prasa is expected to take delivery of the first 20 train sets built in Brazil as part of the rolling stock renewal programme. The Passenger Rail Agency of SA plans to build a R1 billion factory in Ekurhuleni to produce the 580 trains and create an estimated 65 000 direct and indirect jobs over the 10-year contract period.

 

As part of the presentation for new rolling stock, upgrades and modernisation of stations and depots to the tune of R2,2 billion are being undertaken in the following areas: Duff Road station in KwaZulu-Natal, Philippi Station in the Western Cape and Park Station extension in Gauteng.

 

It is indeed true that as the ANC-led government we have a good story to tell especially when it comes to Bridge City and Park Station. Bridge City in KwaZulu-Natal hosts multimodal transport facilities, shopping complex, office blocks and residential apartments. Park Station as the Southern African multimodal facility of note is boosting services ranging from all major banking institutions, car rentals, restaurants, pharmaceutical outlets to regional and continental bus depots. Park Station makes transport connectivity across the country and, to some extent, across the region a reality. To conclude the package, the Department of Health has been drawn in with a view to have Bridge City and Park Stations to provide public health facilities.

 

To continue with the good story there are four major projects in the implementation of the Priority Rail Corridor Strategy. In the Eastern Cape the R1,6 billion Motherwell rail link feasibility study has been concluded and procurement processes are underway. The Mthatha Station will also be upgraded to accommodate the provision of mainline services.

 

In the Western Cape the Blue Downs Rail Extension feasibility report has also been concluded and is under review by the relevant stakeholders.

 

In the Gauteng province, the Mamelodi to Greenview and to Pienaarspoort rail extension is in progress. The new line accompanied by new signalling became operational in 2014 and the construction of the Greenview station is ready for handover. The construction of the Pienaarspoort and Mamelodi stations is scheduled to start in the current financial year.

 

In Mpumalanga the 120kilometer Moloto rail corridor development is gaining traction with the feasibility study having been completed and engagements with National Treasury ongoing.

 

The road infrastructure remains a critical area of our transportation system and still carries the bulk of the movement of goods, services and people. It is a well known fact that provinces are facing serious challenges in dealing with road maintenance and rehabilitation backlogs due to shortage in budget allocations. Provinces and municipalities have fully embraced the National Development Plan and are incrementally improving budget allocations for road infrastructure. According to the budget review the provinces improved their spending on S’hamba Sonke programme by 100% in the 2014-15 year and that spending is said to be maintained in the current financial year.

 

Through the provincial roads maintenance grant, the budget allocation for S’hamba Sonke in 2014-15 was R9,4 billion for 725 projects. Provinces were also able to achieve commendable results with the maintenance of secondary road network through this programme whereby a total of over 170 000 jobs were created. In the current financial year provinces will receive an allocation of R9,8 billion for the 1 102 approved projects.

 

The S’hamba Sonke programme has played an important role in both employment creation and road maintenance. The budget for this programme is allocated to provinces as follows: R1,3 billion for the Eastern Cape, R1,8 billion for KwaZulu-Natal, R998 million for Limpopo, R1,7 billion for Mpumalanga, R1,1 billion for Free State, R456 million for Gauteng, R822 million for North West, R859 million for the Western Cape and R788 million for the Northern Cape.

 

The SA National Roads Agency Limited, Sanral, is responsible for national road network of 21 403kilometers which includes both toll and non-toll roads which are the arteries of our economy. Non-toll roads account for about 85% of the network and are funded through the national fiscus. Only 3 120kilometers or 15% of our total network is tolled and 201kilometers of that is part of the Gauteng freeway improvement programme. For the current financial year, Sanral will proceed with its implementation programme which includes projects such as the N2, the N7 and the R71 improvements in KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape and Limpopo. It will also continue with the entry development corridor stakeholder consultations.

 

A total of 14 projects with the overall budget allocation of R400 million for the 2015 financial year are planned. And amount of R1,1 billion has been set aside for the upgrade of R573 Moloto Road. This is a great achievement for the people of Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Limpopo. The reclassification of this road to a national road under Sanral has commenced and it will form part of the non-toll road portfolio of Sanral.

 

The transport sector development plans cannot be complete without addressing challenges of accessibility and mobility of the rural masses. The lack of frequent public transport in most of our rural areas does not make any moral, political or economic sense. To address this, we are in the process of finalising the rural transport strategy in line with government’s focus on rural development. This is intended to enable the delivery of infrastructure, stimulate public transport and enable the rural masses to have access to services and opportunities. We have targeted a number of rural areas such as Sekhukhune, Umkhanyakude, Thaba Mofusatsanyane, OR Tambo, and Chris Hani districts for a number of nonmotorised transport access roads and public transport initiatives.

 

The Shova Kalula Bicycle project is also making great strides. We have already distributed more than 90 bicycles countrywide. In the current Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, we plan to implement a multiyear programme which will ensure the distribution of 30 000 more bicycle across all provinces. The biggest challenge this project is face with now is the lack of access to bicycle repair services. This is an area where more work needs to be done or undertaken in line with the corporative’s model of the Department of Small Business Development.

 

We therefore believe that all these initiatives will ensure mobility of the poorest of the poor in the rural communities. The days of unregulated, insecure and unsafe learner transportation are numbered. Cabinet has approved the much awaited national learner transport policy and we call upon Members of Parliament to expedite its processing once tabled in Parliament.

 

The aviation sector is also critical particularly in our ability to meet passenger demand and growth, which is expected to surge from the current 35 million to over 45 million passengers in the next five years. Meeting the growth necessitates enormous investment in airport infrastructure and the finalisation of the national airports development plan. This plan will provide for the airports development strategy that takes cognisance of the biggest economic plan of the city and region in which airport operate, including secondary airports and those outside the control of Airports Company SA, Acsa.

 

In the Western Cape we are realigning the runway at the Cape Town International Airport to improve the management of aircrafts inflow. In the Eastern Cape, in line with President Zuma’s targeted focus on King Sabata Dalinyebo municipality’s socioeconomic development, we need to synergise the N2 wild coast development, the R61 road improvement as well as revamping the Mthatha Airport. We intend to ensure that this airport retains its category six international status.

 

In the North West we will work hard to retain the international status of the Pilanesburg Airport and will also assist Mahikeng Airport to acquire international status. The Mahikeng Airport is being revamped to enable the relaunch of the commercial domestic flights very soon

 

The radical transformation of the transport sector as envisaged in the NDP is not an option but an obligation to address massive challenges, namely inequality, poverty and unemployment. It is the pledge and tryst that we are called upon to dedicate our services to. This reminds me of the words of our former laid President Nelson Mandela, and I quote,

 

The call now is for each of us to ask ourselves, are we doing all we can to build the Country of our dreams? We must all strife to be inspired by the deep-seated love of our Country without regard to race, colour, gender or station in life.

 

Thank you very much.

 

Mr E MAKUE: Hon House Chair, members, delegates who are with us, as well as observers in the gallery, Minister Peters ended by quoting one of the greatest leaders of the world. My speech will start with him, when during his inauguration as the first President of a democratic South Africa, Dr Nelson Mandela, our dear Madiba, narrated:

 

Never, and never, and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one person by another.

 

He concluded by saying:

 

Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all. The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement.

To get the water, the salt and the bread, we need transport infrastructure. To realise the dream of this great African leader, transport plays a pivotal role. During this budget debates, we notice with deep disappointment that there are those amongst us who are longing for the fresh spots of Egypt. We also note that there are those who intend to turn our deliberations into a circus.

 

There are those who are dreaming of re-establishing a government where minority and racial interest would be served by government. This will never happen again while the ANC is alive and while the ANC is leading. [Applause.]

 

Our people know what the ANC stand for and what they have sacrificed for. We don’t need to remind to remind people about how they have suffered under a racist regime. Today, we recognise the kicks of a dying horse born from the stable of a United Party and groomed by apartheid. [Applause.]

 

We observe this new racism that we experience here. We are disturbed by the noise of the squeaking blue train. We want them to bring it in for repairs. Ministers Peters and senior staff from the Department of Transport presented a strategic plan for 2015-16 to 2019-2020 and the annual performance plan for the period 2015-16 to our select committee on 2 June 2015. The select committee also received the Department of Transport Medium Term Expenditure Framework and budget. We have a plan.

The select committee appreciates the fact that these plans are guided by the National Development Plan 2030, the New Growth Path framework, the Industrial Policy Action Plan and the National Infrastructure Plan. We have worked it out. We know where we are going to. We will not allow ourselves to be diverted from delivering a better life for all South Africans.

 

In further demonstrating an integrated approach, the Department of Transport also supports the Back to Basics call made by the Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Cogta, to strengthen and enhance performance of local government, focusing on public transport, rail transport and excess roads.

 

In 1955, the people who were oppressed in this country had ambitions and plans. They adopted the Freedom Charter on 25 June. In there, these people said that all shall be free to travel without restrictions, from countryside to town, from province to province and from South Africa to abroad. The Department of Transport is committed to realise this aspiration of our people.

 

A scholar transport master plan is also on the table. The Department of Transport informed the select committee that they are working on the importance of a framework for sustainable policies, regulations and implementable modes to support government strategy for socioeconomic development.

 

High priority is given to a transport sector that is safe and secure. This will be done through safety and compliance, transport administration and licensing and law enforcement. The spending focus over the medium term will be, as the Minister has said, on maintaining road infrastructure, upgrading rail infrastructure and services, and enhancing public transport for all people of South Africa in all nine provinces.

