Hansard: NA: Unrevised hansard
House: National Assembly
Date of Meeting: 01 Nov 2022
Summary
No summary available.
Minutes
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 1 NOVEMBER 2022
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Watch video: Plenary
The House met at 14:00
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick) took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers and meditation.
The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Hon Chairperson,
I moved that the House, notwithstanding Rule 108(2) which provides that the time allocated to a member of each party for making a declaration of vote must be determined by the Rules Committee taking into account the proportional strength of the parties, limits the time allocated to a member from each party for making a declaration of vote on any Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report to not more than two minutes for this annual session.
Question put.
Motion agreed to.
KING MISUZULU KAZWELITHINI GAINS OFFICIAL RECOGNITION FROM PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA
(Member’s Statement)
Mr B M HADEBE: Thank you, Chair of Chairs, the past Saturday
IsiZulu:
... bezibuya, bekumnandi bekusindwe ngobethole ...
English:
... and marked another momentous occasion in the country’s history. On that day President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa handed over a certificate of recognition-which officially recognises King Misuzulu Sinqobile KaZwelithini as the reigning monarch of the Zulu nation. This took place at Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban. The ceremony served to ensure that the King is recognised by the state. Attendees included President Ramaphosa, Zulu Royal family, members of the Cabinet, Members of Parliament including Bheki Hadebe, [Laughter.] premiers, provincial government representatives, members of legislatures, councillors, leaders of Chapter 9 institutions, religious leaders and various leaders of other sectors.
The event drew thousands of national and international visitors. The handover ceremony followed the traditional coronation ceremony of “entering the kraal”, held at Kwakhangelamankengane Royal Palace in August this year. The ceremony included the King taking a special Oath of Office administered by a designated member of the Judiciary. As the ANC, we commend various government departments who worked hard to ensure that the event was successful. We congratulate King MisuZulu Sinqobile Ka Zwelithini ... [Time expired.]
IsiZulu:
Wena weNdlovu.
FAILURE TO CONSULT IN SELECTING SAA INVESTOR BY MINISTER GORDHAN
(Member’s Statement)
Mr G K Y CACHALIA: The Minister of Public Enterprises, Mr Pravin Gordhan, and some of his officials flew solo on the selection of Takatso as a strategic equity partner for the SA Airways,
SAA, contrary to the widely held impression – he created – that RMB was the transaction advisor on the deal.
Moreover, Minister Gordhan has been criticised for failing to consult with the National Treasury over selecting an investor for SAA, which he has defended as not being a necessary step in terms of the Public Finance Management Act. The Treasury has concurred with this view but has said that if it had been consulted it would have flagged several serious risks. Perhaps, this is the reason the Minister steered clear of Treasury lest the risks identified scuppered his hasty allocation of – shall we say – friendly folk to the investor consortium.
To add insult to injury, SAA has now approached only one company
– Airbus to purchase a new aircraft despite the requirement that this must be an open RFP to all suppliers and as such contradicts normal tender requirements. If all of this makes you wonder what Minister Gordhan is up to – you wouldn’t be wrong to be worried.
Perhaps he’ll see fit to assure the nation with transparent disclosure – alien as that is to the Minister of command and control – that no skulduggery is at play. Like many in the house I won’t hold my breath – which is why I’m bringing it to the House’s attention.
NKOMATI COAL FIRED POWER STATION SHUTDOWN
(Member’s Statement)
Ms O M C MAOTWE: Thank you very much, House Chair, yesterday the country woke up to the news that Komati coal-fired power station in Mpumalanga was decommissioned. As the EFF, we maintain that this is nothing but a wider scheme of industrial scale looting of electricity generation public infrastructure under the guidance of Mr Pravin Gordhan. The manner in which Eskom management is aggressively disposing of public infrastructure is driven by greed and nothing else. This reckless and corrupt decision do not have the best interest of South Africans or black people at heart.
We are witnessing an unprecedented collapse of state capacity. Strategic capacity should form of the reindustrialisation of South Africa. This is made worse by the fact that the people who are in charge have a very poor understanding of the role of procurement in localisation, building industries and creating jobs. There is a witch-hunt of black people and black suppliers.
The Minister of Enterprises with Andre de Ruyter and Jan Oberholzer, beneficiaries of apartheid, are pursuing a racist agenda. Black executives are purged only to be replaced by whites and Indians, the children and grandchildren of apartheid murderers. Black suppliers are purged to make way for Steven ... [Inaudible.] ... They even bribe judges like Bashir Valley to cite nonexistence affidavit in racist agenda to oppress black people. They cite the nonexistence board resolution. We know that Aircom Oil ... [Inaudible.] ... was to be awarded a contract that Mr Gordhan and his daughter together with invested subsidiary wanted. The truth will come out and this time ... [Interjections.] but establishment won’t protect him. I thank you. [Time expired.]
ESKOM SIGNS NEW LAND LEASES TO UNLOCK R40BN INVESTMENT IN RENEWABLES.
(Member’s Statement)
Ms J C N MKHWANAZI: Thank you, hon House Chair, we welcome the recent agreements Eskom concluded with four independent power producers for the commercial lease and use of land at its Majuba and Tutuka power stations in Mpumalanga. This is the first batch of lease agreements Eskom has signed with private
companies to develop renewable power projects on land around its power stations.
The successful bidders that are HDF Energy SA, Red Rocket SA, Sola Group and Mainstream Renewable Power Developments SA are expected to invest about R40bn to develop this “first tranche” of private renewable energy projects on Eskom-owned land.
These investments will take place in Mpumalanga, adjacent to existing coal-fired power stations and will put together an energy mix for South Africa that is sensible and will create jobs by generating clean energy in Mpumalanga.
Hon House Chair, Eskom owns about 36000 hectares in the province and this first round of bidding made available several parcels of land amounting to about 6,000 hectares. The four investors will lease 6,184 hectares for 25-30 years each and contribute at least 2,000 MW to the national electricity grid. The companies are given access to the land on a “use it or lose it” basis, and should they fail to reach certain development goals within a three-year period, the land will be taken back by Eskom. Such developments should be appreciated and applauded ... [Time expired.]
ILLICIT MINING ACTIVITIES AND ILLEGAL MINERS DANGEROUS TO THE COMMUNITIES
(Member’s Statement)
Ms Z MAJOZI: Thank you, hon House Chair, South Africans have long been lamenting the negative impact and dangers posed by illicit mining activities and illegal miners. Today, we are here again, to do the same thing.
The lack of proper sealing off of mines by the government and mining companies has created an enabling environment for illegal mining activities, and continues to put the lives of many individuals and communities who live in areas close to these mines at risk. It is unfair to expect people in these communities to live normally when they are exposed to enhanced levels of vulnerability and danger, and have to share spaces with illegal miners.
A few months ago, we reflected on how it took the tragic rape of eight Krugersdrop women to shine light on how dangerous and harmful illicit mining activities and illegal miners are for the people and for South African communities. Today we stand here again, with another situation in Mpumalanga where primary
school learners and their teachers were intimidated by illegal miners, disrupting their entire day of learning. This has, in more ways than one, proved to us that the government has failed to heed any warnings from us and the people on improving how they protect the people who live in communities where illegal mining is prevalent.
It is both government and law enforcement’s duty to ensure that they put an end to the operations of illegal miners that hamper our developmental goals. Government must work harder to bring illegal miners to book in order to restore safety ... [Time expired.] Thank you.
BELA BILL GIVES MORE POWER TO PROVINCIAL EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENTS
(Member’s Statement)
Afrikaans:
Dr W J BOSHOFF: Agbare Huisvoorsitter, ...
English:
The Department of Basic Education and the ruling party is in the process of having the Bela Bill, which has the purpose, among others, to vest more power in the hands of provincial
educational departments. In the meantime, a draft guideline for the socioeducational inclusion of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, expression and sex characteristics in schools has been made known although not published. Apparantly the plan is to implement these guidelines in January 2023, although it is still largely unknown. It seems as if the department follows an agenda on sexual matters, with which it wishes to surprise the public. Two years ago, there were plans for comprehensive sexual education, which was apparantly shelved after public outcry – not about the principle, but about the specific nature and contents.
Now, a department which cannot eradicate pit toilets, wants to compel schools to create toilets and change rooms with cubicles which will give full privacy, so that no gender indications have to be displayed at the outside of the buildings. Teachers must be “allies” of the learners with alternative SOGI identities - and will receive aid if it is beyond their own views. It should surprise nobody if parents increasing to move out of the state school system and render the Bela Bill useless. I thank you.
SCHOLAR TRANSPORT FUNDS SCRAPPED
(Member’s Statement)
Mr B M HADEBE: Thank you House Chair, the Western Cape Department of Education, under the DA has withdrawn subsidies earlier this month for scholar transport. This has led to a number of primary school children from Rosedale in George being left stranded without transport.
What is troubling about this cancellation of subsidy, is that many parents are unemployed and are unable to afford money to send their children to school. They are all dependent on the scholar transport.
After the sudden cancellation, parents were then instructed to send their children to the nearest school. Many of the children having just started the last quarter of the school year. Apart from that, many parents have been informed that the nearest schools are already full. Many children are currently at home due to this decision of the DA.
ANC appeals that the matter needs to be looked at and the provincial government reconsidered it decision. Thank you House Chair.
CONDEIN ADDICTION AMONG THE YOUTH
(Member’s Statement)
Ms E R WILSON: Thank you, House Chairperson, South African youngsters have found a new trip. Its economical, does not need a dealer and is an addiction not easy to escape.
Codeine, found in painkillers, cough syrups and other over the counter remedies is easily accessible and can cost under R100 per bottle.
“Lean” or “Sizzurp” - which is codeine mixed up with
sodas - releases a feel good reaction in the brain, and our children, who are easily addicted due to the underdevelopment of their rational decision-making capabilities in their adolescent years, are even bringing these drinks to schools.
Opioid drugs like codeine, morphine and heroin are addictive and with time, require more and more to be effective.
Testimony has been received from young people who have stolen metals and other expensive goods just to buy cheap cough syrups and pain killers.
The Minister of the Department of Health must ensure that the recording of over the counter drugs, even schedule 2 drugs must be tightened up and more effectively monitored.
The Minister of the Department of Basic Education must ensure that more stringent measures are taken inside and outside the schools to monitor this scourge.
The Minister of the Department of Police must ensure that communities are made aware of this escalation of cheap drug use and the Minister of the Department of Social Development must ensure that more rehabilitation centres are established and social workers better equipped to deal with this on the ground.
Apart from Cape Town, there are no other provinces has put plans is place to deal with gang and drug related monitoring and the protection of their communities. It is time this ANC-led government started to care about its people and particular its youth. Thank you
HOME AFFAIRS’FAILURE TO DELIVER SERVICES TO THE POEPLE
(Member’s Statement)
Rev K R J MESHOE: Thank you House Chairperson, many people in this country know first-hand that the Department of Home Affairs is one of the most inefficient departments in government today. It is notorious for its mostly poor and substandard service.
On the 25th November 2021, Ms K E Molosiwa, the Chief Operational Officer, COO, of Prakis Educational Services, sent an email to the Director-General of Home Affairs, requesting their assistance with facilitating visa processing for their international delegates that would be attending their International Education Conference scheduled to be held from the 12th to the 17th of September 2022.
Expected guest speakers reportedly included Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Ms Molosiwa, however, received an acknowledgment on the 4th of February 2022.
Then, on the 8th of September 2022, she received an email stating that all applications of their international delegates who applied for e-visas had been rejected.
The Department of Home Affairs Minister should know that this treatment of Prakis Educational Services and their international guests was cruel and appalling. They were left with huge debts and were thrown into crisis because all the conference expenses had been paid in advance, and were
non-refundable.
It is a shame to see how this government is destroying small businesses in this country through inefficiency and dismal service. Home Affairs must stop frustrating South Africans who are trying to make a living by destroying their livelihoods and businesses. I thank you.
DA MAYOR MS TANIA CAMPBELL VOTED OUT
(Member’s Statement)
Ms J TSHABALALA: Thank you so much House Chair, the DA Mayor, Ms Tania Campbell voted out, while we await House Chairperson the vote - democratically vote the DA Mayor of Johannesburg, Dr Phalatse. Ms Tania Campbell was voted out through a motion of no confidence in the City of Ekurhuleni on Wednesday, 26 October 2022.
The communities in Ekurhuleni are feeling the pinch of insensitive tariffs and many have bemoaned the general sentiment that the situation is dire regarding the overall state of service delivery in the city.
Governing through a coalition, there were complaints that the DA appointed Mayor has delayed the appointment of the mayoral committee and her handling of the Tembisa protests over electricity tariff hikes was ineffectual. She has also neglected townships during her tenure.
We welcome the change as the DA has been unsuccessful in shedding its racist veneer wherever it governs. Just recently, utterances made by Ms Helen Zille have inadvertently shown what they really think of black people in this country.
The people of South Africa know that the DA exists to preserve the privileges of the past and the poor and vulnerable are low on their list of priorities. Thank you House Chair.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): May I just request the information and communications technology, ICT, through the Serjeant-at-arms, there’s member whose microphone is on, on the system just to switch it off, please.
NATIONAL FRAMEWORK TOWARDS PROFESSIONALISATION OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR
(Member’s Statement)
Ms S T MANELI: House Chair, we welcome the National Framework Towards Professionalization of the Public Sector as approved by Cabinet on the 19th of October 2022. This gives credence to President Cyril Ramaphosa’ response to the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud.
The professionalization framework is introduced to ensure that only qualified and competent individuals are appointed into positions of authority in government, in pursuit of a transformed, professional, ethical, capable and developmental public sector.
Public officials should have the right qualifications and technical skills, and be inducted into Batho Pele principles. They must live the values of Chapter 10 of the Constitution.
The professionalization framework proposes that the appointment to the boards and executives of state-owned entities, SOEs, should be based on merit.
To further improve SOEs’ performance efficiency, competent and autonomous management bodies must be appointed to oversee the SOEs’ day-to-day operations. By 2023, all new board members of all 721 SOE’s will write compulsory pre-entry exams and must undergo compulsory induction before resuming duty and must be vetted. Prior to this, they must demonstrate suitability to an independent panel before their appointment. Thank you House Chair.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): May I ask the two members who are exchanging views here, hon Paulsen and hon Radebe - if you want to disrupt the sitting with your comments that you are making, that have nothing to do with what we doing here. Can you please must go out and do it outside, please! I am tired of this juvenile behavior. Please continue.
COALITION GOVERNMENT’S FUTURE
(Member’s Statement)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION (Ms S Gwarube): House
Chairperson, it is clear that coalition governments are the future of South African politics. This has been a trend that we have seen in many municipalities and metros where the ANC continues to plummet in support and South Africans are placing their faith in various political parties.
However, the politics of patronage continue to render some of these governments unstable.
The residents are the real victims of governments that fall at the whims of greedy politicians. They are the ones who experience the halting of critical service delivery.
That is why this House should support the DA’s proposed legislation that would instil stability in coalition governments.
We do this with 2024 in mind where we are likely to see the end of an ANC majority government and the introduction of national and provincial coalition governments.
We must pass legislation that will ensure that coalition governments place the interests of the people, first.
We should ensure that these are binding and that they are managed by an independent entity that will be ruthlessly objective, like we have seen in countries like Kenya.
Any party that is committed to a maturing democracy should embrace the message that is sent to us by the citizens. The time for one party domination is over. The time for mature and principled coalition governments is upon us. Thank you.
BLACK FARMERS IN KAGISANO-MOLOPO AREA
(Member’s Statement)
Mr M K MONTWEDI: Thank you very much House Chair, we as a EFF in Parliament are extremely concerned that the frustrations of black farmers that are not being listened to by the useless ANC-led government, does not want black people to meaningfully participate in the agriculture are not being listened to.
About 200 farmers were allocated ... [Inaudible.] ... Agriculture Rural Development and Land Reform.
These farmers were given land formerly owned by the South African Development Trust or SADT farms on an area of about
300 000 hectares in Kagisano Molopo Local Municipality in the North West Province.
These farmers were allocated land whilst the department was fully aware that there is a serious water problem in the area where boreholes cannot pump more than 600 litres of water per hour, which makes them unable to cater for the available livestock in the area.
The department committed to do bulk water supply to assist these farmers before 2004 and thus far nothing is happening. It is going to be 20 years in 2024 since the commitment was made. And the choices remain in the hands of our people to remove this useless government in power.
Farmers are in serious distress and can’t grow in the business because of the lack of underground water in the area and the empty promised by the department.
Tiro Mongwaketsi, a young farmer who is a 2019 - 2020 samic
... [Inaudible.] ... national beef producer of the year finds himself trapped in the area and currently struggling to pursue his passion in agriculture. I thank you House Chair.
NEW STATE OF THE-ART PRODUCTION SITE LAUNCHED IN LANSERIA BY AN INTERNATIONAL PLASTIC PACKAGING COMPANY ALPLA
(Member’s Statement)
Mr Z BURNS-NCAMASHE: House Chairperson, the ANC welcomes the
opening of a new state of the art production site by an
international plastic packaging and recycling company, Alpenplastik Lehner Alwin, ALPLA, Group on the 12th October 2022
in Lanseria, near Johannesburg.
The investment by the group is a key contribution to the
Lanseria Smart City masterplan and reflects the President’s stance on the position infrastructure development and the
establishment of new cities as a means to stimulate the economy and increase employment.
Through this investment 350 jobs will be created, and entrepreneurship programme that will train 36 mechatronics and
recycling technicians for ALPLA operations across South Africa.
The new premises boasts 35 000 square metres of covered production, administration and storage space, another 12 500 square metres for future expansion and 30 000 square metres of roof area covered with solar panels. The plant has one of the
largest solar installations on a privately owned manufacturing
building in South Africa. Thank you.
