House: National Council of Provinces

Date of Meeting: 12 Mar 2014

Summary

No summary available.

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Minutes

UNREVISED HANSARD

WEDNESDAY, 12 MARCH 2014

PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES

 

The Council met at 14:00.

 

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

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS – see col 000.

 

NO NOTICES OF MOTION OR MOTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

 

Hon members, I have been informed that the Whippery has agreed that there will be no notices of motion or motions without notice, except the motions on the Order Paper.

 

Further, that since today is the last time that the Deputy President will be taking questions in the Council, members have indicated that they would like to bid him farewell after the Questions session.

 

COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ORDERS, NOTWITHSTANDING RULE 247(1)

 

(Draft Resolution)

The Chief Whip of the Council: Chairperson, I move without notice:

 

That, notwithstanding Rule 247(1), which provides that a sitting of the Council will be dedicated for oral questions, the Council considers the following orders:

 

1. 2014 Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals;

 

1. Marine Living Resources Amendment Bill [B 30B – 2013] (National Assembly – sec 76);

 

1. National Water Amendment Bill [B 3 – 2014] (National Assembly – sec 75); and

 

1. National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Amendment Bill [B 8D – 2013] (National Assembly – sec 76).

 

Question put: That the motion be agreed to.

 

IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.

 

Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.

 

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL REPLY

THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT:

 

Enhancement of cohesion amongst African States and social cohesion amongst different races in South Africa as a result of 2010 Fifa World Cup Soccer tournament

 

1.           Mr B L Mashile (ANC-Mpumalanga) asked the Deputy President:

 

(a) To what extent has the 2010 FIFA World Cup Soccer tournament enhanced (i) cohesion amongst African States and (ii) social cohesion amongst different races in South Africa and (b) what indicators that point to improved cohesion in the continent and the country?                                                                                  CO52E

 

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: Hon Chairperson and hon members, the hosting of the 2010 Fifa World Cup allowed all South Africans to be united in support of our national team and to enjoy football throughout that tournament.

 

Furthermore, the increased sense of safety during the 2010 Fifa World Cup facilitated socialising and mixing across racial and social boundaries. The creation of fan parks was a significant contributory factor in enhancing social cohesion during the period of the 2010 Fifa World Cup. That allowed South Africans of different class and racial backgrounds to interact with one another. That the stadiums were finished on time and that the 2010 Fifa World Cup was deemed amongst the most successful competitions in history helped dispel negative stereotypes about the African continent within the global community and enhanced our national pride.

 

From the onset, the hosting of the 2010 Fifa World Cup by South Africa was understood to be on behalf of the whole African continent and the tournament was said to be an African World Cup, partly aimed at integrating aspects of continental development programmes as well as legacy initiatives.

 

The 2010 Fifa World Cup thus served to mobilise the nation, to instil a sense of patriotism and to unite Africa. Various sporting and peace initiatives that were undertaken on the continent as part of the World Cup did much to contribute to development and national unity. We can cite some examples to point to the role that the tournament played in enhancing development and people-to-people contact on the continent.

 

Firstly, the Win in Africa with Africa programme resulted in the construction of football turfs in different African countries, and also provided support in developing various national leagues and the training of football administrators.

 

Secondly, the mini-schools Africa Cup which involved the five African countries that had qualified for the 2010 Fifa World Cup as well as the six African road shows also contributed to players and supporters getting to know one another.

 

Thirdly, peace initiatives were also undertaken on the continent as part of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, including the 2009 Peace Caravan tour of the Great Lakes region in East Africa which was supported by our government together with the organising committee, the Rwandese Ministry of Sports and Culture and the Youth Development through Football project.

 

Fourthly, through the information communication technology, ICT, programme, the 2010 Fifa World Cup also contributed towards bridging the digital divide and promoting a common identity amongst Africans.

 

We are mentioning these legacy initiatives because the efforts of fostering unity and co-operation on the continent can never be divorced from the fundamental issue of sustainable development. Going forward, Chapter 15 of our National Development Plan has again reminded us to sustain our efforts and focus on nation-building and social cohesion in pursuit of a more cohesive and equitable society. I thank you for your attention.

 

Mrs E C VAN LINGEN: Thank you, hon Chairperson. Deputy President, in your response you mentioned that social cohesion happened in South Africa amongst different races on the continent during the 2010 Fifa World Cup, and it was a marvellous experience.

We also know that the country pulled together with very large infrastructure projects leading up to the 2010 event. Do you think we can, in such a short space of time, repeat such a project, like for the Olympics for instance, in the near future or do we have sufficient facilities? Thank you.

 

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: The Olympics is normally hosted by cities and as such it will have to be a bid mounted by a city which feels that it has all the requisite facilities, because there would need to be a place for accommodating athletes and the support teams, as well as the sports facilities and arenas for the competitions to be hosted by a city. Thank you.

 

UMBHEXESHI OYINTLOKO WEBHUNGA LESIZWE LAMAPHONDO: Sihlalo, ndiyabulela. Sekela Mongameli, njengoko nawe usitsho ukuba ukhuphiswano lwebhola yeNdebe yeHlabathi yama-2010 yazama ukusimanya, ingaba urhulumente unazo kusini na iingcinga  zokuqinisa ngakumbi kulo mmandla woLuntu oluPhuhlileyo lwe-Afrika eseMazantsi? Apha kwezemidlalo, ingaba singakhe sidibane sodwa kusini na phambi kokuba sizimanye nelizwekazi i-Afrika liphela? (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)

 

[THE CHIEF WHIP OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES: Hon Chairperson, I thank you.  Hon Deputy President, as you said that the 2010 Soccer World Cup tournament tried to unite us, does the government consider to give more strength on the Southern African Development Community?  Can we unite together in sport, before we can unite with the whole Africa as a continent?]

 

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Yes, indeed in football there is, for instance, the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations, Cosafa, Cup which is primarily for the Southern African Development Community, SADC, member nations. That is already taking place in the football sporting code.

 

Details regarding Government’s Anti-Poverty Programme, and reasons for ongoing service delivery protests around country

 

2.           Ms N D Ntwanambi (ANC-WC) asked the Deputy President:

 

(1)        Whether the Government’s Anti-Poverty Programme to fight poverty through (a) the delivery of services to poor profiled households in identified wards, (b) identifying change agents who can help those poor households to move out of extreme poverty and (c) improving inter-governmental cooperation and coordination of service delivery is yielding any success; if not, (i) why not and (ii) what are the Government’s plans and strategies in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;

 

(2)      what are the reasons for the ongoing service delivery protests across the country?                                                                                 CO54E

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: Hon Chairperson, hon members, the Anti-Poverty Programme that I champion adopted a multilayered approach by targeting areas where the most impact is likely to happen. The programme identifies beneficiaries who ought to access services but who do not do so. In order to achieve this, the methodology used is through the profiling of households in identified wards. To this end, the programme facilitates the identification of priority wards where beneficiaries are most in need of services.

 

These services vary in nature depending on the identified needs, and include such things as skills development, education and training, career pathing, birth certificates, IDs and so on.

 

At household level the programme aims to consolidate the provision of services to achieve maximum impact. This may include providing relevant information as well as facilitating access to services.

 

One of the approaches of the programme is the identification of change agents whose potential can be realised for the benefit of the entire household. To illustrate the point we are making about the programme, for example, in all nine provinces through the Department of Human Settlements, a programme on youth build has been established. For example, in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape, 12 youth construction groups were trained and subsequently employed to build RDP houses in Chetty, in the Port Elizabeth area.

In Limpopo, in the Vhembe district, a group of women was recruited for training in bricklaying and the group has subsequently built houses for the community.

 

During my first visit to Lubala Village in the Eastern Cape in 2008, the community faced challenges accessing safe drinking water, primary health care services, housing and roads, challenges around the high number of orphans and child-headed families, challenges pertaining to documents to access government services and challenges related to unemployment.

 

Today, in 2014, I am happy to report a successful story. All children at Lubala’s school are now receiving meals as part of the Integrated School Nutrition Programme. Further, grade R infrastructure has been completed and is now in use. Water, electricity and sanitation have also been provided for the community. With all these basic necessities in place the community is now able to concentrate on self-help projects to support their needs.

 

To this end the community of Lubala has expressed its intention to start a co-operative that will address some of the basic food necessities such as bread.

 

uMsinga, the site of our visit in 2011, tells a similar successful story. Following the visit a decision was taken to expand the further education and training, FET, college footprint in the area. Water supply was prioritised, destitute households were identified, and immediate interventions were implemented.

 

Following my visit to the Greater Taung Municipality in 2011 during the War on Poverty Programme, a joint collaborative effort was launched between the North West Province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Haldor Topsoe, a private firm in Denmark, to position Taung Agricultural College as a centre of excellence in irrigation technology, thereby ensuring that communities in Taung benefit and are able to produce food to improve their socioeconomic status.

 

The antipoverty visit to Lutshaya in 2012 and in early 2013 has raised private sector interest in the schools and clinic in the area. As we speak, there is commitment to improve infrastructure.

 

Hon members, what we have learned through all these engagements is that improved intergovernmental co-ordination substantially accelerates delivery of services to those most in need and thus enhances the quality of life of poor households. I thank you for your attention.

 

THE CHIEF WHIP OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES: Enkosi Sihlalo, mandiqale ngokubulela uSekela Mongameli ngale mpendulo. [Thank you hon Chairperson, Let me first thank the hon Deputy President with this answer.]

 

Indeed ...

 

... siyile eMsinga siyi-NCOP sayibona intlupheko. Siyavuyisana nabantu baseMsinga nezinye iindawo ngenkqubela nokuziswa kweenkonzo. Umbuzo wam uthi, ewe kuyalanjwa emakhaya kodwa ingaba urhulumente uyiqaphele kusini na into yokuba indlala enkulu ngoku ibuye yeza ezidolophini? Okwesibini, bendingathanda Sekela Mongameli, nokuba awusenguye uSekela Mongameli kodwa useza kuhlala ukhona, ukuba laa lali yaphaya kulotata wam, eRhodana eLady Frere, nayo ngenye imini ikhe ibe nawo umbane njengenye yeendlela zokugxotha indlala. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)

 

[... we went to Msinga as the NCOP and saw poverty. We celebrate with the community of Msinga and other places for the progress and delivering of services.  My question is that, yes there is poverty in rural areas but did the government notice that now there is a lot of poverty in urban areas? Secondly, hon Deputy President, I would like electricity to be installed in my father’s village, Rhodana in Lady Frere as the other way of alleviating poverty, even if you are no longer the Deputy President, you will still be among us.]

 

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, hon Chairperson.

 

... ewe, ndiyavuma ukuba eyona nto yenza ukuba abantu batshiphe ezidolophini yindlala. Xa kunokubakho inkqubela phambili ezilalini, abantu bakuthi bangayeka ukuya ezidolophini, bangaya kuphela xa bendwendwela izihlobo zabo. Nantso ingxaki ekhoyo.

 

Enyanisweni, ukuze sithi hayi noko umsebenzi wethu siwufezile, kufuneka siphelise le yantlukwano ikhoyo phakathi kweedolophu neelali. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)

 

[... yes, I agree that poverty is the reason why people migrate and remain in urban areas. If the rural areas can be developed, our people will stop migrating, they can only visit their relatives. We are facing that problem.

 

Truly speaking, in order for us to say we have done our job, we must end the differences in the standard of living of rural and urban areas.]

 

In terms of infrastructure we should make sure that we close the gap between urban and rural and provide properly paved roads with rainstorm drainage systems, sewer systems, potable water and electricity to all of our people, including those in rural communities. That includes the hon Ntwanambi’s village. It must also be included in these projects. Thank you.

