Hansard: NA: Unrevised hansard
House: National Assembly
Date of Meeting: 26 May 2021
Summary
No summary available.
Minutes
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
WEDNESDAY, 26 MAY 2021
Watch video here: PLENARY (HYBRID)
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
The House met at 15:00.
The Deputy Speaker took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayer or meditation.
STEVE BIKO HERITAGE CENTRE TOTAL COST
(Announcement)
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon members, I wish to inform the House that the Speaker has received a letter dated 14 May 2021, from the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture in order to inform members about the correction of the amount spent on building the Steve Biko Heritage Centre in Ginsburg, as stated in his closing remarks on 13 May 2021, during the mini-plenary session on Budget Vote 37: Sport, Arts and Culture. The Minister wishes to correct his statement that the department spent R608 million in building the Steve Biko Heritage Centre in Ginsburg. The correct amount is R106 million, and not R608 million. This letter has also been published in the ATC of 25 May 2021 if you want to verify it. Thank you very much.
MOTION OF CONDOLENCES
(The Late Ms Jacqueline Motlagomang Mofokeng)
Mr B A RADEBE, on behalf of The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY:
Deputy Speaker, on behalf of the Chief Whip of the Majority Party, I move:
That the Houses—
(1) notes with sadness the passing of Ms Jacqueline Motlagomang Mofokeng, ANC Member of Parliament, MP, who died of COVID-19 complications on Thursday, 22 April 2021;
(2) acknowledges that Ms Mofokeng’s political leadership roles began in the early 90s, when she was elected to serve in various ANC structures of Gauteng from branch executive committee to Greater Tshwane region
and provincial executive committees as well as in the Women’s League and the SA National Civic Organisation, Sanco, in the Gauteng province;
(3) further acknowledges that at the time of her passing, she was serving as the ANC Women’s League Gauteng provincial spokesperson, a task she did with dedication and commitment;
(4) recalls that she became a Member of the Gauteng provincial legislature from 1999 to 2019, serving in the portfolio committees on Local Government, Social Development, and Education;
(5) further recalls that she also served in the Gauteng provincial legislature as the chairperson of the oversight committee on the Premier’s Office and the Legislature, the chairperson of the Community Safety portfolio committee, the Deputy Chief Whip of the legislature and the chairperson of the standing committee for the scrutiny of subordinate legislation;
(6) remembers that Jacqui became a member of the sixth democratic Parliament in 2019 and served in the Joint Constitutional Review Committee, the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence, the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services and the Portfolio Committee on Police;
(7) further remembers that she took over as the Whip of the study group on Justice and Correctional Services following the passing on of the late Advocate Hishaam Mohamed in 2020;
(8) understands that she also served and led within the structures of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians; and
(9) conveys its sincere condolences to the Mofokeng family, her loved ones and the ANC.
Mr W HORN: Deputy Chair, we rise on behalf of the DA to support the motion of remembering and condolence of the late hon Jacqueline Mofokeng or Jacqui as we all got to know her. From the moment we met after the 2019 elections at the very
first meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, she always impressed as a dedicated and hardworking member. Words like well-prepared, intelligent attendee and a positive contributor can be used without any embarrassment to describe her contributions in this committee.
Deputy Speaker, in the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, she was as far as our experiences, the opposition concern part of the [Inaudible.] members in the ANC who have done much more in the Sixth Parliament than just paying lip service in her oversight duties. She did not shy away from robust engagements with the executives, executive departments and entities that appear before the portfolio committee. She also did not forgo any opportunity to score a point to or against any political opponents. She was after all a seasoned politician and she will fondly be remembered for this ability as well.
Deputy Speaker, it is particularly sad that her term was ended by this virus. Now that the portfolio committee is on the verge of completing the three Bills that will, hopefully become laws and will enable the justice system a bit better to deliver justice to victims of domestic violence, sexual crimes and other gender-based violence crimes. A passion about the
matter addresses by these Bills will ultimately be the way we will remember her. It’s our privilege to say, we express our condolences to her family, her party and her caucus. Thank you, Deputy Speaker.
Ms Y N YAKO: Deputy Speaker, the EFF also wishes to support the motion of condolences to the family of the late hon Jacqui Mofokeng. Not only her passing sudden and shocking, but it left a [Inaudible.] hole that cannot be filled in the role she played in the space of governance, Parliament in particular, and more specifically the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services. It was even more sad to myself personally that her daughter, who is exactly the same age of me, also passed on just the day before from the same virus. It is steady validated that this virus know no face, it has no age, it doesn’t discriminate in its rampage and that a cure must be found and that South Africans are desperate for a vaccine to be available to all and the vaccine must be available immediately.
I met the late hon Mofokeng late last year when she joined the portfolio committee she served in. At the time the committee was discussing the sexual crimes and gender-based violence Bill. I was [Inaudible.] to add my voice to such an important
matter. However, I found mature [Inaudible.] a fearlessness approach [Inaudible.] who served towards these Bills.
The journey across the board was to see justice served by those perpetuators of gender-based violence, rape and all kinds of violence against women and children - to see all the survivors of gender-based violence and all sexual crimes receive the justice they deserve.
It was [Inaudible.] to all of us that our judiciary and the Police department take their role with regard to these crimes with the seriousness they deserve. It was [Inaudible.] to witness all the women who were not touched by [Inaudible.] or political [Inaudible.] but have respect and support for the opinion of their position. To learn that that woman in green and black whose appearance was constant in [Inaudible.] not only win my heart, but it pains me because she will never see that Bill passed.
Hon Mofokeng was not only vocal and clear on her stand point on various issues which were at times contentious, but she was also no walk flower. She was someone I can admire, a kind and a beautiful woman who [Inaudible.] strength in a high level of commitment to her duties. She was not only a Member of
Parliament, but also a servant to the people. May her soul rest in peace and her family find the hearing and may the comrades carry on where she stopped. Thank you, Deputy Speaker.
Mr N SINGH: Deputy Speaker, the IFP would like to convey our deepest condolences on the passing on of hon J M Mofokeng, who passed away on 22 April this year. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, loved ones, the ANC caucus in Parliament and her former colleagues in the Gauteng legislature.
Speaking about the Gauteng legislature, I remember she spoke very fondly of her relationship with our former secretary- general, Sibongile Nkomo, who also passed on. May both their souls rest in peace. Ms Mofokeng had 20 years in the Gauteng legislature and more recently she was an active member of the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services and a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence. In this committees, I am informed that, she diligently cherished to our mandate and the IFP would like to acknowledge the life and work of hon Ms Mofokeng.
In fact, two weeks before her passing, she chaired the meeting of the subcommittee on the political party office bearers
pension fund and I had to present a report to her. She was so kind, just a humble person and a human being as she always was.
The passing of hon Mofokeng is a reminder that public servants must be guided by passion and dedication and always with the goal of uplifting the people of South Africa. The fight against the pandemic should not distract us from ensuring our work to serve the people of South Africa.
On behalf of our leader in Parliament, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, and all the IFP members in the National Assembly, I would like to again extend our sincere condolences on this tragic loss. May her soul rest in eternal peace. Thank you, hon Deputy Speaker.
Mr F J MULDER: Hon Deputy Speaker, the untimely demise of a daughter and a mother one day apart as in the case of a ... [Inaudible.] ... and her mother late fellow hon Jackie Mofokeng once again reminds us how fragile precious and noteworthy life is as well as the real threat of Covid-19 as the invisible common enemy. I served as a member with former hon Mofokeng at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature between 2004 and 2014 as well as in the Portfolio Committee on
Community Safety and Infrastructure Development. She also interacted in several meetings with fellow Freedom Front Plus members present in this House today.
During the 10 years we had the privilege to spend time together on numerous provincial, interprovincial oversights and international study tours to Swaziland, Botswana, China and Thailand, amongst others. These steering such words that members from different political parties get to know each other in person. Like hon Mofokeng stood firm for what she believed in although she often veered in total opposite of opinions from burning issues. We respected each other regardless. She always acted friendly to me ... [Inaudible.]
... way with me here in Parliament after the General Elections as was the case last time I saw her. [Connection problems.]
... we carry out our heartfelt condolences to the next of kin of late hon Mofokeng and the ... [Inaudible.] ... 16:37 of the ANC, friends and ... [Inaudible.]
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon Maneli, please switch off your microphone. Thank you, hon Moulder. Ntate Marius please switch off your microphone.
Mr S N SWART: Hon Deputy Speaker, it is with the profound and deep sense of sadness that I partake in this Motion of Condolences. My first May I first, on behalf of the ACDP express my deepest condolences to the family of Jackie Mofokeng who not only lost a wife and the mother but also the daughter one day earlier.
I had the pleasure of serving with the hon Jackie Mofokeng on the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development. She took over as the ANC Whip of the Study Group after the passing of Advocate Hishaam Mahomed and these were big shoes she filled and she did so admirably. I have fond memories of hon Mofokeng. She was a very hard working well prepared Member of Parliament and she always made a point of saying that she was a believer and those sentiments expressed were expressed in her work. This should be a comfort to her family and her friends that she is with the Lord. She was indeed a truly servant of the people.
Her contributions in the committee during the deliberations on various issues and in particular on the Gender-Based Violence Laws were invaluable. When I expressed concerns about the definition of spiritual abuse which we doubt with today even she welcomed my draft proposals defining the issue more in
line with the Constitution. She was always engaging in that regard to hear from other members from across the political divide.
Maybe as other members have indicated we should dedicate these Gender-Based Violence Bills to her when we pass them hopefully next week. Life is short indeed and death is a certainty particularly at this time of Covid-19. Make sure that we spread love, forgiveness and reconciliation wherever we go.
Our nation is desperate for this. I thought some prayers are with the Mofokeng family and with the loved ones and members of the ANC at this time. May her soul rest in peace. I thank you.
Mr N L S KWANKWA: Hon Deputy Speaker, on behalf of the UDM, I would to extend our deepest condolences to the Mofokeng, close friends and the ANC on the passing of hon Jackie Mofokeng. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. We all have our roles and responsibilities firstly in the Provincial Legislature in Gauteng and here in the NA. Hon Jackie Mofokeng has applied and served the nation with distinction and is one of those few leaders we consider to be a leader of integrity.
Mme Mofokeng understood that the legislative arm of government should be used at all times to advance the transformative agenda by enacting progressive legislations that seeks to improve the quality of lives of the people and to try and build a better life for all. She was a trailblazer for many ideas that are now common and are discussed on daily basis. We will forever miss a contribution and passion to gender equality, the empowerment of women and the protection of rights of women and children.
She always emphasised that the struggle for national liberation was equally a struggle against sexism and gender oppression. We would like to say with these few words that we would like her to rest in peace ...
IsiXhosa:
... alale ngoxolo ugqatso lakhe ulufezile. Siyabulela.
English:
Thank you very much.
