National Assembly - 26 May 2006
FRIDAY, 26 MAY 2006 __
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
____
The House met at 9:02.
The House Chairperson Mr Q D M Doidge took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or meditation.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS – see col 000.
NOTICES OF MOTION
Mr T D LEE: Chairperson, I hereby give notice that I intend moving the following substantive motion:
That this House expresses its dismay at the undue delay by the National Prosecuting Authority in deciding whether to prosecute the MP, hon Patricia de Lille, with regard to her acceptance of a substantial donation from a person known as “Mr Big” at his home, known as “The House on the Prairie”. I thank you.
Mrs C DUDLEY: Chair, on behalf of the ACDP, I hereby give notice that I shall move:
That the House debate the alarming trend of the closing down of Christian community radio stations in a country where the most recent census identified 79% of South Africans as belonging to one or other Christian organisation.
Thank you.
LAUREUS AWARD TO MR ERNST VAN DYK
(Draft Resolution)
The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Chair, I move without notice:
That the House –
(1) notes that last Monday, 21 May 2006, Mr Ernest van Dyk, a South African from Boland, won the prestigious Laureus Award at the Laureus World Sports Academy, otherwise known as the Oscar of the sporting world, in Barcelona, Spain;
(2) further notes that Mr Van Dyk, a disabled athlete, holds two world records and has won the Boston Marathon six times in his wheelchair;
(3) recalls that Mr Van Dyk became the first ever disabled person to qualify for a sports science degree at the University of Stellenbosch; and
(4) congratulates Mr Van Dyk on winning the Laureus Award, and wishes him well in his endeavours.
Agreed to.
TAX RELIEF
(Member’s Statement)
Mnu M R SONTO (ANC): Sihlalo, umbutho wesizwe, i-ANC, uyasamkela isibhengezo esenziwe nguMphathiswa weZemali, uQabane uTevor Manuel, sokunika oosomashishini abancinane, kuqukwa noonotekisi, uxolelo ngokungahlawuli irhafu. Esi sibhengezo siquka wonke usomashishini osakhulayo ongazange abhalise njengomhlawuli werhafu ngoMatshi wonyaka ophelileyo. Ukuze uxhamle kwesi sibhengezo, ishishini lakho kufuneka libe lenza ngaphantsi kwezigidi ezihlanu zeerandi ngonyaka. Thina singamalungu ombutho wesizwe i-ANC siyabulela, sidomboza, sisithi abantu bakuthi mabalithathe ngothakazelelo eli thuba livezwe nguMphathiswa, ngoba intlawulo-rhafu yolu hlobo sibinza ngayo singabemi ekwakhiweni kobomi obungcono. Ndiyabulela. [Kwaqhwatywa.] (Translation of isiXhosa member’s statement follows.)
[Mr M R SONTO (ANC): Chairperson, the ANC welcomes the announcement made by the Minister of Finance, Comrade Trevor Manuel, to offer tax amnesty to small businesses including the taxi operators. This also refers to small businesses that did not register for taxation in March last year. You can benefit from this announcement if your business profit is less than R5 million a year.
As members of the ANC, we are grateful. We appeal to people to grab this opportunity unveiled by the Minister, because this kind of tax payment will contribute towards a better life for all. I thank you. [Applause.]]
ABSENCE OF MINISTER OF SAFETY AND SECURITY
(Member’s Statement)
Mr R JANKIELSOHN (DA): Chairperson, where is the Minister of Safety and Security when his country needs him? On Wednesday the Leader of the Official Opposition, hon Tony Leon, and I visited victims of crime in Gordon’s Bay.
The family that we visited faced an orgy of violence perpetrated by a gang of youths on Monday night. This included the bludgeoning to death of an elderly neighbour with a meat tenderiser, the threatening of the family with knives and the rape of a pregnant woman.
Fifty-one people are murdered every day in South Africa and their families should rightly ask, where is the Minister? Our women and children are being raped and should rightly ask: Where is the Minister?
Our citizens are being thrown off trains and we should ask: Where is the Minister? People are being tortured by criminals and should rightly ask: Where is the Minister? Is the Minister responsible for our safety in Kampala, Bujumbura, in his office in Pretoria, not in Parliament? The problem is that nobody knows.
While government is failing in its primary responsibility of protecting its citizens, no one in government is seen to be taking responsibility for this.
The President should immediately relieve the Minister of Safety and Security from all additional responsibilities, especially those abroad, and ensure that he is on our streets carrying out his primary responsibility, which is to ensure the safety of security of all South Africans. Thank you, Chairperson.
