Hansard: NA: Unrevised hansard (Mini plenary)

House: National Assembly

Date of Meeting: 07 Nov 2019

Summary

No summary available.


Minutes

UNREVISED HANSARD

 

THURSDAY, 7 NOVEMBER 2019

 

PROCEEDINGS OF THE MINI-PLENARY SESSION – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER

 

Members of the mini-plenary session met in the Old Assembly Chamber at 14:03.

 

 

The House Chairperson Mr C T Frolick took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayer or meditation.

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon members, before we proceed with today’s business, I wish to remind you that we are meeting in the mini-plenary session. Therefore, any decisions will be taken in a full plenary session of the National Assembly. I now request the Secretary to read the First Order.

 

 

      CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM ON CONSULTATIVE WORKSHOP ON TOURIST SAFETY AND SECURITY IN SOUTH AFRICA

 

 

Ms L S MAKHUBELA-MASHELE: Hon House Chair and hon members, good afternoon. Hon members, the workshop that was conducted by the

 

 

Portfolio Committee on Tourism and the Portfolio Committee on Police with various public sector and private sector stakeholders on the scourge of crimes committed against tourists was a huge success.

Some of the stakeholders that were present came across the length and breadth of the country representing voices of provinces and local municipalities. The private sector was represented by the Business Council of South Africa. It was also encouraging to witness the kin interests shown by tourist stakeholders and tourism scholars from across universities in the country. All stakeholders agreed that crime was a threat not only to tourism growth, but to the economic growth of the country as a whole.

 

 

The timing of the joint consultative workshop on tourism safety was conducted by Parliament as an oversight mechanism to ensure that we play our meaningful role in ensuring that government does what it has to do to ensure that programmes of government are implemented correctly and that the money spent is accounted for. The growth of the tourism sector, hon members, depends on the increase of tourism arrivals. However, the recent past the sector has suffered serious blow in the state of crimes against tourists which tarnishes the brand of South Africa as a tourist destination of choice from abroad and across the continent.

 

 

It is disheartening to note that tourism figures have continue to decline since the colloquium or the workshop which was convened in August. It should be noted that South Africa is losing its market share to country such as Kenya and Egypt. In addition to safety concerns, South Africa is losing its competitiveness to these countries while source market countries are issuing advisories concerns against South Africa, they are withdrawing advisory concerns against Kenya and Egypt. These two competing countries to South Africa have introduced measure such as e-visas and have simplified the process of processing visas and their airlift strategies are now put in place which put them at an advantage position to South Africa.

 

 

A number of observations were made from the inputs from various organisations which included: hon members, the emphasis that efforts must be put on tourism safety which does not only depends on government, but citizens must play a critical role and must ensure that awareness is at community level, to ensure that tourists are protected at all time, to ensure that citizens understand that when a tourist visits their area, they are boosting the local economy, they are also growing the gross domestic product, GDP, of the country, and they are creating jobs and putting bread on the table

 

 

of those who depend on the sector to ensure that they have a livelihood.

 

 

Majority cities which are tourists destinations across the country have now dedicated tourism safety officers, which are closely monitoring hot sports, to ensure that tourists feel safely in the country and therefore can enjoy the beauty and serenity of the country with its diverse people so that when they go back to their countries, they can tell them a good story of a South Africa that is safe ... Thank you. [Time expired.]

 

 

Mr M S F DE FREITAS: Hon House Chair, firstly, allow me to congratulate the Chairperson of our portfolio committee for the initiative in hosting this important workshop. It is exactly this type of co-ordination and crosspollination that is lacking and is needed within tourism so that we can do it better. Secondly, the national Department of Tourism and the portfolio committee absolutely understand that tourism is an economic driver and job creator. However, departments such as the Police do not understand this, and here exactly lies the problem. Police treats tourism and the safety of tourists as a safety issue. The paradigm needs to shift to understand that policing of tourists and tourism is actually an economic driver and not just a safety issue.

