Hansard: NCOP: Unrevised hansard

House: National Council of Provinces

Date of Meeting: 26 Sep 2023

Summary

No summary available.

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Minutes

UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
TUESDAY, 26 SEPTEMBER 2023
PROCEEDINGS OF VIRTUAL (OR HYBRID) NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
Watch here: Plenary 

 

 

The Council met at 10:06

 

 

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

 

HYBRID SITTING RULES

 

(Announcements)

 

 

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: I would like to remind delegates of the rules relating to virtual and hybrid meetings and sittings in particularly passage 21, 22 and 23 of Rule 103, which provide as follows:

 

 

The virtual sitting constitutes a sitting of the National Council of Provinces. Delegates in the sitting enjoy the same powers and privileges that apply in a sitting of the National

Council of Provinces. For purposes of the quorum, all delegates who are logged into the virtual platform shall be considered present. Apologies, I'm using two the two gadgets today.

 

 

Delegates must switch on their videos if they want to speak, and they should ensure that the microphones on the gadgets are muted and must always remain muted. All delegates may participate in the discussion through the chat room. In addition, I would like to remind delegates that the interpretation facilities should be active and permanent delegates, members of the executive, special delegates and Salga representatives on the virtual platform and now we are all on the virtual platform today, are requested to ensure that the interpretation facility on the electronic devices are properly activated to facilitate access to the interpretation services.

 

 

Delegates, I will now allow an opportunity for delegates to give notices of motion. And the notices of motion and the motions will be for 20 minutes in total, but they usually allow more, as you know. So, those that want to can raise their hands. I just want to open my gadget for the area where participants can raise their hands. You may raise your hands

and we will start immediately with notices of motion. Hon Rayi?

 

Mr M I RAYI: I hereby move on behalf of the ANC that in its next sitting:

 

 

(1) That the House debates redoubling their efforts aimed at transforming the workplace to ensure equitable employment of people living with disabilities.

 

Mr K M MMOEIMANG: I hereby move on behalf of the ANC that in its next sitting:

 

 

(1) That the House debates the proliferation of cases of extortion in many parts of the country;

 

 

(2) notes that small businesses and large industries from spaza shops to large retailers such as fast food and petrol stations mining and construction companies in many parts of the country are being targeted by unscrupulous extorsion rockets who demand protection fee from legitimate businesses;

(3) and acknowledges that South Africa seriously risked descending into a mafia state with the formal sector squeezed out by criminals which stretches deeply into the law enforcement structures to systematically extract money from businesses.

 

MATJHABENG MUNICIPALITY OWES SERVICE PROVIDERS MILLIONS OF RANDS

 

 

(Draft Resolution)

 

 

Mr G MICHALAKIS: Hon House Chair, I move without notice on behalf of the DA:

 

That the House-

 

 

(1) notes that the Sheriff of Welkom recently attached 24 vehicles from Matjhabeng Municipality’s yellow fleet to the value of R41 million, as well as other vehicles;

 

 

(2) notes that the municipality owes service providers almost R270 million, over and above its R5 billion debt to the Water Board;

(3) further notes that the municipality recently acquired ten second-hand trucks for R32 million in breach of government rules;

 

(4) notes that it was also alleged that the money owed to some service providers are for contracts awarded contrary to the requirements of municipal legislation;

 

 

(5) notes that the above points to large scale financial mismanagement that is crippling the municipality, with residents and businesses suffering the consequences;

 

 

(6) calls on President Ramaphosa to urgently proclaim an Special Investigating Unit, SIU investigation into the finances of the municipality;

 

(7) and calls on the provincial executive to immediately intervene in terms of section 139(5) of the Constitution by taking over the finances of the municipality through a competent and qualified individual who can oversee the financial turnaround of the municipality in the interest of its residents.

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

 

H7N6 AVIAN INFLUENZA OUTBREAK

 

 

 

(Draft Resolution)

 

 

 

Mr W A S AUCAMP: Hon Deputy Chairperson, I move without notice:

 

 

That the Council-

 

 

 

(1) notes with concern the extreme damage, as well as future negative consequences, caused by the outbreak in various provinces of South Africa of the H7N6 variant of Avian Influenza, more commonly known as “Bird Flu”, in various provinces of South Africa;

 

(2) further notes that this H7N6 variant is extremely aggressive and that the tempo of the spreading thereof is thus extremely fast and due to this outbreak, up to

10 million breeder chickens have already succumbed to this H7N6 variant since July this year;

(3) notes the figure that is made up of 1,74 million Broiler Breeders amounting to 23% of the total industry figure,

200 000 Layer Breeders amounting to 66% and 7,9 Million Commercial Layers which amounts to 32% of a total of industry amount;

 

 

(4) further notes the devastating effect that this outbreak has on food and employment security in our country;

 

 

(5) notes that according to veterinarian specialists, the only way that the effects of this virus can be overcome is by the immediate provision of a vaccine against this variant;

 

 

(6) notes that although a vaccine for this variant does exist, it is not currently registered and approved for use in South Africa; and

 

(7) requests the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development to instruct that the approval for the use of the required H7N6 vaccine as well as approval for the import thereof are done as a matter of urgency.

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

 

COLLAPSE OF TRANSNET

 

 

 

(Draft Resolution)

 

 

Mr M NHANHA: Deputy Chairperson, I move without notice:

 

 

 

That the Council-

 

 

(1) notes with alarm a report by the Daily Investor about the collapse of Transnet;

 

(2) remembers that 68% of the country’s GDP, that translates to R3,1 trillion in value, relies on Transnet’s ability to provide the means to transport goods;

 

 

(3) recalls that the collapsing of Transnet has increasingly resulted in companies not being able to import or export their goods;

(4) acknowledges that the alarming report revealed that a study by the GAIN Group estimates that the collapse of Transnet is set to cost South Africa R1 billion per day in economic output;

 

 

(5) calls on the Department of Transport and the Department of Public Enterprises to appear before the Council as a matter of urgency to account for the collapse of Transnet and to intervene to avert this looming catastrophe.

 

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

 

16-YEAR-OLD KHAZIMLA ADAM

 

 

 

(Draft Resolution)

 

 

 

Ms N NDONGENI: Deputy Chairperson, I move without notice:

 

 

That the Council-

(1) notes that a 16-year-old Khazimla Adam’s passion to uplift all the Nelson Mandela Bay metro’s residents, particularly in some of its most destitute suburbs, has seen her claim the title of The Herald Citizens of The Year Award winner in the Civil Society category;

 

 

(2) further notes that she has been leading from the front as Junior City Council Mayor and was recently elected National Youth Parliament Speaker;

 

(3) understands that her community service started when she was seven years old, and her mother would take her along with her older brothers to Volkswagen SA’s Show of Hands events doing various acts of charity in the Bay;

 

 

(4) further understands that the grade 11 pupil and an aspiring law graduate encouraged her peers to never delay chasing their dreams simply because of their age;

 

 

(5) extends our warmest congratulations to her and wish her well in her future endeavours.

 

 

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

E. COLI IN SABIE

 

 

 

(Draft Resolution)

 

 

Ms H S BOSHOFF: Deputy Chair, I move without notice:

 

 

 

That the Council-

 

 

(1) notes that according to a report from an independent test done in collaboration with the Sabie Chamber of Commerce and Tourism and other stakeholders, e-coli has been detected in the drinking water of Sabie;

 

 

(2) further notes that according to the US National Centre for Biotechnology Information, e. coli can cause urinary tract infection, abdominal and pelvic infection, pneumonia, bacteremia and meningitis, among others;

 

 

(3) acknowledges that the Sabie Chamber of Commerce and Tourism has accused the Sabie Municipality of turning a blind eye to the matter by failing to find a long-term solution to the illegal mining and sewer leakages that are suspected to be the major causes of the contamination of Sabie’s fresh water;

(4) recalls that the Sabie sewage plant remains non- functioning and there is little to no water purification or treatment being d being done anywhere in the area; and

 

(5) calls upon the Thaba Chweu Municipality to upgrade and repair the entire sewage system and attend to any reported sewer leaks immediately as residents of Sabie should not be faced with human rights violation issues like as sewer leakages.

 

 

Thank you, Chair.

 

 

 

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

 

OUTBREAK OF CHOLERA IN TSHWANE

 

 

 

(Draft Resolution)

 

 

 

Ms A D MALEKA: Deputy Chairperson, I move without notice:

 

 

 

That the Council-

(1) notes that President Cyril Ramaphosa has asked the Special Investigating Unit to probe the Rooiwaal Water Treatment Plant in Tshwane;

 

(2) further notes that the National Council of Provinces Gauteng Permanent Delegates visited the Rooiwaal Water Treatment Plant, which was later visited by President Ramaphosa and other senior government officials after the outbreak of cholera that left more than 30 people dead in Tshwane; and

 

 

(3) takes this opportunity to welcome the probe and reiterate its call for stern action against the contractor and any other government official, including officials from the City of Tshwane to face the full might of the law for their unscrupulous and criminal deeds.

 

 

Thank you.

 

 

 

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

 

CONGRADULATIONS TO PREMIER ALAN WINDE

(Draft Resolution)

 

 

 

Mr F J BADENHOST: Deputy Chairperson, I move without notice:

 

 

That the Council-

 

 

 

(1) notes that the DA has reselected Premier Alan Winde as its candidate for Premier of the Western Cape for the 2024 National and Provincial General Elections;

 

(2) acknowledges that under the leadership of Premier Winde, the Western Cape has achieved a record of outstanding performance in many areas of service delivery, as set out in Premier Winde’s 2019 election manifesto;

 

 

(3) recalls that the Western Cape government has been recognised on several occasions by the Auditor-General and others for clean and effective governance as he managed to decreased the unemployment rate in the province with 14% over the last few years, which is 6% lower than the national rate; has addressed community, safety and efficiently implemented the LAED offices

and has embraced enabling steps in minimising impact of loadshedding on residences and businesses;

 

(4) remembers that the Western Cape government has also established the world class Disaster Management Centre enabling municipalities and other role players to respond efficiently and timeously the disaster as seen over the last weekend; has also distinguished the province health services as rated above the rest of provinces during the COVID-19 pandemic and has also built a number of schools in the 60 days for various for the ever growing demand for education in the province;

 

 

(5) congratulates Premier Winde on his reselection as the DA’s candidate for Premier of the Western Cape, and wishes him well for his continued commitment to serving the people of the Western Cape and in the run- up to the 2004 Election.

 

 

Thank you, Deputy Chair.

 

 

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): Can I just

 

correct you, 2024 and not 2004 for the record. Is there any

objection to the motion? [Interjections.] There has been an objection. The motion may not be proceeded with and will become a notice of a motion.

 

29TH NATIONAL HERITAGE DAY IN THE POST-APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA

 

 

 

(Draft Resolution)

 

 

Ms N E NKOSI: Hon Deputy Chairperson, I move without notice:

 

 

 

That the Council-

 

 

 

(1) notes the successful 29th National Heritage Day in the post-apartheid South Africa with a sense of appreciation;

 

(2) joins millions of South Africans, united in diversity, who went out of their way to observe this single most important day in the calendar of our history by demonstrating the strength of diversity in breaking the ranks with the past and shaping the better collective future that belongs to all of us as a single nation;

(3) reaffirms our collective commitment as the elected representatives of the people to defend the collective heritage of dialogue as a means of resolving disputes and strengthening the role of Parliament as a voice of the people for a better future;

 

 

(4) further acknowledges the persistent levels of poverty, unemployment, hunger and inequality as the barriers towards the building of a truly national identity; and

 

(5) reaffirms our collective commitment towards the values of selfless service to our people towards the eradication of these socioeconomic ills.

 

 

Thank you.

 

 

 

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

 

FIRE OUTBREAKS IN NORTH WEST, FREE STATE, LIMPOPO AND NORTHERN CAPE

 

 

(Draft Resolution)

Ms C VISSER: Deputy Chair, I hereby move without notice on behalf of the DA:

 

That the Council –

 

 

 

(1) notes with concern the ongoing fire outbreaks powered by high winds in the North West, Free State, Limpopo and Northern Cape provinces;

 

(2) recognises that the spreading of the disastrous circumstances across parts of the country as a result of the ongoing fire outbreaks creates hazardous and life-threatening circumstances, and hampers affected communities’ capacity to cope with their resources;

 

 

(3) further notes that the magnitude of these fires affects vulnerable communities, rural human lives, livestock, wildlife, livelihoods, food security and infrastructure;

 

 

(4) notes the importance of regulating the formation of fire protection associations to capacitate them to assist with disaster responses;

(5) acknowledges that the government is empowered to assist the affected communities in terms of the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, Act 57 of 2002;

 

(6) urges government to step in and assist all those who lost their entire existences in the destructive fires; and

 

 

(7) calls on the government to ensure that the disaster response and relief aid assistance is executed without corrupt interference.

