Hansard: NA: Unrevised hansard
House: National Assembly
Date of Meeting: 10 Nov 2020
Summary
No summary available.
Minutes
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 10 NOVEMBER 2020
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Watch the video here: PLENARY (HYBRID)
The House met at 14:03.
House Chairperson Ms M G Boroto took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayer or meditation.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Good afternoon, hon members. Let’s think of our safety and make sure that we sit in our designated areas and also wear our masks at all times. The attendance slips are on your desks. Please fill them out for us.
MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE STATEMENT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN
The MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE: Thank you, hon
Chairperson, and good afternoon to all my colleagues. Thank you for the opportunity to present this executive member’s statement on the Infrastructure Investment Plan, or IIP, as part of the
Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan presented by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 15 October.
At the start of the 6th administration, government was reconfigured with infrastructure now, for the first time, as part of a government department to address the fragmentation of infrastructure delivery once and for all.
The new Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, the DPWI, was gazetted by the President in August 2019 with the Presidential Infrastructure Co-ordinating Commission technical task team, the PICC, and the Infrastructure Delivery Management System, the IDMS, and Treasury being transferred to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.
Since the end of 2019, the DPWI has worked closely with the Infrastructure and Investment Office in the Presidency to put together a pipeline of infrastructure projects that will completely transform the landscape of our cities, towns and rural areas.
At a meeting in Cape Town on 18 February 2020 with commercial banks and multilateral development institutions, numerous issues were raised with us. They included the following: the need for a
credible project pipeline of infrastructure projects that are ready and bankable for investment; the need for a comprehensive, long-term, focused infrastructure plan; and the need to address the fragmentation of infrastructure delivery. We have listened and the DPWI, together with the Infrastructure Investment Office in the Presidency, embarked on an extensive consultation process and developed a new methodology of planning and project preparation with the private sector.
The Infrastructure Investment Plan relates to a new methodology of project planning, preparation and packaging infrastructure projects to ensure their bankability. What is also new is that the new methodology assesses the projects in terms of how they will advance the national development goals, including the National Development Plan and the national seven key priorities of the 6th administration, as well as the African Union Agenda 2063.
We gathered infrastructure projects from all government departments, from all three spheres of government and from state- owned enterprises. We put an initial 276 projects through the new methodology to see if they were bankable, if they were ready for implementation and to also determine whether feasibility studies had been done.
Leading up to the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan was Cabinet’s approval of South Africa’s Infrastructure Investment Plan at the end of May 2020. The Infrastructure Investment Plan focuses on implementation and investment in the immediate, medium and long term. Some of the projects will run over several financial years.
The Infrastructure Investment Plan not only speaks to new infrastructure projects, but also to maintenance and repairs of existing infrastructure and to urban management which includes the clean-up of our cities, towns and townships. Fifty projects were found to be compliant with the new methodology, and we have also created what we call 12 special projects for mass public employment opportunities. In July, the 50 projects and the 12 special projects were gazetted as Strategic Integrated Projects, or SIPS, in terms of the Infrastructure Development Act.
The 62 projects have been divided into six sectors, namely water and sanitation, energy, transport, digital infrastructure, agriculture and agro-processing, and human settlements. All 62 SIPs are at various stages of the project life cycle and will result in major job-creation to help us stimulate our economy. The gazetting also enables the projects to be prioritised for implementation, with the regulatory processes fast-tracked as the
processes now run concurrently instead of in the usual format of one process after another.
Government’s role in many of these projects will be to assist with unblocking any snags whether technical, financial, legal or administrative that have hindered infrastructure delivery such as the unlocking bulk infrastructure investment. The role of government is to create the conditions conducive for the private sector to create and invest in infrastructure.
Those infrastructure projects that are already in construction will also see their future plans being brought forward for implementation, including some of our human settlement projects. It must be noted that the DPWI is not usurping the role of the owners of these projects. We are merely pulling them together into a credible pipeline and have a steering committee to monitor implementation, assist where blockages arise, prevent delays and ensure that implementation is achieved.
In terms of the funding for all these projects, three funding mechanisms will be utilised. The first is the Infrastructure Fund to which government has committed R100 billion over 10 years. We are also encouraging private investors to invest in this fund to make it a blended fund. The second source of funding is from the
private sector and this includes funding from international funding institutions, multilateral development banks, development financing institutions and commercial banks. On 23 June this year, we had a symposium at which we received R340 billion in commitments. The Green Infrastructure Bond instrument is a further funding opportunity that is being explored to give us the opportunity to look at alternative funding sources, coupled with the drive for green, energy-efficient infrastructure solutions that meet the climate change mitigation needs of our country. The third funding stream is from the fiscus directly. As we know, our fiscus is not in a good space. This is, essentially, social infrastructure which is the responsibility of the state.
We have taken steps to remove the constraints that have hampered infrastructure delivery in the past. In terms of the institutional arrangements, Cabinet approved the establishment of Infrastructure SA, or ISA, as the single entry point for all infrastructure projects to drive the implementation of the Infrastructure Investment Plan.
Infrastructure SA is the administrative arm responsible for project preparation and packaging, funding pathways including debt capital markets, blended financing and funding through the fiscus, as well as assisting with blockages and monitoring implementation.
Infrastructure SA is now building capacity to prepare and package projects and to ensure oversight in the implementation of South Africa’s Infrastructure Investment Plan. I also want to thank the private sector for seconding professionals to ISA to assist us with the Infrastructure Investment Plan.
Infrastructure SA is also in the process of adapting an infrastructure procurement framework to enable public-private partnerships and unlock new funding mechanisms for major infrastructure investment.
There is, however, a need to advance these processes further and to achieve this, last week on Tuesday and Wednesday, we hosted a project preparation round table with finance institutions to pitch these projects where funding is required. The session saw 27 projects being pitched to local and international commercial banks, pension funds, multilateral development banks and development finance institutions. National Treasury has already provided R440 million to assist with project preparation.
In terms of the 12 special projects, in Minister Tito Mboweni’s Medium-Term Budget Statement on 28 October, R12,6 billion was allocated to the mass public employment programmes. In terms of implementation, some of the gazetted projects are at various
stages. There were a number of blockages that were causing delays, and we, together with the recently established SIP Steering Committee, have already been able to deal with many of these blockages to get those projects out of the starting blocks.
With the gazetting, we are also looking at including the approval of credit-enhancing instruments, unlocking the funding for the provision of bulk infrastructure, and the speedy processing of water licences, environmental impact studies and township establishment. Many of our human settlement projects have been constrained owing to the funding of bulk infrastructure.
As a result, the Strategic Integrated Projects that are currently under construction but require funding solutions for their bulk infrastructure as they look to expedite the roll-out of their integrated human settlement developments, are the following. I am just going to mention a few. We have the SIP 24 Lufhereng in Johannesburg, which is a mixed use, integrated human settlement development located in close proximity to Soweto. We estimate that it will create 24 000 housing opportunities and about 7 000 jobs. In addition, the beneficiaries are also assisted to apply to the National Housing Finance Corporation.
There are also two private-sector projects that are currently under way which are the Mooikloof and Green Creek developments in Tshwane. These are two substantial integrated-housing, private- sector projects with integrated housing solutions, which together will yield about 60 000 jobs.
In KwaZulu-Natal there is the Greater Cornubia development under SIP 24. It is also a mixed-use integrated housing development. We expect about 57 000 housing opportunities. Then there is Vista Park, which is another human settlement development under SIP 24 located in Mangaung in the Free State. This project is expected to yield about 33 000 units and 5 500 jobs. So, altogether, we have gazetted 18 housing projects to the value of R129 billion and with an estimated 190 000 housing opportunities.
Another project in the environment sector is SIP 19 which is Phase
2 of the Mokolo Crocodile River Augmentation Project. It is under way now because we have been able to ensure an increase in the interim borrowing limits – they are being approved – and the long- awaited decision on environmental authorisation was issued by the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries on 11 October 2020.
Another Strategic Integrated Project is, of course, the SIP 20A. It is the emergency Risk Mitigation Independent Power Purchase Procurement Programme, in terms of which the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy will be the lead department and the Independent Power Producer Office the implementing agency.
We have assisted in expediting certain processes for this SIP, which has an estimated capital cost of R40 billion that will be privately funded with an Eskom Power Purchase Agreement. The bid submissions for the request for proposals for this 2 000 MW programme will close on 24 November 2020.
In the Western Cape, under SIP 19 we are busy with the Berg River Vo?vlei Augmentation Scheme which is long outstanding and a much- needed project to ensure water resilience for the drought-prone province.
Of the infrastructure-led mass public-employment programmes, the first one that we are starting will be a comprehensive urban management programme across all 44 districts and the eight metropolises. This programme includes the cleaning of parks, roads and pavements; the installation of rubbish bins and street lights; the maintenance of sidewalks; the closing of drains and manholes; and the provision of safe spaces for street trading. This
programme will see about 1 000 jobs created per district. We are starting in the Vhembe District Municipality, the OR Tambo District Municipality and the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality.
Recruitment is to be done using the COVID-19 social grant database coupled with the indigent grant databases of the respective municipalities.
The second special project, which has a mass public employment component, is the Welisizwe Rural Bridges Programme. In terms of this programme, we want to build at least 400 bridges in three years. The Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State are the three provinces which have been prioritised. We have already built some bridges in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has opened a skills portal on our website where we are encouraging unemployed skilled workers and people and retired persons to upload their CVs.