 

 

Countries that have high number of tourists consistently year after year are able to sustain these numbers because government departments treat tourists as an economic driver or of the department ... [Inaudible.] ... When more people are employed, the economy grows, and in turn, then this impact positively on crime because it drops the budget allocation, for example, to these departments also grows. It is clear that the number one challenge confronting South Africans is to grow our economy and to create jobs. We all need to rally behind solving this challenge. This means positioning ourselves wherever we are to address this. This is my challenge to the police. They need to change the way that they see crime and deal with it.

 

 

As I stated in the House yesterday, the latest data released by Statistics SA confirms that tourism is not growing, in fact, is regressing. The number one reason for this is safety and security concerns.

 

 

The statistics confirms that international tourists coming to our shores have reduced. Focus countries like China have reduced by 10%. Countries that traditionally we have enjoyed a great high number of tourists like Germany have reduced by 6,5%, and cumulatively

 

 

tourists from Africa have reduced by 1,4%. These figures are a concern. We need to be more aggressive to change this around.

 

 

Co-ordination between different departments is a starting point. The first ball was kicked by our committee Chairperson and with this workshop. Let’s make this a trend. I propose that another joint workshop be held, the next one possibly being with the Home Affairs to address the visa issue. Such co-ordination will ensure that the past opportunities that we have lost are not repeating in future.

Activities such as the Rugby World Cup victory this weekend should be capitalised on and piggy-banked on by tourism. We should be telling the world about South Africa today, while South Africa is on their lips throughout the world - tomorrow maybe too late.

 

 

Keeping South Africa on the world’s mind now would reverse any negative perceptions that would exist and would start increasing the number of tourists to our shores. This would have a knock-on effect on growing our economy and also creating jobs. Let’s challenge all these departments to start thinking differently about tourism and, in this way, creating jobs and growing our economy. Thank you very much. [Applause.]

 

 

Mr P G MOTEKA: Chairperson, as the EFF we attended the workshop and I must emphasise from the beginning that like any other South African, we are disheartened by rampant criminal activity that keeps all of us in fear for our lives in our own homes. If we, therefore, are not able to keep South Africans safe every day, it will be quite a tall order to try to keep the rest of those who come to visit this beautiful nation safe.

 

 

The consultative workshop was a necessary intervention, therefore; to look at how the tourism sector and the police and safety should work hand in hand for the safety of tourists in our country. This is for the simple reason that if tourists are not feeling safe if there are stories of tourists getting murdered and mugged, they will stop visiting, and that will severely damage the economy, and cause long- term negative effects towards our job creation goals.

 

 

So our approach to the problem of criminality must be systematic, it must be comprehensive enough to root out the causes of crime generally, before we can deal with the specific crimes perpetrated against tourists. We need to have visible policing across the country, free of corruption and immune to manipulation by criminal gangs.

 

 

The biggest criminals we have at the moment are with the police themselves that is why they lost the murder docket of Senzo Meyiwa. They are easily bought by criminals. Our entire criminal justice system must be made to work so that those arrested of criminality are brought to book.

 

 

There must be close co-operation between tourist destinations such as the Kruger National Park and the SA Police Service, SAPS. Sadly, we must also sensitise our tourists that they need to stick to designated tourist paths, which must be made safe, because South Africa – at the moment – may be dangerous to the wandering tourists.

 

 

Finally, a long-lasting solution to the problem of crime more generally though, is that our education system must work and produce people who can contribute to the economy of the country. Our industrial policy must function to create industries that would employ people.

 

 

We must promote small businesses so that those who want to employ themselves can do so. And we must punish those who break the law, starting from politicians, down to those who take bribes. Thank you very much, House Chair. [Applause.]

 

 

Mr K P SITHOLE: Hon House Chairperson, hon members, if this country is to meet the President’s target of 21 million tourist arrivals by 2030 we must get tougher on crime and the promotion of tourist safety in this country.

 

 

South Africa does not want to find itself on international country lists under the heading, Travel Advisory, like the one issued by the United States Department of State on the 19 October last year advising US citizens visiting South Africa to, “Exercise increased caution due to crime and civil unrest.”

