TUESDAY, 9 MAY 2000 __

                PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
                                ____

The House met at 14:02.

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

The Deputy Speaker announced that the vacancies caused by the death of Mr M I Vilakazi and the resignations of Ms L A Abrahams and Mr G Rockman, had been filled, in accordance with item 6(3) of Schedule 6 to the Constitution, 1996, by the nomination of Mr R M Moropa and Mr S L Dithebe with effect from 1 May 2000, and Mr M H Fazzie with effect from 3 May 2000, respectively.

                                OATHS

Mr R M Moropa, accompanied by Miss P S Sekgobela and Mrs M P Coetzee- Kasper, made and subscribed the oath and took his seat.

Mr S L Dithebe, accompanied by Miss P S Sekgobela and Mrs M P Coetzee- Kasper, made and subscribed the oath and took his seat.

                         SOLEMN AFFIRMATION

Mr M H Fazzie, accompanied by Miss P S Sekgobela and Mrs M P Coetzee- Kasper, made and subscribed the solemn affirmation and took his seat.

                          NOTICES OF MOTION

Mr M B NTULI: Madam Speaker, I give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:

That the House -

(1) notes the contention of the Leader of the Opposition that ``the most important issue in Zimbabwe is not land, but democracy itself’’;

(2) believes that democracy is not merely the right to vote, but includes equal access to economic opportunity and the redress of inequity brought about through historical injustice;

(3) further believes that if inequity is not addressed through a systematic programme of restitution and redistribution of land, capital and opportunity, democracy cannot be fostered in postcolonial societies; and

(4) commends the South African Government for its focused approach in addressing the very problems that are leading to a breakdown of the rule of law in Zimbabwe, through its policies on land, economic development, workers’ rights …

[Time expired.] [Applause.]

Mr D K MALULEKE: Madam Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the DP:

That the House -

(1) notes that former President Nelson Mandela has asserted great leadership in stating that we must not tolerate tyrants; and

(2) resolves to support President Mandela’s view and his call that we must be ruthless in denouncing such leaders.

[Applause.]

Mrs I MARS: Madam Speaker, I give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the IFP:

That the House -

(1) notes with satisfaction the substantial decrease in fatal road accidents over the Easter period;

(2) commends the provincial and national Government departments for their campaign to curb the carnage on our roads; and

(3) pleads with authorities and the driving public to continue in their efforts to make South African roads safe for all responsible road users.

[Applause.]

Mr E I EBRAHIM: Madam Speaker, I give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:

That the House -

(1) notes the continuing violence in Zimbabwe, resulting in loss of life and destruction of property;

(2) emphasises that violence will not solve the political, social and economic problems of Zimbabwe;

(3) believes that violence will erode the hard-won freedom of the people of Zimbabwe; and

(4) calls on the people of Zimbabwe to work towards the rule of law and peace, including the implementation of the Good Friday agreement of leaders President Chissano of Mozambique, President Sam Nujoma of Namibia, Thabo Mbeki, our President, and President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.

[Applause.]

Mrs S M CAMERER: Madam Speaker, I give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:

That the House -

(1) notes the policy of quiet diplomacy pursued by our President in his dealings with President Robert Mugabe during the past weeks of mayhem, murder and disruption of the democratic process and economy of Zimbabwe;

(2) notes with disgust and dismay that President Mugabe nevertheless continues to associate himself with flagrant and violent violations of human rights, including political and land rights constitutionally guaranteed to Zimbabwean citizens in that country’s declaration of rights; and

(3) urges President Mbeki to follow the example of former President Mandela and reassure South Africa and the world on the issue of his respect for human rights and democracy and his abhorrence of tyranny.

Mr M N RAMODIKE: Madam Speaker, I give notice that at the next sitting of the House I will move on behalf of the UDM:

That the House -

(1) notes -

   (a)  with dismay and grave concern the continuous job losses as a
       result of retrenchments and severance packages;

   (b)  that the Government has failed to honour and implement the
       resolutions on job creation agreed upon at the Presidential Jobs
       Summit; and

   (c)  that failure by the Government to implement these resolutions
       has resulted in a nationwide strike, which will start tomorrow;
       and

(2) calls on the Government and the labour movement to sort out their differences and give urgent attention to the plight of workers in the best interests of the economy of this country.

Mr J D ARENDSE: Madam Speaker, I give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:

That the House -

(1) notes that the Government plans to resettle about 70 000 black commercial farmers on 2 million hectares of land;

(2) further notes that the Land Claims Commission has a programme in place to settle all land claims within five years;

(3) recognises that the land restitution process started immediately after the ANC came to power; and

(4) commends the initiatives taken by the ANC-led Government in addressing the injustices created by the apartheid regime.

[Applause.]

Mrs C DUDLEY: Madam Speaker, I give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ACDP:

That the House -

(1) notes -

   (a)  the incident some weeks ago when a woman employed as a domestic
       worker was savaged by pitbull terriers in KwaZulu-Natal; and

   (b)  that the woman, whose arms were severed from her body, suffered
       various gruesome injuries and has since died in hospital; and

(2) in light of other savage attacks by pitbull terriers on unsuspecting people, calls on the Government to ban these savage dogs from this country urgently, as has been done in the United Kingdom.

Mnr C AUCAMP: Mevrou die Speaker, ek gee hiermee kennis dat ek op die volgende sittingsdag namens die AEB sal voorstel:

Dat die Huis -

(1) die aankondiging van die Adjunkminister vir Landbou en Grondsake dat 2 miljoen hektaar staatsgrond vir swart kommersiële boere beskikbaar gestel gaan word, verwelkom;

(2) erken dat die uiteindelike mikpunt om 15% staatsgrond vir kommersiële landbou beskikbaar te stel te klein is, aangesien ‘n groot deel van die grond in staatsbesit reeds deur die vorige regering vir dié doel aangekoop maar nog nie aangewend is nie;

(3) ernstig daaroor moet besin of 70 000 boere op 2 miljoen hektaar nie te veel is nie, aangesien die gemiddelde grootte van 28 hektaar nie vir kommersiële boerdery voldoende is nie maar bloot vir bestaansboerdery en dat die wagwoord eerder kwaliteit as kwantiteit moet wees;

(4) die feit betreur dat die Regering nie van dié geleentheid gebruik gemaak het om daarmee saam ‘n duidelike verbintenis te gee dat die basiese konstitusionele reg op private besit te alle tye gewaarborg word, en nie volgens die Mugabe-model aangetas sal word nie; en

(5) die Regering versoek om ferm standpunt in te neem teen die dreigemente van plaasbesetting wat reeds in die Noordelike Provinsie en Mpumalanga voorgekom het. (Translation of Afrikaans notice of motion follows.)

[Mr C AUCAMP: Madam Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day, I shall move on behalf of the AEB:

That the House -

(1) welcomes the announcement by the Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs that 2 million hectares of state land are going to be made available to black commercial farmers;

(2) admits that the eventual aim of making available 15% of state land for commercial agriculture is too low, as a large portion of the land owned by the state was already purchased by the previous government for this purpose, but has not yet been utilised;

(3) must seriously consider whether 70 000 farmers on 2 million hectares is not too many, as the average size of 28 hectares is not sufficient for commercial farming but only for subsistence farming, and that the watchword should be quality rather than quantity;

(4) regrets the fact that the Government did not use this opportunity to give a clear commitment that the basic constitutional right to private ownership is guaranteed at all times, and will not be violated according to the Mugabe model; and

(5) requests the Government to take a firm position against threats of farm occupation which have already occurred in the Northern Province and Mpumalanga.]

Mr J H MOMBERG: Madam Speaker, I give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:

That the House -

(1) notes -

   (a)  the continued abuse of farmworkers by farmers all over South
       Africa; and

   (b)  that farmworkers continue to be evicted without notice;

(2) recognises that the Government introduced laws protecting farm labourers and farmers; and

(3) calls on the farmers to condemn violence against farmworkers and to recognise their rights.

[Applause.]

Mr S E OPPERMAN: Madam Speaker, I give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the DP:

That the House -

(1) notes that -

   (a)  the President continues to justify the need for an international
       panel to discuss the link between HIV and Aids; and

   (b)  the debate instigated by the President on this matter, which was
       settled definitively many years ago, is distracting the
       Department of Health and the South African Aids community from
       the real issues around Aids prevention and treatment, thereby
       further delaying the implementation of effective plans and
       strategies; and

(2) distances itself from this initiative and calls on the President to concentrate his efforts on initiatives which will have a direct impact on the course of the epidemic.

Dr K RAJOO: Madam Speaker, I give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I will move on behalf of the IFP:

That the House -

(1) requests the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism urgently to look at operating legislation that controls air and water pollution by large industries;

(2) notes that a large multinational industry south of Durban has been responsible for releasing noxious chemical fumes, resulting in a number of schoolchildren in the area being rushed to hospital with breathing problems;

(3) urges the Minister urgently to set up a stringent watchdog body comprising national, provincial and local experts to monitor pollution emanating from industries in that area;

(4) notes that AECI, Shell, Engen, Mondi, Sasol and Saprep are giant industries in southern Durban that are prone to so-called accidents where effluents are released into the waterways and the atmosphere, to the consternation of local residents as this is an assault on their health and quality of life; and (5) further notes that these industries tend to monitor themselves …

[Time expired.]

Mrs M M MALUMISE: Madam Speaker, I give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:

That the House -

(1) notes the decision by the national executive committee of the ANC to dissolve the provincial executive committees of Gauteng and Free State;

(2) believes that this bold step will go a long way towards inculcating and entrenching the organisational culture and values of our movement, which put the interests of our people at the centre of the process of transforming our country; and

(3) commends the national executive committee for this decisive intervention to further reposition our movement in order to continue to lead the process of social change, effective governance and building a better life for our people.

[Interjections.] [Applause.]

Adv D M BAKKER: Mevrou die Speaker, ek gee hiermee kennis dat ek op die volgende sittingsdag namens die Nuwe NP sal voorstel:

Dat die Huis -

(1) met besorgdheid kennis neem -

   (a)  van Cosatu se voorgenome algemene staking wat môre gaan
       plaasvind en die land na raming meer as R3,2 miljard gaan kos;
       en

   (b)  dat die voorgenome staking geensins sal bydra tot die skepping
       van nuwe werkgeleenthede en die verligting van armoede in ons
       land nie;

(2) die voorgenome staking veroordeel as teenproduktief, aangesien dit geensins sal bydra tot stabiele arbeidsverhoudings, hoër ekonomiese groei en die lok van buitelandse beleggings nie;

(3) ‘n beroep doen op die ANC-regering se alliansievennoot Cosatu om hom eerder op ‘n ordelike wyse toe te spits op die verhoging van produktiwiteit, wat in ‘n groter mate sal lei tot die skep van nuwe werkgeleenthede; en

(4) hom opnuut verbind tot die spoedige implementering van die Regering se makro-ekonomiese beleid, Gear. (Translation of Afrikaans notice of motion follows.)

[Adv D M BAKKER: Madam Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day I shall move on behalf of the New NP:

That the House -

(1) notes with concern -

   (a)  Cosatu's intended strike, which will take place tomorrow and
       will cost the country an estimated R3,2 billion; and

   (b)  that the intended strike will not contribute in any way to the
       creation of new job opportunities and the alleviation of poverty
       in our country;

(2) condemns the proposed strike as counter-productive, since it will not contribute in any way to stable labour relations, higher economic growth, and attracting foreign investments;

(3) appeals to the ANC Government’s alliance partner, Cosatu, rather to devote itself in an orderly fashion to increasing productivity, which will lead to a greater extent to the creation of new job opportunities; and

(4) commits itself anew to the speedy implementation of the Government’s macro-economic policy, Gear.]

Mr S J DE BEER: Madam Speaker, I give notice that at the next sitting of the House I will move on behalf of the UDM:

That the House -

(1) welcomes the proposal that an African language be included in the curriculum of all South African learners and would like to go further and propose that such language teaching also include a study of the culture associated with the language, since that will allow learners to truly communicate in the given language;

(2) believes that South Africans can mobilise, for the greater good, the creative spirit inherent in our rich diversity and that this language proposal, if implemented with due regard for the cultural sensitivities of minorities, will be a great step in nation-building; and

(3) is convinced that the proper implementation of this proposal can be of great value to minorities in their quest to play a meaningful role in a multicultural and multilingual democratic South Africa.

[Time expired.]

Dr J BENJAMIN: Madam Speaker, I give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC: That the House -

(1) notes that the Minister of Education, Kader Asmal, has called on teachers to be exempted from the Cosatu strike of tomorrow, as it will disadvantage students;

(2) further notes that the Government sees education as a priority to creating a better life for all and ensuring its vision of a caring society;

(3) acknowledges the constitutionally protected right of teachers to embark on strike action; and

(4) calls on teachers throughout the country to be sensitive towards the needs of their students and to work with the department in establishing an education system of which we can all be proud.

[Applause.]

    CONGRATULATIONS TO MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE AND LAND AFFAIRS

                         (Draft Resolution) The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Madam Speaker, I move without notice:

That the House -

(1) notes -

   (a)  that the Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs has brought
       to this world a healthy baby girl, who has been named
       Thandolwethu; and

   (b)  that this is the first time in the history of our country that a
       Minister gave birth whilst continuing with ministerial
       responsibilities;

(2) commends the Minister for serving our nation in this diligent manner; and

(3) wishes the newly born baby, Thandolwethu, a happy and prosperous future.

[Applause.]

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I assume there are no objections to that motion without notice.

Mr D H M GIBSON: Madam Speaker, the DP certainly does not wish to oppose it. We want to say that we are glad that at least one of our Ministers is productive. [Laughter.]

Agreed to.

              CONDEMNATION OF KIDNAPPING OF 21 HOSTAGES

                         (Draft Resolution)

Dr B L GELDENHUYS: Madam Speaker, I move without notice:

That the House -

(1) condemns the kidnapping of 21 hostages including two South Africans by a Phillippine rebel group;

(2) demonstrates its solidarity with the families of the South African hostages;

(3) expresses its appreciation for the tireless efforts of the South African Government in trying to release the hostages and to ease their plight; and

(4) trusts that all the hostages will be released as soon as possible.

Agreed to.

                     COMPETITION AMENDMENT BILL

(Consideration of Bill and of Report of Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry on amendments proposed by NCOP)

Order disposed of without debate.

Bill agreed to.

