National Council of Provinces - 26 June 2001
TUESDAY, 26 JUNE 2001 __
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
____
The Council met at 14:03.
The Chairperson took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or meditation.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS - see col 000.
NOTICES OF MOTION
Mrs J N VILAKAZI: Chairperson, I hereby give notice that I shall move at the next sitting of the Council:
That the Council -
(1) notes with shock the death of a four-month-old baby who was allegedly attacked by gigantic rats at Sebokeng Hospital;
(2) further notes that the hospital medical superintendent acknowledged that there is a rat problem in the hospital;
(3) finds it unacceptable that the required precautions were not taken timeously to ensure the safety of patients in the hospital; and
(4) calls on the Department of Health and all other structures involved with the safety of patients to take precautions to prevent the reoccurrence of such a nasty health hazard.
Ms B N DLULANE: Chairperson, I hereby give notice that I shall move at the next sitting of the Council:
That the Council -
(1) notes that -
(a) the DA leader, Tony Leon, has finally had the courage to admit
that his party is dominated by whites and that it has to attract
more blacks;
(b) Mr Leon admits that the African National Congress has brought
freedom to all South Africans including himself; and
(c) the division which manifests itself in terms of leadership
within the Democratic Alliance poses a question whether a small
party like the DA, which cannot consolidate its own party and
deal with its own problems, can lead the entire country;
(2) congratulates the Democratic Alliance on presenting their internal squabbles to the ANC; and
(3) acknowledges that this entails that the DA has finally realised that the ANC is the only party that can bring a better life for all.
[Interjections.]
Mr K D S DURR: Chairperson, I hereby give notice that I shall move at the next sitting of the Council:
That the Council calls upon the Receiver of Revenue to look into all cases of improper benefits received in cash or kind by any person of official arising from the arms deal, as well as any other similar Government transactions, and to impose maximum penalties for nondisclosure of benefits received.
INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST DRUG ABUSE AND ILLICIT DRUG TRAFFICKING
(Draft Resolution)
Mnr P A MATTHEE: Voorsitter, ek stel voor sonder kennisgewing:
Dat die Raad -
(1) daarvan kennis neem dat -
(a) dit vandag Internasionale Dag teen Dwelmmisbruik en onwettige
Dwelmhandel is;
(b) statistieke van April verlede jaar tot Maart vanjaar wys dat
daar 'n reuse toename in dwelmgebruik is en dat veral die syfer
onder laerskoolleerlinge uiters kommerwekkend is;
(c) dwelmbase hulle veral daarop toespits om kinders as kopers en
verkopers te werf; en
(d) 'n grootskaalse gemeenskaplike poging van ouers, gemeenskappe,
opvoeders, die polisie en ander regeringsinstellings sowel as
nie-regeringsorganisasies nodig is om die dwelmprobleme van ons
land op te los en ons jeug uit dié bose wurggreep te kry;
(2) sy volle steun verleen aan pogings om oplossings te vind vir die toenemende dwelmprobleem onder ons bevolking en om ons jeug te beskerm teen die gewetenlose uitbuiting deur dwelmbase; en
(3) ‘n beroep op die Regering doen om maatreëls te verskerp om die binnekoms van onwettige dwelmmiddels in ons land te probeer voorkom. (Translation of Afrikaans draft resolution follows.)
[Mr P A MATTHEE: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the Council -
(1) notes that -
(a) today is the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit
Drug Trafficking;
(b) statistics from April last year to March this year indicate that
there has been an enormous increase in drug use and that the
figure among primary school pupils in particular is extremely
alarming;
(c) druglords concentrate their efforts on recruiting children as
buyers and suppliers; and
(d) a large-scale joint effort on the part of parents, communities,
educators, the police and other government institutions as well
as nongovernmental organisations is needed to solve our
country's drug problems and to release our youth from this evil
stranglehold;
(2) lends its full support to attempts at finding solutions to the increasing drug problem amongst our population and at protecting our youth against unscrupulous exploitation by druglords; and
(3) appeals to the Government to intensify measures aimed at the prevention of the entry of illegal drugs into our country.]
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
ANNIVERSARY OF ADOPTION OF FREEDOM CHARTER
(Draft Resolution)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE COUNCIL: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the Council notes that -
(1) today marks the 46th anniversary of the adoption of the Freedom Charter, which declared a nonracial, nonsexist South Africa which belongs to all who live in it, black and white; (2) its visionary prescriptions have served as an educational tool in the protracted and disciplined struggle to bring democracy to our land;
(3) today, we salute and pay tribute to all the people who contributed in putting together this Charter;
(4) for years, the Freedom Charter has been a living document - for decades its eloquence has adequately answered the question ``What kind of South Africa do we want?’’; and
(5) this vision described in the Freedom Charter continues to inspire the struggles of South Africa’s people, to guide the process of fundamental social change and its principles remain at the heart of the objectives of the ANC and the Government.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
LANDMINES IN ERITREA
(Draft Resolution)
Ms M P THEMBA: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the Council -
(1) expresses its dismay at the tragedy of landmines which are killing our fellow African brothers in Eritrea;
(2) regrets Ethiopia’s refusal to disclose the location of more landmines in Eritrea;
(3) supports the initiative of the removal of landmines and regrets America’s refusal to be part of this initiative;
(4) congratulates South Africa for its role in the campaign for the abolition of landmines and weapons of mass destruction; and
(5) pledges more international assistance for the strong proponent of the total abolition of landmines.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
NATURAL DISASTERS
(Draft Resolution)
Mnr J L THERON: Voorsitter, ek stel voor sonder kennisgewing:
Dat die Raad -
(1) kennis neem van die feit dat -
(a) drie natuurrampe, 'n reuse aardbewing in Peru, 'n tifoon in
China en 'n vulkaniese uitbarsting in die Filippyne, die wêreld
getref het; en
(b) meer as 70 mense in Peru gesterf het, meer as 150 mense in die
tifoon Chebi omgekom het en dat meer as 27 000 mense op 215
dorpies in die Filippyne dakloos gelaat is deur die uitbarsting
van die Mayon-vulkaan; en
(2) sy skok uitspreek oor die lewensverlies en ontberinge van die mense en simpatie betuig met die onderskeie lande. (Translation of Afrikaans draft resolution follows.)
[Mr J L THERON: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the Council -
(1) notes that -
(a) three natural disasters, a huge earthquake in Peru, a typhoon in
China and a volcanic eruption in the Phillipines, have struck
the world; and
(b) more than 70 people have died in Peru, more than 150 people have
perished in typhoon Chebi and that more than 27 000 people in
215 villages in the Phillipines have been left homeless by the
eruption of the Mayon volcano; and
(2) expresses its shock at the loss of life and human suffering and conveys its sympathy to the respective countries.]
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
PRESENTATION OF JAMNALAL BAJAJ AWARD TO ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU
(Draft Resolution)
Mrs E N LUBIDLA: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the Council -
(1) notes with pride -
(a) the consistent contribution of Archbishop Desmond Tutu toward
the struggle for freedom of our people; and
(b) his critical leadership role in the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission; and
(2) therefore recognises with pride the Jamnalal Bajaj award received by Desmond Tutu from the High Commissioner of India, Mr S S Mukherjee, yesterday, for furthering the Gandhian values of nonviolence and passive resistance.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
CALL FOR ASSISTANCE TO EMERGING AND SUBSISTENCE FARMERS IN THE NORTH WEST
(Draft Resolution)
Mr J O TLHAGALE: Madam Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the Council -
(1) notes with concern that -
(a) a large proportion of the emerging and subsistence farmers in
the North West, which is predominantly rural, are on the verge
of liquidation and bankruptcy due to a lack of the necessary
resources and climatic conditions; and
(b) many of the rural dwellers who depended on agriculture, which
had always been their main employer, are now facing a bleak
future and this has aggravated the cycle of poverty in the
province; and
(2) calls on the powers that be to assist the farmers to resuscitate this industry and to stop allegations that the UCDP leader spoiled the farmers with nonrefundable loans during drought periods.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Order! Is there any objection to the motion? [Interjections.] There is an objection. The motion will therefore become notice of a motion.
GOOD WISHES TO NATALIE DU TOIT, AMPUTEE SWIMMER
(Draft Resolution)
Me E C GOUWS: Mev die Voorsitter, ek stel voor sonder kennisgewing:
Dat die Raad -
(1) kennis neem dat -
(a) een van Suid-Afrika se beste jong swemmers, die 17-jarige
Natalie du Toit, se linkerbeen in Februarie by die knie afgesit
is na 'n motorongeluk;
(b) hierdie dapper meisie weer op Sondag 1 Julie haar toetrede tot
kompeterende swem hervat ten spyte van die ongeluk; en
(c) sy die wenner van verskeie WP-titels en nasionale medaljes voor
die tragiese ongeluk was; en
(2) haar alle sterkte en voorspoed toewens, ook vir die moed aan die dag gelê. (Translation of Afrikaans draft resolution follows.)
[Ms E C GOUWS: Madam Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the Council -
(1) notes that -
(a) one of South Africa's best young swimmers, the 17-year-old
Natalie du Toit, had her left leg amputated at the knee in
February after a car accident;
(b) this brave young girl is making a comeback to competitive
swimming on Sunday 1 July, despite the accident; and
(c) she was the holder of various WP titles and national medals
before the tragic accident; and
(2) wishes her well and good luck, also for the courage she has shown.]
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
SEIZURE OF ILLEGAL ROCK LOBSTER AT THE WATERFRONT
(Draft Resolution)
Mr G A LUCAS: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the Council -
(1) expresses its concern over the discovery and seizure of 3,37 tons of South Coast rock lobster worth an estimated R1 million from a vessel owned by the Hout Bay fishing industry at the Waterfront yesterday;
(2) notes that the same company was last week linked to seizures of 10 tons of endangered Patagonian Toothfish in a container belonging to the company in New York;
(3) commends the Scorpions investigators and Sea Fisheries inspectors on this breakthrough;
(4) is of the view that the South African Government has no room for poachers; and
(5) is of the firm belief that the investigators will use their skill and due diligence in order to bring the perpetrators to book and to deal with them with the full might of the law.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST TORTURE
(Draft Resolution)
Ms B THOMSON: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the Council -
(1) notes that -
(a) today is the international day against torture, affirming that
everyone has the right to freedom and security and should not be
deprived arbitrarily or without just cause;
(b) this has been made possible by the United Nations and the
largest international coalition of NGOs fighting against
torture, summary executions, forced disappearances and all other
forms of cruel and degrading treatment in order to preserve
human rights; and
(c) the convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman and
degrading treatment or punishment recognises the equal and
inalienable rights of all members of the human family and is the
foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world; and
(2) expresses our support as envisaged in our Bill of Rights which protects security of the person to be free from all forms of violence from either public or private sources and not to be tortured in any way.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
FAST-TRACKING OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AMENDMENT BILL
(Draft Resolution)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE COUNCIL: Chairperson, I move the draft resolution printed in my name on the Order Paper, as follows: That the Council ratifies the decision the Joint Programme Subcommittee took on 20 June 2001 in accordance with Joint Rule 216(2), namely that the Criminal Procedure Amendment Bill [B 37 - 2001] be fast-tracked by, where necessary, shortening any period within which any step in the legislative process relating to the Bill must be completed, in order for the Bill to be passed by both Houses of Parliament before Parliament adjourns in June 2001 (see Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports, p 733).
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
APPROPRIATION BILL
(Policy debate)
Vote No 26 - Environmental Affairs and Tourism:
The MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM: Chairperson, it is
indeed an honour and a privilege for me to present my introduction to the
policy debate on the occasion of the anniversary of the adoption of the
Freedom Charter. Way back in 1955, representatives of the oppressed people
of this country came together and declared for all of the world to know and
hear, South Africa belongs to all who live in it.'' They were bold enough
to declare,The people shall govern.’’ That was right in the belly of
apartheid and in the darkest days of the oppression of our country, and
many critics thought that this was simply a pipe dream. But here we are,
elected representatives of the people, and we are governing. It is a great
privilege for us to be conducting this debate today.
When I addressed the National Assembly a few weeks ago, I made an appeal: As South Africans we must act while we can to protect the environment. This requires decisive action and can only happen if all three spheres of government act together. The NCOP has a special place in the governance of our country. This is where the three spheres interact to give real and practical meaning to co-operative governance on issues of pollution and waste, the growth of tourism and the management of our protected areas and our coastline.
This unity in action is the best weapon to combat poverty with practical programmes. I therefore wish to use this opportunity to highlight some of the practical ways we are working with provinces and local governments to address environmental and tourist issues and raise some concerns that I believe we need to address in this relationship.
The constitutional role of provincial and local government in waste management is critical. Refuse removal, refuse dumps and solid waste disposal are Schedule 5B functions of local government under exclusive provincial legislative competence. We cannot speak of an effective waste management system without talking about the role to be played by provincial and local governments.
Currently, 566 million tons of municipal waste is generated every year by our country. This is a mountain of waste. Only a fraction of this is recycled or reclaimed in any way. When we were preparing for this speech, most municipalities were unable to give us accurate figures on waste and recycling even within their municipal areas. Where is this mountain of waste going to?
There is a crisis pertaining to illegal landfilled sites that continues unabated, and this includes municipal authorities. Of the 710 landfills in South Africa, 49% are illegal and do not comply with environmental legislation. Some municipalities are complicit in this, and are using these landfills illegally. Proper refuse collection is an essential service and a basic right. At the moment, 40% of South Africa’s people do not have a proper domestic refuse collection system, which means that waste piles up around their homes, degrades their environments and affects their health. We have a national obligation to ensure that minimum standards for waste management are met.
The actions taken by provinces to address these problems are clearly not adequate. In this regard it is important that we do the basics right. A consistent refuse removal mechanism and strategy, the provision of basic dustbins in previously neglected areas and the proper organisation of landfill sites in a manner that facilitates effective recycling are things that can be done with the current resources at our disposal. This should be linked to environmentally friendly, integrated development plans for municipalities. We have to act before it is too late.
My department has actively supported waste management projects around the country which aim to demonstrate that waste management can be improved on a sustainable basis and that jobs and development can be delivered as part of this. I am proud to announce that this year we will spend an additional R32 million on waste projects linked to poverty alleviation targets and contributing to Government’s overall work on urban renewal and rural development.
On 25 September 2001 this year my department will host a national waste summit in conjunction with the nine provinces, as decided upon at a recent Minmec, whose key objectives will be to engage all Government agencies and other stakeholders in practical strategies to implement the national policy on integrated waste management. It will also be a golden opportunity to increase awareness among South Africans that they need to act before it is too late.
The socioeconomic development of South Africa and the health of its people can no longer be affected by uncontrolled and unco-ordinated waste management. During World Environment Week this year, when I attended the main function in Bloemfontein in Batho township, I announced that next year, on World Environment Day, Government would be announcing the name of what we consider to be the cleanest town in the country and we would be making available a reward of R1 million to that town for being the cleanest town.
We went further, then, and said - and I will keep this promise - that together with that, we will name and shame what we consider to be the dirtiest town in the country. [Interjections.] I will be requesting, through the provincial MECs when we next get an opportunity to meet in Minmec, that we start the build-up at the provincial level and that we name the cleanest town for each of the nine provinces and the dirtiest town in each province, in a build-up to the national awards as such. I do hope that I will get the co-operation of the NCOP in unfolding this programme, because somebody is going to have to make what is an acceptable determination of which is the cleanest and which is the dirtiest.
The control of air pollution is another local government function that currently is inadequately performed. Only 131 municipalities do any form of air quality monitoring, and of these only 97 take any steps to ensure compliance. Most township areas - and this is a shame - still fall outside declared smoke control areas, and township residents are exposed to the most appalling levels of air pollution from coal smoke and adjacent industries. In parts of the Vaal triangle today one is not able to see one’s neighbour standing across the street from where one is, because the air pollution is so bad. We have already taken steps to publish new guidelines for the reduction in the emissions of SO2 and next year it is our aim to present a clean air Act, which will of course be a clean air Bill when we present it here. This Bill is aimed at regularising the situation, particularly when it comes to municipalities fulfilling their responsibilities in this regard.
I would like to announce that we have taken a decision to avail the aircraft of the weather bureau in pollution hotspots to increase our capacity for random monitoring, particularly monitoring the emission levels that are coming from industries.
The bioregional approach to conservation in South Africa recently released by our department is an indication of the tremendous progress made in conservation in our country since 1994. Over 155 000 ha of land has been added to conservation. This is the biggest expansion in any comparable period in the history of conservation in South Africa. We hope to grow the current 6% of conservation land in South Africa to 8% over the next 10 years, in order to sustain this trend.
The provinces have a critical role to play in managing the conservation areas of our country, and improving the standard of our provincial parks. Much criticism has been levelled against the state of some of our provincial parks and we indeed have a problem in this regard. I am informed that in every single province there has been a steady decline in real terms in the conservation budgets. We are spending less and less in rands per hectare on managing provincial reserves. Income from provincial reserves has also been declining and the parks suffer in provinces where the income goes back to the central Treasury. My department has been working actively with provinces to address this crisis, and in many instances is intervening directly to protect biodiversity that is of national and international significance.
I must say, though, that it is heartening to note that most provinces will, over the next three years, increase their budgets for conservation, some even up to 40%. I believe that this stated commitment needs to supported by the NCOP, and the provinces should be asked to report on steps they are taking to protect biodiversity. I think initially there was not sufficient realisation in provinces that provincial parks and provincial conversation areas are some of the most important assets that provinces have and, if properly managed, can serve to encourage economic activity and create jobs. We hope to publish draft biodiversity legislation towards the end of this year, which will set certain minimum standards for conservation and biodiversity management, and aim to ensure that the heritage of our beautiful country is protected for generations to come.
In some areas progress is commendable. Since 1994 this country has established a total of 26 new parks at both national and provincial level, incorporating the 155 000 hectares that I spoke about into conservation. Other developments worth noting are the signing of the memorandum of understanding for the establishment of the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation and Development Area between South Africa and Lesotho just two weeks ago; the advance preparations for the establishment of the Gaza- Kruger-Gonarezhou Transfrontier Park between South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe; the consolidation of the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park, under the World Heritage Authority, including some 280 000 ha of marine and coastal land, and the addition of approximately 7 000 ha of land, which up to now has been under Safcol commercial forestry; the addition of three parks to the National Parks since 1994, and the addition of 74 000 ha to the Addo Elephant National Park, 77 000 hectares to the Karoo National Park and 50 000 to Marakele National Park. This is an indication of our seriousness about conservation and our resolve to maximise its contribution to the upliftment of the poor.
Tourism is one of the key economic growth sectors identified by the President in his state-of-the-nation address this year. Many towns, townships and rural areas around our country have already taken advantage of the benefits of tourism and are using their local heritage to create jobs and make development happen. Local and provincial governments’ role in building our tourism economy is extremely important. The emergence of local tourism forums and initiatives around the country highlights the fact that many communities want to own the tourism dream. With this amount of support for our policies on tourism, we can conclude that the Welcome campaign is beginning to take root amongst the people of South Africa.
Over the last year we have spoken about changing the face of tourism. The role of provinces in making this a reality cannot be overemphasised. The role of local government in promoting township tourism is critical in ensuring that the participation of black entrepreneurs in the tourism industry is enhanced. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all nine provinces for the manner in which the provinces supported emerging black enterprises to be represented for the first time at the tourism indaba held in Durban in April this year. We experienced a 300% to 400% increase in the number of black-owned enterprises represented there, largely as a result of the support and encouragement given by the provinces.
We are also encouraged by the interest that the SA Local Government Association has taken in co-operating with my department to make tourism everybody’s business. Salga has undertaken to discuss a whole range of issues within its structures in order to give practical effect to policy programmes to promote tourism growth. At a national level we are working to bring more visitors to the country and to boost tourism demand for the wide array of cultural, natural and other beauties of this country. The benefits of tourism flow directly to communities and have become the cement for building a better life for all our people. I call on all spheres of government and communities to act now to build the tourism dream for our country, a wonder that lies waiting.
