National Assembly - 17 February 2003
MONDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2003
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PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
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The House met at 10:02.
The Deputy Speaker took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or meditation.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS - see col 000.
NEW MEMBERS
(Announcement)
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I have to announce that vacancies caused by the resignation of Mr L L Chiwayo, Mr E I Ebrahim and Mr M I Scott have been filled by the nominations of Mr P M Sibande, Mr S N Nxumalo and Mr M A Tarr with effect from 11 February 2003, and the vacancy caused by the resignation of Ms E Gandhi has been filled by the nomination of Mr T Jeebodh with effect from 12 February 2003.
The new members have made and subscribed the oath in the Speaker’s office on Thursday, 13 February. So, they have been sworn in and have joined us. They are welcome to the House. [Applause.]
COPY OF PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS
(Announcement)
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! May I ask that cellphones please be switched off.
The Speaker has received a copy of the President of the Republic’s speech delivered at the Joint Sitting on Friday, 14 February. The speech has been printed in the Minutes of the Joint Sitting.
MOTION OF CONDOLENCE
(The late Mr M A Maphalala)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Madam Deputy Speaker, I move without notice.
That the House -
(1) notes with shock and profound sadness the untimely death of the honourable Magwaza Alfred Maphalala, who passed away on 5 February 2003;
(2) recognises that Magwaza Maphalala was a South African patriot who, throughout his life, demonstrated profound commitment to the liberation of the people of our country and the continent of Africa;
(3) remembers the honourable Maphalala as one of the stalwarts of our people’s struggle for a nonracial, nonsexist, democratic South Africa;
(4) recalls that he played an active and leading role in the development of trade unionism in South Africa, from the days of Sactu to the formation of Cosatu and that he was also an active member of the South African Communist Party;
(5) acknowledges the dynamic contribution that the honourable Maphalala made to this House since his deployment to this Parliament in 1999, during which time he served as the ANC Constituency Whip;
(6) believes that he leaves a legacy that epitomises heroism and dedicated service and that his untimely death has robbed South Africa of a great son who still had a tremendous contribution to make to the reconstruction and development of our nation; and
(7) expresses its condolences to the entire Maphalala family.
Mr D H M GIBSON: Deputy Speaker, it is my sad duty, on behalf of the DP, to support the motion of condolence moved by the hon Chief Whip. I know that our late colleague, the hon Magwaza Maphalala, was a popular and well-liked member of the House.
My colleague and fellow Whip, the hon D K Maluleke, served with him on the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Land Affairs. He speaks of him with affection as someone who was a good man, a good friend and a good politician. We express our sincere condolences to his loved ones, to all of his friends, and to his party colleagues in the ANC. He will be missed.
Mrs S A SEATON: Madam Deputy Speaker, I stand to support the motion of the Chief Whip of the Majority Party. On behalf of the president and the members of the IFP, I extend our sincere condolences to the ANC, family, loved ones, friends and colleagues of the late hon Magwaza Maphalala.
Those of us fortunate to have got to know him will agree that he was a gentleman of high intelligence, always friendly and with a keen sense of humour. It was a privilege to have known this man. He was recently a student in economics and proved to be one of the brightest students there.
His death has come as a shock to us all, although we knew last year that he was suffering and battling with uncontrollable diabetes. The family and loved ones are in our prayers. May God give them strength to bear the pain and loss of their loved one. May his soul rest in peace. We will always remember him. Mr J DURAND: Madam Speaker, on behalf of the New NP, I would like to support the motion of condolence by the Chief Whip of the Majority Party as it appears on the Order Paper.
I had the good fortune of meeting the late Magwaza Maphalala shortly after my arrival in Parliament. He came across as a very warm, friendly and humble person.
He was born on 6 April, the day Jan Van Riebeeck arrived at the Cape, and in 1948 - in the year that the old National Party came to power. It is very significant that he spent his entire life undoing the legacy of colonialism and apartheid. He sacrificed his life at the altar of workers’ rights. Selflessly, he fought for the freedom of all South Africans. Never did he utter a word of bitterness about his past experiences nor did he ever demand material reward for his contributions. He humbled himself and fulfilled the mission for which he sacrificed the most productive stage of his life.
We offer our heartfelt sympathy to his family, friends and the organisation he served so loyally, the ANC.
Mr S ABRAM: Madam Speaker, we in these benches wish to associate ourselves with the motion before the House. An Eastern poet and mystic once said: It is not important how long a person lives. It is not important what material wealth he has. It is not important how many children he has. What is extremely important is how the person lived. That is how we want to remember our departed colleague. He was an amiable and jovial person who made friends very easily. He was a person in whom one could confide. He was a good listener and he was a person who was prepared to advise.
During our service on the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Land Affairs, he was one of those people that would come out in his amiable way and settle whatever problems we had in that committee. We will truly miss him. We wish his family, his friends and all his associates Godspeed in the days that lie ahead, and may God Almighty make it easy for his family in these trying times.
Mr L M GREEN: Madam Speaker, the ACDP recognises the important contribution that the hon Mr Maphalala made to this House and to the aims and objectives of his party.
The death of a loved one always comes to us as a shock. It is never really accepted. We in this House will always and forever miss the hon Mr Maphalala. We recognise his worthy contribution towards our Parliament and to the community at large.
The ACDP would like to offer its sincere condolences to the wife and family of the late ANC MP, the late hon Mr Alfred Maphalala, who passed away recently. May he rest in peace and may God be with his family.
Dr C P MULDER: Agb mev die Adjunkspeaker, dit is my taak om namens die VF ons opregte meelewing te betuig, en ons steun te gee vir die mosie van roubeklag met die afsterwe van ‘n kollega van ons in hierdie Raad, die agb lid mnr Magwaza Maphalala. Ons het hom nie baie lank geken nie. Hy was nie baie lank in hierdie Raad nie, hoewel hy baie jare gedien het in die organisasie wat hom na hierdie plek toe gestuur het.
Ons wil ons graag ten volle assosieer met die mosie van roubeklag. Ons wil graag ons simpatie en meelewing uitspreek teenoor sy familie. Mag hulle vertroosting en berusting vind in sy dood. Ook simpatie aan die ANC wat een van hulle staatmakers verloor het. Ons eer sy gedagtenis. (Translation of Afrikaans speech follows.)
[Dr C P MULDER: Hon Madam Deputy Speaker, it is my duty, on behalf of the FF, to convey our sincere sympathy and to give our support to the motion of condolence upon the passing away of a colleague of ours in this Assembly, the hon member Mr Magwaza Maphalala. We did not know him for very long. He had not been in this Assembly for too long, although he did serve for many years in the organisation that sent him to this place.
We would like to identify ourselves fully with this motion of condolence. We would like to express our condolences and sympathy with his family. May they find consolation and come to terms with his death. Sympathy also to the ANC, who have lost one of their stalwarts. We honour his memory.]
Mr P H K DITSHETELO: Madam Speaker, on behalf of the UCDP I wish to express our sincere condolences to the family and close friends of the late hon MP Maphalala. Our hearts and minds are with you at this moment of bereavement. It is in times like these, when we mourn the passing away of a member of the parliamentary family, that we are challenged to pause and think about their contributions towards the transformation of our country, and the difference that they have made to the lives of ordinary South Africans.
It is sad indeed to lose such a valuable member of the community at a time when his wisdom and leadership skills are much needed, particularly in the portfolio committee on which he served.
We are, therefore, challenged by his untimely departure to continue where he left off. This is a commitment that we can only match by dedicating ourselves to a just programme of action to eradicate poverty and create a just environment for all South Africans to live in harmony, irrespective of colour or political orientation.
Robala ka kagiso morwa Maphalala. Golo o go ileng ke tsela ya botlhe. [Rest in peace, son of Maphalala. Where you gone to is the road for everybody.]
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The hon Mogoba. He is not here. Will someone from the PAC speak? No? All right.
Mr J P I BLANCHÉ: Madam Speaker, I am speaking on behalf of the FA.
Ek wil die Hoofsweep van die Meerderheidsparty se mosie van roubeklag steun namens die FA, en ons innige meegevoel uitspreek met die afsterwe van kollega Magwaza. Die FA wil ook aan sy familie en vriende, en veral aan sy kollegas, ons meegevoel oordra.
Dit is jammer dat ‘n mens dikwels na hierdie podium toe moet kom om meegevoel te betuig na die heengaan van ‘n lid soos Mnr Magwaza. Ons voel saam met u, en ons dra u in ons gebede. Ons wil dan ook die hoop uitspreek dat sy familie en sy vriende sal troos vind in sy nagedagtenis. Ons steun hulle daarin. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[On behalf of the FA, I would like to support the motion of condolence moved by the Chief Whip of the Majority Party and express our sincere sympathy at the death of colleague Magwaza. We in the FA would also like to convey our condolences to his family and friends, and particularly to his colleagues.
It is a pity that one often has to come to this podium to convey condolences after the passing of a member such as Mr Magwaza. We sympathise with you, you are in our prayers. We would also like to express the hope that his family and friends will find comfort in his memory. We support them.]
Miss S RAJBALLY: Madam Speaker, the MF also associates itself with the motion moved by the Chief Whip. Each time I have to pay my respects at the loss of a member or colleague, it brings tears to my eyes. Though hard work and contribution deserve praise, this House suffers the loss of a great contributor to its success. The country loses a representative who committed his days to the betterment of this nation, and there are family and friends that suffer an even greater loss.
I knew and worked with the late hon Magwaza Alfred Maphalala for approximately 25 years, dating back as early as my trade union days. It has always been a pleasure taking on the battlefield of the world by his side.
I pray that the late Maphalala rests in peace. I pray that we all may learn from his determination and dedication, so that his efforts may continue to deliver through his spirit.
I take this opportunity on behalf of the MF to convey our condolences to the family, friends and dear ones of the deceased. May God fill his heart with contentment. Hon Comrade Maphalala, you have been an inspiration. May you rest in peace.
Mnr C AUCAMP: Agb Adjunkspeaker, namens die AEB, ook ons innige meegevoel aan die naasbestaandes van die agb Maphalala wat ons ontslaap het. Dit is altyd hartseer dat ‘n nuwe skof van die Parlement moet begin met mosies van meegevoel. ‘n Mens is dankbaar dat ‘n mens hier kan wees in volle krag en gesondheid, maar dan dink ‘n mens aan hulle wat in hierdie tyd ons ontslaap het.
Ek het die agb Maphalala nie so goed geken nie, maar uit navraag blyk dit dat hy ‘n geliefde kollega was, en dat hy sy lewe gewy het aan die verbetering van die lot van sy eie mense.
Aan sy familie en sy nabye kollegas: ons innige meegevoel. Mag elkeen van ons deur ‘n gebeurtenis soos hierdie ook weer opgeroep word om die tyd uit te koop in die wete dat ons hier geleende tyd het waaroor ons ook moet rekenskap gee.
Die AEB steun die mosie van meegevoel en dank. Sterkte aan die familie van die agb Maphalala. Baie dankie. (Translation of Afrikaans speech follows.)
[Mr C AUCAMP: Hon Deputy Speaker, on behalf of the AEB, we would also like to express our deepest sympathy to the family of the hon Maphalala, who has departed this life. It is always sad that a new shift of Parliament should start with motions of condolence. One is thankful that one can be here in full strength and health, but then one thinks of those who have passed away during this time.
I did not know the hon Maphalala that well, but from enquiry it seems that he was a loved colleague and that he dedicated his life to the betterment of the destiny of his own people. To his family and his closest colleagues: our deepest sympathy. May this occurrence remind every one of us to make the most of every opportunity in the knowledge that our time here is borrowed, for which we will also be accountable. The AEB supports the motion of condolence and thanks. Strength to the family of the hon Maphalala. Thank you very much.]
Mr P J NEFOLOVHODWE: Madam Speaker, on behalf of Azapo we wish to convey our deepest-felt condolences to the ANC and Comrade Maphalala’s family and relatives.
Azapo joins all those who knew Comrade Maphalala as a trade unionist and a dedicated cadre in the liberation struggle, in celebrating his life that was dedicated to our people’s permanent development. It is at times like this that we are able to remember the good work that Comrade Maphalala is leaving behind.
May his soul rest in peace.
Vho R S NḒOU: Muambeli wa nnḓu, na nne ndi khou ḓi baḓekanya na tsitsinyo yo itiwaho nga Tshimebi Tshihulwane maelana na lufu lwa muhali ane a vhidzwa u pfi ndi Magwaza Maphalala. Maphalala o vha e muthu o ḓinekedzelaho vhutshilo hawe hoṱhe kha u lwela mbofholowo kha heḽi shango. Nne ndo muḓivha miṅwaha ine ya nga fhira 30 u swika zwino. Ndo shuma nae kha madzangano na kha miṅwe mishumo ya ANC kha heḽi shango musi a tshi khou shuma mushumo wa u lwela mbofholowo. Zwino ndi ngoho mimuya yashu yo vhaisala, fhedzi-ha ri nga si tou ṱungufhala lune lwa nga ri ita uri ri si kone u dzhia pfumo ḽawe ra bvela phanḓa na nndwa ya mbofholowo. Heiḽa nndwa ye ra vha ri tshi khou i lwa ri tshi lwela mbofholowo, a i athu u fhela. I kha ḓi vha vhukati ngauri tshinyalelo yo itiwaho nga tshiṱalula i kha ḓi vha hone. Zwino ri tea uri ri bvele phanḓa na heyo nndwa ri tshi khou tshimbila ri tshi tevhela dzinayo dza Maphalala.
Maphalala o vha e muhulwane wa dzangano ḽine ḽa pfi ndi NFW nga tshifhinga tsha musi nṋe ndi muhulwane wa dzangano ḽine ḽa vhidzwa u pfi ndi GAU. Kha heḽi shango madzangano haya ashu o vha a tshi ḓivhelwa uri o ḓibaḓekanya na vhathu kha u lwela mbofholowo. Zwino ndi khou zwi pfa vhathu vha tshi khou amba zwauri vhoṱhe vho vhaisala nahone ri khou humbela zwauri na vha muṱa vha vhe nga nḓila yo teaho kha zwenezwo zwo vha bvelelaho.
Fhedzi-ha rine vha ANC musi ho bvelela zwine zwa fana na hezwi kha muhali ane a nga sa Maphalala - muhali wa u lwela mbofholowo, ri zwi dzhia nga nḓila ya uri zwi khou ri ṱuṱuwedza uri ri bvele phanḓa na mushumo wa u ita uri zwoṱhe zwe ra vha ri tshi khou lwela zwone zwi kone u swika vhathuni. Sa Maphalala we a vha a tshi khou lwela zwenezwo. Mulovha mufumakadzi wawe o ṱanziela ḽiṅwe fhungo ḽavhuḓi nga maanḓa kha vhe vha vha vho ya hangei. O amba zwe Maphalala a vha o ḓiimisela zwone, ngauri ha ngo vhuya a shanduka kha u vha hawe Muraḓo wa Communist Party a vho sokou dzumbama nga murahu ha zwitaka. O ḓi amba zwauri ene u muraḓo wa Communist Party nahone u ḓo bvela phanḓa na nndwa ya u lwela Muvhuso uri kha heḽi shango, hu ḓe Muvhuso wa vhathu vhoṱhe, vhane vha kona u ḓiwana vha tshi tshidzana vhoṱhe kha zwoṱhe. Ndi zwe Maphalala a vha o ḓiimisela zwone.
Zwino na rine kha ri ḓiimisele zwenezwo zwe a vha o ḓiimisela zwone ngauri hezwo ndi zwithu zwo nakaho nga maanḓa. Ndi sa khou amba uri dzhoinani khoro yawe, ndi khou amba uri mushumo wawe, mbilu yawe na muya wawe zwo vha zwi vhathuni ngeno ene a si na tshawe. Fhedzi nndwa ya u lwela mbofholowo o vha o oma khayo u swika zwino a tshi lovha. Ndi khou ri kha ri dzhie pfumo ḽawe rine vhathu vhoṱhe vha fhano Afurika Tshipembe uri ri bvele phanḓa na u lwela heyo mbofholowo uri hu wanale zwoṱhe zwe ra vha ri tshi khou lwela zwone ngauri ndi hone ro thoma ndima zwino. Ari athu u swika hafho he ra vha ri tshi khou ṱoḓa zwauri ri swika hone.
Tshifhinga ndi tshenetshi tsha uri ri shume ri tshi khou tshimbila nga nḓila ye Maphalala a sia o ri vulela. Kha ri tshimbile nga yeneyo nḓila ri ye mbofholowoni nga nḓila dzo fanelaho ngauri arali ra sa ralo, ri ḓo vha ro laṱedza Maphalala. Ḽisole ḽine ḽa laṱedza ḽiṅwe a si ḽavhuḓi. A si zwavhuḓi vhathu vhane vha shanduka zwino vha si tshi vha zwe vha vha vhe zwone nga 1960, 1980 kana 1990 nga mulandu wa miḽo. Kha ri dzule ri tshi khou tshimbila kha heneiḽa nḓila ye Maphalala a ṱuwa kha ḽino shango a tshi khou tshimbila khayo. O vha o ḓiimisela naho a tshi khou ḓi zwi vhona zwauri vhaṅwe vhathu vha tshi khou bvela phanḓa nga nḓila ya ḽino shango ine hapfi vhathu vha khou bvela phanḓa. Fhedzi ene mvelaphanḓa khae yo vha i ya u bveledza lushaka phanḓa. Na rine kha ri ite nga u ralo ri shume nga mimuya yashu yoṱhe na nga lufuno lwashu lwoṱhe u itela uri hu bvelele zwoṱhe zwe Maphalala a vha o ḓiimisela zwone.
Na rine na vhathu vhoṱhe vha shango kha ri ḓiimisele zwenezwo samusi na muingameli wa shango o amba a tshi ri kha ri lwe na tsiku na nḓala na zwoṱhe zwine zwa khou dina vhathu vhashu hangei nnḓa. Ndi tshone tshifhinga tshino tsha uri ri ite zwenezwo, ri lwise nḓala. Ndi ḽone swina ḽihulwane. Nḓala kha i lwisiwe nga nḓila dzoṱhe dzo fanelaho nahone ri ite zwauri lushaka lwa hashu lu bvele phanḓa lu tshi ṱhonifhea nga nḓila yo fanelaho. Nṋe hezwi ndi wana a mafhungo a vhuḓi nga maanḓa e hoyu munna wa muhali, we a si imbiwe kana u khodiwa kha zwe a vha tshi khou ita zwone zwa uri lushaka lu bvele phanḓa nahone hu wanale vhutshilo havhuḓi. Ndi hezwi zwine ra khou ṱoḓa zwone. Na zwino ri khou imela zwenezwo ri ANC.
Ndi ngani ni tshi nnzhenelela mulomoni khotsimunene ndi tshi khou amba. [Tshifhinga tsho Fhela] (Translation of Venḓa speech follows.)
[Mr R S NDOU: Madam Speaker, I would also want to support the statement made by the Chief Whip in connection with the death of the warrior, Magwaza Maphalala. Maphalala dedicated all his life to fighting for freedom in this country.
I knew him for 30 years. I worked with him in the unions and on other tasks of the ANC in this country while he was fighting for freedom. Truly, our souls are hurt, but this will never be to such an extent that we would fail to pick up his spear and carry on fighting for freedom. The fight for freedom is not over yet. It is still going on because the damage done by the apartheid government is still there. We must continue with the struggle, following in Maphalala’s footsteps.
Maphalala was a leader of the NFW Union while I was a leader of the GAU Union. In this country our unions were known for associating themselves with people in the struggle for liberation. I was listening to the people expressing their condolences. We are begging the family to try by all means to cope with what has happened.
We as the ANC, when something like this happens to warriors like Maphalala, the freedom fighter, take it as a way of influencing us to progress with the task of making sure that everything we fought for reaches the people. Maphalala was a freedom fighter. Yesterday his wife narrated a very nice story to those who went there. She spoke about what Maphalala had wanted to do, because he never turned his back on being a member of the South African Communist Party and started hiding behind the trees. He kept on saying that he was a member of the South African Communist Party and that he would keep on fighting in order to bring the Government to the people. This is what Maphalala wanted.
We must be prepared to follow in his footsteps, because that was a very good thing to do. I am not saying that you must join his party, but that his dedication, heart and soul were with the people, even though he was poor. He fought for freedom until his death. What I am trying to say is that we, as South Africans, must pick up his spear and continue fighting for freedom in order to accomplish everything we have fought for because the fight has just begun. We have not yet reached our destination.
Now is the time for us to follow on the path which Maphalala paved for us. Let us walk on that path to freedom, because if we don’t, we will be shaming him. It is not a good thing for us to change because of our money to such an extent that we are no longer what we used to be in the 1960s, 1980s or 1990s. Let us follow the same path as Maphalala did while he was still alive. He was a dedicated person. To him, development meant developing the nation. Let us do the same and work with love and dedication in order to accomplish all Maphalala dedicated his life to.
The President of this country has indicated that we should fight poverty, hunger and everything that bothers our people. Now is the time to fight poverty in all possible ways and develop our country in a more dignified manner. Poverty is our main enemy. As the ANC, we want development.
Young man, why are you interrupting me while I am still talking? [Time expired.]]
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Your time has expired, hon member.
Debate concluded.
Motion agreed to, all members standing.
PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS
(Subject for Discussion)
The MINISTER OF HOUSING: Madam Speaker, Mr President, Deputy President and hon members, the ANC continues to exercise its passion and commitment to part the curtain, to shift and ultimately remove the invisible shadow that has been created and sometimes falls between people. The ANC continues to fight the indifference that sometimes surfaces to create an attitude that ignores the presence of other people. The ANC seeks to bring amongst us the passion of caring about each other’s plight.
It should therefore not be surprising that the ANC has been in the frontline with those who have adopted the sober position cautioning against a war that would, in the end, destroy families and men and produce a population of orphans and widows of those who survive the war. The numerous anti-war marches by peace-loving citizens in the world have demonstrated that we have peace-loving people who want the United Nations and all relevant players to explore all possible means of resolving the conflict between the USA and Iraq. The marches that took place this weekend are an echo of a resounding ``No’’ to war against Iraq and an insistence on dismantling whatever weapons of mass destruction Iraq may have.
It is to the benefit of humanity that we all avoid getting caught up in status and the desire to conquer the vulnerable amongst us and, in the process, lose sight of everything else. We must begin to see things in their totality and then, maybe, the priorities will change for the better because, in war, there are no unwounded soldiers, especially when you hear the story of an American Vietnam veteran who witnessed a Vietnamese woman being forced to choose between her child and a piglet. She chose the piglet and dropped her child in the stream to be allowed to jump onto the boat that was ferrying escaping locals to safety across the stream. The ANC and the rest of peace-loving citizens in the world have joined the march for peace.
We are a new democracy confronted by the ravages of poverty and want and, as a committed Government led by the ANC, we have put into place policies and programmes guided by the determination and preparedness to redress the inequalities of the past and bring about transformation and change in our country. This challenging demand requires peace and stability for us to be able to proceed with the mandate of changing the quality of life of our people.
The Government has made strides in policies such as the Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Strategy and the Urban Renewal Programme aimed at reducing and eradicating poverty in a systematic and focused manner - planned, implemented, co-ordinated and integrated under the auspices of the cluster programmes. Therefore, I am happy to inform the hon members that progress has been made in this respect, in that in all the urban and rural nodes, implementation has taken off, even though it may be in an uneven manner, as a result of the different local capacities available.
Thirteen planning and implementation management support centres with professional and administrative staff and institutional capacity to support the work in the nodes are progressing. But I must hastily add that this does not mean that we have resolved our problems of lack of appropriate skills needed to carry out the programmes, as development expands and grows under the pressure of an economy which is beginning to require different and advanced skills to cope with high quality productivity that is so essential in keeping us in the trade markets.
To address this complex problem, Government has intervened by promoting a Skills Development Programme in the nodes for a start, to also help us consolidate the Independent Development Plans and the Provincial Development Strategies, to ensure that the nodal programmes are in sync with the regular provincial programmes. We are learning and refining our approach to and understanding of the developmental environment which continues to reveal to us the depth of underdevelopment we inherited when we moved into office.
Anchor projects in the nodes have been identified and developed on the basis of the Independent Development Plans, formulated to structure the development patterns. The importance of organising our work in an effective way in the nodes requires that all role-players co-ordinate, co-operate and align their work in a manner that enhances the alignment of budgets to achieve maximum benefit on both a short and long-term basis.
The infrastructure backlog in our society is enormous, and where it exists, it is at different levels of decay and dilapidation. To change this state of affairs, partnerships with the private sector are crucial because Government on its own will not be able to carry the burden of reviving this infrastructure. This is but one area of need which is receiving Government’s attention, including the need to produce more project and programme managers who will assist us in accelerating the delivery pace and ensuring that there is adequate implementation of our people-centred programmes. It is therefore going to be critical that community development workers are mobilised to complement the work of municipal council structures. This will also help in extending the capacity of planning and implementation management support centres. The local levels of Government with the democratic participation of such workers becomes a prerequisite for the effective management of development, especially of infrastructure management.
Many of our communities, through the Urban Renewal Programme and Rural Development Programme, are beginning to benefit from programmes of rehabilitation and revitalisation of our settlements. Alexandra provides us with an excellent example of a community that has started to engage and participate in its development and planning programmes for an improved environment. A partnership has emerged between the residents and the local authorities where community-based development processes are contributing to better co-operation in cleaning the area, creating centres that are a foundation for tourist attraction, archiving the history of this vibrant place, constructing houses for rental and ownership purposes, and depopulating the communities to create space and manageable infrastructure.
The debanking and cleaning of the Jukskei River has brought back a breath of clean, healthy air without the polluted stench that used to remind us of the negligence experienced by the community that has been there for years. Our aim is to replicate the success of our strategies to other similar nodes requiring similar approaches. An amount of R2,1 billion has been allocated for the provision of basic services, roads and transportation, construction of dams, water connections, electrical substations and network upgrading to support the local economic programmes aimed at creating jobs in those localities.
Programmes funded and monitored by the Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs have initiated agriculture and food production projects, and seed packets have been distributed to empower the poor in producing food for themselves. Local business centres and commercial outlets will assist in ensuring that people in those localities have access to goods and services. The Department of Local Government is ensuring that the distribution of powers and functions between the different spheres of government, especially districts and local councils, is streamlined to effect the implementation of programmes. The comprehensive health care package, for example, established by the Department of Health will receive sufficient attention where the relevant structures, including local councils, are capacitated to absorb and optimise delivery in this respect.
In our rural and urban nodes we are promoting development in its various modes, including on issues of crime prevention, pension payout systems that are being upgraded and improved, and sport and culture, as well as small and medium enterprise ventures and small-scale farming that is taking place. The Kgalagadi rural node - bordering the North West and the Northern Cape, is also registering advances in terms of projects initiated to promote development. This node has in it potential hubs of growth that are gradually being tapped through detailed assessment of by-products that can be extracted from our Dipudi [Goat] project. Government will make the necessary announcement as soon as plans have been completed. It is important to realise that each node will prioritise its programmes according to need.
Programmes in the nodes are also linked to Government’s policies of land redistribution and land restitution, including the secure land rights related to human settlements.
To date Government has awarded 1,8554 million land claims through the two programmes managed by the Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs. The restitution programme is also linked to economic projects that provide an opportunity for communities to engage in productive agriculture, with a potential not only to expand to economies of scale, but also to enhance food security.
Secure tenure for households is also implemented through the provision of housing to the poor. The UN Habitat agency identified South Africa, two and a half years ago, as host of the launch of the Global Campaign for Secure Tenure. This was recognition and support for the enormous progress made by the country in this regard. A total of 8 million people now have shelter, legally confirmed through title deeds issued to recipients of our housing subsidies. This is an indication of Government’s commitment to its land redistribution policy, which is progressing in an orderly, systematic and responsible manner. Other forms of tenure are also being promoted through the various housing programmes to accommodate the varied needs of different households. The programme on agri-villages and co-operative housing is also under way. To date, Government has constructed 1,45 million homes using affordable forms of tenure to house the poor.
Development in the North has not ignored the need for the enhancement of municipal institutional capacity that can begin to increase the ability of these institutions to generate revenue-enhancement programmes that would extend the local revenue base critical for the smooth running of the municipalities. Households are linked to their municipalities. Development, therefore, rests specifically in the integrated approach and synchronisation of Government’s projects. Local government programmes are proceeding relatively well, and as local government continues to stabilise, prospects of sustaining work done in this area will also increase.
The Government’s commitment to fighting HIV/Aids remains as stated in the Cabinet statement of 17 April and as elaborated in the National Strategic Plan for HIV/Aids, TB and Sexually Transmitted Diseases. We remain firmly committed to strengthening our prevention programmes, treatment, care and support as well as the elimination of stigmatisation of both the affected and the infected. There is also ongoing research undertaken by Government to gain a better understanding of all aspects of the cause and manifestation of HIV/Aids in the South African socioeconomic environment.
It is in this context that we continue to invest significant resources in our public prevention programmes and in strengthening and consolidating the treatment programmes for sexually transmitted infections, including the further enhancement of the life-skills programme as a component of the school curriculum. All these efforts are made along with a variety of other initiatives that include the increase of Government’s contribution to the South African Vaccine Initiative of R20 million allocated per year, and the publishing of guidelines for the treatment of opportunistic infections for immediate implementation.
This approach is firmly anchored on a clear understanding that whilst HIV/Aids can affect everyone, it strikes with greater ferocity and virulence among those with limited coping capabilities as a consequence, particularly, of the poverty that afflicts so many in our country. Consequently, we have continuously reiterated the fact that the epidemic requires a comprehensive approach in order for us to succeed. It is with this understanding that we also focus, amongst other things, on the role of good nutrition, and we therefore support the research that includes supplements and immune modulators as part of a comprehensive strategy.
There is no doubt that Government is committed to broadening the scope of interventions available to all our people for all illnesses, including HIV/Aids. The reality, however, is that Government is limited in its efforts by competing challenges and needs in the health sector itself and in other related areas of need, which have to be addressed to enable us to achieve comprehensive success in our endeavour to reduce the impact of illnesses and poverty in our midst.
Therefore, Government reaffirms its commitment to complying with the High Court decision and is currently working towards ensuring that trained personnel and the use of the optimal combination of drugs, adequate infrastructure for monitoring, good patient compliance and the ability of the public health system to limit the emergence of resistant strains of the virus are matters that are given attention and must be taken into consideration as we proceed and try to posture because we are looking for votes in the upcoming elections.
There is no doubt, therefore, that the people out there realise that there has been a progressive improvement in their lives since the inception of democracy 10 years ago.
I take this opportunity to thank this House, particularly our President, who has led us in the struggle against poverty and by insisting and ensuring that we do focus on those issues that matter. But, for the members on the left hand side of the House, at this critical moment when the world is faced with inconsistencies that threaten human lives, it is time that they … [Interjections] … began to think, not about their benefits as a small group in our society, but about what would happen in the world if a war erupted, which is supported by members of this House. Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you. [Interjections.] [Applause.]
The LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION: Madam Deputy Speaker, Mr President, Mr Deputy President, members of Parliament, all of us in this Chamber are witnesses to mass death. We are watching one of the most extraordinary calamities in human history - the wiping out of millions of people, in peacetime, by a known cause that has a known treatment.
This is a crisis. And it calls for drastic action. South Africa needs radical and fundamental change.
The question has been put to us: What is the state of the nation?
The truth is that we must distinguish between two nations. Not a black nation and a white nation - as has sometimes been said - but rather, we are faced with the South African dream on the one hand, and the South African reality on the other.
We described that South African dream nearly 10 years ago, at the dawning of democracy. We spoke of a new society, free of racism and exploitation. We declared that every human being had the same equal and inalienable rights, including the right to the basic necessities of life.
But the South African reality is that, for millions of our fellow citizens, life is no better now than it was in 1994. For many people, in spite of political freedom, life is actually worse.
I say this, not because I am negative. I am not. I believe fervently in the South African dream. I am optimistic about the South Africa that we can, and must build together. [Interjections.]
But I cannot, in good conscience, come before this House today as a representative of the people of South Africa and turn my face away from the truth that I see and hear every day outside this Chamber, where the people of our land actually live and die.
We must change things. And we can, if we act now.
We must begin with the obvious. Our response to the HIV/Aids tragedy has been one long denial. Our war in this country has been fought in the wards of the Chris Hani-Baragwanath, not on the streets of Baghdad. Hundreds of thousands of South Africans are dying of HIV/Aids every year - up to one million by the end of 2003 - according to Government’s own statistics.
But we are not defenceless. We can stop mother-to-child transmission of HIV. We can treat the people with free antiretroviral medicines. Only one thing holds us back: a paralysing lack of political courage. We must change our approach. And we can.
When we held our first democratic elections, we committed our nation to peace. But because of crime, we are still at war - with ourselves. In just 10 years, murder in South Africa has claimed close to 200 000 victims. These victims were not soldiers. They were civilians - at home, on their way to work, or coming back from school.
In the last 10 years, 1 200 farmers have been murdered in our rural areas. And, in the last three years, more than 18 000 active police officers have actually left the SA Police Service. In the Northern Cape, where Baby Tshepang was raped, 90% of the child protection officers have not been trained.
Hoe kan ons oor veiligheid op die plase en platteland ernstig wees, maar dan die kommandos wil afskaf? Dit is die oudste instelling vir gemeenskapveiligheid in Suid-Afrika, en miskien in die wêreld. [How can we be serious about safety on farms and in the rural areas, but then abolish the commandos? This is the oldest community safety institution in South Africa, and perhaps the world.]
We are told that crime is high, but that it has ``stabilised.’’
That is not good enough. South Africa cannot allow the abnormal to become normal.
We can do more to protect our children and to fight crime. We can declare a zero tolerance policy. We can devote and direct, on an absolutely pin- pointed basis, far more resources to the police, to the justice system and to the prisons. We can support community policing and put more officers on the streets and on the farms.
We must change the fear and the danger. And we can.
On the surface, our economy is climbing gently. But underneath, we are living through the South African equivalent of the Great Depression. One out of every three South Africans is unemployed - seven million people are out of work. Black unemployment has risen from 46% in 1995 to 55% in 2001.
South Africa does have sound economic fundamentals, but without the economy to go along with them. Our nation’s policies are pro-market but anti- growth, pro-labour but anti-poor.
Armoede ken geen kleur nie. In Danville in Pretoria loop jong matrikulante in die strate rond omdat hulle hoop verloor het. Party van hul broers en susters gaan dae lank sonder ‘n behoorlike maaltyd. Hulle het net ‘n ekstra bord kos as vrywilligers soos Oom Isak Swart dit vir hulle organiseer. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Poverty knows no colour. In Danville in Pretoria young matriculants are walking the streets because they have lost hope. Some of their brothers and sisters go without a proper meal for days. They only have an extra plate of food when it is organised for them by volunteers like Uncle Isak Swart.]
There is talk of increased welfare spending. Of course, that is welcome. But millions of poor people are living in misery while billions of rands roll over unspent. Already, two-thirds of the existing child support grants go unclaimed.
The new ones that have been announced are age-restricted, and so they treat poor people over the age of fourteen as if they do not exist. The fact is that our 10 million fellow citizens who fall into the poverty gap cannot lift themselves up without the introduction of a basic income grant.
The state has an important role to play in the economy - but not a smothering role. It is not an overwhelming role. It is an indicative role. And growth summits generate paper, but not jobs. And new bureaucracies don’t add up to better delivery. The state can’t deliver as well if it is busy retrenching experienced civil servants just because they are white. And it is true, on the subject of white and black, that the South African economy is no longer whites-only. But it is still members-only. Instead of giving new opportunities to the poor, empowerment as we have experienced it so far merely shuffles wealth from one small group of privileged insiders to another.
Yet we can boost our economic growth. We can roll back the stiff labour laws that this Parliament alone has passed in the last 10 years, and which discourage investment. We can relax exchange controls and we can far more rapidly privatise state industries. We can reverse the ``brain drain’’ and encourage skilled workers to come to South Africa and keep our skills where they belong, which is at home. We can fight for market access in rich countries. We can expand the winner’s circle so that empowerment works for the many, not the few. We must change our economy. And we can.
When apartheid fell, we declared that our new foreign policy would be based on a commitment to human rights and democracy around the world. But we have allowed human rights abuses to continue for three long years in Zimbabwe. In Iraq, we have criticised the warlike stance of the United States, but we have said nothing about the brutal regime of Saddam Hussein. The irony is that where we have the least reach, in places like Iraq, our voice is the loudest. And where we have direct leverage and access, in places like Zimbabwe, we are silent. We like to think that we are champions of multilateralism. We had a lecture a few minutes ago on the virtues of consistency. But our position is inconsistent. We did not object when the United States acted unilaterally to save the Muslims of Kosovo - nor should we have objected. We invaded Lesotho in 1997 without a mandate from the United Nations or its Security Council. [Interjections.]
Today we are destroying multilateralism by embracing Robert Mugabe and his henchmen, even as he threatens to divide that most multilateral of institutions, the Commonwealth, and remove it from its values. We are destroying multilateralism by closing ranks around Saddam Hussein, clutching his bloodied hand even as he defies the United Nations. Because when you strip away all the rhetoric and all the trips, the onus is actually on Iraq to comply with the will of the world, not on the world to send more weapon inspectors.
Robert Mugabe and Saddam Hussein hate democracy and love power. South Africans, on the other hand, believe in freedom and cherish human rights. If we compromise our principles, we are throwing away the very dream we established 10 or nine years ago.
But we can once again make our ideals and our interests the bedrock of our foreign policy. We can make human rights and democracy our focus. We can help our African neighbours practise good governance. We can protect our national interests by standing with the paragons of the world, not with the pariahs.
We must change our role in the world, and we can. It is time South Africans made a radical change. What we as a nation must do is something South Africa has not done - not before 1994 or since. We must focus on the welfare of the individual human being - not a particular race of human beings or a class of human beings or even the masses in whose name some of us purport to speak. No, we must focus on the woman, the man, the child, each created uniquely in the image of God. Of course, we are social creatures. Each of us lives in a community.
Ons moet dus aandring op gemeenskappe se reg op ‘n munisipale polisie en om die kommandostelsel te behou, om hul eie skole te bestuur en beskerming van hul eie tale. [Therefore we must insist upon the right of communities to have municipal police and to retain the commando system, to manage their own schools and to protect their own languages.]
But, we cannot thrive as a whole until each of us is strong as an
individual. We cannot move ahead as a nation if we leave one person behind.
Warriors do not abandon their wounded. The Samaritan did not pass by on the
other side of the suffering. Remember the individual'', said the
Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan,and then the larger
aims will seem neither distant nor impossible’’. And so we must make sure
each and every day that every South African will have access to a basic
income grant; each will have access to life-saving medicines; each and
every woman and child will be saved from abuse; each and every learner
should be at a registered school with books and a desk; and each and every
individual must have a chance to be the best they will be and they can
become, regardless of race. We must provide opportunity for each and every
South African, and we can.
We must spend less on arms to fight imaginary wars and much more on police
to fight violent crime. We need to spend less on private jets and much more
on public transport so that fathers and mothers can go to work and back in
safety. [Applause.] We need to invest less in programmes and more in people
like Mrs Vicky Ntozini who is in the gallery today. Mrs Ntozini lives in a
shack in a squatter camp in Khayelitsha. [Interjections.] She saw that
tourism had began to boom in Cape Town, and decided to start a bed and
breakfast right there in the midst of Khayelitsha. What she did was to
teach herself the computer, get access to the Internet and start a business
without any assistance, and without a single cent from the Government.
[Applause.]
We have to encourage others to follow Mrs Ntozini’s example and to become entrepreneurs. We need to structure our laws and our economy to help them and, when individuals take initiatives, we need to reward them with extra training and with financial support where it is indicated at the individual level, not in the bureaucracy.
And so, we return to the question: What is the state of the nation? The nation is strong. The state is the problem. [Applause.] To fix it, we must do whatever it takes. It is not a question of a bit of deregulation over here and a dash of redeployment over there and a wad of money somewhere else. We cannot talk of the B to Y of our country if we leave out the A to Z of Aids and Zimbabwe, because what we require is to embrace bold, fundamental, and transcending changes, and we can.
We are a rainbow nation, not a monochrome nation. We all belong here - every culture, every community, every individual. Our new Constitution is our nation’s covenant. It must remain our foundation and our guiding star, and any attempt to unravel that covenant must be opposed. And so we will continue to reach out to our partners in the ranks of the real opposition so that we can strengthen the democratic alternative and the democratic centre in South Africa. Hence, our partnership for good governance with the Inkatha Freedom Party, locally and provincially, in KwaZulu-Natal. On that foundation we must and we will build.
Opposition parties were recently described as historic relics, but, in truth, opposition is the future of South Africa. [Interjections.] Once the winds of change brought freedom from colonialism across our great continent. Today, the winds of change in Africa are bringing freedom from corrupt one-party states. In Senegal, in Ghana and in Kenya, opposition parties have come to power through the ballot box. It would have happened in Zambia, in Zimbabwe too, if the elections there had been free and fair. [Interjections.] And one day the winds of change will sweep through South Africa again … [Interjections] … and the Democratic Alliance insists and believes that the future of South Africa depends on the fate of each and every South African. That is the true expression of the South African dream, and each of us working together from where we are with what we have, and with what we can contribute, can make that dream a reality. We must change South Africa, and we can. [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS: Madam Deputy Speaker, His Excellency the President, His Excellency the Deputy President, hon leaders of all political parties present in this Assembly, hon members, in his state of the nation address, the President has portrayed a picture of South Africa which is promising and reassuring. Undoubtedly, enormous progress has been achieved in a multiplicity of fields and endeavours undertaken by our Government.
Our Government has performed well across the board on many line functions. Delivery has increased. This year, we are doing better than last year and are set to see next year improving on today’s results. Therefore there is much call for satisfaction and comfort.
However, at times such as this, one has to step back from one’s own achievements and focus on the home conflicts and difficulties in our immediate backyard, rather than reaching out for distant places, and take stock of where the country is and where it is going in the medium and long term.
We have been working hard to produce positive results. Focused as we are on our job of governing the country, we can take pride in the outcome of our endeavours. Yet, we must question whether what has been achieved is good enough, meets our own people’s needs and demands, and those arising out of our country’s long-term interests.
I have a number of concerns which I voice to focus attention on the work ahead which must now reach out for that proverbial extra mile. I am not the type of person who recriminates or gratuitously criticises but rather the type who seeks to motivate and stimulate progress in the right direction. I am concerned, and it is my duty to share my concerns with my colleagues and the South African nation.
My greatest concern is about employment generation. Employment levels are not rising even though our economy is doing better. This means that it is necessary for our economy to do even better and we should not be satisfied with what has been achieved. For many years, you have heard me making drastic proposals in this Parliament, at this podium, to foster economic growth beyond its present limits. Today, I do not wish to reiterate what I have stated over and over again but merely to stress the need to muster the political will to tackle the economy with much greater courage and determination.
Our Government has adopted stringent fiscal discipline which means that the state is run properly, from a financial viewpoint, and conducts its finances responsibly. However, that by itself has not been sufficient to attract foreign investments and broaden our country’s economic bases. I also expressed this concern last year, particularly as I said then that we are lucky to have the best Minister of Finance ever whose performance is internationally recognised. [Applause.]
We need to privatise, not to serve political agendas, but to increase market efficiency. We need to ensure that deregulation accompanies privatisation and that all existing monopolies and cartels which reduce economic efficiency and create barriers to market entrance are removed. We need to make massive investments in emerging technologies, especially biotechnology, to ensure that we have a vision of what ``Made in South Africa’’ may mean 5, 15 and 25 years down the road.
We need to decide now what our country will be known to produce in the global village for the next decade, make investments to stimulate and support relevant industries and attract foreign investments in those fields. We must also have the courage to introduce maximum flexibility in the labour market, reduce tax burdens and increase the available infrastructure. The formula is simple to spell out but how do we implement it? I think that we must muster the political will to do it.
The President’s speech dealt at great length with the major issue of poverty and with the various ways which the Government is employing to reduce the levels of poverty. I am also concerned about the rising levels of poverty. I have no doubt that there is much greater poverty today than there was in 1994. One of the elements which is not sufficiently considered in the equation employed to measure poverty is the rapid disintegration of the subsistence economy which existed then. I see this problem throughout the rural areas of our country whether I am travelling in the Eastern Cape, Limpopo or KwaZulu-Natal.
I come from a rural area and I pride myself on representing the unheard voice of the rural people who are now becoming the poorest of the poor. Before 1994, people in our rural areas in South Africa were able to feed themselves and their families every day because of the existence of a culture which prompted them to produce their own food. Before 1994, many were keen to promote subsistence agriculture. I, as Chief Minister of the erstwhile KwaZulu government, ensured that my government did its best to allow every family to have food on the table every day.
We applaud the decision of the Government to extend the child support grant to the age of 14 years and the decision with regard to other social grants. But, as long as we are unable to feed ourselves, these, plausible as they are, will be no more than just palliatives. Malnutrition is now increasing in rural areas. The progressive disintegration of rural areas spells the downfall of urban areas and economies as people are forced to migrate towards cities where the local economies cannot accommodate them. They are bound to join an ever-increasing army of the urban proletariat. This can cause unforeseeable social evils and instability in our country.
We must focus greater attention on rural areas and make it a priority of our Government to ensure that anyone can grow enough food and have enough livestock to be able to eat, at least twice a day, and to have the benefits of a balanced and healthy diet. Especially in the dark age of HIV/Aids, a healthy diet is essential to support our ailing population. I was disappointed that our President did not mention HIV/Aids by name in his state of the nation address, which ought to be our main concern. [Interjections.] Every day, I cannot think of anything but HIV/Aids, and my conscience is torn to pieces because I know that we are not doing enough to deal with this issue. Our people are dying, not by hundreds or thousands, but by tens of thousands. Soon, they will be dying by hundreds of thousands.
As a Minister in Government, I know how much our Government is doing to face up to this pandemic. But, I think that we need to see it as one of the major challenges that we face. We need to go that extra mile. We must provide treatment for our HIV-infected population and ensure that our Government has the capacity to utilise international donor funding made available for this purpose. I do not know how to express to my colleagues my sense of horror and frustration in learning that we, as a Government, might not have the capacity to spend money which is available for the war against Aids.
We must thank all international donors for what they are doing to help South Africa and Africa, in fact, in its war against HIV/Aids. A special word of gratitude should go to the President of the United States, the hon George W Bush, who committed $1,5 billion to fight HIV/Aids in Africa. I find it remarkable that while the United States is involved in the type of conflicts and concerns now troubling it, it still finds time and takes care to make such an enormous amount of money available to the ailing people of Africa. [Interjections.]
It is saddening for me that foreign countries may be more concerned about the war on HIV/Aids than some of our local representatives, especially those who are murmuring as I am saying these things. [Interjections.] We need to make more of our own money available for the war on HIV/Aids and develop the capacity to spend it. It is beyond my comprehension that the citizens of South Africa, including allies of the ruling party, should have to march against their own Government to request and obtain treatment for HIV/Aids, which is something that should be provided, in due course, as a function of governing and caring for people.
I am also concerned about another scourge which is killing our people and depriving them of their property, freedom and security across the country. This is another enemy which is present and real and towards which we need to direct the necessary resources. The scourge of crime has not been cured in spite of major improvements in the overall system of policing in our country. Improvement on the side of safety and security has not been accompanied by equal and sufficient improvement in the criminal justice system. Too often, suspected perpetrators of crime are apprehended but not tried and convicted. The criminal justice system has become the bottleneck of our fight against crime. It becomes increasingly necessary for one to look at radical reforms to give it a complete overhaul in order to ensure that it can rise up to the challenges confronting it.
I am not underestimating, at all, the efforts that we are making as Government. I speak as a member of the interministerial committee on security which meets weekly and looks at the ways and means of measuring up to the scourge of crime in our country. However, also in this respect, we should make the political commitment to divert more resources and direct them towards the police and judiciary.
We also need the resources to fight both sides of the equation of crime so that we do not deal only with law enforcement but also with education. We need greater civic education in our schools and communities to make people understand the importance of the rule of law and begin giving substance to the notion of moral regeneration. The first values that we need to teach and propagate are civic values and the importance of abiding by the rule of law. This requires the communities to become agents of propagation of legality and isolate those who become criminals. A culture of respect for human rights and dignity must finally permeate all our families and communities, and eradicate the scourges of child abuse and violence against women.
I am also concerned that too little has been done for traditional leaders. The President’s indication that matters relating to the traditional leadership will be dealt with by means of provincial legislation this year may be a grim omen, as it may exclude any resolution of the two crucial issues relating to traditional leadership, namely local government powers and the land administration powers of traditional authorities which are not provincial competencies.
One hopes that the President’s words can be interpreted as a promise, at least, that the national legislation will enable provincial laws also to deal with these two fundamental aspects of traditional leadership which are the core of this issue. Otherwise, the entire exercise would be futile and a further measure to avoid rather than solve the problem.
I am also concerned about how we understand and fulfil our international responsibility. We cannot separate our commitment to freedom and democracy at home from how we conduct ourselves abroad. We should also be more concerned about our own backyard before assisting tyrants who blackmail the world with weapons of mass destruction to find a way out of a corner in which they have painted themselves. Within our continent, people are dying of malnutrition and suffering under tyrannic regimes which have destroyed what should have been Africa’s most prosperous countries. Across our own borders, some people are cursing the name of South Africa because of our failure to respond to their suffering and the systematic violation of their rights.
We must make it our responsibility to promote and, if necessary, force democracy and freedom in our region, condemn without reservation any human rights abuse and the breakdown of the rule of law and tyranny taking place within our own boundaries. Silence and inaction are complicity. We have this obligation facing us even more at this time when our President is the Chairman of the African Union. Expectations by Africa of us as a country that is perceived to be leading Africa are enormous. Our President has often shared many times with us in the Cabinet how enormous the expectations by Africa are of us.
The final concern that I want to raise, to the relief of those who are murmuring, is that of corruption. There are different levels of corruption and we must have the courage to look at all of them. I think that it is necessary that this year, in this House, we have a long, full and detailed debate to discuss and understand what we all mean by black empowerment. We must show the difference between black empowerment and black enrichment. [Interjections.] We must ensure that black empowerment does not become a generalised licence to skim off the top of the economic productive cycle to benefit a new class of parasitic rich people. Black empowerment should be about broadening the economic bases in order to bring into their fold those who were previously disadvantaged and marginalised.
Black empowerment should be about strengthening and rewarding black entrepreneurship and should aim at enabling the great economic potential, ingenuity and industriousness of black people. Black empowerment should not be about funding political parties in a covert fashion, nor about creating a new coalition of fat cats which feeds off existing economic structures without producing new ones.
I am concerned that our country is confronted with allegations of corruption and scandals which would rock any established democracy and that we are perceived as facing them with indifference and complacency as if corruption was to be expected from those in power. Unless corrected, this perceived complacency in the face of corruption will cause the downfall of our new republic. We must ensure that each allegation is investigated and that a culture of bringing corruptor and corrupted to book becomes the trademark of South Africa.
I have these and many other concerns. Over and above all of them, I am concerned about the capacity and willingness of this House to deal with such concerns. I am now talking to all my colleagues and all political leaders. We need to come together as people of goodwill and representatives of our people, irrespective of political divisions or allegiances. We need to enhance our critical thinking and question ourselves. As we sit in this House, not only as different parties but also as different members, we need to think as individuals and not as herds who passively follow a leader unquestioningly. We need to continue the process of our individual and collective liberation in that direction. We need to ask ourselves whether what has been achieved is indeed good enough. We need to question whether what we are doing is indeed good for South Africa and for the long-term interests of our children and grandchildren.
Some decisions might be emotionally rewarding and may aptly translate the way we feel about domestic problems or international issues but might not necessarily be what is in the best long-term interest of our country and prosperity. They may also not be the real product of the democratic values we have embraced. We need to develop the type of leadership which can tackle concerns with a long-term perspective and in accordance with our democratic values.
We fully support the leadership of our President as head of state and Government. I am, however, deeply convinced that collegially, colleagues, we can exercise this type of leadership. For this to be achieved, we need to have a greater measure of respect for one another and rely more on our collegial capacity to lead than on the leadership which any individual may provide. I say this with all due respect to the leadership of our President.
I somehow feel that suspicions of the past amongst ourselves have not quite vanished, as you can see from the murmurs. To me, as long as our steps are still dogged by vestiges of past suspicions, we will not be able to exercise the collegial capacity which is so crucial to us to successfully tackle the intractable problems that our country faces.
I thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. [Applause.]
Dr B L GELDENHUYS: Speaker, it is indeed an honour to follow the hon Minister of Home Affairs. He is a seasoned politician and he too made his mark on the long road to African unity.
The hon President reminds me of the prophet Jonah, in the good sense of the word. During a terrible storm at sea, he slept soundly below deck as if he was in full control of what was happening around him. And, according to press reports, the hon President also slept soundly when his private jet encountered technical problems on its maiden flight to Paris and thereby he also sent out the message that he was in full control of what was happening around him.
The perception of a president being in control was also borne out in the state of the nation address, which augurs well for South Africa. By the way, unlike the official opposition on my left, the New NP does not begrudge the hon President the use of a private jet. In times when terrorists fly passenger planes into high-rise buildings, it could be unwise for any head of state to use public transport. [Applause.]
The latest ANC conference was held, believe it or not, in the DF Malan Memorial Hall at the University of Stellenbosch, where I also had the privilege of spending eight of the best years of my life.
Natuurlik het die mense skeef opgekyk toe die ANC kongres hou in die DF Malan-gedenksaal. Malan was immers die argitek van apartheid by uitnemendheid.
Tog was dit ironies genoeg juis Dr Malan wat so vroeg soos 1921 die deur oopgemaak het vir die soort van samewerking wat vandag tussen die ANC en die Nuwe NP bestaan. Volgens die historikus Herman Giliomee het Dr Malan, in ‘n poging om swart stemme te werf- glo jy dit - in sy stryd teen die Suid-Afrikaanse Party van genl. Smuts, ‘n brief geskryf aan ‘n waarskynlike tak van die ANC in die Oos-Kaap waarin hy sê: ``Swartmense is ‘n toonbeeld van ware patriotisme en is daarom geregtig om hulle plek langs die nasionalis in die nasionale politieke arena in te neem’’.
Hoewel paternalisties gestel, en hoewel Dr Malan 27 jaar later self daarvan vergeet het, is dit nou presies wat gebeur 83 jaar later. Die ANC en die Nuwe NP, politieke vyande van die verlede, het besluit om in belang van versoening en nasiebou, langs mekaar stelling in te neem in die politieke arena en nie teenoor mekaar nie. Terloops, nasiebou het ‘n verdere hupstoot gekry toe die foto-uitstalling tydens die parlementsopening ook die vryheidstryd van die boererepublieke weerspieël het. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Of course the people looked askance when the ANC held a congress in the DF Malan Memorial Hall. After all, Malan had been the architect of apartheid par excellence.
Yet ironically enough, it was precisely Dr Malan who, as early as in 1921, had opened the door for the kind of co-operation which exists between the ANC and the New NP today. According to the historian Herman Giliomee, Malan, in an endeavour to canvass black votes - would you believe it? - in his struggle against the South African Party of Gen Smuts, wrote a letter to an apparent branch of the ANC in the Eastern Cape in which he said that blacks were a shining example of true patriotism and were therefore entitled to take their place next to the nationalists in the national political arena.
Although paternalistically stated, and although Dr Malan himself had forgotten about it 27 years later, this is exactly what has happened 83 years later. The ANC and the New NP, political enemies of the past, have decided, in the interests of reconciliation and nation-building, to take their place next to each other in the political arena, and not against each other. Incidentally, nation-building received a further boost when the photo exhibition during the opening of Parliament also portrayed the struggle for freedom of the Boer republics.]
Challenging issues like poverty, unemployment and HIV/Aids could, in our view, best be addressed through joint political ventures rather than trying to score political points. The New NP wants to contribute positively from the inside rather than shouting from the outside.
Allow me to share with you a New NP perspective on some of the relevant issues of the day. Regarding the Zimbabwean issue, I first want to clarify a misunderstanding. We don’t raise the Zimbabwean issue constantly in Parliament out of fear that that what happened to commercial farmers in Zimbabwe will also happen here. We are convinced that the Zimbabwean events won’t spill over to South Africa. Why not? We have a government committed to the rule of law. The Land Reform Programme, which enjoys the wholehearted support of the New NP, is well on track. By the end of December last year, out of 67 300 claims, 36 279 had been settled. We concern ourselves with Zimbabwe because the people of Zimbabwe are increasingly becoming the victims of bad governance. We concern ourselves with Zimbabwe because the huge mismanagement of the economy has the potential to damage the development of the whole region to the detriment of the objectives of Nepad.
I have a special request for the hon President regarding South African- owned properties and investments in Zimbabwe. In a letter to the New NP, the Minister of Foreign Affairs indicated that the protection of South African-owned properties and investments in Zimbabwe could best be achieved within the context of a bilateral agreement on the protection of investments between the governments of South Africa and Zimbabwe.
An HON MEMBER: Ek verstaan nie! [I do not understand!]
And if the hon President could use his influence to expedite the establishment of such an agreement, it will be highly appreciated.
The New NP shares the view of the hon President that the USA should not unilaterally attack Iraq. We believe that the weapon inspectors should be given more time to complete their work. [Applause.] According to Hans Blix, more weapons of mass destruction were destroyed by the weapon inspectors under Resolution 687 of 1991 than were destroyed during the Gulf War. We furthermore believe that a unilateral attack on Iraq could derail the Global Coalition on the War against Terrorism with devastating consequences for the free world. A unilateral attack on Iraq will also turn a villain into a martyr, and we don’t want that. We fully support the mission of our technical team to Iraq as a committed effort by the Government to prevent war in the Middle East.
However, should the USA attack Iraq unilaterally, South Africa at all costs
must not come out on the side of Iraq against the USA. South Africa should
rather follow the example of the guy on his deathbed. A priest told him to
repent and denounce the devil. The guy shook his head and said, Father,
this is not an appropriate time to make enemies.'' [Laughter.] No, this is
not an appropriate time to make an enemy of the only superpower in the
world, because it could cost us dearly. The USA is the third largest
investor in South Africa. In terms of the USA Africa Growth and Opportunity
Act, South Africa has already earned more than 1,7 billion US dollars and
thousands of new jobs were created. All that I am saying is that we must
sayhamba kahle’’ [go well] when it comes to a unilateral US attack on
Iraq.
The theme of this year’s opening of Parliament was ``The long road to
African Unity’’. As first Chair of the African Union, the hon President
made his mark and played an enormous role in facilitating a peace agreement
in the DRC. The envisaged Safety and Security Council of the AU will play a
crucial role in future conflict resolution on the continent. But,
regrettably, not a single member state has yet ratified the security
council’s protocol. Hopefully, the hon President will use the rest of his
term as chairperson to expedite the ratification process. The New NP fully
supports Nepad as Africa’s own long-term agenda for economic growth.
The UN Millenium Summit resolved to have halved the number of the world’s poor by 2015. Africa south of the Sahara, including, of course, South Africa, needs growth of about 7% annually to achieve this objective. In other words, if South Africa really wants to address poverty effectively, the economy will have to generate a growth of 7% instead of the current 2%- 3%. Improved access to world markets in terms of Nepad is one way of enhancing economic growth. The free trade agreement with the EU was an important milestone in this regard. The envisaged free trade agreement between the USA and the Customs Union is also a welcome sign. But the developed world must put their money where their mouth is. They lecture Africa about the principle of free trade, and yet European restrictions on the import of food from Africa annually block products worth $700 million from entering their countries. Hopefully, there will be a change of heart in this regard.
Foreign direct investments are also essential for bigger economic growth, and making it happen will have to be a priority for the Government in the forthcoming financial year. To a certain extent, foreign direct investments have everything to do with perceptions. Negative perceptions about a country do not attract investments. And, in many instances, we South Africans are ourselves responsible for negative perceptions about our country.
Unfortunately, based on perceptions, countries like Britain and Australia warned their citizens to avoid South Africa due to the high levels of violence. Yes, the levels of violence are too high and yes, much more should be done to address them. But guess who tops the list in the world when it comes to violent assault? According to the Economist Pocket World in Figures it is none other than Australia!
We as South Africans have a duty and a responsibility to create positive perceptions about our country wherever we go in order to attract more investments with a view to enhancing economic growth so that poverty in our country could at least be halved.
Ten spyte van die fiasko gister op die Wanderers glo ek nog steeds die proteas gaan die wêreldbeker wen, met die voorbehoud dat Klusener en Donald nie die wenlopies moet aanteken nie. Dankie. [Applous.] [Despite the fiasco at the Wanderers yesterday, I still believe the Proteas will win the world cup, with the reservation that Klusener and Donald should not score the winning runs. Thank you. [Applause.]]
Mrs W S NEWHOUDT-DRUCHEN: Madam Speaker, hon President, Deputy President and hon members, the disability sector has recently lost two important activists in the disability movement - Comrade Maria Rantho, former member of Parliament, and Comrade Boyce Willem, an NCOP member. I would like to pay tribute to them.
We would like to thank our President for, time and again, bringing up disability issues. We need to continue bringing up these issues, not merely sweep them under the carpet, as so many people like to do. I say this because people with disabilities still face discrimination at all levels and it is our responsibility to make others aware of disability issues.
I would like to inform you that, wherever I go, people ask me what work I do. I tell them I’m a member of Parliament, a deaf member. They then ask me what party I belong to. I say the ANC, and I also inform them that only the ANC would put someone who is deaf in Parliament. [Applause.] I’ve yet to see another political party follow the ANC’s lead. This is a challenge to you. [Applause.]
The ANC believes that addressing the specific needs of those in the target groups, namely women, children, the elderly and the disabled, stands at the centre of our efforts to build a better life for all. To establish the new South Africa as a caring society, the empowerment and affirmation of these groups is critical to ensuring a people-centred and people-driven transformation. A massive education campaign is necessary for the targeted groups and broader society to make them aware of the fundamental rights as enshrined in the Constitution of South Africa. In his speech on Friday, Comrade President mentioned that there will be another increase in social grants this year. The expansion of services to the people will also include disability grants. Last year, the ANC set things rolling by calling people to register for social grants, which include disability grants. There are still many people with disabilities who are not registered to receive grants for different reasons, such as having no means or access to go to departments and fill in forms to receive these grants.
Disabled people have a right to receive disability grants, and that message must go out. I hope that people with disabilities or people who understand and work closely with people with disabilities will be included to become multiskilled community development workers. They can also go out to people with disabilities to assist them in the communities.
We welcome the provision of free health care to persons with disabilities. Hearing aids alone can cost from R4 000 to R7 000, and parents just cannot afford that kind of cost.
There are also other health-related issues faced by people with disabilities that are lifelong and ongoing. I wonder if some of you realise that if a child has to sit in a wheelchair unsuitable to a child’s posture, this can cause other deformities as the child is growing up. A specially modified wheelchair can cost thousands.
We can make the best laws in Parliament to better the lives of our people, but we need members of the public to be aware of these laws. We need the public to act or work together with Government to better the lives of people with disabilities.
Just at the end of last year, during my constituency work, I met a deaf teacher in Umtata, who said that she was once arrested for using sign language. Would you arrest someone for speaking IsiXhosa or IsiZulu? A mother informed me that Telkom doesn’t want her deaf son to be made a permanent employee because he cannot talk properly. He must first attend speech therapy. This is discrimination.
Public awareness, sensitivity about disabilities and knowledge about disability rights need to go out to the people. Research shows that to be able to integrate disability issues into policies of government departments, it requires the commitment of senior managers to address disability issues.
We find that disability issues are placed at the bottom of the list of priorities in departments. Different government departments and their staff will also have to be educated about the right use of terminology. During my constituency work, once again last year, I was informed that there are still people in high positions in courts who still refer to deaf people as being deaf and dumb. If attitudes in places like the courts do not change, we can imagine how slow is the change of attitudes of the general public. I would encourage the hon members of Parliament, if they do not have a booklet like this, to contact DPSA and obtain this little booklet, which is an empowerment tool and a pocket guide on disability equity.
Apart from the Acts we already have, such as the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, the Employment Equity Act and the South African Schools Act, we have seen additional Acts passed to better the lives of people with disabilities, such as the Mental Health Care Bill, adopted on 30 May 2002, which has a particular bearing on people with intellectual disabilities.
The Broadcasting Amendment Act, passed in 2002, is looked at in a positive light as it states that the South African Broadcasting Corporation has to make television programmes accessible to those who are deaf and those who are blind. Yes, we are, indeed, working to better the lives of people with disabilities in South Africa.
On 7 February, last week, a march took place in all provinces where MECs in the various departments of education received a memorandum. The purpose of the march was to advocate for and create awareness of South African sign language, as the cornerstone of deaf education, and as a basic human right of all deaf people. We thank Deaf People South Africa for supporting this march. We thank the Department of Education for the attention given to the memorandum and we are hoping to have a response soon.
The African Decade of Disabled People has been declared for the years 1999 to 2009. The Office on the Status of Disabled People will hold an African regional consultative conference to develop ways in which people living with disabilities can interact with the New Partnership for Africa’s Development and to come to an African position on the UN Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Disabled Persons.
South Africa is becoming more and more of a popular tourist destination, and that would include more and more international conferences happening here. Deaf Federation of South Africa is hoping to win the bid to be able to host the Fifteenth World Congress for the World Federation of the Deaf in 2007.
The World Federation of the Deaf is an international NGO in official liaison with ECOSOC, UNESCO, ILO, and WHO. South Africa is on the shortlist to present our bid in Canada later this year. If we win the bid to host this congress, I think it will be the first time that the World Federation of the Deaf Congress meets in Africa, and the first time there will ever be an international congress for people with disabilities here in South Africa. [Applause.]
Let us also use this event to make this century an African century, and put the world’s focus on Africa. We will continue to work to better the lives of South African citizens with disabilities. I thank you. [Applause.]
Mr B H HOLOMISA: Madam Speaker, Mr President, hon Deputy President and hon members, we appreciate the statement of intent made by the President to shift Government spending towards greater investment in social and economic infrastructure. We thank Government for acknowledging the UDM’s calls for this type of investment. [Interjections.]
We hope that Government will improve its implementation in order to ensure that these good intentions bear fruit. Implementation, as you know, has been this Government’s weakness. We therefore hope that, starting with Minister Manuel’s Budget, we will see these intentions reflected as clear objectives with definite targets and deadlines.
Allow me also to say that the UDM fully agrees with Government’s approach on the issue of Iraq. In 1993, we as a country took a decision that never again would we solve our problems through violent means. We wish South Africa’s disarmament experts success in Iraq. We wish them success in convincing Iraq on proper and responsible disarmament, and success in convincing others of the error of military action.
As far as the issue of Zimbabwe is concerned, it is high time that both the President of Zimbabwe and the Prime Minister of Britain swallowed their pride and returned to the negotiation table and resolved the unfinished business of Lancaster House. The immediate role of South Africa should be to facilitate such a dialogue.
Regarding the alleged human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, that is a matter for the UN to address. It is neither South Africa’s place nor its duty to unilaterally intervene with regard to the abuse of human rights in that country.
We have noted that Government has been holding imbizos. I have been to a number of the places where imbizos have been held. The people there are still waiting for the promises and commitments that were made at these imbizos to materialise. In the areas I have visited, the common thread of people’s complaints has been unemployment, hunger, poverty, as well as a severe lack of doctors and medicine, and the general failure of service delivery.
Some of these areas are Mount Fletcher and Matatiele in the Eastern Cape, where the people are complaining that there is no cellular network reception. Since 1994 they have been assured that this matter would be addressed. The cellular networks have also said that all communities would be covered. There are also complaints about lack of Telkom lines in some rural parts of these areas. Similarly, they complain of not receiving a signal for SABC-TV. It would be appreciated if the complaints which were raised at imbizos were addressed.
The state of the nation is one of a people suffering unduly. This is a view that is shared by social commentators from every sector of society. The root of this suffering is unemployment and poverty. The President also acknowledged this. However, he fails to acknowledge the direct and undeniable role of his Government in perpetuating unemployment and poverty.
Nearly 10 years of freedom have been characterised by the Government’s
complete and utter failure to create the jobs that this country so
desperately needs. Instead, the Government’s economic policy has been
characterised by words such as downsizing'', rightsizing’’, take a
package'', redundancy’’, supernumeraries'' and retrenchment’’. To
make matters worse, many qualified people have been replaced by incompetent
comrades of the ruling party. [Interjections.]
An analysis of the Future Facts survey of 2002 found that the South African
population could be divided into five broad categories. One third of the
population falls into the still disadvantaged'' group. They are trapped
in desperate poverty. Nearly another third falls into the emerging’’
group. This group lives in survival mode, but is aspiring to escape its
poverty.
Statistics SA recently revealed that, under the ANC Government, the gap between the haves and have-nots has widened. We cannot deny this reality. The UDM observes this reality throughout the country. It is what Government should have noticed at those extravagant pageants masquerading as imbizos.
This is the true state of the nation. Most people suffer as a result of the current Government’s policy, in particular the economic policy.
This year, again, President Mbeki strung together a long list of platitudes. South Africans want to hear more than that Government recognises their suffering. They want to hear that Government will abandon policies that have failed and choose concrete new strategies. Last year we also heard that, and I quote:
Government will … increase its focus on achieving higher rates of economic growth and development. This will include … the convening of a growth summit.
However, by the end of last year, formal sector employment rose by a mere 0,5%, creating new employment for only 21 000 people. In other words, the economy did not create nearly enough job opportunities for the more than 400 000 matriculants who entered the job market this year, let alone address the nine-year backlog.
Average monthly real earnings in the formal sector dropped by 0,5% when comparing August 2002 with August 2001. It means that even the employed became poorer. Statistics SA puts unemployment, according to the expanded definition, at 41%. Turning the tide, indeed! But in what direction?
It is a pity that the President is not willing to concede that the current economic policy was implemented at the expense of the masses. The ANC Government’s first priority should not have been to please the rest of the world, but rather to take care of our unique domestic challenges.
The MINISTER OF FINANCE: Like you ran the Transkei! [Laughter.]
Mr B H HOLOMISA: The decision taken in 1994 to hastily implement the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs without negotiating for a responsible phasing-in approach was wrong. As a result, proper attention was not paid to skills development and job creation. Ironically, much of the clothing in South African shops, which is also worn in this House, is manufactured in countries where governments subsidise their textile industry.
I hope you understand that, Mr Manuel, because you are a member of the World Trade Organisation. [Interjections.] Mainland China is also a member of that organisation, but they are flooding your market with products which have been manufactured by state-sponsored factories. [Interjections.] You should know that. Don’t mislead us. The MINISTER OF FINANCE: You don’t know what you’re talking about!
Mr B H HOLOMISA: Those decisions ignored the reality …
The SPEAKER: Order! Hon members, would you address each other through the Chair, and preferably not interrupt! Please continue, hon member.
Mr B H HOLOMISA: Those decisions ignored the reality that South Africa’s economy was managed for many decades with direct government involvement and protection, albeit under separate development, hon Manuel.
Since 1994, more than 1 million jobs have been made redundant at the stroke of a pen, hon Minister, without any alternative arrangement being made. Ask Cosatu who has lost nearly two thirds of its members in nine years, because those workers are now unemployed. The bottom line of the ANC economic policy is that not only does it fail to create new jobs, but it also fails to protect the existing jobs.
A year ago Tradek economist Mr Mike Schussler said, and I quote: No developing country has made so many jobs redundant over any seven-year period since the Great Depression. On a per-job ratio, South Africa has destroyed more jobs than any other developing country in modern history.
He went further to pinpoint the lack of skills in our workforce as the biggest disincentive for investment in South Africa.
