WEDNESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2004 __

          PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
                                ____

The Council met at 15:04.

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.

APPLICATION BY MONSANTO SA (PTY) LTD TO IMPORT GENETICALLY MODIFIED WHEAT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

                         (Draft Resolution)

Mr K D S DURR: Madam Chair, I hereby move without notice:

That the Council - (1) notes -

   (a)  the application as published in the Business Day on  19  January
          2004 by Monsanto SA (Pty) Ltd,  to  the  Directorate:  Genetic
          Resources/National Department of Agriculture for a  "commodity
          clearance permit number for transgenetically modified wheat";


   (b)  that in the application Monsanto asks for a  permit  that  would
          allow for the importation of GM wheat  for  human  consumption
          and the manufacture of animal feeds;


   (c)  that nowhere in the world has GM wheat been allowed to be  grown
          commercially and  even  in  the  USA  and  Canada,  regulatory
          approval will take years, if it is ever granted;


   (d)  that South Africa is being asked to take  an  environmental  and
          food safety leap no other country has yet taken;


   (e)  that all applications for GM wheat  worldwide  have  encountered
          technical problems because of its inherent genetic instability
          which means that many unintended consequences to human  health
          and the environment can result;


   (f)  that we have acceded to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety  and
          that the first meeting of  the  parties  will  take  place  in
          Malaysia from 23 - 27 February 2004;


   (g)  that it has become urgent for South Africa  to  revise  its  GMO
          Act, Act 15 of 1997,  and  thus  to  implement  the  Biosafety
          Protocol;


   (h)  that also the African Union has  recommended  that  we  use  the
          African Model Law on Biosafety when implementing our biosafety
          regime ...

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

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Order! Hon member, your time has expired. Your motion will be printed in full on the next Order Paper.

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

  CONGRATULATIONS TO CHARLIZE THERON ON WINNING GOLDEN GLOBE AWARD

                         (Draft Resolution)

Mr A E VAN NIEKERK: Madam Chair, I move without notice:

That the Council -

(1) notes the exceptional honour that befell the South African actress Charlize Theron on Sunday, 25 January 2004, when she received the sought-after Golden Globe award for best actress in the film Monster;

(2) congratulates her on this and wishes her well in her career and in the run-up to the Oscar awards;

(3) notes with pride that she is not afraid to acknowledge in public her origin as a South African; and

(4) requests her kindly, upon receiving the Oscar or any other similar award, to consider also saying a few words in Afrikaans and/or any of the other indigenous languages of South Africa.

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Is there any objection to the motion? No objection. The motion is agreed to. I am not quite sure how the House will communicate its desire to the person mentioned in the motion, but the motion is agreed to.

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

            REAFFIRMING OF IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION BY ANC

                         (Draft Resolution)

Mr D M KGWARE: Hon Chair, I hereby move without notice:

That the Council -

(1) notes that the ANC has continuously reaffirmed the importance of education in the further political, social, cultural and economic development of our people;

(2) further notes that as proof of the commitment of the ANC, expenditure on education has remained the largest budgetary item in South Africa over the past decade; (3) acknowledges the fact that progress in education is ahead of the Millennium Development Goals and well ahead of most comparable developing countries; and

(4) commends the Minister of Education on his achievements in reducing the number of unqualified teachers from 74 000 three years ago to 30 000 and the programmes his Department has put in place to upgrade teachers’ qualifications even further.

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

 MISREPRESENTATION OF FACTS BY DA TO CANVASS VOTES AT EXPENSE OF ANC

                         (Draft Resolution)

Mrs E N LUBIDLA: Chairperson, I wish to move a motion without notice:

That the Council - (1) notes that the ANC rejects as mischievous the diatribe of DA leader Tony Leon at the launch of his party’s election manifesto;

(2) further notes the desperation with which the DA is trying to convince our people that their quality of life has not improved;

(3) also notes that the DA does not want our people to believe that it was the ANC that was responsible for these radical improvements and that they think that through lies and distortions they can hide the bankruptcy of their own arguments;

(4) is of the view that, if the situation of our people prior to 1994 is compared with the way we are now living, the conclusion that the ANC has been successful in improving the quality of lives of millions of South Africans is inescapable;

(5) notes that an even greater majority has given their stamp of approval for the ANC during our second democratic elections in 1999;

(6) also notes that, according to opinion polls, an even greater majority intends to do so during the coming elections;

(7) lastly notes that the ANC believes our people can distinguish between lies and objective facts; and

(8) believes that the best way to assess our Government’s performance is not to listen to what others have to say about it, but rather to measure the impact of its policies and programmes on our own lives.

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Is there any objection to that motion? There is an objection. The motion will therefore become a notice of motion.

                GOVERNMENT COMMENDED FOR LAND REFORM

                         (Draft Resolution)

Rev P MOATSHE: Chairperson, I hereby move a motion without notice:

That the Council -

(1) notes that land restitution, tenure reform and land redistribution are major policy instruments used by the ANC for alleviating poverty;

(2) welcomes the fact that in the last decade our ANC-led Government has processed more than 47 500 out of more than 91 000 land restitution claims;

(3) further notes that these claims involved 810 292 hectares affecting 115 504 households with about 606 000 beneficiaries; and

(4) commends the Government for its commitment to accelerate land reform.

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

GOVERNMENT COMMENDED ON ITS SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY-BASED NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

                         (Draft Resolution)

Mr Z S KOLWENI: Chairperson, I hereby move without notice:

That the Council -

(1) notes that millions of rural South Africans depend upon biological resources for their day-to-day survival;

(2) further notes that access to this “natural capital” provides a crucial contribution to livelihoods, an important buffer against poverty and an opportunity for self-employment;

(3) acknowledges the contribution of government over the past decade to ensure a more equitable distribution of the rights of access to natural resources; and

(4) commends in particular our ANC-led Government’s efforts to create opportunities for local communities through its community-based natural resource management programmes to participate in the planning, control and conservation of natural resources and, in the process, share in the benefit of these resources.

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

                 A JOURNEY TO FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY

                      (Subject for Discussion)

THE MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION: Thank you very much, Chairperson and members of this House. Chairperson, it was in 1906 that Pixley ka Isaka Seme wrote, and I quote:

The brighter day is rising upon Africa. Already I seem to see her chains dissolved, her desert plains red with harvest, her Abyssinia and her Zululand the seats of science and religion, reflecting the glory of the rising sun from the spires of their churches and universities. Her Congo and her Gambia whitened with commerce, her crowded cities sending forth the hum of business, and all her sons employed in the advancing of victories of peace - greater and more abiding than the spoils of war.

As a movement, the ANC has been marching on the road to freedom and democracy, both within South Africa and throughout our continent since its very founding.

We have seen before us that bright day and we still await the zenith of its sun when, in the words of the Freedom Charter of 1955, and I remind us all:

The people shall govern. All national groups shall have equal rights. The people shall share in the country’s wealth. The land shall be shared among those who work it. All shall be equal before the law. All shall enjoy human rights. There shall be work and security. The doors of learning and culture shall be opened. There shall be houses, security and comfort. There shall be peace and friendship.

These are the goals that direct us, and these are the values that sustain us.

Ons is nou in die tiende herdenkingsjaar van ons eerste demokratiese verkiesing, en dit is gepas dat ons weer kyk na die pad van vryheid en demokrasie wat ons tot dusver geloop het.

Ja, ons doen ‘n terugblik oor ‘n terrein waaroor ons beweeg het. Maar ons kyk ook vorentoe na die pad wat voorlê, ‘n pad met moordende passe, maar met uitsigte oor valleie heen waar mens net verstom kan staan oor die skoonheid en die wonder van hierdie land van ons met sy wye verskeidenheid.

Vryheid en demokrasie - woorde wat geskyn het soos die son in die drome van die onderdruktes - dra met hulle verskillende betekenisse, afhangende van die tyd en konteks waarin ons hulle gebruik. Daar is diegene wat glo dat ons vryheid bereik het met ons eerste verkiesing in 1994, en dat dit die einde van ons reis na demokrasie was.

Hierdie is ‘n vereenvoudigde siening. Ons het dit nie met ‘n wet van die Parlement reggekry om die onregverdighede van die verlede uit die weg te vee nie, of die hindernisse wat opgesit is - somtyds is hulle bykans onsigbaar - te vernietig nie. Maar hierdie onregverdighede en hindernisse sal met ons en ons samelewing wees vir ‘n geruime tyd en vir die jare wat nog voorlê.

Ons oorgang na demokrasie was ‘n wonderwerk, maar ons reis het maar so pas begin. En dit is ons mense wat daardie wonderwerk ‘n werklikheid gemaak het.

Ek is trots om deel te wees van hierdie beweging van die ANC wat oor ‘n periode van meer as 90 jaar geveg het vir ons vryheid en demokrasie. En ons gaan nie nou ophou nie. En vir meer as 90 jaar het ons die debat aan die gang gehou oor die terme vryheid en demokrasie, en wat dit werklik vir ons beteken. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)

[We are now commemorating the tenth year of our first democratic election, and it is appropriate for us to take another look at the road to freedom and democracy that we have walked thus far.

Yes, we look back on the ground that we have covered. But we also look forward to the road that lies ahead, a road with murderous mountain passes, overlooking valleys that will leave one amazed by the beauty and the wonder of this country of ours with its vast diversity.

Freedom and democracy - words that were shining like the sun in the dreams of the oppressed - convey different meanings, depending on the time and context in which we use them. There are those who believe that we achieved our freedom with our first democratic election in 1994, and that that was the end of our journey to democracy.

This is a simplistic view. With a single Act of Parliament we did not manage to wipe away the injustices of the past, or to destroy the obstacles

• sometimes nearly invisible - that were created. But these injustices and obstacles will remain with us and our society for a considerable time in the years to come.

Our transition to democracy was a miracle, but our journey has just begun. And it is our people who have made that miracle a reality.

I am proud to be part of this movement of the ANC who has fought for our freedom and democracy over a period of more than 90 years. And we will not stop now. And for more than 90 years we have kept the debate about the concepts of freedom and democracy, and what it really means to us, alive.]

To us freedom has two aspects. Firstly, it means freedom from oppression; from degradation and indignity; from poverty and want; from prejudice and bigotry.

Then there is freedom to fulfil one’s potential as a member of society; to associate with whomever one chooses; to practise the religion of one’s choice; to live where one chooses and to exercise one’s choice in the election of a government.

But unlike our neoliberal colleagues, we believe that the freedom of the individual is tempered by the consideration of the collective good of society as a whole.

And this is why we protect the most vulnerable in our society with legislation that prevents exploitation. This is why we implement policies to redress the imbalances of the past, in the areas of commerce, of employment and wherever the disabling legacy of apartheid leaves its deathly pall on the aspirations of our citizens.

For the ANC freedom is not simply about voting. Democracy is about the voice of people resounding throughout the institutions of our land - in our schools, our boardrooms and our state institutions. It is about building a society where the opinions, the needs and the insights of the community are respected, and the channels are created for expressing these.

Sedert 1994 het ons ‘n Grondwet te boek gestel wat progressief en inspirerend is. Dit word beskou as een van die mees gevorderde grondwette ter wêreld. Ons suksesse om dienste wat die staat lewer uit te brei oor ‘n kort bestek van tyd, en ondersteuning aan miljoene verarmde mense te verleen, is sonder gelyke in ons tyd.

Ons het ‘n parlementêre stelsel daargestel wat die deelname van diegene wat voorheen aan die kantlyn moes sit - en nie net aan die kantlyn moes sit nie, hulle was heeltemal uitgesluit - stelselmatig versterk het.

Ons regering soek ook aktief geleentheid om tussen mense te beweeg, en om na hulle te luister deur die imbizos, deur veeldoelige gemeenskapsentrums en ons kiesafdelingskantore. Maar solank as wat daar ‘n enkele honger kind in ons land is, sal ons reis nie voltooid wees nie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)

[Since 1994 we have put on paper a Constitution that is progressive and inspiring. It is considered one of the most advanced constitutions in the world. Our successes in expanding the delivery of state services within a short space of time, and providing support to millions of impoverished people, have no equal in our time.

We have established a parliamentary system that systematically strengthened the participation of those who were previously marginalised - and not only marginalised, but completely excluded.

Our Government is actively looking for opportunities to be amongst the people, and to listen to them through imbizos, through multipurpose community centres, and our constituency offices. But as long as there is a single hungry child in our country, our journey will not be complete.]

Chairperson, what must guide us as we march towards deepening democracy and freedom? As we march towards it in a real sense, some help can be found in our Constitution, which creates the framework within which all institutions of our society function. The Constitution protects our rights from assault. It creates the context and system in which our key institutions operate - our courts, our legislatures and our institutions that protect democracy.

But it is to the state that the Constitution assigns a specific role when it speaks in section 195 of a development-oriented public service - which in 1994 was the buzz word amongst the world experts in public administration and public management.

New public management says - to put it somewhat simplistically - that government departments must operate the same way as business. This is premised on an assumption that business is always more efficient than government and that if we adopt business principles, government will deliver services more efficiently, more effectively, and more economically. And this view was promoted by the radical right of the 1980s, led by the Thatcher and Reagan governments.

In the words of Demetrios Argyriades, Professor of Public Administration, New York University: ``New Public Management firmly rejected (the concept of) public or general interest.’’

Ronald Reagan in his inaugural address in 1981 said: ``Government is not the solution to the problem, government is the problem.’’ Throughout the 80s, the most powerful nations of the world sought to diminish the influence of the state in delivering better lives for people. And this is what led to drastic cutbacks of services to people and to various distortions. I think we can very clearly say today that, as a developmental state, we have learnt that there is no way that business can replace the state and that it is the developmental state that will ensure that services are delivered to the furthest-flung parts of our country.

If we look at the 10-year review, it very clearly states that to those areas over which Government had a direct influence, we were able to deliver services. And I think the story speaks for itself - the story of the South African democracy and its first 10 years. Many of us may wish to forget that the state maintenance grant only benefited 450 000 children with mothers. That grant was there if there was no father - this father had to vanish. It didn’t do any good to the family. It led to greater fragmentation, because the kids knew that this father pitched up late at night when the neighbours didn’t see, and disappeared some time later in the day when the neighbours went to work and so on. [Laughter.] But what was more, the 450 000 who received this grant were from particular racial groups in our country and the grant did not reach the poorest 20% of children in our country, who we are trying to reach with the child support grant.

We had to review and say let’s ensure that the service is accessed by the poorest, but that it must be for the children. Now sometimes you put Government policies in place and there are distortions in the way they are implemented. So what happens at the moment? You have some young girls who receive this grant, but do not use that money for the children. And we heard from older people in our communities who stand up in meetings and inform Ministers and the President that this grant is not doing what it should be doing. And I think there’s a need for us as legislators to say: How do we, with all sectors of our society, ensure that the grant does what is intended; that the policy as implemented serves as a safety net for the child; and that communities again say, ``every child is my child’’? We will ensure that there are no distortions. We need to guide these young women, so that they know that it’s not for them, but for the children.

The positive thing is that we now talk about millions of children on this grant. It’s no longer 450 000. But there are still areas that we can improve upon. What we should improve upon is to ensure that the service delivery mechanism functions in a more effective way. Efficiency'' and effectiveness’’ are not terms that are exclusive to the private sector. They must be part of the Public Service, of the public sector, and we must all make it happen.

I think one would also say that new public management, as I reflected on earlier, still prevails in many societies, but there is an increasing awareness that values and outcomes must play a central role in the way in which the state performs its functions.

We in the ANC never chose or sought to sacrifice the common good at the altar of profit, economy or privatisation. Yes, the Government must be effective and efficient and yes, we want to increase the trajectory of economic growth. But we must not and will not take our eyes off the common good - the collective wellbeing of our society. To the ANC it is the people who elect the Government. We, as public representatives, will fulfil our mandate by ensuring that the welfare of many is not lost to the profits of a few.

Today, of course, the name of business as the model of efficiency and rectitude is tarnished by the massive scandals that scream out from the headlines - Enron, Parmalat, etc. Maybe there will be a little bit of a review - a view that says don’t emulate business. Look at the principles effected in a way that is appropriate for a developmental state. But do it in such a way that the public good is never sacrificed.

There are still those amongst the opposition who cry for a lean, mean state. They go a little silent during election time because they know that there are more than one million voters out there. But they cry out and they also see certain aspects as the panacea for the challenges of our nation. I want to state categorically that, as long as the ANC is in power, we will not seek to create a lean, mean state. What we seek is a state that has the ability to operate efficiently and effectively economically, and is dedicated to enhancing the goals of special significance highlighted in the Millennium Declaration. These goals are peace and the rule of law, development and poverty eradication, protecting our common environment, democracy, good governance and human rights. That’s what we look towards.

We know that globalisation has brought in its wake a complex, integrated world - a world with greater dependencies and increasing imbalances of power and ability to negotiate. In this context the state has an ever- increasing role to provide the enabling environment for economic growth and development. It must ensure that basic services reach all people, particularly the unemployed and the poor. Yes, we must streamline and in some instances ensure that we rid the core Public Service of certain functions, as well as ensuring that every public servant is productively employed. That’s fundamental to us.

But internationally now it is recognised that the state is a pivotal development partner, working along with the private sector and civil society. Ten years ago, as well, governance'' was much less used than it is today. And the increased use of the term governance’’ indicates that good governance is of importance, not only to the state, but to all other sectors, such as the market, civil society and international agencies. But the emphasis on governance does not mean that we do not require strong government. We need a public sector that is capable of addressing market failures and dysfunctionalities and, in an environment of skewed allocation of resources, inequality, huge gaps in income distribution and challenges of poverty, is capable of developing and implementing solutions that transform the very nature of our society. We need constantly to question whether our state machinery is able to rise to this massive challenge.

And we talk about the two - the dual economy. The state needs to respond in order to ensure that we are able to handle, manage and ensure that nobody, no one part of the dual economy falls by the wayside. Do we have the finest minds, the strongest and most talented leaders forging ahead in the changing fabric of South African society? Our President in the state of the nation address raised the issue of the talent of leadership that we have within our Public Service cadres, but also strongly pointed to the weaknesses that still persist in many quarters.

Our interventions in the Eastern Cape and our restructuring processes have shown that we are beginning to build a public service that’s capable of performing its critical role as the implementors of freedom and democracy. Parliament has a crucial role to play in this regard in acting as the custodian of these values of freedom and democracy; in being fearless in its endeavours to hold the machinery of Government to account and unwaivering in pointing out the shortcomings to the executive.

We in this country have strongly adhered to the principles of good governance in implementing the prerequisites - the separation of the legislative, judicial and executive arms of Government, a free press, the protection of human rights and so on. Our Bill of Rights is the most progressive in the world.

But addressing first-generation rights such as these does not in isolation put food into the stomach of a child, give a roof to a homeless family, or protect the face of a battered wife. We must also focus on the role of the state in addressing basic needs by ensuring that the benefits of a democratic state are real to all. And this is part of our long walk - the walk, the journey to freedom and democracy that we must still walk.

Yes, there’s global recognition that the world is more democratic than ever before. But it is also globally recognised that the number of people slipping into poverty has increased. What value does democracy have in itself, if it is accompanied by hunger, disease and suffering? We must question this. We must explore and debate which particular models of democracy deliver effectively and rapidly.

And there’s a growing discomfort among developing nations about single applications of terms such as ``good governance’’. One single definition does not allow regional and local differences to be reflected, or for indigenous practices to be given due recognition. We cannot simply apply a one-size-fits-all solution to the range of challenges and circumstances facing different countries, different regions and different sectors. The United Nations Development Programme, in its study on capacity development recently released, notes, and I quote:

While the best global knowledge should be shared and put to use, developing countries in the end need policy choices that are based on their own development model. They need to be able to make decisions that can be nationally negotiated and agreed on in ways that seriously respect stakeholders’ rights.

As a member of the ANC I am filled with pride at what we have accomplished in the first 10 years of democracy. But we cannot be complacent while one child goes about with an empty stomach, while people still suffer the degradation of poverty and the indignity of being without work, while people are still subjected to racism and so on. We still need to walk the long journey to true freedom and democracy.

Our debate needs to extend to the nature of a development model most appropriate to South Africa - a complex nation that has emerged from decades of institutionalised oppression. Should we revise the model on which our state is constructed to address effectively our specific challenges of poverty and inequality, whilst enabling us to play an international role?

Should we revise the model that can deliver, in the words of the President in his state of the nation address last week:

… greater progress with regard to the integration of our system of governance, achieving seamless co-operation both within and among all spheres of government … [that can] consolidate the practice of creating public-private partnerships and building government-civil society co- operation, to ensure that we utilise our collective capacities to give further impetus to the overall development and transformation of our country.

Our democratic South African state has been fundamentally transformative in changing the legislative framework, addressing macroeconomic stability and eradicating institutionalised racism and inequity. We’ve intervened in instances of social need with social grants and subsidies, with relief to the most needy, and our role with regard to investment, public participation and local economic development has been facilitative.

We have drawn citizens directly into policy debates through our community forums, our imbizos and this House going out into the provinces and meeting with people at grass-roots level. Our parliamentary processes and our channels for comment and communication have facilitated that. At the heart of the debate which needs to inform our choices as we enter the second decade of democracy is: How do our institutions of state, and the various stakeholders that are involved, further develop a sense of the appropriate role of the state and the manner in which we engage in poverty reduction and addressing basic needs?

More than ever we live in a connected world. This places its own particular set of demands upon our resources - human and capital - as well as requiring us to be innovative and creative in seeking solutions to the problems that beset developing nations. But we are on a journey to freedom and democracy and we’re going to complete this journey. It’s fitting that Parliament takes the lead in stimulating discussion on such a critical topic, for it is Parliament that is the custodian of our freedom and our democracy, it is Parliament that holds the executive to account and it is Parliament that must ask the searching questions and ensure that Government fulfils its mandate in delivering to the people to build the better life that we promised in 1994.

I remain confident that, with the support of this House, the ANC will ensure that the flag of freedom and the torch of democracy fly higher and burn brighter over our land, our region and our continent, because the people do govern. Thank you. [Applause.]

Kgoshi M L MOKOENA: Thank you, Chairperson.

We, the people of South Africa, declare for all our country and the world to know: that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white, and that no government can justly claim authority unless it is based on the will of all the people.

This uncontested and powerful message was issued by the People’s Congress at Kliptown on 26 June 1955. From that day the ANC never looked back. We set our own agenda. The aim was to free our people from the heavy chains of apartheid. Look where we are today.

Ten years ago, the 11th of February challenged all South African patriots and political organisations to define their role in the new South Africa. However, today we are presented with a new task, which is to judge ourselves and reflect on the strides made and challenges encountered in creating a better life for all in our first democratic decade.

We managed to achieve our goals, and the target we set to build one united and democratic South Africa has materialised. As we celebrate our first democratic decade, taking steps forward towards our second democratic decade and a third term of ANC democratic rule, we must assure all South Africans, both black and white, that the ANC Government is committed to fighting poverty and creating more job opportunities. That is what we call ``A people’s contract to create work and fight poverty’’.

During our first decade, amongst other things, we set out to establish laws that would protect the dignity of our people. These laws also included those affecting children, youth, women and people with disabilities, and there were other laws which were meant to shatter racist and sexist apartheid policies.

Last year the people’s Government introduced the Children’s Bill, whose objective is to ensure that no child is subjected to injustice, be it from the biological parents or whoever, and it also explains clearly the role that parents ought to play in the development process of the child.

We have gone further to ensure that poor families with children, war veterans and families taking care of children are beneficiaries of the social grants. A social grant or pension is no longer seen as a privilege but as a right. There was a time in this country in which only a section of the community received child support grants, to the total exclusion of the majority.