 

The Department of Transport acknowledges, as good leaders should, that there are prevailing challenges, and they have named them. The first is infrastructure development. The second is maintenance. The third is strategic expansion of the transport network. The fourth is nonadherence to grant conditions. The fifth and final one is an addition to the common problems that we are having, and that is the rate of deterioration of existing infrastructure and inadequate capital investment to meet required maintenance and expansion.

 

We are a developing country. A massive business venture on new rail rolling stock and new hybrid locomotives is yet another job-creation venture of which we are proud. The select committee last month visited the Transnet plant in Port Elizabeth and witnessed the massive potential that is being unrolled in this plant. Technicians, engineers, artisans and train drivers are benefitting from the contracts that the Department of Transport is negotiating.

 

There are five sectors that I hoped to speak on, but when one is here, the clock works faster. The one is rail transport. Just to say it here: We want to make sure that road freight is moved to rail freight. Secondly, the Minister has spoken extensively about the commendable work that Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, Prasa, is doing.

 

The next topic that I want to mention is road transport. We must strengthen road traffic management, and that is part of the plan. The Department also recognised the importance to improve and preserve national, provincial and local road infrastructure, especially potholes. It is synchronising this transport plan with spatial planning. We are not going to build roads so that our people can continue to travel long distances to go and work far from where they stay.

 

The Minister has spoken about civil aviation and the Umthatha Airport. I just wanted to break down what the benefits are. The terminal building will be created or build. There will be landing aids. There will be fencing. There will be car parking and roads. All these developments are nearing completion.

 

The MEC for Transport in Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Mr Ismail Vadi, recently made the following statement in the legislature. He says, and I quote:

 

The new dispensation is fair. Administrative is simpler and more sustainable. It is based on the recommendations of the advisory panel on the socioeconomic impact of the electronic polling on Gauteng residents which called for a hybrid funding model that would significantly reduce tariffs.

 

To ensure the e-toll system is equitable, affordable, sustainable and more efficient, government has approved the following. Firstly, a signal reduced tariff of 30c per kilometre will apply to all motorists using the e-toll network in the province. The monthly cap has been reduced to R225 for standard vehicles.

 

There will be no charge for infrequent users who make less than 30 gentry passes a year. The e-toll fees that are currently outstanding will be discounted by 60% and arrangements should be made within 6 months by motorists to settle their accounts. Finally, there will be a monthly cap on the penalty for accounts in arrears.

 

The public transport operators – taxis - with valid operating permits will be exempted from paying e-tolls. We take the consultations that we have had with people seriously because we believe in democracy, and we practice what we believe in.

 

The untimely death of our leader, Minister Collins Chabane, and many other road users, demands that urgent interventions be undertaken to prevent road deaths and accidents. Minister and colleagues in the department, thank you very much that you are taking the lives and the safety of road users seriously.

 

We know that the figures are still exorbitant but we salute you for knowing that you are doing something about it. All responsible, patriotic and proud South Africans acknowledge the significance of ensuring that our transport system is comfortable, safe and sustainable. We thank that this department has exposed us to what they are doing to make our roads safe for everybody. [Time expired.] Ke a leboga [Thank you!] [Applause.]

 

Dr Y C VAWDA: Chairperson, allow me first and foremost to acknowledge the presence of our supreme forces irrespective of whatever our perceptions might be, visitors in the gallery, hon members, I greet you all with as-salaam-ulakum.

 

At the very outset I must say that the EFF rejects the Transport Budget Vote, as we cannot support a department that continue to make cash cows out of our people who must now also bear the burden of poor government decisions. The e-tolls are one such example. The only outcome of the Gauteng’s e-tolls commission should have been the total eradication of e-tolls and their fees, and not a reduction of their costs.

 

Our people do not want e-tolls, never have and never will. No one must make profit out of our roads as this is an infringement of the freedom on the freedom of movement. E-tolls are a modern-day dompas and should be removed immediately. As if this is not enough, Sanral was awarded a secret tender that would put residents in the Western Cape and its visitors through the same abuse that the Gauteng residents are experiencing. And before we know it there will be an e-toll in every corner of South Africa.

 

Failure to provide transport for rural learners and those from disadvantaged communities remains a sore point in this department – it needs an immediate attention. This department has a track record of failing to implement legislation as in the case of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Amendment Act, and the Civil Aviation Amendment Act.

 

This department has also failed to implement policies such as the single transport economic regulator that it announced in August 2012, what guarantee is there then that we should have a finalised National Scholar Transport Policy; this department has the will or ability to thoroughly implement it.

 

Every morning thousands of learners travel long distances and across dangerous routes to schools while some are packed like sardines on overloaded unroadworthy bakkies and busses; how many more parents should bury their babies before this department realises the importance of the immediate provision of safe and efficient scholar transport across all the corners of the country.

Before anyone takes this podium, to tell me how you have suffered and walked to school than I must ask you the question, how short is your memory, how soon have you forgotten, how far detached you have become from the poor people of this country.

 

Hon Chair, South Africa’s transport and logistics infrastructure is designed in such a way that all strategic routes from South Africa’s inland mines and natural resource reservoirs leads to the ocean without benefiting our people. The government has over the years prioritised and it continues funding strategic routes and systems that will yield profit for multinational corporations while the public transport system has been left to irate to unco-ordinated and uncontrollable mess it currently is.

 

Making profits and developing our economy is to be commended but when only few are beneficiaries of our resources then we have a problem indeed. Millions of South Africans depend on public transport to travel to and from work, however, bus stations, train stations taxi ranks are characterised by long queues overcrowding and pollution.

 

People in rural areas have not had safe transport for decades and most are sandwiched on small unroadworthy death traps in the form of bakkies, while some have to walk long distances before they can reach hiking sports putting them in grave danger of being robbed, raped or even abducted; what provision is being made for rural transport. Billions of rands worth of tenders are rolled out annually only for teen-entrepreneurs to build poor and substandard roads that eventually develop potholes and have to be reworked at a cost to the taxpayer.

 

Today, less than 50% of our roads are tarred and the rest are just gravel roads, 30% of those that are tarred develop huge potholes that make it difficult to drive ... [Interjections.]

 

Mr E MAKUE: Chair, on a point of order, that member is a member of the select committee and he must not mislead the public by saying that only 50% of roads are tarred. That is untrue.

 

Dr Y C VAWDA: ... and are damaging people’s vehicles in the process. With the youth unemployment at over 60% provision to create a state construction company should be made and unemployed youth from disadvantaged communities be trained to run and work in such companies instead of wasting much needed money on teen-entrepreneurs.

 

Solutions that come at the expense of people’s lives are not solutions but are invitations for further problems. The taxi recapitalisation programme continues pushing the taxi industry into the periphery to show that our government has no intention of improving the conditions of our domestic airlines and subsequently our aviation industry provision has been made to spend over R2 billion worth of taxpayer’s money to purchase VIP jets for the President and his cronies. A fully ... [Interjections.] ... to the President and his Ministers ... [Time expired.] Thank you, hon Chair. And thank you, hon Makue for pointing out that it is more than 50% of roads that are left untarred. Thank you very much indeed sir. [Laughter.]

 

Ms M C DIKGALE: Hon Deputy Chairperson, hon Ministers present, hon MECs, ladies and gentlemen, on this day in 1980, the ANC made a public statement through Nelson Mandela, which was the message smuggled out of Robben Island Prison under great risk. It read, and I quote:

 

Unite! Mobilise! Fight on! Between the anvil of united mass action and the hammer of the armed struggle, we shall crush apartheid.

 

The way that this message was transported from the high security walls of Robben Island was a master genius that can only be thought of by extraordinary leaders. In my language we say, ...

 

“Le ge o ka e tima meetse, o tla e bona e nwele.” [“If you refuse to help someone in need, they will always find help somewhere.”]

 

The barbaric apartheid government of the National Party tried all in its power to subdue and spiritually break Mandela but he remained unbroken. This is the kind of tenacity that characterises the ANC and its leaders, and we are not about to change that.

 

Take an example of our current President: The opposition does not know politics. They are playing the man and not the enemy. To our President, I want to say: Know that critics make your life to grow even bigger and it has now reached immunity. I am saying: The public supports you; no one can attack you!

 

The introduction of this message from Mandela was conveyed by O R Tambo who wrote that:

 

Mandela’s call to unity and mass action is of particular importance in this Year of the Charter – the 25th anniversary of the Freedom Charter.

 

As we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Freedom Charter, we want to heed the call made by these distinct leaders of our struggle and glorious movement, the ANC, and ensure that indeed, “The people shall govern.”

 

To the ANC-led government, we need to welcome the critics because we are not cowards. We want to grow up and not remain grounded. The Freedom Charter makes a special call regarding transport by guaranteeing that, “All shall be free to travel without restriction from countryside to towns, from province to province, and from South Africa to abroad.” Although, we from Limpopo still have a problem: When we have to travel to our work in Parliament, we have to via through other provinces as we do not have a straight flight to here.

 

This call was specifically made because some minority despots had made themselves demigods who must prescribe how, when and to where African South Africans can travel. One of them, Hendrik Verwoerd, was even brave enough to pronounce that Mandela would only be released over his dead body. At least he was right on this one! However, what he actual meant – that Mandela would never be released – was not to be: Apartheid was ultimately crushed; and Mandela was released!

 

The Freedom Charter also declared that, “New suburbs shall be built where all shall have transport and roads.” This call was made in recognition of the significant role that transport plays in the daily lives of human beings. In the language of economics, it is pronounced that ‘roads carry the economy of the country’. This phrase means that transport and roads must be accessible to all the people in order for them to be economically empowered.