 

 

Tourists are advised to avoid walking alone, especially after dark, to avoid visiting informal settlement areas, to not display cash or valuables and to always drive with doors locked and windows closed. Tourists are further advised that:

 

 

“Violent crime, such as armed robbery, rape, carjacking, mugging, and "smash-and-grab" attacks on vehicles are very common and that there is a higher risk of violent crime in the central business districts of major cities after dark.”

 

 

This does not sound like a place I would want to visit with my family if I was a foreigner. South Africa has it all in terms of

 

 

nature, beauty and biodiversity and yet our weak stance on crime will prevent tourists from visiting the country.

 

 

Joint Consultative Workshop on Tourist Safety and Security in South Africa such as this one which brought together all interested and affected stakeholders concerned about the crime committed against tourists in South Africa and with the stated goals and intention to find lasting solutions to mitigate the impact of crime on the tourism industry in the short term and completely eradicate tourism crime in the long term is most necessary.

 

 

We must also learn from countries like Iceland, Portugal, Japan, Ireland and Australia where tourists are welcomed and feel and are safe and secure. Technology must be embraced and utilised to its maximum in countering criminal activity.

 

 

Partnerships must be forged between business, community policing forums, SAPS, and all spheres of government as through an integrated approach will be necessary. So, by saying that, ...

 

 

IsiZulu:

 

 

... i-IFP iyawuseka lombiko futhi icela ukuthi izinto zonke ezakhulunywa kwingqungquthela ziyenziwa ngendlela efanele kube yiyo. Ngiyathokoza.

 

 

Ms M E SUKERS: Hon House Chair, we must acknowledge the efforts made by the Department of Tourism to bring multiple stakeholders together to craft a Tourist Safety and Security Strategy. We must also acknowledge the efforts made by President Cyril Ramaphosa to encourage and inspire confidence in our country.

 

 

We share that responsibility each one of us. Every South African has the responsibility to promote our nation in spite of our challenges. The challenges we face, such as high crime rates, unemployment and inequality should motivate us to pull together, because we have a shared future.

 

 

Challenges must not define us, it is our hope and belief in a South Africa for all that must inspire us to carry the flag of this nation in whatever capacity we may find ourselves in and here it is worth mentioning the #ImStaying that relays the inspirational stories of ordinary South Africans and their reasons that they will stay in this country.

 

 

Our collective efforts are needed to change the downward trajectory in international visitors coming to our country and domestic visitors to our respective provinces. In short, we must all see ourselves as brand ambassadors for our nation. We could regurgitate the statistics, we all know them. We are ranked amongst the most violent countries in the world, and being flagged by countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Australia among others as a dangerous country.

 

 

But, the loss of revenue as a result of these realities, what it means for all of us, is fewer visitors come, and this further results in job losses and even deeper levels of poverty.

 

 

We must apply our energies in finding and driving solutions to move upward on the growth curve. As people in public office, we should do most of the heavy lifting to improve the outlook of our nation, and once again attract the world to this nation, sitting at the tip of Africa.

 

 

They want to come, we must give them reasons to come to our nation and each and South African carries that responsibility. I thank you. [Applause.]

 

 

Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Hon House Chair, the NFP welcomes the report of the Portfolio Committee on Tourism tabled here today. One of the core mandates in terms of the statement made by our President in February and in June 2019, is to attempt to double the tourism figures from 10, 5 million in 2018 to 21 million in 2030.

 

 

We note the concerns and impact crime has on tourism in the country. We welcome the co-ordinated effort by both the Portfolio Committee on Tourism and the SA Police Service to address crime against tourists. We also note that South Africa is ranked 101 out of 128 countries in the world in terms of safety.

 

 

We take note the fact that various stakeholders and individuals have participated in this workshop to try and create a more safer environment for our tourists. A matter of concern for us is the statistics and data that we get from Statistics SA compared to what we get from the SA Police Service. However the memorandum of understanding that has been entered into between the two departments is welcome.

