PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
                                ____

                            ANNOUNCEMENT

 (1)    notes with sadness and shock that a 68-year-old female patient
     was shot dead in Rietvlei Hospital near Umzimkhulu in the Eastern
     Cape earlier this week, and that in a separate incident a nurse
     was stabbed to death at Mokopane Hospital in Limpopo the week
     before;


 (2)    calls upon the relevant authorities to investigate these
     incidents thoroughly so that the perpetrators are brought to book;


 (3)    acknowledges that the security measures in state hospitals needs
     to be reviewed urgently so that similar incidents can be avoided
     in future; and


   4) offers its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased.

     (1)     notes the results of a by-election held in Evander, Ward
          18 of the Govan Mbeki Municipality in Mpumalanga on 26 January
          2005, and congratulates the DA on a resounding victory over
          the ANC and FF Plus, in that the DA achieved 76% of the vote,
          the ANC 22% and the FF Plus a mere 2%; and


     (2)     further notes that this achievement represents a technical
          regain for the DA in that the ANC garnered a majority of 55%
          of the vote in this ward during the April 2004 elections.

                       MOTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE


                 FIELD RANGER ATTACKED BY CROCODILE


                         (Draft Resolution)

 (1)    notes that on 13 February 2005, while crossing the Black
     Umfolozi River in KwaZulu-Natal, Field Ranger E Ngcobo was
     attacked and pulled down by a large crocodile;


 (2)    further notes that Field Ranger S Nxumalo, who was accompanying
     Field Ranger Ngcobo, bravely attacked the crocodile and pulled the
     victim to shore and then proceeded to perform basic first aid
     before Field Ranger Ngcobo was airlifted to hospital;


 (3)    also notes that Field Ranger Ngcobo is in a stable condition but
     that his left hand had to be amputated as it was badly injured;


 (4)    wishes him a speedy and full recovery; and


 (5)    congratulates Field Ranger S Nxumalo for his extreme bravery in
     saving his colleague from certain death.

                         VISIT TO MPUMALANGA


                         (Draft Resolution)

           CONSIDERATION OF REPORT ON KWAZULU-NATAL VISIT

            ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS


                      TUESDAY, 25 JANUARY 2005

 (1)    Public Investment Corporation Bill [B 6B - 2004] - Act No 23 of
     2004 (assented to and signed by President on 11 December 2004);


 (2)    Dental Technicians Amendment Bill [B 63 - 2003] - Act No 24 of
     2004 (assented to and signed by President on 25 November 2004);


 (3)    Public Audit Bill [B 1 - 2004] - Act No 25 of 2004 (assented to
     and signed by President on 14 December 2004);


 (4)    Adjustments Appropriation Bill [B 21 - 2004] - Act No 27 of 2004
     (assented to and signed by President on 1 December 2004);


 (5)    Petroleum Pipelines Levies Bill [B 18 - 2004] - Act No 28 of
     2004 (assented to and signed by President on 14 December 2004);
     and


 (6)    National Small Business Amendment Bill [B 23B - 2004] - Act No
     29 of 2004 (assented to and signed by President on 11 December
     2004).

 (1)    The Minister of Minerals and Energy


     (i)     Minerals and Energy Laws Amendment Bill [B 1 - 2005]
          (National Assembly - sec 75) [Explanatory summary of Bill and
          prior notice of its introduction published in Government
          Gazette No 26778 of 17 September 2004.]

     Introduction and referral to the Portfolio Committee on Minerals
     and Energy of the National Assembly, as well as referral to the
     Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) for classification in terms of Joint
     Rule 160, on 18 January 2005.

     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.

 Report of the visit of the National Council of Provinces to Empangeni,
 KwaZulu-Natal, 1-5 November 2004:

• During the session on co-operative governance and issues  of  poverty,
  rural development and health it was emphasised  that  the  interaction
  between Members of the Provincial Legislature, Members of the National
  Council of Provinces and National Ministers would boost the quality of
  legislation and  enhance  effective  parliamentary  oversight  at  all
  levels of government. The  insight  of  National  Ministers  regarding
  issues with which the province is grappling would be further enhanced.
  Statistical information on socio-economic conditions in  the  Province
  was presented to underline the  urgency  of  the  need  to  counteract
  underdevelopment. It was noted that  extreme  levels  of  poverty  are
  being exported to informal settlements as people  try  to  escape  the
  unpleasant conditions in the rural areas. Such movement to rural areas
  then creates the new problem  of  unplanned  urban  resettlement.  Any
  effort at correcting these problems will only  succeed  when  combined
  with integrated rural sustainable development.


• The visits to schools constituted part of an initiative to ensure that
  no learner will be educated under a tree. A document  on  the  current
  conditions at all schools in KwaZulu-Natal has been prepared and  this
  estimates that a total of approximately 6  000  schools  are  in  poor
  condition. The majority of these schools (90%) are in rural areas, and
  the  Department  of  Public  Works  will  be   responsible   for   the
  construction of additional classroom facilities. Other challenges that
  emerged during the course of the site  visits  include:  the  drop-out
  rate of learners can be ascribed to poor facilities and the  financial
  position of parents, many  schools  have  no  ablution  facilities  or
  running water, many schools do not have sufficient classrooms and high
  levels of poverty result in alcohol abuse and teenage pregnancies.

• The NCOP meeting with  local  women  focused  on  the  structures  and
  institutions set up by Government over the course of the past 10 years
  to improve the quality of women’s lives. The presentations touched  on
  the legislation introduced to give effect to gender equity and some of
  the Government initiatives to enhance women’s lives. Some of  the  key
  challenges that still obstruct  the  political,  social  and  economic
  empowerment of women were highlighted and some potential solutions  to
  some of these were discussed.

• The site visits to the cane and citrus farm and  women’s  co-operative
  and the meeting held with farmers served to highlight several critical
  issues. Problems such as inadequate market  access  to  emerging  cane
  growers, the inadequate infrastructure to move merchandise to and from
  the cane fields, inadequate training and capacity-building initiatives
  and high levels of  unemployment  which  often  exacerbate  the  crime
  levels were discussed in some detail. Despite these  challenges,  many
  of the participants cited some levels  of  success  in  creating  jobs
  through their commercial ventures.

• The  public  hearing  on  the  Expanded  Public  Works  Programme  and
  sustainable subsistence farming highlighted the manner  in  which  the
  programme will create jobs,  develop  skills  and  alleviate  poverty.
  Through the creation of opportunities using labour intensive  methods,
  significant numbers of unemployed people will be drawn into productive
  work and gain skills, thereby increasing their  capacity  to  earn  an
  income. To date, it has been reported that 38 000  work  opportunities
  have been created between April and June 2004, since the launch of the
  EPWP. Concerns were raised  about  the  manner  in  which  people  are
  employed on these projects as well as the  difficulties  in  accessing
  funding for projects and securing tenders.

• The public hearing on poverty alleviation and educational  and  social
  needs  pointed  out  that  the  most  important  focus  of  government
  programmes was the reduction of poverty in conjunction  with  ensuring
  greater access to health  and  other  social  services.  Presentations
  focused  on  the  poverty  alleviation  projects  implemented  by  the
  different departments, as well as those programmes  meant  to  address
  not only income poverty, but also quality of life more generally.  The
  focus is also developmental in nature, and  acknowledges  that  people
  must be able to contribute to the development of their own lives. Very
  little reference was made with regard  to  educational  needs  in  the
  context of poverty.


• The meeting with the youth and people with disabilities focused on the
  mandate and challenges faced by the  National  Youth  Commission,  the
  mandate and challenges of the Umsobomvu Youth Fund, initiatives in the
  Presidency to deal with  youth-related  issues  and  the  mandate  and
  challenges faced by the Disabled People South Africa.

• The meeting with councillors on local  government  matters  reinforced
  the fact that the most significant way in which the NCOP  can  respond
  to the challenges faced by local government is  by  strengthening  its
  oversight work. Through its oversight work the NCOP plays  a  critical
  role in ensuring that provincial and national government continues  to
  provide the institutional support to local government that it needs to
  discharge the constitutional obligations it is  entrusted  with.  This
  includes  making  sure  that  municipalities  have  the  capacity   to
  implement social and  economic  development  programmes  such  as  the
  Expanded  Public  Works  Programme  to  help  government  achieve  its
  objective of halving unemployment and poverty by 2014. The  Department
  of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) has recognised that none  of
  the role players in this sector  can  adequately  deal  with  all  the
  challenges facing municipalities on their own. In recognition of this,
  DPLG  has  embarked  on  Project  Consolidate,  a  targeted   hands-on
  engagement programme to deal with problems  facing  local  government.
  Through this initiative,  municipalities  that  require  the  greatest
  support have been profiled.  The intention is to mobilise national and
  provincial government, state-owned enterprises and the private  sector
  to support local government.

• Session on  co-operative  governance  and  issues  of  poverty,  rural
  development and health (1 November 2004).
• Visit to the Macekane Primary and Bhekulwazi High Schools (1  November
  2004).
• Visit to the Thanduyise High School, the Amangwe  Primary  School  and
  the Dover Combined School (1 November 2004).
• Meeting with women (1 November 2004).
• Visit to Thathunyawo  Cane  and  Citrus  Farm  and  the  Phezukomkhono
  Women’s Co-operative (2 November 2004).
• Meeting with farmers (2 November 2004).
• Public hearing on the Expanded Public Works Programme and  sustainable
  subsistence farming (2 November).
• Public hearing on poverty alleviation and educational and social needs


• (3 November 2004).
• Meeting with youth and people with disabilities (3 November 2004).
• Meeting with councillors  on  local  government  matters  (4  November
  2004).

  • The visits to schools stem from the NCOP’s  “Taking  Parliament  to
    the People” initiative and the President’s commitment that by 2005,
    no learner will be educated under a tree.


  •  The  MEC  for  Education  in  KwaZulu-Natal  indicated  that   the
    department had prepared a comprehensive  document  on  the  current
    conditions at all schools in the province – in total  approximately
    6 000, most of which were in a bad condition.

  • The majority of these schools (90%) are in  rural  areas,  and  the
    Department of Public Works is responsible for the  construction  of
    additional classroom facilities.

  • Macekane Primary was constructed in 1964.
  • In the past two years, Macekane Primary’s pass rate was 68%.
  • The educators are committed to improving (a)  the  attendance  rate
    and (b) the pass rate.
  • The school employs 15 educators and has 105 learners.
  • Twelve out of the existing 16 classrooms can be utilised (the  rest
    of the classrooms are damaged).
  • The classrooms do not have ceilings, blackboards cannot be used and
    four to five learners have to share two-seater desks.
  • An attempt to lead water from the TICOR  South  Africa  Plants  was
    unsuccessful.
  • Although a feeding scheme is in operation, the storage and  cooking
    areas are totally dysfunctional.

  • The school has 16 educators and 389 learners, six classrooms and  a
    hall divided into two.
  • Bhekulwazi High can  accommodate  250  learners,  and  at  least  a
    further eight classrooms have to be provided.
  • In the absence of sufficient classroom accommodation, some learners
    have to be taught under trees, and during the  rainy  season  there
    are no classes.
  • Water supply is erratic, although the school does have a  standpipe
    for water.
  • Bhekulwazi paid Uthungulu for labour and 800 meters  of  pipe,  but
    the tap is not yet in working condition.
  • The chemicals for teaching physics are stored in  a  small  office,
    which is (a) a fire hazard and (b) potentially toxic.

  • The drop-out rate, which is ascribed to  poor  facilities  and  the
    financial position of parents.
  • No ablution facilities or running water.
  • Lack of sufficient classrooms.
  • High poverty levels which often result in alcohol abuse and teenage
    pregnancies.
  • Insufficient educational equipment.

  • Tholokuhle High School has 1 400 learners  and  46  educators.  The
    school has a full management team  consisting  of  the  Headmaster;
    five Heads of Department, and eight Natural Science educators.


  • The  school  offers  three  educational  streams.  It  also  has  a
    Hospitality Centre whose Grade 12  learners  wrote  exams  for  the
    first time this year.

  • Tholokuhle  High  School  has  entered  into  agreements  with  the
    Universities of Zululand and Pretoria, who send subject specialists
    to teach learners from Grade 10 upwards.

  • The school receives  financial  support  from  various  businesses,
    including  Telkom,  Casme,  Mondi,  and  the  Zululand  Chamber  of
    Business.

  • The school experiences  a  shortage  of  educators,  especially  in
    relation to Mathematics and Science.

  • There is no transport for learners to and from the school.

  • The school has no hall, tuck shop or conference rooms.

  • There is no funding for Internet services.

  • The school has 682 learners, 24 educators and 18 classrooms, one of
    which is used as a staffroom. The administration building was burnt
    down during the violence in 1989.