 

 

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

 

MATJHABENG MUNICIPALITY IN DEBT

 

 

 

(Draft Resolution)

 

 

 

Ms N TAFENI: Thank you, Deputy Chair, I hereby move without notice on behalf of the EFF:

 

 

That the Council –

(1) notes, that Matjhabeng Municipality, in Lejweleputswa region in the Free State province is in a crisis of municipal debt;

 

(2) further notes that the municipality currently owes over R200 million to 15 companies for services rendered;

 

(3) acknowledges that about 42 state vehicles were attached by the courts and this included municipal waste removals trucks and a fleet of newly bought municipal bakkies;

 

 

(4) further acknowledges that on Friday, 22 September 2023, a court plea to block the sheriff from confiscating municipal assets was dismissed by the Bloemfontein Magistrate Court, thereby allowing the 15 companies owed by the municipality to proceed with the seizure of municipal assets;

 

(5) recognises that municipalities play an important role in shaping the nature and quality of services rendered to our people, and that the growth of public debt therefore has a negative impact on service delivery;

(6) further recognises that public services play a critical role in advancing human rights, fighting poverty and addressing inequality and that Matjhabeng’s financial problems will worsen the level of service delivery rendered by the municipality and prevent it from functioning; and

 

 

(7) notes the Economic Freedom Fighters call for all municipalities to effectively manage their finances as debt can result in a violation of fundamental rights.

 

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

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Who said what?

 

 

Ms K S MMOIEMANG: It looks like it’s a notice of a motion.

 

 

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S C Lucas): Okay,

whatever. So, if it is a notice of motion and I think the one that read the motion can decide that. You can submit it to the Table to be dealt with in the next sitting, but if it is just a motion without notice, I think if there is no objection, the

motion can be agreed to in terms of section 65 of the Constitution.

 

CONGRATULATIONS TO MR SOLLY MSIMANGA

 

 

 

(Draft Resolution)

 

 

 

Mr D R RYDER: Thank you very much, Deputy Chair, I hereby move without notice on behalf of the Democratic Alliance:

 

That this Council-

 

 

 

(1) notes that the Democratic Alliance has selected Mr Solly Msimanga, MPL, as its candidate for Premier of Gauteng for the 2024 National and Provincial General Election;

 

(2) remembers that Mr Msimanga is a seasoned politician, and has served as the Mayor of the City of Tshwane and as the Leader of the Opposition in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature for several years;

(3) recalls that the Democratic Alliance has proposed a Moonshot Pact, which has led to the establishment of the Multi-Party Charter for South Africa;

 

(4) acknowledges that the Multi-Party Charter find itself in an excellent position to take control of the Gauteng government and begin the hard work of returning the province to a functioning state under the rule of law; and

 

 

(5) wishes Mr Msimanga all the best for the campaign in the runup to the 2024 Election and beyond with a difficult task that lies before him.

 

 

I so move.

 

 

THE LATE AMBASSADOR ZEPH MAKGETLA

 

 

 

(Draft Resolution)

 

 

 

Mr M DANGOR: Thank you, Deputy Chairperson, I hereby move on behalf of the ANC without notice:

 

 

That the Council –

(1) notes with sadness the untimely passing of Ambassador Zeph Makgetla, on Tuesday, 5 September 2023;

 

(2) also notes that Ambassador Makgetla spent almost 27 years in exile, where he perfected his skills as a MK soldier and military engineer;

 

 

(3) recalls that he also served as ambassador to Greece and Sweden respectively and dedicated most of his life to the struggle for a free and democratic South Africa;

 

(4) further recalls that between 1964 and 1975 he worked in a variety of political, diplomatic and military positions for the ANC, mainly stationed in Tanzania,

Zambia and the then Soviet Union; and

 

 

 

(5) conveys our deepest condolences to the family of the MK soldier Comrade Zeph.

 

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

 

CONGRATULATIONS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

(Draft Resolution)

 

 

 

Ms B M BARTLETT: Deputy Chairperson, I hereby move on behalf of the ANC without notice:

 

 

That the Council –

 

 

 

(1) notes with pride the pre-emptive phenomenal successes of the law enforcement agencies against the cash-in-transit robberies in the recent past as successively reported by the media;

 

 

(2) further notes that these successes continue to drastically reduce the risk of loss of human life, especially the men and women in blue, and the ordinary citizens who are always caught in the crossfire;

 

(3) believes that these successes are due to better planning, co-ordination and collaboration across the criminal justice system and the private security sector;

 

 

(4) calls on the relevant parliamentary committees to continue monitoring the situation and strengthening oversight in this critical area of violent crime; and

(5) congratulate our criminal justice system and the private sector security establishment for a job well done.

 

I so move.

 

 

 

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

 

POLICE OFFICERS CHARGED FOR VARIOUS CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

(Draft Resolution)

 

 

 

Ms L C BEBEE: Deputy Chairperson, I hereby move on behalf of the ANC without notice:

 

That the Council –

 

 

(1) notes with utmost concern and apprehension the statement by the Minister of Police, Minister Bheki Cele, that more than 7 000 police officers have been charged for various crimes in the last five years and that this includes murder, rape and cash-in-transit heists between the 2018-19 financial year and 2022-23 period;

(2) further notes that out of more than 7 000 police officers who were charged for various crimes, 686 were successfully prosecuted in court by the National Prosecuting Authority; and

 

 

(3) takes this opportunity to call on the Minister of Police and the relevant parliamentary committees to look into the involvement of police officers in criminal activities and ensure that mechanisms are put in place to rid the police service of corrupt and unethical police officers who use the police service to further their nefarious and criminal agendas.

 

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

 

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): Before we

continue, let me welcome hon Sileku from the Western Cape. Welcome, hon Sileku it’s long that we haven’t seen you and we will now proceed, hon delegates.

 

 

Mr I M SILEKU: Thank you, Deputy Chair.

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): Yes, I

really must welcome you. You used to be working with us and we missed you. The time for motions has long expired, but we have allowed them. So, I don’t believe we will ask for further motions. We will now proceed to the First Order.

 

CONSIDERATION OF PERFORMERS’ PROTECTION AMENDMENT BILL AND SELECT COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND INDUSTRY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM, EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR THEREON

 

 

Mr M I RAYI: Thank you very much, hon Chairperson, greetings to you again, greetings to the Deputy Minister of Tourism, hon members, special delegates and permanent delegates, the Performers Protection Amendment Bill was passed by the Fifth Parliament and at the time it was classified as a section 75 Bill. Thereafter it was sent to the President for assent, the President subsequently sent the Bill back to Parliament with reservations, one of which was related to the tagging of the Bill as a section 75 Bill. As a result of section 79(1) of the Constitution, a referral from the President, the Performers Protection Bill was tagged as section 76 Bill.

The purpose of the Bill is to amend the Performers Protection Act of 1967 to insert, delete and substitute certain definitions to provide for performers’ economic rights, to extend moral rights to performers in audio-visual fixations, to provide for the transfer of rights where performers concern to fixation of performance, further to provide for the protection of rights of producers of sound recordings in addition to broadening the restrictions on the use of performances, to extend the application of restrictions on the use of performances to audio-visual fixation.

 

 

Further, to provide for royalties or equitable remuneration to be payable when a performance is sold or rented out, to provide for the recording and reporting of certain acts to provide for an offence in relation thereto. Further, to extend exceptions from prohibitions to audio-visual fixations and sound recordings and include exceptions as provided in the Copyright Act of 1978 to provide for the Minister to prescribe compulsory and standard contractual terms, as well as guidelines for a performer to grant consent under this Act. In addition, it provides for prohibited conduct and exceptions in respect of technological protection measures and copyright management information respectively.

To provide for further offences and penalties. Further, to substitute certain expressions to provide for transitional provisions and finally, to provide for matters connected herewith. The process that we followed as the committee, the Performers Protection Amendment Bill was passed by the National Assembly, transmitted to the National Council of Provinces and referred to the Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Economic Development, Small Business Development, Tourism, Employment and Labour.

 

On 1 September 2022, the select committee held capacity- building sessions on 18 and 25 October 2022 and invited relevant portfolio committees from all nine provincial legislatures. The purpose of the session was to introduce members to the highly technical aspects of the Bill. The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition briefed the committee on 25 October 2022. The committee advertised for public comments with a closing date for submissions on 27 January 2023. The committee held public hearings on 21 February, 7 and 14 March 2023. The provincial legislatures held public hearings on the Bill between February and May 2023.

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition and Parliament's legal advisers responded to issues raised during the public hearings on 6 and 13 June 2023. Thereafter, negotiating mandate meetings were held on 13, 14 and 20 June 2023. The committee sat during the recess period to consider and adopt the list of proposed amendments concerning the Bill on 1 August 2023. On consideration of final mandates, all provinces submitted the final mandates which were considered on 5 September.

 

The final mandates were submitted as follows, Eastern Cape voted in favour of the Bill, Free State voted in favour of the Bill, Gauteng voted in favour of the Bill, KwaZulu-Natal abstained from voting, Limpopo voted in favour of the Bill, Mpumalanga voted in favour of the Bill, Northern Cape voted in favour of the Bill, North West voted in favour of the Bill, and Western Cape voted against the Bill.

 

 

The outcome of the committee's consideration of the Bill, the Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Economic Development, Small Business Development, Tourism and Labour, having deliberated on the subject of the Performers Protection Amendment Bill of 2016 refers to it and classified by the Joint Tagging Mechanism, JTM, as a section 76 Bill reports

that it has agreed to an amended Bill of 2016. I so table the report, hon Deputy Chair. I thank you.

 

Declaration(s) of vote:

 

Mr F J BADENHORST: Hon Deputy Chairperson, the Performance Protection Amendment Bill was introduced in the National Assembly and subsequently referred to the Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition on 15 May 2017. The proposed Bill despite numerous objections raised by the DA passed in the National Assembly and was sent to the President for the final signoff. Fortunately, the President gave Parliament an opportunity to rework this badly written piece of legislation after raising several concerns, one of which was the constitutionality of the Bills due to incorrect tagging.

 

 

The Bill was subsequently dealt with as a section 76 Bill which brought it to us here in the NCOP to play our part as envisaged in the Constitution. Before we start with the serious flaws in the process followed both in the NCOP and provinces, it must be stated upfront that this is a badly written piece of legislation that might have noble intent, but in effect will have dire consequences for the industry. To partly illustrate this, I quote the following from the

Recording Industry of South Africa, Risa, who has already started legal action:

 

The negative impact will primarily be felt by up-and-coming young South African musicians, fewer of whom will be offered recording contracts and by small and medium-sized record companies who will not have the financial ability to continue to invest in new recordings by young artists to the same extent as they are currently able to do. Reduction in the number of new recordings by South African performers will also directly harm South African songwriters who will have fewer opportunities to have their new songs recorded and brought to market to earn royalties.

 

 

Throughout the process, the vast majority of inputs were negative towards the proposed legislation and this was reflected in the negotiating mandates received from various provinces. Some, like Gauteng, had so many concerns with the legislation that they might as well have voted against it, yet they stuck to the Luthuli House line to rubber-stamp these Bills and the rubberstamp of the ANC colleagues did happen.

Whenever serious and valid concerns were raised, both the department and the provinces backed off to fight for the industry and what was right due to the undue pressure put on

them by Parliament's Constitutional and Legal Services Office. The department acknowledged that several of the proposed amendments and submissions received from the provinces were valid and should be incorporated. The permanent delegates correctly conveyed the substantive changes and as the NCOP they should have been dealt with on its merits.

 

 

However, once it was pointed out by Parliament's Constitutional and Legal Services Office that certain changes to the Bill triggered the need for another round of public hearings, the department and the ANC delegates changed their positions and acknowledged that they would rather approve bad legislation than do a proper job and subsequently left the relevant clauses unchanged.

 

This is hugely problematic as it defeats the objectives as envisaged in the Constitution. It often felt like the legal advice that, like the legal advice that the select committee received, came with an agenda to push legislation through. It is clear that the processes followed were fatally flawed and this legislation will be bad for the industry. We therefore call on the President to step up, not to sign it into law and save the blushes of Parliament his party and millions of rand in taxpayers’ money by not letting this bad Bill be challenged

in court as it is expected to be to be passed by Parliament. Colleagues from the ANC, you should be ashamed of how you conducted yourself serving your party instead of serving ... [Inaudible.] ... the DA will not support this bad Bill. Thank you.

 

 

Mr K M MMOIEMANG: Deputy Chairperson, allow me to rise and support the Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill on behalf of the ANC. The Performers’ Protection Act is a law of 1967, that came before television was introduced in South Africa in 1976. The changes to the Act are therefore urgent so that it is in line with our new democratic dispensation. They are urgent for actors, musicians ... [Inaudible.] ... whose rights have not been met to date. These rights are not respected by Mr Badenhorst’s party and his party’s predecessors.

 

 

The Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill is an important Bill that provides for the rights of performers and ensure that there are moral remuneration as well as the exclusive rights are taken into consideration. The Bill also provides for the protection of producers of Southern African Music Rights Organisation, SAMRO, recordings. As the ANC we have full confidence in the process that was followed during the consultative processes, public hearing and also the interface

that the province had with the select committee as part and parcel of ensuring the ... [Inaudible.] ... on this Act.

 

Parliament deliberated at length on the Bill. As ... [Inaudible…] ... process was undertaken on the Bill ... [Inaudible.] ... the Bill was deliberated. It is encouraging that much work went into the Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill. The consultations have ensued the SAMRO Bill. The Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill has been discussed and is in alignment with the international treaties such as the Beijing Treaty on audio-visual performance, the World Intellectual Property Organisation, WIPO, performers performance and the Phonograms Treaty and was also advertised in both Houses of Parliament. The public participation processes on the Bill was sufficient.

