National Assembly - 30 October 2002
WEDNESDAY, 30 OCTOBER 2002 __
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
____
The House met at 14:38.
The Deputy Chairperson of Committees took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or meditation.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS - see col 000.
QUESTIONS AND REPLIES - see that book.
NOTICES OF MOTION
Mr S D MONTSITSI: Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the House - (1) notes -
(a) the reported incidents of bombings in Soweto on Tuesday night of
26 October 2002, leading to the death of one person; and
(b) that these bombs were planted in various places, including a
mosque, and went off almost at the same time;
(2) believes that -
(a) the precision of this operation suggests that the lunatics who
carried out this mission have a military background; and
(b) this operation is meant to create fear and insecurity amongst
our people, but will never succeed;
(3) expresses its utter disgust and strong condemnation of those involved in this cowardly act; and (4) calls on the security forces and the people of South Africa to work tirelessly to ensure that these criminals are put behind bars.
[Applause.]
Mr A J BOTHA: Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:
That the House -
(1) notes that an ANC MP claimed last night that the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs is inadequately informed regarding the crisis in Zimbabwe; and
(2) resolves to -
(a) send an urgent fact-finding mission to Zimbabwe to investigate
the situation there;
(b) include in the mission representatives from the portfolio
committees dealing with agriculture, environment, trade and
industry and foreign affairs;
(c) insist on free access to civil society in Zimbabwe; and
(d) request the mission to report back to Parliament as soon as
possible.
Mr E T FERREIRA: Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the IFP:
That the House -
(1) notes that nine explosions occurred in the early hours of 30 October 2002 in Soweto, Gauteng;
(2) further notes that the explosions led to the death of at least one person and caused extensive damage to railway lines, railway stations and other property;
(3) condemns the cowardly attacks in the strongest possible terms; and
(4) urges the SA Police Service and other authorities involved to investigate vigorously the explosions, and to apprehend the perpetrators as soon as possible.
[Applause.]
Ms T R MODISE: Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the House -
(1) notes -
(a) the Democratic Republic of Congo peace talks reached a
breakthrough when major parties and the government agreed on the
establishment of an interim government where all parties will be
represented; and
(b) President Thabo Mbeki presided over these historic talks which
took place in Pretoria from 26 to 30 October 2002;
(2) believes that this breakthrough is a victory for peace and stability, economic recovery and development for the people of Congo and the African continent as a whole;
(3) commends all political leaders in the Democratic Republic of Congo for working towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict in their country; and
(4) congratulates President Thabo Mbeki and the Government of South Africa for working tirelessly for the peaceful resolution of all political, cultural and ethnic conflicts in the DRC.
[Applause.]
Mnr J SCHIPPERS: Mnr Voorsitter, hiermee stel ek namens die Nuwe NP voor:
Dat die Huis -
(1) met skok kennis neem van die bomontploffings in Soweto en dit sterk veroordeel;
(2) dit beklemtoon dat Suid-Afrika ‘n grondwetlike demokratiese bestel het en sulke sinnelose terreurdade daarom nie geregverdig kan word nie;
(3) die Regering se vinnige optrede verwelkom, asook die ministeriële afvaardiging wat reeds die gebied besoek het, want dit stuur ‘n duidelike boodskap uit dat terrorisme in Suid-Afrika nie geduld sal word nie; en
(4) glo dat die hoë prioriteit wat aan die saak verleen word tot gevolg sal hê dat die SAPD in samewerking met die publiek en ander rolspelers die skuldiges spoedig aan die pen sal laat ry. (Translation of Afrikaans notice of motion follows.)
[Mr J SCHIPPERS: Mr Chairperson, I hereby give notice that I shall move on behalf of the New NP:
That the House -
(1) notes with horror the bomb blasts in Soweto and strongly condemns them;
(2) emphasises the fact that South Africa has a constitutional democratic order and that such senseless acts of terror can therefore not be justified;
(3) welcomes the Government’s rapid response, as well as the ministerial delegation that has already visited the area, because this sends out a clear message that terrorism in South Africa will not be tolerated; and
(4) believes that the high priority given to the case will result in the speedy apprehension of the guilty parties by the SAPF, in conjunction with the public and other role-players.]
Mr T ABRAHAMS: Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the UDM:
That the House -
(1) notes that despite certain strong points, the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement released by Minister Manuel yesterday portrays the continued weakness of the Government on the following two fundamental realities of contemporary South Africa -
(a) firstly, it acknowledges that the Government continues to avoid
the implementation of a food-stamp system that, unlike current
measures, will be able to target specific vulnerable groups; and
(b) secondly, it recognises that the Government must do more with
regard to infrastructural development programmes that can create
jobs on a large scale, since infrastructure is the backbone of
all social and economic development;
(2) condemns the Government’s continued resistance to proper infrastructural development, as illustrated by the R24 billion backlog in maintenance on national and provincial roads; and
(3) calls upon the Government to recognise the fallacy of current policies and to adopt innovative new measures to successfully address the challenge of poverty, hunger and unemployment.