  • The water supply to the school is erratic, as  the  standpipe  only
    works in the mornings. However,  a  new  pipe  is  expected  to  be
    installed from Enseleni.

  • The school does not have electricity in  all  classrooms,  and  the
    schools grounds have been fenced in in such a manner that it leaves
    little space for extracurricular activities or sport.

  •  The  school  would  like  more  relevant  educators  for  the  new
    curriculum. One educator has been appointed for  Computer  Studies,
    but there are  no  computers  or  any  other  form  of  Information
    Technology.


  • Another educator has been appointed to teach Technical Drawing, but
    there are no facilities.

  • The area has a high unemployment rate, with the result that  up  to
    40% of learners cannot afford the school fees.

  • Grade 9 is being taught Science with no  equipment  or  laboratory,
    and there is no space to set up a laboratory.

  • The pass rate of the school is  declining,  and  few  learners  are
    reaching Grade 12 as they cannot reach the promotion requirements.

• The school has a learner population of 823 with  24  educators,  which
  translates into a ratio of one educator per 46 learners.

• Thanduyise is a  fairly-resourced  school  compared  to  some  of  the
  schools that were visited  by  the  delegation.  It  has  a  well-kept
  library, a science laboratory and a  biology  laboratory  including  a
  computer laboratory with 30 computers  that  were  donated  by  Eskom.
  However, the school has inadequate sportsfields for learners.

• In the 2003 matric results the school achieved a 92% pass rate,  which
  has been the norm at the school for the past years.

• A shortage of teachers.
• A shortage of reading material.
• Lack of communication between teachers and the district  within  which
  the school falls.
• The abolition of corporal punishment makes it difficult  for  teachers
  to instil discipline among learners.

• The school starts from Grade 8 to Grade 12.

• It has a learner population of 254 with 14 educators.

• The majority of learners come  from  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the
  school, which is a semirural area.

• The school has no electricity; ceilings and doors are  broken  due  to
  vandalism.

• Lack of ablution facilities.
• Shortage of water facilities.
• Shortage of qualified teachers, in particular science teachers.

• The school starts from Grade 1 to Grade 12, with a learner  population
  of 792 and 22 educators.

• The school is one of the best performing rural schools in the country,
  for the past years it has been achieving a 100% pass  rate.  This  has
  earned the school several awards.

• The school was originally  owned  by  a  farmer  and  has  since  been
  transferred to the Department of Education. Most of  the  funding  for
  the school is sourced from the private sector.

• The school has embarked on a programme of twinning with other  schools
  from the United States of America and Europe. During the visit by  the
  delegation one of the learners  had  just  arrived  from  an  exchange
  programme with France.

  • The provincial Department of  Education  is  entering  into  public
    agreements  with  service  providers  in  an  attempt  to   provide
    additional support.


  • Since there is  currently  a  backlog  of  16 500  classrooms,  the
    provincial Department of Education will prioritise the provision of
    classrooms.


  • In the next financial year, an allocation had been made  to  ensure
    that four classrooms, one science laboratory and one  media  centre
    is constructed at Bhekulwazi High School.

  • The provincial  Education  Department  is  committed  to  meet  the
    commitment by the President that by next year no learners  will  be
    learning under trees.

  • Contractors for constructing the  additional  classrooms  would  be
    appointed within the next 14 days.

  • The school has 383 learners and 11 educators plus one paid  for  by
    an unnamed NGO with a teacher/learner ratio of 1: 40/45. The school
    has 19 classrooms, some of which are used as administration  rooms.
    The grades range from Grade R to Grade 7.

  • The annual school fee is R30,00 but 50% of  school  fees  is  still
    outstanding.

  • The school was established in 1957 but the building is still  in  a
    satisfactory  condition  because  the  district  municipality   has
    renovated it. It is properly fenced with razor wire.

  • There is only one office, which is used by the principal. There  is
    no  administration  block  and  this  causes  classroom  congestion
    because some of  the  classrooms  are  used  as  admin  rooms.  One
    classroom is used as a computer room.

  • There are toilets but they are not  working  because  there  is  no
    water and  because  of  the  soil  type  there  are  problems  with
    drainage. There is also no water and  the  school  depends  on  the
    tanks and a borehole and both these resources dry up more often.

  • The school was provided with electricity in August after ten  years
    of requests.

  • There is a high crime rate in the area of the school, and  the  car
    of one of the staff members was hijacked in  front  of  the  school
    gates. There were also incidents of breaking  into  the  classrooms
    before the school was fenced with the razor wire.

  • There is a problem with transport because the school is in a  rural
    area. The learners and  even  the  teachers  have  to  travel  long
    distances. The roads to the school are inaccessible.

  • The school has received 20 computers, which is not enough to  serve
    even one class. There is no computer room and one of the classrooms
    is used as a computer room. The school has no resources for  sport,
    recreation or Grade R facilities

  • The school has a population of 600 learners and 17 educators, which
    translates to a ratio of about 40 learners per educator.

  • The school fees are R90 per annum and the parents are trying  their
    best to pay with a default rate of 20%.

  • There are 21 classrooms with only two  electrified  and  none  have
    ceilings. The roofs on one block were torn off by the storm.  There
    is no proper fencing at the school and this results in  the  school
    being easily vandalised.

  • The matric pass rate is gradually improving at the school. In  2000
    it was 24%; 2001, 43%; 2002, 53%;  and  in  2003,  80%.  There  are
    several strategies aimed at improving results  and  the  Department
    implements them yearly.

  • The learners are educated from time to time on HIV/AIDS. Last month
    Grades 7 and 8 were addressed and on 2 November 2004 somebody  from
    a local NGO will address them on health issues.

  • Because of the rural nature of the school, the curriculum does  not
    address the local needs in its subjects. The school therefore wants
    to introduce Agricultural Science and  Computer  Studies.  However,
    the school is struggling to obtain computers because  there  is  no
    security for them.

  • The bad roads in this rural area make the  school  inaccessible  to
    the learners and educators especially during rainy days.

  • The school is struggling to obtain resources, human and  otherwise.
    There is a shortage of educators. There is one laboratory, which is
    poorly equipped. No playgrounds for learners.

  • The school depends on tanks for water. A tap was put  up  early  in
    2004, but it dries up regularly.

  • There is no security at  the  school.  The  school  has  hired  two
    security guards at R400 per month paid for by  the  community.  The
    guards are sometimes attacked,  as  they  have  nothing  to  defend
    themselves with.

  • The school used to have ABET but classes are no longer offered  due
    to problems in handling both ABET and full-time learners.

  • There are no computers; learners have to go to Empangeni and pay R6
    000 for basic computer courses after matric.
  • There is a high pregnancy rate in the school and this year has been
    the worst when compared to others.

  • The grades at Ndesheni range from grade 8 to grade 12. There are 21
    educators and 521  learners.  The  ratio  is  one  educator  to  38
    learners – 1:38.

  • The performance of the school in terms of matric  results  is  very
    good. The pass rate has been 73% in the past 3 years.

  • The school falls within the jurisdiction of the Mthunzini district,
    and within the traditional authority of iNkosi Dube.

  • School fees are R120 per annum. The area is a poor  area  resulting
    in most parents being unable to afford  to  pay.  There  is  a  60%
    default rate.

  • Classrooms are not in a good condition, and there is a shortage  of
    classrooms. One block (six classrooms) was burnt  down  completely,
    and has not been renovated. One  classroom  is  being  used  as  an
    administration office. Some of the classrooms  have  ceilings,  but
    most do not. There are lights in one block, but not in the  others.
    The floors are passable in one block, but not in others. There is a
    shortage  of  furniture   for   both   the   classrooms   and   the
    administration office. There is no laboratory and no library. There
    is no assembly hall.

  • There are 12 standpipes, with uninterrupted water supplied  by  the
    Municipality. However, there are no toilets for learners. There are
    two structures put up with no roof, used by both  girls  and  boys.
    These are not in a usable condition. There are two toilets used  by
    teachers, also in a bad condition.

  • There are no sport facilities or equipment. The school used to play
    soccer and netball but cannot manage now.

  • Books and computers were donated by RBCT, but since the fire,  they
    were not replaced by the company as there is no security.

  • There is a high rate of teenage pregnancy (almost  30%),  which  is
    solved by allowing pregnant girls to attend school until  close  to
    delivery, and then giving them home teaching  for  3  months.  This
    year there were 20 pregnant learners. There are also HIV  and  AIDS
    programmes in place to  assist  affected  learners.  One  dedicated
    educator is responsible for the programme.

  • There is no school bus; learners have  to  travel  long  distances.
    They therefore use the public transport.

  • The school is situated in a poor area, with  an  estimated  15%  of
    learners showing signs of HIV infection. Most  learners  have  lost
    one or both of their parents.

  • The school is not properly fenced, and has no security guard.

  • The school is in need  of  electricity,  additional  classrooms,  a
    laboratory and library, learning materials and proper toilets.

  • There are no computers. The use of computers will assist to set  up
    proper administration. Currently boxes are used to store  important
    documents of the school.

  • The school currently has eight teachers  (excluding  the  principal
    and a Zulu teacher who resigned in September). The position of  the
    principal has been in dispute since 2003, as learners  dissatisfied
    with his management style had chased him away from the school.  The
    principal is now stationed at Dlangezwa High School.

  • The grades range  from  grade  8  to  grade  12.  There  are  eight
    educators and 319  learners.  The  ratio  is  one  educator  to  38
    learners – 1: 38. In terms of matric results, the school  had  been
    performing well from 1999 to 2002. The performance was  as  follows
    in 1999 – 27%; 2000 – 37%; and 2002 – 74%. This was  indicating  an
    increase in the pass rate. In 2003 the  pass  rate  was  42%.   The
    delegation heard that the cause for the decline in  pass  rate  was
    attributed to disturbances  at  the  school  and  lack  of  learner
    commitment to school.

  • There are eight classrooms (prefabricated building donated by RBM);
    two are used as an administration block. Classrooms are in  a  good
    condition (freshly painted) with burglar-barred  doors;  no  broken
    windows  were  visible;  however,  the   school   does   not   have
    electricity. A significant number of desks are broken and  need  to
    be replaced as  a  matter  of  urgency.  The  school  also  has  no
    laboratory.

  • There is one water tap that is operational,  while  there  are  two
    toilets for teachers and five for learners (two for girls and three
    for boys).

  • There is a bus that drops off learners at school and picks them  up
    after school.

  • The issue of the school principal needs to be resolved as a  matter
    of urgency.

  • There is a high rate of teen pregnancy. In addition,  there  is  no
    dedicated educator responsible for  HIV/AIDS  programmes.  Instead,
    social workers visit the school on a regular basis.

  • School stationery/material is not received on time.

  • The interaction between  Members  of  the  Provincial  Legislature,
    Members of the National Council of Provinces and National Ministers
    would boost  the  quality  of  legislation  and  enhance  effective
    parliamentary oversight at all levels of government. The insight of
    National Ministers regarding issues  with  which  the  province  is
    grappling would be further enhanced.

    The Premier of Kwazulu Natal provided  statistical  information  on
    the   Province,   which   underlined   the   need   to   counteract
    underdevelopment. Out of a total population  of  9,5  million,  2,1
    million cannot read or write, and 56% of the  population  is  under
    the age of 24 years. Over 4 000 schools do  not  have  electricity,
    while  36%  do  not  have  toilets.  Out  of  51  municipal   local
    governments, 31 are unable to provide services.


  • The importance of supporting a better quality of life in the  rural
    areas was emphasised. Successful  rural  development  will  be  the
    first step of the Government towards the eradication of  slums  and
    informal settlements in the peri-urban centres. It will assist with
    the reduction of unemployment and starvation.

  • The Province faces a number  of  health  challenges.  The  lack  of
    accessible, safe potable water led to an outbreak of  cholera  that
    affected thousands of people in KwaZulu-Natal. It was stressed that
    Government  must  ensure  that  the  scourge  of  HIV   and   AIDS,
    Tuberculosis and other diseases is eliminated.

  • With regard to solid waste management, a waste management site  has
    been built in Empangeni at the cost of approximately  R21  million.
    During the first year the performance of this facility  started  to
    show that the Government’s expectations had been met and would even
    be exceeded.

  • A need was expressed for communities to be  economically  empowered
    so that they are able to pay for the provision of services.

  • While administrative centres in the rural areas play a  vital  role
    in providing government services, traditional leaders have  a  role
    to play in the delivery of services  and  in  providing  access  to
    clean water and information.

  • Over the course of the past 10  years,  Parliament  has  introduced
    progressive  legislation  to  improve  the  lives  of  women.   Key
    legislation to impact on women’s  lives  includes  the  Maintenance
    Act, the  Domestic  Violence  Act,  the  Recognition  of  Customary
    Marriages Act and the Welfare Laws Amendment Act. Parliament  wants
    all people to benefit from the legislation that has been passed and
    wants to ensure that people know how to use the legislation. It  is
    important that women, especially women  in  the  rural  areas,  are
    informed about this legislation.