 

Mr L P M NZIMANDE: Thank you, hon Chairperson. After the good story that he told us, I would like to ask the Deputy President how the programme is being rolled out and how people out there can access it. I’m sure they would want to know whether they should apply to the President or whether it is done through departments or municipalities. They are asking about the modalities of accessing the programmes and I am sure they are asking those questions now. Thank you, Chairperson.

 

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, hon Nzimande. This programme is actually located within the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. I am just the champion of it. Therefore, to access it, people have to go through the Deputy President’s office.

 

What we have is a war room and we have people who go out and profile local communities and we try to target the most economically depressed and poverty-stricken areas. We prioritise the bottom end in terms of deprivation and poverty.

 

So, the lead Ministry or department is the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. Thank you.

 

Mr K A SINCLAIR: Hon Chairperson, in the context of the hon Deputy President’s answer, one of the areas in the Northern Cape that he visited and also declared a presidential node was the Renosterberg Municipality, which is Petrusville, Philipstown and Vanderkloof. In terms of the multilayered approach to which the Deputy President referred, many of the challenges that he raised are also symptomatic of that specific community. Can the hon Deputy President maybe mention the progress made in that area in the context of this answer? Thank you, Chair.

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Deputy President, I am not sure whether you have a specific progress report on that specific area. From where I am sitting it seems that you might not have made an assessment of different areas, so answering the question might be difficult. It is a supplementary question, so you are free to answer it if you are able to do so.

 

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, hon Sinclair. I would indeed have to go back to gather the latest information concerning the interventions to be able to respond to that question. Thanks.

 

Positive results of HIV/Aids programmes and partnership treatment programmes with SADC countries and/or African Union

 

3.           Mr D Joseph (DA-WC) asked the Deputy President:

 

Whether the positive results on HIV/Aids programmes include treatment and statistics of foreign nationals; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what partnership treatment programmes does South Africa has with the Southern African Development Community and/or the African Union?                          CO58E

 

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: Hon members, our national antiretroviral treatment programme, ART programme, is accessible to all those who are eligible for treatment, irrespective of their country of origin. Each of the countries in the Southern African Development Countries, SADC, region conducts their own treatment programmes and, thus, there are no partnerships. However, countries share information and best practices through established institutions such as the World Health Organisation, the African Chapter, the African Union as well as the United Nations.

 

Ministers of health, finance, labour and mineral resources felt that they needed to convene a conference, which is due by end of this month, to develop regional protocols of treating tuberculosis, TB. Some mineworkers come from Swaziland, Lesotho, Botswana and they cross borders for work in South African mines. Hence, it was felt that there is a need to develop protocols of how the treatment should be availed to all of them, as and when they cross these borders.

 

Since TB and HIV are diseases that affect the same people, as there is co-infection, one believes that the development of the protocols will emerge out of that conference, and even better and more effective co-operation will be established in terms of the battle against HIV and TB. I thought I should just add that part.

 

However, the question itself, as posed by hon Joseph, was as to whether our programme is available to non-South Africans who find themselves in South Africa. Yes, indeed, they access the antiretroviral treatment. Thanks.

 

Details relating to SA National Aids Council (Sanac) discussion on intellectual property

 

4.           Mrs E C van Lingen (DA-EC) asked the Deputy President:

 

Whether the SA National Aids Council (Sanac) has discussed how South Africa’s current intellectual property system is open to exploitation by foreign companies and the impact that this may have on access to anti-retroviral medication; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?                                              CO60E

 

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: Hon Speaker, the SA National Aids Council, Sanac, has not discussed issues related to intellectual property as the Department of Trade and Industry is seized with such matters. Thank you.

 

Success following Deputy President’s visits to UK and Canada in 2013 to promote investment in South African mining sector, and concerns raised in UK with regard to proposed amendments to Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, Act 28 of 2002

 

5.           Mr G G Mokgoro (ANC-NC) asked the Deputy President:

 

(1)        To what extent has his visit to the United Kingdom (UK) and Canada in September and November 2013 with the main objective of promoting investment in the South African mining sector yielded success and (b) what were the concerns raised by some investors in the United Kingdom regarding the intentions of the proposed amendments to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, Act 28 of

2002;

 

(2)        whether the Government has addressed all such concerns; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?  CO61E

 

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: Hon Mokgoro and hon members, government remains engaged with key stakeholders on matters that affect perceptions of South Africa as a favourable investment destination, especially in mining and minerals development. We consider our engagements with the investment communities in the United Kingdom and Canada as having yielded the desired results as they now have a deeper appreciation for the South African challenges in this sector, but also an awareness of the opportunities that lie ahead.

 

The concerns raised about the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Bill include the following: Perceived prohibition of export of minerals in contradiction of international trade agreements; mineral beneficiation; perceived unfettered discretionary powers of the Minister; timeframes in processing applications and the notion of ‘first-come first-served’, and the nationalisation of mines.

 

Government has indeed clarified the critical concerns raised by the investment community through a more rigorous explanation of the intention of the Bill, and providing the developmental underpinnings that accentuated the drafting of the Bill. Concerns have been taken into consideration and progress has been made to address some of the issues raised.

 

For example, there is an endeavour to align the issuing of water and mining licences through the Presidential Infrastructure Co-ordinating Commission, the PICC. The PICC is focused on ensuring that the application of these licences is simultaneously, rather than sequentially, dealt with as the current processing of licence applications prolongs the course of getting to the production phase.

 

Another example of a concern raised and taken into account by the Department of Mineral Resources is the removal of timeframes and the ‘first-come first-served’ notion in order to create room for streamlining the process relating to authorisation for mining rights, water use licence and environmental approvals that would significantly enhance the ease of doing business in South Africa and optimise development impact of exploitation of natural resources.

 

Accordingly, the streamlined process commits to a maximum of 300 days from application to issuing of all relevant authorisations. As hon members are aware, Parliament’s public participation processes allowed all stakeholders the opportunity to make oral and written submissions on the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Bill. The Bill is being considered by the National Assembly this afternoon. Thank you for your attention.

 

Mr G G MOKGORO: Chairperson, hon Deputy President, now that we have quite a number of commodities that are mined in the Northern Cape and the expected development of the oil industry along the western coast also, I would like to know if there is any thinking or consideration of the Port Nolloth area, the harbour specifically, perhaps being developed to be used to export these commodities. Is there any such thinking within government circles? Thank you, Chairperson.

 

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: I do know that the Northern Cape is richly endowed with mineral resources and that part of the direct consequence of those resources is a development of the Coega, Nqgurha, in the Eastern Cape. We do not have a marine industry, or a ship-building industry, or a single vessel registered in South Africa to move goods and cargo along South African waters. Meanwhile, we have a long coastline, as it were, from the east to the west.

 

So, there have been discussions on how to create a base in Saldanha Bay, for instance, for ship-building and ship-repair docks which would have the impact of creating jobs, etc. The point I am making is that, yes, these discussions are taking place. If the gas and oil minerals found offshore are close to Port Nolloth, I am sure that such discussions would include possible and potential developments in that part of our country. Thanks.

 

Agreements reached with Poland on areas of co-operation and bilateral relations

 

6.           Mr D D Gamede (ANC-KZN) asked the Deputy President:

 

Whether, with regard to the official visit by the Prime Minister of Poland to South Africa in October 2013, (a) an agreement was reached on priority areas for cooperation, (b) the status of bilateral relations between the two countries has been reviewed and (c) new bilateral cooperation was established in agriculture and rural development, education and skills development, environmental affairs, science and technology, transport and maritime; if not, (i) why not and (ii) what are the Government’s plans and strategies in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?                              CO62E

 

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: Thank you very much, hon Chairperson. Yes, hon Gamede, an agreement was reached on the following areas of co-operation. With reference to education and skills development, Poland has offered South Africa 155 scholarships for the 2014-15 academic year. An agreement on co-operation in education is to be explored with the Polish government. South Africa has specific areas for co-operation, one of which was maritime and vocational training.

 

Agreement was also reached on agriculture and rural development; exchange of technology and encouraging the exchange of researchers between research facilities, that is, the science councils, agriculture research council, etc. The universities have to explore the fields of agriculture and agroproccessing. Both countries agreed to share best practices, policies and programmes for rural development.Also, a bilateral co-operation on aquaculture will be facilitated.

 

The third area is science and technology. Areas of co-operation in science and technology in view of recent reforms to include infrastructure, expand and deepen co-operation and science and technology will be reviewed. The fourth part deals with business forums to assess potential in line with a newly signed agreement on economic co-operation and priority sectors which aremining; mineral exploration; carbon enrichment; mining machinery; oil and gas; energy; construction; transportation and infrastructure industry; agriculture and food processing; and information and communication technologies.

 

We also appreciated the presence of South African companies in Poland, and we encouraged Polish companies to invest in South Africa to boost job creation.

 

On the matter of environmental affairs, Poland committed to share information on river health, water quality, waste management and sanitation.

 

On the matter of transportation, skills development in maritime sciences will be explored with Polish assistance. Shipbuilding and repairs, marine architecture, marine engineering and experiential learning for South African cadets on Polish shipping lines, such as seafarers will be followed up. A memorandum of understanding for co-operation in the transport sector needs to be developed.

 

The following agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed during the Polish Prime Minister’s visit: Firstly, the agreement on economic co-operation between South Africa and Poland. Secondly, an agreement between the Industrial Development Co-operation and its Polish equivalent, the International Development Association, IDA. Thirdly, an agreement between the Warsaw School of Economics and the University of Witwatersrand Business School. Fourthly, a memorandum of understanding on mutual co-operation between the Polish Information and the Foreign Investment Agency, and trade and investment South Africa.

 

Following our discussions on 17 October 2013, we accepted the Prime Minister’s Tusk’s invitation to pay an official visit to Warsaw, Poland, on 14 March, to build on these discussions and to follow up on the outcomes of the bilateral consultations. Thank you for your attention.

 

Mr D D GAMEDE: Thank you, Chairperson and thank you, mkhuluwa [elder brother] for the response that you have given us. Secondly, thank you for giving us that good story of what you have done as the Deputy President in this government. The question would be, since my colleagues will be bidding you farewell, will you leave a report so that whoever takes over from you will be able to continue with your good work after the coming elections?

 

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Yes, indeed, there is a handover report. Of course, the team in the office remains in place. Regardless of who becomes the Deputy President, they are there to serve whoever is in office. Thank you.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr R J Tau): Can I be recognised?

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Yes, you’ve got your mike on. Speak!

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr R J Tau): Oh, now it’s on. Thank you very much, Chairperson. Of course, I hope I will not be declared to be out of order for thanking the Deputy President for having been what he is.

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Ask your supplementary question.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr R J Tau): Yes, Chair, I’m going to ask a supplementary question. [Laughter.]

 

As part of asking the supplementary question, I thought that I must make a point that the Deputy President has been quite a master in co-ordination and ensuring that there is cohesion and coherence in all programmes that the government has envisaged implementing. Thank you very much; we shall remember him for one thing that he has taught us ... [Interjections.]

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: What’s your supplementary question? [Laughter.] Please ask your supplementary question!

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr R J Tau): ... as part of having taught us how to ensure that our work does not result in a stampede, particularly with regards to oversight.

 

Now, I want to know, Chairperson, as the supplementary question, how then, on the basis of the response by the Deputy President, are there opportunities created, particularly for young women, to play a strategic or an important role in all these agreements and bilateral agreements as part of building their skills and opening up opportunities for them to be active economic citizens of the country?

 

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, hon Tau. Indeed, many young South African women are already involved in the aspect of the marine industry which deals with the security of the country. Some cadets are actually young ladies who are already training on a number of seafarers as part of preparing them to deal with the security aspect. Of course, as I said, Poland offered 155 scholarships, and to be included when we take these scholarships will be young South African women. Thank you.

 

Mr M J R DE VILLIERS: Thank you, hon Chairperson. My question to the Deputy President is in connection with the agreement between South Africa and the other country. How many students in the country have actually obtained their training abroad, not here, in connection with this agreement? Thank you.

