Hansard: NA: Unrevised hansard
House: National Assembly
Date of Meeting: 27 Mar 2018
Summary
No summary available.
Minutes
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TUESDAY, 27 MARCH 2018
TUESDAY, 27 MARCH 2018
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
The House met at 14:09.
The House Chairperson Mr C T Frolick as Chairperson took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or meditation.
EXTENSION OF DATE ON WHICH THE AD HOC JOINT COMMITTEE ON PARLIAMENT AND PROVINCIAL MEDICAL AID SCHEME HAS TO REPORT
(Draft Resolution)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Thank you, House Chair. I move that the House, subject to the concurrence of the National Council of Provinces, extends the deadline by which the Ad Hoc Joint Committee on Parliament and Provincial Medical Aid Scheme has to report, to 31 May 2018. I so move.
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The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): I now put the motion. Are there any objections?
Motion agreed to.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY
LAPSED ITEM ON THE ORDER PAPER TO BE REVIVED
(Draft Resolution)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: House Chairperson, I move that the item on the Order Paper, in terms of Rule 351, which lapsed at the end of the last sitting day of the 2017 annual session, be revived.
(1) Consideration of Report of Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs on donations of high-value wildlife species to private individuals by North West Provincial government department of rural, environmental and agricultural development.
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The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Thank you. I now put the motion. Are there any objections?
Motion agreed to.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: House Chair, I move that item 3 on the Order Paper be referred back to the Portfolio Committee which deals with Environmental Affairs here in the National Assembly. Thank you.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Thank you. I now put the motion. Are there any objections?
Motion agreed to.
Report accordingly referred back to the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs for further consideration.
MOTION OF CONDOLENCES
(The late Ms Fezeka Loliwe)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: House Chair, I move:
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That the House –
(1) notes with great sadness the untimely death of the ANC Member of Parliament, Ms Fezeka Sister Loliwe, who tragically lost her life in a motor vehicle accident on Monday, 5 March 2018;
(2) further notes that Ms Fezeka Loliwe was returning from her Parliamentary Constituency Office in Fort Beaufort in the Eastern Cape when the accident occurred;
(3) recalls that she was a dedicated public representative who joined Parliament in 2014;
(4) further recalls that she served as the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Labour, and had previously served as the ANC Whip on the same committee;
(5) remembers the role she played as a member of the Ad Hoc Committee that conducted the Inquiry into the Board
of the South African Broadcasting Corporation;
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(6) acknowledges that her intolerance for injustice propelled her to dedicate her life to working for the liberation of the poor and working-class - a task she remained committed to till her last breath;
(7) recognises that Ms Loliwe has served with diligence and great commitment in the leadership of various Mass Democratic Movement, MDM, structures, such as civic and political organisations;
(8) further recognises that she was currently serving as a South African Communist Party, SACP, Central Committee member and a Regional Committee member of the ANC in the Dr W B Rubusana region located in East London;
(9) believes that her untimely departure leaves a deep void within the structures of the ANC Caucus and Parliament as a whole;
(10) further believes that the people of South Africa have truly been robbed of one of the most dedicated public representatives; and
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(11) extends its heartfelt condolences to the entire Loliwe family, the SACP, the ANC and the broader Mass Democratic Movement. I so move, House Chair.
Mr M BAGRAIM: Thank you, House Chair. Fezeka Loliwe our beloved Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Labour will be solely missed by her family, friends, comrades and all of us in the House. On behalf of the DA I convey our heartfelt sorrow on the untimely and tragic passing of our friends and fellow member of the South African Parliament.
It was certainly difficult for all of us in the labour portfolio to absorb the enormity of the news received on the passing of Fezeka. I had spoken to her a day before her passing and we were making arrangements of the restructuring of our further discussions on the national minimum wage.
Fezeka was a person who both lived and breathed at every moment with regard to our work and the betterment of every situation in South Africa. Labour was the golden thread running through her personality. She became a teacher and upon entering the work place she joined the teachers union.
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She served as a shop steward and rose through the ranks quickly to eventually become the provincial secretary and there after the vice president. We have not as yet understood the enormity of the accident of 5 March 2018. South Africa must realise that a very bright light has gone out.
In order to understand the nature of the hon Loliwe’s personality, I will outline the interaction I had with Fezeka Loliwe when she was first appointed as Acting Chair to the portfolio committee. I had had an extremely difficulty and tempestuous relationship with our previous chairperson. This relationship marred many of our meetings and certainly destroyed the possibility of a good working relationship.
Fezeka understood this and undertook in her own mind to move away from such activity; and immediately upon her promotion to the Acting Chair of the portfolio committee she pulled me aside. We had a frank and constructive discussion where we outlined our relationship with work and how we should engage each other for the benefit of both the committee and job creation in South Africa.
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We built a great and constructive report which was telling us at every single meeting thereafter. The essence of the hon Loliwe could be shown in her decision-making which is not party specific but South African specific. Fezeka Loliwe made it work.
There was always emptiness without her; there will be emptiness in these hollow chambers not only because we are missing a hon friend but because we would be missing her literal thinker and someone who put her country first before self and party. She left very deep footprints. Her legacy is that our committee is now working strongly together and often bearing in mind the legacy that Fezeka left behind. Fezeka’s memory will shine with all of us.
I know how strongly the hon Loliwe felt about education and school in South Africa. I also know how she expresses the connection to proper training and education and job creation. This was the golden thread running through her thought processes.
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In light of this, the DA has chosen to sponsor a school feeding scheme at Good Hope Seminary High School in Cape Town, so as to ensure that the young children are able to be properly nourished and sustained during the school day. We, in the name of the hon Fezeka Loliwe will set up a sponsorship for 12 months.
We will ensure that the certificate is in turn sent to her family. I come from the Hebrew Faith, and as we embark upon quest of Pass Over and celebrate our freedom from slavery to promise land we are enjoined to remember our past and to look forward to a free life for future generations. With this remembrance of the hard work done by the hon Loliwe, we send out a heartfelt prayers to the family and wish them a long and peaceful life, and only the happy memories of the warm and smiling sister, Fezeka Loliwe. [Applause.]
Mr P G MOTEKA: Hon Chair, hon members of this committee and the family of the late hon Fezeka Loliwe, on behalf of the EFF, I would like to pass our deep heartfelt condolences on the passing of the late Loliwe. Over the past few years that we have been in this House together, we have found hon Loliwe
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to be an extremely principled person, who does not easily get swayed away for short term popularity and benefit. She consistently demonstrated her commitment to principle even when that would put her against some established tendencies of her own comrades.
In her, we lost someone of rare quality, a soldier for the freedom of our people. To her party, the ANC, and to her family and friends, may you find comfort in the knowledge that hon Loliwe remained true to her calling of serving the people of South Africa to the very end of her life? May her soul rest in peace! [Applause.]
Mr N SINGH: Hon Chairperson, hon Deputy President, members of the House and members of the Loliwe family and colleagues this is certainly one time that I think many of us dead coming forward and speaking in this House because it means we have lost yet another colleague - one just that been near, dear and a friend to all of us. I heard deep respect for hon Loliwe and although only in 2014, she really made her as a very, very capable member of this House.
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We served together on the on the ad hoc committee on the SA Broadcasting Corporation, SABC. I remember in that committee, and hon Vincent Smith will remember as the Chairperson of that committee how measured she was whenever she raised an issue in that committee. She was very calculated and very to the point whenever she raised issues. We used to travel together and that committee, I know in one occasion we finished at 3:00 in the morning and we used to travel together in the public transport to Acacia Park. This is I got to know more of her.
I think her family who are here today can feel very, very proud that in a matter of just four years, hon Loliwe left an indelible mark in all of us. I attended the memorial service earlier on which was hosted by the ANC caucus and with all the speakers there, you get a sense of the wholeness of hon Loliwe because you would hear not only from Members of Parliament, but from members of the family and friends that were close to her. However, we all know colleagues that the great architect has plans of his own or her own – we don’t whether if is his or her.
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Whenever the architect decides that somebody has to come back to where he sent us from, we all have to obey. We will all look for reasons, why this had to happen in such a tragic way, but we will never find answers. All we can do is to share our love with the family those that are remaining and comfort them and ask God to bless this wonderful soul that he has benefited from. On behalf of the leadership of the IFP I would like to convey to the family our heartfelt condolences and may the soul of our dear colleague rest in peace. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Hon House Chair, we are gathered here today to pay tribute to one of our colleagues, the late hon Ms Fezeka Loliwe. The late hon Loliwe will be best remembered for the active role that she had played which resulted in her expulsion from the former Lennox Sebe institute. This did not deter her as she continued to fight for the oppressed. She continued to qualify as an educator serving in various civic organisations. Her loss is a great loss not just to the African National Congress, to her family, but to South Africa as a whole.
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The late hon Loliwe has been instrumental in various initiatives at grassroots level. She’s been a champion of ensuring that the voices of the people on the ground are heard. Now, there’s one special message from this today, that life is very, very short and when you are serving the interest of the people with dignity and with the decorum like our hon Loliwe did, we sometimes forget the role that some members in this House or the role they are supposed to play in this House. I want to urge Parliament and government as whole that for people like the hon Loliwe, we need to put some mechanism or process in place so that they will always be recognised for the role that they played in creating a better society for our people.
She was selfless in a cost to create a better life for our people. You would note in the last year, I think, we have lost many of our colleagues from this House and quite a few of them had an untimely death. That is they have their lives in the line of duty and surely there must some recognition for the role that they have played. To the family, African National Congress, we extend our deepest condolences. Yes, indeed, you have lost a very valuable member of society in your family. On
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behalf of the National Freedom Party we extend our condolences to all of you. May her soul rest in peace! Thank you. [Applause.]
Ms C N MAJEKE: Hon House Chairperson and ho members, an outstanding servant of the people, Fezeka Sister Loliwe, is no more. On behalf of the United Democratic Movement I want to express our message of heartfelt condolences to her family for the great loss caused by the passing of their beautiful daughter. With heavy hearts, grief and sorrow, we pay homage to the fallen daughter of our nation, whose sudden and untimely departure left us devastated. The situation like this, we console ourselves by the referring to the word of God, in the book of Isaiah 57 verses 1 and 2, we are comforted with these words, I quote:
The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; and devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.
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Fezeka dedicated her life in the service of the people of South Africa, and by so doing she walked uprightly, thus entering into peace and find rest as she lies in death. She departed from the world of the living when the struggle for total emancipation of women, better infrastructure for basic education and the consolidation of the progressive labour laws, needed her astute political clarity, dedication and commitment.
In her honour, we must work harder, to eradicate mud schools and pit toilets. We must also, reject any amendment to the labour legislations that will reverse that hard-won victories and weaken the workers’ bargaining power. We must deepen the battle against the abuse of women and children, and our homes and communities must be places of safety for them too. We must also spend more time, engaging with the people on the ground and mobilise them to become consciously active, in the ongoing struggle for total socioeconomic transformation.
Indeed, death brings sadness. When we lose someone we truly love, it is devastating. Accordingly, to the bereaved family, her political home, the African National Congress and its
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alliance partners; may you be comforted in the knowledge, that your daughter has played her role par excellent, and now she has found a lasting peace. This was an accident and an accident can happen to anyone. In this instance, it happened and stole your treasured daughter. May her soul rest in peace! I thank you.
Mr W M MADISHA: Hon members and Chair, we rise to express our shared pain with and also pass our condolences to the family and the party to which the late hon Loliwe belong. In my nine years of presence in this Parliament, I served on the labour portfolio committee. During those many years, there were terrible problems and perpetual divisions that emerged as a sequel of us belonging to various political parties; and again as a sequel of the lack of a proper leadership, hence we even at some stage went to the leadership of Parliament to the Speaker to say something had to be done.
Now, the committee needed leadership; we were lucky to have her at the end. She played a role of unity. I want to emphasise that she never came there to say, you belong to this party we cannot listen to you; you belong to that party we
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cannot listen to you, etc. We worked there as a unit and then we want to thank her greatly although she is gone for that. [Applause.]
I personally was with her in the trade union movement both at a provincial and national level. I know the kind of role that she had played. She played a role in the leadership of the province, in the trade union movement of the teachers, in the trade union movement of all workers and actually led all workers of the hand and workers of the mind. I want to emphasise that she did her best; she sacrificed and compromised wherever that was necessary. These are persons which I want to emphasise that they must never be forgotten. We may be coming from different sections; we may be different from different milieus, but these are persons, really, who we must never forget. She has done her part and we want to thank her, although she is gone. We want to thank her family and her party greatly. Thank you very much wherever you are Comrade Loliwe. [Applause.]
Ms C DUDLEY: Chair, the ACDP sends sincere condolences to hon Loliwe’s family, friends and comrades. This tragic accident
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has resulted in another great loss to our work at Parliament and our country. We pray for the peace of God and the comfort of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ to touch the hearts and lives of all who were close to her and will feel this untimely loss.
The news of hon Loliwe’s accident and death was a shock. We have lost a colleague who was an inspiration and the blessing. Hon Loliwe, who chaired the labour portfolio committee in the final months of the Labour Laws Amendment Bill’s passage through committee and the National Assembly, was always professional and gracious, and she ensured that I was kept up to date with developments. This was very much appreciated.
I am told that hon Loliwe was born and raised on a farm and involved in political activism from a very early age. As a woman I am proud of this amazing sister who achieved her masters in education and labour law. She has inspired many through her work to empower fellow South Africans; holding workshops and discussion groups on small business and livelihoods outside of formal employment; and ensured that every year there was a career exhibition in her constituency,
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giving youth knowledge about how to equip themselves. You will be missed. Rest in peace, hon Loliwe.
Mr L M NTSHAYISA: Hon Chairperson, as the AIC we wish to convey our deepest condolences to the family of Fezeka Loliwe. Her contribution was unmeasured. She will be remembered for her dedication and commitment to serve the people. She was a uniquely gifted cadre of our struggle often exuding a discipline of thought and humility. Her contribution in Parliament was immense and she was part of the process to change labour relations regime in our country, including the minimum wage thresholds.
As a labour and human rights activists, she would have discarded the testing of minor’s children without the parents concerned. She would have lambasted this NGO for its contempt of the poor people. Her legacy is one of selflessness, inner strength and intelligentsia. She has all the skills and qualities fitting to our developmental agenda. As a communist, she had unending love and passion for the poor. This morning, I learnt something new from Rev Mthethwa when he told us that death is the conclusion of life. God is always good and that
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is what Rev Mthethwa said. Therefore, we will always remember Comrade Loliwe. We say ...
IsiXhosa:
... isitya esihle asidleli.
English:
A thing of beauty is a joy for ever. Thank you very much.
Mr M A PLOUAMMA: Hon Deputy President, hon members and hon Ministers, condolences to comrade Loliwe’s family and the ANC and the Tripartite Alliance.
We have lost a patriot, a good human being and someone who knew the value of constructive criticism. Like a soldier, she died serving her people.
She was someone with clarity of purpose, some who was able to socialise with all members of the Portfolio Committee of Labour without prejudice. I remember sometimes I and hon Madisha used to discuss in private that comrade was the invisible weapon of the ANC in the Portfolio Committee of
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Labour. Her knowledge of labour issues and her strategic understanding of where we are as a country will be dearly missed.
Even when our former Chairperson of Labour Committee, hon Lumka Yengeni locked horns with hon Ian Ollis, we knew that only hon Loliwe will come to the rescue calmly but you realise later that she just gave you a chocolate cake with an ANC colours.
She was a very brilliant human being, a very patient, a matured politician and someone who used superior logic with stealth. We will really miss you. I really appreciated and I appreciate the advices that you gave me when we were together. Thank you very much.
Ms S R VAN SCHALKWYK: Hon Deputy President, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers, hon members and members of the Loliwe family in the gallery. It is a great honour for me to be part of this condolences motion today. On behalf of the ANC, we would like to convey our heartfelt condolences to the Loliwe family on the shocking and sudden passing of a brave star Fezeka.
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Google indicates that if your name is Fezeka you are a friendly person with a likable nature and you have high goals and ideals and for those who know her, I think Google is spot on in this description. Those of us who had the opportunity to cross path with Fezeka were truly blessed because she enriched your life in a very special way.
I have been led by her since 2014, even if we came from the same background being in the trade union federation but I have been led by her in the Labour Portfolio Committee, first as the whip and then as the chairperson, and spend a lot of time with her in the management committee, MANCO, and ANC Study Groups. She was indeed a selfless, dedicated and hard worker and was not shy to transfer skills to those that were serving her because indeed as we all know she was highly qualified in that environment. She possessed those specific skills through the decades in the teaching environment.
She passed at a time when we needed her guidance the most as we are busy towards the finalisation of the National Minimum Wage Legislation which includes the Amendments of the Basic
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Conditions of Employment Act, BCEA, and the Labour Relations Act, LRA.
These are all pieces of legislation that seeks to improve the lives of our people. We needed her leadership depth and skills. As the engine of the Committee she didn't look down on other members but saw value in each one. The committee, Parliament, the South African Communist Party, SACP, the Congress of South African Trade Union, COSATU, ANC, and the working class as a whole, as well as the South
African society is indeed poorer without her.
Fezeka understood the concept of poor people’s struggles and went all out to serve with diligence hence having the fatal accident whilst on her way from her constituency. Her soft spokenness while making an impact with words, many times with a humoristic element was marvellous to watch. She had the special skill of making you comfortable in her presence and often used captions like and then...." when she doesn’t understand what you were trying to say or she wanted to be diplomatic in steering you in the right way. She also used to
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call people baby girl...." when she looked at you and we are really already missing that.
As the disciplinary whip she led by example but also in her conduct and her dress sense. She could not spend much time with her family but loved them dearly indeed. We want to take this opportunity to thank the Loliwe family for sharing their anchor and angel with us. I’ve realised that it's not how long you know a person that matters but the quality of the relationship you build with that person even in a short period that indeed matters.
I’ve been fortunate to spend quality time with Fezeka, especially during her last two working days whilst we were attending a meeting with the South African Development Community, SADC, ministerial Ministers. I will also cherish the memory of accompanying her to the Cape Town Airport the very last time, the Friday before she passed. She insisted I do that.
As she valued family, she often encourages others to spend quality time with our families. That is what I want to
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emphasise today. If we take something from her life, let this be the most important thing that we take from Fezeka’s life. To spend quality time with our families and to make time in our busy schedules to spend time with our families
Comrade Fezeka Loliwe‘s hard work, sharp with an inquisitiveness will always be a shining light for those who served with her in different capacities. She was a true servant of the people but we accept that she was only a visitor because indeed her citizenship is in heaven.
May the spirit of Fezeka Sister Loliwe be undying and may she rest in eternal peace. I thank you.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (MR C T FROLICK): Hon members, that concludes the speakers list on this matter. We have received a letter of condolence from the South African Development Community Secretariat which is addressed to the Minister of labour and also to Parliament where they note that on 1st March 2018, the hon Loliwe addressed the SADC Ministers of Employment and Labour and Social Partners during the meeting
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at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on ending poverty in the region.
I just want to quote this section from the condolence letter and I quote:
“We will remember the late hon Fezeka Loliwe as a very charmy, etude and visionary servant who served the people of South Africa and the region with excellence. Her compassion and lifelong service for the advancement of workers and women empowerment will continue to inspire us at the SADC secretariat”.
I take it hon members that there are no objections to the motion as read by the hon Chief Whip of the Majority Party to be adopted. Will all members please rise to observe a moment of silence in memory of the late hon Loliwe?
Thank you hon members, the presiding officers associate themselves with the motion and we also convey our condolences to the members of the family who has joined us in the gallery
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and will ensure that it also gets conveyed to the rest of the family.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF AD HOC COMMITTEE ON FUNDING OF POLITICAL PARTIES ON POLITICAL PARTY FUNDING BILL
(Consideration of Bill and of Report thereon)
The Chief Whip of the Majority Party moved: That the Report be adopted.
There was no debate.
Motion agreed to (Economic Freedom Fighters dissenting).
Report accordingly adopted.
POLITICAL PARTY FUNDING BILL
(Second Reading debate)
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Mr V G SMITH: Hon Chairperson, Deputy President, comrades and fellow South Africans good afternoon. The Political Party Funding Bill that we present to this House today is long overdue. Chairperson, our democracy was won through major sacrifices being made, especially by the previously disenfranchised and we must guard this young democracy jealously and unapologetically. It is our contention that all political formations that believe in; accountability, transparency, our Sovereignty as a nation and in democracy must be in support of this Bill coming into law.
The argument often advanced of safeguarding donors privacy at the expense of making their identity known to voters, flies in the face of transparency. The argument of possible victimisation of donors by the governing party of the day at municipal, provincial or national level will be addressed later and therefore, should not rise going forward.
Colleagues, the Constitution, in section 236 states that in order to enhance multiparty democracy, national legislation must provide for the funding of political parties participating in national and provincial legislatures on an equitable and proportional basis. All the smaller political
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parties have raised their concern that the current fund distribution formula of 90% proportional and 10% equitable does not conform to the said Constitutional provision.
This Bill goes a long way in addressing this matter and should be welcomed by all. Colleagues, it is very important to note that at no time during the last twenty four years have political parties been obliged to be transparent about their sources of funding. Notwithstanding the fact that at the centre of our parliamentary duty as Members of Parliament, is the obligation to hold others accountable. We, as represented political parties are not being held accountable to explain how we use the donations we received from private funders or why these donations to political parties were made in the first instance. In this regard the overwhelming majority of the South Africans insisted on total disclosure of party funding. The courts agree and today Parliament has heard this demand and we are implementing accordingly.
