Hansard: NA: Unrevised hansard
House: National Assembly
Date of Meeting: 05 Sep 2019
Summary
No summary available.
Minutes
UNREVISED HANSARD
THURSDAY, 5 SEPTEMBER 2019
Watch Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvZcRAdqMcw
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
The House met at 14:03.
The House Chairperson Ms M G Boroto took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayer or meditation.
UNEMPLOYMENT CRISIS IN SOUTH AFRICA
The LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION: Hon members, fellow South Africans, no one of us can deny the fact that we are a nation in crisis. In fact, as we speak now, large parts of Gauteng are a war zone as attacks on foreign nationals continue unabated. I think we must stand united in this Parliament and condemn xenophobic violence. [Applause.] Equally so, it is the tragedy that every single day in our nation, women are being raped and murdered every single day.
As a father of a young girl and a husband of a wife, I want to say categorically that, as we stand here, these attacks cannot continue. It’s up to this Parliament to give leadership and we stand with the marchers who are outside and fellow South Africans and say once and for all, enough is enough. Enough is enough, Democrats! [Applause.]
We are indeed a country at war. At background to this chaos, the massive shadow of unemployment looms over our nation. Almost four out of ten of our citizens are unemployed. How did we get here? How did we, in fact, ensure that our citizens have lost hope? Democrats, I want to say that we have a leadership crisis. Our country is burning and our people feel they have got nothing left to lose because that government that sits there cannot lead them.
If we can’t agree on policy, it cannot implement whatever it has agreed upon; it cannot hold anyone accountable and there’s simply no action. Five years ago when I came as a Member of Parliament, the figure of unemployment was at 8 million. Today, it is sitting at over 10 million and it is climbing to 11 and then 12 million. We are going to keep going. We need to act.
Fellow South Africans, I want to say this that, what has happened in Gauteng is also an indicator of the pain of our economy. We cannot set up more commissions, more talk shops and more road shows. What we need now, is action. And so, I want to put here before you that let’s put an economic recovery plan.
The first thing that we must do is to focus on nothing else but economic growth. The focus must make sure that South Africa becomes an attractive place for investment and an easier place to be an employer.
We must make sure that our state-owned entities, SOEs, that are bleeding our fiscus dry, begin to be dealt with. We must deliberately split Eskom into two entities, one for distribution and equally, one for generation. [Applause.] Democrats, we can sit here and debate SA Airways, SAA, all we want, it’s about time that we start selling it off to an equity partner so that we take that money and give it to the police in Gauteng so that we fight against criminals. [Applause.]
Ultimately Democrats, we must have a government-wide spending review in order to prioritise future spending. Furthermore, I want to say Democrats and fellow South Africans, that when we sit here, these lots are putting out policies that are simply not helpful to our economy. These policies includes policies like the National Health Insurance, NHI, Expropriation Without Compensation, EWC, National Minimum Wage, nationalisation of the Reserve Bank and worst of all, now you want to loot the pensions of poor ordinary working South Africans. [Applause.]
These policies are going to repel investment. You can’t talk investment and then keep these policies on the go. We need to look out and make sure that more people from the labour market and ensure that we don’t cripple our national budget. We must also admit, Democrats, that black economic empowerment, BEE, has only broaden a few, rather than the many. It has failed to be more inclusive. Therefore, I would urge that it must be removed, replaced with the redress plan that creates an inclusive growth and actually ensures that there is real broad based participation for citizens in this country. [Applause.]
Therefore, Democrats, I want to table here today, that we must create jobs and Justice Fund. We must have a fund in our country that citizens can contribute to, and can ensure that it redresses and reverses the Apartheid’s most damaging legacies, the destruction of wealth transfer. And one of the best ways to achieve this is to give more people title, more access to shareholding, so that they can transfer wealth to the next generation.
Therefore, we celebrate the victory today in court, in the Mr Rakgase case, that shows that the DA does not mean we need to amend the Constitution, but we need to give titles to citizens. [Applause.] Hon members, we know very clearly that there are many young people aren’t just unemployed. But it’s not just that they are unemployed, they are unemployable because of the education that we give them, particularly in rural communities, is poor.
It’s time that we set up a national civilian service where young people can intern for a year to learn skills and the state needs to be able to pay them so that they can be able to contribute to our economy. [Applause.] Furthermore South Africans, when it comes to declaring South Africa open for business, the first thing we must do is to relax our labour legislation to create an environment in which businesses can create jobs.
We must pass the DA’s Jobs Bill which contains a wide variety of incentives for foreign companies and domestic companies to invest in South Africa. We also need to look at tax incentives for our big job-creating sectors like manufacturing, tourism, mining and financial services. Then I would urge, especially in small businesses, we must pay them in time so that we don’t hamper our small businesses through red tape. But fellow members, many of these steps can be implemented right away, it’s a crisis, it needs leadership from all of us.
The difficulty is that it’s impossible for this side of the House to give leadership, because they can’t agree on anything. There’s a Treasury document that has been supported and we support it, but they can’t even agree on it. It’s by no means a comprehensive strategy for growth, but it has got practical ways that we can kick-start our economy and we need to start doing it now in rolling back unemployment. We support the document, but we need to put it into action.
Hon members, a plan simply is not good enough. We’ve been through this history. It was National Development Plan, NDP, it was Growth, Employment and Redistribution, GEAR, and then it was the New Growth Path, NGP. This government has been short on ideas. What it has been short on, is action. We must act; we must have the courage to make tough choices and we know what those choices are.
Democrats, you can’t say to people that you are going to increase salaries by 11% a year, but you are also going to cut public sector wage spending. That’s confusion. You can’t speak of tightening the belt while continuing to keep SAA in the skies. You can’t speak of overhauling education but equally so you want to look after SA Democratic Teachers Union, SADTU, because they must vote for the President at the next congress.
You can’t speak of cleaning up government, but you fail to arrest the people who in fact has stolen the people’s money and put them in jail. Instead, you promote them to become diplomats. You can’t build a capable state if you are not willing to abandon cadre deployment that has been practiced by this House. [Applause.] So, I am asking, regardless of what policy your side puts on the table, you can’t agree, but the policies we put on our side, we are already implementing in government.
Our governments are delivering, and we are bringing the change that we need. [Applause.] So, fellow South Africans, no one can debate that we are in a crisis. We need to lead. We need to work together and I’m here to call upon this House to say, let’s do at least three things: Let’s reform our politics. You don’t have to come here and vote, and if there’s an idea that comes from this side you reject it. Therefore, we must work together to reform our politics.
Furthermore, we must reform our economy. Our economy needs to be more inclusive and it needs to bring on more people. Lastly, this is the pain I feel, what apartheid said to citizens in this country, is that families could not stay together. It split families. We will discuss mining in the moment, but let’s reform
our societies. Let’s restore the credibility of the home, so that we don’t have to sit outside in a society that is filled with gender-based violence, where our citizens can be protected.
I want to ask President Ramaphosa to be here on Tuesday when we discuss the scourge of gender-based violence. He must come and respond; he must come and address citizens. [Applause.] Therefore, more than anything, when we come up with an economic plan, we must agree together. We must work together and we must have the courage to make tough decisions. I call on all of you here today to say, time for talk is over. Enough is enough. We must act now and we must put citizens first. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
HON MEMBERS: Enough is enough. Enough is enough. Enough is enough.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon members, thank you very much. Order! Order, hon members. Can we please continue? Hon Nkabane, please take the debate forward.
Ms N P NKABANE: House Chairperson, it is worth noting that the unemployment predicament is not a new phenomenon in South Africa. However, it is one of the most concerning predicaments that the country is facing. I believe that we agree with hon Maimane on this one. It should be noted that employment happens if there is a growing economy in the country. Employment has been stagnant or failing since l98O.
These have been attributed by a number of factors related to apartheid government policies which aimed at promoting separate development. During the same period the majority of South Africans were deprived the right of association and affiliation. The ANC-led government has made tremendous strides over the past
25 years to meet the basic needs of all segments of our communities, to reduce poverty and to transform the economy that was characterised by serving the interests of the minority.
In the Sona, the hon President acknowledged that youth unemployment is a challenge and it requires creativity, innovation and sustainable solution. We had a successful investment conference last year as part of government’s broad
and targeted strategy to stimulate economic growth and to create jobs. The hope and success of South African economy lies in the hands of the ANC-led government. One can say without any doubt that the future of South African economy is very bright.
However, growth remains slower than anticipated following an overall forecast for 20l9 from 3,3% to 3,2% but it is expected to improve to 3,5% in 2020.
We believe it is very imperative for us to remind the hon members that during the state of the nation address the President in his speech did mention that, meaning that, we must stop scanning and scheming. We must read the documentation. [Applause.] He said and I quote:
The area of focus for the Sixth administration amongst other things will be economic transformation and job creation whereby economy will grow at a faster rate and 2 million young people will be employed thereby creating employment and economic opportunities.
If all of us as members ... listen, listen, otherwise you will miss this point ... If all of us as members could critically analyse and define unemployment concept and paradox in South African perspective – not in a European perspective - one would learn that basically unemployment doesn’t appear to be the result of lack of initiatives, programmes or stakeholder involvement.
The unemployment has been hypothesised but rather as the result of haphazard implementation of interventions – of which we do have programmes and interventions as the ANC-led government.
However, in order to intervene effectively in trying to address the identified gaps, the ANC-led government expanded the mandate of the department to be employment and labour which amongst other responsibilities is an enabler and driver to facilitate employment opportunities.
Hon Speaker, the recent labour force survey revealed that unemployment in South Africa increased by 1,4% to 29% in the second quarter of 2019, compared to the previous quarter where the unemployment rate was sitting at 27,6%. According to the
labour force survey, the expanded definition of unemployment - including those segments in our communities that have stopped looking for job opportunities - went up to 38,5% in the second quarter of 2019 from 38% in the first quarter.
Let us analyse the report now. Based on the report, it is clear that there is an increase of job seekers and those who were not economically active including those segments within our communities that were discouraged to seek for job opportunities, meaning that employment has been increasing but the absorption rate is not meeting the demand of the number of job seekers currently.
There has been an increase of new entrance to job market since 2015, which means that there is hope under the ANC-led government to all those that were demoralised to seek for jobs and are now entering the space. Let me tell you this, the key sectors that have contributed to increase in employment are the informal sectors - recording the largest employment gains - followed by agriculture and trade. The contributing factors are Competition Amendment Act, the funds to boost Small, Medium
Micro Enterprise, SMMEs, the supported employment enterprises and the ease of doing business in South Africa.
The ANC-led government’s vision for South African economy is guided by the Freedom Charter’s clarion call that, the people shall share in the countries wealth. We are committed to build a more equal society in which all can find decent jobs and enjoy sustainable livelihoods. We are also noting that the capacity of the state is a macroeconomic issue since it influences the behaviour of the economy as a whole. We reaffirm our resolutions as the ANC, to strengthen the developmental state in order to ensure seamless implementation for radical socioeconomic transformation.
As the ANC-led government we have very good policies, Comrade Maimane, and plans which serve as our own economic and socioeconomic development strategy for the country. It should be noted that state-owned enterprises, SOEs, and development finance institutions, DFIs, are the modes that we use to advance the developmental state. On SOEs and DFI as the ANC, we are not going to allow neoliberal ideology of the DA to privatise SOEs.
It is well known that ... listen ... It is well known that the DA have adopted this model from East Europe that have embarked on transferring enterprises from state ownership to private ownership. Other countries like Hungary have sold SOEs to foreign investors as a major mode of privatisation.
As the ANC-led government, we are advocating for state involvement in the economy which is underpinned by ensuring beneficial to ...
IsiXhosa:
... abangathathi ntweni phaya ezilalini, iimpula zikaLujaca ...
English:
... not the minority. We will not allow the minority to do as they wish. As the ANC, we are on the right track. The people of South Africa have trust in the ANC-led government. We ought to implement the policies of the ANC and we shall not dare fail our people. [Interjections.]
Mr W W WESSELS: Chairperson ...
Ms N P NKABANE: Hon Speaker ...
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): ... hon Nkabane, just take your seat for a while. Yes, hon Wessels, why are you rising?
Mr W W WESSELS: Chairperson, I just want to check if the hon member is prepared to take a question.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon member, are you prepared to take a question?
Ms N P NKABANE: I will take the question outside. Let’s meet outside after this session.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Thank you, continue.
Ms N P NKABANE: Hon House Chair, the Commission for Employment Equity’s 19th Annual Report reveals that white people continue to be the dominant group in the top management positions sitting at more than 60% whereby Africans are at l5,1%. The analysis shows
that males are at 76,5% and females are at 23,5%. The report further reveals that black professionals in general and Africans in particular are not considered for top or senior positions in the private sector compared to employment at national, provincial and local government.
The report indicates the gross failure of the private sector to meet the equity targets. The report shows that the country is not moving on transformation. This then requires stringent measures that should be employed by the department to enforce Employment Equity Act, in particular, in the private sector.
There should be more inspections and enforcement programmes as well as collaborative efforts with the public and private sector and organised labour in order to mitigate this predicament.
Hon members should note that unemployment didn’t start in quarter 2. We really can’t measure the performance of the sector based on one quarterly report. With all these efforts in place the ANC-led government will address all the needs of our people of which one is unemployment. We will continue to fight the
scourge of unemployment until we overcome this predicament. I thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Mr N F SHIVAMBU: House Chair, so, the Leader of the Opposition introduced the topic here about the unemployment crisis, and he did not say anything clearly and cogent about unemployment, what it is and what solutions must be provided. He just said enough is enough. [Laughter.] [Interjections.] [Applause.] But he didn’t say exactly what must happen here. So, you could see the choreography.
But also the speaker from the ANC says that the ANC will not accept the neoliberal policies of the DA, but the ANC is the most neoliberal political organization in the entire Southern Hemisphere [Interjections.] in terms of how you deal with your policies; it’s a fact.
Now, we all know that we have got more than 10 million South Africans who are looking for jobs and cannot find them. But let us give you the national character of such unemployment. Black Africans constitute - like by themselves we’ve got - 43% of
unemployment. The population of Indian descent have got 11% unemployment, meaning that out of 10 Indian people only one is unemployed. And in terms of the white population the unemployment is 7,4%; and the likelihood is that out of the unemployed white person, there might be coming from a household where someone has got a job.
So, the crisis of unemployment in South Africa is particularly Africanised; it is affecting the African majority. And this is a result of the fact that whilst we have abolished statutory apartheid, we still have socioeconomic apartheid in South Africa; and it is defined exactly in the same way Verwoerd had envisioned. That is what we are dealing with.
Now, what is to be done? Let us maybe first deal quickly with the issues that must not be done. Firstly, we must not adopt the new liberal pamphlet which was produced Minister Tito Mboweni last week; it’s pure nonsense, it’s going to worsen the job crisis, it is not going to even improve economic growth. [Applause.]
Secondly, we must reject the notion that our fellow African brothers and sisters are a cause of this structural unemployment.
What is structural unemployment? It is the fact our economy’s architecture is designed in such a way that it is not labour absorptive. So, the jobs are created in the services sector, in government and domestic services. But in the critical component, which is the secondary sector, which is supposed to be manufacturing the production of goods and services, we are found wanting there. Why? Because we have a poorly conceptualised industrial policy.
