Hansard: Unrevised Hansard

House: National Assembly

Date of Meeting: 04 Jun 2021

Summary

No summary available.


Minutes

UNREVISED HANSARD 

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FRIDAY, 4 JUNE 2021

PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

 

 

The House met at 10:00

 

 

The Deputy Speaker took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or meditation.

 

 

VIRTUAL SITTING RULES

(Announcement)

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon members, in the interest of safety for all present in the Chamber, please keep your masks on and seat in your designated area. Thank you.

 

 

The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: On behalf of the

 

Chief Whip of the Majority Party, moved: That the House –

 

 

(1) notes that on 25 July 2019, an Ad Hoc Committee to initiate and introduce legislation amending section 25

 

 

of the Constitution was established and mandated to complete its work and report to the House by 31 March 2020;

 

 

(2) further notes that the committee has had several extensions to its deadline for reporting to the Assembly, with the latest being 31 May 2021, but ceased to exist before it could complete and report on its mandate;

 

 

(3) re-establishes the Ad Hoc to initiate and introduce legislation amending section 25 of the Constitution with the same composition, mandate and powers as its predecessor - Minutes of Proceedings, 25 July 2019, p 68;

 

 

(4) instructs the committee to incorporate in its work the proceedings and all the work of the previous committee up to and including 31 May 2021; and

 

 

(5) sets the deadline by which the committee is to report on 30 August.

 

 

Motion put

 

 

Agreed to (Democratic Alliance and Freedom Front Plus dissenting).

 

 

CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HOME AFFAIRS ON DRAFT NOTICE DETERMINING REMUNERATION OF COMMISSIONERS OF ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF SOUTH AFRICA, IEC, FOR 2020-21

 

 

Mr M S CHABANE: Thank you, hon Deputy Speaker and members of the House, good morning, today, we table before this House the report of the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs on the draft notice determining the remuneration of commissioners of the Electoral Commission of SA, IEC, for financial year, 2020-21 for approval.

 

 

A letter dated, April 2021, was received from the President of the Republic, requesting the National Assembly to consider the draft notice of the determination of salaries, allowance of members of various institutions, including the commissioners of the Electoral Commission in terms of determination of remuneration of office bearers of Independent Constitutional Law Amendment Act of 2014.

 

 

On 22 April, the matter was referred to the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs for consideration and adoption.

 

 

Section 219(5) of the Constitution provides that the national legislation must establish framework for determining the salaries, allowances, and benefits of judges, the Public Protector, the Auditor-General and members of any commission provided for in the Constitution, including the Electoral Commission referred to in section 192 of the Constitution.

 

 

The President received the annual salary recommendation for the public office bearers of the independent constitutional institution form the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers. The commission, having considered, amongst others, the state wage bill and the impact of the public office bearers’ salary increment on the fiscus of the country, which has been negatively affected by COVID- 19, recommended a 0% salary increment for all public office bearers for the financial year, 2020-21.

 

 

The one part-time IEC commissioner is the judge, and as such, is remunerated in terms of section 2(4) of the Judges Remuneration and Condition of Employment Act of 2001. The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, having considered the draft notice determining the rates at which salaries, allowances and benefits are payable to Constitutional Court judges, and other judges annually with

 

 

effect from 1st April, table for approval the draft notice to also allocate no salary increment for 2020-21 financial year.

 

 

The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, having deliberated, concur with the President’s determination on the remuneration adjustments of the IEC commissioners that a 0% increment be implemented for chairperson and other full-time commissioners given their salary level for financial year, 2020-21. For the part-time commissioners, a similar freeze would thus apply to a daily rate which they received for 2020-21 financial year over and above the salary freeze applicable to judges.

 

 

The portfolio committee, therefore, recommends that the National Assembly approve the draft notice determining the remuneration of commissioners of the Electoral Commission of SA. I thank you.

 

 

Declarations of vote

 

Mr A C ROOS: Thank you, Deputy Speaker, the DA notes that this report recommends 0% increase for the second year in a row.

While this may be blamed on external forces, the salary bill at Home Affairs under which the IEC falls has tripled in the last decade. We have to recognise that it has been a very good run for Home Affairs and for the IEC officials for their

 

 

bloated salaries. The problem is that, even pre-COVID, the service levels have gone drastically down.

 

 

What we are seeing here today, is a consequence of cadre deployment and state capture. As a stark reminder of this, this is under a department where we have recently seen EOH and the debacle around that where millions were spent in running two different biometric systems, because there is an issue with collusion between the different departments and the government to basically embezzle money.

 

 

Then we have the Bosasa contract which continues at Lindela. We are spending over R20 000 a month per illegal immigrant. This is in sharp contrast with the DA government in the Western Cape, in the Midvaal and in Tshwane, where the DA government spends taxpayers’ money on service delivery, and where the DA gets things done.

 

 

The DA realises the urgent need to cut the public sector wage bill and therefore supports this report.

 

 

Mr M TSHWAKU: Thank you very much, Deputy Speaker, the Independent Electoral Commission is key in the evolution of the democratic dispensation. The commission must remain

 

 

neutral from individuals of high integrity. The commission must also have the wisdom to take difficult decisions and not be swayed by pressure groups that may compromise our democracy.

 

 

To this end, commissioners must not be driven merely by financial gains when they perform their duties for the IEC, they must be driven by their calling, which must be to serve the people of this country with integrity. The commissioners will therefore surely understand that the country is in a very difficult position at the moment and would have no issues with 0% increment to their remuneration. The people on whom the focus of the IEC should on are unemployed. They are going to bed without food and some are forced to criminality just to make ends meet. If these very people that the IEC will be expecting to risk their lives, to register for local government elections, then go to vote ... [Inaudible.] ...

 

 

The IEC has far bigger problems, thus the salaries of their commissioners. One of the problems is that they have allowed themselves to be ... [Inaudible.] ... the lives of the poor South Africans by forcing through an election that would surely ... Whether the country is in tight corner financially

 

 

or not, the IEC commissioners deserve no increments for the role they are playing in endangering the lives of our people.

 

 

We are in support of this report and the fact that there must be no increments for the IEC commissioners. I thank you.

 

 

Ms L L VAN DER MERWE: Thank you very much, Deputy Speaker, Deputy Speaker, South Africa is facing extreme economic hardship, joblessness has reached record levels, so has poverty despair, hopelessness and corruption. Our state coffers are empty.

 

 

It is against this background that President Ramaphosa in his letter to Parliament said: Considering the state’s massive wage bill and the general economic status of our country, which is negatively being affected by COVID-19, he is recommending a 0% salary increase for public office bearers of the Independent Electoral Commission.

 

 

The IFP agrees that we must all make sacrifices for the greater good of our nation. But what it is that we are sacrificing, Deputy Speaker? While commissioners of the IEC are sacrificing an increase, the IEC and Home Affairs themselves, were forced to accept budget cuts at a time when

 

 

they can ill afford to do so in order to contribute to a COVID-19 pot; a pot that has been largely looted.

 

 

Deputy Speaker, the Special Investigating Unit, SIU, head of personal protective equipment, PPE, fraud informed Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Scopa, this week that they have never seen the scale of corruption before as it pertains to the looting of COVID-19 funds. They are investigating an alleged corruption to the tune of R14 billion. Yes, these billions could have been used for salary increases for IEC office bearers. These looted billions could have also gone towards much-needed voter education.

 

 

Further, as the October elections are approaching, it is crucial that whatever finances that are available are directed towards ensuring free and fair elections. The IFP believes that while our dire financial health and corruption are being exposed across government daily, especially at the Department of Home Affairs, a salary freeze for office bearers of Chapter

9 institutions is justifiable, although regrettable.

 

 

That being said as we go to the 2021 local government elections, we, the people of South Africa carry within us the responsibility not to re-elect leaders who will steal from us.

 

 

We have a responsibility to elect leaders that will put South Africans first.

 

 

The IFP wishes the IEC commissioners well as they prepare for the 2021 poll and we pledge our support to free and fair elections. The IFP supports this report. Thank you, Deputy Speaker.

 

 

Mr F J MULDER: Thank you, Deputy Speaker, the FFPlus concur with the President’s determination on the remuneration of and adjustment of IEC commissioners that the retrospective salary freezes of 0% increase be implemented, with the chairperson and other full-time commissioners given their salary level for the 2020-21 financial year, and for the part-time commissioners a similar freeze will thus apply to the daily or hourly rate, which they received for the 2020-21 over and above the salary freeze applicable to judges.

 

 

The FFPlus supports the report before the House, determining the remuneration of the commissioners of the IEC. Thank you, Deputy Speaker. We support this report.

 

 

Declarations of vote (contd):

 

 

Mr S N SWART: Deputy Speaker, the ACDP notes the report which recommends a 0% increase for IEC commissioners. It’s very clear that the Public Sector Wage Bill needs to be contained given the fiscal constraints facing the nation as a result of, firstly, state capture and corruption and, secondly, one of the world’s longest and hardest lockdowns globally.

 

 

We do wish to thank the IEC and of course thank the commissioners as they prepare for local government elections in October. We are concerned about the impact that budget cuts will have on the efficiency of the IEC to provide free and fair elections and voter education. We would call for those elections to take place. We are aware that there is an enquiry about Moseneke taking place. But we would urge that it is time, given the wide sprawl corruption of Covid-19 that previous speakers have alluded to. It is very important that new candidates and new councillors are elected who are God- fearing, servant leaders and understand the stewardship of state resources and would stop stealing state funds.

 

 

Thank you.

 

 

Mr N L S KWANKWA: Deputy Speaker, I have battery issues. The UDM notes and supports the report. Thank you very much.

 

 

The battery might die at any minute.

 

 

Ms S N AUGUST: Deputy Speaker. GOOD notes and supports the report. Thank you.

 

 

Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Deputy Speaker, the NFP welcomes the report that is tabled here. The NFP supports the report. But I think the question we need to ask ourselves, Deputy Speaker, is how did we get to this situation. I think it’s because of poor administration, lack of capacity, cadre deployment, corruption, maladministration and the lack of consequence management. Somebody has to pay the price for this.

 

 

Covid-19 came just over a year ago. But before Covid-19, we were already running into trouble – the debt to GDP is increasing out of control, and the fiscus is under tremendous pressure. Somebody has to pay.

 

 

I think I want to reiterate a very important point, Deputy Speaker. When you don’t give someone an increase or an increment, it’s not just about not giving increase. If you consider inflation, etc, it means they are simply worse off now than they were before. Like the President alluded to the issues of members of Parliament yesterday, I think the FFPlus

 

 

did some research where they found you were 35% worse off than you were a few years ago. So, we must be mindful of this impact, and we cannot continue year-in-year-out not giving an increment because it’s going to affect the quality of the life people are living. Rather than that I think we need to address the challenges we face in the country in terms of poor management and corruption.

 

 

The NFP supports this report. Thank you very much.

 

 

Mr M P GALO: We support the Bill.

 

 

Mr M NYHONTSO: Deputy Speaker, the PAC supports the report.

 

 

Mr K B PILLAY: Hon Deputy Speaker, members of the House, fellow South Africans, the ANC rises in support of the report of the portfolio committee on draft notice determining remuneration of commissioners of the Electoral Commission of South Africa.

 

 

In Ready to Govern, the ANC declared that all elections at a central, regional and local level shall be conducted by an independent electoral commission which shall enjoy freedom from governmental and political control. The IEC is an

 

 

independent organisation established under Chapter 9 of the Constitution of South Africa. The IEC must manage elections at national, provincial and municipal legislative bodies in accordance with the national legislation and ensure that those elections are free and fair and declare the results of those elections within a period that must be prescribed by national legislation that is as short as reasonably possible.

 

 

The IEC is critical for a well-functioning democracy like ours. It gives life to the 1955 call of the Freedom Charter that “the people shall govern”. Since its establishment, the IEC has been able to deliver free and fair elections.

 

 

Deputy speaker, from time to time the President of the Republic determines the conditions of service, remuneration, allowances and other benefits of commissioners after consultation with the Commission on Remuneration of Representatives established by section 2 of the Commission on the Remuneration of Representatives Act 37 of 1994. The President received the annual salary recommendations for the public office bearers of the independent constitutional institutions. The devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has been felt by all. It has led to the loss of lives, and it had a detrimental effect on the economy. Having considered,

 

 

amongst others, the States Wage Bill and the impact of public office bearers’ salary increment on the fiscus of the country negatively affected by Covid-19, this recommended 0% salary increment for the public office bearers for the financial year 2020/21. The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs deliberated on the matter and concurs with the President’s determination on the remuneration adjustment of IEC commissioners.

 

 

We wish to thank all the commissioners and the IEC as a whole for all their work in ensuring that our democracy works well. In particular, we must commend the IEC for adapting to the new normal and having run successful by-elections during Covid, observing all protocols and having no reported cases or incidents.

 

 

The ANC supports the report.

 

 

I thank you.

 

 

Question put.

 

 

Agreed to.

 

 

Mr B M MANELI: Deputy Speaker, hon members, fellow South Africans. In introducing this committee report on a draft notice determining the remuneration of councillors of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, ICASA. I’m reminded of the responsibility we have as a nation as we reflect on the youth month and how the youth would have challenged the status quo in society for the better at all material times.

 

 

This is in the words of OR Tambo, the late President of the ANC as I quote:

 

 

“Children of any nation are its future, the country, a movement, a person that does not value its youth and children does not deserve its future.”

 

 

This responsibility has been discharged not only by supporting the education initiatives but also giving the youth the responsibility to lead in different institutions.

 

 

ICASA is but one Chapter 9 institution led by a chairperson who is the youngest in the history of Chapter 9 institutions. The latter dated 13 April 2021 was received from the President of the Republic, requesting the assembly to draft notice of

 

 

the determination of salaries and allowances of members of various institutions including councillors of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa in terms of the determination of remuneration of office bearers of Independent Constitutional Judicial Laws amendment Act 22 of 2014.

 

 

On 22 April 2021, the matter was referred to the committee for consideration and report. Section 219 (5) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996, provides that the national legislation must establish frameworks for the determining the salaries, allowances and benefits of the judges, the public protector, the auditor general and members of any commission forwarded in the Constitution including the broadcasting authority referred to in section 1.

 

 

The determination of remuneration of office bearers of Independent Constitutional Judicial of Laws amendment Act of 2014 which came into operation on 1 April 2019 creates the necessary framework of determining the salaries of office bearers Chapter 9 mentioned in the Constitution.

 

 

Section 10 of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa dictates that salary allowances and benefits of

 

 

councillors of council, one the chairperson and other councillors are entitled to salary allowance and benefits.

 

 

Sub-section A as determined by the President from time to time by noticing that gazette after taking into consideration the recommendations of the independent commission and be approved by the NA in terms of the sub-section 5.

 

 

Having taken into account the serious economic challenges that the country faces and the constraint fiscal environment, the President proposed remuneration levels with effect from 1 April 2021 of ICASA as follows, that a 0% salary freeze for all public office bearers for the financial year 2020/21 in terms of notices number 941 published in the government gazette number 43666 of 28 August 2020 as repelled.

 

 

The further recommendation committee is that the committee has conquered with President’s determination of the remuneration adjustments of ICASA councillors, that the salary freezes of 0% for the chairperson and other councillors being implemented recommends that the NA approve the draft notice determining

 

 

The remuneration of councillors of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa. I thank you Deputy Speaker. The report has been considered by the House.

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you hon member. Hon members on the virtual platform, please switch off your microphones, just check just in case you forgot.

 

 

Sesotho:

 

Ha re battle ho utlwa ditaba tsa hao tseo o sa batleng re di utlwe.

 

 

English:

 

Please man!

 

 

IsiZulu:

 

Asifuni ukuzizwa lezi zindaba okungafanele sizizwe.

 

 

English:

 

Please switch of your mics, it’s disruptive. Members, there are parties that have requested to make declarations. We will start with the DA.

 

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: House Chair, there seems to be a problem with the online connection. Could you pass the DA and then when things are right I’ll let you know?

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon members, advise your members to rather use their cell phones. It does appear like laptops are a problem in the event of load shedding and so on wherever people are located. Let’s sort that out. Just communicate with your members who are participating to have backup so to speak.

 

 

Declarations of vote:

 

Mr V PAMBO: Thank you Chairperson. At the risk of repeating ourselves, we must state categorically that our support for the curtailing of the ballooning salaries of the highest paid people in the public sector is not at the same time support for Tito Mboweni’s ill thought plans for dramatically cutting public sector wages. We do not want austerity; we want regulation on wages in a way that would see a dramatic increase in the wages of the lower paid amongst our fellow citizens

 

 

Mr A H M PAPO: Point of order.

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hold on hon member. Yes, hon member?

 

 

Mr A H M PAPO: The member just referred to the Minister of Finance as Tito Mboweni which is against the rules.

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Okay. Alright. It is sustained. Hon member on the virtual platform, please refer to the Minister in the manner you know we prefer in the House. Just do that.

 

 

Mr V PAMBO: Hon Tito Mboweni.

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Yes, thank you.

 

 

Mr V PAMBO: Is that fine?

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Go ahead sir. No, that’s fine. It’s just that you have to say Mr or hon or that sort of thing that we agree with in the House generally. It also saves you a lot of airtime.

 

 

Mr V PAMBO: Thank you Chair.

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Go ahead hon.

 

 

Mr V PAMBO: In this regard, we support the recommendation not to increase the salaries of ICASA councillors. We reiterate

 

 

that our support for this is not support for austerity. We still call for a dramatic improvement in the remuneration of those ICASA workers that are paid epithets. We are not one of the most unequal societies in the whole world. This inequality is sharpened by normally a large gap in salaries in the public services

 

 

We have to systematically address this problem and ensure that those at the bottom of the wage gap have their salaries gradually improved while those earning a lot already need to make the necessary compromises. The EFF therefore supports this report. Thank you very much.

 

 

Ms Z MAJOZI: Can I please be allowed not to switch on my video, we don’t have electricity for the past three days and my network is a bit compromised. Can I continue?

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Yes, please continue.

 

 

Ms Z MAJOZI: Thank you Deputy Speaker. Our consideration of today’s report partly reflects our country’s economic state and weak economic performance in the past. The World Bank reports states in 2018 the South African economy grew by 0,8% and this declined to 0,2% within 2019.

 

 

The recent announcement by Statistics SA on skyrocketing unemployment rate coupled with current electricity shortages are bound to restrict growth further. Our economy prior to the pandemic was already compromised and given the country’s slow growth, shrinking GDP per capita and growing fiscal deficit, we were not strong enough when the pandemic hit while globally it has been established that the pandemic has resulted in job losses. Less has been said about how the pandemic has affected wages.

 

 

Our decision today demonstrates that the pandemic has indeed stagnated workers’ wages in some sectors. The IFP is aware of the high inflation rates recently recorded in the country.

Statistics SA has reported that the annual headline inflation of South Africa increased from 3,2% in March 2021 to 4,4% in April 2021.

 

 

At the same time annual transport inflation has jumped to 10,6 in April 2021 as a result to fuel increases. Also, the cost of placing food on the table has been on the rise. Prices of meat, dairy and oil have pushed up for food inflation. We acknowledge that high inflation rates negatively affect real wages of workers but our support for zero salary increment at

 

 

this time also seeks to accommodate our growing Public Service Wage Bill during a pandemic.

 

 

Can you still hear me Deputy Speaker?

 

 

The IFP is aware of the high inflation rate recently recorded in the country. The acknowledgment that high inflation rates negatively affect real wages of workers but our support for zero salary increment at this time also seeks to accommodate our growing Public Service Wage Bill during a pandemic.

 

 

Our proposed 0% increment for all public office bearers for the 2020/21 financial year is in line with the country’s fiscal constraints and weak growth. The IFP supports the salary freeze as recommended by the committee. I thank you.

 

 

Declarations cont.

 

Mr C MACKENZIE: Deputy Speaker, if you don’t mind my connection problem is due to loadshedding. I will leave my camera off and I presume I am audible.

 

 

Deputy Speaker while we have seen South African Revenue Service, Sars, posting larger than expected tax revenues way over budget for the financial year and South Africa’s economic

 

 

growth in percentage terms is the best we have seen in years. It is worthwhile to note that this comes off the back of the COVID-19 pandemic which did everything it could to destroy our economy and certainly has resulted in many people being unemployed and without work.

 

 

It is in the context of this that I think anybody with a job and especially in the public service should be very grateful for the indulgence of the taxpayers in paying us to govern on their behalf. It is in light of this when we look at the increases that have been proposed for various public servants and commissioners and the President setting us at 0% that the DA is fully in support of the 0% increase for the commissioners and salutes the President for taking that stance. Thank you very much, Deputy Speaker.

 

 

Mr F J MULDER: Deputy Speaker, considering the poor state of the economy in South Africa and the constraint fiscal environment, the FF Plus concur with the recommendation of the committee for home affairs that a salary freeze of a 0% for the chairperson and other Councillors of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, ICASA, be approved by the House. The FF Plus supports this report. Thank you, Deputy Speaker.

 

 

Mr S N SWART: Deputy Speaker, the ACDP would like to support this proposal given the fact that the nation is facing severe financial constraints. A zero base is across the board and so therefore we will support this. The chairperson who introduced the report indicated and referred to the youth that they would have been challenged by the status quo.

 

 

I would like to use this opportunity to point out that during the youth debate the Minister of Communications referred to a picture where she alleged an Israeli soldier was kneeling on the neck of a Palestinian child. This picture comes from Chile and I just want to correct the record. It was a Chilean official arresting a person. So, I would use this opportunity that the Minister should correct that issue as we are dealing with a communications issue. Thank you, Deputy Speaker. The ACDP will support this report.

 

 

Mr S N AUGUST: Deputy Speaker, GOOD is in support of the report.

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon members, can you please come down. Please, on both sides of the House, can you please come down. It is such a beautiful morning; why do you want to spoil it so early?

 

 

Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Deputy Speaker, it seems like the Members of Parliament are affected by the 0% increase more than the others. The NFP welcomes the report of the committee that is tabled here today. Once again, we called up on to suspend increases for councillors particularly at ICASA as the result of the fiscal constraints that we face in the country. We all know that the economy is facing great challenges currently, but we must also be mindful of the number of people in the private sector that are jobless today. So, I think that if we have a job we should be very fortunate and grateful. So whilst I think that not getting an increase will impact to some extent, but at least you will still be able to live a normal life compared to many of those today who do not have any jobs. The NFP supports the recommendations of the committee tabled. Thank you very much.

 

 

Mr T T GUMBU: Deputy Speaker, the ANC supports the recommendations contained in the report of the committee. South Africa has a conditional principle that determines the mechanism for determining the salaries, allowances and benefits of members of various institutions of the state including judges, the public protector, the auditor-general and ICASA councillors. This is an important principle to maintain as it gives certainty to the incumbent in this

 

 

important offices. Fair remuneration goes a long way within these officials from the corrosive influence of corruption and captured by narrow ... [Inaudible.] ... However, we are not naïve to think that all salaries and benefits alone are a guarantee against the betrayal of and trust of people by greedy individuals.

 

 

As we have witnessed over the years, this means that as Parliamentarians we always have to be vigilant in our oversight work of this institution. The Independent Communications Authority of SA plays a critical role towards ensuring that all South Africans have access to variety of safe, affordable ... [Inaudible.] ... that are essential for inclusive economic growth. In this regard, the facilitation of the spectrum license remains critical for new investment and digital infrastructure and ensure that our people, particularly in rural areas who are not yet connected, are connected. It will also ensure that there is a reduction in the cost of communications and data across the country.

 

 

The verdict of the North Gauteng High Court in March inhibited ICASA from proceeding with analysing applications and obtaining the untraditional mobile technology frequency spectrum. As the ANC we support the appeal filed by ICASA

 

 

against the interdict. However, we are more incline to support the initiative by the authority which has invited parties involved in the litigation to explore an out of court settlement on the matter. We hope that this issue can be resolved so that it does not delay our country’s technical advance and gaining access to new generation communication tools such as 5G. I thank you.

 

 

Question put

 

 

Report adopted and Draft Notice determining remuneration of Commissioners of Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) for 2020-21 accordingly approved.

 

 

SPECIAL APPROPRIATION BILL

 

 

(Consideration of Report of Standing Committee on Appropriations)

 

 

There was no debate.

 

 

The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: [Inaudible.] ...

 

hon Deputy Speaker, I move that the report be adopted. Thank you.

 

 

Question put.

 

 

Ms E N NTLANGWINI: Chair, please note the objection of the EFF.

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Will do.

