Hansard: NA: Unrevised hansard
House: National Assembly
Date of Meeting: 31 Oct 2023
Summary
No summary available.
Minutes
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 31 OCTOBER 2023
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
The House met at 14:00
The House Chairperson Mr C T Frolick took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayer or meditation.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Thank you very much, hon House Chair. Hon members, I hereby move that the House, notwithstanding Rule 108(2) which provides that the time allocated to a member of each party for making a declaration of vote must be determined by the Rules Committee taking into account the proportional strength of the parties, limits the time allocated to a member from each party for making a declaration of vote on any Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report to not more than two minutes for this annual session.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Are there any objections? No objections.
Motion agreed to.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON WOMEN, YOUTH AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ON NATIONAL COUNCIL ON GENDER- BASED VIOLENCE AND FEMICIDE BILL
There was no debate.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Thank you very much, House Chair, I hereby move that we adopt this Report or the Bill. Thank you.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): The motion is that the Report be adopted. Are there any objections? No objections.
Motion agreed to.
Report accordingly adopted.
NATIONAL COUNCIL ON GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND FEMICIDE BILL
(Second Reading Debate)
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, YOUTH AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES:
Hon House Chairperson, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee of Women, Youth and Persons with Disability, hon members, I greet you all. You don’t have to verify. She was interpreting, so she knew what I was saying. Thank you very much, let me start by quoting one of our finest sons of the soil, the longest serving President of the African National Congress, Oliver Reginald Tambo:
One of the fundamental tasks that this process of national liberation confronts is the liberation of women of our country from their triple oppression on the grounds of sex, class and colour.
The level of gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa is eroding our humanity and our national liberation. Women do not feel safe at home, in the streets, in places of work, study and even sometimes in places of worship.
Hon House Chair, we introduced the National Council of Gender- Based Violence and Femicide Bill to fortify the existing legal framework towards ending GBVF. The Bill albeit not a panacea, offers valuable contribution. The whole of society is required for us to fight this scourge, the religious community,
traditional leaders, civil society and all social formations through the commitment to end gender-based violence and femicide, the ANC government. The National Strategic Plan on GBVF continues to be institutionalised throughout government, strengthening the foundation of its delivery. The President has hosted two successful summits on GBV and of course, he is also about to co-host an international man’s conference on positive masculinity with the Chair of the African Union, His Excellency President Azali of Comoros in November. We have also established 34 local rapid response teams to empower local communities to play a role in the fight against GBVF. The number of Thuthuzela Care Centres has been expanded to 63 in this financial year and there are also six critical pieces of legislation in the fight against GBV that have been passed by this House, including Domestic Violence Amendment Act, Criminal Law, Sexual Offences and Related Matters Amendment Act, amongst others. We do need to intensify responses tailored to specific groups impacted by GBVF including children, elderly women, young women and the LGBTIQ+ community.
This necessitates a deliberate alignment and integration with other pressing challenges such as health, overall rates of crime, particularly violent crime, the contribution of alcohol, drugs, and access to guns on GBVF and the triple challenges, of course, of poverty, inequality, and unemployment. These responses must also include promoting gender equality, strengthening law enforcement, improving support services, engaging communities intensifying the economic empowerment of women conducting research, developing effective policies, ensuring responsible media reporting and fostering international collaboration. In all these processes, men must participate fully.
This Bill proposes a council with a balanced composition of government and civil society representation to foster collaboration in addressing this scourge. Working with the council, we should prioritise the education of families also on parenting so that they raise boys and girls in a way that empowers them to shun violence and promote equality. We should also educate families when their young daughters get married. They shouldn’t be saying ...
IsiZulu:
... bekezela ungakhulumi izinto ezenzeka emzini. uyoze uphume usuyibhokisi.
English:
We must stop that as parents. I would also like to thank the portfolio committee representing diverse political parties in showing a unified commitment to the eradication of this scourge, and I am grateful to all South Africans who have participated in the public consultations. As I sit down, allow me to quote President Samora Machel:
The emancipation of women is not an act of charity, the result of a humanitarian or compassionate attitude. The liberation of women is a fundamental necessity for the Revolution, the guarantee of its continuity and the precondition for its victory.
So, I urge all members to vote in favour of this Bill.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Thank you, hon Minister and well done on using the added official language of the country, it is the first that we have witnessed today.
Well done, hon Minister.
Ms C N NDABA: House Chairperson, Chief Whip of the Majority Party, Minister of the department, hon members, ...
IsiZulu:
... ngiyanibingelela nonke.
English:
I hereby table the Bill [B31B – 2022]. First of all, the Bill was unanimously adopted by all the members of the portfolio committee. There were no objections from the members of the portfolio committee. Even hon members who are coming to debate today must know that this Bill was unanimously adopted.
The National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill 2022 emanates from the National Strategic Plan on Gender- Based Violence and Femicide, produced by the interim steering committee established in April 2019 to respond to gender-based violence and femicide. The National Strategic Plan was called for at the landmark Presidential Summit on Gender-Based Violence held in Pretoria on 1 and 2 November 2018. After a lengthy consultation process, the National Council on Gender- based Violence and Femicide Bill [B31B – 2022] was tabled in Parliament and referred to the committee on 11 October 2022 for information and to the Joint Tagging Mechanism, JTM, in terms of Joint Rule 159 for tagging and tagged as a section 75 Bill accordingly.
The Bill seeks to establish the National Council on Gender- Based Violence and Femicide to provide for the following; functions of the council, the board of the council, the appointment of members of the board, the term of office of members of the board, the termination of members of the board, the termination of membership of the board, for meetings of the board, to provide for the establishment of committees of the board, the appointment of the chief executive officer and the secretariat unit of the council, the establishment of the norms and standards for the provincial and local working groups and, finally, the making of regulations and for the matters connected therewith.
The Bill, in its preamble, acknowledges that gender-based violence and femicide is a serious social evil and that victims of violence are among the most vulnerable members of society. The Bill emphasises the implementation of the multisectoral, co-ordinated government and the whole society approach to eliminate gender-based violence and femicide. [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Can we just ask the ICT to switch off the microphone of the hon Masutha? Please continue, hon member.
Ms C N NDABA: It provides a legislative framework for the establishment of the council as a statutory body which acts through its board and is responsible for providing strategic leadership on the elimination of gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa. The council will co-ordinate its work through the implementation of the national strategy addressing gender-based violence and femicide at national, provincial and local levels, including community and other forums.
The committee received its first briefing in terms of the parliamentary processes. It received its first briefing on the National Council for Gender-Based Violence Bill from the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities on 28 February 2023. In facilitating effective public participation in the Bill, the committee conducted an in-person and visual public hearings on 6 and 13 June Two 2023. A total of 17 oral submissions were made by individuals and various organisations. The committee received 52 written submissions from the public. The written submissions were submitted electronically online and via email, 65,3% of the submissions were in support of the Bill and indicated areas for strengthening the provisions. The department responded to issues raised during the public hearings on 29 August and 5
and 12 September 2023. Thereafter, the committee was briefed by the department on 19 September 2023 on the revised Bill as a working document with further inputs received from members of the committee made in the meeting held on 12 September 2020. The committee also deliberated on the Bill with respect to the amendments made. On 27 September 2023, the committee deliberated clause-by-clause on the A-list and the B-list, thus deliberating on the Bill in its entirety.
Both the A-list and the B-list were adopted with amendments. Furthermore, the A-list and the B-list were unanimously supported by the committee as I have said. The amendments agreed to by the committee are as follows; The preamble; the enacting provision; Table of Contents; Clause 1 Definition; Clause 2 purpose of the Bill; Clause 3 establishment of the Council; Clause 4 objects of the Bill; Clause 5 functions of the Council; and Clause 6 is about the composition of the board, which substantive changes were made to this clause, key of which was increasing the number of board members to 15 by including the Department of Basic Education and the National Prosecuting Authority. The inclusions are crucial state role- players in the fight against gender-based violence. The Bill that was introduced called for 51% civil society representation of the council’s structure, leaving only 49%
for government representation. However, the committee remained resolute and reiterated the importance of the government taking the lead in collaboration with civil society and the private sector, and as such, the council had to be comprised of more members from the government than civil society and the private sector representatives combined. The committee was also adamant that the private sector be included as this was omitted from the Bill which was introduced.
With respect to the criteria to be applied when considering board members, these individuals would need to be fit and proper persons to hold office, be persons with applicable knowledge and expertise with regard to matters that relate to the purpose of the Act and reflect the demographics and geographical spread of South Africa. Clause 7 is about the disqualification from membership of the board, and this clause deals with the basis for which persons are disqualified from being appointed to the board or from remaining a member of such persons convicted of GBV-related offences. The ANC supports this Bill. Thank you very much.
Ms N K SHARIF: House Chair, the National Council on Gender- Based Violence and Femicide Bill finally makes it to Parliament. The process was riddled with many twists and
turns, with numerous calls and demands from civil society and the DA putting pressure in Parliament and within the Portfolio Committee of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities.
Finally, we are here. Firstly, let me thank the members of the portfolio committee and the chairperson for the work on the Bill. Our focus was on the fight against GBVF and this is what drove us in every meeting.
Given the high amounts of GBVF we are facing in the country, the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide has been a key priority for many in government for many NGOs, GBVF organisations and gender activists. The role of the council is to co-ordinate, monitor, evaluate, implement and regulate the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide and all other legislation pertaining to the eradication of gender-based violence and femicide. The council will be governed by a board and day-to-day running will be by a secretariat and will essentially function as a statutory body that will report to Parliament every quarter and must be budgeted for. Some of the issues while working on the Bill included a shaky public participation process from the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities. When the process started, the lack of communication by the department and the lack of information circulated caused many
who were interested in commenting on the Bill not to know where to go, how to do it and where to get the information from. The department's handling of the public participation process was clumsy, unprofessional and lacklustre. Circulating a Google Doc spreadsheet is not the best way to get public comments for such an important Bill.