Mr S N AUGUST: Hon Deputy Speaker, on behalf of GOOD movement, I would like to extend our condolences on the passing of the ANC MP Jacqueline Mofokeng. In a very moving statement, ANC
Chief Whip stated that Ms Mofokeng died with her boots on. Hon Deputy Speaker, considering such a heart-warming statement under the late MP, more so for South Africa to know the type of leadership and traits our colleague has, it is evident that the nation has lost the true daughter of the soil.
Ms Mofokeng contributed greatly to the work of Parliament and was an avid listener to the views of others even from the opposition parties. As she recognised the responsibility to the importance to this House. Hon Deputy Speaker, as we bid farewell to the committed colleague in the fight against gender-based violence, I ask that this House honours the memory of our fellow leader that of her incredible work and her legacy I extend our warmest sympathy to the family, friends and the colleagues Ms Mofokeng leaves behind. May her excellency act as immediate to us and I ask that we each take a page out of her book of life to understand what it means to truly be a servant leader. Thank you.
Mr C H M SIBISI: Hon Deputy Speaker, the NFP was saddened by the passing of Ms Jacqueline Mofokeng. We would like to express our deepest condolences to the Mofokeng family, friends, family and her political family. South Africa will forever be indebted to the Mofokeng family for lending her its
daughter to make a contribution in the fight for liberation of this country. We hope that her political home, the ANC, will honour her memory and her contribution to the liberation movement by putting our people first in all its endeavours.
South Africa is grateful for her contribution to the liberation movement and mourns along her daughter. May her soul continue to rest in peace. Thank you, Deputy Speaker.
Mr L M NTSHAYISA: Hon Deputy Speaker, as the AIC we also convey our condolences to the family of Mofokeng for having lost their beloved one, that is hon Mofokeng. We appreciate the contribution she has made to the country and the government in particular. Serving and working in so many portfolio was not an easy job but she had to do it because she was very diligent. We say to her friends, relatives and the ANC that they must also be comforted that she has done her work to the lease.
It is also hurting to lose women of her calibre. However, nothing could have been done because it was the call from above and she was supposed to respond. The bereaved family of Mofokeng must be comforted to note that this is the way for all of us to go and you cannot escape.
We shall keep on praying and shall never give up until we defeat this pandemic that has come to rob us of our beloved ones. You should know that you are not alone and we are going to share your pain as you are in pain. We say may her soul rest in peace. Thank you very much.
Mr W M MADISHA: Hon Deputy Speaker, on behalf of hon Lekota and Cope, I rise to join all hon members to pass Cope’s sincere condolences, first to the family of the late hon Mofokeng. Without doubt they have lost a family member they loved, their mother and a wife. Secondly, our sincere condolences, the party she represented both in this august House and before in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.
Lastly, our condolences to Sanco and the ANC Woman’s League. Without doubt, they too have lost because for them to give her leadership positions was a clear confidence that in her; the confidence that she could and would lead.
Although we are from different political parties, Cope believes that we are one because we share a common enemy. A family of South Africa sent us here to manufacture laws that must improve the lives of South Africans; ensure that they have jobs; do not remain poor; their children access free quality education and all South Africans remain safe. We may
differ in our approach and tactics but we are one. It is unfortunate that she has left too early but then we shall join her. Let her rest in peace. Thank you.
Mr M G E HENDRICKS: Hon Deputy Speaker, on behalf of Al Jama Ah party I express of our sincere condolences to the family, friends, the ANC and fellow Members of Parliament on the death of Mrs Jaqueline Mofokeng. We are sad to note that Mrs Mofokeng passed on 22 April 2021 a day after her daughter, the beloved Thato died. Our people should be ... [Inaudible.] ... to all their loved ones.
Ms Mofokeng was a dedicated and hard worker who served in several committees of Parliament and the nation is indebted to her for her stuck oversight. She will be remembered as a strong advocate for the liberation of women and protection of children following in the footsteps of another champion of children safety, our former President Nelson Mandela.
We offer our prayers to the family and friends of Mrs Mofokeng and her daughter and also everyone during the sad time of the bereavement. May their souls rest in peace, hon Deputy Speaker.
Mr B A RADEBE: Deputy Speaker, member of this august House, the Mofokeng family in the gallery,
Sesotho:
Mmangwane le motswala, re a le amohela mo Ntlung ya National Assembly. Re thabile haholo hore le be le rona kajeno hobane kajeno re hopola ngwana wa lona, Comrade Jacqui Mofokeng.
On behalf of the ANC, I would like to appreciate each and every member who contributed in this motion of condolence because it shows that Comrade Jacqui worked with people who have a conscience; people who love one another. It’s only through times like these – the trying times of death – that people will show their true colours. Members of the National Assembly have done that today by honouring one of their own.
But we as the ANC say that we are deeply hurt by what has happened on 22 April 2021. If you remember very well, this month is a month during which a lot of heroes from the side of the ANC passed on. I remember that in 1979 it was Comrade Solomon Mahlangu. In 1993, it was Comrade Chris Hani and Comrade Oliver Tambo. So, to us this month has come as a symbol of cadres of this movement who have sacrificed their lives for the greater good of this country.
But to this House and to South Africa at large, we say that the ANC has groomed one of its best cadres in the form of Comrade Jacqui because Comrade Jacqui fought a good fight, completed a race and kept the faith. What is awaiting her is a crown of righteousness from the Lord. So, why do we say she fought a good fight? This is very simple. It was very difficult to involve yourself in the liberation struggle because when you took that oath and became part of the liberation struggle – during the 1980s to the 1990s - you were signing yourself up for a prison sentence. You were signing yourself up for death by askaris. You were signing yourself for imprisonment. But what happened is that Comrade Jacqui was one of the few cadres who was able to raise her hand and say I am available to serve the people of this country. We as the ANC say that she served us with distinction.
But while she was serving, there is something very important she did. She observed the principles of the ANC up to the end. How can you forget this being the year of Charlotte Maxeke –
150 years after Charlotte Maxeke passed on. Charlotte Maxeke advised the people of this country that when you go up as an individual, take at least one person with you so that you don’t become better on your own or by yourself. But Comrade Jacqui did an extraordinary job. When she was at the height of
serving the people of this country in the Gauteng Legislature, when Ms June Steenkamp was in the ... - a quagmire of gender based violence - Comrade Jacqui Mofokeng raised her hand. She went down from the ladder and went straight into the quagmire, held her hand and walked with her up to where she belonged.
So, she had this type of dedication which this movement encourages all its cadres to show. It is only through selflessness that we will be able to transform this country. You must know that this country is a gift to us by God. But we are holding it in trust for the future generation. So, what we do today, will affect what is going to happen tomorrow.
So, Comrade Jacqui was an optimum volunteer of the ANC. You can see what she did with her life from her biography. It was the life of a selfless service. It was the life of voluntarism. So, we encourage each and every member in this House to do the same because it’s only then that we are going to realise a better life for all. Not a better life for some, but a better life for all. It is only through a selfless service.
But what I want to say about the humble contributions from members of the opposition is that it is high time that we hold hands together and fight this disease - this virus known as
Covid-19; the virus that our comrade succumbed to. So what is very critical here is that as we go on constituency period next week, let’s ensure that each and every member of our constituency wears a mask. They must cover up; there must be social distancing; and there must always be washing of hands and hand sanitising because it is only then that we are going to fight this demon.
I say to all cadres of the ANC, we have overcome colonialism and apartheid. We cannot afford to be defeated by Covid-19. We say that as the roll-out of vaccine is being spread throughout the country, let’s encourage our people who qualify to go and vaccinate. We know very well now that people who are 60 years and above qualify for the vaccine. Let’s encourage our family members, our friends, our neighbours and our communities that they must go and register and get the vaccine because it is only then that we are going to defeat this devil. We must remember what happened when we were growing up we used to have this thing known as “ente”. You would never go to school without the health card because the “ente” was used to ensure that you are not vulnerable to any diseases. So Covid-19 only came into being in 2019 where a lot of us are already old. So, there was no vaccine for us during that time. So the only time
is now. Let us act responsibly and try by all means that we ensure we protect our communities, friends and families.
On behalf of the ANC, because Ms J Jacqui Mofokeng was a Christian through and through, I will say to you, ...
Sesotho:
... Mmangwane le motswala hore ...
English:
... Jesus Christ once said “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. So that’s what she believed in. So, please hold on to that because we know that if she died believing in that, we are going to see her in the afterlife. We are going to meet with her and celebrate that we have overcome the adversities of this world.
Thank you, Deputy Speaker
Debate concluded.
Question put.
Motion agreed to.
DEBATE ON AFRICA DAY: THE YEAR FOR ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE
– BUILDING A BETTER AFRICA AND A BETTER WORLD IN THE MIDST OF COVID-19
(Subject for Discussion)
The MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: Deputy Speaker,
respectfully, I would also like to pay my respects to the family of the late comrade Jacqui Mofokeng ...
IsiZulu:
... okubuhlungu kakhulu ukuthi asikhaleli u-comrade Jacqui yedwa, sikhalela nengane yakhe eyahamba naye ngesikhathi esisodwa. Bayasho-ke abazi kangcono njengoba nje bengilalele umfundisi omkhulu, bengingazi ukuthi ungumfundisi ongaka, uma bekhuluma bethi ...
English:
... God gives at his time and God takes at his own pace too. Thank you very much family for having taken care of comrade Jacqui, I am one of those people who worked with comrade Jacqui for a number of years. I am one of those comrades who will recall meeting her right here in this House and having
very strong conversations especially about the issues of gender-based violence. I'm hoping that you ...
IsiZulu:
... niwumndeni ...
English:
... together with the younger generation that is coming through, you will take the responsibility and continue the work that comrade Jacqui did.
Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak today. Firstly, I'd like to thank the ANC, the organisation that made it possible for me to be able to stand here, to give me this opportunity to open the discussion and the debate on a very important day, that is Africa Day. More importantly, is for us to remind ourselves that we also are African. Many a time you find people talking about Africa whenever they are going somewhere within the continent, they say they are going to Africa when they are in Africa themselves. Hon members, fellow Africans across the length and breadth of our beautiful continent but of course, fellow South Africans Jambo ... [several unrecognised African Greetings] ... Avuxeni, Dumelang, Sanibonani. As I was reflecting and preparing for
this occasion to speak today, I could not help, but be reminded of some of the headlines that we often see particularly the headlines that we see in some other continents about the African continent. We see the headlines and frontline pages that scream Africa's agony and Africa's woes. Poverty-stricken Africa. Debts and Africa's resource curse, but as I was going through the different headlines, I was reminded also of another headline that had me asking myself at one point, and that headline, I think if I'm not mistaken was The Times or something, it says Africa is the next best thing.
