Hansard: JS: Unrevised hansard

House: Joint (NA + NCOP)

Date of Meeting: 19 Feb 2020

Summary

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Minutes

UNREVISED HANSARD JOINT SITTING

 

WEDNESDAY, 19 FEBRUARY 2020

 

PROCEEDINGS AT JOINT SITTING

 

Watch Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX0F05r4vSw

 

 

 

Members of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces assembled in the Chamber of the National Assembly at 14:01.

 

 

The Speaker of the National Assembly took the Chair.

 

 

The Speaker of the National Assembly requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or meditation.

 

 

RESUMPTION OF DEBATE ON THE PRESIDENT’S STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS

 

 

The MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENT, WATER AND SANITATION: Madam

 

Speaker, Chairperson of the NCOP, Mr President, Mr Deputy President, hon members, Benjamin Franklin once said and I quote, “When the well is dry, we know the worth of water”. Mr President, this is where we are now as a country; we know the worth of water. Climate change has incrementally unleashed its

 

wrath on us. We are in the grip of severe water shortage and extreme drought in various parts of the country, especially in the most underdeveloped areas.

 

 

Our resilience to these changing weather patterns is compromised by the fact that our infrastructure was never intended to cater for all the parts of the country and where there is adequate infrastructure, it is struggling under the weight of age and lack of maintenance. All of this is complicated by the level of theft and vandalism that is experienced in our water systems, therefore creating a complexity all of its own in our response to the natural disaster.

 

 

Water security is and will be one of the biggest challenges facing South Africa in the next 10 years. It presents a profound challenge to our social wellbeing and our economic growth. In our case in particular, we have a legacy problem of unplanned urbanisation and infrastructure that did not anticipate expansion of settlement and networks, resulting in a society that is not sufficiently prepared for the situation that is unfolding right now.

 

What we need to understand is that South Africa is the 30th driest country out of 195 countries in the world, making it an extremely vulnerable country. When you juxtapose this with the extreme extravagance of our use of water, you begin to understand that we have to restructure our thinking around the use of water. We use water as if it is in abundance. Our average domestic water use in South Africa is around 237 l per person per day, as opposed to 173 l per person per day, which is the world average. South Africa’s mean annual rainfall is about 360 ml below that of the world.

 

 

We need to drastically change our habits if we are to give certainty about water security. We are a rapacious country under conditions where we have diminishing water resources and it is predicted that if we continue to use our water the way we do, we will face a deficit of 1,1 trillion litres by 2035. This is half the capacity of the dam of the Vaal River.

 

 

When we add all of these things that I have mentioned, the water lost to negligence, ageing infrastructure, and the deteriorating water quality due to mining, agriculture as well as a general unawareness of the critical importance of water for life, economy and environment, you begin to realise the enormity of the challenge. The full impact is felt by the most

 

fragile sector of our government, which is the local government level, and one that does not have the necessary skills and expertise. Fortuitously, the district model allows us to intervene and assist, but regrettably, this always happens after the crisis has manifested itself.

 

 

Our wastewater treatment capacity has caused enormous distress, the most prominent of this being in the Vaal, which has been receiving our full attention and that of the Deputy President. Here we see lack of education around the effects of pollution. The major problem in the Vaal wastewater treatment area, amongst others, has been pollution from three provinces, and that added to the province of Gauteng, have converged into the Vaal with devastating effects.

 

 

The challenges around water management in South Africa are already significant, and water scarcity is the biggest risk to our growth and development. My intention today is not to go into a litany of problems but to assure the House that even though it has taken us a long time to reach this stage, we are on top of our water crisis. We want to assure the House that we have spent time putting together a response to our problems. The situation is dire – and we must underline that – but we have a plan. It is the National Water and Sanitation

 

Master Plan. Thus far we have received very good reviews of our plan. We are emboldened that we are in the right direction

- yes really.

 

 

The Master Plan is a call to action to raise awareness. It is intended to guide the water sector with investment planning for the development of water resources and the delivery of water and sanitation services for an initial period of over 15 years and beyond that. It will prepare society to better manage incidents of water shortage, address dysfunctionality and provide certainty to our people, our industries and our agricultural sector.

 

 

Alongside taking our master plan through the necessary processes, we have been putting in place immediate interventions of drought relief to those areas have been affected. We have extended our support to the municipalities that have been affected. The process of climate change compounded by the growing populations and changing economic activities also makes the planning of our long-term water management process more difficult.

 

 

We have travelled to major water scarcity hotspots from Gcuwa in Eastern Cape to QwaQwa, to Moutse in Limpopo and the

 

Northern Cape. Through these visits and interacting with the communities, we have developed a deep appreciation of the extent of the systemic challenges in the water sector. I am grateful to the premiers who are here, who have been with me in these areas and have had their involvement in making sure that we solve the situation. We can applaud the premiers - I am certain of that. [Applause.]

 

 

We have found a tool where the communities have come together as one to solve the problem and we had good success. But in areas where there have been political opportunism, coupled with an aggressive approach to possible business opportunities, we had a problem. On the other hand, I have been encouraged by the ownership and support of the affected communities, and this is where we have had our best outcomes.

 

 

Mr President, the most productive of these is the community of the Vaal, which has committed to work with us, after the community had come together and challenged us through the courts and the Human Rights Commission. However, after working together with them, we have formed a partnership, and this partnership has resulted in the Save the Vaal forum dropping seven lawsuits against the department ... [Applause.] ... because together, we will work to fix the Vaal.

 

What we have found most satisfying about this interaction is that we have managed to build relationships with those affected communities that help us propagate the message of how to save water and how not to pollute our rivers. When people are part of the solution, they are less angry and when they themselves have contributed towards solution, you can be certain that they will carry on and also that they will have collective ownership of the problem.

 

 

We cannot continue as though business is usual with regard to water. We need to find a collective response to the challenges that come as a result of climate change. Water is a primary medium through which climate change impacts all that we as human beings experience – our ecosystems and our economies.

 

 

Mr President, I would like to thank you for accepting our request to consider the Mzimvubu project as a project within your budget in the opening of Parliament. We now have this project in the pipeline and we do know that there has been a lot of scepticism in this Chamber about whether or not we are going to pull this off. We have started on the first phase of Mzimvubu. What promises us Mr President if we are very optimistic is that out of the hydro power that we produce there, we could get the whole of the Eastern Cape off the

 

Eskom grid – and that would be a great relief for Minister Mantashe. [Applause.]

 

 

I would like ... [Interjections.] ... it doesn’t matter. I would like to invite the President, the Deputy President and members of the portfolio committee to come and visit this project and see that we have indeed started on the first phase of this project, despite the naysayers.

 

 

The President has highlighted how we have turned around the issuing of water use licences; the story is now well known. The President was once a farmer, and he discovered that it takes more than three years to get a licence. We have turned this around and we now issue licences within 90 days.

 

 

Mr President, I have decided that we would establish a water licensing entity in the department to ensure that we can live up to our promise, and allow new entrants - especially black farmers, easier access to water rights. This reflects our serious commitment to ensure that we issue our licenses without undue delay and ensuring that our economy grows and our people have unfettered access to water.

 

For every crisis, opportunities have presented themselves, because when times got tough, we did not give up, we got up. Out of this crisis we have learned to rely on innovation. We are constantly seeking new sources of water. We are making sure that we can link up with the private sector and explore several innovations and opportunities that are provided by the sector which start with desalination, acid mine water treatment, sand extraction, atmospheric water harvesting, smart decentralised wastewater treatment plants, etc.

 

 

I’ll end on a not so pleasant note. We are mindful of the fact that there are a number of investigations underway in the department that are conducted by the Special Investigating Unit, SIU, and the Zondo Commission, etc. We have committed our full support to the investigations and we are prioritising the resultant disciplinary processes.

 

 

Finally, I want to borrow from the former Russian President, Mikhail Gorbachev, who said and I quote:

 

 

We must treat water as if it were the most precious thing in the world, the most valuable natural resource. Be economical with water! Don’t waste it! We still have time to do something about this problem before it is too late.

 

Thank you very much, Speaker. [Applause.] As I leave, Speaker, I would like to remind you of a commitment that you have made to the hon Mkhize to come back to a matter that he raised ... [Time expired.] ... around the hon Steenhuisen who does not check his fact. Thank you very much, Speaker. [Time expired.]

 

 

Mr K J MILEHAM: Speaker, Mr President, fellow South Africans, this debate takes place in the midst of a national electricity crisis. We sit in darkness for hours every day, despite ongoing promises from the President, the man who was tasked to turn Eskom around and end load shedding. It is tragic today to go back and read that News24 headline from December 2014: Ramaphosa to oversee Eskom and SAA turnaround. Mr President, the only turn these entities took under your watch was from the emergency room to the funeral parlour. Our mining sector, once the backbone of our economy, is floundering because, amongst other things, it cannot get enough electricity. Here’s another headline from December 2019, just five years later.

 

 

The SPEAKER: Hon Mileham, can you please take your seat? Hon member, your hand is up.

 

Ms N P MAHLO: On a point of order, hon Speaker. The member is calling our President, Ramaphosa and in this House you can’t say Ramaphosa. You must say hon.

 

 

The SPEAKER: Thank you, ma’am. Hon Mileham, it’s the hon President or Mr President in the House. Hon Chief Whip of the Opposition?

 

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Hon Speaker, I will respect this House and rise and tell you on what point I’m rising on, which is 14(s). I rise to point out that the hon Mileham was quoting from a newspaper article. The member would do well to listen to the speech and hear that it was a direct quote. [Applause.]

 

 

The SPEAKER: Hon member, please proceed.

 

 

Mr K J MILEHAM: Here’s another headline from December 2019, just five years later, laying bare the truth: SA mines shut operations because of Eskom. Yet, the ANC clings to Eskom and pretends it can be saved. South Africans know otherwise. Eskom is dead. It is beyond redemption and it is time that this government acknowledges it.

 

While ANC government leaders live with generators, permanent security and state housing, the people of this country go through hardship and pain as the lights go off every day. They walk on dark streets at the mercy of violent crime, robbery, rape and murder. They cannot study; they cannot cook; their businesses cannot operate; their lives and livelihoods are being stolen.

 

 

We had hoped that in this critical hour, President Ramaphosa would seize the opportunity to take ownership of the problem, deal decisively with Eskom and provide South Africa with a path to a powered future. However, the incapable state and its incapable President never take bold action.

 

 

The state of the nation address was the last chance for the ANC to do the right thing and announce the immediate splitting and privatising of Eskom. What we got instead was small changes, small concessions and small retreats. Too little, too late, if they come at all.

 

 

While bold action was lacking, the DA does welcome some of the commitments the President made. The question he must answer though, is when. When will all this take place? All that the President and the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy

 

will say is, soon. The DA has long called on Minister Mantashe to sign the section 34 determinations, which are gathering dust on his desk. The City of Cape Town is going ahead with court action to force this issue because he still hasn’t done anything despite a lot of talk.

 

 

We have repeatedly asked him to immediately open bid window 5 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer, REIPP, programme, but whenever anyone speaks about renewable energy in any context, Minister Mantashe accuses them of being a lobbyist. Just minutes after the President announced last Thursday that bid window 5 would open soon, Minister Mantashe backtracked on that commitment, saying, I’m not a fundamentalist about bid window 5 and we must be systematic and ensure that it is sustainable. Given that the first four bid windows are regarded as world-wide best practice, it is surprising that the Minister thinks these need tweaking.

 

 

More and more South Africans are prepared to become self- reliant with regard to energy generation. Instead of making things more difficult, let’s ease up on the regulatory environment and allow them to do so. Encourage and incentivise residential self-generation. In this regard, schedule 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act can be amended with the stroke of a

 

pen. Go back to what Parliament approved in the first place when the Act was originally adopted.

 

 

When South Africa went to stage six load shedding, the Minister should’ve immediately sought to purchase excess power from the exciting independent power producers, IPPs, who are only allowed to sell limited quantities to the grid as determined by their power purchase agreements. Currently any excess power produced goes to waste. The SA Wind Energy Association estimates that 500 megawatts is immediately available at the cost of around 40 cents per kilowatt hour and more could be forthcoming. The Minerals Council SA estimates that 1,7 gigawatts of electricity could be produced for own use by mines in the next four years; something they have been begging for.

 

 

We can’t be talking about nuclear plants or Grand Inga when South Africa’s financial situation is so dire. We can’t be looking five and 10 years down the line. We need to look at how we can make ourselves less reliant on an archaic monopoly like Eskom, right now! Mr President, open up the electricity market now. The private sector can deliver better, cheaper and more efficiently than Eskom.

 

The DA’s Independent Electricity Management Operator Bill is currently before Parliament. This would create a separate, independent market operator to purchase electricity from all producers and make our electricity generation sector more competitive.

 

 

We know that Minister Mantashe has been called a tiger in the bedroom but he appears more like a grumpy old tomcat curled up next to his coal fireplace when it comes to his constitutional obligations. He is slow to act, reluctant to change the status quo and absolutely unwilling to upset the unions that are his real masters.

 

 

Most importantly Mr President, we cannot and must not throw pensioners’ life savings into Eskom. This is just theft from the poor and the elderly to fund Eskom corruption.

 

 

The MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS, WATER AND SANITATION: Point

 

of order.

 

 

Mr K J MILEHAM: Mr President, if Mr Mantashe is not willing to act now on your commitments regarding electricity generation, replace him with somebody who will. Our darkest days will ...

 

[Inaudible.] ... load shedding if you do not act. [Time expired.] [Applause.]

 

 

The SPEAKER: Hon Sisulu, even if I had given you ... He was left with five seconds when I saw your hand. I tried to stop him. I want to proceed. The hon Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy?

 

 

The MINISTER OF MINERAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY: Madam Speaker of

 

the National Assembly, Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, His Excellencies, President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa and Deputy President David Dabede Mabuza, Cabinet colleagues and Deputy Ministers, hon members, invited guests in the gallery, the ANC National Executive Committee ’s January 8th statement of 2020, merges us that:

 

 

The fundamental transformation of South African society and the economy requires the efforts, ingenuity and energy of all South Africans working together in pursuit of a shared vision.

 

 

Such ingenuity and energy should be brought to bear in response to the Presidents state of the nation address, instead of preoccupation with parochial differences. That

 

today parties to the right and the extreme left of the ANC claim our policy, is recognition of us being the leader of society and a sign of progress towards building the nation together. We are one people.

 

 

The President highlighted critical interventions by government that is “to build a capable state, to place our economy on the path to recovery; the need to fix the fundamentals, to pursue critical areas of growth, and to ensure excellence in government‘s planning and execution.”

 

 

The integration of former departments of mineral resources and energy into one, mineral resources and energy, is purposely aimed at increasing the capacity and capability of the state to drive economic recovery. Mining and energy are catalysts for economic growth and development.

 

 

Energy infrastructure underpins economic activity and growth, therefore, should be robust and extensive to meet industrial, commercial and household needs. An unreliable electricity supply is the biggest threat to economic growth, job creation and development.

 

Eighteen thousand megawatts of new generation capacity from coal, diesel, renewables and pumped storage, has been committed to and used on the grid since Integrated Resource Plan, IRP, 2010. However, intermittent supply deficiency problems persist, due to unavailability of the bulk of the generation plant, because of break-downs. Eskom is unable to reliably meet any peak electricity demand above 31 000 megawatts. According to Eskom, we face at least two years minimum of potential load-shedding.

 

 

The President mentioned the following measures we will implement to address energy shortages:

 

 

The procurement of emergency power - the easing of requirements and processes for generation for own use, the issuing of Section 34 determinations in line with the IRP 2019, and enabling municipalities in good financial standing to buy their own power.

 

 

The IRP 2019 provides for additional capacity of 2 000 megawatts of emergency power, 1 500 megawatts from coal, 2 500 megawatts from hydro, 6 000 megawatts from photovoltaic, PV, and 14 400 megawatts from wind, 2 088 megawatts from storage

 

and 3 000 megawatts from gas. Those are the facts in the IRP - not the howling. Read it!

 

 

Section 34 determinations to implement the IRP 2019 are finalised and await concurrence by National Energy Regulator of South Africa, NERSA. This will also enable opening of bid windows for the renewable energy power procurement and support further investment in the sector. We are a constitutional state. We don’t do things haphazardly because some DA lobbyists think so. We work systematically within the framework of the law.

 

 

In December 2019, the department released a Request for Information on power projects that can deliver power to the grid in the shortest possible time on a least cost and a least-regret approach. This helps us assess availability of immediate implementable generation options and the commercial terms expected by these projects. We received 481 responses, which include energy supply options and demand side management options for gas, liquid fuels, coal, renewables, storage and nuclear.

 

 

Preliminary analysis is that some proposals can bring power to the grid in less than 24months. It also suggests that longer-

 

term contracting is required to ensure prices do not negatively affect the current tariffs.

 

 

On generation for own use, licensing requirements for generation for own use in a certain category of generation facilities under one megawatt are removed. NERSA has received

132 applications in this category, with a total capacity of 59 megawatts. Of these, 75 applications with total capacity of 42 megawatts are approved. The remaining 57 applications with a total capacity of 16 megawatts are being processed. On average, NERSA takes thirty-eight working days to process applications for registration.

 

 

IRP 2019 provides for distributed generation for own use above one megawatt, removing the requirement for a ministerial approval for deviation from the IRP, before NERSA processes a generation license application. Installed capacity above one megawatt is unlimited. Since May 2019, NERSA has received 18 applications, totalling to 116 megawatts, in this category.

Most of them are incomplete because they lack power purchase agreements, which is a requirement. As per the Electricity Regulation Act, the prescribed licensing process timeline for duly completed applications is 120days.

 

The NERSA has committed to urgently process the licensing on duly admitted applications. We met and agreed with Business Unity South Africa, Busa, and Black Business Council representatives to establish a working group, led by the deputy-director general, to remove all hurdles and bottlenecks in some of the energy projects.

 

 

Mr President, to speed up the process of addressing the power generation deficiency, municipalities are enabled to buy power from sources other than Eskom or develop their own power projects for generation of own power. Let me remind you, historically, metropolitan areas like Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Mangaung and others had their own power generation capacity largely, coal driven. Advances in distributed generation technology make it viable for municipalities to create own power generation or buy power from projects developed within their jurisdiction.

 

 

Let me with the remaining 19 minutes cut the rest, a sovereign wealth fund and Specialised Units in crime. The President also spoke of the sovereign wealth fund and the specialised unit to deal with crime. Many people asked a question where money will come from. I can tell you that all the mines pay a royalty to

 

the state and it can be used to start the royalty fund. [Applause.] [Time Expired.] Thank you very much.

 

 

Mr S E MFAYELA: Hon Speaker; the President of the Republic and his deputy; parliamentary leader of the IFP: Shenge, my president ... you have been afforded the privilege of addressing the state of our nation in Parliament four times already, Mr President - twice in the previous Parliament and twice in this Parliament. You have been part of the executive for almost a decade and you know the situation of our country better than most.

 

 

The difficulty for South Africans is that we can barely celebrate any turn of good news before we are plagued by notifications to our phones telling us that load shedding has been implemented, or that the quarterly unemployment rate remains at an all-time high, or that our tertiary education institutions have been disrupted as a result of protest action. While these are just a few of the issues we face in South Africa, we all know that our biggest problems are as a result of corruption.

 

 

Through the various commissions, Mr President, we have been putting faces and names to corruption. Without breaking due

 

process, we had wished that you had outlined your plans and commitments for 2020 as the Year of Orange Overalls, for a change.

 

 

Mr President, in 2019 the IFP repeatedly called for the establishment of a Chapter 9 integrity commission to investigate, combat and prosecute grand corruption. We had hoped that you would take the nation into your confidence in this regard, but your address missed this prime opportunity. Your address was weak on government assurance to clean up its mess of corruption.

 

 

Mr President, you outlined a very basic plan to throw large amounts of money at problems in South Africa in order to create a few jobs. We want to know the details of what the projected returns are of the investments you outlined in your address. If you pass on this responsibility to the Finance Minister to answer this question, then we want to see your full public support for his plans in the Budget Speech.

 

 

We have not heard clear plans on these returns from government, and the lack of clarity is evident in the failure of our state-owned enterprises, SOEs. The failure of SOEs, Mr President, is a great embarrassment for South Africa’s

 

democratic chapter. Year on year we bail out SOEs while, at the same time, running up a higher budget deficit. South African Airways, Eskom and other SOEs, whether they are eventually privatised or not, must never fail.

 

 

The vision of a growing economy will achieve social cohesion through jobs and business ownership. Giving dignity and empowerment to people through jobs is the number one priority in South Africa, Mr President.

 

 

In closing, I offer this valuable quote by Herbert Bayard Swope: “I can’t give you a sure-fire formula for success, but I can give you a formula to failure: try to please everybody.” I thank you. [Applause.]

 

 

The MINISTER OF COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL

 

AFFAIRS: Madam Speaker, hon President and hon Deputy President, Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Ministers, hon Members of Parliament and members who are sitting in the gallery, 26 years after our democracy and the death of legal apartheid, a crime against humanity, its legacy is most felt at the local sphere of governance. It has an adverse impact on the livelihoods of a vast majority of South Africans, particularly those who live in rural areas, especially homelands,

 

Bantustans and townships. With a greater impact on women, children and young people, no democracy can survive or flourish if the majority of our people remain poor, unemployed, landless and marginalised by the economic system, seeing obscene opulence across them but surrounded by the conditions of squalor.