We have inherited a Public Service and a society with scarce skills. Human resource capital and skills development were addressed along racial lines. I do not think you still want me to remind the House of the kind of education that was introduced in 1953. Better and good education, as we all know, was reserved for a chosen few, but look at the situation today. I am happy to note that today we have a Public Service that is accountable, responsible, manageable, sensible and transformable. Of course, there are still those few individuals who want to be pushed like wheelbarrows. But we have moved, and we’re almost there.

As we inherited a corrupt and chaotic Public Service, we had to ensure that we uprooted the demon of corruption, and ensure that there was no one who enriched himself or herself through the Public Service. That is why we have a reliable Public Service Commission, anticorruption units and other bodies to deal with corrupt tendencies within the state. We are doing all this because we care.

Let us look at our judiciary. There was a time in this country when a black magistrate was not supposed to preside over a case in which the accused was white. A black police officer would not arrest a white person no matter how serious the crime was. Again, we have moved - all that is now history. The transformation of our judiciary is remarkable, thanks to the ANC Government.

We were able to establish institutions whose objective was to strengthen our democracy. We have the Gender Commission, the Public Protector, the Human Rights Commission, the Youth Commission, the Public Service Commission, the National Prosecuting Authority, an independent judiciary and many other institutions. These institutions are meant to support and defend our democracy, and to deal with specific matters. If there are people who cannot see the speed with which the ANC Government is moving, I think their IQs need to be tested.

The task of our Police Service is no longer fighting freedom fighters and destroying the liberation movements, but fighting crime and creating peace and stability. They are now able to deal with new democratic societal challenges and with global challenges. Our police officers are no longer seen by communities as enemies, but as partners in fighting crime. This partnership against crime has yielded a good output.

As we continue to better the lives of our people, let us join hands and reflect on what was said by the People’s Congress in 1955:

Let all people who love their people and their country now say, as we say here:

These freedoms we will fight for, side by side, throughout our lives, until we have won our liberty.

I have spoken. Thanks, Chairperson. [Applause.]

Mr N M RAJU: Chairperson, hon Minister, hon colleagues, it is indeed nauseating to reflect upon the dungeon days of apartheid and the plethora of abhorrent legislation that sought to subjugate people of colour and herd societies into ghettoes, and denied people their basic human rights and stripped them of their dignity. But the indomitable human spirit prevailed and 14 years ago to this day, the venerable Nelson Mandela emerged triumphantly from Victor Verster. And I cried. And you cried. [Interjections.] And grandmother and grandfather cried. And all South Africans cried with joy at the unfolding of the drama of triumph over evil, signifying the end of the denial of freedom and the arrival of the new democracy.

One cannot but recall that the same Mr Nelson Mandela, 28 years previously, stood in the dock in the Great Synagogue in Pretoria and uttered defiantly, in stoic defence of the liberation struggle, and I quote:

I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is the ideal which I hope to live for and achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die. There is no doubt that there have been many real achievements - piped water, electricity, health and education facilities to millions, especially in rural areas - and skilful management of the economy. Ten years of democracy is an achievement worth celebrating and even crowing about. [Interjections.] But can we ignore the huge potholes of failure along the road taken in the decade of freedom and democracy? [Interjections.] As we pause on the threshold of the next decade of further freedoms and deeper democracy we cannot wish away the malignant failures such as unemployment, Aids and of course the economic ruins of Zimbabwe. Aids and unemployment are wreaking destruction among the poor in our midst.

The President in his state of the nation address made scant reference to one of the major themes that have arrested the attention of media headlines

• the theme of HIV/Aids. One of the major blemishes on the ANC Government would be that a Constitutional Court order was needed to compel the Government to begin making available drugs meant to stop transmission of the virus from mother to child. For quite a considerable period the President and the Health Minister withdrew into a cocoon of denial regarding the provision of antiretrovirals.

Zimbabwe remains the Government’s biggest foreign policy albatross. [Interjections.] May I appeal to the Chair for protection?

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: You may proceed.

Mr N M RAJU: We cannot celebrate freedom and democracy when our neighbours are brutally denied them. [Interjections.] We cannot share our freedom of speech and communication when our neighbours have their newspaper printing houses destroyed or locked and journalists put behind bars. [Interjections.] We cannot rejoice when our neighbours’ children sit at empty tables. [Interjections.]

One of the central themes that took centre stage during the dawn of freedom and democracy was reconciliation and reconstruction - the politics of accommodation and forgiveness, but not forgetfulness. Truth and reconciliation became the keys to unlock the infinite capacity of men and women to shed antagonistic attitudes and embrace one another across colour and ethnic lines as fellow South Africans. In the words of the venerable redeemer, the colossus of forgiveness and redemption, Nelson Mandela, and I quote:

We may never forget but we must forgive. To make peace with an enemy one must work with that enemy and that enemy becomes your partner.

And in the words of that brave and intrepid defender of the faith of Afrikaner hegemony, hon F W de Klerk, who stood before an impatient world and dared to bring the curtain down on the narrow parochial ideology of apartheid:

The simple, most important factor which became the driving force towards a totally new dispensation in South Africa was a fundamental change of heart. It was not a sudden change but a process - a process of introspection, of soul-searching, of repentance.

There is no doubt that South Africa has moved into the future with one big leap forward, developing the politics of forgiveness in a more sophisticated manner than any other country. It now needs to show how citizens can be empowered to join in that process at grass roots and help create a multifaith and multicultural society across all the former divisions. Only if it can begin to do this may it well become one of the key players in the 21st century.

Another important development in the political scheme of things was the attention given to gender equality. More and more South Africans began to appreciate the importance of treating women as equals, as equally powerful components as their male counterparts. The ANC Government must be applauded for their consistent elevation of women as Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Ministers and top managers in business and commerce. Why is there no noise? Over the years there has been a considerable international focus on strengthening the role of women in government. The Beijing Platform for example, hon Chair, states that without the active participation of women and the incorporation of women’s perspectives at all levels of decision- making the goals of equality, development and peace cannot be achieved. [Time expired.]

Mr M J BHENGU: Madam Chair, the 10 years of democracy in South Africa, I believe, mark the beginning of a long and turbulent journey to freedom and democracy. The journey to freedom and democracy is a process that takes decades. I believe that only our children’s children will enjoy the fruits of such freedom and democracy. Our task right now is to lay the foundation. The Batswana people would say it very nicely, namely that mahube a naka tsa kgomo [we are still at the beginning phase].

I thank God that I have been able to be part of this nation-building process. I know that having achieved the political kingdom does not necessarily mean that we have achieved and attained the economic kingdom. President Nyerere said, when he visited this country, that we had only taken the office, not yet the power, which tells you that between freedom and democracy lies power.

As a member of the IFP, looking back over the 10 years, I can rightly take pride in a long string of achievements. Our Government has completed an unprecedented reform of all our laws, ranging from the Constitution to most of the regulations implementing the hundreds of laws this Parliament has passed, to bring about beneficial change in almost all fields of social, economic and cultural activities within our society. If you look around in all our major cities, and in many rural areas, you can see how an enormous amount of physical development has taken place. I am very proud of that.

However, by the same token, we must agree quite positively that we still face enormous challenges. We are still the wretched of the earth, and the tears of our people, even though the sun shines beautifully over our land, are still flowing.

We need to face the challenges of unemployment and poverty. The image of squatter camps around our country, and the abject poverty in which our people live, leave much to be desired. Each of us in this Chamber drives past the squatter camps every time we move from the airport to this Parliament. One wonders how many of us really feel their hearts sinking and their guts twisting when we see such a display of horror and despair.

Only through employment will our people achieve equal dignity and freedom from the enslavement of poverty. A long-term strategy which addresses both the needs of the poor and the expectations of the rich has to be developed, otherwise our people will not understand us when we talk of freedom and democracy.

A really new South Africa must be built with the commitment and sacrifices of all, to make it a decent and prosperous place for all. I agree with Mr Saki Macozoma, as he was quoted in one of the newspapers recently, that the economy of this country is still largely in the hands of the white minority. Therefore, full, meaningful liberation will not be realised until our people are freed - both from economic oppression and from the dehumanising legacy of darkness, of the long years of colonialism and apartheid.

What the new light over our land must show right now is a nation, as our President usually says, ``busy creating a better life’’. Although we are still at the end of the beginning, I believe the indomitable human spirit will triumph. I thank you. [Applause.]

Mnr P A MATTHEE: Voorsitter, dit is met ‘n gevoel van groot dankbaarheid teenoor ons Hemelse Vader dat ek vandag vir ‘n oomblik terugkyk na daardie deel van die reis na vryheid en demokrasie wat ons reeds voltooi het, en waarvan ek die voorreg gehad het om deel te wees, en hulde bring aan daardie leiers wat ons weggelei het van die afgrond van ‘n vernietigende burgeroorlog, en ons saam op die reis geneem het na vryheid en demokrasie.

Ek verwys hier spesifiek na voormalige Presidente F W de Klerk en Nelson Mandela, wat vandag 14 jaar gelede vrygelaat is, maar ook na President Thabo Mbeki en Premier Marthinus van Schalkwyk wat by hulle die leisels oorgeneem het en ons verder gelei het op hierdie pad. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)

[Mr P A MATTHEE: Chairperson, today, with a feeling of the utmost gratitude to our Heavenly Father, I reflect for a moment on that part of the journey to freedom and democracy which we have already completed and of which I had the privilege to be a part, and pay tribute to those leaders who led us from the brink of a destructive civil war and who took us with them on the journey to freedom and democracy.

I refer here specifically to former Presidents F W de Klerk and Nelson Mandela, who was released 14 years ago today, but also to President Thabo Mbeki and Premier Marthinus van Schalkwyk who took over from them and led us further on this road.]

In his last speech to Parliament as President on 28 February 1994, former President De Klerk addressed, with due urgency, issues pertaining to a new constitution for a democratic, nonracial South Africa where minorities were assured of their protection in the new dispensation, and he concluded by referring to the fact that we had succeeded in bringing South Africa from the brink of catastrophe and conflict, and said:

We had succeeded in negotiating a transitional Constitution which can provide the basis for a prosperous and peaceful society, which guarantees greater rights and freedom, not only for those who previously did not have the vote, but for all South Africans.

Op 2 Februarie 2004, presies 14 jaar na sy epogmakende toespraak op 2 Februarie 1990, het voormalige President De Klerk weer ‘n rigtinggewende toespraak gemaak waartydens hy daarop wys dat ten spyte van die groot uitdagings wat ons steeds in die gesig staar ten opsigte van die lys van onopgeloste probleme waarvan ons almal bewus is, die positiewe van die nuwe Suid-Afrika by verre die huidige probleme oorskadu. Hy sê:

Dit was deur onderhandeling dat ons ‘n katastrofe in hierdie land afgewend het. Dit was omdat ons besluit het om met mekaar te praat en werklik te praat, om op te hou om op mekaar te skreeu, maar oorkant mekaar te gaan sit, as geswore vyande daardie tyd, en die waarheid op die tafel te sit …

Hy gaan voort:

En dit sal slegs deur onderhandeling en dialoog wees dat ons ‘n gesamentlike visie vir transformasie sal ontwikkel. Doen ons dit nie, dan sien ek vir Suid-Afrika ‘n donker pad van groeiende polarisasie, van hernieude rassespanning en van alles wat daarmee gepaard sal gaan.

Hy wys daarop dat aggressie en die ``fight back’’ pad die verkeerde pad is wat ons op die glybaan sal plaas terug na die ou Suid-Afrika. Hy gaan voort deur te sê: (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)

[On 2 February 2004, exactly 14 years after his epoch-making speech on 2 February 1990, former President De Klerk again made a directional speech in which he pointed out that, in spite of tremendous challenges which still are facing us regarding the list of unsolved problems of which we all are aware, the positive far overshadows the current problems. He said:

Dit was deur onderhandeling dat ons ‘n katastrofe in hierdie land afgewend het. Dit was omdat ons besluit het om met mekaar te praat en werklik te praat, om op te hou om op mekaar te skreeu, maar oorkant mekaar te gaan sit, as geswore vyande daardie tyd, en die waarheid op die tafel te sit …

He continued: En dit sal slegs deur onderhandeling en dialoog wees dat ons ‘n gesamentlike visie vir transformasie sal ontwikkel. Doen ons dit nie, dan sien ek vir Suid-Afrika ‘n donker pad van groeiende polarisasie, van hernieude rassespanning en van alles wat daarmee gepaard sal gaan.

He pointed out that the road of aggression and ``fight back’’, is the wrong one, which will put us on a downward slide that will take us back to the old South Africa. He continues by saying:]

I welcome initiatives to return to a more inclusive model that will focus on the solution of the great challenges with which our country will have to wrestle during the coming decades, rather than on typical confrontation politics.

He gave his full and enthusiastic support to the co-operation agreement between the New NP and the ANC, and said:

I will vote for the New NP because I want to be represented by a party which can make a difference. And the stronger the New NP becomes, the greater that difference will be.

Hy sê [He says]:

Ek gaan vir die Nuwe NP stem omdat dit ‘n ware nie-rassige party is wat werklik omgee vir almal wat dit ondersteun; ongeag hulle ras of kleur. Dit is ‘n voorloper-party as dit kom by nie-rassigheid in Suid-Afrika.

I will vote for the New NP because I support its policies; also where it differs with the ANC on important issues. I will vote for the New NP because it puts South Africa first.

As Suid-Afrikaners wil ons graag ‘n toekoms van hoop skep vir ons en ons kinders. Ons kan egter alleen hierin slaag indien ons in die eerste plek bereid is om die werklikhede van Suid-Afrika vierkantig in die oë te kyk, en te verreken in al ons planne om daardie beter toekoms van hoop te skep. Wanneer ‘n mens daardie werklikhede verreken, kan geen denkende Suid- Afrikaner tog werklik glo dat ‘n wit-gedomineerde party regs van die ANC - soos die DA is - ooit daarin sal kan slaag om deur hulle aggressiewe en polariserende tipiese Westminster styl van opposisiepolitiek hierdie land te regeer nie.

Om hulself voor te hou as ‘n alternatiewe regering wat enige oplossings vir enige probleme of uitdagings van Suid-Afrika kan bied, is eenvoudig ‘n blatante leuen wat daarop gemik is om Suid-Afrikaners gruwelik te mislei. Hulle kan en sal eenvoudig nooit in enige posisie wees om enige van die menigte beloftes wat hulle nou maak uit te voer nie - al gebeur wat ook al.

Hulle weet dit, maar desnieteenstaande gaan hulle voort met hulle misleidingsplan. Om net een voorbeeld te noem: hulle kan nie, en sal nooit in ‘n posisie wees om een polisiebeampte te ontplooi nie, maar hulle gaan voort om in hul propaganda-advertensies te beloof dat hulle 150 000 polisiebeamptes in ons strate sal ontplooi teen 2007.

In skrille kontras hiermee is die koalisieregering tussen die Nuwe NP en die ANC in die Wes-Kaap, soos blyk uit Premier Marthinus van Schalkwyk se openingsrede op Maandag, tans besig om die aantal polisiebeamptes in die Wes-Kaap met die hulp van die nasionale regering van 12 000 tot 18 000 te vermeerder. Die aantal polisiebeamptes in die provinsie is reeds tot 16 000 vermeerder sedert die koalisieregering die bewind oorgeneem het aan die einde van 2001. Tans is hulle op koers om daardie getal tot 18 000 op te stoot teen die einde van hierdie jaar; met ander woorde ‘n toename van 50%.

Dit is dan waarom hulle daarin geslaag het om die veiligste feesseisoen in die Wes-Kaap te hê in ‘n dekade, met moord wat gedaal het met 34%, roof met 24% en totale misdaad wat gedaal het met 18,2%. Die feite spreek vir hulself. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)

[As South Africans, we would like to create a future of hope for ourselves and our children. However, we can only succeed in doing this if we are willing to look the realities of South Africa squarely in the eye and acknowledge them in all our plans to create that better future of hope. If we take those realities into account, no thinking South African can really believe that a white-dominated party to the right of the ANC - like the DA

• with their aggressive and polarising typical Westminster style of opposition politics, will ever succeed in governing this country.

To present themselves as an alternative government that offers any solutions to any problems or challenges of South Africa, is simply a blatant lie which is aimed at misleading South Africans horribly. They cannot and never will be in any position to realise any of the multitude of promises they are now making - no matter what happens.

They know this, but notwithstanding that, they continue with their plan of misleading people. To mention but one example: They cannot and will never be in a position to deploy a single police officer, but their propaganda advertisements continue to promise that they will deploy 150 000 police officers in the streets where we live by 2007.

In sharp contrast with this, the coalition government between the New NP and the ANC in the Western Cape, as is apparent from Premier Marthinus van Schalkwyk’s opening address on Monday, is currently busy, with the help of the national government, increasing the number of police officers in the Western Cape from 12 000 to 18 000. The number of police officers in the provinces has already been increased to 16 000 since the coalition government took over at the end of February 2001. Currently they are on course to push that number up to 18 000 by the end of this year; in other words, an increase of 50%.

That is why they succeeded experiencing the safest festive season in a decade, with murder declining by 34%, robbery by 24% and crime in total declining by 18,2%. The facts speak for themselves.] We are a diverse society emerging from a divided past. This brings with it huge challenges: The issue of reconciliation and nation-building, and joining the rich mosaic of our cultures, races, religions and languages into a united nation where the diversity is not experienced as a liability that needs to be managed, but rather cherished as a national asset that enriches our society.

The New NP has chosen to embrace the spirit of a new South Africanism and to join the hands of all communities in the pursuit of peace, prosperity and harmony amongst diverse cultures, races and religions that make up this dynamic South Africa.

The New NP and the ANC have undertaken to work together to create a future of hope for all, to strengthen the political centre of South African politics and to ensure that the future we deliver jointly will be experienced as an exciting, safe and secure future by each and every South African - be they black, white, coloured or Indian.

The minorities, in particular, have for the first time now been confronted with the stark choice between confrontational opposition with no hope of assuming power, where the polarising style can only lead to further isolation and marginalisation from the mainstream of South African society; or joining the New NP in taking hands with the majority, and being part of the decision-making processes so as to create a common future of hope for all, minorities and majority alike.

We can only walk this road together if we are able to bring about reconciliation in this country. We say, let us overcome our divided past. Let us embrace our common future together in the best interests of all our people. I thank you. [Applause.]

Nksz P C P MAJODINA: Sihlalo weekomiti, mandilibulele eli thuba lokuba ndithethe apha namhlanje.

Mnu Raju, apha kuseMzantsi Afrika. Xa uMongameli ethetha nesizwe soMzantsi Afrika akathethi nesizwe saseZimbabwe - qwaba! Kufuneka siwahloniphe amalungelo amanye amazwe kuba nathi siyafuna awethu amalungelo ahlonitshwe.

Singena kule ngxoxo-mpikiswano namhlanje, sinezivubeko, sineenduma ngenxa yokuba sasikhe saba zizicaka. Oomama nabantwana boMzantsi Afrika bathi ngeli xesha, ``siyekeni, asisafuni kuchukunyiswa emizimbeni ngoba saziva iinduma zorhulumente wangaphambili’’. Umzam’ omhle, uRhulumente we-ANC uwuzamile, ugqatso ulufezile. Abapheli ke ooTomasi abaza kufuna ukungcikiva bade baqiniseke ukuba eli nxeba liphuma igazi ngenene. Ewe kaloku, xa wawungazange wayazi intlupheko nokulamba, uthumela abaphandi ukuba baye kukubuzela ukuba abantu balamba njani na, uza kuyithetha le nto uyithethayo. Umahluko wawumkhulu, kodwa thina bantu babecinezelwe nababeyazi indlala, sithi umahluko mkhulu, inguqu ikhona eMzantsi Afrika.

Ukuphatha ilizwe ke asikuko ukuphatha ivenkile esispaza, ubone iswekile ingekho, ufake ityuwa. Sipheth’ ilizwe apha, sikhokel’ abantu. Iinkokeli zabantu zangena zingqawuza ePalamente ngo-1994, zize kukhokela, zingezanga kuphikisa.

UMgaqo-siseko uyabakhusela oomama. Sihleli sisithi siyazingca singabemi boMzantsi Afrika. Bayabhala abantu boMzantsi Afrika ngabakubonileyo, bangqine oko bakuvileyo, bekubonile ke phofu. Izibonelelo kubantwana ziyinto engazange yenzeka. Uthethile uMphathiswa apha. Abantwana babesakuba nezifo kuba babengondlekanga, kodwa namhlanje akukho namnye umntwana one ``Khwashiyoko’’, ngoba uRhulumente uyabondla. Bondle, Thabo Mbeki!

Bayangxola, bathi ungen’ uphuma elizweni. Ufanele ukungen’ uphuma elizweni, kuba ulungiselela esi sizwe. Bafuna imisebenzi. Baza kuyifumana njani imisebenzi abantu xa uhleli ngaphakathi? Bathi xa ehamba uMongameli, bathi abamazi ukuba uya phi na. Abazi kumazi ngoba kaloku bayahlutha apha ezindlwini zabo. [Uwelewele.]

Namhlanje, xa umntu waselalini eNtafufu, umntu wangaphaya eSterkspruit, eHeshele, evulela amanzi empompeni, ufumana kuyinto engazange yenzeke kwiminyaka elishumi edlulileyo. Namhlanje uyakwazi ukuba angathwali emele entloko. Umama namhlanje uyakwazi ukucofa umbane, angahambi aye kutheza iinkuni ehlathini. Loo nto ke yenziwe nguRhulumente obaziyo abantu, nguRhulumente onika oomama isidima, nguRhulumente obathandayo oomama. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)

[Ms P C P MAJODINA: Chairperson of Committees, thank for granting me this opportunity to speak here today.

Mr Raju, this is South Africa. When the hon President addresses us he is not addressing the people of Zimbabwe. That is all! It is also important that we should respect other countries’ rights, as we would like ours to be respected.

We begin this debate today as people with scars as we were once slaves. Women and children of South Africa are saying that they do not want to experience physical abuse like during the apartheid times. The ANC-led Government has accomplished a good cause. There will always be doubting Thomases that seek only to exploit until blood comes out. Indeed, if you never experienced poverty and hunger, and only sent researchers to find out about how poverty-stricken people were or are, you would say what you just said. There was discrimination and there existed a big difference between black people and white people, and we, as those that were oppressed, knew what hunger was. Yes, there is a big difference even now and that is because there is change in South Africa.

Governing a country is not like managing a spaza shop, where you can do things unsystemically sometimes. Power is in our hands and we are meant to govern, and lead people. When the leaders of our people came into this Parliament in 1994 they knew that they were coming to play a leadership role, and not to oppose.

The Constitution protects the rights of women. We always claim to be proud to be citizens of South Africa. South Africans write about their experiences. Child grants were never seen before. The Minister has presented his speech. Young children used to become very sick from malnutrition but today no child has been reported to be suffering from kwashiorkor because the Government feeds them. Feed them, Thabo Mbeki!

They say you spend little time attending to matters of the country. You have to go around the world because you are building relationships with other countries so as to help build our country. They want jobs. How will people get jobs if you remain in the country? When the hon President leaves the country, they say they do not know where he is going. They will never know because they never have to struggle and are not suffering in their homes. [Interjection.]

Today, people from Ntafufu, Sterkspruit and Herschel are among those to whom water is accessible; something that did not exist 10 years ago. Today most people do not have to balance water buckets on their heads. Today, my mother switches on the light and never has to fetch wood from the forest. That has been made possible by this Government - the Government that is committed to restoring the dignity of women; the Government that loves women.]

Eya he, ho tshwara mme ke ho tshwara thipa ka bohaleng. Rona ka nako ena ha re tshwane le mafura a thokolosi ao e tla reng ha o a tshela ka nokeng, metsi a nyoloha, ona a theohe. [Kena hanong.] (Translation of Sesotho paragraph follows.)

You touch a woman, you touch the blade of a sharp knife. We mean what we say. [Interjections.]]

