THURSDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2000 __

          PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
                                ____

The Council met at 14:02.

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS - see col 000.

                          NOTICE OF MOTION

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Order! I am pleased to welcome hon members back and to welcome them to this session of our sittings in Parliament. I am particularly glad to see Mr Marais here. He will rouse the House once more. Welcome to him. [Laughter.]

Mrs J N VILAKAZI: Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the Council I shall move: That the Council -

(1) notes with dismay the death of Mr Piet Theron, the regional court magistrate of Wynberg;

(2) requests the police to try all possible means at their disposal to bring the perpetrators to book;

(3) notes with pride the fair-minded nature in which Mr Theron executed his legal duties; and

(4) sends its heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family.

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Order! I should also have welcomed the premiers who are present here today.

PRESIDENT MBEKI’S ROLE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY AND UNDERDEVELOPMENT

                         (Draft Resolution)

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE COUNCIL: Chairperson, I move without notice: That the Council -

(1) recognises that the eradication of poverty remains the overriding priority for underdeveloped countries to ensure long-term peace and security as well as to achieve sustainable economic development;

(2) acknowledges the important role played by President Thabo Mbeki at the World Summit for Social Development where he passionately championed the cause of the underdeveloped world;

(3) supports the call by President Mbeki for the creation of a supportive international economic and financial environment to address the problems of poverty and underdevelopment and to reverse the growing disparities between rich and poor; and

(4) believes that the President’s efforts will significantly contribute towards a better understanding of the problems faced by the underdeveloped nations of the world.

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

           REGISTRATION OF VOTERS FOR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

                         (Draft Resolution)

Mr J L MAHLANGU: Chairperson, I move without notice:

That the Council -

(1) notes -

   (a)  the excellent standard of services delivered by the Independent
       Electoral Commission to all the people of South Africa in the
       previous elections and in preparation for the coming municipal
       elections;


   (b)  that the IEC is currently undertaking targeted registration in
       the voting districts affected by the redelimitation as a result
       of the new municipal and ward demarcations;


   (c)  that during the current target registration exercise, potential
       voters are being visited at home by the IEC officials to re-
       register; and


   (d)  that 15 020 IEC voting stations will open from 08:00 to 17:00 on
       the weekend of 16 and 17 September 2000 to register voters for
       the municipal elections; and

(2) calls upon -

   (a)  all people who did not register in the place where they normally
       live and those who are not registered to re-register on the
       registration weekend of 16 and 17 September 2000; and


   (b)  all public representatives to play a prominent role in support
       of the National Programme for Voter Registration.

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Order! Is there any objection to the motion?

Mr L G LEVER: Madam Chair, I move: That the following paragraph be added to the motion:

``(3) censures in a suitable manner those local governments who refused to register qualified voters and told them to wait for the IEC registration weekend.’’

I believe that amounts to a shirking of the duty of such councils.

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Order! Does the hon member have any objection to the addition of such an amendment to his motion?

Mr J L MAHLANGU: No, Chair.

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

Motion, as amended, agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution, namely: That the Council -

(1) notes -

     (a)     the excellent standard of services delivered by the
          Independent Electoral Commission to all the people of South
          Africa in the previous elections and in preparation for the
          coming municipal elections;


     (b)     that the IEC is currently undertaking targeted
          registration in the voting districts affected by the
          redelimitation as a result of the new municipal and ward
          demarcations;


     (c)     that during the current target registration exercise,
          potential voters are being visited at home by the IEC
          officials to re-register; and


     (d)     that 15 020 IEC voting stations will open from 08:00 to
          17:00 on the weekend of 16 and 17 September 2000 to register
          voters for the municipal elections;


 (2)    calls upon -


     (a)     all people who did not register in the place where they
          normally live and those who are not registered to re-register
          on the registration weekend of 16 and 17 September 2000; and


     (b)     all public representatives to play a prominent role in
          support of the National Programme for Voter Registration; and


 (3)    censures in a suitable manner those local governments who
     refused to register qualified voters and told them to wait for the
     IEC registration weekend.

              BEST WISHES TO SOUTH AFRICAN OLYMPIC TEAM

                         (Draft Resolution)

Mr N M RAJU: Madam Chair, I move without notice:

That the Council -

(1) wishes the South African contingent of our illustrious athletes such as Hezekiel Sepeng, Josia Thugwane, Penny Heyns, Sarah Poewe, Llewellyn Herbert, Benni McCarthy, Quinton Fortune and others every success in the Olympic Games in Sydney this week; and

(2) expects them all to go for gold, but should they fail to do so, expects our ambassadors in sport to ensure that they acquit themselves well in every way, both on and off the tracks.

All the best to our boys and girls at the Sydney Olympics!

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

               DISRESPECT TOWARDS OFFICE OF PRESIDENT

                         (Draft Resolution)

Ms E N LUBIDLA: Chairperson, I move without notice:

That the Council -

(1) notes with concern the apparent ease with which someone has circumvented the police security around the President by breaking into the official residence of President Thabo Mbeki;

(2) further notes the distasteful, racist and libellous depiction of former President Nelson Mandela as an animal by somebody at the police headquarters in Wachthuis;

(3) expresses its concern that there may still be certain elements hiding in the South African Police Service who do not accept the democratic changes that have occurred in the country;

(4) believes that these undemocratic elements taint the image of the whole police service and those honest, hardworking and dedicated policemen and women who are committed to serving our people; and

(5) therefore calls on the police management to root out those undemocratic elements by speeding up the transformation of the South African Police Service.

Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution. BOMB ATTACKS IN WESTERN CAPE

                         (Draft Resolution)

Mnr C ACKERMANN: Voorsitter, ek stel sonder kennisgewing voor:

Dat die Raad -

(1) met skok en afgryse kennis neem van die bom wat Dinsdagaand naby die Premier van die Wes-Kaap, mnr Gerald Morkel, afgegaan het, en dat dit slegs ‘n bestiering van Bo was dat hy nie beseer of gedood is nie;

(2) sy simpatie uitspreek teenoor die persone wat tydens die bomontploffing beseer is, en hulle beterskap toewens;

(3) ook dink aan hulle families wat moet ly as gevolg van hierdie tragiese en afstootlike gebeurtenis;

(4) sy kommer uitspreek oor die toenemende getal bomontploffings wat in die Wes-Kaap plaasvind en die Regering ernstig versoek om daadwerklike stappe te doen om hierdie stedelike terrorisme uit te roei wat die demokrasie in die provinsie in gevaar stel; en

(5) met kommer kennis neem daarvan dat hierdie stedelike terreur moontlik gemik is om die demokratiese proses tydens die plaaslike bestuursverkiesings omver te werp en kiesers te intimideer en te verwar sodat hulle nie aan die verkiesingsprosesse deelneem nie. (Translation of Afrikaans notice of motion follows.)

[Mr C ACKERMANN: Chairperson, I move without notice:

That the Council -

(1) notes with shock and horror the bomb which exploded close to the Premier of the Western Cape, Mr Gerald Morkel, on Tuesday evening, and that it was only an act of Providence that he was not injured or killed;

(2) expresses its sympathy with those who were injured during the bomb blast, and wishes them a swift recovery;

(3) also thinks of their families who have to suffer as a result of this tragic and abhorrent event;

(4) expresses its concern at the increasing number of bomb blasts which have occurred in the Western Cape and urgently requests the Government to take decisive steps to eradicate this urban terrorism which is jeopardising democracy in the province; and

(5) notes with concern that this urban terrorism is possibly aimed at disrupting the democratic process during the local government elections and intimidating and confusing voters so that they do not participate in the electoral processes.]

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

  GOOD WISHES TO MR P G QOKWENI ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE COUNCIL

                         (Draft Resolution)

Mr K D S DURR: Chairperson, I move without notice: That the Council -

(1) takes note of the retirement of its former colleague, Mr P G Qokweni, to take up a position in the Department of Education in the Eastern Cape; and

(2) values and appreciates Mr Qokweni’s contribution as a member of the NCOP and wishes him and his family well in the future.

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

     FORMER PRESIDENT MANDELA'S ROLE IN MEDIATING BURUNDI CRISIS

                         (Draft Resolution)

Prince B Z ZULU: Chairperson, I move without notice:

That the Council -

(1) notes -

   (a)  with appreciation the commitment by the Chief Mediator in the
       Burundi crisis, former South African President Nelson Mandela;


   (b)  Mr Mandela announced yesterday that the three Tutsi parties
       which last month refused to sign a peace accord aimed at ending
       the civil war in Burundi, have since agreed to reverse their
       decision;


   (c)  that the leaders Joseph Nzeyimana, Patrice Nsababaganwa and
       Nicephore Ndimurukundo met Mr Mandela at his home in
       Johannesburg yesterday, praising Mr Mandela for his efforts to
       bring peace in Central Africa; and


   (d)  that the parties will sign the accord without reservations in
       the Kenyan capital, Nairobi; and

(2) calls on all peace-loving leaders and citizens of this country and this continent to support Mr Mandela’s peace initiatives.

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Order! Is there any objection to that motion? I think it is a pleasing motion indeed.

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

                    FOREST FIRE NEAR STUTTERHEIM

                         (Draft Resolution)

Ms M P THEMBA: Chairperson, I move without notice:

That the Council -

(1) notes that the fire which started on Wednesday last week and which has destroyed thousands of hectares of pine plantations near Stutterheim, was out of control in Kubusi forest in the Eastern Cape;

(2) further notes that the Kubusi blaze has destroyed 11 000 hectares of pine plantation and is the worst since 1982;

(3) expresses its thanks and appreciation to the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry and to the AV8 Aviation from East London which has rendered assistance with a helicopter;

(4) recognises the invaluable contribution made by 150 firefighters who are working 12-hour shifts in trying to halt the blaze; and

(5) notes that fires of this nature should in future be prevented as they impact badly on our environment and economy.

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

              SAFE RETURN OF CALLIE AND MONIQUE STRYDOM

                         (Draft Resolution)

Mnr J L THERON: Voorsitter, ek stel sonder kennisgewing voor:

Dat die Raad - (1) sy blydskap en dankbaarheid uitspreek oor Callie en Monique Strydom se veilige terugkeer na Suid-Afrika na hul gevangenskap op Jolo- eiland; en

(2) ook sy dank uitspreek teenoor die Minister van Buitelandse Sake, haar amptenare en ander persone wat ‘n rol gespeel het in hul vrylating. (Translation of Afrikaans notice of motion follows.)

[Mr J L THERON: Chairperson, I move without notice:

That the Council -

(1) expresses its joy and gratitude at the safe return of Callie and Monique Strydom to South Africa after being held hostage on the island of Jolo; and

(2) also expresses its gratitude to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, her officials and other persons who played a role in their release.]

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

REFERRAL OF GENERAL INTELLIGENCE LAW AMENDMENT BILL TO AD HOC COMMITTEE

                         (Draft Resolution)

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE COUNCIL: Madam Chair, I move the draft resolution printed in my name on the Order Paper, as follows:

That the Council refers the General Intelligence Law Amendment Bill [B 36- 2000] to an ad hoc Committee of the Council for consideration and report, and for that purpose establishes a committee in terms of Rule 160, the committee -

(1) consists of 9 members;

(2) to consider the bill in accordance with Chapter 10 of the Rules;

(3) to exercise those powers in Rule 103 that may assist it in carrying out its task;

(4) subject to the concurrence of the National Assembly, to confer with the corresponding Assembly committee and the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence; and

(5) to complete its task by not later than 5 October 2000.

Madam Chair, at the same time I move an amendment to the motion printed on the Order Paper, for very technical reasons as follows:

That, in paragraph (5), 5 October 2000'' be substituted by12 October 2000’’.

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

Motion, as amended, agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution, namely: That the Council refers the General Intelligence Law Amendment Bill [B 36-2000] to an ad hoc Committee of the Council for consideration and report, and for that purpose establishes a committee in terms of Rule 160, the committee -

(1) to consist of 9 members;

(2) to consider the bill in accordance with Chapter 10 of the Rules;

(3) to exercise those powers in Rule 103 that may assist it in carrying out its task;

(4) subject to the concurrence of the National Assembly, to confer with the corresponding Assembly committee and the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence; and

(5) to complete its task by not later than 12 October 2000.

 PROVINCIAL PERSPECTIVES ON CHALLENGES REGARDING AND EFFORTS TOWARDS
                 RECONCILIATION AND NATION-BUILDING

                      (Subject for Discussion)

Mr M V MOOSA: Chairperson, hon Minister Pahad, hon premiers and MECs, and fellow members, the debate on reconciliation and   nation-building has occupied our minds for at least the past six years. It has matured considerably, but because the challenges that face us are so immense, I believe the discussion has only begun.

A key lesson which we have learned, not least after the experiences of the rest of Africa and recently Zimbabwe, is that the discourse on nation- building and reconciliation is inextricably linked to the delivery of socioeconomic rights to our people. For the patriotic citizens of Phola Park, Khayelitsha, Thohoyandou and Soweto, the eradication of racism and the delivery of fundamental rights or the harmonious weaving together of a divided social fabric of our society is meaningless if they do not have jobs, food, education and health services.

Meaningful reconciliation and nation-building can only take place if the disempowered people of our country have proper access and opportunity to enter into the mainstream of the economic life of our country. Racism is only eliminated if the black and white communities in areas such Pofadder, Johannesburg and elsewhere share in the resources of those towns and in the infrastructure and economic life.

For as long as the overwhelming majority of people in Pofadder and Johannesburg are poor and black, and the minority rich and white, we cannot say that we have achieved our objectives of reconciliation and nation- building. For as long as the farming land of this country is not owned equitably by black and white, or the top 100 companies in South Africa remain under the ownership of white people, or 94% of the shares on the stock exchange are owned by white people, we cannot say that we have achieved the objectives of reconciling our sad history and building our nation into a single powerful unit that shares a common vision.

For as long as the schools in Soweto are less resourced than the schools of Sandton, or the clinics in Mitchells Plain deliver less health care than the clinic servicing the Constantia residents, or some South Africans live in palaces while millions live in cardboard shacks, reconciliation will remain a mere philosophical concept.

As I have said recently elsewhere, for as long as the colour of money in this country is white, reconciliation and nation-building will remain a philosophical icon that we shall continue to strive for. Our shameless critics, such as the Democratic Alliance, sit on armchairs and block and criticise every move our Government makes towards nation-building, and then during election road shows criticise Government for not delivering. They show no patriotism or commitment to nation-building, except having pie-in- the-sky philosophical discussions about how racism no longer exists and how we cannot blame everything on apartheid. But I have no doubt that our colleagues in the National Assembly will adequately strip the partners of the Democratic Alliance of their Gucci clothing so that they are forced to bear the true colour that they exhibit, which is white.

No nation has ever had a will to succeed such as ours. Since 1994 our Reconstruction and Development Programme has been mooted as the largest single national reconstruction effort since World War II and possibly the largest in history. The NCOP has a crucial role to play in nation-building within this context. It is the constitutionally mandated structure to interface with the nine provincial legislatures and their governments and administrations. It has a constitutional interface with the hundreds of local governments in our country.

While the general role of Parliament is policy, legislative and oversight work, the NCOP must also engage provinces and local governments more aggressively to forge ahead with delivery. Provinces and local governments are the main delivery vehicles through which equality, nonracialism and nonsexism must be achieved. They can only do this through the meaningful delivery of socioeconomic rights to our people. This House must energise the various spheres of government to capture the urgency that faces the nation on these fundamental national objectives.

We must sit up and take note of the recent adverse reports that the NCOP has received, arising from an audit of the Department of Provincial and Local Government. The audit calls on the NCOP to increase its role in intergovernmental relations and concentrate on tracking the delivery by provincial and local governments. I believe the NCOP and our select committees have matured sufficiently to begin asserting themselves in rising to the challenges of nation-building.

The ANC strategy and tactics document adopted as far back as 1994 had the following to say:

Among the factors which pose the greatest threat to national unity and national integrity are the uneven socioeconomic developments and vast disparities in natural endowment in the different provinces and localities. These turn to engender a scramble for scarce resources and pose the real danger of fanning racial and ethnic tensions.

Three years later, in 1997, the strategy and tactics document again says:

 The strategic objective of the national democratic revolution is the
 creation of a united, nonracial, nonsexist and democratic society which
 can only be achieved by liberating Africans in particular, and blacks
 in general, from political and economic bondage.

The struggle for freedom will remain for as long as the legacy of apartheid remains. The President, in his famous two-nations speech, emphasises that our society is ridden by a perpetuation of racial, gender and spatial disparities. Our black and poor people still live under conditions of a grossly underdeveloped infrastructure in economic, physical, educational, communication and other terms. Although the road is long, the NCOP squarely bears the responsibility to shorten that road. We have made some progress in this regard, and I am convinced that the NCOP, together with the provinces and local governments with which it works, can achieve much more. [Applause.]

The PREMIER OF THE NORTHERN PROVINCE (Adv N A Ramathlodi): Chairperson, I thought I was in safe hands, what with the Deputy Chair sitting here, but we are struggling to get the gadget to work … [Inaudible.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Order! [Inaudible.] Order! What you are seeing is the poverty of Parliament, Mr Ramathlodi.

Mr M L MUSHWANA: Everything is old.

The PREMIER OF THE NORTHERN PROVINCE (Adv N A Ramathlodi): I am going to hold it.

Chairperson, the majority of South African adults of today carry with them the scars of apartheid society, regardless of their race, colour or creed.

This legacy forms part of our consciousness and subconsciousness and, as such, it is a powerful influence on how we view ourselves and the world around us. It colours our world view, shapes our responses and conditions our actions in such a fundamental way that some of us would not be willing to acknowledge that publicly. May I dare to suggest that some of us would not admit that to ourselves even in our own privacy.

In this context, one is reminded of a wise counsel that made an assessment that the greatest part of the struggle for change is against the self. This is the reason the debate on reconciliation and nation-building cannot be an easy one. The Chamber will recall the recent conference on racism which could be rated as an eloquent testimony to what one is asserting here. However uncomfortable these initiatives and debates may be, we should not even for a moment contemplate a retreat, because such a step would come at a great cost to the future of our country. The time for boldness and courage is now. No one should be guilty of postponing the future, because, at some point, it will impose itself upon us.

In our province we are calling for a collective response to the naked and obvious manifestations of racism, such as the painting of little girls, the shooting of small boys in places such as Naboomspruit and so forth. In these cases and similar ones elsewhere in the country, it would make a profound contribution to nation-building and race relations if white organisations were to take the lead in denouncing such atrocities. Similarly, we have taken the lead in denouncing the brutal murders of innocent, elderly and sometimes white farmers in the rural areas.

We have opened dialogue with bodies such as the Transvaal Agricultural Union and the Broederbond in order to arrive at a common position in dealing with the more common forms of racism and racialism. In these discussions we are talking about means and ways of ensuring that black aspirations do not necessarily have to translate into white fears. We are arguing that, given our history, these aspirations should become the collective national dream of black and white South Africans. The acceptance of such a discourse would remove the tension associated with affirming the victims of apartheid to the status of equal partners with their fellow compatriots in all spheres of life, including the political, cultural and economic spheres.

There can be no nation if one has the haves and have-nots living in two compartmentalised worlds and two different countries whilst sharing common borders, breathing the same air and sharing the same sun. Speaking for myself and my province, we believe that the future of nonracialism could not have been much brighter. To that end, we are engaging the churches and institutions of learning in order to provide leadership, particularly in raising our young, who stand a much better chance of overcoming our grim legacy compared to the adults of today.

We are encouraging mass campaigns against specific acts of racism, such as the Potgietersrus Laerskool saga of 1995.

In conclusion, let this NCOP reach out and make that bright future of nonracialism happen in our lifetime. [Applause.]

Mr P A MATTHEE: Chairperson, as I have neither a Gucci suit nor a Gucci tie or sweatshirt, I have decided, today, to put on my gumbo tie. I received this tie with the compliments of the Mayor of New Orleans. I wonder how many of the members know what gumbo is. Gumbo is a well-known and much loved dish in New Orleans. New Orleans is like gumbo, it has got a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Do members know what gumbo is like? It takes a variety of ingredients to make good gumbo. This is what is stated on this tie: ``Uptown, downtown; lakeside, riverside; Asian American, Arab American; Protestant, Catholic; Muslim, Hindu’’, and so it goes on.

South Africa is like the city of New Orleans - a country of diverse people: !ke e: /xarra //ke, which means: diverse people, unite. South African people have at least 11 different languages, different cultures, religions, races and ethnic groups, and people with different experiences of the past. Can these people, from all nine different provinces, different political views, the poor and the rich, reconcile and build a nation? I hope that each and every one of us here today believes, like I do, that not only is this possible, but also absolutely necessary, because, at the end of the day, we are all South Africans.

However, for us to succeed, we will have to accept that in spite of our diversity and different political views, we are South Africans of equal status as citizens and, in our case, as representatives of the people. The diversity of our people is a national asset and it should be promoted by a spirit of mutual respect, inclusivity and participation. We should safeguard the language, religion and cultural rights of each individual and each community. We should all be committed to national reconciliation and building a strong, dynamic and united multicultural nation. Yes, the majority of South Africans experienced the denial of their basic human rights. Today most South Africans continue to suffer an assault on their dignity because of pervasive poverty and crime. Mindful of this, we should all commit ourselves to the creation and maintenance of an open society in which everyone, especially those who are most in need, is given meaningful access to opportunity so that the frontiers of poverty can be rolled back in a sustainable and developmental manner.

Each person in South Africa has a chance to be the very best that they can be. Individuals, families and the communities created through free association are the cornerstones of stable and successful societies with legitimate hopes, aspirations and the right to pursue happiness and fulfilment.

No democracy can flourish unless the government of the day is faced with critical and effective opposition that is loyal to the constitutional order and promotes the wellbeing of their country. Such a constructive opposition is a necessary basis for the development and strengthening of democracy, reconciliation and nation-building in our country.

An open and democratic society at all levels of society is essential for reconciliation and nation-building. For that, an independent civil society is the antidote to any attempt to wrap society in a smothering hegemony which will ultimately destroy reconciliation and nation-building. As this is the House where provincial and local government voices are heard in South Africa’s Parliament so that the attention is paid to the particular needs of all the different geographical regions, and so that the people are not simply represented in general but in a way in which there is respect for the cultural, language and religious diversity and richness of our country, we in this House should be playing a leading role in achieving reconciliation and nation-building in our country.