ANC COMMITTED TO THE UNIVERSAL PROGRESSIVE PRINCIPLE OF RESOLVING CONFLICTS THROUGH PEACEFUL MEANS
(Member’s Statement)
Mr P M P MODISE (ANC): House Chairperson, the ANC remains committed to the universal progressive principle of resolving conflicts through peaceful means, to promote peace, security and stability on our continent and around the world.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, just hold it there. Can we just inform the hon Jafta that he is not audible and to also mute his microphone. I will give him the opportunity after the statement to see if he is able to read the statement.
Mr P M P MODISE (ANC): The ANC remains committed to the universal progressive principle of resolving conflicts through peaceful means, to promote peace, security and stability on our continent and around the world. As a result of that, we welcome the trust the continent has in South Africa as reflected in the request of the government of the Republic of South Africa to host the African Union-led peace talks between the governments of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Tigray.
The peace talks, which were convened to find a peaceful and sustainable solution to a devastating conflict in Tigray region was facilitated by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo of the Federal Republic of Nigeria supported by the former President Uhuru Kenyata of the Republic of Kenya and the former Deputy President Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ncguka of the Republic of South Africa. These talks ended on 30 October 2022. The ANC is confident and hopeful that the talks will result in a successful outcome that will lead to a lasting peace for all the people of our sister country, Ethiopia. In line with the African Union objective of silencing the guns, let peace reign in our country.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): The AIC – the hon Jafta? Hon members, it seems as if the hon member cannot connect. That concludes Members’ Statements. Are there any Ministerial Responses?
The MINISTER OF EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR: Nxesi!
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): The hon Minister Nxesi.
NATIONAL FRAMEWORK TOWARDS PROFESSIONALISATION OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR
(Minister’s Response)
The MINISTER OF EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR: Thank you very much, House Chair. I want to thank the members for their endorsement of the National Framework towards Professionalisation of the Public Sector as approved by the Cabinet on 19 October 2022.
We see this as a game changer for the public service. And we further give substance to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s response to the recommendation of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud.
The professionalisation framework follows a process of research and consultation in its introduction. Its objective is to ensure that only qualified and competent individuals are appointed into positions of authority in pursuit of this transformed professional, ethical and capable and developmental public service. Public officials should have the right qualifications and technical skills. It is also about inculcating ethical principles at every stage from recruitment and selection to lifelong training. Public officials must be inducted into Batho Pele Principles. They must live the values of Chapter 10 of the Constitution.
So, the professionalisation framework proposes that the appointment of boards and executives of the state-owned enterprises, SOEs, should be based on merit to further improve SOEs’ performance and efficiency. Competent and autonomous government’s oversight bodies must be appointed to oversee the SOEs day-to-day operations. By 2023, all new board members of all the 721 SOEs will write compulsory pre-entry examinations and must undergo compulsory induction before resuming their duty and must be vetted. Prior to this they must demonstrate suitability to an independent panel before their appointment. The professionalisation therefore of the public service is a priority for the administration in pursuit of an ethical,
capable and developmental public sector. Thank you very much, House Chair.
SCHOLAR TRANSPORT FUNDS SCRAPPED
(Minister’s Response)
The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION:
Thank you very much, House Chairperson. I wish to thank the hon Radebe for drawing the National Assembly’s attention to the inadequacy of school transport in various parts of the Western Cape. This terrible situation is made worse ...
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon Minister - Hon Minister Pandor, you are not visible on the virtual platform. You may close your video or your camera if you wish to do so.
The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION:
Alright. Now I will close it. Thank you very much, House Chair. The situation is made worse by the context of many areas of the Western Cape in which there are primary schools and totally inadequate numbers of secondary schooling. This merely serves to illustrate the Western Cape’s government uncaring intent towards the education, particularly of poor
and black children in the Western Cape province. It is vital that the portfolio committees in the National Assembly pay attention to this terrible situation and investigate it further.
It is for this inadequacy that the DA’s dream of a national coalition government will remain a fantasy for many years to come. The DA is banking its future on there being coalition governments at national level. The ANC is growing the organisation, it is campaigning hard and it’s ensuring the increase provision of quality services to the people of South Africa in order to ensure that we continue to be of service and to lead governance in our country.
Finally, I thank the ANC for raising the matter of the hosting of peace talks between Ethiopia and Tigray. We had agreed with the negotiating parties that no media statements will be made until they are ready to make them, but I believe I can say to the National Assembly that the peace talks did not end on 30 October. The parties indicated that there are further deliberations they want to have and that the talks are ongoing.
We are on it as South Africa to have been asked to be the host and we are hopeful that we will have an outcome that will contribute to entrenching both the silencing of the guns and peace in our sister country, Ethiopia. Thank you very much, House Chairperson.
HOME AFFAIRS’FAILURE TO DELIVER SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE
(Minister’s Response)
The MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS: Thank you, House Chairperson. Please allow me to mute my video because of the instability which I am experiencing. Hon Rev Meshoe, there is no cogent reason why the Department of Home Affairs may find it within itself to destroy other people’s businesses. But I am asking you to get your fact straight before you say such serious accusations.
Regarding the matter you are talking about is that we were contacted by the Department of Basic Education a few days after the conference you are talking about was to take place that we must help with visas urgently. We always do so with our sister departments. You can ask the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition how we work well with them on every
day basis. The Department of Basic Education approached us. We don’t give group visas, hon Meshoe. We give visas to individuals- that’s what every country do, we don’t just give group visas.
We check those individuals individually. The reason that they were rejected is because most of them submitted fraudulent documents. I am sure you don’t want me to encourage fraud in the country. That I will never do and I won’t apologise for fighting fraud. You are aware, or the Portfolio Committee of Home Affairs is aware of the very serious report that was presented to the committee by a team headed by the former Director-General Ubisi where they were reviewing all these permits and they were showing how people easily get permits fraudulently in South Africa. There are 16-year olds getting permits getting retirement permits – I am just giving example.
So, if the Department of Basic Education approaches us to help individuals, and in our helping them we found that they are presenting fraudulent documents, we won’t allow them to come into South Africa. Part of the reason why people do this is because they know that South Africans hate their country. They always believe that they are the ones who are wrong. For example, now you have concluded that it’s the Department of
Home Affairs that is wrong. You have never imagined for a second that those people looking for visas can be wrong. And I am telling you today that they were wrong because they presented fraudulent documents and we are not apologising for not allowing them in. Thank you very much.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Thank you, hon Minister. The hon Minister of Public Enterprises? Before I recognise the Minister, the hon member, why are you rising?
Mr J J MCGLUWA: House Chairperson, I just want to address you on the Rules that state that at the conclusion of statements by members, the Minister or the Deputy Minister present may be given an opportunity to respond for not more than two minutes for any statement. I had my stopwatch on and the Minister exceeded the two minutes.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, in terms of the guide in front of me, the time allocated to the Minister to respond is three minutes and not two minutes. The hon Minister of Public Enterprises.
ESKOM SIGNS NEW LAND LEASES TO UNLOCK R40BN INVESTMENT IN RENEWABLES
NKOMATI COAL FIRED POWER STATION SHUTDOWN
FAILURE TO CONSULT IN SELECTING SAA INVESTOR BY MINISTER GORDHAN
(Minister’s Response)
The MINISTER OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES: Good afternoon, House Chairperson and thank you for this opportunity. Let me contrast the approach of the hon Mkhwanazi to that of Ms Maotwe and Mr Cachalia.
Ms O M C MAOTWE: Hon Maotwe. Honourable! Please.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member. Hon member, please – the Minister is now responding. You had the opportunity to make your statement, so now it’s time for Ministerial Responses. Hon Minister?
Ms O M C MAOTWE: Chair, may I rise on a point of order?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon members. Hon members.
Ms O M C MAOTWE: May I rise on a point of order, Chair?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): What is the point of order?
Ms O M C MAOTWE: The speaker just referred to Mkhwanazi as honourable and he comes to me and refers to me as Ms. It is unparliamentary; he must refer to all of us as honourables. We are honourables here, please. [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon members. Hon members, order. Let us just continue to address each other in respectful terms – whether it’s Mrs, or Ms, but let us stick to that. It often happens in the House where members are referred to as Mr, Ms or Mrs. So, that is allowed. Hon Minister?
The MINISTER OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES: Thank you for clarifying that, Chairperson. As I was saying, let me contrast the hon Mkhwanazi’s contribution versus the other members. Firstly, I think that the initiative taken by Eskom to utilise unused land around coal power stations for the purposes of auctioning this land for use by independent power producers to put up solar and other plants is an extremely constructive way of
contributing and adding to the megawatts that are available on the grid.
Secondly, it’s an example of a public sector entity that has taken a very creative and innovative approach to combining public asset land with the capital available from the private sector. Clearly, there is a great amount of rationality attached to this as well in the sense that the proximity of connectivity to the transmission grid makes this an extremely viable project for South Africa as a whole. Within the next 12 to 15 months, if all of this land is utilised, South Africa will be better off in terms of the additional megawatts available.
I believe that Ms Maotwe made some racist and defamatory remarks once again, hon Chairperson. And I think that it is time for Parliament to take action against people who do not want to engage in constructive political debates but want to behave like clones of Mussolini, as we can see in parts of Europe. This is a reflection of juvenile behaviour and political bankruptcy as far as I am concerned.
The same applies to Mr Cachalia, who seems to earn his keep by mimicking purveyors of fake news and saboteurs of constructive
protest in South Africa. He should get his facts right. There is no SAA purchase of any aircraft, there might be renewal of some of the existing fleet later in the year and next year, once SAA is off the ground in a proper way, they will look at leasing the aircraft rather than purchasing aircraft because purchasing aircrafts requires a lot more capital than leasing aircrafts.
So, Mr Cachalia should stop bringing a flat-earther and purveying his gobbledygook that he picks up from newspapers, and stick to the facts. The SA Airways is a constructive project which in due course will serve South African citizens well and ensure that the fares paid by South Africans ... [Time expired.]
Mr M N PAULSEN: Thank you, House Chair. The Minister impugns on the character of my member by calling her a racist. There is no way that a black person can be racist.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, I think that is a point for debate. I cannot enter that space from where I am sitting ...
Mr M N PAULSEN: And he comes and moans here about members exercising their duty...
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): No, hon member, please
... [Interjections.] Please take your seat now. [Interjections.] Please ... Hon Paulsen, would you take your seat now. Thank you.
The MINISTER OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES: Chairperson, on a point of order, please.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon Minister? Order, hon members.
The MINISTER OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES: I didn’t say that Ms Maotwe was racist. I said that she made references of a racist order towards me ...
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon Minister, I have dealt with the matter. [Interjections.]
Mr B A RADEBE: Thank you, hon Chairperson. I am rising on Rule 84, unparliamentary language. The member just referred to the Minister as useless...
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon members, we are dealing with ministerial responses. You must wait for your times until you are going to be a Minister, even if it a minister outside of this House. So, let us please be cordial with one another and let us not unnecessarily try to provoke one another, let us stick to engaging each other in a decent manner and not insult one another.
CODEIN ADDICTION AMONG THE YOUTH
(Minister’s Response)
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH: Chair, the hon Wilson made a statement that cuts across many departments; the issues of medicines that are used as concoctions to really affect our young people. We also know, together with her, that paracetamol, codeine, morphine, pethidine belong to various categories of medicines’ schedule 1 up to schedule 8.
Now, it would be within our responsibilities as law makers to then indicate that even medicines that are on schedule 1 and schedule 2 should probably not be sold the way they are sold, over the counter, to avoid that. Otherwise as is now there is no way we would actually have those medicines not bought over
the shelf if they are remaining on schedule 1 and schedule 2, and we know people are innovative in a very bad way to make those concoctions that are addictive.
So, we need all of us as law makers, parliamentarians to guide and lead us how to deal with that matter of scheduling of medicines that are sometimes abused in terms of addictions to young people. Thank you very much, Chairperson.
CONSIDERATION OF RECOMMENDATION OF CANDIDATES FOR FILLING OF VACANCIES IN COMMISSION FOR GENDER EQUALITY
Ms C N NDABA: House Chairperson, Deputy Chief Whip, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, and hon members. Gender equality is one of the key principles of South Africa’s Constitution which prohibits unfair discrimination based on gender. So important is this principle that the Commission for Gender Equality, CGE, was established in terms of Chapter 9 of the Constitution as the body to guard democracy and facets related thereto.
House Chairperson, allow me to jump the vision and mission and the mandate of CGE and go straight to the report.
The Commission for Gender Equality Act as amended in 2013 assigns to the National Assembly the responsibility for addressing Commissioner vacancies. As such, the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, in a meeting on 31 May 2022, was informed of a request by the Office of the Speaker of the National Assembly to initiate the process of filling vacancies in the CGE.
The committee was requested to fill the two outstanding vacancies that are currently in the CGE and the four vacancies of the Commissioners whose term ended on 31 October 2022.
The committee adopted a committee programme, the draft advertisements and the google form online application form on the 3rd of June 2022. On the 23rd and the 24th of August 2022 the committee met for shortlisting of candidates.
The committee received information about the number of applicants and/or nominations received; 158 in total. The committee unanimously ...
IsiZulu:
... hhayi, ningibangela umsindo, Bheki!
English:
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon Radebe, you’re disturbing the speaker on the podium.
Ms C N NDABA: The committee unanimously agreed on the 24 candidates shortlisted to be interviewed. It was satisfied with the shortlisting process and considered it fair and just.
The committee also agreed to request the State Security Agency, SSA, to conduct the security screening of the 24 shortlisted candidates and Parliament’s Human Resources to undertake a process or verification of candidates’ qualifications.
A shortlist of candidates, names with their qualifications was uploaded on the parliamentary website for public commentary on the 2nd of September 2022 until 16 September 2022.
The advertisements were placed on 26 June 2022 on various media platforms, namely: print and electronic, with a closing date for 18 July 2022. It indicated that the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, as mandated by the Commission for Gender Equality Act of 2013, invited members of the public and organizations to nominate
suitable candidates for appointment to serve in the Commission for Gender Equality as Commissioners.
House Chairperson, I will jump the criteria because it’s there in our report that has been Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports, ATCd, and go straight to the advertisement.
The advertisement clearly stated that the appointment by the President of Commissioners on recommendation by Parliament will be for a term of office not exceeding five years, either on a full-time or part-time basis. The advertisement also informed applications on nomination about publishing of their names on the parliamentary website to allow members of the public to comment of the suitability of candidates.
A total of 168 applications were received, of which 10 were duplications as certain applicants applied more than once. Out of 158 applications the committee shortlisted 24 candidates.
On the 25th of October 2022 the committee deliberated on the outcome of the interviews and made a decision about preferred names to be recommended to the President for appointment. The committee also adopted to the committee report on the 26th of October 2022 in order to report to the National Assembly.
The committee, having taken into consideration the constitutional imperatives and the Commission for Gender Equality Act, agreed that motivation, technical knowledge, strategic leadership, team work, innovation and governance were key aspects that the committee would take into consideration in the selection of the person to be recommended as a Commissioner.
Having considered the request by the National Assembly for the committee to identify suitable candidates for the filling in of vacancies in the Commission for Gender Equality, the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities recommends the following candidates:
Half term/part-time Commissioners: Mr Bongani Glenton Ngomane, Ms Leelambal Prabashni Subrayan Naidoo, Ms Sarah Charity Mokwebo and Ms Fundiswa Barbara Skweyiya-Gushu.
In the event that a vacancy arises due to the resignation or death, the President will be able to choose from the aforementioned list.
The half term in this instance refers to the period of two and half years to fill the existing vacancies within the Commission.
In terms of the full term appointments, the President must consider two full-time and two part-time Commissioners from the following: Adv Olave Nthabiseng Sepanya-Mogale, Adv Thando Gumede, Ms Leonashia Leigh-Ann van der Merwe, Ms Lindiwe Khonjelwayo, Ms Bernadine Bachar, a person with disability, and Ms Mulalo Nemataheni.
The committee recommends that the President consider Olave Nthabiseng Sepanya-Mogale, who is currently part-time Commissioner as a full term/full-time Commissioner.
In the event that the vacancy arises due to resignation or death, the President will be able to choose from the aforementioned list.
The committee further recommends that the House adopts the report as a matter of urgency as the term of office for four Commissioners has come to an end on 31 October 2022. In addition, as of 1 November, due to two existing vacancies, the Commission will not corrate.
The committee strongly recommends that the appointments are attended to as a matter of urgency in light of the aforementioned.
In order to strengthen the independence of the CGE and its reach, the National Assembly should revise the funding of the Chapter 9 Institution, which is the CGE.
The committee expresses its thanks to all applicants who showed interest in serving as Commissioners, it also thanks those shortlisted for honouring their interviews.
We would like to also thank our staff members for their hard work and dedication throughout this process.
The committee extends its well ... [Time expired.] I thank you, Chairperson.
Declarations of vote:
Mr L MPHITHI: House Chairperson, the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities begun a process of filling six commissioner vacancies for the Commission for Gender Equality, CGE. Two of these vacancies were for part- time commissioners and needed to be filled with immediate
effect. The remaining four were full-time commissioner positions which would become vacant in October 2022 as their term had come to an end.
In an ongoing process, it was vital for us to ensure that the people of South Africa had full confidence in the legitimacy of this process. This meant that the brilliant and talented people across South Africa needed to be given a fair process that prioritised meritocracy over political connections. The CGE is a constitutional entity which is relied upon to strengthen constitutional democracy on the desire for a free
and equal society in all fundamental material aspects of life. As South Africa continues to grapple with the scourge of gender-based violence, it was imperative to ensure that this independent constitutional Chapter 9 institution did not fall into the hands of cadres but rather to competent South African activists who are on the ground advocating, protesting, and mobilising against gender-based violence.
This report demands of we are frank, honest, most importantly, move away from the usual politicisation of issues that usually occurs. The scourge of gender-based violence has not decreased. We have not seen evidence that they substantive
changes to the fight against this violence or that more lives are being saved.
This is a direct result of poor planning, poor leadership, and a complete lack of accountability on the part of the failing ANC government, its failing Ministers and its failing programme of action for South Africa. There is no love in this government for the people of South Africa, and there's no love for the women of this country.
