Hansard: NA: Unrevised hansard

House: National Assembly

Date of Meeting: 31 Aug 2021

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Minutes

UNREVISED HANSARD 

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 

TUESDAY, 31 AUGUST 2021

 

PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

 

Watch video here: PLENARY (HYBRID)

 

 

The House met at 14:01.

 

 

The Speaker took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayer or meditation Business suspended due to technical error at 14:05 and resumed at 14:08.

 

DEBATE ON NATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY: ADVANCING GENDER EQUALITY THROUGH INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND THE PRECEPTS OF A CAPABLE DEVELOPMENTAL STATE.

 

 

Ms N K SHARIF: Thank you Madam Speaker. This past weekend the Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation, held a commemorative protest to mark two years since the tragic and absolute brutal murder of Uyinene. The foundation had sent out postcards across the country for women and girls to write their experiences. Out of the 12 000 responses, here are some, and I quote:

 

One day, my child's father chased me with the hammer. I fell any hit me on my back. While I was giving my statement. The police told me, you're not dead, so relax till the morning.

This is the response women are given when they report violence. Minister Bheki Cele, how do you sleep at night knowing that this type of service, and the institution you are leading ... I keep saying the SA Police Service, SAPS remains the weakest link in the chain to fight gender-based violence and femicide, GBVF. A Grade 1 learner wrote, open quote:

“Women are strong, my mom works and I want her to be safe on a taxi.” A child in Grade 1 is about seven years old, and they are already aware of the dangers women face. Minister Mashabane wherever you are, seven year-olds are being raised in a society where they fear for their mother's life and hope she comes home safely, every day, but yet you lead a department that is literally doing nothing to change this. You Minister are the head of in competency, and you must change it. A Grade 10 learner wrote and I open quote: “I want everyone to feel safe.”

The stark reality hon Chief of the Opposition is that, women and girls are not safe under the current dispensation, and the prospects of a safe society seems to be slipping out of our hands every day, every week, month and year that goes by with the slow implementation of the National Strategic Plan, NSP. South African women and girls do not deserve such contempt from those who lead them. We deserve so much better. A woman wrote and I quote:

What have we done as woman to receive such silent treatment from the one body that is supposed to be protecting us. What have we done as women that even our very own women in Parliament do not feel the pain. Our pain, as women are abused and killed every day.

I am here to tell you that we do feel your pain, because your pain is our pain. Even though it sometimes feels like there is no one in your corner, know that there are women in this House, doing everything they can to hold those who use gender- based violence, GBV as a political tool to account without fear and without favour.

 

 

The last postcard I read was, open quote: “I do not want to die with my arms up, and my legs, open.” If this does not sum up the lived experiences of women and girls in this country, I do not know what does. Women in South Africa are indeed dying with their arms, stuck behind them and their legs open. Women continue to die every single day. They are being chopped, slaughtered, maimed and ripped apart. Girlfriends and wives are beat down, dragged by the hair and used like one out punching bags. Girls are being raped every day, and taken advantage of by older men. A 10-year old child knows nothing of consent. This is paedophilia, and we should all be disgusted.

Mark my warning, hon members, if we do not start seriously taking stock of the reality, we will be back here, speaking about the same issues with no end in sight. We have to do better, not for ourselves, but for those who come after us and that Grade 1 learner wants his mom to be safe. I thank you.

 

The SPEAKER: The next speaker is hon Sihlwayi and hon Sihlwayi is on the virtual platform. Hon Sihlwayi!

 

Ms N N SIHLWAYI: I am here hon Speaker. My apologies for the network, but I managed to be here. Hon Speaker ...

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

 

... Somlomo ohloniphekileyo wale Ndlu yoWiso-mthetho yeSizwe, uMbhexeshi Oyintloko weQela eliLawulayo nesekela lakhe, amaLungu ale Ndlu onke ngokwamabakala awo. Ndibalule abaPhathiswa abalapha, amalungu angootata, oomama nabafana abachopha kwiikomiti eziphonononga inkqubo yale Ndlu yoWiso- mthetho yeSizwe. Ndiyabhotisa ngale njikalanga ndithi, molweni. Yithani molo.

 

 

English:

 

Twenty twenty-one resembles a historic year in South Africa’s

 

diary and worldwide where the ruling party resolved that, ...

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

... igama lamakhosikazi malibongwe ...

 

 

English:

 

... to unity, renewal and inclusive socioeconomic transformative integrated development and ...

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

... igama laloo nkosikazi elibekwe phezulu neligqatsiweyo ngumama uCharlotte Maxeke intombi yase Upper Blinkwater kuMasipala wesiThili i-Amathole eMpuma Koloni. Siyabulela kuMongameli othe xa esikelela lo nyaka waya kunyathela kanye

 

 

kwezo ndawo kusuka khona loo nkokheli umama uCharlotte, intombi kaDyani.

 

 

uDyani ke wayengunolongo apha ezindleleni ebetha amatye ukubheka kooBloemfontein nooKimberley. Le ntombi ke yayivasa iifayidukhwe phaya emaNywabeni eXesi yatshata notata uMarshall Maxeke yona inguManye ifani yakhe.

 

 

English:

 

The first black Bachelor of Science, BSc degree graduate. Chair, it is important that today’s Parliament debate is put in a particular political and an environmental context which will ensure that, the ANC road that has been well travelled towards a democratic state, is well established. The ANC fourth against the apartheid state which was a social mechanism for the promotion and defence of a system of white minority domination, enrichment and super exploitation of the black majority. The democratic government is tasked with 130 years of inequalities for them to change.

 

 

Allow me Madam Speaker to present a leading light by some powerful leaders who established a landmark towards a legacy of freedom which is a human dignity, a human tradition of the ANC.

 

 

Thina singabafazi, singoomama, singoomama abazalele ekhaya, sisebenza emakhitshini, singoomama abangazelanga, singabantwana, singama-Afrika, singamaNdiya, singabantu bebala. Sithi namhlanje kuwe Strydom ...

 

 

English:

 

... our aim is for striving for the removal of all laws, regulations, conventions and customs that discriminate against us as women and that deprive us anyway in many ways of our inherent right to the advantages, responsibilities and opportunities that society offers to anyone section of the population. As women, we do not form a society separate from the men.

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

Niyimamele le ndawo, ...

 

 

English:

 

... there is only one society and it is made up of both women and men. We do share problems and anxieties of our men and join hands with them to remove social evils and obstacles to progress.

 

 

Akwaba bamamele ootata.

 

 

English:

 

Out of the vast skill of Mama Charlotte, I want to highlight just a few that, if she was still alive ...

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

... ebezakuthini.

 

 

English:

 

Where we are today, are we managing the theories that she theoretically talked about for a democratic state. Charlotte was not a hard practical radical figure, but a revolutionary, social activist and a Christian. Christianity remained her guiding force of life. It is critical that, today we ponder and reflect on her intellectual trajectory within the present gender politics and power in the liberation movement with all its shortcomings.

 

 

Concerning today’s gender politics, we are here and we know we should speak practical issues and be able to present what is practical. Charlotte was not a speaking person; she was a practical person. She spoke softly, she did thing and she made

 

 

things to happen. That is why the President of the ANC Alfred Bathini Xuma from Engcobo said, I have seen a unique character on this particular woman and then he wrote a book that said: What an Educated African Girl Can Do.

 

 

In her understanding of eels of colonialism which involve not only the establishment of political control and economic dominancy, but also the importation of Western ideas.

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

Iindwendwe zafika zahlala safika sakopa izinto zazo. Ezi ndwendwe zasityhiliza saphuma ngaphandle.

 

 

English:

 

Charlotte had no racial boundaries and had no limitations on strategic chances that are inhumane, that undignifies women and humanhood. During the process to mobilise support against the proposal to extend passes to women across, she had no time. This industrial Maxeke wasted no time. She immediately confronted Prime Minister Louis Botha to exclude women from the night passes.

 

 

She then identified a huge weakness in terms of the children’s

 

rights. Observation of children in urban cities which were

 

 

becoming social threats. The child welfare was established in 1935 to be overseen by her for the better performance towards the transformation agenda. All what has happened, many areas had to have this committee to address the issues of young children.

 

 

Her concern of a family unit as a building block for a good and prosperous society, a child is a criminal at 18 years involved in GBV, police must come, the justice system must come. You ask yourself, a child of 18 how does he become a criminal. Where was the mentor? Where were the role models? Where were the teachers of that child? It should be ... [Inaudible] ... must come now, the justice system must come now...

 

 

The SPEAKER: Hon member, your time has up.

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

Ms N N SIHLWAYI: Okokugqibela Somlomo, umzuzwana nje ...

 

 

English:

 

... I want to make a quote on the conference that was asked by the European Union ...

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

... kwinkomfa yakhe kwiYunivesithi yase Fort Hare:

 

 

English:

 

“Circulate your work and distribute as much ... [Time

 

Expired.]

 

 

Ms N V MENTE: Thank you very much, Speaker. Speaker, today we are talking about women and the economy. When the women of 1956 shook off the yoke of fear for persecution from the apartheid government and confronted oppressive laws. They did so fully conscious of the intersectional nature of the struggles faced by women in this country. They were aware that they were oppressed because they were black. They were exploited because they were workers and were abused and humiliated because they were women.

 

 

This combination makes the of struggle African women, and in particular, very peculiar in this country, because not only must they still face an inherently racist and exploitative system, they also need to face a toxic patriarchal society and abuse, molestation and even murder at home. Underlying these challenges faced by women is ... [Inaudible.] ... in a capable corrupt and alarming directionless state. This makes the state

 

 

as it is currently constituted and an enabler of all these ills faced by women in this society. Just recently, Statistics SA released quarterly labour force survey of the second quarter of 2021 reporting that unemployment rate in the country has risen to over 34%. The picture is even more horrifying for women. However, Statistics SA report that women are more likely to be unemployed than men, and for those employed, they are likely to be paid far less than men – that’s the state that is perpetuated by our government today.

 

 

The rate of unemployment amongst women was 36,8% in the second quarter of 2021 compared to 32% amongst men, according to the official definition of unemployment. The unemployment rate amongst black African women is 41% during this period compared to 8,2% of white women, 22,4% among Asian women and 29% among Coloured women - black Africans remain at 41%.

 

 

According to the expanded definition of the rate of unemployment among women at 48,7% was 81 percentage points higher than amongst their male counterparts in the second quarter of 2021. Of those in managerial position, 66,9% were men, compared to only 33% that were women. Those who are managing the affairs of the country on behalf of capital, have thoroughly failed the poem of this country. We are battered

 

 

from all sides, prevented from playing a meaningful role in the economy of this country. We are molested murdered at home and on the streets of this country.

 

 

The United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women to which we are a signatory and ratified, released report in May this year, which investigated the extent of domestic violence against women in South Africa. The report acknowledged that the political and social economic structures and systems in this country are provided on the fertile ground for the escalation of violence against women. It has acknowledged that the police and judiciary lack the requisite training and skill to deal decisively with cases of gender-based violence. This is particularly because when they are dealing of cases of abduction of girls and women for marriage, the case of child marriages and forced marriages, and outdated traditional beliefs which lead to instances where women are even denied rights to own land in traditionally administered areas - that still exists in this democratic dispensation.

 

 

The state is as yet to respond to any of these recommendations made by the convention in terms of legislative reforms and in terms of building the capacity of the institutions of criminal

 

 

justice. None of the Ministers or MECs have actioned any of the recommendation by the ... [Inaudible.]. That was evident in their responses just recently in the Women’s Parliament. None of them have bothered to even respond to what ... [Inaudible.] ... has made as a recommendation.

 

 

We have always been resolute that the struggle for total emancipation of women needs to deal comprehensively with the intersectional factors hindering women emancipation. We need to be forceful in fighting for the recognition of the work done by women in the economy and forcefully fight for the employment of women into position of authority within the state and in the private sector. Women must be paid equally for the work they do.

 

 

Banyana Banyana and Bafana Bafana players must be paid equally. Women-owned businesses must be supported without having men in position of authority demanding sexual favours. Perpetrators of heinous crimes against women must be severely punished. The police and the judiciary must be trained to deal with cases of violence against women accordingly.

 

 

The NCOP must fast-track the passing of the gender-based violence Bills in order to tighten the legislative instruments

 

 

advancing the protection of women. Unfortunately, we are not shocked that the ANC government has not concluded the redress of women it has tortured following the Commission for Gender Equality’s report of February 2020 on the forced sterilisation of black women by the ANC government.

 

 

The delay tactics and the lack of urgency recently displayed by the Department of Health exposed the hatred of the ANC government against women and will not be tolerated. This is perpetuated by the chairperson of the ministerial committee who is also a woman. We are equally not shocked that today the EFF has received yet 21 more cases of women who were forcefully sterilised because doctors do it with impunity.

Women across the sectors of society must know that they have a home in the EFF and we will fight for them with everything we have. Thank you very much.

 

 

The SPEAKER: Your time is up, please. No, hon members, let’s not do that. Honestly, you went over your time - way above it. I tried to stop you, hon member, please. Yes, hon Mazzone.

