TUESDAY, 22 FEBRUARY 2005 __

          PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
                                ____

The Council met at 14:00.

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS – see col 000.

                   FORMAL REMOVAL OF OLD BLACK ROD



                           (Announcement)

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon members, we shall now proceed with the formal removal of the old Black Rod and the introduction of the new Black Rod as the symbol of authority of this House. I will therefore suspend the sitting. Members are requested to remain seated while the procession, led by the Usher of the Black Rod, that will consist of me, the Chairperson of Committees and the Deputy Chairperson of Committees, takes the Black Rod outside.

We will come back to install the new Black Rod. The bells will be rung shortly for the resumption of business when the procession - with the Usher bearing the new Black Rod - will enter the Chamber from the front entrance. Proceedings are now suspended.

Business suspended at 14:02 and resumed at 14:05.

                    INSTALLATION OF NEW BLACK ROD

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon members, we are now installing the new Black Rod. You might have seen the old one that we have removed. It was a very thin Black Rod and it didn’t actually show the decorum of this House. In keeping with the dignity of the National Council of Provinces, we now have the new Black Rod installed.

I am just going to speak very briefly. We are honoured here by the presence of the former presiding officer of this House who will open the debate on the new Black Rod since she participated a great deal in actually giving input regarding the new Black Rod, which now represents the nine provinces.

The Black Rod symbolises the authority of the House and serves to emphasise the dignity and formality of proceedings. The National Council of Provinces, which now celebrates its eighth birthday, was the product of the constitutional process that sought to ensure that provincial interests are taken into account in the national sphere of government.

I want to point out to the President and to all members who are in the House today that we are not just installing the Black Rod today, but another symbolic aspect of this ceremony is that we are eight years in existence, since we were born in 1996. I think we must applaud ourselves because the baby has grown. [Applause.] I can assure you that the baby is growing very well. You can see that the baby is well fed. You can also see that though she is still a toddler, she walks very well and she has begun to speak very well with the public out there in the provinces.

This new Black Rod reflects the process that acknowledges the nine of provinces of the new South Africa. Its new design echoes the important role of the provinces in ensuring a better quality of life for all South Africans. It acknowledges the people who live in our provinces and the rich resources that we have been blessed with.

The giant protea at the top of the Black Rod should speak to us of a nation blossoming in its democracy. Indeed, our 10th year democracy celebrations highlighted many of the great achievements of our nation. But, like any plant, for our nation to grow, it needs watering and nourishment. Sometimes it even needs weeding. That responsibility of watering and nourishing it by building schools, roads, houses and hospitals, providing basic services and creating employment for our people is the role of the national, provincial and local governments – the nation’s gardens.

Parliament’s role is to ensure that the nation grows by conducting oversight over the executive and applying the principles of co-operative governance. As Parliament we need to work with the gardeners for this flower to blossom. May this new symbol inspire this House to serve the people of South Africa diligently in pursuit of a better quality of life for all!

I now afford the representatives from the provinces and those speakers who are listed on the speakers’ list the opportunity to comment on the historical installation of the new Black Rod. In terms of my list I have Mrs Naledi Pandor, the Minister of Education, to lead this discussion.

The MINISTER OF EDUCATION: Chairperson, do you want me to go to the podium? Things have changed so much! [Laughter.] Hon Chairperson, Mr President, hon members, in my time, no member would have shouted, “Things have changed!” [Laughter.]

Thank you for this opportunity to address the House on this historic occasion, the launching and installation of the new Black Rod of the National Council of Provinces. I don’t see a lot of black on the Black Rod. But it is, as the Chairperson has said, a rather striking Black Rod and I congratulate the Chairperson and all hon members on this new symbol.

The transformation of South Africa from its apartheid past into a country that reflects the aspirations elaborated in the Freedom Charter has set our government and this Parliament a number of challenges. As the President indicated in his reply to the state of the nation debate last week, our nation expects to see itself in its entirety reflected in each of the institutions of South Africa.

One of the features of policies of exclusion, particularly that of racism, is that the effect is often to render the marginalised invisible. This invisibility has been the lived experience of the majority of the people of our country. And, we are engaged as Parliament and as government in the dual task of creating the visibility of the marginalised, alongside the concrete expression of unity in diversity of all our people.

The processes followed by Parliament since 1994 in giving effect to inclusion and representivity have been noteworthy and nationally significant. Colleagues will recall that the first set of processes began in 1994 with the removal of former apartheid art from the Old Assembly dining hall. Those paintings reflected much that was ugly in our past and it is pleasing that we use the walls of Parliament for more engaging exhibitions today.

The second set of transformation processes related to the efforts to make Parliament open and accessible, opening up committees as well as facilitating public access to debates; and, more recently, adopting the new language policy of Parliament and the fact that MPs are now able to use any of the official languages of our country in their deliberations in this institution. Additional steps beyond these were taken to make sure that Parliament is accessible to those with disabilities.

Our government has also not been inactive in this regard. We have new national symbols: a new flag, which we all love; a new anthem, which many of us sing, though some sing it quite badly; and a new Coat of Arms. All of these reflect the importance of the expression of unity in diversity in South Africa.

This new Black Rod is part of our national project of transformation, of changing those aspects of governance that still remain foreign to our political culture so that the majority of people will now find it easier to identify with our national symbols and our national aspirations.

Black Rod, it is called. Many people have asked: What is it? It’s a symbol of authority. Yes, but as with many other symbols, it is not a symbol that is found in our traditions, not a symbol from our culture, not a symbol politically specific to our system of governance. So, in line with our desire to achieve unity in diversity, we decided that we would not throw out the Black Rod. We have rather changed the Black Rod into a symbol with which all our people can identify.

It would be important to indicate to hon members that the design came out of the contributions of the people of our country, and that it is not something that came from the presiding officers. A notice was sent out to the public; submissions were received. Interestingly, it would seem, Mr Chairperson and Mr President, that the favourite stand-up-straight weapon of South Africa is the knobkierie because the bulk of the submissions called for that shape.

We transformed our Chamber of this very House for similar reasons to those that have led to the transformation of the Black Rod from a staff into a knobkierie. The major symbolic reason, hon members will recall, for refurbishing the Chamber was our desire to transform the adversarial Westminster-style seating plan of the Chamber. This was because we have a Constitution that enshrines co-operative governance between our three spheres of government. The National Council of Provinces, as the Chairperson has said, as the Chamber that represents provincial and local government at the national level, is a linking institution that involves the provinces in national policy formulation and the consideration of national matters. It thus also ensures the responsiveness of national government to provincial interests.

Before the transformation that occurred to the Chamber, we worked in a building that was designed for the Westminster adversarial parliamentary system. The Westminster model of parliamentary government is based on a very particular tradition that traces its roots back to ancient practices of governance in England. Of course, we inherited such a system. Its intention was to have the House at the upper level, the House of Lords, providing the nation with representation and leadership in the absence of the king.

The spatial relationship in the old Senate of this House was based on a representation of two opposing sides of debate. The length of two swords separated the benches. In the event that the debate got ugly, the opponent with a sword would be out of reach of the opponent that he wanted to hurt.

The authority of the president of the Senate was vested in the name of the king. Thus the president of the Senate sat in a chair that was reminiscent of a classical throne in terms of scale, ornate structure and meaning. The Black Rod was thus an extension of the authority of the president of the Senate and it was meant to regulate speech and to punish in the name of the king, hence the Usher of the Black Rod was very similar to a captain of the guard or a sergeant in the police service.

We then had to face the question of how we reshaped the adversarial architecture so that we reflect a parliament in which the people indeed do govern. With support from a range of progressive professionals, we achieved this change. We developed a particular philosophy with respect to how we would want the Chamber to look.

I believe that it is entirely fitting that we should remember Revel Fox, whose inspiration as an architect was instrumental in bringing about the changes of which we speak. He was a remarkable architect; a man committed to transformation, a man whose contribution to architecture in Cape Town will be remembered for many years to come.

We have therefore a radical pattern of seating that allows continuous eye contact between delegates and the Chairperson. The sitting arrangement gives the Chairperson a new and greater depth of authority – an authority based on participation and not, as under the Westminster system, on keeping two parties apart. By establishing the Chairperson as the hub of a spatial pinwheel, new territory was charted in South African political history about how exactly provinces relate to each other and to the national government.

Now we have a new Black Rod that everyone will immediately recognise as a knobkierie. The symbolism is extremely complex and I am sure that all our children in the country in our schools are going to learn a lot about our country and ourselves when they seek to understand what each aspect of the symbol represents.

The protea at the head of the knobkierie is South Africa’s national flower and symbolises our national pride. The beadwork lower down the rod represents our diverse people and our rich cultural heritage. The clasping hands in gold symbolise freedom, peace and co-operation. The Black Rod will stand in a drum whenever the Council is in session. The drum is symbolic of calling people together, to gather and speak. It also symbolises our achievement of democracy through dialogue.

We then get to the provincial symbols as we look at the band on the drum. The North West has chosen a calabash gourd; the Free State has a cluster of lily blossoms; the Northern Cape has a thorn tree; Mpumalanga has a daisy; the Eastern Cape has a red aloe – an indigenous succulent with medicinal and other qualities, a symbol of perseverance and strength; KwaZulu-Natal has a gentle flower; Limpopo has the sturdy baobab tree; Gauteng has iron which symbolises its industrial strength; and the Western Cape is symbolised by grapes - and I need to say no more. [Laughter.]

In closing, we can see that a massive transformation has indeed taken place. The Black Rod has been successfully changed into a symbol that represents unity in diversity. The House, through this symbol, is clearly guided to pursue inclusivity, harmony, consensus, and a parliament that fully reflects the Freedom Charter and its aspiration and call that the people shall indeed govern. Thank you. [Applause.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Thank you, Ms Pandor, Minister of Education and former presiding officer of this Council. I now take this opportunity to formally acknowledge the hon President in the NCOP. As you would know, we invited the President to come and grace this occasion, and also observe when we introduce the new Black Rod today. We therefore really welcome the President to be with us today. Thank you very much, Mr President. [Applause.]

I must also say that the schedule of the President is quite tight. His office has discussed it with me. When the time is opportune I will announce the departure of the President. The grapes as symbol of the Western Cape represent the great agricultural activity of grapes and nothing else. [Laughter.]

Mr D A WORTH: Chairperson, Mr President, hon Ministers and Premiers present here this afternoon, I have a difficult task following in the steps of the hon Minister Pandor, who spoke so eloquently with regard to this House and the new Black Rod. However, first of all I would like to congratulate this House on behalf of my party, the DA, on its eighth birthday. It is truly a memorable occasion, and I trust that everyone had a slice of the cake at lunchtime.

The Black Rod was first used in South Africa in the Senate, under the 1910 constitution of the then Union of South Africa. It is a symbol of authority that many parliaments of the Commonwealth countries have adopted and adapted to reflect their own unique traditions and cultures. The Black Rod, in fact, has been in existence in the Westminster parliament, as we heard just now, for over 600 years.

The then South African Senate continued to use the Black Rod until South Africa became a republic in 1961. The then so-called Staff of Office of the Senate replaced the Black Rod in 1961, and became the symbol of the State President. The Senate, established in terms of the interim constitution of 1993, readopted the Black Rod and when the NCOP was created in terms of the Constitution of 1996 it inherited the title and the Black Rod from the Senate.

The Black Rod, however, reflects the South Africa of pre-1994. Parliament felt it was time that the old symbols changed and new symbols that reflect the new political dispensation were adopted. The change in the symbols of Parliament has been launched in phases: First, the National Assembly’s Mace, then the Black Rod, and lastly, a new parliamentary emblem.

Whilst a great deal of the pomp and ceremony associated with the Black Rod has been done away with by the NCOP, it must always serve as a reminder of the historical struggles of people against arbitrary rule, and always remain a symbol of authority and democracy. The Black Rod is therefore placed next to the President’s office’s chair, to symbolise that the House is formally in session, and is intended to reflect the dignity of the NCOP.

My party, the DA, therefore fully supports the new Black Rod, and the symbol of democracy and authority it represents. I thank you. [Applause.]

Mnu M A MZIZI: Sihlalo, angilibonge leli thuba ngoba liyivela kancane. Ngingumuntu womdabu-ke mina izinto zesilungu angizazi. Iminyaka seyilishumi ngilapha. Ngangilokhu ngiyibona le ndoda ingena nodondolo lapha ihamba phambili kodwa ngingazi lutho ukuthi kuphathelene nani [Uhleko]. Iphelile- ke iminyaka eyishumi. Onyakeni weshumi nanye ima ngifunda okunye. Ngingumuntu omdala. Uyabona uma kukhulunywa ngodondolo, kusuke kukhulunywa ngento ebalulekile. Mina njengomuntu womdabu, nginemishiza eminingi ekhaya. Ubaba uba nodondolo lwakhe. Uzolubona-ke lolu dondolo lukababa ngesikhathi sokugcina ukuthi lubalulekile. Uma sekukhona ihlambo, kubizwa abadala babe khona ukuze-ke kuthathwe lolo dondolo lunikezwe omunye wamadodana alowo baba ongasekho emhlabeni kuthiwe-ke, “Nangu-ke osezophatha induku kababa”.

Uyabona-ke manje ukuthi-ke sifunda okunye-ke nalapha esilungwini ngoba nakhu phela uMongameli wezwe ulapha ukuze azobona ukuthi asikhwabanisi ngalolu dondolo silunikeze omunye ngapha esikhundleni somuntu ofanele. Nakhu-ke Sihlalo lapha engikhona-ke, nawe kufanele uziqale kahle izinto ngoba phela ngeke ukwazi ukuthi uzohlala kuleso sihlalo uma leyo ntonga ingekho eduze kwakho. (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)

[Mr M A MZIZI: Chairperson, may I thank you for this opportunity because it is a very special occasion. I am an African person, I do not know Western things. I have now been here for 10 years. I used to see a man entering with the Mace walking in front of us, but I did not know what it was about. [Laughter.] These 10 years are over. It is only now, in the 11th year, that I am learning something, and I am an old person. If we are talking about the Mace, we are talking about an important thing. I, as an African person, have a lot of fighting sticks at home. The father has his walking stick. You will see during the last hours that this stick is important. During the cleansing ceremony, the elders are called in so that that stick will be given to one of the sons of the deceased and they will say: “Here is the one who will take father’s stick.”

Can you see now that we are learning something else in Western culture, because it is as if the President himself is here to see that we are not doing the wrong thing with this Mace, like giving it to someone other than the relevant person. Chairperson, here I am; you must also start things in the correct manner because you will not be able to sit in that Chair if the Mace is not next to you.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: I am just worried there is no interpretation up there. Anyway, continue, Mr Mzizi.

Mr M A MZIZI: Umuntu womdabu akakwazi ukukhuluma isilungu ngoba akafundile. [Uhleko]. Ngizoyibhala inkulumo ukuze bayithole. [An African person does not know how to speak English, because he is uneducated. [Laughter.] I will submit this speech in black and white so that they receive it.]

Chairperson, hon members, and the President, the Black Rod should bring new changes to this Chamber. If one thinks of some of the wisdom flowing from David’s lips, as read from the Holy Book that says, “Thy rod and thy staff comforts me”. Lokhu-ke kusho khona lokhu esikushoyo. [This means that we are saying this.] Surely, the Rod has a fundamental value in our lives. There was value in the first Rod.

Asisho ukuthi phela leyo yokuqala yayingenalutho njengoba sesikhuluma ngalena yanamhlanje. [We do not mean that the previous Rod had no value while we are talking about this one today.]

The fact remains that the old order changeth, and yieldeth places to new. You will agree with me that in the 10 years behind us, a lot has been done, which indicates that we must change with time.

Lokhu akube umyalezo noma kubani olapha endlini. Ubhoko yinto ebalulekile empilweni yomuntu. Kwaze kwaqanjwa isisho esithi “umthwalo usobhokweni” ngoba uhambo lude, uthwala umthwalo ngalo. (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)

[This must be the message to everyone in this House. A stick is something very important in a person’s life. There is even a saying that goes, “ready for the way”, because on a long journey it is used to carry the luggage.]

Modulasetulo, a re itshwareletseng ka lere lena, re ikokotlele ka lona. Mme ke bona tlholo pheletsong ya leeto lena. Tsela ena ya NCOP e telele. Yaka Modimo a ka hlohonolofatsa lere lena. E tshweu kgotso! [Mahofi.] (Translation of Sesotho paragraph follows.)

[Chairperson, let us hold on to this Rod, and let it guide us. I foresee triumph at the end of this journey. This journey of the NCOP is a long one. May God bless this Rod. [Thank you!] [Applause.]]

Mr K SINCLAIR: Chairperson, Mr President, hon Ministers, colleagues and friends, as representatives of the people of the Republic of South Africa we are gathered here today in the higher House of Parliament for a very special event. On behalf of the people of South Africa we recognise the injustices of our past. We honour all those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land. We respect those who have worked to build and believed that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white. As we speak today we stand united in our diversity.

Therefore it would be important on this very special day to once again reiterate the importance of our institution. Section 42(4) of the Constitution mandates a specific set of functions and responsibilities for the NCOP. When we launch a Black Rod today, it just cannot be a symbol of democracy vested in the authority of the Council, because it is - and it must be - far more than that. It must be a voice for the people of the provinces: from the mother who is struggling to make ends meet in Langa to the irrigation farmer next to the Limpopo River, from the small miner in Alexander Bay to the fisherman of Kosi Bay. This Black Rod must be the cornerstone in which they entrust their public representatives to look after their interests in a free and a democratic society.

The principle of democracy must never become just a word when it suits us. We must treasure it. We must be principled about it and even more, we must use the political power that we gain from democracy in a responsible manner. The words of a lecturer at the University of Nairobi, Ofika Kitonga, then seem very appropriate. He said:

Democracy has become one of the core and foremost preoccupations of the people of the world today. All over the world, millions of men and women are clamouring for it, ready to consent enormous sacrifices of sweat, tears and blood, up to and including death to secure it. This is a measure of the value of democracy to civilised mankind.

Therefore, on behalf of the NNP it’s a privilege to also add our voice to congratulate all people who were involved in the development, planning and manufacturing of this new symbol of our democracy. It is appropriate when we also celebrate the 8th anniversary of the NCOP that we also today accept a new symbol for this institution. We trust and believe that it would be instrumental in making democracy work and through that ensure that the people of this country, black and white, share in the benefits of our democracy. I thank you. [Applause.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: I also wish to announce the presence of Heraldry South Africa, whose members are in the Chamber. They have helped to design this Black Rod. And I also wish to recognise the producer of the Black Rod, the Palgiari Group. Everything here on this Black Rod has been handmade. No machine was used. That is why it took such a long time. So the workmanship is very good as you can see on the Black Rod here. We welcome them. They are in the gallery. [Applause.]

Dr F J VAN HEERDEN: Chairperson, it is indicated on the speakers list that I shall address the House in English, but I shall take the example of colleague Abram Mzizi and address the Chamber in my mother tongue.

Voorsitter, die VF Plus verwelkom die ingebruikneming van die nuwe Ampstaf. Dit is die voorsetting van ’n baie lang tradisie, wat vir ’n kort periode van 14 jaar onderbreek is. Daar is verwys na die koloniale en Britse verbintenis gedurende die tydperk toe ons die Unie van Suid-Afrika was, na die republikeinse tydperk en dan die onderbroke tydperk daarna. Daar is hierna verwys. Dit is nou weer ingestel en dit is verblydend, Voorsitter, dat die tradisionele geskiedenis nie vergeet word nie, want ’n nasie en ’n land wat sy geskiedenis en herkoms vergeet, het nie ’n toekoms nie. Dit is verblydend dat dit in hierdie aspek weerspieël word.