Let us in this House make our new coat of arms and our motto live, because this House is the fruit of our new Constitution and an essential part of a new political culture of consultation of all our diverse peoples, in all nine of our provinces. We must do this so that the rising sun in our coat of arms - which is an emblem of brightness, splendour and the supreme principle of the nature of energy which symbolises the promise of rebirth, the active faculties of reflection, knowledge, good judgment and willpower, and which is also the symbol of the source of life, of light and the ultimate wholeness of humanity - shines over a prosperous society with open opportunities for all, in which every person in South Africa is free, responsible, equal before the law, secure and has the chance to improve the quality of his or her life. That should be our vision: !ke e:/xarra //ke [Unity in diversity]. [Applause.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Order! I think that the hon Mr Marais has some competition. [Laughter.]

Mr P J MARAIS (Western Cape): Madam Chair, hon members, every speech here should be an ode to our freedom and not a requiem to the denial of its benefits. Henry W Nevinson said:

For freedom, we know, is a thing that we have to conquer afresh for ourselves, every day, like love; and we are always losing freedom, just as we are always losing love, because, after each victory, we think we can now settle down and enjoy it without further struggle. The battle for freedom is never done, and the field never quiet.

The first duty of any government is to be true to itself and its people, and to protect them. It means loyalty to the ideals we set out to achieve when we were awarded the freedom of South Africa. The fundamental principles were freedom - freedom from fear and racism - and the commitment to nation-building and to reconstructing the imbalances of the past.

We are the beneficiaries of the new South Africa, yet we are divided by fear, divided by our individual historical perspectives and divided by poverty. In this regard, we will always be a divided nation as long as we use our racial past as an excuse for current levels of mistrust. We should use our successes in the field of education, economic growth and foreign investment as launching pads for nation-building, and not for propagating a further divide between ourselves and other less fortunate provinces. The economic successes of the Western Cape should be seen as the successes of the sons and daughters of South Africa, and applied to benefit our immediate sister provinces, namely the Eastern and Northern Cape.

The Western Cape is not an island. It is one the most beautiful provinces in this country, yet we are experiencing the most vicious and evil onslaught against our democratic order in the form of naked, brutal terrorism. It is an onslaught which hampers nation-building. It instils fear in the honest, hard-working people of this province. This current spate of attacks and the comments made by various senior Ministers create barriers between people and curtail the mindshift necessary for nation- building.

I speak here for the Muslim community of this province and I want to make it clear: It is not the Muslim community that is planting pipe bombs and targeting the state. The Muslim community is not the property of any vigilante group and it will never be.

Mr M V MOOSA: Who said it was the Muslim community?

Mr P J MARAIS (Western Cape): I want to tell that hon member to stick to Gucci shoes and suits, and to leave politics to politicians. [Interjections.] [Laughter.] The Muslim community is as much part of our province as our beautiful mountain. [Interjections.] They helped build and develop this country. Just as the AWB is not representative of the Afrikaner, and just just as the gangs in the townships are not representative of the coloured community, neither is Pagad representative of the Muslim community. [Interjections.]

The perpetrators of this violence are a gang of small-minded people, intent on destroying everything our fathers and mothers have fought for. We as leaders must respond to this challenge. Are we going to empower our followers to be capable of independent reasoning, or let them be led by blind mass reasoning? No system based on democratic principles like ours can control a society not based on reason. We should allow people to discover the truth by deliberate thought, and not by accident.

The naked truth is that we are a people with different histories, different cultures, and different religions, sharing an indivisible geographic landscape called South Africa. The NCOP has a unique role to play in nation- building. Provinces need to find one another across party-political lines. Here, one can put the people first, and the interests of political parties in the second place. We should become captives of the hearts and minds of our people, and not the captives of our respective party caucuses, because as long as we are captives of our party caucuses, racism will never be defeated, because we will argue here that it is the NP, the boere, versus the ANC, the blacks. [Interjections.]

We have to speak for our provinces and for the people in those provinces, and not for political party caucuses. [Interjections.] We will have to either learn to live together in harmony, or prepare our children for a racial war in the future. That is what we have to do. Maybe we will not see this war, but we will be sowing the seeds for a war to come if we do not find each other. If war is inevitable, let it be against common enemies such as HIV/Aids, ignorance, poverty and disease, but not against one another. [Interjections.] Once the people decide to unite against a common enemy, they discover their common destiny.

In the Western Cape we are in a battle against poverty and ignorance. Taking pride in what we have achieved through our poverty relief programmes and the more than 100 successful and sustainable projects creating jobs for more and more people can only be allowed if we can share this knowledge with others less fortunate.

The Western Cape must not boast, and we do not boast. When we look at provinces that have less than we do, we must thank God that we have the resources. We must thank God that we have the NGOs and the infrastructure to make us a success, and then use that success to help those less fortunate. That is my vision, and I am sure that is the vision of the Western Cape. We should be seen as just as genuine a son of South Africa as any other province. We are not a step-child. [Interjections.]

Poverty can be eradicated if we pool our efforts and the political will is matched with sound management of social services and human potential. One day, when I observe a tear streaming down the white cheeks of an Annatjie because of the look of despair and pain in the eyes of a black child, I will know that a new nation has been born. When I see a tear running down a black face because of misfortune that has struck a white person, I will know that a true nation has been born. Our Transformation 2000 programme in the Western Cape is a milestone of our belief in the people of the Western Cape. It is an effort towards making a fundamental shift from the outdated administrative inclination towards management and an enabling model for our province. The resolve is clear from the way we tackle Aids and HIV. I was the first MEC to give AZT to pregnant mothers in the Western Cape.

We have built a nation through joining hands with the National Aids Convention of Southern Africa and other Aids NGOs in fighting the disease that is killing urban babies. One cannot build a nation if one does not protect its mothers. One cannot build a nation if one does not want to save its babies. [Interjections.] So when those hon members say, ``Let’s build the nation,’’ they should first save the mothers and their babies. [Interjections.] The fruits of our resolve … [Interjections.] I know one thing: Nobody sleeps when I speak. [Laughter.]

As far as I know, we are the only province enjoying the fruits of an interministerial Aids committee. I want to encourage my brothers: Let us focus on Aids. Whether they and I like it or not, our people are dying in their thousands because of it. And no matter what fancy political argument one has, and no matter how one ridicules me, one cannot ridicule away dying black mothers.

The fruits of our resolve to administer drugs to expectant mothers are obvious and can easily be duplicated elsewhere. We would like to share our successes in the fight against Aids, and I offer the provinces a helping hand, to share with them our experiences in administering AZT to pregnant mothers. Let us engage each other. [Time expired.] [Applause.]

Mr Z P TOLO (North West): Chairperson of the NCOP, hon Minister Pahad, premiers and hon members, I am grateful for the opportunity to address this august sitting on behalf of the premier of our province, the hon Popo Molefe.

In contributing to the motion on reconciliation and nation-building, we say that our provincial perspective in the North West is in line with the national perspective. We reaffirm that this process of reconciliation and nation-building, in the South African context, means bringing together, with the purpose of building one nation, the people who were previously in conflict with each other - people that are recovering from a history of violent institutional racial conflict.

This process of reconciliation is at the centre of addressing our bitter past history. We premise our address in this very important process on the preamble to our Constitution, based on the vision of a democratic, unitary, nonsexist and nonracial South Africa.

Undoubtedly, all our provinces have a critical role to play in addressing the issue of reconciliation. This vision is a challenge for all of us to address. Our policies as the Government, the legislative framework and all developmental programmes should and must be geared towards ensuring that we concretely realise the strategic objectives of reconciliation and nation- building. The process can only succeed and bear fruit if it is people- centred and driven by the same people. The people are the motive force for the change we seek to achieve. Of course, we need very strong leadership to guide this process within the broader strategic vision of our country.

The ANC, as an agent of change in this country, in partnership with progressive formations, is central to the realisation of this vision. Clearly, the social consciousness of the masses cannot be changed through propaganda or legislation alone. This is not an attempt to underplay the importance of this. What is equally critical is for us to put in place, though with limited resources, developmental strategic programmes and to open or strengthen avenues for popular participation by the people. This, there is no doubt, will positively contribute to changing the material conditions and, consequently, the social consciousness of our people and allow them to be the motive force in this much-needed process of change.

There are bottlenecks of resistance to this reconciliation and nation- building. Some of this resistance is evident in our schools and farms, some workplaces, some Government departments such as the police, the judiciary and some sporting associations, as well as some churches.

We still have very shocking instances of children being divided along racial lines in our schools, dockets of white aggressors disappearing from our police stations, some farmers in our country still refusing workers who have worked for them over 40 years the right to be buried on their farms. These instances are, indeed, disturbing, and are indicative of some of the resistance that is still evident in our society.

We still experience instances of racism, chauvinism, intolerance and cultural arrogance. All these and other negative ``isms’’ threaten the process of nation-building. Ironically, the institutions mentioned above are expected to be agencies of nation-building and change.

Reconciliation is not the preserve or responsibility of black South Africans only. White South Africans are South Africans. The problem of a South Africa divided into two nations and the untransformed institutions are a problem of all of us as South Africans. The resistance and indifference in some quarters of South Africa need to be tackled and addressed head-on.

The social affairs committee of the Executive Council in the North West province is currently discussing the apathy and glaring absence of whites at national days of commemoration in our country. Of course, our observation is that this is a phenomenon across the country. We are asking, for example: Why should the commemoration of the National Women’s Day be an event for black South African women only when this event impacts on and has a great significance in the history of this country?

Yes, the ANC is not naive enough to think that change, reconciliation and nation-building can happen overnight. The social consciousness of our people is, indeed, an impregnable fortress. We need to provide strong leadership and allow for people’s participation. We need to form progressive partnerships across the spectrum of our country, especially with peace-loving South Africans. We need a stable environment, an environment without bombings and hijackings, and we need to create an environment of equal opportunities for our people. Only through this and, of course, the application of law and order in South Africa, can we hope to achieve this very, very important process of nation-building and reconciliation.

Allow me to conclude by stating that a united and a democratic South Africa is within reach. The future is peace. [Applause.]

Ms C BOTHA: Madam Chair, hon Minister and members, I have been thinking that the only way I could possibly compete with some of the previous speakers would be to do the cancan here. [Laughter.]

Die nodigheid om steeds ‘n parlementêre gesprek oor rekonsiliasie en nasiebou te voer, en om akademiese kongresse te hou en ondersoeke te loods oor dinge wat elke man en vrou op straat verniet kan definieer en intiem ken, noop my om te vra wat die doel hiervan is. Laat ons die voor-die-hand- liggende feite aan die begin op die tafel lê.

Die mense van Suid Afrika het hierdie eeu ingestrompel met ‘n afgryslike meulsteen om die nek, wit én swart, gekniehalter deur ‘n filosofie wat die politiek van verdeling tot ‘n fyn kuns ontwikkel het. Ons sal gelukkig wees as ons hierdie eeu ontslae van hierdie erfenis kan uitlui. Aan die einde van hierdie eeu, ``the African century,’’ gaan ons gemeet word, nie ten opsigte van die verlede nie, maar aan die manier waarop ons ons eietydse probleme die hoof gebied het. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)

[The necessity of still having a parliamentary debate on reconciliation and nation-building, and of holding academic congresses and launching investigations into things which every man and woman in the street can easily define and is intimately familiar with, forces me to ask what the purpose of this is. Let us place the obvious facts on the table at the outset.

The people of South Africa, white and black, stumbled into this century with a horrific millstone around their necks, hampered by a philosophy which had developed the politics of separation to a fine art. We will be fortunate if we can ring out this century free of this heritage. At the end of this century, the African century, we are going to be measured, not with regard to the past, but according to the manner in which we solve the problems of our own time.]

I categorically dispute the statement of Mr Barney Pityana, chairman of the Human Rights Commission, that reconciliation cannot work unless racism is dealt with. Apart from giving him a job for life, this kind of unproven sentiment is a self-fulfilling prophecy. For a start, it denies the validity of the work done by Bishop Tutu and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. For along with humanity’s awesome capacity for evil is its manifest desire for a shared society and its amazing capacity for forgiveness. If one denies this one is denying us hope that we can become a nation reconciled in a century reformed.

Kleurverskille is onveranderbaar deel van ons menswees, maar word in hierdie konteks ‘n sinnelose vertrekpunt vir debatvoering, want nasiebou moet grootliks plaasvind ten opsigte van wat ons in gemeen het; die allesomvattende ubuntu. Wat tel, is nie swartwees of witwees nie, maar menswees. [Tussenwerpsels.] ‘n Nasie word ook gebou op beproefde waardes, en hiervan is een van die belangrikste sy benadering tot vroue. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)

[Differences in colour are an unalterable part of our humanity, but in this context become a meaningless point of departure for debating, because nation-building must largely take place with regard to that which we have in common; the all-embracing ubuntu. What counts is not being white or being black, but being human. [Interjections.] A nation is also built on proven values, and one of the most important of these is its approach to women.]

I quote:

Women are the hidden key to the treasures of civilisation.

Dan wil ek tog hier afdwaal om te sê dat mnr Tolo en minister Tshwete blykbaar albei onder die indruk is dat vroue miskien net tot hulle reg kom indien hulle na toesprake gaan luister waarin hulle miskien nie eens belangstel nie, en waaroor hulle hul onkunde gaan bewys deur nie eens te weet wie daar was of wel op daardie dag dinge gedoen het vir ander vroue nie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)

[At this point I would like to digress to say that Mr Tolo and Minister Tshwete are apparently both under the impression that perhaps women only come into their own if they go and listen to speeches in which they are perhaps not even interested, and about which they are going to prove their ignorance by not even knowing who was there or indeed did things for other women on that day.]

As I said, women are the hidden key to the treasures of civilisation.

Hierdie waarheid is tot die ewige krediet van die stigters van ons nuwe politiek in die Grondwet verskans, en beloof om die beste wapen in ons nasiebou-arsenaal te word. Dan moet ons egter darem ook nie onoorkomelike probleme in die gesig staar nie. As families ononderbroke deur vigs vernietig word, word ons nasiebouproses nie net emosioneel nie, maar ook reël vernietig, en dan is dit ons plig om alle middele tot ons beskikking te gebruik om HIV/vigs te stuit. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)

[To the eternal credit of the founders of our new politics, this truth is entrenched in the Constitution, and promises to become the best weapon in our nation-building arsenal. However, we must then not be faced with insurmountable problems. If families are continuously destroyed by Aids, our nation-building process is not only destroyed in emotional terms, but also in real terms, and it is then our duty to use all means at our disposal to combat HIV/Aids.]

Poverty and lack of saleable skills are universally recognised threats to human dignity and progress, and arguably the greatest contributor in South Africa to what our President calls a two- nation state or society, which is contrary to the views of his predecessor President Mandela, who relished the idea of one nation.

However, we have inexplicably failed to use billions of rands at our disposal to begin to address these divisive issues. Why is there R300 million still sitting in the Skills Levy Fund; R850 million unspent in the demutualisation fund; approximately R240 million in lottery money not distributed to welfare; and a R21 million underspending in the Gauteng integrated nutrition programme? The list goes on.

I can sympathise with overspending on a budget. I mean, most housewives achieve this without effort. [Interjections.] But underspending to this degree is mind-boggling and, indeed, even criminal.

Where are the people who are capable of effectively administering the delivery process, both nationally and provincially? If we are busy creating an underperforming employed elite for the sake of racially defined transformation at the cost of real upliftment of the poor, this could become as big a challenge to nation-building and reconciliation as our recent history. Nasiebou is nie net afhanklik van groot en dramatiese gebeure nie, en terwyl ons Vrystaatse premier nou hier is, wil ek haar graag vra wat sou gebeur het as ons toegelaat was om opsioneel die letters VS'' op ons nommerplate in die Vrystaat te gebruik in plaas van die verpligteFS’’? Hierdie klein gebaartjie sou waardevolle dividende gelewer het, want min dinge vind soveel emosionele aanklank as die erkenning van ‘n mens se moedertaal. Dit is nie net die groot en dramatiese gebare wat nasiebou bevorder nie. Dit gebeur in die klein menslike dramas, soos die hartlike verwelkoming deur president Mbeki van Callie en Monique Strydom of die oorwinning van ‘n nasionale sportspan.

In teenstelling daarmee het die afgryslike moord van ‘n swart werker in Sasolburg die potensiaal om alle pogings tot nasiebou te kelder - ek wil my hiermee aansluit by premier Ramathlodi - as dit deur politici uitgebuit word as kenmerkende gedrag van een groep in plaas daarvan dat almal dit en al die ander weersinwekkende misdade wat ons daagliks moet verwerk onomwonde verwerp, ongeag die kleur van die slagoffer of die misdadiger. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)

[Nation-building is not only dependent on dramatic events, and while our Free State Premier is here, I would like to ask her what would have happened if we had been permitted the option of using the letters VS'' on our numberplates in the Free State instead of the compulsoryFS’’? This small gesture would have paid valuable dividends, because few things evoke as much emotional response as the recognition of one’s mother tongue. It is not only the big and dramatic gestures which promote nation-building. It takes place in the small human dramas, such as the sincere welcoming of Callie and Monique Strydom by President Mbeki, or the victory of a national sporting team.

In contrast with this the horrific murder of a black worker in Sasolburg has the potential to destroy all attempts at nation-building - here I would like to associate myself with Premier Ramathlodi - if it is exploited by politicians as characteristic behaviour of one group instead of everyone unequivocally rejecting it and all the other repugnant crimes we have to deal with daily, irrespective of the colour of the victim or the criminal.]

Fortunately, I have faith in the ability of our people to build a winning nation. Are we not, in the words of Prof Jakes Gerwel, a society which serves as a singularly successful example of a country that has resolved its potentially destructive conflicts consensually? [Applause.]

Mr P MASHATILE (Gauteng): Chairperson, hon Minister Pahad, premiers and hon members of the House, only a few weeks ago on 29 August the Gauteng provincial legislature held a similar discussion on this subject, in preparation for the national conference on racism.

The discussion at the legislature focused on the following areas: race relations in a modern democratic South Africa; the assessment of the extent to which the vision of our Constitution is lived and experienced by South Africans; common perspectives about how to build a nonracial, united and reconciled society; the examination of the manifestation of racism in a democratic society and the reason for the persistence of all forms of racism; and, lastly, the commitment to build a new reconciled and united society in South Africa at all levels.

Although the legislature did not seek to arrive at any resolutions through this debate, this was the beginning of a process to pave the way forward on the road to reconciliation in our province.

Let me say, from the onset, that I think we are fortunate in Gauteng because a large percentage of our province is constituted by what is characterised as a cosmopolitan society. This means that our population is diverse and, as such, the task of reconciliation has been taken forward slightly by this reality. But this is no cause for celebration or a suggestion that the challenges of nation-building do not face us. We see nation-building not only as a need to eradicate racism or build a sense of tolerance among different cultures and formally divided racial groups, but also as a need to eradicate all forms of inequality in the province, including the eradication of poverty. Nation-building also means the need to increase our efforts to transform our society.

Gauteng, as we all know, hosts many head offices of large companies in the country. We have a big challenge of ensuring that the transformation of the boardrooms of these institutions in order that they reflect the demography of our country, not in a token manner but in a real sense, is also achieved. We have to make sure that these companies are able to fully respond to the social needs of all the people of our province.

Whilst it is important to engage in nation-building through social development and economic transformation, we need to directly find means of dealing with the scourge of racism in the province. Many of the people who say that we should not continue to talk about racism because this perpetuates racism, polarises society and ultimately takes us back to the past, are people who certainly have not felt the impact of racism. It is not possible literally return to the past, but we can learn from the past by not ignoring it or pretending that it never happened, and acknowledging that some in our society still live in the past.

Our approach is that the way to deal with racism is to talk about it, not only for its sake, but also to confront how we can engage in ongoing efforts to transform our country into a nonracial, nonsexist and truly democratic society.

This also calls for us to look at the role of women in our society as part and parcel of nation-building, because unless we deal with the role of women and gender imbalances, we will continue to perpetuate skewed power relations in the country.

Another challenge we face is to ensure that the citizens of our country know about each other’s social and cultural activities. This is why as Gauteng we have declared September heritage month. We will make this an annual programme. We believe that this will help the people of Gauteng to unite, because it is through culture that people begin to find each other - united in diversity.

This debate about nation-building and, in particular, the debate about racism, should not create in the minds of some of our black people the perception or a culture of complacency. This is because the tendency will be to blame everything on racism. It is important that black people take charge of and take responsibility for their own destiny. Denying that blacks can fail on their own would be to deny them the possibility of achieving success on their own. The result of such denials would be to cover up the failures.

In this regard, in talking about racism in America, Dinesh D’Souza in his book, The end of racism, says: If black people do not do well in tests, it is because the tests are biased and white society has deprived them of the necessary skills. If they drop out of school, they have been driven out by racism, which injures black self-esteem. If they have illegitimate children, this is because society did not provide black males with steady jobs. If they are convicted of a disproportionate number of violent crimes, this is because the police, the judges and the courts in general are racist. Those who have committed crimes have been pressured to do so by undeserved economic hardships.

This sort of thinking is dangerous, because the possibility of many black people attributing everything, including their failures, to racism will not get them anywhere. However, on the other hand, there is no justification for the denial by many white South Africans of the history that we come from, which includes the system that entrenched white supremacy through racism.

For example, many so-called white liberals act in public as though they do not think in racial terms in all situations, that they have outgrown racial prejudice. They behave as though they do not want black people to fail, but, in reality, many of them show in every competition which in their words is not ``rigged’’ - competitions for jobs or senior positions in the private sector or in Government - that they expect black people to fail. When it comes to criminal proceedings or charges before courts, the tendency is, in the eyes of these many white South Africans, that black people seem to stand publicly exonerated of the charges, but privately convicted.

Let me therefore conclude by saying that these are indeed the challenges we face as a nation. They affect both black and white South Africans. We must therefore create an open environment in which to sort them out, without accusation and counteraccusation. Eradicating racism and nation-building require collective endeavour. [Applause.]

Mr K D S DURR: Chairperson, I thank the hon member who just sat down for the perspectives he gave us. I think he is very right about many of the things he said. Racism is the disease, reconciliation is the cure for that disease.

We, in the Western Cape, occupy a mountainous area with largely poor soil, hostile seas, poor weather patterns, and which is far from world markets. Indeed, we have few natural resources. However, we have many strengths, but these strengths can never and will never be unlocked properly to the benefit of all our people if we do not develop economically, or continue to develop economically, in order to generate the wealth to meet our social upliftment challenges. This, in turn, is dependent upon a reconciled community living in peace and harmony.