 

 

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: ... [Inaudible.] ... remove your mask when you speak, because you are at a safe distance. And may I ask people respect your ruling and that the Table

 

 

staff assist you by simply turning the member off, because it is not your sole responsibility - it is the responsibility of all the Table staff to assist you too. Thank you Madam Speaker and thank you Madam Speaker for being courteous enough by putting your mask on to keep us safe, but you also have a job to do, which we understand.

 

 

The SPEAKER: Thank you very much, hon Mazzone. Thank you, you have liberated me. Thank you, hon members. Hon members when I say your time is up – your time is really up, please. I think the Table staff have failed me this time, because I tried to mute and stop the member, but I could not – so, you must do it. Thank you very much. I now invite the hon Hlengwa on the virtual platform to make his statement.

 

 

Ms M D HLENGWA: Madam Speaker, today we are advancing gender equality through inclusive economic growth and capable development plan – that is a song. The tragic reality is that a socioeconomic and financial impact brought on by the pandemic had a much greater impact on women. The majority of frontline workers are women and they find themselves in much less secure employment ... [Inaudible.] ...

 

 

IsiZulu:

 

 

USIHLALO WENDLU (Nk M G Boroto): Mam’ uHlengwa, usekhona?

 

 

English:

 

Is she still there? [Interjections.] Ooh, she has muted herself.

 

 

Mr N SINGH: Her microphone is ...

 

 

IsiZulu:

 

USIHLALO WENDLU (Nk M G Boroto): Mam’ uHlengwa, umbhobho wakho wokukhuluma uvuliwe angazi noma kunenkinga ngenethiwekhi.

Awusakwazi ukuqhubeka ngoba asikuzwa kodwa umbhobho wakho wokukhuluma uvulekile.

 

 

English:

 

Mr N SINGH: Hon House Chairperson, it’s Singh here. It seems she is having connectivity problems. May I start with her speech from the beginning?

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): No, where she ended, please.

 

 

Mr N SINGH: Okay. Thank you, hon House Chairperson. We must ask ourselves honestly today, is government doing enough or is

 

 

it simply paying lip service gender equality during Women’s Month. We cannot talk about advancing an inclusive economy and gender equality, while our current policies make it nearly impossible for women who are small business owners to access financial assistance, in particular, COVID-19 relief funding. We know that small and medium business enterprises are the beating heart of our economy. According to a report published by Statistics SA in December 2020, small businesses have remarkably been increasing their role in the formal business sector.

 

 

In 2013, small businesses generated 16% of the total turnover in the formal business sector in South Africa. And by 2019, in less than six years, this increased to 22%. Government says it is committed to assist small business enterprises and many promises have been made. The National Development Plan emphasises that there is a need to support small businesses, encourage government and the private sector to procure from small farms and to enhance the development of black and female managers and professionals.

 

 

However, do we see any of these promises being fulfilled. In December 2020 the Minister of Small Business Development introduced the National Small Business Enterprise Amendment

 

 

Bill. But since then, there have been no further developments. This Bill aims to improve access to justice for small businesses. So, again we see little actual delivery of promises being made. The government can publish policy documents on assisting small business enterprises and design tools to reach women business owners. But the only true measurement is in performance, in that our government has failed women business owners miserably.

 

 

In conclusion, let us put the facts on record. According to a report in partnership with the Department of Small Business Development, 42% of small businesses closed down. The first months of lockdown, 47% made funding requests. More than 60% received no response. Madam Chairperson, I am speaking about this because this is the topic today: Women and Small Businesses and what is government doing to contribute. It is not about gender-based violence or anything else. So, we say the IFP to its call believes in self-reliance, in building small businesses that can generate income and employment opportunities. It is time for government to step up and fulfil their promises to grow an inclusive society of which women must be an integral part of. Thank you, House Chairperson.

 

 

Ms H DENNER: Thank you House Chair. Hon House Chair, a developmental state aims to meet the needs of the people. But, what are the needs of the people and especially women in South Africa? They need to be able to provide for their families, to earn a living through gainful employment, and to be able to invest, save and take part in an economy that enables them to do all of the above.

 

 

They need to feel safe in their own homes, in their workplaces and in the spaces between. They need to be able to trust those appointed to serve and protect them, be able to access quality healthcare and they need efficient and effective service delivery. All those needs that the so called dedicated, capable, ethical and developmental should meet. Needs that are not met by a government that places party interests above the interests of the people.

 

 

Hon House Chair, unemployment has risen to an all-time high of 44,4% including the including the most worrying 3,4 million discouraged work seekers. Black women are the worst off, with an unemployment rate of 41%, their needs are not being met.

Youth unemployment amongst those in the age group of 15 to 24 years is 64,4%. Three point three million of these youths are

 

 

not in any form of training or education, their needs are not being met.

 

 

Amid this unemployment crisis, jobs are lost daily due to government failures. The Clover factory in Lichtenburg in the North West which provided 300 jobs to the surrounding communities, is in the process of closing down due to ongoing poor service delivery received from the local municipality.

Was this employment creator and those dependent on these jobs many of whom are women’s need, met by the state? No hon House Chair.

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

Wat veiligheid betref, die afgelope Vrydag het ons die jaarlikse Vroueparlement in hierdie Huis gehad. Dit was die derde een sedert die aanvang van die Sesde Parlementêre termyn. My kollega, tannie Breedt, het Vrydag gedurende haar toespraak, die effektiwiteit, nut en waarde van die Vroueparlement, en in effek, die staat, perfek opgesom deur nuusopskrifte aan te haal.

 

 

Nuusopskrifte in die week na die 2019 Vroueparlement het gelees: Veertienjarige meisie verkrag en vermoor in ouma se agterplaas, Poskantoorwerker bieg oor Uyinene se moord.

 

 

Twintig-twintig-opskrifte sluit in: Swanger vrou wreed vermoor tydens plaasaanval, Vrystaatse ouma van 91 verkrag en vermoor, Swangervrou aan boom opgehang. Verder gaan 2021 voort met Gugulethu-vrou wreed vemoor, Man vekrag en vermoor tiener weens woede oor vrou, Minaar erken dat hy student van Fort Hare vermoor het. En die lys hou net nooit op nie.

 

 

English:

 

Can women feel safe and secure in their own homes, in their workplaces and in the spaces between, if a woman is murdered every three hours in South Africa? Has anything changed since the protests in front of this very Parliament in 2019? Are our needs for safety and security met, if we as women have to look over our shoulder every minute of every day in this country?

No hon House Chair, they are not. None of our needs are being met.

 

 

The fact that the ANC has the audacity to say in this House that, they are advancing gender equality through inclusive economic growth and a precept of a capable and developmental state in the face of such overwhelming evidence to the contrary, is a slap in the face of every South African especially women and youth. You have failed us ANC. Like your

 

 

money troubles, you cannot hide these failures either. We see you and we will hold you accountable. I thank you house Chair.

 

 

Ms M E SUKERS: As Women’s Month comes to a close today, it is evident that we can no longer continue on the trajectory that we are on as a nation. Our country South Africa, was been blessed with exceptional women leaders who left behind a legacy of how to lead with conviction and compassion in pursuit of justice.

 

 

The example of Ma Charlotte Maxeke has long been abandoned by the political leadership of our country. To live a life of self-abandonment is not the political culture of our day.

Self-enrichment, we know all too well, but no moral and effective leadership that captures the hearts of our people. o rule by winning the hearts and minds of people takes much more than a food parcel and T-shirt.

 

 

Our nation is staggering under the weight of our collective failures to assume responsibility not for coloured women, black women or white women, but for all women. Lydia Ross died in December last year of COVID-19. She was a woman of great character, who waited on a housing waiting list for over 30 years. Chairperson, she died without receiving the house that

 

 

she was promised with each and every election cycle. She was a mother and grandmother, who worked for most of her adult life, yet she died without a pension, and still waited on her unemployment benefits to be paid out to her, almost a year after having applied for it. Faranaaz Farmer-Mentoor, 32 years of age, a mother of three, murdered in broad daylight in a wendy house by a repeat violent offender who was out on bail.

 

 

Chairperson, both women I have mentioned lost their lives and never owned a home. The ACDP has repeatedly called for accelerated housing initiatives for vulnerable women and their children. We also want these initiatives to provide a degree of integrated social upliftment and economic advancement.

 

 

A very disturbing report by Viewfinder, provides a horrific picture of abuse by police against women who seek help. The report covers over 1 000 cases since 2012, with at least a third of the cases registered with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, IPID, happening while police were on duty at the time these crimes were committed. Most of these cases went unpunished and never saw any convictions or court appearances.

 

 

We have a culture of rampant abuse against women that allows for the worst of crimes to go without punishment, and seemingly no remedy to cure it. It prevails because we are unwilling to address the root causes of societal issues, and unresponsive systems. A sluggish and ineffective state perpetuates and undermines the aims of women empowerment and advancement.

 

 

Women leaders in this House must lead the way to transform the public service. There has never been a greater need, than there is today, for strong moral leadership in the vacuum that exists. Chair, it must be our purpose ... Thank you. [Time expired]

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G BOROTO): Thank you very much hon Sukers. The monitor on your left hand side, once it turns red, it tells something else. Just a reminder. Thank you, mam. We proceed and call on the General, the hon Holomisa.

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

Mnu B H HOLOMISA: Sihlalo anamLungu ahloniphekileyo ale Ndlu yoWiso-mthetho yeSizwe, boomama boMzantsi Afrika namantokazi, masithethe inyani apha. Ubutyebi beli loMzantsi Afrika, amathuba engqesho, namathuba okuba umntu avule ishishini

 

 

athande ukuba afumane ukhuselo kumbutho othile. Ukuba awulilo ilungu apho, abantu abafumani nto. Nalento ye ...

 

 

English:

 

...extended public works ...

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

... le nto kuthiwa ngoocambalala, into ebuhlungu phaya kufumaniseka ukuba xa kuqeshwa abantu phaya kuthiwa umntu makaze nekhadi lombutho othile. Kanti le nkululeko yeyoobani xa kuza kucalulwa nabantu abangenanto? Bafola imini yonke phaya ekugqibeleni bathi asiqeshwanga thina kuba asikho kulo mbutho uthile.

 

 

English:

 

We need to depoliticise ...

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

... le nto ithi abantu abangamanina amathuba abo anganjani na ukuze nabo baxhamle kubutyebi beli lizwe. Iyafana le ngqesho

...

 

 

English:

 

 

... whether you are talking about director-generals, DGs or chief directors ...

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

... abo bantu abo badlula kwi ...

 

 

English:

 

...deployment policy ...

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

... yombutho olawulayo. Ukuba awulilo ilungu lalo mbutho masingaxokisi abantu apha. Ndidlule ndiye kulo mcimbi wamadoda abulala oomama. Ndicinga ukuba lo Mgaqo-siseko wethu sinawo apha eMzantsi Afrika, lo uthetha nge ...

 

 

English:

 

... right to life

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

... makhe siyifundisise siyitolike kakuhle. Lo yena uthatha ubomi bomntu, uthini uMgaqo-siseko umkhusela njani lo uthathelwe ubomi? Mayikhe ixoxwe le kungenjalo izakusitya sonke le nto, uzakusibulala sonke lo mcimbi. Aba bathetha

 

 

ngoMama uCharlotte Maxeke, bantu bakuthi niphethe ngoku siyavuma. Yenzani nje...

 

 

English:

 

... a brief reference ...

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

... xa nithetha nabantu boMzantsi Afrika kodwa sixeleleni ukuba kwenzeka ntoni ngoku, nizakwenza ntoni kusasa.

OoCharlotte Maxeke nooMama uSisulu ngokuqinisekileyo abanakuze bayinyamezele le nto yokutyiwa kweemali zesizwe ebekumele ukuba zincedisa abantu. Yekani ukuza kudlala ngabantu baseMzantsi Afrika.

 

 

English:

 

It is enough on this propaganda of yours. We want a programme that will assist women and young professionals ...

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

... aba bathi nokuba bafaka izicelo befuna imsebenzi okanye kukho iziniki-maxabiso ezithile kuthiwe, awukho kulo mbutho wena. Mayiphele le nto kungenjalo kuzakuliwa apha ... [Laphela ixesha.] Enkosi.

 

 

Mr S N AUGUST: Hon House Chair, at the last parliamentary sitting dated 28 August 2020, the Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces called for an urgent programme of action from three arms of state to bring to an end to gender-based violence and femicide in our country. Soon will be the end of Women’s Month and November will ... [Inaudible.]

... 16 Days of Activism against women and child abuse. If we are to be honest nothing has changed. In fact, this ... [Inaudible.] ... progressively gotten worse. We have witnessed an increase in crimes against women and children in our society, but most in our places of learning, unemployment and institutions where these victims are deemed to be safe.

Failing to protect women and children has long lasting consequences for the growth and the ability to pursue a prosperous existence in society. If we are to address the generational equality, we must address the cause of these offenses. It is for this reason that Good endorses and believes in the basis income grant so that we can move away from this scourge and assist our families to uplift themselves.