And the question that I asked myself and I remember that I spoke about this many a times when I was the Minister of Small Business Development, talking to young people, in particular, I would say to them, here is a headline that seems to be moving from the headlines of darkness into the headlines of positivity. And I used to ask the young people when you read that headline that says, Africa is the next best thing, do you ask yourself the question, It's the next best thing for who?
Do you see yourself ... [Interjections.] you see ...
IsiZulu:
... yazi ukuba wuwe yazi ngesinye isikhathi ... kungcono uthule Kanye nje ngoba ukhuluma into ongayazi. [Ubuwelewele.] Awuyeke i-Cuba futhi nginesiqiniseko ukuthi nguwe lo obhala lesi sihloko esikhulu engikhuluma ngaso. Awuke uthule nje ...
English:
... for a change.
IsiZulu:
Hlukana nami mani. [Uhleko.]
English:
As I continue to reflect, especially to the young people, and by the way ...
IsiZulu:
... wena, mangike ngikukhumbuze ...
English:
... when we talk about young people, we don't talk about ourselves only. We talk about all colours of the people of South Africa. We talk about young black, white, coloured, Indian. It's a pity we are still being reflected that way, but that is just the reality of our situation.
IsiZulu:
Ngakhoke uma ungibona ngime la angikhulumeli mina ngedwa ngikhulumela wonke umuntu waseNingizimu Afrika. Le-Freedom Charter ethi,
English:
“South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white”.
IsiZulu:
Ngakhoke labo ababhala leyo ...
English:
... Freedom Charter, by the way ...
IsiZulu:
... babengahlanyi emakhanda wabo. Babekwazi kahle ukuthi even if iNingizimu Afrika singayikhulula wonke umuntu ohlala eNingizimu Afrika ...
English:
... whether black or white, belongs in this country.
IsiZulu:
Ngakhoke ngicela ukuthi ungiyeke-ke ngike ngithi ukukhuluma nje ungizwe ukuthi ngithini.
English:
The time has arrived for Africans to determine the narrative that will drive the collective psyche of the global community that we want to drive. The time for us is to write headlines that resonate with our innermost identities is not in the future, but it is now. When you look at your watches and look right now, they will reliably tell you that Africa is the youngest among the global citizens.
There is no other time outside of the youthful energies and untapped potential of Africa's youth. It is on this basis that we need to drive a strong people to people relation focus, invest in Africa's youth and enhance our socially and economically beneficial intra-Africa networks. In order for us to realise this, we need to conduct a self-critical and deep introspection. Where did we go wrong if we went wrong? What wrong are we doing that should be corrected at once? What intra-trans-African strengths should we reinforce in order to start directing our outcomes as they unfold.
Africa’s unity at the founding of the Organization of African Unity, OAU on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was made possible by our common struggle and fight against colonialism and oppression. We duly rose into liberation and achieved political freedom. As we are intensifying our realisation of Africa's economic freedom we must recall that this was at the heart of the transition of the OAU to the African Union, AU, which we have today. And the key vehicle through which this is being carried out is the AU Agenda 2063 that we adopted in January 2015 under the able stewardship and leadership of comrade Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who is our Minister of Co- operative Governance and Traditional Affairs. I wish to honour the legacy of the visionary leadership of the African continent, both men and women, the likes of Kwame Nkrumah, Patrice Lumumba, Amílcar Cabral, Julius Nyerere, Queen Yaa Asantewaa of Ghana, Harriet Tubman among others and I draw inspiration from the words of the then Emperor of Ethiopia, His Majesty, Haile Selassie I and I quote:
Africa is today at mid-course, in transition from the Africa of yesterday to the Africa of tomorrow. Even as we stand here, we move from the past into the future. The task on which we have embarked, the making of Africa, will not wait.
Throughout our history. And whenever we intentionally united around the challenges we have invariably succeeded. A few among these such instances include the project to decolonise Africa, the establishment of institutions of collective governance and work in progress developing our innovation, technological, and economic capacity towards strengthening intra-Africa. A few days ago, His Excellency the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, of the Republic of Ghana was addressing the official opening of the Pan-African Parliament.
He reminded us that as people like any other people elsewhere in the world, we find our common and overarching identity in Africa's arts, culture, customs and heritage. Our history, geography and economies only add two preeminent characters of who we are. Now, unfortunately for us, the coronavirus has attacked us and has forcefully reminded us that there’s a need to address the multi-intra-Africa inequalities.
Likewise, the vast majority of areas where we fall short of acting together where the identities, aspirations and interests of the colonisers and the new colonisers are concerning. In the same manner that we did not welcome the old imperialists and colonisers, we are cautioning the aspiring colonisers to stay where they are and not come to our soil if
they are not prepared to work with us. I thank you. [Applause.]
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you. In future, hon members, do indicate to us to let you know if you are left with two minutes or a minute. You can say that in advance so that we help you and we don’t fight. There is no need for us to fight. We haven’t done so yet today.
Ms S G GWARUBE: Deputy Speaker, as the continent celebrated Africa Day yesterday, marking the founding of the African Union designed to challenge colonialism and apartheid. It is critical to reflect on how far we have come as these various countries. The coronavirus disease 2019, Covid-19, pandemic over the past 14 months has illuminated a number of challenges that Africa continues to face, and crucial among them is being a crisis of leadership. There’s a direct correlation between the quality of leadership of the continent and how well it does in bettering the lives of its people.
Many countries across the continent are marred by conflict, shackled by unethical leaders who don’t know when to leave office and simply fail to govern well for those who elected them. For a young continent, whose average age is just above
19 years, the oldest head of state in Africa is 87 years old.
Well, age alone is not a determinant of excellence, this shows a complete disconnect of leaders from the people that they lead, and it shows. South Africa has certainly not been spared from the chaos of big man politics. We too suffer from the pandemic of unethical leaders, unaccountable to the people that elected them to serve them and clearly adverse to excellence in governance. You just have to look at the revelations coming out of the Zondo Commission to see the extent of our crisis of leadership.
Just yesterday we learnt of Zizi Kodwa’s love for the finer
things in life at the expense of ordinary South Africans.
Minister Mkhize, the very person leading this country’s Covid-
19 response has been embroiled in ... [Interjections.]
Mr B A RADEBE: On a point of order, Rule 82 is very clear that you cannot call each other in first names terms, please. You cannot call each other in first names ... [Inaudible.] ... to teach us all the member of this House, and it cannot be right.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon Gwarube, it’s a practice you know very
well.
Ms S G GWARUBE: I’m sorry, the Deputy Speaker, just yesterday we learnt of hon Zizi Kodwa’s love for the finer things in life at the expense of ordinary South Africans. Minister Mkhize, the very person leading this country’s Covid-19 response has been embroiled in a multimillion rand irregular contract awarded to his friends. The Auditor-General, AG, has flagged digital vibes for being ... [Interjections.]
Mr B A RADEBE: On a point of order, hon Gwarube has just cast aspersions on the character of hon Mkhize. Please, according to Rule 85 is a serious problem. Thank you.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon members, please stop screaming, hold on. Hon Gwarube!
Ms S G GWARUBE: Yes, Sir.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: We have in the past said that even if you draw it in a quotation said elsewhere including in the courts in the House you need to do it by way of a substantive motion. And when you don’t do it in that way, then it violates the rules as accepted in the House.
Ms S G GWARUBE: I have, Deputy Speaker, I just want to draw
your attention that “embroiled’ does not necessarily mean that
... [Interjections.]
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon Gwarube, casting aspersions and insinuating is just as much as having said it explicitly.
Ms S G GWARUBE: That’s right. I will simply say that it has been reported that the Minister has embroiled in a multimillion rand irregular contract awarded to his friends. The Auditor-General who has flagged digital vibes for being riddled with many irregularities including the possible conflict of interests. This is why the Democratic Alliance will be calling on the President to remove the Minister from his post. There can’t be no holy cows where accountability is concerned. The Minister cannot be both the player and the referee in an investigation that concerns him.
Law enforcement agencies must do their work without any undue influence. A R150 million, hon members, could have been spent investing in a health system that has been honestly needs for the past 14 months, but instead it has lying to the pockets of greedy politicians and their friends. Corruption that steals public money that is meant to save the lives of ordinary South
Africans is criminal, it is abhorrent and quite frankly is a pandemic itself. All of this is happening while South Africans starring at a possible third wave of Covid-19 infections while only affection of the population has been vaccinated. At the race, but we are going we will not be able to reach population immunity any time soon ... [Interjections.]
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, hon members, you can’t be screaming it’s not orderly. Go ahead, hon member.
Ms S G GWARUBE: Will you protect me, please from ... [Inaudible.]
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: But you are doing what I’m doing ... [Laughter.] ... don’t waste your time, hon member. Please, and I noticed that you are looking at your watch correctly. Stay with your watch and ... [Inaudible.] ... hon members, please stop screaming.
Ms S G GWARUBE: Therefore, while we should celebrate the unity of the African continent and all that is grate about its people, let us not never gaze and lose sight of the task at hand. The people of this continent have enjoyed wars, racial segregation and at times grinding poverty in the country of
their birth. And now they are victims of poor, unethical leadership, failed economic policies and a global pandemic that has come to decimate the little that is left of this continent, and the little that is left of their own patience.
I would urge us all to do better, but I know that the members of this House have no interests and being part of the solution
... hon members, but do very little which is honourable ... [Applause.] [Time expired.]
Mr B S MADLINGOZI: Deputy Speaker, the Economic Freedom Fighters join millions of Africans in the continent and in the diaspora in marking the 58th anniversary of the formation of the organisation of African Unity which is continentally and globally celebrated as Africa Day. The 25th of May 1963 marks a very important day in the history of this continent and under the ideological guidance and leadership of the likes of Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, Sékou Touré, Haile Selassie, Léopold Senghor ... [Inaudible.] ... and many others, Africa took the first step towards unifying the continent. On that occasion Dr Kwame Nkrumah had this to say, I quote:
The unity of our continent, no less than our separate independence, will be delayed, if indeed we do not lose
it, by hobnobbing with colonialism. African unity is, above all, a political kingdom which can only be gained by political means. The social and economic development of Africa will come only within the political kingdom, not the other way round.
Dr Kwame Nkrumah said this because he fully understood that:
Neo-colonialism is based upon principle of breaking up former large united colonial territories into a number of small nonviable states which are incapable of independent development and must rely upon the former imperial power for defence and even internal security. Their economic and financial systems are linked, as in colonial days, with those of the former colonial ruler.
The emperor Selassie further emphasised this point and said, and I quote:
Today, we look to the future calmly, confidently, and courageously. We look to the vision of an Africa not merely free but united. In facing this new challenge, we can take comfort and encouragement from the lessons of the past. We know that there are differences among us.
Africans enjoy different cultures, distinctive values, special attributes. But we also know that unity can be and has been attained among men of the most disparate origins, that differences of race, of religion, of culture, of tradition, are not insuperable obstacle to the coming together of peoples. History teaches us that unity is strength and cautions us to submerge and overcome our differences in the quest for common goals to strive with all of our combined strength to true African brotherhood and unity.