Sihlalo, banento ethi siphinda into enye; sasithe amanzi, sasithe izindlu. Siza kuyiphinda nangoku, kuba asiguqu-guquki; Siyayazi into esiyifunayo siyi-ANC. Lo gama abantu bethu bengekawafumani bonke amanzi, siseza kuwaphinda amanzi, siseza kubanika izindlu oomama ukuze umama ahlale endlwini, abe nelungelo, athi ``apha kukwam, ngeli xesha’’. NguRhulumente ophetheyo lowo.

Kukho imithetho eyenziweyo ejongene noomama ngqo. Siyakwazi ukuma apha namhlanje singabambelanga bani, sime ngokuba singoomama, sinamalungelo okuma. I-ANC ke iyakhokela ngokubhekisele kuloo mba. Apha kweli lizwekazi iAfrika, eli lizwe liyakhokela ekubekeni oomama phambili, ukuze baziwe, banikwe isidima nesithozela abasifaneleyo ngoba kaloku oomama basisiseko selizwe ngalinye.

Kuya kufuneka ke ukuba umntu ofake izikhuseli-langa zamehlo azikhulule xa kunethayo, ngoba uya kungaboni. Siyahamba thina nale nqwelo, kwaye ayimanga. Iqhubela phambili inqwelo, inde. Sitsho nesihloko sithi, -``Yindlela ende eya enkululekweni’’. Singaphakathi kule nkululeko kwaye siyilwele. Incwadi yamaGalati, isahluko sesithandathu, ithi:

Yimani nithi ngxi, ningahexi enkululekweni yenu, ngoba niyilwele.

Namhlanje ke, Sihlalo, njengoko sixhamla apha, kukho abantu abathetha kamnandi bethetha utyhatyhiwe ngathi bakhwele emqolweni wehagu. [Kwahlekwa.]

Abantwana bethu bondlekile; abantwana bethu bahle; oomama bayathandwa; oomama baziva bekhuselekile ngenxa yemithetho ephunyezwe kule Ndlu. Abo ke bakude nokulawula ilizwe, ngxee torho!, kuba kuthetha abantu ukuze kuphathwe, kukhokelwa abantu ngumntu olandela inkqubo ethile. Ukuba ngaba awunayo inkqubo oyilandelayo awunakuze ubakhokele abantu. Ukuba ngaba awunayo inkqubo oyilandelayo uza kujonga umqulu wezithembiso zonyulo wabanye abantu ukuba uthini na, uyeke ukuthetha ngalo wakho.

Ewe, amatyotyombe, ukuba uthetha ngawo Mnu uRaju, ayinxalenye yezinye zezinto ezenziwe ngabantu ababenani ngaphambili. Abantu babengenalungelo lakusondela edolophini. Idolophu yaye iyeyabantu abamhlophe. Namhlanje, siyenzile indlela yokuba umntu ahlale nokuba kuphi na. Bafuna eziya ndawo nanizenze yazezenu, yiyo loo nto besondeza amatyotyombe abo.

Sinengxaki yokulawula amatyotyombe awakhiwa nini. Kambe ke, izindlu siyabanika abantu bakowethu, ngoba kaloku indlu sisidima kubantu bakowethu. Nokuba ezo nkokeli zenu zinganxiba ihempe enegqabi, nguZizi ophetheyo, nguKhongolose ophetheyo. Bathetha abantu boMzantsi Afrika, baza kuphinde bathethe. OoSambhuntsuntsu ke nezaphuselane azisayi kuhlala zingakhali.

Sihlalo, mandibulele. Ndiya ngokuba shushu ngoba ndisuka ezilalini. Ndithethela oomama ababengathathi ntweni, abakwaziyo ukuma namhlanje bathi, ``naku, ndiyakwazi ukuthenga ukutya. Abantwana bam bayaya esikolweni; abantwana bayatya esikolweni’’.

ILUNGU ELIHLONIPHEKILEYO: Malibongwe!

Nksz P C P MAJODINA: Kuthi ke loo nto ibingekhe ibe kho ukuba ngaba uKhongolose wayengekho. Ibingekhe ibekho ukuba ngaba abantu boMzantsi Afrika bebengayazi into abayifunayo. Ngenxa yokuba siyazi into esiyifunayo, namhlanje ke, Sihlalo, sithi siyixhasa ngokupheleleyo.

Xa ndigqibezela, Sihlalo, phaya ekhaya akuzange zibekho iirobhothi. Abantu bakuthi bayama, bayibukele le nto intle imana ivala, ivula. Abazange bayibone. [Kwahlekwa.] Loo nto ke luphuhliso oluzinzileyo nolungagungqiyo lwe-ANC. Ndiyabulela. [Kwaqhwatywa.] (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)

[Chairperson, they say that we always say the same thing. We promised people water and houses. We are going to repeat that because we do not change at every opportunity. The ANC knows what it wants. If everyone does not yet have access to water and houses, we will continue mentioning water and adequate housing for women so that they can have places they can claim as their own. That is the commitment of the ANC-led Government.

Legislation is provided to protect women’s rights. Today, women can claim their rightful place and role in our country because that has been provided for by the Constitution. The ANC is a leading example where the emancipation and empowerment of women is concerned so that they can be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve because women are the foundation of each and every country. It will be important, therefore, that those who have sunglasses on should take them off, as they will not be able to see when it rains. We are moving forward; things are happening. The road ahead of us is long and we are not turning back. We are walking the long road to freedom. We fought for this freedom. The book of Galatians, Chapter 5:1 says:

Stand fast therefore in the liberty that Christ has granted us and be not entangled with the yoke of bondage.

Today, Chairperson, as we are enjoying our freedom, there are people who speak as they wish as though they were “riding a pig”. [Laughter.]

Our children are well fed because they are well looked after by our Government. They look beautiful. Women feel that they are loved. They feel safe and protected, and that is being safeguarded by the Constitution and legislation that has been passed by this House. To those that are in opposition to our Government we say, ``Sorry!’’ People are governed and ruled by a person who follows a certain rule himself. If you do not have a plan and a programme of action, you can never be able to lead people. You will only criticise other people’s manifestos, and not follow yours.

Indeed, the informal settlements you are talking about, Mr Raju, are part of the things that were created by people you used to work with before. People did not have the right to come near the cities. The cities and towns were reserved for white people. Today a person can choose to live where they want. People want to be close to the areas that you reserved for yourselves; that is why they build their shacks near your ``areas’’.

We have a problem controlling the spiralling of these informal settlements that you created. However, we have a standing commitment to provide adequate housing to our people because that, to people, helps restore their dignity. You and your leaders may wear and boast the most expensive clothes, but our leader is the son of the amaZizi clan. The ANC rules. The South African people spoke. They are going to speak again. The opposition will always have something to say in opposition.

I would like to thank you, Chairperson, for this opportunity. I am becoming heated because I come directly from the rural areas. I speak on behalf of women who used to have nothing, but who today are able to buy food for themselves. Their children attend school. Their children are being provided with food at school.

An HON MEMBER: Praise!

Ms P C P MAJODINA: That could never be the case if the ANC was not in power. That could never be the case if South Africans did not know what they wanted. Because we know exactly what we want, Chairperson, we fully support it.

In conclusion, Chairperson, there were no robots where I come from. Our people look at them and say they look wonderful because they never saw them before. [Laughter.] That is sustainable development by the ANC. I thank you. [Applause.]]

Mr K D S DURR: Madam Chair, I see the election has begun in earnest, when I listen to the hon member. [Interjections.] If anybody wanted to know whether it had begun, he or she just had to listen to that speech.

But when did this journey that we are talking about begin? Did it begin in 1994 or did it begin with Mr De Klerk? Did it begin with the Republic in 1961, the Act of Union in 1909, the founding of the ANC in 1912? Well, of course all these events contributed to the progress of our nation, in one way or another. The struggle of man to elevate and enable himself is as old as time itself, and our Constitution, essentially, is a product, in fact, of the reformation.

The Greek model of democracy, which we talk about, became deeply flawed. The great historian Edward Gibbon wrote, and I quote him:

The Athenians finally wanted not to give to society, but for society to give to them. The freedom they wanted was freedom from responsibility. Then Athens ceased to be free. In the end, more than they wanted freedom, they wanted security, they wanted a comfortable life and they lost it all: security, comfort and freedom.

And they practised slavery.

Does it sound familiar, Madam Chair? Are there not people in South Africa today who would swop our hard-fought-for liberty for security and comfort? Are there not people now who want to taste the fruits of government, but want to do nothing to plant that fruit or to water the tree of liberty?

We must pause, we must celebrate; it’s proper that we do. We have much to be grateful for, but we need to look back and face the realities. George Washington said:

Government is not reason, it is force; like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.

The great Thomas Jefferson wrote: ``Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.’’ And we need to remember that.

That is why it is good that we celebrate 10 years of full universal suffrage and democracy on the eve of an election. Because it is the promise and reality of an election that is the constant reminder that we are free and that our power is not a right, but a privilege. Power in a democracy is not inherited, but support earned.

Elections are a constant promise that society retains the option for change or censure. So what we celebrate is not 10 years of ANC rule and government, but equally, 10 years of freedom from government. The real test of our Constitution and democracy, of course, will come when the people of South Africa want, one day, a change of government and vote accordingly. This election itself is the celebration, not the result of the election, and the victor in our system must not be the majority only, but the minority also; not only the strong, but the weak and the vulnerable.

Civilisations are judged not on how majorities look after themselves, but on how great societies govern with fairness, equity and justice, also in the interests of minorities. We have much to be proud of, but what has eluded South Africa is true unity.

I want to say we must celebrate, Madam Chair, but we must not celebrate selectively. By doing that we devalue our democracy and we trivialise and politicise a great period in our history, when great South Africans did great things, and the nation of South Africa, together, responded magnificently to an enormous opportunity and achievement.

We have our friend there, the hon Majodina, who said: Who turned the tap on?'' Well, I say to you: Who built the dam from which the water came so that you could turn the tap on? [Interjections.] They say:Who turned the light on?’’ I say: Who built the power station? [Interjections.]

You see, I’m not arguing that. I’m just saying that you cannot argue selectively. One has to rise above that. [Interjections.]

This is a magnificent time in our history. We must celebrate, but not with a sense of triumphalism but with a sense of gratitude and humility. [Time expired]

Mr V V Z WINDVOЁL: Thank you, Chairperson, for the opportunity. I couldn’t hear anything after the moving speech of the hon Majodina, just a few noises except for the last question - who built the dam and the power station? The answer is simple. It was the black workers of this country, who were exploited. [Applause.] If we had had time as the ANC we could have built more dams and power stations which would be better than the ones we have.

Hon Chairperson, Mr Bhengu raised a concern that when he drives to Parliament he sees some shacks. It’s unfortunate that he just shot and ran away. It’s only cowards who do that. If you are a soldier you must shoot and wait to see whether your target falls down or not. However, we must respond because we should not give a wrong impression to the public.

I think, as Mr Bhengu sees those shacks there, he must celebrate that the people are coming back to the land from which they were inhumanely, forcefully, and violently removed. He must celebrate that there is no longer influx control - section 10 - which prevents them from coming back. He must celebrate that they come back into the caring hands of the ANC council in Cape Town which is in partnership with the New NP to provide them with decent low-cost housing, which will bring back their dignity.

He must also celebrate that today, as we speak, the people of District Six are coming back home. He forgets that the world icon, Comrade Nelson Mandela, only had his first vote when he was 74 years old. If his 27 years had not been wasted in jail, we could have done better than what we have.

Mgcinisihlalo lohlon, Ndvuna Fraser-Moleketi, kanye nemalunga lahlon eMkhandlu waVelonkhe, kuyintfokoto kutsi, njengalomunye wetishoshovu letatilwela lenkhululeko, nami ngibe yincenye yalenkhulumomphikiswano ngenkhululeko kanye nangembuso wentsandvo yelinyenti. Ngiva ngitigcabha kutsi nginelilungelo lekutsi ngikhulume ngeSiswati ekhatsi ePhalamende lekhululekile. Maye kumnandzi kukhululeka eNingizimu Afrika! (Translation of Siswati paragraph follows.)

[Hon Chairperson, Minister Fraser-Moleketi, and hon members of the NCOP, it is a great pleasure for me that, as one of the people who struggled so hard for independence, I am part of this free debate and the democratic Government. I feel very proud that I have a right to speak Siswati inside this free Parliament. Oh, it feels so magnificent to be free in South Africa!]

The late President of the ANC, Chief Albert Luthuli, in 1961 at the Nobel Lecture said:

Apartheid survives because those who sponsor it profit from it. They provide moral whitewash for the conditions which exist in the country for the fact that the country is ruled exclusively by a white government, elected by an exclusively white electorate which is a privileged minority; for the fact that 87% of land and all best agricultural land within reach of town, market and railways is reserved for white ownership and occupation and now through the recent Group Areas Act, nonwhites are losing more land to white greed …

Furthermore, the late President of the ANC, Oliver Tambo, also had this to say:

The true patriots of South Africa, for whom I speak, will not be satisfied with anything less than direct individual adult suffrage and the right to stand for and be elected to all organs of government. In economic matters, we will be satisfied with nothing less than equality of opportunity in every sphere, and the enjoyment by all of those heritages which form the resources of the country which, up to now, have been appropriated on a racial ``whites only’’ basis. In culture, we will be satisfied with nothing less than the opening of all doors of learning to non-segregatory institutions on the sole criterion of ability.

Today, Chairperson, as we celebrate 10 years of freedom and democracy, we need to pay tribute to these gallant fighters of our movement. This freedom didn’t come on a silver plate. It is a result of struggle and sacrifice led by the ANC. Hence we now have an opportunity to chart our future together.

On 28 February 1994, in his last speech to the apartheid parliament, former President F W De Klerk said:

During the past four years, we have succeeded in bringing South Africa back from the brink of catastrophe. Our society was deeply divided. We were on the brink of conflict. Our country was ostracised and isolated. Our economy was in a hopeless downward spiral.

He went on further to say in conclusion, ``When we awake on 29 April, we will be more free than we have ever been before.’’

Loko kwashiwo iminyaka lelishumi leyendlulile. Lamuhla sigubha iminyaka lelishumi yenchubekela phambili kanye nekuthula ngaphansi kwembuso we-ANC. [That was said 10 years ago. Today we are celebrating 10 years of peace and prosperity, under the leadership of the ANC-led Government.]

``After ten years of freedom, South Africans occupy a prime place at the table of nations where we eat never only on our behalf.’’ Those are the words of Comrade President Thabo Mbeki. He further continues and says:

Our finances are sound and highly praised internationally. Public accountability exists as never before. Our media are free to the point of excess. People are moving to our shores in great numbers whether as tourists, business, professional people or returnees.

Truly speaking, South Africa has never been a better governed and managed country than under the ANC leadership working in partnership with the people. Even the DA’s Colin Wells Eglin agrees, with his 33 years of experience in Parliament in which he belonged to six parties, from the UP to the current DA. He has also served under seven presidents from J G Strydom up till the current President, His Excellency, T M Mbeki. He said:

There is more access to Bills. This gives the opposition a lot more access and power to change legislation.

He only complains that: ``There is very little publicity for the opposition.” [Laughter.] Who can do better than that?

Some people say that South Africa deserves better. In a record time of 10 years, the ANC has acquired skills and the ability to manage the economy better than ever before. We are all in agreement that there has never been a better Minister of Finance than the hon Comrade Trevor Manuel. Who can do better than him? You can take all the members of the DA into account, but none of them can do that. [Applause.]

As we speak today, Government is running a low debt and is therefore able to increase service delivery on education, health, housing, social grants and other services. The question is: Who can do better than that?

The Government has, under the leadership of President Thabo Mbeki, amplified its relations, interventions and assistance with African countries and of course with other countries abroad. The question is: Who can do better than that?

Hon Chairperson, just imagine, if you woke up one day and found that the hon Tony Leon was the president. What would happen to our economy? [Interjections.] People would cry, hon Raju, not out of joy but out of sadness. Bantfu bangakhala. [People would cry]. Just ask yourselves how many Harksens would flock back to the country, whether from Germany or other countries. The response is that people would cry, not out of joy but out of sadness.

With his cowboy tactics, as if he comes from Texas, Zimbabwe may be attacked under the pretext of having weapons of mass destruction. [Interjections.] And people would cry, not out of joy but out of sadness. What may happen to land restitution and reform is that these would be banned concepts in the country and people would cry, not out of joy but out of sadness.

I, however, together with millions of fellow South Africans, sleep peacefully knowing that our beloved country is in the caring hands of the ANC. If there is anything that South Africa deserves better, it is a better and constructive official opposition with a vision rather than individualistic missions. The ANC lives and leads a people’s contract for a better South Africa. I thank you. [Applause.]

The MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION: Chairperson, I think it has been quite an opportunity this afternoon to engage in such a very important debate, a debate where we reflect on the journey to freedom and democracy. I thought I would use this opportunity in the response to start off by sharing an experience. And I will then go into some of the responses.

It was 31 July 1981, when, in Ashdown Park, Harare, just after midnight, two young people, respectively aged 20 and 23, found the body of the then chief representative of the ANC, Joe Gqabi, in a car outside the house. He had 22 bullets shot into his body. Uzi machine guns were used to kill him that night. They expected, it appears, to kill three people, but they only assassinated one. This was a South African - a leader of the South Africa people, killed by a South African unit that was sent into a neighbouring country, in order to try to stop the journey to freedom and democracy. I raise this today because I think that our journey to freedom and democracy is not just about the journey for ourselves. It’s a journey for our people, our children, our grandchildren and for the ones who are yet to be born.

There are many who came before and who were wrenched away from us under the most terrible circumstances. Joe Gqabi, left a relatively young wife. Now that I am 43, I can say she was young then. At that time, I thought she was not so young. But he also left young children and a grandchild at that point in time, a grandchild that was never to know the love of a grandfather. Joe Gqabi is one of many South Africans who sacrificed their lives. Today as we speak about our journey to freedom and democracy, and the one that we still intend to walk, we don’t only remember Joe Gqabi, we also remember Katryn Schoon, Jenny Schoon and many other South Africans.

There are South Africans who died on both sides of the divide. There are those who were part of the South African Defence Force at that time. There are those who served as askaris and in different ways. This is part of our history, our journey and of the trauma that is there in South African society. We need to rise above that and walk this path. As we walked this path - our journey to freedom and democracy - we did not do it for ourselves only. We did it for the South African people, our communities; we do it for our children, our grandchildren and for the beautiful ones who are yet to be born. We have a responsibility. As we have this responsibility, we need to look at how we engage.

We can trivialise the 10 years of a journey that has been walked and that we want to deepen. We can say that everything or nothing has happened. But we have a responsibility to the grandchildren, the children and the beautiful ones yet to be born, because we want them to grow up in country that belongs to everyone. We want our kids to grow up, free of the fetters and shackles of racism and discrimination and free of the fear of want and poverty. But to do that, we need to come together in a common contract where we say that all South Africans must contribute to make this journey happen.

Kgoshi Mokoena earlier reminded us that the Freedom Charter says that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white, and that no government can justly claim authority, unless it is based on the will of the people. And I challenge every South African, from any political party and from any part of the South African spectrum, to say that this is incorrect. Because I do believe - we do believe - that South Africa belongs to all who live in it. But we must make that a reality. We need to ensure that we realise it in every way whatsoever. We must make use of all institutions, instruments of the state and everything available to us to make this happen.

We reflect on what we have achieved. We still have a long road to walk. There is no question about it. We have not achieved everything. But then given a decade in the life of a nation that has been subjected to such extreme laws, that has gone through the kind of history we have gone through, that has been so divided, would we really imagine that we could overcome these differences in 10 years? If we would, then we would be mere dreamers. South Africans are realists. As Africans, we are realistic. We are going to walk this path in a way that is going to say that it is difficult, but we will make it happen.

We still need to come to terms with the trauma that is there in our society. There are those who have slogans that say that we can solve problems easily. What kind of magic wand is there, that can make it happen? It is not possible. Let’s not mislead our people. Let’s not even try to do that.

Some hon members, like hon Raju, at instances clearly indicated that we need to listen and hear, not selectively look at issues. He called Aids a theme. I never considered Aids to be a theme. But Raju also tries to suggest that the building blocks that were put in place, according to him, were not there. Let’s not deny what happened. If there is anything that we should say, we can do the following better, but let’s not pretend as if nothing happened. When we are in the legislative arm of governance as a whole, let’s not say that the following had to happen and with glee say the judiciary enforced it. What does that suggest? Do we want a country where the judiciary will determine policies and their implementation? There is something wrong with that.

I think that we need to go back and reflect. Let’s look at the separation of powers. Let’s look at the role of the various arms and reflect on whether, in what has happened over the past 10 years, the steps were always right. It cannot be correct that we pass by decree, or through the judiciary, the effecting of the implementation of certain programmes. Something is very wrong with that, and we need to ask the questions as the legislature. We should not be blind to it. Let’s not look at it and say there were no programmes. We know that there is a five-year programme that was there from the side of Government. As the Government rolls out an aspect of the treatment programme, because it is comprehensive, we say we need to do it in a responsible way because we must have the infrastructure to roll it out.

The very people who shout and say ``do more’’ are the people who on the next day will say that the infrastructure is not good enough. Let’s be clear about what we really want. Let’s ensure that when we roll it out, the burden is carried by the implementation arm and not by the population. Let’s not have the programme unfold and then say we don’t have the resources to sustain it. This Government will not roll out in an unsustained way. Our policies have always been so focused.

In terms of some of the other issues raised, it seems as if the hon Bhengu somehow has a magic wand for the economy. Let’s hear that. Let’s hear where this amazing growth is going to come from, that is going to solve the problems. I think we should look at it. What I think we all agree with and agree on, is that we are facing enormous challenges, but together we are going to resolve that. That’s why we are here in this House. That’s why we stood to be elected representatives of the people of South Africa. We were willing to take on the challenges, not because we thought we would make magic. Let’s leave it to those who can make it. But maybe hon Bhengu can do that. I must be careful. I should not venture into an area of which I may not know sufficient - that of magic, myth and so on. [Laughter.]

I want to agree with the rest of the members. I think actually everyone said this in some way, even if it was grudgingly. We may not agree with where the journey started …

Ons mag nie almal saamstem waar hierdie reis begin het nie. [We may not all agree about where the journey began.]

But indeed we agree that we are on a journey that started way back. We also agree that there were men and women who played an outstanding role in making this journey a reality, who have handed over the baton to us and said that we must continue and have the stamina to do so. I think we all agree on this. Let us take the responsibility to do it in a manner in which we do not deny reality and facts.

Hon Durr, I agree with you. Let’s not honour selectively. At the same time, let’s not be selective when we use the term ``honour selectively’’. Let’s ensure that we celebrate all and build together. For us to deepen this journey to freedom and democracy, we need to ensure that we overcome in a real sense the evils of racism that are still there in our society. We need to overcome the inequalities that are still there in South African society. Let’s say that together we have walked a long way, somewhat of a way, but there are still huge challenges in terms of eradicating poverty. We are going to contribute together to enhance the economic growth trajectory. We are going to deal with the challenge to overcome the trauma that is there in South African society. We will ensure that every child is our child and that we are part of the global village. We are part of Africa and we won’t engage in Africa selectively as we choose.

As some members behind me said, Zimbabwe is not a tenth province. It cannot be a tenth province of South Africa. As we engage and have an interest in Zimbabwe, let’s also have an interest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and in Africa because it is our region and our continent. We used to sing about Africa and we still do. We are all Africans. We are a diverse people. We celebrate our diversity of language, culture and religion, and of just being a proud people. Let’s remember that we do this not for ourselves, but for our grandchildren, our children and for the beautiful ones who are yet to be born. When they are born in this country of ours on this continent of ours, they should say: ``Indeed, we merely loaned to our ancestors this land of ours, and they have given it back to us in an even better state than they found it.’’ I thank you. [Applause.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Hon Minister, thank you very much for the inspiring debate. Yes, Mr Durr, I did hear you saying that the ANC was …

Mr K D S DURR: [Inaudible.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: I heard you battling with the years. I’ve never heard of a year called 19-1912.