This Bill is about building a Nation where the rand never reigns superior to the will of the people. The law must ensure that the narrow private interests of those with big bank
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balances or who have easy access to party bosses never usurps the will and interests of the general electorate or party supporters who might not be as moneyed. Towards this end, the Bill limits the amount individuals or entities can donate to any one political party to R15 million in a calendar year.
Fellow South Africans, this Bill is about ensuring that we, at all times must be the masters of our own destiny. Our aspirations as a people cannot be put on hold simply because foreign powers and interest groups are able to buy or bully our policy-makers and leadership at both party and government level.
In safeguarding our hard fought sovereignty, this Bill outlaws all donations from foreign governments and their agencies. It can never be that policy preferences adopted by local political parties, are influenced and determined by forces outside of our borders. Our sovereignty must never be sold for
30 pieces of silver. A further proposal is that political parties are explicitly prohibited from accepting donations from any organ of state; from state-owned entities, from government departments or from the proceeds of crime.
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Chair, with regard to transparency which we believe to be an important component of accountability, this Bill obliges all represented political parties to declare to the Independent Electoral Commission all donations and funds received. The exception being; funds raised through membership fees, subscriptions and any donation less that R50 000 per annum.
It is through being aware of who is funding political parties that the electorate will be in a position to monitor whether any undue favours are afforded to individual or entity as payback for a generous donation. Comrades, we earlier alluded to the argument advanced by some that potential donors will be reluctant to donate if their identities are made public because of possible victimisation by the relevant governing party when it comes to the awarding of possible potential future business and opportunities. This argument is without any merit in that the current legislation including legislation governing Supply Chain Management and the Public Finance Management Act, offers sufficient recourse to victimization or unfair and uncompetitive practices.
The establishment of the Multiparty Democracy Fund affords
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donors who do not wish to be associated with any one political party but rather prefer to contribute to the multiparty democracy project an avenue to make their donations directly into this fund. An important aspect of this Bill is the proposal that the Independent Electoral Commission be the institution that manages political party funding received from the National Revenue Fund as well as funds donated by the private sector into the Multiparty Democracy Fund. The Independent Electoral Commission, IEC, will have the responsibilities of enforcing compliance, of ensuring that information is readily accessible to all stakeholders as well as the general administration of the various funds. All represented political parties must on an annual basis submit audited financial statements of all funds that have been donated directly the political party.
My colleagues will elaborate on or emphasis other aspects of the Bill. Being members of different political parties representing divergent constituents, it is to be expected that there might not be agreement on all aspects of this Bill. We however take comfort that the committee consulted broadly and that a wide range of the South African society participated.
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All views regardless of the source were thoroughly debated in public and where necessary and appropriate, incorporated into this proposed legislation. Chair, on the day that this Bill is signed into law, the majority of South Africans will agree with me that our country has taken a step in the right direction towards achieving a society based on; democratic values, social justice, fundamental human rights, a South African society united and democratic that is able to take its rightful place as a sovereign state in the family of nations.
At this point allow me on behalf of the committee to express our profound gratitude to the individuals, organisations, stakeholders who participated in the process and to those who contributed towards the development of the Political Party Funding Bill. We extend a special thank you to Professor Halton Cheadle, from the University of Cape Town, for his voluntary and fulltime support to this committee. Chairperson and hon members, as we stated at the onset, this piece of legislation is long overdue and we humbly urge this House to support its adoption. Baie dankie, Enkosi, Sukraan, Siyabonga and thank you very much. [Applause.]
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Debate concluded.
Bill accordingly read a second time (Economic Freedom Fighters dissenting).
Mr J SELFE: Chairperson, This Bill has a long and controversial history. There have always been those who have believed that bribery, nepotism and corruption in politics are inevitable without full disclosure of the sources of party- political funding. In fact, here seems to be an automatic assumption amongst the commentariat that the disclosure of funds given to political parties is a good thing and that, when it comes to politicians, there is no such thing as a free meal.
In the wake of the full horror of state capture, this argument has gained traction. It seems that some politicians allowed themselves to be bought, and entire institutions were subverted as a consequence. In these circumstances it is very difficult to oppose disclosure.
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But not every politician is corrupt, and not every donor wants favours. In 20 years of raising money for the DA and its predecessors, only one donor has ever asked me to favour his business, and I told him to get lost. In my experience, most donors want South Africa to succeed and our people to prosper, and they wish to make a contribution to a party that is achieving precisely that where we govern.
There are many people use the example of the German fraudster Jurgen Harksen in support of the contention that corruption thrives in conditions of donor confidentiality. In fact, the Harksen debacle cost us far more than the donation itself.
There were direct costs associated with the Desai commission, but much more importantly, it damaged our reputation and made it extremely difficult to raise money for years afterwards.
From that experience, we learned that it was essential to act ethically when raising funds, and we developed a code to which our fundraisers have to subscribe. Thus DA fundraisers are not allowed to promise donors anything. If a fundraiser holds executive office, he or she must be accompanied by another member who can certify that no inducement was asked for by, or offered to, a donor.
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This Bill demands disclosure of donations over a certain amount, and places a cap on donations from a single source. It provides savage administrative and criminal sanctions for parties or individuals who transgress the provisions of the Bill, fines of between R40 000 and R1 million, and prison sentences of between two and five years. It also requires an elaborate bureaucracy in the Independent Electoral Commission, IEC, to administer the funds and enforce compliance with the provisions of the Bill, that will cost, in year one,
R20 million, and much more subsequently.
Because of the mendacity and turpitude of those responsible for state capture, I suppose this Bill is necessary. But it doesn't deal with the Gupta in the room. To ask a political office bearer for a favour in return for a donation constitutes the common law offence of bribery. It is also an offence in terms of the Prohibition and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, which, depending on the seriousness of the offence, can attract a life sentence.
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Yet, apart from poor old David Malatsi, we are still to see a single politician or donor charged with bribery or under the Prohibition and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, POCA.
There are some parties represented in this House who raise money simple by simply stealing from government. We are discovering this as we uncover and interdict corruption running to billions of rands in the municipalities we now control. This too is an offence, but the Bill does not deal with this form of fundraising.
There are some parties represented in this House who buy votes in the run-up to elections by abusing state resources. They print T-shirts that are paid for by government departments.
They erect bill boards in colours very similar to the majority party, proclaiming the successes of the government. They use municipal vehicles. Most disgustingly, they exploit the vulnerability of old people by handing out social development “kospakkies” [food parcels] and blankets at political rallies. We all know this. But the Bill does not deal with these criminal activities. Nor is there any will to deal with them.
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Until these malpractices are effectively prohibited and their perpetrators prosecuted, the Bill will not stop corruption or state capture. What the Bill will do is make it more difficult for honest parties to raise money honestly.But then, we suspect that that was its purpose all along.
We will support this Bill with major misgivings. It is using a sledgehammer to swat a fly and it fails, in our view, to address the real problem, which is the abuse of state resources for election purposes. [Applause.]
Ms E N NTLANGWINI: House Chairperson, the EFF rejects this Bill because once again it repeats political imbalances without achieving any meaningful transparency. The EFF, since its inception has asked for total transparency and disclosure of political party funding so that the public is aware of who funds the parties that represent them in Parliament. Who funds a political party has a great impact on determining their policy objective especially when it comes to business. It is therefore that the DA rejected the expropriation of land without compensation, and the ANC withdraw its motion to nationalise the Reserve Bank.
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They are the very people who stole our land, own the Reserve Rank and exploit our people on a daily basis - the DA and the ANC. It is obvious that they cannot bite the hand that feeds them and that’s why they reject this policy. It is therefore no surprise to us that the DA has rejected this Bill since its inception. With the help of the ANC it has watered it down to appoint where it is no longer effective.
Despite the need to be transparent in the funding of political parties, the Bill in its current form will do little or nothing to bring about transparency. Instead, what it will do is to replicate the current political power imbalances.
Section 10 of the Bill is extremely problematic to us as it prevents members from assisting financially for events such as funerals and members who lose everything in case of fire. The EFF has since its inception been funding even pilots. We have funded students and section 10 will prevent us from funding students. Of course the DA will object to that, and of course the DA will make noise to that because they don’t want black people to be excellent, and they don’t want black people to be educated.
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With high levels of unemployment and poverty meaning that many families are not even able to send-off their loved one’s in dignity, and they often rely on the parties. The EFF has made sure that many people who cannot afford funerals send off their loved ones with dignity.
The purpose of this Bill was to achieve transparency through oversight mechanisms, but primarily by establishing a fund which will be used to financially support all political parties in South Africa.
The first political party funding Bill introduced in 1997 was highly unconstitutional as it did nothing to strengthen democracy but only reinforced the status quo with the 90/10 funding distribution rule. Yet funding mechanisms for political parties, this new Bill will put in place inadequate and in many respects unconstitutional mirroring what was already in place – a system that gives a disproportionate amount of funding to the ANC with no constitutional or legal basis. Therefore, the EFF rejects this Bill with the contempt it deserves. I thank you, Chairperson.
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Mr N SINGH: Thank you, hon Chairperson. I want to agree with hon Selfe that this Bill is not going to entirely stop corruption; but it is, we believe, a step in the right direction towards transparency in funding that are given to political parties.
I think we are all aware, hon Chairperson, that there are political parties in this House, that have received millions of Rands from donors in return for favours; and I think that’s something we need to accept has happened. This would possibly be able to stem the tide of individuals who put a gun to a political party’s head, particularly those parties that are in control of the provincial and national government and local government to ask for favours in return. It is happening, it is a reality and we need to put a stop to this.
Hon Chairperson, we have discussed the main report of this Bill at the end of 2017, last year; and this Bill was referred back to the ad hoc committee of which I am a member from us to asses the financial implications. I think the financial implications were mainly on who is going to administer the
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funds and how much it was going to cost for them to administer the funds.
Rightly so, we identified the Independent Electoral Commission, IEC, as the body to manage these funds because they have done a sterling job in managing the election campaigns; but it is also correct that they could not take on an additional responsibility, what we would call an unfunded mandate. They have calculated exactly what is required in the first year as phase one, and then in the outer years.
So we hope that they would do that job diligently and that the money that we are going to be spending as an outlay will bring its returns. Twenty million is a lot of money hon Selfe, you are right in that regard; but we hope that through the establishment of the Multi-Party Democracy Fund, “which is a kind of new animal” that is created in terms of this Bill.
That the co-operate sector will see their way of donating towards supporting democracy in this country.
I think wherever you go in the world it is always said that a single party should not have so much of power that they can do
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whatever they want. There have to be checks and balances and we hope that the co-operate sector will take this into relook and contribute to this fund.
We also hope, Chairperson, that single individuals who collect monies in the name of parties we put a stop to this. I think the hon Mdakane knows what I’m referring to in this regard. I won’t mention names but there were reports in the paper of certain individuals who might have collected up to R280 million for a political party but not a cent went to that political party. We need to prevent those kinds of things happening.
So, all in all, hon Chairperson, we support the principles. There might be a few twigs that are required; the members of the NCOP will look at those amendments that may be required. Thank you very much. [Applause.] [Time expired.]
Prof N M KHUBISA: Hon Chairperson, Deputy President, and hon members, the NFP note the amount of work that has gone into the drafting of the Political Funding Bill and, subsequently the Ad hoc Committee’s report.
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The Bill aims to bring about some semblance of transparency, openness, accountability on how political parties are funded. It is indeed fitting to thank the Chair of the Ad hoc Committee, Hon Vincent Smith and all hon members for the spirit that prevailed whilst working on the Bill and the report.
Notably, there is not much change that has taken place from the time the Bill was tabled for the first time and the second time. Suffice to say that the report spells out clearly the financial implications to the Bill, the role of Treasury and political parties, the way the Multi-Party Democracy Fund will be administered and managed.
The Bill caters for two funds: The Represented Political Party Fund and the Multi-Party Democracy Fund, which shall be credited, inter alia, with money received from any private source whether from inside or outside the republic; and where a party would have to declare.
It is our hope that the Bill if passed into law will somehow help to curb corruption as section 4 of the Bill provides that
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the Commission may not accept any money received from in terms of subsection 3(a) from any organ of state, state-owned enterprise or foreign government agency, etcetera.
The clause is meant to curb any stifling of democracy by donors, any abuse of influence, any warping of democracy state organs by donors. At least, the Bill moves closer towards bringing in an element of transparency and openness by regulating funding in this dispensation.
The NFP also notes that initially Treasury will commit R20 million to ensure a start up and then R95 million in the MTF period. Of course, there is going to be a need for employees who will have to work to stabilize the fund and ensure sustainability.
For a long time smaller parties were disadvantaged in the sense that funding tended to favour bigger parties. We therefore welcome the fact the Multi-Party Fund shall have a Chief Executive Officer with staff that will bring in the requisite skills and competencies to administer and manage the Fund.
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The provision of sanctions to political parties that do not stick to spirit and letter of the Bill is welcomed. We note that there have been litigations instituted in this regard. That shows that various stakeholders have been concerned about how political parties are funded.
The Bill does not provide all solutions to all matters around funding, however, it might be a step closer to ensuring a vibrant democracy characterized by competition of political parties, and it is hoped that it will enhance the development of the democratic will of the people, promote, inspire and further active participation by individuals. I’m saying therefore it does not provide all answers.
A fair amount of consultation will be done. We support the Bill. Thank you. [Applause.] [Time expired.]
Mr N L S KWANKWA: House Chair, the UDM supports the Bill. Empirical evidence around the world clearly demonstrates that over reliance of political parties on private sources of funding appears to be associated with increased vulnerability of political systems to corruption.
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In particular, and freshly in democracy such as ours, there is a real danger that corruption both factual and or perceived will destroy democracy by preventing relatively young democratic institutions and political parties and processes from taking root and becoming stronger.
The current system with all its weaknesses what it does, it provides supervision of the financing of political parties and the great deal of transparency.
Isixhosa:
Maqabane, kudala le nto siyithetha siyile UDM sisithi mayilawulwe kakuhle inkxaso-mali yamaqela ezopolitiko.
English:
Secondly, there must transparency ...
IsiXhosa:
... kwindlela amaqela ezopolitiko afumana ngayo inkxaso-mali. Umntu onengxaki makahambe ayekuzixhoma. Leyo yinyaniso emsulwa
...
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English:
... a step in the right direction; and lurking in the shadows is the issue of state capture. Do you remember how the state capture started? A political party or political individuals were captured and later on they captured the state. It is going to happen one day in the opposition...
Isixhosa:
... nathi xa siphethe.
English:
Some of us might be captured by other interest groups and they will want to dictate part policies and legislations of those parties when they are in government.
The other issue, which is clear, is that – it is a point that my leader likes to make and it is worth repeating here. He likes to say, if you don’t find your democracy, someone else will find it for you; and that is a valid point.
Isixhosa:
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Umba endifuna ukuwuthetha ngowokuba thina bantu kumaqela aphikisayo, ingakumbi la mancinci, ibangathi sinokhwekhwe. Oongxowankulu abafuni nokuba sisondele ...
English:
... when you go there and try to fundraise ...
Isixhosa:
... kuba bayayazi ukuba abasayi kufumana msebenzi karhulumente.
English:
That’s the issue, but as soon as ...
Isixhosa:
... befumana ingxaki noqela elilawulayo ngomthetho othile ikhwekhwe liyayeka bakhawuleze beze kuthi ngobumnyama bafune ukuba sibengakwicala labo. Njenga ngoku ndime apha ndikhe ndachwechwela ngabanye oongxowa besithi ...
English:
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... if you go and advocate for this issue in the portfolio committee, we will fund your programmes in your community. You cannot think that political parties cannot be captured. They will all be corrupted, whether it is the opposition or the ruling party. Now if we are going to stick to the principle and what is best for the country ...
Isixhosa:
... kufuneka siyeke ukujonga iziqu neemfuno zamaqela ethu sibe sixhwithana ngale nto.
English:
We support it, and at the same time remember Chairperson one of the issues we discussed in the committee was that you can’t have a situation where you create an entity that’s going to play an oversight role over this and manage funds; but you then give it an unfunded mandate. It has to be financed over the medium term, and then say, how you sustain yourself after that period.
Isixhosa:
Ukuze baze nesicwangciso esibonakalayo ...
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English:
... especially to the Home Affairs department, and say post the pre year period this is how we are going to fund ourselves and self sustaining.
Isixhosa:
Sibe sithetha uchuku apha! La masela.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Aa, aa, hon Kwankwa comeback to the podium. Comeback to the podium, withdraw your statement.
Mr N L S KWANKWA: But I didn’t attribute it to anyone, Chair.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order! Hon just withdraw.
Mr N L S KWANKWA: Okay, no that’s fine. I do.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): You withdraw. Withdraw?
Mr N L S KWANKWA: I do.
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The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Thank you.
Mr N L S KWANKWA: Thank you kindly.
Dr C P MULDER: Hon House Chair, members should note, first of all, that this Bill did not originate in the executive. This Bill originates in the legislature itself, which makes it a really important Bill. It is an important milestone in that Parliament, itself, came up with this initiative and that this Bill is now before us.
The foundation of this Bill is section 236 of the Constitution. Section 236 of the Constitution clearly states funding is in order to “enhance multiparty democracy”. That’s the whole idea. It then goes on.
The original Bill, passed in 1997, was a bad Bill, as far as we are concerned, because it went and entrenched a formula of 90/10, which was very unfair, in terms of enhancing multiparty democracy. The Bill that we have today is the product of a very lengthy process of consultation and interaction between political parties, which brought us to the point where we can
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bring this Bill to Parliament, today, have it debated, and hopefully, have it adopted.
We are of the view that this is a good Bill and that it should be supported by Members of Parliament and various political parties because it deals with what is necessary in terms of political party funding. Obviously, the intention of the Bill was never to deal with all forms of corruption or state capture. That is not part of the mandate, in terms of the funding of political parties, itself. There may also be issues that still need to be attended to, as the hon Selfe correctly pointed out. I believe that will happen, and we have to go through that process.
Unfortunately, the EFF did not do the hon Ntlangwini a favour today by asking her to take part in this debate, for the simple reason that, although she is a good, hon member, like all of us, she was not part of this process. The honourable EFF should have used the hon Mathys to participate in this debate. She was part of the process and she knows exactly what was said and what happened during this process.
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Dr M Q NDLOZI: Chair, on a point of order: We are not going to be instructed by the FF-fascist-Plus ...
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order! Hon ...
Dr M Q NDLOZI: ... on who must debate our ideas in Parliament.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): No. Order! Hon Ndlozi
...
Dr M Q NDLOZI: Hon member, pay attention to your party’s Speakers’ List, not to the EFF’s party list.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Hon Ndlozi ...
Dr M Q NDLOZI: Debate the ideas and the content. Leave our members alone.
Dr C P MULDER: Yes, Thank you.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Hon Ndlozi, may I remind you? When you ask to make a point of order, you ask to make a point of order. Don’t make statements that may not be
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becoming of the House. I would really appreciate your doing so. [Interjections.] In addition, if I ask you and intervene, you listen to the Chair. That would help us.
Dr M Q NDLOZI: I accept that, Hon Chair.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Thank you very much.
Dr M Q NDLOZI: Respectfully, I say that the hon Mathys is not here for very important reasons.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Now, I will switch off your microphone.
Dr M Q NDLOZI: Please don’t instruct us who to use in our debate. Focus on our ideas. [Interjections.] [Laughter.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): I did say that I would now switch off your microphone, because you were going beyond what you were supposed to do. Thank you. Hon Mulder, will you proceed?
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Dr C P MULDER: Hon Chairperson, thank you very much. It’s rather rich for the hon Dr Ndlozi to refer to us as fascists. You are the ones parading in Parliament in uniforms – not us
... [Interjections.] ... and if you look at your policy, you are very much, very close to fascists, in that respect.
Be that as it may, the fact now is that ...
Dr M Q NDLOZI: On a point of order, Chair: The hon member is out of order because he is not focusing on the debate.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Can you take your seat?
Dr M Q NDLOZI: Can you call him to order ...
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Can you take your seat?
Dr M Q NDLOZI: ... the debate is not on our beautiful uniform of the workers.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Can you take your seat, hon Ndlozi? This is why I said earlier you strayed on your
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point onto issues you were not supposed to raise. So, I am sorry to say, you invited the response. Next time, you will discuss who is this and who is that outside of that door.
Thank you very much. No, you ... I did not call you to order in the sense in which you want me to do. So, be in order. Hon member, proceed.
Dr C P MULDER: Thank you, Ma’am. I haven’t finished with the EFF. [Interjections.] The EFF indicated ...
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order, hon Mulder. You will finish each other outside, now! [Laughter.] Let’s proceed.
Dr C P MULDER: Yes, yes. Let me correct myself: I have not finished with the arguments of the EFF. The EFF decided to reject this Bill. That is their decision. Perhaps the NCOP, in their process, should bring in a new clause where political parties who do not want to be funded by this Bill should indicate as such, and we will divide the money amongst all the other parties. [Interjections.]
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HON MEMBERS: Yes!
Dr C P MULDER: You cannot have your cake and eat it. You must decide. Either you support this and accept the responsibility, or you don’t. However, you want to play popular by saying you reject this - but then will take the money afterwards. You should reject the money. Be honest, in that regard.
This is a good Bill. I think parties should support this Bill because this will enhance multiparty democracy. If you don’t support it, I think you’ve got a double agenda. Thank you very much.
Ms D CARTER: Chairperson, we would also like the EFF’s share, please!
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): We are not allocating the budget here, hon Carter. Proceed with your statement!