 

The ANC whole-heartedly believes in this notion. That is why in its document, Ready to Govern, the central goal of the ANC economic policy was, and still is, to create a strong, dynamic and balanced economy that will be directed towards the following: Eliminating the poverty and extreme inequalities generated by the apartheid system; democratising the economy and empowering the historically oppressed; creating productive employment opportunities at a living wage for all South Africans; giving due regard to the environmental impact of the implementation of economic policy.

 

This is why the National Development Plan, NDP, has identified transport as one of the key sectors for economic infrastructural development. In adopting the NDP as its blueprint, the ANC-led government has accepted the primary responsibility, as it should for transport, both as a public necessity and as a means of supporting balanced economic growth and development. It has done so with the understanding that the absence of an adequate public transport service in all areas means that transport is a major contribution factor in the marginalisation of the people.

 

This is so because it is widely acknowledged that transport has a crucial role to play in economic development. More especially, it has been recognised that the provision of a high quality system is a necessary precondition for the full participation of remote communities in the benefits of national development. Studies show that transport is a catalyst for providing equitable access to opportunities and services, and that the majority of the working class heavily rely on public transport.

 

So, the government of the DA in the Western Cape must make MyCiTi buses accessible to communities of Gugulethu, Nyanga and Langa. They must stop advancing colonial and apartheid spatial planning with regard to transport infrastructure. These are areas where these services are needed most. The availability of transport plays an increasingly important role in accessing services such as healthcare and in the social integrating of people living away from service centres.

 

In this instance, it means transport can be a matter of life and death. What this means is that public transport is and must become an even bigger part of the solution. It must be factored in at the very outset of every decision about new urban developments, whether it is housing, hospitals, universities or employment centres. If this were to be done, the traffic congestion that we experience in our major cities will be a thing of the past.

 

We therefore want to commend the commitment made by President Jacob Zuma during this year’s state of the nation address that government will continue with the infrastructure programme to expand transport networks and to improve roads which augur well for economic growth. He stated that the Department of Transport will spend about R9 million on the Provincial Roads Maintenance Grants or the Sihamba Sonke programme and R11 billion on upgrading and maintaining roads which are not tolled.

 

We know that the Moloto Rail Corridor is well on track, though it is not moving as fast as we would have liked. We support this project because we understand what it means in a long run. Its outcome would be a rail service that is not for luxury or holiday, but to ensure that people reach their destinations safely. This shows that the ANC puts money where its mouth is when it comes to making the lives of our people better.

 

We also want to commend the transformational discourse in the maritime sector that the government is undertaking through Operation Phakisa. We all know that the maritime sector is the lifeblood of any country. For South Africa to win the battle against unemployment and poverty, it must take this sector seriously. Currently the sector is dominated by foreign-owned shipping companies. I hope and believe that the government will ensure that this situation is changed.

 

Hon Minister, in all provinces that we have held the Taking Parliament to the People programme, learner transport was cited as a fundamental challenge. Communities complained that the Department of Basic Education seemed not to have a coherent solution in implementing learner transport strategy. In all our public meeting, parents complained about: Long distances walked by learners in rural areas; the use of unroadworthy vehicles; nonadherence and ineffective implementation of existing policies and guidelines; and overloading, speed and reckless driving.

 

We understand that the issue of learner transport is a matter that is within the jurisdiction of the provincial departments in Basic Education. However, we would like to request the Department of Transport to partner with these provincial education departments, especially with regards to road safety for learners. In my language we say, ...

 

Bobedi bo bolaya noga. [Two hands are better than one.]

 

We also encourage the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality to solve the issue of buses that are stuck somewhere in the municipality and not working. Soon as they solve bus problems; the better for learners and the community.

 

We therefore support this Budget Vote as we believe that it mobilises resources to ensure that the dictates of the Freedom Charter are achieved.

 

Pele ke dula fase, ke sa na le metsotswana mo. Ke nyaka gore batho ba EFF ba lebelele gore matšatši a, batho ba ba hwetšago dithentara tša ditsela tša sekontiri, ba dira mošomo wo mobotse. Gomme gona bjale, ge o sepela, ga go na mekoti ditseleng. Mekoti ya ditseleng ke yela ya pele ... [Nako e fedile.] (Translation of Sepedi paragraph follows.)

 

[I still have one minute. I want to make the members of the EFF aware that the contractors who have been allocated tenders for road construction these days are delivering good quality service. There are no more potholes on the roads. Potholes are a thing of the past ... [Time expired.]]

 

Thank you, hon Chair. [Applause.]

 

Mr J J LONDT: Good evening, hon Chair, hon Minister and members. [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: COMMITTEES AND OVERSIGHT (Mr A J Nyambi): Order! Continue, hon Londt.

 

Mr J J LONDT: Across the world, public and private transport systems are facing problems due to increasing vehicle ownership and the suburbanisation of both firms and residences. Historically, public transport focused mainly on central areas of cities where high population and employment density enabled frequent services with high occupancy rate on numerous routes; but this has changed.

 

In South Africa we were very slow in implementing and improving the public transport system and addressing the increased demand on a yearly basis. We had a six million increase in vehicles on our roads; vehicles that are being taxed, in some instances, up to 40% of the purchase price going into government coffers. Whether this is through basic value-added tax, through an import duty and ad valorem tax, emissions tax, fuel levies, the list goes on.

 

Now we sit with a difficult situation. We have had such an increase in road users and little to no real ongoing planning and investment. Not to mention a roll-out of a public transport system that this ANC government starts making ridiculous decisions without listening to the voters. E-tolls, what a disaster; the monster master plan by the ANC government! There is a fable about a troll who lives under a bridge, who threatens to eat the goats crossing the bridge. In South Africa we have built many bridges called gantries. And these bridges are making it more expensive for ordinary South Africans to eat; our very own e-troll.

 

A shocking announcement a few weeks ago by the Deputy President, stating that government will align its e-toll database with the vehicle registration database within the year, and that there will be no amnesty for unpaid e-toll bills. This announcement reminds us, again, of the ANC bullying tactics to enforce their will on South Africans with little regard to their wishes.

 

The Deputy President tried to sugar-coat it, as well as the chairperson of the select committee who has now left a debate that he took part in, by saying that tariffs would be halved for most categories of vehicles in terms of the new tariffs structure. The task team decided on a new fee structure that would lead to a funding shortfall for the SA National Roads Agency, Sanral. To recover the costs for the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project, GFIP, the funding gap will have to be met by transfers from national government and the Gauteng provincial government.

 

Let us be clear. This funding gap that will be covered by the national and Gauteng governments, ordinary South Africans are paying for this. So, in fact, they are still paying for the e-toll or “e-troll system” even though it’s being sugar-coated that they are paying less.

 

Furthermore, why does government, to this day, fail to answer questions with details on the contracts between Gijima and ETC? More than a third of Gijima is owned by an ANC crony that is set to lose millions if this “e-trolling system” gets scraped.

 

These contracts and deals between government and cronies come at a cost to the normal man on the street. The culture of enriching a few at the cost of many is no where better illustrated than in the “e-troll system”. The voters are getting fed up. The ANC is already losing significant support in Gauteng because of this. Hon Makue said that the ANC respects democracy. Would they have said this and made a review of the system if they didn’t lose 10% of the votes in Gauteng? Keep on pushing the “e-troll system”. Keep trying to push the e-troll system to other provinces and keep on losing support again.

The primary source of income for the Road Accident Fund scheme is a levy raised on fuel. This levy is measured in terms of cents per litre on petrol and diesel fuel sold in South Africa and forms part of the general fuel tax regulated by government. During the 2014-15 financial year, the Road Accident Fund fuel levy was set at 104 cent per litre. That is 9% of the total price at the fuel pump.

 

Fraud is one of the main causes of concern in the RAF, especially fraud by the RAF itself. There is evidence of widespread “impropreity” impropriety at the Road Accident Fund – see, English is not my first language either, hon Chair. [Laughter.]

 

There are letters that illustrate how the Fund appears to sue itself to maintain a certain cash flow. The RAF suing itself had contributed to delay in payouts – welcome back, hon Chair, your colleagues will brief on what took place in the debate which you missed. [Laughter.] In March 2015, it was reported that millions are lost in the Road Accident Fund due to fraudulent syndicates and greedy professionals. [Laughter.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON COMMITTEES AND OVERSIGHT (Mr A J Nyambi): Hon Londt, take your seat. Why are you rising, hon Makue?

 

Mr E MAKUE: Chairperson, is a person allowed to address an individual from the podium or must he do it through you?

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: COMMITTEES AND OVERSIGHT (Mr A J Nyambi): He is definitely not allowed. Hon Londt, refrain from addressing an honourable member of the House; you have say everything via the Chairperson. Continue with your speech.

 

Mr J J LONDT: Thank you, Chair. I take note of your point, but also, my point was made. So, we can go on. [Laughter.] In March 2015, it was reported that millions are lost in the Road Accident Fund due to fraudulent syndicates and greedy professionals. Recently, it emerged that top RAF officials are possibly involved in this scam.

 

The DA will do all in its power to get to the bottom of this and help root out corruption. The hon Minister referred to it in George. The Go George transport initiative provides a quality that is reliable, affordable, safe, convenient, and accessible and contributes to a better quality of life for all. It’s true. It’s a good example of national, provincial and local government working together to make the system work. So, that system needs to be rolled out elsewhere in the country to sow what happens when three spheres of government works together without dipping into the pot.

 

Just two days ago, the City of Cape Town won an international UITP Award for achievements in public transport and for establishing a transport authority to address the transport needs of residents and visitors to Cape Town.

 

On the other hand, since 2012, the quick fix approach to address problems identified with the Port Elizabeth integrated public transport service has been a disaster. Problems recently include: The impracticality of designated bus lanes; zebra crossings that obstruct traffic flow; and design flaws such as the placement of bus stations and incorporated taxi stops creating safety problems.