The poor law and order situation in the Western Cape is creating suspicion amongst communities - and my hon colleague Peter Marais, the Minister, spoke about that - and those communities retreat from each other, the world tourism community retreats from us, world business retreats from us, and there is a downward spiral that, in turn, feeds upon itself. That is in nobody’s best interests, and nobody wants that.

Recently, both the Governor of the Reserve Bank and the Minister of Finance had much to say about poor perceptions, as opposed to the South African reality. They were almost anguishing about this - that we are different to the rest of Africa: Why does the world not understand that, why do they not perceive that, in spite of Zimbabwe? Well, the fact is that to some extent they are right. But bombs going off in Cape Town are also a reality, not a perception.

President Mandela wrote in his brilliant essay, Towards the 21st century - I recommend it to our members who have not read it - and I just want to quote one paragraph:

Thus there is a need to develop a sense of orderliness in the world. To do so, a direct link needs to be established between responsible membership of the community of nations and global stability and progress. The converse holds that if countries want to enjoy the rights of community, they need to act responsibly ÿ.ÿ.ÿ. the test of South Africa’s foreign policy will be found in the quality of its domestic politics.

I too would say to hon members that the test of reconciliation will be found in our domestic politics. And, how do we change perceptions, because that is the challenge? There are many things one can do. There are a few low-cost contributions we can make. The first being we must stop making divisive speeches on race. They are not productive. The centrifugal forces of racism are far outweighed in South Africa by the centripetal forces of reconciliation. For every act of racism in our country, however unhappy it may be, there are thousands of acts of kindness and charity, and these are taken for granted and as givens.

The more one talks reconciliation, the more reconciliation there will be. [Time expired.] [Applause.]

Ms B N DLULANE: Chairperson, hon Minister, hon premiers, the House at large, I would like to thank our presiding officers, the Whips and all parties represented in the NCOP for giving us an opportunity to share with hon members our provincial perspective on reconciliation and nation- building.

Firstly, I must mention that the Eastern Cape is a product of ten wars of resistance, which, like the rest of the country, culminated in the struggle for peace and democracy. The history of the Eastern Cape is that of colonisation, followed by dispossession and then the Balkanisation of the province, resulting in two Bantustans. In all of this the province experienced the gruesome repression of popular resistance.

Like the rest of the country, the province also shows a dichotomy of two worlds in one nation. In these two worlds emerged the legacy of the past. One nation is white, relatively far better off economically, socially and educationally, and in terms of communication and other infrastructure. It is also a nation confined to urban areas.

The other nation, which forms the majority, lives under conditions of a grossly underdeveloped infrastructure. The conditions for development are virtually nonexistent as the majority live in poor rural areas and have no access to information and modern technology.

Reconciliation through nation-building still remains the best possible solution to the divided nation that we are in our country. The establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was mainly to ensure that the truth of the gross human rights violations was exposed as the only road towards reconciliation.

However, from a politic-economic point of view, reconciliation can best be achieved through nation-building. Accordingly we believe that the route to reconciliation and nation-building should be determined by conditions which include a commitment to peace, security and social development. However, such conditions can only be realised if a concerted effort is made to address the following concerns. First and foremost, our country is still in many respects characteristic of the old. The glaring poverty and inequality, landlessness, lack of access to basic services, and poor infrastructural backup in our province leaves us with only one conclusion: That the past has done us more bad than good.

Our province is taken and viewed as the leader in poverty figures in the country, as indicated by the recent statistical survey. There is no other attribute to that except the past spatial and otherwise systematically planned underdevelopment which was perpetuated by the past ideological inclinations of apartheid proponents. According to these very latest statistics poverty is on the increase and this is also attributable to the past. Perhaps had there been no apartheid debt, the government of the day would have been able to focus resources to reconstruction and development.

In relation to landlessness, a need exists for the resolution of land restitution and redistribution cases as speedily as possible so as to be able to address the glaring hunger of citizens for more space affecting our people so adversely. The fact that people live in mountainous areas where even ploughing is quite difficult and having to obtain their subsistence food from mieliefields that are made of dongas is still attributable to and a beacon of the past land dispossessions that our people suffered. The sooner this problem is addressed, the more our people will be able to feed themselves.

Redistribution is also another phenomenon that we may not be able to address in relation to what exactly it means for us as a nation. Redistribution and the allocation of resources is perhaps not supposed to confirm the status quo, particularly because the spatial underdevelopment of the past regime ensured that some areas are hardly habitable, in which case our allocation of resources should be able to make all areas habitable, so that we can eliminate the picture of the past, though that may not be the only route.

The creation of a national political identity is also necessary so that we are able to think, work and serve as a nation. If we are able to have a particular identity, then we can be able to agree on pressing and immediate priorities of our country and Government in order to spend and channel resources to poverty alleviation because it is enemy number one.

Nevertheless, we pride ourselves on being on the right track. Talking about these issues and, indeed, finding solutions are a prerequisite for healing our nation across the colour spectrum. In our country, and in our province in particular, there are men and women who are up to the challenge, and together we shall walk side by side until a truly South African nation is achieved. There are, of course, some who are still obsessed with clinging to their ill-begotten privileges and who are predominantly white and male. They are exceptionally vocal and have a stake in leading media institutions. Unfortunately, they are not doing the cause of reconciliation and nation-building any good.

Our province is indeed humbled by the many South Africans who appreciate the challenges ahead and are prepared to throw their lot in with others in bringing about a nonracial, nonsexist and democratic South Africa. [Applause.]

The PREMIER OF MPUMALANGA (Mr N J Mahlangu): Chairperson, hon Minister in the President’s Office, hon members, we have just emerged from the national conference on racism, a conference, I believe, that made us better instead of bitter. There are those who will argue that the conference only served to open wounds that were already healing. We disagree with that assertion. We believe that as it was the case with the truth and reconciliation process, we need to talk about our experiences. In that way we can begin the healing process that will truly set us on the way to genuine reconciliation and nation-building.

As a province we are aware that it is important that we understand and take full account of the nature and extent of racism in our province, our country and the modern world. We are aware that we must address the changing nature of racism and its causes and confront the complex forms of intolerance and prejudice that exist in our province and our country today. The recent conference emphasised what we have always believed, namely that racism, discrimination, xenophobia and bigotry are worldwide phenomena which are more deep-rooted and more virulent than had been supposed.

We are often reminded that we live in a great nation, and we do, but it can be greater still. In a province like Mpumalanga which is 60% rural, most of our people bear the brunt of dehumanisation and racism. Several people have been attacked, maimed and killed by white farmers in Mpumalanga. We are all familiar with the incident where a farm tenant was painted silver just because he was black. We are all aware, I believe, about the notorious commandos in Wakkerstroom, and I do not need to give details.

What we discovered in our quest to fight this demon was that fear lies at the heart of racial hatred, and that is fear of difference, fear that the economic or social position is threatened, and fear that identity could be lost in an increasingly democratised South Africa. We concluded that if fear is the main factor, education is the key remedy.

Through a series of meetings and workshops we have been able to take that small but significant step of really addressing the problem. There is a particular responsibility and duty of care on governments when it comes to fighting racism, discrimination and intolerance. Governments and the political community should at all times lead public opinion, not play the race card or pander to those who claim they feel threatened by people they regard as different.

We needed to re-evaluate what has and has not been achieved in our fight against racism. As a province, we have met with members of the farming community, the Afrikaner-Broederbond, several farm dwellers’ associations, organised business and labour, and other parties in the province. We met with the Mpumalanga Agricultural Union, and we have jointly agreed that evictions of people living on farms, farm murders and abuse of farmworkers do not contribute to genuine reconciliation and nation-building. We all agreed that it was wrong not to allow families to bury their dead loved ones on the farms they had lived on since their birth. At the same time, we pledged zero tolerance against those who attack and kill white farmers.

However, in order to emphasise that, we must fight the inhumane treatment of farmworkers with the same zeal. Our meetings went a long way in allowing members of the provincial government to gain access to farms. These meetings took us to Kriel, Secunda, Groblersdal, Hectorspruit, Malelane, Volksrust and other areas. Some of the meetings were held in my office.

The ANC in Mpumalanga has formed a committee headed by the MEC for economic affairs that aims to educate both the farmers and the farmworkers on the issue of racism and human rights. We believe this education will help the farming community. This is done in conjunction with Cosatu and other farm tenants’ associations. This committee supplements an old party committee of members of the Mpumalanga legislature headed by an MPL, the hon Mr Windvoël, which parliamentary committee is due to table its report after having conducted an investigation on all the farms where we have had dehumanisation and degradation of the human dignity of farmworkers and farm attacks throughout the province.

Something else I want to refer to is the reluctance of black members of the SA Police Service in rural areas to arrest white farmers accused of abusing their workers. In our hugely successful outreach programme, we always find time to discuss these problems with senior management in the police service. We did this in all the areas we visit, and we can boldly say that our meetings have made a difference.

Farmworkers in some of the areas we have visited have in recent months marched to police stations to complain about farm evictions and ill- treatment, something which they were afraid to do in the past. During one such march, the Minister of Safety and Security, Steve Tshwete, joined our MEC for agriculture, Candith Mashego, in Badplaas to receive a memorandum from the farm dwellers and farmworkers who were complaining about the degradation of their dignity and unlawful evictions.

The fact that farmworkers can march in protest against their inhumane treatment on the farms is a great step towards empowering and educating tenants about their rights. This unity between the farming community, labour, business, political parties and other groups will give impetus to our attempts to deal with racism.

We are challenged to work with unshakable determination all over the province and the country to wipe out the last vestiges of racism which knows no geographical boundaries. I am told by the provincial MEC for safety and security that some of the dockets which were closed because it was alleged that there was no evidence, have been reopened with a great measure of success in the follow-ups which were made recently by the new police force.

Overt forms of racism may have been outlawed, but discrimination persists in multiple forms, often in subtle and systematic ways. In fact, judging from the persistence of racist attitudes in the face of often elaborate antidiscriminatory measures, we have to admit that actions against racism to date have met with, at best, limited results. Our province is still suffering from this disease and we need to double our efforts.

The task before us is to devise innovative strategies to combat racism. That means we must not only shape laws and mechanisms for protection against racial discrimination, but also effect a change of mind.

Let me conclude by quoting Auny San Suu Kyi who says:

The quite essential revolution is that of spirit born of intellectual conviction of the need for a change in mental attitude and value. Without a revolution of the spirit, the forces which produce the inequities of the old order would continue to be operative and posing a constant threat to the process of reform and regeneration.

It is very important to know that it is a process to achieve nation- building and not something one can do in one day and succeed. We are in that process, and we think we are gradually making an impact on this demon of racism. [Applause.]

The PREMIER OF THE NORTHERN CAPE (Mr E M Dipico): Chairperson, hon Minister Pahad, hon members and colleagues, it has indeed been an honour to serve in this House and be part of the important processes of this fledgling democracy. Today, as we once more debate these matters of importance, we do so because we want to contribute towards the fundamental transformation of our country, and the qualitative development of the quality of the lives of those we represent, namely those who have elected us to serve them. At the recently held conference on racism, it emerged that there is still a lot of work we must do jointly to eradicate the legacy of the past in order for us to be truly focused on the tasks ahead. The subsequent outcomes of the conference on racism illustrate, in no uncertain terms, the challenges we face in our quest to build a nation.

As a province, we welcome the idea to pass before the National Assembly and this House legislation aimed at promoting equality and outlawing unfair discrimination, hate speech and harassment, which should come into effect next year in March. This, together with Government’s efforts to launch a concerted battle against poverty and unemployment, we believe, will go a long way in laying the basis for the eradication of inequality and for nation-building.

For as long as our people continue to live in abject poverty, without dignity and hope of making it in life, the noble idea of nation-building will continue to elude us and we could, faster than we expect, slide into an abyss of social turmoil and descent. Ours must be the efforts which seek to build a nation by addressing the fundamental questions of poverty and unemployment. Most of the poor provinces must be able to give hope to their people. They must be the areas where dignity and the seeds of a united nation germinate. Therefore, business and the private sector, as well as other sectors, must be proactive in these parts of the country as well and invest in the productive sectors that we find in these areas.

I have listened attentively to my colleague Mr Pieter Marais.

Hy praat lekker soos ‘n digter. [Tussenwerpsels.] Hy praat soos ‘n digter en herinner my aan iemand wat so lekker gepraat het in Suid-Afrika, soos ek so grootword. Hy het so ‘n groot baard en toe hy so op perd was, toe het hy lekker hard geval. So hy moet pasop. Hy moenie soos ‘n digter praat nie. Hy gaan baie hard val van ‘n perd af. [Tussenwerpsels.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)

[He speaks in a captivating way, like a poet. [Interjections.] He speaks like a poet, and reminds me of someone who spoke as entertainingly in South Africa when I was growing up. He had a big beard, and while he was riding his horse, he came an absolute cropper. He must, therefore, be careful. He must not speak like a poet. He is going to fall very heavily from a horse. [Interjections.]]

There is no way that all of us, as serious South Africans, more particularly as leaders of our people, can deny that racism exists in our country today. There is no way we can do that. All of us should be one in saying that it does exist. If we agree, we should allow all leaders to rise and ask how we can tackle it. How do we face our people and educate them in order to build a united South Africa which is nonracial, nonsexist and very democratic. That is the issue. That is the challenge to all of us.

In doing so, we expect what former President Nelson Mandela called the good men and good women of this country to rise above petty issues, to rise above all their party positions, and to say that they can build a nation. It is a challenge to this leadership. If they continue to run into communities and deny racism, they are not assisting us to build this new South Africa. Indeed, they are trying to take us back, and that type of approach will catch up with them. One day they will have to respond to the nation.

We hope to succeed through our work in the province - that of taking and opening up communication lines, and taking a radio station to the San people, to speak in their own language, to promote their culture, to speak about all the good and bad things about themselves, to use the click-type of sounds continuously. That is part and parcel of building a nation to bring back the dignity which was taken away from them. The Nama people will also be getting a radio station deep down in Namaqualand to ensure that they can also be part of this South Africa. We are bringing back the Khoisan people, who are the indigenous people of our country. Indeed, on Friday of this week we are once more trying to proceed to bring back the dignity of our people and by giving back the land of the Griquas in the province of the Northern Cape, and saying to Adam Kok and Waterboer that, whatever has happened, we should try to bury the hatchet. Let us give them back their land, because we will never have reconciliation unless we give back to our people what was theirs. Let us not try to run away from the truth. [Applause.]

We need to combine this. As we continue to give back land to the Khoisan people, and to allow them to speak and express themselves in their languages, to develop their cultures and also to be seen speaking to their brother South Africans, I think we are about to build this South Africa. Indeed, we thank the President of our country for having that vision of bringing the indigenous people back to the mainstream of our country.

We have proceeded to promote the RDP of the soul by bringing all religious groups together from around the whole province to speak to our people and communities. That is part of the work of our cabinet meeting the people. Every place we get to, every second week, we promote the RDP of the soul with all religious leaders. It is the first thing to do - to talk about morality, the moral renewal of our people, and to promote nation-building and call upon all religious leaders, black and white, to rise and to be able to speak to our people to promote reconciliation. That is bearing fruit.

The people of the Richtersveld are asking why they have to reconcile when their land, which is so fertile, was taken away from them, full of mineral rights and diamonds, and they are standing on the periphery. They cannot participate. That is why the land claims issue is a matter of urgency. Mrs A M VERSVELD: And fishing rights!

The PREMIER OF THE NORTHERN CAPE (Mr M E Dipico): And fishing rights, that hon member is correct. We know who took those rights away from them. If we do not give them back, there will be no reconciliation. [Interjections.] We have to ensure that our people get their land and their mineral rights back, so that poverty can be fought and so that they can benefit from what God gave to them. When one is in the Richtersveld one realises the poverty levels, while God has given people wealth there.

We in the Northern Cape Legislature say that we have turned a negative into a positive. For the last six years we as a legislature have been meeting in the council chambers of the City Council of Kimberley. We are proud today that the Minister has given us money to build a legislature. We are putting that legislature in a buffer zone next to a squatter camp and saying that all the people must go there. We are building it there and we all agreed - the FF and the new New NP. [Laughter.] We all agreed that that is where the legislature belongs to promote development.

Every wing of that building must represent our people of the Karoo and the Kalahari. It must show the people in the diamond fields, and the artists from those communities must come and put their drawings up and speak to all of us. I think that is what we are trying to do. In doing so we hope that it will be a small contribution to our people. As we have been continuing to discuss with De Beers, we will bring the statue of Harry Oppenheimer to reflect on these big holes around Kimberley, so that our people can remind themselves of where they come from. However, we must also have the heroes of our struggle, like Sol Plaatje, there and speak to us and to say that, indeed, there is still work to be done.

In conclusion, as we face the local government elections before us, it is even more important for all of us to take the message of reconciliation and to go back and to speak like leaders, to criticise even our own friends and our own families who are perpetuating racism. I think that will be a contribution which we can take forward, and it will take this country forward. [Applause.]

Mr N SINGH (KwaZulu-Natal): Chairperson, Minister Pahad, colleagues, it is an honour and a pleasure to be able to stand here in this honourable House and speak on behalf of my premier, the hon L P H M Mtshali. I am going to focus on the great progress made in the province of KwaZulu-Natal towards reconciliation and nation-building. I am going to leave out the colour codes in my address.

The political transition in South Africa is often described as a miracle. If it was a miracle, KwaZulu-Natal was at the heart of that miracle. One only has to look at where we have come from to measure the immense progress we have made. Eight or ten years ago, KwaZulu-Natal was virtually in a state of civil war as political violence raged across the province. Supporters of the party that I belong to, the IFP, were pitted in an all-or- nothing struggle with supporters of the ANC, the party which currently dominates national Government, but is still a minority in the province of KwaZulu-Natal.

Something like 12 000 people died in that struggle and it was absolutely horrible. Totally innocent people were mowed down and burnt out of house and home, and these included women and children. Both sides now look back on it as a time of madness. In the relative tranquillity that we enjoy in KwaZulu-Natal today, it is sometimes difficult to believe that these things really happened.

How did we achieve this reconciliation and peace? It began with a transition formula which required governments of national unity at both national and provincial levels to work together. With the history of physical conflict in KwaZulu-Natal, which had by no means ended in 1994, and in fact intensified for a while after that first democratic election, it is remarkable that members of the IFP and the ANC were able to sit together in the same room, let alone in the same cabinet. Let us be frank about it - things were wobbly. There were deep suspicions, but coalition government produces its own chemistry. As the violence began to simmer down, both sides came to realise how great the dividend of peace is. They came to realise that development of the province and peace for its peoples were of considerably greater value than untrammelled political power for a particular party. Political maturity began to take hold. To lose an election was not the end of the world.

One lived to fight another day and one had a share in government anyway. It was no longer what political scientists call a zero-sum game. Of course, much the same was happening at national level as well, where my party, which dominated in KwaZulu-Natal, was a minority in the national Cabinet.

The government of provincial unity was forced on us by the interim Constitution. Somehow, it worked. But by 1999 something even more remarkable had happened. The Constitution adopted no longer required governments of national or provincial unity, but we in KwaZulu-Natal had already looked into the abyss. Could anyone contemplate risking a return to the mindless violence and tragedy of the 1980s and mid-1990s? Was there not a danger of putting the entire province to the torch? We had grown accustomed to governing together. I am not saying that there were no tensions; there are tensions even today. But we have learned to manage them, and in 1999 the IFP and the ANC decided, even though the Constitution did not force it on us, to continue coalitions at national and provincial levels, regardless of the election outcome. That was truly remarkable.

Can anyone here today imagine what kind of nightmarish hellhole KwaZulu- Natal would be if we had returned to the zero-sum game? Can anyone believe that there can be peace in South Africa as a whole without peace in KwaZulu- Natal? This generous and great-hearted gesture reflects well on both sides, I believe. I know my hon premier, on whose behalf I speak today, would join me in paying tribute to the wisdom and generosity of spirit on both sides and at both levels of government, national and provincial.

I know there has been anxiety at national leadership level and on both sides that the agreement in KwaZulu-Natal should continue to stick. The interests of province and country have been put ahead of those of party and individual, as somebody else indicated earlier on that we should do. It is something seldom encountered in the world of politics, and to my mind both sets of leadership are to be commended for their vision.

I believe that in KwaZulu-Natal the IFP and the ANC have discovered something of immense value. We call it co-operative governance, which means perpetual coalition, even if the dominant or minority role of the different parties shifts. The co-operative governance we have in KwaZulu-Natal is replicated at national level. I believe that it is a model that could be usefully applied in various parts of Africa so that different interest groups can share in government, instead of following the desperate winner- takes-all system, where there are no second prizes and the opponent has to be obliterated before it obliterates one.

Why should we bind ourselves to the Western adversarial system? As a Roman historian said, Ex Africa semper aliquid novi,'' which meansOut of Africa, always something new.’’

The peace dividend is still rolling in for us in KwaZulu-Natal. Crime levels have dropped. Comparisons are odious, I know, but Durban today is a far safer place than Johannesburg or Cape Town. It is not just I who am saying this; it is what has been revealed elsewhere. [Interjections.]

The city of Durban is set to develop into a kind of Rotterdam of the southern hemisphere, a hub port connecting the whole of Africa with Europe, the Americas and the Far East. Significant industrial investment is being attracted. Our tourism industry is set to expand phenomenally with the declaration of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park as a world heritage site. In my own portfolio we have plans to quadruple agricultural production over the next 20 years; to settle significant numbers of new commercial farmers on state land; to develop agri-industry on a wider scale; and, in doing so, to create a new economic dynamo that would energise the national economy as well as the regional one. That is what I call nation-building.

We see no reason why we should not replicate the successes in agriculture of countries such as India, China, Taiwan and South Korea, whose agricultural reforms created the consumer markets that then drove industrial development. Such developments would, of course, channel significant amounts of earnings to communities which at present are in the deepest poverty.

This week in our legislature, even up to today, all parties have been contributing to five days of debate on gender issues - and earlier on somebody spoke about that as well. Individual provincial Ministers, including me, reported on what we have done and are doing to eliminate unfair discrimination against women. I believe this was a first for the country, and that we were the first legislature, let alone the National Assembly, to have engaged in this kind of debate, which was prompted by our women’s caucus in KwaZulu-Natal. We are pleased that the Deputy Speaker of the Northern Province was our guest yesterday. I believe that the concern about gender issues is part of nation-building.