Ms D CARTER: The Congress of the People welcomes the introduction of the Political Party Funding Bill and will support its adoption in this House. We view this Bill as
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fostering and strengthening our multiparty democracy; as giving effect to our constitutional order and the foundational values that underpin it – including those of openness, accountability and transparency; as promoting and protecting our national interest and sovereignty; and as providing some safeguards against corruption and state capture, such as what we have been subjected to under the ANC majority.
I quote from Corruption Watch’s submission in respect of the Bill:
Most grand corruption occurs at the interface of politics and money. The toxic nature of this relationship in South Africa has been clearly exposed in accumulated evidence of the past several years, which reveals the extent to which key elements of our political leadership ...
- particularly that of the ANC, I might add –
... have been captured by money interests. If our parliamentary representatives want to restore the credibility of politics and avoid the stench of corruption,
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then they must support maximum transparency in the funding of political parties.
This is an historic and important Bill. The funding of political parties pre- and post-apartheid has always been contaminated behind a veil of secrecy. As such, our electorate has never known who has financed those who represent them in this House and who elect the executive – and thus, whether those parties and political office bearers who profess to act in the interests of society have acted in the public interest or in the corrupted interests of their funders. In this regard, we have learnt many harsh lessons, particularly over the past decade under ANC rule.
History will recall that it was the Institute for Democracy in South Africa, Idasa, as far back as 2004, which approached the Western Cape High Court seeking an order that legislation should require political parties to disclose the details of all their funding. Now, whilst that battle was lost, the war to ensure that our constitutional values of openness, accountability and transparency are incorporated into the funding of political parties has, ultimately, been won.
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It is hard not to ask a decade later, but at what devastating cost? Did we really need to experience betrayal, rampant looting, state capture and the potential loss of our national sovereignty?
As Cope, we fully endorse this much-needed reform in political party funding; reform to stop corruption and state capture; reform to combat the abuse and misuse of power; reform to strengthen our multiparty democracy; and reform to strengthen our constitutional order and its values. Thank you. [Time expired.]
Mrs C DUDLEY: Chairperson, the ACDP welcomes the Political Party Funding Bill, which aims to regulate and make private donations to political parties represented in Parliament and provincial legislatures transparent.
The tabling of this Bill today is the culmination of 13 years of efforts by many, not least of all, Idasa, which filed a motion in the Western Cape High Court, in 2004, seeking an order that legislation should require political parties to disclose the details of all funding that they receive. The
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ACDP notes, with some satisfaction, that this historic Bill brings to an end a culture of secrecy surrounding the funding of political parties, both pre- and post-1994.
Because it has never been clear who finances those who represent the people in Parliament, it has never been clear exactly whose interests parties are prioritising. So much has been about blind party loyalty and how the story is manipulated and framed to catch media attention. Being told what to think from every angle, it even becomes difficult for the public to remain clear on what is, in fact, in their best interests.
While the Bill aims to create a comprehensive legislative framework for the funding of political parties, the constitutional value of transparency is at the heart of it. This new legislation will require political parties to disclose the amounts and sources of donations above R100 000 per donor during any one financial year. Political parties will be required to present this information in a report to the Independent Electoral Commission, IEC, which will publish reports on a quarterly basis. At the same time, disclosure
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will be required by donors, to ensure that political parties are accurately reporting.
The ACDP commends Parliament and, in particular, the committee, chaired by ANC Member of Parliament, Vincent Smith, on a job well done, and for ensuring South Africa’s party funding legislation will be amongst the most transparent and accountable in the world, if it is passed today.
Like many others, however, the ACDP is all too aware of the potential for donors to be less likely to donate and to risk public censure if they cannot retain their anonymity. We therefore welcome the new Multiparty Democracy Fund, created to provide a solution to this problem. The fund will receive donations from anonymous donors, as well as donors who do not wish to donate funds to a particular political party. All political parties in the National Assembly and provincial legislatures will get a percentage based, in part, on the proportionality of seats held by those parties across the legislatures.
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Since 1994, parties have, of course, received annual allocations of public funds, but on a 90/10 split. This Bill now provides for the allocation to be two thirds, based on proportionality, and one third, equally. This benefits smaller parties, giving them a greater chance of reaching their potential voters.
This legislation is a victory for multiparty democracy. The ADCP supports this initiative which, we believe, will strengthen and preserve the important diversity of views in Parliament. Thank you. [Time expired.]
The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY: Hon Chairperson, His Excellency, the Deputy President, hon Ministers, Deputy Minsters, hon members and guests in the gallery, I greet you all. Allow me to convey our heartfelt condolences once again to the family of a fallen solder of our revolution, a mother, a sister, an aunt, and most of all, a true cadre of the ANC, the late Hon Fezeka Sister Loliwe; may her soul rest in eternal peace. “Death Be Not Proud”
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The ANC declared 2018 a centenary celebration of our global icon, a founding father of our hard-earned democracy, utata Nelson Mandela and a liberation fighter, a great daughter of the African soil who dedicated her life to a struggle for the emancipation of women, Imbokodo, umama Albertina Sisulu.
The ANC in its 52nd National Conference held in Polokwane, took a conscious resolution and which reaffirmed in its 53rd National Conference held in Mangaung that says:
The ANC should champion the introduction of a comprehensive system of public funding of representative political parties in the different spheres of government and civil society organisations, as part of strengthening the tenets of our new democracy. This should include putting in place an effective regulatory architecture for private funding of political parties and civil society groups to enhance accountability and transparency to the citizenry.
Today’s subject matter coincides with, inter alia, the founding values of our hard-earned democracy which our
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struggle heroes and heroines fought and advocated for, as enshrined in the constitution, which states that:
Universal adult suffrage, a national common voter’s roll, regular elections and multiparty system of democratic government, to ensure accountability, responsiveness and openness.
Siswati:
Sihlalo Wendlu, ngitsandza kusho kutsi inhlangano yaKhongolose njengemholi wemphakatsi, lohola sive sonkhe, itsetse lesincumo lesitsetse kutsi yonkhe intfo ayicace khona kutekwateka kahle kutsi ngubani losekela yiphi inhlangano. Ngoba loku kungenta kutsi labanye bantfu bente loko lokufunwa ngulabanye bantfu.
English:
I am not surprised by what you said, hon Selfe. Because I know for sure that the DA was and still is against this public disclosure of donors. As the ANC, we have been championing this and we have been saying that we want public disclosure on all finances that are ... [Interjections.] This Bill has got nothing to do with state capture or anything else. Unless if
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you are very poor in ideology that you want to bring everything in one basket. We are used to that, you can continue to do it.
Siswati:
Kodvwa lesikwatiko kutsi inhlangano yaKhongolose ifuna kutsi kwateke kahle, kanye nekutsi ...
English:
Our hard-earned democracy’s gains are not reversed by your handlers whom are ... [Interjections.] ... yes, there is a public perception that the DA is being funded by foreign agencies to reverse the gains of our democracy. It’s a public knowledge and you know it. So, hon Selfe I hope that one day you will wake up and smell the coffee that the ANC has the best interest of our country sovereignty and it values the voice of the electorate. Make no mistake on that one.
Increasing public funding could be warranted as part of a programme to strengthen democracy, build transparency and accountability, and ensure that all political parties achieve
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financial sustainability in a manner that is ethical, lawful and predictable.
In his court judgement, Judge Meer J in the Western Cape High Court, on 27 September 2017 in the case between, My Vote Count NPC and the President of the Republic and others; Judge Meer alluded to the fact that information about private funding of political parties and independent ward candidates registered for elections for any legislative body established under the Constitution is reasonably required for the effective exercise of the right to vote in such election and make political choices, in terms of section 19(1), 19(3), 32 and 7(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996. He further declared the invalidity of Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 to be suspended for 18 months in order to allow Parliament, of which we have already done, to remedy the defects in Promotion of Access to Information Act and allow for the recordable and disclosure of private funding of political parties.
As Parliament, we have complied to the court order and met the constitutional requirements of section 236 which state that:
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to enhance multiparty democracy, national legislation must provide for the funding of political parties participating in national and provincial legislatures on an equitable and proportional basis.
I want to congratulate the ad hoc committee for a job well done and also to indicate to this House that no one in the ad hoc committee objected or took anything about this Bill. We were in agreement ... [Interjections.]
Siswati:
Wena vala umlomo wakho!
English:
We were in agreement about everything and anything that is contained in this Bill.
Hon Chair, we all know that the DA is very opportunistic when it comes to matters of national interest because their interest is not in South Africa. Their interest is somewhere else. They know who they are serving ... [Interjections.]
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Mrs N W A MAZZONE: Chairperson, I rise on a point of order!
The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY: ... this is a political debate. I think your member will be able ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order! What is the point of order, hon member?
Mrs N W A MAZZONE: Chairperson, I rise on rule 82, if the hon member‘s interest is in the South African interest, could she please tell us where the Guptas are so that we can start getting some of this money back?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Hon member, you did not ask permission to ask a question. You were rising in terms of rule 82 reference to a member in a respectful manner.
The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY: Hon Chairperson, I said it earlier, and I am going to repeat it. The DA doesn’t have anything to offer South Africans. The ANC is the only party with policies ... you are paid just to oppose everything ... [Interjections.]
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The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Address the Chair, hon member!
The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY: Chairperson, my apologies, Chairperson. Blue is not your colour. It is not a DA colour. This colour was there even before your party was formed. So you cannot claim that this is your colour. I am wearing it just to spite you, because you are a two-faced political party.
Allow me to say that we as the ANC, we have the best interest of the country and the best interest of the citizens of this country. Hence, we have policies to address all the inequalities of this country. The ANC is the only party that will go and be with the people on the ground that knows and understand the sufferings of our people all over the country. The DA is just being opportunistic and there is nothing that you are going to offer our people out there. You are just using them like a toilet paper and you are going to throw them away.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order, hon members!
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Mr M P GALO: House Chairperson, the inherent attributes of a functioning democracy are not implicit in the exercise of public power that the elite enjoy over the people. The real transmutations of democracy lie in how public power is derived. Therefore, it is the people that this Bill should care to protect. We need to caution against this tiring constant fixation with the so-called foreign influence or third hand force.
This debate must induce a discipline of thought and clarity. Transparency must advance multiparty democracy. The dangers of banding the transparency bandwagon have the net effect of stunting fierce opposition politics.
We argue that foreign influence on our shores must be curbed. However, we need to strike a fine balance between transparency and multiparty democracy. The temptation has been to conflate the two, blatantly ignoring the dangers of one-party state.
The reality of the matter is that the governing party is in charge of the state. If it wishes to vilify private donors funding opposition parties, it could easily do so through this Bill.
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We have noted the Western Cape judgement on the Promotion of Access to Information Act. The drafters of our Constitution created this enabling tool to empower citizens to access information held by the state and in some cases by private individuals if it is in the interest of justice.
We argue that the concerns raised in this Bill could have been easily ventilated in the Promotion of Access to Information Act. However, we are not entirely dismissive of this Bill.
We commend the establishment of a Multiparty Democracy Fund. We wish to appeal to this House to consider our proposal on this fund. We propose that the Multiparty Democracy Fund must be designed to deepen our democracy and we therefore submit that the 70 to 30 ratio be applicable. In other words, all the opposition parties represented in Parliament must proportionally have a fair share of the 70% of funding.
In conclusion, we need to check and balance the exercise of public power. This includes ensuring that we do not confer excessive power to a single power, which is the ruling party. I thank you.
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Mr M A PLOUAMMA: Hon Chair, I support this Bill. However, allow me to correct the Deputy Chief Whip of the Ruling Party when she says, the ANC is the best party so far. Hon Deputy Chief Whip, the ANC gave us Tom Moyane, hon Faith Muthambi and hon Zwane. There is nothing good about the ANC anymore.
Hon Chair and hon members, we support this Bill with all its intents and purposes. We can’t have political parties who are as puppets to dangerous forces. We need political parties that serve our people without hidden agendas. We must have one single objective to serve this country.
With this Bill, we are moving towards minimising threats of influence by those with selfish interests to avoid our constitutional democracy being undermined.
Those who do not want to support this Bill or reveal their donors might have sold this country to foreign interest or they have reduced it to a business deal – you give me money and I will give you tenders or contracts or I will protect your mines or business.
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We cannot speak about transparency and honest governance while we refuse to be scrutinised. Who knows, maybe some of us are receiving money from shoddy characters and tax dodgers.
There is a good step towards the strengthening of transparency and accountability. The independence of our nation will be strengthened. I thank you.
Mr N T GODI: Hon House Chair, comrades and hon members, the APC stand to support this Bill, which we believe is long overdue.
The Bill seeks to do three things which are critical, namely, the adjustment of the distribution formula between proportional and equitable - moving it from 90/10 to one third and two thirds. Transparency and accountability for funding by private individuals – the requirement that any donation from R100 000 should be disclosed and putting a cap of R15 million per donor per year as well as the prohibition of foreign funding of political parties, the part that we as the APC are very enthusiastically support because the sovereignty of our country cannot and should not be compromised.
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We have seen in recent times how other countries have taken the issues of their sovereignty very seriously. Last week, we saw the former President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, being arrested for accepting a donation from the late Muammar Gaddafi. We have also seen how the American Parliament has been seized with issues of foreign influence on their presidential elections in 2016.
The APC calls for the Bill to be speedily implemented with the requisite substantial increase in public funding to ensure that multiparty democracy is indeed defended and advanced.
Lastly, I would like to thank the chairperson of the committee, Comrade Vincent Smith, for the good leadership that he provided. I must also acknowledge my colleagues, hon Singh and hon Mulder. We spent quiet a lot of time knocking our heads together discussing this Bill and I think they did a lot of work in ensuring we are where we are today. I thank you colleagues. Thanks hon Chair.
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The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T DIDIZA): Just for clarity sake, to the PAC, are you not taking your slot. Oh no. All right.
Thank you.
IsiZulu:
Mnu R A LEES: Ngiyaphila, kungcono ukuthi siphile sonke.
English:
There is not enough money to provide food for the millions of desperately poor school children in South Africa, children who survive on anything but a healthy diet. On top of this injustice, poor South Africans will, in a mere four days’ time on a day that Christians consider one of the most holy, be impoverished even more by the ANC increasing VAT by 1% and increasing the fuel levy by 52c per litre. Despite the lack of funding for basic service delivery to the poor, the South African Parliament will today make a law that is going to cost some R40 million every year to administer.
What is largely lost in the debate about this Bill is what is implied and not said. This is the clear intention of the ANC to milk even more funds from the poor in the form of increased
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allocations to the Represented Political Parties’ Fund. Watch this space later this year and see the October 2018 adjustments appropriation budget allocation for political parties funding going up. There is already one R1,2 billion that the state pays to political parties, and the pressure will be on the Minister of Finance to dramatically increase that. Baba Nene, you must resist that – resist the pressure that will come primarily from your own party.
There can be no doubt that the ANC has lost much of its private funding, as donors turn away from a party that has been riven by allegations of corruption. Clearly the funding that the ANC used to get from Cuba, Libya, Gaddafi, and other rogue states has also dried up, as they face their own economic collapse. The eagerness with which the ANC wanted funding from foreign governments stopped tells the story, as the DA has never received any funding, either directly or indirectly, from foreign governments. [Interjections.] The ANC knows this full well.
Perhaps the EFF would like to explain donations from CarniLinx, which stands accused of cigarette smuggling, to
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fund the registration of the EFF as a political party. [Interjections.]
Poor South Africans will once again suck the teat whilst political parties use even more funds than before. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mr D M GUMEDE: Chairperson, Deputy President, and hon members of this House, among our constitutional values, transparency, openness, accountability and inclusiveness feature prominently. These important constitutional values may easily be endangered by the high monetisation of our political system by private institutions whose interests may seriously undermine national interests, as well as the public interest and the will of the people.
As you know, our democracy is about the will of the people, and that will is underpinned by the constitutional right to vote. This is not new to the ANC. In 1955, the ANC had this to say about the will of the people and the right to vote – that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white, that no government can justly claim authority unless it is
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based on the will of all the people, and that every man and woman will have the right to vote for and stand as a candidate for all bodies which make laws. These clauses emphasise the will of the people and the right to vote. The ANC could foresee that about 50 or 60 years ago when it formulated the Freedom Charter and included these two clauses.
The purpose of this Bill is to enhance the constitutional values in our democracy. We believe this Bill will most probably assist in oversight when important matters of the nation are discussed and assist in us making judgements in the interest of the nation, that are in the interest of the public, that are in line with the will of the people. South Africans want nothing short of a vibrant and informed democratic society. That is demonstrated by the readiness with which it complied with the judgment in the case instituted by My Vote Counts. The judge essentially ruled that information about private funding of political parties is reasonably required for the effective exercise of the right to vote and the desired political choices.
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Currently, parties are not required to disclose sources and amounts from private funders. Substantial funding from one source may cause dependency of a political party on a private funder. This poses a great risk to democratic mandates that parties receive and, thus, undermines the right to make informed choices that should ideally be protected by the right to vote.
As a result, the committee proposed that political parties should disclose amounts and sources of donations they receive from one source when it is above the threshold of R100 000 over the course of a financial year, as other speakers have said. The maximum amount for donations from each donor was set at R15 million per year. Concerns that preventing the anonymity of a private donor would drive some donors away were expressed, and that was offset by the creation of a multiparty fund, the Multiparty Democracy Fund, to be administered by the Independent Electoral Commission. For this fund, it was agreed that the proportional and equitable split should be 66,7% to 33,3%.
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This Bill prohibits funding from foreign governments, foreign agencies, state-owned enterprises and organs of state. The prohibitions safeguard South Africa from risky foreign influences and the abuse of state funds that may result in actions contrary to the national and public interest.
The ANC believes this Bill will strengthen the democratic process and good governance, improve political accountability, and increase citizen faith in the leadership they elect. This is a moment of renewal. Together with the people of South Africa, we are moving to greater heights by accounting to them, being open to them, and including them in the decisions we make. Therefore, the ANC supports this Bill. Thank you.
Debate concluded.
Bill accordingly read a second time (Economic Freedom Fighters dissenting).
A RENEWED APPROACH TOWARDS SKILLS DEVELOPMENT TO ENSURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
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(Subject for Discussion)
Ms C C SEPTEMBER: Speaker, President Mandela made a profound contribution to the ANC’s education policy as well as its practise. In his address to the Presidential and Premier Education Awards of 22 November 1997, the then President Nelson Mandela said:
The power of education extends beyond the development of skills we need for economic success. It can contribute to nation-building and indeed to reconciliation.
No country can achieve economic growth without securing the skills development of its people. The human resources of South Africa are our greatest asset and a source of national wealth. The ANC believes that without massive and consistent investment in our human resources, we will not achieve the economic development and growth that we need to ensure a productive economy.
The ANC’s human resources policy has the objective of an active labour market policies aimed at developing and
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directing human resources to areas of social and economic need, including rural development. This then includes putting in place mechanisms which identify areas of decreasing labour needs. It will also include the creation of opportunities as well as identifying existing opportunities where more people can gain useful and meaningful employment.
These will ensure that workers - whose employment is threatened by the introduction of new technology, new forms of work organisation or where there is a decline of certain sectors of the economy - are actively assisted and encouraged to develop the knowledge and skills needed so that they move to new areas of work. Communities will be encouraged to play an active role in identifying and implementing such new areas, for example, sometimes in basic infrastructure.
The ANC must welcome the profound establishment of something that the committee also participated in last year when we dealt with the National Skills Development Forum. We engaged in what is now the Human Resource Development Council, HRDC, a strategy that works towards 2030. This strategy by the ANC-led
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government gives a practical solution to enhancing our skills development prospects.
We support measures that address improvement in South Africa’s economic competitiveness: To support a reduction in the Gini coefficient, corresponding to a reduction in inequality in the country; and therefore, the creation of decent work opportunities. This council is being led by the Deputy President and the former Deputy President. Now, the President of the country has made many strides in the strategy at the HRDC.
Some of the areas we are happy that they will be looking at is: To see how we can build a flexible and responsive skills system; also how the expansion of programmes to address occupations in demand including skills for new economies; raising skills levels of employed workers; implementing worker and shop steward education with a focus on workplace skills plans to address workplace training; and establishing effective structures and systems for achieving quality.
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In South Africa, we need “Skills for productive citizenship for all ...” in the country so that it can address the structural problems of the labour market that which we have inherited from the past, so that we can transform the South African labour market, from one with a low skills base to one characterised by rising skills and a commitment to lifelong learning.
For some of the new things that need to be done to achieve many of these, is that we have to address sectoral approaches to skills development. This can form an important element of a combined aim of creating economic wealth and social objectives which can both seek to engage employers in skills development. Whist doing that, we can develop better linkages between employer demand for skills and education and training supply.
Therefore where there is demand for skills within industry, the sector education and training authorities, Seta, must formalise supply thereof, but should also not be limited to learning programmes funded through learnerships, apprenticeships, bursaries, internships and skills programmes. Such learning programmes not only deliver skills and expertise
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but also afford learners the opportunity to become active role players within the realm of the South African economy.
Gone are the days where Setas are seen as a cash cow for looting and be seen introducing very strange projects that are not linked to the overall objective of economic and human resource development. Tebogo Raphathelo tells us that in her internship at Indwe Risk it was both exciting and challenging to be exposed to different departments and industry. In her 12 months she was able to obtain a Regulatory Examination qualification. This also made sure that she can have credits towards a short term insurance qualification. This we certainly support.