 

 

Deputy Chair, much said about the need to delay the Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill from the Copyright Amendment Bill. Part of the debate was that performers’ rights are not part of copyrights. It is important to note that we hold the view that the two Bills are interlinked and should not be delinked. The structures of these Acts have these interlinkages. It can also be proven internationally that it is not new to have both in the same law. It is encouraging to

note that the measures provided in the Copyright Amendment Bill will be made available in the Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill because the link in these two Bills is important.

 

 

Chair, these measures include the Copyright Tribunal and the collective societies. The Copyright Amendment Bill strengthen the audio visuals for provisions. The provision ... [Inaudible.] ... the Copyright Amendment Bill it addresses the payment of royalties, the ability to earn and to receive ... [Inaudible.] ... remunerations ... [Inaudible.] ... was a serious gap. The Bill provides the standard elements of contracts, to guide the performance and to ensure their contracts. It will provide for the minimum contractual terms to empower performers to know their rights when negotiating terms in contracts. Equitable contracts are needed for performers given the historical legacy of exploitation by big companies, rights holders and publishers.

 

There is the 25-year Reversion Right that addresses issues of assignment of rights. The Reversion Right will assist with the assignments of rights in contracts and protect the interest of performers. In line with the ... [Inaudible.] ... Review Commission Report, the Bill limits the period of assignment to

25 years. The Bill will be a victory for the right of professional actors in the role they play in the creative industry of South Africa. Actors should now receive pay for their performance and the contract elements will strengthen their bargaining power.

 

 

The Bill will cement their rights and protect their performance as well as how their images and persons are portrayed. The Bill will provide ... [Time expired.] ... In conclusion, the Bill will provide a level playing field for performers and recognise them. The Bill will take into account the development in the digital sphere. Therefore, the ANC supports the Bill. Thank you.

 

 

Mr M DANGOR: Deputy Chairperson, as I am making this declaration on the Copyright Amendment Bill, the standard and

... [Interjections.] ... for contracts are important. One of the features of the Bill is that ...

 

Mr M I RAYI: Hon Deputy Chair!

 

 

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): Yes, hon

Rayi.

Mr M I RAYI: We have not yet Tabled the Copyright Amendment Bill, Chair.

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): Okay. This

 

is still the Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill, hon Dangor.

 

Mr M DANGOR: My apology, my apology.

 

 

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): I was just

not sure because hon Mmoiemang also spoke about the Copyright thing. This is the Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill. You will be in one of the next two Orders. Hon Mamaregane, Mamaregane.

 

 

Ms M L MAMAREGANE: Hon Deputy Chairperson, the Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill is an important Bill addressing the interest of the performers. Performers have faced several challenges over many years including the lack of payment of royalties or equitable remuneration, unfair contracts and the legislation that is outdated and not aligned to the applicable international treaties obligations. On moral right of performers, the Bill provides for performers’ economic rights

and extends moral rights to performers’ in individual dissertations, e.g. films.

 

Moral rights include to claim to be identified as the performer of the performance except where the omission is dictated to the manner of the use of the performer’s performance and to object to any of distortion or other modification of their performance that would be to their ... [Inaudible.] ... equitable, taking to account to the nature of individual citation or sound recordings. The issue of moral right and the protection of the image of the performers is an important provision in the Bill. The moral rights granted to a performer shall be maintained after performer’s death until the expiry of the economic rights granted in terms of the Bill or other relevant provisions of the Copyright Act. The exclusion of economic rights of performers; the rights that the Bill provides for ...

 

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): You have

muted yourself, hon Mamaregane. Mamaregane, you have muted yourself. Mamaregane, we don’t hear you. Mamaregane, we don’t hear you. We don’t hear you and your time has lapsed. Your time has lapsed and we didn’t hear you. So, we really didn’t hear you. We didn’t hear you and the time has lapsed for the

motion. I told you in the beginning that it is three minutes for declaration.

 

Ms M L MAMAREGANE: Thank you.

 

 

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): Thank you.

We shall now proceed to the voting on the question.

 

 

Question put: That the Bill be agreed to.

 

 

 

In Favour: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape.

 

Against: Western Cape.

 

 

Abstain: KwaZulu-Natal.

 

 

 

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

 

Debate concluded.

 

 

CONSIDERATION OF COPYRIGHT AMENDMENT BILL [B 13F – 2017] (NATIONAL ASSEMBLY – SECTION 76) AND REPORT OF SELECT

COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND IN-DUSTRY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM, EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR THEREON (ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMIT-TEE REPORTS, 8 SEPTEMBER 2023, P 5).

 

 

Mr M I RAYI: Hon Deputy Chair, thank you very much once again. The Copyright Amendment Bill was passed by the Fifth Parliament, and at the time it was classified as a Section 75 Bill. Thereafter it was sent to the President for assent. The President subsequently sent it back to Parliament, with reservation of which one of them was the tagging of the Bill as Section 75. The National Assembly then amended the remitted Bill to Section 76.

 

 

The purpose of the Bill hon Deputy Chair is to amend the Copyright Act of 1978, so as to define certain words and expressions to allow for further limitation and exceptions regarding the reproduction of copyright work. In addition, to provide for equitable remuneration or the sharing of royalties in copyright works. To provide for the payment of equitable remuneration or royalties in respect of literary, musical, artistic and audiovisual works.

Further, to provide for resale of royalty rights. To provide for recordal and reporting of certain acts. Further, to provide for the accreditation of collecting societies. To provide for a mechanism for settlement of disputes. In addition, to provide for access to copyright works by persons with disabilities. Further, to provide for the licensing of orphan works. To strengthen the powers and functions of the Copyright Tribunal.

 

 

Further, to provide for prohibited conduct in respect of technological protection measures. To provide for the prohibited conduct in respect of copyright management information. In addition, to provide for protection of digital rights. To provide for certain new offences and to finally provide for matters connected herewith.

 

 

The process followed with the Bill: The Copyright Amendment Bill was passed by the National Assembly, transmitted to the National Council of Provinces, and referred to the Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Economic Development, Small Business Development, Tourism, Employment and Labour on 01 September 2022. The select committee held capacity building sessions on 18 and 25 October and invited relevant portfolio committees from all nine provincial legislatures.

The purpose of the session was to introduce members to the highly technical aspects of the Bill. The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition briefed the committee on 25 October 2022. The committee advertised the Bill for public comment.

The closing date for submission was 27 January 2023. The committee held public hearings on 21 February, 07 and 14 March.

 

The provincial legislatures held public hearings on the Bill between February and May 2023. The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition and Parliamentary Legal Advisor responded to issues raised during the public hearings on 06 and 13 June 2023. Therefore, negotiating mandate meetings were held on 13, 14 and 20 June 2023. The committee sat during the recess to consider and adopt the E-list of proposed amendments in relation to the Bill on 01 August 2023.

 

 

On consideration of final mandates, all provinces submitted final mandates which were considered on 05 of September 2023. The final mandates were submitted as follows: Eastern Cape voted in favour of the Bill. Free State voted in favour of the Bill. Gauteng voted in favour of the Bill. KwaZulu-Natal abstained from voting. Limpopo voted in favour of the Bill.

Mpumalanga voted in favour of the Bill. Northern Cape voted in

favour of the Bill. Northwest voted in favour of the Bill. Western Cape voted against the Bill.

 

The Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Economic Development, Small Business Development, Tourism, Employment and Labour having deliberated on and considered the subject of the Copyright Amendment Bill [B13F – 2017] refer to it as classified by Joint Tagging Mechanism, JTM as Section 76, report that it has agreed to an Amendment Bill [B13F – 2017]. I so table the report hon Deputy Chairperson. The two Bills are similar, they are linked. We’ve been dealing with them simultaneously. Thank you very much.

 

 

Declarations of vote:

 

Mr F J BADENHORST: Hon Deputy Chairperson, once again the Copyright Amendment Bill was introduced in the National Assembly and subsequently referred to the Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition 15 May 2017. The proposed Bill despite numerous objections raised by the DA passed in the National Assembly was sent to the President for a final sendoff. Fortunately, the President gave Parliament an opportunity to rework once again this badly written piece of legislation.

After raising several concerns one of which was the constitutionality of the Bill due to incorrect tagging, the Bill was subsequently dealt with as a Section 76 Bill, which brought it to us here in the National Council of Provinces to play our part as in this envisaged in the Constitution.

 

 

Before we start with the serious flaws in the processes following both in the National Council of Provinces and provinces, it must be stated up front that this is a really badly written piece of legislation. But it might have a little bit of noble intent, but in effect, it will have dire consequences for the industry.

 

 

Throughout the process, the vast majority of inputs were negative towards the proposed legislation, and this was reflected in the negotiating mandates received from various provinces as we just heard read to us. Some like Gauteng had so many concerns with the legislation that they might have well voted against it. Yet again, they started the Luthuli House line to rubber stamp these Bills. And rubber stamp the ANC colleagues did, like little ducks in a row.

 

 

Whenever serious and valid concerns were raised both the department and the provinces backed off to fight for the

industry and what is right due to the undue pressure put on them by Parliament’s Constitutionality and Legal Services Office. The department acknowledged that several of the proposed amendments and submissions received from the provinces were valid and should have been incorporated. The permanent delegates correctly conveyed these substantive changes and as the National Council of Provinces these should have been dealt with on its merits.

 

 

However, once it was pointed out by Parliament’s Constitutionality and Legal Services Office that certain changes to the Bill would trigger the need for another round of public hearings, the department and the ANC delegates changed their positions and basically acknowledged that they would rather approve bad legislation than do a proper job and subsequently left the relevant clauses unchanged.

 

This is hugely problematic as it defeats the objectives as envisaged in the Constitution. It often felt like the legal advice that the select committee received came with an agenda to push the legislation through. It is clear that the processes followed were fatally flawed and this legislation will be bad for the industry.

We therefore again call on the President to step up, not to sign it into law and save the bashes of Parliament, his party and millions of rand in taxpayers’ money by not letting this bad Bill be challenged in court, as it is expected that it should be passed by Parliament. Colleagues from the ANC once again, you should be ashamed in how you conducted yourself, serving your party instead of South Africa. The DA will not support this bad Bill. Thank you, Deputy Chair.

 

 

Mr K M MMOEIMANG: Deputy Chair, allow me to rise in support of this Copyright Amendment Bill and we have full confidence in the process that was followed, the engagement that you have had with the provinces and also through the interaction that we have had with the parliamentary legal advisers and also the departments legal advisers.

 

 

The Copyright Amendment Bill is a significant milestone and an achievement for the authors and the creators and rights holders in South Africa. This is a huge milestone because the Act came into effect in 1978 and it has been more than 40 years since it came into operation. Therefore, it needed to be transformed, it needed to be infused with the new dynamics that are emerging.

The Bill provides for the royalties or equitable remuneration in the musical or literary audiovisual work, visual artistic works and also ensures that the royalties or equitable remuneration addresses the differences of the sectors. The Copyright Amendment Bill gives authors and creators a new right to increase their income. The Bill makes provision that all authors are fairly paid.

 

Hon Deputy Chair, it is important to also note that the passing into law of the Copyright Amendment Bill will introduce new changes that are going to transform how the copyright-based industries have been organised for decades. The provision will empower the authors, other creators, copyright owners and will create an enabling environment for all role-players including users and consumers.

 

 

With change comes resistance and uncertainty. Hence, Mr Badenhorst was cry-baby tactic. The Copyright Amendment Bill should be adopted by this House and passed into law to ensure a balanced creative sector that protects and ensures all concerned can thrive in the economy and society.

 

 

Of critical importance, Deputy Chair during this interaction has been the issue of fair use. One of the most significant

amendments to the Bill is the introduction of fair use general exceptions. Parliament deliberated extensively on fair use.

The fair use exception introduced in section 12(a) of the Bill introduces an important amendment that will ensure the use of copyright, works in a transparent manner. Fair use will limit on the exclusive rights of the copyright holder and provides for access to copyright materials in the public interest.

Batho Pele, there is a need to maintain a balance between the rights of authors or creators and the large public interests.

 

Fair use is a doctrine under copyright law that promotes certain uses of work without the copyrights holder’s permission. For example, in news reporting, scholarship and research, personal use, criticism or review or when making comments on a published work, it allows users to make use of copyright work without permission or payment when they benefit to society outweighs the cost to the copyright holder.

 

 

Fair use differs from the current doctrine of fair dealing in the Copyright Act, which consists of a clause list of exceptions. Any use that falls outside the scope of the second listed in their fair dealing, is considered to be an infringement, the fair dealing doctrine is fairly prescriptive

and costly and does not cater for education and access to information.

 

The concerns that fair use will affect the income of authors and creators and that it will leave to exploitation of creative works and result in economic losses, is exaggerated, and causing unsubstantiated alarming society.

 

 

Fair use has factors that will inform the use of work, and this will restrict the use of works. There is confusion about fair use and free copy of works. The fair use factors restrict how the work can be used and the Bill provides guidance and certainty. The factors include the nature of the work in question, the amount and substantial of the part of the work affected by the Act in relation to the whole of the work.