Just today I attended a prayer breakfast, quite early this morning, in Durban, which was hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal Ukuthula Peace Challenge. This is a group of religious leaders of all denominations in KwaZulu-Natal who have got together to support the Government in its peace and reconciliation efforts.

We in KwaZulu-Natal are firmly committed to continuing with the reconciliation that dragged us from the edge of the abyss. I believe that nobody in either party would contemplate a return to where we were a few years ago. We are just as firmly committed to the nation-building that flows naturally from reconciliation. South Africa has, to my mind, a great and rich diversity of provinces and peoples. That is our strength, and we will continue building out that strength. [Applause.]

Mr M J BHENGU: Chairperson, colleagues, I will try to be very germane, since my friend here and all the other speakers before me have said almost everything that needed to be said.

If ever there was a time in the history of this country when we needed to be bold and have a collective political will and the fervent desire to build our nation, in the provincial context, it is, indeed, now. Nation- building cannot take place without peace and reconciliation, and that is the truth. Therefore, what was once a Cinderella province, KwaZulu-Natal, is today the fastest-growing region in this country. Whatever way one may look at it, politically, socially, economically, educationally and culturally, KwaZulu-Natal is winning.

The political will that exists between the two dominant black political organisations, that is the IFP and the ANC, to govern the province jointly or to form a coalition is testimony to the fact that our province knows the essence of nation-building. The two organisations have very bitter experience of fighting against each other, and that is why today they are both committed to peace and reconciliation.

In our province, although there are, of course, racist aberrations here and there, we do notice some racial integration, which is happening very smoothly - to be positive. We have seen this in quite a number of areas. Of course, on the ground there are mechanisms to actually enforce interracial harmony.

Nation-building is a process rather than an event, and that needs to be properly realised by all stakeholders in that particular area. My province is one of those provinces that have done a lot to advance the whole concept of nation-building, which, actually, goes hand in hand with patriotism and political responsibility. This is what has made our province to succeed, across the board. There is this love for the province which binds us together. There is this love for the province, which is better than party- political interests. It is a love that developed even before the 1994 political dispensation. It is this love for the province and for our country that has actually made us see light at the end of the tunnel. Today we can actually say that we are South Africans, that we are the children of one kingdom - that is, KwaZulu.

For instance, we have very good projects on the ground. Right now we have projects like the King Shaka Airport at La Mercy and the waterfront development project. We aim to make it the biggest harbour in Africa. We have an international convention centre where Africa meets the world. The KZN Tourism Authority promotes tourism in KwaZulu-Natal and we have an HIV/Aids programme aimed at involving everybody to commit himself or herself to fight this scourge.

We believe that nation-building must not only deal with material issues; it must also deal with attitudinal and spiritual changes. As a result we have the following programmes to address that: the KwaZulu-Natal Peace Initiative, which deals with healing - it is a kind of healing process; the diversity training programmes, which teach our people that racism is a sin against humanity; the economic black empowerment programme, which puts our emerging black people or entrepreneurs into the economic mainstream of our province; the ten-a-side committee, composed of both ANC and IFP members, which addresses each and every symptom of violence which comes up in the province. Racial integration in schools, in residential areas and in business zones has ensured that we indeed have a bright future.

Party-political interests, therefore, are less than one’s love for the province. When one looks at the green sugar cane fields, the green mountains, the beautiful meandering rivers, the natural darkness of forests, the beautifully singing birds perched on tree tops, the wonderful city of Durban with its kaleidoscope of cultural diversity and, of course, most importantly, the Indian Ocean, one is left with nothing except a complete and pure love for the province. That love supersedes almost everything. It is that love that binds us.

Notwithstanding the violent conflict of the past, notwithstanding the pain and suffering associated with killings on both sides, notwithstanding what was perceived as a deep-seated division between the two parties which, commentators said, could not be bridged, the leadership, with mature dignity … [Time expired.]

The PREMIER OF THE FREE STATE (Miss I W Direko): Chairperson, hon Minister Pahad from the President’s Office, hon members in this House this afternoon, as a disciplined, proud and humble Free Stater, it is my duty to humbly respond to the question put to me by Mrs Botha.

My reply to Mrs Botha is that it is precisely this insistence of one section of South African society on its pound of flesh without any compromise that compromises reconciliation and nation-building in this country. [Interjections.]

I reckon this should be a give-and-take exercise which is a pivot upon which efforts towards reconciliation and nation-building must turn.

Let me now get down to the business that I am here for this afternoon. [Laughter.] [Applause.]

Mnr C ACKERMANN: Gaan jy nou sommer die hele Vrystaat insluk?

DIE PREMIER VAN DIE VRYSTAAT (mej I W Direko): Toe nou, jy begin alweer. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)

[Mr C ACKERMANN: Are you going to swallow the entire Free State now?

The PREMIER OF THE FREE STATE (Miss I W Direko): Come on, you are teasing me again.]

The Free State Executive Council followed the proceedings at the August 2000 conference on racism as well as the ensuing debate about reconciliation and nation-building with much interest.

South Africa stunned the world by making a peaceful transition to democracy through debate and mutual agreement, a transition that some call a miracle.

It is therefore not wrong to believe that if we, as a nation, put our minds to the problem of racism in our society, we can, and will, root it out. Racism, we must admit, is alive and well in this country. To remedy this cancer we need to admit that it does exist.

The Free State has had its share of racist incidents, the latest of which, hon members may recall in horror, was the incident in Sasolburg, where a black man was tied to a bakkie and dragged to his death. That and the Tempe massacre are still fresh in our memories, to name but two incidents.

However, we do not want to enter into a debate about racism today, but rather give our perspective, as a province and as government of that province, on our goals and objectives towards reconciliation and nation- building. The Free State wants to build and reconcile through its programmes.

Die dae van om ‘n tafel sit en praat is verby. Ons wil aksie hê. [The days of sitting round a table and discussing issues are over. We want action.]

Our mission in the Free State is therefore one of promoting economic growth and development, because, unless there is economic growth, our problems will continue and the crime rate will continue to rise because an empty stomach means an empty, unreasoning mind.

Facilitating the development of infrastructure is another contributory factor. One cannot be happy looking upon mansions when one lives in a squatter camp.

Ek sê vir almal, hou nou op met rassisme. [I say to everyone, quit racism right now.]

Investing in the development of all the people of the province, and ensuring the effective and sustainable use of resources is a priority because we believe in communication as an important means of facilitating reconciliation.

Regular discussions between government and interest groups in the province are held. For instance, we have regular meetings with the business sector and the University of the Free State. Every department of the University of the Free State is involved in developmental programmes with the various departments of government.

In die Vrystaat het ons mos nie ‘n probleem met Afrikaans nie. [Tussenwerpsels.] [Gelag.] [It is a well-known fact that we have no problem with Afrikaans in the Free State. [Interjections.] [Laughter.]]

We meet with the agricultural union and with community structures across the board, and I mean that in both black and white areas we deal with structures. The plight of farmworkers and the farm murders in our province, for instance, are receiving attention through a commission of inquiry that has been set up to investigate the matter appropriately so that we can, at the end of the day, put a stop to allegations that are thrown backwards and forwards.

Our project of ``Exco to the People’’ takes the executive council to towns all over the Free State. On a monthly basis we hold discussions on topics concerning those specific communities, not a section of the community.

I mean all the communities wherever we go, black and white. This assists government in addressing the issues concerning all the people of the province. This type of communication surely goes a long way towards nation- building. The Free State provincial government, through its provincial strategic plan for the year 2000-2001, has imposed on itself certain values and principles which, if taken seriously by all parties, will most certainly result in people of every colour and creed joining hands in reconciliation and nation-building.

Among these values are honesty with others and ourselves; showing integrity through our relationship with people regardless of colour; treating one another with respect, because one cannot demand respect, one commands by it by the way one treats other people; creating a culture within which people are encouraged to learn and improve their skills; and fostering teamwork amongst all the people of the province - I mean all the people - and trust, and those who refuse to join us we will drag along kicking and screaming. [Interjections.] [Laughter.]

In the Free State some 66% of the population live in poverty. We believe that alleviating and restoring dignity are imperative for reconciliation and nation-building. I am a Motswana, and in Setswana we say: ``Ga e ile mmotlana.’‘It does not matter how lowly you may be, you have pride and you value your dignity. With a view to this we developed an antipoverty strategy for the province with the goal of reducing poverty in the province to 45% in the next ten years. It is a long time, but we need to have goals to get to that point.

Based on the poverty profile of the Free State, there is a predominance of poverty in the rural areas, and a rural development strategy was developed to secure economic growth in rural areas and to successfully improve the lives of rural citizens. I would just like to quote an instance in which 100 women were picked from the poorest rural areas of the Free State and trained in brick-laying, plastering and so on. I am happy to say that all 100 women received employment after their training.

Another Free State government initiative formed to provide for the economic growth of the province …

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Order! Hon premier, I regret your time has expired.

The PREMIER OF THE FREE STATE (Miss I W Direko): I shall grudgingly thank you, Madam Chair, for this opportunity. [Applause.]

The MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY: Madam Chair, premiers, members of the NCOP, thank you very much for giving me this privilege to respond in a sense to this very important debate that took place this afternoon. I am going to apologise now before as soon as I finish speaking I am going to run. Unfortunately I have to catch a plane because of a meeting I have already arranged.

It seems to me that a number of common issues have arisen from this debate. One of these is the relationship between socioeconomic development and underdevelopment poverty and the question of nation-building and reconciliation. It would seem to me that most, if not all of us, agree that if we do not, in a serious way, tackle those fundamental issues confronting us today, it will be that much more difficult for us to find reconciliation and to give the process of nation-building the much-needed impetus it requires.

I should say as somebody who comes from the Other House, and I will come back to that too, that in a sense your debate is much quieter and much more genteel than that in the Other House. I think it says more about hon members here that it does for some of us. [Interjections.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: And intelligent as well.

The MINISTER: Well, I will not say that. [Laughter.] I do not want to lose my place in that Other House.

First of all let me say that what also emerged from the discussion is that there are a lot of things happening in the different provinces to address this particular question. The Northern Cape has done certain things. In Mpumalanga there are certain things being done. In the Western Cape there are certain things being done. KwaZulu-Natal has its own very rich experience of reconciliation. Sometimes, from a broad national point of view, we tend to forget what is happening in the provinces. I must say that I myself am particularly pleased to have been here, because, for the first time, when things are put together in this comprehensive way, one gets a better picture of what is going on in our country as a whole. I thought that that was very useful.

However, hon members would excuse my impertinence even though, as I say, I come from the Other House. I am not sure that following from what was said about what is happening in the provinces, that we spelt out more concretely the role that the NCOP can play. I am not sure that we, in a sense, managed to bring together the rich and diverse experiences in the different provinces in a way which would suggest what further role the NCOP could play as an institution to promote reconciliation and nation-building.

If I may make a suggestion, it would be that perhaps following this debate, the NCOP itself could look and see what more it could do, as an institution. I am not talking about as representatives coming from different provinces, because the NCOP is obviously one of our important national institutions. I would hope that that could happen.

It would also seem to me that in a sense the question arose of the relationship between what we call affirmative action, and reconciliation and nation-building. Now, as a Minister, I am obviously asked on many occasions about the policy that we have. Indeed, I have to refer them to the Constitution, because it is actually a constitutional obligation that all our institutions, our structures, our Public Service reflect the actual composition of our population as well as its gender.

Now I do not know how in my lifetime we are going to create a more gender- balanced society if we do not actually have affirmative action - conscious affirmative action - to promote women. I do not know how we will achieve that otherwise.

I do not know how we will achieve the question of the empowerment of women and its relationship to nation-building, if we do not consciously follow and pursue policies which first and foremost empower African women in the rural areas.

When we talk about affirmative action, it seems to me that it would be incorrect to reduce it to merely saying that there are some political parties that are interested in promoting the notion of quotas. Nothing could be further from the truth. In the same way it is necessary that all our institutions should correctly reflect the composition of our population. This surely must also apply to economic power, and I think that came out in this debate too. Without us challenging and confronting the question of the skewed distribution of economic power, without us taking effective action to change the patterns of economic ownership in our country, I think we will be creating a setback for the common consensus we have in this place on dealing with the issue of reconciliation and nation- building.

I was particularly pleased - members will notice that I am not mentioning any names, very deliberately - that one of the speakers spoke about the coat of arms. I was looking around in this room and I do not see our new national coat of arms. I think there is something wrong, but I thought that was a very telling contribution. How do we use this new national coat of arms that we have to promote national unity? I think all of us need to pay a little more attention to it, especially those of us who sit in this national institution called Parliament.

The other element that, I thought, came out of this very important debate was a clear signal that there was common understanding, that, in a sense it is also the responsibility of our white compatriots to take a lead in the struggle to create a nonracial society. Without this it will seem as if we are still operating from two different sides, whereas indeed we should be operating from the same side, whatever our party-political views may be.

Of course one of the speakers was a bit mischievous. Maybe my presence made him say that he did not think that we should take party-political sides here. We are going to take party-political sides on those issues on which we do not have agreement, and there are many issues around which we do not have agreement. But we do not have to take party-political sides on the issues that can unite us, on the national issues, and the struggle against racism is certainly one such issue.

I was also very happy to hear about the way in which premiers try to deal with very difficult, complex questions of the relationship between farm owners, farmers and farmworkers and made it clear that we need to deal with all of those issues in a decisive manner.

Let me express my own thanks. I should say that I did inform my two bosses that I would be coming here this afternoon. If I do not do what they asked me to do I might be in difficulty, and that was, from both the President and the Deputy President, to express their very best wishes for this debate that members had this afternoon. I should only say that it is with great pleasure that I will report to them what happened in this debate today. Thank you very much again for giving me the privilege. [Applause.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Order! Thank you, Deputy Minister - Minister, rather. You are excused. I am not demoting you in any way. [Interjections.] Thank you very much for having been here. That was our debate, hon members, and I think we have followed it well.

               ELECTION OF ROTATING DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON

The Chairperson of the NCOP called for nominations.

The PREMIER OF THE FREE STATE (Miss I W Direko): Chairperson, It is my pleasure and privilege to put forward the name of a political activist who has contributed greatly to the democracy that we enjoy today, a man who has turned a rural province into an urban area against all odds, a young man who has a bright future and may, one day, end up as the President of this country. [Interjections.] I nominate Adv N A Ramathlodi for election as rotating Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP in terms of section 64(3) of the Constitution. [Applause.]

The PREMIER OF MPUMALANGA (Mr N J Mahlangu): Chairperson, I second the proposal.

The Returning Officer reported to the Chairperson of the NCOP that the nomination paper had been properly completed.

There being no further nominations, the Chairperson of the NCOP declared Adv Ramathlodi duly elected as rotating Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP in terms of section 64(3) of the Constitution.

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Order! Premier Ramathlodi, on behalf of all delegates here present, I congratulate you on having been elected as the rotating Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP in terms of section 64(3) of the Constitution. I will now call upon my Deputy Chairperson to address the House.

The PREMIER OF THE NORTHERN PROVINCE (Adv N A Ramathlodi): I do not know how to work this microphone, Chairperson. [Laughter.] It is always a problem, but it seems that we are succeeding this time.

Madam Chair, it is my singular honour and privilege to accept the position of rotating Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP with all humility. I recognise and I am humbled by the trust that the House has shown in me by elevating me to this most distinguished position.

At the outset I pledge my unwavering support and loyalty to you, Chairperson. I also undertake to perform the functions and responsibilities associated with my new office with the outmost diligence and to the best of my ability. I am fully aware of the awesome responsibilities accompanying this position, given the pivotal role being played by the NCOP in the constitutional ordering of our nascent democracy. It lends credence to the principle of co-operative governance so fundamental to our constitutional order.

In this forum, the poor and the weak find solace in the fact that there is no repeat of George Orwell’s Animal Farm. Here there is none more senior that others. The happy reality is that the world we seek to create, the society we are busy building can be found here. How wonderful it is to be equal, both in law and in the realm of power relations. Accordingly, it is obligatory that we ensure that the NCOP discharge its mandates in terms of the Constitution without let or fear. Let the NCOP grow into a robust and equal partner of the National Assembly. Only then can we claim to be fulfilling the dictates of our Constitution, both in letter and spirit. [Applause.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Order! I now call upon the outgoing rotating Deputy Chairperson, Premier Dipico.

The PREMIER OF THE NORTHERN CAPE (Mr E M Dipico): Madam Chair, I just want to take this opportunity to thank your office for giving me the support to discharge my work as the outgoing rotating Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP and to thank the members for affording me the opportunity. I can tell hon members that I am no longer a small boy, as they used to call me. I feel that I rose to the position, but that I have been demoted very quickly. [Laughter.] When I go back to the Kalahari I look forward to saying that I was indeed afforded an opportunity and that I have learned.

I also want to take this time to congratulate my colleague Premier Ramathlodi on this position and to urge him to lead us in order to ensure that the NCOP once more takes its work forward, as envisaged by the Constitution, and ensures that we can craft our work and leave an indelible mark on our country. From the Northern Cape, I give over to Premier Ramathlodi of the Northern Province and I wish him good luck. [Applause.]

Ms B N DLULANE: Madam Chair, the Eastern Cape supports the election of the hon Comrade Ramathlodi as the rotating Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces. Sikunqwenelela impumelelo. [We wish you good luck].

The PREMIER OF THE FREE STATE (Miss I W Direko): Chairperson, the Free State is foursquare behind Adv Ramathlodi. [Applause.]

Mr P MASHATILE (Gauteng): Madam Chair, on behalf of Gauteng, we wish Premier Ramathlodi great success. We are, of course, as Gauteng, waiting patiently for our turn. [Laughter.] [Applause.]

Mr N SINGH (KwaZulu-Natal): Madam Chair, I come here with the blessing and mandate of the premier, who did indicate to me that if I did anything correctly today, it should be to support the nomination of Premier Ramathlodi, which I do with pleasure and wish to congratulate him. [Applause.]

The PREMIER OF MPUMALANGA (Mr N J Mahlangu): Madam Chair, Premier Ramathlodi is my neighbour. We congratulate him very much and promise him our support, otherwise we would not have seconded his nomination. It would be illogical for us to say that we will not give him the necessary support. We are behind him. [Applause.]

Mr Z P TOLO (North West): Chairperson, on behalf of the province and our premier, we would like to congratulate Premier Ramathlodi, and we have no doubt that he will carry out his duties with utter diligence and commitment. We congratulate him. [Applause.]

Mnr C ACKERMANN: Mevrou die Voorsitter, van die Suide aan die verre Noorde ons hartlike gelukwense aan adv Ramathlodi. Dit is vir my ‘n voorreg om hom namens die Premier van die Wes-Kaap, wat sy verskoning aangebied het en nie hier kan wees nie, baie hartlik geluk te wens en hom baie sterkte toe te wens in hierdie baie belangrike pos wat hy gaan beklee. Ek hoop werklik ons gaan in die premier iemand sien wat gereeld in ons Stoel kom sit, want ons sal dit ook waardeer as hy sy gesig so af en toe in die Stoel wys. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)

[Mr C ACKERMANN: Madam Chairperson, from the South to the far North we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Adv Ramathlodi. It is a privilege for me to congratulate him on behalf of the Premier of the Western Cape, who has tendered his apologies and cannot be here, and to wish him all the best in this very important position which he will be filling. I truly hope that in the premier we will have someone who will often sit in our Chair, because we would also appreciate it if he were present in the Chair from time to time.] [Applause.]]

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Ek hoop so! [I hope so!]

Order! That concludes the election of the rotating Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, and I add my own congratulations to you, Premier Ramathlodi. As Mr Ackermann has said, we hope that you will take up the opportunity to preside when on one of your visits to the National Council.

                     FAREWELL TO MS D S LE ROUX

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Order! Before we conclude the business of the day, it is with regret that I must announce that Ms Le Roux, the manager of our procedural services, has resigned as manager of the procedural unit and as a member of staff within Parliament. This is occasioned by family circumstances that force her to leave Parliament.

We are most sorry to lose the services of Ms Le Roux, who has been part of the formative time of the National Council of Provinces and its maturing beyond 1999. I think that all members will be aware of the supportive and constructive role that she has played, particularly in the area of oversight in local government intervention matters with respect to section 139 of the Constitution.

I have benefited greatly from the support that she has provided to me as Chairperson and to the Deputy Chairperson, as well as to committees within the National Council of Provinces. We are most sorry to lose her services, but we wish her well in any new endeavour that she undertakes. I have assured her that she should not imagine that she is escaping from us, because her skills may be called upon from time to time. We wish you all the best, Ms Le Roux. Thank you very much for your services to the House. [Applause.]

The Council adjourned at 16:38. ____ ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS

                        FRIDAY, 23 JUNE 2000

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson:

 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
     Provincial and Local Government and to the Select Committee on
     Local Government and Administration. The Report of the Auditor-
     General contained in the following report is referred to the
     Standing Committee on Public Accounts:


     Report and Financial Statements of the Training Board for Local
     Government Bodies for 1998-99, including the Report of the Auditor-
     General on the Financial Statements for 1998-99 [RP 66-2000].
 (2)    The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on
     Public Works and to the Select Committee on Public Services:


     Tiro - Community Based Public Works Programme Publication, June
     2000, Volume One Number One.


 (3)    The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on
     Labour and to the Select Committee on Labour and Public
     Enterprises:


     Report and Financial Statements of the National Economic
     Development and Labour Council for 1999-2000.

National Council of Provinces:

1. The Chairperson:

 The following papers have been tabled and are now referred to the
 Select Committee on Finance:


 (1)    Regulation No R.556 published in Government Gazette No 21249
     dated 31 May 2000, Treasury Regulations made in terms of section
     76 of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of 1999).


 (2)    Regulation No R.562 published in Government Gazette No 21253
     dated 5 June 2000, Draft Regulations published for comment in
     terms of section 5 of the Preferential Procurement Policy
     Framework Act, 2000 (Act No 5 of 2000).

                        MONDAY, 17 JULY 2000

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson:

 (1)    The Minister of Trade and Industry on 6 June 2000 submitted a
     draft of the Competition Second Amendment Bill, 2000, as well as
     the memorandum explaining the objects of the proposed legislation,
     to the Speaker and the Chairperson in terms of Joint Rule 159. The
     draft has been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Trade and
     Industry and the Select Committee on Economic Affairs by the
     Speaker and the Chairperson, respectively, in accordance with
     Joint Rule 159(2).