Die betekenis van die ingebruikneming van die Ampstaf lê daarin dat hierdie Raad dan verder gevestig word as ’n volwaardige Tweede Kamer van die Parlement en nie noodwendig net onder die Nasionale Vergadering staan nie, maar inderdaad langs hom as ’n volwaardige Kamer van die Parlement. Dit is eweneens betekenisvol dat dit saamval met die agtjarige herdenking van die Nasionale Raad van Provinsies as ’n selfstandige Raad. Dit is die wens van die VF Plus dat die ingebruikneming van die Ampstaf ’n simbool sal wees van die groot rol wat elke provinsie afsonderlik en gesamentlik speel in die funksionering van die Parlement in Suid-Afrika. Ek dank u. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)

[Chairperson, the FF Plus welcomes the introduction of the new Black Rod, and this is the continuation of a very long tradition, which was only broken for a brief 14 years. There was reference to the colonial and British connection during the time when we were the Union of South Africa, before the republican period, and the subsequent intermediate period. Reference was made to this. It has now been introduced again and it is heartening, Chairperson, that the traditional history has not been forgotten, because a nation and a country that forgets its history and origin does not have a future. It is heartening that it is reflected in this aspect.

The significance of the introduction of the Black Rod lies in the fact that this Council is furthermore being established as a full-fledged Second Chamber of Parliament and that it is not necessarily inferior to the National Assembly, but that it indeed has a place next to it as a full- fledged Chamber of Parliament. It is also significant that this coincides with the eighth commemoration of the National Council of Provinces as an autonomous council. It is the wish of the FF that the introduction of the Black Rod will be a symbol of the important role played by each province individually and collectively in the functioning of the Parliament in South Africa. I thank you. [Applause.]]

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Chairperson, Hon President, and Deputy Chairperson of the Council, hon Minister, hon Premiers, permanent delegates and special delegates, today we are celebrating the eight years of the National Council of Provinces, a new Black Rod for the National Council of Provinces, and at the same time, we are also celebrating 50 years of the Freedom Charter.

During the apartheid era the South African Parliament had had two Black Rods, one for the Union of the Parliament, one for the Parliament of the Republic. The Gentlemen Usher of the Black Rod served in the legislative council of the two Chambers of the Cape Parliament and then in the Senate of the Union Parliament. The Office of the Usher was the symbol of oppression and sexism, as only men were appointed as the Usher of the Black Rod. For the first time in 1994, a woman was appointed as the Usher of the Black Rod. Today we have just installed the new Black Rod.

In 1955 the Congress of the People said that the people shall govern. The preamble of our Constitution says:

We the people of South Africa have laid the foundation for a democratic and open society in government that is based on the will of the people.

Arising from the clause of the Freedom Charter and the preamble of our Constitution, looking at this Black Rod, there is a reflection of all provincial symbols and these provinces were formed by the will of the people. The head of the Rod is a Protea flower with nine leaves, which signifies the national pride and describes the importance and the uniqueness of this House. Nine leaves means that we represent nine provinces and not nine political parties - and that is the uniqueness of this House.

The Freedom Charter further says that the doors of culture shall be open. Looking at this Black Rod, we see that the beadwork alludes to our cultural heritage and our traditions, particularly for us as Africans. Flowers from the coats of arms of the various provinces also indicate that we celebrate our culture in diversity.

The Freedom Charter further says: There shall be peace and friendship and all national groups shall have equal rights. The clasping hands on this Rod allude to our freedom, peace and co-operation. This confirms that the Freedom Charter is the charter of the people. In this House we are different groups and we enjoy working together for the betterment of the lives of our people. Today we have the Constitution, which guarantees the rights of all South Africans, including the right to equality. It protects the rights of all people to freedom of all religion, belief or opinion, freedom of expression, association and movement.

This Black Rod was crafted through the ideas and expression of the different people of our country. The drum is also an expression of the African tradition of drums calling people to gather and speak as we are doing right now. The Black Rod confirms what was said by the Congress of the People, when they said: South Africa belongs to all who live in it. It also confirms that we have a democratic Parliament - a Parliament of the people by the people and for the people. I thank you. [Applause.]

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P Hollander): Hon Chairperson, Your Excellency Mr President, the Minister of Education Mrs Pandor, hon Premiers, Chief Whips of the Majority Party, Chief Whip of the NCOP Mr Windvoël, Chief Whips of all other parties, House Chairpersons of the National Assembly, members of Salga, hon members, distinguished guests, the Bureau of Heraldry, the Chief Director of National Archives Dr Dominy, the Pagliari Group, Mr Regusto and parliamentary staff, it is a great honour to be part of this auspicious event. In closing this important event, it would be easy to just allow time to take its course and have all get back to work. However, it is important to close events such as this one properly. In doing so, allow me to make a few comments.

The launch of the new Black Rod in the National Council of Provinces is an important sign of the necessary transformation that is part of the mandate that our people gave us. It signals that we act on a vision that comes from the people.

Our nation consists of people who are truly diverse in terms of social, economic, race, ethnic and cultural status. It is a fact that none of us will ever deny, but that diversity cannot nullify the fact that we are all Africans from this continent. It can also not nullify the fact that we have a common history, a common struggle and a common vision for the future of our country. Those are but a few things that unite us as a nation of this country, South Africa.

It has been made eloquently clear by other speakers today that this Parliament is on African soil, and that it is absolutely necessary for its symbols to be relevant to and reflect the people of this nation. This is an African democracy. This National Council of Provinces is an African institution in which all our people are seriously busy legislating, overseeing and checking on the implementation of policies that will make our people’s lives better.

We do the business of this Parliament based on their needs, their views, their ideals and their vision. And because of that, this Parliament, its symbols and its business, is in need of change. And it is surely changing. This ceremonial event is, at its core, all about celebrating such a change from one symbol with a history that tragically never belonged to or recognised all the people, to one that symbolises a true and sincere move to include all the people, no matter how diverse our make-up is.

These are facts that have been recognised as early as 17 August 2000, when the previous Speaker announced the process of changing Parliament’s symbols. Today that call for a change of symbols becomes a reality. It is all about what is appropriate and relevant for an institution that drives the transformation of the people’s economic and social development. It is all about the people’s Parliament that functions as part of a caring, developmental state that enhances the ethos and values of all our people. It is all about being true to our history and the vision that comes from the people. It is all about leadership, unwaveringly carrying out the mandates that the people gave us.

As part of that recognition, we can today stand here and say that we have followed through on the intention to change this symbol bring it closer to the reality of us legislating in an African country for the development of all our people. We can stand here today and say that another phase of changing the symbols of our Parliament is being accomplished. We follow on after the unveiling of the new African Mace in the National Assembly in our launching of this new African Black Rod in the NCOP.

As a symbol of the authority of the NCOP and its Chairperson, it is important that such a symbol is in line with the values and ethos of a democratic country that pursues the development of all people. It is a development that remains rooted in the values and visions of the Freedom Charter. It is an undeniable fact that this vision and our Constitution remain inseparably linked.

In changing our symbols, we act on an ethos of empowering and developing all people, no matter what their social status, colour or creed is. We do this in line with African values, namely that all of us are equally respected, valued and cared for by this democratic, developmental state on our African continent. This new Black Rod is one of the new symbols that appropriately enhances the rich diversity of our people and their history.

In closing, I want to thank His Excellency the President, hon members, Chief Whips of the Majority Party and other parties, the Chief Whip of the NCOP, distinguished guests, the Pagliari Group, the Heraldry Council and all parliamentary staff for the leadership, the craftpersonship and the effort that all have put in to make this event such a success. Now we can all get back to work again and beat the drums! I thank you. Ke a leboga. Enkosi. Baie dankie. [Applause.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Deputy Chairperson of the Council, I would want to see all hon members of the Council practising all these eleven official languages very actively in 2005. The message I am giving across is that all of us have to speak these languages. I would like to thank the President for being with us until we concluded the debate on this matter. It is now my turn to announce that the President has to leave us because he has other engagements. Once more, on behalf of the Council, I would like to thank you very much, Mr President for being with us. [Applause.]

                          Debate concluded.


                        MOTION OF CONDOLENCE


                 (The late Raymond “Oom Ray“ Mhlaba)

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P Hollander): Hon members, I have been informed that the Whips have agreed that there would be no notices of motion, but that an opportunity would be given to the Chief Whip of the Council to move a motion without notice.

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE COUNCIL: Deputy Chairperson, I hereby move on behalf of all parties and all of us in this House:

That the Council –

 (1)    notes with great sadness the passing on of a stalwart  and  hero
     of the struggle for a  free,  democratic  South  Africa,  Oom  Ray
     Mhlaba;


 (2)    notes Oom Ray’s outstanding commitment and leadership  qualities
     during a time when the apartheid regime incarcerated him and other
     senior leaders of the movement;
 (3)    further notes the outstanding public leadership role that he has
     played as Premier of the Eastern Cape as our democracy  took  root
     during the First Decade of Democracy;


 (4)    pays tribute to Oom  Ray  as  an  outstanding  revolutionary,  a
     selfless and dedicated combatant and  much-respected  and  admired
     leader;


 (5)    expresses our collective sadness as his death robs us of another
     hero who hails  from  a  splendid,  unforgettable   generation  of
     leaders; and


 (6)     salutes  the  nation’s  hero,  Raymond  (Oom  Ray)  Mhlaba  and
     expresses its profound and sincere condolences to his family.

Motion agreed in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.

        DEBATE ON THE PRESIDENT’S STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS

The MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION: Madam Deputy Chairperson, excuse me for my not having been here for a long time. So I have missed out on the podium being used. In the state of the nation address our President focused on the theme: Parliament: The voice of the people - realising a better life for all. Hierdie tema, in kombinasie met ons viering van die 50ste herdenking van die kongres van die mense en die Vryheidsmanifes - ‘n gebeurtenis wat ‘n halfeeu gelede werklik mening gegee het aan die opinies en aspirasies van ons mense - plaas die klem op die betekenis van demokrasie. Die klem is om te verseker dat ons instellings wat verantwoordelik is om die mense te verteenwoordig, dit doen ten einde ons agenda van ‘n beter lewe vir almal en om seker te maak dat ons dit wel realiseer. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)

[This theme, in combination with our celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Congress of the People and the Freedom Charter - an event that half a century ago truly gave substance to the opinions and aspirations of our people – puts the emphasis on the significance of democracy. The emphasis is to ensure that our institutions that are responsible for representing the people do so for the purposes of our agenda to create a better life for all and that we do in fact achieve this.]

This afternoon, as we join in the President’s state of the nation debate, we also dip our banner for Isithwalandwe, Oom Ray Raymond Mhlaba, someone who was centrally part of forming this democracy. As I return to the issue of the voice of the people realising a better life for all, the emphasis is on creating the mechanisms and truly supporting these democratic institutions to operate optimally to give effect to our dictum: The People Shall Govern.

The report card our President gave clearly reflects our achievements. But it also honestly reveals where we must improve. We believe though that what is essential for improving on our efforts is a strong state that can live up to the expectations that particularly the poor have of the state. Those who fall outside the parameters of the market also usually live and operate in sectors in our society where community organisations are particularly poorly institutionalised and poorly resourced. Their only option is to turn to the state. We cannot fail these people.

In 1996 we opted for constitutional arrangements that are universally recognised as empowering to ordinary people. We deliberately opted for bringing government closer to the people and opening avenues for the participation of people at all levels of government. These constitutional arrangements include the three spheres of government, of which local government is structured to have a tight and close relationship with local communities. Local government is supported by the national and provincial spheres, but is charged with and given the resources from the central fiscus to perform critically important development functions such as water distribution, sanitation, municipal health services and electricity distribution.

We balanced this effort of decentralisation with opting for a unitary state rather than a federal one. This was to ensure that people’s voices from all corners of our expansive country could be heard in the debates on national policy issues, and that they were not restricted to localised issues - a limitation often experienced in federal systems. It was to ensure that geographically entrenched narrow interests did not riddle our country, but that we operated in unison. It was decided to opt for a system that would support nation-building in a society that had come from deeply entrenched divisions.

The NCOP has a particularly important role in representing the voices of our people and their regional interests in Parliament. And when we consider new legislation and when policy is formulated, it is important to consider the effect of these in its regional-specific context. The NCOP is important in overseeing the performance of government in a way that the special requirements of specific regional interests are addressed.

Our engagements with the issue of decentralisation and centralisation have been exercised with great commitment since we came to power. Our efforts over the past decade are testimony to this government’s commitment to decentralised power, resources and accountability. Where the people’s interests were served, we restructured the ownership of our parastatals. We have opted for Public Service transformation that significantly increased professional and managerial power as opposed to hoarding of power by the executive. We have strengthened the independent oversight institutions created in Chapter 9 of the Constitution.

Notwithstanding these and many other efforts more recently, it seems as if there is a concerted effort to create the impression that we are set on centralising all power in this society in the Presidency and Cabinet and the institutions that have been created to support them. There are also concerted attempts to vilify this government as a power-hungry bunch of sycophants.

Of course, it serves the agenda of the liberals in our midst who want a weak and powerless state. A weak state will open the way to them to operate a society on the basis of creating an environment that serves the interests of the rich and leaves the poor to their own devices. It will create an environment in which we will not be able to build a more egalitarian society by redistributing some of the wealth that was built on the backs of black exploited workers. It will create a society in which worker’s rights are nonexistent.

The liberal agenda is deliberately confusing the idea of a strong and co- ordinated state with that of monopolised power. They confuse the idea of letting all the units of government share a commitment to the overall direction in which we want society to move with:

Taking control of every branch of government, every independent state institution and every space in public and private life.

The laws of nature are instrumental to our understanding for the need of a centrifugal force. Our solar system is a system because it is governed by a shared magnetic field that creates certain forces. It does not mean that various bodies lose their independence of operating, but there is a basic law of nature that allows them to function in a predictable and orderly pattern; equally so in the case of government.

As we allow the forces that pull government in localised and decentralised directions to strengthen, we are obliged to match these forces with a stronger, unifying force at the centre of government. Not to dictate and usurp but to ensure that no inefficiencies creep in as a consequence of competing initiatives. Not to weaken and to undermine, but to ensure the best possible utilisation of our resources in the battle against poverty.

We are proceeding apace with giving effect to the provision of the Constitution that deals with the creation of a single Public Service. We are working towards creating a Public Service that embraces all three spheres of government unified in terms of the goal that government pursues and in terms of the system that underpins its work. We are also rapidly increasing the numbers and competence of our community development workers, a core of public servants that crosses the divide between the spheres and lines of government, a core which is employed by provinces but working at local government level to add additional capacity and to strengthen government’s relationship with the people.

Various agendas of different opposition parties are converging in a strange pattern. Transformation is cast in the light of being the downfall of continued development. Racial transformation is seen as the antithesis of a competent Public Service. And transformation is being portrayed as being insulting to black people. Now, I want to state here today: This is simply not true. Racial and gender transformation of the machinery of the state is a precondition of a sustainable and competent pool of Public Service workers.

Racial and gender transformation is a necessary precondition for the creation of a responsive Public Service. And we have come a long way in pursuing the employment equity goals that we have set and we will continue to do so, particularly in those provinces that have been lagging while they were under the political control of parties hostile to government’s agenda.

A further strange agenda is that of the big liberals; the ones who up to now have only cared about individuals and now pretend to be speaking on behalf of communities - a rather strange phenomenon. They, who underestimated and disregarded the social embeddedness of individuals, now want to be the big protectors of group rights; they, who until recently could only think of representing the interests of the English elite are now trying to fight the cause of Afrikaans. Indeed we are living in strange times! Or as the Chinese curse goes: We are living in interesting times! [Applause.]

Coming from the history that we do, we know the importance of mobilising the energy of the people for achieving success. We know the capacity to make things happen that is locked up in our people. They have shown in the past that they can make a country ungovernable if government does not represent their interests. Go back to the Freedom Charter. [Interjections.] No government can justly claim authority unless it is the will the people and it’s because we are respectful of this power of the people. We know that we derive our legitimacy as a government from their support and therefore we have created a multitude of avenues through which they can live up to the dream and make a reality of the Freedom Charter: “The people shall Govern”. And we will not allow our communities to be exploited for easy political point-scoring by forces whose real agenda has nothing to do with the socio-economic liberation of the masses.

As representatives of the overwhelming majority of our people, we must ensure that our people do not have to move outside the democratic avenues that we have created for the voicing of their concerns and interests. After all, our people created that. They made this House and this democracy what it is. And when we as representatives of the people do not ensure that the mechanisms that have been created function optimally at street level, we create the opportunity for communities to be exploited to stage violent demonstration and destruction, saying they are not heard by the ruling party and by the government. But we also know about false prophets. And those false prophets will be dealt with.

We must be confident that this is not the case because of the effective functioning of the mechanisms that we have created. We must be confident in the people through whom we have been placed in positions of trust. People who do not use democratic means to voice their opinions and concerns must understand that they are detracting from the nation’s democratic agenda and undermining development.

We have come a long way since Kliptown and our democratic awakening in 1994 to be standing here a decade later, proud of our achievement and looking forward to the further entrenchment of the ideals of the Freedom Charter, which in the words of the President will be marked by, and I quote:

The further entrenchment of democracy in our country; transforming our country into a genuinely nonracial society; transforming our country into a genuinely nonsexist society; eradicating poverty and underdevelopment within the context of a thriving and growing first economy and the successful transformation of the second economy; opening the vistas towards the spiritual and material fulfilment of each and every South African; securing the safety and security of our people; building a strong and efficient state that truly serves the interests of our people; and contributing to the victory of the African Renaissance and the achievement of a goal of a better life for the peoples of Africa and the rest of the world. The people shall govern! Thank you, Deputy Chairperson. [Applause.]

Nk B N DLULANE: Sekela-sihlalo obekekileyo, ziNkulumbuso zamaphondo ngamaphondo ezikhoyo, malungu ahloniphekileyo, malungu ka-SALGA, manene nani manenekazi, abameli bokwenene nabenyani beli lizwe, bahlanganisa iintloko baze baseka uxwebhu lokuzisa iinguqu kweli lizwe kuma-50 eminyaka eyadlulayo. Olo xwebhu lobulumko nolwazi oluphangaleleyo, nangona lulula lulandeleka, lulo olwaseka ikhondo lenguqu yeli lizwe ukusuka kwithuba lengcinezelo nexesha lika”Fayayo” ukuza kuthi ga kweli thuba sikulo lolawulo lwentando yesininzi. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)

[Ms B N DLULANE: Hon Deputy Chairperson, Premiers from the different provinces, hon members, members of Salga, ladies and gentlemen, fellow countrymen and comrades who assisted with the formulation of the Freedom Charter 50 years ago, a document that brought change to this country. It is a document that is full of wisdom and knowledge, thoroughly accessible and user-friendly, that was the benchmark for change from the days of struggle up to the present in our democracy.]

The achievements of the past 10 years reflect the consistency of the ANC’s policies, which date as far back as 1955 when the Congress of the People adopted the Freedom Charter. We have seen the values of the Freedom Charter enshrined in the Constitution. They formed the bedrock of our Reconstruction and Development Programme and the Freedom Charter has remained a living document with its values reflected in our policies.

Yiyo loo nto uMongameli weli lizwe, uThabo Mbeki, ohloniphekileyo, ethethe wenjenje, ngesiXhosa, ndimcaphula kumsitho wokuvala imibhiyozo yokugqiba iminyaka eli-10 eli lizwe liphethwe ngurhulumente wentando yesininzi okhokelwa yi ANC.

Urhulumente uzakuqhuba ongeze kwiimali ezifunekayo zokwenzela ukuba abantu bafumane izindlu; amanzi; iindawo zangasese; umbane; iiklinikhi; izikolo kunye nezinye izinto eziza kwenza ukuba sonke siphile kakuhle. Abo kufuneka befumene indodla nezibonelelo zemali kurhulumente, baza kuzifumana. Nabo kufuneka befumene amanzi nombane simahla mabazifumane ezi zinto.

Atsho amazwi kaMongameli.