Mr K D S DURR: Madam Chair, are you participating in the debate or are you the Chairman of the debate?

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: I want to thank the hon Minister and the members who contributed to this debate. Yes, we are on a journey that is going to take us to where we want to be. If we work together as a team we will reach our destination. Thank you very much, hon Minister.

Debate concluded.

        NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: BIODIVERSITY BILL

            (Consideration of Bill and of Report thereon)

Rev P MOATSHE: Chairperson, hon members, having listened to a challenging topic - ``A journey to freedom and democracy’’ - allow me to lay another brick in this important wall as we build on this journey.

The Bill before us today seeks to provide for the effective and efficient management and conservation of our country’s biodiversity within the framework of the National Environmental Management Act of 1998, amongst other things.

In our quest for our mission and vision, that is to work towards the goal of a better life for all and to ensure that our country grows through sustainable development to the benefit of all its people, this piece of legislation serves as one of the pillars in fulfilling such goals and ensuring achievement of those noble objectives.

It would be noted that the Genetically Modified Organisms Act of 1997 does not deal adequately with the obligations as clearly outlined in the Cartagena Protocol. Therefore section 76A was introduced in this Bill to ensure our country’s compliance with its obligations in terms of the Cartagena Protocol.

The aforementioned section, section 76A, also empowers our Minister to recommend to the permit-issuing authority not to issue a permit for the release, for whatever purpose, of a genetically modified organism into the environment, if it is suspected that it poses a threat to any indigenous species or the environment, unless and until an environmental assessment has been conducted in accordance with the stipulations of the Act.

It is therefore our firm belief that this important section, section 78(1), ensures that our country, as one of the original signatories to the Cartagena Protocol, adheres to the spirit and letter of the protocol in so far as genetically modified organisms are concerned.

This Bill also proposes the establishment of the SA National Biodiversity Institute, which will, amongst other things, monitor the status of the Republic’s biodiversity, monitor the conservation status of all listed or protected species and listed ecosystems, and also monitor the status of all listed and invasive species and report on all of them to the Minister.

The same institute will also advise the Minister on any matter regulated in terms of this Bill, inclusive of the management and conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of indigenous biological resources, etc.

The institute, established as a juristic person, will have general powers, which will influence and enable its effective and efficient running and the fulfilment of its expectations and requirements.

In line with our principles of democracy, wide consultation has been done in relation to this Bill and the response of such consultation was positive, which implies that the Bill was widely supported.

In conclusion, the introduction of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Bill for our consideration is welcomed and supported heartily. I thank you. [Applause.]

Debate concluded.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Order! I shall now put the question. The question is that the Bill be agreed to. As the decision is dealt with in terms of section 65 of the Constitution, I shall first ascertain whether all delegation heads are present in the Chamber to cast their provinces’ votes. Are all delegation heads present in the House? Yes.

In accordance with Rule 71 I shall now first allow provinces the opportunity to make their declarations of vote if they so wish.

We shall now proceed to the voting on the question. I shall do this in alphabetical order per province. Delegation heads must please indicate to the Chair whether they vote in favour of, or against, or abstain from voting. Eastern Cape?

Ms B N DLULANE: Eastern Cape supports. The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Free State?

Mr T S SETONA: Free State supports.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Gauteng?

Ms D M RAMODIBE: Gauteng supports.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: KwaZulu-Natal?

Ms B THOMSON: In favour.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Limpopo?

Kgoshi M L MOKOENA: Re a dumela. [We support.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Mpumalanga?

Mr V V Z WINDVOЁL: Ke wa rona. [We support.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Northern Cape?

Mrs E N LUBIDLA: Northern Cape supports.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: North West?

Mr Z S KOLWENI: Ke wa rona. [We support.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Western Cape?

Oh, I see we do not have the ninth province in the House, but eight provinces have voted in favour. I therefore declare the Bill agreed to. [Applause.]

Bill accordingly agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.

CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON LAND AND ENVIRONMENTAL
                       AFFAIRS - ANNUAL REPORT

Mr V V Z WINDVOЁL: Hon Chairperson and hon members, as we tabled this report for consideration and adoption, it was interesting and fulfilling to note, with enthusiasm, that there are members of the various political persuasions committed to the ideal of working towards the goal of a better life for all, in pursuance of the growth of the country for the benefit of all its people. By that, we have all enjoyed the possibility created in 1994 for us to work together practically to construct a society that cares, with all the expectations and requirements placed on our shoulders by our various constituencies.

In the report tabled before us today, members will note that not all the funds allocated to the select committee were used. This was because of the fact that the select committee, owing to a lot of legislation work it had to consider, was not in a position to undertake most oversight trips. Furthermore, owing to the fact that the committee deals with a cluster of departments, time is severely constrained. Of course, other oversight trips were not approved.

We hope these concerns will be noted so that a repetition of the things I have alluded to above is avoided in future. This, if attended to, will enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the committee and thereby result in rapid service delivery to our people and the communities we represent. In spite of the fact that some annual reports were not scrutinised and that intended quarterly briefings from the Department of Land Affairs did not materialise in the short term, the committee covered most of the work set out in the programme for the year.

The feeling amongst committee members is that, in line with transparency and accountability, the committee should issue press statements on pertinent issues relating to the activities in the committee. During the period under review the committee dealt with and considered 11 Bills, five international agreements and protocols, institutional oversight work, national visits and international visits, amongst some of its responsibilities.

In conclusion, the report of the select committee is tabled for adoption. I thank you. [Applause.]

Debate concluded.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: I’m not sure if the Western Cape has decided to move out of the House. [Interjections.] We will come to this report at the end of the day.

CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND RECREATION - ANNUAL REPORT

Mr D M KGWARE: Thank you, Chairperson. The report has been adopted at committee level, and before one could, perhaps, make some comments, I’d just like to acknowledge the support and the participation of committee members. I think they need to be commended on that. Also, the co-operation that one has received from the members of the committee, debating issues without any fear and putting their minds up there, is a sign of healthiness, and one would like to commend that.

However, then let me say that, out of the 12 pages that I have here, I will be selective. There is a lot to say and we could have gone on very lengthily, to speak on the report itself. However, I will just highlight a few things. I’m honoured to be called upon to report to the House against the backdrop of significant developments that have been taking place over the past year in education, arts and culture, sport and recreation, and science and technology in our country, due to the participation of the select committee.

I must also indicate that, as many of our leaders of Government have been called to task to respond to the developments and achievements that have taken place over the last 10 years of democracy in our country, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight a few of these with regard to education, arts and culture, sport and recreation, and science and technology.

The committee on sport, recreation, arts and culture, science and technology was tasked with a formidable mission to ensure that the NCOP is sensitive to provincial interests. Among the core objectives were to stimulate nature, protect the arts and culture of this country and focus on institutional capacity, gender policies, moral regeneration and linguistic diversity in order to allow South Africans to participate fully in social, political and/or economic life.

With regard to legislation, the committee was party to the formulation, debating and passing of the Natural Scientific Professions Bill, B 56-2002, the Education Laws Amendment Bill, B 38B-2003, and the Higher Education Amendment Bill, B 36-2003.

With regard to international protocols, I’m proud to announce to the House that the committee has been part of the President’s call on strengthening our link and contribution to the African continent, by agreeing on the ratification of the SADC Protocol on Culture, Information and Sport. Let me indicate that this protocol commits us to ensuring that culture plays a significant role in the economic development of the SADC region.

With regard to oversight, I am proud to announce that the committee has been successful in getting the various relevant departments on board in reporting specific issues that concern our nation. The committee had briefings by the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, and the Department of Education on various issues, including their annual reports. We also had a briefing by PanSALB on the private member’s legislative proposal language Bill by the SA Human Rights Commission on their fourth Economic and Social Rights Report, and by the CSIR on their annual report.

As the law-making institution in the Republic, it is very important that we do a follow-up to see if the provinces implement the laws and policies that Parliament makes, and the challenges and developments thereof. In this regard, although we did not go to all the nine provinces, one major thing is that we conducted a study tour to the KwaZulu-Natal province, and I would like to indicate to the House that I think this is one of the best visits ever, presented by the NCOP, on the side of education, because we actually went to the heartland of KwaZulu-Natal, right up to Ulundi. We trotted deep down there, and we saw whatever there was to see. The report on this, which comes from the committee, is available. We could debate it at some stage, but you should pick it up.

With regard to overview, let me indicate that, as a committee, we are also faced with the acid test of the legitimising of the programmes we elaborate, the government institutions we create, the legislation we adopt and whether they serve their established objectives.

We have raised that, whilst we are processing and going forward, there are a number of other things that we still have to discuss, and that we can discuss. We have made that recommendation in the actual report, as some of the few things that we can pick up and build on. It also depends on how we relate in terms of oversight. There’s a rotational kind of programme, so that each and every committee gets an equal share in terms of oversight visits.

I am proud to announce that, through our interaction with the provinces, we have experienced and witnessed the positive change in our country. The people of this country are starting to reap the fruits of freedom.

Responding to general investments in education, sport and recreation, science and technology, in almost all of the 10 years of our democracy, education, I think we would all agree, is one of our best and most practical means for advancing the frontiers of human fulfilment and human freedom for a sustainable future in our country.

With regard to sport and recreation, I concede with the Minister of Sport and Recreation that, although we need to build an environment of stability, that is a prerequisite for achieving success in our country’s sporting codes. Let me indicate that much of the first decade of our democracy was spent in laying the basis for equity in sport, with the main focus being on accessibility and opportunities for all South Africans. I must say that this we have achieved, as a Government of the people of this country.

Our Government inherited a situation in which the majority of the people, especially the black population, had access to virtually nothing, while small minorities thrived on resources provided by our discriminatory state.

With regard to science and technology, the United Nations places South Africa in position 39 in the area of information and technology, ahead of Thailand and India in position 63. Let me also indicate that, out of a total of 162 countries, South Africa is ranked in position 39, in terms of technological achievement. This positions us as dynamic technology adopters.

In arts and culture, I’m proud to say that the Government has continued, tirelessly, to consolidate the role of arts and culture in South African society. There is a strong awareness of the need to intensify efforts to strengthen the country’s cultural role.

In this regard, let me mention that the Parliamentary Conference on Multilingualism has been scheduled for 23 February, which indicates to the members that …

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: In conclusion?

Mr D M KGWARE: Thank you, Chairperson. [Time expired.] [Applause.]

Debate concluded.

CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF AD HOC COMMITTEE ON INTERVENTION IN THE LEKWA TEEMANE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY IN TERMS OF SECTION 139(1)(c) OF THE CONSTITUTION

Mr B J MKHALIPHI: Hon Chairperson, hon colleagues, the ad hoc committee established by the National Council of Provinces in terms of Rule 160(1)(b), having considered the application for approval of an intervention made in accordance with section 139(1)(c) of the Constitution, as submitted by the provincial government of the North West province, into the affairs of the Lekwa Teemane local municipality referred to it, reports as follows. The Lekwa Teemane local municipality has since its establishment in December 2000 been struggling to maintain financial stability. This is as a result of political instability and institutional problems in the municipality which have resulted in poor financial planning and management. The department of local government and housing in the North West province had, in terms of section 105 of the Municipal Systems Act of 2000, put in place a monitoring and supporting system at the municipality in order to address some of the municipal problems. However, these measures were not successful because of political instability and the inability of the council to meet and take the necessary decisions.

The municipality consists of two major towns, namely Christiana and Bloemhof, which are bordered by townships and farms. The municipality has since embarked on an amalgamation process of the two towns, surrounding townships and farms, but has not succeeded - except for the finance unit which is also still not completely integrated. As a result of that the municipal functions are duplicated. The failure of the municipality to amalgamate has caused divisions among the councillors and staff, mainly based on the towns from which they come.

The provincial executive council of the North West province took a decision on 21 January to approve the dissolution of this municipality in terms of section 139(1)(c) of the Constitution. In terms of this piece of legislation, the MEC for development, local government and housing has been given the authority to appoint an administrator to conduct the affairs of the said municipality until such time as the new council is duly elected.

The North West provincial government is seeking approval from this House for its intervention to dissolve the council in order to achieve the following objectives: to develop good systems, policies and proposals aimed at restoring stability within the municipality; to ensure that there is good financial planning and management in order to enable the municipality to meet its financial obligations; and to facilitate the election of the new municipal council. As a result the terms of reference of the intervention will be restricted to the following areas: the financial situation of the municipality, governance and institutional matters, and political problems.

As said before, the municipality of Lekwa Teemane has been experiencing financial difficulty for some time, as a result of the aforementioned political instability and poor local leadership. Some of the financial difficulties can be summarised as follows. The annual financial statements of the municipality reflect reserves of R12,5 million but there are no cash investments to back that up. This has led to the municipality failing to meet its financial obligations to its creditors, which resulted in the withdrawal of investments that were used for the funding of operating expenditure.

The outstanding account with the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry increased to R11,7 million due to nonpayment by the municipality. This has also led Dwaf to contemplate reducing the water supply to the municipality. The defaulted loan repayment to the Development Bank of Southern Africa stands at R1,7 million. This bank is considering legal action against the municipality. The total outstanding amount owed to creditors stands at R15,9 million, with the Auditor-General’s account still unpaid at R146 291. These amounts exclude the bank overdraft of the municipality which exceeds R1 million.

This therefore demonstrates that there is a lack of management strategy regarding the cash flow of this municipality, which in turn impacts negatively on the operations of this municipality. The lack of management strategy to manage cash flow has meant that the municipality could not pay the salaries of its staff, could not pay for bulk water supply, and could not pay its electricity account to Eskom. As a result, the department of local government, in the province, had to intervene and provide financial assistance.

The total account for salaries for this municipality stands at R4,6 million, which represents more than 45% of total expenditure. This is in violation of the National Treasury norm which provides that salaries should not exceed 35% of the revenue of a municipality. The situation has impacted on the municipality’s capacity to implement an indigent policy and compile an indigent register. And, as a result of that, the municipality could not implement the free basic services policy as needed.

The municipality has also failed to integrate the two major towns, as mentioned before, and as a result of this these towns still operate as two separate entities. This means, therefore, duplication of municipality staff, which impacts negatively on the resources of the municipality.

The municipality has since commissioned Price Waterhouse Coopers to compile an organogram for the staff complement of the municipality. However, it has not implemented the recommendations of this company, since the councillors could not meet to take decisions on the implementation of this organogram. This therefore represents a fruitless expenditure.

Meetings of the council and committees do not materialise in most instances. Where they do materialise, the meetings do not address operational matters or issues relating to service delivery. Instead, the focus is placed on special meetings that deal with mineral rights and other nondevelopmental issues. There is therefore ineffective leadership in this municipality and, as a result, crucial decisions could not be taken.

The section 105 investigation conducted by the department in the province found that the problems within the municipality are both political and administrative. Many councillors are not familiar with the relevant legislation despite workshops and other measures aimed at capacity- building. The political tensions are so serious that there is little cohesion within the council.

The ward committees are not working properly. The ex-mayor and ex-speaker have also fought over who should call meetings of the council. This resulted in a very difficult relationship between these two top leaders in the council, which in turn impacted on the overall running of the municipality.

The ad hoc committee, as constituted by this House, is not in a position to make recommendations to this House at this stage since it would still like to clear some issues which were raised by stakeholders and role-players before a final recommendation could be made to this House. I thank you for your attention. [Applause.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Hon members, that concludes the debate. Bells will be rung for three minutes to allow all provinces to be present in the House before we vote on the following Orders that have been read out by the secretary, ie the third, second and fourth Orders. Bells will now be rung for three minutes.

Debate concluded.

Business suspended at 17:22 and resumed at 17:25.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Hon members, we are going to start with the second order of the day, ie the Annual Report of the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs. The question is that the report be adopted. As the decision is dealt with in terms of section 65 of the Constitution, I shall first ascertain whether all delegation heads are present in the Chamber to cast their provinces’ votes. Are all present?

In accordance with Rule 71 I shall first allow provinces the opportunity make their declaration of vote if they so wish. We shall now proceed to the voting on the question. I shall do so in alphabetical order per province. Delegation heads must please indicate to the Chair whether they vote in favour, against or abstain from voting. Eastern Cape?

Ms B N DLULANE: Iyayamukela i-Eastern Cape. [Eastern Cape welcomes it.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Free State?

Mr T S SETONA: Free State supports.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Gauteng?

Ms D M RAMODIBE: Ra e tshehetsa. [Supports.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: KwaZulu-Natal?

Ms B THOMSON: Siyawemukela umbiko wekomiti. [We welcome the committee report.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Limpopo?

Kgosi M L MOKOENA: Ha seketela. [We support.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEE: Mpumalanga?

Ms M P THEMBA: Siyawusekela [We support.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Northern Cape?

Mrs E N LUBIDLA: Supports.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: North West? Mr Z S KOLWENI: Ke wa rona [Support.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Western Cape? Absent.

Eight provinces have voted in favour. I therefore declare the report adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution. [Applause.]

We shall now proceed to Order number three. The question is that the report be adopted. As the decision is dealt with in terms of section 65 of the Constitution, I shall first ascertain whether all delegation heads are present in the Chamber to cast their provinces’ votes. Are we all present? In accordance with Rule 71 I shall first allow provinces the opportunity to make their declaration of vote if they so wish.

We shall now proceed to the voting on the question. I shall do so in alphabetical order per province. The delegation heads must please indicate whether they vote in favour, against or abstain from voting. Eastern Cape? Ms B N DLULANE: Ke wa rona. [We support.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Free State?

Mr T S SETONA: Free State support.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Gauteng?

Ms D M RAMODIBE: Gauteng ya tshehetsa. [Gauteng supports.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: KwaZulu-Natal?

Ms B THOMSON: We support.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Limpopo?

Kgoshi M L MOKOENA: Re a thekga. [We support.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Mpumalanga?

Ms M P THEMBA: Support.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Northern Cape? Mrs E N LUBIDLA: Ons ondersteun. [We support.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: North West?

Mr Z S KOLWENI: Ke wa rona. [We support.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Western Cape? Absent.

Eight provinces have voted in favour. I therefore declare the report adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution. [Applause.]

Before we vote on the fourth Order, I shall give the leader of the delegation of the ad hoc committee an opportunity to speak to us.

Mr B J MKHALIPHI: Hon Chairperson, hon members, I wish to reiterate the recommendation of the ad hoc committee to this House. The ad hoc committee is not in a position to make conclusive recommendations to the House. Therefore, the committee recommends that the House not recommend the intervention at this stage to allow the committee enough time to clear issues that were raised by stakeholders. I thank you.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: That concludes the amendment by the ad hoc committee. I shall now put the question. The question is that the report be adopted. As the decision is dealt with in terms of section 65 of the Constitution, I shall first ascertain that delegation heads are present to cast their provinces’ votes.

In accordance with Rule 71 I shall first allow provinces the opportunity to make their declaration of vote if they so wish. We shall now proceed to the voting on the question. I shall do so in alphabetical order per province. Delegation heads must please indicate whether they vote in favour, against or abstain from voting. Eastern Cape?

Ms B N DLULANE: Siyahambisana nombono. [We support the idea.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Free State?

Mr T S SETONA: We support.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Gauteng?

Ms M D RAMODIBE: Gauteng supports.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: KwaZulu-Natal?

Ms B THOMSON: We support the disapproval of the intervention.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Limpopo?

Kgoshi M L MOKOENA: I khou tenda. [Support.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Mpumalanga?

Ms M P THEMBA: Mpumalanga ya tshehetsa. [Mpumalanga supports.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Northern Cape?

Mrs E N LUBIDLA: Support.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: North West?

Mr M I MAKOELA: In favour.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Western Cape? Absent.

Eight provinces have voted in favour of the recommendations by the committee to say that the ad hoc committee still needs time to look into the matter. We therefore are in agreement that all eight provinces have supported the ad hoc committee.

Report accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.

The Council adjourned at 17:34. ____

            ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS

                       MONDAY, 1 DECEMBER 2003 TABLINGS: National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

Papers:

1. The Minister of Finance:

 Consolidated Financial Statements of National  Treasury  for  the  year
 ended 31 March 1999, including  the  Special  Report  of  the  Auditor-
 General on  the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  of  the  National
 Government for the year ended 31 March 1999.

1. The Minister of Foreign Affairs:

 (a)    Protocol on the  Amendments  to  the  Constitutive  Act  of  the
     African  Union,  tabled  in  terms  of  section   231(2)   of   the
     Constitution, 1996.


 (b)    Explanatory Memorandum to the Protocol on the Amendments to  the
     Constitutive Act of the African Union. 3.    The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development:


 (a)    Report and Financial Statements  of  Vote  24  -  Department  of
     Justice and Constitutional  Development  for  2002-2003,  including
     the Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial  Statements  for
     2002-2003 [RP 206-2003].


 (b)    Report and Financial Statements  of  Vote  24  -  Department  of
     Justice and  Constitutional  Development  for  2002-2003  [RP  207-
     2003].

1. The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism:

 (a)    Request for the approval of Parliament to exclude the  remainder
     of Farm 498 (Melkbosrand) from Augrabies Waterfall Park,  in  terms
     of section 2(3) of the National Parks  Act,  1976  (Act  No  57  of
     1976).


 (b)    Explanatory Memorandum to the Proposed  Exclusion  in  terms  of
     section 2(3) of the National Parks Act, 1976 (Act No  57  of  1976)
     of the remainder of Farm 498 better known as Melkbosrand in  extent
     4137 (ha), from the Augrabies Waterfall National Park  situated  in
     the Administrative District of Gordonia, Province of  the  Northern
     Cape.

1. The Minister for Safety and Security:

 Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the  Republic  of
 South Africa and the Government of the  Islamic  Republic  of  Iran  on
 Cooperation  in  Combating  Illicit  Trafficking  in  Narcotic   Drugs,
 Psychotropic Substances and Precursors,  tabled  in  terms  of  section
 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.

                      THURSDAY, 4 DECEMBER 2003

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

1. Assent by President in respect of Bills:

 (1)    Skills Development Amendment Bill [B 46 - 2003] - Act No  31  of
     2003 (assented to and signed by President on 11 November 2003).

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

National Council of Provinces:

1. Report of the Select Committee on Education and Recreation on Study Tour to KwaZulu-Natal, dated 25 November 2003:

Insert 4ATC0412e.doc

                       MONDAY, 8 DECEMBER 2003

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

1. Translations of Bills submitted:

 (1)    The Minister of Home Affairs:


     (i)     Tweede Wysigingswetsontwerp op  Kieswette  [W  73  -  2003]
          (National Assembly - sec 75)


     This is the official translation into Afrikaans  of  the  Electoral
     Laws Second Amendment Bill [B 73 - 2003] (National Assembly  -  sec
     75).

TABLINGS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

Papers:

1. The Minister of Trade and Industry: (a) Government Notice No 152 published in Government Gazette No 24312 dated 29 January 2003: Notice in terms of section 13: Declaration of certain goods to be controlled goods and control measures applicable to such goods, in terms of the Non- Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Act, 1993 (Act No 87 of 1993).

 (b)    Government Notice No 180  published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     24343 dated 31 January 2003: Notice to exempt the  Methodist  Homes
     for the Aged from  the  provisions  of  regulations  6  -  14:  For
     general comment, in terms of the Housing  Development  Schemes  for
     Retired Persons Act, 1988 (Act No 65 of 1988).


 (c)    Government Notice No R166 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     24329 dated 7 February 2003: Notice in terms of sections 1  and  10
     of the Companies Act, 1973 (Act No 61 of 1973).


 (d)    Government Notice No 235  published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     24387 dated 14 February 2003: Developing  South  Africa's  approach
     to multilateral trade negotiations in the World Trade  Organisation
     (WTO).