Addressing poverty is critical to sustaining a high-quality coastal environment from which South Africa draws significant social and economic benefits. All spheres of government, including the private sector have a significant role to play in promoting the sustainable use of coastal resources. The department has embarked on a number of initiatives in excess of R150 million through its partnership programme called Coast Care. This investment has been significantly bolstered by the recently concluded contribution of R50 million from the UK’s Department for International Development over the next three years to support a sustainable coastal livelihoods programme.
Key focus areas of the mentioned programme include piloting public and private sector strategies to create and promote sustainable coastal livelihoods for the poor and building national institutional capacity to support sustainable coastal development. Provision has been made to build the capacity at provincial level, with the appointment of regional co- ordinators.
Despite the above plans, there are those in society who have taken to plundering our coastal resources through poaching, the destruction of our coastline by the building of illegal cottages or the driving of vehicles on beaches. However, we have decided that we are going to act while we can. Last week the Directorate of Public Prosecutions announced the seizure of approximately 25 tons of Patagonian Toothfish and rock lobster that allegedly was being fished illegally and exported by a private company. We will see more arrests and confiscations in the next few months as a result of much improved co-operation with the law enforcement agencies in our country. However, the co-operation of coastal provinces and towns in compliance is critical.
The close working relationship between my department and KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife has meant that we are able to provide effective policing and control of all fishing and coastal activities in the province. We are funding this activity through a contract with KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife, paid out of the revenues of the Marine Living Resources Fund. This year we will negotiate similar contracts with the Western Cape, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape provinces, and aim to establish a coast-to-coast comprehensive enforcement regime. The designation of fishery control officer posts in provincial and local authorities is already in progress and these staff members are assisting departmental law enforcement officials with compliance operations on a regular, well-co-ordinated and well-planned basis.
Working for the Coast is a flagship programme of the department, financed through poverty relief funding. This capacity-building programme is structured around developing participants’ literacy levels, business skills and environmental knowledge. Currently 1 350 people are employed, covering about 60% of the coast. The department has committed R20 million to funding poverty relief projects along the coast during this financial year.
By the year 2004 we plan to generate 5 000 direct jobs per annum in support of the implementation of the White Paper for Sustainable Coastal Development in South Africa, targeting priority areas such as the Eastern Cape.
The Blue Flag campaign is an international scheme that rewards local authorities for providing safe and clean beaches and marinas. A blue flag is awarded annually to beaches and marinas that meet environmental, amenity and safety criteria.
Currently, the Blue Flag campaign in South Africa is in its second and final pilot phase with 14 participating locations. If this pilot phase is successful, South Africa will be the first country outside Europe to become a member of the scheme. The department has committed R1,2 million as seeding finance for the programme. Sustainability will be achieved through an operating fee for participating locations, and the motivation for this comes from increased tourism revenue as a result of the association with the Blue Flag campaign.
This year has seen the department move forward with the implementation of the Marine Living Resources Act for subsistence fishers in all four coastal provinces. Where a large number of fishers could be accommodated, such as in the subsistence fishery for West Coast rock lobster in the Western and Northern Cape, which had over 1 500 entrants in 2001, the plight of poor coastal communities was eased significantly.
In the Western Cape access to the abalone resource is currently going ahead for a further 200 applicants. In the Eastern Cape, permits to harvest abalone have been issued in two sites, Hamburg and the East London area, and access to other high-value species such as East Coast rock lobster and oysters has been granted to several hundred fishers on the Wild Coast.
In KwaZulu-Natal management of all subsistence fishing is currently being done by the provincial authority supported financially by the national department. In all areas and provinces where harvesting is for direct consumption of the subsistence fisher and his or her family, the challenge facing the department is to ensure that continued access to resources remains sustainable.
The Johannesburg world summit to be held in September next year presents us with an enormous challenge, but also a unique opportunity. The eyes of the world will be focused on us as we play host to over 100 heads of state and at least 50 000 delegates. We have to ensure that Johannesburg is not just about empty promises, but has concrete meaning for the poor of the world. It is our challenge to mobilise communities to make an input in shaping the agenda of this summit.
Logistical preparations for the summit are at an advanced stage. Just two weeks ago the UN inspection team that visited Johannesburg expressed satisfaction with the level of preparations.
The imminent hosting of the international conference of local issues in South Africa is an ideal opportunity to build up to the summit with a sense of the concrete discussions about sustainable development that must be at the core of the world summit.
Involving our constituencies in preparations for the summit is the best way to honour the confidence shown by the UN in bestowing this responsibility on our country. I therefore wish to call on the NCOP to assist us in this regard, and facilitate debates and discussions on this summit and its preparations, not only in this House, but also in the provincial legislatures and in local councils.
In conclusion, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the MECs of the nine provinces for the high degree of co- operation I have received from them over the past year. I also wish to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the select committee of the NCOP and its chairperson, the Reverend Peter Moatshe, for the valuable contribution they continue to make to the work of the Ministry and the department. [Applause.]
Moruti P MOATSHE: Rre moradisi, motlotlegi Tona ya Lefapha la Merero ya Tikologo le Bojanala, maloko a a kgethegileng go tswa kwa dikgaolong tse di farologaneng, ditona tsa dikgaolo, maloko a a tlotlegang a Ntlo eno, Lefapha la Merero ya Tikologo le Bojanala, bana ba gaetsho le bokgaitsadi, ka re Pula!
Re setse re bone tsela eo motlotlegi Tona Valli Moosa a tsosolositseng bojanala ba naga eno, le go bo tlhatlhosa ka go tsenya mooko mo marapong ka tsamaiso e e tlhwatlhwa ya mokgwa o o kgethegileng. O kgonne go retolola bojanala mo tsamaisong ya maloba e e neng e kgetholola ba ba dikobo dikhutshwane. A tla ka bojanala jo bonang le motswako o o nang le meribo ya setso le tlhago ya bana ba mmala wa sebilo. Tona Valli Moosa gape a re, phokoje go tshela yo o dithetsenyane.
Metsesetoropo, metseselegae, le tota kwa batho ba itlhomileng teng, mafelo a a fetogile a a tlhwatlhwa a bojanala mo nageng ya rona. Baeti ba na le tshono ya go etela mafelo a a neng a sa etelwe mo nakong ya tlhabololotlhaolele. Diphetogo tse, di gwetlha baagi botlhe ba Aforika Borwa go tsaya karolo mo katolosong le tlhabololo ya bojanala. Motswana a re, kodumela moepathutsi ga go na lehumo le le tswang gaufi. (Translation of Tswana paragraphs follows.)
[Rev P MOATSHE: Chairperson, hon Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, delegates from different provinces, premiers, members of this House, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, my brothers and sisters, greetings!
We have already seen how the hon Minister Valli Moosa has revived and uplifted tourism in this country through his hard work and remarkable management style. He managed to change tourism from what it used to be in the past, discriminating against the poor. His tourism projects now include African traditional rhythms and culture. Minister Valli Moosa also said that one has to work hard in order to succeed.
Townships, rural areas and even informal settlements have become remarkable tourist attractions in our country. Tourists now have the opportunity to visit areas which were not visited during the apartheid regime. These changes challenge all citizens of South Africa to participate in the widening and development of tourism. An old saying goes, ``perseverance is the mother of success.’’]
Through the visionary leadership of the Minister, South Africa has been able to unlock its vast tourism potential to such an extent that we are fast becoming a global player in the tourism industry.
Our tourism industry is entering an exciting period. Having laid the foundation for the transformation of the industry, we can now move forward to vigorously promote the growth of this sector. This includes encouraging more people from previously disadvantaged backgrounds to make use of the new opportunities opening up in the industry.
But in order for us to proceed along this road, it is important to deal with some of the remaining obstacles, such as racism in the industry and the lack of tourism infrastructure in some of our poorer provinces. These two factors have made it difficult for black people to really take advantage of the opportunities in the tourism sector.
The number of people who have managed to cut through the red tape that hinders black entrepreneurs from making it in the tourism industry is still too low. Some experts have already warned that the industry may become unsustainable if we do not make it more inclusive.
Despite these warnings, there are still people and political parties who think that the tourism industry is the sole preserve of whites. In September of last year, the New NP-DP coalition government in the Western Cape, for example, organised a tourism indaba in Cape Town that was addressed and attended by almost exclusively white delegates. How on earth can one discuss the future of tourism and the challenges facing the industry in the absence of people who constitute the majority of the Western Cape’s population?
Some of these white tourism companies have even invented new strategies such as rent-a-black to give a nonracial appearance to their companies, yet there is no equity between whites and blacks in the companies. Those who deny that racism still exists in the industry are dishonest. The Human Rights Commission has been called upon on a number of occasions to investigate charges of racism by some tourist resorts.
The racism of some South African tourism companies has even been felt as far away as Mozambique. On 16 April this year Mozambique’s top tourist official accused a South African tourist company in the Gasa province of racism, for having put up notices at their resorts which read, and I quote, ``No entry for Mozambican children.’’ Children of foreign tourists, including South Africans, were, however, allowed in the resorts.
Tourism is commonly accepted as the one sector with the greatest potential for job creation. However, the sector needs to be completely deracialised if it is to realise its job creation potential. It should have, as one of its key objectives, the encouragement of real black economic empowerment, instead of the rent-a-black strategy followed by some white tourism companies.
The other big problem inhibiting the growth of the tourism sector is the skewed distribution of tourism infrastructure, such as transport, amenities and other supportive services.
Although we have very good tourism infrastructure, this is mostly found in traditional destinations such as Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town and the Kruger National Park. The same level of infrastructure is not found in emerging destinations such as the northern parts of the Northern Province. This limits the dispersal of tourism to this area and other emerging destinations, which are gifted with an abundance of the new types of tourism products such as ecotourism and culture, which are fast becoming favourite tourist attractions.
For a province such as the Northern Province, which has great tourism potential, it is essential that we accelerate the provision of tourism infrastructure in our emerging destinations. The North West province also has a great potential in tourism. There are great plans in the pipeline for this sector.
This will greatly enhance the speeding up of tourism development projects, such as the Bakenburg tourism development project, the Blouberg cultural village and hiking trail, the Bolobedu cultural village and the Hatsama Dam cultural village.
The select committee on land and environmental affairs will continue to support Government in its efforts to rid the tourism industry of the obstacles which prevent the industry from realising its full potential. This includes not only support for tourism development, but also support in ensuring that our tourism industry develops responsibly.
A key aspect of our tourism development strategy is to make sure that it will be able to sustain future generations. This means looking at the impact of increased tourism on our ecosystem. I am pleased to say that our Government is aware of the potential harm which may be caused to our environment through increased tourism. It has already developed an integrated pollution and waste management policy which will serve as a holistic and integrated strategy to deal with the harmful effects of pollution and waste disposal, including those that may be caused by tourism.
Modulasetilo, motlotlegi Tonakgolo Valli Moosa, tikologo ya lefatshe la rona la Aforika Borwa e botlhokwa go tsholwa sentle go feta mo malobeng. Go tlhokega dithuto tse di ka tsibosang baagi ba naga ka botlhokwa ba tikologo e e leng ya bona.
Baagi ba tshwanetse go ila leswe, mme go nne le metseletsele ya diphephafatso go kgabaganya naga ya rona ya Aforika Borwa jaaka Tona a setse a kaile.
Moradise, a go dirwe melao e e tla laolang gore tikologo e tshwanetse go tsholwa jang. Se, se ka tlhatlhosa maemo a bojanala fa tikologo ya rona e le phepa, e bogega, e bile e ratega. (Translation of Tswana paragraphs follows.) [It is now more important to take care of the South African environment than it was in the past. There is a need to educate the community about the importance of conserving their environment. The community must stop littering, and there should be antilittering campaigns throughout South Africa, as the hon the Minister has already indicated.
There should be laws governing the conservation of our environment. A clean and attractive environment would elevate the standard of tourism in our country.]
I want to take this opportunity to thank the Minister for his co-operation with the select committee; that cannot be left unmentioned. We want to wish the Minister and the department an energetic time in future, as we move into the 21st century, so that the environment and tourism sector takes up the challenge and makes an impact upon the entire world.
I want to thank the department in particular, the members of the select committee and the provinces as we interact with them as the NCOP from this end. I want to thank those who are present here: the MECs, chairpersons and special delegates.
Ka mafoko a ka re, pula a e ne! [Legofi.] [With those few words, I wish all members prosperity. [Applause.]]
Dr E A CONROY: Chairperson, hon Minister Moosa, MECs for environmental affairs and colleagues, virtually all, if not all, religions and cultures accept that nature was created by the Almighty for His creatures to enjoy and to benefit from all its different facets: nature in the form of earth, water, plants and animals, of which we, as human beings, are the custodians and which we have a sacred responsibility to protect and cherish.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Mr M L Mushwana): Order! Can you speak into your microphone, hon member?
Dr E A CONROY: Must I start all over again?
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Mr M L Mushwana): The clock is ticking.
Dr E A CONROY: We do so also for the sake of our children and our children’s children until the end of time.
It is therefore necessary that we should have some sort of mechanism that will unite our efforts to protect our God-given natural heritage and to manage it in a sustainable way. That mechanism exists in South Africa in the form of the Ministry and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
The strategic approaches of the department to performing this very important task placed on its shoulders are the promotion of economic growth through sustainable development; the utilisation and the protection of our natural and cultural resources; the empowerment of all our people through participation, environmental education, capacity-building, research and information services; the conservation of nature; the creation of a better living environment and the improvement of the present and future quality of life; the building of a common patriotism and pride in our natural heritage; and the unlocking of the full potential of a better life for all our people. These objectives deserve our appreciation and applause.
It is reassuring to know that, in terms of the National Environmental Management Act of 1998, environmental impact assessments are not only needed, but insisted upon, before the construction, upgrading and development of cableways, electricity power stations and nuclear reactors; roads, airfields, railways, marinas and harbours; canals, channels, dams, weirs, reservoirs and bulk water supply schemes; sewage treatment plants and refuse disposal sites; and public and private resorts, including rezoning and changes in land use.
It is also reassuring to know that we have officials and elected public representatives who do not hesitate and are indeed prepared to stand up and strictly enforce and apply these environmental protection instruments against structures erected and constructed in the name of so-called development, like the recent well-publicised case in the Tygerberg.
The Minister also assures us that the department will not hesitate to legally pursue and order the tearing down of illegal structures and will insist on the rehabilitation of the land to its previous state. It is reassuring also in the sense that, with these measures in place, we can at least sleep with one eye closed.
Soos met enige saak, is daar sekere aspekte in die werksaamhede van die departement wat kritiek verdien. Ek verwys spesifiek na die hantering van die sake van die Nasionale Krugerwildtuin. Agb lede moet my verskoon as ek my kritiek baseer op inligting wat ek uit die pers moes kry, aangesien die Parkeraad se beamptes dit blykbaar nie nodig genoeg gevind het om die Gekose Komitee oor Omgewingsake eerstehands in te lig nie.
Bewerings word gemaak van korrupsie, afdankings, swak administrasie en ‘n grootskaalse verkwisting van geld. Die hoof uitvoerende beampte het byvoorbeeld onlangs teenoor ons erken dat hy nie toegang tot die dienste van ‘n finansiële amptenaar het nie en dat hy een oggend wakker geword het met die skokkende ontdekking dat die Nasionale Parkeraad finansieel in die rooi is.
Is dié aspek intussen al reggestel of word daar nog in finansiële duisternis rondgetas? (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Like with every issue, there are certain aspects in the functioning of the department that deserve criticism. I refer specifically to the handling of the issues relating to the Kruger National Park. Hon members should excuse me if I base my criticism on information which I had to get from the press, because officials of the Parks Board did not see their way clear to informing the Select Committee on Environmental Affairs on a first-hand basis.
Allegations of fraud, dismissals, poor administration and extensive squandering of money are being made. The chief executive officer for instance admitted to us recently that he does not have access to a financial officer and that he awoke one morning and came to the shocking realisation that the National Parks Board was financially in the red.
Has this aspect been rectified in the meantime or are they still groping in the financial darkness?]
According to the Sunday Times, antipoaching units and research projects at the Kruger National Park are under threat as the park’s workforce is being reduced by 33%. It is furthermore reported that unions have warned that:
… conditions at the park have deteriorated, with camps dirty and toilets broken ahead of the winter holiday season.
The warning comes as the park faces growing financial problems and declining visitor figures. The Minister might wish to react to these allegations which have been made in the press in view of the fact that the National Parks Board has, despite several requests to do so, not seen its way open to enlightening the select committee of this House on a first-hand basis.
In conclusion, I would like to propose that the title of ``chief honorary marine conservation officer’’ be conferred on the Minister in recognition for his commendable management of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
Mrs Z T SEBEKEDI (North West): Chairperson, hon Minister and hon members of this august House, allow me to reiterate the point that the Government budget is a policy implementing tool.
People need to understand that this specific Budget Vote has the primary purpose of facilitating and implementing policies, plans and legislation that will lead the tourism industry towards delivering growth and prosperity to all South Africans while ensuring the responsible and sustainable utilisation of natural and cultural resources. The department should co-ordinate and liaise with provincial governments regarding all aspects of tourism development.
Tourism is a highly complex industry characterised by a huge variety of heterogeneous role-players, stakeholders and beneficiaries who differ in their organisation, style, functions and objectives. This necessitates close collaboration between the public and private sector and organised civil society, which local government is an integral part of. It is thus necessary to identify component parts of this complicated industry in order to effectively manage it and understand the optimum role that each one has to play.
A lack of understanding of market profiles and behavioural patterns provides the inherent danger of allocating resources and efforts to unsustainable markets and product development strategies.
The North West is cognisant of the available opportunity offered by tourism and has identified the requirement for market intelligence that informs appropriate market and product development strategies. As people’s needs and desires change over time, it is also important to alter and develop products according to changes in market demand, especially when it comes to placing the focus on the domestic market, which has a potential to act as a buffer to counter the inevitable and unpredictable fluctuations in international tourism.
Our Constitution clearly provides for the functioning of local tourism and beaches, amusement facilities and municipal parks and recreation, which are functions associated with tourism, but fall under local authorities.
This highlights the need for close co-operation in this respect. National and provincial tourism strategies should be closely aligned with local tourism activities for the sake of co-operative governance. The opportunity exists for municipalities to create revenue-generating activities through tourism projects.
But the newly demarcated areas of jurisdiction place an additional financial burden on municipalities as they have to administer larger areas, including rural areas within their areas of jurisdiction, and all potential revenue-generating sources are explored at local level.
So could Big Brother - I mean our department here - and sister departments at provincial level please be so kind as to give support to municipalities that have marketing strategies aimed at introducing their local areas to potential tourists and investors?
Municipalities are in the remarkable position of being able to have a direct impact on the local economy as they have a resource base large enough to plan and implement positive economic interventions, including tourism promotion.
When it comes to environmental affairs, our concerns are about existing legislation regarding waste management in South Africa. It is generally fragmented, diverse and ineffectively administered. The responsibility for executing waste management functions and the enforcement of the current waste-related legislation are not always clear as they are spread over a number of national, provincial and local government departments.
This unsatisfactory situation is compounded by the fact that the definition of ``waste’’, for the purposes of environmental conservation, specifically excludes radioactive, mining and power plant waste. This should be corrected in the Environment Conservation Act. The co-ordinated management of these waste streams is an area of particular concern and requires detailed attention, especially regarding institutional issues and integrating and consolidating current permit requirements.
The impact of poor waste management, conditions and practices on the health of people living in our rural areas is significant in terms of the quality of life and the education and development opportunities of our communities.
The lack of or inadequately maintained or inappropriately designed systems constitutes a range of pollution risks to the environment and there are quite a number of places in the North West that need to be urgently attended to in this regard.
I commend this department, under the able leadership of Minister Valli Moosa, for the progress that it has made in its transformation process. I wish them good luck and success in all their endeavours to achieve their objectives.
We support the approval of this Budget Vote. [Applause.]
Mrs A M VERSFELD: Dankie, Voorsitter. [Thank you, Chairperson.]
The theme of the Minister’s Budget Vote on 29 May, as it is today, was that we must act while we can. Since the Minister delivered his speech on 29 May, two very important things have happened.