Ngokukhokelwa nokulandela imimiselo yoMqulu weNkululeko, kungoku nje, emve kwe-10 leminyaka sikolurhulumente wentando yesininzi, izinga lamandla emali lime kanye apho belisekelwe laze lathekelelwa khona yiBhanki yethu enguVimba, kwisine ekhulwini. Yiloo nto uMongameli uThabo Mbeki, kwintetho yakhe eyayijoliswe kwisizwe ePalamente ngoLwesihlanu, umhla we-11 kuFebruary 2005, eyibethelele into yokuba, kweli shumi lesibini leminyaka siliqala ngoku sikulawulo lwentando yesininzi kubaluleke kakhulu ukuba sime simi ngokungenalusini, sizimisela iinkqubo esivumelanayo ngazo neziza kuqinisekisa ukuba bonke abemi boMzantsi Afrika bakhululekile kwiimeko zentlalo ezithi zibenze ukuba bangabi nasidima, badeleleke.

Sihlalo obekekileyo, sokukhumbula ukuba imimiselo kwakunye namagatya ephelele oMqulu weNkululeko ngalawo amisela uluntu olukhathalayo ukuba wonke ubani, kwanothathatha, unelungelo lobuntu nelokuxhamla ubomi obungcono. Kungenxa yamalungelo kunye neenkqubo zalo rhulumente ukuba kho kwalenkqubo ebalaseleyo yemisebenzi yoluntu enatyisiweyo, engundaba mlonyeni kwilizwe liphela, njengoko sele luluninzi uluntu oluzuzayo noluxhamlayo kuyo, nolukwazileyo ukususa ikati eziko sithetha nje.

Phofu ke nangona kunjalo, asisafuni ukuba esi sininzi sixhamle kule nkqubo. Le nkqubo imiselwe kuwo onke amaphondo, kwaye sele imisele ngaphaya kwewaka namashumi amahlanu emisetyenzana, yaqesha ukuya kuma-75 000 abantu, into ebangele impumelelo emangalisayo phaya eLimpompo, ngomsebenzi wabo ogama lingu”Gondo lashu” ngesiVenda, gama elo elithetha ukuthi ngesintu esi ndiphuma kuso eMpuma-Koloni, “impumelelo yethu”.

Sihlalo, kujongwe enkalweni ke, njengoko intaka isakha ngoboya benye, ukuba le nkqubo iyimpumelelo eLimpopo inabe iye kwamanye amaphondo njengokuba oko isisiseko sale nkqubo yemisebenzi yoluntu enatyisiweyo ukuze nakwezinye iindawo ibe yimpumelelo njengaseLimpopo. Huntshu Limpompo!

Malungu ahloniphekileyo ale Ndlu, yile nkqubo eza kuthi ngempumelelo yayo, abantu beli lizwe bayeke ukuba ziimpula zikalujacu, bangene gomomo kuluhlu loluntu olukuqoqosho lwesibini, ze bathi ngaxeshanye babenobuchule ababufumanayo, obuza kubenza ukuba babenako ukuqesheka ngethuba likaxakeka. Obu buchule buya kubenza babenako ukuvula amashishinana abo amancinci, babengabaqeshi ngokwabo ukuze ngolo hlobo bakwazi ukuxhamla kwimvumelwano eyenziwe kunye nabo ngabakwa-ABSA, apho oosomashishini abasakhasayo bakwazi ukunikwa imali-mboleko okanye ukunikwa imali ungenamali kwiakhawunti yakho yebhanki leyo, ze kwakhona kungafuneki babe neziqinisekiso zemali xa benikwa imisebenzi yexeshana exabiso liyakuma kwizigidi ezi-5 zeerandi Le mvumelwano sele isebenza phaya eMpumalanga.

Sihlalo wam namalungu abekekileyo, kungumdla omkhulu ke okokuba yonke imisebenzi neenkqubo zibe yimpumelelo xa zisungulwa kwamanye amaphondo. Le inkqubo nayo kufunaneka ilandelwe ukuze ibe yimpumelelo. Ngaphambili wawungasoze uthi ungusomashishini osakhasayo, uhambe uye ebhankini ogcina kuyo imali, unikwe into ekuthiwa ngamakhumsha yi-overdraft, kodwa namhlanje ngenxa yalo rhulumente okhokelwa nguMongameli uThabo Mbeki, uthi ngoku uyimpula kalujacu uyifumane loo nto. UABSA uyakunika.

Sihlaba ikhwelo ke nakwabanye oongxowa-nkulu nabanye oosomashishini abanjeengebhanki ukuba balandele ekhondweni lika-ABSA. Sithi halala! kwiimvumelwano ezinjengezi zakwa-ABSA, ezisekelwe ukulungiselela abantu bethu, nokuba zibavulele inyoba yokuphuhlisa amashishini abo ukuze nabo bathathe inxaxheba ekutshabalaliseni indlala eluntwini labo ngokuvula izithuba zemisebenzi.

Sicela umngeni kubo bonke oongxowa-nkulu abakhulu ukuba baqalise babe luncedo bekopa phaya ku-ABSA, ukwenzela ukuba abantu belizwe lethu babuyelwe sisidima sabo sobuntu, baxhamle ngokulinganayo kwizibonelelo eziza norhulumente wentando yesininzi. Makuqondwe ukuba buninzi ubutyebi, ikakhulu kubantu basemakhaya. Ndiyitsho le nto kuba ndisazi ukuba phaya. . . [Laphela ixesha.] (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)

[That is the reason why the President of this country, hon Thabo Mbeki, in his speech at the closing ceremony of the celebration of 10 years of freedom under the ANC government, said in isiXhosa that the government would increase the allocation of resources to provide people with houses, water, sanitation, electricity, clinics, schools and other facilities, which would provide a better life for all. Those eligible for pensions and grants would get them. And those who are eligible for free basic water and electricity would receive them.

These are the words of the President.

By following the guidelines stipulated in the Freedom Charter, now, after 10 years of democracy inflation is still at 4% as was estimated by the South African Reserve Bank. This is the reason why President Thabo Mbeki in his state of the nation address in Parliament on Friday, 11 February 2005, emphasised that at the beginning of this second decade of our democracy it is important to implement programmes that will develop South African citizens socially and make them dignified people.

Hon Chairperson, we will remember the aspect “all people shall enjoy equal human rights”, as declared in the Freedom Charter. It is because of human rights and programmes of government that we have established the well-known Expanded Public Works Programme, which affords South Africans the opportunities for poverty alleviation.

Such programmes need to continue for people to benefit. This Expanded Public Works Programme is being implemented in all the provinces and 1 050 jobs have been created and 75 000 people have been employed. This is a tremendous success in Limpopo, and the project is called “Gondo lashu” in Venda, which means “Our success” in isiXhosa.

Chairperson, we are looking forward to the Expanded Public Works Programme being implemented in all the provinces, as it has been very successful in Limpopo. We say: Well done, Limpopo!

Hon members of the House, it is the success of this programme that will alleviate the poverty of the people of this country and they can become part of the first economy. The skills of people will be developed and that will make them employable. These skills will enable them to start small businesses and through their entrepreneurship they could have opportunities and enter into agreements with Absa for overdraft facilities. On the other hand, they can obtain loans without security for up to R5 million. This agreement is in place in Mpumalanga.

Chairperson and hon members, it is motivating when projects are initiated and implemented in other provinces. This project must be monitored in order for it to be a success. Previously no budding businessman would be allowed to have an overdraft at a bank without security, but today that is possible because of the government led by President Thabo Mbeki. Absa is prepared to do this.

Chairperson, this is a call to other fats cats and institutions in the banking sector to follow the example set by Absa. We commend agreements such as those that are in place, that give opportunities for growth through entrepreneurship to alleviate poverty as they provide job opportunities.

We plead with all fat cats to follow the example of Absa and help our people to restore their human dignity and gain equal opportunities from democratic government services. There is great wealth, more especially among our people in the rural areas. I say this because . . . [Time expired.]]

Mr M M MATOMELA (Eastern Cape): Hon Chairperson, let me start off by saluting Oom Ray . . .

. . . iSithwalandwe, iqhawe lamaqhawe. Sithi lala ngoxolo, Ndobe. Nangona silila nje, kodwa silila sikikizela kuba ubungumakhi wesizwe. Siyabulela kwaye sivuya ngokuthi sisisizwe esimnyama sibe siyavuna kumsebenzi owenziwe nguNdobe. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)

[. . . one of our stalwarts and a hero among heroes. Rest in peace. His passing saddens us, but we feel privileged and inspired to have had him in our lives as he contributed to building this country. As the South African black nation we are grateful and extremely happy that we were blessed to have had somebody like Ndobe, the fruits of whose toil we now enjoy.]

In his state of the nation address on 11 February 2005 the hon President Mbeki outlined the core strategy objectives that will frame our policies and programmes in our second decade of liberation. I’m not going to repeat them because the Minister has already summarised them.

With respect to the Eastern Cape our provincial growth and development plan, the PGDP, aligns directly with the core thrust of the Medium-Term Strategy Framework. For purposes of this input I will focus on four strategic goals of the MTSF as outlined in the state of the nation address. In each focus area I will consider the implications for the Eastern Cape and outline our programmatic commitments as specified in the PGDP and the Premier’s state of the province address.

Goal one deals with increasing the rate of investment in the economy. The primary goal here is twofold: firstly to increase levels of productive investment in the economy through developing an enabling environment for public sector growth and, secondly, to rapidly increase levels of public and private sector investment in economic infrastructure, and public sector investment in health and education infrastructure.

Key initiatives outlined in the state of the province address and the PGDP speak to continued support for agriculture and agriprocessing, including a massive food programme; milling and processing of plants; cotton production and sugar beet. Other initiatives include the realisation of our tourism potential, as well as investment in our IDZs, such as Coega and East London.

Goal two involves facilitating economic activity within the second economy. Key initiatives mentioned in the state of the nation address that are integrated in our PGDP include the following: The Expanded Public Works Programme, which deals with job creation, provision of services and infrastructure development; housing development to promote sustainable communities; SME development through regular reforms; microcredit and business support; investment in skills through learnerships; FET development and student assistance; land reform and agricultural support.

Goal three involves social services, income support and human development. Programmes here refer to the safety net that has been developed for the very poor and vulnerable.

As a province we have focused many of our Public Service improvement efforts on our three social sector departments that are charged with delivering basic services to the poor. Our focus this year will be on improving access to and the quality of education, which will include intensifying efforts to eradicate mud structures; improving delivery of social grants; modernising health services and addressing critical skills shortages; and improving delivery of the primary school nutrition programme.

Goal four involves improving the capacity of the state. Key measures here, as outlined in the state of the nation address, speak to capacity development in service delivery; local government planning; economic development; combating crime and improving the justice system.

Key initiatives underway in the Eastern Cape province include the strengthening of the Office of the Premier in order to improve co- ordination and monitoring of the PGDP. Linked to this is the development of an electronic monitoring system to track delivery and expenditure on all PGDP projects; the implementation of Project Consolidate in order to build service delivery capacity in less-capacitated municipalities; continued efforts to develop capacity in our three key social sector departments; improving financial management and fiscal discipline in order to address the deficit; strengthening intergovernmental relations and planning alignment.

As different spheres of government we often tend to overstate the nonalignment between national, provincial and local government. Our assessment is that we are more aligned than we would admit when it comes to strategic focus and priorities. This is clearly illustrated in the close alignment between the MTSF and our PGDP.

Our assessment of IDPs in the province shows a close strategic alignment. Nonetheless, there is room for improvement with respect to collaboration around implementation, and we are looking forward to the implementation of the intergovernmental relations Act and proposed institutional monarchy. Thank you very much, hon Chairperson. [Applause.]

Mr J W LE ROUX: Chairperson, I was afraid that you didn’t want the opposition to be heard, so I got quite a fright when you called another member to address the House.

Agb Minister Fraser-Moleketi, u mag miskien verbaas wees om te hoor dat die oorweldigende meerderheid van Suid-Afrikaners, ongeag aan watter politieke party hulle behoort, of hulle nou liberaal is in u oë of nie, almal wil help om armoede uit te wis, om die vergrype van die verlede reg te stel en in harmonie saam te leef.

Die klem wat op ekonomiese groei en werkskepping laat val is, is veral goeie nuus. Die uitwissing van armoede en werkloosheid is noodsaaklik en ons stem saam dat alle wette en regulasies wat werkskepping en ontwikkeling vertraag, weer na gekyk moet word. Wat egter teleurstellend is, is om te sien dat dieselfde foute wat dekades lank deur die NP gemaak is, nou deur die ANC herhaal word. Die swaar hand van die staat het vir dekades lank bruin- en swartmense onderdruk en nou ervaar Afrikaanssprekende burgers die ongerief van ’n onsimpatieke regering. [Tussenwerpsels.]

Die aanslag – julle moet maar luister – teen Afrikaans en veral teen Afrikaanse skole en universiteite is heeltemal onnodig. Die debat in Afrikanergeledere word veral oorheers deur ouers wat bekommerd is oor dít wat in skole en in universiteite aan die gang is. Hierdie debat het niks te make met ’n hunkering na die verlede of met ’n nuwe soort apartheid nie, maar het alles te make met hoë standaarde en kwaliteitonderrig vir hul kinders.

Duisende hoogsgeskoolde onderwysers het net eenvoudig verdwyn en nou sit ons met die probleem van ‘n tekorte in die onderwys. Die oplossing is nie om Kubaanse onderwysers te werf nie. Kundige wiskunde- en wetenskaponderwysers is in die land beskikbaar en moet net aangemoedig word om terug te keer na die onderwys. Die druk op model C-skole is onverklaarbaar. Dit sou baie meer sin kon maak om die konsep net eenvoudig aan te pas by die nuwe omstandighede in die land.

Wat universiteite betref, is dit onaanvaarbaar dat Afrikaanse universiteite geteiken word en dat al die ander universiteite toegelaat word om soos in die verlede hul sake te bedryf.

Wat plaaslike bestuur betref, deel ons die President se kommer dat daar groot probleme ondervind word. Die waarheid is egter dat plaaslike bestuur nie slegs probleme het nie, maar dat dit in baie gevalle besig is om in duie te stort. Die 136 munisipaliteite wat reeds in groot moeilikheid is, is nie die volle waarheid nie. Daar is baie ander munisipaliteite wat dieselfde lot in die gesig staar. Addisionele finansiering, opleiding en die konsolidasieprojek is noodsaaklik en die DA ondersteun die poging ten volle. Een aspek van die probleem met die . . . [Tyd verstreke.][Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)

[Hon Minister Fraser-Moleketi, you might be surprised to hear that the overwhelming majority of South Africans, irrespective of which political party they belong to, whether or not they are liberal in your view, want to help to eradicate poverty, to rectify the transgressions of the past and to live together in harmony.

The emphasis placed on economic growth, and job creation in particular, is good news. The eradication of poverty and unemployment is essential and we agree that all laws and regulations delaying job creation and development should be looked at again. What is disappointing, however, is to see that the same mistakes which were made by the NP for decades are now being repeated by the ANC. For decades the heavy hand of the state repressed coloureds and blacks, and now Afrikaans-speaking citizens experience the discomfort of an unsympathetic government. [Interjections.]

The onslaught – you simply have to listen – against Afrikaans, and especially against Afrikaans schools and universities, is totally unnecessary. The debate amongst Afrikaners is predominated specifically by parents who are concerned about what is happening in schools and universities. This debate has nothing to do with a hankering after the past or with a new kind of apartheid, but has everything to do with high standards and quality education for their children.

Thousands of highly educated teachers have simply disappeared and now we have the problem of shortages in education. The solution is not to recruit Cuban teachers. Expert mathematics and science teachers are available in this country and merely have to be encouraged to return to teaching. The pressure on Model C schools is inexplicable. It would have made much more sense simply to adapt the concept to the new circumstances in the country.

As far as universities are concerned, it is unacceptable that Afrikaans universities are being targeted and that all the other universities are allowed to conduct their affairs like before.

As far as local government is concerned, we share the President’s concern that major problems are being experienced. The truth, however, is that local government not only has problems, but that in many cases it is collapsing. The 136 municipalities that are already in big trouble do not reflect the whole truth. There are many other municipalities that are facing the same fate. Additional financing, training and Project Consolidate are essential, and the DA supports the effort wholeheartedly.

One aspect of the problem with the . . . [Time expired.] [Applause.]]

The PREMIER OF THE FREE STATE (Ms B Marshoff): Hon members, the Minister for Public Service and Administration Mrs Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, I would have loved to take Mr Le Roux on.

Mnr Le Roux, ek sal dit nie vandag doen nie. Ek het baie ander kole om te gooi en ek sal nie op jou kan reageer nie. [Mr Le Roux, I will not do it today. I have many other bones to pick and I will be unable to respond to you.]

Hon Deputy Chairperson, on behalf of the people of the Free State, I would like to take this opportunity to pay homage to one of the great leaders of the people’s movement, Oom Ray. Like so many others before me have said, we want to say to the people of our country - but especially to the people of the Eastern Cape - that we really appreciate everything that he has done for this country and that we will continue to work like the example he has set for us and continue to serve the people of our country.

In a recent interview Oom Ray said that the struggle to him was like oxygen, without the struggle he could not survive and we will use that oxygen to continue to drive the processes that the ANC-led government has identified up till now, including improving the quality of our life of our people.

We, as the people of the Free State, thank this House for giving us this opportunity to respond to the debate on the state of the nation address that was delivered by the President. We want to acknowledge that collectively as the Free State provincial government we have strived to ensure that we advance the vision as enshrined in the Freedom Charter that was adopted fifty years ago.

Hon Deputy Chairperson, in our social sector we are proud to state that by 31 January 2005 - if we look at the beneficiaries with regards to social benefits in our province - we were paying out benefits to an amount of R569 000 and we had 560 people benefiting from social grants in our province. Of these, R301 000 went to our child support grant support, R125 000 to old age grants and R122 000 to disability grants; not forgetting also the foster care grants that we are paying out to vulnerable children that were left destitute due to their parents having passed away, but also due to other reasons within the environment in which they find themselves.

We also want to pride ourselves on being a caring government in our province. We know that it is our responsibility to guarantee securing the safety and security for all our people and especially to the most vulnerable groups.

To this effect, hon Deputy Chairperson, during 2004 as we have stated in the state of the province address, we have issued more than 6,5 thousand protection orders against perpetrators of abuse against women and children.

Furthermore we have placed 1 100 sexually abused children and we have less than 9 000 missing children in places of safety. But we did not just do this; we also initiated a programme for the rehabilitation of perpetrators in line with our vision of a caring government. But also in line with our vision we have adopted the restoration justice and the reintegration of the perpetrators into society. And we can say that it has been a very successful programme.

At present the school nutrition feeding scheme provides food to 287 000 learners. Our learner transport programme benefits 364 learners; in 1 011 farm school learners are in hostel accommodation and the reason why we have introduced this programme was because of the insensitivity of our farmers in the province who are closing down farm schools, evicting families from the farms and also not caring about whether these children were receiving education or not.

We have also introduced a programme for children who have had to walk for more than 21 km. We have introduced a transport system and these children are being carried to school on a daily basis. In line with our vision to provide care to those who are less fortunate than ourselves, 707 youth have gone through a learnership programme in the province up until now and, hon Minister, in line with what you have set us to do we have already employed 95 community development workers and another 225 community development workers will be taken on board as from 1 March. This training programme has been highlighted by the ANC government to ensure that we establish and strengthen the links between the different spheres of government; and our community development workers are the first line of defence to ensure that our community issues are being given the credibility that it deserves.

Indeed, hon Ministers, during these past years that we have strove to give effect to the commitment that we made in the Freedom Charter we have stated that the doors of learning shall be opened to all.