 (e)    Government Notice No R9 published in Government Gazette No 24801
     dated 21 February 2003: Commencement of certain sections, in  terms
     of the International Trade Administration Act, 2002 (Act No  71  of
     2002).
 (f)    Government Notice No R273 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     24941  dated  28  February  2003:  Proposed   amendments   of   the
     compulsory specification for motor vehicles of category O3 and  O4,
     in terms of the Standards Act, 1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (g)    Government Notice No R274 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     24941 dated 28 February 2003: Proposed amendment of the  compulsory
     specification  for  replacement  of  secondary  lights  for   motor
     vehicles, in terms of the Standards Act, 1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (h)    Government Notice No R275 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     24941 dated 28 February 2003: Proposed amendment of the  compulsory
     specification for replacement of headlights for motor vehicles,  in
     terms of the Standards Act, 1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (i)    Government Notice No R369 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25040  dated  20   March   2003:   Compulsory   specification   for
     specification for respirators, in terms of the Standards Act,  1993
     (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (j)    Government Notice No R370 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25040 dated 20 March 2003: Compulsory specification  for  breathing
     apparatus, in terms of the  Standards  Act,  1993  (Act  No  29  of
     1993).


 (k)    Government Notice No R450 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     24623 dated 11 April 2003: Proposed  Amendment  of  the  compulsory
     specification for motor vehicles  category  N1,  in  terms  of  the
     Standards Act, 1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (l)    Government Notice No R451 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     24623 dated 11 April 2003: Amendment: Regulations relating  to  the
     payments of levy and the  issue  of  sales  permits  in  regard  to
     compulsory specifications, in terms  of  the  Standards  Act,  1993
     (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (m)    Government Notice No R452 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     24623 dated 11 April 2003: Proposed  amendment  of  the  compulsory
     specification for electrical and electronic apparatus (VC8055),  in
     terms of the Standards Act, 1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (n)    Government Notice No R453 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     24623 dated 11 April 2003: Proposed  amendment  of  the  compulsory
     specification for motor vehicles of category M1, in  terms  of  the
     Standards Act, 1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (o)    Government Notice No R454 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     24623 dated 11 April 2003: Proposed  compulsory  specification  for
     material for contour marking on motor vehicles,  in  terms  of  the
     Standards Act, 1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (p)    Government Notice No R513 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     24734 dated 17 April 2003: Amendment: compulsory specification  for
     the safety  of  electric  cables  with  extruded  solid  dielectric
     insulation for fixed installations, in terms of the Standards  Act,
     1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (q)    Government Notice No R522 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     24734 dated 17 April 2003: Proposed  compulsory  specification  for
     plastic carrier bags and flat bags, in terms of the Standards  Act,
     1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (r)    Government Notice No R512 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     24731 dated 17 April 2003: Regulations relating to the  payment  of
     levy and the  issue  of  sales  permits  in  regard  to  compulsory
     specifications: Amendment, in terms  of  the  Standards  Act,  1993
     (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (s)    Government Notice No R42  published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     24837 dated 2 May 2003: Commencement of Section  54,  in  terms  of
     the Lotteries Act, 1997 (Act No 57 of 1997).


 (t)    Government Notices No's R610, R611, R612 and R613  published  in
     Government Gazette No 24826 dated 9 May 2003: Regulations:  Payment
     of levy and the issue of sales  permits  in  regard  to  compulsory
     specifications: Amendment in terms of the Standards Act, 1993  (Act
     No 29 of 1993).
 (u)    Government Notice No R614 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     24826 dated 9 May 2003: Proposed compulsory specification  for  the
     safety  of  medium  voltage  electric  cables,  in  terms  of   the
     Standards Act, 1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (v)    Government Notice No R615 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     24826 dated 9 May 2003: Regulations; Payment of levy and the  issue
     of sales permits in regard to compulsory specifications:  Amendment
     in terms of the Standards Act, 1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (w)    Government Notice No R672 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     24874 dated 23 May  2003:  Regulations:  Promotional  Competitions,
     2003, in terms of the  Promotional  Competitors  of  the  Lotteries
     Act, 1997 (Act No 57 of 1997).


 (x)    Government Notices No's R673, R674, R675 and R676  published  in
     Government  Gazette  No  24876  dated  23   May   2003:   Strategic
     Industrial Project (SIP), in terms of  the  Income  Tax  Act,  1962
     (Act No 58 of 1962).


 (y)    Government Notice No 721  published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     24934 dated 29 May 2003:  Amendment  of  the  Patents  Regulations,
     1978, in terms of the Patents Act, 1978 (Act No 57 of 1978).


 (z)    Government Notice No R862 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25082 dated  27  June  2003:  Withdrawal  and  replacement  of  the
     compulsory specification for child  restraints  for  use  in  motor
     vehicles, in terms of the Standards Act, 1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (aa)   Government Notice No R867 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25082 dated 27 June  2003:  Compulsory  specification  for  plastic
     carrier bags and flat bags, in terms of  the  Standards  Act,  1993
     (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (bb)   Government Notice No 963  published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25161 dated 2 July  2003:  Amendment  of  the  Patents  Regulation,
     1978, in terms of the Patents Act, 1978 (Act No 57 of 1978).


 (cc)   Government Notice No R941 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25137 dated 4 July 2003: Strategic  Industrial  Project  (SIP),  in
     terms of the Income Tax Act, 1962 (Act No 58 of 1962).


 (dd)   Government Notice No R978 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25171  dated  4  July  2003:  Withdrawal  and  replacement  of  the
     compulsory  specification  for  frozen  rock  lobster  and   frozen
     lobster products derived therefrom, in terms of the Standards  Act,
     1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (ee)   Government Notice No R979 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25172  dated  4  July  2003:  Withdrawal  and  replacement  of  the
     compulsory specification for frozen fish,  frozen  marine  molluscs
     and frozen products derived therefrom, in terms  of  the  Standards
     Act, 1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (ff)   Government Notice No 992  published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25177 dated 7 July 2003: Notice in terms of section 2(1),  (2)  and
     (3), in terms of the Usury Act, 1968 (Act No 73 of 1968).
 (gg)   Government Notice No R1013 published in  Government  Gazette  No
     25211  dated  18  July  2003:  Regulations:  Implementation  of   a
     compulsory  computerized   wagering   system   for   all   licensed
     bookmakers in South Africa: For public comment,  in  terms  of  the
     National Gambling Act, 1996 (Act No 33 of 1996).


 (hh)   Government Notice No R1026 published in  Government  Gazette  No
     25220 dated 25 July 2003: Regulations relating to  the  payment  of
     levy and the  issue  of  sales  permits  in  regard  to  compulsory
     specifications: Amendment in terms of the Standards Act, 1993  (Act
     No 29 of 1993).


 (ii)   Government Notice No R1075 published in  Government  Gazette  No
     25245 dated 1  August  2003:  Withdrawal  and  replacement  of  the
     compulsory specification for motor  vehicles  of  category  M1,  in
     terms of the Standards Act, 1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (jj)   Government Notice No R1076 published in  Government  Gazette  No
     25245 dated 1 August 2003: Proposed replacement of  the  compulsory
     specification  for  the  manufacture,  production,  processing  and
     treatment  of  canned  fish,  canned  marine  molluscs  and  canned
     crustaceans, in terms of the Standards Act,  1993  (Act  No  29  of
     1993).


 (kk)   Government Notice No R1077 published in  Government  Gazette  No
     25245 dated 1  August  2003:  Withdrawal  and  replacement  of  the
     compulsory specification for motor  vehicles  of  category  N1,  in
     terms of the Standards Act, 1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (ll)   Government Notice No R1077 published in  Government  Gazette  No
     25245 dated 1 August 2003: Compulsory  specification  for  material
     for contour marking on motor vehicles, in terms  of  the  Standards
     Act, 1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (mm)   Government Notice No R1078 published in  Government  Gazette  No
     25245 dated 1 August 2003: Amendment: Compulsory specification  for
     material for contour marking on motor vehicles,  in  terms  of  the
     Standards Act, 1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (nn)   Government Notice No R1079 published in  Government  Gazette  No
     25245 dated 1 August 2003: Amendment: Compulsory specification  for
     electrical and electronic apparatus,  in  terms  of  the  Standards
     Act, 1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (oo)   Government Notice No R1080 published in  Government  Gazette  No
     25245 dated 1 August 2003: Proposed replacement of  the  compulsory
     specification  for  the  manufacture,  production,  processing  and
     treatment of canned meat products, in terms of the  Standards  Act,
     1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (pp)   Government Notice No 1129 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25310 dated 8 August  2003:  Strategic  Industrial  Project  (SIP):
     Application for approval: Trident Steel (Pty) Ltd, in terms of  the
     Income Tax Act, 1962 (Act No 58 of 1962).


 (qq)   Government Notice No 1130 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25310  dated  8  August  2003:  Decision  to  approve  application:
     African Oxygen Limited Bulk Gas Plant, in terms of the  Income  Tax
     Act, 1962 (Act No 58 of 1962).


 (rr)   Government Notice No 1131 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25310 dated 8 August 2003: Hillside Aluminium SA Limited, in  terms
     of the Income Tax Act, 1962 (Act No 58 of 1962).


 (ss)   Government Notice No 1127 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25309 dated 8 August  2003:  Strategic  Industrial  Project  (SIP):
     Application for approval: Nestle Purina, in  terms  of  the  Income
     Tax Act, 1962 (Act No 58 of 1962).


 (tt)   Government Notice No 1128 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25309 dated 8 August 2003:  Decision  not  to  approve:  Sasol  MCC
     Chemicals (Pty) Ltd, in terms of the Income Tax Act, 1962  (Act  No
     58 of 1962).


 (uu)   Government Notice No R1164 published in  Government  Gazette  No
     25306 dated 15 August  2003:  Amendment:  compulsory  specification
     for medium voltage electric cables, in terms of the Standards  Act,
     1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (vv)   Government Notice No R1165 published in  Government  Gazette  No
     25306 dated  15  August  2003:  Compulsory  specification  for  the
     safety  of  electric  cables   with   extruded   solid   dielectric
     insulation for fixed installations, in terms of the Standards  Act,
     1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (ww)   Government Notice No R1166 published in  Government  Gazette  No
     25306 dated 15 August  2003:  Withdrawal  and  replacement  of  the
     compulsory specification for vehicles of category  03  and  O4,  in
     terms of the Standards Act, 1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (xx)   Government Notice No R1167 published in  Government  Gazette  No
     25306 dated 15 August  2003:  Amendment:  Compulsory  specification
     for replacement of secondary lights for motor  vehicles,  in  terms
     of the Standards Act, 1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).
 (yy)   Government Notice No R1168 published in  Government  Gazette  No
     25306  dated  15  August   2003:   Compulsory   specification   for
     replacement of headlights for  motor  vehicles,  in  terms  of  the
     Standards Act, 1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (zz)   Government Notice No R1169 published in  Government  Gazette  No
     25306 dated 15 August 2003: Proposed compulsory  specification  for
     small arms shooting ranges, in terms of  the  Standards  Act,  1993
     (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (aaa)  Government Notice No 1197 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25351 dated 22 August 2003:  Strategic  Industrial  Project  (SIP):
     Pechiney Potline 1 Project, in terms of the Income  Tax  Act,  1962
     (Act No 58 of 1958).


 (bbb)  Government Notice No 1198 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25351 dated 22 August 2003: Pechiney Potline 2  Project,  in  terms
     of the Income Tax Act, 1962 (Act No 58 of 1958).
 (ccc)  Government Notice No 1199 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25351 dated 22 August 2003: Pechiney Casthouse  Project,  in  terms
     of the Income Tax Act, 1962 (Act No 58 of 1958).


 (ddd)  Government Notice No 1200 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25351 dated 22 August 2003: Pechiney Anode Plant Project, in  terms
     of the Income Tax Act, 1962 (Act No 58 of 1958).


 (eee)  Government Notice No R63  published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25403 dated 27 August 2003: Commencement of  section  1  to  6,  in
     terms of the Corporate Laws Amendment  Act,  2002  (Act  No  39  of
     2002).


 (fff)  Government Notice No R1236 published in  Government  Gazette  No
     25397 dated 5 September 2003:  Proposed  withdrawal  of  compulsory
     specification for slow speed  vehicles  and  replacement  with  the
     compulsory specification for agricultural  tractors,  in  terms  of
     the Standards Act, 1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (ggg)  Government Notice No R1343 published in  Government  Gazette  No
     25491  dated  23  September   2003:   Amendment   of   the   Patent
     Regulations, 1978 (Act No 57 of 1978).


 (hhh)  Government Notice No 1389 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25529 dated 1 October 2003: Annual finance charge rates,  in  terms
     of the Usury Act, 1968 (Act No 73 of 1968).


 (iii)  Government Notice No 1461 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25571 dated 8 October 2003: Declaration as  a  housing  development
     scheme: Lynnwood Oord, in terms of the Housing Development  Schemes
     for Retired Persons Act (65/1988).


 (jjj)  Government Notice No R1415 published in  Government  Gazette  No
     25527 dated 10  October  2003:  Compulsory  specification  for  the
     control of gaming devices and related  matters,  in  terms  of  the
     Standards Act, 1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (kkk)   Government  Notices  No  1456,  1457  and  1458  published   in
     Government Gazette  No  25559  dated  10  October  2003:  Strategic
     Industrial Project (SIP), in terms of  the  Income  Tax  Act,  1962
     (Act No 58 of 1958).
 (lll)  Government Notice No 1478 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25562 dated 17 October 2003: Standard  Matters,  in  terms  of  the
     Standards Act, 1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).


 (mmm)  Report and Financial Statements of the National Empowerment Fund
     for 2002-2003, including the Report of the Independent Auditors  on
     the Financial Statements for 2002-2003.


 (nnn)  Report and Financial Statements of Trade  and  Investment  South
     Africa for 2002-2003,  including  the  Report  of  the  Independent
     Auditors on the Financial Statements for 2002-2003.


 (ooo)  Report and Financial Statements of Strategic Industrial Projects
     (SIP) for 2002-2003.


 (ppp)  Report of the South African Council for the Non-Proliferation of
     Weapons of Mass Destruction for the year ended June 2002.

1. The Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry:

 Report and Financial Statements of Albany  Coast  Water  for  the  year
 ended June 2003.

1. The Minister for Safety and Security:

 Agreement between the Government of the Republic of  South  Africa  and
 the Austrian Federal Government on Police Cooperation, tabled in  terms
 of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.

                     THURSDAY, 11 DECEMBER 2003

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

1. Assent by President in respect of Bills:

 (1)    Anti-Personnel Mines Prohibition Bill [B 44D - 2002] - Act No 36
     of 2003 (assented to and signed by President on 2 December 2003);


 (2)    Adjustments Appropriation Bill [B 69 - 2003] - Act No 37 of 2003
     (assented to and signed by President on 4 December 2003); and


 (3)    Electoral Laws Second Amendment Bill [B 73 - 2003] - Act  No  40
     of 2003 (assented to and signed by President on 5 December 2003).

1. Translations of Bills submitted:

 (1)    The Minister of Defence:


     (i)     Wetsontwerp op  die  Krygstuigkorporasie  van  Suid-Afrika,
          Beperk [W 18 - 2003] (National Assembly - sec 75)
     This is the official translation into Afrikaans  of  the  Armaments
     Corporation of South Africa, Limited Bill [B 18 -  2003]  (National
     Assembly - sec 75).


 (2)    The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism:


    (i)      Wysigingswetsontwerp op Nasionale Omgewingsbestuur [W 29 -
             2003] (National Assembly - sec 75)


             This is the official  translation  into  Afrikaans  of  the
             National Environmental Management Amendment Bill  [B  29  -
             2003] (National Council of Provinces - sec 76).
    (ii)     Wysigingswetsontwerp op Omgewingsbewaring [W  45  -  2003]
             (National Assembly - sec 75)


             This is the official  translation  into  Afrikaans  of  the
             Environment Conservation  Amendment  Bill  [B  45  -  2003]
             (National Assembly - sec 76).


 (3)    The Minister for Intelligence:


     (i)     Algemene Wysigingswetsontwerp  op  Intelligensiedienste  [W
          47 - 2003] (National Assembly - sec 75)


     This is the official translation  into  Afrikaans  of  the  General
     Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill [B 47 - 2003]  (National  Assembly
     - sec 75).


 (4)    The Minister of Transport:


     (i)     Wysigingswetsontwerp op die Padongelukfonds [W 64  -  2003]
          (National Assembly - sec 75)


     This is  the  official  translation  into  Afrikaans  of  the  Road
     Accident Fund Amendment Bill [B 64 -  2003]  (National  Assembly  -
     sec 75).

National Council of Provinces:

1. Referrals to committees of papers tabled:

 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
     Finance:


     (a)     Report  and  Financial  Statements  of  the  South  African
          Revenue Services (SARS) for 2002-2003, including the Report of
          the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements for  2002-2003
          [RP 191-2003].


     (b)     Report and Financial Statements of  the  Public  Investment
          Commissioners for  2002-2003,  including  the  Report  of  the
          Auditor-General on the Financial Statements for 2002-2003  [RP
          152-2003].


     (c)     Consolidated Financial Statements of National Treasury  for
          the year ended 31 March 1999, including the Special Report  of
          the Auditor-General on the Consolidated  Financial  Statements
          of the National Government for the year ended 31 March 1999.


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


     Report and  Financial  Statements  of  the  Industrial  Development
     Corporation of South Africa Limited for the year ended  June  2003,
     including the Report of the Independent Auditors on  the  Financial
     Statements for the year ended June 2003.


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


     (a)     Government Notice No R1660 published in Government  Gazette
          No  25695  dated  12  November  2003:  Regulations   regarding
          reparations to victims in terms of the Promotion  of  National
          Unity and Reconciliation Act, 1995 (Act No 34 of 1995).


     (b)     Government Notice No R1623 published in Government  Gazette
          No 25666 dated 7 November 2003: Amendment  of  regulations  in
          terms of the Debt Collectors Act, 1998 (Act No 114 of 1998).


     (c)     Report and Financial Statements of Vote 24 - Department  of
          Justice and Constitutional Development for 2002-2003 [RP  207-
          2003].


     (d)     Report and Financial Statements of Vote 24 - Department  of
          Justice  and   Constitutional   Development   for   2002-2003,
          including the Report of the Auditor-General on  the  Financial
          Statements for 2002-2003 [RP 206-2003].


     (e)     Memorandum of Understanding between the Government  of  the
          Republic of South Africa and the  Government  of  the  Islamic
          Republic  of  Iran  on  Cooperation   in   Combating   Illicit
          Trafficking in Narcotic  Drugs,  Psychotropic  Substances  and
          Precursors,  tabled  in  terms  of  section  231(3)   of   the
          Constitution, 1996.


 (4)    The following papers are referred to  the  Select  Committee  on
     Land and Environmental Affairs:


     (a)     Report  and  Financial  Statements  of  the  South  African
          Veterinary Council for 2002-2003, including the Report of  the
          Independent Auditors on the  Financial  Statements  for  2002-
          2003.


     (b)     Report and Financial Statements of Amatola  Water  for  the
          year ended June 2003, including the Report of the  Independent
          Auditors for the year ended June 2003.


     (c)     Report and Financial Statements of Botshelo Water  for  the
          year ended June 2003, including the Report of the  Independent
          Auditors for the year ended June 2003.


     (d)     Report and Financial Statements of Lepelle  Northern  Water
          for the year ended June 2003,  including  the  Report  of  the
          Independent Auditors for the year ended June 2003.


     (e)     Report and Financial Statements of Namaqua  Water  for  the
          year ended June 2003, including the Report of the  Independent
          Auditors for the year ended June 2003.


     (f)     Report and Financial Statements of Overberg Water  for  the
          year ended June 2003, including the Report of the  Independent
          Auditors for the year ended June 2003.


     (g)     Report and Financial Statements of Rand Water for the  year
          ended June 2003,  including  the  Report  of  the  Independent
          Auditors for the year ended June 2003.


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


     (a)     Community Based Public Works Programme for 2000-2001.


     (b)     Community Based Public Works Programme for 2001-2002.


     (c)     Community Based Public Works Programme for 2002-2003.


     (d)     Community Based Public Works Programme for 2003-2004.


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


     (a)     Report and Financial Statements of the Rural  Housing  Loan
          Fund  (RHLF)  for  2002-2003,  including  the  Report  of  the
          Independent Auditors on the  Financial  Statements  for  2002-
          2003.


     (b)     Report and  Financial  Statements  of  the  Social  Housing
          Foundation (SHF) for 2002-2003, including the  Report  of  the
          Independent Auditors on the  Financial  Statements  for  2002-
          2003.


     (c)     Report and Financial Statements  of  Thubelisha  Homes  for
          2002-2003, including the Report of the Independent Auditors on
          the Financial Statements for 2002-2003.


     (d)      Report  and  Financial  Statements  of   Servcon   Housing
          Solutions (Proprietary) Limited for 2002-2003,  including  the
          Report of the Independent Auditors on the Financial Statements
          for 2002-2003.


     (e)     Report and  Financial  Statements  of  the  National  Urban
          Reconstruction and Housing Agency for 2002-2003, including the
          Report of the Independent Auditors on the Financial Statements
          for 2002-2003.


     (f)      Report  and  Financial  Statements  of  National   Housing
          Finance  Corporation  Limited  for  2002-2003,  including  the
          Report of the Independent Auditors on the Financial Statements
          for 2002-2003.
 (7)    The following papers are referred to  the  Select  Committee  on
     Economic and Foreign Affairs for consideration and report:


     (a)     Protocol on the Amendments to the Constitutive Act  of  the
          African Union, tabled  in  terms  of  section  231(2)  of  the
          Constitution, 1996.


     (b)     Explanatory Memorandum to the Protocol  on  the  Amendments
          to the Constitutive Act of the African Union.


 (8)    The following papers are referred to  the  Select  Committee  on
     Land and Environmental Affairs for consideration and report:


     (a)     Request for the  approval  of  Parliament  to  exclude  the
          remainder of Farm 498 (Melkbosrand) from  Augrabies  Waterfall
          Park, in terms of section 2(3) of the National Parks Act, 1976
          (Act No 57 of 1976).


     (b)     Explanatory Memorandum to the Proposed Exclusion  in  terms
          of section 2(3) of the National Parks Act, 1976 (Act No 57  of
          1976) of the remainder of Farm 498 better known as Melkbosrand
          in extent 4137 (ha), from  the  Augrabies  Waterfall  National
          Park situated in  the  Administrative  District  of  Gordonia,
          Province of the Northern Cape.

TABLINGS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

Papers:

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson:

 General Report of the Auditor-General on the  Audit  Outcomes  for  the
 financial year 2002-2003 [RP 214-2003].

1. The Minister of Finance: (a) Report and Financial Statements of the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) for 2001-2002, including the Report of the Independent Auditors on the Financial Statements for 2001-2002.

 (b)    Government Notice No 1383 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25518 dated 30 September 2003: Statement of the  National  Revenue,
     Expenditure and Borrowing as at 31 August 2003,  in  terms  of  the
     Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of 1999).


 (c)    Government Notice No R1411 published in  Government  Gazette  No
     25527  dated  10  October  2003:  Exchange   Control   Regulations:
     Appointment of an authorised dealer in foreign  exchange:  Standard
     Chartered Bank  -  Johannesburg,  in  terms  of  the  Currency  and
     Exchanges Act, 1933 (Act No 9 of 1933).

1. The Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry:

 (a)    Report and Financial Statements of Ikangala Water for  the  year
     ended June 2003, including the Report of the  Independent  Auditors
     on the Financial Statements for the year ended June 2003.


 (b)    Report and Financial Statements of Magalies Water for  the  year
     ended June 2003, including the Report of the  Independent  Auditors
     on the Financial Statements for the year ended June 2003.


 (c)    Report and Financial Statements of Mhlathuze Water for the  year
     ended June 2003, including the Report of the  Independent  Auditors
     on the Financial Statements for the year ended June 2003.