 

 

Madam Speaker, we would like to welcome the President’s call that we must fix the fundamentals. This means that we must accelerate our efforts of creating a democratic government which is people centred and focused on a better quality of life for all. Of course, we have to do this through the government of the Republic of South Africa which has three spheres national, provincial and local, which are distinctive, interdependent and interrelated. In the spirit of co-operation and intergovernmental relations the Constitution also calls on all the spheres to co-operate with one another in mutual trust and good faith by, amongst others, making sure that there are friendly relations, assisting and supporting each other.

 

 

The Constitution further calls on the spheres of government and all organs of state within each sphere to not assume any power or function except those conferred on them in terms of the Constitution. However, the Constitution also realised that

 

the local sphere is the most important sphere because that’s where people are. That is where everything happens and that’s the closest to the people. It then says the national and the provincial spheres must support and strengthen the capacity of the municipalities to manage their own affairs. It is only in exceptional circumstances where the province may take over the responsibility and if the province is unable to do that, then the national.

 

 

Through our system of integrated co-operative governance which can be a catalyst for fundamental socioeconomic transformation, service delivery and development, this can be achieved through the District Development Model that the President talked about to address the prevailing lack of coherence, co-ordination and integration in government and in the implementation of policy. By using the district model as the landing strip, as Mama Capa says, we are able to scale up interventions while sharing scarce resources and expertise amongst local municipalities.

 

 

Through the District Development Model forums, we also bring in all the stakeholders like youth, women, traditional leaders, business, nongovernmental organisations, religious leaders and so on. Using a collaborative planning amongst the

 

three spheres of government, we will have one district, one plan and one budget for each of the 44 districts and eight metros. This will contribute to accelerating our economic growth through local economic development. It will also maximise impact on service delivery. By implementing the one plan, one budget, greater accountability and transparency will prevail and corruption will be dealt with at that level.

 

 

Madam Speaker, piloting the District Development Model has taught us some lessons that will help us to refine our strategies. It is quite clear that if we do not deal with rural poverty and unemployment, the rural masses will swell the ranks of the urban poor. The pilots reveal the stark realities of intergenerational poverty, inequality and high youth unemployment, which are influenced by low levels of skills and income. For, instance, if we take O R Tambo, O R Tambo has 57% of the household headed by women and the national average is 37%. According to the multidimensional poverty index 19% of households in O R Tambo live in poverty compared to seven per cent average. Fifty four per cent of the youth are unemployed. There are also high levels of violence against women and children, with Lusikisiki recording the second highest reported rape cases. Last year alone 295 sexual offences were reported in the police station. We also learned

 

that despite the availability of land and ocean as untapped possibilities; agriculture, tourism and the ocean economy have not received the necessary support from national and provincial departments.

 

 

Waterberg is more or less the same, 41% household are headed by women, nine per cent poverty, and youth unemployment 35%. Again Waterberg shows there was an African paradox of the rich Africa and poor Africans. There are lots of resources and mining, but people are still poor there.

 

 

EThekwini is partly rural and urban. It shows the same thing, but with less households being poor at 3,8%. Still, 42% households are headed by women even in eThekwini. We are not reaching the full potential of eThekwini because of the problems at the ports and also of crime and grime.

 

 

Despite the investments that we are making in all these three districts, we can also observe that the backlogs, especially in O R whether there is water, housing and roads are very high. We hope that the one plan one budget will be directed towards addressing the challenges that we have identified and maximising on the opportunities.

 

The three districts must, of course, ensure that agriculture which has a big potential in the three districts is accelerated. In the two of the pilot sites the ocean economy is also very important. With the diverse flora, fauna, and cultural heritage, tourism is very important in these two sites.

 

 

IsiZulu:

 

Mongameli sithe ukubona konke loku okwenzekayo kulezindawo ezintathu sase sihlangana noNgqongqoshe Wezokuthuthukiswa Kwezindawo Zasemakhaya. Sathatha izingane eziyinkulungwane kulezifunda ezintathu sathi akashintshe loluhlelo lwe-NARYSEC alwenze ukuthi lufanele lokhu esikudingayo esifundeni.

Njengoba ngikhuluma nawe Mongameli le zingane eziyinkulungwane manje ziseThaba Nchu ziyafunda, zizofunda izinto eziphathelene nezolimo [Ihlombe.] Zizofundela nokuba ngabalekeleli bodokotela bezilwane [para veterinary.] ngoba asinabo emakhaya. [Ihlombe.] Ngakho ke asimile Mongameli siyashesha. [Ihlombe.]

 

 

Okunye engifuna ukukusho kubalulekile ukuthi siyibheke le nto yokuthi la komasimapala izinhlangano zepolitiki zinayo nayo imithethela kokwenzekayo khona. Sicela ukuthi izinhlangano zepolitiki zibheke, zilungise okungalungile khona.

 

English:

 

What we are going to do because we have also realised the lack of professional skills in these three districts contributes to poor performance. At the beginning of the financial year, we are going to be sending skills in the three areas: financial, water engineers, electrical engineers, local government development, planning experts and other skills so that these skills can be shared. They will be based in the district, but shared by the other municipalities.

 

 

The issue of women ...

 

 

IsiZulu:

 

... Mongameli ibaluleke kakhulu unyaka wama-25 sabuya eBeijing. Uhulumeni yena uyazama kodwa umkhakha wangasese wona usaholela izimali ezingafani futhi abekho nabaholi besifazane abaphethe izinkampani. Ngakho ke sicela ukuthi umkhakha wangasese uyibheke kakhulu le nto.

 

 

English:

 

What we also would like to say is that the local government White Paper says planning must be over 25 years not five years. So we would like to say by 2024, the three districts must have 25 year plans at least for the three pilots.

 

[Applause.] We must envisage a Smart O R Tambo which is not entirely rural in 25 years and many other things. A different eThekwini with high employment and zero hunger. A Waterberg where young people will be mining engineers and so on. We will be living in a totally different space.

 

 

In conclusion, Madam Speaker, I want to say that this is going to be a marathon not a sprint. It will require endurance, hard work and resilience. As President Thabo Mbeki once said:

 

 

Those who complete the course will do so only because they do not, as fatigue sets in, convince themselves that the road ahead is still too long, the inclines too steep, the loneliness impossible to bear and the price itself of doubtful value.

 

 

I thank you. [Applause.]

 

 

Ms S GWARUBE: Speaker, the President’s latest Sona has confirmed that he has chosen the politics of his party over fixing the challenges of our country. His address was stitched together with slogans, based on information that is out of touch and delivered for no one else besides the ANC’s internal

 

audience. Once again, the people of South Africa became a distant consideration for him.

 

 

The President spoke about the enthusiasm for the proposed National Health Insurance Bill without giving the full context of the South African reality. Having been to some of the most forgotten parts of this country in the past month, the demand for quality health care has been made clear by ...

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

... abantu bethu ...

 

 

English:

 

... with every public hearing in whichever town South Africans told of their horror experiences with the health system.

 

 

This is because for the past 25 years the health system has been shoddily patched up and carried by health care workers. This public process has revealed the lie which has been told to people who are desperate for change. It became evident that many had been sold a dream that the failures of the ANC government would be immediately rectified by the NHI. Yet we know that this is not true.

 

 

Oomama base Free State ...

 

 

English:

 

... described the helplessness of waiting for an ambulance while loved ones were dying in their arms. They spoke of the fear of needing life-saving ARVs and being told ...

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

... ayikho, uze uphinde ubuye ngenye imini ngemali abangayaziyo ukuba iza kuvela phi na. Ootata base Vryburg ...

 

 

English:

 

... articulated the limitations of facilities that have outdated infrastructure that can no longer accommodate those who use it. This immediately reminded me of the overcrowding that led to the deaths of 10 babies at Tembisa Hospital in the space of a couple of weeks – and of the scar that will forever remind us that this government allowed hundreds of mentally ill patients to die in the most undignified manner.

 

 

Many victims of the nationwide oncology crisis are women from

 

...

 

 

... ezilalini ababhubha kabuhlungu yicervical cancer kuba kungekho ncedo.

 

 

English:

 

The waiting period in Limpopo alone is close to a year from diagnosis to treatment. There are cancer patients in this country who have been placed on a death waiting list, while the ANC government ...

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

... ezingomba isifuba ngeenkonzo ezisiwa ebantwini.

 

 

English:

 

The very chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Health, Dr Dhlomo, would know this well as this was the case during his tenure as a KwaZulu-Natal MEC. We should never be mistaken.

The people of South Africa know what they want. They want dignity and they want a quality health care system. [Applause.]

 

 

The most tragic, though, is how this governing party is using the NHI to mask the governance failures, promising an

 

overnight transformation of the health system when they know that this is false.

 

 

This government knows that this Bill as it stands will not improve the quality of health care for people. It will not invest meaningfully in infrastructure for better clinics and hospitals. It will not ensure the filling of critical vacancies of nurses and doctors, or fix the tendering system that leads to medication stock-outs. This Bill misdiagnoses the problem and will inevitably not supply the solution.

 

 

South Africa needs universal health care but it does not need the flawed NHI. [Applause.] The NHI is a poor and unaffordable funding model that will empower the politically connected, as we saw with the dubious appointment made by the Health Minister in his office. It will create another failing SOE and still fail the millions who have been short-changed by this government for the past 25 years.

 

 

The SPEAKER: Hon Gwarube ... Hon member, please take your seat. Hon Mkhize?

 

 

The MINISTER OF HEALTH: Speaker, I would like to rise on Rule 14(S) of the Joint Rules of debate, and ask the member to

 

withdraw the statement. They have made an allegation in the media. The media has actually withdrawn and retracted this particular statement. [Interjections.] It is untrue and is misleading the House.

 

 

The SPEAKER: Hon Mkhize, may I address you on that? [Interjections.] Order! Order! Hon Mkhize, you rose yesterday on this point. I undertook to find out what the circumstances were, because I said to this House that I had not been in the Chair and did not really know what you were referring to.

 

 

I was going to rule on this matter towards the end of my sitting here, because, as I was not in the Chair, I was not really the right person to rule on this matter. Also, as that matter was raised, that matter should have been challenged when the hon Steenhuisen was still at the podium. I followed up on that and I looked at Hansard.

 

 

In fact, the hon Steenhuisen did not immediately leave the podium. He had a few more things to say before he did. And it was the ambience of the House - the levels of noise and looking at the circumstances which might have not enabled the hon Minister to make this intervention - that I was looking for. I couldn’t find that. I am not the right person to be

 

ruling on this. I am not going to rule on this. But I would say to this House: Hon members, when a point of disinformation or a point you do not agree with is raised, immediately rise in the House. If you do not do that, then approach us to investigate in a deeper manner, but do not expect that someone who was not here will be able to deal with that.

 

 

The reason I disagreed yesterday when the hon Steenhuisen ... was simply because I wanted to be clear that there was no impediment in the House that might have led to the Minister not hearing and therefore responding quickly to what was said.

 

 

Therefore, I cannot rule on this matter, and even now as you raise it the speaker at the podium is not the one who made that allegation. Therefore I cannot take that ruling when the speaker is at the podium. [Applause.] Please proceed.

 

 

Ms S GWARUBE: Hon Minister, I would be reluctant if I was you to really pursue this line of argument ... [Interjections.]

 

 

The SPEAKER: Hon Gwarube, take your seat. [Interjections.] Hon Gwarube, take your seat. Hon Minister?

 

The MINISTER OF HEALTH: With due respect, Madam Speaker, I am not rising on what the hon Steenhuisen said yesterday. That matter is with your office. I’m just objecting to what the current speaker is saying. That’s what I am talking about. [Interjections.]

 

 

The SPEAKER: Hon Minister ... Hon Gwarube, what did you say which ... [Interjections.] No, no, no. [Interjections.] No, hon members. Please, no. Hon Minister, you are objecting. You are saying the hon member at the podium now has made a statement which she knows is not true and which was withdrawn in the media. I’m going to give you a chance to say exactly that so that we can put it to her now. [Interjections.] Order! Order!

 

 

The MINISTER OF HEALTH: The hon member refers to an appointment in the office of the Minister of a relative. I am saying that she knows that that matter had been taken from The Citizen. But after the matter was challenged with the media ombudsperson, the matter was withdrawn and that particular newspaper apologised. She cannot repeat that unless she comes to the Speaker with a different set of facts, because she issued the statement herself. Why is she not acknowledging that the same statement she commented on was, in fact,

 

withdrawn by the newspaper? She wants to continue with it. [Interjections.]

 

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Point of order.

 

 

The SPEAKER: What is your point of order before I make a ruling, hon Mazzone?

 

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Speaker, I rise on 14(R)

 

read together with 14(U). Now, I take extreme exception to what the Minister has just said, because the hon member at the podium did not say anything of that nature in this particular speech. [Interjections.] And if the hon ... [Inaudible.]

 

 

The SPEAKER: Hon Mazzone, let me stop you just there. Hon member at the podium, you are quite competent to respond to the allegation put to you by the hon Minister.

 

 

Ms S GWARUBE: Speaker, I have alleged that the problem in our public service and in our government is when members of the executive appoint politically connected individuals. I never mentioned anything about a relation. This is the problem: When Ministers appoint their friends, their distant cousins, their chums to positions.

 

The SPEAKER: Hon Gwarube, did you say the Minister appointed somebody who was a niece?

 

 

Ms S GWARUBE: I never said so, Speaker. [Interjections.]

 

 

The SPEAKER: Hon members ... No, no, no, no. Don’t help us. Sometimes you help us too much and then we can’t function properly. Hon Gwarube, I want to check Hansard before the end of this day and come back to rule on this one. On this one, I am chairing. I am quite competent to come back and rule on it. If you have made that allegation, hon Gwarube, you will be required to withdraw. Now, continue with your statement.

 

 

Ms S GWARUBE: I accept that, Speaker. As I have said, politically connected individuals have no place in political offices because they rob us of competent government. [Applause.]

 

 

In South Africa most people have access to health care. However, it is shockingly poor, and part of this reason is because we have unqualified, politically connected people in positions. We cannot expect South Africans to wait any longer for the change that they deserve. At the same time, to place

58 millions South Africans on a single NHI system without the

 

investment needed will only lead to the collapse of the health care system. It is possible to improve the health care system while reforming how it is funded. It is possible to recover the R22 billion that is lost to corruption annually. It is also possible to choose South Africans over politics.

 

 

That is why the DA has brought solutions to the table. We have tabled the Sizani Universal Health Care Plan, which, if implemented, would address both the question of quality of health care and the funding. This plan would ensure and would afford each and every person access to quality health care regardless of their economic status. Unlike the NHI, we would be able to guarantee quality because of the massive emphasis on investments in health.

 

 

Mr President, if you truly care about the plight of millions who rely on our health system, both public and private, lead your party back to the drawing board on this Bill. Bring to the table opposition members, civil society, health care professionals and ...

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

abona bantu basebenzisa iinkonzo zempilo ...

 

English:

 

... to craft a plan on how we improve health care, how we regulate the private sector to improve health outcomes and how we ultimately rescue this ailing system. As South Africa stumbles from one crisis to the next, we dare not fail them in their health care needs. Mr President, on Thursday when you respond to this debate, you have an opportunity to choose South Africans over factions in your own party. You can choose our people and not as voting fodder but as people who truly deserve better from you. [Applause.]

 

 

Mr S F DU TOIT: Hon Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Mr President, Deputy Speaker, members, as we all reflect on Sona 2020, I dare say that most South Africans were disappointed in one way or the other. The spectacle was a twisted showcase of what certain South African politicians lack in respect of accountability, dignity and leadership.

 

 

Mr President, you are correct when you state that South Africa’s potential is boundless. Potential can also flounder under repressive policies and unfavourable conditions. We, as a nation, must not let the success of the South African Rugby team or the Miss Universe title cloud our view and give us a false sense of achievement. Yes, these are moments that made

 

us proud to be South Africans and these achievements came despite the government’s obvious failures. If government however proceeds along its current trajectory, there will soon be very little achievements to celebrate.

 

 

Mr President, you were quite correct when you said that the country is facing a stark reality. Government is making it increasingly impossible for business owners to create jobs in the midst of crippling taxes, unaffordable minimum wages, electricity shortages and BEE policies, which have only succeeded in creating corrupt elite, while the poor is getting poorer.

 

 

Setswana:

 

Moporesidente, utlwa sentle. Re a kopa, thusa maburu.

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

Die boere in die Graaff-Reinet–omgewing in die Oos-Kaap was hoopvol dat die President in sy staatsrede, droogtehulp sou aankondig. In plekke soos Vanwyksvlei in die Kareebergdistrik gaan dit op die oomblik nie net oor veë wat vrek nie; daar is mense wat daagliks hul kinders in die oë moet kyk en verduidelik hoekom daar nie kos is om op die tafel te sit nie.

 

Dr M Q NDLOZI: Speaker, on a point of order: Is it parliamentary for the hon member to say, ...

 

 

Setswana:

 

... thunya maburu?

 

 

English:

 

The SPEAKER: Hon Du Toit said nothing of the sort. He said “thusa” [help].

 

 

Setswana:

 

Ngaka M Q NDLOZI: Oho! Thusa

 

 

The SPEAKER: That was not a point of order. [Interjections.]

 

 

Setswana:

 

Ntate S DU TOIT: O bua ka go thunya ntate? Ke batla Moporesidente wa gago atle go thusa kamo. [Setshego.]

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

Talle boere in Suid-Afrika se veë het reeds weens die droogte gevrek. Ons is bewus van die feit dat Suid-Afrikaanse boere bankrot speel en dat hulle werknemers moet aflê, as gevolg van

 

die feit dat hulle nie meer broodnodige voesel kan produseer nie.

 

 

 erken hierdie krisis in die staatsrede, maar weens ’n onverklaarbare rede gaan u voort om nie hulp aan die kommersiële boere te verleen nie. Die fokus bly slegs op opkomende boere. Dit is onaanvaarbaar. Voedselsekerheid moet ten alle tye beskerm word. Boere is werkgewers. Deur nie hulp te verleen nie, dra u by tot voedselonsekerheid, ekonomiese inkrimping asook werkloosheid.

 

 

Die absurditeit van die plan om eerder op die aanplanting van marijuana en droogtewerende sade te fokus, weerspreek u belofte van inklusiewe groei. Hierdie projekte is voorbeelde van toekomstige projekte, wat slegs op papier goed lyk, maar ons sit nou hier met ’n probleem. Die kommersiële boere het op hierdie oomblik hulp nodig. Dit is baie dringend.

 

 

English:

 

These projects are not mitigating the current effects, the multiyear droughts, which devastated many of our rural communities.

 

The FF Plus welcomes the introduction of specialised units, as far as crimes and economic disruptions are concerned. We also take note of the fact that antigang units will be further strengthened.

 

 

The FF Plus has been asking for specialised units to deal with murders, farm murders and robberies. This is a very real problem in South Africa. This is not being addressed or even admitted by you, Mr President.

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

Waarom is dit so moeilik om te erken dat plaasmoorde in Suid- Afrika ’n probleem is wat dringend aangespreek moet word?

Waarom word dit nie as ’n prioriteitsmisdaad verklaar nie?

 

 

English:

 

Rural communities are affected negatively, as a whole, when a farmer, irrespective of race, is slaughtered.

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

Met dit saam is daar sprake dat burgery ontwapen moet word. Dit is onaanvaarbaar.

 

 

English:

 

The police cannot guarantee South African citizens their safety and is not equipped to fight crime effectively.

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

Die afgelope week is ’n boervrou in Noordwes deur drie mans aangeval. Hulle het probeer om haar te verwurg.

 

 

English:

 

The 71-year-old Johannes Mazibuko was murdered by six attackers. His throat was cut.

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

Cathy Irving, Aboid Fieree, Farhaad Moosa en Sakkie en Ina van der Berg was ook slagoffers van plaasmoorde. Dis ’n realiteit wat ons in die gesig staar.

 

 

English:

 

Amending section 25 and threatening private property rights will not just happen. Please, take note that we have more to hold on to than just our own abilities.

 

 

In closing, believers in South Africa have an instruction from God. I am referring to Joshua 1 verse 9:

 

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord our God will be with you wherever you go.

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

Daarom sê die VF Plus aan alle Suid-Afrikaners dat ons nie onder die aanslae en aanvalle sal swig nie. Bly positief en raak nie mismoedig nie. [Tyd verstreke.]

 

 

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES: Thank you very much hon Speaker of the National Assembly, the President, the Deputy President, the esteemed members of the Joint Sitting, and members of the public who are here with us. It gives me pleasure, hon Speaker, and I owe a big debt of gratitude to my organisation for the opportunity to participate in this important deliberation on the state of our nation. Mr President in his address makes a very succinct point and I would like to quote, he says:

 

 

We have a choice. We can succumb to the many difficult and protracted problems that confront us, or we can confront them, with the resolve and determination and action.

 

We concur, Mr President, and this is the premise within which we are working in confronting the challenges within our state- owned companies. At the onset we concede that our state-owned companies, SOC’s, have not been doing so well in executing their mandates holistically and therefore not contributing as expected to the growth of our economy. However, the potential and the role of these state-owned companies cannot be underestimated. With well-functioning state-owned companies, our economy will benefit as they are important economic drivers and enablers.