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: You know that, in terms of the Rules, questions involving figures need to be put ahead of time so that the responder knows the exact number of those people. However, I wouldn’t want to spoil a good day today, you know. I’m trying to be very nice to every one of you. Hon Deputy President, I don’t know if you know the number of students referred to in the question?

 

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: No, I don’t know the number but, as I said, there are scholarships. I am aware that the preparations for sending these students abroad are managed by Higher Education and Training. They are the ones who do the selection to take up the available scholarships here. Thank you.

 

Mr D A WORTH: Thank you, hon Chairperson, I want to put a question to the hon Deputy President. Hon Deputy President, we were talking about Poland which is now part of the European Union, EU. Just recently South Africa cancelled our bilateral investment treaties with countries like Spain, Belgium and Germany. How is this going to affect our political and social relationship with the EU and with, for argument sake, these countries and other countries in the EU? Thank you.

 

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Thank you. All of the treaties were deemed to be archaic. So, the EU itself has cancelled a number of them, because they are replaced by bilateral agreements which take into account the current situation. So, there is no lacuna in terms of the framework and the legal instruments for continuing with the good relations in trade. Thank you.

 

See also QUESTIONS AND REPLIES.

 

FAREWELL TRIBUTES TO MR K P MOTLANTHE, DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon members, I will now afford members the opportunity to bid farewell to the Deputy President, as requested by the members.

 

Mr T L MAKUNYANE: Chairperson, I have to say that I am very happy to be given this opportunity, and I was even happier when I saw my name first. Mkhulu, I have known you since 1980, when I arrived on Robben Island. I remember being quite impressed, firstly, by your walk. You used to walk very upright. You also used to speak low and very deliberate.

 

You really taught me quite a lot. You introduced me to Umrabulo, to the thoughts of Karl Marx through books. Although we did not have Marx’s originals there, we used to read quite a lot: Maurice Cornforth, Maurice Dobb, Paul Sweezy, Paul Baran, and many others. You also introduced me to the notion that our struggle is actually part of a global struggle of all progressive forces to create a better world, and that it goes on all the time and on all fronts. This includes music and the media everywhere.

 

So, I would just like to quote from one poem and say to you that the–

 

... Lives of great men all remind us

We can make our lives sublime,

And, departing, leave behind us

Footprints on the sands of time;

 

Footprints, that perhaps another,

Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,

A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,

Seeing, shall take heart again.

 

We know that you have left your footprints in a lot of places, and this time it also includes Parliament. We will all miss your wisdom. Thank you. [Applause.]

 

Mrs E C VAN LINGEN: Chairperson, hon Deputy President and hon members ...

 

... die Nasionale Raad van Provinsies is vandag hier byeen om te groet en erkenning te gee aan ’n baie besondere en uitstaande seun van Suid-Afrika.

 

Agb Adjunkpresident, toe ek u ouderdom naslaan, sien ek ons is karperde. Ek het verder gesien u verjaardag is ’n dag na Madiba s’n, 19 Julie. U is definitief onder ’n groot sterreteken gebore. Miskien onderstreep dit die eienskappe wat ek in u raaksien en wat ons van u kan leer.

 

U is ’n man wat weet wanneer om te kom en wanneer om te gaan. Soos ons in Engels sou sê: (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)

 

[... the National Council of Provinces assembles here today to bid farewell to and acknowledge an exceptional and outstanding son of South Africa.

 

Hon Deputy President, when I looked up your age, I noticed that we are horses from the same carriage. I also noticed that your birthday is a day after Madiba’s birthday, 19 July. You were definitely born under a great zodiac sign. Perhaps this underlines the qualities that I see in you and the things we can learn from you.

 

You are a man who knows when it is time to come and when it is time to go. As the English saying goes:] You do not overstay your welcome.

The Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership is one of the biggest awards in Africa given to African leaders based on certain qualifying criteria. It recognises and celebrates African leaders who developed their countries, lifted their people out of poverty, and paved the way for sustainable and equitable prosperity. It goes on to say that the leaders must be democratically elected and that they must demonstrate extraordinary and exceptional leadership. This prize is very substantial. It is $5 million over a period of 10 years and $200 000 for life, thereafter.

 

Now, in the past, this prize for leadership has been awarded to leaders who have stepped down within their period of service, namely Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique in 2007 and Festus Mogae of Botswana in 2008. Two of the qualifying criteria, as I have said, are to be democratically elected and to have demonstrated exceptional leadership. For the last three years, this substantial award could not have been made, because there was no African leader who qualified, as they had all overstayed their welcome. You are the leader who has showed these qualities, as stipulated in the prize criteria, over a long period of time. What an honour and privilege it would have been if you were the person to have won that prize for South Africa.

 

What is my experience, as well as that of the ordinary people in South Africa, of Kgalema Motlanthe? We see you as a very humble person. In fact, hon Deputy President, you are the person who will be welcome in the home of every ordinary South African. Just looking at you, you paint a dignified and statesmanlike picture. We must remember the words of Michelle Obama who said: It is not the position that makes the man; it is the position that exposes the man.

 

Even when you were President, it exposed a man who could walk with ordinary men and dine with kings. Overambitious people tend to become too hungry for power for the wrong reasons, of which greed is an example, at the expense of the poor. This is why the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership could not have been awarded for the last three years. Deputy President, you served all South Africans with humility and dignity. We thank you for your selfless service, and we wish you well for a bright future. We thank you. [Applause.]

 

Mr M W MAKHUBELA: Chairperson, hon Deputy President, and hon members of the House, I greet you this afternoon. Sometimes a moment of greatness is buried in the history of bare-knuckle truth and determination. Knowledge transfers such truth when a person’s character personifies his political expedience, which sets the benchmark for other leaders in management excellence, whilst enhancing good governance.

 

Deputy President, you are such an example: a man of honour, a man of respect, a child of the ANC, and a leader of the people. It is an honour for me to stand before you to bid farewell today but, at the same time, it is heart-rending. You will be missed as a principled man of this country. This was experienced through the HIV/Aids programme that you drove in such a way that you saved the lives of small children in this country.

 

Your calm demeanour, that attitude reflected in your ethical way of being a politician and shrewd statesmanship truly reflects your dignity as a strategist and negotiator from before 1994 to the present. You have set an example. We have learned a great deal from your stature. You confirmed it yesterday again when you said, ``The ANC ... has, for all this time, been my extended family ... I dare say, at the end, we are all the richer for it.’’ Greatness is proven when a leader can boldly stand before you, like former President Mandela, acknowledging that our nation needs a talented man to teach and groom our communities for the future.

 

Deputy President, Sir, I wish you Godspeed. You travelled well as a politician, and you are still going to work, in addition to what you have done, to build a new, young generation in our country. Cope recognises the Deputy President’s virtue and his role in a changing political landscape. He stood firm and dignified. For that, we salute him. Thank you. [Applause.]

 

Mr J J GUNDA: Hon Chairperson, hon Deputy President, indeed it is a privilege to greet you today. You ... [Interjections.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon members, please, don’t disturb the member.

 

Mr J J GUNDA: Whenever you walk, and in whatever you do, you show leadership qualities. I will never forget the day I phoned you in 1998, when you were still the secretary-general of the ANC. When I phoned you concerning an issue in Upington, in Paballelo, you sent down a group to come and meet ordinary people in Upington. You sent a report to ordinary people. Since that day, I knew that the ANC had a secretary-general who was going to build it.

 

Hon Deputy President, I don’t know you from just yesterday when you became the Deputy President. I have known you for years. I know you as a member of this movement, who knows who he is, what he stands for, and a man of principle. One of the principles of a leader is that he is a good listener; and you are a good listener. [Interjections.]

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Order, we don’t have points of order in a speech like this. [Laughter.]

 

Mr A J NYAMBI: It’s not a point of order.

 

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

 

Mr A J NYAMBI: Yes.

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: No, on what point are you rising? [Laughter.]

 

Mr A J NYAMBI: It is about a question that the hon member promised to answer when standing, so that is why I am rising.

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: No, we are not taking questions.

 

Mr A J NYAMBI: No, it is up to him to say whether he is prepared to take it.

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Take your seat, hon Nyambi.

 

Mr A J NYAMBI: Are you taking it? [Laughter.]

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Continue, hon member, continue. [Laughter.]

 

Mr A J NYAMBI: Hon Chair, hon Gunda told me that ...

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Nyambi, sit down; take your seat. Continue, hon member.

 

Mr J J GUNDA: Yes, indeed, hon Deputy President, you showed character when it was needed most. When everything and all the odds were against us, you still showed great character. It is a sign of the leadership qualities that you possess. Today I must be honest; I believe you must give credit where it’s due. You will never grow or learn if you are dishonest. Whether a person is from another movement or not, you have to give credit.

 

I want to say this today: I never thought I would have the opportunity to speak on this occasion. Last night I learnt something when I was reading a very important book, - which I am not allowed to mention in this House - I found out why you are such an outstanding person. It is because of the leadership and organisation that you come from. You grew up in the organisation that respects other people; that is why you respect other people. For that, we will salute you. I think that is why the people of Upington will always respect you, especially the people in Paballelo. When you wrote that letter and sent a task team to assist the people of Paballelo, you listened to ordinary people, people that no one else would listen to.

 

Thank you for being who you are. You will always be a part of the success of this country. Thank you for being a leader who will always be part of the solution and not part of the problem; and for that, I will always salute you. I thank you. [Applause.]

 

UMntwana M M M ZULU: Sihlalo ohloniphekile wale Ndlu, iPhini likaMongameli wezwe eliphakathi kwethu, namhlanje egameni leqembu leNkatha yeNkululeko sikufisela uhambo oluhle ekuhambeni kwakho njengoba ungasezukuba yingxenye kahulumeni.

 

Engithanda ukukubonga kuwe njengendoda nje yaseNingizimu Afrika ukuthi ubuwuhlonipha kakhulu umsebenzi wakho owawukhethelwa ngabantu ukuba uzowenza. Obekungithokozisa kakhulu ngawe ukuthi noma ngabe yiliphi iqembu lezombusazwe ebelikuphonsa umbuzo obuliphendula ngenhlonipho nangesithunzi esidingekayo kumuntu okhuluma egameni labantu nanjengomuntu oyiPhini likaMongameli.

 

Ekuhambeni kwakho, uhamba nje uyakuqonda ukuthi kukhona okuthile okwenzile ezimpilweni zabantu, futhi uhamba kahle wazi ukuthi abantu bakithi abampisholo basabhekene nezinselele ezingakanani emiphakathi yabo. Ngethemba ukuthi iqembu lakho liyokunikeza ithuba lokuba weluleke, kuthi nalapho ubona sibhekene nezinselele ungakugodli lokho ukukhulumele kwakho kuphela kodwa uphonse esivivaneni ekusimameni kweNingizimu Afrika.

 

Okunye engakuthanda kuwe ngenkathi uyibambela likaMongameli wakuleli ngaleziya zinyangana ezimbalwa, akuzange kube nachashaza ekusebenzeni kwakho ngisho nakuMcwaningi-mabhuku. Ngisho nangenkathi uphumela obala udalula ngesihlobo sakho esasiqashiwe, waphumela obala washo nokuba uMvikeli woMphakathi angaphenya ukuba ube naso yini isandla ekuqashweni kwakhe. Bambalwa abantu abangenza lokho lapha eNIngizimu Afrika. Sonke njengoba silapha sinamachashaza emagameni ethu. Sibonga ukungabi nachashaza kwakho lapho usebenzela lesi sizwe sonke saseNingizimu Afrika.

 

Sikufisela ukuthi nezinyanya zakini zihambe nawe, noNkulunkulu akubhansele ngeminye iminyaka uphila la emhlabeni. Ngiyabonga. [Ihlombe.] (Translation of isiZulu speech follows.)