We are bringing back the memories of these great leaders because Africans everywhere must always be reminded that the celebration of Africa Day is and should be the celebration of African political, economic and social unity. We do take note that now many generations of African leaders post the 1963 co- group of leaders have not progressively carried forward the vision of African Unity. As a result, most African countries continue to be enclaves of their former colonisers. The neo- colonial masters continue to ruthlessly extract and exploit natural resources of this continent, particularly mineral and energy resources of Africa without paying taxes and at the expense of our people.
They continue to sponsor civil conflict and terrorism in Africa because instability of the continent gives them space to extract and steal natural resources without consequences. It is therefore, important that we reaffirm the principle contained in our founding manifesto as the Economic Freedom Fighters that the development of South Africa is inextricably linked to the development of the continent as a whole. There is no amount of sustainable socioeconomic development that we be attained in South Africa unless the state played a prominent role in the economic development of the African continent as a whole. This must include the development of economic corridors to link up the entire continent and create capacity to produce and consume goods in the continent.
Further, we reaffirm our principle that the EFF will advocate for the ultimate integration of the African continent through the erosion of and eventual elimination of unnecessary borders to give proper vision and proper respect to the founding fathers of the Organisation of African Unity, OAU. We call for the following action: a) strengthening of the Pan African Parliament and the legislative oversight body for the African continent; b) establishment of the African Stan-force and join African military action to stop the terrorism and instability in Mozambique, Mali and all African countries affected by
Covid and terrorism; c) isolation of Morocco from all continental bodies until they allow for the independence of the Saharawi Republic; d) cancellation of visa requirements for all Infra-African trade travel; and e) reviving of the African industrialisation plan which must compliment the African continental free trade area. These are important building blocks towards African political, economic and social unity, Deputy Speaker.
We cannot continue celebrating Africa day without working towards the eventually edification of the continent. Forward to the unity of the African continent forward. Thank you.
Mr M HLENGWA: Hon Deputy Speaker, as we celebrate Africa Day this year, commemorating the establishments of the OAU, we need to be starkly reminded of our duty to unite and to speak to the needs of Africa. This duty towards unity with a strong focus towards the economic needs of the African people was best expressed in 1963 when President Kwame Nkrumah besieged us in his address at the founding of the AOU, when he said, and I quote: We must unite now or perish; we must recognise that our economic independence resides in our African union and requires the same concentration upon the political achievement.
These words still ring truth to this very day, 58 years later, since the founding of the AU. We must use all our opportunities, not only as South Africans, but as Africans, to commit ourselves, over the next few decades well into the future, to the struggle to economically liberating all our people.
Many of us need to be reminded of the bravery and selfless sacrifice of our former liberation heroes, these true revolutionaries who, despite the evil atrocities committed against them, and the ruthless exploitation of our African people, our countries and our natural resources, had to put their lives in the frontline for us in pursuit of freedom, justice and liberation.
A we commemorate this day and the sacrifice of those who came before us for our political emancipation, we have no other choice but to heed the call for economic liberation and economic justice.
This year, Africa Day is celebrated under the theme of honouring the arts, culture and heritage of African people. Under this theme, we have the duty to remember the mass dispersion of our people during the transatlantic slave trade
when millions of our African people of western and central Africa who were sold in different regions throughout America and the Caribbean now make up some the world’s greatest talent
– the best artists, musicians, composers and producers.
Our strength, our diversity our resilience and our sure determination as a people have placed us in a position to export and showcase to the world. We now export our rich sounds, our rhythms, our heartbeat of Africa to the world.
However, there are many shortcomings of our government, not only in its response to the efforts of the continent in the race against the spread of the deadly corona pandemic, but to the very artists and musicians and all those in the cultural and creative industries.
It pains the IFP to see how government has failed our people and failed those in this industry, as they have been severely impacted by the pandemic and holds our government accountable in ... [Inaudible] ... initiatives to soften the blow.
In these uncertain times, the power of the arts, not only to uplift and inspire people, but also to educate our people cannot be overemphasised.
Therefore, we must tighten our grip and acknowledge that power, greed and corruption will destroy us. It will disable any of our ... [Inaudible] ... to live up to the promise of
... [Inaudible] ... Let us remove this obstacles and elements amongst us and let us unite behind the collective ideal of economic justice and economic liberation in Africa.
In these uncertain times, the role of the arts is not only vital for the social wellbeing of all our countries on the continent, but lest we forget it is also a major and critical economic contributor. Let us do right by the arts sector, as we commemorate Africa Day. I thank you.
Ms H DENNER: Hon House Chairperson, the theme is: The year for Arts, Culture and Heritage – Building a better Africa and a better world in the midst of covid-19. Let us take stock of this year – the year for arts, culture and heritage in the midst of a pandemic under the ANC government.
Let us start with the arts and the hon Minister Zulu referred to media headlines, so let me do the same. “Protesting artists blockade Arts and Culture Department building.” “Protesting artists want Mthethwa’s resignation over NAC’s handling of covid-19 funds.” Nathi’ Mthethwa, has failed dismally and does
not understand the arts industry.” “Half of the National Arts Council Presidential Employment Package funding has gone to a connected 12%.” And the list really does go on. Let us stand still at this last headline because it perfectly sums up the situation in the ANC government at present. Twelve percent ...
Mr B A RADEBE: Chair, on a point of order: The previous speaker referred to a member of this House in first-name terms. According to Rule 82, it is not allowed.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T FROLICK): Which previous speaker are you referring to? The current speaker?
Mr B A RADEBE: Yes, the one who is speaking now.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T FROLICK): Hon Denner, you must refer to the hon member in respectful terms and not call the hon member on his or her name or just the surname. Let us retain the necessary respect for one another.
Ms H DENNER: Hon Chairperson, I was quoting media headlines, but I will take that into cognisance.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T FROLICK): Hon member, even if you are quoting media headlines, you are repeating that headlines. The headlines in the media are not subject to parliamentary Rules. You are subject to parliamentary Rules.
Ms H DENNER: House Chair, 12% of those who receive the Nation Arts Council funding were collectively paid more than R128 million, which equates to 46% of the funding. The covid-19 pandemic has literally wreaked havoc on the lives and livelihoods of South African artists, rendering many of them unable to afford to care for their families and even themselves. Yet, this is what happens under the watchful eye of the ANC government, the so-called caring government.
Presidential Stimulus package funding, as with all other sort of funding on all levels of government is misappropriated, stolen and defrauded away from those who need and deserve it most. Why? Because fraud and corruption are in endemic in the ANC. Where government is involved, there you will find it.
However, let me not pick all the low-hanging fruit. Let us look at the cultural heritage of our beautiful and diverse South Africa. One would think that the one heritage site in country, possibly the world, that would merit the
extraordinary and special care and attention of government would be the Robben Island Museum. But no, this is no exception.
The Director-General of Sport, Arts and Culture himself noted during a site visit is 2020 that the infrastructure on the island was falling into disrepair. Yet, the Department of Public Works failed to spend more than R100 million of infrastructure grant by the end of March 2020. You see, that is the other problem with the ANC government, that which is not misappropriated is misplanned and thus unspent.
Afrikaans:
Die jaag wat op Afrikanererfinis en gedenkwaardighede gemaak word is ’n verdere bewys dat hierdie regering geen vorm van respek vir enige van Suid-Afrika se inheemse bevolkingsgroepe het nie.
Die verwydering van standbeelde, reuse bedrae broodnodige fondse wat op die verandering van straat en plekname bestee word, en die miskenning van die regering van die geskiedenis en lot van onder andere Afrikaners, deur middel van sonnebokpolitiek, maak van Suid-Afrika se burgers, miljoene mense soos ek, wat in hierdie land en op hierdie kontinent
gebore en getoë is, en in wie se are Afrikaner en Afrika bloed vloei, vreedelinge.
English:
I am not a stranger in this country. I am an Afrikaner, a South African and I am an African. I am proud of my heritage and the collective heritage of this county and this continent, no matter what the ANC or EFF says to the contrary.
You, the ANC, have no business claiming that you are building a better Africa and better world. Before that can be done, a better South Africa must be build first. You have ruined this country, even before the pandemic and anything you say to the contrary is hypocritical because the prove is in front of us. Every day we see it and we see you. Thank you.
Rev K R J MESHOE: Chairperson, the dream of building a better Africa and a better world will remain what it is under the current leadership on the continent. Africa has leaders who lack vision for prosperous vibrant economies on the continent. Leaders who lack courage and moral fortitude to confront issues that continue to plague us such as corruption, unemployment and terrorism. Human rights abuses, increasing incidents of gender-based violence affirm the fact that we
have leaders who seem incapable of providing an environment that is safe and secure for those in their countries.
The good infrastructure that was inherited has mostly been destroyed and allowed to decay because of incompetence and corruption. To give just one example, Zimbabwe used to send foreign aid to United Kingdom, but now depends on foreign aid from Europe and other countries and this must change.
Chairperson, the ACDP believes that the current crop of African leaders with the exception of a few have tolerated corruption in their countries. What they are good at is to go abroad with begging bowls to ask for more grants and loans at great expense. The ACDP further believes that Africa is a wealthy continent that should be able to sustain itself rather than rely on countries that do not even have minerals we have on this continent.
Africa desperately needs visionary leaders who will bring positive change to the economic prospects of their countries. Leaders who will move Africa from primarily being raw material producers and the producers of agricultural goods to an Africa that will know how to beneficiate their raw materials, develop and manufacture goods. Relying solely on mining and the
production of raw materials will not bring prosperity to Africa. Countries that have manufacturing capabilities see an improvement in their economies and are able to create more jobs for their people.
Unemployment on this continent remains unacceptably high and we see people risking their lives by going abroad because of a lack of employment and poverty. Africa needs visionary leaders who will foster growth of industries that would develop and manufacture goods thereby creating jobs and reducing unemployment. This will make African countries more competitive and ready themselves for the export markets.
Now is the time for Africa to rise to the challenge and become more competitive in the global market. In so doing, will create much needed jobs and transform their economies and the continent. I thank you.
Mr N L S KWANKWA: Hon Chair, I’m having connectivity issues, can you give me a few minutes please or move to the next speaker, thank you.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T FROLICK): Ok. We will go to the next speaker who is the hon Zungula.
Mr V ZUNGULA: Chair, we need to define African unity outside of the populace rhetoric. African unity must mean unity of purpose. There must be peace and prosperity in all corners of the continent. There must be a decolonisation of the continent. Africa must divorce itself from colonial institutions and structures.
Meghan Markle recently offered to save the Queen of England in a Commonwealth country like South Africa. That clearly shows we are still a British colony. South Africa must leave the Commonwealth. In Africa we must have all the leaders who are determined on transforming their countries. And ensuring that their countries are self-sufficient. It is poor leadership to have African leadership being summoned to France to discuss African problems.