 (d)    Report and Financial Statements of Pelladrift Water for the year
     ended June 2003, including the Report of the  Independent  Auditors
     on the Financial Statements for the year ended June 2003.


 (e)    Report and Financial Statements of Sedibeng Water for  the  year
     ended June 2003, including the Report of the  Independent  Auditors
     on the Financial Statements for the year ended June 2003.


 (f)    Report and Financial Statements of Umgeni  Water  for  the  year
     ended June 2003, including the Report of the  Independent  Auditors
     on the Financial Statements for the year ended June 2003.


 (g)    Government Notice No 1266 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25426 dated 12 September 2003: Release of portion  1  of  the  farm
     Frankfort 173 JT - Frankfort Plantation - Sabie  -  Mpumalanga,  in
     terms of the National Forests Act, 1998 (Act No 84 of 1998).


 (h)    Government Notice No 1468 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25562 dated 17 October 2003: Invitation to submit written  comments
     on the proposed raising of Flag Boshielo Dam and the  environmental
     impact assessment relating thereto, in terms of the National  Water
     Act, 1998 (Act No 36 of 1998).


 (i)    Government Notice No 1514 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25602 dated 24 October 2003: Prohibition on the making of fires  in
     the open air: Western Cape, in terms of the Forest Act,  1984  (Act
     No 122 of 1984).


 (j)    Government Notice No 1515 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25602 dated 24 October 2003: Prohibition on the making of fires  in
     the open air: Districts of Swellendam and Montagu, in terms of  the
     Forest Act, 1984 (Act No 122 of 1984).


 (k)    Government Notice No 1516 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25602 dated 24 October 2003: Prohibition on the making of fires  in
     the open air: Districts of Clanwilliam, Piketberg, Ceres,  Tulbagh,
     Worcester, Caledon, Paarl, Stellenbosch, Strand and Somerset  West,
     in terms of the Forest Act, 1984 (Act No 122 of 1984).

National Council of Provinces:

1. The Chairperson:

 (a)    A response has been received from the Minister of Transport with
     respect to  the  resolution  which  was  adopted  by  the  National
     Council of Provinces on 22 October 2003.


     Copies of the response are available from the Office of  the  Clerk
     of Papers.


 (b)    A response has been received from the Minister  for  Safety  and
     Security with respect to the resolution which was  adopted  by  the
     National Council of Provinces on 9 September 2003.


     Copies of the response are available from the Office of  the  Clerk
     of Papers.


 (c)    The following statement  has  been  submitted  to  the  National
     Council of Provinces by the MEC of Traditional Affairs, Safety  and
     of Local Government Affairs in KwaZulu-Natal in  terms  of  section
     106(3) of the Local Government: Municipal Systems  Act,  2000  (Act
     No 32 of 2000):


     Investigation into Greater Kokstad Municipality


     Referred  to  the  Select  Committee  on   Local   Government   and
     Administration.


     Copies of the statement are available from the Office of the  Clerk
     of Papers.

                      MONDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2003

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

1. Assent by President in respect of Bills:

 (1)    Higher Education Amendment Bill [B 36 - 2003] -  Act  No  38  of
     2003 (assented to and signed by President on 10 December 2003);


 (2)    Pensions Second (Supplementary) Bill [B 59 - 2003] - Act  No  39
     of 2003 (assented to and signed by President on 10 December 2003);


 (3)    Criminal Procedure Amendment Bill [B 57D - 2002] - Act No 42  of
     2003 (assented to and signed by President on 17 December 2003);


 (4)    Firearms Control Amendment Bill [B 28B - 2003] - Act  No  43  of
     2003 (assented to and signed by President  on  17  December  2003);
     and


 (5)    Revenue Laws Amendment Bill [B 71 - 2003] - Act No  45  of  2003
     (assented to and signed by President on 17 December 2003).

1. Translations of Bills submitted:

 (1)    The Minister of Finance:


     (i)      Wysigingswetsontwerp  op  Inkomstewette  [W  71  -   2003]
          (National Assembly - sec 77).


     This is the official translation  into  Afrikaans  of  the  Revenue
     Laws Amendment Bill [B 71 - 2003] (National Assembly - sec 77).

TABLINGS:

National Council of Provinces:

1. The Chairperson:

 (a)    The President of the Republic  submitted  the  following  letter
     dated 4 December 2003 to the Chairperson of  the  National  Council
     of  Provinces  informing  Members  of  the  National   Council   of
     Provinces of the employment of the South African  National  Defence
     Force:


     EMPLOYMENT OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCE IN HAITI  IN
     FULFILLMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS  OF  THE  REPUBLIC  OF
     SOUTH AFRICA TOWARDS THE UNITED NATIONS


     This serves to inform the National Council  of  Provinces  that  on
     the 4th day of December Two Thousand and Three,  I  authorised  the
     employment of the South  African  National  Defence  Force  (SANDF)
     personnel to assist the Government  of  Haiti  in  celebrating  two
     hundred years of its  independence  and  victory  in  the  struggle
     against slavery in the Americas.


     This employment was authorised in accordance  with  the  provisions
     of Section 82(4)(b)(ii) of the  Constitution  of  the  Republic  of
     South Africa, 1993 (Act No 200 of 1993), [which  Sections  continue
     to be in force in  terms  of  Item  24(1)  of  Schedule  6  to  the
     Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No  108  of
     1996)], read with Section 201(2)(c) of  the  said  Constitution  of
     1996, in assisting the Government of Haiti in  fulfillment  of  the
     international obligations of the Republic of South  Africa  towards
     the United Nations, in terms of Section 227(1)(b) and  (c)  of  the
     Constitution of 1993, (which section is  also  still  in  force  by
     virtue of the  aforementioned  Item  24)  and  Section  18(1)  read
     together with Sections 11, 52 and 53 of the Defence Act, 2002  (Act
     No 42 of 2002).


     A total of 139 personnel will be employed comprised as follows:
     120 Navy Members;
     9 SAAF Members;
     7 SAMHS Members; and
     3 CJ Ops


     The equipment to be provided by SANDF is as follows:
     1 Combat Support Ship (SAS Drakensberg);
     1 Harbour Patrol Boat; and
     1 Oryx Helicopter.


     The  expected  costs  for  the  deployment  of  personnel  on   the
     operation is R2 059 714,83 at the  expense  of  the  Department  of
     Foreign Affairs. The duration will be approximately 53 days.


     I will also communicate this report to the Members of the  National
     Assembly, and wish to request that you bring the contents  of  this
     report to the notice of the National Council of Provinces.




     Regards


     SIGNED
     M E TSHABALALA-MSIMANG
     ACTING PRESIDENT
                       FRIDAY, 16 JANUARY 2004

ANNOUNCEMENTS

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces

1. Assent by President in respect of Bills

 (1)    Explosives Bill [B 43D - 2002] - Act No 15 of 2003 (assented  to
     and signed by President on 19 December 2003);


 (2)    Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Bill  [B  58B  -
     2003] - Act No 41 of 2003 (assented to and signed by  President  on
     11 December 2003); and


 (3)    Broad-Based Black Economic  Empowerment  Bill  [B  27B  -  2003]
     (National Assembly - sec 75) - Act No 53 of 2003 (assented  to  and
     signed by President on 7 January 2004).

TABLINGS

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces

1. The Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology

 Report and Financial Statements of Northern  Flagship  Institution  for
 2002-2003, including the Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial
 Statements for 2002-2003 [RP 172-2003].

1. The Minister of Public Enterprises

 Report and Financial  Statements  of  South  African  Forestry  Company
 Limited for 2002-2003, including the Report of the Independent Auditors
 on the Financial Statements for 2002-2003.

1. The Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry

 Report and Financial Statements of Bloem Water for 2002-2003,  ncluding
 the Report of the Independent Auditors on the Financial Statements  for
 2002-2003.

National Council of Provinces

1. The Chairperson

 The President of the Republic submitted the following letter  dated  11
 December 2003 to the Chairperson of the National Council  of  Provinces
 informing  Members  of  the  National  Council  of  Provinces  of   the
 employment of the South African National Defence Force:


     EMPLOYMENT  OF  THE  SOUTH  AFRICAN  NATIONAL  DEFENCE   FORCE   IN
     ASSISTING   AUSTRALIA   IN   FULFILLMENT   OF   THE   INTERNATIONAL
     OBLIGATIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF  SOUTH  AFRICA  TOWARDS  THE  UNITED
     NATIONS
     This serves to inform the National Council  of  Provinces  that  on
     the 11h day of December Two Thousand and Three,  I  authorised  the
     employment of the South  African  National  Defence  Force  (SANDF)
     personnel to assist the Government of Australia  in  escorting  the
     apprehended illegal fishing vessel in international waters.


     This employment was authorised in accordance  with  the  provisions
     of Section 82(4)(b)(ii) of the  Constitution  of  the  Republic  of
     South Africa, 1993 (Act No 200 of 1993), [which  Sections  continue
     to be in force in  terms  of  Item  24(1)  of  Schedule  6  to  the
     Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No  108  of
     1996)], read with Section 201(2)(c) of  the  said  Constitution  of
     1996, in assisting the Government of Australia  in  fulfillment  of
     the international obligations  of  the  Republic  of  South  Africa
     towards the United Nations (both  countries  being  signatories  of
     the United Nations Convention on the Law  of  the  Sea,  1982),  in
     terms of Section 227(1)(b) and (c) of  the  Constitution  of  1993,
     (which  section  is  also  still  in  force  by   virtue   of   the
     aforementioned Item  24)  and  Section  18(1)  read  together  with
     Sections 11, 52 and 53 of the Defence  Act,  2002  (Act  No  42  of
     2002).


     A total of 120 personnel were employed comprising of officers  from
     the Navy,  Air  Force,  Army,  SAHMS  and  Corporate  Communication
     Division.


     The equipment provided by the SANDF is as follows:
     1 Combat Support Ship (SAS Drakensberg); and 1 Oryx Helicopter.


     The cost for the deployment of personnel on the operation  is  R350
     000 at the expense of the Australian Government.


     The duration of  the  operation  is  five  days,  however,  it  was
     appreciated that the duration would include  the  time  from  which
     the planning of the operation commenced in August 2003 to the  time
     of completion of the operation.


     I will also communicate this report to the Members of the  National
     Assembly, and wish to request that you bring the contents  of  this
     report to the notice of the National Council of Provinces.


     Regards


     SIGNED
     T M MBEKI

1. The Chairperson

 REPORT  OF  THE  DELEGATION  TO  THE  109TH  ASSEMBLY  OF  THE   INTER-
 PARLIAMENTARY UNION


 Members of Parliament
 Mahlangu, M J (Leader of the delegation) (NCOP)
 Dlulane, B N (ANC) (NCOP)
 Gibson, D H M (DA) (NA)
 Mahlangu-Nkabinde, G L (ANC) (NA)
 Van der Merwe, J H (IFP) (NA)


 Staff


 Mfenyana S G
 Peter, K
 Mamabolo, A


 1.     Executive Committee


 The Assembly and  Governing  Council  meetings  were  preceded  by  the
 meeting of the 241st session of the Executive Committee, which  is  the
 administrative organ of the  Inter-Parliamentary  Union.  Ms  Mahlangu-
 Nkabinde took part in the session.  Its  proceedings  were  devoted  to
 discussing and making recommendations on agenda items to  be  addressed
 by the Governing Council.


 2.     Governing Council


 The Governing Council met on 1  and  3  October  2003.  It  approved  a
 request for affiliation by the Parliament of  Bahrain.  It  decided  to
 suspend the affiliations of Iraq, on the grounds  that  the  Parliament
 had ceased to function in that country, and of Guinea Bissau,  after  a
 coup d'état which resulted in the dissolution  of  the  Parliament.  It
 also suspended the membership of the Parliaments of  Georgia,  Liberia,
 Malawi, the Marshall Islands, Paraguay and the United States of America
 because all of them were more  than  three  years  in  arrears  in  the
 payment of their contributions.


 The Council heard a report of the  Executive  Committee  on  the  110th
 Assembly of the IPU, which had been scheduled to take place  in  London
 in March/April 2004. The IPU  concludes  an  agreement  with  the  host
 country for every meeting organized by  the  Union  which  includes  an
 article 5 which provides that the Assembly of the IPU can only be  held
 if all the IPU Members are invited and  if  their  representatives  are
 assured of receiving the necessary visas  for  participation.  However,
 the government of the United Kingdom informed the IPU that it could not
 issue visas to certain members of the Zimbabwean  Parliament  who  were
 subject to a European Union travel ban.  As  a  result,  the  Executive
 Committee recommended to the Council that the  110th  Assembly  not  be
 held in London and, instead, be transferred to another country.


 The delegation of Australia, seconded by the delegation of Ireland, put
 forward a motion  calling  on  the  Governing  Council  to  affirm  its
 decision taken in Santiago de Chile that the 110th Assembly be held  in
 London. Following a debate in which Mr Mahlangu spoke on behalf of  the
 South African delegation, the motion was put to a  vote.  Each  country
 was entitled to three  votes  in  accordance  with  the  rules  of  the
 Governing Council. All the delegations present  and  entitled  to  vote
 were given an opportunity  to  do  so.  The  South  African  delegation
 recorded two votes against and one vote in favour of  the  motion.  The
 motion was defeated and the Governing Council thus endorsed the  report
 of the Executive Committee.


 The Governing Council was informed that the Parliament of Thailand  had
 agreed to consider hosting the 110th  Assembly  in  2004.  The  Union's
 members received the offer by acclamation  and  the  Governing  Council
 formally requested Thailand to assume the responsibility of hosting the
 event.


 The Governing Council approved the Executive Committee's recommendation
 for the membership of the  committee  that  would  prepare  the  Second
 Conference  of  Presiding  Officers  of   National   Parliaments.   The
 Preparatory Committee would hold its first meeting at IPU  Headquarters
 in Geneva on 26 and 27 January 2004.


 Elections were held  to  fill  the  nine  vacancies  on  the  Executive
 Committee. Following  consultations  in  the  Africa  Group,  the  four
 vacancies due to the Africa Group were filled by  candidates  from  the
 Libyan  Arab  Jamahiriya,  Namibia,  Kenya  and  Togo.  The   remaining
 vacancies were filled by other geopolitical groups. Elections were also
 held to fill vacancies  on  the  other  subsidiary  committees  of  the
 Governing Council.


 The Governing Council approved  the  following  agenda  for  the  110th
 Assembly:


 i.     Election of the  President  and  Vice-Presidents  of  the  110th
     Assembly


 ii.    Consideration of possible  requests  for  the  inclusion  of  an
     emergency item in the Assembly agenda


 iii.   General debate on the political, economic and  social  situation
     in  the  world  with  the  overall  theme  of  "Reconciliation  and
     Partnership"


 iv.     Promoting  international  reconciliation,  helping   to   bring
     stability to regions of conflict, and assisting with  post-conflict
     reconstruction


     Under  this   item,   the   First   Committee   will   debate   the
     responsibilities  of  the  IPU  and   the   broader   international
     community  in  peace-making  and  peace-building,  with  particular
     reference to  the  IPU's  mission  to  help  build  and  strengthen
     representative institutions.
     (Committee on Peace and International Security)


 v.     Working  towards  an  equitable  environment  for  international
     commerce: the issues of trade  in  agricultural  products  and  the
     access to basic medicines


    Under this item, the Second Committee will debate the role  of  the
     IPU and parliaments in following up the  parliamentary  declaration
     adopted in Cancun on the occasion  of  the  Fifth  WTO  Ministerial
     Meeting.
    (Committee on Sustainable Development, Finance and Trade)


 vi.    Furthering parliamentary democracy in  order  to  protect  human
     rights and encourage reconciliation among peoples  and  partnership
     among nations


     Under this item, the Third  Committee  will  discuss  the  role  of
     parliamentary democracy in defending  human  rights  and  promoting
     reconciliation. It will also look at issues  relating  to  justice,
     truth commissions, amnesties, pardons, reparations and other  means
     to bring reconciliation to parties riven by conflict.
     (Committee on Democracy and Human Rights)


 3.     Assembly


 The Assembly met on  1  October  2003.  The  President  of  the  Inter-
 Parliamentary Union was elected President of the Assembly. The Assembly
 proceeded to consider the following items on its agenda.


 Emergency item


 The Assembly had before it  two  proposals  for  the  inclusion  as  an
 emergency item. The first proposal,  submitted  by  the  delegation  of
 Chile, entitled "The political situation in Cuba",  was  ruled  as  not
 fulfilling the conditions for an emergency item under the rules of  the
 Assembly and therefore could not be considered.


 The second proposal was submitted by the delegation of  the  Parliament
 of  Indonesia  and  was  entitled  "Parliamentary   support   for   the
 implementation of the road map for peace  in  putting  an  end  to  the
 Palestinian-Israeli  conflict  and  achieving  a  comprehensive   peace
 process and justice in the Middle East".


 The delegation of Israel objected to certain paragraphs  of  the  draft
 resolution submitted in support of the proposal but did not oppose  the
 title of the  item  or  its  inclusion  in  the  Assembly  agenda.  The
 inclusion of the item was approved by consensus.


 Following the recommendation of the  Steering  Committee,  the  Council
 referred the item to the Committee on Middle  East  Questions  to  hold
 consultations among the members and to prepare a draft  resolution  for
 the Assembly.


 A debate on the emergency item took  place  and  was  followed  by  the
 adoption of the draft resolution by consensus. The delegations of Iran,
 Yemen, Palestine and Israel expressed reservations on certain parts  of
 the resolution. The delegation of South Africa abstained from approving
 the resolution.


 The text of the resolution is attached as annexure A.


 The role of parliaments  in  assisting  multilateral  organizations  in
 ensuring peace and security and in building an international  coalition
 for peace


 The First  Standing  Committee  on  Peace  and  International  Security
 considered this item. The Committee had before it a  report  and  draft
 resolution prepared by the rapporteurs as well as  proposed  amendments
 submitted  within  the  statutory  deadline,  including  the   proposed
 amendment submitted by Mr Gibson.


 During the debate on the item, Ms Mahlangu-Nkabinde took the floor. Her
 speech focused on poverty eradication and  underdevelopment.  She  said
 that the international campaign against terrorism should not  push  the
 eradication of  poverty  and  underdevelopment  off  the  international
 agenda and that it was crucial that countries should work  together  to
 find ways of improving people's access to food because the lack of food
 security inadvertently leads to a  high  incidence  of  lawlessness  as
 people are forced to use illegal means to get access to food.
 Following the debate, the  Committee  appointed  a  drafting  committee
 composed of delegates from 13 countries,  including  South  Africa.  Mr
 Gibson participated on  the  drafting  committee  on  behalf  of  South
 Africa.


 The drafting committee examined the draft resolution submitted  by  the
 rapporteurs and amended it. The  drafting  committee  then  prepared  a
 draft resolution, which was subjected to a  vote  and  adopted  by  the
 Committee. This decision was  endorsed  by  consensus  by  the  plenary
 sitting of the Assembly. The delegation of  the  Syrian  Arab  Republic
 presented reservations on the resolution.


 The text of the resolution is attached as Annexure B.


 Global public goods: a new challenge for parliaments


 The Second Standing Committee on Sustainable Development,  Finance  and
 Trade considered this item. The Committee had before it  a  report  and
 draft resolution prepared  by  the  rapporteurs  as  well  as  proposed
 amendments submitted within the statutory deadline.


 During the debate on the item, Ms Dlulane took the floor. In her speech
 she pointed out that it was of concern that the  globalisation  process
 had  deepened  the  technological,  trade  and  financial  gap  between
 developed and developing countries and added that the central focus  of
 international development efforts should be the creation of an enabling
 environment where developing countries would be  able  to  acquire  the
 requisite capacities and resources in order to address  their  economic
 and social development problems in a sustainable manner.


 Following the debate, the  Committee  appointed  a  drafting  committee
 composed of delegates from nine countries.
 The drafting committee scrutinized the draft  resolution  submitted  by
 the rapporteurs and amended it. The drafting committee then prepared  a
 draft resolution, which was put to a vote and adopted by the Committee.
 This decision was endorsed by consensus by the plenary sitting  of  the
 Assembly. The delegation of  India  expressed  reservation  on  certain
 parts of the text.


 The text of the resolution is attached as Annexure C.


 The contribution of new information and communication  technologies  to
 good governance, the improvement of  parliamentary  democracy  and  the
 management of globalisation


 The Third Standing Committee on Democracy and Human  Rights  considered
 the above item.  The  Committee  had  before  it  a  report  and  draft
 resolution prepared by the rapporteurs as well as  proposed  amendments
 submitted within the statutory deadline.
 Following the debate, the  Committee  appointed  a  drafting  committee
 composed of delegates from ten countries, including  South  Africa.  Mr
 Van der Merwe participated on the drafting committee on behalf of South
 Africa.


 The drafting committee examined the draft resolution submitted  by  the
 rapporteurs and amended it. The  drafting  committee  then  prepared  a
 draft resolution, which was submitted  to  a  vote  and  adopted.  This
 decision was endorsed by  consensus  by  the  plenary  sitting  of  the
 Assembly.


 The text of the resolution is attached as Annexure D


 4.     Coordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians


 The Committee met on 30 September, with  its  President,  Ms  Mahlangu-
 Nkabinde in the chair.


 The Committee took stock of follow-up by women parliamentarians to  the
 IPU/UN Handbook on the CEDAW, which was launched in Santiago, Chile. It
 also took note of the actions taken by several members in support of Ms
 Amina Lawal, a  Nigerian  woman  sentenced  to  death  by  stoning  for
 adultery, which contributed to her acquittal.


 The Committee discussed the situation of women's participation  at  IPU
 Assemblies, and the IPU budget and efforts to ensure that it included a
 gender perspective. There was also a  debate  on  the  difficulties  in
 implementing article 23.2 of the IPU Statutes, which  seeks  to  ensure
 that at least three women sat on the Executive Committee.

ANNEXURE A

 PARLIAMENTARY SUPPORT FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ROAD MAP FOR  PEACE
 IN PUTTING AN END TO THE PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI CONFLICT AND  ACHIEVING  A
 COMPREHENSIVE PEACE PROCESS AND JUSTICE IN THE MIDDLE EAST


 The 109th Inter-Parliamentary Assembly,


 Recalling its resolutions adopted at the 104th Conference, October 2000
 (Jakarta), at the 106th Conference, September 2001  (Ouagadougou),  and
 at the 107th  Conference, March 2002 (Marrakech), which called  for  an
 end to the tension and violence in the Middle East,


 Reiterating its  support  for  a  just  and  lasting  solution  to  the
 Palestinian-Israeli conflict  based  on  the  relevant  United  Nations
 resolutions,
 Recognising the full acceptance by the  Palestinian  Authority  of  the
 road map for peace proposed by the  Quartet  (the  United  States,  the
 United Nations, the European Union  and  the  Russian  Federation)  and
 noting the subsequent conditional acceptance of it by Israel,
 1.     Strongly urges the international community to exert pressure  on
     Israel to desist from any act aimed at the expulsion  of  President
     Yasser Arafat and to  cease  all  threats  to  the  safety  of  the
     legitimately elected head of the Palestinian Authority;


 2.     Urges Israel to halt the building of settlements in the occupied
     territories, which, along with the demolition of Palestinian  homes
     and property, is in contravention of the Fourth  Geneva  Convention
     and the road map, to abandon its  policy  of  erecting  fences  and
     imposing paralysing closures, and to stop using  its  regular  army
     to  police  the  civilian  population  and  conduct   extrajudicial
     killings in the occupied territories;


 3.     Demands  that  the  Palestinian  Authority  take  all  necessary
     measures to put an end to the violent attacks that  result  in  the
     deaths of large numbers of civilians and innocent people;
 4.     Urges Israel  to  withdraw  completely  from  all  the  occupied
     territories in order to achieve a comprehensive peace  process  and
     justice in the Middle East in accordance with  United  Nations  and
     IPU resolutions;


 5.     Calls on the UN Security Council and the  Quartet  to  guarantee
     the full implementation of  the  road  map,  including  by  sending
     international   observers    to    monitor    the    stage-by-stage
     implementation on the ground of  the  decisions  contained  in  the
     road map;


 6.     Calls on both parties to return to the negotiating table and put
     an end to the cycle of violence in order  to  save  lives  on  both
     sides, urges the parties  to  enact  confidence-building  measures,
     and  encourages  them  to  reach  an   accord   through   bilateral
     negotiations within the framework of the road map;


 7.     Calls also on both  parties  immediately  to  begin  considering
     building  a  lasting   peace   through   education   for   peaceful
     coexistence.