 

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Deputy Speaker, please note the objection of the DA.

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon Mazzone, usually you are quite woke.

 

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: I take objection, Chair! Never in my life have I been called woke. [Laughter.]

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: All I mean is that you are usually alert to who is in the Chair. However, you have not been ... in the last two days. Something is happening. Anyway, the question is whether there are any objections. Let’s hear you.

 

 

Mr S N SWART: Deputy Speaker, please note the objection of the ACDP. Thank you.

 

 

Dr C P MULDER: Deputy Speaker, of the FF Plus as well. Thank you.

 

 

Mr N SINGH: Deputy Speaker, the IFP as well.

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Okay, thank you. Those objections will be noted.

 

 

Motion agreed to (Economic Freedom Fighters, Democratic Alliance, African Christian Democratic Party, Freedom Front Plus and Inkatha Freedom Party dissenting).

 

 

Report accordingly adopted.

 

 

SPECIAL APPROPRIATION BILL

 

 

(First Reading debate)

 

 

Mr N S BUTHELEZI: Hon Deputy Speaker, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers, hon members, compatriots, fellow South Africans, the ANC supports the 2021 Special Appropriation Bill.

 

 

Let me start by quoting one of the finest sons of Africa, a revolutionary, Comrade Oliver Reginald Tambo, when addressing

 

 

the plenary of the UN three months after the Soweto uprising. I do so because it is fitting to remind ourselves that the democracy that we enjoy in this House was not free but it took young people to say, this far and no further. He says:

 

 

... the apartheid regime has demonstrated to all who were ever in doubt that it is determined to fight to the bitter end, without regard for the numbers of our people it butchers in the process.

 

 

He continues to say:

 

 

In spite of that practical experience, and indeed, exactly because of it, our people are demanding freedom now. They do not ask that their masters should restore to them their rights as free men and women.

 

 

I decided to preamble my debate with this wake-up call to all of us. Young people, especially the black African youth, are saying that they are tired of being spectators to economic activity in their own country. It’s a call to all of us to ensure that they also have access to the resources of their country, not just as workers but as employers. The fact that

 

 

about three quarters of them do not have jobs, makes the situation even more dire. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed these fault lines. To commemorate and remember the heroism of those militant young people of June 16, 1976, let us redouble our efforts as we fight hunger, poverty, disease, unemployment and inequality.

 

 

The Bill is requesting Parliament to appropriate funds from the National Revenue Fund, NRF. The Minister of Finance invoked section 16(1) of the Public Finance Management Act, PFMA, to deal with the negative impact of COVID-19 as follows:

 

 

Firstly, for the Department of Health — Vote No 18, a proposed total of R1,250 billion is allocated out of the NRF to fund the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines and to implement a related COVID-19 vaccine project;

 

 

Secondly, for the Department of Social Development — Vote No 19, a proposed total of R2,826 billion is allocated out of the NRF to fund the extension of the Special COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress grant; and

 

 

Thirdly, R10,5 billion was appropriated to SA Airways, SAA, to implement its business rescue plan.

 

 

Now, the Minister of Finance, requested by the Minister of Public Enterprises, is asking for the approval of R2,7 billion of the SAA allocation in 2021 to be reallocated to fund payments for the financial assets of other SAA subsidiaries as follows:

 

 

Firstly, a proposed total of R1,663 billion to the SAA Technical SOC Limited;

 

 

Secondly, a proposed total of R819 million to Mango Airlines SOC Limited; and

 

 

Thirdly, a proposed total of R218 million to the Air Chefs SOC Limited.

 

 

It is now an accepted truth that the government led by the ANC performed brilliantly and beyond expectations in mitigating the shock of COVID-19 on the lives and livelihoods of South Africans. For it to do that, extraordinary interventions had to be taken for the departments of Health and Social Development; hence, section 16(1) of the PFMA.

 

 

These subsidiaries are the oxygen of SAA since they provide critical services to the airline. Although the three companies

 

 

are subsidiaries of SAA, the strict reading of the law requires this Special Appropriation Bill. This will allow the Department of Public Enterprises to direct the transfer of the funds to them.

 

 

Both SAA Technical and Air Chefs provide services to SAA and other airlines. It is thus logical that when SAA and other airlines were grounded, these subsidiaries were also negatively impacted. Mango Airlines was also not spared.

 

 

The International Air Transport Association, Iata, says that COVID-19 is the biggest shock to have hit the aviation

industry since World War II. This has seen a decline of about 47,5% in global passenger traffic and an industry loss of about US$118,5 billion in 2020. It is not surprising that, “government aid has kept airlines on life support” to the tune of at least US$179 billion, which shoots down the argument from those who think that private ownership insulates governments from bailing out airlines. Even private companies have gone begging to governments to keep them in the sky.

Governments the world over have been forced to support their airlines to, among others protect jobs. That is also what this House did. SAA Technical has played a critical role in

 

 

upholding the safety standards of SAA. We need to protect this beautiful safety record.

 

 

Although this is a separate process to the SAA business rescue process, it is still dependent on what happens there. As we know, the business rescue practitioners, BRPs, existed SAA on

30 April 2021 and declared that it was solvent again. It could fly. It took them 17 months to finalise the process instead of

three months. It was not for free ... between the BRPs and the consultants they hired. They shared R240 million. We feel that this situation should be avoided in future. What is the value we are getting? What did they do? They came to government for recapitalisation. They hired consultants ... [No sound.]

 

 

Business suspended due to technical error at 10:52 and resumed at 10:58.

 

 

[Interjections.]

 

 

An HON MEMBER: Order, order, order, order, hon members!

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon members ... [Interjections.] ... virtual platform, please switch off your microphones!

 

 

An HON MEMBER: Oh no, we are finally back. Finally!

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon Bheki Hadebe! Members on the virtual platform, please switch off your microphones!

 

 

An HON MEMBER: Order, Deputy Speaker.

 

 

IsiZulu:

 

USEKELA SOMLOMO: Hhayi bo! Manje usithathaphi leso sibindi sokusho le nto oyishoyo.

 

 

English:

 

Can you please switch off your microphones? [Interjections.]

 

 

An HON MEMBER: Apologies, Deputy Speaker. You closed the gate on us.

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Don’t say that! Just switch off!

 

 

Ms E N NTLANGWINI: I don’t know this childishness this

 

morning. Can ...

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon members, can you please switch off your microphones? [Interjections.]

 

 

The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Hon Deputy

 

Speaker, I am in the House. Can we request that the information and communications technology, ICT, people mute those microphones so that we can proceed with the business of the House because we have a situation of load shedding in the country. Thank you.

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon members, can you in the first place please stop what you are doing? We don’t want your advice. Just switch off your microphones so that you don’t interrupt the proceedings in the House. Go ahead, hon Ntlangwini.

 

 

Ms E N NTLANGWINI: Deputy Speaker, the truth is hard to know. This money is spent by the Department of Social Development for covid-19 special relief grants, including the R350 and money spent by the Department of Health to purchase covid-19 vaccines. The special appropriation Bill also seeks to approve monies given to SAA, as part of the R10 billion approved budget to return the national carrier around.

 

 

In real terms, this is called special appropriation because the funding is already spent. Unfortunately, we are being asked to approve a budget and we know some of these monies were looted.

 

 

Those who stole this money continue to do so every day. They stole money that was meant for covid-19 vaccines. They paid a company that gives their children money, renovates their homes, and buy cars for their children. They used R150 million to call press conferences and useless tweets. Our people are dying because there are no vaccines, but we are expected to approve a budget.

 

 

We also know that the money intended to turn around SAA, prioritised creditors and business rescue practitioners, paid themselves ridiculous fees while workers were ignored. Proud dedicated and competent workers who have dedicated their time to make us proud, when SAA was still in the sky were left destitute, reduced to beggars and forced to queue for covid-19 food relief packages. This is shameful, but we know Mr Jamnandes has no shame in his body.

 

 

To make matters worse, we were told many moons ago, that SAA will be back in the sky. We are still waiting. This is like many other promises about SOEs. Empty promises! There is no focus to position SAA, to play a strategic role in the border industrial policy, to take South African goods to Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Asia, Latyn America and Europe. There is no industrial policy, no industries are producing South African

 

 

goods and the economy continues to ship raw material thorough ships and pipelines.

 

 

This is how taxpayers’ money expected to approved through the special Appropriation Bill was spent. Today, all covid-19 special relief grants have come to an end, but covid-19 is still with us. All political parties in this House agreed that South Africa should introduce a permanent basic income grant. We should not pass a Special Appropriation Covid-19 Social Relief grant that was already distributed in the previous year. We should be passing a Special Appropriation Bill to extend grants until we finalise and introduce a basic income grant not less than R1 500 per person who qualifies, those who go to sleep with empty stomachs regularly.

 

 

The only thing standing between South Africa and a permanent basic income grant is Treasury and misguided and austerities’ doctrine. They are gambling with the lives of our people to please the rating agencies’ banks and imaginary investors who are not interested in investing their money in productive sectors that create jobs. All they are interested in is hot money of the Johannesburg gambling stock exchange. We reject this budget with the contempt it deserves. Thank you.

 

 

Mr M HLENGWA: Hon Deputy Speaker, from the outset, the IFP wishes to clearly state its support for the additional allocation of R1,25 billion to be made to the Department of Health for the procurement of covid-19 vaccines as well as the additional funding to the Department of Social Development to extend the special covid-19 social relief of distress grant.

 

 

It is the tragic reality that the most vulnerable in our society who are highly dependent on government assistance have been deeply impacted by the economic consequences of this pandemic.

 

 

The IFP remains committed to closely monitoring government’s performance in rolling out the vaccine programme. We urge the public to continue being vigilant and to report any corruption in the administration of this programme.

 

 

However, it is with utmost belief that the IFP read the Bill’s proposal that R2,7 billion be reallocated from SAA to its subsidiaries, including Mango Airlines, Technical SAA and Airshifts. The government is once again under the impression that by simply throwing money at the problem, it will magically ... [Inaudible.] ... doomed SAA’s subsidiaries.

 

 

The government is further under the illusion that it can simply reallocate these funds, without accounting to the South African public. The underhanded way in which this proposal has been included in the Special Appropriation Bill should be called out.

 

 

Why is R890 million reallocated to Mango Airlines? Why should the government maintain this low-cost airline? No explanation has been provided for this reallocation and further, on what legal basis is this justified? How does this Bill align with the South African Airways business rescue plan? Where in the plan does it approve that the funds be transferred to SAA’s subsidiaries? In fact, the question is: Where is the plan?

 

 

These are critical question that were posed to the Standing Committee on Appropriations during public hearings, which cannot simply be brushed aside. The public has the right to demand answers and in these dire economic circumstances, we cannot simply sit back and allow government to reallocate funds to SAA’s subsidiaries without legal basis.

 

 

We will then simply see yet another bailout for SAA, further down the line. Government cannot bypass its constitutional duty to account to the South African public. In the end, we

 

 

need to honestly ask ourselves why we are saving this specific low-cost airline? What advantage is there for the general South African public, the ordinary man and woman in the street?

 

 

The IFP demands accountability. It demands accountability for the South African public who have been coughing out for years to maintain the dysfunctional airline. One cannot throw money at problems that are not financial in nature. The cycle of destruction will simply continue.

 

 

The IFP does not support the Bill’s proposal that funds from SAA be reallocated to its subsidiaries, as no rational justification has been provided for such reallocation. I thank you.

 

 

Mr W W WESSELS: Hon Deputy Speaker, a once profitable and once recognised as the leading airline in Africa completely destroyed. Completely destroyed by whom? By the ANC government, by the cadres and by looting. It is completely looted. It is an airline that has last made a profit in 2011. In the last five years, R290 billion has gone to bailouts for failed state-owned entities.

 

 

Turnover plan after turnaround plan, after bailout, after summit, after intervention, after presidential this and presidential that.

 

 

R2,7 billion that is reallocated is illegal. It will not save the subsidiaries, it will not even make a dent in their debt, but is will render the taxpayers’ money already spent on the business rescue of SAA fruitless, completely fruitless!

 

 

Let me say, next year, we will stand here again, and again we will hear that this will be the last bailout, that never again a bailout for SAA will be necessary, but I promise you and I promise South Africans out there that we will stand here again and we will debate bailouts and reallocations once again.

Because the ideology of the ANC government is to save this airline at the cost of the people.

 

 

People are suffering. Now we stop with all further grants, but people are suffering out there but we save a South African airline that the ANC destroyed, not covid-19, not because there were airline restrictions. Yes, there airline industry suffered worldwide, but is suffered even more in South Africa because of the fact that since 2011, it was not profitable.

 

 

Since 2011, it was not profitable, since 2011 and before debt was accumulated and money was looted and that is the reality.

 

 

You destroyed the airline and now you are using money that should have gone to sustaining businesses that had to close their doors and had to stop doing business and lay off workers because of your ill treatment and your ill fought out and irrational regulations in terms of the lockdown, but you don’t offer those businesses support; you offer an airline support.

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

Daar kon beter ondersteuning gewees het as geld beter bestee was, as daar beter prioriteite was.

 

 

Die covid-19 relief of distress grant is nodig en was nodig, maar dit is onvolhoubaar. Dit is nie volhoubaar nie.

Ondersteuning aan besighede in die privaatsektor, om mense in werk te hou is wat nodig was. U het gafaal om dit te doen, want u prioriteite was verkeerd en u was besig om geld te steel soos gewoonlik. Ek dank u.

 

 

Mr S N SWART: Deputy Speaker, the Bill proposes an additional allocation of R1,25 billion, to the Department of Health in order to fund the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines and

 

 

implement a related COVID-19 vaccines research project. Now, this is clearly necessary, however one must look very carefully and monitor any areas of corruption that might take place.

 

 

Now, we from the ACDP would also like to see similar research and roll out of other treatments, such as Ivermectin, zinc, vitamin C, vitamin D. I took that, when I was tested positive, the zinc, vitamin C and D and it proved very helpful. We would like to see similar research and roll out of treatment like Ivermectin.

 

 

And, when one looks at third world countries that are rolling out Ivermectin and it has positive results. Every day that counts whilst we are waiting for the vaccines has more people buying and therefore we will urge whilst we welcome government following the ACDP’s court case rolling out Ivermectin, we believe more can be done in this regard, given the slow roll out of vaccines.

 

 

Now, the ACDP also supports the allocation of R2,8 billion to the Department of Social Development, to fund the social relief of the stress grant. We looking backwards now, we are approving the allocation that was extended, now regrettable

 

 

this R350 which though measly has helped a lot number of people, is not being further rolled out.

 

 

What is sad as other speaker have indicated, with this proposal is the reallocation of R2,7 billion from South African Airways, SAA, now when you consider this allocation to SAA, to fund Mango, SAA technical and AirShift, it is unconscionable, given that the R350 grant is not being further extended. That’s where money should be given, this helps the poorest of the poor, even though it is only R350.

 

 

So, the ACDP cannot support this proposal of the reallocation of these funds. In addition to our concerns about the allocation it might well be illegal and as other speakers have indicated the Mango Board is already trading recklessly, they run a very serious risk, that the directors may be declared delinquent directors and as Occupational Therapy Association, AOTA, and the University of Johannesburg submitted in the consideration of this allocation is that it could well be illegal and runs contrary to the South Africans Air Transport Policy, which provides that government will strife to level playing field for the aviation industry. The ACDP would not support this because in our views the bad outweighs the good. Thank you, Deputy Speaker.

 

 

Mr O M MATHAFA: Deputy Speaker, hon Minister, hon members, South Africans. The Special Appropriation debate before us, falls in the historic youth month. A month in the youth of 1976 showed their true mantle. I make this assertion based on the view that the ill-informed decision of the repressive NP government, to force for teaching and learning to be strictly in Afrikaans presented disrupting conditions. And the stern response by the youth then, was an indication of an adaptive mind set, a response that kicked off an unstoppable journey to today’s democratic dispensation.

 

 

Deputy Speaker, in recent times disruptive conditions were presented by the arrival of COVID-19, first and second wave. Just like in 1976 a stern response by government was required to fulfil this requirement. As such, my theme for this debate is ‘The Special Appropriation Bill Governing in Disruptive Conditions”.

 

 

President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa, responding to this disruptive conditions in his 2021 state of the nation address, directed Cabinet to four overriding priorities of 2021 and as I quote he said the following:

 

 

This is no ordinary year, and this is no ordinary state of the nation address. I will therefore focus the evening on the four most overriding priorities of 2021. First, we must defeat the coronavirus pandemic. Second, we accelerate our economic recovery. Fundamental to our nation recovery is unrelenting comprehensive response to overcome the coronavirus, it also means that we must undertake massive vaccination programme to save lives and democratically reducing infections across the population.

 

 

In the budget speech delivered by hon Minister Mboweni, in agreeing with the President’s sentiments lifted the new wave of COVID-19 infections and associated disruptions to an economic activities as serious risks to the fiscal framework and economic growth.

 

 

Furthermore, in response to the Sona and these disruptive risks the Minister invoke Section 16 of the PFMA, Public Fund Management Act. A move that the Financial and Fiscal Commission is in full support of and authorised an amount of R1,25 billion to be appropriated in terms of Subsection 1 to the National Department of Health to procure COVID-19 vaccines and implement research, of which R1,1 billion be committed through communicable and non-communicable disease management

 

 

and R150 million to be used for health system government and human resources.

 

 

Deputy Speaker, this decisive action saw the country reach a vaccination milestone of one million citizens vaccinated as of 01 June 2021 and not the 400 000 as was claimed by other hon members in Wednesday’s Presidential Budget Vote debate. This represents a positive step to achieving population immunity, a very important input for economic recovery for a healthy society is a productive society.

 

 

And secondly it is a response to the call by the ANC National Executive Council, NEC, for a society wide effort to ensure the success of the vaccination campaign. The Public Benefit Organization, PBO, further underscored the disruption brought on the economy by COVID-19. When the state ... [Inaudible.]

... the financial year 2021-22, the pandemic lockdowns had wiped off 200 000 job opportunities created in the financial year 2020-21, by the social development under the mass public employment programme like Expanded Public Works Programme, EPWP.

 

 

As such the Special Appropriations Bill allocates an amount of R2,826 billion to extend Special COVID-19 Social Relief

 

 

Distress Grant until end of April 2021. The R350 million grant reached and lifted in access of five million people out of the poverty line, helping to alleviate hunger in a moment of crisis.

 

 

Deputy Speaker, these five million beneficiaries translate to 13% South African population, 12% of the labour force and 24% of those who are looking for employment or one in every for four people. The good news is that even though we have past the grant end date of end of April 2021. Those who have registered and were approved are still able to access this grant through the normal channel like South African Post Office.

 

 

The Social Relief Grant contributed to a basket of relief measures which ensure that a total of 18 million people or close to one third of the population receive additional grant payments.

 

 

In closing let me quote ... [Inaudible.] ... University Summit which inspired my choice of the theme, Wade said the following:

 

 

Leading yourself and others is always both challenging and rewarding but a leader’s true mantle is tested in dynamic and disruptive conditions and when uncertainty is high and the ground is shifting under your fit an adaptive mind-set is vital.

 

 

It is therefore my submission that the comrades and hon members in the Cabinet, as led by comrade President Ramaphosa displayed an adaptive mind and led the country very well under this disruptive conditions, there by showing their true mantle. With these congratulatory words, the ANC records its support for the Special Appropriates Bill. Lead us President Ramaphosa lead us. Thank you, Deputy Speaker.

 

 

Mr S N AUGUST: Hon Deputy Speaker, a South Africa that is able to vaccinate its way out of the COVID-19 crises, that attends the basic needs of its most marginalised citizens with a profitable national airline, we have a significant better prospects than a South Africa we live in today.

 

 

While the roll out of our vaccine plan is underway, it has not exactly got off to a sprint and there are no guarantees when we all be vaccinated. In the meantime, we are battling down the hatches ahead of the anticipated third wave.

 

 

Good welcomes the extension of the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant to our neediest by a gaping wound of the very modest clause of the basic income grant. When we eventually reach the other side of the pandemic, a Vanguard Dividend Appreciation EFT, VIG, could be the fine line between our people living in or out of poverty.

 

 

Speaking of lines, we must draw one in the sand with respect to continuing to pour money down the drain of poorly managed state-owned enterprises. If we are to continue spending money on SA Airways, SAA, the spending has to make sense. If it does not make an economic sense it must have demonstrable development value. If it has neither it must be flashed away.

 

 

As a country, we need to start investing in predictable outcomes. South Africa is not without medical research capacity. As we invest in this capacity, we improve our independence and self-worth and cut our reliance on others. Take vaccinations the short-term outcomes are massively unpredictable because of our dependence on pharmaceutical companies. Our vulnerability to new COVID-19 variants, tricky logistics, overstretched health resources, not to mention the possibilities of a third and even a possibility of the fourth wave and of course ever present corruption.

 

 

We should by now have developed plans a, b and c with built in capacity to enable us to adopt as we roll.

 

 

Extending the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant is sensible. So too are indications that we are slowly moving towards implementation of the VIG.

 

 

As for SAA, let just say we cannot afford another Eskom. We cannot afford to continue refuelling tons of equipment that is broken managed by people who do not know how to fix it. Can we really argue that we lack money to implement a basic income grant? Even as we throw more money at SAA. If SAA does not quickly demonstrate the agility and sensibility to return to the size the bail outs must stop. Thank you, Deputy Speaker.

 

 

Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Hon Deputy Speaker, the NFP will support the Special Appropriation Bill tabled here today. Let me start off by saying that the just over R4 billion special appropriations to the public enterprises, health and social development of course, is welcomed.

 

 

However, we want to stress the importance of dealing with the issue of Mango Airline where R819 million has been reallocated. Hon Deputy Speaker, let us be honest about it all

 

 

airlines in the country and internationally has suffered considerably as a result of COVID-19. There is no doubt about it. However, Mango Airline also appears to have its own problems and the Minister has alluded to this recently in terms of the lease agreements that were entered into which has to be problematic in future even though you are going to give them this R819 million.

 

 

The other problem we have is that if we expect airlines like SA Airways, SAA, and Mango to be successful in South Africa: How is it that we continue allow more and more airlines to enter the market, despite the fact that there is a limited demand for traveling?

 

 

I cannot understand this on the one hand, we are giving them money to sort out their problems and on the other hand, we are creating more competition for them with limited number of travellers, it means we are putting airlines like Mango and SAA in the situation that they are currently in.

Notwithstanding the problem that even SAA has had previously.

 

 

If you look at the Department of Health, whilst we welcome the allocation for the department, I want to express our concern that the department has had, particularly on the issue of the

 

 

vaccine roll out. They clearly not going to come anywhere near their target. Firstly, it is the capacity on the ground, the other one is being able to get the supply. Look at the issue of Ivermectin which whether anybody agreed or not has saved of tens and thousands of lives in South Africa. The SA Health Products Regulatory Authority, SAHPRA, being the regulatory authority deliberately has been withholding this particular wonder drug which has gone a long way in saving lives in South Africa.

 

 

We welcome the allocation in social development, it will go a long way in assisting those most vulnerable people in South Africa who are bearing the brand of what has happened with COVID-19.

 

 

All we want to say is that we call on the Minister particularly to intervene if there are challenges here in the public sector to ensure that not only he puts in measures to ensure the success of these state-owned entities, but also ensures that there are consequences for those people in applying the law and not conducting themselves in a professional manner and bringing the institution into disrepute and in the state they are today. The NFP does support the Special Appropriation Bill here on condition that

 

 

additional measures are put in place to ensure the success of the Bill.

 

 

Mr G K Y CACHALIA: Hon Deputy Speaker, one of the privileges of this House is the opportunity to stand here and quote from the wisdom of the past so that we may learn from the likes of Martin Luther King Junior who said:

 

 

We refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great volts of opportunity of this nation and so we have come to cash a check this check a check that will five upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

 

 

 

Why do I make use of this particular quote at this juncture and in this forum? I do so to demonstrate the importance of opportunity, the sanctity of freedom and the value of justice.

 

 

When a nation squanders opportunity, when the dead hand of the state sub sued the freedom of the individual and the market to deliver in the face of failure, justice is not served.

 

 

When the Minister seeks the approval of Parliament to divert monies from the National Revenue Fund for a specific purpose, that rational must be scrutinised. So, in terms of that scrutiny let us move from the sublime to the ridiculous.

 

 

We are being asked to sanction R22,7 billion for SA Airways, SAA, subsidiaries. Monies that are solely needed for social and other necessary expenditure in trying times of a global pandemic. And have appropriated it to a bundle vanity project that builds on an edifice of failure.