 

[Prince M M M ZULU: Hon Chairperson of this House, Deputy President, on behalf of the IFP we bid you farewell since you are leaving the public service today.

 

I wish to thank you as a South African that you highly respected the position that you were elected to. What I found most remarkable about you was that you responded to questions from any political party with the respect and dignity befitting a people’s representative and a Deputy President.

 

As you are leaving you know that you have made a contribution to the lives of the people and you understand that our fellow black people still have challenges to overcome in their communities. I hope that your party will give you the opportunity to assume an advisory position so that you would be able to make a contribution to the development of South Africa if need be.

 

I was also impressed by the fact that in the few months that you served as President you performed your duties excellently. Even the Auditor never found any fault with your work.

 

Even when you disclosed that a relative of yours had been appointed to a position you made it clear that the Public Prosecutor could investigate to find out if you had influenced that in any way. Only a few people would do that here in South Africa. All of us in here are guilty of some wrongdoing. We are just pleased that you have had a good reputation in the course of the performance of your duties for the South African nation.

 

May your ancestors be with you and may God bless you with a long life. Thank you. [Applause.]]

 

Nkskz N D NTWANAMBI: Enkosi Sihlalo. Namhlanje andithetheli Ndlu, kodwa ndithethela i-ANC, nangona ndinguMbhexeshi oyiNtloko weNdlu. Lithuba elibalulekileyo eli kuthi malungu e-ANC, Sekela Mongameli, ukuba ibe lithuba lakho lokugqibela ukuba ube lapha phakathi kwethu. Ukuba bendiyimbongi ngendikubonga ndikutyibele, kodwa ke ngelishwa ndiliyilo. Ndinqwenela ukuthi siswele imilomo, akwaba ibiliwaka, sikubonge kakhulu ngesidima nesithozela othe waziphatha ngaso nangendlela oziphethe ngayo xa uphakathi kwethu, nto leyo ibonisa ubunkokeli nefundisa eminye imibutho ngaphezulu.

 

Kwakhona njengokuba silapha sikubuka, isekwalithuba lokuba sijonge negalelo olenzileyo njengenxalenye yabantu abaninzi ekuziseni ubomi obungcono nempilo eyiyo kubantu abamnyama balapha eMzantsi Afrika, ingakumbi kuthi bantu bangama-Afrika.

 

Ndithanda ukuba sibabulele abazali bakho, umama uMasefako noMathakoe Motlanthe abeza nawe baze bakupha negama elimnandi bathi uza kukhalima. Uzikhalimele izinto ezininzi apha kulo mbutho wethu. Siyazazi ke thina kwaye zezinye zezinto esizibalisayo njenxalenye yebali lethu, ibali lombutho oneminyaka engaka nongenantanga ngokweminyaka namava.

 

Ndikhumbula ukuba ungumntu owaye wabanjwa ubanjelwa ukuthatha inxaxheba kuMkhonto weSizwe. Nalapho wawusenza umsebenzi ngesidima, kuba akuzange kubekho mntu wathi wabanjwa okanye wafa ngenxa yakho. Njengoko usazi ukuba awutyikityi phepheni, kodwa eyona nto yokuqala oyithandazelayo noyifunayo xa uzimanya noMkhonto weSizwe kukuba kungaze kubanjwe okanye kufe mntu ngenxa yakho. Uwenzile ke umsebenzi wakho ngempumelelo.

 

Ndinqwenela ukuba le Ndlu ihleke kancinane. Enye yezinto apha kuSekela Mongameli endakhe ndayimamela ndayithanda, - ndiyathemba ukuba akukho namnye oyakuze andicaphule kuba ndakuyiphika loo nto leyo – ngelaa xesha wayesebenza phaya emgodini, ubalisa ukuba xa ubani ediniwe uyabaleka aye ngasese. Uthi ke phaya babesithi abaphathi ‘hey wena sinya njalo maan’. Elo ke ligama nam endilipha umntu ophuma engena. Ndithi ungu ... andizi kuliphinda noko. Ndiyavuya aba bengandivanga.

 

Kwakhona, Sihlalo, njengoko wayesenza umsebenzi onzima, ukusebenza emgodini nokufundisa abantu abangafundanga asiyonto ilula, kodwa nalowo umsebenzi wawenza ngesidima nesithozela wabaqeqesha, ehlala nabo kwiihostele nasematyotyombeni ebafundisa ngakumbi ngemo yabo yokuba ngabo abeza noqoqosho nabenza ukuba kube kutyetyiwe kodwa bona ekugqibeleni bashiyeka beseziimpula zikalujaca. Yinto ebalulekileyo oyenzileyo leyo.

 

Uwukhonzile umbutho wethu kwizigaba ngezigaba, wawungunobhala kwingingqi ye-PWV, waze waba ngusihlalo. Ngo-1997 sakuthatha sakwenza unobhala eMafikeng, ngo-2007 ePolokwane sakuthatha sakwenza usekela mongameli. Sathi kuwe uze usiphathe ngoxolo. Ngokwenene wasiphathe ngoxolo. Kude kwalapha.

 

Bambalwa ke Sekela Mongameli abantu abathi xa bephuma ezihlalweni banikwe isithozela esifana nesi. Asinguye wonke umntu. Nam andiqondi ukuba ndakuyifumana le nyhweba. Iya kwabathile nabakhethiwe. Masikubulele, Sekela Mongameli. Uthe unguMongameli akwazigwagwisa kwaye awathi xa usonyulwa ukuba nguSekela Mongameli uthi hayibo lo mbutho wam undenza ntoni na. Loo nto icacisa ukuba ubungazanga sikhundleni apha kwi-ANC, koko ubuze kusebenzela abantu. Ndiyathanda ukugxininisa ukuba ubafundisile, ingakumbi isithethi sesibini kwezi bezithetha apha, ukuba abantu baphathwa njani na. Ukuba abantu ubaphatha kakubi baza kuthi xa bebalisa ibali ngawe bathi asinalo ikhaya. Ndiyavuya apha kwi-ANC bonke abantu ubenze baziva besekhaya.

 

Hamba kakuhle, Sekela Mongameli. Siyayazi thina malungu e-ANC ukuba awuhambi kodwa uza kusebenza nangaphezulu kwaye lo msebenzi sikunike wona ungaphezulu kwalo besikunikile. Usebenze kakuhle ke, ungabalibali oosinyanjalo. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)

 

[Ms N D NTWANAMBI: Thank you hon Chairperson. Today I am speaking on behalf of the ANC, not of the House, as I am the Chief Whip of the House. This is an important time for us as members of the ANC, to have you hon Deputy President among us for the last time. If I was a poet, I would make a poem and praise you as much as I can, but unfortunately I am not. We have no words to explain the dignified manner you showed when you were among us, something that shows leadership skills which also gives other political parties a good lesson.

 

Again as we are looking at you, it is time to also look at the contribution that you have made as one of many people who brought better life and well being to black South Africans, especially to us Africans.

 

We must thank your parents, your mother Masefako and your father Mathakoe Motlanthe who brought you and gave you a beautiful name and said you will reprimand. You did that in a lot of things in our party. We know them and it is some of the things that we talk about as part of our story, the story of an old political party which cannot be compared to anyone with age and experience.

 

I remember you were once arrested for participating in uMkhonto weSizwe. You also did that with dignity, because no one was arrested or die because of you. As you know you are not signing any papers, the first thing you prayed for and wanted when you joined uMkhonto weSizwe is that no one should be arrested or die because of you. You have done your job successfully.

 

Let me make this House laugh a little bit. Another thing I heard and liked from the hon Deputy President, - I hope no one will ever quote me because I will deny it – when he was working in the mines, he told us when one feels tired he would go to the toilet. He said the managers would say ‘hey you lazy one’. This is how I name someone who is on and off. I call him/her ... I’m not going to repeat it. I’m happy others didn’t hear me.

 

Again hon Chairperson, as he was doing a tiring job in the mines, teaching illiterate people is not an easy job, but he did it with dignity, training them and staying with them in hostels and shacks teaching them that they are the ones who bring economy and wealth but they end up destitute. You have done that vital job.

 

You were dedicated in our political party in many instances; you were the area secretary and the chairperson of the PWV. In 1997 you were the secretary in Mafikeng, In 2007 in Polokwane you became the Deputy President. We asked you to lead us with peace, and you did up until now.

 

Hon Deputy President, there are few people who leave their positions like this. Not everyone. I don’t think I will have this honour. It is for the selected few. Let us thank you, hon Deputy President. When you were the President you didn’t boast and when you were elected as the Deputy President you didn’t ask why the party is demoting you. This shows that you didn’t joint ANC to obtain better positions, but to work for the people. I would like to emphasise that you taught them how to lead people, especially the second speaker. If you have no mercy to the people they will say they are homeless when they narrate a story about you. I’m happy because you’ve made people feel at home in the ANC.

 

Farewell, hon Deputy President. As the ANC members we know you are not leaving but you are going to do a job that is more than what we have given you. Good luck in your job, don’t forget the lazy ones.]

 

Thank you, Chairperson.

 

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Hon Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson, hon members of the NCOP, ladies and gentlemen, let me start by thanking the National Council of Provinces, most sincerely, for this farewell to me today. I am humbled by this act of honour on my account by the NCOP, an organ of the democratic Parliament that represents the will of our people.

 

Having interacted with you for all these years that I have been both the President and the Deputy President of the country, it means much too much to me to have this farewell organised by the NCOP on the occasion of my leaving government. I am also thankful for all the kind tributes paid to me by hon members of this House, this afternoon. Thank you very much.

 

I feel all the more honoured to have this tribute in this House that has seen such great historical evolution. Starting as the Senate in 1994, chaired by hon Kobie Coetsee, who was deputised by hon Govan Mbeki, this House evolved into the National Council of Provinces in 1999. It has since continued to be an important part of Parliament.

 

It uplifts the human spirit to learn that especially the people one has been working with have appreciated what one has been doing all along. We are in government to serve our people. We are here not only to make a difference but, most importantly, to make the difference.

 

Chairperson, in turn, I wish to pay tribute to the role of the NCOP, one of the two Houses of our Parliament, to the extent that this House has ably represented the principle of co-operative government and intergovernmental relations.

 

My experience of the role of this House in our system of constitutional democracy is that it is indispensable in representing the interests of provinces and so, by extension, ensuring that the aspirations of the people of South Africa are met.

 

Somewhat an impression has been created, in certain quarters, that the NCOP plays second fiddle to the National Assembly, or that it is subordinated to it. The NCOP is not a junior partner or a poor cousin of the National Assembly. [Applause.] It is a constitutional structure charged with the imperative role for our country. In other words, the NCOP is the other House. As such, I think that the current misunderstanding about the NCOP is rather unfortunate.

 

I would really wish for us as government to dispel this illusion and take the trouble to clarify to our people the role of various institutions of the state, especially those that underpin our system of democracy. It is in the interests of our people to be in the know about the configuration of their government and indeed, the architecture of the state.

 

It is even more significant given that, at the end of the day, we are all faced with the epochal task of undoing the continued legacy of our odious past. One of the preconditions of achieving this task is both theoretical and practical knowledge of the apparatus at our disposal to execute our duties with optimal efficiency.

 

We have no option but to undo this legacy, which is currently manifested in the triple challenges of unemployment, inequality and poverty, ills whose continuation threatens to undermine current effort at reconstruction and development of our country.

 

We cannot afford such backsliding. Our current efforts are all aimed at building unity, democracy, nonracialism and nonsexism, which, in sum, constitute the strategic goal of our nation or, to put it another way, our shared vision.

 

This vision is the foundation upon which our future will stand. It cannot be any other way. Yet, this vision cannot be reached until and unless all the institutions of the state play their part, with the realisation that we are an organic whole, underpinned by the notion of cross-fertilisation, so that the strength of one institution becomes the strength of all. We are not helpless objects of history. We may, in the past, have been at the mercy of historical circumstances, but we are so no longer.