First, on 16 June South Africa became the first associate member from outside Europe to have Blue Flag accreditation. In the Minister’s own words: ``This strong commitment from national Government is important as Blue Flag is regarded as a national flagship towards the implementation of the White Paper for sustainable coastal development.’’
Secondly, at the beginning of this month, we had our Coast Care Environment Week celebration. However, there is one coastal town on the West Coast which has no reason for celebration, because of severe erosion of its beach. The relic coastline indicates that if the status quo exists, the sea would take about half of the town. This town is Langebaan, a Ramsar site and part of the newly proposed West Coast biosphere reserve, and thus of enormous international importance. As a Ramsar site, the lagoon supports dense populations of molluscs and crustaceans, as well as 71 species of marine algae.
The lagoon is also the nursery for the development of juvenile fish and gobies, klipfish, pipefish, skates, rays and small sharks, including 15 regular Palaearctic migrants. The extensive intertidal area of the lagoon supports up to 55 000 water birds in summer, most of which are waders. I think there are approximately 23 species. There are a number of significant economic activities in the bay that are directly dependent on the wellbeing of the lagoon system, notably the Langebaan community, the West Coast National Park, mariculture activities, Mykonos, the navy, and the special forces.
Langebaan plays host to significant recreational and tourist facilities on the West Coat. The northern beach, which has been the focus of the erosion, is an internationally renowned launching area for windsurfing and kite surfing, activities which attract tourists, mainly from Europe, who consider Langebaan to be one of the world’s best windsurfing sites. Ek wil vinnig ‘n bietjie agtergrond gee van die situasie. In 1960 was die strandwydte van die Langebaan-strandmeer 160 m. Dertig jaar later was die wydte presies die helfte minder, naamlik 80 m. Die tempo van erosie het met die jare dramaties begin versnel, en in so ‘n mate dat die 80 m wat oor was in die laaste sewe jaar verdwyn het. Erger nog is dat feitlik die helfte van hierdie 80 m sedert 1994 verdwyn het.
Die erodering veroorsaak nou weer ‘n opbou van sand in ander gedeeltes van die strandmeer wat tot nadeel strek van die ekologie deurdat getykanale se natuurlike vloei geaffekteer word. Genoemde faktore was dan ook die oorsaak dat ‘n rotsmuur as ‘n tydelike noodoplossing gebou is om die dorp van ‘n ramp te red, want 75% van Langebaan-Noord lê 1 m bo seespieël en 50% van Langebaan se strandfront - huise en erwe - is dus in onmiddellike gevaar.
Verlede jaar is die rotsmuur met ‘n verdere 260 m verleng, maar nou vind erosie ook onder die see-oppervlakte plaas en bedreig dit die toon van die rotsmuur deurdat ‘n 3 m-sloep voor die muur gevorm het wat die vooroor ineenstorting van die rotsmuur tot gevolg kan hê. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[I quickly want to give some background on the situation. In 1960 the beach width of the Langebaan lagoon was 160m. Thirty years later the width of the lagoon was exactly half of that, namely 80m. The rate of erosion had started to accelerate dramatically through the years and to such an extent that the 80m that was left totally vanished over the last seven years. Even worse is the fact that almost half of this 80m has vanished since 1994.
The erosion now creates a build-up of sand in other parts of the lagoon that is to the detriment of the ecology because some of the tidal channels’ natural flow has been affected. The said factors were the reason why a rock wall has been built as a temporary emergency measure to save the town from a disaster, because 75% of Langebaan-North is 1m above sea level and 50% of Langebaan’s beachfront - houses and plots - were thus in immediate danger. Last year the rock wall was lengthened by a further 260m, but now erosion is also taking place underneath the sea surface and it is threatening the base of the rock wall because a 3m gully has formed in front of the rock wall which can result in a forward collapse of the wall.]
I would like to say to the Minister that we must act while we can. The exact reasons for severe beach erosion are unknown. However, a number of factors, some anthropogenic and some natural, are thought to have contributed to this problem. For example, the above-average occurrence of high-intensity northwest winds during winter, changes in the size and position of the sandbanks south of Skaapeiland, changes in the shape of the channel carrying the ebb tide from the lagoon between Skaapeiland and the mainland, the repositioning of the sand shoal to a more southerly location, thereby preventing the natural recycling of sediment, which could replenish the beach, past dredging of sand northwest of Skaapeiland during 1975-76 and activities at the Saldanha Bay port may have influenced the broader Saldanha Bay system. But what has been done?
The coastal engineers were tasked with investigating a more permanent solution presented in an interim report in 1999. In March 2000 the local authority commissioned a scoping study to identify the long-term options - those presented by coastal engineers and other stakeholders.
Part of this process was a specialist workshop to assess the situation and consider proposals. This workshop was held on 9 to 11 May and was attended by local and international specialists - specialists with local knowledge, with international experience in sediment transport models and in the construction of groynes; and experts like Dr Ida Broker from Denmark, who is the head of the coastal engineering department of the Danish Hydraulic Institute, and Prof Christopher Flemming, an internationally recognised expert in coastal engineering and coastal management.
It is important to note that the natural equilibrium of the beach has changed dramatically, and the proposal from the experts is to work with nature and to realign the beach. For the first time there is consensus between local and international experts, which is supported by the local community, on the way that the beach should be restored.
There is also sufficient precedent to show that a groyne is effective in creating a pocket beach - that is, putting the sand back through water movement and trapping it there. Judging by international experience and studies to date, there are very few, if any, negatives. It can be aesthetically pleasing and a tourist attraction, like the old pier in Cape Town and the jetty in the Strand.
To end off, the permanent solution will cost approximately R20 million. The critical need is to protect the existing infrastructure - houses, roads and storm-water services - and to ensure that the revetment is adequately maintained to provide protection for this winter. The proposed permanent solutions should be started with immediately. Through different agencies, for example local government, the National Disaster Fund and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism - the Coast Care fund which the Minister has just mentioned - we should be able to save Langebaan. Only when it is seen to be the concern of Government can one look for outside funding.
I am sure the Minister would agree with me that the problem is obviously far greater than a local authority or province can be expected to cope with. Already an amount of R4,8 million has been spent that could and should have been channelled into projects for growth. I am sure the Minister will also agree with me that there is a need to ensure that the integrity of an internationally protected Ramsar site is not compromised and that we must act while we can, before it is too late. [Applause.]
Nkk J N VILAKAZI: Sihlalo ohloniphekileyo, mhlonishwa ungqongqoshe wezeMvelo nezokuNgcebeleka neNdlu yonke ehloniphekileyo, usuku oluhle. Sikhuluma ngezemvelo, okungubuhle lobu esabuphiwa nguMdali. Kuba kithi-ke ukuthi lobu buhle siyabubona yini na, siyabazisa nje, sibuvikela kanjani ekonakaleni nasekushabalaleni ukuze bungabi yize leze noma bube udoti nje, into engabhekeki.
Ake sibheke nje kancane izifundazwe ezidume ngayo le mvelo. IKapa lidume nge-Table Mountain, amagilebhisi enza iwayini, ulwandle oluhlangana e-Cape Point, i-Robben Island nokunye ongakucabanga. Konke lokhu kudinga imali eshisiwe ukukunakekela nokukugcina kusesimeni esihle sokuheha izivakashi uma zizongcebeleka.
IKwaZulu-Natali idume ngamahlathi, umoba nolwandle olugudla ugu nezithelo eziningi. Isifundazwe saKwaZulu-Natali siluhlaza cwe. Uhlaza luheha imfuyo, izilwane nabantu. Indawo eluhlaza nje inhle. Izifundazwe zonke zinomlando wazo wezemvelo. Ezinye zidume ngemigede yazo, amatshe anomlando, imithi nezihlahla ezidumile, angazi ngingabala ngithini. Egameni le-IFP, lo Mnyango udinga imali ezokwazi ukwenza le mvelo igcineke iseqophelweni eliphezulu lokuheha izivakashi. Lo Mnyango ukuze uthole umnotho othe xaxa, udinga isabelo semali esithe xaxa.
IKwaZulu-Natali idume ngokuba isifundazwe esiphambili ekuheheni izivakashi ngobuhle baso. Uma kodwa kuthiwa ibuye ibalwe nezifundazwe ezinobuphofu, lokhu kusho ukuthi kunomcebo nje ongathi uma kufakwa izimali kulungiswe imvelo esinayo kule ndawo, ukhule kakhulu. (Translation of Zulu paragraphs follows.)
[Mrs J N VILAKAZI: Chairperson, hon Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and the House at large, this is a good day since we are talking about nature, something that God has given us. It always depends on us how we realise, celebrate and protect this beauty so that it cannot disappear and be damaged and even become nothing but rubbish that one will not want to look at.
Let us take a look at the provinces that are known for the beauty of our nature. The Western Cape is known for Table Mountain and grapes out of which wine is made. It is also known for having a point at which two oceans join. It is known for Robben Island and many other things you can think of. All these things need a lot of money to protect and keep them at a level that will attract tourists.
The KwaZulu-Natal province is known for its forests, sugar cane, the ocean that moves along the coast and many kinds of fruit. This province is completely green. This is what attracts people, reared and wild animals. A green land is beautiful. All provinces have a history about their nature. Some are known for their strongholds, historical rocks, popular trees, and I do not know what else to add. In the name of the IFP, this department needs money that will enable it to protect this nature at a level that will attract tourists. This department should be given enough funds so that it will be able to develop the economy.
The KwaZulu-Natal province is known for attracting tourist because of its beauty. Since it is grouped under poor provinces, this means that there is an economy that will grow if we put more money into it and nurture the nature that we have.] Chairperson, hon Minister and members of Parliament, South Africa enjoys the highest level of biodiversity in the world. Our parks, mountains, rivers, wetlands, wild animals and flowers and the 15 000 rock art sites that we have inherited are our pride and the property of the generations to come.
From the economic point of view, its value is beyond calculation. Our country’s rich heritage is vast and staggering in its proportions. For example, over 3 700 species occur in South Africa and nowhere else in the world. The Cape floral region is so unique that it has been designated as one of the six kingdoms. No other country is host to the entire plant kingdom.
Tourism, more than any other sector of the economy, holds the potential to create jobs and stimulate economic growth. The growing demand for cultural tourism provides the opportunity to reclaim our proud history and promote nation-building and renaissance.
In conclusion, the IFP extends its gratitude to the Minister and members of his department for the professional and dedicated work that they have done so far in this field. I also wish to take this opportunity to call all members of this House to join the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism in the rewarding campaign to protect and restore South Africa’s proud natural heritage. I urge all hon members, for the sake of the tourism industry and for their own sakes, to take a long and extended holiday. [Applause.]
Mr G C ADAMS (Western Cape): Chairperson, hon Minister, colleagues and members, I am going to stop short of actually agreeing with my colleague to giving the hon the Minister an honorary award. Nevertheless, I think that he has done a fine job so far.
I would like to tell the hon the Minister that we are now seven years into the miracle birth of a new nation. It may not have been an immaculate conception, but a miracle birth it was. Seven years after democracy, the prevailing and inescapable dynamic that confronts the national Government is its failure to deliver to the most marginalised and disadvantaged communities. Failure to deliver to the people is what is driving politics today. We continue to hear of pensioners dying in queues; fisher folk in a poor and desperate situation trying to make a living from the sea; budgets in key delivery portfolios underspent; wide-scale corruption, and so on.
Whilst other ministerial portfolios have done much worse, Environmental Affairs and Tourism has done relatively well, but should not escape criticism. Whilst I congratulate Minister Moosa, who clearly has the spirit and energy to succeed, for his good ideas and determination in getting delivery on the ground, I cannot escape the conclusion that he has also failed the people.
I say this because very little has changed for the poorest and most marginalised people through the policies of the national department. The Minister’s policies still do not have the support of the subsistence fisher folk who continue to survive on the scraps of the industry. The lot of the subsistence fisher folk has worsened and many can now no longer live off the sea. Crime and urbanisation are their only refuge. We, in the province, unfortunately have to pick up the tab in the form of increased social spending.
In his speech in the National Assembly, the Minister quoted Kurlansky, Huxley and others. Once again, one hears these erudite philosophical writers talking about the lot of the ordinary people of whom they know nothing and never have known anything. He should forget about what the philosophers and social commentators tell him and go and listen to the fisher folk. He should go and see what life is like for them. He should go up to the west coast, small rural villages and hamlets and listen to the people, and not listen to Huxley, who tells him not to listen to the people.
I would like to tell the hon the Minister that nobody is suggesting that we can fish our way out of poverty or that the resource is limitless. We indeed applaud him and his department for protecting the fish resources and any increase in the total allowable catch. To achieve this we must, obviously, eliminate poaching. In the light of the events of the past week, we must congratulate the Minister on tackling not only the small poachers through Operation Neptune, but also the big poachers who, under the mantle of respectable business, deplete our resources by the ton. The raids by the Scorpions confirm a long-held suspicion that the established fishing industry is as culpable of poaching as the petty criminal. I would like to tell the hon the Minister that we are behind him in his efforts to clean up the industry.
In his budget speech, the Minister boasted that 50% of the rights issued in the pelagic sector are now black-owned. Without going into the integrity of that figure by stripping out the paper quotas, the front companies and the shameful fraud that is being perpetrated in the name of ``black-owned’’, I would like to ask the hon the Minister how much of that 50% represents transformation for the really poor and marginalised; and then how much of the 50% represents patronage for the party faithful. In effect, the Minister’s policies have advantaged those who have access to capital in one form or another. Transformation must be transformation for the benefit of the poorest and most marginalised and not based on race tags, all the more so in that the integrity of the transformation is, in any event, in question because of patronage.
Ecotourism presents magnificent opportunities for our communities. I am not talking about the kind of tourism that turns our townships and villages into large open-air zoos, but genuine ecotourism which is authentic in its experience and empowering to our people. This is an alternative to trying to fish our way out of the problems of poverty. We urge the hon the Minister to aggressively promote this sector as well as expand the Working for the Coastline initiative.
I must also commend the Minister on his conservation efforts for natural areas. He has good ideas and has made concerted efforts to ensure that we comply with our obligations, nationally and internationally. There are, however, still fundamental problems in this area. Highly questionable developments are still proceeding because of several uncertainties in our law. Firstly, we must, as a matter of priority, ensure that law reform, and, in particular, amendments and regulations to the National Environmental Management Act are promulgated. With the conflict of laws and uncertainty as to what the law is we, in the province, are being litigated against by both developers and conservationists. It is a no-win situation that benefits nobody. I would like to ask the hon the Minister to please expedite the process of giving us a clear legal framework.
Secondly, as Minister Moosa well knows, Koeberg in the Western Cape has been identified as the preferred site … [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Mr M A SULLIMAN: Chairperson, let me start off by saying that I see that we have little gifts here today. I do not know what this is, but it looks like Mother Earth. If one looks at the gemstones here, they look like tiger’s- eye, and I think that tiger’s-eye comes from the Northern Cape as a province. [Applause.]
The national objectives of job creation, economic growth, poverty alleviation and development are the guiding principles informing the policies and programmes of the Northern Cape department of economic affairs and tourism. Tourism in the province is therefore used to achieve the above objectives. This is done by focusing on tourism investment and infrastructure in the underprivileged areas where tourism potential aims to empower previously neglected communities.
Given the important contribution which tourism can make in achieving our development objectives, it is essential that we create the kind of conditions, in our province, which will ensure a thriving provincial tourism industry.
As a first step, we have critically reviewed the role of the Northern Cape Tourism Authority and came to the conclusion that its prime focus must be to promote and market the province as a tourist destination, whilst tourism development should be the responsibility of the department of economic affairs and tourism.
Secondly, we have identified a number of issues that need immediate and ongoing attention to support and enhance tourism development in the province, such as community tourism development, a proper communications strategy, closer co-operation with the national Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, and closer co-operation with the private sector.
Community tourism development has been identified as one of the growth sectors of our province which need focused attention and assistance. The provincial department has already engaged local tourism entrepreneurs and is assisting them in developing their tourism products. An excellent example of this is the Didimalang luxury guesthouse in Galeshewe.
A peculiar problem experienced in this province is the negative impact which newspapers such as the Diamond Fields Advertiser have on the development of tourism in our province.
This problem has highlighted the need for an effective communications strategy to combat the negative impact on local thinking which is often fuelled by our local newspapers. The provincial department is currently in discussions with the Northern Cape Tourism Authority to set up a joint communication process to change negative attitudes and promote unity of purpose.
In terms of closer co-operation between the provincial and national departments, the province hopes to enlist national support for partnerships that will seek to further develop the province as a tourist destination.
At the same time the provincial department is engaging the private sector, most notably De Beers, to venture into a partnership agreement jointly to develop the Big Hole, which is one of the major tourist attractions in the province, as well in South Africa. The above are all short-term interventions which the provincial department hopes to accomplish in the next one to two years.
The department of economic affairs and tourism has also developed a number of medium and long-term strategies around tourism development in the province. As a medium-term strategy, the department will create a genuine nodal attraction at Kimberley which will provide the province with a solid kick-start for new tourism.
The department will also establish a tourism empowerment fund that will give focus to empowerment through a community-public-private partnership approach and provide support to ensure access to appropriate entrepreneurial financial support linked with national incentives as they unfold.
The department will also create links with the SA National Parks. Through this link the department hopes to play a role in the development of national parks in the region so as to maximise downstreaming business and employment opportunities for the people in the Northern Cape.
The Northern Cape Tourism Authority will also build networks with tour operators, travel agents, airline and hotel groups both locally and internationally, and use these networks to drive its own tourism promotion and marketing process.
Given the fact that the Northern Cape is not a final destination, it is important to create or develop existing packages for travel in the province and to market these through the networks. This will boost the service and hospitality industries in our province significantly.
The long-term interventions will no doubt begin to define themselves as the outcome of growth in the local industry. It is, however, likely that this will be guided by the so-called megatrends of tourism.
It is important to reiterate that this exercise needs to be supplemented in order to secure unity of purpose as to the way forward for the Northern Cape. As a result, the main long-term intervention should be to support the further planning and implementation of specific tourism development opportunities as identified for each subregion.
All of these projects are of such significance that commercial opportunities for the development of new tourism products are anticipated. More importantly, given our aspirations for small, medium and micro enterprise development, a number of these projects look likely to offer opportunities for community-based tourism initiatives.
We in the Northern Cape are therefore in support of the Budget Vote for the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. If someone is in need of some fresh air and quietness, he or she should come to the Northern Cape province. We have a slogan that says: Follow the sun and not the crowds and you will end up in the Northern Cape. [Applause.]
Mr M M MACKENZIE (KwaZulu-Natal): Chairperson, let me first acknowledge the very positive steps that are being taken by the Minister to ensure that our environment in its totality is preserved for posterity, so that the main user, tourism, is assured of a well-managed biodiversity for the consumption of visitors.
Let me concentrate my limited time on an area which has not yet reached problem status, but will soon do so if we do not act, and that is the recognition of the vulnerability of our parks and protected areas in all provinces to the lack of sustainable policy in regard to the land areas immediately adjacent to our parks and protected areas.
It is an inescapable fact that historically local people were alienated from their land in order to establish parks. This has resulted in many land claims over parks and protected areas. It is now necessary to find means of rectifying these socioeconomic imbalances caused by the creation of parks and protected areas. Local people have been denied access to the material benefits which flow from parks. The multiplier effect from tourism in these neighbouring disadvantaged communities has been almost nonexistent, and this has resulted in the management and operations within the parks becoming seriously problematic, in a socially and politically hostile environment.
Many parks and protected areas in developing countries are notorious for the antagonisms that exist between the management agencies and the neighbouring communities. The friction usually results from illegal utilisation of wildlife resources exacerbated by a history of forced removals or land utilisation; crop or livestock losses from herbivores and large predators; poverty on the outside versus perceived opulence and plenty for tourists and officials inside the fence; the nonaccessibility of arks and protected areas and their amenities and benefits for poor communities; and perceptions among poor communities that only the wealthy benefit.