The UDM’s economic policy endorsed at our 2001 national congress calls on the Government to do more. [Interjections.] It is better to introduce the Lotto rather than subjecting this country to the World Bank’s and IMF’s structural adjustments, which you have done. What we have here is much better.
Last year in this House, I presented the UDM’s policy and explained the responsibility of Government to do more. [Interjections.] Senior Unisa economic development lecturer Hugo Noble and Stellenbosch Professor Sampie Terreblanche concur that Government must do more.
Last year we were promised greater attention to, and I quote: … education and training and the National Youth Service.
President Mbeki also promised an ICT university. Sadly, the new university never materialised, and existing ones are being regulated into extinction.
Why hold a summit when the Jobs Summit promises were not kept? The necessary solutions have been presented by all sectors of society countless times before. Frankly, this is a mere exercise in browbeating labour, business and civil society. Government wants them to accept more responsibility for job creation, whilst absolving itself of its responsibilities.
As far as black economic empowerment is concerned, no one can argue against the fact that there is a need for such a strategy. However, the truth is that, to date, it has been a strategy benefiting a small elite of the ANC who have been redeployed from this House. An often forgotten aspect of black economic empowerment has been that a lot of those who have benefited have used the money of the workers.
Last year, we were promised moral renewal and a new commitment to fighting corruption. The Moral Regeneration Summit has come and gone. The list of corruption cases is growing. It now includes hon Yengeni, the chief of the Civil Aviation Authority, Spoornet’s chief executive officer, the SA Express chief executive officer and the forestry deal. [Interjections.] I hope the comrades who are mumbling still remember the R55 000 wedding gift. [Interjections.]
We further witnessed the DA funding scandal, the New NP funding scandal and the Transnet pro-ANC tender decision that is going to cost taxpayers R57 million. Now we see new reports of corruption involving the former Minister of Transport, Mr Maharaj. The media continue to raise questions about the Deputy President’s involvement in the arms deal.
In the case of the hon Yengeni, the President must explain to the nation the application of the plea bargain mechanism. We were under the impression that pleas would be offered to the small fish in order to catch the big fish. Can we expect that hon Yengeni’s plea will lead to his testimony against more senior people? Otherwise, what is the benefit of this mechanism to society and the commission of justice? Or was the plea offered to silence the hon Yengeni and prevent the naming of more senior people in open court? [Interjections.]
Was Government more concerned that a comprehensive court case would expose the arms deal? What happened to the more than 30 luxury vehicles you got from that company, which some of you received? Why are you prosecuting Tony Yengeni only? [Interjections.]
Kutheni nileqa uTony Yengeni yedwa? [Uwele-wele.] [Why do you pressurise Tony Yengeni alone?] [Interjections.]]
The SPEAKER: Order!
Mr B H HOLOMISA: Kutheni nileqa uTony Yengeni yedwa? [Uwele-wele.] [Why do you pressurise Tony Yengeni alone?] [Interjections.]]
What about others?
The SPEAKER: Order! Hon members!
Mr B H HOLOMISA: Baphi abanye? [Where are the others?]
The SPEAKER: Order! Mr Holomisa! Hon members, please bear in mind you are referring to a serving member of Parliament at the moment. [Interjections.] This is a general comment to all of you. Please proceed.
Mr B H HOLOMISA: In the meantime, nauseating reports about the arms deal continue to appear. Senior people are being accused. Will they, too, follow the example of said hon member and waste our time and the taxpayer’s money for years with denials?
I humbly submit that these embarrassments could have been avoided with a proper investigation of the arms deal. It is not too late to institute a judicial commission of inquiry. Such an inquiry should also investigate the African National Congress Fundraising Trust, and whether other companies headed by ANC cadres - as per your deployment policies - have received government tenders and have, in turn, donated funds or shares into ANC coffers. This means that you are using all these business transactions as cash cows in order to beef up your party coffers. [Interjections.] For instance, in the Eastern Cape, a company tasked to pay grants to pensioners is manned by ANC cadres. The service they provide is shoddy and their incompetence increases the suffering of one of the poorest provinces in the country. This looting spree must come to an end.
Mr President, I advise, in a spirit of noninterference … [Laughter.] … that you should hold one-on-one meetings with all members of your Cabinet. You should get personal assurances from each of them that they have not abused, and are not abusing, their positions to enrich themselves or members of their families, as we usually read about in the newspapers almost every day. [Interjections.]
Every time a senior member of Government … [Time expired.] [Interjections.]
Die MINISTER VIR DIE STAATSDIENS EN ADMINISTRASIE: Mevrou die Speaker, agb President, agb Adjunkpresident, kollegas, dis byna nege jaar sedert die begin van ons demokratiese Parlement. Ons het baie bereik as regering én as ‘n samelewing. Ek en vele andere is dus trots op ons nasie en op wat ons bereik het, enkele voorbeelde waarna die President Vrydag verwys het. Ja, ek is trots om lid van die ANC te wees. Inderdaad, ek is ‘n trotse patriot. Trots om met hernieude ywer die visie van die ANC na te jaag soos dit met herhaling geformuleer is tydens die 51ste nasionale konferensie in Desember in Stellenbosch. Dit is daardie ANC in wie se tradisie ek bevoorreg was om geskool te word. Daardie waardes wat my rig, my lei, duidelik koers gee in hierdie pad wat ons loop om die mense van hierdie geliefde nasie behoorlik te dien. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[The MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION: Madam Speaker, hon President, hon Deputy President, colleagues, it is almost nine years since our democratic Parliament began. We have achieved much as a nation and as a society. I and many others are therefore very proud of our nation and of what we have achieved; some examples the President referred to on Friday.
Yes, I am proud to be a member of the ANC. Indeed, I am a proud patriot. Proud to pursue with renewed fervour the vision of the ANC as it was once again formulated during the 51st national conference in Stellenbosch during December. It is that ANC whose tradition I was privileged to be schooled in. Those values which direct me, guide me, give me a clear course on this path on which we are walking to serve the people of this beloved nation properly.]
Earlier today, we had a reference to the South African dream, and the South African reality. Fortunately, Mr Leon has no hope of leading this country and therefore that saves us from a South African nightmare.
In terms of governance, the ANC stands for a range of values. These values influence our behaviour as an organisation, as individuals, and are also carried into the institutions where we lead and in which we participate. [Interjections.] Since our movement assumed its role as Government, our understanding of the challenges that we face has deepened. This deepened understanding has relevance not only for our internal situation but in the global context - a situation that is changing at an incredible pace, and one from which we are not isolated. It is in the tradition of our movement that we reflect, honestly and unemotionally, on our achievements and our challenges.
As Palo Freire, the progressive educationist who influenced many of our cadre, said: A society beginning to move from one epoch to another requires the development of an especially flexible and critical spirit. Lacking such a spirit, people cannot perceive the marked contradictions that occur in society as emerging values in search of affirmation and fulfilment clash with earlier values in seeking self-preservation.
This brings us directly to the question of what kind of public servants we are trying to nurture. Is it one who, when the door of his office comes loose or is missing a hinge, complains that he is working under intolerable conditions, as happened recently, or one who simply gets a screwdriver and tightens two screws? Is it the kind of public servant who finds solutions, will see obstacles as challenges to be eliminated while deriving satisfaction in beating the odds, and will see delivery as an end in itself?
We can follow Freire’s approach of flexibility and critical reflection because we are guided by a set of very strong principles that show us the way, however complex the issue becomes. We do not waver in the principles on which our movement is based - the principles of democracy, nonracism, of bestowing equal rights and dignity on all humans, our commitment to improving the quality of life of the poor, the disenfranchised, the disempowered and the downtrodden, whether here or outside our borders.
The challenges that we face as we strive for transformation of the South African society, of the South African state and of our Government are parallel. We cannot isolate one site of struggle from another, or even say that one aspect must lead the other. The most important vehicle in the arsenal of any government to achieve the best for a country is that of the institutions of state. It is hence critical that we look closely at the Public Service, and especially at the managers who are responsible for the process of transformation. And this is what we are doing, and the President has referred to it.
I can state here today, as has been stated previously, that as we look at representivity within the ranks of the Public Service, we are doing very well in terms of racial transformation, but we are not doing so well with women at management level and certainly not with regard to the disabled. In future, the performance of senior managers will include an assessment of how they are doing when it comes to ensuring gender diversity in managerial ranks, and we will also include disability. So we must look, and we are looking, closely at the challenges in the Public Service. On Friday, our President pointed to the critical position that the Public Service holds for our transformation, and I quote:
The effective delivery of the expanded services to the people requires that we improve the efficiency of the Public Service. Without an efficient and effective Public Service it will be impossible for us to register the advances we are capable of.
The President has previously gone further where, in his opening address at the opening of the ANC conference in December 2002, he made mention of the failure of administration to implement some of our policies, including the distribution of social grants, and failure to ensure that state institutions and civil servants render the necessary service to the public. The criticism of the President in terms of the inability of the Public Service to democratise at the required speed is to ensure that it fulfils its function of actually serving the people, of experiencing and responding to the urgency of need and discomfort, of feeling themselves accountable to people, and of giving effect to our policy of transformation of service delivery. Batho Pele must encompass the whole of the Public Service and be infused in our society as a whole.
We must get the basics right. And here, as the executive, as politicians and managers, we must ensure the basics of accountability, of democratic values, of ethical and efficient utilisation of resources, and of the building of an administrative culture that unlocks and mobilises the energy of the largest institutions in our country to deliver a better life for the people of South Africa. Since last year, in particular, this Government has introduced and pursued strong initiatives in terms of democratising service delivery and administration.
Let’s briefly focus on the Eastern Cape, and let’s not talk about what is to be done, but what is being done. Let some of those who have been responsible for the mess there listen and not allow themselves to get diverted easily so that they can engage appropriately. We acknowledge that there are challenges and what I want to call today cultural, ethical and conduct issues. A general poor work ethic and lack of performance is displayed, coupled with a lack of decisive action by supervisors and managers. Departments are extremely vulnerable to corruption as a result of poor leadership, internal controls and inadequate systems, and a culture of nonaccountability is widely evident. In education, human resource and administrative breaches are most prevalent, as well as a high incidence of relationship transgression, and I just mention a few.
So what are we doing? The interim management team that was appointed by the President and the Premier of the Eastern Cape is looking at handling our primary concerns - concerns where we have acknowledged that the unions have had undue influence over managers and their decisions, and we have narrowed it down to the departments that are involved. In terms of the change management strategy, right now, we are dealing with how we are balancing the short-term crisis issues, as well as addressing underlying systemic problems: How to restore the culture of responsibility and accountability and how to focus on massive administrative and financial challenges whilst attending to critical service delivery needs. In terms of the immediate interventions on the human resource backlogs, the objective of the interim management team is to break the cycle of continuous human resource backlog claims and to settle the matter once and for all. There is a plan for that, and you will see it rolled out.
Furthermore, we are also looking at the implementation of the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council or the PSCBC Resolution 7 of 2001. This is going to be fast-tracked through the following steps: By the end of this month, February, departments are required to have their establishments finalised and the person-to-post matching completed. On completion of these steps, a provincial circular will be issued advertising vacancies for internal recruitment. While this process is ongoing the interim management team or IMT will develop alternatives to retrenchment and proposals for enhanced incentives to terminate the service of excess employees. The advertising and filling of critical posts will be fast-tracked and unfunded vacancies will be abolished as and when the establishment needs are finalised.
In terms of the leadership requirement, the performance agreement for senior management service members for the year 2003-2004 will be finalised by the end of March, and will include the turnaround plans as a major element of this agreement. Financial disclosure statements will be required from all senior management service members, and all the current senior management service members, as well as new appointments, will be subjected to competency assessments. The process of evaluation of heads of department will commence. We will also look at this in terms of financial management and procurement. The team has started a process to decentralise financial management to departments in line with the PMFA requirement. It’s necessary to state as well that currently there are forensic audits under way and the team has completed assessment of the relevant audit reports and is commissioning further forensic audits on human resource backlogs in departments, the use of petrol cards, social grant payments and so forth. And you have seen the work that’s been done with the rest that has taken place in the Eastern Cape in recent weeks.
This is a sign that we clearly want to take forward and, as the President has stated, this will be the kind of model that will be used in ensuring that we put in place the required governance across the country and within the Public Service as a whole. As the ANC, as we resolved at our conference, we will be monitoring those from our ranks who serve in the Public Service. Not only will they be accountable in the workplace, but also within our organisation.
Our President, the President of the country, has charged the members of the executive with the responsibility of ensuring that the state machinery functions optimally in the interests of poverty eradication and the creation of a democratic society. This does not exclude any one of us who serves on the executive. We must all make this happen. We can’t whistle from the outside the gates at ourselves. It is the people who shall govern through their elected representatives, and the executive will account to Parliament, in an honest and critically reflective fashion, true to the ways of the ANC in which we celebrate successes, but do not shy away from dealing with the problems that may emerge along the way. The Public Service therefore can expect that, in the year to come, we will cut them less slack in terms of setting their own pace, and of asserting their own managerial independence. They, as stated by the President, will be accountable; we will be accountable, we serve the people.
I thank you. [Applause.] Rev K R J MESHOE: Madam Speaker, hon President, hon members, most South Africans wanted to hear from the President, in his state of the nation address, whether Government has succeeded in closing the gap between the promises made since 1994 and what has actually been delivered, and that was unfortunately not done.
The majority of our people agree that the post-1994 period has had little impact on the poorest of the poor. Political empowerment has not translated into economic empowerment, and the distribution of socioeconomic power has mainly benefited blacks and Indians in the bourgeoisie classes, and hardly had any effect on the majority of South Africans in the middle and lower classes. The gap between the haves and the have-nots is definitely increasing by the day.
The economic growth the President spoke about has unfortunately not translated into more jobs and the eradication of poverty. Men and women who open rubbish bags every week, those who scratch for food on rubbish dumps, and many thousands of our people who go to bed hungry will not believe the President when he says that the economy has turned the corner. What kind of growth is it that sheds jobs instead of sustaining them? What kind of economic growth is it that worsens the lives of South Africans and does not better them? An economic growth that widens the gap between the rich and the poor. Mr President, if there is real economic growth, the ordinary people on the ground want to see the fruit.
While some ray of hope came from the many promises that the President made, the question that remains to be answered is whether, this time round, the promises that were made will ever be fulfilled? What really disappointed many of our people is that crucial issues that they are facing on a daily basis were not given the necessary attention they deserve.
While the President was giving his state of the nation address, thousands of South Africans were participating in a march to Parliament organised by the Treatment Action Campaign to campaign for a national Aids treatment programme. We expected the President to assure the marchers, consisting of the Treatment Action Campaign, the clergy, unions, and NGOs, that Government will do more to help Aids sufferers or sign a comprehensive national Aids blueprint. Instead, he chose to ignore them and to continue with his usual rhetoric that Government will continue with its comprehensive Aids campaign. A question many want answered is: Why does Government want to continue with something that has failed? If the Government’s Aids programme did not fail, then there would not have been a demonstration outside Parliament when the President was addressing the nation.
Government’s refusal to take decisive action is appalling and the refusal to provide antiretrovirals is tantamount to condemning scores of South Africans to a horrible death. The lifespan of economically active people living with Aids is significantly shortened without the use of antiretrovirals. Government’s refusal to provide antiretrovirals free of charge to all citizens is antithetical to the President’s objective of sustaining economic growth. We are not only judged by what we do, but we are also judged by that which we fail to do. Government is failing to come to the assistance of Aids patients, Aids orphans and their families. The people are demanding effective action now to be convinced that Government cares.
On the issue of crime, the President told us how international guests are happy with the protection they were provided with and with what they are provided with at the Cricket World Cup, and received at the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the launch of the African Union. Yet, South Africans continue to live in fear for their lives on a daily basis. Why is the President concerned with pleasing foreigners and ignoring his own people? President Mbeki said that crime is stabilising. However, crime levels should not just remain the same, they need to be brought down and finally eradicated. If Government cannot reduce crime, they must admit that they have failed to do so and then tell the electorate so that the electorate can choose another leadership that will eradicate crime.
The President’s comments on Zimbabwe continue to underscore the Government’s failure to deal harshly with the death of democracy in that country. It is beyond belief that the President continues his policy of quiet diplomacy despite the negative impact this has had on our economy. It is internationally recognised that South Africa, as the Chair of the African Union and the Non-Aligned Movement, needs to do more to address the crisis on her border. It is not enough for the President to tell the nation that they will continue to work with the people of Zimbabwe as they seek solutions to their problems. The nation does not know what help the President and the Government is giving the people of Zimbabwe, except the perceived protection and defence of dictatorship, tyranny and the abuse of human rights in that country. The world sees what the President is doing for Iraq, Burundi, the DRC and other countries in need, but they do not see what our Government and the President is doing for his closest neighbour, Zimbabwe. Is it because there are no oil or diamonds in Zimbabwe? What is the reason for the silence?
On the possible war on Iraq, we want to appeal to both President Bush and Prime Minister Blair to rethink their threat of war after millions of concerned people in most parts of the world demonstrated against war. We want peace and not war. The ACDP agrees that more time should be given to the UN inspectors to do their job unhindered and that the Iraqi government should co-operate fully as promised. The search for weapons of mass destruction must continue until they are found and destroyed.
We, the ACDP, are always surprised to hear the President calling for a moral renewal in South Africa. By such a call, he fails to take into account the fact that it is his Government’s policies on abortion, pornography, prostitution and homosexuality that have eroded the morality and soul of our nation. The ACDP maintains that without a biblical standard of morality, no programme for moral regeneration will ever succeed. You must admit, Mr President, that you need God’s help. Without Him, you and the nation will not have any moral regeneration. If you want His help, then my advice is: Please stop legislating against Him. I thank you. [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF EDUCATION: Madam Speaker, President, Deputy President, leaders of political parties - I see all the leaders are now here; we have been rejoined by the Leader of the Official Opposition - hon members and comrades. Those who are destined to remain permanently in opposition in this House and this country will do so because they are not able or prepared to recognise the difficulty, the challenges, and the complexities concerning governance. They simplify where they ought to recognise the magnitude of the task before them. They are strident and populist. They want instant solutions. The Leader of the Opposition is like a drummer in a kwaito band. It is computer simulated, I understand, in a kwaito band. He beats a drum: ``boom, boom, boom!’’ Then he expects immediate results. [Laughter.] They oppose where they ought, for the public good, to work together to deal with the enormity of the challenges we face.
The hon Leader of the Opposition has complained publicly that he has not been give the recognition he deserves as the leader of the opposition. Well, of course, it is his ``in your face’’ approach for nearly half an hour. If a leader of the opposition can say in a free South Africa, with all the violence and the putridness of apartheid, that life is no better than ever before; in fact, life is worse, nogal [rather], he should go to every little village where there is now a telephone, a great liberating factor for our country. Go to every little town and you will see that in fact he is babbling away. [Interjections.] Life is worse in South Africa. Life is worse when you go and see that children up to the age of six get free medical attention. Life is worse when pregnant women are now in fact getting free medical attention. Life is worse when we had to overcome the legacy of homelessness and apartheid rule and build houses. Life is worse; much worse, nogal [rather]. [Applause.]
So what do you do? What do you do with these mean-spirited men who refuse to recognise the enormity of the changes taking place? The President celebrated the lives of two giants - of Oliver Tambo and Chris Hani - on Friday. Let me also mark - and, of course, this is a historic thing to say on behalf of the ANC - the extraordinary contribution of Robert Sobukwe, who died on 27 February 1978, 25 years ago. He showed his self-reliance, independence, his compassion and understanding, but while he relied on the emancipation of black people by asserting themselves, he in the end realised that this is a country of many races. These are the real heroes, and we miss those heroes. I hope in fact that, on the opposition benches, there was that kind of understanding of what kind of country we want to build and how we will do so.
The Leader of the Opposition is reported to have said over the weekend that the President ``slighted into insignificance’’ the issue of HIV/Aids. In his speech, the President indicated that we will continue implementing the Government’s comprehensive strategy on HIV/Aids.
An HON MEMBER: What is it?
The MINISTER OF EDUCATION: If Mr Leon …
Ah, the schoolboys here! [Laughter.]
If Mr Leon still does not know about the strategy - which I find difficult to believe, even for Mr Leon - I will happily give him the Government website details where he can read up the Government … [Interjections.]
That’s why I said ``schoolboys.’’
… policy. And while he is doing so, he should now look at how often the Government, the Cabinet Ministers and the provinces have dealt with the issue during the past year. And if you get the hits from the websites, hundreds, if not thousands of times, there are references.
Perhaps the hon Minister of Home Affairs should read the President’s speech also at the same time, because he did refer to HIV/Aids, contrary to what you said, that he never referred to HIV.
You see, they seek to politicise matters that go to the heart of our existence, such as HIV/Aids. They succumb to the temptation to hijack the legitimate sense of anxiety, concern, and impatience that millions of South Africans feel in the face of this terrible tragedy.
We will continue implementing, as the President said, the decisions of the Constitutional Court. We will implement the Court’s decision, not begrudgingly, or defensively, not simply because we have to, but for two reasons. It was the ANC that set up the Constitutional Court and supported it in 1991, long before these mandarins, these lawyers, got to grips with it. [Laughter.] [Applause.] It was long before that, in 1991, and we will follow the thrust of their judgments scrupulously. The second reason is that we are committed to fighting the HIV pandemic to the fullest that our resources allow.
For the record, let me reiterate that Government dealt with its position in April last year, as mentioned by the Minister of Housing. Let me elaborate further. Government unequivocally accepted the causal link between HIV and Aids, and promoting awareness and life-skills and HIV education forms the core of our approach. The HSRC report - if they read anything, except The Spectator magazine, from which he picks up most of his ideas about South Africa … [Interjections.] No, no, of course I read The Spectator, but not to pick up the bile and the offence that your friends write in The Spectator. If, in fact, you read the HSRC report and the Nelson Mandela Foundation report, you will see that more than 80% of our people learnt about HIV/Aids - that’s understanding, and then, of course, acting - through schools. And this is the great success of the Government’s policy of putting millions and millions into education. And a correlation between sexual behaviour and knowledge now is clearly established in the HSRC report.
The Government remains committed to creating conditions that make it make feasible and effective to use antiretrovirals in the public sector. There have been discussions between the Treasury and the Health department on this issue and we should hear further on this matter, about the costing, very soon.
But we cannot make commitments that we can’t keep - in this respect, we have a constitutional responsibility to the people of this country to ensure that we do not create expectations around such crucial issues unless we are sure we can fulfil these expectations. For our part, as Government, we must certainly act with vigour and commitment and will in the face of the HIV/Aids challenge, but we must also act with responsibility. It is for this reason, and no other, that we have not been able to sign off yet on this comprehensive and extensive treatment agreement at Nedlac - not because we are dragging our heels, but because we must approach such agreements seriously and responsibly. It’s the schoolboys who can make all kinds of promises and have no hope of fulfilling them. [Interjections.] If we commit ourselves to something, we must be sure we can deliver.
The Government’s poverty alleviation programmes and nutritional interventions are also essential parts of the fight against HIV/Aids, including in education, where the Government has agreed that funding for the school nutrition programme must be increased, to benefit all children in primary school. But you see - I’ll come to this in a moment - we are implementing it, because the programme now will run within the Department of Education from 2004.
Likewise, clean water, decent housing, assisting in the creation of employment and access to social infrastructure and education all decrease the vulnerability of individuals and communities to infections and ill health. You see, the hon Rev Meshoe thinks the apostolic succession firmly rests on his head. [Laughter.] Let me say that he is wrong about this.
The Minister of Social Development has announced two very important additional initiatives. First, the development of a uniform policy and standard of service for those infected with HIV/Aids, especially those disabled by HIV/Aids; and secondly, a campaign to identify children affected by HIV/Aids, including child-headed households, so as to improve service delivery and make services more accessible. And, as you know, the Minister of Social Development has a fire in his belly and, in fact, he will implement this.
Such campaigns cost money and form part and parcel of our annual budget. Even the opposition, today and elsewhere, has praised the Government’s macroeconomic policy, a forward-looking policy. However, our policy is based on the fact - which they don’t mention - that you cannot leave it to market forces to effectively deal with social issues. You see? [Interjections.]
No, and Mr Holomisa, I’ve read your economic policy. It’s voodoo economics, really, of the first kind. [Laughter.] It’s really voodoo economics. You see, they forget this in their attachment to the Chicago School of Economics, where the rich become richer and the devil takes the hindmost. [Laughter.]
In relation to Mr Holomisa, we are now implementing the advanced institute for information technology. But you see, you left behind … [Interjections.]
You say when?''. You left behind wrack and ruin in the Transkei and I
knew it when I was the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry. [Laughter.]
And you have the nerve to askWhen?’’ because we are basing ourselves on
international expert opinion and we are now in the process of organising
the establishment. But, you see, he believes, never having believed
anything in the Transkei, that you can do this overnight, in one year. You
can’t set up an information technology institute within a year. No country
has succeeded in that, but we will be the first country in the south that
will have this institute when we have processed setting it up. Next year we
will celebrate; I hope you’ll attend this.
Last year’s Budget therefore effected a pattern of increases, in real terms, in Government spending on health and on social development, particularly child support. The opposition begrudges us that. We raise the child support scheme to 14 years and he says, with this extraordinary, brilliant insight, like at the Oxford Union; he’s debating - he suddenly has this extraordinary insight - ``What about those that exist after 14 years?’’ [Laughter.] You see? What sense do you make out of this? You increase this as, in fact, the resources and the administration allow you to do. This applies in relation to education too.
This is a bold, interventionist position against a backdrop where other governments are regrettably cutting back on social expenditure.
Mr M J ELLIS: Why don’t you concentrate on education? At least … [Inaudible.]
The MINISTER OF EDUCATION: So … No, no, no, you concentrate on some farming or looking after your church.
In his state of the nation speech, the President declared we have ``a continuing task to push back the frontiers of poverty’’. In the context of education and training, we have done so much to ensure that resources are targeted at the poor. I think it is a matter of record. For example, the equitable share formula, which determines the allocation to provinces, favours the poorer rural provinces such as the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo. The norms and standards for school funding, which we began, in respect of nonpersonnel expenditure are also strongly biased towards redress, with seven times more money going to the poorer schools.
A major concern that we’ve had to address - and only an ANC Government could address these fundamental issues - over the last four or five years relates to the cost and financing of education, particularly at school level. I have this week received a draft report - a massive report - which goes into the cost of education in great detail. As a result of the findings contained in the report and the recommendations made, I will in the very near future be proposing far-reaching changes in the area of financing of education. These will be for the benefit of all stakeholders, including parents, and will deal with further alleviating the disparity that exists in certain areas.
I hope that we will be able to provide relief in the form of further conditional grants to the provinces with poorer schools and to deal with expenditures relating to, amongst others, the cost of school uniforms, transport and the payment of fees. I will deal with my proposals in greater detail in my budget speech during the current session of Parliament.
One area where there are still enormous disparities is that of infrastructure. With our comprehensive school register of needs, we have accurate information on where the most pressing needs are. As a result, and through targeted interventions, overseas development assistance, interventions in infrastructure - we have doubled the amount we are spending on infrastructure in the last two years - we have been able to channel resources to those areas that need them most. Hundreds of classrooms and schools have been built across the country - and I should say not just by Mr Nelson Mandela - using increased direct Government funding as well as development assistance.
The Treasury also, regarding this discussion, will allocate ring-fenced amounts of funding for infrastructure development, and has made provision in the MTEF for sufficient amounts so that we can eliminate, as the President promised, the backlogs in order that children will not have to study under trees or in unsafe conditions.
Let me announce therefore - and it’s a very important political statement - that although conditional grants are made to the provinces for specifically designated purposes for use in those provinces, and although the provinces are responsible for the expenditure of these funds, I will hold myself accountable for those funds, both the manner in which they are spent and any funds that remain unspent. I can assure you that this year the expenditure patterns will be very different from the previous few years. These funds are simply meant to provide for infrastructural and other schooling needs, most often as a form of relief for provinces for poor and struggling areas, and as a rule, there should be no excuse for funds not being spent. I will hold myself politically responsible to this House for the expenditure of these funds.
Also, of course, we have made our commitment, which has been raised before, to 10 years of compulsory education. This is a promise the ANC made in 1994, with the phasing-in of Grade R, the reception year. In some schools, such as the one I visited last week in Manenberg, a poor area, the school has already introduced preschool facilities for children not old enough to enter Grade R.
Again, these are antipoverty interventions. We are making enormous changes, that have been highly welcomed, in the curriculum for Grades R to 9 and Grades 10 to 12. These particularly will be very important, and I should say I will not allow the introduction of these changes unless teachers are trained and learning materials are available. This strategy is very important because it will help the poorer schools to have collectives. The hon opposition leader speaks of the individual as the incarnation of all that’s good. The President replied to this, in fact, two years ago. And, of course, there is the collective tradition; the communitarian tradition we forget also. And outcomes-based education is based not on selfish, narrow individualism, but on collective work also. And we are proud, as the ANC, that we should do so.
The next matter, I think, is of enormous importance because it deals with the most marginalised. Under apartheid, schools for black children with special needs and disabilities were virtually nonexistent. If they did exist, they were run like asylums. Of course, this particularly affected the poorest of the poor. This year sees the establishment of 30 ``full service schools’’, schools where all the barriers to learning have been removed and where children with special needs and disabilities can learn together with other children as full members of our diverse nation. [Applause.]
Also, the number of poorly performing schools - and they are not responsible for that; these are on the peripheries of our society, but these were the poorest schools serving the poorest communities in our nation - declined dramatically from over 1 000 three years ago to fewer than 200 in the last year. Here the state was not benign or neutral; there was enormous intervention by the state and we have quadrupled the amount we spent on textbooks and other learning materials over the last three years and ensured that the materials, in the main, go to schools at the beginning of the year. In fact, one of the women members of the DP said to me how impressed she was in the East Rand, where all the schools she went to had their books there and learning started the same day. Well, mirabile dictu; they are learning things that have been happening on the ground for some time. In addition, let me say that the reorganisation of higher education is part of our development towards having more students of higher education this year. Do you see? This is supposed to be an indifferent government!
Ninety-four thousand youngsters from the poorest families went on to higher education this year. We spent R834 million. No other country has been able to do that. Eight hundred and thirty-four million; 94 000 students went there.
So let me end by saying that, of course, we celebrate everything we have done. The tide is beginning to turn. But change will be incremental rather than rapid. So I end by quoting the Nigerian writer Ben Okri:
They are only exhausted who think That they have arrived At the final destination, The end of their road, With all their dreams achieved, And no new dreams to hold.
In celebrating our achievements we are therefore also mindful of the fact that we have not, in Okri’s words ``arrived at the final destination’’. While much has been achieved, we cannot afford to abandon our dreams as set out in the Freedom Charter, and we will continue on our chosen path.
Then, the opposition leader referred to the winds of change. We will make sure that the winds of change will blast them into oblivion when they decide to change. [Laughter.] [Applause.]
Thank you.
Business suspended at 12:38 and resumed at 14:01.
The MINISTER FOR JUSTICE AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Madam Speaker, Mr President, Mr Deputy President, colleagues, hon members, ladies and gentlemen, this morning we listened to very interesting speeches in some of which the criminal justice system was alluded to.
In certain instances, one could not avoid asking oneself whether the relevant speakers did not say whatever they said purely for the sake of being heard without due regard being paid to what we as the government cluster dealing with the criminal justice system are doing and achieving. For example, Rev Meshoe, who should certainly know what happens in cities such as Seattle and Genoa, even suggested that the President is preoccupied with ensuring the safety of foreigners visiting our country while his own people live in fear.
I want to believe that the hon member did not mean that, therefore, when foreigners who happen to be in our country for whatever duration and for whatever reason are exposed to crime, we should not act. Again, I am sure that the Reverend knows better than anybody else outside here that the jails are bursting at the seams. They are full of people who have not necessarily been found guilty of crimes affecting foreigners. Actually, they have been arrested, investigated, jailed, etc, for crimes relating to the people of the Republic of South Africa themselves.
The hon Holomisa speaks about plea bargaining as not being meant for people such as Tony Yengeni. I know of no element in the law which says that this law is meant for certain persons only. As this House, we never make laws around individuals, we make laws for good governance in the Republic. It might have happened in the past, in the Bantustans, but we do not do that. [Interjections.]
The members wanted floor crossing, and they got it, and they crossed indeed. The members became cross after that. [Laughter.]
There is indeed, in certain circles, a perception that this beautiful country of ours has been overwhelmed by the criminal element, that the criminal justice system just cannot cope with the load of work it is carrying and that the system is managed by incompetent men and women. There is also a perception that South Africa is the most violent country in the world. Some even proclaim that South Africa is the crime capital of the world. People who espouse these notions, needless to say, ought to know better, that the facts cannot bear them out.
While it is true that our crime and violence levels are unacceptably high for a country in peacetime and that the criminal justice system faces numerous variegated problems, it is also true that Government has made critical interventions which are already bearing fruit. It is also true that if you look at the picture that we had prior to our coming into office, levels of crime were much higher. That might not have been visible to people who lived in the comfort of Lower Houghton, Northcliffe, Bryanston, and places such as those. But, those of us who were confined by apartheid to the Bantu townships can tell stories of our exposure to crime which the hon member, the Leader of the Official Opposition, may never have known in his life.
When he then says that it is not good enough to have stabilised crime at particular levels, the hon member is simply positing an ideal situation in an unideal condition. In other words, he is saying that, from 1994, we should have achieved something that this world has not achieved as yet, a totally crime-free country. I want to say that none exists, and the world is not even claiming that.
If you look at our statistics, for instance, and you look at the picture in 1999, it is true that the incidence of murder has already decreased by almost 17%. You can look at these, do your sums, etc, but these are actually ascribable, not solely to the interventions that have been made by my cluster, but to the interventions that have been made by Government in its entirety. The situation of ordinary people who live in conditions such as the ones that you would find in Nyanga, Gugulethu, Soweto and Khayelitsha improves. Indeed we benefit because more and more people steer clear of the crime route because they suddenly have better things to use and apply their energy to. We are reaping success.
Again, the confidence that ordinary people are showing in this system is such that they now begin to give us intelligence and information so that we can deal with the criminals element, something the law-enforcement forces of apartheid never experienced because in truth they were not ours, they were theirs. Now ours are supported by the people. It would be grossly erroneous for anyone to say that the system is actually managed by incompetent people.
You must remember when making these reckless and unhelpful statements that you are talking about people who, for the members’ sake and mine, tackle the bullets of criminals, and bombs that are placed by terrorists. They confront them and defuse these elements. They do so with minimal resources, at great risk to themselves. You cannot say that these are the incompetent people that the members are talking about. If you look at some of the interventions that we have actually made, you will agree with us that the dividend is obvious. Anybody who has actually been visited by specialised units such as the Scorpions will tell the members that the success rate is already counted as being above 90%. That is success. If one looks at the success of the Assets Forfeiture Unit, which makes sure that crime does not pay and seizes assets and makes sure that those assets are eventually forfeited to the state, you will agree that there is a lot of success there.
If you look at the Thuthuzela projects which we have established in many parts of the country, which look after women who have been exposed to gross violence, rape, etc, you will agree again that these joint projects that we have mounted as this Government are paying dividends. If you look at the special courts dealing with crimes and violence against women and children, you will tell a similar story if you do that dispassionately and honestly. If you look at the facilities at police stations and in the courts which are meant to assist women and children in those circumstances, you would again tell the same story.
If you look at the special courts dealing with serious economic offences - I would like to say that we want to roll out more this year because of the example that we see in Pretoria - you would come to the same conclusion. This is one court where, because people work differently, the prosecutor, the police officer and the court are working together much more efficiently and effectively today. This is a kind of court where out of every 100 cases that have appeared before them already since they were established in 2001, 94% convictions have been notched.
If you look again at special courts dealing with tax-related crime, you will tell the same story. If you look at the working hours at the courts and the Saturday courts that the President alluded to, you would come to the same conclusion. You surely cannot come to the conclusion that we are sitting on our hands, doing absolutely nothing. If you look at the rate of convictions in the courts, they tell the same story.
We have alluded to the issue of prison conditions. Those conditions are receiving attention. It is going to take a lot of resources, time and energy to address them to the satisfaction of all of us. But we are paying attention to that.
We have now in place a rehabilitation programme whereas, in the past, there was not any. Once a person went to jail, he would go and serve his sentence or a portion thereof, and then be released without ever having been assisted so that he is properly inducted back into the society where he came from. Now we are actually working on these ourselves to ensure that we produce a better human being out of the person that we have had to arrest because he has fallen foul of the law. [Applause.]
We have in place the restorative justice programme which ensures that the convicts that we have behind bars interact with the communities where the victims come from so that when they go back, they are actually well-suited to being released back into their communities, unlike before where a person would be released when the community was ill-prepared to receive him. We have these programmes.
We have programmes that ensure, to the extent that this is possible, that we deviate youth away from the path of crime, drugs, etc, and ensure that they can be helped before they go to jail, the university of crime. Those who are indeed participating in these programmes are actually assisted. They do not even have conviction records behind them. They are told to go away and sin no more. This particularly helps a lot of our young persons.
We have embarked on training and retraining of prison officials so that they are able to do their work effectively as people who should rehabilitate people there. They were not prepared for that kind of role. Theirs was to carry what they used to call the donkey piel - the rubber truncheon - and sjambok whoever crossed their path. [Laughter.] That was how they understood their work. They were never schooled in rehabilitation of people at all. That is changing. They are getting reorientated.
We are actually dealing with the problem of corruption. Honest people will tell you that you know about corruption because of, by and large, what this Government has done - it has exposed and tackled it because we have created conditions in which ordinary people who are exposed to corruption or who know that corrupt acts are taking place can now come forward as whistle- blowers and tell us what is happening, and indeed appropriate action is taken. I want to say that those who say that we act selectively will have to produce the necessary evidence. So far, whenever there has been enough evidence that crime of all sorts, including corruption, has been committed, appropriate action has been taken by forces of law enforcement without any political intervention or intercession. We have never pleaded with forces of law enforcement to spare anyone, and we do not intend to do it at all.
The philosophy of my Government is that the law must take its own course, regardless of whoever is involved. But, again, we should act solely under and subject to the laws of the Republic, not in accordance with the whims of some of us gathering here. This is a law-governed country. It is not a jungle consisting of feral weasels that scream at people all the time. It consists of people who want to ensure that indeed we succeed against the criminal element and that we succeed in our larger endeavours so that those conditions in kwaMashu, Soweto, Nyanga, Gugulethu, which are difficult to police today, can be policed so that when there is, for instance, improvement in the provision of housing, provision of electricity, etc, we benefit because we can go into those areas.
I must say that we have heard about the visits by some people from the DA to some of the police stations. Obviously, they have no regard for us. They would have given us their report. [Interjections.] I have not seen it. I do not know how they think this so-called report of theirs is going to be implemented because whether they like us or not, it is only through and by Government that it can be implemented. It would not implement itself, and it would not be implemented by the small office of the Leader of the Official Opposition. Eventually, they will have to give it to us and work with us in order to ensure that those problems that they have identified are resolved. We do want to work with everybody.
This morning, we said that if you were to go out looking for faults, you would find them all over. But, if you go out with a view to saying that you want to participate in finding solutions so that we strengthen this country and build on the ruins of the previous society, you will achieve a totally different result. [Applause.] If their intention is that one, we would welcome working with them, but I doubt that. [Interjections.]
An HON MEMBER: Madam Speaker, what about the basic income grant?
The MINISTER FOR JUSTICE AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Madam Speaker, maybe you want it, but I do not think that you are a deserving person! [Applause.] [Laughter.]
Mr W J SEREMANE: Madam Speaker, hon President and hon members, in 1996, President Mbeki memorably declared, ``I am an African,’’ in a speech here in this House. As the ditty in the townships goes:
I am an African watsho uThabo Mbeki. I am an African, walandela uDe klerk, walandela uLeon, walandela uMakwetu
History was made, and so was the commitment to a social contract made in continuance and affirmation of the Kempton Park Codesa miracle. It was shared by leaders of all parties and enthusiastically supported by our people.
At the recent ANC conference, the President again declared that:
People of South Africa made a common determination that our country belongs to all who live in it, black and white, and that they refuse to be enslaved by the divisions and antagonisms of the past.
But, if I were to say it in Afrikaans, ``Meer daad as woord,’’ [Deeds rather than words] is what is needed. Paying lip service and nothing more to nonracial and democratic ideas is the highest form of deception and hypocrisy. Once such pronouncements have been made and enshrined in our Constitution, then they must be upheld and defended in both letter and spirit. Playing the race card or resorting to subtle and covert tribalism or ethnicity is total dishonesty and a betrayal of the sacred bond we made with one another in 1994. [Interjections.]
I guess there is still this malady of slaying the bearer of the bad news. We must eradicate racism and its crafty evil twin, tribalism or ethnicity. It is only through adherence to the Constitution that perceptions such as the Rex factor, Xhosa nostra, Makwenyapone diatribe and racist tendencies bedevilling nonracialism will be dispelled.
The ANC Government should desist from breathing life into the morbid organ of racism and tribalism as a means of achieving sectarian goals. Yet, when the President is in a corner - he seems most likely to be in a corner these days - he plays the race card. I quote:
The white Commonwealth
is how he demonises South African allies, Britain, Australia, not forgetting the hated ultraleft, neoliberals etc. The ANC marches on the American consulate in South Africa in the very country that passes the AGOA and brought 40 000 new jobs into our textile industry. Judge people by their actions and not by their skin pigmentation or cultural background. [Interjections.]
Mr President, we all agree that poverty is one of the country’s top priority items amongst other sociopolitical and economic ills that beset our beloved country. It takes more than rhetoric and slogans to push the frontiers of poverty back. Black economic empowerment is important but it must not mean the enrichment of a tiny elite amid a sea of poverty.
All our people need to start tasting the fruits of empowerment. No one can make them rich overnight, but we must start making a dent in the levels of deprivation and poverty. People should not rely on party membership or membership cards to have access to opportunities of self-development. Take heed of our proposal for the basic income grant and of our proposal for opportunity vouchers for the young unemployed. Let us use these policies to protect our people from indignity and fear, and alleviate the frustration of school-leavers forced to roam the streets for lack of employment.
The real constructive way for empowerment and transformation is to create new opportunities for everyone who is willing to uplift him or herself. No one, not a single person, committed to working hard and playing by the rules should be left behind. Our position must be clear: Empowerment and opportunity for all the people, not simply for a select few. Empowerment must know no colour and must be for the benefit of people without looking at the specific pigmentation.
To compete successfully in the competitive global village, merit should be the norm, and not race, colour or gender. Mediocrity has no place in a nation that seeks to be a winning nation and a better place for all. In rectifying injustices and imbalances, we must not fall victim to the very trap of the sins of apartheid or racism that rendered the powerless as hewers of wood and drawers of water, objects of marginalisation and social degradation. The abuse of power in Zimbabwe and elsewhere attests to this danger.
I think it was the sage, hon Rolihlahla Mandela, who said: ``When you fight evil, be careful that you do not end up being tainted by the very evil yourself … ‘’ or words to some such effect.
Let us pay tribute to all South Africans who have contributed positively in their own various ways to this most valuable democracy that we all cherish. We remember, too, the heroes and heroines who do not necessarily have to belong to the ANC. It is also very true that they also served those who waited. We also remember those liberation fighters across the political spectrum who lay languishing in remote areas and the ghettos, forgotten by privileged people like you. Forget them not, for they are our brothers and sisters. [Applause.] Mr M R BALOYI: Madam Speaker, Comrade President and the hon House, Ndza mi losa [I greet you]. As people of this country, we understand the cause of the current political dispensation - the fact that all enabling legislation and policies are there to give effect to the directives of the highest law of the land, our Constitution, and the fact that our actions as implementers are guided to realise the constitutional objectives.
It is on the basis of this understanding that we are ready, as a nation, to say that our President could not have been more correct and timely than when he stated in his address that the tide has turned. Unlike in the past, today we have a wall-to-wall structure of our municipalities with distinct powers and competencies and strategically located where service delivery is taking place.
The co-operative government clause of our Constitution prescribes that the provincial and national spheres of government should work closely with the local sphere. The practical situation reflects a reality that whereas there is compliance with broad principles of co-operative governance, some local municipalities do not always have a say on the timing, the pace and the scope of service delivery programmes by the other spheres of government, let alone the parastatals. In this regard, it will be proper if we were to consider prescribing a compulsory service delivery agreement to be entered into between municipalities and any other party that has a programme of service delivery. I say so because the service delivery agreement referred to in the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act deals only with such service delivery issues that are the competencies of municipalities.
We acknowledge that whereas most, if not all, our municipalities have finalised their integrated development plans, there is still a challenge for some of them to get them implemented, owing either to capacity or resource constraints, and we hope that the central and provincial spheres of government will lend a helping hand to this sphere of our system of governance.
The other challenge facing some of our municipalities is the fact that there are still demarcation disputes that have to be resolved, some of which need to be prioritised. Another reality is that with all the limited resources and challenges, the majority of our municipalities are delivering a qualitative service. The Rustenburg local municipality in the North West province signed a memorandum of understanding with the Royal Bafokeng administration, thereby providing a model that confirms that it is possible for a local government to co-exist and function in co-operation with the institution of a traditional nature, and that the existence of one does not necessarily lead to the disappearance of the other.
Allow me to spend some time focusing on the White Paper on Traditional Leadership and Governance. This is a policy document, the drawing of which is meant to deal with the complexities associated with the historical distortions on the role and place of this institution, as a precursor to enable Parliament to enact national framework legislation and provinces to enact provincial legislation to deal with their specific needs. We want to put it on record that the draft White Paper is a product of wider consultation as follows: All interested stakeholders were requested to comment on the discussion paper. Traditional leaders were consulted, to the extent of holding bilateral meetings with them: A conference was organised and traditional leaders attended. A task team was appointed to evaluate the submissions to the draft White Paper and traditional leaders were part of it. Public hearings were held. The final submission to Cabinet is thus a synthesis of submissions and the original proposal in which the task team participated.
Those South Africans, and possibly some members of this House, who argue that traditional leaders were not consulted have their facts wrong, either due to party-political agendas or patronage. Once more, we want to put it on record that it is simply not true that Government’s intention with the White Paper process is to diminish the institution of traditional leadership and governance and the following serve to prove this point:
The institution is recognised by the Constitution; there are provincial and national houses of traditional leaders; there is provision for traditional leaders to participate in the activities of local government structures; the White Paper proposes that committees be established at the district municipality level so as to get them participating; the Government retained the policy of paying traditional leaders; the White Paper commits the Government to ensure that their involvement in government policies is actually guaranteed; the White Paper commits the Government to build the capacity of traditional leaders. We want to remind some people that if they understand the institution of traditional governance to be an embodiment of our diverse cultures, then they should also understand that culture itself is dynamic and adaptive. We also want to make a call to the people of South Africa to understand that issues of traditional leadership and governance are not the exclusive responsibilities of traditional leaders and members of royal families. These are issues of the community and we need to actually participate in them.
Ndzi rhandza ku gimeta nkanelo wa mina hi ku kongomisa eka Nawumbisi wa ku nyiketiwa ka vun’wini bya misava eka vanhu, lowu wu nga ku kaneriweni hi ku rhangeriwa hi Ndzawulo ya swa Misava. Xikongomelo xa Nawumbisi lowu i ku vuyisela vun’wini bya misava lebyi nga emavokweni ya Mfumo, ku nga vun’wini lebyi kumekaka eka tindhawu leti a ti fumiwa hi Trust ya Matiko-xikaya thlelo byi khomiwile hi tihosi.
Hi ku ya hi Nawumbisi lowu, Mfumo wu ta susa vun’wini bya misava eka wona, wu byi nyiketa tiko kumbe eka ntlawa wa vanhu kumbe eka munhu hi un’we- un’we ku ya hileswaku i mani a tirhisaka xiyenge xihi xa misava. Loko u ri munhu u ri na nsimu ya wena, yi ta nyikiwa wena leswaku u ta swi kota ku yi tsarisa na le ka vatsarisi va vun’wini bya misava leswaku u ta kota ku yi tirhisa hi ndlela yo bindzurisa.
Loko tiko ri ri na ndhawu leyi tirhisiwaka ku dyisela swifuwo, ri ta pfumeleriwa ku teka vun’wini bya ndhawu yoleyo leswaku yi tsarisiwa tano na le tibukwini ta nawu. Loko u ri munhu u ri na xitandi xa wena laha u tshamaka kona, u ta kuma vun’wini bya xitandi xolexo ku fana na lava kumekaka emadorobeni.
A hi seketeleni Nawumbisi lowu naswona ndzi rhandza ku hlohletela Swirho swa Palamende leswaku hi tirhisa tihofisi ta hina ta ti-constituency le makaya ku hlamusela vanhu ntiyiso hi mhaka leyi hikuva loko hi nga endli tano hi ta siyiwa hi vanhu lava va fambaka va xisa vanhu va ku Nawumbisi lowu i xinghunghumani lexi taka xi ri na xikongomelo xo tekela tihosi vun’wini bya misava, va rivala leswaku vun’wini a byi ri na Mfumo naswona bya ha ri na Mfumo na sweswi na leswaku tihosi a a ti khomisiwile vulawuri bya misava ku nga ri vun’wini.
Lexi Mfumo wu endlaka xona hi Nawumbisi lowu hileswaku un’wana na un’wana u ta tikhomela hi yexe leswi swi nga swa yena. Vukosi byi ta tshama bya ha ri kona hilaha ku nga heriki byi ri karhi byi hi fuma hi khomile hi hexe leswi nga swa hina. Tiko ri nga xisiwi i misava ya rona! (Translation of Tsonga paragraphs follows.)
[I wish to conclude my debate by referring you to the Bill on the transfer of ownership of land to the people. This Bill is currently the subject of discussions that are being led by the Department of Land Affairs.
The aim of this Bill is to return the ownership of land to the people. At present the ownership of land rests with the Government. This is the ownership of places which were controlled by the trust in rural areas and at the same time these areas were controlled by traditional chiefs.
In terms of this Bill the Government will transfer ownership of land to the people or to a group of people or to individual people in accordance with who is making use of which portion of the land. If you perhaps have a field of your own, that field will be given to you so that you may be in a position to register it with the Deeds Registrar. In so doing, one would be in a position to use it productively in a commercial way.
If there is some land that is used for grazing purposes, people will be allowed to take over ownership of the land in that particular area so that such ownership of land could be registered officially. If a person has a residential site where he or she is residing, he or she will be given ownership of that residential site, like people staying in urban areas.
Let us support this Bill. I would like to encourage hon members of Parliament to make use of our offices in our constituencies at home for explaining to our people the truth in regard to this matter. If we do not do that, we are going to be left behind by people who go round spreading false information, saying that this Bill is a monster that is coming to take away ownership of land from our traditional chiefs, yet forgetting that all along the ownership of land was with the Government and up to the present moment is still with the Government. Furthermore, chiefs were given the powers to control the land and not the rights of ownership of land.
What the Government is doing with this Bill is to ensure that every individual will personally own what belongs to him or her. Chieftainship is here to stay forever, and is going to rule us while holding that which belongs to us. People should not be cheated; it is their land.]
Dr P W A MULDER: Madam Deputy Speaker, every day on my way to Parliament, I drive past people sitting on street corners, asking me with their eyes for a job - strong, healthy men and women. If you look closely, you can see the despair and the hopelessness in their eyes. They are fathers and mothers that must support their families. In their own eyes, they are failing their families. If we can solve this problem and create jobs, most other problems in this country will be easy to solve.
Dignity will return to these men and women, and crime statistics will come down. Therefore, the FF supports the measures announced by the President to stimulate economic growth. I counted more than 10 different initiatives mentioned in his speech in this regard, and we hope that they can be successfully implemented to solve this problem.
Dubbele standaarde maak mense kwaad. Kom ek gee vir u ‘n voorbeeld: volgens Amerika se media is Pakistan se militêre diktator, met atoomwapens, goed en aanvaarbaar, omdat Amerika Pakistan nodig gehad het om Afganistan in te val. Die diktator Sadam Hoessein is om baie redes nie aanvaarbaar nie. Natuurlik is dit dubbele standaarde. Osama bin Laden was ‘n vryheidsvegter volgens die Amerikaanse media toe Amerika hom gebruik en bewapen het om teen die Sowjetmagte in Afganistan te veg. Osama bin Laden is nou ‘n terroris, omdat hy teen Amerika veg, volgens dieselfde media.
Die internasionale politiek is vol dubbele standaarde. Die enigste reël in die internasional politiek is dat lande vir hulle eie belange kies. Daarom is die VF se standpunt in alle internasionale sake, maar ook spesifiek in die Irak krisis: Suid-Afrika moet kies wat in die beste belang van Suid- Afrika is. Daarom sal ons ‘n fout maak as ons kant kies vir Sadam Hoessein. Dit beteken nie dat Suid-Afrika nou vir die VSA moet kant kies nie. Suid- Afrika behoort vir Suid-Afrika se beste belange te kies. Daardie belang is tans dat ons nie betrokke raak in ‘n oorlog duisende kilometer van ons af nie. [Tussenwerpsels.]
Waar Irak vêr is, is Zimbabwe naby. As ons dieselfde toets gebruik ten opsigte van Zimbabwe, moet ons hier wel kies. [Tussenwerpsels.] Waar dit in Suid-Afrika se belang is om nie kant te kies in Irak nie, is dit in Suid- Afrika se belang om kant te kies in Zimbabwe. [Tussenwerpsels.] In Zimbabwe moet ons kies vir demokrasie, ons moet kies vir menseregte en ons moet kies vir die ``rule of law’’. Dan kan Nepad slaag, dan sal Suid-Afrika die nodige internasionale vertroue opbou en die nodige beleggings kry om meer werk te kan skep, want dit is hoekom dit in ons belang is om reg te kies. Maar dit beteken om teen president Mugabe te kies. Deur nie ten opsigte van Zimbabwe te kies nie, verloor ons elke dag ‘n verdere deel van die beeld wat Suid-Afrika sedert 1994 opgebou het as ‘n demokratiese land.
President Mbeki het gesê:
It is for the people of Zimbabwe to decide who will govern them, not for us to prescribe.
Ek stem daarmee saam, maar dan moet dit ‘n demokratiese, billike manier wees waarop gekies word. Daarom stem ek nie saam met president Obasanjo as hy in sy brief die indruk skep dat alles normaal is in Zimbabwe nie. President Obasanjo aanvaar president Mugabe se beloftes van hervorming. Dit is nie goed genoeg nie. President Mugabe kan net aan werklike dade gemeet word, en daarvan sien ek niks nie.
Ek is ook moeg daarvoor dat die Zimbabwe-krisis altyd deur ‘n rassebril bekyk word. Kom ons haal die blanke boere en die grondhervormings uit, ter wille van die argument. Wat bly dan oor? Die oorblywende probleem het niks met ras te doen nie. Dit is eenvoudige probleme van demokratiese oneerlikheid en van menseregteskendings.
Die nuutste sensus in Zimbabwe wys dat in die vorige verkiesing daar 1,8 miljoen kiesers gestem het wat nie bestaan het nie. Spookkiesers. Hulle is nie daar nie. Dit is oneerlike demokrasie. Elke hofsaak in Zimbabwe oor ongerymdhede in die verkiesing, is deur die opposisie gewen. Gaan kyk. Sewe van president Mugabe se parlementslede het reeds so hulle setels verloor, en nog 23 hofsake kom. Dit is alles bewyse van oneerlike demokrasie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Double standards make people angry. Let me give you an example: According to the American media, Pakistan’s military dictator, with atomic weapons, is good and acceptable, because America needed Pakistan to invade Afghanistan. The dictator Saddam Hussein is unacceptable for many reasons. Naturally, this implies double standards. Osama bin Laden was a freedom fighter according to the American media when America used and armed him to fight against the Soviet forces in Afghanistan. According to the same media, Osama bin Laden is now a terrorist because he is fighting against America.
International politics is full of double standards. The only rule in international politics is that countries make choices for their own interests. Therefore the FF’s position in all international matters, but also specifically in the Iraqi crisis is this: South Africa must choose what is in the best interests of South Africa. We would therefore be making a mistake if we chose Saddam Hussein’s side. This does not mean that South Africa must take the USA’s side. South Africa should decide in favour of South Africa’s best interests. That interest is currently that we not become involved in a war thousands of kilometres away. [Interjections.]
While Iraq is far away, Zimbabwe is nearby. If we apply the same test with regard to Zimbabwe, in this case we must choose. [Interjections.] While it is in South Africa’s interests not to take sides in Iraq, it is in South Africa’s interests to take sides in Zimbabwe. [Interjections.] In Zimbabwe we must take the side of democracy, we must choose human rights and we must choose the rule of law. Nepad can then succeed, and then South Africa will build the necessary international confidence and obtain the necessary investments to be able to create more jobs, because that is why it is in our interests to choose correctly. But this means choosing against President Mugabe. By not choosing with regard to Zimbabwe, each day we lose another piece of the image which South Africa has built up as a democratic country since 1994.
President Mbeki has said:
It is for the people of Zimbabwe to decide who will govern them, not for us to prescribe.
I agree with that, but then a choice must be made in a democratic, reasonable manner. For this reason I do not agree with President Obasanjo when he creates the impression in his letter that everything is normal in Zimbabwe. President Obasanjo accepts President Mugabe’s promises of reform. That is not good enough. President Mugabe can only be measured by real deeds, and I have seen none of those.
I am also tired of the Zimbabwean crisis always being looked at from a racial perspective. For the sake of the argument, let us take white farmers and the land reforms out. What remains? The remaining question has nothing to do with race. It involves simple problems of democratic dishonesty and of human rights violations.
The latest census in Zimbabwe indicates that in the previous election 1,8 million voters who did not exist voted. Ghost voters. They are not there. That is dishonest democracy. Every court case in Zimbabwe about irregularities in the election was won by the opposition. Have a look. Seven of President Mugabe’s members of parliament have already lost their seats in this way, and another 23 court cases will still be heard. This is all evidence of dishonest democracy.]
Virtually every member of the national executive of the MDC has been brought to court on one charge or another. This is harassment. Fletcher Dulini-Ncube, the Treasurer General of the MDC, was held in solitary confinement for five months. He lost an eye, his diabetes was not treated, and he lost part of his hearing. In 2002, not a single prosecution has taken place in respect of the 300 or so political killings. Even more cases of torture have occurred since the start of this campaign. All of these were not cases of black on white, or white on black, but black on black.
Mnr Malusi Gigaba van die ANC-jeugliga beweer die MDC is ‘n rassistiese skepping. Volgens hierdie logika beheer ‘n paar duisend wittes miljoene swartes, want al die probleme het begin toe president Mugabe die referendum verloor het in 2000. Ons weet mos dit is nie so eenvoudig nie. Deur hierdie referendum wou hy baie ekstra magte kry, maar hy kon nie wen nie. Dink u dit is moontlik dat minder as 1% mense die res so kon manipuleer?
Mnr Gigaba sê omdat ek wit is, mag ek nie kritiek oor Zimbabwe uitspreek nie. Dit is rassisme! Omdat ek van Afrika is, en omdat ek op Afrika wil trots wees, is Zimbabwe vir my ‘n verleentheid wat ek nie in die buiteland kan verdedig nie. U moet gaan probeer, nie omdat dit ‘n swart-wit probleem is nie, maar omdat dit ‘n menseregte- en demokrasie probleem is. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.) [Mr Malusi Gigaba of the ANC Youth League alleges that the MDC is a racist creation. According to this logic a few thousand whites control millions of blacks, because all the problems began when President Mugabe lost the referendum in 2000. Surely we know that it is not so simple. He wanted to obtain many extra powers by way of this referendum, but he could not win. Do you think it is possible that less than 1% of the people could manipulate the rest in this way?
Mr Gigaba says that because I am white I may not express criticism about Zimbabwe. That is racism! Because I am from Africa, and because I want to be proud of Africa, Zimbabwe is an embarrassment to me which I cannot defend abroad. You should go and try, not because it is a black-white problem, but because it is a human rights and democracy problem.]
With the launch of the African Union in Durban, July last year, president Mbeki said:
Through our actions let us proclaim to the world that this is a continent of democracy, a continent of democratic institutions and culture, indeed, a continent of good governance, where the people participate and the rule of law is upheld. The FF supports this statement wholeheartedly, but we will fight against those that oppose this, and therefore the comments that I made.
Tot op datum het ek in my toesprake nie onnodig opposisiepartye in hierdie Raad aangeval nie. Tog het die leier van die Nuwe NP, mnr Marthinus van Schalkwyk, dit nodig geag om verlede jaar ‘n aanval op my, en die VF, te loods. Hy het verskeie valse stellings die wêreld ingestuur. Ek is jammer dat hy nie hier kan wees dat ons van aangesig tot aangesig daaroor kan praat nie.
Die vraag is: waarom is die kiesers klaar met die Nuwe NP? Dit is nie noodwendig omdat hulle met die ANC saamwerk nie. Mnr F W de Klerk het dit reeds in 1994 gedoen. Hulle is klaar met die Nuwe NP omdat hulle deur die Nuwe NP verkul voel as gevolg van hul dubbele standaarde. Ek gee vir u ‘n voorbeeld: in 2000 spreek mnr Stofile die Oos-Kaapse Nuwe NP kongres toe, mnr Manie Schoeman sal daarvan onthou. Dit veroorsaak ‘n krisis. Die joernalis Theuns van der Westhuizen van Die Burger voer ‘n onderhoud met mnr Van Schalkwyk om die saak te probeer regstel. U kan gaan kyk, 18 Maart 2000.
Ek haal uit die onderhoud aan:
Oor gerugte en beskuldigings dat die Nuwe NP leierskap ter wille van persoonlike ambisies en posisies ‘n samewerkingsooreenkoms met die ANC sal aanknoop ten koste van die party en sy ondersteuners, het Van Schalkwyk skerp veroordelend gereageer:
Dit is ‘n storie wat uit die DP geledere aangedra word. Daar is ‘n mooi manier om daarop te reageer, en die Afrikaanse manier is om sommer te sê: dit is absolute twak!
Dan verwys hy na die VF. Hy sê:
Die Vryheidsfront was vir ons ‘n illustrasie en ‘n aanskouingsles van ‘n strategie wat dikwels van die ANC se kant af isÿ.ÿ.ÿ. om jou te koöpteer en stil te maak deur jou te betrek in strukture.
Dit is die probleem wat die kiesers ervaar: na watter kant toe?
Ek het hier ‘n knipsel van 12 dae voor die verkiesing in Desember 2000. Die opskrif sê:
Hou die Wes-Kaap uit die ANC se hande.
Hierdie stelling word toegedig aan mnr Van Schalkwyk. Dan gee hy vyf redes waarom Wes-Kaapse kiesers op 5 Desember moet stem om die ANC weg te hou. Die eerste rede, byvoorbeeld, lui:
Stede soos Johannesburg, waar die ANC regeer, verval vinnig tot krotbuurte.
Wat maak die kiesers? Die kiesers luister na mnr Van Schalkwyk se oproep en hulle stem in 2000 sodat die ANC uit die Wes-Kaap gehou word. Dan skryf Die Burger hoe daar vonkelwyn geskink word ná die oorwinning, en twee jaar later skryf Die Burger weer hoe daar vonkelwyn geskink word toe die ANC oorneem. Dit is die probleem. Moenie met my baklei daaroor nie. U moet gaan verduidelik na buite. Dit is die probleem en dit is wat die kiesers aan my sê. Hulle sê dat hulle verkul voel. [Tussenwerpsels.] Dit is dubbele standaarde.
In sy toespraak het president Mbeki ‘n oorsig gegee oor die afgelope 10 jaar. Volgens hom was dit ‘n dekade van vryheid, van transformasie en van regstellende aksie.
Die vraag wat jong Afrikaners aan my stel is: hoe lyk die volgende 10 jaar vorentoe? Hulle ervaar regstellende aksie ook as dubbele standaarde, ongeag u argumente. ``Gaan regstellende aksie nog 10 jaar aanhou?’’ vra hulle my. Hulle wil ook weet hoekom regstellende aksie slegs op hulle van toepassing is. Meeste van hulle weet nie wie P W Botha of F W de Klerk is nie. Gaan toets hulle. Vanjaar se matrikulante is skool toe in 1992. Toe was die ANC reeds twee jaar ontban. Wanneer word Suid-Afrika ‘n normale land waar daar geen diskriminasie op grond van ras is nie - soos die Grondwet teoreties sê. Tans is dit nie waar nie. Tans ervaar jong Afrikaners omgekeerde diskriminasie, en ek kan u voorbeeld na voorbeeld bring.
Ek hoor al die mooi argumente in hierdie Raad van hoe dit behoort te werk. In die praktyk werk dit nie so nie. Ek kry skokkende briewe - een na die ander. Onlangs was daar ‘n brief in die koerant van ‘n jong dame wat met ‘n gemiddelde-A matriek geslaag het. Nieteenstaande haar prestasies kan sy nie studiebeurse kry nie, en kon sy nie toelating kry tot sekere studierigtings nie. [Tussenwerpsels.] ‘n Vriendin van haar, wat saam met haar in dieselfde skool was, wat swart is, en wie se ouers ryker is as haar ouers, het al die moontlike geleenthede gekry, en sy vra vir my hoe ‘n mens dit verduidelik.
Kom ons stel hierdie jongmense vry van regstellende aksie in die volgende dekade. Kom ons stel ‘n doeldatum en ons sê: nou is alles oop. U sal verbaas wees hoe die jongmense sal reageer daarop. Maak dit vir my moontlik om drome oor Suid-Afrika te droom. Maak dit vir jongmense moontlik om opgewonde oor die toekoms te wees. Maak dit moontlik dat ons vir almal ‘n plek in die son kan skep. Tans ervaar ons dit nie so nie, en ervaar hulle dit nie so nie. Ons het al die potensiaal om dit wel te kan doen. Dit is binne ons vermoë. Ek dank u. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[To date I have not attacked opposition parties unnecessarily in this Chamber. Yet the leader of the New NP, Mr Marthinus van Schalkwyk, considered it necessary to launch an attack on me and the FF last year. He conveyed to the world various false statements. I am sorry that he could not be here so that we could talk about it face to face.
The question is: Why are the voters finished with the New NP? It is not necessarily because they are working with the ANC. Mr F W de Klerk did that in 1994 already. They are finished with the New NP because they feel cheated by the New NP as a result of their double standards. I will give you an example: In 2000 Mr Stofile addressed the Eastern Cape New NP congress, and Mr Manie Schoeman will remember that. This caused a crisis. The journalist Theuns van der Westhuizen from Die Burger held an interview with Mr Van Schalkwyk to try to put the matter right. You can have a look, it was on 18 March 2000.
I quote from the interview:
Oor gerugte en beskuldigings dat die Nuwe NP leierskap ter wille van persoonlike ambisies en posisies ‘n samewerkingsooreenkoms met die ANC sal aanknoop ten koste van die party en sy ondersteuners, het Van Schalkwyk skerp veroordelend gereageer:
Dit is ‘n storie wat uit die DP geledere aangedra word. Daar is ‘n mooi manier om daarop te reageer, en die Afrikaanse manier is om sommer te sê: dit is absolute twak!
He then refers to the FF. He says:
Die Vryheidsfront was vir ons ‘n illustrasie en ‘n aanskouingsles van ‘n strategie wat dikwels van die ANC se kant af is … om jou te koöpteer en stil te maak deur jou te betrek in strukture.
That is the problem which the voters are experiencing: Which way now?
I have here a cutting from 12 days before the election in December 2000. The headline reads:
Hou die Wes-Kaap uit die ANC se hande.
This statement is attributed to Mr Van Schalkwyk. He then gives five reasons why Western Cape voters should vote to keep the ANC away on 5 December. The first reason, for example, reads: Stede soos Johannesburg, waar die ANC regeer, verval vinnig tot krotbuurte.
What did the voters do? The voters listened to Mr Van Schalkwyk’s call and voted in 2000 so that the ANC was kept out of the Western Cape. Die Burger then wrote about how champagne was poured after the victory, and two years later Die Burger once again wrote about how champagne was poured when the ANC took over. That is the problem. Do not argue with me about it. You must go and explain outside. That is the problem and that is what the voters are telling me. They are telling me that they feel cheated. [Interjections.] That is double standards.
In his speech President Mbeki gave an overview of the past 10 years. According to him it was a decade of freedom, of transformation and of affirmative action.
The question that young Afrikaners put to me is: How will the next 10 years look? They also experience affirmative action as double standards, irrespective of your arguments. They ask me: ``Is affirmative action going to continue for another 10 years?’’ They also want to know why affirmative action is only applicable to them. Most of them do not know who P W Botha or F W de Klerk are. Go and test them. This year’s matriculants went to school in 1992. The ANC had then already been unbanned for two years. When will South Africa become a normal country where there is no discrimination on the basis of race - as the Constitution theoretically says? Currently this is not true. Currently young Afrikaners experience reverse discrimination, and I can bring you example after example.
I have heard all the lovely arguments in this Chamber about how it should work. In practice it does not work that way. I receive shocking letters - one after the other. Recently there was a letter in the newspaper about a young lady who passed Matric with an A aggregate. Notwithstanding her achievements she cannot get bursaries to study, and she could not obtain entrance to certain directions of study. [Interjections.] A friend of hers, who was in the same school as her, who is black, and whose parents are richer than her parents, has had all the possible opportunities, and she asks me how one explains that.
Let us liberate these young people from affirmative action in the coming decade. Let us set a target date and say: Now everything is open. You will be amazed at how the young people will react to that. Make it possible for me to dream dreams about South Africa. Make it possible for young people to be excited about the future. Make it possible for us to create a place in the sun for everyone. Currently we are not experiencing it in this way, and they are not experiencing it in this way. We have all the potential to be able to do it. It is within our ability. I thank you. [Applause.]]
Ms J MOLOI: Madam Speaker, the President of the Republic, Deputy President, members, ladies and gentlemen, as we move towards the first decade to celebrate our country’s freedom in April next year, the struggle to eradicate poverty and underdevelopment remains fundamental. This is in order to achieve our national goal of building a caring and people-centred society. Our legislative institutions are mandated to deliver a quality set of laws for the people of South Africa, and to ensure that these laws are implemented efficiently and effectively in a way that is responsive to the needs of the citizens.
The President emphasised in his previous address that:
We have to help to lift, from the shoulders of our people, the intolerable burden of poverty and underdevelopment, and the eradication of a centuries-old legacy of colonialism, of racism and of apartheid.
In order to actualise this reality, we are engaged in a social transformation process, actively aimed at broadening the front for reconstruction and development.
We engage with various communities in our constituencies. I interacted with a group of youth activists in a place called Orange Farm. It is a developing settlement in Gauteng. This youth group indicated their eagerness to engage with practical programmes to bring about positive change in the lives of people living in that area. They had teamed up with all existing youth formations and NGOs to form a youth development forum, with the aim to eradicate poverty and further develop the place in order to improve the lives of people in that locality.
They have identified amongst themselves what they need, the skills they have, and the skills they require to live up to the challenges they are faced with. They have volunteered to take up other programmes and campaigns in the past. For instance, they were part of the Letsema campaign. This was in order to test their ability to deliver on projects. For instance, they have been part of the basic income grant campaign, and they have realised that many people who qualify for the grant are not in possession of identity documents.
They took this up as a challenge to pursue the second phase of the campaign. The introduction of the community development worker by the President and the establishment of multipurpose centres will match correctly to reduce costs in travelling and related costs to obtain IDs for communities such as those, because the belief is that, as citizens of South Africa, they have a right to their identity. In their attempt to push back the frontiers of poverty in Orange Farm, they want to build SMMEs, they want to form co-operatives, and they want to have their business initiatives rated amongst the highly successful within the arena of black economic enterprises. These young men and women want to develop their own communities by creating jobs right where they live. They are not prepared to go around scouting for jobs.