 

 

Moreover, in an area where global air traffic is drastically down, a new airline will require funding over the next four to five years of loss making. Who will underwrite it? Who will stand guarantee? Which routes will it service? The local routes are currently being ably serviced by nimbly private sector operators.

 

 

On the international routes, 30 of which were serviced in the past, of only eight were profitable.

 

 

There are raft of international airlines which are managed to whether the challenges of COVID-19? Who under a genuine opens of skies policy would service our travel needs?

 

 

That is what is about the servicing of needs not status brims.

 

 

These airlines have redefined the economics of global air travel. To quote Michael Power a strategist in asset management:

 

 

Combining access to the worlds cheapest aviation fuel, tax free environment for the employees and operational hubs at the crossroads between Asia, Australia, Europe and Africa with connections to both North and South America they have redefined global aviation.

 

 

These are also owned by governments with deep pockets though! Operating in the world’s most fuel efficient fleets and centred around ultra-modern airports.

This is the local and an international terrain which the new SAA seeks to compete. With the same old handicaps of geographical disadvantage. Broad-based Economic Empowerment, BEE, burdens, ongoing cadre deployments and the history of patent failure.

 

 

Do you honestly think that we can compete against these local and international airlines who are hyper competitive with

 

 

ultra-low fares offered as they rebuild market share? Should we not be rebuilding our tourism footprint globally instead of doing this which represents a far more job rich objective than reviving a national air carrier. And who is this much haunted strategic equity partner? On what terms will they come in? And most importantly, who will underwrite this madness into a loss making future?

 

 

Surely, it is time to rethink this folly and heed powers warning that any new airline set up by the South African government would be like a baby springbok entering a cave full of hungry lions. It is a story that is unlikely to end well.

Best you listen to the party that gets things done!

 

 

Ms E D PETERS: Hon Deputy Speaker, it is unfortunate that I am speaking after hon Cachalia, who claims that his party is a party that get things done. We, in the Standing Committee on Appropriations or the appropriations committee, know that the DA government, rather than spending money they rather return it to National Treasury, so that they can show books that don’t have under expenditure; denying the people of the Western Cape and the people of City of Cape Town services. So, I cannot listen to hon Cachalia, who doesn’t even participate in the committee because the last time the DA participated in

 

 

the committee was when the hon Josephs was the member of the Standing Committee on Appropriations. So, we cannot listen to them.

 

 

We can only listen to hon Shaik-Emam and hon Nhlangwini because their members do participate in the committee. Others come here and jump up and down as if ...

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

... hulle spoeg teen die wind! [they are shouting into the wind.]

 

 

English:

 

Hon members, as our Chair of the committee, Mr Buthelezi, said, the Special Appropriations Bill is not asking for any additional funds, it is asking this hon House to allow the Minister of Public Enterprises to stretch the resources that are already allocated to fix the subsidiaries who are facing some financial problems. I’m repeating this because some amongst us don’t understand or pretend not to understand. No additional funds are required, period.

 

 

The Bill proposes to divide R2,7 billion of the R10,5 billion as follows: R1,663 billion to the SA Airways, SAA, Technical,

 

 

R819 million to Mango Airlines Limited, R218 million to Air Chefs state-owned company, SOC, Limited.

 

 

We now know that the airline industry was among the hardest hit industries by the COVID-19 pandemic. To say the obvious again, during lockdown there was neither domestic nor international flying, collectively.

 

 

According to the International Air Transport Association, IATA, the airline passenger revenue dropped by US$419 billion, which is about R5 trillion. This is about 73% drop, hon members. This is a bloodbath by any measure.

 

 

IATA or the industry experts, if I may add, continue to argue:

 

 

Airline operators will require a well-orchestrated recovery plan supported by external agencies to safely regain operational tempo and replenish cash reserves.

 

 

Important things to note from the quotation from IATA is they do not say airlines should be left to die, they recognize the importance of external agencies supporting for the airlines.

 

 

Air Chefs and SAA Tech’s survival is linked to the health of SAA and other airlines landing at our airports. Air Chefs sells food to the airlines. If no airplanes land and take off from our airports, common sense should dictate that the financial position of these subsidiaries of SAA was going to deteriorate, as it did.

 

 

When the House appropriated funds for the recapitalization and the implementation of ... [Inaudible.] ... it could not leave out these two companies. We commend the Ministers of Finance and Public Enterprises for having stretched the initial allocation to also cover subsidiaries.

 

 

Some members of the opposition argue that we should let SAA Tech and Air Chefs die a natural death. That the ANC government will not allow because there will be those who would like to pick these assets for next-to-nothing and come the following day to a captured market at OR Tambo, Cape Town and King Shaka International Airports to offer these services which airlines cannot do without. It is a big ‘NO’ from the ANC.

 

 

If we allow that to happen, we will be entrenching the inequality in our country, we will be entrenching the economic

 

 

marginalisation of the majority of our people, who are black, African, women, young and living with disabilities. That, we refuse to do.

 

 

Chairperson, let me give you the strategic importance and competencies of SA Technical. SAA Tech has extensive technical assets, real estate and hangers, it has unparalleled and extensive aircraft maintenance knowhow, this knowledge and expertise is not only critical for SAA survival but it is an expertise that is provided to other airlines arriving at our airports. The intellectual property at SAA Technical has been accumulated over decades, and if we were to lose it, it would take decades, if not centuries, to accumulate it again. It has knowhow in modern aircraft maintenance. A lot of black people and women have been trained and acquired these skills.

 

 

Let me add, these technicians are sort after the world over. It has tooling and equipment for modern aircraft fleet for both Airbus and Boeing products.

 

 

I thought I needed to walk with the House and make it understand the duel that we have at this subsidiary which we are proposing that R1,663 billion from the SAA allocation be appropriated to. SA Tech employs about 2 000 people. These are

 

 

the people who are dependent on this company for their livelihoods. Conservatively speaking, each and every worker is responsible for at least four people. The impact and multiplier effect, socially and economically, are huge.

 

 

Mango airlines is a low-cost airline which caters for a particular market. We do recommend that it also be appropriated R819 million to also help it to get back on its feet. Mango has operated side-by-side with other low-cost airline. It is thus not correct to argue that Mango will cannibalize and ... [Inaudible.] ... other low-cost airlines.

 

 

Hon members, while arguing for support of these companies, this should not be understood to mean that the ANC is supporting what is wrong that has and may still be happening in the state-owned companies, SOCs.

 

 

We urge the Minister of Public Enterprises to strengthen oversight by ensuring proper corporate governance, getting management with requisite skills in these companies, ensuring that the board refrains from entering to evergreen contracts, which the SAA and its subsidiaries are renowned for, where they exist they must be terminated immediately, ensuring proper contact management and ensure that they use their

 

 

buying power to get lower prices from the suppliers, ensuring that black people, women, youth and people with disabilities also access business from these companies, that are supported by the tax payers.

 

 

It is unacceptable that only a few companies benefit from SOCs, whether supplying goods or providing any other services.

 

 

It is my great honour, in the name of the ANC, in the name of the martyrs of the 1976 and the generation of young lions to say the ANC supports the 2021 Special Appropriations Bill.

 

 

I want to say to hon Hlengwa, the information that I just gave you about SA Technical is a rational justification that you’re saying does not exist.

 

 

I think hon Wessels, you continuously wish that SAA and its subsidiaries must be in the hands of the private sector because you and your people are sitting with suitcases of money so as to just buy it for nothing. So, I want to say to you, the ANC will never allow that. And thank you, Deputy Speaker.

 

 

The MINISTER OF FINANCE: Deputy Speaker, ... [Inaudible.] ... of South Africa, the Chair of the committee, hon Buthelezi, hon Sfiso Buthelezi, there are many Buthelezi’s in this House, hon members. May I take this opportunity to thank hon Sfiso Buthelezi for steering the ship so successfully during the deliberations of the committee. I also thank all those other members of the committee who take their work seriously and participated in the committee deliberations with honour and dignity. Very much appreciate the work that all of you do in that committee as part of the strengthening of our democracy, for the benefit of this and future generations.

 

 

The Special Appropriations Bill really addresses only three issues, firstly, the special allocations towards the covid vaccination interventions; secondly, interventions which we had to make with reference to the special relief of distress, which came in handy to help so many of our people who suffered greatly, particularly during level 5 lockdown; thirdly and finally, the Special Appropriation Bill deals with allocations to the vote of public enterprises in order to allow the department to make the various interventions related to SAA.

 

 

We’ll come back later during the course of the day to debate in more substantive terms the Appropriations Bill and vote accordingly for each vote today.

 

 

This, Deputy Speaker, promising to be a long day, I therefore, wish not to say anything further but once again to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the chair of the committee and the committee for the work that they have done.

 

 

If I had more time I would say that there are certain hon members of this House, who, before they stand to speak, I know exactly what they are going to say, because they have memorised the particular mantra, books, about vanity projects, airlines and so on. So, you don’t have to be in doubt at all about what the dangers of a memorised narrative is. But we’ll deal with that substantively later.

 

 

Deputy Speaker, therefore, I thank you very much for giving me this opportunity and thank all of those who have supported this Special Appropriations Bill. Thank you very much.

 

 

Question put.

 

 

Agreed to.

 

 

Bill read first time.

 

 

SPECIAL APPROPRIATION BILL

 

 

(Second Reading debate)

 

 

There was no debate.

 

 

Question put: That the Bill be read a second time.

 

 

Division demanded.

 

 

The House divided.

 

 

Voting

 

 

[TAKE IN FROM MINUTES]

 

 

Question agreed to.

 

 

Bill accordingly read a second time.

 

 

APPROPRIATION BILL

 

 

(Consideration of Bill and Report)

 

 

There was no debate.

 

 

The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Hon Deputy

 

Speaker, I move:

 

 

That the Report be adopted.

 

 

Motion agreed to (Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, Freedom Front Plus and African Christian Democratic Party dissenting).

 

 

Report accordingly adopted.

 

 

APPROPRIATION BILL

 

 

(First Reading debate)

 

 

Mr N S BUTHELEZI: Hon Deputy Speaker, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, hon members, compatriots, the ANC supports the 2021 Appropriation Bill. This Bill is being debated in a very special month in the struggle calendar of our country, June. A highly contested month between the oppressed and the

 

 

oppressor, the exploiter and the exploited. It was during this month that the apartheid fascist state killed unarmed children whose sin was to seek an education which would secure their future. It was also early hours on 9 June 1983, at the then Pretoria central prison that, the young Marcus Motaung, Thelle Mogoerane and Jerry Mosololi were murderd by the racist Botha- De Klerk regime. When the judge was told about Geneva Convention, he retorted, “We don’t have time to waste.”

 

 

Compatriots, in the true nature of the people of South Africa, on 26 June 1955, our people gathered in their numbers to not just reject the minority racist government, but to define the South Africa where ones station in life, would not be the colour of his or her skin. As it always happens, the good triumphed over the bad. Here we are today, together debating about the Budget of all of us. As we do that let us not forget the damage of 350 years that was too great to be fixed in 27 years. The skewed distribution of income is still with us; the man-made inequality is still with us. This Bill’s core objective is to protect the poorest of the poor; the most vulnerable sections of our society, who in most cases are workers, black and still reside in squalor, not made by the ANC, but by the successive racist government put to power by few people who appropriated the whole budget for the minority

 

 

at the exclusion of the majority. Regime’s focus wa not to save lives but to accumulate weapons to be used against their fellow countrymen whose sin was that they were black also whose aim was to cause untold harm and destruction in the region. What for? To protect what the Unirted has dweclared the crime against humanity.

 

 

Today, we are dealing with the 48,7% of the nationally raised funds that are allocated to national government. Remember, through the Division of Revenue Act, 41,9% and 9,4% were allocated to provincial and local governments respectively.

 

 

Chairperson, it has been said many times here that the economy suffered a lot with the advent of COVID-19 shock. This had a negative impact on the fiscus.

 

 

Allow me to give the House the aerial view of what we are dealing with, hence the response of the Budget. The economy contracting by 7%. This contraction was last seen in 1946, as a result of World War II. This proves that we are in a war with very sly enemy, COVID-19 pandemic. per capita gross domestic product, GDP, has even fallen at a higher rate. Tax Revenues were R38 billion better than the February Budget, but still far from what it would have were it not for COVID-19.

 

 

National government appropriation R980,583 billion, debt per gross domestic product, GDP, ratio deteriorates from 80,3% to 87,3% in 23-24, weakening the balance sheet of government.

Debt service costs increased by 13,3% from 2020-21 to 2021-22. Decreasing total gross fixed capital formation (investments.

Unemployment rate of 32,6%, highest in years.

 

 

The Bill attempts to get the economy back to economic growth path to stabilise government debt, arrest debt service costs, thus ensuring the sustainability of our fiscus. This is critical so that we remain responsible for our destiny and not attract the Breton Wood institutions to come.

 

 

In summary, the Bill talks to the priorities set by both the President and the Minister of Finance at the beginning of the year. Therefore, despite the Budget consolidation aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the fiscus over 40% of national expenditure on health, education, social development and arts and culture. Over R1,21 trillion of consolidated government expenditure goes to social services. Social Development receives the lion’s share of national expenditure, about R205,227 billion. This shows that with all the pressure on our finances, we still provide the safety net to our people, with more than 18 million beneficiaries. Co-operative Governance

 

 

receives about R100,876 billion. It should be noted that this expenditure is on top and above the allocation to municipalities and provinces through the Division of Revenue Act.

 

 

It is the realisation of the centrality of a healthy economy that has led the President, his Excellency Ramaphosa, to set up a National Economic Recovery council, chaired by the President himself. Broad mandate is to ensure quick implementation of the economic reconstruction and recovery plan so that the economy can offer more opportunities to its citizens and provide much-needed job opportunities.

 

 

Energy security is the backbone of any economy. Thus R36,292 billion is appropriated to Public Enterprises. The bulk of this appropriations is for Eskom. The reduction of Eskom debt by R83 billion from R484 billion is a welcome development. Loadshedding remains a big risk to the Economic

Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, ERRP. Also, the R45 billion owed to Eskom is a cause for concern.

 

 

Still on security of energy supply, we welcome the integrated resource plan which stresses an energy mix strategy. The connection of 1200MW to the grid is most welcome. We also

 

 

welcome the 200 projects that the National Energy Regulator of South Africa, Nersa, has registered. We strongly support government on keeping coal as part of the energy mix. This is so because this is the resource we are having in abundance. I must still see a developed economy which reached that level without coal. However, we must also invest in technologies that will reduce gas emissions. The Bill allocates

R9,1 billion to Mineral Resources and Energy to ensure the department continue to help the economy recover by providing reliable energy now and in the future.

 

 

We also need to stress that the economy should grow for everyone’s benefit and not a few. We ought to ensure that from Lusikisiki to Cofimvaba, from Shobashobane to Obonjeni, Ntabazwe to Botshabelo, Mbuzini to eMalahleni all should feel they are part and parcel of the wealth of this country, hence we speak of inclusive growth.

 

 

Hon members, we also welcome the addition of sugar, steel and furniture masterplans to already existing auto, clothing and poultry master plans. Minister Patel said they chose these industries because they offer food security and are labour intensive. The importance of localisation cannot be overemphasised. Minister Didiza shared with this House on

 

 

Wednesday the fact that now we, among other things we are not just producing masks and ventilators, but we are also exporting to other countries. The opening of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine producing plant in the Eastern Cape is a move in the right direction. Why continue importing what we can produce.

 

 

We are challenging all departments to say how are they contributing to attainment of the objectives of ERRP. We are also requesting all portfolio committees to demand those reports when departments appear before them. That will ensure that we are all pulling in the same direction and committed to the ERRP objectives.

 

 

It is our well-considered view that as government departments we must lead by example. Let’s stop being comfortable about buying imports. When departments come to report on their performance we must request and insist on them sharing what percentage of their budget is spent on imports and they must give reasons why. The R2,02 trillion consolidated Budget cannot be used to grow all other economies, but ours.

 

 

Africa must trade with itself. We delighted by the strides that has been taken to operationalise African Continental Free

 

 

Trade Area, AfCFTA. The question of the transformation of the economy so that all South Africans benefit, irrespective of race, gender or creed is non-negotiable. Inequality in our country is the highest in the world. History tells us that unequal societies are the most unstable societies. It is also true that investment shy away from unstable societies. Rating agencies also site inequalities as a risk to South Africa.

Therefore, whatever angle you look at inequality and poverty which goes along racial line must be fought by everyone.

Social distance, wear mask, sanitise, vaccinate if qualify. The ANC supports Appropriation Bill 2021. I thank you.

 

 

Mr G G HILL-LEWIS: Deputy Speaker, for a 100 years South Africa has been basically governed by the same economic model. With the previous government called selfstandigheid [self- reliance], the ANC has continued under the guides of the so- called developmental state. The centre pieces of this model are the giant state monopoly utility companies, state electricity, state rail, state harbours. This glorious state will be directed by a call of loyal cadres deployed by the party to ensure ideological purity, flows from clipboard to clipboard across the government. So, the theory goes at least.

 

 

Surely there must be some awkward silence and some loud clearing of throats in the ANC today, as they look in the utter, steaming, mangled wreck, that is all that remains of their ideological edifice. Delivering the post is too much for this government. The airline doesn’t fly. The trains don’t run. In many places in South Africa there is no longer any tracks or stations left. The ports are the most inefficient and the most expensive in the world. The simple task of burning coal to make steam to drive turbines is too difficult for this government, except today of course when they stopped load shedding to pass this budget.

 

 

Seventy-five percent of young people are unemployed. Life expectancy is going down. Ten million adults and 3 million children in our country suffer hunger at least once a week. One would think that this sheer scale of this failure would give the ANC some pause for thought, but you would be wrong. Looking at this budget today, it is clear that the ANC has doubled down on breaking the state. They are going to make every poor and unemployed South African suffer for it. Every middle class South African is going to pay for it. The budget we are debating today, is the biggest betrayal of the poor since 1994.

 

 

The budget for education is down by R119,3 billion over the next three years, cutting new school building, TVET colleges and even R30 million cut -hear this - to the Grant for Learners with Profound Intellectual Disabilities. I hope you are all proud of that. The health budget is down R62 billion, social development budget down R47 billion, the policing budget is down R39 billion. Fighting you say, while you are cutting the Special Investigating Unit, SIU budget by

R134 million. You are cutting HIV treatment. You are cutting social grants. More children will learn under trees and more will use pit latrines because of this budget.

 

 

Access to justice for the poor will be harder because you are cutting the Legal Aid budget by R534 million. All of these cuts for more bailouts to pay for broken state’s monopolies. There is no one that the ANC will not make to suffer more in service of this failed ideology, no one. Take heart, there is good news. The good news is this, history is littered with examples of governments who stayed around far longer than they should have, but eventually they end the same way, in infamy.

 

 

In truth, this budget reads more like a letter of surrender. The ANC today surrenders for once and for all its mantle as champions of the poor. You didn’t need 932 pages of budget to

 

 

say that. I can summarise it for you in one line. The ANC’s

 

economic model is dead. Long live South Africa. Thank you.

 

 

Ms E N NTLANGWINI: Thank you Deputy Speaker. The Appropriation Bill passed every year is a way in which Parliament permits national departments to spend taxpayers’ money. The Appropriation Bill demonstrates how much each department is allocated and how much each department can spend on salaries, programmes, transfers and to other state-owned entities.

 

 

What is tabled before us today is an illustration of budget cuts more than budget allocations. Perhaps, it’s about time we separate these two issues and have two separate Bills, an Appropriation Bill and an Austerity Bill, in which this way we don’t neglect our people. Austerity doctrine is not new hon Minister, but desperate and incompetent people will mismanage the economy for the past 20 years and wants to return the appearance of normality using it without scientific evidence

 

 

Unfortunately, it is the workers and their children who will suffer the moist. It is the workers of Denel, the workers of SAA and the other state-owned entities, SOEs who have not received their salaries for over a year. This is what the Minister of Finance has tabled. He called it a budget

 

 

reduction but it’s actually austerities. I think Minister it is better to stick to making your pilchard stews than getting us a budget.

 

 

Even though our correctional facilities are overpopulated with an extremely high warden inmate ratio, he proposes a budget cut of R3,3 billion to Correctional Services. Students are lying dying because of cold and hunger waiting for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme Nsfas ... [Inaudible]

...budget of R4,9 billion. Our townships are crimes havens and you go to any police station, our policemen and women are overworked Minister and underpaid. There are not even police cars that are in working conditions, no DNA testing kits, but the Minister proposes a budget cut of R11,8 billion under SA Police Service.

 

 

Our people wake up at 3am to queue at Department of Home Affairs Offices, the staff at Department of Home Affairs is overworked, we can all go to the Department of Home Affairs right in front of Parliament, but he proposes a budget cut of R900 million. Even now, many young people at Matatiele- I just received a call, they don’t have identity documents and there is no Department of Home Affairs Office now as we speak, and you have cut their budget Minister.

 

 

We don’t have a defence capability and when you propose a cut of R4,5 billion. Statistics SA has failed to attract the necessary skills in the past, and he proposes a budget cut of more than R3 million this year alone. With the housing backlog that needs billions, he proposes a budget cut of R130 billion. This is all your doing and your Department of National Treasury, Minister.

 

 

Our people drink water with animals, but the Minister of Finance proposes a budget cut to Water and Sanitation a budget cut of R300 million. I suppose maybe where you are staying there is sufficient water in that area that you gladly post.

We are told, we need more qualified teachers in our schools, and he proposes a budget cut of R314 million in the Funza Lushaka Bursary. Post Offices are closing and more than 150 branches mostly in rural and township areas are being closed, but he proposes a budget cut of R225 million Minister.

 

 

If we remove allocation to Eskom and Land Bank, we are left with an Austerity Bill. The unfortunate part of this misguided Austerity Bill is that, the Minister of Finance and the National Treasury are proud to reduce the social grants by R6,5 billion because social grants increases were below

 

 

inflation. Instead of maintaining the COVID-19 social grants increases, he proposes a budget cut.

 

 

It is a said day that this Parliament fails to be the wall between the Austerity Bill and the lives of our people. It is a tragic day Minister. We should be using the Appropriation Bill to make sure that 70% of goods consumed by the state, use procurement leverages to stimulus local industrialisation and localise the economy. As the EFF we reject this nonsensical Austerity Bill with the contemn it deserves. Our people must know that, we are not rejecting service delivery but we reject the budget cuts that will interrupt the little services that they are getting from the state, that continues to loot the money that is rightfully theirs.

 

 

Hon chairperson of the committee, this is not a contradiction. This is facts that you and me and the committee [Interjections.]

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon Ntlangwini, look at you clock.

 

 

Ms N E NTLANGWINI: ... know about in our committee. Thank you very much to the staff of the Appropriations Committee for the good work. I thank you.

 

 

Mr E M BUTHELEZI: Thank you very much, hon Deputy Speaker. At the outset, I must say that it is indeed ironic that today as we debate the Appropriation Bill, it is clear that many in our country are currently experiencing stage two load shedding.

The further breakdown of Eskom’s Amajuba and other power stations simply shows that government is mere on talk of economic recovery.

 

 

Our commitment to investment in public and private infrastructure as well as the maintenance of existing assets are not reflected in 2021-22 financial year. Hon Deputy Speaker, on consideration of public submission made on this Bill, it is explicitly clear that South African public remain concerned about the massive burden on the state-owned enterprises, SOEs, on our fiscus and duplication of government functions. What is required now is a full transparency and effect out of government spending and outcomes indicators.

 

 

The IFP fully support request from civil society organisations that relationship between policy, budget and government performance could be clearly communicated to the public. We have repeatedly called out the government for their ongoing bailout of dysfunctional state-owned enterprises, SOEs. We repeatedly called out government to strengthen consequence

 

 

management and accountability within all departments and entities. we have called out government on fruitless and wasteful expenditures. We have called out government on throwing millions down the bottomless pit while not effectively dealing with the rotten leadership and corruption crisis in the public service.

 

 

Hon Deputy Speaker, it is imperative that we hit the warning and advise of the Financial Fiscus Commission. The Financial Fiscus Commission, FFC, have made it clear that the contingent liability of state-owned enterprises, SOEs, could result in the further credit rating downgrade for South Africa. The unfortunate reality is that the most valuable citizens of our country rely on government to provide basic services and will again bear the brunt of government failures in this regard.