Hon members, as one of the poorest provinces we recognise the extent to which poverty undermines the health of a number of our people. We are thus confronted by a whole range of diseases of poverty to which we have responded by relentlessly placing an emphasis on the implementation of our provincial health programme strategy that is supported by a comprehensive programme and we can tell that it is beginning to show results because diseases of lifestyle such as diabetes, hypertension and such things are already showing a decline in our province. We are also promoting primary health care vigilantly in our province and are also ensuring that children will benefit through this programme.

During the state of the nation address, the President affirmed that with regard to HIV/Aids in particular, the government’s comprehensive plan, which is amongst the best in the world -combining awareness, treatment and home-based care - is being implemented with great vigour. To this extent the Free State Provincial Government too is committed to continuing to strength and expand access to quality health at all levels of care and especially to people living with HIV/Aids.

We are dedicated to improving the quality of lives of our people and to give an indication of what we have already done, during the past year we have built an additional 1 350 rural houses for those people in our province who have been marginalized for so long. We have restored to them their dignity, given them something that they can begin to call their own, but also we know that through the rural housing programme we are saying to our people that indeed you have a caring government in place and a government that is going to respond to your needs.

In total 10 400 housing units have been handed over to our beneficiaries in the past decade and we will continue, hon Ministers, to improve not only on housing delivery but also on the quality of the structures that we deliver to our people as well as our commitment in the province to the total eradication of informal settlements within three years. How we are going to do that is something that we are working on, we have already adopted our special development plan and we have a programme in place that is beginning to address that.

The Expanded Public Works Programme has also resulted in an additional 702 jobs within the construction sector for this year under review and we are also positive that in this coming year we will be able to enhance it further. We are in the process of ensuring that with the new statutes that we are putting in place we will create more jobs, through Black Economic Empowerment and also the support that we are giving to emerging farmers. In addition, several jobs will be created through the continued expenditure on the municipal infrastructure grant. An amount of R313 million has been spent already and we are also going to expand even more in this financial year. Not only just the municipal infrastructure grants . . . [Time expired.]

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P Hollander): There are some changes to our speaker’s list. After the hon Vilakazi, it will be the hon Sonyo of Salga.

Nkk J N VILAKAZI: Mphathisihlalo ohloniphekileyo, mhlonishwa Ngqongqoshe namalungu onke ahloniphekileyo, uMongameli wezwe ukhulumile evula iPhalamende. Simlalele ebika ngokwenziwe nokusazokwenziwa kule Ningizimu Afrika esiyakheleyo.

Egameni le-IFP siyavuma. Kukhona okubalulekile osekwenziwe uHulumeni wethu. Uma ngithi qaphuqaphu Mphathisihlalo, nakhu: Siwushayela izandla ugesi namanzi osukhona emiphakathini eminingi, yize-ke nokho emakhaya amaningi ezabelweni kusemnyama njalo namanzi lawo kusewusizi lodwa.

Ukwakhiwa kwezindlu nakho siyakubona, ukhona umehluko omkhulu kabi esikhundleni semijondolo. Imijondolo-ke yona angazi noma iyoke inciphe na. Ibukeka yanda mihla yonke kuthi uma kuna imvula kube cishi cishi, kudilika, kucwila konakala impahla nokunye nokunye. Nanku nomlilo awuzibekile phansi ushaya icole ezindaweni eziningi.

Impela sasicabanga ukuthi emva kweminyaka elishumi siyobe sesingcono, kodwa lutho kunalokho imijondolo iyakhula ngesikhulu isivinini. Uhulumeni wethu sekufanele ayibuke ngelinye iso le ndaba yezindlu ezingcono ezingakwazi ukugwinya le minjondolo. Abantu bayazidinga izindlu ezingcono ukukhulisa abantwana ngendlela enesithunzi.

Mayelana nesandulelangculazi nengculazi, yebo ikhona imizamo kodwa izwe lethu libhekene nempi uqobo lwayo. Sidinga igalelo elithe xaxa ukulwa nalolu bhubhane bakithi. Abantu basafisa okwezimpukane lapha emakhaya mihla nayizolo. Kusemakhaya, kusemadolobheni kuyafana nje.

Mayelana nolimi lwethu, akubonakali kahle hle okwenziwayo ukunikeza ulimi lwethu lwendabuko isithunzi esifaneleyo. Ulimi ngumongo wezwe uqobo. Abantwana bethu abasakwazi ukukhuluma ulimi abaluncele ebeleni lonina. Olwami nje ulimi weZulu, KwaZulu-Natali angiboni nakancane okwenziwayo ukuluphakamisa, kunalokho abantwana bethu abasazi isiZulu.

Uhulumeni omkhulu asiliboni iqhaza alibambile ekukhuliseni ulimi lwendabuko. Siyathokoza nje ukuzwa uNgqongqoshe wezeMfundo enza umnyakazo kule ndima. Kubi konakele, sithi: Phambili Ngqongqoshe! Uma ngikhuluma kanje angisho ukuthi akufundwe ngalo njengolimi lokufundisa kodwa sikhalela ukuthi alufundwe njengesifundo. (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)

[Mrs J N VILAKAZI: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister and hon members, the President said a great deal in his state of the nation address during the opening of Parliament.

On behalf of the IFP we would like to say we agree that our Government has done much. Chairperson, to mention but a few things, we highly appreciate the installation of electricity in and supply of water to our communities, although there are some rural areas that do not have electricity and water.

We also recognise the housing project. There is a paradigm shift from shack dwellings to formal housing. I am not sure whether the number of shacks will ever be reduced. It appears to be increasing, and when it rains they fall down and the furniture that is inside is damaged. Fire-related disasters also keep causing destruction in many areas.

We thought that after a period of 10 years we would have improved our housing conditions, instead, the number of shacks is rapidly increasing. Our government should consider the idea of building better housing, which would eliminate all these shacks. People need better houses to bring up their children in dignified conditions.

Regarding HIV and Aids, yes, of course there have been interventions, although it appears that our country is facing a war itself. We need to make a greater effort to fight this scourge. People are dying like flies, whether they are in rural areas or urban areas; it is the same everywhere.

Chairperson and honourable House, it is not clear what is being done to give our African languages the dignity they deserve. The language is the backbone of the nation. Our children are unable to speak their mother tongue. My mother tongue is isiZulu. I do not see anything that is being done in KwaZulu-Natal to develop our vernacular; instead our children cannot speak isiZulu. We have not seen anything done by the national government to develop our indigenous language. We appreciate the initiative taken by the Minister of Education in this regard. Things are tough and we say: Long live the hon Minister! I am not saying that our language should be used as a medium of instruction, but it must be included as a subject.]

Eleven official languages in South Africa are very important to us. For the past 10 years we have still been speaking two languages, and those are English and Afrikaans. But why?

Ukungalwazi ulimi lwendabuko kuqeda isithunzi sethu, kuqeda ababhali bakusasa bezincwadi, kuqeda ukuhaywa kwezinkondlo, kuqeda abaqambi bamaculo, kanye namasiko esizwe uqobo. Sidinga uhulumeni wethu eminyangweni efaneleyo silibone iqhaza alibambile ukufuqa le nqola enzima kangaka yolimi. [Kwaphela isikhathi.] (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)

[The lack of knowledge of our indigenous language reduces our dignity. It also reduces our future writers, the recitation of poems, composers of song and also culture. We want the government to introduce indigenous languages to relevant departments. [Time expired.]]

Mr S SOMYO (Salga): Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson, hon members, on behalf of Salga we want to thank our President for his astute leadership and setting a bold agenda for government that resonates with all South Africans. As President Mbeki aptly points out, this year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Freedom Charter and its vision continues to guide our programme. Central to these achievements is our success in advancing our country away from its divided past towards the realisation of the vision contained in the Freedom Charter, whose fiftieth anniversary we celebrate this year, namely that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, both black and white.

Hon members, let me take this opportunity to express our sincere condolences to the family of Comrade Mhlaba. Oom Ray was a participant in the 1955 Congress of the People and he will not only be remembered for his anonymous and selfless contributions he made in the creation of a vision of a South Africa, but we shall also remember the role he played as Premier of the Eastern Cape in establishing a single administration and leading government service delivery in the Eastern Cape.

This year will also mark the fifth year for democratic local government in its current form. Local government has undergone three phases of transformation with significant changes to the political form, demarcation, administrative structures and functions and policies that had enormous impact on municipalities. Throughout this period the vast majority of municipalities provided services with minimal disruption. The road was not an easy one and it required councillors to continuously keep up with changing legislation, new government programmes, special skills required for delivery services, continuous community participation and, at the same time, transforming local government in a sustainable manner.

Salga is committed to the key programmes outlined by the President. In support of the President’s call for more effective ward committees, we seek to intensify the democratisation process through the enhancement of the ward committees. These committees will deepen participation in government and increase the level of accountability and transparency of local government.

However, we must caution that a number of issues raised at the community level do not distinguish between the different spheres of government. It is therefore essential that other spheres of government join us at these community meetings to understand the past of the community and to foster a new level of co-operation between the spheres of government so that we are able to overcome the challenges of sustainable service delivery.

The imbizos are suitable instruments to jointly get closer to the people. We are confident that the community development workers will contribute to facilitating in the governmental co-operation, working closely with municipalities to overcome the challenges in service delivery.

Municipalities have been at the forefront of employment creation through the presidential Expanded Public Works Programme. The most important challenge is to grow the local economy in a manner that will minimise the impoverishment of rural areas. This will require a co-ordinated approach between local government and the economic cluster to synergise our efforts.

As hon members will concur, these programmes are central in developing and transforming our second economy, whilst ensuring continued growth of the first economy. Together with the Department of Provincial and Local Government Salga has further developed and adopted the Project Consolidate programme. The programme is aimed at supporting 136 identified municipalities with the objective of accelerating effective delivery of services and creating an environment for job creation through the Expanded Public Works Programme.

In order for such a programme to succeed effectively, the level of co- operation among municipalities and between the different spheres of government is essential. Of critical importance is the need to share information on best practices and challenges. Of critical importance is the need to improve the image of local government. The challenges faced by local government must be understood in context. Local government must be supported to address these challenges in a constructive manner.

It is counterproductive to blame local government for the lack of service delivery or for not addressing the backlogs overnight. We need to jointly address these challenges through a single Public Service. As Salga we continue to encourage our public servants, both politically and administratively, to be guided by the principles of Batho People, putting people first, as they discharge their responsibilities to our people.

The effective participation of all spheres of government in an intergovernmental relation structures such as this one, are indeed of paramount importance in the growth and development of our nation. As we enter the second decade of democracy, Salga as the representative body of municipalities further commits itself to advocating the interests of municipalities in these structures with the aim of ensuring effective and accelerated development in our local communities.

We are pleased to hear the President’s announcement to continue increasing the resources available to local government, as national government has done over the past eight years. These resources are indeed needed in ensuring that local government fulfils its developmental mandate.

In conclusion, as municipal leaders we are uniquely positioned to facilitate public participation in our effort to deepen democracy in our country. The challenge of service delivery is difficult to achieve in a sustainable manner without guaranteed participation of our people, both black and white. In this regard we need an intergovernmental approach that is mutually reinforcing and will enhance the agenda set by the President. Thank you. [Applause.]

Mr K SINCLAIR: Hon Deputy Chairperson, hon Minister, premiers and colleagues, a very noble woman in the Northern Cape with the name of Ruth Mompati once said: “In South Africa you don’t decide to join politics; politics decides to join you.” I want to speak as a politician today about the President’s speech and his reply. I want to speak as an Afrikaner, because sometimes people come and claim that they’re speaking on behalf of the Afrikaans people of this country, but they don’t speak the truth about what’s happening. Agb Voorsitter, wat my betref, was daar drie kwessies wat die President na vore gebring het. Die eerste kwessie was dat die President gesê het ons en ons land is op koers. Die President het erken daar is sekere dinge wat skort, dat daar sekere dinge is wat aandag nodig het; maar in die breë het die President gesê ons is besig om na die behoeftes en belange van al die mense in Suid-Afrika te kyk.

Die tweede kwessie was dat die President sekere groepe in die land, en veral politieke groeperings soos die DA, ontbloot het vir wat hulle werklik is. Die President het die DA ontbloot as ’n politieke party wat in wese ’n konserwatiewe liggaam is met ’n liberale hart. [Gelag.] As ’n mens so geluister het na wat sommige van die agb lede vroeër gesê het, het ’n mens dit weer ervaar, want dit is absoluut vergesog om te dink dat ’n liberale leier soos die agb Tony Leon nou kom voorspraak maak vir moedertaalonderrig. Dit kan mos net nie wees nie. Dan is daar ’n verskil tussen wat die hart sê en wat die liggaam doen. [Gelag.]

Ek dink ons sal nog baie in die toekoms met mekaar daaroor praat, maar ’n mens moet baie versigtig wees as jy oor sulke emosionele goed soos die onderwys, kerk en moedertaalonderrig begin praat. [Tussenwerpsels.] Ek is bly om te sien die agb Watson is wakker. Ek het gedink hy slaap! [Gelag.] In hierdie jaar, die vyftigste wat ons as land en as mense wat aan die ANC behoort die skryf van die Vryheidsmanifes gedenk, is die kritieke vraag wat ons almal in hierdie Huis moet beantwoord, van die ANC na die DA na die OD na die VF . . . [Tyd verstreke.] [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)

[Hon Chairperson, as far as I am concerned there were three issues that the President had raised. The first is that the President said that we, and our country, were on track. The President acknowledged that there were some things that were wrong and required attention, but on the whole the President said that we were looking into the needs and after the interests of all the people in South Africa. The second issue was that the President exposed certain groups in the country, and especially certain political groupings such as the DA, for what they really are. The President exposed the DA as a political party that is in essence a conservative body with a liberal heart. [Laughter.] When listening to what some hon members said earlier on, one experienced this once again, for it is absolutely far-fetched to think that a liberal leader like the hon Tony Leon would now advocate mother tongue instruction. Surely this cannot be true. Then there is a difference between what the heart says and what the body does. [Laughter.]

I think we will be talking to one another about this on many more occasions in future, but one should be very careful when speaking about such emotive issues as education, religion and mother tongue instruction. [Interjections.] I am glad to see that the hon Watson is awake. I thought he was asleep! [Laughter.]

During this year, the fiftieth that we as a country and as people belonging to the ANC are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Charter, the critical question that every one of us in this House should be answering, from the ANC to the DA to the ID to the FF Plus . . .] [Time expired.] [Applause.]

The PREMIER OF THE NORTHERN CAPE (Ms E D Peters): Madam Deputy Chairperson, Madam Minister Fraser-Moleketi, hon members, I would like to start by congratulating the NCOP on the installation of the Black Rod and also by wishing us a happy birthday because we turned eight yesterday. [Applause.] Unfortunately the Chairperson is not here. I heard him say that at eight years the child starts to walk and talk, and I was surprised because at eight years of age, children are already in Grade 3 at school! [Laughter.] So I just want to say to him that the child is actually in the formative years of schooling and it means that we really are in the learning curve, and we are improving because we’ve started doing the right things. I would like also to take this opportunity on behalf of the people of the Northern Cape . . .

Go tlisa mafoko a matshediso go ANC, go Kapa Botlhaba le lelapa la ga Oom Ray gore ba leleka ntho madi a tshologa. Se se ba tlhagetseng, se tlhagetse rona rotlhe ka gore ntate Ray e ne e le moeteledipele wa rona rotlhe. Molwela tokologo yo o pelokgale, yo o ileng a re direla gore e be re le mo demokerasing gompieno. Ka jalo ke re matshediso go rona rotlhe. Matshediso go Kapa Botlhaba le go African National Congress. (Translation of Setswana paragraph follows.)

[We convey our condolences to the ANC, to the Eastern Cape and to Oom Ray’s family and hope that they accept this. What befell them has also affected us because Oom Ray was a leader to us; I therefore convey my condolences to all of us. This brave freedom fighter had worked to bring about the democracy we have today. Our condolences to the Eastern Cape and the ANC.]

I would like to take the cue from the state of the nation address and indicate that on Friday we also had an opportunity as the Northern Cape to reflect on the achievements we have realised, and further mapped out our future priorities in addressing the needs of our people. Allow me to use this platform to do just that.

We are pleased once more to have dispelled the myth. Last year sometime in July we were inundated with pressure from a national Sunday newspaper that indicated that the Northern Cape was a bankrupt province and that we were going to be failing in our mission to deliver on our commitments to the people of the Northern Cape. I’m happy to indicate to the House today that we have set the record straight: We did say we were not bankrupt and we were at pains to be able to explain the situation in the Northern Cape.

I need to indicate to you, members, that some of the goals and targets that we set for ourselves as a provincial government have been achieved, and a lot still needs to be done to address some of the critical areas and speed up the process of providing essential services to the poor communities in my province. The province prides itself on the successful launch of the provincial growth and development strategy. We did say that we would be launching that strategy and we have done that. On 26 July 2004 we were able to launch the comprehensive plan for the integrated treatment, care and management of people living with HIV and Aids in the Northern Cape.

I would like to take this opportunity to highlight some of the other key achievements we’ve been able to reach. Those would not be the only ones that we’ve been able to achieve, but I’ll limit myself to them because of time constraints. We have been able to make sure that the sexual offences court, which we had indicated would be launched in De Aar, was launched. That serves as indication for us that the offenders in the De Aar district have been successfully prosecuted. I must also add here that there is an indication that this court has been able to make sure that these offenders – more than 2 000 of them – have already landed behind bars. I know that this is creating problems for our Department of Correctional Services, but the fact is, we need to secure convictions.

We did say that we were going to employ more than 464 police officers and we have been able to achieve this. We did indicate to the nation that we would be purchasing 142 new police vehicles, and an amount of R23,746 million was allocated for this in the 2004-05 financial year. Already, we have been able to deliver 140 of these vehicles, which indicates to you that we have been able to go beyond our target, because 191 vehicles were ordered instead of the originally intended 142. We also said we needed to be able to make sure that the Kuruman, Aggeneys, Steinkopf and Galeshewe police stations were completed.

I think it is important that members of this house should be able to help us as a province to ask the national Department of Public Works how long it takes them to construct and build a police station. We’ve got a police station that has been under construction for eight years, and it is just too many years to be waiting for a police station in a community, especially as is the case with the Kuruman and the Galeshewe police stations. So it means that, whilst the province is trying to do its bit, the national departments that work in the province must also try and do their bit.

We did indicate that we as the Northern Cape, like the Eastern Cape and other rural provinces, have serious problems of retaining professionals in the deep rural areas and we have seen with the introduction of the rural allowance that we were able to attract more professionals to those outlying areas. In fact, because in the Northern Cape only Upington and Kimberley have not been declared rural, we have seen a shift in which most of our professionals who were in Kimberley and Upington are moving to the outlying areas because of the incentive that they will be getting.

We have said that we were going to purchase 13 new ambulances and we have been able to purchase them, and I can even indicate here that we have fitted tracking systems, because these vehicles were at times used as taxis. Because the Northern Cape is so vast our ECPs at times used these vehicles to transport people between the outlying areas for their own pockets by getting people to pay them for transport. So the tracking system should be able to help us to actually know exactly at what time and where the ambulance is deployed.

We did say that we would be able to distribute 9 950 food parcels to households for an amount of R10 million. This commitment has experienced a delay due to the fact that all provinces are still waiting for the national Department of Social Services and Population Development to conclude the tender process. We have started with the construction of schools in Ritchie, Douglas and Schmidtsdrif, but we believe that we’ll be able to make sure that by the end of this year the schools are opened, because we had a delay due to the tender processes.

Talking about tender processes, we were informed that there is a system that is used to award tenders. That has created problems for us in the Northern Cape, where you’d find that one contractor gets more than 10 contracts from different departments in the province without anyone checking whether this contractor has the ability or capacity to be able to deliver. Take the Northern Cape, for example: If you give a contract to one person in Kimberley and to the same person in Calvinia, to the same person in Springbok and to the same person in Colesberg, that person is not going to be able to monitor the construction process and make sure that he or she delivers on time. What worries us is that it now seems that we have contractors who are at times only sitting and developing tender documents as opposed to making sure that they are able to deliver on those that they have already received.