On the idea of the growth and development summit, their opinion is that the
same process should filter through to the local level, in order for them to
create partnerships with Government and business. They remain ready and
positive of a fruitful outcome of this exercise. Like the youth on 16 June
1976 who said, We do not want Afrikaans under those conditions'', the
youth in Orange Farm say,We do not want poverty any more’’, and they are
willing to fight it themselves.
It is therefore evident and it is clear that our economic vision should be aimed at fundamentally transforming our society. This includes strengthening state power and transforming the state machinery to serve the cause of social change, to pursue economic growth, development and redistribution and to improve the quality of lives.
This is evident from the three phases of our economic development. The first phase was the RDP, which was tasked with promoting economic growth and improving human conditions through comprehensive measures to deliver services. The second one was growth, employment, and redistribution, emphasising a shift towards achieving microeconomic stability by striving to achieve a budget deficit of 6% or less and single-digit inflation. The third was introduced in 2001 by the President and emphasised further in his speech, which indicates emphasis from macroeconomic stability to microeconomic reform, the thrust being unemployment and poverty.
The reality of our country’s outlook requires us to understand our dual economy that has both a formal and an informal sector. Job losses in the informal sector have a devastating effect on the informal sector, and we do not have to lament about that. But we can actually say what initiatives we have. Co-operatives are now being emphasised as an urgent necessity for active, equitable participation of both men and women. We need to understand that co-operatives are based on values of self-help, of mutual understanding, of equity and equality. These democratic establishments have the potential to accelerate the socioeconomic process and create an enabling environment for the alleviation of poverty. Legislation on the co- ops is due to be passed later this year by this House. The importance of the SMMEs, the small, medium and micro-enterprises, as a vehicle to create jobs and provide access to business, cannot be ignored.
It has been reported that only a small percentage of Government programmes has reached the SMMEs since inception. Part of the problem lies in the fact that programmes are not aimed at very small or micro business. For example, Khula’s main focus is on medium and small businesses. A new institution to deal with micro and very small businesses is needed. We therefore welcome the President’s announcement on the introduction of the Apex Fund to finance micro-enterprises, and the impending legislation to change the Small Business Act.
It is important again to mention that the current plans, programmes and initiatives have taken a cluster approach in which an integrated strategy for the informal sector, for the co-operatives and small business, are spelled out clearly. In this regard, it is also important to note that the success of the implementation of this strategy would be complemented by active engagements of MPs in their constituencies to benefit the communities involved.
We should have a common vision and clear objectives on support mechanisms, and strive to enhance the spirit of entrepreneurship as well as introduce civil service/community development workers that would reinforce the programmes of Government. As a challenge, when we talk about industrial policy, the conceptual debate should be to capture whether a manufacturing or industrial strategy is addressing the existing industrial structure. If so, we have to help to find answers on the implications for the possible future development paths of the economy.
The DTI has introduced an integrated manufacturing strategy as part of the action plan announced by the President in 2001. They outlined the need for co-ordinated government interventions. The key performance areas of this plan include black economic empowerment, small business development, employment and the geographic spread of the economy. Through these guidelines, the DTI places manufacturing at the centre of the economy and emphasises the need to increase value-adding.
Clearly, a coherent plan to take collective action forward for implementation is a core element of this strategy. The IMS is a crucial platform on which to build a collective approach to achieve the goals of employment generation, and broad-based, more equitable growth. The strategy identifies the challenge in terms of the dualistic nature of South Africa’s economy. There is a need that the visible and concrete benefits from the industrial strategy should be realised in underdeveloped and rural areas of the economy.
Seo re se hlalosang mona ke hore ha re tla kena ho Industrial Development, ho tla ba bohlokwa hore e sebetsa haholo ho dinaha mahae. [What we are explaining here is that when we get into Industrial Development, it could be of great importance to make use of rural areas.]
The industrial strategy should seek to improve the cost competitiveness in the developed economy, and the realisation of potential in the underdeveloped parts of the economy, which represents the experience of a large portion of South Africans. In addition, this strategy needs to address the absence of a substantive treatment of gender. For example, there is a need to customise support programmes to take account of current gender profiles and problems in promoting gender equality, specific to industries or sectors to which they are applied.
We will continue to engage constructively with all stakeholders to strengthen the industrial policy framework to help achieve the full potential of South Africa’s economy. On the issue of black economic empowerment, the envisaged strategy document and policy guidelines would provide the broad parameters of empowerment. We are of the opinion that this integrated approach to empowerment would be in the best interests of our modern and global competitive economy. However, to make this a reality, certain key issues must be clearly addressed.
The first issue, the opportunities for greater economic participation in all sectors by BEE participants, must be outlined by all sectors at all levels, from central Government, parastatals, state-owned enterprises, and major corporations. Secondly, the concept of scorecards, meaningful measurement and control of participation must be clearly monitored, evaluated and controlled. To this end, credible black organisations and black professional bodies must play an important role in exposing BEE’s engaged in fronting and window-dressing.
Thirdly, a mechanism must be created whereby the lethargy and the indifference of bureaucracy is speeded up. A fair amount of BEE business appears to have problems on Government BEE initiatives because, in the past, when problems developed, there was a little bit of a problem around bureaucracy when they were actually approached. Solutions were not really forthcoming. In numerous cases that are encountered presently, old white firms are still being awarded large contracts at the expense of blacks, under the same pretext that I have indicated.
Parliament must play a vital role in protecting people’s rights and, furthermore, ensuring visible and meaningful transfer of economic power. A mechanism must be created whereby BEE participants themselves can report any hindrances, and ensure that corrective actions are taken to expedite the BEE process. We anticipate that the proposed legislation will be promulgated very soon.
The building of a truly nonracial, nonsexist and prosperous South Africa, and the genuine emancipation of our people, depend on how we implement our tasks.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Order! May I please request hon members to lower their voices. There is a speaker in front of us.
Ms J MOLOI: We need to improve the capacity of the state to meet its obligations to citizens, giving a spur to drivers on economic growth and job creation, broadening the access to social services and improving their quality, improving international solidarity and contributing to building a better life for all.
The New Partnership for Africa’s Development is a comprehensive developmental programme for Africa and it strives to promote accelerated growth, to eradicate widespread severe poverty, and to bring to a halt the marginalisation of Africa in the globalisation process. The South African legislative institutions have established themselves in a very short space of time, and many challenges still confront us in this regard.
It is therefore imperative to mention some of these challenges facing us and outline them as follows: The restructuring of the financial sector and effective use of savings in the Government budget; the unemployment problems, especially the creation of sufficient jobs; our definition of the informal sector; constructive interventions at all levels of government; the land issue, and the skills audit.
In conclusion, I would like to mention that development in this country is a must, and we are ready to implement legislation and decisions around the eradication of poverty. We do not want to play on the emotions of people and pretend that we are the best sympathisers to their cause. The people down there know that they are custodians of the policies that we have developed and, together with them, we will make sure that we remain steadfast in the quest to eradicate poverty and underdevelopment in ensuring a better life for all. [Applause.]
Mr I S MFUNDISI: Madam Deputy Speaker, hon President, hon Deputy President, and hon members, the state of the nation address in any part of the world usually prompts people to intense debate. There are always issues that the nation feels should have been emphasised more than they have been, or should have been mentioned and have been left out. Last week’s address is no exception.
Poverty is gnawing at the nation, and concomitant with it are social ills such as crime and prostitution. Perpetrators claim they are driven to these to make a living. We propose that to push back the frontiers of poverty, the country should not be turned into a welfare state by doling out parcels. Our dictum is that people should live by the sweat of their brows. Labour-intensive projects and programmes should be put in place so that people earn a living. We propose that mechanisation in digging trenches for laying down pipes for reticulation of water should be done away with. Instead, people should be employed. Roads and streets in villages and some townships have turned into ravines after the rains. Manual labour could be put to use to repair them.
We in the UCDP maintain that Government is always at war in its quest for solutions to problems besetting the nation. To win the war, the Government has to be clean, lean and mean. To keep the Government clean, we maintain that it has to be detoxicated of any impurities among its ranks. When members of the executive at national and provincial levels are implicated in impropriety, whatever trust people have in such government wanes.
We have this situation in our government setting. Only time will unravel this knot. The issue of high-ranking employees who continue to waste government resources to almost complete collapse, as in the case of medical services in Mpumalanga, surely calls for a clean-up.
Since the advent of democracy in 1994, we have heard words such as restructuring, rationalisation, redeployment, demobilisation, downsizing, affirmative action and what-have-you.
All these were, and still are, meant to cut down on the size of government employees. Yet, day after day, in most newspapers, there are advertisements aimed at new recruits. Even last week, the hon President, among others, alluded to the setting up of a National Social Security Agency, and the creation of a public service echelon of multiskilled community development workers, which, in themselves, mean the creation of more posts with additional executives, obviously with impressive packages for remuneration. Staff reduction will remain as elusive as the will-o’-the-wisp.
We call on those tasked with the process of auditing the Public Service personnel, and due to report by the middle of the year, to ensure that the Public Service is overhauled to ensure that the number of chiefs does not exceed Indians in each department. The problem is in the many layers of managers who are office-bound, yet are remunerated heavily while their income is not commensurate with their output. The leaner the system, the better it will perform.
The good intentions of Government are defied and scuttled by those who have
to implement them. They misconstrue statements such as Batho Pele'' to
mean ANC members first. They argue that the Freedom Charter says The
people shall govern’’, therefore it is only those who are in the governing
party who qualify as people'' or batho’’, and should therefore get
first preference. It is such nefarious conduct that has to be set right.
[Interjections.] Listen to those schoolboys there!
In keeping with the Christian dictum, we say, ``A kgotso e ate’’ [May peace prevail]. We embrace all efforts made to ensure that the world enjoys perfect peace. We gloat in seeing that South Africa is the torchbearer in the quest for peace. We shall not cease to pray for those being sent to Iraq to seek ways and means of giving peace a chance.
There is ongoing debate around the role of traditional leaders in a democracy, and while this is continuing, the matter of rights in communal land has also come to the fore. We hope all these will be handled with the greatest responsibility, circumspection and sensitivity, while paying attention to communal land whose owners have title deeds thereto, as opposed to those who occupy state, or what used to be called trust, land. Surely, individual titles to these will differ.
We note, however, that, in keeping with our policy of federalism, the houses of traditional leaders in the various provinces will pass their own pieces of legislation. We support this initiative and look forward to the process being applied in other areas of customary life since the central point of control is, more often than not, unable to keep heterogeneous communities together.
That serious crime has been reduced or stabilised is a moot point. It depends from which angle one views the issue. We take note that the Government concedes, however, that the considerable proportion of crimes against the person, including murder, the abuse of women and children, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and common assault, take place among the most marginalised sections of our population.
This, we propose, can be curbed by having a police presence in their midst. Such people, from their position of poverty and remote situation, find it difficult to access police assistance, and we therefore agree with the President when he says that the Government has to go to the people. Let us have policing services taken to those people.
In his address, the President referred to the Government’s intent to respond to poverty, malnutrition, and poor health generally. We note that better health can mainly be attained by eating nutritious food. Such food is produced by farmers who unfortunately are not being assisted by way of subsidies by this Government. Most developed countries continue to subsidise their farmers. Failure to subsidise farmers affects the emerging farmers negatively, and the historically established white farmers continue to thrive. There is surely a way to relook at this matter.
People in the rural areas, or the rural parts of the country, are the most vulnerable when it comes to the provision of water. I have been to eMpulusi in Mpumalanga, and the outskirts of Mahwelereng in the Limpopo province. Potable water to these people is unknown. All they know is that the water has to be withdrawn from some point down the road. Surely, the provision of resources like water has to be speeded up. The sporadic outbreak of cholera in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu Natal is an indication that much has to be done in this respect.
Hopefully, people will respond to the advertisement of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, calling for comments on the provision of water.
We hope, finally, that the best still has to be done for the people of South Africa. I thank you. [Applause.]
Ms M M SOTYU: Madam Deputy Speaker, hon President of the Republic of South Africa and hon members, the President, in his January 8 statement and in his state of the nation address, made a particular reference to the suffering of women and children and called upon all South Africans to focus on the safety of our communities. He stressed the need to pay attention to the close relationship between poverty and some crimes. The SA Police Service has committed itself to preventing and combating crime against children and women, and regards this kind of crime as one of the police’s priorities. They focus on increasing the number of family violence, child protection and sexual offences units of the SA Police Service, as well as victim support programmes, prevention programmes and public education programmes. The ANC is committed to strengthening the implementation of all the good laws that are in place to deal with violence against women and children.
The ANC’s vision derives from the Freedom Charter, which proclaimed, in
1955, that there shall be peace and friendship'', and went further to
say, peace and friendship amongst all people shall be secured by
upholding the equal rights, equal opportunities and status of all’’.
We commend those SA Police Service members who try their best to translate and implement, in particular, the Domestic Violence Act under difficult circumstances, for instance, when it comes to the withdrawal of cases by abused women, i e the victims. Police need to understand the laws in order for them to discourage the victim from dropping these kinds of charges. Some of these victims are forced by the perpetrators to drop such cases against them. A review of the operation of the community policing forums is being done, thanks to Comrade Nqakula, the Minister. This will include their funding as per the ANC national conference resolution. The major focus of this is to consider the feasibility of the community safety forums. We are aware that most of these kinds of crimes are not reported in some instances, because they are referred to as social or family problems. In some cases, it is when some SAPS members don’t take these seriously. You will get some instances in which these cases are reported and the police officer will say: ``O ne o batla eng wena mme bosiu, hore o tle o betwe?’‘[What did you want at night, lady, until you were beaten?] So, this is where our role as public representatives is needed mostly. We need to educate the community in respect of their rights and translate those laws which are there to protect them; especially those communities which are in rural areas.
The President in his state of the nation address emphasised the need to utilise amavolontiya [volunteers] and the need to establish community development workers within the Public Service in order to assist the people in tackling the immediate problems they face. We acknowledge those volunteers who rendered their services to communities and in our police stations. Trained volunteers and social workers counsel victims of rape at the relevant institutions. There are community-based victim empowerment projects in most of the provinces, and trauma facilities at some police stations that provide counselling services by trained volunteers. The Department of Justice is utilised for training for criminal prosecutions, in order for the perpetrators to be convicted. NGOs like the Network of Violence Against Women are also used in reference to this. The ANC will not tolerate the abuse of children in any form. Brutal attacks on children by their own parents and guardians is a serious criminal offence. I want to take this opportunity and commend police stations like the one in Barberton in Mpumalanga, which, together with the community, went on a campaign of schools adopting a cop and held workshops on how to deal with crime at schools, including the eradication of the abuse of drugs and alcohol at schools. This has helped to build a better relationship between the communities and the police.
Elderly persons are abused daily in different ways. We acknowledge the step taken by the Department of Social Development by drafting a policy document to address issues affecting our elderly persons. Abuse and neglect of the elderly are common in residential homes, hospitals, within families, in communities and at pension paypoints. This drafted legislation will address, among others, the poorly managed, racially divided and underresourced communities. Before we can truly say that our elderly get the respect and dignity they deserve, many challenges remain unsolved.
Ya okametseng Ntlo, re na le bothata bo ntseng bo ata moo maqheku a amohelang teng. Ho na le batho moo bao ho thweng ke bo matjhonesa. Dinokwane tsena di amoha maqheku tjhelete ya ona ka tsela e utlwisang bohloko haholo. (Translation of Sotho paragraph follows.)
[Chairperson, we have increasing problems where our elderly people are receiving their pension money. There are people at those places called bo- Matjhonesa [illegal money lenders]. These criminals are cruelly snatching from our pensioners.]
We say to those unlicensed moneylenders who steal the pensions of the elderly by unlawfully lending money to these poor senior citizens: We are watching you and you will be arrested very soon. We would also like to commend the ANC Women’s League in the Free State, together with the community and the volunteers, who have embarked on a campaign to combat this kind of crime which is escalating through all these other provinces. They visit most paypoints on the days of the pension payouts and, with the help of some police, they managed to stop these moneymongers. The President, in his state of the nation address, indicated that our success depends on strengthening the partnership of the Letsema campaign with communities volunteering to assist the security agencies in their work. Comrade President, the constituency that I am servicing in the rural area called Naledi in the Free State province on the borders of Lesotho …
Igama ebizwa ngalo le ndawo yiKanana. Kambe, eli gama lithi Kanana siya kulisondeza kuleya yobisi nobusi. Le yona ke kodwa ayinjalo, yechaseneyo naleyo. Apha kule iKanana ikati ilele eziko. Bathi bayabulela ngamanzi acocekileyo abawafumene ukufika kwalo Rhulumente we-ANC. Kunjalo nje, abantu baseKanana bathi kwixesha lamandulo, ukuze bafumane amanzi, kwakufuneka baye kuwafuna kumlambo iGqili. Kungokunje amanzi akhona, eze kubo.
Bathi, babebanexesha lokuba bahambe ebusuku baye kufuna amalongwe ukuze baze kupheka. Babesithi xa befuna amalongwe baye kumda weli lizwe neLusuthu, apho kukho khona iinkomo ukuze bakwazi ukufumana izinto zokubasa. Kuthe kusakube kufike lo Rhulumente wakhe abasazi nalapho babewachola khona loo malongwe, kuba sele kukho ugesi ngoku.
Bathi abantu baseKanana bayamvisisa uVukuzenzele. Kunjalo nje bayamxhasa lo Rhulumente we-ANC kuba kaloku banale ntetho ithi, ``Kungcono ukusenga le seyizele kunokulinda le imithiyo ongayaziyo ukuba yozala thole lini na.’’ Ngelinye ixesha kothi kanti imithi ithole eliza kuzalwa selifile.
Bathi abasayi kuzithembisa ngale mibuthwana ithi siza kunipha amanzi. Amanzi sele ekhona. Bayabulela, kodwa eyona nto ingamandla kukujongana nokuthi impilo yabo bayibhekisa phambili ngokwabo. (Translation of Xhosa paragraphs follows.)
[Ms M M SOTYU: This place is called Canaan. One may think that this is the Canaan that is talked about in the Bible, where the Jews were promised that they would get milk and honey. The one I am talking about is different from that one. In this one people are poor. People are, however, grateful to the ANC-led Government for providing them with clean water. People from this place say that in the past they fetched water from the Vaal River. Today, water has been brought to them. They say that they used to go out at night to look for dried cowdung so that they could make fire. They would go as far as the boundary between South Africa and Lesotho, where there are many cattle, looking for dried cowdung. However, since this Government came into power, they do not even know where they used to go to look for dried cowdung because there is electricity now. People from Canaan understand what is meant by Vukuzenzele and they very well support the ANC-led Government because they say that it is better to milk a cow that has given birth already than to have to wait for the one that is still carrying a calf in case it gives birth to a stillborn calf. They say that they will not be influenced by these newly established parties who promise to bring them water. They have access to water already. They are very grateful and want to improve their living conditions themselves.]
In conclusion, the Leader of the Opposition said a lot about the killing of farmers, but nothing about those farmworkers who are being exploited and killed by farmers. Is it because they are black? He said nothing about those who are killed and about those police officers who are being corrupted by these very farmers who give the police bribes to keep quiet about people they have killed. Is it because those people who are killed were black? He doesn’t say anything about tax defaulters. He is quiet about them. Is it because the majority of those tax defaulters are white? One just wonders.
In conclusion, we say ``No women abuse, no to child abuse and elder abuse, and we say no older person deserves to suffer emotionally, physically, sexually or financially. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mr J DURAND: Madam Deputy Speaker, I see the leader of the Freedom Front is here. He accused the leader of my party in his absence, and I think it is my responsibility on his behalf to set the case straight.
Voor 1994 toe die leier van die destydse NP, mnr F W de Klerk, en die leier van die ANC, mnr Mandela, bymekaar gekom en onderhandel het vir ‘n demokratiese Suid-Afrika waaraan almal in vryheid kan deelneem aan alle prosesse van die land, het mense soos dr Mulder dit beskou as verraad. Daar is gesê dat die land uitverkoop word. Aan die einde van hierdie proses het ons vrede in hierdie land, Suid-Afrikaners is nie meer in ons buurstate vermoor nie. Jong, wit seuns het nie meer teruggekeer van die grens af in swart sakke nie. Dr Mulder en sy party was die party wat in die aanloop tot die 1994-verkiesing probeer het om die Wêreldhandelsentrum te bestorm om hierdie demokratiese proses te stop. Toe hulle sien hulle kan dit nie doen nie, het hulle inderhaas en met groot moeite probeer deel word van die proses.
Toe hulle besef hulle kan demokratiese regering nie keer nie, het hulle op hulle beurt die President genader en gevra: Gee vir ons ‘n volkstaatraad. En ná ‘n klomp belastingbetalersgeld gemors is, het hulle besluit om nou maar deel te wees van hierdie proses onder sekere voorwaardes. Hul voorwaardes was: Skep vir wit Afrikaners ‘n kibboets in die woestyn. Toe hulle agterkom dat wit Afrikaners werklik Afrikane is en deel van die meerderheid van die land is, is hulle baie sag oor die volkstaatraad. Op ‘n stadium het die Mulders so erg gevoel oor die volkstaatraad dat hulle van die generaal ontslae geraak het, want hy bemark Orania nie goed genoeg nie. Nou praat hulle van dubbelspraak. Wie verkoop vir wie uit? [Tussenwerpsels.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Before 1994, when the leader of the then NP, Mr F W de Klerk, and the leader of the ANC, Mr Mandela, met and negotiated for a democratic South Africa in which everyone could participate freely in all processes of the country, people like Dr Mulder regarded it as treason. It was said that the country was being sold out. At the end of this process we had peace in this country, South Africans were no longer murdered in our neighbouring states. Young white boys no longer returned from the border in black bags. It was Dr Mulder and his party who, in the run-up to the 1994 election, tried to storm the World Trade Centre to stop this democratic process. When they saw that they could not do it, they hurriedly and with great difficulty tried to become part of the process.
When they realised that they could not prevent democratic government they, in their turn, approached the President and asked: Give us a Volkstaatraad. And after a lot of the taxpayer’s money had been wasted, they decided to become part of this process on certain conditions. Their conditions were: Create a kibbutz in the desert for white Afrikaners. When they realised that white Afrikaners were in fact Africans and part of the majority of the country, they were very quiet about the Volkstaatraad. At one stage the Mulders felt so intensely about the Volkstaatraad that they got rid of the general because he was not marketing Orania well enough. Now they are speaking of double-talk. Who is selling out whom? [Interjections.]]
It was not my intention to become part of this debate, but, unfortunately, I was forced to.
I would like to welcome today the president of the SA Police Union, Mr Sigidi, and his secretary-general who is here today, and they are to highlight the plight of the police and the police murders that are happening in this country. Early this year, I approached your office with a request for a special debate on police murders and the conditions under which the police have to do the important work of safeguarding our lives and our property. You, Deputy Speaker, informed me that I must use this debate as a platform to highlight the concerns of our men in blue.
These men and women in blue are our last line of defence against anarchy and chaos. Their tireless work and dedication made it possible for us to safeguard our international guests at the World Summit for Sustainable Development. Last year, the DA said the police should not prioritise the resources into the investigation of the Boeremag. Fortunately, Mr Minister, the SAPS ignored their suspect advice, arrested those involved and secured a safe festive season for all of us. We thank them.
Who is safeguarding our policemen and women? The cold-blooded manner in which their colleagues are killed will remain in their and our memories forever. We remember Captain Sipho Mokgotsi of my home town, Pretoria. He served us with the dedication of a hero. He was about to make a breakthrough in his investigation into a Mabopane cash-in-transit heist. A week before the police could arrest the suspects, he and his wife were shot in cold blood, in one of the most ruthless police murders in recent history. Captain Mokgotsi is but one on a role call of hundreds of police that are killed in what appear to be revenge attacks by criminals. Unfortunately, time is limited and I hope you will allow a special debate on this issue not only so we could pay homage to our fallen heroes, but where we can also highlight the concerns of our living heroes who fight in the trenches against crime and corruption.
We have a number of special units established to fight crime and corruption, but there has been no unit established to deal with the police killings. Why is this crime not a priority? The police are our protectors, not our enemies. They are sons and daughters, fathers and mothers. The police request, and I agree with them, that life sentences should be given for those found guilty of killing policemen. I believe personally that they should be hanged. A crime against the police is a crime against the state. There should be a policy of no bail and no parole. We should look at the service conditions of the SA Police Service. When a police officer dies before completing ten years of service, his or her beneficiaries will only receive the actuarial interest or his or her final average salary, whatever is the greatest.
With the meagre salaries the police earn, how can one expect the remaining spouse to provide for a family with that small amount? National Commissioner Selebi admitted recently that the salaries of junior South African Police Service members are insufficient. They are the bobbies on the beat, the frontline of visible policing. Mr President, is it not not time that you mandated an urgent investigation into the salaries and service conditions of the SA Police Service? We conducted a Defence Review and, based on the outcome of this review, we decided to spend millions on arms. We should conduct a crime review in this country and then decide the size and capacity the force needs to be to make our people safe and secure. If the police want to increase their salaries or get promotions, they must apply for desk jobs, away from where the criminals are. We then bring new recruits and place them on the streets without the presence of experienced and skilled officers. The private sector, with better pay packages, is attracting most of our skilled policemen and women away from the force, robbing the SA Police Service of much-needed skills and expertise.
I once again will request a full debate on this issue and I plead your indulgence. A summit to discuss police killings has been promised, and I hope the Minister will announce the date for that during this debate and also add on to that agenda the working conditions of the SA Police Service.
If there is one area where South Africans have strengthened the partnership … [Time expired.] [Applause.]
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Ngcobo is making his maiden speech. [Applause.]
Mr N NGCOBO: Madam Deputy Speaker, hon President and hon Deputy President, the pursuit of the goals of freedom from want, hunger, deprivation, ignorance, suppression of talent, fear and intimidation is fundamental to the guarantee of human rights and dignity. The potential role of science and technology in the pursuit of freedom and wealth is unquestionable. There is often confusion to the effect that the development and the diffusion into the economy of science and technology are the sole responsibility of the Government of the day. On the contrary, the importance of science and technology should be recognised by the society as a whole, be it industry, civil society, the education sector, scientists, etc.
Thus, a people-oriented approach to the development of science and technology is one that is rooted in the following outcomes and values: the enhancement of quality of life of all South Africans; promotion of competitiveness and the creation of employment; promotion of digital- oriented information society; promotion of an environmentally sustainable surrounding and biodiversity; development of human resources and talents, especially in the historically disadvantaged communities, and generation of marketable products and services to a level that is globally competitive.
On the other hand, the Government has a responsibility to pursue technology policies that are geared towards focusing more on effective collaboration between partners with the purpose of technology transfer. Such technology policies should be able to provide better domestic skills, capabilities, supplier networks and infrastructure. Furthermore, the Government should pursue institutional changes that are based upon innovation, initiative and organisational knowledge as driven by processes of socioeconomic transformation.
Good technology policies should allow for the blending of traditional technologies with new, big with small, indigenous with foreign, etc. In order to compete successfully in a globally challenging environment, we also need to develop the ability to create and acquire technology from all forms of available sources and resources. Furthermore, the adopted technology policies should be able to establish effective access to relevant information, and thus a mechanism should be devised which should allow for the effective diffusion of such information into the economy.
Successful understanding and consumption of information by one party from another, coupled with an effective application of such information at the marketplace and at consumer level, represents what is referred to as the ``technology transfer process.’’ The latter is central to the successful development of a technology infrastructure and base in our country which has the capacity of competing in a global context.
The initiative by the Cabinet which saw the approval in 2002 of the National Research and Development Strategy and the creation of the new Department of Science and Technology is a clear demonstration by our Government that science and technology are at the centre of the alleviation of poverty and the enhancement of freedom amongst our suffering people.
The strategy involves the allocation of new research resources to the key areas of technology such as biotechnology, information technology, manufacturing, poverty reduction, resource-based industries, etc. It also emphasises, at research level, the exploitation of South Africa’s key geographic and human advantages such as astronomy, biodiversity, Antarctic research, indigenous knowledge systems, paleontology, etc.
The strategy further encourages international collaboration in science and technology in the fields of importance to the nation. It supports the national system of innovation which has to drive Southern Africa as a region of excellence in science and technology.
An innovation fund has been created to promote larger skilled consortium projects in which academia, science councils and industry can participate by focusing on major themes of Government such as competitiveness, equality of life, environmental sustainability, information and technology, etc, so as to address the needs of our national economy.
The strategy also encourages the establishment of programmes which act as technology diffusion stations such as the Godisa programme and Tshumisano programme. Poverty relief programmes such as the bee-keeping programme and the Phumani Hand Papermaking project are but all demonstrative indicators by which our Government wants science and technology to be people-centred in this country. It is indeed a comprehensive strategy which needs to be developed and enriched in the interests of our people and the country’s wealth creation. In line with this latter statement, we therefore need to consider some of the important technologies which are based on scarce skills professions.
If South Africa wants to be a major player in world technology affairs, it has to begin now to monitor closely the international technological adventures and breakthroughs as well as to do something about this. This may be in the form of establishing our own research centres around these technologies or sending people overseas to join such ventures as a way of participating in the technology transfer process in the scarce skills technologies.
To augment my argument, I have in mind the following international technological ventures, amongst others, as an example: fuel cell technology for green energy and green cars; vacuum technology and cryogenic engineering for space, defence and civil purposes; nanotechnology and its nanomachines and aerospace engineering and the aircars.
Briefly, I think it will be unfair not to give a brief overview of what these technologies entail. In fact, recently, in his state of the union address, President Bush of the United States of America proposed a $1,2 billion programme to help build the infrastructure needed to revolutionise the cars we drive. He had a vision of an American child born today driving a green car based on this technology in the next two decades.
In fact, fuel cell technology is an old space technology that is now being brought down to earth. It dates back to the 1800s, but it was not until the 20th century that it was used successfully to promote electricity and water in spacecraft. The Gemini spacecraft mission is but a testimony to this argument.
Actually, at the centre of fuel cell technology is the metal platinum which acts as a catalyst. What President Bush did not say was that, for his fuel cell programme to succeed, he would also need a Rustenburg child born today who, in two decades, would be a negotiator in the platinum metal industry. [Interjections.] Fuel cell technology, in fact, is a very important technology and South Africa stands to benefit economically if this technology succeeds because it has got vast reserves of platinum in Rustenberg. [Interjections.]
I also want to say a few words about vacuum technology and nanotechnology, which is a technology of the near future. Nanotechnology is an umbrella term that covers many areas of research dealing with objects measured in nanometres. A nanometre is a billionth of a metre. The goal of nanotechnology is to manufacture goods at molecular level. Nature has best been able to do this. Our bodies are built out of tissue cells of molecular structure, and they are a testimony to the success of nanotechnology in nature.
What would nanotechnology bring to us as a nation? It is envisaged that the benefits of nanotechnology would be that: famine could be eradicated by machines that fabricate food to feed the hungry; the computer industry could greatly benefit if computer components were shrunk to nanodimensions since trillions of bytes of information could be stored in a structure the size of a sugar cube [Laughter]; it would have a positive effect on the environment as nanorobots begin to be used to mend the ozone layer, and the medical industry would benefit greatly with patients being made to drink fluids containing nanorobots programmed to attack and destroy viruses and cancer cells, for instance. [Applause.]
There is also a very interesting development in Israel in aerospace engineering. They are developing aircars. The aircars are small cars that are called VTOLs. VTOL means Vertically Taking Off and Landing aircars. [Laughter.] This firm in Tel Aviv is called Romeo Yankee Ltd. These aircars are differentiated into two categories, the City Hawks and the Turbo Hawks. [Interjections.] They envisage the City Hawks to be the cars that would fly up to an altitude of 8000ft, and the Turbo Hawks are envisaged to play a very great role in missions of military purposes. And so, it stands to reason that at the centre of this technology developing in Israel, is a military purpose which we in South Africa have also have to try to cope with if we are to defend ourselves in the near future.
These cars can fly and run on the road and their size is adapted to fit in a normal garage and parking bay. [Interjections.] It is thus my view that ventures in the scarce skills-based technologies should be monitored closely whilst training in scarce skills professions should be encouraged within our society so as to render us less dependent on consultants that rape our country of its scarce financial resources. [Interjections.]
Human resource development in science and technology is also a very important component which is linked to the initiative as based on innovation in science and education. Science and technology education can respond to the real needs of our society and the country only when it is practical, relevant and appropriate. Our teaching methodology should emphasise problem-solving and decision-making.
Regarding the development of technical skills, curriculums should relate to local context, not only by way of development of technical skills, but also by routing in the principles based on militant philosophy and revolutionary science.
We have to start preparing and producing doctors, engineers and scientists who understand the origins of historical and dialectical materialism … [Interjections] … who understand the difference between idealist and materialist philosophy, who understand the difference between objective and subjective conditions in addressing challenges of our society … [Interjections] … and who understand where rice or cotton comes from. In a nutshell, we should have technologists who are true reflections of the success of our national democratic revolution. [Interjections.]
But, even more, the mindset and culture that science and technology are for white people and that blacks are for sports and dancing around must be eradicated … [Laughter] [Applause] … let alone the attitude that women are for nursing, social work and romance. [Laughter.] In these connections Parliament, through its relevant portfolio committees, must begin to implement this oversight role of identifying those centres and institutions of science and technology which still remain bastions of racism and the exclusion of black talent. [Interjections.] Blending white faces with black faces has also become a new technique used in many institutions of science and technology here in South Africa since the establishment of our majority rule in 1994.
Science and technology should also be seen, in the global context, of what role they can play. In the African context and in line with the philosophy of the African Renaissance, our challenge is to lead the African continent into becoming an economically competitive regional force by using our better developed science and technology infrastructure to provide essential services ranging from electricity, agriculture, communication, education to other products of the human mind.
Science and technology are indeed a crucial instrument in all forms of human endeavour in this regard. It is part of our accepted international obligations to advocate the eradication of global poverty and the marginalisation of developing countries that form two-thirds of the world community which is condemned to backwardness, superstition and diseases by the so-called modern society.
Comrade President, thank you for your initiative. Nepad provides a good springboard for an all-African initiative and solution in advancing science and technology on our continent, whilst the formation of an African Science Technology Commission is indeed a step in the correct direction for our continent. Thank you, Mr President. [Applause.]
Dr M S MOGOBA: Madam Speaker, the address of the President on the state of the nation was of a commendable standard, even though it was a bit long and above our heads and that of the nation. This is made clear when one reads and re-reads the speech. At each re-reading, it sparkles with new light and new vistas surface.
I want to further commend the high visibility of Africa in the address and repeat the satisfaction and delight of some of us that, since the light dawned on the President when he declared ``I am an African’’, that light and vision that it brought have not left him. Pan-Africanists of all ages and colours are standing up like the Biblical cloud of witnesses to watch the manifestation of this apocalypse.
Another magnificent spark in the address was the impassioned plea from this Chamber for peace in the world. ``Give peace a chance’’, was a constant refrain. We support the President on this courageous stand.
On 12 September 2001, a day after the dismal 11 September attacks, I
remarked in this Chamber that citizens of the global village, like fellow
villagers in a mokhukhu'' [informal settlement], share a common destiny
and cannot express their sentiments with the bang-bang of guns or candles
and matchsticks. They do not have the luxury or space for survival if they
indulge in a war without careful planning and thought. This country is
renowned in the world as a miracle state, saved from abloodbath’’.
It has one commodity only that it can share with the world and that is the miracle of sustained dialogue, negotiation, reconciliation and peace.
I appeal to the other parties to stand in solidarity with the President and endorse this sentiment. It may be just another miracle that the world is waiting for.
Coming back home, let me hasten to express my one major disappointment in the speech. This is the persistent downgrading and downsizing of the HIV/Aids pandemic. To equate HIV/Aids with TB and malaria, although there are commonalities, is disturbing. The emergence of the street assembly with thousands voting with their feet is not an act of defiance of this august Assembly. It is an expression of despair. Jurgen Moltman comments sharply:
Living without hope is like no longer living. Hell is hopelessness and it is not for nothing that at the entrance of Dante’s Hell, there stand the words ``Abandon hope, all ye who enter here’‘…
A nation without hope needs intervention. The profile of Aids needs to be raised very high and a lot of resources poured into this darkness in the soul of the nation. Aids is like war; if not stopped in time, we may be too late to help those who are already in the graves, and this would nullify all the collective good that may accrue from our other good intentions and acts. The moment to act is now. Those who are dead may not be able to make a call to the magnificent government call centre or the e-government gateway.
The President has put his finger on another major crisis facing our country. I refer to the joblessness, foodlessness and hopelessness of the poorest of the poor for whom the tide is turning very slowly. Parts of the speech, like the repeated mention of social grants, child grants, food parcels, high food prices, free health care for the disabled, school- feeding etc, show that these are shared concerns. What is inexplicable is the Government’s rejection of a basic income grant for the unemployed. Our view is that the concept of Umbamba sisu is not an act of surrender. It is a realistic way of putting something in an empty stomach while you engage the person in planning for the transformation of the total situation or of the economy.
Our view on the economy is that the tide can turn only if crime is contained. There is a vicious cycle here of crime, investments, jobs, more poverty and more crime. The cycle can only be broken at the entry point of crime.
The President has raised hopes that our crime prevention departments are winning. This is appreciated, but the overall climate remains unchanged, and the criminal is not getting the message. This delays the transformation and prolongs the pain of those who are at the bottom of the heap. It has been said that some things cannot be done slowly and gradually, like extinguishing a fire, operating on a patient or killing an ox. If it must be done, it must be done speedily and expeditiously. Why, one might ask, are criminals and the mafia more afraid of Botswana than of South Africa? This country is losing millions of rands because of retarded or arrested growth. Crime is costing us dearly.
I noted in the President’s speech that traditional royalty would not be marginalised and that they are regarded as important partners in the transformation of our rural communities. This is welcome news but needs to be pursued with more conviction, more vigour and more adroitness. I also noted that expanded resources would be made available for the nodal areas of Coega, Lepelle, La Mercy.
This is welcome news and I agree that vigorous development in these critical areas can bring signs of hope to many people and have more impact on the total strategy for changing our country.
Appreciation has been expressed about the successes of the African Union Summit, the World Summit on Sustainable Development and now the Cricket competition, particularly the high level of security for international guests. We must add our word of congratulations to this laudable performance by our security forces. The only sad thing is the manner in which some countries are bent on pulling politics into activities like sport. If this lapse or trend is allowed to continue, it will kill the spirit of sport stone dead. There are no perfect states in our world as yet, and sports cannot wait until countries are perfect. Sports are God’s gift to mankind in order that the Olympic spirit may permeate into the atom-infested world. The uncompromising attitude towards Kenya and Zimbabwe must be roundly condemned.
This evil spirit will kill international sport. It will also kill the Commonwealth. It will kill the Non-Aligned Movement and even the African Union and the United Nations. Countries of the global village should join hands, go to venues that are suspect and pitch their tents there. Put differently, instead of surrendering or abdicating or politicising venues, insulting countries and continents, the cricket family of nations should have formed a joint peacekeeping force to drive away the evil spirits from Zimbabwe and Kenya, and let the spirit of sport triumph. It is not difficult to see that it will be impossible in the future to provide a venue that is acceptable to all - not in our imperfect world.
In conclusion, I want to echo the President’s positive sentiments in pointing the nation to the 40th anniversary of the OAU, the 10th Anniversary of our South African miracle; the 6th anniversary of the TRC, the 2nd anniversary of the Freedom Park, and the 2nd anniversary of the moral regeneration movement.
Above are the dark clouds of war. We are challenged to look for a silver lining, signs of hope, signs of life, and signs of triumphant life. Our South African one-word-summary for all this is Halala!
Adv J H DE LANGE: Madam Speaker, hon President Mbeki, hon Deputy President Zuma, hon members, ladies and gentlemen, on 16 December last year, President Mbeki in his president’s address to the ANC National Conference, in a very balanced yet unequivocal manner, placed the vexed question of the ongoing process of the transformation of the judiciary and the magistracy for consideration on the national agenda for the coming period.
I refrain from reading the whole quote. Suffice it to say that it appears to me that this invitation for intervention by way of dialogue and action from the President, at the very least, contains the following components for consideration: Firstly, that the ANC believes in, fights for and actively promotes the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary ``to apply the law impartially and without fear or favour’’ and has a duty to protect, promote and build our courts, as set out in the Constitution. However, this must always be done in a balanced and nuanced manner, having due regard to the respective constitutional and legal roles of the legislative and executive authorities in relation to the judiciary and the respect and courtesy the three arms of government should accord each other.
Secondly, that the disturbing point of view that transformation has obviously not progressed as well in the judiciary as within the legislatures and executive branches is gaining ground.
Thirdly, that the ANC cannot afford or allow a situation to develop whereby
our judicial system, and its institutions, lose credibility with our people
as a whole, arising out of a failure to consider and find solutions to the
challenges that face the judiciary and magistracy in the context of the
national transformation process, and
Fourthly, that the national transformation process within the judiciary and
magistracy comprises two components, which are both falling short of
expectations and require redress. Firstly, there is the slow realisation
of the objective of equitable representation of black people and women'',
which I shall term diversity, personnel or symbolism transformation.
Secondly, there is the intellectual and ideological approach adopted by
judges and magistrates, during the prosecution of this transformation
process, whenimplementing the letter and spirit of our Constitution’’,
hopefully ``impartially, and without fear or favour’’, which I shall term
intellectual content or substantive transformation.
Transformation of the judicial system, including the judiciary and magistracy, does not mean merely destroying for the sake of it that which was built during the apartheid years, nor does it mean merely reforming a few aspects thereof. It is rather our task, in prosecuting our vision of transformation, to take that which is good or useful in the old dispensation and in a holistic, integrated and comprehensive manner to transform and build on it.
However, it is my considered opinion that the whole South African judicial system and the institutions underpinning it, because of its past record, when our new democracy took root in 1994, to varying degrees, suffered from a serious crisis of credibility, legitimacy and efficacy.
Therefore, I do not believe that we can start rebuilding or transforming the judicial system, if we do not understand and recognise what it is that we did to ourselves as a nation in the past. We cannot build a new nation and a new future in a vacuum. Whatever changes we want to bring about to create a nonracial, nonsexist, democratic and prosperous society must firmly be rooted in the reality of what we have available to us today in human, intellectual, spiritual, emotional and material terms. Sad to say, what we have is, to a large extent, damaged goods. Yet it is with those materials, damaged and warped as they may be, that a brighter and more humane future must be built.
Since the advent of our new democracy in 1994, the courts have slowly been climbing out of the quagmire in which they had been submerged, with a slow concomitant increase in their levels of legitimacy, credibility and efficacy.
It is vitally important for the successful prosecution of our political transition and the socioeconomic transformation of our country that the rehabilitation of our courts and judiciary remains on a gradual upward curve; hopefully soon to gain momentum. It is trite to state that this rehabilitation process, on the one hand, is the responsibility of particularly the Government, but also all politicians and, on the other hand, and most importantly, the judiciary itself.
I can state unequivocally that the ANC takes this task very seriously. This means scrupulously respecting and promoting the rule of law and the independence of the courts and our judiciary, and providing adequate assistance and resources - within our means - for the courts to fulfil their constitutional obligations. However, we also firmly believe in the necessity of our courts and judiciary to be accountable, in the broad sense of the word, to the people of South Africa, although there are a few and inadequate mechanisms available at this stage to achieve this equally important objective. This is an urgent priority that the committee is dealing with at present.
I firstly deal with diversity transformation. In his intervention, the President, whilst remaining mindful that our democracy is still in its infancy and accepting that the full realisation of the objectives of the Constitution relating to the judiciary are still a matter of the future, correctly raises the slow ``realisation of the objective of equitable representation of both black people and women’’ on the Bench. What have we done and what are we doing as a nation to realise this objective?
The Judicial Service Commission is charged with advising the President as to the appointment of judges to our higher courts. The Magistrates Commission performs a similar task in respect of magistrates.
Section 174 (1) of the Constitution provides that -
Any appropriately qualified woman or man who is a fit and proper person may be appointed a judicial officer.
A Constitutional Court judge must also be a South African citizen.
Section 174 (2) provides that in making judicial appointments -
the need for the judiciary to reflect broadly the racial and gender composition of South Africa must be considered.
Since 1994, the Judicial Service Commission has sought, in recommending the appointment of judges, to give effect to this directive and has recommended the appointment of a number of black persons and women as judges of the superior courts. As the statistics will show, this falls far short of what we need.
The JSC has also developed criteria for consideration in recommending persons for appointment, but time does not allow me to reflect on those here.
After each candidate is interviewed publicly in the Judicial Service Commission, it then retreats behind closed doors, weighing the merits of each candidate against the above criteria. Each of the twenty-odd commissioners then casts his or her vote accordingly, the majority view of the Judicial Service Commission prevailing if the requisite number of votes are garnered for a specific candidate.
Broadly speaking, more often than not, when weighing up candidates against each other, the distinction and tension between diversity transformation and intellectual content transformation arises. They do not always overlap. Diversity transformation is obviously meant to promote the designated categories of black people and women, whereas intellectual content transformation embraces the candidates’ value system, approach to justice, capacity for justice and understanding of the direction of the Constitution, and therefore may include any person, including white males, who actively promote the philosophies underpinning our constitutional dispensation and social transformation project. A candidate may qualify under the one, but not under the other. Which should be accorded more weight? Or, if a person from a designated group does not meet the requisite criteria set for the intellectual content transformation component, should they still be appointed? These are the very complex and vexed questions the Judicial Service Commission has to regularly grapple with. I personally am not certain that we always find the right balance, in particular as it relates to the intellectual transformation component.
As our President correctly points out, part of the solution is the conscious and consistent building of a pool of potential black and women candidates for appointment to the judiciary and magistracy. A few mechanisms have been developed and utilised in this regard. However, such attempts, in my view, have been haphazard, arbitrary and unco-ordinated. Much still must and can be done in this regard. We need to place it high on our list of priorities for the coming period.
I also have various statistics for the present composition of the judiciary and magistracy but time does not allow me to deal with them. I am just going to give an overall analysis. An analysis of all 1 886 serving judicial officers, from both the judiciary and the magistracy, starting from an almost zero base, particularly in the higher courts, reflects the following composition: 41,1% are black, 58,9% are white, 19,1% are female, and 80,9% are male; or to put it differently: 51,4% are from designated groups, and 48,6% are white males.
As far as leadership positions of the 14 entities comprising our superior courts are concerned, 10 have heads or … [Interjections.] The difference is I don’t accept it. You accept it … acting heads of the court who are black male persons and four are headed by white males.
In conclusion, I turn to the Chief Justice who opined recently:
I think transformation is proceeding as quickly as it can. Today a third of the higher judiciary is black and 20% to 25% of judges are women. That is a significant change in a short period.
Although it is difficult to logically fault such a conclusion, we equally should remain mindful of the words of our previous Minister of Justice who cautioned:
I don’t think that respect for the judiciary will come simply because there are black appointments or that there are more women, but I think it will make a contribution to building that respect.
Much still remains to be done in changing the diversity composition of our Bench and we should do so in all haste.
Secondly, I turn to the intellectual content transformation.
In his intervention, the President reminds us that judicial officers, like
every other South African, come to their positions with definite political
and ideological perspectives. Correctly he points out that, in itself,
there is nothing wrong or unexpected about this, as long as this does not
impair their ability to implement the letter and the spirit of our
Constitution and laws, impartially and without fear or favour. In other
words, simply put, we do not want judicial officers in our newfound
democracy to become pro-executive minded judges'', but neither do we want
them to beanti-executive minded judges’’. We only expect them to be
diligent and even-handed in the discharge of their duties. Unfortunately,
it would seem that there are some judicial officers in this country who
continuously interpret ``impartiality and without fear or favour’’ to mean
the promotion of an agenda which seems to have little or nothing to do with
the philosophies underpinning our constitutional dispensation. They hide
behind the concept of the independence of the judiciary and legal
obfuscation to promote their brand of justice, which more often than not
harks back to a bygone constitutional and legal era, whose most abiding
legacy is its declaration as a crime against humanity.
It goes without saying that the most important component in this rehabilitation process of our previous apartheid judiciary is the judiciary and magistracy itself and the judges and magistrates that constitute it. Respect, legitimacy and credibility cannot be bestowed upon an individual or institution. The judiciary is no exception. It could not and was not ever expected that the mere taking of an oath of allegiance to the Constitution by members of the apartheid judiciary would bestow legitimacy and credibility upon it. The judiciary, through mainly its own conduct and the approach and tone it adopts towards the unfolding transitional processes and the socioeconomic transformation of our country, will set the agenda and pace of its own rehabilitation process and the esteem and respect within which our people as a whole will hold it. It is a delicate balance that the judiciary must chart, with integrity, diligence and vigour between, on the one hand, its genuine and legitimate constitutional obligations and, on the other hand, its status as a full, committed and vital component of the political centre of this country, which must steer our fledging democracy from its pariah status to a proud, stable and functioning democracy, which must successfully prosecute the unfolding socioeconomic and ideological transformation of our country. The litmus test would be how individual judges and magistrates will pursue their legitimate and genuine constitutional obligations, without wittingly or unwittingly going out out of their way to frustrate or undermine the legitimate and genuine choices and aspirations of the majority of South Africans to create a fully functioning democracy and a socioeconomic and ideologically transformed country. It is a relationship that the judiciary must base on the cornerstones of honesty, integrity, dignity and openness. The judiciary and individual judges need to be exemplary in this regard, more so since 1994, because the role of judges has become more pronounced, more part of the mainstream of political choices, with greater possibilities of frustrating, derailing or undermining the political aspirations or choices of the majority of South Africans.
This is so because the adoption of the interim Constitution marked a decisive and revolutionary break with our legal and constitutional past. It is the legal foundation upon which all legality rests, from which all derive their authority. It embodies the spirit and essence of the rule of law. It provides for a decisive break with Westminster-type parliamentary sovereignty, ushering in a constitutional state where the Constitution is supreme.
It is often asserted, and correctly so, that the Constitution is supreme, not Parliament. Like most simple assertions, this statement possibly hides more than it reveals. Firstly, a constitution cannot speak for or interpret itself; the courts have the sole responsibility to definitively interpret the Constitution, especially the Constitutional Court. In this sense, if the truth be told, it is really the courts who are supreme as they say what the Constitution is or is not. Secondly, and equally importantly, within the parameters of constitutionality, Parliament is supreme to make whatever political choices it deems fit.
This, of course, leads to a very complex and complicated relationship between the trias politica, particularly in an abnormal society like ours. But, as we have become accustomed, the Constitutional Court has been exemplary in striking the right and correct balance, which other courts must follow, which sometimes they don’t do. One of these pronouncements eloquently reflects this approach by the late Justice Mohamed in the Azapo case, where he says:
There can be legitimate debate about the methods and the mechanisms chosen by the lawmaker to give effect to the difficult duty entrusted upon it in terms of the epilogue. We are not concerned with that debate or the wisdom of its choices or mechanisms but only with its constitutionality. That, for us, is the only relevant standard.
Then, more recently, in the UDM case, the Constitutional Court also said:
Courts are not, however, concerned with the motives of the members of the legislature who vote in favour of particular legislation, nor with the consequences of legislation …
And a bit further:
In essence, however, it involves restraint by the courts in not trespassing onto that part of the legislative field which has been reserved by the Constitution, and for good reason, to the legislature.
The characterisation of the relationships between the legislature and the executive on the one hand, and the judiciary on the other, is best captured in the provincial judges Canadian case. And I quote:
These relationships should be depoliticised. When I say that those relationships are depoliticised, I do not mean to deny that they are political in the sense that court decisions both constitutional and non- constitutional often have political implications, and that the statutes which courts adjudicate upon emerge from the political process. What I mean instead is the legislating executive cannot, and cannot appear to, exert political pressure on the judiciary, and conversely, that members of the judiciary should exercise reserve in speaking out publicly on issues of general public policy that are or have the potential to come before the courts, that are the subject of political debate, and which do not relate to the proper administration of justice. As we build institutions in our emerging democracy, it is of vital importance that all leaders in our society continuously and actively promote and encourage that the three arms of government show each other the necessary respect and courtesy, avoiding gratuitous reflections on the integrity of one another. Chief Justice Chaskalson recently in the Van Rooyen case eloquently captured this concept of mutual respect, thus:
In exercising such powers, obedience to the doctrine of the separation of powers requires that the judiciary, in its comments about the other arms of the state, show respect and courtesy, in the same way that these other arms are obliged to show respect for and courtesy to the judiciary and one another. They should avoid gratuitous reflections on the integrity of one another.
This approach also guides the ANC when it differs with the courts as we have always attempted to use balanced, rational, temperate and respectful methods to express our differences of opinion. We do not subscribe to the misguided and extreme views, on the one hand, which say that judges and their pronouncements are always above criticism or rebuke, especially in public, and, on the other hand, that government and politicians may play to the gallery and whip up public emotion by castigating and criticising every court pronouncement that differs with their point of view in an emotional and disrespectful manner and often without all the facts being available upon which the decision was based. Both these extreme views are out of step with best international practices in all democracies of the world and are unacceptable to the ANC. Therefore, if we have a substantial difference of opinion with a judge or the judiciary, we will not hesitate to raise it, in whatever way we deem apposite for the occasion; but it will always be foremost in our minds that our actions need to strengthen the judiciary and its legitimacy, credibility and efficacy.
Finally, this approach is best captured in the words of the late Chief Justice Mohamed:
Judges must consciously accept the risk that their judgments in crucial areas must be subject to vigorous attack and criticism. This should cause them no distress. A viable and credible constitutional culture evolves most effectively within the crucible of vigorous intellectual combat and even moral examination. Judges there have no right to demand any kind of protection from the same kind of vigorous criticism to which they subject the contentions on behalf of the litigants who appear before them. What they are entitled to demand and do demand is that such criticism should be fair and informed; that it must be in good faith; that it does not impugn upon their dignity or bona fides and, above all, that it does not impair their independence.
I trust with these few haphazard remarks that I have started to respond to the President’s injunction to us, and that this debate will be taken further. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Miss S RAJBALLY: Madam Speaker, hon President, hon Deputy President, hon Ministers and hon members, I would firstly like to take this opportunity to welcome everybody back to a year of new challenges and hard work. May we all, with the grace of God, be able to inculcate our efforts for the betterment of all of South Africa to the best of our abilities.
South Africa has come a long way and its history needs no introduction. As can be gathered from the statistics given by our hon President, we have had a successful 2002. The opening of Parliament on Friday was certainly a lovely event, and the hon President’s eagerly awaited address seems to have made many promises for a better year ahead.
However, as always, there are those who choose to criticise and pick on petty issues, such as how long the President spoke on certain aspects. People should know better. The short period of time spent focused on a certain issue, such as Aids, does not mean that a relaxed position has now been taken on this matter. I think all of South Africa knows the extent of the Aids situation and the hard work that is being performed by the Government in order to contain the problem. Time should be spent on working together in overcoming problems, not on trying to create more problems by way of cheap technical tactics.
The MF shares the President’s sentiments on black economic empowerment. Economic growth and empowerment are a means to a better quality of life for all South Africans. However, to make this possible, certain key issues have to be addressed. Firstly, the opportunities through greater economic participation in all sectors by participants in black economic empowerment must be outlined sector by sector at all levels. Secondly, the concept of scorecards and meaningful measurements and control of participation must be clearly outlined, monitored, evaluated and controlled. Thirdly, a mechanism must be created whereby the lethargy and indifference of our bureaucracy is speeded up.
The MF is pleased with the hon President’s comments on the increase of social grants to children up to the age of 14. However, the MF has reservations about the age limit and feels that it should be extended to include children up to the age of 18, as this is the age at which most of our children are writing their matric.
As mentioned earlier, the President may not have placed great emphasis on the Aids issue, but we are aware of the extent of this pandemic - especially in the KwaZulu-Natal area. The MF therefore pleads that greater attention be given to contain the matter and bring the Aids infection to a halt.
As regards the current USA-Iraq situation, the MF strongly opposes war and stands firm with all anti-war campaigns. The MF is pleased with the news from the President and the acceptance of the South African proposal by the Iraqi government. After decades of bloodshed, the world still has not learnt that no dispute is settled with guns. Let us pray that this situation does not end up in becoming another silly mistake.
The adjustments to be made to the social wage also appear to be quite promising, with increased connections of water and electricity, schooling and improvements in other living conditions. This certainly pleases the MF, as it will make for better living conditions. Delivery is set to intensify.
The President’s address has covered a number of aspects of concern, from finance to social to health and so forth. Even pensions are set to receive better delivery. All South Africans are a concern and deserve to be looked after by their Government. There is no such thing that this concern is more for some than for others. Some might require more than others, but that is as far as the difference goes.
Unemployment is still a worrying factor in South Africa. It is hoped that via black economic empowerment more jobs will be created and the unemployment rate will be confined to a low figure. This would certainly curtail our problems regarding poverty and development and it would help us to build a stronger fabric of South African people. The MF further feels that funds allocated to certain projects should not be concluded, but that all funds, though used wisely, should be made use of to the maximum.
The MF once again would like to take this opportunity to voice its support of the President’s address, which has certainly placed hope in the lives of many people. It is up to us now, as Government, to ensure that delivery is made efficiently and effectively. We can do this by working together.
The MF once again expresses its pleasure to be back and encourages getting back into the full swing of work. We have taken an oath to improve the living conditions and affairs of all in South Africa. The MF salutes our hon President on his initiative to improve the lives of our people. South Africa Vukuzenzele. Once again, Mr President, sizoqhubeka sibumbene simunye. [We will continue together as one.] [Applause.]
The SPEAKER: Hon members, we have had a long debate and a long one is still ahead of us. I will therefore suspend the proceedings for 10 minutes for the comfort of hon members.
Business further suspended at 16:14 and resumed at 16:31.
The SPEAKER: I would like to draw your attention to the fact that this is Mr Mthethwa’s maiden speech. [Applause.]
Mr N MTHETHWA: Hon Speaker, hon President, hon Deputy President, hon members, the subtheme of this address is: Empower the youth to secure the future, thus pushing back the frontiers of poverty.
In dealing with this subject, it is imperative for one to start by paying tribute to the father of South African revolution, and indeed the liberation of the entire humankind, our late president, O R Tambo.
On the occasion of honouring South African youth in 1981, President O R Tambo said: ``A nation, a country, a people, a movement that does not respect its youth, does not deserve its future.’’ This profound understanding of the role of young people in society has always guided the ANC. This is in contrast with theories of reaction that tend to create a dichotomy between youth and society at large, to the extent of pushing youth issues to the periphery.
Historically, the youth of South Africa has been in a state of repression by successive apartheid governments, which not only violated all their fundamental rights and opportunities by means of oppressive and racially- oriented laws, but also perpetually denied them opportunities to develop and prosper to their full potential.
Emanating from this context was a series of challenges that confronted and still confront the youth of South Africa. Amongst others, there are the challenges of unemployment, poverty, health-related issues such as HIV/Aids, lack of skills, and lack of information that enables young people to make relevant and informed choices about their lives and minimal resources of youth development initiatives.
The democratic Government, upon assumption of power in 1994, placed emphasis on youth development as one of the fundamental tentacles of socioeconomic and political transformation of our country. Signifying this commitment, the new Government conducted extensive consultations with youth, represented by their organisations.
Emphasis is currently placed on designing meaningful and sustainable strategies that define in succinct terms the nature of Government’s and society’s intervention and the anticipated impacts thereof. Youth development as a cross-cutting issue continues to be a strategic priority of Government, and this explains in clear terms that indeed the tide has turned. Ongoing efforts by youth development organs should ensure that this focus is sustained and that the interest does not dissipate.
There are many systems providing youth development in our country today. Amongst others there is the Constitution of South Africa, the White Paper on Local Government published in 1998, the National Youth Development Policy Framework document for 2002 - 2007, which was published in 2001, and the formation of the National Youth Commission itself in 1996.
The executive in the Government is responsible for all executive decisions including, inter alia, the National Government Youth Development Policy Framework and Youth Work Practice.
There are no obvious obstacles from the national or provincial government to the inclusion of youth development in all operations of governance. However, the difficulty arises because different institutions play varying roles in youth development at national level. National Government must ensure that there is effective co-ordination and that there are clear operational mandates for all tiers of government through co-operative governance.
Some of the institutions involved are the National Youth Commission, the Inter-departmental Committee of Youth Affairs, the Office of the Status of Women, and many others.
The provincial role, with respect to youth development and youth work practice, is very similar to that of the national sphere of Government. The difference that can be noted is that nine provincial administrations have to translate the national vision, policy frameworks, norms and standards into programmes which can be implemented in the context unique to each province. Then, at the national level, for youth-sensitive resources allocation, monitoring and creating partnerships between Government and civil society.
For local government, its singular role is a theatre of action. Even in areas where the competencies are placed at the provincial and national level, for example, education, social security grants, etc, the responsibility to co-ordinate how these things happen at the local level remains in the hands of the local government officials.
On the issue of youth economic participation, it should be noted that the high unemployment that people are referring to today, is because of the apartheid legacy.
Lack of specific skills amongst young people, especially those that are out of the social and economic mainstream, act as a serious, debilitating factor for the latter’s massive involvement in income-generating activities.
At the Stellenbosch Conference, the ANC took resolutions. Notable are resolutions that affect youth and acknowledge that the participation of youth in the political, social and economic life of the country is key to strengthening and enhancing the culture of democracy.
In these resolutions, emphasis was laid on paying urgent attention to the implementation of youth programmes and the monitoring thereof. These programmes include the National Youth Service, an integrated sustainable youth economic participation strategy, the proposed legislation on co- operatives to cover specific needs of youth, the Preferential Procurement Policy to be reformed and amended to benefit youth enterprises and links with big business for skills development and markets, as well as sufficient access to financial resources. The ANC-led Government should continue unapologetically to develop these programmes that address the needs of this sector, with all youth stakeholders playing a central role.
On the other hand, the Umsobomvu initiative, together with other government departments, has for the past two years covered areas such as skills training, access to information, counselling on HIV/Aids-related issues, and putting in place building blocks of sound youth entrepreneurship.
This is another way, and another attempt of the Government, to push back the frontiers of poverty and ignorance amongst youth.
These mechanisms are in no way exhaustive, since we know that societal wants are unlimited, whilst resources in any society remain limited. This is a clear example, which explains that the road to social progress is always under construction.
Young men and women form a substantial part of the population and are affected by crime and violence, either as perpetrators or as victims.
However, our communities have no tolerance of criminal acts, such as those of some who tend to take the law into their own hands. This needs to be discouraged and the point made that people should respect the country’s law enforcement agencies. Young people, particularly those under age, found engaged in criminal activities often spend unspecified periods awaiting trial. During those periods, they come under further criminal influence and often become more hardened themselves.
Where young people are found engaged in crime, a proper assessment of their socioeconomic conditions and the actual crime has to be made.
On this score, we need to applaud some of the initiatives taken by the Constitutional Development Department concerning social mobilisation. This should be aimed at continuing the reversal of the effects of apartheid on young people; effecting drastic change in the status of young men and men, and societal perception, which is mostly negative.
On the recommendations, all government departments, both provincial and local, should in their annual business plans make provision for programmes aimed at addressing youth challenges and submit the impact thereof.
The Department of Provincial and Local Government has a major task in actually providing opportunities for the development of youth, particularly through the LED.
I thank you. [Applause.]
Ms R TALJAARD: Hon President, Madam Speaker, and colleagues, in your speech, Mr President, you emphasised the need to determine the values we seek to define us, the need to enhance a moral renewal. But, we have lost our values. What does every South African see at the opening of Parliament? They see moral and ethical turpitude. They see a motley crew under investigation, while the new South Afica is under construction. They see at least four people brushing with the law or grabbing the limelight due to corruption charges and/or criminal investigation.
They see the lying former ANC Chief Whip, Mr Tony Yengeni, of WaBenzi arms deal and Zama Resources Ltd fame, taking up his seat in the Parliament he defrauded and misled, flanked by Mrs Winnie Madikizela-Mandela … [Interjections.]
The SPEAKER: Hon member, I drew attention earlier today to the fact that there has been no sentence as yet, I am informing the House now, in the case of Mr Yengeni. He is still a member of this House until the House or his party decides otherwise. Please bear that in mind in any statements you make. [Interjections.]
Ms R TALJAARD: Thank you, Madam Speaker, we will be guided in this regard by the plea agreement Mr Yengeni has signed with the state in pleading his sentencing. [Interjections.] Mrs Winnie Madikizela, herself no stranger to the legal process, is a stranger to this Parliament. They see the Western Cape Premier, Mr Marthinus Van Schalkwyk, whose New NP apparatchiks in the Western Cape, Mr Marais and Mr Malatsi, have immortalised Don Vito, the Count and golf estates, the same Count whose Augusta helicopters won a controversial bid in the arms procurement, prompting the question whether the ANC-New NP alliance have merged donors and friends in addition to their alliance. [Interjections.]
They see Deputy President Jacob Zuma, currently under investigation, who has a close controversial friend, Mr Schabir Shaik, himself facing criminal charges, and implicated in a conflict of interest mess involving former Minister Mac Maharaj. [Interjections.] Mr Maharaj now appears to have displayed contempt for Paliament’s code of conduct, in Yengeni-style and used his Cabinet position in Modise-style. [Interjections.]
Today, we can rightfully ask what the values are that define us. What type of moral regeneration do we speak of? How can there be any notion of morality when the Deputy President of our country, Mr Jacob Zuma, the leader of Government’s moral renewal campaign, maintains a stony-faced silence over whether he met Thales’ Mr Alain Thetard in November 1998, or on 11 March 2000, if he has nothing to hide? It is a simple factual question. [Interjections.] Why is it that you are unwilling to appoint a commission of inquiry to probe this matter? [Interjections.]
In her reply to the DA request, dated 12 December 2002, your legal adviser states the following:
The President has not received any information that would necessitate the establishment of a commission of inquiry in this regard. You will surely appreciate the prudence of not appointing commissions of inquiry on the basis of mere allegations.
Apart from the clear and apparent fact that the raison d’être of commissions of inquiry is to probe allegations, you acted on the basis of Mr Kevin Wakeford’s mere allegations. You appointed the Myburgh Commission of Inquiry on 15 January 2001. The Wakeford allegations were found to be baseless and unproven. Why this double standard?
What type of society are we, and what values do we embody when the presidential ceremonial entourage at the opening of Parliament resembles an identification parade at a criminal investigation?
Mr President, we have every right to ask you today: What values will define us? [Interjections.]
Mr A C NEL: Madam Speaker, on a point of order: The last reference that Ms Taljaard has made to the presidential entourage is clearly unparliamentary, and I ask her to withdraw it. [Interjections.]
The SPEAKER: Hon member, I was part of the procession that accompanied and brought the President into the House. So were all the other presiding officers. I would ask you, Ms Taljaard, please to withdraw that comment about the entourage.
Ms R TALJAARD: Madam Speaker, I will look for your guidance in this regard, as at least two members of that ceremony are indeed under investigation by the Scorpions. [Interjections.]
The SPEAKER: Ms Taljaard, you have referred to the entire entourage resembling an identity parade. Would you please withdraw that and apologise?
Ms R TALJAARD: Madam Speaker, I withdraw that. What type of society …
The SPEAKER: And apologise! [Interjections.] Order!
Ms R TALJAARD: Madam Speaker, I apologise and I withdraw it.
The SPEAKER: Thank you very much.
Ms R TALJAARD: What type of society are we, and what values do we embody when members of the presidential entourage, including the Deputy President and Mr Marthinus van Schalkwyk, are currently under investigation by the Scorpions and the criminal investigative agencies in this country?
We have every right to ask you today what values will define us? What moral renewal edifice will we build with foundations of quicksand? We have had at least three Cabinet members implicated and/or under investigation for suspected corruption in South Africa’s first decade of freedom: the late Mr Modise, Mr Maharaj and Deputy President Jacob Zuma.
There are further unresolved questions about former Minister Jay Naidoo and chief negotiator Jayendra Naidoo and the J&J Corporation. You promised that clear rules on cooling-off periods would be forthcoming for members of the executive. You promised this in a Cabinet statement after a Cabinet meeting during the course of the furore of the arms deal. We have to ask: Where are these ethical guidelines on cooling-off periods for members of the executive?
We must not be surprised if those at other levels of our society take their cue straight from the top and display similar unacceptable conduct in the public sector.
In recent months, we have seen scandals erupt at a number of our parastatals and regulatory bodies. It is clear that when the corruption circus rolls into town - and I am not only referring to the maladministered ANC-run Eastern Cape - everyone wants to get in on the act. We have the credit card antics of Mr Mkhwanazi, our National Energy Regulator. We have the unlicensed pilot and Civil Aviation Authority CEO, Mr Trevor Abrahams’ gross misconduct revealed in a damning forensic audit. We have the wedding sponsorship of former Public Enterprises Director, Andile Nkuhlu by Zama’s Mr Mlonzi, which derailed the Komatiland privatisation. We have the housing scandal of Spoornet CEO, Mr Zandile Jakavula, and the arms deal sharedealings of former Armscor chairman, Ron Haywood, and Denel chairman, Ian Deetlefs, in concert with Mr Modise.
We also have Public Enterprises DG, Mr Sivi Gounden, who appears to have intervened in Transnet’s procurement procedure in favour of ANC-linked Skotaville Press. In addition, we have the conduct of officials at the Department of Public Works in relation to the sale of a house to Mrs Zanele Mbeki.
Instead of having an iron-fisted approach of cracking down on corruption or dubious practice, most of these cases were dispensed with by a limp-wristed wrap on the knuckles or inaction. What is lacking in this Government are sound ethics, moral authority and the political will to act. While you have addressed this issue with many lofty words and ideals in numerous speeches since you became President in 1999, what is lacking is action. What Churchill wrote of Stanley Baldwin’s government in 1936 is equally applicable to the ANC Government’s dithering on corruption, and I quote:
So they go on, in strange paradox, decided only to be undecided, resolved only to be irresolute, adamant for drift, solid for fluidity, all- powerful to be impotent.
Minister Maduna, indeed, the legal process with Mr Yengeni will take its course, sentencing will be given and all eyes will be on your party to see what you do when the legal process deals with a member of your party.
Mr President, the DA urges you today to be decisive and resolved. Sweep away the cobwebs of corruption and conflicts of interest that blight this Government. Failure to act will see a dawn, and a false dawn, to the second decade of freedom. The second decade of freedom will be a dream deferred, unless you deal with corruption. I thank you. [Applause.] [Interjections.] Mr R J B MOHLALA: Madam Speaker, President of the Republic of South Africa, Deputy President, Ministers and colleagues …
… go gopa dipitša go jelwe ke go goka dikolobe. Ke go rumula motlhako o iketlile. Ke go iša tau setswetši. Gopola thuto ya boSekwati o tle o atlege. Ngwana wa borrawešo ga a lle phefo, o lla tlala.
Tlala le botlhoki ke manaba ao a kago go go ja ka meno a matelele. Ngwaga wo o sa nthatego kgabaganya, tše botse di nketele. (Translation of Sepedi paragraphs follows.)
[… to scrub pots after meals is to attract the attention of pigs. That is to court trouble. That is to take a lioness to a place of confinement. One should indeed adhere to the noble teachings of our ancestors that go like this: People should not be worried all that much when a child goes without clothing to keep it warm, but they should be very worried when the child has an empty stomach.
Hunger and poverty are enemies that can devour one with their long teeth. Let the year that brought suffering to me pass by; the good should remain with me.] Between two evils, always choose the one that you don’t know. But, in our case, it is impossible to leave the evil that we know. From the little information that I have, the speaker before me is supposed to be a lawyer. And as a self-professed lawyer like many other members of her party, she should know that people have to be charged and tried in a court of law, and be found guilty before you can even articulate any position. [Applause.] But, like I said, if there are two evils, I will choose the one that I don’t know. This one, which I already know, is going to waste my time. [Laughter.]