We must confront the alarming rise of gender-based violence across the country, its impact is not only physical or psychological, it's a matter of life and death. This is why the DA will continue to fight to rid cadres of Chapter 9 institutions who ultimately compromise the important work that is required.
This fight has become extremely important for the CGE. We know this ... in the past couple of months has seen much of its advances being reversed. The ongoing instability within its senior management and infighting has gripped the GCE. The recent revelations and allegations that the Commission of Gender Equality continued to pay former commissioners’
salaries while they were no longer in office should all make us concerned in this House.
This compounded with the fact that the CGE is no longer able to provide legal services to South Africans shows that there is a dire need for Parliament to pay attention and do something. The candidates that have been recommended here today represent the beautiful diversity that is South Africa.
The DA believes in a fair society. This is why some of the candidates that are recommended are recommended based on their talents and hard work and not on who they know. All the candidates we interviewed presented their ideas and gave us hope as a nation that we can turn things around. That the fight against gender-based violence can be won. Now we are under no illusion that the CGE has been used as a cash cow for cadres for many years. This has happened to the detriment of the marginalised. The CGE is supposed to hold the executive to account. So our hope for these candidates who will soon become commissioners is that they will ensure that no Minister will be comfortable, no police station will be complicit and no court will delay justice. That every woman, child, and victim of gender-based violence may now look at the CGE as one of its champions in this fight.
As the Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Summit begins today, we assure women in this country that the DA, alongside civil society, will send a strong message to the President and his Ministers that urgent action is needed. The DA will continue drawing the line in taking back these institutions from the corrupt and ensuring that women in this country are put at the forefront. I thank you.
Ms A M SIWISA: House Chairperson, the process taken in the recommendation of the commissioners for the CGE to the President was one that the Portfolio Committee on Women, Children and People with Disabilities took in its stride understanding the challenges faced by the CGE in the past years. The CGE is one of the Chapter 9 institutions that has been put in place to safeguard our democracy, is truly in need of commissioners who will put the people of South Africa first and be bold and brave to achieve the mandate of the CGE.
The commissioners that have been recommended were the best of the best, selected from the candidates that were shortlisted across the country. The committee worked tirelessly to give each candidate enough time and balanced questions during their interviews. Furthermore, gender, disability, age, and geographic spread were considered when the recommendations
were given, but above all, the best candidates were selected to boost the nonperformance in the CGE. Let us thank the committee members, especially those on our right-hand side, for doing what was correct instead of taking the political line of cadre deployment. Truly, it was refreshing to see ANC committee members doing what is best for the country and not doing what was best for the ANC. We would like to thank all candidates that applied and those that were shortlisted for availing themselves. We hope that the President concentrates on this urgent matter of appointing commissioners and less on the Phala Phala scandal. The EFF supports the recommendations. Thank you, Chair.
Ms Z MAJOZI: Hon Chairperson, for too long the prioritisation and advancement of issues related to women have been regarded as secondary. Women are amongst the most vulnerable in societies across the world. However, in our country, the manifestation of their vulnerabilities comes mostly in the form of gender-based violence and sexual assault. Therefore, institutions such as the Commission for Gender Equality are of utmost importance in our country.
The Commission for Gender Equality, as a constitutional entity, is relied upon to strengthen constitutional democracy
premised on the desire for a free and equal society in all fundamental and material aspects of life. The Constitution of South Africa has situated this organisation parallel with the protection and implementation of the Bill of Rights in Chapter
2. Therefore, commissioners working for this organisation should act as custodians for the protection and right of women.
These commissioners should make it their mission to not only embody the values set out in Chapter 2 of the Constitution, the aim should be to match the purpose of the commission with the needs that South African women face on a daily basis. The values of equality, integrity, accountability, and professionalism on which the commission should build should be mainstreamed into all decision-making bodies of the organisation. Chapter 9 institutions form the backbone of our societies, therefore, the decision made by these institutions cannot be reduced solely to recommendations. There is a need for a greater shift to action by the Commission for Gender Equality. We wish to see that the commission is able to back up all the decisions with concise action plans and timelines. Also ...
IsiZulu:
... sifuna ukusho njenge-IFP ukuthi sithemba ukuthi ikomidi liwenze umsebenzi wonke ebekumele wenziwe. Sithemba futhi ukuthi ikomidi likwazile ukwemukela abantu abazosebenza kwikhomishini njengabantu abaqotho, abantu abazokwazi ukubhekelela izidingo zabantu besifazane. Ngalokho futhi bakwazi ukungenelela nasezindabeni zodlame bobulili bangabi nje ngabagcini kodwa nokuthi kwenziwe okunqunyiwe ezikhungweni zethu ezikhona kuHulumeni yonke indawo. Kungabi nomuntu wesifazane ozozizwa elulazekile nokugqilazeka ukuthi umangabe ezothola umsebenzi kuzoqala ehlise isiketi kuqala. Sithemba njengayo i-IFP konke lokhu okwenziwe ngakho lokho nokuhlela konke kuzohamba ngendlela ekhona. Siyaweseka lo mbiko.
Ms T BREEDT: House Chair, the CGE is a constitutional entity relied upon to strengthen constitutional democracy. Its mission is to promote, protect, and monitor ... gender equality through research, effective monitoring and litigation. The committee was requested to fill the two outstanding vacancies that are currently in the CGE and the
... [Inaudible.] ... terms ended on 31 October 2022, that’s yesterday. Currently, the CGE does not quorate and vacancies need well ... [Inaudible.] ... with inputs ... [Inaudible] ... indulge and this ... [Inaudible.] ... true democratic process
that was received from the public around the short time for comments and the volume of information in the CVs.
Red flags were also raised around some candidates’ criminal records and state security had to provide a report in this regard. There were exceptionally strong candidates that threw their ... [Inaudible.] ... and not easy. Many of the eventual candidates are from the NGO space or ground activists primarily amongst the candidates are two former Mail and Guardian Top 200 young South Africans, a current commissioner, lawyers, directors ... NGOs to name but a few.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member!
Ms T BREEDT: Qualifications ranged from a variety of degrees.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member!
Ms T BREEDT: Yes.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Will you please switch off your video because the bandwidth is narrow, we can't properly hear your speech. You may then proceed.
Ms T BREEDT: I do apologise, House Chair. It is pouring rain in Bloemfontein. What is, however, worrying are the candidates that have clear political connections and are still employed in political spheres. This commission needs to be an unbiased organisation that is not influenced by prejudice or connection. With political allies so close to home, it might be difficult for certain candidates to remain unbiased. In a country that has largely not addressed the qualms and taken the necessary steps to combat gender-based violence, an entity such as the CGE must be free from influence. With candidates having known political ties, this might be easier said than done. It is my fear, as with everything else in South Africa, that political ties will speak louder than the needs of the people. I thank you.
Mr S N SWART: House Chair, the ACDP considers this report against the second Presidential Summit on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide taking place as we speak, ... [Inaudible.] ... for all of us to double our efforts to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and femicide. Now, the first summit took place in 2018 following public outrage at the levels of violence against women and children. Stakeholders are meeting, now as we speak here today, to
reflect on what progress has been made, and more importantly, what still needs to be done to fight the scourge.
The summit also sadly takes place against yet another tragic murder of a 25-year-old woman at the Gateway Shopping Mall, Umhlanga, yesterday in what appears to be yet another case of gender-based femicide and violence. Whilst improved legislation was passed by this House to fight the scourge, the implementation of these laws needs to be monitored. In this regard, the Commission for Gender Equality can and must play a key role in assisting Members of Parliament in this regard.
Are there sufficient rape kits at police stations? Are there sufficient and effective Thuthuzela Care Centres? Are the police properly trained to deal with these matters? Are conviction rates high enough? All these aspects are very important to ensure the laws that we pass are properly implemented. Whilst the country faces a plethora of challenges regarding gender equality in general, the commission can, considering its limited budget, and must prioritise certain issues such as addressing violence against women and children, as the feminisation and impact of HIV and Aids on women and such as the feminisation of poverty in the country.
So it needs the best possible persons on the commission to do this very important task. And the report before us deals comprehensively with the filling of vacancies on the commission to perform these very important functions and the public, civil society was invited to comment as well with 656 comments being received and considered. The ACDP is grateful to all the committee members for their hard work in conducting the interviews before the cut-off date which was 31 October 2022. We trust that the new commissioners will hit the ground running and appreciate the cross-political party support for these new commissioners. We pray and wish them well. The ACDP will support this report. I thank you.
Mr N L S KWANKWA: Hon House Chairperson, section 187(1) of the Constitution of the republic states that the Commission for Gender Equality must promote respect for gender equality and the protection, development and attainment of gender equality in South Africa. Chairperson, this is a very important mandate which goes to the heart of most of the challenges that we face in South Africa especially with respect to challenges that centre around gender-based violence. The prevalence of gender- based violence is a problem in South Africa.
There are still urgent challenges that need to be addressed as a matter of priority such as high levels of unemployment among women, gender-based violence against women and children in particular the issues of gender-pay gaps, hate crimes against various communities but including especially the women. In essence, the culture of patriarchy has not relinquished its grip in our societies and this commission has got an important role to ensure that we relinquish this scourge of violence against women.
People wish to see more of the commission, in various quarters around the country, participating in public discourse and also outlining and explaining its core mandate to ordinary citizens, so that ...
IsiXhosa:
... abantu bakuthi bakwazi ukuba xa beneengxaki ...
English:
... with issues pertaining to gender equality ...
IsiXhosa:
... bayazi ukuba bangaya phi. Into eyenzeka koomasipala iyingxaki kodwa asinakutyhola ukuthunyelwa kwamaqabane kulawulo (cadre deployment).
English:
Yes, cadre deployment and how ANC implements it, is a problem but ...
IsiXhosa:
... kukho abantu xa bathi bakuba kwizikhundla zolawulo, kumanye amaphondo afana neeMpuma Koloni, bafune ukuba abantu abangoomama bakhulule iilokhwe ukuze bafumane imisebenzi. Baye banyanzelise ukuba kuqalwe kwigumbi lokulala ukuba umntu ongumama akafuni kugxothwa xa emoshile. Zizinto ezenzekayo ezo umhla nezolo eMzantsi Afrika ezo ezicalula ngakumbi abantu abangoomama, zibacinezele ukuba bangakwazi ukubheka phambili
...
English:
... including the glass ceiling where a woman is more capable than a male but a male be promoted.
IsiXhosa:
Siyayibulela ikomiti ngomsebenzi omhle ...
English:
... and we would like to wish the new commissioners all the best in their new endeavours. Thank you, Chair.
Mr M G E HENDRICKS: Hon House Chair, we welcome the report. We are reminding the new commissioners that for the past 20 years the dignity of the Muslim women has been tremendously harmed and the commissioners have done very little to restore the dignity of Muslim women especially those married in terms of the Niqah. The Constitutional Court has now come to the rescue. It is very important that the commissioners have an open mind in respect of the values of all religions and especially they need to make sure that the dignity of any woman, irrespective of which faith they adhere to is not harmed. You cannot have a situation where for 28 years, a very important sector of South African society, those women were harmed and they were even denied access to the divorce courts. They need to address these issues and I hope that the new commissioners will make the positive contributions in this regard. Al Jama-Ah supports the report, thank you very much.
Ms C M PHIRI: Hon House Chair, a society free from gender discrimination is one that values the idea of gender equality as it understands the attainment of the gender-free society,
prevents social ills such as gender discrimination and fight to prevent violence against the vulnerable in our society such as women, children and persons with disabilities members of the Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex LGBTQI+ community. Gender equality benefits the safety of our communities and the broader society. It is known that unequal societies are less cohesive and have higher rates of antisocial behavioural violence.
Advancing social cohesion is the resolution of the ANC in which we worked tirelessly in achieving it. We remain adamant in realising the cohesive society through gender equality and social transformation. The ANC loves its people. Me and Mphiti, amongst others, today we are gathered at Gallagher Convention Centre to deal with issues of gender-based violence and femicide and indeed the ANC cares about its people.
South Africa has made a significant progress in promoting the principle of nonsexism since the advance of democracy. The new democratic government recognised the rights of women to be treated as equal citizens resulting in gender discrimination being outlawed in the highest court of the land, the Constitutional Court. To this end, the Constitution reflects
an unequivocal commitment to this principle and to the attainment of the gender equality.
Chapter 1 of the Constitution clearly outlines that the South African state is founded on various values including the human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of the human rights and freedom, racial and nonsexism. House Chair, the ANC believes and is determined in ensuring that everyone in our country has access to opportunities without any discriminations. That is why the ANC continuously support and strengthen the institution such as the Commission for Gender Equality.
The commission has made significant contribution to the transformation agenda over the past 25 years. For example, it has contributed to legislation and policy development and change through the submissions made through Parliament and development and repealing the legislation that did not promote or respect the principle of gender equality. Through its footprints in all nine provinces, the institution has already been able to reach citizens in rural and urban cities and provide them with legal advice, educate them on their rights and create awareness.
House Chairperson, in providing the commission with urgency to fulfil its mandate, it is of great importance to appoint commissioners who understand the significance of attainment of a gender-equal society. This will enable the commissioners to fully execute the mandate and the commission guided by the relevant Acts such as the Commission for Gender Equality Act, The Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act and the SADC Protocol on Gender Development, some international instrument, to name a few.
Having adequate human resource with the relevant women with qualifications and experience in management, the capacity and management of any organisation of the institution. That is why all parties agree thus the process has been fair and really transparent.
The competency is a critical element in the public service and should always benefit those that it serves. The people of South Africa ... [Disturbances from the audio.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, will you just mute your microphone? There is a disturbance on the platform. May I ask the Serjeant-at-arms to instruct the ICT to mute the microphone of the Minister? You may now continue, hon member.
Ms C M PHIRI: The people of South Africa agree with us even today in the debate of the summit that commissioners must serve the people of South Africa diligently and uphold the Batho Pele Principles of putting people first. The appointment of commissioners in the Commission for Gender Equality should reveal a visible change and improvement in the work of the commission and the impact it will have for South Africans and those that it serves.
The ANC-led government remains committed and resolute in the attainment of gender equal society. The ANC remains committed in the fight against gender inequality and its all manifestations through the implementation of strategic innovations such as the National Strategic Plan on Gender- based violence and femicide and being signatories to many declarations that drive the mandate of a gender equal society and the world like the Belgium Platform for Action in 1995.
The ANC is confident that the recommended commissioners for the appointment are fit and proper, experienced and qualified and they will uphold and carry the mandate of the commission to benefit the entire population of the South Africans. The ANC moves in support of the report and really hon Mphiti the ANC loves its people and we are witnessing that. Thank you, House Chair.
Question put.
Voting
Question agreed to.
Report adopted and nominations accordingly agreed to in accordance with section 193(5)(b)(ii) of the Constitution.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON DEFENCE AND MILITARY VETERANS ON OVERSIGHT VISIT TO SELECTED ARMSCOR FACILITIES, DENEL’S LYTTELTON CAMPUS, SPECIAL FORCES SCHOOL AND DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY VETERANS’ HEADQUARTERS, 21 AND 22 APRIL 2022
Mr V C XABA: Thank you very much, Chairperson, members of this House, ladies and gentlemen. The Portfolio Committee on Defence visited three of Armscor facilities, Denel’s Lytleton
Campus, the Special Forces School and the Department of Military Veterans’ Headquarters on 21 and 22 April 2022. The aim of the visit was for the committee to conduct site visits to acquaint itself of the conditions and challenges experienced, as well as to facilitate inputs and insights to enhance its oversight functions.
Key observations flowing from the oversight visit include the following: Firstly, Armscor facilities. Armscore is an important defence entity in South Africa, and it is dually responsible for defence material acquisition for the SA
National Defence Force, SANDF, as well as some aspects of
defence research and development. The committee visited five Armscore Research and Development facilities. The first one we
visited is the Gerotek Vehicle Test Range. It performs a number of tests on military and commercial vehicles.
The Gerotek provides South Africa with a unique facility to
test vehicles and ensure that, our military vehicles are of
the highest quality. Due to the low defence budget, there is currently limited testing of vehicles for the defence force.
Secondly, the committee visited Protechnik Laboratories. It work in the field of chemical and biological defence on behalf
of the SANDF. During the COVID-19, the Protechnik was able to quickly transform its functions through the production and
testing of hand sanitizer products, thus highlighting its flexibility and the capability it adds to the state’s rapid health response capacity.
We also visited Armscore Hazmat Protective Systems that manufactures respiratory products such as full-faced masks
chemical and biological warfare filters for the Department of Defence. This is an important sovereign capability to the SANDF and the country as a whole. Lastly, the committee visited Armscore Ergonomics Technologies that serve the SANDF
in terms of the ergonomics as well as the Fluid and Mechanical
Engineering Group that develops modelling and simulation capability for the Department of Defence.
The key takeaway from the Armscore visit is that, it
highlighted the crucial role in that, these facilities play in the defence value chain. Armscore Research and Development
facilities, maintain a number of capabilities for the
department that, if they should fail, will have to be externalised at great cost, and often, in other countries. In
view of the defence budget, Armscore is commended for finding new commercial opportunities, to ensure fiscal sustainability
and keep their workforce positively engaged. This will ensure that crucial defence research and development capability is
maintained.
On the Denel Lytleton, the committee visited the Denel Land Systems, DLS, with a specific goal of following up on the challenges related to Project Hoefyster. This project, which seeks to replace the SANDF aging infantry fighting vehicle
fleet, has been delayed for more than 10 years, due to Denel’s inability to deliver. The oversight visit resulted in the committee, making a strong recommendation to Armscore, Denel and Defence Department to make a decision and the way forward
with the project. I can report that, general agreement now
exist between parties on the way forward to finalise Phase 1 of the project. However, funding for Phase 2 of the project
remains a doubt. But the committee is not losing hope.