 

 

Specific to Eskom, I would like, hon members, to proceed with the acknowledgement ably made by the President that the load shedding of the last few months has had debilitating effects on our country. It has severely set back our efforts to strengthen the performance of the economy and subsequently the creation of jobs.

 

 

The main challenges have been the generation plant performance that has been inadequate resulting in persistent load shedding, and the inability to meet the electricity demand.

Eskom also finds itself in a debt trap with escalating service repayments that are onerous and severe. This is also accompanied by the sales volumes that have been declining and

 

thus revenue being insufficient to cover debt service payments. This has resulted in government having to pump money from time to time so that this entity can continue meeting its service payments and avoiding default. As indicated earlier, we have taken measures to resolve this crisis because to us Eskom is an agent and immediate priority. Eskom has provided a plan to recover the generation performance over the next 18 months. This includes the recovery of plants that have been on long-term outages, bringing remaining units from Medupi, Kusile, the new build programme on stream, as committed and ensuring that the performance of these plants is at acceptable levels.

 

 

We are holding Eskom board and management to deliver on this plan. The ongoing rebuilding of capacity at Eskom that has been undertaken will be completed to ensure that there is execution of this recovery plan. The process of the composition of the Eskom board is undergoing reviewal so as to bring the requisite skills commensurate with the challenges facing the company, and the process of the appointment of the permanent chair of the board is at an advanced stage. Coupled with this, the appointment of divisional boards for generation, transmission and distribution will bring further accountability and oversight on the core mandate of this

 

institution. This process will be finalised by this March 2020.

 

 

While government recognises the need to have a fundamental solution to Eskom’s debt burden and still considering such options, Eskom has to demonstrate considerable cost saving and revenue improvement in order to improve its financial position. The board has agreed and undertaken to reduce the cost base by R77 billion over the three-year period. While there is still a long way to go in so far as payments are concerned, Eskom’s revenue collection strategy has seen a lot of aggression and in some parts, including Soweto, we have seen an uptake in those who are paying for services that they receive.

 

 

The Eskom recovery plan is being mutually agreed upon with the department and the entity, being the board, and incorporated in the Eskom’s corporate plan, the shareholders’ compact. This programme has commenced, together with a power station by power station, and unit by unit examination to systematically isolate and fix the problems where they originate. Government has recognised that the evolving electricity landscape which much smaller scale power generation technologies creates an

 

opportunity for the private sector to invest in the space, and has been shown in the renewable power purchase program.

 

 

The hon Minister who spoke here, the Minister of Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, has spoken at length on the completion and the steps to ensure the inclusion such a smaller generation capacity to augment the existing capacity. That said of the speakers who spoke before me yesterday, including notably the hon interim Leader of the Opposition, hon Steenhuisen, was expressing disappointment that the President did not switch off life support to Eskom and shut it down. Suddenly, this would be the most irresponsible step to take and, of course, we can only conclude that this is an indication of just a member suffering from the sad palace politics with no consideration of the damage that this will bring to mainly the poor and the working class ... [Applause.]

... who at some point of their lives have never thought that they would ever see electricity in their homes. This is also driven predominantly by this simplistic, linear outlook that suggests that wherever there are problems you must just sell and cut off. [Applause.]

 

 

Regarding Transnet, the critical duty and responsibility when it comes to Transnet is to ensure that the fundamentals are

 

addressed going forward as to ensure that this becomes competitive in all sectors it operates. The time for complacence, ignorance and actions lacking concrete outcomes is no longer expected. The market demand strategy has led to Transnet registering significant successes, especially in respect to investment and ensuring security of supply for the key industrial supply chains. As well there are many opportunities that are still lost to the economic producers of our country and region because of the inefficiencies in the logistics system. Notwithstanding the challenges still faced, the company has embarked on an institutional reform and modernisation that has seen, among others, the greater customer-centricity; improved operational efficiency and effectiveness; and enabling access to the network infrastructure.

 

 

In respect of our airlines, significant challenges we have also experience there and proceeding forward. The business rescue process will allow the airline to continue operating, keeping the aircraft and passengers flying. It also protects the jobs that are likely to be lost as far as it is possible. These priorities which will be considered as part of the business will be accelerating cost cutting, restoring confidence in the airline as well as meeting all the

 

obligations to creditors. This is done because that airline is critical in ensuring regional connectivity and all that will help our economy.

 

 

Hon Speaker, as I conclude, as part of the debate, there had been some relapses, De Klerk like, you may say, where there are suggestions that the transformation agenda under where we receive so much attack particularly again from the left, particularly the opposition – the attack on black economic empowerment, the attack on affirmative action and all those who find fault with that are content in retaining the status quo that would come out of all... [Applause.]

 

 

The last thing to say, there has been Mr President ... Thank you very much. [Applause.] [Time expired.]

 

 

Mr D J MAYNIER: Speaker, let me begin by saying that it is a huge privilege to have been beamed up from the province to be among old friends and to participate in the state of the nation debate in this Parliament. [Applause.]

 

 

But let me also say that it has been distressing to watch the debate, for the first time, from the outside of this Parliament. What on earth must people think when they see the

 

disgraceful behaviour of some members of this Parliament? What seems to have been forgotten is that what really matters is people; people who do not have jobs, people who have been victims of crime, people who do not have homes and people who are simply battling to make ends meet.

 

 

I am sure that millions of people out there watching the debate on television or listening to the debate on the radio join me in wondering what the hell is going on in this Parliament. [Applause.]

 

 

Speaker, Premier Alan Winde and the provincial cabinet have hit the ground running and are focused on actually getting things done and giving people hope in the Western Cape.

 

 

We have developed a bold Western Cape safety plan which is informed by evidence, implemented by using the latest technology and aims to boost law enforcement capacity on the ground in the Western Cape. [Applause.]

 

 

We are partnering with the City of Cape Town and we have committed R1,3 billion to train and deploy 1000 law enforcement officers, providing us with more boots on the

 

ground to fight crime, especially violent crime in the Western Cape.

 

 

The first 500 law enforcement officers have already graduated and are on the ground in crime hotspots across Western Cape.

 

 

The SPEAKER: Hon Maynier, please take your seat. What is the point of order you are standing on?

 

 

Dr M Q NDLOZI: The point of order is, are we in an action here, hon member? [Laughter.]

 

 

The SPEAKER: That is not a point of order.

 

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Point of order, Speaker.

 

 

The SPEAKER: Hon Mazzone? Order, members! Order! Order! Ma’am?

 

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Madam Speaker, I rise on point 14(s). The strangest thing is that when hon Ndlozi rose on a point of order I turned around and I saw nothing, and then I looked down! [Laughter.]

 

The SPEAKER: That is also not a point of order. Hon Maynier, please continue.

 

 

Mr D J MAYNIER: Speaker, the hon Ndlozi rather makes my point. Now, as I was saying, we are working hard to support business by creating an enabling environment for the private sector to drive economic growth and create jobs in the Western Cape.

 

 

We have established a war room which in its pilot phase has already achieved a number of quick wins unblocking obstacles to economic growth in the Western Cape.

 

 

We have also established a task team comprising of all stakeholders, government, state owned enterprises and the private sector to work on eliminating congestion at the container terminal at the Port of Cape Town.

 

 

We have launched an investment promotion campaign focusing on key sectors, targeting key international markets, and aimed at lead generation, showcasing the fact that we are open for business in the Western Cape. [Applause.]

 

 

Through the continued success of Cape Town Air Access we have landed the first direct New York to Cape Town flight with

 

United Airlines and we are reopening the Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Cape Town, which is a huge boost to tourism in the Western Cape.

 

 

The fact is that we have the lowest unemployment rate and one of the highest labour at participation rates in South Africa because we are focused on actually getting things done and giving people hope in the Western Cape.

 

 

Mr President, we were delighted to hear that you will be undertaking a fundamental overhaul of the Durban Port; that you will be modernising the central railway line in Cape Town and that you will be launching a new initiative for the youth.

 

 

We would like to work together to extend the work being done on the Durban Port to the Port of Cape Town which also needs a fundamental overhaul to modernise the central railway line in Cape Town so that it safe, reliable and affordable, and to roll out the youth intervention to give hope to young people who do not have jobs in the Western Cape.

 

 

Mr President, we are also delighted to hear that you will be implementing measures to rapidly and significantly increase generation capacity to help fix our energy crisis and that

 

municipalities will be able to procure electricity directly from independent power producers.

 

 

We have done more than any other province to fight for and to prepare for a different energy future in the Western Cape. [Applause.] We are committed to being part of the solution but we need to move now so that we can publish the section 34 ministerial determinations, give clarity on Round 5 bid window and give us clarity on whether municipalities can procure from the independent power producers for resale onto the grid.

 

 

We cannot afford to wait any longer, and we cannot afford any further go-slows from the Minister. And so Mr President, I would urge you to face the fact that if you want to keep the lights on in this country then you will have to switch the Minister of Mineral resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, off! [Applause.]

 

 

Mr President, over the past few weeks I have visited many businesses and they tell a story of tough conditions, but they also tell a story of new products, new markets, innovation and resilience, which is a credit to business in the Western Cape.

 

We want to focus on what we have achieved and what we can still achieve, not just in the Western Cape but the whole of South Africa. I thank you. [Applause.]

 

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Speaker, hon President and Deputy President, hon Chairperson of the NCOP, hon members, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Karl Raimund Popper states the following, and I quote:

 

 

If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed with them.

 

 

Last week, in this House, we have seen bully techniques of argumentation being disguised as freedom of speech. We have seen lawlessness and intolerance, camouflaging as part of our democratic discourse. If this House collective continues to allow for the abandonment of ethical norms of democratic discourse, then we are all complicit to the formation of a new norm called chaos and ill-intentioned anarchy.

 

 

Yesterday, we saw the issue of gender-based violence being used for political point scoring. Every day, women and

 

children in this country, face the heavy onslaught of violence and femicide. This is not a matter that can be reduced to politicking for populist controversy. We need to apologise to everyone, particularly the survivors of gender-based violence and their families for what transpired here yesterday. [Applause.]

 

 

We need to make an effort to jointly restore the decorum and dignity of this House, as well as the tenets of ethical parliamentary debate. This is a call to all of us, to once again acquaint ourselves with the core pillars contained in our oath of office, which should ultimately guide our conduct in the House.

 

 

Let me at the onset also emphasise the importance of the state of the nation address. It is both a symbol of hope and executive accountability to our people. I therefore commend you, hon President, on delivering a clear and concise response to the national interest.

 

 

I also want to congratulate our hon President on his appointment as Chairman of the African Union. We have no doubt that, through your leadership at the African Union, South Africa’s focus on the women’s development agenda will also

 

impact the entire continent, as was already committed by you in that capacity. [Applause.]

 

 

As the global community marks the 25th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the Adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and five years of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its sustainable development goals, we stand poised to advance the achievement of measurable progress towards this universal commitment to all women and girls in our country.

 

 

The year 2019 also marked a critical milestone year, as we observed 25 years since the adoption of the 1994 Women’s Charter for effective equality. Parliament is currently rolling out its Women’s Charter review sessions across all nine provinces, taking cognisance of reviewing all the relevant legislation that have been enacted to improve women’s quality of life since 1994.

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

Dit is ’n feit dat ons baie groot vordering gemaak het om te verseker dat die regte van vroue in Suid-Afrika bevorder word, en dat ten spyte van verskeie uitdagings, die terrein van ons stryd grootliks verander het.

 

Vandag word ons egter steeds in die gesig gestaar deur wat ek self noem, ’n lae intensiteitoorlog, want ons veilige gebiede het vir ons ’n terrein van stryd geword, waar ons nie veilig voel of is nie. Ongelukkig is daar diegene wat ons menseregte vir vroue en kinders vertrap en wat hierdie geweld in ons huise, ons woonbuurte, werkplekke, skole, kolleges en universiteite pleeg.

 

 

Dit is ons seuns, vaders, ons bure. Dit beteken dat ons nêrens veilig is nie. Ons kan nêrens veilig voel nie. Die persoon wat vir Tazne van Wyk in Elsiesrivier ontvoer het is bekend aan haar familie. Dit is maar slegs een voorbeeld van hoe ons gebiede nie meer veilig is vir ons as inwoners van hierdie gebiede nie. [Applous.]

 

 

Die vlak van geweld en die wreedheid van die oortredings is baie duidelik daarop gemik dat vroue en ons dogters in vrees moet lewe en dat hulle hulself moet onderwerp aan die gesag van diegene wat glo dat manlikheid beteken dat jy oor andere moet heers. [Applous.]

 

 

Negatiewe tendense brei uit, kulturele en ander neigings in gemeenskappe word as verskonings gebruik om andere te onderdruk. Die houding van gemeenskappe om slagoffers te

 

stigmatiseer dra ook by tot die negatiewe kultuur waar verkragting en seksuele misdade teen vroue dikwels voor die deur van die slagoffers gelê word, asof enige persoon ooit sal vra om verkrag te word.

 

 

Oor die afgelope paar maande het ons definitiewe aksies vanuit gemeenskappe gesien waar gedrag soos geweld teen vroue, kinders en weerlose groepe veroordeel word, maar ons almal stem saam dat meer gedoen kan word. Dit kan slegs deur gesamentlike aksie gedoen word. [Applous.]

 

 

English:

 

Let me quote from a speech by the then Acting Head of the UN Women in 2013 on Violence against Women and Children, and I quote:

 

 

Violence against women and children is the most pervasive violation of human rights in the world, one of the least prosecuted crimes and one of the greatest threats to lasting peace and development.

 

 

Furthermore, we want to emphasise that we have started to ask victims to break the silence. The silence has been broken, but

 

we need stronger and co-ordinated action. That is very important.

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

As vroue en openbare verteenwoordigers wat onsself bemoei met die bemagtiging en ontwikkeling van vroue is dit verblydend om te weet dat, volgens die President, daar groter koördinering in die departmente sal plaasvind, met betrekking tot die aanwend van begrotings en programme wat daarop gemik is om geweld teen vroue en kinders aan te spreek.

 

 

Dit is nie net vir ons belangrik dat daar wetgewing moet bestaan nie, maar die toepassing van hierdie wetgewing is belangrik. Ditis belangrik dat almal in die kriminele geregtigheidsektor baie duidelik hul rolle moet verstaan.

 

 

Polisie, justisie, sowel as ander wetstoepassingsagentskappe moet verseker dat geen slagoffer van geweld of moord gefaal word deur die stelsel nie.

 

 

Geen hof moet enige geweldsaak behandel asof dit minder belangrik is nie want vandag se klap is more se moord.            Geen oortreder moet soos ‘n slagoffer behandel word nie, want dit maak die lewens van ons vroue en kinders goedkoop. Ons doen ‘n

 

verdere beroep op die justisie en howe om te verseker dat geen saak langer as 12 maande in die hofrolle sit, maar dat spoedige konklusie van geweldsake bewerkstellig word.

 

 

Ons verwelkom die aankondiging deur die president vir die daarstelling van ‘n akedemie vir die opleiding van misdaadondersoekers in Hammanskraal. Dit sal definitief ons stryd versterk teen geslagsgeweld.

 

 

English:

 

We must employ all available resources, to root out all forms of violence against women and femicide. The women of our nation are under siege. This requires not only the allocation of the required resources. It further requires a paradigm shift in our societal psyche, to restore the safety and the dignity of the women in our country.

 

 

Regarding rapid access to rape kits and health care services, we want all state agencies and departments to ensure that survivors of gender based violence have rapid access to rape kits at the first point of reporting and access to health care services in a caring environment.

 

With regard to shelters for abused women, it is imperative that shelters for abused women be available in areas where they are needed the most across the country. Such facilities must also be located in close proximity to sexual offence courts, in order to ensure that cases are speedily concluded. One such example is the Thuthuzela Centre (In Wynberg, which is closely linked to the Sexual Offence Court in Manenberg). Conviction rates of 95% are achieved, as against an average of 63% at other Sexual Offence Courts and 7 % in the general courts.

 

 

Furthermore, shelters for victims of gender-based violence must be conducive to respond to the mental state of the survivor.

 

 

The re-introduction of Sexual Offences Courts is indeed a very positive development and we hope that these can be expanded, particularly in areas where violence against women and children is rife.

 

 

Regarding access to justice and Prosecution of the perpetrator, we also call on the judiciary to send a clear message to perpetrators, that violence against women and the killing of women will no longer be tolerated in our country.

 

We further call on the judiciary to ensure that cases of GBV and femicide are speedily concluded.

 

 

Regarding human rights, we need a caring government and a caring environment that will ensure that victims of GBV are not treated with suspicion, through secondary victimization by the courts, by the police and society at large; and that the human rights of Victims of GBV will be protected as a means to uphold the rule of law.

 

 

With regard to the prevention of violence and violent situations, we call for a multi sectoral approach to prevent and combat violence and violent situations.

 

 

Regarding the provision of Services to Survivors, we also call for the provision of victim support services, for survivors of GBV, in order to afford them the ability to rebuild their lives.

 

 

Regarding the Prevention and Combatting of Trafficking in Persons - National Policy Framework, we commend the Department of Justice for launching the Prevention and Combatting of Trafficking in Persons - National policy framework. This framework will assist to establish an adequate legal and

 

regulatory framework, to protect victims and to counter human trafficking and to ensure that victims have access to comprehensive assistance programmes.

 

 

With regard to the national Policy on Gender Equality, we are calling for the formulation of a national policy on gender equality in the education curriculum, in order to curb reactive responses to gender related issues in education.

 

 

By inculcating a culture of gender equality amongst our children at a young age, we will indeed build a socially cohesive society, where women’s rights are accepted as the norm and not the exception.

 

 

Industrial Development Corporation: SheTradesZA Platform

 

In recognizing that GBV and femicide is a multifaceted social ill, it is imperative that we not only address the symptoms of this phenomenon. We must address the root causes of this phenomenon, so as to ensure that we change the material conditions that currently confine women to conditions of abuse.

 

Furthermore, it has also been established, that informed, empowered and educated women are more likely to walk out of abusive situations.

 

 

We therefore want to commend you Mr. President, for initiating the SheTradesZA initiative, which will serve as a conduit to bring women into the mainstream economy. The Budget of R10bn, which will be channeled through the Industrial Development Corporation, will indeed go a long way in giving women real business opportunities.

 

 

 

The SADC PF Model Law on GBV and Femicide, is also a notable initiative that seeks to address, through uniform legislation across the SADC region, all matters that relate to GBV and Femicide. As legislators, we must seek to achieve a wider reach across the continent, in terms of advancing women’s rights and the women’s development agenda.

 

 

Parliamentary Committees

 

As parliament we have formerly concluded that we need to build specific oversight periods on GBV and Femicide into the parliamentary schedule. It will enable us to track

 

resolutions and commitments made, whilst also assessing how allocated budges are being spent by provinces.

 

 

Parliamentary committees must therefore institutionalize oversight, in a manner that is targeted at ensuring that undertakings made by the executive, to address matters of GBV and Femicide, are implemented accordingly.

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

Mr B B NODADA: Somlomo ohloniphekileyo, Malungu ePalamente ahloniphekileyo, bantu baseMzantsi Afrika ndiyanibulisa ngale njikalanga, ndisithi molweni.

 

 

English:

 

Mr President, I stand here today having travelled across the country and interacted with the realities of our students and management at, at least 16 Tvet and university campuses. I do so in order to grasp the real issues on the ground rather than listening to glossy presentations in air conditioned boardrooms.

 

 

Growing up in the rural villages of Tsolo, I managed to acquire a better education and escaped poverty only through the charity of scholarships, which allowed me to access one of

 

the best educational institutes. I, however, remain an outlier of success to the many I completed Grade 1 with, in Inxu Junior Secondary School, at Mahlubini kuTsolo. That is the only reason why I am able to stand on this very podium today.

 

 

We know all too well from history that a government controls and keeps its people in the shackles of poverty by giving them a poor quality education which entrenches dependency. [Applause.] This is why over 10,4 million South Africans are unemployed of which 58% are young people and many qualified graduates remain unemployable due to being subjected to poor quality education.

 

 

I stand here today on behalf of the millions of young South Africans who were not as lucky as I was and have been left behind by your government Mr President, who watched with hope of finding answers of many of their challenges through your state of the nation address speech, but there were none. I stand here on behalf of Mr Shedzi an engineering lecturer from Nkangala Tvet College in Mpumalanga forced to accept learners produced by our broken basic education system, into a National Certificate Vocational, NCV course with no prospects of succeeding.

 

On behalf of Ms Hendricks at False Bay Tvet College transferring skills to students through an outdated National Accredited Technical Education Diploma, Nated Curriculum of the 1970s and enrolling some in over saturated courses that are not relevant for industry, the job market or entrepreneurship is daunting.

 

 

Thousands of tvet college students whom receive below average allowances compared to university students but they are accommodated in the same space, they commute on the same transport and buy food at the same retailers. I stand on behalf of the 192 000 students unable to register due to historic debts that could permanently put their future on a halt. Contributing to this whole mess is a corrupt Nsfas that has completely failed at managing poor students’ funds. As we speak 126 Northern Cape Rural Tvet students that I met were still waiting for 2018 allowances.