 

 

We also concur with the findings that media plays a pivotal role in South Africa. We find that negative reporting in South Africa by the media have a negative impact on tourists coming to South Africa.

 

 

Yes, I think they need to play a positive role. I think what is important is that while we may disagree on a lot of things, have differences and we want power and control, but what we must not forget is that we are all South Africans and that we need to put South Africa first. I think an initiative of this nature must be welcome.

 

 

Let us not forget that every tourist that comes here is a human being. It is someone’s son, someone’s daughter, someone’s brother and someone’s sister. What we ought to do as South Africans is to welcome, to embrace, to protect, to guide them and make sure that they are safe and secure in South Africa. If we can do that, yes, indeed, we will be able to reach our target of ensuring that we have lot more tourists coming in South Africa.

 

 

When you speak to many people outside South Africa and you mention South Africa they say, no, no, I don’t want to visit there it is too dangerous. It is up to us to sell South Africa in the interest of this country and in the interest of the millions of South Africans. The NFP welcomes this report. Thank you.

 

 

Mr M P GALO: Chair of Chairs, following our joint consultative meeting with the Portfolio Committee on Police on 27 August 2019,

 

 

there were a number of recommendations that emerged from the discussions. These recommendations are a conduit of the consultative and constructive discussions that we had in the workshop. In attendance were committee members and parliamentary support staff, government officials, representatives from provincial legislatures, officials from provincial tourism authorities, members from academia and stakeholders from the private sector.

 

 

For me what stood out during the work shop as the committee correctly recommended, are two-pronged interventions. I wish to footnote the committee. Firstly, we need to roll-out tourism safety initiatives such as the safer festive season in all provinces.

Secondly, the SA Police, SAPS, has to consider classifying crimes committed against tourists as tourism crime or economic crime considering the economic contribution of the sector to the GDP. The AIC support the report.

 

 

Mr Z J PETER: Hon Chairperson, House Chair and hon members, tourism remains one sector with a potential to unite the country and the world. An outreach to educate citizens about the importance of safety and Brand South Africa remain critical. South Africa is competing with other countries in the global market share of international arrivals. It is concerning though that the work done

 

 

on the brand tracking revealed a constant decline in the positive brand image of the country.

 

 

Findings from the South African Tourism‘s Brand Tracker for 2017 showed that 17% of tourist were doubtful of coming to the country due to safety concerns. But it is not only about that, colleague. It is about how patriotic we are about our country. Some of us talk bad about this country and yet we expect tourists to come to South Africa and we expect           investors to come to this country. We have to be responsible. The brand of a country plays a crucial role in the choices made by tourists to visit a particular destination.

 

 

The recent crime incidents against tourists coupled with the perceived xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals, violence against women and children and service delivery protests have a potential to tarnish the brand of the country.      We must do something. We can't bury our heads in the sand and pretend that safety is not an issue when in fact it poses a huge threat to tourism growth. We need to do something about it. The continued negative narrative in terms of bad reporting compromises both the safety and Brand South Africa. The President of the country has committed government and private sector to a bold and ambitious target of doubling tourism figures from  10,5 million $2018 to 21 million by 2030. We can only achieve this

 

 

if we all work together for a common goal. Let’s all make South Africa a safe destination for tourist and brand the image of country.

 

 

The Springbok has shown us that united we stand, divided we fail “sam trek sam werk” [Pull together, work together]. The ANC supports the report. I thank you.

 

 

Debate concluded.

 

 

CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE ON OVERSIGHT VISIT TO GAUTENG

 

 

Ms N NTOBONGWANA: Hon House Chair and hon members.

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order. Order, hon members.

 

 

Ms N NTOBONGWANA: Hon House Chair, hon members and guests in the gallery, the Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure, embarked on an oversight visit to the national department and its entities, in Gauteng. Part of the visit was to check whether what we have been getting reports on as the new committee in the sixth administration is it true or not.

 

 

We made several findings on our oversight, but we can’t not acknowledge that the department has made progress in terms of cleaning and how it operates. The audit opinions of the Auditor- General of SA on the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and Property Management Trading Entity, PMTE, have shown a significant improvement.