It is vital that, the defence force has a capability and model infantry fighting fleet. The committee visited the special
school in Wallmansthal. The committee was not satisfied with
the conditions at the school. Key findings include, a lack of electricity supply at the unit, following cable theft, as well
as lack of water supply to the unit, following the interception of pipe water supply in a nearly informal
settlement. Electricity and water supply have been interrupted for several years at the unit, without a lasting solution. The
encroachment into land reserve for military, poses a security risk.
The committee visited the Department of Military Veterans Headquarters, and used the opportunity to engage the Department of Military Veterans on a number of concern around
service delivery. The committee concluded that, the Department of Military Veterans should improve on its direct service delivery to deserving military veterans by making sure that, they have easy access to the department and benefits offered.
[Interjections.] [Time expired.] It is my honour, hon Chair, to present the report. Thank you so much.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Thank you. Hon members, I will now recognise the political parties wishing to
make the Declarations the opportunity to do so. The DA.
Declarations of vote:
Mr S J F MARAIS: chairperson, thank you very much. This oversight gave us good insight into the rate of dilapidation of the defence force and the military veterans’ capabilities, service delivery and facilities, but also into the challenges experienced on the ground, and the possibilities of how best to address that. It again emphasised the need to be honest about the minimum defence priorities and capabilities we need, we can afford, and still comply with the constitutional mandate.
We must immediately decide on the reprioritisation of the defence budget, the reorganisation of the Department of
Defence, and its repositioning to a smaller but more effective Regular Force. Armscor’s functions today are worlds apart from the time prior to it being divided into the Armscor and Denel we know today. With the decreased defence budget, its role as the sole procurement agency for the Department of Defence and of the Defence Force, has nearly become a luxury we can hardly afford. Its dwindling revenue and stagnating operational costs are under pressure similarly to that of Denel, largely due to the defence budget erosion.
While government must implement hard and tough decisions of their future roles, do we have defence industry businesses with the best technology and expertise available, which could assist the defence force to turnaround its dilapidated defence capabilities and readiness? They stand ready to co-operate with us, in the best interest of South Africa. Unfortunately, there seems to be little or no political will to drive these matters to its logical conclusions.
The visit to Denel was to familiarise ourselves with the status and the progress of Project Hoefyster for the manufacturing of the Badger Infantry Fighting Vehicle. It was a very sad sight and experience at Denel Land Systems. There was no assembly at the time, with only about 15 partially
completed badgers, and various new and unused component parts already stored for about five years. Most of the essential Denel technological skills, have been lost most probably permanently. After so many years of this project it seems only Phase 1 has the potential to be completed, provided that the defence force waive many of their military requirements.
We now know the bailout given last week by the Minister of Finance will allow Denel to pay the arrear employee costs and some creditors. Meanwhile, the Secretary of Defence Force has confirmed that no money was provided and or approved for any Project Hoefyster funding beyond Phase 1. An obvious solution lies in the combination of scaling down and completing one Battalion Badgers, and upgrading the Ratel to meet the needs of the Infantry Fighting Vehicle.
We have private sector defence industry businesses with proven records for upgrading the Ratel with the modern technology and equipment to extend its life. One such company, with a 51% military veteran’s shareholding, have upgraded Ratels, currently used very successfully by Rwanda in Cabo Delgabo.
There are solutions, whether the political will exist, remains unanswered. Our special forces have always stood out with exceptional skills, capabilities and successes, despite the
dwindling budget and poor state of their prime mission equipment.
If all fails, our special forces are still able and capable to conduct their operations effectively. It was concerning to hear how poorly our special force members are supported with even basic needs such as special uniforms, special force’s boots, and equipment to operate in the most hostile environments. Our special force is of strategic importance and relevance, and we should bent backwards to accommodate their needs for resources.
During our visit to the Department Defence and Military Veterans, we again became aware of the many challenges facing the department, which is not serving the best interest of our military veterans. Most if not all, are the consequences of poor and unacceptable management performances. The President announced with much fanfare that, the Deputy President would personally be responsible to address all of these concerns.
Unfortunately, like with so many other politically inspired promises, little has come from this.
The time for snoozing is over, and we will have to do something revolutionary and extreme, to save what is left of a
once proud and capable defence force and the dignity of our military veterans. I thank you
Declarations of vote:
Mr W T I MAFANYA: Thank you very much Chair. Hon member, the demise of Denel under the leadership of Mr Pravin Gordhan has had a negative impact on the Armaments Corporation of South Africa SOC Ltd, Armscor. The sale of ownership of shares at Denel has resulted in a mushrooming of private armaments companies that have recruited Denel skilled labourers at the expense of Denel.
These private companies have become a direct competition to the Denel. They produce the same products which have become difficult for Denel and Armscor to produce due to budget cuts by National Treasury to South African National Defence Force, SANDF. The SANDF has no choice but to purchase what Denel and Armscor could produce from private armaments companies. The aim and purpose of privatizing Denel has been achieved. Thanks to the ANC-led government.
The SANDF Special Forces School has become a shadow of its former self. It is neglected and its infrastructure is dilapidated and old. There is no maintenance done. The school
lacks basic needs like water and electricity. Very soon JoJo Tanks will be the order of the day at the SANDF Special Forces School in an urban setup where municipality cannot render basic services.
There is an encroachment of housing development around the SANDF Special Forces School, which present a serious security risk to communities. The military national key point is exposed to obsolete military hardware that is often stolen by criminals and sell as a scrap metal. It is unfortunate that the committee failed to use this opportunity to call out the recklessness of Mr Gordhan and the industrial scale looting of Denel assets that has a direct impact on Armscor. Thank you very much.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Thank you, hon remember. Your connection is very bad so we will ask that you be muted and the Chief Whip of the Party will deliver the intervention on your behalf. Thank you. Sergeant at Arms can we get Information Communication Technology, ICT, just to mute the hon member. Thank you, please proceed hon Singh.
Mr N SINGH: Thank you, hon Chairperson. His connection will take over on his behalf. I think he is still busy at the coronation. He is still enjoying it.
Hon Chairperson, the state of the facilities visited during this oversight trip broadly reflects the overall state of our current national defence capability as maintained by the South African National Defence Force, SANDF. Advanced weaponry, defence research and innovation at Denel is beset with internal challenges that impede both its testing of advanced weaponry as well as its international market offering.
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, DTIC, must get more involved in assisting Denel to bring its products to market and the facilities that ... [Inaudible.] ... must be world class.
Another issue is a budget at the facility which is currently not being used to its full extent due to fiscal constraints. Additional budget together with innovation in utilizing the current budget in the manner in which the maximum usage can be installed from every single rand of budget allocation must be put in practice.
Hon Chairperson, turning to pro technique, which requires urgent funding. Any project being conducted in the field of chemical and biological defence on behalf of the SANDF require strict conformity with all aspects related to the Chemical Weapons Convention. If there are challenges in respect of underfunding or skills deficits, project should be stopped immediately until all challenges have been mitigated and additional funding and skills put in place.
Turning to the protective system, the quality of military uniforms mainly footwear in the form of boots has been shown to be below standard. We cannot send the SANDF members into possible contact situations with any form of defective equipment, whether this be weaponry, communications equipment, battle gear, which includes bulletproof vests, combat fatigue or boots. or Challenges such as the procurement of boots that impedes the impact of our special forces operational capacity is unacceptable. Military grade footwear should not be outsourced internationally, but be manufactured locally.
Our special forces may be set to be the only currently viable defence capability that the SANDF has. Yet even their school is facing multiple strategic and administrative challenges.
Besides basic infrastructure such as water provisioning and
training bases, there are additional impediments such as little or no air support for specialized training for the Parachute Battalion. Chairperson, our defence force and defence capability are on life support. It required drastic intervention and remedial efforts. In this vein, the IFP will support the support.
Mr S N SWART: House Chair, the ACDP has taken note of this report. And whilst we appreciate the severe financial constraints facing the department and the South African National Defence Force, SANDF, far more can and should be done with existing budgets to address very basic needs highlighted in this report such as uniforms and boots.
The report also mentions that high numbers of old and unserviceable vehicles at military facilities ought to be sold for scrap metal and parts. Regrettably, we have taken note of a fire in Wallmansthall Military Base north of Pretoria last month that damaged 83 such vehicles. This, sadly, after this very committee expressed extreme concern in this report in April about the non-availability of water at Wallmansthall area. So it was foreseen. Sadly, more was not done to exercise and to operationalize the report and to make sure water was available.
As far as the Armscor Project Hoefyster is concerned, I personally visited Denel’s Lyttelton Campus and was mostly impressed with the ... [Inaudible.] ... combat vehicles. And it is sad that that project has not been completed. There is no doubt as the report mentions at this juncture between the views of Armoscor and Denel on the prospects of this project. Thankfully, we now note that there is a memorandum of understanding in this regard as well as the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement that made provision for R204 million to Denel to reduce its contingent liabilities and R3,4 billion if set conditions are met to complete its turnaround plan. Denel is a critical supplier of sovereign and strategic capabilities, ensuring security of supply to the Department of Defence.
The ACDP has also taken note of the committee’s recommendations relating to its visits to the SANDF Special Forces School. South Africa can be very proud of its SANDF Special Forces School which ranked amongst the best in the world. But it is necessary for them to have the best equipment to maintain constant operational readiness. The ACDP supports the report’s recommendation on the establishment of a permanent, reasonable departure or special dispensation of foreign procurement of special equipment unique to the SANDF Special Forces School environment.
We also note the visit to the military veteran’s headquarters and support the recommendations in that regard. The ACDP will support this report. Thank you.
Mr T N MMUTLE: House Chair, for the purpose of network I will keep my video off. The ANC supports the Oversight Report of the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans on oversight visit to various institution and facilities of DMV. The report truly reflects the observation consents and recommendation made by the committee on the DMV facilities and the institution that were visited.
As is reported, the situation of some of the military facilities reflect both successes and the challenges that we urge the department to attend to. We believe that in order to ensure that the defence force is able to execute its mandate, it has to have the necessary facilities functioning and that are in good condition. For the benefit of the EFF, the ANC has resolved to relocate Denel from the Department of Public Enterprises, and the matter is being deliberated by Cabinet according to the report from the Minister.
Progress has been registered in terms of water challenges discovered that the SANDF Special Forces School and there are
boreholes and tanks for water storages. The remaining challenge is electricity which the municipality of Tshwane, led by the DA is central to a sabotage against this military bases because engagement has been done with them to assist in that regard, but there is no will from the DA-led municipality.
This visit recommendation has seen some action from Armscor and Denel in terms of engagement. And they have reported to the portfolio committee the progress that has been registered to resolve challenges faced by Project Hoefyster. This also means that the capacitation of the defence force both in terms of material resources, and human resources become very critical. As it is said in the report, the challenges under SANDF Special Force School requires the attention by the department.
We are mindful that some of the challenges we encountered in some of the facilities are linked to socio-economic challenges of our country. Most importantly, the issue of migration and human settlement is in the urban areas. There are communities that are staying next to the military bases. And in most cases, these are informal settlements that are not allowed as far as the urban planning is concerned. The challenge is that
these informal settlements in some cases disrupt the supply of water and electricity to the military facilities. This therefore impact on the services and operation in the military facilities?
As we argued in the debate we had in this House on the matter relating to land claims and land invasion, on some of the military facilities that military establishment in many cases are targets during a conflict. Therefore, if communities settle next to a military facility, they may be casualties in the event of a conflict. And therefore, we have requested the Minister to engage the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development to look into this matter and resolve it for good.
The plight of the military veterans is one of our major concern. Military veteran should enjoy the benefits that are to them as provided for in the Act. These benefits are to ensure the appreciation of the country on the role that military veteran has played in ensuring territorial integrity of our country. However, we noted in the report that there has been a slow progress in providing some of the benefits to the military veteran. This is a matter that we shall put on our committee programme for oversight to ensure that urgent
actions are undertaken. And that this does not leave the Presidential Task Team to run its affairs. Apart from this, we will also demand reports from them from time to time to ensure that they address these matters with the urgency that the matters of military veterans deserve. Hon Chair, the ANC support this Oversight Report of the Portfolio Committee of Defence and Military Veteran as undertaken on various GMV institutional and facilities. I thank you.
Siswati:
LISEKELA SOSWEBHU WELICEMBU LELIBUSAKO: Sihlalo waboSihlalo
baleNdlu, bengiphakamisa kutsi lombiko wemukelwe nguleNdlu. Ngiyabonga.
Question put.
Motion agreed to.
Report accordingly adopted.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF STANDING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE — OVERSIGHT VISIT TO SA SPECIAL RISK INSURANCE ASSOCIATION (SASRIA)
Mr M J MASWANGANYI: Hon Chairperson, Ministers, Deputy Ministers and hon members, the Standing Committee on Finance undertook an oversight visit to the SA Special Risks Insurance Association, Sasria, on 20 April 2022 in Gauteng. The SA Special Risks Insurance Association is a public enterprise listed under schedule 3(b) of the Public Finance Management Act of 1999. It is a nonlife insurance company that provides coverage for damage caused by special risks such as political motivations, malicious acts, riots, strikes, terrorism and public disorders.
The main purpose of the visit to Sasria was to get the briefing on their annual report on strategic and annual performance plans and the implementation of the audit action plans, the impact of the 2021 July unrests on Sasria and to meet staff and union representatives to discuss labour-related issues. By visiting Sasria the scoff was playing its oversight role. Oversight is essential in assessing whether and organ of state is properly executing the mandate it received from Parliament. By performing its oversight function Parliament monitors the quality of the policy making ensures that the organ of state does not betray the will of the legislature and controls how the public monies are spent.
The claims incurred when it comes to the July 2021 unrests sits at R37,14 billion as of 19 April 2022. An amount of R22,52 billion had been settled which represent a total of
8 853 claims. An amount of R14,62 billion representing a total of just over 17 000 claims remain outstanding. Sustainability concerns remains and if any event of this magnitude, like that one of the July unrest is to happen, Sasria caution that it would not survive as a business.
We also met the staff and the unions. The SA Special Risks Insurance Association has a total staff complement of 117 employees. The vacancy rate stands at 3,42%. We emphasised to Sasria that they should fill all funded posts.
In its observations and recommendations, the committee welcomes that Sasria receives support from the Treasury with an amount of R22 billion in order to deal with the claims arising from the 2021 July unrests. The committee commends Sasria in the manner in which it handled the 2021 July unrests including announcing timeously that it will accept the liabilities. The committee also notes that while the cash injection from the Treasury and an increase in premiums flows ensure that there is no immediate liquidity challenges and that Sasria’s financial projections indicate that it would be
profitable by 2022-23 financial year, there remain concerns about the sustainability of Sasria should an event of the magnitude of the July riots occur again.
Despite the calamity of the July unrests, the committee notes that Sasria appears to be managed and governed very effectively and efficiently. We also noted that Sasria has also achieved unqualified audit opinions for several years.
The committee was particularly impressed by the succession plan and handover of the ongoing CEO to the incoming CEO. The committee believes that other state organs can learn something from Sasria’s governance and management practices. The SA Special Risks Insurance Association is one of the best run state-owned enterprises, SOEs. Let’s give credit where it is due. I move that the report be adopted.
Xitsonga:
Ndza khensa, Mufambisi wa ntirho.
English:
There was no debate.
Declarations of vote:
Mr J N DE VILLIERS: Chair, I think I can start with something which we agree on in a country where state-owned entities are bottom the spits where taxpayers’ money disappear into. The SA Special Risks Insurance Association was actually an exception in this rule and was run exceptionally well. The SA Special Risks Insurance Association up until last year’s riots, managed even to pay out even dividends to the South Africa government as a general rule. This was however not to last as the July riot tsunami wiped out billions of rands of Sasria’s ensured assets throughout KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. More than
21 000 insurance claims were lodged against Sasria. Up until
19 April this year, the claims against Sasria were over R37 billion rand.
The impact of the July riot on Sasria was so big. It plunged the insurer over its status as going concern and its ability to stay solvent. In fact, was it not for the R22 billion the National Treasury bailed out, Sasria would not have been able to pay out its claims and stay afloat. Nonetheless, Sasria took responsibility for the subsequent payouts and as of today 80% of the claims have been processed and paid out. But here is the harsh reality as contained in the report. If there was a repeat today or in future of the July riots, Sasria will not be able to survive. This is grim news if you consider the ever
rising costs of living in South Africa. Families are growing ever more desperate as basic and essential food items become unaffordable and they battle to put food on the table.
Combined with the growing unemployment and poverty you have a powerful receipt for more riots. If the ANC government cares about the plight of South African households and wants to potentially stop any future riots, the DA has repeatedly asked for two basic interventions which we can implement today.
First, expand the list of the zero-rated food items to include chicken, beef, tin beans, wheat flour, margarine, peanut butter, baby food, tea, coffee and soup powder. This will help to bring the price of nutrition and put healthy food on the table of ordinary South Africans.
Secondly, cut the price of fuel. The DA has made this super easy for the ANC. All you need to do is implement our fuel price deregulation bill which will slash the current exorbitant taxes by almost R9 a litre. The ANC will tell you that these interventions are not possible. We can assure you that they are possible. They are not as possible, but they are urgent and they are long overdue. South Africa’s winter of discontent is a panacea. If the ANC continues on its current path of ignoring the plight of the poor the real crisis, the cost of living crisis, will soon result in more blood in the
streets. The SA Special Risks Insurance Association will not be able to survive another riot. If Sasria is broken, then we face the real danger of billions of rands of billions and assets being wiped off the South African economy with the employment and the livelihoods of millions of households.
Stopping another riot is possible, but it requires acknowledging the plight of the poor and something which the ANC government ignores at its own peril. The DA supports the report.
Mr M N PAULSEN: Chairperson, we have constantly warned this House about the challenges facing Sasria. The 2021 July riots have proven that the current model of Sasria is poorly conceptualised and outdated because it fails to take into account many of the socioeconomic challenges posed by the rising levels of crimes, protests and natural disasters.