 

 

At the Walter Sisulu University, students and in similar institutions with unmaintained residences buildings are falling apart, highly unhygienic facilities and no access to reliable Wifi. But we want to talk Fourth Industrial Revolution.

 

Precious Ramabulane, a former Capricorn Tvet College student in Limpopo whom was raped and stabbed 52 times at an unsafe off-campus accommodation and many other victims of violence on and off our campuses. I still can’t explain the feeling when I visited the house that she stayed in before she was brutally murdered. I stand here on behalf of the 134 000 unemployed graduates sitting at home because the Department of Higher Education and Training and Setas have failed to produce their certificates some dating back to 2008.

 

 

Madam Speaker, Mr President these are some of the key issues putting the future of our brothers and sisters on hold. If you do not act now Sir, we will continue to produce graduates with outdated skills, through over saturated courses unable to compete in the job market nor can solve our problems and become entrepreneurs. You will continue to leave thousands in debt, with no skills to show for it, let alone a certificate or academic record in hand.

 

 

I, however, stand here bearing solutions not just to tell you about the problems. Here are some of the immediate steps you were supposed to mention in your state of the nation address speech in line with the DA’s Higher Education Policy. You should be angry if students are being treated this way. The

 

Ministry must review the outdated curriculum and ensure that there is permanent engagement with industry, business and academics to make sure that our curriculum is relevant for the 21st Century and future world of work. Completely overhaul National Student Financial Aid Scheme, Nsfas, re-imagine how it operates, and procure qualified ICT infrastructure for timeous distribution of allowances and jail all corrupt officials that are stealing from poor students. [Applause.]

 

 

Mr President, make an honest commitment towards freeing students from historic debt for both universities and tvet colleges including the missing middle. While we welcome the announcement of the R64 billion in student accommodation, tells us your plan on how and when. When your government wants to take away R750 million from the current infrastructure grant to maintain existing buildings for tvet students and historical disadvantaged institutions. Trim the fat; cut corruption and allocate more money to maintain existing buildings. [Applause.]

 

 

Mr President, working together with the SA Police Service, SAPS as well as the Department of Social Development and Higher Education we must put together a safety plan to earn the debt of students and scourge of gender-based violence.

 

The State Information Technology Agency, Sita must urgently work with Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR, Depart of Higher Education and Training and Umalusi to develop a seamless ICT process in producing certificates in real-time.

 

 

In conclusion, young people are impatient with slogans that keep changing with no proper plan of action or timelines.

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

Kudala uthunyiwe Mongameli, musa ukusibalisela ngokukhawuleza, khawude wenze ngoku. [Welewele.]

 

 

English:

 

I urge you Mr President, to stop the dreaming, and act on these now and not in 2030. I thank you so much. [Applause.]

 

 

The MINISTER OF TOURISM: Madam Speaker, the President of the Republic of South Africa, the Deputy president of the Republic, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, hon members, ladies and gentlemen.

 

 

Hon Nodada, you sing here a product of student funding from a shack who had no hope. That’s why today I believe in the ANC

 

because it took me from nowhere; as a child of domestic worker who was staying in a shack, funded through tertiary education and today I have a future. [Applause.] And there are many who are like me that can narrate the story.

 

 

Sepedi:

 

Maloko ao a hlomphegago, Sepedi se re, “Šago la moeng le bewa ke mong gae”

 

 

English:

 

Simply put, a visitor is welcomed by the owner of the house.

 

 

Sepedi:

 

Ke rata gore ge ke bolela bjalo ke gopotše setšhaba sa gaborena gore ga baeng ba fihlile mo gae re ba hlompheng, re ba thušeng, gape re ba hlokomele, re kgone le go gonthišiša gore ba kgone go boela magaeng a gabobona ka tšhireletšo. Ka gobane ge re hlasela baeng ba rena, re dira gore ba se ke ba hlwela ba boa gape, gomme ba bone lefase la gaborena e se lefase la go tsebalega. Ke ka moo ke ratago go kgopela gore ge re le beng ba motse re kgonthišiše gore baeng ba rena ge ba tlile mo gae re a ba hlokomela.

 

 

English:

 

It is in this context that we say tourism is for everybody’s business. As a labour-intensive sector, tourism has the potential not only to create jobs, but also to stimulate entrepreneurship, gender equality and the upskilling of South Africa’s youth. It is time for all of us to embrace this growing sector. Tourism is everybody’s business. And hon Maynier, it is honourable to acknowledge the work done by South African tourism in ensuring that the air traffic and air access in Cape Town increase; including the flight that you are reflecting upon. [Interjections.]

 

 

In the tourism sector we have some of the best transformative tools to work towards an inclusive growing economy. In this context and connection, the Department of Tourism has established a number of programmes aimed at transforming the Tourism sector. Notably, the Working for Tourism programme that facilitates the development of tourism infrastructure projects under the Expanded Public Works Programme, EPWP, employing youth, women and disabled people is one of our flagship projects.

 

 

Mr President, we have Nehakwe Lodge, a four-star accommodation located in Ga-Mamaila, Limpopo, owned by the local community of the Mamaila Kolobetona Traditional Authority; it was built

 

by the Department of Tourism under the working for tourism programme. The lodge was built to provide the local community with a hub to trigger a tourism economy in the area to stimulate job creation and entrepreneurial skills.

 

 

During construction phase, Mr President, 112 beneficiaries were employed and it is currently in operation with 26 people employed permanently. [Applause.] Linked to this, most of the furniture and the décor items used at the lodge were procured from the local villages. The lodge has also created an opportunity for local men and women to sell their artwork and other crafts to local and international tourists who visit the lodge. This is just one example which demonstrates that tourism is everyone’s business including those in rural communities. [Applause.]

 

 

A few days ago I had an opportunity to have a conversation with a group of black women who are doing business in the wine industry. These women, who have been in the industry for 15 years, described to me the challenges of operating in a male- dominated industry. Central to their challenges growing their business and lack of access to the market and the land. I had to share with hon Didiza who saw ... because some of them were beneficiaries of government programme of land and today they

 

are successful in business; and she has committed that those will have to work together to bring them.

 

 

But the issue here, Mr President, is that some of them have been told to change the names of their brands because an African name is not suitable for the market. This is one of the things that we are going to deal with, decisively as we engage with the sector. We have to make it everybody’s business, including those women who are producing wine in the Western Cape.

 

 

Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises, SMMEs, in the tourism industry are not spared from this challenged. For this reason, Mr President and hon members, we have established Major Market Access Support Programmes that are aimed to ensuring that SMMEs have access to markets especially when we travel abroad, we are able to take them along and make sure that they are able to exhibit their products and have access, supported by government by paying for their flights. And also making sure that they are able to sell to the right market by us assisting them in those markets. This in a way to show that when we give support to SMMEs we truly mean it, in a meaningful way where they can stand and be able to succeed.

 

Hon members, access to finance for black businesses remains a huge challenge for us. In response, we have, as the Department of Tourism, established the Tourism Transformation Fund, TTF, in partnership with the National Empowerment Fund, NEF, which is a combination of debt finance of 60% loan and grant funding of 40% for a new and expansion tourism development project with majority black shareholding; and the fund is capped at

R5 million. This is to ensure that those who are able to loan for their expansion do not have the burden of repayment but we can reduce it so that they can survive. [Applause.]

 

 

However, again, we have realised that for us to effect meaningful transformation in the tourism sector and ensure that those from previously disadvantaged communities can agree with us when we say tourism is everybody’s business we need to increase the funding quantum. As announced by the President in his state of the nation address, the Department of Tourism will launch the Tourism Equity Fund, which will be in the first quarter of the 2020-21 financial year. [Applause.]

 

 

The mechanism will be piloted in collaboration with the Industrial Development Corporation, IDC, aligned to the existing Black Industrialist Scheme of the department. The fund will take the form of an equity fund that offers a

 

combination of debt finance and grant funding for large capital investment projects in the tourism sector. The details will be announced during the launch.

 

 

I need to highlight that in recognition of the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in the tourism sector, the department launched Women in Tourism, WiT, programme to ensure that women in the sector are respected, recognized, represented and rewarded. The tourism industry has 70% women participation; however, when you look at it and analyse it, you find out they hold only 40% of the managerial positions and less than 20% of general management roles, and between 5% and 8% of board positions.

 

 

To address this challenge, the Department of Tourism took a decision to try and close this gap identified and started together with one of the Higher Education Institutions we established an Executive Development Programme that we put them through. As we speak, 50 women have graduated from the programme thus far and almost all of them have been promoted to senior positions. [Applause.] Now, we are not talking about theories, we are talking about practical things. Out of these women I want to highlight Nokukhanya Sibisi, who before going through the programme was an assistant front office manager at

 

Hilton hotel here in Cape Town. I am delighted Mr President to announce that she has now been promoted to a position of a Guest Relation Manager for Hilton Worldwide Luxury Brand based in Dubai. [Applause.] This is out of the product, out of us making sure that we develop them so that they can be sustained.

 

 

I am certain that, hon members, you are aware that as we talk and say tourism is everybody’s business, there’s quite a lot that we are doing in terms of youth development, supporting young people to become chefs, supporting young people in programme of tourism safety, supporting young people in hospitality, and majority of them, we’ve seen them being absorbed in market places and being able to find a meaningful role. We will continue to do so as we respond to the call by the President to ensure that young people are actively involved either through training or employment or entrepreneurial skills.

 

 

I need to say as I conclude I urge you hon members that as I’m here I would not have done my job if I do not urge you to say: during your recess please make sure that you get to know your country and visit some of these communities. Make sure that you explore the country and not only go home and stay. We say

 

#wedotourism. And I hope hon members will take this appeal and this poll to visit many parts of this country as we say: we are reintroducing South Africans to South Africa, Mr President, because we have learned that many of us, there are many parts of this country that we have not learned. It is indeed everybody’s business to promote and protect the country’s brand by ensuring we don’t talk down our country as it does serious damage to the brand.

 

 

Hon members, especially those of us who are opposition, we might differ but we must remain patriotic because the gets damaged, your headlines are making international headlines and it is [Applause.] difficult for us to rework on the brand and protect the integrity of the country if you talk down the country. It is everybody’s business to grow the economy of this country; and therefore, everybody’s business to enjoy and make sure that we do visit our country.

 

 

Hon Gumbi, you did confirm to us that privatization ... this is what you want as DA but I want to say one health system for every South Africa it’s what we need. [Applause.]

 

 

The SPEAKER: Hon members, order! Hon members, earlier today the Minister of Health, the hon Z Mkhize, rose on a point of

 

order and alleged that the hon S Gwarube has made disparaging allegations against him.

 

 

The hon Gwarube [Interjections.] I was waiting for some silence [Laughter.] I’m making a ruling. I am making a ruling.

 

 

The hon Gwarube said:

 

 

The NHI is a poor and unaffordable funding model that will empower the politically connected, as we saw with the dubious appointment made by the Health Minister in his office.

 

 

In terms of the rules, members have freedom of speech in the House. But this is subject to the limitations imposed by the rules and precedents established by this House.

 

 

The statement is casting aspersions on the integrity and honour of the Minister; in that it alleges that he made a questionable appointment. Such allegations may only be brought by a way of a substantive motion.

 

 

The hon member, Gwarube, please withdraw. [Interjections.]

 

No, hon members, wait.

 

 

Hon Gwarube, you are on the floor.

 

 

Ms S GWARUBE: I would like to withdraw the comment, Speaker.

 

 

The SPEAKER: Thank you very much.

 

 

Hon members, the business will now be suspended for 15 minutes [Interjections.]

 

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Speaker, thank you very much for the ruling but may I please ask that the ruling be referred to the Rules Committee for further investigations. [Interjections.]

 

 

The SPEAKER: Hon members, I have just ruled on this matter. I am taking no further ... the members can refer it to the rules but I have ruled just now.

 

 

Can I please proceed? The business will now be suspended for

 

15 minutes for a comfort break. The bells will be rung for members to return to business. Thank you.

 

BUSINESS SUSPENDED-COMFORT BREAK

 

 

The MINISTER OF POLICE: The hon Chairperson, His Excellency the President of the Republic of South Africa, the Deputy, my colleagues, Ministers and Deputy Ministers and all hon members, 30 years down the history Madiba left the prison and mades some few calls. One call that he made was the safety of women and children and the progress and better life for all.

 

 

Tata Madiba also spoke of economic growth and I wish to reaffirm that our President Cyril Ramaphosa also highlighted in his state of the nation address a week ago that there is an urgent need for the stable and crime free environment that would attract investment and enable the growth.

 

 

Bringing into the present, President Ramaphosa reiterated to the Parliament the undisputed collaborative efforts by all sectors of society to end the crisis of violence perpetrated against women and children that has recently skyrocketed to alarming proportions. I will come back to this point.

 

 

As the Department of Police, 312 of our 4 971 new police constables have been sent to train for basic understanding of the gender-based violence. Also, as a SA Police, we are

 

creating the special force and special unit to deal with the economic criminality like the people that abuse the proper policies like the Tactical Response Unit, TRU, to go there and hijack the work that is supposed to be done by the companies and demanding the so-called 30% without doing the work. Now we are ready to respond. [Applause.] We are ready to respond. The unit has been created that is led by the SA Police working together with the prosecution to make sure that criminality and thuggery comes to an end and decisively so.

 

 

Those people who are thugs and they deal with the mines go there and call themselves Zamazama or whatever they call themselves. We are dealing with them. The unit has been created. At the present we are working hard at Kroonstad and we are pushing them back and make sure that they don’t do things that they are not supposed to do.

 

 

Unfortunately, there is a criminality that is run by what is supposed to be foreign nationals on that. People that have been killed in Roodepoort, eight of them were all foreign nationals; all killed by foreign nationals. They come from where they come from to kill one another here and make sure that the economy of South Africa is not continuing, is not

 

progressing because they themselves are doing things that they are not supposed to do.

 

 

Again on that matter, Mr President, we are working hard with the Home Affairs. We will also be working hard with International Affairs because we do have a problem with undocumented foreign nationals that commit serious crimes. Two weeks ago, we have buried two SA Police Service members killed by undocumented foreign nationals; one in Free State and another one in Diepsloot. So this is the issue that we all want to pull our hands together and work on it very closely.

 

 

I said I would like to come back to the point that the President has raised of working together and collaborating. I listened carefully yesterday when the Leader of the Opposition or interim Leader of the Opposition was speaking, Mr Steenhuisen. He spoke about him wanting the police to be brought at the provincial level. [Interjections.] That’s why if I were at school and I was debating at matric, I would have said I was flabbergasted ...[Laughter.] ... to hear him saying so.

 

 

An amount of R5 billion of this city has not been utilised. Mr President, most of the crimes comes from what we call

 

environmental design. That’s why there are more deaths in this province because the environmental design here is terrible.

 

 

Let me tell you, if you go to Bishopscourt, if you go to Hout Bay, you will pick up no dead bodies. You only pick up dead bodies when you go to Marikana because it’s dark, you can’t see far beyond your hand. It’s dark and there is no electricity, no houses, not only that, this afternoon Mr President, the city was called to come and account about this R5 billion. They refused to see the high officials of the Auditor-General. They come here and they say they obey the law. They come here and say they respect the law. They can’t even respect the Auditor-General to account on R5 billion that they have not used that could have helped us to fight the crimes.

 

 

But nonetheless, I am glad that you have an interim leader. I hope he don’t become permanent because you are a disaster and there will be a lot of disaster happening.

 

 

Let me just tell you one thing, your premier in this province

 

...

 

 

The LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION: House Chairperson?

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: On what point are you rising, hon member?

 

 

The LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION: Is 14 G of the Rules and I would please ask that you request the Minister of Police to kindly repeat that endorsement so that the rest of South Africa can hear it. It’s a best endorsement I have ever received in my campaign. Thank you very much. [Applause.]

 

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: That is not a point of order. Please proceed, Minister.

 

 

Dr M Q NDLOZI: Chairperson, is there no longer Whippery in the DA? As the Whip, I looked there and I see nothing, you see.

 

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Minister, please proceed.

 

 

The MINISTER OF POLICE: Mr Chairperson, I just want to update the interim leader. Yesterday I met the premier of this province who understands matters much better than you. [Interjections.] He does. One thing that we met on, you called that there should be police in this province. Let me tell you, there is a Constitution in this province. For now, that is the national competent. What has happened here ...

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: For a second, Minister. Yes, Mazzone.

 

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Point of order. Point of order. House Chairperson, point of order. House Chairperson, I rise on 14S. The hon member at the podium is speaking directly to the Leader of the Opposition. According to the Rules of the Joint Sitting, they have to speak through you. Well I understand that Mr Cele is having a moment and might need it Urbanol, and if he could please just talk through you to our members that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Maybe I should just make general statement members that you should as far as possible avoid having a dialogue in the House. Please proceed, Minister.

 

 

The MINISTER OF POLICE: We met the premier who understands matters much better than the interim national leader. Why did we meet the premier? Last early January, the SA Police Service member was shot and killed in this province by the so called law enforcer. When we look at it, those structures that they boast about that they have better structures, they are outside the legislative framework. We are working on it, Mr President, to put them in law because, firstly, they are outside the

 

legislative. We are working with them to say there is something called law in this country, especially if you are going to create people that carry guns and all that, we must oversee them. Since 16 January, I have been calling for the competent certificate for these people. There are no certificates. They carry guns without certificates. It’s just a group of thugs that are there unaccountable. These are actually the people that we should be putting them in prison together with their leaders. They must respect. They must know that there is a law in this country. The DA does not respect. They don’t even know that there is an animal called the law, called the legislation. That’s what we were talking about with your premier. I am extending the invitation to you to sit down and ... so that people don’t understand him. Thank you very much. [Applause.]

 

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Point of order, Chairperson. House Chair, I rise on point 14 V of the Joint Rules and I wish to point out to the Minister of Police that we should not be sleeping easy at night when every three seconds a woman in this country is raped.

 

 

Mr J S MALEMA: Hon Chair?

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Yes, hon Malema.

 

 

IsiZulu:

 

Mnu J S MALEMA: Sihamba namaphoyisa. Phoyisa! Sihamba namaphoyisa. Bopha! Ndosi!

 

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Can we have order, hon members.

 

 

Dr L A SCHREIBER: Hon Chair, it is actually quite disgraceful to hear the Minister of Police attacking the DA-led Western Cape for trying to keep the people of this province safe when he has failed to do so!

 

 

What’s also very interesting is that the previous speaker attacks the DA-led Western Cape. Well, isn’t it interesting that the President of this country decided to move to the DA- led Cape Town because he was so impressed by the quality of its services that he built his multi-million rand mansion here! [Interjections.]

 

 

In fact, over the past few weeks, I have been encouraged to see the President promoting the DA’s long-held view of building a capable state. So inspired by our success in his new home town, the President started talking about the DA’s

 

capable state. However, he quickly realised that he could never actually build a capable state like we have because that would mean choosing the country over the corruption of his party.

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

Per slot van rekening beteken die bou van ’n bekwame staat juis dat korrupsie en kaderontplooiing uitgeroei moet word, en dat individuele landsburgers bemagtig moet word in plaas van ’n allesoorheersende staat.

 

 

Om te verwag dat die ANC dit sal doen, is soos om ’n jakkals aan te stel om ’n ogie te hou oor die hoenderhok!

 

 

Dit is die rede waarom ons sit met ’n President wat blykbaar glo dat bloot die uitspreek van die woorde “bekwame staat” sal maak dat die woorde outomaties waar is.

 

 

English:

 

This year’s state of the nation address was, in fact, a grotesque example of just how out of touch this President truly is.

 

On the day of SONA, Eskom desperately scrambled to keep the lights on at all costs to enable the annual presidential delusion about a capable state, smart cities and bullet trains. But as soon as the President was comfortably back at his generator-powered mansion, the rest of the country was immediately plunged right back into darkness.

 

 

If the hon President stepped out of his bubble for a moment, he would see an urgent message from the real world: the incapable ANC state is collapsing all around us.

 

 

So, beyond hollow rhetoric, what is the President actually doing about our collapsing state? Let’s see what kind of example he is setting.

 

 

Mr President, what have you done about your Water and Sanitation Minister who appointed the disgraced Menzi Simelani and Moe Shaik as special advisors? Their only experience with sanitation comes from when they flushed hundreds of millions of rands of taxpayers’ money down the toilet! [Applause.]

 

 

Mr President, when are you firing your Communications Minister for allegedly abusing taxpayer funds to pay for her wedding anniversary celebrations in New York and Geneva?

 

The MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS, WATER AND SANITATION:

 

Chair, point of order.

 

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Yes, what is the point of order?

 

 

The MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS, WATER AND SANITATION: The

 

point of order is that the member here is not telling the truth, and he knows that. He is picking up gossip and bringing it to this hallowed House without checking his facts. I would like you please to check what he has said against the truth and the record that exists. I would also like him afterwards to withdraw that. Thank you.

 

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Point of order, Chairperson.

 

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Yes?

 

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Chairperson, the hon Sisulu would do well to know that the hon Schreiber is referring to a letter signed by her very self. [Interjections.]

 

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Yes? On what point are you rising?