The debate on whether the restructuring of state-owned enterprises policy has failed is neither here nor there, to the disappointment of those who hoped that this one policy would lead to an end of the revolutionary alliance. The 51st National Conference of the ANC has demonstrated that all alliance partners support policies of the ANC, which are in turn those of the Government. [Applause.]
There has never been an indication of policy failure in any way. We might, of course, have problems with the successful implementation of those policies. We need, therefore, to ensure that policy-makers and owners share the same vision as policy implementers. The restructuring policy has shown that it is well-placed to ensure that we push back the frontiers of poverty. It has only not benefited a few, as other people would like us to believe. It has benefited communities.
One such good example is the Alexkor Mine in the Alexandra Bay. You remove the mine, and the community is left with nothing. Even the municipality would be unable to deliver essential services to the community. Another good example is the role that is played by the Esselen Park School of Excellence, which is a Transnet subsidiary. Through this school, young boys and girls are given an opportunity to make meaningful their young lives with the youthfulness that they possess.
When we embarked on the restructuring process in South Africa in comparison to other countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico and so forth, where the aims of their restructuring were, amongst others, to reduce the public debt, our aim was to ensure support for black economic empowerment, including community trust, employee ownership and the general promotion of small, medium and micro enterprises. Of course, at the same time, the restructuring of the state-owned assets must ensure increased competition which in turn will improve efficiency and quality of services. Further aims will ensure new investments in private companies and activities to allow the disadvantaged into the mainstream of the economic arena. It will assist in the modernisation of the South African industrial sector by increasing competitiveness and strengthening management in various sectors of the community. It will allow the Government to concentrate its efforts on activities where the presence of the state is essential, such as in the social services sector, education, health, housing, etc.
We have always argued, and we continue to argue that restructuring of state- owned assets is an integral part of the transformation of our economy, which aims to increase the rate of growth and development of the economy and of the infrastructure to meet basic needs and strengthen economic potential. This growth and development, which we always have argued for, has to be sustainable and ensure that the economy yields meaningful jobs.
The national programme on restructuring is always aimed at ensuring job creation where possible and includes the creation of safety nets for those workers who cannot secure continued employment and those that cannot be retained into fields that should ensure their retention.
Bjale ka ge ke šetše ke laeditše mo nakwaneng ye sa tšwago go feta, batho ba gaborena ga ba swanela gore ba nagane gore ke ka baka la Mmušo wa ANC ge go se na mešomo. Re tseba gabotse gore batho ba gaborena ba bantsi, le ge ba hloka mešomo, ba a tseba gore ga se ka baka la lenaneo le. (Translation of Sepedi paragraph follows.)
[As I indicated earlier on, our people should not think that it is because of the ANC-led Government that there is unemployment. We know very well that most of our people know that their unemployment was not caused by this programme.]
It is not through the restructuring of the state-owned assets that our people are unemployed. I want this fallacy to go away forever. State-owned assets do not employ more than 300 000 people in South Africa, and you don’t have more than 100 000 of those on the streets. People have been retrenched from all walks of life. But, for one particular reason, we always target restructuring - because it is done by Government.
Go ala dibodi ke go goka manong. Ke go apeša ngwedi motšeka. [Disego.] [To bare rotten matter on the surface is to attract the attention of vultures. That is to honour the moon. [Laughter.]]
We are not going to be told by generals how to run the economy. The economy is not like a troop of soldiers who are standing to attention, and are waiting for a command and who do as they are commanded. The notion that bureaucrats are by nature inefficient is not only misleading, but also untrue. Some large private sector organisations are equally bureaucratic. Chang and Singh also question whether discipline imposed by state-owned enterprises bureaucrats and by the political system is inherently inferior to debt imposed by markets on private corporations.
From a perspective which is not sympathetic to private sectors, Ramamurti has questioned the underlying exceptions made. Bureaucrats run those state- owned enterprises when, in fact, most are separate from and are independent of government and civil society. That divestiture will take bureaucrats out of business when, in fact, many of the industries which state-owned enterprises operate require regulation from privatisation, or that there is a consensus on the superiority of private over public ownership when, in fact, this assumption is hotly debated in most countries. Perhaps not in the abstract, but when applied to particular markets and activities.
Therefore, the restructuring of state-owned enterprises becomes essentially a step for sustainable growth and maintenance of economic stability that ensures that we push back the frontiers of poverty towards a total eradication of poverty. One of the pillars of this process has to do with the establishment of new partnerships between Government and private enterprises, as this is the only way to ensure job creation.
Very funnily, even when these things happen before our eyes, the triple Ps
-
private-public partnerships - we don’t see them. Hon Gibson on Friday enjoyed one such partnership when the SAB actually sponsored the Chief Whip’s bash. I could see you enjoyed it. We could hear that from what you were saying! [Laughter.] The President on Friday had this to say on the same issue:
The Government will continue to work on public-private partnerships to increase its capacity to respond to the needs of our people. Fifty of these are already in operation in areas such as health, education, housing, information technology, tourism, and Government accommodationÿ …
and I should add: The Chief Whip’s bash!
The restructuring of state-owned assets has not, as many would like us to believe, been a blanket privatisation. On the contrary, a number of new entities were formed - entities such as Aravia.com, Sasria, Khula and Ntsika. Clearly, these new entities have brought them with efficiency and effective management. These were new entities that have brought with them, not only new jobs, but sustainable jobs.
Ge e le lenyaga mokhora re o humane. Tlala ngwaga wono e otile. E otišitšwe ke mahuma ao re a humanego. Ka gona, ge e rata go phela a e tšhabele mono. Tlala le yona e tšhaba tlala. [This year we have an abundance of food. This year hunger is lean. It is lean because of the good rains we had earlier this summer. Therefore, if hunger wants to continue living, it must take refuge here. Hunger is actually afraid of famine.]
Now, hon Taljaard, you would make a very good researcher if only you would take this little bit of advice, though it is not wise to give advice in a crowd. [Laughter.] When you research, you don’t determine the end results; you discover them. [Laughter.] The problem with your method of research is that you already have the results. So, you go and find a way of justifying your results. [Laughter.] [Applause.]
You see, as a lawyer myself - unfortunately turned economist - I know that you have to prove something. You don’t say anything that is not a fact. You have to first find facts and move with the facts and say this is the situation. But, that weakness and the intelligence of that magnitude is unfortunately absent somewhere on my left-hand side. [Laughter.]
I only hope that, by the end of tomorrow, they will be clearly educated to the point that, this year, we are going to have a meaningful discussion in this House and stop howling and whining in the bush. There are no juju men here. You don’t come here and throw bones and hope that you will get results. [Laughter.] The results are achieved through facts. [Laughter.] [Applause.]
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH: Madam Deputy Speaker, hon President, hon Deputy President and hon colleagues, my participation today in this debate as a member of the Government for the first time is based on the fundamental assumption that my party, the New NP, is in its heart and soul a party of the new South Africa, prepared to be an active participant in the new politics and the mainstream of South African political thought and action. My party is committed to demonstrating in a practical way that South Africans of all races can work together for the common good. That is our approach and that is what the debate ought to be about. We will not be deflected from our course by the very silly, often loud noise from our left
- which is in fact to the right of the political spectrum. [Applause.] I want to say, in particular, that the speech by the hon Taljaard was probably one of her weaker efforts in this House, very strident, very weak and low on substance. [Interjections.] It was probably written by the hon Chief Whip of the Opposition, Douglas Gibson. [Applause.]
I intend briefly to refer to three matters today, namely the language policy, black economic empowerment and affirmative action. In discussing language, I will be using my home language, Afrikaans.
Adjunkspeaker, tydens die afgelope ANC-kongres in Stellenbosch het ek u, mnr die President, vir die eerste keer hoor Afrikaans praat - nie vir baie lank nie, maar dit het baie goed gegaan. Ek wil vir u sê: Ek beskou u optrede as ‘n gebaar van erkenning vir Afrikaans waarvoor ek u ook hier in die Parlement wil bedank. Die Minister in u Kantoor, dr Essop Pahad, het ook onlangs baie positiewe uitsprake gemaak oor die rol van Afrikaans. Saamgesien met die Raamwerk Nasionale Taalbeleid wat reeds deur die Kabinet aanvaar is, lyk dit asof die fase van wat ek sou sê verengelsing in Suid- Afrika was, wat moontlik onbedoeld was, maar nou finaal verby is. Ek wil die President en die regering daarvoor bedank en wil vra, mnr die President, dat daardie benadering ook in hierdie hoogste Raad van toepassing sal wees. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.) [Deputy Speaker, during the last ANC congress held in Stellenbosch I heard you, Mr President, speaking Afrikaans for the first time - not for very long, but it went very well. I would like to tell you: I regard this act as a sign of acknowledgement of Afrikaans, for which I would also like to thank you here in Parliament. The Minister in your Office, Dr Essop Pahad, has also recently made quite a few positive statements regarding the role of Afrikaans. Seen in conjunction with the Framework National Language Policy, that has already been accepted by the Cabinet, it seems as if the phase that I would call anglicisation in South Africa, which was probably unintentional, is now finally over. I would like to thank the President and the Government for that and I would like to request, Mr President, that that approach would also be made applicable to this highest Chamber.]
In your speech, you made references to black economic empowerment and you made the important point of the need for partnership between all sectors of our society to draw us all into a more prosperous and equitable future, and you emphasised that the empowerment you refer to is an inclusive process and not an exclusive one, which, in our view, is a necessary and reassuring perspective. Clearly, the eradication of the inequities of the past can best be served by a pragmatic and flexible approach which creates the certainty and stability you argued for.
In the spirit of partnership, the time has also arrived to look again at the way in which affirmative action negatively affects South Africans from minority communities in the workplace. It can be argued that affirmative action has achieved much of what it was intended to, and rightly so, but the question must be asked if it does not - especially when applied in an unfair and unbalanced way - contribute to a feeling of exclusion, alienation and marginalisation, which were such very cruel features of our racially divided past. Affirmative action must, by definition, affirm something.
Ideally, it should be an affirmation of worth, of value, of dignity. The problem with affirmative action in some companies and industries in South Africa is that this is not the case and, in some cases, it is a practice which is more about filling quotas than empowering communities. My party has often argued in the past that we favour a sunset clause in respect of affirmative action and as we approach the tenth year of our democracy, we must ask if the time for the sunset has not arrived so that we can have a new dawn where merit alone, and not race, is the only factor for the first time in our history.
In your speech you said, Mr President, that our people are developing a strong sense of common patriotism and I agree that, with a few notable retrogressive exceptions, perhaps this is largely true. It also reminded me of an observation of the late Prof Piet Cillié, who said:
True patriotism is not to love your country for what it is, but for what it can be, namely a country which encompasses the dreams of all its citizens.
The New NP will work hard and will support your efforts, Mr President, to turn that dream into a reality for all South Africans. [Applause.]
Ms F I CHOHAN-KHOTA: Deputy Speaker, Mr President, Mr Deputy President, I will today deal with the concept of oversight and accountability in governance - hopefully in a more constructive and dignified way than was done by the hon Taljaard a while ago.
In the last three major presidential speeches delivered on 16 December 2002, 8 January and 14 February 2003, reference was made to the responsibility of the state to be accountable in all of its individual components. In the address delivered in the North West province earlier this year, emphasis was laid on individuals in elected positions discharging their responsibilities with regard to the functioning of the system of governance.
In Stellenbosch, the highest constitutional structure of the ANC heard the following call:
Led by the executive authorities we have to ensure that these administrations discharge their responsibilities of serving the people through the effective and efficient implementation of policies decided by our legislature and the executive authority.
The truth is, however, that during the period since our 50th national conference there has been a number of instances of failure of our administrations and our leadership with regard to the implementation of these policies. The firm message this communicates to us is that we have to strengthen accountability of all members of our leadership.
The executive arm of Government is enjoined by our Constitution to be accountable to Parliament within the broader design of our democracy that hinges on accountability, responsiveness and transparency. The delicate balance between the three mechanisms that make up the state is maintained equally by the executive as it is by Parliament and our courts. Moreover, initiatives of the executive, both in this Parliament and without, point to an adherence to the values and spirit of the Constitution that goes far beyond the letter of the law.
In the state of the nation address, reference is made to the importance of maintaining contact with the people of our country who elected us. The leader of the UDM earlier spoke in scathing terms of the presidential imbizos. Imbizos are traditional democratic mechanisms that have been adapted to modern times. Drawn from the wisdom of our common African ancestors, they bring into the democratic fold the most marginalised and vulnerable of our people. The imbizo at Bekkersdal, to which specific reference was made in the state of the nation address, was indeed a very special occasion. The impact of a presidential and governmental imbizo in this community living daily without basic necessities such as readily accessible water and no prospect of adequate housing due to the dolomitic land on which the township is located, cannot be overstated. Not only did it result in a sudden boost of morale in the township, but it brought the prospect of real delivery through a shift in government policy and spending priorities. In simple terms, it brought to the people of Bekkersdal a promise of a better life. Imbizos are in this way a very real and effective initiative of the ANC-led Government and are to be applauded, and hopefully will be sustained as part of the institution of the Presidency into perpetuity. [Applause.]
However, imbizos do have their limitations, most of which relate to the demands of time on the executive branch of Government. This is where Parliament’s oversight capability is of great import. The representatives of the people, by their very nature, often have intimate knowledge of policy deficiencies or implementation lapses which is obtained through regular constituency work or through parliamentary oversight visits or even public hearings. A more effective interface between MPs, both nationally and provincially, and the relevant executive authority inevitably enriches the process of policy formulation or implementation by the relevant government departments. This immediately leads to more responsive and effective government. There are vast areas for improvement in the manner in which Parliament conducts its oversight function. Up to now, much of Parliament’s focus has been on its lawmaking function. Parliament has now, through a process initiated by the presiding officers to their enormous credit, begun to introspect and plan around its oversight role. To this end the Joint Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Oversight and Accountability has tabled its final report before the Rules Committee for adoption in the next few weeks.
Recommendations include, inter alia, structured programming of meaningful debates on oversight reports compiled by committees. This will enable more effective engagement with the executive on matters such as implementation glitches. It is envisaged that these meaningful engagements between the representatives of the people and the executive authority will begin to develop into early warning signals of potential pitfalls which would, inter alia, result in direct savings.
For Parliament to effectively monitor the implementation of government programmes and exercise its constitutional oversight role, it is imperative that parliamentarians have an in-depth understanding of their constitutional mandate, particularly in the light of the sometimes blatantly unconstitutional tendencies that emerged from certain quarters, arising from the arms procurement. That there is a constructive reason and point to oversight other than scoring political points seems to have been lost on some in this House; that oversight is meant, after all, to build Government is twisted into a systematic deluge of Government-bashing which seems to be aimed primarily at securing the proverbial head of a Minister.
There is, of course, a major role for opposition parties to play in any democracy. But there has to come a time when the opposition party in question realises that to try to be everything to everybody and anybody who has ever said anything bad about Government is simply senseless, and it means that you are going to end up looking curiouser and curiouser. A simple regurgitation of media allegations is not a high enough standard to set for this institution. [Applause.]
The report of the ad hoc committee begins by recommending that serious attention be paid to developing amongst ourselves as MPs an understanding of our constitutional mandates and their purpose in the broader architecture of our system of democracy. This is not to say that quality oversight work does not already get done in Parliament. On the contrary, many best practices are developed particularly within committees, and that these should be harnessed and become standard practice is also recommended. Synergy between the two Houses on matters of common interest and the expansion and improvement of the committee section, which is the administrative support section of committees, is further recommended. This area in Parliament is particularly dire and will require more resources to be allocated to Parliament. [Applause.]
The support of the executive in this regard and the overall review of Parliament is particularly important when we consider that it is governance itself that is enhanced, enriched, made more responsive and more transparent, ideals that Government has long committed itself to.
The troika of the state machinery remains incomplete without the judiciary. What of accountability in this vital element of Government? Our new democracy has embraced the concept of judicial independence to rebuild a pivotal element that was deliberately and systematically eroded in our not- so-distant past. Our Constitution goes further and addresses the long- standing debate around judicial deference and judicial activism. The Constitution clearly enjoins judicial officers towards activism in the furtherance of fundamental human rights and, more broadly, the underlying values of the Constitution. This means that judges now have a bigger role to play in governance issues than ever before in our history and therefore, I submit, must be more accountable than ever before.
Judicial independence relates to the constitutional guarantee of independence of mind, or to put it another way, the guarantee of impartiality in dispensing justice. Judicial independence cannot, and does not, mean freedom from accountability. The justice portfolio committee has before it currently a Bill that seeks to introduce a disciplinary mechanism within the judiciary. Key issues such as who sits in judgement of our judges arise but so does the related question of accountability, so that when judges begin by their unreasonable conduct to thwart or defeat the purpose of laws that have been found to be constitutional by our Constitutional Court, they may be held to account.
Together with like-minded members of the judiciary, Parliament and the executive must engage over the idea that is espoused in our Constitution that the different elements that make up the state should be accountable, transparent and responsive. That our judiciary should find itself firmly within this loop is mere compliance with the values and spirit underpinning our democracy and will go a long way towards restoring utmost faith in our courts. [Applause.]
Mr C AUCAMP: Hon Deputy Speaker, hon President, hon Deputy President, hon members, in my last speech last year, I referred to 14 February as the day of the President’s state of two nations address. Today I am in the position to deliver my state of two parties address. [Laughter.] There is the one I’m just clinging to, the other one I’m going to. [Laughter.]
Hon President, as loyal and objective South Africans, we can appreciate the positive initiatives you have announced in your speech. In this regard, the following should be mentioned: extended infrastructure and capital investment. Important as social development and welfare services may be, it is capital projects that provide jobs and opportunity.
Secondly, there is the much-needed focus on better delivery, especially at local level. Far too often, there is a vast difference between those beautiful plans and schemes we hear about here in Parliament and the hard realities people experience in the real South Africa outside.
Thirdly, there is the extending of the social grant for children from seven to fourteen years. Of course, it is plain logic that a child of eight is as dependent as a child of seven. Also, we have the reaffirmation of the Gear policies, rather than cheap stuff such as unsustainable shortcuts of populist socialism, and the partnership with the business community, and plans that black empowerment should be achieved by way of sound economic principles. All these things we appreciate.
Maar die AEB het egter ook ernstige kritiek op die President se toespraak. Die kommando’s. Die skielike aankondiging dat die kommando-stelsel uitgefaseer gaan word, het skokgolwe deur ons landelike gemeenskap gestuur. Terwyl die kwessie van plaasaanvalle die mees sensitiewe kwessie is onder die blanke gemeenskap, terwyl die verslag van die Du Plessis-kommissie nog steeds uitstaande is, terwyl die twee jaar-oue beloftes van helikopters en 40 000 reserviste nog uitstaande is, terwyl noodoproepe na die plaaslike polisiekantoor dikwels beantwoord word met: ‘‘Ons het nie ‘n voertuig beskikbaar nie.’’. Terwyl al hierdie dinge gebeur, kondig u ewe luiters aan dat hierdie eerste en oudste linie van beskerming weggeneem gaan word, sonder ‘n duidelike alternatief om die vakuum te vul. Is dit nie in die minste ‘n teken van onsensitiwiteit vir die behoeftes en vrese van ons boeregemeenskap nie? Besef u watter rol die kommando’s speel in die beveiliging van landelike gemeenskappe, swart en wit? Besef u dat die kommunikasiestelsel binne die kommando’s die eerste en belangrikste kontak is tussen afgeleë plaasboere en die buitewêreld, veral wanneer telefoondrade alreeds geknip is deur kriminele?
Mnr die President, ek wil u ‘n baie reguit vraag vra. U het hierdie aankondiging oor die kommando’s gedoen in dieselfde hoofstuk waarin u verwys het na terreur aan die kant van die sogenaamde Boeremag. Het die sporadiese bedreiging van die fanatieke Boeremag iets te doen met u besluit? Indien wel, dan skop u die kat omdat die hond u gebyt het. Het u so geskrik vir ‘n paar geïsoleerde ekstremiste dat u die kind met die badwater wil uitgooi? Ek gee u vandag die versekering, en ek plaas my eie geloofwaardigheid daarvoor op die spel, ons kommando’s is 99% toegewyde landsburgers wat bloot wil beskerm en nie bedreig nie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[But the AEB also has serious criticism on the President’s speech. The commandos. The sudden announcement that the commando system will be phased out sent shock waves through our rural communities. While the issue of farm attacks is the most sensitive issue among the white community; while the report of the Du Plessis commission is still outstanding; while the two- year-old promises of helicopters and 40 000 reservists is still unfulfilled; while emergency calls to the local police stations are still answered with: ``We have no vehicle available.’’. While all these things are happening, you announce quite casually that this, the oldest and first line of defence will be taken away, without a clear alternative to fill the vacuum. Is this not at least a sign of insensitivity towards the needs and fears of our farming community? Do you realise what role is being played by the commandos in the protection of the rural communities, both black and white? Do you realise that the communication system within the commandos is the first and most important contact among isolated farmers and the outside world, especially when telephone wires have already been cut by criminals?
Mr President, I would like to ask you a very straightforward question. You made this announcement about the commandos in the same chapter in which you referred to terrorism on the part of the Boeremag. Does the sporadic threat of the fanatical Boeremag have something to do with your decision? If so, then you are kicking the cat because you have been bitten by the dog. Were you given such a fright by a couple of isolated extremists that you want to throw out the baby with the bathwater? I shall give you the assurance today, and I shall put my own credibility on the line for this, that 99% of our commandos are committed citizens who only want to protect and who do not pose any threat.]
I give you the assurance, Mr President, that the Boeremag is a small, isolated group and that their basis of religious exclusivity and fanaticism will never have fertile soil in the Afrikaner community, precisely because of our belief in the solemn grace of God and the universal power of the redeeming blood of Christ for all the peoples of the world.
A second matter of grave concern is your foreign policy. Mr President, a matter of real concern is our positioning in the international world. We agree with you that war in Iraq should be avoided if in any way possible. We agree with you on the matter of Iraq and its compliance with the UN regulations on disarmament, that it should be dealt with multilaterally and not by one superpower, but you can’t escape the impression that the SA Government is biased in favour of Iraq. Saddam Hussein and his atrocities are de facto excused when people in our Government say it is only about the oil that America is after and that Saddam is an innocent victim.
By warnings from the General … [Interjections] … I am not talking to you. The warnings from the General Secretary of the ANC and the Minister of Health and the Minister of Foreign Affairs against possible US attacks on South Africa serve as an encouragement to Iraq to stand firm in turbulent times. From your address on Friday, one gets the impression that Saddam only needs some training in disarmament and everything will be hunky-dory, without asking the crucial question whether he has the will to disarm.
From your speech, one gets the impression that with regard to Zimbabwe, the policy of silent diplomacy has made way for one of total silence. Likewise South Africa supported Gaddafi in Libya’s bid to host the World Commission on Human Rights. Must we assume, Mr President, that your Government still has a soft spot for the Mugabes and the Gaddafis and the Saddams of this world? Must we assume that old struggle loyalties still dominate your international policy, like the well-known song, ``Sal ons ou vriende ooit vergeet?’’. Mr President, there inevitably comes a time in responsible decision-making when old loyalties must make way for new realities and, believe me, that takes some guts. I have taken that risk recently and, here I am, still home and dry. Why shouldn’t you do the same? [Laughter.]
President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote a letter to Australian Premier, John Howard, together with you, co-member of the Commonwealth Troika on Zimbabwe. On the whole, the letter reveals great sympathy for Mr Mugabe, especially for his land reform plan. Obasanjo gives him the following credit: ``The results of the government’s effort in land redistribution have been claimed as remarkable.’’ Can you, in your reply, state clearly whether you share these sentiments and if so, what would be the bearing thereof on South Africa’s land issue?
The last part of my speech I want to devote to the crucial matter of the place and co-existence of minorities in South Africa. There are people who think that somehow some miracle will bring back what they call ``the good old days’’. They don’t take the new South Africa for real but, on the other hand, it would be equally disastrous to take the new South Africa for granted, as if it will automatically succeed, without due consideration for the complexity of the South African community; as if the majority can only carry on fulfilling its own agenda without even asking what expectations, emotions, aspirations and concerns are living in the hearts of minorities.
Ek het tot die besef gekom, agb President, dat daar ‘n onlosmaaklike wederkerige interafhanklikheid is tussen die bevordering van breë nasionale prioriteite en die beskerming van die regte van minderhede. Aan die een kant, so lank as miljoene mense ‘n gebrek het aan die mees basiese lewensmiddele, sal die mees gesofistikeerde korrektiewe regte van gemeenskappe soos taal, kultuur en ‘n eie gemeenskapslewe ‘n sekondêre plek op die agenda inneem. Solank as wat mense natreën op die Kaapse Vlakte, honger ly in die afgeleë gebiede van die Oos-Kaap en Limpopo, werkloos op straathoeke sit, in hulle duisende sterf aan Vigs, moet skoolgaan onder ‘n boom, so lank sal dit wat vir ons kosbaar is as luukshede beskou word. Ons erken dit. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[I have realised, hon President, that there is an inextricably mutual interdependence between the promotion of broader national priorities and the protection of the rights of minorities. On the one hand, as long as millions of people lack the most basic foodstuffs, the most sophisticated corrective rights of communities, like language, culture and an own community life, have to take a secondary position on the agenda. As long as people are drenched by rain on the Cape Flats, are starving in remote areas of the Eastern Cape and Limpopo; sitting unemployed on street corners; dying in their thousands of Aids; must attend school under a tree, that is how long things that are precious to us will be regarded as luxuries. That much we admit.]
But, on the other side of the coin, as long as communities feel collectively insecure about their land, about their culture, the education of their children, the ethos of their schools, the safety of their farmers, the career prospects of their youth and their middle-aged in a labour market diversity affected by a never-ending racially-based affirmative action - another distinctive characteristic of their community life and community institutions - so long will the country forfeit and miss their invaluable and loyal creative contribution to the advancement of the country as a whole, and that we can’t afford.
In this regard, a proposal by the AEB at the parliamentary forum of the World Summit for Sustainable Development was unanimously accepted and taken up as one of the priority areas for sustainable development, and I quote: ``Recognising cultural diversity and promoting the rights of cultural, religious and linguistic communities.’’ This, Mr President, is something I sorely missed in your address on Friday. Really, there was nothing in it to strengthen my hands to convince my people that Government really takes their concerns and legitimate aspirations seriously. [Interjections.]
There was nothing I could give to the widow left alone after a farm killing or to the matriculant with seven distinctions whose application for medical study was turned down or to the well-qualified young professionals in London who dearly want to come back and invest their skills and their expertise in a country they so dearly love.
When you address this House again, Mr President, please tell them that they are important too. They want to hear it from you - not from me. Tell them that their wellbeing is on your agenda as well, that their concerns are your concerns. Strengthen the hands of us loyal South Africans who dare to place our heads on the block to come to terms with new realities, who dare to convince our people that their future lies here. I thank you. [Interjections.] [Applause.]
Ms N R NTSHULANA-BHENGU: Madam Deputy Speaker, the President, the Deputy President, hon members, the President devoted part of his all-important state of the nation address on Friday to the Cricket World Cup and sport in general.
We commend President Mbeki for, once again, reaffirming the ANC-led Government’s view that sport is central to our country’s nation-building and social development. We acknowledge the warm welcome that President Mbeki gave to the international sports bodies during the opening ceremony of the Cricket World Cup in Cape Town. Special praise goes to the United Cricket Board of South Africa for its success in bringing this major sports event to Africa. We acknowledge the role played by the Departments of Sport and Recreation, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Safety and Security, Transport, Trade and Industry, Home Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Provincial and Local Government and Health.
This to us demonstrates an integrated approach to social transformation. We believe that the International Cricket Council’s decision to award this major international sport to Africa is this body’s acknowledgement that Africa has the capacity to host events of this magnitude. We recognise this as a contribution of the ICC to the African Renaissance and Nepad. This event will leave Africa with a legacy of skills, social and economic benefits.
We however wish to express our regret and disappointment at last week’s cancellation of the cricket match involving the English team, following the team’s refusal to participate in Zimbabwe. We urge our sports administrators to spare no effort in ensuring that the general enthusiasm for the Cricket World Cup shown by our people is translated into active involvement in sport.
We assure the world that South Africa will make this year’s Cricket World Cup the most memorable in the history of the game. We in the ANC welcome the President’s announcement that, towards the end of 2003, South Africa will host another prominent international sports event, the President’s Golf Challenge. This will serve as another motivation for taking forward our campaign of getting the nation to play, and claim our youth from the streets.
We also welcome President Mbeki’s announcement that Government stands firmly behind the bid for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. The Minister of Sport and Recreation, Mr Ngconde Balfour, has initiated a debate on bidding to host major international sports events in South Africa. This is in response to the challenge of co-ordination and early involvement of the Government and other role-players when bids are initiated.
We believe that bidding to host international sports event is a national issue rather than that of individual sports federations. Therefore Government should play a leading role. We believe such efforts at ensuring that the country has an integrated approach to bidding for the events will greatly improve our country’s success at hosting events of this magnitude.
We in the ANC believe that sport should play a critical role in the struggle to eradicate poverty and underdevelopment. We urge Government to play a central role, and where necessary, an interventionist role in the transformation of sport and recreation and to develop programmes and initiatives aimed at increasing the level of youth participation in sport as part of moral regeneration. We therefore reaffirm that sport should form an integral part of a comprehensive, people-centred and people-driven programme of transformation.
The ANC at its national conference held in December 2002 resolved that the Sports Transformation Charter be developed as a tool for facilitating a total transformation of sport in South Africa. We charged the Department of Sport and Recreation to move with speed in finalising this and to facilitate the adoption of the Sports Transformation Charter by the nation.
Uhlelo lokwakhiwa kwezinkundla zemidlalo ezindaweni ezikhungethwe yindlala nobubha lwaqala ngonyaka ka-2000. NgoMashi kulo nyaka ophezulu kuzobe sekuphele izinkundla eziyikhulu namashumi amane ezakhiwe ngalolu hlelo. Ngonyaka ka-2003 kuphela kuzokwakhiwa ezinye eziyikhulu.
Kuyajabulisa ukuthi abesifazane basemakhaya bahlomula kakhulu ngokuthola imisebenzi kanye nokuqeqeshwa kumakhono okwakha ngesikhathi kwakhiwa lezi zinkundla. Kodwa kumele siphawule ukuthi ukuphumelela kwalolu hlelo angeke sikukale ngenani lezinkundla ezakhiwe kuphela. Kuyomele siqaphele ukuthi lezi zinkundla ziyasiza yini ukunciphisa izinkinga ezikhungethe intsha yakithi, okuyizinto ezifana nokusetshenziswa kwezidakamizwa, ukuphuza uphuzo oludakisayo, ukuhlala kwentsha emigwaqeni nokuzinikela kwentsha kwezocansi. Kubalulekile ukuthi lezi zinkundla zisetshenziswe njengezikhungo zokuqhubela phambili uhlelo lokuvuselela izimilo. Imiphakathi esivela kuyo impofu. Ngakho-ke kumele kubukezwe uhlelo lokukhokhiswa kwemiphakathi ngokusebenzisa izinkundla zemidlalo. Kanjalo nemiphakathi kumele ikuvimbele ukulinyazwa nokuphathwa kabi kwezakhiwo zemidlalo.
Siyakuthakasela ukubambisana komNyango wezemiDlalo nomNyango wezeMfundo ohlelweni lwezemidlalo ezikoleni. Kodwa kumele sikubhekisise ukuthi izinkundla zemidlalo zakhiwe eduze nezikole ukuze zisetshenziswe imiphakathi nabafundi ngokulingana.
Kunezikhungo zokuqeqesha othisha ezavalwa ezinezinkundla zemidlalo eziseqophelweni eliphezulu. Lezi zinkundla zingasetshenziswa ukuthuthukisa amakhono emidlalo. Ngisho izinkundla ezifana nalezo ezisemakolishi ezemfundo njengeNdumiso eseMgungundlovu, iMadadeni eseNyukhasela naseGamalakhe ePort Shepstone nezinye eziningi kwezinye izifunda zaseNingizimu Afrika.
Sinenselelo yokusungula izikhundla zokuqeqeshela ezemidlalo. Kuzodingeka ukuthi kube nokuxoxisana phakathi komNyango wezeMidlalo nomNyango wezeMfundo kanjalo nomNyango wezeMisebenzi yoMphakathi mayelana nendlela okungenziwa ngayo ukuthi izinkundla zemidlalo ezikulezi zikhungo zisetshenziselwe ukuqeqesha imiphakathi eseduze nazo.
UmNyango wezemiDlalo uyaqhubeka nohlelo lokusungulwa kwesikhungo sokuqeqeshelwa kwezemidlalo sikazwelonke. Uhlelo lokwakhiwa kwezikhungo zokuqeqeshelwa ezemidlalo luyaqhubeka. Ngikhuluma nje izifunda zonke sezinikeziwe imali yokusungulwa kwalezi zikhungo zezifundazwe. Ngalolu hlelo uHulumeni uqonde ukuthuthukisa ezemidlalo eqophelweni eliphezulu. Ukuphumelela kwalolu hlelo siyokubona ngokunyuka kwesibalo sokuqeqeshwa kwabantu ebebengenawo amathuba kwezemidlalo ngesikhathi sobandlululo, ngokuphumelela kwabo ekuphatheni ezemidlalo nangokunyuka kwezinga lokudlala kwabadlali namaqembu aseNingizimu Afrika emidlalweni yomhlaba wonke.
Siyakuthakasela ukuthuthukiswa kwemidlalo ezikoleni. Sikholwa ukuthi imidlalo ezikoleni ineqhaza elibalulekile ekulwiseni izinkinga zokungathuthuki kwemiphakathi yethu. Engqungqutheleni kazwelonke ye-ANC ebingoDisemba ngo-2002, i-ANC ithathe isinqumo sokuthi igqugquzele ukuthi uhlelo lokuthuthukisa ezemidlalo nezokufunda ngezemidlalo lube ngaphansi komNyango wezeMfundo bese uhlelo lokuqhudelana nobungcweti kwezemidlalo lube ngaphansi komNyango wezemiDlalo. Ngakho siphakamisa ukuthi le minyango kaHulumeni ilusukumele phezulu lolu daba futhi isebenze ngokubambisana.
Sinxusa ukuthi uhlelo lonke oluhambisana nokwakhiwa kwezindlu luhambisane nokwakhiwa kwezinkundla zemidlalo ukuze sigweme inkinga yokuthi izingane zethu ziqale zidlale umacashelana, zikhuleliswane, zidle izidakamizwa ngaphambi kokudlala imidlalo eyakha izimilo nobuntu. Imidlalo yendabuko ingeminye imidlalo ebonisa isigqi sase-Afrika nobuzwe bethu. Lolu hlelo kumele luhambisane nohlelo lokuvuselelwa kwe-Afrika, i-African Renaissance neNepad.
Sigqugquzela imiphakathi ukuthi iyisukumele imidlalo ngezinjongo zokuvuselela ubuzwe bethu. Sinxusa abagqugquzeli bezemidlalo ukuthi bakhangise ngemidlalo yendabuko lapho kuvulwa imidlalo enjenge-Cricket World Cup ukuze kubonakale futhi kucace ukuthi sise-Afrika.
INhlangano kaKhongolose izibophezele ekuthuthukiseni nasekugqugquzeleni imidlalo yabesifazane nabantu bakithi abakhubazekile. Ukusetshenziswa kwamagama ayizidlaliso njengaleli elithi Amakrokokroko kumele angasetshenziswa ngendlela yokubandlulula labo bantu bakithi abakhubazekile. Ukuxhaswa nokusekelwa kwemidlalo yale mikhakha kusalele emuva uma kuqhathaniswa nemidlalo yabesilisa kuleli zwe.
Thina singuKhongolose sinxusa osomabhizinisi ukuthi baxhase umkhakha wabesifazane kwezemidlalo kanye nomkhakha wabantu bakithi abakhubazekile ngendlela efanayo nale okuxhaswa ngayo imidlalo yabesilisa ukuze le midlalo ibe sezingeni elilinganayo neminye imidlalo. Sinxusa ohulumeni basekhaya ukuthi bakhombise uzwelo kwabesifazane nezidingo zabantu bakithi abakhubazekile uma behlela ukwakhiwa kwezinkundla zemidlalo ukuze le mikhakha izithole iyingxenye ephelele yomphakathi wakithi.
UKhongolose ukhulume kabanzi ngokubaluleka kokuqeqeshwa nokuzinikela kwamajoni okuthuthukiswa komphakathi. Ukuqhubekela kwalo mkhankaso phambili kuzomele imiphakathi yethu, amalungu ephalamende nabaholi bezepolitiki bakhulumisane namaqhawe ethu kwezemidlalo afana noTap-tap Makhathini, Sugar Ray Xulu, noPatson Banda nabanye abaningi ngezinjongo zokusebenzisana nabo ukudlulisela ulwazi lwabo olunzulu kwezemidlalo nanjengamaqhawe intsha yethu engafunda kuwo umlando wezemidlalo nobunzima abadlula kubo. Lokhu kungaba ngeminye yemizamo yomkhankaso wokuvuselelwa kwezimilo nokuziphatha kahle emphakathini.
Sibonga uNgqongqoshe wezemiDlalo, uMnu Ngconde Balfour, ngezimbizo abe nazo emiphakathini eyahlukene. Sikholwa ukuthi lezi zimbizo zisiza uHulumeni ukuthi azizwele izidingo zabantu. Ngingcina ngokubonga bonke abantu baseMzansi Afrika abasabele ngobuningi babo ngesikhathi uMongameli wezwe esimema ukuthi sibe ngamavolontiya. Sibonga kakhulu labo abangamavolontiya kulesi sikhathi somdlalo wekhilikithi iCricket World Cup. Umsebenzi owenziwa amavolontiya uyancomeka. (Translation of Zulu paragraphs follows.)
[The programme of building stadiums in starvation and poverty-stricken areas started in the year 2000. In March this year 140 stadiums that are being built in this programme will be completed. In 2003 only another hundred will be built. It makes one happy that women in rural areas benefited by getting jobs and building skills training when these stadiums were built. But we must comment on the fact that the success of this programme cannot be measured only in terms of the number of stadiums that have been built. We should be careful to ensure that these stadiums help in alleviating problems that affect our youth, things like drug abuse, alcohol intake, youth living on the streets, and their subjection to sex.
It is imperative that these stadiums are used as centres for promoting moral regeneration. We come from poor communities, therefore the system of paying for the usage of stadiums by communities should be reviewed. At the same time, communities must avoid vandalising sports facilities.
We commend the co-operation between the Department of Sport and the Department of Education in the schools’ sports programme. But we should be careful to ensure that stadiums are built near the schools so that they can be used by communities and learners equally. There are teacher training centres that were closed down, which have stadiums of a high standard. These stadiums could be used to develop sports skills. I am talking about stadiums like those at colleges of education such as Ndumiso in Pietermaritzburg, Madadeni in Newcastle and Gamalakhe in Port Shepstone, and many others in the regions of South Africa.
We are still faced with the challenge of building sports training stadiums. There is going to be a need for communication between the Department of Sport and the Department of Education, and also the Department of Public Works, with regard to the way in which the stadiums in these centres are used to train communities which are near to them.
The Department of Sport is continuing with the programme of creating sports training centres nationally. The programme of building sports training centres is going ahead. As I speak all the regions have been given the money to create these centres for provinces. By this programme the Government intends to develop sports to a higher level. The success of this programme will be measured by the increase in the number of people who receive training, people who had no opportunities in sport during apartheid, by succeeding in managing sport and the standard of play shown by players and South African teams in world sport.
We commend the development of sports in schools. We believe that sports at schools have an important role in combating problems of nondevelopment in our communities. At the ANC national conference that was held in December 2002, the ANC took a decision to encourage a sports development programme and sports education under the Department of Education, and a programme of competition and championship in sports under the Department of Sport.
We are appealing that the whole programme that goes with the building of houses should go hand in hand with the building of sports stadiums so that we can avoid this problem of our children playing hide and seek, getting pregnant and doing drugs before they play games that build morals and humanity. Traditional games are some of the games that show African rhythm and our nationality. This programme should go hand in hand with the African Renaissance and Nepad.
We encourage communities to take up sports with the purpose of regenerating our nationality. We appeal to sports organisers that they promote traditional games in opening ceremonies at events such as the Cricket World Cup so that it is clear that we are in Africa.
The ANC is committed to developing and encouraging women in sport, and our disabled people. The use of nicknames like ``Amakrokokroko’’ should not be used in a discriminatory manner against our people who are disabled. The sponsoring and supporting of sports in these categories is being left behind, compared with men’s sports in this country.
We as the ANC would like to appeal to businesses to support women and our disabled people in sports in the same way as male sports are supported, so that these sports are of the same standard as other sports. We also appeal to local governments to show sympathy towards women and the needs of our disabled people when they plan to build sports centres so that these people will find themselves being part of our community in totality.
The ANC spoke at length about the importance of training and dedication of soldiers of community development. For this campaign to move forward our communities, members of Parliament and political leaders should communicate with our sports heroes like Tap-tap Makhathini, Sugar Ray Xulu, Patson Banda and many more with the purpose of working with them to pass on their sound knowledge in sports and as heroes from whom our youth can learn the history of sports and the hardships they went through. These could be some of the attempts of the campaign to regenerate morals and good behaviour within the community. We thank the Minister of Sport and Recreation, Mr Ngconde Balfour, for meetings he has had in different communities. We believe that these meetings assist the Government to hear for itself the people’s needs. I conclude by thanking all the people of South Africa who responded in large numbers when the President of the country invited us to be volunteers. We thank those who are volunteers at this time of the Cricket World Cup. The work that is done by volunteers is commendable.]
Dr A I VAN NIEKERK: Madam Deputy Speaker, hon President, hon Deputy President, colleagues, there is a saying that says: We live today in the tomorrow of our yesterdays.
It is the nature of mankind to strive for the better. In our minds, the tomorrow that we wish for for all will always be flawless, better and ideal. Unfortunately, life does not work that way. The reality is what we experience in practice, of all the plans, especially those of the Government, for the tomorrow that we live in.
That is what we must assess in this debate - whether this tomorrow that we have longed for is good or bad; whether the tomorrow ideals which we have put in place and experienced in practice are really as bad as some say or as good as others say. Life is never perfect. Those conditions only exist in fairy tales.
If we look back and compare the past with the present in our country, we will find many differences. In most instances, if not all, the conditions that prevail today are different from what we have experienced in the past. In many instances, they are better, yes, but not necessarily ideal.
Much of the dispute we have today in our debate is not to make the change or better conditions undone, but to eliminate that which is not ideal. In this way, we can ensure that the tomorrows that we and our children will experience will be better and nearer the ideal that we strive for.
That is why there are questions on many aspects and policies of the Government of the day - a Government which has the duty to govern South Africa for the benefit of all the people, and not only some.
There is a long range of questions on many subjects in the mind of people. To name a few: the question of land reform, HIV/Aids, jobs, crime and Zimbabwe. The one question, however, which worries me the most is the threat to our democracy, namely that we will become a one-party state without an independent opposition, which cannot be coerced or co-opted; an opposition that can put an alternative on the table for the people of this country. The comments on this matter by the Government of the day and its lack of tolerance for opposition parties which do not toe the line is disturbing.
Opposition parties can and must be independent and have an independent say. In having an own opinion and policy, they can still be and are loyal to South Africa and uphold our Constitution. There is no need for the opposition to be in bed with the ruling party, while they sleep contentedly, waiting for the majority jet to find its instruction and destination, as hon member Boy Geldenhuys from the New NP so vividly described. In doing so, an opposition party loses sight of its own destination, eventually toes the line and is tolerated, without any real influence, and disappears into oblivion.
Onsekerheid is die grootste opwekker van kritiek en teenstand in die lewe. Daar is groot onsekerheid oor hoe die Regering van die dag verskeie kwelpunte hanteer. Een daarvan is die bedoeling om die kommando’s op die platteland tot niet te maak.
‘n Ander kwessie is grondhervorming. Die gerug dat die Regering planne beraam om die onteieningsbeginsel te omseil, is vir my baie kommerwekkend.
Die negatiewe berigte en beskuldigings oor swak hantering van arbeid in die boerderysektor en konstante klappe na hierdie sektor stem mense negatief. Die groot dam van welwillendheid wat ons sedert 1994 ervaar het, is vinnig besig om te verdwyn.
Hoekom slaan die Regering van die dag keer op keer die uitgestrekte hand van die landbousektor weg wanneer dit kom by sinvolle grondhervorming en hulle betrokkenheid daarby? Op vele ander terreine waar kundige en praktiese hulp deur die landbou aangebied word, word hulle doodeenvoudig geïgnoreer. Die welwillendheidsdam verdamp daardeur in die niet.
Niemand, mnr die President, wil terug na gister nie. As gister egter in ‘n ander gedaante vandag terugsluip, ondermyn dit die vertroue en vermoë van ons mense en ons Grondwet om ‘n nuwe Suid-Afrika te skep en daar is baie tekens daarvan. Die goedpraat van buurlande se verkragting van die demokrasie en goedpraat van politieke sirkusse, is ondermynend en ondermyn dié vertroue.
Mnr die President, as die verkeerd van gister al meer vandag te sien word, is die môre van ons verwagting van ‘n beter toekoms net ‘n hersenskim. Dan word die beter môre wat ons soek al meer die vandag van ons lewe, en selfs die gister van ons lewe. Ons soek dit nie! En daarom is ons hier, as onafhanklike opposisie met ‘n eie mening en siening om te help om dit wat reg en beter is vir ons land en al sy mense te vind en ‘n bydrae daartoe te lewer. Ek dank u. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Uncertainty is the biggest instigator of criticism and resistance in life. There is great uncertainty on how the Government of the day is handling several problematic issues. One of these is the decision to do away with the commando system in the rural areas.
Another issue is land reform. I find the rumour that the Government is planning to circumvent the principle of land expropriation quite disturbing.
The negative reports and allegations about the poor managing of labour in the farming sector and the constant criticism aimed at this sector are making people negative. The large reservoir of goodwill which we have experienced since 1994 is slowly disappearing.
Why does the Government of the day again and again brush aside the hand offered to it by the agricultural sector when it comes to sensible land reform and their involvement in it? In several other areas in which expert and practical assistance is offered by the agricultural sector, they are ignored completely. The reservoir of goodwill is evaporating into within air.
Nobody, Mr President, wants to return to the past. However, if our past tends to creep back in a different guise today, it undermines the trust and abilities of our people and our Constitution to create a new South Africa, and there are many signs of this. The attempt to justify our neighbouring countries’ violation of democracy, and the attempt to justify political circuses, is subversive and undermines such trust.
Mr President, if the wrong of the past is seen more and more today, then the tomorrow of our expectations of a better future is but a mere illusion. Then the better tomorrow which we are all looking for becomes more and more the today, and even the yesterday, of our lives. We do not want that! And that is why we are here, as an independent opposition with an opinion and a vision of our own to assist in finding that which is right and better for our country and all its people and to make a contribution in that regard. I thank you.]
Mr L CHIBA: Madam Deputy Speaker, President Thabo Mbeki, Deputy President Jacob Zuma, comrades and colleagues, in his state of the nation address on Friday, the President stated that our currency wrested back the losses it had suffered during 2001 and that, during 2002, it had recorded its first annual gain against the US dollar in 15 years.
The fluctuations in the rate of exchange in the past two years and the implications thereof constitute the main thrust of my input. The rapid depreciation of our currency in 2001 and its appreciation in 2002 have been unprecedented in the history of foreign exchange fluctuations in South Africa. Contrary to expectations, the rand had depreciated against the dollar by 35% by December 2001. At the time, some observers attributed this to the political situation in Zimbabwe and issues of financial instability in some emerging market economies. In addition, the September 11 attack on the United States caused a decline in global equity markets, and asset fund managers preferred dollar- denominated assets. This stimulated a greater demand for the US currency.
The anticipated deficit in the current account in the balance of payments led to a further increase in the demand for dollars. This exerted downward pressure on the exchange rate. Other economies, such as Australia, also experienced a similar decline in the value of their currency.
This extraordinary depreciation led to allegations of improper conduct in foreign exchange trading, resulting in the appointment of a commission of inquiry, which found no evidence that might have contributed to the rapid depreciation of our currency. The depreciation had the negative consequence of rising inflation, particularly with regard to the price of foodstuffs. There was also a significant increase in the price of fuel internationally, leading to several hikes in the local price of liquid fuel. To contain rising inflationary pressures, the SA Reserve Bank was left with no option but to increase interest rates.
The combination of these developments impacted negatively on the standard of living of the vast majority of our people. Food prices spiralled further, transport costs escalated, and there was an increase in the repayments of mortgage and hire purchase agreements. The Government must be commended for responding appropriately.
Firstly, the matter of the rising prices of foodstuffs was referred to the Competition Commission which found no manipulation of prices. Secondly, the Government made R400 million available for food parcels and agricultural starter packs. Thirdly, a tax relief of R15 billion assisted in combating the effects of inflation. This relief was biased towards low-income households. For those who argue that tax relief benefits only the middle and upper income groups, it must be borne in mind that in a developing country such as ours, with a high unemployment rate, workers distribute their incomes to an extended family or dependants.
Fourthly, the President announced during his state of the nation address that the Government has decided to replace the in bond landed cost system with a basic fuel price formula. In terms of this new arrangement, it is estimated that fuel users would save more than one billion rand a year. This is an important milestone in the history of the oil industry, because South Africa’s fuel pricing system was established …
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! There is a point of order.
The MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS: Madam Deputy Speaker, I feel very ashamed by the extent of the noise. I know that we misbehave in this House, particularly when the President is not here. I think it puts us to shame, when the President is here, and while we are discussing the state of the nation address, that there is so much talk that we drown out the speaker. We cannot even hear what the speaker is saying. I just wanted to place that on record.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, hon Minister. I do not have to repeat or interpret. Please proceed, hon Chiba.
Mr L CHIBA: Thank you. As I was saying, the estimated amount fuel users will be saving is approximately one billion rand a year. This is an important milestone in the history of the oil industry, because South Africa’s fuel pricing system was established in the apartheid era and offered marketing oil companies rewards for the risks they were then taking.
The flip side of our depreciated currency was that it made our exports more competitive. The value of our exports, excluding gold, increased by 22%. The weaker rand boosted manufacturing production, indicating favourable news for economic growth.
The depreciated currency also stood the tourism industry in good stead. South Africa is considered to be one of the world’s safest and cheapest destinations, and the industry constitutes 5% of gross domestic product. It is one of the fastest growing industries in South Africa and has the potential of generating a huge number of jobs. Globally tourism was under pressure, but South Africa was performing better than many other destinations. In December 2001, South Africa was granted the status of approved destination by the People’s Republic of China, further injecting a spurt into the tourism industry.
There was a dramatic appreciation of the rand in the first half of 2002. The stronger rand is unlikely to reduce the number of foreign visitors to South Africa. With the Cricket World Cup our country will once again be in the world’s spotlight. Together with the President’s Golf Challenge, these events will attract an estimated 25 000 foreign visitors to our shores, thereby boosting our reserves of much-needed foreign currency. The attraction of Cape Town, now ranked as one of the world’s top 10 tourist destinations, has further boosted demand. It is therefore expected that the booming tourism industry will continue.
The stronger rand is primarily attributed to the surplus of the current account in the balance of payments. The inflow of capital into the country as a result of higher interest rates enhances prospects for the continued growth of exports and an increase in the price of international commodities, making the rand the best performing currency in the world during 2002. At the time of the rapid depreciation of our currency, various observers claimed that the depreciation was an expression of the low confidence in the country. If we take such claims to the logical conclusion, then it follows that the unprecedented appreciation of the currency is an expression of the highest confidence in the South African Government and its management of the economy.
With the boom in manufacturing and production, sales soared to R614 billion. The predicted growth rate of 2,6 % is expected to reach 3% for last year. Although the appreciation of our currency will impact negatively on our export ability, indications are that the economy is robust enough to absorb the effects of an appreciating rand.
With regard to the economic outlook, the high level of business confidence is encouraging. The outlook for economic growth is positive. It is therefore likely that the upswing in the South African business cycle will continue for a couple of years.
We have registered many gains and successes. The challenge that confronts us is to ensure that these gains are not eroded. We are in an important stage in the growth of our economy. However, one factor which is beyond our control, and which may impede our economic advancement, is the US-led war against Iraq. The war would mark the beginning of global uncertainty and insecurity. It may harm our prospects of economic growth, of investments and of our exports, which constitute one-third of our gross domestic product.
In the light of this, I fail to understand how some of our economic commentators can state the following: That the effect of the war could be neutral for South Africa, because our healthy fiscal situation should cushion the economy; that, since South Africa has gold as a built-in stabiliser, if oil prices rise, so will gold, rendering the effect on the balance of payments relatively neutral; and that the healthy state of South Africa’s fiscal situation can cushion the economy for a couple of years without the fear of macroeconomic instability or fiscal and financial difficulty.
But when any country is at war, its resources are geared towards the war effort, and its economy is under duress. Consequently, for war-mongering countries such as the United States, the needs of developing countries assume a very low priority. In the event of a war, the issue of economic development in our region will receive very scant attention. Hence the prospects of realising our stated objective of pushing back the frontiers of poverty could be rendered all the more difficult. From this past weekend’s anti-war demonstrations, the message is abundantly clear: People the world over want peace and not pieces.
In conclusion, the vast majority of the peace-loving people of South Africa and the world commend our President and our Government for the sterling efforts they made and the bold initiatives they took to ensure that the crisis is resolved peacefully. To what extent these efforts and initiatives bear the desired fruit, remains to be seen. Only time will tell. I thank you. [Applause.]
Ms M L NGWENYA-NKOMPE: Madam Deputy Speaker, hon members, hon President and hon Deputy President …
Setšhaba se kwele bose kudu, go kwa ge o leboga dikete-kete tš a batho Presidente bao ba ithapilego go foula matsogo le go thuša go hlabolla le go aga bophelo bjo bo kaone bja Ma-Afrika Borwa. Le go akaretša ba bangwe ba maloko a palamente bao ba tsenego fase go tšweletša mananeo a rena ka go bona go re bana ba kgona go ngwadiša matswalo a bona go re ba kgone go gola child grant go fihla mo mengwageng e lesome le metšo e mene. Le go thuša kua dipolisiteišeneng, dikolong, dipetleleng go re ditirelo di fihle bathong le gore lenaneo la rena la Batho Pele le phethagatswe.
Re tseba ga botse comrade President gore o bolela seo o se bonego ka mahlo a gago ka ge o sepetše diprofinsi tše tša rena ka moka, o theetša dinyakwa tša batho ka mokgwa wa Imbizo le go bona bao ba phethagatšago tša lesolo la letšema. Re leboga thekgo ya gago mohlomphegi Presidente.
Madam Deputy Speaker, re kwele bose ge mmuso wa rena o thomile ka lesolo la go aga di multipurpose community centers. Ke moo basadi le baswa ba rena ba tlilego go ithuta mešomo ya matsogo go hlabolla maphelo a bona le malapa a bona. Ešita le bona bakgekolo le bakgalabje ba rena ba tla ba le lefelo le lekaone la go gola motente wa bona ka go hlomphega le ka seriti gomme ba humana dithekgo go bao ba tla bego ba ba thuša ba tšhaba go nelwa ke di pula le go fišwa ke matšatši jwale ka ge go direga gona bjale.
Re a mogela tšeo mopresidente a re tsebišitšego tšona, re mo tshepiša gore re tla di diriša ka tlhokomelo e kgolo le thekgo e kgolo. (Translation of Sepedi paragraphs follows.)
[The nation has rejoiced to hear the President thanking all the multitudes who rolled up their sleeves to help improve and build a better life for all South Africans. This also includes other members of Parliament who are striving hard to make sure that people are able to register the births of their children for them to receive the child grant until they are 14 years old. There should also be help at police stations, schools and hospitals for services to reach our people and for our programme, Batho Pele, to be maintained.
We know very well, comrade President, that you are speaking about something you have seen with your own eyes as you have been to our different provinces, listening to people’s demands in a form of Imbizo. We thank you for your support, Mr President.
Madam Deputy Speaker, we felt honoured when our Government announced a campaign to build multipurpose community centres where women and the youth are going to learn the handiworks to improve their lives and those of their families. Even our grandfathers and grandmothers will have a better place to receive their pension with dignity and respect. They will get support from those who will be helping them so that they will not have to stand in long queues in the rain or in the hot sun, as is happening now.
We welcome all that the President has introduced to us and we promise that we will use these things with care and diligence.]
The President has spoken of the need to introduce and train public sector workers who can act as community-based development workers. The idea is that these public sector workers would combine many skills. They would not be narrowly specialised and would also not be bound to desks but should work amongst communities and be able to help communities access different resources from different departments, like social grants for projects connecting up with integrated development plans or with training. Looking at these proposals from the perspective of my constituency, I can see how important these public sector cadres can become. There are many good government programmes but it can be very difficult for remote rural areas to access Government. In our communities we have good ideas ourselves. We have co-operatives and micro-businesses. We know how to farm but how we get our products to the markets is another question. We have skills but we need start-up funding. How we get that is yet another question. If we go to a government department or a parastatal, we are told to produce a business plan. We are farmers and we do not know how to produce a business plan. That is why we need public sector workers who understand these things, public sector workers who think development and community empowerment, not just about what the regulations say.
We warmly welcome these proposals, and we hope that a quick start will be made with training and developing these development workers.
The state of the nation address also promised that we will see the passing of the communal land rights Bill this year. Many people in my constituency have been waiting with great expectation for many years. The status of communal land has been uncertain and households are insecure about investing in housing or development because they might be arbitrarily pushed off the land when its value has been improved.
For many poor households living on communal lands, there is great difficulty in accessing mortgages or other loans for development. In the absence of clear tenure rights, banks are even more reluctant than usual to lend. The new Bill will mark a large step forward for hundreds of thousands of poor households in rural South Africa. Some traditional leaders, though, are suspicious of this legislation. They fear losing their own powers. I want to appeal to traditional leaders to see the bigger picture. The legislation is not about destroying the powers of traditional leaders, nor is it about ending communal land tenure. It is about bringing transformation, investment and development to our rural areas.
Le se ke la tšhaba magoši a rena, bogoši bo a tswalelwa a go na motho yoo a tlilego go le amoga bjona. [Our Chiefs need not feel threatened for chieftainship is hereditary and no one will take that away from them.]
Those traditional leaders who seek to resist development will be condemning their communities and themselves. Development will simply pass them by. Added to all of the above-mentioned is another important announcement in the state of the nation address. This is the commitment to ensuring a much more focused approach to microlending, microenterprises and co-operatives. Many important projects in the rural communities which have good prospects of being successful and sustainable suffer from a lack of success because of funding in order to manage the period between harvests or in order to get a successful harvest to the market. Things are changing in our country, even in the remote rural areas. This year, and in the coming year, we need to implement existing policies with greater energy and seriousness.
In the coming year, we also look forward to the introduction of the new measures, not least community development workers, the communal land rights legislation and more effective microlending programmes. We hope that the ones on the left understand that forward we go, backward never. This Government is doing a good job that they also benefit from, regardless of what excuses they make. [Applause.]
Mnr C B HERANDIEN: Mev die Adjunkspeaker, dit is baie duidelik dat die eerste skote geklap het vir die verkiesing wat volgende jaar sal kom, en dit is net ‘n jammerte dat mense hier aangeval word wat nie hier is om hulself te verdedig nie. Die agb dr Mulder is nie nou hier nie, maar ons sal by ‘n latere geleentheid met hom afreken.
Wat interessant is, is dat die agb lid Taljaard ontpop het in ‘n uiters knap speurder. Sy probeer al wat ‘n korrupsiesaak is oopvlek, maar skynbaar het sy baie moeite om vas te stel presies wie Hans is. [Gelag.] As sy ‘n bietjie moeite wil doen en vir ons kan sê wie Hans is, dan sal ons ook weet waar hulle hulle geld gekry het. Ten minste het die Nuwe NP die moed gehad om die geld terug te gee.
Die agb lid dr Kraai van Niekerk verstom my vir ‘n man van sy ouderdom en sy wysheid. Hy kom hier en wil maak asof die Nuwe NP saam in die bed is … luister mooi … in die bed is saam met die ANC. Daar is ‘n verskil tussen saamwerk en saamstaan.
Maar wat nog interessanter is, agb Leon, wat sê u vir Dr Buthelezi as u met hom wil saamwerk? Hy is dan ook in die Kabinet van die President. Dis ses van die een en ‘n halfdosyn van die ander. En agb Dr Buthelezi, ek wil vir u waarsku. Hierdie agb vriend van my kan nie onder ander leiers staan nie. Hy alleen sal die leier wees. [Applous.] Gaan doen ‘n bietjie selfondersoek en u sal voortaan sien hoe ons met hulle gaan afreken. Die kiesers sal in April 2004 besluit wat met wispelturige mannetjies soos hierdie gemaak word. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Mr C B HERANDIEN: Madam Deputy Speaker, it is very clear that the first shots have rung out for the election which will come next year. It is a pity that people who are not here to defend themselves are attacked here. The hon Dr Mulder is not here at the moment, but we shall deal with him at a later stage.
What is interesting, is that the hon member Taljaard has revealed herself to be an exceptionally able sleuth. She attempts to expose each and every corruption case, but she apparently has much trouble in determining exactly who Hans is. [Laughter.] If she takes a little trouble and is able to tell us who Hans is, then we will also know where they got their money. At least the New NP had the courage to return the money.
The hon member Dr Kraai van Niekerk astonishes me for a man of his age and his wisdom. He comes here and wants to pretend that the New NP is in bed with … listen to this … the ANC. There is a difference between working together and standing together.
But even more interestingly, hon Leon, what do you tell Dr Buthelezi when you want to work with him? He is also in the Cabinet of the President. It is six of the one and half a dozen of the other. And the hon Dr Buthelezi, I want to warn you: This hon friend of mine cannot serve under other leaders. He alone will be the leader. [Applause.] Go and do a little self- examination, and you will see how we will deal with them in future. The electorate will decide in April 2004 what must be done with fickle little men like these.]
Dr M G BUTHELEZI: Madam Speaker, on a point of order: I just wanted to say that the hon member must know that my reasons for being in the Cabinet with the President are completely different from the reasons why … [Interjections.]
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr C B HERANDIEN: We will debate that issue later on, but nonetheless … Madam Speaker, allow me first to congratulate the hon Minister of Housing on her appointment as Deputy Secretary-General of the ANC and wish her well in the future role she is going to play in South African politics. [Applause.] Although we sometimes differed greatly, we have learned to understand each other and I wish her well.
A lot has been said about poverty. However, Mr President, it is not acceptable that money that is earmarked for projects is not being spent. And, in this regard, I would like to congratulate the hon Minister of Education for the commitment he gave this House today that he will take personal, political responsibility for his budget in future.
Dit help ons min dat ons ‘n Minister van Finansies het wat wêreldwyd hoog aangeskrewe staan, maar ons gebruik nie die geld wat die staat vir ons beskikbaar stel nie. Daar behoort beter koördinering tussen provinsies en die sentrale Kabinet te wees. Ons kan nie die luukse bekostig om fondse jaar na jaar oor te rol nie.
Provinsies behoort ook onderling beter saam te werk. In dié verband wil ek die voorbeeld noem van die samewerkingsooreenkoms, en dit is nie in die bed wees nie, wat daar ten opsigte van landbou tussen die Wes-, Oos- en Noord- Kaap gesluit is. Ek reken op alle gebiede behoort hierdie voorbeeld ook gevolg te word.
Ek wil net in die verbygaan noem dat die Wes-Kaapse regering alreeds beskik oor ‘n akademie wat gevestig is by Kromme Rhee, waar amptenare indiensopleiding kry, en ons is heeltemal bereid om dit te deel met die res van die land.
Mnr die President, ‘n bron van groot kommer vir almal van ons is die snelle ontvolking van die platteland. Dit plaas onnodig groot druk op die nabygeleë groot dorpe en stede en dit het aanleiding gegee tot onordelike verstedeliking. Saam sal ons maniere moet probeer vind hoe ons hierdie probleem kan aanpak sodat die ontwikkeling op die platteland ook kan plaasvind.
Onnodig groot druk word ook op ons polisiemag geplaas deur stropers wat ons marine kusbronne wil vernietig. Baie geluk aan die polisie wat moeite gedoen het, en steeds suksesvol is, om ons bronne te beskerm. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[It helps us little to have a Minister of Finance who is held in high regard worldwide, but we do not use the money which the state makes available to us. There should be better co-ordination between provinces and the central Cabinet. We cannot afford the luxury of rolling over funds year after year.
There should also be better mutual co-operation between provinces. In this regard I want to mention the example of the co-operation agreement, and this is not being in bed with one another, which has been concluded regarding agriculture between the Western, Eastern and Northern Cape. I am of the opinion that this example should be followed in all fields.
In passing, I just want to mention that the Western Cape government already has an academy which has been established at Kromme Rhee, where officials can undergo in-service training, and we are quite willing to share it with the rest of the country.
Mr President, a source of great concern to us all is the rapid depopulation of the rural areas. It puts unnecessary pressure on nearby towns and cities, and it has given rise to disorderly urbanisation. Together we will have to find ways in which we can tackle this problem, so that development can also take place in the rural areas.
An unnecessarily great amount of pressure is also being placed on our police force by poachers who want to destroy our coastal marine resources. Congratulations to the police, who have taken trouble, and who are still successful in protecting our resources.]
Minority groups have two fundamental choices. The one choice is to fight back, oppose everything, put fear into communities and be pessimistic about everything. On the other hand, we can offer hope to co-build the future of our country. It is more meaningful to be successful together. This is our country and every one of us belongs here, so let’s make it work. We can only succeed if we build the country together for our children. Let us rather forget the evils of the past and move together towards building a better nation.
Baie mense gebruik Zimbabwe as voorbeeld om vrees by gemeenskappe in te boesem. Gelukkig het ons in hierdie land genoeg verantwoordelike leiers om te verhoed dat dit wat daar plaasvind ook met ons gaan gebeur. Ons erken ons het geleer uit ons foute van die verlede, daarom kan ons nie toelaat dat ons vasgevang bly in ons geskiedenis nie. Die Nuwe NP se boodskap is klokhelder en duidelik: Maak ‘n betekenisvolle bydrae tot die vooruitgang van ons land, of vergaan saam met diegene wat verkies om hul te isoleer in hul woede en frustrasie. Ek dank u. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Many people use Zimbabwe as an example to inspire fear in communities. Luckily we have enough responsible leaders in this country to prevent what is happening there from happening to us as well. We admit that we have learnt from our mistakes of the past, and that is why we cannot allow ourselves to stay caught up in our history. The New NP’s message is loud and clear: Make a meaningful contribution to the progress of our country, or perish with those who prefer to isolate themselves in their anger and frustration. I thank you. [Applause.]]
Mr D A HANEKOM: Deputy Speaker, President Mbeki, Deputy President Zuma and hon members. Mr President, you started your state of the nation address on Friday by reflecting on the dramatic events of 10 years ago. You were paying tribute to the truly great people who helped bring us to where we are today. While you were talking, I had an overwhelming sense of what an immense privilege it is to be able to serve our country the way we are and to be sitting in this Chamber.
How many of us would ever have imagined, 10 years ago, that we would be sitting here today? We remember the conversations we had just a few years earlier in our prison cells, in exile, or late at night in safe houses - our yearning to return home, our yearning for freedom, nostalgic reminiscence of our beautiful country. We often spoke about what we would do one day when our country was finally liberated. We spoke about wanting to be teachers or lecturers one day, or nurses or doctors, or lawyers or journalists. Some wanted to serve in the new defence force or the police force and some, like myself, even wanted to go back to farming one day. But I do not recall a single person saying that what they really wanted was to be a member of Parliament one day. Yet here we are, 10 years later, and it presents us with a unique opportunity to take the struggle for a better life for all a few steps further every day of our lives.
We fought to end racist minority rule and we won that fight, but we cannot rest until we have won the fight to end the poverty that remains with us. We should not deceive ourselves and the public by pretending that there are simple solutions. There is no such thing. While ideas such as the introduction of a basic income grant deserve careful consideration and should not simply be dismissed, to suggest that all the country is waiting for is for the President to announce a few simple measures, such as this grant, is oversimplifying a complex challenge and is in fact misleading. On its own, it could not possibly eradicate poverty in our country.
What is clearly needed is a set of measures that are developmental in their nature, and which address real and immediate needs that are complementary and sustainable in their conceptualisation and in practice.
Your speech, Mr President, was not a populous pronouncement, however tempting it may be to do so in the run-up to an election. The goals and ideals that we have fought for were not about winning elections. They are about creating a better life for all our people and in particular for the poor. Your address gives us a framework that can help us achieve our aims of pushing back the frontiers of poverty.
I would like to pick up on a few points that could result in job creation on a significant scale and could go a long way towards reducing poverty, if properly implemented. The first point is your announcement on the expansion of services to our people and, in particular, the progressive extension of the child support grant to cover children up to the age of 14. Of course, this is not the long-term answer to all the challenges facing us, but it will bring welcome relief to many and will help support those who simply cannot find work or whom we will not be able to reach in the short-term with the best will in the world through increased investment in our job- creating efforts.
When you say that the Government must act to ensure that we reduce the number of people dependent on social welfare, surely all people serious about finding solutions must agree with you? The reduction of dependency on grants means the creation of jobs. This will require monumental effort from all levels of government, from business and from labour with well thought- out interventions. Economic growth on its own will not be enough. The Growth and Development Summit offers an important opportunity for the emergence of creative ideas and a commitment from all stakeholders to collective action. The summit comes at a critical time in our country - a time when we have opportunities such as we have never had before. Our macro- economic policies are bearing fruit; the rand is performing extremely well. Inflation is coming down; growth forecasts are good; revenue collection is steadily improving; our deficit has been reduced and our foreign reserves are healthy. But the poor remain poor and were hard hit by last year’s food price increases. Unemployment remains at an unacceptably high level. The opportunities that a relatively strong economy offers us cannot be lost. The summit cannot just be a consensus-seeking exercise. The challenges of poverty eradication and job creation will have to be tackled head-on.
You have presented us, Mr President, with a comprehensive set of measures to start dealing with these challenges. But implementation strategies no doubt still need further attention. New, creative ideas need to be explored and, above all, the summit must emerge with a genuine commitment to effective collective action to address these challenges.
One important part of a comprehensive set of interventions will have to be the expanded public works programme that you referred to. We need a massively expanded public works programme, but one that goes much further than simply a number of projects, run by some government departments. Principles of labour intensity need to be embraced and applied to all our road-building, our construction of airports and harbours and the maintenance of public facilities.
An initiative of the MEC for Health in the Gauteng Province offers us a good example. The curtains in public hospitals for which she is responsible were old and needed to be replaced. She used this opportunity to create jobs by awarding the contract to unemployed women who were assisted with sewing machines and given the necessary training. They are now examining how the training they have received and the skills acquired can lead to permanent employment.
The Working for Water Project, well-known to Prof Asmal over here, employed 42 000 people at its peak and did immensely valuable work in removing alien species, especially from our water attachment. The programme has barely scratched the surface in removing alien vegetation, but it has not grown over the last few years. And yet it provides benefits to the poor, over and above employment, by restoring the productive capacity of land, increasing water availability and even making communities safer against the threat of runaway fires.
Every municipality has its standard waste management function and refuse is collected and disposed of. Meanwhile, there are areas that they simply do not seem to be able to clean-up with their regular municipal staff. We have all seen areas in our townships and informal settlements that have years worth of litter lying there, posing a health hazard and undignified living conditions. Some municipalities have introduced clean-up projects for the unemployed, but not all. These activities have positive spin-offs. A cleaner country becomes more attractive to tourists and increased tourism creates jobs.