                         APPROPRIATION BILL

Debate on Vote No 5 - Communications:

The MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS: Madam Speaker, hon members, distinguished guests, I have the privilege and pleasure to rise, for the first time in this House, to support and Appropriation Bill, introduced by the Minister of Finance, for the purpose of appropriating funds for the 2000-01 financial year for the Department of Communications.

As we present budgets for the second term of our democracy, I have, by happy coincidence, been placed in the sector in which I had a baptism of fire in 1993, as the Chairperson of the SABC board. But members are all witness to the fact that we have survived. Transformation and freeing the airwaves was tackled head on. It was tough. No one had promised us that it was going to be easy.

Today, I can only echo the words of the hon the President when he proudly said that we are on course and steadily the dark clouds of despair are lifting, giving way to our season of hope. Building on the foundations which have been laid, and despite the setbacks that may have caused delays or problems in meeting services outlined in our mandates and targets, we have achieved much, with very little, in record time.

The communications portfolio, which covers broadcasting and postal and telecommunications services, is building on the foundation that has been laid and will, in time, make possible access to and the participation of every South African in reshaping our nation through information and communication technology and the knowledge economy. Our intention is to improve the life of all our people and make South Africa’s future generations a knowledge-based society. This will be achieved by establishing a networked information community, empowering people to participate in the new economy, to change the way people work, the way they live, play and make South Africa globally competitive.

There is a great challenge before us. This sector is the driver of economic growth today, contributing significantly to the GDP. Within the context of a policy framework that demands increasing competition, shifting expenditure to infrastructure, mobilising investment and reducing state debt, we have had to explore a wide range of options in corporatisation and privatisation as we restructure state assets. We had to be cautious not to substitute public monopoly for private monopoly. The imperatives imposed by these contradictory challenges require that we make hard choices and act responsibly. We have to balance delivery of services to ordinary people and to business.

In addition, the department had to rise to the challenges set out in the national priorities outlined by the President in his speech on 25 June

1. These priorities include integrated, sustainable rural development, the campaign against HIV/Aids, the African renaissance project and bringing development and access to Government to the majority of the people. I am happy to say that Government’s policy of reducing state assets and belt tightening and of a better and a quality performance of portfolio organisations, together with restructuring and privatisation in others, has significantly reduced the budget of this department by 40% to R466 948 million from the previous financial year.

The Post Office is an institution familiar to most of our people, though its accessibility was governed by apartheid planning. Access to its services, however, is a basic right. Much has been done over the past five years to improve access to a reliable and affordable postal service for the majority of our people, especially those in the disadvantaged and rural communities. To ensure this, we are implementing the Postal Services Act of

1. We appointed the Postal Regulator. One of the key functions of this regulator will be to issue licences to postal service providers.

The licence to the SA Post Office Ltd has, amongst others, the following obligations: Increasing the number of postal outlets from the current 2 400 to 3 206 by 2003 in both rural and urban areas; rolling out 4 million addresses by 2003 - which will increase address points from 8 million to 12 million; setting clear and better customer care targets; improving the delivery standards of on-time delivery of basic post from 92% to 96% by the year 2003; and providing universal access to Internet and e-mail addresses through public information terminals, or what we call PITs. Members will see many of these PITs demonstrated in the Old Assembly lobby.

In order to meet these national obligations and the challenges of globalisation, a strategic management partner has been engaged and 31 projects have been attached to its contract. This partner is a joint venture between the New Zealand Post Office and Royal Mail of the United Kingdom. Additional projects include the building of an international hub in Johannesburg and the establishment of e-commerce-related business by the Post Office. The development of the Post Office into a world-class company will enable us to deliver efficient and effective service to customers and the people of South Africa. This has started and is well on course.

Financial performance over the past three financial years has seen a reduction in the subsidy to the Post Office, from a high of R700 million in the year 1996-97 to R283 million in the year 1999-2000, and the total elimination of that subsidy in this financial year, 2000-01. Preparing the necessary human resources for a new task is urgent. Exploratory talks with a Canadian institution are under way. We are not only looking at so-called international best practice, but also examining whether the best practice is, indeed, relevant to us.

The restructuring of the Postbank is also on course. In the restructuring project of Government, the Postbank is being transformed into an entity that will provide financial services to the non-banking masses of our country, especially those in rural areas. The Postbank, whose major funds are from the poorer majority of our country, has not been able to use these resources to improve the life and conditions of the rural poor and of small, medium and micro enterprises. Restructuring the Postbank will be done in such a way that the benefits which emanate from that include new products and credit offerings. It must also improve relations and co- ordination with other Government institutions in order to achieve Government objectives. These objectives are integrated sustainable rural development, urban renewal and the development of the small and medium sector.

The second phase of the restructuring will involve the acquisition of a strategic equity partner and further capitalisation of the bank. We have also had to pay attention to diversification. The Post Office is investigating the viability of acquiring the productive assets of Fast Forward in order to add further value to the courier business of the company. It will also explore offering consulting services in the SADC region and on the continent. These restructuring efforts will attract foreign direct investment which will stimulate economic growth.

The Post Office has also begun the application of procurement policies in order to accommodate small and medium enterprises. A number of awards are in the adjudication stage for the maintenance of corporate and regional contracts and subcontracting at the international mail centre, and expansion to other areas remains an imperative. Technological changes and advances in types of communication such as e-mail are placing an increasing pressure on traditional forms of communication. In order to continue to survive in the information age, the SA Post Office is looking at innovative ways of protecting its core business and enhancing the types of services it provides to its customers.

The development of new products is being investigated by the Post Office in order for it to secure its place in the global information society. Direct mail opportunities in South Africa remain underexplored, as do the additional services of correspondence in the hybrid mail areas. The SA Post Office is developing electronic commerce and has plans to give all citizens of South Africa access to a free e-mail service.

With regard to broadcasting services, the ANC-led Government has since 1994 consistently sought, among other things, to build a single nonracial and integrated country, and to consolidate our democracy and extend participation by its people. No other sector is poised to contribute to this better than the broadcasting sector. The sector reaches the marginalised and those who are not empowered - women, the youth, the disabled, the illiterate, rural and landless people, as well as traditional leaders who play an important role in shaping the development ideology and knowledge base of these areas.

In pursuance of these goals, broadcasting can and does make a major contribution to creating a better life for so many of our underserviced communities. Consequently, based on the broadcasting policy and the Broadcasting Act of 1999, the focus has been placed on universal service access; the roll-out of community radio station infrastructure; the promotion of local content; making Parliament accessible to the people; making education accessible to the majority; and meeting the challenges of technological change and of globalisation. Therefore, the expanding and upgrading of the infrastructure of the SABC in order for radio and television under the national broadcaster to reach more people and to achieve our goal of freeing the airwaves so as to allow access to a diversity of views devoid of state propaganda is still an imperative we pursue.

Die uitbouing van gemeenskapsradiostasies word bepaal deur ‘n lisensiëringsproses van die Onafhanklike Uitsaaiowerheid oor ‘n tydperk van vier jaar. Meer as 80 gemeenskapsradiostasies is sedert 1995 gelisensieer. Die eerste van hierdie stasies is reeds in Januarie vanjaar gesamentlik in Botshabelo, Ficksburg, Senekal en Qwaqwa - almal in die Vrystaat - deur satelliet geloods. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)

[The development of community radio stations is determined by a licensing process of the Independent Broadcasting Authority over a period of four years. The first of these stations was launched by satellite jointly in Botshabelo, Ficksburg, Senekal and Qwaqwa - all in the Free State - in January this year.]

Mafelong a selemo sena sa ditjhelete sa 2000-01, ditshebeletso tsa kgaso tsa setjhaba [community radio stations] tse mashome a mararo le metso e tsheletseng di tla emiswa diprofensing tse robong. Lefapha le tla thusa haholo dibakeng tse futsanehileng. Tjhelete e kana ka R6,5 million e se e beheletswe ka thoko selemong sena sa ditjhelete bakeng sa hona. Diprofensi tse tharo tse tlang ho thuswa pele ke Profensi ya Lebowa, profensi ya KwaZulu-Natal le Kapa Botjhabela. (Translation of Sesotho paragraph follows.)

[At the end of this 2000-01 financial year, 36 community radio stations will be opened in nine provinces. The department will give assistance particularly to disadvantaged areas. An amount of R6,5 million has already been set aside in this financial year for this project. The first three provinces to be assisted will be the Northern Province, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.]

Not only is this sector important in providing communities with mechanisms to discuss developmental and educational issues relevant to them, but it also offers them an opportunity to reflect themselves to others and connect with the broader South Africa. To sustain community radio stations, the department is establishing production hubs in provinces for programmes that cater for the disadvantaged and the marginalised, especially children and people with disabilities. An amount of R19,4 million has been budgeted for this programme.

A vibrant broadcasting industry can stimulate economic growth. The regulatory environment that must exist in order to allow this growth should give certainty, consistency and confidence to the industry. The recent experience with the telecommunications regulator has dented confidence. However, the convergence of the broadcasting, information and telecommunications technologies has forced Government to focus on an appropriate regulatory regime and structure.

The merger of the IBA and Satra is a step in the right direction. The policy and the regulatory and operational aspects need fine-tuning, hence the integration of legislation in order to remove contradictions and facilitate rigorous application of laws is an urgent matter. The merging of the authorities will ensure rationalisation and reduce costs.

The parliamentary process that establishes the new regulator needs to ensure a quality of leadership that can give confidence to a rather shaken industry. The processes of the establishment of two bodies have started. The first one is that the Digital Advisory Council will advise the Minister on the technical and economic applications of digitisation. The other is that the SA Broadcast Production Advisory Body will advise the Minister on how the development, production and display of local radio and television content can be supported. The budget for this at the moment is R1 million.

Two feasibility studies are under way. One is into the establishment of a parliamentary television channel, the other into the establishment of a dedicated education channel. The budget for both studies has also been set at R1 million. There is a great need for integrated training in broadcasting skills which also caters for transformation. Government has been a catalyst in establishing the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa, or Nemisa, in order to undertake training in the broadcasting and media fields. An amount of R12 million has been budgeted for this purpose.

Sentech, our signal distributor, was converted into a public company with the state as the sole shareholder. This restructuring was taken a step further through a strategic and resource review which is aimed at introducing a strategic equity partner in the near future. Sentech is aggressively pursuing an extension of its work and services to other parts of the continent through the maintenance and running of infrastructure in Swaziland, Ghana and Kenya.

We cannot but recognise the importance of the telecommunications sector to economic growth, and the sector is well established today. South Africa ranks 23rd in telecommunications development and 17th in Internet in the world. The sector is the fastest growing sector here and in the world. It has already transformed financial services and fuelled globalisation. However, there are inherent contradictions in the so-called digital divide of the haves and the have-nots. The challenge for us is how we can effectively bridge this divide, which is, firstly, the divide in access to services; secondly, the divide in ownership; and, thirdly, the divide in knowledge.

To transform this key sector of the economy, we need to ensure benefits to large numbers of our people and change the racial ownership patterns in both the publicly listed and privately held companies. To effect this, we accept that it is the state’s role to create equality. Today, for the first time, 200 villages have access to telephones within a reasonable distance. This point was driven home one night when I got stuck in a village without cellular coverage because of two punctures between Viedgesville and Mqanduli in the Eastern Cape in January. Less than 50 metres away was a public phone which allowed me access to family, hospital and the police.

Telkom has met and exceeded its roll-out targets, over 1,6 million lines, an impressive 175 000 lines more than the cumulative target. Approximately 14 000 lines have been installed since 1998 to priority customers such as schools, clinics and hospitals, but much more needs to be done. The telecentre infrastructure roll-out is under way, but we are reviewing the concept and role of the Universal Service Agency.

Now that the Internet is part of our daily lives, the centres take on a community focus and become the development and business node of rural and urban communities. The recently launched telecentres in Villiers in the Free State and Schweizer-Reneke in the North West, the latter for disabled women, speak of the ability of this Government to empower and of communities to rise to the challenges of our times.

To effect the second bridge, we are transforming the way business is done. Telkom is promoting black economic empowerment through the purchasing of services and equipment. More than 371 black suppliers, 351 small and medium enterprises and 20 large black suppliers have done business with Telkom to the value of more than R4 billion in just under three years. I hope members note that. In divesting 10% of Telkom equity, the Government has allowed 3% to go to black empowerment consortia across all nine provinces. From the lessons we learned in restructuring the broadcast sector, we shall ensure careful shareholder agreements to avoid fronting, or the ``rent-a-black’’ syndrome. The challenge is immediate in the evaluation of the third cellular licence. However, to effect the third, investment in our people is imperative. The role of education from an early age to adulthood, including innovative training practices in the hi-tech environment, research and development, is a priority. This is reflected in the budgets of all the portfolio organisations.   Humble beginnings at Houwteq have paid dividends in that young people from disadvantaged communities, 60% of them female, are now being trained as software engineers and in remote sensing and satellite technology. Over 100 have already been absorbed into the economy. The first cohort of students studying remote sensing at the Arianne Space Institute at Toulouse in France will soon return to teach at Houwteq. Telkom alone has set a target of R1,3 billion for knowledge development over a five-year period. We will, for our part, accelerate the development of Web Internet laboratories in schools, and I hope Minister Kader Asmal has taken note of that.

In the area of public emergency, the increase in the budget over the medium term is mainly for the expenditure of emergency communication. The aim is to create emergency services with a three-digit phone number that can be used anywhere, anytime in the country. The study has been completed and will be presented to Cabinet. An initial R7 million has been budgeted for the establishment of the Emergency Services Fund.

Other key activities for the future, namely the listing of Telkom in 2001, the feasibility study on a domestic satellite, the development of electronic commerce, and the regulatory regime to govern Internet economy, demand well-thought-out policies and legislation. A Green Paper will be ready soon. To further liberalise the sector, the department is preparing to license a second national operator as a means of introducing competition. Other inputs for the year 2000-01 are the development of a spectrum pricing policy, a numbering plan, Government call centres and a new regulatory framework.

A year ago the Department of Communications’ gender desk commissioned an audit to determine the level of gender transformation in portfolio organisations, namely Telkom, Sentech, SABC, the Post Office and Satra, following the conference held by the Department of Trade and Industry on Technology for Women in Business in 1998. This audit could be used to play a central role in the implementation of the national gender programme and determine priorities for organisations, as well as examine their practices against which changes can be measured over time.

Across all organisations racial equality is progressing much more rapidly than gender equality. There is a lack of support systems for women in management and a severe shortage of women trained in this area. There is also a belief that no women are skilled in technical jobs. Therefore the challenge is to find ways to change this culture or this mindset.