 

Our destiny is in our hands. In a way, the memorable Chinese saying is evocative of our current historical moment. It simply says, and I quote:

 

If you want to know your past, look into your present conditions. If you want to know your future, look into your present actions.

 

Our past has shaped our present to the extent that we have a massive task on our hands to reverse its insidious effects. Correspondingly, we all know, Chairperson, that our future depends on what we do today. Our present actions will shape the contours of our future.

 

This calls to mind Prof Mokubung Nkomo’s memorable line that, and I quote, “The future is embedded in the present as the present bears imprints of the past.”

 

As I leave office, I do so fully aware of the massive task that still lies ahead and the difficult conditions under which the task has to be executed. I am confident that our nation has men and women of vision, ever ready to do their bit, to ensure that our nation advances towards the desired level of development.

 

Hon members, at the centre of the democratic experience lies the need for citizens to have direct say in the way that they are governed. In this regard, the NCOP plays a critical role in linking the government and ordinary South Africans through Taking Parliament to the People. The week-long visit by the NCOP to designated communities ensures that government has its fingers on the pulse by directly interacting with South Africans.

 

The NCOP widens the frontiers of democratic participation by making sure that this organ of our system of public representation galvanises our people into democratic exercise. On this account, the NCOP’s work lends credence to the long cherished call that the people shall govern. To that extent, the NCOP is the lifeblood of our system of democracy. It guarantees participatory democracy.

 

As the term of the current government ends, we should look back to see how far we have come, especially in the context of the 20 years of democracy. We should do so not only to indulge in the glory of our achievements but, more importantly, with an eye on the future.

 

Our struggle for the betterment of the lives of our people, indeed, all South Africans, is a continuing struggle. As they say: Aluta Continua. The struggle continues. The struggle is taking place in the trenches of everyday life, where there is no time to pause and look back.

 

This is what makes the struggle the struggle. Our obligation is to understand these historical conditions under which the struggle is being executed. Our main challenge is to fully grasp the Hegelian Dialectics. Progress stems from the struggle itself. The mathematician and philosopher, Alfred North Whitehead, understood this, though in his own ways, when he observed that, and I quote, “The art of progress is to preserve order amid change, and to preserve change amid order.” As life hurtles along, so should we effect change, working to the rhythm of objective conditions in which we find ourselves.

 

As I conclude, I wish to take this opportunity to thank my political party, the ANC, for the confidence it has shown in me by deploying me in Parliament to serve the interests of our people. [Applause.] ... I seem to be missing a page here. I was going to ... Yes.

 

I also want to thank all members of the NCOP from all political parties. As we say in biblical language, this House is made up of all the political parties present here and you, having so many political parties, constitute but one House. I thank you for your attention. [Applause.]

 

USIHLALO WOMKHANDLU WENARHA ONGAMELE IIMFUNDA: Sithokoza khulu. Ngivumelani ke nami ngiphefumule. [Ihleko.] Sisakhula sibantwanyana abancani babesanyana nabantazanyana besithelelwa ibisi esikotlelweni nanyana esitjeni, kufakwe umratha ngaphakathi, sidube soke sidle esikotlelweni sinye. Odla kabuthaka nguye ogade alamba ngombana ababekwazi ukudla msinya bebasutha baqedele abanye. Njenganje namhlanje ngithanda ukuthi ebujameni babaphathi beNdlu le nalabo abangakatholi ithuba lokukhuluma, ngithi kuSekela Mongameli, ngithabe khulu ehliziwenami namhlanjesi ukobana sikwazi ukukuthokozisa njengamaLunga weNdlu le.

 

Ngivumelana nabo boke asele bakhulumile bonyana uburholi bakho ubukhombise ngokungazazi, uqale phambili ngamehlo avulekileko nangenqgondo evulekileko. Usithethe soke njengoba sinje njenge sikhukhukazi nasembesa amadzinyani waso. Wasembesa ngamaphiko wakho. Ikukhu nayidlako, ithi ingadobha ifake emlonyeni wedzinyani layo, ikhumbule bona nalo lifanele lidle. Usidlise soke ukuhlakanipha kwakho Sekela Mongameli, wasikhombisa soke indlela elungileko nevuthiweko efanele sikhambe ngayo. Bekubuhlungu nangithi ngiyakhumbula nagade uhlezi ejele nanyana etrongweni abanye bahlezi emakhaya, kumnandi baphumulile bahlezi neenhlobo zabo nabentwana babo wena utlhaga ungadli, ungalali kodwana  umphumela walokho ubemnandi kumaSewula Afrika nelizwe loke esiphila kilo ngokuzinikela kwakho.

 

Akhange ube litjhatjha nakuyiwa evadleni kuyokubethwana. Wazikhombisa bona nawe uyindoda emadodeni. Intonga uyakwazi ukuyiphatha, neswazi nalo uyakwazi ukuliphatha, nokubethana nakho uyakwazi. Imiphumela yakho siyayibona. Angitjho ngithi, baba, ungubaba wethu soke siyakuhlonipha begodu siyakuthanda namhlazana sihlangana nawe ngelinye lamalanga asizokuqala ngelihlo linye ,sizokuqala ngamehlo womabili, sihlale sikuhlonipha njalo begodu sikuthanda njalo.

 

Awukapheli umsebenzi, Sekela Mongameli, usesemnengi umsebenzi wakho, likhona ilanga lapha uzakuphumula khona. Sisakhamba ephasini ukuphumula akukho. Abarholi bahlala babarholi ngitjho nanyana wena sewuthi  ufuna ukuphumula. Sizazokuthatha ngekhaya sithi naku umsebenzi ungabuyeli emva. Magama wami engithanda ukukulayelisa ngawo namhlanjesi ngithi siyathokoza baba, wenze umsebenzi omuhle noqakathekileko. Ngithi siyathokoza baba. [Iwahlo.] (Translation of isiNdebele speech follows.)

 

[The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Thank you very much. Allow me also to say something [Laughter.]. When we were little boys and girls we used to have a meal of milk and porridge mixed into one big dish or basin and ate together. The ones who were slow eaters would starve because those who could eat fast would be full and would finish their food ahead of the slow ones. Today, on behalf of the leadership of this House and those who did not have a chance to speak, Deputy President, my heart is filled with joy if we are able to thank you as  Members of this House.

 

I agree with all who spoke before me  that you have shown your leadership skills without any doubt or fear but forged forward vigilantly with consideration. You covered all of us here present like a hen covering its chicks with its wide wings. A hen picks up food and puts it into the chick’s mouth remembering that it must also eat. With your intelligence, Deputy President you fed all of us; showing us the right, proper and correct way to follow. I can imagine how painful it was when you were jailed, thinking of other people who were with their families and friends relaxed at their homes. You were kept in jail without food and spent sleepless nights. Today we see the fruits of your dedication, sacrifice and struggle that is enjoyed by all South Africans and the nation at large.

 

You were not a coward - you stood your ground during tough times and showed that you are a man amongst men. You showed that you can use your rod, you also know how to use your stick and you have skills to fight as we see the results thereof. Let me also say that you are our father. We love and respect you. When we meet you one day, we will not look at you with one eye - we will boldly look at you and always love and respect you.

 

Your work is not over yet, Deputy President. We still have a lot of work for you to do and one day you will rest. There is no rest while you are still on this planet. Leaders are always leaders even beyond their wish to retire. We are still going to call you from your home and assign work for you to do. Please do not sit back. These are my words of saying to you thank you, father. You did a good and important job. We thank you Sir. [Applause.]]

 

RULE 239(1) OF NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES RULES

 

(Statement)

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon members, before we move to the other Orders of the Day, allow me to make this statement.

I wish to bring the following information to your attention. There have been occasions were delegates have questioned the suspension of Rule 239(1) of the Rules, ordinarily referred to as “the three-day Rule”. The Council normally suspends this Rule if it seeks to pass a Bill before the expiry of three days after the report of the committee has been published in the Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports, ATCs. The suspension sought is ordinarily narrowly tailored to achieve the objective for which the Rule is to be suspended to enable the House to consider business before it. In most instances, the objection is directed at whether a Bill in respect of which a suspension is sought falls within the reach of the exceptions provided for under Rule 239(1)(a) and (b).

 

For the sake of convenience, Rule 239 provides that the Council may not pass a Bill at least three working days after the committee’s report was tabled, unless it is a fast-tracked Bill in terms of Joint Rule 216 of the Joint Rules of being an urgent Bill. In general, hon members, in general terms, the Rule prohibits the Council from passing a Bill at least three working days.

 

Since the committee report was tabled, there is no doubt about the validity of the purpose that the Rule seeks to achieve, but all Rules, if strictly adhered to, may frustrate the business of the House. Having foreseen this possibility, the drafters of Rules designed Rule 3. Rule 3 of the Rules authorises the Council by resolution to dispense with or suspend a provision of these Rules for a specific reason or for a specific purpose. Rule 3 is therefore currently tailored to ensure that there is a rational connection between the suspension and the objectives that the suspension seeks to achieve. I would add, for the sake of completeness, that the Council Rules may not be suspended to achieve an unconstitutional objective or to subvert the lawmaking or other processes.

 

The suspension itself must pass the test of legality. That is why Rule 3 demands that the suspension must be “for a specific, or”. In general, I must emphasise, hon delegates, that the Rules are there to ensure the smooth running of the proceedings of the House and not to impede them. Technically, directically objective may result in paralysis of the House. I thank you very much.

 

CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - 2014 FISCAL FRAMEWORK AND REVENUE PROPOSALS

 

Mr C J DE BEER: Hon Chairperson, members, and hon Deputy Minister, the Minister of Finance tabled the 2014 National Budget before the National Assembly on 26 February 2014, in line with section 27 of the Public Finance Management Act, PFMA. After the tabling of the Budget on 26 February 2014 and the engagement with the Minister of Finance on 27 February 2014, the Select Committee on Finance and the Standing Committee on Finance held the public hearing on 04 March 2014.

 

Submissions were received from the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, the Federation of Unions of South Africa, Fedusa, the SA Institute of Tax Practitioners, the SA Institute of Chartered Accountants, PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Manufacturing Circle, Business Unity South Africa, the Financial and Fiscal Commission, Budget and Expenditure Management Forum, Ernst & Young Advisory Services, Metope Investment Managers and PPC Manufacturers.

 

This report summarises the economic outlook; fiscal framework; revenue trends and tax proposals; government debt financing and the key issues emerging from the public hearings with the above-mentioned stakeholders. During the third week in January 2014, the Minister of Finance led a team to Davos in Switzerland, representing South Africa at the World Economic Forum, participating in the battle of ideas.

 

The Minister put South Africa’s case in a prudent way and with confidence, saying, and I quote:

 

As we look to the next 20 years, we today can say proudly that we have a National Development Plan - a plan that is to develop an even stronger social compact that will reduce poverty and inequality.

 

The team from South Africa did a good selling job.

At its 53rd national conference, the ANC resolved that it must, and  the emphasis is on ``must’’, take the lead in mobilising and uniting all South Africans around a common vision of economic transformation that puts South Africa first.

 

Suid-Afrika eerste. [South Africa first.]

 

The National Development Plan, NDP, should be used as a common basis for this mobilisation. This Budget is the practical action to allocate money from the fiscus to the action plan of the NDP. Page 4 of the Budget Review gives the layout of the NDP’s critical actions and medium-term initiatives.

 

Our constitutional order established in 1994 has proven to be a valid foundation on which to make progress. The Constitution requires us to act in a certain way. We must care for our people - everyone. Since 1994, the Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals did just that. The RDP formed the basis of that departure in 1994.

 

You should look at the 20 years of transformation in our economy. Despite the significant development challenges that we continue to face, today South Africa is a wealthier society than it was in 1994, with greater access to economic opportunities. The GDP expanded by 83% in 1994.