 (2)    The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development on 30
     June 2000 submitted a draft of the Directorate of Special
     Operations Bill, 2000, as well as the memorandum explaining the
     objects of the proposed legislation, to the Speaker and the
     Chairperson in terms of Joint Rule 159. The draft has been
     referred to the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional
     Development and the Select Committee on Security and
     Constitutional Affairs by the Speaker and the Chairperson,
     respectively, in accordance with Joint Rule 159(2).


 (3)    The Minister of Finance on 4 July 2000 submitted a draft of the
     Finance Bill, 2000, as well as the memorandum explaining the
     objects of the proposed legislation, to the Speaker and the
     Chairperson in terms of Joint Rule 159. The draft has been
     referred to the Portfolio Committee on Finance and the Select
     Committee on Finance by the Speaker and the Chairperson,
     respectively, in accordance with Joint Rule 159(2).


 (4)    The Minister of Health on 4 July 2000 submitted a draft of the
     National Health Laboratory Services Bill, 2000, as well as the
     memorandum explaining the objects of the proposed legislation, to
     the Speaker and the Chairperson in terms of Joint Rule 159. The
     draft has been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Health and
     the Select Committee on Social Services by the Speaker and the
     Chairperson, respectively, in accordance with Joint Rule 159(2).

                       THURSDAY, 20 JULY 2000

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

National Council of Provinces:

1. The Chairperson:

The membership of the Select Committee mentioned below has been
 changed, as follows:


 Members' and Provincial Legislative Proposals:


 ANC:
 Bhabha, M    Mpumalanga
 Kgware, D M  Northern Cape
 Maloyi, P D N     North West
 Ndzanga, R A Gauteng
 Nkuna, C     Northern Province
 Suka, L      Eastern Cape
 Thomson, B (Alt)  KwaZulu-Natal


 DP:
 Botha, C     Free State
 Lever, L G (Alt)  North West


 IFP:
 Bhengu, M J  KwaZulu-Natal


 New NP:
 Matthee, P A      KwaZulu-Natal


 UDM:
 Nyakane, R M Northern Province


 ACDP:
 Durr, K D S  Western Cape

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

1. Report of the Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Children, Youth and Disabled Persons on National Youth Commission, dated 29 June 2000:

 The Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life and
 Status of Children, Youth and Disabled Persons, having considered the
 request from the Minister in The Presidency regarding the appointment
 of Commissioners to serve on the National Youth Commission, referred to
 it, reports as follows:


 1.     Advertisements were placed in the printed and electronic media
     from 23 to 27 June 2000, and 86 nominations were received. On 28
     June the Committee shortlisted the following nominees for
     interviews:
     Cecil Charles Davids, Marion Thembi Khambule, Yoliswa Makhasi,
     Petros Nketu Matima, Ntsokolo Ishmail Mbalula, Prince Nkintsing
     Mokotedi, Langanane Lucy Catherine Mphelo, Ngwanakopi Gladys
     Ramushu, Daniel van Vuuren and Dr V Pillay.


     Dr Pillay withdrew her nomination, and the Committee included
     Vuyani Dyantyi as the next person to form part of the 10
     candidates to be interviewed.


 2.     On 29 June, the Committee spent nine hours interviewing the said
     10 candidates. The principles contained in section 4 of the
     National Youth Commission Act, 1996, (Act No. 19 of 1996), were
     duly taken into account during the entire process.


 3.     The Committee accordingly recommends, in accordance with section
     4 of the National Youth Commission Act, 1996, the following
     candidates (in order of preference) for consideration by the
     President in appointing five full-time members to the National
     Youth Commission:


     Yoliswa Makhasi, Ntsokolo Ishmail Mbalula, Daniel van Vuuren,
     Petros Nketu Matima, Ngwanakopi Gladys Ramushu, Langanane Lucy
     Catherine Mphelo and Vuyani Dyantyi.


 Report to be considered.

                       TUESDAY, 15 AUGUST 2000

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson:

 (1)    The Minister of Public Enterprises on 27 July 2000 submitted a
     draft of the Transnet Pension Fund Amendment Bill, 2000, as well
     as the memorandum explaining the objects of the proposed
     legislation, to the Speaker and the Chairperson in terms of Joint
     Rule 159. The draft has been referred to the Portfolio Committee
     on Public Enterprises and the Select Committee on Labour and
     Public Enterprises by the Speaker and the Chairperson,
     respectively, in accordance with Joint Rule 159(2).


 (2)    The Minister of Education on 27 July 2000 submitted drafts of
     the Adult Basic Education and Training Bill, Education Laws
     Amendment Bill, and Higher Education Amendment Bill, 2000, as well
     as 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 to the Portfolio Committee
     on Education and the Select Committee on Education and Recreation
     by the Speaker and the Chairperson, respectively, in accordance
     with Joint Rule 159(2).


 (3)    The Minister of Finance on 1 August 2000 submitted a draft of
     the Banks Amendment Bill, 2000, as well as the memorandum
     explaining the objects of the proposed legislation, to the Speaker
     and the Chairperson in terms of Joint Rule 159. The draft has been
     referred to the Portfolio Committee on Finance and the Select
     Committee on Finance by the Speaker and the Chairperson,
     respectively, in accordance with Joint Rule 159(2).
 (4)    The Minister of Minerals and Energy on 3 August 2000 submitted a
     draft of the Abolition of Lebowa Mineral Trust Bill, 2000, as well
     as the memorandum explaining the objects of the proposed
     legislation, to the Speaker and the Chairperson in terms of Joint
     Rule 159. The draft has been referred to the Portfolio Committee
     on Minerals and Energy and the Select Committee on Economic
     Affairs by the Speaker and the Chairperson, respectively, in
     accordance with Joint Rule 159(2).


 (5)    The Minister of Sport and Recreation on 8 August 2000 submitted
     a draft of the South African Boxing Bill, 2000, as well as the
     memorandum explaining the objects of the proposed legislation, to
     the Speaker and the Chairperson in terms of Joint Rule 159. The
     draft has been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Sport and
     Recreation and the Select Committee on Education and Recreation by
     the Speaker and the Chairperson, respectively, in accordance with
     Joint Rule 159(2).


 (6)    The Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology on 11
     August 2000 submitted drafts of the National Council for Library
     and Information Services Bill, Cultural Laws Amendment Bill and
     Cultural Laws Second Amendment Bill, 2000, as well as 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 to the Portfolio Committee on Arts,
     Culture, Science and Technology and the Select Committee on
     Education and Recreation by the Speaker and the Chairperson,
     respectively, in accordance with Joint Rule 159(2).


 (7)    The Minister for Provincial and Local Government on 11 August
     2000 submitted a draft of the Local Government: Municipal
     Structures Amendment Bill, 2000, as well as the memorandum
     explaining the objects of the proposed legislation, to the Speaker
     and the Chairperson in terms of Joint Rule 159. The draft has been
     referred to the Portfolio Committee on Provincial and Local
     Government and the Select Committee on Local Government and
     Administration by the Speaker and the Chairperson, respectively,
     in accordance with Joint Rule 159(2).

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson:

 (1)    The following Bill was introduced in the National Assembly on 11
     August 2000 and referred to the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) for
     classification in terms of Joint Rule 160:


     (i)     Directorate of Special Operations Bill [B 39 - 2000]
          (National Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on Justice
          and Constitutional Development - National Assembly)
          [Explanatory summary of Bill and prior notice of its
          introduction published in Government Gazette No 21436 of 2
          August 2000.]


 (2)    The following Bill was introduced in the National Assembly on 14
     August 2000 and referred to the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) for
     classification in terms of Joint Rule 160:


     (i)     Finance Bill [B 40 - 2000] (National Assembly - sec 75) -
          (Portfolio Committee on Finance - National Assembly)
          [Explanatory summary of Bill and prior notice of its
          introduction published in Government Gazette No 21455 of 3
          August 2000.]


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


     (i)     Competition Second Amendment Bill [B 41 - 2000] (National
              Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on Trade and
              Industry - National Assembly) [Explanatory summary of
              Bill and prior notice of its introduction published in
              Government Gazette No 21479 of 16 August 2000.]


     (ii)    Adult Basic Education and Training Bill [B 42 - 2000]
              (National Assembly - sec 76) - (Portfolio Committee on
              Education - National Assembly) [Explanatory summary of
              Bill and prior notice of its introduction published in
              Government Gazette No 21461 of 7 August 2000.]


     (iii)   Developmental Welfare Governance Bill [B 43 - 2000]
              (National Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on
              Welfare and Population Development - National Assembly)
              [Explanatory summary of Bill and prior notice of its
              introduction published in Government Gazette No 21369 of
              21 July 2000.]


     (iv)    National Council for Library and Information Services Bill
              [B 44 - 2000] (National Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio
              Committee on Arts, Culture, Science and Technology -
              National Assembly) [Explanatory summary of Bill and prior
              notice of its introduction published in Government
              Gazette No 21452 of 4 August 2000.]


     (v)     Cultural Laws Amendment Bill [B 45 - 2000] (National
              Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on Arts,
              Culture, Science and Technology - National Assembly)
              [Explanatory summary of Bill and prior notice of its
              introduction published in Government Gazette No 21452 of
              4 August 2000.]


     (vi)    Cultural Laws Second Amendment Bill [B 46 - 2000]
              (National Assembly - sec 76) - (Portfolio Committee on
              Arts, Culture, Science and Technology - National
              Assembly) [Explanatory summary of Bill and prior notice
              of its introduction published in Government Gazette No
              21452 of 4 August 2000.]

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson:

 (1)    Assent by the President of the Republic in respect of the
     following Bills:


     (a)     National House of Traditional Leaders Amendment Bill [B
           15B - 2000] - Act No 20 of 2000 (assented to and signed by
           President on 29 June 2000);


     (b)     Remuneration of Public Office Bearers Second Amendment
           Bill [B 23 - 2000] - Act No 21 of 2000 (assented to and
           signed by President on 29 June 2000);


    (c)      Appropriation Bill [B 7 and 7A - 2000] - Act No 23 of 2000
           (assented to and signed by President on 26 July 2000);


    (d)      Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences
           Amendment Bill [B 31B - 2000] - Act No 24 of 2000 (assented
           to and signed by President on 26 July 2000);


    (e)      Road Traffic Management Corporation Amendment Bill [B 32B
           - 2000] - Act No 25 of 2000 (assented to and signed by
           President on 26 July 2000);


    (f)      Protected Disclosures Bill [B 30B - 2000] - Act No 26 of
           2000 (assented to and signed by President on 1 August 2000);


    (g)      Local Government: Municipal Electoral Bill [B 35B - 2000]
           - Act No 27 of 2000 (assented to and signed by President on
           6 July 2000);


    (h)      Identification Amendment Bill [B 33 - 2000] - Act No 28 of
           2000 (assented to and signed by President on 26 July 2000);


    (i)      Local Government: Cross-boundary Municipalities Bill [B
           37B - 2000] - Act No 29 of 2000 (assented to and signed by
           President on 30 June 2000);


    (j)      Taxation Laws Amendment Bill [B 38 - 2000] - Act No 30 of
           2000 (assented to and signed by President on 16 July 2000);
           and


    (k)      South African Council for Educators Bill [B 26D - 2000] -
           Act No 31 of 2000 (assented to and signed by President on 26
           July 2000).

                      WEDNESDAY, 23 AUGUST 2000

ANNOUNCEMENTS: National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson:

 (1)    The Minister of Defence on 28 July 2000 submitted a draft of the
     Conventional Arms Control Bill, 2000, as well as the memorandum
     explaining the objects of the proposed legislation, to the Speaker
     and the Chairperson in terms of Joint Rule 159. The draft has been
     referred to the Portfolio Committee on Defence and the Select
     Committee on Security and Constitutional Affairs by the Speaker
     and the Chairperson, respectively, in accordance with Joint Rule
     159(2).


 (2)    The Minister of Public Works on 15 August 2000 submitted a draft
     of the Construction Industry Development Board Bill, 2000, as well
     as the memorandum explaining the objects of the proposed
     legislation, to the Speaker and the Chairperson in terms of Joint
     Rule 159. The draft has been referred to the Portfolio Committee
     on Public Works and the Select Committee on Public Services by the
     Speaker and the Chairperson, respectively, in accordance with
     Joint Rule 159(2).

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson:

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


     (i)     Bills of Exchange Amendment Bill [B 47 - 2000] (National
              Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on Finance -
              National Assembly) [Explanatory summary of Bill and prior
              notice of its introduction published in Government
              Gazette No 21316 of 23 June 2000.]


     (ii)    Education Laws Amendment Bill [B 48 - 2000] (National
              Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on Education -
              National Assembly) [Explanatory summary of Bill and prior
              notice of its introduction published in Government
              Gazette No 21461 of 7 August 2000.]


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


     (i)     Abolition of Lebowa Mineral Trust Bill [B 49 - 2000]
              (National Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on
              Minerals and Energy - National Assembly) [Explanatory
              summary of Bill and prior notice of its introduction
              published in Government Gazette No 21420 of 28 July
              2000.]


     (ii)    Conventional Arms Control Bill [B 50 - 2000] (National
              Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on Defence -
              National Assembly) [Explanatory summary of Bill and prior
              notice of its introduction published in Government
              Gazette No 21426 of 28 July 2000.]


     (iii)   Local Government: Municipal Structures Amendment Bill [B
              51 - 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
              21475 of 11 August 2000.]


 (3)    The following Bill was introduced in the National Assembly on 18
     August 2000 and referred to the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) for
     classification in terms of Joint Rule 160:


     (i)     Home Loan and Mortgage Disclosure Bill [B 53 - 2000]
              (National Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on
              Housing - National Assembly) [Explanatory summary of Bill
              and prior notice of its introduction published in
              Government Gazette No 21481 of 18 August 2000.]


 (4)    The following Bill was introduced in the National Council of
     Provinces on 18 August 2000 and referred to the Joint Tagging
     Mechanism (JTM) for classification in terms of Joint Rule 160:


     (i)     National Health Laboratory Services Bill [B 52 - 2000]
              (National Council of Provinces - sec 76) - (Select
              Committee on Social Services - National Council of
              Provinces) [Explanatory summary of Bill and prior notice
              of its introduction published in Government Gazette No
              20520 of 1 October 1999.]


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


     (i)     South African Weather Service Bill [B 54 - 2000] (National
              Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on
              Environmental Affairs and Tourism - National Assembly)
              [Explanatory summary of Bill and prior notice of its
              introduction published in Government Gazette No 20979 of
              17 March 2000.]


     (ii)    Higher Education Amendment Bill [B 55 - 2000] (National
              Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on Education -
              National Assembly) [Explanatory summary of Bill and prior
              notice of its introduction published in Government
              Gazette No 21461 of 7 August 2000.]


     (iii)   Banks Amendment Bill [B 56 - 2000] (National Assembly -
              sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on Finance - National
              Assembly) [Explanatory summary of Bill and prior notice
              of its introduction published in Government Gazette No
              21437 of 3 August 2000.]

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson:

 (1)    Assent by the President of the Republic in respect of the
     following Bill:


     (a)     National Land Transport Transition Bill [B 5B - 2000] -
           Act No 22 of 2000 (assented to and signed by President on 17
           August 2000).

TABLINGS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

Papers:

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson:

 Documents, in terms of section 3(11)(a) of the Public Protector Act,
 1994 (Act No 23 of 1994), setting out the remuneration, allowances and
 other conditions of employment determined by the Public Protector for
 staff in his office.


 Referred to the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional
 Development and to the Select Committee on Security and Constitutional
 Affairs for consideration and report.

1. The Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology: Reports of the National Archivist and the National State Herald for 1998-99.

2. The Minister of Trade and Industry:

 (1)    Agreement of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
     concerning the adoption of uniform technical prescriptions for
     wheeled vehicles, equipment and parts which can be fitted and/or
     be used on wheeled vehicles and the conditions for reciprocal
     recognition of approvals granted on the basis of these
     prescriptions [1958 Agreement], tabled in terms of section 231(2)
     of the Constitution, 1996.


 (2)    Explanatory Memorandum to the agreement.


 (3)    Agreement of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
     concerning the establishment of Global Technical Regulations for
     wheeled vehicles, equipment and parts which can be fitted and/or
     be used on wheeled vehicles [Global Agreement], tabled in terms of
     section 231(2) of the Constitution, 1996.
 (4)    Explanatory Memorandum to the agreement.


 Referred to the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry and to the
 Select Committee on Economic Affairs for consideration and report.

                       FRIDAY, 25 AUGUST 2000

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson:

 (1)    The Minister of Foreign Affairs on 16 August 2000 submitted a
     draft of the African Renaissance and International Co-operation
     Fund Bill, 2000, as well as the memorandum explaining the objects
     of the proposed legislation, to the Speaker and the Chairperson in
     terms of Joint Rule 159. The draft has been referred to the
     Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Select Committee on
     Economic Affairs by the Speaker and the Chairperson, respectively,
     in accordance with Joint Rule 159(2).

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson:

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


     (i)     Transnet Pension Fund Amendment Bill [B 57 - 2000]
              (National Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on
              Public Enterprises - National Assembly) [Explanatory
              summary of Bill and prior notice of its introduction
              published in Government Gazette No 21214 of 29 May 2000.]


     (ii)    South African Boxing Bill [B 58 - 2000] (National Assembly
              - sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on Sport and Recreation
              - National Assembly) [Explanatory summary of Bill and
              prior notice of its introduction published in Government
              Gazette No 21456 of 14 August 2000.]

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson:

 (1)    The Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM), in terms of Joint Rule
     160(3), classified the following Bills as section 75 Bills on 24
     August 2000:


     (i)     Directorate of Special Operations Bill [B 39 - 2000]
              (National Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on
              Justice and Constitutional Development - National
              Assembly).


     (ii)    Finance Bill [B 40 - 2000] (National Assembly - sec 75) -
              (Portfolio Committee on Finance - National Assembly).


     (iii)   Competition Second Amendment Bill [B 41 - 2000] (National
              Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on Trade and
              Industry - National Assembly).


     (iv)    Developmental Welfare Governance Bill [B 43 - 2000]
              (National Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on
              Welfare and Population Development - National Assembly).


     (v)     National Council for Library and Information Services Bill
              [B 44 - 2000] (National Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio
              Committee on Arts, Culture, Science and Technology -
              National Assembly).


     (vi)    Cultural Laws Amendment Bill [B 45 - 2000] (National
              Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on Arts,
              Culture, Science and Technology - National Assembly).


     (vii)   Bills of Exchange Amendment Bill [B 47 - 2000] (National
              Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on Finance -
              National Assembly).


     (viii)  Abolition of Lebowa Mineral Trust Bill [B 49 - 2000]
              (National Assembly - sec 75)  - (Portfolio Committee on
              Minerals and Energy - National Assembly).


     (ix)    Conventional Arms Control Bill [B 50 - 2000] (National
              Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on Defence -
              National Assembly).


     (x)     Local Government: Municipal Structures Amendment Bill [B
              51 - 2000] (National Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio
              Committee on Provincial and Local Government - National
              Assembly).


     (xi)    Home Loan and Mortgage Disclosure Bill [B 53 - 2000]
              (National Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on
              Housing - National Assembly).


     (xii)   South African Weather Service Bill [B 54 - 2000] (National
              Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on
              Environmental Affairs and Tourism - National Assembly).


     (xiii)  Higher Education Amendment Bill [B 55 - 2000] (National
              Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on Education -
              National Assembly).


     (xiv)   Banks Amendment Bill [B 56 - 2000] (National Assembly -
              sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on Finance - National
              Assembly).


     (xv)    Transnet Pension Fund Amendment Bill [B 57 - 2000]
              (National Assembly - sec 75) - (Portfolio Committee on
              Public Enterprises - National Assembly).


 (2)    The Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM), in terms of Joint Rule
     160(4), classified the following Bills as section 76 Bills on 24
     August 2000:


     (i)     Adult Basic Education and Training Bill [B 42 - 2000]
              (National Assembly - sec 76) - (Portfolio Committee on
              Education - National Assembly).


     (ii)    Cultural Laws Second Amendment Bill [B 46 - 2000]
              (National Assembly - sec 76) - (Portfolio Committee on
              Arts, Culture, Science and Technology - National
              Assembly).


     (iii)   Education Laws Amendment Bill [B 48 - 2000] (National
              Assembly - sec 76) - (Portfolio Committee on Education -
              National Assembly).


     (iv)    National Health Laboratory Services Bill [B 52 - 2000]
              (National Council of Provinces - sec 76) - (Select
              Committee on Social Services - National Council of
              Provinces).

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson:

 (1)    On 15 August 2000 it was announced that the Adult Basic
     Education and Training Bill [B 42 - 2000] and Cultural Laws Second
     Amendment Bill [B 46 - 2000] had been introduced as sec 75 Bills.
     Those entries were not correct and should read as follows:


          Adult Basic Education and Training Bill [B 42 - 2000]
          (National Assembly - sec 76);
          Cultural Laws Second Amendment Bill [B 46 - 2000] (National
          Assembly - sec 76).


 (2)    On 23 August 2000 it was announced that the Education Laws
     Amendment Bill [B 48 - 2000] had been introduced as a sec 75 Bill.
     That entry was not correct and should read as follows:


          Education Laws Amendment Bill [B 48 - 2000] (National Assembly
          - sec 76).

                       TUESDAY, 29 AUGUST 2000

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson:

 (1)    The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development on 28
     July 2000 submitted a draft of the Judicial Matters Amendment
     Bill, 2000, as well as the memorandum explaining the objects of
     the proposed legislation, to the Speaker and the Chairperson in
     terms of Joint Rule 159. The draft has been referred to the
     Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development and
     the Select Committee on Security and Constitutional Affairs by the
     Speaker and the Chairperson, respectively, in accordance with
     Joint Rule 159(2).

TABLINGS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

Papers:

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson:

 (1)    Special Report of the Auditor-General on donor funding and
     remuneration of a former adviser in the Office of the Premier of
     Mpumalanga [RP 123-99].


 (2)    Report of the Public Protector on an investigation of complaints
     in connection with the Special Report of the Auditor-General on
     donor funding and remuneration of a former adviser in the Office
     of the Premier of Mpumalanga, dated 2 December 1999, and matters
     incidental thereto.

1. The Minister of Safety and Security:

 Regulation No R.721 published in the Government Gazette No 21375 dated
 21 July 2000, Regulations for the South African Police Service made in
 terms of section 24(1)(g) of the South African Police Service Act, 1995
 (Act No 68 of 1995).