We must deal with the issue of corruption. To regain the confidence of our society, of South Africans, of investors, we must show that government is capable of turning the tide. As government we are showing that we are capable of turning the
situation around by holding the corrupt and delinquent visibly accountable. We are putting measures in place to mitigate against corruption in the investment plan. We have appointed an independent company to do due diligence on all the processes. We are working on a more effective system to detect and prevent corruption. We are also working with the Special Investigating Unit, the SIU, which is helping us to set up an anticorruption forum consisting of both the public and the private sector. It is not only the public sector that is corrupt; there is also a lot of corruption in the private sector – and we are going to work together.
Madam Chair, in conclusion and going forward, I want to stress that we are going to be working feverishly behind the scenes and will only make further announcements and launch projects once we are satisfied that there is active construction at a site and activities are actually happening. [Applause.] No more sod- turnings; it must be there before we announce a project.
Government is leading with investment in infrastructure to create the crowding-in effect by the private sector so that we can create more jobs and get more investment. These 62 projects that I am making reference to are just the first phase. We are already looking at the second phase and we are working together with all
national departments – all three spheres of government and state- owned entities – to put the second phase together.
Implementation is key, and by working together in partnership is the key. All spheres of government, the private sector, labour and communities must now put our shoulder to the wheel, get things done, get the economy growing and creating more jobs for our people. I thank you. [Applause.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Thank you very much. You saw your clock. I used my discretion.
The MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE: Thank you very
much!
Ms S J GRAHAM: House Chairperson, call me crazy but if vague was a person, then it will be Minister de Lille, because following this executive statement we’ve heard today, we have been provided with great many promises but very few actual details. While the DA welcomes the idea of an infrastructure-led economic recovery, we are deeply concerned about the vehicle, the driver and the route.
Let’s look at the vehicle, we have heard today of a new entity or structure falling within the mandate of the department-
Infrastructure South Africa, ISA. We have been advised by the Minister that this entity will be the co-ordinating arm of all public infrastructure in South Africa. What the Minister fails to share with us is what type of entity we are dealing with. Aside from the fact that ISA is putting the infrastructure into public works and infrastructure, this entity is a mystery. It’s not established as a statutory body; it is not yet a state-owned entity or whether that is on the cards apparently. According to the Minister it was established by Cabinet. So what exactly is it?
Your organogram including extremely high salary bands for ISA, has already been approved by the Minister of Public Service and Administration. The budget to fund this organogram has set to be put from various other votes within the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.
What is the driver or drivers in this case? It is very telling that the two core elements of the President economic reconstruction and recovery plan, the infrastructure plan and the mass employment stimulus are vested in the hands of the only known ANC Members of this Cabinet. The head of ISA does not report to the Director General of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, despite the fact that ISA extensively falls within his department. The head instead reports to the Minister and/ or
the President, again this is not entirely clear. Essentially we have entire infrastructure model vested in the hands of three people, accountable only to each other it seems.
What about the route? We’ve had a financing models, government funding, private funding, lending models and even green bonds. The amount of funding being promised are billions and trillions.
Worryingly, references have also been made to borrowing money to fund projects. We disparately need clarity on exactly who fund and what money on every source, if we are to believe the promises of transparency and accountability.
We all know that the [Inaudible.] need to be maintained, so too should the fix assets of government be. The Minister’s plan has said nothing about the maintenance of all this amazing infrastructure that’s been built. We currently have an immovable asset register that was last comprehensively updated in 2014, with some additional verification done in 2016. A couple of years ago, DA Member of Parliament, MP, Ms Dianne Kohler Barnard entered [Inaudible.] of some property listed on the Department of Public Works register. These properties were situated somewhere in the middle of Atlantic Ocean. How does a department do maintenance on its assets, when is not entirely sure of what those are or where they are and with the battle of that exist? It will be some time
before it gets a hand on everyone’s assets. In the meantime, what will happen to the new assets and the maintenance they require?
Finally, every vehicle should be comprehensively covered by insurance. In this case that insurance is the so called anti- corruption strategy, Minister de Lille has told us about.
According to the Minister the idea is to launch an anti-corruption unit such as that which was launched in the health sector last year by President Ramaphosa. This is extremely concerning. Medical brief, reporting on the Whether Now hosted by the Special Investigative Unit, SIU, in October of this year. Attributed the following remarks to Advocate Mothibi, SIU head:
The procurement processes in the health sector is riddled with maladministration and almost everything in the health sector has some elements of corruption. This came some 13 months after the launch of the ant-corruption unit. All [Inaudible.] done is to highlight the extent the corruption not deal with it. We need clarification on exactly what the anti-corruption strategy is, that Minister de Lille assures us is in place.
So to recap, we have a department with capacity and infrastructure being usurped by an entity of internment form. We have a
ballooning salary bill with undetermined source of income. We have the head of the organization reporting directly to the Minister and/ or the President and the Minister only answerable to the President. We have details of 62 projects to be implemented and the sources of funding remain unclear. We have promises of more units to fight corruption while the existing ones continue to drown under the endless cases of corruption perpetuated by this government.
Minister de Lille, is inviting us to join her on this journey and while the DA will love nothing more than to get on board, [Inaudible.] because this is less of magical mystery tour and rather more like Speed 1; where are on the bus with bomb hackling down the high way towards the gigantic precipice and given what we heard today, I am not sure if that there’s anybody available to save us. I thank you.
Ms A M SIWISA: House Chairperson, the idea to pin the hopes of entire nation on a state-led infrastructure to revive the economy when the state itself has no capacity is misguided if not utterly foolish. The Minister statement is nothing short of rhetoric because the reality is that to use infrastructure to revive this economy will require a state that has capacity at all levels both
administrative and technical, something which currently does not exist in government.
Since 1994 the little technical and maintenance capacity that was there, was destroyed and today everything, starting with the most basic thing such as drawing of plans, government rely on third party entities which collude, inflate prices and half the time don’t ever bother to do work but still get paid.
There has not even capacity to enforce a contract to ensure that, that was paid for its delivery. The government cannot build and maintain hospitals and clinics, cannot build and maintain roads, water infrastructure, sanitation and many other basic infrastructures. While this is the state of affairs within the state, as far as infrastructure planning, execution and maintenance are concerned, there are more concerning fundamental issues where the government planned based on Mr Cyril Ramaphosa misguided fake in the private sector. Mr Ramaphosa announced that the government will allocate a R100 billion to the infrastructure with the hope that this will unlock further trillion-rand investment from the private sector. Growth, Employment, and Redistribution, GEAR, Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative - South Africa, AsgiSA and National Development Plan, NDP said the same and none of these achieved their intended outcomes.
Even the national infrastructure maintenance strategy failed because the Department of Public Works, that is the custodian of all state properties does not have its capacity but outsource everything while engineers in plight in the department are reduced to administrators and secretaries. To want to do again the same thing with the so called economic reconstruction and recovery plan and what the Minister has just presented and expect a different outcome, is a true definition of insanity, made worse by corruption, political and technical incompetence of the part of Mr Ramaphosa and his collective in the Cabinet.
The only way infrastructure spends by a government anywhere in the world has led to economic growth, created jobs and play a meaningful role to reduce inequalities, was when the state led and controlled the plan, execution and had an influence in the majority of up and downstream business opportunities. That was the case with a world construction and development in 1994, after the World War Two. It is how China built its economic foundation to become the fastest growing economy in the world and it is also the case here in South Africa to when the colonial come, apartheid was able to develop some form of sustainable economic growth over a longer period of time.
To achieve this, we must have state-owned infrastructure capacity to deal with a majority of infrastructure that is old and collapsing because of their lifespan was reduced by poor maintenance. We must establish a state-owned housing construction company, state-owned road construction company and immediately abolish tenders for construction and maintenance of government infrastructure. We must build state internal capacity to deal with lifespan projects particularly as it relates to the life sector of infrastructure operation and maintenance.
That means planning of infrastructures as buildings, roads, [Inaudible.] hospitals, equipment by the scanners, water purification, dams, electricity power plants and transmission lines. Telecommunication towers and other infrastructures must include a clear plan of maintenance as the basis of determining the project feasibility. A clear infrastructure plan should also include details such as number of jobs per project, duration of the jobs, local materials that going to be used in the project, details of the beneficiaries of up and downstream.
Lastly, each year, government including municipalities and state- owned enterprise, SOEs, must be able to consolidate the report on infrastructure maintenance, through the Office of the President to Parliament. Unless we do these basic things, we will have the
whole President being paraded, opening some [Inaudible.] mega project owned by his white donors like it happened in Pretoria and their project do not even meet basic Black Economic Empowerment, BEE, targets. To them BEE is the afterthought [Interjection.] [Inaudible.] ... they know nothing about it. [Time expired.]
Mr M N NXUMALO: Chair, hon Minister and hon members, our nation is experiencing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly on our economy. I think most of us will agree to that. As we sit here today, there is much uncertainty around how effective our recovery plans will be as the second waves, as we here from the media, of the virus happens across the globe, and other countries have strict lockdown protocols. Our economy was already struggling way before the onset of the pandemic, which further compromises us a s country.
The implementation of the infrastructure investment plan is more urgent in the wake of the pandemic. The IFP however acknowledges the work that the department undertook to lay the foundation for this critical plan. The main concern that I have - especially considering the uncertainty surrounding where we would be as a nation in terms of health in the coming months, is whether targets will be met, as the pandemic might affect the service delivery regarding the projects.
Further, what mitigation factors have been considered to manage such uncertainty, especially considering the blow the construction industry took because of Covid-19? It is also necessary to prioritise the implementation of projects that will put food on the table for our people by creating jobs. Labour-intensive projects like road, building and housing developments must be at the forefront of these plans.
Further, in the maintenance and the repair of existing infrastructure, the IFP urges the department not to neglect communities outside our metros. Our provinces deserve dignity, development, employment opportunities and other economic improvement, as much as those in large metros.
The IFP agrees that part of government’s role is to create a conducive condition for private-sector investment. However, the advent of the state capture and corruption demands a high level of diligence to protect South Africans, and for our country to remain credible in the international community.