 

It is clear that the ANC can learn a thing or two from the DA-led government initiatives. The bottom line is, Minister, it is a mess. But luckily, next year, after the local government elections, there will be a new government in Port Elizabeth that will sort out this mess. A new government that will not dip into the pot and will put the residents and the voters’ interests first and make sure that under the leadership of Athol Trollip, post the local government elections in 2016, finally, Port Elizabeth will get the transport service they deserve. Thank you. [Applause.]

 

Mr B KOMPHELA (FREE STATE – MEC):Hon Chair, hon Minister, Deputy Minister, hon members of the NCOP, fellow Members of the Executive Council from different provinces, all stakeholders who are here today, various officials and the COO of the Department of Transport and Director- Generals, distinguished guests, and Salga representatives that are here today. I want to firstly congratulate the Minister. We have dealt a serious blow for them, when the Constitutional Court proved us right on the prodimer that that asset belongs to the Department of Transport. [Applause.] We are looking forward to being vindicated when bringing back eNatis, because the primus of not announcing whether we take back eNatis or not had leverage in the Constitutional Court. Therefore, Constitutional Court said that we are right. In no time, we will bring it back.

 

Iinkomo zakuthi mazibuye. [Kwaqhwatywa.] [Our cattle must be brought back. [Applause.]]

 

Hon members want to respond in the issue of eTolling, in the meeting held by Minmeck in Rustenburg, all 9 provinces – including Gauteng – were very clear about when one stays in the Eastern Cape, the other stays in Polokwane, the other stays in North West, and the other stays in the Free State, will not have a collective punishment of the fuel levy when we are staying in dongas - those who want to stay in heaven must pay for heaven - we will not be able to do that. [Applause.] Therefore, the issue of the fuel levy, was just a story that nobody will ever accept because that process is all long standing one that was agreed upon and not people talk about it later – in fact – there is no public that is affected by the eToll, it is only those want to jump on the bandwagon of this eToll, who do not want to pay and drive alone in cars when the public transport is excluded in the whole process. Minister, as the MEC for Police, Roads and Transport, you are not implementing a scholar transport at national level. The scholar transport is at the Department of Transport, and therefore, we are dealing with the issue of the scholar transport. I do not know how are you going to deal with the issue of scholar transport when you are up there and fall down, and  which province are you going to fall on and implement that. Who will be able to implement – and we are diligently implementing scholar transport in the Free State – there is no earthquake. If there are problems elsewhere, people must come and ask us how did we get it right, we are prepared to help them. [Applause.] The hon Minister, the hon President, delivered the state of the nation address, and was anchored on the ANC unwavering determination to undo the injustice of the past. The hon member here, said that the Minister must make transport plans and such things, there were no integrated transport plan until after 1994. The transport plan and the road were meant for the few minorities, today we stand accused by the minorities that have disadvantaged the majority of the people with transport and roads and the whole infrastructure, but we are ready –we are equal to the task – to make sure that our people live on equal basis with those who were benefitting before. Following the President’s state of the nation address, the Minister of Transport delivered a Budget speech in the National Assembly, he also anchored the 2015 Budget speech on the theme: Year of unity in action to advance economic freedom. Both speeches emphasise the importance of investing in infrastructure as a deliberate policy and action of the ANC to make sure that when we have a good road infrastructure, our economy is going to grow – there is going to be an efficient running of transport – there is going to be an efficiency too in dealing with transport anywhere and connecting provinces. In the Free State province, I wish hon members can come and see that we have targeted key roads that are of economic importance in the Free State. However, Minister the Free State is at the disadvantage because all provinces pass through the Free State, therefore, time and again, we find ourselves having to deal with issues of roads. But Free State’s programme today is maintenance, maintenance all the way, because if we leave roads as they are – not being maintained – and they completely collapse – the cost for maintaining or rebuilding the road is far higher than when the road is supposed to be maintained. The effective operation of the transport system, does not only depend on the good, efficient management of transport operators and their employees. But it also depends on factors such as funding and provisioning of various forms of infrastructure by government such as the provisioning of reliable road and traffic law enforcement. Hon Minister, in the Free State, we have gone deeper in making ourselves visible in the roads. In December, this year, we will be passing out 154 new traffic officers, so that they should come and police this national asset in the Free State, which will make the economy of Free State to grow. That asset, is also anchored by having people who are going to make sure that we have vehicles that are equal to the task – with machines that are able to calculate the speed of a car that you are following so that you would just switch on a siren and keep it on sight and say: I think you are driving very fast, this is not a banana province – and then we are able to deal with those people there. But we support you too Minister, on your regulations, around issues of transport. In fact we are persuading you, that in the Free State, we would like that these heavy trucks – the 18 wheelers, must stop working at 06 o’clock in the evening and start working at 06 o’clock in the morning – so that we allow our people to be able to travel to the places where they want to go, because as it is now, trucks have taken over the roads, and then because we are pushing capital and income at the expense of what our people have to do with their families at all cost. I think there should be a moment where they are able to go around by saying: by 06 or 07 o’clock I will get into the road and go home in Kroonstad for there will be no trucks until tomorrow morning at 06 o’clock. The road infrastructure, in the Free State is at its best, hon Minister. We have dealt with Memel; we have dealt with the Botha Pass; Rietz and Kestell; Zastron and Wepenaar. Zastron and Wepenaar are linking us with Lesotho and the Eastern Cape, and that road has been a thorn on our side but now is going very well. Dennisville and Sasol passing next to Groenpunt Prison, go to that road and see for yourself it is a carpet. Parys through Clocolan, Marquad, Kroonstad and Vredefort – the old N1 Vredefort road is up to date, and therefore, those who do not want to pay for the Tollgate are free to take the alternative road passing through Vredefort and then get to Parys and then get to Johannesburg.

 

Mr D GRANT (WESTERN CAPE MEC - TRANSPORT & PUBLIC WORKS):Hon Chair of the NCOP, Minister, Deputy Minister, fellow MECs, hon members and office bearers, delegates from the provinces, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. I have the honour of representing the Western Cape provincial parliament here in the NCOP in the occasion on policy debate on Budget Vote 35 Transport. As someone who just year ago was a newcomer to transport policy arena, I wish from the outset to place on record my thanks to Minister Peters for her willingness to make herself available to d issues matters of national transport importance as well as issues of specific importance to the Western Cape. Her cooperative and receptive stance is sincerely appreciated.

 

Chairperson, the importance of transport to both the economy of the country and the wellbeing of the people of South Africa cannot be overstated. In this regard South Africa is not unique. Recently in a speech the United States Congress, the long serving Democratic Congress man Robert Brady said: “There can be no doubt that the transportation sector is the most critical sector of the economy. Not only is it often a key that unlocks the door to economic participation for millions Of people, but it is also often the means which enables us to access certain rights and to exercise certain rights bestowed upon us by the Constitution.” It is not by accident that the public transport and certain other elements of transport are listed functional areas of concurrent national and provincial legislative competence in Schedule 4 to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.

 

In a country still characterized by the many consequences of apartheid special planning and the ongoing disparities between rural and urban areas, it is crucial that people are able to move freely, safely and affordably so that they can access employment, educational and recreational opportunities. Without this the promise of better life for too many people, remain nothing other than a promise. In this regard there are two other obvious considerations which are reasons for me in my relatively short time in my present portfolio. The first of these is an organizational and structural issue linked to the Department of Transport itself and relates to the high number of outside agencies upon which that Department is dependent for the planning and delivery of core functions and aspects of its mandates. Earlier this year at an official strategic planning session at national level, I was struck by the number of report back sessions on critical areas of the core mandate of this Department which were led by people often highly trained professionals who are not employees of the Department but who operate on a day to day basis at some distance from the Department in structures which are legal entities in their own right. This defused control of core functions must be problematic in what is complex and tactical Department. In the same way rail transport which has to be at the heart of the sustainable mass transport system, suffers from similar disjointedness with control spread from the Western Cape point of view through Metrorail, Prasa and Transnet. My Ministry has a very constructive working relationship with both Metrorail and Prasa and we meet regularly with senior management in order to assist where we can with matters impacting on this crucial service. However, real decisions about budgets, capital investments and maintenance costs lie outside our reach.

 

The second consideration which emerges from the existing concurrence arrangements is the importance of the various spheres of government to work together in order to deliver an efficient service. In her budget speech on the 5th of May this year, Minister Peters twice referred to transport developments in relation to George in the Western Cape, in the context of funding which her Department had made available.

 

This is correct and is acknowledged with gratitude. However, Chairperson, while we all understand the fundamental importance of the funding the George Integrated Transport Network is much more than an exercise in applying funds to a problem. It is in fact a precedent setting model for the provision of transport services and developing an affordable emerging city model which meets the requirements of the National Land Transportation Act and which becomes a replica approach for non metros and for rural areas. The national Department of Transport and Land Transport Strategy has been applied to local conditions and as a result George is the first city outside the big twelve to be allocated National Grant Funding and received this funding in the 2013-2014 fiscal year although the planning for a transport system goes back to 2005.

 

George previously has no formal scheduled bus service and existing public transport remain too expensive for a large number of the population. In fact the majority of commuters walked long distances, nearly 4km one way in all weathers. As a result the area experienced an abnormally high pedestrian fatality rate. From an institutional perspective the process has involved, firstly all three spheres of government working closely together. Secondly, the entire minibus taxi and small bus industry from George. Thirdly the wider George community and the users of public transport and finally various specialists private sector service providers. My own department has worked tirelessly and playing its important coordination and leadership role in ensuring that the multitude of technical challenges could be overcome.