 

 

House Chair, taking this into consideration, South Africans are sick and tired of killing and brutal dismemberment of women and girls of this country. When ... [Inaudible.] ... the

 

 

unnecessary loss of lives is not enough, we need calculated focus and the results driven intervention. It is, therefore, a call for an amendment to the Criminal Law Amendment Act 105 of 1997, on minimum sentence legislation and on amendment to the schedule ... [Inaudible.] ... so that we must add femicide as a compulsory ... [Inaudible.] The ... [Inaudible.] ... and the current punishment is nothing ... [Inaudible.] ... there is no regard for human life. There is no regard for the women who gave life. Tata Madiba said “Freedom cannot be achieved unless the women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression.” Women remain enslaved to this system of patriarchy and violence. No bail for these suspects, and these culprits need to be evicted from our society. May these fallen angels rest in peace. Thank you.

 

 

Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Hon House Chairperson, can I take this because he has some difficulties with technology.

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Proceed, hon Shaik Emam.

 

 

Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Thank you very much, House Chairperson. Allow me to start off by paying tribute to Babita Deokaran who was gunned down mercilessly by all-male assassins while

 

 

fighting corruption in a male-dominated industry of corruption industry. Hon House Chairperson, we have nongovernment organisations, NGOs, in this country and nonprofit organisations, NPOs, community police forums, CPFs, neighbourhood watchers, law enforcement that includes metro police, SA Police Service, SAPS, security industry, and kinds of legislation, and we need no more. Billions of rands are spent annually, but a 112 women are still raped daily, 42 of them raped by those that they are known to them.

 

 

Now, year in and year out, House Chairperson, we make this call for women to be protected, recognised, respected and treated equally, and I don’t think it is time for more legislation. I think it calls for societal change. There must be something wrong and we need to get to the root causes of what’s going on. 13% of women in this country, only 13% ... [Inaudible.] ... 13% on executive positions. If you take the Western Cape, for example, they make up more than the Coloured community, makes up for more than 52% to 53%, of the population, but only 8% of them hold managerial positions.

Let’s look at the issue of women with disabilities, and let’s start from this House. How many women with physically challenges do you have in the 400 number of members in the National Assembly for a start?

 

 

Now, when a woman is raped or murdered, we find that this thing becomes politicised in front of the courts because people brought these plague cards and things, but what have we done, House Chairperson, to protect these women to prevent them from being raped and to prevent them from being murdered, very little or nothing has been done in terms of ... [Inaudible.] Let me pay tribute to people like, you know, Mama Winnie Mandela, you know the role that she played even in the release of Tata Madiba. Let me pay tribute to Zanele

kaMagwaza-Msibi, what a fantastic woman and look at how she is selfless serves the interests of women and children in the area where she been a mayor for over 14 years. Therefore, for a woman to take their rightful place in society we need to start at home. How many, many in their own homes recognise women equally and respect them? Where do we get this that men, you know, believe that they are superior to woman? Every woman out there is somebody’s child, somebody’s sister, somebody’s daughter, and somebody’s mother. When can we understand them?

 

 

Now, I also want to say that as parents, we need to take responsibilities if you want to create a better society of people in the future and that is where our problem is.

Therefore, we need to get to root causes of what is happening in the country currently. Why do women continue to earn less

 

 

than their male counterparts? Okay, in other words, it’s another form of apartheid before white should earn more than... [Inaudible.] ... Now we do need that women that earn less ... thank you, House Chair. [Time expired.]

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon Shaik Emam, your time is up. I know it has been a long time since these sittings have been taking place. Let’s please go back and plan accordingly with our allocated time. Rre Mphithi!

 

 

Mr L MPHITHI: Thank you, hon House Chairperson. In the month of April my colleagues and I, hon Sharif and hon Ngcobo, travelled across the country visiting to the ... [Inaudible.]

... centres meeting the frontline workers who deal directly with gender-based violence each and every day: the social workers, the counsellors, the nurses, the psychologists and the volunteers. Hon House Chairperson, it was extremely difficult to hear the stories of fatigue ran out and worry that many felt. These are the people who have to contend with what to do if the police don’t bring rape kits on time. These are the people who have to contend with having no vehicles to make it to the most remote parts of our country to get to victims. These are the people who have to contend with the constant rhetoric the pontification that happens in this

 

 

House, the politicisation of gender-based violence that happens consistently, and the continued pretentiousness and the promises that are made at this podium every year.

 

 

They asked us to deliver a message that instead of speeches of how we sympathise, instead of politicising this crisis each and every year, they asked us to tell this House to be bold.

Be bold in our action. Be bold for the victims. Be bold for all those we’ve lost. The point is about the people in charge. The people who decide what the priorities become. The people who control the resources, and many of those people are in this House. Our country is currently gripped by the scourge of gender-based violence. One cannot try to analyse this particular violence without looking at the root causes.

Gender-based violence is an establishment that strives in an environment of no accountability, no justice, no service delivery, entrenched patronage and a completely lack of will.

 

 

Today many women are watching this debate from home, school and the workplace. I’m worried because I’m not sure whether this government will change anything. It didn’t last year and it didn’t the year before that. The government knows what it needs to do. They’ve heard it time and time again, every year in this very House. They’ve heard it from NGOs. They’ve it

 

 

from women. They’ve heard it from many people in this country, but nothing has changed.

 

 

However, what we can change is what we do as men and not by only caring deeply about these issues because it is not enough. We need to have more guts to challenge each other, disrupt each other and begin to change the level of tragedy in our society. This is one of the ways we stop dominant systems from maintaining themselves, to stop the trajectory of going unexamined about issues that are about us.

 

 

Now, more than ever, we need to stand our ground and fight for the future of South Africa, because it is clear that if we lose the fight against gender-based violence, we lose the future of South Africa. Therefore, we have to do it. Be bold for all the women we’ve lost, for the men and women who never had the opportunity to share their stories, for our parents who grew up in spite of all these things, for them who knew that they had love and dance despite the fact that they were silenced and that their abuse was silenced, for those who have lost hope, for the parents who have lost their daughters, and for the children who have lost their mothers. We have to be bold and stop gender-based violence in this country. I thank you.

 

 

Mr W T LETSIE: House Chairperson and fellow South Africans, the DA as you have heard, the EFF, the FF Plus, ACDP - surprisingly today - once again misses the point by politicizing a very serious and sensitive pandemic that continues to claim lives and dignity of our women and children.

 

 

Sesotho:

 

Le hlabisa dihlong.

 

 

English:

 

Shame on you. As we close off women’s months, I wish to take a moment to reflect ... [Interjections.] [Inaudible.] ... which was adopted at the founding conference of Federation of South African Women. The women of South Africa, from all walks of life, boldly declared:

 

 

We resolve to struggle for the removal of laws and customs that deny African women the right to own, inherit or alienate property. We resolve to work for a change in the laws of marriage such as are found amongst our African, Malay and Indian people, which have the effect of placing wives in the position of legal subjection to husbands, and giving husbands the power to dispose of wives' property and earnings, and

 

 

dictate to them in all matters affecting them and their children.

 

 

We recognise that the women are treated as minors by these marriage and property laws because of ancient and revered traditions and customs which had their origin in the antiquity of the people and no doubt served purposes of great value in bygone times.

 

 

Throughout history, women have been marginalised, regarded as the weaker gender and incapable of fulfilling the duties which were traditionally considered as being for men. History teaches us that women, in most parts of the world, including South Africa, were considered perpetual minors without rights to property, to inherit, to vote, to hold legal power and to hold certain occupations. Married women were legally dead in the eyes of the law.

 

 

History teaches us that women were relegated to the lower runs of society. Throughout all of this, history also teaches us that the bodies of women have been considered and treated as objects. The war against women bodies even continues today.

Patriarchy remains deeply entrenched within the fabric of our society and continues to serve as a catalyst, to breath and

 

 

legitimise most violations and discriminations against women. It is therefore imperative that we challenge and dismantle patriarchal attitude.

 

 

The fight against patriarchy is not only women’s struggle, it is my struggle – it is your struggle – it is everybody’s struggle. While there has been great progress in the emancipation of women in South Africa through legislative and other means since the advent of democracy, women remains disproportionately represented amongst the country’s poorest. The gender gap continues to persist in economic, social and political spheres.

 

 

Economic empowerment remains the most economical contributing factor to achieving gender equality. Unleashing the entrepreneurial potential of women, which drives growth through innovation, education, training and job creation, continues to be some of the most effective ways to ensure lasting empowerment. The economic empowerment of woman is a prerequisite for reducing poverty in our country and dismantling patriarchy. It is our collective responsibility to change the social contrast of patriarchy.

 

 

The 54th National Conference of the ANC further resolves inter alia that, the full might of the criminal justice system, including the denial of bail and sentence regime, should be utilised for combating violence against women and children, particularly in the relation with domestic violence and sexual offences. The ANC in its 2019 manifesto, committed itself to eradicate gender-based violence.

 

 

Following the Presidential Summit in 2020, three Bills which are commonly known the 3GBV Bills, were tabled before the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, and the public was invited to make submissions. These Bills were passed in this House this year, and they are now referred to the NCOP for concurrence.

 

 

These three Bills, just to refresh your memories, they are the Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Bill which seeks to, amongst other things, introduce three clear bail and sentencing provision aligned to the fact that a child witness must be protected from undue mental stress or suffering while giving evidence. The Bills seeks to provide the appointment of intermediaries and regulate the giving of evidence through intermediaries proceeding other than criminal offences.

 

 

The Domestic Violence Amendment Bill is the second one that seeks to address the gaps and anomalies which have manifested themselves since the Domestic Violence Act came into operations in 1999. The Domestic Violence Act provides women with the highest form of protection from domestic violence, placing responsibilities squarely on the organs of state, particularly SA Police Service, to ensure that survivors of domestic violence are able to apply for protection order which can now be obtained electronically because we are in the era of Fourth Industrial Revolution, 4IR.

 

 

The Criminal Law Amendment Bill, which is the last one, seeks to extend the protection afforded to the victims of gender- based violence, and to introduce a new offence of sexual intimidation, to extend the ambit of offence of incest. The Bill seeks to further regulate the inclusion of particulars of persons in the national register for sex offenders and propose, amongst others, to expand the register scope to include details of all sex offenders and not only offenders against children and persons who are mentally disabled.

 

 

It increases the period for which a sex offender’s particulars must remain in the register and further regulate the reporting duty of persons who are aware that sex offences have been

 

 

committed against persons who are vulnerable, children in particular.

 

 

House Chair, in his Women’s Day 2021 address, the real Commander-In-Chief, President Matamela, outlined that as part of the work to provide justice and support survivors of gender-based violence, 3500 family violence child protection and sexual offences investigation officers have received specialised training to do their work. He also indicated that

12 public buildings have been renovated and have been repurposed to be used as shelters. Work has been done to ensure that all police stations in our country have sexual assault evidence kit.

 

 

It should be noted that 97 courts are also ready for designation and sexual assault offences courts. However, consultation is still underway with the Chief Justice on that one. The sexual offence court order offers a ... [Inaudible.]

... and co-ordinated flow of victims’ centric support services, which includes information, private waiting room, court preparation, pre-trial motion curtailment, private testifying, intermediaries, post-trial motion curtailment, to name a few.

 

 

We also want to employ on the victims of gender-based violence, GBV, not to withdraw cases against perpetrators as this makes us look bad by supporting them from the beginning. The National Prosecuting Authority, NPA, in collaboration with the Department of Health ... [Inaudible.] ... and we know their issues.

 

 

Finally, I want to challenge all these animals who sometimes masquerade as men, to raise their right hand, place it on their left chest, close their eyes and pray with me now because this is about them. I want them to say ...

 

 

Sesotho:

 

Modimo, re a loya. E seng ka meriana empa ka diketso tse mpe. Re kopa o re thuse ... [Inaudible.]

 

 

English:

 

... 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Thank you very much.

 

 

Mr W M MADISHA: House Chairperson, the debate before us today, has become a yearly expression of sympathy for women. This continuous expression of sympathy, leads to the expected evolution of resolutions which are seldom implemented by those who are supposed to implement them; namely, the politically

 

 

elected individuals or persons who were legally employed by the state to do so. Indeed, this has become a historical song.

 

 

Let me refer you back to the joint sitting convened by the President on the 17 September 2019, in which President Ramaphosa condemned this gender-based violence, GBV. It was at that sitting that we all rose to both condemn and commit ourselves to stop this horrendous act, but nothing was done. I remember it was last year when hon Mente proposed a debate of national importance on this particular issue, but then again, nothing was implemented.

 

 

I proposed that, I remember, that the majority in this House should agree - and we all of course agreed - that we must create laws and enforce the existing ones to protect women from discrimination and violence, including rape, verbal abuse, mutilation, torture, trafficking. Has this been done? No! Because throughout the world, South Africa is seen as number one country that rapes women more than any other country in the world.

 

 

I proposed that to help women, we must give them skills and the ability to learn and earn more money. Encourage them to both participate and even lead political parties. Sensitize

 

 

the public ... [Inaudible.] ... disadvantages or forced child marriages.