ELECTRICITY SUPPLY IN WESTERN CAPE
(Member’s Statement)
Mrs S A SEATON (IFP): Chairperson, it is common knowledge that the Western Cape has just entered a very risky period for secure and uninterrupted electricity supply. With only one reactor at Koeberg operating and the demands for electricity increasing, as it gets colder, the Western Cape could be soon subject to power cuts or so-called load-shedding by Eskom.
Eskom has launched a number of projects to manage demand within the capacity of the current generation ability. This is laudable and we support such demand site management measures. One of these measures allows owners of two-plate electric stoves to swap them for two-burner gas stoves. Many people have already taken up this offer and it appears that the project is very successful.
However, it is with some dismay that we have learned that gas suppliers are unscrupulously increasing the price of gas to gain windfall profits in the short term. In our view this is nothing short of exploitation for personal gain. If one takes into account the fact that people from low income and poor areas have taken up the Eskom offer in good faith, this exploitation by gas suppliers should be condemned in the strongest terms.
CRIME REDUCTION PROGRAMMES
(Member’s Statement)
Mr S MAHOTE (ANC): Chairperson, the ANC works to intensify campaigns at all levels to reduce crime, the proliferation of illegal weapons, drugs, corruption, and other fraudulent activities. We express our support for the law enforcement agencies.
Recently, cocaine, dagga and other drugs worth millions of rands were seized at Johannesburg airport and other ports of entry as well as in Emfuleni, one of the townships in the Western Cape. These substances destroy our young people and our future. The success of this operation was brought about by the close co-operation between the community and members of the SA Police Service.
This success also means less drugs on the streets of our townships and safer communities for our children and women. The ANC calls on all our people to work closely with the SA Police Service and other law enforcement agencies in our effort to fight crime. I thank you.
SEX TRADE AND THE SOCCER WORLD CUP
(Member’s Statement)
Mrs C DUDLEY (ACDP): Thank you, Chair. It has been reported that Germany, host of the 2006 Soccer World Cup, is expecting anything up to 40 000 extra sex workers who would be smuggled into the country to meet the demand in the weeks to come.
According to a recent report released by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, titled “Trafficking in Persons: Global Patterns”, the trend of an increase in human trafficking is aimed at boosting the sex trade ahead of the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
South Africa needs to combat these activities. The ACDP has submitted questions to both the Department of Safety and Security and Home Affairs to put tighter measures in place to ensure that South Africa does not face the same dilemma as Germany. These numbers should make us all gravely concerned.
Human trafficking is feeding into the existing culture of degradation of women and children through prostitution and the debates around legalising it. South Africa has a long history of legalising and condoning inhumane behaviour. Legalising apartheid did not make it right and certainly did not exempt anyone from the destruction caused by it.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime report highlights the inevitable consequences of legalising the sex trade, which opens the door for further abuse through trade in human flesh; because the line between legal and illegal is so thin and could easily be crossed. It is also a breeding ground for other ills, such as drug dealing and crime in general.
The ACDP does not support the legalisation of sex work out of a concern for the safety of those used in that trade. The ACDP would like to see a situation where there is legislation to protect the women and children used in this cruel trade, with an emphasis on targeting the user. I thank you. [Time expired.]
IMPROVED ARTS AND SPORTS FACILITIES
(Member’s Statement)
Mnr M M DIKGACWI (ANC): Voorsitter, gedurende sy begrotingstoespraak in die Wes-Kaapse Wetgewer het die LUR vir Kultuur en Sport, Mnr Whitey Jacobs, weer die ANC se verbintenis tot die opheffing van al ons mense bevestig. ’n Bedrag van R65 miljoen is begroot vir biblioteekdienste in die provinsie. Die geld sal aangewend word om twee nuwe biblioteke te bou, nuwe boeke aan te koop en mobiele biblioteke na vyf landelike gemeenskappe uit te brei.
’n Bedrag van R18 miljoen is ook beskikbaar gestel vir die bekendstelling en die implementering van die massa-sportdeelnameprogram by skole. Mnr Jacobs het aangekondig dat 140 sportassistente aangestel gaan word en hulle sal as sportadministrateurs, tegniese beamptes en skeidsregters opgelei word.
Vier streke sal elk R500 000 ontvang vir ontwikkeling van plaasarbeiders. Die ANC glo dat hierdie begroting duidelik die ANC se wens om armoede te verlig, ons mense op te hef en ’n beter lewe te skep, weerspieël. Die begroting spreek duidelik die uitdagings in die departement en die behoeftes in die provinsies aan.
Mnr Jacobs en die ANC in die Wes-Kaap moet gelukgewens word met die balans wat in die begroting weerspieël word. Vandag is inderdaad beter as gister en môre sal beter wees as vandag. Ek hoop die DA sal verstaan. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans member’s statement follows.)