That is what creates the delays in the construction of major government buildings in the Northern Cape. I need to indicate here that we are appealing to the House here to help us to be able to eradicate this type of tendency by ensuring that, if it is the rules that are the problem, we can remove the rules so that it can become possible for us to deliver.

I need to indicate here that we did indicate last year that we would be able to create 9 030 jobs through the Expanded Public Works Programme. We have been able to exceed the target, and added to that I can indicate that we have already started a project involving the manufacturing of paving bricks and kerbs in Vanwyksvlei, the construction of a new bridge from Blouputs to Riemvasmaak across the Orange River, the upgrading of the road from Douglas to Hopetown from gravel to tar, the construction of the Kommagas road to Springbok, as well as ensuring that this construction work is 20% labour intensive. We have decided to adapt or change the 10% national requirement to 20% so as to be able to accommodate more people in the Northern Cape.

We are saying, added to this, we’ve got additional future commitments because we have proven to ourselves, to South Africa and the people of the Northern Cape that we are not a bankrupt province. We might have budgetary constraints because we get limited amounts, but we are able to deliver nevertheless.

Just as we’ve said that we were able to launch our PGDS, we are saying that in this year we are going to make sure that the innovation fund that we have set aside will be used to unlock development funding for creative, innovative economic development initiatives such as the mariculture industrial park in the Richtersveld in the Port Nolloth district. The Umsobomvu Youth Fund will also focus on business skills development among the youth to build enterprise development skills. The Umsobomvu Youth Fund has also provided R6 million towards the construction of an access road to Platfontein, which is where the !Xun and Khwe communities are relocating. [Time expired.][Applause.]

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Hon members, before I call upon the next speaker, I want to bring to your attention that, due to other engagements by the Minister, she’s not going to be with us for the entire duration of this debate. One would wish that she will actually become part of the whole process throughout, but, most unfortunately, she’s going to be leaving us in the next few minutes to attend to other engagements.

Mr S SHICEKA: Deputy Chairperson of Committees, you’ll agree with me that the women Premiers are the friends of the NCOP. Whenever they are called to come here, they will be here. [Applause.]

I hope you will be able to give me two minutes of the ANC’s time, because I know you are very strict with time. [Laughter.] Madam Minister of Public Services and Administration, Premiers from the various provinces, hon members of the executive from the different provinces, special delegates from organised local government and hon members, in going back down memory lane, when we assumed government in 1994 we were faced with insurmountable social backlogs and high levels of inequality. In order to ensure the implementation of the ideals espoused in the Freedom Charter, we adopted the Reconstruction and Development Programme as an integrated and coherent socio-economic policy framework for meeting the basic needs of our people.

As first priorities in this regard, the Reconstruction and Development Programme identified land, housing, water, electricity, telecommunications, transport, a clean and healthy environment, nutrition, healthcare and social welfare. It said that in this way, we can begin to reconstruct family and community lives of our society.

The RDP, therefore, committed the democratic government to move our country forward decisively, to social transformation and the eradication of poverty and underdevelopment. It is, therefore, indeed appropriate that we juxtapose this debate against the background of our achievement and, equally important, the challenges that we as government still face in the social sector.

This progress is the direct result of our programmes and policies, which provided the solid foundation during the first decade of our freedom. Moreover, in this regard, we are convinced that the role played by our government in both policy formulation and implementation with the overwhelming support of our people is, indeed, the correct one.

In assessing the record of government, a discussion document titled Towards a 10-year Review , noted the achievement that was made in realising the objectives and the vision of the Freedom Charter. In relation to the whole social sector cluster it noted, however, that different programmes which respectively address income, asset and human resource poverty are taking effect and showing improvement in the lives of our people. However, the persistent poverty arising largely from unemployment, the apartheid legacy and the difficulties in health demonstrate the magnitude of the challenge.

The 2004 ANC election manifesto addressed itself to these matters, as such:

South Africa has a caring government with housing programmes for the poor, with social security grants for pensioners, young children, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, with programmes to redistribute land, with equality education open for all and other new opportunities for the youth, with clinics being built closer to where people live, with households being connected to water, electricity and more other social amenities including telecommunications.

In terms of the Vision 2014, we as the ANC are committed to reducing poverty by half through economic development, comprehensive social security, land reform and improved household and community assets. For the next five years it has committed government to speeding up programmes to provide water, sanitation, electricity and telephone services to those who have not yet been connected, and to build more subsidised housing.

The President, during the state of the nation address in the National Assembly, spoke passionately and sincerely about the challenges we are still faced with as a nation, particularly in the social sector. In the current context of our agenda of Project Consolidate, which is aimed at providing urgent assistance to areas of local government that are seen to be experiencing capacity problems in difficult areas such as the provision of water, electricity and also services in general, should be fast-tracked.

As members of this august House we are entrusted with the critical role of oversight as it relates to both the executive and local government. From this it must be clear that it is expected of us to make interventions where disjuncture occurs between the policy outcomes and the policy intentions.

Also, we need to be proactive with regard to the clarification of our policies and raise awareness of the implications that occur in this regard. In this regard, the Letsema Campaign remains our best vehicle to encourage communities to work together to improve each other’s lives.

In addition, we need to redirect existing mechanisms to move towards a more responsive and effective service delivery. In this regard, allow me to quote the scholar, Max Weber, when he said:

The assumption is that participatory democracy is impossible as a means of regulating government in large-scale societies. This is not only an indisputable reason that millions cannot regularly meet to take political decisions, but because the running of a complex society demands expertise.

The recruitment, training and deployment of community development workers is aimed at doing exactly this and, precisely so, to ensure that the expertise Weber spoke of is brought to bear in accessing information for the improvement of the quality of the lives of our people. The value to be added by community development workers in translating the ideals of the Freedom Charter in the clause that says, the people shall govern, is therefore critical.

In conclusion, Chairperson of Committees, before you use your hammer, we believe that adequate resourcing of ward committees presents another challenge, in order for them to achieve their legislative mandate. Democracy has to be financed if it is to work.

The Select Committee on Local Government and Administration intends to visit Brazil in the coming year, and in particular the province of Porto Allegre. It is where participatory democracy in the form of participatory budgeting is championed. We also intend to visit a province called Kerala at the southern tip of India. That province has been under the rule of communists for many years. [Time expired.] [Applause.]

Mr J L MAHLANGU (Mpumalanga): Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Premiers and colleagues . . .

. . . ngibawa nami ukuthi ngingeze emazwini walabo esebakhulume ngaphambili ukudlulisa amazwi wenduduzo emndenini ka Oom Ray. [. . . I would like to add to the words of those who have already expressed their condolences to the family of Oom Ray.]

Last Friday the President gave the line of march that we as servants of the people need to take as we move towards the creation of the people-centred society we all yearn for and deserve. On that occasion the hon President made the point that, as we enter the second decade of democracy, we can indeed take pride and courage in the fact that today more people enjoy the opportunities and prospects offered by our fledgling democracy; a democracy based on the will of the people and given life by that popular document of the people, the Freedom Charter.

Today, in the true spirit of those who gave up their freedom and laid down their lives in pursuit of a South Africa that belongs to all who live in it, black and white, we gather to take stock of our achievements over the past years. We do so truly convinced that indeed the people are governing. Yes, indeed in the past 10 years we have moved a long way in creating a better life for all our people. More people now have access to shelter and security; more people, including children, women and the disabled, now have access to social security, education and better health.

The President said during the state of the nation address that the programme of action of government to achieve higher rates of economic growth and development, improve the quality of life of all our people and consolidate our social cohesion is on track. This is also agreed to by economists in the country.

The province of Mpumalanga is also committed to bringing economic growth and development. As the province of Mpumalanga it is our considered view that this ought to be a year where our province begins to make serious advances on employment creation.

Government, organised business, organised labour and community organisations have pledged to work together to address the socio-economic development challenges facing our province. The recently held provincial growth and development summit has set the course on which we need to follow.

Although the victories we have registered during our first 10 years of freedom have laid a firm foundation for the new advances, during the next decade a number of challenges remain.

The provision of potable water remains a huge challenge facing the province. This is largely due to the acute shortage and lack of infrastructure in other areas. The province has managed to provide free basic water of six kilolitres to approximately 50% of households in the province.

Let me hasten to add that Eskom is bringing back into service three previously decommissioned power stations at Camden in Msukaligwa, Lomati in Steve Tswete and Grootvlei in the Paleseng that will result in the creation of 26 000 jobs both directly and indirectly in the province over the next five years.

We have in the past 10 months provided shelter to close to 9 000 households. We have also embarked on an ambitious plan to eradicate the bucket system in the province. The first, more than 6 000 households in Gert Sibanda district, which include Dipaliseng, Albert Luthuli, Lekwa and Msukaligwa, will be completed by 31 March this year. The remainder of the projects will hopefully be completed before the end of this year. In other words, when we reach the end of 2005 Mpumalanga will be without a bucket as part of its sanitation. [Applause!]

The provincial executive has made concerted efforts to pull the education department out of its low performance levels. These efforts are beginning to bear fruit. The Department of Education has faced various constraints including budgetary ones that impeded plans for the construction of relevant infrastructure. More resources will be made available to the department in the next five years for expenditure on infrastructure.

A total of 486 lay counsellors are assisting with the voluntary counselling and testing programme. The province has vigorously embarked on training health workers and to date in excess of 1 360 home-based caregivers are receiving stipends. In the next three months we will finalise, resource and implement a comprehensive specialised health service delivery plan.

To this end, we shall accelerate the implementation of the Iranian exchange programme; accelerate roll-out of the mid-level health workers programme – including career development paths. By July 2005 we should have integrated municipal and provincial clinics to provide the same level of services in the province.

The province previously indicated that it would fully integrate the institution of traditional leadership into a democratic governance and development. It has prepared two draft Bills in order to achieve these goals. These Bills are the Mpumalanga Traditional Leaders and Governance Bill and the Mpumalanga Provincial House of Local Houses of Traditional Leaders Bill. It is envisaged that both these Bills will be introduced in the provincial legislature for consideration and passing.

To improve the integrated planning among all spheres of government, the province will be implementing an Integrated Development Planning Nerve Centre and updating the Integrated Spatial Framework. The IDP Nerve Centre will strengthen the link between local, provincial and national government by providing a means whereby municipalities and provincial governments can maintain and communicate key planning and IDP information, thereby allowing access across all levels of government.

With regard to the schools audit - which amongst other things, the Minister referred to – and the skills development, two companies have been appointed to conduct a skills audit, which should be completed in the next four months. This exercise will help in identifying gaps in the managers and also help in empowering managers with appropriate skills, which will ultimately lead to better service delivery in the province. This will also lead to massive improvement in the management, organisation, technical and other capabilities of government.

As the province of Mpumalanga, we would also like to bid farewell to our distinguished Chief Justice, Judge Arthur Chaskalson, who will be stepping down as the head of the Constitutional Court. We convey our humblest thanks to the great son of our people. With these few words, I thank you. [Applause!]

The PREMIER OF LIMPOPO (Mr T A MUFUMADI): Thank you, Chairperson. Minister Moleketi, Premiers present here, hon members and the representatives of Salga, on behalf of the Premier and the people of Limpopo, let me say that we too have already begun to feel the void that has been left by Oom Ray, and would like to express our sincere condolences to the family, the people of the Eastern Cape and the ANC in particular.

Chairperson of the NCOP, we would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate you as you assume your new responsibilities. It may be belated, but we feel it is important that we do so. We are very grateful and feel confident that you will not let us down. We also want to take this opportunity to congratulate the NCOP for work done well in the last eight years, which has today culminated in the unveiling of the new Black Rod, which epitomises and symbolises the important role and impact of the provincial sphere of government in the transformation of our society.

On 11 February 2005, the President of our country gave a detailed account to the nation about the progress we have made in the past nine months, as spelt out in the first state of the nation address of the 3rd democratic Parliament. In his address the President also emphasised very strongly areas that we have not been able to respond to adequately. We were reminded of the real challenges that we still face, as elected representatives in these legislative Chambers’ and the underperformance of the Public Service; that the need for service delivery to the poor is more acute than ever before, and that where we have failed in the past decade, it was not just because of the lack of adequate resources.

In essence, the President has asked us the question: Do we have the required capacity, skills, commitment and consciousness to translate and implement government policies within the Public Service? The President reminded us, and we agree as Limpopo, that we can do more with the resources at our disposal to bring about qualitative changes to the standard of living of our people.

Therefore, the challenge we face as various spheres of government and parastatals is to build the relevant and much-needed capacity to implement government programmes, and to ensure that the unskilled and unemployed are equipped for the new challenges of our modernising economy. Critical to all these challenges is that there can be no excuse for nonperformance and underperformance by anyone of us because the inability to provide basic services such as water, electricity, housing, jobs and proper educational facilities is but the denial of the fruits of freedom and democracy to those who sacrificed in our struggle.

Freedom and democracy to our people means the following, amongst other things: Access to primary health care; building an economy that gives hope to the unemployed, particularly the youth and our women; and it also means giving shelter to the poor and the weak.

As a province, the growth and development strategy of our province is informed and guided by the contract we have signed with our people – the people’s contract, which places the needs of our people above anything else, and which is nothing else but the commitment by the people of our country to play an active role in charting their way into the future.

The state of the province address by the Premier has expanded and adapted these national challenges to our own conditions. Unlike other provinces, we have had an above-average national economic growth rate for the past four years, but with much less job elasticity, particularly in the mining and other sectors of our economy. Therefore, through our sectoral summits, we have elaborated our growth development strategy with more emphasis on manufacturing and beneficiation in all key sectors of the economy, particularly in mining and agriculture.

In the coming medium-term expenditure financial years, we will continue to commit more resources for the provision of priority public and social infrastructure within the context of the Expanded Public Works Programme with labour-intensive methods at the centre of every programme, without delaying or compromising the quality of service that we need to provide to our people. We believe that it is through deliberate government interventions, resource reallocation and allocation that the economy of our province will begin to narrow the gap between the first and the second economies in our country.

We are beginning to witness sporadic incidents at local government level elsewhere in our country, though this may not be prevalent in Limpopo. Whilst this may to a lesser extent reflect a creeping impatience of communities with regard to the slow pace of service delivery, we should and must continue to make it our responsibility to have regular community meetings for reporting back. This will ensure that there is no space for opportunists and agent provocateurs, whose main agenda is nothing else but to sow the seeds of confusion and incite communities so that they can realise low voter turnout as we approach the next local government elections. That is their wish.

The provincial government will continue its interaction with the communities and all our people through our imbizos. Cabinet meets with the people, the Premier and the Mayor’s forums because we truly identify with the theme of this year’s opening of Parliament – Parliament, the voice of the people.

Only yesterday we convened an all-stakeholder summit to address the issue of water shortages in our province and to agree on a concrete and structured co-ordinated plan to revive old and provide new infrastructure for water provision for industrial and domestic consumption as well as agricultural development, particularly for irrigation schemes for emerging farmers in our province.

As far as education is concerned, we do accept that significant progress has been made in the last decade. The challenge remains massive. We can say without fear of our shadows following us later on in our lifetime that the programmes we have will adequately address the challenges, as reflected in the state of the nation address. We will use government and community structures, particularly community development workers, to quantify the actual challenges with regard to school needs analysis, and effective utilisation of available space in some of the underutilised schools.

To realise all these programmes, the planning and monitoring unit in the Premier’s office is being strengthened. We believe that we do not need new policies. We have enough policies in place and what remains is a strong structure that needs to do monitoring and evaluation, and assess the impact of our own programmes in so far as it relates to ordinary people on the ground.

Mudzulatshidulo, ri a livhuwa tshifhinga tshe ra newa tshone na uri zwothe zwe ra amba hafha namusi, ri khou fulufhedzisa zwauri zwi do itea. Li do da duvha. Ha khensa. Re lebogile. [Uvhanda zwanda.] [Chairperson, thanks for the time we have been given, we promise that all that has been raised here today will happen. Thank you. [Applause.]]

Mr O M THETJENG: Thank you, Chair and the hon members in the House today, the President of this country addressed a Joint Sitting of the Houses and the public at large on 11 February 2005. The purpose was to inform the public of the government’s plans for the 2005-06 financial year, and the successes and failures of the previous financial year. As in any other institution, action plans are reviewed and remodelled where possible.

We commend the intentions to improve the service conditions for the police, educators and the health professionals. This country needs more professionals in these sectors to improve on safety and security, skills- based training and to reduce the mortality rate. It is our hope that the morale of these professionals will be enhanced by this gesture and will improve their performance. This has to go further in recognising the excellent performances of those individuals that put more effort beyond the requirements into their daily duties.

We heard too little or nothing on the successes of the Expanded Public Works Programme implemented in 2004 to provide more job opportunities for the unemployed. One wonders if, at some stage in the 2005-06 financial year, we will be privileged to hear the number of permanent jobs this programme has created for the poor, in particular. Our interest is in those people who are very poor whom this programme was intended to assist to become employed. We didn’t hear anything in the President’s speech about this.

It is obvious that many South Africans would like an improvement on the following front: increased roll-out of antiretrovirals to the 53 000 Aids patients as promised in 2004, a promise that has not been met. Nothing was said during the President’s address about this particular promise that was made in 2004. I think many South Africans would want to hear about what has happened to the roll-out of antiretrovirals. Also, more proper houses, and not the half-built houses or structures seen all over the country, need to be in place.[Interjections.] No ways! This is a joke, I tell you. No, this is a joke, I tell you! No ways! [Time expired.]

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Hon Watson, I will take your point of order.

Mr A WATSON: Hon Chairperson, on a point of order: My member had three minutes to speak. I really don’t think you allowed him his three minutes.

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Yes, it is your assumption, but that strikes a very serious note. I am assisted by the Table Assistants. That’s a very bad reflection on me. You are questioning my integrity and I am not going to debate that. I am doing my work.

Dr F J VAN HEERDEN: Voorsitter, die President het in sy toespraak agt spesifieke doelwitte uitgespel of uitgelig, wat hy gesê het hy nog moet verbeter ten einde te sorg dat Suid-Afrika waarlik aan almal wat daarin woon, wit en swart, behoort.

Die nabye toekoms sal toon of dit bloot propoganda-lippetaal was en of die regering en die owerheid ernstig was daarmee. Ek wil net enkele aspekte uitlig. In die eerste plek, is daar nog plek en ‘n toekoms vir blanke regsgeleerdes op die regbank, in die hoër en die laer howe? Met dit wat ons in Suid-Afrika tans waarneem, is die antwoord daarop ‘n baie duidelike, “nee”. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)

[Chairperson, the President in his address indicated or identified eight specific target areas, in which he said improvement was required in order to ensure that South Africa truly belongs to all who live in it, white and black.

The near future will show whether he was merely paying lip service for propaganda purposes, or whether the government and administration really mean it. I only want to highlight a few aspects. In the first instance, do white lawyers still have a place and a future on the Bench, both in the higher and in the lower courts? Judging by what we are seeing in South Africa at the moment, the answer is a very clear, no.]

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE COUNCIL: We cannot hear what the member is saying, but if there is no interpretation, we’ll end up misinterpreting and misunderstanding the actual message he wants to convey to us.

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P Hollander): Can you . . .

Dr F J VAN HEERDEN: Chairperson, if not, I will address the Chamber in English, if you will excuse my broken Free State English.

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P Hollander): You can proceed.

Dr F J VAN HEERDEN: In that case, will you allow me then to start afresh? I will proceed.

I’ve asked the question whether there is still a future for white lawyers in South Africa on the bench. Yes or no? [Interjections.] The answer clearly, according to what is happening now, is “no”, a definite “no”. There is no future any longer for white people, white lawyers, to become judges, as things are going now.