 

 

The failure of prioritising basic education funding, especially concerning long term infrastructure projects and the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on this sector, will only deepen inequality in our country and further divide the haves from the have nots. As government rolled out the Covid-19 vaccine program, the IFP will closely monitor its performance and its expenditure. These critical projects to save the lives

 

 

of our people and to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus cannot be allowed to be derailed by corruption.

 

 

Furthermore, the growth and development of the local economy, through local government economic sector, must receive more urgent attention. We don’t need to have our people migrating to cities. We must provide financial assistance to various co- operatives, focus on infrastructure and maintenance projects, particularly, bulk water infrastructure. We must boost agriculture and new sustainable green jobs in rural communities and peri-urban ... [Inaudible.] ... and overall allowed the bigger slice of the cake to go to local government.

 

 

In conclusion, Deputy Speaker, the IFP remains highly concerned about the ongoing bailouts for the state-owned enterprises, SOEs, and the complete disregard of consequence management. We therefore, indicate separately our votes with regards to the department. However, we have a strong observation with regard to the Department of Public Enterprise Budget as the IFP. Thank you, Sir.

 

 

Mr W W WESSELS: Hon Deputy Speaker, the Minister refers to a memorised mantra by the opposition, a memorised narrative.

 

 

Nevertheless, let’s look at the mantra of the ruling party, which we hear time and time again and the hon Buthelezi proved it. Blaming the past for your own inefficiencies. Blaming the past for your own corruption; for your own looting; blaming the past for everything you have failed to deliver on your promises you made to your constituencies.

 

 

The narrative of doing the same thing over and over again. The narrative of failed policies, failed economic policies, mismanagement and the hon Buthelezi also proves that the ANC just welcomes everything. It’s welcome, it’s welcome to cut the budget and cut it where it is actually needed but still misspend and misappropriate other funds. Deputy Speaker, it is really a shame that it’s welcomed. It’s a shame that the ANC and the ruling party lacks in doing oversight. Been holding the executive to account in actually instilling consequence management, it is a shame. Money is wasted. Let’s say for one moment, leave corruption out of it. Let’s look ... forget about corruption and allegations that this person’s son benefited from the contract and so forth.

 

 

Let’s just look at the wrong priorities of this budget. This budget allows budgets. The Minister in the past three years said that they will contain costs, but contracts are procured

 

 

and service providers are procured to deliver on services which you employ employees to do. You pay directors millions of rands in salaries but they don’t do the job. Even if you pay R1 or R10 for a contract to organise a media briefing or an interview on a public broadcaster, it is too much. Leave the R2,7 million, leave the R150 million. The whole concept of spending money on something that is completely ridiculous and nonsensical and that’s the problem.

 

 

Minister, you and your fellow Ministers live in luxury, while South Africans are suffering and money is wasted. This budget is going to allow for Cubans to be brought into South Africa to assist with engineering services, not at a normal employee rate, but at millions, hundreds of millions of rands. Of course, we do have engineers in South Africa and whilst the previous projects have failed, bringing in Cuban engineers - who are not even accredited to do the job they are going to be procured for. Spending in luxuries like the guest houses and their family visits and the airline tickets are for, whilst you say we do not have money, that is unacceptable. That is unacceptable, while the teacher and the nurse have to suffer whilst we have to curb the Wage Bill but you spend money on nonsensical issues and nonsensical items.

 

 

There are qualified social workers out there sitting at home being unemployed while there is a need for social workers, you can’t employ them because you’re spending money on your luxuries and your very important person, VIP, protection. That is completely unacceptable. The dangerous mantra of the ANC’s failed policies such as black economic empowerment which has not empowered anybody out there, but reduced people to a race and spewed racial hatred whilst we are in a country where we should be working towards a better future. Nevertheless, you have failed to do that. Admit it and take responsibility. We reject this budget. I thank you.

 

 

Mr S N SWART: Deputy Speaker and hon Minister, the 2021 budget is centred on promoting economic recovery and retaining public finances to a sustainable path. Therefore, these are very commendable objectives and are to achieve through stabilisation of the public debt to gross domestic product, GDP, ratio reducing the budget deficit and by moderating government spending and reducing the Public Sector Wage Bill. Now, related to the 2020 budget, main budget noninterest spending is to reduce by R27,675 billion in the 2021-22 budget largely due to a wage freeze. However, the ACDP shares the committee’s reservations on this figure and agrees that may be premature, hon Minister, to accept this figure given that wage

 

 

negotiations are ongoing and a different outcome may well require adjustments across all Budget Votes.

 

 

However, we wish you well in your negotiations in this regard. What it is also interesting is that there is good news and hope ... [Inaudible.] eternal in a human’s breast and the good news is that the economy is showing signs of recovery mainly through commodity price increases, or bid at a lower rate but this is a reason for hope. However, on the other side, really, as other speakers have indicated the budget cuts which certain degree are necessary but however will have devastating impact on so many departments. I’m not even touching on the justice, the Special Investigative Unit, SIU, issues. For example, the Health and Social Development Departments will be compromised in the ability to scale up the interventions on coronavirus disease 2019, Covid-19, and human immunodeficiency virus, HIV, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, Aids. Now, the Department of Social Development appeared before the committee and they indicated that when the biggest challenges facing them will be HIV and Aids pandemic and the reducing allocations that are intended to fight this pandemic.

 

 

Minister, is deeply concerning and I would suggest that every day when have tragic death rates of Covid-19 on our

 

 

television, TV, screens we should at the same time have the numbers of people that are dying of curable diseases such as HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and other chronic diseases which is more than a 1 000 every single day and this is something we need to be cognisant of and that budget cuts will have a severe impact on that. Minister, lastly, it is imperative and to a certain degree agree you are doing this, and the National Treasury is doing this, but the tax windfall must be used and any windfall going to forward to reduce spiralling public debt and debt service costs, and that balance is extremely difficult to achieve, how to maintain service levels and how to maintain debt service so from our perspective we wish you everything of the best ... thank you so much. [Time expired.]

 

 

Ms M C DIKGALE: Thank you very much, hon the Deputy Speaker. It gives me a great honour and pride to address this House on a very important matter, the 2021 Appropriations Bill. Also, I do this in the honour of the stalwarts of our evolution, the fighter of the rights of the oppressed people in general and women in particular, Mama Charlotte Maxeke. Hon Deputy Speaker, the African National Congress supports the 2021 Appropriation Bill. On the occasion of the 27th anniversary of Freedom Day, His Excellency President Ramaphosa said “the legacy of apartheid remains ... [Interjections.] ... Sorry, on

 

 

the occasion of the 27th anniversary of Freedom Day, His Excellency President Ramaphosa said:

 

 

The legacy of apartheid remains a defining feature of our land even after nearly three decades it continues in many ways to determine where people will leave, what assets they own, what schooling they receive, what jobs they can do and how safe they feel.

 

 

In other words, the President was saying that it is not yet Uhuru, this must be attended to, we need to change this anointed inheritance. The Bill that we are presenting today is another building block towards a better life for all. This is despite the health, social and economic challenges that our country, the continent and the whole world are facing.

 

 

Deputy Speaker, let me start by congratulating the President of the Republic, His Excellency President Ramaphosa and the Cabinet for the leadership they have provided and continue providing to South Africa as it deals with the coronavirus pandemic. They help South Africa transfer uncharted waters of dealing with this pandemic, the President has also done very well as the Chair of African Union, AU, in ensuring that our brothers and sisters in the rest of the continent have access

 

 

to vaccines. We welcome R1,8 million that has been made available for the Covid facility. I think, hon members, we can say without any fear of contradiction that it is a national and international duty they have carried out with distinction.

 

 

Hon members, during the state of the nation address, the President prioritised the defeat of coronavirus in 2021, and it gives his pleasure to announce that a total of

R62,5 billion of national budget goes to the Department of Health. This will allow the department to continue to deal with the impact of Covid-19 by having post-exposure prophylaxis, PEP, to protect health workers providing medication for those infected, ensuring that we have enough oxygen stock, most importantly to buy enough vaccine to achieve herd immunity. Hon members, we also welcome the first and second phases vaccination which is now approaching

one million. While we understand that there should be some teething problems as we start with the process. We urge government to accelerate the rate of immunisation. We take note of the R4,3 billion set aside to centrally buy the vaccines.

 

 

In other consultation with National Treasury they were unequivocal in their resolve that all the times money will be

 

 

made available for buying vaccines. We, therefore, urge some from the opposition to stop spreading fake news saying that government does not have enough money for vaccine. They say that knowing fully well that the problem is with the availability of vaccine rather than the resources.

Chairperson, infrastructure is central to resuscitating the economy. Just to remind you, hon members, and fellow South Africans, from 2014 to 2021, 10 hospitals have been completed or replaced, 23 hospitals have been revitalised, 1 232 facilities have been refurbished, renovated and rehabilitated.

 

 

Hon members, in the fiscal for 2020-21 a record 50 614 new posts were created for health support personnel as part of the presidential employment stimulus package. It is this proactivity that allowed South Africa to achieve about 94% recovery rate which is high by any standards. There has been unfounded allegation that the focus has led to the ignoring of other diseases. Nothing can be further from the truth over the Medium -Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, R82,6 billion has been set aside to prevent and treat diseases like HIV and Aids, tuberculosis, TB, and etcetera.

 

 

Ladies and gentlemen, education defines the future of any community, nation or country. Covid-19 interrupted proper

 

 

teaching and learning. Education of today defines the social political and economic feature of any nation. We congratulate our learners and students who despite the odds managed to succeed in the 2020, academic year, in particular, the class of 2020, performed very well achieving a pass rate of 76,2%. We, therefore, thank the teachers who sacrificed for the sake of the future of our children and ... [Inaudible.] ... Covid-

19. We also remember those teachers who succumbed to Covid-19 in the process. Their bravery was not in vain, but it was for the future of the learners and our country. We welcome the allocation of about R27 billion ... [Time expired.]

 

 

Mr S N AUGUST: Deputy Speaker, hon members, our work as parliamentarian and collective oversees the manner in which our country spends our people’s money is of very little value if the money ends up in wasted through poor management and implementation and are looted by corruption.

 

 

Civil servants spend hours, days and weeks developing detail budget with rejected delivery outcomes that are impossible to reach because when the time comes to actually spends the money a large portion will be misspend or stolen.

 

 

The Special Investigating Unit, SIU, is busy spending R386 million probing corruption cases with the value of

R14 billion related to the looting of Covid evinces. These are staggering figures that should defiantly in the ears of every politicians and officials who has the privilege to deal with the public purse on the rest of our behalf.

 

 

We talk too much about the scourge of corruption. We politicise it, trepanised it, have sleepless nights about it. We need to actually do something about it. As legislatures we must demand all the departments to install defence systems to detect maleficent. The looters biggest enemy is transparency. We must stop talking about transparency and demonstrate it.

There is a technology available to transparently track each and every percent we spend for as long as state spending is hidden from scrutiny the opportunities to manipulate it.

 

 

Good welcomes the fact that its leader de Lille is leading by example. The Infrastructure Built Anti-Corruption Forum she recently initiated with the SIU is a proactive mechanism that other departments should seriously consider following.

 

 

There are many areas of extreme need in our country each crank to prioritisation and environment of an ongoing pandemic economic misery and radical, poverty and inequality.

 

 

It is our responsibility to uphold the Constitution commitments to improve the quality of life for our most vulnerable and make the existence more bearable provide some security and comfort.

 

 

If you fail to attain these big plans, we fail in our bravery endeavour to build back basic stable and just democracy after the pandemic.

 

 

A budget will help us fight the pandemic to put our economy back on track with safety mechanism to avoid any further periphery and the support of good people. Thank you.

 

 

Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Minister, I think we must admit that South Africa is in a crisis, a crisis that we cannot continue. If we continue in the direction we are going right now, it will be a matter of time, we will have no money to pay staff and employees. We will have no money to pay grants. We will have no money to pay pensioners.

 

 

South Africa is becoming a socially dependence state right now. Now I have heard speaker after speakers, talking all the challenges that we face in government but nobody has given any solutions. Maybe our debate should be taking a different direction rather than concentrating on what we can do differently given the fact that this country belongs to all who live in it and we are experiencing serious challenges.

 

 

You are the first Minister of Finance that has come here and told us that if you spend more than you earn, you are going to run into trouble. Every Minister prior to you had said that there is nothing wrong in borrowing. You are the first Minister that came up and said if we continue borrowing of course we will reach a physical cliff and that will affect our sovereign.

 

 

One of the issues and I think you have introduced the zero base budgeting and I is a good thing. However, the question that has arises, do we have the capacity or how long will it take to capacitate these people at all spheres of government to be able to implement them.

 

 

The other major problem Minister is the fact that we are losing hundreds of billions of rends and I want to assure you

 

 

that if you close that gap completely many of these political parties that benefit thorough this corruption will seize to exist and be liquidated in the first 12 months but I urge you to put every measure in place to ensure we get value for money.

 

 

Let’s pay R1 for an item that cost R1 and then there will be nobody out there that will be able to make money and bring the blood of the poorest of the poor in the country which is in exactly what is happening.

 

 

Let’s look at the issue of localisation, the high manufacturing cost a stringent labour conditions, the cheap that is coming in even the labour businesses in South Africa using cheap imported labour. But we have a minimum wage which is not compliance. I am calling on your department together with the SA Revenue Service, Sars, to work with local government authority, all the municipalities to ensure every business that got a licence is registered and tax compliance and labour compliance in South Africa. If you can do that you will be able to collect a lot more revenue. I see the Deputy Speaker is looking at me that my time is up. The NFP support the Appropriation Bill tabled here. Thank you, Deputy Speaker.

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, hon Shaik. I appreciate your appreciation.

 

 

Mr A N SARUPEN: Deputy Speaker, I am missing the ANC Chief Whip today. She always gives me a good back up before I start speaking and he hope she as well in a virtual. platform.

 

 

Let me start by saying to the hon Bafana’s Minister that when he speaks about her repetitive formula that it says presumable the DA is a Zambian enterprises and so it comes into this the diagnosis is been given over and over again but nobody is listening on the cried governing party.

 

 

So, how have been our sufficient repetition it sinks in so that people really understand what the problem is and that is a root cause to all of us and one of those recourses is for example, Cadre deployment. And yes we repeated over and over again that it is one of the causes of the problem in this country, the root causes.

 

 

But if you are going to speak about formula like approaches let’s think to be the ANC in this House and previously in the Gauteng Legislature and before that the Ekurhuleni now the 10 years I figured out there is a repetitive formula to ANC

 

 

speeches and is actually five steps. So, listening to today’s ANC speeches they come out of this: Step one, providing history lesson so the ANC can speak about promising better yesterday because they cannot promise the better tomorrow.

Step two, find a scapegoat and blame that scapegoat for every problem the ANC has failed to resolve. Step three, laments the current situation because of the scapegoat. Step four of course claim great success in spite of this lamentable situation, and in step six, the last step after step five, the very last step addresses a substantive problem whether a simple popular solution they don’t address the core problem.

That is a formula for every single ANC speech they refer if they are running out of time they get to step five presumable Luthuli House is something in their speeches 20 minutes before they deliver it.

 

 

I simple heckled by the hon Minister that perfectly fine by me carrying on ... [Interjections.] ... Let me get understand of the more substantive points here. Hon Hill-Lewis has spoken about some of the cut even the ANC is on populist commitments like free church education, a cutting for R4,9 billion from Higher Education National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS, and tertiary education infrastructure.

 

 

Once the ANC is discovering that they are running out of other people’s money, the state doesn’t have its own money it gets money from tax payers citizens, all people, everyone who pays that, every person who buys a text book for their children who want to get a better life every single South African has a tax payer. Our commitment to cast containment in this Bill ... [Interjections.] ... Carry on heckling I enjoy it. It just makes me speaks how is the shock in my argument carry on.

 

 

So, there were no plans for cost containment in real terms. Madam Speaker, you want commitment was containing the public sector Wage Bill and that’s no under threat. No ratings agency believes that this targets on cost containment is going to be met comes after that.

 

 

There is other populist commitments like land reforms, land restitution cost R1 billion cuts. In social development there is R6,6 billion cuts. If anyone thinks e-tolls are coming to an end well they are cutting R3,3 billion from the SA National Roads Agency, Sanral. They are cutting 15% for infrastructure repairs and maintenance at a time when all these are collapsing. Where are those money going?

 

 

Eskom has cut load shedding for the next couples of hours so that we can pass this Bill so that they can get a R1 billion a week. Let’s me repeat that was the first finance commission that said Eskom is joining the state of R1 billion a week. We are the only country in the world that make people pay twice for electricity through the taxes and then food. So, I can give you lots of example but this budget fails to create jobs, does not cut waste and does not attach conditions of bailout and so we will not support it. Thank you.

 

 

Mr Z MLENZANA: Hon Deputy Speaker, how I wish that the party of the hon Wessels and his forefathers had spoken in the manner in which he was speaking today when they were living in luxury founded by the sweat, blood and deaths of our own people. We will always remember the youth of 1976 and the generation of young lions. [Interjections.]

 

 

I was listening to some of the speakers before me and I really want to agree with whoever coined the saying that empty vessels make the most noise, and they are doing so now. [Interjections.]

 

 

Mr B A RADEBE: Hon Deputy Speaker, on a point of order ...

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Yes, hon member.

 

 

Mr B A RADEBE: The other side is drowning out the speaker. I think it is unparliamentary. They can heckle but they cannot drown out the speaker.

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon members, do lower your voices. You are screaming above what is acceptable. [Interjections.] Hon members ... Uh-uh! Kahleni. [Stop it.] What’s wrong with you guys? Could you just lower your voices? Go ahead, hon Mlenzana.

 

 

Mr Z MLENZANA: It seems some hon members live in a parallel universe where the successes of the ANC government are consciously ignored. Fortunately, the recent by-elections have proved that the overwhelming majority of South African citizens are not suffering from the same jaundiced view.

 

 

Let me remind this House and the people watching this debate at home that contrary to the narrative of the troika of the EFF, the DA and the FF Plus in particular, the ANC has delivered, and that despite the fiscal pressure on government, the current allocation from the budget will deliver tangible outcomes for the economy of our people.

 

 

When we consider the Department of Social Development, for instance, it has been allocated a budget of just over  R205 billion for the 2021-22 financial year. Ninety-five

percent of this amount – listen – goes towards the monthly payment of 18 million social grants to beneficiaries. The SA Social Security Agency, Sassa, the major entity in the department, will receive R7,4 billion to improve the grant application and payment system, implement a digital transformation programme, do business process re-engineering and have antifraud strategies.

 

 

The R16,9 billion allocated to the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development will, amongst other things, address the challenges constraining the growth and development of commercial and emerging farmers in the country through the agriculture and agro-processing master plan. This will entail massive training of farmers and growth in the agricultural sector in an inclusive manner.

 

 

I appeal to the EFF leaders to watch this development. They will see more successful black women and young farmers emerging than you have ever dreamt about in your imaginary revolution. [Interjections.]

 

 

The ANC has always embraced a patriotic opposition approach in order to build our common future as South Africans. For instance, the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure hon De Lille, the leader of the GOOD party, chairs the Infrastructure Investment Committee, consisting of members from the public and private sectors. This committee oversees the Infrastructure Fund to which government has committed  R100 billion over a 10-year period and has also secured private sector investment.

 

 

The projects that the committee has already approved include student housing infrastructure amounting to R3,4 billion;

R20 billion to SA Connect to roll out broadband infrastructure; and R1,5 billion for a one-stop border post in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho, Eswatini and Botswana.

 

 

Discussions with critical stakeholders are under way to reposition Denel. We are going to reposition Denel to financial stability ... [Interjections.] ... so that it can deliver to its customers who have placed R11-billion worth of orders.

 

 

While there is still a long way to go – listen to this. [Interjections.] We know there is still a long way to go with

 

 

Eskom, but you must applaud Eskom for saving R13,5 billion, achieved through its cost-cutting measures and a R3 billion reduction in its debt in the current financial year. [Interjections.] Whoever doesn’t see the fruits of the socioeconomic renewal projects of the ANC-led government by Cyril Ramaphosa is blind. [Interjections.]

 

 

The Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation has registered a number of unqualified audits. [Interjections.] Its entity charged with financing and implementing bulk raw water infrastructure projects in the Trans-Caledon Tunnel, which has also received an unqualified audit opinion, has amassed – listen – R68 billion pipeline of water resource projects that will deliver water to South Africans before the end of the decade.

 

 

The bulk of the R57,3 billion allocated to the Department of Transport this year will be spent on the maintenance and operations of our rail infrastructure. This is critical, hon Deputy Speaker, particularly for workers and students who need rail transport to lower their travelling costs. The department has appointed permanent chief executive officers to deal with the Road Accident Fund.

 

 

Lastly, before I step away, I said before that we should be humbled by the manner in which South Africans still put trust in the Ramaphosa-led ANC government. I said, when I started, that if you looked at the performance that South Africans have shown in these by-elections, they told us that the ANC is still on track. I was appealing to all of you as South Africans to look at what is going to happen come 27 October when South Africans are going to actually, once more, tell South Africa that the ANC is ...

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, hon member.

 

 

Mr Z MLENZANA: The ANC supports the Bill. Thanks, hon Speaker. [Time expired.]

 

 

APPROPRIATIONN BILL

 

 

(First Reading Debate)

 

 

The MINISTER OF FINANCE: Deputy Speaker, Cassius then says to Brutus and I quote:

 

 

The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings.

 

 

The stars are aligning very well for us. The fault therefore is not in them but is in those who refuse to see the alignment of the stars. How are the starts aligning? The budget that we have presented which shows that the starts are aligning, is R2,02 trillion. By any stretch of imagination that is a huge amount of money.

 

 

If the EFF thinks that that R2,02 trillion represents austerity, I get worried about where you learned about economics. The stars are not aligned for you. You are clearly what Cassius was referring to. That whilst the stars are aligned you remained underlings, that you are.

 

 

From R2,02 trillion as the stars align, 1,2 trillion is for social services. Anybody whose teacher said this is austerity, need to go back to high school to understand the definition of the word “austerity” as compares to when the stars are aligning. The fault, dear EFF, is not in the stars, is in you that are underlings.

 

 

The breakdown in the budget shows that R207 billion, is allocated to economic development. If this is austerity, then there something wrong with the teachers who taught you. The amount of R208,6 billion is allocated to peace and security,

 

 

the fault therefore cannot be in the stars, R58,4 billion is allocated to general public services, this does not represent austerity, R12 billion is allocated to the contingency reserve in the event there are unforeseen, unexpected and unavoidable expenditure.

 

 

The fault might be in you, not in the stars because your own understanding about what the role of the contingency reserve is. I have sufficient time in Magoebaskloof to give a lesson on that.

 

 

This budget has allocated R402 billion in learning and culture investing into the future of our children and our country.

R448 billion to health, if this is austerity, there is something wrong with your understanding of austerity. In fact, if you want to understand austerity, spend a bit of time studying what happened in Greece recently. That is austerity, where you are unable to pay even the basic pensions of people. Where you cannot invest in any infrastructure programme, that is austerity. Look at Argentina and you learn what it means to have a sovereign debt crisis, resulting in austerity! A budget of R2,02 trillion cannot in anyway be referred to as austerity.

 

 

Given that we don’t have enough time before we experience difficulties with power, let me indicate once again why I say that the stars have aligned in our favour. As the President indicated yesterday, the green shoots are beginning to show and we hope that they will persist.

 

 

When you design a budget you are confronted with a few things. Firstly, you are confronted with so many demands, who you have to prioritise according to your policy position. Secondly, what is it that you seek to do as a governing party. Thirdly, what tax resources are you able to mobilise. Fourthly, are you able to tab the domestic and international markets in order to plug the gap between revenue and expenditure? And you have to bear in mind that every rand that you borrow in the market attracts interests. That interest goes into the debt servicing cost, which are the cost for the future generation. That is how you design a budget.

 

 

You can’t have everything you want at the same time. Even when you are the EFF, dreaming of all kinds of things in the world, you can’t achieve that! you know from your own party – the expenditure which you want to incur for your own party programme has to be in line with the amounts that you can

 

 

mobilise. Deputy Speaker, Cassius then says to Brutus and I quote:

 

 

The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings.

 

 

Debate concluded.

 

 

Question put: That the Bill be read a first time.

 

 

Division demanded.

 

 

The House divided.

 

 

A quorum being present in terms of Rule 98(1), voting commenced.

 

 

AYES – 216: (ANC – 204; IFP – 8; Good – 1; NFP - 2; Al Jama-ah

 

- 1).