The IFP wishes to reiterate the importance of transparency and accountability when it comes to the execution of all these projects. Parliament must remain abreast of personal changes,
physical responsibility, as well as frequent and honest updates on the monitoring and evaluation of these particular projects.
Further, because of the multiple sources of finance and the culture of corruption that we have seen in government spending, clear and plausible ... [Inaudible.] ... and sanctions must be created and be executed without prejudice.
Lastly, the IFP recognises that this undertaking is a mammoth one upon whose success the recovery and development of our country hinges. Co-operative government is critical to the successful implementation of the elected programme. I trust that all these concerned government departments will come to the table with their best and brightest. This collaboration includes the relationships with our SOEs, many of which remain ineffective and plagued by corruption.
The IFP trust that the future of the South African people will be at the fore. Thank you.
Afrikaans:
Mnr P A VAN STADEN: Agb Voorsitter, tydens verlede jaar se debat oor die totstandkoming van superstede het die VF Plus dit duidelik gestel dat die betrokke plan niks anders as ’n resep vir ramspoed
is nie, aangesien die huidige stede en dorpe nie eens instandgehou kan word nie.
Minister De Lille het op daardie tydstip aangekondig dat die privaatsektor vir ’n tydperk van 20 jaar by die bou en instandhouding van infrastruktuur betrokke moet raak, waarin dit weer aan die staat oorgedra moet word.
President Ramaphosa homself het op daardie stadium erken dat die huidige situasie met stede nie volhoubaar is nie en dat daar ’n agterstand met die bou van skole, klinieke en hospitale was.
Minister De Lille het in hierdie einste Huis van implementering, implementering, implementering gepraat.
Die vraag wat ons vandag vir mekaar moet vra is: Wat het sedert Augustus 2019 verander? Die antwoord is baie duidelik – eintlik niks.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): The people of ICT, hon Van Staden is in the House and think the camera should be on him not me.
Afrikaans:
Mnr P A VAN STADEN: Niks het ook sedert 1994 verander nie. Ons kragsentrales is oud en meestal buitewerking en rioolwerke het in 2017, elke sekonde van die dag, nagenoeg 50 000 rou riool in ons riviere gestort. Ons padnetwerke is oud en val uitmekaar. Ons brue is nie meer veilig nie en kort dringend aandag. Ons spoorlyne is opgeroes, gevandaliseer of gesteel en ons stasies bestaan nie meer nie. Ons het ’n tekort aan damme en die wat ons het, word besoedel. Ons het ’n tekort aan polisiestasies, hospitale, klinieke en skole, asook die instandhouding by sommiges ontbreek. Ons geboue en ander bates is in so ’n toestand dat dit miljarde gaan kos om te herstel en ons infrastruktuurtoelaes wat munisipaliteite van Tesorie ontvang, gebruik hulle nie en daarom is daar dus ’n agterstand in infrastruktuur.
English:
Another question is: How is Infrastructure South Africa different from the other seven entities within the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure. The functions, ... None of these entities could do the functions that were prescribed for them to do in the first place. Every time this department comes up with a new plan to solve problems, it costs millions of rands and then nothing happens. We are stuck with an entity that is not functioning and it costs money to pay people who are employed by these entities.
We are wasting time and we are wasting money. This infrastructure investment plan is nothing more different from what the EPWP was supposed to do over the years. So, we spent R20 million to establish this entity, Infrastructure South Africa.
In our view, this plan is also not different from the RDP programme that was gazetted by former President Nelson Mandela on
23 November 1994. It is just an updated programme.
A commitment by the private sector for R340 billion is not money in the bank.
Afrikaans:
Die President vra die privaatsektor om toe te tree tot projekte, om werk te skep, maar met die regering as projekbestuurder, sal niemand daarby inkoop nie. Maak eerder die privaatsektor die projekbestuurder om sukses te behaal.
Die VF Plus is baie duidelik dat die staat nie werk kan skep nie, om rede die staat nie geld het nie en die belastingbetaler ook nie meer geld het om te gee nie. Wat ons bekommerd maak is dat die Minister gesê het dat sisteme in plek gestel sou word om korrupsie af te weer, dus is die staatspensioengeld wat in hierdie projek gebruik gaan word nie veilig nie. Ek wil vir my kollegas in die
ANC sê, pasop, jou swaarverdiende pensioengeld is nie veilig nie en jou eie party en jou eie regering gaan dit in sy eie sak sit.
Dus, vir die volgende 25 jaar is hierdie ’n nuwe plan op die tafel, net om weer te ervaar dat niks met hierdie plan gaan gebeur nie. Mense gaan hoë salarisse verdien en hulle gaan absoluut niks doen nie. Nog ’n entitiet kom van die grond af en nog ’n deur vir korrupsie word oopgemaak vir staatspensioene om te verdwyn in ’n bodemlose put.
English:
There is a solution to the infrastructure problem in this country and that is to stop affirmative action and transformation. Stop redistribution, stop corruption, stop government spending on high salaries, stop high taxes and the misuse of it and stop the appropriation without compensation. If you stop all these policies, then you will attract international as well as private investors to South Africa and then the economy will grow and there will be enough money to repair and build South Africa. It is one thing to gazette but it is another to deliver. Thank you.
Mr W M THRING: House Chair, in the view of the ACDP, there can be no denying that an infrastructure plan as well as an investment one is needed in South Africa. The nine wastes years of state
capture that has costs the nation hundreds of billions of rands through fraud, corruption rampant theft have not abated, as evident by the Auditor-General’s report on the state of our municipalities and recent reports on corrupt PPE deals across government departments. Corruption of this nature hurts the poor amongst us. It robs them from their dignity, ensnares them in a cycle of poverty, not just because of our apartheid past, which was reprehensible, but now because of the politically connected individuals who are allowed to plunder public resources with impunity. These are the accused number one who ought to be standing in the dock.
With that being said, South Africa is plague with geospatial infrastructural inequalities, characterised by a lack of social infrastructure in urban and rural communities, as a result of decades of underinvestment. Additionally, we have also seen decades of little to no investment in key sectors and a lack of sustained development in energy, telecommunications, rail, road, water and waste management, amongst other.
The South African infrastructure problem statement can be defined as one that is bureaucratic, having a silo mentality between departments, hence resulting in a lack of integration between key sectors.
Undoubtedly, there is a need to address the fragmentation of infrastructure delivery. The question is: Is this infrastructure investment plan the panacea to the infrastructure problems we face as a nation?
It is the view of the ACDP that, in order for this infrastructure investment plan to work, the relevant oversight committees need to see the memorandums of agreement, MOAs, between the necessary departments. We also need to be able to interrogate the funding instruments to be utilised, including the blended funding, to which the government has committed some R100 billion over the next
10 years, so as to ascertain how much is committed from the private sector and how much from government.
Additionally, the 62 catalytic projects need further unpacking, particularly on how these projects are to be funded. This is critical for our parliamentary committees to play their oversight role of monitoring funding expenditure with the expected outcomes of projects.
The ACDP agrees with the former President Thabo Mbeki in his critical analysis of the infrastructure investment plan that the plan is lacking in detail. The ACDP submits that unless detail is
given on the roll-out of a robust pipeline of projects, this plan will just remain a pipedream. I thank you.
Mr B H HOLOMISA: Hon Chair, hon Minister and hon members, hon Minister you recently said at a round table about infrastructure development that South Africa needs to have a plan and we need to stick to it. These are two extremely critical statements. Yes, we keep hearing about the plans, but does government ever stick to it? I guess time will tell. When the new South Africa arrived, the formerly disadvantaged had a legitimate expectation of a tangible improvement in the quality of their daily lives. The infrastructure of those who live in the then homelands and townships was never fully integrated and or upgraded.
Now, government buildings have fallen into serious disrepair and disuse. Hon Minister, infrastructure development is not a rocket science and although you are now sitting with the problem, the UDM finds it extremely maddening that infrastructure has been a stepchild of government priority. The taxpayer is now going to pay a dear price for 26 years of infrastructure neglect and disrepair, all of which could have been avoided if the comrades in corruption had not been so held back on lining their own and their party’s pocket. With that said the UDM welcomes the announcement made, but
we warn that a lot of work still must be done to eradicate the backlogs and the imbalances of the past.
However, the UDM firmly believes that new infrastructure development to be brought closer to the people, especially the poor. Elite projects like the new city, although not inherently there, are off the mark right now. Although it sounds a dream of technology and dream living, one wonders who its residents will be. The bread and butter projects, if you will, should be repairing and building schools and hospitals.
Hon Minister I would like to add that you undertake an audit of incomplete projects such as the water projects that were supposed to supply water to villages in the King Sabata Dalindyebo which has been at standstill for five years because of misappropriation of funds. Also in the Eastern Cape the R61 between Mthatha and Engcobo, small as the road was, was possible. Now excavated, it has been a death-trap for four years now. The road between Mthatha, Cofee Bay and Hole in the Wall is also been experiencing the same.
Some focus also must be placed on the taxpayers, not only in the metros but in the town like Krugersdorp in the North West and Parys in the Free State where the roads is in ... [Time Expired.]
IsiXhosa:
Ndiyabulela mama, ugade la masela emali.
IsiXhosa:
Nksz T L MARAWU: Enkosi kakhulu Sihlalo. Mandibulise kuMphathiswa nakumaLungu eNdlu. Okokuqala, siyi-ATM besiyivuyela kwaye siyilangazelela le ...
English:
... infrastructure investment plan ...
IsiXhosa:
... kodwa sinemibuzo esizibuza yona ethi, ingaba eli sebe lizakuqhuba le ...