There are many people, well-educated, well-experienced, who are simply overlooked from being appointed as judges for the simple reason that they are white. Another example is that the President also indicated that he would like to entrench democracy. I go along with that. That is a very good thing.

Mr J B TOLO: Is the hon member prepared to take a question?

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P Hollander): Are you prepared to take a question, hon member?

Dr F J VAN HEERDEN: You know that I have two minutes. I will take a question after my two minutes, but not before my two minutes are over. [Laughter.]

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P Hollander): Take your seat. The hon member is not ready to take a question. Dr Van Heerden, you are left with 30 seconds.

Dr F J VAN HEERDEN: In that case, let the gentleman ask his question. I can’t go any further. Let him ask his question.

Mr J B TOLO: Does the hon member know that we have more white judges in this country than black ones? Does he not believe in equalisation of the system, and that the judges must reflect the demographics of this country? Does he not believe in that? Thank you.

Dr F J VAN HEERDEN: I am very aware of this, but the point is, does it now mean that, in the near future, white people aren’t going to be appointed as judges? [Time expired.]

The PREMIER OF THE NORTH WEST (Ms E B B Molewa): Thank you, hon Chairperson. Hon Minister - if she’s still here. No. Hon colleagues and hon members of the House, may I also express gratitude for being able to participate in this important debate on the state of the nation address.

In the North West province we have also had an opportunity to deal with the state of the province address, and I would like to indicate to this august House that, indeed, we have taken all the programmes on board that the President announced. But, over and above that, we also had the provincial direct programmes that we have adopted, and I wouldn’t like to take much of this august House’s time to deal with those specific issues that we raised in the state of the province address, but I would like to indicate to hon members and, indeed, request that we look for that state of the province address - to look at it. It will be expected of us of in this House to do oversight on that programme, which is an implementation of the President’s programme.

I would also like to just touch on two issues that were raised by the hon members here today. Of course, I will not be responding, but will just be reminding hon members of some of the important issues that go on around us and that we may not be aware of. There is what is called the Human Settlement Strategy in this country, which has been tabled, and which is actually intended to address the whole question of the informal settlements. I heard one hon member raising this issue as a concern, and I think that that strategy is exactly intended to deal with that problem and challenge.

I also do know, and I think that all of us are aware, that all Ministers will be tabling their budget speeches, and in future we will be dealing with issues, details of, for instance, the Expanded Public Works Programmes, the number of jobs that would have been created or that would have been created through the programme, the roll-out of ARVs; so, that will follow. I don’t think we need to expect the President to stand there and give figures on those issues.

Having said that, out of the ruins of an unjust and inhumane society emerged a caring government, based on the ethos and values of the Freedom Charter. The policies and programmes that we have adopted and pursued over the last decade are aimed at ensuring the progressive realisation of the vision of the people of South Africa, as articulated in this historic document, the Freedom Charter.

As we make progress in improving the quality of life of our people, we dare not lose sight of the deep-seated nature of the legacy we seek to eradicate. We remain mindful of the reality that the full meaning of freedom will only be realised once all our people are freed from the legacy of ignorance, deprivation and poverty.

The building of a nonracial, nonsexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa is central to the commitment we made to our people. And these commitments are deeply rooted in the Freedom Charter, and given further concrete expression in the reconstruction and development programme of our democratic Constitution.

In his state of the nation address the hon President assured the people of our country that the democratic state will not walk away from its obligation to come to the aid of the poor; bearing in mind available resources, of course. Indeed, any government that is based on the will of the people has no option but to remain responsive to the needs of the people, many of whom are poor, as it is in our case in this country. And, if we have to continue turning the tide against centuries of poverty and deprivation, we must remain resolute and unwavering in our undertaking to expand access to basic services and to make available economic opportunities to all our people in this country. This also requires that we work increasingly towards a sustainable and growing economy to enable us to meet the most basic and urgent needs of our people in a much more sustainable way.

For millions of our people who remained trapped in conditions of poverty and underdevelopment, the delivery programme and message delivered by our hon President on 11 February 2005 gave them hope and confidence that indeed tomorrow will be better than today and yesterday. This democratic government has sent them a clear and unequivocal message that South Africa belongs to them too.

I am not speaking for myself when I say these things. I’m merely conveying the message of ordinary people that echoes loudly and persistently throughout the towns and villages of the North West province. Our people are saying that they have seen concrete evidence that increasingly a better life for all is beckoning on their horizons; this is a testament of what a democratic government acting in partnership with its people can accomplish despite formidable resource constraints.

The people of our province welcome the President’s announcement relating to the practical interventions in the second economy, and for us, who are grappling with this challenge of a largely underdeveloped and rural economy, these interventions will go a long way in improving our people’s lives. In particular, we appreciate the funds allocated for programmes aimed at assisting those who were historically marginalised.

When the hon President said, that “As South Africans, we are set to make a determined effort to speed up broad-based black economic empowerment and small business development”, he was echoing the hopes of many of our people who are yearning for an opportunity to create a better life for themselves and their fellow citizens.

The successful implementation of this programme will contribute to the attainment of the goal of ensuring that the people share in their country’s wealth. And, indeed, the national wealth of our country, which is the heritage of South Africans, must be restored to the people. As we ensure that our people derive maximum benefits from our programmes, which are aimed at ensuring that we open economic opportunities for all the people and support emerging businesses, we must also guard against a new tendency that seeks to undermine black economic empowerment, and that is something called “fronting”.

Fronting frustrates all efforts aimed at the economic transformation of our country, especially with regard to the empowerment of those who were historically excluded from the mainstream of the economy. If we believe that the growth of the emerging sector will contribute enormously towards economic empowerment, poverty reduction and job creation, then fronting serves to defeat all those – and it must be fought against all odds.

The realisation of bold programmes and policies that we have introduced since the dawn of our democracy require that we build adequate capacity in the Public Service. Accordingly, we must, and we will, continue to make determined efforts to build a Public Service that has the capacity to deliver. We acknowledge that we need public servants who have the necessary technical skills to deliver on the mandate we received from our people. To this end, we in the North West province shall respond to the President’s call and address capacity constraints and skills shortages that hamper our efforts to accelerate service delivery. At the same time, we must also acknowledge that many of our public servants have not yet understood their critical role in the reconstruction and development of our country.

We will continue to confront the poor work ethic of some of our public servants, and of course it is not all of them, many of them are actually good. As we strive to build a Public Service cadre that personifies and epitomises a new society that we are trying to construct, we will also demonstrate our increasing intolerance for mediocrity in the Public Service. We acknowledge that we need the public servants who have internalised the values and ethos of Batho Pele, and we will work hard towards achieving this.

In the same vein, we will continue to thank and recognise those who work hard, and those who really do a little bit more beyond their normal call of duty. As we strive to deepen democracy, community participation and accountability at local level we will need to continue paying particular attention to the central roles of ward committees and multipurpose community centres; and the community development workers must also play a role in the achievement of our objectives.

We will use these and other structures and programmes to ensure that, amongst other things, our people are adequately informed about the opportunities brought about by our own democracy, and how they can access such opportunities. Indeed, an informed public is critical of the process of effective governance and the consolidation of our democracy. We must, and we will, give our people information that they can use for purposes of their empowerment and socio-economic development.

We welcome the commitments to ensure that the community development workers will be deployed in each local municipality by March 2006, and in the North West province we have already begun with this process – 120 of those community development workers will already be deployed by March 2005. We will ensure that we do our little bit to meet this national target.

During the course of this year all of us must ensure that we entrench and consolidate democracy at local level, and this we must do because we have made a pledge that the people shall govern. In our province this 2005 financial year will see the implementation of Project Consolidate gaining momentum, with a municipal-specific implementation plan. Initially, we will concentrate on the 15 identified municipalities that are said to be weak in our province. We will also focus largely on the municipal debts and billing system. We remain grateful for the support and commitment we are receiving from the national government in this regard. Let us roll up our sleeves and work.

Once again, we also want to call upon this House to really do their oversight and public participation work, and we appreciate the work done thus far by this House. Thank you very much. [Applause.]

Rev E ADOLPH: Hon Chairperson, distinguished members of this House, we have to give credit to the President of this country, hon Thabo Mbeki, for setting the scenario and levelling the playing field. He delivered a professional and highly business-like state of the nation address.

However, we are concerned as the ID as he set the scenario straight: We are not through with our economic revolution. We are still all prisoners of poverty. We have to admit that.

And then, I am a little confused. You are talking about colours today - this is the Black Rod - we are talking about white and black, even the President must begin to start thinking out of the box. We have to talk about South Africans, the browns ones, the pink ones, and the not-so-brown ones. The bottom line is that we are all children of the soil of Africa. We have to work together, and maybe we have to rephrase our questions differently to get the outcomes that we want for South Africa.

Therefore, I am challenging you, on behalf of the President’s speech, what are you going to do to change the lives of those who are suffering from poverty? Now, just recently we have met with people who are suffering and dying of hunger. It is greater than the tsunami. Is it because it is so- called black people who die of poverty - millions of them? Why is the international world not so worried about Africans who die in their millions of poverty? Poverty is still our prison, and we need to be liberated.

As the ID we give our support to the ruling party because they have achieved a lot, we have to admit that. Together we can build this country irrespective of our political background. We need to work together if we want to make this a vibrant country. We can do it; we can show the world.

Another concern came up when I spoke to grade seven learners who cannot spell and cannot read. It’s disgusting. Thank you. [Time expired.][Applause.]

Dr Z L MKHIZE (KwaZulu-Natal): Chairperson, KwaZulu-Natal would like to salute our stalwart, the former Premier of the Eastern Cape, Oom Ray, who was also the former Ambassador to Uganda. It is a very sad loss, and South Africa appreciates and pays tribute to this hero of our struggle as he takes his last journey.

Hamba kahle ndoda! Hamba kahle qabane! Hamba kahle nkokheli! [Rest in peace, man! Rest in peace, comrade! Rest in peace, leader!]

We hope you will rest in peace, satisfied that the struggle you dedicated your life to has indeed resulted in the true liberation of South Africa!

On behalf of the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Comrade S’bu Ndebele, we would like to congratulate our President for a clear vision for the country and the very inspiring speech. As the people of KwaZulu-Natal, we wish to commit ourselves to the achievement of the vision and the objectives and the targets outlined by the President. The province of KwaZulu-Natal enters the dawn of the second decade of freedom with a new spirit of hope and optimism. We look back to the past ten years of freedom and acknowledge the role played by the maturity of our leaders in the establishment of peace in the province. The very fact that in the KwaZulu-Natal province, with its history of conflict, there could be a change of government from the IFP to ANC without that threatening peace is a proof of how deep democracy has taken root.

KwaZulu-Natal is the most populous province, but ranks amongst the poorer of South Africa’s provinces. The internecine violence that continued well into the first decade of our freedom has created a destruction that siphoned our energies and focused our attention away from the real essence of our liberation struggle. Now, the people of KwaZulu-Natal, as I say, enter this second decade of freedom with optimism. We are committed to the acceleration of service delivery to our people and the realisation of the vision of the Freedom Charter.

The backlog due to apartheid neglect allows us no time to spend fighting and looking at all the issues of the past political conflict. A new government led by our Premier S’bu Ndebele is focusing on speedily resolving the problems of children going to school under the trees, the large numbers of schools that are without toilets, clean water, roads, electricity or laboratories. Steps have been taken to sort out the bottlenecks that resulted in the slow rate of expenditure in the capital projects. We are also committed to resolving the social welfare challenges of large uptake of the social welfare grant. This approach is focused on eradication of fraud to reduce over-expenditure.

We are also committed to strengthening the programmes to build roads and the empowerment of our people, particularly ordinary people in the rural areas, through our programmes of Expanded Public Works Programmes such as Zibambele and Vukuzenzele, which have a strong impact amongst the poorest of the poor, empowering rural people and small macro and medium enterprises, especially women.

We are committed to expanding our comprehensive management of people living with HIV/Aids, another preventable cause of mortality engaging at the moment about 40 hospitals in the use of antiretroviral treatment involving about 20 000 people of which 10 000 are already on the antiretroviral treatment.

We are committed to extending our successful programme of slum eradication, which has been most successful in the area. This is so despite the untimely loss of our colleague, the MEC for Housing, Local Government and Traditional Affairs, hon Dumisani Makhaye.

We also suffered a bit of a setback where many rural villages and peri- urban settlements have recently been hit by floods and storms and tornadoes. These occurred to co-exist with severe droughts that are affecting other parts of the province.

We have also established intergovernmental forums where the provincial and local governments interact. This is to strengthen our co-operation and improve our capacity to deliver services.

We hold regular public meetings, imbizos, led by the Premier – which have strengthened the bond between our government and our people, improving the understanding of our people of how government works. Our provincial growth and development strategy, which was launched late last year, has identified the priority of fighting poverty and creating jobs. We have also noted the steady economic growth, yet not matched by similar growth in job opportunities. In some sectors we have lost jobs.

We have, therefore, identified sectors of our economy that offer competitive advantages such as agriculture, tourism, textile, transport and logistics, etc. Major programmes will be announced to give meaning to these priorities involving, for example, the issue of acceleration of the Dube Trade Port focusing on integrated government investment in social infrastructure and other job-creating projects to maximise job creation. The establishment of a growth fund to facilitate private sector investment in the first economy and the promotion of black economic empowerment, establishment of poverty alleviation fund to promote co-operatives and SMMEs focusing on youth, women and disabled are but a few we can mention. We now concentrate on the restructuring of government and improvement of capacity of government to deliver services.

There is no more time to spend nursing past political differences that have calcified and ossified. This is now time for peace. The violence of the scale and proportions that we have seen in the past is gone forever. We cannot run a government on the basis of grudges and perpetual disagreements. We need to strengthen our efforts to reduce crime and improve security.

Sadly, we still experience murders of prominent leaders, as we sadly note the death of Mr Thomas Shabalala, former IFP member Mr Bhengu mayor of Mbabazane, a member of the IFP in Estcourt, Councillor Chetty and an ANC MP in Estcourt. We make a distinction, though, between political violence and petty crime. Even if both of them are unacceptable, they are different. We need to assist police to crack these cases and apprehend the perpetrators. It is therefore irresponsible for any leader to point fingers at any party when no proof exists for the accusation. We call on the Minister of Police to give this matter urgent priority. Swift action by the police will assist us in preventing misconceptions and wrong perceptions leading to the upsurge of violence and negatively impacting on reconciliation.

As instructed in the interim constitution, a draft constitution to define the role and the status of the monarch has been tabled. We have also tabled the Traditional Leaders Governance Bill. But colleagues, as you know we in the province of KwaZulu-Natal have strong views and we express them without fear. Hence the ANC and the Premier have defined the role and status of the monarch as a constitutional monarch who presides over the ceremonial opening of the legislature, ceremonial installations of amakhosi, maintains a neutral apolitical public stance on all issues and is a symbol of unity, peace and development. He is a custodian of our culture and tradition. Of course, the ANC disagrees with the IFP on the issue when it comes to the inclusion of uNdunankulu waKwaZulu, since it was not part of all the legislation passed by the IFP for the past 30 years when it was in charge of both the KwaZulu Government and the KwaZulu-Natal. We therefore believe in the robust debates, which are raging about the matter of traditional leaders, again where the IFP and the ANC are differing markedly on the approach. But we are not threatened by this debate, as long as we allow democracy to take its course. You will notice if you were in the province you will have some of these headlines where there is even a possibility that a matter like this might end up in court.

But nevertheless we think that the people of KwaZulu-Natal are mature enough to resolve all these issues. This has been proven by the fact that we are now having a multiparty inclusive government that has got no problem irrespective of the differences in political parties. Therefore, similarly, we the people of KwaZulu-Natal can now say also without any hesitation, as the Freedom Charter has said and proclaims, that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white. That is irrespective of whatever political party they belong to.

We want to thank you very much, Madam Chair, for the opportunity to come and express our views in this House, which we consider a very, very important House to regulate, assist and support provinces to be able to run their programmes, being in touch with the situation in the national forums. Thank you. [Applause.]

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE COUNCIL: Thank you very much, Chairperson. The hon Chairperson of the NCOP, the Deputy Chairperson in absentia, the premiers present here, the Deputy Speakers who are here, all provincial Chief Whips, leaders of political parties, the only representative of Salga still left in the Chamber, hon members, it is a great pleasure also to participate in this debate.

It’s just unfortunate that Mr Thetjeng didn’t practise too well how to use three minutes effectively. The Rev Adolph knows how to use two minutes effectively. The problem is that if you use watches that go very slowly, you end up being in such a predicament. We will not be using these watches in bringing delivery to our people. That’s why in terms our people’s contract we are going to accelerate service delivery.

If you don’t know that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, you will not understand that no racial grouping is more important than the other. It’s very good that Mr Sinclair clearly said that no one had an overall mandate to speak for all Afrikaans-speaking people.

The disabled people of South Africa have a saying: nothing about us without us. There are people who now project that they speak for the Afrikaans- speaking community when just yesterday, or a few hours ago, they were speaking for the English-speaking people and the elite. This confirms what a former member of this House said: Now things are changing in the DA. They have just removed those of us with a liberal background from their list and put on more people with right-wing connections. I think the DA proves this in the way it is conducting itself. [Interjections.]

We must say that as much as we balance the issue of language, it should also be obvious that our silence with regard to the previously disadvantaged language speakers becomes very important. If we don’t say anything about that, it means the person who does not speak about that . . . it’s still racial. That is the definition you will have. It’s unfortunate, Dr van Heerden, I have to respond that . . . uma ubase umlilo, ubozimisela ukuthi uzowotha. [If you have started a fire, you must be prepared to face its heat.]

You know, Dr van Heerden, that transformation is necessary to redress the racial imbalances that were caused by three and a half centuries – nearly 350 years of racial domination. When you have to redress that, you have to have a transformation agenda to deal with it. This is because when we speak of the judiciary it’s not a matter of changing colour, but also of the collective and individual mindsets, which have to be transformed in line with the democratic era that we live in. We must accept that we are in a democratic era.

What the hon member said raises a question for me as the Chief Whip and also as a member of this House, because he is the member designated to serve on behalf of this collective in the Judicial Service Commission. The question that arises is: Whose agenda is he pushing there, if he still utters such statements to such a House? Because this House is united in that South Africa must be transformed.

On 8 January 1980, the year of the 25th anniversary of the Freedom Charter, Comrade O R Tambo said the following:

The Freedom Charter is not merely the Freedom Charter of the ANC and its allies. It contains the fundamental perspective of the vast majority of the people of South Africa of the kind of liberation that we, all of us, are fighting for.

In the year in which we celebrate 50 years of the Freedom Charter, our President correctly alerted us to the importance of the fact that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, both black and white.

In his address to the nation on the 11 February 2005, the President thoroughly emphasised the notion of a united nation that works together to realise the vision of the Freedom Charter. The President’s address specified that we are working towards a united nation of winners, especially in terms of economic and social development. He made a direct link between the vision of the Freedom Charter and the Constitution through which this democratic government is implementing changes to better the lives of all South Africans.

During the first decade of freedom we laid the foundation for us to improve our system of governance to ensure that it served the people of South Africa even more effectively and efficiently. Through a system of participatory governance, it must also reflect the translation into reality of the vision expressed in the Freedom Charter that, “the people shall govern”.

The President made a strong declaration that the next decade was not merely the second decade of freedom, but that it was indeed the second decade of democracy. This is a legitimate state that authoritatively bases its programme of action on the will of all the people who live in the country. In this second decade of democracy, the programme of action that was released in May 2004 is being implemented. It’s just unfortunate that people will expect the President as he addresses the nation to speak as if he is a Minister delivering a departmental policy budget speech, which makes us think that other people misunderstand what a president of a country needs to say. We must say that the vision of the people, as expressed in the Freedom Charter, is that this South Africa is a developmental state that will move forward - it will never move backwards - in terms of realising what we committed to as the people of this country when the Freedom Charter was drafted. I must hasten to say, Chairperson – and please don’t be reluctant to stop me when my time is up – that, in the words of our President, the successes of the first decade of democracy assist us.