A lot of the issues from the parliamentary submissions included the tagging of the Bill as a section 75 and not a section 76 Bill, the lack of public participation, the number of board members and how it is split between the government and civil society. Another issue was the limiting aspects of definitions to maintain consistency. The DA is proud to push aspects of the Bill such as appointments of the board by Parliament, ensuring that the board reports to Parliament and ensuring that there are timelines for the co-option of board members. However, one of our biggest issues with this legislation, like many other bodies, is the lack of teeth the council has. The department insisted that the council is not a service delivery body, but rather a co-ordination and monitoring body that will streamline the government's approach. The DA believes that the department has missed an opportunity to give the council powers to hold government departments and entities accountable. The DA fought for the
inclusion of a legal committee that would have the power to litigate on behalf of victims, but the department argued against it, stating that the budget and mandate were not in line with this. The biggest mistake the department can make is establishing a council that has no power, and essentially will not be able to hold anyone accountable. If this is the case, then our job here was fruitless and not worth the effort.
The root causes of failure to address GBV are flaws in the criminal justice system, poor economic environment and weak policing. Existing mechanisms are not functioning properly due to corruption, maladministration and mismanagement. Given the council’s lack of teeth, the government should focus on better capacitating and empowering existing structures to combat GBVF. The DA supports this Bill for the purpose of fighting gender-based violence and femicide but the council must be properly funded and have the power to hold the government accountable. I thank you.
IsiXhosa:
Nksz N P SONTI: Sihlalo weNdlu, mandithathe eli thuba ndibulise ...
English:
... my commander in chief Julius Sello Malema. House Chairperson the EFF supports the National Council on Gender- Based Violence and Femicide Bill. As we stand here today, women and children in South Africa continue to die every day as if they live in a county that is going through a war. The ANC government has failed to respond to gender-based violence, GBV and the failure is not because of one reason but multiple related reasons.
When President Cyril Ramaphosa became President in 2018., women who attended the Presidential Summit on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide told him that as women, we are raped and killed in our homes, in public spaces in government buildings, at workplaces and including in hospitals. We told him that our children are raped and killed in schools. Nothing has changed for women and children. Our police stations are dysfunctional. They are not a safe space for victims of gender-based violence and femicide.
Our courts are not a safe space for victims of gender-based violence, GBV and femicide. South Africa is not a safe country for women and children. We live very painful lives under the terror of GBV and femicide. It does not matter if you have money, education or employment, you can be a victim of GBV and
femicide anytime. House Chairperson, the EFF is the only political party that has established a GBV desk ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon Sonti, hon Sonti, my apologies. There is another member the hon Seabi who switched on his microphone. The hon members on the platform must please pay respect to the person on the podium. Please continue hon Sonti.
Ms N P SONTI: House Chairperson the EFF is the only political party that has established a GBV desk. Through our GBV desk, we are always on the site of the victims. We are fighting and holding the accountable police to fight GBV. We have even demanded the Independent Police in the Investigative Directorate to establish a division that will focus on complaints against police who victimise GBV victims and refuse to open GBV cases. The same unit must also investigate police officers who are perpetrators of crimes against women and children.
All EFF structures for branches, regions, provinces and national are involved initiative to fight GBV. All EFF offices in regions and provinces will become GBV comfort centres.
Victims of GBV must seek out EFF offices for assistance. The EFF will use its comfort centres to assist victims with counselling and referral to appropriate facilities.
While we support its establishment in principle, the EFF will not wait for the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. We have already started the work that the ANC government failed to do in the past 30 years in government. We know from scientific polling that the ANC is going to be removed from power in the 2024 elections. This fact only confirms the work we are doing on the ground.
When we take over the power in 2024, we are going to continue with practical programmes that prioritise victims of GBV and femicide. The EFF is the only party that will stop GBV and femicide in South Africa because we will give our people jobs. The EFF will give our people free quality education, health care, houses and sanitation to fight poverty. If we fight poverty, we can also fight GBV and femicide.
House Chairperson, we were told that the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide was going ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order hon members. Order! Continue hon member.
IsiXhosa:
Nksz N P SONTI: Umona.
English:
House Chairperson, we were told that the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide was going to be constituted by April 2021. It is three years now, and we are still dealing with the legislation. When the EFF takes over the government, the fight against GBV and femicide will come to an end in South Africa. It is bodies such as the national council that will be funded and be given a proper political mandate to do its work. The EFF supports the National Council on Gender- Based Violence and Femicide. Amen.
Ms M D HLENGWA: Hon Chairperson, we are a country where women and children are at war. According to the Centre for Constitutional Rights, the femicide rate in South Africa is five times the global average. There are many organizations in South Africa which are working hard to clamp down on gender- based violence, GBV after ... [Inaudible] ... the victims and help them reclaim their lives and trauma, many of which are
led by women. An attempt to aid a fight against GBV and femicide, be it formally or informally is warmly welcome.
Therefore, the IFP is delighted with the progress made on the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill, which has been a long time in making. Time and time again, we have stated that government intervention when it comes to killing of our women and girls should not be limited to the formalisation and laws and criminalisation of perpetrators.
Rather, these laws should be accompanied by the genuine attempt to ensure their implementation. We firmly believe that this Bill has the potential to do just that.
The Bill must be commended as it underpins a task of setting up a National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, that seize to implementation of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide 2020-30 to end violence against the marginalised groups in South Africa. Therefore, there is a need for this Bill to explicitly - the state and directly link between the council and the Minister of the Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities. We know all too well the dangers of having ineffective or underutilised reporting mechanism in place, as this can simply act as a
small screen to hide the lack of involvement of government departments.
Therefore, the Ministry of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities should have a person responsible for monitoring and evaluating the ministerial obligation and link the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. This will prove an effective way for the Minister of the Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities not to become isolated from the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide and fall prey to silo-based approach taken by the government departments. Hon Chairperson, following the consideration of the aforementioned factor, the IFP accepts the Bill.
Afrikaans:
Me T BREEDT: Huisvoorsitter, die wetsontwerp roep nog ’n liggaam aan die lewe, nog ’n staatsentiteit, nog ’n begroting, nog personeel, nog ’n geleentheid vir kaderontplooiing, nog ’n mooi belofte wat niks gaan oplewer nie. Die ANC se manier om die indruk te wek dat hulle werklik omgee en optree om die probleem op te los is om nog ’n forum daar te stel wat oor die probleem praat eerder as om die probleem by die horings te pak en op te los.
English:
The council will be no different. We saw in committee deliberations that it was made clear that this entity will not focus on service delivery but rather on the monitoring, planning and all those nice words that mean the problem will not really be addressed. What is very clear is that this council will not address the root cause of gender-based violence and femicide, GBVF. It will not even scratch the surface. It will not, for example address our sexual offences courts and their inefficiency, to name but one current problem.
When looking at the composition of the board, it is worrying that the split is still in favour of government and we are not seeing more involvement by civil society. The ANC argued that more government entities should be on the board as they are the ones that will be implementing the decisions. However, one can argue that civil society works on the ground and will provide a clearer picture of what impact is needed to address the issues.
One welcome amendment is that this council must report to Parliament. It initially only made it possible for the council to report to the President and the Minister, and this would
not have sufficed. As seen with the COVID pandemic, it is dangerous to not have parliamentary oversight.
The question of funding, as with many other Bills, remains to be seen. The Bill allows for R15 million to be allocated over the 2022 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF. According to the Bill, the implementation of the Act will be accommodated within the funds received by the council from appropriation by an Act of Parliament, interest on investment, donations or contributions and monies received from other sources upon implementation of the Bill. This is all very noble but how will it work practically? As I said last week, certain matters do not garner the necessary interest and therefore funding, and my fear is that this will be the same.
Another matter of concern is public participation or the lack thereof. Maybe it is time we ask the question, how much public participation is enough and what is regarded as too little? It is clear that the department only wanted to tick a box when they engaged with relevant stakeholders and it was largely left to the portfolio committee to try and achieve sufficient public participation. The committee tried their utmost and received 52 oral and 17 written submissions.
Further concerns are being raised about how the department continues to ignore inputs by various stakeholders through previous calls for input and during the Presidential Summit, which was represented as a platform for the government to engage civil society and all stakeholders on accountability.
Concerns were also raised about the Bill’s failure to provide clarity on how the GBVF Fund would be resourced, eligibility for funding and how accountability mechanisms would work.
Furthermore, activists claim that this Bill does not seem adequate to serve as the backbone for the formulation of legislation to implement the National Strategic Plan.
Afrikaans:
Aan die een kant is dit goed dat die staat erns het met geslagsgeweld en dat hulle wetgewing prioritiseer en dit aan te spreek, maar dan weer is dit ook kommerwekkend om ondeurdagte wette te wil deurdruk wanneer nodige rolspelers nie daarin inkoop nie. Ek dank u.
Ms M E SUKERS: Hon Chairperson, the ACDP welcomes the move by the government to show seriousness with what is a pandemic in our country, however, with the full realisation that there are serious problems with the strategic plan and the likely
composition of the council. There is an old saying in activism, never let a crisis be wasted. The gender-based violence and femicide crisis by its very seriousness makes it easy for it to be exploited to advance the agenda of activists who could use this Bill as an opportunity to advance transgender and gender fluidity agendas. These activists receive lavish funding to advance this agenda at the expense of women. In countries like the United Kingdom, UK, women have to be protected from biologically male activists who beat them up if they dare speak out to try and secure safe spaces for women.