  • Ms J Piliso-Seroke of the Commission for Gender Equality emphasised
    that the Constitution ensures that everyone is equal  and  the  law
    therefore strives to protect women’s rights.

  • The importance of the Criminal Procedure Act  was  emphasised.  The
    Act assists courts in their decisions to refuse bail in rape  cases
    where weapons have been used or where gang rape  has  taken  place.
    The Criminal Law Amendment Act has also benefited women as  illegal
    evictions can now be prevented in terms of the law.

  • Government intends to mainstream gender into all its  policies.  It
    is the responsibility of the Office  on  the  Status  of  Women  to
    ensure that  gender  issues  are  integrated  into  all  Government
    policies and to monitor whether what the Government has promised to
    deliver has actually reached women in all communities.


  • Various policies have been put in place by  Government,  eg  social
    policies, health policies, etc, to  improve  the  conditions  under
    which women live.

  •  It  is  important  that  women  are  informed  of  the  Government
    programmes that are in place in order to take full advantage of the
    opportunities that are available to them.


  • The programmes of Government are not only aimed at women, but  also
    at men. However, it is essential  that  Government  services  reach
    women.


  • The Government has put in place  several  Entrepreneurial  Business
    Support Programmes and has been the main catalyst for ensuring that
    women receive the necessary support for their businesses.

  • This programme is aimed at encouraging  women  to  access  and  use
    technology to increase and strengthen their enterprises.


  • The programme awards those who succeed and presents  them  as  role
    models.

  • The  programme  offers  training  opportunities,  eg  the  DTI  has
    established partnerships with information technology  companies  to
    provide training.

  • The Techno-Girl programme targets  girls  and  encourages  them  to
    pursue careers in the field of science and technology.

  Programme: South African Women Entrepreneurs Network (SAWEN)[1]

  • The SAWEN programme was launched  nationally  in  2002.  Provincial
    branches were subsequently launched in 2003 and 2004.

  • The network provides a vehicle for women entrepreneurs to act as  a
    single voice.

  • It provides  support  through  information  sharing,  training  and
    business advice.

  • The structure is an independent  organisation  that  is  driven  by
    women and has a close partnership with DTI.


  Programme: Access to Finance for Women in Business


  • The DTI is working towards the launch of the APEX fund in  December
    2004,  which  will  focus  on  financing  for   micro   women-owned
    enterprises. The APEX fund will be targeted primarily at the second
    economy and will grant microloans from R20 to R 10 000.

  • The DTI has put in place business  incentives  such  as  the  Black
    Business Supplier Development Programme (BBSDP), and the Small  and
    Medium  Enterprise  Development  Programme   (SMEDP),   which   are
    available to women in business. The BBSDP subsidises the  costs  of
    technical support and consultant advice to companies so  that  they
    are able to upgrade their capabilities. The SMEDP gives business  a
    cash rebate on their investments in order to promote the growth  of
    enterprises.

  • The  DTI  caters  for  broad-based  empowerment  initiatives   that
    specifically target rural  communities.  They  have  products  that
    support start-up enterprises through  Kula-Start,  which  primarily
    targets rural women.

  • The DTI has identified problems pertaining  to  access  to  finance
    that face women in business and will look  at  new  initiatives  to
    address these constraints.

  • The Mining Charter sets a target of 10% women employees within five
    years.

  • Other aspects of the Charter where the  quota  is  applicable  are:
    procurement,  beneficiation,  community  development,  housing  and
    nutrition and employment equity.

  • BP  and  Caltex  currently  have  women  as  shareholders.  Similar
    opportunities with other companies are  in  the  process  of  being
    negotiated.

  • Business structures for women have been  established  such  as  the
    South African Women in Mining (SAWIMA) and Women In  Oil,  Gas  and
    Energy (WOESA).

  • The Department of Agriculture administers the Women Farmer  of  the
    Year awards, which recognises women who succeed in exporting  their
    products regionally and internationally.

  •  Through  the  Land  Reform  for  Agriculture   Programme   (LRAD),
    development finance has been made available for accessing  land  in
    the price range of R 20 000 to R 100 000, based on the size of  the
    enterprise and ownership status.

  • Support is provided to research seed models required for both local
    and international markets as part of an initiative  to  help  women
    start nurseries.

  • Marketing agencies assist in linking women farmers and clients.

  • Through Agri-Industry Training, women are being assisted to improve
    the quality of their products.

  • The focus of the Department is on profiling and promoting women  in
    the sector.

  • Minister’s Awards are held  to  award  the  top  100  companies  in
    engineering, science and technology.

  • Women are encouraged to enter the sector.

  • The Department  encourages  women  to  enter  the  Information  and
    Communications and Telecommunications (ICT) sector.

  • The Department provides support to women entering the field through
    mentorship by company directors.

  • The Khulisa Scheme has been established, which provides  mentorship
    and training to women.

  • The Department has established telecentres and  ensures  that  some
    are owned by women to provide easy access to ICT.

  • The Department of Housing supports the  entry  of  women  into  the
    housing construction arena.

  • The Department supports a Women for Housing  project  that  assists
    women building contractors through the provision of training, helps
    to place women in construction firms and encourages women to pursue
    housing-related careers.

  • The Department has set targets for women being awarded at least 10%
    of housing construction contracts. This has, however, not been met.

    The Department has set targets for  women’s  participation  in  the
    construction  sector  as  part   of   the   Construction   Industry
    Development Programme.


  • The Department supports  women  enterprises  through  its  Targeted
    Procurement Policy (TPP) and the  Emerging  Contractor  Development
    Programme  (ECDP).  The  TPP  and  ECDP  supports  the   Women   in
    Construction Programme, which ensures that women-owned and  managed
    construction   companies   receive   contracts   and   women    are
    beneficiaries of all support initiatives.

  • Women are supported through  training,  the  provision  of  general
    business skills, tendering and procurement  skills  and  specialist
    training in areas such as electricity and plumbing.

  • The Department manages a database of women in construction.

  • The Multi-Purpose Community  Centre  (MPCC)  Programme  strives  to
    create a people’s contract for more efficient, people-centered  and
    developmental government.



     MPCCs are a vehicle  for  ensuring  that  Government  can  deliver
    services in an accessible manner to poor communities. MPCCs aim  to
    address historical socio-economic issues whereby some citizens were
    deprived of access to government information and services.


  • The MPCC Programme started in 1999, with the aim of establishing  a
    centre in each of the district  municipalities  by  December  2004.
    There are currently 63 MPCCs in the country. Six of  these  are  in
    KwaZulu-Natal, namely, Bamshela, Mbazwana,  Tugela  Ferry,  Dukuza,
    Mbabazane and Dududu. Plans are at an advanced stage to establish a
    centre in Nkandla. Through the MPCCs, communities can  access  more
    than 500 services. By 2014 the Government  plans  to  establish  an
    MPCC in each local municipality.


  • MPCCs are places where a number of services are provided by  local,
    provincial and national government as well  as  parastatals,  NGOs,
    CBOs and the private sector. The services offered at  an  MPCC  are
    those that have been identified by the community.


  • Government is making special efforts to make services accessible to
    every citizen close to where they live. In addition to  the  MPCCs,
    Community Development Workers have been  appointed  and  the  Batho
    Pele  e-Gateway,  which  uses  internet  and  computers  to   bring
    information to communities, has been set up.  Imbizos are  also  an
    important part  of  bringing  government  and  people  together  in
    working for a better life for all.

  • Communities need to work in  partnership  with  the  government  at
    national, provincial and local levels to facilitate the process  of
    community development.

  • Notwithstanding the huge strides made  by  the  government  in  the
    advancement of women in all sectors, there  are  still  areas  that
    need to be addressed. These areas include  facilitating  access  to
    some government structures and institutions, the implementation  of
    government  policies,  and  the  relaxation  of  requirements   for
    individuals to qualify for loans or government grants.


  • Before the current dispensation,  women  were  victims  of  extreme
    poverty as a result of a lack of resources and skills. Rural  women
    have been particularly vulnerable.

  • Government should arrange  that  officials  visit  rural  areas  to
    ascertain what is required, as people in rural areas  do  not  know
    about the many structures that exist to assist those in farm areas.



  • Women at grassroots level, particularly rural women, are engaged in
    small business endeavours, but  lack  information  and  support  on
    business and marketing strategies.

  • There is a need for local structures such  as  district  and  local
    municipalities  to  be  more  involved  in  the  affairs  of  small
    businesswomen.

  • Police do not act when cases of domestic violence are  reported  to
    them.

  • There are many problems with regard  to  traditional  marriages  in
    rural areas and there is a need to align traditional practices with
    the rights enshrined in the Constitution.

  • The co-operative has 46 members; it bought the co-operative farm of
    200 ha of land for R3,7 million.


  • Each member of the co-operative received R35 000 from the  National
    Ministry of Land and Agriculture, while the co-operative received a
    loan of R1,2 million from the Land Bank.

  • Initially, the co-operative had 85 employees, but due to  financial
    difficulty some of the employees  had  to  be  retrenched  and  the
    members of  the  co-operative  received  no  remuneration  for  six
    months.

  •  The  co-operative  approached  the   MEC   for   Agriculture   and
    Environmental Affairs for financial  assistance,  focusing  on  the
    following six areas of assistance:  (i)  insecticides  (ii)  manure
    (iii) a tractor and a car (iv) a monthly instalment of R33 000 (for
    repayment of the Land Bank loan) (v) a  R100 000  electricity  bill
    (vi) R120 000 to be paid to the municipality for the co-operative’s
    water bill.

  • The aforementioned co-operative commenced its activities four years
    ago,  at  a  time  when  52  co-operatives  were  active   in   the
    agricultural field in the Phezukomkhono area.

  • The co-operative started with 11  members  on  a  farm  of  269  ha
    purchased on an auction for R750 000.
  • The Department of Trade and Industry and the provincial  department
    funded the co-operative, and the centre was opened by the  MEC  for
    Land and Environmental Affairs.

  • The provincial department provided 300 000 chickens for farming and
    a chicken mash.

  • The co-operative secured 120 000 tons of orders for next year,  and
    it had no  difficulty  in  accessing  markets,  including  overseas
    markets.

  • The co-operative was planning further developments  in  future  and
    still requires a tractor for paprika production.

  • Inadequate training for those who had acquired the land.

  • Assistance by the MEC  with  capacity-building  and  skill-training
    programmes.

  • The MEC gave an undertaking that his  department  would  provide  a
    tractor,  made  possible  through  a  departmental  project  called
    “Mechanism Department”.


  • The MEC undertook to revisit the farm on 16 November 2004.

  • The Department has a mentorship programme in place to assist people
    in acquiring the requisite skills and that mentors will be able  to
    facilitate communication by speaking Zulu.

  • Provides services to communities outside of the confines of Amangwe
    Village through its Homes-Based Care, which comprises  well-trained
    volunteer caregivers who daily visit poverty stricken households to
    assist in caring for critically ill loved ones.

  • Aims to assist affected families  with  income  generation  through
    skills training and supports community-based projects. Initial work
    in this area has centred  primarily  around  the  establishment  of
    rural food gardens to provide produce for a centrally  based  rural
    Health Food Store, which is soon to b opened at Amangwe Village.

  • Generation  of  income  for  Amangwe  Village  itself  through  the
    delivery of workplace HIV/Aids  programmes  to  businesses  in  the
    region

  Meeting with Farmers

  • Nthingi tea plantation provides 1 000 jobs. Each  hectare  provides
    ten fulltime jobs.

  • Intensive programme of developing the SMME sector:  This  programme
    involves at least 500 emerging contractors.  There  are  new  areas
    coming into production, such as ploughing and haulage, which earned
    R7 million in the year 2003-04. Forty-six tractor units  have  been
    handed out during the 2003-04 financial year, with the minimum area
    ploughed per tractor being 250 ha. The Department is envisioning to
    create 12 000 jobs.

  • Liming and soil fertility programme:  660  ha  have  been  treated,
    which has created 666 new jobs. The restoration of eroded land  and
    the filling  of  dongas  on  2  000  ha  have  provide  2  000  job
    opportunities.

  • Animal handling programme: Through this programme 94 dipping  tanks
    have been rehabilitated in 2004, at a cost of R1, 4  million.  Each
    rehabilitated tank creates 10 jobs, thus 940  new  jobs  have  been
    created.

  • Mentorship programme: This has been established  to  encourage  and
    train black emerging farmers.

  • Agri-economics: It has been discovered that  the  simplest  African
    crop, the amadumbe, has many  uses,  and  thus  the  Department  is
    researching and exploring a variety of uses.  The  Department  will
    also be encouraging farmers to plant amadumbe as a cash crop.