Africans must be encouraged to deal and confront bad governance and corruption in all African countries. This is the main reason why Africans flee their countries and risk being made slaves in Libya or die whilst attempting to swim to Europe. Africans must be encouraged to correct the wrongs in their own countries. Malians did it, Malawians did it and all countries can do it.
We must not a generation of Africans who flee their own countries in times of difficult. There must be equal treatment of Africans in Africa. There is no unity without equality. It cannot be correct that South Africans are expected to have passports to travel across the continent and they are arrested and deported if they are in a foreign country illegally. They are not allowed to do jobs those citizens of those countries can do. They are restricted from certain sectors of the economies in those countries yet, when the same is spoken about in South Africa, it is labelled xenophobic. Treat Africans the same and there will be real unity. Tanzanians are Africans, Ugandans are Africans and also South Africans are Africans as well. And such bears the right to express themselves on the affairs of their country. South Africans are not wrong in saying our immigration, labour and trade laws must be enforced and respected. Brotherhood is all about mutual respect.
South Africa has 43% unemployment rate and more than
30 million of its citizens are living in poverty. It is a rate capital of the world, 58 people are murdered each and every day, it is the most unequal country in the world. South Africa is not wrong to deal with these problems and cater for its citizens first. While you have 30 million people living in
poverty fighting over scarce resources instead of increasing those resources, you encourage another 15 millions of people to come to South Africa and fight over these scarce resources. You are only inciting violence. As Africans, we need to be frank, openly discuss and debate issues raised, and not attempt to silence genuine concerns of the people as xenophobic or afro phobic. I thank you.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T FROLICK): Hon Kwankwa, are you connected now?
Mr N L S KWANKWA: Chair, yes and thank you very much. At the time of independence South African leaders established institutions for colonial co-operation of unity and crafted various indigenous development plans which to a large extent have yet to be implemented. As a result, Africa still have a long way to go in its development and its vision to strengthen trade, stimulate growth and unite Africa primarily because of the lack of political will and political leadership. As the UDM, we feel that these issues are at the heart of building a peaceful, integrated and prosperous Africa.
One of the biggest challenges facing the African continent today is that of political leadership, where political
leaders, the big men of Africa, refuses to relinquish power, most of them want to die in office while inciting violence and conflict among citizens.
We have an African Union, AU, where human rights violation across the continent are not being paid attention to. An African union that turns a blind eye to human rights violations perpetrated by their member states.
The other problem that we find with the African continent is that it is modelled on the model European Union, EU. The challenge with the AU is that it has sets no standards whatsoever for membership. All that one needs is to be a member state in Africa to qualify for membership, while there should be standards in terms of political development and political situation in a country, the human rights development situations in a country including the levels of economic fundamentals that should be in place. In our view, these issues would help us to integrate Africa at much a faster pace than what has happened.
Silencing the guns is one of the Agenda 2063 objectives. Yet, we have seen countries like Mozambique and Ethiopia especially where people are dying of hunger or because of conflict. How
can we possible achieve peaceful environments in Africa and sustainable economies when Ethiopia the country with AU Headquarters is currently in conflict.
Fellow south Africans, we need an independent AU that will provide genuinely African solutions to African problems. The AU should be sustained financially by its member state not by foreign donors in order to ensure its independence. In order to achieve a prosperous continent, we need a more effective AU and Pan-African Parliament that should indeed be the legislative arm for the African continent.
We are also of the view, as the UDM, that the time has come for Africa to establish its own central bank so that member state can be able to go to that central bank for funding for whatever projects including projects that have to do with infrastructure development.
Ms M B HICKLIN: My fellow South Africans ... [Interjections.]
... No! This is not a speech delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa as we celebrate Africa Day but it should be because this is the message South African needs to hear. We are a country in crisis and the DA will do anything in our power to safe South Africa from collapsing into anabas.
We are committed to saving livelihoods and the economy by putting person no agenda decide and working for all the people who elected us to serve them.
House Chair, Covid has not caused the healthcare or social service crisis we are faced with but it has exposed the rot and the weaknesses that a whole mark of this vital department in an ideal world healthcare and social services care for the most vulnerable citizens when they are at their most vulnerable but in South Africa today, because of a lack of political will they do not.
Society is screaming for help. Doctors and nurses are broken. Orphan children, the elderly and the destitute are desperate for relief and this can be achieved by caring DA-run government who puts its citizen’s first. We have been crippled by a pandemic our doctors and nurses cannot control, but also by an ANC government that had the capacity to double staff compliments but didn’t.
Just yesterday, one of the largest Intensive Care Unit, ICU, in the Eastern Cape was battling under its case load and there were just two doctors on call. Only 3 465 out of 9 000 unemployed social work graduates find employment during this
pandemic. The risk watch hopelessly from the side line as one by one their overburden colleagues struggle to plug the gaping holes and prevent further human causalities from falling through the cracks.
We currently sit with the consecutive 330 000 qualified nurse vacancies in hospitals across South Africa. This has contributed dramatically to the number of Covid death in this country, yet hundreds if not thousands of newly qualified South African doctors and nurses sit ideate at home twiddling their thumbs waiting for the Department of Health letters of appointment while they watch the statistics of Covid death spiral out of control. They want to work. They are desperate to work but there are no opportunities or posts or money to pay for them. So, we have been told and yet we are for the employment to keep Cuban doctors costing the department of Health a total of R239 181 933 just in salaries. We are not talking about Covid death from Covid for ordinary citizens but also for medical professionals who have succumb to this pandemic because of corruption, inferior personal protective equipment, PPE, a lack of human capacity and life serving equipment and an uncaring system that is hopelessly under resourced, demoralised and burnt out these dedicated professionals turned up for work every single day searching
for real hope, searching for real change that will restore their faith in their professions and in their government. My fellow South Africans ...
The HOUSE CHAIRPESRON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, your time has expired.
Ms M B HICKLIN ... this is the reality. Happy Africa Day. [Applause.]
Sepedi:
Mna J B MAMABOLO: Modulasetulo Frolick, e re ke thome ka go t?ea sebaka se ke leboge mokgatlo wa ka wa ANC ka sebaka se ba mphilego sona. Modulasetulo Frolick, maabane re be re dut?e kua mabenkeleng re eja mala le mogodu ebile re t?het?e “babelas atchar.” Re be re eja dijo t?a SeAfrika; re keteka Let?at?i la Afrika. Re rile go t?hela “babelas atchar” dijo t?ela t?a ba bose kudu ka gobane ke dijo t?eo bana ba gaborena ba swanet?ego ba di rutwe; ba se nyake feela “mahenyahenya” ge ba le meletlong le meketeng. Ke ka fao go lego bohlokwa go bot?a bana ba rena ba theelet?e diyalemoya t?a SABC, kudukudu boThobela FM, Munghana Lonene FM, Phalaphala FM gammogo le Umhlobo Wenene FM.
The HOUSE CHAIRPESRON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon Mamabolo, will you just take your seat please. Hon members, there are no translation on the translation services coming through. Take your seat, hon Mamabolo. You will continue now when we get the translation services restored.
Sepedi:
Mna J B MAMABOLO: Ke ka fao go lego bohlokwa gore re ba bot?e ba kgone go theelet?a ...
English:
The HOUSE CHAIRPESRON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon Mamabolo, you may just take your seat for a while. [Interjections.] Order, hon members. Hon Mamabolo, you may continue. Our apologies for stopping you on your speech.
Sepedi:
Mna J B MAMABOLO: Ke a leboga Modulasetulo Frolick. Ba swanet?e go ithuta Sepedi le maleme a mangwe a mo Afrika - ke ra le bona bontate Faber. Ge a bolela ka SeAfrikanse mo komiting ya rena ya Dipapadi, Bokgabo le Set?o ke a mo kwa; o tseba gabotse.
Hon Chair, on this Africa Day debate we wish to draw your attention to the African Arts Culture and Heritage to communicate the message of Africa’s past and its future. We see the context of African renaissance the rebirth of our continent.
Hon Chairperson, somewhere in 1906 one of the founders of the ANC Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme dare the world not to compared Africa to Europe or to any other continent. This as he said was in fear from such comparison rather the fact that common standard is impossible to find. Of significant to our debate today, hon Chairperson, is that President Seme said that African civilisation which is incomparable to any in the world. Dr Sema said, and I quote:
Come with me to the ancient capital of Egypt, Thebes, the city of one hundred gates. The grandeur of its venerable ruins and the gigantic proportions of its architecture reduce to insignificance the boasted monuments of other nations. The pyramids of Egypt are structures to which the world presents nothing comparable. The mighty monuments seem to look with disdain on every other work of human art and to vie with
nature herself. All the glory of Egypt belongs to Africa and her people.
But hon Chairperson, it will be wrong of me to speak about Egypt and their pyramids whereas we can’t condemn the barbaric behaviour of Mamelodi Sundowns fans. The barbaric acts that happened at Lucas Morepe Stadium on Saturday. That was uncalled for Masandawana. I am your fan you know very well, but I disowned that kind of behaviour and we are calling upon the President of Confederation of African Football, Caf, Patrice Motsepe to act because Pitso is our brother and the Egyptian players are also our brothers. [Applause.]
Bafana Bafana played in the 2019 World Cup there. We defeated Egypt in a packed Cairo stadium 1-0. Did the Egyptian fans attack us? The answer is no. Masandawana we will have to win some and lose some. Here is South Africa we have been mooring Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates left, right and centre. We have been conquering Africa.
Sepedi:
Chiefs ke gona e thoma go re ja maloba mo. Pirates ...
English:
The HOUSE CHAIRPESRON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, there is a point of order. Yes, hon Paulsen?
Mr N PAULSEN: Chairperson, I just want to know, is it parliamentary to use the word mooring in a sitting?
The HOUSE CHAIRPESRON (Mr C T Frolick): Thank you, hon Paulsen.
Ms E N NTLANGWINI: [Inaudible.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPESRON (Mr C T FROLICK): Hon Ntlangwini, we didn’t ask for your comments. Your member raised a point of order and I am dealing with it. Hon Mamabolo, you must withdraw that word. I don’t want to repeat it.
Mr J B MAMABOLO: I withdraw mooring Chairperson. We have been defeating Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates in this country.
Sepedi:
Chiefs re e betha re i?it?e matsogo ka morago. Ba thoma go re ja maloba fela ka “offsite”. Pirates ebile yona ga re e bone; re e betha 3 le go feta.
English:
But what I am saying Masandawana is, we are Africans. We must respect each other. We must let Pitso go and represent us well in Africa.