The IUCN recognises that parks and protected areas are ecologically, economically, politically and culturally linked to the areas around them, and therefore buffer zones are becoming an accepted norm internationally in both the developed and the developing world. This is to reduce the hard- edge effect of protected areas bordering on community land. Conflict between protected areas and local people is therefore an international phenomenon, but here it is aggravated by the political past. The challenge therefore is to develop a home-grown model based on local circumstances and opportunities that will immediately improve relations and result in a win- win situation for both parties.
A proposed strategy exists and is well articulated by Mr Hector Magome of SA National Parks, who has been liberally quoted in this speech of mine. It is therefore viewed as essential that the Minister avail himself of this document.
There are risks involved and these can only be overcome with the intelligent use of available expertise. These risks are: inappropriate communication caused by heightened expectations; bureaucratic and political constraints and inadequate advance planning; a lack of detailed and patient explanation and a lack of internal park personnel support for the recognition and the incorporation of this philosophy.
The success of the whole process will follow the correct application of the principle of inclusion as opposed to exclusion, with the concomitant flow of revenues to the hitherto disadvantaged people. Conservation can survive, but only if people realise that to serve it correctly, all life needs to be nurtured.
Lapha enzansi kwezwe ngibona ukuthi amalungu avamise ukudla izinhlanzi. Lapho ngivela khona mina kudliwa inyama. Sithi thina uma amalungu eyithanda inyama kuhle asivakashele. Siyofike siwosele intibane. Imnandi kanjani! [Uhleko.] (Translation of Zulu paragraph follows.)
[I have noticed that here in the southern part of the country members of Parliament eat fish. Where I come from people eat meat. What we are saying is, if members of Parliament like meat, they should visit us. We will roast intibane [warthog] meat for them. It is so delicious! [Laughter.]]
Mr K D S DURR: Chairperson, I wish to speak to the Minister and in particular address the acquisition of land for SA National Parks in the Western Cape. I am speaking now of the West Coast National Park. I wish to raise the matter of a farm called Langefontein, which is a few thousand hectares in extent. This tract of land is currently owned by the Department of Defence, but is superfluous to their requirements, and the ownership of the land is currently under review.
SA National Parks, whose land to the north of the mentioned land, east of the R27, is contiguous with Langefontein, has applied for the land, but there are other competing interests. However, the land is central to the long-term expansion plans of SA National Parks that can only be very limited, because the area is highly developed, and will protect the West Coast biosphere. The land can be transferred to SA National Parks at no cost, because it already belongs to the Government. The hon the Minister would know that only 1% of West Coast fynbos is left. The rest has gone to the plough, to development or to alien vegetation. The Langefontein land in question is one of the last opportunities the state has to increase the size and the viability of the West Coast National Park and to expand the biodiversity under its span of control. We are the last generation, as the Minister correctly says, who might have these opportunities. Since Langefontein lies to the east of the West Coast National Park, it has slightly better soils and hills, different botanical species and a slightly higher rainfall, and thus would add to the limited opportunity we have for adding to the biodiversity of the park, since the principle reasons why that park has been established are ornithological and botanical in nature.
The land has extremely low agricultural potential, but it is rich in botanical species even at its present size. Competing interests that would lead to the subdivision of the land would condemn new owners to poverty. The land can only be grazed by domestic animals for about three months per year and is not arable. So, even at its present size it is an uneconomic unit, and to subdivide it into smaller units would simply be condemning any future owners to a life of poverty. The land would provide the opportunity to increase rare botanical biodiversity and to reintroduce rare species of animals.
The land also adjoins Elandsfontein. That is the second reason why it is important to acquire this land. It is the last remaining land that is extensive and contiguous with the park and that possibly could ever be integrated into that park. Also, one of those farms, Elandsfontein, has the second oldest human remains in Africa, after Sterkfontein, and there the University of Cape Town has a permanent dig, an archeological site which is of considerable interest and which could add hugely, at some future time, to the enrichment of the park as a whole. This area has high tourism potential and therefore would create employment and make the park more viable, because it will attract more people. Thus the eastern side would be more commercially viable. The SA National Parks application is supported by the Western Cape conservation authorities, the Western Cape government and conservationists worldwide. There is considerable interest from around the world and I also hosted World Wildlife Fund people here the other day. I ask the Minister not to let the opportunity slip and I do not think he will. I would like to quote the hon the Minister, who recently said, ``We must act while we can.’’ There are very few opportunities left in that area, and none so attractive for conservation.
The hon the Minister would know that the park cannot expand to the north. Langebaan lies to the north. It also cannot expand to the south. Ysterfontein lies to the south. It can only expand to the east, and the area to the east is almost arable, so conservation opportunities are very limited, and we are the last generation to have a chance to do something in that super-sensitive, rare and fragile part of the world. I would like to say to the hon the Minister that the matter has been dragging on for months if not years, and everybody would like a settlement and finality to the situation so that they can get on with the task of conserving and developing that land and its tourism potential. [Time expired.]
Ms Y M NAHARA (KwaZulu-Natal): Madam Chair, I would firstly like to congratulate Minister Valli Moosa and his departmental officials for the good work and the explanations they gave us and for their efforts in producing a budget document for such a diverse Ministry. Those who were in the select committee would understand what I mean. This Budget speech, delivered by the Minister today, will be regarded in KwaZulu-Natal as a document, not just a speech, because it comes at a time when the department of environmental affairs and tourism in KwaZulu-Natal and the nature conservation services are busy working on the restructuring of the NCS, the intention being to improve on the management of our nature conservation reserves and also to improve the standard of services that will attract our visitors when they come to KwaZulu-Natal.
The increase in this Budget signals to us greater commitment by the Minister in ensuring that we deliver quality services in our respective provinces. In our province, for instance, with its diverse and rich coastline, we are particularly pleased to hear that an amount of R42,5 million has been set aside for the environment and the development of spatial developmental initiatives along the East Coast.
We are also encouraged by the increase for environmental and planning co- ordination and marine and coastal development. I want to place emphasis on planning and co-ordination, and hope that co-ordination between provincial and local government sectors will be addressed so that the roles and responsibilities of these bodies are clear.
When one looks at townships and poor rural areas, on the environmental side, what one sees there is really discouraging, especially when we have been in government for seven years. We still have poor people who live under terrible environmental conditions. One is aware of the fact that some of these problems are district responsibilities. However, I think if the Minister could assist, and emphasise and reprioritise some of these areas as environmental sites, it would help a lot. It will also make the people see and understand that we are now living under a new government that takes care of all its people. [Applause.]
Mr D SILKE (Western Cape): Madam Chair, it is indeed a pleasure for me to enter this debate today on the subject of tourism. Tourism has so many positive spin-offs for all the people of our country that I really do not have to enumerate its many benefits. Therefore it is a real pleasure for me to be here on behalf of the Western Cape’s Minister of business promotion and tourism, Minister Leon Markovitz.
When dealing with tourism from a Western Cape perspective, let me say that any tourist to the Western Cape is also a tourist to South Africa, and any tourist to the rest of South Africa is also hopefully a tourist to the Western Cape. So I want to talk from an inclusive point of view and just highlight my concern about tourism very broadly within South Africa. I want to address in my limited time available just one or two specific issues of getting tourists into South Africa, because I think that is the crucial element that we need to discuss.
I want to highlight that one of the most critical problems, I think, in bringing tourists to South Africa, and a problem that is an impediment to increasing arrival figures at South Africa’s international airports, is Government’s aviation policy. I do believe that it is blocking tourism flows to and within South Africa. We need to ensure more competition and flight options on our major routings, in particular from the United Kingdom to South Africa.
During our high season flights are often fully booked for weeks, and potential visitors are therefore blocked from coming to South Africa. The United Kingdom comprises more than 20% of our total foreign market and offers huge scope for further expansion. It is no use staging a South Africa Week in London, and directing millions of rands towards marketing in the UK and Europe when, in fact, potential visitors cannot even find place on aircrafts flying into South Africa.
I know of many potential visitors who wish to visit our lovely country, particularly during the high season when they can travel. But, frankly, they are simply put off and give up trying to find seats on aircraft, because of the very restrictive policies that exist in terms of the major airlines flying into South Africa. Given the seasonal adjustments in air tariffs as well, one cannot help feeling that this protectionist policy is there to protect the major airlines flying into South Africa, rather than to really encourage those visitors that we so desperately need.
Bold steps are therefore required to channel visitors to South Africa. Of course, from our perspective, particularly Cape Town, which is a gateway to Africa, I might add that I am very pleased that we now have a new airport, and I think that the Airports Company has done a very fine job, and we want to use it and see aircraft arriving. Unfortunately, I have to report that, in fact, over the last few months, there has been a decline, rather than an increase, in international arrivals in Cape Town.
The London to South Africa route is certainly the big problem in terms of increase in capacity, especially with the reduction of flights from other European countries, for example, those flown by Sabena, from Belgium, and Austrian Airlines. This has created a limitation on the seats available and, in fact, the problem is becoming more and more acute. There are fewer seats coming into South Africa, and very few new flights are being allowed or sanctioned, particularly on these routes. We need a more liberal open- skies policy, and I really ask the Minister to address this particular issue.
Whilst most South Africans have noticed a virtual 25% hike in international airline fares since April of this year, it is internal air travel as well that has become exorbitantly expensive, for South African citizens and for visitors as well. SAA has seemingly monopolised this market and the ongoing saga surrounding the remuneration package of Mr Coleman Andrews makes one think that we should be making airline travel more affordable to the majority of South Africans, who would love to undertake domestic holidays and do business, rather than lining the pockets of chief executives and their cronies in such excessive ways.
For emerging small business entrepreneurs, it is fast becoming impossible to extend their markets by making vital business trips across the country. Therefore if we are really serious about getting tourism to flourish in a long-haul and geographically expensive destination like South Africa, airline access and affordability are paramount and these should receive prime attention.
Furthermore, SA Tourism, formerly called Satour, has clearly not optimised its mandate thus far. The organisation is currently without a chief executive officer and has had four CEOs in as many years. There is no definitive marketing strategy and no stringent monitoring and measuring of the impact of the huge budget that has been raised in partnership with the Business Trust. I am really upset when I look at the foreign tourism figures coming into South Africa as measured in terms of average growth … [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Mr F M MOKWELE (Northern Province): Chairperson, hon members of the NCOP, hon Minister Valli Moosa, hon members of different legislatures, allow me this opportunity to express my profound appreciation at standing before this House today as a representative of the Northern Province’s legislature and its communities.
It is, indeed, a privilege to be entrusted with this mammoth responsibility of ensuring that the aspirations of thousands of our people in the province towards environmental justice and sustainable tourism activities are made known to the entire country and its leadership.
It would also be an act of treason if I did not join the Minister and our colleagues here in saying that today is a great day for us because we are celebrating the 46th anniversary of the adoption of the Freedom Charter as a guiding document towards the liberation of this country. However, the celebrations are taking place against the backdrop of great strides which have been made in the betterment of the lives of people in the country, and our province in particular.
With, side by side, the national, provincial and local spheres of government, in collaboration with various social forces, the cause of our struggle for liberation shall definitely triumph, as the late combatant Comrade Oliver Tambo said in Durban in 1991.
The Northern Province has, in the past six years, identified tourism as one of the key economic sectors with the potential of unlocking the natural and cultural resources found within its borders and beyond. The Warmbaths summits on growth and development strategy have given more impetus to the province’s self-realisation effort as a means to move out of the bracket of being referred to as the poorest province.
The vision of a golden horseshoe of tourism composed of countless game parks and transnational peace parks straddling the borders with our neighbours is being realised as an important tourism future for our present and future generations. The Government has since also realised that on its own it cannot and should not run game parks. It was within this understanding and context that Government decided to allow communities and the private sector to run these parks in a more profitable way. The role of Government in this particular regard will be that of a facilitator in creating the necessary environment.
The Makuleka story is known to us. This is a particularly good example of community effort to do things for themselves. To this end, we would appreciate more resources being made available to that particular community in order to realise its objectives.
Talking of cultural heritage sites which are in abundance and untamed in the Northern Province, the following come to mind: Mapungubwe, Thulamela, Makapansgat and other sites and artistic works by the San.
The current policy initiatives by hon Minister Moosa on the peace parks need to be commended. It is the hope of the province that, at the end of these processes, communities in the Northern Province will be the great benefactors, thus allowing them to move faster on the economic development front. I wish to also quote the then Deputy President and current President, the hon Comrade Thabo Mbeki, on the occasion of the economic development summit in Warmbaths on 26 February 1999, when he said:
We cannot say that we are moving forward if our poorer provinces are not the ones that are moving forward fastest.
It is a critical matter, therefore, that this meeting is about. I believe that all of us are agreed on this point.
The tourism resort and gaming budget in our province is a paltry R44,612 million. It is within this context that in order to realise our stated objective the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism needs to come and assist us.
Concluding this section on tourism, I wish to invite members of this august House to join the communities of the Northern Province in their cultural renaissance effort. What I am saying here is that members are invited to the Northern Province. Members must walk with us on the ivory route, which is unparalleled in the country and elsewhere in the world. We would use ox- wagons if available, because of the toughness of the course, but they are no longer there, so the 4X4s will suffice, and we will be happy to provide them.
The sustainable management and use of our natural resources is needed for biodiversity purposes in terms of species protection, enhancement and ecological systems protection. The management of biodiversity contributes to the conservation of our natural life-supporting systems such as wetlands, clean water and air.
In order to achieve the above and stated objectives, the province is developing the provincial biobase and biodiversity information system. It is further engaged in efforts to undertake biomonitoring of river systems within catchment areas, develop conservation strategies and undertake annual grass monitoring processes in protected areas, and game reduction proposals.
The province is currently working very hard on the Waterberg biosphere area, as all members are aware. We express our appreciation of the Minister and the department’s support on this particular issue. In full bloom, this initiative should see communities being integrated into a modern conservation area in the beautiful parts of the bushveld.
It should be mentioned here that Nylsvlei has been declared a Ramsar site, making it one of the few declared wetland sites in the world. This site has limitless possibilities for conservation and tourist attraction.
While the province wishes to see itself accomplishing some of these most important and critical tasks, the section dealing with biodiversity in particular is currently understaffed, and that is the greatest problem we have. The situation needs to be corrected.
It is the view of the Northern Province that the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism needs to be actively involved or make more resources available to correct this situation. If the situation is not corrected or addressed, there is a risk that some of the natural life- supporting systems will be degraded to a point at which it is impossible to manage areas that produce, for instance, clean water. These are catchment and wetlands areas.
Environmental education is being taken seriously in our province. To this end, the environmental section of the department of finance, economic affairs, environmental affairs and tourism in the province is ensuring that environmental education is integrated into the school curriculum by supporting Curriculum 2005 processes, with a view to developing standards for environment-related qualifications through the National Qualifications Framework.
The province wishes to commend the Minister for ensuring that the provisions of Chapter 2, the Bill of Rights, of our Constitution are implemented, particularly section 24. This has been done through the enactment, first and foremost, of the National Environmental Management Act of 1998. All our legislation could derive much from its provisions.
As already stated, the scarcity of resources needs to be addressed so as to ensure that functions such as environmental impact assessment and pollution management receive the attention they deserve.
In conclusion, the Northern Province wishes to support the Vote of the Minister and I do so on behalf of the province. [Applause.] Mr A E DE WET (Eastern Cape): Chairperson, I am sure there is nobody in this Chamber here today who would not be aware of the Wild Coast community tourism initiative, and for that we thank the hon the Minister. I am sure he is also reminded of the day when we saw him in the Eastern Cape with his scout hat, shorts and boots, walking along the Wild Coast with our hon MEC. I must say right at the outset that the hon MEC would dearly have liked to be here today, to deliver his speech himself, but it is my honour and privilege to do so on his behalf.
The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism administers various pieces of legislation, and a number of concurrent competencies exist in terms of that legislation. In the Eastern Cape the department of finance, economic affairs, environment and tourism is the authority responsible for most of these concurrent functions.
The Environmental Conservation Act makes provision for the conservation of biodiversity in South Africa. This, inter alia, provides for the establishment and management of protected areas, as well as the sustainable utilisation of natural resources.
Protected areas management is one of the core functions of the province, as well as the department. National protected areas that occur in the Eastern Cape are the Addo Elephant National Park, the Mountain Zebra National Park and the Tsitsikamma Coastal and Marine National Park, and are being managed by SA National Parks.
Various joint provincial and national initiatives are, moreover, taking place within the Eastern Cape province. These initiatives are: the Greater Baviaanskloof Project, the Greater Addo National Park and the proposed Pondoland Park. The imminent incorporation of the Woody Cape Provincial Nature Reserve into the Greater Addo National Park is of specific relevance in this regard.
Sustainable resources utilisation is one of the core functions of the department. This includes numerous inspections and site visits, protected flora permits, a certificate of adequate enclosure, capacity permits, proposed game introduction, legal and illegal gambling, crop damage and liaison with role-players in the wildlife and tourism industry.
The department, moreover, administers various international conventions on behalf of South Africa. Of specific relevance in this regard is the Convention for the International Trade in Endangered Species, Cites, in terms of which the Eastern Cape is yet to be appointed as a Cites management authority. At present, all permit applications thus have to be referred to the Western Cape for approval, and this, in a province where the hunting and the trophy industry is booming, is something that needs to be attended to.
The National Environmental Management Act, inter alia, aims to promote the application of appropriate environmental management tools in order to ensure the integrated management of activities. Furthermore, in terms of the Act, each province has to draft a provincial environmental implementation plan, and once it has been submitted to the department, implement it. I wish to state that the Eastern Cape province has submitted a draft EIP to the department.
The EIA regulations seek to manage and regulate activities that, in the opinion of the Minister, may have a significant detrimental impact on the environment. It entails the assessment of the impacts of proposed activities on ecosystems, landscapes, habitat and biota. These regulations have been delegated to the province. However, under certain circumstances, as outlined in the regulations, applications still have to be referred to the department.
In addition to administering the EIA regulations, the province also provides comments and input to regional and local planning exercises, as well as nonlisted developments, such as mining and rezoning applications.
The province has no delegated authority as far as waste management and pollution control are concerned. However, owing to the absence of department officials, except those with Marine and Coastal Management, within the province, the provincial staff normally find themselves becoming heavily involved in various issues relating to this function.
These includes monitoring, the inspection of pollution incidences and illegal dumping, providing advice and support to local authorities, dissemination of information to the public, and, lastly, funding and assisting with waste-management-related projects.
I now come to the Sea-shore Act. All structures below the high-water mark, including the approval and annual renewal of the lease agreements, are regulated in terms of this Act. The Act has been delegated in its entirety to the province. However, currently, these structures are only authorised in terms of the EIA regulations, while the administration of leases in terms of the Sea-shore Act is yet to be implemented, and we urge that it be done.
I now address marine and coastal management. This function is performed by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, as stated in the Marine Living Resources Act. The province has no delegated authority in terms of this Act. However, various issues end up being the responsibility of the province.
Most of the relevant provincial staff working in the coastal nature reserves in the province have undergone training as fisheries control officers, but only some have been appointed as such, by the MCM. In the absence of MCM staff in certain areas, specifically noting the ex-Transkei, all marine and coastal management functions are being performed by the province, without any financial assistance or resources from the department.
Furthermore, until clear management arrangements with MCM are in place, and as far as the provincial budget allows, only priority cases, normally of abalone poaching, are being handled in the other areas of the province. Field rangers do, however, check on marine resources while on patrol within reserves, and I must say that there is good co-operation with the local MCM staff, if they are present.
With regard to subsistence fishing licences, the process of awarding these licences at the various communities in the Eastern Cape is being dealt with by the MCM. MCM staff members, however, find it difficult to operate effectively from Cape Town, and this process is beset with difficulties. Upon request from the MCM, the provincial officials have attempted to provide assistance, but found the process to be unclear and confusing. Not much has been achieved as far as subsistence licensing is concerned in the province.
The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has no regional office in the province. Its limited presence is restricted to Marine and Coastal Management, MCM, and fisheries control offices in Jeffreys Bay, Port Elizabeth, Port Alfred and East London. All these offices are totally understaffed, with the result that there is a huge burden, especially with coastal management issues being referred to the provincial officials.