 

 

The purpose and character of the use including whether such use serves a purpose different from that of the work affected and if it is of a commercial nature or for nonprofit, research, library, or educational purposes. The free copy of works is piracy and that is currently taking place under fair dealing and not a fair use problem. The fair use provisions will not negatively impact creators and the economy, despite the strong use placed by those who oppose the Bill. This

safeguards in the Bill will help to mitigate against piracy. Thank you, Deputy Chairperson.

 

Mr M DANGOR: Deputy Chairperson, I stand in support of the Bill, and I will focus upon particular elements, the standard elements for contracts. One of the features of the Bill is that it encourages the prescribing of a standard elements of agreements to be entered into by the creators. These provisions carry a historical context to them. Because of the challenges many of the authors face under unfair contracts and many who never received ... [Inaudible.] ... contracts or royalties at all or equitable remuneration.

 

 

It should be highlighted that the regulation of contractual terms is a common governmental responsibility, as seen in other countries such as Germany.

 

 

Strengthening the Copyright Bill. Another important amendment of the Bill is strengthening the Copyright Tribunal that will deal with it with the disputes that arise related to the Bill. A dispute resolution mechanism is very important because it will ensure cost effective and voluntary remedial mechanisms to the copyright related disputes.

Collecting societies. South Africa has a serious regulatory gap in the collection societies. Over the years members have been exploited and the lack of a clear governance requirements has caused many challenges with these regulations. The Bill will ensure the proper accreditation and governance of collecting societies. There will be more accountable and to their members and payments for the royalties or equitable remuneration that is much needed.

 

 

The resale of royalty rights. The introduction of resale of royalty rights is welcomed because it will ensure efforts of visual artistic works are also catered for to their original works and are traded in the resale market. The visual artistic work includes paintings, scriptures, drawings, engravings as well as photographs, and this is a new royalty regime.

 

 

Consultations. There was more than sufficient consultation in the Copyright Amendment Bill. The consultations went back and as far as 2009, and outside of the parliamentary process were addressed by government, the consultations took place in all the places, in the Fifth Parliament and in the Sixth Parliament took place in all the provinces.

The socio-economic impact of the Assessment Bill. There are concerns raised about the economic impact of the assessment system by critics of the Bill. It is important that this goes through as the initial draft Copyright Amendment Bill was released for public comment on 27 July 2015, which was before the ... [Inaudible.]

 

 

Deputy Chairperson, I want to come to a comment made by the hon Badenhorst, regarding the Legal Services Department of the Parliament ... [Interjection.]

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): Just take

 

into account your time, please, hon members.

 

 

Mr M DANGOR: In conclusion, to say I think it’s unfair criticism of the Legal Services Department of Parliament and that I think it should be addressed and corrected. Thank you very much.

 

Mr D R RYDER: He was criticizing a member not the department.

 

 

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S C Lucas): Thank you

very much. Hon Ryder please, you haven’t request to speak. Can we continue? Thank you very much also to the members that

participated in this engagement on declarations. I just wanted to make an observation and I want to express my appreciation to hon Dangor, specifically that he mentioned that in the international context because this specific Bill is very, very like controversial internationally. So, I thought I just wanted to make a observation, but fortunately I feel I am covered by what hon Dango brought into discussion.

 

Debate concluded.

 

 

Declarations of votes made on behalf of the Western Cape, Northern Cape, and Gauteng.

 

 

Question put: That the Bill be agreed to.

 

 

 

IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, Northwest.

 

 

AGAINST: Western Cape.

 

 

 

ABSTAIN: KwaZulu-Natal.

 

 

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

CONSIDERATION OF FUNDRAISING AMENDMENT BILL [B29B-2020] (NATIONAL ASSEMBLY – SEC 76) AND REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES THEREON (ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS, 22 SEPTEMBER 2023).

 

 

Mr E Z NJADU: Hon Deputy Chairperson, good afternoon to all the members, the Fundraising Amendment Bill B29B-2020 National Assembly section 76, dated 22 September 2023, the Fundraising Amendment Bill 2020 aims to rationalise the Fundraising Act, Act 107 of 1978 by consolidating the Disaster Relief Fund, the Refugee Relief Fund, the Social Relief Fund and the State President’s Fund into the Disaster Relief and National Social Development Fund so as to focus on proacting mitigation of disasters and promote the social development of communities.

The consolidation of the funds will streamline the administrative processes and enable more efficient services to poor communities and reduce costs.

 

Hon Deputy Chairperson, the Report of the Select Committee on Health and Social Services on the Fundraising Amendment Bill which is Bill 29(b) of 2020, the Select Committee on Health and Social Services, having considered the subject of the Fundraising Amendment Bill B29(b) 2020 National Assembly section 76 referred it to reports that it has agreed to the

Bill process. The Fundraising Amendment Bill, B29(b) 2020 was referred to the committee on 28 September 2022, the Department of Social Development briefed the committee on 16 May 2023 all provinces had briefings and public hearings on the Bill between 24 May and 25 August 2023. All provinces concluded their public hearings by 25 August 2023 all provinces submitted negotiating mandates on 5 September 2023. The committee finalised the Bill on the 22 September 2023 and adopted it without amendments. Dear hon Deputy Chair, all provinces supported, and this Report is tabled for consideration. Thank you very much.

 

 

Debate concluded.

 

 

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S C Lucas): Thank you

very much, hon Njadu. We will now put the question and the question is that the Bill be agreed to. But before we proceed to the voting, I shall allow provinces the opportunity to make their declarations of vote in terms of Rule 86, if they so wish. Maximum three minutes per declaration. I am just repeating it for the record.

 

 

Declarations of Vote:

Mr F J BADENHORST: Hon Deputy Chair, the objectives of the Fundraising Amendment Bill serve to highlight the many lessons the COVID-19 pandemic taught us as a country. One of these lessons related to the creation of haphazard legislation did not necessarily translate into smooth implementation. We are consequently mindful that this proposed amendment Bill has the potential to not fully achieve its objectives of improving the situation of those it is meant to serve after becoming law.

 

 

Consolidating the full funds into one fund for quicker disaster resource allocation is, however, a logical step which the Democratic Alliance supports. It is evident that the Department of Social Development must have learnt vital lessons from recent crises like the Covid-19 floods and lootings. These lessons stressed the importance of rapid co- ordination to protect vulnerable individuals, particularly children, by avoiding delays caused by bureaucracy, capacity limitations and working in isolation. Money needed during emergencies should not remain locked in dormant disaster relief funds, as has been witnessed in recent disasters and during the COVID-19 lockdown.

 

 

Additionally, close collaboration between the Department of Social Development and established NPOs is essential. Such a

partnership would have prevented long queues and other distressing scenes. Yet, another lesson is that of ensuring co-ordination amongst all spheres of government to avoid the many reports of ill treatment, the channelling of much-needed resources based on political affiliation and fragmentation of processes to access food by many deserving individuals and families.

 

We call on the Minister and the department to streamline resource allocation for the poor and vulnerable, prioritising speedy responses. This is crucial for ensuring the survival of those who rely on the Constitution’s protection and its associated laws during disasters. As the DA, we have learnt these lessons, and we will apply them when we assumed the government in 2024. I thank you.

 

 

Question put: That the Bill be agreed to.

 

 

 

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

 

 

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

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): Hon

delegates, before we proceed to the subject for debate, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the Deputy Minister, MECs and all permanent and special delegates to this House. We shall now proceed to the subject for debate, that is tourism building viable tourism spaces and facilities for local economic development. I will call on the House Chairperson hon Ngwenya, to take over the presiding over the House.

 

DEBATE ON TOURISM: BUILDING VIABLE TOURISM SPACES AND FACILITIES FOR LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

 

 

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF TOURISM: Hon House Chairperson, the hon members of the NCOP and the delegates, MECs who are part of this gathering, our government view infrastructure as a critical aspect in achieving South Africa’s long-term goals of economic and social development. Investing in infrastructure is key in gaining greater productivity and competitiveness as its supports the emergency of new jobs in the tourism sector and other sectors.

 

 

Our government regards public infrastructure as nonnegotiable foundation for transformation inclusive growth. It also

generates employment and broad-based economic empowerment opportunities. Further, contributes to the goals of the National Development Plan, NDP.

 

The National Tourism Sector Strategy places tourism at the nexus of economic growth and development of our country.

Therefore tourism infrastructure is considered critical for tourism and destination competitiveness. Within the context of the South African public, in systems the responsibility of infrastructure and tourism planning lies multiple departments in all the spheres of government; national, provincial and local spheres. Tourism infrastructure needs can therefore be addressed through integrated planning. Private sector investment in tourism infrastructure usually follows public sector investment.

 

We view the Local Economic Development, LED, as an approach towards economic development which allows and encourage local people to work together to achieve sustainable economic growth and development, thereby bringing economic benefits to an improved quality of lives of all residents in a local municipality.

Therefore, our topic demands that all of us to work relentlessly, bring this sustainable economic growth to the local people through investment in a viable tourism space and facilities. Through LED government aims to maximise the economic potential of all municipality’s localities through the country and to enhance the resilience of the macro economic development through increased local economic growth employment creation and development initiatives within the context of sustainable development.

 

The local LED demonstrate that the political jurisdiction at the local level is often the most appropriate place for economic intervention as it creates alongside the accountability and legitimacy of democratically elected body. The government through the Local Economic Development is intending to build the capacity of all local areas to improve its economic future and the quality of life for the inhabitants.

 

 

The 1996 Tourism White Paper, outlined the role of tourism in economic development and it said and I quote:

The tourism industry provides enormous potential to create linkages and dinamise other sectors of the economy, be it your agriculture, manufacturing and services.

 

South Africa more than any other country in the rest of Africa or the world, has a potential to supply almost every needs of the tourism sector from meat and poultry, beverages and wines to vehicles, to machinery, furniture, cut flowers, jewelry, diamonds and more. Tourism will generate demand and production in other sectors of the economy.

 

 

The White Paper which we are currently reviewing and will table in this august House in due course after Cabinet approval, further states that however, unless tourism is viewed and developed as a strategically important industry, the greatest engine of growth to the South African economy, the true wealth creating potential of tourism will never be realised. It further argues that international tourism is the only export item which is exported without leaving the country. It further talks to the tourism sector as having the potential for South Africa to influence visitor taste and create permanent export markets as very real.

However, the fact that the export item is consumed on site unlike other export items that are taken to the buyer, the local government and the local destination look and feels the very important that the consumer or the visitor, the experience in how they access the destination, be through an airport, land border post or harbor is very critical. The roads in which they drive, the hotel in which they stay, the mall and the attraction they visit or their ability to make a phone call or connect to the Internet, is critical in ensuring that tourists or visitors stay longer in the destination and spend more.

 

 

It will also depend whether they come back or not. Repeat visitation is a cornerstone of our sector or any other sector for that matter. However, the bar of tourism sector is very high.

 

The topic for this debate requires a whole country approach. All stakeholders should have a critical role in the production of this experience that will ensure that our visitors stay longer and also spend more and that they will also come back to our localities time and again. There is a constant need to people and other government departments, private sector and communities, the latest travel trends and the consumption

pattern of the modern travelers, so that local government and or other stakeholders prepare themselves better meaning that the tourism spaces and facilities cater for the needs of the visitors.

 

 

Responsible tourism is the corner of policy as it should be tourism that contributes to sustainable development as the World Tourism Organisation, WTO, argues. Tourism that takes full account of this current and future economic, social and environmental impact assist in addressing the needs of the visitors, the industry, the environment and the host communities.

 

The UNWTO further states that sustainable tourism should firstly, make optimal use of environmental resources that constitute the key element in tourism development maintaining essential ecological processes and helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity. Secondly, respect the socioeconomic complexity of the host communities. Thirdly, conserve their built and their living cultural heritage and tradition values and contributes their intercultural understanding and tolerance. Fourthly, ensure viable long-term economic operations and providing socioeconomic benefits for all stakeholders that are fairly distributed including stable

employment and income earning opportunities and services to host communities and contributing to poverty eradication.

 

As a Department of Tourism, we have implemented some programmes that have universal accessibility. The Green Tourism Incentive Programme, the Working for Tourism Programme where we assist communities to build tourism assets in order to maximise the linkages. The National Framework for Local Economic Developments states that while the Constitution of 1996, places greater responsibility on the municipalities to facilitate LEDs. The schedule in the Constitution that leads the functions of the municipalities does not include LEDs.

This has contributed to an interpretation that since LEDs as an unfunded mandate for municipalities, there is a clear implication given the juxtaposition of the Constitution and its stable municipalities have a key role in creating conducive environment for investment through the provision of infrastructure, quality services rather than developing programme and attempting to create jobs directly.

 

The national framework further states that municipalities should play a corner role in respect of LED drawing upon resources logged in different range of departments that supports institutions. For example the municipalities can draw

funding from Sector Education and Training Authority, Seta, address skills development in their communities. They can also draw the support of Small Enterprise Development Agency, and other agencies from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition and national sector departments to assist with the rotation and growth of the enterprise ... [Inaudible.]

 

 

Besides government support, there are a range of nongovernmental initiatives that municipalities can tap into the resources.