The essence of South Africa’s industrial policy is to say “let us go and get these foreign companies to come and be subsidised heavily here in South Africa.” We are not building domestic industries.
We have a decidedly wrong trade policy. It is almost tariff-free to import almost all the daily consumables including household electronics, furniture, plastic products, everything else there.
If we were producing all of those things ourselves, we were going to provide for jobs.
Now, the state has to utilise, first, its procurement power to drive local industrialisation. From as sophisticated things as trucks, trains, cars, the state must build domestic capacity to produce those and first consume them before we throw them into the market for daily users. That is how we should drive industrialisation and make sure that everything else that we utilise is domestically produced. The ANC manifesto says that 80% of the goods that the state procures must be produced domestically but none of you has ever come with a legislative framework that seeks to deal with that question.
So, you can’t deal with unemployment without industrialisation. There’s no shortcut towards proper development and job creation without industrialisation.
But also, you must create multiple special economic zones. In the process of dealing with the jobs crisis, you must establish special economic zones that are driven by inward
industrialisation, domestically, in all parts of South Africa so that you begin to depopulate Gauteng, the Western Cape and parts of KwaZulu-Natal. Because the manner in which things are now, more than 90% of money exchanges and movements happens only in three areas in South Africa; that is not sustainable. So, we need a different architecture of the economy.
One thing that you cannot avoid is the fact that we must industrialise; and at the centre of industrialisation is the return of the land to the ownership of the people as a whole. [Applause.]
So, when we speak about the land question it’s not only just about agriculture, it’s about industrialisation as well. Because we must control and own the entire value chain of food production from the tractors to farming, to processing, to packaging, to export, we must be in charge of the entire value chain. So, we need the land so that we can sustainably create jobs for the people of South Africa.
As things stand there’s confusion this side and there’s further confusion this side in terms of what happens. That is why we must always give direction as the EFF. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Before I call on the hon [Interjections.]
AN HON MEMBER: How do you direct whilst you are lost?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): ... Nxumalo. Thank you very much, hon members. Thank you, you may be seated. Let’s continue. Thank you, hon members. Order, order! Thank you.
Before I call on the hon Nxumalo I just want to welcome all the guests in the gallery, and a special welcome to our young girls up there from the Bloemhof Girls High. [Applause.] You are welcome, young girls. This is your Parliament. You learn a lot from here. Thank you.
Mr M N NXUMALO: Hon House Chair and members of the NA. We are in a crisis, actually a time ticking bomb.
Today we are faced with a difficult task of finding an urgent solution to a problem that should not exist in South Africa. We are an economy that oscillates on the cusp of recession.
The instability and lack of confidence in our economy is the leading factor as to the current overall unemployment rate of 29%. This represents a rise of 1,4% from the previous quarter. When we delve into the detail of these figures we see that the youth are the most affected.
Now, it is ridiculous to say that we cannot refer to the previous quarter that was published. Really? What do we, therefore, refer on?
The statistics certainly do not paint a good picture for anyone seeking a quantitative explanation of the South African labour market and economy. Then maybe a qualitative explanation offers
a better and brighter perspective to things. Unfortunately, the answer to that is a “no” as well.
This is due to a number of reasons such as the alignment of skills development versus our National Development Plan and African Union Agenda 2063; destruction of income generating activities, business and civilian safety risks within South Africa.
We look to education as the key for our youth and their futures, however, it must be education that capacitates them and provides them with the greatest advantage in the employment market.
Skills learned must be applicable to meet market demands as mismatches in this arena will only lead to greater levels of unemployment.
Even graduates cannot find employment; they may not find something related to their field of study yet have no option but to settle for jobs elsewhere outside their sector of expertise. It is not to discount the fact that in exceptional cases some
graduates may excel in other areas that they were not primarily skilled or educated in. But for most graduates, this is not the case.
In the context of youth investment, some parents and communities have sacrificed large amounts of daily living wages in order to assist the youth to achieve a skill, thereby placing a significant amount of pressure on the youth to ensure they are able to assist their communities in return, through means of employment. In other words, their contribution in the labour market is vital and must enable them to find work in the field that they were trained in. With the current labour market being so constrained, this is sadly, just a pipe dream.
We see a high number of graduates and educated youth being promoted from university and other learning institutions with often no place to constructively use their skills. Thus, it is expected that the youth relentlessly and with great cost incurred apply for employment opportunities. After a While, anyone will lose motivation and drive to find employment. The lack of employment mixed with a slow economy condemns many
youths to a life of poverty and no option other than to revert to social ills.
Today we experience a crisis of a sickened society suffering from the clasps of the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment. No matter how hard one argues against these, it is these three challenges are interrelated and pose a great threat to our society. We seek to build an educated youth in South Africa and yet destroy this effort through a danger experienced on our streets.
What future then does our youth have to look upon? Violence is an all-consuming negative in our nation at present. The violent attacks against foreign national persons and their property will only work to our detriment. Our youth will inherit a state that will no longer be a friend of other nations causing both informal and formal sanctions of South Africa. This means that trade relations within Africa will be severely cut and employment opportunities within South African companies abroad will be sadly reduced [Time expired.]
Quite simply, South Africa looks ungovernable under the ANC leadership. I thank you.
Afrikaans:
Dr P J GROENEWALD: Agb Voorsitter, ek wil begin deur die leerlinge van Bloemhof baie hartlik welkom te heet hier in die Parlement, hier waar julle toekoms bepaal word, sodat julle kan sien wat hier aangaan. Ek is self ’n Noordwester. Ek bly in Stilfontein en daarom, hartlik welkom.
English:
The question we should ask ourselves is: Who is responsible for ensuring that we create jobs in South Africa? The responsibility is that of the government of the day. [Interjections.] What is the problem? There are only about two Ministers from government here. So, it is quite clear that the government of the day is not interested in creating jobs. The government of the day lacks the real will to create jobs in South Africa.
The President, in each of his speeches, always says that we have to create jobs. What is the reality? They are absent. They are
not interested and don’t care whether the people have jobs or not because they are not here.
Everybody knows that employment depends on the economic growth of South Africa. In 2010, the economic growth or GDP was 3% and the unemployment rate was 23%. Last year, the economic growth rate was a mere 0,8% and at the moment, the unemployment rate is 29%.
Let us not mislead each other. We are talking about an unemployment rate of 29%, but the real percentage of unemployed people in South Africa is 40%. The youth unemployment rate is 55%. We know that the only way that we can really create jobs in South Africa is if the economy grows.
Afrikaans:
Wat is die probleem? Die probleem is dat die ANC-regering meer op ideologiese beleidstandpunte ingestel is. Agb Minister, u gaan netnou hier kom praat, maar u hande is afgekap; u kan nie werk skep nie. U is maar net ’n Minister in die Kabinet.
English:
So, you are actually useless and you cannot say what you are going to do because you have to get the approval of your government.
Afrikaans:
Die ANC-regering wil net eenvoudig hulle sosialistiese kommunistiese ideologië op Suid-Afrika afdwing. Die VF Plus sê dat daar net een manier is en dit is om te begin om die vryemarkbeginsels in Suid-Afrika toe te pas. Ons het al baie keer vir u gesê om weg te doen met swart ekonomiese bemagtiging. Ek is baie bly om te hoor dat die DA darem ook nou begin om dieselfde geluide te maak as die VF Plus, as dit kom by swart ekonomiese bemagtiging. Ons het al baie keer hier oor swart ekonomiese bemagtiging gepraat en dan het u dit verdedig. Moenie skynheilig wees nie.
Verder sê die VF Plus dat u regstellende aksie af moet skaf. U wil ’n toekoms vir die jongmense daar skep, maar omdat hulle gesiggies wit is, sê u vir hulle dat hulle nie sekere werk mag
kry nie. Dit is onbillik. U sal nie vorder om werkloosheid af te skaf as u so aangaan nie. Ek dank u. [Tyd verstreke.]
Mr K J MILEHAM: House Chair, I think the hon member from the FF Plus got the province wrong, where Bloefhof comes from, but welcome anyway. There can be no doubt that South Africa has a jobs crisis. Roughly 10 million South Africans are unemployed. At the same time, we have an economy that is barely marking time. And our government is not helping!
In 1970, mining contributed 21,3% to our country’s gross domestic product. It now stands at less than 8%. Jobs in the sector have dropped from 528 000 employees in 2008 to just
381 000 today, according to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey published by Stats SA. That is a drop of some 28% over a period of 10 years.
The question we need to ask ourselves is, why? As one of the world’s richest nations when it comes to mineral resources, why is our mining sector, in general, declining? Why is our mining sector producing less than other nations? Why is mining, which
should be a driving force in our economy, unable to deliver economic growth and employment?
The answer is that the Department of Mineral Resources is stuck in the past, and that the ANC has no real desire to grow the sector and create more employment. The department does nothing, nothing to encourage investment in prospecting, exploration or actual mining.
In fact, its actions have actively driven investors away. It has a defunct mineral rights administration, mired by corruption. It has created a policy mess by tinkering with the mining charter, which leaves investors questioning whether they should actually invest. It has essentially allowed unions to call the shots when it comes to mining because it is toothless and visionless.
The only reason mining companies remain here, despite the challenges, is our vast mineral wealth. But even so, many feel that other African countries - Botswana, Ghana and Mali, to name but a few — are much more attractive. And so we are seeing a disinvestment in South Africa. Just this week, Neal Froneman,
CEO of Sibanye-Stillwater, the world’s largest platinum miner, said that there is little incentive to put more money in the country and that they were seeking to reduce their exposure to our economy.
Mining remains a sector that can rapidly grow its workforce, but the government must take bold and decisive steps. We must scrap the Mining Charter; streamline mineral rights administration; make it easier for mines to produce their own electricity, or purchase directly from independent power producers; we must clean up the corruption in the department; and we need to reign in the unions.
If we really want jobs, if we want our economy to grow, we need to encourage investment in the mining sector. We can either create more jobs or jealously protect the ones we have. But if we want South Africa to succeed, we need to get our people working. And that means growing the mining sector. Thank you. [Applause.]
Rev K R J MESHOE: Chairperson, the ACDP is extremely concerned about the impact that high levels of crime and lawlessness has on the economy, this in addition to the personal trauma that victims of crime have to endure.
Further, we strongly condemn attacks on foreign nationals that abide by the laws of the country. We have seen widespread burning of buses, businesses, trucks and shops. This has correctly been described as “economic sabotage”. We also see the negative impact that cable theft has had on our rail network, impacting commuters and rail freight.
Poor economic growth and economic sabotage have contributed directly to the unacceptably high unemployment levels in the country.
The deterrent to crime is the sure knowledge that the perpetrator will be arrested, successfully prosecuted and sentenced to a lengthy period of imprisonment.
Yet, we see very few criminals being arrested for economic sabotage such as petrol bombing trucks, looting shops, steeling copper cabling. This is happening almost on a daily basis.
In addition, the risk of being mugged, stabbed, raped or murdered also discourages business investors from investing in South Africa, and it discourages foreigners to visit the country.
The ACDP calls on the President and his team to work much harder to restore law and order in the country, and to remove policy uncertainty that is one of the major obstacles to much-needed investments.
Government must ensure that South Africa becomes a friendly and attractive investment destination and create a climate conducive to job creation to the benefit of the unemployed in our country.
Firstly, I want to ask for forgiveness from God, on behalf of the nation, for the way in which South African citizens have behaved by attacking innocent foreign nationals.
Secondly, I want to ask those who have been injured in the process to forgive South Africans because government has promised to do something about the attacks that had taken place and government has promised to arrest all the perpetrators.
Thirdly, rumour has it that some nations, from which these victims come, are going to retaliate. I want to appeal that they do not, because government had promised to deal with the perpetrators. Let us be given a chance, let South Africa be given a chance, so that together, we can build the economy of the continent.
Lastly, I want to appeal to my fellow church leaders and religious leaders in the country to be ambassadors of peace and ministers of reconciliation. To all South Africans, may I remind you that many of those who were in the struggle and those who went abroad looking for refuge were looked after well. None of them were attacked or victimised, so let us reciprocate and treat foreigners among us with respect and dignity. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mr N L S KWANKWA: Hon House Chairperson and comrades, let me take you down on a history rather memory lane. In 1995 this government embarked on a massive trade liberalisation programme. That was done by Minister Trevor Manuel when he was still the Minister of Trade and Industry. He did so enthusiastically because probably he wanted to impress World Trade Organisation, WTO, at the time. That is when the deindustrialisation of the South African Economy began.
Fast forward to the year 2000, for an example when we are experiencing a commodity boom. Remember when Minister Manuel used to come here with plums and all the nice things distributing them here that was deindustrialisation of the South African economy happening there. How did it happen? Remember commodity prices increased which resulted to the appreciation of the South African rand one that caused the manufacturing sector to be less competitive.
[Interjections.]
That is the speech.
IsiXhosa:
Sisifundo. Ndiyanixelela, anikwazi ukulawula.
English:
The other issue here which is important is that while then the price of the rand appreciated at the time, there were no protections provided to the manufacturing sector of the South African economy. How did you expect that sector to be competitive in the first place? Even the apartheid government got the formula better than you are doing.
The manufacturing sector contributed 20% of the gross domestic product, GDP, when now is about 12% of the GDP. Now how can we create jobs? Turn the situation around, provide a bit of protection and embark on an import substitution industrialisation strategy. Right! That is inward industrialisation. It is a no brainer. If there has been deindustrialisation overtime, the steps that you should be taking is to reindustrialise the South African economy, making the important interventions that you need to make to help them to, for an example some of the sectors. What you would help them
is with backwards and forwards integration in those industries. However, you need to understand the strategic sectors in which you want to do this. It is simple economics. Otherwise if ...
IsiXhosa:
... aniyenzi lonto, nizakuchitha ixesha nimane nisithi,
English:
... employment creation in nice English. I want to give you another example. During the 1920s and the 1930s, right, what happens is that unemployment in the England, UK, was 15% and in the United States, US, was 25% and that was considered to be a crisis. In South Africa you have an expanded definition of 40% unemployment rate and its business as usual. No decisive policy interventions are being made in the country. The issue is ...
... nini [You.] who needs to understand ...
IsiXhosa:
... ukuba yintoni eniyifunayo.
English:
Even in these Industrial Development Zones, the problem is that we are providing more support to foreign companies than actually doing that for South Africans.
Recently, when I was in Germany, they said that South Africans ululate when Mercedes Benz and BMW produce a lot of cars - and those are not even South African products. Other countries intervened. South Korea - I want to give an example used to import trains from Switzerland. Couple of years later, they were exporting trains to Switzerland. That is what we should be doing.
IsiXhosa:
Chitha ixesha apha lamasela. [Interjections.]
Mr V ZUNGULA: Hon House Chairperson, firstly I want to condemn the violence on foreign nationals as well as gender-based violence. Up until we introduce legislation which deals with these issues, they are likely to persist even further.
In the country, there is a great reliance on formal employment. This contrast with many parts of the world where there is a strong focus on artisans and the merchant economy. South Africa is not different from other African states, thus we need to look at the successes of those African countries.
In Ghana the unemployment is 6,7%, Tanzania 9,7% and in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, it is 11%. All of these countries have a legislation that prohibits foreign nationals to participate in the informal sector. Citizens of those countries are given priority and are protected in that space. There is a clear policy that protects the micro economy for the benefit of the local people.