In countries like the UK Canada and the United States, US, biological men have access to safe spaces for women. Women are no longer safe in changing rooms, in the rape counseling support groups in prisons. Women are not able to choose to only receive intimate care from biological women, young girls are referred for medication and operations to be reassigned as men, ... [inaudible.] ... selective abortions target girls.
So, at the heart of gender-based violence is the destruction of the family, the crisis of values and the collapse of morality. If we are serious about addressing gender-based violence, we need comprehensive plans to advance the rights of women in families. The definition of gender in the strategic
plan needs to be changed to ensure this vote when implemented or the strategic plan first protects biological women.
We are not blind to the violence against transpersons but that cannot be used to weaponise gender-based violence or this Bill against women. Members of the council must not be activists who are secretly funded by foreign actors. Organisations whose members sit on this committee must disclose their funding sources when they are nominated. Women’s groups from cross section of all churches and faith communities must be included on the council. The Evangelical, Charismatic and Pentecostal churches are often not represented on such bodies as the government only interacts with preselected groups of churches. We must check the game changer violence and not destroy safe places for women. I thank you.
Mr N L S KWANKWA: Chair, the United Democratic Movement supports the Bill. Indeed, South Africa suffers grappling with unacceptably high levels of gender-based violence and femicide in our country which in our view constitute a blight to our national conscience and the betrayal of our Constitutional order which so many fought very hard and were willing to lay down their lives for it. Chairperson, I am not going to regurgitate the statistics which have already been mentioned
or cited here by my colleagues. However, the UDM wants to acknowledge the work that has been done thus far by civil society and the government to curb GBV, so far and the work that we have done as legislators here.
However, our specific concern centers around the fact that when we create a structure it is important - as the Bill already indicates - that one of the primary responsibilities of the National Council would be to provide strategic leadership on matters dealing with gender-based violence and femicide in our country. What we would like to see happening, in particular, is to make sure that there must be effective monitoring and evaluation on the progress and the impact of all the programmes implemented, firstly, by the National Council and other departments thus far to ensure that there is better alignment with the overall National Strategic Plan on gender-based violence. Having a strong impact scaling approach will ensure that short, medium and long-term targets are closely monitored and that potential challenges are also identified and dealt with promptly which is very critical in our view.
We also agree with the sentiments expressed earlier that there should be an increased roles and representation of civil
societies since they understand and they deal with these issues on a daily basis. They are at the core phase of the gender-based violence problems in our country. We are also of the view that it is good that Parliament has been added in the layer of accountability and reporting mechanisms for the council in order for us to be able to make sure that there are multiple layers of accountability which are going to help us to enhance the work of the council and to make sure that once and for all we deal with this problem. It is a societal issue and it is a South African problem. It is not of government problem; it is a South African problem.
We must acknowledge the impressive work that has been done so far. However, we need to work on other departments and arms of the state which are not playing their part such as the law enforcement agencies which are failing us through great deal and we have been harping on this issue for as long as I can remember. Thank you for the opportunity, Chairperson. I am much obliged to you.
Mr B N HERRON: House Chair, we support the establishment of a National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.
Gender-based violence and femicide, GBVF, is a serious social ill which disproportionately affects the most vulnerable in
society and it takes on many forms. We welcome the recognition in the Bill of the various forms of gender-based violence. The establishment of a national council to set norms and standards for government projects will not in itself eliminate GBVF.
Our GBVF arises for the most part, out of destroyed social structures in society and also out of the inherent gender inequalities, which include economic inequalities - including in the workplace. If we are to reduce incidences of GBVF in all its forms, we will have to invest in fixing communities in every aspect. Communities with broken or underdeveloped infrastructure, lack of amenities, poor services, zero opportunities and high crime rates are virtually synonymous with the apartheid era townships and Group Areas Act dumping grounds. They are also synonymous with the prevalence of GBVF.
If we never address the spatial violence of apartheid, we will never address the prevalence of GBVF. We also need to lead by example. A Member of Parliament should never use the immunities of Parliament to denigrate the professional achievements of another woman with innuendo that those achievements are not distinctive but were achieved through intimate relations, some say.
In this regard, the DA should practice what it preaches instead of feeding the conspiracies that women cannot achieve economic success without using their sexuality. We call on the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide to present norms and standards that include equal pay for equal work as well as education for the so-called leaders, including Members of Parliament. If the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide fails to include redress projects for the prevalent and persistent socioeconomic conditions created by apartheid, then their work will be public relations, PR, and make no meaningful reduction in the scourge. I thank you.
Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Hon House Chair, let me at the very outset advise this House that the NFP will support the Bill as tabled here today. Indeed, we are quite satisfied. All due processes have been followed. But, I want to talk about the hypocrisy in this House - the highest level of hypocrisy that we can ever find. Eight thousand people are now killed in Palestine of that 6 500 are women and children, but not a blink of an eye by some of these politicians in this House - six thousand and five hundred women and children.
This morning I had the opportunity of seeing four little babies being transported to the grave - four little babies.
And some of these disgraceful political parties have not said a single word. So, where is the humanity? Where is your motherhood ladies? Where is your motherhood that you can’t even raise your voice in protection of those children? You are certainly a disgrace to humankind! Let me say that again.
You know, Chairperson, it’s very easy for us to come here and criticise what good others are doing. Why do you forget the fact that it is what has given rise to the high levels of dysfunctional society? We inherited this from the days of apartheid. And let me tell you how. You are the one that introduced the migration system where fathers had to leave their homes and their children and not see them for our entire year because they had to go and work thousands of kilometres away. That is how you divided the parents and created a dysfunctional society. You are indeed a disgrace to society.
Let me tell you - you are a disgrace! [Interjections.] Let me tell you - let me go one step further and say, you know ...
Let me tell you, the apartheid specialists are supporting the Zionist, which is the apartheid state of Israel, without considering the plight of the human beings.
So, that is why I say they have no humanity in them at all. Nothing, absolutely nothing - that is why I am saying that
they are a disgrace. Let me tell you, some of these people are in full view of this and on a daily basis. I don’t care who you or what religion you belong to. But you come here and talk about women, yes, you are talking about gender-based violence. Yes, but what about those that are dying ... [Time expired.] The NFP will support this. Thank you very much.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order, hon members! Order. Order, hon members. The next speaker is the hon Phiri. [Interjections.]
Sepedi:
Moh C M PHIRI: Ntlo e sa duma. Modulasetulo ... [Tsenoganong.]
English:
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon members, I don’t know who gave you permission to be on the platform just to say what you want. You were not even recognised. Please continue, hon Phiri.
Sepedi:
Moh C M PHIRI: Modulasetulo, ke rata go tlatiiia lethabo leo le lego gona Afrika Borwa ka bophara ka go lakaletia mahlatse le mahlogonolo Amabhokobhoko le go keteka phenyo ya bona.
Halala Amabhokobhoko, halala! Re le mokgatlo wa badimo le batho, rena re dumetie gore re ema le Palestina. Pele ke thoma
... [Tsenoganong.]
English:
... it’s Springbok, of course.
Sepedi:
Pele ke thoma, e re ke leke go bolediiana le mekgatlokganetio yeo e ileng ya bolela mo. Rena ka Sepedi re ba bitia bomabinabosolwa. Ga se ba swanela ke go tla ka mo komiting ba bolediiana le rena, go tloga moo ba re botia tie ba di bolelago mo. Kudukudu ke ra mohl Sukers. O swanetie go ithuta gore ge a e tla ka komiting a bolele le rena - a se ke a tla mo, a bina bo solwa, mola rena re eswa ka dipitia tia maoto a mararo.
Ke nyaka go bolediiana le Breedt gore a seke a leka ...
English:
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon Phiri, will you just take your seat, please? I was informed that the hon Singh had his hand up on the virtual platform. Hon Singh? Please continue, hon Phiri.
Sepedi:
Moh C M PHIRI: Modulasetulo, mohl Sukers o leka go lahletia Ntlo. Se a se boletieng mo ga se sona, ebile ga re kwane le sona ka gobane ga a ke a tiea le matsapa a go tla ka komiting go tla go bolela se a se bolelago gonabjale. Empa ke a dumela ebile ke leboga ba ba tlago ka komiting le ge e le gore ba leka go ba bomponeng ge ba ema mo – ke ra ba DA - ba re ke polelo ya bona. Se ke sephetho sa mokgatlo wa badimo le batho
– e lego ANC. Ke rena ba re tlilego ka sona. Re a boa gape re bolela le ba EFF re re Molaokakanywa o tla le thuia go le ntiha ka gare ga masetlapelo ao le lego ka gare ga wona ka gobane ke lena le goboiitiwego go feta mekgatlo ye mengwe. Lena le goboiitiwe.
Modulasetulo, ntumelele ke re ...
English:
Today we delve into the disturbing issue of gender-based violence and femicide, which finds its roots in the deeply ingrained gender inequality and is a product of prevailing patriarchal norms. It encompasses any other form of harm or suffering inflicted upon women, including physical, sexual, economic and psychological abuse, as well as the threat of question or deprivation of liberty.
The GBVF is a pervasive problem affecting women at every stage of our lives. Moreover, this issue is a frequent compounded by a complex interplay of cultural, economic, ideological, technological, political, religious, social factors. Gender- based violence encompasses a wide range of atrocities such as physical and sexual abuse, rape and sexual harassment. The ANC believes it is crucial to recognise that gender-based violence and femicide stands as a stark manifestation of persisting patriarchy under which women lives and bodies are subjected to control.
Gender-Based Violence and Femicide includes hate crimes and has perpetuated itself as a formidable adversity to women’s emancipation throughout the ongoing struggle for women’s liberation. The emphasis has remained steadfast on combating rape, domestic violence and sexual harassment, and, more importantly, on shattering the silence that has clogged these issues for far too long. This battle has extended beyond boundaries.