The promotion of the African renaissance and the African century and the development of South-South relations are Government priorities. This sector is key to the realisation of these goals. Each of the portfolio organisations - the SABC, the SA Post Office, Telkom and Sentech - have pursued these goals, cognisant of the fact that their own growth and success are inextricably linked to those of the continent.

Regarding cultural and media services, the television channel SABC Africa is breaking new ground in the development of African perspectives in information and entertainment, in particular in the news and current affairs section and in the campaign against HIV/Aids. A process of commercialising Channel Africa radio and extending its services and programming has started. The station will be restructured and turned into a viable commercial enterprise, and R28 million has been budgeted for this purpose.

We confirm that our commitment to the African connection is beginning to bear fruit. A secretariat has been set up at the DBSA, and the World Bank and other institutions, under the leadership of South Africa as chair of the ministerial oversight committee, have begun the process of funding the project. My Ministry has assembled 10 African experts and intellectuals in the communications sector, to work with us in driving the African connection project. Six key African telecommunications projects have been prioritised. These are telehealth, telemedicine, tele-education, tele- agriculture, infrastructure development and telecentres or Internet access, and centres of excellence.

The development of a co-ordinated policy and regulatory framework in the broadcasting, postal and telecommunications sectors at continental level would make possible economies of scale in order to transform the continent into an active and vibrant market. These are pursued through the continental Pan African Postal Union, the African Telecommunications Union and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authorities of Southern Africa, Trasa.

I ask hon members to help us move forward along our road by voting to approve this budget, as we emerge from an intellectual-based economy to an information-based economy, from traditional ways of doing business to the world of electronic commerce. Again, as we move from traditional literacy to digital literacy, we need, as South Africans, in this age of the Internet economy, to be .com and .za, or else we are likely to be .dead. [Laughter.] [Applause.]

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the director-general and all the staff members of my department, for the enormous support that they have given me and for the work that they have done in order for this department to deliver services to the people of South Africa. I would like to thank the portfolio organisations for taking the projects of this Government - the national priorities - and making them theirs in pursuit of these projects, especially the African renaissance project.

Given that this is my first year in Cabinet, I would also like to thank my family, in particular my two sisters Eunice and Felicia, who have always been by my side, and my nephews and nieces who have, indeed, made my life a little easier. I thank them very much. [Applause.]

Mr N N KEKANA: Madam Speaker, let me start on a lighter note, by congratulating the Minister, the director-general and his department on an award that was confirmed by the World Information Technology Seminar Association, which recognised that the public information terminal that we see in the passage here is, indeed, a new invention and will enable our people to access the Internet. I believe that this award will be given to South Africa at the World IT congress in June. [Applause.] Acquisitions and mergers have taken place in the information, media and technology sectors at global level. The growth of the Nasdaq suggests that the notion of an information revolution is a reality. Despite the recent hiccups on the stock exchanges, more and more information communication technology companies are demonstrating, through their share prices, that, indeed, the future of trade lies in e-economy. A country’s competitiveness will soon be measured by its e-commerce readiness and infrastructure capacity. Today, wireless technology has enabled new services to be availed anywhere and at any time.

The increase in the capacity of networks to carry more information at greater speed, the increase in bandwidth, will result in changes to our lifestyles. Many of the new innovations worldwide make the old science fiction movies seem so ordinary. While the high speed data and the new wireless telecom technologies cause even academic control freaks to acknowledge that there is, indeed, an information revolution, what matters are the needs and concerns of the consumer and the demand for basic telephone services by our communities.

South Africa is a middle-income, developing country. It has two worlds in one - the information rich and the poor who do not have telephones, access to the Internet or any access to computers. It is, therefore, necessary to continue to find a fair regulatory and policy balance between the necessity to modernise our communications network, bringing in new upgraded services, and attending to the cry for universal service, for access to basic telephony and for clinics and schools to be connected to the Internet.

Telkom is restructuring its operations and focusing its attention on it core business of being a first-class telecommunications operator. This initiative we must all welcome as essential for our national operator to prepare for competition. Telkom should pay more attention to satisfying its current customers and becoming the operator of choice for new subscribers. Evidence suggests that companies that pay more attention to customer care have the competitive edge and also increase their revenue base.

Telkom must know its customers better. It must be a company where everyone knows one’s name. Data warehousing is becoming an essential ingredient of a successful and competitive telecom operator. Global telecom operators are spending more on research and analysing the special needs of their customers. Telkom must prioritise this approach to survive competition. We agree, and evidence in many countries suggests, that competition brings benefits to the telecom users. There is no doubt that with the introduction of competition and more players, prices will certainly be lower, and with more choices, there is a better quality of service offered to the consumer.

However, given our experience with the conduct of the two South African cellular incumbents, MTN and Vodacom, who have about 3,5 million active subscribers between them, it is important that we should conduct a thorough study before we decide on whether to introduce one or two players in the fixed wireline market. An assessment of the size of the fixed telecommunications market should also factor in new, third-generation technologies.

We must also bear in mind that the growth of cellular networks, especially with new features such as the wireless application protocol, simply known as Wap, which will undermine the business market of traditional fixed networks such as Telkom and Transtel. People will, more and more, demand services that enable them to access data and the Web while on the move and at their convenience.

Given the problems we are currently experiencing regarding Satra’s third cellular ``beauty contest’’, it must be tempting to introduce auction rather than cumbersome licensing processes that have even enticed a judge to cross the separation-of-powers boundaries set out by our Constitution. Auction will certainly generate funds for the fiscus, but experience worldwide has shown that companies pay more and retrieve later from the consumer. The day after an auction, I will argue that the duopoly might disadvantage the consumer and sacrifice our universal service needs. Three players could prevent colluding by operators and benefit the end users.

The high cost of developing infrastructure might, of course, discourage big global players from investing in our country. However, the possibility of cross-border telecommunication expansion into Southern Africa will certainly enlarge the size of the market share. Eskom and Transnet already have a presence in Southern African countries. Their infrastructure might be the backbone of the new entrants. Whether through an auction or a beauty contest, there has to be a balance between generating more money for the public purse, and fierce competition between the incumbent and the possible new entrants.

The SABC has received negative publicity in the past weeks. For instance, Jacob Dlamini has described the SABC in the Leadership magazine - while profiling the new chairperson of the SABC board, Mr Vincent Maphai - as ``a snakepit driven by petty ego and territorial squabbles, and is riddled with incompetence and corruption’’. While journalists and other commentators are entitled to their own opinions - whether credible, ill-advised or even misinformed - no amount of analysis or whingeing about the problem will bring about change at the SABC.

The SABC has a legal framework reference to conduct its affairs, the new Broadcasting Act of 1999. It is currently going through a restructuring process that will turn the corporation around to generate revenue, while meeting the requirements of the Broadcasting Act to serve public broadcasting interests such as language, education and current affairs programme.

We have full confidence in the new board of the SABC to give leadership and steer the SABC into a new era in broadcasting. There is a need for urgency to implement the Broadcasting Act, consider the commissioned Gemini restructuring report and appoint a new executive leadership team to run the operation of the SABC according to the Act. The new board should introduce corporate governance principles and rules and avoid the temptation to run the day-to-day operations of the SABC. We as a Portfolio Committee on Communications have committed ourselves to interacting with the board of the SABC on a regular basis to measure progress in the restructuring and operations of the corporation.

One other matter that I want to attend to is a conference that was hosted by the Competition Commission to discuss boundary issues between itself and various industry-specific regulators such as the IBA and Satra. The ruling by the Appeal Court on the Stanbic and Nedcor merger has thrown the cat among the pigeons. The interpretation of section 3(1)(d) of the Competition Act has created an impasse on jurisdiction with regard to competition matters, and in our case the judgment has questioned the role of the IBA and Satra on regulating broadcasting and telecommunications competition. This, of course, has created uncertainty about who is in charge of competition matters.

We believe that the merged independent regulatory body should continue to exercise its authority on these matters, but more focus should be on policy objectives and less on turf battles with the Competition Commission. Therefore, the possible amendment to the Competition Act, section 3(1)(d), should enable the new industry-specific regulator in the communications sector to exercise jurisdiction discretion on competition matters. We should encourage co-ordination and co-operation between the Competition Commission and the new Independent Communications Authority of South Africa.

Our policy-makers should consider multisectoral regulation, especially for industries that are fast merging and converging in our economy and globally. Today companies that operate in the transport industry are sometimes overlapping with telecommunications, and vice versa. I think it is important that we consider multisectoral regulation.

The Portfolio Committee on Communications is going to invite the public to nominate eligible South Africans to be interviewed and serve as new councillors of Icasa. We will advertise in major newspapers next week and the National Assembly will make recommendations to the President before 23 June 2000. We are confident that the new council of Icasa will stabilise the regulatory environment and attend to the backlog of the IBA and Satra. With strong, deeply motivated administration, the regulator will certainly attend to all outstanding concerns in the industry.

The ANC supports this Vote. My colleagues will address issues of our portfolio, but again I think we need to congratulate the Minister and the department for ensuring that, in their operation, they exercise belt tightening. I think this is one of the few Votes that has had a reduction in its budget. This was not done to punish the department, but because they managed to achieve what I believe is a victory for this country, the reduction of the subsidies to the Post Office. If we remember, in the last years of Nat rule, the Post Office was subsidised. A lot of money has been wasted in subsidising the operations of the Post Office. I therefore think we should congratulate the Minister and the department for achieving this goal.

As I said, my colleagues will address other issues of our portfolio, and I think hon members should expect that the DP will be negative, and will whinge about problems. As the ANC, we expect the co-operation of the opposition in order to find solutions to the apartheid mess that we inherited from the Nats, not complaints. We expect the opposition, including the DP, to be constructive and not destructive. [Applause.]

Ms M SMUTS: Madam Speaker, I will not dignify those comments with a response.

South Africa should be poised, at this moment, to establish itself on the right side of the digital divide, and to take our continent along with us. We should be debating, in Parliament, the finer detail of legislation liberalising the sector, and in due course liberating it altogether from all but strictly technical regulation. Instead, all energy and attention is focused on a licensing process that is starting to resemble a soap opera, one regrets to say, and which is ruining South Africa’s reputation.

The impression exists in some quarters that a new set of Icasa councillors will clean up the mess and sort out the problems. In fact, the Minister referred today to a need for a better quality of leadership there. We simply do not believe that rogue councillors are the sole source of the trouble in telecommunications. The real trouble, in our view, lies in the executive - in the administration to be precise - that treats the regulators as if they were toy telephones.

The revocation of Satra’s guidelines on interconnection is only the latest example of executive interference, or administrative interference - who knows - with independent regulation. We intend to ask the director-general to come and defend his arguments on the revocation of the gazetted regulations before the portfolio committee. How is the new regulator supposed to bring the guidelines in line with the new regulatory framework''? What newregulatory framework’’? The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa Act only creates the new body. Icasa will regulate in terms of the law as it stands. The Minister today referred to the need for the integration of the three underlying statutes, and the fact that this was urgent. She also referred to the urgent need for a new regulatory framework. Therefore, what price the arguments of the director-general? The director-general furthermore publicly protests that it is the Minister who makes policy. However, the Minister’s telecommunications policy- directive powers are specific, they are procedurally prescribed, and they have no bearing on this case. Besides, the more one merges broadcasting and telecommunications, the less the Minister can issue any directives. The Constitution enshrines the broadcast regulator’s autonomy - a battle we won long ago.

Here are some questions that I would like the hon the Minister to answer. Do sections 43(3) and 44(5) of the Telecommunications Act require Satra to make regulations on interconnection and facility provision? Secondly, did the ministerial power to determine guidelines for Telkom fall away on the third anniversary of the issuing of Telkom’s licence a few days ago? Thirdly, is Satra required by law to regulate in the public interest, including the encouragement of investment, innovation and fair competition?

Fourthly, does section 96 stipulate that Satra makes, amends and withdraws regulations which become valid when approved and gazetted by the Minister? Did she, after some discussion with Satra, gazette the guidelines on 15 March? The answers are ``yes’’, of course. Where does the law allow her to revoke gazetted regulations? While I am about it, could she kindly tell us in terms of which provision of the Telecommunications Act the Cabinet made the pre-emptive decision that the 1 800 megahertz frequency be shared between the two existing cellphone licensees and the successful bidder? Is she asking us to believe that Cell C’s dual strategy had no bearing on that decision?

I have proposed that in future South Africa should auction licences. In a mature democracy we should be debating the pros and cons of such a policy choice and, indeed, the chairperson of the committee made a valid point. However, quite frankly, such a debate is a waste of time where a department acts arbitrarily and ignores the law. The fact is that auctioning is one way of making sure that we cut through all possible corruption, maintain maximum transparency and make a great deal of money to boot.

This department is a law unto itself. We insist that the Minister and the director-general should follow the law. They do not, and it follows that we, therefore, cannot support the Vote. [Applause.]

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Hon members, Mrs Newhoudt-Druchen will be making her maiden speech. She will be assisted by an interpreter to make her speech. I have granted permission for the interpreter to be on the floor of the Chamber for this purpose.

Mrs W S NEWHOUDT-DRUCHEN: Madam Speaker, hon members of this House and members of the disabled community, today we want to congratulate our Government for bringing the disabled community into this House. Never before in history has a deaf person stood in this House and addressed it. [Applause.] Few countries have achieved what this country has achieved. The disability issues were in the Office of the Deputy President, but have now been moved to the President’s Office. Through this visibility, the attitude to disability has changed slowly and more awareness has been made possible. Under the past government this would not have been done. However, more work still needs to be done.

We live in a global age, yes, and fast-moving changes in technology are happening. We find that there are still people in South Africa who are lacking these things. Many of our people cannot read or write. Unfortunately, some of our disabled people fall into this category. They have no access, in particular to TV.

The Constitution says that all of us are equal, including disabled people. It goes on to say that all of us have rights. We can use our own language, and participate in cultural activities. It also goes on to say that a person belonging to a cultural, religious or linguistic community must not be denied their rights. They should enjoy these cultural, religious and linguistic rights just as other people do.

How can language and culture be transmitted? Today one way is via the TV. But it can only become accessible to all people once all our rights are entrenched. However, many of our deaf people are left out. The SABC’s mandate - which was drafted in October 1994 and approved in February 1995 - states that it will cater for all languages or all cultural groups and provide entertainment, education and information, and that it is responsive for the needs of the public. Yes, the SABC is placed in a unique situation to break down barriers and serve as a channel for communication for all people in society. We can share and exchange ideas and information via the TV. The SABC acknowledges full recognition and the importance of language as a means of communication between people, as it is a carrier of values, attitudes and cultural expression. At least, where feasible, the SABC has recognised the South African sign language and is providing this service on TV.