In our country we have a small time which is Carolina in Mpumalanga where there are more than 80% of the businesses that are owned by non-South Africans and those businesses do not employ South Africans. It is the same thing even in Cofimvaba, Lephalale and many other small towns.
This employment creates dependence on the employer, whereas business ownership creates mass economic participation of locals in the economy. We as this Parliament must introduce legislation that allows only South Africans to trade in the township, rural and inner city economy. It is unacceptable that a South African can not trade in the informal sector of a country, but citizens of those countries can come to South Africa and dominate the informal sector.
It is unfair that South Africans have to compete with Chinese who are funded by their own governments in order to open businesses in South Africa. To deal with this unemployment crisis, let us secure our economy and South Africans must come first in our economy. Foreign nationals must get jobs on a scarce and critical skills basis. It is unacceptable if you go to Kusile Power Station and you find that there are artisans who come from Germany and many of these European countries whereas we have South Africans without jobs.
We are the Parliament of the people of South Africa; our role is to put the interests of South Africans first. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mr S N AUGUST: Hon House Chairperson, unemployment does not impose crippling financial constraints on individuals and families; it also shreds peoples’ dignity and self-esteem. It leads to anger and feelings of hopelessness, powerlessness and desperation.
People with and without jobs have similar hopes. We all want what is best for our families. We all want our children to live their dreams, to succeed in areas of life that we did not and to contribute to a better country we know we can be.
If more people have jobs, the lower the crime rate and the high rate of unemployment on the other is a critical factor fuelling xenophobic and gender-based violence, gangsterism and the breakdown of family and community values.
When our children are unable to attend school because crime and or the lack of sanitary towels - they are unable to be educated and skilled to be employed and therefore are unemployable.
It is the role of government to create conditions favourable for economic growth, investment and new businesses and specifically companies to invest directly or indirectly in poorer communities that will create new jobs and build momentum to fix South Africa.
Young South Africans are the biggest victims of slow economic growth and the unchanged structure of the economy. The figures are shocking. We have statistics indicating that 55% of the youth between 15 and 24 are unemployed and 31% of graduates in the same age bracket.
Hon House Chairperson, the alarm bells are ringing louder than ever before. Corruption, maladministration, business unfriendly practices, red tape and unqualified civil servants have created a lethal cocktail of desperation.
The hopes of young people for better lives and dignity diminishes day by day. There are a number of good responses to the crises. As public representatives we need to act swiftly.
Besides creating an appropriate environment for investment and new jobs we should urgently examine our education system to ensure we are producing people with skills that the market needs.
A good government that places more emphasis on investing in smart and fast Internet infrastructure on lowering data cost, and on developing an industrial growth plan focusing on the sectors which could absorb people who are currently unemployed.
The Good party stands on four legs: Economic, social, environmental and spatial justice. There can be no justice without jobs. Thank you.
Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Hon House Chair, allow me to welcome our learners in the gallery and other guests. I think one thing we must admit is that we are facing a crisis in South Africa
presently. Now time and time again in this House we make the attention of this House to the high unemployment rate in the country and the ticking time bomb that we believe it is.
The President has asked us in His state of the nation address to dream and he has asked us to dream for 10 years. What in this country today dreaming for one day is one day too many. So, I do not understand when the President says that he is going to create 2 million jobs, there is 5 million people going to be entering the job market in that 10 years in addition to the
10 million people already in the unemployment list, so we are talking about 15 million people. You are going to be creating
2 million jobs; clearly it is a time bomb waiting to explode.
Now, the question is: What is the root causes of this? And there are many of them. First of all, I think all the relevant departments in this House work in silos. They do not work together. The left hand does not know what the right hand is doing. That is the first thing.
If you take the issue of manufacturing, we have repeatedly brought to the attention of this House, the imports that come into the country, the challenges with the textile industry, the leather industry and the plastic industry, but very little or nothing is happening.
In fact government today is not even able to speak to its own alliance partners so that we can address the labour challenges that we have in the country. You are not even able to do that at the moment. That is what is creating chaos in the country at the moment.
Now what you saw today, in our streets is exactly what you are going to see in a very short while, unless we address the state of this economy and the crisis we are facing today in this country.
Now, we spoke about creating jobs in the infrastructure where we have been underspending, where we have highlighted that there are goods that you use that are imported from China, India and America. Instead of creating an industry for local consumption
which is used every day plus exports, we want to continue importing those goods. So, we are not interested.
We spoke about the Human Settlements Development Bank, provide the land, give the bond or give the loan and let them build their own houses that will turn the economy. We are not willing to do anything about it.
We spoke about dealing with the issue of fake goods coming into the country and reducing the imports, not putting in surcharges. Nothing is happening in terms of that.
We are speaking about the energy crisis; we are speaking about giving and giving and giving, but not dealing with how we are going to actually solve the problem and turn it around. It is continuing. So, there is no change.
We spoke in the Southern African Development Community, SADC, region of infrastructure development, nothing is happening. We speak about the pharmaceutical industry where there is a massive scope in the region we are doing nothing about that. So how are
we going to create jobs? It is a time bomb waiting to explode! [Time expired.]
Mr M NONTSELE: House Chair, hon Ministers present, hon Members, our debate today is about the characterisation of the apartheid economy, which correctly has been characterised as being structural, because it was founded on the foundation of exclusion, hence, today, we are sitting with the mammoth task of a growing unemployment.
Our economy, as well is not immune from the influences that shaped the global economies and is subjected to the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, 4IR, which brings about more emphasis on technological advances.
As the ANC in the strategy and tactics documents, we assert that leadership to economic development should be characterised by pro-poor, growth, and poverty reduction.
We, further say that, construction of a new society depends centrally on the leadership role of the state. I am sure that
clarifies our position with regard to the neoliberal approach that the DA chooses.
President Ramaphosa outlined the seven key priorities with economic transformation and job creation as priority number one. In doing so, President Ramaphosa has reaffirmed the ANC position of making economic transformation and job creation the apex programme of sixth administration.
Youth unemployment rate is excessively high and is the priority that we should be focusing on. Statistics SA Quarterly Labour Force Survey, Quarter 2 highlights that an increase in the age categories of 15-24, the unemployment rate stands at 56,4% and yet, on the ages of 24—35, it stands at 35,6%.
It is also important to know that race and gender remains a factor in the unemployment landscape with blacks in a far more vulnerable position than their white counterparts. Black African women are the most vulnerable with unemployment rate at 35% as at quarter 2. The high youth unemployment rate as well needs to be noted that it is also regardless of education level. Another
contributing factor is the qualifications and the skills mismatch that characterises our job market.
Our government through its manifesto has committed to create more jobs and decent jobs in line with National Development Plan, NDP, targets and an additional 2 million jobs outlined in the state of the nation address. The conclusion of the National Economic Development and Labour Council, Nedlac, engagement processes and implementation of the outcomes of Presidential Jobs Summit must help to protect the existing jobs and create new decent ones.
Government has further committed to forge public/private partnership in order to bridge the gap between the required skills in the labour market and further implement mass apprenticeship opportunities for young men and women.
Statistics SA reports that discouraged workers numbers have declined tremendously in quarter 2. This has pushed unemployment significantly high. There is an undeniable relationship between this upswing and the message of hope that was spelt out by
President Ramaphosa in the state of the nation address, and specifically on the issue of job creation, has found resonance with the ordinary mass of our people. In all the rural areas starting from Sekhukhune to Eastern Cape including Cape Town ...
IsiXhosa:
... abantu baphakamile kwaye bayayibethelela into yokuba imisebenzi mayivele. Bonke bakholelwa kwi-New Dawn.
English:
A further 21 000 jobs have been created in the quarter 2 and now the employment rate in South Africa stands 16,3 million. This is an indication of a positive movement forward.
In addition, we have observed that for South Africa to be competitive and to be able to improve on the local economy and attract investment, the country needs to address the cost of doing business and deal with the impeding regulatory elements.
We also take courage from practical interventions aimed at turning around job creating sectors such as renewal energy,
mining, manufacturing, creative industries, tourism, and ocean economy. In doing so, we will be able to in fact realise our commitments we have made in the 54th conference that is off forging unity of purpose between, government, labour, business communities and civil society through the social dialogue platform of Nedlac.
In conclusion, the assumptions and distortions that have been presented here by the DA need to be corrected. The first thing is around the growth of the economy in the Western Cape. You will recall hon Maimane that, when the ANC was in government in the Western Cape, the economy grow by 5,5% and currently it stands at 1,9%. [Time expired.]
Mr M P GALO: Hon Chair, in one of her sterling contributions to human kind, academic and political activist Hellen Keller is quoted as having said the following and I quote: “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”
In the history of this Parliament, we have minimally encountered debates such as this one, which has not only elicited national interest, but has gone far to implicate our commitment to human rights and substantive equality
I urge this House to look into the life of Hellen Keller, who was the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.
As our economy is gradually recovering, with Statistics SA pronouncing that our gross domestic product, GDP, increased by 3,1% in the second quarter of 2019, we need to reincarnate Hellen Keller’s rigor.
We note, however, that a 3,1% growth has no bearing on the high levels of unemployment, which currently sits at 29%. Many South Africans continue to languish in abject poverty and despair.
The economic transfom1ation, inclusive growth, and competitiveness policy discussion from the National Treasury offers some hope. It is uniquely drafted, and it proposes no
quick fixes, like the much punted phrases such as quantitative easing, asset prescription, and the expropriation of the Reserve Bank.
The discussion document cites red tape more than 28 times. It proposes that, we must revisit the Red Tape Impact Assessment Bill. This is for obvious reason, as it generally accepted that the small and medium enterprises create more jobs than any other role player in the economy.
We therefore need to create an enabling environment for small business’s sustainability through set-asides; preferential procurement and funding. We are eagerly waiting for the Job Summit’s Report. One of the challenges identified during the discussion at the summit was the issue of job experience. The aspect of entry level job requirements, such as experience, is not assisting our young people. Thank you very much. [Time expired.]
Mr W M MADISHA: Chairperson, dear South Africans, it is an open secret that we are in a terrible crisis. We need a state of
emergency to address this crisis. When I stood up before this Parliament in the past years and I must emphasise a number of years to point out that unemployment rate was above 40%.
Government rejected my assertion using their usual unempirical evidence. The jobs creation was improving daily.
History has proven that, one was and still correct. Crime and killings that happen every minute in our country are as a sequel to hunger, unemployment itself, etc. The killings of people who are from beyond our borders are as a result of this whole thing, this failure by government.
Though I agree with the nine policy mandates of the Department of Labour, they however don’t address the creation of jobs, but only address administration, inspection, and enforcement of proper labour relations where jobs already exist, but even in that realm of enforcement and administration, proper work is not done as poor workers are paid in or with tips in restaurants and in other industries.
I stress that, we need a state of emergency to address this problem. I can never forget what President Mandela did in 1998. I am happy that the Minister was there as one of the leaders in the trade union movement when President Mandela called us to say you workers, labour, and government, let’s come up with a very clear programme. Indeed, we did do that, but today what we see is a situation where the President and government will exclude other people, including and in particular other political parties and take only for example that chairperson of the portfolio committee and all the other people are excluded.
I want to say that we shall never go anywhere. We shall never emerge with anything to take our people forward to address these serious problems that we are faced with. We need a state of emergency and I want to believe or hope that you will rise and say, yes, let us make sure that together, we are able to go forward to help the people of our country.
Mr M NYHONTSO: Chairperson, let me start by condemning the brutal killing of women and children that we have witnessed recently and the cropping of criminal elements disguised as
xenophobic acts. What type of xenophobia is this that only affects our African brothers and sisters and their business interests and not big international corporate and the real foreigners? No African can be a foreigner in Africa. The PAC was right and is still right today that Pan Africanist ideology is the only answer to the so-called xenophobia.
We call for the state to tighten the grip in dealing with barbaric, criminal elements, whether it’s our African brothers selling drugs or locals taking the law in their hands or the international drug lords and syndicates. As the PAC, we are of the firm view that the landlessness and unemployment are a consequence of our economic policy direction and lacks any form of ideological foundation, nor does it show any level of decisiveness from this government to turn around and transform the economy to the favoured majority of our people.
The PAC is clear that if and when we can resolve the land question and get the riches who are supposed to derive from our mineral resources for self-development as people will be able to
completely eradicate unemployment and many of the problems that our people are faced with on a daily basis.
The PAC condemns the continuous exploitation of our God given riches by foreign enterprises conniving with the elite and political bosses. The trillions made from our mines and the trillions made on our farms, seaside, wildlife, etc must be used to capacitate the economy so it can respond to the social ills that our people find themselves in and most importantly, develop ourselves and invest for the future generations.
The PAC calls on all political parties, including those who simply shout planned slogans for political expedience to take a pause and relook the issue of land ownership with the specific reference to the control of riches derived from our land. With land ownership, unemployment becomes a known issue. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mr Z N MBHELE: Chairperson, the unemployment crisis in our country is undoubtedly our biggest challenge and it requires all social actors to do their part to contribute to its reduction.
This crisis of joblessness erodes the human dignity of millions, it widens inequality and it keeps opportunities and substantive freedom outreach for the most vulnerable. It means that the flame of ambition for many young people is quickly snuffed out when they join the ranks of the jobless, either as they leave school or, if they are fortunate to pursue higher education when they finish further learning or training. I, myself, remember during my last year of tertiary study being painfully aware of the problem of graduate unemployment at Wits University and gripped with constant anxiety about whether or not I would be able to find a job or internship the following year in order to start a career path. This is a worry that weighs heavily on the hearts and minds of each cohort of school leavers and graduates as they join the labour markets.
Sadly, given the concentration of unemployment in the youth bracket, this worry becomes hopelessness, frustration and despair for many of these school leavers and graduates as they remain stuck in joblessness with seemingly no way forward or a way out. That is a reality of unemployment faced by young people
...
IsiZulu:
...namhlanje ...
English:
... not in this imaginary bright future under the ANC that the hon Nkabane was fantasising about. Let me also say to her that the hands of the ANC-led government are the very last place that our economy would be safe in or should be in. Are those not the same hands that have mismanaged and bankrupted Eskom, SAA, SA Express, Denel and the SABC? Are these state-owned enterprises, SOEs, of the ANC’s developmental state that will address unemployment while there are operating and continuous losses and being debt-laden? Just now Eskom is going to receive a
R59 billion bailout that the ANC wants to table in this Parliament.
IsiZulu:
Ningazodlala ngathi la. [Ubuwelewele.]
English:
As the DA, we are clear that the number one item on the agenda must be job creating growth. That means creating an enabling environment for investment and entrepreneurship. [Interjections.] Small businesses must be the key drivers in this endeavour. That is why, as the DA, we will fight for solutions to improve access to capital, markets, supply chains in order to expand freedom, fairness and opportunity for all. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
IsiXhosa:
Nks M L DUNJWA: Sihlalo ohloniphekileyo, abaPhathiswa abakhoyo apha namaSekela abo, amaLungu ePalamente ahloniphekileyo neendwendwe zethu. Ukuba bekukho ixesha kwaye kuvumelekile bendizakuthi, yingxoxo-mpikiswano le yanamhlanje engafuni ukulawulwa ngexesha. Ifuna ukuba sithethe izinto ngobunjalo bazo, kwaye sivele sitsho elubala ukuba sivelaphi, siyaphi, sifuna ntoni. [Kwaqhwatywa].