English:
... infrastructure investment plan has the capacity, because it starts there with the capacity which is going to assist in the revival of the economy of this country. Our answer was, no. There is no capacity in the department ...
IsiXhosa:
kuba eli sebe lixakwe yimisebenzi (projects)yalo ekulindeleke ukuba liyigqibezele. Kwakhona, ujonga ukuba iziseko
(infrastructure) zeli lizwe zigcwele kuwo onke amasebe, xa ujonga ezempilo uzakufumanisa ukuba iSebe lezeMpilo ...
English:
... does not focus on their core function because of this infrastructure ...
IsiXhosa:
... ekufanele ukuba iya kwiSebe lezeMisebenzi yoLuntu neziSeko, kodwa ingaba amandla (capacity) akhona kusini na, hayi. Isebe lezeMfundo lixakekile lakha izikolo ekubeni loo nto bekufanele ukuba yenziwa liSebe lezeMisebenzi yoLuntu neziSeko. Ingxaki ekhoyo ...
English:
... is the capacity within the Department of Public Works which is not there. Coming again to the corruption within the department itself and looking at the huge amounts of the budget that are going to be used. Is this department clean in terms of dealing with the revival of the economy of this country? No.
IsiXhosa:
Urhwaphilizo kwela sebe alunganganto ukuba ingakwazi ukuqhuba eli lizwe liye phambili. Sithi ke siyi-ATM ...
English:
... we need to back to the drawing board to clean the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to prepare it for the rollout of the Infrastructure Investment Plan ...
IsiXhosa:
... yeli lizwe. Kubanjwe abantu ababandakanyekayo kurhwaphilizo. Ukuba ayikenziwa loo nto, masiyilibale into yokuba uqoqosho lweli lizwe xa siyibeke kwizandla zeSebe lezeMisebenzi yoLuntu neziSeko luyakuqhuba lubheke phambili.
Kule nto ibithethwa apha zizithethi zangaphambili, sixakene ngalo mzuzu nokukhathalelwa kwezakhiwo (maintenance) ezikhoyo zeSebe lezeMisebenzi yoLuntu neziSeko. Lizakuwuthini ke ngoko eli sebe lo mngeni mtsha wokujongana neziseko zeli lizwe? Ngokwenene sisentsomini apha. Enkosi siyabulela.
Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Hon House Chair let me start off by saying, if you can see miles away something that is going to fail, this is one opportunity to look at something that is going to fail before it even starts. Let me tell you why this project cannot be a success, actually all what it is now a pipe dream. You are asking people to dream for years, years and years, there is no realistic approach as far as ensuring that we can deliver on this thing.
Let me say, we don’t have a plan, we don’t have the capacity and we don’t have the money. I am not sure where the Minister is talking about getting all this money from. She also talks about in three to eighteen months, some of these projects will be completed, but within three months they will commence. How? When? Who? Are we going to give them to people that we know like it happened the Beitbridge? Is that what you are going to do? Can you tell us what process?
Let me give you a good example, R1,8 billion has been underspent in provincial departments alone in the last financial year. You do not have the necessary capacity there; the Minister believes we are going to deliver. Let me talk about the jobs, we speak about wanting to reduce the compensation to employees. We are talking about creating 363 000 more jobs, but we are speaking about reducing the compensation to employees.
On the one hand, the Minister says she wants to reduce the debt, the Minister talks about some of the plans she has is to go and borrow money. Borrow from where and to pay who? All the Minister is talking about doing is running this country into a fiscal clip, into bankruptcy. Clearly, this is not going to be. People are sick and tired of dreams and fantasy. They want us to be realistic based on what we can achieve to make a difference for the people.
Let me tell you Minister what you are actually doing, you have done exactly the same thing from the ID when you went to the DA, you promised them the world in the Western Cape, in the City of Cape Town, but what did you ...[Inaudible] ...., these are some of the examples. Look at what you have done at Beitbridge, look at how you employed people of your own. Are you telling me that we can have confidence that you can turn this project around and make it a success? Clearly no, you do not have what it takes.
Now you are singing the song of the ANC that you can implement these things and create a million jobs. How? When? Have you ever sat down and been realistic? Can you actually achieve these things in the short space of time that you are talking about? Clearly you are not in a position to be able to. Let me give you a good example, have you ever gone and seen the water and sanitation projects in the country, how they scam because the contractors do not have even the necessary resources to be able to get
...[Inaudible.] Have you put a plan to trade and industry, let us create an industry and supply them with goods?
You have done nothing of that, yet you come here and say you can achieve this, you are going to create millions of jobs, you are going to turn the infrastructure. We have battling here, year in and year out in this country, where we don’t have the capacity.
People are underspending, they are not delivering on these things [Time expired.]
Mr M G E HENDRICKS: Good afternoon hon House Chair. These two projects have seen the Office of the Presidency and I was hoping that they will be here and stand up so that we can see them. As announced today is a soluble that South Africa has been waiting for all these years. Al Jama-ah wants to congratulate Minister de Lille with the way that she had put it together and we want to assure her of our support.
Hon House Chair, the outline of the infrastructure projects will transform the landscape of Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha, Bonteheuwel, Delft, Eldorado Park, Lenasia, Woodstock, District Six, Walmer Estate, Bo-Kaap and the landscape of many of our towns, cities and rural areas. This is a long term focus in such a plan and will for the first time in the history of the country, put to the nation an infrastructure plan that is not fragmented and not part of an apartheid special plan than colonials still have today.
However, it was a big mistake on the part of the defence force and the Minister not to build any bridges in the Western Cape. The Western Cape is supposed and actually needs a lot of bridges
because they need to interact more and more colonials. I know you know what I am trying to say hon House Chair. Al Jama-ah is not convinced that the work of law speaks to racism of transformation has not been removed and Parliament must certainly consider giving the Presidency more executive powers to do so. Thank you very much hon House Chair and everything of the best for the Minister.
Ms N NTOBONGWANA: Hon House Chair, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon members and fellow South Africans, good afternoon. [Molweni.] One of our forebears of the liberation struggle Mr O R Tambo once said:
It is our responsibility to breakdown barriers of divisions and create a country where there will be neither Whites nor Blacks, just South Africans, free and united in diversity.
I feel that the quote is befitting for the Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure which has a responsibility to conduct oversight over the department that is the catalyst for socioeconomic development and a significant driver for the creation of inclusive economy and job creation. Our responsibility as the ruling party governing this country is to break down socioeconomic divisions of the past and advance inclusive economy and job creation.
Hon Chairperson, the ANC supports the statement that was presented by the Minister of the infrastructure investment plan.
Hon members, the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the socioeconomic challenges across the world and our country is also affected by that. Our country was not spared from that. The challenges that we had as the country of poverty, inequality and unemployment were more exposed and worsened during these trying times of our lives.
His Excellency, President Ramaphosa, presented in this plenary the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan. This plan aimed at helping the economy to recover on the ravages of the coronavirus and the lockdown that was implemented to curb its spread. The ANC is not dreaming and our economy has to recover, as such the President presented a plan. Today the Minister is presenting the plan which involve infrastructure.
One of the key areas of intervention is the State Infrastructure Fund that will provide R100 billion in finance a measure that government hopes will unlock a further trillion-rand investment. Those are not dreams. It is the information that is there for all to see.
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure is one of the main drivers of economic reconstruction and recovery plan through the investment in the infrastructure. Hon members the ruling party proposed the recovery plan and the recovery strategy which has its first pillar, a massive infrastructure-led recovery which will include public and private partnership. We are not dreaming. Right now the President launched a programme in Tshwane which involves public and private partnership. It is not a dream. It is happening.
This included a model of blended funding for the infrastructure projects and strengthening of the district development model which focussed on the local government level. The statement of the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure focusses on that investment plan. This is the implementation plan of the economic recovery and reconstruction.
The new branch that the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has added which is Infrastructure SA, Isa, is headed by Dr Ramokgopa will drive a major part of the infrastructure development which we will be recovering our economy through it. The role of the Minister, Isa and the Presidential Infrastructure Co-ordinating Commission, PICC, will assist in the implementation of the infrastructure investment plan.
The portfolio committee understands that the infrastructure investment plan will make use of the banded funding with both private and public contributions to get the project implemented.
However, this requires more transparency without a multilevel system of monitoring, checking and oversight, we may not achieve getting more growth, employment and empowerment of the most vulnerable in our country. The government’s plan to deal with economic downturn and the negative effects of COVID-19 emphasize that it is better to provide people with skills and get them employed in infrastructure projects than merely handing out grants. Grants must continue, but people must be assisted to get jobs so that they can learn skills that will make them independent and self-sufficient. The Independent Development Trust, IDT, that signs as service level agreements with the nine state sector at the Expanded Public Works Programme, EPWP, should be at the centre of the massive employment creation that forms part of the infrastructure investment plan, if we want to succeed at creating employment, for the poorest of the poor. There are serious governance problems in the IDT that the committee has instructed the Minister and let her to sort out and we will keep this in check and we trust that the Minister and the department will sort what we have highlighted as the committee asked.
We note the three funding streams of the infrastructure investment plan that government proposes to fund the 44 district municipalities and the eight metros. This is through district development model, DDM, that that the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure announced that it will focus on in its Annual Performance Plan for this year.
Madam Speaker and Chairperson, we are saying as the committee as much as EPWP is used, but we must also provide training and skills to empower all those who will be participating in it. If the poorest of the poor is given work we must applaud it, but it cannot be that they are given these tasks without getting skills with which they can graduate into higher levels of employment. It cannot be the people who are continuing to do these tasks without a chance of being empowered.
The portfolio committee will do oversight on whether and how the EPWP branch if the department is regulating beneficiaries of approximately 1 000 jobs created through each district and metropolitan municipality. And Minister was saying now all that they are saying will be done. It is not a pipe dream. We will monitor that as the committee.