 

Macroeconomic stability anchored in prudent financial management, countercyclical fiscal policy, inflation targeting and a flexible exchange rate has translated into declining interest rates, stable inflation, improving government finances, higher investments in exports and rising GDP per person.

 

Inflation which averaged 14% in the decade prior to 1994 fell to an average of 5,5% between 2003 and 2013. Since 1994, South Africa became integrated into the world economy. Prior to 1990, farmers’ fruits used to lie in the Cape Town harbour and would be shipped out to the deep sea, due to the decay. There was nothing they could do with that. Today we export all over the globe – that is progress.

 

Our robust monetary policy framework has proven to be capable of absorbing external shocks. If you look at the global outlook, the International Monetary Fund, IMF, projects that global economic growth will increase from 3,7% in 2014 to 3,9% in 2015. Economic activity in advanced economies has strengthened. The outlook for emerging markets remains positive, with the projected economic growth of 5,1% in 2014.

 

The recovery in advanced economies will translate into a moderately higher demand for South African exports. If we look at our domestic economic outlook, South Africa’s improved medium-term growth prospects are tied to an improving global outlook and a strong economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa. Real GDP is projected to grow from 1,8% in 2013 and 2,7% in 2014 - reaching 3,5% by 2016.

 

The outlook is subjected to risks, including delays to the additional electricity supply and capacity, labour disputes and more pronounced inflationary pressures associated with the depreciation of the rand. South Africa’s economy has grown since 1994 as a result of the fiscal policy. Let’s travel on this journey. In 1994 our tax revenue was R144 billion. In 2015 it will exceed R1 trillion, and that is growth. Expenditure increased from R137 billion in 1994 and will reach R1,25 trillion 2014-15.

 

The average income of South Africans, which declined by 15% in the last decade of the apartheid rule, has increased by over 30% since 1994. On average, the economy grew at 3,2% per year since 1994, and steered its way through the global recession, growing at a lower rate. This is remarkable if one looks at what happened worldwide. Today we can report that no provincial Treasury is in overdraft.

 

Allocations to provinces increased from R75,499 billion in 1994, to R444,423 billion in 2014-15. This is an equitable share of conditional grants. The economy has created 5,9 million jobs since 1996 and 15,2 million people are employed - the highest since 1994, although the unemployment rate is still too high.

 

The social assistance programme now reaches about 16 million people. Social spending has risen from R75 billion in 2008-09 to R118 billion in 2014. However, 8,8 million learners now have access to free education. ``The doors of learning shall be opened’’. This year, grant recipients will have an increase; 370 new schools were built, replacing mud schools; and teacher training colleges will be opened to meet the demand.

 

Grade R enrolment increased from 300 000 to more than 779 000 in 2014. In 2007, 5 million learners had access to free education, whereas in 2014 it increased to 8,8 million. The school nutrition programme now feeds 8,7 million learners. Over the past five years, 300 new health facilities have been built, including 160 new clinics and several new hospitals. The target is that at least 6 million people must enrol in the antiretroviral programme.

 

Three million housing units and more than 850 000 serviced sites were delivered since 1994; R70 billion was spent on the human settlement programmes since 2009; and 590 000 houses were built. Investment incentives provided by the DTI has stimulated R143 billion in private investments and created 144 000 jobs in the past five years. Why? South Africa’s public finances are sound and well-managed; and our budgeting processes are recognised internationally for their transparency. Spending on infrastructure amounted to R1 trillion over the past 5 years and will be R847 billion over the next three years.

The introduction of the youth employment incentive, which in its fourth month recorded 56 000 beneficiaries, is also part of the good story. Yes, our economy has grown, as a result of sound fiscal policies.

 

The microeconomic framework has proven to be resilient and adaptable. Prudent and transparent fiscal management, inflation targeting and a flexible exchange rate is in the context of open capital markets, and enabled the economy to continue growing moderately since the 2009 recession – and absorb the shocks. The fiscal framework is grounded in a sustainable countercyclical approach to manage revenue and expenditure.

 

I am now going to turn to the revenue and tax proposals. Personal income tax, Value-Added Tax and corporate income tax, provides the basis for the tax system. We commend the SA Revenue Service, Sars, for building a progressive and a fair tax system.

 

Tax proposals include income tax relief of R9,3 billion, steps to encourage enterprise development and households savings, measures to address acid mine drainage, and design adjustment to the proposed carbon tax. Revenue for the 2014-15 financial year is projected at R1,099 trillion, increasing in 2016-17 to R1,327 trillion. The budget balance deficit is declining over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, period.

 

There are 16 recommendations that we are tabling in the report to the Minister of Finance, the Deputy Minister and the National Treasury. I will only refer to a few. The Select Committee on Finance recommends as follows: That the National Treasury should quarterly brief Parliament on employment tax incentives and monitor the implementation of this incentive to identify any unintended consequences. National Treasury should share with Parliament some achievement of this incentives as well as detailed progress made with the incentive.

 

The Minister of Finance, together with other relevant government departments, should prioritise the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes that target job creation. The Minister of Finance should report on the reduction in core spending plans, including financing new policy initiatives from savings, efficient gains and reprioritisation over the next three years, analysis of personnel spending and phasing out of projects that are ineffective or no longer aligned with policy priorities. This report should be submitted within 90 days of the adoption of this report by the House.

 

The Minister should also report on government’s need to continue its strong focus on rooting out corruption, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of public spending and enhancing accountability of public officials with respect to performance. This should also encourage other government departments to assess the relevance of these programmes in terms of their efficiency and effectiveness in achieving intended policy objectives, and also consider the discontinuation of some and introduce new ones.

 

The committee supports the implementation of cost containment measures and recommends that they be enforced in provinces and municipalities to encourage other innovative means to contain expenditure, synchronised with improved service delivery. National Treasury should ensure that these measures are enforced and reported back to Parliament.

 

The National Treasury should provide Parliament with an analysis of infrastructure spending as a percentage of GDP over the medium-term and, where possible, over the years beyond the MTEF; and to also provide Parliament with an update on the timeframe for the final implementation of the Special Economic Zones, including all tax incentives that have been announced for these zones. 

 

The Minister should ensure that National Treasury and Sars are adequately resourced, and he should report to the House on the vacancies and measures available to fill critical positions, specifically within ... [Interjections.]

 

Mr S D MONTSITSI: Hon Chairperson, we agree with the report. [Laughter.]

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Okay. Continue, hon member.

 

Mr C J DE BEER: Thank you, hon Montsitsi, for that confirmation, as you also supported the report in the committee meeting. [Laughter.]

 

In conclusion, Sars should ensure that the 2014 Taxation Laws Amendment Bill makes provision for an increase in tax deductable for employees from the announced R350 000 annual ceiling, as contained in the 2013 Taxation Laws Amendment Bill. We still have an immense set of tasks and challenges facing us. We cannot just muddle through the next decade. We have the responsibility and a legacy to leave behind. Step-by-step, we can make a difference in the lives of all South Africans.

 

I move that the Council adopts the report. I thank you. [Applause.]

 

PRESENCE OF MINISTER AND DEPUTY MINISTER OF FINANCE IN HOUSE

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon members, I recognise the presence of the Minister and the Deputy Minister of Finance in the House. Your presence shows commitment to your work. We really appreciate the fact that you came to listen to what this House is saying on the 2014 Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals. Thank you very much for your presence in the House. [Applause.]

 

Debate concluded.

Question put: That the Report be adopted.

 

IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.

 

Report accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.

 

MARINE LIVING RESOURCES AMENDMENT BILL

 

(Consideration of Bill and of Report thereon)

 

Mr T L MAKUNYANE: Greetings to the Chairperson of the NCOP, the Chief Whip and hon members of this distinguished Council. This afternoon I’ve been given the opportunity to share with you some of the deliberations that the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs had on the Marine Living Resources Amendment Bill that was introduced by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to Parliament.

 

The main purpose of the Bill is to manage the decreasing fishery resources equitably, provide a legal framework for the implementation of the Policy for Small-Scale Fishery Sector in South Africa, and transform the inequalities of the past fisheries allocation system and measures it introduced. Small-scale fishing is not recognised in the current Marine Living Resources Act that regulates access to and the consumptive use of the marine living resources.

 

The allocation of commercial fishing rights negatively impacted on the traditional fishing communities and their lifestyles, as a large percentage of these fishing communities did not receive any allocations in the past. The small-scale fishing communities are faced with high levels of poverty, unemployment and food insecurity. The Marine Living Resources Amendment Bill will thus give recognition to and enable the allocation of fishing rights to identified fishing communities who have previously been excluded from the fishing rights allocation process in South Africa.

 

The Bill was referred to the committee on 07 November 2013 and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries briefed the committee on 20 November 2013. Comrades, the process that the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs followed for processing this section 76 legislation included referring the Bill to the provinces for public hearings; receiving the negotiating mandate and final mandate; and successfully concluding the deliberations on the Bill.

 

The Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs, having deliberated on and concluded the subject of the Marine Living Resources Amendment Bill, B30B-2013, referred to and classified by the Joint Tagging Mechanism, JTM, as a section 76 Bill, agreed to the Bill. I thank you. [Applause.]

 

Debate concluded.

 

Question put: That the Bill be agreed to.

 

IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.

 

Bill accordingly agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.

 

NATIONAL WATER AMENDMENT BILL

 

(Consideration of Bill and of Report thereon)

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mrs N W Magadla): Hon Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Chief Whip of the NCOP, hon members as well as distinguished guests, this afternoon I am given the opportunity to share with you some of the deliberations that the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs had on the National Water Amendment Bill B3 – 2014 that was introduced to Parliament by the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs.

 

The main purpose of this Bill is to make specific amendments to section 41 of the National Water Act, which deals with water use licence applications, to enable an integrated licensing system which aligns the timeframes for internal appeals to the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs and, in certain circumstances, to enable the Minister to be the appeal authority for internal appeals for water use licences emanating from applications for rights, licences or permits for prospecting, mining, exploration or operations in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act of 2002.

 

These amendments are necessary for the synchronisation and alignment of processes and timeframes from the respective regulatory frameworks between the Department of Mineral Resources, DMR, Department of Environmental Affairs, DEA, and Department of Water Affairs, DWA. This very clearly became necessary during the legislative process for the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act of 2002 and the National Environmental Management Laws Third Amendment Bill.

 

During these discussions, the one environmental system, specifically for mining, was introduced and an integrated licensing system for all regulatory requirements was agreed to.

 

The Bill seeks to amend the National Water Act of 1998 so as to make provisions for the correct designation of the department and the Minister; to correct outdated references; to enable an alignment and synchronisation of the process for consideration of water use licences with the licensing processes under the National Environmental Management Act of 1998, the specific Environmental Management Act and the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act of 2002; to provide for the appointment of the Minister as the responsible authority for internal appeals in certain circumstances; to amend the authority of the Water Tribunal as appeal authority in certain circumstances where an appeal will now be dealt with by the Minister; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

 

The Bill was referred to the committee on 27 January 2014 and the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs briefed the committee on 4 March 2014.

 

The Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs, having deliberated on and considered the subject of the National Water Amendment Bill, B3 – 2014, National Assembly - section 75 referred to it and classified by the Joint Tagging Mechanism, JTM, as a section 75 Bill, agrees to the Bill without amendments. I thank you Chairperson. [Applause.]

 

Debate concluded.

 

Question put: That the Bill be agreed to.

 

Bill accordingly agreed to in accordance with section 75 of the Constitution.

 

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: INTEGRATED COASTAL MANAGEMENT AMENDMENT BILL

 

(Consideration of Bill and of Report thereon)

 

Mrs A N D QIKANI: Chairperson, the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Amendment Bill of 2013 seeks to amend the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act, Act 24 of 2008.

 

The Act is a specific National Environmental Management Act, Act 107 of 2008, which is within the framework of the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act, Act 24 of 2008. The Act was promulgated in 2008 and came into operation on 1 December 2009. Most of the amendments were identified through the implementation of the Act and some originated through consultation with other organs of the state.