 

 

We found out that the Independent Development Trust, IDT, much as it has challenges, but when given a task, it can clearly deliver on the social infrastructure projects as the case that we saw with the Booysens Magistrate Court which is the state of the art court in Johannesburg. However, what worried us as the committee, is that much as the IDT has done so, but now maintenance has been given to Coega and the Development Bank of Southern Africa, DBSA, by the client department, whereas IDT was at the centre of facilitating.

 

 

We also find out that the department, in some cases has a challenge in terms of accommodating and maintaining buildings for client departments. A case in point is Telkom Towers. It is the head office of SA Police Service, SAPS, but it has not been occupied for five years, whereas security and maintenance is paid. This has to be urgently addressed and as the committee we are going to put a sharp

 

 

eye on this and requesting reports timeously, because the deadline that has been set out now is 15 April 2020.

 

 

As we were doing our oversight, we also found out about the issue of the Expanded Public Works Programme, EPWP grant. Much as that the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure is the one issuing the incentive grant, but the national departments, the provincial departments, the municipalities and the nonprofit organisations, NPOs, that are implementing do not stick to the guidelines and the reporting format that public works has set out. That has made that to be an issue by the Auditor-General on the books of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure. As such, we felt that as the committee, it is one of the issues that we are going to follow up and ensure that it is done according to the guidelines which are very clear and the reporting format as set out.

 

 

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and its PMTE, as the committee we feel that it has to be strengthened. That can only be done if the White Paper dated 1997 entitled Public Works towards the 21st Century can be reviewed, because this has not been done.

This review would result in a draft Public Works Bill that would enhance the department and its entity, PMTE’s powers to collect management fees from client departments and exact its legal mandated

 

 

powers as landlord and custodian of government properties as per the Constitution and Government Immovable Asset Management Act.

 

 

We feel that public works does not have the muscles and teeth to deal with the client departments. So, if this can be past as a Bill public works can then have that.

 

 

The transformation of the construction and the professional built environment requires serious attention. This can be addressed and has a potential to develop more jobs and get the economy on the recovery path as out President has said so that we need to change the way our economy is.

 

 

Lastly, as the committee we feel that having done so and had so many findings, there are issues that we are going to follow up and do oversight on. The issue of the SAPS, of the Telkom Towers, the EPWP branch, the Council for the Built Environment, CBE, and Construction Industry Development Board, CIDB, that we feel that if transformation can be done there, a lot of jobs can be created.

 

 

Also the issue of the unemployment and transformation which requires policy urgency and we feel that we need to also consider the

 

 

establishment of the national skills plan especially towards the built environment.

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, your time has now expired.

 

 

Ms N NTOBONGWANA: We feel that the House must accept and deliberate on the report of the Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure. Thank you. [Applause.]

 

 

Mr J N DE VILLIERS: Hon House Chairperson, this oversight visit formed part of the capacity-building of the committee to ensure a greater level of understanding of the portfolio. During the Budget Vote debate the DA promised to district oversight over the Minister and the department, so that we all succeed and we do not fail those who voted for us.

 

 

The DA supports the report because it is the true reflection of what happened during the visit. And secondly, it introduced some of the achievements and challenges of the department to the committee members.

 

 

Some of the highlights of the visit included the following: The Booysens Magistrate Court, implemented by the Independent Development Trust, IDT, is a flagship project that showcases the ability of the IDT to deliver social infrastructure projects on time and under budget. Despite a number of challenges, the project has been a resounding success.

 

 

Visits to the Waterkloof Airforce Base demonstrated the world-class developments in dealing with sinkholes and dolomitic conditions both in respect of prevention and mitigation, as well as in their rehabilitation.

 

 

Agrément SA continues to impress with their innovation in the building industry and the visit to their Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR, base showcased many of these innovations. More needs to be done, however, to ensure that their products and methodologies are marketed to government and private construction entities.