. . . to move even further forward towards the consolidation of national
reconciliation, national cohesion and unity, and a shared new patriotism
born of the strengthening of the manifest reality of a South Africa that
belongs to all who live in it.

We have entered the second decade of democracy, during which particular institutions of government must play their role, focusing on the goal of real change. It is in that manner as we enter the second decade of democracy that the NCOP, through Vision 2009, is going to enhance its oversight role from 30% to 70%.

We must say, in conclusion, that true to the African spirit of collective existence, we do not selfishly and individualistically work at developing our own nation alone. We must also work hard at achieving the goal of a better life for the peoples of Africa and the world. I will have to quote another leader of the movement, Comrade Pixley ka Izaka Seme . . . [Time expired.] Chairperson, I thank you. [Applause.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Chairperson, in my limited time I would like to concentrate on the state of the nation address, as delivered by the President on 11 February 2005. But let me start by saying first and foremost that I would like to thank those who participated so effectively in this debate, because it enriches the debate in the NCOP and that allows us the space to function properly and to do our job as we are expected to by the Constitution.

Secondly, I would like to thank you and congratulate those people who have congratulated the NCOP for the hard work it has been doing in fulfilling its constitutional obligation, because that is where we draw our obligation from. And also I would like to say thank you for the progress reports that have been given by different provinces here, because these assist us as the NCOP when we do our oversight function and assist us when we have the interests of the provinces at heart. That is what we have to do.

It seems some of us have forgotten what our job is. The job of the NCOP is to take a keen interest in the provincial sphere of government and deal with those issues, assist the provinces in achieving those things. That is what we should be doing and we should precisely do that. And I would like to thank all those provinces that have been here, particularly our mothers who have been here, and the mother Premiers who have been both standing here and really advising us. And I really take the advice of the Premier of the Northern Cape – she is gone now – because I had forgotten that the mothers are here and they are grooming the children and children are walking perfectly at eight years, but they are still very young. That is what I am trying to say. We need also to be nurtured and assisted in dealing with those things.

The one thing I just want to do before I come to my speech, which I think I need to say, is that we need to be very serious in what we are doing when we are tackling the most important issues of the country. There are sensitive issues that people do not want to talk about. I was one of the persons who chaired at Codesa and at the Multiparty Forum during the negotiations. I know what this means. We took that process very seriously, all of us, all stakeholders in the entire country of South Africa. People could not believe us. We reached what we called an interim constitution, we formed what we called the Transitional Executive Council, and we then came to a Constituent Assembly where we drew up the Constitution. We finally came out with the most wonderful Constitution that is praised by the whole world which comes to South Africa to come and copy it. They ask themselves a question: How did we do it so peacefully that we managed to find each other and deal with such sensitive matters?

And I am very surprised today, when there are issues raised and put on the table for a debate that we want to run away from them. We can’t. There are issues that we have to raise; there are topics that we have to raise which are important topics for the country. Whether they are about racialism or whatever the case may be, they have to be put on the table for a debate. You can’t run away from that, you cannot. If you run away from that then you are running away from the issues that you have to solve. George Bush is not going to come to South Africa to deal with those issues for you. He is not. He is definitely not going to do that. It is we again, the people of South Africa, who have to put these things on the national agenda and say to ourselves: How are we going to solve these things? So we don’t have to fear to discuss these things because they live with us on an everyday basis. They are here and it is we who have to attend to those problems and deal with them. But let me come back to what I want to say today.

I wish to point out that today is a very important day. We have never as the NCOP debated the state of the nation address. It is for the first time today that we do that. [Applause.] And you should ask yourself the question why we called for this debate. We did not call for this debate merely to call for a debate, but in order to look at our programme of action. Chairperson, please remind me when my time is over, I haven’t checked my time. But we have called for this debate because precisely what we want to say and what we want to do is to say: Here is the programme of action that the President has isolated, that the Premiers in the provinces have isolated. We waited until today because we know that most of the Premiers have already done what you will call the state of the province addresses, except for KwaZulu-Natal - I think they will do theirs next week.

The important issue there was to combine the two and look at what the President has said in terms of the provinces and listen to what the Premiers have said in terms of their own provinces. As I have heard here today when I was sitting and listening very carefully to what the Premiers are saying to us today, the job of the NCOP is then to draw from the state of the nation address, draw from the state of the provinces address and put those things together. Together with the provinces we have to put up a programme of action as we have said we are going to do in our Vision 2009 and say these are the things that we are going to do in 2009. That is a critical point that we need to do. And we have to go there, assist wherever we can assist and play our oversight role the way we are supposed to. Perhaps let me put my speech aside.

But there are issues that people raised as I was listening. Here is the President of the country who says to us last year, 2004, that we have identified these problematic issues and we set ourselves the targets that we are going to achieve these things. Executives, let’s go and work, parliamentarians go and work, there is the budget to achieve these things. We sometimes have budget constraints and sometimes we have skills constraints and we have constraints on our capacity and we need to address all of it.

But here is a President of the country again coming to us as Members of Parliament to report to us and he says to us this is what we have achieved in terms of the targets that we have set. This is what we couldn’t achieve in terms of the targets that we have set and I am calling again that we are resetting the programme of action. We are setting some new targets because we have to achieve these things, because they are very important for us as Members of Parliament, as the executive, to achieve in order to make the lives of our people better on the ground.

But, surprisingly, we come to this podium and say: No, why should the President say that. How do we function? Every one of us has a target, whether you like it or not, in your house, in your small family. Problems do arise; let’s us agree that you may not achieve the target, that you may have some constraints. But all the President is saying, being very honest, is that these are the things that we have achieved, whether it is in terms housing, whether it is in terms of health, whether it is in terms of education, whether it is in terms of everything that we have set. But these are the backlogs that are still remaining. These are the things that we still have to achieve. Let us continue, we cannot fold our arms and say therefore, because we have constraints, we are not going to continue and do those things.

The issue is we should then begin to find out what the backlogs are - I mean where the gaps are - and then as members of Parliament close those gaps. Let me give one example, which I was very much impressed about. You see, as members of Parliament we are the people who are best placed to do the work. There is nobody else. Those people who elected us there on the ground cannot all come here and talk for themselves. We are here because we can talk on their behalf, we are here because we know what the problems are because they tell us when we are down there, we see these things when we are down there. One Premier raised it here and these are the things we should be saying. For example, why has this bridge not been built for the past eight years? You drive past there everyday, you see it but you say nothing. You see there is a problem in a school. For the past ten you see that there are problems in the school, but you walk past that school and you say nothing.

And the President has been fair enough to us to say these are the things that we should follow, these are the things that we should do and these are the critical things that we, as the NCOP particularly, should go and check, and make sure that they are happening. The President is saying to us there are a critical 14% of things that we have not done and he goes on to mention them. He goes on to mention that those things are schools, infrastructure, and they are found in the local government sector. He directs us. He said it also in KwaZulu-Natal when we were there. He did not hide at the back and say no, I am not going to talk about these things, because these are the things that we have to talk about because they have not happened.

Therefore we cannot sit and not raise them. Again, the work that we should be doing goes back to the executive, when we will be debating, as somebody said here, our Budget Votes. We need to raise these questions and find out what were the problems and see, as the NCOP ourselves, what is our job. I think the critical question that we should be asking ourselves is: What is our work; what can we do as the NCOP to make sure that those things that have not happened should happen? That is the question we should be asking. What are we going to do, rather than to say what have they done. The question should come back to us: What are we going to do? We accept that those things have not happened but what are we going to do as the NCOP? That is the thing that I would like us to see we are going to do in the year 2005.

The President in his speech on 11 February - just to quote a little bit of what he said - indicated to us that the targets which were set by the government were not able to be met within the set timeframe. He has been very open to the public, as I have indicated earlier. It is an attestation to the immensity of the task of the government that has to be taken into regard. Our challenge now as the NCOP is to make sure that we assist government - I want to repeat that - that we assist government, not just criticise. It is very easy to sit on the fence and criticise, but we have to assist government to deliver on the important aspects, to improve the learning environment of our children - this is one of the things I am quoting.

We must make sure that the government has the resources, that the government has the capacity to deliver and through our oversight role we should be able to identify - that is the point, again, that is very critical - the weaknesses in the process of delivery, so that we can fine- tune our system to respond to the call to ensure that our people have a better life on the ground. That is the most important thing. I wish to thank you very much. [Applause.]

Debate concluded.

                   VISION STATEMENT FOR PARLIAMENT


                         (Draft Resolution)

Mr SULLIMAN: On behalf of the Chief Whip of the Council, moved:

That the Council, pursuant to the decision taken by the Joint Rules Committee at its meetings on 18 November 2004, adopts the following Vision Statement: To build an effective people’s Parliament that is responsive to the needs of the people and that is driven by the ideal of realising a better quality of life for all the people of South Africa.

            DEBATE ON THE VISION STATEMENT FOR PARLIAMENT

THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Chairperson, I will be very brief again. The process of coming up with the vision of Parliament started towards the end of the Second Parliament. Members of the NCOP who were here at that time will recall that both Houses of Parliament began looking at a possible vision of Parliament early in 2003. The NCOP held its workshop in 2003 with a view to contributing towards the drafting of the Vision Statement of Parliament.

At our workshop, which was held in Rondebosch, we agreed that coming up with a vision would not be a one-day event but a process that should culminate in a Vision Statement for Parliament that we all subscribe to.

The process which followed and which gained much impetus at the beginning of the Third Parliament involved a process of consultation with the Presiding Officers, members of Parliament and the management of the institution. Following a vision summit, which was held in July last year, the Secretary to Parliament made a presentation to the Joint Rules Committee on 4 August 2004, in which the Vision Statement we have in front of us was then proposed.

In crafting this vision an attempt was made to remain within the confines of the Constitution and in line with the government’s commitment to the people’s contract. The vision was aimed at establishing a people’s parliament whose aim is to create a better life for all. The committee agreed that parties would take the proposed Vision Statement to their caucuses for discussion. Secondly, party Whips and the Secretary to Parliament would meet to discuss the proposed Vision Statement. Thirdly, the deliberation on the Vision Statement had to be finalised by 31 August 2004 and, fourthly, a special meeting of the Joint Rules Committee would then be convened to adopt the Vision Statement.

At a special meeting of the Joint Rules Committee two options of the proposed Vision Statement were presented. The first option is that the vision should read as follows:

To build an effective Parliament that is responsive to the needs of the
people and that is driven by the ideal of realising an important quality
of life for all of the people of South Africa.

The second option is: To build an effective people’s Parliament that is responsive to the needs of the people and that is driven by the ideal of realising a better quality of life for all the people of South Africa.

After looking at the two options, there was broad agreement among political parties with regard to option two, save for differences in terms of wording. We therefore made an appeal to all parties to continue talking to one another in order to reach consensus before the matter was put to the House for decision. After a lengthy discussion, the proposed Vision Statement was again put before the Joint Rules Committee on 18 November

1. All the parties present at the meeting, with the exception of the DA, supported the Vision Statement as set out in option two of the first report of the Joint Rules Committee dated 21 September 2004, which reads as follows:

To build an effective people’s Parliament that is responsive to the
needs of the people and that is driven by the ideal of realising a
better quality of life for all people of South Africa.

It was then agreed that the preferred Vision Statement, option two, would be put before both Houses. This is what we have done this afternoon. The vision clearly outlines our vision as Parliament, which is to ensure that we become a Parliament for the voices of our people and a Parliament that plays an effective role in the creation of a better life for all of our people in South Africa.

Parliament plays a central role in ensuring the improvement of the lot of our people on the ground and our Vision Statement captures this important aspect. We are a people’s Parliament and we need to be responsive to the needs of the people. We are here on the mandate of the people to serve their interests. I put this vision before the House. I thank you. [Applause.]

Ms J TERBLANCHE: Hon Chairperson, the DA is opposed to the use of party slogans, especially election slogans such as, “people’s Parliament” and ``a better life for all’’ - even if the words, “quality of life” are added in the vision for Parliament.

The Joint Rules Committee decided to bring the matter to Parliament to debate because parties could not reach consensus. However, the ANC is determined to abuse its majority in both Houses to force through their choice of wording. [Interjections.] We had hoped that greater consensus could be found, but it is clear that consensus-seeking is not part of the ANC’s agenda.

The ANC has shown the same stubbornness on the vision for Parliament as they do when addressing subjects such as the link between HIV/Aids and the high rate of rape in this country. It is the same stubbornness that leads to the ANC calling critics of the government unpatriotic. [Interjections.] It is the same stubbornness that creates division rather than unity, and that is where we are today over the issue of a vision for Parliament.

To include one’s party slogan in a vision for all South Africans is divisive and, in reality, an abuse of power by the majority party. That is the main reason why the DA has steadfastly refused to accept the vision as prepared by the ANC, even with its slight amendment today as it appeared on the Order Paper.

A vision should pay more attention to the founding principles and intentions of the Constitution. It should set out that Parliament’s main role is that of an effective legislature which represents citizens, makes laws and provides effective oversight over the executive.

All South Africans should be able to associate with the vision for Parliament. They should feel that Parliament works in their best interests, regardless of which party they voted for. A vision of Parliament should be something that unites people and not something that divides them.

The DA wants to propose an amendment to the resolution before the House: Remove all the words after ``to build and replace them with: an effective Parliament that is responsive to the needs of citizens protected equally by law, which provides a national forum for public consideration of issues and which scrutinises and oversees executive action.

[Interjections.]

We are proposing a Parliament that provides citizens with access to decision-making by promoting public participation in the legislative process; a Parliament of freely elected representatives that considers and debates national issues resulting in legislation that enhances the quality of life of citizens; a Parliament that fearlessly maintains its independence from other branches of government and, in so doing, plays a crucial role in holding the executive to account.

Now, on a matter of procedure: I have established that the DA in the North West legislature was not consulted on the province’s mandate for this vision. In addition, as a member of the North West delegation in this House, I’ve not been consulted. A number of my colleagues have also confirmed that they were neither consulted nor called to a meeting on this subject.

Any mandate from my province does not reflect the views of all North West voters. Since this is a vision for Parliament, it would be logical to consult all the members of this Parliament before any vote is cast. The gap in the Rules of this House governing mandates is being consistently exploited by the ANC to the detriment of democracy. It must be urgently addressed.

I place on record here that the DA does not support this vision because we will not have an opportunity to vote on this. [Applause.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Hon Watson, are you going to raise a point of order? It was your party’s member who was participating in the debate.

Mr A WATSON: I know she was participating in the debate, and that is why I didn’t want to rise and waste her time. I ask the Chair to please present protection to our members when they speak. It is her right to speak. [Interjections.] I won’t listen to that member. I am addressing the Chair. He has no right to make an interjection while I am addressing the Chair.

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P Hollander): Hon Watson, can you please take your seat? Order, hon members! I call on Mrs Mchunu, who will be delivering her maiden speech.

Ms A N T MCHUNU: Thank you, Madam Chair. I would first like to congratulate the hon Chairperson on taking the hot seat. I always remember my friend, Joyce Kgoali, with whom we shared a lot of jokes. We support you. It’s not an easy place to be in.

I would also like to mourn the loss of our father, hon Mr Mhlaba, Oom Ray. I met him in Uganda in 1996, and he was so fatherly and he treated us so well.

On the issue of the debate that we are having, on the vision for Parliament, the first decade of our democracy ushered in political freedom that inspired hope in all South Africans, in that our hard-earned liberation promised peace and prosperity for all who live in South Africa.

The National Assembly and the NCOP, at a joint meeting on 14 September 2004, met to consider a proposed vision for Parliament, as our hon Chairperson stated. Of course, according to the Minutes, one statement stated:

To build an effective, democratic Parliament that is responsive to the needs of the people, and that is driven by the ideal of realising a better quality of life for all the people of South Africa.

The other version stated:

To build an effective people’s Parliament that is responsive to the needs of the people, and that is driven by the ideal of realising a better life for all people in South Africa.

The two visions are almost identical, except for the words “democratic Parliament” and “people’s Parliament”. Also, there is the difference of “a better quality of life” and “a better life for all”.

The one version is more qualitative in embracing democracy than the other one. A democratic Parliament is ideal. Even President Mbeki’s state of the nation address mentioned “democracy” or “democratic Parliament” about eight times. So, I think our vision should include that part which will make everybody happy about our vision. The use of “people” or “people’s” tends to be abused at times. The people participated very well in the struggle for liberation to create a democratic government. Let us agree, by consensus, to include the “democratic” part so that it states:

“to build an effective, democratic people’s Parliament that is
responsive to the needs of the people, and that is driven by the ideal
of realising a better quality of life for all the people of South
Africa.”

Now, including “democratic” in our vision will make the three tiers of government accountable to all the people of South Africa, above party political affiliations. Government is led by human beings, who are apt to err. It might be easy to present the vision as being solely owned by a certain party, and one that does not augur well for other parties, especially if shouted as slogans that are not walking the talk.

Members of the NCOP, especially, have been tasked with the duty of spending 70% of their time with the people on the ground, working with provincial and local government leaders. The NCOP has to ensure the use of local community development workers who are accountable to the local leadership, because they are going to be tied to the delivery of the services under our vision.

Community workers should not be perceived by communities as being party agents who are garnering votes for certain parties. Good intentions and good policies are there in our country, but people are ill and dying in their droves. Denominators are needed to guide our actions, be it health, social welfare or financing of programmes. There must be a way of determining our problems. Who, where, when and how? We speak of the ill and dying, so we need to know who they are, where they are, and how old they are. In the case of HIV/Aids, names may not be used, but figures will help to determine the worst affected areas.

Yes, indeed, people have to govern in their country. We want to govern as people in South Africa. The NCOP then, as the custodian of the people’s needs, has to make sure that people govern while they’re alive, not dead in the cemeteries. It is astounding how our people are dying, especially of Aids. Almost all homes have somebody who is ill or on the verge of dying. Poor rural women are doing home-based care with their bare hands, and in no time will be governing their country from the grave.

Our vision, therefore, should ensure a better quality of life for people who are alive. I thank you. [Applause.]

Mnr F ADAMS: Agb Voorsitter van Komitees en Voorsitter van die Nasionale Raad van Provinsies. [Hon Chairperson of Committees and Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces.]

Let me begin by quoting one sentence from the January 8 statement. I would like the DA members, if they haven’t got it, to ask my ANC colleagues to please give it to them so that they can learn. I want to ask the DA, and I want to give them some good advice: Please keep quiet, sit still, listen and learn. [Interjections.]

The January 8 statement says:

We must base our vision, programmes and actions on that historic manifesto of the people of South Africa, the Freedom Charter.

Dit lyk vir my dat die DA hunker nog na die ou dae van apartheid, want, as ek dit reg verstaan, is dit wat ‘n parlement vir die mense beteken. [It seems to me that the DA is still yearning for the old days of apartheid, if I understand them correctly, because that is what a parliament for the people means.]

It’s a “people’s Parliament”. Parliament has to be understood as a product of constitutional and democratic change. In our Constitution it is mandated to build democracy and ensure good governance. [Interjections.]

I want the hon Terblanche to listen. Please keep quiet, listen and learn. The South African Constitution provides the necessary structure for the legislative sector to transform, since it is founded on the values of human dignity, the achievement of equality, the advancement of human rights and freedom, amongst other things. These values provide a framework for the kind of society that we aspire to and seek to build. The legislative sector broadly, and Parliament specifically, are meant to play particular roles in the bringing about of this society.

Ek wil graag die DA ‘n vraag vra. Ek maak die onderstelling dat hulle terugverlang na die “fight back/fight black” dae. [Tussenwerpsels.] Ek wil vir hulle vandag sê . . . (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)

[I would like to ask the DA a question. I am making the assumption that they are hankering after the days of “fight back/fight black”.][Interjections.] I want to say to them today . . .]