English:
Hon Chair, there is no denying that unemployment levels have reached a crisis point. We all have to do something about it. I
guess that is the purpose of us having this debate. Hon Chair, in last century, work not only became not only a means of material fulfilment, but also a fundamental tool for personal development and community participation. The connection between work and society will always remain. The levels of unemployment are not only threatening material fulfilment of individual workers but the survival of the communities. Having said that hon Chair, I think it is important that we do say that ...
IsiXhosa:
... njengokuba kusithiwa i-ANC ayenzi nto nje, kukho le nto kuthiwa yigqungquthela yomsebenzi ibibizwe nguMongameli weSizwe.
English:
The ANC has clear plans to tackle unemployment. Without investment and industrialisation, we will not win the battle. I am happy that on both fronts we are making progress. It is therefore pleasing to know that international investors like Ford Motor Company are showing confidence in our country. Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa in Silverton is to add a third shift that will add 1220 new jobs from August.
We know that the Managing Director of Neal Hill hit the nail on the head when he said ...
IsiXhosa:
... ndicela nimamele.
English:
We know that as a company, we have a strong role to play, not in providing quality cars, vehicles, service to our customers but also about contributing back to the economy and creating jobs and economic opportunities.
It is this kind of corporate citizenry that we expect for all our companies to display. This of course is a result of the work that government is putting in its effort to implement the industrial policy and thereby putting the company on the right economic trajectory.
IsiXhosa:
Ndifuna ukuthi phambi kokuba ndishiywe lixesha, i- Inshorensi yezeMpilo yeSizwe, NHI akukho ndawo iya kuyo.
English:
The NHI is here to stay, because ...
IsiXhosa:
... bengayifuni nje i-i-Inshorensi yezeMpilo yeSizwe, kukuba bayayazi bona ukuba ...
English:
...they have been treated according to their colour in terms of medicine, in terms of equipment, in terms of clothes. That they know. They know that they are attending private hospitals.
IsiXhosa:
Ukuthengiswa kwamashishini karhulumente asinakuze sikuvume, kuba siyayazi ukuba iza kubasaphi na abantu bakuthi. Ngoko ke, ukunceda u-Eskom, yeyona nto ibalulekileyo. Xa bengafuni ukuba u-Eskom ancedwe, bafuna ukuba kube mnyama emini kweli lizwe.
Kuza kuba mnyama emini Mnu Maimane njengokuba ungafuni i-ANC ikhokhele nje.
Mnumzana Madisha, awunakuma apha mhlobo wam uthi urhulumente akafuni ukuthetha nabantu. UMongameli uthe, emi kule ndawo kulo nyaka:
English:
“There will be what is called a social compact.
IsiXhosa:
Urhulumente, abasebenzi, abantu, wonke umntu. Kutheni le nto uza kuthetha into engekhoyo? Uyayazi ukuba le nto uyithethayo apha, ayikho. Wayeme apha uSekela Mongameli weSizwe esithi i-Ingxowa- mali ye-Inshorensi yokuPhulukana nomsebenzi, UIF iza kuncedisa ekubeni kwakhiwe izakhono zokuba kubekho ookopolotyeni abaza kuncedisa kumaShishhini asaKhasayo, aPhakathi amaNcinci, SMMEs.
English:
The targeted areas will be in plumbing and other sectors.
IsiXhosa:
Niyabuza, apha eKapa iqondo lemisebenzi lehlile. Lehle kweziphi kwawaphi amacandelo? Ndicela ukunixelela.
English:
Agriculture has gone down by 19%. Please listen to me hon Maimane, Mining has gone down, where you govern, where you say everything is right. But, accept that unemployment is not only about the Western Cape. Unemployment affects us all. As the ANC we will be interested in ensuring that, it is addressed. It can never be a -
IsiXhosa:
Kuthiwa ngesiXhosa, ubunzima bomthwalo budala ugxekwano.
English:
Here in the Western Cape, in terms of sectors, the unemployment in the transport sector has gone down. We are standing here, unemployment ... [Interjections]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: Order, order hon members order, order.
IsiXhosa:
Nks M L DUNJWA: Sihlalo, masitsho ukuba njengokuba apha sithetha ngokungabikho kwezakhono xa ndiza kwehla. Le yingxaki eyathethwa nguVerwoed.
English:
May his soul rest in peace? He said that, never teach a black child Maths and Science because when you do that you are not empowering. As much as we may have at some point some areas that we must correct, it is correct, it is the truth; do not run away from it. That is why now we have to ensure that our children - we are the generation that was refused to do Maths and Science. We are the generation that was prevented to do law because at a particular time Afrikaans was compulsory. Therefore, when we stand here and say that there are things that we need to correct, we must accept and acknowledge that we are part of that problem.
IsiXhosa:
Ngoko ke, siyacela bantu boMzantsi Afrika ukuba le nto yenzekayo apha imbi. Sicela ukuba ezoshinishino, urhulumente nabasebenzi beze badibane, akukho mnandi.
English:
Africa must unite, but in uniting Africa it does not mean that...
IsiXhosa:
... makuvunyelwe ukuba abantu abangene ngendlela engeyiyo mabahlale apha benze izinto, banikwe imisebenzi kube kuchaneka abantwana abantsundu abancinci,njengoko uMongameli etshilo ukuthi kufuneka sigxile ebantwaneni abancinci, ulutsha.
Kubalulekile ukuba sibacele abantu bakuthi kuba ...
English:
...if you disunite Africa you must know that you are messing up a black and an African person. If you mess up Africa, you are not only messing up the continent, you are messing up the world. I thank you. [Applause].
The MINISTER OF EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR: Hon Madam House
Chairperson, the hon members, hon guests, members of the public and members of the media, as men we must unite and join hands with all the campaigns against the scourge of violence against
women. [Applause.] Some of us might be seated here with a lot of political rhetoric but back home we are perpetuating the very same violence against our own people at home. We must do also self reflection.
IsiXhosa:
Le nto ayinanoteksi, ayinamqhubi weteksi; sibona amanyala esenziwa ngabantu egameni leenkonzo besithi bangabafundisi. Sisigulo samadoda, esingakhathaleli nokuba ukwezopolitiko kusini na kwaye kufuneka sisiqwalasele, sithethe ngaso; sisinyange.
English:
As government, we have been very consistent in our fight against unemployment, poverty and inequality. We continue to resist and refuse any attempts to defocus us. We are steadfast and resolute in fighting unemployment, inequality and the eradication of poverty in our lifetime. As members of this House, we were all taken aback by the latest unemployment statistics, 29% which was also saying it is 38,5% in terms of the extended definition.
Indeed, it is a crisis, we acknowledge it and that is why we welcome this debate.
We are of the view that this challenge requires a proper constructive response which transcends party politics. I therefore thrust that this debate is supposed to be taking in that spirit. But I am not hearing that spirit from some who come to this platform.
The following are the measures to demonstrate our commitment as the ANC-led government: The Presidency and the Dti are working towards the implementation of the revised industrial strategy to increase the participation of sectors that have the realistic potential to achieve large scale impact on employment and exports. We are working towards expanding investment in economic infrastructure at both national and local level, particularly on electricity ports rail roads to create an enabling environment for inclusive growth. We are working towards the development of more effective systems to promote sustainable local procurement of the capital goods, consumables and services in order to support the local industrial capacity.
Spending by government on goods and services is growing consistently with a large portion of spending directed at the
small, medium and macro enterprise, SMMEs with payments made within 30 days where there are no disputes. This includes scaling up the programmes that support the SMMEs in the townships and in the rural economies. We are ensuring the implementation of the Presidential Jobs Summit Framework Agreement as part of the President’s commitment towards the fully implementation of the framework. The president is now convening to deal with issue of implementation, monthly meetings to ensure the fast-tracking of the commitments.
Remember that the job summit put in place a tracking system to ensure the implementation of the 77 commitments made by government and social partners. The majority are being implemented hon Madisha. As government we are moving urgently to restructure the state-owned enterprises, SOEs to improve their financial and operational sustainability. In particular, our work on Eskom is a priority.
Whilst the policy directive for allocation of high demand spectrum has been done, the auctioning of the broadband spectrum must be completed urgently. I need also to mention the
Presidential Youth Intervention. The plan sets out five priorities and targets that will establish the National Pathway Management Network; promote a workforce solution for growing jobs; develop technology and enabled youth self employment and township enterprises built on the workplace-based experience and promote the opportunity for youth to do service.
Over the next 10 years, this plan sets ambitious targets. Approximately five million young work seekers between the ages of 15 and 35 will have been engaged in a national pathway management network and access services to help them grow their employability and identify and pursue the work opportunities. Temporary paid three million work opportunities will have been created through the Youth Employment Services, Yes. Work related integrated learning opportunities and new youth services opportunities; two million young people will be engaged in sustainable work opportunities through the agile work force development programmes.
The establishment of the Project Management Office, PMO in the Presidency which will co-ordinate and drive the intervention and
manage delivery and performance, will support this plan. Moreover, a War Room will be created or established drawing in leading experts from across the departments and social partners across the public and private sectors. The YES initiative is led and driven by the private sector in collaboration with the government and labour. There have been 564 company registrations through the YES digital portal in the past nine months. Of these, 384 companies have progressed to paying registration fees and have jointly committed to 21 100 youth work experiences.
Salaries from these YES employment opportunities will put well over R1 billion into the local economies in a year.
I call on all companies, big and small which have not yet committed a number of jobs for young people to do so, because tackling youth unemployment requires all of us to play a role. All this takes place against the backdrop of the Stimulus Package and the Investment Summit initiatives which are ongoing. I think I need to make two points here. Sluggish growth in an uncertain global economy will not be turned around overnight.
Similarly, state capture and corruption was a protracted process. Ending corruption and state capture is a process not an
event. The steady rebuilding of state institutions bodes well. But make no mistake the defeat of this scourge is a necessary precondition for real growth and job creation to take place. [Applause.]
From the side of the Department of Employment and Labour, our direct contribution to combating unemployment includes the following: Firstly, the High Social Impact Portfolio, HSIP. Here our focus on job preservation and creation. To this end
R1,2 billion was invested in Edcon Limited acquiring a stake of 19% and in the process saving about 140 000 direct and indirect jobs. Secondly, we achieved the absorption of one million young in the Not in Employment, Not in Education and Training, Neet.
The Compensation Fund is providing bursaries for 5 000 students studying through various higher education institutions as investment managers, actuary scientists, medical practitioners as well as 2 500 social workers that will be placed to facilitate the Compensation Fund Rehabilitation programmes. The Unemployment Insurance Fund, UIF provides 1 000 small
enterprises incubation for co-operatives that are in the Agro processing sector, hospitality, beauty therapy and construction.
The Department of Employment and Labour in quarter one of this current financial year placed 24 000 young people in jobs across the nine provinces, 21 164 of these jobs are contracts, 835 permanent, 2 331 temporary and 592 casual jobs. The department has swiftly implemented the Job Summit resolution on reviewing the Training Layoff Scheme process to ensure speedy intervention for companies in distress. Working with Productivity SA, 860 companies will be assisted to save up to 43 000 jobs by March 2024. We will also create 340 Future Forums to train 1 110 members on improved solutions and a further 12 460 SMMEs to improve their productivity and business efficiencies.
And thirdly, there is a serious labour activation programme which we are dealing with through the UIF again partnered with more than 30 state-owned training providers and institutions to implement training of UIF beneficiaries. The intention is to pilot the project with training of over 160,000 learners over a
period of three years. The training will vary from Skills Programmes to learnership and artisan training.
Through this intervention, 6 000 artisans will be trained together with 67 000 learnership in construction, financial services, hospitality and engineering. As at quarter one 20 000 people are in training with over 75% being young people and more than 50% being women. Note that the skills training interventions are aligned to the skills development needs of the labour market in terms of the future of work and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Madam Speaker as I am about to conclude, I do want to put it categorically that there is nowhere in the world, hon Maimane where the elitist free market system has provided full employment. So, anybody or organisation who thinks that it will do so in a country that have chronic, stubborn and systemic unemployment crisis like ours, should get his head examined. [Interjections.] Let us get this clear, market cycles have absolutely no inherent ability to correct them, not now, not overtime, not anytime. It is totally incorrect that balance
between the demand and supply of labour would be the natural state in an economy that has unfettered or self-regulated markets, free of regulations by the state.
Speaker, at another stage not now, we may have to delve deeper into the whole question of work. What is work? What gets counted as work, using what indicators? [Applause.] As I end I want to appeal to all South Africans that, it is not violence that will increase the limited resources that we are fighting over, it actually does the opposite. Violence takes away little resources that we have. So, by engaging in violence we are actually defeating the same objectives we want to achieve. Let us love ourselves. Love our neighbours. Love our continent and all her people. Love our women and children. We know they are the heart of our nation. Let us embrace brotherhood and sisterhood and perhaps, graduate from just being South Africans and become proud Africans and wise internationalists.
Let us put the blame where it belongs which has caused the resentment. The exploitation of the desperate foreign workers who are paid less than the stipulated minimum wage; the non-
registration of the employees with the UIF; failure to declare workers on a monthly basis to the UIF; failure to pay overtime, Sunday time’s work and public holiday rates; and the implementation of the incentives. The arrogance of still paying workers like slaves, by hand, cash and no payslips is perpetuated by some in your constituency, hon Maimane. These people are exploiting the cheap labour of the desperate African workers. Thank you. [Applause.]
The debate concluded.
HURRICANE DORIAN CAUSES CHAOS
(Draft Resolution)
Mr L E MOLALA: Chair, I move without notice:
That the House –
(1) notes that with shock and sadness the destruction of the Central Florida by a vicious devastation storm,
Hurricane Dorian killing 20 people with scores more still missing on 3 September 2019;
(2) acknowledges that the immense physical destruction happens in the Caribbean Nation not in Abaco Island and Grand Bahamas where the deadly stop left behind a paradise obliterated;
(3) recalls that streets were flooded due to high water volume and on stand still as pounding rain poured and tropical storm falls wind blowing;
(4) further recalls that the residents put together ad-hoc rescue group with woods and personal water craft as their homes were messed into robs; and
(5) realises that more than 60 000 people on the island will need food and clean water according to the report from the authorities. I so move.
Agreed to.
THE PASSING OF RICARDO SARALINA
(Draft Resolution
Mrs T G MPAMBO-SIBHUKWANA: Chair, I move without notice:
That the House –
(1) notes that the tragic and sudden passing of Mr Ricardo Saralina on 1 September 2019 after suffering a massive stroke;
(2) further notes that Mr Ricardo Saralina served as a dedicated councillor for the City of Cape Town since 2016, most recently as the ward councillor for Ward 19 which includes Wesbank, Kalkfontein, Silversands and Highbury;
(3) acknowledges that Mr Saralina has been a shining example of all councillors serving with passion and drive to oversee the delivery of various projects
including the current delivery of houses in the ward and the upgrade of the clinic in Wesbank;
(4) recognises that Mr Ricardo Saralina will solely be missed by the DA; and
(5) lastly we convey our heartfelt condolences to Mr Saralina’s family and friends and to the residents of Ward 19 in Wesbank. I so move.