Hon Chairperson, we are also as the governing party responsible for the transformation of all the parts of our society and its economy. As such when the department goes to public and private partnership with these large successful construction companies, those contracts must include empowering black women and young people in construction, emerging black-owned engineering and architect and project management companies. We are referring especially in the Council for the Built Environment, CBE.
We also note government getting private infrastructure companies to second their specialists in the department to help the Infrastructure SA, with the assessments of projects to unlock funding and implementation. However, even when the private companies second their ... [Inaudible.] ... in the department we want that to ... [Inaudible.] ... so that more collusion and corruption takes place in the department.
We are also saying that when the department partners with the private sector, compliance with the Public Finance Management Act is very crucial. If it says that a company which is compliant with the Black Economic Empowerment, BEE, then that must happen. So, we are saying that compliance with the Public Finance Management Act is crucial and it must always be involved at all material times.
We cannot keep quiet if we see any corrupt activities taking place as the committee and the ANC. We will be the first to shout that there is corruption in that. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson the ANC supports this statement of the Minister on the infrastructure investment plan as the tool to the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan. I thank you.
The MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE: House
Chairperson, we have been regular reports no more than three times to the portfolio committee about the plans. Some people want to hear but they don’t want to listen. We are committed in terms of accountability as expressed by the hon member from the IFP to account to Parliament – to account to the people of this country and to account to Cabinet. We have committed to that. Once a month we would be doing a public statement just about the progress we are achieving, but certainly, any member can point out to anything that we are doing illegal. We are operating in terms of the Infrastructure Development Act of 2014. Please just go and read the Act and look at schedule 2 of the Act and hopefully you will understand that whatever we have done is in the framework of the law. And I have responded to this before already.
Somebody spoke here but he spoke insanity - yes I wrote a piece this weekend about the definition by Einstein of what insanity is. Insanity is when person repeats the same things over and over again and hope to get different results. I am sure what Einstein meant at the time was that people are saying the same things over and over again. They are rehearsing the same things and they are denying themselves the opportunity to engage with the subject so that they can learn from the mistakes of the past. This country will be transformed and it must be transformed and for those of us who fought in the struggle for liberation we should make no apology - the whole of this country. And transformation will be to the benefit of all the people in South Africa – not like it used to be, only for a few, and we will continue with transformation.
To those members who have made all the constructive inputs, the chairperson of the portfolio committee, the IFP - all of you, I want to say thank you for your positive inputs. We are going to walk this together. We must rebuild and reconstruct our economy after COVID-19 but even before that. And if people have ideas of how we can do it, they should come with their ideas and enhance the plans of government so that we can all work together. Yes, there are problems. Hon member form the FF Plus, yes there are problems, but we need to find solutions. We can’t just repeat the
problems over and over again. I have heard some good inputs from the hon member of the FF Plus.
We will all work together to make this plan work. Hon Thring, yes, one of the reasons for the formation of Infrastructure South Africa, Isa, is to have a single entry point where we record all the infrastructure projects wherever they are in the country on a database. Because at any point in time, you can have 50 or 60 tenders out there, but the ones we have as government is not talking to the other so that we can put out our sources together.
Yes, hon Holomisa, we must tackle the integration of our towns and cities. We must deal with the apartheid Spatial Development Framework and the apartheid spatial things that we still see in our cities. It is an indictment that we have not been able to integrate our cities, but then some parties resist integration because they want to keep these cities the way they used to be, almost 300 years ago. We would integrate the cities, and we will make sure that we deal with apartheid spatial planning. That is why we have started to have a plan for infrastructure up to the year 2045 to deal with the backlog of infrastructure. We will deal with spacing those projects all over the country for everybody to be seen. Hon Holomisa, we are busy with the audit of incomplete projects. We have already done quite a bit. We are just waiting
for inputs from various provinces and municipalities so that we can consolidate a register of all incomplete projects.
Hon Shaik Emam, I don’t know why you are so angry with yourself. He is so angry because he is running away from his disciplinary hearing of the NFP. [Laughter.] Don’t come and take it out on me. He is just angry. No, no, you were lost in courts four times. [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Thank you very much hon member. The hon Minister, unfortunately I don’t have time ...
The MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE: House
Chairperson, the last point I also want to make in terms of public-private partnerships is that we are also looking at a new
methodology of build, operate and transfer. [Time expired.] But we are going to work hard to make this plan a success. [Interjections.]
Mr N L S KWANKWA: House Chair, it would be nice if we could all be allowed to finish our speeches, at some point in time – just for concluding remarks
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon member, check your Rules and check my discretion, especially when it comes to members of the executive and the statements. Thank you. [Interjections.] Hon members, we are continuing. The next item on the Order Paper is a decision of questions on the draft resolution in the name of Mr Matiase. I wish to remind you that this draft resolution was debated in a miniplenary on 5 Thursday November, but that a decision thereon can only be taken in the full plenary and that is where we are. This is also the case for the other decisions of question which are from First Order to Fourth Order. Hon members, I now put the motion, are there any objections on the resolution as I have referred to?
Mr N L S NKWANKWA: Chair, it would be nice if we could all be allowed to finish our speeches at some point in time, and also to conclude the remarks.
DECISION OF QUESTION ON DRAFT RESOLUTION IN THE NAME OF MR N S MATIASE
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon member, check the rules and my discretion especially when it comes to the Members of the Executive and the Statements. Hon members, we continue. Hon members, the next item on the Order Paper is a decision of
question on the draft resolution in the name of Mr Matiase. I wish to remind you that this draft resolution was debated in a mini- plenary on Thursday 05 November, but that a decision thereon, can only be taken in the full plenary, and that is where we are. This is also the case with other decisions of question which are Orders, 1,2 and 4. Hon members, I now put the Motion. Are there any objections on the resolution as I referred to?
Ms M C C PILANE-MAJEKE: Hon House Chairperson, an amendment to the Resolution of the hon Mataise of the ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon member, firstly I asked whether are there any objections. You have to say that you object and then come with whatever you want to come with.
Ms M C C PILANE-MAJEKE: We are objecting, hon Chairperson.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Yes, and?
Ms M C C PILANE-MAJEKE: An amendment ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Oh, you would like to make an amendment as the ANC?
Ms M C C PILANE-MAJEKE: As the ANC, yes.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Okay.
Ms M C C PILANE-MAJEKE: May I continue?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): May I ask if the Table have got the signed copy of your amendment? You have? Okay, continue.
Mr N F SHIVAMBU: House Chair.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Yes, hon Shivambu, I’m listening.
Mr N F SHIVAMBU: I just want to say, may you please clarify the process of which Motions do we vote on first. Do we vote the proposed amendment first, or do we vote in the original motion, and then come back to the amended motions? Let’s clarify that process, so that all of us are on par in terms of how we proceed now.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon Shivambu, if there is an objection according to Rule 121, and there is an amendment, we allow the amendment to be read, and thereafter we will have to
take a decision on the amendment. If there is more than one amendment from another party, we will also allow that amendment to be made, and the last amendment to be made will be put first for the question. That is what the Rules are saying, and, whichever amendment gets more votes, if there is going to be voting, that will be the standing amendment. Hon member, I think that I have given you the summary of Rule 121 is saying. Therefore, can we continue as such? The motion on the Table is the motion of the EFF, by the hon Matiase. The ANC has objected, and wish to make an amendment. I am then going to allow that to continue. Thank you.
Ms M C C PILANE-MAJEKE: House Chairperson, the amendment to the EFF motion, is actually been put forward in the name of the Chief Whip of the Majority to be delivered by ... [interjections.]
Mr N F SHIVAMBU: Hon Chairperson, I am rising on a point of order.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): I am listening, Mr Shivambu.
Mr N F SHIVAMBU: House Chair.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon Majake, please take your seat. Yes, hon Shivambu.
Mr N F SHIVAMBU: There is no motion of the EFF, and there is no organisation that is called the Economic Freedom Front in Parliament. The motion of ... [Inaudible.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Okay. I accept. Thank you for the correction. Continue, hon Majake.
Ms M C C PILANE-MAJEKE: Chairperson, again, an amendment has been put forward in the name of the Chief Whip of the Majority to be delivered by hon Judith Tshabalala of the ANC on virtual.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Oh, hon Tshabalala it’s your time.
Ms J TSHABALALA: Hon Chairperson, the amendment of the ANC reads as follows:
That the House omits all the words after “That the House -” and substitutes it with the following:
(1) acknowledges legislative and policy progress made in terms of improving the living and working relations between the farmers ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon Tshabalala, just wait. Hon Mashego, I am going to order you out of this platform if you continue to speak with your mike on. That’s a warning. Continue, hon Tshabalala.