Gender-based violence and femicide is a global pandemic impacting the lives of one in every three women over the course of their lifetime, as reported by the United Nations, UN. This requires global collective effort to address the
eradication of gender-based violence and femicide. Recognising the pressing urgency of this matter, there was a compelling need to establish a comprehensive strategic framework to direct the national response to the gender-based violence and femicide crisis in South Africa.
The strategy has been formulated. The impact of this strategy arises from resounding calls of women across the country who took the streets on 1 August 2018, uniting under the banner of #TheTotalShutdown. Their demand was coupled with a subsequent call to action by women from all walks of life who participated in the presidential summit, as the Minister has said on 1 and 2 November 2018. The following year on 18 September 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed the country’s commitment to address gender-based violence and femicide. He announced an emergency response plan to gender- based violence, which includes strengthening the applicable legal framework.
To this end, the three Bills that we have passed in this House it measures to strengthen the response to the gender-based violence. These include the Criminal Law Amendment Bill which sought to amend the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 2007. The Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Bill sought to amend
several Acts to reduce the secondary victimisation or vulnerable persons in court proceedings using intermediaries and providing for evidence to be given throughout audiovisual links in the proceedings other than criminal proceedings.
The Domestic Violence Amendment Act also proposes the amendment to the Domestic Violence Act to address practical challenges, gaps and anomalies that have emerged since the Act that came into operation. Thus, the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill forms part of the law of reformed mechanisms to deal with gender-based violence in the country. The council will advance bold interventions and one of the interventions is to promote the increase in response of women in diverse job positions, including the creation of ownership schemes in various businesses aiming to rectify gender imbalances, as the DA did the day that we were appointing the Public Protector.
The ANC believes that the establishment of this council represents significant steps towards in our ongoing of our efforts to combat gender-based violence and femicide. [Time expired.]. I thank you, hon House Chair.
Mr S M JAFTA: Hon Chair, the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill seeks to establish a dedicated council to report on the scourge of gender-based violence, GBV. To fulfil this role, the Bill envisages that the council must immediately ... [Inaudible.] ... process of implementing the national strategy addressing GBV. The council will also co-ordinate the monitoring and evaluation of this strategy. We take note that the envisaged council is required to establish an action plan within six months after it has been established in order to implement the national strategic plan relating to combating GBV.
The Bill also confers on the council wide powers to co- ordinate measures for education and training concerning the prevention and combating of GBV. The spirit of the Bill largely calls for a co-ordinated and joint effort in stemming the tide against GBV and femicide.
We must acknowledge the hardships that women have to contend with. We know that GBV is not the only onslaught perpetrated against women. No one can contest the fact that women are severely affected by climate change as opposed to men, that women earn less to men and that they are assessed differently to men in the labour market.
We vividly recall Statistics SA's Quarterly Labour Force Survey of 2002, which revealed that women's economic inactivity stood at 47%, in sharp contrast to men in that year which stood at a low base of 35% in that same period under review. Therefore, as we debate and eventually vote to pass the National Council on Gender-based Violence and Femicide Bill into law, we must support the board that will be running the council as it will have a daunting task to fulfil. We will accordingly support the Bill. I thank you.
Mr T LOATE: Hon Chair, as Cope we will support the Bill.
Mr M G E HENDRICKS: Hon House Chair, the Minister mentioned Oliver Tambo but not Chief Albert Luthuli, who laid the foundation to prevent GBV, and that was the concept of fatherhood. Fatherhood must be the foundation for a family policy for South Africa. Six Parliaments have failed to come up with a family policy, although the governing party attended to this in one of its conferences. The Deputy President gave some leadership in the Sixth Parliament when he asked fathers to have breakfast with their kids each morning and teach them to respect women.
Coming back to the point of an holistic approach to prevent GBV, there must be stronger oversight from national ... on how provinces deal with gangsterism and drug dens. In the DA-run Western Cape, in our townships on the Cape Flats, we have more liquor stores and drug dens than schools and recreational centres. Unplaced learners will double next year in Cape Town, affecting many young girls. The Minister of Basic Education needs to take an interest in the unplaced learners, which is promoting GBV amongst young girls.
On the point of patriarchal attitudes towards women, Al Jama- ah reminds the Minister of Justice that the discriminatory clause in his Maintenance Act is a contributing factor in GBV against women. So women must now use the money for bread to travel to the maintenance court while men get a travel allowance to challenge the women that are demanding that they put food on the table. This is a sad indictment and I hope the Sixth Parliament will address this because the other five Parliaments have discriminated against women who want maintenance from their men.
Al Jama-ah has introduced the Warriors of Hope to the office of the Minister of Social welfare and we hope that they will
be assisted as they are making sanitary pads available to young girls.
The establishment of this Bill follows the Presidential Summit declaration against GBV and Femicide of 2018 to find ways to prevent and eliminate the abuse and murder of women. Sadly, this endemic of GBV has not changed since then. Al Jama-ah would like to see that the 13 members to be elected to the council should be fully representative of the country’s religious and cultural population. Al Jama-ah has not seen the R2 billion promised to deal with GBV being spent. Al Jama-ah now puts its trust in the council to deal with GBV. Al Jama-ah will support the Bill. Thank you very much, hon House Chair.
Afrikaans:
Mev G OPPERMAN: Met die hoogste verkragtingsyfer wêreldwyd, is Suid-Afrika nou amptelik die verkragtingshoofstad van die wêreld. In die eerste drie maande van hierdie jaar is
10 512 verkragtings aangemeld, moord op vroue het met 21,5% gestyg, 969 vroue is doodgemaak en 15 141 vroue is aangerand. Ons geslagsgebaseerde geweld en vrouemoordkoers is vyf maal hoër as die wêreld gemiddelde; selfs hoër as in oorloggeteisterde gebiede. Selfs in vergelyking met lande met dieselde vlakke van armoede, vrouehaat en historiese geweld,
is ons geweldsmisdade teenoor vroue soveel meer geweldige en erger; soveel so dat navorsers steeds sukkel om te begryp hoekom.
Die Nasionale Raad vir Geslagsgebaseerde Geweld spruit voort uit die 2018 Geslagsgebaseerde Geweld Beraad en het ten doel om bloot strategiese leierskap te verleen en ’n multisektorale ko-ördineringspoging te loods om meer effektief op geslagsgebaseerde geweld en vrouemoord te reageer. Dit is in lyn met die regering se nasionale strategiese plan vir geslagsgebaseerde geweld en vrouemoord wat in Maart 2020 deur die Kabinet goedgekeur is.
Ons het egter al hierdie Raad vir Geslagsgebaseerde Geweld roete gevolg in 2012. Binne twee jaar het dit totaal in duie gestort weens gebrek aan befondsing, lae institusionele kapasiteit, swak politieke ondersteuning en ’n gebrek aan burgerlike samelewingsorganisasies se ondersteuning. Hierdie raad is dus ’n weer probeer poging; hierdie keer gerugsteun met wetgewende mag en staatsbefondsing van R15 miljoen.
Die hoofdoelwit van hierdie raad is om strategiese leierskap te voorsien. Dit sal slegs moniteer en ko-ördineer dít wat reeds bestaan. Dit is ook nie ’n liggaam vir dienslewering
nie, so dit is onwaarskynlik dat daar enige vermindering in misdaad teen vroue sal wees en ook dat die lewens van vroue op die grond sal verander. Die raad sal slegs as ’n waghond vir staatsdepartemente en burgerlike samelewingsorganisasies wie staatsbefondsing vir planne en programme teen geslagsgebaseerde geweld en vrouemoord ontvang, optree.
Dit moet gemerk word dat die staat tans reeds faal om dié hulpbronne tot hul beskikking doeltreffend aan te wend om geslagsgebaseerde geweld en vrouemoord te verminder.
Hulpbronne vir hierdie raad kan beter benut word deur die gapings binne in ons kriminele regstelsel aan te spreek, swak polisiëring te verbeter en die haglike sosio-ekonomiese toestande wat bydra tot geslagsgebaseerde geweld en vrouemoord te verhoed.
Alhoewel die DA hierdie wet ondersteun, is ons steeds bekommerd oor hoe hierdie raad sal verseker dat verkragters gevonnis sal word. Hoe sal hierdie raad verseker dat sekondêre viktimisasie deur polisie hok geslaan word? Hoe sal hierdie raad teweeg bring dat wetgewing op voetsoolvlak implementeer en afgedwing word. Ter wille van die noodkreet van duisende vroue in ons land en hulle nood om ingryping, ondersteun ons dus hierdie wet.
Ms G P MAREKWA: Hon House Chairperson, the Chief Whip of the Majority Party, the Minister and hon members in the House today, ... in your dreams, in your dreams. Hon Breedt, let me just start to say it is really unfortunate that on such a serious topic that we are bringing here today, it’s unfortunate on your part to make those remarks. But anyway, we understand your situation. But it is an instrument that we are presenting here today that is seeking to help and assist women and children in this country.
Afrikaans:
Aan agb Opperman wil ek net sê dat die ANC was altyd en is nog steeds bekommerd oor die hoë syfers van misdaad teen vroue en kinders, en daarom sit ons hier vandag om deur die raad te kom bespreek sodat daar ’n plan in plek gekry kan word. Dankie.
English:
Building upon the crucial call a comprehensive national prevention strategy to combat gender-based violence and femicide, it is imperative that the National Strategic Plan on Gender Violence and Femicide gain the strong and unwavering support of all relevant stakeholders, encompassing civil society, public and private sectors. The far-reaching impact of such an approach are undeniable and it draws strength from
the concerted efforts of all sectors and stakeholders within our society.