It is an accepted management principle that delegated functions should be followed by the adequate provision of budget and staff. It is therefore imperative that a clear management arrangement between the department and the province be determined as a matter of urgency. These arrangements should be put in place for those functions currently delegated to the province, as well as prior to any further functions being delegated to the province by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
With regard to the fishing industry, it must be stated that the participation of previously disadvantaged persons is still minimal in real terms. The control of the industry is still vested in a few large companies. Our challenge is to alter this situation in a responsible and sustainable manner.
It is regrettable to note that for nearly the whole of last year most fishers spent more time briefing lawyers and attending to court proceedings than catching fish. This is a a negative development. This is owing to legal action instituted by unsuccessful applicants over the allocation of hake longline quotas by the department. As a result of this legal action, only a few quota holders managed to slip through and actually catch fish in January 2000. This was the result of them getting their permits before the court proceedings were instituted.
The Eastern Cape has, in the past, been generally neglected in the wider development and growth of the fishing sector. This has led to the concentration of the fishing industry in the Western Cape.
Our challenge is to work out a plan that will spread the benefits of this marine resource along our entire coastline. We are mindful that the fish species have no boundaries in the waters.
The deep-water harbour that is being developed at Coega is going to provide opportunities for the upgrading and expansion of the fishing infrastructure and facilities so as to be able to grow the sector in a more responsible manner.
I now come to tourism in the Eastern Cape. The key delivery outputs for this year are the formulation of a provincial tourism development strategy, the establishment of a hospitality and tourism school, familiarisation and educational trips by regional tourism organisations and emerging disadvantaged businesses, training and trainer programmes, business sector training, tourism month, facilitating the participation of black entrepreneurs in the tourism industry, developing a provincial heritage route map, multifunctional sports arenas and providing community development support to the EU project for the Wild Coast - again I express appreciation for the bags that we have been given - the co-ordination and registration of accommodation facilities in the province …
The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Hon member, your time has expired.
Mr A E DE WET: I conclude by saying to the Minister that there is a belief in the Eastern Cape that tourism in South Africa will only succeed when tourism in the Wild Coast succeeds. [Applause.]
Mr M V MOOSA: Chairperson, anybody who knows me in this House knows that I will not pass up an opportunity to respond to the kind of cowardly and dishonest speech that MEC Adams from the Western Cape made.
I was really amused at the speech that he made, because he said a number of things. He said that the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism had failed the people, that he had issued fishing licenses for patronage for the party faithful. He said that the Minister was only interested in transformation for the poorest of the poor, that he was playing tag with the rest, and so forth.
It is quite a joke hearing comments like that from somebody who belongs to the party that caused the whole debacle in the first place. I must remind MEC Adams that he governs in a province where 90% of the fishing interests are still controlled by white monopoly companies, and he is doing nothing about it. I want to remind him that 99% of the businesses in the tourism industry, such as at the Waterfront, are in the hands of white people.
In this province where he governs, 99% of restaurants, hotel rooms and so forth are in the hands of white people. The only thing he understands about black economic empowerment and tourism is to bus white people in beautiful luxury buses through Khayelitsha and Bonteheuwel and show them the poor little people of this country. That is what he knows about black economic empowerment, and then he makes statements like this.
It is shocking. It is absolutely shocking. I think that he needs to get his own back yard in order, I have some words for that, but I do not think they are appropriate in this honourable House. But I believe he needs to clean that up before he comes and talks about these kinds of things in this House. But I am not going to waste any more time on that. I am going to make my speech.
I think that this House knows very well that Gauteng faces enormous challenges. I speak today on behalf of Gauteng. Gauteng covers only 1,4% of the country’s land area and yet we sustain about 20% of the country’s population. We sustain about 400 persons per square kilometre in our province. In Gauteng we produce more than 40% of the country’s GDP and yet we sustain about 70% of the country’s workforce.
We experience a population growth much higher than most other provinces. Some figures show that between 1970 and 1995 the population of our province more than doubled.
What this means is that together we face the challenges of the high demand on natural resources that urbanisation brings in our province. It impacts on our water and land resources. There is a high demand for services and infrastructure, housing, roads, waste collection services, recreational facilities and the management of sewage and, mostly, for the management of employment opportunities.
As a representative of the province of Gauteng, I want to say to the Minister that our province needs firm strategies, crisis strategies, with regard to two issues, namely waste management and air pollution. I want to raise some of those things.
The Minister said that we, as a country, produce 566 million tons of waste per year. I want to indicate how much of that waste comes from our province. We assume that probably about 80% of the country’s waste is being produced in the little province of Gauteng.
Domestic waste is being produced at about 4,3 million tons per annum, health care waste at about 14 000 tons per annum and hazardous waste, which includes the mines and power stations, probably at about 1,8 million tons per annum. The biggest producers of waste in our province are the mines and power stations, which, together, produce about 370 million tons of waste per annum, all in the little province of Gauteng.
That demands some serious consideration about what we are to do about waste management of a domestic, industrial and effluent nature in the province of Gauteng.
I believe that the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism needs to embark on very severe strategies in the province of Gauteng to manage its waste problem. If we can sort out the waste management problem in Gauteng, we will probably have sorted out about 70% of the waste disposal problems in this country. I think we will probably also be able to put down a good model for waste management in other provinces.
The Minister is right, our local authorities do not have statistics in order to deal with this matter. It is also not clear whether the mere delivery of dustbins to areas which require these might solve the problem. It calls for a more comprehensive strategy around how we are going to recycle waste. What are we going to do about waste that can be recycled into compost and so forth and waste that is completely lost, which needs either to be incinerated or to have something else done to it?
I need to bring up another statistic. According to statistics, about 300 million tons of the country’s most valuable topsoil gets washed off the land and silts up the rivers and dams each year. Maybe there is a relationship between how we recycle our waste and what we do about the silting up of our topsoil. I think something needs to be done at that level.
Regarding a waste management strategy, the Minister mentioned providing an award or prize for the cleanest and dirtiest towns. It is a good idea and it might get towns to realise that something can be done. However, I am not sure whether that alone is going to address the issues that need to be addressed. In some areas, like Gauteng, waste management and air pollution are becoming so critical that it will do no good finding one town that has done well and another that has not. We need a holistic, integrated strategy with regard to urban renewal and urbanisation in the Gauteng province.
I want to speak on a few matters regarding air pollution. The Minister mentioned the Vaal Triangle. Sasol, one of the biggest companies in this country, produced R4,7 billion of profits last year, but is probably one of the biggest culprits concerning air pollution in that area. The emissions generated by Sasol and the plants at Sasolburg probably cause more health problems in the Vaal Triangle in people of all ages and deliver more toxic emission into the air than I think any other company anywhere in this country.
Sasol has been speaking about sustainable development issues, but it has become urgent that we sit down with people in Sasolburg and say that we are not going to tolerate emissions of that kind. It is affecting the lives of the poorest of the poor. The communities around Sasol and Sasolburg, like Sebokeng and Sharpeville, are the ones that really suffer because of the emissions.
I also want to say that in Gauteng we have experienced a very high level of emissions arising from motor vehicles. Motor vehicle pollution is probably higher than international guidelines in the Gauteng area.
This goes for all the core areas in Gauteng: the Greater Johannesburg area and Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and the Sedibeng areas. It would be useful if the department could have a look at what could be done about motor vehicle emissions in some of those areas. I know that some of these are section 76 powers, but I think it is important that the Minister engages with provincial departments and local authorities in order to do something about some of these levels of pollution.
The fear that we have in Gauteng is that we will become like Tokyo. When that city was not managing its air pollution well, citizens used to go out onto the streets wearing gas masks in order to make sure that they could breathe properly. We know that in Mexico on the news on television one gets the weather report, the pollen report, and then they also have to give air pollution reports so that people can decide: ``Today it is better to stay indoors and wear a mask and not go out.’’
Fortunately, our region at the tip of Africa is known as one of those parts of the world where biodiversity, and so forth, is still strong. We are probably one of the third most biodiverse countries in the world. When one looks at Johannesburg and Gauteng the picture is quite different and quite bleak. It is very important that we address that.
The reports for Egoli 2010 indicate that Johannesburg citizens at the moment spend some R280 million every year for over-the-counter medical preparations to help them with respiratory infections. These infections seem to be caused primarily by air pollution. That is R280 million a year!
We also know that one of the big culprits of air pollution is energy and the way energy resources are being used. Coal and coal burning is a big issue. In the big houses, in the luxury townships, we switch on a light and we think that everything …
The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Order, hon member, your time is up.
Mr M V MOOSA: Chairperson, is my time up already? [Laughter.] I spent too much time attacking the MEC. [Applause.]
Rev M CHABAKU: Chairperson, this day is specially timed to have this plenary session in this House when it is the 46th birthday of the Freedom Charter. So I say, happy birthday, Freedom Charter, happy birthday! [Interjections.]
Haak Vrystaat! [Go, Free State!]
There is a Portuguese saying - and I will not say it in Portuguese, although I do speak Portuguese - that goes: ``Visits always give pleasure: if not arrival, then the departure.’’
On behalf of the Free State, I would like to convey to the Minister that his recent visit to us gave pleasure both in the arrival and in the departure. The Free State is honoured to have been selected to host the launch of Environment Week on 5 June this year.
This auspicious occasion was celebrated in the historic Batho suburb of Bloemfontein where the ANC, of course, was founded in 1912. Minister Moosa was able to pay a visit to the historic Mapikela House, the home of the first treasurer-general of the ANC. Local supporters in the crowd were very excited to hear the announcement of the Clean City competition by the Minister. Hence, the pleasure in the departure, as many of the people hurried home to begin working on plans to win the million which, of course, is a challenge to the rest of the country. The Free State is determined to take the kudos, of course.
The Free State’s department of environment and tourism has also accepted the challenge of the Clean City concept. In fact, we have gone even further with the implementation of a pilot project in Mangaung, Bloemfontein, which is supported by the departments of local government and housing, health and environment and tourism. This has been named the Healthy City project.
As Free Staters, we are very concerned about the problem of toxic waste transportation. On two recent occasions we have had spillage of toxic materials in our province. Our appeal to the Minister is that the legislation in this regard be revisited, given urgent attention and strengthened where necessary.
Of grave concern to us is the lack of proper waste dumping sites in many of our rural municipal areas. A co-ordinated approach between the departments of local government, water affairs and environmental affairs could rectify this situation speedily. The Department of Health should probably also be directly involved in this interaction, as the number of people scratching for morsels of food among the discarded waste appears to grow daily. This will not only lead to the deterioration of our health standards, but most certainly will discourage visitors to our smaller towns, which are in dire need of that added income.
We in the Free State have great respect for the Minister’s handling of the tourism industry. His decisive decision-making impresses and gives confidence to innovative thinkers. The recent signing of the Drakensberg- Lesotho transfrontier agreement is one such project. With the stroke of a pen, South African product owners and tourism innovators can legitimately engage in cross-border initiatives to mutual benefit. An issue which still needs attention, however, is how to speed up border post crossings for tourists.
The Free State is grateful to the Minister for his initiative in making Satour the mover and shaker responsible for the generation of greater tourist numbers to South Africa, leaving provinces to improve tourism statistics in their own domain. For the first time in three years, the Free State’s department of environment and tourism has the funding available to implement projects within our disadvantaged communities.
Currently, the Free State has a very active tourism industry centred mainly around the following: privately owned game farms where game viewing, game hunting and wing shooting safaris are available; nature farms which offer hiking trails, overnight facilities, horse riding, sailing, mountaineering, fishing, 4x4 trails, ecotourism, historic sites and San paintings; and numerous bed and breakfast facilities, both in towns and on farms, which provide a network of stopover places for weary travellers.
The above facilities, however, are still largely in the hands of only 11% of the province’s inhabitants. A huge challenge confronts the Free State MEC and the department of environment and tourism to try to transform this ownership through value adding, so that the majority of the population can become part of this industry, without diminishing the role of the current product owners.
A lack of knowledge regarding the spin-offs from tourism and a clean environment for the province and its people is still a problem. Rectifying this problem is the highest challenge facing our department in the Free State. This message has to be given exposition from the grass roots right through to the highest level of function within the province. All our people need to know, to be reminded and reminded of the great opportunities which benefit the province and its people if, as individuals, they are prepared to become involved, be it as goodwill ambassadors with smiles on their faces, or as pickers up of all the rubbish and cleaners of their own home environment.
Each and every one of us as South Africans can contribute to making our areas safer and more tourist-friendly by talking to and sharing with our friends and neighbours the importance of movement and feeling secure for any visitors.
The dictionary defines a tourist as one who travels for pleasure, usually, sightseeing and staying in hotels. This definition might have to change as more and more of these tourists stay in guesthouses and bed-and-breakfast facilities. This, of course, means, on the other hand, that not only big businesses are benefiting from visitors, but also an ordinary average person who has a home with a room or bed to spare if he or she so wishes.
The dictionary also says that a tourist is any person who travels, not only persons from another country. More and more South Africans are choosing to travel within the boundaries of this beautiful land of ours. The more they travel and experience the differences in the cultures of the various areas and local people, the more we should see a greater tolerance and understanding developing amongst our diversely constitutionally related people. The standard of living is improving within the disadvantaged communities through the ANC-led Government’s implementation of its policies. The resultant infrastructure improvement is creating new opportunities for even more cross-culture initiatives.
There are many people and student exchanges into and from our very communities. A truly South African exchange system supported by business, Government and communities could further fast-track the demolition of racism, misconceptions and fear. One does not have to rewrite a book. Continued support of and further implementation of the well-established AFS interculture-type programmes could be used.
I truly believe that such a system could accelerate the united South African society so many of us would like to see. School pupils, students, professionals and all other people interested in broadening their life experience within our country could participate. George Bernard Shaw said that there are only two qualities in the world, efficiency and inefficiency, and only two sorts of people, the efficient and the inefficient. There is still too much inefficiency in South Africa, and in the Free State too, for us to be able to capture a big enough section of the huge financial opportunities generated by international tourism.
Only yesterday, it took one woman more than five phone calls and longer than half an hour to make a reservation at a leading hotel for a single night’s booking. [Interjections.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Order! Carry on, hon member.
Rev M CHABAKU: Is there curry?
The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Order! I said, carry on, hon member.
Rev M CHABAKU: I thought that the Chairperson said that there was curry. [Interjections.]
Only yesterday, it took more than five phone calls and longer than half an hour to make a reservation at a leading hotel for a single night’s booking. What kind of impression does this make on visitors from overseas? Nobody can allow opportunities to slip through their fingers because of sheer inefficiency. Urgent attention also needs to be given to the agricultural and …
The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Order! Hon member, your time is up.
Rev M CHABAKU: Chairperson, this was on behalf of my MEC, who, at the last moment, could not come. I tried my best. [Applause.]
Mr D M KGWARE: Chairperson, hon Minister, members from the provinces and colleagues, I am standing in the shoes of my MEC, Dawid Rooi. I would like to just raise issues around the environmental programmes since we have already touched on the tourism. I will also have to leave some of the issues because I have 14 points that I just want to raise for the sake of the department.
Regarding staff and budgetary constraints, the directorate had to cope with serious staff and budgetary constraints during the past two financial years, 1999-2000 and 2000-01. A total staff complement of only three environmental officers has dealt with environmental issues ranging from waste management and pollution control to environmental impact assessment reports and applications, the evaluation of mining and prospecting environmental management …
Mr M V MOOSA: Chairperson, on a point of order: Will the hon member take a message back to his MEC that Gauteng will sell all its waste to the Northern Cape so that they can improve their budget? [Laughter.]
Mr D M KGWARE: No, we do not want it.
The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Order! Hon member over there, please sit down.
Mr D M KGWARE: Chairperson, a total staff complement of only three environmental officers has dealt with issues such as coastal management, community-based environmental awareness and education campaigns, asbestos, asbestosis and the London court case on asbestosis compensation. These are a number of the areas that the directorate is dealing with.
The budget to carry out this function has also been limited to R1,2 million and R950 000 in the two years, 1999-2000 and 2000-01, respectively.
Regarding links with the head office, the provincial directorate of environment and conservation could not effectively and adequately link up with the head office in Pretoria. As a result, most inputs which head office required the province to address were not attended to. That has been mentioned in paragraph 2 above.
The Orange River Mouth at Alexander Bay was long declared a Ramsar site by the Ramsar convention. However, the site lost its status because of the negative impacts on it from the mining, flooding, etc of the Orange River.
Plans were, however, under way to restore the original Ramsar site status of the mouth and transfer the overall management to the directorate in the year 2002-03.
Regarding the transfrontier conservation area, together with the Namibian counterparts, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism’s head office intends to declare the Ais-Ais Fish River National Park in Namibia and the Richtersveld National Park in South Africa as a TFCA. In particular, this move is aimed at boosting the tourism industry and the environmental and conservation management in the area. Eventually, the Orange River Mouth Ramsar site will be part of the planned TFCA which will be managed jointly by South Africa and Namibia.
Regarding coastal management, the Northern Cape has nearly 380 km of coastal line on the Atlantic Ocean. Management of the coast is handled by the province on behalf of the Marine and Coastal Management Directorate in Cape Town.
Coastal cleanup projects which are part of the provincial job creation and poverty alleviation campaign will be implemented in due course from a British aid package to South Africa.
Nine communities of municipalities have been identified for the implementation of the cleanup project in the province. These communities are Calvinia, Sutherland, Loxton, Klipfontein near Garies, Groblershoop, Prieska, Kimberley Landfill Site, Colesberg and Noupoort.
It is planned that in each community 50 men and women will be employed on a short-term basis for three months at R30 per person per day. The implementation starts on 1 July 2001. This project is part of the premier’s poverty alleviation and job creation programme in the province.
Regarding waste management and the third tier of Government, most municipalities and local government district councils in the third sphere of government have failed to cope with the demands for sound waste management practice within their area of jurisdiction, and I think that the Minister has already mentioned that. All environmental management programmes and projects require capacity- building through their appropriate dedicated environmental education programmes in order for them to succeed and be sustainable. The directorate:environment and conservation is building in-house strengths in personnel, educational materials and budgetary provision for this exercise.
Regarding asbestos and asbestosis, the Northern Cape is bearing the negative impacts and brunt of previous asbestos mining in the province.
The Department of Minerals and Energy is currently rehabilitating derelict asbestos mines and the live asbestos dumps within former mining perimeters which are contaminated. Areas outside the mining boundaries are currently not covered by that department.
We also have the remote granite and nuclear waste area of Namaqualand. In the province this is currently used as a subterranean disposal site of nuclear waste from the South African nuclear power plant stations. This province has no expertise or facilities for the effective monitoring of this type of radioactive waste disposal.
Geological and geophysical prospecting and drilling in the Atlantic Ocean have led to the recovery of a commercial deposit of gas and petroleum, nearly 80 km from the coast at Hondeklipbaai. Full-scale production of oil and gas is expected to commence in 2003. Environmental impacts of this industrial activity will have to be managed in a sound manner.
Regarding the monitoring of environmental impacts of the developmental projects, all development has such impacts, either in the short term or in the long term. It is imperative that the impacts should be monitored regularly, so that, if need be, appropriate remedial measures can be effected timeously. The Northern Cape has unfortunately, due to personnel and budgetary constraints, never carried out an effective monitoring role, in spite of the mandate it has to do so.
In conclusion, the challenges that the Northern Cape faces in handling environmental issues within its boundaries are daunting but manageable. Given the appropriate budgetary provisions and logistical support in personnel and equipment, it will be easy to ensure that a regulatory framework on sound environmental management is upheld. With time we will cope and exceed even better.
Chief M L MOKOENA: Chairperson, there is something fishy. Like the hon Moosa, I am terribly disappointed by some comments made by the hon MEC from the Western Cape, who, instead of coming up with suggestions or solutions, chose to attack and accuse the Minister and his department for not doing enough. What a pity. Unfortunately, he was just preaching to the converted and, maybe to try to respond to what he said, will make people not notice the difference. The select committee undertook a study tour to Kalk Bay, Hout Bay and Saldanha Bay on 24 May 2001, as part of our oversight function. The main aim of this tour was to do the inspection in loco, after the committee received some complaints from people in those areas.