Ms J TSHABALALA: Hon Chairperson, I will start from the beginning. The amendment reads as follows:
That the House omits all the words after “That the House -” and substitutes it with the following:
(1) acknowledges legislative and policy progress made in terms of improving the living and working relations between the farmers, farm workers and farm dwellers since the advent of democracy in 1994, such as the Labour Relations Act, Extension of Security Tenure Act, ESTA, Unemployment Insurance Fund, Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act and Occupational Health and Safety Act;
(2) notes that despite progress made since 1994 towards the overall improvement of the working and living conditions of the farming community, farm workers, farm dwellers, and farmers are faced with persistent challenges of
crime, violence, gross violations of human rights, lack of adequate housing facilities, lack of access to clean running water;
(3) further notes the individual and collective efforts of farm workers, farm dwellers and farmers as important contributors and key role players in our economy as well as the role played by farming sector and various social partners in taking solutions to challenges faced by the farming community;
(4) realises that historically, antagonistic relations between the farmers, farm dwellers and farm workers have contributed to the negative growth of the agricultural sector economy and that in parts of the country these difficult relations continue;
(5) acknowledges the work done by the two Departments of (i) Employment and Labour and (ii) Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development in improving the living and working conditions in the farming communities and in various other state agencies that the departments related to investigations had studies conducted on gross
violation of human rights within the farming communities;
(6) applauds the successful implementation of progressive sectors stimulation 30 that deals with the farming sector and progressions related to prescription of minimum wage for farm workers;
(7) directs that both Portfolio Committees of Employment and Labour, Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, as part of their annual schedule of work jointly undertake to -
(a) conduct comprehensive oversight work on the living and working conditions of farm workers, farm dwellers and farmers;
(b) monitor progress made by government’s commitments towards improved living and working conditions in the farming communities, including work done by different stakeholders in the agricultural sector;
(c) conduct public hearings with key stakeholders;
(d) undertake an impact assessment of legislation affecting farm workers and make recommendations for legislative amendments;
(e) consultation with the relevant Select Committees in the NCOP, collaborate with these Committees in carrying out the tasks at hand;
(f) exercise those powers in Rule 167 that may assist the Committees in carrying out their task; and
(g) set a deadline by which the two Committees will report back to the National Assembly as on or before 30 November 2021.
I so move. Thank you.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Are there any other parties? Hon Mazzone of the DA, are you also rising to bring an amendment?
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Yes, House Chair, Boroto, the DA also would like to make an amendment which I believe the Table has, it has been signed.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Yes, I’ve seen that.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Hon Boroto, If I may, I will deal with the amendment, as my colleague is on the online platform and the connection is not stable. So I read on behalf of Dr Annelie Lotriet to move an amendment: To omit all the words after “That” and to substitute with the following:
The House –
(1) notes that the agricultural sector is an important contributor to the economy and plays a crucial role in the food security of the Republic;
(2) further notes that the future of the sector is dependent on the wellbeing of everyone involved in the sector;
(3) acknowledges that all farm workers should enjoy the respect and working conditions consistent with the labour laws and regulations of the Republic;
(4) recalls that many farmers and agricultural organisations have expressed their concern regarding the maltreatment of farm workers and their families, and the non-
compliance with the current labour laws and regulations, and that they continue to act decisively against any such instances of maltreatment and non-compliance;
(5) realises that the farming communities, which include farmers, farm workers and their families, play an integral role in the rural communities and landscape of the Republic;
(6) establishes an ad hoc committee in terms of Rule 253, the committee to –
(a) conduct a comprehensive review of the conditions of farm workers across the Republic, including all the work that has been done within and by the agricultural organisations in the country;
(b) make an assessment of legislation affecting farm workers and make recommendations for legislative amendments to address any inconsistencies with the current labour regulations;
(c) conduct public hearings with all interested and affected parties;
(d) consist of 11 members, as follows: ANC 6, DA 2, EFF 1, and other parties 2
(e) exercise those powers in Rule 167 that may assist it in carrying out its task; and
(f) sets the deadline by which the Committee is to report as 27 May 2021.
Question put: That the amendment as moved by the Chief Whip of the Opposition, on behalf of Dr A Lotriet, be agreed to.
Question not agreed to.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: House Chair, before you ring the bells, can we just have clarity as to what we are now going to divide on? Are we dividing on the amendments?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon member, we are going to divide on each amendment. But when we put the question, we start with the amendment that was made last. Hence the ANC calls for division. Thank you.
Amendment accordingly negatived.
Question put: That the amendment as moved by Ms J Tshabalala, on behalf of the Chief Whip of the Majority Party, be agreed to.
Question agreed to.
[Take in from Minutes.]
Amendment accordingly agreed to.
Question put: That the motion, as amended, be agreed to.
Question agreed to.
Motion, as amended, accordingly agreed to.
Question put on ANC amendment,
Agreed to.
Question put: That the amendment as moved by the Chief Whip of the Opposition, on behalf of Dr A Lotriet, be agreed to.
Question not agreed to.
Amendment accordingly negatived.
DECISION OF QUESTION ON REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS - PETITION FROM THE RESIDENTS OF LETSITELE TOWN, WARD 23, TZANEEN, CALLING ON THE ASSEMBLY TO ENSURE THAT THE TZANEEN MUNICIPALITY ABIDES BY THE LAWS, BY-LAWS AND REGULATIONS, AND THAT IT IMPLEMENTS THE PRESCRIBED ENVIRONMENTAL AND APPLICABLE ZONING, AS WELL AS MONITOR AND HALT ALL ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES (SUBMITTED BY MS D VAN DER WALT, MP)
There was no debate.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
Agreed to.
Report accordingly adopted.
DECISION OF QUESTION ON REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM - TRANSFORMATION CHARTER IN TOURISM SECTOR
There was no debate.
Agreed to.
Report accordingly adopted (Democratic Alliance dissenting).
DECISION OF QUESTION ON REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS - PETITION RELATING TO ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION AND MISMANAGEMENT AT KNYSNA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY, WESTERN CAPE
There was no debate.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
Agreed to.
Report accordingly adopted.
DECISION OF QUESTION ON REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - OVERSIGHT VISIT TO GAUTENG
There was no debate.
Agreed to.
Report accordingly adopted (Freedom Front Plus dissenting).
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NATIONAL PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS 2020
(Draft Resolution)
Mr T S MPANZA: House Chair, I move without notice:
That the House—
(1) notes that on 3 November 2020, the United States of America held its national elections;
(2) further notes the two United States presidential candidates competing to be elected were Joe Biden and President Donald Trump;
(3) acknowledges that this was the most hotly contested election ever in the history of the United States and widely regarded as a polarising one for USA citizens;
(4) congratulates Joe Biden on his victory wishes him well;
(5) hopes that the USA will re-join international treaties like the Paris Accord; and
(6) appeals to all USA citizens to accept the results and work towards unifying their country.
Agreed to.
FARMERS IN THE FREE STATE, NORTHERN CAPE AND NORTH WEST STILL REELING FROM THE IMPACT OF THE DEVASTATING VELD FIRES
(Draft Resolution)
Mr K J MILEHAM: House Chairperson, I hereby move without notice:
That this House—
(1) notes that farmers in the Free State, Northern Cape and North West are still reeling from the impact of the devastating veld fires that destroyed more than 200 000 hectares of farmland on more than 300 farms a few weeks ago;
(2) further notes that the towns of Hertzogville and Boshoff quickly became the epicentre of the devastating fires after they were reportedly started by protesters during a service delivery protest in the Tokologo Local Municipality;
(3) acknowledges that famers and disaster management teams battled the raging fires for more than a week to bring it under control under difficult circumstances, with strong winds hampering fire-fighting efforts and fuelling and spreading the fire;
(4) recalls that the fires come after a prolonged period of drought in the area, and that some of the farmers are also in the midst of an eight-year long drought period;
(5) recognises that although some of the farming communities affected by the devastating fires have been overwhelmed by, and are extremely appreciative of the support and donations they have received, they have requested potential donors to remember the farmers who are struggling with the prolonged drought and requested that donations of feed be diverted to these farmers if they are closer for delivery; and
(6) extends its heartfelt thanks to every person who assisted in battling the raging fires, who donated much needed fodder to feed the animals and money to do urgent repairs to infrastructure, and who continues to support the farming communities in the aftermath of the devastating fires.
Agreed to.
MEMBERS OF THE EFF ATTACKED IN BRACKENFELL HIGH SCHOOL WHILE PROTESTING
(Draft Resolution)
Ms O M C MAOTWE: House Chair, I move without notice:
That the House—
(1) notes the racist violence that erupted at the Brackenfell High School here in Cape Town on Monday 9 November, in which members of the EFF who were protesting peacefully were attacked and assaulted by white people;
(2) further notes that these EFF members went to protest peacefully outside the school premises after it was
reported that the school had held a matric dance function exclusively for white people to the exclusion of many black pupils attending the school;
(3) acknowledges that these white people who claim to be parents of children studying at Brackenfell High School attacked EFF members with sticks, fists and even gun shots were fired. They even attacked and pushed around police when police tried to intervene;
(4) further acknowledges that the reaction of South African Police to violence perpetrated by white people is vastly different from the way they treat black people. The whites who committed these terrorist attacks were largely allowed to do so by the police while they would have reacted with brutality if they were dealing with black people;
(5) condemns the racism prevalent at Brackenfell High School which led to the exclusion of black pupils on that matric function;
(6) further condemns the blatant racism of the white terrorists who terrorised, attacked and even shot at peaceful protestors; and
(7) affirm that there is no place for racists anywhere in our country and there will never be a no-go area for black people ever again in South Africa.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon members, if there are no objections, I put the motion. Are the any objections?
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: House Chair, please note the objection of the DA.
An HON MEMBER: Please note the objection of the FF Plus.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon members, there are objections, the motion will thus be converted to a notice of a motion.
APPRECIATION OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND FRONTLINE WORKERS
(Draft Resolution)
Dr S M DLOMO: House Chair, I move without notice:
That the House—
(1) appreciates all health professionals and frontline workers in general for their efforts in helping the country through the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic;
(2) understands that among those who have lost their lives are health care workers and the consummate professionals who cared for all who were ill and gave support to those in hospital isolated from their families;
(3) salutes these brave warriors who leave their homes, families and loved ones to report without fail for duty every day in clinics, hospitals and other health facilities;
(4) appeals to all South Africans to adhere to the measures implemented to curb the spread of the virus;
(5) commends the frontline workers and all South Africans for rallying together in the fight against the virus; and
(6) thanks President Cyril Ramaphosa, the National Coronavirus Command Council and the Cabinet for providing leadership during the difficult times.
Agreed to.