 

 

I truly feel that we must be sad because ... [Inaudible.] ... we consistently agreed that GBV kills our nation. ...

[Inaudible.] ... we consistently take resolutions to stop that satanic act. But those whose daily legal duty is to actualise the stoppage of this satanic act, never do so.

 

 

For as long as women’s existence is left to play a second piddle of the human existence, then their economic advancement will never be realised. I call on all of us to stop collecting hands and commit ourselves so that indeed, we can be able to implement what we say we want to implement. Thank you, Chair.

 

 

Mr M G E HENDRICKS: There is no marital justice for women in religious marriages, but priests, rabbis and imams must pray for President’s success when they take their oath. The practical step Al Jama-ah is taking during this Woman’s Month is to table a Private Members Bill so that Parliament can comply with the judgement of the Supreme Court of Appeal to ensure marital justice for Muslim wives by November 2022. We hope hon members will engage with this Bill as Muslim wives also vote for their parties. This is in Argus, today.

 

 

Another practical step was to table a motion to make amendments to the Maintenance Act using a Green Paper put together by women maintenance activists to capture the oppression of women by men with regard to maintenance issues. Hon members must study this Green Paper and Al Jama-ah’s first round thinking what the members must be made.

 

 

Management of queues at maintenance courts and settling maintenance cases within three months is something the Minister of Justice can ensure if he is really serious about the Women’s Month. Parliament must have a policy on maintenance just like it is only now putting together in place of policy and marriages.

 

 

The new President’s first point of call is to visit the grave of Chief Albert Luthuli. Hon members must visit the Chief Albert Luthuli museum in Groutville who embraced fatherhood. In this way, we can put an end to gender-based violence. Chief Albert Luthuli had a family meeting at Dunnottar whenever he could, where he discussed with his seven children and his beloved ones the events of the day and what to look forward to the next day or week. His wife did not fail to edit his speeches. In and out of jail for the freedom we have today, did not derail his family meetings. He set the example of

 

 

fatherhood. His seven children became educated and served the society. Even today, President Ramaphosa has family meetings.

 

 

The importance of fatherhood has not been fully debated during Women’s Month, as in its absence an end to gender-based violence is a pipe dream.

 

 

The Chief’s sons had to make breakfast for their sisters, wash dishes, did laundry and iron their sisters’ clothes. That’s what Mama Luthuli, daughter-in-law of the Chief was going to tell us in the Women’s Parliament, last week. We must not think that it’s the European ways, it is African fatherhood.

The father must take care of the women in the family. Women must chill out and relax if they so want to. Fathers today must be put on terms and regulated. That’s why we have the Maintenance Act.

 

 

We call upon Members of Parliament to do something that Al Jama-ah is doing. We have the Private Members Bill and making amendments to the Maintenance Act. What are other parties doing? Thank you very much, hon Chair.

 

 

Ms J TSHABALALA: Thank you, hon House Chair, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, viewers at home, let me introduce myself. I am Judith Tshabalala.

 

 

Tshivenda:

 

Ndi ?wana wa Tshi?ereke, nga dzina ri ?o vhona. Mukololo wa ha Tshivhasa na Tshiovhe. Mubikwa na ive, ive ?a vhibva, n?e nda sala. Aa! ?ala dza vhathu.

 

 

English:

 

We meet here today as we close the Women’s Month, ... [Inaudible.] ... by a person whose voice was ever present and inspiring to the freedom fighters in our townships and villages. The people’s poet, Mzwakhe Mbuli says:

 

 

IsiZulu:

 

Ukulimala kwengqondo, Ukulimala komuntu Ukulimala komuntu, ukulimala komndeni Ukulimala komndeni, ukulimala komphakathi Ukulimala komphakathi, ukulimala kwesizwe. Ngivumele ngikubuze, elami iphimbo kalishile Kungani uthule izingane zibhubha

Ngivumele ngikhulume nonembeza wakho Yebo, ngivumele ngikhulume nawe

 

 

Magwalandini, kunini nihlezi nisonge izandla? Yini le niyenzayo ingapheli?

 

 

English:

 

[Inaudible.] ... during the height of the state of emergency in the 1980s when the grip of apartheid was strangling the soul of resistance of the youth, workers, women, black people in general and Africans in particular. The intersectional nature of the struggle for freedom was understood in the ANC. We understood then that there can never be true freedom, unless the system of exploitation of the working class by capitalists was abolished. We understood that, even if every board of a company has a black face - thanks to black economic empowerment, BEE, - and our children went to former whites’ schools, the system of racial oppression would remain. We also understood that there could never be true gender equality unless the system of patriarchy was rolled back and defeated.

 

 

So when the 23 000, some as young as 10-years-old fall pregnant, we must admit that the people’s poet tells us, we are a damaged nation. That is because we have damaged communities, broken families, ruined individuals and injured brains. What are we doing about this?

 

 

I want to argue this afternoon that we should debate in the House every year until doom’s day about gender-based violence and femicide; until we do what needs to be done. What needs to be done is also known to each and every one of us sitting here in this House and also at home.

 

 

We have to decisively dismantle the pillars of apartheid colonialism, class exploitation and structural unemployment, systemic racism, patriarchal oppression, apartheid spatial settlement patterns, colonial underdevelopment of townships and rural areas, amongst others.

 

 

The crime statistics presented recently by the Minister of Police revealed that women are victims of abuse within overpopulated spaces. Each wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has its own statistics that goes congruent with the increasing numbers of gender-based violence.

 

 

As the elected public representatives of our people, we need to come up with programmes to address these issues and thus make it possible for women and girls, regardless of their socioeconomic status to feel that they are part of a society that guarantee their safety by all the structures of our democratic state, as the NDP would implore all of us should

 

 

feel safe. All South Africans should feel safe. Women remain very vulnerable on this item.

 

 

As we pay homage to the women of 1956 who paved the path for women like myself to stand tall and proud on such platforms as this House, I also recognise the women who have made their footprint in the world, the women who continuously fight for their voices to be heard in pursuit of gender equality.

 

 

The challenge that faces women during the pandemic that we all know is that women will largely borne the brunt of the pandemic, and it has been exacerbated by already existing challenges such as inequality, unemployment, poverty, gender- based violence and lack of economic empowerment. Over 42% of households in South Africa are women-led, and women work in the hardest hit economies such as hospitality, health, retail trade and manufacturing, including mining.

 

 

The job cuts and employment insecurity in the informal sector further exacerbated the conditions of employment that women were already subjected to, such as low wages, poor working conditions and lack of social protection prior the lockdown. These challenges increased household poverty and worsened food security, particularly in the women-led households where a

 

 

woman is the sole bread winner. The loss of income has affected families, households and communities at large. Lack of income increases the risks of women depending on their partners which limits a woman’s power and open up avenues of gender abuse.

 

 

The policy on women empowerment of the ANC has been very clear around the 50/50 principle. We implore political parties on the other side of the fence to ensure that they make women to also occupy positions of strategic importance.

 

 

When we attended Women’s Parliament on Friday, we would have seen a beautiful woman who was here and unfortunately the race issue remains a very thorny matter because in this benches, there was nothing that had to do with that. But I also implore the ANC as well, to work very hard to ensure that the issues of race are being attended to as women should also be represented, black and white or creed or colour ... However, let us be frank and admit that this is not enough to transform the reality faced by millions of women who do not even have those companies to tender for public sector business.

 

 

Government has made strides towards achieving gender equality

 

guided by South Africa’s progressive laws. We are seeing more

 

 

women serving in high-ranking positions than ever before. Even then, the truth is that for most African women trapped in the grinding poverty of our townships and rural lives, such opportunities are a mere pipe dream.

 

 

Government has recognised that laws such as the Employment Equity Act have had very limited effects on achieving equity in the workplace. As a result, government has brought an amendment to the Act to give greater powers to the state to enforce compliance.

 

 

The President’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, would have committed itself that women should commit that Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises, SMMEs, and women-owned businesses will play a vital role in the delivery of infrastructure. Women will also be encouraged and supported to form co-operatives in key economic sectors such as retail, agriculture and agro-processing, financial services and manufacturing and will be also be prioritised to access funding.

 

 

Let me quickly respond to the, the DA, hon Sharif, I don’t know what you were saying. I didn’t even capture anything. It is very disappointing. This is a very important debate that we

 

 

should not ever be and find ourselves in a situation where we are politicking around with the women’ struggle. The women question is a very important question in our struggle. I am highly disappointed ... [Interjections.] ... currently and the DA’s incompetency that they speak about crime and blame the Minister of Police who spent sleepless nights trying to ensure that there is peace and ensuring that the crime statistics come down in this country, you come with your rhetoric and blame the Minister of Women in The Presidency and you even belittle another women as a woman. I am very disappointed.

There is nothing that you have done.

 

 

Hon Manzini says you are the chairperson. The chairperson of what, if you come here and give no solutions? We need to come together as political parties and resolve the women question. The women question calls upon all of us to ensure that we come together. The women of Nyanga and Khayelitsha here in the Western Cape, you don’t speak about the plight of those women, because they too deserve to have services and to be assisted with the crimes that are horiffic in Khayelitsha or Nyanga.

That situation is appalling. You say where you govern, you govern right. It is very shocking. In fact, there is nothing that you should have said in this debate, including your other hon member that spoke about Thuthuzela Care Centres. The fact

 

 

that we have so many Thuthuzela Care Centres in this country

 

... and we are rolling them out, shows that we are dedicated to address the plight of gender-based violence.

 

 

The President would have said gender-based violence remains a pandemic. It requires all of us as a society to come together. Gender-based violence requires family structures and a home

... For you to come here, argue, and blame government for everything is unbecoming. We have to ... [Time expired.] ... Thank you.

 

 

Ms A L A ABRAHAMS: House chairperson, my heart sinks every time we have the Women’s Month debate in Parliament because once again it highlights the pain and suffering endured by women. We are abused, raped and murdered daily with little hope and growing fear and anxiety that one day, I too will become a gender-based violence, GBV, statistic.

 

 

Added to this anxiety is knowing that we are still painfully far from where we ought to be regarding our national vaccination target.

 

 

This Women’s Month we learnt that of the 7,2 million people in

 

South Africa who have received at least one dose of the

 

 

vaccine, 60% are women; 4,32 million women in comparison to 2,88 million men.

 

 

These figures have shown us that despite all the barriers South African women face on a daily basis, they still made their way to a vaccination site.

 

 

Barriers such as mobility to reach vaccination sites, restricted decision-making over their own bodies and health, taking fussy toddlers with them to stand in queues, making that bold decision to miss a day’s work or use the few rands left to travel to a vaccination site.

 

 

And while women make up a significant number of our frontline healthcare professionals and thus, were first to receive a covid vaccine, many included in this 60% are everyday mothers and daughters who consciously choosing to protect themselves and in turn their families.

 

 

Women are on the frontline not only as healthcare professionals, but as Early Childhood Development, ECD, teachers, cashiers, educators, domestic workers, caregivers and social workers. Daily interacting with our children,

 

 

seniors, vulnerable citizens, exposing themselves daily to covid.

 

 

Women and girls still suffer disproportionately during the pandemic, especially of its secondary impact. More women will be removed from the labour market, being forced to provide care at home. This, is the beginning of extreme poverty for women when they are forced to give up their livelihoods. Girls will drop out of school, worsening existing gender inequalities.

 

 

On Friday 27 August the Minister of Health said that the gender gap had now narrowed to 58% of women and 42% of men who had been vaccinated. Only 2%. Is there male vaccine hesitancy? I certainly hope not.

 

 

So, once again, during Women’s Month, we make a call for men to stand with us. Help us protect each other and our families in the fight against Covid-19. Please vaccinate. Thank you.

 

 

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION: Hon

 

House Chairperson, as we come to the close of Women’s Month, continuing to observe 2021 as declared: The year of Charlotte Maxeke. A pioneer and first black South African woman to earn

 

 

a university degree in 1903. We realise how high the bar was set by the women of that time in terms of approach to the struggle for liberation and freedom.

 

 

Mme [Ms] Charlotte Mannya Maxeke was not only a pioneer but also a freedom fighter through all the work she did. Their struggles are still struggles of women today. We must intensify the fight that these brave women started.

 

 

After the male-only ANC was formed in 1912, she demanded and was awarded membership. This is how progressive the ANC has been over years, always open to new ideas that evolve with time. Thus, the 50/50% representation of men and women in the constitution of the ANC, never to be found in the constitution of any political party regardless the many voices that we hear this afternoon trying to criticise the ANC-led government.

 

 

Mme Charlotte Mannya Maxeke believed and proved that women can be capable leaders. As women of South Africa we have come a long way. As we remember the names of other women who fought viciously towards the emancipation of women such as Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Albertina Sisulu, Mme Sofia De Bruyn, the only one of the four main leaders of the 1956 march to the Union Buildings. We continue to remember also Helen

 

 

Joseph, Lillian Ngoyi, Rahima Moosa and Ray Alexander, and many, many others, whose names are not here today mentioned.

 

 

These are women on whose shoulders we are standing. These are women with rich history of participation and leadership in the struggles for liberation of women, mainly trade union and working-class movement.