 

 

The oversight visits did raise some concerns, however. The Independent Development Trust has been in a restructuring process for the past seven years. The board is not fully manned and there

 

 

are a number of high-level positions in which people are acting. This entity is in trouble and needs urgent attention.

 

 

Acting positions are an issue throughout the department and its entities and this must be addressed.

 

 

Legislative and policy clarity is needed throughout the department. The department needs to have greater powers of enforcement, particularly in the Expanded Public Works Programme, EPWP.

 

 

Transformation in the Council for the Built Environment and its professional councils is a focus area that needs a more structured approach including skills development and incentivised registration. It is clear that both the Ministers and the committee want to see change and accountability. Go Bokke! I thank you. [Applause.]

 

 

Ms A M SIWISA: Chairperson, the Department of Public Works has a very strategic role to play in the development of this country. Led properly, the department can, on a massive scale, lead the qualitative growth of thousands of black businesses in the construction and building industry. It can also lead the process of ensuring that state functions are performed by those employed by the state.

 

 

This department can lead in the establishment of a state construction company that would lead infrastructure development in this country, instead of depending on the big construction firms that are milking the state dry through their corruption.

 

 

During this oversight visit, we found that the department has all but forgotten the strategic role it ought to play in developing the country. It is a wasteful department, negligent even of the resources it has at its disposal.

 

 

The following were picked up during the oversight visit to the department. The Molobi Housing Innovation Hub has various innovative housing structures that is suitable and sustainable for use in the South African weather, yet none of these are used by the Department of Human Settlements despite the department being invited in the past to view the houses.

 

 

Agreement for South Africa is supposed to lead with innovative, tested material to help build and provide houses and toilet facilities for the country. This does not happen. Instead, its focus is on testing for private companies and individuals.

 

 

The Telkom Tower building in Pretoria that is supposed to house the national SA Police Service, SAPS, is still under renovation and will not meet its deadline due to the slow progress of work.

 

 

With four entities that work parallel to each other, the department will forever face a crisis of not fulfilling its mandate.

 

 

We can resolve this by ensuring that there is close co-operation between the Independent Development Trust, IDT, Agreement for South Africa, ASA, the Council for the Built Environment, CBE and the Construction Industry Development Board, CIDB. The Independent Development Trust should be primarily responsible for identifying projects, Agreement South Africa must then provide suitable, innovative and sustainable material for these projects. The Construction Industry Development Board must provide contractors and engineers, and will ensure that there is a legislative framework in place.

 

 

But we know that this will not be considered so as to allow for tendering to continue and also for the looting of public funds to continue.

 

 

It is time we move away from tenders because they benefit only a few minorities and marginalise small businesses. It is time we use our own state-owned construction and building company to address the backlog in houses, schools, clinics, hospitals, proper toilet facilities and proper roads. Thank you. [Applause.]

 

 

Mr M N NXUMALO: House Chair, unfortunately, the oversight visit to Gauteng has yielded the same issues that we have constantly been talking about in this very House. Some of the issues found within this department are currently experienced in other departments such as, the Extended Public Works Programme, EPWP.

 

 

The EPWP is a key and important programme that, if executed correctly, can help alleviate poverty and educate and skill people. The population of South Africa, in turn, must jealously protect and support the success of this programme. However, the lack of cohesion within the department’s entities has led to parts of the EPWP being unable to meet some of its key performance indicators that were outside of its control. You would want key performance indicators under its control if you do not have confidence in fellow entities and their ability to assist you in meeting the overall key performance indicators. This demonstrates a lack of cohesive

 

 

understanding to achieve the common goal of a transformed, inclusive and growing economy supported by public infrastructure.

 

 

In support of my argument, we see one of the recommendations admit that:

 

 

The entities reporting to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure worked in silos. This affected the joint effort that was required to address urgent transformation challenges in the construction and built environment sector.

 

 

The silo mentality pays no dividend when a team, group or entity has to work to ensure effective service delivery. It leads to the breakdown and failure of communication — as we are currently witnessing in almost all departments.