Ms E GANDHI: Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the House -
(1) notes -
(a) with concern the spate of gruesome crime incidents in Durban in
the past few months causing consternation in the community; and
(b) the execution-style shooting of three young girls and the
stabbing to death of a child in Reservoir Hills, Durban;
(2) commends the police for -
(a) arresting within 24 hours the three men accused of murdering the
three young girls; and
(b) arresting a young boy of 16 accused of murdering the child in
Reservoir Hills; and
(3) urges the SAPS to continue the sterling work they are doing to make our country a safe place.
[Applause.]
Mr L M GREEN: Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ACDP:
That the House -
(1) notes with concern that -
(a) the Road Accident Fund's end-of-year deficit on 31 March 2002
has increased to R16,6 billion;
(b) the deficit has doubled since 1997 due to endemic fraud and
corruption; and
(c) the Road Accident Fund is technically insolvent;
(2) believes that the Satchwell Commission of Inquiry will expose the extent of the corruption and fraud when it reports on its findings next month; and
(3) cautions the Government not to increase the petrol levy as a short- term measure to save a sinking ship, but rather to wait for the findings and recommendations of the Satchwell Commission and act accordingly.
Miss S RAJBALLY: Chairperson, I hereby give notice that I shall move on the next sitting day of the House on behalf of the MF:
That the House -
(1) notes that the Indian community all over South Africa and the world will be celebrating Deepavali on Monday, 4 November 2002; (2) wishes all those celebrating this auspicious occasion a very happy Deepavali; and
(3) further wishes that -
(a) all troubles be forgotten and that the essence of Deepavali
instill happiness, love, prosperity, success and togetherness in
our lives in the forthcoming year; and
(b) each lamp lit will be a symbol of such happiness and bring
brightness to the homes and lives of all people, including those
who will not be celebrating Deepavali.
[Applause.]
Ms B P SONJICA: Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the House - (1) notes -
(a) that a long-time supporter and member of the ANC, Nomakula
``Mampinga'' Elizabeth Goniwe, passed on at the age of 115 on 25
October 2002 in Cradock;
(b) that Nomakula Goniwe lost two sons, Comrade Jacques ``Jamani''
Goniwe, a gallant fighter who fell in the Wankiel Sipolilo
Campaign in 1969, and Comrade Matthew ``Matewu'' Goniwe, who was
brutally murdered by security forces at the height of the
people's struggle to end apartheid rule;
(c) that despite these painful experiences, Mampinga remained a
steadfast and an unwavering member of the ANC throughout her
life; and
(d) that the ANC salutes this patriot and member of the African
National Congress; and (2) expresses its sincerest condolences to the Goniwe family.
Lala ngoxolo MaMpinga. Uyabulela uMzantsi Afrika! [Rest in peace, MaMpinga. South Africa is grateful to you!]
[Applause.]
Mr R S NTULI: Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:
That the House -
(1) notes with appreciation the outcome of the elections for the SRC at the Vaal Technikon where the DA succeeded in winning 14 out of the 16 positions, defeating Sasco and the ANC in the process;
(2) congratulates the students of the Vaal Technikon on their good judgment;
(3) notes that the IEC, which conducted the election on behalf of the technikon, certified that the election was free and fair, but that, despite this, the losers are unwilling to accept defeat; and
(4) calls on the ANC to insist that their youth wing obeys the letter and the spirit of South Africa’s democratic order and abides by the will of the voters.
[Applause.]
Mrs L R MBUYAZI: Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the IFP:
That the House -
(1) notes that a partial solar eclipse will occur over South Africa on 4 December 2002;
(2) further notes that a total solar eclipse will occur over the north- eastern parts of Limpopo province on the same day;
(3) congratulates the Minister and Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology on launching an awareness campaign that will provide the public with essential safety precautions that must be followed to avoid damage to the eyes from viewing the eclipse; and
(4) urges all South Africans to follow the strictest safety measures when viewing the eclipse on 4 December.
Mr S B NTULI: Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the House -
(1) notes -
(a) that Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality relocated 650 families
from Marabastad; and
(b) Tshwane Metro moved these families to Mamelodi Extension 6,
where basic social amenities such as residential stands, water,
refuse removal and collection, as well as transport are
provided;
(2) believes that this demonstrates the ANC’s commitment to building a better life for all our people through the provision of basic services; and
(3) expresses its appreciation for the initiatives that the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality is embarking on to improve the quality of life of our people.
[Applause.]