 

 

NOES – 118: (DA - 75; EFF - 29; FF Plus - 10; ACDP – 4).

 

 

Question agreed to.

 

 

Bill accordingly read a first time.

 

 

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon members, at exactly 13:45 you will be back in the House. Those of you who are on the virtual platform, please do not log off. Stay connected there and grab a small thing to hold your breath for long enough to be able to continue the brief session that will follow. We would really appreciate it if you do that. Lunch time is 30 minutes only, so it is 13:45, yes. Thank you.

 

 

BUSINESS SUSPENDED AT 13:17.

 

 

BUSINESS RESUMED AT 13:52

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G BOROTO): Hon members, we will now resume with consideration of votes and schedule to Appropriation Bill.

 

 

Firstly, let me thank all the parties for advising the staff on which votes they will make declarations, on which they will record their objections and on which they intend dividing.

This information will greatly assist the process today.

 

 

I will put each vote and ask for declaration of vote as they have indicated. Members who are in the chamber may make declaration of vote from the floor microphones or the podium, and those on virtual platform will be recognised based on the list submitted by parties. After this, I will put the vote for decision, if asked.

 

 

Hon members are reminded in terms of Rule 108(5), a global time for declaration of vote has been agreed upon and parties will be allowed to make declaration as per the agreed time allocation. Once a party has exhausted its allocation time it will no longer be recognised to make further declarations.

 

 

For divisions, bells will be rung; for further divisions also, by the minutes determined by the Chair. For the first division after the break the bells will be rung for 10 minutes, that’s where we come from, and then we proceed.

 

 

Hon members, having said that I now put Vote No 1 – The Presidency.

 

 

APPROPRIATION BILL

 

 

(Consideration of Votes and Schedule)

 

 

Vote No 1 – The Presidency – put.

 

 

Vote No 1 – The Presidency – agreed to (Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, African Christian Democratic Party and Freedom Front Plus dissenting).

 

 

Vote No 2 – Parliament – put.

 

 

Vote No 2 – Parliament – agreed to (Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, African Christian Democratic Party and Freedom Front Plus dissenting)

 

 

Vote No 3 - Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs –

 

put.

 

 

Declarations of vote:

 

Mr W W WESSELS: Hon Chairperson, there is no doubt that the Department of Co-operative Governance has failed its mandate to do oversight over municipalities and to see it to that there are programmes that are sustainable and to make municipalities work.

 

 

We have the single biggest failure in South Africa and that is local government. People are suffering because of their failure and the lack of basic service delivery.

 

 

The problem is that municipalities around the country are on the same trajectory, as always, just increasing taxes and tariffs without delivering services. People are not going to be able to pay under this dire economic circumstances. We need innovation and that is not just increasing annually and creating a situation where it’s unaffordable and then there’s lack of service delivery. We need innovation in this dire economic circumstances, rather a decrease in those tariffs and taxes so that the economy can grow.

 

 

But the ANC and other municipal governments are stuck in the same method of just increasing and that is unacceptable. Thank you, hon Chairperson.

 

 

Mr B M HADEBE: Hon Chairperson, the ANC supports Budget Vote 3 of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, CoGTA. This budget seeks to address the contradictions of poverty, unemployment and inequalities, which originate from the sins of colonial dispossession and apartheid spatial development.

 

 

The budget will improve co-operation among the three spheres of government and encourage stronger relations with other social partners such as traditional leaders, civil society and communities. This is critical for our collective response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

 

It further deepens the implementation of District Development Model, DDM, that is already being piloted in Waterberg, OR Tambo District and eThekwini Metro.

 

 

This will speed up service delivery, ensure that municipalities are adequately supported and properly resourced. It will also ensure the implementation of community works programme.

 

 

The ANC will ensure the objectives as stated in the budget are pursued.

 

 

The ANC, therefore, supports Budget Vote 3 of CoGTA.

 

 

Spanish:

 

Adios amigos. Hasta la vista [Goodbye friends. See you later.]

 

...

 

 

English:

 

... Chair, thank you.

 

 

Division Called

 

 

BELLS RUNG FOR 5 MINUTES

 

 

THE HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G BOROTO):

 

 

VOTING

 

 

Question agreed to.

 

 

Vote accordingly agreed to.

 

 

Vote No 4 – Government Communications and Information System –

 

put

 

 

Vote No 4 – Government Communications and Information System – agreed to (Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, African Christian Democratic Party, United Democratic Movement and Freedom Front Plus dissenting).

 

 

Vote No 5 – Home Affairs – put.

 

 

Declarations of Vote:

 

Ms L L VAN DER MERWE: House Chairperson, this decreased budget will not allocate the additional funds needed to breathe life into a non-existent home affairs emigration inspectorate. This budget will not give us the answers as to how the Bushiris escaped and made a mockery of our entire emigration system.

This budget will not allocate the billions needed to successfully rollout the border management authority. This budget will not shed light on why our government decided to employ Cuban engineers while our own engineers sit at home. This budget has no plans to address the Department of Home Affairs’ failures to implement its own emigration laws which see South Africa possibly being home to 15 million undocumented and or illegal migrants. This budget will not alleviate the long queues at home affairs offices not will it keep their IT systems online. This budget will not eliminate the corrupt syndicates that operate with impunity within home affairs and our borders. Unless this department is allocated more money or it is able to effectively execute its mandate with the money allocated to them, we cannot support this Budget Vote. I thank you.

 

 

Mr F J MULDER: Madam House Chair, the COVID-19 pandemic and provisions of Disaster Management Act have reduced the already

 

 

slow Department of Home Affairs processes to a crawl. The department has since been slow and inconsistent in resuming services. The FF Plus will therefore not support this Budget Vote. Thank you, House Chair.

 

 

Ms T I LEGWASE: House Chairperson, all South Africans are dependent on the Department of Home Affairs because of its sole mandate to secure and manage official identity and status. The department’s services are divided into two broad categories: Civic and emigration services. The department’s mandate is to manage citizenship civic status, international migration, refugee protection and population register. The Border Management Authority Act was asserted into law and the department has an annual target for the 2021-22 financial year to incrementally rollout BMA on the 11 port of entries.

Department aims to gazette the One-Stop Border Post Policy for public comment and finalise contractual agreement with the contracted bidders to develop the six priority borders where the One-Stop Border Post will commence. The Electoral Commission of South Africa, IEC, receives budget allocation from this Budget Vote and must manage elections to ensure that elections are free and fair. The issue of online system and queues has been raised as an area of serious concern. We will

 

 

continue monitoring it. As the ANC we support this Budget Vote. Thank you, Chair.

 

 

Division demanded.

 

 

The House divided.

 

 

[TAKE IN FROM MINUTES]

 

 

Question agreed to.

 

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: House Chairperson, I am so sorry to interrupt and please forgive my ignorance. Can I just confirm with you, with voting schedules, because we are voting on an issue, do we not need the 201 votes? Or is just the majority of votes present? I just need confirmation please.

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): The quorum is 201 that is what we are looking at, but it is just a simple majority.

 

 

Vote No 6 – International Relations and Co-operation – put.

 

 

Declarations of Vote:

 

Mr M HLENGWA: Hon House Chairperson ...

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon Hlengwa!

 

 

Mr M HLENGWA: South Africa's foreign policy is fatally flawed and riddled with contradictions and inconsistencies which if unresolved will serve to make us a laughing stock on the world stage. [Interjections.] Yes, Ma’am? Yes, Ma’am? Yes, Ma’am?

 

 

IsiZulu:

 

USIHLALO WENDLU (Nk M G Boroto): Hhayi, kuyala. Kuyala.

 

 

English:

 

Mr M HLENGWA: Yes, Ma’am, can you hear me?

 

 

IsiZulu:

 

USIHLALO WENDLU (Nk M G Boroto): Awunyakaze kancane ngoba lapho ohleli khona asikuzwa.

 

 

Mnu M HLENGWA: Sengiyezwakala manje?

 

 

USIHLALO WENDLU (Nk M G Boroto): Uyabona manje usukahle kakhulu, qhubeka baba.

 

 

Mnu M HLENGWA: Ngiyathokoza, ngiyabonga, Sihlalo.

 

 

English:

 

 ... with the way this department operates. The mainstay of our greatest aspirations for a just, prosperous and peaceful world is our unwavering commitment to human rights. But this commitment cannot be subjectively applied. It must be fairly applied. We cannot speak from both sides of our mouths. For example, how do we reconcile our government’s silence on China’s human rights violations against Taiwan and Hong Kong

... [Interjections.]

 

 

IsiZulu:

 

USIHLALO WENDLU (Nk M G Boroto): Hhayi, sekuyaqala futhi.

 

 

English:

 

Mr M HLENGWA: ... with our government’s verbosity in condemning America regarding the Cuban blockade. The same outrage we see regarding the Saharawi and Morocco conflict must be applied in the Russian and Ukraine conflict and the escalation of tensions and violence in the Middle East must be resolved through negotiations towards the attainment of a two- state solution. And, therefore, regressive policies such as the downgrading of the South African embassy in Israel only adds to flare up an already volatile situation and positions South Africa as an untrusted partner in the peace process.

 

 

When we condemn the violence we must condemn it on both sides. The IFP condemns all violence regardless of who perpetuates it. The scenes of the past week in the Pan-African Parliament

... [Inaudible.] ... We cannot call for good governance and transparency in the multiple, regional, continental and international fora that we participate in when our house is not in order ... our department is settled with. It is an international ... [Inaudible.] ... if we are to gain global trust and credibility. The IFP calls for consistency and in its absence, the IFP does not support this Budget Vote. I thank you.

 

 

IsiZulu:

 

USIHLALO WENDLU (Nk M G Boroto): Engathi ungayofuna indawo umangabe uzobuya ngoba ...

 

 

Mnu M HLENGWA: Hhayi! Ngeke ngisabuya.

 

 

USIHLALO WENDLU (Nk M G Boroto): Noma kunjalo, ikwenzela phansi i-network baba.

 

 

Rev K R J MESHOE: Chairperson, it is shameful to see the hypocrisy, inconsistency and double standards practised by some in this country. Yesterday when members spoke in support

 

 

of amendment Bills dealing with gender-based violence which the ACDP, said people should spread love and not hatred but when it comes to the Israel-Palestine conflict they spread hatred and anti-Semitic venom rather than spreading love and dialogue.

 

 

The ACDP calls on the Minister and the Department of International Relations and Co-operation to set a good example for South Africans and lead the government in the unbiased mediation efforts that will produce lasting peace and good neighbourliness. The South African government must stop their support for the haters of the Jews who are dreaming about the removal of the Jews from the face of the earth which will never happen. The Department of International Relations and

Co-operation must first get its house in order and deal with its wasteful expenditure amounting to billions of rand before trying to be champions of condemners of Israel. They must tell us what happened to the R118 million that was paid to purchase a non-existent piece of land in New York. They must tell us what the director-general, Kgabo Mahoai, was suspended for when he was not yet a director-general and therefore not directly involved in the New York Pilot Project saga. The ACDP demands transparency and accountability from the department

 

 

and the Minister without which the ACDP will not support this Budget Vote nor subsequent budget. Thank you.

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): The party registered is the ANC.

 

 

Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Chairperson, the NFP had also registered.

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon members, it is not here but I will allow you.

 

 

Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Thank you very much. The NFP will support the Budget Vote but let me say to this House, Chairperson, I see a very high level of hypocrisy on some members who talk about human rights, protecting human rights and yet they are supporting the human rights violations of the Palestinian people. And yet they know very well that where ever the Jews have gone they have been expelled from many countries all over the world they created ... [Inaudible.] ...there because they were not wanted anywhere in the world. [Inaudible.] ... for a fact ... [Inaudible.] ... does not comply with it

...[Inaudible.]. They know for a fact that the Jews, Muslims and Christians have been living side-by-side in peace and

 

 

tranquillity until the state of Israel was created on Palestinian land.

 

 

They know that as well but they ignore all these things and let me tell why they are ignoring it, Chairperson, ... [Interjections.] they are ignoring it, Chairperson, because these are the very same people who will sell their principles and values because they are being funded by Israel. And that is why they will do that. The NFP will support this report on International Relations tabled here today.

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Thank you. Hon members on the virtual platform, I think you can see my face there and when I speak even if you can’t hear me you are able to see me. When I call for your name it means I want you to stop. There was a point of order in the House and I wanted to allow hon Swart before you could conclude. Even if you have done so I will allow hon Swart because you didn’t hear me.

 

 

Mr S N SWART: House Chairperson, on a point of order: Chairperson, it was difficult to hear but if I heard the hon member he made some extremely anti-Semitic comments about the Jewish people and I would ask you to study the record and rule on that because I would submit, it is highly unparliamentary

 

 

and we are seeing increased anti-Semitism across the world and in South Africa and I will urge all ... [Interjections.]

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Thank you. No! Don’t

 

debate.

 

 

Mr S N SWART: But, will you look at that?

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): You told me that we must look into it and we will do that.

 

 

Mr S N SWART: Thank you.

 

 

IsiZulu:

 

Mnu D L MOELA: Siyabonga kuwe osesihlalweni, mhlonishwa Sihlalo, ngokusipha leli thuba ...

 

 

English:

 

 ... the ANC supports Budget Vote 6 of the Department of International Relations and Co-operation advancing the objective of building a better Africa and a better world in this COVID-19 pandemic and this low global economic growth era requires innovative and smart ways of doing things, that is what we are doing as a country.

 

 

Through this Budget Vote, the Department of International Relations and Co-operation will address the inadequacies in the department including the improvement of the audit outcomes; to look at better ways of structuring our embassies and the use of technology. Also, hon House Chair, to advance the economic diplomacy for economic growth. The Department of International Relations and Co-operation must, therefore, also address the concerns we’ve made in our previous discussions with them regarding proper asset management and maintenance, they need to improve on that. With that view, the ANC, therefore, supports Budget Vote 6 of the Department of International Relations and Co-operation.

 

 

IsiZulu:

 

Siyabonga kulo osesihlalweni. Umuhle kakhulu ...

 

 

English:

 

... and goodnight.

 

 

Question agreed to (Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, Freedom Front Plus, African Christian Democratic Party, United Democratic Movement and Inkatha Freedom Party dissenting).

 

 

Vote No 7 – National School of Government put and agreed to.

 

 

(Economic Freedom Fighters, Democratic Alliance, Freedom Front Plus and African Christian Democratic Party dissenting).

 

 

Vote No 8 - National Treasury – put.

 

 

Declaration(s) of Vote:

 

Mr N SINGH: Hon House Chairperson, state security remains a law unto itself. With little to no oversight hiding behind the veil of national security. This demands a high-level calibre of management, one that is mandate-focused and utterly apolitical.

 

 

Unfortunately, state security it seems, is not focused on defending the people of South Africa from enemies both foreign and domestic as well as both potential threats and international stability and the constitutional order, thereby ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our people.

 

 

State security has instead allegedly become weaponised politically whether it is resources being deployed for both inter and intra political party politics. There is no accountability for resource deployment either human or budget

 

 

related. It is a pit into which money is continuously thrown with little or no consequence.

 

 

The IFP calls for strict oversight measures to be immediately implemented as the very agency mandated with protecting our constitutional and democratic order could be proactively engaged in its demise, via covet agenda political promotion. The IFP will object to this particular Vote. I thank you, Chairperson.

 

 

The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Hon Chairperson,

 

the ANC support Budget Vote No 7 - National Treasury and state security. We need this department to secure the borders of our country to make sure that the South African citizens are safe.

 

 

We welcome the turnaround strategy that the acting director- general, DG, and the Minister has come up with. So, in that regard we are sure and we look forward to a state security that will be working well for a better South Africa and a better world. Thank you.

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon members, just a correction, it is Vote No 8 and not No 7.

 

 

Division demanded.

 

 

The House divided.

 

 

AYES – 199: (ANC – 195; Good – 1; NFP – 2; Al Jama-ah - 1)

 

 

NOES – 129: (DA – 78; EFF – 28; IFP – 8; FF Plus – 10; ACDP –

 

4; UDM – 1).

 

 

Question agreed to.

 

 

Vote accordingly agreed to.

 

 

Vote No 10 – Public Enterprises – put.

 

 

Declarations of vote:

 

Mr G K Y CACHALIA: House Chairperson, to say our state-owned enterprises are in a state of shambles is being unduly kind. While government has bailed out state-owned enterprises, SOEs to the tune of R187 billion with Eskom accounting for more than 80%, the Department of Enterprises has year in year out tinkered on the edges with a substandard toolbox that effectively encourages corruption because of the political connections and potential wealth linked to managing SOE.

 

 

While we prepare for some form of muted recovery, SOEs are set to continue to fuel an unsustainable expansion in government borrowings and a widening fiscal deficit – evinced by the dollops dished out to flights of fancy like the new SA Airways, SAA, and continued bailouts of other SOEs – that the death of Denel, the attenuation of Alexkor and the entropy of Eskom bears sad witness to. Transnet is no exception with a 34,9% decrease in net profit.

 

 

It’s road to rail strategy is in tatters and the current World Bank report places the Port of Cape Town at the bottom of a global list – 347 out of 351 in global container port performance. It ranks lower than all other ports in Africa which means our port is less efficient than Djibouti, Abidjan, Beira, Maputo, Walvis Bay, Dar es Salam and Mombasa. What is needed is decisive action which recognises that the dead hand of the state has failed and not this tinkering on the edges.

 

 

You will note that the only reason why the lights are on now is because Eskom is burning diesel so Parliament can sit today, otherwise, Mr Minister, we’d be under the stars underlings craving light.

 

 

What is needed is the implementation of the DA’s policies

 

that, gets things done time for change. I have at times have

 

26 little pigs on it I have them in this honour of members of this House. They know who they are. They are [Inaudible.] [Laughter.]

 

 

Ms O M C MAOTWE: House Chair, I would have poised a question but I realised that the Prime Minister is not here. So, I am going to do the declaration. The shenanigans of Eskom must not come as a surprise to any of us. The racism, corruption and capture by the winning faction of the ruling party is the reason we are subjected to loadshedding with impunity.

 

 

People are so confidence that there are racism and corruption that they investigate themselves, choose their investigators and give them predetermined outcomes. It is shocking that those who are doing these, like those before them, think they are invisible, powerful and untouchable.

 

 

When there are allegations of corruptions and misconduct against black executives we are quick to suspend them and investigations are conducted at the same time they sit at home to make sure that there is no interference. Why was Jan Oberholzer, the chief operating officer, COO, of Eskom not

 

 

suspended when he was investigated? Why was André de Ruyter not suspended while he was investigated? It is because they are whites. It is Mr Jamnadas even surprised about the outcomes of the investigations when De Ruyter was the one who paid for the investigators gave them documents and supervised their movements around Eskom. Also, why have you normalised loadshedding and no one is being held accountable? Thank you, Chair.

 

 

Mr N SINGH: House Chair, the IFP is deeply concerned with the slow and indecisive manner that the current administration is dealing with SEOEs. We know that these entities are meant to be beneficial to the growth of the state in terms of the economy and job creation. Unfortunately, the opposite is taking place for this government. Our SOEs such as SAA, Denel Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, Prasa, etc, require bailouts to the tune of billions of rands. Our people are suffering as a results. In some cases, this is caused by these SOEs. Eskom’s decade of continuous loadshedding has had harsh socioeconomic impacts on our communities. And today we have a reprieve because of Parliament, but I don’t think people out there will be happy that because it is Parliament then there is no loadshedding. As soon as Parliament finishes, then we are exposed to loadshedding. Also, there is water shortages

 

 

because electricity pumps water. In my community we now don’t have water because the reservoirs have run dry because of loadshedding.

 

 

The Minister needs to be held to account and to make a decision on Cabinet’s approach on the future of all SOEs. Government’s policy incredibly negar on whether it intends to explore public-private partnerships or completely privatise SOEs. Some SOEs are in such a terrible state that they need to be sold. The IFP believes that private ownership of these entities will actually be better for the working class. This is because privately owned business will ensure that they succeeded in becoming profitable and offer incentives for employees to reach target for development. In the current state of SOEs the management takes the majority of the money leaving the working class people who actually run the daily operations with huge [Inaudible.] The IFP objects to this Vote.

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

Mnu N L S KWANKWA: Siyabulela mama. Okokuqala, into ebangela ukuba singayixhasi le Voti yoHlahlo lwabiwo-mali yile: Kuwo onke la maqumrhu karhulumente, kutyiwe imali yaqongqothwa ngamaqabane enu. Emva koko uzakufumanisa ukuba la maqabane

 

 

abonisa ngemali anayo kula makhasi onxibelelwano, bengaphenduliswa kwaye bengabanjwanga.

 

 

Ukuba uya kwiinkampami ezifana noDenel, SA Express, noSA Airways lo uvuselelwayo, abantu bakhala ezimantshiyane kuba abazange babhatalwe, nangoku ababhatalwa. Abanye kwabo baphumela ngaphandle emisebenzini, abayazi nokuyazi ukuba iimali zabo zomhlala-phantsi zizakubhataleka kusini na. Abantu abatya imali kula maqumrhu karhulumente bahleli, bathe gcobho kumnandi kubo, batya imali.

 

 

Okwesibini, urhulumente lo sinengxaki naye kuba utshilo wathi, nesi sibonelelo sama-R350 sizakupheliswa. Xa kusithiwa kubhatalwa la maqumrhu karhulumente, okanye kuncedwa wona, uvuka kusasa imali ikhona. Imali yokulwa intlupheko nokuqinisekisa ukuba abantu bethu bayaphangela ayikho. Imali ekhoyo yile yokuba kuqhutywe ngokufaka imali kula maqumrhu karhulumente, ukuze baqhubeke ngokutya imali naba bangekayityi. Xa begqibile ukuyitya le mali kwaye bewabulele la maqumrhu karhulumente, uzakufumanisa ukuba akukho mntu ubanjwayo.

 

 

Ngeso sizathu nangokubona ukuba urhulumente akakwazi ukuzisebenzisa la maqumrhu karhulumente, ukuphucula imeko

 

 

yezoqoqosho eMzantsi Afrika, asiyixhasi mama le Voti yoHlahlo lwabiwo-mali. Enkosi.

 

 

Mr S N GUMEDE: House Chair, the ANC supports the Approbation Bill Vote for the Public Enterprises. The Department of Public Enterprises has made an important [Inaudible.] in ensuring the renewal of SOEs in the context of the economic reconstruction and recovery. State-owned enterprises operate in the strategic sectors of economy and play an important part in economic and development role. The failure of the opposition to support any constructive proposal places them on a sideline of any issue of substance.

 

 

In terms of the SOEs the oppositions view the entities purely from the perspective of state capture and corruption, and not from their positive economic contribution. They miss the substance of matter, namely, the value ad to the economy, GFP and job creation. This is important for the economic of South Africa. Nothing wrong with the stars. Let sleeping doigs ly. Thank you, Madam Chair.

 

 

Mr B A RADEBE: Hon Mente has called another member of this House in first name terms and it is not ... [Interjections.]

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): No, no, no, take your seat. Thank you. The word I heard is that they are voting against Jamnadas who we don’t know.

 

 

Mr B A RADEBE: No, no, we know who ... the first name ... [Interjections.]

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): I am not going to allow this, and I am going to say something after this. Hon members, can we respectful to the member of this House. Can we be respectful, please. We are talking about a Minister and this is not the Vote a Minister, this is a Vote of the department. Please, let’s do that.

 

 

Mr G G HILL-LEWIS: On a point, Madam Chair, the hon member from the EFF referred to Mr Radebe as a boy which is a disgusting word in South Africa. I think that has a terrible connotation ... [Interjections.]

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Which member?

 

 

Mr G G HILL-LEWIS: Mr Paulsen!

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Mr Paulsen, please stand? Did you say that?

 

 

Mr M N PAULSEN: [Inaudible.]

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): No, no, answer me, and

 

don’t talk about him.

 

 

Ms H O MKHALIPHI: On a point of order, House Chair.

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): No, no, wait! Hon Paulsen, I am listening to wat you are saying to you. I said don’t talk to hon Hill-Lewis. I asked you a question and when you answer the question you are again flout the Rules of this House and you call Mr Hill-Lewis this boy. Please, withdraw! Please, withdraw.

 

 

Mr M N PAULSEN: [Inaudible]

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Thank you sit down and don’t repeat that. Please let’s be smooth, please.

 

 

Mr G G HILL-LEWIS: Madam Chair, I would just ask if you can hear from the recording because that is also what he said about Mr Radebe as well and it is disgusting.