 

Tourism rich municipalities can anchor their LED strategy around tourism. As I demonstrated earlier, how the tourism sector can unlock value in other sectors of the economy.

Tourism rich municipalities are those located near major attractive heritage like your Kruger National Park as well as other national parks popular with the both domestic and international tourism.

 

Hon members will agree with me when I say that there will be no Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport without the Kruger National Park. The Eastgate Airport would have remained just a military base when there was no Kruger National Park.

The same could be said with the George Airport to mention a few. I have indicated in other platforms that extensive work by the department in maintaining infrastructure in some of our major attractions even though some might consider those interventions not being our core function was informed by the fact that they could not wish to see some of these major attractions collapse, as they will have the negative impact on visitation in those areas by indication the LED.

 

 

It is also critical that the work happening inside the protected areas, infrastructure in maintenance programme and intervention, is all supported by work outside the parks through the intervention by both municipalities as well as the private sector.

 

The following supply as an example will need attention namely, access roads, airport accommodation from budget to five star hotels and native hotels, malls broadband as well as awareness.

 

 

Locals need to appreciate the role tourism sector plays in the economy and their lives. As indicated earlier, private sector interventions such as the Eastgate Airport, new accommodation establishment in Hoedspruit and an open gate road in Kruger

National Park play a very critical role in ensuring that supply is able to handle the anticipated demand estimated by that destination, marketing efforts by the SA Tourism, provincial tourism agencies as well as municipalities promoting intervention. The private and the public sector interventions highlighted above have direct bearing into the demands in agriculture such as herbs, fruits and vegetables. Manufacturing goods such as toilet paper, soft drinks, linen, furniture and services such as transport demand, the faster Internet and laundry services.

 

 

The airports and other strategic projects will tell us about the increased number of employees there to employ after the upgrades with new accommodation establishment having created jobs during the construction as well as during the establishment and during the operations.

 

 

Tourism stakeholders need to work closely with municipalities in ensuring that zoning saves the long-term interest of the tourism sector and the local communities.

 

 

Hon House Chairperson, let me conclude by saying the South African sector planning system is well established and complex. It has been criticised by publishing excellent plans

on paper, but do not achieve the desired intervention between the sectors. Despite the planning process requiring intersectional and intergovernmental co-ordination, planning still occurs in silos regardless of the introduction of the District Development Model. The tourism sector currently does limited planning for tourism infrastructure and this is mainly related to take constrain. The annual tourism budget available for infrastructure is on average of R200 million, particularly for tourism infrastructure priorities across South Africa which you will agree with me that it is too little, House Chairperson. Thank you very much.

 

 

Mr M I RAYI: Thank you very much, House Chairperson. Greetings to you, greetings Deputy Chairperson, House Chairperson for committees, Chief Whip and Deputy Minister of Tourism and fellow South Africans.

 

If you are to free yourself, you must break the chains of oppression yourselves, only then can we express our dignity, only when we have liberated ourselves can we co- operate with other groups. Any acceptance of humiliation, indignity, or insult is acceptance of inferiority.

Those were the words of Mama Winnie Madikizela Mandela. A militant and fierce anti-apartheid activist who remained a staunch and loyal member of the ANC till her last breath. Today, 26 September 2023, our comrade and mother would have turned 87 years old. We wish her a revolutionary birthday. We will continue to cherish heard stories of resilience, resistance and remarkable strength as an armour of source of inspiration as we continue to fight, to heal the divisions of the past, and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights. Lay the foundation for a democratic and open society in which government is based on the will of the people, and every citizen is equally protected by law. Improve the quality of life of all citizens and free the potential of each person and build a united democratic South Africa able to take its rightful place as a sovereign state in the family of nations as enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.

 

 

Sadly, the granddaughter of Comrade Winnie Madikizela-Mandela passed away a day before her birthday of the 26 September. We would like to express our heartfelt condolences to Madiba family, and we pray that God will bring comfort and strength to the family of Madiba.

Hon members, the concept of local economic development can be referred to as a process in which partnerships between local government, NGOs, community-based groups and the private sector are established to manage existing resources to create jobs and stimulate the economy of that particular area. This is a concept that finds resonance in the words of the late Mama Winnie Madikizela Mandela in the quote I have cited, which encourages us as people of this beautiful nation to fight for what is rightfully ours. We all deserve to live in South Africa that has a growing economy, where our state organs are functioning optimally, where social services sufficient for all and where there is a low rate of crime.

 

 

Fellow South Africans, it takes each one of us playing our part small as it may be, wherever we are, working with organised labour, business and community organisations towards an industrial plan for localization. The ANC government has done the following, among others; built industrial capacity to address the COVID-19 pandemic through production of locally produced goods, including medical supplies and equipment.

Finalised and implemented plans for localization and local procurement, to name a few examples. In the auto sector where there is a commitment to increase the local content of South African assembled motor vehicles from current 39% to 60% and

provide direct financing and procurement to local enterprises in their supply value chain. The clothing and textiles, where there is a commitment to increase the locally made goods sold by the South African retailers from 44% to 65%, including Foschini Group, Pick 'n Pay and per amounting to billions of rands of support to local businesses in their supply value chain. Poultry, where there is a commitment to expand poultry production and government implemented antidumping duties.

Large poultry firms are obliged to support the emergence of new players in the market. On sugar, where there is a commitment by large sugar mills and farmers to support small farmers with R200 million a year and large retailers and food companies buying local sugar.

 

 

Tourism has been prioritized as one of the biggest growth industries in South Africa. Therefore, all spheres of government, using the ... [Inaudible.] ... approach, having prioritising the development of local tourist sites and facilities, improving security and ensuring that the environments are receptive and conducive to host tourists and building social cohesion. It is encouraging to see that once again the tourism sector has proven to be resilient and continues to demonstrate its ability to bounce back from the natural disasters and the biggest storms to hit the global

economy. Reports indicate that South Africa has welcomed and hosted 4,8 million international tourists from January to July 2023, a 70,6% surge compared to the same period in 2022. Over the same period, domestic travel increased by 23,4%, with more than 18,8 million domestic travellers taking overnight trips compared to 15,2 million last year.

 

 

Hon members and compatriots, we have the collective responsibility to safeguard our facilities and infrastructure, protect our communities and share in the rich history and culture of our nation to grow the tourism sector, particularly in villages, townships and small dorpies.

 

We must ensure that the government reaches its new targets as set out in the National Tourism Sector Strategy of 2016 to 2026, and these includes the ink increasing the sector’s direct contribution to the GDP from R118 billion in 2015 to R302 billion by 2026. Increasing the number of jobs directly supported by the sector from 702 824 in 2015 to R1 million by 2026. Increasing the sector’s export earnings from

R115 billion in 2015 to R359 billion by 2026. Increasing capital investment in the sector from R64 billion in 2015 to R148 billion by 2026.

The strategy acknowledges the need for intergovernmental co- ordination and integrated planning approach and private sector involvement for the successful implementation and for the realization of inclusive and high-quality growth of the South African tourism economy. The strategy also requires that effective co-ordinating mechanisms be established at provincial and local government levels to synergise efforts and optimise the allocation and use of resources.

Industrialisation is a key driver of economic development. The 2019 to 2024 Medium- Term Strategic Framework, MTSF focuses on reindustrialising the economy through the creation of an environment that enables national priority sectors to support industrialisation and localization, leading to increased exports, employment of youth and women, owned SMMEs participation, as well as providing support for localisation through government procurement strategies.

 

 

The 2019 to 2024 MTSF is supported by other policies such as the Special Economic Zones that support industrialisation and the development of industrial capabilities and the One-Stop Shop concepts to facilitate and promote foreign direct investment. The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition introduced a One-Stop Shop which serves as an entry point for investors needing information about applicable laws and

regulations and other relevant matters and performs pre and post investment screening for appropriate investors and investments into the country on a project-by-project basis.

 

The National One-Stop Shop was launched in March 2017, and it is key to housing all relevant regulatory and administrative departments and agencies in a single location and thus providing investors with an integrated service. It is vital that the three spheres of government work to improve the country’s attractiveness as a destination of choice for doing business. This platform was created to better facilitate the ease of doing business.

 

 

The ANC believes that the tourism as a sector, with many linkages with various other sectors, needs to be co-ordinated through the whole of government and the whole of society approach to ensure that Brand SA is positioned in the best way possible to attract investment and pro interest. I thank you, House Chair.

 

 

Ms H S BOSHOFF: House Chair, please, note that we are in load shedding, so my video will not be switched on. Today, I am standing here to advocate for the proposition that building viable tourism spaces and facilities is undeniably beneficial

for local economic development. I firmly believe that, when communities embrace tourism as a catalyst for growth, they unlock a world of opportunities, not only for the community, but also for the sustainability of their region.

 

 

Building viable tourism spaces and facilities for local economic development involves careful planning, investment and a holistic and sustainable approach. It is important that a balance is found between economic growth, environmental and cultural preservation, along with community involvement. This, is key to long-term successes.

 

 

However, it is essential to manage tourism sustainably to avoid negative impacts, like overdevelopment, environmental degradation and cultural commodification. The three spheres of government should strike a balance between promoting tourism and preserving the quality of life for residents. Therefore, sustainability and tourism cannot be an option; it has to be the new norm.

 

To be able to achieve this, it is imperative that stakeholder collaboration with shared goals be made an essential foundation. It is by taking hands that South Africa will ensure that sustainable tourism becomes a reality.

After the Covid-19 pandemic, the tourism industry changed and it has become apparent that more emphasis should be placed on local and domestic tourism. First and foremost, tourism is a significant job creator. When we invest in tourism infrastructure, we put local residents to work. Hotel and restaurant staff, tour guides and artisans, all find gainful employment. These jobs often include a wide range of skills and educational levels, providing opportunities for everyone, from entry level positions to management roles.

 

Tourism also brings in revenue that can be reinvested in the community, from hotel taxes to entrance fees and attractions. The income generated can bolster public services, infrastructure improvements and education, thus creating a ripple effect of prosperity.

 

 

Furthermore, the growth of tourism provides a lifeline for small businesses, local shops, cafés and souvenirs stores. They thrive as they cater for tourists. This sustains local entrepreneurship and encourages innovation, as businesses adapt to the diverse needs of visitors.

 

 

Tourism can be a guardian of local culture and heritage. When travelers seek authentic experiences, communities are

incentivised to preserve their unique traditions, languages and historical sites. By building tourism spaces, we give these aspects of our identity the attention and protection they deserve.

 

 

Developing tourism spaces often necessitates improvements in infrastructure and public services, roads, transportation networks, parks, and sanitation facilities are upgraded, not only benefitting tourists, but also enhancing the quality of life for residents. However, in our more rural areas this is lacking.

 

 

Diversification of the local economy is crucial for long-term stability. By investing in tourism, communities reduce their dependency on a single industry. This resilience safeguards against economic downturns and ensures a more sustainable future.

 

It is clear that tourism will play an important role in the economic development of local regions and will maximise the impact and role of tourism in local economic development.

Local government must be an enabler for local economic development and also for tourism, as tourism is one of the main strategies of local economic development.

Lastly, tourism fosters community engagement; it encourages residents to take pride in their surroundings and their heritage; it promotes local artisans, cultural festivals and the sharing of traditions. Through tourism, communities strengthen their bonds and share their stories with the world.

 

 

In conclusion, we firmly believe that building viable tourism spaces and facilities is not just a means of economic development, but a pathway to empowerment for local communities. By harnessing the potential of tourism, we empower ourselves to create better lives, preserve our cultures and safeguard our environment.

 

 

It is for these reasons, hon Deputy Minister, that I urge you and your government to recognise that tourism, when managed sustainably and responsibly, can be a beacon of hope and prosperity for our communities and our future. It is therefore imperative that urgent attention is given to infrastructure investment, as stated in your opening remarks. And this has to be done to continue unlocking the potential that tourism has in contributing to the GDP of this country. Thank you.

 

 

Setswana:

Rre K M MMOIEMANG: Modulasetilo, ka tlotlo, ke tla emela motl Moshodu. Motl Moshodu ga a tsoga.

 

English:

 

House Chair, Mama Winnie Ngwenya, allow me to also send a word of greetings to you and the leadership of the National Council of Provinces and my colleagues and also appreciate the opportunity granted to stand in for hon Moshodu.

 

 

South Africa’s economic recovery and reconstruction plan set out that infrastructure investment delivery and maintenance will be at the centre of our recovery. Therefore, localization has to be driven gracefully and supported with special measures including a strong link for infrastructure investment plan.

 

 

Pivotal to our economic recovery has been the empowerment of the marginalized in our society: women, young people, persons with disabilities and military veterans.

 

 

The ANC government, through the Department of Tourism, has been able to work with various communities and the Development Bank of Southern Africa, DBSA, to ensure that tourism spaces

and facilities are viable in order to boost local economic development.

 

In this regard, an infrastructure maintenance programme has been implemented in 19 national parks. This includes Tsitsikamma in the Eastern Cape, the Golden Gate in the Free State, Mapungubwe in Limpopo, just to mention but a few.