 

Mr B A RADEBE: Chairperson, the speaker on the podium has just said that the Minister of Communications has misused public funds by paying for her wedding in New York. This thing can only come through a substantive motion because the Minister is a member of this House. Thank you. [Interjections.]

 

 

Dr M Q NDLOZI: The wedding was not in New York!

 

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Can we ... Can we ... Can I ...

 

Can I just make this ... again ... [Interjections.] No, no. I have not pointed you out, hon member. Can I please ...

 

 

Dr M Q NDLOZI: The wedding was not in Switzerland; it was just in Geneva! Just in Geneva! Not Switzerland! Please! I think the record has to be clear.

 

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Can I ... Can I urge hon members to please refrain from standing up and speaking before being pointed out. Secondly, members of the House should know by now that if you want to raise an allegation ... that kind of ... whatever kind of allegation and so on ... [Inaudible.] ... must be made in the context of a substantive motion. Can I please ask members not to abuse the platform by raising a whole range of these issues because, really, it doesn’t help

 

the House. It just leaves a situation where there is confusion.

 

 

But, the matters raised by Minister Sisulu will be looked into, and we will come back to the House. Thank you very much. [Interjections.] Yes, hon member.

 

 

Mr B A RADEBE: Chairperson, the issue of a substantive motion when casting an aspersion on the integrity of a member must be withdrawn. It is a serious matter. [Interjections.]

 

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Chairperson ...

 

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: No, I have not allowed you to speak.

 

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: I’m asking you.

 

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Please sit.

 

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Chairperson, on a point of order.

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: I’ll note you. Okay, let’s hear your point of order.

 

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Chairperson, the fact that the hon member keeps standing up requesting my member to bring a substantive motion ... I would urge the hon member to go and watch an eNCA interview that was done this very afternoon in which the hon Minister herself told the country that, in fact, she was in Geneva and New York.

 

 

An HON MEMBER: Geneva is in Switzerland.

 

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: So, it’s not our fault that she didn’t understand that Geneva was in Switzerland. But, maybe the hon member will explain it to her.

 

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon members ...

 

 

Dr M Q NDLOZI: Point of order ...

 

 

THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Just one more time ...

 

 

Dr M Q NDLOZI: Point of order, Chairperson. We don’t watch eNCA. Nobody must be watching eNCA here. We don’t watch eNCA.

 

Don’t bring eNCA matters into this House. Please! We don’t watch eNCA here!

 

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Please sit down, hon Ndlozi.

 

 

The matter raised by Minister Sisulu will be looked into. We will come back to the House and give an indication of our own assessment of the situation. Hon member, please proceed.

 

 

Mr W M THRING: Point of order, Chair. [Interjections.] Chair, point of order ...

 

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Yes, at the back.

 

 

Mr W M THRING: Chair, I appeal to you to please be consistent. You are consistent when you ask every member of this House to first be recognised before they stand and speak.

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Before they stand and speak, yes

 

...

 

 

Mr W M THRING: So can we please be consistent, Chair, because then we will give you the respect that you deserve. Thank you.

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Thank you. Hon member, please proceed.

 

 

Dr L A SCHREIBER: Thank you, Chair. To continue this exercise, Mr President, what is a Hazenile lobbyist still doing in the Ministry of Energy? [Interjections.]

 

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon member, please. Just a minute

 

... Yes?

 

 

Ms J TSHABSALALA: My apologies, House Chair. I did raise my hand. [Interjections.] Oh sorry. National House Chairperson

... NCOP.

 

 

The point has been raised. The member on the podium referred to a member of this House as a Minister, and he continually said the Minister misused public funds. Now that is an allegation. And we know the Rules say we must bring a substantive motion to say that. So we are saying, on this one, before you proceed, he must withdraw, otherwise we won’t proceed. He must withdraw. [Interjections.] You can howl all you want, ntate, he must withdraw.

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Members, I have already indicated that the matter that has been raised by hon Sisulu will be looked into. [Interjections.] If ... but ... but ... but ...

Perhaps, what you should do, hon member ... please sit for a minute or so ... Let’s ... [Inaudible.] ... yes ... yes ...

 

 

An HON MEMBER: What is happening now?

 

 

Ms J TSHABALALA: Let me help you, Chair. The member spoke about hon Sisulu. We understand that ruling. You said you will come back to the House. There’s a second point he raised on the Minister of Communications ...

 

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Yes.

 

 

Ms J TSHABALALA: ... and that’s the one that we are saying he should withdraw because he mentioned her by name and he’s alleging. So he must bring a substantive motion, Chair.

 

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon member, can we please ask you to withdraw the remark.

 

Dr L A SCHREIBER: Chairperson, I’m not prepared to withdraw because these are allegations that are well ventilated in public. [Interjections.]

 

 

I would also point out that there was no retraction in the media of these allegations and that the hon Minister confirmed today that her husband travelled with her to Geneva and ... [Inaudible.] She confirmed it, Chair.

 

 

An HON MEMBER: On a point of order ...

 

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon member, I ask you one more time. Can you please withdraw the remark.

 

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Point of order.

 

 

Setswana:

 

LELOKO LE LE TLOTLEGANG: Moya fatshe!

 

 

English:

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon member, I’m asking you to please withdraw the remark ... [Interjections.]

 

 

An HON MEMBER: Which one?

 

An HON MEMBER: No!

 

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: On the Minister of Communication.

 

 

Dr L A SCHREIBER: Chairperson, these allegations are out in the public. The Minister confirmed today that she did in fact take her husband with her to New York and Geneva. I would also point out that my sentence reads, “The Minister allegedly abused taxpayer funds.” I am within my right of freedom of speech to say that, hon Chair. [Interjections.]

 

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon member, on what point are you rising?

 

 

The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Hon Chairperson

 

of the NCOP, you asked the member to withdraw. He said he is not going to withdraw. So, if he doesn’t want to withdraw, he must leave the House. [Interjections.] We cannot have members who disregard the Rules of this House. We cannot! He must bring a substantive motion.

 

 

Dr L A SCHREIBER: Chair, I withdraw. Thank you. Can we proceed, please?

 

Chairperson ...

 

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Okay. Thank you very much. [Interjections.]

 

 

Dr L A SCHREIBER: To continue ...

 

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: [Inaudible.] ... withdrawn.

 

 

Dr L A SCHREIBER: I have withdrawn.

 

 

Chairperson, I would also like to ask the President what the Hazenile lobbyist is still doing in the Ministry of Energy when he refuses to free citizens from the tyranny of Eskom.

 

 

Then I also want to ask the President whether he will be acting against the Deputy Minister in his own office who, today, told the Public Service Committee that prosecuting state capture criminals would be futile while the Zondo Commission is still sitting.

 

 

When the citizens of this country look around them, they see every single day that then hon President is nothing more than the incapable talking head of an incapable state.

 

Afrikaaans:

 

As die President werklik ’n duit omgegee het oor die bou van ’n bekwame staat soos in sy nuwe DA-beheerde tuisdorp, sou hy onmiddellik tot aksie oorgaan om ons staatsdiens te red van finale ineenstorting.

 

 

English:

 

Instead of insulting South Africans by accusing them of negativity, he would do his job and give them real reasons to have hope.

 

 

To prevent fiscal implosion, his government would grow a backbone and cut the public sector wage bill.

 

 

To save basic services like education, health and social protection, the state would hang “For Sale” signs on state- owned looting enterprises.

 

 

And, if there was any real interest in building a truly capable state, the government would support the DA’s Professional Public Service Bill to root out cadre deployment and ensure that public servants are appointed on the basis of skills and merit.

 

But the President and his incapable state do none of this, because it would require of them to choose country over party. [Interjections.]

 

 

But, there is at least a bit of good news hon President. The DA remains absolutely committed to bringing the same capable state that convinced you to move to Cape Town, to the rest of South Africa. [Applause.]

 

 

However, until that day comes – and with apologies to Shakespeare – the capable state “... struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by [a hollow man] full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” [Applause.]

 

 

Setswana:

 

MOTLATSATONA WA DIPALANGWA: Moporesidente wa Aforikaborwa, Motlatsamoporesidente, Modulasetulo wa NCOP, Matona le batlatsi ba bona, Maloko a Ntlo e e tlotlegang e, MaAforikaborwa otlhe, ke a le dumedisa.

 

 

English:

 

It is a new era and certainly the new era has begun. These were the concluding words of the President on his state of the

 

nation address, quoting the lyrics of a popular song of our national hero ubaba [Father.] Joseph Shabalala, who will be buried this coming Saturday.

 

 

The lyrics of this song are educating and reflecting an attitude of resolve and courage in the face of adversity.

 

 

Ntate [Father.] Shabalala continues to write in his lyrics and I quote:

 

 

We may face high mountains Must cross rough seas

We must take our place in history And live with dignity

 

 

Sesotho:

 

Ntate Mshengu Shabalala

 

 

English:

 

Alongside this icon in the art industry, is our great hero President Nelson Mandela, who celebrated on the 11th his 30 years of release from Pollsmoor prison, on his release he said the following and I quote:

 

I have cherished an ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities.

 

 

However let me repeat, “With equal opportunities.” Today our people face high mountains as it has been described by ntate [Father.] Shabalala, as they make effort to place their history as a free and prosperous people.

 

 

Today, the rising unemployment as seen in particular amongst the youth, women and people with disabilities, poverty and inequality has become one of these mountains that one day we shall overcome.

 

 

History has taught us so many things. It has taught us that there is no mountain impossible to climb.

 

 

The tribulation of our oppression, the dehumanisation of our people and the repression that sustained the oppressive system are a university of wisdom to many of us. We always go there and tap and remind ourselves of where we come from and where we intend to go.

 

Coining the Freedom Charter, the Ready to Govern document and the Reconstruction and Development Programme document that led to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and the National Development Plan, and I can quote many of the documents and the policies of the ANC that guide us to can be able to look into strategic issues and make sure that our tactical approaches are very correct.

 

 

As we place these documents in our hands; one which is the Reconstruction and Development Programme says and I quote:

 

 

No political democracy can survive and flourish if the masses of our people remain in poverty, without land, without tangible prospects for a better life.

 

 

This is what is said in the Reconstruction and Development Programme document. These documents are emphatic on integrated transport planning. They are emphatic on integrated development planning and of course, when we talk about these documents and as we execute our task we must always remember that integrated planning is at the centre.

 

 

In 1998, President Mandela talking to the municipalities he said and I quote:

 

South Africans have shown a tremendous capacity to join hands when facing difficulty. The apartheid system eventually fell because of the unity of those who were denied their rights, and because all sectors of our society recognises that they had more to gain working together than from fighting amongst each other.

 

 

Just yesterday,

 

 

Xitsonga:

 

... tolo kunene, Phuresidente a a ri karhi a burisana na van’wamabindzu ku kuma tindlela leti va nga tirhisanaka ha tona swin’we ku endlela leswaku mali yi tirhisiwa eka ku tumbuluxa switirhisiwankulu, tifeme, mati, gezi, swiporo, mapatu na swilo swo fambisa tinqingo. Leswi hinkwaswo i swilo leswi loko hi vulavula ...

 

 

Sepedi:

 

 ... re swanetše re re, “Tau tša hloka seboka di šitwa ke nare e hlotša.”

 

 

English:

 

This is what the President was doing yesterday. The infrastructure development is a key solution for us to

 

eradicate poverty, for us to can be able to develop skills and make sure that there is equality amongst the people of South Africa.

 

 

Chairperson, infrastructure development is thus not a nice to have, but it compels us because it provides the lifeblood of our social development and social emancipation goals.

 

 

In his state of the nation address, the President indicated that infrastructure development is at the centre and in particular looking at access roads that were quoted, we definitely will be working with the municipalities because at the centre of how we should be able to do things is the district development model that needs to be taken into consideration, as I have already spoken, to the issues of working together.

 

 

I want to also indicate that as the Department of Transport, we definitely will be closing the central line in the Western Cape and the Mabopane corridors so that they can be refurbished. The construction and ensuring that we protect the railway reserves and that there are cameras throughout, so that when you get mugged whilst you are in the train, you can be seen.

 

Let me indicate to Minister Cele that it is not only in the Police Service where the Western Cape is very keen to want to turn itself into the national government. Also with the trains, they want to run them and that is the national competency in our lifetime. That is what they are not going to see. [Interjections.]

 

 

As I conclude Mr President, let me indicate that the maritime sector infrastructure is been developed. We are making sure that we have greater bunkers. We will also make sure that we revitalise most of the seaports so that we are able to remove the congestions that are there. I also want to indicate that Operation Phakisa which actually is aiming at manufacturing ships and maintaining them is on track.

 

 

As I indicated, Mr President, we would like to work with all the other departments to make sure that as we deal with the challenges of infrastructure, we are united so that we can be able to maximise and make sure that we remove the slumps, we build new suburbs and make sure that there are roads, lighting, playing fields, hospitals and crèches at the centre, because this is what the Reconstruction and Development Programme demands of us.

 

Let me take this opportunity to thank the ANC for giving me this time to speak to South Africans. I thank you. [Applause.] [Time expired.]

 

 

Cllr T NKADIMENG: NCOP, Cllr Amos Masondo once a councillor always a councillor, your Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa, his Excellency Deputy President Dabede Mabuza, hon members and fellow South Africans, it is again my honour on behalf of the collective leadership of organised local government, the South Africa Local Government Association and the entire sphere of local government to contribute towards the debate of the state of the nation address as delivered by his Excellency President Ramaphosa which specific focus is on local government issues.

 

 

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa entrenches local government as a fully fetched flair f government in a system of cooperative governance which has three spheres which are distinctive yet interrelated and interdependent.

 

 

This constitutional architecture recognises the challenges facing us to redress poverty, inequality and underdevelopment and that it can only be addressed through concerted efforts by government in all spheres working together to ensure that our

 

actions in the provision of services and development of our communities are [Inaudible]

 

 

Ultimately, these three spheres must together provide effective, transparent, accountable and coherent government for the Republic of South Africa as a whole.

 

 

On 5 December this year, we will be celebrating 20 years of democratic local government. Our teen years are over. It is our view that government and in particular, local government has undergone rapid transition and transformation over the last 20 years.

 

 

There can be no doubt that in confirming what you have said hon President, reflection the service delivery gains made to date in local government has had the profound impact on the lives of ordinary South Africans in expanding the provision of services to our people. Those who were not born and stayed in a township prior 1994 will always argue that there has been no development in municipalities but some of us saw a shower for the first time in the democratic dispensation and that was brought by a new dispensation

 

Former homelands particularly where Africans were subjected has seen change and differences. Despite these changes, the reality is that, continuing to chase the targets of new settlements of course still embattles us.

 

 

The latest municipality census released by the Statistician General in August 2019, confirms that the number of households receiving services from municipalities have increased between 2017 and 2018. Yes, we have challenges but we have shown an increase as well. For this period the highest percentage increase was recorded in the provision of water, an increase of a whooping 3,7% of access to water translating to new additional connections of no less than 477 122 connections followed by sewerage and sanitation with an increase of 3,6% additional connections or 408 608 households, electricity 3,1% with a whooping 361 764 additional connections under our municipalities, solid waste, we must appreciate we are not doing maths but compared to the previous years we have shown a 2,4% increase which gives us a 229 new sites of points of removal which specifically focuses on rural areas

 

 

In his address yesterday, hon Dodovu acknowledged that local government’s experiences in South Africa is a complex one and democratising one sector that also represents all services for

 

South Africans is extremely challenging, it’s exacerbated by the problems we are faced with and challenging stubborn corruption elements which include governance and oversight challenges, confronting our basic services particularly infrastructural challenges; intergovernmental debt linked to the viability and the long term financial sustainability of municipalities including consideration of the impact of continuous municipal demarcation reforms.

 

 

Let me take a step back and go back to the financial viabilities and sustainability of municipalities linked to the debts that are owed by municipalities. The focus has always been on who is owed by municipalities.

 

 

We have looked into these challenges and confirmed the following hon President: municipal debts to Eskom for electricity and Water Boards for water sits at R25 billion and R14.billion respectively, these debts are owed to municipalities for municipal services which have already been delivered and are currently sitting close to R170 billion;

 

 

The largest component of this household bills is around R120 billion; businesses owe us R25 billion and government owes us R10 billion

 

It is evident that there is a clear link between the ability of municipalities to pay its debts, including to Eskom and Water Boards with the inability of municipalities to collect revenue from government, businesses and households for services delivered. With the situation becoming untenable for municipalities who are constantly threatened by disconnections from Eskom and Water Boards, South African Local Government Association, SALGA, has resolved a two point phased approach to address this difficult challenge.

 

 

Firstly, we are encouraging today hon Deputy President because you stood in this House and urged us to all pay for services that we are using.

 

 

We are calling for our municipalities to aggressively and on an ongoing basis use their credit control measures by firstly targeting government properties and businesses through disconnection where there is sufficient merit and in line with their credit control policies. It is not right for government and businesses to owe municipalities and not pay for the bills.

 

 

A second phase is that we are conducting a rigorous analysis of the gross debt and restructuring debts to see realistically

 

uncollectable debts including the installation of mat meters to ensure that municipalities don’t go back to a gap of being owed.

 

 

We stand again stand to support the decision to restructure Eskom, as well as the policy commitment to an independent state owned transmission.

 

 

As SALGA we request that we be included because we are the authority constitutionally of electricity distribution and we watched by the side line Nedlac continuing currently to deal with the issue of how the social impact of how the social impact on electricity will be restructured.

 

 

The continued measure that is being introduced to say municipalities in a good financial standing will be the only ones who are allowed to participate in the form of Identity Theft Prevention Program, ITPPs, we request that it be reviewed.

 

 

We embrace your announcement on the alternative rural roads and you will recall that in the February 2019 Cabinet Lekgotla this was one of our key commitments and inputs to say it could

 

be possible if properly designed to develop massive jobs and a programme that will create jobs for young people.

 

 

Let me conclude President and say the high number of interventions in local government affairs is indicating failure of a section 139 and currently happening in 40 municipalities and we say as Minister Dlamini-Zuma has said that the new preventative measure compliment very well and fit neatly with the objectives of the new district model to ensure that development that we want at the service level is coordinated and integrated

 

 

Our communities look up to us in this period of need, difficult and complex as it may be, Nelson Mandela once implored us to use freedoms to lie to the part be more human and more caring society. He demanded that we see light, our sight far in the horizon that we use our voices to proclaim our freedom. In turn our history taught us courage and resilience that we embrace the challenges that we bestow, that we be confident, humble and patient.

 

 

At no point in its entire part of our history have our municipalities been in a better position to confront the

 

challenges that they are facing than they are today. Our people deserve better and we know that. Thank you very much

 

 

AN HON MEMBER: Brace yourselves!

 

 

AN HON MEMBER: Coconut!

 

 

Ms T A KHANYILE: The previous speaker has just indicated that she is one of the South Africans to first witness a shower under the ANC government and I wish to say to her, there are many South Africans today who have not seen even a single drop of water in their homes ... [Applause.] and it is our duty as public representatives to represent every South African that is left behind.

 

 

Hon Chair, Mr President, last week I sat in this House and listened to you. I asked myself on what credibility does this government address us. With the increase of violence against women and children, a country that can not keep the lights on, collapsing municipalities and the Department of Home Affairs that can not protect our borders.

 

 

On what credibility does this government look at ordinary South Africans across this country that looks to this

 

government and only see darkness. We the people of South Africa are here to hold you to account Mr President. It’s time to stop being shocked and face the people of South Africa.

 

 

You have said nothing about the Department of Home Affairs. You know why? Because everything is falling apart, and when things fall apart, the ANC turns a blind eye and continue as if it is business as usual. [Applause.] While you were amongst the first people posing for pictures at the Tshwane home of Jabu Baloyi, who was killed when taxi drivers took a stand on fighting drugs in the city, it is shocking to learn that you stood here and said nothing on securing our borders to prevent more South Africans from dying like Jabu.

 

 

In September 2019 we lost nine South Africans when there were xenophobic attacks in our country. At the time your silence was deafening and yet you stood here and chose to say absolutely nothing. While we wait for your government to finalise the Border Management Authority Bill, we expected you to guide us on how you currently plan to secure our borders.

 

 

Mr President, in your speech you were silent about the fact that on 2 February this year, a police officer was murdered in Diepsloot by an undocumented foreigner and crimes committed by

 

undocumented persons are very hard to solve as the perpetrators are almost impossible to trace.

 

 

How many murders must go unresolved for your government to realise that this is an important matter that needs urgent attention? Where is the urgency? [Applause.]

 

 

We cannot be comfortable in this House. Mr President, you cannot be comfortable. The DA has a plan to secure our borders and stop illegal immigration. [Interjections.] We believe that it is important to; assist, support and care for legitimate refugees and asylum seekers; attract foreign nationals with scarce skills to South Africa to help us grow our economy and create jobs; strengthening our border posts. Through proper control and order, we can create corruption-free – a word that is foreign to the ANC - and effective border security and control.

 

 

I am shocked that you kept mum about long queues at the Department of Home Affairs offices, its network that is always offline, and allegations that citizens of our country are expected to pay bribes to skip the queues. If last week’s state of the nation address, Sona, speech is anything to go by you further demonstrated that you do not care about women of

 

this country when you failed to articulate government’s plan on fighting fraudulent marriages which mostly affects women of this country.