 

Our experience has shown the desired success can be achieved on the basis of four crucial elements as follows. A government with the financial human and institutional capacity required to manage the various contractual relationships needed for a successful transport network. This includes the specific agreements entered into between the Western Cape and the George Municipality at both the financial and operational level. A functional operator formed from existing members of the public transport industry in George. Thirdly adequate infrastructure including additional suitable vehicles and road traffic sidewalk facility. This will accommodate people also with disability. Finally financial sustainability which implies on the basis of international experience continued support from appropriate levels of government.

 

Chairperson, the fact that this new network is on course to be officially opened in the final quarter of this year speaks volumes for intergovernmental cooperation and a clear understanding of the importance of political leadership which respects the massive technical and professional planning which ultimately underpins the successful sustainable transport network. The Western Cape government is pleased to have played the role which it has along with Mrs Peters’ Department of Transport and the George Municipality. Chair this can only better the lives of our citizens and I hope it would be a model for the rest of South Africa in the future. I thank you. [Applause.]

 

Mr M KHAWULA: Hon House Chair, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, we always maintains or want to maintain that South Africa is the gateway to Africa. The important part, but not so highlighted, of this gateway philosophy is that we can only be a gateway through transport systems. The economy growth of the country depends upon the transport systems for the growth target to be realised.

 

For our economy to prosper we rely upon effective transport systems; for our exports and imports we rely upon effective transport systems; for our workforce to get to work, for our learners and students to reach the institutions, for our patients to get help, for social services to service the needy, transport is the key. It is not just transport of the urban world, but transport systems of both urban and rural.

 

Unfortunately, after 21years of our democracy, South Africa still remains two worlds in one. The rural community still continue to suffer the inadequacies of bad roads, gravel roads, disintegrated public transport, disproportionate economies, etc. South Africa could have been better than the current state of affairs on transport infrastructure if it were not for the disregard of value for money, corruption and fraud; nepotism and favouritism; cadre deployment, to the detriment of capacity and ability.

 

Transport is one of the departments that is highly exploited under the guise of black economic empowerment. To set the record straight before the masters of distortion twist my words and misinterpret me for their own purposes, let me state upfront that IFP supports the empowerment of the Previously Disadvantaged Individuals. What we are opposed to is when programmes and policies are abused and misused to benefit friends and the connected few at the expense of the needy people and quality service.

 

Hon Minister, we have just been to Nelson Mandela Bay as a select committee and we all came back shocked; all of us, the IFP, ANC, DA, all of us. The Makues, the Khawulas, and the Mthimunyes - we were all there. What we saw there terribly shocked us. The integrated public transport system that was kicked off in Nelson Mandela Bay just before the world cup in 2010 ran for some time and came to a standstill later on after the world cup.

 

That is saddening, and what is so saddening is that scores of employees lost jobs. The consortium that was awarded the tender to operate those buses has failed the people of Port Elizabeth. What is the most shocking is that even as the buses got parked for months, your department with the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality continued paying the government subsidy to the consortium, even when the buses were not running. That is corruption.

 

As experienced from that same oversight the IFP expresses gratitude to the dedicated men and women at the Transnet locomotive industry in Port Elizabeth who are doing a good job in building rail goods locomotives. We are saying to Transnet: “Keep it up”.

 

Safety on our country’s transport systems is important to our citizens and our visitors; especially on our roads. The department needs to keep on improving on the measures to ensure safety of our road users, especially during the festive seasons, Easter long weekends and other busy days. South African roads become death traps during these days. This has to be arrested. South African motorists are too impatient and less tolerant of one another. The IFP wishes to thank the traffic officers of our country who have to keep up with all kinds of attitudes in ensuring the safety of our road users. I thank you.

 

Mr F ESSACK: On a point of order: Hon Chairperson, I just want to say that I think the hon Khawula should be congratulated on his quote and I quote: “Masters of distortion”.

 

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF TRANSPORT: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister of Transport, Mme Dipuo Peters, provincial MECs of transport, hon members, director general and staff of the Department of Transport, chairpersons and members of our boards and chief executive officers of state-owned entities, our guests, ladies and gentlemen, South Africa our country is our land and our home. We travel through it, we leave and walk in it with care preserving it for the future generations. As the 1976 youth helped us to discover South Africa, they make South Africa to give life to all of us.

 

The slow pace of transformation within the transport sector has direct implications on the skills gap and economic emancipation for women, youth and people living with disabilities. In this regard we are there to take deliberate and decisive actions in line with the National Development Plan. In our human resource implementation plan we have nine delivery areas targeted for the 2015-16 financial year. This include skills development, learnerships, internships, bursary programmes, transport research and activity centre, technical and vocational education and training, outreach programmes, international partnership and finalisation of the human resource development strategy.

 

As the national skills development strategy 3 necessitates, we are intensifying our effort in creating skills for both rural and farm dwellers development. Transport Education Training Authority, Teta, alone has allocated R93 million for transport sector’s skills needs. Through Teta we are offering a leadership development programme specifically targeting women. The Road Traffic Management Corporation, RTMC, had budgeted an amount of half a billion rand for the training of traffic related personnel. Plans are also underway towards establishing traffic training colleges.

 

The cross-boarder road transport agency, in the current Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, period, will establish a cross-boarder academy which will focus on prioritising key capacity development areas. In this current financial year South African National Roads Agency Limited has allocated 150 sponsorships to deserving learners in the road sector. The Air Traffic and Navigation Services, ATNS, Airports Company South Africa, ACSA, South African Civil Aviation Authority, Sacaa, and South African Maritime Safety Authority, Samsa have entered into national and international agreements to train and facilitate employment of seafarers, cadet pilots, aeronutical engineers, air traffic controllers and others.

 

I must state that our state-owned entities and the Department of Transport have internship programmes and bursaries schemes that cater for the previously disadvantaged groups. The Department of Transport has provided external bursaries to 654 youth who are fully enrolled across 11 high education and training institutions.

 

In 2014-15, the Department of Transport was awarded by the Department of Higher Education and Training a national recognition award for our robust internship programme because “siyaquba”. To date we have identified a lack of alignment in the manner in which the Department of Transport and our respective state-owned enterprises, SOEs, are implementing the skills development programme. In this regard, we have created a skills development forum, where in the Department of Transport and its SOEs will meet quarterly to plan together, monitor implementation and show alignment and integration.

 

We are consciously prioritising and targeting rural and farm youth to benefit from our skills development programmes. Women economic emancipation remains at the apex of our developmental agenda. We have consciously taken steps to speed up the process in that all SOEs in the transport sector must have specific allocated budget for women and youth empowerment. For instance, Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, has allocated R3 billion over the MTEF period for the women in rail programme.

 

On the 6 to the 8 August 2015 we are going to host the woman in transport summit in which we will adopt a five year programme of action for women and youth radical economic emancipation. The South African network of woman in transport summit is an active vehicle in driving this programme. We are about to complete a transport sector gender policy that will be instrumental in fast-tracking the transforming and gender parity agenda.

 

The massive upgrades and expansion of both passenger and freight rail demand an expanded oversight on the rail safety mandate. In this regard, the rail safety regulator has strengthened its rail safety community awareness campaign. The rail regulator has also adopted a five year plan in a phased-in approach on the revised risk-based, permit-fee model. The strategy will enable operators to plan better while assisting Rail Safety Regulator to invest in human, intellectual, social and manufacturing capital.

 

The Road Traffic Infringement Agency is currently engaged in the one million signature campaign which seeks approval to have a recognised annual national prayer day for road accident victims as suggested by the Minister. We call on all hon members and their constituencies to sign these documents as a way of supporting the campaign.

 

The impact of the aviation industry in South Africa’s economy cannot be overemphasised. South Africa has been able to implement national and international aviation safety plans with our airspace and airports achieving impressive compliance safety records. The department aviation branch and Sacaa through their initiatives have made South Africa to be the first country in Africa and is amongst the few in the world to regulate remotely piloted aircrafts. The regulations will soon come in to effect. The Air Traffic and Navigation Services is continuing with the renewal of terrestrial aeronautical navigation systems and the maintenance of radar system.

 

Our ACSA airports are rated the best in the world and in Africa. Currently, the OR Tambo International Airport is holding Africa’s airport of the year title. The Airports Company South Africa will continue to explore new business opportunities in Africa and other emerging markets. South Africa is a maritime state. In October 2014, His Excellency the President of the Republic of South Africa, through Operation Phakisa, identified four priority areas as new growth areas in the ocean’s economy in recognition of this undisputed fact. These are maritime transport and manufacturing of which the Department of Transport is leading. We are also playing a supportive role in the following three focus areas which are; two offshore oil and gas exploration, aquaculture and marine protection and oceans’ governance.

 

The Department of transport together with Samsa have indeed established the maritime delivery unit. The port regulator has also brought great certainty and predictability to port users by publishing a multi-year tariff methodology on which, for instance, the 2015-16 tariff is based. This year, with a budget of R392 million set aside, we will focus on projects that aim to develop the maritime industry in South Africa.

Hon Vawda, on learner transport policy it is indeed disappointing to realise that up until today you have not read the learner transport policy despite the fact that we presented it to you, and of course the copies are available. Please read that and you will be able to answer all the issues that you have raised here today. Regarding the issues related to potholes, please just go to your commander in chief and ask him as to why Limpopo roads have potholes. He will be able to respond to those questions. Thank you very much.

 

Ms T J MOKWELE: On a point of order: Open it. Why don’t you open it? Alright.

 

Ke kopa go itsise Motlatsatona ke gore ... [I would like to inform the Deputy Minister that ...]

 

... commander in chief has never been in government up until ... [Interjections.]