Let us just look at what the SABC has provided for us as deaf people. They have a television programme for deaf adults called Signature, Dtv for deaf children and the youth, and different programmes that cater for other languages such as isiXhosa and Sesotho, with subtitles in English. They also have programmes showing the disabled people’s lives and sign- interpreted news bulletins on SABC 3, which, in the past, was broadcast before the six o’clock news bulletin, and was 12 minutes long. However, it has now been reduced to five minutes, and shifted to the 5:30 time slot. This time slot does not benefit us as disabled and deaf people. Therefore we would like to ask and challenge the SABC why this time slot was changed, and its airtime reduced. Did they consult with the disabled people? At the same time, members of the blind community would also like to have more access to television. They have asked for audio-descriptive devices. The SABC’s focus is mainly on the 11 official languages. We, as deaf people, are fighting for our sign language to be recognised as the 12th official language. If this does not become an official language, then the deaf community will not have access to communication. That means that deaf people cannot become full members of an integrated South Africa. They need information about their consumer rights, and they need to know about the danger of HIV/Aids. This is very important in South Africa today.

However, we have no access to information. Even worse, when our President is addressing the nation or talking in Parliament, the deaf people are, again, disadvantaged. Why should we not, as deaf people, understand our own President? Therefore, I would like to encourage the SABC, when our President is addressing the nation, to please provide subtitles, or have a sign language interpreter on the television screen. [Applause.]

At the moment research is being done at the University of Potchefstroom. This is funded by the Pan South African Language Board. The available research shows that captioning can improve the literacy level in children. Children learn to read through this captioning, and it also helps with the acquisition of a second language. It also makes programming more accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing people. Furthermore, captioning can be effective and economically viable in looking at language issues, language policies and language rights, especially when it comes to a multilingual country like South Africa. Research is still being done, and we can all benefit from it, especially the Minister of Education, who is trying to combat the illiteracy rate in our country.

With regard to telecommunications, Telkom has recently launched a project in the Western Cape, working very closely with the deaf community. They have handed out 100 teldems to be used for free for three months. Hon members may be wondering what teldems are. Well, a teldem is a telecommunication device for deaf people which allows them to communicate, via the phone, with another deaf person or with a hearing person. Out of the 100 teldems, 50 were given to deaf people and 50 to hearing people to facilitate communication. They can communicate via the teldems. This is all part of the ANC-led Government’s policy to make phones more accessible to people who have never had them before and to those who could never use the phone before.

I would like to conclude by emphasising what our President has said before. All these things that I have mentioned are being done to assist, and I want to quote [Hansard, Joint Sittings, 1999, col 13] -

… to speed up the improvement of the quality of life of various sections of our population. These will include the accelerated delivery of assistive devices for the disabled …

We still today have a lot of work to do. We are still on course and we are still making a better life for all. [Applause.]

Ms S C VOS: Madam Speaker, it is patently impossible to intelligently analyse the budget of the Department of Communications and to review its performance in the diverse sectors of its operations in just three minutes. I have therefore had to resort to a press release in an attempt to more cogently express my party’s views on this matter.

Postal services, telecommunications and broadcasting are in themselves hugely complex and strategically important entities, vital to the development of our nation and its citizens. The IFP, if it had time, would properly analyse its mixed bag of praise and criticism of the department. We would explain why we believe that this budget can only be supported with reservations in certain areas, while giving recognition and indeed lavish praise to the Minister, the director-general and their team for the enormous efforts being made, for instance in the restructuring of the Post Office and in developing, at Houwteq and elsewhere, the huge potential of the best and the brightest of our youth for the engineering requirements of the telecommunications sector.

But the bottom line is that while there is a so-called ``roll-out’’ of telecommunication services to previously underserviced areas throughout our country, consumers are paying too high a price for fixed-line and cellular services. The cost of communications is crippling to consumers, in particular individuals and emerging businesses. The majority of South Africans cannot afford to use the Internet, and, given the implications of globalisation and the divide between those who are information rich and those who are information poor, that is disgraceful. Our President may well be able to surf the Net, but it is a fact that top students in our township schools most certainly cannot. Their parents simply cannot afford the phone bills.

There is also the fact that our broadcasters are not reflecting South African realities. They are not meeting their local content quotas, they are not supporting local content and they are not helping the development of indigenous producers, directors, writers and artists. In a nutshell, our so-called independent regulators, the IBA and Satra, now one body, have not functioned as they should have and they say they have been and are being deprived of funds by the department so that they cannot operate efficiently or effectively or in terms of their statutory obligations. Government interference is not being hinted at; it is being shouted from the rooftops.

The fiasco and allegations surrounding the third cellular licence deserve a debate of their own. We have a concern that the department blurs the lines between regulation and policy-making, and it was for this reason that the IFP objected to sections of the Broadcasting Bill. If we are going to drive down prices, attract investment and promote local talent in this country, we must have competition and the IFP would like to see the rapid liberalisation of the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors. When it sorts itself out, no doubt the postal sector can also be opened up. This is why our so-called independent regulators, combined in the Independent Communications Authority of SA, must be supported and strengthened. This budget slashes their budgets to the bone and the chairperson of the IBA, Mr Mandla Langa, informed the communications committee that the IBA’s three- year plan was now looking more like a 10-year plan. The IBA will receive R6 million less than its 1999-2000 budget. What can we say about Satra? [Time expired.]

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The hon Mr Maserumule is going to give his maiden speech. [Applause.]

Mr F T MASERUMULE: Thank you, Madam Speaker and hon members. Let me, with a sense of responsibility, indicate, without hesitation, that it is incumbent upon all of us to contribute towards making human life human. When I grew up in the far regions of the Northern Province, a very interesting thing would happen every morning. One would be sent to the surrounding villages, either to one’s uncle or one’s sister, or any other relative, just to ask them how their morning was. Those of us who have experienced this type of life will understand how important it is for people to communicate continuously.

For us communication is not just about one person talking to another, picking up the telephone, writing a letter or sending a Christmas card. For us communication is about understanding one another’s culture, feelings, hopes, wishes, likes and dislikes. For us communication is about comforting those who are in distress. It is about appreciating one another’s weaknesses, about educating one another, about empowering one another. Above all, it is about the unification of our communities and society in general. We are therefore not demanding too much when we say more resources should be made available for infrastructure in the rural areas. We are not being unreasonable when we say it does not make sense to have four post offices in Pietersburg while there is only one post office in Seshego which is supposed to service more than 50 000 people.   Ordinary people who are in the majority and who are located in the rural areas do not have access to financial institutions. They rely solely on the Postbank. It would be very encouraging indeed to see the Postbank developing facilities that make it easy for ordinary people to have access to loans. We need to see more post offices in the rural areas, in particular in rural provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and the Northern Province. Only then will ordinary people be able, within walking distance, to receive letters and bank money. Only then shall we say there is a better life for all of us.

As the process of liberalisation and globalisation takes shape, we should create conditions conducive for post offices to benefit from the global market. In that way empowerment will be a reality. We therefore hope and trust that we were sensible enough when we demanded an acceleration of speed with regard to building more infrastructure in the Post Office and Postbank, in particular in the rural areas.

It has come to the attention of many opinion-makers countrywide that a lot of ordinary people are putting their lives at risk because they expose themselves to loan sharks who charge them huge interest rates and, when they are not able to pay, their properties are seized. Hence the need for Government to fast-track the delivery of Postbank branches in the areas that are very vulnerable to loan sharks. These facilities can be created as an urgent need. Our people will be enabled to save a lot and begin to live in accordance with what their pockets allow.

We are well aware of the fact that in the past these facilities were made available in particular areas, not because there was a need, but because they were supposed to be treated differently from the rest of us. It is very encouraging to take note of the fact that the Post Office has gone a long way in transforming itself as well as the Postbank. We will still expect more, however, in terms of roll-out in the rural areas. [Applause.]

Mnr J J DOWRY: Mevrou die Speaker, een van die positiewe aspekte van telekommunikasie die afgelope tyd is dat meer as 800 000 nuwe telefoonlyne aangelê is en dat 70% van dié lyne na plattelandse gebiede en dorpe aangelê is. Mense wat baie jare lank sonder dié noodsaaklike diens moes klaar kom, beskik nou oor ‘n telefoon, en dit is ‘n lewenslyn na die buitewêreld. Die Nuwe NP wil die hoop uitspreek dat die mikpunt om vanjaar meer as 3 000 lyne na sowat 800 dorpe aan te lê, bereik sal word en dat Telkom, soos in die afgelope drie jaar, selfs sal verbeter op dié mikpunt, veral omdat Telkom steeds ‘n monopolie geniet op die gebied van telekommunikasie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)

[Mr J J DOWRY: Madam Speaker, one of the positive aspects of telecommunications in recent times is that more than 800 000 new telephone lines have been laid on and that 70% of these lines were laid on to rural areas and towns. People who had to manage without this essential service for many years now have a telephone, and it is a lifeline to the outside world. The New NP wants to express the hope that the aim of laying on more than 3 000 lines to approximately 800 towns this year will be reached and that Telkom, as in the past three years, will even improve on this target, particularly because Telkom still enjoys a monopoly in the area of telecommunications.]

Although the director-general, Mr Ngcaba, said the competitor to Telkom could start operating in two years’ time at the end of Telkom’s five-year exclusivity period, one must remember that if Telkom reaches its delivery target of 2,8 million telephone connections the Act will allow it to continue exclusively for one more year. Yes, the New NP will welcome the competitor, but we are also hopeful that the target for new telephones can be reached, because that would mean that still more disadvantaged people would get access to this vitally important commodity.

Daar is egter ‘n paar dinge in die telekommunikasiewese wat kommer wek. Eerstens is daar die hele kwessie oor die ontevredenheid van personeel by die openbare uitsaaier. Aangesien die SAUK die afgelope paar jaar ook deur die belastingbetalers gefinansier is, het hulle die reg om te weet wat daar aan die gang is. Die Nuwe NP hoop die Minister sal die verslag oor die strukture en werksaamhede van die SAUK openbaar maak sodat almal kan weet wat werklik daar aan die gang is. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)

[However, there are a few things in the sphere of telecommunications which are a cause for concern. Firstly, there is the entire issue regarding the dissatisfaction of staff at the public broadcaster. As the SABC has also been financed by the taxpayers for the past few years, they have the right to know what is going on there. The New NP hopes the Minister will release the report on the structures and proceedings of the SABC so that everyone can know what is really going on there.] Another worrying factor is the budgetary shortfall of the SA Telecommunications Regulatory Authority. Of the R127 million Satra required, only R65 million has been granted. Because of this shortfall in the past years, Satra was unable to collect the R100 million owed to it by the industry. Yet Satra’s revenue to the fiscus in the 1997-98 financial year was R263,7 million. They have surely found innovative ways to increase the flow of revenue to the fiscus without benefiting from it themselves.

The effect of the budgetary shortfall is that qualified people leave the employ of the authority. The people who have been retained are all in acting positions and the chairperson of the authority has rightfully pointed out that outsiders refer to them as ``actors’’.

Die een aspek wat die afgelope jaar die meeste vrae laat ontstaan het, is die hantering deur Satro van die derde selfoonlisensie. Hoe ‘n mens ook al daarna kyk, feit bly staan dat Suid-Afrika in die proses skade gely het. Omstredenheid en binnegevegte het die proses gekenmerk, wat multimiljardrandtenders behels het, en vrae word steeds gevra.

Hoe verklaar Satro byvoorbeeld dat hy op die ou end teenstrydig opgetree het met twee deskundige verslae wat merkwaardig ooreenstem oor die relatiewe stewigheid van die konsortiums? Hoe verklaar Satro dat sy voorsitter, mnr Maepa, gedwing is om hom te onttrek aan die proses, terwyl twee ander raadslede met nouer bande met konsortiums eties skoon verklaar is? Dit is dié soort werkwyse wat die onafhanklikheid en geloofwaardigheid van statutêre liggame wat groot tenders moet toeken onder verdenking bring.

Dit is dus geen wonder nie dat een van die rolspelers, NextCom, die owerheid hof toe gevat het. Tot die Minister se krediet moet gesê word dat daar wel ‘n ondersoek was toe die Ouditeur-generaal aangestel is om die toekenningsprosesse van die derde selfoonlisensie te ondersoek. Ongelukkig het hier ook vrae onbeantwoord gebly. Selfs toe die Minister die komitee kom toespreek het oor die aangeleentheid, is vrae gevra soos waarom die Ouditeur-generaal nie genoeg fondse en tyd gekry het om ‘n behoorlike ondersoek te doen nie, ‘n saak wat die Ouditeur-generaal duidelik in sy verslag gemeld het.

Al dié onbeantwoorde vrae oor die proses hang steeds soos ‘n donker onheilspellende wolk oor die toekenning van die derde selfoonlisensie. Dit maak nie saak wie die lisensie gaan kry nie, die twyfel oor die proses gaan moontlik nie uitgewis word nie. Intussen word die toekenning van die lisensie vertraag en is dit die Suid-Afrikaanse verbruiker en die land se ekonomie wat daaronder ly. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)

[The aspect which has caused the most questions to arise during the past year is the handling by Satra of the third cellphone licence. However one looks at it, the fact remains that South Africa has suffered in the process. Controversy and in-fighting have characterised the process, which involves multibillion rand tenders, and questions are still being asked.

How does Satra, for example, explain that it eventually acted contrary to two expert reports which agreed to a remarkable extent on the relative stability of the consortiums? How does Satra explain why its chairperson, Mr Maepa, was compelled to withdraw from the process, while two other council members with closer ties to consortiums were cleared ethically? It is this sort of procedure which brings the independence and credibility of statutory bodies which have to award large tenders under suspicion. It is therefore no wonder that one of the role-players, NextCom, took the authority to court. To the Minister’s credit it must be said that an investigation indeed took place when the Auditor-General was appointed to investigate the process of the awarding of the third cellphone licence. Unfortunately, in this regard questions have also remained unanswered. Even when the Minister addressed the committee on the matter, questions were asked such as why the Auditor-General did not receive enough time and money to undertake a thorough investigation, a fact which the Auditor-General stated clearly in his report.