PASSING OF SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY UNION'S FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT, SILAS NKANUNU
(Draft Resolution)
Ms M L LUBENGO: House Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the House—
(1) notes with sadness the passing of South African Rugby Union's, SARU, first black president, Silas Nkanunu, at the age of 87, on Friday, 6 November 2020;
(2) remembers that Nkanunu, who was a lawyer by profession specialising in human rights law, succeeded Louis Luyt in 1998 to become SARU's first black leader;
(3) further remembers that Nkanunu also held positions within the International Rugby Board chairing its games regulation committee and being its vice president for a brief period;
(4) acknowledges that he is one of the most distinguished rugby administrators who helped unite South African rugby and has gained the respect of the rugby world;
(5) recalls that he ran his own law practice in Port Elizabeth and was also chair of the Law Society of South Africa; and
(6) conveys its deepest condolences to his family and friends.
Agreed to.
BRAD BINDER BECOMES THE FIRST SOUTH AFRICAN TO WIN A RACE IN THE MOTOGP ERA
(Draft Resolution)
Mr S N SWART: House Chair, I move without notice:
That the House—
(1) congratulates Mr Brad Binder who became the first South African to win a premier class world championship motorcycle race when he claimed victory in the Czech Moto Grand Prix on August 9 2020;
(2) notes that the win was also the first for the Red Bull KTM Factory Team;
(3) further notes that what makes this achievement even more remarkable is that Mr Binder was a rookie and was competing in only his third Grand Prix of the sport’s premier class on the day;
(4) recognises that he had, however, showed great potential when he was world champion in 2016 in the Moto3 class;
(5) acknowledges that in a country desperate for some good news amid COVID-19, the power of sport again showed that it could bring hope to the nation, with social media sharing happy messages about Mr Binder’s achievement; and
(6) agrees with President Ramaphosa’s statement, when he congratulated Mr Binder on Women’s Day which brings us together as a nation, Brad’s victory in the Czech Moto Grand Prix provides us with inspiration, hope and pride and lifts our spirits at a time we needed it.
Agreed to.
JERUSALEMA HITMAKER MASTER KG WINS MTV BEST AFRICAN ACT AWARD
(Draft Resolution)
Mr N L S KWANKWA: Thank you House Chair. I hereby move without notice on behalf of the UDM:
That the House—
(1) notes that on 8 November 2020, the Jerusalema hitmaker Master KG, featuring Nomcebo, won the 2020 Music Television, MTV, award for the best African act;
(2) further notes that he was up against Burna Boy from Nigeria, Rema from Nigeria, Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa from South Africa, Sheebah from Uganda and Gaz Mawete from Congo;
(3) acknowledges that Jerusalema continues to make history globally, rising to higher places and increasing over
48 000 Spotify streams between October and November 2020, not only in its native country, South Africa, but also in Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Belgium, Switzerland and Spain;
(4) further acknowledges that Master KG ended South Africa’s seven-year long losing streak to Nigeria, and has now won that;
(5) congratulates Master KG for raising the South African flag high; and
(6) wishes him and his team all the best in his endeavours.
Agreed to.
RHENISH GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL CELEBRATES 160TH ANNIVERSARY
(Draft Resolution)
Ms B M VAN MINNEN: House Chair, I hereby move without notice on behalf of the DA:
That the House—
(1) notes that Rhenish Girls’ High School in Stellenbosch is the oldest girls’ school in the Republic;
(2) further notes that on 1 May 2020 the school celebrated its 160th anniversary since being established in 1860;
(3) acknowledges that the school has done wonderful work in its 160 years of existence to educate girls from all strata and to empower women to take up their rightful places in South African society;
(4) recalls that the school was one of the first schools in the Republic to embrace the postapartheid era by opening its doors to girls from all racial backgrounds in 1991;
(5) recognises that the school consistently produces excellent matric pass rates and continues to be one of the top- producing schools in the Western Cape;
(6) congratulates the principal Ms Helmien Slabber, the management team, educators, all other staff and learners on the occasion of the school’s 160th anniversary; and
(7) wishes them well in the future.
Agreed to.
EXECUTION OF VUYISILE MINI ON 6 NOVEMBER 1964
(Draft Resolution)
Ms N R MASHABELA: I hereby move without notice on behalf of the EFF:
That the House—
(1) notes that 6 November marked 56 years since the apartheid singer, composer, trade unionist and a soldier for the liberation of blacks in this country, Vuyisile Mini, was executed by the apartheid government in 1964;
(2) further notes that Vuyisile Mini was hanged, together with Wilson Khayinga and Zinakile Mkhaba after they were charged and convicted on acts of sabotage which they committed in pursuit of liberating black people in this country and breaking the yolk of racism and exploitation that bedevilled this country since the arrival of white people;
(3) acknowledges that Vuyisile Mini was a super, gifted singer and composer, and a ... [Inaudible.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon members, it seems that we have lost the member’s connection. Is there a Whip from the EFF on the platform that can complete the ... [Inaudible.]
Ms H O MKHALIPHI: Thank you. I hereby move without notice on behalf of the EFF:
That the House—
(1) notes that 6 November marked 56 years since the anti- apartheid singer, composer, trade unionist and a soldier for the liberation of black people in this country, Vuyisile Mini, was executed by the apartheid government in 1964;
(2) further notes that Vuyisile Mini was hanged, together with Wilson Khayinga and Zinakile Mkhaba, after they were charged and convicted on acts of sabotage which they committed in pursuit of liberating black people in this country and breaking the yolk of racism and exploitation that plagued this country since the arrival of white people;
(3) acknowledges that Comrade Vuyisile Mini was a super, gifted singer and composer, and had composed the popular liberation song, Pasopa nansi’ ndondemnyama, we Verwoerd!
[Look out, Verwoerd, here are the black people]
(4) further acknowledges that during the Treason Trail of 1956 he composed another popular song, Thath' umthwalo Buti sigoduke balindile umama no bab' ekhaya [Take up your things brother and let's go, they are waiting, our mothers and fathers, at home];
(5) also acknowledges that Vuyisile Mini and his comrades fought against racism in all its manifestations and were prepared to lay down their lives for it;
(6) recognises that as they took their last steps towards the gallows, they sang even louder because they were convinced that their deaths would not be in vain and that black people would attain full liberation in South Africa;
(7) accepts that racism and the oppression of black people
that Comrade Mini, Comrade Zinakile and Comrade Mkhaba died fighting for are still prevalent in this country, and black people are still treated as slaves in their own land of their forefathers;
(8) conveys its appreciation for the sacrifices made by Comrade Mini, Comrade Zinakile and Comrade Mkhaba, to their families; and
(9) recommits to fight against racism whenever it raises its ugly head.
There being an objection, the motion without notice is converted to a notice of motion.
SHUDUFHADZO MUSIDA CROWNED MISS SOUTH AFRICA 2020
(Draft Resolution)
Mr J B MAMABOLO: I hereby move without notice on behalf of the ANC:
That the House—
(1) notes that the 24-year-old Shudufhadzo Musida, who comes from Ha-Masia village in Limpopo, was crowned Miss South Africa 2020 at the glittering pageant finale held at a closed ceremony at the Table Bay Hotel in Cape Town on Saturday, 24 October 2020;
(2) further notes that Shudufhadzo, who holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Pretoria, won a package of prizes worth over R3 million;
(3) also notes that the first runner-up for this year was a medical doctor, Thato Mosehle from Klerksdorp in the North West, while Natasha Joubert, a Bachelor of Commerce degree graduate from Pretoria took the third spot;
(4) understands that the three women will go on to represent the country at international pageants like the Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss Supranational; and
(5) congratulates Shudufhadzo Musida, Thato Mosehle and Natasha Joubert on their outstanding performance and wishes them well for raising the country’s flag at the international events.
Agreed to.
DIWALI CELEBRATION
(Draft Resolution)
Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: I hereby move without notice on behalf of the NFP:
That the House—
(1) notes that the Hindu community in South Africa and globally will be celebrating Diwali, festival of lights, which commences today, on Saturday, 14 November 2020;
(2) further notes that the Diwali celebration in October 2019, attended by many members of the Hindu community and other nationalities, including the young and very old, was disrupted by residents of the complex despite permission being granted to host the said celebration;
(3) recalls that the disruption turned violent with certain members of the white community hurling racial remarks and insulting members of the Hindu community, including damaging some of the fireworks and other belongings;
(4) further recalls that, despite a complaint being lodged at Sunnyside Police Station, case no: 875/10/2019), no arrests have been made, neither has the matter received appropriate attention;
(5) extends best wishes to the Hindu community;
(6) condemns the intolerance and abuse levelled against the Hindu community; and
(7) calls on the SA Police Service to expedite the investigation into the disruption in October 2019 and
ensure that those responsible face the full might of the law.
Agreed to.
EIGHT PEOPLE MURDERED IN NY 78, GUGULETHU, CAPE TOWN
(Draft Resolution)
Mr E R K MAPHATSOE: I hereby move without notice on behalf of the ANC:
That the House—
(1) notes with great shock the senseless murder of eight people in a shooting that occurred in NY 78 in Gugulethu, Cape Town on Monday, 2 November 2020;
(2) further notes that seven people died on the scene and the eighth person, one of two people who were wounded in the shooting, died in hospital the following day;
(3) understands that police are still investigating what led to the shooting;
(4) recalls that the senseless killing in Gugulethu comes just more than a month after six people were shot dead in Site C, Khayelitsha, in what is believed to be a gang war over the control of extortion rackets;
(5) calls on the police to leave no stone unturned when investigating the murders;
(6) urges anyone with information relating to the incident to report it at their local police station;
(7) conveys its condolences to the families of the deceased; and
(8) wishes the survivors a speedy recovery.
Agreed to.