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: COMMITTEES AND OVERSIGHT (Mr.A J Nyambi): Hon Mokwelele! Hon Mokwele!

 

Ms T J MOKWELE: Yes, and I want to caution this House that they must never ever regard and refer the failures of the government to EFF leader. The failure of this government is the failure of the ANC period. They must never ever refer the failure of government to our commander in chief. [Inaudible]

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: COMMITTEES AND OVERSIGHT (Mr A J Nyambi): Hon Mokwele can you take your seat.

 

Ms T J MOKWELE: [Inaudible.]

 

The CHAIRPERSON: COMMITTEES AND OVERSIGHT (Mr A J Nyambi): HON mokwele! Hon Mokwele! You are not going to [Interjection.]Order members! [Interjections.] Hon Mokwele! [Interjections.] Take your seat, take your seat hon Thobejane, you can take your seat. Hon Mokwele! Hon Mokwele! You can’t do what you are doing. You know it is wrong. [Interjections.] No, I am saying that you can’t do what you are doing while you know that it is wrong. [Interjections.] Hon Mokwele you can’t address me. I am addressing you. You cannot address me.

 

Ms J T MOKWELE: [Inaudible.] [Interjections.]

 

The CHAIRPERSON: COMMITTEES AND OVERSIGHT (Mr.A J Nyambi): That’s ... [Interjections.]

 

Ms M A MOKABA-PHUKWANA (LIMPOPO): Thank you, Chairperson of the House. The National Development Plan, NDP, proposes a number of strategic focus areas in transport infrastructure for 2030. These are prioritisation of the entire transport network solutions that are safe, affordable, and effective options. In the same breath, convincing South Africans to increase their use of public transport, thereby lowering the carbon-intensive transportation mode and reducing the environmental, social and economic costs associated with transport.

 

Hon Chairperson, hon Minister Mme Dipuo Peters, hon Deputy Minister Mme Sindiswa Chikunga, provincial MECs present here, Chairperson and members of the portfolio committee, ...

 

... go bohle bao ba lego ka mo ke re ... [... to every single person in here I say ...]

 

HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: COMMITTEES AND OVERSIGHT (Mr A J Nyambi): Hon Mokwele, we have allowed you to do do everything that you know is out of order.

 

HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: COMMITTEES AND OVERSIGHT (Mr A J Nyambi): One thing for sure for all of us that we know is that South Africans are watching what we are doing in this NCOP. Every time when you stand up, whether you are calling a question or point of order, I have allowed to raise what you are raising, and it was an issue for a debate but now you are creating chaos.

 

HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: COMMITTEES AND OVERSIGHT (Mr A J Nyambi): Hon Mokaba-Phukwana can you continue with the debate.

 

HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: COMMITTEES AND OVERSIGHT (Mr.A J Nyambi): Hon Tlake ...

 

Ms M F TLAKE: (POINT OF ORDER) Can you please rule on the point of disrespect and repetitive unbecoming behaviour of hon Mokwele.

 

HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: COMMITTEES AND OVERSIGHT (Mr A J Nyambi): Hon Tlake, I have made a ruling that what she was doing was out of order and I can’t stoop that low and get to her level. Continue hon Mokaba-Phukwana.

 

Ms M A MOKABA–PHUKWANA: Allow me to congratulate Mr Pule Godfrey Selepe on his recent appointment as Director-General of the Department of Transport. We remain inspired by the legacy he left behind at the Great North Transport and the Gateway International Airport Limited in Limpopo. I am confident that his knowledge, skills and long years of service in the transport sector will take the national Department of Transport to greater heights.

 

A sound and solid transport infrastructure remains crucial to generating economic growth, alleviating poverty, reducing inequality and increasing domestic and international competitiveness. Robin Chase, one of the world’s foremost transport entrepreneur, has this to say about the importance of transportation:

 

Transportation is the centre of the world! It is the glue of our daily lives. When it goes well, we don’t see it. When it goes wrong, it negatively colours our day, it makes us feel angry and powerless, it curtails our possibilities.

 

Underpinning the Minister’s policy pronouncement is the determination by the ANC government to make transport a human right, a glue of our daily lives, a human pleasure, an enabler, a facilitator, a multiplier, and an economic resource that advances the ideal of human fulfilment.

 

Simply put, we all yearn for the day when transportation systems will contribute towards economic growth, sustainable development and most importantly, save the lives of millions of our people as they travel from one point to another. The Minister’s budget speech has gone to great lengths to unravel the challenges we currently face as we go about the business of making transportation the ideal servant of humanity.

 

To a greater degree, the Minister's address centred on the safety of public transportation. No one can deny the fact that road accidents account for the bulk of unnatural loss of lives in our country. We all pray for the day when people shall no longer be maimed and killed through transportation. As part of the implementation of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety and the National Transport Master Plan 2050 vision, during her budget speech, the Minister highlighted a few strategic interventions towards moving South Africa forward safely.

 

Let me hasten to say that we from the Limpopo Province are very pleased with the investment of R1, 1 billion in the upgrade of the R573 Moloto Road in particular. The establishment of the Project Implementation and Management Office for the Moloto Rail Development Corridor Project and the building of an inter-modal transport infrastructure along this route is good news for the people of South Africa.

 

We believe this to be a timely intervention that will no doubt spare the thousands of lives travelling between Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Gauteng.

 

We welcome with excitement the Road Accident Benefit Scheme Bill, which provides for the establishment of a new administrator, which is also due to replace the current Road Accident Fund (RAF). This intervention which is meant to benefit the victims of road accidents will offer comprehensive care and real time assistance to the beneficiaries. We can't wait any longer for the Bill to be passed into law.

 

In line with the announced improvements such as the Accelerated Inter-modal Upgrading and Integrated Rapid Public Transport Networks, I am proud to indicate that Limpopo is in the process of implementing the Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, system for the capital City of Polokwane. That, together with the Rail Priority Corridors serve as the primary mobility network in the City. [Interjections.] I don’t have time to answer this. This is in keeping with the Minister's commitment to providing good transport infrastructure that connects urban centres with feeder routes in far flung rural communities.

 

As part of the National Transport Master Plan 2050 to improve its effectiveness and affordability, we committed ourselves to working closely with the taxi industry to facilitate their regulation and participation in the total transport value chain.

 

We want to ensure that this investment in our public transport enhances the safety of passengers, accommodates the transport needs of people with disability, while at the same time stimulating employment in the taxi industry.

 

Finally, hon Chairperson, I also wish to make it known that we support the initiatives by the Minister to establish a Single Transport Economic Regulator, STER. These initiatives are long overdue, considering that affordability is one key imperative in the transport industry. We are hopeful that the single regulator will enforce better pricing in the sector while ensuring efficiency in the use of transport infrastructure and services.

 

In conclusion, hon Chairperson of the House, may I take this opportunity to thank you for the opportunity given to us to deliberate on this budget vote.

 

This budget vote is yet another indicator that this ANC government is committed to the ideals entailed in the Freedom Charter and expanded in the NDP vision 2030. In our long walk to the Promised Land, we are certainly going to experience many difficulties and the Judas Iscariotes of this world will try to distract us.

 

Ke ra bona ba go dula ba gana, ba go kgaoga tšhika ya “ee;” bao ba rego aowa ka dinako tšohle. [Those who are always opposing, people with a bursting ... vein “yes;” those who say no to everything.]

 

We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated. What this ANC government achieved in just less than twenty on years of democracy is incomparable to the disorder that of three hundred years of apartheid misrule. South Africa requires men and women who spare neither sleep nor energy in the service of her people until peace, prosperity and goodwill is certain. The South African majority support the budget, Minister. You don’t have to worry.

 

Lastly, Deputy Minister, the day before yesterday I just killed my dog because it was doing funny things. When it walks it walks like the DA and when it barks it barks like the EFF. Thank you.

 

Ms E C VAN LINGEN: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, Deputy Minister, colleagues, many things have been said about the national Department of Transport, but considering that we are the House that deals with provinces we need to look at the intergovernmental relations and how the different spheres of government can work together. So, the backlog in our road infrastructure maintenance still remains one of the major issues. In the Eastern Cape alone we have a maintenance backlog of R7,4 billion for surface roads and R7,7 billion for gravel roads. The estimated backlog on municipal infrastructure in the province is R12 billion for maintenance and R11,7 billion for capital projects.

 

These figures show that the situation in the Eastern Cape is completely untenable. And the problem with road infrastructure is that if is not maintained it has to be replaced at a much higher cost which the economy cannot afford. My question to the hon Minister is: What must we report to the people in the Eastern Cape who are up in arms about the poor road infrastructure and maintenance programme while there is a national budget cut for provincial roads of 35%?

 

In a recent reply to a parliamentary question we were told that there were only three professional civil engineers working in the department in the Eastern Cape. I can tell you today that there is only one left. The question remains, why this department can’t retain suitably qualified people in the Eastern Cape.

We also need to look at the road maintenance programmes in the Eastern Cape that were never implemented in the last year because of implementing agents such as the Independent Development Trust and also the Coega Development Corporation which did not complete the tender processes by the end of November last year. Right now as we stand here the tenders have not been approved for the gravel roads in the Eastern Cape. And you can only imagine how the roads look like after a 160 millimetres of rain.

 

The Department of Transport in the Eastern Cape has created a new directorate with 57 employees at the cost of R16 million for the scholar transport. And this unit has to transport 57 000 learners to 652 school with 3 300 pickup points along 1 560 routes. The project seems to be working. The only problem is that the contractors who are the epitome of the entrepreneurs in this industry have not been paid since January. There are at least 30% of them that must still paid until the end of May. The learners lose out and the entrepreneurs also lose out. This is not acceptable.