Mnr J J NIEMANN: Geagte Voorsitter, hiermee stel ek voor namens die Nuwe NP: Dat die Huis -
(1) daarvan kennis neem dat -
(a) daar geen bykomende bedrag vir die ontwikkeling en
instandhouding van Suid-Afrika se paaie in die aanvullende
begroting beskikbaar gestel is nie;
(b) paaie in Suid-Afrika wat in 'n swak toestand is van 5% in 1990
tot 33% in 2001 gestyg het;
(c) die agterstand ten opsigte van die instandhouding van nasionale
en provinsiale paaie bykans R30 miljard beloop; en
(d) dit duidelik is dat huidige fondse nie voldoende is om Suid-
Afrika se pad- en spoornetwerk in stand te hou en op te gradeer
nie; en
(2) glo dat - (a) die herskedulering van die begroting nou noodsaaklik is as ons ‘n goeie vervoer-infrastruktuur in Suid-Afrika wil skep; en
(b) indien die agteruitgang van ons vervoer-infrastruktuur nie nou
aandag kry nie, Suid-Afrika se ekonomie groot skade sal ly. (Translation of Afrikaans notice of motion follows.)
[Mr J J NIEMANN: Hon Chairperson, I hereby give notice that I shall move on behalf of the New NP:
That the House -
(1) notes that -
(a) no additional amount for the development and maintenance of
South Africa's roads has been made available in the
supplementary budget;
(b) the number of roads in South Africa which are in poor condition
has risen from 5% in 1990 to 33% in 2001;
(c) the backlog in respect of the maintenance of national and
provincial roads has amounted to approximately R30 billion; and
(d) it is clear that the present funds are not sufficient for the
maintenance and upgrading of South Africa's road and rail
network; and
(2) believes that -
(a) the rescheduling of the budget is now necessary if we want to
create a good transport infrastructure in South Africa; and
(b) if the deterioration of our transport infrastructure is not
attended to now, South Africa's economy will suffer greatly.]
TERROR ATTACK IN MOSCOW THEATRE
The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the House -
(1) notes that -
(a) 115 people lost their lives in a Moscow theatre when Russian
security forces stormed the theatre to free hostages held by
armed Chechen separatist rebels; and
(b) the government of Russia declared Tuesday, 29 October 2002, a
national day of mourning;
(2) believes that armed actions against unarmed and innocent civilians constitute acts of terror that militate against the realisation of the noble objective of securing for everyone the right to life as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
(3) condemns this act of terror;
(4) joins the people of Russia in mourning and wishes the injured a speedy recovery; and
(5) calls for all political leaders to engage in dialogue for a peaceful resolution of political problems.
Agreed to.
BOMBING OUTRAGE IN SOWETO
Mr D H M GIBSON: Chairperson, I hereby move without notice:
That the House -
(1) unreservedly condemns the bombing outrage in Soweto; (2) expresses condolences to the families of the victims; and
(3) reaffirms -
(a) the commitment of the House to the values and freedoms contained
in the Constitution; and
(b) that South Africa is a democracy and that terrorist activity of
any sort cannot be condoned, but must be condemned in the
strongest terms.
[Applause.]
Agreed to.
The House adjourned at 17:56. ____
ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
TABLINGS: National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
Papers:
- The Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology:
(a) Annual Report of the Voortrekker Museum for 2000-2001.
(b) Annual Financial Statements of the Voortrekker Museum for 2001-
2002, including the Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial
Statements for 2001-2002.
(c) Report and Financial Statements of the Africa Institute of South
Africa for 2001-2002.
National Assembly:
Papers:
- The Minister for the Public Service and Administration:
Letter from the Minister for the Public Service and Administration to
the Speaker, tabled in terms of section 65(2)(a) of the Public Finance
Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of 1999), containing the following
explanation for the late tabling of the annual report, financial
statements and audit report of the South African Management Development
Institute for the financial year 2001-02:
Upon submission of the financial statements of the South African
Management Development Institute (SAMDI) for the financial year
2001-2002 to the Auditor-General and the National Treasury in mid
2002, those offices required adjustments to the format of the
statements and also required further information, returns,
documents, explanations and motivations regarding the financial
statements. The completion of the financial statements was
hampered by the illness of the Chief Financial Officer of SAMDI
and his eventual discharge due to ill health in May 2002. In
August 2002 revised financial statements were submitted to the
National Treasury and the Auditor-General, and thereupon further
queries from the Auditor-General were responded to. As soon as the
audit report of the Auditor-General is received and the printing
of the annual report, financial statements and the audit report is
completed, the same will be tabled in the National Assembly.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
National Assembly:
-
Report of the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry on the Patents Amendment Bill [B 64 - 2002] (National Assembly - sec 75), dated 30 October 2002:
The Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, having considered the subject of the Patents Amendment Bill [B 64 - 2002] (National Assembly - sec 75), referred to it and classified by the Joint Tagging Mechanism as a section 75 Bill, reports the Bill without amendment.