ANNEXURE B

 THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENTS  IN  ASSISTING  MULTILATERAL  ORGANISATIONS  IN
 ENSURING PEACE AND SECURITY AND IN BUILDING AN INTERNATIONAL  COALITION
 FOR PEACE


 The 109th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,


 Noting the importance of parliaments as the  cornerstone  of  democracy
 and their role in promoting peace,


 Considering that peace and justice are  two  interdependent  issues  of
 fundamental importance to humankind,


 Noting that peace is not only a political issue defined by the  absence
 of violence and war and that it also  encompasses  cultural,  economic,
 social and educational issues,


 Recognising that not only physical violence but also increasingly acute
 social, cultural and ethnic tensions,  such  as  those  resulting  from
 severe pollution, impoverishment  of  the  environment,  corruption  or
 poverty, aggravate the threat to peace and security,


 Concerned moreover that the mass of weaponry  produced  throughout  the
 world is a threat to the human race, as well as an  enormous  waste  of
 resources in terms of human labour, financial investment, and the  cost
 of stockpiling and deployment,


 Recognising the fact that  terrorism,  including  State  terrorism  and
 State-sponsored terrorism, has affected many countries of the world  in
 a variety of ways for several decades,


 Observing that, in the final decade of the last century and  the  first
 years of the present one, peace and security worldwide are still  under
 threat from terrorism  in  all  its  forms  and  manifestations,  armed
 internal  conflicts,  aggression,   wars   between   members   of   the
 international community, occupation and weapons of mass destruction,


 Aware that terrorism and organised  crime,  especially  trafficking  in
 weapons, drugs and human beings, are often  closely  interrelated,  and
 welcoming in this context the recent entry into  force  of  the  United
 Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime,


 Drawing attention to UN Security Council  resolutions  1368  (2001)  of
 12 September 2001 and 1373 (2001) of 28 September 2001,


 Mindful that, to prevent security from being threatened,  joint  global
 counteractive measures are required to combat environmental problems,


 Convinced that parliamentarians can play an  important  role  in  early
 conflict prevention,
 Reaffirming its position that internal conflicts in all  countries  and
 their spread into other countries can be averted through mutual respect
 and coexistence among the various religious and ethnic groups, as  well
 as through dialogue and openness and a comprehensive  and  anticipatory
 development  policy  comprising   political,   economic,   social   and
 environmental elements,


 Also  reaffirming  IPU  resolutions  Achieving  peace,  stability   and
 comprehensive development in the world and  forging  closer  political,
 economic and cultural  ties  among  peoples  (103rd Conference,  Amman,
 April-May 2000), Financing  for  development  and  a  new  paradigm  of
 economic and social development designed to  eradicate  poverty  (104th
 Conference,  Jakarta,  October  2000),  Securing  observance   of   the
 principles of international law in the interests  of  world  peace  and
 security (105th Conference, Havana, April 2001), Ten years  after  Rio:
 global degradation of the environment and parliamentary support for the
 Kyoto  Protocol  (107th Conference,   Marrakech,   March   2002),   and
 Importance of the non-proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological
 weapons of mass destruction and of missiles, including  the  prevention
 of their use by terrorists (108th Conference, Santiago de Chile,  April
 2003),


 Convinced that strengthening  democracy,  promoting  human  rights  and
 supporting the peaceful settlement of conflicts are the most  effective
 means of combating terrorism,


 Concerned that the United Nations  system  has  often  been  unable  to
 prevent wars  between  members  of  the  international  community,  and
 reaffirming the paramount importance  of  all  States  abiding  by  the
 United Nations Charter and resolutions,


 Mindful  of  the  importance  of  international  instruments   on   the
 protection of fundamental human rights and liberties, for men and women
 alike,
 Welcoming  and  fully  supporting  United  Nations   Security   Council
 resolution 1325 (2000), entitled "Women and peace  and  security",  and
 bearing in mind the specific recommendations on women and war  made  in
 the Beijing Platform for  Action,  and  the  outcome  document  of  the
 "Beijing+5" Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly,


 Stressing that  education,  particularly  human  rights  education,  is
 essential, and recognising the positive role that children can play  in
 building a culture of peace,


 Aware of the significant roles played by  different  sectors  of  civil
 society and of the importance of their cooperation with parliaments  to
 foster democracy, peace and security,


 1.     Calls on governments and parliaments to  promote  reconciliation
     processes aimed at  achieving  sustainable  solutions  to  internal
     conflicts;
 2.     Also calls on all parliaments to do everything possible  at  the
     national  level  to  facilitate  the  establishment   of   standing
     mechanisms for conflict prevention and  resolution,  as  a  way  to
     promote action geared to achieving real peace;


 3.     Further calls on all parliamentarians to work hard to limit  the
     effects of war on civilians, whom they represent,  particularly  as
     regards the vulnerable situation of  women  and  children  and  the
     consequences of rape;


 4.      Emphasises  the  need  for  better  control  of   small   arms,
     encompassing the trading, trafficking and smuggling of small  arms,
     in order to reduce the risk of violent conflicts;


 5.     Unequivocally condemns terrorism as a criminal act, noting  that
     terrorism endangers the  territorial  integrity  of  countries  and
     their national and international security, destroys innocent  lives
     and the physical and economic infrastructure, and destabilises  not
     only legitimately constituted governments but society as a whole;


 6.     Emphasises the need for the Inter-Parliamentary Union  to  focus
     more closely on the issue of terrorism and its root causes, and  to
     work  with  the  international  community  on   a   definition   of
     terrorism;


 7.     Vigorously condemns all terrorist acts, methods  and  practices,
     and considers them criminal  and  unjustifiable,  wherever  and  by
     whomever they are committed;


 8.     Strongly urges all States and governments worldwide  to  refrain
     from funding or encouraging terrorist activity,  supporting  it  by
     any other means,  providing  training  for  it  or  allowing  their
     territory to be used for organising  terrorist  activities  against
     other States, individuals or groups of individuals;


 9.     Urges the Inter-Parliamentary Union to  cooperate  closely  with
     the Counter-Terrorism Committee established under Security  Council
     resolution  1373  (2001)  and  the  Vienna-based   United   Nations
     Terrorism Prevention Branch, and to promote the  implementation  of
     the Global Programme against Terrorism;


 10.    Invites all States to consider, if they have not  yet  done  so,
     acceding  to  and/or  ratifying   international   instruments,   as
     appropriate, in particular the Protocols additional to  the  Geneva
     Conventions and the Rome  Statute  establishing  the  International
     Criminal Court,  and  recalls  that,  in  establishing  the  crimes
     falling within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  International  Criminal
     Court, the latter's Statute defines rape, sexual slavery,  enforced
     prostitution, forced  pregnancy,  enforced  sterilisation,  or  any
     other form  of  sexual  violence  both  as  war  crimes  and,  when
     committed as part of a widespread  or  systematic  attack  directed
     against any civilian population, as crimes against humanity;


 11.    Reaffirms its deep apprehension at the increase in terrorism and
     therefore:


     (a)     Reiterates its call to the world's parliaments  to  promote
          consensus on the  United  Nations  conventions  on  terrorism,
          referring  in  this  connection  to  the  resolution  entitled
          Terrorism - a threat to  democracy,  human  rights  and  civil
          society:  the  contribution  of   parliaments   to   combating
          international terrorism and addressing its causes in order  to
          maintain international peace  and  security,  adopted  by  the
          107th Conference, Marrakech, March 2002;


     (b)     Stresses the need to confront the exercise  of  terror  and
          eliminate the causes that lead to its development,  and  urges
          all  States  to  enhance  cooperation  in  the  fight  against
          terrorism in all its forms and manifestations;


     (c)     Reaffirms its commitment to eliminate any  perception  that
          the fight against terrorism is also a fight against particular
          cultures, peoples or religions;


     (d)     Calls for the  enhancement  of  national  and  multilateral
          export administration systems as part  of  the  fight  against
          terrorism;


     (e)     Calls on each  country  to  ratify  promptly  the  relevant
          international and regional treaties, conventions and protocols
          against terrorism;


     (f)     Calls on  parliaments  to  support  the  elaboration  of  a
          comprehensive  United  Nations  convention  on   international
          terrorism,  and  of  an  international  convention   for   the
          suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism;


 12.    Calls on all parliamentarians  to  press  their  governments  to
     sign, accede to and ratify all  international  instruments  drafted
     to eliminate the world's arsenal of weapons;


 13.    Calls the international community's attention to  the  need  for
     best efforts to resolve these issues  as  peacefully  as  possible,
     and expresses the IPU's firm determination to  become  involved  in
     global cooperation  for  resolving  such  issues  through  dialogue
     among parliamentarians and cooperation with relevant  international
     bodies, thus contributing to world peace and security;


 14.    Calls on all countries to intensify efforts to prevent and  curb
     the  proliferation  of  weapons  of  mass   destruction,   and   to
     consolidate  policies  for  preventing  equipment,  materials   and
     technology which may possibly be  used  for  any  proliferation  of
     such weapons from being transferred, especially to terrorists;


 15.    Recognises the need for a  reform  of  the  United  Nations,  in
     particular by enlarging  the  Security  Council  to  make  it  more
     representative and effective in addressing issues of  international
     peace and security;


 16.    Agrees that peace at a global level can only be achieved through
     dialogue, within the framework of international law;


 17.    Calls on the United Nations to place peace, an  issue  of  grave
     human concern, on the agenda of its General Assembly meetings;


 18.    Calls on the Inter-Parliamentary Union to exercise its right  as
     an observer to the United Nations to speak during  security  policy
     debates in the United Nations General Assembly;


 19.     Views  with  great  concern  the   continuing   occupation   of
     territories belonging to  other  nations,  while  noting  that  any
     attempts to disrupt partially or totally  the  national  unity  and
     territorial integrity  of  a  country  are  incompatible  with  the
     purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations;


 20.    Calls on the multilateral organisations to  support  efforts  to
     achieve the following:


     (a)     The immediate termination of all forms of occupation;


     (b)      The  formal  recognition  of  the  responsibility  of  all
          occupying  forces  for  the  remedy  of  all  ills  caused  by
          occupation,  including  the  misappropriation  of   resources,
          damage to infrastructure, deterioration of the environment and
          impediments to  economic,  social,  cultural  and  educational
          achievement;


     (c)     The qualification  of  occupation  as  an  infringement  of
          international law;


 21.    Stresses the importance for the United Nations  to  enhance  its
     involvement and play a key role in the  reconstruction  process  in
     Iraq, so as to allow the Iraqi people to  decide  independently  on
     the  measures  which  they  find  most  suitable  and   which   are
     compatible with their aspirations;


 22.    Further stresses that Article 2 of the  United  Nations  Charter
     should be observed in both letter and  spirit  and  that,  although
     the  IPU  and  other  multilateral  organisations  involved  should
     assist the Iraqi people in their endeavour to regenerate their  own
     State, no attempt should be tolerated  to  impose  upon  them  what
     they do not voluntarily accept;


 23.    Agrees that efforts to promote the concept and culture of  peace
     and  to  renounce  violence  should  be  encouraged  by   fostering
     intercultural and inter-faith  understanding  and  respect  and  by
     eliminating all forms of discrimination;


 24.    Calls on parliaments and governments to strengthen  measures  to
     combat poverty, corruption and  environmental  destruction  through
     international cooperation, and to devote attention  to  the  gender
     implications of conflict;


 25.    Also calls on governments to  ensure  that  education  seeks  to
     promote respect and understanding, free from  false  indoctrination
     and hatred in various forms;


 26.    Further calls on parliaments to  support  national  efforts  and
     international cooperation aimed at  promoting  education  for  all,
     while paying special attention  to  human  rights  education  as  a
     means of fostering the culture of peace;


 27.    Encourages all parliamentarians to urge  their  governments  and
     political parties to promote social justice as a guarantee for  the
     establishment of lasting peace;


 28.    Also encourages parliaments to  support  NGOs,  including  those
     which seek to promote peace through art in all its forms.

ANNEXURE C

 GLOBAL PUBLIC GOODS: A NEW CHALLENGE FOR PARLIAMENTS


 The 109th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,


 Recognising the increased globalisation and interdependence among world
 economies, and the enormous importance acquired by Global Public Goods,


 Stressing the importance of the United Nations  Millennium  Declaration
 in increasing political and economic stability and  reducing  worldwide
 poverty,


 Recognising the need for disseminating the  concept  of  Global  Public
 Goods as a new rationale for international cooperation,


 Emphasising  the  collective  responsibility  of  nations   to   debate
 resolutions to accelerate the  process  of  development  assistance  by
 helping determine,  with  the  appropriate  parliamentary  debates  and
 national consultations of constituent groups, the definition of  Global
 Public Goods and the way to finance them,


 Noting the emphasis placed on Global Public Goods by  the  World  Bank,
 the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union  in  tackling  the
 problem of world food security,


 Further noting that a definition of Global  Public  Goods  will  enable
 governments to have a greater influence on  the  development  of  their
 countries, especially with respect to provision of such  goods  at  the
 domestic level,


 Considering the impact of Global Public Goods on neighbouring countries
 and regions,


 Emphasising that the consumption of traditionally defined Global Public
 Goods by one  person  does  not  reduce  the  possible  consumption  by
 another, irrespective of income levels,


 Acknowledging  that  countries   have   differing   incomes,   economic
 structures and social priorities,


 1.     Calls on both developed and developing  countries  to  recognise
     that Global Public Goods have trans-national effects and  therefore
     require joint assumption of responsibility;


 2.     Calls on both developed and developing countries to  promote  an
     active  debate  among  public   policy   makers,   civil   society,
     businesses and academia, while stimulating further research on  the
     subject of Global Public Goods;


 3.     Urges governments, parliaments, international organisations  and
     donor agencies to channel financial resources  to  poor  countries,
     especially those in the  Heavily  Indebted  Poor  Countries  (HIPC)
     category, and to pay  special  attention  to  the  debt  burden  of
     developing countries, which  hinders  them  from  providing  Global
     Public Goods at the domestic level;


 4.     Emphasises the need for  close  cooperation  among  governments,
     parliaments, businesses, international organisations  and  NGOs  if
     Global Public Goods are to play a role in the pursuit  of  economic
     growth, which is necessary for the eradication  of  world  poverty,
     but  which  should  not  be  achieved  at  the   expense   of   the
     environment;


 5.      Urges  the  representatives  of  States  to  meet  to  evaluate
     preferences for Global Public Goods that cross borders;


 6.     Encourages governments jointly  to  identify  and  rank  various
     Global Public Goods in order of financial feasibility and  ease  of
     implementation in order to lessen friction arising from the  choice
     of alternatives;


 7.     Stresses the need to build financial solutions on the  principle
     that nobody should be able to gain from Global Public Goods at  the
     expense of another person and on the principles agreed upon at  the
     UN Summit Meetings, for example the "polluter pays" principle;


 8.     Urges the governments of developed and developing  countries  to
     ensure that Global Public Goods are not financed at the expense  of
     traditional sources of development finance;


 9.      Calls  on  governments  to  convene  in  a  forum  to  exchange
     information   about   various   financing   mechanisms,   including
     innovative use of private sources of funding, to be managed  within
     the framework of the World Solidarity Fund adopted  by  the  United
     Nations on 20 December 2002;


 10.    Calls on the IPU Member parliaments to encourage governments  to
     adopt, if  required,  the  legal  frameworks  needed  to  institute
     agreed  financing  mechanisms,  and  to  monitor  the  pursuit   by
     governments of the above-mentioned objectives.

ANNEXURE D

 THE CONTRIBUTION OF NEW INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION  TECHNOLOGIES  TO
 GOOD GOVERNANCE, THE IMPROVEMENT OF  PARLIAMENTARY  DEMOCRACY  AND  THE
 MANAGEMENT OF GLOBALISATION


 The 109th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,


 Hoping that the new information and communication technologies  (NICTs)
 will help to build a more peaceful, more prosperous  and  fairer  world
 based on global public goods in all their diversity,


 Convinced  that  the  NICTs  can  bring  about  significant  political,
 economic and social changes that will reduce distances and generate new
 cultures and markets, although they give rise to concerns  as  well  as
 hopes,


 Also convinced that the NICTs play an increasingly  important  role  in
 socio-cultural,  economic  and  political  development  in  an  era  of
 globalisation,
 Mindful that the  NICTs  facilitate  the  sharing  of  knowledge  among
 peoples,


 Fully supporting  the  forthcoming  World  Summit  on  the  Information
 Society, as a unique opportunity to foster  the  global  consensus  and
 commitment required to harness the power of the NICTs to advance  human
 development,


 Mindful that the NICTs as such are not  the  solution  to  the  world's
 problems but rather tools, mechanisms and  opportunities  that  require
 the political will of society and cooperation among States in order  to
 ensure  that  they  serve  the  goals  pursued  at  the  national   and
 international level,


 Emphasising the many financial, economic and  social  restrictions  and
 barriers hindering the  use  of  the  NICTs  in  developing  societies,
 including inadequate financial resources to cover the huge  investments
 needed in this field, a shortage of  managers  and  skilled  personnel,
 weak demand for such services due to limited purchasing power  and  low
 incomes, and the rising costs of the services provided by the NICTs,


 Recalling that good governance requires, within each country and at the
 international level, an ethic for the management of the State  and  its
 resources based on principles and norms that  include  requirements  of
 transparency, accountability, communication, respect for  the  rule  of
 law, an independent judiciary and a liberal and democratic  State  that
 protects human rights, guarantees clear rules  for  the  free  play  of
 market forces and favours the unfettered development of  civil  society
 in all its  cultural,  economic,  societal  and  political  dimensions,
 enabling it to exercise a democratic power of initiative and oversight,


 Underscoring that traditional means of communication, transparency  and
 accountability, no matter how indispensable, can  be  enhanced  by  the
 NICTs to further good management of governance,
 Recalling that the NICTs facilitate the defence and promotion of  human
 rights and gender equality,


 Asserting that without an appropriate public policy, the  NICTs  cannot
 be a factor of shared progress,


 Noting that the majority of the developing countries have lagged behind
 the North in the economic and social field, fearing that the  extremely
 rapid development of the NICTs may further  widen  the  digital  divide
 between industrialised and developing countries,  and  recognising  the
 need to narrow the gap,


 Placing great importance on mutual cooperation  between  industrialised
 and developing countries for  further  promotion  of  the  NICTs  on  a
 worldwide basis,


 Acknowledging that the NICTs can enhance but do not obviate the duty of
 national parliaments to take responsibility  for  good  governance  and
 parliamentary democracy in their own countries,


 Mindful that if citizens are to fulfil their duties  and  assert  their
 rights, they must be able to access and utilise information,


 Aware that the NICTs can be a very useful tool  for  consolidating  and
 renewing parliamentary democracy by allowing  better  participation  by
 all citizens,


 Noting that the NICTs make it easier to manage and participate  in  the
 globalisation  process,  especially  as  far   as   the   international
 organisations are concerned,


 Hoping that the NICTs will be used  for  development,  and  noting  the
 importance of the NICTs as  an  integral  part  of  efforts  to  combat
 poverty and discrimination and achieve the millennium goals,


 Recalling that the NICTs  advance  education  and  training  which  are
 essential for development and gender equality,


 Mindful that each state has  a  duty  to  ensure  that  the  NICTs  are
 acquired and utilised properly,


 Regretting that the NICTs have to a large  extent  been  used  for  so-
 called spam mail and  destructive  purposes  involving  anti-democratic
 messages and degrading pornographic content and  including  unregulated
 weapons trading,


 1.     Calls on parliaments to support the successful completion of the
     World Summit on the Information Society and to take  the  necessary
     steps to ensure that their  representatives  are  included  in  the
     national delegations to the Summit;


 2.     Calls on parliaments and their members to make full use  of  the
     NICTs:


         to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency  and  transparency  of
          their activities and to better connect with the electorate;


         to expand inter-parliamentary relationships and cooperation  at
          bilateral   and   multilateral    levels,    thus    enhancing
          parliamentary democracy and diplomacy;


 3.     Urges the establishment of appropriate aid mechanisms, including
     an NICTs observatory for Africa and  other  disadvantaged  regions,
     and recommends the establishment of  a  network  of  correspondents
     among IPU member parliaments;


 4.     Recommends that each  parliament  put  in  place  the  necessary
     structures to follow up and monitor annually the development of  e-
     government in its country so as to guarantee its  transparency  for
     citizens and democracy;
 5.     Urges governments to take the necessary  steps  to  ensure  free
     community access to those NICTs that guarantee good governance;


 6.     Calls on the international community to seek  further  means  of
     closing the South's NICT gap;


 7.     Invites the international community to promote NICT training for
     managers and technicians from the South;


 8.      calls  on  international  organisations  and  NGOs  to  promote
     knowledge sharing in  this  area  and  the  establishment  of  NICT
     networks, in cooperation with partners from both the South and  the
     North;


 9.      Urges  governments  to  use  the  NICTs  to  broaden   distance
     education, which can reach groups of people  that  otherwise  would
     not have access to education;


 10.    Draws governments' attention  to  the  need  to  strengthen  the
     personal protection and security of the users of the NICTs  and  to
     strive for legislation on international range;


 11.    Urges governments to find ways to limit the use of spam mail and
     the use of the NICTs for destructive purposes;


 12.    Supports all NICT-related initiatives aimed  at  respecting  and
     promoting linguistic and cultural diversity;


 13.    Calls for the introduction of  national  and  regional  policies
     that incorporate the development of information  and  communication
     infrastructures and existing resources;


 14.    Calls on the international community to promote the use  of  the
     NICTs to enhance civic involvement in public decision-making;
 15.    Also calls on governments to  see  to  it  that  the  NICTs  are
     acquired and  used  properly  with  a  view  to  guaranteeing  good
     governance and avoiding all forms of discrimination;


 16.    Encourages States to put in place national strategies centred on
     education,  including  basic  and   digital   literacy,   for   the
     implementation of the information society;


 17.     Calls  for  strengthened  national  efforts  and  international
     cooperation in order to prevent and combat the  use  of  the  NICTs
     for criminal and terrorist ends;


 18.    Encourages national policies and international action  aimed  at
     ensuring that the NICTs serve gender equality and  the  empowerment
     of women;
 19.    Invites parliaments to take legislative action with the  aim  of
     providing  an   environment   conducive   to   the   dissemination,
     development and secure use of the NICTs;


 20.    Reaffirms the principle of freedom of expression in  cyberspace,
     with the restrictions required  by  the  fight  against  terrorism,
     pornography, trafficking in human beings, organised crime,  racism,
     revisionism and discrimination;


 21.    Stresses the need to facilitate Internet  hook-ups  by  breaking
     the monopoly of  the  telephone  companies  and  promoting  cheaper
     alternative solutions;


 22.    Considers that the  new  technologies  must  help  to  integrate
     generations and social groups;


 23.    Stresses that the IPU can  contribute  to  strengthening  North-
     South  and  South-South  cooperation  in   the   NICT   field   via
     appropriate mechanisms;


 24.     Urges  the  Inter-Parliamentary  Union  to  create  a   climate
     conducive to the advent of the information society by:
          Encouraging the use of  the  NICTs  in  the  organisation  of
          elections  so  as  to  guarantee   the   democratic   process,
          particularly in the countries of the South;


          Strengthening  the  role  of  parliaments  in  following   up
          decisions and resolutions relating to the information  society
          by monitoring and implementing commitments made by governments
          in the NICT field;


          Encouraging parliaments to  commit  themselves  to  knowledge
          acquisition, consultancy and assistance in the NICT field with
          a view to consolidating parliamentary democracy;


          Further helping parliaments  from  emerging  democracies  and
          developing countries to take full advantage of the  NICTs,  by
          means of its technical assistance programmes.
                       FRIDAY, 23 JANUARY 2004

ANNOUNCEMENTS

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces

1. Bills returned to Executive

 As in the opinion of the Presiding Officers the Children's Bill [B 70 -
 2003], introduced  in  the  National  Assembly  on  11  November  2003,
 contains both section 75  and  section  76  provisions,  the  Bill  was
 removed  from  Parliament  and  returned  to  the  Minister  of  Social
 Development on 19 January 2004.