 

The nature of this Act was the notion of coastal public property, which gives special status to South Africa’s territorial waters up to the high-water mark; the beaches, the sea and the seabed, including admiralty reserves. In other words, everything that occurs below seaward of the high-water mark is part of coastal public property which belongs to the people of this beautiful country.

 

The ownership of these natural assets is vested in the citizens and held in trust by the state. Due to its dynamic nature, it is critical to manage coastal public property in order to ensure long-term sustainability and the protection of people as well as their properties against the natural elements. As part of the management regime, the coastal public property cannot be sold, leased or have restricted access. It is essential to prohibit sale of these natural assets.

 

The main purpose of the Bill is to ensure that the coastal public property does not impact on the ownership of assets and operations of other organs of state; expand the provisions of reclamation; simplify the administration of coastal access fee approvals; extend the powers of MECs to issue coastal protection notices and coastal access notices; simplify and amend powers relating to coastal leases including transitional arrangements; simplify the provisions relating to the National Coastal Committee; expand the powers of delegation by MECs; expand categories of activities requiring dumping permits; provide for exemptions; revise offences, increase penalties and make corrections.

 

Chairperson, the Bill was referred to the committee on 5 November 2013. The process that the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs followed in processing this section 76 legislation includes referring the Bill to the provinces for public hearings, receiving negotiating mandates and final mandates, and successfully concluding the deliberations on the Bill.

 

The Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs, having deliberated on and considered the subject of the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Amendment Bill ,B 8D – 2013, National Assembly, section 76, which was referred to it and classified by the JTM as a section 76 Bill, reports that it has agreed to amend Bill ,B 8D – 2013.Thank you, Sir.

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon members that concludes the debate. I shall now put the question. The question is that the Bill be agreed to.

 

In accordance with Rule 71, I shall first allow provinces an opportunity to make their declarations of vote, if they so wish. Is there any province that wishes to do so?

 

We shall now proceed to the voting on the question. Voting will commence. Only delegation heads must vote this time.

 

An HON MEMBER: [Inaudible.]

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Ayisebenzi? [It’s not working]

I now call upon the provinces to vote: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West and Western Cape.

 

All right, there is a little correction I have to make here, hon Nzimande. I’ve got the final mandate here from your legislature that says the KwaZulu-Natal legislature met today, Friday, 21 February 2014, and agreed to mandate the KwaZulu-Natal delegation to the NCOP to abstain from voting for the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Amendment Bill. Is it the correct one? [Interjections.] Yes, that’s the correct one. So, in order words, KwaZulu-Natal is abstaining from voting.

 

Debate concluded.

 

Question put: That the Bill be agreed to.

 

IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.

 

ABSTAIN: KwaZulu-Natal.

 

Bill accordingly agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.

 

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: I have been informed that I should announce to the House that Parliament will have a cocktail farewell function tomorrow for all members starting at six o’ clock in the afternoon.

 

That concludes the business of the day. Hon members, you are requested to remain standing until the procession has left the House.

 

The Council adjourned at 15:52.

 

__________

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces

 

The Speaker and the Chairperson

 

1.       Bills passed by Houses – to be submitted to President for assent

 

1. Bills passed by National Assembly on 12 March 2014:

 

1. Legal Practice Bill [B 20D – 2012] (National Assembly – sec 76).
2. Public Administration Management Bill [B 55B – 2013] (National Council of Provinces – sec 76(2)).

 

1. Bills passed by National Council of Provinces on 12 March 2014:

 

1. Marine Living Resources Amendment Bill [B 30B – 2013] (National Assembly – sec 76).
2. National Water Amendment Bill [B 3 – 2014] (National Assembly– sec 75).

 

2.      Classification of Bills by Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM)

 

1. The JTM in terms of Joint Rule 160(6) classified the following Bills as section 76 Bills:

 

1. Division of Revenue Bill [B 5 – 2014] (National Assembly – sec 76).

 

1. Medical Innovation Bill [PMB 1 – 2014] (National Assembly – sec 76).

 

1. The JTM in terms of Joint Rule 160(6) classified the following Bill as a money Bill:

 

1. Appropriation Bill [B 4 – 2014] (National Assembly – sec 77).

 

3.       Draft Bills submitted in terms of Joint Rule 159

 

1. Unemployment Insurance Amendment Bill, 2014, submitted by the Minister of Labour.

 

          Referred to the Portfolio Committee on Labour and the Select Committee on Labour and Public Enterprises.

 

National Council of Provinces

 

The Chairperson

 

1.       Message from National Assembly to National Council of Provinces in respect of Bills passed by Assembly and transmitted to Council

 

1. Bills passed by National Assembly and transmitted for concurrence on 12 March 2014:

1. Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Bill [B 15B – 2013] (National Assembly – sec 76).

 

         The Bill has been referred to the Select Committee on Economic Development of the National Council of Provinces.

1. Property Valuation Bill [B 54B – 2013] (National Assembly – sec 75).

 

         The Bill has been referred to the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs of the National Council of Provinces.

 

1.  

 

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces

1.       The President of the Republic

 

1. Twenty Year Review of Democracy: South Africa 1994 - 2014.

 

1. The Minister of Trade and Industry

 

1. Government Notice No R.144, published in Government Gazette No 37386, dated 26 February 2014: Removal of adverse consumer credit information and information relating to paid up judgments, in terms of the National Credit Act, 2005.

 

1. The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development

 

(a)     Progress report dated 26 February 2014 on the conditional upliftment of provisional suspension from office of Mr P S Hole, an regional magistrate at Kimberly, in terms of section 13(3)(f) of the Magistrates Act, 1993 (No 90 of 1993).

 

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson

 

REPORT OF THE JOINT RULES COMMITTEE ON POLICY FOR ATTENDANCE OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT (FIRST REPORT FOR 2014)

 

The Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, as co-chairpersons on the Joint Rules Committee, present the First Report of the Joint Rules Committee for 2014, dated 11 March 2014, as follows:

 

On 5 March 2014, the Joint Rules Committee adopted the Policy for Attendance of Members of Parliament during Plenary and meetings of Parliamentary Committees and Forums, as presented by the Joint Whips’ Forum.

 

Attached hereto is the adopted Policy. Amendments to the Rules of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces should be considered in order to give effect to penalties, amongst other matters, contained in the Policy.

 

Report to be considered.

 

POLICY FOR ATTENDANCE OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT DURING PLENARY AND MEETINGS OF PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES AND FORUMS

 

AS AGREED TO BY THE JOINT RULES COMMITTEE ON 5 MARCH 2014

 

1. DEFINITIONS

 

In this policy, unless the context indicates otherwise –

 

“Assembly” means the National Assembly;

“Attendance” refers to the presence of a Member at a plenary, extended public committee, sectoral parliament, a meeting of a parliamentary committee, a recognized parliamentary forum or on an approved oversight activity;

“Council” means the National Council of Provinces;

“Chief Whip” means the chief whip of the majority party in the National Assembly;

“Chief Whip of the Council” refers to the Chief Whip of the NCOP as elected in terms of Rule 13 (1) of the Rules of the NCOP or acting in that capacity;

 “Committee” refers to all committees of the Assembly and the Council, joint committees, ad hoc committees, standing committees, multiparty whips’ forums and their task teams, provincial whips forum, internal committees and recognized parliamentary forums;

“Family Member” refers to a relative by blood, marriage, adoption, fostering, traditional kinship or a life partner (including guardian, grandparent, and in-laws) of a Member or a person who stands in a bona fide domestic or household relationship with the Member, including situations in which there is implied some dependency or support role for the Member;

“Formal institution of education or training” is an institution registered or accredited with the Department of Education, Council on Higher Education or the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA);

“Member” with reference to —

(a) the Assembly, means a Member of the Assembly; and

(b) the Council, means a permanent delegate to the Council

For purposes of this policy the term Member, excludes Members of the Cabinet and Deputy Ministers and special delegates of the Council, Members of Provincial Legislatures and representatives of SALGA;

“Parliamentary business or work” refers to Parliamentary activities sanctioned in terms of the Constitution, the Programme of Parliament, instruction of the Presiding Officers or a decision of a House or its committees or party work sanctioned by the political party or a member and which is related to the work of Parliament;

“Party Whip” refers to a Member appointed by his or her party or recognised as such;

“Party Leader” refers to a Member appointed by his or her party or recognised as such;

“Party Work” refers to activities sanctioned by the political party of a member;

“Private business” refers to any work done, either for remuneration or not, by a Member that does not relate to his or her responsibilities as a Member but excludes political party work;

“Primary caregiver” in the context of this policy refers to a spouse or life partner who takes primary responsibility for an adopted child under the age of two years or a child born from a surrogacy agreement;

“Provincial Whip” refers to a Member designated in terms of Rule 142 (1) (c) of the NCOP;

“Recess” with reference to -

(a) a House, means a period determined as a recess by the Programme Committee of the House, or by resolution of the House, during which the business of the House is interrupted; or

(b) both Houses, means a period determined as a recess by the Joint Programme Committee, or by resolutions adopted in the Houses, during which the business of both Houses is interrupted;

“Session” refers to periods that the Assembly or Council are convened for plenary as well as periods set aside for meetings of parliamentary committees and forums and formal oversight activities of Parliament or its committees and forums, in terms of the programme of a house or the joint programme of Parliament;

“Sitting day” refers to a day on which the Assembly or the Council sits in plenary and includes committee meetings;

“spouse” means a spouse or a partner in a marriage or civil union partnership in accordance with the Marriage Act, 1961 (Act No 25 of 1961), Recognition of Customary Marriages Act, 1998 (Act No 120 of 1998) or the Civil Union Act, 2006 (Act No 17 of 2006).

“Three-line-whip” refers to instructions issued by the chief whip of a political party or his or her representative or instructions issued by the Chief Whip of the Council to attend to the business of the house, including house plenary sessions and meetings of committees;

“Working day” in terms of parliamentary work means any day of the week except

(a) Saturday and Sunday; and

(b) a public holiday in terms of the Public Holidays Act,1994 (Act 36 of 1994), and, if such a public holiday falls on a Sunday, also the Monday;

 

2.         RATIONALE FOR THE POLICY AND MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ATTENDANCE

 

1. Section 47(3)(b) of the Constitution provides that a person loses Membership of the Assembly if that person is “…absent from the Assembly without permission in circumstances for which the rules and orders of the Assembly prescribe loss of Membership”.  Section 62(4)(e) of the Constitution provides that a person ceases to be a member if that person “is absent from the National Council of Provinces without permission in circumstances for which the rules and orders of the Council prescribe loss of office as a permanent delegate.
2. Rule 20 of the Assembly provides for instances where a Member wants to be absent from sittings of the House or its committees for 15 or more consecutive sitting days, i.e a Member will need the Assembly’s or Committee’s approval.  It does not, however, provide for loss of Membership or punitive measures should such approval not be sought or granted.
3. In terms of Rule 17 of the Council a person ceases to be a Permanent Delegate of the Council if that person is voluntarily and without leave absent from the Council for 15 consecutive sitting days.  Furthermore, a Permanent Delegate seeking leave to be absent from the Council for 15 or more consecutive sitting days must apply for such leave from the Council.
4. The Remuneration of Public Office Bearers Act, 1998 provides in section 3(5) that the payment of salaries and allowances of Members “…is subject to the rules and orders of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces”.  The Act therefore provides a legal basis for which deductions from Members’ salaries for unauthorized absences from parliamentary work may be made to the extent that relevant rules are in place.
5. It is accepted that political parties are responsible for managing Members’ leave and that a Member’s absence from Parliament should be controlled by the political party which the Member represents.  However, each Member has a dual responsibility – towards their political party and towards Parliament as an institution. 
6. While it is emphasized that plenary sittings and committee meetings are the first priority of Members, the nature of their duties is such that it is essential that Members are entitled to be away from Parliament, with permission, to attend to their responsibilities to voters, their constituency, their party, interest groups and to represent Parliament at workshops, seminars and on local and overseas visits.
7. The multiplicity of activities in which Members are engaged makes it necessary for a simple yet effective policy to control the attendance of Members when Parliament is in session.  This policy would therefore apply during Parliamentary sessions and any official activity, but not to recess periods for which holiday leave would be applicable.
8. This policy will not apply to instances where a House has, by resolution, imposed a sanction on a Member in terms of the suspension of the Member’s privileges and right to a seat in parliamentary debates or committees.
9. While in the National Assembly political parties and in the Council the Chief Whip of the Council after consultation with political parties regulate the leave of their Members, it is done against certain minimum standards that are required in terms of attendance of Members at plenary and committee meetings.  The ensuring of attendance at plenary and committee meetings continues to be a principal function for political parties.  Whips from the various political parties should be responsible for ensuring adequate representation at all plenary and other official activities of Parliament.
10. As a general principle political parties in the Assembly and the Chief Whip of the Council in the Council have an obligation to ensure that:

1. Parliament is able to function by taking decisions as required; and
2. Members are present at committee, forum and plenary meetings and that failure to do so may result in sanction being imposed on a Member, however a collective decision by a political party to break quorum by withholding their participation at such meeting is excluded from this general provision. 