All these unanswered questions regarding the process still hang like a dark, ominous cloud over the awarding of the third cellphone licence. It does not matter who is going to receive the licence; the uncertainty about the process is possibly not going to be removed. In the meantime the awarding of the licence is being delayed and it is the South African consumer and the country’s economy which suffer as a result.]

A very positive development is the opening of the 1800 mHz frequency spectrum and the fact that not only the third cellular network, but also Vodacom and MTN will benefit from this. It will enable both Vodacom and MTN to exceed their universal service obligations. This will also mean that more than R6 billion will be invested in the coming months, and this will undoubtedly be a huge injection for job creation and the South African economy.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Order! Hon members, you are conversing rather too loudly. Let us give the speakers at the podium a chance to be heard.

Mr V C GORE: Chairperson, the DP would like to congratulate the Minister on saying it should be looking at the universal fund, particularly the universal service. I would like to remind her that this cannot be achieved through a monopoly, or a duopoly for that matter.

In the past, some have held the view that a state monopoly was needed to force cross-subsidisation in order to achieve universal service. The assumption was that there was a conflict between liberalisation and universal service. In February 1998, the EU report on competition and the telecommunications industry concluded that penetration levels for telephony service are continuing to rise and that there have been notable improvements in the quality of service.

As in most countries, Brazil, after decades of state monopoly in telecommunications, did not get near to achieving universal service or universal access. In many cases, the promise of universal service has been used as an excuse to retain a monopoly. In the Brazilian case, before last year’s privatisation of Telebras, there were reportedly over 10 million Brazilians waiting for wireless telephone services. The government projects now, after liberalisation, that the number of fixed-line telephone lines will increase over 76% from 1998 to 40 million by the end of 2003. Even Telkom, as recently as last week, has announced that they will not meet some of their service targets as laid down by the monopoly agreement.

We must keep reminding ourselves that this whole discussion surrounding universal access and whether it can be achieved through a monopoly or duopoly does not merely deal with telephony but with the economy as a whole. We are dealing with all potential transactions in the economy and making them more efficient. We are dealing with interaction of communication and knowledge in education, health, social interaction, research and development, democracy and Government social delivery. It goes far beyond telephony. It goes to the fact that a legally enforced monopoly or duopoly, private or public, will become a dictator over the whole economy and society. If all communication and business transactions, most education, health services and political dialogue is dependent on a monopoly or duopoly controlling all communication and transactions, surely it is unacceptable.

The move, internationally, from state monopolies to free, fair and open competition has been driven by a number of well-documented phenomena, in particular the globalisation of markets and rapid advances in technology. Other events such as the rapid rise in mobile penetration rates, the spread of the Internet and the convergence of the telecommunications, broadcasting and IT sectors, were largely unforeseen when Telkom was granted a monopoly.

The combined effect of innovation brought about by competition, and lower prices as a result of that competition, the small enterprise effects and contributions to the universal service fund will bring about universal access and service sooner than a state-enforced monopoly or duopoly. The small enterprise effect of open-market entry refers to the fact that an individual or a small company or co-operative can exploit dozens of small niche markets which a large company will ignore. New Zealand, for example, has over 400 rural telecommunications operators, each with a tiny market, but sufficient to support a small business.

I would like to say to Madam Minister that it is time that we realise that universal access, together with considerations such as secure growth, employment and competitiveness, protection of the interest of consumers, ensuring a wide choice to providers and services, innovation and quality of service, cannot and will not be achieved through a monopoly or duopoly for that matter. The only way in which we can achieve this is through a rapid process to free, fair and open competition in the telecommunications industry. If we do not do this, we face a very real risk of condemning our nation to the wrong side of the digital divide. [Time expired.] [Applause.]

Mr R D PIETERSE: Chairperson and hon members, when the overall Budget for the country was presented by the Minister of Finance, Mr Trevor Manuel, I was one of those who thought that he was getting there. He was making the right noises and moving in the right direction, taking away here and adding to where it was needed most, but particularly addressing the needs of the poor and the disadvantaged. That was a general response. It was positive one, but, again, general in nature.

Having looked at the proposed budget for communications, I had to ask myself certain specific questions. Does this budget address the need of the public broadcaster to inform, entertain and educate the broader public? Does it ensure that the roll-out of services takes place and at what rate? Does it form partnership with other departments to ensure that we improve the lives of all? This better life for all must reach all of those who were discriminated against under apartheid. These people include rural women and the disabled. It is also important to address the needs, particularly, of the deaf community, which speaks a 12th language, sign language. It can and must be done.

Dit is seker makliker gesê as gedoen. My kiesafdeling is in die Klein Karoo, en daar bly van die armste van die armes. Ek moet ook byvoeg dat hulle trotse mense is wat nog altyd hul lisensiegeld betaal. Die pleidooi wat die begroting betref, is dat die inwoners van die Klein Karoo, en so ook inwoners in ander plattelandse dele van ons land, glo dat die verspreiding van seine absoluut beperk is en dat dringend daarna gekyk moet word. Die begroting moet begin antwoorde gee oor hoe en wanneer hierdie diens uitgebrei gaan word na plekke soos Ladismith, Dysselsdorp, Uniondale, Haarlem, Bongolethu, Bridgton, Toekomsrus en so meer.

Die SAUK is besig met die herstrukturering van die organisasie, en word gehelp deur Gemini Consulting. Ek wil graag daarop aandring dat die verslag so gou moontlik aan die Kabinet sowel as aan die Parlement voorgelê word.

As ons waarde wil hê vir ons belegging in die SAUK is dit belangrik dat die kwessie van tale aangepak word. ‘n Taal behoort aan almal wat dit praat en nie aan een spesifieke groep of politieke party nie. Van die krapperigheid wat ek graag wil ophaal, gaan oor die taal op televisie asook die gebrekkige gebruik daarvan deur die aanbieders.

Die SAUK moet sy joernaliste aanmoedig om soveel moontlik inheemse tale aan te leer. [Tussenwerpsels.] Veeltaligheid moet dus die wagwoord word in die SAUK. Wanneer ‘n joernalis byvoorbeeld gestuur word om ‘n storie te doen, moet hy of sy in meer as een taal terugvoering kan gee, vernaamlik ons inheemse tale. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)

[This is probably easier said than done. My constituency is in the Little Karoo and among the poorest of the poor live there. I must add that they are proud people who have always paid their licence fees. The appeal as far as the budget is concerned is that the inhabitants of the Little Karoo, as well as the inhabitants of other rural areas of our country, believe that the distribution of signals is extremely limited and that this should receive urgent attention. The budget must start giving answers about how and when this service is going to be extended to places such as Ladismith, Dysselsdorp, Uniondale, Haarlem, Bongolethu, Bridgton, Toekomsrus etc.

The SABC is in the process of restructuring the organisation, and is being assisted by Gemini Consulting. I would like to insist that the report be submitted to Cabinet and to Parliament as soon as possible.

If we want value for our investment in the SABC, it is important to address the question of languages. A language belongs to everyone who speaks it, and not to one specific group or political party. One of the aspects that causes dissatisfaction, which I would like to mention, concerns the language on television as well as the inadequate use thereof by the presenters.

The SABC should encourage its journalists to learn as many indigenous languages as possible. [Interjections.] Multilingualism should therefore become the watchword in the SABC. When a journalist, for example, is sent to cover a story, he or she should be able to give feedback in more than one language, especially in our indigenous languages.]

We expect the new regulator, called Icasa, to continue licensing community radio stations not for five days or a month or six weeks, but for four years. We would like to call on all community radio stations to make direct contact with the Portfolio Committee on Communications if they have concerns, to avoid being used by political parties. The portfolio committee calls on Icasa, as soon as it has been established, to give an assessment report on developments.

Sentech, our common carrier, is also being restructured this year and will face competition. We therefore want to urge Sentech to form business partnerships with communities to ensure that the roll-out of services in terms of signal distribution takes place at a much faster rate. We have a situation in communities that although they pay licence fees, they do not receive the signals that the communities in urban and in particular the metropolitan areas are receiving. This is true both for television and for radio. These discrepancies should be addressed as a matter of urgency.

The people of Uniondale, for instance, are frustrated because they cannot receive the necessary signal to watch and hear the programmes of their choice, and have decided to do something about it. They enlisted the help of a consultant. They started fundraising and bought their own signal distribution equipment. Land was offered to them by the their local municipality to set up this structure. Then they were told by the SABC that they needed a licence. They were sent from pillar to post, from the SABC to the IBA, to Sentech, to me and back to the Department of Communications. This has been going on for more than seven months and there is no end in sight.

Places like Uniondale are ready, but are frustrated by the bureaucracy. I want to appeal to Sentech to fast-track such applications by which communities want to work to help themselves in collaboration with Sentech and the rest of the department.

I want to take this opportunity to welcome the Aids panel initiated by the President. It was a bold, courageous and correct initiative by him. Yes, the Mickey Mouse parties in this Parliament will always criticise the President about certain alleged shortcomings, but it is because he, as the President of the ANC, the leader of the people of South Africa and the President of the country, is doing something about this epidemic that can destroy nations.

Terwyl die President besig is om die probleem aan te pak, sal die opposisie, eerder as om verantwoordelik betrokke te raak, strooi kwytraak. Die volgende vraag wat natuurlik by ‘n mens opkom, handel oor die rol van die openbare uitsaaier in die geveg teen vigs. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)

[While the President is tackling the problem the opposition, rather than getting involved in a responsible way, will be talking nonsense. The next question which, naturally, arises concerns the role of the public broadcaster in the fight against Aids.]

How does a public broadcaster ensure mass Aids education? Amongst others, it could educate the youth, the most vulnerable of society, by working in collaboration with the Departments of Health and of Education and the Youth Commission to promote positive messages on Aids prevention.

Now, how does a public broadcaster use existing popular programmes, for example Generations - one of the most popular soap operas on TV, and watched by millions, to send out a positive message to prevent Aids? Soul City, as a health soap opera, has also been successful in highlighting health-related issues in communities. This budget is creating the space for these programmes or projects that I have just mentioned to be launched or, where they do exist, to be strengthened.

The people in the Karoo and the rest of the rural areas have full confidence in this Government to meet their needs. The rural people want the Minister to speed up her delivery to the rural masses, the poor, the hungry, the dispossessed, the women and the disabled. The people are waiting. Hon members might have noticed that I have not touched much on the question of entertainment as part of the terms of reference of the public broadcaster. I do not need to look much further. There is a healthy competition between the New NP and the DP to be the idiot of the year. [Interjections.] Members saw them not too long ago when they went for a walk. The public broadcaster and the rest of the media called it a march. There are only two parties in this House that can organise a march, that is the ANC and the IFP. The rest of the parties would go for a walk. [Laughter.] They went for a walk. They knew that there was nobody down at the consulate. They read the letter out to themselves and pushed it under the door. The SABC kept the camera focused on them. One does not have to look any further for other entertainment.

Obviously I refer to the New NP as well. Not long ago everybody was crying about sanctions. Who runs across to foreign countries calling for sanctions against a democratically elected government? The two most senior coons in the circus are Mr Van Schalkwyk and, I think, Mr Leon. [Interjections.] As I said, there is a healthy competition. I am sure, looking from the outside, that Mr Leon got to be crowned idiot of the year. So there is enough entertainment. We do not need to do anything else. [Applause.]

Mr S N SWART: Mr Chairperson, hon Minister and hon members, the African century, if it is to be counted as a significant factor in world development, must show the capability to engender the knowledge and growth of information technology systems. Africa has its own set of problems, and information systems must be harnessed to address these problems.

The African renaissance should be methodically driven by strategic information to infuse development and growth on the continent. South Africa is fortunate that it has an information technology sector that has shown growth over the past number of years. A report published by the SA Information Technology Industry Strategy states that the IT sector in South Africa was worth R27,2 billion in 1992. In 1999 it had grown to R32,2 billion, and it is expected to reach R47,5 billion by the year 2001.

What these figures indicate is that, at an annual growth rate of 12%, the South African IT sector proves that the information industry is already determining the way business and communication relations will operate in the future. Although there is this increase in the growth of the IT sector in our society, there is insufficient increase in the individual competency levels to exploit these systems. In fact, South Africa is experiencing a brain drain of people with expert technical knowledge.

Crises abound in Africa due, inter alia, to a lack of information access, expertise and intellectual independence. We do, however, welcome the initiative of the public information terminal which will bring electronic communication to the average citizen. We need, however, to invest more in research. Our research must lead us to obtain achievable goals to deal with Africa’s problems. If we invest in our information and communication systems, the research capacity of our nation and other regions further afield will greatly improve. Subsequent benefits of this investment will ensure … [Time expired.]

Mr J J KGARIMETSA: Mr Chairperson, hon members of Parliament and Ministers, on 18 March 1998 hon Deputy Minister Essop Pahad made a commendable speech during the launch of GCIS. I quote:

The road we hope to travel is ripe with promise. It is so full of hope because we are convinced that our country has a team of communicators who share a common passion for the profession and individual citizens in the public, private and community sectors who wish to see our country succeed.

Indeed, our country is on track. The ANC-led Government and the party of the people, including the rural poor, is continuously engaged in fulfilling its mandate to build a prosperous and democratic South Africa. The Government, through the Department of Communications, has played an important role in ensuring that Telkom fulfils its mandate to provide a better service to all South Africans.

Telkom is on course to deliver on its mandate. There are massive social and economic disparities as a result of the legacy of apartheid. Our democratic Government was quick to recognise that telecommunication is both a basic need and a precondition for economic development. The five-year mandate was entrenched in the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and in the licence granted to Telkom in May 1997. The licence set stringent obligations on Telkom. Apart from almost doubling the new lines to 2,8 million - including 120 000 payphones - in only five years, Telkom must replace over 1 million old lines and raise service levels to international standards.

Gompieno re kokoane fano mo Palamenteng ya batho e e kgethegileng. Ponelopele le dikgatlegelo tsa batho tse di tshotsweng ke ANC, ke tsona fela tse di re fitlhisitseng fa. Re gatela pele mo logatong la bobedi la Aforika Borwa wa demokerasi. Re kampame le go tlisa ditirelo gaufi le moagi mongwe le mongwe, bogolo jang ba ba nnang kwa metseselegaeng.

Batho ba metseselegae ba gogile sebaka se se fetang dingwaga di ka nna 46 ba sa itse metsi a a phepha le motlakase. Megala yona ga ke bolele. Yona tota ba ne ba setse ba antse letsele la tshotlego e bile go le mo mading gore ga se se se ka ba tshwannang. Puso ya NP le dipuso tse di motlele tse di tsetsweng ke apartheid, di kile tsa baya batho mo lefifing le go ba sotla.