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Did you say that to Mr Radebe too?

 

 

Ms H O MKHALIPHI: On a point of order, hon House Chair. This campaigning of hon Hill-Lewis to want to go to the ANC national executive committee, NEC, [Interjections.] He is taking it to an extreme now. [Interjections.]

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Please, take your seat. Take your seat. I am going to waste time here. We are running against loadshedding. Whether you interpret it your own way, we have been told. You can interpret it the way you want, there will be a loadshedding and we must do our work. Thank you very much.

 

 

Division demanded. The House divided.

 

 

AYES – 199: [TAKE IN FROM MINUTES]

 

 

NOES – 130: [TAKE IN FROM MINUTES

 

 

Question agreed to.

 

 

Vote accordingly agreed to.

 

 

Vote No 11 – Public Service and Administration – put.

 

 

Declarations of vote:

 

Dr L A SCHREIBER: Hon Chairperson, over the past few days, this House has seen first-hand how a President who believes his own myths can descend into outright delusion. As the President yesterday tried to sell the myth that our ports are efficient while they are actually ranked dead last in the world, it struck me that even though he is a master myth- maker, the President has had plenty of help on his descent into such surrealism.

 

 

Like every great myth, Ramaphoria needed an army of cultist enablers if it was going to successfully fool the people of South Africa. And there are few greater enablers in this government than Minister Senzo Mchunu. As a faithful acolyte of the myth-maker, he has played a pivotal role in constructing the myth that this government is interested in building a capable state while in reality they doubles down on cadre deployment.

 

 

Just yesterday in the NCOP, he even deliberately conflated elected political office-bearers with professional civil service appointments. But his efforts at deception cannot hide the truth that cadre deployment is the foundation of state capture, and the reason why this government never gets anything done.

 

 

If the Minister wasn’t so blinded by his own myths, he would see the Western Cape as an example of what is possible without cadre deployment, where the DA-run government appoints heads of department, HoDs, and other civil servants on the basis of merit. In contrast to the myth-makers, the DA-run governments are the only ones that actually get things done precisely because we practice professional appointments rather than cadre deployment.

 

 

Fortunately, the DA’s court case against the ANC cadre deployment will soon obliterate the myth that this government is interested in building a capable state. Get ready for the fall of the myth-makers. Thank you.

 

 

Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: House Chairperson, the NFP supports this Budget Vote today. However, we want to express our concerns on the challenges the public servant employees are facing as a

 

 

result of government not complying to the agreement that they have entered into, particularly the health care workers. I think the only right they need to do is to ensure that they get the necessary increase that was agreed to. Many of these people have lost their lives and others have been infected and they have suffered tremendously as a result of COVID-19. I think when we enter into an agreement we must do it. It is the right thing to do - to comply and keep the agreement. Saying that, the NFP supports the Budget Vote. Thank you.

 

 

Ms R M M LESOMA: Hon House Chair, the ANC rise in support of Budget Vote 11 for Public Service and Administration. The Public Service in South Africa is the primary sources of service delivery to South Africana. Ensuring a meritocratic, efficient and professional Public Service will improve capability and the quality of service delivery in the Public Service.

 

 

Corruption damages the credibility and integrity of the state however as government we are working on corruption. As late early as this week Wednesday, our portfolio committee was following up from September 2021, the committee agreed to invite the Special Investigative Unit, Hawks, National Prosecuting Authority, SA Revenue Service and the SA Police

 

 

Service to understand the reasons for cases that do not reach the courts including the military court.

 

 

A single Public Service administration that seeks to improve the manner in which the three spheres of government interact and to provide for the harmonisation systems conditions of service between the national and provincial spheres and the municipalities is in motion. We did receive a report on that. In that regard that is the reason and the fundamental reason why we support this Budget Vote.

 

 

Reviewing the current dispensation in the Public Service into a new one it will be, and is still be informed by the principles of fairness, equity, accountability and transparency which had to underline conditions we provide as government. Thank you very much, House Chair. The ANC moves in support of the Vote 11. I Thank You.

 

 

Division demanded.

 

 

The House divided.

 

 

AYES – 206: [take in from minutes]

 

 

NOES – 122: [take in from minutes]

 

 

Question agreed to.

 

 

Vote No 12 – Public Service Commission – put.

 

 

Division demanded.

 

 

The House divided.

 

 

[TAKE IN FROM MINUTES.]

 

 

Question agreed to.

 

 

Vote accordingly agreed to.

 

 

Vote No 13 – Public Works and Infrastructure – put.

 

 

Declarations of vote:

 

Ms S J GRAHAM: House Chairperson, we are being asked to approve a budget today in the amount of R8,3 billion. We don’t support this budget. When presenting this budget to us last week, Minister De Lille told us again about her plans – billions and billions of rand worth of plans. There is the

 

 

infrastructure investment plan; the National Infrastructure Plan 2045; the plan to reduce energy and water usage; the plan to release land for restitution, housing and socioeconomic development; the plan to move the Immovable Asset Register to another platform; the plan to monitor the procurement plan.

There are plans to introduce new legislation. Minister De Lille, as Dwight D Eisenhower said, good planning without good working is nothing. You’ve been planning for three years now. It is time to start working.

 

 

In the foreword of the annual financial statements for the 2019-20 financial year of the DA-run Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works, erstwhile Minister Madikizela stated that he had set four priorities at the start of his term in 2019. Each priority started with the word “working”; no mention of a plan anywhere, because we get things done.

Unsurprisingly, the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works has had eight successive teen audits, and in the 2019-20 financial year during COVID-19 spent 99,9% of its budget, because we get things done.

 

 

Minister De Lille, this budget needs to be more than just a plan. It’s time for the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to get things done. I thank you.

 

 

Mr W M THRING: House Chair, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has a budget of some R8,34 billion for the 2021-22 financial year. It is one of the key departments mandated to implement economic reforms to create sustainable jobs, whilst simultaneously overseeing the management of some R100 billion in the Infrastructure Fund by the Development Bank of Southern Africa. This is a huge ask.

 

 

The question has to be asked: Can this department deliver on its mandate? This department is responsible for managing all the assets of government, but, to date, does not have a complete immovable asset register. The digitisation of the asset register Archibus system should have taken 12 months. Six years later, what should have cost a few million, has now cost the taxpayer R42 million and another tender of

R37 million for the digitisation process was drafted just in January alone.

 

 

Additionally, we have the Beitbridge border fence fiasco where over R40 million was spent on a fence which is now full of holes and with kilometres of the fence missing. While the ACDP appreciates that an investigation by the Special Investigating Unit, SIU, has resulted in 14 officials being hauled before a disciplinary hearing, it is our view that some of them will

 

 

just become scapegoats while other senior officials remain protected.

 

 

It has been no different at our Kosi Bay border-bridge post oversight visit. Almost R50 million had been spent on a Jersey Barrier Wall of about 200 metres long along a 54-kilometre border with South Africa and Mozambique at the time of the inspection. This was done by the KwaZulu-Natal department of transport that has no mandate to build border fences or walls. Scarily, the project went ahead without a memorandum of understanding and without an environment impact assessment.

The ACDP was the only party to call for an external audit enquiry. The majority settled for an internal enquiry, and we are yet to see the results of this enquiry.

 

 

An additional task has been added to the department to oversee infrastructure development worth billions of rand. Can this department be trusted to deliver? I think not. The ACDP does not support this Budget Vote. I thank you.

 

 

Mr M G MAHLAULE: House Chair, the ANC supports the Appropriation Bill for the Budget Vote on Public Works and Infrastructure. Infrastructure development and job-creation are critical to the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan.

 

 

The programmes of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure have a central role to play in infrastructure development and job-creation through Infrastructure SA and the Expanded Public Works Programme. These programmes ... [Inaudible.] ... providing job opportunities to marginalised communities. The implementation of programmes is the key driver.

 

 

The opposition continues to be critical of such initiatives by the department, whilst the ANC forges ahead with the people’s needs. Job-creation is important to the people of the country and therefore supporting the budget of the department is actually supporting infrastructure development, skilling and job-creation. Thank you very much.

 

 

Question agreed to (Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, African Christian Democratic Party and Freedom Front Plus dissenting).

 

 

Vote accordingly agreed to.

 

 

Vote No 14- Statistics South Africa – put and agreed to.

 

 

Vote No 15 – Traditional Affairs - put and agreed to.

 

 

Vote No 16 - Basic Education – put:

 

 

Declarations of Vote:

 

Mr B B NODADA: Thank you House Chair, am I audible?

 

 

THE HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Yes, you are.

 

 

Mr B B NODADA: House Chairperson, the DA cannot support the budget that has cut R1,9 billion on infrastructure, yet there are hundreds of mud schools that have been removed from being prioritised, like E T Tabane in my constituency with dilapidated asbestos, Masinakane in Mpumalanga, that is a special needs school, that has now converted classrooms into hostels. We cannot support the budget that has cut

R122 million on getting rid of pit toilets while Grade R (Reception year) learners in Madikitsha Primary and over 2100 pit toilets in other schools had a risk of dying in pit a toilet.

 

 

We can’t support the budget that has cut R123 million on school nutrition, leaving many learners without a meal, like those that I saw at ...[Inaudible.] ... Segae School that now have not had a meal since February, yet cadres can be able to steal R431 million just on dip cleaning.

 

 

We cannot support the budget that has cut R93 million on developing a curriculum relevant for the job market, industry and entrepreneurship, only prioritising a handful of schools for robotics entrepreneurship and related skills.

 

 

Minister Motshekga has called these stories imfitshimfitshi, because she can’t see her beyond her ministerial mansion or maybe life a is bit different from where she comes from. As a DA we don’t just offer empty words, like many of you in government, we get things done, where we govern more children stay in schools, infrastructure is built and maintained, despite that budget cuts that you continue to give to the Western Cape. Quality of teaching is monitored through the school’s evaluation authority. More collaboration schools are built that are relevant for skills needed by the economy. A life is better where the DA governs ... [Interjection.]

 

 

Mr A H M PAPO: Point of order.

 

 

THE HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon member, please just

 

a bit. What’s the point of order?

 

 

Mr A H M PAPO: The member who is speaking just said the Minister is lying and that is not in line with parliamentary

... [Inaudible.]

 

 

THE HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Ok, hon NODADA did you say that? Did you say the Minister is lying?

 

 

Mr B B NODADA: I have never said that House Chair, you can go, check the Hansard.

 

 

THE HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Thank you very much, you may proceed, we will check the Hansard.

 

 

Sepedi:

 

Molato ga o bole.

 

 

THE HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Proceed Mr Nodada.

 

 

Mr B B NODADA: ... where the DA governs life is better, that’s why parent moved there for opportunity and ultimately take their children to school there. Because ultimately, the DA gets things done. Maybe it’s time you did the same for the sake of young people in our country that are confined to the

 

 

life time of poverty, because of your poor quality of education. I thank you.

 

 

Ms L L VAN DER MERWE: House Chairperson, on 28 May the Minister of Basic Education gazetted new directives for school stating that all primary school children, children with disabilities and teachers should return to daily school attendance in July. The IFP is well aware of the importance of normalising attendance for school children, so that we do not the interruptions we experienced last year, especially for the less advantage learners.

 

 

However, we remain concern that the full return to school for our children and educators are premature and raised the potential for super spreader interactions. This is specially the case in the light of the President’s announcement of a possible third wave of infections.

 

 

This is concerning because while we always have the relevant safety measures in place, this has not change the high infection rate amongst educators as well as learners at schools across our country.

 

 

The pre mature reopening of our schools could lead to a much more severe infection and death rates, which makes us worried, House Chair.

 

 

Lastly, House Chairperson, the IFP urges the government should act now, on its own 2018 resolution, to absorb all social workers that have been trained by the States, 5000 trained social workers are sitting at home. This department must reallocate funding towards programmes and actively controlled to reduction of bullying and the resulting after effects. And the employment of social workers to assist in this regard at schools.

 

 

Pit toilets, mud schools, the lack of funding meals and school transport are also critical areas of concern, that must be addressed without further delay. Thank you House Chairperson.

 

 

Ms N G ADOONS: Thank you very, House Chairperson, Ma Boroto. Hon Members, the ANC has placed education as an apex priority of government. This we do because we acknowledge that addressing the injustices of the past requires us to create an enabling environment for self-liberation of the people, through acquiring literacy and various knowledge.

 

 

This budget vote continues to support the departments programmes of providing sufficient quality infrastructure an education.

 

 

The coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated the importance of digital transformation, we thus welcome the rolling out of robotics and coding as part of preparing learners for the changing world. Since the democratic government, the doors of learning have been opened for all. Strengthening the education system and improving learning outcomes will have a positive spin-off in enabling economic transformation and growth.

 

 

The ANC supports Budget Vote 16 of Basic Education. I thank you, House Chairperson.

 

 

Question put.

 

 

Division demanded.

 

 

The House divided [Take in from minutes.]

 

 

Vote accordingly agreed to.

 

 

Vote No 17 - Higher Education and Training-put.

 

 

Declaration of Votes:

 

Mr S TAMBO: House Chair, the EFF rejects the proposed Higher Education and Training budget education as part of a determined agenda by this government to undermine development. Allow us to pass our condolences, firstly, to the family of Yonwabo Manyanya whose, lifeless body was found after she spent three days sleeping outside the eThekwini TVET College after being evicted from her residence. She was a victim of a National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS, that fails thousands every day and a policy of austerity that will continue taking lives in this country. It is a cruel irony that just a week before her death, this government resolved to cut over R900 million from the TVET Infrastructure Grant, further cementing the well-known fact that it is an education hating government determined to entrench the underdevelopment of black people.

 

 

Our thoughts are with Lukhanyo Matinise here has been sentenced to five years in prison for fighting for free education. Our rejection of this budget stems from the reality of young black people losing their lives only for this government to further collapse the higher education sector.

The decision to cut the baseline budget via education by

 

 

R24,8 billion is an affirmation of a regime that has an allergy to knowledge production.

 

 

It is a budget in which the allocation of the NSFAS has been cut by R6,8 billion and there has been a reduction to university subsidies by R5 billion. Instead of attempting to rationalise these palpably stupid decisions or his failure to do anything meaningful in this sector, the Minister continues to choose to make snide comments and shallow commentary in response to critique.

 

 

This further proves that the higher education sector is run by a glorified shop steward who cannot reason beyond elementary insults and sloganeering. These decisions to underfund higher education will have a significant impact on the intake of students at institutions particularly the poor who are being condemned to loitering the streets of this country. As the EFF, we refuse to be associated with mediocrity and hatred for education and, therefore, reject this budget. I thank you.

 

 

Mr W T LETSIE: House Chairperson, hon members, developing human capabilities is a key propeller of development and economic growth and skill revolution requires a capable post- schooling sector. The Higher Education Budget Vote responds to

 

 

the needs of expanding higher education and enabling the provision of quality higher education. The increase in financial aid support by the NSFAS has enabled access for the poor. Our sector education training authorities will be providing in the industry-based training and learnerships for students.

 

 

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme has been having an increase of students supported creating difficulties of efficiency of operations. As the portfolio committee, we have ensured the entity accounts and we support the new board in turning the NSFAS around. The triple challenges require a population that is trained with sector knowledge and contributes to the service and productive sectors. The ANC supports Budget Vote 17. Thank you.

 

 

Division demanded.

 

 

The House divided.

 

 

AYES – 203: (ANC – 191; IFP – 10; GOOD – 1; Al Jama-ah – 1).

 

 

NOES – 120: (DA - 76; EFF - 30; FF Plus - 10; ACDP – 3; UDM - 1).

 

 

Question agreed to.

 

 

Vote accordingly agreed to

 

 

Vote No 18 — Health — put.

 

 

Declarations of Vote:

 

Ms S GWARUBE: Chair, all that a country needs is a government that works for its people, a government that will ensure that public money is spent to deliver services, a government that will rise to the occasion in times of crisis and a government that will get things done.

 

 

One of the greatest injustices of our time is the fact that we have an albatross around our necks — the ANC government. It is stacked to the rafters with thieves, looters, cheats and people too selfish to spare a thought for those who elected them. During the world’s deadliest pandemic, South Africa’s government leaders decided it was their time to eat.

 

 

The Special Investigating Unit, SIU, has confirmed that over

 

14 billion is being investigated for COVID corruption and conceded that this is the worst wave of corruption the entity has ever had to deal with.

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

Ngabantu abanjani aba batya imali ebekelwe bucala ukuze ihoye abantu beli lizwe ngexesha lale ntsholongwane? Ziinkokeli ezinjani ezi ze-ANC ezithanda ukumisa ngamagorha namagorhakazi ooTambo, ooSisulu, ooJoseph abalwele inkululeko yoMzantsi Afrika, baphinde kwabona benze intlekisa ngemisebenzi yabo?

 

 

English:

 

How do you pay tribute to these very people and then turn around and do exactly to South Africans what the apartheid government did to them?

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

Yintoni umahluko phakathi kwe-ANC yanamhlanje nabo babecinizela eli lizwe?

 

 

English:

 

And so, 15 months after this pandemic reached our shores, we sit with the Minister who has grave allegations hanging over him. Allegations that he facilitated and awarded a contract worth hundreds of millions of rand to his friends for his personal benefit. We have a President so in denial about the state of his party and the government that he leads, he is as effective as a fly swatter in a nuclear war. We have ANC

 

 

Members of Parliament who are more concerned about towing the party line and retaining their seats than the people who sent them here.

 

 

We are truly not led. South Africa is truly on its own. Unless we vote the parasite that is the ANC out of government urgently, people will lose their lives senselessly and COVID-

19 will continue to ravage through a nation already on its knees.

 

 

Only the DA is able to get things done. Not just that, the right things at the right time, with the right people. We cannot support a budget that does not prioritise our people and the health care workers who stitched this health system together. To do so would be an insult to the sacrifices that millions have already made with their lives and livelihoods.

 

 

Dr S S THEMBEKWAYO: Chairperson, the EFF harshly condemns President Cyril Ramaphosa, Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize and the entire executive for preserving themselves and their reputations at the cost of our people, having access to knowledge.

 

 

People in South Africa are still under the deception that by next year February, 40 million people will be vaccinated, when the Minister of Finance has not made available adequate funds for that to be done. Under the leadership of Minister Zweli Mkhize, according to the Auditor-General’s report, personal protective equipment, PPE, contracts were awarded to businesses that did not have a history of providing PPE, at prices much higher than market-related rates and of substandard quality. In many health facilities, the very PPE are left to ruin in boxes because of infrastructural inadequacies.

 

 

According to the SIU, PPE corruption was so vicious that it is to date the biggest corruption scandal they have seen unfolding in this country. All this is happening with Minister Zweli Mkhize being at the forefront of this department. He claims to be in the know about everything, except the corruption.

 

 

This country doesn’t deserve a Minister that is ignorant, deft and complicit in the thuggery that sustains poverty and hopelessness. In the midst of a global pandemic with thousands of people dying, the third wave having reached us and once again ravaging lives, people losing jobs, and children being

 

 

left as orphans and losing access to quality education, the ANC government boldly decided to steal from the people, with no reservation and/or consequence.

 

 

As an urgent response to your failures, we unequivocally call on the Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize to step down. If you cannot appear before a Portfolio Committee on Health, if you no longer respond to questions from Members of Parliament, if you are part and parcel of corruption scandals, fail to deliver vaccines and mislead the country about it, and fail to reach the target that you set for yourself, save us from yourself ... [Inaudible.] ... leave office. And, because the Portfolio Committee on Health has been complicit ...

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon Thembekwayo, there is a point of order from the House. Just a moment. Yes, hon member?

 

 

Mr B A RADEBE: I’m rising on Rule 84 and 5. The member has just said the Minister of Health is part and parcel of the corruption scandal.

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Okay, we will check on that one.

 

 

Mr B A RADEBE: Yes, please.

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): We will check on that one. Proceed, hon member.

 

 

Dr S S THEMBEKWAYO: And, because the Portfolio Committee on Health has been complicit in regressive behaviour ... ANC Members of Parliament are ... [Inaudible.] ... and shielding failing MECs of Health and the Minister of Health, and approving budgets that plunge the country into a crisis, the EFF unapologetically rejects this report. Thank you.

 

 

Ms M D HLENGWA: Chairperson, can you hear me?

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Yes, I can, mam Hlengwa.

 

 

Ms M D HLENGWA: On Sunday, the President placed South Africa on alert level 2 in response to the rising number of positive COVID-19 cases. Now more than ever, we need a quicker and more efficient roll-out of the vaccine to ensure that our people are protected from severe COVID-19 symptoms and even death.

The government has been too slow to roll out life-saving vaccines to vulnerable older persons and particularly

 

 

frontline workers who have consistently been exposed to the virus since the beginning of the pandemic.

 

 

Another issue is access to health care for persons with disabilities who live in rural areas. This group is often overlooked and ignored, yet they require the most specialised health care services.

 

 

The IFP is concerned about the billions of rand that is being reallocated for the restoration of problematic state-owned entities, SOEs, like the SA Airways, SAA, and even Mango Airlines. Instead, these funds could have been directed to speed up the vaccine roll-out or even to extend the R350 Social Relief of Distress grant to millions of South Africans who have been hit hardest by the pandemic. I thank you.

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

Mnr P A VAN STADEN: [Onhoorbaar.] ... wat ’n week was dit net nie vir Suid-Afrika nie en watter teleurstellende nuus was dit oor die Minister van Gesondheid wat ons hierdie week as Suid- Afrikaners ontvang het.

 

 

English:

 

 

The public has long ago lost faith in this government and it is hard to trust the undertaking made by the Minister of Health to eliminate all fraud and corruption in the process concerning the procurement, storage and distribution of COVID-

19 vaccines, earlier this year.

 

 

The FF Plus ... [no sound] ... corruption will not take place. The Digital Vibes case is haunting the Minister for the irregular awarding of a contract for the amount of

R150 million. The SIU is investigating the matter and the FF Plus is imploring the Minister to step up now and to be honest by providing clarity on these matters before the SIU report is released which could have serious repercussions for the Minister and the Department of Health.

 

 

At present, confidence in the government is at an all-time low due to the corruption that occurred in this department. The Public Protector is also beginning with a process to get Minister Mkhize to account for contempt of a summons. A case will be opened at the Brooklyn Police ... in Pretoria today, as reported yesterday in the media. The Minister was ordered to appear before the Public Protector on 18 March. He was again summoned to appear on 7 May and the third time to appear on 24 May 2021, but the Minister simply didn’t show up on all

 

 

three occasions. The Minister was also ordered to appear before the Portfolio Committee on Health this morning but due to legal advice he chose not to do so.

 

 

The FF Plus demands that the SIU investigates all COVID-19 contracts where Minister Mkhize was or is involved in. There are also litigations against the Department of Health for a staggering R111 billion. Due to all the corruption in this department, patients are dying in our public hospitals. It is also a shame that 600 health care workers had to die due to poor procurement and storage practices of PPE during the pandemic. This government is and will always be a total failure. The FF Plus cannot support this budget. Thank you very much.

 

 

Ms M E SUKERS: Chairperson, it should be noted that the Minister of Health, because of being implicated in the Digital Vibes contract, could not appear before the committee this morning, as the previous speaker indicated. It is sad that we are faced with this at this critical time. Allegations and acts of wide-scale corruption have prevented a unified stand during this pandemic. It is eating away at the resolve and belief of people in government and we have to act decisively to deal with it.

 

 

The ACDP has questioned the Department of Health on procurement management and the lack of a comprehensive communication plan to not only deal with prevention but optimal care for the moderately ill with COVID at home. The irony of course is that the department spent almost

R150 million on the staging of communication rather than on comprehensive communication to fight this pandemic.

 

 

The Auditor-General has in recent years found that information provided in the department’s annual report was unreliable and in addition, stated that key critical areas of the department need improvement and intervention.

 

 

We further note the massive reduction of R50,3 billion over the next three years. This means that critical programmes dealing with diseases such as tuberculosis, TB, and HIV/Aids are greatly impacted. The department’s efficiency on contract management and procurement are all the more critical to be upscaled and monitored. We are dealing with the health of the nation and it is criminal what is allowed to happen with contracts such as the one with Digital Views.

 

 

Every death that could be avoided but is not because of the ineffective management of resources is in breach of the

 

 

mandate of this department. We would want to honour frontline workers by voting for the budget but with a heavy heart we cannot. The ACDP does not support this budget. Thank you.

 

 

Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Chairperson, the NFP will support this Budget Vote in the interest of all frontline workers, particularly the health care workers that have risked their lives to save others in South Africa.