The fact that we have to take R22 billion from the fiscus to help Sasria with recorded challenges is a clear sign that we must revisit Sasria mandate, funding model and premium structure as the insurer of assets that mainstream insurance companies cannot cover. We agree with the report that Sasria should embark on an aggressive campaign to educate the public about its role. But more fundamentally we need to have a
state-owned insurance company that is not going to charge black people more premiums because of the colour of their skin. South Africa is a crime scene, but only black people are punished by insurance companies. The SA Special Risks Insurance Association has the administrative capacity to move to the mainstream insurance that will cater for black people in a nondiscriminatory manner.
Lastly, there is a concerning trend that we have raised in the past about the National Treasury and its entities’ failure to table annual reports and strategic documents on time. The Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Scopa, committee was again subjected to this mediocrity by the Treasury who fail to submit its annual reports. The SA Special Risks Insurance Association has a similar problem of failing to table annual reports on time. Instead of addressing irregular and wasteful expenditure, they want to argue with the Auditor-General. We must all be worried about the degeneration and pure incompetency taking place at the National Treasury. Thank you very much.
Inkosi E M BUTHELEZI: House Chairperson, at the outset, I would like this House to note that despite the various challenges faced by the South African Special Risk Insurance
Association, following the July unrest, the entity still managed to gain an unqualified audit opinion.
The IFP echoes the sentiments expressed by the members of the standing committee in applauding Sasria on its transition and its ability to still generate a profit and stay afloat, given the gross political and economic uncertainty in our country. This oversight visit, truly exposed members of the committee to understand the extent of the damage the unrest caused, beyond simply news headlines.
The inexcusable destruction, which severely affected both the public and private sectors in terms of the infrastructure destroyed and the loss of income for businesses, has not made the work of Sasria any easier. We therefore, welcome National Treasury’s R22 billion cash injection to assist the entity.
However, while this may have been a once-off miracle in avoiding an insurance catastrophe ... must be told. We cannot allow such destruction to occur, nor can we afford to continue footing the bill for protest action that gets out of control.
According to Sasria in this report, political risk in our country remains at an all-time high and this has affected the reinsurance risk premium for Sasria. This, House Chair, is a
situation we can ill-afford, nor can government be caught off- guard ever again! The absolute failure of our National Security Cluster and the inability of our State Intelligence apparatus to gather information - before, during and after the July riots, have not been dealt with. We have not seen anyone held to account on this, nor have we seen any changes made to the top brass in our police, military and State Security.
Government cannot be seen to be dragging its feet on matters of State Security, as this not only puts us at risk in terms of insurance but we face dis-investment from the private sector and the international community.
South Africans must be made aware of the benefits of insurance. Whether that be for household, business or simply insurance in general. I say this because the majority of our people who live in rural communities and those who run small to medium businesses, which include the spaza shops, street- corner vendors, do not know anything about such an insurance.
Millions of South Africans are not aware of the work of Sasria and how critical it is to ensure that our country is covered for any form of calamity, natural disaster and protest action. Therefore, the IFP supports all the committee’s recommendations on increasing public awareness campaigns for
Sasria and the insurance industry in general. We must ensure that each South African is prepared for the unexpected. Thank you very much, House Chairperson.
Mr W W WESSELS: House Chair, the most important observation in this report is 7.6 which reads: “the committee notes that the political risk in South Africa remains high”. And that, is something to be concerned of. We should all be concerned of the fact that we live in a very dangerous country where lawlessness is ... [Inaudible.] ... But it is the example that’s set by the ruling party. It’s the example that’s set by members of the ruling party in municipalities when they are unhappy with who is elected as councillors or who is elected as leadership, they burn down mayor’s houses. They burn down constituencies offices and it’s just allowed.
It is unacceptable that we should prepare for lawlessness and we allow it. We cannot accept that lawlessness is the norm. We should all rage against lawlessness. We agree that addressing the economy is paramount to also restricting protests actions, but we cannot allow lawlessness. And also, the intelligence services of this government failed South Africa last year in July.
The intelligence services of this government is arrogant when other governments tell us that there are risks of terrorist attacks. They say no, it is not so. We completely disagree because what do you know? But your intelligence services were abused by your cadres. By your former President for your own political gain and they don’t do their jobs. Get that in order. Get your policies in order so that we can get the economy going and then we won’t have to observe as a Parliament that the political risk in South Africa remains high, because that is actually a shame. I thank you.
Mr S N SWART: House Chair, the ACDP has taken note of this report and thanks the committee for its oversight function. We note that Sasria faces severe liquidity and solvency risk due to the July 2021 riots in KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Gauteng. Now the total claim incurred for the unrest at that time sat at R37 billion – that’s in April. Of which claims to the amount of R22 billion have been settled.
In terms of liquidity, the cash injection from National Treasury in January of 22 billion basically saved Sasria as well as increased premium flows. And this ensured that there were no immediate liquidity challenges. Now the report also mentions and commends Sasria for the manner in which it
handled the situation, including announcing from an early stage that it will assess its liabilities and this reassured the markets. However, what is very important is that the committee notes, as previous speakers have indicated, that the political risk in South Africa remains high. And this has affected the reinsurance risk premium for Sasria, where premiums have increased by a 1000% following July unrest, and that businesses have to recover.
Now, the ACDP remains concerned about sustainability issues with Sasria if any event of the magnitude of the July unrest was to happen again. Clearly we need to be working. We need to be praying that such a situation never happens again. And the recommendations of the expert panel enquiry into the unrest and a soon to be completed South African Human Rights Commission into the unrest needs to be carefully studied and implemented.
We need to make sure as leaders that such lawlessness never takes place again. However, despite the calamity of the July unrest, the report notes that Sasria is well managed and governed very effectively and efficiently. The ACDP agrees and will support this report. I thank you.
IsiXhosa:
Mnu N L S KWANKWA: Masiyithethe inyaniso ethi, uSasria sele ezifumana ekule ngxaki ilolu hlobo nje kungenxa ye-ANC eyohlulwayo kukulungisa iingxaki zayo. Nibhidana nodwa emzini wenu, niye kuxabela abantu abadlula ngendlela nibethe neemoto, endaweni yokuba nilungisane nina nodwa ngaphakathi. Ukuba nanikwazile ukuzilungisa iingxaki zenu, ngezingakhange zide zisichaphazele thina kunye nabemi boMzantsi Afrika.
Okwesibini, lo Sasria yingxaki kuba waziwa ngabantu abamhlophe ababezenzela bona bengenzeli thina. Babezikhusela bona ...
English:
... against our violence, if you like ...
IsiXhosa:
... ngexesha esasisilwela inkululeko. Asikakwazi ke ngoko ukuqiniseka ukuba nowuphi na umntu oselokishini, noMaDlamini ozithengisela ecaleni kwendlela uyamazi uSasria kuba kaloku
...
English:
... the protests and riots ...
IsiXhosa:
... ziba khona ezilokishini kwaye zichaphazela abantu bakuthi babe bengenanto ibakhuselayo.
Okwesithathu, kudala siyithetha le nto ithi aba belungu bamana ukufumana le mali, ewe bayayibhatela imali kwi-inshurensi, siza kubanceda bakugqiba bavale la mashishini badende abantu, sithi siyikhupha imali singurhulumente sizama ukukhusela imisebenzi yabantu kodwa sifumanise ukuba abona bantu baxhamlayo ngaba bathenge i-inshurensi sibe singakwazi ukukhusela imisebenzi yabantu. Le nto ayichaphazeli iSasria kuphela, ichaphazela neyiphi na enye imali ekhutshiweyo ...
English:
... by the National Treasury including the Loan Guarantee Scheme ...
IsiXhosa:
... apho abantu babenikwa iindlela zokubhatala ezingcono, bakugqiba bathathe imali bavale umlomo batye tyum badende abantu bakuthi, bashiyeke abantu bakuthi behleli endlaleni.
Kwakhona, asiyithethi into yokuba eyona nto ibangela ukuba abantu – siyayibona le yenu yokuba nibe nisilwa ngethambo
elingenanqatha ngokungathi ninokhwekhwe. Eyona ngxaki bathe sebeqala ukuzilwela abantu, balisebenzisa ngendlela engeyiyo elo thuba kuba bahluphekile, balambile. Bafuna ke urhulumente okhathalayo ozakukwazi ukuthi ngomso xa ningavani niphikisana ngezenu, bangalukuhlwa lula ngabanye ...
English:
... because they have their narrow political agendas and ...
IsiXhosa:
... ingenzeki loo nto nakweliphi iqela lopolitiko, nokuba liqela eliphikisayo. Kufuneka ke sibafundise abantu bakuthi. Iphinda isihluphe into yokuba ...
English:
... the Sasria premiums go up at the time we are saying they should embark on a campaign that will educate the public and create awareness. The problem is that; they will create awareness ...
IsiXhosa:
... ufumanise ukuba, abona bantu bebefanele ukuxhamla ...
English:
... from this scheme, cannot afford it.
IsiXhosa:
Siphinde sibenengxaki.
English:
Thank you, Chair.
IsiXhosa:
Mnu Z MLENZANA: Ngoobani abanokhwekhwe? Ngoobani abanokhwekhwe?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon Mlenzana, you do that again, you will be out of the platform.
Mr M G E HENDRICKS: Hon House Chair, Al Jama-ah cannot support this report because we are not convinced that due diligence was undertaken by Parliament, the portfolio committee and Treasury, and that the claims amounting to nearly R30 billion were the responsibility of the South African Special Risk Insurance Association, Sasria, and not the responsibility of the big insurance companies. We have not seen, in this House, a report tabled that there was an investigation and that we have very strong legal opinion and a second opinion.
Parliament has failed the nation in that Treasury just paid R22 billion just like that. Unless someone can show us that a proper investigation was made that some of the claims should have been paid by the big insurance companies we will continue to register our objections. This is poor oversight, hon House Chair. Unless Al Jama-ah can be presented with facts that there was proper investigation and that Treasury didn’t just take out the check book and sign off R22 billion — much needed money for many of the things that we want to do. Hon House Chairperson, please register that Al jama-ah does not support this report. Thank you very much.
IsiNdebele:
Num G J SKOSANA: Ngiyathokoza, Sihlalo ohloniphekileko ngokuthola ithuba begodu ngiyakulotjhisa, ngilotjhisa namalunga woke ahloniphekileko kunye nabahlali boke beSewula Afrika. Sihlalo ohloniphekileko ...
English:
... the South African Special Risk Insurance Association has been an example over many years of a well-functioning state owned entity and has demonstrated how, with strategic planning, good project management, adherence to risk assessment and continuous assessment of performance, state
owned enterprises add strategic value to the economy. This really demonstrates the ANC policy position of the need for state owned enterprises to play a progressive and influential role within the economy and provide state support in areas where the private sector cannot.
IsiNdebele:
Malunga ahloniphekileko ...
English:
... our visit to Sasria whilst conducting constitutional oversight responsibility was also prompted by the increased liabilities to Sasria that followed the unrest in KwaZulu- Natal and Gauteng in July 2021. As a result, Sasria has faced enormous challenges in liquidity and solvency given its role in proving insurance to the economy in the areas that most other insurers will not venture. In areas of damage caused by unrest and other unforeseen events.
Given what came out of the July 2021 unrest, Sasria could not submit its 2021 integrated report and audited annual financial statements for the previous financial year. Clearly this constituted a huge risk, and following discussions in cabinet, Sasria received financial support from National Treasury of
R22 billion. This strategic and welcomed injection not only provided the liquidity required but also enabled the finalisation of the audit opinion by the end of February 2022.
IsiNdebele:
Sihlalo ohloniphekileko ...
English:
... our assessment of the 2020-21 annual report strategic plan and annual performance plan informs us that on the strategic focus area of sustainability, the recorded fruitless and wasteful expenditure has more to do with penalties levied by South African Revenue Services, Sars, for tax related irregularities on Public Finance Management Act, PFMA, adherence because there has been a late submission of the annual performance plan. On socio economic impact and skills development there has been a direct impact of the 2020 lockdown on what could be achieved against the targets set.
What surprised the oversight delegation was the impact of the July 2021 unrest on the liquidity of Sasria. Whilst everyone raises issues around liquidity, which is very important for the economy, there is a bigger debate and that debate centres on the causes of such unrest and possible future reoccurrence
and its impact on the sustainability of Sasria going forward and how this risk should be mitigated.
IsiNdebele:
Malunga ohloniphekileko ...
English:
... these are macro questions which we need to collectively discuss and not seek, in a political opportunistic manner, to apportion responsibility when in fact the socioeconomic realities confront us on a daily basis. The South African Special Risk Insurance Association has to respond to this but we have seen arising from July 2021 the one response has been to raise premiums. Whilst that may assist the liquidity of the association, a matter that is very important and the net impact is that some businesses will move elsewhere and this in turn creates loss of jobs, more unemployment in a given area and instability for local economies.
In many respects what has happened to Sasria is a reflection of a risk that may emerge again in the future and the answer is not to just raise premiums, dealing with the cause is what will give the country and not just Sasria, sustainability
going forward. In fact, Sasria themselves have said it that if the events were to happen again they will not survive.
IsiNdebele:
Sihlalo ohloniphekileko ...
English:
... our concerns naturally were with smaller businesses and the outstanding claims that required to be paid. We reiterate that there needs to be a wider public awareness campaign by Sasria in ensuring that small businesses understand the value of its insurance cover as a monopoly provider of such types of insurance. However ... [Inaudible.]... reinsurance premiums for Sasria have grown by 1000% following the July unrest. The negative impact of how this will be passed on to consumers needs a lot more debate across economy sectors. [Inaudible.]
IsiNdebele:
USIHLALO WENDLU (Ksz M G Boroto): Awusazwakali, Jali.
Mr G J SKOSANA: ... as such ... [Inaudible.]
USIHLALO WENDLU (Ksz M G Boroto): Jali, awusazwakali.
Ms P N ABRAHAM: Where such massive increases occur there is a passing on of the reinsurance cost and that is carried by third parties and in particular the public who can least afford it. We have to debate this. The ANC supports the report.
The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: House
Chairperson, I move that the report be adopted.
Motion agreed to (Economic Freedom Fighters dissenting).
Report accordingly adopted.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR ON OVERSIGHT VISIT TO EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE ON 18 –
22 APRIL 2022
Ms M L DUNJWA: Good afternoon House Chair, Deputy Chief Whip of the Majority Party, members of this august House, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, in their absentia ...
IsiXhosa:
... abasebenzi boMzantsi Afrika uphela, iimpula zikaLujaca, molweni.
English:
The Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour conducted an oversight to the Eastern Cape Province on 19-21 April 2022.
This was conducted because as members of the portfolio committee we received numerous complaints from our members in communities, about the conduct and the services that they are receiving in the centres of the Department of Labour. In the Province of the Eastern Cape we visited three cities, Gqeberha
...
IsiXhosa:
... eQonce naseMonti.
English:
The Department of Employment and Labour in these centres, has got the total number of centres in the Eastern Cape which is
16. It has got 928 personnel and 44 vacancies. There are 16 labour centres, five satellite offices at 88 visiting sites.
What we then established in all these centres, which was of concern, first and foremost and what we must put across is that, those centres majority the three of them are very clean. Young people are being employed. I think the Department of Labour is leading by example of employing young people,
females in particular, males and people with disabilities. But the concern that we have, among other things is that ...
IsiXhosa:
... abantu bakuthi bema emigceni emide. bavuka ekuseni ngentsimbi yesihlanu kuba befuna ukuba bakwazi ukukhululeka ngethuba.
English:
The reason for that is that, the challenges that are there are ICT challenges ...
IsiXhosa:
... apho kungekho le nto amakhumsha athi zii...
English:
... photocopiers which become stuck at times and made people to wait for quite a long time.
IsiXhosa:
Enye into esiyifumanise ukuba iyingxaki kuzo zontathu yile yokuba, abantu xa bezile kwezi ndawo abasebenzi babaxelela ukuba umntu kufuneka umntu eze nesazisi sakhe, ahambe. Ngomso xa ebuya uxelelwa ukuba makeze nephepha likagqirha. Ngomso xa
ephinda ebuya, axelelwe ukua makeze nento ethile. Aba bantu ngabantu abangenanto iimpula zikaLujaca.
Eyona nto iye yangumnqa esiyifumanisileyo nesithe sayithakazelela, niya kukhumbula kaloku ukuba apha eMzantsi Afrika kukho isikhalo ngezi ...
English:
... entities, the Compensation Fund and the Unemployment Insurance Fund, UIF.
IsiXhosa:
Le yeyona nto ibangele ukuba siphakame sithi masihambe siye kuzibonela ukuba kwenziwa nto, siwubone umatshini kwaye siwujonge singaxelelwa nje ngamagosa kuphela, sijonge ephepheni kuphela.
Into esiyifumanisileyo kukuba ingxaki ayikho kangako. Niya kukhumbula malungu ahloniphekileyo ukube kudala iDA le ikhala isithi ...
English:
... the Compensation Fund ...
IsiXhosa:
... ayiwenzi umsebenzi wayo. Bathi ngesiNgesi ...
English:
... it is not fit for purpose.
IsiXhosa:
Kodwa ke siye sabona sizibonela ngamehlo ethu, futhi saxelelwa ukuba unobangela wokuba kubekho isikhalo mva nje kukuba ...
English:
... the system that was previously used called Umahluko was a system that was free for all.
IsiXhosa:
Ndithetha ukuthini xa ndisitsho? Uyasifaka isicelo sakho singalandelelwa kakuhle, ufumne imali ngendlela obungamelanga ukuyifumana ngayo. Yiyo loo nto ...
English:
... the Compensation Fund
IsiXhosa:
... sima apha ngokungafihlisiyo sisithi ixesha elingangeminyaka elishumi, ibingekho ezincwadini ezintle ngokokutsho koMhloli-zincwadi-Jikelele. Sifuna ukuyitsho apha ukuba siye saxelelwa ukuba emva kokuba amalungu eDA abiza bonke abantu esithi mabeze apha beze kumamela, xa babesithi abafumani zimali ekubeni kwakuvalwa uTeba (Pty) Ltd, kuba le nkqubo Umahluko, ibiyinkqubo ebivala uTeba (Pty) Ltd.