We carefully listened to what people had to say. After those meetings, a report was compiled and a copy thereof was sent to the department for their scrutiny and response. We are happy and delighted to learn that the department has started addressing some of the issues raised. The impossible is often the untried. I am not going to fathom this industry, because we will be discussing the issue with the department immediately after adjournment.
What makes me sick is the behaviour of some political parties and politicians, like the hon Adams, who now want to use the frustrations and desperation of our people to score political points. It pains me to know that the very same people did not care a damn about the plight of our people in the past. Now they want to be seen as people who are fighting and championing their cause. What a shame! [Interjections.]
The question is: Where were they all this time? They had all the time in the world to rectify and correct this mess created by their regime. Instead, they did not. They were just sleeping and snoring. [Laughter.] Let them be warned that we are watching them.
I would like to thank the hon the Minister and his department for the rehabilitation of mine dumps. The programme will save many lives. It is pleasing to know that waste management is high on the department’s agenda. Another worrying factor is to realise that many factories do not use designated spots or areas for dumping. They use any available open space for dumping. I can only urge the hon the Minister to be very hard on them. In mining, we have direct beneficiaries and indirect beneficiaries. Can I find out from the hon the Minister what role is played by mining companies and the Department of Minerals and Energy, when mining dumps are rehabilitated? I do not think it is fair for the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism to carry this burden alone.
Let me thank the hon the Minister for a job well done, informally recognising tourist guides. Legislation to this effect was passed last year. In the past nobody cared about them. I would like to urge the departments to make sure that these tourist guides are properly trained to enable them to market our country, because we will know that if one shoots at the moon, even if one misses, one is still high.
It is just unfortunate that we could meet SA National Parks. We would love to engage them about some activities in our parks. Hopefully, when we come back from our recess we will meet to look into some of these various issues. Can the hon the Minister tell me how far we are with the transformation or realignment of this section? The attitude of some officials in this section leaves much to be desired. There are some officials who behave as if these parks are now their family property. Trouble usually starts like fun. Maybe I should just leave it there, hoping that when we meet, some of these issues will be clarified. My policy is: Just tolerate imperfect friends, because perfect friends do not exist.
With this dynamic, vibrant and humble Minister and his department’s policy, the ANC will find it very difficult not to support his Budget Vote. I wonder what would have happened by now if the ANC was not in charge. For the first time in the history of this country, our people are in warm, safe and reliable hands. The ANC fully supports this Vote and congratulates the Minister on a job well done. [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM: Mr Chairperson, many issues have been raised in this debate, and I would like to thank the many participants who have obviously put in quite a lot of time and energy to prepare for the debate. As a result of the many issues that have been raised, I do hope that I will be able to respond to them in the time allotted to me, and that with the hon chairperson having just taken the chair and being full of energy, he might not be in a hurry to call me to order when my time has expired. [Laughter.] I do not know if the Rules allow for pleading from the microphone.
Let me start off by expressing my gratitude to Rev Peter Moatshe, the chairperson, who has made the important point that many of the black-owned emerging enterprises - SMMEs - are having a great deal of difficulty getting on their feet as a result of a whole range of factors, one of which is the red tape.
I think this is an important point, because it is one thing to encourage
blacks to get into the tourism business and become part of the tourism
economy. Creating the actual environment for that to work is another,
because at the end of the day, if one opens up a bed-and-breakfast place or
something of that sort, or a curio shop, or a small hotel or whatever, one
will need somebody to come and stay there. One will need a sign on the road
that says hotel'', orbed and breakfast in this direction’’. One will
need to be featured on maps and all of those sorts of things. One will need
the banks to co-operate with one because tourism businesses typically go
through cycles.
Unfortunately, in our country we still have the cyclical patterns which we are trying to do without. During peak periods there is a clutter of business and then during off-seasons there is no money coming in for the business at all. One needs the co-operation of banks, often for cash-flow problems that arise as a result of this.
This is a problem. We have been working very closely with the Business Trust in this regard. The Business Trust has now started what is called the enterprise development programme and allocated an amount, if I am not wrong, of about R60 million to that programme. The aim of the programme is just to help businesses get on their feet. It is not to loan money, put up infrastructure or anything of that sort. But where somebody has set up a small business, it gets that business on its feet by making all of the right sorts of connections and by giving training, for example, to the owner if the person needs training, and such sort of backup. It is aimed precisely at that. The department tells me that many thousands of real businesses will be created in the next few years as a result of this programme, so it is quite an important programme.
That there are distortions in the tourism infrastructure is, again, a fair point - I think - and it is something that we are looking at. The department has got what it refers to as the patis, the priority areas for tourism infrastructure or something. I do not know exactly what it stands for. They have many acronyms. But they have identified a number of priority areas around the country for tourism infrastructure development. This is where the infrastructure funds will be directed over the next few years.
We are also involved in discussions with the National Treasury to direct some of the infrastructure funds that the Minister of Finance announced during his presentation of the Budget into that fund. We are working very closely with the Minister of Transport and the province to get the N2 road through the Wild Coast finally built. The Minister of Transport has reported to me that everything is in place for the construction of that road to get going. He and I will be going on a site visit within the next few weeks.
As far as the reports on SA National Parks are concerned, I must tell the hon Conroy that SA National Parks, like other conservation agencies in our country, does go through financial difficulties from time to time and it is no secret that it is going through financial difficulties. However, I must say that much of the reporting in the newspapers has tended to be inaccurate and hyperbolic. Like any business enterprise or any institution, one may find, from time to time, that one is overstaffed and has got to shed staff.
It happens in the Public Service and in private business, and it will happen in the parks. At times one absorbs staff and at times has to let go of the staff, and the parks in some areas are in the process of letting go of staff. One would not find a person who is being retrenched thanking the boss very much, thanking him or her for retrenching him, saying that the boss is doing the right thing and that he or she agrees with the boss’s strategy. One will not find that. One is obviously going to find such a person saying that without him or her this park is going to collapse and is going to be destroyed. That is what workers who get retrenched anywhere and in any sector would say. I think one should take it with a pinch of salt. But that is not to say that SA National Parks is flush with money. It is in financial difficulties. My department is working very closely with the Treasury and the parks in order to ensure that those financial difficulties do not result in any serious problems as such.
We see it essentially as a cash-flow problem, which arose as a result of a number of factors, one of which was the dip in the tourism numbers, particularly to the Kruger National Park, which is the biggest income driver in SA National Parks. During the period of the floods tourism numbers collapsed completely and that put the national parks in quite a difficult position. The second matter that caused the problem was the doing away with of what used to be called the transport subsidy to the national parks for the maintenance of the roads and such things. But we are in discussions now with Treasury to reinstate some of those subsidies. We are also in discussion with SA National Parks to put in place whatever systems are needed to get it on its feet. So there is no crisis, I must assure hon members, because I think South Africans have the national parks very close to their hearts. It is important for us to say that there is no crisis.
Recently, when the President went to examine some of the reconstruction work that was done after the floods in the Kruger National Park and surrounding areas, he addressed a gathering at Skukuza in the Kruger National Park. I would want to refer hon members to his speech - one should get it on his website - where he spoke about how Government sees the national parks. He made it absolutely clear that we have no doubt in our minds that the protection, the safeguarding and the upkeep of national parks must remain one of the priorities of the Government. We will do everything to ensure that they do remain the jewels that they are.
An important point was made by Mrs Z T Sebekedi about domestic tourism. I think this is a point we should not underestimate, that is the importance of domestic visitors within the tourism economy as a whole. While we do everything to encourage international visitors, domestic tourism will always be the most reliable source for our tourism industry. International tourist numbers, as has been said quite correctly, can easily fluctuate, and on a huge scale, depending on what is happening. If, for example, the economy of the source market collapses, one is going to find fewer tourists coming, or if we get some bad publicity, there would be fewer tourists coming. But domestic tourists are always reliable. If there are floods in Mozambique, domestic tourists will not say, ``This year we are not going to Cape Town,’’ as international tourists do. International tourists cancel their trips to Cape Town when there are floods in Mozambique, because they do not really understand the geography of the place. So we must do everything to grow domestic tourism, and I hope that we will succeed in doing that.
Regarding the question raised by the hon Versfeld, the erosion at Langebaan is a matter which we need to look into quite seriously. We must bear in mind that these sorts of occurrences are often a result of poor planning and bad development, although, as the member has pointed out quite correctly, natural causes also are a cause, but often it is just poor planning and bad management.
We now have the National Environmental Management Act in place, and one of the things that we can say is that in future such things will certainly be avoided. My department would be interested in playing a role in the rehabilitation of the beach there, and I am informed by the department that we have not received any proposal as such from either the municipality or the province, and we would interact with the province in this regard to see what steps can be taken.
Usually in situations like those, the department would get a request from either the province or the municipality and we would then try to look at where we can find the resources and what steps can be taken.
I must agree with the hon Vilakazi that all of the hon members here, when they rise on Thursday, would be taking a long and extended holiday. After what we heard about the Northern Province, perhaps that is where we should go in order to promote tourism in that province.
On the remarks of the MEC Glen Adams there have already been responses to those, but let me say that the uncharacteristic belligerence of MEC Adams may be based on a lack of information or on inaccurate information. Firstly, I must say that prior to 1994 the poor people living in fishing villages along the coast had absolutely no say whatsoever in the fishing industry. They were cut out and thus were not part of fishing at all. After 1994 this portfolio fell into the hands of somebody from the MEC’s own alliance, during the time of the Government of National Unity, when the NP was running this portfolio.
It was only much later then when my predecessor, Dr Pallo Jordan, came into this post that the Marine Living Resources Act was passed, and the process of transformation and that of attending to the needs of the poor had begun. Legislation was in place when I came into this portfolio which started the process of actual implementation as such.
During the time when the MEC’s alliance partner was in government, as anybody can tell the MEC, the actual substance of the fishing industry was something that was completely neglected and misunderstood by the NP government.
So what is it that we have done? There has been a great deal of transformation over the past few years in terms of the ownership patterns of the big companies. In terms of blacks gaining equity in some of the big companies, there has been a great deal of transformation. Secondly, when it comes to the allocation of quotas to new entrants, a very large number, in fact over 50% of all of the quota holders, now are people who were not in business before 1994. All of these are new quota holders. They are not all big and successful, but they are new quota holders. The MEC might not have known about that.
When it comes to the subsistence fisheries, for the first time this year we were able to issue subsistence permits all along the coast. In places like the West Coast, for the first time in their lives, women were directly given permits to harvest fish. If one had gone to visit the people in Elands Bay, Lambert’s Bay or Doring Bay, and places like those, those women would say that it was not even in their dreams that one day they would be given permits to fish. Perhaps the MEC did not have all of this information.
Regarding poverty relief, last year my department spent R70 million directly on poverty relief projects, and I am not talking about fishing. That is putting money into the pockets of the poor people doing a whole range of different sorts of projects. This year we will be spending R99 million, and if one takes the trouble to look at the MTEF one will see that next year R175 million is earmarked for my department to spend directly on poverty relief projects.
In my main presentation I spoke about the Coast Care programme and various others. All of those are poverty relief projects, and, for the first time, we actually have some injection of money going into these poor coastal areas. It is something that has never happened before. Then I must say that the MEC’s attempt to quote my speech in the National Assembly was a bit of a failure because he quoted me incorrectly.
What I was saying about the Huxley commission was that they adopted the view that the observations of the ordinary fishermen were not important. That is a point that I was making. I was saying that we must not make the same mistake ourselves.
What the MEC also does is he presents a very empty intellectualist approach. The MEC says, ``Let us listen to the ordinary people, let us not read big books.’’ That is what the MEC says. Firstly, Mr Adams must be told that I do not need him to tell me to be in touch with the ordinary people. I can assure him that I have been in touch with them and I am in touch with more ordinary people, not only along the coast, but all over the country, than he will frankly ever be for the rest of his life, because that is all that I have done.
The MEC attacked an intellectual tradition which exists, I must say, within the ruling party, but certainly within my department also; one which we are proud of. Our scientists in the department do read big books and we are not ashamed of that. I will tell the MEC why. That is because in countries where they have not managed their fishing stocks on a proper scientific basis, they are suffering today. In South Africa, our hake stocks are increasing. Last year, we granted a total allowable catch of 155 000 tons. This year, it went up to 166 000 tons. Some of the big stocks - apart from those that are being poached, like abalone - like pelagics, hake, etc, are increasing. In Europe, the catch is decreasing. The caught stocks had to be cut by about 50%, and if the MEC had completed the speech he was quoting, he would have seen that. As a result of that, the fishing fleets in Europe are at a standstill right now. That is because we are serious about what we do. We want to engage in rigorous intellectual activity on which we base our policies, and that is something that I would really recommend to the Western Cape. I think that if they develop an intellectual tradition in the Western Cape, they will not be sorry about that.
On the comments of the hon Sulliman, I must say that I am one of those who adopt the view that the Northern Cape has lots and lots of potential for tourism, especially if one takes into account that it is a very big province from a geographical point of view, and it has a relatively small and sparse population.
Growth in tourism could make a very big difference to the socioeconomic standards of the population in the Northern Cape. I was in Namibia recently and had discussions with my counterpart there. We hope that very shortly we will be able to sign the agreement for the establishment of the Richtersveld-Ais-Ais Transfrontier Conservation Area in order to boost tourism in that part of Southern Africa even more.
The point which Mr McKenzie made about the need for co-operation with communities which are next to parks is well taken. I think that it is something that we will have to work on an ongoing basis.
The hon Durr raised interesting suggestions about the West Coast National Park. I certainly found that interesting and I think that it is a matter that we will certainly pursue for the consolidation of the area. It may well appear to members and me that the parcel of land which the SANDF has under its control currently is not really needed by them, but I can assure hon members that when my director-general speaks to the generals, they will have very complex and complicated reasons why they need it. But it is something worth pursuing, I think.
The hon Silke spoke about the airlines policy, and this is a matter that we are seized with. My department and the Department of Transport are interacting very regularly. It is a very difficult situation. It is not as simple and easy as I thought, once one gets into the bowels of the problem, but it is certainly something that needs to addressed.
His sentiments were, in a certain sense, also shared by the President in his state-of-the-nation address, when he said that this year we must increase airline frequencies and capacity into and out of South Africa. It is something that we are working on.
As far as the work of South African tourism is concerned, I must tell him that, notwithstanding the observations that he has made, the observation that has been made by the industry and people around the world, is that SA Tourism is doing much better than it has ever done before. In fact, it has come out of a very old archaic way of working and transformed itself into a modern organisation. Let me assure hon members that there are some very hard-working representatives of SA Tourism in various parts of the world who are doing excellent work. Much more needs to be done, there is no question about that. But I do think that quite a good job is being done, under very difficult circumstances. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
AIRPORTS COMPANY AMENDMENT BILL
(Consideration of Bill and of Report thereon)
Ms P C P MAJODINA: Chairperson, hon members, the object of the Airports Company Amendment Bill is to effect a minor change to and remove an irregularity in the Airports Company Act.
In terms of the current Airports Company Act, the Airports Company of South Africa, generally known as Acsa, is granted a five-year permission to levy charges related to airport core activities. [Interjections.] Being in a minority is not nice. The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Order! continue, hon member.
Ms P C P MAJODINA: Airport core activities are those activities that are essential to the functioning of the airport, such as runway fees. However, they do not include incidental matters such as commercial businesses located at the airport.
Section 12(11)(a) of the Act states that the regulating committee may, after consultation with Acsa and other interested parties, amend any condition of the permission given to Acsa to levy airport charges, with the approval of the Minister of Transport and Acsa. The proposed amendment seeks to remove the anomaly of the regulating committee having to consult with Acsa regarding a proposed change of condition and then having to obtain the approval of Acsa and the Minister of Transport.
In terms of the amendment, the regulating committee will no longer have to obtain the approval of Acsa, but it will still have to consult with the company on any proposed changes. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
Declaration of vote:
Dr P J C NEL: Chairperson, the New NP believes that although the amendment is regulatory in nature, it is an important piece of legislation. The Bill serves to amend the Airports Company Act of 1993, so as to make new provisions for the amendment of the conditions of the permission issued to the Airports Company to levy airport charges, with the approval of the Minister of Transport and the company.
Previously the Act required the regulatory committee to consult with the company and to obtain the approval of the company, as well as that of the Minister. The effect of the amendment is that although the regulating committee will still have to consult with the Airports Company on any change to levies, it will not have to obtain the company’s approval.
My party believes that this is a sensible ruling, and therefore supports the Bill. [Applause.]
Bill agreed to in accordance with section 75 of the Constitution.
ROAD ACCIDENT FUND AMENDMENT BILL
(Consideration of Bill and of Report thereon)
Ms P C P MAJODINA: Chairperson, being a chairperson means one can speak twice in a Chamber.
Road safety programmes have become indispensable tools in our fight to limit the expenses incurred by the Government in dealing with the enormous financial costs resulting from road accidents. Every year the Government has to allocate huge sums of money as a result of a large number of road accidents. The money we spend in response to accidents could be put to better use in addressing some of our more pressing social problems, such as poverty alleviation.
Furthermore, the large number of road accidents has wider social implications. It places enormous strain on our health system, with many victims needing expensive treatment, such as surgery over an extended period. It also impacts negatively on our economic growth through the reduced productivity of victims who need weeks and months to recuperate before they can resume work.
To reduce our expenses incurred as a result of road accidents, we need to spend more money on their prevention. For this reason, we should welcome the Road Accident Fund Amendment Bill. The Bill seeks to amend the Road Accident Fund Act in order to authorise a fund to make financial contributions to road safety programmes and projects approved by the Minister of Transport, such as the Arrive Alive campaign.
Although the impact of this amendment may not be felt immediately, it will have a number of positive spin-offs in the long term, not only for the provinces, but also for the Road Accident Fund itself. [Interjections.] Liyangxola eli lungu. [The hon member is making a noise.]
Provinces will be able to augment their Arrive Alive campaign budgets with funds obtained from this fund. These funds will in turn be used to increase motorists’ awareness of road safety and to encourage them and pedestrians to observe all road traffic measures. The effects of an increased observance of road safety measures will mean fewer road accidents which, in turn, will reduce the number of claims brought before the Road Accident Fund. This amendment will clearly result in a win-win situation for everybody involved in road safety and should be supported by all of us. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
Declaration of vote:
Dr P J C NEL: Mnr die Voorsitter, die Nuwe NP beskou die wysigingswetsontwerp as wenslik omdat die stuk wetgewing nou aan die Padongelukfonds die bevoegdheid verleen om bydraes te maak tot padveiligheidsprojekte en -programme wat deur die Minister goedgekeur is. Tot dusver was alle bydraes wat die Padongelukfonds byvoorbeeld tot die Kom Veilig Daar-veldtog gemaak het onwettig aangesien daar geen voorsiening daarvoor in die Padongelukfondswet van 1996 gemaak is nie.
Dit is nie ‘n gesonde toedrag van sake nie. As in ag geneem word dat sowat 10 000 mense jaarliks hul lewe op ons paaie verloor en die totale beraamde uitgawe vir die staat as gevolg van padongelukke waarin derduisende mense beseer en vermink word in die jaar 2000 R13,8 miljard beloop het, is dit nodig dat alle projekte wat deur die departement geloods word, uit alle oorde ondersteun behoort te word.
My party wil die hoop uitspreek dat die Departement van Vervoer alles in sy vermoë sal doen om die Padongelukfonds, wat tans teen ‘n geweldige verlies van R10,48 miljard funksioneer, so spoedig moontlik op ‘n gesonde sakegrondslag te plaas. Dit is nodig om die fonds in staat te stel om ‘n substansiële belegging in veiligheidsprojekte te maak.
Dit is ook belangrik dat dié beleggings dividende sal oplewer in die vorm van ‘n aansienlike vermindering in ongelukeise wat teen die fonds ingestel word.