1. The Minister of Trade and Industry:

 (1)    Report and Financial Statements of the Council for Scientific
     and Industrial Research for 1999-2000, including the Report of the
     Auditor-General on the Financial Statements for 1999-2000.


 (2)    The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research's Technology
     Impact for 2000.

                      WEDNESDAY, 30 AUGUST 2000

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson:

 (1)    The following Bill was introduced in the National Council of
     Provinces on 30 August 2000 and referred to the Joint Tagging
     Mechanism (JTM) for classification in terms of Joint Rule 160:


     (i)     Construction Industry Development Board Bill [B 59 - 2000]
              (National Council of Provinces - sec 76) - (Select
              Committee on Public Services - National Council of
              Provinces) [Explanatory summary of Bill and prior notice
              of its introduction published in Government Gazette No
              21477 of 15 August 2000.]

TABLINGS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

Papers:

1. The Minister of Safety and Security:

 Report of the Independent Complaints Directorate for the period
 December 1999 to May 2000, submitted in terms of section 18(5)(c) of
 the Domestic Violence Act, 1998.

                      FRIDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER 2000

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson:

 (1)    Assent by the President of the Republic in respect of the
     following Bills:


     (a)     Chiropractors, Homeopaths and Allied Health Service
          Professions Amendment Bill [B 2 - 2000] - Act No 6 of 2000
          (assented to and signed by President on 30 August 2000);
    (b)      Remuneration of Public Office Bearers Amendment Bill [B
          11D - 2000] - Act No 9 of 2000 (assented to and signed by
          President on 30 August 2000); and


    (c)      Road Accident Fund Commission Amendment Bill [B 12 - 2000]
          - Act No 18 of 2000 (assented to and signed by President on
          30 August 2000).

TABLINGS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

Papers:

1. The Minister of Finance:

 (1)    Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa
     and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the
     Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion
     with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital Gains, tabled in
     terms of section 231(2) of the Constitution, 1996.
 (2)    Explanatory Memorandum on the Double Taxation Agreement between
     the Republic of South Africa and Nigeria.


 (3)    Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa
     and the Government of the People's Republic of China for the
     Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion
     with respect to Taxes on Income, tabled in terms of section 231(2)
     of the Constitution, 1996.


 (4)    Explanatory Memorandum on the Double Taxation Agreement between
     the Republic of South Africa and the People's Republic of China.

                      TUESDAY, 5 SEPTEMBER 2000

TABLINGS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

Papers:

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

 (1)    Accounts on the National Government for 1998-1999 [RP 201-99].


 (2)    Urban Transport Fund for 1998-99 [RP 97-2000].


 (3)    Financial Statements of the National Hiking Way Fund for 1998-99
     [RP 105-2000].


 (4)    Financial Statements of the Manpower Development Authority of
     Bophuthatswana for 1998-99 [RP 106-2000].


 (5)    Group Annual Financial Statements of the SFF Association for
     1997-98 [RP 108-99].


 (6)    Financial Statements of the Milk Board for the 10 Month period
     ended 31 December 1997 and the Liquidation Account for the period
     1 January 1998 to 31 December 1999 [RP 109-2000].


 (7)    Group Annual Financial Statements of the SFF Association for
     1996-97 [RP 146-99].
 (8)    Financial Statements of the National Supplies Procurement Fund
     for 1998-99 [RP 148-2000].


 (9)    Financial Statements of the Maize Board for 1998-99 [RP 149-
     2000].


 (10)   Financial Statements of the South African Library for the Blind
     for 1998-99 [RP 151-2000].


 (11)   Financial Statements of the Universal Service Agency for 1998-99
     [RP 157-2000].

1. The Minister of Home Affairs:

 (1)    Government Notice No R.276 published in the Government Gazette
     No 21016 dated 1 April 2000, Seventh Amendment of the Aliens
     Control Regulations made in terms of the Aliens Control Act, 1991
     (Act No 96 of 1991).


 (2)    Government Notice No R.249 published in the Government Gazette
     No 20988 dated 14 March 2000, Sixth Amendment of the Marriages
     Regulations, made in terms of the Marriage Act, 1961 (Act No 25 of
     1961).


 (3)    Government Notice No R.250 published in the Government Gazette
     No 20990 dated 17 March 2000, Fifth Amendment of the regulations,
     made in terms of the South African Citizenship Act, 1995 (Act No
     88 of 1995).


 (4)    Government Notice No R.251 published in the Government Gazette
     No 20991 dated 17 March 2000, Sixth Amendment of the regulations,
     made in terms of the South African Passport and Travel Documents
     Act, 1994 (Act No 4 of 1994).


 (5) Government Notice No R.275 published in the Government Gazette No
     21015 dated 1 April 2000, Third Amendment of the regulations, made
     in terms of the Identification Act, 1997 (Act No 68 of 1997).

1. The Minister of Transport:

 (1)    Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa
     and the Government of the People's Republic of China on Maritime
     Transport, tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution,
     1996.


 (2)    Explanatory Memorandum to the agreement.


 (3)    Report and Financial Statements of the South African National
     Roads Agency Limited for 1998-99, including the Report of the
     Auditor-General on the Financial statements for 1998-99 [RP 95-
     2000].


 (4)    Report and Financial Statements of the South African Rail
     Commuter Corporation Limited for 1998-99, including the Report of
     the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements for 1998-99.


 (5)    Report and Financial Statements of the Airports Company South
     Africa Limited for 1999-2000.


 (6)    Report and Financial Statements of the Air Traffic and
     Navigation Services Company Limited for 1999-2000.

                     WEDNESDAY, 6 SEPTEMBER 2000

TABLINGS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

Papers:

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson:

 Report of the Audit Commission in terms of section 10(3) of the Audit
 Arrangements Act, 1992 on the Report and Financial Statements of the
 Office of the Auditor-General for 1999-2000 [RP 39-2000].


                     THURSDAY, 7 SEPTEMBER 2000

TABLINGS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

Papers:

1. The Minister of Health:

 Report and Financial Statements of the Medical Research Council for
 1998-99, including the Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial
 Statements for 1998-99.

                      MONDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER 2000

TABLINGS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

Papers:

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson:

 DECISION BY THE SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND THE CHAIRPERSON OF
 THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES TO ESTABLISH AN AD HOC JOINT
 COMMITTEE ON GENERAL INTELLIGENCE LAW AMENDMENT BILL, 2000 [B 36-2000]
 IN TERMS OF JOINT RULE 138


 1.     The Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairperson of the
     National Council of Provinces acting jointly, after consultation
     with the Chief Whip of the Majority Party in the National Assembly
     and the Chief Whip of the Council have decided, in terms of Joint
     Rule 138, to establish an Ad Hoc Joint Committee on General
     Intelligence Law Amendment Bill, 2000, to consider and report, in
     accordance with Part 3 and any other relevant provisions of
     Chapter 4 of the Joint Rules, to the National Assembly and the
     National Council of Provinces on the General Intelligence Law
     Amendment Bill, No 36 of 2000.


 2.     The Committee to consist of 21 members of the National Assembly
     and 9 members of the National Council of Provinces.


 3.     The Committee to confer with the Joint Standing Committee on
     Intelligence.


 4.     The Committee to submit its report on the Bill by not later than
     5 October 2000.


 5.     The Committee may exercise those powers in Joint Rule 32 that
     may assist it in carrying out their task.


 F Ginwala
 G N Pandor
 Speaker      Chairperson
 National Assembly National Council of Provinces

1. The Minister for Safety and Security:

 Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa and
 the Government of the People's Republic of China in respect of Police
 Co-operation, tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution,
 1996.

1. The Minister of Trade and Industry:

 Report and Financial Statements of the National Lotteries Board for
 1998-99, including the Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial
 Statements for 1998-99.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

National Council of Provinces:

1. Report of the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs on the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds Agreement, dated 10 May 2000:

   The Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs, having considered the request for approval by Parliament of The Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds, referred to it, recommends that the Council, in terms of section 231(2) of the Constitution, approve the said Agreement.

 Report to be considered.

                     TUESDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER 2000

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson:

 (1)     The Minister of Housing on 29 August 2000 submitted a draft of
     the Housing Amendment 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 Housing and the Select Committee on Public Services,
     respectively, in accordance with Joint Rule 159(2).

TABLINGS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

Papers:

1. The Minister of Foreign Affairs:

 (1)    Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa
     and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany concerning
     the project "Provincial Administration Support Programme in the
     Eastern Cape", tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the
     Constitution, 1996.


 (2)    Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa
     and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany concerning
     the project "Decentralised Development Planning", tabled in terms
     of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.


 (3)    Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa
     and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany concerning
     the project "Economic and Development Policy Advisory Programme",
     tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.


 (4)    General Agreement of Co-operation between the Government of the
     Republic of South Africa and the Government of the United Mexican
     States, tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution,
     1996.

1. The Minister for Public Enterprises:

 (1)    Policy Framework for an Accelerated Agenda Towards the
     Restructuring of State Owned Enterprises.


 (2)    A Summary of the Policy Framework for an Accelerated Agenda for
     the Restructuring of State Owned Enterprises.

1. The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development:

 (1)    Statutes of the United Nations African Institute for the
     Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, tabled in
     terms of section 231(2) of the Constitution, 1996.


 (2)    Explanatory Memorandum to the Statutes of the United Nations
     African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of
     Offenders.

1. The Minister of Health:

 (1)    Government Notice No R.567 published in the Government Gazette
     No 21245 dated 9 June 2000, List of approved facilities for the
     purpose of performing community service in 2001 by medical
     practitioners, made in terms of the Health Professions Act, 1974.


 (2)    Government Notice No 2234 published in the Government Gazette No
     21292 dated 21 June 2000, the Chiropractors, Homeopaths and Allied
     Health Service Professions Amendment Bill, 2000 published for
     comment.


 (3) Government Notice No 644 published in the Government Gazette No
     21313 dated 30 June 2000, Authorisation in terms of section 24 of
     the Human Tissue Act, 1983.


 (4)    Government Notice No R.570 published in the Government Gazette
     No 21256 dated 5 June 2000, Regulations made in terms of the
     Medical Schemes Act, 1998.


 (5)    Goewerment Kennisgewing No R.569 gepubliseer in die
     Staatskoerant No 21255 gedateer 5 Junie 2000, Regulasies geskep
     ingevolge die Wet of Mediese Skemas, 1998.
 (6)    Goewerment Kennisgewing No R.638 gepubliseer in die
     Staatskoerant No 21317 gedateer 22 Junie 2000, Regulasies geskep
     ingevolge die Wet of Mediese Skemas, 1998.

                    WEDNESDAY, 13 SEPTEMBER 2000

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson:

 On 12 September 2000 the following document was presented, in
 accordance with the resolution adopted by the Assembly and the Council
 on 6 June 2000, to the Speaker of the National Assembly and the
 Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces by the South African
 Parliamentary Observer Mission to the Parliamentary Elections held in
 Zimbabwe:

REPORT OF THE SA PARLIAMENTARY OBSERVER MISSION TO ZIMBABWE: 7-27 JUNE 2000

 1.     INTRODUCTION


 Following an invitation to the international community by the
 Government of Zimbabwe to send observers to be present during the
 parliamentary elections on 24 and 25 June 2000, Parliament mandated a
 multi-party delegation to observe the elections from 7 to 27 June 2000.


 The delegation consisted of 20 Members of Parliament and 4 officials.
 The delegation was known as the South African Parliamentary Observer
 Mission. The members of the Mission appear in Appendix A.


 The SA Parliamentary Observer Mission was very conscious of the fact
 that it was unique amongst observer missions in that:


 (a) It was the only delegation consisting entirely of public
     representatives;


 (b)    It was a delegation from Zimbabwe's neighbour and biggest
     trading partner. The two countries have had cultural, political,
     religious and historical links for centuries.
 2.     MANDATE AND APPROACH


 The S A Parliamentary Observer Mission received a clear mandate from
 Parliament to observe the elections on its behalf and to report back to
 it. Arising from this mandate, and taking into account accepted
 international practice by election observer teams, the Mission was
 agreed that:


 (a)    Its task was to observe and not monitor the elections i.e. that
     its mandate was neither to make interventions in the electoral
     process it was sent to observe nor to interfere in the internal
     political dynamics and debates of Zimbabwe;


 (b)    It would approach its task in an open minded and balanced manner
     and would not reach any conclusions until it had interacted with
     all relevant role-players and had had the opportunity to observe
     the situation for itself;


 (c)    Its task would be to report to Parliament on its observations.


 In addition it was agreed that the Mission would take the following
 approach to its mandate:


 (a)    It would act as a united delegation representing the Parliament
     and people of South Africa. It would attempt to resolve any
     political differences within the delegation itself whilst in
     Zimbabwe or, if necessary, in Parliament, upon its return. In this
     regard it was also agreed that the Mission would speak with one
     voice through the leader of the delegation whilst it was in
     Zimbabwe;


 (b)    It would interact with other observer missions and, where
     appropriate, co-operate with them in terms of logistic
     arrangements, but would maintain its independence at all times.


 Members of the Mission signed an undertaking to conduct themselves in
 terms of the regulations set out by the Elections Directorate of
 Zimbabwe, a copy of which is attached as Appendix B.


 3.     BACKGROUND


 The following brief historical background provides the context against
 which the parliamentary elections on 24 and 25 June 2000 took place:


 From the late 1800's to 1965 Zimbabwe was a British Colony known as
 Rhodesia.  In 1965 Ian Smith issued a Unilateral Declaration of
 Independence from Britain. From the mid-1960's the struggle for
 independence and full democratic rights took the form of war of
 liberation led by the Zimbabwe African People's Union (Zapu), led by
 Joshua Nkomo, and the Zimbabwe African National Union (Zanu), led by
 Robert Mugabe.  The rural populations in the communal areas and on the
 commercial farms bore the brunt of the harshest aspects of the war.


 In 1980 the Lancaster House agreement led to elections and Robert
 Gabriel Mugabe became the first President of an independent Zimbabwe.


 In the early 80s a bloody and violent conflict in parts of Matabeleland
 (known as the "gukhurahundi") took place. In 1987 PF-Zapu and Zanu-PF
 merged into Zanu-PF.


 Since 1980 there have been regular elections but there has been no
 serious challenger to ZANU-PF and the percentage polls have been low.
 A major reason for the interest in the Zimbabwe 2000 Elections by
 observers throughout the world and in SADC, in particular, is because
 the referendum result in February 2000 that rejected a proposed new
 Constitution was unexpected.


 The main contest was between the ZANU-PF of President Robert Mugabe and
 the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) that is led by former Zimbabwe
 Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) General-Secretary, Morgan Tsvangirai.
 They and ZANU-PF were the only parties to contest all 120 seats.  A
 number of smaller parties participated as well as a large number of
 independent candidates. A list of parties contesting the election is
 set out in Appendix C.


 4.     PROGRAMME OF ACTION


 The SA Parliamentary Observer Mission adopted the following programme
 of action:


 4.1    Training
   On 2 June 2000 the Independent Electoral Institute of Southern Africa
     (IEISA) conducted a training workshop for members of the Mission.
     The workshop covered the accepted international standards,
     protocols and practice for election observer missions as well as
     the legal and institutional framework within which the Zimbabwean
     elections would be conducted.  The Mission also received a
     background briefing from the Department of Foreign Affairs.


 4.2    Briefing Meetings: 7 - 14 June 2000


   The Mission spent the period from 7-14 June 2000 in Harare receiving
     briefings from a wide range of political parties, media
     organisations, organisations from civil society, government
     departments as well as the South African High Commission.


   These briefings enabled the Mission to form an overall picture of the
     situation in Zimbabwe.  The list of briefings is set out in
     Appendix D.


 4.3    Visits to Provinces: 14 - 18 June 2000


   From 14-18 June 2000 the Mission divided itself into six teams to
     visit the following Provinces:


   Mashonaland East
   Mashonaland West
   Masvingo
   Manicaland
   Midlands
   Matabeleland


   The teams visited the Provinces with the mandate to:


     1. Meet with political parties, candidates, government departments
          and civil society to get briefings on the situation at local
          level.   Members of the Mission sought to meet the Police and
          the Provincial Registrars responsible for the election.


     2. Observe preparations for election days.


     3. Observe the progress of the campaign and in particular to
          evaluate the information received during the briefings
          received in Harare - especially with regard to the prevalence
          of violence and intimidation.


 4.4    Report back from Provincial Visits: 19 - 22 June 2000


   From 19 - 22 June 2000 the six teams returned to Harare to report on
     their observations in the different provinces, to receive further
     briefings and to plan how the election days themselves would be
     observed.


 4.5    Visits to Provinces during election days: 22 - 26 June 2000


   From 22-26 June 2000 the six teams returned to the different
     provinces to:


     1. Observe the logistic preparations for the voting (24 and 25
          June) and counting (26 June) days.
     2. Familiarise themselves with the location of the polling and
          counting stations which they would visit on the voting and
          counting days.


     3. Observe the election and counting process.


 4.6    Report Back


   The six teams returned to Harare on the 26 June 2000.  They reported
     back to the Mission as a whole on what they had observed in the
     different Provinces. The Mission had a final meeting on the
     morning of 27 June 2000 and the wording of an interim press
     statement was agreed upon.


 4.7    Reportback to Parliament


   It was agreed that the Mission would produce a consolidated report to
     Parliament representing the views of the Mission.


 5.     ELECTORAL INSTITUTIONS


 The elections were conducted under the auspices of a number of
 institutions:


 5.1    Elections Directorate


   The Elections Directorate is a body consisting of senior
     representatives of government departments that are involved in
     various aspects of conducting elections including Home Affairs,
     Transport, Public Works, the Zimbabwe National Defence Force and
     the Zimbabwe Republic Police.  The Registrar General sits on, and
     plays an important role in the Elections Directorate.


 5.2    Registrar General


   The Registrar General (RG) is responsible for the registration of all
     births, marriages and deaths, the issuing of national identity
     documents and passports and the compilation of a national voters'
     roll.  The RG provides the Demarcation Commission with the
     necessary information to demarcate constituencies.  The RG is
     responsible for administering Polling and Counting and appoints
     the Presiding Officers and staff.  The RG announces the results.


 5.3    Provincial Registrars


   These civil servants are responsible to the Registrar General and
     handle his/her responsibilities in each Province.


 5.4    Demarcation Commission


   This Commission is headed by a Judge of the Supreme Court and is
     responsible for demarcating the boundaries of Zimbabwe's 120
     constituencies. Zimbabwe has constituencies with a "first past the
     post" system and therefore the demarcation of constituencies is a
     matter of great interest.  Constituencies may be allocated between
     30 000 to over 50 000 voters. An additional 30 MPs are appointed
     by the President in terms of the Constitution and do not have
     constituencies.


 5.5    Electoral Supervisory Commission (ESC)


   This Commission is created in terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
     It is an independent body appointed by the President to monitor
     elections and to pronounce whether they were conducted in a free
     and fair manner.


 6.     PREPARATIONS FOR VOTING AND COUNTING


 As indicated above the Registrar General and the Elections Directorate
 were primarily responsible for the logistic preparations for the
 elections. On the basis of the briefings it received from the Registrar
 General, Provincial Registrars as well as it's own observations it
 appeared to the Mission that these preparations were done in a very
 thorough manner. This was later vindicated by the manner in which
 voting and counting proceeded.


 Complaints were received regarding the following aspects of the
 logistic preparations for elections:


 1.     Many opposition parties were unhappy with the manner in which
     constituencies had been demarcated and alleged that the
     Demarcation Commission had displayed a bias towards rural
     constituencies, which were perceived to be Zanu-PF strongholds.


 2.     There were allegations that a large number of dead people were
     still on the voters roll. The Registrar General conceded that this
     was possible but explained that the process of removing a dead
     person was quite lengthy and could not be done without conclusive
     proof of death.


 3.     The manner in which Zimbabwean soldiers fighting in the DRC were
     to cast postal votes.


 4.     There were allegations that the ballot boxes had removable
     bottoms and that this would lead to fraud. This concern proved
     unfounded.


 5.     The supplementary voters roll only became available at a late
     stage and was not easily accessible to all candidates.


 The Mission received complaints from the Electoral Supervisory
 Commission and opposition parties that the ESC had been stripped of all
 real power and capacity to fulfil its constitutional obligations.  In
 particular the complaint arose that the Registrar General had taken
 over the function of accrediting domestic monitors. The Registrar
 General indicated that accreditation was a purely administrative
 matter. Monitors were ultimately accredited by the ESC, albeit two days
 before the election.


 7.     POLITICAL ACTIVITIES


 7.1    General


   The elections were contested by 15 parties and a large number of
     independent candidates.


   Despite the large number of parties contesting the elections it was
     clear that the main contest was between the Zimbabwe African
     National Union - Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) and the Movement for
     Democratic Change (MDC). These were the only parties with
     candidates in each of Zimbabwe's 120 constituencies.


   Many of the smaller parties had regional support bases and only
     contested constituencies in particular regions.  The Zimbabwe
     African People's Union (ZAPU) only contested constituencies in
     Matabeleland.   ZANU (Ndonga) mainly contested constituencies in
     Manicaland. The Liberty Party and the Zimbabwe Independent Party
     mainly contested constituencies in Harare.  Other smaller parties
     such as the Zimbabwe Union of Democrats and the United Parties,
     while not regionally based, only contested a few constituencies.


   Campaigning took the form of mass rallies ("Star Rallies"), local
     constituency rallies and meetings, advertisements in newspapers,
     posters on bill boards, trees and buildings, pamphlets, letters to
     voters and spray-painting on road surfaces or on buildings.


   The visibility with which parties and candidates campaigned varied
     from area to area.


 7.2    Main Contending Parties: ZANU-PF and MDC


   ZANU-PF based its campaign on its record of obtaining independence,
     developing the country, indigenising ownership of the economy and
     the land issue.  Its principle slogan was "Land is the Economy,
     the Economy is the Land".   It emphasised its role as a
     revolutionary party that had fought a war of liberation and
     brought stability to Zimbabwe.  It presented the land issue as an
     extension of this struggle.  The MDC were described as "puppets"
     of the whites and the British.


   The MDC's focus was on the need for change. It emphasised the need
     for job creation and renewal of the economy, political reform,
     national unity, human rights and the rule of law. It criticised
     Zanu-PF and President Mugabe in particular for mismanaging the
     economy, corruption and cronyism in government and Zimbabwean
     involvement in the DRC conflict. It was also highly critical of
     Zanu-PF's policy on the land issue and the lawlessness associated
     with land invasions.