Sithe ke siseGqeberha, saboniswa ukuba le nkqubo intsha inganazo iingxaki enazo kodwa into esithe sayifumanisa kukuba
... [Laphela ixesha.]
Siyaphakamisa ke apha ukuba le ngxelo mayamkelwe, sisitsho kananjalo ukuba siza kuthi rhoqo siyikhangela le ...
English:
... Compensation Fund and this UIF ...
IsiXhosa:
... enitepha kuyo nezihlobo zenu. Siyabulela.
Declarations of vote:
Mr N HINANA: House Chairperson, hon members and fellow South Africans, good afternoon. The portfolio committee indeed took
an oversight visit to the Eastern Cape because it has the responsibility to hold the executive to account. This is to make sure that the executive complies with the mandate to serve the citizens. Secondly Chair, the members received complaints against the department and its entities from the members of the public, in particular about the Compensation Fund and Unemployment Insurance Fund.
The delegation they observed, advised and made a recommendation of what needs to be done in order to serve the people adequately. It is unambiguous clear that the Eastern Cape is one of the poverty-stricken provinces with a historical poor service by various departments. The department has conceded that the poverty and inequality is exacerbated by the high rate of unemployment of 47,1 of quarter four of 2021, while the national rate of unemployment is 35% of the same period.
Hon Chair, what is so strange is that, the ... [Inaudible] ... of the Eastern Cape people has been a daily regretful experience under the watchful eye of the ANC-led government.
One aspect of democracy House Chair is that; the department must make it a responsibility that in fights poverty and create a conducive environment that those who are working must
establish and get services, and they must comply with the Labour Relations Act of 1995
House Chair, it is true that we visited a number of centres. King William’s Town is one of the such that we visited, where we observed that there are good working relations between managers and staff personnel of the provincial government.
But, that good relationship has not been collaborated with the
... [Inaudible] ... service delivery at a high rate of unemployment indicates. It was satisfying to observe that women were well represented in leadership positions. But, what was very strange is that, amongst the organogram there were no people with disabilities that were there.
This is not ... [Inaudible] ... reality that the department does not have the understanding of why people with disabilities are not integral part of the society, but they do have the executive and the capacity to execute their responsibility. They just need to recognised and be given the opportunity. We were happy that there was also a UIF bus that was providing the services to the far flung areas, but that does not have such provision at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, CCMA which is what is much needed.
Chairperson, the treatment of the people with disabilities is legendary. They additionally complained that they need to be prioritised in the allocation of houses. Chair, in the Western Cape, the Department of Housing is prioritising people with disabilities, the elderly and the child-headed families. What is difficult in the Eastern Cape that the ANC-led government can prioritise the people with disabilities? This is the lesson that all the provinces across South Africa must emulate.
Chair, the factory has a component of 60 persons and 40 females and ... [Inaudible.] They manufacture garments, bedsheets, pyjamas ... [Inaudible]... and porter uniform. So, the hospitals that are crying about the lack of garments need to take a clue from the Western Cape. The centres have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Health in the Western Cape ... [Time expired] The DA does not support the report.
Ms C N MKHONTO: Thanks Chair, for the opportunity, the oversight visit undertaken by the portfolio committee laid bare many challenges our people are exposed to by the Department of Employment and Labour. The visit took place when the country was under the COVID-19 regulations, but the
biggest Employment and Labour office in Gqeberha was inhabitable. There was no ventilation at all. The department officials were exposed to working conditions that enabled COVID-19 infections.
The Unemployment Insurance Fund, UIF, and Compensation Fund application system is designed to send our people back and forth for submission of one piece of paper at a time instead of being given the list of all documents required at once upon application.
It has been realized that officials report late for their duties while people are made to queue as early as five o’clock in the morning. When we arrived, many work stations were not occupied.
The Supported Employment Enterprise, SEE, in East London was at a brink of collapse. The department has no clear plan to keep it afloat and avoid job losses of people living with disabilities in the Eastern Cape.
Government departments at national and provincial level do not procure the goods manufactured by the SEE, thanks to the corrupt tender system that promotes procurement from private
companies at the expense of government entities like the SEE that creates quality jobs for people with disabilities. It remains a big question as to when the Department of Employment and Labour with the assistance of National Treasury is going to intervene and put SEEs on the list of preferential procurement.
At the East London office, people are made to queue for long hours on the street pavement and are exposed to all sorts of weather conditions. Thugs have taken advantage of them and they have to buy front queue positions at a fee of R50 or more. The office is understaffed and cannot serve people effectively and efficiently. Many officials did not have the tools of trade that allow them to work from home as the COVID-
19 regulations stipulated. The office space is small and officials are cramped and no space for people coming for services.
The portfolio committee has been doing recommendations to this department on many occasions for diverse matters and nothing has been implemented. It is difficult even for the department to implement its own set recovery strategies. This simply means, even the recommendations in this report will never be
implemented. The EFF supports the report pending the implementation of the recommendations. Thanks Chair.
Mr N SINGH: Thank you, Chairperson, I present this report on behalf of hon Ngcobo who is on this committee, the unemployment rate in South Africa published in August, which stands at 33,9% is becoming a major threat to our country’s economic development. The rate of unemployment, and especially the extended periods during which people face unemployment create additional threats to the financial security of our people.
The committee’s oversight trip and report relating to the labour centres in the Eastern Cape Province was an important assignment as concerns the need to ensure accountability in our democracy. Given the high unemployment rate and the scarcity of jobs, it is ever more vital that departmental offices, the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, CCMA, and labour centres are sufficiently equipped with the necessary tools and support to meet the needs of our communities.
According to the report, many challenges that were reported relate to information communications technology, ICT, or
equipment-related concerns, despite the department having set aside R200 million for this. As we have seen over the past few years, and especially during the COVID-19 lockdown, technology and its supporting equipment is of utmost importance in providing the necessary services to our people.
It is therefore important that the Minister consider prioritising the roll-out of ICT and supporting infrastructure for this department nationally, as well as specific to the cases as contained in the report. In doing so, the Department of Employment and Labour may be able to provide a far more effective and efficient service for communities. Furthermore, it will reduce the need for people to stand in long queues or make multiple trips to the same offices when their funds are already limited.
A solution for those who cannot afford to use the ICT technology is that they should be assisted through partnerships with internet cafés, libraries, or other local infrastructure, which could be used when they need to submit and register their relevant paperwork or claims.
Finally, House Chairperson, the department needs to pay greater attention to the needs and employment of persons with
disabilities. There must be a prioritisation of their needs within the departmental budget to ensure that persons with disabilities have sufficient support. This will in turn enable persons with disabilities to provide the necessary services and protection to the immense number of unemployed South Africans. The IFP supports this report. Thank you.
Ms H DENNER: Thank you, House Chair, House Chairperson, the true test of democracy is the extent to which Parliament can ensure that government remains accountable to the people of South Africa by maintaining constant oversight of government’s actions in order to increase public trust. Currently, public trust in the government is at an all-time low. So, is it government in this case or the Department of Employment and Labour failing or are we failing as an oversight body?
The delegation of the portfolio committee that visited labour centres, the CCMA, and Supported Employment Enterprise identified a number of problems such as the lack of ICT equipments - as the chairperson of the committee has mentioned
- shortage of vehicles, problems with the various claim’ systems, maintained buildings, and even contraventions of certain provisions of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act
by the very department that is the custodian of this Act. Does this increase public trust in the department? No, it doesn’t.
What is most worrying is the apparent lack of will to do and be better, for instance, the Supported Employment Enterprises are a wonderful initiative with great potential for job creation and the upliftment of people with disabilities.
However, furniture and other goods manufactured by the Supported Employment Enterprises factories in the Eastern Cape are stored for years on end.
The delegation learned about over R100 million order for school furniture from the Eastern Cape Department of Education. It later became apparent that that after completion, some of the schools that the furniture was ordered for did not even exist. It took a legal battle for this dispute to be settled in favour of the SEE.
What blundering is this between government departments? Where is the will to market the goods produced by the SEEs properly? Why are other government departments not using these SEEs in order to contribute to job creation and upliftment?
A constant complain from the public is the long queue at the labour centres. People often stand for days on end. The FFPlus has brought the issue of poor administration at labour centres to the attention of the department numerous times, but the situation persists. The delegation saw this and even noted the problem with long unmanaged queues. Will this ever change?
Without the will to do so, I am afraid, it will not.
All in all, I ask the question again: is the department failing or are we failing to hold the department accountable? And that’s why public trust is at an all-time low.
We cannot continue to observe, recommend and complain about the same problems repeatedly without any measurable improvement. The department is due to give feedback on the recommendations from the committee within one month from the today. I do not see this on the committee programme, hon House Chair. Is the department slacking or is the committee slacking? Was the delegation on an oversight visit or on a roadshow? Thank you, House Chair.
Mr W M THRING: Thank you, hon House Chairperson, as we consider this report from the Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour, the ACDP asserts that we must never
forget the backdrop of some three million jobs lost as a result of the harshest COVID-19 lockdowns in the world implemented by the ruling party.
According to the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, as a result of the harsh lockdown, and I quote:
Women bore the brunt of the job losses. Of the three million jobs lost, two million jobs were allocated to women. Amongst those groups of people that were already disadvantaged in the labour market and already faced a disproportionate share of job losses from the pandemic - that is the less educated, the poor black Africans and informal workers - women in these groups even faced further job losses putting them at a double disadvantage.
On interrogating the report, it is evident that much still needs to be done to assist the Supported Employment Enterprises both in Gqeberha and East London. At the Gqeberha SEE factory, the report raises a concern about the reduction in tenders from government and the resultant drop in factory workers from 370 in 1994 to 80 currently, with manufactured office furniture being stored in the factory for years because of low demand.
It is disconcerting to note that the Provincial Department of Education placed an order amounting to R100 million, but when production was complete and ready for delivery, it was discovered that some schools for which the desks and other furniture was ordered did not even exist. To add insult to injury, the SEE had to defend itself in court when the Education Department demanded the return of money for desks it ordered for schools that do not exist.
The ACDP calls for an external forensic investigation into what appears to be nothing less than fruitless and wasteful expenditure, if not more.
Additionally, it is unconscionable that tools of trade are not available at labour centres to ensure that staff meet their performance mandates.
Hon House Chair, now that we know that the Pfizer vaccine was not tested to prevent transmission as testified by the Pfizer executive Ms J Small to the European Parliament. The ACDP calls upon the Minister of Employment and Labour to cancel the occupational health and safety directive which encourages employees to institute unconstitutional nonsensical vaccine mandate in the workplace. I thank you.
Mr M G E HENDRICKS: Thank you very much, hon House Chair. Hon House Chair, let us acknowledge the hard work of the portfolio committee to address the plight of the unemployed in the Eastern Cape and for the effort they have made to do oversight. The Eastern Cape was the first to resist apartheid but it seems it is the last to get decent work. The former President Mandela from the Eastern Cape got the first award for promoting decent work internationally.
The provincial director of labour in the Eastern Cape must tell Parliament why he or she should not fall on their sword for the neglect of the workers in the Eastern Cape. Maybe the name of the department must change and must remove the section referring to employment because the Department of Labour does nothing about employment. We see that employment is being pushed by the President with his employment programmes, it is pushed by the Department of Social Welfare using the National Development Agency, NDA, and everyone else is promoting employment but not the department where the name includes employment.
We hope that our ... [Inaudible.] ... in this Chamber, hon House Chair, will lead to employment programmes to take people
out of poverty. The people of the Eastern Cape should not be the cinderellas of all our provinces. Thank you very much.
Ms P P MAKHUBELE-MARILELE: Thank you, House Chairperson. The Department of Employment and Labour has no corresponding department in the provincial government but this department does have an impressive footprint in the provinces. The ... [Inaudible.] ... provincial offices that ... [Inaudible.] ... subhead offices as they also administer operations in ... [Inaudible.] ... and satellite offices.
Hon House Chair, the Portfolio Committee on Labour has conducted an oversight visit in one of these provinces, which is the Eastern Cape and the report of such visit, hon chairperson, Mme Dunjwa, has already introduced it in this August House. There are few issues that I would want to point out in relation to this visit in the Eastern Cape, but also on some general and equally important pertinent issues. Hon Chair and hon members, the acting Minister of Public Service and Administration who is also the Minister of Employment and Labor, Minister Nxesi, shared with the country national framework towards professionalisation of the public sector.
House Chair, among others, this framework rekindles ethical principles that public officials owe to expose. It is bringing back as a focal point the whole important instruction of people first ...
Sepedi:
Batho pele.
English:
Hon members, it was very pleasing to observe articulate, competent and professional civil servants in labour centers and supported employment enterprises offices that we visited in the Eastern Cape province in the areas of Gceberha, Qonce and eMondi. As a woman and a young person, yes, I am certainly not an elder, it was heartwarming to notice that the top management of employment and labour in the Eastern Cape is dominated by women.
In the labour centers we saw countless young professional executing their duties. It is also important for the House to note that our briefing on inspection and enforcement was led by a disabled official. However, we must also emphasise the fact that there is still a challenge on tools of trade which
the department must urgently address in particular to accommodate people living with disabilities.
Hon members, allow me to state without fear of contradiction that the transformed professional, ethical, capable and developmental public sector is being built in the Eastern Cape Offices of Employment and Labour. Most of the challenges and weaknesses, if not all, that we came across with on our oversight in the Eastern Cape province, are not out of those ladies and gentlemen who are working in those offices. Here, we will sincerely appeal to the director-general of the department and the Minister of Employment and Labour to assist.
The tools of trade with adequate capacity and required quantity must be deployed to the Eastern Cape province and to all provinces for that matter. Photocopy machines that have speed and capacity must be sent to the Eastern Cape and other provinces as that will go a long way into reducing queues in labour centers. We beg you, Minister, tell your director- general to ensure that this happens without delay.
There is also an issue of state information technology agency. In this regard, I just want to appeal and say that, the state
information technology agency, SITA, please, be an enabler. Among others, professional rendering of services to the people. Please, work with the department to ensure that the song of “the system is down” it is not sung in anywhere where public services ought to be rendered to the citizens.
Chairperson, coming towards the conclusion, I do want to highlight few, few other matters. The first one is that oversight visits are empowering. They provide a true picture of government operations. We get to be exposed to the practical translations of laws that we pass in this House. We see their outcomes and we see their impact. However, we also see their implications and probably their unintended consequences.
The portfolio committee was exposed to how the Unemployment Insurance Act 63 of 2001, is implemented by government officials to the point of beginning to see where the gaps are in the law itself. The portfolio committee was also exposed to practical functioning of the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act 130 of 1993. So, going forward as portfolio committee we will know exactly what is to be done because we are even exposed to those who manipulate these laws and operations for their own selfish and corrupt reasons.
Chairperson, having stated all that, we probably may want to consider conducting an oversight visit to other provinces as well to add to the information and knowledge that we already obtained in the Eastern Cape. One hopes that we shall be met by pleasant observations even in other provinces. Thank you, Chairperson. This is where I rest my case. I move for the adoption of the Report. The ANC support the Report.
Xitsonga:
MUTSHAMAXITULU WA YINDLU (Man M G Boroto): Ndza khensa, Muchaviseki.
Xitsonga:
Man P P MAKHUBELE-MARILELE: [Hleka.] Ndzi khensile, Mutshamaxitulu. [Hleka.]
IsiSwati:
LISEKELA SOSWEBHU WELICEMBU LELIBUSAKO: Mhlonishwa Sihlalo
waleNdlu, bengicela kutsi lombiko welikomidi wemukelwe nguleNdlu. Ngiyabonga.
Motion agreed to (Democratic Alliance and Freedom Front Plus dissenting).
Report accordingly adopted.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS - OVERSIGHT VISIT TO FREE STATE PROVINCE ON 19-22 APRIL 2022
Mr F D XASA: Hon Chairperson, hon members, good afternoon. From the 19 to 22 of April 2022, the Portfolio Committee on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs undertook an oversight visit through the districts and municipalities of Lejwe Leputswa, Thabo Mofutsanyane and Fezile Dabi Municipalities, in the Free State province. The visit was part of the committee’s resolve to intensify oversight over all the organs of state to its mandate, including: Confronting the deteriorative state of local government in the country; and encouraging public participation in the affairs of local government, as and envisaged in section 152(e)of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
The portfolio committee’s oversight to the Free State revealed, among other things, very high municipal indebtedness to Eskom. At the time of the visit, the local municipalities in the province had the highest arrears debt owed to Eskom, which then stood at R13,4 billion. A general failure by
municipalities to adequately collect revenue owed to them was also observed, and this was exacerbated by the high levels of unemployment and increased indigent registers. Consequently, the debt owed to municipalities amounted to R24,3 billion.
The portfolio committee further noted a regression in discipline around the e submission of annual financial statements, whereby approximately half of the province’s 23 municipalities failed to submit annual financial statements on time. Furthermore, no municipality in the province had obtained a clean audit opinion, which was indicative of weak financial management controls. In this regard, there were also deficiencies in the support provided by the provincial Treasury and the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs.
The support and tools of trade provided to the two local houses of traditional leaders in the province were also inadequate according to a submission received from the provincial house of traditional leaders. The proliferation of bogus traditional leaders was another challenge presented to the portfolio committee, and this was an indication that section 7(9) of the Traditional and Khoisan Leadership Act,
which criminalises practice, has not been enforced strictly enough.
The meaningful participation of traditional leaders in the District Development Model also remained a concern. A common complaint heard from the three districts visited related to the devolution of certain functions, along with the associated grants, to the local municipalities. The lost powers and functions have rendered the districts powerless to implement critical capital projects. The portfolio committee needs to understand the rationale behind the removal of these constitutionally assigned powers and functions.