 

 

On gender-based violence, you said:

 

 

We implemented an emergency action plan and prioritised R1,6 billion to support this plan until the end of the current financial year. There has been progress in several areas.

 

 

What progress? When in fact hon Lucas today stood up here and pretended to care about gender-based violence when yesterday it was the ANC Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip that applauded Mamabolo for throwing gender-based violence in our faces? That is totally unacceptable. [Applause.]

 

 

The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: On a point of

 

order Hon Chairperson! [Interjections.]

 

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: A minute hon member.

 

 

The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Hon Chairperson

 

of the NCOP, on a point of order: Thank you. The hon member

 

can please bring a substantive motion on what she is accusing us of. We have proofs on our phones that, hon Chairperson, we were congratulating our comrades for dislodging the president of the EFF, but we have never caucused about anyone attacking anyone on gender-based violence or personal. That is a big, big, big ... [Interjections.]

 

 

Mr J W W JULIUS: Point of order! Point of order! Point of Order! Point of order! Point of order!

 

 

An HON MEMBER: That is a point of debate!

 

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Yes, is there a point of order? What is the point of order?

 

 

Mr J W W JULIUS: Chairperson, I have a point of order. That is a point of debate. It is a frivolous one at that because the member didn’t speak about yesterday about your WhatsApps and your phones; she said that you smiled here. [Interjections.] You celebrated and we all saw how you celebrated when the leader of the EFF was taken on and you couldn’t ... [Inaudible.] You smiled and you ... [Interjections.]

 

 

The

DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE

MAJORITY PARTY: Chairperson of

the

 

 

The

NCOP!

 

 

CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP:

 

 

 

 

Yes!

 

The

 

DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE

 

MAJORITY PARTY: Chairperson of

 

the NCOP, on a point of order: There is no point of order there. I see nothing. [Interjections.]

 

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon members can I please make a request and a plea to all of us that if a point of debate is being raised and you have a different point of view altogether, please await your turn to speak and do not use that as a reason for rising on a point of order. Hon member, please conclude your speech.

 

 

Ms T A KHANYILE: Like I indicated that there is no progress made in addressing gender-based violence. Amahle Thabethe from Springs has been missing since 6 April 2019 and Belinda from Standerton together with her daughter have been missing since

28 January up until this day. Mr President, while the family members continue to search for their loved ones, we are going to leave no stone unturned searching for your backbone, to take bold decisions on important matters affecting our

 

country. [Applause.] Strengthening municipalities that the President is talking about is long overdue.

 

 

IsiZulu:

 

I-DA iyona ehamba phambili. [Ubuwelewele.] Kanti nase-Lekwa siqeda ukususa esikhundleni usodolobha noSomlomo ngezinsolo zokukhwabanisa nokungalethi izinsiza zabahlali base-Lekwa. [Ihlombe.] Siyathemba kusasa angeke nibabuyisele ngoba uma nibabuyisela niyobe nikhombisa ngokusobala ukuthi anibakhathaleli abahlali base-Lekwa. Ngiyabonga. [Ihlombe.]

 

 

Ms M MOKAUSE: Chairperson of the NCOP, Mr President, we are here, 20 years after the attainment of political freedom to give voice to the voiceless, to remind you and the nation of the forgotten millions of our people, of those condemned to be the surplus people of this country, of the undesired of this earth. We are, Mr President, once again, to speak for those tormented by the fear of abuse, rape, violence and of death each and every day of their lives simply because they are women and simply because your government fails to protect them.

 

 

We are here again to speak for those who wake up to toil as domestics and dog walkers in white people’ homes and who then

 

come back home and are expected to cook and clean for their deadbeat husbands. We do so because, Mr President, 20 years of freedom has meant very little for us women in this country. It is us women of this country who must face the devastating impact of unemployment while your government can spend millions and millions on corruption. Mr President, it is us women of this country, we are here to tell you that you have been a gigantic failure to the aspirations of women in this country. To tell you that your state of the nation address was a monumental erasure of the struggles of women faced on a daily basis. Today, Mr President, while the expanded unemployment rate is at 38%, of which 42% is women who are unemployed. This means that of the 8 million people who are unemployed in this country almost 5 million, Mr President, are women of South Africa.

 

 

Of the employed women, still earn 30% less than men doing the same job. How so, Mr President, under your democratic government? And this even applies to highly qualified women. This means that if a man and a woman are doing the same job in this country and a man earns R100, then a woman will be earning R70. Today over 52% of women do not have any sort of pension fund or retirement annuity savings simply because they

 

don’t and those who do work are paid peanuts simply because, Mr President, they do not have decent jobs.

 

 

At the level of key decision-making women are still overlooked. Of the 80 metropolitan councils we have, only one has a woman mayor. If I ask you today you won’t even know which municipality that is. Women comprise 32% of Supreme Court of Appeals judges, 31% of advocates, 30% of ambassadors and 24% of heads of state-owned entities. The conditions for women are such that 33% of women who work are not entitled to paid leave. This is despite the fact that women are the first ones to respond when there are family emergencies. Most of these women are not entitled to paid leave. Women are the most underrepresented in all sporting codes in this country and even those who excel like Aseza Hele who was voted as the best rugby player of the year, are still not celebrated, and are still unrecognised. Banyana Banyana players are still getting paid far less than Bafana Bafana players. How so, Mr President? They do the same sport, and there is no organised league for women’s professional sport.

 

 

We as a country are in serious crisis under your leadership. At the level of government, Mr President, we are directionless. Your state of the nation address gave no

 

reassurances to these millions of women who trusted you with their vote, Mr President. It is not only your party that voted for you; it is millions and millions who sympathises with you. During your campaign you said to them, you can turn around this country but what did you do. We are still not protected under your government.

 

 

Sixty-nine percent of women leaving in the former homelands are living in poverty and while almost 70% of agricultural labour done in rural areas is by women. They are denied opportunities to own land. Less than 20% of the land transferred through the land redistribution programme has been transferred to women-headed households. The number of women in mining ownership is almost nonexistent, and very few women are in management level positions in the mines. We need urgent intervention and we need this intervention solidified in law. It must be a law that we need to ensure 50% of women representation in all spheres of government, economic benefits, political participation and managerial and leadership positions.

 

 

Government must put into place strict legislative measures to ensure that all companies and private entities that do business with the state must have a minimum of 50% women and a

 

minimum of 50% on their boards must be made of women and that 50%, Mr President, must be directors and executive management. [Applause.] This must apply to all who do work for government in all the entities and in all the spheres of government.

 

 

There must be recognition for work performed by women in the household as formal labour which contributes to the national economy, gross domestic product, GDP, and the formal tax system. You have proven yourself, Mr President, time and time again that you are not worthy of carrying the hopes and aspirations of these women. That is in actual fact; you have been the biggest enabler of women’s oppression and exploitation in this country.

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

Agb Lucas, dit maak nie saak hoe hard jy vanaf hierdie podium skree nie, jou President gaan nie na jou luister nie.

 

 

English:

 

He is the biggest enabler of women’s oppression in this country. He has got all the resources of this country to be able to empower women, but what is he doing; it is only cadre empowerment, no women there. It is only ANC comrades who are given opportunities in government.

 

Afrikaans:

 

So, dit maak nie saak hoe hard jy skree nie. [Applous.]

 

 

English:

 

It was at your instigation that over 40 women found themselves widowed in Marikana, President. Mr President, you need to repent your role in the Marikana killings for merely demanding a living wage. Thank you. [Applause.]

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

USEKELA MPHATHISWA WOPHUHLISO LWAMASHISHINI ASAKHASAYO: Sekela

 

Somlomo ohloniphekileyo, Mongameli weli lizwe tata uRamaphosa, Sekela Mongameli weli lizwe tata uMabuza, abaPhathiswa bonke nooSekela baPhathiswa, ooSihlalo bonke beekomiti zenkqubo yale Palamente yesiThandathu kwakunye nabanye ooSihlalo abaneminye imicimbi abayiqhubayo yokulungisa ukuhlala, ndiyanibulisa kakhulu ngale njikalanga.

 

 

Akungebi kuhle kodwa ukuba andinakubhekisa ngqo kwikamva leli lizwe, ulutsha, oonyana neentombi ze-Afrika, mandinibhotise. Ndenzenjalo nakumakhosikazi akhoyo kule Ndlu, nokuba uthanda ukuthi ngabafazi kodwa bayile nto bayiyo. Ngamaqobokazana angalala endleleni alahlekile, kuba onke amakhaya ekho nje kungenxa yala makhosikazi [Kwaqhwatywa.]

 

Ndiyaqala ke ngelithi, iyakhathaza into yokuba kubengathi amakhosikazi ayinto encanyathiselwe kwenye into [Kwahlekwa.] Njengokuba ndilapha nje andiyalezwanga mntwini. Akukho mntu uthe, phambili pha nize nimgade umaNyawuza angalimali. Ndime ngokwam, ndiyintanga yakhe nabani na kwaye siyalingana. [Kwaqhwatywa.]

 

 

Uyabona ke, akunakuthi xa kusoloko kuthethwa ngamakhosikazi kube ngathi kuthethwa ngabantu abaze kufundiswa, abantu abazokwenziwa ntoni. Apha sikhulise imizi sazala amajoyini omba imigodi kwakho igolide, kwakuhle. La makhosikazi ziinzululwazi ngenene kuba athatha ukhozo lombona alwenze lube ngumgubo wombona, agalele amanzi abene ...

 

 

English:

 

... calculation of solutions, how much.

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

Akwazi ukuyazi ukuba amandla nobushushu aza kubangakanani na ukuze kutye abantu. Le...

 

 

English:

 

... migration labour system ...

 

IsiXhosa:

 

... yayifakwe ngaba bantu ukufika kwabo apha elizweni lethu, basichitha-chitha basenza sangabinazo iintsapho, namhlanje bayakhalaza ingathi sizizinto ezifuna uncedo.

 

 

English:

 

This migration labour system...

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

... yathatha amadoda ethu yawabeka eGoli, yathatha amadoda ethu yawabeka emmobeni sahlala apha thina sakhulisa abantwana, naba begcwele kule Ndlu [Kwaqhwatywa.]

 

 

He madoda mayicace le nto Sekela Somlomo...

 

 

English:

 

Ms P T VAN DAMME: On a point of order Chairperson.

 

 

USEKELA MPHATHISWA WOPHUHLISO LWAMASHISHINI ASAKHASAYO: ...

 

akukho nto siza kuyiboleka emntwini kuba asiyalezwanga mntwini. Mandibulele eli thuba, mandikwazi...

 

 

IsiZulu:

 

USEKELA SOMLOMO: Kancane nje lungu elihloniphekile.

 

English:

 

Yes hon member, what are you rising on?

 

 

Ms P T VAN DAMME: Hon member, Chairperson, Deputy Speaker, we are really struggling to hear this member, can she increase the volume? [Interjections]

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order hon members, allow the member to proceed please.

 

 

The MINISTER OF TOURISM: Deputy Speaker, you must protect indigenous knowledge. You must ask the hon member to learn isiXhosa, it will assist her [Interjections.]

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order hon members, hon Capa, please go ahead.

 

 

USEKELA MPHATHISWA WOPHUHLISO LWAMASHISHINI ASAKHASAYO: Ndiza

 

kuqhuba.

 

 

Hon Memebers: Qhuba [Uwelewele.]

 

 

USEKELA MPHATHISWA WOPHUHLISO LWAMASHISHINI ASAKHASAYO: Olu

 

lwimi lolwam, wena thetha ngolwakho olubolekileyo

 

[Kwaqhwatywa.] Kuyabonakala Sekela Somlomo ukuba le ntetho yakho ihlabe emxhelweni kuba ngoku kuya yaluzela, abanye abafuni sithethe ngayo kuba kaloku ingqale ngqo. Apho ingqale khona kulapho kufele khona ithole, kuba kaloku ithi kukhulu ukungalingani. Oku kungalingani akufikanga ne-ANC. Mna ke ndazalelwa emva kocango kuba kwakungekho zibhedlele. Zazikhona kwabanye abantu abathatha ilizwe lethu.

 

 

Ndiyaweva la madoda, ndiyabeva aba bafana bathi mayiyekwe le nto ye...

 

 

English:

 

...black empowerment...

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

... kuba kaloku iza kusuke yenze sifikelele nakubo. Phaya ezilalini umntu okufundisa iintonga...

 

 

English:

 

...stick fighting, cannot teach you to an extent that you can defeat him [Applause.] It is therefore important to say we cannot depend on anyone...

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

... athi hayi masiyeke icebo lethu uza kufaka elakhe kuba kufuneka libe buthathaka ukuze ahlale esoyisa yonke le mihla.

 

 

English:

 

Never! [Applause]

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

Sekela Somlomo, le nto ithi lo mhlathi wama- 25 kuMgaqo-siseko uyinkathazo yinyani kuba thina sibabi kangaka nje - ngendingconwana nangoku [Kwahlekwa] yiyo nale nto kwathathwa imihlaba yethu ngala madoda okufika. Ngoku xa kufuneka imihlaba yethu ibuye, athi makubekho incwadi ebhaliweyo.

Ayeyithathe kubani wona? [Kwaqhwatywa] Thina ngoku asinawo umhlaba kuba ungakubo, bona bangoosomashishini, banemigodi thina asinayo, baneefama kunjalonje iyakhetha mama uDidiza le nto yezi zinto zitshiza amanzi, ikhetha la wabo amasimi ayikho kuka wethu, kukungalingani oko. [Kwaqhwatywa.]

 

 

Mongameli siyasiva esi sithukuthezi sixelwa ngabantu ekuthiwa ngooSomashishini abasaKhasayo abakwinqwanqwa lokuqala. Bathi bacinezelekile, bathi uba ngaya kule bhanki ithi isazi ukuba awuzange waphangela naphi na, ifune i-collateral, yintoni loo nto? [Kwaqhwatywa] Uhambe uye ebhankini, xa ufika ikufune i-

 

credit score, ubuza kutyala bani ungena-collateral nje? [Kwaqhwatywa]

 

 

Mongameli sivile, siyavuma, le nto ifuna umThetho. Thina siyi...

 

 

English:

 

... developmental state, we will intervene ...

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

... sifake umThetho othi, iibhanki ezi makhe zixele ngonyaka ukuba oosomashishini abasakhasayo zibanike malini zaphinda zanika oosomashishini abakhulu malini. Mazikhe zibeneenkcukacha ezichazayo ukuba bangaphi abafake izicelo abavunywa kwaye izizathu zokungavunywa zithini, zingakanani. Mabatsho ukuba kanti le mali yebhanki beyinikwa nje kwaye sifaka imali kwibhanki bona bayibekela abantu bakubo.

 

 

Naku kusithiwa uqoqosho luza kukhula ukuba kukhe kwayekwa le nto. Luza kukhula kuba bona batya isonka thina sitya ingququ [Kwaqhwatywa.] Mongameli, bayakhala kuba kuphela isonka phezu kwetafile kuyabonakala ngoku ukuba thina besisidla ingququ singcono kunabo kuba isonka asikho etafileni. Bathi nqanda Mongameli ungabi sayenza le nto yama-25, qhuba! [Kwaqhwatywa]

 

Mongameli uthi umfana apha, iLungu lePalamente elihloniphekileyo eliphuma phaya kuTsolo lithetha nathi lithi, akukhonto phaya Mongameli, akukho kwanto eyenziwayo.

Ndiyabulela kuba umama UBrigalier Bam oye wamthi jize ngewonga lokuba enze imisebenzi emihle elizweni uphuma pha kuTsolo.

Wafunda kungekho kwanto, kungcono namhlanje. Abantwana basezilalini bagcwele eziyunivesithi kuba kaloku namhlanje kufundwa mahala. Yena wayefunde kakuhle urhalela ukuthi ayilunganga le nto bayinikwayo. Mababe beyinikwa ingalunganga injalo iya kulunga phambili [Kwaqhwatywa.]

 

 

Hon MEMBER: Deputy Speaker, Deputy Speaker!

 

 

USEKELA MPHATHISWA WOPHUHLISO LWAMASHISHINI ASAKHASAYO: ILungu

 

lePalamente elihloniphekileyo ...

 

 

IsiZulu:

 

USekela Somlomo: Lungu elihloniphekile Capa sesiphelile isikhathi sakho. [Ihlombe.]

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

Dr A LOTRIET: Baie dankie Adjunkspeaker. Die President het tydens sy staatsrede aangedui dat sy toespraak binne die raamwerk van inklusiewe ekonomiese groei geskryf is. Mnr die

 

President, hierdie woorde het Suid-Afrikaners hoop gegee. Hoop dat beleidsekerheid gegee gaan word; hoop dat vrese besweer gaan word; dat die versekering en versterking van almal se grondwetlike regte op ’n inklusiewe manier aangespreek gaan word en dat almal aan die einde van u staatsrede 'n gevoel gaan hê dat ons op koers is.

 

 

Helaas, die hoop het beskaam. Met 'n paar sinne is daar ’n streep deur die fundamentele grondwetlike regte van elke Suid- Afrikaner getrek. Die reg om eiendom te besit, soos verskans in artikel 25 van die Grondwet is in groter onsekerheid gedompel.

 

 

English:

 

Dr M Q NDLOZI: Deputy Speaker!

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Hon Lotriet, just a minute, what are you rising on?

 

 

English:

 

Dr M Q NDLOZI: We can’t hear this hon member. We really can’t hear.

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Okay, take your seat. Hon members ... [Interjections.]

 

 

Dr M Q NDLOZI: Can she speak in an accessible language?

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: No, nonsense. [Laughter.] It is absolute nonsense. Go ahead hon member.

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

Dr A LOTRIET: Agb Adjunkspeaker, ek sal graag die agb Ndlozi daarop wil wys dat dit een van die amptelike tale van die land is ...

 

 

English:

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: You don’t have to do that hon member. Please proceed. [Applause.]

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

Dr A LOTRIET: ... wat in die Grondwet beskerm is en dat dit hierdie maand ... [Applous.] ... moedertaal maand is. So u opmerking is totaal onvanpas.

 

 

President, ons het al by herhaling ...

 

English:

 

Mr J S MALEMA: Hon Deputy Speaker, on a point of order!

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: What are you rising on, hon member?

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

Mr J S MALEMA: Praat my vrou; praat. {Gelag.]

 

 

Dr A LOTRIET: Adjunkspeaker, ons het al hierdie Huis by herhaling gewys op die onherstelbare skade wat'n gepeuter aan artikel 25 gaan veroorsaak. Dit val gewoon op dowe ore, soos vandag.

 

 

Die President het die land verseker dat onteiening sonder vergoeding op so 'n manier gedoen sal word dat dit nie die ekonomie en voedselsekuriteit sal bedreig nie. Maar, wat is die werklikheid buite die retoriek?

 

 

Sedert die begin van hierdie proses het sake en verbruikersvertroue tot 'n laagtepunt afgeneem. Die aantal landbougrond transaksies het regoor die land afgeneem. Private vastebeleggings toon geen vordering nie en onlangs is die Landbank deur Moody's tot rommelstatus afgegradeer. Hulle

 

motivering daarvoor is die onsekerheid wat onteiening sonder vergoeding tot gevolg sal hê.

 

 

Wat word van verbande wat op eiendomme geregistreer is en sonder vergoeding onteien word? Soos dit blyk uit kommentaar vanuit die banksektor, gaan die persoon wat die verband uitgeneem het steeds daarvoor verantwoordelik wees. Met ander woorde, die staat kan jou eiendom onteien en jy moet steeds betaal.

 

 

Die impak hiervan, nie net op die individu nie maar die finansiële sektor, is geweldig. Daar is tans R1,6 triljoen se verbande op eiendom. Die Landbank kan R53 miljard verloor. Dit kan die banksektor 'n fatale knou toedien. Die landbousektor is reeds op hul knieë as gevolg van droogte en die afwesigheid van droogtehulp.

 

 

Mnr die President, daar kan nie van ekonomiese groei sprake wees as daar nie beleidsekerheid is nie. Maar, die President en die ANC se bontpratery en Orwelliaanse dubbelpraat oor wat die wysiging moet wees, bied nie beleidsekerheid nie.

 

 

Die aanvanklike motivering vir die wysiging van artikel 25 was om dit wat implisiet is, eksplisiet te maak. Maar, dit is 'n

 

vals argument. Die Grondwet is voldoende eksplisiet, spesifiek oor grondhervorming en restitusie; 'n standpunt wat ook deur die Hoëvlak paneel gehuldig is. Maar bygesê, dit is 'n verslag wat volledig deur die ad hoc komitee geignoreer word. Wat nodig is, is ’n toetssaak wat vir ons regsekerheid sal gee en nie 'n wysiging van die Grondwet nie.

 

 

Ons het nou die 18de grondwetlike wetsontwerp. Hiervolgens word voorsiening gemaak vir nul rand vergoeding en dat wetgewing gebruik sal word om die omstandighede te bepaal wanneer daar onteiening sonder enige vergoeding is. Dit opsig self is uiters problematies, aangesien grond nie slegs landbou grond is nie maar enige grond insluit, sowel as enige verbeterings wat daarop aangebring is. Verder word die goedkeuringsdrempel na ‘n gewone meerderheid in die Parlement verlaag.