  • Eradication of alien weed programme: The Department has  asked  the
    Premier and Treasury for additional funds for this project. The aim
    is to clear 4 000 ha per annum. This would result in 15 to 20  jobs
    per ha, and because 80 000 person-hours is needed a further  8  000
    jobs can be created.

  • Dam-building project: Three dams  are  being  built  at  Bululwana,
    Makhatini and Pongola. These dams will be used for  irrigation  and
    will provide 500 jobs.

  • Capacity building: Sixty-five applications have been received  from
    farmers to participate in the capacity-building programme. In  each
    case 10 jobs per farm will be created.

  • Women and Youth Project in Agriculture:  There  are  presently  222
    projects, each providing eight jobs, and totalling 1 776 new jobs.

  •  Mushroom  and  Dry  Land  Rice  Production  Project:  the  Chinese
    Government has lent its assistance  to  the  project.  The  project
    produces dry land rice and mushrooms and has 15  field  workers  at
    R70 000 each.  There  are  also  five  field  worker  managers  who
    collectively earn R450 000. This is generating private  employment,
    which will create another 450 jobs for farm workers.

  • Unemployment, which consequently leads to high crime statistics.

  • The requirements of labour legislation, such as minimum  wages  and
    other conditions of employment  requirements,  often  lead  to  job
    losses and other costs, which small-scale growers cannot afford.

  • No training  was  given  to  communities  when  co-operatives  were
    initially  established  resulting  in  poor   management   of   co-
    operatives.

  • A lack of adequate infrastructure, such as roads,  hampered  access
    to and from cane fields.

  • The strengthening of  the  South  African  currency  affected  cane
    farming’s profitability.

  • The usage of inferior seeds resulted in the  usage  of  fertilizers
    and herbicides, which were expensive due to  the  strength  of  the
    rand.

  • The dedicated buy-in of the Amakhosi and Izinduna with  the  people
    of each  isigodi  to  identify  suitable  land  and  Zulu  farmers,
    preferably from within their  own  area  to  lease  and  farm  such
    identified land.

  • The appointment of extension officers who understand agri-economics
    and will drive that department in a new and decisive manner,  using
    the existing commercial farmers as  mentors  through  a  system  of
    District Agricultural Committees, down  to  Municipal  Agricultural
    Committees. Organised  agriculture  in  KwaZulu-Natal  had  already
    started with a similar process, but could not maintain the idea due
    to a lack of funding. This needs to be brought under the control of
    local  municipalities,  with  funding  from   the   Department   of
    Agriculture in order to achieve effective results.

  • The Department of Transport needs to allocate a  large  portion  of
    its budget to assist in selected (I  D  P)  areas  in  agricultural
    development in the Amakhosi areas through the building of roads and
    causeways to move agricultural crops to mills and/or markets.

• Government has set itself the goal of halving unemployment and poverty
  by 2014.  Joblessness and lack of income represent the glaring face of
  poverty, which manifests through lack of access to basic and essential
  services, lack of free education,  lack  of  infrastructure  including
  houses and roads and lack of skills, qualifications and  education  to
  enable people to take up available job opportunities.

• Since 1994 government has put  in  place  programmes  to  improve  the
  quality of life of communities. Examples are free public  health  care
  for pregnant women and children up to six years, feeding  schemes  for
  learners  at  deserving  schools,  free  basic   services   for   poor
  households, the child support grant, the roll out of drugs against HIV
  and AIDS and other initiatives to fight poverty.

• Government also convened the Growth and Development Summit in 2003  to
  discuss with business, labour and civil society, plans and  strategies
  to create jobs, improve the lives of people and eradicate poverty.

• The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) is one of the  Government’s
  most  important  strategies  specifically  designed  to  support   the
  objective of job creation  for  poverty  alleviation.  This  programme
  targets the poor,  women,  youth  and  people  with  disabilities  for
  employment opportunities. The target is 60% women, 30%  youth  and  2%
  disabled.

• The EPWP was officially launched by President Mbeki on 18 May 2004  at
  Giyani in Limpopo. All nine provincial governments have launched their
  EPWP.

• The EPWP is one of government’s initiatives to  create  jobs,  develop
  skills, improve communities and draw the marginalised poor people  out
  of the spiral of poverty.

• According to President Mbeki, “EPWP is a nation wide  programme  which
  will draw significant numbers of unemployed into productive  work,  so
  that workers gain skills while working, and increase their capacity to
  earn an income”.

• It therefore seeks to create significant work opportunities that  will
  engage the unemployed in productive activities and, at the same  time,
  equip them with  skills  that  will  allow  them  to  find  continuous
  employment outside the EPWP.  The  programme  is  about  skilling  the
  nation and creating a platform for increased growth and development.

• The primary objective is  to  use  existing  public  sector  funds  to
  provide as many unemployed locals as possible with an  opportunity  to
  earn an income, gain work experience and acquire job-related  training
  and skills development.

• Government departments, provinces, municipalities and other government
  institutions  including  state-owned  enterprises,  must  expand   the
  absorption capacity of existing government programmes  to  create  one
  million job opportunities in the next  five  years.  Labour  intensive
  methods will be used to produce and  deliver  services  such  as  road
  construction, maintenance of public buildings, environmental clean-ups
  and caring for the  terminally  ill  and  other  sick  people  in  the
  communities using home-based care givers.

• Both local and provincial governments, because of their  proximity  to
  the  communities,  are  expected  to   identify   new   and   existing
  opportunities for the creation of jobs.

•  The  EPWP  differs  from  similar  programmes  before  it.  The  EPWP
  emphasises skills development to address the problem of  unemployment.
  Workers will be given  accreditable  and  recognisable  qualifications
  while employed on these projects as part of the skills  they  can  and
  will use at the  end  of  the  projects  as  they  seek  opportunities
  elsewhere within the realms of the country’s growing economy.

•  Government-established  Sector  Education  and  Training  Authorities
  (SETAs) have been mobilised to train would-be  employers,  supervisors
  and  employees  in  the  EPWP.   The  idea  is  to   train   them   in
  labour–intensive technologies so that they produce  and  deliver  good
  quality services and products while using labour instead of machines.

• The National Department of Public Works,  which  is  coordinating  the
  EPWP, is currently communicating with,  and  meeting  with  provinces,
  municipalities and community development organisations to  familiarise
  them with the requirements,  methodologies  and  expectations  of  the
  programme.

• To date, reports indicate that at least 38 000 work opportunities were
  created in the first quarter, that is, between April and June 2004, at
  a total salary cost of more than R33 million. Work is in  progress  to
  firm up the monitoring and reporting systems under the EPWP. This will
  aid precise data collection and improve projections.

• As the Provinces and Municipalities  begin  to  fully  comprehend  the
  requirements of the EPWP and its relationship  to  provisional  grants
  such as  the  Provincial  and  Municipal  Infrastructure  Grant,  more
  resources  will  be  allocated  to  projects  and  programmes   within
  communities, which have  the  propensity  to  create  jobs  and  other
  training opportunities. Community members are encouraged  to  talk  to
  their local  representatives  about  EPWP  and  any  other  government
  interventions to  fight  poverty,  diseases,  hunger,  illiteracy  and
  underdevelopment.

• It was noted that the  EPWP  is  not  a  Department  of  Public  Works
  programme, but that of government as a whole and therefore the  entire
  nation needs to embrace  it.  A  successfully  implemented  EPWP  will
  create jobs, enhance skills and contribute to reducing the gap between
  the rich and the poor.

• Municipalities and their relevant structures are requested  to  become
  activists for the EPWP ensure  that  as  many  work  opportunities  as
  possible are built to create a better life for all.

• Verge maintenance; cleaning of pipes, kerbs and channels.
• Guardrail installation and repairs.
• Construction of pipe and concrete culverts.
• Construction of kerbs and channels.
• Construction of sidewalks.
• Construction and gabion repairs.

• Hiring and construction of land.
• Poverty alleviation programmes to assist people in the rural areas, in
  particular. These programmes include (i) Wangenisa for women and  (ii)
  Ushikishi for the youth.
• People are also encouraged to do craftwork.

• There is a problem with regard to the construction and maintenance  of
  roads in the province, many of which are not properly  tarred.  It  is
  believed that improper tarring contributes to most accidents.

• Concern was expressed that when National Ministers visit the  Province
  to launch any project in areas such  as  Durban  and  Pietermaritzburg
  they communicate with the mayors, but in rural areas such  as  Tungulu
  and others they go straight to the people.

• The specific experience of a group who had attempted to start a skills
  training  school  where  beds,  desks,   and   other   furniture   was
  manufactured, was articulated. The  group  claimed  that  because  the
  promised government assistance, through the Department of Labour,  had
  not been received, the school had to be closed and  the  property  has
  since been vandalised.

• There are concerns about the process of employing people for projects.



• Tenders are inaccessible, except to many of the larger companies.

• Concern was raised that tenders  appear  to  be  given  to  government
  officials and even school principals. These officials are also alleged
  to be stumbling blocks to service delivery.

• There was a concern that people are politising government projects and
  allocating them to people belonging to certain political parties.

• One resident complained that the funds she had been allocated to start
  a crèche in Ndlangubo were later withdrawn.

• The  experience  of  a  group  of  employees  from  Richards  Bay  was
  articulated.  In  2001  the  group  organised  themselves   to   build
  cupboards, desks and other school furniture, but were evicted  by  the
  owner of the building because they were unable to pay rent of R3 000 a
  month for four months.

• Further details were sought on government’s plan to deal with  corrupt
  officials.

• Details  were  sought  on  the  programme  of  training  of  Community
  Development Workers (CDW), and whether the programme has started yet.

• The youth expressed concern about their welfare.  They  asked  whether
  government has any programme focusing on youth in Grade 12 who have no
  funding to further their studies.

• It was noted that, with regard to  the  tarring  of  roads,  when  the
  engineers inspect the roads they prioritise danger  zones,  due  to  a
  lack of funds, and those danger zones are tarred first.

• It was acknowledged that financing of projects is a problem because of
  the syndrome of politicising the projects. The MEC  warned  that  this
  practice should be stopped as these projects are meant to be allocated
  without regard to political affiliations.

• The criteria for employing people to work on  the  roads  construction
  and maintenance projects are black women, those who  are  elderly  and
  widows,  in  particular.  People  in  the  communities  are  given  an
  opportunity to employ these people.

•  The  community  was  requested  to  report  cases  where  they   were
  experiencing problems with the financing of projects, the awarding  of
  tenders, and so forth, to the relevant Department.

• The community was requested to submit their projects’  business  plans
  to the relevant Department, in particular to  the  MEC’s  office,  for
  assistance.

• It was noted that the  challenge  of  the  youth  who  need  financial
  assistance to further their  studies  rests  with  the  Department  of
  Education. The Department of Public  Works  assists  those  who  study
  architecture,  civil,  electrical  and  mechanical   engineering   and
  quantity surveying. An amount of R30 million has been  set  aside  for
  this purpose. There is  also  an  assistance  programme  such  as  the
  Tertiary Education Fund of South Africa (TEFSA) to assist students.

• The community was advised to contact their Member  of  Parliament  and
  Members of the Provincial Legislature when they have problems prior to
  meetings of this nature.

• The Chairperson of the NCOP’s  Select  Committee  on  Public  Services
  noted the problems raised and the fact that some  are  general  issues
  cutting across all provinces.

  • The Cultural Industries Growth Strategy capitalises on the economic
    potential  of  the  craft,  music,  film,  publishing,  and  design
    industries. Departmental support goes  towards  developing  public-
    private partnerships and initiatives, using culture as a  tool  for
    urban regeneration and efforts to co-ordinate the industries. There
    is an increased focus on the potential of the film industry.

  • A special poverty relief allocation aims  at  providing  access  to
    skills  and  markets  as  a  tool  for  urban  regeneration,  rural
    development,  and  job  creation.  Projects   are   undertaken   in
    partnership with provincial and local government, as well  as  non-
    governmental organisations. The Wild  Coast,  Lebombo,  and  Maputo
    Corridor  spatial  development  initiatives  are  focal  areas   of
    cultural tourism development linked to this allocation.

        o Creating opportunities for  musicians,  performers,  crafters
          and artists to contribute to the economy.
        o  Contributing  to  the  sustainability  of  the  projects  by
          providing  the  necessary  training   (product   development,
          entrepreneurial skills).
        o Developing infrastructure  in  order  to  promote  enterprise
          development.
        o Supporting heritage development projects.
        o Creating employment for rural-based women  in  KwaZulu-Natal,
          Eastern Cape, Free State and North West.