So, the question becomes, why this council and why do we need it? Let me clarify that one quickly. Clause 3 in the National Council on Gender-based Violence and Femicide Bill deals specifically with the establishment of the council. It states that the council is a statutory body responsible for providing strategic leadership and co-ordination in the prevention of, and response to gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa in line with the objectives contemplated in section 4. Furthermore, it also states that the council acts through its board and that the Public Finance Management Act applies to this council.
As indicated by the Chairperson earlier, the council will be funded primarily by monies appropriated by Parliament.
Taxpayers’ monies will help to fund this council and therefore government must take the lead. It is important to note that the council is not a service delivery entity. Its key role is focused on leadership and co-ordination, amongst others.
Clause 4 outlines the objectives of the council, which are to co-ordinate a structural multisectoral approach between
relevant stakeholders for the prevention and elimination of and response to gender-based violence and femicide.
In our ongoing pursuit of addressing gender-based violence and femicide, it is essential to bolster the existing response, care and support services. This entails advocating for victim centred survival focus and trauma informed approaches that are championed by both the state and civil society, with the primary aim of facilitating recovery and healing.
The ANC government has been proactive all along and has undertaken commendable initiatives to support GBVF victims and survivors. This includes the establishment of Thuthuzela Care Centres, the Khuseleka One-stop Centres in every province, all of which are closely linked to the National Gender Based Violence Command Centre. There is a need for more substantial investment in both financial and human resources. We welcome the three gender-based violence and femicide legislation which came into effect in 2022, demonstrating the pace at which the ANC-led government is strengthening law enforcement interventions.
These legislative measures are pivotal in enhancing the fight against GBV and femicide in South Africa.
The Sexual Offences Law Amendment Act broadens the National Register for Sex Offenders, extending protection beyond children and individuals with disabilities to encompass all sex offenders. This change safeguards a wider range of vulnerable groups, including young women, people with disabilities and those over the age of 16. The Domestic Violence Amendment Act addresses practical challenges that have surfaced since the original one in the 1999 Act, aiming to provide stronger protection for women and children facing violence in their homes. The Criminal and Related Matters Amendment ...
Mrs E N NTLANGWINI: On a point of order, House Chair.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon Marekwa, will you just take your seat, please? What is your point of order, hon member?
Mrs E N NTLANGWINI: House Chair, can the hon member of the ANC Mvana, please close her camera because we can see the whole family, the whole bedroom, the whole everything now.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Thank you, hon member. Noted. Thank you. May I ask for that to be attended to please.
Will the Whips please deal with it? Please continue, hon Marekwa. Order, hon members. Order, hon members.
Ms G P MAREKWA: ... enforcing policies to combat sexual harassment is essential for supporting victims and fostering positive behavioural change in workplaces, schools and broader communities. This involves establishing accessible, equitable and high-quality services that are victim centres survivors focused. These services should be readily available across criminal justice systems, the health system and education systems and social support systems at all levels. It means that promoting respect, equality and empathy, not only through formal anticipation, but also through open dialogue and community engagement. Empowering individuals to recognise the signs of GBV provides support to victims and hold perpetrators accountable is also crucial.
We must create safe spaces where survivors feel that they are heard or listened to and believed, and where societal expectations shift to embrace values of non-violence and gender equality. Ensuring accountability within civil society organisation is a critical element in our collective effort to combat GBV. These organisations, supported by government, private individuals or foreign donors, played also a pivotal
role in driving positive changes. Accountability means not only transparency in managing the resources and funds entrusted to them, but also delivering effective evidence- based programmes and initiatives. It involves consistently evaluating the impact of their work and being responsive to the ever-evolving needs of survivors and at-risk communities.
In conclusion, the National Council on Gender-based Violence and Femicide must be established as it will bring together all role-players in an effort to bring an end to GBV in our country, South Africa. The ANC is in support of the Bill. I thank you, Chairperson. [Time expired.]
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, YOUTH AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES:
Thank you very much to all the parties for supporting the Bill. But I just want to say the ANC has done very well. It has taught the DA consultation, which they never knew. Now, they can even comment on how we consult. So, ANC has done very well. Really, I mean a DA apartheid successor. There was no consultation during apartheid, let’s all agree. Its new. So, yes, we accept we are not perfect. We are not perfect, but we do consult. We may not have consulted perfectly, but we did consult.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, you are not allowed to give on-line commentary. You can make an interjection, but you can’t start a new debate from where you are sitting. You are out of order. Continue, hon Minister.
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, YOUTH AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES:
Secondly, I just want to thank ...
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon Minister ... Hon member, are you giving me instructions on what to do? Are you doing that? I will ask you to leave the House if you do that again. Please continue, hon Minister.
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, YOUTH AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES:
Okay. I also agree that those activists who would want to sit on the council must declare their sources of funding. I think it’s a very important point. We thank you for that. I also want to just comment on the equal pay for equal work because it was mentioned here. I think it is a very important thing. This Parliament, at some stage, must make it illegal to pay women less for the same work. It must be made illegal. We must have a Bill at some stage that deals with that. Yes, even in sports. I mean amabhokobhoko, we are very happy they won, but Banyana Banyana winning but they are being paid less, and that
must stop. But otherwise ... yes, we will do it. But otherwise, thank you very much for supporting this Bill. It is a very important Bill and I thank all the parties because all of you said you support it. Thank you.
Debate concluded.
Question put.
Bill read a second time.
CONSIDERATION OF RECOMMENDATION OF CANDIDATES TO FILL THREE VACANCIES ON MEDIA DEVELOPMENT AND DIVERSITY AGENCY (MDDA) BOARD
Mr B M MANELI: House Chairperson, hon members, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, committee support staff, fellow South Africans. In celebrating the posthumous birthday of the late President of the ANC Oliver Reginald Tambo and celebrating the victory of the Boks in the Rugby World Cup 2023, allow me to quote the visionary words of O R Tambo addressing in Georgetown University on 27 January 1997 and I quote:
We seek to create a united democratic and non-racial society. We have a vision of South Africa in which black and white shall live and work together as equals in conditions of peace and prosperity.
There is no doubt that South Africans have sent a clear message, that they wanted a united society in their diversity because they are stronger together to overcome challenges faced by the country.
The Media Development and Diversity Agency, MDDA, can play an important role in giving the ordinary people an opportunity to contribute positively as its mandate is about media development and diversity through community print and broadcasting media, that ensures plurality of views.
The Portfolio Committee on Communications has received a referral from the Speaker of the National Assembly in line with the request from the Minister in the Presidency for the filling of three vacancies for the MDDA Board and followed all processes as illustrated in the MDDA Act 14 of 2002.
In line with the provisions of Rule 151 and 172 of the National Assembly Rules, the committee appointed a
subcommittee, proportional to representation of parties in the National Assembly to shortlist, interview and deliberate on candidates to be recommended to the committee.
The committee received a report from the subcommittee which reflected consensus decisions reached by the subcommittee on candidates to be recommended.
Hon members, on 13 October 2023 the committee unanimously agreed to adopt the detailed report circulated to all hon members of this House.
The committee taking into account the existing board members’ skills, expertise and demographics as well as candidates to be recommended to be in this entity in terms of their skills, set, demographics task at hand, and the performance of candidates in the interviews, recommended the following candidates to be considered for appointment in line with applicable legislative prescripts, as follows: one, Mr Mr Thembelani Mpakati; two, Mr Qondile Khedama; three, Miss Jayshree Pather.
The key observations to make in these recommended names is that there is both continuity injection of new energy needed
in the entity and to bring people who are fit for purpose, given the MDDA at this point.
Hon members, I am therefore presenting these candidates for approval of the House, and I thank you, House Chair.
Declarations of Vote:
Ms T BODLANI: House Chairperson, the Media Development and Diversity Agency is a critical vehicle towards the mobilisation and sustenance of community media in South Africa. The DA believes that the MDDA is vital to the country’s efforts to provide redress to communities who were marginalized and disadvantaged in the past.
Established 20 years ago, the MDDA has led and championed changes in the sector by supporting community radio and print projects. They have done this by facilitating capacity building to their beneficiaries, conducting and funding research programmes, as well as leveraging resources and providing technical assistance to the beneficiaries.
These hon members, underscores the importance of having a board that is competent with a united vision. It would therefore be amiss for me not to highlight the challenges that
the MDDA faces. The unceremonious departure of the former Chief Executive Officer, CEO, the debacle with the filling of posts of the CFO and reports of staff members being gagged.
In February this year, civil society organisations and interested individuals, captured the challenges at MDDA by penning a scathing open letter. The letter, which was addressed to President Ramaphosa, Minister in the Presidency, Minister of Justice, and others was signed by organisations such as Corruption Watch, the Right to Know and the People Media Consortium.
They made calls for the dissolution of the MDDA board because they believed the entity was facing what they referred to as a governance crisis. Amongst the reasons, they cited a substantial increase in legal expenses and litigation by the board, the regression of governance during the 2021-2022 audit, as highlighted by the Auditor General.
They further called for the Minister to institute a commission of inquiry into the governance irregularities. This talks about the need to urgently stabilise the governance of the MDDA.
What this also means, House Chairperson is that the MDDA needs to work hard to raise the trust of its stakeholders, which will also inform the type of investors they can attract in order to have enough funds to capitalize community media sectors.
The DA is motivated by the number of South Africans who have raised their hands to serve on the MDDA Board. The application drew applicants from academics, professional bankers, lawyers, and media specialists. We thank all the applicants and welcome the innovative suggestions they made to the committee on how to turn the MDDA around.
The DA calls on the board of the MDDA to expedite the work on the MDDA Act, which has some significant shortcomings. It is no longer appropriate to deal with changes effectively and efficiently under way in the contemporary digital media industry.
As the DA, we hope that the appointment of new board members, Mr Qondile Khedama, Mr Thembelani Mpakati and Miss Jayshree Pather will infuse new blood into the MDDA as it forges ahead to position in the era of contemporary digital media, but
especially as the backbone of community media in South Africa.