The local shopping centre close to where I live is always spotlessly clean, but outside there are not enough rubbish bins, drains are clogged-up with plastic bags and tins and there is always a lot of litter. Why can’t the Pick and Pays and Shoprites and Spars have national programmes to clean up the areas around their shopping centres? [Applause.] We need to think of creative ideas to encourage all businesses countrywide to employ more people. We could possibly have a national programme of support to businesses who employ people from registered lists to do work that is additional to their normal operational requirements, with the Government and the firm each paying 50% of the salary, with the firm taking management responsibility, thus overcoming possible capacity limitations of Government. We could have a massive country clean-up or alien species removal happening on a much greater scale, with private nature reserve involvement, for example. Groups of farmers may club together, Minister Didiza, and fix up the access roads that they use, because it will be in their interests to do so.
Deputy Speaker, these are not ideas that come from the national conference of the ANC. I would be the first to admit that they need much more thought and there are no doubt many far better proposals. I am airing a few ideas to make a point, and the point is that we need people to come up with ideas. We need creative thinking.
The state of the nation address presents us with a carefully considered and comprehensive framework, but it allows for an infinite number of ideas and initiatives. Determination and commitment to make this country of ours a better place for everyone is what is needed. An expanded public works programme with all the potential it has to create jobs will not be enough. The economy will have to continue to grow - that much we all know. Every economist in the country can see that we have done extraordinarily well on this front, but we also know that even this is not enough.
We need to pay special attention to certain sectors of our economy that have great livelihood-enhancing and employment-creating potential, but are struggling with a range of disadvantages and constraints. In particular, I am referring to small businesses - the man who cuts your hair on the street corner. Not Trevor Manuel’s hair, but possibly the President’s hair. The woman selling fresh produce … [Interjections.] Not yours either, Douglas. The woman selling fresh produce on the pavement, the backstreet panelbeater and the builder who is skilled, but cannot obtain finance to buy himself a bakkie or a ladder. Stimulating this sector of the economy will result in reduced dependency on grants, will make our economy more competitive, will benefit consumers, will enhance household livelihoods and will result in jobs that are not Government provided. The potential benefits to society are huge.
The real question is: What do you do to support this sector and where do you begin? Again, there are no easy answers, but there are at least some things that can be done that will make a difference. Offer skills training. Do not wait for people to come to you. Go to them. Assess their needs and inform them about the training opportunities. Set aside areas where informal training and other business activity can flourish with infrastructure and facilities including sanitation facilities. Local governments will have to lead this process, provide deposit-taking facilities and banking facilities to encourage saving and reduce vulnerability to theft of hard-earned cash and, above all, find innovative ways of ensuring that small businesses have access to finance on reasonable terms.
Mr President, you referred to the establishment of an Apex Fund to provide micro-credit to people at grassroots level. This is another welcome announcement. As we all know, though, the devil lies in the detail and the fund will only assume real value once it translates into access to loans for poor people and small businesses, even without collateral. The discussions with institutions active in this field should happen as a matter of great urgency. The extent to which access to finance can assist in stimulating economic activity should not be underestimated. It would be useful to include NGOs who have experience in this field in these discussions.
If you have time, Mr President, you might even consult with your wife, who feels passionately about microcredit and has great insights and experience through her work in this field.
There is so much to be said, so much to be done, so little time. And even my time is running out. I am confident, Mr President, that all of us are approaching this year ahead with a great deal of positiveness, with a great deal of enthusiasm. We are going to roll up our sleeves this year in united action to roll back the frontiers of poverty. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
CASE AGAINST MR T S YENGENI, MP
(Announcement)
The SPEAKER: Order! Hon members that ends the speakers’ list for today but, before adjourning the House, I have two announcements to make.
Members will be aware that the court proceedings in the criminal case against Mr Yengeni have been concluded. Since the court has accepted a plea of guilt to a charge of fraud, sentencing has not yet taken place. I have written to the Ethics Committee requesting them to resume, without delay, their consideration of the complaint against Mr Yengeni which they had suspended with the approval of the House, pending the outcome of the court case. I have submitted Mr Yengeni’s plea of guilt to them.
Further, members will recall that Mr Yengeni made a personal statement to the House on this matter. This falls outside the mandate of the Ethics Committee. A copy of that statement is being provided to all parties. The House needs to consider how it wishes to deal with the content of that statement. I shall discuss with parties an appropriate process for that.
The other announcement, hon members, is perhaps more familiar. It is that I wish to remind hon members that the debate will resume at 09:30 tomorrow morning, and we are expected to adjourn for lunch at about 12:30. The President will reply to the debate at 15:00 tomorrow.
The House adjourned at 18:30. ____
ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
FRIDAY, 15 NOVEMBER 2002
TABLINGS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
Papers:
- The Speaker and the Chairperson:
(a) General Report of the Auditor-General on the Audit Outcomes for
2001-2002 [RP 226-2002].
(b) Report of the Auditor-General on the Special Investigation of
the Coega Project [RP 169-2002]. 2. The Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs:
(a) Report and the Financial Statements of the South African
Veterinary Council for 2001-2002.
(b) Report and Financial Statements of the Ncera Farms (Pty) Ltd for
2001-2002.
- The Speaker:
1. Written comments received from the public and provincial
legislatures on the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa
Fourth Amendment Bill [B 69 - 2002], submitted by the Minister for
Justice and Constitutional Development in terms of section
74(6)(a) of the Constitution, 1996.
Referred to the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional
Development.
2. Letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, tabled in terms of
section 65(2)(a) of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act
No 1 of 1999), explaining the reasons for the late tabling of the
annual report:
In accordance with the stipulations of the Public Finance
Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of 1999 as amended by Act No 29 of
1999), the Department of Foreign Affairs should have submitted and
tabled its 2001/02 Annual Report in Parliament not later than 30
September 2002.
Due to the Department's high-level involvement in the proceedings
of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) and the
unforeseen technical delays in the production and printing of the
Report exacerbated by requirements from the Office of the Auditor-
General, the Department could not discharge its mandate timeously
in this regard.
The net effect was that the Department could only manage to
officially table its Report in Parliament on 11 October, 11 days
after the deadline.
The Department wishes to express its sincere apologies for any
inconvenience this might have caused.
With kind regards
NKOSAZANA DLAMINI ZUMA
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
3. Letter from the Minister of Finance, tabled in terms of section
65(2)(a) of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of
1999), explaining the reasons for the late tabling of annual
reports:
Section 65 of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) provides
timelines for the submission of departmental Annual Reports.
Section 65(1) calls for the Annual Report to be tabled in the
National Assembly "within one month after the accounting officer
for the department...received the audit report". Section 65(2)
states that "If an executive authority fails to table, in
accordance with subsection (1)(a), the Annual Report and Financial
Statements of the Department..., and the Audit Report on those
statements, in the relevant legislature within six months after
the end of the financial year...the executive authority must table
a written explanation in the legislature setting out the reasons
why they were not tabled".
In according with section 65(2), I wish to inform Parliament that
the Annual Reports of Statistics South Africa and the PIC were not
tabled within the timeframes set in section 65.
In respect of Stats SA, the delay in presenting the Annual Report
to Parliament is a result of the late finalisation of Stats SA's
financial statements (including the management report) and the
audit report thereon. Discussions with the Auditor-General to
solve outstanding issues are ongoing. The annual financial
statements of the PIC were completed and finalised in July 2002.
The Auditor-General's representatives, KPMG, however, required the
PIC to attach an annexure of "Assets managed on behalf of Third
Parties" to the financial statements. The PIC was also requested
to prepare this annexure in accordance with General Accepted
Accounting Practice (GAAP). The finalisation of the annexure
involved numerous technical interactions between the Auditor-
General, KPMG and the PIC. Problems were also experienced with
regard to the finalisation of performance figures in respect of
assets managed on behalf of third parties, more particularly with
regard to the categorisation and income recognition of special
investment products.
As soon as finalisation in the above regard has been reached, the
Annual Reports will be presented to Parliament.
Please accept my apologies for the delay.
Yours sincerely
TREVOR A MANUEL, MP
MINISTER OF FINANCE
TUESDAY, 19 NOVEMBER 2002
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
- The Speaker and the Chairperson:
(1) The Minister of Finance has submitted the Wetsontwerp op Beheer
van Kollektiewe Beleggingskemas [W 28 - 2002] (National Assembly -
sec 75) to the Speaker and the Chairperson. This is the official
translation into Afrikaans of the Collective Investment Schemes
Control Bill [B 28 - 2002] (National Assembly - sec 75).
(2) The Minister of Finance has submitted the Wysigingswetsontwerp
op Inkomstewette [W 67 - 2002] (National Assembly - sec 77) to the
Speaker and the Chairperson. This is the official translation into
Afrikaans of the Revenue Laws Amendment Bill [B 67 - 2002]
(National Assembly - sec 77).
National Assembly:
- The Speaker:
The following papers have been tabled and are now referred to the
relevant committees as mentioned below:
(1) The following papers are referred to the Portfolio Committee on
Communications:
(a) Report and Group Annual Financial Statements of the South
African Post Office Limited for 1997-1998.
(b) Report and Group Annual Financial Statements of the South
African Post Office Limited for 1998-1999.
(c) Report and Group Annual Financial Statements of the South
African Post Office Limited for 1999-2000.
(2) The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on
Housing:
Report and Financial Statements of LANOK (Proprietary) Limited for
2001-2002.
(3) The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on
Minerals and Energy:
Annual Report of the Mine Health and Safety Inspectorate for 2001-
2002.
(4) The following papers are referred to the Portfolio Committee on
Justice and Constitutional Development:
(a) Proclamation No R 73 published in Government Gazette No
23951 dated 18 October 2002: Referral of Matters to existing
Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals, made in
terms of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals
Act, 1996 (Act No 74 of 1996).
(b) Proclamation No R 74 published in Government Gazette No
23951 dated 18 October 2002: Referral of Matters to existing
Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals, made in
terms of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals
Act, 1996 (Act No 74 of 1996).
(c) Proclamation No R 75 published in Government Gazette No
23973 dated 25 October 2002: Referral of Matters to existing
Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals, made in
terms of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals
Act, 1996 (Act No 74 of 1996).
(d) Proclamation No R 76 published in Government Gazette No
23973 dated 25 October 2002: Referral of Matters to existing
Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals, made in
terms of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals
Act, 1996 (Act No 74 of 1996).
(e) Proclamation No R 77 published in Government Gazette No
23973 dated 25 October 2002: Referral of Matters to existing
Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals, made in
terms of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals
Act, 1996 (Act No 74 of 1996).
(5) The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on
Safety and Security and to the Standing Committee on Public
Accounts:
Letter from the Minister of Safety and Security to the Speaker,
tabled in terms of section 65(2)(a) of the Public Finance
Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of 1999), explaining the delay in
the tabling of the Secret Services Account of the South African
Police Service and the Auditor-General report.
(6) The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on
Finance and to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts for
consideration:
Report of the Auditor-General on the Delays in the tabling of
Annual Reports as required by the Public Finance Management Act,
1999 (Act No 1 of 1999) [RP 228-2002].
(7) The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on
Labour and to the Portfolio Committee on Provincial and Local
Government. The Report of the Auditor-General is referred to the
Standing Committee on Public Accounts for consideration and
report:
Report and Financial Statements of the Local Government and
Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority for 2001-
2002, including the Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial
Statements for 2001-2002 [RP 103-2002].
(8) The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on
Social Development. The Report of the Auditor-General is referred
to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts for consideration and
report:
Report and Financial Statements of the Health and Welfare Sector
Education and Training Authority for 2001-2002, including the
Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements for 2001-
2002.
(9) The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on
Safety and Security for consideration and to the Joint Monitoring
Committee on Improvement of Qualtiy of Life and Status of Women:
Report of the Independent Complaints Directorate in terms of
section 18(5)(c) of the Domestic Violence Act, 1998 (Act No 116 of
1998) [RP 199-2002].
TABLINGS:
National Assembly:
Papers:
- The Speaker:
Letter from the Minister of Public Enterprises, tabled in terms of
section 65(2)(a) of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1
of 1999), explaining the reasons for the late tabling of the annual
report for Aventura:
However, due to the medical and pension fund deficits which needed
to be addressed by the Actuaries and the consequential delay in
acquiring a letter of Comfort to enable the Auditors to issue an
unqualified report, the finalisation of the Annual Report has been
delayed. These matters have now been resolved.
The Annual Report for Aventura will be available for tabling in
Parliament not later than 31 December 2002.
TUESDAY, 26 NOVEMBER 2002
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) Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Bill [B 52B -
2001] - Act No 37 of 2002 (assented to and signed by
President on 15 November 2002); and
(ii) South African Revenue Service Amendment Bill [B 36 - 2002]
- Act No 46 of 2002 (assented to and signed by President on
21 November 2002).
(2) The Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) on 20 November 2002 in terms
of Joint Rule 160(2), classified the following Bill as a section
74 Bill:
(i) Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Fourth
Amendment Bill [B 69 - 2002] (National Assembly - sec 74).
(3) The Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) on 20 November 2002 in terms
of Joint Rule 160(3), classified the following Bill as a section
75 Bill:
(i) National Development Agency Amendment Bill [B 70 - 2002]
(National Assembly - sec 75).
(4) The Minister of Finance on 20 November 2002 submitted drafts of
the following Bills as well as the memoranda explaining the
objects of the proposed legislation, to the Speaker and the
Chairperson in terms of Joint Rule 159:
(i) Government Employees Pension Fund Increase (Members of Non-
Statutory Forces) Bill, 2002.
(ii) Special Pensions Amendment Bill, 2002.
(iii) Pensions (Supplementary) Bill, 2002.
The drafts have been referred to the Portfolio Committee on
Finance and the Select Committee on Finance by the Speaker and the
Chairperson, respectively, in accordance with Joint Rule 159(2).
(5) The Minister of Safety and Security on 20 November 2002
submitted a draft of the Anti-Terrorism Bill, 2002, as well as the
memorandum explaining the objects of the proposed legislation, to
the Speaker and the Chairperson in terms of Joint Rule 159. The
draft has been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Safety and
Security and the Select Committee on Security and Constitutional
Affairs by the Speaker and the Chairperson, respectively, in
accordance with Joint Rule 159(2).
(6) The Minister of Communications has submitted the
Uitsaaiwysigingswetsontwerp [W 34 - 2002] (National Assembly - sec
75) to the Speaker and the Chairperson. This is the official
translation into Afrikaans of the Broadcasting Amendment Bill [B
34 - 2002] (National Assembly - sec 75).
(7) The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development has
submitted the Wysigingswetsontwerp op Geregtelike Aangeleenthede
[W 55 - 2002] (National Assembly - sec 75) to the Speaker and the
Chairperson. This is the official translation into Afrikaans of
the Judicial Matters Amendment Bill [B 55 - 2002] (National
Assembly - sec 75).
TABLINGS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
Papers:
- The Minister of Finance:
(a) Annual Report of the Registrar of Unit Trust Companies for the
year ended 31 December 2001.
(b) Report of the Registrar of Pension Funds for 2001.
(c) Resolutions of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts for
2002 and replies thereto obtained by the National Treasury -
Thirteenth, Eighteenth and Twenty-third reports, 2002.
(d) Rider No 2 to Financing Agreement between the Government of the
Republic of South Africa and the European Community concerning the
strengthening of Local Governments in Mpumalanga and the Northern
Province, tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution,
1996.
(e) Rider No 5 to Financing Agreement between the Government of the
Republic of South Africa and the European Community concerning
Technical Support to the Department of Education, tabled in terms
of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.
(f) Financing Agreement between the Government of the Republic of
South Africa and the European Community concerning the Private
Sector Support Programme Risk Capital Facility, tabled in terms of
section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.
(g) Specific Agreement between the Government of the Republic of
South Africa and the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium on the
Creation of a Study and Consultancy Fund, tabled in terms of
section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.
(h) Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa
and the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg on Development
Co-operation, tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the
Constitution, 1996.
(i) Rider No 3 to Financing Agreement between the Government of the
Republic of South Africa and the European Community concerning the
Trade and Industry Policy Support Programme, tabled in terms of
section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.
(j) Rider No 3 to Financing Agreement between the Government of the
Republic of South Africa and the European Community concerning the
Cato Manor Development Programme, tabled in terms of section
231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.
(k) Rider No 4 to Financing Agreement between the Government of the
Republic of South Africa and the European Community concerning the
Trade and Investment Development Programme, tabled in terms of
section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.
(l) Agreement Regulating Technical Assistance between the Government
of the Republic of South Africa and the Government of the Kingdom
of Belgium, tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution,
1996.
- The Minister of Trade and Industry:
Report and Financial Statements of Khula Enterprise Finance Limited for
2001-2002.
WEDNESDAY, 27 NOVEMBER 2002
TABLINGS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
Papers:
- The President of the Republic:
Report and Financial Statements of the National Youth Commission for
2000-2001, including the Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial
Statements for 2000-2001.
- The Minister of Finance:
(a) Resolutions of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts for
2002 and replies thereto obtained by the National Treasury -
Sixth, Ninth and Twentieth Reports, 2002.
(b) Proclamation No R 71 published in Government Gazette No 23894
dated 30 September 2002: Date of coming into operation of sections
40(1) and 41(1) of the Revenue Laws Amendment Act, 2001 (Act No 19
of 2001).
- The Minister of Trade and Industry:
Report and Financial Statements of the Industrial Development
Corporation of South Africa Limited for 2001-2002.
FRIDAY, 6 DECEMBER 2002
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
- The Speaker and the Chairperson:
(1) The Minister of Intelligence has submitted the Wetsontwerp op
Electronic Communications Security (Pty) Ltd [W 59 - 2002]
(National Assembly - sec 75) to the Speaker and the Chairperson.
This is the official translation into Afrikaans of the Electronic
Communications Security (Pty) Ltd Bill [B 59 - 2002] (National
Assembly - sec 75).
(2) The Minister of Trade and Industry has submitted the Wetsontwerp
op Internasionale Handelsadministrasie [W 38 - 2002] (National
Assembly - sec 76) to the Speaker and the Chairperson. This is the
official translation into Afrikaans of the International Trade
Administration Bill [B 38 - 2002] (National Assembly - sec 76).
(3) The Minister of Intelligence has submitted the
Wysigingswetsontwerp op Beheer oor Intelligensiedienste [W 50 -
2002] (National Assembly - sec 75) to the Speaker and the
Chairperson. This is the official translation into Afrikaans of
the Intelligence Services Control Amendment Bill [B 50 - 2002]
(National Assembly - sec 75).
(4) The Minister of Intelligence has submitted the
Wysigingswetsontwerp op Nasionale Strategiese Intelligensie [W 51
- 2002] (National Assembly - sec 75) to the Speaker and the
Chairperson. This is the official translation into Afrikaans of
the National Strategic Intelligence Amendment Bill [B 51 - 2002]
(National Assembly - sec 75).
(5) The Minister of Intelligence has submitted the Wetsontwerp op
Intelligensiedienste [W 58 - 2002] (National Assembly - sec 75) to
the Speaker and the Chairperson. This is the official translation
into Afrikaans of the Intelligence Services Bill [B 58 - 2002]
(National Assembly - sec 75).
(6) The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development has
submitted the Wysigingswetsontwerp op Regterlike Amptenare [W 72 -
2001] (National Assembly - sec 75) to the Speaker and the
Chairperson. This is the official translation into Afrikaans of
the Judicial Officers Amendment Bill [B 72 - 2001] (National
Assembly - sec 75).
TABLINGS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
Papers:
- The Minister of Education:
(a) Report and Financial Statements of the Council on Higher
Education for 2001-2002, including the Report of the Auditor-
General on the Financial Statements for 2001-2002.
(b) Government Notice No 887 published in Government Gazette No
23557 dated 25 June 2002: Appointment of members to serve on the
Ministerial Project Committee to investigate and advise on the
suitability of the current system of differentiation, namely
Standard and Higher Grade in the Senior Certificate Examination,
made in terms of section 3(4)(l) of the National Education Policy
Act, 1996 (Act No 27 of 1996).
(c) Government Notice No 1269 published in Government Gazette No
23920 dated 7 October 2002: Appointment of members to serve on the
Ministerial Project Committee to investigate the possibilities and
processes regarding the integration of senior secondary schools
into the Further Education and Training (FET) system with special
reference to funding and governance, made in terms of section
3(4)(l) of the National Education Policy Act, 1996 (Act No 27 of
1996).
(d) Government Notice No 1335 published in Government Gazette No
23988 dated 28 October 2002: Development of a National Curriculum
Statement Grades 10-12 (Schools): Call for written submissions
from stakeholder bodies and members of the public, made in terms
of section 3(4)(l) of the National Education Policy Act, 1996 (Act
No 27 of 1996).
- The Minister of Finance:
(a) Government Notice No 1362 published in Government Gazette No
24010 dated 30 October 2002: Statement of the National and
Provincial Governments' Revenue, Expenditure and National
Borrowing as at 30 September 2002, made in terms of section 32 of
the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of 1999).
(b) Government Notice No 1350 published in Government Gazette No
23994 dated 31 October 2002: Amendment of the Rules of the
Government Employees Pension Fund, made in terms of the Government
Employees Pension Law, 1996 (Proclamation No 21 of 1996).
(c) Government Notice No R 1351 published in Government Gazette No
23997 dated 1 November 2002: Exchange Control Regulations:
Cancellation of appointment of an authorised dealer in foreign
exchange: International Bank of Southern Africa Limited, made in
terms of the Currency and Exchanges Act, 1933 (Act No 9 of 1933).
(d) Government Notice No R 1352 published in Government Gazette No
23997 dated 1 November 2002: cancellation and appointment of an
authorised dealer in foreign exchange: Morgan Guaranty Trust
Company of New York and J P Morgan Chase Bank (Johannesburg
Branch), made in terms of the Currency and Exchanges Act, 1933
(Act No 9 of 1933).
(e) Government Notice No R 1379 published in Government Gazette No
24022 dated 4 November 2002: Framework for Supply Chain
Management, made in terms of section 78 of the Public Finance
Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of 1999).
(f) Regulations made in terms of section 77 of the Financial
Intelligence Centre Act, 2001 (Act No 38 of 2001), tabled in terms
of section 77(4) of the Act.
- The Minister of Housing:
(a) Report and Financial Statements of the National Housing Finance
Corporation Limited for 2001-2002.
(b) Report and Financial Statements of the Social Housing Foundation
for 2001-2002.
(c) Report and Financial Statements of the National Urban
Reconstruction and Housing Agency for 2001-2002.
(d) Report and Financial Statements of Servcon Housing Solutions
(Proprietary) Limited for 2001-2002.
(e) Report and Financial Statements of the National Home Builders
Registration Council for 2001-2002, including the Report of the
Auditor-General on the Financial Statements for 2001-2002 [RP 171-
2002].
- The Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry:
(a) Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Lepelle Northern
Water for the year ended 30 June 2002.
(b) Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Sedibeng Water for
the year ended 30 June 2002.
National Assembly:
Papers:
- The Minister of Education:
Letter from the Minister of Education to the Speaker, tabled in terms
of section 65(2)(a) of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No
1 of 1999), explaining the delay in the tabling of the Annual Report of
the Council on Higher Education:
Dear Madam
Traditionally, the Council on Higher Education (CHE) released their
Annual Report during their Consultative Conference scheduled for
November of each year. They planned to do the same this year without
realising that they are contravening the reporting requirements of the
PFMA. They apologised for this oversight and committed themselves to
rectify this shortcoming. The CHE Annual Report will be tabled in
Parliament by 29 November 2002.
I can confirm that all the requirements were met concerning timeous
submission of the financial statements to the Auditor-General and the
auditing of the financial records and statements by the Auditor-
General.
I trust that my sincere apology will be accepted.
With my best wishes
Professor Kader Asmal (MP)
MINISTER
FRIDAY, 13 DECEMBER 2002
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) Disestablishment of South African Housing Trust Limited
Bill [B 3D - 2002] - Act No 26 of 2002 (assented to and
signed by President on 2 December 2002);
(ii) Institution of Legal Proceedings against certain Organs of
State Bill [B 65D - 99] - Act No 40 of 2002 (assented to
and signed by President on 24 November 2002);
(iii) Road Accident Fund Amendment Bill [B 27B - 2002] - Act No
43 of 2002 (assented to and signed by President on 24
November 2002);
(iv) Collective Investment Schemes Control Bill [B 28B - 2002]
- Act No 45 of 2002 (assented to and signed by President
on 9 December 2002);
(v) Administration of Estates Amendment Bill [B 54B - 2002] -
Act No 47 of 2002 (assented to and signed by President on
4 December 2002);
(vi) Education Laws Amendment Bill [B 31B - 2002] - Act No 50
of 2002 (assented to and signed by President on 24
November 2002);
(vii) Local Government Laws Amendment Bill [B 61B - 2002] - Act
No 51 of 2002 (assented to and signed by President on 4
December 2002);
(viii) Higher Education Amendment Bill [B 30D - 2002] - Act No 63
of 2002 (assented to and signed by President on 9
December 2002);
(ix) Adjustments Appropriation Bill [B 66 - 2002] - Act No 73
of 2002 (assented to and signed by President on 26
November 2002); and
(x) Revenue Laws Amendment Bill [B 67 - 2002] - Act No 74 of
2002 (assented to and signed by President on 9 December
2002).
(2) The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development on 26
September 2002 submitted a draft of the Judicial Matters Second
Amendment Bill, 2002, as well as the memorandum explaining the
objects of the proposed legislation, to the Speaker and the
Chairperson in terms of Joint Rule 159. The draft has been
referred to the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional
Development and the Select Committee on Security and
Constitutional Affairs by the Speaker and the Chairperson,
respectively, in accordance with Joint Rule 159(2). National Assembly:
- The Speaker:
The following paper has been tabled and is now referred to the relevant
committees as mentioned below:
(1) The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on
Foreign Affairs and the Portfolio Committee on Provincial and
Local Government for consideration. The committees to confer and
the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs to report:
Petition of the Royal Swazi Families (Bantfwabenkhosi) and Swazi
Chiefs/Nation presiding in Traditional Swazi Areas, praying for
Parliament to urge and encourage the South African Government to
expedite the final determination of a border issue.
TABLINGS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
Papers:
- The Speaker and the Chairperson:
Report and Financial Statements of the Municipal Demarcation Board for
2001-2002, including the Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial
Statements for 2001-2002 [RP 208-2002].
- The Minister of Finance:
(a) Thirty-ninth Annual Report of the Registrar of Friendly
Societies for 2001.
(b) Report of the Public Investment Commissioners for 2001-2002 [RP
214-2002].
(c) Statement of the National Revenue, Expenditure and Borrowing as
at 31 October 2002.
- The Minister for Provincial and Local Government:
Report and Financial Statements of the Municipal Infrastructure
Investment Unit for 2001-2002. 4. The Minister of Health:
(a) Exchange of Notes between the Republic of South Africa and Japan
on Cooperation in KwaZulu-Natal, tabled in terms of section 231(3)
of the Constitution, 1996.
(b) Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of South Africa
and the Government of the Italian Republic in the field of Health
in Gauteng Province, tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the
Constitution, 1996.
(c) Explanatory Memorandum to the Memorandum of Understanding.
(d) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the
Republic of South Africa and the Government of the Italian
Republic in the field of Health in KwaZulu-Natal Province, tabled
in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.
(e) Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa
and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on
Cooperation in the field of Health and Medical Sciences, tabled in
terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.
(f) Basic Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South
Africa and the World Health Organization for the establishment of
Technical Advisory Cooperation Relations, tabled in terms of
section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.
(g) Declaration of Intent between the Government of the Republic of
South Africa and Government of the Republic of Rwanda on
Institutional Cooperation in the field of Health, tabled in terms
of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.
(h) Declaration of Intent between the Government of the Republic of
South Africa and Government of the Republic of Angola on
Cooperation in the field of Health, tabled in terms of section
231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.
(i) Declaration of Intent between the Government of the Republic of
South Africa and Government of the Republic of Senegal on
Cooperation in the field of Health, tabled in terms of section
231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
National Assembly:
- Report of the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration on provincial visits, dated 6 November 2002:
The Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration, having
undertaken provincial visits in April 2002, reports as follows:
A. Background
The Committee undertook visits to selected provinces, and to some
national departments, during the week of 21 to 27 April 2002. The
provinces visited were Gauteng, the Western Cape and North West.
The visits were part of the oversight function that any
parliamentary committee has to exercise to ensure that government
policies are implemented timeously and correctly, that service
delivery is taking place, and that problem areas are identified,
isolated and mechanisms devised to address them.
During the visits, the Committee sought to be briefed by the
Offices of the respective provincial Premiers, Members of
Executive Councils (MECs) and Heads of Department (HODs) of
selected departments, varying from province to province, as well
as to have on-site views and briefings by targeted institutions on
performance highlights selected at the Committee's discretion.
Three focused areas were identified for briefings by the Premiers'
Offices:
* Provincial public service management plans
* Provincial organisational structures
* Service delivery highlights.
The targeted departments were requested to brief the Committee on
their performance highlights for the 2001-02 financial year, with
the exception of the national Department of Public Service and
Administration, the Public Service Commission, SAMDI and the State
Information Technology Agency (SITA). Their focus was requested to
be on their 2002-03 budget and programme of action.
The sites for visits were selected to provide a synopsis of
departmental programmes in operation, thus allowing Committee
members to get a feel of policies in action and institutions
including systems through which plans are communicated (i.e. their
offices). Findings from these sites are also well documented in
this Report.
B. Observations
1. Gauteng Province
(a) The co-ordination forum established and located at the
Premier's Office comprises the Premier, executive mayors
of metropolitan councils and senior government officials.
(b) The shared services centre as an establishment brings a co-
ordinated service delivery mechanism to the people.
(c) The provincial Department of Housing set aside an amount
of R40 million for housing projects to be constructed by
women contractors, as part of their women empowerment
policy.
(d) The continued invasion of unoccupied land affects housing
delivery negatively.
(e) The Department of Public Transport, Roads and Public Works
reportedly achieved 59% of black economic empowerment in
terms of contracts awarded.
(f) Their is weak interaction between Chris Hani Baragwanath
Hospital and local clinics.
(g) A greater part of the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital
looks dilapidated.
(h) The nurse training programme at Chris Hani Baragwanatha
Hospital is no longer accommodating as many trainees as
in the past.
(i) There seems to be mixed feelings from residents of
Alexandra on the impact of the Alexandra Urban Renewal
Programme.
2. North West Province
(a) Affordable access roads to 19 villages, victims of the
2000 flood disaster, are currently under construction.
(b) There is a lack of equitable gender representation in the
management structure of the Department of Health - 80% of
the workforce are female, yet 90% of the management
component are male.
(c) The Department of Minerals and Energy reported that the
Anglo-American group in the North West has a clause in
their policies promoting black economic empowerment.
(d) About 400 000 people in rural settlements still do not
have access to potable water.
(e) People living in remote rural areas experience difficulty
in reaching institutions where they can apply for
identity documents and birth certificates.
(f) There is a lack of equipments such as computers, faxes,
photocopiers and telephones at border post offices.
3. Western Cape Province
(a) Most owners of low-cost houses reportedly cannot afford
the service charges.
(b) Poll's Moor Prison, with a carrying capacity of 3 000, is
overcrowded, with 7 000 inmates, 4 000 whom are awaiting
trial (1 900 are juveniles).
4. Cross-cutting observation
There is an exodus of professional personnel from the health
departments.
C. Recommendations
1. Gauteng Province
The Committee recommends:
(a) That an audit be performed to determine whether all
Premiers' Offices have a co-ordinating structure with
mayors, like the one in Gauteng, and that, in the event
that such a structure does not exist, each Premier's
Office set up such a structure with the same or broader
mandates, as per prevailing provincial conditions.
(b) That the Province be commended for having established the
Shared Service Centre, and also the other provinces that
are using the Multi-purpose Community Centres.
(c) That the Gauteng Department of Housing submit a progress
report on their R40 million housing projects earmarked
for women contractors.
(d) That it confer with the committees dealing with land,
housing and local government to discuss ways of dealing
with problems of land invasion and all other problems
experienced with the government's housing programme.
(e) That a detailed activity report be requested on the
Community-Based Public Works Project, where the Gauteng
department achieved 59% of black economic empowerment on
contract allocation.
(f) That Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital give feedback on
promised progress towards an improved integrated working
strategy with local clinics, as was indicated during the
visit.
(g) That the Gauteng Departments of Health and of Public Works
speedily intervene to deal with the unacceptably
dilapidated appearance of the Chris Hani Baragwanath
Hospital.
(h) That, in view of challenges around the retention of
professional personnel in the Department of Health, the
nurse training programme be reviewed to accommodate the
rising need for professional personnel.
(i) That a People's Forum be held within the community of
Alexandra, with the main aim of assessing the impact of
the Urban Renewal Programme, in respect of projects as
well as the efficiency of the management.
2. North West Province
The Committee recommends:
(a) That a report be furnished by the Department of Public
Works on the state of roads for the areas affected by the
flood disaster in 2000.
(b) That the Department of Health in the North West be called
upon to rectify the anomaly that, in a workforce of which
80% are female, 90% of the management component are male.
(c) The Committee commends the Anglo-American group, through
the Department of Minerals and Energy, for their efforts
to promote black economic empowerment, and further calls
on the Department of Minerals and Energy to submit a
performance report in this regard.
(d) That the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry submit a
plan of their activities to deal with the backlog of
about 400 000 people still waiting for running water.
(e) That the national Department of Home Affairs' statement of
intent to expand and intensify service provision to rural
areas be pursued with vigour to enable citizens to access
government services such as birth certificates and
identity documents, as these are key documents required
to apply for social grants and other government services.
Particular emphasis should be placed on those provinces
whose people largly live in rural areas.
3. Western Cape Province
The Committee recommends:
(a) That a study be conducted on the affordability of service
charges by owners of low-cost houses, and on the
implications thereof.
(b) That the Departments of Justice and of Correctional
Services take care of the overcrowding problem in Poll's
Moor Prison.
4. Cross-cutting recommendation
The Committee recommends that the provincial Departments of
Health submit reports on their respective states of
preparedness to deal with the challenges occasioned by the
exodus of professional personnel from their establishments.
Report to be considered.
- Report of the Portfolio Committee on Labour on Visit to Statutory Bodies in Gauteng, dated 26 September 2002:
The Portfolio Committee on Labour, having undertaken a fact-finding
visit to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration
(CCMA), the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC),
Ditsela and the Umsobomvu Youth Fund in Gauteng on 29 and 30 July 2002,
reports as follows:
Table of Contents
Topic Paragraph
Terms of reference A
Background B
Procedure C
Logistical arrangements D
Findings E
NEDLAC F
Concluding remarks G
A. Terms of reference
The Committee met to discuss the viability of conducting visits to
four statutory bodies, the CCMA, NEDLAC, Ditsela and the Umsobomvu
Youth Fund. The Committee agreed to conduct the visits to:
1. Focus on their operations
2. Find out about the implementation of the:
(a) Basic Conditions of Employment Act
(b) Employment Equity Act
(c) Labour Relations Act
(d) Skills Development Act
(e) Skills Development Levies Act
3. See whether companies are complying with the provisions of the
above Acts
4. Look at employees' working conditions in the workplace
5. Find out whether business, labour and organs of civil society
are aware of the existence of these institutions and their
functions
6. Look at the relations between these institutions and the public
they serve.
The Committee agreed that this Report would be compiled after all
the information had been collated and analysed, and that it would
be submitted to the National Assembly.
The visit was conducted in Gauteng with a view to visiting other
provinces in the next financial year.
B. Background
Section 55(b) of the Constitution states that the National
Assembly must provide for mechanisms to maintain oversight of -
(i) the exercise of national executive authority, including
the implementation of legislation; and
(ii) any organ of state.
C. Procedure
Communication on the proposed visit was conducted both verbally
and in writing. Specific emphasis was placed on meeting the
institutions and their constituencies in order to get first-hand
information on problems experienced.
D. Logistical arrangements
The multi-party delegation consisted of:
Ms E Thabethe ANC (Acting Chairperson) Ms H Malebane ANC
Mr G G Oliphant ANC
Mr R Pillay DA
Ms T E Lishivha ANC
Mr R M Moropa ANC
Mr S A Mshudulu ANC
Mr N S Middleton IFP
Mr M N Ramodike UDM
Adv Z L Madasa ACDP
Ms P Jayiya Committee Secretary
E. Findings
1. CCMA (Head Office)
The Committee met with the chairperson of the governing body,
the director, the acting director, senior commissioners and
heads of department. It also conducted an in loco inspection
of the offices and interacted with members of staff and
clients.
(a) Institutional vision
The institutional vision is to promote social justice and
economic growth with social partners by transforming
relations in the labour market. Part of the vision is the
strengthening of relations with neighbouring countries.
The CCMA has shared experiences with other countries. The
institution has proved to be ahead of its counterparts on
the African continent.
(b) Projects for 2002-03
* Legislative amendments
* Information systems
* Customer service
* Capacity building
* High standard operations and performance.
(c) Institution-building focus for 2002-03
* Additional training of bargaining council panellists
* Provision of IT support for bargaining council's
customised case management systems
* Technical support for new dispute settlement
services in SADC countries
* Collaborative work and technical assistance to other
South African institutions
* A fundamental shift in CCMA policy direction from
conciliation and arbitration to partnership-building
and networking for effective dispute management and
prevention.
(d) Training
* Induction courses are provided to newly appointed
commissioners and bargaining council panellists. Most
new commissioners join the institution with very little
knowledge of certain laws. There is a need for them to
gain substantial knowledge of the laws with which they
are dealing.
* The need to upgrade training is due to criticism of
the quality of dispute resolution.
* In the current financial year all bargaining council
panellists are required to attend training.
* Training is provided on substantive law courses,
conciliation and managing dismissal disputes.
* There is an agreement that training courses on
arbitration should be improved.
* Training is also provided on labour law amendments
and CCMA rules. A number of officials at provincial
level have attended such courses.
* The CCMA recognises the need for capacity building
and training of managers. Opportunities are given to
female managers as well.
* Basic training in customer service is also provided
to staff. Frontline and call centre staff receive
training on how to deal with people.
* There is no immediate impact of losing people who,
after being trained, are attracted to the public
sector.
(e) Appointment of commissioners
Once positions become vacant, the governing body gives
the go-ahead for posts to be advertised. After
interviews, the successful ones undergo a skills test
before training. At present there are 408 part-time and
102 full-time commissioners. Interviews were conducted
for posts applied for in September 2001.
(f) Screening and case management
* All cases/complaints are presented in the reception
area. Almost 420 cases are attended to each day.
Complainants are assisted to complete the complaint
forms.
* When a staff member finds it difficult to explain,
it is referred to the duty commissioner.
* Staff members attached to the front desk are fluent
in at least five languages.
* Each floor has a senior commissioner and a case
management commissioner. The case management
commissioners deal with conciliation, in some cases
done telephonically and voluntarily. On average, 20
cases are settled per day.
* Many cases reported are as a result of unfair
dismissals. There are very few cases of discrimination.
* Cases are screened to avoid non-jurisdiction cases
entering the system. Cases falling outside the CCMA's
jurisdiction, are redirected. 30% of cases screened
have jurisdiction.
* A follow-up is done on such cases and applicants are
advised through correspondence to whom they can refer
their cases.
* Some applicants whose applications have been
referred to the bargaining council, come back to the
CCMA if their cases are not attended to. However, the
CCMA has no jurisdiction over cases that have been
referred to the bargaining council.
* The Acting Senior Case Management Officer screens
referrals to check for defects.
* The public expects the CCMA should play the role of
a legal representative.
* A call centre has been piloted for a month. Over
6 000 calls have been received, in different languages.
* A fraud and corruption hotline has also been set up.
* The staff generally work under pressure. The
staff/workload ratio is a cause for concern. One case
management officer handles all queries.
* Clients who come to present their cases, are not
received and welcomed. Most of them look disillusioned.
(g) Partnership building and networking
The CCMA has launched user forums in all provinces, with
the objective to facilitate information sharing, and the
exchange of experiences and ideas between the CCMA and
stakeholders.
The expected outcome is the creation of greater
understanding between the CCMA, its users and social
partners on problems experienced by users, the daily
challenges and issues experienced by the CCMA, and how
best to use the CCMA.
(h) Constraints and challenges facing CCMA
* Delays in the finalisation of cases are most often
caused by users themselves. A high percentage of
inspectors are newly employed and still undergoing
training. Some regional offices still have staff
shortages.
* The CCMA office in Gauteng has to cope with the
workload of Pretoria, because Pretoria does not have
sufficient venues to hear cases. This has caused some
commissioners to volunteer their space for hearing
cases.
* It has been discovered that most people are still
not clear about their rights. Every client who comes to
the front desk, is advised of his/her rights. The CCMA
is also considering offering training to the advice
centres.
* The institution is faced with a challenge of
matching service delivery with financial constraints.
* There is an increase in the number of cases, which
stems from the old labour environment. However,
commissioners have been drawn from other provinces to
assist. As a cost-cutting exercise commissioners had to
pay for their accommodation and meals. More than 15 000
cases were dealt with.
* A copy of the training programme offered by the CCMA
was made available to the Committee.
2. Umsobomvu Youth Fund
(a) The Committee met with Mr M Kekana, CEO, the Director of
the National School of Accounting (NSA), and students.
* The Fund has made much progress since its inception
in January 2001, and has proved to be fully competent.
Of the two divisions, Youth Development and Youth
Entrepreneurship, the former has developed enormously.
* Numerous resources were dedicated towards capacity
building.
* 20% of funds are spent on creating contacts for
young people in career employment and entrepreneurship.
* The Fund has formed a partnership with the Youth
Commission.
* Youth advisory centres were developed to provide
young people with advice and information on career
development, employment and entrepreneurship. Three
service providers have been selected for the
establishment of pilot centres. Currently these are in
Kagiso, Soweto and the Western Cape.
* The Fund offers youth service programmes in
construction, agriculture, and HIV/AIDS care. These
programmes are taking place in Mothibistad and
Atamelang, North-West.
* Youths are involved in constructing a multi-purpose
centre and, in agriculture, in creating 250 communal
gardens. Training is given in HIV/AIDS counselling, and
there are general counselling to youths at school.
* Negotiations have been entered into with the
Department of Public Works on how it could be used as a
training centre. The Red Meat Association will offer
training on livestock farming and land restitution. The
Agricultural Research Council will teach young people
technical and professional skills.
* The Fund has signed a memorandum of understanding
with the SABC, and it is going to fund the Yizo Yizo 3
series.
* Two entrepreneurship projects have been set up, in
Maluti and Keiskammahoek.
* Capacity needs to be built within youth structures
to enable them to co-ordinate and network among
themselves and with the Fund.
(b) School to work
* The National School of Accounting (EQUIP Programme)
is one of the major projects supported by the Fund.
About 500 graduates from historically black
universities undergo a bridging programme to assist
them to acquire a chartered accountant qualification.
The bridging programme is aimed at closing the gap
between university and working environment. The focus
is on areas that are in demand.
* The life skills component is what attracted the Fund
to the NSA programme. Minimal skills impact is being
infused into this programme.
* The Fund receives quarterly monitoring and
evaluation reports.
* As a way of assisting students in getting through
the learnership programme, some editing firms have been
approached to do presentations on their organisations.
Some have vacancies relating to the learnership
programme.
* The NSA enrols 50 students per year. The capacity of
the NSA is limited by funding. The cost per student is
R32 000, excluding R15 000 living costs. With more
funding the institution could expand. Increasing the
number of students would also necessitate employing
more professionals.
* The Fund has commissioned a resolution that is going
to inform labour market opportunities. For example, one
employer in Johannesburg could employ 200 trainees.
* The legal fraternity is not included in programmes
funded by Umsobomvu.
* The vision also includes opening an NSA satellite in
the Eastern Cape.
* The NSA accepts students from peri-urban and rural
areas.
(c) Challenges facing Fund
* The agency has insufficient funding. This year it
will commit R18 million. It needs to have direct access
to funding from departments such as Public Works.
* Funds are solicited from foreign donors, and
linkages will be formed with the National Skills Fund.
Government funding is not sufficient.
* There is a need to build capacity within youth
structures to enable them to co-ordinate and network
among themselves and with the Fund.
F. NEDLAC
The Committee met with representatives from NEDLAC constituencies.
* NEDLAC moved to new premises in February 2002, and has a staff
complement of 18, including the executive director, a small
secretariat and general assistants.
* 190 meetings were held during the last financial year.
* The constituencies of NEDLAC reaffirmed a commitment to social
dialogue and working together. NEDLAC is committed to assisting
its constituencies to better reach their members with
information about what is happening at NEDLAC.
* The NEDLAC summit was due to be held on 28 September 2002. The
growth and development summit will be held in the first quarter
of 2003.
* The annual summits assist in ensuring that broad-based
participation is drawn from various structures. Each
constituency is guided by its objectives, positions and
principles.
Annual financial statements
* An audit, which includes examining evidence supporting the
amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing
the accounting principles used, significant estimates made by
management, and evaluating the overall financial presentation,
was conducted by Gobodo Incorporated.
* This was done in accordance with statements of South African
Auditing Standards.
* The audit opinion proved that the financial statements fairly
present, in all material respects, the financial position of
NEDLAC, and the results of its operations for the year in
accordance with generally accepted accounting practice.
Current activities
1. Trade and Industry Chamber
(a) The Chamber is involved with the Department of Trade and
Industry in a workshop that is discussing the new
CITA/SACU legislation.
(b) Discussions were held with parties on plastic bags and
minerals development.
(c) Trade policy is developed along the lines of SA-Mercosur
and WTO trade agreements.
(d) Studies on the programme include stainless steel,
jewellery and the phasing out of asbestos.
(e) A feasibility study was done on the introduction of econo-
labels in South Africa.
(f) There are plans to hold sector summits on metals,
engineering and petrochemicals.
2. Public Finance and Monetary Policy Chamber
(a) Discussions on the conference on transformation and
diversification of the financial sector were scheduled
for 20 August 2002.
(b) The report on food prices is due soon.
(c) Discussions with the Minister and the National Treasury on
the 2003-04 budget are under way.
(d) A summit on the financial sectors was also scheduled for
20 August 2002.
3. Development Chamber
(a) A task team was operating on the World Summit on
Sustainable Development.
(b) A civil society summit was scheduled for 12 and 13 August
2002.
(c) The Department of Housing has given an update on
developments relating to housing delivery.
(d) Report-backs on the Integrated Rural Development Programme
are awaited from various departments.
(e) A task team has been set up to co-ordinate a research
project to identify best practices in dealing with
HIV/AIDS in the workplace. This exercise includes rural
people and the unemployed.
(f) Discussions were held on taxi recapitalisation. NEDLAC is
looking at the new taxi industry that will cater for
various groups such as school children, the disabled,
etc.
(g) Discussions are being held between the Chamber and the
Minister on the National Higher Education Plan. A task
team has been established with the mandate to make
proposals on the restructuring of public education.
(h) A task team on local government has been considering the
Property Rates Bill and water regulations under the
National Water Act.
4. Capacity building at NEDLAC
(a) A substantial amount of money is devoted to support
constituency structures. This helps to develop a
constituency's capacity to engage in NEDLAC and to take
part in policy formulation.
(b) NEDLAC jointly hosted a three-day workshop with COSATU,
Western Cape, as part of its capacity building programme
for constituencies.
5. NEDLAC constituencies
(a) Labour
* The input that NEDLAC makes, is appreciated. NEDLAC
has managed to diffuse the tension that used to exist.
* Negotiations on labour law amendments were lengthy
and tedious.
* The negotiation process on the Immigration Bill was
surrounded by controversy and a lack of agreement on
the labour law amendments.
* Because of the hectic schedule, labour sometimes
finds it difficult to interact at the joint task team
level.
Challenges
* Co-ordination of inputs from different
constituencies
* Strengthening administration in the Chamber through
empowering people and improving resources
* Slow pace at which decisions are processed
* Need for more financial and human resources
* Justice is not done to tasks allotted to different
constituencies
* Little co-operation within constituencies.
(b) Business South Africa
This is a 19-member organisation, consisting of employer
organisations and confederations. An alliance has been
formed with the Black Business Council in order to work
together to form one national non-racial business
society.
Challenges
* There is a concern that the government is selective
in the manner in which policies are referred to NEDLAC.
Examples of this are the Immigration Bill and the
Insolvency Bill.
* The lack of human and financial resources places
constraints on the work of the organisation.
* Some issues take too long as a result of input by
parties.
* There is a problem with quick decisions being taken
due to time constraints.
(c) Government
The lack of resources would be looked at. All concerns
raised by constituencies were noted.
(d) Community
This constituency is represented by organisations such as
the SA Youth Council, SANCO, the National Womens
Coalition, etc.
(e) Ordinary people from the community have an opportunity to
interact with NEDLAC, especially on labour policies such
as equity.
Challenges
* NEDLAC has been confronted from time to time with
unplanned activities from unexpected competencies, for
example the WSSD.
* Capacity building and resources need attention.
* Regular interaction with community representatives needs
to be harnessed.
* More attention needs to be focused on key national
objectives such as poverty alleviation and HIV/AIDS.
4. Ditsela
(a) The Committee met with the Director, members of the
governing body and staff.
(b) Ditsela was established in 1997, with a staff complement
of three. At preent, it has 18 staff members.
(c) The existing board was appointed by COSATU and FEDUSA.
(d) This institution gets core funding from the Department of
Labour and has to report every four months.
(e) The budget for the current financial year is R8,2 million.
(f) Ditsela requested financial support from other independent
unions.
(g) Accounting on funding is done every three months by means
of audit reports.
(h) Attempts have been made to bring NACTU on board, but to no
avail. Two seats on the board have been allocated to
NACTU.
Challenges
* A model that would help to address key problems faced by
the new generation of shop stewards, needs to be developed.
* A plan for a pilot programme to train shop stewards is
being designed.
* Capaciy on the shop floor seems to be decreasing due to
natural attrition and union members going into business.
* Ditsela recognises the issue of women. An advanced course
in leadership has been introduced.
* There is a challenge to get into the Department of
Education and develop a concept of introducing trade union
studies by linking them to broader society and to the role
they play in society.
* The problem of capacity and budget constraints hinders
Ditsela in reaching out to other parts.
* There is need for training in the labour field to reach
areas besides unions.
* Ditsela is currently working on skills development.
* The Department of Labour has assigned Ditsela to drive a
massive health and safety programme. A project proposal has
already been designed, but the programme has been stalled by
changes in the Department.
* The institution responded to requests made to establish
links. There is a need for Ditsela to expand its network by
linking with international institutions such as the ILO and
Ruskin College.
* Courses prioritised for the 2003-04 financial year include
negotiation skills, a women's leadership course, and an
office-bearers' courses, as well as core skill courses such
as writing skills and using the Internet and electronic
mail.
* Negotiations are conducted with WITS on accrediting some
of the advanced courses.
* Staff development is taking place within the institution.
A workshop was conducted recently on how Ditsela would fit
in with the WSSD. Internship courses are offered to train
people on the operations of Ditsela.
G. Concluding remarks
The Committee expresses its appreciation for the efforts made by
the above institutions to make the visit a success. The Committee
further recommends that in future there should be continuity in
interaction between these institutions and the Committee.
- Report of the Portfolio Committee on Labour on provincial visits, dated 26 September 2002:
The Portfolio Committee on Labour, having visited various provinces
from 19 to 20 June 2001, reports as follows:
The objective of the visits was to identify industrial activities
indigent to a specific province and then to focus exclusively on the
level of implementation of the labour market programmes designed by the
Department of Labour (the Department). The focus will, however, be
completed by the skills development and employment equity programmes,
which will form the underlying and common thread.
A. Mpumalanga
1. Findings
(a) There was a continuous linkage between the divisional
collective bargaining body at head office and the
provincial office to reconcile the reports.
(b) In 1999 the provincial job summit was established after
the Department had realised that it could not run all the
initiatives.
(c) The summit led to the establishment of the provincial job
summit co-ordinating committee, which comprised three
clusters.
(d) The economic and investment cluster was headed by the
Department of Finance and Economic Affairs, the skills
development cluster by the Department and the special
employment programmes cluster by the Department of Public
Works.
(e) As regards inspections, the province was looking at 40
inspections per inspector per month.
(f) Procedural compliance and substantive compliance were
highlighted as Employment Equity Act problems.
(g) The provincial executive manager said the focus was
currently on procedural compliance.
2. Challenges
(a) There were 4 032 outstanding cases due to a lack of
capacity.
(b) Construction and agricultural sectors were identified as
problem areas.
(c) Problems experienced in the construction sector were due
to contractors who are contracting with local government.
(d) The Department's tender procedures had no provision which
complied with labour laws.
(e) Retrenchments in most sectors resulted in delays in the
filling of vacancies. Therefore, business units could
only fill 70 per cent of the vacancies, instead of the
targeted 90 per cent.
(f) There was still many outstanding complaints.
(g) There was a scarcity of skilled people.
(h) The poor economy and the decline in the labour market made
it very difficult to assist retrenched workers to be
reabsorbed in the labour market.
(i) Retrenched workers were not interested in training;
instead they visited the office to claim Unemployment
Insurance Fund (UIF) payouts.
(j) The implementation of the Employment Equity Act was
highlighted as the most problematic area.
(k) NACTU mentioned that some of the cases referred to the
Department are complaints from employees who are employed
on the basis of verbal contracts.
3. Recommendations
(a) When a case is referred for inspection, it should be
finalised within 30 days of referral.
(b) The Department should look again at cases where employers
do not deduct UIF contributions from their employees'
salaries. This is unfair to employees who have worked
with one employer for more than five years.
(c) The Department should ensure the enforcement of the
Employment Equity Act on farmers.
(d) NACTU suggested that organised labour and the Department
should join hands to address employment issues.
(e) The inspection blitz of the Department that focused mostly
on child labour and seasonal labour could be the solution
to most of the problems in farm areas.
(f) More staff was required at the provincial office to drive
the skills development strategy.
B. Witbank Labour Centre
Meeting with clients in queues
1. Farm and domestic workers got dismissed after they had lodged
complaints with the Department against their employers.
2. The Middelburg Labour Centre developed a programme where they
met domestic workers three times a week. The aim of the
meetings was to educate domestic workers about their rights.
3. The Department used radio stations and local newspapers as a
means of communication with farm and domestic workers.
4. The delegation was informed that domestic workers in the
highveld region were unionised, and that this resulted in
problems being solved more speedily at ground level.
C. Groblersdal Labour Centre
1. Findings
(a) The blitz inspection of the Department managed to include
most areas that were virtually unreachable.
(b) The level of compliance with legislation had improved
drastically in the area.
2. Evander
(a) Challenges
* The relationship between employers and employees was
hostile.
* There was a high level of non-compliance with labour
laws in the area.
* The community faced a problem of slow feedback from
the Department on matters of compliance.
* Transfer and resignation of personnel disturbed the
smooth running of labour centres and also hampered
their working relationship.
* Compliance with labour laws at Bethal Hospital was
low; the Committee was requested to intervene.
* Farm evictions in Piet Retief was prevalent, and the
Department seemed to have done nothing about the plight
of farmworkers.
* Companies such as Edgars and Foschini employed
people as casual or temporary workers on a continual
basis for more than 10 years.
* Many companies were not training their employees,
but continued to claim a skill levy.
* Training on the implementation of the Skills
Development Act was cumbersome and its impact not
visible on the ground.
* The gender composition of the personnel in the
department was not in compliance with the Employment
Equity Act.
(b) Recommendations
* The community suggested that the Labour Centre Forum
develop a mechanism to implement decisions taken at
meetings.
* The terms of reference for the Forum should be
clearly pronounced.
* Inspectors should visit shops to check the level of
compliance.
* The community suggested that the Department develop
a feedback mechanism.
* The Department should plan meetings in advance and
communicate information to the relevant people
timeously.
* The Department should budget for training SMMEs and
people with disability.
* People with disability were not offered an
opportunity to attend training by various training
institutions in order to broaden their skills base. As
a result, they remained at a disadvantage when it came
to employment. Sign language should be accommodated for
people with disability.
* The Department should consider opening a satellite
office in Mbalenhle township, as many residents in the
area cannot afford travelling to Evander.
(c) Conclusion
The community saw the service rendered by the Department
in the area to be of a high standard, adding value to the
community.
D. Gauteng South
1. Findings
(a) The areas of jurisdiction included Greater Johannesburg,
Soweto, Eldorado Park and Ennerdale, Germiston, Alberton,
Boksburg, Brakpan, Sandton, Randburg, Kempton Park,
Midrand, Roodepoort, Carltonville, Vereeniging, Sebokeng,
Everton, Orange Farm, Vanderbijlpark, Meyerton and
Heidelberg.
(b) The province had 14 labour centres, comprising 800 staff
members.
(c) The offices rendered the beneficiary services (UIF and
Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act
(COIDA)), employment and skills development services,
inspection and enforcement services, labour market
information statistics and planning and management
support services.
2. Brakpan Head Office
(a) Findings
* Staff complement:
African male 4
White femal 6
White male 1
Coloured female 1
African female 4
--
Total 16
--
* Two posts were frozen.
* They needed more African males to balance race and
gender at the centre.
* The centre was involved with the women millennium
project, funded by the Department.
* The project employed 30 people, mostly women, to
knit curtains and jerseys.
* The project was targeted at disadvantaged groups,
especially unemployed youth.
* The centre offered training related to poverty
alleviation projects of the Department of Social
Development.
* The centre serviced the following areas:
- Tsakane
- Geluksdals
- Dalpark
- Brakpan North Industrial Area
- Greater Brakpan.
(b) Challenges
* Security companies were not complying with the Basic
Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) and the Wage Act.
* Employers in the domestic sector did not understand
or comply with the provisions of the Act.
* CCMA and UIF cases were a major problem, since many
companies were closing down.
* Employers leave without completing all the necessary
forms, and it was difficult to trace them.
* The centre did not conduct occupational health and
safety inspections. If an inspection was required, the
centre had to request an inspector from the Germiston
labour centre.
* Business in Brakpan was declining.
* Major businesses established, do not last more than
three months before they move to other areas like
Germiston or Kempton Park.
(c) Relationship with stakeholders
* The centre had established working relationships
with various community-based organisations, especially
non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
* There was interaction with the unions on issues such
as joint inspections.
* There was a sound relationship with various
employers in the area, especially in respect of the
drafting of employment equity plans.
* There was also a good working relationship with
various government departments, such as Social
Development.
* The centre was part of the Government Communication
and Information System.
(d) Meeting with staff
Challenges
* The unavailability of space in the centre made it
impossible to implement integrated registration
services.
* There were no air-conditioners in the centre.
* There was a shortage of UIF computers.
* Head office took a long time to make payouts on CCMA
and UIF cases.
* Staff members could not answer enquiries from
employers and clients.
Meeting with clients at centre
* The Committee interacted with clients queueing at
registration services, and questioned clients about
service delivery they are receiving from the
Department.
* Most clients which the delegation interacted with,
were pleased with the quality of service rendered by
departmental officials at the Brakpan labour centre,
especially those at the registration services for the
speedy service.
3. Recommendations
(a) The centre must utilise parliamentary offices to
disseminate information.
(b) The centre should link up with the local council.
(c) The centre should work closely with other departments,
such as the Department of Trade and Industry, to identify
projects.
E. Johannesburg labour centre - meeting with inspectors
1. Challenges
(a) Inspectors were leaving the Department for greener
pastures in government departments and the private
sector.
(b) The lack of resources (computers, transport and furniture)
made it difficult to further the principle of "Batho
Pele".
(c) Inspectors lacked support or counselling after being
exposed to horrible incidents, such as injured or
deceased persons.
2. Recommendations
(a) Provincial matters should be addressed through the correct
protocol channels.
(b) The delegation promised to raise issues of concern with
the Minister when they meet him.
3. Co-operation with stakeholders
(a) Inspectors indicated that unions are co-operating with
them during inspections.
(b) Some employers were more co-operative than others.
(c) The Public Prosecutions Office and the Small Claims Court
co-operated in finalising cases.
(d) A problem was experienced with the SAPS not co-operating
when a warrant of arrest is issued for an employer who is
not complying with the law.
4. Walkabout and interaction with staff and clients
(a) The centre serviced 500 to 800 clients a day.
(b) It lacked information signs that provide direction for a
particular service offered.
(c) Clients were happy that queues at the UIF pay point were
moving faster.
5. Meeting with stakeholders to discuss Employment Equity Act
(a) Stakeholders indicated that they were succeeding in
complying with the implementation of both the Employment
Equity Act and the Skills Development Act, due to
assistance received from officials of the Department, the
Department's website and SETA.
(b) There was a scarcity of skilled people from the designated
groups, especially people with disability.
(c) The centre intended developing a strategy to identify and
link with associations of the physically disabled to get
assistance from them.
F. Meeting with business unit managers
1. Overview of Integrated Beneficiary Services (IBS)
(a) The IBS was administering the COIDA Act and the UIF Act.
(b) Decentralisation of COIDA and UIF functions from head
office to the province was in an advanced stage.
2. Challenges facing IBS
(a) The IBS needs to establish a permanent relationship with
clients and stakeholders.
(b) There was a shortage of computers.
(c) There was negative publicity from the media about the UIF
being bankrupt.
G. Employment and Skills Development Services (ESDS)
1. Overview of ESDS
(a) ESDS was part of employment services at head office.
(b) The main objective of ESDS was to make sure that employees
enter or re-enter the labour market.
(c) The province was allocated R12 million to train employed
people and prisoners on parole.
2. Job creation projects
(a) ESDS was involved in many projects with different
stakeholders.
(b) The province developed a database of stakeholders.
(c) Regional heads were trained to identify projects in their
areas.
3. Challenges
(a) People did not know about the existence of the projects.
(b) There was a shortage of staff.
(c) A poor relationship existed with the Gauteng provincial
government.
(d) The formal sector was shrinking.
(e) The shortage of IT systems has hampered progress.
4. Management Support Services (MSS)
(a) Overview of MSS
The role of MSS was to support all business units, such
as staff, resources, accommodation, delivery of services,
facilities, etc.
(b) Priorities
These included the introduction of the new performance
management system, the identification of training skills,
the alignment of the Employment Equity Act with a proper
recruitment strategy, the balancing of staff complements
and the boosting of morale.
(c) Challenges
* It was difficult to recruit people with disability,
and there was a lack of proper facilities for them.
* The policy on internship was not yet in place.
* The relationship with the Public Works Department
was poor.
* Budget constraints made it difficult for
registration services to be restructured.
* Staff resignations due to unclear career pathing and
upward mobility cost the province dearly.
H. Sebokeng - visit to Industries Education and Training Institute
(IETI)
1. Background
(a) The IETI, an employment creation project funded through
skills development strategy, was an organisation
established to train and develop skills of selected
groups, such as people with disability and the youth.
(b) It promoted independence and sustainability of income, and
enhances the quality of people's lives.
(c) The IETI intended to achieve its purpose through the
process of saleable skills development, economic
development, career pathing, learnership and SMME
development of its target population.
(d) The IETI attempted to influence the overall training
mechanism in a positive manner and to fulfil the
initiative instituted by the RDP.
2. Objectives
(a) To participate with industries and communities to identify
training and development needs.
(b) To align the Department with training needs of the
industry arising from the Skills Development Act and the
Employment Equity Act on a national basis.
(c) To identify areas where training and development will have
the most impact.
(d) To train people to a level of competence, and where
possible, to artisian status, in order to place a highly
trained workforce at the disposal of the industry.
3. Training centre
(a) The motto of the centre was "Job creation through skills
development".
(b) The centre had 48 students.
(c) Most of the students were unemployed and did not have
funds to start their own businesses.
(d) All students came from disadvantaged backgrounds,
including black females and people with disability.
(e) People with disability were developed in entrepreneurial
and technical skills to earn a sustainable income.
(f) The availability of able students at the training centre
assisted students with disability to perform their
physical chores.
(g) The centre is a tripartite partnership between IETI, the
Association of the Disabled and the Department of Labour.
4. Interaction with trainees/students
Trainees had skills such as welding, woodwork, business,
computers and electronics. Students appreciated the visit by
the delegation and were grateful for the financial assistance
from the Department.
I. Northern Cape
1. Hartswater farm
(a) Findings
* Farmers were not aware of their role regarding the
existing labour laws.
* Many farmers were not complying with all the laws
yet, but were willing to listen and abide by the law as
far as possible.
(b) Challenges
* Farm sizes ranged from 20 to 25 ha. There was not
enough space to build houses for workers.
* Permanent workers had contracts but there were no clear
guidelines on how to hire casual labour.
* During school holidays girls between 12 and 15
accompanied their parents to help pick cotton, for
workers were paid per kg picked. It seemed that not all
farmers abided by the Child Labour Act.
(c) Recommendations
* Farmers must establish the need for housing among
farmworkers and the government should look into rural
development for them.
* As regards casual workers, a strategy should be
worked out between the Department and farmers.
* Farmers can apply for exemptions, for example on
deciduous fruits.
* Farmers can have cases negotiated, and in certain cases
exemptions may be negotiated with the Minister of
Labour.
(d) Meeting with farmworkers
* Workers were not treated as fellow human beings. They
worked with no resistance to unjust laws.
* Farmers did not receive leave pay.
* When a worker fell ill, money was deducted from
his/her wages upon return, for transport to the
hospital or a doctor.
J. Northern Cape - provincial office
1. Findings
(a) More females were employed in the Northern Cape
Directorate.
(b) The province had not finalised its employment equity
targets.
2. Meeting with stakeholders
(a) Findings
* Many companies experienced serious problems with
skills development due to budget constraints.
* Time-frames for employers to submit their business
plans were too short.
* In respect of employment equity and skills
development, there was a need to address "window
dressing" and the necessity of bringing experienced
people from other provinces instead of equipping local
people.
* Companies were promoting child labour, for example a
company in Springbok (Black Mountain), an Australian
Company called Torax, etc.
* Cheap labour was promoted, and many people were
working in unsafe conditions.
* Employers were turning their dogs loose on workers,
and livestock was impounded when found trespassing.
* Persons with 32 years' service were being dismissed
when they requested a salary increase.
* Labour courts were unable to assist people and
victims, who had applied for compensation under COIDA.
Those persons were frustrated, as some have applied as
long ago as 1990 but have not been paid.
* Telephonic enquiries to the Compensation
Commissioner's office were not answered timeously, or,
in most cases, not at all.
3. Meeting with Department of Economic Affairs
Findings
(a) In respect of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act,
difficulties were experienced, especially in respect of
the Department of Health and nurses' time of duty.
(b) Labour court judges were hostile towards the affirmative
action policy.
K. Western Cape
1. Mitchells Plain Labour Centre (Morgenster)
(a) Findings
* The centre rendered the following services:
- Beneficiary services (main function)
- Labour relations enquiries
- Inspection and enforcement
- Employment equity
- Skills development strategies.
* The beneficiary service was said to be the most
important function rendered by the centre due to the
large number of unemployed people.
* The centre rendered services to between 180 and 200
clients reporting for the first time to register for
employment.
* On busy days the centre rendered services to 1 800
people.
* The centre serviced people from Khayelitsha,
Mitchell's Plain, Mandalay, Philippi and Delft.
* Taxis were used as a means of transport to the
satellite office.
* Staff at the centre comprised 12 people, three of
whom were in the satellite office at D F Malan labour
centre in Nyanga.
* 80% of the cases dealt with were resolved, but
currently there are no figures available to support
these statistics. Information will be supplied in due
course.
* The inspection and enforcement department carried
out occupational health and safety duties although they
were not qualified to do so. However, intensive
inspections were referred to the Cape Town provincial
office.
* Since this Department was performing intensive
duties, they only lodged complaints and submitted them
to the provincial office.
(b) Placement and benefits
* Front-line staff members registered clients for
employment and placed them when the opportunity for
employment became available.
* Employment service practice held workshops to
prepare clients for re-employment.
* The waiting period for benefits was 12 weeks,
depending on the availability of the required
documents.
* The Department made it a priority to keep regular
contact with the client on progress of the placement.
2. Challenges
(a) The centre is located in an environment where there is a
high rate of gangsterism. Security is a problem since the
building is shared with other tenants. Security personnel
are not present at the centre at all times. They are only
present on payout days.
(b) Robberies have cost the centre dearly, and it has lost
most of its equipment. People were constantly mugged,
especially on payment days. Mr Adam, head of the centre,
forwarded two letters to the provincial office regarding
complaints about burglaries. A neighbourhood watch helped
look after the building.
(c) Complaints were also lodged by a number of clients who had
to use two taxis to get to the centre. This ended up
being quite expensive. People were robbed inside a taxi
when leaving the building. They preferred to use the Cape
Town provincial office, where only one vehicle was used
and was less expensive.
(d) The centre was facing a shortage of staff to render an
adequate service.
(e) Staff members lacked sufficient information regarding
procedures on certain pieces of legislation, for example
the Labour Relations Act and the Occupational Health and
Safety Act.
(f) The centre was without an integrated computerised system.
(g) Budget constraints affected the distribution of resources.
(h) Fraud was experienced at the centre. The culprit was
arrested before he could receive his first cheque.
3. Meeting with public in queues
The following concerns were raised:
(a) Members of the public expressed their dissatisfaction at
the number of times they visited the office without
receiving their first cheque.
(b) People felt they were not informed about the causes for
the delays.
(c) People also felt that there was a lack of information from
staff members regarding the documents they should bring
when applying for benefits.
4. D F Malan satellite office
(a) Findings
* The head of the centre briefed the delegation on the
functions of the office, which included the processing
of applications for beneficiaries, registration for
employment and payouts benefits.
* The office rendered a service to people from
Philippi, Nyanga and Gugulethu. Not many people used
this office; they preferred the Cape Town provincial
office to collect their benefits. Figures showed that
very few people visited the office from beginning 2001
till the time of the visit:
January 2001 252
February 2001 234
March 2001 245
April 2001 219
May 2001 173
* The challenge facing the office was capacity.
* The centre lacked sufficient information to properly
inform the public.
(b) Location of centre
* According to the survey conducted in 2000, 71% of
clients preferred the office to be moved closer to
their residences.
* Locations identified included offices in Cross Roads
and Old Cross Roads, but these buildings were not good
in good shape and needed to be renovated. These offices
were more secure than the one in Mitchell's Plain,
being closer to the police station. Other clients
identified Brown's Farm in Philippi as a possible
location.
* Mr Adams said the decision lay with the Department
of Public Works to avail the premises required by the
Department of Labour.
5. Communication
(a) The office was running workshops as a means of
communicating with the public, and radio sessions were
also in the pipeline.
(b) Six sessions on unemployment insurance were conducted.
(c) A task team was appointed at head office to conduct a work
study.
(d) It was recommended that each labour centre have a client
service desk and an inspection and enforcement service
desk to deal with CCMA enquiries.
6. Employment placement
(a) The centre had a 7% placement rate.
(b) Its challenge was the long queues during payouts.
(c) Members of the public queued outside the building and
during rainy days the situation became even more
difficult.
7. Working hours
(a) The office opened at 08:30 and closed at 15:00, clients
already inside being served till 16:00.
(b) Services such as the payment of grants started at 11:00
and continued till 16:00.
(c) Staff members experienced problems with closing time. They
preferred the office to officially close at 15:00, which
would enable them to finalise the day's administration
and process forms timeously so as to avoid backlogs.
8. Recommendations
(a) The office should conduct a survey on the number of people
who use the provincial office in Cape Town, who should be
encouraged to use their nearest labour centre.
(b) Pamphlets in all languages should be used as an
alternative way of informing people about the services
offered. These pamphlets must outline procedures to
follow from one queue to another, and must indicate the
documents to be brought in respect of certain services.