 

 

Thirty community-based tourism projects have also been implemented and these include the Anton Lembede Museum in the eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, the Letlamoreng Dam in North West and Kamiesberg in the Northern Cape. This work is vital in ensuring that tourists, both domestic and international, find it attractive to visit and explore the sites, thereby boosting the local economy and empowering its people.

 

 

House Chair, as an organ of state in terms of section 99 of the Constitution, the DBSA continues to display and aver its capacity to provide a credible infrastructure development programme through its well-established governance systems controls, which operate within the confines of the Public Finance Management Act, PFMA.

Hon members, in addition to creating viable tourism spaces and facilities for local economic development, it is prudent that our government has also ... protect these facilities and tourist ... visitors from vandalism and criminal elements.

 

 

We are, therefore, pleased that the Department of Tourism has set aside R174,5 million for the training of more than 2 300 tourism monitors nationwide during the 2023-24 financial year.

 

The tourism monitors’ responsibilities include patrolling identified attractions, promoting tourism awareness, providing essential information to tourists and reporting any criminal incidents to the South African Police Service, SAPS, and other relevant enforcement agencies. These tourism monitors will receive additional training from the South African Police Service and will be deployed as of next month.

 

House Chair, as we contribute to be confronted with the structural and systematic challenges of high rates of unemployment, poverty and inequality, the government has recognised the role of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises, SMMEs, as a critical vehicle for poverty alleviation and the reduction of unemployment. Therefore, the tourism industry as

an economic sector has shown growth which has sustained small businesses and created jobs that drive local development.

 

Although large companies dominate the South African tourism industry, a vast number of tourism enterprises fall into the category of SMMEs, some of which form part of the informal sector.

 

 

House Chair, the tourism SMMEs and informal sector is largely made up of women and young people. Historically, women in South Africa have faced many challenges in the labour market. While women make up ... [Inaudible.] ... percent of South African society, they are the minority when it comes to business leadership positions. Many of our grandmothers, aunts and sisters are at the forefront of keeping local economies going. You will find them working local restaurants, local bed and breakfast establishments, local supermarket, and predominantly they are also found in the taxi ranks and side of the roads selling fruits and vegetables, sweets, food and etc.

 

 

There are more women than men employed in the informal sector. To these, precise, 47,6% of women compared to 30,6% of men.

Equally, key support sources such as children care are mostly

filled by women and these are areas where they are most vulnerable and they bear the brunt of exploitation.

 

Many informal economy workers work under very unfavourable conditions with no proper infrastructure. Women, in particular, often bring their children along to work with them in conditions where they are no longer shelters, raw and no proper toilets, water, garbage collection points exist.

Addressing this unsafe and unhealthy working condition is also vital to the creation of viable tourism spaces and facilities for local economic development.

 

 

According to the Labour Resource Service Institute, income disparities between men and women also exist in the informal sector where you will find that hourly earnings for men are R18 as opposed to R13 for women.

 

The self-employed youth operate business large enough to employ others at relatively low wages. ... [Inaudible.] ... hourly earning among this group are only R25 for men and R16 for women.

 

 

South African local economic development network has fled the absence of suitable legal and regulatory framework for the

informal economy as one of the critical challenges that need to be addressed when it comes to women in the informal sector. They argue that local government predominantly addresses informal economy through bylaws, resulting in its neglect of official economic development, therefore, resulting in a gap that exposes women to various abuses. We, therefore, urge our government to look at reforms to mitigate this.

 

Secretary-General of the United Nations Rural Tourism Organisation, Zurab Pololikashvili, once said that:

 

 

The United Nations Rural Tourism Organisation has worked with our partners to study and document the huge contribution women make to tourism and it is time for tourism to give back. For the centre stage model, we can help the sector work for women and we will not stop until the girls of tomorrow have the same opportunities as the men of today.

 

 

This centre stage project aims to strengthen, co-ordinate and focus work towards gender equality in tourism, governmental institutions and businesses as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through this project, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation supports four National Tourism Administrations. This is important because it will implement a one-year action plan for women’s empowerment which includes targeted training programmes, measures to boost female career progression, improvements to the legal framework and the collection of

sex-desegregated tourism employment data.

 

 

 

Much work is being done at an international level and national to fast-track the inclusion of women into the mainstream tourism economy and acknowledge their contribution.

 

 

We are also pleased that the Department of Tourism is consistent in maintaining a minimum of 40% procurement spend on women-owned businesses.

 

The ANC welcomes that the Women in Tourism, Business Development and Support Programme has been able to support 255 women-owned small, medium and micro enterprises and has been implementing and nationally through coaching and mentorship.

 

 

Four domestic tourism careers campaigns have been implemented in Free State, North West and Gauteng; 500 SMMEs and 2 500 unemployed and retrenched youth were trained on norms and

standards for safe tourism operations in all nine provinces. An additional 98 SMMEs and 17 tourism operations in all nine provinces, and an additional 98 SMMEs and 17 unemployed and retrenched youth were trained.

 

 

The department has been offering tourism and hospitality skills development programmes through the Expanded Public Works Programme, EPWP, funding.

 

An incubation programme has also been implemented to support tourism SMMEs through incubators dealing with technology, tar operators and food services.

 

A lot is being done, however, much more still needs to be done to ensure that conditions are favourable for women who operate in tourism SMMEs and the informal sector so that they are given equal opportunities and support to enable them to provide for themselves and their families, while also positively contributing to the growth and development of our local economies.

 

 

In conclusion, House Chair, through public private partnership, our government has been able to support tens of

thousands of small businesses and co-operatives, thereby creating and sustaining nearly 400 000 jobs.

 

Social compacts, which are inclusive of everyone in the tourism value chain, have the potential to grow the sector and better advance the agenda of building viable tourism spaces and facilities for local economic development. Ke a leboga, Modulasetilo. [Thank you, Chairperson.]

 

 

Mr D R RYDER: My fellow victims, let me tell you about a beautiful stretch of land on the banks of the Vaal Dam. This piece of land has approximately seven kilometres of dam frontage, creating a fishermen's paradise. There are ablution blocks every 120 metres, making this resort ideal for camping. A large hall, several clusters of chalets and a set of offices for administration make up the rest of the scene. Sounds idyllic, doesn't it? Well, once upon a time it was, but if you go there today you will find the place abandoned, vandalised and avoided by law-abiding citizens out of fear for their safety. The place is called Government Farm or Island Shore, depending on who you speak to. As the name implies, it’s owned by the government and managed by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure that has been unable to do anything with the property due to nothing more than their own

incompetence. Let's be honest. It is not because of a lack of potential willing partners. The Midvaal Local Municipality has written to the department asking for access to the property to run it as a tourism destination, specifically to enhance local economic development. Midvaal has developed a plan, they have undertaken feasibility studies and viability assessments, and they have presented these to the community. However, the response from Public Works has been stony silence. You see, there is no opportunity for brown envelope for cadres.

 

Now, let's look towards the Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve in the southeast of Gauteng. It is a green lung in our industrial province, about 45 minute drive from the bustling Sandton central business district, CBD. It is a haven for hikers and adventurous cyclists or it should be. The reserve is operated by the Gauteng province. Once there was a thriving resort in the reserve operated by one of the top hotel chains in the country but when it came time to renew the lease, other priorities meant that the hotel chain was rejected as a partner by the ANC-led Gauteng government. Instead, the buildings were left to stand empty and have now degraded to a point where substantial investment would be needed to get the resort up and running again. Investment that our government certainly cannot afford and that no businessman will

contemplate while the ANC government plays games with security of tenure; another prime opportunity for a tourism boost that this government has wasted.

 

These are not isolated issues. They are just two that I have had personal experience with. Others abound, like the issues that I learnt about from the Buffalo City councillors Dinesh Vallabh, Funeka Wolose and Shandre. The once thriving harbour- side restaurants at Latimer’s Landing are all deserted because of failures by Public Works to renew the leases. Abandoned buildings around the harbour owned by Transnet have created safe havens for criminals and building hijackers. Long grass and apathetic police make the area unsafe for tourists. There is a development called WaterWorld on the west bank. It has been well designed and well planned but construction has never been finished. The beachfront development on the eastern beach has been incomplete for 20 years while the government dithers and talks. Yes, white elephants abound.

 

 

There is also the ... [Inaudible.] ... resort on the way to Port Alfred, again well designed but totally inaccessible due to a road that has never been constructed. The picture that emerges is a lack of co-ordination in government, where Tourism doesn't talk to business, Public Works talks a lot to

business and Tourism, but it doesn't actually do anything, and Transnet of course does not talk or listen to anybody.

Municipalities are generally ignored and co-operative governance across the spheres is nonexistent.

 

 

Now, contrast this with the DA-led Western Cape, where we've heard about many additional flights and routes that have been negotiated with various airlines, some of them new to South African routes. These are not by accident but as a direct result of provincial government using its various resources, including Wesgro, to talk tourism to key players, to consult and involve local municipalities and, most importantly, to act on the advice, guidance and support of local tourism players.

 

 

Just look at the work of Cape Town Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, who realised that tourism in the CBD needed a shot in the arm following the COVID lockdowns. He shut down streets on Thursday nights to create safe zones for people to come and enjoy themselves in the CBD and spend money at restaurants and shops. The events are well policed to ensure the safety of visitors and therefore very well attended.

 

The Minister of unemployment recently had a lot to say about the fact that the Western Cape creates jobs because it is

lucky enough to have a mountain and the sea. Perhaps he forgot that Durban has got the Drakensberg and the warm Indian Ocean, certainly a much nicer ocean to swim in and enjoy for the water sports. The Eastern Cape has got the beauty of the Wild Coast and of course the Amathole Mountains is right there. The luck is not in having the natural resources. In fact, the luck is having voters who understand that their votes translate into their quality of life.

 

 

The lip service from the ANC here today is really an insult to the tourism operators of South Africa, an industry waiting to provide tens of thousands of jobs, but our Tourism Minister is too busy doing the pencil test on tourism operators to determine if they qualify for funding.

 

Fellow South Africans, we should not remain victims of this government. Vote for your future, South Africa. Vote for the party that cares about tourism, that cares about creating jobs and cares about improving lives. Thank you.

 

 

Mr M A P DE BRUYN: Hon House Chair, tourism is a tremendous source of potential income and opportunity for our communities. It can be a catalyst for local economic growth and development, and when done right tourism offers many

possibilities to create jobs, promote small businesses and showcase local crafts and cultures. It is important to recognise that the development of the tourism sector is beneficial for everyone in our communities. However, to build successful tourism spaces and facilities, we must start by identifying our communities unique features and resources to attract visitors. This may include natural beauty, historical sites, cultural heritage and local traditions. By harnessing and preserving these characteristics, we can create a unique and appealing experience for tourists visiting our communities.

 

 

Afrikaans:

Dan is dit belangrik om te verseker dat ons toerisme ruimtes en fasiliteite met die nodige infrastruktuur en dienste toegerus word om toeriste gemaklik te kan akkommodeer. Dit sluit in goeie verblyf, gerieflike restaurante, veilige vervoerstelsels en ’n verskeidenheid van aktiwiteite vir besoekers. Deur hierdie fasiliteite te ontwikkel sal ons gemeenskappe in staat stel om in die toerismesektor te floreer en te groei.

 

 

Dit is alles redelik vanselfsprekend, maar om dit te bewerkstellig sal daar samewerking van alle departemente moet

wees. Tans in Suid-Afrika is daar nie een enkele spruit, rivier of dam wat nie besoedel is met rou riool as gevolg van munisipaliteite se onvermoë en die onvermoë van die Departement van Omgewingsake om hierdie besoedeling aan te spreek en te beheer nie. Die gehalte van ons paaie en algemene vervoerstelsels is van so ’n aard dat gemeenskappe nie eens toegang tot basiese dienste het nie, om wat nog te praat van toeriste veilig te vervoer nie.

 

 

Vir jare lank het die een na die ander Minister van Vervoer hierdie verval veroorsaak en slegs leë beloftes van ontwikkeling en onderhoud gepropageer met geen suksesse nie. Die huidige kragkrisis en die ekonomiese impak daarvan op plaaslike gemeenskappe is besig om plaaslike besighede en entrepreneurs lam te lê en die een na die ander een sluit hul deure as gevolg hiervan. Dit terwyl ons tans drie Ministers het wat oorsig oor Eskom en die energiekrisis in Suid-Afrika het.

 

So kan ons elke departement se mislukking en onvermoë wat bydra tot die sukkelende toerisme bedryf opnoem, maar die feit bly staan dat solank die ANC aan bewind is, sal hierdie omstandighede net vererger en sal die toerisme bedryf, soos die res van Suid-Afrika, net verder ten gronde gaan.

English:

I agree with the hon Minister. Tourism has the potential to ensure economic growth and prosperity for our communities but while the ANC is governing every single department and this country into the ground, economic growth and prosperity will remain but a distant dream. Hopefully, after the 2024 elections, when we have a new government and functional departments, tourism in South Africa will reach its true potential. Thank you.

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

Mnu I M SILEKU: Mandibulise mama, kodwa ngenxa kacimicimi anisayi kububona ubuso bam.

 

English:

Hon House Chair and hon members, it is nice to be back but it is just unfortunate that you will not be able to see my beauty due to the Minister of Electricity is still struggling to get a plan of taking us out of load shedding, but we continue.