 

 

Having said that, there is no doubt that the health sect6or is facing a crisis in the country. We know what is going on. We know about the serious allegations. I heard this morning that the Minister is now in contempt of court for not having appeared ... where there has been an application by the clinical associates. Clinical associates are those that have been funded and trained by the Department of Health ... which

... many of them do not have any jobs at this stage. Having said that, I also want to ... [Inaudible.] ... of the NFP ... [Interjections.]

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon Munzoor, somebody just disturbed you and you found yourself in the right space. We could hear you clearly. Hon Phoebe, please switch off your

 

 

microphone. You have disturbed the hon Shaik Emam. Do you still want to proceed, hon Shaik Emam?

 

 

Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Thank you very much. I was talking about Ivermectin and the role of the NFP in encouraging the use of Ivermectin. I am proud to say that tens of thousands of

people’s lives have been saved in South Africa ... Ivermectin. However, for some reason the national Department of Health and

the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority, Sahpra, were not willing to put any urgency in even looking into the data that was unfolding in the country at that stage.

 

 

I also want to highlight the issue — and we have said this time and time again — that firstly, the capacity of rolling out vaccines in the country is a challenge, and over and above that, getting supplies.

 

 

However, what is very concerning is the following. The Johnson & Johnson vaccines have been put on hold, but we have previously procured those same Johnson & Johnson vaccines and rolled it out. It’s been put on hold for certain reasons and we are not clear as to what the reasons are. So, the question is the following. Have those Johnson & Johnson vaccines that were rolled out not put our people at risk? And, if it did not

 

 

put our people at risk, when are we going to get it because the third wave of COVID is here at this stage. You can see ... Yesterday alone there were over five and a half thousand new infections in the country and all we have done is to move to level 2. So, the NFP supports this budget ... [Inaudible.] ... raises those questions. Thank you very much.

 

 

Mr L E MCDONALD: Chairperson, the ANC rises in support of this Budget Vote. This Vote is important to ensure further promotion of the good health of the people of South Africa.

The revised strategic plans and annual performance plan for the 2021-22 financial year validates the socioeconomic impact of promoting health care based on the primary health care approach.

 

 

Subsequently, we raised concerns about the decrease of the allocated budget for the year under review. We have to collectively work together though to ensure that the National Health Insurance gets implemented to accommodate all South Africans without exclusion based on ... [Interjections.] [Inaudible.] ... no class and the sector requires us to collectively work together and balanced against challenges affecting the sector. Again, the ANC supports Vote No 18.

Thank you, Chairperson.

 

 

Division demanded.

 

 

The House divided.

 

 

AYES – 202: (ANC – 188; IFP – 10; Good – 1; NFP - 2; Al Jama-

 

ah – 1).

 

 

NOES – 120: (DA - 77; EFF - 30; FF Plus - 10; ACDP – 3).

 

 

Question agreed to.

 

 

Vote accordingly agreed to.

 

 

Vote No 19 – Social Development - put

 

 

Declarations of Vote:

 

Ms A L A ABRAHAMS: Thank you, House Chair, the Minister and the department can reinvent and reimagine themselves all they want, but as long as they are cuts to these three: To Sassa grants, to children, the NGOs of victims’ empowerment, and I can go on and on, vulnerable South Africans will continue to suffer.

 

 

How ironic that during National Child Protection Week, there are parties in this House, voting for the budget, that just cut funding to sub-programme 5: children. Last year, this House amended and passed the Social Assistance Act, to include a top-up to the child support grant, to mitigate against the foster care crisis. Yet, not a single cent is allocated with National Treasury being blamed for the delay.

 

 

So, as we head out to our constituencies, looking to the face of a hungry child, the Early Childhood Development, ECD, that has closed its doors, our frail elderly, who wait literally night and day in a Sassa or post office queue, only to be turned away or worse, water cannoned by the police, to the gender-based violence, GBV, survivor trying to access a shelter who remains unwashed for days waiting for a rape kit, the unemployed father who has to face his family without that lifeline R350 grant, and do not forget that young social worker graduate seeking employment with CV in hand at traffic intersections, we ask, what has the ANC government actually done for you?

 

 

The DA hears the plight of the vulnerable and just like in the municipalities where we govern, we will get it done, for you and the whole of South Africa. Thank you, House Chair.

 

 

Ms M E SUKERS: House Chairperson, the mandate of this department has become vital to the survival of more than 18 million South Africans. The ACDP is deeply concerned about the reduction in budget and its impact on the department’s ability to deliver on their mandate.

 

 

The strategic partnering with community organisations has become all the more critical, to address food insecurity and implement programmes to reduce the impact of malnutrition on especially children. We want to reiterate our call for efficiency, tighter control on irregular and wasteful expenditure, as well as the prosecution of officials implicated in fraud. We support this budget for the millions that rely on this department for their lives. Thank you, Chair.

 

 

Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Thank you very much, Chair. The NFP supports the Budget Vote: Social Development. [Inaudible.]

... reiterate that the challenges that people face on the ground is immerse as a result of COVID-19 pandemic ...

[Inaudible.] ... . Now, we are calling on the department to particularly deal with the issue of social workers where there are hundreds of them that have qualified ... [Inaudible.] ...

 

 

from the department but they have not find themselves any employment.

 

 

Given the serious situation on the ground currently, with gender-based violence and other levels of crime, we believe that ... [Inaudible.] ... The other aspect that we want to deal with particularly, is the high level of unemployment.

 

 

We know that the Minister has alluded to the fact that a basic income will be issued, however we are cautioning of a large number of people in the country depended on ... [Inaudible.]

... in the country will not sustain them in a long term. However, the NFP supports the Budget Vote. Thank you.

 

 

Ms J MANGANYE: Thank you very much Chair, the ANC rises in support of Budget Vote No 19. Passing this Vote is significant to the progressive realisation of building a South Africa where everyone enjoys a decent standard of living. The tragedy that we are taking with social development portfolio has not been any easy one. We do note the common challenges raised by us and the opposition parties. We will continue to ensure that the department significantly addresses these challenges to realise its mandate.

 

 

We believe that as we continue to work with the department, the evidence based and results based are progressively transcending the functionality of the department to the highest level. The Vote continues to effect the implementation of commitment the ANC has made to South Africans. We believe that this Vote continues to have the potential to contribute to qualitatively to improving the lives of our people.

Chairperson, the ANC supports the Budget Vote No 19. Thank you.

 

 

Division demanded.

 

 

The House divided.

 

 

[TAKE IN FROM MINUTES]

 

 

Question agreed to.

 

 

Vote accordingly agreed to.

 

 

Vote No 20 – Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities - put.

 

 

Agreed to (Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, Freedom Front Plus and African Christian Democratic Party dissenting).

 

 

Vote No 21 – Civilian Secretariat for the Police Service - put.

 

 

Agreed to (Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, Freedom Front Plus, African Christian Democratic Party and United Democratic Movement dissenting).

 

 

Vote No 22 – Correctional Services - put.

 

 

Agreed to (Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, Freedom Front Plus, African Christian Democratic Party and United Democratic Movement dissenting).

 

 

Vote No 23 – Defence – put.

 

 

Declarations of vote made on behalf of the Inkatha Freedom Party and African National Congress.

 

 

Declarations of Vote:

 

 

Mr N SINGH: The SA National Defence Force, SANDF, is facing the biggest challenge in its democratic history. Recent budget cuts have devastated this department with facilities that dilapidated and there’s equipment needs overall. The force is also overstretched you to playing a big brother role in neighbouring Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The IFP believes that SANDF needs to manage its major resources for the defence of its own citizens. As such the IFP calls for a bigger budget to boost our defence capacity. Thank you.

 

 

Ms M M MODISE: The African National Congress supports the Budget Vote 23. This Budget Vote is an instrument of policy implementation of the mandate of the SA Defence Force. It is through this budget that they will be able to protect the people of South Africa, and most importantly, to fight against any possible illegal invasion by either state or nonstate groups in this trying times of the coronavirus pandemic where states are facing challenges and are vulnerable to such actions.

 

 

The SANDF deployed 8 119 of regular personnel and reserve members to provide support to some government departments in fighting and combating coronavirus disease, Covid, through

 

 

roadblocks and patrols. We are committed in transforming the department and hold it accountable on the use of the public funds, in particular, the supply chain management department. The budget will benefit all South Africans as it will enhance the programmes of the SA Defence Force, particularly the youth and women. The ANC supports Budget Vote 23.

 

 

Agreed to (Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, Freedom Front Plus, African Christian Democratic Party and United Democratic Movement dissenting).

 

 

Vote No 24 – Independent Police Investigative Directorate –

 

put.

 

 

Agreed to (Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, Freedom Front Plus, African Christian Democratic Party and United Democratic Movement dissenting).

 

 

Vote No 25 – Justice and Constitutional Development – put.

 

 

Declarations of vote:

 

Ms N N SIHLWAYI: Thank you, House Chairperson. The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development with other entities and institutions receive their budget allocation under the

 

 

Justice and Constitutional Development Budget Vote. This includes, the National Prosecuting Authority, Legal Aid SA, the Special Investigation Unit, the SA Human Rights Commission and the Public Protector SA. We welcome the filling of the critical vacancies of high levels in the department and the announcement that the justice college will continue to be supported and its turnaround strategy be implemented.

 

 

The department is making substantial investment in the modernisation of the justice system and the use of technology in the integrated justice system. These projects are implemented across the departments in the security cluster.

The introduction of the digitalisation of the legal aid management system is the key milestone for the Integrated Justice System, IJS. The Master’s Office will also be brought into the digital age in the coming year and online ... [Inaudible.] ... state system will be introduced. The fight against corruption is supported by the department, by inter alia the establishment of two specialised commercial crimes courts in the 2021 financial year.

 

 

The National Prosecuting Authority, NPA, will continue recruiting the young graduates through the aspirant prosecutor programme. The Department of Justice and Constitutional

 

 

Development, DoJCD, will continue to support the state capture enquiry in completion of its important work. The ANC support the Budget Vote. I thank you.

 

 

Question agreed to.

 

 

Vote accordingly agreed to.

 

 

Vote No 26 – Military Veterans – put.

 

 

Declarations of vote:

 

Mr N SINGH: Chairperson, it is disappointing that even today, this department does not have a proper register of military veterans and their personal details. The failure of the department to have a database will continue to stretch the department to a breaking point, particularly when it comes to providing these veterans with houses, pensions and support to their dependence and children who needs finance for schooling.

 

 

The failure of other departments such as housing and health to provide a clear contribution to military veterans is disappointing. It does not project the good image of our gratitude as a nation for the sacrifices they have made in bringing democracy and peace in our country. The government

 

 

and this department must act swiftly on these matters and with urgency. I thank you.

 

 

Question agreed to.

 

 

Vote accordingly agreed to.

 

 

Vote No 27 – Office of the Chief Justice - agreed to.

 

 

Vote No 28 – Police – put.

 

 

Declarations of vote:

 

Mr A G WHITFIELD: Thank you, Chairperson. While the ANC slashes the visible policing budget by R3,8 billion, and taking the much needed boots off the ground, people in our communities are crying out for police presence. While the murder rate increases along with the other categories of crime, the ANC opposes legislation which would remove self- defence as a reason to own a firearm. While the ANC increases the very important person, VIP, protection budget by

R26 million to safeguard the elite, it has cut the crime investigation budget by R225 million. This is not the budget for the people, it is a budget for the criminals and the elite.

 

 

It is a budget which exposes the shameful priorities of the governing elite and leaves the people of South Africa more vulnerable than ever before. It has become crystal clear that the Minister and the ANC government cannot get things done and cannot handle the enormous responsibility of policing. The good news is that the DA is here to help. The DA-governed Western Cape can help to take the pressure off the National government if you would just agree to provincialise the police service, so that we can do what we do best and get things done. The DA-governed Western Cape has already started in getting things done and made enormous strides towards keeping communities safe within its limited mandate. We don’t just talk about doing things, we get them done.

 

 

By the end of 2021, the Western Cape government together with the City of Cape Town will have deployed an additional 1000 law enforcement officers on the ground, keeping communities safe. Urban renewal programmes in partnerships with neighbourhood watches in areas like Bonteheuwel have already made an impact on the safety of our citizens. It is time to devolve policing in provinces that can do the job. It is time to get things done. I thank you.

 

 

Mr S N SWART: Thank you. House Chair, the ACDP remains deeply concerned about the internal conflicts within the SA Police Service, Saps, at the top of the management level. This resulting in what appears to be witch hunt against certain top policemen such as now against Major General Vearey. His resolute stance against corruption appears to be obviously not welcomed. This is at the time of increased murders where he is leader of the detectives. This is totally unacceptable.

 

 

We also wish to object to the Firearm Amendment Bill, which seeks to disarm law abiding citizens by removing the self- defence as a reason for owning a firearm. This is at a time when society is ravaged by a high level of crime, violence and gender-based violence. It is every citizen’s right to protect themselves and their families. If the Police Minister and other Ministers have expensive VIP protection services with increased budgets, why shouldn’t citizens be available and be able to defend themselves? It is not sufficient for President Ramaphosa, yesterday, to say that the courts can decide on this issue. It is up to this Parliament to reject to this nonsensical amendment. The ACDP will not support this budget. I thank you.

 

 

Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Thank you very much, Chairperson. The NFP will support the Budget Vote tabled here today. Allow me to raise our concern about budget reduction given the high levels of crime in the country, particularly after Covid-19 and the higher unemployment rate in the country. However, I think the concerns that has been raised in terms of firearms in the country – and I think what the Minister is actually alluding to – of which the NFP would fully support a gun-free South Africa.

 

 

We believe that it would go a long way in reducing cash-in- transit murders, serious crimes and armed robberies in the country as well. Chairperson, the other problem we have observed during our oversight is that all these buildings ... [Inaudible.] ... their buildings are maintained by the Department of Public Works. We all know that the Department of Public Works is an absolute mess. We believe that the SA Police Service, Saps, must be able to be the first start to help and responsible to acquire their own buildings and maintain them rather than depending on the Department of Public Works which is really ... If you look at the state of the firearm registry that we have visited, was really in shocking condition. In fact, in my understanding it is not

 

 

good for human consumption in anyway. The NFP will support the Budget Vote tabled here today. I thank you.

 

 

Mr E R K MAPHATSOE: Thank you, House Chair. The ANC support Budget Vote 28. However, we want to raise the concern that the budget cut will affect the way the Saps need to be visible in making sure that it reduces crime. Also, we want to make sure and appeal to the Department of Public Works that the buildings at which the Saps are housed are not suitable for any human beings to live in.

 

 

The police play a central role in making sure that our communities are safe. Hence, we support this Budget Vote because it will assist in addressing the DNA backlog, the forensic and enhance the firearm registry that we have been facing so that Saps can execute their mandate, which is keeping our communities safe for all, mainly the vulnerable are women, children and the elderly who stand to benefit the most in the society. The ANC support Budget Vote 28. Thank you.

 

 

Division demanded.

 

 

The House divided.

 

 

Ayes – 209: [TAKE IN FROM MINUTES]

 

 

Noes – 117: [TAKE IN FROM MINUTES]

 

 

Question agreed to.

 

 

Vote accordingly agreed to.

 

 

Vote No 29 — Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development —

 

put.

 

 

Declarations of Vote:

 

Mr M K MONTWEDI: House Chair, when we tabled the motion for the expropriation of land without compensation in 2018, we asked for two specific and clear constitutional amendments:

 

 

Firstly, for the expropriation of South African land without compensation to redress historical wrongs and to decolonise our society; and

 

 

Secondly, we asked that the state must be the custodian of all the land in order to ensure that land is no longer controlled by those with deep pockets only, such as the President of the ANC.

 

 

It is now clear that the ANC supported this motion just so that they could have an opportunity to derail the genuine call for the return of the stolen land in this country. The utterances by the ANC President that they would not support state custodianship of the land did not surprise us. He is a known farmer, well captured by the minority white land thieves and he does what the majority of white farmers do — accumulate for himself as much land as possible and pay their workers a pittance. Mr Cyril Ramaphosa was never going to vote for a motion ... [Interjections.]

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): There is a point of order. What is the point of order, hon member?

 

 

Mr B A RADEBE: Chairperson, I’m rising on Rule 84. The speaker has just said that the President of the ANC is well captured by the white farmers. We think that’s ... [Inaudible.]

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, that statement is unparliamentary. You must withdraw it. Hon member?

 

 

Mr M K MONTWEDI: I withdraw, Chair. Mr Cyril Ramaphosa was never going to vote for a motion that would compromise his

 

 

class interests. Mr Ramaphosa is a class enemy of the vast majority of South Africans that remain landless, jobless, homeless and with no hope of ever making it in life. The ANC is not even supporting a clear amendment for the expropriation of land without compensation. Rather, they are speaking of a strange concept, such as nil compensation.

 

 

As the EFF, ours is and has always been the restoration of the pride and dignity of a black child. Our land will be returned back to the black people as rightful owners, no matter how long it takes and by whatever means necessary. We will vote against this cosmetic amendment to the Constitution and rally our people towards a more intense way of getting our land back. Thank you very much, House Chair.

 

 

Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Chairperson, the NFP will support expropriation without compensation on condition that there is no attempt ... [Interjections.] [Inaudible.] Now having ...

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): There’s another hon member ... Hon members, I can’t understand why we must continuously remind you to switch off your microphones. It’s as if you are not following the proceedings and fiddling with

 

 

some of ... with your keyboard. It’s really disturbing.

 

Continue, hon Shaik Emam.

 

 

Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Chairperson, the NFP will support expropriation without compensation. However, any attempt to nationalise all land in South Africa will not be supported by the NFP. I want to reiterate and remind all my friends in South Africa that if there is anybody that is entitled to land restitution in South Africa then it has to be the Khoi and San, which are the first indigenous people in South Africa.

Everyone that came here, came and found the Khoi and the San. So, if you want to talk about land restitution, let us start with the Khoi and San first. The NFP will support this Budget Vote. Thank you very much.

 

 

Division demanded.

 

 

The House divided.

 

 

AYES – 208: (ANC – 195; IFP – 10; Good – 1; NFP - 1; Al Jama-

 

ah – 1).

 

 

NOES – 117: (DA - 74; EFF - 30; FF Plus - 10; ACDP – 3).

 

 

Question agreed to.

 

 

Vote accordingly agreed to.

 

 

VOTE No 30 - Communication and Digital Technology - Put

 

 

Agreed to.

 

 

VOTE No 31 – Employment and Labour - Put

 

 

Declarations of Vote:

 

Mr J J MCGLUWA: Thank you Chairperson. Unemployment is the single biggest threat facing South Africa. The figures are alarming, 11,4 million people who do not have a job. The expanded unemployment rate stands at 43,2%, the highest it’s ever been. Our youth unemployment rate is almost 75%.

Meanwhile the ANC government is like a giant hand break on job creation

 

 

The ANC has trashed the economy through State Capture, load shedding and a raft of policies that scare off investors like expropriation without compensation. The government should be freeing up the private sector to create jobs by cutting red tape. That is what the DA is doing in the Western Cape and

 

 

it’s the reason the province has the lowest unemployment rate.

 

The DA gets things done!

 

 

The Department of Employment and Labour by contrast just gets things wrong. It doesn’t work for workers and it doesn’t work for the unemployed. The unemployment insurance fund is floundering desperate people aren’t getting the benefits to which they are entitled.

 

 

The compensation fund is completely dysfunctional, given a disclaimer by the Auditor General, AG, year after year. The CCMA, Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, is being bladed money just as workers are being retrenched hand over first and the department does not have a plan to stimulate employment. Its R3,5 billion budget does nothing meaningful for job creation. It does not get the job done.

 

 

The DA government would get things done by cutting red tape and reforming our laws, by exempting small businesses from the extension of collective bargaining agreements and by making it easier to hire young workers. The DA does not support this budget.

 

 

Ms H DENNER: Thank you House Chair. House Chair we received a report from the AG on the mismanagement of funds of both the UIF and the compensation fund to comply with the financial and audit regulations. The same report was given to Scopa and I quote the Scopa Chair when it said:

 

 

“Year in and year out audit outcomes are pointing to the same shortcomings and inefficiencies. It is either nobody cares or nobody take Parliament seriously or nobody takes their own responsibility seriously, either way this is unacceptable.

 

 

This speaks to the dereliction of duty in the highest order. It has become tiring and nauseating to be saying the same thing over and over again.”

 

 

This however, can be set for most of other entities and the department itself. Before ownership of the budget is taken, duties and responsibilities of this department and its entities its core functions namely to ensure employment development and a sustainable working environment for all South Africans will always lack behind.

 

 

Yes, the budget cut especially to the CCMA will be detrimental to service delivery but there are far greater problems in this department than a shortage of money which needs serious attention now. We do not support this budget. I thank you Chair.

 

 

Ms A S ZUMA: Thank you hon House Chair. The representatives of white capital in Parliament will never run out of negative things to say about the public sector.

 

 

The Department of Employment and Labour will forever be their target because its services stand in the way of the dream of their constituencies. To return to slave like conditions for workers and super profits for themselves.

 

 

The catastrophe of Covid-19 has changed the way the department works and probably forever. Just to enforce compliance with occupationally health and safety regulations, over 31 000 inspections were conducted in the previous financial year and are going to be rammed fourfold in the current financial year with an addition of 500 inspectors. The test benefit has been stunning success over 5,4 million individually employers benefited at a cost of R58,7 billion. All the entities contributed to saving lives and saving jobs in various ways.

 

 

Despite difficult conditions, the department and the majority of entities received unqualified audit reports. The ANC supports the budget vote because the workers and the unemployed benefit from the more capable department and entities. I thank you House Chair.

 

 

Vote accordingly agreed to.

 

 

VOTE No 32- Environment, Forestry and Fisheries – Put

 

 

Ms E N NLAMGWINI: We have asked for a declaration earlier on Chair.

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (MR C T Frolick): I don’t have record of this declaration for Environment, Forestry and Fisheries. Can the Whips just ensure that they update the NA table in front so that we can follow the proceedings and make it running smooth. The reason why we do that is to ensure that we finished timeously because we will experience problems with connectivity after 5 o’clock. However, I will allow the EFF to make a declaration.

 

 

Declarations of Vote

 

 

M N PAULSEN: Thank you Chairperson. House Chair in a single year irregular expenditure in this department jumped from R342 million to R2,9 billion due to inadequate monitoring of compliance.

 

 

Fifteen thousand small scale fishers have not been spared from the ineptness of this department. The Minister had to approach the High Court to scrap the flawed process followed by our own department in awarding small scale fishing rights in the Western Cape.

 

 

The universe the department is living in isn’t quite the one that small scale fishers are living in very much like the ANC and the rest of us. Two very different universes we occupy. It is two completely different worlds from an equality and human rights perspective. Then there is the third universe, the private sector, fighting to keep the privilege. The fourth universe is the environmentalist protecting the environment to the point that people are pushed away and denied their right to dignity.

 

 

We cannot support the budget while Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister cannot prioritise the environmental justice for small scale fishers. Thank you very much.

 

 

Mr A M SEABI: House Chair, thank you very much. The stars are aligning, the fades align and the constellations align. We know and believe that the department will allocate fishing rights to small scale farmers. We know the department will create jobs to benefit the youth, women and people with disabilities. They will do that with skills development training and job opportunities

 

 

We know that biodiversity conservation continues to contribute to job creation and boost the tourism industry and the economy. This vote will enrich the strategies to create job opportunities through municipal projects. I will help keep our cities clean and the environment free from pollution, it will see the finalisation of the Climate Change Bill by this House.

 

 

It is against these backgrounds that the ANC supports vote 32, Forestry, Fisheries and Environment. Indeed, the stars are aligning. Thank you very much.

 

 

Vote accordingly agreed to.

 

 

Vote No 33 – Human Settlements – put.

 

 

Division Demanded.

 

 

The House divided.

 

 

AYES–204:(ANC–190; IFP–10; Good–1; NFP-1; Al Jama-ah–1; UDM– 1).

 

 

NOES – 118:(DA-75; EFF-30; FF Plus - 10; ACDP – 3).

 

 

Question agreed to.

 

 

Vote accordingly agreed to.

 

 

Vote No 34 – Mineral Resources and Energy – put.

 

 

Declarations of vote:

 

Mr K J MILEHAM: Chairperson, this Budget Vote comes at a time when we face ongoing load shedding with millions of South Africans sitting in the dark and bitter cold for hours at a time, simply because the ANC government failed to plan for and build generation capacity. This has an enormous knock-on effect on our economy and on our ability to store, manage and distribute covid-19 vaccines.