Agreed to
NEW BORN BABY DIES IN BABY WARMER
(Draft Resolution)
Ms N N CHIRWA: Chair, I move without notice:
That the House –
(1) notes that - a baby died at Mafikeng Provincial Hospital from burn wounds because of a warmer. South
African public system has completely collapsed and it’s the reason behind the death that could have been preventable;
(2) women and children are killed daily at the hands of men in this country and then, when they go to hospitals they still die because of recklessness and carelessness. No one is held accountable. The hospital is not taking any responsibility for what happened and the family is left with a terrible loss that is not even explained to them;
(3) this House must send heartfelt condolences to Kelebogile Emily Kerileng for the loss of her child; and
(4) this House must commit to look at the work of the executive and to do oversight of the programs that are meant to prevent the unnecessary loss of lives in our hospitals. I so move. Thank you Chair
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon members, please when you object on this item you don’t give reasons, you simply agree or you object.
Ms E N NTLANGWINI: Hon Chairperson on a point of order.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Yes hon Ntlangwini?
Ms E N NTLANGWINI: Hon Chairperson we just want to note was there an objection and if there is, he must withdraw it.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): That’s not a point of order; I’m going to switch off your mic now. That’s not a point of order hon Ntlangwini, you know how these things work. Please take your seat! The motion has been objected to meaning it will be converted to a notice of a motion.
Motion not agreed to.
WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE
(Draft Resolution)
Mr N CAPA: Chair, I move without notice:
That the House –
(1) notes that - the House celebrates strides made by the women in agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector at the 20th annual female entrepreneur awards at the gala dinner on 30 August 2019;
(2) acknowledges that this year’s theme celebrating two decades of women’s victory in agriculture, forestry and fisheries;
(3) pays tribute to the efforts and contributions by women for the roles they play in full security, poverty alleviation, job creation and economic growth;
(4) further acknowledges Total SA for sponsoring these awards for the past 20 years;
(5) Congratulates the following winners in the various categories Ms Katrina Nxangani, Ms Tholakele Sibiya, Ms Happiness Makgamatho, Ms Daphne Neethling, Ms Mmathoko Mabula and Ms Berene Damonss;
(6) further congratulates the recipients of the special award Ms Marice Mercuur and Ms Matebogo Mouwane;
(7) also congratulates the overall winner based on the highest scoring points Ms Mmathoko Mabula; and
(8) further wishes all winner much success in their future endeavours. I so move.
Ms E N NTLANWINI: Hon Chair you have started and we will finish.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon members, can we please respect the decorum of this House. Just do what you are supposed to do. Hon Khawula and hon Sonti please! Can we now pass; the motion has been objected thus it becomes a notice of a motion. We continue to the IFP.
Motion not agreed to.
FATHER HANGS FOUR CHLIDREN TO DEATH
(Draft Resolution)
Mr N SINGH: Chair, I move without notice:
That the House –
(1) notes that - firstly condemns the murder of four children ages four, six, ten and sixteen who’s bodies were found hung at their home in Wayne Bank near Durban;
(2) notes that the incident left the entire community in a state of panic, particularly amid the flood of deaths reported this week alone;
(3) further notes that the alleged perpetrator is a 44 year old, father of the three younger children, who
allegedly killed the children following a domestic dispute with his partner, who is the mother and has now been apprehended and remains in police custody;
(4) recognises the gender based violence against women and children as well as femicide have become a national set of emergency;
(5) further recognises that the current legislative measures may not be adequate to combat the incest of killings; and
(6) finally calls on the Ministries of Justice and Police to expeditiously conclude this case through the National Prosecuting Authority so that swift justice may prevail. I so move.
Agreed to.
ECONOMY GROWTH IN SA
(Draft Resolution)
Rev K R J MESHOE: Chair, I move without notice:
That the House –
(1) notes that - we welcome the announcement by Statistics SA that South Africa has avoided a technical recession with the economy growing by 3,1% in the second quarter of this year;
(2) that the mining and financial services sector were the two main drivers for the growth with the mining industry which grew by 14,4% recording its strongest growth since the second quarter of 2016;
(3) further notes that the surprise growth was stronger than expected with rioters, forecasting a growth of just 2,4%;
(4) takes cognizance of the fact that growth in the mining sector which contributed to a full 1% to Gross Domestic Product, GDP, growth is mainly attributable to the end of strikes at gold mines as well significant improvement in the price of metals;
(5) remains optimistically cautious in that while a technical recession has been avoided, South Africa still faces severe economic challenges; and
(6) calls on government to speed up the implementation of economic growth, enhancing strategies such as policy certainty, competitiveness and easing the regulatory environment for doing business. I so move.
Agreed to.
CELEBRATION FOR TRADITIONAL AFRICAN MEDICINE WEEK
(Draft Resolution)
Ms A GELA: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the House -
(1) notes that the North West Traditional Health Practitioners of the province celebrated the African Traditional Medicine in Huhudi Community Hall on Friday,
30 August 2019;
(2) acknowledges that the Traditional African Medicine week is celebrated annually between 26 to 31 August; and that the week celebrates a holistic discipline involving the use of indigenous herbalism combined with the aspect of African spirituality;
(3) further acknowledges that about 80% of Africa’s population lies on traditional medicine for their basic health needs;
(4) understands that in some cases traditional medicine is the only healthcare services available, accessible and
affordable to many people on the continent, and thus, the significant contribution of traditional medicine as a major provider of healthcare services in Africa cannot be underestimated;
(5) calls on those who are able to attend the ...
The HOUSE CAHIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Are there any objections? [Interjections.] In light of the objection, the motion without notice may not be proceeded with. The motion without notice now becomes a notice of motion.
CONSTANT WATERPROBLEMS IN GARIES
(Draft Resolution)
Afrikaans:
Me V VAN DYK: Agb Voorsitter, ek stel sonder kennisgwewing voor:
Dat die Huis:
(1) kennis neem dat die dorp Garies konstante waterprobleme ervaar en sekere areas in die dorp vir die afgelope maand slegs nege dae lank water gehad het;
(2) verder kennis neem dat die DA reeds in Julie 2018 ’n skrywe aan die LUR vir Samewerkende Regering en Tradisionele Aangeleenthede in de Noord-Kaap gerig het, om uit te wys dat die tegniese hoof van die Kamiesberg Munisipaliteit geen toepaslike kwalifikasies beklee om aan die hoof van 17 dorpe se waterinfrastruktuur te sit nie;
(3) erken dat drie van die ses waterboorgate wat Garies bedien heeltemal opgedroog het en die ander drie se water onvolhoubaar vir slegs 15 minute op ’n slag gepomp kan word;
(4) verder erken dat slegs een trok die hospitaal en skoolkoshuis met water bedien, wat van die naburige dorp, Kys, wat self waterprobleme ondervind, aangery word;
(5) glo dat die munisipaliteit geen langtermynplanne in plek gestel het om die verouderde infrastruktuur op te gradeer nie;
(6) verder glo dat die toerismebedryf en besighede ernstig belemmer word deur die gebrek aan toegang tot water, veral nou in die blommeseisoen, en
(7) ’n beroep maak dat die LUR vir Samerwerkende Regering en Tradisionele Aangeleenthede in die Noord-Kaap dringend in sal gryp, om die inwoners van Garies van die krisis te verlos. Dankie.
English:
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): In light of the objection, the motion without notice may not be proceeded with. The motion without notice now becomes a notice of motion.
VIOLENT ATTACKS ON AFRICAN MIGRANTS LIVING IN SOUTH AFRICA
(Draft Resolution)
Ms E N NTLANGWINI: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the House -
(1) notes the escalation of violent attacks on African migrants living in South Africa, particularly in Gauteng province;
(2) further notes that the escalation of violent attacks against our Africans siblings did not just happened unplanned, that it is careful orchestrated plan by those in power with deep hatred for African people to get migrants out of the country;
(3) acknowledges that at the core, the attack of migrants is just a diversion, and that those who have failed to deliver services and uplift our people out of poverty and the underdevelopment trap have been in for decades; now, we want to make African migrants scapegoats for our failures;
(4) further acknowledges that there can be no freedom and prosperity in South Africa that is exclusively for South Africans only, that our wellbeing as the country is tied up at the hip with the wellbeing of the rest of the continent;
(5) calls on all South Africans, particularly political leaders to desist from attributing to the failures of the state to African migrants and begin to take responsibility to fix the wrongs of the country; and
(6) condemns in the strictest possible manner the violations of the rights of African people in African countries.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Are there any objections? [Interjections.] In light of the objection, the motion without notice may not be proceeded with. The motion without notice now becomes a notice of motion.
PASSING ON OF FORMER DRUMMER AND CO-FOUNDER OF STIMELA BAND
(Draft Resolution)
Ms V P MALOMANE: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the House -
(1) notes with sadness the passing on of the former drummer and co-founder of Stimela, Isaac Mtshali, on Sunday, 26 August 2019;
(2) also notes that Mtshali was one of the longest surviving members of Stimela band;
(3) remembers that Ray Phiri and Isaac Mtshali initially formed The Cannibals band but later changed to Stimela;
(4) recognises Stimela’s contribution to quality South African music with platinum winning albums such as Fire, Passion and Ecstasy; Look, Listen and Decide and Whispers in the Deep;
(5) recalls that Mtshali also worked with the biggest names in the music industry, and also worked with US musician Paul Simon during the Graceland album tour;
(6) believes that he has contributed and played a significant role in the development of South African music and most notably as the legendary drummer, composer, producer and a songwriter; and
(7) conveys its condolences to his family, fans and friends.
Agreed to.
INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY
(Draft Resolution)
Ms J HERMANS: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the House -
(1) notes that 8 September was proclaimed as the International Literacy Day at the 14th session of Unesco’s General Conference in 1966;
(2) further notes that since 1967, International Literacy Day celebrations have taken place annually around the world to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights;
(3) recalls that this is an opportunity for government, civil society and stakeholders to highlight improvements in world literacy rates and reflect on the world’s remaining literacy challenges; and
(4) recognises that the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by the world leaders in September 2015, promotes universal access to quality education and learning opportunities throughout people’s lives;
(5) understands that the International Literacy Day 2019 focuses on ‘Literacy and Multilingualism’; and
(6) calls upon governments worldwide to observe this day and commit to promoting education in order to improve people’s lives.
Thank you, Chair.
Agreed to.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DEMOCRACY
(Draft Resolution)
Ms S R VAN SCHALKWYK: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the House -
(1) notes that on 15 September, the Inter-Parliamentary Union and parliaments around the world celebrate the
International Day of Democracy declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007 to promote and uphold the principles of democracy;
(2) further notes that the choice of 15 September for the International Day of Democracy corresponds to the adoption in September 1997 by the IPU of a Universal Declaration on Democracy;
(3) understands that this is an opportunity for governments to respect their citizens’ right to active, substantive and meaningful participation in democracy;
(4) recalls that democracy is built on inclusion, equal treatment and participation — and it is a fundamental building block for peace, sustainable development and human rights;
(5) recognises that this year’s International Day of Democracy is an opportunity to recall that democracy is about people under the theme ‘participation’;
(6) acknowledges that this day further inspires constitution- making around the world and contribute to global acceptance of democratic values and principles; and
(7) urges all governments to observe and uphold this day and consolidate democracy.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): Are there any objections? [Interjections.] In light of the objection, the motion without notice may not be proceeded with. The motion without notice now becomes a notice of motion.
ROBBEN ISLAND MUSEUM
(Draft Resolution)
Mr D JOSEPH: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the House -
(1) notes that the Robben Island Museum recently named its new ferry after the first recorded female political prisoner on the Island, namely, Krotoa;
(2) further notes that Krotoa of the Goringhaicona Khoi tribe moved to Robben Island in 1665, where she married Peter van Meerhof, who served as the third post-holder of the island;
(3) acknowledges that Krotoa served as an interpreter, diplomatic representative and negotiator between the Dutch settlers and the Khoi for many years, where she played a pivotal role in providing strategic information;
(4) recognises that Krotoa was a powerful Khoi woman, who understood justice and spoke against a system dominated by men, a system which discriminated against women; and
(5) commends the Museum for celebrating and acknowledging historical women as well as recognising the history of the Khoi in South Africa.
Agreed to.
DEATH OF ENCA’S DIRECTOR OF NEWS
(Draft Resolution)
Ms N J KHUBEKA: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the House -
(1) notes the sadness of passing of the sadness the death of eNCA’s Director of News, Ben Said, while on holiday in Mozambique on Monday, 26 August 2019;
(2) further notes that he drowned in a diving accident;
(3) remembers that Said joined eNCA as a producer in 2000 before rising through the ranks to become a Senior Reporter and eventually Group News Editor;
(4) recalls that Said had recently returned to South Africa from TRT World in Turkey and had rejoined the senior management team at eNCA;
(5) acknowledges that he was one of the country’s best television journalists and his loss to the eNCA television station and the country is immense;
(6) believes that his loss to the country’s media industry will be immeasurable; and
(7) conveys its sincerest condolences to his wife Nicky and his daughters, Lily and Bella; colleagues and friends.
Thank you.
Agreed to.
ANC CONDEMNS MASS FARM EVICTIONS TAKING PLACE IN THE WESTERN CAPE
(Member’s Statement)
Ms G TSEKE (ANC): The ANC condemns the mass farm evictions taking place in the Western Cape. Recently about 300 people from the Klein Akker farm near Wallacedene in Kraaifontein were evicted and dumped next to the road in Kraaifontein. This was not the first group of people to be affected with this brutal eviction, few months ago people were evicted in Steenvilla in Retreat. Families in Windneul and Kaaleder Wine Farms were also evicted this year. Clearly this is common practice in this province and most farms that are affected are in the Boland Region.
Those that were left stranded in Kraaifontein include children and pensioners and their homes were demolished by law enforcement and security guards. Due to the national government’s intervention, of course led by the ANC, alternative accommodation has been arranged for them. As the ANC we could
not fold our arms and keep quiet when our poor people are stripped of their dignity and made to sleep in plastic shelters along the road. The high court last week also ruled that the City of Cape Town must make available temporary emergency shelter in the form of land in Philippi. The ANC calls upon the Western Cape government led by the DA to be proactive and identify land available for farm dwellers rather than heartlessly resorting to evictions. I thank you. [Appluase.]
LOOTING AND ATTACK ON FOREIGN NATIONALS
(Member’s Statement)
Mr A G WHITFIELD (DA): House Chair, our country is in grips of a national crisis with escalating levels of violent crime and lawlessness, terrorising our citizens and our visitors in their homes and on our streets. The past 17 days have been characterised by rampant looting, vicious attacks on foreign nationals, kidnapping, rape, murder, and the burning and violent riots. A declining economy and the absence of leadership from the ANC government are adding fuel to a fire that is now
spreading out of control. Chaos has filled the leadership vacuum in South Africa and we need to move urgently to restore order, so that we can protect our people, rebuild our economy and create jobs. I have written to the National Police Commissioner requesting urgent activation of the national joint operational and intelligent structure, so that all our security services can respond in co-ordinated and decisive manner to bring order to our country. This is a crisis that now requires leadership from the highest office in a land. Mr President, where are you?