1. It should be borne in mind that in the Assembly political parties and in the Council the Chief Whip of the Council after consultation with political parties largely regulate the leave of their Members up to 15 days, however, according to the rules of the Assembly and the Council after 15 or more consecutive days the leave of the house must be obtained to condone further absence.
2. Attendance in Parliament includes the obligation to fulfill the duties imposed upon Members by the Constitution and the rules of the House.  A Member cannot excuse himself or herself from attending a plenary session or committee meeting when attendance is made compulsory by standing or other orders.  Therefore Parliament should have an enforceable attendance policy which allows for non-attendance by Members as specified in the Rules.  
3. Minimum standards regarding absence should be set to allow Parliament to impose sanctions for Members as contemplated in the Constitution.
4. In this regard the provisions of the Constitution (sections 53 and 65) which provide respectively the quorum requirements for decisions to be taken by the Assembly and Council may be used to provide a minimum standard for attendance in terms of plenary sessions. 
5. The Constitution also requires special majorities for decisions on the following:

1. Extension of state of emergency;
2. Amendments to the Constitution;
3. A question to be decided in terms of section 75 of the Constitution in the Council;
4. Section 76 bills rejected by the Council;
5. Bills changing the seat of Parliament;
6. Removal of the President;
7. Motions of no confidence in the President or Cabinet;
8. Removal of judges;
9. Appointment and removal of Members of Human Rights Commission, Commission for Gender Equality, Electoral Commission, Auditor-General and Public Protector;
10. Appointment and removal of certain Members of the Public Service Commission, and
11. Inspector to monitor intelligence services.

1. When decisions of this nature are to be taken a “three-line-whip” approach which would involve a strict instruction to attend and vote issued by the respective political parties in the case of the Assembly or Chief Whip of the Council in the case of the Council should be applicable.
2. Committees play a vital role in the parliamentary process and assist the respective houses in performing their constitutional functions.  Committees may be appointed to deal with two main areas of work: the work of Parliament (legislation and oversight) and Parliament’s internal arrangements and procedures.  While committees may proceed with their business regardless of a quorum being present they would require a quorum before any decision could be taken.  In Assembly committees a quorum would be the majority of Members of the committee while in Council committees a quorum is dependent on the matter on which a decision is being taken i.e. in certain instances it will be based on the number of Members of the committee, but in the case of matters that impact on the provinces decisions are taken on the basis of provincial mandates.
3. If there is a conflict between this policy, rules and standing orders of the Houses, the rules and standing order of the Council and the Assembly, respectively, shall prevail.

3.         PURPOSE OF THE POLICY

 

The purpose of this policy is to –

 

1. Provide minimum standards for attendance of Members in the business or activities of Parliament, including plenary sittings, committee meetings, study tours, workshops, Parliamentary forums or any other Parliamentary activity sanctioned by Presiding Officers or a House or its committees; 
2. Define the different categories of leave of absence for Members;
3. Provide an equitable and consistent application of leave for Members;
4. Provide guidelines for consequences of unauthorized absence; and
5. Provide a mechanism for recourse for grievances in respect of the application of this policy.

 

4.         SCOPE OF APPLICATION

 

The policy applies to Members of the Assembly and Members of the Council. 

 

The policy applies to the attendance and absence of members of Parliament during Parliamentary sessions.

 

5.         CATEGORIES OF LEAVE

 

The following categories of leave are provided for:

 

(1)Family responsibility leave is granted to a Member on the grounds of illness of his/her child, illness of his/her spouse or life partner, illness of his/her extended family or death of his/her spouse, adopted child, grandchild, sister, brother or a Member of the extended family.  A Member is entitled to 5 (five) working days family responsibility leave annually, provided that a sick certificate or death certificate is provided. 

(2)Compassionate leave is granted to a Member in exceptional circumstance where the Member’s Family Responsibility leave has been exhausted, but he or she still requires additional leave. This leave is limited to 5 (five) working days annually.

(3)Maternity leave is granted for 4 (four) consecutive months.  A Member may commence maternity leave at any time from four weeks before the expected date of birth, unless otherwise agreed.  A Member who has had a miscarriage during the third trimester of pregnancy or bears a stillborn child is entitled to maternity leave for six weeks after the miscarriage or stillbirth.

(4)Parental/Adoption leave is granted for 4 (four) consecutive months to the primary caregiver in a civil union or civil marriage in the event of the adoption of a child under the age of 2 years upon receipt of an adoption order from the Children’s Court.  This leave will also be granted to the primary caregiver of a child born from a surrogacy agreement on receipt of a birth certificate.

(5)Spousal leave is granted to an individual partner, who is not the primary caregiver, in a civil union or civil marriage following the birth or adoption of a child under the age of 2 years.  A Member is entitled to 3 (three) weeks spousal leave provided that a birth certificate or adoption order from the Children’s Court is provided.   

(6)Political party business leave may be granted to a Member on request from his or her political party in order to engage in political work outside the precincts of Parliament.  A Member must clearly specify in writing the number of days required and present communication from the leadership of the Member’s party confirming that the Member requires party political leave.  This leave is limited to 30 (thirty) working days annually, however should the Member be absent for 15 or more sitting days the approval of the house will be required.

(7)Private business leave may be granted to enable a Member to conduct his/her private business.  A Member is entitled to 5 (five) working days private business leave annually, provided that the business interests are approved by the political party and declared to Parliament in terms of the Code of Ethics. 

(8)Study leave is granted to a Member who is registered as a student of a formal institution of education or training or a Member who is registered for a course with a formal institution of education or training.  A Member is entitled to 2 (two) working days leave for preparation for an exam and 1 (one) day for writing of an exam upon  providing proof of the date of the examination.  

(9)Cultural or religious leave may be granted to a Member on request.  A Member is entitled to 2 (two) days cultural or religious leave annually.   

(10)Sick leave is granted due to the illness or injury of a Member.  A Member applying for sick leave must ensure that the application for leave is accompanied by a medical certificate if the Member is absent for more than 2 (two) days.  A Member is entitled to 15 (fifteen) working days sick leave annually.   Where sick leave is not taken in a year it may be transferred to the next year in a 3 year cycle. 

(11)Special leave may be granted when a Member requests, on approval of the political party, for extraordinary purposes or incidents not limited to appearing before a court, traditional initiation, cultural training, to undertake special research or attend block study classes, to attend a workshop, seminar or conference either locally or internationally. The Member must state the purpose and the number of days required.  This leave is limited to 5 working days annually.

 

6.         PROCEDURE FOR GRANTING LEAVE

 

1. All applications for absence from the Assembly must be approved by the whip designated by the political party.
2. In the case of the Council, after obtaining approval from his or her political party, a Member must also inform the relevant Provincial Whip and the Chief Whip of the Council who will where applicable, based on the work of the Council, consult with the Member or his/her party leadership to approve or reject the leave.
3. If a Member is not able to apply for leave him/herself another Member or representative of his/her party may do so.
4. Should the reasons provided by the Member or his or her representative when applying for leave be found to not warrant the granting of the specified number of days, this will be communicated to the Member, the political party whip and in the case of a Member of the Council to the Provincial Whip and the Chief Whip of that Member’s political party.
5. Should a Member fall ill during the leave period, the Member may have the leave credited from the first day of the Member falling ill provided that a medical certificate is provided.

 

1. PERIOD OF LEAVE

 

1. The period for which leave may be granted, other than maternity leave and parental/adoption leave, may not exceed 15 (fifteen) consecutive sitting days of either the Assembly or the Council.
2. If a Member is absent for more than 15 consecutive sitting days a motion must be tabled stating the reason for absence and the period of continued absence. 
3. The House will then need to agree to this motion for the leave to be granted. 
4. Should the House not agree to the motion granting leave, reasons for such decision must be provided to the Member and his/her political party.

8.SANCTIONS IN RESPECT OF ABSENCES

1. If a Member is absent for 15 or more consecutive sitting days of the Assembly or the Council, without authorisation, the Member loses his/her seat.
2. If a Member is absent from 3 consecutive meetings of a committee to which he/she is appointed as a full Member, outside of a sanctioned absence agreed to by the Member’s political party, a sanction may be applied to the Member by either the Assembly or the Council to the effect of a fine of R1000 for each day of absence.  The Rules must provide for such a monetary sanction to be imposed.
3. In the case of the Council if a Member is absent during a “three-line whip” without being on authorized leave in terms of this policy sanctions may be applied to the Member by the Council.
4. This policy does not replace any procedures established by any of the Houses to be followed in the investigation and determination of allegations of misconduct and contempt of Parliament.

9.RECORD OF LEAVE APPLICATIONS

(1)All political parties in the Assembly must keep proper records of the leave of their Members.  However, it is the responsibility of the Member or political party concerned to inform the Chairperson of a committee or duty whip of their absence from a committee meeting or sitting of the House.

(2)In the Council leave records must be kept by the Chief Whip of the Council.

(3)In the event of sanctions in respect of absence, documents must be submitted to Parliament’s administration prior to any sanctions being affected.

(4)The Tables of the respective Houses should receive the relevant documents in advance of a motion for extension of leave and before any administrative action can be taken in terms of the loss of a Member’s seat.

(5)Attendance records of Members should be published annually by Parliament in the Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports document.

10.RECOURSE FOR GRIEVANCES IN RESPECT OF THE APPLICATION OF THE   POLICY

1. Any Member who feels aggrieved by the sanction imposed upon him/her in terms of this policy may lodge a formal appeal to the Speaker of the Assembly or the Chairperson of the Council.
2. If the Speaker or the Chairperson is unable to resolve an appeal by a Member, they may, establish or make use of an existing multi-party committee to consider instances where a Member is aggrieved by a sanction imposed. 
3. The committee should report its findings to the House to which the Member belongs.

1. COMMUNICATION OF THE POLICY

In the Assembly each party and in the Council the Chief Whip of the Council must ensure that this policy is communicated to all Members on the day of its signing or at least 10 days after a Members is sworn in as a Member.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

National Council of Provinces

 

1. Report of the Select Committee on Education and Recreation on the Science and Technology Laws Amendment Bill [B36B-2013] (National Assembly – sec 75), dated 12 March 2014

 

The Select Committee on Education and Recreation, having considered the subject of the Science and Technology Laws Amendment Bill [B36B-2013] (National Assembly – sec 75), referred to it and classified by the Joint Tagging Mechanism as a section 75 Bill, reports that it has agreed to the Bill.

 

Report to be considered.

 

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