 

 

With society dynamic and forever changing, the challenges of women of South Africa today are different but the status quo remains. Looking at the challenges from the perspective of the commitments South Africa has made to the United Nations, UN, Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a declaration negotiated and signed on behalf of women of the world at the 1995 World Conference for Women; the status of women of South Africa has improved.

 

 

Women can now, unlike in the past, an oppressive apartheid regime, own property; women can participate in the use and ownership of land and land resources, that’s why we have women farmers, women in the mining sector; women now have equal opportunities to men in business ownership, even if access challenges still need to be addressed; women have broken the barriers to entry into sectors and industries previously

 

 

preserved for men, such as the aviation, military, academia, technology, engineering and construction.

 

 

More girl children acquire high school senior certificate today than ever before. Sexual abuse is a harassment in and out of school must be fought vehemently to avoid teenage pregnancies that disturbs this momentum.

 

 

The rights of women are today fully protected in South Africa but more can still be done; understanding the principle of progressive realization of rights within the limited resources of the state. And I must repeat, this meaning of progressive realization of rights because what you hear in South Africa is: When is this going to be done? When is this going to actually be accomplished? But people forget the difficult past that we come ... and the past that actually destroyed the lives of women, the general population of South Africa. This cannot actually be undone over just a few years, regardless of the fact that cognisance needs to be taken of the fact that there must be also finances to manage to meet these demands.

Our government has done so much. What is important, where there is fairness, instead of hearing many voices that are criticising and saying ‘hurry and get it right’; some of the voices who have participated in processes that oppressed South

 

 

Africans in the past. We need to begin to make an audit of what government has done; the lives of South Africans and the lives of South African women have, indeed, improved.

 

 

Today challenges for women are exacerbated by COVID-19. Research shows a disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women as people who comprise most of the frontline workers in the health sector, in education, in the police, as forerunners also in the care and responsibilities in the households. Economically, women have suffered severe economic and social impacts from the lockdown imposed to curb the spread of the virus.

 

 

Research also shows that women accounted for two-thirds of the total net job losses. Women are more likely than men to live in households that reported running out of food and money in April 2020, at the onset of COVID-19.

 

 

In addition, the closure of schools resulted in more women than men having to take care of children and spending more hours on childcare. It is, thus, clear that the adverse effects of COVID-19 on women and the economy, health, education and food security are immense. Women bear the brunt

 

 

of poverty in South Africa, with young women, especially African women, worst affected.

 

 

Government, in partnership with other stakeholders in the country, is putting in place measures that seeks to address the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide, GBVF.

 

 

Following the 2018 march of activists against the high levels of gender-based violence in the country and the subsequent Presidential Summit on ending gender-based violence and femicide, a National Strategic Plan was developed and launched by the President, his excellency, Cyril Ramaphosa, in March 2020.

 

 

Since then, there have been a number of measures implemented. An Inter-Ministerial Committee on gender-based violence and femicide that comprise of key Ministers has been established. One measure that has been put in place to really try and fight the scourge of gender-based violence.

 

 

One of the responsibilities of this Inter-Ministerial Committee on gender-based violence and femicide has been to promote and integrate the National Strategic Plan on gender-

 

 

based violence and femicide into government’s planning and

 

budgeting processes.

 

 

Government has allocated R21 billion over the next three years to address the issue of gender-based violence and femicide through implementing the six pillars of the National Strategic Plan.

 

 

His excellency, President Ramaphosa, also launched a private sector gender-based violence and femicide fund at the end of 2020 and almost immediately, corporate pledged R128 million to the fund. So much has been done. Only the eyes that can see can see that a lot of work is been put into trying to improve the lives of the women of South Africa, a lot of work is been put into trying to fight the scourge of gender-based violence.

 

 

To date, 22 national departments have submitted their Monitoring and Evaluation Plans on the National Strategic Plan on gender-based violence and femicide and they have been reporting monthly on progress to the Department of Women, Youth and People with Disabilities. You may want to criticise the Minister in this department but what is on paper talks for itself.

 

 

The processes of establishing the national council on gender- based violence and femicide will commence once the legislation that regulates the mandate, operations, powers and functions of the National Strategic Plan is in place.

 

 

Gender-based violence and femicide rapid response teams have been launched in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality and in Lusisiki [Time expired.] Thank you, Chairperson.

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G BOROTO): This is the year of Charlotte Maxeke, which means it is the year of the women.

 

 

IsiZulu:

 

Ngalokho sithi, Malibongwe! [Ubuwelewele.]

 

 

AMALUNGU AHLONIPHEKILE: Igama lamakhosikazi! [Ubuwelewele.]

 

 

English:

 

Hon members ...

 

 

IsiZulu:

 

 ... asingamoshi umsebenzi omuhle owenzeka namhlanje owenziwe kule Ndlu ...

 

 

English:

 

... this House. There are tags on each of our gadgets and I’ve

 

seen members sitting very close to each other in the House. Let us protect one another because the work that Parliament has done, they made sure that we sit according to the protocols. Please, let’s respect that. I know we miss each other; we want to be close to each other but this is not the place. Thank you very much.

 

 

CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON WOMEN, YOUTH AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ON FILLING OF VACANCIES FOR THE NATIONAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (NYDA) BOARD

 

 

Ms C N NDABA: Thank you very much Chairperson, hon Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip and hon members. Young people are the future of this country, they are vibrant and are full of ideas, opportunities such as education, employment and upskilling should always be at the avail as to empower our youth for the future.

 

 

Young people today are burdened with various issues such as unemployment, mental health matters, substance abuse and access to education and skills.

 

 

The National Youth Development Agency, NYDA, is at the centre of ensuring that challenges faced by youth are addressed.

Through the recommended appointments of the board we are adamant that issues pertaining to youth will be adhered to and addressed.

 

 

Section 9 of the NYDA Act stipulates that the board is comprised of seven members, two of whom are executive directors. Members of the board hold office for a period of three years and are appointed by the President on the recommendation of Parliament.

 

 

The term of office for the NYDA board expired on 31 May 2020. The establishment of the sub-committee, I will say tabled as read just to save time and go straight to public participation processes.

 

 

Parliament advertised on 20 March 2021 in various local, regional and national newspapers including the parliamentary website inviting applications for persons to serve on the NYDA board. The advertisement was in line with the NYDA Act 54 of 2008 which provides the procedures and process for the appointment of the board members. The deadline for applications was 9 April 2021. A total 1 117 applications

 

 

including one duplicate application were received. This brought the number of applications received to 1 116.

 

 

Shortlisting criteria and processes I’ll say tabled as read in our report of the portfolio committee. According to the NYDA Act 54 of 2008, the board consists of seven members of who are executive directors. Members must be appointed in a manner ensuring participation by youth in a nomination process of transparency and openness.

 

 

A shortlist for candidates of appointment is published and the geographical spread of the republic is reflected. After careful consideration of the number CVs received, the sub- committee resolved to shortlist 40 candidates even the large number of applications received.

 

 

Shortlisting took place on the 25th and 26th of May 2021. All

 

40 shortlisted candidates were subjected to academic qualifications verification, check and security clearance and adherence to Section 10 of the NYDA Act.

 

 

Positive confirmation was received from the human resource unit of Parliament of the academic qualifications of all the

17 recommended candidates. In addition, all 17 candidates were

 

 

found to be fit and proper to be recommended as candidates to serve on the board Interview guidelines and processes, I’ll say tabled as read in our portfolio committee report. After the 17 candidates presented themselves and their innovative ideas of taking the NYDA and the youth development forward, the sub-committee members considered recommending 14 candidates. However, we deliberated and agreed to recommend the top 17 candidates based on their performance during the interviews, skills and experience and a demographic profile that is representative of the country.

 

 

This proved to be a challenging and momentous task. The 17 candidates are thus representative of demographics and geographical space of the republic. As found in Section 9(4) of the NYDA Act 54 of 2008.

 

 

The following 17 candidates may be considered for appointment by the President to serve as the board members in NYDA for a period of three years. Ms Karabo Mohale, Mr Molauli Sekake, Mr Mihlali Pedro Mzileni, Mr Lukhona Afrika Mnguni, Ms Paballo Ponoane, Mr Kutloano Esau Rakosa, Mr Micarlo Malan, Mr Avela Mjajubane, Ms Lebohang Mulaisi, Mr Thabo Shingange, Ms Alexandra Syrah Procter, Mr Thulisa Ndlela, Ms Asanda Luwaca, Ms Busisiwe Cathrine Seabe, Ms Nomcebo Nkosi, person with a

 

 

disability, Ms Nompumelelo Mpatha and Ms Pearl Pillay. The committee further indicated that it would be ideal to have four females and three males appointed to the NYDA board.

 

 

In conclusion, the portfolio committee wished to commend the members of the sub-committee for their hard work and dedication shown through the process and acknowledges the support staff for their support. House Chairperson, we request that the House adopts the report. I thank you.

 

 

Mr L MPHITHI: Thank you, House Chairperson. This process where we find ourselves today has come a long way. I remember just last year how the process became severely predetermined, unfair and unconstitutional. From the moment list of candidates was issued by the ANC National Youth Task Team on

11 May 2020 from the Deputy Secretary-General of the ANC, shortly after that, all the names identified in that from that letter were amongst the top 30 shortlisted candidates.

 

 

It was young people across the country who stood together and fought against the political hunger of the youth league and its attempt to once again capture the National Youth Development Agency, NYDA, for its graduates. It was the DA that fought against the predetermined list in the committee

 

 

and this very House. Their actions were not only cringe worthy, but they were illegal and criminal. When we began a new process it was vital that we ensure that young people of South Africa had full confidence in the legitimacy of this process.

 

 

This meant that, brilliant, talent young people across South Africa needed to be given a fair process that prioritise mediocracy over political connections. That beautiful diversity that South Africa was represented, that young, talented, qualified candidates were not overlooked. The DA believes in a fair society where our youth must be skilled, empowered and employed based on their talents and hard work, and not who they know.

 

 

We truly had the most amazing young people sit before us straight and present their ideas for the youth of South Africa. It was truly a spectacular thing to have these young people give the ideas on television for three days in a row. With no doubt I can say that, we have innovative young people in this country with brilliant ideas. We had Mr Alexandra Procter who wants to push the country’s youth into the taxi world and create jobs, we have Ms Pearl Pillay, the director of Youth Lab, who lives, breaths development and advocacy, we

 

 

had Lukhona Mnguni, who is indeed a brilliant mind and who is very passionate about governance and young people of this country.

 

 

All these candidates that came before us, presented their ideas, and they gave us hope as a nation that we can indeed turn things around, that the youth can turn South Africa around. If you watched those interviews I am sure that you could see that there is still hope despite the failure of the ANC. Under no illusion that the NYDA has been a cash cow for cadres for many years. This has happened to the detriment of our young people. When we analyse the high levels of youth unemployment, we must be under no illusion that if cadre stopped eating five years ago, we might not be sitting with the highest level of youth unemployment rate in the world.

 

 

The NYDA is supposed to be an entity that empowers young people with skills development and funding, it’s supposed to attract the best and brightest who help us fight unemployment and try to wage forward innovation amongst young people in this country, but instead, it has become a cadre facility. The DA has always advocated for NYDA board to be free of political influence and patronage. The agency can no longer only exist

 

 

for the benefit of ANC card carrying members and those who are closely linked to the political elite.

 

 

The task for the seven recommended candidates is to do what no board has ever done, which is to stop political patronage in this country in this entity. It is to hear the voices of young people when they say, if I don’t have a green, black, yellow, membership card, I don’t get assistance from the NYDA. It is to be yourself ... [Inaudible.] ... and make sure that you don’t become a cadre that eats at the detriment of our young people of this country. The ANC has been eating and chawing for many years, it’s time that it stops.

 

 

The DA would like to recognise all the contributions that have been made by young people across this country. Many youth activists, NGOs and youth organisations who reached out to the DA and wrote petitions and letters to Parliament, they are drawing the line and taking back this institution from the corrupt ANC Youth League and its task team. Indeed, they remind us that Parliament is not above the people, it must work for the people. The DA supports the report. Thank you.

 

 

Ms H O MKHALIPHI: Thank you very much Chairperson, Chair of Chairs. The EFF supports the Portfolio Committee on Women,

 

 

Youth, and Persons with Disabilities report on filling of vacancies for the National Youth Development Agency, NYDA. We want to put it on record, Chairperson, that we condemn this creeping tendency in Parliament of using state security agency bogus reports to try and discredit candidates in appointment to boards when it is not a requirement.

 

 

This is the same state security agency that cannot gather even most basic intelligence, yet they want to paddle gossip in parliamentary processes. The committee was mandated to rerun the process to advertise, shortlist, interview and make recommendations on the number of people who must lead the NYDA board after the initial process was abused by narrow partisan and factional interest of the Ruling Party. The EFF has consistently promoted a process to appoint the NYDA board that consider gender, race and geographical spread to ensure representation of interest of all young people in South Africa.