There is increasing recognition that higher technical and vocational skills are crucial in enhancing competitiveness and contributing to social inclusion, decent employment and poverty reduction has been a strong incentive for reform. The term technical and vocational skills development, TVSD, refers to the acquisition of knowledge, practical competencies, know how and attitudes necessary to perform a certain trade or occupation in the labour market.
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Our colleges must rise to the occasion to ensure that competencies can be acquired either through structured training in public or private TVET schools and centres, or through practical experience on the job in enterprises, workplace training in the formal sector and informal apprenticeship, or both the so-called “dual” training, involving a combination of work-place and institution based training.
At last the HRDC strategy have started to give attention to systematically addressing key challenges associated with dysfunctional colleges especially in the quality of learning and teaching, financial management and to bring in new networks models and guidelines to support college relationship worth local industry.
Some of this has been demonstrated at various partnerships, with some being at Sasol and others being at with other colleges. This new way is also required at universities to form a very strong bond between each other. Some of the challenges we have is ensure that we deal with the weakness in
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research and innovation but also to make sure that we have a capable state.
An important effort has been made in Phalaborwa mining through the Premier and also in the province as a whole. Similar examples we have seen at the level of the Free State. It is no wonder they are number one in the country because they have been able tom implement a range of different and very important skills development programmes that include sending many of our young people to many different parts of the country. These of course are extremely important to open up opportunities for many of our young people.
Responsiveness is behavioural change when incited by a stimulus. It is a characteristic of biological organisms. Adaptation to changes in environmental conditions, and those in ‘learning’, is an ecological prerequisite of survival.
Responsiveness is the drive to survive.
As applied to universities, responsiveness means meeting society’s broad expectations that higher education will adapt to change and contribute to national needs. We are forced to
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introduce new ways as knowledge and technology are changing so fast that specific skills for specific needs increasingly have to be generated on the job. I thank you. [Applause.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T DIDAZA): Thank you, hon member. I have been looking around, seeking for Duty Whips for today from all parties. I looked at them with a particular eye so that they assist me with their members, even if it means it is your Chief Whip that are disturbing, Duty Whips have a responsibility to make sure that there is some order in the House. I won’t mention who the Duty Whips are. I know them and I have looked at them so that there is some order. Over to you hon member!
Prof B BOZZOLI: Chairperson, this morning’s business Day has two articles in it on the fourth industrial revolution. They talk of smart cities, logistics biotechnology, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology and robotics. The ANC is going to love this. We will hear the phrase, fourth industrial revolution, frequently over the next year or so, you can be sure.
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And yet we live in a country that is struggling to develop. It has high unemployment and low skills levels, our education system are floundering; our manufacturing has declined. Our economy is stuck somewhere in the mid-20th century. The 21st century fourth industrial revolution is a fantasy. Our country can’t produce skilled people to drive the second and third industrial revolutions let alone the fourth.
What should we do with our R15 billion a year that we have to spend on skills education? Here is what the DA will do; our approach will be driven by the idea of global excellence. We will get advice from the best people in the world on the skills of the 21st century and how to develop them.
We will set up a modern apprenticeship system and a range of internationally accredited ICT and allied training programmes. We will establish links between schooling colleges and universities of technology, so a proper pipeline is created.
We will make sure the skills we develop encompass all the most important and up to date industrial and commercial needs of a modern economy. The information economy will be taken seriously and skills provided for it.
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We will make sure local and international top companies help us devise our skills strategy. We will include the best people in the country irrespective of their race. We will get rid of mediocre institutions such as poor performing Setas and failing TVETs. We will insist on excellence. We will be ruthless with poor curricula and outdated training.
We will make sure all skills training is done on a two-track system, practical training on the one hand and theoretical training on the other, as in the best training systems in the world. We will make sure every work place, and there are a million workplaces in South Africa, has one or more apprentices.
We will incentivise workplaces to incorporate apprentices for their practical training. We will make sure every apprentice receives theory training at up to date colleges and training schools. We will assess where we are short of people to do the training and bring in international trainers and lecturers on special visas where necessary.
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Over time we will develop a system which produces award-wining well-trained people, able to work in basics manufacturing and other sectors, as well as the most advanced manufacturing and information industries. Our economy will be able to move into the fourth industrial revolution as a result. Unemployment will be reduced and 21st century economic growth will be stimulated.
Instead, we are stuck with the ANC’s approach. I call this the “nationalised honey pot” approach. With their R15 billion they have pursued a xenophobic, parochial, outdated and mediocre system based on redistributive principles. The funds ... [Interjections.] ... Cheers, Mr Ndlozi. The funds are distributed extremely thinly over a vast range of institutions and organisations. This is designed to give all and sundry a tiny piece of the pie, and to keep the cares happy.
The ANC doesn’t really like excellence. It suffers from a very bad case of the tall poppy syndrome. So, where excellence exists it is not as fully supportive as it should be.
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They pretend to take advice from those who know best, through a body which ahs been chaired for the past several years by none other than Cyril Ramaphosa himself. But this body is embroiled in a web of plans, strategies, turnaround strategies, summits, conferences and consultations – typical of the Ramaphosa approach - it leads to nowhere.
The ANC think nothing of consigning to oblivion anybody who is not black African and preferably and an ANC aligned, however highly skilled they may be. Lastly we have lost the skills of thousands of willing participants in making the system work.
They treat the private sector with disdain and dislike; alienating them from participating actively in the skills education through the private sector itself provides the money through the skills levy.
They have ruined some of the best TVET colleges, emptying them of old experienced staff and filling them with cares. The Tshwane South College is a case in point. From being one of the most outstanding colleges in the country it is now a protest ridden and possibly corrupt. They have presided over
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the mediocrity of the rest of the colleges, and persistently failed to act to revamp and modernise their outdated curricula.
Through the Setas they have operated a largely corrupt patronage system, which has given thousands of tiny grants to micro-training institutions that are not properly accredited. This simply reproduces unemployables. The ANC’s inherent xenophobia and parochialism means that it refuses to seek trainers from outside the country. They believe arrogantly that they can do it all themselves – we can’t!
Sadly, this is now the system we are saddled with. It is wasteful, of poor quality and outdated. The R15 billion we have for skills – more than is given annually to 17 universities combined – is spread so thinly that it might as well be a social grant rather than an educational input.
Excellent people - local and foreign – are excluded from the system.
Most skills training are done without a practical component as all industry is alienated from participating, and the new
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generation of lectures and trainers often have no practical experience themselves. The ANC will never be able to fix this system. There are too many vested interests. The so-called new dawn is presided over by the very man who has failed to get skills education moving in the first place. All we can see on the horizon are more summits, plans, conferences, indabas and new plans.
The ANC is trapped by its own approach to this pot of funding
– it sees it as a honey pot to which must be used to its members, acolytes happy. You can’t run a training system like this. What we need is a total change in skills education. We can offer it. The ANC cannot. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Dr M Q NDLOZI: Thank you Chairperson. This debate is based on a false assumption that the reason we have unemployment or higher unemployment particularly for black youth is due to the lack of skills. This means we would have jobs possibly in tertiary skills level and nobody would be occupying them.
Over the past 24 years we have lost close to 612 000 jobs in the mining industry and almost an equal number has been lost
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in agriculture, yet according to the quarterly labour force survey for the fourth quarter of 2017, matric graduates rate unemployment stands at 27, 5%; meaning you told people to go to school and they will get jobs. They have gone to school, yet there are no jobs.
Today, hon Ramaphosa launched what he calls the youth employment service, which is basically an extension of EPWP to the private sector. It does not create sustainable jobs it simply continues the precarious labour contract that characterises EPWPs in government; and basically avails these young people as cheap labourers.
The reason we do not have jobs is because the private sector, which you rely on to create jobs has failed over the last 24 years to do so, regardless of the fact that you have not touched co-operate tax in over decades.
So we do not need a new approach to skills development, we need a new approach to developmental planning. Stop blaming people for the incompetence of the South African capitalists. Stop telling people you don’t jobs because you are unskilled.
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People have gone to school. They are waiting for you to create jobs. You are waiting for the market to create jobs.
It is the capitalists of South Africa that have failed to create jobs and they are the ones that must be told that they have failed as the leaders over the past 24 years in the markets to give jobs.
We need a developmental strategy that creates sustainable jobs, not those part time cheap labour jobs of hon Ramaphosa. We need our own banks that will invest in black, young entrepreneurs.
Create banks that believe in black talent. That will give black entrepreneurs money to go out there and create jobs. The reason we don’t have jobs is because the people with money and investment don’t believe in black talent. They are not funding our black people who have got ideas to create jobs.
We must revive our manufacturing sector by ensuring protection of infant industries. We must have the ‘local is lekker’ industrial revolution.
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We must produce local TVs or our own TVs, our own cellphones, our own irons, microwaves and all the electronics, in line with the industrial revolution or the fourth industrial revolution we have a chance to invent a new DTTTV, which does not need a step top box to translate a signal and broadcast.
Where does that opportunity lie? You need a bank that believes in the majority of the people in this country and give them money to create jobs, not more skills. There are many skills. Most of the countries that have developed and have got jobs, they have got jobs not because majority of the people who produce the things we consume in the economy are not tertiary skilled people. They are people with matrics; some of them don’t even have matric.
The majority of our matriculants or matric graduates are sitting at home. They don’t have jobs, they are skilled. Who is failing to give them jobs? It is the markets that you keep relying on to give you jobs.
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Take the responsibility of creating jobs by creating a state bank that will redirect investments and start believing in black talent. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Mr X NGWEZI: Hon House Chairperson, a renewed approach to skills development begins with the old injunction of getting the basics right as these are foundational to ensuring not only our future economic growth but also employment opportunities for all.
And getting the basic right begins with Early Childhood Development, which is currently in crisis and was placed under the mandate of the incorrect department as well as the poor leadership of its former Minister, Bathabile Dlamini.
House Chairperson, Early Childhood Development must be removed from the Department of Social Development to the Department of Basic Education so that there can be a correct alignment in respect of policy and childhood development. This would be a good place to start in terms of getting the basics right.
Chairperson, South Africa not only remains one of the most unequal societies in the world but its inequality continues to
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widen. The only way to narrow this gap sustainably is through the provision of quality basic education.
We have 26000 schools in South Africa and our learners at these schools have an entrenched constitutional right to education. This right is immediately claimable and not subject to progressive realization.
Why then are we seeing our Grade 4 learners being classed as amongst the worst readers lacking basic skills? Why are our children learning in languages that they have never heard before their first day at school?
Hon Chairperson, youth unemployment remains critically high, and is a recipe for disaster. Alignment between the market skills demand and skills requirements and what is being taught at schools or training institutions is still largely mismatched and this must be corrected, failing which our current future economic growth will be stifled and handicapped.
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Of critical import though, remains to get the basics right and the IFP hopes to see a concerted effort by the government in this regard. Thank you.
Pro N M KHUBISA: Chairperson, hon members thank you very much. South Africa’s skills shortage must be viewed in its historical context too. Moeletsi and Nobantu Mbeki in their book entitled,” A Manifesto of social change - How to Save South Africa” maintains that, I quote: “Two things are therefore important to understand about the formation of South Africa:
The first is that for the last 150 years the indigenous population was effectively prohibited from acquiring western technical and managerial skills, which might have replaced the traditional technical skills they had lost, and they were denied the ability to acquire modern business and industrial assets.
The second is that the population brought from Europe by the Dutch East India Company in the 17th and 18th centuries became increasingly isolated from modern Europe
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and therefore did not have the skills that the European populations developed during the two critical centuries, which culminated in the industrial revolution. Most manual labour was done by slaves, which further contributed to the loss of skills among whites.
It is therefore patently clear that we need a renewed skills approach towards skills development, an approach that will afford the South African populace those much needed vocational, technical, managerial, leadership and entrepreneurial skills to help compete effectively in the job market and also allow them to create their own jobs.
The subject for discussion at hand is very critical and crucial. It is a subject that requires constant ventilation with an aim of assessing whether as a democratic state we are sincerely responding to the skills development of the people of South Africa generally and the workforce in various environments.
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We need to ask ourselves as to whether our schools and work- related environments provide ample opportunities for skills development and economic activity.
I submit hon Chairperson that this subject begs the question about whether we are certain as to where skills training should begin. The Skills Development Act as amended maintains that the aim of skills development to encourage workers to participate in learning environments, to improve the employment prospects of persons previously disadvantaged by unfair discrimination and to redress those disadvantages through training and education to provide and regulate employment services, etcetera.
From our side as the NFP, we want to argue that skills development starts with laying the good foundation at the early phases of the education of our learners. Learners’ competences for reading, writing, and mathematics literacy must be developed. Learners must be afforded the best technological education in the lower grades of their education career.
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Learners’ cognitive skills and intellectual dexterity must be developed and enhanced. Our learners must be taught research skills. They must be taught to argue and think critically, laterally and independently.
Obviously, the whole question of skills development, at its fundamental level, implores us, to assist our children in creative thinking. The subject... [Interjections.] Thank you very much Chairperson. [Time expired.]
Mr M J WOLMARANS: Hon Chair and hon members, it is a common cause that the normative scheme of the South African education sector alongside its transmutations will assume a developmental character envisaged in the National Development Plan. We have so far reviewed a wide ranging literature on education in its broader sense and to this effect we should insist that the National Development Plan, NDP, must be our flag bearer as we try to practically interlink the role of Skills Education Training Authorities, Setas, Technical Vocational Education and Training, Tvet, colleges and the Universities in producing the skills set commensurate with our modernized economy. We must encode the NDP on our
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collaborative efforts as social partners, the education community and the private sector. To this end, we have the opportunity to see the glass half full or half empty.
Hon members, the sharp emphasis on Technical Vocational Education and Training and Skills Education Training Authorities, SETAs, that our government has engineered dates as far back as 2003, when the then Minister of Education, the late Kader Asmal, may his soul rest in peace, reminded the nation that 2003 has been declared the year of Further Education and Training, FET, colleges. He went further to say; and I quote:
This initiative has positioned the sector for effective delivery of the skills needs and placed them on the cutting edge for skills development in the country. The recorded increase in student intake, the development of new programmes and increased participation in learnerships bear testimony to the potential for growth and further development in this sector. The commitment of the business community and other government departments in making this sector a vibrant one, has assisted in
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strengthening the recognition of the sector in developing mid-level skills that the economy requires.
In 2009, the South African government prioritised skills planning through government priority outcome 5.1.1 to establish a credible institutional mechanism for skills planning. The White Paper for post school education and training placed the role of Technical and Vocational Education and Training as an integral component towards skills development in our country. This document states that both the Tvet and the community colleges must be flexible, responsive to employer and community needs and cater for an expanding number of youth and adult learners, many from the least privileged sections of society. This has also been emphasised in the National Development Plan which looks at the goal of post school system which should ultimately provide quality learning opportunities to young people, adults who want to change careers or upgrade skills, people who have left school before completing their secondary education and unemployed people who wish to start a career.
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On the other hand, the Human Resource Development Council of South Africa has one of its strategic goals as skills for the transformed society and the economy using workplace as a platform. This goal aims at seeing the country producing appropriately skilled as well as transformed society and the economy. We must therefore support the Human Resource Development Council, HRDC, with its continued responsibility to monitor the implementation and realisation of this goal by all the implementing agents as well as the departments.
As far as the Tvet colleges are concerned, the ANC-led government is the first to acknowledge that the Tvet colleges have been characterised in the following manner; there has been backlog in issuing of national or vocational certification, the location of the Tvet colleges in as far as the provinces are concerned, decentralised, there has been quiet some mismanagement which borders on corruption and we have not made well in promoting Tvet colleges as a first choice of higher learning and broadening access to post school for young people located in rural areas. As of October 2017, the Department of Higher Education and Training, had reported that the entire backlog in the processing of applications for
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the national diploma and national certificate for vocational certificates in Tvet colleges had been eliminated.
The administration of Tvet colleges has for now been centralized to ensure that the work of these colleges is streamlined and operate more efficiently. Any forms or traces of corruption in these institutions should be rooted out decisively by the department. The programmes such as the Decade of the Artisan, 2014 to 2024, enhances the position of Tvet colleges as a first port of call amongst the youth and will ensure that Tvet colleges will become the cornerstone of the country’s acute skills shortage. We encourage Department of Higher Education and Training to facilitate programmes that will ensure that access to Tvet colleges in rural areas is strengthened.
Following the successful launch of the adopt-a-Tvet-college campaign last year, the Human Resource Development Council, HRDC, continued to promote and increase partnerships and co- operation between industry and Tvet colleges. This has been demonstrated by the partnership between Sasol and the Flavuis Mareka Tvet College, in the Free State, where the employers
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from Sasol offer lectures to the students at the college. Ford is another example that has donated prototype vehicles at the Ekurhuleni West Tvet College for their workshop practical.
Successful partnerships were formed between additional companies and Tvet colleges.
We would like to see even more focused partnerships developed between business and institutions of higher education so as to secure a better fit between the professional qualifications and what the country needs in our economy. A joint effort between government, labour, business and civil society is therefore critical. In line with the HRDCs partnership approach to skills development, the council approached various companies to encourage them to establish partnerships with higher education institutions. Other institutions in the private sector such as General Electric South Africa, South African Synthetic Oil Limited, Sasol, Mothusi Knowledge Centre, Standard Bank and Young Managers Foundation have committed and are already on board and this is a step in the right direction for the growth of our economy.
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On our comparative analysis within the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, BRICS, partnerships vocational and technical education programmes in India have gained much greater attention in the past few years and have been included in the main policy agenda of the government, just like we have done in the National Development Plan, NDP, with corresponding increase in fiscal funding. India’s vocational and technical education programs are aimed at creating employment opportunities and imparting suitable skills for self employment, particularly in the rural and unorganized sectors. The government of India has set itself targets of up to 2022.
In the NDP we have set ourselves the same targets up to 2030. Some of the challenges though facing the Indian Tvet system include lack of employment for the graduates where the World Bank is stating that more than 60% of all graduates remained unemployed even three years of completion of their course. The report also found that public training institutes were not able to fulfil their role in producing skills for the informal sector. Other challenges in the system includes; quality and financing of the system, an ineffective funding model, strong
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mismatch between demand and supply side factors and lack of match between labour market needs and vocational courses.
In response, the Indian government is currently taking initiatives aimed at encouraging private partnership mainly aimed at making the system more responsive to the need of the labour. If you look at it, it is a replica of what we need to do. Upgrading of training institutions into centres of excellence through the World Bank has assisted in other countries. It is a page that we need to take out of their book, so says the NDP as well. A partnerships and collective responsibility between stakeholders; government, business organisations, co-operatives, trade unions, constituency bodies, trade and professional bodies is critical to achieving our aspirations of higher economic growth and development, higher productivity and a skilled and capable workforce to support a skills revolution in South Africa.
We need to find innovative ways of working together to improve efficiency, quality and the impact of education skills development and training in our country. The ANC will continue working with both the private and public sector to enlist
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graduates. Work placement opportunities have progressively succeeded in the recent past in both sectors where our graduates in training have been permanently absorbed
and entities such as Transnet, Prasa, Exxaro, Bhp Billiton and many others. We are however aware that some graduate programmes are not structured adequately to transfer skills.
Thank you. [Applause.] [Time expired.]
Mr M L W FILTANE: Chair, the self-serving ANC is still stuck with the old tender system, which hardly produces any sustainable jobs. The psychological consequence thereof is that kids see very little value in being educated. They just get part time jobs. It does not make sense to be stuck in school when you have no hope of getting a job.
The high drop-out rate in our schooling system, for a variety of reasons, results in far less people getting educated, so that they can understand and appreciate the skilling process that has to be preceded by education.
Male teachers befriending school girls instead of teaching them is one big contributor to the lack of skills. Kids get
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out of school as parents instead of getting out of school as graduates, because of male teachers. The dominant institution in that environment is the association of teachers. You know the name. What is our ANC government doing about it? They list them as voters, so that they can continue to perpetuate this social evil.
From about a million entrants into our education system, only 50% thereof graduate to go to tertiary education.
The other consequence of this situation in our country is that there is ongoing misalignment of our curricula with industry needs. The result is that we have inappropriate education and very few get appropriate schools and therefore unemployment stays high.
On-the-job-skilling benefits only 28% of the workforce. That is according to statistics. Employers are not impressed with the limited benefits that come with skilling their employees. That factor is as a result of a lack of co-operation between government and the private sector.
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Regarding the lack of infrastructure, kids die very frequently. Kids go school but the toilets are not appropriate. Even the grounds around the toilets in some cases are such that kids just sink there. So, we are burying kids that die having gone to school.
Roads are not usable. Protests result in deaths. Only last week, a 61-year-old taxi driver who joined the protest in Ciskei in the Eastern Cape was shot by the police under your management.
Then there is pathetic public works, which provide no appropriate infrastructure. Thank you.
Adv A D ALBERTS: Chairperson, South Africa is politically and economically at a crossroads where the one road leads to a growing economy and social cohesion and the other to despair and implosion. The ANC has, for 23 years, implemented a redistributive economic plan that is ultimately unsustainable. We are facing a fiscal cliff, while the looting continues unabatedly. A looting continua! That is ultimately the ANC’s mantra.
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Afrikaans:
Die enigste weg uit hierdie krisis is om ekonomiese groei eerste te stel. Die voorvereiste daarvoor is uitmuntende basiese en hoër onderwys. Dit is bewys deur talle state met stygende inkomstevlakke soos Suid-Korea, Taiwan en Australië.
Trouens, Australië bestuur sy ekonomie baie beter as wat hulle tans krieket speel. Die omgekeerde is natuurlik ook waar.