 

 

Nog meer problematies is die aankondiging, gemaak deur die President self, na afloop van die ANC se nasionale uitvoerende komitee, NUK, lekgotla. Die regerende party ondersteun ’n wysiging wat die besluit oor die quantum van vergoeding in die hande van die uitvoerende gesag sal Iaat; met ander woorde, die Minister, en dat die howe se rol verminder word. Die argument wat aangevoer word is dat die howe die proses

 

vertraag. Derhalwe moet een van die mees fundamentele grondwetlike menseregte in die hande van 'n Minister gelaat word. As 'n persoon nie gelukkig is nie, kan hy eers na die proses die hof nader om hersiening. ls dit hersiening van die administratiewe proses of hersiening van die substantiewe skending van ’n grondwetlike reg? Ons weet nie, en mnr die President, u sê nie.

 

 

Suid-Afrika se Grondwet is onomwonde ten gunste van die beskerming van eiedomsregte, en vergoeding moet billik en regverdig wees. Dit vereis 'n delikate balanseringtoertjie waarin verskeie belange teen mekaar geweeg en gemeet moet word. Dit is, en was nog altyd die DA se standpunt dat die howe die enigste geskikte forum is om kompeterende belange op te weeg en in die Iig van elke unieke geval ’n beslissing te maak wat billik en regverdig is. Die besluit van die President en die ANC dat die howe se rol as finale arbiter nou beperk word tot hersiening, verwyder die beskerming teen misbruik wat die Grondwet aan alle Suid-Afrikaners bied. Die rol van die howe word dus vervang met die arbitrêre diskresie van politici en die burokrasie.

 

 

Dit word nou baie duidelik dat wat die ANC uiteindelik wil doen is om die Grondwet te verander sodat die

 

onteieningswetsontwerp die grondwetlike toets kan deurstaan. Dit is nie hoe dit werk nie. Mnr die President, u was mede- skrywer van die Grondwet. Is dit wat die bedoeling was?

 

 

Hierdie voorgestelde wysiging is 'n aanval op die oppergesag van die reg soos voorsien in artikel 1 van hoofstuk 1 van die Grondwet, waarin die grondbeginsels van die Grondwet vervat word. Met ander woorde, ons praat nie meer van ’n twee-derde meerderheid wat nodig is nie, maar 75% wat nodig is vir hierdie wysiging. Uiteindelik is dit niks meer as die regering se poging om sy eie mislukking met grondhervorming toe te smeer nie.

 

 

Mnr die President, u kon hoop gee. U kon Donderdagaand u voet neer sit en sê daar sal nie grondgrype wees, soos wat die EFF in die Vrystaat wil doen, nie. U kon hoop vir hierdie land gee maar u het nie. Ons sal geen steen onaangeroer laat om die eindomsreg van elke Suid-Afrikaner te beskerm nie. [Applous.]

 

 

Mr M G E HENDRICKS: Deputy Speaker, as a member of this House, I want to apologise to Ms Malema for harming her dignity yesterday. Today, the dignity of member’s husbands is also being harmed.

 

Hon members should not be on the 6th Parliament’s radar. Hon President, Al Jama-ah listened to your plan that would navigate South Africa through troubled times. We listened last year and in 2020. It is getting better.

 

 

Your Excellency, you were kissed on your forehead at the recent Ubuntu Awards for the wonderful work you are doing. Remember, you are held in high esteem, Your Excellency.

 

 

Hon President, there are some issues are missing from your plan. You have released thousands of prisoners on parole without the necessary parole profile. But Mr President, under your rule, there are long-serving prisoners whose profiles are 100% compliant. These are role model prisoners who have been approved for parole two years ago. Their frail, 80-year-old mothers are waiting for their sons’ release. They are ready to re-enter society and look after their mothers in their last years.

 

 

I don’t know what this government has against parolees. We have a parolee who is now a Member of Parliament and he assisted his gogos on behalf of the EFF when they visited us in Parliament. I am referring to former People Against Gangsterism and Drugs, Pagad, activists who may have strayed

 

from the law for a good cause, like those of us who also strayed from the law by burning tyres with our matches and paraffin. If the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services does not have time to carry out his mandate, I wish to state to you, hon President, the gogos are putting their hopes on you, now.

 

 

Al Jama-ah will not support a motion of no confidence in you. Mr President, as you are rolling up your sleeves to get the work done which our country needs, you are set to get many hon kisses on your forehead as the nation shows their gratitude and honours you and the 6th Parliament.

 

 

“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” That, we see in you, Your Excellency. Thank you.

 

 

The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION:

 

Thank you, Deputy Speaker; Chairperson of the NCOP; Mr President; Deputy President; colleagues in Cabinet; the Executive and hon members, President, you are fully aware that insults are the last refuge of a scoundrel. This is why you are being insulted today by many scoundrels. The attention to what you have said, whether or not it is dealt with

 

substantively, indicates that you tabled an agenda here last week.

 

 

Mr President, the hon Schreiber who referred to a “hollow man” knows that empty vessels make the loudest noise and he was clanging very loudly. I had hoped, he, or the hon interim leader or any other speaker of the official opposition would tell us ...

 

 

Setswana:

 

... gore mogaetsho o kae. [Setshego.] Gore ke eng mo Palamenteng re sare tsamaya sentle go mogaetsho. [Setshego.] Re batla go itse gore o dirile eng. Ke a le kopa tlhe baemedi mo Palamenteng, gore fa nka ngala tiro, nkgopoleng, mme lore mogaetsho tsamaya sentle. [Setshego.] Ga se re utlwe gore mogaetsho ba mo dirile eng, ba mo isitse kae. Ba mo dirisitse. Erile fa go tlhopiwa, go tlhopelwa ena, ba be bare tsamaya. Ba sa mo bolelele gore a tsamaye sentle.

 

 

English:

 

Mr President, we welcome the address that you gave last Thursday and it is our intention to work hard to realise the priorities you have set out. We note that our opposition colleagues chose to ignore your speech and the priorities you

 

announced and resorted to their tradition of casting aspersions and sowing doom and gloom as a way of creating pessimism in the wonderful proud, robust and capable nation. A people who will rise, a people who can do, a people who are confident, a people who are sure of themselves and a people who could wage a struggle of significant and mammoth proportions and find their way to freedom, that people, will never be pessimistic. That people will believe. Mr President, a nation that will work with you Mr President and the ANC to create a better South Africa, a better Africa and a better world.

 

 

This year you have assumed the chairship of the African Union at a time of increased hope and optimism in Africa. Of course, as with millions throughout the world we are faced by challenges on the continent, but there are visible signs of triumph over despair everywhere we look. Africa has been struggling to fully throw off the shackles of colonialism and enslavement which lasted for centuries. Time is fast running out and we as South Africans have to utilise our chairship to intensify efforts directed at succeeding in development and to build up the momentum set in motion all the activities and achievements the previous Chairs worked upon and ensure that they are sustained.

 

The deliberations and key decisions of the African Union Summit last week suggested truly that Africa is ready. The agreement that we should address illicit financial flows, corruption, ensure human development in our continent, address our infrastructure gaps and practical action on the massive agenda set by our African Continental Free Trade Agreement point to a genuine desire to place the continent on a different trajectory. We know that you, Mr President, and South Africa will and must play a key role in ensuring this new determination to implement Agenda 2063, the Africa we want succeeds.

 

 

Our government has selected a number of priority areas as our focus for this chairship. The response from the Union membership has been one of overwhelming support particularly for the objective of silencing the guns as part of our path to the heightened development of Africa. We have chosen to focus on peace and security as a strong path to development, on the financial inclusion of women and creating conditions for their genuine empowerment through the promotion of accountability, transparency support for them.

 

 

We will focus on governance through the implementation of the African Peer Review Mechanism; we will advance Africa’s

 

climate change responses by attending to green economy opportunities and ensuring firm consistent support for sustainable and successful implementation of the continental free trade area agreement. We have also undertaken to act decisively on building the African Unity, AU, institution we host, the Pan African Parliament.

 

 

We are fully aware of the complexity underpinning the theme of our tenure as Chair. It is an important theme as it links this nexus between peace and economic inclusion, between development and ending war and conflict. Led by you, Mr President, we will seek to address the root causes of conflicts such as poverty, inequality, democracy deficits and the negative role played by foreign interests that benefit from instability in resource rich African countries.

 

 

Mr President, we are fully alert to the fact that these positive aims for Africa do not come accompanied by many friends. The global geopolitical environment is one that has become increasingly hostile to Africa’s interests and ambitions. Rather than experiencing an increasingly progressive world concerned about development of the most vulnerable we are facing increased nationalism, self interest and greedily voracious interest in Africa’s rich resources.

 

Our continent as evidenced by Libya has become the site for proxy international conflicts, the host of increased extremist groups and terrible devastation of helpless communities.

 

 

We need to intensify the training and development of our African security and intelligence agencies and work closely together to successfully fight terrorism in all its manifestations. On the multilateral front, South Africa must continue the work it is doing within the United Nation Security Council to ensure a focus on its core areas of peace and security and to promote the fundamental restructuring and the recomposition of the United Nation Security Council. While focusing on our key priorities we will also not desert our friends; the people of Palestine and the people of Saharawi in their struggle for freedom. We believe the people of Palestine must be the ones who shape the outcome of their struggle and that no one can ever impose half a freedom on a freedom loving nations.

 

 

We will continue to urge Morocco to act in honour of the United Nations, UN, resolutions and the African Unity, AU, to ensure that struggle remains on the African Unity agenda. Mr President, we have noted visible signs of Africa addressing

 

its infrastructure and other challenges. A number of strategic initiatives are underway on the continent.

 

 

We also carry on our work as the nonpermanent member of the Security Council. We will ensure to continue as a strong voice for democracy, peace and a renewed commitment to multilateralism, particularly this year, the 76th anniversary of the United Nations Organisation. We are convinced that as Chair of the AU, South Africa will contribute towards Africa’s progress and its vision which is rooted in durable stability growth and development.

 

 

Mr President, your plans for greening our energy sources for supporting youth entrepreneurship and for promoting and inculcating innovation in higher education, will definitely set South Africa on a sustainable path of development. The ANC welcomes all the initiatives you announced and believes that they will unlock higher growth, economic stability and increased investment both foreign and domestic. Mr President, the ANC will work with you to make sure that this programme succeeds. I thank you. [Applause.]

 

 

Mrs C LABUSCHAGNE: Hon Chairperson, Mr President, when local government fails to deliver on their responsibilities as

 

mandated in the Constitution, the lives of millions of South Africans are severely impacted negatively as we hear and see when we visit our constituencies or do oversight all over the country.

 

 

We have listened to quite a few plans over the years. While we are still waiting for these plans to come to fruition, I want to focus on the current crippled and incapable local government structures of our country. Mr President, you have said and often repeated that opposition parties should instead of criticising they should offer solutions. We welcome your acceptance of the DA’s solution for reform of district municipalities in announcing the district model.

 

 

In the Western Cape, the need for change in the operation of district municipalities has been discussed for some time in the premier’s co-ordinating and other forums. This resulted in the initiation of the joint district planning model. The Western Cape government is taking the opportunity to implement a joint district planning approach in all five of the province’s district municipalities. This model will see the formation of district co-ordination forums and the utilisation of shared services, especially in rural areas where specialised skills and knowledge are often scarce.

 

The joint district approach creates the ultimate opportunity to align plans, assess them and finally implement them. This will ensure that gaps will be closed and prevent duplication of processes in service delivery. Mr President, you referred to the need to address climate change. Some of the many environmental hurdles in local government are that of inadequate waste management, air quality and pollution that contribute to the decline of our environment. Through the joint district approach the Western Cape government has a mission to over time reduce the 162 landfill sites to just nine. This will result in more waste volume in concentrated areas. Consequently, better opportunities will be created for increase in recycling, sustainable waste management and job creation.

 

 

Mr President, the district model should not be a powers and functions discussion, should not be a tool to unilaterally take control of unmandated powers and functions and it should not be a vehicle to broaden the opportunities for corruption and malfunction. It must focus on streamlining resources and service delivery to the people of South Africa. Several municipalities are in service delivery. With many municipalities under administration, now is the time to find

 

proactive solutions to the way interventions are being implemented.

 

 

Mr President, in September 2019, the Public Affairs Research Institute, published a comprehensive report on section 139 interventions. Our call is to at least implement one of the many recommendations in this report, namely; that section 139 interventions are not used as a last solution but as the framework to prevent the collapse of local government. Bobby Unser said “success is where preparation and opportunities meet”.

 

 

The joint district planning approach is an opportunity that the Western Cape is prepared to implement. Mr President, this is the way you call building a capable state. Thank you. [Applause.]

 

 

The MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY: Mr President, Deputy President, hon members, fellow South Africans. There is a saying attributed to our continent: “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” The central idea in the state of the nation address, SONA, last week, is about going together, building broad consensus and developing social compacts. It is how we made our Constitution and how we

 

are how we are rebuilding our economy. The state of the nation address, SONA, recognised the real challenges and difficulties faced by the economy and by millions of South Africans.

 

 

These are challenges of young people looking for work; an economic structure that does not work for many. Traditional engines of growth that no longer provide the Gross Domestic Product, GDP, expansion and employment growth we need. And the state of the nation address, SONA, showed what we are doing to change that reality, the hard work to plant the seeds of growth in the soil of consensus to yield the fruits of jobs and of opportunities.

 

 

IsiZulu:

 

Ukutshala imbewu.

 

 

Setswana:

 

Go jala peo.

 

 

English:

 

We plant the seeds of investment. Last year the Investment Conference brought together hundreds of domestic and foreign investors, with pledges to invest R364 billion in the economy. The question which is asked about investment and pledges is

 

whether they will be implemented. I hear that question here. Premier Zamani Saul gave concrete examples of the impact of projects in the Northern Cape.

 

 

The United Nations estimated that R75 billion of foreign investment was flown into South Africa last year. I can point to many other examples in the past eight months, including the opening in October of a half-a-billion rand new Toyota facility, with young engineers like Hlengiwe Ngcobo and Jashmeen Singh who assembles taxis using an increasing level of local components.

 

 

Our policy framework gave the company confidence to commit to bring production of new-generation cleaner, green vehicles to South Africa, through assembly of hybrid electric and petrol driven vehicles, the first on the African continent. In the year ahead we will seek further investments and facilitate construction of plants and upgrade of operations by investors. For example, next month Exarro will officially open its new Belfast coal mine.

 

 

In May, a new liquefied petroleum gas, LPG, terminal will open in KwaZulu-Natal; in June, Amazon Web Services will launch three new data centres in Cape Town; in July, Dalisu, a black

 

industrialist, will finish construction of their speciality chemical plant in Mpumalanga; in August, a new R6 billion Automotive Transformation Fund will come into operation. In September, B-braun will open a new medical and pharmaceutical devices plant in Gauteng and in October, Corobrik will launch the expansion of its brick making facilities. These are examples of action.

 

 

The DA asked where the seed of industrial dynamism is. Last year we developed social compacts in the clothing and textiles and in poultry sectors, sectors that were previously written off as sunset industries but showing great growth potential, retaining existing jobs. In fact, even in this digital age, capable of creating new jobs. These Master Plan compacts require practical commitments from everyone. Let me illustrate with the clothing sector.

 

 

Leading retailers like Foschini, Woolworths, Pick n Pay, Pep, Edgars, Truworths and Mr Price, committed to buy more South African-made fashion products, shifting from the current 44% local content to 65%. Government committed to crack down on illegally-imported goods, and seized hundreds of containers at ports to deal with importers who often claim that a man’ suit costs R15 and a woman’s dress costs R2, so that they do not

 

pay full taxes, actions that seriously damages the local economy.

 

 

Businesses committed R6 billion in fresh investment in the sector, and unions committed to new-generation collective bargaining agreements. This is meaningful. It is creating new jobs for people like a newly-graduate, Sibusiso Makhaye, in a factory in Ethekwini and for Leslie Frans who is working in a factory in Maitland. We also completed the poultry Master Plan with Minister Didiza to support chicken farmers and processors, and to save 54 000 jobs while creating new ones.

 

 

This is done through commitments by every stakeholder to shift the industry to a new growth-focus to boost investment. It builds on the more than 200 000 new jobs created in agriculture in the past 10 years. This year we will be finalising more Master Plans. Yes, in traditional sectors like the steel and the sugar, but also in new economy sectors like the digital economy with its opportunities for young people and the green economy, to industrialise through a greener growth path.

 

 

We are planting the seeds of improving the ease of doing business. In October, we launched the BizPortal that enables a

 

young entrepreneur to go to one website, register her company, register for tax, get her Black Economic Empowerment, BEE, certificate, register for Unemployment Insurance Fund, UIF, get her domain name, and even open a bank account. All happens in a few hours, without queuing. As Twitter user @Nolie said, “I am really happy with the Companies Intellectual Property Commission, CIPC, online service. I thought the process of registering a business would be tedious. However, I went to the Bizportal website and had my business registered within 24hrs, all from the comfort of my home.

 

 

We plant the seeds of growth by opening new markets and protecting access to established markets. Last year, the implementation work on the African Continental Free Trade Area began to take off, with 28 countries having now ratified the Treaty. The numbers 17-3-3-2-1, no, they are not Lotto numbers, but a stark set of statistics about our continent’s place in the world. Africa has 17% of the world’s population, 3% of the world’s GDP, 3% of the world’s trade, 2% of the world’s manufacturing output and only 1% of the world’s steel production.

 

 

The African Continental Free Trade Agreement can help to reverse this, if we industrialise more as we begin tariff

 

reductions between ourselves from 1 July this year. Last year, we concluded an agreement with the UK to ensure we protect South African jobs and exports after Brexit. Last year we also recorded our first significant trade surplus in a decade, Mr President, of about R23 billion, in our trade with the European Union, selling more than we buy, largely driven by export of cars and car parts.

 

 

We plant for a better future through competition measures. Last week, new regulations took effect as you finished the speech of the state of the nation address, SONA, Mr President, to open up opportunities for more South Africans. Dominant firms that impose unfair prices and other terms on small businesses in the grocery retail, in the agro-processing and in online retail sectors can now be penalised up to 25% of company revenue.

 

 

The power of the competition authorities have been strengthened with market inquiries and in future they will be able to make binding decisions to address structural features, including market concentration that keep small players out of the economy. In the next few months, we will focus on the measures to open up the grocery-retail sector and act against exclusive leases in shopping malls.

 

We plant the seeds of inclusivity through deepening transformation in the economy. Growth of GDP is meaningful when that growth creates decent jobs, provides opportunities for young people, empowers women, builds the number of black industrialists and entrepreneurs. In the year ahead, we will be expanding the number of such enterprises that are supported, because transformation itself can be a source of growth and of deep and sustainable growth. And we will refine BEE implementation to enhance its effectiveness, promoting true broad-based empowerment of workers and communities.

 

 

Hon members, our economy’s annual output is currently

 

R5 trillion, and 16,4 million people have jobs. Yet, many millions of our people remain jobless and excluded. More must be done so that we change our destiny and we need to scale-up our successes. The examples that we quoted, show what is being done so that we create hope for millions of young people leaving school and university, eager to find jobs. And we know that old saying that says: “The day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit.”

 

 

But the fruit requires hard work now, to ensure that there shall be work and security and that the people shall share in the country’s wealth. I conclude with the saying that, “He who

 

thinks he is leading and has no one following him is only taking a walk.” Let me repeat. “He who thinks he is leading and has no one following him is only taking a walk.” [Applause.]

 

 

Through building consensus on our growth path, Mr President, you are leading, and unlike some in the Opposition, not simply taking a walk. Thank you very much. [Applause.]

 

 

Mr N F SHIVAMBU: Deputy Speaker and commander-in-chief, I thought that we are going to respond to some of the issues that had been raised here, but truly speaking there is no substance to really entertain. But let me just quickly dismiss some of the things that have been said here. If you are gullible you will believe the Minister who has just spoken here. Every time he does that, promises investments and list companies that are coming. But go and check where we are losing the most jobs in South Africa, in the manufacturing and industrial sectors. Since he was Minister of Economic Development and now Minister of Trade and Industry, every time he comes here make industrial commitments, but there are no jobs that are coming. Instead, the biggest bloodbath in terms of jobs loss is in the manufacturing and industrial sectors.

In majority of the times he just talks without anything.

 

Check the trade deficit of South Africa. We continue to import more goods than exporting. And we have the most neo-liberal trade policy that is presided over by him. Virtually, all products which could create jobs in South Africa are just coming in for free. For furniture products and plastic products we have industrial capacity to domestically produce. There is no clear industrial policy that is presided by him to achieve that, but he speaks like that every time. Go and listen to all his speeches. From under Zuma he was doing exactly the same thing. If you are gullible believe that guy. He’s going to cause you serious trouble.

 

 

I am going to deal with issues that relate to dismantling of apartheid. One of the pillars that we should deal with broadly is dismantling the apartheid pacts. So you know that between 1908 and 1909 there was a convention on the closer union of South Africa where 33 white men gathered to conceptualise this thing that we call South Africa today. At the conclusion of it they decided to constitute a whites-only unitary state and government, uniting the colonies of Transvaal, the Cape, Orange River Colony and Natal. As part of that agreement they said that, because we are agreeing amongst ourselves let us say that the administrative capital is going to be in Pretoria, Transvaal, the legislative capital will be in Cape

 

Town, here where we are, and the judicial capital for the apex court will be in Bloemfontein representing the Orange River Colony. For Natal they just said, no, we just want the completion of a railway project which they were campaigning for at that time. We are here today in Cape Town because of a colonial pact; we are here because the colonialists said that let us share power amongst ourselves. We are still here, and it’s 25 years since the so-called democracy maybe.