(c) The closing time of 16:00 should be reconsidered to enable
staff members to expedite the processing of applications.
9. Cape Town - provincial office
(a) Findings
The delegation was briefed on strategic planning, the
status of the building, recruitment plans and the
province's initiative in supporting Human Rights Day, May
Day and other cultural events in the province.
(b) Inspection and enforcement
Challenges
* There was a lack of resources.
* Personnel required training.
* Incidents of fraud were reported.
* An integrated system needed to be installed.
* Budget cuts affected distribution of resources.
(c) Discussions
Concerns raised:
* Occupational health and safety needed to be in line
with the mining sector, which gave employees the right
to refuse to work in a dangerous environment.
* The Labour Relations Act was silent about child
labour procedures; it only provided information.
* Due to slow processing of applications after the
lodging of a child labour complaint, farmers hid
children during inspections.
* The restructuring process and the budget had to be
tackled simultaneously to prevent problems with the
distribution of resources.
* Another problem was that of people who, while
receiving UIF payouts, did not report to the office
after having found employment.
* Because of time constraints the chairperson
suggested that questions be submitted to the provincial
office and returned to Parliament via the Committee
Secretary.
(d) Meeting with organised labour
* NACTU said the integration in most institutions
(CCMA's ruling) did not affect the Department because
it was applied differently.
* Staff lacked sufficient information from the
Department, and training was needed.
* Six specialists in occupational health and safety
were needed to improve conditions in the Department, as
this was identified as a national problem.
* FEDUSA mentioned that the aim of the Labour
Relations Act was is to settle matters quickly, but
cases showed that the Constitution lacked precedence
and adjudication.
* Section 145 of the Act did not stipulate time-frames
within which a case would end. Employers could
manipulate the process and drag the case to the labour
court, which would then become costly for the employee.
* Exclusion of public servants from the UIF was
unfair. Everyone needed to enjoy security and benefits.
* The fishing industry requested regular inspections
for employers who did not comply with the relevant
legislation.
* The Department needed to play a visible role in
terms of inspections in order to address the needs of
fishermen.
* Fishermen were severly exploited since they worked
on commission. People with 30 years' experience in this
industry had nothing to fall back on since there was no
pension schemes.
* They were not covered under the legislation. They
did not have protective clothing, and hours of work
were not stipulated anywhere.
* SASBO mentioned that payment of UIF cheques took too
long.
* They felt that complaints referred to the Department
took too long to be responded to and, when responded
to, the response would not address what was requested.
10. Recommendations
(a) With regard to CCMA cases, the Department needs to put in
place a system that will enable it to screen cases before
they get to the CCMA, and to select those that the
Department can deal with immediately.
(b) SASBO suggested that if the Department lacked the transfer
of skills for its staff members, it should outsource some
of the work to companies with capacity.
11. Findings
* The layout of the office building was not conducive
to all the services offered, as clients have to move
from one room to another for different services.
* On the system of inspection, a team of six to seven
inspectors dealt with a case until its completion and
was given one week in the office and one week in the
field. The system showed a high rate of success since
all team members were accountable for the outcome of a
case.
* The backlog dropped to 42 cases and the number of
lost or missing files decreased.
* The provincial office made use of pamphlets in three
languages (English, Xhosa and Afrikaans) to assist
clients with the service rendered and documents
required for processing.
* In 2001 the number of cases fell to 2 300, compared
to 3 000 in 2000. A fair amount of duplication took
place in the process, which caused delays.
12. Further recommendations
* The Mitchell's Plain labour centre and the satellite
office require 18 staff members to perform adequately
and efficiently.
* An integrated computerised system is required to
enable the centre to revisit programmes related to
cases.
* More interaction is necessary between the provincial
labour office and the Portfolio Committee on Labour to
address issues related to the needs of the centre, in
order to render an efficient service to the public.
* The Department needs to communicate with the
Department of Public Works so as to address the problem
of location of the centre.
* The Department needs to test the suitable area
identified against the community it is going to serve.
* The director of the provincial office suggested that
the national office handle enquiries, as these result
in long queues.
* The Department needs to draft a form that will
record a person's address and also state the number of
people assisted in a day in the provincial office.
L. West Coast - Vredendal Labour Centre
1. Findings
(a) Posters and pamphlets were all in English, while
Vredenburg is predominantly an Afrikaans community.
(b) The centre had a front desk that dealt with enquiries. If
the case was more complicated, it was referred to an
inspector at the centre.
(c) The centre rendered the following services:
* Registration for employment
* Unemployment insurance benefits
* Registration of training projects.
(d) The centre closed for business at 15:00 and staff finished
administrative duties at 16:15. Each staff member was
responsible for dealing with clients application forms
and cases until finalised and was held responsible,
should documentation go missing.
(e) This centre began advocacy work for clients, employer
organisations and unions.
(f) An Employment Services Practitioner (ESP) was situated at
the centre to deal with training and requests for jobs.
(g) The delegation suggested that the Department and Public
Works work together on job creation projects.
(h) There were 189 vacant posts - 54 them were funded, while
others were still frozen. This severely affected service
delivery in the province.
(i) The province had 12 labour centres with five satellite
offices.
(j) A labour centre forum was established to discuss and share
experiences about problems and challenges faced with
other centres.
(k) A 100% verification target in respect of all applications
was set for all labour centres regarding applications for
unemployment insurance benefits.
(l) The province established an Accommodation Committee to
look at adequate venues for labour centres and satellite
offices.
2. Challenges
(a) Budgets at labour centre level were severely hampered by
the use of vehicles belonging to Imperial Fleet Services
(IFS).
(b) The Department signed a contract with IFS and the province
paid R4 800 per month for the use of their vehicles,
excluding petrol.
(c) An interim measure, whereby clients had to produce their
last six payslips before their applications were
approved, caused problems for them.
3. Kaffeskuitjie Farm
The delegation undertook an inspection of the farm.
4. Meeting with stakeholders
The following concerns were raised:
(a) The Department needed to market its services, especially
those around training for the unemployed.
(b) The community and the Department, along with other
government departments, needed to establish a forum to
discuss issues of mutual interest.
(c) Labour inspections should be visible in the area.
(d) Information sessions should include the vulnerable worker
sector, farmworkers and fishing industry workers.
(e) Training on how to tender should be held as soon as
possible between entrepreneurs and the Departments of
Trade and Industry and of Labour.
5. Saldanha - garment-making project
(a) This project was sponsored by the Department - a joint
venture with the local business development centre.
(b) The Committee visited the site where trainees were making
dresses, shirts and trousers.
(c) The aim of the project was to assist trainees to start
their own businesses.
M. Northern Province
1. Lebowakgomo labour centre - findings
* The centre was located at the Thabamoopo Magisterial
Complex, about 52 km south of the Pietersburg provincial
office.
* Clients interviewed came to the centre to apply for
benefits, collect payouts, register as unemployed, make
general enquiries about services rendered by the department,
etc.
* The delegation observed that there were beneficiaries who
had not received payment, although they had submitted
applications three months previously.
* Other clients indicated that cheques did not work well for
them, as they had to travel to Pietersburg, which is far
from the labour centre, to cash them.
* Most clients were in favour of cash as an alternative form
of payment, especially those who received small amounts.
2. Findings
(a) Presentation by Nkuzi Development Association (NDA)
* Key issues raised:
- Extreme poverty areas
- Inhumane working conditions
- Wages range from R120 to R400 per month
- Evictions
* The Soutpansberg area was affected by immigrants
(legal and illegal) who earn low wages and whose rights
are not protected.
* South Africans were retrenched in numbers and
replaced by Mozambiqans and Zimbabweans.
* Regarding the phase-in/phase-out programme, about 10
000 non-South Africans are employed on farms. NDA
highlighted that if this number was covered by South
Africans citizens, the province would not have had an
unemployment figure of 46%, where it stood at the time.
* NDA acknowledged that the Department's training
initiative assisted South African citizens to access
employment opportunities.
* There should be no pre-inspection appointments.
* Farmers selected their own people to be interviewed.
* A multi-disciplinary approach was needed from the
government.
* The Department lacked a follow-up mechanism,
especially on issues of child labour.
* NDA suggested adoption of a multi-disciplinary
approach on enforcement, to include:
- Department of Labour
- South African Police Service
- Prosecutors (Department of Justice)
- Social Services
- CCMA
* NDA also suggested that a minimum wage be introduced
for workers.
(b) Presentations by organised labour (NACTU/COSATU)
* Unions stated that labour inspectors allowed farm
management to choose people to be interviewed and never
made the effort to interview other workers, of their
choice.
* They indicated that pre-inspection appointments gave
rise to situations where practices of non-compliance
were easily swept under the carpet.
* Organised labour recommended legislation to do away
with pre-inspection appointments.
* NACTU and COSATU suggested that the Department be
represented at Tender Board sessions as observers, to
signal to and advise commissioners during tender
awards.
* NACTU indicated that tenders were awarded to non-
complying firms who continuously exploited workers.
(c) Presentation by organised business - NOESA
* The presentation focused on the implementation of
the Employment Equity Act and the Skills Development
Act.
* NOESA represented a wide spectrum - 500 employers
and 40 000 employees. They indicated that employers
approached the development and implementation of the
Employment Equity Act with suspicion.
* NOESA further said that they were assisting and
advising their corporate members to comply with all
labour legislation, including registration with the UIF
and the Compensation Fund.
* NOESA said that almost all employers affiliated to
them had already forwarded their employment equity
plans.
* There was a lack of advocacy on the Skills
Development Act and the Skills Development Levies Act,
that caused businesses to regard them as an indirect
form of taxation.
* The migration of employees to other provinces due to
poor economic development discouraged employers to
train their employees.
* NOESA appealed for learnership programmes and
visibility of SETAs in provinces.
(d) Presentation by Northern Province Business Forum
* The Forum fully supported the Skills Development Act
initiative.
* They suggested that exemptions be given to employers
who employed more people, as they reduced unemployment.
* They added that this request should not be seen as a
permanent measure, but as a way of resolving
unemployment.
(e) Presentation by CCMA
The CCMA appreciated the efforts of the Province's
Directorate: Labour to continuously engage them in
discussions on possible solutions to problems relating to
service delivery.
(f) Discussions on skills development
* Skills providers needed to be given an opportunity
of training at a higher level.
* SETAs should be launched in provinces to
continuously advise and support both providers and
stakeholders.
* The material produced for training should reach the
most vulnerable of all and must be user-friendly.
(g) Discussion on inspection and enforcement
* Pre-inspection appointments to farms should be
reviewed.
* Co-operation with other government departments
(Labour, Social Development, SAPS) should be embraced.
* A multi-pronged skills development approach should
be adopted by looking at the integration of inspection
services.
* In respect of labour law amendments, there was a
need for mobile labour courts to ensure that awards
were enforced effectively.
* During conciliation by the Department, the weaker
party needed to be given an opportunity to be advised
by the Department.
(h) Processing unit
* An automated clearing bureau payment method needed
to be introduced for maternity, illness, adoption
benefits and payments to dependants of deceased
contributors.
* An Employee Management System needed to be
introduced.
* Section 38 benefits (death) took longer to be
finalised.
* The Unemployment Insurance Board should determine,
when more than one wife claims benefits from a deceased
contributor, whether widows who were married through
custom should receive the same recognition as legally
married widows.
* On the death of both parents, the office tended to
receive multiple applications for benefits, which all
looked legitimate. The process of verification,
therefore, took longer to determine which candidate
qualified.
(i) Pietersburg branch of First National Bank
The officials indicated that they co-operated fully with
the Department and experienced no major problems with
payouts. They indicated that beneficiaries sometimes
reported later than the stipulated and agreed time.
N. Potgietersrus
Interaction with staff on farm
1. Workers indicated that they were not receiving feedback from
labour inspectors. Inspectors tended to interview the
management and the few workers chosen by management.
2. Farmworkers' houses were in an appalling condition, with smoke
all over the place. These houses did not have doors. Adults
and children slept in one room.
Report to be considered.
- Report of the Portfolio Committee on Education on provincial visits to Mpumalanga and Free State, dated 5 November 2002:
The Portfolio Committee on Education reports as follows:
A. Introduction
Two multi-party delegations of the Committee on Education
undertook provincial visits to Mpumalanga and Free State from 22
to 24 July 2002 and to the SABC in Johannesburg on 25 July 2002,
with the following mandates:
1. Objectives of visits
The Committee unanimously agreed that two multi-party
delegations of five members each undertake the visits to
schools, including farm schools in Mpumalanga and the Free
State, to give focus attention to the following issues:
(a) Mpumalanga and Free State
* Early Childhood Development (ECD)
* Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET)
* Education for Learners with Special Education Needs
(ELSEN)
* Further Education and Training (FET)
* Governance in farm schools (School Governing Bodies
- SGBs)
* Programmes on HIV/AIDS
* Primary Nutrition Programme
(b) SABC - Johannesburg
When SABC Education gave a briefing before the Committee
on 19 February 2002, Ms Y Kgame invited the Committee to
visit them to see how they:
* Manage and deliver the SABC's educational mandate
* Provide quality products and services, distributed
through differentiated mediums
* Prioritise the diverse educational needs of South
African audiences, and become an educational
broadcasting partner and a resource throughout Africa.
2. Delegations
The multi-party delegation of 10 Committee members, divided
into two groups to visit the provinces simultaneously, was
constituted as follows:
(a) Group A - Mpumalanga
Prof S M Mayatula (Leader) - ANC
Ms D G Nhlengethwa - ANC
Mr S B Ntuli - ANC
Mr T A Abrahams - UDM
Mr A M Mpontshane - IFP
Ms N C Manjezi - Committee Secretary
(b) Group B - Free State
Mr L M Kgwele (Leader) - ANC
Mr B M Komphela - ANC
Ms P N Mnandi - ANC
Mr R S Ntuli - DP
Mr C Aucamp - AEB
Ms A Jojozi - Committee Secretary
( SABC delegation
Prof S M Mayatula (Leader)
Mr L M Kgwele
Mr B M Komphela
Mr T Abrahams
Mr A M Mpontshane
Ms P N Mnandi
Mr R S Ntuli
Mr C Aucamp
Ms N C Manjezi
Ms A Jojozi
Due to other pressing commitments, Mr S B Ntuli and Ms D
G Nhlengethwa were unable to visit the SABC.
B. Mpumalanga
1. Meeting with MEC for Education, Mr C N M Padayachee, on 21 July
- official view
The delegation was warmly welcomed by the MEC and had an
informal meeting to discuss the following matters:
(a) Learner Support Material (LSM)
The Department's budget for LSM and stationery and
textbooks budget has increased by 100%. It was allocated
R136 million for 2002-03, compared to R68 million for
2001-02.
In 2001 all Grade 5 and 9 books were delivered to all
schools. According to an audit conducted, all schools
received the LSM. Regular visits are made by the MEC and
his senior officials to verify that schools have received
textbooks.
(b) Infrastructure
In 2001-02 R83 million was spent on infrastructure, and
the following was done throughout the province:
386 class-rooms, 42 special rooms, 873 toilets and 32
administration blocks were built; 67 schools were
renovated; 19 schools were fenced; 17 schools were
provided with water; 13 schools were electrified; and
flood-damaged schools were repaired at a cost of R3
million.
Planning was done to get quantity surveyors and other
people in on the ground to apply for
tenders.ÿApproximately 428 class-rooms will be built. The
Japanese Government will sponsor the building of toilets,
special rooms and additional class-rooms. SAPPI will also
build libraries with teacher resource materials.
At present there is a shortfall/backlog of 4 000 class-
rooms throughout the province. Most class-rooms are
overcrowded; some schools are not conducive to learning
and teaching, and need major repairs. There is no school
literally under the tree in the entire province.
(c) Scholar transport
Learners still walk long distances to reach school. In
1994 transport was provided for 400 learners; in 2000 for
2 700; and in 2001 for 6 800. Now the number of routes
has increased from 48 to 102, covering 11 299 learners.
(d) Teaching posts
There are 56 HOD posts to be filled. In 2001 2 700 posts
were created. 1 036 promotional posts need to be filled -
if a teacher is promoted, the post become vacant. There
are under-qualified educators in the system; they are now
upgrading their qualification.
(e) Computers
About 130 computers (software) have been donated to 10
teacher centres and four schools. A contract has been
signed with Microsoft to provide software to 353 public
schools and training centres in Mpumalanga. They will
supply the software as well as the hardware.
Training for educators has been done to enhance learning
and teaching. Computers not used by state departments
will be upgraded for use in schools.
(f) Teachers
Temporary educators who have in the system for two years,
will be employed permanently.
(g) Early Childhood Development
The conditional grants in 2001 were not sufficient. R6
million was used for the introduction of Grade R classes.
221 ECD tutors conducted intensive training.
(h) School furniture
Due to insufficient funding over the past two years, it
was difficult for the Department to deliver furniture to
schools. Furniture to the value of R5 275 517,66 has been
procured.
(i) Farm schools
There are 449 farm schools in the province, and 112
contracts have been signed with farmers. Some farmers
threaten to close the schools. There are no toilets in
these schools; water and sanitation pose a major
challenge. At present, there is no proper sanitation.
Most learners in farm schools benefit from the nutrition
programme. The SGB handles all logistical arrangements to
pay the person preparing food for the learners.
Every circuit manager must visit the schools once a
month, and produce a report thereon to Head Office.
2. Visit to Silamba Senior Secondary School on 22 July - official
view by principal, Dr M E Mabena
The school building consists of a brick structure with burglar-
barred windows, and is properly fenced. Very few windows are
broken.
The school offers Grades 8 to 12, with 1 200 learners and 35
educators. To have a full staff complement, they need one
educator for languages and science.
They are comfortable with the class-rooms, but shortage of
furniture poses a serious problem. Every year they send a
requisition to the Department; they have neem waiting for the
furniture for more than two years.
Initially the government did not send enough furniture and the
quality was not good. More than 78 desks have been repaired
with the help of SGBs.
Textbooks are not enough for learners and educators for all
grades. 80% of the learners do not have textbooks.
According to departmental official Mr J Molai, there have been
budgetary problems over the past four years - they have spent
R130 million on backlogs and R100 million on current
deliveries. He emphasised that schools should report any
oversupply of books so that these can be taken to needy
schools.
Very little learner support materials were delivered to the
school, and the requisition dates back to July 2002. The
school only received 50 books which they could not give to
learners.
There is a lack of communication between the school and the
Department; sometimes they receive more, sometimes less, than
they have requisitioned for.
There are Natural Science classes up to Grade 12; one class
for Grade 10, 11 and 12, and one educator. According to Dr
Mabena, it is an overload for one educator to teach all these
classes. There is also a huge shortage of chemicals and
facilities; water taps in the laboratory are not working.
The condition of toilets constitutes a health hazard; most of
the toilet structures are very bad, and they are always in
need of repairs. The school has insufficient funds to fix and
repair these.
The educators are of the view that once these toilets are
built and completed by the constructors, the Department should
come and supervise the work done.
A Grade 12 pass rate of 33,9% in 2001 was not very good.
Learners were without textbooks and a commitment to do their
work; parents lack the commitment to support teachers and
supervise learners - these were major reasons for the poor
Grade 12 results in 2001.
The school sometimes gets feedback from successful Grade 12
students studying at technikons and universities, but others
disappear.
In respect if lannguages, there are no textbooks for learners
to read and no English literature textbooks for Grade 11. In
Grade 12 there is a huge shortage. At present there are only
30 copies for 94 learners.
50 textbooks for 300 learners is seen a recipe for failure.
The suppliers sometimes send textbooks that do not tally with
the delivery note; they rush to schools and deliver books
without invoices.
According to Mr Molai, if such instances do exist, it is each
school's duty to check on it, not the Department.
Nevertheless, the Department will look into a better system of
delivery of textbooks to schools in 2003.
Not all educators were workshopped or trained in outcome-based
education (OBE). OBE was introduced in Grade 8 in 2002; only
eight educators were trained.
Parents do not want to support teachers to supervise the
learners in their schoolwork and they also do not participate
in all school meetings and activities.
The school needs continuous assessment support from the
Department to see how they are coping with their work. Parent
support is also crucially needed at the school, and
councillors need to interact with the community to sensitise
parents to participate in all school activities and
programmes.
3. Visit to Makerana Primary School - official view by Mrs N G
Kgosana
The majority of the class-rooms and the school infrastructure
consist of a brick structure; it is properly fenced with
burglar bars on all doors and windows. The office of the
principal is properly secured, with security gates inside and
outside.
The school offers Grades R to 7, with 760 learners and 19
educators, including the principal. Grade R was established in
2002, with 38 learners and one educator.
There is no shortage of educators. The two class-rooms are not
enough to accommodate all the learners. They were built
through the efforts and initiative of parents and educators.
Due to the shortage of four class-rooms, they use a shack
structure, which is also in a very bad state.
All learners benefit from a nutrition programme. There being
no resources at the school, the scheme is run by the school
committee outside the school, non-working parents doing all
the cooking. The stationery received, was not enough. No LSMs
were received in some learning areas. The LSM shortage is
follows:
Grade 1 - reading books (IsiNdebele)
Grade 2 - reading books (IsiNdebele); reading books (Sepedi);
numeracy learners book (My Clever)
Grade 3 - reading books for English and Sepedi.
No reading books for Grade 2 were received since the beginning
of the year.
Sanitation and toilets are in good working condition. There is
not enough furniture for the class-rooms and for educators,
and no administration block. There is a shortage of desks and
chairs, and the furniture quality is very poor. The school has
put in a requisition to the Department, but nothing has been
received.
The educators were trained in, and numerous workshops were
held on, OBE. The school received all the OBE material. There
is huge participation and support of parents in school
activities. Parents, the SGB and educators attend meetings to
discuss issues of concern about the school.
As there are various learners from surrounding areas, parents
organise buses and pay for the transport of their children.
The principal deems it important that the regional directors
and circuit managers monitor the delivery system of resources,
e.g. LSM and stationery, before books are received at the
beginning of each year.
4. Visit to Hlonipha Secondary School - official view by
principal, Mr M S Mabasa
The school consists of a brick and tin (shack) structures.
Some of the windows and doors are burglar-barred. The school
offers Grades 8 to 12, with 795 learners and 23 educators.
According to the staff complement, there are vacancies in
respect of the post of school administrator, the HOD post for
commerce and two other HODs posts, as well as one owing to
promotion. At present there are two acting HODs.
As enrolment increased, a need arose for the creation of
posts. In 2001 there was good dispatch of stationery for all
Grades but nothing was received for Grade 8, 10, 11 this year.
Only Grade 12 received LSM this year. The school has 12 class-
rooms, including the staff room, and needs eight more class-
rooms, including the administration block. Because of this
shortage, they have erected four additional shack-structured
class-rooms, which are not conducive for learning and
teaching. Grade 8 is accommodated in these structures, which
are too packed and congested. During the rainy and winter
season, it becomes difficult for learners and educators to use
these class-rooms. Therefore the school needs more class-
rooms.
As the school will be phasing in OBE in 2003, they did not
requisite Grade 10 textbooks. As the school has only started
with Grade 12 last year, it had a 43% pass rate then, but they
expect an improvement this year. Parents support the school by
talking to learners. Few Grade 12 learners give feedback to
the school about their progress in tertiary institutions. As
there is not enough furniture, they take broken furniture from
other schools and repair these for use. Parents also assist
the school in identifying schools with excess and broken
furniture.
Absenteeism is high on opening day at the beginning of the
year; students do not come in numbers. There is also an impact
on performance when learners have to go to initiation school.
School property is vandalised frequently. Learners break
windows towards the end of the year when they receive their
end-of-year reports - anger from those who fail leads to
vandalising of windows and damaging of property.
Sanitation and toilets pose a serious problem and a health
hazard to the school. Both learners and educators share four
toilets. Since the inception of the school in 1994, no proper
toilet facilities have been erected. Proper sanitation and
toilets are needed as a matter of urgency.
For OBE, it is difficult to put Grade 7 learners in groups
because each class has about 64 learners. For Grade 9,
educators are not properly trained. According to Mr Molai, the
process has taken long to develop. The school has no computer,
but they have tried to acquire one through donations. They
bought a copy machine from the school fund.
5. Visit to Mnyamana Primary School - official view by Ms E B
Jiyane
The school infrastructure consists of brick and shack
structures, with all windows and doors burglar-barred. Not a
single window is broken. The school offers Grade R to 7, with
621 learners (xcluding 47 non-registered pre-schoollearners
not formally accommodated) and 16 educators. This is one of
the schools piloting Inclusive Education.
There is a shortage of educators according to teacher
development. Due to the shortage of four class-rooms, some
operate in the shack structure. The school has not received
sufficient LSM, textbooks and OBE material. All educators are
trained in OBE. OBE materials are urgently needed for all
Grades.
There is also a shortage of furniture and no proper storage
room for books. There are five toilets - two for girls, one
for boys and two for staff - they are in good working
condition. The school urgently needs ramps, toilets and four
additional class-rooms.
With regard to Inclusive Education, they involve learners who
need help. All the educators who attend the workshop for
Inclusive Education, give feedback in the form of a report to
the school and implement their experiences in the class-room.
The school admits learners with different problems, and extra
attention is given to them twice a week (14:00 to 15:00) and
during school holidays. At present there is one learner in
Grade 1 who is deaf and dumb; there are also others in other
Grades, and educators do their utmost to help them. An
application has been sent to the Department to get suitable
facilities for learners in wheel chairs. According to the
principal, the Department had responded telephonically that
two toilets would be erected and that other equipment meant
for the disabled learners would be supplied to the school.
There is no parental relationship with and support for the
school. The school also needs continuous support from the
Department, especially from ELSEN officials - to guide them as
a piloting school and to see that Inclusive Education is
implemented in a proper manner.
Buses and taxi's transport learners who live far from the
school.
The school needs major renovations. Since its inception in
1986, no renovations have been done.
6. Visit to Rematlatse Primary School - official view by
principal, Ms N V Skosana
This farm school was established in 1996, and the MEC has
signed all the contracts with the farmer on behalf of the
school. The infrastructure consists of brick and shack
structures.
The school has Grade R to 6, with 82 learners and three
educators, including the principal. Grade R was introduced to
prepare learners for Grade 1 - they are not registered, but
recognised. School fees are R40, 00 per year, and the school
negotiate with those parents who cannot afford it.
According to post provisioning, two additional educators are
needed at the school. As there are not enough educators, all
the educators are trained on how to cope with multigrade
classes. More educators are needed to implement OBE in the
class-room situation.
As the school has a transport and feeding scheme, attendance
of learners is very good. All LSMs were received, except the
languages. There are enough class-rooms to accommodate all
learners. All that is needed, is proper fencing and toilet
facilities. The pit toilets at present in use by both learners
and educators are a health hazard. According to Mr Masombuka
of the Department, schools have never been fenced in the
surrounding areas, as there was no programme to fence them.
Parents are encouraged to view the programme as part of their
project.
The school has no electricity, but when it was built cabling
was done. Funding is needed to fence it and install water
tanks and electricity. Although the school operates in a
farming community, no child labour has been reported. There is
an improvement in respect of parent participation, in
attending meetings to discuss issues pertaining the school.
Workshops and training are conducted to train and enhance
skills for the SGB.
There is no vandalism of school property; not a single window
is broken. The SAPS at Enkangala patrol the school at night
and during school holidays.
7. Visit to Tetema Primary School - official view by principal, Ms
J M Mwenda
This farm school was built in 1996. The infrastructure
consists of a brick structure with five class-rooms, with all
doors and windows burglar-barred. There is a telephone but no
electricity. The school offers Grade 1 to 7, with 166 learners
and five educators.
There are no proper toilet facilities; the present ones of
corrugated iron are in poor condition and are used by both
learners and educators. LSMs and OBE materials were received
but were not enough. All educators are fully trained in OBE.
There are shortages of furniture - desks, steel cupboards and
tables. SGB members assist the school in repairing broken
furniture.
There are neither sporting facilities nor activities, although
learners show interest on the improvised soccer fields and
netball court. They compete with other farm schools. Parents
are involved in the school nutrition programme. They are very
supportive of the school, but when asked for money, they are
unable to give any because most of them are unemployed.
The school urgently needs electricity, a computer, water and
proper toilets and sanitation facilities, as well as an
administrative block. The toilets are a health hazard and are
still in use by educators and learners; no request was made to
the Department for proper toilet facilities. According to Mr
Mabena, there is a need for a specialist to inspect the
physical resources. The farmer only provide water tanks and
taps.
8. Visit to Sitjhejiwe Senior Secondary School - official view by
principal, Mr D A Dladla
The school consists of a brick and shack structure, with all
windows burglar-barred. The school offers Grades 8 to 12, with
792 learners and 24 educators. With the present enrolment,
there is no shortage of educators. Due to vandalism, some
class-rooms do not have electricity. They have a shortage of
12 class-rooms, and use the shack structure to accommodate
students. A requisition was made to the Department to build
more class-rooms, and it has promised to honour the request
soon.
LSMs and stationery were delivered, but not enough of it. The
shortage is caused by increased enrolment. Because of these
shortages, parents who can afford it, buy items for their
children. Parents support the school in all its activities;
they attend meetings when they are called. The toilet
facilities are in working condition but need to be renovated.
As enrolment grows, more toilets will be needed.
All the educators attend workshops and training sessions on
OBE. There is a high failure rate in Grade 12: 1999 - 42%;
2000 - 62%; 2001 - 49%. Most of the learners decided to drop
out. The principal mentioned the reasons for the failure rate:
(a) Overcrowding in class-rooms - this prevents educators from
attending to each learner
(b) No dedication and effort from learners, and no guidance
from the educator.
There was no delivery of textbooks for Grade 9. There is a
laboratory, but it lacks equipment. The school offers a range
of subjects, like Economics, Accounting, Business Economics,
Mathematics, Physical Science and Geography.
Most learners live in informal surrounding areas. They
participate in sports (soccer, rugby and netball), but the
facilities are not of a good standard. These facilities need
major maintenance work, as in their present condition they
hamper learner development. The school excels in music
competitions with other schools.
9. Visit to Siyazama Primary School on 23 July - official view by
principal, Mr J D Dlamini
This farm school was built in 1988. The school building
consists of a brick structure, which is properly fenced. There
is no electricity, and not a single window is broken. The
school spent R600,00 from the school fund to repair all the
broken windows. Toilet facilities need major maintenance; the
flushing system is not up to standard.
As a combined school it offers Grades 1 to 9, with 96 learners
and four educators. Guided by the post establishment, the
school is supposed to have three educators. Due to work
overload, the educators were unable to cope with the number of
learners at the school, so Ms Ngcobo was recruited from
another school to join as the foundation educator.
No transport is provided for the learners. They travel long
distances (about 20 km every day) to and from the school.
According to the principal, all neighbouring farm schools do
have transport. When they made enquiries at the Department,
they were told the map supplied by them to the Department was
too complicated for the officials to understand, and they were
requested to submit a simpler map. They are now awaiting a
response from the Department.
According to Mr Zikhali, the circuit manager, the routes were
submitted to the Department, but not all of them were
approved. The region is now attending to the request of
providing transport to the school. The two neighbouring farms
schools have transport although it does not reach everyone.
The school-feeding scheme is not reliable. It was supposed to
have started again on 22 July 2002, but nothing was received.
There are serious problems with this feeding scheme programme.
Parents who assist to prepare food for the learners, have not
been paid for the past three months. It seems that fraudulent
activities took place during the process. According to Mr
Zikhali, this school faces such problems.
The LSMs, OBE materials and textbooks were delivered, but are
not enough. OBE materials were never received for Grade 7. All
educators attend workshops on OBE. The SGB attend training
sessions to provide them with skills to handle educational
matters. For learning to be conducive, additional class-rooms
need to be built as a matter of urgency. There is good
involvement between the school, the SGB and the community.
Of serious concern is the physical structure, scholar/learner
transport, electricity and the condition of the toilets.
According to Mr Dlamini, resources should first be given to
farm schools because of their geographical location.
10. Visit to Phumula Primary School - official view by
principal, Mrs G Nkosi
The infrastructure consists of a brick structure, with no
windows broken. Doors are burglar-barred, the place is fenced
and the grounds are well-maintained. The school offers Grades
1 to 4, with 1 215 learners and 33 educators. Grade R attached
to the school is very limited (most of these are community-
based). Forms were issued to involve structures to apply.
Those who have submitted applications, have been receiving
their subsidies.
There is a shortage of six class-rooms. The old pre-fabricated
structures that are used as class-rooms, need renovations and
repair. Toilet facilities are in proper working condition. The
school experiences problems with regard to LSM: requisitioning
is rushed; late delivery; and educators have to choose books
from a catalogue. In many instances the school receives the
wrong materials, but because of their need, they end up using
the different series delivered.
Textbooks were received, but for Grade 4 they are not
sufficient. For classes with 299 learners they only received
96. There is also a shortage of furniture. All the OBE
materials were received for all Grades except for Grade 4.
However, these do not cover all the learning areas. Educators
are trained in implementing OBE in the class-room. With regard
to the feeding scheme, they receive all the necessary supplies
on time.
There is great parent involvement with the school. As they
have more than 1 000 learners, parents are called per Grades
to discuss school progress and problems. The school fee is
R50,00 per annum. There is great interest in sports like
soccer, netball, cricket and golf amongst learners, but the
sporting facilities are not of a good standard, and there is
no equipment. Learners who participate in the go-go golf, use
tennis balls instead of golf balls.
Parents have volunteered to clean up the school, and thus the
school needs funds to compensate them. Although the school has
security staff working 14 hours a week, more security is
needed to work over week-ends to prevent vandals from
destroying school property.
A day-to-day contractor should visit the school to check what
needs to be repaired and maintained. According to Mr
Mathebula, day-to-day maintenance is done once the school
reports the problems. If the school sees the need for
furniture to be repaired, they can use the school fund to buy
the necessary equipment to do the repairs, and not wait for
the Department.
Mr J Molai is of the view that electrified schools should at
least have one computer for administrative purposes, should
they meet certain requirements.
11. Visit to Ermelo Primary School - official view by
principal, Mr J L Myburg
This is a previous model C school, built in 1992 and located
in the town of Ermelo. It is a double-storey structure, highly
secured and fenced, with well-maintained grounds. The school
offers Grade R to 7, with 400 learners (90% black) and 18
educators. Seven educators' salaries are paid by the
government, and the rest by the SGB.
They have received LSMs for Grades 4, 5 and 7, and textbooks
for Grade 5. They have already bought textbooks to be used in
2003, and assist two other farm schools (Vulingqondo and
Nooitgedacht) with books. There is no government feeding
scheme, and no computers in the class-rooms. The medium of
instruction is English.
Learners participate in various sports, like athletics,
cricket, volleyball and soccer, and compete with various
schools in the Ermelo region. The parents are actively
involved in school activities. Some of them believe this is
one of the best schools in the world. There are five parents
serving in the SGB, three of them black and all of them very
active. Parents are very participative and all programmes
within the school are devised in such a manner that all
parents get involved. Non-working parents assist in cleaning
the school and maintaining the grounds on a regular basis. The
school fund is R2 000 per year, payable over 10 months (R200
per month). The school needs extra educators, and an incentive
for work done, according to Mr Myburg.
12. Visit to Masizakhe Secondary School - official view by
principal, Mr Shange
Mr Shange mandated one of the staff members, Mr H A Abbott,
and the Chairperson of the SGB, Mr Z G Dhludhlu, to introduce
the staff and SGB members, as he did not know some of them.
The school consists of a brick structure, with all windows
burglar-barred.
There are 1 250 learners, with 45 educators. There are not
enough class-rooms, and they need urgent attention. LSMs, OBE
material and textbooks were received, but not enough. Numerous
requests were made to the Department on behalf of senior
classes, but the Department was always telling them that they
would not get books because the system was changing.
Previously there was no co-operation between educators and
parents; there were very serious problems with the scool
management. At the time of our visit, educators, the SGB and
parents have only been working together for a week to manage
the school.
According to Dr L H Mathunyane, Regional Director, there were
problems with the school management, and no co-operation from
educators and parents. The problem was more than five years
old. The school has been dysfunctional for quite a long time.
The state of affairs was chaotic, and there was instability in
the school. The principal was charged with misconduct, but he
won his case. A task team was established and met all
stakeholders to try and put a new management team together. As
a result, the situation was normalised. An HOD and a Deputy
Principal were appointed. The new School Management Team (SMT)
only started working on 16 July 2002. Plans have been made by
the new SMT and the SGB to solve all the prevailing problems
in the school.
According to the Regional Director, the regional office has
come up with a programme for all dysfunctional schools, a
programme to train principals and LRC, and to capacitate SMTs
and SGBs.
The school was never renovated. The building needs urgent
repairs and renovations, and there is also a shortage of
furniture.
Grade 12 results were very poor, below 40% over the last two
years (in 2000 - 25% and in 2001 - 35%).
There is no transport - some learners live as far away as
Carolina and Hendrina - and they walk to and from school on a
daily basis. There was no requisition for transport from the
Department.
Vandalism of school property occurs regularly and is caused by
learners themselves, emanating from non-cooperation between
parents, educators and learners.
13. Visit to Mkhomazi Primary School - official view by
principal, Mrs D Mashaba
This intermediate school was built in 1968, offers Grade 5 to
7, and has 508 learners and 12 educators. According to the
staff complement, there is a shortage of two educators. There
is a shortage of furniture and class-rooms. Requisition was
made to the Department and they promised to attend to the
problem. The toilet facilities are not in good condition; the
system is very poor.
There is good parent participation - every three months they
meet with the SGB to decide on a date for a parent meeting for
that quarter. Although the school fee is R30,00 per year, some
parents cannot afford it. All the LSMs, OBE material and
stationary were received on time.
The Department of Health supplies food for schools. There are
serious problems with the feeding scheme; some schools have no
utensils. All schools, including Mkhomazi, were told by the
Department of Health to buy other amenities to make the soup
edible. They sometimes take money from the school fund to buy
coal, pots and amenities to cook for the learners.
With regard to the above, Prof Mayatula will take the matter
up with the Minister of Health.
Parents volunteer to help clean the school and maintain the
grounds and fence. A budget is needed to renovate ceilings and
for a proper fence around the school premises. Presently there
is no security.
The school also needs technical materials for skills
development classes, although there is neither skills
development in OBE nor modernised teaching aids like a TV,
projectors, a video recorder and a computer.
14. Visit to Zinikeleni Secondary School - official view by
principal, Mr M A Mngomezulu
The school is a double-storey structure, burglar-barred; the
grounds are well maintained. It offers Grades 8 to 12, with 1
650 learners and 50 educators, including the principal. There
is no shortage of educators.
The school is overcrowded - it has only 28 class-rooms. They
also have a laboratory, which has no equipment. Equipment is
borrowed from the neighbouring school in order to assist
learners taking chemistry.
Most toilet facilities are not working, and pipes are leaking
and in need of repairs. Regular burglaries result in woodwork
and home economics appliances being stolen. The administration
block has been properly secured with a security system, and
burglar bars have been installed to prevent vandals from
breaking in.
LSMs and textbooks were received, although not enough. OBE
materials and copies for educators were also received, except
those for Grade 8. All Grade 9 teachers were trained in OBE,
and numerous workshops were held.
The Department does not always pay the municipality for the
water and electricity on time. In most instances, these are
then disconnected, making it difficult for educators and
learners to proceed with learning and teaching.
Mainstream subjects offered are: Technical, Commerce, Science
and General, and the school excels academically and in sport
and music. There is good participation between the SGB,
parents and educators. They attend meetings when they are
called and they participate well.
Many learners still need transport. Most learners live as far
away as 20 km. Due to inadequate transport, most hike to
school, which is deemed dangerous. The Department has approved
only two routes. School fees are only R80,00 per year, and
parents co-operate by paying it.
In 2000 the pass rate for Grade 12 was 69%, but in 2001 it was
53%. The cause for this was deemed to be the leaving of the
old principal and the cutting off of water and electricity
because of non-payment for these services. There are two
security systems at the school - the Department employs one
day shift while the SGB employs one night shift.
Absenteeism is due to ill health, suggered by both educators
and learners. When young female learners get pregnant, they
return to school after six months and expect to write internal
as well as external examinations. According to Mr Molai, no
student can be barred from returning to school after
pregnancy.
The school urgently needs furniture (desks and cupboards), a
library, sporting facilities, a playground, textbooks for
Grade 8 life orientation and arts and culture, and scholar
transport.
15. Visit to Crocodile Valley Primary School on 24 July -
official view by principal, Mr J H Nkosi
The learners performed traditional dancing and warmly welcomed
the delegation. For the past four years, this combined farm
school made of bricks has been attached to the Crocodile
Estate, on a farm owned by Mr D Solomon. The school offers
Grades 1 to 9, with 184 learners and eight educators,
including the principal. However, due to decreasing numbers
caused by residents moving to other areas, they will start
with Grades 1 to 7 next year. The owner insisted that they
should close Grades 8 and 9.
The owner of the farm does not want learners from outside the
farm to attend the school. According to the principal,
however, to retain the student enrolment the owner needs to
allow learners from other areas to attend the school. All
learners registered at the school live on the farm; there are
no learners from other farms. There is a pre-school nearby,
but it is not registered and most of the educators are not
qualified and registered with SACE.
All LSMs, OBE material and stationery were received on time.
Mr Solomon is very helpful in respect of the school's
activities and needs. When there is a shortage of textbooks,
he buys them for the school. They have water, electricity and
proper sanitation and toilet facilities, but no computers and
no telephone.
The government supplies maize, beans, soya beans and cooking
oil to the school. The farm owner also provides food and
cooking utensils. According to the principal, they receive the
same food every day, and there is a need to change the menu on
a daily basis. All the food is kept in a storage facility and
kitchen built by the owner.
There is good working relationship with the parents. They are
very supportive and attend meetings when they are called and
co-operate fully on discussions about the school. The learners
also participate in sports like soccer, netball and athletics,
as well as in cultural activities. The school needs furniture,
renovations to the second block and 12 additional class-rooms.
A requisition has been submitted to the Department.
16. Visit to Tekwane Primary School - official view by
principal, Ms N D Maphanga
The school consists of a brick structure, with all doors
burglar-barred. It offers Grades 1 to 7, with 320 learners and
eight educators, including the principal. There is no shortage
of educators. There are not enough class-rooms, and therefore
the three classes are literally conducted under a tree. In
rainy and very hot seasons, no teaching take place. Children
learn when the weather is favourable.
The land on which the school is built, used to be a farm, but
now it belongs to the Mpumalanga government, who has bought
it. As it is now a public school, no person shows interest to
the school. The school will be transferred to the new
settlement and a site has been identified to erect a new
school building. According to the principal, the Department
needs to speed up this process.
All the educators have been trained in OBE. Grade 4 OBE
materials were not received. LSMs were received, but not
sufficient for Grade 6, and nothing for Grade 5. They have a
feeding programme running Mondays to Fridays, but the supply
is not enough for all learners to be fed. The Department is
still using the 1999 enrolment data. If there is no food at
home, learners come to school knowing that the school runs the
feeding programme.
Parents have bought utensils and the Department pays the
helper. There is good working relationship between parents and
learners. Learners are very disciplined. There is no
transport, and learners walk to school every day. The majority
of learners live near the school. An application was made to
the Department in 1999, but up to there has been no response.
During the time of the visit, UK volunteer students working
for the Tenteleni Project were at the school. They help with
sports, fundraising, the feeding scheme and HIV and life
orientation programmes. They also render services to schools
all over Mpumalanga during school holidays. This year 43 of
them are scattered throughout 18 primary schools.
17. Visit to Tenteleni Primary School - official view by
principal, Mrs G S Maseko
The school consists of a brick structure, which is burglar-
barred and fenced. It offers Grades 1 to 7, with 1136 learners
and 27 educators. According to the post establishment, the
school needs an additional educator. There is a serious
problem of overcrowding and a class-room shortage. Presently
there are 16 class-rooms on the main campus and five on the
satellite campus. They need 12 additional class-rooms, but the
Department will only provide six. As a result of this
shortage, two store-rooms had to be converted into class-
rooms. Through fundraising, the SGB has managed to build two
class-rooms. Overcrowding is caused by parents preferring to
send their children to the school because of the level of
education and the school's reputation.
Stationery was delivered and received on time last year. LSMs
were also delivered, but very late. OBE materials for the
foundation phase were received, but for the intermediate phase
in Grades 4 and 6, nothing was received. A computer is used by
the educators and SGB members. The school has electricity in
the library and the computer room. There are no offices for
the principal and staff.
The toilets are a health hazard, and due to an increase in
student enrolment, the toilets are always in a state of repair
and in need of renovating. Additional toilets should be built
to service the large numbers of learners and educators. There
is no feeding scheme programme for learners. According to the
principal, it is needed because there are learners who need to
be fed. Aa application has been submitted to the Department to
assist the school to feed hungry children.
According to Mr Khoza, schools in the townships were excluded
from the programme - a decision of the provincial nutrition
committee. Parents from the townships were seen as better off
than those from rural communities. The decision was being
reviewed, because of those children in township schools who do
need to be fed. A request was made to those schools to submit
applications and motivations.
There is no transport. Some learners live far away and have to
walk as far as 10 km every day. The Department runs workshops
on HIV/AIDS, as there is an urgent need to educate parents
about the disease. According to the principal, the Department
should cluster schools to provide counselling to educators.
The disease causes a lot of absenteeism. Educators need to be
trained in counselling skills to deal with learners who lose
parents because of HIV/AIDS. Educators need to be given all
the resources and necessary documents free of charge.
Parents are very supportive of the school and the SMT and
participate in all school activities. The Department has
workshopped them to define their roles and duties. There is
massive support and co-operation. The school fee is R100 per
year, but not all parents can afford to pay.
18. Visit to Lekazi Central High School - official view by
principal, Mr F J H Siboza
The school consists of a brick structure, and is properly
fenced. As the central high school, they have Grades 8 to 12,
with 1 160 learners and 33 educators. According to the
principal, there are enough class-rooms and no problems with
water and sanitation. Toilets do not function well and need
constant repair.
The school used to be vandalised in the past, but due to the
efforts of parents, security personnel were employed,
unfortunately on insufficient salaries. Now vandalism is
minimal. There is a computer, acquired through hardship and
efforts of parents. Streams of subjects offered are: Science,
General and Commerce. LSMs and stationery were received, but
nothing for Grade 11. OBE materials were also not received for
all Grades. Only Grade 12 textbooks were received; nothing for
Grades 8 and 9.
The Department subsidises water and electricity - no pressure
yet from the municipality about monthly accounts not being
paid. The Grade 12 pass rate in 2000 was 78%, but in 2001 only
67%. This was caused by the fact that the system of half-year
examination is different from one province to another. In this
school, this is not taken very seriously. Another contributing
factor is the lack of parental involvement with the learner.
Also, learners not showing commitment is seen as a serious
problem.
All educators encourage learners towards more commitment, as
the mission of the school is to produce learners who will be
marketable in the outside world. The educators are qualified
and happy with the present SMT and SGB. However, the SGB power
is seen to block transformation in the appointment of
educators (appointment is based on being a son of the soil).
Training of the SGB is not sufficient, not with the
responsibilities it has to carry. When there are problems with
student structures, meetings are held to discuss and solve
those problems.
Parents and educators agreed to a school fee of R100 per year.
Although most learners are from poor families, there are very
few cases of parents who cannot afford to pay the fee. The
principal needs computers for the school, even though it is
perceived to be difficult to meet this requirement as a
historically disadvantaged school. There is office furniture
for educators, and no laboratory.
19. Visit to Lekazi Primary School - official view by HODs,
Mrs N B Hlabangane and Mrs Z L Mhlanga
During the visit to the school, the principal, Mrs Mabuse, was
not present, as she was attending a workshop on Inclusive
Education/ELSEN in Badplaas, while the deputy principal was in
a workshop in Pretoria.
This is the school piloting inclusive education. It consists
of a brick structure, with all doors and windows burglar-
barred. They have Grades R to 7, with 850 learners; Grade R
has 20 educators. There is a serious shortage of class-rooms
and furniture. As a result, a staff room has been converted
into a class-room.
Presently, there is one learner in a wheelchair. The toilet
facilities are not suitable for this learner, and an educator
assists him everyday when he has to use the facilities. The
school is not accessible enough to accommodate the learners'
requirements; more resources are needed. Educators are trained
and then return to the school to train other educators.
All the LSMs and OBE material were received and delivered last
year, except those for Grade 6. There is a shortage of
stationery and textbooks. Parents assisted the school to buy
textbooks for needy learners. All educators are OBE-trained.
The school has a good relationship with parents. Although the
school fee is only R80 per year, unemployed parents still
cannot afford to pay. As this is a township school, no
nutrition/feeding scheme programme is provided for the
learners.
Most learners live as far as 10 km away from the school.
Transport is not provided for them. Parents pay for their
transport. The school needs a media centre, additional class-
rooms, an administration block and one educator.
20. Visit to Khaliphani Senior Secondary School - official
view by principal, Mr B B Gwambe
The school consists of a brick structure, with doors and
windows properly burglar-barred. They offer Grades 8 to 12,
with 907 learners and 24 educators. According to the staff
formula, there is shortage of one educator. Because of this,
the SGB saw the need to hire an educator, whose salary is paid
by the parents. According to the circuit manager, Mr S S
Khoza, the school needs three additional educators.
There is water and electricity and no problems of non-payment
for these services by the Department. Because of vandalism,
plugs in most of the class-rooms have been damaged and are not
working. There are two security guards employed at the school.
Presently the school lacks the funding to keep on paying their
salaries. The parents assist in this regard.
The school fee is R80 per year. For those parents who are
unemployed, it is difficult to pay. LSMs, OBE materials and
stationery were received for all Grades. For the last two
years, there was poor performance in Grade 12, theexamination
success rate being below 30%. In 2001 the pass rate was only
18%. A contributing factor, according to the principal, is
poor deployment of good educators. There is also no commitment
from the learners - only a few attend winter school during
holidays (organised by the school).
Discipline is part of the programme. There is a Students
Representative Council (SRC), but the learners do not respect
them in the class situation, only during extra-mural
activities. There is also escalating drug abuse among
learners. The school needs additional staff, a well-equipped
laboratory and a mid-year examination paper for the whole
circuit.
General observations at a glance
Class Toilets LSM Furniture Scholar OBE Gr 12
Rooms Transfer pass in 2001
Silamba SSS X X X 33,9%
Makerana PS X X X
Hlonipha SS X X X 43%
Mnyamana PS X X X X X
Ramatlatse PS X X
Tetema PS X X X
Sitjhejiwe SSS X X 49%
Siyazama PS X X X X X
Phumula PS X X
Ermelo PS
Masizakhe SS X X X X 35%
Mkhomazi PS X X
Zinikeleni SS X X X X X 53%
Crocodile Valley PS
Tekwane PS X X X
Tentele PS X X X X
Lekazi X X 67%
Central HS
Lekazi PS X X X X
Khaliphani SSS 18%
This diagramme shows the critical shortage of class-rooms,
toilets and furniture and the insufficient provision of LSMs,
OBE material and transport at most of the schools visited by
the delegation.
Of great concern was the apparent ignorance of departmental
officials of the state of affairs in these schools. Schools
were crying out for help, without any assistance from
officials.
On the last day of the visit, the delegation met the MEC and
highlighted some of the issues, especially the health hazards
brought about by the lack of proper toilet facilities at many
schools. Some of the issues, for example, LSMs and substitute
teachers, have already been attended to.
C. Free State
1. Meeting with MEC, Mr P Kganane, on 21 July - official view on
challenges facing Department
(a) Farm schools
Most of the schools are farm schools, and it has always
been a struggle for learners living on the farms to get
access to quality education. They travel long distances,
sometimes under very harsh conditions, which expose them
to various forms of abuse. A a number of learners from
farm schools live alone, away from home, just to be near
the school. This exposes them to all sorts of societal
ills.
The Department took the initiative to establish hostels
for these children's safety and also to enable them to be
close to school. It also came up with the alternative of
offering transport for learners. Bicycles were offered to
learners, as it is expensive to bus learners to school.
The Department's goal is to establish two hostels per
district by 2005.
Most educators teaching in farm schools are not from
those farms and have to travel long distances to school.
They sometimes arrive late and knock off early on
Thursdays. It is difficult to monitor them - most of the
schools are one-teacher schools.
(b) Urban schools
Educators performing well assist those that do not
perform well. The Department has ensured that textbooks
are delivered on time and has a programme to acknowledge
district excellence.
(c) Further Education and Training (FET)
The Department disagreed with the national Department
when requested to appoint many FET Directors, as there is
no budget or funds to remunerate them at director level.
Financing of FET institutions is difficult because no
budget is allocated to those who will be teaching in
those institutions.
(d) Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET)
Every town has at least one ABET institution. First
preference in employment of ABET tutors is given to
qualified unemployed educators. There is, however, a high
rate of drop-outs in these institutions. In winter most
students tend to attend irregularly and end up dropping
out.
(e) Education provision for learners with special education
needs
This issue has not been addressed as well as the
Department would have liked. Previously disadvantaged
schools are not as integrated as the Department would
have preferred.
(f) HIV/AIDS
In 2002 the Department held a conference to encourage
HIV/AIDS-positive educators to disclose their status so
as to ensure that when they are absent from school, the
principal is aware of their health status and wiil not
assume that they have absconded.
(g) Letsema campaign
For the first four months of this year, there was a lot
of activity around the Letsema campaign. Many educators
volunteered for and participated in assisting with the
building of schools. Most of the participation took place
during the winter holidays, as most of the schools were
renovated during this campaign.
(h) Capital expenditure
The Department has signed a performance contract with the
Department of Public Works to ensure that they are
treated like any other service provider.
Challenges
* It is difficult for the Department to monitor
primary school performance, unlike high school
performance, where matric results are used.
* It is difficult to get CEOs who think beyond being
school principals.
2. Meeting with departmental officials on 22 July
(a) EMIS
There are 2 355 schools in the Free State; - 60% (1 380)
are farm schools, and 909 are independent schools. Seven
per cent of learners are farm school learners. Between
1998 and 1999, learner numbers in the province declined.
868 schools have fewer than 31 learners, 532 fewer than
21 and 267 fewer than 15. In 2001, the Department signed
723 agreements; in 2002, 714 agreements were signed.
(b) Percentage difference between 2001 and 2002 per grade
The number of learners decreased by 3,3%. However, the
number of Grade 7 learners has increased since 1994, as
follows: 1994 - 71 000; 1996 - 96 080; 1997 - 88 837;
1998 - 79 578; 1999 - 70 132; 2000 - 62 256; 2001 - 55
364; 2002 - 44 805.
The educator/learner ratio in 1998 was 28:1; in 2002 it
is 22:1.
(c) Reasons for decline in number of learners
* There has been a decline in the birth rate in the
province.
* Over-age learners who fail Grade 12, do not return
to the mainstream schooling system.
* There are fewer learners in the rural areas.
* HIV/AIDS and other related illnesses.
* Decline in mining practices in Free State.
The Department planned for farm schools to link up with
mother schools. Farm school learners now use schools with
hostels that are not full.
(d) Antenatal clinic attendance
There is a 27% infection rate. The learner mortality rate
in 2001 was as follows:
Male illness - 127
Female illness - 201
Male accident - 95
Female accident - 45
Male suicide - 15
Female suicide - 9
Male violence homocide - 23
Female violence homocide - 7
(e) Orphans
The total number of schools with orphans is 1 072. There
are about 21 219 orphan learners in schools in the
province.
3. Life skills and HIV/AIDS education programme for primary and
secondary schools
(a) Primary schools - objectives of Department
* The Department is engaged in raising awareness and
the level of knowledge of HIV/AIDS among principals,
parents and community leaders so as to establish an
abling environment for trained educators responsible
for facilitating the Life Skills and HIV/AIDS Education
Programme.
* The Department aims to train educators of Grades 4,
5, 6 and 7, who constitute 40% of primary schools, and
thus ensure curriculum implementation of the Life
Skills and HIV/AIDS Education Programme in those Grades
in all public primary schools.
(b) Secondary schools - objectives of Department
* To raise awareness and the level of knowledge of
HIV/AIDS among principals, parents and community
leaders, thus establishing an enabling environment for
trained educators responsible for facilitating the Life
Skills and HIV/AIDS Education Programme.
* To train Educators of Grades 8 and 9, who constitute
40% of secondary schools.
* To ensure curriculum implementation of the Life
Skills and HIV/AIDS Education Programme in Grades 8 and
9 in all public secondary schools.
(c) Challenges faced by Department
* Training manuals: A tender for the duplication of
learner materials was awarded fairly late and therefore
not all schools received all learning and teaching
materials at the beginning of 2002. Material was made
available for distribution to the relevant schools in
March and all schools were to receive the full
complement of materials required.
* The Department of Education is not satisfied with
the quality of service received and decided to consider
placing future orders with the Government Printers:
Regarding primary schools, Educator Resource Guide,
Grades 4 to 7 Educator Manuals and Grades 4 to 7
Learner Activity Books (English and Afrikaans);
regarding secondary schools, Grades 8 and 9 Educator
Manuals and Learner Guides.
* The nomination of officials from the ELSEN
subdirectorate to other tasks instead of focusing on
monitoring the Life Skills Programme in both primary
and secondary schools is a major stumbling area. These
officials are expected to support and drive other
projects and do not always have the time to conduct
support visits to schools that have received training.
* Delays caused by the late transfer of funds as well
as a late appointment of the co-ordinator impacted
negatively on planning of the training of educators
that should have been conducted in 2002.
* Some learners do not have birth certificates,
especially orphans.
(d) Successes
* Educators in all primary and secondary public
schools have been trained. 2 400 primary school
educators and 800 secondary school educators were
trained.
* Programme implementation has started in more than
60% of primary schools.
* Invitations were extended to private schools -80%
accepted the offer and have been trained.
* Seven districts held successful peer education
seminars during school AIDS week.
* A booklet containing questions and answers from oral
sessions as well as resolutions taken at the HIV/AIDS
Learner Conference in April 2001 was published and
distributed to all secondary schools.
* An Educator Conference, "Beyond Advocacy", was held
in March 2002.
* The Free State Department of Education would have
completed all proposed activities set out in the
Business Plans for 2000-01 and 2001-02 by end of March
2002.
(e) Further challenges
The Department does not have adequate funding to
translate learner material into all languages.
ABET
According to Census 1996 Statistics, 14,1% of the Free
State population is illiterate. The solution to this
problem is to build adult learning centres in every town
in the province. The Department has been co-operating
with the Departments of Social Development, of
Correctional Services and of Justice as well as the SAPS
to address illiteracy.
It has also engaged in strategies to fight illiteracy by
establishing the South African National Literacy
Initiative (SANLI) and the Ikhwelo Project (poverty
relief initiative). SANLI co-ordinates the national
literacy campaign and the Ikhwelo Project will enhance
ABET provisioning. The Ikhwelo Project will be launched
at six ABET centres and will ensure that educators are
paid on a monthly contract basis.
All ABET institutions have principals and SGBs.
The private sector does provide ABET in the workplace and
the Department encourages them by sharing its expertise
with them. Departmental officials often visit ABET
centres to assess and monitor whether they offer the
training frequently.
Educators access their salaries electronically, but there
are delays in payment, as they have to submit proof that
they have taught in these centres before they get paid.
This could be rectified by improving the system, but the
Department is struggling to address this.
Educators travel long distances to ABET centres, which
makes it difficult for them to attend classes frequently.
This result in learners dropping out.
4. Education for learners with special education needs
(a) Primary School Nutrition Programme (PSNP)
Background
In a meeting held on 29 August 2001, the Department of
Health made a presentation to senior management of the
Department of Education. They decided to have a PSNP
District Management Committee to facilitate the co-
management of the programme.
Procurement through a tender system was piloted in two
districts, Xhariep and Thabo Mofutsanyana, during 2001.
The programme is offered to 29 006 farm school learners
and 140 692 town school learners. There now exist tender
specifications to ensure that parents assisting with
distribution are remunerated.
Challenges
* The criteria for targeting schools has to change.
The Department has proposed that provision of the
programme should be such that it caters for learners'
different needs.
* Some schools do not inform the Department about the
poor quality of food they receive.
* There are discrepancies in respect of learner
numbers between the Department's records and reality.
* Some schools do not have proper storerooms for food.
* Some educators eat the learners' food.
* Some schools do not stamp invoices.
* Some farm school educators are absent when food is
delivered.
* There is no proper monitoring of delivery and of how
and when food is distributed.
The schools should include women from the community to
assist with the provisioning of food, and they should be
remunerated.
(b) Early Childhood Development (ECD)
Focus area
The main focus of ECD is to put systems in place for the
implementation of Grade R as a compulsory year of
education. This entails many different facets, phases and
consultations.
Implementation plans
It is envisaged that Grade R will be a compulsory year of
schooling in the Free State by 2008. The Department would
prefer the process to be completed by the end of 2006.
The Department, at the moment, is concentrating on
including 285 community-based sites in the public school
system by the end of 2003. These sites will focus on
bringing the service to the poor as well as bringing the
service closer to learners, especially those who are not
close to public schools. The next phase will be putting
systems in place to enable all public schools to provide
for Grade R. Public schools are permitted to offer Grade
R at this stage, but they will not receive any funding
from the Department of Education. They are not permitted
to employ a departmentally-paid educator in the Grade R
class as from January 2002.
Progress to date
160 of the 285 community-based sites have been
identified. They were selected from all over the Free
State. Farm schools are catered for as one of the
categories that qualify for the programme. From July
2002, the site management committee will receive a
quarterly subsidy based on the number of Grade R
learners. The funding is there to pay the Grade R
practitioner and to upgrade the Grade R facility. A
further 125 sites will be identified during this year and
they will receive funding from December 2002.
(c) School governance in public schools on private property
(farm schools)
Governance
There are about 552 farms schools with 29 006 learners in
the Free State. Most farm schools are primary schools and
have fewer than 300 learners. The SGBs consist of only
the principal and two parents.
(d) Challenges faced by SGBs
* Due to parents' low income, it is difficult to raise
funds to develop schools.
* Enrolment is never stable due to the constant
migration of parents to towns/townships (and back, in
some cases).
* Power struggle and contesting of turf between
parents (SGBs) and farm owners about who is in charge
of managing and governing farm schools.
* Capacity building is hindered by:
- The level of literacy of parents
- Non-attendance of capacity-building workshops due to
long working hours by parents as farmworkers and
failure to secure leave/non-approval to attend by
employers
- SGBs not understanding their critical role and
functions in accordance with the South African
Schools Act.
(e) Primary School Nutrition Programme (PSNP)
* There are discrepancies between the Department's
records and reality as to the number of children who
are supposed to be beneficiaries.
* The Department has not received reports of poor
quality of food received.
* The Department has not received reports on
unhygienic preparation of food,
* Some schools do not have adequate storage room for
food received.
* Reports have been received of educators eating
learners' food.
* Some schools do not stamp the invoices when food is
delivered.
* Sometimes educators are not present when food is
delivered.
* Personnel assisting with food preparation are
sometimes not remunerated.
* Criteria for targeting schools is not clear.
5. Visit to Maboloka Primary School
Establishment of school
The school started at Strydom College and was housed there. It
was a community school before it was registered as a public
school. The school is situated near an informal settlement and
experiences vandalism and burglary. No security guards are
employed to curb these crimes. The school does not have
adequate administration space to accommodate the principal,
HODs and staff.
There are 880 learners and 26 staff members - 24 educators,
including the principal and four HODs, of whom one is a female
and two are administration clerks. Except for two volunteers
from the community, there are no cleaners in the school. The
teacher/learner ratio is 1:40.
Needs of school
An alarm system needs to be installed to prevent burglaries.
Vacant posts
The school has had one post vacant since 1 June 2002.
PSNP
Nutrition is not offered in the school; it was stopped in
2000. Previously, an annual application form was submitted,
but in 2001, they were informed that only two schools in
Bloemfontein would be catered for.
Professional support by Department
The last time subject advisers visited the school was in 2000,
when the school requested them.
School fees
Most parents are unemployed and cannot afford to pay school
fees, which is R30 per year. Learners are not discriminated
against or punished for parents' inability to pay the fee.
Corporal punishment
The principal has attended a workshop on alternatives to
corporal punishment, but has not cascaded this down.
Corporal punishment is not implemented in the school, and
educators feel it should be reinstated. Educators use
alternative punishment such as after-school detention.
HIV/AIDS
The school has an HIV/AIDS programme and an HIV/AIDS task
team. Four educators have attended an HIV/AIDS workshop.
Learners have been made aware of the virus through dramas and
puppet shows. Debates on HIV/AIDS take place with other
schools. No provision has been made for stand-in educators,
should one be infected and be unable to attend school. It is
difficult for learners and educators to disclose their status.
Twining of schools
The school works with another farm school, S Eunice Secondary
School, which is well-resourced. It also works with Botlehadi
School - both engage in debates on OBE. Botlehadi offers
computer training to the educators of Mabaloka Primary School.
Initially the school was not aware of the twining programme,
hence they did not initiate it.
Educator discipline
No problems are experienced with absenteeism, late-coming and
overall discipline of educators.
Clustering of schools
There is clustering of educators from both previously
advantaged and disadvantaged schools. Educators from both
sectors attend workshops and share information.
Sharing of information
Some schools are willing to offer learners training, such as
computer training.
OBE
The Department does not offer adequate workshops for
educators, but educators are doing their best to learn.
LSMs
Stationery and books were received at the end of November 2001
and were distributed as soon as school reopened. The
stationery received was, however, not enough for all learners.
Some learners have to sacrifice their stationery for learners
in other grades.
Educators need good quality photocopying machines as presently
the school has only one small photocopier.
Disability
Disabled children who want to register are referred to schools
better equipped to cater for their special needs.
Child abuse
Educators do not engage in improper sexual relationships with
learners. Some learners have reported incidents of abuse from
family members. The Child Protection Unit offers support by
visiting affected learners and makeing follow-ups to ensure
that perpetrators are brought to book.
Capacity-building programme for SGBs
Only two workshops were held for SGBs in the past year. SGBs
feel they need to be enabled to effectively govern schools.
Training of educators as counsellors
One educator has attended a course to equip her to counsel
learners that have been abused. Three educators attended a
special remedial workshop but they feel they need more
training.
Challenges
Some parents are unemployed and cannot take responsibility for
their children, e.g. they cannot afford school books not
provided by the Department and school uniforms.
There are orphan learners in the school, as well as children
who were abandoned by their parents and who live in a place of
safety. These children need to be offered parental guidance
and rehabilitation.
6. Visit to Schreiners Claim Combined School - 23 July
Background
The school stands on a piece of land donated by Mr Hercules de
Jager in 1988. Land was donated to the former manager, who was
interested in building in the area. The school was built in
1988, and started with eight educators, including the
principal, two temporarily deployed educators and 174
learners.
They have two computers, one fax machine, two overhead
projectors and a telephone installed by the Department.
Amanziwethu Rand Water donated one computer and one overhead
projector.
The clerk and one teacher who are computer-literate use the
computers. The teacher will soon provide computer training for
learners.
The school has one HOD recently appointed from outside. He
started on 22 July 2002. The school offers Grades 1 to 12.
Grades 1 to 3 are clustered in one class with 22 learners;
Grades 4 to 6 are clustered in one class with 27 learners;
Grades 7 to 8 are clustered in one class with 55 learners;
Grades 9 to 12 are in separate classes, with 70 learners. The
principal teaches Grades 8, 11 and 12.
School fees
Fees for Grades 1 to 6 are R35. The principal withhold school
reports of learners who do not pay school fees, as some
learners do not pay the school fees when in fact their parents
had given them the money.
Pass rate
In 2001, the school had 12 learners in Grade 12, of whom only
four learners passed. Those who failed, could not repeat the
grade as they were over age. The pass rate for Grade 12 in
2001 was about 39,5%, in 2000 it was 40% and in 1999 50%. The
reason for the low pass rate in 2001 was that the principal
went on maternity leave. Another teacher was ill from July to
October 2001 and subsequently passed away.
OBE
OBE makes it difficult to teach multi-grade classes.
Distances travelled
The longest distance walked by learners to and from school is
34 km. Some learners use bicycles to travel to school but when
there is snow they do not come as it becomes difficult for
them to cycle.
Six teachers live in the teachers' quarters, which are made of
mud. Water is available from two water tanks.
Playgrounds
There are open playgrounds at the school, but the facilities
are not adequate. Two learners of the school are in the
provincial netball team.
The school has an outside auditorium, built by the farm
manager and used for concerts, cultural functions and parent
meetings.
The private sector has contributed towards the development of
the school infrastructure. It is very difficult, though, to
maintain the school buildings, because of parents' income
level and little or no prospects of successful fundraising
opportunities.
School hostel
The self-catering school hostel accommodates 20 learners - 10
girls and 10 boys.
Stationery and books
Books are normally received in the second month of the year.
For 2001, stationery was received in November and textbooks
were received in February 2002. The school does not have
enough textbooks for Geography - two learners have to share
one textbook.
Corporal punishment
The school does not practise corporal punishment and involves
parents when disciplining learners.
PSNP
The school has a feeding scheme for learners; delivery is on
Mondays and Wednesdays.
SGB
A meeting with SGBs is rarely scheduled, as there are some
parents who work till late and far away.
Workshops
In 2001, educators and learners attended workshops, but in
2002 the educators could not attend.
Parent/school relations
Meetings with parents are held every term, but most parents
are unable to make it as they work long hours. The principal
still has to meet with parents' employers to request them to
allow parents to attend school meetings.
The school is in a good condition, and there are public
telephones and a library.
Challenges
(a) Late-coming of learners due to long distances they have to
travel.
(b) Sometimes the woman who assist with the preparation of
food does not come to school because of non-payment or
late payment by the service provider.
(c) The school needs water taps to be installed, toilets and
new educators' quarters.
(d) From 2003, the new school manager does not want the hostel
to operate, because 30 of his sheep have been stolen and
slaughtered and he believes that boys from the hostel did
it.
(e) There was no written agreement between the former manager
that donated the farm and the Department, hence the new
manager is able to close the hostel.
7. Visit to Bethlehem Comprehensive School
Background
The school started in 1986 as a primary school with 400
learners. In 1989 it moved to a new building, with 900
learners.
The school has three Heads of Department and one vacant HOD
post, which has been advertised. At management level there are
six males and one female.
Vacant posts
There are 37 educators. The school needs only 27 educators, so
10 have to be redeployed.
The school is in need of educators for Woodwork, Typing and
Accounting. The Woodwork post has been advertised. Volunteers
teach Typing and Accounting, and the Department pays them R300
a month.
Pass rate
The Grade 12 pass rate started declining in 1994 due
deterioration of learner discipline: 1991 - 61%; 1993 - 50%;
1994 - 34%; and 1995 - 30%.
In 1996 the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) was
engaged more in political activities than concentrating on
their studies. In 2000 the school had an 8% pass rate and
learners were engaged in gangsterism, but this was curbed
through the assistance of the police. In 2001 the Grade 12
pass rate was 24%.
The school was meant to be a comprehensive school - there was
a lot of confusion as to what it was intended to be. All
pupils were forced to take Mathematics, which also contributed
to the high failure rate.
Teachers
Educators have been supplied with SACE documentation on an
Educators' Code of Conduct and disciplinary procedures and
policies, but this has not improved their commitment to work
and has not eradicated late-coming and bunking of classes. A
laissez faire attitude prevails among educators.
PSNP
There is no feeding scheme at the school.
Orphans
The principal has not consolidated the exact number of
orphans, but there are more than four. Social workers visit
the school.
Corporal punishment
Corporal punishment is no longer used in the school. Educators
punish learners by giving them manual work after school.
SGB
The SGB was democratically elected and is very active in the
school. It has assisted in ensuring that the environment is
conducive for learning by installing new doors and a gate at
the school. The Department was requested to install an alarm
system to assist in curbing vandalism at the school.