Re le ANC, re amogela moa wa poelano, tirisanommogo le kago ya setšhaba, le go tsweletsa tokafatso ya matshelo a batho. Kwa porofenseng ya Bokone Bophirima, Telkom e tsentse mafaratlhatlha a megala e ka nna 469 mo motseng mongwe le mongwe wa e le e 13, go akaretsa dikolo, dikliniki, maokelo le dikantoro tsa kgotlasemorafe mo nakong ya dingwaga tse pedi. Palo ya megala ya tuelo ya gola ya fitlhela 6 206. (Translation of Setswana paragraphs follows.)

[Today we are gathered here in this Parliament of the people. The wishes and aspirations of the people who voted for the ANC are what has brought us here. We are continuing on the second phase of democracy in South Africa. We are tasked with bringing services closer to people, especially those in rural areas.

Rural people have struggled for close to 46 years without clean water and electricity, not to mention telephones. They had become accustomed to poverty and they were used to the idea that they did not deserve better. The NP government and other parties which supported its policies humiliated people and abused them.

We as the ANC accept the spirit of reconciliation, co-operation, rebuilding our nation and improving people’s lives. Telkom has put 469 telephone cables in homes, including schools, clinics, hospitals and traditional offices, in the past two years in the North West Province. The number of pre-paid phones has increased and now stands at 6 206.]

Over a two-year period 56 441 new lines, excluding payphones, were installed.

Mo palong e, 41 843 e tsentswe mo mafelong ao go neng go sena le nko e e tswang lemina. Metse e tshwana le bo Ramosibitswana, Mantsho le Kameelboom mo Mankwe, go setse go simolotswe go tsenya megala le metlakase. Metsi, megala le motlakase e bontsha tswelopele. [Tsenoganong.] Mafelo a mo malobeng a neng a tsewa jaaka maemo a moraka, kwa go phelang leruo fela, gompieno a lebega jaaka metse-setoropo. Bana ba magae a, ba ne ba ile makgwela, mme e le fa ba latile metsi, megala le metlakase e e neng e seo mo pusong ya NP le Mangope. Gompieno bana ba boela gae, le metse e a gola. Ke fetsa go buwa ka maemo a porofense ya Bokone Bophirima. (Translation of Setswana paragraph follows.)

[Of this number 41 843 lines have been put in areas where there was absolute poverty. Telephones and electricity have already been installed in areas such as Ramosibitswana, Mantsho and Kameelboom at Mankwe. Water, electricity and telephones show progress. [Interjections.] Today areas which in the past looked like pastures where only animals lived, resemble urban areas. The children of these areas had left on the pretext of fetching water and never returned. Providing telephones and electricity was not in the minds of the governments of the NP and Mangope. Today these children have come back and the villages are no longer deserted.]

Telkom has provided a first-time service to 3 204 villages nationally. Telkom has already serviced 1 381 villages. These include villages in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Province. Telkom has installed 7 955 lines to special customers, including clinics, schools, hospitals and local authorities. This is, indeed, work in progress. Telkom is delivering on its mandate. People have access to basic telephone services. We appeal to Telkom to continue to provide a universal service to many other villages throughout the country. We are a nation at work. Let us make it happen where we live. [Applause.]

Mr M WATERS: Chairperson, I would like to ask the Minister of Communications one thing. Knowing the SABC better than most of us, does the Minister believe that the state-owned and state-controlled broadcaster would have aired the exposé, as M-Net did on Sunday night? I think we all know the answer to that. There is no way in which the state broadcaster would have exposed a story which alleges that senior members of the ANC Government, who are part of a consortium, have secured a lucrative contract to run the Lindela repatriation centre for illegal immigrants.

High-ranking members of Government named by Carte Blanche include the Deputy Speaker of this House, the adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the MEC for Public Safety in Gauteng, and the Deputy Speaker of the Gauteng Legislature. According to Carte Blanche, they could not find any evidence of a declaration of interest by any of the above members. This story may be true, or may prove to be groundless. I have requested the Public Protector to investigate this matter, and my questions about the awarding of contracts for repatriation centres appear on the Question Paper of 20 April. I await the answers to those questions.

This particular case highlights why we in South Africa need an independent, probing and highly critical media. It is an essential ingredient in any democracy. The impartiality of the press is of even more importance when it is a national broadcaster and has the ability to influence millions of our citizens on a daily basis through its reporting, or lack thereof.

During the apartheid era, we all witnessed how the NP used the SABC for its own ends. Sadly, though, today we witness the mounting attack and gradual erosion of the independence of SABC news by the new regime. So much so, the DP is once again at the brunt of biased reporting. This was blatant throughout the general election campaign, where the majority of the items covering the DP were accompanied by editorial comment that was mostly negative and disparaging. Unfortunately, this bias has carried on right into the Mbeki administration.

Some of the many issues since the election in which the SABC has been blatantly prejudiced against the DP are: the launch of the DP’s Aids policy, which was flighted two days after the event; the DP participation in the International Women’s Day debate, which was ignored; the DP’s support for the soccer World Cup 2006 Bid, which was not aired, while that of nearly every other party was broadcast; and an SABC team’s filming of the meeting between the President of Botswana and the Leader of the Opposition, the footage of which was never shown on national television. [Interjections.]

One should keep in mind that the DP, as the official opposition, is being deliberately sidelined in favour of much smaller parties, especially those which express pro-Government views. There seems to be a certain thinking within the SABC newsroom that if there is a credible opposition it must be undermined, that if there is truth it must be ignored, that if there is a viable alternative it must be destroyed.

Unfortunately, the ANC’s obsession with controlling the media does not stop with the national broadcaster. We have seen desperate attacks by the ANC on the media over alleged racism in the media and, more recently, when the views of the President on Zimbabwe were not reported in the media as the ANC would have liked, the President called for a state of the nation address.

Let me give some advice to the ANC. [Interjections.] If they or their leader do not say that the rule of law must be returned unconditionally to Zimbabwe, the press cannot report it. If they or their leader do not condemn the political attacks on opposition supporters, the press cannot report it. If they or their leader fail to condemn the abuse of state power to rig the forthcoming elections in Zimbabwe, the press cannot report it. The ANC’s silence in this regard is killing. [Applause.]

Dr P W A MULDER: Mr Chairperson, we live in a new information and communication century. This department’s task is to make sure that Government and we, as policy-makers, keep up with international communication technology and developments. One wrong policy decision or mistake may put South Africa back many years and would cost millions, and there are quite a few examples of this.

Ek sou graag met die Minister wou praat oor Satro en die toekenning van die derde selfoonlisensie, maar ek het bitter min tyd, so ek gaan my by die SABC bepaal. Televisiekykers daar buite word deur ‘n wet van hierdie Parlement verplig om lisensiegeld aan die SABC te betaal. Hierdie kykers het nie beheer oor wat met hulle geld gedoen word nie. Baie van hulle ontvang nie eens die volle diens, naamlik SABC1, 2 en 3 nie. Ek praat nie eens oor die vermindering van Afrikaans nie.

As M-Net, e-tv, satelliet-TV en video’s bykom, is daar baie mense wat nooit na die SABC kyk nie. Tog moet hulle hul televisielisensies betaal. Doen hulle dit nie, word hulle met die hof gedreig en kry hulle allerhande lelike briewe. Dit is ‘n onregverdige stelsel wat steeds meer reaksie en weerstand sal uitlok en wat verander moet word.

Dit is lankal nie meer ‘n televisielisensie wat mense koop nie. Dit is ‘n belasting wat hulle verplig word om te betaal. Dit is te hope dat die verdeling van die SABC in twee dele, met ‘n kommersiële diens aan die een kant en ‘n openbare uitsaaier aan die ander kant, in dié verband sal help. Daar is maniere waarop ‘n mens die kommunikasie en die finansiering kan behartig.

Die naaste wat die kykers aan beheer oor hulle lisensiegeld kom, is wanneer hierdie Parlement se portefeuljekomitee deur die President gevra word om die lede van die SABC-raad aan te wys. Op ‘n manier kan seker geargumenteer word dat ons as demokraties verkose lede van daardie komitee ook indirek die kykers verteenwoordig.

Nadat ons komitee verlede jaar weke daaraan bestee het om onderhoude te voer en met redelike ooreenstemming die nuwe raadslede aangewys het, besluit die President hy hou nie van ons keuses nie, en word die ou SABC- raad se termyn met drie maande verleng. Dit is onaanvaarbaar. Die VF laat hom nie misbruik om geloofwaardigheid aan die aanwysproses te gee en dan maak die President op die ou end in elk geval net soos hy wil nie. Gelukkig is daardie proses toe reggestel.

Laat ek egter ook positief wees en nie net negatief nie. Wat die televisieprogramme betref, is uitsaaiblokke in dieselfde taal beslis ‘n verbetering. Die Afrikaanse nuus is daarom byvoorbeeld nou elke aand om sewe-uur, en dit is ‘n verbetering. Monitor, Spektrum en Rekenskap op RSG moet genoem word. Die SABC se verslaggewers moet ook gekomplimenteer word met hulle dekking van die gebeure in Zimbabwe. Kom ons hoop die dag as die ANC se posisie so in gevaar is soos dié van Zanu-PF in Zimbabwe, sal hulle steeds op dieselfde manier daaroor verslag doen. [Tussenwerpsels.]

Die skuif van gewilde programme soos Pasella en 50/50 is egter baie swak gehanteer. Ek is oortuig dit kos die SABC miljoene rande. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.) [I would have liked to talk to the Minister about Satra and the allocation of the third cellphone licence, but I have very little time, so I am going to confine myself to the SABC. Television viewers out there are compelled by an Act of this Parliament to pay licence fees to the SABC. These viewers do not have control over what is done with their money. Many of them do not even receive the full service, namely SABC1, 2 and 3. I am not even talking about the reduction of Afrikaans.

If M-Net, e-tv, satellite TV and videos come into play there are many people who never watch the SABC. They must nevertheless pay their television licences. If they do not do so, they are threatened with the court and receive all manner of nasty letters. This is an unfair system, which will elicit ever increasing reaction and resistance, and will have to be changed.

For a long time this has not been a television licence that people are buying. It is a tax that they are compelled to pay. It is to be hoped that the division of the SABC into two parts, with a commercial service on the one hand and a public broadcaster on the other will help in this regard. There are ways in which one can handle the communication and the financing.

The closest that the viewers get to control over their licence fees is when this Parliament’s portfolio committee is asked by the President to appoint members of the SABC Board. In a way one could probably argue that we as democratically elected members of that committee also indirectly represent the viewers.

After our committee had devoted weeks to conducting interviews last year, and had with reasonable consensus appointed the new board members, the President decided that he did not like our choices, and the term of office of the old SABC Board was extended by three months. This is unacceptable. The FF does not allow itself to be misused to lend credibility to the appointment process, for the President in the end to do what he likes in any event. Fortunately that process was rectified.

However, let me be positive too, and not just negative. As far as the television programmes are concerned, broadcasting blocks in the same language are definitely an improvement. The Afrikaans news is at seven o’ clock every evening, for instance, and this is an improvement. Monitor, Spektrum and Rekenskap on RSG should be mentioned. The SABC’s reporters must also be complimented on their coverage of events in Zimbabwe. Let us hope that the day the ANC’s position is as threatened as that of Zanu-PF in Zimbabwe they will still be reporting in that fashion. [Interjections.]

The moving of popular programmes such as Pasella and 50/50 were handled very badly, however. I am convinced that this is costing the SABC millions of rands.]

In the news department, the bimedia option is presented as being about cost- effectiveness and adapting to the convergence of technology. I am not convinced by this argument. As far as I can see, the process is being exploited to centralise control. [Time expired.]

Mr A C NEL: Chairperson, hon Minister, hon members, every day we hear the buzzwords e-commerce, e-economy, knowledge economy, .com this, .com that and dot, dot, dot, being bandied about on television, radio, newspapers, magazines and on the Internet.

Every day we read about a group of three computer science students, young men and women, coming together, putting up a computer in a garage, forming themselves into a .com company, running off to the stock exchange and listing at a couple of billion dollars. We read with envy about a Cape Town computer security company being sold to an American competitor for about R3,5 billion. However, what does not reach our ears as often are stories such as the one about an artist from Stanger in KwaZulu-Natal who for many years sat next to the roadside close to a national park, carving chess sets out of stone and selling them for minor amounts of money. This artist advertised his chess sets recently on the Internet and he is now trying to meet an order for 5 000 sets from an overseas collector.

Clearly, the world economy has undergone fundamental change as we leave the 20th century and enter a new millennium. Increasingly, the world economy is moving from an economy based primarily on the physical production of physical commodities to one based more and more on the production of services and ideas and the exchange of those intellectual property products by electronic means over the vast international network of computers that we call the Internet.

The question for South Africa, and also this Parliament and its committees, is: To what extent are we as South Africans prepared to meet the challenges which stand in the way of our entering this new economy to the advantage of the nation and all its people? In short, we need to answer the question posed by the Minister earlier, namely: ``Are we going to go .com or are we going to go .dead?’’

I would like to congratulate the Minister and the Department of Communications on taking the lead in encouraging the nation to debate these issues. In July 1999 the department released a discussion document titled The e-commerce debate. This document has been in circulation for some time now. It is also on the department’s web page. I have checked the debate that has been going on on that web page. The document is expected to result in a Green Paper by the third quarter of this year and in a White Paper by the end of the year. Legislation is expected to follow soon thereafter.

The discussion document poses the following issues: firstly, the need for confidence in the security and privacy of transactions performed electronically; secondly, the need to establish rules that would govern electronic commerce, such as what tax laws would apply, how we would deal with the trade in prohibited articles, aspects of international trade and intellectual property law; thirdly, the need to ensure that information technology and infrastructure become more accessible, especially in rural areas and historically disadvantaged areas; and fourthly, the need to bring the opportunities of e-commerce to as many South Africans as possible. I think it is important that Parliament be seized with these issues, because e-commerce will affect all aspects of society. All sectors of Government and the private sector need to work together to ensure that South Africa succeeds in e-commerce.