Die Nuwe NP steun die wetsontwerp. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans declaration of vote follows.)
[Dr P J C NEL: Mr Chairperson, the New NP regards the amendment Bill as expedient because this piece of legislation will now grant the Road Accident Fund the power to make contributions to road safety projects and programmes which have been approved by the Minister. Thus far all contributions made by the Road Accident Fund, for example, to the Arrive Alive campaign, were regarded as illegal because no provision was made for this in the Road Accident Fund Act of 1996.
This is not a healthy state of affairs. If one takes into account that approximately 10 000 people die on our roads annually and that the total estimated cost for the state amounted to R13,8 billion in the year 2000 as a result of road accidents in which thousands upon thousands of people are injured and disabled, it is necessary that all projects which are launched by the department should be supported by everyone.
My party wishes to express the hope that the Department of Transport will do everything in its power to bring the Road Accident Fund to a sound business foundation as quickly as possible, because currently it is functioning at an enormous loss of R10,48 billion. This is necessary to enable the fund to make substantial investments in safety projects.
It is also important that these investments yield dividends in the form of a substantial reduction in accident claims which are lodged against the fund.
The New NP supports this Bill. [Applause.]] Bill agreed to in accordance with section 75 of the Constitution.
The Council adjourned at 17:21.
__________
ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
MONDAY, 25 JUNE 2001
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
- The Speaker and the Chairperson:
(1) The Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) on 25 June 2001 in terms of
Joint Rule 160(6), classified the following Bill as a money Bill:
(i) Revenue Laws Amendment Bill [B 36 - 2001] (National
Assembly - sec 77).
TABLINGS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
Papers:
- The Minister of Finance:
Explanatory Memorandum on the Revenue Laws Amendment Bill, 2001 [WP 2-
2001].
- The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development:
(1) Government Notice No R.354 published in the Government Gazette
No 22239 dated 20 April 2001, Amendment of Regulations, made in
terms of 81(2) of the Attorneys Act, 1979 (Act No 53 of 1979).
(2) Government Notice No R.373 published in the Government Gazette
No 22265 dated 30 April 2001, Rules regulating the conduct of the
proceedings of the various Provincial and Local Divisions of the
High Court of South Africa: Repeal of Rule 37A, and Transitional
Provisions, made in terms of section 6 of the Rules Board for
Courts of Law Act, 1985 (Act No 107 of 1985).
(3) Proclamation No R.28 published in the Government Gazette No
22247 dated 20 April 2001, Commencement of section 4 of the
Criminal Procedure Amendment Act, 1997 (Act No 76 of 1997) from 20
April 2001.
(4) Government Notice No 898 published in the Government Gazette No
22250 dated 20 April 2001, Directives under section 4 of the
Criminal Procedure Amendment Act, 1997 (Act No 76 of 1997).
(5) Proclamation No R.29 published in the Government Gazette No
22261 dated 30 April 2001, Extension of the period of operation of
sections 51 and 52 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1997 (Act No
105 of 1997), made in terms of section 53(2) of the Criminal Law
Amendment Act, 1997 (Act No 105 of 1997).
(6) Government Notice No R.423 published in the Government Gazette
No 22284 dated 18 May 2001, Regulations in terms of the National
Prosecuting Authority Act, 1998, made in terms of section 40 read
with sections 16(3) and 25(2) of the National Prosecuting
Authority Act, 1998 (Act No 32 of 1998).
(7) Proclamation No R.31 published in the Government Gazette No
22333 dated 28 May 2001, Dissolution of the Committee on Amnesty,
made in terms of section 43(2) of the Promotion of National Unity
and Reconciliation Act, 1995 (Act No 34 of 1995).
- The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism:
Report of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism for 2000-
2001 [RP 67-2001].
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
-
Report of the Joint Committee on Revenue Laws Amendment Bill on the Revenue Laws Amendment Bill [B 36 - 2001] (National Assembly - sec 77), dated 25 June 2001:
The Joint Committee on Revenue Laws Amendment Bill, having considered the subject of the Revenue Laws Amendment Bill [B 36 - 2001] (National Assembly - sec 77), referred to it and classified by the Joint Tagging Mechanism as a Money Bill, reports that it has concluded its deliberations thereon. TUESDAY, 26 JUNE 2001
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
- The Speaker and the Chairperson:
(1) Assent by the President of the Republic in respect of the
following Bills:
(i) South African Sports Commission Amendment Bill [B 2B
- 2001] - Act No 7 of 2001 (assented to and signed by
President on 22 June 2001); and
(ii) South African Weather Service Bill [B 54D - 2000] - Act No
8 of 2001 (assented to and signed by President on 22 June
2001).
(2) The Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) on 26 June 2001 in terms of
Joint Rule 160(3), classified the following Bills as section 75
Bills:
(i) Merchandise Marks Amendment Bill [B 33 - 2001]
(National Assembly - sec 75).
(ii) Trade Practices Amendment Bill [B 34 - 2001] (National
Assembly - sec 75).
(iii) Companies Amendment Bill [B 35 - 2001] (National Assembly
- sec 75).
(iv) National Parks Amendment Bill [B 38 - 2001] (National
Assembly - sec 75).
(3) The following papers have been tabled and are now referred to
the relevant committees as mentioned below:
(1) The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee
on Public Works, the Portfolio Committee on Transport, the
Portfolio Committee on Housing, the Portfolio Committee on
Water Affairs and Forestry and the Portfolio Committee on
Provincial and Local Government. It is also referred to the
Select Committee on Public Services, the Select Committee on
Land and Environmental Affairs and the Select Committee on
Local Government and Administration:
Report of the Inter-Ministerial Task Team on Construction
Industry Development for the period November 1997 to April
2001.
(2) The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee
on Foreign Affairs and to the Select Committee on Economic
Affairs for information:
Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South
Africa and the People's Government of the Democratic Republic
of Algeria on the establishment of a Binational Commission of
Co-operation, tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the
Constitution, 1996.
(3) The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee
on Justice and Constitutional Development and to the Select
Committee on Security and Constitutional Affairs. The Report
of the Auditor-General contained in the following paper is
referred to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts for
consideration and report:
Report and Financial Statements of the Legal Aid Board for
1997-98, 1998-99 and 1999-2000, including the Report of the
Auditor-General on the Financial Statements for 1997-98, 1998-
99 and 1999-2000.
(4) The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee
on Water Affairs and Forestry and to the Select Committee on
Land and Environmental Affairs:
Government Notice No R.509 published in Government Gazette No
22355 dated 8 June 2001, Regulations relating to compulsory
National Standards and Measures to conserve water, made in
terms of section 9(1) and 73(1)(j) of the Water Services Act,
1997 (Act No 108 of 1997).
National Council of Provinces:
- The Chairperson:
Bills passed by National Council of Provinces on 26 June 2001: To be
submitted to President of the Republic for assent:
(i) Airports Company Amendment Bill [B 20 - 2001] (National
Assembly - sec 75);
(ii) Road Accident Fund Amendment Bill [B 21 - 2001] (National
Assembly - sec 75).
- The Chairperson:
Message from National Assembly to National Council of Provinces:
Bills passed by National Assembly on 26 June 2001 and transmitted for
concurrence:
(i) Revenue Laws Amendment Bill [B 36 - 2001] (National Assembly -
sec 77).
As the Joint Committee on Revenue Laws Amendment Bill reported
on the Bill (see Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports,
p 793), it was not referred to a committee of the Council. It
has been put as an Order of the Day on the Order Paper of the
Council for consideration.
(ii) Appropriation Bill [B 10 - 2001] (National Assembly - sec 77).
The Bill has been referred to the Select Committee on Finance of
the National Council of Provinces.
(iii) Administration of Estates Laws Interim Rationalisation Bill [B
24B - 2000] (National Assembly - sec 75) (introduced as
Administration of Estates Amendment Bill [B 24 - 2000] (National
Assembly - sec 75).
The Bill has been referred to the Select Committee on Security
and Constitutional Affairs of the National Council of Provinces.
(iv) Agricultural Research Amendment Bill [B 25B - 2001 (Reprint)]
(National Assembly - sec 75).
The Bill has been referred to the Select Committee on Land and
Environmental Affairs of the National Council of Provinces.
(v) Close Corporations Amendment Bill [B 31B - 2001] (National
Assembly - sec 75).
The Bill has been referred to the Select Committee on Economic
Affairs of the National Council of Provinces.
TABLINGS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
Papers:
- The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development:
(a) Report of the South African Law Commission on a New Sentencing
Framework, Project 82 [RP 57-2001].
(b) The Fourth Interim Report of the South African Law Commission on
Aspects of the Law Relating to Aids, Project 85 [RP 40-2001].
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
- Report of the Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Children, Youth and Disabled Persons on Study Tour to Germany, dated 9 June 2001:
The Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life and
Status of Children, Youth and Disabled Persons, having undertaken a
study tour to Berlin, Germany, from 7 to 14 October 2000, reports as
follows:
A. Background
The study tour took place as a result of the Committee's decision
to meet the German Parliamentary Committee on Labour and Social
Affairs as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) concerned
with children, youth and disabled persons. A programme for the
delegation was compiled by Mr G Setlhoke and Mr J Beck from the
Office of the South African Embassy in Berlin.
1. Composition of delegation
The delegation comprised of the following:
Members of National Assembly: Ms M S Maine
(ANC); Mr L Nzimande (ANC); Ms E Gandhi (ANC); Mrs Mbuyazi
(IFP); Mr V Gore (DP); and Ms M Rajbally (MF).
Members of National Council of Provinces: Mr B Willem - leader
of delegation (Eastern Cape); Mr J Mkhaliphi (Mpumalanga); Mr
T Setona (Free State); and Mr N Raju (KwaZulu-Natal).
In addition, three personal assistants and the Committee
Secretary accompanied the delegation.
2. Terms of reference
To study the German -
(1) policy and legislation in respect of children, youth and
disabled persons;
(2) policy and programmes in respect of children, youth and
disabled persons,
And to learn about -
(3) how their parliamentary committee carries out its function
of oversight and monitoring, especially the
implementation of policy and legislation in respect of
children, youth and disabled persons;
(4) the role of NGOs in monitoring governmental policies and
programmes, and their effectiveness in meeting the needs
of children, youth and disabled persons.
3. Objectives of trip
(1) To learn from the successes and drawbacks experienced by
the Germans in the fields outlined above.
(2) To take these experiences into account in developing own
policies and legislation.
(3) To develop own oversight and monitoring functions, taking
into account the German experience.
4. Consultations and briefings
Meetings were held with the following:
(1) Dr Beate Schmidt-Behlau, Dr Jorg Maywald and Mr Karl
Spath, of the National Coalition for the Implementation
of the UN Convention for the Protection of Children's
Rights in Germany.
(2) Mr Burkhard Wilke, Managing Director of the Germany
Central Institute for Social Matters.
(3) Dr Hartmut Haines, Head of the Section for Basic
Programmes of Prevention, Rehabilitation, Policy and
Rights of Integration of Disabled People.
(4) Mr Bernhard Schneider, Head, and Dr Gerhard Polzin,
Assistant Head, of Interministerial Staff at
Representative of the Federal Government for Affairs
concerning Disabled People.
(5) Dr Dolly Conto Obregon, Director of the International
Street Children Archive Research and Counselling Centre.
(6) Dr Edith Niehuis, Parliamentary State Secretary, and Mr
Jochen Weitzel, Deputy Head of Division for Children and
Youth Policy.
B. Meeting with Ambassador
Prof Bengu, the South African Ambassador to Germany, briefed the
delegation on the Binational Commission between South Africa and
Germany, for the purpose of facilitating high-level dialogue and
promoting co-operation on key issues of national concern to South
Africa and Germany.
The following five focal areas were identified for further
consultation and negotiation:
1. Educational and vocational training.
2. Promotion of the private sector, particularly small businesses.
3. Low-cost housing and infrastructural development.
4. Rural development and management of natural resources.
5. Government and administrative advisory services, particularly
at provincial level.
The delegation was further informed that the Embassy is at present
involving churches and the private sector to assist in the
elimination of poverty in South Africa. Strategies have been
developed by the Embassy to ensure collaboration between the
government, the private sector and churches.
The Germans have developed very good policies on education and
skills training in order to deal with poverty and unemployment. A
study of these in particular would be of use to South Africa.
The delegation noted that the South African government is
embarking on policies aimed at transformation and development, and
that the Committee will benefit from this study tour.
C. Consultation 1: German National Coalition for Implementation of
UN Convention for Protection of Children's Rights in Germany
1. Introduction
The delegation was briefed by Dr Beate Schmidt-Behlau, Dr Jorg
Maywald and Mr Karl Spath of the Coalition.
The delegation learnt that on 24 May 1995, 40 German NGOs,
engaged in the field of child and youth welfare and policies,
formally founded the Coalition. By September 1999, the number
of affiliates had risen to 90 organisations, covering a broad
spectrum of areas pertaining to the rights of the child.
2. Aims of Coalition
(1) To encourage and monitor government action towards
implementation of the convention.
(2) To invite promotors from a broad cross-section of society
to act towards the implementation of the convention, and
to hold conferences, workshops and open fora on relevant
issues.
(3) To discuss and disseminate the convention in Germany for
all children up to the age of 18.
(4) To support the involvement of children and young people in
the discussion and implementation of the convention.
(5) To exchange information on the process of implementation
at international level and inform members about
activities in the international field through the NGO
group in Geneva.
3. Structure and working method
Since March 1996 the German Child Welfare Alliance has been
hosting the secretariat of the Coalition. Start-up funding was
provided from the foundation Deutsche Jugendmarke and enabled
the Coalition to employ a full-time co-ordinator and
secretariat for a year.
Further funding from the German government has been secured up
to the year 2001. A steering committee of 16 members, eight of
whom represented organisations affiliated to the German Child
Welfare Association, agreed on a list of principles, statutes
and regulations.
Its decisions are based on consensus among all members, and it
meets regularly, about every two to three months. In March
2000 the steering group nominated Mike Corsa and Dr Jorg
Maywald as speakers of the Coalition, for two years. In
accordance with the member organisations, this group develops
a plan of action and decides on strategies to promote the
implementation of the convention.
As a follow-up on activities recommended in the concluding
observations of the Committee, the steering group examined
particular themes mentioned in the statement of the Coalition
on the government report submitted to the Committee on the
Rights of the Child in Geneva in 1995.
4. Topics covered
Working groups are sometimes established to draw up
recommendations, policies and strategies. These are discussed
in the steering group and then forwarded to the government,
Parliament, the media and the broad public, to promote the
full implementation of the convention in their respective
areas.
Topics that have been dealt with since the establishment of
the Coalition, are -
(1) the rights of the child in the reform of parent and child
law;
(2) ecological rights of children;
(3) rights of asylum-seeking children, child soldiers and the
rights of children in war;
(4) rights of children in institutions, for example in the
school system;
(5) rights of needy children and allocation of resources;
(6) rights of disabled children;
(7) rights of children without German passports.
5. Ministerial support
The Ministry for Youth and Family Affairs has financed 1 200
"media suitcases", which were distributed to libraries and
institutions working to promote the convention. A suitcase
consists of a selection of the best materials currently
available in Germany on children's rights, including a video
series on 20 articles of the convention by German TV, music,
books and a public relations manual for teachers, social
workers and professionals, in order to make the convention
widely known.
They have a law which bans violence, especially corporal
punishment, including emotional violence, against children.
There are also interesting programmes, for example a programme
aimed at helping children catch up on what they did not learn
at school, and a programme called "youth in work" for young
people who cannot find jobs. The project endeavours to skill
the youth for specific jobs and then find them employment.
Their definition of children is also interesting. They define
a child as being from birth to 14, and a youth as being 14 to
18.
Their education takes longer than other countries: Preprimary
learning takes place from three to six years. Entrance is at
seven years, and they spend 19 years at school. They therefore
enter university or other tertiary institutions at a fairly
mature age of over 24, and they complete their education at
between 26 and 30 years of age. They therefore enter the job
market at a much later stage.
They have an ombudsperson in each State, looking into
children's issues. These ombudspersons are within the
administration and reports to the administration. Their main
aim is towards ensuring protection of, provision for and
participation towards the best interests of the child. They
ensure that there is a comprehensive approach on children's
issues; for example, when they plan traffic laws, they take
children's needs into account.
6. What seemed to work well
(1) The structured working relationship between the government
and NGOs seemed to bring positive results, and thus the
movement is growing.
(2) Media suitcases are an excellent idea for the
dissemination of information.
(3) Extra programmes for learners who cannot cope.
(4) The longer period of education results in a more mature
and better skilled workforce.
(5) The idea of ombudspersons and the consultative mechanisms
involving children.
7. Lessons learnt
(1) They have access to more funds.
(2) They have a low rate of unemployment.
(3) They do not have infrastructural backlogs.
(4) They do not have a large illiterate population.
(5) They do not have problems of stark poverty.
D. Consultation 2: German Central Institute for Social Matters
1. Introduction
The delegation had consultation and briefing sessions with Mr
Burkhard Wilke, Managing Director of the Institute. The
Institute collects and stores information on a database and
supplies information to those who need it.
2. Budget
The Institute is to a large extent self-sustaining. It is
partly financed by the Ministry of Social Affairs, and 70%
comes from charity organisations, from the interest on fees
derived from auditing charity organisations and from fees paid
by various organisations and individuals for the provision of
information.
3. Focus
The Institute provides services mainly in Berlin. It supplies
information on social issues, leaders in the field, books and
articles on issues of social interest, lists of charity
organisations in the field of environmental and animal
protection and developmental aid.
4. Method of operation
The Institute does not conduct research, but collects research
material from universities and provides it to the clients.
They also gather information from literature, scientific
journals and books.
5. Clients
Information is provided to students and private associations;
the Minister of Labour and the National Coalition on the
Implementation of the Convention of the Child; industry and
commerce; the German Chancellor of Cities; welfare and
Catholic associations; donors and students of social work; and
universities of applied science.
6. Kinds of services provided
(1) Information on CD ROM.
(2) Books.
(3) Monograph.
(4) Magazines.
7. What seemed to work well
(1) Centralised collection and dissemination of information.
(2) Efficient and well-run service.
8. Obstacles
(1) Lack of infrastructure in rural areas would make a centre
of this kind inaccessible to many.
(2) Cost would be a problem.
(3) Poverty would make it difficult for people to pay for
services, hence self-sufficiency would be difficult to
attain.
E. Consultation 3: Basic Programmes of Prevention, Rehabilitation,
Policy and Rights of Disabled People
1. Introduction
The delegation had a consultation and briefing session with Dr
Hartmut Haines, Head of the Section.
The briefing focused on the following:
(1) Accessibility of buildings for disabled people.
(2) Social levy system.
(3) Integration and special schooling system.
(4) Training of disabled people.
(5) Monitoring role of the Section on policy related to
disabled people.
2. Accessibility of buildings
New buildings established, are accessible to disabled people,
but old ones are not. Future planning on the construction and
reconstruction of buildings will take into account the needs
of the disabled.
3. Policy in respect of disabled
(1) To take steps to ensure that disability is reduced through
preventative measures.
(2) To ensure that disabled people are fully integrated into
the mainstream, failing which, they must have special
provisions in order to obtain education and become self-
sufficient.
4. Interesting areas
(1) Social levy system.
(2) Integration and special schooling system.
(3) Training of disabled people.
(4) Employment of disabled people.
A law requires that every employer must employ at least 5%
(previously 6%) disabled people. Should they receive an
application from a disabled person and select a "normal"
person for the job, then, to the extent that they are not
fulfilling the 5% requirement, they have to pay a levy to the
government (for not complying with the quota). Those who do
employ disabled people, but do not have the full quota, pay a
levy of 200 DM. Those who do not employ any disabled people,
however, pay a much higher levy. This levy goes into a fund to
be utilised for the needs of the disabled.
5. What seemed to work well
The levy system was unique and seemed to achieve its goals.
6. Obstacles
Access to buildings, etc, was not well developed.