I’ve got news for you, my DA friends. Those days are over. We are here to govern. We are here to rule. [Interjections.] [Applause.] As the Deputy President said, “the ANC is here to rule forever”. [Applause.] My friends in the DA, please understand that for a long time our people have been denied access to Parliament, and for a long time our people have been denied the right to be in Parliament. [Interjections.]

I want to say to the hon Lamoela: Please be quiet, listen and learn, because democratic changes have happened in South Africa. If you are afraid of change, like the DA, you will act like that. [Interjections.] The ANC, as I have seen, is not afraid of change. They are not afraid of change because the change is for the betterment of our people of South Africa. [Applause.]

As ‘n wetgewer moet ons voortdurend strewe om ons potensiaal vir sukses te verbeter, en dit is wat ons doen – verbeter die potensiaal vir sukses. Die opbou van demokrasie en transformasie van die instansie, publieke deelname in die wetgewende proses, en effektiewe parlementêre oorsig is belangrik as Parlement sy konstitusionele mandaat wil vervul.

Die tyd het aangebreek dat ons demokrasie aktief nastreef; nie soos die DA met lippetaal nie, maar dit aktief nastreef. In die hoop vir ‘n beter toekoms vir ons kinders moet ons die mandaat opneem en ons geskiedenis omhels. Daardeur sal elkeen van ons vry wees om alle geleenthede aan te gryp wat die demokrasie aan ons bied. Suid-Afrika is ons land. Ons sit nie met twee paspoorte soos sommige van ons Suid-Afrikaanse burgers nie. Ons is gebore Suid-Afrikaners, en ek wil sê, soos die volkslied van die land sê: ``Ons vir jou Suid-Afrika.’’ Ons sal vir jou sterwe en vir jou lewe. Dankie. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)

[As a legislator we must continuously aim to improve our potential for success, and that is what we are doing – improving the potential for success. Building democracy and achieving the transformation of the institution, public participation in the legislative process and effective parliamentary oversight are important if Parliament wishes to fulfil its constitutional mandate.

The time has come for us to pursue democracy actively, not like the DA by paying lip service, but actively pursuing it. In the hope for a better future for our children we must take up the mandate and embrace our history. In so doing all of us will be free to seize every opportunity democracy presents. South Africa is our country. We do not have two passports like some South African citizens. We are born South Africans, and I want to say, in the words of the national anthem: “At thy will to live or perish, O South Africa, dear land.” We shall die for you and live for you. Thank you. [Applause.]]

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Hon Chairperson, hon members, distinguished special delegates, hon Premiers, leaders and representatives of organised local government, fellow friends and comrades, I know that 20 years ago if you called somebody a comrade you would go to jail, because somebody somewhere would say you’re purporting to be a communist.

This debate is very critical in the history of our Parliament, in the history our people and in the history of country, because it takes place on the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Freedom Charter, a document that is a road map to a destiny in which there will be nonracialism, nonracism, democracy and prosperity.

I rise on behalf of the ANC to move that this august House adopt the vision statement of Parliament as presented, namely to build an effective people’s Parliament that is responsive to the needs of the people and that is driven by the ideal of realising a better life for all the people of South Africa. That is the position of the ANC, and we are not apologetic about it.

I want to put it on record that it is a distortion of fact that the ANC hastened to conclude the process of finalising the conclusion of this particular vision and mission statement of Parliament.

I think hon members of the Joint Rules Committee, including members of the DA, would agree with me that we actually took longer than expected, because the ANC - with more than 90 years of experience of a democratic culture, with more than 90 years of experience of leadership, with more than 90 years of moral authority to unite the people of this country - was very patient in listening to and accommodating the views of all other political parties that participated in the Rules Committee, including the DA.

In fact, it must also be stated for the record that in the last very same meeting of the Joint Rules Committee with the Chairperson of the NCOP, as alluded to, the ANC actually moved three steps of the way in trying to accommodate the IFP, to accommodate the DA, and the FF Plus. And, with every step of the way, when we compromised as the ANC, the DA wanted more.

I must put it on record that in the very same meeting of the Joint Rules Committee we as the ANC had to become more arrogant, especially when the spokesperson of the DA the hon Douglas Gibson said that when we talk about a people’s government, we are actually reminiscing about the dictatorial communist regime of the former Eastern European countries. Initially, when we were debating these issues as the ANC, we were open to - and we were frank about it- being persuaded by other parties. We thought that we were only differing in as far as the choice of words were concerned, but the statement by Douglas Gibson convinced us beyond any reasonable doubt that their opposition as the DA was nothing but ideological.

I think that in the previous debate the Minister for the Public Service and Administration outlined the kind of ideology the DA was pursuing. But the people of this country have voted for the ANC with more than a two-thirds majority; and it was the people who voted for the ANC, who had also voted for us, clearly understanding our language, clearly understanding our slogans; slogans that many of our people died for, slogans even though many of our people do not even have the same benefits we have, some of us, here today.

Our people have followed the legacy of Vuyisile Mini, a person who was involved in the drafting of the Freedom Charter in 1955, and also the legacy of Raymond Mhlaba, when we said what kind of parliament we needed in 1955, and we said we wanted a people’s parliament. Today our friends are telling us that when we talk about a people’s parliament, we are dividing this country. It is quite important to ask one fundamental question in this House today: Where does the DA get the moral authority to question the morality of the ANC to unite and lead this country?

United in our diversity as a nation and a country, we have defined for ourselves through the supreme law of the land the fundamental principles and values that should shape our socio-economic and political destiny. Cognisant of our past, we have defined for ourselves that kind of state, which is developmental in character and orientation.

I think there was a good lecture here by the Minister for the Public Service and Administration on the developmental state - that is what we are for - because we are for the poor and we are for the weakest in our society. All these developments never unfolded in a vacuum or through the coincidence of history, but as a product of relentless struggles of the masses of our people under the leadership of the ANC over a period of more than nine decades.

Today, as we present the vision and mission statement of Parliament for debate and adoption by this august House, we do so mindful of our history and future, which is defined in the Freedom Charter. We will continue to talk about the Freedom Charter, because our people died for the Freedom Charter. The Freedom Charter is our future; the Freedom Charter is our life. At the heart and centre of our existence as Parliament and MPs are our people.

The key litmus test of the work of MPs and Parliament in particular cannot be measured against any mathematical formula, but in the extent to which it impacts on the material conditions of life of the masses of our people. Accordingly, the core constitutional functions of Parliament are as follows: to pass laws of the land, to oversee and scrutinise executive actions, to facilitate public participation, to facilitate international participation and, lastly, to facilitate co-operative governance. It is no discovery on the part of the hon member from the IFP to tell us what the key task of Parliament is. I think our Constitution is clear on that, and we have adopted this Constitution.

These five principal tasks will be devoid of any substance, even their execution will not be responsive to the needs of the people of South Africa at large if our presiding officers, through the Joint Rules Committee, had not appointed a task team to look into the best-practice models for parliamentary oversight. These will go a long way in consolidating the effort of building an effective people’s Parliament that will be responsive to the needs of the people.

The path traversed by the Joint Rules Committee in the drafting of this vision and mission statement that we are debating this afternoon was not smooth, as I said earlier on. It was characterised by robust and frank debates and discussions amongst political parties and, as a result, went through many stages of drafting to arrive at formulations that could accommodate our unity in diversity.

Our adversaries tell us that the words “people’s Parliament” are synonymous with communist dictatorial regimes, which undermined a culture of human rights in the former Eastern European countries. This is what Douglas Gibson said. But the same people who are telling us this are arguing further that the Vision Statement of Parliament, as presented today, is borrowing too much from the language of the ruling party, which is the ANC. This is clearly an insult to the people of this country, because . . . [Time expired.] [Applause.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Chairperson, I want to say very briefly, as I’ve indicated, the time is due that we pass the motion put before you in terms of the vision and mission statement of Parliament. We have debated this very vigorously in the decision-making body, which is called the Joint Rules Committee, and it is now for the House to decide what to do. I’ve put the option before the House; an option that I have put to the House to vote for and to go for, and we are putting the motion before the House as it is.

Let me perhaps just share one thing with you. We now have, whether we like it or not, a vision of Parliament, because we get pressure from the Treasury and they say that Parliament keeps on spending money without strategic plans and because the strategic plans need to be designed in line with a vision and mission statement. Therefore, we have given enough time for this vision to be debated. I now put the motion and we can go through to voting on the motion. [Applause.]

Debate concluded.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Thank you, hon member. That concludes the debate. I shall now put the question, and the question is that the motion be agreed to. As the decision is dealt with in terms of section 65 of the Constitution, I shall first ascertain whether all delegation heads are present in the Chamber to cast their province’s vote. Are all delegation heads present? Yes.

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

Ms B N DLULANE: Eastern Cape fully supports.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Free State?

Ms B MARSHOFF: Supports.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Gauteng?

Mr S SHICEKA: We support.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: KwaZulu-Natal?

Dr Z L MKHIZE (KwaZulu-Natal): Supports.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Limpopo?

Mr T A MUFUMADI: We support.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Mpumalanga?

Mr J L MAHLANGU (Mpumalanga): Mpumalanga supports.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Northern Cape?

Mr K SINCLAIR (Northern Cape): Northern Cape supports.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: North West?

Ms E B B MOLEWA: We support.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Western Cape?

Mr N MACK: We support.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Order, hon members! Hon Lamoela, would you please listen. All provinces have voted in favour. I will therefore declare the motion agreed to in terms of section 65 of the Constitution. [Applause.]

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

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Hon members, it’s unfortunate that some members think that we are representing our political parties. During the drafting of the Constitution public hearings were held throughout the country and the people of South Africa aired their views. That’s why we are here in this House today. I think we must always remember that we are not representing ourselves here, but we’re representing the provinces.

The Council adjourned at 17:56. ____

            ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS


                      FRIDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 2005

ANNOUNCEMENTS

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces

1. Classification of Bills by Joint Tagging Mechanism:

 (1)    The Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) on 18 February 2005 in terms
     of Joint Rule 160(3), classified the following Bills as section 75
     Bills:


     (i)           Minerals and Energy Laws Amendment Bill [B 1 - 2005]
          (National Assembly - sec 75)

     (ii)    Judicial Matters Amendment Bill [B 2 - 2005] (National
          Assembly - sec 75)

     (iii)   Intergovernmental Relations Framework Bill [B 3 - 2005]
          (National Assembly - sec 75)

     (iv)    Co-operatives Bill [B 4 - 2005] (National Assembly - sec
          75)

National Council of Provinces

1. Referrals to committees of papers tabled

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


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


     (a)     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].

     (b)     Report and Financial Statements of Vote 32 - Department of
          Transport for 2003-2004, including the Report of the Auditor-
          General on the Financial Statements of Vote 32 for 2003-2004.

     (c)     Report and Financial Statements of the South African Civil
          Aviation Authority (CAA) for 2003-2004, including the Report
          of the Independent Auditors on the Financial Statements for
          2003-2004 [RP 164-2004].


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


     (a)     Report and Financial Statements of the Companies and
          Intellectual Property Registration Office (CIPRO) for 2003-
          2004, including the Report of the Auditor-General on the
          Financial Statements for 2003-2004.

     (b)     The National Industrial Participation Programme for 2003-
          2004.

     (c)     Report and Financial Statements of Trade and Investment
          South Africa (TISA) for 2003-2004, including the Report of the
          Independent Auditors on the Financial Statements for 2003-2004
          [RP 164-2004].

     (d)     Report and Financial Statements of the Industrial
          Development Corporation of South Africa Limited (IDC) for the
          year ended June 2004, including the Report of the Independent
          Auditors on the Financial Statements for the year ended 2004.


     (e)     Sustainability Report of the Industrial Development
          Corporation of South Africa Limited (IDC) for 2004.

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

     (g)     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.

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


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

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


 (4)    The following papers are referred to the Select Committee on
     Finance and the Select Committee on Social Services:


     (a)     Report and Financial Statements of the Registrar of
          Pension Funds for 2003.


     (b)     Exhange of Letters between the Government of the Republic
          of South Africa and the Government of the People's Republic of
          China concerning the provision of water supply materials [No
          198], tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution of
          the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No 108 of 1996).

     (c)     Explanatory Memorandum on the Exchange of Letters between
          the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the
          Government of the People's Republic of China concerning the
          provision of water supply materials [No 198].

     (d)     Exhange of Letters between the Government of the Republic
          of South Africa and the Government of the Federal Republic of
          Germany concerning the decentralised development planning
          programme [No 141], tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the
          Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No 108
          of 1996).

     (e)     Explanatory Memorandum on the Exhange of Letters between
          the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the
          Government of the Federal Republic of Germany concerning the
          decentralised development planning programme [No 141].

     (f)     Exhange of Letters between the Government of the Republic
          of South Africa and the Government of the People's Republic of
          China concerning the Implementation of a Human Resources
          Project [No 579], tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the
          Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No 108
          of 1996).

     (g)     Explanatory Memorandum on the Exhange of Letters between
          the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the
          Government of the People's Republic of China concerning the
          Implementation of a Human Resources Project [No 579].

     (h)     Programme Grand Agreement between the Global Fund to Fight
          Aids, TB and Malaria and the Government of the Republic of
          South Africa: Strengthening national capacity for treatment,
          care and support related to HIV and TB, building on successful
          behaviour change initiatives in South Africa (SAF-102-G02-C-
          00) [No 480], tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the
          Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No 108
          of 1996).

     (i)     Explanatory Memorandum on the Programme Grand Agreement
          between the Global Fund to Fight Aids, TB and Malaria and the
          Government of the Republic of South Africa: Strengthening
          national capacity for treatment, care and support related to
          HIV and TB, building on successful behaviour change
          initiatives in South Africa (SAF-102-G02-C-00) [No 480].

     (j)     Programme Grand Agreement between the Global Fund to Fight
          Aids, TB amd Malaria and the Government of the Republic of
          South Africa: Enhancing the care of HIV/Aids-infected and
          affected patients in resource - constrained settings in
          Kwazulu-Natal (SAF-102-G03-C-00) [No 462], tabled in terms of
          section 231(3) of the Constitution of the Republic of South
          Africa, 1996 (Act No 108 of 1996).

     (k)     Explanatory Memorandum on the Programme Grand Agreement
          between the Global Fund to Fight Aids, TB and Malaria and the
          Government of the Republic of South Africa: Enhancing the care
          of HIV/Aids-infected and affected patients in resource -
          constrained settings in Kwazulu-Natal (SAF-102-G03-C-00) [No
          462].

     (l)     Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South
          Africa and the Government of the Republic of Germany
          concerning financial co-operation for 2001-2002 [No 612],
          tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution of the
          Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No 108 of 1996).

     (m)     Explanatory Memorandum on the Agreement between the
          Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Government
          of the Republic of Germany concerning financial co-operation
          for 2001-2002 [No 612].
     (n)     Programme Grand Agreement between the Global Fund to Fight
          Aids, TB amd Malaria and the Government of the Republic of
          South Africa: Strengthening national capacity for treatment,
          care and support related to HIV and TB, building on successful
          behaviour change initiatives in South Africa (SAF-102-G01-C-
          00) [No 479], tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the
          Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No 108
          of 1996).

     (o)     Explanatory Memorandum on the Programme Grand Agreement
          between the Global Fund to Fight Aids, TB and Malaria and the
          Government of the Republic of South Africa: Strengthening
          national capacity for treatment, care and support related to
          HIV and TB, building on successful behaviour change
          initiatives in South Africa (SAF-102-G01-C-00) [No. 479].


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


     (a)     Proclamation No R.49 published in Government Gazette No
          26905 dated 18 October 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).
     (b)     Proclamation No R.50 published in Government Gazette No
          26912 dated 20 October 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).

     (c)     Proclamation No R.51 published in Government Gazette No
          26912 dated 20 October 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).

     (d)     Proclamation No R.52 published in Government Gazette No
          26912 dated 20 October 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).


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


     (a)     Report and Financial Statements of the South African
          Veterinary Council for 2003-2004, including the Report of the
          Independent Auditors on the Financial Statements for 2003-
          2004.
     (b)     Annual Financial Statements from the National Agricultural
          Marketing Council on the Statutory Levy Administrators on
          Agricultural Products for 2001-2002 and 2002-2003, including
          the Reports of the Auditor-General and the Independent
          Auditors on the Financial Statements for 2001-2002 and 2002-
          2003 [RP 1-2004].


 (7)    The following papers are referred to the Select Committee on
     Local Government and Administration for consideration and report:


     (a)     African Union Convention on the Prevention and Combating
          of Corruption, tabled in terms of section 231(2) of the
          Constitution, 1996.

     (b)     Explanatory Memorandum to the African Union Convention on
          the Prevention and Combating of Corruption.


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

     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).
 (9)    The following paper is referred to the Select Committee on
     Finance and the Select Committee on Local Government and
     Administration for consideration:

     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).



                      MONDAY, 21 FEBRUARY 2005

TABLINGS

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces

1. The Minister of Public Enterprises

 Report and Financial Statements of Alexkor Limited for the year ended
 June 2004, including the Report of the Independent Auditors on the
 Financial Statements for the year ended June 2004.

1. The Minister of Trade and Industry

 Report to Parliament on the Strategic Industrial Projects (SIP) for
 April 2002 to March 2004.



                      TUESDAY, 22 FEBRUARY 2005

ANNOUNCEMENTS

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces

1. Draft bills submitted in terms of Joint Rule 159

 (1)    Precious Metals and Diamonds General Amendment Bill, 2005,
     submitted by the Minister of Minerals and Energy on 7 February
     2005. Referred to the Portfolio Committee on Minerals and Energy
     and the Select Committee on Economic and Foreign Affairs.


 (2)    Convergence Bill, 2005, submitted by the Minister of
     Communications on 11 February 2005. Referred to the Portfolio
     Committee on Communications and the Select Committee on Labour and
     Public Enterprises.

1. Membership of committees

 (1)    The following changes have been made to the membership of Joint
     Committees, namely:

     Budget:

     Appointed: Manyosi, Mr A T (Alt); Mkhaliphi, Mr B J; Robertson, Mr
     M O.
     Discharged: Nyanda, Ms F.

National Council of Provinces

1. Membership of committees

 (1)    The following changes have been made to the membership of Select
     Committees, namely:

     Education and Recreation:

     Appointed: Mkono, Mr D G (Alt); Qikani, Ms A N D; Robertson, Mr M
     O.

     Economic and Foreign Affairs:

     Appointed: Mkono, Mr D G; Qikani, Ms A N D (Alt).

     Finance:

     Appointed: Manyosi, Mr A T (Alt); Mkhaliphi, Mr B J; Robertson, Mr
     M O.
     Discharged: Nyanda, Ms F.

     Labour and Public Enterprises:

     Appointed: Mkono, Mr D G; Qikani, Ms A N D (Alt).

     Land and Environmental Affairs:

     Appointed: Dlulane, Ms B N; Le Roux, Mr J W (Alt).


     Local Government and Administration:

     Appointed: Nyanda, Ms F; Manyosi, Mr A T; Le Roux, Mr J W (Alt).


     Discharged: Mkhaliphi, Mr B J.

     Public Services:

     Appointed: Dlulane, Ms B N (Alt); Le Roux, Mr J W.

     Security and Constitutional Affairs:
     Appointed: Le Roux, Mr J W (Alt); Manyosi, Mr A T; Nyanda, Ms F.


     Discharged: Mkhaliphi, Mr B J.

     Social Services:

     Appointed: Mkono, Mr D G (Alt); Qikani, Ms A N D; Robertson, Mr M
     O.

TABLINGS

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces

1. The Minister of Social Development

 (a)    Report of the Central Drug Authority for 2003 [RP 16-2005].

 (b)    Report of the Central Drug Authority for 2004 [RP 17-2005].