Ke a leboga [Thank you] House Chairperson.
Ms N MHLONGO: House Chair, the EFF supports the names that have been recommended to serve as part of the Media Development and Diversity Agency. The MDDA plays a critical role in ensuring that there is a creation of an enabling environment for media development and diversity that reflects the needs and aspirations of all South Africans.
It is for this reason that its stability, particularly at management level, is maintained, and this is why the filling of vacancies in such an important institution is critical.
The vacancies meant that the sphere that ensures that local community radio broadcasting platforms, which are perennially shut down in South Africa were said to be confronted by more vulnerability as an agency that exists with interest was facing instability.
To mitigate its risks, the committee conducted interviews and shortlisted individuals through a transparent process, in order to find the most suitable candidates with the requisite experience.
On 13 October 2023 the committee deliberated and recommended that Mr Qondile Khedama, Mr Thembelani Mpakati and Miss Jayshree Pather Pather be appointed to serve on the MDDA ... [Interjection.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Just disconnect the microphone of the hon ... is it Siwela? Yah Siweya! My apologies, hon Mhlongo, you may continue hon member. Are you completed with your declaration, hon member Mhlongo? It seems to be the case.
Ms N MHLONGO: House Chair can I proceed? I was muted.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): May I ask the hon member of the IFP just to give us a minute or two so that the hon Mhlongo who was interrupted, can complete the declaration. Hon Mhlongo.
Ms N MHLONGO: Thank you, House Chair Mr Thembelani Mpakati’s experience and expertise as an admitted attorney of the High Court ... [Inaudible.] ... experience in working in the human rights and access to information in community media will be invaluable.
Additionally, Mr Qondile Khedama’s educational experience in the communication space will increase local community ability to comprehend emerging trends in the digital communications. We look forward to a strong board that will build strong communications sector at grass-roots level. Thank you so much, House Chair.
Ms Z MAJOZI: Hon House Chairperson, the Media Development and Diversity Agency, MDDA, is no stranger to controversy. As early this year, the entity experienced its third governance crisis in 20 years. However, I wish to commend the Minister in the Presidency, the chairperson and the entire Portfolio Committee on Communication and Digital Technologies who made the filling of the MDDA board vacancy their top priority. The functioning of the MDDA is crucial as it is the only entity of the state which has the sole purpose of creating an enabling environment for freedom of expression and media plurality in South Africa.
The selection process followed by the committee from start to finish was genuinely based on the principle of transparency. Therefore, I can honestly state the process was fair towards each of the 13 nominated candidates. The committee worked together like a well-oiled machine. There was no single
incident where honourable members serving on the committee were made to feel as though their input was not valued or appreciated. This has led us to unanimously decide on the three nominated candidates for the board position.
The IFP wishes to reiterate the committee’s recommendation that Mr Qondile Khedama, Mr Thembelani Mpakati and Ms Jeyshree Pathar be appointed to serve on the MDDA board. These appointees will greatly contribute to the advancement of community and small commercial media and further the entity’s function off to the enabling historically disadvantaged communities and persons not adequately served by the media to gain access to the media.
Hon House Chairperson, it is our sincere hope that all portfolio committees will follow the example of the Portfolio Committee on Communication when dealing with the selection processes, for filling vacancies as a stability of state entities is dependent on leadership positions that are filled with capable candidates.
As the committee, we stood in solidarity, unity and diversity as the IFP values. We provided the fighting spirit of
Amabhokobhoko as the committee and congratulation as well to Amabhokobhoko.
The IFP accepts the true reflection of the committees’ proceedings. Thanks.
Ms
T
BREEDT: No declaration. Thank you, House Chairperson.
Mr
S
N SWART: No declaration. Thank you, House Chairperson.
Mr
B
N HERRON: No declaration. Thank you, House Chairperson.
Mr
A
M SHAIK EMAM: Hon House Chairperson, allow me to
recognise the presence of the Amabhokobhoko Chief Whip in this House.
The NFP notes the report of the committee and that all due processes have been followed. Of course there is no reason why in particular Mrs Hulisani Mushiane did not attend. Of course they say, she gave no reasons, but the three successful candidates Mr Qondile Khedama, Mr Thembelani Mpakati and Ms Jayshree Partha. I think the committee has done justice, you know. There has been some concerns that have been raised by civil society organisations and I think the committee has
noted that and have recommended that the board take note of that and address that.
However, also I think it is very important that this board ensures that measures are put in place to create opportunities and a conducive environment particularly for others to enter this particular space as we know it is dominated. The media is captured in South Africa. If we see the reporting and the propaganda that we have. Some of them have mastered the art on that as we know that. They did it from the days of apartheid and they are continuing today. There is no doubt. Let me give you an idea the example is what happened in Palestine and very deliberately they will not report on this one when the Jewish lady was one of the hostages said that they were treated very humanly by Hamas even given water and things and they did not anticipate an attack. When there was an attack by the Israeli defence force coincidently, many of those that have died, died as a result of the attack by their own Israeli defence force. They went on to say that it is a policy that instead of allowing your people to be taken hostage you must rather kill them. That is what the Israeli defence force has done.
However, look at the limited reporting as far as that is concerned. Look at the limited reporting from the mainstream
media on the number of women and children innocent that are being massacred. Look at the limited reporting on how you go out in a most barbaric manner and blow-up a hospital. Now tell me where the humanity in these people is, tell me? So, the NFP will support this report. Thank you very much.
Mr S M JAFTA: Hon House Chairperson, the Media Development and Diversity Agency, MDDA, is a Schedule 3 public entity in terms of the Public Finance Management Act. It was established in 2002 and its mandate was specifically to enable the historically disadvantaged communities and persons not adequately served by the media to have access to both community and small commercial media.
In its current version is to provide resource funding innovation and capacity building support and the promotion of the previously disadvantaged communities.
Currently, the MDDA has the vacancies of three board members. These vacancies must be filled urgently. The work of the board led by Hlengani Mathebula who was previously with SA Revenue Service, Sars, must be supported through the appointment of suitable candidates on the MDDA board. Given that the board has to oversee the work of the MDDA management, which has a
duty to create an enabling environment for media development and diversity, redress exclusions and the marginalisation of the disadvantaged communities and encourage ownership and control of the media by historically disadvantaged communities. These vacancies must be filled urgently.
The current must also ensure that the vacancies of senior managers, strategy and communications and that of the executive manager, research, training, monitoring and evaluation are urgently filled. The candidature of the three candidates endorsed by the committee is also endorsed by the AIC. We hope they will complement the existing board. I thank you, hon House Chairperson.
Mr T LOATE: Hon House Chairperson, we support the names as proposed.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon Mpumza, please switch of your microphone.
Al Jama-ah.
Mr M G E HENDRICKS: Hon House Chairperson, we are very impressed with the hard work done by the selection committee
and the extra mile to make sure that the disaster that was made in appointing the previous committee is not repeated.
I agree with the hon Shaik Emam that we need a community media because the mainstream media does not for example bring the concerns the world Save the Children organisation. We do not see the services of the 3 000 children and babies killed brutally in Gaza. We do not hear the people been asked to comment and declaring war on those who kill so many babies.
Hon House Chairperson, it is very important that the new committee and we support the recommendation and we wish them all the best that they pay special attention to villages Al Jama-ah works in 50 villages. There is no radio, TV, newspapers, bulletins and no blocks. We know now the reason is because of the debacles of the famous letter the government’s crisis and the poor oversight by the portfolio committee and the Minister. That is now past and we hope that efforts will now be made to work the ground and to develop community radio opportunities, especially in our villages. Thank you very much, hon House Chairperson.
Mr L E MOLALA: Hon House Chair, hon members, this year we joined the Media Development and Diversity Agency, the MMDA,
in celebrating 20 years since its establishment. The MDDA has played a pivotal role in the years, in ensuring the promotion of media development diversity through financial and nonfinancial support to the community media projects.
The agency has funded 586 projects. This number includes:
321 community broadcast projects in the form of community radio and TV stations; and 185 community print projects in the form of newspapers, magazine, and small commercial prints project. The ANC has always advocated for policies that promote media diversity; media transformation source to ensure that there is plurality in the views and in society; and the inclusion of small players within the media space.
Community media is one of the instruments that keeps our communities glued together. Through it, the people are empowered and armed with information that can shape their outlook on the life and give access to numerous opportunities. At the core of our democracy, lies the right of all citizens to take part in societal decisions-making processes, and community radio station are central into fostering that active citizenry through driving community engagements.
Hon Members, regrettably, the community media sector continues to face financial challenges to overreliance on advertising revenue, which leads to defaulting on Sentech. It was reported to the portfolio committee that the community broadcast sector owed the centre R100 million in outstanding signal distribution fees, and this has resulted in several community other stations being switch off.
The ANC has been consistent in calling for an increase in allocation for the agency, as well as more measures to be put in place to look at a sustainability model for the community media, because apart from fostering community engagement, they also provide employment opportunities for local people.
The ANC supports the recommendation of the portfolio committee on the following candidates: Mr Qondile Khedama, Mr Thembelani Mpakati and Ms Jayshree Pather. We believe that their contribution will enhance the performance of the agency and contribute to the fulfilment of its mandate, which include, the facilitation of ownership, control, access to information and content production of the community media of the historically disadvantage.
We also hope to see more stability within the entity and more work done to reverse the current findings of the Auditor- General of South Africa, the AGSA, which indicated that there had been significant regression in the audit outcome relating to the financial statement and compliance with laws and regulations in the agency, which can be mainly attributed to the loss of key senior personnel and lack of implementation of controls around daily and monthly processing of transactions in general ledger and supply ledger.