 

 

The IFP has maintained the position that the challenges of unemployment and transformation require urgent policy intervention. This has now rung true in the committee report.

 

 

We have also been highlighting the skills gap that currently exists in South Africa. In addressing the need for transformation and the skills gap, the IFP has correctly identified that the existing human

 

 

resource skills and material resources within the department are inadequate for the purpose of meeting the urgent and necessary demands for development.

 

 

The IFP proposes, amongst others, that a cadre of specially trained and dedicated civil servants be assembled to facilitate real community development based on the promotion of self-reliance and the provision of essential infrastructure.

 

 

The IFP supports the report.

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

Mnr P A VAN STADEN: Geagte Voorsitter, Openbare Werke en Infrastruktuur is ’n baie belangrike departement in Suid-Afrika en so ook in ander lande oor die wêreld. Nie net is hierdie departement die bewaarder en bestuurder van die staat se onroerende bates nie, maar ook die skepper en instandhouer van Suid-Afrika se infrastruktuur.

 

 

Dit hou die ekonomie aan die gang deur toe te sien dat goedere plaaslik versprei word en verseker dat plaaslike inwoners toegang het tot paaie, brue, skole, water en vele ander dienste. Sonder die behoorlike onderhoud van infrastruktuur sal geen land se ekonomie

 

 

kan oorleef nie. Geen internasionale belegger sal geld in Suid- Afrika kom belê as die infrastruktuur nie opgeknap en in stand gehou word nie.

 

 

English:

 

Unfortunately, for the past 25 years, this government was so focussed on corruption and looting from the taxpayer and enforcing broad-based black economic empowerment, BBBEE, and affirmative action, that they completely forgot to maintain and manage the infrastructure of South-Africa. They did such a great job on this, that today we see the total collapse of infrastructure in Vereeniging where sewage is running into resident’s homes, while in the Free State the road between Viljoenskroon and Parys is completely unfit for road users.

 

 

There are countless more cases across the country where infrastructure is collapsing. No wonder the 2017 Infrastructure Report Card for South-Africa that was issued by the SA Institution of Civil Engineering awarded an overall grade of D+ for public infrastructure of the Republic. D+ stands for “Risk of Failure”. Our infrastructure is at a great risk of failure.

 

 

Another simple example of the government’s incompetence is the building of houses and megacities on dolomite areas, as is the case with the Brickvale and Daggafontein developments in Gauteng. One morning we will all wake up and weep because hundreds of people had vanished overnight. This is a humanitarian crisis waiting to happen. Those developments must be stopped and cannot continue.

 

 

This department has spent over R1,6 billion over six years on upgrading the Telkom Towers building in Pretoria, but it is still not clear when the building will be occupied by the SAPS. The security alone on this building costs the taxpayer R500 000 per month. That’s just to keep the building secure. What a waste of money!

 

 

This government is now responsible for its own downfall.

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

Hierdie regering is nie daar toe in staat om sy eie geboue in stand te hou nie en hy kyk baie sleg na sy eie bates. Dié regering het reeds die burgers van die land totaal gefaal. Dankie.

 

 

Mr W M THRING: Hon House Chairperson, the Portfolio Committee on Public Works undertook an oversight visit to Gauteng from 26 to 30

 

 

August 2019. The aim was to gather first-hand knowledge of workspaces and functioning of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, the Property Management Trading Entity, PMTE, and each entity that reports to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure. The entities are the Agrément South Africa, ASA, the Independent Development Trust, IDT, the Council for the Built Environment, CBE, and the Construction Industry Development Board, CIDB.

 

 

As a custodian of vast immovable assets, there is substantial opportunity to generate income and the PMTE would be responsible for this aspect of the Public Works function of government. However, this aspect has lagged behind for many years due to the incompleteness of the Government Immovable Asset Register that is managed by the department as regulator and a custodian department.