The portfolio committee, in conclusion, noted that most of the issues encountered were not new, but a repetition of some of the matters seen in previous oversight visits in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and the North West provinces. This has challenged the portfolio committee to refine its oversight strategy and develop a more focused program of action, that is specific to each municipality.
The community, consequently, has begun implementing this approach, starting with Makana Municipality in the Eastern
Cape province and Lekwa Municipality in Mpumalanga. [Time expired.] Thank you very much.
Declarations of vote:
Ms E R J SPIES: Good afternoon, House Chairperson. Hon members, allow me to give you an insight into the real state of the local government in the Free State. Six months and 14 days after our oversight visit, there is very little to any improvement in the Free State province’s municipalities.
Metsimaholo, the only coalition-run municipality, under the DA, owes Eskom nothing. This is a rare positive!
The Auditor-General slammed Free State municipalities for their deliberate lack of accountability due to inaction by their political and administrative leadership. She further added that deliberate obstruction was putting the financial viability of the province’s municipalities at risk. By June this year, the audits of eight municipalities had not been completed. A total amount of R454 million has been spent on consultants since 2016, but no municipality in the Free State has ever produced a clean audit since 2015.
Mafube Municipality was placed under Section 139(5) by a court order obtained by Mafube Business Forum. An administrator was
appointed, but he is being hampered in terms of implementation. Mangaung was placed under section 139(7) and a team of administrators were appointed. Their contract expired yesterday. It seems that Mangaung makes headlines for all the wrong reasons.
The administrators apparently struggled to implement their turnaround strategy due to political interference. Yesterday’s council meeting collapsed and erupted in chaos as many reports that had to be tabled by the intervention team were not available. In April, the Minister of Water and Sanitation announced interventions in terms of the Water Services Act in Maluti-A-Phofung, Matjhabeng and Tokologo Municipalities.
In terms of the intervention, Bloem Water was appointed as the implementing agent to manage water and sanitation functions in three municipalities. Available information is that only one municipality has signed an MOU with Bloem Water in this regard. After a court order in 2018, the committee was established to find a solution to the Eskom debt crisis in Maluti. In December 2020, Deputy President Mabuza announced that Eskom would take over the electricity and administration in this municipality.
After the council refused to enter into agreement, the Gauteng High Court, in June 2021, issued an unopposed court order to the council to do so. On 8 September this year, four years later, the council finally adopted an agreement, and ordered the municipal manager to finalise and implement. To date, the agreement has not been finalised or implemented.
Currently there are no payments to Eskom being made and the billing system has collapsed completely. The Collection rate is under 20%, while the Eskom debt is now R9 billion. The municipal manager, MM, who made presentation to our committee in 18 April 2022 was arrested by the Hawks about three months ago, for fraud, corruption and failure to comply with the MFMA, related to a R54 million security contract.
The director of infrastructure was appointed as acting municipal manager resigned as acting municipal manager after six weeks, and a few attempts on his life. On 13 October, the mayor asked the council to suspend the CFO and the director of infrastructure. The council did not approve the suspension, but the mayor suspended them anyway, in total violation of these regulations.
Well, the seven nonfunctional wastewater treatment plants in the same municipality are still abandoned, completely stripped, despite the intervention of the Department of Water and Sanitation. During our oversight visit the MM told the committee that the intervention team that was brought in showed no improvement. well finally there was a glimmer of hope, but the MEC then decided to abruptly end our intervention, and the looting resumed.
Masilonyane Municipality could not pay its staff this month. The same situation occurs every second month. One month the municipality paid the staff with vouchers from a local supermarket, in lieu of salaries. In one month, eleven Free State municipalities got no further salaries. [Time expired.] The Free State needs real intervention. [Interjections.]. We will not support this Report. I thank you.
Mr K CEZA: Thank you very much, Chairperson. Firstly, with regard to the state of provincial municipalities in the Free State, the portfolio committee was informed that only Lejweleputswa District was fairly stable, meaning that not even stability in the said municipality is stable enough to reach 100%, but fairly stable.
Secondly, is the fact that of the 23 municipalities at risk and requiring monitoring and support, half of the 23 are still dysfunctional and require intensive intervention. We have previously argued in the committee that the debt owed to municipalities ... at an escalating level is greater than the monies that are owed to municipalities, and thus they will easily be able to pay the debt that is owed by municipalities to Eskom.
Thirdly, the entire provincial intervention is used to set out the ambitions of administrators to apply for vacancies rather than resolving problems relating to the lack of services to residents of the municipalities.
Fourthly, this is clear in the case of Moqhaka Local Municipality, where a municipality illegally appointed a municipal manager who served in the municipality as a corporate director and who then got arrested for crimes relating to theft and common assault. It is the same in Nketoana Local Municipality, where the ruling party appointed a chief executive officer who has many cases against him. This incompetence happens while water leakages, sewer spillages, potholes and waste management are the breeding grounds for
diseases mostly affecting young women and the elderly, hence violating their rights to privacy and dignity.
Municipalities under the Free State are not able to reach old targets of 2004 ... upgrades of informal settlements and the 2006 eradication of the bucket system, particularly in Botshabelo’s section D and sections T, F, L and V, where there are pit latrine toilets. This is the same across the Mangaung Metro.
Seventh, the committee is still awaiting a section 106 report which should be able to provide the committee with details into who was involved in wrongdoing, how were they involved and what are the consequences. Poor environmental waste management and political instability in councils like Mangaung, Metsimaholo and Masilonyana will prompt yet another protracted and unsuccessful intervention process with no legacy programmes for the municipality to draw lessons from. Hence, communities continue to be at the receiving end of noncompliance, financial management and corruption.
Lastly, the Auditor-General, AG, emphasises that the provinces focus on empowering the new crop of political leadership that are emerging from the local government elections of 2021. She
further notes the regression of discipline around the administration of financial statements, while
23 municipalities could not submit financial statements. We reject this report.
Ms Z MAJOZI: Hon House Chairperson, accountability is one of the democratic values entrenched in the Constitution of South Africa and it is a value recognised throughout the Constitution. From the lawmaking organs of state and the executive, to the judiciary and all public functionaries, the value of accountability underscores everything that has been done, will be done and should be done, or at least that is ideally how things should be.
The report states that nearly half of the Free State’s
23 municipalities are at risk and require close monitoring and support. The other half is completely dysfunctional and requires intensive intervention.
Upon further interrogation of the report, the IFP notes with grave concern that the common denominator in most of the difficulties faced by Free State municipalities is the glaring lack of accountability and transparency. Issues such as municipalities dismissing senior officials without following
appropriate procedures; the failure to disclose performance incapacities in annual financial statements; and an overall regression in submitting financial statements should be sounding alarm bells, as these actions signal a clear shift towards a culture of impunity.
Accountability, servant leadership and responsive governance are the values that the IFP wishes to see on display, as this will indicate that municipal officials are governing with integrity. However, reading through the list of inadequate and substandard trade services, which include dysfunctional wastewater treatment plants, resulting in sewage overflows, shows that there is a high level of disregard for how the mismanagement of municipalities impacts on those living in the communities.
It is of great concern that no municipality in the province has attained a clean audit, and that municipal debt and insolvency are escalating. Not only does this signal inadequate financial management controls, but it also indicates that the previous recommendations made by this committee and the AG have not been sufficiently implemented.
Therefore, we should question the format of oversight visits and the emanating recommendations. They must be changed in a way that will ensure the inadequacies that are witnessed in municipalities are addressed and not just lamented.
Furthermore, the IFP wants to reiterate one of the observations raised by the committee in the report. Oversight structures cannot simply list the challenges facing municipalities in the province. There needs to be a concise action plan that speaks to how these issues will be addressed and ultimately solved. The IFP will accept this report. [Inaudible.] [Time expired.]
Mr I M GROENEWALD: Hon House Chair, Free State municipalities are unsustainable and at the brink, where more money won’t make a difference in the total decay of the municipality. We must stop calling it oversight and rather call it an inspection into the ANC’s legacy.
Afrikaans:
Die probleme wat geïdentifiseer was is ’n gebrek aan watervoorsiening, ’n gebrek aan elektrisiteitsvoorsiening, besoedeling van natuurlike hulpbronne, gebroke infrastruktuur, swak instandhouding, geen beplanning, geen uitvoering van besluite, geen politieke wil, en so kan ons aangaan.
English:
In short, the ANC government created challenges. Great white elephants were built to a tune of millions and can’t be used due to the fact that no maintenance is taking place. In short, white elephant stagnation.
Black economic empowerment and local government procurement, corruption and politically connected tenderpreneurs are but a few obstacles in local government creating sustainable service delivery for communities. In short, municipal plunder squads.
Mayors pith up with personal assistants that carry their briefcases and serve coffee, creating the impression that they are the most important persons in the room, and yet they should be the greatest servants to their respective communities. In short, ANC mayor arrogance.
Management vacancies are filled with acting persons. Therefore, there is no responsibility and that leads to no accountability. The ANC government in these municipalities is not serious about governance. The community poured out their frustrations with this government that does not take the time to listen to them. In short, lack of accountability.
Management and civil servants have no regard for the law and disrespects oversight, even when Parliament and its processes are there. Disrespect to democracy and disrespect towards communities. In short, cadre deployed disrespect to democracy.
The ANC has grown to be greater than the communities that support them. Money has been stolen, mismanaged and thrown to overpriced tenders to such a point that service delivery cannot take place; salaries cannot be paid on a monthly basis; third-party payments don’t get done, leading to municipal servants not being able to go on deserved pension; and the normal functioning of a municipal government has become irrelevant. In short, an ANC-run black hole government.
Therefore, let me summarise the outcome of the investigation into the legacy of the ANC. The ANC government created challenges; white elephant stagnation; municipal plunder squads; ANC mayor arrogance; lack of accountability; cadre deployed disrespect to democracy; and lastly, ANC-run black hole governments. South Africa deserves a better future through better governance. Therefore, a government without the ANC.
Mr X N MSIMANGO: Hon House Chair, right from the beginning, let us reduce that the ANC supports this report. The oversight visit to the Free State province highlights many common challenges that local government is confronted with. In many respects, it reaffirms the correctness of our decision that during the sixth term of Parliament, we need to physically visit as many distressed municipalities and metros and suggest practical proposals that will assist the situation.
If we are serious about what the Freedom Charter articulates that “the people shall govern” then we have to transform a subculture that has imbedded itself in the way municipalities function. The subculture is neither helpful, nor is it going to improve the lives of the people who need functional municipalities, to meet their basic needs.
Local government transformation is about “building a local government that provides effective basic services, with capabilities to take forward the far-reaching agenda of local economic development, whilst at the same time, placing people and their involvement at the center of this process”. This is what Parliament and the ANC caucus are trying to achieve.
The building of a capable and developmental local government can be achieved through strengthening its political and administrative interface, to work in a neutral reinforcing manner and not be atomistic, as it is the case in what we have experienced in many municipalities that we have visited on the oversight.
Ensuring effective integrated planning, project planning, coupled with project management and a co-ordinated system dealing with service delivery function is the message that we carried on our oversight visit. Again, these matter are underpinned by policy in local government. So, we are only expecting adherence to policy. Surely, it is not a difficult thing to do.
We tried to establish if the people who work with local government can achieve these goals and we got very mixed messages, which reflect challenges. Certainly, our experience is that the people of the Free State are demanding ...
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Hon member. Hon Basson, please, mute.
Mr X N MSIMANGO: We tried to establish if the people who work with local government can achieve these goals and we got very mixed messages, which reflect challenges. Certainly, our experience is that the people of the Free State are demanding accountability, together with consequence management for failure to account.
The state of local government report highlighted that municipalities continue to be engulfed in challenges of unhealthy, political and administrative interference, poor governance, financial mismanagement and lack of service delivery.
One of the key sources of political instability in municipalities are factional battles in political parties. Before the opposition wants to howl, this applies to the municipalities that are run by the opposition and their friends sitting next to them.
Whilst the rationale behind the removal of certain constitutionally assigned powers and functions from the district municipalities in the district to be visited is unacceptable, we require a written explanation. The oversight visit revealed that many district municipalities suffered from
similar challenges and that does not exclude the DA-run municipalities.
In many municipalities, poor human resource management is a dominant feature. The dismissal of senior officials without following proper procedures have led to litigations and have resulted in irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure. An extremely poor level of revenue collection by municipalities, nonpayment of municipal services by municipalities, coupled with poor enforcement of credit controls have all resulted in debt owed to municipalities.
At the center, municipalities in the Free State reflect the national scenario of a high level of debt to Eskom, Water Boards and third parties such as pension funds, the Sars, and medical schemes.
With regard to a lack of regular maintenance of infrastructure, this has led to a high level of water and electricity distribution losses. Again, the Free State reflects the national average, with a high rate of unemployment that has led to increased indigenous registers and dependence on government grants.
Notwithstanding the challenges, progress was recorded during the visit. There is progress with regard to consequence management, intensifying the removal of ghost employees, better intake of revenue, implementation of disciplinary committees, decreasing fruitless and wasteful expenditure, paying off some of the debt owed to Eskom and Water Boards, advertising vacant posts and appointing individuals, so that stability is achieved in all municipalities.
We welcome the performance agreements that have been signed, as this is an indication of attention to human resource development and accountability. We want to reduce that the ANC supports this report. Thank you.
The Deputy Chief Whip of the Majority Party moved: That the Report be adopted.
Motion agreed to (Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters and Freedom Front Plus dissenting).
Report accordingly adopted.
GUNMEN OPENS FIRE ON STREET VENDORS AND BYSTANDERS
(Draft Resolution)
Mr F JACOBS: Thank you, House Chair. The African National Congress move without notice:
That the House –
(1) notes with deep sadness the passing of seven members and the injury of four others when gunmen opened fire on street vendors and bystanders in Finetown, south of Johannesburg, on Saturday, 28 October 2022;
(2) believes that the four suspects tried to rob these street vendors and after resistance from the vendors they shot them, randomly killing seven people and injuring four others in the process;
(3) understands that three men and a woman died at the scene, two women died on arrival at hospital and a seventh person also died in hospital the following day;
(4) calls on the SA Police Service, SAPS, to leave no stone unturned in their investigation and to bring the perpetrators of this terrible act to book; and
(5) conveys its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and wishes the injured a speedy recovery.
Thank you.
Agreed to
PINELANDS NORTH PRIMARY SCHOOL IDENTIFIED AS A LEADING INSTITUTION
(Draft Resolution)
Ms A M VAN ZYL: Thank you, House Chair. I hereby move on behalf of the Democratic Alliance:
That the House –
(1) notes that Pinelands North Primary School right here in Cape Town, identified as a leading institution in
fostering an inclusive culture and school community, was one of the top three finalists in a competition to name the World’s Best School in Overcoming Adversity;
(2) further notes that the school secured its place in the final from 300 000 other schools also competing in the same category by embracing innovation and fostering an environment that allowed learners to flourish no matter the challenges they faced;
(3) acknowledges that oversight to the school revealed a high degree of parent involvement, a positive disciplinary approach – which instil good values - a functioning school governing bodies, excellent leadership from the principals and teachers and a supportive provincial Department of Education, which created an environment that encouraged quality teaching;
(4) recognises that the learners and educators managed to create an excellent learning environment despite the socioeconomic and physical challenges the community faces, and that the learners’ unique needs
and potential caught the attention of the judges; and
(5) congratulates the educators, learners, staff and school governing body of Pinelands North Primary School on this major achievement and wishes them success for the future.
Agreed to.
COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA MARKS A LANDMARK
(Draft Resolution)
Mr N S MATIASE: Thank you, hon House Chair. I rise on behalf of the Economic Freedom Fighters to move without notice:
That the House –
(1) notes the recently concluded 20th Congress of the Communist Party of China, which marked a landmark in the development of China through socialism with Chinese characteristics;
(2) further notes that the Communist Party of China has provided the most resilient alternative for development to the rest of the world, proving that societies can and are able to develop outside of the prescribed neoliberal prescriptions of the global west;
(3) acknowledges that the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China remarked at the beginning of the congress that, I quote: “our experience has taught us that at the fundamental level, we owe the success of our party and socialism with Chinese characteristics to the fact that Marxism works, particularly when it is adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of our time;”
(4) further acknowledges that China has been able to eliminate poverty, eliminate illiteracy, and is able to provide self-perpetuating development for that country precisely because of the system they have adopted for development, from which the rest of the developing world can learn; and
(5) congratulates the Communist Party of China and its General Secretary Xi Jinping for a successful completion of their 20th Congress, and wishes the people of the Republic of China success over the coming years.
Agreed to.
MS NERINA RANGASAMY WINS THE NATIONAL KADER ASMAL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
(Draft Resolution)
Ms B P MBINQO-GIGABA: Thank you, House Chair. The African National Congress moves without notice:
That the House –
(1) notes that Ms Nerina Rangasamy, 53 years old from Umzinto, is the winner of the national Kader Asmal Lifetime Achievement Award for teaching excellence;
(2) further notes that the St Patrick’s Primary School teacher trained at the now defunct Springfield
Teachers’ Training College, where she obtained a senior primary teaching diploma cum laude and also holds a Bachelor of Education, BEd, honours degree cum laude from University of South Africa, Unisa;
(3) understands that she and other recipients in 13 categories received their awards from KwaZulu-Natal Education member of the executive council, MEC, Ms Mbali Frazer on 15 October 2022;
(4) further understands her colleague, Ms Nzuki Duma, clinched the award for excellence in Grade R teaching; and
(5) congratulates Ms Rangasamy and her colleague on their much deserved awards and thanks them for their dedication and commitment to nurturing the minds of school learners.
Thank you, hon House Chair.
Agreed to.