 7.3    Funding of Political Parties


   In terms of the legislation regulating state funding to political
     parties, a party has to have at least 15 seats in Parliament to
     qualify for a state grant.  Only ZANU-PF qualified and they
     received some Z$62 million (about R10 million) per annum from the
     State.  All the other parties and the independents had to
     fundraise from other sources.


 A list of rallies and meetings attended by the Mission is set out in
 Appendix E.


 8.     MEDIA


 The mission observed a robust debate in the Zimbabwean media and the
 print media in particular, concerning the elections and the issues
 surrounding the election campaign.


 The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), which has a monopoly on
 the electronic media and certain state-owned newspapers gave inordinate
 coverage to ZANU-PF.  Other independently owned newspapers mostly
 supported the opposition parties and the MDC in particular. The
 international media was generally very critical of Zanu-PF.


 The Mission came across a large number of local and community
 newspapers in different parts of Zimbabwe. The political inclinations
 of these publications varied.


 South African media is widely read, watched and listened to. SABC TV,
 DSTV, and CNN are available via satellite transmission.


 9.     ZIMBABWE REPUBLIC POLICE


 The Mission received complaints that the Zimbabwe Republic Police were
 acting in a partisan manner by only acting against violence emanating
 from the ranks of opposition parties and that the ZRP was lax in
 investigating crimes alleged to have been committed by members of Zanu-
 PF.


 The Mission ascertained that the Police did refer crimes with a
 political content to a special department in Harare.  However, this
 does not seem to have been the case in every area of the country.


 The Mission was impressed with the professionalism and efficiency of
 the ZRP close to the election, on the election days and during the
 counting as well as in preparations to deal with any civil disruption
 following on from the elections.


 Close to the voting and counting days the mission observed and received
 reports of swift action by the ZRP against violent or disruptive
 behaviour from all quarters.


 The fact that there was a minimum of three police officers present at
 each polling station contributed to the peaceful conduct of the
 elections.


 10.    VIOLENCE


 The Mission received many reports of violence and intimidation both
 during briefings in Harare as well as during its visits to the
 Provinces.  Some of this violence appeared to be systematic and planned
 and aimed at intimidating supporters of other parties and creating no-
 go areas.  In other instances the violence appeared to be a more
 spontaneous result of the heightened political temperature in the
 country.


 There were numerous allegations of intimidation in rural areas and
 against farm workers by war veterans in the form of "re-education
 sessions". War veterans with whom the Mission interacted admitted
 holding "re-education sessions", however, they denied that intimidation
 was the intention of these sessions. There were also reports that
 numbers of rural residents were displaced from their homes by violence.


 Many parties and organizations reported that the violence and
 intimidation emanated mainly from the ranks of ZANU-PF. The mission
 observed that no single party seemed to have a monopoly on the use of
 violence.


 Whilst the pre-election period was characterised by tension, especially
 in rural areas and on commercial farms, the voting and counting process
 took place in a peaceful and calm atmosphere.


 Zimbabweans with whom the Mission interacted expressed the opinion that
 the presence of observers contributed to the calm and peaceful
 atmosphere in which voting and counting took place and the reduction of
 violence in the build up to the elections.


 11.    VOTING, COUNTING AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS


 The Mission visited a large number of polling and counting stations on
 24, 25 and 26 June in all Provinces and in urban and rural areas.


 All teams reported that the voting was conducted efficiently in a
 peaceful atmosphere.  Almost all polling stations opened on time, had
 sufficient material, staff and Police on duty.


 At some polling stations a high number of voters were turned away
 because they did not have ID documents or were not registered as
 voters.


 Almost all polling stations visited by the Mission had polling agents
 from at least ZANU-PF and the MDC. Domestic and international
 monitors/observers were present at many polling and counting stations.


 Ballot boxes were guarded overnight by the Police and polling agents.
 Polling agents were provided with transport to accompany ballot boxes
 to the counting stations.


 The counting process was characterised by a meticulous and transparent
 process of reconciling of votes cast and ballot papers issued,
 carefully scrutinised by polling agents, observers and monitors.


 The Mission was satisfied that the opportunity for electoral fraud was
 negligible.


 Results were transmitted to the office of the Registrar General in
 Harare from where he announced them.  A total of 2 552 844 votes were
 cast out of some 5,1 million registered voters (50% poll).   ZANU-PF
 gained 1 220 951 votes; MDC gained 1 150 793 votes and the other
 parties obtained a total of 181 100 votes. ZANU-PF won 62 seats, MDC 57
 seats and ZANU-Ndonga 1 seat.


 The complete results are set out in Appendix F.


 12.    CONCLUSION


 The voting and counting process on 24, 25 and 26 June 2000 proceeded in
 a peaceful and orderly atmosphere.  The administration of voting and
 counting was conducted in a highly efficient and professional manner.
 The Mission was satisfied that the chances of any foul play were
 negligible.


 All the political parties that participated in the elections have
 indicated that they accept the outcome of the elections as a whole.
 Some have indicated that they will challenge the results in particular
 constituencies.


 The Mission is of the opinion that, on the whole, despite incidents of
 violence and intimidation in the run up to the election, the result of
 the parliamentary elections held on 24 and 25 June 2000 broadly
 reflects the will of the Zimbabwean people.

                             APPENDIX A A.    NAMES OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AND STAFF ON THE DELEGATION

MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT (20)

ANC:Dr J Benjamin Mr M M Chikane Mr M M Z Dyani Mr E I Ebrahim Ms M C Lobe Mr S K Louw Ms N N Mapisa-Nqakula Mr N N Mpehle Mr A C Nel Mr T B Taabe (NCOP) Ms S C van der Merwe Mr T S Yengeni (Leader of the delegation)

DP: Mr S B Farrow Mr D K Maluleke Mr G B D McIntosh

IFP: Mr A M Mpontshane Mr M A Mzizi New NP:Mr E A Schoeman Mr A Z A van Jaarsveld

ACDP: Mrs C Dudley

MEMBERS OF STAFF Mr Brent Simons (Media Liaison Officer) Mr Jabu Mavimbela (Foreign Affairs - Security Officer) Miss Nobuntu Toto (PA to the Chief Whip of the Majority Party) Mr Mbuyisazwe Tshabalala (Editor-in-Chief: Language Services - Financial coordinator)

                             APPENDIX B



 3.3    CODE OF CONDUCT


 The code of conduct is a vital component of any observation mission.
 Different agencies, both international and national, prepare their own
 code of conduct. However there are universal components of a code of
 conduct that apply to all missions.


                      PARTICIPANT'S INFORMATION


 1.     Every accredited observer and person appointed by that observer
     must:


 1.1    Observe the election impartially and independently of any
     registered party or candidate contesting the election.


 1.2    Remain non-partisan and neutral.


 1.3    Be competent and professional in observing the election.


 1.4    Provide the Commission with a comprehensive review of the
     elections taking into account all relevant circumstances
     including:


        • the degree of impartiality shown by the Commission;


        • the degree of freedom of political parties to organise, move,
          assemble and express their views publicly;


        • the opportunity for political parties to national media and
          other resources of the state;


        • the fairness of access for political parties to national
          media and      other resources of the state;


        • the proper conduct of polling and counting of votes; and


        • any other issue that concerns the essential freedom and
          fairness of the election.


 1.5    Comply with all instructions given and every obligation imposed
     by:-


        • the Commission;


        • any electoral officer; or


        • any employee or officer of the Commission; or
        • a member of the security services acting on the instructions
          of an officer.


 2.     The accredited observers and any person appointed by that
     observer should:


 2.1    Avoid doing anything that would indicate or be seen as
     indicating partisan support for a candidate or registered party.


 2.2    Act in a strictly neutral and unbiased manner.


 2.3    Disclose to the Commission any relationship that could lead to
     conflict of interest regarding the performance of their duties as
     observers or with the process of observation or assessment of the
     election.


 2.4    Not accept any gifts or favour from a political party,
     organisation or person involved in the election process.


 2.5    Not participate in any function or activity that could lead to a
     perception of sympathy for a particular candidate or political
     party.


 2.6    Not express a view or opinion on any matter which is the subject
     of electoral campaigning.


 2.7    Not influence or attempt to influence the choice of a voter
     regarding any registered party or candidate in an election.


 2.8    Not wear, carry, or display any registered party's symbols or
     colours.


                             APPENDIX C

LIST OF CONTESTING PARTIES

PARTY REGISTERED CANDIDATES 1.ZANU (PF) 120

1. MDC 120
2. UP 59
3. ZAPU 21
4. ZUD 16
5. ZANU 12
6. LP 8
7. LPZ 14
8. ZIP 4
9. NDU 1
10. ZPP 1
11. ZCP 1
12. PDF 1
13. ANP 1
14. NPA 1

15. INDEPENDENTS 89 TOTAL 469

                             APPENDIX D
    
    
          B.ORGANISATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS MET BY THE DELEGATION
       (The team arrived in Harare on Wednesday, 07 June 2000)
    
    
          BRIEFINGS THAT TOOK PLACE IN HARARE
    
    
          08.06.2000
    
    
              1.   The South African High Commission
                   Mr Ndou (High Commissioner)
                   Mr Mditshwa (Deputy High Commissioner)
                   Mr Wynand van Wyk (Political Attaché)
                   Col.S Moerane (Military Attaché)
              2.   Zanu-PF
                   Mr D Mutasa MP (Minister of Political Affairs; Zanu-
                   PF Secretary for Administration; Zanu-PF Head of
                   Foreign Bureau)
                   Mr Simon Khaya Moyo MP (Minister of Mines, the
                   Environment and Tourism; Acting Minister of Transport
                   and Energy; Zanu-PF Deputy Secretary for
                   Administration)
                   Mr Tony Gara MP (Deputy Minister for Local
                   Government and Housing; Chairperson of Zanu-PF in
                   Harare)
                   Mr David Masira MP (Deputy Minister of Agriculture;
                   Zanu-PF Deputy Secretary for Administration in
                   Mashonaland East)
                   Mr Obed Mpofu MP (Deputy Minister of Industry and
                   Commerce)
                   Mr Sthembiso Nyoni MP (Minister of State in the
                   Office of the Deputy President)
                   Ms Irene Zimbi MP (Member of the Central Committee)
                   Dr Olivia Muchena MP (Deputy Minister for Land and
                   Agriculture; Commissar of the Women's League)
                   Ms Thembani (Member of the Central Committee)
                   Dr Stanley Sakukanyu (Member of the Central
                   Committee)
    
    
              3.   NATIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL ASSEMBLY (NCA)
                   Mr Maphosa
    
    
              4.   ZIMBABWE HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION
                   Mr Mnyaradi Biti
    
    
          09.06.2000
    
    
              5.   REGISTRAR GENERAL
                   Mr Tobaiwa Mudede
    
    
              6.   ELECTORAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION (ESC)
                   Mrs Raftopoulos
    
    
              7.   COMMERCIAL FARMERS'S UNION
                   Mr Tim Henwood (President)
                   Mr David Hasluck (Chief Executive Officer)
                   Mr Colin Cloete (Deputy President)
                   Mr Rich Amyot (Deputy President)
    
    
              8.   SADC - PARLIAMENTARY FORUM OBSERVER MISSION
                   Ms Nora Schimming-Chase (Namibia; Leader of the
                   delegation)
                   Dr Kasuka Mutukwa (Secretary General)
                   Dr Sipho Mzimela (South Africa)
                   Mr Albuguerque (Angola)
                   Mr Dlamini (Swaziland)
                   Mr Janguo (Tanzania)
                   Mr Chikwenga (Malawi)
    
    
              9.   AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (ARDA)
                   Dr Joseph Made
    
    
          12.06.2000
    
    
              10.  MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE (MDC)
                   Mr Paul Nyathi (Election Director)
                   Ms Priscilla Misihairabwi (MDC candidate)
                   Mr Richard Maasdorp (Assistant Election Director)
    
    
              11.  THE INDEPENDENT
                   Mr Trevor Ncube (Editor; second biggest shareholder)
    
    
              12.  THE FINANCIAL GAZETTE
                   Mr Francis Mdlongwa (Editor)
    
    
              13.  ZIMBABWE NATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
                   Mr Nhlanhla Masuku (President)
    
    
              14.  CONFEDERATION OF ZIMBABWE INDUSTRIES
                   Mrs Rose Peters (Deputy President)
    
    
          13.06.2000
    
    
              15.  DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
    
    
              16.  UNITED PARTIES
                   Bishop Abel Muzorewa
              17.  ZANU NDONGA PARTY
                   Mr Isaac Manyemba
    
    
              18.  LIBERTY PARTY
                   Mr C Z Moyo
    
    
              19.  WAR VETERANS ASSOCIATION OF ZIMBABWE
                   Dr Chenjerai Hundzvi (National Chairman)
                   Mr Andrew Ndlovu (General Secretary for Projects)
    
    
              20.  ZIMBABWE CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS
                   Mr Nicholas Mudzengerere
                   Four (4) members of the General Agricultural and
                   Plantation Workers Union
    
    
          14.06.2000
    
    
              21.  MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND POLICE
                   Mr Dumisa Dabengwa
    
    
          21.06.2000
              22.  Mr MIKE MATAURE (Ex Zanu-PF Member of Parliament)
    
    
              23.  CATHOLIC COMMISSION FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE (CCJP)
                   Bishop P Mutume (President)
                   Mr T Zimbithi (Director)
    
    
              24.  PROF. MAKUMBE (Political Analyst)
    
    
          22.06.2000
    
    
              25.  Dr IBBO MANDAZA (Political Analyst; Editor of The
                   Mirror)
    
    
          23.06.2000
    
    
              26.  ANGLICAN COMMISSION FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE
    
    
              27.  WOMEN'S COALITION FOR GENDER AND DOMESTIC
                   VIOLENCE
                   Ms Thoko Mahle
                   Mrs Nhumdi
                   Ms Renfa Rudenga
    
    
          BRIEFINGS THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE PROVINCES
    
    
          14.06.2000
    
    
              28.  COMMONWEALTH OBSERVERS IN MASVINGO
    
    
          15.06.2000
    
    
              29.  POLICE CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT MUTAURWA (Harare
                   District Commander)
    
    
              30.  POLICE INSPECTOR BONONGWE (Officer Commanding the
                   Marondera Urban Area)
    
    
              31.  PROVINCIAL REGISTRAR, Mr MUSHANGWE (Masvingo)
    
    
              32.  BLACK COMMERCIAL FARMER (Matebeleland)
    
    
          16.06.2000
    
    
              33.  CHIEF INSPECTOR MUSHAWEJALO (Murehwa District)
    
    
              34.  CHIEF INSPECTOR NCUBE (Chitungwiza)
    
    
              35.  SUPERINTENDENT MBEWE (Chitungwiza)
    
    
              36.  MR VICTOR CHITONGO (Zanu-PF candidate for Murehwa
                   North)
    
    
              37.  OWNER OF AN OCCUPIED FARM (Murehwa North)
    
    
              38.  MR O P O'CONNOR (Oribi Farm)
    
    
              39.  PROVINCIAL COMMISSIONER OF POLICE (Ross Camp,
                   Bulawayo)
    
    
              40.  ZIMBABWE CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS (Esat House,
                   Bulawayo)
    
    
              41.  ZAPU (Rainbow Hotel, Bulawayo)
    
    
              42.  ZANU-PF (Provincial Headquarters, Bulawayo)
    
    
              43.  MDC (Rainbow Hotel, Bulawayo)
    
    
              44.  COMMONWEALTH OBSERVERS ((Holiday Inn, Bulawayo)
    
    
          17.06.2000
    
    
              45.  WAR VETERANS ON AN OCCUPIED FARM (Murehwa North)
    
    
              46.  FARM WORKERS ON AN OCCUPIED FARM (Murehwa North)
    
    
              47.  COMMONWEALTH AND EU OBSERVERS IN GWERU (Midlands)
    
    
          23.06.2000
    
    
              48.  LOCAL CHIEF (Mberengwa East)
    
    
              49.  Mr MALVERN, COMMERCIAL FARM MANAGER (Mapanzwe)
    
    
              50.  Mrs MUCHEMENYI (Senior Assistant Commissioner of
                   Police in Mutare, Manicaland
    
    
              51.  BISHOP BAKARE (Anglican Dioceses of Manicaland)
    
    
              52.  INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS IN MANICALAND
                   European Union
                   Australian Parliament
                   US Embassy
                   SADC-PF
                   World Council of Churches
    
    
                             APPENDIX E
    
    
      RALLIES AND POLITICAL MEETINGS ATTENDED BY THE DELEGATION
    
    
          15.06.2000
    
    
              1.   Zanu-PF Rally at St Annes (Wedza District)
              2.   MDC Rally at Marondera
              3.   Meeting of all Zanu-PF candidates in Masvingo
              4.   MDC Rally in Bulawayo City Hall
    
    
          16.06.2000
    
    
              5.   Zanu-PF Rally at Murehwa North
              6.   Zanu-PF Rally at Chivu South (Masvingo)
              7.   Two Zanu-PF Rallies at Gokwe Central (Midlands)
              8.         MDC Rally at Esigodini (Matebeleland)
    
    
          17.06.2000
    
    
              9.   MDC Rally at Zengeza
              10.  MDC Rally at Mahusekwa (Marondera West)
              11.  Zanu-PF Rally in Harare
              12.  MDC Rally at Mkoba (Midlands)
              13.  MDC Rally (Esigodini, Matebeleland)
              14.  Zanu-PF Star Rally (White City Stadium, Bulawayo)
    
    
          18.06.2000
    
    
              15.  Zanu-PF Rally at Beatrice (Marondera West)
              16.  MDC Rally in Harare
              17.  Training Session for electoral officers at Midlands
                   State University
    
    
          22.06.2000
    
    
              18.  Zanu-PF Rally in Masvingo Stadium
              19.  MDC Rally (Manicaland)
    
    
          23.06.2000
    
    
              20.  Zanu-PF Rally in Makone North (Manicaland)
    
    
                             APPENDIX F
    
    
              ELECTION RESULTS  PARTY  SEATS WON  1.     ZANU (PF)  62  2.     MDC  57  3.     UP  0  4.     ZAPU  0  5.     ZUD  0  6.     ZANU  1  7.     LP  0  8.     LPZ  0  9.     ZIP  0  10.    NDU  0  11.    ZPP  0  12.    ZCP  0  13.    PDF  0  14.    ANP  0  15.    NPA  0  16.    INDEPENDENTS  0  TOTAL  120
    

National Council of Provinces:

1. The Chairperson:

 1.     Message from National Assembly to National Council of Provinces:


     Bills passed by National Assembly on 12 September 2000 and
     transmitted for concurrence:


     (a)     Adult Basic Education and Training Bill [B 42B - 2000]
          (National Assembly - sec 76)  - (Select Committee on Education
          and Recreation - National Council of Provinces).


     (b)     Education Laws Amendment Bill [B 48B - 2000] (National
          Assembly - sec 76) - (Select Committee on Education and
          Recreation - National Council of Provinces).


     Bill passed by National Assembly on 13 September 2000 and
     transmitted for concurrence:


     (c)     Competition Second Amendment Bill [B 41B - 2000] (National
          Assembly - sec 75) - (Select Committee on Economic Affairs -
          National Council of Provinces).




 2.     The following papers have been tabled and are now referred to
     the relevant committees as mentioned below:


     (1)     The following papers are referred to the Select Committee
          on Local Government and Administration:


          (a) Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South
              Africa and the Government of the Federal Republic of
              Germany concerning the project "Provincial Administration
              Support Programme in the Eastern Cape", tabled in terms
              of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.


          (b) Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South
              Africa and the Government of the Federal Republic of
              Germany concerning the project "Decentralised Development
              Planning", tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the
              Constitution, 1996.


     (2)     The following paper is referred to the Select Committee on
          Finance:


          Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South
          Africa and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany
          concerning the project "Economic and Development Policy
          Advisory Programme", tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the
          Constitution, 1996.


     (3)     The following papers are referred to the Select Committee
          on Security and Constitutional Affairs for consideration and
          report:


          (a) Statutes of the United Nations African Institute for the
              Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders,
              tabled in terms of section 231(2) of the Constitution,
              1996.


          (b) Explanatory Memorandum to the Statutes of the United
              Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and
              the Treatment of Offenders.


     (4)     The following papers are referred to the Select Committee
          on Labour and Public Enterprises:


          (a) Policy Framework for an Accelerated Agenda Towards the
              Restructuring of State Owned Enterprises.


          (b) A Summary of the Policy Framework for an Accelerated
              Agenda for the Restructuring of State Owned Enterprises.


     (5)     The following papers are referred to the Select Committee
          on Social Services:


          (a) Government Notice No R.567 published in the Government
              Gazette No 21245 dated 9 June 2000, List of approved
              facilities for the purpose of performing community
              service in 2001 by medical practitioners, made in terms
              of the Health Professions Act, 1974.


          (b) Government Notice No 2234 published in the Government
              Gazette No 21292 dated 21 June 2000, the Chiropractors,
              Homeopaths and Allied Health Service Professions
              Amendment Bill, 2000 published for comment.


          (c) Government Notice No 644 published in the Government
              Gazette No 21313 dated 30 June 2000, Authorisation in
              terms of section 24 of the Human Tissue Act, 1983.


          (d) Government Notice No R.570 published in the Government
              Gazette No 21256 dated 5 June 2000, Regulations made in
              terms of the Medical Schemes Act, 1998.


          (e) Government Notice No R.569 published in the Government
              Gazette No 21255 dated 5 June 2000, Regulations made in
              terms of the Medical Schemes Act, 1998.


          (f) Government Notice No R.638 published in the Government
              Gazette No 21317 dated 22 June 2000, Regulations made in
              terms of the Medical Schemes Act, 1998.


          (g) Report and Financial Statements of the Medical Research
              Council for 1998-99, including the Report of the Auditor-
              General on the Financial Statements for 1998-99.
     (6)     The following paper is referred to the Select Committee on
          Security and Constitutional Affairs:


          Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South
          Africa and the Government of the People's Republic of China in
          respect of Police Co-operation, tabled in terms of section
          231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.


     (7)     The following papers are referred to the Select Committee
          on Economic Affairs:


          (a) Report and Financial Statements of the National Lotteries
              Board for 1998-99, including the Report of the Auditor-
              General on the Financial Statements for 1998-99.