[Mr M M DIKGACWI (ANC): Chairperson, during his speech in the Western Cape Legislature the MEC for Culture and Sport, Mr Whitey Jacobs, once again affirmed the ANC’s commitment to the uplifting of all our people. An amount of R65 million has been budgeted for library services in the province. The money will be spent on building two new libraries, buying new books and extending mobile libraries to five rural communities.
An amount of R18 million has also been made available for the introduction and implementation of the mass sports participation programme at schools. Mr Jacobs announced that 140 sports assistants would be appointed, and they will be trained as sports administrators, technical officers and referees.
Four regions will receive R500 000 each for the development of farm workers. The ANC believes that this budget clearly reflects the ANC’s desire to relieve poverty, uplift our people and create a better life. The budget clearly deals with the challenges in the department and the needs in the provinces.
Mr Jacobs and the ANC in the Western Cape must be congratulated on the balance reflected in the budget. Today is indeed better than yesterday, and tomorrow will be better than today. I hope the DA will understand. [Applause.]]
VIOLENCE ON OUR TRAINS
(Member’s Statement)
Mr N T GODI (PAC): Chair, the PAC joins the rising and legitimate chorus of concern and condemnation of the escalating violence and fatalities on our trains, especially in the Western Cape and Gauteng. Whilst no conclusive evidence has been brought forth, various commentators have linked this to the ongoing strike by security workers. In some respects the linkages could not be so glaring. The absence of security guards at railway stations and on the trains has given leeway to the Lumpens to terrorise commuters at will.
The PAC calls on the employers, who we believe can afford the workers’ legitimate demand of 11%, to speedily settle with the unions in the public interest. But if, on the other hand, striking workers are responsible in any way for some of these activities, it will not only be misguided and counterproductive, but it will be highlighting that, once again, class solidarity has been broken by the divide-and-rule tactics of the employers.
The PAC calls on all of us to exert pressure on the employers to settle with the unions. How many of us here can go for two months without a salary? Thank you.
CONFUSION OF MINISTER OF LABOUR
(Member’s Statement)
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr G Q M Doidge): The UPSA. The UPSA. It was nearly an ``oops’’! [Laughter.]
Mr S SIMMONS (UPSA): That is so, Chair. Chair, during the Labour Budget debate on Wednesday, 17 May of this year, the hon Minister stated that I was confused for calling for a national minimum wage. As usual, it was the hon Minister who was confused. This is a confusion of the hon Minister’s own making, for not listening attentively to my contribution.
Legislation that provides for minimum wages is often counterproductive, leading to job losses, which South Africa cannot afford. This type of legislative provision has a negative effect on small and medium businesses’ ability to play a positive part in the national objective of creating more jobs, as they are the employers least capable of meeting minimum wage requirements.
This is clearly not in line with government objectives with regard to the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa programme, hence my call for the government to review the composition of this principle.
I question whether the government’s target to halve the unemployment rate by 2014 is a realistic one, given the fact that South Africa would have to grow its GDP by at least 9,3% until 2014, according to well respected economists.
I conclude by expressing my party’s serious concern relating to the implementation of the employment equity legislation and affirmative action. The hon Minister didn’t deem it necessary to comment on these important issues but rather exposed his own confusion. I thank you.
POWER FAILURE IN HOSPITAL
(Member’s Statement)
Ms D KOHLER-BARNARD (DA): Thank you Chair. The Democratic Alliance has the sad duty today to proffer heartfelt condolences to the four families whose babies died in their incubators at the Eastern Cape Cecilia Matewane hospital, as a result of the power failure and a nonworking generator. One of them was just one day old.
Having spent months of touring public hospitals last year, I had had no option but to place this hospital on the list of the five worst hospitals in the country. That the Minister said that I should instead have been boosting public confidence in the public health sector is bad enough, but that she and her Department of Health ignored this party’s information that this hospital had millions of rands of obsolete clinical and engineering equipment is a blot on the character of every single ANC MP, but first and foremost on that of the Minister, who knew and who chose to do nothing. The deaths of these babies lie at your door.
Let me quote my colleague, the hon Roy Jankielsohn: “Where is the Minister?” The Democratic Alliance calls on this House to debate this issue as a matter of the greatest importance.
INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION IN FIGHTING DRUG TRAFFICKING
(Member’s Statement)
Nkskz N D MBOMBO(ANC): Lo ngumpoposho ngentsebenziswano. Singumbutho wesizwe iANC satsho ngazwinye ukuthi siyakuthi, gqolo sisebenzisana noluntu lwehlabathi ekwakheni ubuhlobo uxolo kwakunye nozinzo. Oontamnani bamapolisa bebambisene namapolisa aseMelika, eBrazil kunye nawaseColombia athe abamba imigulukudu evelisa yaye ithengisa iziyobisi kumhlaba wonke.