F. Consultation 4: Head and Assistant Head of Interministerial
Staff at Representative of Federal Government for Affairs
concerning Disabled People
1. Introduction
The delegation had a discussion with Mr Bernhard Schneider,
the Head, and Dr Gerhard Polzin, the Assistant Head. Their
briefings focused on -
(1) the legal framework; and
(2) the integration of disabled persons in the Federal
Republic of Germany.
According to section 10 of the Rehabilitation Harmonisation
Act, medical services for rehabilitation should cover all
areas of support necessary to prevent a threatening
disability, to eliminate a disability, to alleviate it or to
prevent its aggravation.
According to section 100 of the Act, an employer with a
workforce of 16 or more are obliged to ensure that at least 6%
of the workforce comprise severely disabled persons.
This obligation applies not only to the private sector, but
also to public employers. The federal employment service
monitors the fulfilment of this obligation through a system of
compensatory levies payable by employers who fail to meet the
obligation. The revenue from these levies may only be used for
employment promotion and vocational advancement in respect of
severely disabled persons; details are embodied in the
Severely Disabled Persons Compensatory Levy Regulation.
2. Rehabilitation of disabled persons
(1) If a person suffers from a physical, mental or
psychological disability, he or she is entitled to
assistance, regardless of the cause of disability.
(2) Benefits such as medical and financial benefits are
provided, regardless of whether the person receives a
disability pension or not.
(3) Where necessary, medical rehabilitation benefits are
provided through hospitals or special facilities.
(4) Vocational rehabilitation benefits assist to help a
disabled person to keep or get a job.
(5) This also include other forms of employment and vocational
promotion assistance, aimed at making it possible for a
disabled person to find adequate and suitable work in the
job market or in a workshop for disabled people.
3. Vocational youth training centres
These centres work in conjunction with firms in their
respective regions to provide initial vocational training for
young disabled persons who require medical, psychological and
educational assistance as a result of their disability.
Germany has built up a network of 46 vocational youth training
centres with a capacity for some 12 300 trainees. Eight of
these centres with an admission capacity of approximately
2 300 are located in the former East Germany.
4. Vocational retraining centres
The centres also work together with firms in the regions and
provide retraining and further training for disabled adults
who require medical, psychological and similar assistance.
Germany's network of 28 vocational retraining centres has
capacity for 15 000 trainees. Seven of these centres are
located in eastern Germany.
5. Vocational training centres
These centres are special rehabilitation centres for people
with mental disabilities. They aim to help people,
realistically assessing their job prospects so that they can
rejoin the mainstream job market or go on courses for training
or retraining. There are currently eight vocational training
centres, with a total of 457 places.
6. Vocational rehabilitation clinics
These are special rehabilitation clinics for persons with
special disabilities, such as head injuries, paraplegic or
heart diseases. At present, Germany has 17 such clinics, with
2 780 beds, in the western part of the country.
7. Workshops for disabled persons
These workshops offer suitable jobs for persons who are
permanently or temporarily unable to find employment in the
open market, due to the nature or severity of their
disability.
They provide disabled persons with an opportunity to develop,
increase or regain the ability to work productively, and to
earn a wage while doing so. At present, Germany has 640 State-
approved workshops which offer 166 000 jobs; 173 of these
workshops, with approximately 27 000 jobs, are located in
eastern Germany. Disabled persons working in each of these
workshops are covered under Germany's health, accident, long-
term care and pension insurance schemes.
8. Special provision for severely disabled persons
As a severely disabled person, one can claim benefits to
assist in compensating for disadvantages arising from
disability. These benefits are normally contingent on the
existence of specific health conditions, and include -
(1) tax concessions (in particular, the standard allowance for
disabled persons);
(2) free public transport;
(3) reduced vehicle taxes;
(4) special parking facilities;
(5) exemption from radio and television licence fees.
9. Free public transport
If a disability significantly reduces mobility in respect of
road traffic or if a person is incapacitated or deaf, he or
she is entitled to free public transport on production of a
pass that is marked accordingly. This applies to trams, buses,
suburban trains and railway travel, where they are part of an
integrated regional transport system. The subsidiary system of
free transport is limited to second class travel on local
trains within 50 km of the person's home.
10. What worked well
(1) The four-step approach that has been developed, has a lot
of merit. It is clear and precise about the different
categories of disabled persons and who qualifies for what
kind of assistance.
(2) Their youth development programme is also a very good
model.
11. Obstacles
Lack of funds is a problem, but not the major problem.
G. Consultation 5: International Street Children Archive Research
and Counselling Centre
1. Introduction
The delegation had consultation and discussion with Dr Dolly
Conto Obregen, Director of the Centre. The briefing focused on
the number of activities and projects in respect of the main
task of the centre - street children, in Germany as well as in
other locations, such as Africa, Asia, Latin America and
Europe.
2. Background of Centre
The Centre was established in 1984 to document the work
already achieved and the different approaches to homeless
children or street children. Since 1994, the Centre has been
systematically involved in the situation of street children,
both from a research perspective and from a rehabilitative and
service perspective. Since then, the Centre has realised that,
in order to be able to develop lasting solution approaches,
political intervention, international discussions and
networking are needed. At present, the Centre has developed
four projects in respect of street children.
(1) Information desk project
The main focus of this project is the collection of
documentation, project evaluation, publications of any
kind (books, scientific papers and materials from all
media sectors), and to make these available to both
researchers as well as the public. The aim is to
accelerate research concerning street children and to
develop approaches towards a solution for this category
of person.
(2) Research project
Based on the analysis of existing approaches, the Centre
attempts to demonstrate new research fields with this
project, where a network of institutions and individuals
aspire to seek practical solutions.
(3) Counselling project
The findings from the documentation and research
activities on the life of street children has contributed
to the counselling work directed towards the following:
(a) Political institutions, NGOs, scientists,
educational specialists, street workers, teachers,
pupils, students of social science and humanities,
and towards all people who are interested, and
active, in the field.
(b) Offering students a service package to prepare for
practical placements abroad, as well as for
activities in Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe.
3. Main work activities
The main work activities of the Institute focused on the
following four issues: Documentation; public relations;
training courses and placement; and regional and international
networking.
(1) Documentation
(a) Archives about street children all over the world.
(b) Articles in newspapers and magazines.
(c) Unpublished documents.
(d) CD-Roms, internet publications.
(e) Photo exhibitions.
(2) Public relations
(a) Series of lectures, seminars and video evenings.
(b) Discussions in schools and institutions.
(c) Specialised conferences and benefit events.
(3) Training course
(a) Street workers/educational specialists.
(b) Methodological planning of projects.
(c) Monitoring and controlling.
(d) Teachers as multipliers.
(4) Placement
(a) Preparation of students for practical placement
abroad.
(b) Practical placement in Africa, Asia, Latin America
and Europe.
(5) Regional and international networking
(a) Exchange of experiences and reinforcement of
dialogue.
(b) Improvement of scientific co-operation.
(c) Intercultural encounters.
4. What worked well
(1) The research and rehabilitation programmes are good.
(2) Focus on the disabled is also good.
5. Obstacles
Placement of children abroad is not such a good idea.
H. Consultation 6: Parliamentary State Secretary and Deputy Head of
Division of Children and Youth Policy
1. Introduction
Dr Edith Niehuis, the Parliamentary State Secretary, and Mr
Jochen Weitzel, Deputy Head of the Division, briefed the
delegation on the German governmental policy and programme in
respect of children and youth.
2. Child and youth policy
The Federal Republic of Germany has a wide-ranging and
socially underpinned system of child and youth services. Child
and youth services describe the area of social work that
serves to promote the development of young people outside
school.
3. Youth reports
Of particular importance to the child and youth policy are the
youth reports on the situation of young people and the welfare
achievements of child and youth services, which the federal
government has to present to the Bundestag and Bundesrat in
each parliamentary term. Apart from assessing and analysing
the current situation, the reports contain proposals on
further developing child and youth services, and each third
report should provide an overview of the overall situation in
respect of child and youth services.
The youth report have, inter alia, two important functions.
These are to make the public aware of the situation of young
people, and to encourage all spheres of society to take on
activities which will promote the interests of children and
young people.
As already mentioned, child and youth policy cuts across many
different policy areas. Family reports are presented in the
family policy area. The nine youth reports and four family
reports which have appeared to date, document studies which
describe in detail the situation and living conditions of
children, young people and families in Germany. These reports
also have a considerable impact on the legislative process on
children and youth, on family policy, and on specific
political measures.
4. What worked well
(1) Media protection is well-run.
(2) Youth programmes are good.
5. Obstacles
Funding.
6. Principle of subsidiary bodies responsible for child and youth
services agencies
One of the main features of child and youth services is the
activities of voluntary and statutory bodies. NGOs make a
commitment. In the field of youth work, day care for children
and residential care, the voluntary sector provides most
services and facilities.
7. Statutory youth services
Statutory youth services represent another dimension of the
child and youth services system. Together with the voluntary
youth services, they implement the Child and Youth Service Act
at three levels:
(1) Federal level
The Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens,
Women and Youth is responsible for preparing legislation
and financing measures of national importance and
programmes intended to serve as a model for the child and
youth plan of the federation.
(2) Local self-government level
They have to legislate for their own areas. Child and
youth policies are developed by voluntary organisations
within the parameters of the UN Convention and the
Federal Act on Child and Youth Services.
(3) State level
Programmes for child and youth care have to be drafted
for the development of youth.
8. Voluntary services structure at three levels
(1) National level (at this level models for projects are
developed).
(2) State or provincial level.
(3) Local or municipal level.
In addition, to ensure uniformity and cross-border uniformity,
the federal government has now appointed a Committee of State
Secretariat, and it reports to the Youth Ministry. In
Parliament, they also have a youth commission, comprising all
parties. There are youth offices responsible for advisory, co-
ordinating and regional planning and further training
functions.
9. Local child and youth services agencies
The main burden of statutory youth services work falls on
youth offices in districts and in towns which are
administrative districts in their own right.
The Child and Youth Services Act entrusts them with all
decisions relating to individual welfare cases and with
responsibility for curatorship by the youth office and
guardianship.
10. Participation by young people
Youth participation in shaping youth services is not merely a
procedural requirement, but also an essential element for the
effectiveness of the service itself. The Child and Youth
Service Act lays down as a basic principle that children and
young people are to be involved, in line with their level of
development, in all decisions concerning them, taken by the
statutory youth services bodies.
According to this Act, children and youths must be informed in
an appropriate manner of their rights in administrative
proceedings and in proceedings before the guardianship court
and the administrative court (s8 - Child and Youth Services
Act). Furthermore, the law expressly provides for the
participation of children or young people in the selection of
an institution or foster home within the scope of socio-
educational provision outside the family (s36 - Child and
Youth Services Act).
11. Media and protection of young persons
Section 6 of the Act regulates the dissemination of writings
harmful to young persons. It sets out cases where the media
must be regarded as a source of danger to the young. Among
media representatives likely to cause serious harm to young
persons, are those who -
(1) are racist;
(2) deny the holocaust;
(3) glorify violence;
(4) play down violence;
(5) represent violence in a manner which violates human
dignity, for instance child pornography.
Media members putting young persons seriously at risk are
indexed by law. In other words, there are restrictions on
making their work available.
12. Laws relevant to children and youths
In addition to the basic provisions, there are many general
laws such as the German Civil Code, the German Penal Code, the
Federal Social Assistance Act and the Employment Promotion
Act, which are of particular significance to children, young
people and families. There are also laws which deal
exclusively with the specific problems of children and young
people, for example the -
(1) Juvenile Court Act;
(2) Protection of Young Persons at Work Act;
(3) Promotion of the Voluntary Social Services Year Act;
(4) Promotion of the Voluntary Ecological Service Year Act;
(5) Vocational Training Act;
(6) Vocational Training Assistance through Planning and
Research Act;
(7) Adoption Procedures and Implementation Act;
(8) Federal Education Grants Act;
(9) Child and Youth Services Act.
13. What worked well
(1) The string of laws are good.
(2) They are able to tackle the aftermath of HIV/AIDS.
I. Guided tours
The delegation went on three guided tours of historic
significance.
1. House of Wannsee Conference
Introduction
In this house, on 20 January 1942, 14 top officials of the
ministerial bureaucracy and the SS, led by SS Obergruppen-
führer Reinhard Heydrich, chief of the Reich Security Main
Office, discussed the organisational implementation of the
decision to deport to the East and murder the Jews of Europe.
The meeting was called the "Wannsee Conference". The summary
of the Conference, prepared by Adolf Eichmann, was found in
1947 in the files of the German Foreign Office.
On the 50th anniversary of the Conference, 20 January 1992, a
memorial and education centre was opened in the villa. The
house now has three sections:
(1) Permanent exhibit
This exhibits documents not only the conference, but also
its history, starting in 1933, and its conseguences until
1945. it provides basic information on the entire process
of segregation, persecution, deportation and murder of
European Jews. A separate section deals with the history
of the building.
The photographs used, were almost without exception from
officials, as well as a few private German sources, and
were unpublished at the time. Exceptions were German
Jewish activities after 1933, taken by Jewish press
photographers, and the liberation of the concentration
camps in 1945, shot by Allied cameramen.
(2) Educational section
This section offers youth and adult group study days or
longer seminars geared towards specific interests and
professions, in or out of school. A wide range of
subjects is offered.
(3) Mediotek
This contains the standard academic literature, fiction
and eye-witness reports on Nazi history, literature on
Jewish history, anti-Semitism, racism and neo-Nazism,
reference works, a document collection on microfilm and
microfiche, a picture and sound archive, films and
videos. These materials are available for use on the
premises by seminar participants and individual visitors.
2. Sachsenhausen former concentration camp
The visit revealed the horrors of Nazi rule and the inhuman
conditions under which prisoners were forced to live.
3. Gandhi to Walesa Museum
This Museum was housed in a building used as an office at the
Check Point Charlie Border Post. It is dedicated to non-
violence action and non-violent struggle for human rights. It
is a comprehensive collection of information, photographs and
material in respect of six different non-violent struggles
around the world.
It is of importance to note that South Africa and Germany have
certain common features:
(1) There are similarities in both situations, in that both
are transforming and grappling with issues of poverty,
unemployment, racism and degradation.
(2) Germany has more resources, and their problem is not as
huge as ours.
(3) They are also integrating two States and creating new
systems and policies in terms of international best
practice.
The tour therefore has revealed many lessons of importance for
South Africa.
J. Recommendations
1. To SA National Youth Commission
(1) Germany has access to more funds than we do. They have a
low rate of unemployment, they do not have a major
infrastructural backlog, they do not have a large rate of
illiteracy and they do not have as much poverty as South
Africa.
The Committee recommends that the strategy of media
suitcases, comprising publications on children's rights
made available to the youth, be studied closely with a
view to copying it.
(2) Their vocational youth training centres and vocational
retraining centres are excellent methods of passing on
skills to young people. It may be a good programme to
copy.
(3) Their programme of youth reports to be presented to
Parliament each term, with proposals for further
development and giving an overview of the situation of
youth and children, is an excellent method of constant
review and planning. These reports are also based on a
holistic approach. For example, there were nine youth
reports and four family reports during the Committee's
visit, and those reports helped when looking at
legislation and policy issues.
The Committee recommends that the above be investigated
further.
2. To Department of Social Development
(1) They have a comprehensive system of social assistance,
which needs to be studied to help our planning for a
comprehensive social assistance system. Apart from social
assistance, they offer benefits to all disabled persons,
whether these persons receive social assistance or not.
There is a system of tax concessions, free public
transport, reduced vehicle taxes, special parking
facilities and exemption from radio and television
licences.
The Committee recommends that the above be investigated
further.
(2) They have a clear policy in four areas of assistance for
the disabled:
(a) Social assistance for persons suffering from
physical, mental or psychological disability,
regardless of the cause of disability.
(b) Medical and rehabilitative benefits are provided for
anyone who needs it, regardless of whether the person
receives a disability grant or not.
(c) Education in an open school as well as special
schools geared towards vocational rehabilitation is
provided for those who are trainable and may be able
to work. They also get assistance to enable them to
keep a job.
(d) For those who can compete in the open market, there
is a levy system to encourage employers to employ and
promote them.
The levy system is legislated, and says that at least
5% of the staff of every employer must be disabled.
If an employer receives an application for a job and
a non-disabled person is selected, then, to the
extent that the 5% requirement is not met, that
employer has to pay a levy to the government.
Employers who do not employ any disabled persons, pay
a higher levy than those who employ some but have not
fulfilled their quota. The money goes into a fund to
be used for the needs of the disabled.
The Committee recommends that the above be investigated
further.
(3) Legislation and policy are designed to apply at national,
provincial and local government level. There are problems
in ensuring uniformity while allowing for local
peculiarities.
The Committee recommends that this interesting area be
studied further by those looking at comprehensive child
and youth legislation and policy.
(4) The Committee also recommends that the German control over
the media in the interest of children also be studied
further, in order to look at openness against a degree of
censorship.
3. To Department of Education
(1) The introduction of vocational training for young people
and the relationship between training centres and
employers, factories and industries make the training
relevant and ensures that students are trained for the
work they intend to do. This is working well and helps to
focus on skills development.
(2) They have a longer period of schooling, which ensures that
workers are more mature and better able to handle the
stresses and strains of work.
(3) Their efforts to integrate disabled children into the main
stream of education, while also ensuring that some
specialised schools are retained, is an experience from
which we can learn in our education transformation
process.
The Committee recommends that the above be investigated
further.
4. To Department of Labour
(1) The co-operation between the Department of Labour and the
education sector in vocational training is worth copying.
(2) The levy system to encourage employers to employ disabled
people is also an important system to further study, with
a view to implementation.
The Committee recommends that the above be investigated
further.
5. To Office of Deputy President
Policies and legislation compiled and applied by the Germans
have many important features, as outlined above.
The Committee recommends that these be studied further in
order to see what is already in place in our country, what we
still need to do and how we can adapt some into our own
legislative and policy framework.
6. To Joint Monitoring Committee
(1) The Germans have a conference with NGOs and groups of
children and youths to discuss issues identified by them
and to look at ways of overcoming problems. Thus they can
identify what is happening on the ground and what the
feeling is, and then come up with suggestions. These are
submitted to the Ministers, to look at possible
legislation or policy shifts. This is a good way of
involving the sector in a constructive way and in
ensuring that laws and policies are not static, but
continually change to provide for new needs.
(2) They also have a unique central research and resource
bank, where material on all aspects of development issues
can be found. Such a facility can assist in ensuring that
there is a flow of information and that people do not
repeat what has been tried previously, but are enriched
by those previous experiences.
The Committee recommends that the above be investigated
further.
7. To Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology
(1) Three museums were visited, and each was unique in its
historic and comprehensive research content.
Interestingly, they were still looking for further
history and artifacts. Each also had a specific
educational content, and encouraged schools, universities
and communities to participate in seminars and
discussions. Issues such as poverty, violence,
unemployment, racism and degradation are depicted in the
exhibitions and then discussed. Important lessons on how
to preserve, collect, annotate and disseminate
information, can be learnt from these museums.
(2) South Africa's history of wars, racism, apartheid, the
freedom struggle, peaceful negotiations and accommodation
of diversities are important lessons for posterity. If
collected, preserved and annotated comprehensively, it
can become an important message for the international
community.
The Committee recommends that the above be investigated
further.
K. Conclusion
The Committee delegation was well received by their German
counterparts at all the institutions and federal ministries. The
study tour was rich in briefing sessions, to enable us to compare
South African experiences with those of the Federal Republic of
Germany.
The German social levy system, the training and employment of
disabled persons and the youth services programmes served as good
examples for our country, with a view to improving the quality of
life and status of our children, youth and disabled persons.
Report to be considered.
National Council of Provinces:
-
Report of the Select Committee on Economic Affairs on the Consumer Affairs (Unfair Business Practices) Amendment Bill [B 28 - 2001] (National Council of Provinces - sec 76), dated 26 June 2001:
The Select Committee on Economic Affairs, having considered the subject of the Consumer Affairs (Unfair Business Practices) Amendment Bill [B 28 - 2001] (National Council of Provinces - sec 76), referred to it, reports the Bill with amendments [B 28A - 2001].