For example, the Department of Education must ensure that our children are brought up computer literate from as early an age as possible. The Department of Labour needs to implement programmes on skills training and technology job placement, and policies on industry evolution. The Department of Trade and Industry needs to ensure that we negotiate as favourable a position as possible for South Africa and other developing nations in bodies such as the World Trade Organisation, especially when it comes to the intellectual property aspects of international trade. This department also needs to ensure that small, medium and micro enterprises are as empowered as possible to participate in e-commerce. The Department of Finance needs to formulate policies on tax treatment, revenue collection for electronic transactions, import and customs issues. Lastly, the Department of Justice, the Department of Safety and Security and the National Intelligence Agency must look at issues such as cyber fraud, trade in pornography, illegal transmission of data and other security threats.

For me the most important question is how we ensure that as many South Africans as possible are able to participate in e-commerce and enjoy the economic and social benefits thereof. In this regard the first, and maybe the most important, immediate challenge is to address the low level of basic telephone penetration in rural areas and access to computer and data services. Without this basic infrastructure, most South Africans will certainly be left .dead. Fortunately the department is trying to address these challenges through multipurpose community centres, public information terminals and the mass roll-out of telephone connections by Telkom.

The second important challenge is to ensure that the benefits of e-commerce are maximised and spread as equitably as possible. We need to ensure that e- commerce narrows the gap between the haves and the have-nots, and does not further widen that gap. If we can succeed in meeting these challenges, and become a major e-commerce player, our future will certainly be sunny.

I would like to end off by posing a question to the hon member Waters. In his speech he mentioned that he saw this, that and the following on TV. I have heard that in some portfolio committee or another he very proudly announced that he did not own a TV because he refused to pay the TV licence. [Interjections.] I want to urge the hon member to please pay; it is the right thing to do. [Applause.] [Laughter.]

The MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS: Chairperson, I would like to thank all the hon members who have made constructive contributions to this debate today, and particularly those who have shared with us some of their personal experiences that point to the challenges that are before us.

I would like to say to the hon Mr Kekana that we are indeed looking at the multisectoral legislation that he suggested, because the challenges before us demand that we bring integration and much more intersectoral legislation to this House. However, I am quite amazed at some of the suggestions made by the hon Dene Smuts. While some of the questions that she asked were very technical, I wondered whether the hon member wanted to become the new regulator herself. She is quite free to apply. [Interjections.] The hon Dene Smuts has a democratic right to be a Minister, but I think we also have a democratic right to stop her from being a Minister. [Laughter.]

What we see from the comments that were made in that section is that we will, indeed, meet with the portfolio committee to address the questions that were asked, but this is a good example of how certain parties within this House want to see a Government that is castrated, that must not set policy, unless this policy is favourable only to those who have and unfavourable to those who do not have. [Interjections.]

I am quite surprised today because, in fact, it was the DP that contributed to the licensing of the so-called soap opera. They asked for investigations of things that have never been brought to the fore, and part of that soap opera has been created within Satra too, and we have seen how some of the members of that committee have responded to some of the ideas that have been put into their heads, I think, by the said party.

They have a democratic right to ask for auctioning and, for example, licensing, but we also have a democratic right to consider who, in fact, will win the auction, if one looks at the House sitting here. We know where that auction will go. However, auctioning is an option that, indeed, we will look at, like any other suggestion that is made on how to handle the future cellular and second national operator.

However, I think the answers that have been contributed by Mr Nel indicate that the electronic commerce debate is a debate that did not go through the normal channels in order to make sure that South Africans make a contribution. There is a debate out there and that debate has been a very healthy debate. Today, we hear that we are just apparatchiks that want to kill the industry, when, in fact, we have made it possible for contributions to be made so that Government can set policies that, indeed, benefit this country and the industry in this country.

On the issue of the 1800 mHz spectrum, I think the DP, in particular, should really educate itself on how to look at what the executive pronounces, and not to follow what somebody else says the executive has said. The 1800 mHz spectrum is an important and valuable resource. It is not a resource that we can just give to the few who know what its value is, and rob the majority who do not know what its value is. It is like asking us to take the gold mines, the diamond mines and the platinum mines of this country and give them to the few who have. That shall never happen. It is a policy issue that this Government, together with the people of South Africa, will determine what happens with the 1800 mHz spectrum. [Interjections.]

To the hon Wilma Newhoudt-Druchen I want to say that I knew that I did not have to speak here on behalf of the disabled. Today, we actually saw a very concrete example of a group of people who can speak for themselves, and we simply have to hold their hands and work with them. [Applause.] We say we have listened and we will take their concerns up with the SABC, which has already been told that we need to deal with the matters that are raised by the disabled people with sensitivity. I would like to thank her for that.

With regard to the issues that have been raised by Ms Vos, the issue of universal service is a very important one. We would like to create the confidence that one needs to have with regard to where this country is going. I will also deal with what she calls an ``interference or a blurring of the lines’’. I think, when we look at the document that I read today before the House, it is quite clear that it is the ANC that has constantly been harping on the fact that we must separate policy from regulation and from operators.

We believe that that is important, but it is also important to understand what the policy issues are. We cannot have something being a policy issue today because it benefits some people, and not a policy issue tomorrow because it does not benefit other people. We have to have consistency on this matter, and we will be prepared to engage on and discuss these issues, especially in the context of the regulatory environment that, as I have said, has been dented.

In terms of rural telephony, I am very happy to say and to hear - I think we have noticed that Mr Dowry has also answered some of the questions that were asked earlier on - that rural areas are very important to us. The hon Dr Mulder spoke about the SABC and the access to people, especially Afrikaans-speaking people.

Ek wil net vir hom sê ons is ook baie bekommerd as ons sien die SAUK doen soms nie die werk wat hy moet doen nie, maar een van die dinge wat ek moet sê, is dat baie mense in die verlede ook gevoel het hulle het belasting betaal en nóóit die dienste ontvang nie.

Ons het ‘n radiostasie by die SAUK vir mense wat Khoisan praat, wat nou ‘n lisensie van die OUO ontvang het. Ons wil seker maak dat al die mense se stemme gehoor kan word, nie net een taal se mense nie. Dit wys net hoe ons as die ANC besorg is daaroor dat al die mense - ál die mense, of ‘n mens in die dorp bly of in die platteland, of jy Khoisan of Xhosa praat - dieselfde behandel moet word. [Tussenwerpsels.] Ons sal daarvoor werk. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)

[I just want to say to him that we are also very concerned when we see that the SABC sometimes does not do the work it should be doing, but one of the things I have to say, is that in the past many people also felt that they paid tax and never received the services. We have a radio station at the SABC for people who speak Khoisan, which has now received a licence from the IBA. We want to ensure that the voices of all the people can be heard, and not only the voices of people who speak one language. This shows how we, as the ANC, are concerned that all the people - all the people, whether one lives in town or in the rural area, whether one speaks Khoisan or Xhosa - are treated the same. [Interjections.] We shall work for that.]

This goes just as much, I think, for the points that were raised by the hon Randy Pieterse. The reason for this is that when one goes out and meets with the ordinary citizens - the hon member from the Northern Province spoke very well about the pain that ordinary people in North West and the Northern Province have suffered - one realises that it is this Government that has said: We have listened.'' We want to make sure that we can, in a small way, on a yearly basis, improve access to services; not just to be able to speak to one another, not only to be able to do this to one another, but to be able to say that we are also empowering them so that they can participate in this Government and be able to do the kinds of things that they have never been able to do. Yesterday I talked to someone who was telling a story about his grandmother who had been given a cellular phone and for the first time was able to use a phone. She said:Why, I never knew that this thing could speak isiXhosa!’’ [Laughter.] That is the kind of thing that we say we are doing to change the minds, the knowledge and the access of ordinary people. It brings a new light to their eyes.

Coming to the hon Mr Mike Waters of the DP, I would like to find out if he expects me to go to the SABC and tell them what they must cover about the DP and its leader. One cannot have one’s cake and eat it. [Interjections.] I shall not interfere in the editorial work of the DP. When it suits them they say they should do this, and when it does not suit them, they say they should not do that.

We all suffer. People from the ANC, the IFP and other parties all have their complaints about the SABC. There are lots of things, I think, which they can change. It is for us to work with them in a manner that is open and transparent, and allows for a debate that says: ``What is the quality of our newsgathering and our information-giving structures throughout the country, including Carte Blanche itself?’’ That, I think, is our responsibility, particularly for us as members who are sitting in this House.

I shall not be able to do what he says and I will not be able to pass judgment on this particular matter because, in fact, I did not see the programme that he saw, because I worked until midnight that night and did not have the leisure to watch television. [Laughter.] To Mr Gore I would like to say that this sector will open competition. Competition is not an end in itself, but a means to an end. I have just returned from Brazil, and when I looked at the universal services challenge in that country, I knew that we were doing quite well, and that we were on course.

The commitment of my Ministry to liberalisation is in line with the WTO. We cannot just have freedom to cherry pick, to take all the cherries and the cream off the cake, and allow Government to bear the rest, while nobody wants to pay for the services that also need to go to those who do not have the means. We will do all in our might to be able to make sure that all of us, business and ordinary people, get services, and that these services are quality services. We cannot say, in this day and age with the kind of technology that we have, that those people who have been carrying messages on horseback must continue to carry messages on horseback when they could send messages via e-mail. Why not? We should teach them to send those messages and give their horses a break. [Laughter.] [Applause.]

We concur with Mr Swart of the ACDP that this sector is growing, and that it is a catalyst for the entire economy. Indeed, the public information terminals will be deployed to many post offices. We hope that in this way, through this and the Wap Internet laboratories which are now being put in schools, that we really can do something about us being .za.

Debate concluded.

                   PRECEDENCE TO ORDER OF THE DAY

                         (Draft Resolution)

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Mr Chairperson, by agreement with all political parties, I move without notice:

That, notwithstanding the provisions of Rules 29, 110 and 115, a statement by the President of the Republic on the Democratic Republic of Congo takes precedence tomorrow.

Agreed to.

The House adjourned at 16:29. ____

            ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS

                       THURSDAY, 20 APRIL 2000

TABLINGS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

Papers:

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson:

 Report of the Office of the Auditor-General on the Budget of Income and
 Expenditure for the financial year ending 31 March 2001 [RP 76 - 2000].

                         TUESDAY, 2 MAY 2000

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

National Assembly:

1. The Speaker:

 The following changes have been made to the membership of Committees,
 viz:


 Private Members' Legislative Proposals and Special Petitions:

 Appointed: Heine, R J.
 Discharged: Bruce, N S.

TABLINGS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

Papers:

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson: Reports of the Auditor-General on the -

 (1)    JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology for 1997-98 [RP 49-2000];

 (2)    Departments of Posts and Telecommunications of the former TBVC
     Countries for 1995-96 [RP 73-2000].

1. The Minister for Public Enterprises:

 Report and Financial Statements of Eskom for 1999.

1. The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism:

 (1)    Report and Financial Statements of the South African Tourism
     Board for 1997-98.

 (2)    Report and Financial Statements of the National Botanical
     Institute for 1998-99.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

National Assembly:

1. Report of the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs and Tourism on the Tourism Amendment Bill [B 50 - 99] (National Assembly - sec 76), dated 12 April 2000:

   The Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs and Tourism, having considered the subject of the Tourism Amendment Bill [B 50

   • 99] (National Assembly - sec 76), referred to it and classified by the JTM as a section 76 Bill, reports the Bill with amendments [B 50A - 99].

2. Report of the Standing Committee on Private Members’ Legislative Proposals and Special Petitions on the proposed Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Amendment Bill, dated 19 April 2000:

   The Standing Committee on Private Members’ Legislative Proposals and Special Petitions, having considered the proposed Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Amendment Bill, submitted by Mr V B Ndlovu and referred to the Committee, and having consulted the Portfolio Committee on Safety and Security, recommends in terms of Rule 235(4) that permission to proceed with the proposed legislation be refused.

 Report to be considered.

1. Report of the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry on the Competition Amendment Bill [B 10B - 2000] (National Assembly - sec 75), dated 19 April 2000:

   The Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, having considered the Competition Amendment Bill [B 10B - 2000] (National Assembly - sec 75) and proposed amendments of the National Council of Provinces (Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports, p 344), referred to the Committee, reports the Bill with amendments [B 10C

   • 2000].

                   FRIDAY, 5 MAY 2000
     

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson: (1) The Minister of Transport on 5 May 2000 submitted drafts of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Amendment Bill, 2000, and the Road Traffic Management Corporation Amendment Bill, 2000, and the memorandums explaining the objects of the proposed legislation, to the Speaker and the Chairperson in terms of Joint Rule 159. The drafts have been referred by the Speaker and the Chairperson to the Portfolio Committee on Transport and the Select Committee on Public Services, respectively, in accordance with Joint Rule 159(2).

 (2)    The Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) on 28 April 2000 in terms of
     Joint Rule 160(3), classified the following Bill as a section 75
     Bill:


     (i)     Administration of Estates Amendment Bill [B 24 - 2000]
          (National Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on Justice
          and Constitutional Development - National Assembly).


 (3)    The following Bill was introduced in the National Assembly on 5
     May 2000 and referred to the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) for
     classification in terms of Joint Rule 160:


     (i)     Local Government: Municipal Systems Bill [B 27 - 2000]
          (National Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on
          Provincial and Local Government - National Assembly)
          [Explanatory summary of Bill and prior notice of its
          introduction published in Government Gazette No 21071 of 13
          April 2000.]


 (4)    On 3 May 2000 the following Bill, at the request of the Minister
     of Education, was introduced in the National Council of Provinces
     by the Select Committee on Education and Recreation. It has been
     referred to the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) for classification
     in terms of Joint Rule 160:


     (i)     South African Council for Educators Bill [B 26 - 2000]
          (National Council of Provinces - sec 76) - (Select Committee
          on Education and Recreation - National Council of Provinces)
          [Explanatory summary of Bill and prior notice of its
          introduction published in Government Gazette No 20956 of 3
          March 2000.]


 (5)    The following papers have been tabled and are now referred to
     the relevant committees as mentioned below:


     (1)     The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee
          on Public Service and Administration and to the Select
          Committee on Local Government and Administration:


          Report of the Department of Public Service and Administration
          for 1999-2000.


     (2)     The following paper is referred to the Standing Committee
          on Public Accounts for consideration and report. It is also
          referred to the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs and to the
          Select Committee on Public Services for information:


          Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of
          Vote 17 - Home Affairs for 1998-99 [RP 141-99].
     (3)     The following paper is referred to the Standing Committee
          on Public Accounts for consideration and report. It is also
          referred to the Portfolio Committee on Public Works and to the
          Select Committee on Public Services for information:


          Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of
          Vote 28 - Public Works for 1998-99 [RP 152-99].