          (b) General Agreement of Co-operation between the Government
              of the Republic of South Africa and the Government of the
              United Mexican States, tabled in terms of section 231(3)
              of the Constitution, 1996.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

National Council of Provinces:

1. Report of the Select Committee on Economic Affairs on the UNECE 1958 Agreement on Wheeled Vehicles, dated 13 September 2000:

   The Select Committee on Ecomomic Affairs, having considered the request for approval by Parliament of the Agreement of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe concerning the adoption of uniform technical prescriptions for wheeled vehicles, equipment and parts which can be fitted and/or be used on wheeled vehicles and the conditions for reciprocal recognition of approvals granted on the basis of these prescriptions, referred to it, recommends that the Council, in terms of section 231(2) of the Constitution, approve the said Agreement.

 Report to be considered.

1. Report of the Select Committee on Economic Affairs on the UNECE Global Agreement on Wheeled Vehicles, dated 13 September 2000:

   The Select Committee on Economic Affairs, having considered the request for approval by Parliament of the Agreement of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe concerning the establishment of Global Technical Regulations for wheeled vehicles, equipment and parts which can be fitted and/or be used on wheeled vehicles, referred to it, recommends that the Council, in terms of section 231(2) of the Constitution, approve the said Agreement.

 Report to be considered.

                     THURSDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2000

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson: (1) The Minister of Sport and Recreation on 4 September 2000 submitted a draft of the South African Sports Commission Amendment Bill, 2000, as well as the memorandum explaining the objects of the proposed legislation, to the Speaker and the Chairperson in terms of Joint Rule 159. The draft has been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Sport and Recreation and the Select Committee on Education and Recreation, respectively, by the Speaker and the Chairperson in accordance with Joint Rule 159(2).

National Council of Provinces:

1. The Chairperson:

 Message from National Assembly to National Council of Provinces:


 Bills passed by National Assembly on 14 September 2000 and transmitted
 for concurrence:


 (a)    Finance Bill [B 40 - 2000] (National Assembly - sec 75) -
     (Select Committee on Finance - National Council of Provinces).


 (b)    Banks Amendment Bill [B 56B - 2000] (National Assembly - sec 75)
     - (Select Committee on Finance - National Council of Provinces).

TABLINGS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

Papers:

1. The Minister of Finance:

 (1)    Second Adjustments Estimate of Expenditure to be defrayed from
     the National Revenue Fund during the Financial Year ending 31
     March 2000 [RP 5-2000].


 (2)    Explanatory Memorandum to the Adjustments Estimate for 1999-
     2000.

1. The Minister of Transport: Report and Financial Statements of the Road Accident Fund for 1998-99, including the Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements for 1998-99.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

National Council of Provinces:

1. Report of the Select Committee on Economic Affairs on SMME sector, dated 13 September 2000:

 The Select Committee on Economic Affairs, having held public hearings
 on the promotion of the SMME (small, medium and micro enterprise)
 sector and the role of banks, reports as follows:


 The Committee and the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry of the
 National Assembly held the public hearings on 14 and 21 June 2000. The
 immediate background to the hearings was a workshop on SMME promotion,
 organised by the NCOP, where it was reiterated that access to finance
 was a critical issue and new initiatives were called for in relation to
 banks.
 The objective of the hearings was to examine the extent of the
 involvement of banks in SMME finance and problems encountered in this
 regard, as well as proposals to increase access to finance by SMMEs.
 The hearings attracted a good deal of public attention. Many
 individuals wrote to the Committee with specific complaints, and many
 significant stakeholders gave oral evidence. The hearings were intended
 to contribute to a positive way forward and to highlight the work still
 to be done.


 A.     Banking Council and Associated Banks (Absa, Nedcor, Standard
     Bank)


     The Council began by highlighting a number of steps they had taken
     since the Portfolio Committee's 1999 hearings on bank charges and
     micro-finance. These included the introduction of a new Code of
     Banking Conduct, appointment of an Adjudicator independent of the
     Council, the establishment of a community-based financial
     institution, Sizanani, and the recent discussions with Khula
     around the provision of venture capital.


     The Council pointed to a structural tension between their
     involvement in economic transformation and the maintenance of a
     "sound financial sector". It acknowledges that there is a need for
     economic restructuring, including the drawing of historically
     disadvantaged people into the formal economy, income
     redistribution and addressing problems created by low levels of
     capital accumulation and entrepreneurial skills.


     This needed to be balanced against the need to maintain a sound
     financial sector in line with international best practice.
     According to the Council, the unfolding international environment
     is creating new competitive pressures, thereby placing certain
     constraints on the banking industry in South Africa. These include
     pressures to eliminate cross-subsidisation and to scale down less
     profitable activities.


     The Council presented a profile of the SMME sector in relation to
     the cost and size of loans. It argued that the unit costs of
     making loans to micro-enterprises were too high for banks, which
     could also not provide the support needed for entrepreneurs with
     limited managerial skills. They said banks could only become
     involved in financing very small businesses through specialised
     institutions such as Sizanani. The banks are, however, currently
     very much involved in servicing the small and medium enterprise
     sector and could expect to continue to be involved in this segment
     of the market.


     Absa, Nedcor and Standard Bank provided a profile of their
     individual institutions, mission statements, total loan book and
     some indication of their involvement in the SME sector. It was
     apparent that the three institutions were using different
     criteria, and from the information presented it was difficult, if
     not impossible, to determine what percentage of the loan book was
     going to black entrepreneurs. Indeed, some of the banks themselves
     acknowledged that they had no real basis for measuring which of
     their clients were previously disadvantaged individuals.


     The Council proposed the establishment of community-based
     financial institutions to service the micro and very small
     sectors, which it said the banks could not finance. The Council
     also proposed the strengthening of the NGO and retail finance
     intermediary sectors that are currently involved in this function.
     The Council also proposed the strengthening of the Sizanani
     project. No clear answers were provided to repeated questions
     about banks' engagement in "red-lining" practices.


 B.     Business Association, Investment Group, Financial Consultancy


     1. South Cape Investment Network


          The presenter referred to the constraints imposed upon smaller
          enterprises by banks. The Network proposed that black-owned
          and -controlled small businesses face more challenges than
          those owned by their white counterparts. A case study was
          presented of a bank manager who refused to open a cheque
          account for an empowerment group.
          It was reported that black entrepreneurs continue to face
          hostility from white bank managers, who are unsympathetic to
          the experience and plight of black-owned small enterprises.
          The Network, in collaboration with other stakeholders in the
          Southern Cape, has taken up the issue of racism in the
          financial sector to the Human Rights Commission. Some of the
          issues raised included staff and management attitudes, red-
          lining and a general disregard for the South African context.


     2. Western Cape Black Business and Professionals Alliance


          The Alliance comprises several institutions operating
          throughout the country, and consists of accountants, building
          contractors, lawyers and the Black Management Forum. According
          to them, a key challenge is the changing of an existing
          mindset in the banking industry that sees black business as
          representing a high risk. Banks are doing very little to
          provide start-up capital, guarantees and bridging finance for
          small black business.


          The Alliance focused its submission on the construction
          industry. Three areas were addressed: Provision of bank
          guarantees, access to bridging finance and bank credit ratings
          of construction companies. Black contractors are currently
          receiving construction tenders through government procurement
          processes, but are unable to source funds from the relevant
          financial institutions. The Alliance reported that their
          members are then forced to either forfeit the contract or
          enter into a joint venture with a white company. According to
          the Alliance, this trend does not contribute to economic
          empowerment.


          Similarly, access to bridging finance, credit ratings and
          financing of commercial property in black areas are barriers
          to emerging small entrepreneurs. A construction tender
          requires bridging finance and a credit rating from a financial
          institution. Banks have given several negative ratings to
          members of the Alliance. They said that these problems are not
          confined to micro and very small enterprises. They said that
          small and medium established black-owned businesses (not just
          start-ups) were encountering such problems.


     3. EYETHU Butchery


          The presenter, the owner of several properties and businesses
          employing more than 40 people, is an established entrepreneur
          with a proven track record. She has been a customer of
          Standard Bank for the past 19 years. She characterises her
          relationship with the bank as a "hands off" relationship that
          has not contributed to her success or business growth. It was
          reported that the local bank manager does not have a "passion"
          or commitment to the development of SMMEs.


          Bureaucratic requirements, imposed by the bank, have slowed
          down the growth of her business. Several of her (white)
          competitors have developed more co-operative relationships
          with the bank manager and are receiving preferential terms
          from the bank. Access to working capital is often restricted
          due to stringent collateral requirements. It was reported that
          when collateral is provided, banks are still hesitant to
          provide access to finance. This impacts negatively on the cash-
          flow and stock levels of the business, which in turn
          influences the growth of the business.


     4. Citizens Finance, Financial and Business Consulting


          The presenter highlighted the important role of banks in
          contributing towards the economic growth of the South African
          economy. Previous government policies were not supportive of
          SMME development, especially black-owned SMMEs. It is
          estimated that black entrepreneurs received less than 2% of
          the total bank credit under the previous government. It was
          argued that the policy of banks has not changed in respect of
          SMME finance.
          Banks look more favourably to financing empowerment deals that
          involve mergers and acquisitions. Banks view SMMEs as a high
          risk, but poor performance of SMMEs is due to underdeveloped
          entrepreneurial skill, which in turn requires access to
          finance. There is no history of an understanding between banks
          and black communities. The government has begun addressing
          several of these challenges through the SMME strategy. The
          effectiveness of the strategy needs to be evaluated.


          Banks, in turn, have also introduced several measures,
          including the Community Bank, that was recently closed down.
          Banks have also established the SMME desks and the Sizanani
          project. It was suggested that the government had
          overestimated the role of banks in advancing the SMME sector.
          In general, government policies have been correct, but the
          implementation has been more difficult than envisaged. As part
          of a way forward, the presenter proposed that SMME policies be
          targeted and focused. The existing economic structure needs to
          be changed. This is a long-term objective.


          Banks must find new and creative ways of providing access to
          finance. The SMME sector must be made less risky. More
          training must be provided. The government must increase
          funding to SMME programmes and actively support business
          associations. It was suggested that consultation between banks
          and the government needs to be strengthened to provide
          targeted financial services. The presenter concluded by
          proposing an improved communication between banks and the
          government so as to establish a dynamic relationship.


     5. Diakonia Council of Churches (DCC)


          The objective of the DCC is to contribute to peace,
          development and a better quality of life for the people of the
          greater Durban. Individual congregations have expressed
          concern over the increasing unemployment and poverty in the
          region. The DCC is a result of a response to the local
          situation. A project of the DCC includes life skills and
          technical and small business training. In the past four years,
          over 1 500 people have been trained in a range of skills such
          as sewing, electrical installation, carpentry, construction
          and motor mechanics. The presenter highlighted that the idea
          of skills training is to generate "job creators" rather than
          job seekers.


          Several case studies were provided, which emphasised the
          importance of access to finance in creating a culture of
          entrepreneurship, facilitating employment and providing income
          to large numbers of vulnerable people. Several barriers to
          micro enterprise development were identified: Banks exclude
          micro entrepreneurs on the basis that a minimum amount must be
          maintained in a bank account; banks open accounts for people
          with permanent jobs only; and banks levy excessive
          administrative costs and conditions. The micro and very small
          enterprise sector is an important income generator for a vast
          number of people.
          The DCC proposed a change in the banking "mindset" on risk and
          economic growth. It also proposed the removal of collateral
          requirements for certain loans in the micro and very small
          enterprise sector, no minimum amount for loans, that interest
          be charged at market rates and that loans not be linked to
          savings. The DCC also called for improved sensitivity of bank
          staff in local branches.


     6. National African Federation Chamber of Commerce (Nafcoc)


          The submission focused on the failure to accord organisations
          like Nafcoc a more prominent role in the SMME programme, the
          demographic make-up of staff in the Department of Trade and
          Industry responsible for the SMME programme, and the slow pace
          of land reform, as constraints faced by black entrepreneurs.
          Nothing specific was said about banks and access to finance by
          SMMEs.


 C.     SA Reserve Bank: Bank Supervision Department (BSD)
     The presentation highlighted the importance of banking and the
     significance of a sound, credible financial environment for
     economic growth. The Banks Act of 1990 provided for "prudential
     regulation and risk management" of financial institutions. This
     Act, reflecting a number of concerns of the time, focused on the
     regulation of deposit-taking institutions and prohibited non-
     registered entities from accepting deposits. The BSD's main
     function is to protect depositors and maintain sound credit
     standards. The presenter stressed the importance of a sound
     credible financial system, and called for circumspection when
     addressing structural challenges.


     It was reported that over the years a number of initiatives had
     been taken to address constraints experienced by "unbanked
     people". These included the passage of the Mutual Banks Act, the
     promotion of community banking, stokvels, savings co-operatives,
     village financial service co-operatives, the launch of the
     Mortgage Indemnity Scheme and consultations with stakeholders
     about alternative strategies to informal financing and micro-
     lending.


     There have also been moves to establish an effective regulatory
     environment for the micro-lending industry through the Micro-
     Finance Regulatory Council. It is possible that this Council will
     facilitate the accepting of deposits by micro-finance
     institutions. It was reported that FinaSol and the Financial
     Services Association have been appointed as regulatory bodies for
     the village financial service co-operatives. All of these
     initiatives have more or less operated on the basis of exemption
     from the Banks Act.


     The presenters expressed the view that what was needed in the
     medium to long term was to facilitate the emergence of new
     institutions that might be more effective than banks in financing
     SMMEs. They argued strongly that the government should not force
     banks to lend to SMMEs, the so-called stick method. They felt that
     greater success might be achieved by increasing competition in the
     market. This might be achieved by encouraging the emergence of a
     securities market as an instrument for accessing finance. Various
     co-operative ventures could also be encouraged. The success of
     this strategy will largely depend on the availability of financial
     information.


     It was reported that the Reserve Bank, due to improper practices
     encountered by various institutions in the past, had expanded the
     definition of a deposit-taker. This placed certain restrictions on
     the emergence of what may be more appropriate financial
     institutions. What was required, was a streamlining and refocusing
     of legislation, including the Banks Act, the Companies Act, the
     draft Collective Investments Schemes Bill and the draft
     Investments Services Bill, to overcome current legislative
     restrictions that make it impossible to access the securities
     market for SMME finance. Redefining deposit-takers in conjunction
     with the fine-tuning of the above legislation was called for as
     part of a strategy to promote competition between financial
     instruments. The presenters also supported greater compulsory
     disclosure by financial institutions of their involvement in
     community-based activities, including provision of finance to
     SMMEs.


 D.     Government


     1. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Chief Directorate:
          Business Regulation and Consumer Services, and Khula
          Enterprise Finance


          The DTI highlighted the importance of the SMME sector as a
          means of poverty alleviation, a vehicle for black economic
          empowerment, in increasing competition and promoting job
          creation. The many barriers to SMME development were re-
          emphasised.


          The National Enterprise Survey, commissioned by The Presidency
          with the support of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, had
          reported that black-owned firms found it more difficult to
          access finance than their white counterparts. The same survey
          found that while access to finance was not a major problem for
          South African companies in general, it was for black-owned
          SMMEs. These problems were particularly acute for recently
          established enterprises, i.e. those that are three years and
          younger.


          The survey highlighted the following problems experienced by
          SMMEs in accessing finance: A lack of collateral and equity
          finance, effectiveness of affirmative procurement, perception
          of risk, failure rate of start-ups, management support
          systems, high costs of operating SMMEs, and the adequacy of
          credit guarantees. The survey also found that there were
          relationship problems between bank managers and black
          entrepreneurs, regulatory inconsistencies, problems with high
          interest rates, the Usury Act, the Credit Agreement Act, a
          lack of second-tier institutions and tax incentives.


          Structural and institutional challenges require sustainable
          interventions at several levels. As with other stakeholders,
          banks have a crucial role to play in the formation of capital
          in the economy. The DTI recognised the global constraints
          experienced by banks in South Africa, and argued for an
          approach which balanced the need for sound banking practice
          against the imperative to extend services to people excluded
          from financial services. The growth of the micro-lending
          sector had exposed the slow responsiveness of South African
          banks in entering profitable markets.


          The government will continue to encourage banks to improve
          access to finance for disadvantaged communities and also to
          promote alternative financial institutions. It was noted that
          it was becoming increasingly difficult to measure the extent
          of credit extension to SMMEs due to definitional
          inconsistencies, but studies have agreed that overall bank
          credit extension was low. Another key challenge facing the
          government was to work to improve banking practices in
          relation to black entrepreneurs. It was noted that SMMEs
          complained of continued discrimination and blacklisting.


          The presenter highlighted that banks were crucial to any SMME
          strategy as a result of their outreach, capital base, product
          and expertise. Lack of competition in the banking sector
          remained a fundamental problem. The DTI supported the
          promotion of the micro-lending and credit union sectors as
          alternative instruments, as well as the easing of regulations
          to allow smaller banks to establish themselves. It was
          reported that the DTI, in consultation with other departments,
          was looking into the implementation of a disclosure
          requirement mechanism. The presenter cautioned against simply
          importing a US-based Community Reinvestment Act, given the
          different structural model of US banking. There was, however,
          support for compulsory disclosure of the type contained within
          this type of legislation as a step towards financial reform.
          The low level of bank utilisation of the Khula Guarantee
          Scheme was also highlighted as a concern, and the DTI is at
          present monitoring the unfolding scenario in this regard. The
          participation of a range of stakeholders in developing a
          strategy to address the many challenges facing the SMME sector
          in accessing finance was supported.


 E.     Conclusion and recommendations


     Improving access to finance for black-owned SMMEs is agreed by
     virtually everyone to be a major priority of economic policy.


     The hearings identified a number of "structural" and
     "relationship" challenges that will have to be addressed in making
     this priority policy objective a reality.


     Structural issues include transforming the present financial
     architecture to make it more appropriate to current priorities.
     This was argued particularly in the submission of the SARB. A
     number of scams in the 1980s led to the introduction of strict
     controls over deposit-taking institutions, which, while still
     warranted in many respects, tended to limit the emergence of other
     financial institutions. Alternative institutions today are still
     largely operating on the basis of exemptions from the Banks Act or
     Usury Act, rather than according to their own purpose-built
     regulatory framework. The Committee agrees with the SARB that
     there is an urgent need for a systematic and inclusive review of
     the broad legislative and regulatory framework of financial
     institutions with a view to devising strategies to encourage the
     emergence of a range of institutions that might serve this segment
     of the market.


     At this time, the Committee is of the view that the banks need to
     play a more active role than they have to date. The banks
     themselves agreed that provision of finance to small and medium
     businesses was very much an activity they needed to engage in, and
     that by co-operating in specialist divisions like Sizanani, they
     could serve the "very small" sector as well. The only real debate,
     even according to the banks themselves, was over whether, and how,
     they could be involved in serving the micro sector.


     The Banking Council suggested that the costs of finance, as well
     as being linked to the size of an enterprise, was also a function
     of the degree of access to collateral and the level of managerial
     skill. The Committee proposes the exploration of creative
     partnerships to address such constraints, to deal with the
     perception of risk and co-operate in the promotion of alternative
     financial institutions. Organisations like the Industrial
     Development Corporation are already playing a crucial role in the
     provision of finance, and need to be more actively drawn into the
     strategy.


     Mentoring is generally agreed to be a major challenge, both to
     transfer skills and as a mechanism for reducing risk. Focused and
     targeted training linked to loan applications is clearly required.
     Ntsika Enterprise Promotion Agency has already launched several
     mentoring programmes. Banks need to be engaged, both on ways they
     can contribute to improving the efficiency of such programmes and
     on how they can be validated in the process of loan applications.


     The system of payment of government contracts also needs review,
     particularly as it impacts on SMMEs. The Committee is aware that
     the Public Finance Management Act should lead to ending the
     practice of long delays in payment for work completed. However,
     the question of finance for the period between the award of a
     tender and completion of a contract needs attention. Black
     business people complain that banks are currently not providing
     bridging finance for SMMEs that have been awarded tenders. Being
     awarded a tender, coupled with a proven ability to perform,
     should, in the Committee's view, be regarded as a form of
     collateral by banks. Relevant procurement authorities and banks
     should explore this issue.


     In addition to structural issues, there are clearly also a number
     of relationship problems. There are too many black-owned small
     businesses who complain that attitudes to banks are less than
     positive and who feel that relationships are "at arms length", for
     this dimension to be ignored. Entrepreneurs complain of an
     alienating and unsympathetic environment, and there is a clear
     perception that black businesses are viewed less favourably than
     white.


     The Committee draws attention to the fact that banks could face
     litigation under equality law if they engage in discriminatory
     practices, including "red-lining", which many say continue to be
     prevalent. Equality law also obliges banks and other institutions
     to establish proactive measures to combat the effects of
     discrimination, particularly in relation to race, gender and
     disability. The Banking Council, in its submission, also drew
     attention to equality law and, in fact, invited aggrieved parties
     to use this remedy to deal with any discriminatory bank practices.
     Beyond this, the Committees believes that banks need to urgently
     review what the SARB called the "politeness factor", and develop a
     more positive attitude towards SMMEs. Steps need to be taken to
     ensure that decisions taken by top management in this regard are
     translated into meaningful change at the level of local managers
     and officials.


     Furthermore, in the Committee's view, there is an urgent need for
     a uniform system of disclosure that will allow the performance of
     particular institutions in providing SMME finance and other
     national priority activities to be measured and compared to the
     performance of other institutions. The Committee is of the view
     that this will require legislative and regulatory intervention.
     There was, in fact, virtual unanimity amongst presenters that
     uniform disclosure requirements allowing for such measurement were
     necessary. While the US Community Reinvestment Act was developed
     in a specific context, different in significant respects from our
     own, a broader discussion of the type of legislation that is
     appropriate to specific South African conditions needs to be
     encouraged.


     The Committee noted that only one national black business
     organisation representing SMME interests participated in the
     hearings. Members of the Committee expressed disappointment that
     the Nafcoc presentation offered little insight on the issues under
     review, which the National Enterprise Survey identified as major
     constraints. Black business needs an organised leadership to
     champion their cause and lobby and negotiate in a more favourable
     climate. The Committee hopes that organised business in general,
     and black organised business in particular, will in future be more
     proactive in presenting proposals to deal with the many
     constraints that black small entrepreneurs face.


     The Committee would like to thank all those who participated in
     the hearings and endorsed the continued engagement between the
     government, organised business, black business and banks.


 Report to be considered.