Indien ons ekonomie net deels bestuur was soos die Proteas tans krieket speel, sou die debat nie nodig gewees het nie. Ongelukkig is die ANC se antwoord op die krisis, om meer van dieselfde ekonomiese kwaksalwery toe te pas – herverdelinq, totdat daar later net armoede oor is om te verdeel.
English:
Witness the equality in Zimbabwe. Everybody is equally hungry while the governing elite are living like royalty. That is our future, if we do not change our economic mindset from redistribution and expropriation to growth and abundance.
So far, the ANC’s attitude is: “What could go wrong?” The short answer is the following: the expropriation of the hope
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for citizens to live a better life; the expropriation of hope for social cohesion; and the expropriation of the peace brokered in 1994.
Afrikaans:
Ons het wel ’n kans om die Zimbabwe-situasie te vermy. Ons sal wêreldgehalte onderwys vir ons jongmense daar moet stel. Ons moet mense aanstel op meriete en nie op ras nie. Ons moet ons met meriete staal vir die vierde en vyfde industriële rewolusies, want ek moet julle waarsku, die robotte is hier en hulle word al hoe slimmer, meer selfbewus en mensliker. Hulle gaan ons vervang en as ons nie strategies korrek optree nie, gaan ons ekonomies agteruitgaan en net meer werkloosheid het.
Ons het dus alle rede om saam te staan en kollektief die korrekte ekonomiese pad te volg - een van vrye mark groei, goeie opleiding, meriete met die volhoubare vermoë om die armes ook op te hef. Dit is natuurlik belangrik.
English:
This is a clarion call for the ANC to wake up from its socialist dream. If you do not and drag us deeper into
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communist despair, the consequences will be dismal for all of us. Thank you.
Mr W M MADISHA: Chairperson, the 1994 RDP White Paper acknowledged the interdependence of the objectives of reconstruction and development on the one hand, and growth on the other.
It clearly stated that if we were to effectively address the problems of unemployment, poverty and the gross inequality, our economy had to be firmly placed on a path of high and sustainable growth.
The need to develop our human resources, with a focus on skills development and acquisition through our education system and work places was firmly elucidated in the RDP.
Subsequent to the RDP, government launched Gear and Asgisa later, which both showed the shortage of skills, unemployment, absence of quality education and infrastructure.
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In the Zuma era, we were subjected to the New Growth Path and its vision to place jobs and decent work at the centre of economic policy. Remember the target of five million new jobs by 2020? But today, the country faces 40% unemployment. I know that the ANC perpetually rejects that. It is 40%. Improvements in education and skill levels were again highlighted as fundamental prerequisites for achieving the goal of this new growth path. And somewhere in between the Growth Path, IPAP and the Nine Point Plan, came the IDP.
In the past decade, under the ANC, unemployment, poverty and inequality have increased and our educational outcomes decreased. We have these kinds of problems. The fact is that one of the main drivers of the structural poverty and inequality is the relationship between education levels and income.
Our education sector has suffered from poor management, continual changes in policy and curricula, policy experimentation and gross political interference by the ANC. Under the ANC, our education system has failed our youth and our nation, despite generous budgetary provisions.
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The free higher education announcement ... The ANC has failed. Dear South Africans, the ANC has failed.
Mr S M JAFTA: Hon Speaker, the National Development Plan, NDP must be our starting point in this debate. The following passage from the NDP suffices:
The different parts of the education system should work together allowing learners to take different pathways that offer high quality learning opportunities.
There should be clear linkages between schools, FET colleges, universities of technology, universities and other providers of education and training.
It further states that:
There should also be clear linkages between education and training and the world of work.
The most important task at our hands is to incentivise the private sector. In exchange, highly skilled practitioners in
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the corporate must mentor university graduates once they serve their internships. We can move South Africa forward through a concerted effort between labour, the private sector and government. We pin our hopes on the upcoming jobs summit. We have no doubt that our developmental goals will tie us together to a common vision.
The project of skills development implicates sector education and training authorities, Setas, government, the private sector and the universities. It is almost implicit that the project of skills development requires a joint effort between these stakeholders. The Setas have to be fashionable. They should attract the most agile and performing students.
Our economy is subdued. We have a large social expenditure in the world. We must insulate our democracy and economic growth through upskilling young people. We have young people who don’t complete their primary and secondary education. Skills revolution on its own won’t work. We have to subject our young people to conscription after matriculating. Once they have been trained in discipline, it is much easier to have them held accountable.
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The urgent need to upskill young graduates must entail a renewed approach. We argue that graduates, as early as second year, should be rotated across various public and private institutions to gain work exposure. [Time expired.] I thank you.
Mr A BOTES: House Chairperson, the political ethos, mantra and creed of realising education as a commodity of necessity is firmly dedicated to the young martyrs of the people’s struggle, and in particular in remembrance that in 10 day’s time on 6 April we will be commemorating the 39th anniversary of the execution of the young man, Comrade Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu. Comrade Solomon Mahlangu was instructive that our youth should continue to reap the fruits of the tree which his death had borne.
The history of South Africa is one beset with the most acute social fault lines of having the twin dangers of unemployment and poverty coexisting. We remind our students and young people that during his state of the nation address, President Ramaphosa indicated that, “Our most grave and most pressing challenge is youth unemployment”. Fortunately for these young
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people, South Africa is a giant social laboratory which has produced multifaceted successes through the ANC, the people’s movement.
The current juncture of the acumen of our societal leadership, properly represented by President Ramaphosa, has imbued a conviction in all our young people that their interests and grievances are paramount and a necessary consequence to our government.
The question of free education has correctly directed a twin impulse of legitimate societal leadership and an active citizenry which feeds our nation. The question of free education has its roots in a shared prosperity and social justice. The decisive political decision by our President to immediately implement free higher education for poor students is part of a historical thesis to transform and tilt the apartheid state colossus, and orientate it towards a more humane and just people’s project.
The singular objective to avail more than R57 billion direct money to free higher education is central to the task of
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abolishing a major source of social conflict, which is youth unemployment.
A caring government, such as the one led by President Ramaphosa, would ordinarily use the distributive mechanism of the fiscus to provide a safety net to the poor. His commitment to our needy students is hugely and commonly known. We are firmly committed that all needy students of the more than
975 000 enrolled in universities since last year will be funded comprehensively. Equally so, the optimistic expectation of our people has further necessitated that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS, gets adequate money to ensure that the children of those families that fall outside the R350 000 per year income bracket also access equitable education. The NSFAS will therefore continue to fund almost
300 000 students with more than 195 000 of those returning students while just under 100 000 are first-time students.
An important incubator of knowledge and skills acquisition is technical vocational education and training, TVET, college education which encompasses over 290 000 students which, equally so, will be funded by this people’s pro-poor and
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caring government. Radical socioeconomic change therefore requires an adequate social agency led by a conscious and, more importantly, a pro-poor student steward as proposed by our President.
We claim no lies; nor do we claim easy victories. As a testament to people’s power, a total of 985 000 students were enrolled in public higher education institutions in 2015. This student enrolment increased between 2009 and 2015 by
147 000 students. Properly put, it is an antithesis to freedom
– the grave concern around youth unemployment.
It cannot be correct that 3,1 million young people are outside of employment ... of educational institutions. The decisive intervention therefore by President Ramaphosa today to launch the one million Youth Employment Service, Yes, programme, will complement the existing initiatives of the National Youth Service programme, the Youth Employment Accord and, more importantly, the youth wage subsidy, which lowered the cost of employment of our young people.
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The more young people graduate, the more it will have a multiplying effect in making poverty poorer. The question that we are posing today, in honour of Solomon Mahlangu, is to the direct descendents of Hendrik Verwoerd, when he indicated in 1953, “What is the use of teaching the Bantu child Mathematics?” That was the question that he posed. Our response as a people’s government says that we have increased the number of graduates in Science, Engineering and Technology in excess of 58 000. In direct response to Hendrik Verwoerd, we have 14 000 chartered accountants in South Africa today who happen to be black and African. That is our response to the question of white superiority that used to live in South Africa.
More importantly, there is a question about the necessary research capability of the South African state. Firstly, let me report today that the number of research masters graduates increased by 20,4% to 7 317 graduates in 2015. In the same breath, our Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, hon Buti Manamela, just last night added value by becoming a research masters graduate. [Applause.]
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Of course, we will fail to do justice to our people, in particular to those who are located in the Northern Cape and Mpumalanga, if we don’t report to them today about the expansion of the university system in terms of the establishment of the Sol Plaatje University in Kimberley and the University of Mpumalanga in Mbombela. The Sol Plaatje University in Kimberley has been able to enrol 703 students to date, while 1 261 students have been enrolled at the University of Mpumalanga.
On top of that, we must appreciate the commitment from our government that an additional R2,9 billion has been made available over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework to phase in the development and expansion of those institutions. That is telling the truth and not claiming any easy victories.
I will fail to correct a statistic that was put forward earlier, on the basis that the central statistics body in
South Africa, Statistics SA, has a statistic which says that the value of higher education ... how it contributes to unemployment. According to Statistics SA data for the second
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quarter of 2017, only 7,4% of graduates were unemployed. This is in contrast to the figure of 27,9% of persons living in South Africa with only a matric qualification. It therefore holds that the more qualified you become, the more you will become employed and the less you will be part of the unemployed masses.
Amilcar Cabral was instructive that the biggest struggle is against our own weaknesses. It cannot be correct that in Parliament the biggest struggle is a struggle against the weakness of forgetting. The fact of the matter is that in terms of the global competitive ranking of South Africa, as commissioned by the World Economic Forum, primary school enrolment stands at 97% and secondary school enrolment stands at 94%. A total of 81 000 new jobs were created between September 2017 and December 2017. That is what the ANC stands for. We stand for more jobs; we stand for a restoration of values; we stand for a revival of consciousness; and we stand for a resilience of a pro-poor people’s agenda. I present the face of this new dawn to the members in the House. This is the man, our President, who will lead and continue to lead a
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resilient pro-poor people’s agenda. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Ms H BUCWA: Chairperson, tackling skills mismatch and skills shortages is a major challenge for the labour market and training policies in the context of rapid and substantial changes in skills needs. It is common cause that substantial numbers of employers complain that they cannot find employees that have the skills their businesses require. At the same time, many graduates face difficulties in finding job opportunities matching their qualifications.
Educational attainment has increased substantially over the years. However, a large share of individuals still exits the educational system without completing their matric. The labour market is characterised persistently by high rates of unemployment and low participation rates that affect mainly the youth of South Africa, low-skilled individuals, and individuals who come from previously disadvantaged backgrounds. In order for us to strengthen the economy that we speak of today, our country has to invest in the right skills, not simply add more skills that are inefficient. The Sectoral
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Education and Training Authorities, Setas, is one of the strategic interventions put in place to ensure that we have quality training and education. A total of 80% of the skills levy is awarded to Setas, whilst the remaining 20% goes to the National Skills Fund, NSF.
Setas are hugely inefficient producers of skills, notably because of the following: outsourcing has reduced industry ownership; skills taught are not relevant in the industry; the quality of training is low; and of the over 93 000 individuals who were unemployed, part of Setas, and registered for these programmes, only half passed and became certified. Only
49 700 individuals who were unemployed were certified, whilst the target was set at 66 000, and this means that over
43 000 individuals were left without any qualification from their learnerships or skills programmes.
There are various issues with the planning, management, and governance of the distribution of funds within these Setas. By the way, the NSF also appears to have become a cash cow for the Minister’s shortfalls elsewhere. More training opportunities are needed for the employed and unemployed. This
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training should be relevant in improving the employability and career progress of participants. Furthermore, governance aspects should be addressed, such as a lack of co-ordination and co-operation between the relevant stakeholders – the Department of Higher Education and Training, training institutions, and employers. This is to ensure we avoid any hindrance to the development of skills. The implementation of policies is often impeded by a lack of clear goals, a missing or underdeveloped monitoring and evaluation framework, and the instability of policy development.
The DA sees the Technical and Vocational Education and Training, TVET, sector in particular as an integral future partner in creating a highly skilled workforce, yet allocating funds into this sector without a serious revamp is problematic for providing the type of skills required. The DA believes that underperforming Setas should be closed and the funds redirected to the TVET sector. Only functional and well- performing Setas should be retained. Their boards should be redesigned, and corruption will be rooted out. The mandatory grant that companies are given should be increased to support and build the skills that we require. The Setas should be
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assessed on the following: their level of performance, their knowledge of learning and the skills that are needed, their representation of the sector and level of communication with that sector, the availability and capacity of training, and their commitment to fulfilling the needs that the country requires.
South Africans deserve access to skills development, and the quality of the training provided to them should be at a high level. Access to skills training and education opportunities will ensure that South Africans are employed and can improve their standard of living. Becoming a more skilled individual and finding employment create a sense of dignity and purpose. It ensures that young South Africans can be more independent and fulfil their goals, that they can contribute to their families, that they can contribute to the economy and, ultimately, that they can contribute to the communities they come from. I thank you. [Applause.]
Ms C C SEPTEMBER: House Chair and hon members, let’s say we have heard a lot of input here today. I think it is important to say there are many instances where we have heard what the
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members said. There were many important points put forward too. We think those points can help us take the debate forward, and the ultimate goal we would want to reach is important. The ANC, through its programme, will continue to make sure that we address the Technical and Vocational Education and Training sector and, in particular, the information systems, management systems and so on.
For all the successes that we have, I want to pay homage today to a very outstanding public servant we had in the form of Firoz Patel who was the deputy-director general for TVET colleges. Firoz Patel passed on last week, and we are very sad that such a good, capable person is lost to our system, that his family no longer has him, and that we don’t have him to come to Parliament anymore. However, we must say thank you very for the contribution he made, as it relates to the TVET colleges and the power it took to make sure that all the different issues we raised were addressed insofar the colleges are concerned. We will miss you, Firoz, and may your soul rest in peace. Your work will never be forgotten.
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Hon members, it is important to say that we must continue to address the bond that we have between the universities, colleges, and the Setas. We cannot separate them and think that we can give young people the kind of assistance they require. They require assistance in the labour market. They require advice, and we think this is what we can input into the entire discourse to make sure we address and increase enrolment in postschool institutions. We must do so by ensuring that the advice they require can and should be in each and every institution in the form of support centres.
More importantly, the department has created a programme to address the skills deficit that many have talked about and started programmes such as the Next Generation of Academics Programme. This programme empowers the young graduates you have spoken about to obtain postgraduate qualifications, like master’s degrees, and become academics. I am sure the hon Ndlozi was also a beneficiary of this great programme and received his doctorate through this programme.
We think – hon Ndlozi, I was addressing you – that the points he made certainly are very useful. I think they are points we
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can take into consideration. To address the issue he spoke about, we already have the DTI Jobs Fund that gives refunds when there are job programmes. Already, they give 40% incentives, in particular to the black industrialists. At the level of the Industrial Development Corporation, IDC, and the DTI, there is a range of different funded projects. It is interesting you raised the issue of the bank, but we have these DTI and IDC-funded projects. They are focusing on manufacturing. They are focusing on iron and steel. They also focus on a range of other manufacturing industries, including finance and project management. We think it is important.
I support the hon member ANC who said the President has walked the talk today by launching the programme. I also want to say it has been very interesting that, on the one side, we hear from the DA that the TVETs should be closed and the Setas scrapped. On the other side, we hear the following: Strengthen the Setas and make sure. Which one is it, hon DA members?
Which camp is speaking? At the beginning, it says to close. The end speaker says we should strengthen that.
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Then, of course, we have heard all of these contradictions for a long time. On the one side, they say we don’t support land reform. On the other side, they say we will give you what is called a title deed. Of course, this continuation will continue. I am sure we cannot take into consideration any of the issues they have raised. [Interjections.] [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
THE DEATH OF STEPHEN HAWKING
(Draft Resolution)
Mrs J D KILIAN: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the House —
(1) notes with sadness the death of the renowned physicist and professor at the University of Cambridge, Stephen Hawking, on Wednesday, 14 March 2018, at the age of 76;
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(2) further notes that Hawking suffered for decades from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, a type of a slow progressive form of motor neuron disease;
(3) remembers that his early encounter with the disease was depicted in the film, The Theory of Everything, in 2014;
(4) further remembers that he made several discoveries in the field of physics, mathematics and cosmology that raised his profile internationally;
(5) acknowledges that his theories unlocked a universe of possibilities that we and the world are exploring;
(6) remembers, with fondness, his comments to astronauts at Space Station in 2014, that they may keep flying like Superman;
(7) conveys its condolences to his family, his friends and fellow physicists; and
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(8) further acknowledges that he truly was a “Superman” in his own right.
Agreed to.
REPAYMENT OF R12 MILLION TO ESKOM BY KANNALAND LOCAL MUNICIPALITY
(Draft Resolution)
Ms Z JONGBLOED: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the House —
(1) notes, with appreciation, that Kannaland Local Municipality, one of the poorest and smallest municipalities in the Western Cape has managed to repay every cent of a R12 million debt to Eskom;
(2) further notes that the debt was a result of poor governance and serious mismanagement by the previous
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Kannaland government, which almost led to the electricity supply to the areas being cut;
(3) also notes that Kannaland is a largely agricultural area where most of the inhabitants are farm or seasonal farm workers;
(4) appreciates that the achievement is especially remarkable in light of the fact that the lower band poverty line has been set at R443 by Statistics SA, and that about 10,4% of Kannaland households have an income of less than R400 per month, resulting in an increase in indigent dependency on municipal support;
(5) acknowledges that this means that the resources of the Kannaland Local Municipality is severely strained in their efforts to provide free basic services to the people of Kannaland; and
(6) further appreciates that, where the DA governs, the lives of people improve.
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In the light of the objection, the motion without notice will now become a notice of a motion.
OVERCROWDING AT TEMBISA HOSPITAL
(Draft Resolution)
Dr S S THEMBEKWAYO: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the House —
(1) notes the overcrowding at Tembisa Hospital in Gauteng;
(2) further notes that of particular concern is the isolation room for TB patients, which because of overcrowding, is not a good place for recovery, but rather a place of infection, as nurses themselves are afraid to enter, for fear that they may contract TB;
(3) acknowledges that the waiting time is so long at the hospital that a pregnant women had to wait seven days, sitting in a chair before she could be attended to and
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have a Caesarean section administered, and patients sleep on the hospital floor during their stay;
(4) further acknowledge, that these examples are just a fraction of the problems at Tembisa Hospital, with the general state of the hospital making it a near impossibility for a patient to get better;
(5) also acknowledges that these are not just the complaints of patients but also of staff, which is why the Tembisa community, in association with Tembisa Hospital employees handed over a memorandum to the hospital management on 28 February 2018; and
(6) recognises that this is yet another example of a collapsed public health care system, and requires immediate attention.
In the light of the objection, the motion without notice will now become a notice of a motion.
CONGRATULATIONS TO MORNE MORKEL
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(Draft Resolution)
Ms B N DLULANE: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the House —
(1) congratulates Morne Morkel on his achievement of becoming the fifth Standard Bank Protea to reach the milestone of 300 test match wickets;
(2) notes that Morkel was unstoppable for the Proteas in Australi’s second innings, helping Proteas to triumph over Aussies in Newlands on Sunday, 25 March 2018;
(3) remembers that he follows in the footsteps of Shaun Pollock with 421 wickets, Dale Steyn, currently at 419, Makhaya Ntini with 390 and Allan Donald with 330;
(4) understands that Morkel has been one of the stalwarts of the world-class pace attack for more than a decade, and played a major role in some of the Proteas’
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outstanding performances in recent times, including away-series wins in England and Australia;
(5) commends him on finishing his career on such a high note against opponents against whom he has produced some of his most memorable performances; and
(6) congratulates Morne on joining the 300 club.
Agreed to.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ZULULAND
(Draft Resolution)
Mr N SINGH: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the House —
(1) congratulates the Department of Economics at the University of Zululand for hosting a successful
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inauguration of a financial risk and stability debate and workshop on 22 and 23 March 2018;
(2) notes that the workshop was aimed at bringing together policy makers, academics, researchers, business analysts, students and other stakeholders, to discuss topics around financial stability, financial risk, and other related topics;
(3) acknowledges that this workshop’s ardent necessity is borne out of not only a global necessity of the age, but in particular, the current political and socioeconomic circumstances we find ourselves in as South Africa;
(4) further acknowledges that the challenges we face, although steep, are not insurmountable and therefore it is incumbent upon academics to not only contribute to the public discourse through papers and workshops such as this, but also in academically equipping our future generations so that they may one day assume
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leadership roles in the country on the basis of not only intelligence but also informed governance; and
(5) wishes that more academic institutions will contribute to the public discourse on a variety of matters and make their inputs available to policy makers like ourselves.
Agreed to.
MOTION OF CONDOLENCE
(The late Nelisiwe, Sicelixolo, Olwethu and Asimbonge Mngomezulu)
Prof N M KHUBISA: House Chair, I move without notice:
That the House –
(1) notes with pain and sadness the death of Mrs Nelisiwe Mngomezulu, who was pregnant, and her children Sceluxolo, Olwethu and Asimbonge;
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(2) further notes that the members of the Mngomezulu family were tragically struck by lightning last week;
(3) notes that all the deceased will be laid to rest this coming Thursday;
(4) calls upon the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs nationally and provincially and the South African Weather Services to intensity efforts that can help alert members of the public about climatic change, rainfall, floods and other disasters in order to save further loss of lives; and
(5) conveys its heartfelt condolences to the Mngomezulu family, relatives, neighbours, friends and all residents of Ingwavuma for a traumatic experience and tragic loss of lives.