 

The Minister may claim that all the issues that we have been raising here are provincial. I am sure that she will take a lead from the Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister who is accepting responsibility by working with provincial department and with the municipalities. I am also sure that the Minister will be told about all these issues at Minmec meetings, and that provinces won’t hide facts such as these from her.

I would like to say to the Minister that it is very good that the road transport freight is moving to rail transport especially with the new locomotive build that is coming through. It is an amazing project and we hope that it will start off with flying colours and that it will create 228 000 jobs and that 84% of the work that will be outsourced will land in the hands of the private sector so that we can stimulate the economy. I thank you, sir.

 

Cllr P RAMAREMELA (Salga): Chairperson, Minister and Deputy Minister, MECs, hon members and special delegates, as SA Local Government Association, Salga, we are pleased to participate in the Department of Transport Budget Vote which provides us with another opportunity to contribute on matters that directly affect roads and transport at local government level. The SA Local Government Association welcomes the commitment of the Minister to implement the National Development Plan’s key priorities for the maintenance of road infrastructure, upgrading rail infrastructure and services as well as building and operating our public transportation.

 

However, neither the municipal infrastructure grants nor the local government equitable share provides funding for the maintenance of local roads. We would like the hon Minister to support policy recommendations that the municipal infrastructure grant, MIG, should also fund road maintenance. The Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs’ current MIG policy review process provides an opportunity to advocate for the funding of road maintenance in the municipalities. Funding challenges in the road sector are not only limited to maintenance; municipal roads are generally underfunded. We therefore urge the department to work with national Treasury, Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs and Salga to find a solution to the overall challenge of sustainable funding for municipal roads.

 

Unproclaimed roads primarily in rural areas, which account for 140 000 kilometers of the 593 000 kilometers gravel roads infrastructure network, remain a major and stubborn issue that must be addressed urgently. The consequence of unproclaimed roads is that monitoring of the conditions and maintenance of this vast portfolio of roads infrastructure falls within the cracks. Roads that are not upgraded and developed disadvantage the poorest of our municipalities and communities.

 

Despite the challenges we would like to acknowledge the work of the Department of Transport through its rural road asset management grants which addresses the critical issue of roads ownership. However, alignments need to be sought between the data collection through its grants and the proclamation of roads which clarifies the roles and responsibilities. The sooner the proclamation process is finished the better, including identifying the role of the district municipality in so far as road planning and development is concerned.

 

The SA Local Government Association knows that the public transport allocation of R5 billion in the 2014-15 financial year will be spend in 13 cities on planning, building and operating integrated public transport networks. Building and operation public transport is one of the National Development Plan’s key priorities as indicated by the Minister.

 

Whilst there has been increased transport funding to the record levels with R25 billion over the past five years, municipalities have indicated that there is a need for additional funding for operating integrated public transport networks. Municipalities implementing this integrated transport networks are recording additional deficits. Given the unique factors represented in each city, it is important to initiate an investigation in each city to determine causes of the operational deficits. Almost all public transport must be considered in such an investigation.

 

The national Treasury under the city’s support programme is driving a process to investigate these operational deficits. We urge the Minister that her department together with Salga should be an integral part of this investigation in order to get to the bottom of the challenges that are bedevilling municipal public transport networks.

 

There is an urgent need to address public transport in areas outside the major urban areas. Although the majority of commuters are in urban areas, public transport also needs to be promoted in rural and semi-urban areas. This requires a review of the current public transport strategy so that it is inclusive and nondiscriminatory in the rollout of public transport throughout the country.

 

The Constitution of the Republic and the Land Transport Act of 2009 make the national and provincial government responsible for ensuring that municipalities are capacitated to perform their land transport functions. There has been slow progress since April 2009 when the Act was enacted to capacitated municipalities to take on the municipal regulatory and contracting functions. Amongst many functions, municipalities need to be capacitated to become municipal regulatory entities in order to ensure operation licence for taxi operators whose destinations are within the municipal boundaries.

 

As indicated by the Minister, the taxi industry remains the most important component of our public transport system. According to the 2013 national household survey conducted by Statistics SA, taxis are the preferred type of road transport. Taxis move 68% of the 5,4 million passengers on a daily basis and contribute immensely to our economy. It is therefore important that the operations are integrated within municipal integrated development transport networks and municipalities must be in the forefront in the regulation of taxi operations within their municipal boundaries.

 

The SA Local Government Association is working together with the Department of Transport through it rural road asset management grant to facilitate the absorption of roads graduates to municipal roads organograms. Whilst there are challenges with regard to graduates’ absorption together we can do more, and Salga is committed to ensure that this challenges are actually addressed.

 

We note the intention of the Department of Transport to improve Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences, AARTO, system across the country. The Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences, as indicated by the Minister, is a short-term target towards road safety. We would like to urge the Minister to accelerate the process of developing an overarching national road safety policy and strategy to guide road-safety strategies in the country.

 

In conclusion, local government is the sphere of government closest to our people. It is the sphere tasked with service delivery and economic development amongst many other functions. And thus we need to ensure ongoing co-operation with the national department for the benefit of all communities we serve. Functions that are better implemented at local level need to be devolved to local government for improved service delivery. However, that cannot happen if municipalities are not properly capacitated by both national and provincial governments to effectively execute this function. Having said that, Salga supports Budget Vote No-35. Thank you very much.

Mr S G MTHIMUNYE: House Chair, this afternoon I sat and listened attentively to all the speakers who have contributed to all the debates this afternoon. However, I made specific observation that; some in our midst are in a concerted effort to pity society against the ANC and its government. Some in our ranks are so committed to demonise the ANC, its leaders and government. Little do they recognise how polarising this can be to the society in general. However, my conclusion is that -borrowing from the words of one speaker who appeared before the south recently- these amounts to nothing from where I stand other that co-ordinated political insanity.

 

This must be a motivational factor in our resolve as a revolutionary movement of the people that, monopoly capital remains the enemy of the working class and the poor. This class is clearly represented in this Parliament. Therefore, it is very important that as revolutionaries that are deployed by our people to this House, without any link or any piece of regret must obliterate monopoly capital in all its facets and we must not apologise in doing so.

 

Some in our ranks in this House- you know a month ago the very same people who claim to have the interest of our people at heart descended to Nelson Mandela. At Nelson Mandela, perhaps in their mind they thought that they were manufacturing a special Irish coffee and from where I stand, that is a very strange Irish coffee, an Irish coffee with cream at the bottom and coffee on top. By the way, this is done to hook the voters of South Africa. Part of what we have to live with now in this House is rejectionist of everything under the son and to some extent rejection of self. I think we also need to reject them with contempt they deserve.

 

Delivering the January 8 statement at the Cape Town stadium during the ANC’s 103rd anniversary celebrations, President Jacob Zuma said, and I quote:

 

To achieve radical social and economic transformation, it is important for the country to use the freedom charter as a guide to shaping policies and legislation that are aimed at serving all South Africans.

 

The ANC-led government developed the National Development Plan, NDP, which is a blueprint and a vision to realise the ideals of the Freedom Charter. It is a long-term plan for South Africa where key focus areas and implementation processes have been identified to deal with unemployment, inequality and poverty, which is consistent with the national democratic society we seek to achieve.

 

The fifth democratic elections ANC manifesto states and I quote:

 

The second phase of our democratic transition calls for bold and decisive steps to place the economy on a qualitative different path that eliminates poverty, unemployment, creates sustainable livelihoods, and substantially reduces inequality.

 

It also calls for radical economic transformation and a sustained focus on addressing the uneven quality of service delivery. In our manifesto, the ANC also committed to continue to invest in the upgrading and expansion of the country’s rail, port and pipeline infrastructure as part of our effort to shift freight transport from road to rail.

 

The ANC committed itself to expanding infrastructure development, combined with industrial policy initiatives to provide an environment that will create decent work opportunities, strengthen industrialisation to help create an inclusive economy and improve the lives of the people. The ANC has identified infrastructure as the key job driver critical to development in at least three ways.

 

These are: It creates favourable conditions for production and consumption; it facilitates economic and diversification and because it provides people with much needed access to services, facilities and opportunities. These impacts are directly relevant to the strategic objectives of the National Democratic Revolution that include the need to deepen democracy, expand our people’s wellbeing and to create a better life for all in an environment of growth and international co-operation.

 

Infrastructure development and its related investments both brought the budget, private sector and foreign investment through economic policy instruments to remain robust and targeted to shape inclusive and dynamic economic growth of our country.

 

Mr F ESSACK: (POINT OF ORDER) I would like to ask hon colleague if he could take a question.

 

Mr S G MTHIMUNYE: I have taken many questions from hon Essack before but not this time.

 

During his state of the nation address of February 2015, President Jacob Zuma identified transport infrastructure as one of the nine pillars for radical economic growth and job creation. Transport infrastructure development is critical for a faster economic growth, higher employment to promote inclusive growth and to provide citizens with the means to improve their own lives and boost their incomes.

 

The ANC reiterates that infrastructure projects should also provide opportunities for women and youth and promote Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment, BBBEE. The NDP highlights critical aspects that transport infrastructure must be integrated, smooth flowing, reliable and safer. It will improve the quality of the poor people through developing the poorest regions of our country and overcoming spatial inequalities. This is emphasised in the Reconstruction Development Programme, which said that the publicly owned transport system such as road, rail and air must be improved in order to provide safe, convenient and affordable transportation for all people.

 

Privately owned taxis, buses and airlines will be regulated so that they meet the same standards. A campaign to improve road safety will be undertaken. The RDP also emphasised that the upgrading of transport infrastructure can contribute broadly to economic development and social upliftment.