 

 

Why are we in Cape Town? It’s not accessible. It doesn’t make sense for a democratic Parliament to be at the furthest corner of South Africa. [Applause.] That is why we said even today at the Chief Whips’ Forum where we had an engagement with the Speaker that why can’t we start a process of relocating Parliament to an area which is accessible. If we take Parliament to Gauteng people from Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, KwaZulu-Natal and Northern Cape will have an opportunity to drive-in in the morning and make a submission and go back home at night. Members of Parliament would have an opportunity to, on Mondays and Tuesdays, do their constituency work and still come and oversee the state and government and pass legislation. [Applause.] When we are looking for accountability from government departments we do not wait for people to come with flights - whether business class or not

 

which is not saving any cost by the way - you just call them and say from that department let’s call so and so to come and account.

 

 

What is difficult with dismantling those basic and simplest apartheid colonial pacts? Why are we still trapped there?

Today, the Speaker was saying that, no, it will take us 10 years to relocate Parliament. Ten years! There is a lack of decisive leadership from the benches of the SA National Native Congress. [Laughter.] I will give you a context of why we are dealing with that. After they have launched the union on 31 May 1910, the SA National Native Congress was a response to the whites-only unitary government. Check in terms of what the SA National Native Congress said in its first constitution. It was recognising the British crown. So the foundation of the ANC was recognising and worshiping the British crown. Go and read for yourself and you will realise that. It was also saying that we are going to be a mediator between black people and the whites-only government. Maybe you are living up to your standards because all these things that you are doing and speaking are just being a mediator between black people and the white capitalist establishment. [Applause.] That is what defines you. You are being truthful to the roots of the SA National Natives Congress. That’s who you are – a mediator of

 

relations between the so-called natives and the white capitalist establishment. That’s one issue that I wanted to deal with.

 

 

The second issue that I want to deal with is on energy. Anyone who tells you that you can have an energy plan that excludes coal in South Africa is misleading you or is daydreaming. In your energy mix don’t lose the fact that your base load has to be coal. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR, has already invested some time and attention on clean coal energy and clean coal technologies. That must be looked into in terms of what we need to do. South Africa should be a pioneer in terms of clean coal technologies so that we continue to produce dependable energy which is going to at least create a platform for industrial expansion, create jobs as well as for the expansion of the base through which you collect your revenue.

 

 

Currently, your energy plan is disastrous. What you said here about what should happen to the energy space is disastrous.

You can’t sign additional power purchase agreements. Someone who is honest is the current CEO of Eskom. He said that don’t impose further independent power producers, IPPs, on to Eskom’s balance sheet because they are not sustainable. But

 

you are doing so because the companies that you either founded or use to work for are part of the independent power producers. [Applause.] Phembani is part of the independent power producers. Shanduka is part of those who are benefiting from these power purchase agreements. Irrational arrangements! The ANC’s investment arm, Chancellor House, is part of the same nonsensical arrangements. Why do you look for immediate solutions at the expense of durable and dependable energy supply in South Africa? That should come to an end.

 

 

You have failed in everything else in terms of how you can at least boost economic activities in South Africa. The simplest thing that you can do is to change your procurement laws. The ANC manifesto says 80% of the goods and services that the state is going to procure must be locally made. The majority of you hear this for the first time. What need to happen is that we need to change all procurement laws, the Public Finance Management Act, PFMA, and the Municipal Finance Management Act, MFMA, to say that the entire value chain of the goods, products and services that are ultimately going to be consumed by the state must be locally made. Currently, such is not the case. Basic things like food - food that is given to hospitals, prisons and school feeding schemes – worth billions of rand, but when you check the origin of where that

 

food come from, you will find that it is from Brazil, the dumping that happens from the European Union, EU, as well. Why can’t we track that clearly in terms of making sure that everything that the state consumes is domestically produced?

Even your association with the World Trade Organisation and those pacts will not regulate your movement in that regard. You can do it differently.

 

 

President, if anyone tells you that all is well they are just singing for supper and they are misleading you. Our health care system is collapsing. A lot of our schools do not have basic toilets. The level of poverty is deepening. Electricity supply is not dependable in South Africa. State-0owned companies are not stable. When we stand up here and talk about those who are responsible being held accountable, you then send your toy soldiers to come and raise a sensitive issue of gender-based violence in retaliation of us protesting against De Klerk and Pravin Gordhan. [Applause.] Your caucus and your Whips say these envious toy soldiers of a failed youth league come here and try to disrupt the commander-in-chief on the basis of gender-based violence. Of all issues ... [Interjections.]

 

Ms J TSHABALALA: Deputy Speaker, on a point of order: Can the member relax and not be emotional. He must sit down. He’s been emotional.

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon members, please, don’t rule from the floor, but let me do it.

 

 

Ms J TSHABALALA: Ho Deputy Speaker, we don’t know which member is a toy. But my point of order is that you can’t say Pravin Gordhan. He is an hon member of this House. Address him properly. [Interjections.] Stop howling it’s a point of order.

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon Shivambu, that point of order is sustained. You know that that’s a practice.

 

 

Mr N F SHIVAMBU: Mr Gordhan! That’s the level of contribution to correct peoples’ names and references. It’s small minds!

 

 

We’ve a crisis in this country and anyone who tells you otherwise is misleading you. You need to be honest; you need to be reflective; and you need to listen to the superior logic of the economic emancipation movement. You have tried everything, you’ve tried all policies, you mislead each other, you contradict and you change this and change that, but you

 

have not yet brought about a meaningful solution to the people of South Africa. The solution is only the EFF. Thank you very much [Applause.]

 

 

Mr M S MALATSI: Deputy Speaker, in every state of the nation address by President Ramaphosa, one thing is for sure, we are serenaded by a remix of a classic hit: from Thuma Mina to Khauzela and just last week to a verse by Ladysmith Black Mambazo. But beneath all those sonic seductions, are the echoes of broken promises. Mr President, while you plead for more time from all of us to fix what’s broken in the country, the reality is that many South Africans have no more time left to wait.

 

 

The people of Mzilela Village in Giyani who have never had access to clean drinkable water since 1994 are tired of waiting. The young graduate who has never had a job since his or her graduation is tired of waiting. Victims of rape are tired of waiting for rape kits at police stations every time they report their cases. All of them want a government that understands the urgency of their plight. Their patience has been tested over and over again. All they need is more delivery less promises. They, like the rest of the country need a president with guts to take bold decisions.

 

So, all these claims we are hearing about being serious, about fighting corruption will only be credible when corrupt politicians starting with those that are in these benches, start going to jail [Applause.] Until then, such calls will remain the repetitive hollow sounds of broken records.

 

 

Mr President, you also spent a great deal of time sharing the extent of multiple consultations, summits, councils, forums, and all other glorified chat rooms over elaborating on the simplicity of our problems. If truth be told, it shouldn’t take such endless consultations to fix what’s broken in our country because the solutions are all so obvious to us. All it takes is the courage to confront the left-wing ideologues your organisation and dump their dogmatic obsessions. All it takes

...

 

 

Mr M S CWAILE: ...ee! Sorry point of order ...

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: ...where are you? Yes hon member, what’s your point of order...

 

 

 

Mr M S CWAILE: ...on the rule 14c, may that person take a question, on what he is saying? [Laughter.] ...

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: ...hon member, you don’t say that, yah...

 

 

Mr M S CWAILE: ...can hon member take a question?

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Yes hon Malatsi, would you take a question?

 

 

Mr M S MALATSI: I have got lots of time; I will take a question at the end of my speech.

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Ok, all right hon member thank you, go ahead.

 

 

Mr M S MALATSI: All it takes is to reaffirm the independence of the S A Reserve Bank. It takes stopping the nationalization of medical health care, stopping expropriation of land without compensation and privatising failing state-owned enterprises. If you do this, you will restore the investor confidence that will help create the jobs that so many South Africans need.

But we all know that all of these are impossible to achieve. It is because of the deep ideological differences between the factions you are trying to appease in your organisation. The reformer you promised to be has evolved into a gutless smooth talker full of promises, devoid of deliverables and Mr Nice

 

Guy, who is trying so hard to appease everybody ultimately disappointing everyone. [Applause.]

 

 

And let’s get to the ANC speakers that came to the floor. Hon Kubayi-Ngubane, it is not only the anarchic behaviour of the some of the Members Parliament, MPs, in the House that hurts investor confidence in this country, it the contradictory policies of your government that damages Brand SA. And to the Mayor of Polokwane, my home town I have a message for you from the people of Flora Park, Bendor and Seshego, all they ask is stop gallivanting and deliver water that is all they need [Applause.]. And hon Magadzi ...

 

 

Tshivenda:

 

... muhulwane wanga...

 

 

English:

 

Mr J S MALEMA: ...Speaker, Speaker...

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: ...hon member, yes what are you rising on, hon member...

 

 

Mr J S MALEMA: ...I wanted to say, on the point of water we agree, in Polokwane there was ... [Inaudible.] [Laughter.]

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: ...but that’s not a point of order, go ahead hon Malatsi.

 

 

Mr M S MALATSI: Hon Magadzi ...

 

 

Tshivenda:

 

... muhulwane wanga...

 

 

English:

 

 ... the reason we want the railway services functions is it because national government has consistently fail them, you are incapable, we have shown that we are capable and that is what we want to do. [Applause.] To hon Bheki Cele, of course you know everything about interim positions because you had one of the shortest stints as a police commissioner in the country. [Applause.] And for someone who was hobnobbing with Gavin Watson and Roux Shabangu to come and preach to us about being a law-abiding citizen is the key of irony. [Applause.] But most importantly we know about the meeting you had with the Premier of the Western Cape Province, what you did not share with this House was that, at the meeting between the City of Cape Town, the Chair of the Civil Secretariat, the Police Commissioner in the Western Cape, the SA Police Service

 

signed off on each of and every one of those law enforcement auditor’s documents. [Applause.]

 

 

And if you cared so much about the safety of South Africans, why is the SA Police Services spending on average R10 million on the protection of very important persons, VIPs, while police stations throughout the country do not have police vehicles and are under resourced. [Applause.] So what this illustrates is that perhaps the time has come recognise that the ANC has simply run out of the best ideas to make our country prosper.

 

 

The standard ANC responses to every major debate about the future of the country is more state-controlled, nationalize the Reserve Bank they shout, establish the a state bank they preach, introduce more taxes they scream, expropriate land they chant, take away people’ pensions/ savings – while one thing is clear, the dream of a capable state that they so preached has become a nightmare. This state is incapable of managing it’s affairs, every single major state-owned enterprise in the country is falling apart, Eskom, Telkom, SA Airways, SAA and The Passenger Rail Agency of SA, PRASA all of them are falling apart.

 

So, now is the time for a government that protects individual property rights rather than trampled on them. Now is the time for a government that embraces citizen’s right to choose the medical health plan they prefer rather than take away their rights. Now is the time for a government that can devolve powers to provinces, to establish provincial police services rather than fight those provinces that are trying to fight crime.

 

 

As imperfect as we may have been in government, we are the only best alternative to the ANC in government; because where we govern every credible research shows: Communities are much safer, the quality of life is better, poor resident has access to the most basic broad-based goods and services. I thank you. [Applause.]

 

 

Ms A STEYN: Deputy Speaker, Deputy Speaker...

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Yes, who’s...?

 

 

Ms A STEYN: I am sorry to waste the time of the speaker on the podium, I didn’t want to stop the member. I just want to find out if it is parliamentary for the deputy Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform to make this

 

kind of signs to us all the time while the speaker was on the podium?

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: No, hon members, if you did those gestures they are not in order, so let us not do that, please. Order hon members, let’s listen to the Minister here now.

 

 

The MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES: Hon Deputy

 

Speaker, His Excellency the President and the Deputy President, hon members, a lot has been said in this House in the past two days. Maybe I should just start with the immediate. The ANC was formed to respond to the land question. That is what the first declaration of the ANC spoke about. It also spoke about reconstructing and ensuring that this country responds that the majority of the people of this country participate in the politics and in the economy of the country.

 

 

It is a complete distortion that the ANC or its allegiance is to the ground. Hon Shivambu is not being truthful. [Laughter.] [Interjections.] Whatever he has said here, the ANC has resolved on. Shifting of Parliament to Gauteng is long been resolved. The only thing that is being done is a feasibility study to make it practical. On the energy issue he has raised,

 

the Minister of Energy speaks every day about just transition and the importance of coal.

 

 

I am just dealing with the immediate, hon President, but you have delivered a clear state of the nation address. With regard to procurement, Cabinet has approved a National Procurement Bill which responds to everything the hon Shivambu has said. There is nothing new that he has said. We have resolved; we are implementing. [Applause.]

 

 

Mr President, the state of the nation that you have tabled here provides the basis for the nature of reforms required to propel us towards that lofty ideal of a national democratic society. The state of the nation address also gives full effect to the aspirations of South Africans who have endorsed the ANC and its manifesto during the 2019 Elections. In these elections, South Africans gave the ANC an undisputable mandate to lead this great nation into a new era. [Applause.]

 

 

As hon Steenhuisen correctly conceded, South Africans believe that under your leadership, the ANC can bring about substantial reforms for us to achieve a national democratic society. Hon Steenhuisen knows and acknowledges that the ANC is the people’s choice. Even some members of the DA in

 

Johannesburg agree that the ANC is the leader, hence they always vote with us.

 

 

At this moment in history, our situation as a nation can be likened to that of China in the 1960s when Deng Xiapong took over. China had to take pragmatic steps to open up the economy; deal decisively with corruption; allow for foreign direct investment in the economy; and open up for equity in some of the state-owned entities.

 

 

South Africa finds itself at a point where hard political choices in state-owned enterprises and state agencies have to be made. In making those choices, the demands of the populists will not be met. [Laughter.] As a matter of a historical record, Mr President, we are taught that whenever reforms are introduced and decisions are made, to press the reset button of any nation, demagogues and opportunists will always seek to seize the opportunity to mislead the masses.

 

 

They will offer instant solutions which are far from reality. They do this by apportioning blame on the reformist, by making unguided and misinformed pronouncements on matters of governance in general and the economy in particular. They do

 

so to project the reformist leadership as sell-outs of the people.

 

 

In our country, they even have no shame in vulgarising and distorting historical documents and the programme of action of the ANC. They even claim the Freedom Charter as their own. As hon Shivambu was now claiming the issue of moving from here to Johannesburg. [Laughter.] [Interjections.]

 

 

They even appropriate to themselves any resolutions that anyone would have taken. For example, the New Growth Path clearly spoke about the sovereign fund. Today the President is accused of having stolen this idea. These are the people who always pretend to this truth. We must unmask them for who they are. [Applause.]

 

 

Mr President, it is clear that we are the reformers that this great nation has been waiting for. Rest assured that we will be robust in implementing the structural reforms required to restore the economic, the rule of law and social cohesion. The rule of law, equality before the law and the independence of our judiciary are sacrosanct principles of our constitutional democracy. No one can be sparred, regardless of their race, class, gender or political affiliation.

 

Land reform is also a constitutional imperative. As a governing party, we have consistently maintained that we will not be haphazard in the manner in which we address this original sin. As part of our efforts to ensure that there is land justice, we will finalise a Bill that will consolidate a land court that operates in a manner that speedily resolves land disputes, including expanding the services of Legal Aid SA to help in the fight against evictions in the farms. [Applause.]

 

 

Hon members, yesterday we witnessed firsthand what hon Mthembu correctly described as a misguided delusion of grandeur. The hon Mhlaule extends this further by defining the tendency as fascists. We saw what EFF members and ultimately voters are subjected to. Hon Malema stood here and held a spectacular monologue with full view of South Africans. In his monologue, he seems to think that he is in charge and that the world revolves around him. [Laughter.]

 

 

This is just a figment of his imagination in the fantasy of his militarised world. You cannot be in charge in a democracy; the people are in charge. [Applause.] The image of him barking commands to his members, especially his deputy president, captures the individualism. The refrain, “Sit down, DP, I have

 

it under control”, best attest to the fact that the political disease of megalomania does not care about the colour of a suit or overall a pseudo revolutionary is wearing. [Applause.]

 

 

It is clear that in the corridors of the EFF, it is Malema’s way or the high way. [Interjections.] For evidence on this, we can simply look at former hon member Rawula, Mpho Ramakatsa, Andile Mngxitama, Litchfield Tshabalala and at least the latest being Advocate Dali Mpofu, Godrich Gardee, Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi and former hon member Leigh-Ann Mathys. I don’t want to predict who might be next, but all signs are there. [Laughter.]

 

 

One does not have to be a student of Lenin to agree with his characterisation of what he termed left-wing infantile disorder. He argues that it is a disorder which thrives in an atmosphere where society is plunged into a propagandist atmosphere, wherein pseudo revolutionaries thrive on disunity, individualism and alternate moods of exaltation.

 

 

Madam Speaker, ... [Interjections.] ...     the minority cannot govern the majority through anarchy. Our constitutional democracy ... [Interjections.]

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon Minister! I just wanted you to look at me. That’s better now. Yes! [Laughter.]

 

 

The MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES: Ooh! Hon

 

Deputy Speaker, the minority cannot govern the majority through anarchy. Our constitutional democracy allows the minority to contribute through persuasion and superior logic. The tendency of holding the majority at ransom through disorderly behaviour is the greatest exhibition of autocratic tendencies which thrive in the EFF.

 

 

Hon Deputy Speaker, those who make the loudest noise must never be allowed to drown the voice of reason. Such kind of minority autocratic tendencies has led in many countries to a reign of terror, political disappearances and extrajudicial killings. As a governing party, we concede that implementation has at times been a challenge, as hon Didiza said yesterday, and for this reason, the President’s state of the nation address has made the building of the capacity within state an urgent priority to speed up service delivery.

 

 

It is for this reason that we have introduced the district development model at a local government level to ensure that service delivery is localised and becomes a lived reality for

 

our people. Madam Speaker, ... [Interjections.] ... law enforcement is also not spared. Ooh! Hon Deputy Speaker, ... [Laughter.] ... law enforcement is also not spared.

 

 

The hon Holomisa called on the National Prosecuting Authority, NPA, to prosecute those who looted resources of the country.

In this regard, President Ramaphosa has committed government to the rule of law and a reformed and modernised criminal justice system. This is demonstrated by the various commitments he has fulfilled in helping with the rebuilding of the NPA.

 

 

Under his watch, the following reforms have been implemented: Firstly, the NPA has been given an additional R150 million for the current financial year to fill vacancies and build an investigative directorate for the first time in nearly five years; and secondly, a Special Tribunal has been operationalised as of the first of October 2019. I can confirm that the Special Tribunal has already heard a few cases.

 

 

We are continuing to avail resources for law enforcement agencies to pursue the perpetrators and beneficiaries of corruption and state capture. The Zondo Commission of Enquiry makes it plain that the project of state capture was a

 

sophisticated and well-orchestrated project designed to enrich a select few at the altar of the national democratic society.

 

 

The President will, at the appropriate time, release the report on the commission of inquiry into the Public Investment Corporation. Perpetrators of various crimes are convicted every day in our courts. There are still challenges we need to address as identified by state of the nation address and civil society. I am convinced that working together with civil society we will defeat gender-based violence and violence against children.

 

 

Through sexual offence courts, we now have made it is easier for gender-based violence to be expedited through the judicial system in a manner that reduces secondary victimisation.

Deputy Speaker, the opposition fails to digest the obvious fact that the ANC is the only organization which has the capacity to deal with the past, contend with the present and build the future of this great nation. [Applause.]

 

 

When some amongst us create fictitious enemies, we in the ANC know who the real enemies of our revolution are. The real enemies are unemployment and inequality, which most of our women and youth. The real enemy is low economic growth. The

 

real enemy is a lack of market access for small to medium enterprises. The real enemy is the high number of criminals who wreak havoc in our communities through drug networks, money laundering schemes and rampant criminality. The real enemies are those who believe they are entitled to women’s bodies and take advantage of minors and abuse them.

 

 

In your speech, Mr President, you were clear and honest about the challenges that face South Africans on a day-to-day basis

... [Time expired.] [Interjections.]

 

 

As I conclude, hon President, allow me to honour the late Joseph Shabalala – uMshengu; uShabalala – who is going to be buried this Saturday:

 

 

Emaweni webaba Silale maweni Emaweni webaba Silale maweni

Webaba silale maweni Webaba silale maweni Webaba silale maweni Webaba silale maweni

 

Emaweni webaba Silale maweni Emaweni webaba Silale maweni

Webaba silale maweni Webaba silale maweni Webaba silale maweni Webaba silale maweni

 

 

[Applause.]

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you very much, hon members.

 

 

Dr M Q NDLOZI: The people are homeless! The people are homeless! [Interjections.] Without electricity!

 

 

AN HON MEMBER: Sit down! Sit down! Sit down! Sit down! [Interjections.]

 

 

The Joint-Sitting business of the Houses concluded.

 

 

House adjourned at 18:55.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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