 

 

The days of the NYDA offices treated as the ANC youth League, and young ... [Inaudible.] ... desk office must come to an end. The NYDA must be non-partisan. We don’t want the NYDA that exists only in ... [Inaudible.] ... and fill the positions that do not benefit young people., instead, we want

 

 

to see a board that will give strategic guidance to the management of the NYDA to create an intelligent organisation. We want to make it clear that we will hold the people appointed to the board of the NYDA accountable.

 

 

The board does not report to the CFO and it does not report to the CEO of the NYDA. Those people are there to deliver on the vision and the mandate of the NYDA, and they must take guidance from the board, and not the other way around. Thank you very much, Chair.

 

 

Ms Z MAJOZI: Thank you, hon Chairperson. The Department of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities began to function as a new department on 1 April 2020. Its tasks and duties are stipulated under section 9(iii) of the Constitution, mandated to accelerate the socioeconomic transformation and the empowerment of participation of women, youth and people with disabilities through policy advocacy, monitoring and evaluation.

 

 

As an entity under the stewardship of the department, the National Youth Development Agency, NYDA, is tasked with highlighting and advocating for the issues that speak to all youth of South Africa. Its ultimate goal is the development of

 

 

all young people of South Africa, and not just those that are affiliated with the governing party. Bearing this in mind, the selection process for the NYDA board must ensure that there is a board representation formed across the spectrum.

 

 

Nomination must include young people with disabilities, women representatives from civil society and multiple independent youth organisation. Only this way, can the NYDA board truly promote the interests of South African young people and not just a narrow group. The IFP, therefore, was very disappointed to see that all 17 candidates that the portfolio committee had recommended for appointment by the President, are representatives of the governing party.

 

 

Where is the plurality of voices, the diversity of views who will speak up for all the issues of the youth that are not affiliated with the governing party? We are not of the belief that the nomination process in this current format is fundamentally flawed, with the end results being yet another case of cadre deployment. We would therefore like to suggest that the nomination process be subjected to independent view, and that mechanism be put in place to ensure the diversity of voices. The IFP, therefore, does not accept this report. Thank you.

 

 

Declarations of vote (cont.):

 

Ms T BREEDT: Thank hon House Chairperson, a while Minister Maite answered the question in which she said, that the National Health Insurance, National Youth Development Agency, NYDA, has ... [Inaudible.] ... the Minister is mistaken, because it has never been anything but an employment agency for the political connected. The NYDA is nothing else than an ANC youth league branch. It is just another forum for the ANC to loot and mismanage. It is just another talk shop that they can fill with the cadre’s kids to ensure the life of luxury these children have become accustomed to, is maintained.

 

 

But, back to the report and the recommended names, just because the most controversial names were removed from the list and the list was increased by an additional 10 people, does not mean that the politically connected will not once again be chosen.

 

 

Furthermore, the problem with this recommendation of 17 names, is that the committee has now knowingly excluded Parliament in the process to ensure that the seven best candidates and not the seven ANC connected candidates become board members. The report says very noble that by adding more names to the list, they are giving the President the option to make a good choice

 

 

and ideally they would like to see four females and three males selected from these 17 names. But, the fact of the matter is that President Ramaphosa, is the President of the ANC. Does the committee not remember the reason this process had to restart? Was because the ANC was very biased towards the ANC members. Now the committee is entrusting the ANC to make an unbiased decision. Have we not learnt our lesson?

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

Terwyl ons oor die komitee praat, dit is ’n skande dat ons in die eerste proses reeds meer as R1 Miljoen spandeer het, sodat die komitee kon sit en dat die raad verkies kon word. Die hele proses moes toe herhaal word en meer geld moes gedurende die pandemie gebruik word, toe daar regtig geen geld was om te spandeer nie.

 

 

English:

 

And hon Mkhaliphi has forgotten that the NYDA only succeeds in creating a business, criminal and deliquesce by Andile Lungisa, a former NYDA Chairperson and also a former the members of the Mayoral committee, MMC, in Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitan, as he was found guilty of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and has since also been suspended as a

 

 

member of the ANC. Is not even that the ANC has no other alternative than to suspend the person, you know is bad.

 

 

The President, I have one final suggestion to make, you must be careful that history does not repeat itself. The busiest criminal delinquent and political allies are not what the youth of South African needs.

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

Ek sluit af, die VF Plus bly egter van die mening dat die enigste oplossing vir grootskaalse korrupsie, swak bestuur en ANC-kaderontplooiing is om van hulle ontslae te raak. Ek dank u.

 

 

Mr M G E HENDRCKS: Hon House Chair, Al Jama-ah would like to encourage those that have been nominated to do their best for the country. We will stand behind them, we will do our oversight and the issues that hon Members of Parliament have raised, we are confident that it will not be like that.

 

 

Our advice to those on the board is to create mix generation jobs, new revenue streams, embrace the Fourth Industrial Revolution and to take care of communities that have been neglected over the years like the Cape Flats. In Mitchells

 

 

Plain we have entrepreneurs, dealing with robotics and drones. And those are the kind of areas that we hope that the board will look at and provide its support. Al Jama-ah supports the report. Thank you very much.

 

 

Ms A S HLONGO: Thank you very House Chairperson, greetings to the Chairperson of the portfolio committee. Firstly, on this last day of Woman’s Month allow me to pay homage to the women of 1956 who lay the foundation for women like us to walk the path. The women that understood and knew their worth and ready to take a stand against the oppressive laws that hindered their path. The women that laid a foundation for a woman like myself to stand in platforms like this. Because they recognise the significance of woman’s voice.

 

 

Today we celebrate a struggles that were such as Mam Charlotte Maxeke, Mam Lillian Ngoyi and many other women that stood together to fight against gender oppression. Hon members, this Woman’s Month as we celebrate women, we also commemorate the women and children that lost their lives in the scourge of gender-based violence. We commemorate the live of Nosicelo Mtebeni who was brutally murdered by her partner on Woman’s Day. A cruel reminder that as women we do not share the freedom of safety and the entire right to exist in this world.

 

 

We stand with the number of young girls that have been abused during the lockdown and fallen pregnant, robbing them of their innocence and their future. Indeed, we still have a long way to go for us to achieve women equality and women emancipation. As the ANC we will always be at the forefront emancipation women and strive for women empowerment and an end to

gender-based violence and femicide.

 

 

Hon members...

 

 

Siswati:

 

... kubuhlungu kutsi njalo ngemnyaka kumele sikhute lomhlolo wekubulawa kwabomake nebantfwana. Sihlalo kuswelakala kwematfuba emsebenti...

 

 

English:

 

... has risen in the first quarter of 2021 and that approximately 3,4 million out of the 10,2 million of the young people age between 15 and 24 are not employed and are not in education and training. The challenges of youth unemployment in this country was further worsen by the pandemic and which resulted to many youth-owned enterprises businesses being impacted by the pandemic.

 

 

Hon members, the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan prioritises economic inclusion of women, youth and education development. The National Youth Development Agency should continue its role in its skills development programmes and its funding of youth enterprises. The National Youth Development Agency should update and alter its skill programmes to those are required in labour market. The NYDA should also continue to mainstream young people in various sectors of economy including the private sector.

 

 

We have faith in all the recommended candidates of the board and hope that the appointed candidates will carry the mandate of the NYDA and consider issues faced by young people such gender-based violence and femicide, mental health issues, substance abuse access to education and youth unemployment.

 

 

We need an agency that will be an agent and a voice for all young people and agency that is accessible and in touch with young people from various background despite race, gender and class. An agency that will reach out to all young people even those as far as the villages of Umjindini Trust in Mpumalanga. We need an agency that understand the struggles of young people. As the ANC we have no doubt that all the recommended candidates are well qualified and have showcase their

 

 

understanding of the NYDA and the issues pertaining young people across the country. It is for this reasons House Chairperson that as the ANC we move in support of the report. I thank you.

 

 

Debate concluded.

 

 

Question put.

 

 

Motion agreed to (Inkatha Freedom Party and Freedom Front Plus dissenting).

 

 

Report accordingly adopted.

 

 

CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS - 2019-20 ANNUAL REPORTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF SA BROADCASTING CORPORATION, SABC, SA POST OFFICE, SAPO, UNIVERSAL ACCESS AND SERVICE AGENCY OF SOUTH AFRICA, USAASA AND UNIVERSAL SERVICE ACCESS FUND, USAF

 

 

Mr B M MANELI: Hon House Chair, hon members, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, fellow South Africans, I rise to introduce this committee report on the 2019-2020 annual reports and financial statements of the SA Broadcasting Corporation, SABC,

 

 

the SA Post Office, SAPO, the Universal Access Agency of South Africa, USAASA and the Universal Service Access Fund, USAF for consideration by this House.

 

 

This happens as we end the month dedicated to the remembrance of the women’s struggles and the tracking of the progress made towards women’s emancipation. The Women’s Parliament that convened on 27 August 2021 called for men and women to work side-by-side in disrupting patriarchy in all its manifestations. This should be our guide as we discharge our different responsibilities on behalf of South Africans.

According to Section 5 of the Money Bills Amendment Procedure and Related Matters Act, the National Assembly, through its committees, must annually assess the performance of each national department. The committee must submit an annual Budgetary Review and Recommendations Report, BRRR, for the department as it falls under its oversight responsibilities, for tabling in the National Assembly.

 

 

This important task was carried out by this committee within the timeline set by the National Assembly. However, the SABC, USAASA, USAF and SAPO tabled their reports only after the BRRR process. The committee met with the SABC on 23 February 2021, USAASA, USAF on 9 March 2021 and SAPO on 12 May 2021.

 

 

Without presenting much detail, the committee, in making its observations, amongst others, noted, under the SABC, with concern that only 59% of the annual performance targets were achieved, with a net loss of R511 million. Noted the high distribution costs charged by Sentech are negatively affecting the financial viability of the SABC. Also noted with great concern are the weaknesses in the internal control measures in the procurement processes leading to irregular expenditure which undermines the strides made by the board and management to improve other areas of audit concern.

 

 

In as far as USAASA is concerned, noted with concern that the incapacity at USAASA and USAF has hampered the delivery of key programmes like the Broadcast Digital Migration Programme, BDM. But also noted with appreciation that the acting chairperson and the interim board members have been appointed to stabilise the governance of the entity concerned.

 

 

With regard to SAPO, noted with concern the low level of performance by SAPO as reflected in the annual report; which is a reflection of the dire state of affairs at the post office.

 

 

The overarching recommendation of the committee, on SABC, is the need to address the funding model in a way that clarifies the public mandate and the ability of the SABC to generate alternative income streams. This is a matter that we also advanced in the debate on the SABC.

 

 

The capacity and governance challenges at USAASA and USAF need urgent attention in a way that helps deliver on major programmes like the BDM which is crucial in the high demand spectrum allocation process.

 

 

The implementation of a turnaround strategy by SAPO and its funding model is important for its sustainability and relevance in these changing times where technology is almost everything in terms of functioning in society. I, therefore, House Chairperson, present this report for consideration of this House and I thank you, Chairperson.

 

 

There was no debate.

 

 

Declarations of vote:

 

IsiZulu:

 

Mnu Z N MBHELE: Ngiyabonga, Sihlalo ngaphambili ...

 

 

English:

 

 ... for years it has been abundantly clear that a number of these entities contained in the reports are long overdue for fundamental reform, rationalisation and restructuring to turn them around from sluggish and loss-making public companies into self-sustaining and value-adding operations.

 

 

The unavoidable truth is that with declining economic growth and tax revenue forecasts for the foreseeable future, some kind of painful change will inevitably happen down the line for these entities, whether or not they wanted or are ready for it. So the journey forward must be about facing and dealing with reality as it is not as we wish it to be.

 

 

The portfolio committee has heard repeatedly about the persistence and growing challenge of increasing competition faced by state-owned companies in their respective service markets as has been relayed to us by the SA Post Office and the SABC. We have proposed, as the DA, that some kind of consortium approach in these markets will be more effective and sustainable in the long term.

 

 

Meaning the onboarding of private sector equity partners as has been the discussion regarding other state-owned

 

 

enterprises like SA Airways, SAA and Eskom. The previous Minister in the portfolio poured cold water on this idea, but I hope that Minister Ntshavheni will be willing to relook at and consider the value add of public-private partnerships in advancing the mandates of her portfolio, exploring and finding ways of harnessing the synergy, innovation and efficiencies that can be tapped into through this approach.

 

 

In motivating for this view, I would like to remind the Minister of the benefits derived from her previous Portfolio of Small Business Development, when the Spaza shops and General Dealers Support Scheme was rolled out as a partnership between the Small Enterprise Finance Agency, Sefa, and Nedbank.

 

 

We need more of that kind of approach; what economists call the “crowding in effect”. What we do not need, Chairperson is a foolhardy, quasi-socialist approach of trying to entrench and expand state monopolies, which will promote a “crowding out effect” in communications-related markets. A foremost example in this regard is the post office’s indefensible pursuit of an enforced package delivery monopoly on items below 1kg, cutting out commercial courier companies while, in the meantime, this bankrupt entity cannot operate a

 

 

functional, efficient, and reliable post and parcel delivery service in the first place.