  • The Department of Arts and Culture with its mandate  is  addressing
    the following types of poverty:

        o Asset Poverty: by providing capital for raw material  (beads,
          materials, etc) and  in  extreme  cases,  for  infrastructure
          development.
        o  Skills  Poverty:  by  providing  access  to   training   and
          learnerships (human resources development).  To  this  effect
          the MAPSETA has developed nine learnerships ranging from  SQA
          2 to 9.
        o Income Poverty: by  providing  support  to  income-generating
          enterprises and supporting the establishment  of  sustainable
          SMMEs.
        o Markets: an integrated approach to accessing markets  for  SA
          projects  and  services  has  been  adopted.   Public-private
          initiatives including state-owned  entities  and  NGOs  (Cape
          Craft Design Institute).
        o Products from some of the Investing in Culture  Projects  are
          available from  retail  stores  like  Woolworths  and  abroad
          through  a  partnership  with  Conran   Marketing.   Projects
          involved are from the Eastern Cape  (six  villages  in  Mount
          Ayliff and Burgersdorp) and Limpopo  (Twananani,  Mbokota  in
          Louis Trichardt, Makosha in Giyani and Vuhlalu in Acornhoek).

  •  The  Department,  in  conjunction  with  the  municipalities,   is
    establishing Arts and Culture desks in each municipality.

  • The Department  of  Social  Development  is  committed  to  halving
    poverty in our country by the year 2015. One of the ways government
    addresses income poverty is through transfers of R50 billion a year
    in social  assistance  in  the  form  of  social  grants.  This  is
    Government’s most effective antipoverty  programme,  and  currently
    reaches over eight million of the poorest South Africans.

  • The Department is also pursuing its objective of moving away from a
    welfare-type approach to a more developmental approach, because the
    government believes  that  the  focus  should  be  on  creating  an
    enabling environment for people to develop themselves and be  self-
    sustaining.

  • Fighting poverty requires the building of strong partnerships right
    across  the  country.  The  Department  has,  for  example,   built
    partnerships with faith-based organisations in order to  reach  the
    furthest corners of our country, where many of our people  live  in
    conditions of abject poverty. These partnerships have  enabled  the
    Department over the past  few  years  to  increase  the  number  of
    children receiving the  child  support  grant  to  more  than  four
    million.

  •  The  Department  believes  that  a  strong  civil  society  is   a
    prerequisite for  people-centred  development.  The  Department  is
    committed to improving the quality of support provided to  the  NGO
    sector and urges all NGOs to play their part  in  fighting  poverty
    and underdevelopment.

  • In the past few weeks the Deputy Minister of Social Development and
    the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs have travelled to various parts
    of the country visiting various  communities  as  part  of  a  mass
    registration  drive  for  identity  documents   (IDs)   and   birth
    certificates. Through this mass registration  drive,  thousands  of
    previously disadvantaged people have been able to  have  access  to
    Government services for the first time.

  • HIV and Aids present the government with an enormous challenge,  as
    whole families are being affected. The provision of  antiretroviral
    treatment is  just  one  part  of  the  government’s  comprehensive
    response. Support for  home  community-based  care  initiatives  is
    another important component of the Department’s response. The issue
    of  child-headed  households  is  of  particular  concern  to   the
    Department. Research is being conducted to look into this issue and
    programmes are being put in place to address the situation.

  • In KwaZulu-Natal, the  Department  is  working  with  the  National
    Association of Child and Youth Care Workers to alleviate the plight
    of children affected by HIV  and  Aids.  The  Department  has  also
    helped  establish  drop-in  centres  for  orphaned  and  vulnerable
    children.

  • Public hearings have been held  on  the  Children’s  Bill  and  the
    national Department of Social Development is currently costing  the
    Bill. There are unfortunately still a high number  of  children  in
    custody in KwaZulu Natal and the Minister of Social Development has
    instructed that  these  cases  must  be  cleared  and  children  in
    conflict with the law placed in appropriate institutions before the
    end of the year.

  • The Department of Social  Development  is  also  acutely  concerned
    about the problems faced by  youth  in  their  efforts  to  develop
    themselves.  The  biggest  challenges  facing  youth   are   skills
    development, job opportunities and employment.  The  Department  of
    Social  Development  participates  in  the  Expanded  Public  Works
    Programme and  is  involved  in  skills  enhancement  and  enhanced
    service provision through the Early Childhood Development programme
    and the Home Community-Based Care programme. The job  opportunities
    created may be of a temporary nature, but they are a  step  towards
    more sustainable employment.

  • From the 25th November, Government will once more be engaged in  16
    Days of Activism to combat violence  against  women  and  children.
    This campaign signals the fact that South Africans from all sectors
    of  society  are  uncompromising  in  their  fight  against  gender
    violence.

  • The presentation noted that the Department of Home Affairs played a
    crucial role in ensuring that, with the aid of the correct identity
    documentation, people  are  able  to  access  both  Government  and
    private sector services.

  • The legacy of the  Department’s  role  in  enforcing  apartheid-era
    racial classifications will still be felt for a long time to  come.
    There are still thousands of South Africans who have  never  had  a
    birth certificate or an ID. This makes it impossible for people  to
    access  social  security  grants,  educational   opportunities   or
    employment opportunities.

  •  The  Department  of  Home  Affairs  is  engaged  in  a  number  of
    interventions to meet these challenges:

        o A survey will  be  conducted  to  determine  the  approximate
          number of  people  without  IDs  or  children  without  birth
          certificates to allow for proper planning and  allocation  of
          resources.
        o Another wave  of  the  intensive  drive  for  IDs  and  birth
          certificates will be launched. The Department  has  acted  in
          partnership with other government departments,  such  as  the
          Department of Social Development  and  the  provinces  during
          many of its community outreach campaigns.
        o  The  Department  will  launch  a  campaign  to  rectify  the
          information it has about the citizens, especially  the  dates
          of birth, in order to correct the Population Register.
        o The online birth registration campaign has been  launched  in
          the hospitals and clinics in order to  ensure  that  children
          obtain their birth certificates soon after birth.  This  will
          ensure that their parents can  apply  immediately  for  child
          support grants if they qualify.  This  latter  programme  has
          already been launched in KZN and Limpopo Provinces, and  will
          be launched gradually in 58 hospitals countrywide during this
          financial year and to extend it  to  as  many  hospitals  and
          clinics  as  possible,  depending  on  the  availability   of
          resources over the next few years, and to ensure  that  every
          child born  will  be  registered  and  issued  with  a  birth
          certificate before they leave for home with their parents.

  • In addition, the Department is also attending to the following:

        o The urgent challenge to resolve the capacity problems in  the
          Department, among others,  through  the  recruitment  of  new
          staff and  retraining  of  the  current  staff  to  meet  the
          objectives of Batho Pele.
        o Addressing corruption in the Department  inter  alia  through
          employing the necessary people and establishing  co-operation
          mechanisms with other state agencies to help  eradicate  this
          problem. The Department is calling on the  public  to  assist
          them in this campaign.
        o Funds have been made available for the  construction  of  new
          offices, transforming containers into offices and  purchasing
          67 mobilise units fully fitted with modern  equipment  to  be
          deployed to all the provinces, especially  in  the  far-flung
          areas to assist with the ID drive and the provision of  other
          services.

  • The Health Department has focused on development  aid  for  primary
    health care in the identified rural nodes  and  has  engaged  other
    partners to assist in strengthening primary care in these areas. To
    this end, dedicated health co-ordinators have been deployed in each
    of the 13 districts, focusing on achieving  functional  integration
    of primary health care services and strengthening of programmes  to
    tackle the diseases of poverty.

  • Departments involved in the Social Cluster have worked together  in
    their efforts to address issues of food security and nutrition. The
    Department of Health contributed to this process  by  strengthening
    the Primary  School  Feeding  Scheme.  The  programme  was  already
    reaching 4,7 million  children  at  15  000  schools  when  it  was
    transferred to the Department of Education.  It  was  estimated  to
    reach 87% of targeted children  and  had  led  to  improved  school
    attendance and attentiveness of learners.

  • The compulsory fortification of basic  foodstuffs  such  as  mielie
    meal, bread and wheat flour with micronutrients, including iron and
    vitamin A, is a major  achievement  in  improving  the  nutritional
    status of South Africans. The Department has  also  allocated  R  7
    million for nutritional supplements to be distributed to  those  in
    need and a campaign to encourage healthy  diets,  regular  exercise
    and other healthy habits in the general population is underway.

  •  The  underlying  factor  in  the  spread  of  infectious  diseases
    including HIV and AIDS, TB and malaria is the poor conditions under
    which most  of  those  who  are  infected  and  affected  live.  In
    responding to these  challenges,  the  Department  highlighted  the
    central role of prevention. Campaigns to encourage  abstinence  and
    ensure that those in  sexual  relationships  are  faithful  to  one
    partner are proceeding well. Distribution  of  newly  branded  male
    condoms has increased from 33 million to  45  million  condoms  per
    month since June 2003. Sites for voluntary counselling and  testing
    have doubled from 1 500 in March 2004 to more than 3000 at the  end
    of September.

  • The utilisation of the AIDS Help-line that provides information  on
    HIV and AIDS and refers people to available services has  increased
    to 5 000 calls per day.

  • Access to AIDS-related  treatment  is  being  extended  across  the
    country with 50 of the 53 districts having  at  least  one  service
    point for management, care and treatment of HIV and AIDS.  A  total
    of 102 health facilities have been accredited to provide  a  number
    of services  aimed  at  mitigating  the  impact  of  HIV  and  AIDS
    including antiretroviral therapy. Efforts are also  being  made  to
    determine the impact of  traditional  medicines  in  improving  the
    health of people with HIV and AIDS.

  • The Department is increasing efforts to combat TB, which remains  a
    major challenge in the country. The interventions  are  focused  on
    better case management  and  providing  support  for  those  on  TB
    treatment because TB is curable even in the presence of HIV.

  • The Department has continued to make progress in  reducing  malaria
    within South Africa and  through  collaborative  efforts  with  its
    neighbouring countries. Since the inception of the malaria  control
    project within the  Lubombo  Spatial  Development  Initaitive  four
    years ago, malaria incidents have been reduced by 96% in  KZN,  91%
    in Swaziland and 86% in the participating areas of Mozambique.

  • The Department is addressing the issue of access to safe water  and
    proper sanitation, as the shortcomings in this regard still  expose
    poor communities to various health risks, including cholera.

  • Noncommunicable diseases, such as  diabetes,  hypertension,  cancer
    and osteoporosis are increasingly being recognised as global health
    problems. Many  developing  countries  face  a  growing  burden  of
    chronic, noncommunicable diseases  - and South  Africa  is  one  of
    them. The Department's priority over the  next  five  years  is  to
    develop meaningful programmes for preventing  these  diseases  that
    are difficult to live with and costly to manage. The strategies for
    prevention are the same for many noncommunicable  diseases  –  they
    centre on  good  diet,  responsible  alcohol  consumption,  regular
    exercise and avoiding  tobacco  use.  Government  is  finalising  a
    policy  framework  that  will  contribute  to  responsible  alcohol
    consumption.

  • As its contribution to tightening the social security net  for  the
    poor, the Department has added free health  care  for  people  with
    disabilities to  the  package  of  free  health  services  targeted
    initially at pregnant women,  children  under  six  and  all  those
    accessing primary health care.

  • The Department is intensifying the implementation of  the  Expanded
    Programme on Immunisation to ensure  that  children  are  protected
    from vaccine-preventable  diseases  like  measles  and  that  South
    Africa can be declared polio-free by the end on 2005.

  • Access to cervical and breast cancer screening  is  being  expanded
    and the main factors contributing to maternal mortality  are  being
    monitored closely to inform further policy interventions  aimed  at
    improving the health of women. The  Department  is  also  extending
    cancer-screening services to cover prostate cancer as well.

  • The other programmes that the Department is involved in include:

        o Improving access to affordable medicine.
        o Increasing access to medical cover and ensuring that  medical
          schemes are financially sustainable.
        o Hospital  Revitalisation  Programme  that  improves  hospital
          infrastructure,  availability  of  equipment  and  management
          capacity.
        o Various efforts to recruit  and  retain  health  workers  and
          improve their capacity to meet the needs of the community  as
          health is a labour-intensive sector.

  • In response to the concerns that were raised during  the  questions
    from the floor,  the  presenters  and  panellists  highlighted  the
    following issues:

        o The child-support grants are to be used for  the  benefit  of
          the child, not for the parents or  grandparents.  Members  of
          the  public  should  report  those  cases  where  parents  or
          grandparents were using the  money  for  their  own  purposes
          since that amounted to corruption.
        o The issue of teenage pregnancies must be  addressed.  Parents
          should look at why families have lost their values  and  have
          taken on other cultures either voluntarily or by being forced
          to do so.
        o The Department of Education in  KwaZulu-Natal  had  a  policy
          that all schools whether rural or urban had to be given equal
          treatment.  Rural  schools   are   not   deliberately   being
          neglected. The Department was  particularly  concerned  about
          the impact of the drought because it  had  resulted  in  some
          schools simply being without water. The MEC was dealing  with
          the matter together with other role-players.