Agreed to.
NIGERIAN KIDNAPPED SCHOOL KIDS REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILIES
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(Draft Resolution)
Mr M S A MAILA: House Chair, I move without notice:
That the House –
(1) notes that the school kids kidnapped by the Boko Haram jihadist group in Dapchi, north-eastern Nigeria, were reunited with their families on Sunday, 25 March 2018 after spending nearly five weeks in captivity;
(2) further notes that the 105 girls, covered head to toe in burkas, arrived aboard five buses in the town of Dapchi, in Yobe state, where they met their parents at the boarding school where they were snatched on 19 February 2018;
(3) acknowledges that the girls were among 111 who were seized, of whom five died apparently during the violent hostage-taking or in the trucks that took them away;
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(4) recalls that after their release on Wednesday, they spent three days in the national capital Abuja where they met President Muhammadu Buhari;
(5) understands that their release left one schoolgirl, Leah Sharibu, still in the hands of the kidnappers, reportedly because she is a Christian who refused to convert to Islam;
(6) believes that the Dapchi kidnapping revived painful memories in Nigeria of the April 2014 abduction of over 200 schoolgirls from Chibok, a town also in the northeast, which caused global outrage;
Agreed to.
SPATE OF KILLINGS RIFE IN ALICE
(Draft Resolution)
Mr M L W FILTANE: House Chair, I move without notice:
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That the House –
(1) notes that on Thursday, 22 March 2018, in a small peri-urban town to Alice, eDikeni, Eastern Cape, an elderly woman pensioner, Nobesuthu Katase, was brutally murdered whilst arriving home from the bank, allegedly by a young male drug addict;
(2) further notes that the family of the alleged murderer immediately handed him over to the police soon after they noticed that he had blood on his hands and body, and was acting in a questionable manner;
(3) recalls that in the same town of Alice:
(a) in 2015, an elderly couple of 70 and 80 years old respectively, were also brutally murdered, once again allegedly by a group of young drug addicts;
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(b) again in 2015 another elderly female domestic worker was murdered whilst at work in similar circumstance;
(c) a year ago, in 2017, three women were murdered by what was believed to be a serial killer targeting women; and that in the same year, a female student was shot at point blank whilst at her hostel at the University of Fort Hare; and
(d) in February 2018, two women were fatally stabbed by an allegedly drunk whilst in a tavern.
(4) believes that crime against women and the elderly is an attack on fundamental human rights, central to which is their right to life;
(5) further believes that the state has a duty to defend all citizens, in particular the weak, vulnerable and elderly;
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(6) conveys its condolences to the family of Ms Nobesuthu Katase. [Time Expired.]
Agreed to.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): May I remind hon members that you only one and half minutes to do a Motion without Notice and no additional time can be added to that whether you have finished or not.
TEACHERS WHO ARE ABUSING CHILDREN TO BE REPORTED TO SACE
(Draft Resolution)
Mr I M OLLIS: House Chair, I move without notice:
That the House –
(1) Notes the many cases of school violence and abuse of learners by teachers reported in the press and on social media;
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(2) Calls on the Minister of Basic Education to ensure that SA Council of Educators, SACE, has the adequate funding to investigate and prosecute teacher misconduct;
(3) Calls on the provincial education departments to comply with the legal requirement to report cases to SACE and to replicate the Western Cape’s safe schools call centre for reporting school safety concerns;
(4) Calls on the Minister of Police to make the necessary training and resources available to protect schools from community crime;
(5) Calls on the Minister of Social Development to ensure that the Child Protection register is properly maintained and the school staff can be checked against it;
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(6) Calls on the Minister of Justice to ensure that the sexual offenders register is properly maintained so that the school staff can be checked against it; and
(7) Supports a minimum essential service level for school staff so that children are not left unsupervised and unsafe during school hours.
CONDOLENCE FOR THREE DROWNED CHURCH MEMBERS
(Draft Resolution)
Ms J V BASSON: House Chair, I move without notice:
That the House –
(1) Notes with sadness the death of three men who drowned during a baptism ceremony at Monwabisi beach next to Khayelitsha in Cape Town on Sunday 25 March 2018;
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(2) Believes that whilst conducting the baptism, two of the church members encountered difficulties in the water and the third person went in to try and assist but all three of them drowned;
(3) Recalls that two bodies were recovered on Sunday afternoon and the police unit continued to search for the person;
(4) Recognises that water at Monwabisi beach generally, is very dangerous with under current and rip tides;
(5) Calls for church leaders to be vigilant when conducting these baptism services; and
(6) Conveys its condolences to the families of the deceased and church members.
MOTION OF CONDOLENCE
(The late Prime Minister Phan Van Khai)
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Mr M S A MASANGO: House Chair, I move without notice:
That the House –
(1) notes with great sadness the passing of former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai of Vietnam on Wednesday, 21 March 2018;
(2) recognises that the late former Prime Minister contributed greatly to the building and development of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam;
(3) further recognises that he also played a crucial role in promoting bilateral relations between South Africa and Vietnam;
(4) recalls that during his official visit to South Africa in 2004, the former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai met his counterpart, then President Thabo Mbeki, and the two leaders officially established the South Africa-Vietnam Inter-Governmental
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Partnership Forum for Economic, Trade, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation;
(5) believes that former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai left an indelible footprint which can never be erased, a source of wisdom that benefited South Africans and Vietnam; and
(6) conveys its condolences to the government and people of Vietnam.
Agreed to.
PRIMARY SCHOOL TESTS CHILDREN FOR HIV WITHOUT PARENTS’ CONSENT
(Draft Resolution)
Mr L M NTSHAYISA: House Chair, I move without notice:
That the House –
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(1) notes that the Alfonso Arries Primary School in Port Elizabeth is mired in controversy over its wilful conduct to conduct HIV tests on children without consent from their parents;
(2) recognises that this is the most damning travesty in our country, especially in a country that has stigmatized the conditions of HIV and AIDS;
(3) expresses its disappointment that Kheth’Impilo, a nongovernment organisation, is very much unbecoming, reckless, irresponsible and uncaring;
(4) further notes that we are appalled that the school in question aided and abetted this crimen injuria, notwithstanding its constitutional obligations to promote the best interest of our children;
(5) notes the violation of human rights children’s rights by this NGO;
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(6) further notes that it was out of order for the school principal to say that this test was conducted outside school premises;
(7) believes that the school has a duty to look after our children that have been sent to our school;
(8) urges an immediate investigation into the bridge by Eastern Cape Education Department.
Agreed to.
MUNYAI BREAKS SOUTH AFRICA’S 200M RECORD
(Draft Resolution)
Mr S M RALEGOMA: House Chair, I move without notice:
That the House –
(1) notes that the South African Athlete, Clarence Munyai, shattered the country’s 200m record in a
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time of 19,69 seconds at the South African Track and Field Championships in Pretoria on Saturday, 17 March 2018;
(2) further notes that the 20-year-old Munyai took a massive 0,15 chunk off the previous world 400m record holder Wayde van Niekerk in Jamaica in June 2016;
(3) acknowledges that he slashed almost half-a-second off his previous best, the South African junior record of 20,10 he set a year ago at the same Tuks Stadium venue;
(4) further acknowledges that his time launched him to 10th place on the world all-time list while it is also the fastest time in the world since 2015, when Jamaican icon, Usain Bolt, and America’s Justin Gatlin clocked 19,55 to win the world title in Beijing;
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(5) recalls that Munyai became the only fourth South African to dip below 20 seconds over the half-lap sprint, joining an exclusive club that includes Van Niekerk, Anaso Jobodwana and Akani Simbine; and
(6) congratulates Clarence Munyai on such a wonderful performance and wishes him well in future competitive games.
Agreed to.
LONWABO SOLONTSI SENTENCED FOR RAPING 39 VICTIMS
(Draft Resolution)
Mrs D ROBINSON: House Chair, I move without notice:
That the House -
(1) notes the continuing scourge of rape in the country;
(2) further notes that:
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(a) Lonwabo Solontsi was recently sentenced for raping 39 victims in the Eastern Cape, including several teenagers and an 11-year-old; and
(b) the Gauteng, Putfontein, plumber rapist raped
55 people of which 40 of them were schoolgirls;
(3) realises that our country has hundreds of serial rapists who never get caught;
(4) acknowledges that in 2016-17, a total number of
49 660 sexual offences were reported to the SAPS but the harsh reality is that many of these atrocious crimes never get reported;
(5) further acknowledges that South Africa has one of the highest sexual violence rates in the world;
(6) conveys our sincere condolences to those who have fallen victim to this heinous scourge of rape and sexual violence in South Africa; and
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(7) pledges our continued support to these brave individuals who must continuously deal with the consequences of these cowardly deeds.
Agreed to.
PASSING AWAY OF AMBASSADOR FEZIWE FAITH RADEBE
(Draft Resolution)
Ms D D RAPHUTI: I moved without notice:
That the House -
(1) notes with sadness the death of Ambassador Feziwe Faith Radebe on Tuesday, 13 March 2018, after battling with cancer;
(2) further notes that at the time of her passing, she was serving the country as Ambassador to Sweden, following her full term of service as Inspector-General of Intelligence;
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(3) remembers that prior to her role as inspector-general, she was South Africa’s Ambassador to the Caribbean countries where she served the country with distinction;
(4) further remembers that Ms Radebe is one of the cadres who underwent military training and she has an illustrious record of serving the liberation movement in various capacities;
(5) recognises that she emerged as an astute diplomat whose talents have showcased our country favourably and one respected by the world community;
(6) believes that her departure has not only robbed us of a committed South African, but also of an advocate for a nation that still has a role in transforming world multilateral governance institutions through progressive diplomacy; and
(7) conveys its heartfelt condolences to the entire Radebe family.
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Agreed to.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): That concludes motions without notice. Hon members, the next item on the Order Paper is member’s statements and I wish to remind you that on Thursday, 8 March 2018, members’ statements stood over. The programming committee agreed that two instances of members’ statements would occur today, parties would be given an opportunity to make members’ statements based on the sequence of 8 March 2018, after which we would take ministerial responses. Thereafter, today members’ statements would be taken. Does any member of the ANC wish to make a statement?
RENAMING OF UMFOLOZI HOSPITAL
(Member’s Statement)
Dr P MAESELA (ANC): The ANC welcomes the renaming of the Umfolozi Hospital after Queen Nandi at the Esikhaleni, near Empangeni. Queen Nandi is the mother of the late King Shaka. Queen Nandi Regional Hospital is a designated Mother and Child Hospital which is dedicated exclusively to the care of
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obstetrical, gynecological and neonatal patients. It is situated at King Cetshwayo Health District which serves as a referral to the whole region including parts of Zululand and UMkhanyakude Districts. It averages approximately 10 000 deliveries, and performs approximately 2 000 gynecological surgery procedures per year.
The facility is a centre of excellence to support the provision of oncology services, as well as the other ailments that target women and children in the KwaZulu-Natal province. Previously, our patients would have had to travel a long distance to get to Durban for oncology treatment.
The renaming of the hospital after Queen Nandi is not only a tribute to the Zulu matriarch, but also an affirmation of the massive role played by women in society.
DA CONDEMNS JOB LOSES BY INTRODUCTION OF THE NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE
(Member’s Statement)
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Mr M BAGRAIM (DA): The DA strongly condemns the enormous job losses that will be caused by the introduction of the National Minimum Wage. The SA Treasury has already said that the economy will lose a further 750 000 jobs when the minimum wage is introduced
The South African economy is already reeling from the destruction of hundreds of thousands of jobs because of the Owner’s Labour Regulatory Authority. The majority of jobs in South Africa are govern by minimum wages as calculated and introduce per sector.
This minimum wages have stifled the expansion of many industries, including farming and the textile industries. Officially, South Africa is just under 30% unemployment; an almost 10 million South Africans were actively looking for jobs cannot find any form of employment.
With the advent of the National Minimum Wage covering all sectors equally, we will see a further decimation of the job market. This destructive all embracing minimum wage will
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reflect all the blue collar workers and also or certain act as a handbrake on further job creation.
The DA, here are calls on the parties to reconsider the implementation of the minimum wage and to rather embrace a minimum wage on the basis of certain blanket exemptions and further investigations into the various sectors of the economy. Thank you. [Applause.]
MURDER OF A 62-YEAR-OLD MAN BY POLICE
(Member’s Statement)
Mr T E MULAUDZI (EFF): House Chair, EFF note the murder by an armed gang of police of a 62-year-old man, Mr Thembekile Fana from Qunu Village in Keiskammahoek. Further notes that Mr Fana Olisin was to participate in community protest by about 35 villages from all around Keiskammahoek demanding service from their government. Acknowledge that people of Keiskammahoek have never tested the fruits of freedom since 1994, that all who enter the small town are welcomed by portholes as big as a car, and that since 1994, there has never been any maintenance
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of improvement of the tarred road in town. Further acknowledge that gravel roads leading up to the villages are worse, destroying cars and making it viable impossible for ambulances to excess these villages when fetching those who are sick.
We recognise that Mr Fana died at the hands of police demanding justice and dignity for the people of keiskammahoek. We send deepest condolences to the family of Mr Fana and appreciation to the people Keiskammahoek, who, their undying spirit and willingness to stand up for their rights.
ROLE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD
(Member’s Statement)
Mr N J J van R KOORNHOF (ANC): Chairperson, developments in science and technology are fundamentally altering the way people live and connect with profound effects on economic development. Science and technology is the key driver to make a country a better place to live in. The extent to which developing economies emerge as economic powerhouses depends on
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their ability to grasp and apply insights from science and technology and to use them creatively.
Innovation drives growth and growth drives higher living standards. The hon President highlighted the importance of science and technology in the state of the nation debate, so it is time for the public and the private sector to increase S and T funding, because successful countries must grow their ability to innovate. Science and technology cannot make the difference it should without funding. South Africa should strive to increase its funding to 2% of the GDP, the results will be amazing.
We should improve the quality of science journalism to popularise the importance of S and T and to convince the population that science and technology does not fall from the sky, if you do not invest in innovation and research, you will not be a winning nation.
South Africa is the leader on the continent, we do have the infrastructure and leadership, lets invest to become the
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leading developing country, and let us never take science and technology for granted. [Applause.]
PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA PRESENTATION IN DAVOS
(Member’s Statement)
Mr J A ESTERHUIZEN (IFP): Hon Chairperson, the President, the hon Cyril Ramaphosa said in his presentation at Davos that South Africa is open for business and emphasise that our foreign policy has been the same.
A country’s foreign policy is to reflect its own domestic policy. The President is trying to do his best to address most issues. The government is one of the biggest spenders in South Africa and the capacity to transform their economy is much higher than that of most corporate.
If this government wants radical economic transformation, a good place will be to start to pay its suppliers on time. Even though the President mentioned in state of the nation address,
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it’s getting worse, 158 SOEs are still not complying with the
30 days payment rule
The number of small businesses is refusing to do business with government because of late to none payment has now grown from 72% to 80% since none functioning Department of Small Business and Development that was created to iron out these problems was formed.
There must be consequences for actions like this, both at the departmental and a parliamentary level. We need proper consequence management and for Parliament to play its proper oversight role. This government unfortunately is still potraying a need for self enrichment rather than a commitment to community upliftment. I thank you.
LACK OF FULLY FLEDGED OFFICE IN BERGVILLE
(Member’s Statement)
Mr M L SHELEMBE (NFP): The NFP is really disappointed that the Department of Home Affairs is not taking seriously the issue
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of Okhahlamba Local Municipality residents regarding the nonavailability of fully fledged office in Bergville, which is a town that is convenient for them to apply for identity documents and other services that are rendered by the Department of Home Affairs.
IsiZulu:
Kubuhlungu kakhulu njengamanje ngoba uma ubheka ukuze bakwazi ukuthola omazisi kufuneka umuntu asuke ekhaya aye eBergville akhokhe R24. Aphinde asuke eBergville akhokhe R38 ukuya eMmnambithi. Uma ubheka ke lo muntu ukhokhe imali eningi kodwa sekunesikhathi eside ikhulunywa le ndaba. Ngakho ke siyiqembu le-NFP kusikhathazile ke loku kangangoba kunabantu abaningi abasuka eBergville baye Emtshezi beyofuna omazisi. Imiqga mide Emtshezi bafike bahlale khona baze balale khona kuze kube ngakusasa bengasizakele. Loko sekusikhombisa ngokusobala ukuthi uma sinogogo abasuka Okhahlamba eBergville baye Emtshezi bayohlala khona, balale khona bengalitholi usizo lomazisi nanokushintsha omazisi kube ngamakhadi sikubona loko kufanele sikubheke ukuthi uMnyango lo obhekelele loludaba kufanele ulusukumele.
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Okunye okusikhathazayo ukuthi ukhansela wethu okuthele kakhulu uZamlandela Khumalo wayikhuluma le ndaba ukuthi naba ogogo begcina belala ezindleleni beqasha izimoto benganakwa kodwa akunakiwe. Siyabona njengamanje ukuthi ukuze kusizakale lelihhovisi elincanyana elilapha Okhahlamba eBergville uMnyango awuke ulakhe libe likhulu libe nako konke okdingakalayo ukuze abantu bsizakale oKhahlamba ngaphansi koThukela.
USIHLALO WENDLU (Nk A T Didiza): Siyabonga lungu elihloniphekile sesiphelile isikhathi. Abangazi ke Emtshezi kuse-Estcourt.
English:
Estcourt name in zulu is Emtshezi. [Laughter.]
ANC CONDEMS ATTACK ON PRASA STAFF
(Member’s Statement)
Mr M P SIBANDE (ANC): Chairperson, the ANC condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the reported attack on a female
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train driver and 10 other Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, Prasa, staff members along the Pretoria Pienaarspoort corridor last week. The newly introduced Metrorail train was pelted with stones at the Eerste Fabrieke Station in Mamelodi where the crew and security officials were harassed and some sustained injuries. The Pretoria incident is regrettably one in a series of assaults on Prasa passengers, staff and infrastructure around the country.
The ANC calls for Prasa and law enforcement agencies to do their utmost to bring offenders to book. We also called on commuters to work with Metrorail security services and law enforcement agencies to ensure those responsible for acts of vandalism face the full might of the law. We condemn the actions of people who destroy public assets and abuse fellow citizens, who are doing their best to deliver services to communities. We cannot allow criminal elements and hooligans to disrupt rail services in our communities and damage public transport infrastructure. We are looking forward to the measures that the Department of Transport has ... [Time expired.]
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LANDYBRAND BRUTAL ATTACK ON A FARMER MANAGER
(Member’s Statement)
Ms D CARTER (COPE): Chairperson, on human rights day I visited a scene of a violent and a brutal farmer attack at the Ladybrand area border of Lesotho. Farm manager Tankiso Isaac Faro was tied to a fence tortured for hours and brutally hacked to death. His wife Franscina was stabbed and was raped. The perpetrators of this cruel crime, fled back across the border into Lesotho.
This horrendous event points yet again to be inadequate and dysfunctional protection of our borders, particularly farming communities from cross-border crimes. In this regard, I was advice by the grater Ladybrand community that the S A National Defence Force, SANDF only source of border patrol transport in the area an aging Casper was out of commission. The lack of adequate policing of Lesotho border has been an issue that has bedeviled our border and farming communities for decades without adequate response by the SA police Service, SAPS, and the SANDF and this despite the government having been
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previously held for court. The Cope supports the desire and the willingness of the Greater Ladybrand community to work on partnership with our police and Defence Force service and the call in this regard for reservists slash commander type solution to augment and strengthen the resources of government. Thank you.
UNVEILING OF PUBLIC ORDER POLICING UNITS
(Member’s Statement)
Mr J J MAAKE (ANC): Chairperson, the ANC welcomes the unveiling of the national Public Order Policing reserve units as part of the effort to stamp the authority of the state. The new units have been capacitated with state-of-the-art equipment, such as new generation Nyalas, water cannons, vehicles, video cameras and protective gear. In addition, the officers deployed to the units will undergo a vigorous training process, which includes crowd management. This will enable the police to mitigate situations in respect of crowd management and violent community protests in the country. The full implementation of the Public Order Policing reserve
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units’ enhancement and capacitation process, will result in four established national reserve units and 50 provincial units, with a staff complement of approximately 11 000 members.
The ANC is of the view that the unveiling of the national reserve units is an indication of the great strides its government has ever taken to strengthen the existing Public Order Policing reserve units, to make them the best control management and public order policing components in the world. These officers will assist a great deal in handling crowd control with little police lethal use of ammunition. I thank you.
UNRELIABLE PROPERTY AUDIT TO POSE CHALLENGE FOR LAND EXPROPRIATION
(Member’s Statement)
Mr D R RYDER (DA): The ANC intends expropriating land and becoming the controller of land in South Africa, yet the state cannot even manage the land that it has. The Department of
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Public Works is the custodian of state-owned land and yet they have no idea what they own. During the budget review hearings the department advised that they own 29 000 parcels of land.
In his annual Budget speech, the then Minister of Finance declared that:
A property audit by the Department of Public Works shows that the national government owns up to 195 000 properties.
We are all aware of Minister Gigaba’s flexible approach to facts, but this is a massive difference. When the discrepancy was queried at the portfolio committee meeting, the department assured members that they stood by their figure of just 29 000 and had queried the statement with the finance ministries.
Now, Department of Public Works as well has changed the mind and in today’s agenda it gave a new figure of 31 000 state- owned properties.