Hon Chairperson, almost 92 years after the speech of President Seme, the then former President Mbeki of the Republic of South Africa and later the President delivered an address at the United Nations University on the subject of the African Renaissance and President Mbeki said, I quote:
The architectural monuments represented by the giant sculptured stones of Aksum in Ethiopia, the Egyptian sphinxes and pyramids, the Tunisian city of Carthage, and the Zimbabwe ruins, as well as the legacy of the ancient universities of Alexandria of Egypt, Fez of Morocco and, once more, Timbuktu of Mali. When I survey all this and much more besides, I find nothing to sustain the long-held dogma of African exceptionalism, according to which the colour black becomes a symbol of fear, evil and death.
Both President Seme and Mbeki communicated an unequivocal message for all to know that Africa boards of gigantic proportions of architecture which may reduce to insignificance
both state monuments of other nations and that the colour black does not symbolise fear, evil and death.
Today, we celebrate Africa Day. The question which we must all accept is, how do we build this vast contribution of Africa towards civilisation to advance the repeats of our continent. The response to this question is that we go back to the 1976 Charter where the African heads of state and government gathered in Port Louis in Mauritius to adopt the cultural Charter of Africa. This Charter was further affirmed by six other session of the African Union in Carto. The objective of the Chatter includes the accession of the dignity of the African men and women as well as the popular foundation of their culture. It also encourages the promotion of freedom of expression and cultural democracy which is inseparable from social, political democracy. Lastly, to preserve and promote African culture, heritage through preservation, restoration and habitation. Well we are called upon by history as children of Africa to claim our space under sun not as a ... but as a continent whose time has arrived. A continent where philosophy begun. We are continent that contributed to the knowledge in mathematics, science, medicine and philosophy in the world.
As we mark Africa Day, hon Chairperson, we should do so with the knowledge that we are equal citizens of the world. Let’s celebrate our culture, our heritage and arts.
Tshivenda:
Vho J B MAMABOLO: Mudzulatshidulo, ri dzulela u diphina nga zwiliwa zwa u difha zwa sialala vhengeleni la vho Mususumeli li re Thohoyandou. Ro livhuwa ngamaanda, Mudzulatshidulo.
Ndaa! [U fhululedza.]
Mr S N AUGUST: Hon Chairperson, on Africa Day we reflect on the continent’s progress in forging unity, peace, independence and better lives from the trenches of slavery, colonialism, apartheid and oppression. But how can we talk unity when thousands of refugees are fleeing Morocco for better opportunities in Spain. And while nations ... [Inaudible.] ... over the years of life giving water from the ... [Inaudible.]
... river. How can we talk peace when we are plagued with coups in Mali resulting from inability to transfer power democratically? While the conflict in South Sudan has displaced more than 4,000,000 people. What independence do we speak of without continent’s economic agenda is set by powerful institutions and nations thousands of miles from our shores?
How did the millions of Africans still live in poverty and seeking better lives and livelihoods? For how long in discussions about global inequality or Africans continue to occupy the very lowest ... [Inaudible.] ...? The massive challenges we face must not give the impression that Africans don’t have urgency, that we somehow survived by the grace of richer and more powerful players. We haven’t survived by their grace we have survived in spite of them. We have our own gifts and strengths, among them, resilience and diversity. It said that Africa has the richest minerals underground. While the continent is indeed blessed with an abundance of precious metals and stones, there are arguably much greater riches in our people’s cultures. It’s about seeing values differently.
Chair, arguably the very last thing the mother continent needed was Covid-19. It is exerting massive pressure on African economies and exposing massively under-resourced public health systems. The rollout of vaccines to richer nations first clearly maintains the cycle of global economic apartheid and inequality. The global north already leading the race by many miles, were returned to full economic activity before the south had further extend their advantage within the start message to Africa. If we don't act together, we will be unlikely to ever be able to challenge inequality. Without
looking up to each other, we will battle to ever achieve economic sustainability and will therefore battle to take charge of our destiny.
That is good message on Africa Day, we can fix things but we must acknowledge our dependence on our sisters and brothers up and down the continent if we are able to create something new. We must change words associated with Africa like; like poverty, corruption and wild animals towards reflecting cultural richness, wisdom and natural resources that benefit people sustainability and justice for all. Thank you.
Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Thank you very much, Chairperson. Chairperson, allow me to express my disappointment. Speaker after speaker came on to this podium and talking about Africa talking about South Africa talking about many other countries. No one, I repeat, no one remembered the Khoi and the San, who in terms of what scientists before, their DNA is the first of human life anywhere in the world and very first in Africa in anyway.
The Khoi and San there is no doubt that they are the first people in South Africa, then came the black, the white and Indian then followed. What is important is that everybody that
came here found the Khoi and San here. So, who are the rightful heirs of the land of South Africa? It has to be the Khoi and San, but yet Chairperson, 57 years later, 90% of the Khoi and San still remain landless. Chairperson, the Khoi and San were oppressed by the Dutch oppressed by the British and oppressed by our colonial apartheid regime. They even went on to fight the Portuguese so that today, we, in South Africa would be free. The Khoi and San were labelled by the apartheid regime as if they were animals referred to as colored. The South African Human Rights Commission in 2019 recommended and made many recommendations but gave 12 months wait implementation. Even that, has not happened.
The apartheid regime attempted to wipe out the history books of Khoi and San, even that they failed. South Africa had adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People to protect their rights, full participation and prohibit discrimination. Now, 27 years later, Chairperson, the Khoi and San are still the poorest, they are still landless, they’re still homeless and they don’t even enjoy any recognition. Come let us not forget the suffering and oppression that the Khoi and San endured. Let us not forget the role of ... [Inaudible.] ... in World War 2. Chairperson,
let me reiterate, we have a progressive democratic Constitution.
What is its value if we cannot implement and give the Khoi and San back their dignity, their respect and equality and most importantly, Chairperson, their first nation status? Let us return to the Khoi and San what is rightfully theirs, and that is the land. Let us uplift every Khoi and San in South Africa. Thank you very much.
Mr L M NTSHAYISA: Thank you very much, hon Chairperson. In the midst of Covid-19, we can still celebrate what we have as Africans. Arts, culture and heritage are the embodiments of Africa. We should be proud of what we have because they explain who we are and where do we go from here. ...
[Inaudible.] ... connect with the whole world so as to have a better world too. Chairperson, we should never forget our languages as Africans. You cannot have a situation where Africans would speak German, French, Portuguese and other languages with ease but coming to their own languages they do it with difficult. That is not good at all.
We should completely do away with any form of colonialism as it was happening during the scramble for Africa. Most
countries that steak to their culture, values, arts and heritage have improved and developed their economies. The idea that was initiated by the former President, Thabo Mbeki, of the African Renaissance, was a very good one. Chairperson, we should do away with xenophobia, chauvinism, dictatorship at all cost because this will never take Africa forward. It is when we stand together that we shall achieve the objectives of the Organisation of the African Unity, OAU, preferred today as the African Unity, AU or the African renaissance and all this. Let us restore Africanism to Africa and this will lead to a better world.
Chairperson; in our music, praise singing and indigenous knowledge we must encourage the spirit of togetherness. Let us work together for the sake of our Continent, Africa. Even during this difficult time of Covid-19 pandemic, Africa needs to be developed and otherwise. Of course, Chairperson, we shall need land to practice all these. It would be easy, therefore, to overcome these challenges. The challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality can also be overcome if we're together as Africans. Chair, humanism together with socialism must be part of Africans. Africa for Africans. Power to the Africans.
Chairperson, the murder of Muammar Gaddafi, could have been avoided if we were together or united as Africans. We were very concerned, very much concerned and skeptical of this ICC, that is the International Criminal Court, that is always for Africans. The leaders that are killing people, Africans in particular, are always made to appeal before this court, an example of George Bush, who killed a lot of people, was never summoned to this court. We say, Africa for Africa, power to the people, power to the Africans. Thank you.
Mr W M MADISHA: Hon House Chair and hon members, arts and culture were used as critical weapons by millions of Africans from Cape to Cairo. As Africans waged war against horrendous system of colonialism which has literally usurp the realm of proper physical and mental existence of the African people.
Cope thanks artists and many other cultural activists for the role they played in freeing the entire continent from that evil system. But, although it took decades and in other instances centuries for Africans to finally emerge and celebrate true victory, it however is extremely unfortunate that what South African won, and still has today is pseudo democratic victory against colonialism of a special type.
Arts and culture activists who still even today have a reason to take South Africa to a better tomorrow, are themselves daily destroyed by pseudo democratic state that South Africa has become today.
Although we agree that COVID ... unfortunate realities made hard for the artists and cultural activists to display their prowess in many big halls and stadia, full of people so that they can food on their families’ table. It has become continuously said because pseudo democratic state has adopted a satanic role which is daily putting artists into the grave. Prove is when for instance artists locked up in a sit in for more than two months because although government claimed to have put money aside for the cultural workers who have lost their jobs, those millions disappeared. More millions to address COVID-19 have disappeared.
For South Africa, Africa and the world to enjoy a better future in the mist of COVID-19, I call on all South Africans to agree with George Orwell as I 100% do, when he says:
People who vote for political thieves are not victims but accomplices.
Do you agree to be an accomplice, you South African? I say that this is a major problem and we need to rise and deal with this because some among us will say, we are revolutionaries and when we tell them, they will say you are a counter revolutionary. And when you say can you even spell that, write that on the piece of paper, they can’t even do that because they themselves are thieves who deny people food and that is a major problem.
The stealing of the money in South Africa has got to be looked into and George Orwell is therefore correct, when he says that:
People who vote for political thieves are not victims but accomplices.
South Africans ... [Interjection.] Thank you very much [Time expired.]
Ms B SWARTS: House Chair, hon members, remember the words of Ingoapele Madingoane when he said:
Africa my beginning, Africa my ending…” words that touched lives, words that create hope, where Africa seems dark.
COVID-19 is not our beginning. COVID-19 is not our ending and COVID-19 is not our story. Allow me to tell you our African story. The Charter for African Cultural Renaissance adopted by the 6th African Union, AU Assembly held in Khartoum, Sudan in January 2006 entered into force in October 2020 upon receipt by the AU Commission of the required 15th instrument of ratification of this important policy instrument. South Africa has also ratified the Charter. This year’s theme presents a unique opportunity for the continent to celebrate its great Pan-Africanist who have played and are still playing a key role in African renaissance and its re-birth.
The main focus areas of the Charter for the African Cultural Renaissance are: promotion of African identity, shared values, the spirit of Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance; development of the creative economy of the continent; protection and conservation of African World Heritage Sites and increasing of African sites in the World Heritage List; development and continued dissemination of regional and
continental programs for the promotion of African identity, shared values, cultural and creative industries and heritage.
I will now turn to the African response to the COVID-19 through economic development; In a time of social distancing and government-enforced lockdowns to curtail the spread of COVID-19, digital technology has become the only enabler for the continuation of work, education and communication. But for millions of people who are unable to connect to the internet, the offline world is economically and socially isolating.