ESKOM’S INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCER PURCHASES
(Member’s Statement)
Ms N V MENTE (EFF): House Chair, Eskom released a statement to say that its sales continue to decrease but independent power producer, ipps, continue to increase production. Eskom’s own annual report says it is concerning that ipp increased due to the higher production but it remains a concern that ipp purchases were only 4,8 % of the total generation but the cost represent 25 % of the total primary energy cost. We are all
aware of this reality even before the latest bid window was signed. But because there are world banks, local banks and white owned companies by championing ipps, facts and figures were ignored, deals were made and signed anywhere because South Africa is for sale. Today Eskom is only surviving because of state sponsored injection, a state utility company that use to sell enough energy to South Africa and neighbouring countries is on its knees and about to be transferred to the hands of white monopoly capital, is on its knees. Minister, why are you forcing Eskom to buy electricity from ipps, when it does have either money to pay for the ipps that are demanding to sell because its sales continues to decrease year in and year out, but also what informed the decision for Eskom to only play a role as a buyer of renewable energy and not a producer? Eskom should be building its own renewable energy capacity instead of being privatised.
Minister when are we ever nationalising the mines so that the Eskom can own its own coal? Thank you very much.
DRAMATIC DECLINE ON LOOTING AND VIOLENCE IN GAUTENG
(Member’s Statement)
Ms J TSHABALALA (ANC): The ANC welcomes a dramatic decline on public violence and looting in areas of Johannesburg and City of Tshwane following the arrest of 289 people involved in this violence. The tension between local taxi operators and some foreign nationals in Pretoria central business district, CBD, following the death of taxi operator on Tuesday, 27 August became volatile. As the ANC we condemn with the strongest terms where incidents of buildings belonging to the foreign nationals were burnt down and looted. We commend the police for acting swiftly, restoring calm and ensuring the safety of their many shops and buildings. The ANC observed criminal elements using this opportunity to loot and steal in the midst of taxi owners and drivers, showing their frustration about the fatal shooting of one of their own. We call upon citizen of South Africa to allow the law to play its role and not to take the law unto them. We are concern about the people spreading fake news on social media, highlighting a spectrum of violence that incites and instills fear amongst the resident of Gauteng. We further the call taxi owners and the associations to engage the drivers in ensuring orderly business operations in the city. We further commend the leadership of Premier of Gauteng comrade Makhura and
the member of executive council, MEC, of the Department of Safety Mazibuko by closely with the authorities and showing that there is peace and calm in the communities, that’s leadership. [Applause.]
SERVICE DELIVERY PROTEST IN SOUTH AFRICA
(Member’s Statement)
Inkosi R N CEBEKHULU (IFP): House Chairperson, we were very float culture of service delivery protest in this country. For some or other reason the people of this country believe in instituting violence and damaging property, is effective in getting their grievances across. What we are seeing currently happening throughout the country and specifically in Gauteng Province is by product of this habit. The violent protest and looting of shops believed to be foreign owned, is a cry for help. Protests generally in South Africa have been on a steady upward trajectory for the past five years in terms of both the number of protest and the severity of claims resulting from such protest. Unless civil society and the government can find new
ways of engaging and solving problems, the country will continue to fall victim of this violence. We waist resources in fixing and replacing asset damaged during the protest instead of rolling out new infrastructure. The situation is dire, volatile and seemingly the South African Police Service, SAPS, is having a tough time in containing the violence that emanates. The Minister of Police and that of Defence, as a last resort should consider exploring the deploying South African Defence Force, SADF, to pockets of Gauteng Province where it found that law enforcement agencies are unable to manage the flare ups of protest action and looting that are taking place at the economic hub of the country. Thank you.
WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM IN SOUTH AFRICA
(Member’s Statement)
Rev K R J MESHOE (ACDP): House Chairperson, thousands of participants and potential investors from around the world who have come to Cape Town to attend the World Economic Forum must be shocked by media reports about businesses, trucks that were
set alight and the disgraceful looting that has been taking place in our different towns and communities. They must have seen and heard about foreign nationals who had been attacked and driven away from their places of business and saw scenes of violence and lawlessness that our government failed to stop. How will government convince them that South Africa is an attractive investment and friendly destination under these conditions? The ACDP calls on our government to be more decisive and to swiftly act against increasing criminality that must stop. The murder and rape of our women and children must stop, kidnaps must stop, government must take their full responsibility and be seen to be doing all they can to protect our citizens, refugees, foreign nationals and tourists. Only then can we all feel proud to say South Africa is a safe and attractive investment destination.
Thank you.
CRIME IN SOUTH AFRICA’S XEPHOBIC ATTACK
(Member’s Statement)
Afrikaans:
Mnr P MEY: Agb Voorsitter, die agb Minister van Polisie het twee dae gelede in die Huis gesê dat die misdaad wat tans in Suid- Afrika plaasvind, as gevolg van kriminele elemente is. Die VF Plus sê nee, dit is as gevolg van xenofobiese aanvalle. Die VF Plus is baie bekommerd, veral as minderhede, en die rede daarvoor is dat ons dikwels as die vyand van Suid-Afrika in hierdie land uitgemaak word. Ek wil dus graag weet wanneer hierdie Huis einde gaan kry om raspolitiek te beoefen, want dis ’n baie gevaarlike spel. Dankie.
DISPLAY OF APARTHEID FLAG
(Member’s Statement)
Mr T MALATJI (ANC): The ANC condemns the racist behaviour and the arrogant display of the apartheid flag by the deputy Chief Executive Officer, CEO, AfriForum rules, in his tweet recently displayed. We are also disappointed with the AfriForum decision to oppose Nelson Mandela Foundation application to have the rules declared a count of court. This flag was displayed just hours after the judgement of President of the Gauteng High Court
in Johannesburg High Court, Phineas Mojapelo. We rule that continuous display of the flag amount to hate speech. We believe that kind of racist behaviour displayed by the apartheid fascism and white supremacy which makes a mockery of national reconciliation project. Hate speech has no place in South Africa and our democracy. Indeed the continuous display of the flag by the people brings back painful memories. It is true that under the flag, the black South Africans were impoverished and threat of the self esteem, dignity and humanity. The South African Human Rights Commission anti racist pledge the call for: To build South African free of racism, hate speech and reject the intolerance of all forms of discriminations. We warn you that we are loosing our patience
Sepedi:
Le a re lapiša bjale.
JOB LOOSES IN SOUTH AFRICA
(Member’s Statement)
Mr S N AUGUST (GOOD): House Chairperson, on behalf of Good I would like to congratulate Good leader and Minister of the Department of Public Works Infrastructure, Patricia De Lille on an initiative to turn around the Department of Public Works Infrastructure by suppliers on time. As Minister of the department by July 2019, over 17 000 invoices have invoices been settle to suppliers. With a majority of those invoices being settled within two weeks since directives was given. Due to this the department injected R1,2 billion into the economy in July alone. This House recognises that just paying suppliers on time means that Small, Medium, Micro, Enterprise Businesses, SMMEs, supplying government can stay in business. Through this initiative Good leader Patricia is actively demonstrating how a state can play an active role to turn the tide and grow our economy. Thank you.
ANC ENCOURAGED BY DRASTIC DROP IN BUCKET SYSTEM USAGE
(Member’s Statement)
Mr B M HADEBE (ANC): Hon Chair, the ANC welcomes the annual 2018 nonfinancial census of municipalities report released by Statistician-General, Risenga Maluleke in Pretoria, on Thursday,
29 August 2019, recognising the drastic drop in the use of the bucket system since the advent of democracy in 1994 in municipalities across the country.
Significantly, the report purports that in 2014, the country had a record number of 85 718 households using the bucket system.
Five years later, the figure dropped and currently stand at
42 612, which is a drop by 50,3%. Furthermore, the report points out that, only 37 municipalities in the country provided bucket toilets. Five years later, in 2018, at least 10 municipalities contributed to the national total. As the ANC, we acknowledge the work undertaken by all municipalities in achieving these outcomes. Furthermore, the ANC government is committed to ensuring a better life for all of our people. Our government is determined and committed to meeting the targets it has set to eradicate unsafe and inappropriate sanitation in order to restore our people’s dignity, especially in rural areas. I submit. Thank you.
BRUTAL MURDER IN EMALAHLENI CHANGES FAMILY FOREVER
(Member’s Statement)
Afrikaans:
Mnr H C C KRUGER (DA): Huisvoorsitter, verlede week is ’n familie in Emalahleni se lewe, om ongeveer agtuur die oggend, verewig verander.
Booswigte wat ten doel gehad het om die Swanepoels van hul besittings te beroof, was verras deurdat Mev Swanepoel vroegtydig teruggekeer het van waar sy haar kleinseun opgetel het.
Drie swaargewapende mans het haar begin mishandel en haar in die gesig geslaan met die agterkant van die geweer. Die houe was so brutaal dat haar wangbeen versplinter is. Sy is tans besig om te herstel na ’n operasie. Die rowers het haar driejarige kleinseun gedreig om hom in die oond te druk indien hy nie stilbly nie.
Intussen het Mnr Swanepoel by die huis opgedaag, salig onbewus van die drama wat besig was om daar af te speel. Die skurke het hom trompop geloop en twee skote met ’n haelgeweer afgevuur. Hy is noodlottig in die gesig gewond.
Suid-Afrika is ’n oorlogsone waar kriminele die oorhand voer. Daar is geen politieke wil om die brutale geweld van die kriminele hok te slaan nie. Die staat het in sy mandaat gefaal. Dit het tyd geword dat die afwesige Minister rekenskap gee vir die geweld in Suid-Afrika, of die regte ding doen en bedank.
Dankie.
PEOPLE LIVING IN FEAR IN THEIR HOMES
(Member’s Statement)
Mr M K MONTWEDI (EFF): House Chair, the people of Maboloka in the North West Province are living in fear in their own homes. This was just after the discovery of platinum on the land they own and they have built their livelihoods over the decades. They are consistently harassed. A guesthouse located in 1584 Bataung
Section in Maboloka has been burned down. Some people have begun to flee their homes, leaving behind their belongings and their life savings. The police were called in on numerous occasions to come and help but they have chosen not to intervene.
People are losing their lives while the police fold their arms and do nothing about pure criminality sponsored by potential mining companies. The community of Maboloka is justified to suspect that the police are working with the municipality and the companies who want to mine and instil fear in the members of the community for them to leave their land, their livelihood and properties. We have seen how the state willingly collaborates with multinational companies to torment people, dispose of them of their land to benefit mining and damage the environment in the process. Thank you, Chair.
CAPE PUPILS UP IN ARMS OVER ‘RACIST’ HAIR POLICY AT MALIBU HIGH
(Member’s Statement)
Ms N S SHABALALA (ANC): Chair, the ANC condemns in its strongest form the incident where some black Cape Town Malibu High School learners were suspended for having so-called “untidy” hair on Friday 30 August 2019. It is reported that scores of pupils sang and chanted in protest against what they call a “racist rule” after black girls were told that their “hair is outrageous” and that they “look like trees”. Do I look like a tree?
Pupils from Grades 10 to 12 alleged they had been told by the principal that their “outrageous hair” needed “to be kept in plaits or tied up”. In a voice recording, the caretaker of the school is also heard telling the angry group of students that they had not been born with Afros. This was inflammatory, derogatory and also smacks of racism. We call upon educators to be sensitive when they deal with matters of this nature. [Time expired.] Thank you.
COMPLAINTS ABOUT COUNCILLOR MATSIMELA
(Member’s Statement)
Mr L M NTSHAYISA (AIC): Hon Chairperson, on 17 August 2019 I paid a visit to the Themba Khoza area Ward 111 in the city of Johannesburg. The people of that area are complaining of receiving negative treatment from councillor Matsimela there. They are being marginalised and even went to the extent of her telling them that no services will ever be brought to them. We don’t know the reason.
She is not approachable at all and whenever she is being called upon or phoned, she simply drops their calls. The people of that area are not taken seriously by this honourable councillor. The relations between this councillor and the people of Themba Khoza Ward 111 are becoming worse day by day. The people of this area took an initiative to fill a big hole that was left by a certain company there so that they can build their houses and this was in line with the so-called Vuk’uzenzele. They had to collect monies and pay trucks that had to come and drop some rocks there but only to be discouraged by the actions of this honourable councillor. She had prevented the trucks from going to that area and they were impounded and had to pay R10 000 for their release.
ANC CONDEMNS SENSELESS KILLING OF SOLDIER IN CAPE TOWN
(Member’s Statement)
Mr V C XABA (ANC): House Chairperson, the ANC condemns the senseless killing of a soldier found in a burned car in Cape Town. The senseless of a soldier, Staff Sergeant Michael Njomane, who was found, burned to death in a boot of a car in Blue Downs; Cape Town on Sunday 18 August 2019 is heartbreaking. His body was discovered after the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Services extinguished the fire. The victim had been recently transferred from the Eastern Cape to the Western Cape.
Njomane had been stationed at one of the military bases in the Western Cape. The ANC welcomes the arrests made by the SA Police Service, SAPS, of the two assailants accused of this heinous crime. A 43-year-old man was arrested in Blackheath while a second suspect, aged 24, was nabbed two days later in connection with the case. An attack on our state security forces is an attack on the state itself. We urge members of the community to assist and support the security forces and in particular, the SA
National Defence Force, SANDF, deployed to the Cape Flats to maintain peace and safeguard the rule of law. The ANC conveys heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the slain soldier. I thank you, Chair.
SELLING OF FARM TO MR RAKGASE
(Member’s Statement)
Ms A STEYN (DA: House Chairperson, yesterday I proudly stood by Mr David Rakgase, a 70-year-old farmer who won his case against the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. He went to court after struggling to buy the farm from the government for the past 16 years. Judge J Davis said that the state had failed to comply with its constitutional imperatives by its decision not to sell land to an African farmer who qualified for this.
He ordered the state to sell the farm to Mr Rakgase within 30 days. The DA was in court to support Mr Rakgase because the cruel ANC policy to keep black farmers as tenants on the land is not real empowerment. The ANC will have you believe that they
cared about reform but in reality, they care about control. President Cyril Ramaphosa keeps on saying that his party does not support the nationalisation of land yet court papers in the Rakgase matter uncovered that the ANC government has actively pushed for state land ownership for years. Do the right thing and transfer the land to Mr Rakgase, showing him that the government has faith in black farmers. If you decide to take this matter on appeal, it will be just like the 1913 Natives Land Act that denied black people land ownership in South Africa. I thank you. [Applause.]
ANC CONDEMNS ALARMING RISE IN FEMICIDE CASES
(Member’s Statement)
Ms S T XEGO (ANC): House Chair, violence‚ rape and assault of women seems to grow every day in this country and this is very much disturbing. The ANC condemns in the strongest terms this continuous act of barbarity against women. The brutal killing of the Eastern Cape champion boxer, “Baby Lee” by her policeman boyfriend last week left everyone shocked. The tragic and
untimely death of the University of Cape Town, UCT, student Uyinene Mrwetyana at the hands of the 42-year-old post office employee left everyone frustrated and angry.