How can the state honestly engage in land reform debate, never mind pursue a constitutional amendment when it does not even know what property it owns. Do your homework and start taking
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he demands of South Africans seriously. Stop playing to the gallery and start appropriate distribution. The DA’s land processes in the Western Cape will provide an excellent model for success. [Applause.]
CALL FOR SERIOUS INTERVENTION TO END SCOURGE OF GANGSTERISM IN WESTERN CAPE
(Member’s Statement)
Mr S P MHLONGO (EFF): What can be said about a government that cannot ensure the safety of its own citizens? Last month, Joseph Davies, Sharkil Cloete, Lee Joostenburg, Ricardo Erasmus, Mr Wilson and Andrew Smith all lost their lives in gang shooting in Ravensmead. All were innocent bystanders.
Gangsters shoot in broad daylight in the community of Ravensmead and across the Cape Flats every day and night. They are emboldened by their cosy relationship with some of the corrupt members within the SAPS and some leading politicians here in the Western Cape. This ring of evil must be destroyed. For this to happen, we need incorruptible leadership at
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political and management levels of policy to be sustained not this ongoing cut and paste that we see taking place here.
Last year, the Minister of Police visited the Cape Flats and he proclaimed that under his leadership the SAPS have quelled gang violence. Thus, the tragic deaths attest to the level of the Minister’s delusion. Serious intervention is required to end the scourge of gangsterism in the Western Cape and we must never expect it to be done simply through policing alone.
Intensive policing must be accompanied by job creation in order to ensure that we rid our society of this devastating crime. Thank you. [Time expired.]
AFRICAN LEADERS ESTABLISH CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AREA
(Member’s Statement)
Ms T E KENYE (ANC): The ANC hails the historic milestone of the signing of an agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area in Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, on Wednesday, 21 March 2018 by 44 African countries, thus ushering Africa into a new dawn in its march towards
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greater integration and closer unity. South Africa signed the Kigali Declaration for the Launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area and will sign the agreement in due course, after the legal and other instruments associated with the African Continental Free Trade Area are processed and ratified by South African stakeholders and Parliament.
The ANC believes that the creation of a single continental market for goods and services with free movement of businesses and investments will progressively eliminate tariffs on intra- African trade, making it easier for African businesses to trade within the continent. It is thus important to accelerate the legal processes and ratification in order for South Africa to be included in this historic moment so that it can play a meaningful role in contributing to the African agenda industrialisation and African integration. I thank you.
GAUTENG PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES PHARMACY DISPENSING UNIT IN ALEXANDRA, JOHANNESBURG
(Member’s Statement)
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Ms M L DUNJWA (ANC): The ANC will always ensure that South Africans have access to comprehensive quality health care services, irrespective of their economic status. We thus commend the Gauteng Provincial Government for launching the Pharmacy Dispensing Unit, in Alexandria, Johannesburg on Thursday 15 March 2018 - the first of its kind. The Pharmacy Dispensing Unit operates like an ATM, as it dispenses medication. The launch of this technology has been made possible by the partnership between the Department of Health with the non-profit organisations Right to Care and Right ePharmacy.
The Pharmacy Dispensing Unit has already been tried and tested during its pilot phase. We saw 4 000 patients withdrawing their medicines at the ATM pharmacy. A total of 18 000 medicines were dispensed during its trial run. The PDU uses world class technology that allows patients to enter their unique PIN code to withdraw medication handpicked by a robotic arm. In Gauteng, over 40 000 patients receive their medication off-site as part of the department’s strategy to reduce pressure on health care facilities and this will help reduce the lengthy queues for chronic medication at health
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facilities. The ANC is also awaiting ... Thank you. [Time expired.]
PRASA AND RAILWAY SAFETY REGULATOR ARE FAILING
(Member’s Statement)
Mr C H H HUNSINGER (DA): House Chairperson, the Railway Safety Report, 2016-17 should be attracting a lot more concern. The Report shows 495 people were killed in train-related incidents and 623 people were injured. We have analysed the Report and it shows collisions; people struck by trains; derailments; and level crossing crashes have all increased.
While the DA repeatedly requested a national level crossing audit which was not done, the ANC must now act and account for the 17% increase in fatalities and 53% increase in injuries revealed in this Report. Incidents of collisions at level crossings with trains and vehicles have increased by a staggering 25%. Total security-related events increased to nearly 6 400 incidents which include 29% in Gauteng, 27% in KZN, and 19% in the Western Cape. The total cost to operations
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was more than R130 million while the cost to rolling stock in damages exceeded R217 million. This shows a total failure of prevention management.
We need new regulations which prescribe minimum security requirements which must be met by operations. If you put rail safety in the context of the last 10 years, it is clear that Prasa and the Railway Safety Regulator are failing. This disgraceful toll of death and injury will not be addressed until the ANC pays attention and start caring about the safety of South Africans. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
ANC CONGRATULATES PROFESSOR MAMOKGETHI PHAKENG ON APPOINTMENT AS UCT VICE-CHANCELLOR
(Member’s Statement)
Ms S MCHUNU (ANC): The ANC congratulates Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng for being appointed the new Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town. Professors Phakeng’s career has an extraordinary range, from an outstanding academic, a long- standing leader in the higher education space, to a fearless
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social activist, which makes her the best candidate to take the University forward.
Throughout her life, Professor Mamokgethi has won many awards for excellence in service. These honors include: The Order of the Baobab in Silver in 2016 for her excellent contribution in the field of science; the CEO Magazine Award for being the most influential woman in education and training in South Africa in 2013; and NSTF Award for being the most outstanding Senior Black Female Researcher over the last 5 to 10 years, in recognition of her innovative and quality research on teaching.
We are therefore confident that whilst at the helm of the University, Professor Phakeng will ensure that the University continues its rise in global rankings. She will ensure that the quality of UCT professors and researchers continues to improve even further. We are fully confident that she will further expand the University’s ability to raise funds. I thank you. [Time expired.]
AFRICAN LEADERS ESTABLISH CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AREA
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(Minister’s Response)
The MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY: Hon Chairperson, the hon Kenye is quite right about the significance of the African continental free trade area. Access to a market with combined population of over a billion people and a combined GDP of
$3,3 trillion will be very significant to support the diversification of the African economy and the industrialisation of the continent. South Africa is already receiving a significant amount of its income and jobs from industrial activities through exports in the African continent. This must be good for us.
I can assure the hon member and the House that South Africa has been very much part of the process of creating the framework agreement that was signed by a number of countries in Kigali. There were few annexure and appendixes which were not yet legally scribed. We have a relatively high bar for us to sign in international agreements. We cannot sign agreements where there are references to annexure and appendixes that are not yet complete. Also, we have to put those three legal vetting of our own.
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The intended legal scribing of those annexure and appendixes should take place next month. I think we should be in a position to be able to sign before the next summit which will be in July. The hon member is correct when he said agreement does not come into force until it has been ratified by Parliament. We hope that it is the case without any undue delay because it is very important that we are moving to the next phase which is to populate the second board that we have got now. We have the framework in place and will have to populate that with actual tariff schedule agreements. That is an exercise that will make these agreements economically meaningful. Thank you very much.
DA CONDEMNS JOB LOSES BY INTRODUCTION OF THE NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE
(Minister’s Response)
IsiZulu:
UNGQONGQOSHE WEZABASEBENZI: Sihlalo kuyichilo ukuthi ilungu lekomidi okuyilona elisebenza ngezichibiyelo lizovusa udaba lwe-National Minimum Wage ukuthi izoqeda imisebenzi. Okucacayo
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ukuthi ilungu elihloniphekile alifundanga i-code of good practice. Lapho osomabhizinisi noma abaqashi benze khona isibophezelo ukuthi akukho msebenzi ozoxoshwa ngokwethula i- National Minimum Wage. Uma uMhlonishwa kuwukuthi akahambisani naloko ngicabanga ukuthi uyilungu lePhalamende ngokombiko we- Nedlac zonke izindawo esizimele [constituencies.] zivumelene ukuthi akube ne-National Minimum Wage eMzansi Africa. Uma ngabe ethi ukhulumela osomabhizinisi ngiyafisa ukwazi ukuthi yibaphi labo somabhizinisi abakhulumelayo, ngoba eNedlac osomabhizinisi ...
English:
... have agreed on the implementation of the National Minimum Wage. Thank you, House Chair.
Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform (Mr M Skwatsha)
CLARITY OF GOVERNMENT ON LAND EXPROPRIATION WITHOUT COMPENSATION
(Minister’s Response)
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Isixhosa:
USEKELA MPHATHISWA WEZOPHUHLISO LWAMAPHANDLE NOHLENGAHLENGISO
LEZOMHLABA Mnu M Skwatsha): Siyabulela ngale mini yeVeki eNgcwele. Bendicinga ukuba sakube sisecaweni sonke.
USIHLALO WENDLU (Nks A T Didiza): Icawe iqala ngoLwesine.
English:
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND REFORM (Mr M
Skwatsha): On the issue of government not knowing what it is doing in relation to expropriation of land without compensation ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order, hon members, proceed, Deputy Minister.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND REFORM (Mr M
Skwatsha): The government is very clear on this one. It knows. [Interjections.] In fact, the hon member refers to the Department of Public Works, he is not supposed to have directed what he was saying to the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform.
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We are very clear about what we are doing. We have undertaken a land audit phase one. In November 2017, we concluded land audit phase two. We have undertaken and indicated in this Parliament that we are going to be undertaking land expropriation without compensation without harming food security. In this regard, we are going through processes that will look at all the modalities.
So, I think the hon member must wake up and smell the coffee. The programme of the land audit and its results was distributed to Members of Parliament here. It is a process that is continuing and will not be stopped. Thank you very much. May I respond to another question again?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Your time is up unfortunately but there is a phase two.
MURDER ISSUES OF FARMERS AND FARMWORKERS EQUALLY
(Minister’s Response)
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The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Hon House
Chair, the issue of farm murders is really a concerning matter, be it a murder of farmworkers or farm owners, especially at the border post which will require the Ministerial Committee that should look beyond the issue of the visibility of the SA Police Service but look at relationships between the neighbouring countries and try to make sure that farmers at all times are safe to produce. This must also make sure that farmworkers are also safe as well.
We take this matter very seriously and I believe that the wife of the farmer will find peace. Those who were involved in that gruesome attack are taken care of. We must spare no energy in making sure that it is safe to farm and also safe to work in a farm.
APPRECIATION OF THE COMMUNITIES AROUND BORDERLINES
(Minister’s Response)
The MINISTER OF DEFENCE AND MILITARY VETERANS: House
Chairperson, let me start by appreciating the support given by
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the communities who live on the borderline for co-operating with the cluster in dealing with issues of border security. The cluster works very closely and adopts a collective approach in dealing with issues of border security. In the past, a lot of resources were spent which were deployed to the borderline, particularly with regards to the cash injections to the police in areas such as Mhlabuyalingana.
There is a challenge of inadequate resources and if hon members would know that out of 22 companies from the SA National Defence Force, you currently have 15 deployed on the borderline. We have moved from 13 to 15 and it has to do in the main with this challenge of resources.
Let us also emphasise that as the national department, we did not work alone to deal with this matter but also worked very closely with provincial governments. If you look at what is being done in the same area, you will see that a lot of work is also being done by the provincial government of KwaZulu- Natal.
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The matter of gangsterism requires a pro-active approach rather than responding to its issues. The truth of the matter is that there is a need for all of us. It is a societal responsibility to go to those communities; work hard through the schools, through the churches, communities and educate our young people whilst they are still children about challenges of gangsterism.
THE LAUNCH OF MOBILE SOLUTIONS FOR ID’S DOCUMENTATION
(Minister’s Response)
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS: Hon Chair, I am just
rising to deal with the matter directly addressed to Home Affairs regarding the availability of services in Bergville. We have said before, unlike many other departments that every single person in the country is a client of the department.
So, we would like to be in every town or in every village. Unfortunately, that cannot be done within the available resources.
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I do want to point out to the members of the House that we will, later this year, launch a mobile solution to the smart ID card programme which we hope will address a few challenges relating to access to Identity Documents, specifically to service remote areas of the country to service the aged, infants as well as the disabled. So, watch the space. Thank you very much.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Thank you very much. We are now done with phase one, we go back to members’ statements phase two and these are the last members’ statements. We are still going to continue to motions without notice. So gear yourselves for a long day.
VIGILANTE MOB KILLINGS IN LIMPOPO
(Member’s Statement)
Ms T C MEMELA (ANC): Chairperson, the ANC condemns in the strongest possible terms the incident of vigilante killings which occurred at Burgersfort and at Maake in Tzaneen on Sunday 4 March 2018. It is reported that two separate groups
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of people burnt houses and cars in apparent vigilante mob attacks. It was alleged that members of the community were burying a community member found murdered on the mountains on
20 February 2018 at the village. Immediately after the funeral service, they proceeded to the homes of two families, attacked them, and burnt their houses and vehicles. Another group attacked a family and burnt their house immediately after the funeral of a local resident, accusing the family of being responsible for the murder of the resident.
The ANC would like to remind everyone that vigilantism is a crime and it will not be tolerated in this country. No matter what the circumstances or allegations, we cannot allow our communities to prosecute, convict and condemn a death sentence on perceptions of alleged criminals. Safety is everyone’s responsibility but taking the law into our own hands does not make our communities safer.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Hon member, if you can round up because your time is up.
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Ms T C MEMELA (ANC): We call upon law enforcement agencies to find those responsible for these actions. We also call upon communities to partner with the police. Thank you.
MINISTER OF POLICE MUST ACT AGAINST KWAZULU-NATAL SAPS CORRUPTION FIRST
(Member’s Statement)
Ms D KOHLER (DA): House Chairperson, I am here to ask the absent Minister of Police a favour in his gung-ho drive to deal with criminals to focus first on our province – his and mine – that is Kwazulu-Natal. For two years the provincial police commissioner has been paid R2 million to languish at home on paid suspension after I pointed out proof of the charges against it to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, IPID. Now, you know the story. You saw the ridiculous arrests of the Cato Manor team because of fake Sunday Times news and the arrest and fake charges laid against General Johan Booysen
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He was in court when they were dragged through the mud and it was all because Thoshan Panday paid for her husband’s birthday party in 2010. But Zuma is gone so there is no longer any need to protect a business partner of his son. This man is driving around Kwazulu-Natal in his Lamborghini while those good cops have died of disgrace or have left the SA Police Service, SAPS. This woman instructed General Booysen to stop investigating Panday for a R60 million FIFA World Cup scam.
Meanwhile, Colonel Navin Madhoe, arrested for attempting to bribe General Booysen for evidence with R2 million cash in a bag, filmed, photographed and witnessed doing, is still at work. Meanwhile Captain Narainpershad, arrested for procurement corruption cases is still at work. Meanwhile Colonel Rajen Iyer, arrested for defeating the ends of justice and perjury is still at work but the SAPS drove General Booysen out after he was cleared, not once, not twice, not three times, not four times, not five times, not six times but seven times in a row. Two years she sat at home.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Your time is up hon member.
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Ms D KOHLER (DA): It did not take that long to fire him. I hope he turns his actions into acting. [Applause.]
PEOPLE DESPERATE FOR LAND AMID WILD ANIMAL ATTACKS
(Member’s Statement)
Ms N K F HLONYANA (EFF): House Chair, our people are so desperate for land and the little that they have they have to share with wild animals. In Jozini Local Municipality in Kwazulu-Natal the people live in constant fear of wild animals of the uMkhuze Game Reserve that constantly leave the reserve and terrorise the people and their livestock. There have been instances where goats have been eaten by hyenas. Cattle have been infected with diseases from sharing waterholes with buffalos and worse of all; people have been attacked by leopards and cheetahs leading to the deaths of two people and permanent disability of two others.
This issue has been constantly raised by the community since 2014 and last year the Public Protector came to address the community but till today the families of those who lost their
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loved ones and livestock have not been compensated. Whenever the community has taken matters into their own hands by setting traps, they are immediately charged. Who can deny the need for land when our people are forced to share it with wild animals? Thank you House Chair.
LAUNCH OF YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SERVICE
(Member’s Statement)
Ms G K TSEKE (ANC): House Chair, The ANC is concerned about the rise in youth unemployment and its devastating impact on young people. We therefore welcome President Cyril Ramaphosa’s move ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): President or Mr
Ms G K TSEKE (ANC): Pardon?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): President Ramaphosa or Mr Ramaphosa.
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Ms G K TSEKE (ANC): ... [Inaudible.] Oh! ... to launch the Youth Employment Service, YES, at Riversands Incubation Hub in Diepsloot today on 27 March 2018. The YES initiative is the collaboration between the government and the private sector, which is aimed at empowering and upskilling one million young people over the next three years through year-long paid internships in companies. The ANC has recognised that despite the progress its government have made in expanding access to education though millions of young people still do not have the skills that the economy needs. Even those with skills lack the work experience and readiness that most employers look for.
Hence in its 54th National Conference the ANC agreed to prioritise effective public employment programmes, internships, job placement, youth entrepreneurship and set aside programmes specifically for youth development and employment. The ANC commends its government under the stewardship of President Cyril Ramaphosa for giving effect ... [Interjections.] to his inauguration promise to put the problem of youth unemployment at the centre stage. I thank you.
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The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): The time is up hon member.
Ms G K TSEKE (ANC): ... to his inauguration promise to put the problem of youth unemployment at the centre stage. I thank you.
HARRASSMENT OF RURAL COMMUNITIES BY SAPS
(Member’s Statement)
Inkosi R N CEBEKHULU (IFP): House Chairperson, after 23 years of democracy in South Africa, rural community members and families are still subjected to unlawful ill-treatment and harassment by the members of the SA Police Service, SAPS. SAPS often arrives in rural homesteads in the middle of the night, breaking down doors and physically harming and or on occasion torturing family members on the pretence of searching for illegal firearms. When they fail to locate any firearm, they threaten to come back, leaving the family members frightened and fearful. Cases of damage to property have been opened but no assistance comes forth from local police stations. It goes
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as far as SAPS advising that they have no knowledge of those members who had been doing operation in the area.
IsiZulu:
Izolo lokhu bagxobagxobe iNkosi yaseNtembeni beyifuna izibhamu noma isibakhombisile isibhamu sayo nelayisensi kodwa baqhubeka bayishaya ngenxa yokungasebenzi kahle.
English:
With such unlawful police conduct, this opens the door for criminals impersonating policemen who have seen opportunities and used this method as a means of then illegally entering people’s premises under false pretence and robbing them of their belongings and obtaining firearms. How does the Minister intend to address this ... [Inaudible.] issue?
IsiZulu:
Ngiyabonga.
USIHLALO WENDLU (Nk A T Didiza): Ndabezitha, sesiphelile isikhathi. Siyabonga.
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Inkosi R N CEBEKHULU: Ngithokoze, Sihlalo.
USIHLALO WENDLU (Nk A T Didiza): Siyathokoza.
SAPS NATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS
(Member’s statement)
Ms C N MAJEKE (UDM): Chairperson, on 26 January 2018 in Durban KwaZulu-Natal at the SA police services national excellence awards ceremony, some members of the police service were honoured in this country for their extraordinary contribution to their work. The police force ensures that it is the first line of defence against internal and external threats to the nation’s peace and stability. It is because of this that we feel all those who protect values of peace and stability should be valued and honoured by collective citizenry.
We applaud those officers who have showed outstanding commitment to the service and protection of the community in particular, David Mahlaule, who received the Laureate Award after being followed home by some criminals in which he was
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shot six time resulting in spinal injuries. His determination and dedicated service is ongoing as a police officer today.
Members of the police force should not only be acknowledged for their extraordinary brave acts but also for long service commitment and consistency.
In the Eastern Cape, Colonel Amos Vinqi is epitome of consistency and dedication. He received his second award in just three years being named the country’s best visible policing commander last month. Vinqi’s grandmother wanted him to follow a teaching career but he politely deferred with ugogo [grandmother] and thought that his passion better was better suited to serve the people in a different capacity in the police force. Thank you. [Time expired.]
TSOLO AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE GRADUATES
(Member’s statement)
Mr W B MAPHANGA (ANC): The ANC is committed in strengthening agricultural college education through skills development funds and we are proud to witness the graduation of 37
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students from Tsolo Agriculture and Rural Development Institute, on Friday, 16 March 2018. This bears testimony to this commitment. These outcomes are a result of the Eastern Cape ANC government to resolve to re-open Tsolo Agriculture and Rural Development Institute in 2015, with 50 students from poor and working class backgrounds. Due to their social background and the fact that they were unable to pay their college fees, the Eastern Cape government applied to the Health and Welfare Seta Bursary to fund the education of these students.
These students, in addition to their accommodation and food funds being paid for also received a R2000 monthly stipend and a tablet computer. The Tsolo Agriculture and Rural Development Institute students were the first students from higher learning institutions to get 100% free education funded by a government institution. The ANC congratulates those who were awarded their national animal health diplomas after completion of the three-year programme. We believe that these graduates will play a significant role ... Thank you, Chair. [Time expired.]
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(Member’s statement)
Mr S N SWART (ACDP): The ACDP notes that Statistics SA announced that gross domestic product, GDP, growth ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Dialogue must happen outside. Order! hon Mente and Deputy Minister Skwatsha. Your dialogue can happen outside and maybe you can call hon Mlibo Qoboshiyane. I am hearing that you are calling him and ... ja! ANC!
Mr S N SWART (ACDP): No! sorry Chair, I am busy.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order!
Mr S N SWART (ACDP): I am busy.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): ACDP.
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Mr S N SWART (ACDP): May I start again?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): You may.