 

 

This is a farcical scenario of wanting to have your cake and eat it. On one hand, securing hundreds of millions in an annual state subsidy from the government, while on the other still pushing for an unjustified monopoly to be enforced.

As my mother would say ...

 

 

IsiZulu:

 

... yini manje lomhlola ongitshela wona.

 

 

English:

 

... [Inaudible.] ... expression of Kaapse [Cape Town]

 

 

Afrikaans ...

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

Is jy nou jas?

 

 

English:

 

The SA Post Office, with this massive advantage of the biggest retail footprint in the country, cannot compete fairly and profitably in an open market where competition is intense,

 

 

perhaps it should not be there at all as currently configured. For logistics and communications markets to be able to function as efficiently as they can, we need more competition, with more players who are induced to excel and innovate and certainly not an enforced monopoly. Thank you, Chair.

 

 

Mr V PAMBO: Chairperson, as the EFF we reject this report as the highest form of dishonesty on the state of affairs of entities under this department and the causes for their financial decline. The irony of this dishonesty is that the financial condition of entities such as the South African Broadcasting Corporation, SABC, and the reasons given for it contradict the very performance report in terms of content output and its exposure in the broadcast and radio market.

 

 

The report outlines how SABC radio recorded a combined weekly average listenership of 37,5 million people and how SABC’s free to air channels namely, SABC 1, 2 and 3 amassed the viewership of 26,2 million, 24,8 million and 20,2 million audience viewership in a typical month respectively. Despite this, the reported revenue collected for the year under the review is purported to be R5,7 million which was 23% under budget. The SABC is said to have been having declining revenues for the last five years, and there is uncertainty by

 

 

the leadership of this department to whether SABC will ever return to profitability.

 

 

It is a combination of incompetence and dishonesty. Incompetence because this decline occurs while 13 out of 20 of the nation’s most watched television programmes belong to the SABC, yet, it declines financially. Dishonesty because the reduced revenue is accredited to broader economic challenges and not to the poor management of the SABC content.

 

 

Instead of making strategic investments in broadcasting and advertising space, maximising successful local content through exports to foreign markets and making strategic deals with pay to view broadcasting entities for local content, the leadership of the SABC has been at pains to rationalise the firing of workers as a way of increasing revenue. That is why the entity has lost over 511 million in 2019-20 financial year.

 

 

The parasitic relationship with MultiChoice due to Independent Communications Authority of South Africa’s, ICASA’s, must carry regulations which compel the SABC to offer its three channels to all subscription broadcasters at no cost has resulted in the growth of entities such as MultiChoice on the

 

 

back of the SABC’s successful programmes and advertising space. This is while the SABC collapses. To exclude these is to lie to us and we will not endorse that.

 

 

The revenue for the SA Post Office, SAPO, is reported to have decreased and one of the reasons cited is that there are emerging substitutions to traditional mail services, but this is more dishonesty because courier services remain a stable in South Africa. There is a decline of R187 million in courier and parcel revenue because the SA Post Office is poorly managed, does not have adequate infrastructure and is under staffed due to retrenchments and simply unreliability.

 

 

A dominant perspective in both SABC and post office that retrenchments will contribute to revenue growth is narrow minded and is foolish, and reveals a poor argument for strategy and leadership. The EFF therefore rejects this dishonest report which seeks to hide incompetence behind numerous broader economic challenges. I thank you, Chair.

 

 

Mr S N SWART: House Chair, the ACDP considers this report which raises a number of issues of great concern referring both to the SABC and the SA Post Office. Having served on the ad hoc committee on the SABC board which concluded its report

 

 

in the previous Parliament in February 2017, I would like to just focus briefly on the SABC issues.

 

 

We are very concern that the report states that 59% of the targets at SABC were not met, and that the SABC has run at a R511 billion loss. As previous speakers indicated, there are significant weaknesses in the control mechanisms which are underlying the board’s attempts to improve the audit outcomes.

 

 

Chair, the ACDP is astonished that the issue relating to the funding model has still not been addressed. The funding model is at the heart of the lot of the SABC’s financial concerns. In the previous Parliament, in that report of the ad hoc committee on 24 February 2017 which was accepted unanimously by that Parliament, the funding model and the funding issue was raised. And so we, from the ACDP, would urge that that funding model be addressed as a matter of urgency to improve the liquidity position of the SABC. I thank you.

 

 

Mr N SINGH: Hon Chairperson, it is Singh here. Before you move on, I think hon Majozi is in the position to contribute to this debate. If you could give her an opportunity, thank you.

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Thank you, hon Singh. Hon Majozi?

 

 

Ms Z MAJOZI: Hon Chairperson, our consideration of today’s annual reports and financial statements for SABC, SAPO, Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa, USAASA and USEF come at a time when the South African economy is grappling with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the recent unrests in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

 

 

The transformation of state assets such as USAASA into state owned enterprises was meant to promote effective and efficient service delivery in our country. Despite this noble objective, the performance and management of our state owned enterprises, SOEs, have not delivered on these promises. The presence of SABC in our country, for instance, is expected to represent the different values that we hold dear as a country. However, an assessment of the performance of the SABC as well as the previous mentioned entities does not instil confidence.

 

 

We are aware of the economic challenges introduced by the pandemic and those which especially affected SOEs in the country. The IFP therefore, acknowledges the interventions by

 

 

the National Treasury, among others, through the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme which provided some relief.

 

 

However, despite these interventions, the IFP noted with concern the financial losses incurred by SABC where operating losses of over R500 million were recorded. Interestingly, this entity continues to register high figures of irregular expenditure. The IFP has, in the past, called for the restoration of finances at the SABC, and we echo similar sentiments regarding all SOEs we are deliberating on today.

 

 

Our concern is that these entities continue to underperform. For instance, SAPO reported a deficit on its monthly financial obligation. The entity has already depleted its funds to pay existing debts, and this is unacceptable. It is our hope that these entities improve their performance, minimise their irregular expenditure and steer their finances better so as to achieve their performance targets. The IFP supports the recommendations from the parliamentary committee. Thank you.

 

 

Mr M G E HENDRICKS: Hon Chair, we don’t have a quarrel with the report. However, we wanted some signals that the post office will add some more value as you know we are having problems with timetables for elections because of messaging

 

 

and voting. We saw the success of postal voting in America very recently and I would have imagined that the country would have been given some indication of whether the post office is moving in the direction of postal votes which will be essential as the pandemic will be around for the next decade and postal votes is certainly one way in which we can have free and fair elections. But otherwise, we don’t have a quarrel with the report. Thank you very much.

 

 

Mr D MASONDO: Hon House Chair, hon members, the National Development Plan set out in that in order to address challenges of poverty and inequality a state is needed that is capable of play a transformative and developmental role. This requires well-run and effectively co-ordinated state institution staffed by scale public servants who are committed to the public goal and a capable of delivery consistently high quality service for all South Africans while prioritising the nation’s development objectives.

 

 

Hon members, in order for us to fully ravel this vision, the National Assembly and its committees are empowered by the Constitution of the country to carry out rigorous entity oversight that will ultimately lead us to the capable state and developmental path we envisage.

 

 

Today, the committee has tabled the 2019-20 annual report and financial statement of the SA Broadcasting Corporation, SABC, the SA Post Office, the Universal Access Urgency of South Africa and the Universal Service Access Fund.

 

 

We are mindful of the fact that there are four mentioned entities experiencing numerous challenges in the period under review. However, we remain optimistic about their turnaround strategies.

 

 

The ANC believe that our SOEs are critical to the economy of South Africa. They are vehicles that ideally should build critical economic infrastructure and increase economic growth.

 

 

The SABC is one of the key institutional pillars of our democracy delivering essential content to millions of South Africans on multiple platforms. Of the period under review the SABC managed to achieved 59% of the said target.

Unfortunately, the SABC also incurred operating losses and negative cash flows on operations for the financial reporting period. The financial instability in the organisation propelled for a turnaround strategy, which led to many people retrenched.

 

 

Hon members, the period under review has put more impetus on the SABC to implement strategies that would make its content irrelevant and commercial viable.

 

 

One of the pillars of the Reconstruction and Development Plan is revitalisation of the SOEs such as the SABC to contribute to the creation of greater employment opportunity for our people, particularly the youth and women.

 

 

We are pleased that R3,2 billion recapitalisation funding from the shareholder has brought about stability in the entity with a net current access position of 1,8 billion. The SABC received unqualified audit opinion due to irregular expenditure. This is unacceptable considering that the board and executive management has promised to address these matters in previous meetings of the committee. Nevertheless, the ANC welcomes the improvement on audit result.

 

 

Out of 127 findings for 2018-19, 85% were resolved by the reporting period. The outstanding findings relate mainly to policy and procedure review that were still in process of being implemented.

 

 

The ANC is disappointed that the SA Post Office only managed to meet 35% of its targets. This is not a positive outcome of as it means that the entity was only able to achieve six of its 17 KPIs. This is owing to a number of issues. But one of the major issues that impacted on the finances of the Post Office is the demerger with Post Bank. Post Bank profit of R544 million reduced surplus net loss position in previous year. Therefore, suffers loss excluding Post Bank for 2019 amounted to R1,6 billion.

 

 

The decision to demerge SA Post Office, Sapo and Post Bank has the potential to cripple the SA Post Office. Sapo plays a strategic role in provision of essential goods and services, its operation impact on quality, accessibility and affordability of services provided to the community, particularly the poor and the vulnerable.

 

 

Therefore, the ANC welcomes its resolve of engaging in partnership to grow its current revenue strategy. The Universal Access Agency of South Africa, Usaasa, and Universal Service Access Fund, Usaf, achieved 50% of their targets in their reporting period. In the period under review, indications were that there has been over 100% increase in terms of broad bend size that had to be maintained by Usaasa.

 

 

However, there has not been any increase in the budget on human resource capacity in order to enable the urgencies to deliver on its legislative functional policy mandates.

 

 

This create a mismatch in performance areas and the budget. One of the reasons for underachievement for Usaf was the revision of the Business Development Management, BDM, service delivery model which resulted in the delay installation of set of boxes in the Free State, North West and the Northern Cape.

 

 

The ANC notes that the BDM project is officially off the ground and great efforts is supplied to ensure that we yield to the call of the President and achieve total switch off by 2022. We urge these entities to resolve and conclude on the unresolved court cases and investigation.

 

 

Hence I conclude, the entities under review are confronted with the number of challenges confronted by the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the operation of the sector. The ANC government is committed to leading these entities to recover stability so that they are to provide the much needed service to our people and create jobs. The ANC support this report.

 

 

Tshiven?a:

 

 

Vho D MASONDO: Ndo livhuwa.

 

 

The DEUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Hon House

 

Chairperson, I move that the report be adopted.

 

 

Motion agreed to.

 

 

Report accordingly adopted.

 

 

CONSIDERARTION OF REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS ON 2020-21 SECOND QUARTER PERFORMANCE AND EXPENDITURE REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

 

 

Mr B M MANELI: Hon House Chair, hon members, Ministers and Deputy Ministers and fellow South Africans, this being the year to celebrate the life of Mama Charlotte Maxeke and the end of the August month, let me appreciate the leadership role of women in different areas of responsibility. This department in particular has been led by women. Even in the recent changes in the executive, that task of ensuring universal access to connectivity and the transformation of the digital economy has once again been assigned to a capable woman. This

 

 

indeed goes a long way in disrupting patriarchy and its stereotypes.

 

 

Hon House Chairperson, the committee considered the 2020-21 Second Quarter Performance and Expenditure Report of the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies and its entities in a virtual meeting on 2 March 2021. This report gives an overview of the presentation made by the department to the committee focussing mainly on its achievements outputs in respect of the performance indicators targets set for 2021 financial year and related financial performance.

 

 

The report also provides the committee’s key deliberations and recommendations in relation to the performance presentations that was done by the department and its entities.

 

 

Hon members, the department realised significant achievements in this quarter, having achieved 34 which represents 81% of the 42 Annual Performance Plan, APP, targets of which 8% which represent 19% were not achieved and reasons shared with the committee.

 

 

Hon House Chairperson, once again without getting into the details of the observations and recommendations as tabled in

 

 

the report, allow me to make a few highlights as we observed with regard to the department, that we noted with appreciation the presentation made and commended the department for an improved report in its quarterly performance.

 

 

We noted with concern that the department did not achieve eight of its 42 targets which included the development of the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies and its organisational structure.

 

 

We noted with concern that not all 970 sites in the SA Connect programme were connected due to theft and vandalism as well as technical challenges.

 

 

We also noted with concern that the challenges in the SA Post Office, Sapo, are not conducive for the Post Office to deliver services to the people as expected.

 

 

The committee applauded stability in Sentech and commended its good performance even though other targets are not met. We commended State Information Technology, Sita, on its performance and revenue improvement as a result of the administrative caretaker appointment given the history of Sita

 

 

and its performance as it relates to the department’s as its

 

immediate clients.

 

 

Whilst noting challenges in SA Broadcasting Corporation, SABC, National Electronic Media Institute of SA, Nemisa and Film and Publication Board, FPB. In FPB in particular this is due to critical vacancies. We however note that good performance in Independent Communications Authority of SA, Icasa and Dotzetna was commended by the committee.