 

 

Eighteen months ago, we were promised emergency procurement to address the electricity crisis. What we got was a Risk

 

 

Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme. It is a programme in which there are so many questions over the bid process, the involvement of the politically connected, manipulation of timelines and the creation for a request for a proposal that was clearly intended to favour a particular outcome.

 

 

Instead of raising the licencing threshold to 50 megawatts, the Minister insists on limiting it to 10 megawatts. Instead of opening the grid and encouraging private-sector investment, the Minister puts the breaks on. Instead of making it easier for municipalities to procure and generate their own electricity, independent of Eskom, the Minister puts evermore hurdles in their path. Clearly, Minister Mantashe is the real lobbyist here for those who are lining the pockets of the ANC and their cadres.

 

 

In the Western Cape, we have introduced the Municipal Energy Resilience Project, a fully funded programme, to assist municipalities to reduce their reliance on a failing Eskom.

 

 

We have installed LED street lighting and solar panels on municipal buildings to ...

 

 

Mr B A RADEBE: Chair, on a point of order: I am rising on Rule

 

84. The member has just called the Minister of Energy a lobbyist.

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, you should have raised the point of order when the member said it. I will ask the Table staff to check it. Please, rise when the alleged transgression of the Rule has taken place. I follow the debate as well, so it is difficult to go back.

 

 

Mr K J MILEHAM: We have installed LED street lighting and solar panels on municipal buildings to reduce demand, because where the DA governs, we get things done. This department has not provided annual performance plans for the central energy fund or the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa, Necsa, on a questionable legal opinion. It is pursuing an unaffordable nuclear new build, despite our economy being in the doldrums.

 

 

It has failed utterly to roll out the National Solar Water Heater programme and yet, we are expected approve this. The DA does not support this budget.

 

 

Ms P MADOKWE: House Chairperson, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, DMRE’s, incapacity to carry out its primary functions, meet targets and get the basics right has been demonstrated over time. It is more concerned with giving the country false hope, marketing initiatives with taxpayers’ money pumped in with no guarantee of returns and announcing bids.

 

 

The future of South Africa’s mining industry remains bleak, while the energy sector is literally gone dark, engulfing us all. The country’s economy and economic expansion will be susceptible if there is no secure energy supply and it will eventually devolve into chaos and despair. There is to date, no tangible plan to provide reliable electricity to South Africans.

 

 

The department is unable to account for the anticipated expenses of the nuclear build programmes or the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, RIMPPP, both of which are marked by scandal and allegations of corruption. These are serious allegations that should not be taken lightly.

 

 

The recent court ruling on the Khanyisa coal powers environmental approvals, roughly six months after Thabametsi had to be put on ice, due to similar reasons, not only highlights the total disregard for environmental laws and climate change by these companies, but also compels the department to thoroughly scrutinise its plans to invest in coal power generation.

 

 

While the energy sector grapples with the energy generation question, both the mining and energy sectors, at ground level, where is matters most, are characterised by exclusion and exploitation. The arrogance of companies that continue to exploit our people, is fuelled by the knowledge that they are untouchable and the DMRE is not only toothless but also slow to respond to worker complains.

 

 

The Sibanye Still Waters mine in Gauteng is one such example. Despite many requests for assistance, the department has remained unconcerned. These are people who have been without salaries since 2018 and have gone as far as the Union Buildings for interventions. Instead of answers, one of their own fell sick on the corridors of the Union Buildings and sadly passed away.

 

 

The DMRE’s assistance is: I waited by elderly men who can barely walk or talk due to mining incidents and inadequate health care in this mine. The DMRE’s assistance is awaited by mineworkers who have dismissed for stepping on papers, for forgetting toiletries, food and energy drinks in their work bags and for going to relief themselves.

 

 

South African industries were built on blood, sweat and tears of our forefathers. It cannot be that in 2021 under this department, such treatment continues and nobody cares. In our quest for the future and development, let us dismantle all colonial exclusionary and exploitative systems. Until then, the EFF rejects this Budget Vote. Thank you.

 

 

Dr W J BOSHOFF: Hon Chair, I just want to get my document.

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

Daar is dele van Suid-Afrika met meer gat as pad. Hoekom noem ek dit as stemverklaring by Minerale Hulpbronne, liewer as by Vervoer? Die antwoord is eenvoudig. Ertstrokke ry op plattelandse paaie wat nie die soort gewig kan dra nie.

 

 

Hierdie departement myn nie; dit reguleer die mynbedryf. Voor mynlesensies toegeken word, moet die departement dus na

 

 

omringende sake kyk, byvoorbeeld, waarvoor is die erts wat gemyn word bestem? Word daar waarde toegevoeg of word die erts onverwerk uitgevoer? Hoe kom die erts vanaf die myn tot by die plek van verwerking of verskeping? Gaan die Suid-Afrikaanse padnetwerk benut word? Is die betrokke paaie daarvoor geskik? Die dood ry ons paaie bloots, sodat buitelanse ondernemers die waarde kan toevoeg.

 

 

Die departement vervul nie sy regulatoriese rol om dit te voorkom nie. Die V F Plus stem teen hierdie begroting.

 

 

Mr M G MAHLAULE: House Chair, the ANC supports the Appropriation Bill for Mineral Resources and Energy. Department programmes are fundamental to the economic development of the country. This appropriation Budget Vote is critical to the renewal of mining and the expansion of energy supply.

 

 

Mining and energy make a major contribution to the GDP of country and creates hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect jobs.

 

 

Social delivery programmes embedded in this budget, such as the electrification of solar water heaters aim to improve the

 

 

lives of working class and poor communities, but the DA will never understand the significance of social delivery because they have never suffered and experienced social deprivation and national oppression.

 

 

We are mainly supporting this Budget Vote because this sector contributes to the country’s economic development immensely. It is well known that, in my committee, when you speak of the word lobbyist, it can only be referred to one person and that one person is on my left. Thank you.

 

 

Division Demanded

 

 

The House divided.

 

 

AYES–213:(ANC–200; IFP –1 0; Good –1; NFP-1; Al Jama-ah–1).

 

 

NOES–122:(DA-78; EFF-30; FF Plus -10; UDM–1; ACDP–3).

 

 

Question agreed to.

 

 

Vote accordingly agreed to.

 

 

Vote No 35 – Science and Innovation - put

 

 

Declarations of Vote

 

Dr W J BOSHOFF: Hon House Chair, In the budget debate the FF Plus drew attention to the following: In September 2020 Dr. Dlamini, chief executive officer, CEO of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR, claimed that the institution acted in accordance with the findings of the so called Fivaz Report in 2018, on maladministration in the CSIR. He also claimed that decisive action had been taken against those pointed out.

 

 

In December 2020 the Minister released the said report. On enquiry it emerged that no action was taken against any person, as a result of the report. The person who irregularly appointed Mr. Delon Mudaly has left the organization for unrelated reasons. The centre of which Mr. Mudaly was the head was not restructured in order to redeploy him, as was recommended. Mr. Mudaly was therefore still in his post, as people with the necessary knowledge and skills are said to be too scarce, while two applicants who had scored better than Mr. Mudaly had been disregarded in the process in the first place.

 

 

The digression by other persons in time sheet fraud was not serious enough to require action. Dr. Dlamini regarded time

 

 

sheets as an internal control measures and that fraud in that regard was not so serious, while the fact is, the fraudulent time sheets were used to acquire money from the DSI.

 

 

When we put this on the debate, the Minister only said that measures have been taken to prevent the recurrence of this. I don’t think it is good enough. It seems as if the CSIR was not completely honest with Parliament. I wish to highlight this once again as it is a very serious matter. Thank you.

 

 

Ms N T MKHATSHWA: Thank you very House Chair. Hon members, despite the views that some may have that the work of the Department of Science and Innovation, DSI does not speak to the daily lived realities of the South Africans. It is this Department of Science and Innovation that has been on the forefront of bringing forth cutting edge research and development, in the state’s efforts to defeat the coronavirus pandemic. It is in this Decadal Plan of the Department of Science and Innovation it is in the final phases of ... [Interjections] ... finalisation. [Interjections] Chair, can I be protected please, if this member could be muted.

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (MR C T FROLICK): There is a member by the name Nomathemba, switch off your microphone. Continue hon Mkhatshwa!

 

 

Ms N T MKHATSHWA: Thank you very much House Chair. We then thus support the finalisation of the Decadal Plan which is in the final phases of finalisation and is about to be implemented, which provides a blueprint in the building of a competitive and developmental capacity in terms of visiting development in order to drive our socioeconomic development.

 

 

It is without a doubt that the DSI has demonstrated prudent practise of financial management and performance. As such, it must be given greater investment support from private sector, for it to be able to expand on the mind-breaking work that it is currently doing. The ANC supports the Budget Vote 35. Thank you House Chair.

 

 

Question agreed to (Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, Freedom Front Plus, African Christian Democratic Party and United Democratic Movement dissenting).

 

 

Vote accordingly agreed to.

 

 

Vote No 36- Small Business Development- put

 

 

Question agreed to (Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, Freedom Front Plus and African Christian Democratic Party dissenting

 

 

Vote No 37 – Sports, Arts and Culture – put.

 

 

Declarations of Vote:

 

Mr B S MADLINGOZI: Hon Chairperson, the artists have been trying forever and they have been ignored by the Ministry and the people of Mamelodi are forever crying foul for the white elephant stadium, H M Pitje, that is attracting drug users and the ANC is really not looking at them, but they are busy blaming everyone, taking people from pillar to post without doing anything about it.

 

 

The Minister of Arts and Culture is forever not available for the committee meetings and we are pulling hard to make sure, but the ... [Inaudible.] ... on the ground are being ignored. The Department of Sports, Arts and Culture is forever protecting every individual that is ... They are protecting each other. They are embezzling the funds with impunity and

 

 

they are not ... The money for the relief funds is being used. They are not ... [Interjections.]

 

 

Yes, this Ministry is really not looking at the cries of the people, but it is ignoring them. So, definitely the EFF is not looking at ... The EFF is not supporting this budget at all.

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

Me H DENNER: Agb Huisvoorsitter, hierdie departement is getaak om verligting aan praktisyns te bring wat, geweldig gebuk gegaan het en steeds gebuk gaan onder die covid-19 pandemie, soveel so dat hulle nie ens kos op die tafel kon sit nie, maar hierdie departement het, in plaas daarvan om alles in die stryd te werp om aan hulle mandaat te voldoen, gekies om meer geld op die uitrol van noodfondse te bestee, as op die noodfondse self.

 

 

So ook, word broodnodige fondse op onbenullige en onnodige uitgawes soos die skuif van standbeelde en die verandering van straat- en plekname bestee.

 

 

Ons is in ’n krisis. Ons kan nie bekostig om geld op die

 

aantekening van politieke punte deur die ANC te mors nie.

 

 

English:

 

The FF Plus cannot in good conscious support this department’s budget. I thank you.

 

 

Mr S S SOMYO: Hon House Chair, hon members, we rise in support of this Vote because of the significant contribution it has in fostering nation-building and social cohesion. It has a fundamental role to play in growth and transformation of our society. It has a strategic role in the social upliftment of our country and as such, we need to protect it. It is important.

 

 

We are cognisant of the myriad of challenges that confront this sector, largely underpinned by the slow pace and, at times, lack of transformation. The latter is an urgent area of concern that has been consistently raised by the ANC and of course, ...[Inaudible.] ... by the opposition parties. We are pleased that transformation is a strategic focus of the department. This is pivotal to fostering an integrated society underpinned by shared values and a national identity.

 

 

It is vital in promoting and protecting our athletic, cultural and creative industries. The ANC supports this Budget Vote.

Thank you.

 

 

Question agreed to (Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, Freedom Front Plus, African Christian Democratic Party and United Democratic Movement dissenting).

 

 

Vote accordingly agreed to.

 

 

Vote No 38 – Tourism – put.

 

 

Declarations of Vote:

 

Mr M F S DE FREITAS: House Chair, since lockdown, the Department of Tourism has shown their true colours, which include the destruction of the tourism industry, the increase in unemployment in this sector and the retardation of tourism, despite the smoke and mirrors created with funds that claim to grow the tourism sector. The facts reveal otherwise and not the dribble spewed by the Minister of No-Tourism.

 

 

The majority of international tourists visiting South Africa, visit the DA-governed Western Cape province with DA-governed City of Cape Town, the municipalities in the Garden Route and Winelands areas being the most popular for tourists. We get things done.

 

 

Cape Town is ranked first on the continent for the number of conferences held with DA-governed Stellenbosch surpassing bigger tourism players, such as the Kruger National Park in Sun City. We get things done.

 

 

Before the job-killing lockdown, revenue generated by the Western Cape and the City of Cape Town received the highest revenue among all provinces and cities. We get things done.

 

 

The mother city was named world’s top tourist city for the seventh consecutive year in 2019 Telegraph Awards. We get things done.

 

 

Where the DA governs, it provides first-world infrastructure and business tourism amenities that is always clean, maintained and safe, including conference facilities, good connectivity and premium accommodation options. We get things done.

 

 

But if you are going to argue that since lockdown, tourism awards have not forthcoming, let me provide you some facts. In 2020, the mother city was named Africa’s Top Party City for the third year running. We get things done.

 

 

The World Travel Awards awarded Cape Town with the title of Africa’s Leading Festival and Events Destination and World- class destination. Because we get things done, we receive these sought-after rewards.

 

 

This is an unambiguous recognition of the continued excellence in service delivery we offer visitors when and where we govern. This, despite being hard-hit by the covid-19 pandemic. These awards are a confirmation that we get things done. I thank you.

 

 

Ms M P MAHLO: Hon House Chair, the ANC supports Budget Vote

 

38. The manifesto of the ANC commits government to building an economy in which all our people have a meaningful stake and from which they all benefit. Indeed, they are benefitting, let alone the misleading statements of those who are masquerading as the Messiah of our people, saying they are the only ones who can do it.

 

 

We yearn for a fundamentally transformed tourism sector in which women and other historical disadvantaged persons hold executive and ownership positions.

 

 

The reason why the ANC supports the Budget Vote 38 – Tourism - include the following. With the allocation of R436,6 million for the 2021-22 financial year to Programme4, the tourism- sector support services will support initiatives aimed at transforming the sector. Such programmes are essential for the participation and development of women across the country, especially in the rural parts of our beautiful land.

 

 

This transformation will happen whether the DA, FF Plus or their allies in Solidarity and AfriForum like it or not. Thank you.

 

 

Question agreed to (Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, Freedom Front Plus, African Christian Democratic Party and United Democratic Movement dissenting).

 

 

Vote accordingly agreed to.

 

 

Vote No 39 – Trade, Industry and Competition – put.

 

 

Declarations of vote:

 

Mr M J CUTHBERT: Hon House Chairperson, as I wrote in the Business Day early this week the budget and its associated policies seems to be of usual Patel acts typology even on

 

 

status interventions and light on economic reality. Worst of all, there is no admission of capability by the Minister for the part he has played and unemployment crisis that flags our country.

 

 

Instead of acknowledging damaging his policies have been to the lives of the 74% of youth that found themselves unemployed, he is conveniently scape goat of the 2008 financial crisis and the Coronavirus pandemic. He believes that intensifying black economic empowerment designating more art for local production and protecting industries who are no longer competitive are sound economics. I am sorry to inform you that the play book you rely on became absolute in 1989, instead South Africans wants the government that rolls back the cumbersome regulations facilitating investment and one that get things done. Our government that honour every available governance magic gets things done. Our government that does not steal from the poor during a pandemic but get things done. A government that does not apply differentiated standards to those implicated in wrong doing depending on which faction belong to but get things done.

 

 

It’s time for South Africans to reject the mediocratic and the

 

stasis that you and your colleagues in your government

 

 

represent in exchange for one that gets things done and certainly not like you, Minister Ginger. Thank you very much.

 

 

THE HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon members, we know it is late on the Friday afternoon but let’s not start with name calling. There is no Minister ginger in the House. No, there is no Minister ginger in the House. Please don’t start with name calling. It’s a bit late in the afternoon.

 

 

Mr W M THRING: Hon House Chairperson, the ACDP notes that with this R4,87 billion Department of Trade, Industry and Competition budget industrial development is a key driver of employment and economic growth. Hence, we cannot allow fraud, corruption and incompetent to derail the sector.

 

 

The ACDP welcomes the rollout of master plans in retail, poetry, sugar, automotive, furniture and steel sector.

Clearly, we have a responsibility to take care of our own first, the same charity begins at home could not be more applicable noting that some eight to 12 million people are unemployed in South Africa.

 

 

The ACDP has voiced its opposition to a founded policy some 27 years after a democratic election and equal education for all.

 

 

I submit that black people have always been smart, innovative, creative and able to hold their own against any race group. It is therefore insulting to black people particularly our children who after completing their equal education with other groups they are told that they need preferential treatment in order to achieve. The same logic applies to BBBEE with the addition that this policy advantages only a small group of people who are well connected. Now more than ever the ACDP believes that it is necessary to protect property rights, obtain policy certainty and reduce unnecessary red tape to ensure the easy of starting a business.

 

 

To prevent the star from colliding, we must reduce our debts to GDP ratio, capitalise on our economy of scale competitive and comparative advantages and use the provisions of the Africa Free Trade Agreement to help grow our economy and that of the African continent.

 

 

The ACDP has championed the policies of beneficiation and localisation in our committee to pay lip service to this is to relegate South Africa to the status of consumers of imported finished goods and export of raw materials. To bring the stars or our economy into alignment, the ACDP has advised that we grow our domestic market to support local manufacturing

 

 

outputs creating beneficiary refining side to maintain resources value chain within South Africa. We reduce our reliant on supply chain from vulnerable countries, we give free data to all new starter’s and SMMMEs for at least one year.

 

 

And finally, that we prioritise education and skills development. The ACDP gives that we must build and grow our economy. The ACDP values the lives and livelihoods and the economy of our nation. Regrettable we will not support this Budget Vote. I thank.

 

 

Mr D M NKOSI: House Chairperson, I think as the ANC we do actually agree that we would support our Budget Vote. Many issues that we actually are looking at this stage will be the winning the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and obviously there is actually an issue relating to accelerating economic recovery.

 

 

The inclusive economic reforms to drive the inclusive growth and the fighting against corruption and the strengthening of state as the state of the nation address message has actually come through.

 

 

On the other side I think it will be quiet important to note that there is actually issues that are quiet strategic and helpful relating to the National Economic development and Labour Council, Nedlac, social partners’ negotiations in the strengthening of energy security, the issues relating to industrialisation through localisation also infrastructure investment. Measures to combat illegal inputs into corruption of intervention of public employment programmes strengthening the current relief and measures for workers and business.

 

 

House Chairperson, I think it will be complete in order for the ANC to confirm that we do actually agree and support with the programmes of the department where we actually focusing on issues of the administration, trade policy negotiations and co-operation special industrial development and economic transformation industrial competitiveness and growth consume co-operate and regulations industrial financing to name just a few.

 

 

Chairperson, one would actually conclude that point and the ANC support the Budget Vote. Thank you very much.

 

 

Question agreed to (Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, Freedom Front Plus, African Christian Democratic Party and United Democratic Movement dissenting).

 

 

Vote accordingly agreed to that we do actually agree and support with the programmes of the department where we actually focusing on issues of the administration trade policy negotiating and negotiations at co-operation special industrial development and economy

 

 

Vote No 40 — Transport — put.

 

 

Question agreed to (Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, Freedom Front Plus, African Christian Democratic Party and United Democratic Movement dissenting).

 

 

Vote accordingly agreed to.

 

 

Vote No 41 — Water and Sanitation — put.

 

 

Declarations of Vote:

 

Ms N V MENTE: Thank you House Chair. House Chair as the EFF we will not stand here and adopt a budget for Water and

 

 

Sanitation which does not check the looting at Makana Local Municipality under Cacadu. When ...

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

... abantu baseMthatha, abantu baseAlfred Nzo bengekawafumani amanzi aphuma kwidama uMzimvubu nanamhlanje. Abantu baseQwaqwa besalinde amanzi nanamhlanje.

 

 

English:

 

When people of Haamanskraal under Tshwane are still drinking dirty water nanamhlanje (even today). When the boreholes that were dug in Giyani are still not operational nanamhlanje (even today). When the schools and our children besatshona (still fall into) pit latrines nanamhlanje (even today). When people from Gqeberha, popularly known as ...

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

... eBhayi besalala bengenawo amanzi nanamhlanje, ide iphele iveki.

 

 

English:

 

When people of Enkanini ...

 

 

Isixhosa:

 

 

... apha eKapa, eKhayelitsha bengenazi izindlu zangasese, bengenayo imibhobho, bengenamanzi.

 

 

English:

 

When the new settlements when ...

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

... abantu bezithathela umhlaba bahlale, bengaziselwa amanzi bengekho ....

 

 

English:

 

... on the plan of this budget. When all of this is done, we will support the budget. But for today, if you don’t speak about the poor black child, we are not going to.

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

ILUNGU ELIHLONIPHEKILEYO: Baxelele mkhaya.

 

 

Mr P MEY: Chairperson, the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro is on the brink of a water crisis. The Nelson Mandela Bay Metro is home to 1,2 million people. Our biggest dam, the Kouga Dam, currently has only 1,5% usable water ... combined dams ...

12%.

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

’n Totaal van R183 miljoen is toegeken as droogte-subsidie aan die munisipaliteit. Daardie geld is terug in die staatskas en die rede is dat hulle dit nie gebruik het nie.

 

 

Die agb Minister het in die Parlement gesê dat sy die Nelson Mandelabaai-metro besoek het en sekere opdragte gegee het. Ek wil net vandag die volgende vra. Moet ons wag tot die laaste druppel gebruik word of is dit nie beter dat ons die Nelson Mandelabaai-metro tot ’n rampgebied verklaar nie? Ek dank u.

 

 

Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: The NFP will support this Appropriation Bill here. Just to highlight a few challenges the people in the Western Cape particularly – I hope the Minister is listening – the problem that those on the farms face as a result of poor water and sanitation services, particularly in the informal settlements all over the Western Cape.

 

 

I would hope that the Minister will address this at some time because these people live ... [Inaudible.] The dignity has been affected very poorly and badly because of the Western Cape DA, putting the rich in one part of the Western cape and the poor and vulnerable on the other side, and paying very little attention to them.

 

 

Over and above that, the problems that our people face particularly in the Western Cape, is the very high water bills and the municipality having to cut off the water time and time again because cannot be able to afford. I hope the Minster will at some stage address this from a national point of view. The NFP supports. Thank you.

 

 

Ms B TSHWETE: Hon Chair, thank you very much. I rise on this occasion on behalf of the ANC to declare our support for Budget Vote 41 for Water and Sanitation. Indeed, this is a budget that is premised on the needs of the people of this country. It thus seeks to change the lives of our people for the better. It will improve access to water and sanitation services per household, which is currently at 90%.

 

 

This budget will provide much needed water infrastructure to deliver water to the people industries and businesses. This infrastructure includes dams, pipelines, power lines, and pumps. The state of the nation address 2021 and the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, called for necessary development of bulk water infrastructure, and the establishment of appropriate institution.

 

 

The strategic water infrastructure and institution will accelerate water service delivery to the underserved households. In this regard, the plan to establish the Water Infrastructure Agency and the Independent Economic Regulator in the medium term, is a step in the right direction that would ensure all bulk infrastructure activities. The Independent Economic Regulator would also provide a platform for proper regulation of the water pricing regime that would address the current municipal debts to water boards. These are the reasons why we support this Budget Vote. The ANC lives and the ANC leads. Amandla!

 

 

Question agreed to (Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, Freedom Front Plus, African Christian Democratic Party and United Democratic Movement dissenting).

 

 

Vote accordingly agreed to.

 

 

Schedule agreed to (Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, Freedom Front Plus, African Christian Democratic Party and United Democratic Movement dissenting).

 

 

Schedule accordingly agreed to.

 

 

APPROPRIATION BILL

 

 

(Second Reading)

 

 

 

There was no debate.

 

 

Bill read a second time (Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, Freedom Front Plus, African Christian Democratic Party and United Democratic Movement dissenting).

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T FROLICK): The Bill will be sent to the National Council of Provinces for concurrence. Hon Minister of Finance, your Bill is approved. Thank you for staying until right at the end. You set a very good example. Thank you very much. Hon members, that concludes the business of the day. The House is adjourned.

 

 

The House adjourned at 17:40.