Parents have attended five days of training on financial
management. A two-day workshop was held and all programmes
were dealt with there.
HIV/AIDS
No-one has disclosed their status in the school. Both
educators and learners have attended workshops and training on
HIV/AIDS, and learners are taught about HIV/AIDS. The school
has invited people who are HIV-positive to talk to learners
about their experiences.
Absenteeism and late-coming
According to the principal, the school is managing absenteeism
well and mechanisms are in place to detect it. Some educators
gave a different view to the delegation. According to them,
some educators have arrived late on numerous occasions.
Relations between educators and learners
Parents are complaining about the relations between educators
and learners. For example, educators use abusive language when
communicating with learners, and learners are scared to ask
for explanations and questions of clarity, as educators take
offence when asked to explain something.
Subject committees
Subject committees do not exist in the school.
School fees
The school fee is R100, adopted by the SGBs from different
schools in the area, because learners started demanding a
farewell function for Grade 12 learners. SGBs are scared to
raise the fees because if they do, it may result in a drop in
learner enrolment.
Relations between school and community police forum (CPF)
Educators are not part of the CPF. The school has its own
newly established security committee, which consists of
educators.
Challenges
The school premises is situated opposite a tavern. The
Department has recommended that the management should have a
discussion with the tavern owner about the problems the school
has, but up to now the principal has not yet met with the
owner.
75% of learners do not live with their parents, and a lack of
parental support results in behavioural and disciplinary
problems.
Some educators are reluctant to teach learners, are often late
for their classes and do not teach learners for the full
duration of the class. Heads of Department do not conduct
regular class visits and some educators do not meet deadlines.
Most learners need specialised stationery and study material.
A meeting with parents was organised by the school to urge
them to buy support material for learners. Most parents cannot
afford to buy their children stationery and study material.
The SGB is not aware of its role and the powers it has in
assisting with the functioning of the school, and hence it is
not functioning properly.
The management operates as it wishes. It does not meet
regularly, only when there is a crisis. There is a year
programme with dates for meetings, but everything is not done
according to the programme.
Educators are demotivated and not proud of the work they do.
In staff meetings they do not air their views, even though
they are not satisfied with how the school is managed.
According to one educator, some educators sometimes arrive
late at the school and behave and act as they please. There
are also educators who come to school under the influence of
alcohol. Educators experience problems with regard to phase 3
of OBE.
The Department does not appoint educators immediately after
interviews have been conducted and a suitable candidate has
been recommended.
The school is satisfied with the conduct of volunteers, but
requests that the Department accordingly compensate them
properly.
Resolutions taken and recommendations made by educators are
rarely implemented, and they feel it is a waste of time to
participate in staff meetings.
The SMT excludes educators from decision-making; decisions are
forced upon educators. Some educators are favoured by the
principal, while others are harassed by him and are forced to
redo assignments or paper work already completed.
Some subjects are not taught at the school as there are not
enough educators to teach them. Learners who have failed the
previous year, are promoted the next year, because educators
feel it was not their fault that a certain subject had not
been taught due to a lack of educators. This results in
learners failing the next grade they are promoted to.
Charges against an educator are dropped after six months; six
months are not sufficient to address a problem and to consult
relevant stakeholders.
Some educators are not teaching in the medium of instruction
(English), they teach in Sotho. Learners are only interested
in practical courses; they feel that Mathematics is not
interesting and that they cannot apply it practically. They
are not interested in languages, as they feel these will not
take them far.
Learners find it difficult to deal with examination questions,
as these are difficult compared with class tests. This shows
that the standard of examinations is higher than the standard
set in class-rooms.
The Department of Education, together with the Department of
Safety and Security, should see to it that the tavern is
closed. The Department has to provide study material for the
pupils.
Intervention is needed to address educators' demotivation.
8. Visit to Hou Ann Combined School - 24 July
Background
The school was established in September 1969. Mr Cronjé, who
was and still is the owner of the farm, was the first to open
a secondary school in the Free State. The Department and Mr
Cronjé have now signed a contract.
The school has seven educators, a clerk and 205 learners. The
school offers Grades R to 10 and has seven class-rooms. Grades
3 and 4 are combined. The school combined two Grades, but
intends to combine three Grades next year.
School equipment
The school has two photocopiers, that were donated by the
Department of Education. They also have a telefax and one
public phone. Typing is one of the subjects offered at the
school. All Grade 10 learners have access to typewriters.
Distance travelled
The longest distance travelled by learners is 40 km; one
educator travel 45 km to the school. This makes it difficult
for learners who are behind to attend afternoon classes. The
farm manager (owner) assists in transporting some of the
learners to and from school (20 km).
School building
The farm owner built one school building, and it has a
laboratory and a typing room. Although there is electricity,
it is not yet connected in the laboratory. There are no
precautionary measures in respect of the typing room, because
the Department refused to approve the installation of burglar
bars.
The school garden is not in a good condition, as animals are
grazing in the yard. The school has not received furniture for
the new block; old furniture is still used.
HIV/AIDS
The Department has offered courses and training on HIV/AIDS.
Vacant posts
Two posts need to be filled. The SMT consists of the principal
and a Head of Department.
PSNP
The school has two volunteers who prepare food for the
learners. They only receive light meals; the Department has
promised warm meals but has not yet fulfilled the promise.
School toilets
The toilets are in a good condition and have a waterborne
sewerage. There are three toilets for girls and three for
boys.
The principal is of the view that the Department still needs
to solve the transport problem. The Department proposes to
demolish the old building, but the school proposes that the
building be renovated and utilised as an administration block.
Mr Cronjé proposes that the Department take into account
learners with skills such as art and woodwork, so that those
who cannot make it through Grade 12, can develop basic skills
to contribute to South Africa's economy.
9. Visit to Bultfontein Hoërskool
Background
This is a former model C religious school, established in
1886. A new administration block was built in 1978. In 2001
parents decided to build a sports ground, as the stadium that
was used for sports had collapsed.
There are 12 white educators, including the principal, with
302 learners. The SMT consists of the principal and two HODs,
all white males. 30% of the learners in the school are black.
SGB
The SGB has six members, all of them white. Before the last
elections in 2000 there was one black parent.
To operate efficiently, the school requires R800 000; the
Department allocated R20 000 to the school.
School fees
Learners pay R200 a month. The reason for the school's high
budget is OBE requirements. For example, the overnment does
not offer free books to the school. The school offers Grades R
to 12, Afrikaans being the medium of instruction.
Parent/school relations
Black parents are involved in school activities. Most black
learners do not come from disadvantaged families, 30% of the
white pupils come from disadvantaged families. The school does
not offer a nutrition programme.
Corporal punishment
Corporal punishment is not applied, even though educators feel
it is necessary to discipline learners who do not listen and
that shouting at learners affects them mentally. The document
on alternatives to corporal punishment has not been sent to
the school.
OBE
Educators complain that OBE is time-consuming; it takes time
for information and facts to be absorbed by learners. It also
takes a lot of educators' time to plan for these classes.
Subject committees
Educators of different subjects are members of subject
committees in different schools. They often meet with other
educators to discuss the content of the subjects they teach.
LSM
The school has no computers accessible to learners. The
computer programme at the school is outdated and learners are
not allowed to use those computers.
School languages/medium of instruction
The medium of instruction used in the school is Afrikaans;
English is used in classes to assist black learners as they
have to write their examinations in English. Sotho is taught
as a third language by a white educator for Grades 4 to 9.
Pass rate
In 2001 the pass rate was 90% - three black learners failed
and all white learners passed the Grade 12 examinations. In
2000, four black learners failed. The language barrier is the
reason for black learners' failure. Learners are taught in
Afrikaans and have to write examinations in English.
Six learners have competed in interprovincial athletics. Only
five Grade 12 learners are studying Accounting and Physical
Science.
10. Visit to Bonong Primary Farm School
Establishment
The school was established in 1987, and at the time had three
educators and 136 learners. Presently there are 66 learners
and three class-rooms.
Grades are combined: Grades 1 to 3; Grades 4 to 6; Grades 6
and 7. The longest distance travelled by learners and
Educators is eight km. Food is sometimes not delivered on
time.
Learners drop out of school for various reasons. There are
adults who are prepared to learn but do not have access to
ABET. The nearest school that provides ABET is about 25 km
away from the farm.
The school is not ready to offer the ECD programme as learners
do not have access to it. The SGB is functional and parents
are involved in school activities. Parents have not attended a
training course, only a two-day orientation course.
There is no high school within a radius of 25 km; a school
close by offers up to Grade 9. This results in learners
dropping out as their parents cannot afford to send them to
schools far away. The school fee is R12 per year. The school
has no electricity, no telephone, no photocopier and no
computer. LSM is received on time, before reopening of school
in January.
The owner of the farm, Mr D Ferreira, has offered land to the
Department to build another school, because the land on which
the school is built, is not condusive for proper learning.
Next to the school, the farmer has planted some crops. The
Department is now unable to build another school because of a
lack of funds. There are however, two schools, one three km
and the other five km away.
The farm owner prefers that one school for all grades be built
next to Banong, as that area is central and can cater for all
the children who live in the area. The delay in building a
central school will result in learners dropping out because of
the long distances they have to travel.
Clustering of schools
Within the Banong District, there is another school with one
class-room that is not being utilised.
Challenges
(a) The school building is not in a good condition. It has
structural defects and the walls are about to collapse.
(b) There are no water taps in the schoolyard. Water is
accessed from a borehole and is not always clean.
(c) The school has only two pit toilets, which cannot
adequately cater for everyone.
11. Visit to Sello Intermediate School - 24 July
Mr Le Roux, the farm owner, also met with the delegation at
Bonong Primary School.
Farmer grievances
Farmers in the area are committed into ensuring that schools
are built. Mr Le Roux has built the school at a cost of R180
000 and proposes that agricultural courses be taught.
(a) The Department does not inform the farm owner when new
educators are appointed.
(b) Grades 8 and 9 did not write their June examinations this
year.
(c) Learners are forced to chop wood - the farmer does not
condone child labour.
(d) The principal does not communicate with the owner. For
example, the water tap was broken but the farmer was not
informed, and the rubbish tank was full but the farmer
was not informed to drain it. When it was drained, there
were condoms found, and learners do not use condoms.
(e) Parents in the SGB are not involved in the shortlisting of
candidates and in the school activities in general.
(f) The educator locks the toilets and learners are not
allowed to use them.
(g) Inspectors do not visit the school, even when requested -
the last time they did, was two years ago.
(h) For the past three months, learners have not been taught.
The Department should inform farmers of new appointments,
should ensure that schools built are utilised and should
address issues affecting learners immediately.
12. Visit to Sekweng Combined School
At Sekweng Combined School, the delegation met with educators
from both Sekweng Combined School and Hanover Combined School.
Establishment
The school was established in 1962, and was moved to a new
site with five class-rooms in 2000. There are six educators
and 169 learners.
Distance travelled
The longest distance learners travel to school is 20 km. Some
learners travel to school by public transport; the school is
8,5 km from town.
School Nutrition Programme
As regards the feeding scheme, sometimes delivery does not
take place. The school would prefer to manage the feeding
scheme to ensure that learners are fed daily. The parent who
has been assisting with preparing the food, is no longer
willing to help, as she is sometimes not reimbursed for her
services.
OBE
Educators were offered 40 hours training and a workshop on
OBE. The school does not have adequate resources for learners.
For example, there is no library, and learners have to go to
the town library. The town is 8,5 km from the school, so by
the time they arrive there, the library is closed. There are
noy enough educators employed in the school; those that are
there, are struggling to teach OBE. Grades 6 and 7 are
combined, and OBE is not taught in Grade 6.
Drop-outs
This year there have been few drop-outs, but they are
expecting more in the second semester.
SGB
The SGB is functional and has been involved in shortlisting
and interviewing of candidates. Parents, however, have not
received any formal training from the Department. A workshop
was arranged by the Department, but it did not take place.
SMTs were not invited to the workshop. The school is going to
be involved in fundraising projects, among other through
stokvels. Engen has promised to sponsor the school.
After graduating from the school, some learners enrol in
Bloemfontein High Schools and some enrol in the township
school. Most of the learners who enrol in the township school,
drop out.
The farm owner does offer some assistance to the school. For
example, he assists by mowing the grass in the schoolyard and
by supplying water. The Department has promised to supply the
school with water, but so far nothing has happened.
LSM
The Department has delivered LSM for the foundation grades
once this year. For senior grades it has not been delivered.
School fees
School fees are R40 per year; some learners' fees are still
outstanding for 2001. Almost half the learners have not paid
school fees. The Department has promised to build toilets, but
so far has not.
Challenges
There is a lack of communication between the school and the
Department. For example, when workshops are conducted, the
Department fail to inform the school.
13. Hanover Combined School - 24 July
The school is about 30 km from town and was established 30
years ago. There are 14 educators and 365 learners. The school
offers Grades 1 to 12.
Distance travelled
The longest distance travelled by learners is about 20 km.
Corporal punishment
Corporal punishment is not practised in the school. Most
educators do not have a copy of the document on alternatives
to corporal punishment.
School Nutrition Programme
There are parents who offer their services and who assist in
preparing meals for learners. There are, however, delays in
their remuneration; the last payment they had received, was in
April 2002. They are now reluctant to offer their services.
OBE
The school has no library and the one in town is far away,
which makes it difficult, if not impossible, for learners to
get access to one. Training in OBE has been offered to
learners, even though it is not easy for them to practise.
Pass rate
The pass rate for Grade 12 has been decreasing over the past
four years. In 1998 it was 75%, in 2000 17% and in 2001 13%.
This is because of a lack of educators for certain subjects.
Most of the educators who are trained for primary teaching end
up teaching up to Grade 12. Most of the learners are
demotivated and do not see themselves studying further than
high school. They feel they cannot afford to study in tertiary
institutions and are not informed of NSFAS.
The school building is dilapidated and some class-rooms do not
have roofs. The walls have holes in them, in which bees
sometimes build a hive. In summer the bees sting the learners,
which makes it difficult for learners to concentrate.
D. Recommendations
1. Mpumalanga
(a) The Department of Education should delegate the
appropriate functions and powers to the district offices
within the applicable legal framework so that they can
take full responsibility, thereby promoting governance
matters such as accountability, transparency, efficiency
and the flow of information.
(b) Communication between the MEC's Office and district
offices as well as between district offices and schools
needs drastic improvement.
(c) Farm schools need a special dispensation in respect of
post provisioning.
(d) The newly established inclusive schools need special
attention, especially in terms of ramps and toilet
facilities.
(e) There is a need for a special programme to provide toilet
facilities in most of the schools, as the current ones
constitute a health hazard.
(f) The Department should supervise repair work which it has
commissioned, given the shoddy construction of the
flushing mechanisms of most toilets.
(g) The distribution of LSMs, OBE materials, stationery and
textbooks needs special attention.
Procurement/provisioning processes of LSM needs to be
tightened up so that financial accountability is
enhanced.
(h) The programme of providing scholar transport needs to be
fast-tracked.
(i) The provision of substitute teachers needs to be improved.
(j) Reliance on parents to provide pots and other necessities
for the provision of school nutrition needs to be
reviewed. The exclusion of townships schools from the
programme also needs to be reviewed.
(k) Greater emphasis urgently needs to be placed on HIV/AIDS
awareness, in the form of workshops and counselling
programmes.
2. Free State
(a) The Department of Education should liaise with relevant
departments to ensure that no taverns are permitted
within a legally defined radius from schools.
(b) The effectiveness of the PSNP should be closely monitored
to ensure that targeted learners are reached and that
mismanagement and corruption are curbed. As part of the
government's poverty alleviation strategy, the
participation of women groups in the form of co-
operatives should be explored.
(c) The Free State Education Department should intervene in
the non-payment/delayed payment of women assisting with
the provision of feeding scheme at schools.
(d) The partnership and co-operation between farmers and the
Free State Education Department should be nurtured
through the creation of a unit to focus on liaison with
farmers on a regular basis.
(e) The Free State Education Department should improve its
communication with schools and other stakeholders, e.g.
letters received should be promptly responded to.
(f) The farm schools' clustering hostel model of education
provisioning, piloted in the southern districts, should
be extended, where possible, as it eliminates transport
problems, late-coming, multi-grade teaching and
transforms farm schools into well-resourced centres of
excellence.
(g) The clustering of schools and the exploration of a
twinning arrangement should be considered to assist
schools with little or no prospect of successful
fundraising opportunities.
(h) To improve the monitoring and evaluation of programmes,
circuit managers should visit schools on a regular basis
to give professional support and guidance.
(i) The Department should consider extending performance
contracts to district managers in order to hold them
accountable for service delivery rendered at circuit
level.
(j) The functionality of SGBs needs to be monitored to ensure
that they perform the roles and functions allocated to
them in terms of the South African Schools Act.
(k) The Free State Education Department should give priority
to the expansion of ABET to rural communities, as well as
to the provision of ELSEN, its location and programmes.
(l) Adequate resources need to be allocated to eliminate the
shortage of textbooks in schools.
(m) The Free State Education Department should conclude the
process of written agreements between it and farmers.
(n) The redeployment process should be finalised to bring
stability to schools. The Free State Education Department
should speed up the appointment of educators after
interview processes are concluded by SGBs.
(o) The Free State Education Department should discourage the
teaching of African languages by inappropriately
qualified white educators and instead encourage
integration at the level of teaching staff and
governance.
(p) Learning area managers should ensure that heads of
department at school level establish and maintain
functional subject committees to develop subject
policies, discuss problematic subject areas and
familiarise educators with curriculum changes and the
exchange of ideas/teaching techniques/methods.
(q) The MEC for Education should initiate a process to review
the language policy at Bultfontein Hoërskool to prevent a
situation where black learners are taught in English and
are expected to write examination in Afrikaans, resulting
in a high failure rate among these black learners.
(r) The policy socument - Alternatives to Corporal Punishment
- should be widely distributed and workshopped for
educators.
(s) The provision of water and sanitation at schools should be
prioritised.
(t) The Free State Education Department should co-operate with
the Department of Labour and organised farmers unions to
eradicate child labour in farming communities.
(u) Information on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme
should be provided to all secondary schools.
(v) Information regarding the National Student Financial Aid
Scheme should be provided to all Secondary Schools.
(w) The Free State Education Department should discourage
clustered school fee determination, as each school should
have its own school development plan.
(x) The training model for SGBs should be reviewed, as two-day
crash courses are inadequate to empower school governors
to perform their functions.
(y) SMTs should be empowered to implement an Educators' Code
of Conduct and disciplinary procedures and processes.
(z) Circuit managers should develop programmes to visit
schools regularly and to ensure that schools have
management plans and that SMT meetings and staff meetings
are held regularly.
The implementation of OBE in multigrade classes brings about
enormous difficulties and needs to be reviewed.
The following are the issues for immediate attention by the
MEC for Education in the Free State:
(i) Withholding of reports due to non-payment and closure of
hostel at Schreiners Claim.
(ii) Learners forced by educators to chop wood and
allegation that learners have not been taught for three
months at Sello Intermediate School.
E. Conclusion
The delegation has managed to attain all the objectives of the
visits, but was only able to visit a few schools in both
provinces.
This Report will be debated in the House early in 2003, and both
MECs for Education (of Mpumalanga and of the Free State) will be
called to appear before the Committee to respond to issues
reflected in the Report.
The Minister will invite some invidual farmers, to be identified
by the Free State delegation in consultation with the MEC, for
commendation during the Education budget speech.
F. List of participants
1. Mr C N M Padayachee, MEC for Education, Mpumalanga Province
2. Mr E Zwane, PA to MEC, Mpumalanga Department of Education
3. Dr M T Mashinini, Head of Department, Mpumalanga Department of
Education
4. Dr H Van Zyl, Director: FET, Mpumalanga Department of Education
5. Mr S J Mkhwanazi, Acting CES: Curriculum, Mpumalanga Department
of Education
6. Mr S E Sukati, Director: HRD, Mpumalanga Department of
Education
7. Mr J R Molai, Director: GET, Mpumalanga Department of Education
8. Ms L G Ntuli, Official: KwaMhlanga Office, Mpumalanga
Department of Education
9. Mr J J Mabena, Acting Director and CES: KwaMhlanga Office,
Mpumalanga Department of Education
10. Mr M D Masombuka, Community Liaison: KwaMhlanga Office,
Mpumalanga Department of Education
11. Mr B P Mahlangu, Labour Relations: Groblersdal Office,
Mpumalanga Department of Education
12. Mr Z G Skosana, Circuit Manager: KwaMhlanga Office,
Mpumalanga Department of Education
13. Mr M S Maisela, Circuit Manager: Mpumalanga Department of
Education
14. Ms S J Mahlangu, HOD: Economic Sciences, Silamba Senior
Secondary School
15. Ms M M Sebothoma, HOD: Natural Sciences, Silamba Senior
Secondary School
16. Dr E N Mabena, Principal: Silamba Senior Secondary School
17. Ms M Maahlo, HOD: Languages, Silamba Senior Secondary
School
18. Ms A M Sidinile, HOD: Social Sciences, Silamba Senior
Secondary School
19. Mrs N E Kgosana, Principal: Makerana Primary School
20. Ms L M Ngwenya, HOD: Makerana Primary School
21. Ms M T Masango, HOD: Makerana Primary School
22. Ms L P Boshielo, Deputy Principal: Makerana Primary School
23. Mr M Mthembu, Educator: Makerana Primary School
24. Mr F L Malapela, Educator: Makerana Primary School
25. Mr R Thwala, Deputy Principal: Hlonipha Senior Secondary
School
26. Mr M S Mabasa, Principal: Hlonipha Senior Secondary School
27. Mr J T Ngwenya, HOD: Hlonipha Senior Secondary School
28. Mr L M Moja, Acting HOD: Hlonipha Senior Secondary School
29. Mrs L J Mnguni, Acting HOD, Hlonipha S S School
30. Ms E B Jiyane, Prinicipal: Mnyamana Primary School
31. Ms P W M Nkosi, HOD: Mnyamana Primary School
32. Mr M M Mahlobogoane, Deputy Principal: Mnyamana Primary
School
33. Mr L P Mashilo, SGB member: Mnyamana Primary School
34. Mr M N Mokone, SGB member: Mnyamana Primary School
35. Ms T J Mophethe, Assistant Educator: Remahlatsi Primary
School
36. Ms A Mazibuko, Assistant Educator: Remahlatsi Primary
School
37. Mr M L Mabena, SGB member: Remahlatsi Primary School
38. Ms N V Skosana, Principal: Remahlatsi Primary School
39. Ms L S Skhula, Educator: Tetema Primary School
40. Ms M Mnguni, Educator: Tetema Primary School
41. Ms J M Mwenda, Principal: Tetema Primary School
42. Mr D M Block, Educator: Sitjhejiwe Senior Secondary School
43. Mr M D Mtsweni, Educator: Sitjhejiwe Senior Secondary
School
44. Mr E Baloyi, Educator: Sitjhejiwe Senior Secondary School
45. Mrs W M Shaku SGB member: Sitjhejiwe Senior Secondary
School
46. Mr D A Dladla, Principal: Sithejiwe Senior Secondary
School
47. Ms M L Chauke, Deputy Secretary: SGB component, Sitjhejiwe
Senior Secondary School
48. Mr W J Dlamini, Principal: Siyazama Primary School
49. Mrs G Nkosi, Principal: Phumula Primary School
50. Mr Myburg, Principal: Ermelo Primary School
51. Mr Shange, Principal: Masizakhe Secondary School
52. Mrs D Mashaba, Principal: Mkhomazi Primary School
53. Mr M A Zikhali, Circuit Manager: Eastvaal region
54. Mr V A Mathebula, Circuit Manager: Eastvaal region
55. Mr O M Thela, Circuit Manager: Eastvaal region
56. Mr B J Malinga, Senior Phase Educator: Siyazama Primary
School
57. Mrs N N Masinga, Circuit Manager: Eastvaal region
58. Ms N C Masilela, Intermediate Educator: Siyazama Primary
School
59. Mr J Z Dlamini, Principal: Siyazama Primary School
60. Ms M M Ngcobo, Foundation Phase Educator: Siyazama Primary
School
61. Mr T Kuhlase, Senior Phase Educator: Siyazama Primary
School
62. Mrs N G Nkosi, Principal: Phumula Primary School
63. Mrs E L Sibiya, HOD: Phumula Primary School
64. Mrs N T M Sibanyoni, HOD: Phumula Primary School
65. Mrs N J Nkonyane, HOD: Phumula Primary School
66. Mrs M E Mbokane, Deputy Principal: Phumula Primary School
67. Mrs S S Nzimande, Phumula Primary School
68. Ms K J Buthelezi, SGB member: Phumula Primary School
69. Mrs M Kriel, SGB member: Ermelo Primary School
70. Mrs E S A Marais, HOD: Ermelo Primary School
71. Mrs S M Nel, Administrative Staff: Ermelo Primary School
72. Mr J L Myburg, Principal: Ermelo Primary School
73. Mr H A Abbott, Deputy Principal: Masizakhe Senior
Secondary School
74. Mr Z G Dludlu, Chairperson: SGB, Masizakhe Senior
Secondary School
75. Mrs N A Grootboom, Treasurer: SGB, Masizakhe Senior
Secondary School
76. Mr B M Nkosi, HOD: Masizakhe Senior Secondary School
77. Mr M T Mhlabane, HOD: Masizakhe Senior Secondary School
78. Mr P F Ngomane, HOD: Masizakhe Senior Secondary School
79. Ms A Mnisi, Chair: Council Community Services
80. Mr P W Zwane, Educator: Mkhomazi Primary School
81. Ms E Nxumalo, SGB member: Mkhomazi Primary School
82. Mrs J S Msina, Educator: Zinikeleni Secondary School
83. Mr M M Shiba, Educator: Zinikeleni Secondary School
84. Mr A M Mngomezulu, Principal: Zinikeleni Secondary School
85. Mrs E N Zungo, SGB member: Zinikeleni Secondary School
86. Mr A N Mahalngu, Deputy Principal: Zinikeleni Secondary
School
87. Mr D C Fakude, Deputy Principal: Zinikeleni Secondary
School
88. Mr N M Nhlapho, SGB member: Zinikeleni Secondary School
89. Mr J D Magubane, SMT/SGB member: Zinikeleni Secondary
School
90. Mr Khoza, Circuit Manager: Mgwenya Circuit, Nelspruit
91. Ms M Magagul-Khoza, ECD Curriculum Implementer: Mpumalanga
Department of Education
92. Ms R Ollewagen, ECD Curriculum Implementer: Mpumalanga
Department of Education
93. Ms L M Van der Nest, ECD Curriculum Implementer:
Mpumalanga Department of Education
94. Ms N M Ndlovu, ECD Curriculum Implementer: Mpumalanga
Department of Education
95. Mr H J Nkosi, Principal: Crocodile Valley Primary School
96. Mrs Tyrphina, SGB member: Crocodile Valley Primary School
97. Ms N M Manana, Educator: Crocodile Valley Primary School
98. Mrs H V Mkhatshwa, HOD: Crocodile Valley Primary School
99. Ms J J Zondi, Educator: Crocodile Valley Primary School
100. Ms D T Nzima, Educator: Crocodile Valley Primary School
101. Mrs N R Mngomezulu, Chairperson: SGB, Crocodile Valley
Primary School
102. Mrs A J Maseko, Educator: Crocodile Valley Primary School
103. Ms N L Maziya, Educator: Crocodile Valley Primary School
104. Mr Y N Ndimande, HOD: Tekwane Primary School
105. Ms N D Maphanga, Principal: Tekwane Primary School
106. Mrs G S Maseko, Principal: Tenteleni Primary School
107. Mrs S A Chambale, HOD: Tenteleni Primary School
108. Mrs E S Khoza, Deputy Principal: Tenteleni Primary School
109. Mrs G D Nkosi, HOD: Tenteleni Primary School
110. Mrs A J Cox, HOD: Tenteleni Primary School
111. Mrs F H J Siboza, Principal: Lekazi Central High School
112. Mr E J Radebe, Deputy Principal: Lekazi Central High
School
113. Mr B C Shabangu, HOD: Lekazi Central High School
114. Mr N Gwambe, HOD: Lekazi Central High School
115. Mr D M Soko, HOD: Lekazi Central High School
116. Ms M S Mhlongo, Lekazi Central High School
117. Ms D D Mahlolobeni, HOD: Lekazi Central High School
118. Mrs N B Hlabangane, HOD: Lekazi Primary School
119. Mrs Z L Mhlanga, HOD: Lekazi Primary School
120. Mr P M Siboza, Deputy Principal: Khaliphani Secondary
School
121. Mr F S Magagula, HOD: Khaliphani Secondary School
122. Mr M M Sibande, Khaliphani Secondary School
123. Mr A B Simelane, Khaliphani Secondary School
124. Mr B B Gwambe, Principal: Khaliphani Secondary School
125. All members of SGBs, communities and schools visited
126. Mr P Kganare, MEC for Education: Free State
127. Dr M C Mwalia, Head of Department: Free State Department
of Education
128. Mr T B Khunyeli, Deputy Director-General: School
Management, Free State Department of Education
129. Mr T N T Lioma, Deputy Director-General: Free State
Department of Education
130. Mr K Khoarlei, Chief Director: District Management and
Governance, Free State Department of Education
131. Ms D M Dienaar, ECD: Free State Department of Education
132. Mr F Kok, EMIS: Free State Department of Education
133. Mr M W Jacobs, FET: Free State Department of Education
134. Mr K J Mosoeu, ABET: Free State Department of Education
135. Mr S J Mohlahle, ELSEN: Free State Department of Education
136. Mr T N Thunya, PSPN and Governance in Farm Schools: Free
State Department of Education
137. Mr P Kgarane, MEC for Education: Free State
138. Mr C H Lubbe, DCES: Management and Government, Free State
Department of Education
139. Mr T M Mopeli, DCES: Management and Governance, Free State
Department of Education
140. Mr T D Shale, Principal: Mabaloko Primary School
141. Mr D Maleke, Clerk: Mabaloko Primary School
142. Mr T J K Sello, Educator: Mabaloko Primary School
143. Mr K S Mxakaza, Educator: Mabaloko Primary School
144. Mr A M Khabele, Educator: Mabaloko Primary School
145. Ms M P Lietsiso, Educator: Mabaloko Primary School
146. Ms N F Makatla, Educator: Mabaloko Primary School
147. Mr R J Rasaphei, Educator: Maboloko Primary School
148. Mr K E Mafata, Educator: Maboloko Primary School
149. Mr K D Tlali, Educator: Maboloko Primary School
150. Ms M J Montso, Educator: Primary School
151. Ms M A Lala, Educator: Maboloko Primary School
152. Ms M C Lechwana, Educator: Primary School
153. Mr J R Sello, Educator: Maboloko Primary School
154. Ms L M Poshadi, Educator: Maboloko Primary School
155. Mr S M Mtimkhulu, Educator: Maboloko Primary School
156. Mr T S Mango, Educator: Maboloko Primary School
157. Mr A D Ramabolu, Educator: Maboloko Primary School
158. Ms L N Tlatsi, Educator: Maboloko Primary School
159. Ms M K Maetlane, Educator: Maboloko Primary School
160. Ms L E B Tau, Educator: Maboloko Primary School
161. Mr H S Motsumi, Educator: Maboloko Primary School
162. Ms M M Molehi, Educator: Maboloko Primary School
163. Ms A M Seroalo, Educator: Maboloko Primary School
164. Mr K B Magano, Educator: Maboloko Primary School
165. Mr R L Senakgomo, Educator: Maboloko Primary School
166. Ms I Masiu, Non-Educator: Maboloko Primary School
167. Ms N Spamla, Non-Educator: Maboloko Primary School
168. Ms S D Silosana, SGB: Schreiners Claim Combined School
169. Ms M E Mazibuko, Principal: Schreiners Claim Combined
School
170. Mr T P Motloun, Head of Department: Schreiners Claim
Combined School
171. Mr P N Nthunya, School Managemnent Team: Bethlehem
Comprehensive School
172. Ms L M Mokoena, SGB: Bethlehem Comprehensive School
173. Ms W L Human, SMD Co-ordinator: Bethlehem Comprehensive
School
174. Ms M M Tshabalala, Assistant Teacher: Bethlehem
Comprehensive School
175. Ms T B Msibi, Assistant Teacher: Bethlehem Comprehensive
School
176. D J Motaung, Educator: Bethlehem Comprehensive School
177. M J Tshabalala, Educator: Bethlehem Comprehensive School
178. M T Maseko, Educator: Bethlehem Comprehensive School
179. M S Lukhele, Educator: Bethlehem Comprehensive School
180. M A Mazibuko, Educator: Bethlehem Comprehensive School
181. P R Mofokena, Educator: Bethlehem Comprehensive School
182. M P Nhlapo, Educator: Bethlehem Comprehensive School
183. L M Mosango, Educator: Bethlehem Comprehensive School
184. Mr M R Moloi, Educator: Bethlehem Comprehensive School
185. P S Sibaya, Educator
186. Ms M E Sekete, Volunteer Temporary Teacher
187. K D Matlapane, Educator (Temporary)
188. M M Ntsoane, Educator
189. B J Motluning, Deputy Principal
190. M L Moeketsane, Educator
191. P D Motsoetse, Educator
192. N V Motatinyane, Educator
193. M D Monatisa, Educator
194. J S Sawer, Deputy Principal
195. S P Motaung, Educator
196. S J Moekena, Educator
197. S M Mofokeng, Educator
198. M M Peter, Educator
199. M S Maseko, Educator
200. P P Zulu, Educator
201. M M Ditsele, Head of Department
202. T R Mokoena, Educator
203. L C May, Educator
204. A S Phale, Educator
205. M P Maduna, Educator
206. M A Maseko, Educator
207. T P Mashishini, Head of Department
208. P A Mabuya, Educator
209. P L Motloung, Head of Department
210. M A Phakathi, Educator
211. Mr K D Motsatse, Principal: Hou Ann Combined School
212. Mr Burger, Hou Ann Combined School
213. Mr Cronje, Hou Ann Combined School
214. Mrs J Basson, Principal: Bultfontein Hoër School
215. Mr H Eddy, Head of Department: Bultfontein Hoër Skool
216. Mr J Uys, Head of Department: Bultfontein Hoër Skool
217. M P Simelane, School Management Team: Ponong Primary Farm
School
218. Ms M J Molete Ponong, Primary Farm School
219. Mr D B W Ferreira, Ponong Primary Farm School
220. Mr D J T le Roux, Ponong Primary Farm School
221. Mr J P le Roux, Ponong Primary Farm School
222. Mr M M Macwili, School Management: Sekweng Intermediate
School
223. Ms McDane, SGB: Sekweng Intermediate School
224. L Kwantsi, Vice-Chairperson: SGB, Sekweng Intermediate
School
225. Mr M E Moshe, Educator: Sekweng Intermediate School
226. H S Beukes, Principal: Sekweng Intermediate School
227. G T Skosana, Educator: Sekweng Intermediate School
228. M J Rakotsoana, Head of Department: Sekweng Intermediate
School
229. Mr M C McCallaghan, Head of Department: Hanover Combined
School
230. Ms Sehuba, Head of Department: Hanover Combined School
231. Makomela, SGB: Hanover Combined School
Report to be considered.
- Report of the Portfolio Committee on Education on Study Tour to Thailand, dated 5 November 2002:
The Portfolio Committee on Education reports as follows:
A. Introduction
At its meeting held on 12 March 2002, the Committee unanimously
agreed to visit Thailand and India. While making preparations for
the trip, the Committee was informed by the High Commissioner in
India that it would not be advisable to visit India at the time,
due to prevailing tensions between Pakistan and India.
A delegation from the Committee undertook a study tour to Thailand
from 29 June to 7 July 2002. During this period, the education
system in Thailand was in the process of transition.
1. Objectives of tour
The Committee agreed that a multi-party delegation visit
Thailand to learn more about:
(a) Primary School Curriculum
(b) Policies on literacy and their successful campaigns
(c) Higher Education Policies
(d) Non-Formal Education (NFE)
(e) Thai Education Reforms (1996-2007).
2. Delegation
The multi-party delegation, under the leadership of the
Chairperson, Prof S M Mayatula (ANC), included Mr S D
Montsitsi (ANC), Ms E Gandhi (ANC), Mr A M Mpontshane (IFP),
Mr R S Ntuli (DP), Mr T A Abrahams (UDM) and Ms N C Manjezi
(Committee Secretary).
An attempt was made to obtain a balanced view, with input from
various sources, like officials of the Ministry of Education,
directors, school directors and teachers.
On arrival on 30 June 2002 at Bangkok International Airport,
the delegation was warmly welcomed by First Secretaries
(Political) Mr T Furter and Mr X L Nofukuka of the South
African Embassy in Bangkok.
B. Education system in Thailand
The earliest form of education in Thailand was established in the
13th century, and the Department of Education became a fully-
fledged Ministry of Education in 1892. The country launched its
first education plan in 1898 and adopted the 6-3-3 system of
education, which consists of six years at primary level, followed
by three years at lower secondary and three years at upper
secondary level, prior to tertiary level.
From 1977, all efforts made by the Ministry of Education were
focused on providing educational services as a way to a better
quality of life and a better society.
Section 43 of the Thai Constitution, 1997, stipulates that all
Thai citizens shall enjoy at least 12 years' free, quality
education, provided by the government. Learners and families take
responsibility for other expenses related to education.
The National Education Act, 1999, extended compulsory education
from six to nine years. Primary education has been compulsory
since 1921. It is the country's goal to develop education in a
manner conducive to the development of the nation. This is in line
with the Eighth National Economic and Social Development Plan.
Administrative structure of education
The National Education Act provides for the establishment of a
system divided into formal and non-formal or lifelong education.
Formal education
It is categorised as basic education consisting of pre-primary,
primary and secondary as well as higher education. The Thai
government spends most of its education funds on pre-primary and
primary education. In the 1999-2000 financial years, expenditure
for pre-primary and primary education was 43% of the total
education budget. Expenditure for higher education was 57%.
Primary school curricula focus on:
* Basic skills, which consist of Thai and Mathematics
* Life experiences, which deals with the process of solving
social and daily life problems, with an emphasis on scientific
skills
* Character development, which deals with activities necessary
for developing desirable values, attitudes and behaviour
* Work-oriented experiences, which focus on general practical
work experiences and basic knowledge for career preparation
* Special experiences, which deal with activities based on
learners' interests (provided in Grades 5 and 6).
NFE
It is provided for those who missed the opportunity to enroll in
formal education. There is no age restriction for learners in this
category, which enables learners to learn by themselves according
to their interests, potential and readiness.
Government departments dealing with education
The Ministry of Education and the Office of National Education are
the agencies responsible for the provision of education and the
formulation of education policy and planning, as well as for the
provision of pre-school, primary and secondary education,
including vocational and technical education. There are currently
about 15,7 million children, youths and adults who are receiving
educational services within either the formal or non-formal
systems.
Agencies under jurisdiction of Ministry
* Office of the National Primary Education Commission
* Department of General Education
* Office of Private Education
* Department of Formal Education
The major task of the National Education Commission is to consider
and propose to the Cabinet the National Education Scheme, the
National Development Plan, policy guidelines and recommendations
for educational development. It is also responsible for monitoring
and evaluating the implementation of educational development plans
in accordance with the National Education Scheme, the National
Education Development Plan and government policies.
Higher education
The Ministry of Higher Education is responsible for providing
tertiary education under the supervision of the Ministry of
Education.
C. Visit to Thai Parliament - official view by Prof Dr V Srisaant,
Chairperson: Standing Committee on Education, House of
Representatives, and Committee Members
The Chairperson warmly welcomed the delegation, and the Committee
Expert, Mr C Phumiratana, gave an official view on the following
matters:
1. Background
Thailand has had a constitutional monarchy since 1932. The
population is about 63 million, and the number of females is
slightly more than the males.
2. Education system and learning process
Educational provision is currently based on the principle of
lifelong learning, with three types of education: formal, non-
formal and informal. According to the National Education Act,
formal basic education is divided into two levels - basic
education and higher education. Basic education comprises pre-
school education, primary education, lower secondary education
and upper secondary education.
(a) Pre-primary education
It is in the form of child care and readiness development
in physical, psychological, mental, emotional,
personality and social aspects of children between three
and five years of age. It is organised in the form of day-
care centres.
The proportion of the three-to-five age group increased
from 90,8% in 1997 to 95% in 1999. It was estimated that
more of this group will have access to pre-primary
education in 2001.
(b) Primary education
It is compulsory for children between six and 11 years
old, and requires six years of study. The enrolment rate
for the six-to-eleven age group was 90,7% in 1997, and
increased to 101.2% in 2000. The enrolment ratio at
primary level is more than 100% because of repetition as
well as under-age and over-age learners.
There are still children not enrolled in primary school,
particularly those living in remote areas and the
handicapped. In 2001 it was projected that 99,6% of the
six-to-eleven age group would have access to primary
education.
(c) Secondary education
It is divided into two parts: lower secondary education,
which enables children from 12 to 14 to identity their
needs and interests, to be aware of their aptitude, in
both general and vocational education, and to develop
their ability for work and occupational practices
relevant to their age. Upper secondary education aims to
enable learners from 15 to 17 to acquire the basis either
for going on to higher education or for working and
pursuing a career suitable for their aptitude. Each
requires three years of study.
Enrolment in secondary education has gradually risen from
59,8% in 1997 to 68,2% in 2002. However, about 30% of the
12-to-17 group still have difficulty in participating in
secondary education.
Although greater efforts have been made to increase
participation in secondary education, the transition rate
of students completing primary education and proceeding
to lower secondary education showed a slight decrease,
from 90% in 1997 to 88% in 2000; it was estimated to
remain the same in 2001.
In the vocational stream, in particular, there was a
significant decrease in the transition rate, from 41,4%
in 1997 to 32,5% in 1999, as a result of the economic
crisis. It rose to 36% in 2000.
To enhance people participation, all schools have school
committees that play a vital role in policy guidelines
and are highly trained to do the job.
(d) Higher education
It is divided into three levels: lower than bachelor's
degree level, bachelor's degree level and graduate level.
In 1998 and 1999 there were sharp decreases in the number
of upper secondary graduates who continued studying at a
higher level. However, the transition rate at higher
education level rose to 89% in 2000; it was projected to
be 92,6% in 2001. However, only 23,6% of the 18-to-21
group have access to formal education at this level.
At present there are 24 public universities and 50
private universities, and they cover programmes in
Science, Medicine, Humanities, etc, from bachelor to
masters degrees.
Government universities are still unsure whether they
will work on autonomy - a decision has not been taken
yet.
Universities enjoy academic freedom under control of
university councils and have to comply with all higher
education policies. There is a central committee which
looks at planning and policy, chaired by the Ministry of
University Affairs.
They also have six joint programmes with international
universities in the UK and Australia, as there is no
international university operating in the country.
They have branches on each campus doing research, and
this practical endeavour benefits the communities.
(e) Vocational education
There are 413 vocational colleges throughout the country;
40% of students undergo vocational education. They offer
upper secondary subjects, provided in two levels:
Educational progress
Since education is seen as a mechanism of instilling
democratic values as well as a means for developing
productive and social capacity of the people, increased
access to participation in all types of educational
activities has been a major goal of the government.
(f) Increasing educational attainment
Greater efforts by all agencies towards expansion of
educational services have resulted in a higher level of
educational attainment. It was found that the average
years of educational attainment of Thai people aged 15
and over rose from 6,6 in 1996 to 7,1 in 1999.
However, total student enrolment in formal education,
including graduate students, decreased from 14,4 million
in 1997 to 14,3 million in 1999, because of a decline in
the student intake due to the impact of the economic
crisis. In 2000, the total number of students
participating in formal schooling was about 14,2 million;
it was projected to be 14,1 million in 2001.
(g) Participation of private sector
Among the total student enrolment in 2000, about 15% were
in private institutions. The private sector plays an
important role in providing greater access to children
and youths, particularly at vocational upper secondary,
higher and pre-primary education levels.
(h) Participation in NFE
NFE has increasingly provided a second chance to a large
number of the out-of-school population. Starting with the
first national campaign in 1938, it has now become a
diversified further education programme, encompassing
general and vocational education.
In 1999, the total number of participants in NFE
activities under the Ministry of Education (MOE), the
Ministry of the Interior (MOI) and the Ministry of Labour
and Social Welfare was about 3,8 million. The majority of
activities were provided by the MOE, with 95% of the
total participants. Over 50% of the activities were
general education programmes provided by the Department
of Non-Formal Education (DNFE) and the Office of Private
Education Commission (OPEC) to the out-of-school
population.
(i) Quality education
One of the most important measures of the outcome of
education is students' examination result. The assessment
of primary school students' knowledge in the Thai
language, English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science,
Work-Oriented Education, Physical Education and
Management revealed that the quality of primary education
was satisfactory in all subjects.
The achievement of lower secondary students in Grade 9 in
the Thai language, Thai writing, English and Science was
favourable, most students meeting the assessment
criteria. The achievement of upper secondary students in
Grade 12 was rather unfavourable; a high percentage of
students had to improve their performance in nearly all
the subjects.
(j) Internal efficiency
Major indicators used to reflect internal efficiency of
the educational system, are the student-teacher ratio,
retention rates and drop-out rates.
2. Progress of educational reform
Following the promulgation of the National Education Act (the
Act), all agencies are required to do educational reform along
the lines stipulated by that Act, which include eight major
areas:
(a) Ensuring basic education for all
The Constitution and the Act declare that at least 12
years of basic education, with quality of service free of
charge, will be provided equally to all Thai people by
October 2002. These include:
Action plan for basic education
The action plan for 12 years' basic education has been
formulated in line with policy guidelines approved by the
Council of Ministers since March 1999. Since it will
require considerable financial resources, the fiscal
impact in providing basic education has been estimated
carefully and submitted to the Council of Ministers for
approval.
Education for disabled, disadvantaged and gifted
Policy guidelines and strategies have been formulated to
provide educational services.
(b) Reform of educational system
The educational system needs improvement to meet the
demands of a knowledge-based economy and on-going
economic and social development. To enhance people's
potential and competitiveness in the international arena,
the reform of vocational education and training and of
higher education has been initiated.
Vocational education and training reform
Vocational education and training will be provided in
accordance with the Vocational Education Act and relevant
laws. This provision leads to the enactment of a special
law for vocational education and training (VET) in the
near future.
Higher education reform
Higher education is currently the responsibility of 10
ministries and an independent agency. Key factors driving
the reform of higher education in Thailand are:
* An increase in the number of students
* The demand of pursuing higher education
* Advancement in information technology
* Social expectations of higher education as a key
instrument for capacity development of human resources
* Mismatching of graduate profiles and labour market
requirements
* Budgetary limitations form the economic downturn.
Higher education reform is based on unified policy
formulation and diversity of practice.
Reform of learning
Learning reform is at the heart of education reform, is
aimed at providing the highest benefits for all Thai
people and is implemented through various efforts, from
policy level to institutional or grass-roots level.
Recognition and reward of outstanding teachers and
administrators
This is an important strategy for promoting reform. Many
educational organisations have made significant efforts
in selecting outstanding teachers based on the criteria
of a student-centred approach, and rewarded then as model
National Teachers, Master Teachers, Spearhead Teachers,
Thai Wisdom Teachers and as model Administrators.
Reform of administrative structure
Administrative structure reform is based on the principle
of unity in policy and diversity in implementing, as well
as decentralisation of authority to educational service
areas, educational institutions and local administration
organisations.
System of educational quality assurance
A new system of quality assurance has to be established
by setting up the Office of Education Standards and
Evaluation, and also developing a system of internal and
external evaluation. Every educational institution must
receive the first round of external evaluation by 2005.
Enhancing quality of teaching profession
Improvement of teaching quality is central to the reform
of learning. The Act stipulates the development of a new
system for management of teachers, faculty staff and
educational personnel with a view to enhance
professionalism and quality of the teaching profession.
This reform is composed of four subsystems:
* Production system
* Development and promotion system for teachers and
educational personnel
* Professional control system
* Personnel management system
One major movement in teaching profession reform is the
introduction of teaching profession licences. In the
initial period, there will be two types of teaching
licences:
- Teaching licences for all basic education teachers
and educational supervisors
- Professional licences for directors of educational
institutions and administrators of the Office of Area
Commission for Education.
All teachers should have professional licences to raise
the professional standard. This has been planned for
529 000 teachers.
Assessment is required for licence renewal every five
years.
Mobilisation of resources and investment for education
The reform proposal include demand-side finance of
education - financing will shift from providing resources
through the supply-side (providers of education) to the
demand-side (parents and students). They have 37 pilot
schools in nine provinces.
ICT for education
Technology is a crucial way of improving quality of
teaching and learning, so major activities are production
and refinement of educational media and the development
of learners' and staff's ability to use technology for
education, research and development.
Some arrangements have been made prior to the
implementation of the master plan, which covers:
* Infrastructure and education network system
The National Education Network Project was approved by
the Council of Ministers on 18 September 2001. It aims
to distribute information technology equitably to all
educational institutions and to allow joint utilisation
of educational information resources, with the co-
operation of Thailand's Telephone Organisation and
Communication Authority.
It is expected that all educational institutions will
be provided with telephones by the fiscal year 2002.
* Development of software, media and learning content
Teachers and faculty staff are encouraged to produce
software for learner support. Educational institutions
and learning centres will be supported to create web
sites to exchange of knowledge and information.
* Procurement of hardware, computers and equipment
Guidelines have been set with regard to two aspects -
computers and equipment used for teaching and learning;
computers used for administration, which will be
distributed in response to the needs of educational
institutions and the working systems of each agency.
* Personnel development
The MOE will provide six training programmes for
194 883 teachers and educational personnel which will
cover a wide range - basic computers and the Internet,
network administration, advanced programme application
and development of learning media.
(c) Key success factors
In moving towards success of reform along the lines
stipulated by the Act, the most effective strategies are,
firstly, building partnerships and networks and,
secondly, encouraging people participation.
Significant progress has been made since the enactment of
the Act, particularly the reform of learning, which is at
the heart of educational reform and can be implemented at
all levels. Teachers, learners, educational
administrators and parents are urged to be appreciative
of and involved in learning reform, based on a learner-
centred approach, so that learning will be focused on
real life.
3. Budget
The budget for educational activities is allocated to schools
and institutions according to their plans and policies. The
government creates moral competitive education, in the hands
of the people.
The budget is very limited; 70% is for salaries.
4. University entrance
The government would like to abolish the national entrance
examination and come up with a different assesment system,
because most universities administering the national
examination consider secondary school achievement at 90% in
the examination. It was noted with great concern that all high
school teachers are teaching with the purpose of entering
learners in the national examination, but the government needs
to do away with this system and approach.
5. HIV/AIDS
There are successful campaigns in schools and at all
universities in understanding the pandemic of HIV/AIDS. It is
not serious among students and learners, but is with the
people at large.
D. Tour of Parliament
After the meeting with the Standing Committee on Education, the
delegation was given an opportunity to tour Parliament and
attended a sitting of the House of Representatives, where the
National Assembly was debating administrative reform.
The delegation was also shown a video on Parliament, containing
the following information:
Thailand is a democracy with a constitutional monarchy. The power
of government belongs to the people of the nation, as approved by
the King, through the institutions of the National Assembly, the
Council of Ministers and the Courts, as stipulated by the
Constitution.
National Assembly
This bicameral institution consists of the House of
Representatives and the Senate.
House of Representatives
It has 500 members elected in one of two ways: 100 are elected on
a party-list basis, and 400 are elected on a constituency basis.
People who stand for election, must have attained the age of 25 on
the day of the election.
Senate
It has 200 members elected by the people. Each province is
regarded as one constituency. Each senator must have attained the
age of 40 years on the election date.
E. Visit to SA Embassy in Bangkok - official view by Mr T N Furter,
Charge'd Affaires & First Secretary (Political)
The delegation visited the South African Embassy in Bangkok, and
Mr Furter informally introduced all staff members working in the
Embassy.
During the delegation's visit the Ambassador, Mrs B M Pheto, was
not present, as she was on holiday in South Africa. Her apology
was acknowledged by the delegation.
F. Courtesy call on Permanent Secretary for Education, Dr C
Shoolap, and senior officials of MOE - official view by Mrs K
Pompreeya, Director: Policy and Planning
Thailand has a land area of 513 115,02 square km and a population
of 61,8 million people, 30,7 million being male and 31,1 million
female.
Vision
Thai people are fully developed to be good, skillful, happy and
self-reliant citizens. They are also cultivated to realise the
importance of their national identity, to be moral and to be aware
of their culture as a good way of life. They are encouraged to
participate and build Thai society and the world community to be
happy and peaceful. They are promoted to create a learning society
with quality, morality and unity based on both national and
international wisdom to support a knowledge-based economy.
Organisation of MOE
2001 statistics for Departments/Offices under the MOE in terms of
institutions, teachers and students, both in formal and non-formal
systems, are:
* Office of the Permanent Secretary
* Office of the National Primary Education Commission,
responsible for 90% of primary education, with 30 476
institutions, 334 389 teachers and 6 633 809 students in the
formal school system. This is one of the biggest departments in
the MOE
* DNFE, with 2 578 435 students in the non-formal school system
* Department of General Education, with 2 669 institutions,
125 678 teachers and 2 613 556 students in the formal school
system
* Department of Vocational Education, with 413 institutions,
17 953 teachers and 592 857 students in the formal school system
* Department of Physical Education, with 27 institutions, 1 571
teachers and 29 917 students in the formal school system
(246 744 students in the non-formal system)
* Office of the Private Education Commission, with 3 174
institutions, 91 852 teachers and 1 948 941 students in the
formal school system (1 011 756 students in the non-formal
school system)
* Department of Religious Affairs, with 148 366 students in the
non-formal school system
* Rajamangala Institute of Technology, with 55 institutions,
4 777 teachers and 92 179 students in the formal school system
* Office of Rajabhat Institutes Council, with 70 institutions,
8 136 teachers and 215 376 students in the formal school system
(287 351 students in the non-formal school system)
* Department of Fine Arts, with 15 institutions, 1 084 teachers
and 10 393 students
* Office of the National Culture Commission
* Department of Curriculum and Instruction Development
* Institute for Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology
* Mahachula Longkorn Budhist University
* Mha Makut Buddhist University
Education reforms
Section 81 of the Constitution provides that the State shall
provide and promote the private sector to provide education to
achieve knowledge alongside morality, provide law relating to
national education, improve education in harmony with economic and
social change, create and strengthen knowledge and instill rights
awareness with regard to politics and a democratic regime of
government with the King as Head of the State, support researchers
in various sciences, accelerate the development of science and
technology for national development, develop the teaching
profession, and promote local knowledge and national arts and
culture.
Section 43 provides for every citizen to enjoy an equal
opportunity to receive fundamental education for a duration of not
less than 12 years, which shall be provided by the State
thoroughly, qualitatively and without charge.
According to the Act, educational reform consists of eight
components:
* Ensuring basic education for all (Chapter 2)
* Reform of education system (Chapter 3)
* Learning reform (Chapter 4)
* Reorganisation of administrative system (Chapter 5)
* Introducing a system of education quality (Chapter 6)
* Enhancing professionalism and quality of the teaching
profession (Chapter 7)
* Mobilisation of resources and investment for education (Chapter
8)
* Technology for educational reforms (Chapter 9)
(The Constitution and the Act are available at the Library of
Parliament.)
The national economic and social development plan advocates four
approaches:
* Empowerment of people to cope with change - education and
learning processes should be geared towards development of human
potential
* Improvement of social protection systems - they should cover
bigger segments of the population
* Prevention and suppression of drug abuse and increased public
security (to be improved through increased participation)
* Promotion of development partnerships with family-oriented
institutions, religious organisations, schools, NGOs, voluntary
organisations and mass media.
The main points of education reform are:
1. Learning reform
The learner-centred approach - they have established learning
centres all over the country (self-learning and lifelong
learning).
2. Basic education for all
This entails 12 years of basic quality education free of
charge, according to an education plan which the Cabinet has
approved. An operation plan is provided for pre-primary
education and for study costs per head.
3. Education quality assurance
This includes improvement of the educational quality standard
system, internal and external evaluation and evaluation by
standardised test.
4. Curriculum development
This was launched on September 2001, and includes core
curriculum provided by the State (all studies should be based
on its curriculum, and also on local curriculum provided by
the institutions).
In 2002 there will be a pilot project for 1 582 schools,
developing 4 500 trainees, who will be monitored and
evaluated.
Teaching and learning are important aspects of reform, and
encourage students to study subjects relevant to their needs.
5. Special education
There are two kinds: Education for handicapped learners
(166 478), and education for the disadvantaged. Provision has
been categorised as follows:
(a) Special schools- 13 839 learners
(b) Integrated schools - 130 000 learners
(c) NFE - 22 633 students
Special education centres will be provided for 76 provinces;
they will also develop sign language for the deaf and a
braille alphabet.
Communities take part in educational and school reform
processes.
Manpower requirement by State at universities
Almost all government universities are government agencies,
autonomous to a certain extent. In terms of manpower, they
fall under the National Socio-Development Board. They need to
follow a manpower development plan every five years, which are
controlled by the budgetary system.
Religion and culture
These are responsibilities of two Ministries: Education, and
Religion and Culture. In Thailand, there is no change in
religion, even when the administrative structure changes.
Student funding
The government has allocated R20 000 million for education
loan scheme programmes, which will benefit and assist only
students whose parents cannot afford university fees. Certain
criteria apply - those who qualify, should not have an annual
income of more than 15 000 baht.
For a student to qualify, he or she must have be a Thai
citizen with a track record of achievement in studies.
Computers in schools
There are more than 30 000 schools, and 22 000 to 23 000 have
computers. They have been computerised recently, and most
teachers are well-trained and computer-literate. Although the
computer must be part of the learning process in respect of
all subjects, there are not enough English and Computer
teachers to pursue this; as a result they are taught the
English method of teaching.
The government has a five-year plan to solve these problems.
Education plans
Every school has a two-year education plan. Stakeholders,
parents and students participate in the plan within a three-
year budget. Schools decide how to use their allocated
budgets.
As the government has very limited funding, schools raise
funds and collect money from stakeholders and the community to
increase their budgets.
Schools have trust in the communities.
Quality assurance
This ensures quality of total delivery of the education
system. Input is not only from the government, but also from
parents, communities, stakeholders and learners, who aim to
prepare class-room activities.
Parents on committees
Education committees comprise 15 members, including parents,
teachers and stakeholders, and are chaired by school
principals. Students are represented in all the committees.
30% of the parents are poor, while 70% are very co-operative
and understand their responsibilities. Wealthy parents take
minimal responsibility to participate in these committees, as
most of them are engaged in their businesses.
Parents are always in support of projects to develop students
and schools.
Expenses paid for students
The government provides the following: School uniforms for
needy students, textbooks, stationery, 3 000 baht per year for
primary students and 4 000 baht per year for secondary
students.
G. Briefing by Minister of Education - official view by Hon S
Khunkitti
Although the Minister was not part of the programme of our visit
to Thailand, he warmly welcomed the delegation and gave an
overview of the education system and its reforms. He also
mentioned that he has been in politics for more than 20 years.
He views education as very important and also as the basic
fundamental for national development. Keeping students with their
families is good for them, and if power is decentralised to the
local people, education becomes important.
National standards are also important: All students should be
given a standard education, and learn local wisdom and local
standards.
H. Briefing by Department of Curriculum and Instruction Development
- official view by Director-General, Dr P Senarith
It is the first time they have the process of education reform
based on the Constitution, and every department within the
Education Ministry has to conform to and follow the law.
Structural reform aims to combine all Education Ministries into
one Ministry of Education.
Basic education aims at full development of the Thai people in all
aspects: Morality, intellect, happiness, Thainess, potential in
further education and securing careers. To implement these ideals,
the following goals and standards are stipulated:
* Self-esteem, self-discipline, strict observance of religious
teaching and practice, morality, correct behaviour and desirable
virtue
* Creative thinking, a thirst for knowledge and learning and
acquiring reading, writing and research habits
* Universal knowledge, keeping pace with changes and advancement
in the academic world, skills and potential for communication
and technology management, adjustment of thinking and working
processes to cope with changing situations
* Skills and learning processes in mathematics, science, thinking
skills, generating intelligence and quality of life skills
* Physical exercises for good health and personality
* Efficiency in producing and consuming (a preference for
producing rather than consuming)
* Knowledge of Thai history, pride in being a Thai, a good
citizen who strictly observe democratic ways of life, under a
regime of constitutional monarchy
* Consciousness in the preservation of the Thai language, art,
culture, custom, sport, local wisdom, natural resources and
environmental development
* Love for and dedication to the country and community
(contributions to society's prosperity).
To implement principles, goals and learning standards at
educational institutions, and for those formulating educational
institution curricula, the structure of the basic education
curriculum is:
1. Grade levels: There shall be four grade levels, in accordance
with learners' development, in only 2 000 schools: first level
- primary education, grades 1 to 3; secondary level - primary
education, grades 4 to 6; third level - secondary education,
grades 7 to 9; fourth level - secondary education, grades 10
to 12.
2. Substance: The substance consists of a body of knowledge,
skills or learning processes, values or virtues, morality and
correct behaviour. This substance is assembled in eight
groups: Thai language, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies,
Religion and Culture, Health and Physical Education, Art,
Career and Technology and Foreign Languages. This is a
fundamental substance for all learners.
Ms K Ranatasing is responsible for technical aspects of Basic
Education and Training up to Grade 12, the curriculum process,
textbook development and the evaluation process. All these are
developed by the central government (Ministry of Education) and
the policy is put into place at all schools, primary and
secondary. Private and public schools have to follow the same
curriculum. They have now moved to a higher degree of the
decentralised system.
According to Ms Ranatasing, it is difficult for one curriculum to
cover different localities. As a result, they have developed a new
curriculum framework for school level. It will be the first time
that all schools will have the same curriculum level. This will
begin in 2003 with 2 000 schools, and then nation-wide.
Since May 2002, some of the 2 000 targeted schools (out of 30 000
schools) have started using the new curriculum for Grades 1, 4, 7
and 9, and they have been given three years to complete the
implementation cycle. Since this is the new challenge, every
school will start with a three-year phasing-in period. The
implementation stage will start in 2003. The Minister of Education
will give the mandate and instruction.
Learning standards
For the standard-based curriculum, the government set learning
standards for curriculum development at school level. Learning
standards stipulated for eight subject groups in basic education
curriculum define learners' qualities in respect of knowledge,
skills, procedures, morality, correct behaviour and value for each
subject group. These are aimed at developing a desirable
character. Standards are divided into two categories:
* Standards for basic education: These are for each subject group
in basic education learning results after graduation
* Standards for each grade level learning: These are for each
subject group after graduation from each grade level - primary
level 3 and 6, secondary level 3 and 6
Standards are stipulated specifically for application of subjects
related to learners' quality development. Educational institutions
may set standards for solving a community's and society's
problems, local wisdom, desirable qualifications of family
members, a community, society at large and the country, as well as
standards for strengthening learner capacity, aptitude and
interests, where necessary.
Training of teachers
All teachers are trained in all levels; teacher manuals are used
and supervisors at regional, provincial and district level work
closely with them during school holidays. They network with
teacher colleges and institutions in the regions.
Schools draw up their own curriculum - how to evaluate
They test all levels nationwide; staff in every school conducts
such tests at all levels. A school has to conduct its own tests
but at national level the Department conducts the tests.
There is a curriculum document to suggest the content. As regards
the curriculum framework, there is only a standard which will
guide the content. Schools can add their own content, as long it
meets the standard.
Textbooks
For the past 10 years private book development took place, but now
the government and publishers supervised in the various areas
produce all the textbooks. Teachers and publishers can also
publish textbooks. They must employ methodology for material
development and give teachers more opportunity to develop their
own books.
Capacity development to develop standards and benchmarking:
Documents are developed in more detail, but the final decision is
made by schools. They now want teachers to develop the curriculum
to meet local needs and provide three-year intervals for each
level.
I. Visit to Rachawinit Primary School, Bangkok - official view by
Director, Mr C Punyasavasti, and Assistant Director, Mrs C
Neuykaew
History
This is one of the best schools in Bangkok. King Rachawinit gave
it its name, meaning a place to educate younger generations and
instill a good moral code.
Rachawinit was founded in 1964 under the King's Patronage. The
King presided over the grand opening ceremony on 18 June 1968, and
donated 100 000 baht for the King's scholarship foundation. The
general public also donated to the foundation.
Each year many qualified students are selected to receive
scholarships. The school has provided learning facilities and a
suitable curriculum for primary school Grades 1 to 6. It has 77
class-rooms and a study room to support learning activities.
The philosophy of the school is to unite, discipline and learn.
The first director was Khunying Puangrat Wiwaganon, and now Mr C
Punyasavasti is the director.
Vision of school
The vision is to develop its students to be leaders of tomorrow.
They intend to educate and develop their learners so that they can
acquire the qualities possessed by learners in developed
countries, but at the same time keeping their true identity and
Thai culture.
Organisation chart
A director is head of the school and is assisted by assistant
directors in Administration, Discipline, General Service and
Finance and Academic. The Discipline Section deals with all areas
relating to discipline of teachers, learners and staff. Learners
are not punished, instead teachers talk to them; those who need
counselling, are given that support.
Development of curriculum
They have set up a new curriculum and introduced new subjects such
as Music and Computers. They have also introduced some changes in
the old curriculum in respect of subjects such as Thai Dancing,
Physical Education, Swimming, Home Economics, English, Art,
Mathematics and Science.
Subjects offered and study support rooms
Subjects offered are Thai Language, Mathematics, Everyday Life
Ethics Experiences, Science, Home Economics, English, English Lab,
Art, Music, Classical Dance, Physical Fitness Education, Swimming,
Computers, Scouts and Girl Guides.
The study support rooms assist learners with Computers, English
Lab, Science Lab, Music, Classical Dance, Art, Mathematics, Moral
Guidelines, Library, First Aid, Conference Room, Music, Ceramics
and Work Experience 1 and 2.
They also have a remedial centre offering support for learners
with disability.
Student enrolment/permanent and temporary teachers
There are 2 870 learners ranging from Grades 1 to 6 (1 816 boys
and 1 054 girls). The learner/teacher ratio is 1:19.
Every year they admit learners from other provinces; as a result
there are more boys than girls. The learner is registered in Grade
1 at age the age of six.
There are 151 teachers - 112 permanent (nine male & 103 female)
and 39 temporary (18 male and 21 female). Temporary teachers'
salaries are paid through fund-raising.
Each Grade has 12 normal classes and one special class. The
special classes are sometimes mixed, as they take similar
subjects, like Music and Art.
All learners are encouraged to take English and Computers as a
compulsory subject from Grade 1.
School fees
Each learner pays 12 000 baht (R3 000) per year, which includes
lunch. If a learner brings lunch to school, he or she will pay
less.
Selection of learners
Anyone can apply to be admitted to the school. There is an
entrance examination and learners who score high are admitted. The
committee selects learners for admission.
Budgeting
The government allocates an annual budget of 35 million baht -
12 000 baht per learner x 2 780 learners per school. This covers
salaries for teachers and permanent staff and teaching materials
(desks and furniture), equivalent to 200 baht (R50) per learner.
Additional to the 35 million baht comes money from fund-raisers.
The government provides curriculum material free of charge;
learners buy textbooks from the bookshop for additional tuition.
Parents donate funds generously to support school activities.
Parent participation
There is huge active participation and support of parents in all
school activities. They support schools financially.
Services provided for learners
* Food - breakfast, lunch and milk in between
* Health care - first-aid room with a trained nurse. A doctor
attends every Friday. The school also has a dental clinic
* Financial help - free lunch for poor learners. King's
scholarships for the first 14 learners who pass the examination
in each level
* Stationery shop - a non-profit-making shop, which sells to
learners at low prices
* Counselling - support and help children with problems
All learners are always kept busy constructively.
Assistance provided by school to teachers
The school assists teachers with financial loans at low interest
rates, recreational trips, school uniforms, health care and free
lunch.
School facilities
* Study room - used by teachers to improve themselves in their
studies
* Dental clinic, computer room and remedial centre
* Mathematics Laboratory - learners learn via IT
* Science Laboratory - learners start to learn science at Grade
3, and they clean all materials after use
* Thai Music Room and Ceramics Class - only for Grades 1, 2, 3
and 4
* Home Economics Class - only for Grades 5 and 6
* Exhibition room - displays all learner ideas
* Boys Scouts and Girl Guides - teachers assist Grades 1 to 6
learners with art and design
* English centre - learners are taught writing and reading in
English one period a week
* Sound laboratory - learners in Grades 5 and 6 are taught
English in sound and music and to pronounce words in English.
The Matching Band prepare the learners to learn about
English/Thai languages bands
* Music room - learners in Grade 5 and 6 are taught to play
organ, guitar and bass drum using both Thai and English
languages
* Library - all learners have access. It has an IT section, where
one can access the Internet using Thai or English
* Computer rooms - Grades 5 and 6 use these facilities and the
classes are conducted in Thai
* Moral guidance room - learners are taught their religion,
Buddhism, and moral discipline
* Green learning room - it is used to show learners the benefits
resulting from using energy appliances efficiently, to learn how
to select efficient equipment, to learn about the hazardous
effects resulting from unwisely consuming electricity, and to
create the right attitude towards energy conservation the
ecology and balance in the environment.
All learners are actively involved in sports, like chess,
basketball and soccer.
Teacher awards
Each year the King grants awards to teachers who have excelled,
who have contributed to the school and who are recognised by their
peers for outstanding achievements.
Teacher qualifications
Approximately nine teachers have Masters' degrees; the rest have
other university degrees. All teachers in Thailand must have a
teaching licence.
J. Visit to Matayom Wat Makut Kasat School - official view by Vice-
Assistant-Director, Mrs J Caowachote
There are two levels, with 1 299 learners: 725 learners in lower
and 574 learners in higher education. There are 40 classrooms: 19
for lower and 21 for higher education.
Matoyom refers to Secondary, Wat refers to the temple (because the
school is in a temple), Makut Kasat refers to King MongKut or King
Rama the Fourth, who gave birth to Wat Makut Kasatariyaram.
This is a secondary school attached to the Department of Education
under the Ministry of Education. It was established on 7 June
1951.
The colours of the school are yellow and pink - yellow for the
colour of the Buddish (in this case it means Wat Makut
Kasatariyaram); pink for Tuesday, King Rama the Fourth's birthday.
The symbol of the school is Crown.
The school is divided into four parts: Academic Affairs,
Discipline, Office of Management and School Service. Since its
establishment until 2001, it was a boys' school, but now they are
now allowed to admit girls too. At present there are 96 girls.
Their Motto is: "Where there's a will, there's a way".
The vision is to manage education to develop learners to obtain
knowledge, including morals and discipline. Learners and the
organisation must get satisfaction. To properly administrate, they
have an academic standard and a standard in managing Education
Reformation.
School management team and staff
* School Director: Mr T Niyonmthong is in charge of everything
pertaining the school. He is good at administration.
* Assistant Director of Academic Affairs: Mr C Keawleg is good at
Academic Affairs and an expert in computers and IT.
* Assistant Director of Discipline: Mr P Treethepa is responsible
for student behaviour and keeps learners in compliance with
school rules.
*Assistant Director of Office Management: Mrs C Watjanarat takes
care of school management, such as student fees and salaries of
teachers.
* Assistant Director of School Services: Mr S Peandee takes care
of the school buildings and managing the school janitors.
There are 103 personnel officers, three administrators, 100
teachers and 10 workers. They also hired a foreign teacher to
teach English for all Grades. Eight teachers assist with the
administration.
They manage their education by using the curriculum of the
Department of Academics under the MOE. Learners have to study at
each level for three years, with 40 learners in each class. The
more they realise the importance of children, the more they use
child-centred methods. Learners can tell teachers what they want
to know in a subject.