 

 

IsiXhosa:

 

Nks N NDONGENI: Hayi wena, musa ukusindwebela, ufike ngokundweba kwakho kanene.

Afrikaans:

Mnr I M SELEKU: Hierdie onderwerp raak my, as ’n verteenwoordiger van die Wes-Kaapse Provinsiale Parlement diep, omdat dit nie net ’n saak van die ekonomie en statistieke is nie, maar een wat die lewens van ons burgers, gemeenskappe en die toekoms van ons provinsie aanraak.

 

 

English:

The data I present today is not a mere conjecture, it is backed by vigorous vetting from the provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities and offers a compelling insight into the transformation of power of tourism in the Western Cape. In the past year alone, international tourists visiting our Western Cape have generated an uninspiring R24,3 billion fortifying our economy and supporting a staggering 10 600 jobs.

 

 

To break it down further, for every 100 international tourists who venture into our province, they bring with them

R2,1 million indirect tourist spending, which in turn contribute 500 000 to our provincial gross domestic product. This infusion of capital enables the creation of local jobs, fostering employment opportunities for our communities and supports the movement of R1,4million worth of air cargo,

further catalysing economic activity. Let these numbers resonate, they are not just statistics on page they are a testament to the potential and the power of tourism industry in the Western Cape.

 

 

Since 2015, we have witnessed remarkable progress in our air connectivity. Cape Town and the Western Cape have been directly connected to 10 new African destinations and as recently as June of this year, to Manzini and Lusaka. This has increased the total number of cross-border African destinations served out of Cape Town to 15, all facilitated by

11 operating airlines.

 

 

 

Furthermore, the African seat capacity that has been on an impressive upward trajectory, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 10% per year between two 2015 and 2023. This growth has culminated in 555 000 inbound seats, a substantial increase from 250 seats we had in 2015. The Cape Town Air Access Project aims to enhance our air connectivity to the Western Cape...

 

 

IsiXhosa:

... kwaye idlala indima ebalulekileyo

English:

... in achieving these remarkable milestones. By improving air connectivity and growing air cargo capacity, we have achieved improved business competitiveness by making our destinations more accessible on the global stage. The numbers of international two-way passengers through Cape Town International Airport in the first seven months of 2023 are nothing short of astounding. They saw a 69% increase compared to the same period in 2022, reaching a remarkable 1,6 million passengers. This growth continues to strengthen throughout the year, according to the Airports Company South Africa, Acsa with international passengers today reaching 1,6 million in the first seven months of 2023. This exceeded pre pandemic levels by 106% a year to date and grew by an impressive 69% compared to the same period in 2022.

 

 

Domestically, our province is thriving as well, with

3,8 million domestic two-way passengers passing through the City of Cape Town International Airport between January and July 2023 based on Acsa data. Even George Airport, a critical gateway for our province, witnessed a three percent year on year increase with 439 837 two-passengers between January and July 2023. The attraction of tourists to our diverse and beautiful Western Cape is undeniable. Fit for 21 participating

attractions across the six regions of our province, recorded a total of 469 854 visitors in July 2023. This marks a remarkable 40% growth in the number of visitors compared to July 2022. The arrival of 60 5000 foreign passengers injected R24,3 billion into the Western Cape economy in 2022 alone, supporting a substantial 10600 jobs.

 

 

This means that for every 100 international passengers travelling to Cape Town and the Western Cape R2,1 million is generated indirect tourism spend. Notably, the same 100 passengers also support the movement of R1,4 million worth of air cargo to the province.

 

Afrikaans:

 

Dit is egter nie net die syfers wat die storie vertel nie; dit is die verhaal van individue, gesinne en gemeenskappe, wie se lewens positief deur hierdie sektor beïnvloed word. Dit is die kelners in ons restaurante, die gidse by ons aantreklikhede, die hotelpersoneel, wat besoekers van regoor die wêreld verwelkom en die entrepreneurs, wat sukses in die toerismebedryf vind. Dit is die ouers, wat vir hulle kinders kan sorg, die student, wat hul drome kan nastreef en die gemeenskappe, wat kan floreer, as gevolg van toerisme.

English:

The Western Cape tourism sector continues to shine with tourist arrivals via air to Cape Town International Airport in the first six months of 2023, exceeding pre-pandemic levels.

This is a testament to the resilience and aloe of our province as a tourist destination. Moreover, international two- passengers having remained robust between January and June 2024.

 

 

While we celebrate these achievements, we must also emphasise the critical importance of tourism safety. The City of Cape Town Tourism Safety Law Enforcement Unit deserves our heartfelt appreciation for ensuring a safe 2022/23 summer tourism season. Their dedicated efforts have resulted in a total of 4 264 safety interventions conducted by this unit over and above, regular policing and law enforcement activities. In December alone, these interventions included

1 514 patrols assisted to 488 tourists with safety and general queries, responses to 497 complaints, handling out fines where the city by-laws were broken and assisting in three arrests. Their work is essential in creating an inviting and secure environment for our visitors.

Events are another vital aspect of our tourism industry. The Cape Town Sevens, the renowned Two Oceans Marathon and the recent Cape Town E-Prix events have been remarkable, contributed to our local and provincial economy. The Two Oceans Marathon, for instance, annually injects a staggering R672 million into our local and provincial economy. The recent E-prix event, which is testament to our provinces growing reputation as a major sporting hub, contributed a remarkable R2 billion. In closing, the Western Cape’s tourism sector is not just about statistics of or economic growth, it is about the people of our province. It is about the future we are building for them and the opportunities we are creating. It is about showcasing our regions, natural beauty, cultural richness and warm hospitality to the world.

 

 

I want to highlight the exceptional work done, by Wesgro and the provincial Department of Economic Development and Tourism that in promoting tourism in our province. They are hard at work bringing in new airlines and cruise ships, innovating with social media and promoting the Western Cape as a world- class tourism destination. As we move forward, let us pledge our unwavering support to these initiatives, for they are the vehicles that will drive our province to even greater heights

in tourism, local economic development and prosperity for our people. Thank you very much.

 

IsiXhosa:

 

Enkosi kakhulu.

 

 

 

Afrikaans:

 

Baie dankie.

 

 

IsiXhosa:

Enkosi, Sihlalo.

 

 

 

IsiXhosa:

Nks N TAFENI: Sihlalo, mandibulise kwaye ndicela ukuyivala ividiyo yam kuba uthungelwano aluzinzanga kweli cala.

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mrs W Ngwenya): Okay...

 

 

 

IsiXhosa:

... qhuba, ayikho ingxaki.

 

 

 

English:

Ms N TAFENI: Chairperson, I stand here today in the House for the very first time, to debate tourism spaces and facilities

for local economic development, a sector that is central to the growth and development of this country. This debate which takes place at the backdrop of a very dark period for our country where crime is very high, unemployment and poverty rises and the majority of our people, landless. The month of September marks as Tourism Month, where tourism is celebrated and recognised for its economic potential and its contribution to poverty alleviation.

 

 

However, it is disappointing to note how tourism benefits in South Africa do not actually trickle down to poor communities. Tourism development in townships and rural areas remains far from being advanced. Townships here once thought of as vibrant spaces filled with historical heritage and political tourism but under this Minister’s watch they are known only as crime spots where foreign tourists go to die. This Minister has failed to revitalise South Africa tourism and has overlooked the need to boost it. We know this to be true as tourism enterprises still face several challenges in how they are run. Black entrepreneurs face challenges such as lack of access to financial resources and lack of funding as there is little or no support offered by government for small entrepreneurs.

Black entrepreneurs struggle getting funding even when viable business plans are made available. Chairperson, there also exists very little evidence that the poor actually benefit from tourism. Small businesses based in townships face competition and are not protected from the outside white-owned tour operators who have entered these spaces. It is also disappointing to note how tourism is still just centred around areas such as Soweto, in Gauteng where activity is clustered in Orlando West around where the Vilakazi Hector Peterson precinct is located.

 

 

Soweto currently holds an advantage over the townships in South Africa as it draws visitors because of its struggle history, legacy, attractions and its significant historical events such as the 16 June Uprising and of course, due to its close proximity in Johannesburg. Year in and year out, Gauteng is the province that received the most international visitors whilst other townships such as in the Eastern Cape province and Free State do not have such an advantage. Gauteng and the Western Cape provinces experience most tourists whether for business or leisure and other provinces must compete for a piece of the pie.

The Minister has failed to address issues of inequality development, specifically in rural communities, and it has ignored rural tourism or leisure activities which could be developed further in areas such as Qonce, Butterworth and Queenstown. There is a lack of capacity building of the state, especially at local government level, where there is a lack of management skills and capital with which to expand the rural tourism infrastructure. Local communities, often disregarded, are not involved in planning and decision-making processes to ensure that tourism development is aligned with the needs of our people. Roads and transport are in a state of despair and it is difficult for tourists to assess the township.

 

 

This sector also has also made no efforts at enhancing gender equality and instead we find that gender inequality still exists in this sector as entrepreneurship is mostly dominated by males. Women still only participate when they are hired as domestic workers or employed for cleaning purposes.

Chairperson, there has been no believable plans or policies put in place which focus on skills development and entrepreneurship for women and persons with disabilities.

 

It must, once again, be made clear that women are capable and must be given opportunities to operate as tour guides, game

rangers, drivers as well as guesthouse operators and managers. Chairperson, I could go all day listing the challenges which need to be overcome if the rural and township tourism sector is to achieve any of its goals. I could go further and speak about how provinces and local government still need to do more to improve tourism infrastructure such as roads as a matter of urgency if tourism businesses are ever to grow and be viable, how maintenance of infrastructure should be established and a regular basis and how currently there is a lack of leadership in providing skills training and business start-ups.

 

 

Chairperson, as the EFF continues to mark its 10-year anniversary, we are reminded of the work which lies ahead of us as an organisation when we take over in 2024. As such, we encourage all South Africans to register to vote for the EFF in the upcoming elections. Thank you, Chairperson.

 

 

Mr N M HADEBE: Hon House Chairperson and hon members, Statistics South Africa has revealed that South Africa’s tourism sector is larger than both the manufacturing and agricultural sectors, making it a crucial driver of the domestic economy, catering to both leisure and business traffic. Tourism is an essential pillar of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals,

especially Goals 8, 12 and 14. Goal 8 specifically references economic growth and the importance of employment opportunities. Statistics South Africa has reported that our tourism sector continues to exhibit strong recovery, with the first half of 2023, recording more than four million tourist arrivals, which is a significant increase from the 2,3 million tourist arrivals between January and June 2022. This leads me to question how this surge of tourists has led to sustainable employment opportunities for the local communities in these tourist hotspots. The economies of many rural areas in our country are reliant on tourism.

 

 

Therefore, we need to continuously find new and creative ways in which we can harness the opportunities created by an influx of tourists in these areas. I put it to you that the solution lies within the greater public-private partnership initiatives. One example of this is a private sector initiative called Youth4Tourism launched by the Youth Employment Service and financial services group, Sanlam. The primary objective of Youth4Tourism is to unite various businesses in unlocking the untapped potential of tourism in the country by creating over 1 000 jobs for young individuals in its initial phase. This initiative aims to support thousands of small and medium sized enterprises. The

government’s investment in these initiatives will be vital as it would increase the number of employment opportunities that can be created.

 

Unfortunately, whilst the plans on paper may seem wonderful, the supporting infrastructure needed no longer exists and is in the state of decay that is rendered useless. Take, for example, an area that is heavily reliant on local tourism, such as the uKhahlamba area in northern KwaZulu-Natal. This area is host to some of the world’s most amazing landscapes and holiday destinations that are the envy of First World countries. Due to poor supporting road infrastructure, many internationally recognised resorts have been forced to close down, shred jobs and operate in ways that merely keep them afloat. To make matters worse, the roads due to their conditions are dangerous to our own people. They are unsafe to walk along as vehicles have no option but to dangerously cross onto the oncoming side of the road to avoid potholes in some instances.

 

 

Hon House Chairperson, in closing, we can only reach one conclusion, and that is government has not paid attention to the needs of the maintenance of public infrastructure and it has now reached a point where it negatively affects the

country’s development path. To resolve such issues, government departments need to sit regularly and work out a development plan together where their work complement each other and not silo-based budgets. I thank you, hon House Chairperson.

 

 

Mr F J BADENHORST: Hon House Chair, we welcome hon Deputy Minister and fellow members. One can only wonder if the Deputy Minister of Tourism knows as much about tourism as what he knows about operating his zoom cameras on the zoom platform.

However, be that as it may, tourism is one of the very few industries in South Africa that has escaped the full effect of ANC incompetence. Maybe it’s just because Luthuli House cadres just don’t understand how to operate in tourism and how it works, maybe it’s just because there are as many clear-cut opportunities in tourism for looting as in other industries in the country. Tourism has survived and often flourished in spite of the worst thrown at the industry by our cadres in green, black and yellow.

 

The incapacity of this government to rollout e-visas is a case in point. The incapacity to ensure enough friendly customs officials that ensures security, but also treat tourists as the assets that they really are, the inability to ensure the safety and security of tourists, both local and international,

by having an effective policy system, the inability to ensure functioning access routes to communities that has the potential to tap into the tourism market. Yet, they are left behind due to a cadre ... [Inaudible.] ... the money for new road instead of the entire region benefitting from tourism, the complete failure to process and issue the necessary operator permits for reputable service providers to function legally and continue to deliver safe and reliable experiences.