Mr S N SWART (ACDP): The ACDP notes that statistics SA announced that gross domestic product, GDP, growth for the last three months of 2017, was nearly double than what economists had expected. The 3,1% up from 1,8% pushing last year’s overall GDP growth to 1,3%. Although, this is nowhere high enough to address high levels of poverty and unemployment, it is a welcomed sign of growing business confidence and bodes well for increased economic growth for this year. We also welcome the ratings agency Moody’s decision last Friday to not downgrade the country’s rating and to change its outlook from negative to stable.
This decision was critical as a further downgrade from Moody’s would have triggered an expulsion from the city world government bond index and capital flight. Another ratings agency, Standard and Poor, S&P, has South Africa on sub investment rating and it is scheduled to make its rating announcement in May. It has however, intimated that South
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Africa has made very good improvements in the fiscal path. What is also positive is that S&P today, raise its forecast for economic growth from 1% to 2%.
As a financial mail pointed out on improved economic growth prospects and I quote:
It is a welcome indication that contrary to the scepticism of many, when things turn for the better they can turn quickly.
Thank you.
FARMER HELD FOR ATTACK
(Member’s statement)
Mr N XABA (ANC): The ANC is outraged and deeply disappointed by the latest reported incident of racism during which a farmer in Volmoed, near Oudtshoorn, allegedly attempted to kill a resident by bumping him with his red Isuzu bakkie before shooting at his partner. Police confirmed that the 32- year old Isaac Lukas, his partner and a group of people were
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crossing an open piece of land when the farmer alleged that they were trespassing on his property. The 56-year old farmer allegedly ran over Lukas and opened fire on Lukas partner and other people trying to assist the worker. The farmer was arrested on Sunday 11 March 2018 and faces three charges of attempted murder.
The ANC views this allegation very seriously and calls for a full investigation into this matter. Farm workers still bear the brunt of racism, exploitation, abuse and violence all over the country. Racism can no longer be tolerated in our society. Any person or business practicing racism whether overtly or covertly must suffer the consequences. The law must be seen upholding the rights of farm workers who are amongst the poorest and most vulnerable South Africans. We also call on farm communities, farmers, workers, black and white to oppose all discrimination. Thank you, Chair.
ENOCK MGIJIMA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY
(Member’s statement)
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Ms T STANDER (DA): Chairperson, the morally bankruptcy ANC in Enock Mgijima Local Municipality is trying to right off over a billion rand of unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure. This includes R3 million paid to ten ANC councillors between September 2016 and February 2018 after they were illegally appointed as fulltime councillors by the mayor. The municipality had to apply for a R40 million overdraft last month to pay salaries and creditors. Currently, the municipality owes Eskom over R60 million and Eskom will be implementing load shedding effective 1 April. They have misappropriated R15 million of the municipal infrastructure grants to fund operating expenses.
My oversight visit has revealed crumbling roads, sewage spills, and water and electricity outages regularly. Creditors businesses face closure and refuse to service municipal vehicles and equipments which now stand idle. When a municipality is on the brink of bankruptcy it is unquestionable that the ANC tries to right off the people’s money, lost and stolen by its own members. We have demanded that the MEC place the municipality under administration and
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recover the money from the ANC councillors. [Applause.] [Time expired.]
FREE STATE PROVINCIAL CELEBRATIONS
(Member’s statement)
Mr T RAWULA (EFF): The arrogance and the corruption of the ANC know no limits. Tomorrow, 28 March 2018, the Free State provincial government is planning a celebration of a Free State stadium to welcome the new premier and bid farewell to the corrupt outgoing Premier, Ace Magashule. It should come as no surprise to those who knows Ace Magashule, that it will cost over R20 million of taxpayers money for an opulent and overtop celebration that has no precedence in this country.
Not even the new President, Ramaphosa, had an inauguration but the Free State government is willing to spend millions of rand on the event using municipal budget to bus people from all over the province. It is the same province where municipalities owe both Eskom and water boards hundreds of millions of rand in unpaid bills. [Interjections.]
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An HON MEMBER: Kleptomaniac Magashule!
Mr T RAWULA (EFF): A province where many municipalities do not have refuse collection, simply because there is no fuel for municipal trucks and vehicles to move around, a province where schools do not have proper toilets and a province with a broken healthcare system. This inauguration and celebration is a slap in the face of the people of the Free State who continue to be denied basic services while their money is spent on such extravagant events.
We therefore call on the Minister of Finance, to immediately stop this event and the wasteful expenditure of public resources because this is a looting event. It has nothing to do with inauguration but looting of the funds for the benefit of the kleptocrats of the ANC. [Time expired.]
BOOST FOR CANCER RESEARCH IN KZN
(Member’s Statement)
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Mr T M NKONZO (ANC): ANC welcomes the launch of a new lung cancer research project worth more than R57 million at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, which offers early diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The Multinational Lung Cancer Control Programme would be conducted in South Africa, Kenya, Swaziland and Tanzania and would also focus on creating awareness.
We understand that cancer is a non-communicable disease that is rife in the country but can be prevented in the early stages. We therefore support this project that aims not only to help with early diagnosis, but also create awareness as well.
The lack of awareness often results in a high number of patients going for treatment only during the latter stages, when they are already at stage 3 or 4, and when it is so far advanced that nothing can help the patient further.
In the research led by the International Agency for Research on Cancer released this year, South Africa had the highest number of deaths to cancer among Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, Brics countries. This project could also
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help in public health programmes. We believe that early detection, support and care are key components in treating lung cancer patients.
PEACEFUL AND ORDERLY LAND EXPROPRIATION WITHOUT COMPENSATION
(Member’s Statement)
Mr M A PLOUAMMA (Agang SA): When Agang SA supported land expropriation without compensation did not support anarchy or land grabs. We are beginning to doubt the real motives of other parties. [Laughter.] This emotive issue cannot be used for petty politicking or populism. We should not be reckless and endanger the lives of our people. Our people want land and not blood. We must move away from reckless politics to responsible leadership. We must strongly condemn this manipulation of our people for narrow political ends.
We want to emerge as a united nation when we have finalised this issue of land. We do not want losers or victors but equal society with equal opportunities for all. We should not reduce our country into ashes. We must know that the other countries
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which lost this opportunity to resolve matters peacefully now regret why they did not tolerate each other. I thank you.
MIDDLE EAST COUNTRIES’ INSTABILITY
(Member’s Statement)
Mr E I EBRAHIM (ANC): The ANC recognises the Sykes-Picot border agreement has 18:39:47 (inaudible) of the Middle East and has failed to take into the account the geopolitical realities on the ground. This resulted in erasing the Kurdish people’s territory in the map that was drawn. The Kurdish people have a right to freedom, justice and equality. The civil wars in Iraq and Syria and the rise of Isis are the legacy of the redrawn maps. Kurdish people have paid a high price to stop Isis.
The ANC is concerned that Abdullah Öcalan leader of the Kurdish people remains incarcerated on the Island of Imrali and is denied any contact with legal representative and family for more than three years and the recent spate of detention of democratically elected Kurdish leaders by Turkey.
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We support democracy in Roslov-na and the advancement of women’s rights and condemn the breaches of International Law in the war against the people of Ephraim. We call on Turkey to comply with the UN Security Council Resolution 2401 unanimously adopted on 21 February 2018 for a nation wide ceasefire in Syria for 30 days including Ephraim. We call upon all parties to respect international instruments that prohibit the targeting of civilians during war.
North Atlantic Treaty Organisations, Nato, should compel Turkey to seek peaceful resolutions in the attainment of the justice. [Time expired.]
ANC ALLEGEDLY TAMPERING WITH THE BBBEE AND EMPLYMENT EQUITY ACT IN ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY
(Member’s Statement)
Mr D W MACPHERSON (DA): The DA is completely opposed to attempts by the ANC-led municipality in eThekwini to draft a local version of Employment Equity to exclude minorities and particularly Indians. The eThekwini Municipality’s Human
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Resource Department is on record as saying that three race groups would be excluded from grade 14 to 25 positions. We have already seen that merit is no longer important to the municipality because it has become a norm to promote unqualified individuals based on race, said the manager who was concerned with the process.
The ANC has a long history of hatred towards Indians in the city. [Interjections.] In 2014, ANC Chatsworth Branch Chairperson Mr Reddy said that Indians should stop complaining and go back to India. In 2017, MEC Sihle Zikalala called for Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, BBBEE, to be amended to exclude Indians from being considered black.
Why does the ANC hate Indians so much? Why does the ANC believe that Indians should not be allowed to contribute to the running of eThekwini and benefiting from BBBEE? Why does the ANC want Indians to simply go back to India? The DA would like to remind the ANC that the city cannot have unique Labour Laws which are contrary to the Constitution. We will fight them every step of the way if they continue along this road.
Thank you very much. [Applause.]
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FARM HANDED OVER TO FARM WORKERS IN VILLIERSDORP A SUCCESS
(Member’s Statement)
Ms T GASEBONWE (ANC): The ANC believes that the range of measures introduced by the ANC led government to change the ownership patterns of commercial farms without affecting production and food security produces good results. The story of nine Belleview farm workers who successfully own a farm serves as motivation to other beneficiaries. Owning a farm seemed like a distant dream to these farm workers until the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform made them proud owners of a fruit farm located in Villiersdorp through a joint venture between farm workers and former owners.
The farm which was owned by Crookes Brothers at the time was acquired by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform through the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies, PLAAS, programme in 2012 to benefit eleven farm workers who worked on that very farm for many years. As beneficiaries these families decided not to take their profit share for 2 years, but to invest it back into the business, so
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that it can succeed. The Belleview Agricultural Co-operative seems successful and the department is making sure that the transfer of skills is taking root.
There are 11 permanent jobs that were created by Belleview project as well as a number of seasonal workers. This initiative serves as an example of what can be achieved when farm workers and commercial farmers join hands and develop together. I thank you.
TSOLO AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE GRADUATES FARMER HELD FOR ATTACK
(Minister’s Response)
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: House
Chair, the member’s statement by the hon Maphanga on the work that has been done by the department on agricultural colleges is really what the department is busy doing with the funding we received to make sure that all colleges are brought back into operation.
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We believe that we will be able to produce a new group of agricultural entrepreneurs through that programme, and ensure that, in all areas of agricultural production, there is a place where people can find a place to study. We have approached the Department of Higher Education and Training to make sure that such students are able to benefit from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFas.
On the issue of the attack by the farmer on Isaac Lukas, as related, it is really horrible. It is disappointing. It is something that should be taken seriously. As I have said before, as long as the relationship between farmers and their employees is bad, we cannot hope that there will be peace on the farms. We need to make sure that farm workers deserve the right to be treated fairly, to be paid appropriately, and that no party should, at any time, approve of anything. Even the payment of farmers in the form of liquor, the dop system, as it happened in the Western Cape, should be taken seriously as a matter for discussion. [Interjections.]
I would like to say this. There are good examples in the industry.
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The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order!
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Recently,
a farmer in Smithfield, in the Free State, gave a portion of his farm to his own farm workers and sheep to shear. That is what we should be promoting. That’s what we should be saying … [Inaudible.] ... is where farm workers and their employers can live in peace, and farm workers not only have a right to work but to farm. That farmer said it is they who work during the cold and who produce, and yet, they don’t benefit from the programme. Thank you very much.
LAUNCH OF YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SERVICE
(Minister’s Response)
The MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY: Chairperson, the point about the Youth Employment Service, Yes, initiative that was referred to in the member’s statement made by the hon Tseke is that it is an initiative that will operate at scale. Instead of just a small set of contributions, the aim now is to deliver 300 000 per year of these internships, these training
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opportunities for young people to work and get work experience over a year.
I was at the launch earlier today, and there was a high spirit of enthusiasm about it from business and labour that were present, as well. I think it is a reflection of what the hon Swart was talking about – the improvement in the investment climate in the country. I think also the fact that it was brought to a conclusion quite quickly was also a reflection of that.
Government’s contribution includes a number of incentives, one of which is recognition in terms of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Codes of Good Practice. I have already signed the Government Gazette and I believe it will be published on Thursday. What can be achieved by contributors, in this regard, is out for public comment, at this time.
One thing I do know, in relation to the debate that was held earlier and some of the scepticism that was raised earlier on, is that we have been running a much smaller programme in the Department of Trade and Industry, DTI. I have learned that
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one’s chance of getting a job is two-and-a-half times’ better if one has had a work-exposure opportunity than if one simply has some kind of post-school qualification.
Actually, work experience is one of the big challenges that young people have in getting onto the ladder of employment. The Yes programme is a very important channel, in that the many hundreds of thousands of young people should have access to work experience in the future. Thank you.
IsiZulu:
USEKELA NGQONGQOSHE WEZOKUTHUTHA: Ngiyabonga kulo
osesihlalweni, bengithanda mhlawumbe ukuphendula inkuluma kababa we-IFP ngamaphoyisa ukuthi mhlawumbe afike endlini ahlole alimaze izinto ukuthi, okokuqala, ngokusemthethweni kuMthethosisekelo, sine-Independent Police Investigative Directorate, IPID, okuwukuthi uma ngabe ubone ngathi amaphoyisa mhlawumbe enze okungafanele, unelungelo lokuya ngqo uyobika khona ngoba ibona ephenya amaphoyisa. Okwesibili, mhlawumbe okungabe ukwenzile masinyane wukuya esiteshini samaphoyisa uyofuna umphathi wesiteshi kunokuthi ubike nje kuphela kusikhungo sezinkonzo ukuthi nasi isikhalo enginaso.
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Njengoba ukwenza lokho ngesikhathi kwenzeka kubalulekile ukuthi uthole ulwazi oluphelele lokuthi ngobani labo abekade belapho, mhlawumbe ne-number plate ukuze mhlawumbi kungabi amaphoyisa mbumbulu abekhona wacabanga ukuthi amaphoyisa ngokusobala kodwa yicala leli amaphoyisa ayaphenywa yi-IPID esungulwe ngokoMthethosisekelo nomthetho i-Independent Police Investigative Directorate Act, IPID Act. Ngiyabonga.
FARMER HELD FOR ATTACK
(Minister’s Response)
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND REFORM (Mr M
Skwatsha): Hon Chair, on the member’s statement by the hon Xaba, the department joins the ANC in the outrage over this dastardly racist deed on this particular family. The law- enforcement agencies must be harsh in their response because this follows in the footsteps of the action by two white farmers in Mpumalanga against Victor Mlotshwa, who was nearly buried alive in a coffin.
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We do note the silence of the white farmers who marched under a racist South African flag. We really want to say to people like the hon Lekota that we saw that particular march for what it was.
Lastly, it is such actions that make the department very committed to fast-tracking the Extension of Security of Tenure Act, a Bill which is now before the NCOP. We are about to embark on the public participation process. Thank you.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): The hon Nkwinti? [Interjections.] Order! Order, hon members! Bills are amended all the time.
ENOCH MGIJIMA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY
ANC ALLEGEDLY TAMPERING WITH BBBEE AND EMPLOYMENT EQUITY ACT IN ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY
(Minister’s Response)
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The MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: Hon Chair, the hon
Stander referred to a morally bankrupt Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality, in the Eastern Cape. Now, for the paragon of virtue, in moral terms – that is, the DA - I would wish to report what steps the ANC has taken in that municipality. [Interjections.]
Just over a month ago, I attended an ANC lekgotla in East London. This is one of the reports presented by the ANC, which had committed itself to taking action. The hon member knows that some officials have already taken some action. [Interjections.] The hon ANC members who are here would have said that at that lekgotla, part of what was discussed, as a report, is even action taken against the mayor. So, the hon members over there are not as virtuous as they may claim. [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order, hon members!
The MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: Lastly, the hon DA
member accuses the ANC of being anti Indian ...
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HON MEMBERS: Yes!
The MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: ... as if they are the ones who created a nonracial society here. They didn’t! It is the ANC ... [Interjections.] ... Yes, yes, yes, there are mistakes. We do make mistakes because we are normal. [Interjections.] The DA is not normal. [Interjections.] [Applause.] We, in the ANC, are normal and therefore, we make mistakes. Thank you very much. [Time expired.]
Ms N K F HLONYANA: Hon House Chair, on a point of order: The hon Minister is misleading the House. It was not the ANC who removed Mayor Gunuza-Nkwentsha. It was the opposition parties, led by the EFF. He must tell the truth! [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order! Hon member, that’s a matter that could be debatable because none of us sitting here has the facts. Is that another point of order, Minister?
The MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: Chair, my point of order is: There are too few of them in that council ...
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The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order, hon member! [Interjections.] Order! Order! I said this is a debatable matter. Seated here, as the Chair, I cannot rule on the point of order that you are making, nor can I on what the Minister is raising. So, let’s leave the matter there. [Interjections.] Order! Order, hon Mente!
ANC ALLEGEDLY TAMPERING WITH BBBEE AND EMPLOYMENT EQUITY ACT IN ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY
(Minister’s Response)
The MINISTER OF LABOUR: House Chair, the ANC and I do not hate Indians. As we speak, we have not even reviewed the Employment Equity Act. Whether it is in the public or private sector, when they have to deal with issues of equity, they have to consult all stakeholders within that particular sector. For example, if the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality wants to deal with the issues of equality, all stakeholders must be involved, and they have to agree on how they are going to implement the Employment Equity Act.
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Perhaps the hon members from the DA should deal with the issues here, in Cape Town. They must stop calling Africans “refugees” whey they are her,e in Cape Town. Thank you very much, Chair. [Interjections.] [Applause.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order! Hon members, that concludes ... [Interjections.] ... Order!
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Like a stuck record!
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Order! Can I get the Duty Whips of the DA to help me? [Interjections.] Hon Chief Whip of the Opposition, no! Let’s conclude this issue. Indeed, there will be matters of debate that can be taken up outside the House.
NOTICES OF MOTION
Mr N J J van R KOORNHOF: Chairperson, on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move that the House debates the importance of investing in science and technology by the
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public and private sectors and the effects thereof on economic growth.
Mr C H H HUNSINGER: Chairperson, on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move that the House debates reasons why the two state-owned entities, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa and Transnet, should not be merged as a cost-saving measure to streamline service delivery, noting that rail infrastructure and various facilities are owned and used by both agencies, giving rise to unnecessary, wasteful expenditure in excess of R1 billion through excessive and costly bureaucracy.
IsiZulu:
Nk M S KHAWULA: Sihlalo, ekuhlaleni kwale Ndlu ngokulandelayo ngiphakamisa egameni le-EFF ukuthi le Ndlu ikhulume ngodaba lwamapayipi laphaya eMkhanyakude lapho uNomusa Dube ehlangene nomkhwenyana wakhe uNcube bathatha amapayipi okwakufanele kufakelwe ngawo amanzi bawalahla laphaya eMkhanyakude.
Kuyimanje lolu daba bekufanele ngabe luyaphenywa baboshwe. Ngiyacela ukuthi kukhulunywe ngalolu daba ngoba yizimali zabakhokhi bentela phela lezi.
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English:
Dr P MAESELA: Chairperson, on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move that the House debates the necessity for all public servants to observe the principles of Batho Pele, which require them to be responsive, timeous and efficient at all times in rendering services to members of the public.
Mr J A ESTERHUIZEN: Chairperson, on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move that the House debates the safety hazards to the environment – the negative environmental impact
– including greenhouse emissions, of the proposed oil and gas exploration by Italian-owned company Eni South Africa BV that is about to commence exploratory drilling for oil off the coast of Durban and Richards Bay.
Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Chairperson, on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move that the House debates state capture and its impact on radical socioeconomic transformation.
Ms S MCHUNU: Chairperson, on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move that the House debates the safety of
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school facilities through the accelerated provision of quality school infrastructure.
Mr M L W FILTANE: Chairperson, on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move that the House debates the appropriateness of training of government employees, with particular reference to lifesavers.
Afrikaans:
Me V VAN DYK: Voorsitter, by die volgende sitting van die Huis, sal ek voorstel dat die Huis die gebrekkige waterinfrastruktuur in Namakwalandse dorpe sal debatteer, met die klem op Onseepkans in die Khâi-Ma Plaaslike Munisipaliteit, asook Garies in die Kamiesberg Plaaslike Munisipaliteit.
IsiXhosa:
Nks N V MENTE: Sihlalo weNdlu ohloniphekileyo, ndenza isaziso sokuba, xa le Ndlu ihlala kwakhona, ndiza kwenza isiphakamiso egameni le-EFF:
Sokuba le Ndlu-
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ixoxe ngogutyulo lwelindle, ukwakhiwa kwezindlu zangesese, ukuziswa kwamanzi ezikolweni ezisezilalini kumaphondo onke, ingakumbi eMpuma Koloni nakwaZulu-Natal.
Ndiyaphakamisa.
English:
Ms G K TSEKE: Chairperson, on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move that the House debates the development and strengthening of local economies, the creation of jobs, and the promotion of job placements, especially for young people.
Ms T C MEMELA: Chairperson, on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move that the House debates mitigating the impact of climate change on rural women and girls.
Ms T E KENYE: Chairperson, on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move that the House debates promoting good
governance, democracy, human rights, justice and the rule of law on the African continent.
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Mr K P ROBERTSON: Chairperson, on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move that the House debates, in light of two national land surveys that indicate vast tracts of land belonging to the state, the release of state-owned land inherited by the apartheid regime in order to alleviate the ever-increasing demand for land and economic access.
Mr W B MAPHANGA: Chairperson, on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move that the House debates the improvement of access to quality health services in urban and rural areas.
The House adjourned at 19:03.