 

 

There are some concerns that the ACDP has after the oversight visit: Firstly, the Telkom Towers had been unused for several years. The SA Police Service, SAPS, have been without a head office for the last six years and the building has been lying empty; secondly, the Department of Public Works has to date spent Rl,6 billion over the last six years on the building and it is still unoccupied by the SAPS, and in the meanwhile as indicated by my previous colleague,

 

 

some R400 000 - R500 000 per month is being spent just to keep the building secure – something is not right.

 

 

The review of the White Paper dated 1997 entitled “Public Works Towards the 21st Century” remains incomplete since the 5th Parliamentary term.

 

 

Thirdly, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure did not complete the review of the White Paper dated 1999 called “Creating and Enabling Environment for Reconstruction, Growth and Development within the Construction Industry”. The committee and the ACDP agree with the concerns found that there were too many acting positions in key leadership positions within Public Works. These employees would be better suited to be in the Department of Arts as acting employees.

 

 

The ACDP accepts this report and calls upon the Minister and her department to fast-track the necessary policy changes and recommendations found in the report to ensure that we are able to contribute to an inclusive economy and do our bit to contribute towards nation-building. I thank you. [Applause.]

 

 

Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Thank you hon House Chairperson, the NFP welcomes the report tabled here today. Allow me to express my concern at the performance of the Department of Public Works. We have said before as the NFP that this department, for many years appears to be in the intensive care unit and it doesn’t seem to be getting out. I think the question that needs to be asked is: Do we really need a Department of Public Works?

 

 

If you take the SAPS and the difficulty they have with the Department of Public Works, maybe they should be able to manage and maintain their own buildings and the same should apply basically to all the other departments because the Department of Public Works cannot even keep an asset register, they cannot maintain buildings, the infrastructure is collapsing and I think it is a little too much particularly for the department or maybe they need to make some changes in the near future.

 

 

We note with concern vacant buildings that were constructed but not in use. Added to this is the fact that the department on the one hand has buildings that have been built that are not being used while on the other hand, the department is going out and leasing properties from others at very high rentals. I think it is another matter that we need to look at.

 

 

The NFP notes with concern the failure of the regional offices in both my colleagues here in Cape Town and Pretoria not paying invoices within 30 days. I think it is a matter that we ...

 

 

The Telkom Towers building which has not being used for years by the SAPS for the last six years ... now this matter has come up time and time again and yet nothing or very little has been done about it. I think we have said that the SAPS has a building in Port Elizabeth, particularly the communication centre where they were going to be put up and were delayed as a result of Public Works not ensuring that they have entered into a contract on the site timeously so that this thing could be laid to rest.

 

 

There are serious challenges with the dolomite site which we are talking about in Thaba Tshwane. The NFP welcomes the recommendations as set out in this report. However, what we have found is that despite all the oversight visits and identifying the challenges and the weaknesses and come back and report, it is exactly the same thing next year. There really is no consequence management whatsoever.

 

 

... yes, I think you are correct that these people that are failing us year in, year out shouldn’t be keeping their jobs and getting

 

 

paid, they should be fired. [Interjections.] We should be employing people since we have a high unemployment rate in South Africa. We have capacity.

 

 

Anyway, the NFP will support this report on condition that there is consequence management for those that have failed to comply ...

Thank you very much.

 

 

Ms L N MJOBO: Thank you House Chairperson, the ANC requests the House to accept the oversight report as presented by the chairperson, hon Ntobongwana. The report highlight some issues that needs urgent attention, like the occupation of Telkom Towers by the SAPS. The deadline of the renovation has been set up for April 2020. The deadline has to be met at all costs as this project is over five years now.

 

 

The transformation of the CBE requires serious attention. It has developed more jobs and has put the economy on a recovery path. There are lots of improvement within the PMTE and the IDT but they could do better if the White Paper on Public Works and Infrastructure is reviewed.

 

 

In the spirit of Thuma Mina, the accelerated delivery mechanisms requires all of us in this House and in government to provide the necessary leadership to improve our infrastructure and steer this country forward. I thank you House Chairperson.

 

 

Debate concluded.

 

 

The mini-plenary session rose at 14:55

 

 


Audio

No related