TABLINGS

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson

 (a)    Activity Report of the Auditor-General for  the  financial  year
     2002-2003 [RP 222-2003].
 (b)    Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of the
     Maize Board for the year ended 30 April 2002 [RP 194-2003].

1. The Minister of Home Affairs

 Agreement regarding the Abolition of Visa Requirements for  Diplomatic,
 Official and Service Passport Holders between  the  Government  of  the
 Republic of South Africa and the government of the Republic of  France,
 tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.

1. The Minister of Finance

 (a)    Report and Financial Statements  of  the  Registrar  of  Pension
     Funds for 2002.


 (b)    Government Notice No R1454 published in  Government  Gazette  No
     25557 dated 8 October 2003: Regulations: Procedures for  submitting
     returns  in  electronic  format  and  requirements  for  electronic
     signatures, in terms of the Income Tax Act,  1962  (Act  No  58  of
     1962).


 (c)    Government Notice No 1610 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25655  dated  30  October  2003:  Statement  of  the  National  and
     Provincial   Governments'   Revenue,   Expenditure   and   National
     Borrowing as at 30 September 2003 in terms of  the  Public  Finance
     Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of 1999).


 (d)    Government Notice No 1721 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25756 dated 25 November 2003: Determination of  interest  rates  of
     the Seventh Schedule, in terms of the Income Tax Act, 1962 (Act  No
     58 of 1962).

1. The Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology

 (a)     Report  and  Financial  Statements  of  the  Northern  Flagship
     Institutions (NFI) for  2002-2003,  including  the  Report  of  the
     Auditor-General on the Financial Statements for 2002-2003 [RP  172-
     2003].


 (b)     Replies  from  the  Minister  of  Arts,  Culture,  Science  and
     Technology in regard to the 30th report of the  Standing  Committee
     on Public Accounts, 2003:


     Referred to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.

1. The Minister of Public Enterprises

 Report and Financial  Statements  of  South  African  Forestry  Company
 Limited (SAFCOL) for the year ended 30 June 2003, including the  Report
 of the Independent Auditors on the Financial Statements  for  the  year
 ended 30 June 2003.

1. The Minister of Trade and Industry

 Report of the  South  African  Council  for  the  Non-Proliferation  of
 Weapons of Mass Destruction for the year ended 30 June 2001.

1. The Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry

 (a)    Report and Financial Statements of  Bloem  Water  for  the  year
     ended June 2003, including the Report of the  Independent  Auditors
     on the Financial Statements for the year ended June 2003.


 (b)    Report and Financial Statements of Bushbuckridge Water  for  the
     year ended June 2003,  including  the  Report  of  the  Independent
     Auditors on the Financial Statements for the year ended June 2003.


 (c)    Government Notice No 3435 published  in  Government  Gazette  No
     25865 dated 19 December 2003: Call for nominations  of  persons  to
     serve on the Water Tribunal, in terms of the  National  Water  Act,
     1998 (Act No 36 of 1998).
 (d)    Government Notice No 18 published in Government Gazette No 25897
     dated 9 January 2004: Release of part of the la Motte State  Forest
     which is no longer required for  forestry  purposes,  in  terms  of
     section 50(4) of the National  Forest  Act,  1998  (Act  No  84  of
     1998).

                     WEDNESDAY, 28 JANUARY 2004

ANNOUNCEMENTS

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces

1. Reintroduction of Bills

 (1)    The Minister of Social Development:


     (i)     Children's Bill [B  70  -  2003  (Reintroduced)]  (National
          Assembly - sec 75) [Explanatory  summary  of  Bill  and  prior
          notice of its introduction published in Government Gazette  No
          25346 of 13 August 2003.]
     Introduction and referral to  the  Portfolio  Committee  on  Social
     Development of the National Assembly, as well as  referral  to  the
     Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) for classification in terms of  Joint
     Rule 160, on 28 January 2004.


          NOTE:
          The  Portfolio  Committee  on  Social  Development  has   been
          instructed by the Speaker in terms of National  Assembly  Rule
          249(3)(c) to consult the Portfolio Committee  on  Justice  and
          Constitutional Development, the Joint Monitoring Committee  on
          Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of  Children,  Youth
          and Disabled Persons and any other committee that has a direct
          interest in the substance of the Bill.


     In terms of Joint Rule 154 written views on the  classification  of
     the Bill may be submitted to  the  Joint  Tagging  Mechanism  (JTM)
     within three parliamentary working days.

TABLINGS

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces

1. The Minister of Finance

 Government Notice No R74 published in Government Gazette No 25777 dated
 28 November 2003: Assignment of the Transkeian Development and  Reserve
 Fund Act, 1964 (Act No 3 of 1964), to the Province of the Eastern  Cape
 under Item 14 of Schedule 6 to the  Constitution  of  the  Republic  of
 South Africa, 1996 (Act No 108 of 1996).

National Council of Provinces

1. The Chairperson

 The following statement has been submitted to the National  Council  of
 Provinces by the MEC of Traditional Affairs, Safety  and  Security  and
 Local Government in KwaZulu-Natal under section  106(3)  of  the  Local
 Government: Municipal Systems Act, 2000 (Act No 32 of 2000):


     Statement in terms of  section  106(3)  of  the  Local  Government:
     Municipal   Systems   Act,   2000   with   respect   to   eThekwini
     Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal.


 The statement is referred to the Select Committee on  Local  Government
 and Administration.


 Copies of the statement are available from the office of the  Clerk  of
 the Papers.

                      THURSDAY, 29 JANUARY 2004

ANNOUNCEMENTS

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces

1. Assent by President in respect of Bills (1) Local Government: Municipal Systems Amendment Bill [B 49D - 2003] - Act No 44 of 2003 (assented to and signed by President on 22 January 2004); and

 (2)    General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill [B 47D - 2003] - Act No
     52 of 2003 (assented to and  signed  by  President  on  22  January
     2004).

                       MONDAY, 2 FEBRUARY 2004

ANNOUNCEMENTS

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces

1. Translations of Bills submitted

 (1)    The Minister of Health


     (i)      Wysigingswetsontwerp  op  Tandtegnici  [W   63   -   2003]
          (National Assembly - sec 76)


     This is the official  translation  into  Afrikaans  of  the  Dental
     Technicians Amendment Bill [B 63 - 2003] (National Assembly  -  sec
     76).

TABLINGS

National Council of Provinces

1. The Chairperson

 The President of the Republic submitted the following letter  dated  21
 January 2004 to the Chairperson of the National  Council  of  Provinces
 informing  Members  of  the  National  Council  of  Provinces  of   the
 employment of the South African National Defence Force:


     EMPLOYMENT  OF  THE  SOUTH  AFRICAN  NATIONAL  DEFENCE   FORCE   IN
     COMPLIANCE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS OF  THE  REPUBLIC  OF
     SOUTH AFRICA IN ASSISTING THE GOVERNMENT OF THE  REPUBLIC  OF  IRAN
     IN A SEARCH AND RESCUE MISSION
     This serves to inform the National  Council  of  Provinces  that  I
     authorised the employment of the  South  African  National  Defence
     Force (SANDF) personnel to fulfil the international obligations  of
     the Republic of South Africa in assisting  the  government  of  the
     republic of Iran in a search and rescue mission as a result of  the
     devastating earthquake in the province of Bam.


     This employment was authorised in accordance  with  the  provisions
     of  section  82(4)(b)(ii)  read  with  section  227(1)(d)  of   the
     Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1993 (Act No  200  of
     1993), [which sections continue to be in force  in  terms  of  Item
     24(1) of schedule 6 to the Constitution of the  Republic  of  South
     Africa, 1996 (Act No 108 of 1996)],  read  together  with  sections
     18(1) and 11 of the Defence Act, 2002 (Act No 42 of 2002).


     A total of 13 crew members from the  South  African  Air  Force  is
     employed for the mission.


     One 707 SAAF Boeing is utilised for the mission.


     The duration of the mission is 4 days.


     The total estimated cost for two return flights is R2 724 241.  The
     final cost may fluctuate due to  weather  conditions  and  possible
     diversions. The Department of Foreign Affairs  if  responsible  for
     the costs of this Deployment.


     I will also communicate this report to the Members of the  National
     Assembly, and wish to request that you bring the contents  of  this
     report to the notice of the National Council of Provinces.


     Regards


     SIGNED
     T M MBEKI

                     WEDNESDAY, 4 FEBRUARY 2004

TABLINGS

National Council of Provinces

1. The Chairperson

 The following statement has been submitted to the National  Council  of
 Provinces by the MEC for Developmental Local Government and Housing  in
 the North West Province  in  terms  of  section  139(3)(a)(ii)  of  the
 Constitution of the Republic of South  Africa,  1996  (Act  No  108  of
 1996):


     Intervention in terms of section 139(1)(c) of the  Constitution  of
     the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No 108 of 1996) into  Lekwa
     Teemane Local Municipality.


 Referred  to   the   Select   Committee   on   Local   Government   and
 Administration.


 Copies of the statement are available from the Office of the  Clerk  of
 Papers.

1. The Chairperson

 The following notice has been submitted  to  the  National  Council  of
 Provinces by the MEC for  Housing,  Local  Government  and  Traditional
 Affairs in the Eastern Cape  in  terms  of  section  139(2)(b)  of  the
 Constitution of the Republic of South  Africa,  1996  (Act  No  108  of
 1996):


     Intervention in terms of section 139(1)(b) of the  Constitution  of
     the Republic of South Africa,  1996  (Act  No  108  of  1996)  into
     Qaukeni Local Municipality.
 Copies of the notice are available from the  Office  of  the  Clerk  of
 Papers.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

National Council of Provinces

1. Report of the Select Committee on Labour and Public Enterprises on the Telecommunications Amendment Bill [B 65B - 2003] (National Assembly - sec 75), dated 4 February 2004:

   The Select Committee on Labour and Public Enterprises, having considered the subject of the Telecommunications Amendment Bill [B 65B - 2003] (National Assembly - sec 75), referred to it, reports that it has agreed to the Bill.

                    FRIDAY, 6 FEBRUARY 2004
   

ANNOUNCEMENTS

National Council of Provinces

1. Intervention in Qaukeni and Lekwa Teemane Local Municipalities

 (1)    An ad hoc committee  has  been  established  in  terms  of  Rule
     160(1)(b) to consider whether the National Council of Provinces  is
     to approve or disapprove the intervention made by the  province  of
     the Eastern Cape in the Qaukeni  Local  Municipality  in  terms  of
     section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution.


     The following members have been appointed to serve on  the  ad  hoc
     committee:
     Majodina, P C P
     Vilakazi, J N
     Kondlo, N C
     Horne, J


     The ad hoc committee is to report to the  Council  by  11  February
     2004.


 (2)    An ad hoc committee  has  been  established  in  terms  of  Rule
     160(1)(b) to consider whether the National Council of Provinces  is
     to approve or disapprove the intervention made by the  province  of
     the North West in the Lekwa Teemane Local Municipality in terms  of
     section 139(1)(c) of the Constitution.


     The following members have been appointed to serve on  the  ad  hoc
     committee:
     Mkhaliphi, B J
     Lever, L G
     Nyakane, R M
     Lubidla, E N
     Mashangoane, R P


     The ad hoc committee is to report to the  Council  by  11  February
     2004.

                       MONDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2004

ANNOUNCEMENTS

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces

1. Assent by President in respect of Bills

 (1)    Agricultural Produce Agents Amendment Bill [B 53B - 2003] -  Act
     No 47 of 2003 (assented to and signed by President  on  28  January
     2004);


 (2)    Restitution of Land Rights Amendment Bill [B 42D - 2003]  -  Act
     No 48 of 2003 (assented to and signed by President  on  28  January
     2004); and


 (3)    Spatial Data Infrastructure Bill [B 44D - 2003] - Act No  54  of
     2003 (assented to and signed by President on 28 January 2004).

National Council of Provinces

1. Membership of Ad hoc Committee on Intervention in Lekwa Teemane Local Municipality

 The following change has been made to the  membership  of  the  ad  hoc
 committee, viz:


 Appointed: Raju, N M
 Discharged: Horne, J

COMMITTEE REPORTS National Council of Provinces

1. Report of the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs on the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Bill [B 30D - 2003] (National Council of Provinces - sec 76), dated 4 February 2004:

   The Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs, having considered the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Bill [B 30D - 2003] (National Council of Provinces - sec 76), amended by the National Assembly and referred to the Committee, reports that it has agreed to the Bill.

Report to be considered.

                      TUESDAY, 10 FEBRUARY 2004

ANNOUNCEMENTS

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces

1. Assent by President in respect of Bills

 (1)    National Environmental Management Amendment Bill [B 29 - 2003] -
     Act No 46 of 2003  (assented  to  and  signed  by  President  on  9
     February 2004); and


 (2)    Local Government: Municipal Finance  Management  Bill  [B  1D  -
     2002] - Act No 56 of 2003 (assented to and signed by  President  on
     9 February 2004).

National Council of Provinces

1. Intervention in Lekwa Teemane Municipality

 The National Council of Provinces has established an Ad  Hoc  Committee
 on the Intervention in the  Lekwa  Teemane  Municipality  in  terms  of
 section 139(1)(c) of the Constitution.


 The Ad Hoc Committee travelled to the Municipality on 8  February  2004
 to meet with relevant stakeholders. The Ad Hoc Committee  is  scheduled
 to return to Cape Town on 11 February 2004. The report of  the  Ad  Hoc
 Committee will be distributed to all Members on 11  February  prior  to
 the plenary that afternoon.

1. Intervention in Qaukeni Municipality

 The National Council of Provinces has established an Ad  Hoc  Committee
 on the Intervention in the Qaukeni Municipality  in  terms  of  section
 139(1)(b) of the Constitution.


 The Ad Hoc Committee travelled to the Municipality on 8  February  2004
 to meet with relevant stakeholders. The Ad Hoc Committee  is  scheduled
 to return to Cape Town on 11 February 2004. The report of  the  Ad  Hoc
 Committee will be distributed to all Members on 11  February  prior  to
 the plenary that afternoon.

TABLINGS

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces

1. The Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology

 (a)    Report and Financial Statements of the National Advisory Council
     on Innovation for 2002-2003.


 (b)    Report and Financial Statements of the Nelson Mandela Museum for
     2001-2002, including the  Report  of  the  Auditor-General  on  the
     Financial Statements for 2001-2002.

1. The Minister of Public Enterprises

 Report and Financial Statements of DENEL (Pty) Limited  for  2002-2003,
 including the Report of  the  Independent  Auditors  on  the  Financial
 Statements for 2002-2003.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

National Council of Provinces

1. Report of the Select Committee on Economic and Foreign Affairs on Protocol on the Amendments to the Constitutive Act of the African Union, dated 4 February 2004:

   The Select Committee on Economic and Foreign Affairs, having considered the request for approval by Parliament of the Protocol on the Amendments to the Constitutive Act of the African Union, referred to it, recommends that the Council, in terms of section 231(2) of the Constitution, approve the said Protocol.

 Report to be considered.

1. Report of the Select Committee on Economic and Foreign Affairs on Southern African Customs Union Agreement between the Governments of the Republic of Botswana, the Kingdom of Lesotho, the Republic of Namibia, the Republic of South Africa and the Kingdom of Swaziland, dated 4 February 2004:

   The Select Committee on Economic and Foreign Affairs, having considered the request for approval by Parliament of the Southern African Customs Union Agreement between the Governments of the Republic of Botswana, the Kingdom of Lesotho, the Republic of Namibia, the Republic of South Africa and the Kingdom of Swaziland, 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 Education and Recreation on Annual Report, dated 26 January 2004:

Insert ATC100204.e

1. Report of the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs on Annual Report, dated 27 January 2004:

Insert ATC100204.e1

                     WEDNESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2004

ANNOUNCEMENTS

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces

1. Assent by President in respect of Bills

 (1)    Environment Conservation Amendment Bill [B 45D - 2003] - Act  No
     50 of 2003 (assented to and signed  by  President  on  10  February
     2004).

1. Introduction of Bills

 (1)    The Speaker and the Chairperson


     (i)     Public Audit Bill [B 1 - 2004]  (National  Assembly  -  sec
           75)


     Introduction by the Ad Hoc Committee on  Public  Auditing  Function
     of the National Assembly, as well as referral to the Joint  Tagging
     Mechanism (JTM) for classification in terms of Joint Rule  160,  on
     12 February 2004.


     In terms of Joint Rule 154 written views on the  classification  of
     the Bill may be submitted to  the  Joint  Tagging  Mechanism  (JTM)
     within three parliamentary working days.

1. Bills passed by Houses - to be submitted to President for assent

 (1)    Bill passed by National Council  of  Provinces  on  11  February
     2004:


     (i)     National Environmental  Management:  Biodiversity  Bill  [B
          30D - 2003] (National Council of Provinces - sec 76)

TABLINGS

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson

 Recommendations of the Joint  Ad  Hoc  Subcommittee  on  Oversight  and
 Accountability which were adopted by the Joint Rules  Committee  on  25
 March 2003:


     The Report of the Joint Rules Committee on  the  Implementation  of
     the Recommendations of the Joint Ad Hoc Subcommittee  on  Oversight
     and Accountability, dated 17 November 2003, was  published  in  the
     ATC of the same day. The Report did not contain  the  full  set  of
     recommendations of the Subcommittee.


     At its meeting held on 26 November 2003, the Joint Rules  Committee
     resolved that the full set of resolutions contained  in  the  final
     report  of  the  Joint  Ad  Hoc  Subcommittee  on   Oversight   and
     Accountability be published in the ATC.
     The following is  the  full  set  of  resolutions  including  those
     published on 17 November 2003:


     Developing an understanding of oversight


     Recommendation 1


     The Subcommittee recommends that:


     1.1      Parliament  through  the  Joint  Rules  Committee   (JRC),
          compiles   a   document   "landscaping"   the   Constitutional
          provisions dealing with the inter-related themes of Oversight,
          Accountability, Transparency and responsiveness, and outlining
          international trends. Such  a  document  should  also  include
          inputs from key constitutional negotiators either in the  form
          of commissioned research or essays, (preferably both).


     1.2     Following  the  tabling  of  the  abovementioned  document,
          debates, workshops and discussions should  be  programmed  and
          organised within Parliament, first  amongst  MP's  themselves,
          and then later on  expanded  to  include  other  stakeholders.
          These debates and discussions should have as  their  objective
          the development of a broad understanding of the Oversight Role
          and Purpose of Parliament within our Constitutional democracy.


     Coordination between the Houses


     Recommendation 2


     The Subcommittee recommends that:


     2.1     The JRC initiate a process  aimed  at  drafting  guidelines
          for portfolio and select committees to  allow  inter-alia  for
          joint planning of oversight work.


     2.2     A process should be initiated  to  establish  protocols  to
          ensure structured  communication  between  committees  through
          streamlining of the committee section, which would  allow  for
          more effective and formal communication between committees  of
          both Houses that embark on mutual interest oversight work  and
          briefing sessions.


     Building Parliament's Oversight Capacity


     Recommendation 3


     The Subcommittee recommends that:


     3.1     The  Joint  Rules  Committee  begins  a  process  aimed  at
          producing  a  long  term  institutional  Vision  and   Mission
          Statement   aimed   at   building    Parliament's    oversight
          capabilities through adequate resourcing and capacity building
          in committees, Constituency offices  and  within  Parliament's
          administrative  support  structures  -   in   particular   the
          Committee section where a record-keeping system, and  tracking
          mechanisms are required to be established.


     3.2     Parliament adopts a policy requiring  each  new  Parliament
          to assess and review its oversight  capabilities  once  during
          its five-year lifespan.


     Institutions Supporting Democracy


     Recommendation 4


     The Subcommittee recommends that:


     The matters of independence  of  the  ISD,  the  more  co-ordinated
     interaction between Parliament and the ISD,  the  effectiveness  of
     the oversight role of  the  ISD,  their  budgetary  procedures  and
     their accountability to  Parliament,  be  the  subject  of  a  more
     extensive  consultation  process  that  should  involve  all  role-
     players. This kind of process we believe  should  be  initiated  by
     Parliament and that it would be for Parliament to decide  how  best
     to engage in this process.


     Developing and Institutional Memory


     Recommendation 5


     The Subcommittee recommends that:
     Parliament, urgently takes measures  to  develop  a  Best  Practice
     Guide  to  capture  inter-alia  the  best  oversight  practices  of
     committees and the experiences of chairpersons  of  various  Select
     and Portfolio Committees.


     Fine tuning and development of Oversight Mechanisms


     Recommendation 6


     The Subcommittee recommends that:


     6.1     Parliament commissions  an  audit  of  the  various  bodies
     exercising public powers pr performing public functions  and  which
     should  in  addition  be  clearly  delineate  which  line  function
     departments are  responsible  for  the  various  organs  of  state.
     Portfolio   and   Select   Committees   within   parliament    will
     consequently assume the necessary oversight responsibility.


     6.2     Parliament through the  JRC  develops  a  policy  aimed  at
     meeting its constitutional obligations set out in s 55(2)(b)(ii).


     6.3     Such a policy  should  consider  the  necessity  for  basic
     legislation giving effect to s 55(2) on  issues  of  oversight  and
     accountability  and  dealing  especially  with  organs   of   state
     directly accountable to Parliament.


     6.4     The JRC develops a policy  allowing  for  more  debates  on
     committee oversight reports to be programmed. These debates  should
     take the form of MPs raising issues of concern based on the  report
     tabled and Ministers responding to those issues.


     Introducing Oversight Mechanisms: Accountability Standards Act


     Recommendation 7*


     The Subcommittee recommends that:


     Option 1
     Parliament  should  begin  a  formal  process  of  evaluating   its
     oversight activities as distinct  from  its  legislative  role  and
     developing a manual on Accountability and  Oversight  for  MPs  and
     Committees,  with  the  intention  of  constantly  developing   and
     refining such a manual.


     Option 2
     Parliament should adopt  the  recommendation  as  proposed  by  the
     consultant's that an Accountability Standards Act be enacted.


     (* Joint Rules Committee still has to decide  on  which  option  to
     adopt)


     Bringing Parliament's oversight role to bear on the Budget Process


     Recommendation 8


     The Subcommittee noting the  inextricable  link  between  effective
     Parliamentary  oversight  and  Parliament's  role  in  the   budget
     process recommends that:


     Parliament develops a formal process to enact legislation in  terms
     of section 77(2) of the Constitution.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

National Council of Provinces

1. Report of the Select Committee on Local Government and Administration on Annual Report, dated 4 February 2004:

Insert ATC110204.e

1. Report of the Select Committee on Security and Constitutional Affairs on Annual Report, dated 11 February 2004:

Insert ATC110204.e1

1. Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Intervention in Lekwa Teemane Local Municipality, dated 11 February 2004:

INSERT “lekwa2.doc”

 Report to be considered.

1. Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Intervention in Qaukeni Local Municipality, dated 11 February 2004:

INSERT “qaukeni.doc”

 Report to be considered.