• Co-ordinate and develop an integrated National Youth Commission.


• Develop an integrated national plan that utilises available  resources
  and expertise for the development of young women and  children.  These
  are integrated within the RDP.

• Develop principles and guidelines, and  make  recommendations  to  the
  government for the implementation of the National Youth Policy.

• Promote uniformity of approach to issues affecting youth by all organs
  of State, including provincial governments.

• Co-ordinate  the  activities  of  the  various  provincial  government
  institutions involved in youth matters.

• Implement measures to redress the imbalances of the past, in  relation
  to various forms of disadvantages suffered by young  people  generally
  or by specific groups or categories.

• Economic empowerment of the youth.

•  The  responsibility  taken  by  young  people  to   ensure   economic
  development in their communities.

• Education and training.

• A shortage of tertiary infrastructures.


• Drug abuse.

• On capacity building and advocacy, the challenge  should  be  ensuring
  that all government programmes are  accessible  and  relevant  to  the
  youth.

• Assistance given to youth organisations through information  that  can
  help them to access government information.

• The government has introduced and adopted the National Youth Services,
  aimed at giving entrepreneurial skills  and  production  of  skill  to
  young people so that they can contribute to  economic  growth  of  the
  country.


• The Youth Commission has started a pilot programme  to  provide  young
  people in prisons with skills.

• The Departments of Justice and Home Affairs have  created  programmes,
  aimed at creating opportunities for  graduates  to  become  productive
  citizens of the country.

• To date, the Youth Commission and Umsobomvu Youth Fund have  recruited
  5 000 youth in the Departments of Social Development and Health.

• The  Minister  of  Finance  has  founded  the  Umsobomvu  Youth  Fund,
  following the Budget Speech in 1998. The Fund began operating in 2001.



• In 2001, the government established the Youth Commission to  create  a
  platform for job creation and  skills  development.   Umsobomvu  Youth
  Fund has identified three  major  programmes  areas,  namely,  Contact
  Information and Counselling,  Skills  Development  and  Transfer,  and
  Youth Entrepreneurship.

• Access to information and counselling support, with regard to careers,
  employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, through Youth  Advisory
  Centres, Youth Line and the Internet.


•  In  KwaZulu-Natal,  the  Umsobomvu  Youth  Fund  supports   a   youth
  development programme called  SEED.  It  has  centres  in  Durban  and
  Potchefstroom.

• The Fund also provides high-level technical skills and work experience
  for unemployed matric and tertiary graduates, with the aim of securing
  for them meaningful employment in strategic sectors of the economy.

• The Umsombomvu Youth Fund  and  the  Youth  Commission  together  with
  various government departments have been able to create  opportunities
  for the youth as follows:

        o The National Youth Support  Programme  has  to  date  offered
          opportunities for 5  000  young  people.  Young  people  have
          received training, which has equipped them  with  the  skills
          and experience they need to  achieve  economic  independence,
          while  completing  a  service  project  that  contributes  to
          national or local development objectives.
        o For the year 2004-2005, another 5 000 young  people  will  be
          involved in  youth  service  initiatives  in  health,  social
          development,  infrastructure  development,  agriculture   and
          nature  conservation  sectors.  The  table   below   provides
          information on Lead projects funded by Umsobomvu in  Kwazulu-
          Natal:

  • The Office of the President ensures  that  the  programmes  deliver
    what it has promised. This is done through the Office of the Rights
    of the Children and the  Office  on  the  Status  of  the  Disabled
    People.

  •  It has  to  play  an  oversight  function  in  ensuring  that  all
    government programmes offer equal opportunities for everyone.

  • There is also a policy co-ordination and  advisory  unit.  This  is
    done through the clustering system,  by  ensuring  that  programmes
    interact with those of government. The intent  is  to  ensure  that
    these government programmes deliver to people with disabilities and
    take cognisance of the rights of children.

  • The  Presidency  has  to  provide  oversight  over  all  government
    programmes to ensure that  children’s  rights  are  respected,  and
    people with disabilities have equal opportunities.

  • With regard to children, the intent is to ensure that Section 28 of
    the Constitution is effected. The Presidency  has  a  programme  in
    line with Work for  Children.  The  idea  is  to  ensure  that  the
    Constitution is in line with government action.

  • Concerning disability, there is  an  integrated  national  strategy
    incorporated in all policies. For the next 10 years the  government
    intends to deliver on all these policies. The  core  functions  are
    children and disability.

  • Within the provinces these programmes are represented  in  addition
    to the focal points in all government departments,  except  in  the
    Economic Cluster. The idea is  to  work  with  the  Departments  of
    Education, Public Works and Social Development. Looking at what has
    been done on children development, consideration  is  more  on  the
    psychological and emotional development of children and people with
    disabilities.

  • For the future  the  emphasis  is  on  facilitation  of  mainstream
    programmes  amongst   the   clusters,   and   creation   of   equal
    opportunities in  Expanded  Public  Works  Programmes  for  poverty
    alleviation.

  • The future plans of the  Presidency  are  to  add  more  programmes
    within the Economic and Public Services clusters. The  Presidency’s
    role is to monitor and evaluate these programmes. This is noted  as
    an important initiative over the next 5  years.  The  role  of  the
    Presidency is coordination and facilitation of these programmes.

  • Although the DPSA has a structure at national and provincial level,
    it does not have at local level.


  • Another challenge is that it is difficult for people in rural areas
    to contact the provinces. As a facility that can be used, the toll-
    free number to report issues or for information,  is  not  helpful.
    People experience problems because phones are  not  accessible  and
    they may not have the money.

  • There is no support for  disabled  persons  from  local  government
    because their needs are not considered.
  • The Employment Equity Act is not properly implemented, as  many  of
    the people with disabilities are unemployed. The  concern  is  that
    there is no commitment from government departments to  ensure  that
    the disabled are employed. The Department of Labour  has  developed
    the Assistance Guide Framework, but it is not well known to  people
    with disabilities.

  • Capacity  building  is  crucial  in  order  to  educate  government
    officials on how to deal with disabled persons,  and  also  on  how
    they can help them access government programmes.

  • Moreover, the concern is the Constitution that does  not  recognise
    sign language. In many government interviews conducted, members  of
    the panel are not acquainted with sign language.

  • The social justice system does not protect women with  disabilities
    who are rape victims.

  • The Office on  the  Status  of  Disabled  people  (OSDP)  needs  to
    establish disability  desks  within  the  municipalities  that  are
    sensitive to people with disabilities.


  • Government should consider sign language as the 12th language.

  •  In  order  to  create  opportunities  for  disabled  persons,  all
    government departments should employ at least  5%  of  people  with
    disabilities.

  • The government has to ensure that disabled persons are included  in
    government programmes, so that they can benefit from them.

  • The NCOP’s vision of developmental local government  requires  that
    the institutional framework for local government be strengthened so
    that it can carry out  its  role  of  creating  “sustainable  human
    settlements which provide for a decent quality of life and meet the
    social, economic and material needs of communities  in  a  holistic
    way.”

  • Local government is not a third level of government subordinate  to
    provincial and national government. On the other hand,  it  is  not
    completely independent either. It is interrelated  with  provincial
    and national government in a system of co-operative  governance  in
    which the more each sphere co-operates  with  the  other  two,  the
    stronger it becomes.

  • The challenge  facing  the  NCOP  is  to  look  critically  at  the
    institutional framework and identify aspects that must be  enhanced
    so  as  to  assist   municipalities   to   effectively   play   the
    developmental role the Constitution envisages they should play.

  • During the first decade of freedom significant  progress  has  been
    achieved in the areas of housing, basic services, and so forth.  In
    this regard, government’s significant achievements at  local  level
    have been enabled by the detailed legislative  framework  that  has
    been  put  in  place  to  support  all  284   municipalities.   The
    legislative framework for local  government  is  derived  from  the
    Constitution, which  recognises  local  government  as  a  distinct
    sphere of government with both legislative and executive  authority
    powers.

  •  National  legislation  such  as  the  Local  Government  Municipal
    Structures  Act,  Local  Government  Municipal  Systems  Act,   the
    Municipal Finance Management Act and the Municipal  Property  Rates
    Act, set out the basic principles and mechanisms to give effect  to
    the vision of developmental local government.

  • Both the SALGA National Conference and NCOP Provincial  Week  (6-10
    September 2004) provided the NCOP with a window  through  which  it
    can view the challenges confronting municipalities. The events gave
    the Council an opportunity to determine how it  should  respond  in
    helping municipalities deal with the challenges they are facing.

  • At the SALGA conference President Mbeki  alluded  to  the  critical
    challenges  facing  local  government.  These   include   attending
    expeditiously  to   service   delivery   problems   identified   by
    communities, strengthening community  participation,  co-ordinating
    its activities with other spheres of government, putting  in  place
    effective senior management to ensure the implementation of service
    delivery objectives, making effective  use  of  the  financial  and
    other  resources  available,  resolving  uncertainties  around  the
    functions and powers between local and district municipalities, and
    effectively integrating community development  workers  to  support
    the work of municipal councils.

  • Many of these issues have been raised in the NCOP’s Provincial Week
    Report,  which  presents  a  broad  picture  of  the  capacity   of
    municipalities.  The  report  seeks  to  provide  a  framework  for
    interaction between the NCOP, provincial and  national  departments
    around these and other key issues.

  • The general picture that emerged from  the  municipalities  visited
    during the Provincial Week is that they are functioning  well,  are
    delivering  services  of  a  high  quality   and   making   genuine
    contributions  towards  improving  the  quality  of  lives  of  the
    communities they serve. However, there are some municipalities that
    continue to face severe constraints in  delivering  even  the  most
    basic services to the communities they serve.  Many  municipalities
    have no capacity to raise their own revenue and the challenge is to
    empower these municipalities to be able to raise their own revenue.

  • The NCOP has concluded that the most  significant  way  in  it  can
    respond  to  the  challenges  faced  by  local  government  is   by
    strengthening its oversight work. Through its  oversight  work  the
    NCOP plays a critical role in ensuring that provincial and national
    government continues to provide the institutional support to  local
    government  that  it  needs   to   discharge   the   constitutional
    obligations it is entrusted with. This includes  making  sure  that
    municipalities have the capacity to implement social  and  economic
    development programmes such as the Expanded Public Works  Programme
    to help government achieve its objective  of  halving  unemployment
    and poverty by 2014.

  • Municipalities also have an obligation to ensure they add value  to
    the efforts being put in by national and provincial  government  to
    capacitate  them,  by  enhancing  their  delivery  of  services  to
    communities.

  • Capacity building  within  municipalities  will  not  automatically
    result in enhanced service delivery. It will have to be accompanied
    by a conscious effort, total commitment and dedication on the  part
    of councillors to act as  real  agents  of  transformation,  to  be
    servants to communities and not to act in pursuit of self-interest.

  • The province itself has drawn up a capacity building  programme  to
    assist Councillors and managers in municipalities.

• Public empowerment, participation and community development.

• Capacity building, systems, human resource  development  and  improved
  organisational culture.
• The provision of free basic  services  that  target  poor  households,
  appropriate billing systems and reducing municipal debt.

        o Local economic development,  job  creation,  Expanded  Public
          Works Programme and municipal infrastructure.
        o Anticorruption initiatives.
        o Rural and urban development nodes.
        o Performance monitoring, evaluation and communication.

• Other  challenges  include  the  low  rate  of  payment  of  services.
  Communities need to be educated on why they should pay for services.

• In terms of the management of municipalities, many municipal  managers
  and senior  managers  are  not  adhering  to  Batho  Pele  principles.
  Councillors also face certain capacity challenges. Since the Municipal
  Finance  Management  Act  provides  for  the  shift   of   power   and
  responsibilities to  councillors,  they  require  training  on  budget
  management, planning (drawing up  of  Integrated  Development  Plans),
  financial management and general management issues. Councillors should
  be able to communicate council  resolutions  to  the  community.  They
  should be able to identify  challenges  and  draw  up  an  appropriate
  programme of action to deal with those challenges.

• It was noted that the direction taken by the DPLG to deal  with  these
  challenges will have a direct impact on the success of the forthcoming
  local government elections in 2005-06.

                      THURSDAY, 27 JANUARY 2005

 Report and Financial Statements of the South African Rail Commuter
 Corporation Limited (SARCC) for 2003-2004, including the Report of the
 Auditor-General on the Financial Statements for 2003-2004 [RP 105-
 2004].