     (4)     The following paper is referred to the Standing Committee
          on Public Accounts for consideration and report. It is also
          referred to the Portfolio Committee on Arts, Culture, Science
          and Technology and to the Select Committee on Education and
          Recreation for information:


          Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of
          the Zoological Gardens of South Africa for 1998-99 [RP 65-
          2000].


     (5)     The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee
          on Welfare and Population Development and to the Select
          Committee on Social Services:


          Report of the Department of Welfare and Population Development
          for 1999-2000 [RP 86-2000].


     (6)     The following paper is referred to the Standing Committee
          on Public Accounts for consideration and report. It is also
          referred to the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry and
          to the Select Committee on Economic Affairs for information:


          Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of
          the Independent Development Trust (Main Fund) for 1997-98 [RP
          182-99].


     (7)     The following papers are referred to the Portfolio
          Committee on Arts, Culture, Science and Technology and to the
          Select Committee on Education and Recreation:


          (a) Report of the Board of Control of the Woordeboek van die
              Afrikaanse Taal for 1998-99.

          (b) Government Notice No 1034 published in the Government
              Gazette No 20410 dated 3 September 1999, Withdrawal of
              Government Notice No 644 of 19 April 1999 made in terms
              of section 5(1)(c) of the National Monuments Act, 1969
              (Act No 28 of 1969).

          (c) Government Notice No 1044 published in the Government
              Gazette No 20410 dated 3 September 1999, Entries in the
              register of immovable conservation-worthy property in
              terms of section 5(1)(cC) of the National Monuments Act,
              1969 (Act No 28 of 1969).

          (d) Government Notice No 2063 published in the Government
              Gazette No 20436 dated 10 September 1999, European
              Programme: Support for small, medium and micro
              enterprises in South Africa.

          (e) Government Notice No 90 published in the Government
              Gazette No 20458 dated 10 September 1999, Designation of
              Provincial Language Committee in the North West, made in
              terms of section 8(8)(a) of the Pan South African
              Language Board Act, 1995 (Act No 59 of 1995).

          (f) Government Notice No 92 published in the Government
              Gazette No 20458 dated 10 September 1999, Designation of
              Provincial Language Committee in the Western Cape, made
              in terms of section 8(8)(a) of the Pan South African
              Language Board Act, 1995 (Act No 59 of 1995).

          (g) Government Notice No 91 published in the Government
              Gazette No 20458 dated 10 September 1999, Publication of
              a decision in terms of section 11(7) of the Pan South
              African Language Board Act, 1995 (Act No 59 of 1995).

          (h) Government Notice No 1125 published in the Government
              Gazette No 20476 dated 23 September 1999, Registration of
              heraldic representations made in terms of section 10 of
              the Heraldry Act, 1962 (Act No 18 of 1962).

          (i) Government Notice No 97 published in the Government
              Gazette No 20499 dated 01 October 1999, Designation of
              Khoi and San National Language Body, made in terms of
              section 8(8)(b) of the Pan South African Language Board
              Act, 1995 (Act No 59 of 1995).

          (j) Government Notice No 98 published in the Government
              Gazette No 20499 dated 1 October 1999, Normative
              Framework for the recognition of Provincial Language
              Committees made in terms of the Pan South Language Board
              Act, 1995.

          (k) Convention on the Means of Prohibition and Preventing the
              Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of
              Cultural Property, tabled in terms of section 231(2) of
              the Constitution, 1996.

          (l) Explanatory Memorandum to the Convention.

          (m) Convention to the International Centre for the Study of
              the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property
              (ICCROM), tabled in terms of section 231(2) of the
              Constitution, 1996.

          (n) Explanatory Memorandum to the Convention.


     (8)     The following paper is referred to the Subcommittee on
          Internal Arrangements:


          Rider Number One to the Financing Agreement between the
          Government of the Republic of South Africa and the European
          Community concerning Parliamentary Support Programme, tabled
          in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.


     (9)     The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee
          on Safety and Security and to the Select Committee on Security
          and Constitutional Affairs:


          Rider Number One to the Financing Agreement between the
          Government of the Republic of South Africa and the European
          Community concerning Policing in the Eastern Cape, tabled in
          terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.


     (10)The following papers are referred to the Portfolio Committee
          on Education and to the Select Committee on Education and
          Recreation:


          (a) Rider Number One to the Financing Agreement between the
              Government of the Republic of South Africa and the
              European Community concerning Technical Support to the
              South African Department of Education, tabled in terms of
              section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.

          (b) Amendment Agreement between the Government of United
              States of America and the Government of the Republic of
              South Africa on Primary Education Results Package
              Programme: Department of Education, tabled in terms of
              section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.


     (11)The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on
          Public Service and Administration and to the Select Committee
          on Local Government and Administration:


          Rider Number One to the Financing Agreement between the
          Government of the Republic of South Africa and the European
          Community concerning Public Service Management Development,
          tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.


     (12)The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on
          Justice and Constitutional Development and to the Select
          Committee on Security and Constitutional Affairs:
           
          Rider Number One to the Financing Agreement between the
          Government of the Republic of South Africa and the European
          Community concerning the Truth and Reconciliation Commission,
          tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.


     (13)The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on
          Provincial and Local Government and to the Select Committee on
          Local Government and Administration:
           
          Rider Number One to the 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.


     (14)The following papers are referred to the Portfolio Committee
          on Trade and Industry and to the Select Committee on Economic
          Affairs:


          (a) Rider Number One to the Financing Agreement between the
              Government of the Republic of South Africa and the
              European Community concerning Private Sector Development
              Programme, tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the
              Constitution, 1996.

          (b) Rider Number Two to the Financing Agreement between the
              Government of the Republic of South Africa and the
              European Community concerning SADC Finance and Investment
              Research Programme, tabled in terms of section 231(3) of
              the Constitution, 1996.

          (c) Rider Number Two to the Financing Agreement between the
              Government of the Republic of South Africa and the
              European Community concerning Private Sector Development
              Programme: Small and Micro Enterprises, tabled in terms
              of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.


     (15)The following papers are referred to the Portfolio Committee
          on Finance and to the Select Committee on Finance:
           
          (a) Rider Number One to the Financing Agreement between the
              Government of the Republic of South Africa and the
              European Community concerning FISCU, tabled in terms of
              section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.

          (b) Rider Number Two to the Financing Agreement between the
              Government of the Republic of South Africa and the
              European Community concerning Technical Assistance
              Consultancy Support, tabled in terms of section 231(3) of
              the Constitution, 1996.


     (16)The following papers are referred to the Portfolio Committee
          on Health and to the Select Committee on Social Services:


          (a) Rider Number Three to the Financing Agreement between the
              Government of the Republic of South Africa and the
              European Community concerning District Health System, to
              be tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution,
              1996.

          (b) Rider Number Three to the Financing Agreement between the
              Government of the Republic of South Africa and the
              European Community concerning Health Technical Support,
              tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution,
              1996.

          (c) Rider Number Three to the Financing Agreement between the
              Government of the Republic of South Africa and the
              European Community concerning HIV/AIDS Programme, tabled
              in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.

          (d) Rider Number Four to the Financing Agreement between the
              Government of the Republic of South Africa and the
              European Community concerning District Health System,
              tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution,
              1996.

          (e) Rider Number Four to the Financing Agreement between the
              Government of the Republic of South Africa and the
              European Community concerning Health Technical Support,
              tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution,
              1996.

          (f) Rider Number One to the Financing Agreement between the
              Government of the Republic of South Africa and the
              European Community concerning Public Health Sectoral
              Support Programme, tabled in terms of section 231(3) of
              the Constitution, 1996.


     (17)The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on
          Minerals and Energy and Portfolio Committee on Education and
          to the Select Committee on Economic Affairs and the Select
          Committee on Education and Recreation:
           
          Rider Number Two to the Financing Agreement between the
          Government of the Republic of South Africa and the European
          Community concerning Non-Grid Electrification of Rural
          Schools, tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the
          Constitution, 1996.


     (18)The following papers are referred to the Portfolio Committee
          on Water Affairs and Forestry and to the Select Committee on
          Land and Environmental Affairs:


          (a) Financing Agreement between the Government of the Republic
              of South Africa and the European Community concerning
              Sector Support for Community Water Supply and Sanitation,
              to be tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the
              Constitution, 1996.

          (b) Amendment Agreement between the Government of United
              States of America and the Government of the Republic of
              South Africa on Community-based Water Board Development
              Project, tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the
              Constitution, 1996.


     (19)The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on
          Foreign Affairs and to the Select Committee on Economic
          Affairs:


          Agreement between the Government of Sweden and the Government
          of the Republic of South Africa on General Terms and
          Conditions for Development Co-operation, tabled in terms of
          section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.


     (20)The following papers are referred to the Portfolio Committee
          on Justice and Constitutional Development and to the Select
          Committee on Security and Constitutional Affairs:


          (a) Report of the Department of Justice for 1998-99 [RP 52-
              2000].

          (b) Report of the South African Law Commission for 1999 [RP 53-
              2000].

          (c) Report of the Judicial Service Commission for 1998-99.

          (d) Draft Protocol to the African Charter on Human and
              Peoples' Rights on the Establishment of an African Court
              on Human and Peoples' Rights, tabled in terms of section
              231(2) of the Constitution, 1996.

          (e) Explanatory Memorandum to the Draft Protocol.


     (21)The following paper is referred to the Standing Committee on
          Public Accounts for consideration and report. It is also
          referred to the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry and
          to the Select Committee on Economic Affairs for information:


          Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of
          the Economic Co-operation Promotion Loan Fund for 1998-99 [RP
          63-2000].

National Assembly:

1. The Speaker:

 (1)    The vacancy which occurred owing to the death of Mr M I Vilakazi
     has been filled with effect from 1 May 2000 by the nomination of
     the following member:


     Moropa, R M.


 (2)    The vacancy which occurred owing to Ms L A Abrahams vacating her
     seat with effect from 1 May 2000, has been filled with effect from
     1 May 2000 by the nomination of the following member:


     Dithebe, S L.


 (3)    The following member has vacated his seat with effect from 1 May
     2000:


     Rockman, G.

TABLINGS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

Papers:

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson:

 Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of Vote 31 -
 South African Police Service and the Secretariat for Safety and
 Security for 1998-99 [RP 154-99].

1. The Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry:

 (1)    Government Notice No 15 published in the Government Gazette No
     20793 dated 14 January 2000, Determination of an interest rate in
     terms of section 59(3)(a) of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act No
     36 of 1998).

 (2)    Proclamation No 6 published in the Government Gazette No 20897
     dated 25 February 2000, Commencement of certain provisions of the
     National Forests Act, 1998 (Act No 84 of 1998).

 (3)    Government Notice No 212 published in the Government Gazette No
     20946 dated 10 March 2000, Request to register a water use in
     terms of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act No 36 of 1998).

 (4)    Government Notice No 213 published in the Government Gazette No
     20946 dated 10 March 2000, Request to register a water use in
     terms of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act No 36 of 1998).

 (5)    Government Notice No 234 published in the Government Gazette No
     20965 dated 17 March 2000, made in terms of section 50(4) of the
     National Forests Act, 1998 (Act No 84 of 1998).

 (6)    Government Notice No 277 published in the Government Gazette No
     21017 dated 24 March 2000, Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority Notice
     made in terms of Chapter 10 of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act
     No 36 of 1998).

 (7)    Government Notice No 338 published in the Government Gazette No
     21042 dated 7 April 2000, Rates and charges for the Water Research
     Fund made in terms of the Water Research Act, 1971 (Act No 34 of
     1971).

 (8)    Report and Financial Statements of the Water Research Commission
     for 1999, including the Report of the Auditor-General on the
     Financial Statements for 1998.

                         MONDAY, 8 MAY 2000

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson:

 (1)    The Minister of Transport on 8 May 2000 submitted a draft of the
     Sea Transport Documents Bill, 2000, and 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 by the Speaker and the Chairperson to the Portfolio
     Committee on Transport and the Select Committee on Public
     Services, respectively, in accordance with Joint Rule 159(2).


 (2)    The Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) on 8 May 2000 in terms of
     Joint Rule 160(3), classified the following Bill as a section 75
     Bill:


     (i)     National Youth Commission Amendment Bill [B 25 - 2000]
          (National Assembly - sec 75). The Bill has not yet been
          referred to a committee.


 (3)    The following Bills were introduced in the National Assembly on
     8 May 2000 and referred to the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) for
     classification in terms of Joint Rule 160:


     (i)     Sea Transport Documents Bill [B 28 - 2000] (National
              Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on Transport -
              National Assembly) [Explanatory summary of Bill and prior
              notice of its introduction published in Government
              Gazette No 21158 of 8 May 2000.]

     (ii)    Meat Safety Bill [B 29 - 2000] (National Assembly - sec
              76(1)) - (Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Land
              Affairs - National Assembly) [Explanatory summary of Bill
              and prior notice of its introduction published in
              Government Gazette No 21155 of 8 May 2000.]

TABLINGS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

Papers:

1. The Minister of Finance:

 (1)    Report and Financial Statements of the Department of Finance for
     1999, including the Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial
     Statements of Vote 14 - Finance for 1998-99 [RP 56-2000].

 (2)    Report and Financial Statements of the Department of State
     Expenditure for 1999, including the Report of the Auditor-General
     on the Financial Statements of Vote 33 - State Expenditure for
     1998-99 [RP 69-2000].

 (3)    Report of the Statistics South Africa for 1999 [RP 41-2000].

 (4)    Report and Financial Statements of the South African Revenue
     Service for 1998-99, including the Report of the Auditor-General
     on the Financial Statements for 1998-99. 2.    The Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology:


 Report of the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology for
 1999, Volume One.

                         TUESDAY, 9 MAY 2000

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

National Assembly:

1. The Speaker:

 (1)    The following paper has been tabled and is referred to the
     Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration for
     consideration and report:


     Draft Code of Ethics for Members of the Cabinet and Members of the
     Executive Councils.


 (2)    The vacancy which occurred owing to Lieut G Rockman vacating his
     seat with effect from 1 May 2000, has been filled with effect from
     3 May 2000 by the nomination of the following member:
     Fazzie, M H.

TABLINGS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

Papers:

1. The Minister of Correctional Services:

 Report and Financial Statements of the Department of Correctional
 Services for 1999 [RP 50-2000].

1. The Minister of Minerals and Energy:

 Report of the Department of Minerals and Energy for 1999.