 

 

Hon members, the committee amongst others recommended that that the Minister should ensure that processes are in place to stabilise all entities as they operate in deferent levels.

 

 

All issues raised by the Auditor-General fully addressed especially the growing concern in some of the entities like Sapo. That consequence management is implemented in the department and across all entities. That the committee receives the updates on the reconfiguration process in order to have proper oversight that that was promised to the country is implemented. Therefore, we present this report for consideration of this House. I thank you, Chairperson.

 

 

Declaration of Vote:

 

 

Mr Z N MBHELE: Hon House Chairperson, the second quarter of this department reflected organisational shortcomings that reflected failures to get the basics right concerning ensuring adequate systems, capacity and resourcing in various areas.

 

 

The department did not achieve eight of its 42 planned quarterly targets. The following areas of underachievement’s highlighted precisely this need to reflect the fundamentals. Firstly, the service delivery model of the organisational structure was not approved due to resource constrains.

 

 

Secondly, not all vacancies were filled in capacitating the 4IR Project Management Office, PMO. The business case for the State Digital Services Company Bill was not submitted for approval as planned due to limited resources with regard to legal drafting of the Bill.

 

 

Finally, slow spending in the departments was due to vacancies not being filled. That at the end of September 2020, there were still 29 vacant positions in the departments including that of the director-general, DG, post.

 

 

Hon Chair, we understand that there is now a new Minister as the executive authority and we will give her the benefit of

 

 

the doubt to turn things around. However, we expect swift action that hones in with lazy focus on the top most imperatives for operational effectiveness as well as to clear out any and all dead wood.

 

 

This is and should primarily be a policy department. With no business attempting to create state-owned companies that would be directly involved in infrastructure operation or service delivery especially in telecommunications. It must focus on its core unique assets and the only agenda that should occupy the minds of its management and officials is one centred on this question: How do we facilitate and promote investment and innovation in telecommunications and digital technologies that will contribute to skills development, job creation and economic development?

 

 

The top management of the department should be in frequent contact with and on the first name basis with the top management of all tech companies in the country. As well as the chief technology officers of all key corporates across all sectors to facilitate problem solving and innovation promotion.

 

 

Accordingly, it is appropriate to put front and centre the department’s programme three information and communication technology, ICT, policy development and research. The purpose of this programme is to develop ICT policies and the legislation that support the development of an ICT sector that create favourable conditions for growth and investment.

 

 

We thus call on Minister Ntshaveni, to make the optimal effectiveness and success of this programme for top most and none negotiable objective to achieve during her tenure despite any and all resource constrains or other challenges. Thank you.

 

 

Declarations of vote: cont.

 

Mr V PAMBO: Thank you, Chairperson, the EFF out rightly rejects this report. The department is presiding over collapsing entities and there is still no plan in place, nor is there political will to salvage key institutions of the state upon which millions of people depend for access to information. The portfolio committee has been used to rubber stamp the nonsensical management of these institutions and is content with making stale recommendations that no one takes seriously at this department and in the entities that report to it.

 

 

In this report, the committee recommends, for instance, that as far as the entities that report to the SA Broadcasting Corporation, SABC, are concerned, there must be processes in place to stabilise all entities. That the entities remain accountable and comply with legislation, policies and regulations. That all critical vacancies are filled urgently in the department and its entities. Processes are in place to address all issues identified by the Auditor-General, AG. The committee has made recommendations each time this department and their entities have come to Parliament every single year for the past seven years. No one takes these recommendations seriously, because they all know that there is no consequence management at these institutions.

 

 

The department is mandated to make ICT technologies available to all South Africans, particularly those on the margins of economic activity. There are currently no plans to ensure that the internet access is made available to rural areas and in the townships, to enable the youth to partake in the economic opportunities that access to the internet may unlock.

Independent Communications of South Africa, Icasa, has been struggling with rolling out spectrum for the past five years and there are no consequences for this flagrant disregard for issues of national importance.

 

 

Chairperson, without the SABC millions of people would not have access to information. It is important that the SABC be salvaged and that its integrity is maintained. To do this, we need no interference with the editorial decisions of the SABC. We know that we are going to local government elections and we know that in the past the ruling party has given illegal instructions to the SABC not to cover news that would portray the ruling party in a negative manner. It is because of these interferences that the SABC loses credibility. The collapse of the SA Post Office, Sapo, is an unforgivable offence against the people of this country. It is at the post office that most job seekers send their applications for jobs. It is the post office that millions of rural people do even their basic banking. The leeches in power have allowed the post office to collapse and South Africans must never forgive those who are responsible. We reject this report. Thank you, Chair.

 

 

Ms Z MAJOZI: Thank you, hon Chairperson, the Department of Communication is a critical one, mandated to create a vibrant information and communication technology, ICT, sector for all South Africans. It is to ensure that South Africa can join the world in terms of access to a robust, reliable, affordable and secure ICT environment. The IFP notes that certain of the department’s entities are not performing optimally and are

 

 

failing to meet their mandates effectively. It is worrying that the department failed to achieve eight of its 42 planned quarterly targets. Further, the general trend of poor compliance across entities as well as the apparent inability to account for noncompliance is cause for concern for their future and the people they serve.

 

 

We are heading towards the end of 2021 and Icasa has yet to resolve its issues to release spectrum. The challenges in this regard, must be overcome with urgency. With regards to Sapo, the IFP is pleased with the appointment of the chief executive officer, CEO, and trust that she will be given the support that she needs to implement much-needed reform at the entity. The net loss of R429 million for the second quarter together with the increase of R1,3 billion in loss for the year, to date, is unacceptable high. This mismanagement is directly affecting Sapo’s ability to pay creditors to suppliers, pay rent at some location and work on an effective turnaround strategy.

 

 

The IFP believes a new funding model is needed for the SABC to effectively manage its affairs. However, it must be one that does not involve more bailout from Treasury. Thus, the SABC must explore and present information on new and effective

 

 

revenue collection strategies. The National Task Team must make recommendations regarding the governance model for the SABC as a true public broadcasting service. The IFP urges the Minister to engage seriously with the entities to ensure that necessary processes are in place to stabilise them and to push for accountability, compliance and visible consequence management together with the institution of penalties for noncompliance.

 

 

The filling of critical vacancies both in the department and the entities is necessary for effective functioning. The IFP is also concerned that there seems to be a lag approach regarding the implementation of recommendations by the office of the Auditor-General. This must change swiftly. Finally, the department must endure to provide Parliament with the relevant information on time to allow for proper oversight to take place. This is not the case at the moment. I thank you.

 

 

Mr S N SWART: Thank you, House Chair, the ACDP will support this report and leave it at that. Thank you, House Chair.

 

 

Mr M G E HENDRICKS: Thank you very much, hon Chair, we need to relook at the policy with regard to ...[Inaudible.] ... access

 

 

with regard to providing data and I hope that the ANC ... [Interjections.]

 

 

IsiZulu:

 

Nk H O MKHALIPHI: Asizwa lutho, Sihlalo.

 

 

The HOUSE CHARPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): Al Jama Ah, please come closer to the speaker. Hon Ganief.

 

 

Mr M G E HENDRICKS: Okay, I am closer to the speaker, hon Chair. Hon Chair, let me rather move this way.

 

 

The HOUSE CHARPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): Give him a chance, hon members.

 

 

Mr M G E HENDRICKS: Thank you very much, hon Chair, we need to give clarification on the policy with regard to internet access and with regard to provision of data because this comes up ... [Interjection.]

 

 

IsiZulu:

 

Nk H O MKHALIPHI: Hhayi bo, uzikhulumela nomndeni wakhe ke lo.

 

 

AMALUNGU AHLONIPHEKILE: Hhayi wena.

 

 

The HOUSE CHARPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): Al Jama Ah, ...

 

 

Mr M G E HENDRICKS: Hon Chairperson, ...

 

 

The HOUSE CHARPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): Hon Ganief, sorry, you were not audible enough.

 

 

The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Hon House

 

Chairperson.

 

 

The HOUSE CHARPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): Hon Deputy Chief Whip.

 

 

The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Hon House

 

Chairperson, may you please give him another chance. Please! Thank you. We didn’t hear what he was saying.

 

 

The HOUSE CHARPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): I will accede to that. I don’t think there will be any other objection to that. Hon Ganief, are you done?

 

 

Mr M G E HENDRICKS: No, hon Chair, ...

 

 

Mr N SINGH: Chairperson, we cannot hear him at all.

 

 

The HOUSE CHARPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): Hon Ganief, you are inaudible. Next time, hon Ganief. I will move to the ANC. Sorry about that.

 

 

Declarations of vote cont.

 

Ms N J KUBHEKA: Hon House Chair and fellow South Africans, we are gathered here today on the last day of the month. We commemorate as women’s month in South Africa, it is indeed that we take a moment to reflect on the courageous act of women’s month of 1956 who took a stand against pass laws that were imposed by the apartheid regime on people of colour. It is with great regret that in recent years, women had to fight for their right to life, the right to belong and the right to equality.

 

 

Gender-based violence and femicide has become our reality and propels us to keep asking ourselves, “am I next”? Day in and day out women are killed, victimised and abused by men who claimed to love them. Hon Chairperson, we stand here today in deep pain as we mourn the passing of Nosicelo Mtebeni, a law student of Fort Hare University, who was brutally murdered in the middle of women’s month. We would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and the entire Fort Hare University learners and community.

 

 

The Communications and Digital Technologies second quarter performance, the Department of Communications and Digital Technology is committed to its mandate to South Africa’s digital transformation to achieve digital inclusion and economic growth by creating an enabling policy and regulatory environment. The committee has tabled the department’s second quarter performance and expenditure report of 01 July 2020 to

30 September 2020. This is the time when the world was still trying to ... [Inaudible.] ... with their covid-19 virus and mitigate against its impact on our public service and the economy.

 

 

Challenging as it has been to carry out certain functions during this pandemic, the department was able to achieve 34 of its plan targets which culminated in 81% achievement. some of the none achievement can be attributed to the following: inability to feel certain vacancies on time, the tabling of annual reports of all departments and state-owned entities, SOEs, was postponed by the National Treasury by two months and delays in finalisation service level agreements among others.

 

 

On the second quarter budget and expenditure as at the end of quarter, the department spent R1,3 billion or 40,1% of the total budget. Spending at the end of the second quarter was

 

 

R234,8 million or 15,1% lower than projected. The slow spending was due to the vacancies not yet filled due to the lockdown as well as salary adjustment. Performance Awards and pay progression not yet implemented. At the end of September 2020, there were 29 vacant positions in the department including the director-general post.

 

 

Hon members, underspending in the department remains a concern, particularly in programs such as Programme 5; Information and Communications Technology, ICT, infrastructure support - whose core mandate is to promote investment in robust, reliable secure and affordable, the information and communications technology infrastructure that supports the provision of a multiplicity of applications and services.

Program 6; ICT information society and capacity development which aims to develop and implement strategies, to build capabilities and to reach the digital divide. These programmes underspent by 45,4% and 21,8% respectively.

 

 

The recommendation in the African National Congress supports recommendation of the portfolio committee with a particular focus on insuring that there is a stability and progress in all our entities. So, they better serve our people. Central to this, is ensuring that we track the implementation of the

 

 

reconfiguration process and the process towards the merger of entities is expected. The business development manager, BDM, and South Africa connects projects are realised as they are closely linked to the economic recovery plan.

 

 

The program to roll out broadband to schools, hospitals, police stations and other government facilities, must be fast tracked in order to reach the digital divide as well as improve on service delivery imperatives. The department pays special attention to SA Post Office, Sapo. Our post office is a key stakeholder in delivering our government developmental objectives. It is able to bring basic service to remote rural as well as urban and peri-urban areas.

 

 

Over 8 million SA Social Security Agency, Sassa, beneficiaries depend on it monthly. About 4 000 schools in Limpopo and Northern Cape rely on Sapo for the delivery of school books.

About 1,2 million digital terrestrial television, DTT, qualifying beneficiaries rely on the services of post office. It is in this light that the ANC will continue to work with Sapo to find sustainable ways in which the entity can return to a healthy financial position so that our people continue to benefit from their services.

 

 

In conclusion, House Chair, for us to actively deal with the social ills that exist in our society we are going to need all citizen to commit to making South Africa great. Let us all dedicate ourselves to create safe spaces for women and children in our communities and importantly government needs to gunner all its efforts and resources to ensure that it unites all the people of South Africans for the complete liberation of the country from all forms of discrimination, National and gender oppression. ... [Time expired.] ... The ANC remains committed to transform of South Africa into a united nonracial nonsexist and Democratic country based on the principle of the Freedom Charter ... [Time expired.] ... The ANC support the report. Thank you.

 

 

There was no debate.

 

 

The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Thank you, hon

 

House Chairperson. I move:

 

 

That the Report be adopted.

 

 

Motion agreed to.

 

 

Report accordingly adopted.

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): That concludes the business for the day. Hon members, the House is adjourned.

 

 

The House adjourned at 17:01.

 

 

 

 

 


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