 (a)    Government Notice No 1135 published in Government Gazette No
     26848 dated 8 October 2004: Establishment of the Ventersdorp-
     Dolomite Water User Association, Magisterial district of Coligny,
     Koster, Lichtenburg and Ventersdorp, in the North West Province,
     Water Management Area number 9 in terms of the National Water Act,
     1998 (Act No 36 of 1998).

 (b)    Government Notice No 1136 published in Government Gazette No
     26848 dated 8 October 2004: Transformation of the Elands Valley
     Irrigation Board, Magisterial districts of Belfast, Waterval Boven
     and Nelspruit, Mpumalanga Province, into the Elands River
     Catchment Area number 5, Mpumalanga Province in terms of the
     National Water Act, 1998 (Act No 36 of 1998).

 (c)    Government Notice No 1138 published in Government Gazette No
     26848 dated 8 October 2004: Restrictions on the taking of water
     from the Tosca Molopo Dolomite Aquifer in terms of the National
     Water Act, 1998 (Act No 36 of 1998).

 (d)    Government Notice No 1316 published in Government Gazette No
     26962 dated 12 November 2004: Proposal for the Establishment of
     the Crocodile (West)- Marico Catchment Management Agency in terms
     of section 78(3) of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act No 36 of
     1998).

 (e)    Government Notice No 2478 published in Government Gazette No
     26962 dated 12 November 2004: 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 National Forests Act, 1998 (Act No
     84 of 1998).

 (f)    Government Notice No 2479 published in Government Gazette No
     26962 dated 12 November 2004: Prohibition on the making of fires
     in the open air: Districts of Swellendam and Montagu in terms of
     the National Forests Act, 1998 (Act No 84 of 1998).

 (g)    Government Notice No 2480 published in Government Gazette No
     26962 dated 12 November 2004: Prohibition on the making of fires
     in the open air: Western Cape in terms of the National Forests
     Act, 1998 (Act No 84 of 1998).

 (a)    Notice received from the MEC for Local Government and Housing
     and Traditional Affairs in KwaZulu-Natal regarding the
     investigation in the Impendle Municipality in terms of section
     106(3) of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, 2000 (Act
     No 32 of 2000).

 (b)    Notice received from the MEC for Local Government and Housing
     and Traditional Affairs in KwaZulu-Natal regarding an
     investigation against the mayor of the Ehlanzeni District
     Municipality, in terms of section 106 of the Local Government:
     Municipal Systems Act, 2000 (Act No 32 of 2000).

 (c)    Notice of investigation in Utheka, Umzinyathi and Amajuba
     Districts and the Newcastle Municipality, in terms of section 106
     of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, 2000 (Act No 32 of
     2000).

 (d)    Notice of investigation in Umvoti Municipality in terms of
     section 106(3) of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act,
     2000 (Act No 32 of 2000).

 (e)    Notice of investigation in Umgungundlovu District Municipality
     in terms of section 106(3) of the Local Government: Municipal
     Systems Act, 2000 (Act No 32 of 2000).

 (f)    Notice of investigation in Nongoma Municipality in terms of
     section 106(3) of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act,
     2000 (Act No 32 of 2000).

 (g)    Notice of investigation in Umtshezi in terms of section 106(3)
     of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, 2000 (Act No 32 of
     2000).

     Referred to the Select Committee on Local Government and
     Administration for consideration and report.

     Copies of these notices are available from the office of the Clerk
     of Papers.


 (h)    The Acting President of the Republic submitted the following
     letter dated 10 January 2005 to the Acting Chairperson of the
     National Council of Provinces informing Members of the Council of
     the employment of the South African National Defence Force in
     Sudan:

     EMPLOYMENT OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCE IN SUDAN IN
     FULFILLMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF
     SOUTH AFRICA TOWARDS THE AFRICAN UNION

     This serves to inform the National Council of Provinces that I
     authorised the employment of the South African National Defence
     Force (SANDF) personnel to Sudan for service in fulfilment of the
     international obligations of the Republic of South Africa towards
     the African Union, as part of the enhanced African Mission in the
     Sudan.

     This employment was authorised in accordance with the provisions
     of section 201(2)(c) of the Constitution of the Republic of South
     Africa, 1996 (Act No 108 of 1996), read with section 93 of the
     Defence Act, 2002 (Act No 42 of 2002).

     A total of 329 members of the SANDF will be deployed for the
     mission as from mid-January 2005 to March 2006.

     The total estimated cost to be borne by South Africa for the
     deployment of personnel to the mission until 31 March 2006 will be
     R76 570 247.

     I will communicate this report to the Members of the National
     Assembly and the Chairperson of the Joint Standing Committee on
     Defence, and wish to request that you bring the contents hereof to
     the notice of the National Council of Provinces.

     Regards


     SIGNED

     J Z ZUMA
     ACTING PRESIDENT

                      TUESDAY, 1 FEBRUARY 2005

 (1)    Revenue Laws Amendment Bill [B 24 - 2004] - Act No 32 of 2004
     (assented to and signed by President on 18 January 2005);


 (2)    Second Revenue Laws Amendment Bill [B 25 - 2004] - Act No 34 of
     2004 (assented to and signed by President on 18 January 2005); and


 (3)    Securities Services Bill [B 19B - 2004] - Act No 36 of 2004
     (assented to and signed by President on 18 January 2005).

 (1)    The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development


     (i)     Judicial Matters Amendment Bill [B 2 - 2005] (National
          Assembly - sec 75) [Explanatory summary of Bill and prior
          notice of its introduction published in Government Gazette No
          27001 of 18 November 2004.]

     Introduction and referral to the Portfolio Committee on Justice
     and Constitutional Development of the National Assembly, as well
     as referral to the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) for
     classification in terms of Joint Rule 160, on 1 February 2005.

     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)    The vacancy in the representation of the province of KwaZulu-
     Natal, which occurred owing to the passing away of Mr N M Raju on
     27 October 2004, has been filled with effect from 26 November 2004
     by the appointment of Ms A N T Mchunu.


 (2)    The vacancy in the representation of the province of Gauteng,
     which occurred owing to the passing away of Ms J L Kgoali on 21
     November 2004, has been filled with effect from 2 December 2004 by
     the appointment of Ms N F Mazibuko.

 (a)    Report on the removal from office of Magistrate P W Phiri on
     account of his incapacity to carry out his duties of office
     efficiently.

 (b)    Proclamation No R.58 published in Government Gazette No 28990
     dated 19 November 2004: Amendment of Proclamation in terms of the
     Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act, 1996 (Act
     No 74 of 1996).

 (c)    Proclamation No R.59 published in Government Gazette No 28990
     dated 19 November 2004: Referral of matters to existing Special
     Investigating Unit and Special Tribunal in terms of the Special
     Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act, 1996 (Act No 74 of
     1996).

                      THURSDAY, 3 FEBRUARY 2005

 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)     Activity Report of the Auditor-General for 2003-2004 [RP
          211-2004].

     (b)     Special Report of the Auditor-General on the delays in the
          tabling of Annual Reports and Consolidated Financial
          Statements of National Government for 2003-2004 [RP 208-2004].

     (c)     General Report of the Auditor-General on the Audit Outcome
          for 2003-2004 [RP 210-2004].

     (d)     Report and Financial Statements of the Financial Services
          Board on the Registrar of Friendly Societies for 2003.

     (e)     Report and Financial Statements of the Government
          Employees Pension Fund for 2002-2003, including the Report of
          the Independent Auditors on the Financial Statements for 2002-
          2003 [RP 1-2004].

     (f)     Government Notice No R1289 published in Government Gazette
          No 26938 dated 5 November 2004: Determination of amounts in
          terms of sections 1 and 5 of the Military Pensions Act, 1976
          (Act No 84 of 1976).

     (g)     Government Notice No R1334 published in Government Gazette
          No 26981 dated 19 November 2004: Exemption of Telkom SA
          Limited and its subsidiaries and any entities under its
          ownership control in terms of section 92 of the Public Finance
          Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of 1999).

     (h)     Government Notice No R1353 published in Government Gazette
          No 27011 dated 19 November 2004: Amendments to the exemptions
          made in Government Gazette No 24176 dated 20 December 2003, in
          terms of section 74 of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act,
          2001 (Act No 38 of 2001).

     (i)     Government Notice No R1354 published in Government Gazette
          No 27011 dated 19 November 2004: Second Reporting Exemption in
          terms of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, 2001 (Act No
          38 of 2001).

     (j)     Government Notice No R1354 published in Government Gazette
          No 27012 dated 19 November 2004: Amendment of prescribed fees,
          made in terms of section 36 of the Pension Funds Act, 1956
          (Act No 24 of 1956).


 (2)    The following paper is referred to the Select Committee on Land
     and Environmental Affairs for consideration:

     The following person has been appointed by Cabinet as a member and
     chairperson of the South African National Parks Board, in terms of
     section 8 of the National Parks Act, 1976 (Act No 57 of 1976):

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


     (a)     Report and Financial Statements of Mhlathuze Water Board
          for 2003-2004, including the Report of the Independent
          Auditors on the Financial Statements for 2003-2004.

     (b)     Report and Financial Statements of the Sedibeng Water
          Board for 2003-2004, including the Report of the Independent
          Auditors on the Financial Statements for 2003-2004.

     (c)     Report and Financial Statements of the Ikangala Water
          Board for 2003-2004, including the Report of the Independent
          Auditors on the Financial Statements for 2003-2004.

     (d)     Report and Financial Statements of the Lepelle Water Board
          for 2003-2004, including the Report of the Independent
          Auditors on the Financial Statements for 2003-2004.

     (e)     Report and Financial Statements of the Magalies Water
          Board for 2003-2004, including the Report of the Independent
          Auditors on the Financial Statements for 2003-2004.

     (f)     Report and Financial Statements of the Rand Water Board
          for 2003-2004, including the Report of the Independent
          Auditors on the Financial Statements for 2003-2004.

     (g)     Report and Financial Statements of the Bushbuckridge Water
          Board for 2003-2004, including the Report of the Independent
          Auditors on the Financial Statements for 2003-2004.

     (h)     Report and Financial Statements of the Umgeni Water Board
          for 2003-2004, including the Report of the Independent
          Auditors on the Financial Statements for 2003-2004.

     (i)     Report and Financial Statements of the Overberg Water
          Board for 2003-2004, including the Report of the Independent
          Auditors on the Financial Statements for 2003-2004.

     (j)     Report and Financial Statements of the Botshelo Water
          Board for 2003-2004, including the Report of the Independent
          Auditors on the Financial Statements for 2003-2004.

     (k)     Report and Financial Statements of the Bloem Water Board
          for 2003-2004, including the Report of the Independent
          Auditors on the Financial Statements for 2003-2004.

     (l)     Report and Financial Statements of the Pelladrift Water
          Board for 2003-2004, including the Report of the Independent
          Auditors on the Financial Statements for 2003-2004.

     (m)     Report and Financial Statements of the Namaqua Water Board
          for 2003-2004, including the Report of the Independent
          Auditors on the Financial Statements for 2003-2004.

     (n)     Report and Financial Statements of the Amatola Water Board
          for 2003-2004, including the Report of the Independent
          Auditors on the Financial Statements for 2003-2004.

     (o)     Report and Financial Statements of the Albany Coast Water
          Board for 2003-2004, including the Report of the Independent
          Auditors on the Financial Statements for 2003-2004.

     (p)     Report and Financial Statements of the South African
          Weather Service for 2002-2003, including the Report of the
          Auditor-General on the Financial Statements for 2002-2003 [RP
          221-2003].

     (q)     Report and Financial Statements of the South African
          Weather Service for 2003-2004, including the Report of the
          Auditor-General on the Financial Statements for 2003-2004 [RP
          176-2004].

     (r)     Government Notice No 2483 published in Government Gazette
          No 26969 dated 5 November 2004: Invitation to apply for
          experimental longline fishing permits for the catching of
          Patagonian tooth fish (Dissostichus SPP), tabled in terms of
          the Marine Living Resources Act, 1998 (Act No 18 of 1998).

     (s)     Government Notice No 1135 published in Government Gazette
          No 26848 dated 8 October 2004: Establishment of the
          Ventersdorp-Dolomite Water User Association, Magisterial
          district of Coligny, Koster, Lichtenburg and Ventersdorp, in
          the North West Province, Water Management Area number 9 in
          terms of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act No 36 of 1998).

     (t)     Government Notice No 1136 published in Government Gazette
          No 26848 dated 8 October 2004: Transformation of the Elands
          Valley Irrigation Board, Magisterial districts of Belfast,
          Waterval Boven and Nelspruit, Mpumalanga Province, into the
          Elands River Catchment Area number 5, Mpumalanga Province in
          terms of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act No 36 of 1998).

     (u)     Government Notice No 1138 published in Government Gazette
          No 26848 dated 8 October 2004: Restrictions on the taking of
          water from the Tosca Molopo Dolomite Aquifer in terms of the
          National Water Act, 1998 (Act No 36 of 1998).