Learning management
For lower education, learners' lessons are from 08:00 to 14:50.
They have to be in school for eight hours. For upper education,
they begin lessons at the same time but finish at 15:40. They
study Thai, social subjects, Science, Mathematics, English,
physical subjects, Arts and Computers.
Child Centre learning process
Teachers teach learners using the CIPPA Model:
C (Construct) - learn by themselves after class
I (Interaction) - relationship with each other
P (Process/Performance) - method of teaching
P (Product) - do work related to studies
A (Application) - after class, apply knowledge daily.
Information and Communication Technology in Teaching
Learners receive modern teaching methods. They have accessed new
technology for themselves, for example the Internet, Multimedia
laboratories such as the English Sound Laboratory, the Science
Laboratory, the Sound Library, the Resource Centre and the
Computer Zone.
Evaluation
A year is divided into two semesters, the first from 17 May to 13
September and the second from 1 November to 31 March. In mid-July
and mid-January learners are assessed by writing mid-term tests,
and in mid-September and at end of February they write final
examinations. During normal semester time there are tests in which
learners can collect points. The school uses Authentic Assessment
to evaluate learners. Each school sets its own examination for
Grade 12.
A student must obtain a 50% pass rate for each subject. For a
student to be admitted to public or private universities, he/she
has to write two different entrance examinations. Once they
acquire 42%, they are admitted to a public or a private
university. Those who acquired 40%, go to private university.
Any student who intends to go to university, must pass the central
examination. If they fail, they cannot be admitted to university,
and have to find work or undergo vocational education.
Computer facilities
Grades 7 to 12 have access to all computer facilities. In the
resource centre, students are taught to communicate with each
other via computer and to use the Internet to access research
information.
Budget
In Grades 7 to 9 (lower education) a student pays 700 baht (R175)
per year; Grades 10 to 12 (upper education) pay 1 400 baht (R350).
The government pays teachers' salaries. Parents must buy books for
their children; the government allocates funds to buy books for
the library.
View on education reforms
According to the Assistant Director, the teachers will be ready
for the new curriculum and will be trained to implement it in
class. Students are able to do whatever they want to by
themselves. Although the old curriculum worked, the new one brings
the students happiness. And teachers will prepare for this student
happiness.
As a form of appreciation and honour, delegates were awarded
certificates for visiting the school.
K. Visit to Science Centre for Education and Bangkok NFE Centre -
official view by Science Education Specialist, Mr Y Piriyakul, and
NFE Specialist, Dr P Chariyavidhayamont
Background
Mr Y Piriyakul, who has been at the centre for more than 25 years,
welcomed the delegation. This visit was the first one in 35 years;
no Member of the Thailand Assembly has visited the Centre.
The Centre was established in 1952, and opened the doors of
discovery to students and the general public with a wide range of
exhibits designed to excite and educate. People come to the centre
with the mind prepared to "wonder". There are hands-on educational
resources in the fields of Science and Technology, Astronomy and
Space Explorations, Natural Science and the Environment.
There are 16 campuses around Thailand, the largest being
Shukhumuit in Bangok. The purpose of its establishment was to
reduce superstitions of Thai people and to let students study
Science from a textbook. Students are encouraged to study Science,
to have knowledge of it and to have a scientific attitude. They
also work with school learners.
The DNFE was established in the MOE on 24 March 1979. The
Department was firmly upgraded from Adult Education, which goes
back to the late 1930's, when the government began to realise a
need for other types of education with the aim of elevating
nation's literacy rate. At the time the literacy rate of those 20
and older was a mere 32%. The Centre teaches illiterates and is
seen as a basis of improving quality of life. It is encouraged to
inhance skills needed by the people of Thailand.
For the past 23 years, the Department has managed to reduce
illiteracy. It followed the curriculum of formal schooling, making
learners read and write, focusing on women who have left school at
an early age.
Main tasks of DNFE
NFE is regarded as a vital tool which people use to improve their
quality of life. The important mission of the Department is to
provide various models of NFE, responsive to individual needs and
opening up opportunities to acquire knowledge, at any stage of
people's lives, by emphasising principles of freedom, justice and
equal opportunity to learn or study.
The main tasks of the DNFE are:
* Organisation of NFE: Provides basic education for the
disadvantaged to make them literate, provides general NFE
programmes at primary, lower and upper secondary levels, and
provides various vocational education and skills training
programmes according to a variety of NFE curricula.
* Support of and co-operation with formal school system: Provides
learning and teaching activities, for those attending formal
schools, in respect of educational technologies, such as
educational radio and television programmes, satellite distance
education programmes and science and technology exhibitions, to
enable them to gain knowledge and to achieve learning goals.
* Organisation and promotion of informal education: Aims to
provide people with up-to-date knowledge and information
necessary for earning a living and improving quality of life, as
well as to enable them to catch up with current news and to
adapt themselves to rapidly changing technology. They have to be
able to learn by themselves throughout their lives, and from
various sources, such as ther public library, the village
reading centre, the science centre for education and educational
radio and TV programmes.
All these have been implemented to provide basic education skills
training and up-to-date information for all (in and out of
school), so that people have the opportunity to learn and study
throughout their lives.
The Princess of Thailand leads most of the campaigns around the
country.
Target groups
The main target group during the first stage of the DNFE was the
out-of-school population in rural areas all over the country who
had missed the opportunity for formal schooling.
Currently, the Department has expanded National Further Education
services to cover more target groups in all parts of the country -
children, women, inmates, the labour force, the disabled,
conscripts, agriculturalists, the aged, hill tribes, local
leaders, slum dwellers, Thai Muslims, religious practitioners,
people with compulsory education having no chance to further their
studies in formal schools, Thai people in foreign countries,
students in formal schools and other special groups.
Activities
Programmes and activities provided by Department:
* Basic education: Provided for those who missed the opportunity
of formal schooling or have dropped out and would like to come
back or further their education.
* Vocational education and skills training: Designed to promote
public welfare or upgrade quality of life through vocational
development by providing four types of vocational education
skills - interest groups, short-term vocational courses,
vocational certificate curricula and NFE occupational
certificate curricula.
* Information service: Provided in terms of informal education or
lifelong learning through various kinds of media to give people
access to educational opportunities at any given time. Main
activities are -public library, village reading centre,
community learning centre, educational radio and TV programmes
and national science centre for education.
Link with international countries
There are programmes which are not Thai, like Australian, English,
Cambodian, Korean and Japanese. There are also exchange programmes
with countries like China and the Philippines.
The centre has won an award for good work in the field of human
resource development. The delegation undertook a tour of the
centre and observed the following:
* Biology exhibition - students collect national specimen of
animals and plants
* NFE centre - students come to learn how to use computers and
internet and IT programmes; they also offer staff upgrading
programmes - they learn and apply skills at their workplace;
some programmes are free and others very cheap
* Children centre - children are kept busy with programmes and
other educational activities
* Library - students access the library for information and when
doing research work
* Massage classes - there are two types, one for villagers and
one for royalty
* Laboratory - it stores all Thai herbs
* Home Economics class - students are taught how to arrange
flowers
* Fine Arts class - students learn to paint and use this skill
when they work.
L. Visit to Rajabhat Institute Phranakhon Si Ayatthaya and
Laboratory School - official view by President, Dr B Watana, and
Vice-Director, Mrs S Pattamatin
The President of the Institute and her staff warmly welcomed the
delegation and introduced her staff.
His Majesty, King Bhumibhol Adulyadej, gave the prestigious name
"Rajabhat Institute" to all 36 former teacher colleges in
Thailand. "Rajabhat" literally means "the King's men".
The emblem consists of five colours: Blue, which represents His
Majesty the King; green, which represents the locations of all
Rajabhat Institutes (situated in a variety of natural and
beautiful environments); gold, which represents the wisdom and
success of all Rajabhat students, lecturers and staff; orange,
which represents the proliferation of local art, culture and folk
wisdom of the Institute; and white, which represents the pure
thoughts of His Majesty the King's wise men. The Institute's
colours are yellow and red.
This higher education institute under the MOE was established in
1905. Although it is still a college, it offers university
degrees, and it will be officially converted to a university.
Recently they started offering masters' degree programmes; to be
admitted, a student has to pass the central examination.
There are almost 7 990 students, full- and part-time, with 250
staff members. One has to study for four years to obtain a degree.
There is a library (with Internet), which all students and
teachers access and use free of charge.
Students pay school fees, and the Institute assists and support
those from poor families who cannot afford the fees.
Mission of Institute
The main mission of the Institute, academically and
professionally, is to provide society with education, conduct
research, provide academic services to the community, improve and
develop technology, study, preserve and promote arts and culture,
give pre-service training for teachers and provide in-service
upgrading of teacher's academic qualifications.
Activities of Institute
Originally, Ayutthaya Teachers' College offered certificates and
basic degrees in the various areas of Education. In 1985 it
started to offer these in sciences and arts. In 1995 His Majesty,
King Bhumibol Adulyadej, renamed all the State teachers colleges
"Rajabhat Institutes" and upgraded their status and rights to
those of universities.
The Institute offers Bachelors' degrees in Education, Sciences and
Arts, and Masters' degrees in Education and Arts. It has the
following faculties: Management Science; Humanities and Social
Sciences; Sciences and Technologies; and the Graduate School.
The International Studies Centre was established in 1995 and
offers three programmes for undergraduates students: English,
Tourism Industry and Business Administration. All courses, except
minor ones, are taught in English.
Academic Service and IT Centres provide both information resources
and services. A number of reference works, journals, magazines,
newspapers and audio-visual aids are available, as well as various
types of services.
The Language Centre offers tuition in five foreign languages -
English, French, Japanese, Korean and Chinese. There are also a
language laboratory, computer centre and self-access centre.
The Science and Technology Centre provides academic services and
scientific equipment for practical use in several courses, such as
Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Computer Science and Applied Science.
The Graduate School currently offers a wide range of courses in
Masters' programmes in Educational Administration, Curriculum and
Instruction, Social Sciences for Development, Business
Administration and a Graduate Diploma in Teaching Profession.
After a brief presentation, the delegation toured the Institute.
Laboratory school
This school was established within the Institute in 1985. It
initially had only two classes, at junior high level.
With the current staff of 53 teachers, three clerks and four
caretakers, and 521 students, the school now offers Grades 7 to
12. It enjoyss sisterhood co-operation with the Kyoto Junior High
School. The academic year falls into two semesters. Parents buy
textbooks, uniforms and gymnasium clothes for their children.
Vision
The school shall provide highly competent students with learning
skills, participating in activities. They shall be honourable,
independent and confident, with an awareness of righteousness,
globalisation as well as maintaining the Thai identity.
Commitment
Their commitment is to provide education at secondary level,
teacher education practice and effective instructional activities.
Objectives
The school is managed by the President of the Institute, and the
objectives are:
* To manage the secondary level of education to enable students
to think critically, act and solve problems effectively. Also,
they are attentive to work and participate in school and
community activities in the democratic system headed by the
Monarch
* To manage the secondary level of education to equip students
with academic and professional knowledge appropriate for their
ages, needs, interests and aptitude in order to prepare them to
gain understanding for career decisions which will benefit
themselves and society
* To play the role of laboratory for instructors and students in
the teacher education programmes
* To be a place of study, research and experiments on education,
under supervision of the Faculty of Education.
Process and support
They manage education based on the student-centred system, which
provides students facilities like counselling and support to
create a learning atmosphere. They also determine the roles and
responsibilities of guardians in participating in education
management. The school provides sufficient teaching aids and
innovative IT. They also have sufficient infrastructure and
facilities, and the guardian shall participate in intellectual and
resources support in order to improve education quality.
Management
This department reports to the President, who assigns a vice-
president as supervisor. The Faculty of Education and other
facilities provide academic support to the school in respect of
instruction, research and economic innovation.
The management body consists of the advisory board, the parents-
teacher club and the school's administrative staff. The advisory
board consists of the President, as chairperson, a Vice-President
and faculty deans, with the school director as secretary. The
advisory board has the following duties:
* To supervise educational management of the school according to
its main objectives and policies
* To set up regulations and guideline for educational management
* To set up regulations plans regarding number and position
(including wages, salary and benefits allocated from the school
budget)
* To approve the annual budget
* To appoint the administrative committee
* To provide faculty staff to perform managerial and
instructional duties.
The parent-teacher club consists of parents, guardians, resource
people and teachers, and takes control of:
* Setting up regulations that comply with the requirement of the
club
* Appointing an advisory board and subcommittee
* Calling for annual meetings and meetings on special occasions
* Managing the club according to its objectives
* Being responsible for all affairs, including financial matters
and assets
* Arranging special meetings, when requested by more than 100
members
* Preparing relevant documents
* Keeping minutes for record purposes, as well as performing
other assigned duties.
The working committee consists of the Director, subject divisional
heads and the administrative support head, who are in charge of:
* Effectively supervising instructions and the arrangement of
activities
* Proposing an annual budget to the administrative committee
* Appraising teachers' and temporary contract teachers'
performances
* Setting up the school development plan for the administrative
and working committees.
The Director administers the school according to its objectives,
and supervises staff, finance, the inventory and the buildings and
grounds, as well as other assets according to the relevant rules
and regulations. He draws up an annual financial report and budget
to be proposed to the administrative and working committees,
complies with regulations, ethics and etiquette of the profession
of teachers and employees, supervises and support student affairs,
represents the school, proposes an annual report on various
aspects to the administrative and working committees, performs
other duties according to the requirements and assignments of the
school and institute, and appraise the teachers' and
administrative committee's performance and reports to the
President.
Teachers and employees
Teachers and employees fall into two categories, namely regular
teachers and employees and temporary employees who are paid from
the school budget. There are two kinds of teachers, namely
government teacher (the government pays them) and non-government
teachers (they are paid from money contributed by parents to the
school).
Educational system and student admission
The educational system is managed at secondary level according to
the MOE curriculum. Student admission is divided:
* Special admission for children of teachers and employees who
have been working for the Institute for at least five years
* Selection through the entrance test, open for primary school
students
The education system, learning assessment and criteria, as well as
the credit transfer, must comply with the existing regulations of
the MOE.
School budget and income
This comes from tuition fees, donations, the government, a budget
allocated by the Institute and fund-raising. The government
allocates 400 000 bhat to the school, and teachers' salaries are
paid from this. School fees are 11 600 baht per year. They have
also a finance section. Book-keeping, reporting and auditing must
comply with the financial regulations of the Institute.
Visit to Ayatthaya
Primary school children come to this site to learn about the
history of Thailand. They come to study and do their homework,
based on the items on display. The delegation saw OBE being
practiced - teachers assisting learners to work as a team.
M. Visit to Ayatothaya Historic World Heritage site
The Wat Chaiwattanaram (Temple) was built in 1630 by King Prasat
Thong to commemorate his mother's home town and to celebrate his
coronation. Important edifices are the Prang, surrounded by a
number of minor Prangs pointing in eight different directions. It
is believed that the main Prang contains relics of Buddha and
other idols.
The temple was also built to commemorate victory over the Khmer
Rouge; that is why it was built in Khmer architectural style.
Pictures of the temple are available at the Library of Parliament
of South Africa.
N. Visit to National Science Museum (NSM) - official view by
Director: Office of the President, Mr T Palachai, and Ms G Chen
The NSM is a State enterprise under the Ministry of Science,
Technology and Environment. It was established in 1995 by royal
decree to commemorate the 60th birthday of Her Majesty Queen
Sirikit.
The NSM aims to be recognised as one of Asia's leading science and
technology museums. Administration is under the guidance of the
NSM committee, appointed by Cabinet.
There are four museums in one building: Science Museum; Natural
History Museum; Environment and Ecology Museum; and Aviation and
Telecommunication Technology Museum.
There are six exhibition floors, each covering different aspects
of science and technology, like ticketing information,
information, the Internet and temporary exhibition space, history
of science, basic science and energy resources, science and
technology in Thailand, science and technology in everyday life,
and traditional Thai technology.
Mission
The mission is to enhance public understanding of science,
technology and environmental issues by developing a range of
science museums, both in the technopolis complex and in other
regions of Thailand. Activities will be designed to make the
public more aware of the importance of science and technology and
of caring for the environment.
It will also seek to encourage active participation of individuals
in developing science and technology to support and sustain the
development of the nation.
All people of Thailand, including the illiterate and students, are
encouraged to study science and to get to know about processes
regarding science and technology.
Infrastructure
The first NSM building is a unique construction, which in itself
reflects a fascination with science and technology - three huge
cubes standing on edge in the technopolis complex, forming the
most spectacular building so far constructed on the site. The
external faces of the cubes are covered with white ceramic-coated
steel plates, which do not need paint. The angled white reflecting
surfaces minimise the transfer of external heat to the building
and reduce the cost of air conditioning.
This building, one of the most attractive in Thailand, has the
facilities to accommodate 2 000 visitors a day. Half a million
people are expected in the first year.
The government spent 400 million baht to build it and 700 million
baht for the exhibition centre. Thailand is famous for this unique
and beautiful structure. (Visit internet to view the building, at
www.nsm.or.th).
Budget
The budget comes from the government and from State enterprises.
In 2001 it was allocated 82,937 million baht, and in 2002 it was
allocated 92,445 million baht.
Tour of NSM
The delegation noted with great enthusiasm and excitement one of
our pioneers of science - scientist of the "heart transplant", the
late Dr Christiaan Barnard - displayed in the exhibition showing
achievements in the field of science.
O. Comments
Main lessons to be drawn from the visit:
1. A common ownership of parliamentary governance by all political
parties.
2. Big involvement of the private sector in the education system.
3. Private schools' fees are determined by the State, and the
system of funding is the same, irrespective of whether the
school is private or public. All schools follow the same core
curriculum to promote equality.
4. Institutions of higher learning are not autonomous.
5. Accelerated rural development stabilises family structures.
6. Work-oriented Learning and Vocational Education ensures that
the curriculum fits neatly in the working environment. Theory
and practice work together.
7. School committees/SGBs give meaningful input in respect of
policy-making.
8. Partnerships between private and public sectors are common in
higher education.
9. In-service training programmes for teachers in OBE and other
teacher development programmes during school holidays are
common.
10. Clear-cut standards and benchmarks exist for schools to
build core curricula.
11. Thailand has a decentralised curriculum. The principle of
decentralisation should be responding to the capacity of
people. The Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Development has distinguishing features in curriculum
development.
12. NFE is well-structured.
13. Religious education is taken into consideration in the
education system.
14. There is a strong emphasis on sport and culture in rural
communities.
15. There is good teacher/pupil ratio (20:1).
16. Volunteerism makes NFE operational and functional.
17. As there are NFE centres in all provinces, the programmes
reach unemployed people in rural areas and cities, as well as
other special groups with social problems, especially those
unable to speak Thai. As their needs are different, they are
treated differently and need special programmes. Literacy
forms part of the assistance to people to sustain themselves.
As a result, illiteracy has been reduced from 7% to 4,5%.
18. Museums are daily resource centres for learners; schools
are encouraged to make full use of museums for any field of
study.
19. Museums are comprehensive - they cover the interests of
the young and of adults, for life-long learning.
P. List of participants
* Mr W Srisa-an, Chairperson: Standing Committee on Education,
House of Representatives, Thailand
* Mr N Tmongkon, NFE Centre
* Mr S Suthakun, Spokesperson: Standing Committee on Education
* Mr C Phumiratana, Expert and Advisor: Standing Committee on
Education
* Mr P Siribandhphitak, Expert: Standing Committee on Education
* Mrs S Phulpipatana, Specialist: Standing Committee on Education
* Mr S Bualunga, Bangkok Metropolis NFE Centre Area 3
* Mr Y Piriyakne, Science Educaiton Specialist: National Science
Centre for Education
* Mr J Colomes, Australian Youth Ambassador for Development
* Mr V Putoklang, Bangkok Metropolis NFE Centre
* Dr P Chariyavidhayamont, NFE Specialist
* Mr C Shoolap, Permanent Secretary: Ministry of Education
* Mrs S Suwansthit, Deputy Permanent Secretary: Ministry of
Education
* Ms K Dunangrat, Deputy Director-General: Rajabhat Institute
* Dr T Indrakamnod, Director-General: Rajabhat Institute
* Mr S Suraokimham, Deputy Director-General: Vocational Education
* Ms S Chietuamukhutu, Director: External Relation Division
* Ms S Bunyakitchinda, Nationak Primary Education
* Ms C Onnom, Department of Education
* Ms Orachait, Chief: Bilateral Section
* Ms Pompreeya, Policy and Planning:, Office of Permanent
Secretary
* Dr B Watana, President: Rajabhat Institute
* Ms S Pulsuk, Vice-President: Rajabhat Institute
* Ms N Srissanit, Vice-President: Rajabhat Institute
* Mr P Maneesaai, Director: Office of the President
* Mr U Phucharoen, Director: Bureau of Art and Culture
* Ms S Patlamatin, Vice-Director: Laboratory School
* Mr T Rursorn, Director: Academic Promotion
* Mr S Traichoki, Director: Laboratory School
* Mrs A Klamcharoen, Department of Dance
* Mrs S Trishirasuntron, Department of Music
* Mrs P Mala, Department of Dance
* Mr S Augtong, Department of Dance
* Mrs S Phothikul, Vice-Director: Office of the President
* Dr P Senarith, Director-General: Curriculum and Instruction
Development
* Ms K Ratanasing, Staff: Curriculum Development Centre
* Mrs U Chalermchai, Chief External Relation Officer: Book
Translation Institute
* Ms N Pulsrisawat, Book Translation Institute
* Ms S Ngamunjong, Book Development Centre
* Ms O Binousswin, Book Development Centre
* Ms O Yuthim, Office of Educational Assessment and Testing
Services
* Mrs P Chotpluksawan, Office of Educational Assessment and
Testing Services
* Ms C Spisura, Office of Education and Testing Services
* Mr K Sappakit, Vice-Principal: Laboratory School
* Mr P Sattayapanth, Vice-Principal: Laboratory School
* Mr S Tubtimsua, Vice-Principal: Laboratory School
* Mr P Mee-Anun, Staff: Laboratory School
* Mr Pakpol Charoengboon, Head of Student Activities: Laboratory
School
* Mrs S Pattamatin, Vice-Principal: Laboratory School
* Mr B Rattananan, Principal: Laboratory School
* Mr C Bunyasvosti, Director: Rachawinit School
* Mrs C Neuykaew, Assistant Director: Rachawinit School
* Mrs V Rathajaijing, Assistant Director: Rachawinit School
* Mrs W Tissadikoon, Leader in Grade 6: Rachawinit School
* Mrs W Bureesawat, Teacher: Rachawanit School
* Mrs T Rachatamongkil, Foreign Relations Officer: Office of
Primary Educaiton Commission
* Mr C Keawlek, Assistant Director: Academic Affairs, Mattayom
Wat Makut Kasat School
* Mr S Piandee, Assistant Director: School Service, Mattayom Wat
Makut Kasat School
* Mrs J Chawachot, Vice Assistant Director: Academic Affairs,
Mattayom Wat Makut Kasat School
* Ms A Yamklee, Head: English Section, Mattayom Wat Makut Kasat
School
* Ms T Kirtiputra, French Teacher: Mattayom Wat Makut Kasat
School
* Mrs B Sang-Eaim, English Teacher: Mattayom Wat Makut Kasat
School
* Ms U Warachaikunatharn, English Teacher: Mattayom Wat Makut
Kasat School
* Ms N Suwipol, English Teacher: Mattayom Wat Makut Kasat School
* Mrs C Vatchanaratana, Assistant Director: Office Affairs,
Mattayom Wat Makut Kasat School
* Mr S Bun-Rpemg-Sanoh, Vice Assistant Director: Academic Affair,
Mattayom Wat Makut Kasat School
* Mr T Niyamhong, School Director: Mattayom Wat Makut Kasat
School
* All schools and students visited.
MONDAY, 20 JANUARY 2003
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
- Assent by President in respect of Bills:
(a) Corporate Laws Amendment Bill [B 32B - 2002] - Act No 39 of 2002
(assented to and signed by President on 30 December 2002);
(b) South African Maritime and Aeronautical Search and Rescue Bill
[B 23D - 2002] - Act No 44 of 2002 (assented to and signed by
President on 30 December 2002);
(c) Finance Bill [B 48 - 2002] - Act No 48 of 2002 (assented to and
signed by President on 30 December 2002);
(d) Agricultural Debt Management Amendment Bill [B 45 - 2002] - Act
No 49 of 2002 (assented to and signed by President on 30 December
2002);
(e) Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination
Amendment Bill [B 41B - 2002] - Act No 52 of 2002 (assented to and
signed by President on 30 December 2002);
(f) Promotion of Access to Information Amendment Bill [B 60 - 2002]
- Act No 54 of 2002 (assented to and signed by President on 30
December 2002);
(g) Judicial Matters Amendment Bill [B 55B - 2002] - Act No 55 of
2002 (assented to and signed by President on 30 December 2002);
(h) National Environmental Management Amendment Bill [B 62 - 2002] -
Act No 56 of 2002 (assented to and signed by President on 30
December 2002);
(i) Disaster Management Bill [B 21B - 2002] - Act No 57 of 2002
(assented to and signed by President on 30 December 2002);
(j) Patents Amendment Bill [B 64 - 2002] - Act No 58 of 2002
(assented to and signed by President on 30 December 2002);
(k) Medicines and Related Substances Amendment Bill [B 40B - 2002]
- Act No 59 of 2002 (assented to and signed by President on 30
December 2002);
(l) Occupational Diseases in Mines and Works Amendment Bill [B 39B -
2002] - Act No 60 of 2002 (assented to and signed by President
on 30 December 2002);
(m) Merchandise Marks Amendment Bill [B 63B - 2002] - Act No 61 of
2002 (assented to and signed by President on 30 December 2002);
(n) Medical Schemes Amendment Bill [B 37D - 2002] - Act No 62 of
2002 (assented to and signed by President on 30 December 2002);
(o) Insolvency Second Amendment Bill [B 53D - 2002] - Act No 69 of
2002 (assented to and signed by President on 30 December 2002);
(p) Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of
Communication-related Information Bill [B 50D - 2001] - Act No
70 of 2002 (assented to and signed by President on 30 December
2002);
(q) International Trade Administration Bill [B 38F - 2002] - Act No
71 of 2002 (assented to and signed by President on 30 December
2002);
(r) Gas Regulator Levies Bill [B 47 - 2002] - Act No 75 of 2002
(assented to and signed by President on 30 December 2002).
- Introduction of Bills:
(1) The following Bill was introduced by the Minister of Trade and
Industry in the National Assembly on 20 January 2003 and referred
to the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) for classification in terms
of Joint Rule 160:
(i) Usury Amendment Bill [B 1 - 2003] (National Assembly - sec
75) [Explanatory summary of Bill and prior notice of its
introduction published in Government Gazette No 23573 of 28
June 2002.]
The Bill has been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Trade and
Industry of the National Assembly.
In terms of Joint Rule 154 written views on the classification of
the Bill may be submitted to the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM)
within three parliamentary working days.
- Draft Bills submitted in terms of Joint Rule 159:
(1) Usury Amendment Bill, 2003, submitted by the Minister of Trade
and Industry on 14 November 2002. Referred to the Portfolio
Committee on Trade and Industry and the Select Committee on
Economic and Foreign Affairs.
(2) Repeal of the Bophuthatswana Provident Fund Act Bill, 2003,
submitted by the Minister of Finance on 12 December 2002. Referred
to the Portfolio Committee on Finance and the Select Committee on
Finance.
(3) Repeal of the Sefalana Benefits Organisation Act Bill, 2003,
submitted by the Minister of Finance on 12 December 2002. Referred
to the Portfolio Committee on Finance and the Select Committee on
Finance.
TABLINGS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
Papers:
- The Speaker and the Chairperson:
Report of the Road Accident Fund Commission appointed by the President
to inquire into, and make recommendations regarding, a system for the
payment of compensation or benefits in the event of the injury or death
of persons in road accidents - Volumes 1, 2 and 3.
- The Minister of Home Affairs:
Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa and
the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Immigration
Matters, tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.
- The Minister of Finance:
Resolutions of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts for 2002 and
replies thereto obtained by the National Treasury: Twelfth, Fourteenth,
Nineteenth, Twenty-sixth, Twenty-seventh, Twenty-eighth, Thirtieth,
Thirty-second, Thirty-third, Thirty-fourth, Thirty-sixth, Thirty-eighth
reports, 2002.
- The Minister of Public Enterprises:
(a) Report and Financial Statements of Alexkor Limited for the year
ended 30 June 2002.
(b) Report and Financial Statements of Alexkor Limited for the year
ended 30 June 2001.
(c) Report and Financial Statements of Aventura Limited for 2000-
2001. 5. The Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry:
(a) Report and Financial Statements of the Albany Coast Water for
the year ended 30 June 2002.
(b) Report and Financial Statements of the Amatola Water for the
year ended 30 June 2002.
(c) Report and Financial Statements of the Botshelo Water for the
year ended 30 June 2002.
(d) Report and Financial Statements of the Ikangala Water for the
year ended 30 June 2002.
(e) Report and Financial Statements of the Magalies Water for the
year ended 30 June 2002.
(f) Report and Financial Statements of the Mhlathuze Water for the
year ended 30 June 2002.
(g) Report and Financial Statements of the Overberg Water for the
year ended 30 June 2002.
(h) Report and Financial Statements of the Pelladrift Water for the
year ended 30 June 2002.
(i) Report and Financial Statements of the Sedibeng Water for the
year ended 30 June 2002.
(j) Report and Financial Statements of the Bloem Water for the year
ended 30 June 2002.
(k) Report and Financial Statements of the Namaqua Water for the
year ended 30 June 2002.
(l) Report and Financial Statements of the Rand Water for the year
ended 30 June 2002.
(m) Report and Financial Statements of the Umgeni Water for the year
ended 30 June 2002.
(n) Report and Financial Statements of the Bushbuckridge Water for
the year ended 30 June 2001.
National Assembly:
Papers:
- The Speaker:
The following letter has been received by the Office of the Speaker:
Dear Madam Speaker
Proposed Amendment to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa
Fourth Amendment Bill, 2002 [B 69 - 2002].
You are no doubt aware that recent discussions between the ANC and IFP
led to an agreement to withdraw the "reinstatement-provision" in the
above Bill, which is presently being considered by the Portfolio
Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development. I am consequently
in the process of approaching Cabinet with a recommendation that clause
6 of the Bill be amended by the deletion of the following subitem:
6(3) Any person who, subsequent to 20 June 2002 has been removed
from membership of a legislature by reason directly or indirectly
of anything done by such person in the belief that he or she was
lawfully acting in accordance with provisions substantially
similar in content to this Schedule, is hereby restored to such
membership with all rights and privileges attaching thereto, and
any person who has replaced such person as a member of the
legislature hereby ceases to be a member of such legislature.
I will be submitting a formal amendment to the Portfolio Committee as
soon as possible, in order to ensure that the passing of the Bill is
not unnecessarily delayed.
With kind regards
Dr P M Maduna, MP
MINISTER
Referred to the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional
Development.
THURSDAY, 23 JANUARY 2003
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
- Introduction of Bills:
(1) The following Bill was introduced by the Minister for Justice
and Constitutional Development in the National Assembly on 21
January 2003 and referred to the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) for
classification in terms of Joint Rule 160:
(i) Judicial Matters Amendment Bill [B 2 - 2003] (National
Assembly - sec 75) [Explanatory summary of Bill and prior
notice of its introduction published in Government Gazette No
23982 of 25 October 2002.]
The Bill has been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Justice
and Constitutional Development of the National Assembly.
In terms of Joint Rule 154 written views on the classification of
the Bill may be submitted to the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM)
within three parliamentary working days.
(2) The following Bills were introduced by the Minister of Finance
in the National Assembly on 22 January 2003 and referred to the
Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) for classification in terms of Joint
Rule 160:
(i) Special Pensions Amendment Bill [B 3 - 2003] (National
Assembly - sec 75) [Explanatory summary of Bill and prior
notice of its introduction published in Government Gazette
No 24196 of 18 December 2002.]
(ii) Government Employees Pension Law Amendment Bill [B 4 -
2003] (National Assembly - sec 75) [Explanatory summary of
Bill and prior notice of its introduction published in
Government Gazette No 24196 of 18 December 2002.]
The Bills have been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Finance
of the National Assembly.
In terms of Joint Rule 154 written views on the classification of
the Bills may be submitted to the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM)
within three parliamentary working days.
- Draft Bills submitted in terms of Joint Rule 159:
(1) Public Protector Amendment Bill, 2003, submitted by the Minister
for Justice and Constitutional Development on 20 January 2003.
Referred to the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional
Development and the Select Committee on Security and
Constitutional Affairs.
(2) National Ports Authority Bill, 2003, submitted by the Minister
of Transport on 17 January 2003. Referred to the Portfolio
Committee on Transport and the Select Committee on Public
Services.
MONDAY, 3 FEBRUARY 2003
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
- Classification of Bills by Joint Tagging Mechanism:
(1) The Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) on 31 January 2003 in terms of
Joint Rule 160(3), classified the following Bills as section 75
Bills:
(i) Usury Amendment Bill [B 1 - 2003] (National Assembly - sec
75).
(ii) Judicial Matters Amendment Bill [B 2 - 2003] (National
Assembly - sec 75).
(iii) Special Pensions Amendment Bill [B 3 - 2003] (National
Assembly - sec 75).
(iv) Government Employees Pension Law Amendment Bill [B 4 -
2003] (National Assembly - sec 75).
National Assembly:
- Membership of Assembly:
The following member vacated his seat in the National Assembly with
effect from 1 February 2003:
Scott, M I.
- Referrals to committees of tabled papers:
(1) The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on
Transport.
Report and Financial Statements of the Civil Aviation Authority
for 2001-2002.
(2) The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on
Social Development. The Report of the Auditor-General contained in
the following report is referred to the Standing Committee on
Public Accounts for consideration and report:
Report and Financial Statements of the National Development Agency
for 2001-2002, including the Report of the Auditor-General on the
Financial Statements for 2001-2002 [RP 183-2002].
(3) The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on
Provincial and Local Government and to the Standing Committee on
Public Accounts:
Letter from the Minister for Provincial and Local Government,
tabled in terms of section 65(2)(a) of the Public Finance
Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of 1999), explaining the reasons
for the late tabling of the following annual reports:
(a) Annual Report of the Department of Provincial and Local
Government;
(b) Municipal Infrastructure Investment Unit; and
(c) Municipal Demarcation Board.
(4) The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on
Public Enterprises and to the Standing Committee on Public
Accounts:
Letter from the Minister of Public Enterprises, tabled in terms of
section 65(2)(a) of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act
No 1 of 1999), giving reasons for the late tabling of annual
reports of Aventura and Alexkor.
(5) The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on
Finance and to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts:
Letter from the Minister of Finance, tabled in terms of section
65(2)(a) of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of
1999), explaining the reasons for the late tabling of the annual
reports of Statistics South Africa and the Public Investment
Commissioners.
(6) The following papers are referred to the Portfolio Committee on
Agriculture and Land Affairs:
(a) Report and Financial Statements of the South African
Veterinary Council for 2001-2002.
(b) Report and Financial Statements of the Ncera Farms (Pty)
Limited for 2001-2002.
(7) The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on
Foreign Affairs and to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts:
Letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, tabled in terms of
section 65(2)(a) of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act
No 1 of 1999), explaining reasons for the late tabling of the
annual report of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
(8) The following papers are referred to the Standing Committee on
Public Accounts:
(a) Resolutions of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
for 2002 and replies thereto obtained by the National Treasury
- Thirteen, Eighteen and Twenty-third Reports, 2002.
(b) Resolutions of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
for 2002 and replies thereto obtained by the National Treasury
- Sixth, Ninth and Twentieth Reports, 2002.
(c) Report of the Auditor-General on the Special Investigation
of the Coega Project [RP 169-2002].
(d) General Report on the Audit Outcomes for 2001-2002 [RP 226-
2002].
(9) The following papers are referred to the Portfolio Committee on
Finance:
(a) Annual Report of the Registrar of Unit Trust Companies for
the year ended 31 December 2001.
(b) Report of the Registrar of Pension Funds for 2001.
(c) Rider No 2 to Financing Agreement between the Government
of the Republic of South Africa and the European Community
concerning the strengthening of Local Governments in
Mpumalanga and the Northern Province, tabled in terms of
section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.
(d) Rider No 5 to Financing Agreement between the Government
of the Republic of South Africa and the European Community
concerning Technical Support to the Department of Education,
tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.
(e) Financing Agreement between the Government of the Republic
of South Africa and the European Community concerning the
Private Sector Support Programme Risk Capital Facility, tabled
in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.
(f) Specific Agreement between the Government of the Republic
of South Africa and the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium
on the Creation of a Study and Consultancy Fund, tabled in
terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.
(g) Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South
Africa and the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg on
Development Co-operation, tabled in terms of section 231(3) of
the Constitution, 1996.
(h) Rider No 3 to Financing Agreement between the Government
of the Republic of South Africa and the European Community
concerning the Trade and Industry Policy Support Programme,
tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.
(i) Rider No 3 to Financing Agreement between the Government
of the Republic of South Africa and the European Community
concerning the Cato Manor Development Programme, tabled in
terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.
(j) Rider No 4 to Financing Agreement between the Government
of the Republic of South Africa and the European Community
concerning the Trade and Investment Development Programme,
tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.
(k) Agreement Regulating Technical Assistance between the
Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Government
of the Kingdom of Belgium, tabled in terms of section 231(3)
of the Constitution, 1996.
(l) Proclamation No R 71 published in Government Gazette No
23894 dated 30 September 2002: Date of coming into operation
of sections 40(1) and 41(1), made in terms of the Revenue Laws
Amendment Act, 2001 (Act No 19 of 2001).
(m) Government Notice No 1362 published in Government Gazette
No 24010 dated 30 October 2002: Statements of the National and
Provincial Governments' Revenue, Expenditure and National
Borrowing as at 30 September 2002, made in terms of section 32
of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of 1999).
(n) Government Notice No 1350 published in Government Gazette
No 23994 dated 31 October 2002: Amendment of the Rules of the
Government Employees Pension Fund, made in terms of the
Government Employees Pension Law, 1996 (Proclamation No 21 of
1996).
(o) Government Notice No 1351 published in Government Gazette
No 23994 dated 1 November 2002: Exchange Control Regulations:
Cancellation of an appointment of an authorised dealer in
foreign exchange: International Bank of Southern Africa
Limited, made in terms of the Currency and Exchanges Act, 1933
(Act No 9 of 1933).
(p) Government Notice No 1352 published in Government Gazette
No 23997 dated 1 November 2002: Cancellation and appointment
of an authorised dealer in foreign exchange: Morgan Guaranty
Trust Company of New York and J P Morgan Chase Bank
(Johannesburg Branch), made in terms of the Currency and
Exchanges Act, 1933 (Act No 9 of 1933).
(q) Government Notice No 1379 published in Government Gazette
No 24022 dated 4 November 2002: Framework for Supply Chain
Management, made in terms of section 78 of the Public Finance
Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of 1999).
(r) Regulations made in terms of section 77 of the Financial
Centre Act, 2001 (Act No 38 of 2001), tabled in terms of
section 77(4) of the Act.
(10) The following paper is referred to the Joint Monitoring
Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of
Children, Youth and Disabled Persons. The Report of the Auditor-
General contained in the following report is referred to the
Standing Committee on Public Accounts for consideration and
report:
Report and Financial Statements of the National Youth Commission
for 2000-2001, including the Report of the Auditor-General on the
Financial Statements for 2000-2001.
(11) The following papers are referred to the Portfolio Committee on
Trade and Industry:
(a) Report and Financial Statements of the Industrial
Development Corporation of South Africa Limited for 2001-2002.
(b) Report and Financial Statements of Khula Enterprise
Finance Limited for 2001-2002.
(12) The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on
Education. The Report of the Auditor-General contained in the
following report is referred to the Standing Committee on Public
Accounts for consideration and report:
Report and Financial Statements of the Council on Higher Education
for 2001-2002, including the Report of the Auditor-General on the
Financial Statements for 2001-2002.
(13) The following papers are referred to the Portfolio Committee on
Education:
(a) Government Notice No 887 published in Government Gazette
No 23557 dated 25 June 2002: Appointment of members to serve
on the Ministerial Project Committee to investigate and advise
on the suitability of the current system of differentiation,
namely Standard and Higher Grade in the Senior Certificate
Examination, made in terms of section 3(4)(l) of the National
Education Policy Act, 1996 (Act No 27 of 1996).
(b) Government Notice No 1269 published in Government Gazette
No 23920 dated 7 October 2002: Appointment of members to serve
on the Ministerial Project Committee to investigate the
possibilities and processes regarding the integration of
senior secondary schools into the Further Education and
Training (FET) system with special reference to funding and
governance, made in terms of section 3(4)(l) of the National
Education Policy Act, 1996 (Act No 27 of 1996).
(c) Government Notice No 1335 published in Government Gazette
No 23988 dated 28 October 2002: Development of a National
Curriculum Statement Grade 10-12 (Schools): Call for written
submissions from stakeholders, bodies and members of the
public, made in terms of section 3(4)(l) of the National
Education Policy Act, 1996 (Act No 27 of 1996).
(14) The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on
Housing. The Report of the Auditor-General contained in the
following report is referred to the Standing Committee on Public
Accounts for consideration and report:
Report and Financial Statements of the National Home Builders
Registration Council for 2001-2002, including the Report of the
Auditor-General on the Financial Statements for 2001-2002 [RP 171-
2002].
(15) The following papers are referred to the Portfolio Committee on
Housing:
(a) Report and Financial Statements of the National Housing
Finance Corporation Limited for 2001-2002.
(b) Report and Financial Statements of the Social Housing
Foundation for 2001-2002.
(c) Report and Financial Statements of the National Urban
Reconstruction and Housing Agency for 2001-2002.
(d) Report and Financial Statements of Servcon Housing
Solutions (Proprietary) Limited for 2001-2002.
(16) The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on
Education and to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts:
Letter from the Minister of Education, tabled in terms of section
65(2)(a) of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of
1999), explaining the delay in the late tabling of the annual
report of the Council for Higher Education.
TABLINGS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces: Papers:
- The Minister of Finance:
(a) Proclamation No R 81 published in Government Gazette No 24075
dated 15 November 2002: Commencement of the Financial Advisory and
Intermediary Services Act, 2002 (Act No 37 of 2002).
(b) Proclamation No R 85 published in Government Gazette No 24143
dated 13 December 2002: Commencement of section 51(1), made in
terms of section 51(2) of the Revenue Laws Amendment Act, 2001
(Act No 19 of 2001).
(c) Government Notice No R 1595 published in Government Gazette No
24176 dated 20 December 2002: Regulations in terms of the
Financial Intelligence Centre Act, 2001 (Act No 38 of 2001).
(d) Government Notice No R 1464 published in Government Gazette No
24088 dated 22 November 2002: Amendment of Regulations in terms of
section 90 of the Banks Act, 1990 (Act No 94 of 1990).
(e) Government Notice No R 1465 published in Government Gazette No
24088 dated 22 November 2002: Amendment of Regulations in terms of
section 90 of the Banks Act, 1990 (Act No 94 of 1990).
(f) Government Notice No 1511 published in Government Gazette No
24131 dated 29 November 2002: Approval of allocations in terms of
section 9(1) of the Division of Revenue Act, 2002 (Act No 5 of
2002).
(g) Government Notice No 1513 published in Government Gazette No
24132 dated 29 November 2002: Statement of the National Revenue,
Expenditure and Borrowing as at 31 October 2002, in terms of
section 32 of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of
1999).
(h) Government Notice No 3464 published in Government Gazette No
24220 dated 30 December 2002: Statement of the National Revenue,
Expenditure and Borrowing as at 30 November 2002, in terms of the
Adjustments Appropriation Act, 2002 (Act No 73 of 2002).
- The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism:
Report and Financial Statements of the National Botanical Institute for
2001-2002, including the Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial
Statements for 2001-2002.
National Assembly:
Papers:
- The Speaker:
(1) Letter dated 29 October 2002 from the Minister in the Presidency
to the Speaker, tabled in terms of section 65(2)(a) of the Public
Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of 1999), explaining the
delay in the tabling of the Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the Presidency and the National Youth Commission:
Dear Dr Ginwala
I hereby would like, in terms of section 65 of the Public Finance
Management Act (1999), to furnish you with information regarding
the delays in the publication and tabling of the Annual Report and
Financial Statements for the Presidency and the National Youth
Commission for 2001/2 financial year.
The Presidency's Financial Statements and Annual Report for this
period have been completed, but due to unfortunate delays in the
printing processes, will be tabled in the National Assembly during
the first week of November 2002.
With regard to the Financial Statements and Annual report of the
National Youth Commission (NYC) for this period, I have been
notified by the Commission that the Accounting Authority withdrew
the 2001/2 financial statements. This was done to allow for
corrections in the VAT positions of the NYC. The NYC is of the
view that the audit opinion on the NYC would be incomplete in the
absence of incorporating these corrections.
Your kind understanding in this regard is appreciated.
Regards
Essop Pahad, MP
MINISTER
(2) Letter dated 29 November 2002 from the Minister of Arts,
Culture, Science and Technology to the Speaker, tabled in terms of
section 65(2)(a) of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act
No 1 of 1999):
Dear Dr Ginwala
Explanation for the late tabling of Science Council Annual Reports
in accordance with section 65(2)(a) of the Public Finance
Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of 1999)
In terms of section 65(1)(a) of the above Act, the annual reports
and financial statements, and the audit reports on those
statements, were tabled late by the science councils listed below.
1. The Human Sciences Research Council tabled its report on 21
October 2002.
2. The Africa Institute of South Africa tabled its report on 30
October 2002.
3. The National Research Foundation tabled its report on 5
November 2002.
4. The Foundation for Education, Science and Technology tabled its
report on 5 November 2002.
MINISTER
(3) Letter dated 3 December 2002 from the Minister of Trade and
Industry to the Speaker, tabled in terms of section 65(2)(a) of
the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of 1999),
explaining the delay in the tabling of the Annual Report for the
Department of Trade and Industry:
Dear Dr Ginwala
In terms of section 65(2)(a) of the Public Finance Management Act,
1999, I wish to inform Parliament that the DTI's Annual Report was
not tabled within the timeframes provided in the PFMA Act, 1999.
The report was due on 30 September 2002 and my department tabled
the report on 22 October 2002. The late tabling was due to delays
in the editing and printing of the report.
I sincerely apologize for the delay.
Yours sincerely
Mr Alec Erwin
MINISTER
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
National Assembly:
-
Report of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Land Affairs on the Deeds Registries Amendment Bill [B 65 - 2002] (National Assembly - sec 75), dated 24 January 2003:
The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Land Affairs, having considered the subject of the Deeds Registries Amendment Bill [B 65 - 2002] (National Assembly - sec 75), referred to it and classified by the Joint Tagging Mechanism as a section 75 Bill, reports the Bill with amendments [B 65A - 2002].
-
Report of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development on the National Development Agency Amendment Bill [B 70 - 2002] (National Assembly - sec 75), dated 24 January 2003:
The Portfolio Committee on Social Development, having considered the subject of the National Development Agency Amendment Bill [B 70 - 2002] (National Assembly - sec 75), referred to it and classified by the Joint Tagging Mechanism as a section 75 Bill, reports the Bill with amendments [B 70A - 2002].
TUESDAY, 4 FEBRUARY 2003
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
- The Speaker and the Chairperson report to their respective Houses:
A serious allegation was made against the Presiding Officers at the
meeting of the Joint Rules Committee on Tuesday, 4 February 2003. In
terms of Joint Rule 30, as this allegation was made against the
Presiding Officers, it is being reported directly to the House for its
attention.
The unrevised transcript of the relevant proceedings is as follows:
Mr J H DE LANGE: Thank you. I want to address just one issue and
that is the so-called "critical issue" raised by Minister Manuel
in b). We all know that it was not Minister Manuel who raised the
point. We know that the Presiding Officers hold that view, which I
think is rather - factually and legally ...
The SPEAKER: Sorry, could you speak into the microphone?
Mr J H DE LANGE: Sorry?
The SPEAKER: Could you speak into the microphone. You do not need
to look at us.
Mr J H DE LANGE: Must I start again?
As I said, I am addressing the second so-called "critical issue"
that Minister Manuel raises, and which we know is not Minister
Manuel's issue. It is the issue of the Presiding Officers, because
that is the view they hold ...
The SPEAKER: I am sorry. Could you explain that?
Mr J H DE LANGE: We know that the two of you, Presiding Officers,
hold this view and we know how you feel on these matters. Clearly,
you raised it with Minister Manuel and now it is given to us in
the form of them wanting to raise it with us.
I do not think we should beat about the bush. We all know that
this is the point of view you hold. Of course, the rest of us
disagree totally with that and that is why the rules are
different, as Mrs Seaton has spoken.
I want to make the point here that, factually and legally, this
position is wrong. Firstly, not the Joint Rules Committee or any
committee in Parliament makes decisions. You yourself, Madam
Speaker, remind us of that all the time. You remind us that no
committee, and that includes the Joint Rules Committee, has any
power in terms of the Constitution to make decisions. We know how
it works. This Rules Committee decides on matters and then there
is a clause in the ATC which says that this is a report from the
Rules Committee. The House adopts it and if the House does not
raise any issue, it is the position of the House, not of the Rules
Committee or of any committee of Parliament. So it is factually
incorrect to say that.
Secondly, factually the legal position is also incorrectly stated.
All that has happened through the Rules Committee - we have said
this many times, but clearly there is a difference of opinion on
this - is that we have created a process whereby members of
Parliament can participate in a process of having a say in the
running of their own Parliament. That is all we have done. At no
stage do we make decisions as subcommittees. We make
recommendations to the Rules Committee. At no stage does the Rules
Committee make decisions. It is Parliament that makes these
decisions.
Secondly, the Rules do not change the position in the Powers and
Privileges of Parliament Act. Legally that is the situation.
Legally - and Madam Speaker and the Chairperson know this - that
Act stands and it makes the Secretary the accounting officer,
subject to being overruled by the Presiding Officers, and in
particular ÿ.ÿ.ÿ. In the Act the word is "the Speaker". Legally
the situation is that ultimately the accounting officer remains
the Secretary, with the Presiding Officers having the overruling
power.
The processes that we participate in through the Rules Committee
and the subcommittees is, of course, that we in Parliament say
what we want, but ultimately the Speaker and the Secretary to
Parliament put forward the budget. It is very clear legally that
that is the situation. Of course, you can ignore what we tell you
in the Rules Committee. You can ignore that, because legally you
have the power to be the accounting officer in the manner that I
have spelt out.
I think, firstly, that we can have differences of opinion. That is
no problem. But let us at least take the thing factually. I know
this type of thing. You keep raising it as, "Well, now, a
committee is not an executive authority". It is done, of course,
to be quite emotional about the thing and say, "Well, how is a
committee an executive authority?" A committee can never be an
executive authority, and we know that. Legally it is not like
that, until the Powers and Privileges of Parliament Act changes.
But what we have done, through changing the Rules, is that it
cannot be that the Speaker herself just decides what the policies
of Parliament are. We have created a process whereby we can
participate, but of course the Presiding Officers ultimately
decide how to do that. Of course, if they want to ignore it they
can, but there are things that can happen then. So, really, let us
have this difference of opinion if we want to, but let us not deal
with it in this way.
This is really unfortunate ... to raise it with the Minister and
then the Minister telling us to fix it up. It is just not ... It
is actually just ... Well, let me rather not say it. I want to
make the point that the two of you have that position, and that is
fine. The rest of us disagree.
The SPEAKER: Mr de Lange, before I give the floor to anyone else,
you have alleged that this was raised with Mr Manuel by the
Presiding Officers. You will either substantiate that or withdraw
it. You are entitled to your opinion. I do not have a problem with
that. But to make an allegation like that in this committee, you
will have to withdraw or substantiate it.
Mr J H DE LANGE: Well, I will speak to Mr Manuel and I will see
what he ...
The SPEAKER: No! You will do it here.
Mr J H DE LANGE: No, I will not do it now, because I have to speak
to Mr Manuel. I am not going to withdraw anything that I do not
have proof of.
The SPEAKER: This meeting is adjourned. I will not preside over a
meeting in which that kind of allegation is made.
Mr J H DE LANGE: Well, fine!
- Introduction of Bills:
(1) The following Bill was introduced by the Acting Minister of
Transport in the National Assembly on 4 February 2003 and referred
to the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) for classification in terms
of Joint Rule 160:
(i) National Ports Authority Bill [B 5 - 2003] (National
Assembly - sec 75) [Explanatory summary of Bill and prior
notice of its introduction published in Government Gazette No
24261 of 17 January 2003.]
The Bill has been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Transport
of the National Assembly.
In terms of Joint Rule 154 written views on the classification of
the Bill may be submitted to the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM)
within three parliamentary working days.
- Draft Bills submitted in terms of Joint Rule 159:
(1) Local Government: Property Rates Bill, 2003, submitted by the
Minister for Provincial and Local Government on 16 January 2003.
Referred to the Portfolio Committee on Provincial and Local
Government and the Select Committee on Local Government and
Administration.
National Assembly:
- The Speaker:
Hours of Sitting
In terms of the powers vested in me in Rule 2 to give a ruling in
respect of unforeseen eventualities, I rule that notwithstanding the
hours of sitting provided for in Rule 23, the House commence sitting at
10:00 on Monday, 17 February 2003, and 09:00 on Tuesday, 18 February
2003, for purposes of the debate on the President's state-of-the-nation
address, as decided by the Programme Committee on 23 January 2003.
FRIDAY, 7 FEBRUARY 2003
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
- Introduction of Bills:
(1) The following Bill was introduced by the Minister for Justice
and Constitutional Development in the National Assembly on 6
February 2003 and referred to the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM)
for classification in terms of Joint Rule 160:
(i) Public Protector Amendment Bill [B 6 - 2003] (National
Assembly - sec 75) [Explanatory summary of Bill and prior
notice of its introduction published in Government Gazette No
23966 of 21 October 2002.]
The Bill has been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Justice
and Constitutional Development of the National Assembly.
In terms of Joint Rule 154 written views on the classification of
the Bill may be submitted to the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM)
within three parliamentary working days.
National Assembly:
- Membership of Assembly:
(1) The following member will be vacating his seat in the National
Assembly with effect from 1 April 2003:
Mothiba, Kgoshi L C.
(2) The following member vacated her seat in the National Assembly
with effect from 1 February 2003:
Gandhi, E.
TUESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2003
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
- Introduction of Bills:
(1) The following Bill was introduced by the Minister of Minerals
and Energy in the National Assembly on 11 February 2003 and
referred to the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) for classification
in terms of Joint Rule 160:
(i) Geoscience Amendment Bill [B 7 - 2003] (National Assembly
- sec 75) [Bill and prior notice of its introduction published
in Government Gazette No 24338 of 31 January 2003.]
The Bill has been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Minerals
and Energy of the National Assembly.
In terms of Joint Rule 154 written views on the classification of
the Bill may be submitted to the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM)
within three parliamentary working days.
- Draft Bills submitted in terms of Joint Rule 159: (1) Banks Amendment Bill, 2003, submitted by the Minister of Finance on 28 January 2003. Referred to the Portfolio Committee on Finance and the Select Committee on Finance.
(2) Geoscience Amendment Bill, 2003, submitted by the Minister of
Minerals and Energy on 3 February 2003. Referred to the Portfolio
Committee on Minerals and Energy and the Select Committee on
Economic and Foreign Affairs.
TABLINGS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
Papers:
- The Speaker and the Chairperson:
Interim Report of Joint Subcommittee on Delegated Legislation on
Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation (published in terms of a decision of
the Joint Rules Committee on 29 October 2002).
The report is also available on the parliamentary website at
www.parliament.gov.za
- The Minister of Trade and Industry:
(a) Report and Financial Statements of the Board on Tariffs and
Trade for the period 1 January 2001 to 31 March 2002.
(b) Report of the South African Council for the Non-Proliferation of
Weapons of Mass Destruction for the period 1 July 1999 to 30 June
2000.
(c) Report and Financial Statements of Trade and Investment South
Africa for 2001-2002.
- The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism:
Report and Financial Statements of South African National Parks for
2001-2002, including the Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial
Statements for 2001-2002.
National Assembly: Papers:
- The Speaker:
(a) Interim Report of the Special Investigating Unit for the period
1 April 2002 to 30 September 2002.
(b) Letter dated 23 January 2003 from the Minister of Sport and
Recreation to the Speaker, tabled in terms of section 65(2)(a) of
the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of 1999),
explaining the delay in the tabling of the Annual Report of the
South African Sports Commission:
Dear Madam
In your "Special Report on the delays in the tabling of annual
reports for the financial year 2001-2002" the SASC was cited for
tabling their annual report late. As such, it is required of me as
the Executive Authority to provide an explanation for the late
submission of such reports by entities under my jurisdiction.
I have requested the CEO of the SASC to provide me with an
explanation for the late submission of their report. I received a
letter from Dr. M J Phaahla, CEO of the SASC, on the matter, which
I am attaching herewith for your information.
Dr Phaahla, as you will note in his correspondence, indicate that
the main reason why the report was tabled late was due to the
inability of the printers that they commissioned to deliver on
time. You will also note that Dr Phaahla, on behalf of the
chairperson of the SASC, Mr Gideon Sam, and the members of the
SASC Board, apologise for the unfortunate delay and express their
assurance that in future they will avoid this kind of unforeseen
embarrassment.
Should you need any further information, please do not hesitate to
contact my office.
Kind regards
B M N Balfour, MP
MINISTER
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
National Assembly:
-
Report of the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry on the Usury Amendment Bill [B 1 - 2003] (National Assembly - sec 75), dated 5 February 2003:
The Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, having considered the subject of the Usury Amendment Bill [B 1 - 2003 (National Assembly - sec 75), referred to it and classified by the Joint Tagging Mechanism as a section 75 Bill, reports the Bill without amendment.
WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2003
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
- Assent by President in respect of Bills: (1) Promotion of Administrative Justice Amendment Bill [B 46B - 2002] (National Assembly - sec 75) - Act No 53 of 2002 (assented to and signed by President on 30 January 2003);
(2) Broadcasting Amendment Bill [B 34D - 2002] (National Assembly -
sec 75) - Act No 64 of 2002 (assented to and signed by President
on 29 January 2003);
(3) Intelligence Services Bill [B 58D - 2002] (National Assembly -
sec 75) - Act No 65 of 2002 (assented to and signed by President
on 30 January 2003);
(4) Intelligence Services Control Amendment Bill [B 50D - 2002]
(National Assembly - sec 75) - Act No 66 of 2002 (assented to and
signed by President on 30 January 2003);
(5) National Strategic Intelligence Amendment Bill [B 51D - 2002]
(National Assembly - sec 75) - Act No 67 of 2002 (assented to and
signed by President on 30 January 2003); and
(6) Electronic Communications Security (Pty) Ltd Bill [B 59D - 2002]
(National Assembly - sec 75) - Act No 68 of 2002 (assented to and
signed by President on 30 January 2003).
National Assembly:
- Membership of Assembly:
A vacancy has occurred in the National Assembly owing to the death of
the following member on 5 February 2003:
Maphalala, M A.
TABLINGS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
Papers:
- The Minister of Finance:
Government Notice No 79 published in Government Gazette No 24238 dated
7 January 2003: Adjustment to Local Government Allocations - 2002/2003,
made in terms of the Division of Revenue Act, 2002 (Act No 5 of 2002).
- The Minister of Minerals and Energy:
Financial Statements of the South African Diamond Board for 2001-2002,
including the Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements
for 2001-2002 [RP 126-2002].
National Assembly:
Papers:
- The Speaker:
Letter dated 12 February 2003 from the Minister of Minerals and Energy
to the Speaker, tabled in terms of section 65(2)(a) of the Public
Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of 1999), explaining the delay
in the tabling of the Annual Financial Statements of the South African
Diamond Board:
Dear Madam Speaker
Please be advised that the Annual Financial Statements of the South
African Diamond Board for the year ending on 31 March 2002 were not
submitted to the Department for tabling in Parliament in compliance
with Section 40(1)(e) of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act
No 1 of 1999) due to delays caused by structural changes such as:
1. The sudden resignation of the financial manager a month before
the Financial Year End.
2. The absence of the financial accountant due to ill health from
February to April 2002.
3. The suspension of the Chief Executive Officer.
As a result the Chairman of the Board requested for the extension of
the Audit from 31 May 2002 to 31 July 2002, which led to the issuing of
the Audit Report a month after the official due date of 31 August 2002.
This letter, therefore, serves to request for the tabling of the Annual
Financial Statements of the South African Diamond Board in Parliament
without further delay.
Please accept my sincere apology for the delay and the inconvenience
this may have caused.
Kind regards
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
MINISTER OF MINERALS AND ENERGY
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
National Assembly:
-
Report of the Portfolio Committee on Communications on the Filling of a Vacancy on the Council of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, dated 4 February 2003:
The Portfolio Committee on Communications, having considered the matter of the filling of a vacancy on the Council of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, referred to it, reports as follows:
The Committee invited the public to nominate persons for consideration and recommendation to the President for filling a vacancy. Nominations and applications were received from 24 candidates. Some of them were not considered as they did not meet the requirements as prescribed by law, and as stipulated in the advertisements.
The Committee met on 21 January 2003 to consider the nominees, and agreed unanimously that the following persons be shortlisted and interviewed on 4 February 2003:
- Ms T Cohen
- Dr B Dumisa
- Mr A H A Karrim
- Mr G Petrick
Mr Karrim withdrew his nomination.
After having considered the shortlist and after having interviewed the remaining three candidates, the Committee recommends that the House, in accordance with section 5 of the Act, makes a recommendation to the President that Mr G Petrick be appointed as councillor to Icasa.
The Committee also discussed section 9(2)(b) of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa Act, No 13 of 2000, which provides that “Any councillor appointed under this subsection holds office for the rest of the period of the predecessor’s term of office, unless the National Assembly directs that such councillor holds office for a longer period which may not exceed four years”.
Report to be considered.
THURSDAY, 13 FEBRUARY 2003
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
National Assembly:
- The Speaker:
MEMBERS' STATEMENTS AND NOTICES OF MOTION
Introduction
The Rules Committee, at its meeting on 14 August 2002, agreed to
operationalise the Rule on members' statements (Rule 105), with
amendments as required. The Chief Whips' Forum was requested to agree
on the wording of the Rule and to propose implementation guidelines for
members statements and notices of motion, which would be restored for
their specific purpose of enabling members to initiate business for
consideration or decision by the House where that was the express
intention.
In its report to the Programme Committee on 14 November 2002, the Chief
Whips' Forum presented guidelines for members' statements and for
notices of motion, and proposed that -
- members' statements be introduced for a trial period,
commencing with the first term of 2003;
- the process be monitored in terms of the identified objectives
by a small committee of the Chief Whips' Forum; and
- following a final review at the end of the first term, the Rule
be appropriately adjusted and put to the House for adoption.
These proposals were approved by the Programme Committee and it agreed
that the guidelines would be published in the ATC for members'
information.
Implementation of members' statements
1. The order of party rotation will be the same as the current
order of rotation for notices of motion. That order is: ANC; DP;
IFP; ANC; New NP; UDM; ANC; smaller party; smaller party, ANC, DP,
etc.
2. The sequence will start at the beginning on each day that
members' statements are made.
3. Notices of motion and motions without notice will be called for
daily at the start of proceedings, except for question days when
they are taken at the conclusion of questions. They will be
followed by members' statements on the days on which members'
statements are made.
4. The actual amount of time allocated to members' statements is as
follows:
a. Fourteen (14) members' statements will be accommodated at 1½
minutes per statement.
b. A maximum of five (5) Ministers will be given an opportunity to
respond for 2 minutes each. The opportunity for Ministers to
respond will follow after the expiry of members' time.
5. Statements will regularly be taken on Tuesdays and Thursdays,
and on Fridays when the House sits on a Friday. On certain days
members' statements can be dispensed with by agreement in the
Programme Committee.
Guidelines on members' statements
1. Members' statements may cover any subject which a member wishes
to raise relevant to the national sphere of government, including
topical international and national issues and constituents'
matters.
2. The normal rules of debate apply, including -
a. Unparliamentary language.
b. Sub judice rule.
c. Reflections on judges and other specified public office-bearers
(Rule 66).
d. Allegations against other members require a substantive motion.
3. Statements need not be submitted in writing and are recorded in
Hansard.
4. As with speeches, a member's statement is concluded when his/her
time expires.
Restoring notices of motion
1. The Rules provide for two types of motion to come before the
House:
a. Subjects for discussion (debate only).
b. Draft resolutions for consideration (decision with or without
debate).
2. Most motions require advance notice, except for a few formal
ones for which the Rules specifically provide.
3. To restore notices of motion to their original purpose, they
will be required to comply with agreed guidelines or criteria, as
set out below.
4. The Rules provide an additional safeguard in that they provide
that the Speaker may amend or otherwise deal with any notice of
motion which offends against the practice or these Rules (Rule
100).
Guidelines for notices of motion
1. Notices of motion should be limited to matters which members
specifically intend should be brought before the House for debate
or decision.
2. Notice can be given verbally in the House or in writing.
3. Subjects for discussion
The wording of a subject for discussion should be limited to
identifying the topic. The topic should be clearly established.
The wording determines the scope and focus of the debate. A topic
that is too vague or broad will lead to an unstructured general
debate.
4. Draft resolutions
Generally, draft resolutions should be short and succinct and
framed so as to express with as much clarity as possible the
distinct opinion or decision of the House.
5. A draft resolution must deal with matters within the competence
of the National Assembly.
6. It should deal with only one substantive matter.
7. It must consist of a clear and succinct proposed resolution or
order of the House. Any extraneous matter meant to motivate a
decision should be omitted, and can be put forward when the member
introduces the motion in the House.
8. It must not contain statements, quotations or other matters not
strictly necessary to make the proposed resolution or order
intelligible.
9. The Rule of Anticipation will apply. A notice of motion on the
Order Paper on a particular topic will therefore block all other
notices on substantively the same topic.
10. It may not be the same in substance as a draft resolution that
has been approved or rejected during the same session (Rule 95).
11. It may not contain unbecoming or offensive expressions.
12. It may not issue an instruction to the executive.
13. It should observe the principles of co-operative government
(Chapter 3 of the Constitution).
14. A signed written copy must be handed to the Table immediately
after notice has been given in the House.
Scheduling motions in the programme
1. Notices of motion, once given, are printed on the Order Paper
under "Further Business." The Programme Committee considers all
business on the Order Paper and decides which business to
schedule. Parties can therefore seek to have a notice of motion
scheduled through their party representatives on that committee.
2. The Chief Whips' Forum provides a further opportunity for
parties to canvass support to have a notice of motion scheduled by
the Programme Committee.
TABLINGS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
Papers:
- The Minister of Foreign Affairs:
(a) Protocol relating to the Establishing of the Peace and Security
Council of the African Union, tabled in terms of section 231(2) of
the Constitution, 1996.
(b) Explanatory Memorandum to the Protocol.
- The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development:
(a) Proclamation No R 84 published in Government Gazette No 24111
dated 29 November 2002: Commencement of sections 14 and 23 of the
Debt Collectors Act, 1998 (Act No 114 of 1998), made in terms of
the Act.
(b) Government Notice No R 1501 published in Government Gazette No
24120 dated 3 December 2002: Amendment of the regulations for the
administration and distribution of estates, made in terms of the
Black Administration Act, 1927 (Act No 38 of 1927).
(c) Government Notice No R 1580 published in Government Gazette No
24178 dated 13 December 2002: Scale of fees payable in respect of
matters referred to in section 80 of the Attorneys Act, 1979 (Act
No 53 of 1979), made in terms of the Act.
(d) Proclamation No R 2 published in Government Gazette No 24321
dated 31 January 2003: Referral of Matters to existing Special
Investigating Units and Special Tribunal, made in terms of the
Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act, 1996 (Act
No 74 of 1996).
FRIDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2003
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
- Assent by President in respect of Bills:
(1) National Conventional Arms Control Bill [B 50D - 2000] (National
Assembly - sec 75) - Act No 41 of 2002 (assented to and signed by
President on 12 February 2003);
(2) Defence Bill [B 60B - 2001] (National Assembly - sec 75) - Act
No 42 of 2002 (assented to and signed by President on 12 February
2003); and
(3) Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Amendment
Bill [B 42D - 2002] (National Assembly - sec 76) - Act No 72 of
2002 (assented to and signed by President on 12 February 2003).
TABLINGS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
Papers:
- The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development:
Draft Regulations made in terms of the Recognition of Customary
Marriages Act, 1998 (Act No 120 of 1998).
- The Minister of Public Works:
@ your Service department of public works december 2002. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
- Mr G Q M Doidge and Ms S N Ntlabati, as Acting Co-Chairpersons, presented the First Report of the Joint Rules Committee, dated 5 February 2003, as follows:
The Joint Rules Committee at the request of parties met on Wednesday, 5
February 2003, after it was adjourned before concluding its business on
4 February when the hon Adv J H de Lange made an allegation in the
Committee against the Presiding Officers which he did not either
substantiate or withdraw when called upon to do so.
The Speaker and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces,
as Co-Chairpersons, took the chair whereupon the Speaker requested the
Committee to elect chairpersons for the purpose of conducting the
meeting. Mr G Q M Doidge and Ms S N Ntlabati were duly elected as
Acting Co-Chairpersons.
The hon Adv De Lange was then given an opportunity to make a statement,
and did so in the following terms:
Mr J H DE LANGE: I would like to make a statement dealing with the
retraction of those remarks made by me at that joint meeting
yesterday, 4 February. I would like to say that I regret having
made those remarks and I withdraw them unconditionally. I
obviously apologise to this Committee for any inconvenience that I
may have caused in the process.
The Committee accepted the statement and agreed that it be published in
the next Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports.
In response to an invitation by the Chair to comment on the statement,
the Speaker indicated that she would be reporting on the matter to the
National Assembly and the Chairperson of the National Council of
Provinces noted that the apology was not also specifically directed at
the affected members.
The Committee resolved that the issue had been disposed of.
MONDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2003
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
The Speaker and the Chairperson:
- Translations of Bills submitted:
(1) The Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs:
Wysigingswetsontwerp op Registrasie van Aktes [W 65 - 2002]
(National Assembly - sec 75)
This is the official translation into Afrikaans of the Deeds
Registries Amendment Bill [B 65 - 2002] (National Assembly - sec
75).
- Draft Bills submitted in terms of Joint Rule 159:
(1) Liquor Bill, 2003, submitted by the Minister of Trade and
Industry on 12 February 2003. Referred to the Portfolio Committee
on Trade and Industry and the Select Committee on Economic and
Foreign Affairs.
(2) National Small Business Amendment Bill, 2003, submitted by the
Minister of Trade and Industry on 12 February 2003. Referred to
the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry and the Select
Committee on Economic and Foreign Affairs.
National Assembly:
The Speaker:
- Membership of Joint, Portfolio and House Committees:
Pursuant to the resolution adopted by both the National Assembly and
the National Council of Provinces on 14 November 2002, the following
members have been appointed to the Assembly component of the Joint
Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests:
African National Congress
Chikane, M M
Cronin, J P
Gxowa, N B
Jassat, E E
Landers, L T
Njobe, M A A
Radebe, A B
September, R K
Shilubana, T P
Solomon, G
Democratic Party
Maluleke, D K
Moorcroft, E K
Inkatha Freedom Party
Seaton, S A
New National Party
Blaas, A
United Democratic Movement
Frolick, C T
African Christian Democratic Party
Green, L M
Pan Africanist Congress
De Lille, P
United Christian Democratic Party
Ditshetelo, P H K