 

 

The DA has, in fact, long advocated for South Africa to step up and take our place as the number one tourism destination in Africa and one of the top tourism destinations in the world.

How will we fix this? We need to be attractive to investors that will help grow our economy. Policy clarity is paramount and having more of the same will now of change have proven local and regional policies of the Western Cape implemented at a national level. Government should be an enabler, create the right environment that will encourage greater involvement of entrepreneurs, and then prioritised support programmes for the tourism industry, helping everyone irrespective of the colour of their skins. Evidence-based decision-making is critical in tailoring products and services that will meet the demands of both the international and local markets. The research and

information gathering should be facilitated by a competent department. Let me reiterate that, a competent department.

 

As mentioned above, we are failing rural communities and entire tourism micro industries by not putting in place the basic infrastructure to connect the tourists to the unique experiences offered by our diverse country and its people. Hon Rayi, you referred to it, and you said that we need to increase tourism in townships, villages and klein dorpies. The fact is, hon Rayi, we will not increase tourism in townships, villages and klein dorpies if tourists do not physically get to those villages, townships and klein dorpies.

 

 

You know, in most European countries, tourists are used to driving on the left side of the road. If you go to any place north of the Western Cape, tourists have to drive on what is left of the road. There simply isn’t any infrastructure. It has been proven time and time again that if government works together with private sector, with clearly defined roles and supporting one another, constructive engagements will generate positive outcomes for all. Just look at the beautiful examples given by my colleague, the hon Sileku of the Western Cape legislature. We need to ensure that educational foundation is laid, that tourism is again seen as an attractive career

opportunity and that the necessary skills are transferred for the industry to easily absorb individuals who will hit the ground running and add value to ensure that successes are achieved.

 

 

Very, very interesting, hon Mmoiemang, that you say that the South African economic recovery will only take place when we start developing tourism. The fact of the matter is that South African economic recovery will only take place once this ineffective, incapable ANC government is replaced at the 2024, electoral election boxes. The bottom line is, and we are now going to be subjected for the next 15 minutes to hon Dangor who has already shown this morning that his hearing aids had a little bit defective. We will be subjected to 15 minutes of his soliloquy about how great the ANC is. The bottom line is that while the rest of the ANC-controlled South Africa still talking to the DA-controlled Western Cape is ... [Inaudible.]

... the tourist walks, we will see you at the ballot boxes in 2024. Thank you very much, House Chair.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms W Ngwenya): Now, I would like to recognise hon Dangor from the ANC, ambassador. Hon Dangor.

 

 

Ms H S BOSHOFF: He can’t hear.

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms W Ngwenya): Hon Dangor.

 

 

 

Mr F J BADENHORST: He is getting batteries for his hearing aid.

 

 

Mr M I RAYI: That is an insult, an indignity.

 

 

 

Ms H S BOSHOFF: Luckily, I can joke about that because I also

... [Interjections.]

 

 

Mr M I RAYI: You have no respect for black people.

 

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms W Ngwenya): Hon Dangor.

 

 

Ms H S BOSHOFF: Let’s move on, please.

 

 

 

Mr M I RAYI: You’re not a presiding officer.

 

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms W Ngwenya): Order, hon members. Hon Dangor.

 

 

Mr D R RYDER: I think that we can move on, Chair.

 

 

IsiZulu:

USIHLALO WENDLU (Nk W Ngwenya): Sizoqhuba. Siyaqhuba. Yebo, siyaqhuba.

 

English:

 

Now, I would like to recognise the Deputy Minister of Tourism, hon Mahlalela.

 

IsiZulu:

Ubani okhulumayo manje?

 

 

English:

 

Hon ...

 

 

 

Ms H S BOSHOFF: Let’s call it a day.

 

 

IsiZulu:

 

USIHLALO WENDLU (Nk W Ngwenya): Siyaqhuba.

 

 

 

English:

Mr M I RAYI: He says give him a minute, Chair. He’s struggling to log in, he kicked out. House Chair he is trying to log in.

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms W Ngwenya): Hon Mahlalele.

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF TOURISM: No, thank you, Chair. I’m Mahlalela and not Mahlalele. No, no, thank you very much, Chair.

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms W Ngwenya): Yes, hon member. Both of them?

 

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF TOURISM: Who is both of them?

 

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms W Ngwenya): Mahlalele?

 

 

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF TOURISM: No, I’m Mahlalela and not Mahlalele.

 

IsiZulu:

USIHLALO WENDLU (Nk W Ngwenya): Qhuba, lungu elihloniphekile.

 

 

English:

 

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF TOURISM: No, no, no, thank you very much, Chair.

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms W Ngwenya): You, Mahlalela.

 

 

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF TOURISM: Yes.

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms W Ngwenya): Wait. Mahlalela.

 

 

 

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF TOURISM: Yes, that’s me.

 

 

Ms H S BOSHOFF: Okay, we’ve now sorted the surname out. Can we carry on now?

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms W Ngwenya): You can continue, hon Deputy Minister.

 

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF TOURISM: No, no, thank you very much, Chair, and hon members.

 

 

Mr M DANGOR: I’m back here, Chairperson I'm back in, Chairperson.

 

 

Mr D R RYDER: No, it’s not appropriate, hey?

 

 

 

IsiXhosa:

Mnu M RAYI: Mfo kaDangor.

 

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms W Ngwenya): Okay, you can continue, Deputy Minister. Can we give hon Dangor to finish? Hon Dangor.

Mr M DANGOR: Chairperson, this morning when other people were struggling to log in, the hon Ryder did not make such comments. He was also struggling to log in. However, we all suffer from the same kind of issues and sometimes we have the same kind of solutions. Hon Chairperson, hon Deputy Minister, hon members, we meet here today as we are concluding our celebrations of the Heritage Month. We are also and embracing the beauty of our diversity as patriots of South Africa and the South African nation.

 

We are proud of our sports figures, at the moment, the Springboks, for doing what they do, and we need to look at the various heritages and rich cultures that we have, which are profound. As former President Nelson Nelson Mandela once said, it is against this understanding that the ANC as the government has always advocated for the support and growth of cultural tourism in order to boost the local economy and empower small and informal businesses.

 

 

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation, UNWTO, classified cultural tourism as the type of tourism activity which the visitors, essentially, will be motivated at the experiences and consume the various cultural attractions that produce a society. I am going to have a problem with load

shedding again just now. So, I may be intermittent, but please forgive me.

 

South Africa is world renown for our rich culture and history, and almost every part of our society has a district and an iconic story to tell, from umhlaba in KwaZulu-Natal, to the sun areas of the Cape and the Cradle of Humankind outside of Johannesburg, which is one of the richest Fossil Hominid Sites in the world, to Soweto heritage sites, which has been criticised as taking most of the tourism coming into the area. Supporting cultural tourism is not only a boost for our local economies and job creation capacity, but it can also lead to the regeneration of rural and urban areas.

 

 

It is also the preservation of our natural and cultural heritage, thereby bringing us closer together as tourism in our unity in diversity. I want to return to a recent visit to Germany, and in that visit, we discovered some very interesting things. One of them is that the German Constitution is a federal Constitution, ours is unity Constitution. However, the state and the provinces that we have and the states that they have, have developed a new attitude of co-optation rather than competition, and they will co-operate together to provide for Germany as it is now.

They will do so on a bilateral basis and bring in all the move to forces, the business, the trade unions and the political entities. All of them will act in a concerted manner, and not some act as if they don’t belong to South Africa, and that they are not nationalists. So, my appeal is that we need to all move forward as a national movement, to provide the kind of changes that we that we need to do. You know after 300 and some odd years of apartheid, the transformation was not going to be easy, and we all know that.

 

In 1994, when President Mandela mooted for a state of national unity, he did so recognising that transformation is going to take all of us, it is going to take every force and every motive force from wherever they come, to provide the kind of change that is needed and the development. The electricity was designed for a certain percentage of people, as well as all the other resources was designed for a particular section of the populists, but now it has to supply the entire populists, and that is the difference between generation, the use and consumption. There is a big gap between generation and consumption.

 

 

The appeal is really, let us get together as South Africans to produce the kind of society that we would want of

nonracialism, nonsexism and a democratic South Africa that serves all of its people and the needs of all of its people, including the needs of the rural people, building the roads which will actually facilitate tourism, building tourism facilities which will make it easier. If Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal receives most tourists, that should actually be encouraging the development of other provinces and facilities in those provinces together. Let us bring our ideas together.

 

At the moment, what I’m hearing is that we are in an election campaign. So, we will make all kinds of speeches to get elected. You know, election is not the only thing in politics, the transformation of society is, in fact, got to be more important than elections. The elections is one method and one plan of struggle to bring about a democratic society, it is not the totality thereof. Having said that, I want to just make an appeal to the office bearers that if officials are producing a legal document, we should respect that, and not be disrespectful of those legal personalities that serve us and actually create the legislation that we pass.

 

 

If we have criticism of them, there is another form to do that and there is another forum to do that, but to actually sit

here and criticise the legal section of Parliament is not very tasteful. So, my appeal is to the office bearers to please look at this. Please address this issue and let us get on with it. Also, my appeal is for us to be united as South Africans, in the words and the sense of former President Mandela in 1994, to achieve the transformation of this country, is going to take all of us, but to play football politics is not going to achieve anything else. Thank you very much.

 

 

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF TOURISM: Hon Chair and members who participated in the debate, thank you. Well, it is evidently clear that all challenges raised by some hon members will continue to be a challenge unless they are addressed not just by government alone, but by government and every sector which is required to play a meaningful role in dealing with the problems and the challenges of infrastructure in order to unlock the local economic benefits. Well, for some of the members, the issues they raised sometimes you wouldn’t believe that they are living in South Africa, or if they do live in South Africa, it means they don’t make research.

 

 

They just raise statements which has got no begging or no support. As government we are working with all the spheres of government. The things that somebody is mentioning about how

the Cape or what Cape Town is doing, is not an isolated incident of Cape Town, it is a work that is done by government as a whole, supported by the SA Tourism, SAT. All provinces are working with SAT to promote all the provinces on an equitable basis. However, as you know, the other provinces will have more advantages, not because they are doing something extraordinary, no, but because the historical fact that in terms of promotion, for many years it was mainly targeted for the Western Cape and Kruger National Park.

 

So, that’s why they became the most popular destination in South Africa, not because of a miracle done by any other party, the so-called DA. No, it’s not like that. The other thing that members must understand is that there is a lot of community work that we are doing to develop community project in villages. If you are able to read the Annual Performance Plan, APP, which was brought to this House, you will see the intervention we are making in rural areas, in small towns and dorpies, on a variety of community project that we are building.

 

 

Currently, we are running over 29 projects. We have been running and maintaining all the national parks so that they become viable. Also, we have been working with provinces to

identify some of the natural parks that needs to be relevant, and we are working with those provinces to assist them in making sure that we revamp those provincial parks so that they are able to be integrated to the national tourism space and be able to provide services. We are providing skills and we are training various skills working together with Tourism Business Council of SA, TBCSA.

 

This coming Friday we will be having the National Tourism Career Expo, where we are exposing the entire country into the careers that individuals or children who would want to pursue tourism can be able to look into and participate in. However, the fundamental problem in the tourism sector is lack of transformation, that there is still a concentration of ownership and management in the hands of a few. Unfortunately, that few happens to have a particular race, and unfortunately, that few happens to be made. So, those are the problems that are there which are structural by nature, which we need to be able to deal with them.

 

 

We have to enlarge volumes and increase the number of tourists visiting South Africa, we have to increase tourism spending while in the country. We have to increase their length of stay and increase the average number of provinces visited by each

tourist. Currently, it is only at 1,1 and half province per tourist, and this also addresses the challenges that we have seasonally. The five vital components of the tourism system, which attractions, accessibility, accommodation, amenities and activities must be our own drive to unlock the potential of economic growth.

 

 

Tourism generates income and create easily accessible training opportunities and jobs, as well as safe market services and local products. Infrastructure revenue from tourism can be used to expand other important sectors such as transport, energy and waste management. Therefore, the issue of not about creating building viable tourism spaces and facilities for early days, but it is about ensuring that our municipalities understand their needs to be a visitor’s attraction to access accommodation to amenities as well as local awareness and keeping all our towns as clean as possible we can.

 

 

When we understand all of these ... [Interjections.] ... the impact of visitors to the local economy as well as their needs are likely to plan better. The department that is responsible for roads they must build roads, those that are responsible for water they must provide water and those that are responsible for amenities must make sure that amenities are

made available. So, these are some of the things that we need to understand that it is a collaborative effort, and we should work together and not throw stones as if we are living in another country. We are all South Africans and we’ve got an obligation to build this country together. Thank you very much.

 

 

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms W Ngwenya): Thank you very much, Deputy Minister. Hon members, that concludes the debate. I wish to thank the Deputy Minister, the MECs and all permanent and special delegates for availing themselves for the debate. Hon members, that concludes the business of the day.

 

The Council adjourned at 13:14

 

 

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