     (v)     Government Notice No 1316 published in Government Gazette
          No 26962 dated 12 November 2004: Proposal for the
          Establishment of the Crocodile (West)- Marico Catchment
          Management Agency in terms of section 78(3) of the National
          Water Act, 1998 (Act No 36 of 1998).

     (w)     Government Notice No 2478 published in Government Gazette
          No 26962 dated 12 November 2004: 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 National Forests Act,
          1998 (Act No 84 of 1998).

     (x)     Government Notice No 2479 published in Government Gazette
          No 26962 dated 12 November 2004: Prohibition on the making of
          fires in the open air: Districts of Swellendam and Montagu in
          terms of the National Forests Act, 1998 (Act No 84 of 1998).

     (y)     Government Notice No 2480 published in Government Gazette
          No 26962 dated 12 November 2004: Prohibition on the making of
          fires in the open air: Western Cape in terms of the National
          Forests Act, 1998 (Act No 84 of 1998).


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

     Report and Financial Statements of the South African Forestry
     Company Limited for 2003-2004, including the Report of the
     Independent-Auditors on the Financial Statements for 2003-2004.


 (5)    The following papers are referred to the Select Committee on
     Security and Constitutional Affairs and the Joint Standing
     Committee on Defence:


     (a)     The President of the Republic submitted a letter dated 26
          November 2004 to the Chairperson of the National Council of
          Provinces informing Members of the National Council of
          Provinces of the employment of a member of the South African
          National Defence Force in Mozambique.

     (b)     The President of the Republic submitted a letter dated 3
          December 2004 to the Speaker of the Chairperson of the
          National Council of Provinces informing Members of the
          National Council of Provinces of the employment of members of
          the South African National Defence Force in Mozambique.

     (c)     The Acting President of the Republic submitted a letter
          dated 10 January 2005 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 in Sudan.


 (6)    The following paper is referred to the Select Committee on
     Public Services:

     Report and Financial Statements of the South African Rail Commuter
     Corporation Limited (SARCC) for 2003-2004, including the Report of
     the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements for 2003-2004 [RP
     105-2004].


 (7)    The following paper is referred to the Select Committee on
     Security and Constitutional Affairs for consideration and report:

     Report on the removal from office of Magistrate P W Phiri on
     account of his incapacity to carry out his duties of office
     efficiently.


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


     (a)     Proclamation No R.58 published in Government Gazette No
          28990 dated 19 November 2004: Amendment of Proclamation in
          terms of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals
          Act, 1996 (Act No 74 of 1996).

     (b)     Proclamation No R.59 published in Government Gazette No
          28990 dated 19 November 2004: Referral of matters to existing
          Special Investigating Unit and Special Tribunal in terms of
          the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act,
          1996 (Act No 74 of 1996).

 (a)    Report on the provisional suspension from office of Magistrate R
     Ameer.

 (b)    Report on the provisional suspension from office of Magistrate M
     S Makamu.

 (c)    Report on the provisional suspension from office of Senior
     Magistrate M J S Nhleko.

 (d)    Report on the provisional suspension from office of Magistrate M
     K Chauke.

 (e)    Report on the provisional suspension from office of Magistrate L
     D Monageng.

                       MONDAY, 7 FEBRUARY 2005

 (1)    The Minister for Provincial and Local Government


     (i)     Intergovernmental Relations Framework Bill [B 3 - 2005]
          (National Assembly - sec 75) [Explanatory summary of Bill and
          prior notice of its introduction published in Government
          Gazette No 27031 of 26 November 2004.]

     Introduction and referral to the Portfolio Committee on Provincial
     and Local Government of the National Assembly, as well as referral
     to the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) for classification in terms
     of Joint Rule 160, on 7 February 2005.

     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.

 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
     Security and Constitutional Affairs for consideration and report:


     (a)     Report on the provisional suspension from office of
          Magistrate R Ameer.

     (b)     Report on the provisional suspension from office of
          Magistrate M S Makamu.

     (c)     Report on the provisional suspension from office of Senior
          Magistrate M J S Nhleko.

     (d)     Report on the provisional suspension from office of
          Magistrate M K Chauke.

     (e)     Report on the provisional suspension from office of
          Magistrate L D Monageng.

 (a)    Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of the
     Citrus Board for 2001-2002 [RP 204-2004].

 (b)    Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of the
     Meat Board for the year ended 31 December 2001 [RP 196-2004].

 (c)    Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of the
     President's Fund for 2002-2003 [RP 84-2004].

 (d)    Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of the
     Special Pensions Board for 2003-2004 [RP 193-2004].

 (a)    Government Notice No 1474 published in Government Gazette No
     27124 dated 23 December 2004: Adjusted allocations in terms of the
     Division of Revenue Act, 2004 (Act No 5 of 2004).

 (b)    Proclamation No R.62 published in Government Gazette No 27139
     dated 22 December 2004: Fixing of date on which sections 121(1)
     and 148(1)(e) of the Second Revenue Laws Amendment Act, 2001 (Act
     No 60 of 2001), and section 164(1)(c), (i) and (j), sections
     169(1)(e) and section 170(1)(b) of the Revenue Laws Amendment Act,
     2003 (Act No 45 of 2003), shall come into operation in terms of
     the Second Revenue Laws Amendment Act, 2001 (Act No 60 of 2001)
     and Revenue laws Amendment act, 2003 (Act No 45 of 2003).

 (c)    Government Notice No 1429 published in Government Gazette No
     27070 dated 10 December 2004: Notice fixing amount of tax in
     dispute for purposes of appeal to Tax Board in terms of section
     83A of the Income Tax Act, 1962 and section 33A of the Value-Added
     Tax Act, 1991 in terms of the Income Tax Act, 1962 (Act No 58 of
     1962).

 (d)    Government Notice No 1432 published in Government Gazette No
     27077 dated 10 December 2004: Notice setting out particulars of
     areas demarcated by Municipalities of Ethekwini, Tshwane,
     Emfuleni, Sol Plaatje, Manguang, Buffalo City and Mbombela in
     terms of section 13quat of the Income Tax Act, 1962 (Act No 58 of
     1962), which shall constitute urban development zones.

 (e)    Government Notice No 1404 published in Government Gazette No
     27044 dated 1 December 2004: Exemptions from supply chain
     management provisions in terms of the Local Government: Municipal
     Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act No 56 of 2003).

 (f)    Government Notice No 1405 published in Government Gazette No
     27044 dated 1 December 2004: Amendment of Government Notice No 773
     dated 1 July 2004 in terms of the Local Government: Municipal
     Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act No 56 of 2003).

 (g)    Government Notice No 1433 published in Government Gazette No
     27084 dated 8 December 2004: Approval of allocations in terms of
     the Division of Revenue Act, 2004 (Act No 5 of 2004).

  h) Discussion Paper on Retirement Fund Reform.


                      TUESDAY, 8 FEBRUARY 2005

 (1)    The following changes have been effected to the Joint
     Committees, viz:

     Budget:

     Appointed: Burgess, Mr C V

     Defence:

     Appointed: Burgess, Mr C V
     Discharged: Jankielsohn, Mr R; Sinclair, Mr K

     Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Children, Youth and
     Disabled Persons:

     Appointed: Gore, Mr V C

     Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Women:

     Appointed: Batyi, Ms F; Camerer, Ms S M (Alt); Mdlalose, Ms M M
     (Alt)

 Supplementary Submission of the Financial and Fiscal Commission on the
 Division of Revenue Bill for 2005-2006 and the Medium Term Expenditure
 Framework (MTEF) for 2005-2008, tabled in terms of section 9(1) of the
 Intergovernmental Fiscal Relations Act, 1997 (Act No 97 of 1997).

 (a)    Progress report on the intervention in Elundini Municipality in
     terms of section 139 of the Constitution, from the MEC for
     Housing, Local Government and Traditional Affairs in the Eastern
     Cape.

     To be referred to the Select Committee on Local Government and
     Administration for consideration.


 (b)    The President of the Republic submitted the following letter
     dated 27 January 2005 to the Chairperson of the National Council
     of Provinces of the employment of the South African National
     Defence Force in the Democratic Republic of Congo:

     EMPLOYMENT OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCE IN THE
     DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, FOR SERVICE IN FULFILLMENT OF THE
     INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA TOWARDS
     THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

     This serves to inform the National Council of Provinces that I
     authorised the employment of the South African National Defence
     Force (SANDF) personnel to the Democratic Republic of Congo, for
     service in fulfillment of the international obligations of the
     Republic of South Africa towards the Democratic Republic of Congo
     in the provision of support in the integration and training of the
     new restructured forces.

     This employment was authorised in accordance with the provisions
     of section 201(2)(c) of the Constitution of the Republic of South
     Africa, 1996 (Act No 108 of 1996), read with section 93 of the
     Defence Act, 2002 (Act No 42 of 2002).

     A total of 40 members are employed as from mid-January 2005 for a
     period of 12 months.

     The total estimated cost to be borne by South Africa for the
     deployment of personnel is R 25 600 036.

     I will communicate this report to the Members of the National
     Assembly and the Chairperson of the Joint Standing Committee on
     Defence, and wish to request that you bring the contents hereof to
     the notice of the National Council of Provinces.

     Regards

     SIGNED

     T M MBEKI
     PRESIDENT

                     THURSDAY, 10 FEBRUARY 2005

 (1)    Water Services Amendment Bill [B 17 - 2004] - Act No 30 of 2004
     (assented to and signed by President on 7 February 2005);


 (2)    National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Amendment
     Bill [B 2B - 2004] - Act No 31 of 2004 (assented to and signed by
     President on 7 February 2005);


 (3)    Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and
     Related Activities Bill [B 12F - 2003] - Act No 33 of 2004
     (assented to and signed by President on 4 February 2005).


 (4)    Traditional Health Practitioners Bill [B 66B - 2003] - Act No 35
     of 2004 (assented to and signed by President on 7 February 2005);


 (5)    Financial Services Ombud Schemes Bill [B 20B - 2004] - Act No 37
     of 2004 (assented to and signed by President on 4 February 2005);
     and


 (6)    Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Amendment Bill [B 72D - 2003]
     - Act No 38 of 2004 (assented to and signed by President on 4
     February 2005).

 Strategic Plan of Government Communication and Information System
 (GCIS) for 2005-2008.

 (a)    Bilateral Trade Agreement between the Government of the Republic
     of South Africa and the Government of the Republic of Croatia,
     tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.

 (b)    Explanatory Memorandum of the Bilateral Trade Agreement between
     the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Government
     of the Republic of Croatia.

                      TUESDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2005

 (1)    The Minister of Trade and Industry


     (i)     Co-operatives Bill [B 4 - 2005] (National Assembly - sec
          75) [Explanatory summary of Bill and prior notice of its
          introduction published in Government Gazette No 27257 of 4
          February 2005.]

          Introduction and referral to the Portfolio Committee on Trade
          and Industry of the National Assembly, as well as referral to
          the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) for classification in terms
          of Joint Rule 160, on 14 February 2005.

          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.


     (ii)    Close Corporations Amendment Bill [B 6 - 2005] (National
          Assembly - sec 75) [Explanatory summary of Bill and prior
          notice of its introduction published in Government Gazette No
          27281 of 11 February 2005.]

          Introduction and referral to the Portfolio Committee on Trade
          and Industry of the National Assembly, as well as referral to
          the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) for classification in terms
          of Joint Rule 160, on 16 February 2005.

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


 (2)    The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development


     (i)     Citation of Constitutional Laws Bill [B 5 - 2005]
          (National Assembly - sec 75) [Explanatory summary of Bill and
          prior notice of its introduction published in Government
          Gazette No 27278 of 10 February 2005.]

          Introduction and referral to the Portfolio Committee on
          Justice and Constitutional Development of the National
          Assembly, as well as referral to the Joint Tagging Mechanism
          (JTM) for classification in terms of Joint Rule 160, on 15
          February 2005.

          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)    South African Abattoir Corporation Act Repeal Bill, 2005,
     submitted by the Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs on 4
     February 2005. Referred to the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture
     and Land Affairs and the Select Committee on Land and
     Environmental Affairs.

 The Employment Equity Report of the Independent Electoral Commission
 for 2003, tabled in terms of section 22 of the Employment Equity Act,
 1998 (Act No 55 of 1998).

 Notice received from the MEC for Local Government and Housing in the
 Mpumalanga Province regarding the intervention in the Thaba Chweu Local
 Municipality in terms of section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution of the
 Republic of South Africa (Act No 108 of 1996).

 Referred to the Select Committee on Local Government and Administration
 for consideration and report.

                     WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2005

 Municipal Investment Regulations and Municipal Public-Private
 Partnership Regulations, in terms of section 168 of the Municipal
 Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act No 56 of 2003).