CASTER SEMENYA LOSSES APPEAL TO THE SWISS SUPREME COURT
(Draft Resolution)
Ms B N DLULANE: I hereby move without notice on behalf of the ANC:
That the House—
(1) supports South Africa’s two-time Olympic track champion Caster Semenya who lost an appeal to the Swiss Supreme Court on Wednesday, 9 September 2020 against the World Athletics regulations which restrict testosterone levels in female athletes;
(2) notes that Semenya is currently not allowed to compete in any events between 400m and a mile without taking testosterone suppressing drugs;
(3) recalls that in 2019, the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in favour of the restrictions placed on athletes in some female track events, then Semenya appealed to the Swiss Supreme Court;
(4) acknowledges that Semenya has faced intense scrutiny in her sport for more than a decade;
(5) recognises that the World Medical Association has supported Semenya and requested that doctors not implement the World Athletics regulations that are not based on medical need;
(6) further recognises that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has also called for the regulations to be revoked; and
(7) resolves to do everything in its power to fight this injustice and violation of human rights.
Agreed to.
Mr W M MADISHA: May I say something, Chair?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G BOROTO): Hon Frolick, hon Madisha is calling for you and I don’t know what the reason is.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T FROLICK): Why are you calling me hon member?
Mr W M MADISHA: Chair, albeit we were going to indicate that there was no motion without notice from ourselves. You just jumped and I would appeal that next time you don’t do that. Because it is not the first time. Okay!
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T FROLICK): Hon member, do you have a motion without notice? Let’s start there. If you do have one I will allow you to read it.
Mr W M MADISHA: All that I am saying is the way in which ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T FROLICK): I am asking, do you have a motion without notice hon member? If you have a motion without notice I will allow you to read it, no problem. Please proceed.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G BOROTO): Hon Frolick, may I inform you that the Cope did not submit a motion without notice as is the norm. Thank you.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T FROLICK): Hon Madisha, you are completely out of order then.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G BOROTO): Hon House Chair, before he continues I am told that you did not do the decision on the last motion read. Thank you.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T FROLICK): I think the DA was the next party before the hon Madisha interrupted proceedings even though he didn’t have a motion.
JOHN STEENHUISEN NAMED LEADER OF THE DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE
(Draft Resolution)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: I hereby move without notice on behalf of the DA:
That the House—
(1) that Mr John Steenhuisen was duly elected to the position of Leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) by a majority of delegates that participated in the party’s virtual federal congress on Sunday, 1 November 2020;
(2) further notes that Mr Steenhuisen’s career in the public service began as a public representative for the party in 1999, when he was elected to serve as one of the youngest elected councillors in the then Durban City Council at the age of 22;
(3) acknowledges that Mr Steenhuisen was elected to the position of the Leader of the DA Caucus in the KZN Provincial Legislature, after representing Durban North for ten years, in 2009;
(4) recalls that Mr Steenhuisen became a Member of Parliament for the DA’s National Assembly Caucus in 2010, where he served on the Portfolio Committee on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs;
(5) further recalls that Mr Steenhuisen served as the Chief Whip of the Opposition in the National Assembly from May 2014 until October 2019;
(6) recognises that Mr Steenhuisen is passionate about South Africa and the prosperity of her people, and remains optimistic about its future despite the large number of new and old challenges it faces; and
(7) congratulates Mr Steenhuisen on his election to the position of the Leader of the Democratic Alliance, and consequentially to the position of Leader of the Official Opposition in the National Assembly, and
(8) wishes him well in his endeavours.
Agreed to.
DR ANWAH NAGIA DIES
(Draft Resolution)
Mr M G E HENDRICKS: I hereby move without notice on behalf of the Al Jama-ah:
That the House—
(1) notes that a revolutionary figure of the community, Dr Anwah Nagia, died on 28 September 2020 after a month-long battle with Covid-19 and following heart surgery;
(2) acknowledges that Dr Nagia was a prominent human rights activist and his death will leave a huge void not only within the Muslim community, but throughout Cape Town and the rest of the country and many parts of the world;
(3) further recognises Dr Nagia as a revolutionary figure in our community who continuously fought for justice since he was a young schoolboy;
(4) wishes to send our heartfelt condolences to his wife and family.
Agreed to.
CONGRATULATE ADVOCATE TEMBEKA NGCUKAITOBI FOR EARNING THE LEGAL STATUS
(Draft Resolution)
Mr G MAGWANISHE: I hereby move without notice on behalf of the ANC:
That the House–
(1) congratulates Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi on attaining the legal status of Senior Counsel which was conferred by President Ramaphosa, following a recommendation by the Johannesburg Bar in 2019;
(2) notes that the Cala-born lawyer is the son of a domestic worker mother who became a teacher at a school for the disabled, and later a nurse;
(3) further notes that his father was a mineworker who later became a clerk at the Magistrate’s Court and was pursuing legal studies;
(4) acknowledges that Adv Ngcukaitobi holds the degrees BProc, LLB from the University of Transkei (now known as Walter Sisulu University; LLM from Rhodes University and LLM at the London School of Economics and Political Science;
(5) remembers that he has served at the Legal Aid South Africa and the Legal Resources Centre before he was appointed as a clerk under the then Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson, and later joined the Johannesburg Bar as an advocate and he is also a member of the Pan African Bar Association of South Africa,PABASA;
(6) recalls that he is a published author of the book “The Land Is Ours: South Africa's First Black Lawyers and the Birth of Constitutionalism”;
(7) further recalls that in the opinion of his peers, it was befitting that he be honoured with the status of Senior Counsel because of his excellent work 8 years after having joined the Bar – something which is rare in the legal profession;
(8) congratulates Adv. Tembeka Ngcukaitobi SC on this befitting honour; and
Agreed to.
NOTICES OF MOTION
Ms M MODISE: House Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the House debates achieving transformation and development of the agricultural sector and the role that the Land Bank plays as one of South Africa’s most important development finance institution.
Thank you.
Ms A L A ABRAHAMS: House Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the DA:
That the House debates the high levels of child malnutrition in South Africa and results in devastating stunting that continues to impair the mental and physical development of millions of children in this country.
Ms H O MKHALIPI: House Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the EFF:
That the House debates the management crisis at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS, despite the appointment of the administrator who has in fact led the institution with an iron hand and led massive corruption and mismanagement at NSFAS.
Ms N G ADOONS: House Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the House debates delivering schools infrastructure effectively and cost-effectively to address backlogs, improve the
quality of information used for planning and taking learners’ safety into account.
Thank you.
Mr D L MOELA: House Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the IFP:
That the House debates the urgent need for jobs and for South Africans to be prioritised before we import in an effort to aid the unemployment issue as well as our economy.
Thank you.
Ms H DENNER: House Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the FF Plus:
That the House debates the startling unemployment rate in South Africa whilst employers in all cities, including small business owners are being hampered by bureaucracy and red tape as well as government’s overall negative attitude towards the private sector and restricted labour legislation.
Thank you, House Chair.
Ms A MOTAUNG: House Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the House debates assessing foster care progress implementation and progress in providing for all families whose children cannot live with their own parents.
Thank you.
Mr S N SWART: House Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ACDP:
That the House debates the need and cost of spending on the country’s large number of foreign missions given the precarious state of the country’s public finances as well as recent revelations of wasteful expenditure.
Ms S GWARUBE: House Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the DA:
That the House debates the dangers of the Global Gag Rule, a policy which is about abortion-related sicknesses for
nongovernmental organisations at an accepted funding from the government of the United States of America and its impact that this will have on women rights ... [Inaudible.] ... in South Africa
Ms H O MKHALIPI: House Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the EFF:
That the House debates the postschool sterilisation of HIV positive pregnant women in South Africa who are either forced or coerced to sterilisation in the public hospitals of this country and lack of action by the law enforcement agencies as well as the health professions council to make health workers who subjected these women to this violence account.
Mr I K MOROLONG: House Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the House debates tourism as a vehicle to expedite transformation and inclusive tourism growth that nurtures participation of all South Africans in the mainstream economy.
Thank you very much.
Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: House Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the NFP:
That the House debates on deliberating and resolving the unconditional downgrading of the South African embassy in Israel to a liaison office until Israel refrain from violating the human rights of the Palestinian people, recognises the right of the Palestinian people to exist and complies with all international agreements.
Ms A GELA: House Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the House debates maintaining and sustaining Thusong Service Centres by integrating the approach of government to service delivery in order to achieve the objectives of the centres.
Thank you, House Chairperson.
Ms M L LUBENGO: House Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the House debates assessing foster care implementation and progress in providing for all families whose children cannot live with their own parents.
Thank you.
Mr C BRINK: House Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the DA:
That the House debates the failure of the national government to defend and promote the constitutional right with access to mother tongue education at public schools and universities.
Mr M G E HENDRICKS: House Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of AL JAMA-AH:
That the House debates motion that all learners from Grade R to Grade ... [Inaudible.] ... be promoted at the end of the year.
Ms B SWARTS: House Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the House debates performing oversight on South African missions abroad, thus allowing for monitoring the causes of irregular expenditure and noncomplaince with supply chain management issues. [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon Frolick, there is a point of order from the House, please.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Let’s hear the point of order.
The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Hon House
Chairperson, my apologies for taking this House back to the item of motions without notice. On behalf of the ANC I want to state it in this House that a motion without notice that was read by the hon Mazzone - the DA Chief Whip, was erroneously objected to by one of our members, Comrade Judith Tshabalala. So, as the ANC we want to withdraw that objection; we are in support of that motion. [Applause.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): I understand that is the motion congratulating the new leader of the DA. We will go back and we will correct that objection, hon member, and the motion is thus agreed to. [Interjections.] Hon member, really! Your comment is not called for at this stage.
The House adjourned at 16: 26
Audio
No related