The news of the University of the Western Cape, UWC, theology student, Jesse Hess, who was found murdered last Friday along with her 85-year-old grandfather Chris at their home in Parow, has left us completely shattered. These are just a few of the women who have made it into the news for losing their lives at the hands of men, including intimate partners. It is indeed a cruel irony that most of these young women died when we were about to close Women’s Month in August. The ANC calls for a lengthy sentence to be handed down on all the perpetrators of this crime in order to send a message to those who have any intention to commit crimes against women. We express our sincere condolences to all the affected families and relatives of the victims. Thank you, Chairperson.
CODES OF CONDUCT REVIEWS IN SCHOOLS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN
(Minister’s Responses)
The MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION: Chair, I want to respond to the one around the hair saga, which continues to trouble our schools. The last time when this matter occurred, we did advice provinces to work with school-governing bodies because it is the role of school-governing bodies to make the rules on ...
Because, it falls under the code of conduct in schools.
We requested them to relook at all the codes and to make sure that we don’t have a repeat of the same situation which happened at Pretoria Girls’ High School, which indeed is discriminating, humiliating and undermines the rights of our girl children. So, we can undertake a necessary ... Again, we will be meeting MECs next week to raise the issue and say the dignity of our children has to be protected at all costs. So, that is what I can respond.
The other response around the violence against women and children, I can say that I agree with most members who have said it is a sad indictment on our nation to be experiencing this
kind of violence. I think instead of finger pointing and blaming anybody, this matter requires all of us across gender, race, age and any divide to be united because it is a very sad indictment. It is very unfortunate. As a nation we have to relook at how we social our children – how we socialise a boy-child, in particular - and see if we can create even safety nets so that by the time they reach a certain age when they can be killer, we would have been able to support them. We must support families.
We always boast that 50% of households are run by women. Do we have enough support for those households which are run by women? We say we have children-headed households. Children can raise themselves. Those are all national questions that we have to address as a nation because it is indeed a very sad indictment to find ourselves in the situation that we find ourselves in.
Thank you very much, Chair.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D NTOMBELA): Thank you, hon
Minister. Hon Deputy Minister Jeffrey! I thought you raised your hand.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES (Mr J H
JEFFERY): I thought you were going to take the Ministers first, and then the Deputies, because I wanted to follow Minister Mthembu.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D NTOMBELA): Oh, okay. I recognise hon Nxesi!
ROAD FREIGHT LOGISTICS CRISIS
(Minister’s Response)
The MINISTER OF LABOUR: Chairperson, the issue raised by hon Rev Meshoe, concerning the road freight and the logistics sector crisis, which started long ago, before this wave that we see in some of the townships is sort of different. It might be related but I think I want to emphasise that the source of the problem with the truckers are the companies who are operating in the logistics sector. Some of them have employed 100% foreign national drivers.
In the midst of this high unemployment in the country, it becomes a source of resentment. Unfortunately it is illegal to do that because they are violating even the laws. There are companies who are ... [Interjections.] The labour laws of this country! [Interjections.]
Unfortunately, these are the very same people who are defending these criminal acts, because these are criminal acts which they are doing. What we are saying is: We have decided that in dealing with this particular matter, we are going to have joint inspection with the police, with SA Revenue Services and with a number of agencies of the state to expose these companies which are doing that.
There are some companies wherein they would employ 100 workers and will only have two workers who are South African citizens. This is done deliberately because it is aimed at exploiting this cheap labour of desperate workers. [Interjections.] Unfortunately, the DA doesn’t want to talk about these abuses.
They only talk about government all the way. Thank you.
CAPITALISATION PROGRAMME IN TAXI INDUSTRY
(Minister’s Response)
The MINISTER OF TRANSPORT: The recapitalisation programme is aimed at ensuring that our taxi industry, which is mainly black and African, is empowered. That programme started way back, by Minister Maharaj and all other succeeding Ministers. We have launched the programme to ensure that we have got roadworthiness of the taxis because the taxi industry does not benefit from government subsidy, like the bus transport system.
So, recapitalisation seeks to meet the taxi industry half way. In this particular instance, we have launched the programme and we are taking the taxi industry on board. Very soon we will be issuing a notice, of which afterwards all taxi association will actually be on board. We have upgraded from R80 000 to R124 000 per taxi after recapitalisation.
We are also exploring possibilities of discussing, among others, the question of subsidy of the taxi industry in the long term.
[Applause.] So, our engagement with the taxi industry is not one that simply says whatever that happens in their surrounding – because it is a black and sunset industry – we simply reject.
Our approach is to build, to engage and ensure that they are not exploited at the end of the day in the hands of independent banks that subsidise the taxi industry in one form or the other. Thank you very much.
LOOTING OF SHOPS IN GAUTENG
(Minister’s Response)
The MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY (Mr J M Mthembu): We agree with colleagues that looting of any shops does not give a very good picture of ourselves as a people, particularly when such looting happens during such important events like the World Economic Forum.
We therefore agree with colleagues that immaterial of the grievances that we might have and immaterial of whatever views that we might hold against any people within our borders, even
if it means those people are foreigners, we have no right and no justification to loot and burn their shops and properties.
Similarly, no foreign national has a right to loot and burn shops that belong to South Africans. We therefore appreciate and appeased with the arrests that our police effected arrests in and around Tshwane, Johannesburg and Soweto, where over almost
300 people have been arrested. So, indeed, where such criminality takes place, the law must indeed be seen to be taking place.
We therefore agree with the IFP and the DA that our laws must have teeth and we must act against those who loot, those who damage and those who burn.
EVICTIONS IN KRAAIFONTEIN, WESTERN CAPE
(Minister’s Response)
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM AND RURAL
DEVELOPMENT (Mr M Skwatsha): Hon Chair, I really want to join
those who have conveyed messages of condolence to all the families that have really been hit hard by the violence impacted against them by men in particular. I rise to speak on the evictions and say a bit on hon Steyn.
I personally visited the Klein Aker evicted people two weeks ago. I arrived on the streets of Kraaifontein on a very rainy cold Sunday evening. Children and women were in the streets, evicted by an uncaring City of Cape Town government, supported by its provincial government. They had been set out there with no place to sleep. As a caring ANC-led government ...
Ms B M VAN MINNEN: On a point of order, Chairperson. [Interjections.] The Deputy Minister is misleading the House and he knows it. [Interjections.]
Alternative land was arranged! [Applause.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D NTOMBELA): Hon member! I did not even hear what you were saying.
Ms B M VAN MINNEN: I said he is misleading the House, Chairperson.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D NTOMBELA): No, hon member, you are out of order. Hon Skwatsha, you can continue.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM AND RURAL
DEVELOPMENT (Mr M Skwatsha): They had been set out in that rainy cold weather with nowhere to sleep by an uncaring City of Cape Town government, supported by its provincial government. When we came in, it became clear that not more than 2km from where they were, there was property owned by a caring national government through its department. We then took people and afforded them an opportunity. Lastly Chair, ... [Time expired.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D NTOMBELA): Hon members, please! Hon members! [Interjections.] But, you are drowning the speaker on the floor. Hon Deputy Minister, your two minutes is up. Thank you very much.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM AND RURAL
DEVELOPMENT (Mr M Skwatsha): Can I ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D NTOMBELA): No, let’s leave it for another day. Thank you very much. Hon members, you know it becomes very difficult to control what members say in their statements. It is very difficult and I don’t think that it is in our powers to even control members from their statements – from saying whatever that they want to say in their statements.
Conversely, it becomes very difficult as well to dictate how the responses should be. So, please be tolerant to each other.
Hon members, we are left with one slot. I recognise hon Deputy Minister Jeffrey.
OLD APARTHEID FLAG
(Minister’s Response)
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES (Mr J H
JEFFERY): Chair, I just want to welcome the statement on the old
apartheid flag and to also echo the calls, particularly to white South Africans who may have nostalgia for the past, to recognise that the past as they perceive it, was horrific and a crime against humanity for most South Africans.
I really call on all members of this House, in particular those parties representing such people – and I am looking currently at the FF-Plus and to a lesser extent the DA, although most of your voters went to the FF-Plus – to basically urge those members or supporters to get involved in building a nation and to accepting the wrongs of the past. Thank you. [Applause.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D NTOMBELA): That concludes the Ministerial Responses to Members’ Statements standing over from
3 September 2019. Now we go to round number two.
NATIONAL SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAMME AND PIONEER FOODS
(Member’s Statement)
Ms N G ADOONS (ANC): Hon Chair, the African National Congress commends kick starting a child’s future one meal at a time. We welcome the official launch of the Department of Basic Education’s national school nutrition programme at Winnie Mandela Primary School in Ekurhuleni on Wednesday, 26 August 2019.
This is a government programme that provides one nutritious meal to all learners in poorer primary and secondary schools. The launch of this programme is a joint partnership between the Department of Basic Education and South African food and beverage products company known as the Pioneer Foods. This launch makes Gauteng the seventh province to receive Pioneer Foods supplies.
According to the 2013-14 annual report, the programme had reached more than 9 million learners in quintile 1, 2 and 3 schools. Feedback on this programme seems to have had a positive effect displaying a reduction in absenteeism and learners arriving on time to ensure they receive breakfast. The ANC believes education is a societal matter, and therefore calls
upon other business partners to join in on this initiative in order to reach and feed more children. Thank you.
ESKOM NOT REVEALING THE REAL PROJECT COST FOR MEDUPI AND KUSILE POWER STATIONS
(Member’s Statement)
Ms B M VAN MINNEN (DA): House Chair, Eskom is misleading us by slavishly repeating that the project cost for the Medupi and Kusile power stations will not exceed the amounts as agreed by the Eskom board five years ago. What Eskom is not including are major additional costs that will push the final cost of the two power station up by an estimated R161 billion at today’s prices.
These include interests during construction, but due to the massive cost escalations associated with bad management, looting, labour disruptions and construction delays, was estimated at a R124 billion in 2010, and now nine years later we are much higher, and the construction of the flu-gas to desulphurisation plant, Medupi, with an estimated cost of
R32 billion. The estimated additional costs of R4,4 billion over five years for up to 1 000 trucks per day delivering coal into Kusile instead of coal being delivered by a conveyer belt from a linked coal mine. This was because Eskom placed owners’ Black Economic Empowerment, BEE, requirements on Anglo Coal. This delayed the development of the new local coal field that would have originally been the determining factor for Kusile to be built at the selected site.
South Africa cannot continue to bailout Eskom without Eskom embarking on robust and extensive cost cutting measures now. Without them, Eskom and the entire economy will go under. I thank you. [Applause.]
DESTABILISED STATE-OWNED COMPANIES BY MINISTER OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES
(Member’s Statement)
Ms T P MSANE (EFF): Chairperson, the EFF is shocked by the deliberate and continuing destruction of state-owned companies
by the new dawn driven in the main by the Minister of Public Enterprises. All major state-owned companies have been systematically destabilised in order to create the impression that only private companies have the ability to run companies efficiently. Transnet, Eskom, Denel and SAA all have acting white executives because it has been made difficult for black executives to stay and work in these state-owned companies.
What is common throughout is that it is black executives and managers who are fired from these entities creating the impression that it is black executives who are driving corruption in the state. They are then replaced by white managers who still remain dominant and managing and providing direction to these state-owned companies. At the core of this systematic destabilisation is the long-term goal by the capital funded executives to handover the state assets to the white controlled companies.
The EFF will resist all these attempts. We will resist the privatisation of Eskom and other public entities. We will, over time, expose the agenda of these state capture agents who are
only in the executive to further the agenda of white domination and black subjugation in the country. [Applause.]
UPGRADE AND REHABILITATION PROJECT OF SOLOMON MAHLANGU ROAD IN MAMELODI
(Member’s Statement)
Mr L E MCDONALD (ANC): Hon House Chair, the ANC is of the view that infrastructure development is key to growing our economy. We therefore welcome the official launch in Gauteng of the multi-million upgrade and rehabilitation project of Solomon Mahlangu road in Mamelodi on Wednesday, 28 August 2019.
The R285 million project is expected to take 24 months to complete and is aimed at improving safety for motorists. It will serve as an important link between Mamelodi and the N4, whilst also serving as an alternative road stimulating the socioeconomic growth in the Mamelodi area.
The road is expected to reduce traffic congestion as well as provide improved transportation of people, goods and services. This initiative is in line with the National Development Plan, NDP, assertion of expanding infrastructure in order to support economic growth and social development goals. I thank you.
ALARMING STATISTICS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND CONDOLENCES TO FAMILIES OF VICTIMS
(Member’s Statement)
Ms Z MAJOZI (IFP): House Chairperson, the killing of women is a national crisis. As a mother to a young daughter I have constant fear about her wellbeing. The fact that she is in danger of being a victim of murder and rape every single moment of her existence, is unsettling. It is for this reason that the IFP extends its condolences to the families of all the victims of the recent reports of rape and violence.
Unfortunately, gender-based violence knows no borders. In South Africa, the raping and killing of women affects every woman from
every walk of life. Our country has one of the highest rates of femicide on the entire Africa continent and the world. Women are killed at five times the global rate in this country. The statistics are alarming and it is high time that we, in this House, all take a firm stand here today and support the IFP’s motion to debate the reinstatement of the death penalty. The culture of abuse and brazen killing of women in this country has a long standing history; it has been ingrained in the very fibre of our society. It is time to put an end to it. I thank you.
SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE FAILING TO PREVENT GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
(Member’s Statement)
Mr W W WESSELS (FF PLUS): House Chairperson, the FF Plus is, together with the rest of South Africa, deeply concerned about the increasing prevalence of violence against women and children. Gender-based violence is out of control. The FF Plus agrees with Minister Motshekga that we all must work together to address the crisis, but government has a constitutional responsibility to keep its citizens safe.
Serious reforms of the police and justice systems are crucial. The FF Plus calls on government to act. The South African police is failing to prevent these crimes. The justice system fails victims and the lack of good values such as mutual respect in our society is contributing to the increase of these crimes.
Words and slogans will not solve the crisis of femicide.
On the eve of Women’s Day, Sadieka Newman, who was eight months pregnant was shot dead. Angelique Clarke-Abrahams was raped and killed by a man she had a protection order against this Tuesday. This is proof that the justice system is failing.
Chairperson, not all men are trash. Let those of us who respect women as our equal counterpart set the example. Let us take a stance and call on government to take action and stop talking. I thank you.
SCRAPPING OF OLD UNROADWORTHY TAXIS THROUGH THE TAXI RECAPITALISATION PROGRAMME
(Member’s Statement)
Mr L N MANGCU (ANC): The ANC is committed to ensuring safe, reliable and efficient public transport, and welcomes the reintroduction of the government’s Taxi Recapitalisation Programme. This is an effort to curb the scourge of road accident fatalities.
Through this programme, the government aims to scrap and eliminate 135 894 unroadworthy taxis across the nine provinces over the period of five years. Taxi owners, who voluntarily surrender their vehicles that meet a predefined criteria to be scrapped, will be compensated with R124 000 for each taxi demolished through the programme.
The programme caters for taxis manufactured before 2007, and already the department has received 1 464 applications for scrapping of old taxi vehicles. The ANC is encouraged by the taxi industry’s co-operation with the government in this regard. We call on taxi operators to join this programme to enable the introduction of vehicles that meet safety standards.