KING MISUZULU APPOINTED AS KING OF THE ZULU NATION
(Draft Resolution)
Mr N SINGH: Thank you, House Chairperson. On behalf of the Inkatha Freedom Party I move without notice:
That this House –
(1) notes that on 29 October 2022, the President of the Republic of South Africa handed over a certificate of appointment to His Majesty King Misuzulu Sinqobile kaZwelithini at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, appointing him as King of the Zulu Nation;
(2) congratulates His Majesty the King on a successful handing over ceremony and thanks him for his words of wisdom on the occasion as he begins his reign;
(3) wishes His Majesty strength and courage as he leads his people in the pursuit of social and economic justice, development, unity and peace;
(4) further acknowledges the role of the traditional Prime Minister to the Zulu Monarch and Nation His Excellency uMntwana wakwa Phindangene who received the highest honour of a gift of a lion skin bestowed
upon him by the Majesty, the King himself in honour of his defence of the Monarchy;
(5) further acknowledges His Majesty’s committee, the Presidency, the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal and the Inter-Ministerial Task Team for working together to ensure a successful handing over ceremony; and
(6) further notes that this ceremony, following the traditional coronation ceremony of Ukungena Esibayeni on 20 August 2022, has incontestably installed the ninth King of the Zulu Nation.
IsiZulu:
Wena weNdlovu! Wena weNdlovu! Bayede!
Ngiyabonga.
AFRIKAANS ACTRESS MS FRANCI SWANEPOEL PASSES
(Draft Resolution)
Ms H DENNER: Thank you, House Chair. I hereby move
That the House –
(1) notes with sadness the passing of the well-known and beloved Afrikaans actress Ms Franci Swanepoel, at the age of 50, in October of this year;
(2) acknowledges that Ms Swanepoel was a prolific television, TV, presenter, news reader, producer, director and actor who matriculated from Linden High School in Johannesburg and graduated with a drama degree from the University of Stellenbosch;
(3) further notes that she played well-known roles in several television shows and movies, such as Binnelanders, Getroud met Rugby, Lien se lankstaanskoene, Die vierde kabinet, Spoorloos, Sterlopers and Stroomop and thus became a household name in Afrikaans homes across the country; and
(4) conveys its deepest condolences to her family and other loved ones, and wishes that she be remembered for her remarkable contribution to the South African entertainment industry.
Agreed to.
FATHER ALBERT NOLAN DIES
(Draft Resolution)
Ms M L DUNJWA: The African National Congress moves without notice:
That the House –
(1) notes that well-known South African Catholic priest, antiapartheid activist and internationally renowned theologian and author, Father Albert Nolan, passed on 17 October 2022, at the age of 88;
(2) acknowledges that he was awarded the Order of Luthuli in Silver by then President Thabo Mbeki in 2003, for his life-long dedication to the struggle for democracy, human rights and justice and for challenging religious heresy of theologically justifying the crime of apartheid;
(3) further acknowledges that his dedication to the antiapartheid struggle saw him decline the prestigious role of Master of the Dominican Order to which he was elected in 1983, as it would have meant him being transferred to the Order’s Rome headquarters and he wanted to rather remain in South Africa;
(4) remembers that as a priest, activist, author, and renowned theologian, Father Nolan offered a forceful yet gentle message of hope, particularly hope in the building of a nonracial, nonsexist, peaceful and environmentally sustainable South Africa and the world; and
(5) extends its condolences to the family and friends of Father Nolan and to the Catholic Church.
Agreed to.
GRAHAM POWER PASSES
(Draft Resolution)
Mr S N SWART: Thank you, hon House Chair. The ACDP moves without notice:
That the House –
(1) notes that Power Group founder Graham Power, who was known for bringing together people of different races to pray for Africa, for choosing ethical leadership and for fighting corruption, sadly passed away on 14 October this year;
(2) further notes that Power was one of South Africa’s most recognised business leaders, having won various awards and accolades over the years;
(3) recognises that he was voted businessman of the year numerous times and received civic honours from the mayor of Cape Town in recognition of his contribution to the transformation of society;
(4) recalls that in 2001, Power initiated a stadium gathering in Cape Town, which saw 45 000 Christians praying for the needs of the country, and that by 2010, that movement grew to become the largest
prayer gathering in recorded history, with about
350 million people from 220 countries participating in the Global Day of Prayer on Pentecost Sunday;
(5) further recalls that in 2006, he launched an Unashamedly Ethical, a global anticorruption movement which is 944 countries and which also has a youth arm;
(6) further notes that last year he found Heal our Nation, Heal our Land an initiatives focusing on the development of sustainable solutions, following the unrest and looting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in 2021; and
(7) conveys its deepest condolences to his wife, Lauren, children Gary, Ilene, Nadene, Stephen and Alaine, and grandchildren and siblings, on the passing of Graham Power, who has left such a lasting legacy not only in South Africa, but across the world.
I thank you, House Chairperson.
Agreed to
CONGRATULATIONS TO SADIO MANÉ
(Draft Resolution)
Mr N L S KWANKWA: Hon House Chairperson, the UDM moves without notice:
That the House—
(1) congratulate Sadio Mané for winning the Socrates Award for the extraordinary social commitment at an award ceremony in Paris;
(2) notes that Mané is an exceptional Senegalese professional footballer who plays for Bayern Munich in Germany and Senegal National Team;
(3) further congratulates Mané for being the first recipient of the new trophy, which honours footballers who campaign for integration, climate protection, disadvantaged people and those threatened by conflict;
(4) acknowledges that Mané is the reigning African Footballer of the Year for 2022, after his team Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations;
(5) further acknowledges that Mané is not just the best footballer, but also makes an impact far beyond the pitch;
(6) recognises that he has built a public hospital and funded schools and families in his home village of Bambali in recent years, and also donated to the Senegalese National Committee to help fight the covid pandemic;
(7) encourages footballers all over the world and in particular in Africa to follow on Mané’s footsteps by contributing positively to social change through projects aimed at building a better world for all;
(8) and wishes Sadio Mané well in his football career, his humanitarian projects and future endeavours.
I so move.
TRAGIC PASSING OF MR ALESANDRO HEYNES
(Draft Resolution)
Ms A L A ABRAHAMS: Hon House Chairperson, I hereby move on behalf of the DA without notice:
That the House–
(1) notes with sadness the tragic passing of the 23-year- old Leap Officer, from Bishop Levis, in Elsies River, Mr Alessandro Heynes, on 1 October 2022;
(2) further notes that Mr Heynes was off duty when he was killed, fighting against the very criminals that he dedicated himself to protecting communities against;
(3) acknowledges that Mr Heynes served with pride and dedication as a Laboratory for the Economics of Africa’s Past, Leap, Officer for the City of Cape Town since his appointment in 2017, and that he was also a talented trumpet player with a bright and promising future ahead of him;
(4) recognises the immense contribution Mr Heynes made in serving his community and the residents of Cape Town by making it a safer place for all;
(5) conveys its heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Mr Heynes, and may his soul rest in eternal peace.
I so move.
BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT LULA DA SILVA ELECTED BACK INTO OFFICE
(Draft Resolution)
Mr M N PAULSEN: Hon House Chairperson, I move on behalf of the EFF without notice:
That the House—
(1) notes the recently concluded historically elections in Brazil which saw President Lula da Silva getting re- elected back into office in that country;
(2) further notes that President da Silva was the President of Brazil between 2003 and 2010, and during that period, he oversaw massive social and economic developments in Brazil, underpinned by a comprehensive social protection system called Bolsa Familia, which led to the reduction of abject poverty and social inequalities which had become synonymous with that country for generations;
(3) acknowledges that in his first stint as president, President Lula promoted and actively partook in the promotion of South to South global co-operation and relationship building with countries of the South;
(4) further acknowledges that it was his progressive domestic and international politics that led to his persecution and eventual arrest, because it is the very nature of imperial forces to punish those who disturb their global dominance;
(5) acknowledges that it is President Lula’s progressive politics that make him a beacon of hope for millions in the global South who are still strangled by poverty and underdevelopment, and his re-election inspires hope
that with the right kind of leadership, we too can be able to overcome our challenges;
(6) congratulates President Lula and the people of Brazil, and encourage them never to waver in their commitment to social and economic justice.
I so move.
APPOINTMENT OF MR MOSOTHO MOEPYA
(Draft Resolution)
Mr B M HADEBE: Hon House Chairperson, the ANC moves without notice:
That the House—
(1) notes that after six months the Independent Electoral Commission, IEC, without the chairperson, President Cyril Ramaphosa filled the vacancy by appointing Mr Mosotho Moepya on 14 October 2022;
(2) further notes that before Mr Moepya was elected to the commission, he started working at the IEC in 1998, holding various positions, including director for electoral logistics, senior manager for electoral logistics, planning and infrastructure, deputy chief electoral officer and chief electoral officer;
(3) acknowledges that he holds a Masters of Business Administration, MBA, degree and other degrees;
(4) further acknowledges that Mr Moepya has extensive knowledge and experience of the powers and functions of the electoral commission;
(5) offers its well wishes to him and believes that he will rise to the challenges of his new post.
I so move.
PASSING ON OF MS CHERYL ROBERTS
(Draft Resolution)
Ms R C ADAMS: Hon House Chairperson, the ANC moves without notice:
That the House—
(1) notes with deep sadness the passing on of former South African Olympian, table tennis star and progressive, fierce women’s sports activist, Ms Cheryl Roberts, who passed on after a battle with cancer at the Netcare Parklands Hospital, in Durban on Friday, 7 October 2022, at the aged of 62;
(2) further notes that she first made a name for herself when she represented South Africa in the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona as part of the table tennis team;
(3) understands that she established her own publishing agency and produced various publications of the champions of anti-apartheid sport, and promoting black women, their work, agency and highlighting their struggles;
(4) acknowledges that she spoke out at the lack of transformation in sport, the marginalisation of women and girls in sport, and the corruption in sports management, development and sponsorship;
(5) extends its sincere condolences to the Roberts family, along with everyone she impacted on during her lifetime.
I so move.
DR NEHEMIAH LATOLLA REPRESENT SOUTH AFRICA AT THE INTERNATIONAL FAMELAB 2022
(Draft Resolution)
Ms J S MANANISO: Hon House Chairperson, the ANC moves without notice:
That the House—
(1) notes that a postgraduate researcher at Nelson Mandela University, Dr Nehemiah Latolla, will represent South
Africa online at the International FameLab 2022, science communication competition on 25 November 2022;
(2) further notes that this follows Dr Latolla’s discovery of safe ways to treat diabetes based on indigenous knowledge of medicinal plant remedies which earned him top spot in the South African leg of the International FameLab, science communication competition on Monday,
17 October 2022;
(3) recalls that he captured the attention of the judges when he told them about his passion for tapping into South Africa’s wealth of indigenous knowledge, including natural remedies to treat diabetes;
(4) acknowledges that his research in phytochemistry, the branch of chemistry concerned with plants and plant products – is focused on evaluating the safety and efficacy of natural products to treat this metabolic disorder;
(5) congratulates Dr Latolla on winning the South African leg of the FameLab competition.
I so move.
PASSING OF BROADCASTER MR ROBERT JEREMY CLAYTON MANSFIELD
(Draft Resolution)
Ms D KOHLER: Hon House Chairperson, I hereby move on behalf of the DA without notice:
That the House—
(1) notes with sadness the tragic passing of the veteran broadcaster Mr Robert Jeremy Clayton Mansfield at the age of 59, on Monday, 31 October 2022, due to complications related to liver cancer;
(2) further notes that Mr Jeremy Mansfield is best remembered as a larger-than-life personality, who presented and anchored a variety of shows on radio and television, from his first show on Capital FM in 1985, to his regular shows on Radio 702 and Highway Stereo, SuperSport, and his successful Mansfield in the Morning Show on Heart FM since 2018;
(3) acknowledges that Mr Mansfield won at least eleven annual awards during his lifetime, including the AA Vita Award for the Most Promising Young South African Actor in 1990, and various awards more recently for Best Breakfast Show, Best Content Production and Best Breakfast Show Presenter;
(4) recalls that Mr Mansfield also had an enormous passion for charity work, that he worked with the Hear for Life Trust and served as the patron alongside Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu of the Sunflower Fund, and that former President Nelson Mandela personally thanked Mr Mansfield on at least one occasion for raising over R12 million for charity;
(5) recognises that Mr Mansfield was a shining South African, and that he shall be much missed;
(6) conveys its heartfelt condolences to Mr Mansfield’s wife, Jacqui, and daughter, Gabriella, his friends, relatives and colleagues, and may his soul rest in eternal peace.
I so move.
PASSING ON OF MR IGSHAAN BERHARDIEN
(Draft Resolution)
Mr M G E HENDRICKS: Hon House Chairperson, Al jama-ah Party move without notice:
That the House—
(1) notes the sudden death of Mr Igshaan Behardien, Chairperson of the Majlishush Shura Al-Islami, the first Muslim parliament for Muslims in the Western Cape since 1960;
(2) further notes that he was a teacher and a principal of Vista High School in the Bo-Kaap the Malay Quarter;
(3) acknowledges that he is the author of three books on The life of Sheikh Shakier Gamieldien, who was a prominent South African Islamic scholar and co-author of Tawhid, the oneness of Allah;
(4) understands that Sheikh Shakier work was largely in Afrikaans;
(5) further acknowledges that Mr Igshaan Behardien obtained his doctorate he obtained his doctorate in education in 2013 at the age of 63;
(6) sends condolences to the Behardien family and Majlishush Shura Al-Islami.
I so move.
GRUESOME KILLING OF Mr LIZO VAKALA
(Draft Resolution)
Mr M NONTSELE: The ANC moves without notice
That the House –
(1) notes with sadness the passing of the Vice-chair of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union, Nehawu in the Eastern Cape, Mr Lizo Vakala, whose badly burnt body was found on Tuesday, 25 October 2022, in dense bushes close to the R334 and R335 in Motherwell, Gqeberha;
(2) understands that Mr Vakala left his home on Saturday, 22 October 2022 to take his car in for repairs in Kwazakhele and never returned home, after which his family reported him missing on Sunday, 23 October 2022;
(3) notes that his vehicle was found abandoned in Wells Estate the following Monday morning;
(4) remembers Mr Vakala as a loyal and forthright cadre of the movement who served the African National Congress (ANC) with integrity and never wavered in his fight for social justice;
(5) commends the police for the swift arrest of a suspect who will appear in court soon; and
(6) conveys its deepest condolences to the family of Mr Lizo Vakala and his fellow comrades in ANC and Nehawu.
Agreed to.
NOTICES OF MOTION
Ms A GELA: I hereby move on behalf of the ANC that in its next sitting:
That this House debates including the management and training of community health workers to improve preventative care in communities.
I so move.
Ms N I TARABELLA MARCHESI: I hereby move on behalf of the DA that in its next sitting:
That this House debates the true state of the National Skills Fund and steps that need to be taken to ensure that millions of South Africans who need skilling and are unemployed are assisted through the fund.
I so move.
Mr K CEZA: I hereby move on behalf of the EFF that in its next sitting:
That this House debates community participation in the conceptualizations selection planning, implementation and
design and maintenance of projects in municipalities taking into account the community’s interest in choosing the level of service for which they are willing to pay.
I so move.
Mr S W MDABE: I hereby move on behalf of the ANC that in its next sitting:
That this House debates capacitating entrants into the labour force with soft skills to improve interpersonal communication since production will is likely to be increasingly and more efficiently managed by automation.
I so move.
Ms Z MAJOZI: I hereby move on behalf of the IFP that in its next sitting:
That this House debates the effects of the harmful illicit mining activities and illegal miners wreaking havoc in communities around the country.
I so move.
Ms H DENNER: I hereby move on behalf of the FF Plus that in its next sitting:
That this House debates the dilapidating effect that large scale strikes have on service delivery in the economy of South Africa and how ANC policy contributes thereto.
I so move.
Ms S R VAN SCHALKWYK: I hereby move on behalf of the ANC that in its next sitting:
That this House debates dealing with all infrastructure delivery and maintenance backlogs swiftly and urgently.
I so move.
Mr W M THRING: I hereby move on behalf of the ACDP that in its next sitting:
That this House debates in its next sitting the structural changes that are necessary to grow the South African economy and reduce unemployment.
I so move.
Ms H ISMAIL: I hereby move on behalf of the DA that in its next sitting:
That this House debates the negative impact that ongoing load shedding, numerous vacancies and infrastructure decay have on the healthcare sector and healthcare workers, and solutions to address these to ensure that healthcare as envisioned in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, is rendered in the Republic.
I so move.
Ms L H ARRIES: I hereby move on behalf of the EFF that in its next sitting:
That this House debates the failure of SRD Grant administration, fraud in the system, poor payment system of this grant, the continuous decline status of this grant.
I so move.
Mr P M P MODISE: I hereby move on behalf of the ANC that in its next sitting:
That this House debates the implementation and monitoring of South Africa’s national climate change obligations.
I so move.
Ms M M E THLAPE: I hereby move on behalf of the ANC that in its next sitting:
That this House debates the critical role that manufacturing and agro-processing are playing in reviving the economy and placing it on an upward trajectory.
I so move.
Ms J S MANANISO: I hereby move on behalf of the ANC that in its next sitting:
That this House debates eradicating the national myth that promotes university education as the first and best choice rather than exploring the advantages of vocational and technical training.
I so move.
Ms T M MBABAMA: I hereby move on behalf of the DA that in its next sitting:
That this House debates the urgent need to ensure that millions of hectares of rural land still registered and owned by apartheid-era nomenclature, such as the erstwhile Minister of Native Affairs, Dr H F Verwoerd, the Transkei Government and the South African Bantu Trust, are deregistered and transferred to beneficiaries to provide them with secure property rights.
I so move.
Mr M G E HENDRICKS: I hereby move on behalf of the Al Jama-ah that in its next sitting:
That this House debates whether it is appropriate for the media to ascribe terror alerts to a religion including Islam as such reports are causing harm to not only a section of religious communities in South Africa but affecting and undermining the nation who live in harmony
with one another further where the media houses that do this should face sanctions.
I so move.
Mr F JACOBS: I hereby move on behalf of the ANC that in its next sitting:
That this House debates strengthening procurement processes in government and supply chain in the private sector so that township village based informal sectors may also benefit from it.
I so move.
The House adjourned at 18:14.
Audio
No related