COVID-19 has emphasised the ‘digital divide’, a term referring to the uneven access to distribution of Information and Communication Technologies in societies, which is a global problem. However, it is even more pronounced on our continent.
Our country has handed over the Chairship of the AU after a hectic year that saw President Cyril Ramaphosa having had to dedicate much of his time ensuring that our African countries, through the AU, are able to respond to the pandemic. This included establishing key platforms to access personal protective equipments, PPEs, vaccines and other medical facilities required for an effective continental response.
President Ramaphosa, worked with the United Nation, UN Secretary- General to call for debt relief for African and
other developing countries to allow all our economies of the developing world to recover quicker.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for greater international cooperation to address global challenges, especially for developing countries, its economic and social impact has constrained the ability of many governments to make greater financial commitments to issues such as peacekeeping, given that domestic recovery plans take priority. This could impact future funding for peacekeeping on the continent and also on support for the AU’s and United Nations’ (UN) goals, such as Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals, respectively.
House Chair, South Africa should continue to contribute to regional and continental integration and the development and diversification of South Africa’s internal markets through accessing foreign direct investment and expanding trade relations. The 13th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of AU Heads of State and Government, which was held virtually on
5 December 2020, decided that the continent would commence preferential trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA on 1 January 2021. The is expected to boost intra-Africa trade, which currently stands at approximately
16% with Africa’s share of world trade estimated to be at only 3%. In addition, the AfCFTA presents Africa with an opportunity to expand its export base and to be less reliant on the export of primary commodities, which are highly volatile and highly dependent on the growth trends in global markets.
Hon members, according to the World Economic Forum Africa, South Africa and the continent should, among others, focus on greater cooperation and human capital development. Greater African economic integration is of paramount importance to promote peace and stability while addressing trade obstacles, climate change, corruption, cyber-security and the opportunities and challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, 4IR. This sentiment is echoed by the African Development Bank that points out that ‘an economic borderless’ Africa would lay the foundation for a viable continental market to accelerate growth and allow Africa to be more competitive in global trade and value chains. It would also allow industries to develop across borders, creating economies of scale for investors as they look at wider integrated markets.
The AfCFTA is the world’s largest single market of over
1,2 billion consumers with a combined growth domestic product, GDP of more than US$3,4 trillion and is poised to stimulate intra-Africa trade and investment. The importance of the implementation of the AfCFTA for the prosperity of South Africa, the region and the continent, can therefore not be overemphasised. It came handy at the time when the world was befallen by the COVID-19 pandemic.
South Africa’s assumption of the Chairship was a baptism of fire, as the first case of the coronavirus outbreak was reported on the continent in the same month. A virtual conference of the AU Bureau under the leadership and the Chairship of South Africa was held to look at ways and means to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, while also gauging the needed support to the existing mechanisms of the Union to fight pandemics like this. It is against this background that the Chair of the AU, South Africa, pledged US$6 million to the AU efforts, which was disaggregated as follows: US$4 million to the Special Fund for COVID-19 and US$2 million towards the Africa Centre for Disease Control.
Siswati:
Malunga lahloniphekile aleNdlu, kunesidzingo lesibaluleke impela lokutsi iNingizimu Afrika ichubeke nalokutibophelela kulomsebenti wekuvikela lokubhebhetseka kwe-COVID-19 kulelivekati i-Afrika. Kulesikhatsi lesikuso njenganyalo, bososayensi kanye nebacwaningi balelive, bamdzibi munye nabososanyensi kanye nebacwaningi balomhlaba kulomshikashika walokulwisana kanye nakulomshikashika walokuncoba lolubhubhane lwe-COVID-19.
English:
Hon members, in conclusion, I wish to encourage us to continue celebrating this day as it marks a very important part of our history. Africa has a youth bulge, which can be celebrated in that during this pandemic, most of the needed innovations came from the young minds in Africa. This talks to the importance of ensuring we strive to give access to education to our youth, to make them more productive and become participants in growing Africa’s economies.
This is a lesson we have learnt from Charlotte Maxeke, that one should do all necessary to educate the youth. Let us make efforts to emulate the values espoused by those who came before us, and specifically, Mama Charlotte Maxeke. By upholding to the values she espoused, we will inadvertently be
taking over the baton she left for many of us. Let the lessons she taught us be a guiding light for us and posterity. God bless Africa. God bless South Africa. Thank you.
Mr M NYHONTSO: Chairperson, Africa for Africans, Africans for humanity, humanity for God. Chairperson, these simple words are loaded with a deeply rooted message of peace, unity and social harmony, that the Western world and its foreign domination agenda has since chosen to ignore. They stubbornly supress, distort and rub off the message of Africa from the pages of history.
Chairperson, these words are a driving force behind the historic gathering of the then recently liberated countries in Africa, which were warmly hosted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on
25 May 1963 by Haile Selassie, Rastafari, the lion of Judah.
Emperor, Haile Selassie played a sterling role to Chair and successfully mediate a dichotomy of the two strengths in the independence movement of the African countries that came to be known as the Casablanca and Monrovia groups.
They compromised amongst themselves and formed the Organisation of African Unity, OAU, whose main agenda was to roll out the liberation of the whole continent and unify the
African people. These pioneers started the journey to Africa’s liberation and continental unity, Independence Now, tomorrow, the United States of Africa. The journey hasn’t been easy, from that time, up to date, divide and rule tactics were employed against the unity of Africa.
Patriots have been assassinated, liberation movements have been marginalised, sell-outs did their dirty work in secret, but now we know them. The road to Africa liberation is much longer. It is quite important to mark Africa liberation name in its meaning, in letter and in spirit; than to follow a misleading Africa day celebration.
When the crucial mission of liberating Africa from neo- colonialism, racial capitalism, settler colonialism and imperialism has not been fully accomplished. By liberation, we mean the complete eradication of exploitation and subjugation of Africa and its people by foreign powers. Liberation for us is power to control our land and all its economic and human resource, to control our destiny and to enjoy the full benefits of sovereignty of a union of African state.
We are our own liberators. The PAC remembers Kwame Nkrumah, Patrice Lumumba, Amílcar Cabral, Eduardo Mondlane, Sékou
Touré, Ben Bella, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Thomas Sankara, Robert Mugabe and many other African patriotic heroes, whose agenda was African liberation. We remember Sobukwe’s words:
“We are pro-Africa. We breathe, we dream, we live Africa; because African and humanity are inseparable leaders”
I end with his words:
“We take our stand on the principle that Africa is one and desires to be one and nobody, I repeat, nobody has the right to balkanise our land” ...
IsiXhosa:
... izwe lethu (our land).
Mr M G E HENDRICKS: Thank you very much, hon Chair of Chairs, happy Africa Day. Behind me is a drum from ... [Inaudible.]
... I hope ahead of my speech you will allow me to play the drums so that we have something live in Parliament reflecting the theme of this debate.
... [Inaudible.] ... is well known for saying; language is a cultural phenomenon, par excellence, respecting all languages
of Africa. Let us celebrate all the languages in Africa, including Afrikaans, captured by the Dutch from the first ... [Inaudible.] ... in Cape Town. The first freedom fighters of colonialism in Africa, the founder of Islam ... [Inaudible.]
... Oliver Tambo ... [Inaudible.] in this historic role.
Hon Chair, we cannot have nearly 1000 African corpses lying on ice from most countries in Africa just because they don’t have documentation. Al-Jamah went to court to release a body of a Tanzanian. This is culturally unacceptable. The African Parliament must flex its muscles in this regard and we look forward to them doing something about it. As Africans, it is part of our culture and heritage to honour ... [Inaudible.]
... and written undertaking, especially if it has been laid by those who fought for our freedom, like President Mandela and Oliver Tambo.
We must be able to look our ancestors in the eyes, something hon Mandla Mandela is passionate about. South Africans are aware of liberations struggle, taking place as we speak in Palestine and in the Southern Sahara. We must send military weapons and ... [Inaudible.] ... to help these countries.
America has beaten us ... [Inaudible.] ... weapons went to Morocco.
Al-Jamah is looking forward to the new laws on discrimination that will outlaw Zionism in South Africa. Al-Jamah has tabled a motion with South African Parliament to call on Morocco to hold a referendum based on the ... [Inaudible.] ... in place, on whether Southern Sahara’s independence ... [Inaudible.] ... Sanctions must be sent to help Southern Sahara.
South Africa is not in crisis. That is the narrative of the official opposition to shout out ... [Inaudible.] ... and try to harm the image of South Africa and Africa because it is run by black government. It is too ... [Inaudible.] ... to contemplate if the country is going to be run by the DA for the white elite. Like the hon Minister Naledi Pandor inspired us, let us ... [Inaudible.] ... in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you very much, hon Chair of Chairs.
IsiXhosa:
Mnu B B NODADA: Sihlalo, malungu ahloniphekileyo ...
English:
... fellow South Africans, greetings, on this Africa Day, I would like to remind us all that South Africans must not only celebrate independence and freedom, but must bear the fruit of it through quality education that will tangibly change their
lives for the better. That a young girl growing up in Kwazakhele, Eldorado Park or Kukhanya is not denied quality education skills and equal opportunities by virtue of their race, gender or geographical location, then we would have achieved the mission of celebrating this day.
In celebrating, we must use the opportunity to discuss our everyday realities that pose straight our independence, freedom and mission of an open opportunity society for all, where quality education is a survival tool, one can use to
prosper his life. Africa has a long way to go in redressing the legacies of colonialism and apartheid. More so, our modern crisis of leadership, corruption and poverty. It all starts with us creating a better life here at home and doing so for future generations.
Since the start of the pandemic in this country last year, we have been faced with many unique challenges. Some we are still seeking innovative ways to solve, while others can be adequately addressed by proper policy planning and implementation.
However, the effects of inadequacies in government are immeasurable, from increasing dropouts at school, failure rates, to children having to learn on empty stomachs, dilapidated and vandalised school infrastructure, rising inequalities between schools and learners, that have the tools of trade to operate remotely versus those who need government support and tools to stay on track.
COVID-19 has affected our education in many ways and various factors of ill planning will hold back generations to come,
hon Lindiwe Sisulu. Unfortunately, COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the exclusion of learners, experienced as a result of the cost of ongoing learning. The majority of learners don’t have access to Wi-Fi and do not have adequate funds for data or even devices, while in many rural parts of the country, of which I come from, have no network at all. This means that the majority of learners will be left out of the current education system structure if lockdown continues as such.
According to the Nemeth report released this year, 58% of public schools do not have access to computers. Only 40% of learners have access to devices. According to the public
service commission, 13 million learners were left out without access to adequate schooling. Hon Swarts, this seems almost unrealistic on the drastic budget cuts Basic Education has been forced to endure, let alone the inability of efficiently using money to build schools already.