 

Besides attracting investment, improved public transport will also reduce traffic congestion and vehicle accidents. An increased number of fatal road accidents have seen the ANC-led government increasing its spending on the maintenance and upgrade of local and national roads. This in turn will promote the creation of jobs and empowerment by providing tenders and jobs to previously disadvantage people especially women and youth to repair damaged roads and potholes and for this, we do not apologise.

 

Hon Minister, I have tried to lobby you in some platforms. The people of the former KwaNdebele think that in your economic cluster, Moloto road corridor catchment area also be declared as a Special Economic Zones, SEZs.

 

In recognition of South Africa’s aviation infrastructure capacity, the Airports Company of South Africa, Acsa was appointed to do major upgrades to international airports at São Paulo in Brazil and Mumbai in India. Therefore, the world is descending to South Africa to get the best lessons

 

In addition to this, South Africa continues to maintain a good domestic and international aviation safety record. Spending in maintaining safety and secure air transport industry has boosted the economy through tourism, infrastructure development, intra-Africa trade relations and created more decent jobs. One of the key economic objectives of the ANC is to build or create a seamless intra-African trade environment that is in the interest of South Africa and the rest of the continent.

 

Through the Cross Border Road Transport Agency, the cross-border transport constraints that hinder the free flow of people and goods over our borders are reduced. Transport is integral part of food security and productivity where there is trade. To take goods to the market, both domestic and international, requires transport and travel by sea, land and sky. Readier access to functioning, affordable infrastructural services such as transport should therefore be an effective catalyst for increasing food security. Thank you. [Applause.]

 

The MINISTER OF TRANSPORT: Chairperson I wish I could had a half day to respond to all the issues that hon members raised here but I just need to indicate that it is really hurting and appreciative for the MEC’s in particular MEC Grant, MEC Burtlet, Mapule as well MEC Bhutana Nkomphela I am sure colleagues you are aware that if you look at the attendance of the MEC’s here we have a correcting platform for MINMEC we can just have MINMEC right from here and be able to process all the issues that the hon members have been able to raised.

 

But I just want to say that it is unfortunate that the hon member of the EFF have let the House because at times it does not look like they are listening when issues are being presented but also it does not look like reading the documents that we are presenting to them, because we have said that we have reach a situation where plans, strategies and policies and designs are ready and I am sure that you have realised that the input made by hon MEC from the Western Cape MEC Grant about the model for Go George and in George it means that the pilot that the ANC government has done in the twelve cities is starting to give us results that can make it possible as I have indicated in the speech for us to be able to make sure that we can roll out a quality Intergrated Public Transport System which is informed by the cities of the future that our municipalities through the collective efforts of Salga are actually working on.

 

And I just want to remind hon members especially the members of the DA and EFF that we are part as transport with the Back to Basics initiative of Cocta which was launch last year September by the President.

 

All department that have got functionality or competence at local government level does have a responsibility and we from transport we have a key responsibility especially in view of the fact that the ANC has identified public transport as its key deliverables for the MTSF so it is important that we realise that what ever we are doing we do because we have a plan and it is well worked out and it is being funded as we speak and that is why I have indicated that our main worry and our main challenge as per decisions of the meeting of the 6 May of the MINMET is with regard to the rate at which we are unable to match the challenges related to the public transport in particular the operating grant because you would know that the operators are unable to invest in the infrastructure that actually support the services.

 

So we need to be working on that. So I just want to say hon members you know that MyCiti and Go George is part of this twelve cities that we have identified so this is not hon Lotriet efficient remember if its you that indicated it is not a DA decision in the Western Cape it is actually an ANC government decision on the twelve cities to make it possible that we can be able to say how do we make it realise the public the efficient, reliable, sustainable safe but also affordable public transport so that we can then when we speak about the need for us to remove the number of our people from the roads to the alternative transport we know that we have put the systems in place and that is why we put money to our plans and where our mouth is to be able to realise this particular initiatives but also I want to say Chairperson that I am happy that Salga has given the input that have been able to give in because Salga is part of the MINMEC of transport but also part of the shareholder committee of the road accident management corporation.

 

We are working together with Salga on the accelerated Intergrated Public Transport turnaround plan and even when we were at the MINMEC they were there when we talked about this turnaround plan. It is this turnaround plan that is actually going to make it positive for us that we focus on rural areas like I have indicated in the speech that it morally politically and economically unacceptable for us to be able to have the situations we have with regard to public transport in the rural areas.

 

The people of the rural areas actually wants to feel that they are part of South Africa. It is so painful hon member to see our people moving from the rural areas thinking that the grass is greener in the urban centres when they get there is challenges of accommodation they end up staying ... and staying in sharks when they have left good quality houses in the rural areas, just because they do not have transport that can actually make it possible for them to get to the end where they can access to services of health and other government related services.

 

But also be able to get to points of getting jobs. So will be working with all the structures will be working with all the MEC to make sure that we realise the Intergovernmental Relations Framework at imperatives but also the constitutional imperatives to continue building a South Africa that we all want.

 

You would know the NDP which is actually based on the principles of the Freedom Charter actually said that we need by 2030 which is just around the corner to create an environment where each and every South African can be at peace where he or she is geographically located can be able to see that the government has been able to reach him or her with the services of the government.

 

So what ever we do from the transport sector is it the roads is it the public transport network systems but we also the regulation of the movement of goods and services on our roads and on our rail and also in others or through other modes we make it possible that we can truly build a South Africa that we can all be proud of.

 

A South Africa that our great grandchildren will be proud of that we did not come to this House to come and waist the chairpersons time like the hon member of the EFF did to show that they are not well trained and well prepared to serve in these particular Houses.

They would come here and disrupted and actually argue against what is known there is on record something that is called ON-POINT in Limpopo hon Deputy Minister that we as the department of transport through the department of Infrastruture and public transport in Limpopo have to deal with the ...of the money that we spent through the RAL which is the Road Agency Limited of Limpopo ...

 

HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: Hon Minister let us allow hon Minister why are you standing?

 

Mr C F B SMIT: (POINT OF ORDER)Hon House chairperson I am just standing on a point clarity how long does the hon Minister have to talk because the yellow is starting to affect my eyes know.

 

HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: COMMITTEES AND OVERSIGHT (Mr A J Nyambi): You are out of order sit down. Continue hon Minister.

 

The MINISTER OF TRANSPORT: You know hon Chairperson the hon member thinks that ... let me leave him, but I wanted to say that it is important that we remember hon Chairperon that in Limpopo we are still leaving from the ravages of a company which was called ON-POINT and I would want to say the rational especially our intervention as the department of transport in dealing with what we had to be dealing with after the department was put under the administration to clear the challenges that were created by that particular company which is owner or is driven by a member of the National Assembly who is the leader of the party of the hon member that was very disruptive here.

 

There is also an indication that, let me say hon Digale and all members of the ANC we really appreciate your inputs and I believe that the inputs that you have made are intended to make it possible for us to can be able to come back here to give you a report on exactly how we have been able to move with regard to the suggestions that you have been able to make it possible that we can get to this particular point. I appreciate the points that has been raised about the PE Bus Service the IRTN in PE but we also ... [Interjections.]

 

HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: COMMITTEES AND OVERSIGHT (Mr.A J Nyambi): Your time has expired.

 

Thank you Chairperson.

 

Debate concluded.

 

The Council adjourned at 20:33.

__________

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces

 

The Speaker and the Chairperson

 

1. Calling of Joint Sitting

 

CALLING OF JOINT SITTING OF PARLIAMENT

 

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms B Mbete, and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Ms T R Modise, in terms of Joint Rule 7(2), have called a joint sitting of the Houses of Parliament for Thursday, 11 June 2015 at 14:00 to conduct a debate in celebration of Youth Day under the theme: Progressively implementing the spirit of the Freedom Charter by advancing our collective efforts for sustainable National Youth Development by 2030.

 

 

 

 

B MBETE, MP                                                              T R MODISE, MP

SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL                                                  CHAIRPERSON OF THE

ASSEMBLY                                                                              NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES

 

National Council of Provinces

 

The Chairperson

1.       Referral to Committees of papers tabled

 

1. The following papers are referred to the Select Committee on Finance for consideration:

 

1. Municipal Budgets for the 2014 Medium Term Revenue and Expenditure Framework (MTREF), tabled in terms of section 24(3) of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act No 56 of 2003).

 

1. Submission of the Financial and Fiscal Commission on the Division of Revenue Bill for 2016-2017, tabled in terms of section 9(1) of the Intergovernmental Fiscal Relations Act, 1997 (Act No 97 of 1997), as amended. 

 

2.       Message from National Assembly to National Council of Provinces in respect of Bills passed by Assembly and transmitted to Council

 

1. Bill passed by National Assembly and transmitted for concurrence on 10 June 2015:

 

1. Appropriation Bill [B 6 – 2015] (National Assembly – sec 77).

 

                      The Bill has been referred to the Select Committee on Appropriations of the National Council of Provinces.

 

TABLINGS

 

National Council of Provinces

1.       The Chairperson

1. Report on taking Parliament to the People, Oudtshoorn, Eden District Municipality, Western Cape Province 13 – 17 April 2015.

 

Please see pages 2207-2276 of the ATCs.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

National Council of Provinces

 

1.       Report of the Select Committee on Finance on the Financial and Fiscal Commission Amendment Bill [B 1B – 2015] [National Assembly – sec 76]), dated 10 June 2015.

 

The Select Committee on Finance, having considered and examined the Financial and Fiscal Commission Amendment Bill [B 1B – 2015] (National Assembly - sec 76), referred to it, and classified by the JTM as a section 76 Bill, reports it has agreed to the Bill.

Report to be considered.

 

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