THE ANC COMMENDS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FOR ARRESTING SUSPECTS FOR CONSTABLE RANKOE’S DEATH
(Member’s Statement)
Ms M A MOLEKWA (ANC): The ANC commends the law enforcement agencies for the sterling work they did in swiftly arresting suspects linked to the fatal shooting of Constable Mokgophe Rankoe. Constable Rankoe was shot and killed in Braamfischerville, Soweto. The speedy arrest of the suspects came after a responsive integration of the multidisciplinary team by the Gauteng law enforcement agencies that swiftly traced and apprehended the two suspects. Thus far there are three suspects apprehended for the crime and one was wounded during the shooting.
The continuous and unending killings of the police are a huge concern. As citizens, we must provide greater support to the police and assist them with information to help end these attacks on our police force.
Our government is committed to combating attacks on the members of the SAPS with measures that include harsher punishments and legislation in order to protect law enforcement officials in the execution of their duties. I thank you.
FAILURE TO PROVIDE WATER AND SANITATION
(Member’s Statement)
Ms C V KING (DA): House Chair, most ANC governed municipalities are failing to provide proper water and sanitation. The provision of these services is one of the primary aims of local government. So why can’t ANC-run local governments do not their job? The answer is simple, liberation movement organizations only work during liberation struggles; it doesn’t help you govern.
The Amathole District Municipality fails every day to deliver water and sanitation to the communities of Great Kei, Mnquma and Mbashe Municipalities. It is on this basis that the DA lodged a complaint against Amathole District Municipality at the Human
Rights Commission. This compelled the district municipality to conduct oversight at Skiti informal township in Butterworth to see the effects of raw sewerage polluting nearby rivers. This is aggravated by the scarce water supply at this financially distressed district municipality, which has failed on numerous occasions to have a contingency plan in place to ensure that water supply during the drought season is available.
Amathole District Municipality should study the DA-led City of Cape Town’s approach ... [Interjections.] ... to the drought and water conservation approach so that they can have a better understanding on how to plan and be proactive to ensure that communities are not left stranded as it is the case currently in the ANC-led Amathole District Municipality. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
STUDENT EXCLUSIONS BY RACE
(Member’s Statement)
Mr P P KEETSE (EFF): Thank you very much House Chair, 25 years into democracy, the guff and the gobbledygook administration of the ANC have dismally failed to transform the cosmopolitan policies of many Ivy League institutions in this country. I mean when you look at the Ivy League institutions like the University of Pretoria, Wits University or University of Cape Town, they continue to use the enrolment criteria that exclude the majority of black people. If you go to a faculty of medicine and look at the transformation there, you’ll realise that the majority of students there are the minority – Indians, White people and those coming outside of the country.
When you to institutions like University of Venda, University of Zululand in Ongoye, you will never find a single minority student because our people are being excluded in institutions like Wits University and not on the basis that they cannot succeed academically but because of the colour of their skin.
Hon Chair, perhaps ... We also want to see these white people as many as they are at Stellenbosch, we want to see the same reflection at the University of Venda, at Tshwane University of
Technology and many other institutions across the country. Thank you very much. [Time expired.]
CITY OF TSHWANE PROVIDING UNPURIFIED WATER
(Member’s Statement)
Mr S W MDABE (ANC): Thank you House Chair, as the ANC we want to rise and raise the issue around the Tshwane Municipality which is run by the DA and the EFF-led coalition ... [Interjections.]
... on the Hammanskraal matter where the people of Hammanskraal, Tshwane, North West and even Mpumalanga are drinking water that is not purified and there is no programme for purifying that water.
The DA-EFF-led municipality ... [Interjections.] ... has failed to do this. We therefore want to move that the Minister should be in a position to intervene and tell us what programme is there to address that particular problem because this Tshwane Municipality, which is a DA-EFF coalition has run down that municipality. I thank you. [Interjections.]
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES POUNCED ON ABALONE SMUGGLERS
(Member’s Statement)
Ms M M E TLHAPE (ANC): Thanks House Chair, the growth of criminal networks and their sophistication across national boundaries is of great concern. This includes syndicates that deal with smuggling of abalone as well as drug trafficking.
We commend the Hawks for having made in roads into dismantling these syndicates in the Western Cape. This has been demonstrated by the arrest of two individuals for allegedly running a
R1,9 million abalone drying facility by a joint operation between the Hawks, Crime Intelligence, National Intervention Unit and the provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
The Hawks will continue to act against abalone smuggling syndicates. The ANC calls upon all citizens to assist the law enforcement agencies by reporting any act of criminality or information thereof.
Our government commits itself to expanding and deepening co- operation amongst law enforcement agencies not just in the region but further afield as well. I thank you.
MINISTER MANTASHE ANNOUNCES NEW MINERAL IN PERTH
(Member’s Statement)
Mr K J MILEHAM (DA): Thank you House Chair, it seems that Minister Gwede Mantashe is not the expert on mining that he pretends to be. [Interjections.] The Minister was at the Mining Down Under investment conference in Perth, Australia, this week, to woo investors. He announced with great satisfaction the finding of hazenile - a remarkable new mineral used in battery technologies at, and I quote: “Congo Caves” in the Western Cape.
The problem, however, is that no such mineral exists, and there was no such find. The site from which he sourced this information clearly marks it as an April fool’s joke. But that didn’t deter our intrepid Minister, who clearly reads Frantz Fanon and Karl Marx rather than Mining Weekly or Paydirt! Our
already battered reputation as a mining powerhouse has taken yet another knock and investors are laughing at us.
It is becoming increasingly clear that Minister Mantashe is out of his depth and has no real plans to grow our economy. If he can’t tell real minerals from fake, and if he can’t reassure investors that South Africa is knowledgeable, competent and credible player in the mining sector, he has no place being the Minister of Mineral Resources. [Interjections.]
What’s the next big find, Minister? Vibranium at Wakanda? [Laughter.] [Applause.]
Ms A S ZUMA (ANC): Thank you House Chairperson, the ANC is concerned about employers not meeting equity targets. The Commission for Employment Equity’s 19th annual report reveals that whites continue to be the dominant group in top management positions despite being amongst the lowest economically active population group.
This report indicates that black professionals in general and Africans in particular, are not considered for senior positions in the private sector as compared to employment at national and local government. This raises concerns regarding the private sector’s commitment to transformation and works against inclusive economic growth.
This makes a mockery of our commitment to rid our country of inequality, poverty and unemployment. The ANC calls upon business, labour and civil society to come together and find a workable solution to address this matter. I thank you. [Applause.]
RECENT GENDER-BASED KILLINGS
(Minister’s Response)
The MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY: House Chair, we agree with the IFP that all of us must end the gender-based violence in our country. We agree that we must do everything that we can. I just want to correct the Freedom Front Plus. The conviction rate
arising from gender-based violence in our country stands at 74%. Therefore, here is high conviction.
Secondly, we have over 4 000 perpetrators who are serving life sentences in our prisons. The question is, notwithstanding all that our women continue to be killed. I think we as men must take full responsibility. We must speak out.
We also agree with what Minister Motshekga has said. We must do better in raising a boy-child. We should not raise him to be a beast, to kill women and to disrespect them. Having said that the President will be speaking to the nation today at 18:00 on this matter including measures we will be taking to stop the killings of women and girl-children in our country. Let’s listen to our President at 18:00. Thank you, Chair.
SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAMME VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN DEATH SENTENCE
(Minister’s Response)
The MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION: Chair, indeed, the school nutrition programme continues to be a fledging programme for the propoor. It continues to make tangible differences in the lives of our children. It does provide 9,6 million learners with meals everyday at more than 21 000 schools. It provides work opportunities to more than 61 000 volunteers and business opportunities to more than 4 000 enterprises. What is exciting, as the member has said, it is also sees the private sector putting a hand and supporting us in supporting us in making the programme much more fruitful.
On the question of violence against women, as the member of the Freedom Front Plus has said, where would government be when a men kill three of his kids in the bedroom. I think we should stop finger-pointing and as a nation come together and deal with this scourge. It is a problem.
I fully agree with the member of the IFP in everything she said except for the death penalty. Life is sacrosanct, only God gives life and only God can take life. As much as I abhor apartheid I despise it to this day for the hanging and taking lives of young
people in the gallows. If a member can visit Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre I don’t think you will come back again and say you want a government that can hang and kill people. I abhor and detest it and I will never in my life support any government that will take in its hands and kill people for any reason. So we will never support death sentence for anything. It’s a no, no and no!
ROAD TRANSPORT PROJECTS ON CARDS
(Minister’s Response)
The MINISTER OF TRANSPORT: Chair, on the roads we are upgrading the corridors that have been identifies in the country. Our inability to spend on capital projects is going to come to an end. We are building capacity within to ensure that there is a massive capital expenditure in the projects that have been identified by the SA National Roads Agency Limited, Sanral.
Where projects have been stopped as a result of politics, we are unblocking them. The N2 in the Eastern Cape will be unblocked.
The Moloto Corridor will also be unlocked and launched because we had issues with the Gauteng government. So, we are on track. An amount of R285 million for a project in Mamelodi is just but one project that addresses the bigger problem that we are faced with, which is congestion on the road. We have congestions, how do we address alternatives for the commuters in our country.
Thank you.
SLOW PROGRESS OF WORKPLACE TRANSFORMATION
(Minister’s Response)
The MINISTER OF EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR: Chairperson, indeed, the 19th Commission for Employment Equity Report 2018-2019 released in August painted a very bleak picture on progress with the transformation in the workplace over the last 20 years.
Originally, the Employment Equity Act was adopted in 1998. The thinking, at the time was that the employment equity makes business sense and that the employers will embrace it as the right thing to do. We have come to realise that the pace of progress is very, very slow and more has to be done to speed up
and improve the representation of the designated groups including people with disabilities.
That is why in launching the report recently I have announced the Employment Equity Amendment Bill which will be submitted to Cabinet and come to this Parliament in order to introduce additional measures including sector targets to accelerate transformation.
These sector targets are envisaged to be set in consultation with the relevant sector employers and engagement with various role-players. That has already started. We cannot leave transformation in the hands of business anymore. I hope the members of Parliament will support these measures to amend the Act in order to fast-tract transformation for the sake of our children and future generations.
VIOLENCE REACTION MEASURES
(Minister’s Response)
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF STATE SECURITY: House Chair, we need to acknowledge and congratulate the work that the law enforcement agencies are continuing to do. Working together we have been able over a period of time to prevent a number of organised activities and disrupted some that would have been worse than what we have seen so far. We continue to work together on a number of hot spots in KwaZulu-Natal, Johannesburg and Tshwane.
What exacerbates these incidents is what we call hawker market competition. The hawker market competition is becoming so lucrative in areas where there is a fight between formal and informal. We are dealing with those issues. We have identified those hot spots and some of the individuals that can be used. There is nothing political about attacking people on the basis of their nationality. For example, there is nothing political to attack people and loot a liquor store - there is nothing political about it. It is pure criminality and we are doing with it. We are dealing with that criminality and I think police are doing very well.
One of the issues that exacerbate it and we are dealing with it from the agency point of view, is fake news and photo shot images of incidences that happened in 2008. Some of them happened outside South Africa but they are reactivated as though they happened now. We are following those individuals and we have been able to disrupt and find them and the source of origin of all those fake news.
There can be nothing political about attacking a Sontonga Mall in the East Rand. It is nothing else but criminality. And I think the work of the law enforcement including the South African Police Service, SAPS, are working together with a number of intelligent services. We are able to report today that we have build calm in a number of hot spots in the country. We must work together including this Parliament. We must condemn unanimously the actions of criminality that have taken place over the recent past. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
CITY OF TSHWANE PROVIDING UNPURIFIED WATER
(Minister’s Response)
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM AND RURAL
DEVELOPMENT (Mr M Skwatsha): Hon Chair, the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, received complaints from the people of Hammanskraal who reside in the DA-run municipality. In 2018, the same community reported the same matter to the South African Human Right Commission. When complaints were received, the caring national government went to investigate. After discovering that the kind of water that people were drinking was not okay, the caring government decided to go into the matter and make sure that it is resolved. The government of this country is the ANC government and we are responsible for those people who are being deprived their dignity. Our worry is that the problem of the City of Cape Town seems to be spreading to Tshwane municipality. We want people to be rest assured that ...
IsiXhosa:
... lo rhulumente ungqondo-gqwirha we-DA ...
English:
... is not going to be allowed to play with our people. Thank you. [Applause.]
NOTICES OF MOTION
Ms N G ADOONS: Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the House debates the implementation of the Jobs Summit Framework Agreement.
I so move.
Ms N I TERABELLA-MARCHESI: Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move on behalf of the DA:
That the House debates measures that can be introduced to assist struggling ANC-run municipalities in the Free State to deliver basic services, including environmental services like cleanliness of streets and parks.
[Applause.]
Mr V PAMBO: Chair, I rise on behalf of the EFF, to alert, to shake and to awaken this House to the reality that South Africa is burning and the killings of fellow Africans.
Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move on behalf of the EFF:
That the House debates special dispensation visa for all undocumented immigrants in South Africa so as to locate and identify everyone who is undocumented. Appropriately measure and the resources needed by our brothers and sisters. And, normalise their status in this country to remove attacks and being labelled illegal in their own continent.
I so move.
Mr L E MCDONALD: Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the House debates South Africa’s fight in climate change in line with Paris Agreement.
Inkosi R N CEBEKHULU: Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move on behalf of the IFP:
That the House debates the action plan that the government needs to put in place, to combat the scourge of violence that has engulfed the fabric of our society.
Thank you.
Mr S N SWART: Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move on behalf of the ACDP:
That the House debates whether the recent public violence, burning of trucks, looting of foreign-owned shops, and assaults on foreign nationals, is motivated by xenophobia or brazen criminality, or a combination of both and what
steps can be taken to avoid such disgraceful conduct occurring again.
Mr L N H MANGCU: Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the House debates reviewing the status and consolidation of the framework of the institutions supporting democracy.
I so move.
Mr F J MULDER: Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move on behalf of the FF Plus:
That the House debates the detrimental effect of health promotion levy, or sugar tax on the sugar industry that is already under threat; its contribution to job losses and the contraction of the economy.
Thank you.
Mrs D VAN DER WALT: Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move on behalf of the DA:
That the House debates the implementation of the norms and standards for school funding, governance and educator provision for public schools as contemplated in section 12(3)(b) of the South African Schools Act, Act 84 of 1996, as amended, with specific reference to public schools that provide a specialised focus on talent, including sport, performing arts or creative arts.
Ms N V MENTE: Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move on behalf of the EFF:
That the House debates the exploitative and corrupt Amadlelo projects and leasing of Ncora people’s farm land under false pretence that it is project that is going to empowerment people; yet they are embezzling funds.
Thank you.
Ms M A MOLEKWA: Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the House debates educating society against narrow nationalism and the combat of xenophobia.
Thank you.
Ms M M E THLAPE: Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the House debates strengthening, resourcing, joint planning and budgeting across the criminal justice system.
I thank you.
Mr L N NTSHAYISA: Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move on behalf of the AIC:
That the House debates how our school curriculum can be made suitably relevant with the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
I so move.
Mr V C XABA: Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the House debates enforcing the National Anti-Gang Strategy by targeting drug syndicates.
I so move.
Mr R MASHEGO: Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the House debates the crisis in Tshwane where our people are still drinking water that is not purified by the DA and the EFF.
[Interjections.] [Applause.]
Debate Concluded.
The House Adjourned at: 17:34
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