This seeks to suggest that procurement processes have not been followed, as required by National Treasury and Supply Chain Management Policy. Therefore, the leadership and management of the agency should ensure that there are strict measures put in place, to improve the implementation, to control, to monitor and operate effectively.
Hon Chairperson as the portfolio committee was conducting oversight visit a while ago, we were encouraged to visit some of the community radio stations and receive the positive feedback, which indicates that they are getting necessary financial and nonfinancial support from MDDA. Radio Teemaneng in the Northern Cape is an example.
In conclusion, transformation of a society to benefit all who live it remains pivotal for the ANC and the MAC Charter should be effectively employed to catapult exclusivity and diversity within the sector in the manner that reflect the values and aspirations of all South Africans. The ANC supports this report.
Question put: That the House considers the recommendation of candidates to fill three vacancies on Media Development and Diversity Agency, MDDA?
No objections.
Agreed to.
CONSIDERATION OF RECOMMENDATION OF CANDIDATE TO FILL A VACANCY ON INDEPENDENT COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY OF SOUTH AFRICA COUNCIL, ICASA COUNCIL
Mr B M MANELI: Hon Chairperson, hon members, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers, committee support staff, fellow South Africans, allow me to welcome the arrival of our victorious Springboks team, once again. We have lifted the World Ellis Trophy for the fourth time as Rugby World Cup champions. As
this happened in the month of October - the month, as I said, to remember the birth of O R Tambo - surely his spirit was amongst those that motivated the resilience of the team and the millions of South Africans who unequivocally supported every match, even if at times other health aspects could be at risk.
One draws strength from O R Tambo’s words, in his address to the 48th ANC National Conference in Durban, in 1991, and I quote:
We did not tear ourselves apart because of lack of progress at times. We are always ready to accept our mistakes and correct them.
As he continues to speak, I quote:
Even in bleak moments, whenever in doubt regarding the winning of freedom. We have never been in doubt that people's cause shall triumph.
Surely South Africans have demonstrated that a national democratic society remains a possibility, as they remain stronger together as shown in this 2023 Rugby World Cup.
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, Icasa, is a regulator that plays an important role in regulation of the broadcasting, the ICT and postal service sector of our country. The appointments we make, make us accept that there are challenges in the sector and, therefore, the need to correct what needs to be corrected if the cause of the people is to triumph.
The Portfolio Committee on Communications, having received a referral from the Speaker of the National Assembly, in line with the request from the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, for the filling of one vacancy for Icasa Council, followed all processes, as is illustrated in the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa Act 13 of 2000.
In line with provisions of Rule 151 and 172 of the National Assembly Rules, the committee appointed a subcommittee proportional to the representation of parties in the National Assembly, to shortlist, interview and deliberate on candidates to be recommended to the committee. The committee received a report from the subcommittee, which reflected once again consensus decisions reached by the subcommittee on candidates to be recommended.
On 13 October 2023, the committee unanimously agreed to adopt the detailed report circulated to all members, looking at all aspects, which include skill set demographics, the task at hand and the legislative prescripts, and therefore recommended the following candidates: Mr Mothibi Ramusi or Mr Dimitri Martinez. It is an all because of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa Act 13 of 2000, that for one vacant we have one-and-a-half. It is very important place that on record so that the priority of the committee is not mistaken. It is Mr Mothibi Ramusi or Mr Dimitri Martinez.
Key observations to make in the recommended names is that both candidates are fit for purpose, with vast experience on the workings of Icasa, having been in Icasa, the department and the sector generally, even though at varying levels of involvement. Hon members, I am therefore presenting these candidates for the approval of the House, as I thank you, hon Chair.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): Thank you very much, hon Themba. I will now recognise political parties wishing to make a declaration. The usual time for Declarations of Vote will apply.
Declarations of Vote:
Sesotho:
Mof T BODLANI: Ke a leboha Modulasetulo.
English:
The DA is pleased to present the two names for consideration of persons to fill the vacancy of Councillor at the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, Icasa. House Chair, this vacancy occurred in June last year. Now, over a year later, we are finally completing the process. The inability of the Minister to expedite the filling of this critical position in a strategic entity, such as Icasa, has been of great concern to the DA.
As a communications regulator, Icasa is an important organisation, especially in a country where: Firstly, the cost to communicate remains very high; secondly, access to market remains a challenge; the countries operating with outdated policy regulations of this outgoing government, which make it difficult for satellite internet providers like Starling to establish operations in South Africa. This, while other African countries are positioning themselves for the digital revolution.
Furthermore, it takes years to roll out a sale of spectrum in South Africa. Lastly, because South Africa does not attract enough investment to mitigate. The digital divide.
As the country heads to the national and provincial elections in 2024, we hope the Minister will move with speed in finalising the appointment to ensure stability at Icasa,
We call on the Minister to make the appointment, so that Icasa can fast-track the plans to roll out the outstanding spectrum safe. The DA supports this report and congratulate Ntate Mothibi Ramusi and Ntate Dimitri Martinez, who are to be considered by the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies to fill the vacancy in the Icasa Council.
Sesotho:
Re ema, re le DA, re loboha ketapele ya modulasetulo wa komiti ena, Ntate Boyce Maneli. Re kgutle, re lebohe haholo ka tshebedisano mmoho eo re e boneng ka hare ho komiti, ho tswetsa pele naha ya habo rona. Re ema le mabitso ao re seng re wa file komiti. Re ba lakaletsa katleho le mahlohonolo.
Ms N MHLONGO: Thank you, House Chair. The EFF welcomes the report on the recommendations to fill the vacancy in the Icasa
Council. Icasa is an important and critical regulator of telecommunications in South Africa, inclusive of broadcast and postal services. A vacancy or any form of instability in Icasa therefore means that the mandate of regulating and implementation of necessary policy interventions are under threat.
One of the important interventions that the EFF has called for, which ought to be made by a Icasa, is that they ought to improve their performance management system, as the institution has allowed the dominance of private-sector interest in the broadcast and marketing space. This is best illustrated by the proportionate market power that Multichoice in the broadcast marketing. That is worsened recently by their monopoly on broadcasting licenses over international sporting events.
We hope that the decision which will be made between the two candidates proposed by the committee, namely, Mr Mothibi Ramusi and Mr Dimitris Martinez, who had excelled in the interviews, will rescue us from being beholden to the private- sector dominance in telecommunications. I thank you.
IsiZulu:
Nk Z MAJOZI: Angibonge Sihlalo.
English:
The Council of Independent Communication Authority of South Africa, Icasa, is mandated to regulate the telecommunication, postal and broadcasting sectors in the public interest. The postal sector is especially an area that has required frequent intervention. Over the past 15 years, the SA Post Office has sailed close to the wind as the state-owned enterprise recorded consecutive financial losses and continued to operate without paying its bills.
Therefore, it is of utmost importance that councils embody the values of integrity, honesty, transparency, ethical leadership, professional competence, confidentiality, and accountability. The Portfolio Committee on communication, once again, followed faultless selection process based on the principle of openness and honesty. The process was, once again, fair towards each of the eight nominated candidates.
The committee worked together as a team and all hon members of the committee were given an equal chance to make their contributions, once again. This seamless teamwork has led us to a unanimous decision on the two nominated candidates for
the council position. The IFP wishes to emphasise the committee’s recommendation that either Mr Mothibi Ramusi or Mr Demetris Martinez, be appointed to fill the vacancy in the Icasa Council.
Considering the state of the postal sector in our country, we can ill afford to have a regulatory body as crucial as Icasa weakened by vacancies. All Icasa regulatory activities are centred around five core values, which are: Innovation; collaboration; accountability; being results driven; and stakeholder centric.
It is our belief that the addition of either of the afore- mentioned candidates will contribute to the council’s ability to stay true to these values.
IsiZulu:
Ikomidi lethu Sihlalo lisebenze ngokuzikhandla kakhulu ukuba lo msebenzi ufezeke namhlanje. Ngakho ke Inkatha iyawamukela umbiko wanamhlanje. Ngiyabonga.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): Thank you very much, hon member. FF-Plus!
Mr W W WESSELS: No declaration. Thank you, House Chair.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): The ACDP!
Mr S N SWART: No declaration. Thank you, House Chair.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): Thank you! The UDM! The ATM! The GOOD! The NFP!
Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Thank you, hon House Chair, the NFP will support the report tabled here, today. We are quite satisfied. Of course, due processes have been followed. The shortlisted candidates have gone to vigorous interviews. And of course, it sounds like the names of the four shortlisted candidates, which were published for public comment, two weeks before the interview, were held on 5 October, and that was in compliance with the requirements.
It is strange enough that all political parties seem to have agreed on the two names. At least, we agree on something hey! We have agreed to forward the names to the Minister. I think this particular entity has a lot of responsibility, to ensure that, of course, when issuing these licenses and things: That there is an objectivity; that there is independence in terms
of their reporting; and that it is of high quality, so that the public has a true picture of exactly what is going on.
I just want to give you some statistics, since we are talking about this particular sector: Forty-four is the number! Forty- four journalists have been killed. Do you ever read or hear anything about it? Forty-four! That is the number of innocent journalists that have been killed in this barbaric war that has been created by the Zionist State of Israel. Yet, you have people sitting here and can’t blink an eye with all the bloodshed that they can see on a daily basis. So, ... [Interjections.]
Dr C P MULDER: Chairperson!
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): Yes, hon member! Hon Shaik Emam, please sit.
Dr C P MULDER: Chairperson, I want to rise on a point of order, please.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): What is your point of order, hon member?
Dr C P MULDER: Hon Chairperson, I am referring you to Rule 68: Relevance. This report deals with an appointment by Icasa.
Although, we all are very upset about the events in the Middle East, the hon Shaik Emam has been using or misusing every opportunity to talk about the war, which is completely not on the agenda when we discuss this point. Thank you, Sir.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): Hon member, I have just noted what you have said, but you should also note that the presenter on the podium keeps on going back to the topic of the day. So, I find no fault with it. Thank you, hon member. Hon Shaik Emam, you can continue.
Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: I do hope that the FF-Plus will go back and sit at home and listen to some of the comments that they have made. I am not surprised because they are the apartheid South Africa. What they have done, how they humiliated our people and treated them, is no different to what is happening in Israel. So that is why they support the Israeli cause.
What they stole from us is exactly what the Israelis have stolen from the Palestinians. Let me make this very clear for some political parties: The war in Palestine has got nothing to do with religion. It is the Palestinians that have been
there for thousands of years side-by-side, living happily ... [Interjections.] ... Christians ... [Interjections.]
Dr C P MULDER: Point of order, Chairperson!
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): Hon Shaik Emam, could you please take your seat?
Dr C P MULDER: Hon Chairperson, I once again repeat ... [Interjections.] I repeat: This debate is about an appointment to ICASA. If the hon Shaik Emam wants to address the House on the war in Palestine and in Israel, he is welcome to move a motion and take that to the Programming Committee. However, he cannot come on each and every topic, try to address Parliament and make all kinds of accusations against other political parties and members. He is out of order. He is completely irrelevant.
Mr M N PAULSEN: Not accusations! It’s a fact! [Interjections.] It’s a fact, It’s a fact. [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): Hon Paulsen, please! Hon Mulder, please note that ... I have noted you, hon Radebe. Please note that I am saying: The member on the
platform did not go astray. He kept on coming back to the topic that is supposed to be presented here. Secondly, I have already ruled on the matter. So, I would expect it not to be challenged here.
If, maybe, there is a concern, there are routes that could be followed in order to address the concern that the hon Mulder is raising. So, all I can do is to caution members to try to stray as much as possible to the content of what we are debating about. That is generally! Thank you very much. You can continue, hon member.
Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: House Chairperson, yes, I think Icasa has quite a bit of responsibilities. When I talk about objective reporting and things, I talk about things of this nature because they have a responsibility to ensure that the public has a clear view of what is happening. I give you an example: More children have been killed in Gaza in three weeks than the entire global conflicts since 2019, but the media is doing nothing about it.
What is happening in South Africa is a domination by this mainstream media. That is why I think ICASA has a responsibility, when you are issuing licenses, to ensure that
these people comply with the rules and regulations determined. The NFP supports this report. Thank you.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): Thank you very much, hon member. May I share this with the kind House?
Rule 68 says that the Presiding Officer may order a member addressing the House to stop speaking if that member, despite warnings from the Chair - despite warnings from the Chair - persists in irrelevant or repetitive arguments. So, I am just sharing this with you for future reference. Thank you very much.
Mr T LOATE: The report is noted, and the suggestion is supported.
Mr M G E HENDRICKS: Hon House Chair, I have appeared before the Independent Communications Authority of SA, Icasa, on behalf of the community radio six times, once every year, until they got a permanent licence. I was very impressed with the commissioners and the way they dealt with the applications. I’m also very impressed that Icasa has freed the airwaves. We know that during the apartheid era, the airwaves were not free, and now we have those who come from the apartheid era and who use to support the apartheid.
They want to unfree the debates in Parliament on very critical issues, and I want to commend hon Shaik Emam for exonerating our Parliament by also making the debates free in Parliament. We wish the person that is going to be appointed by the Icasa everything of the best. The Icasa has always done the country proud. Can I also use this opportunity to ask the new member that is going to be appointed to get the community radio stations to give the constituency offices in their broadcasting frequency more airtime. It doesn’t matter which political party it is.
If there are five constituency offices in the frequency, they should go out of their way to ensure that the constituency office takes Parliament to the people. This is not happening, yet the community radio stations play a very important role in taking Parliament to the people and bring people’s issues to Parliament. This is one of the areas where Icasa can improve, and I hope that the new person that is going to be appointed will have anything to do so. Thank you very much, hon House Chair.
Mr L E MOLALA: Hon House Chair, I rise on behalf of the ANC to support the committee’s recommendation that one of the following two candidates be appointed to fill the vacancy in
the Icasa council, Mr Mothibi Ramusi and Mr Dimitrios Martinis. We believe that both these candidates possess the necessary skills that will help to augment the work of the council. The Icasa plays an important role in regulating the telecommunication broadcasting and postal industry in the
public interest and ensuring service of high quality for all the South Africans.
We still remain proud that the Icasa was able to finally go through the spectrum auctioning after many years of attempts due to litigation process. We are looking forward to the successful completion of the second round in the coming year. We hope that this round will also accommodate the small players. The ANC is of the view that the first two of spectrum auctioning must address the key empowerment imperatives to ensure that the economic transformation and participation of new entrants achieved.
The spectrum assignment must be informed by the need to transform the ownership and control in the sector, to include wider participation, especially for blacks, women, youth and people living with disabilities. The use of spectrum should extend beyond exclusive holding by the electronic communications licences. To this extent, the consideration
should include the use of spectrum by education, health, manufacturing, agriculture and the new industry.
In education, for instance, the spectrum enables the delivery of digital learning resources and remote teaching, thereby expanding access to education and improving its quality. This is important in a country like ours where the digital devices still exists and limit access to technologically advance learning in rural and remote areas. In healthcare, for instance, the spectrum supports telemedicine services by allowing healthcare providers to reach patients in the remote areas. It also allows patients monitoring and improvement in healthcare outcomes efficiency.
In agriculture, the use of the spectrum enables technologies to help improve production and sustainability. The farmers can use mobile apps to access information on best farming practices and real time weather amongst other things. We welcome the finalisation of the current set of the 10-radio frequency spectrum assignment plans which marks the key milestone in making the sufficient spectrum available to the licences on a technological neutral basis, in order to enable the roll-out and uptake of 4G and 5G services across South Africa.
We also look forward to the economic contribution of the second round to the national fiscus, to help facilitate developmental projects that will benefit the broader society. Equally, we are looking forward to a drastic reduction in the gadget costs, which will enable broader access to online services for numerous reasons such as business purposes, educational purposes, etc. We are also looking forward to having more spectrum free up, so as to support the Digital Terrestrial Television, DTT, in the creation of more channels, which will in turn allow more competing content in the creation of more jobs in the art and creative sector.
The allocation on high demand spectrum by means of auction is key to government reform and support to boost the economy. We commend the manner in which the portfolio committee has successfully ran this recruitment process and ensuring its credibility through transparency and allowing maximum participation which included all the opposition parties to participate in it.
The advertisement was published on all 11 South African languages, two national newspapers, two regional newspapers, seven community media newspapers, and the committee received eight nominations. The following were done, qualification
verification, state security agency and personnel suitability checks were all conducted in the name of the ANC. We support this ... [Inaudible.]
Question put.
Agreed to
CONSIDERATION OF DRAFT NOTICE AND SCHEDULE DETERMINING THE RATE, WITH EFFECT FROM 1 APRIL 2022, AT WHICH SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES ARE PAYABLE TO COMMISSIONERS OF THE COMMISSION FOR GENDER EQUALITY ANNUALLY, FOR APPROVAL BY PARLIAMENT IN TERMS OF SECTION 8(1)(A) OF THE COMMISSION FOR GENDER EQUALITY ACT, 1996
Question put.
Agreed to.
DECISION OF QUESTION ON REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON POLICE ON PROPOSED PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY INTO JULY 2021 UNREST
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): Hon members, I wish to remind you that this matter was debated in a virtual mini
plenary on Friday, 27 October, but that the decision thereon can only be taken on a full plenary. This is also the case for the other decision of the question the House will decide on when we consider orders, seven to 14 after this.
Question put.
Agreed to.
DECISION OF QUESTION ON REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION ON OVERSIGHT VISIT TO NORTHERN CAPE AND FREE STATE PROVINCES FROM 27-31 MARCH 2023
There was no debate.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
Report accordingly adopted.
DECISION OF QUESTION ON REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON POLICE ON OVERSIGHT VISIT TO FORENSIC SCIENCE LABORATORY IN AMANZIMTOTI (KWAZULU-NATAL), FORENSIC SCIENCE LABORATORY IN GQEBERHA NORTH END (EASTERN CAPE) AND NEW BRIGHTON POLICE STATION, GQEBERHA, ON 29 AND 31 MARCH 2023
There was no debate.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
Report accordingly adopted.
DECISION OF QUESTION ON REPORT OF STANDING COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS ON OVERSIGHT VISIT TO TRANSNET SOC LIMITED AND PASSENGER RAIL AGENCY SOUTH AFRICA FROM 27 TO 31 MARCH 2023
There was no debate.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
Report accordingly adopted.
DECISION OF QUESTION ON REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES ON OVERSIGHT VISIT TO GAUTENG AND NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE FROM 19 TO 21 APRIL 2023
There was no debate.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
Report accordingly adopted.
DECISION OF QUESTION ON REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM ON OVERSIGHT VISIT TO NORTH WEST PROVINCE
There was no debate.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
Report accordingly adopted.
DECISION OF QUESTION ON REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON TRADE, INDUSTRY AND COMPETITION ON OVERSIGHT VISIT TO GAUTENG AND LIMPOPO FROM 31 JANUARY TO 3 FEBRUARY 2023
There was no debate.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
Report accordingly adopted.
DECISION OF QUESTION ON REPORT OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE ON OVERSIGHT VISIT TO SMALL HARBOURS AND ROBBEN ISLAND
There was no debate.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
Report accordingly adopted.
DECISION OF QUESTION ON REPORT OF STANDING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE ON OVERSIGHT VISIT TO OFFICE OF THE PENSION FUNDS ADJUDICATOR
There was no debate.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
Report accordingly adopted.
The House adjourned at 16:16.
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