As we speak today, there are hundreds of dilapidated schools and asbestos classrooms, over 5000 pit toilets, over 17 000 schools don’t have libraries, let alone content of innovation
entrepreneurship. Furthermore, there is huge gap in terms of our curriculum meeting industry and job market requirements. We need to connect the curriculum to the needs of industry that job market and enhance entrepreneurship innovation like the Kenyan model in our African country.
The department has identified 18 schools for robotics, 135 schools for entrepreneurship and only 27 schools for utilization of ICT. However, this is a small structure. If you want to create a better life for all, you must start at home. That is why its relevant to Africa Day.
We see nothing in our curriculum that looks at specialisation industry, like maritime in Port St Johns, aviation in Kempton
Park, minerals refinery in Kimberley, like many of you talk about minerals here, and many others that are crucial skills that we need to develop. Ultimately, the goal is to create education system that gives the necessary skills that match the needs of the economy.
Hon Zulu, for us to be the next best thing, and build a better Africa and a better world, let’s remember that a country that
does not invest in its youths, has no future and let’s start at home so that we can bear the fruits of freedom and independence. I thank you. [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF SPORTS, ARTS AND CULTURE: Thank you very much, House Chair, I have a bit of a challenge with the network here, but to you, Chairperson, hon Members of Parliament, distinguished guests and ladies and gentlemen, I extend my warmest greetings to all of you present. We are honoured to partake in this very important debate that seeks to push forward the African Agenda.
We live in uncertain extraordinary times where humanity the world over is faced with a huge challenge of COVID-19. This is far more than a health crisis. It is affecting societies and
economies at their very core. Whilst the impact of the pandemic varies within and between countries, it is an undeniable fact that it will lead to increased poverty and inequality, reversing many gains many countries were making in the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs.
Humankind can only extricate herself from this challenge through forging stronger international co-operation, international regimes regulating the behaviour of international actors, more robust legitimate global governments, and effective multilateralism for the world to build back better, making sure that no country is left behind.
Our starting point, the central tenant of our continuing struggle is, and has to be, to end the conditions that describe millions of our people both at home, across the continent and the diaspora as the wretched of the earth, daily burdened and crushed by the most intolerable and dehumanizing poverty.
The ANC-led government, in pursuing its international relations objectives, is informed by the Freedom Charter that states in one of its clauses that: “There shall be Peace and Friendship.”
South Africa shall strive to maintain world peace and the settlement of international disputes by negotiation - not war. Peace and friendship amongst all people shall be secured by upholding the equal rights, opportunities and status of all.
Internationalism is a crucial feature in the unique character of the ANC, inspired by the spirit and ideals of human solidarity and people-centered development. It is also about putting African interests at the heart of our international relations programme.
Our national liberation struggle was underpinned by the tenets of Pan-Africanism and international solidarity with the broader progressive humanity.
The vision of African Renaissance is to promote peace and security; ending wars and conflict on the continent, instilling good economic and political governance, ensuring social cohesion and defending progressive indigenous African cultures.
The ANC correctly became part of the progressive forces of the world by taking a stand to fight against imperialism, colonialism, racism, poverty, patriarchy et al.
Our commitment to the AU Agenda 2063, as an expression of the aspirations of Africans is central to our view that the silencing of guns on the continent is as much a security matter as it is a governance and developmental imperative.
Democracy, good governance, peace and security, are conditions which are so necessary for the socioeconomic development and the structural transformation of Africa.
The quest for peace and stability in Africa constitutes one of the major challenges facing the AU. We need to give fresh impetus to our efforts of fighting terrorism, extremism and undemocratic regimes. Whether we are talking about the Sahel region, the Horn of Africa, West Africa and across the continent our government working within the ambit of SADC and AU has made tangible interventions in the quest of silencing the guns on the continent.
Mediation efforts led by President Ramaphosa, the then Chairperson of the AU and Deputy President, David Mabuza in his capacity as a special envoy to South Sudan, led to a
significant breakthrough on the warring parties in that country. The President further dispatched former Presidents, Motlanthe, Chissano of Mozambique and Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia to interact with disputing parties in Tigray region of Ethiopia.
Further, President, Ramaphosa launched renewed efforts to mediate the long-standing dispute between the parties to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, GERD, namely: Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan. These are some of many examples of the interventions and showing of leadership that Africa’s problems are best addressed by African leaders and making sure that they are silencing the guns, in order to achieve the Africa we want as envisioned in the AU Agenda 2063.
On international solidarity, Western Sahara, for instance, reminds all of us that this is the only remaining colony on the continent. Their inalienable right to self-determination and independence is continuously being violated by Kingdom of Morocco.
We urge the African Union and progressive forces to join efforts and continue with the struggle in solidarity with the
Polisario Front for the realization of their freedom without delay.
It is our moral obligation to urge the international community and the United Nations in particular, to assume urgently and continuously their legal and moral responsibility on granting respect to the wishes and aspirations of the Saharawi people.
On Palestine, this year, marks the 73rd anniversary of the Palestinian catastrophe known as the Nakba, which resulted in the dispossession of Palestinian lands and their birthright. This took place through a systematic policy of colonial expansion, ethnic cleansing and military occupation of the most brutal kind, which as South Africans, we readily recognize from our own experience of apartheid.
The events of the past two weeks in that part of the world reminded the Palestinians, the progressive humanity and the United Nations of the evil intentions of the state of Israel. A total disregard of the international law and blatant violation of human rights.
On Cuba, for almost 60 years the economic embargo imposed by the United States, US, on the fraternal Republic of Cuba is an
outdated policy that has achieved little but alienating many. This relic of the cold war, is not only immoral, but unilateral in character and is a flagrant violation of the international law, and the principles of the UN Charter. We call upon the Biden Administration to lift this unilateral coercive measure against Cuba without any conditions.
On multilateral institutions, South Africa continues to advocate for the reform of institutions of global governance, and their modernization to be fit-for-purpose and agile to deal with contemporary global challenges. Fresh impetus should be given to the intergovernmental process in the United Nations General Assembly for the reform of the UN, and more specifically the United Nations Security Council, UNSC, to reflect the current global realities.
South Africa continues to champion the reform of the Bretton Woods Institutions within the G-20, focusing on the International Monetary Fund’s, IMF’s, role in maintaining international financial stability, and the World Bank’s role in poverty reduction. Improved representation will enable the BWIs to act with greater legitimacy, authority and therefore effectiveness in carrying out key roles.
We welcome the historic election of the first woman, an African, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iwiela as the first Director-General of the World Trade Organization, WTO. We are confident that with her at the helm of the WTO, agreement will be reached, as we see the signs, on a temporary waiver of Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights, TRIPS, for COVID-19 vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics. This will allow developing countries to produce and manufacture vaccines and supply these at affordable rates. It will help to ramp up production, thus addressing the current demand and supply, and logistical challenges.
Thank you for your attention. I must just touch one or two areas which came out of the discussion here, that the AU and SADC are seized with a process of the implementation of free movement of persons and the AU itself is leading through assessing and working out possible political, social, economic and security implications and these are also the responsibility of all the country on the continent. At the same time, bilateral relations are being forged on an ongoing basis.
Yes, to members who have raised the issue of the creative and sporting sectors that these have been hardest hit by COVID-19,
that is why the government, particularly the department, has ensured that it avails relief funding to all these sectors, which itself has not been enough to cover everybody because of what we know as finite budgetary resources but those who mismanage National Arts Council, NAC, funds will be facing the full wrath of the law enforcement agencies like the Special Investigating Unit, SIU, and forensic investigation.
We have, Chair ... [Time expired.] [Applause.] Thank you Chair.
Debate concluded.
YAKO’S UNPARLIAMENTARY LANGUAGE
(Ruling)
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon members, before we adjourn, I just want to make the following ruling: Hon members, while making a Member’s Statement on Tuesday, 11 May 2021, the hon Yako said, and I quote:
As the EFF, we warn that the Minister has malicious intentions and he is manipulating the process to appoint
a chairperson of the National Lotteries Commission and this can only be for nefarious reasons.
The hon member further said in a Statement, and I quote:
We want to warn the Minister that this seemingly corrupt intent to want to use the state process to award people who donated to CR17 while undermining the law and the Rules of Parliament is unwarranted. We will be looking at him and we will be watching.
The hon Radebe rose on a point of order and claimed that the hon Yako said the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition had corrupt intent. He said that such a statement can only be made through a substantive motion and it was unparliamentary.
I asked the hon Yako whether she did say that the Minister had criminal intent to which she responded and I quote:
We said that he had a nefarious intent, which we have written about, which is why we now have a process where Parliament ...
I advised the House that I will look at the Statement because I did hear the word corrupt in the Statement. Having studied the Statement made by the hon Yako, I want to rule as follows: As alluded to by the hon Radebe, when he rose on a point of order and as I also indicated when I undertook to look at the hon Yako’s Statement, the phrase in question is and I quote: “Corrupt intent”, as directed to the Minister. A close reading of Hansard at the point at which the hon Radebe rose on a point of order reveals the word and I quote: “Corrupt intent”, cannot be read in isolation as it was uttered in a phrase, which is; open quote: “Seemingly corrupt intent”.
According to the Collins Dictionary, the word “seemingly” is an adverb, which means that if something is seemingly the case, it is meant that it appears to be the case even though it may not really be so. In other words, the hon Yako said the Minister appeared to have corrupt intent even though it might not actually have been the case. This remark may not necessarily be unparliamentary. However, it is worth noting the context in which the hon Yako uttered the phrase. Hon Yako uttered the phrase in a Statement littered with unparliamentary phrases such as “malicious intention” and “nefarious intent”.
In response to me, hon Yako said, nefarious intent described how they as the EFF characterise the Minister’s intent. The word “nefarious”, according to Collins Dictionary means; immoral and corrupt.
Couching such an unparliamentary allegation as the position of the member’s political party does not make it acceptable or parliamentary.
Hon members, I would like to draw the attention of House to Assembly Rules 84 & 85, which provided that no member may use insulting, disrespectful, unbecoming or unparliamentary words or language; and that no member may impute improper motives to any other member or cast personal reflections upon a member’s integrity or dignity or verbally abuse a member in any way.
The assertion made by hon Yako that the hon Minister Patel had malicious intent and nefarious intent was clearly in contravention of these Rules. Hon members, I might as well take this opportunity to urge you not to make serious allegations such as these. If you are serious about it being investigated, you should bring a substantive motion to the House.
Your remarks, hon Yako, contain serious allegation and cast aspersions on the character of the Minister. I rule that you withdraw your remarks that the hon Minister Patel had malicious intentions and nefarious intent, as such remarks are in contravention of Assembly Rules 84 & 85. I now recognise the hon Yako. The hon member is on the platform.
Ms Y N YAKO: I withdraw the remark.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Thank you, hon member.
The House adjourned at 17:21
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