Aba nqalintloko ngabanye babafunwa ngamandla emhlabeni ngokubanzi. Le mpumelelo ibonakalisa ngokuthe gca okwekati emhlophe ehlungwini ukubaluleka kwentsebenziswano phakathi kwamazwe omhlaba nasekwakhiweni ubuhlobo phakathi kwabantu. Umbutho wesizwe uyakuthi, gqolo ukuqinisa amatyathanga obuhlobo nentsebenziswano kumazwe omhlaba naseluntwini lonke. Ndiyabulela. Phambili ngoKhongolozi. [Kwaqhwatywa.] (Translation of isiXhosa member’s statement follows.)
[Mrs N D MBOMBOLANE (ANC): This message is about co-operation. The ANC declared unanimously that it would work with the international world in building friendship, peace and stability. Our police, in association with the American police, the Brazilian police and the Colombian police, have arrested drug syndicates that produce and sell drugs throughout the world.
They are some of the most wanted criminals in the entire world. This is a clear indication of the importance of co-operation between countries and the people at large. The ANC will continue to strengthen relations, friendship and co-operation with the entire world and with the people. I thank you. [Applause.]]
CONFERENCE OF ALL NEWLY ELECTED MAYORS
(Member’s Statement)
Mr P F SMITH (IFP): Chairperson, thank you. Perhaps in a departure from traditionality, the IFP would like to congratulate the Department of Provincial and Local Government on a job well done yesterday, when it convened a very successful conference of all the newly elected mayors of the country’s 283 municipalities to interact with them on improving the performance of their councils over the next five years.
The objectives were to brief mayors on government strategic objectives; to discuss a number of key performance areas; to better involve sector departments in liaising and working with councils and to facilitate solutions in respect of the key performance areas. We believe the department needs to strongly focus on supporting municipalities and see this as an excellent example of what it needs to be doing and what it should have been doing far more over the past five years. It is sorely needed and we strongly support it. Thank you.
TAKE A GIRL CHILD TO WORK CAMPAIGN
(Member’s Statement)
Ms M V MERUTI (ANC): Thank you, Chairperson. The African National Congress has noted with pleasure the growth of the campaign called, “Take a girl child to work.” We also appreciate that this year the sponsoring company chose women’s struggle heroes as the theme of the project. We wish all those citizens, business entities and organisations that continue to support this very important project, well in their endeavours.
Even as we celebrate these efforts aimed at the girl child, there remains a serious threat to the wellbeing and rights of the girl child. We condemn in the strongest terms those that continue to abuse and exploit our young daughters through human trafficking and prostitution. Thank you.
ASYLUM APPLICATION OF ROY BENNETT
(Member’s Statement)
Mr D H M GIBSON (DA): Chairperson, all of those who care about human rights will join me in expressing complete dismay at the asylum application refusal in respect of Roy Bennett, former Zimbabwean member of parliament. [Interjections.] You don’t care about human rights. He represented an overwhelmingly black constituency in that parliament and his main crime was that he didn’t support your friend, Mr Mugabe. He supported the opposition.
His direct crime was that he had a scuffle in parliament, and for that he served many months in jail. You might remember what happened here, when there was a similar scuffle with Dr Schoeman and the current Deputy Minister of Justice. They had to apologise to Parliament, and one was out for one day and one was out for two. Mr Bennett was sent to jail with hard labour for a year.
Members will know that on being released from jail, Mr Bennett was faced with considerable persecution. He lost his farm. He has lost every single thing. His wife was chased out and he was kept in jail until the parliamentary election was over. There is a promise of more persecution to come.
As for his application for asylum here, you would think that the people of South Africa would feel that they should be on the right side of history. Instead, we have turned it down. I want to say that it is an absolute disgrace, and if there are any members of the SACP, COSATU and perhaps the ANC who care about human rights and justice, they will join me in opposing this.
ANC’S CARE FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE WESTERN CAPE
(Member’s Statement) Mnr J D ARENDSE (ANC): Voorsitter, tydens die Begrotingsrede van die Wes- Kaapse LUR vir Openbare Werke en Vervoer is die volgende goeie nuus aangekondig: daar is geen verhoging in die voertuiglisensiegelde vir die huidige boekjaar nie; drie distrikshospitale gaan in die Paarl, Khayelitsha en Mitchells Plein gebou word; 17 skole is òf in aanbou òf gaan gebou word; uitgebreide instandingshoudingsprogramme gaan van stapel gestuur word vir provinsiale paaie, asook vir die bou van nuwe paaie.
Voorts het ons LUR, mnr Marius Fransman, ook begroot vir 250 studiebeurse vir tegniese onderrigontwikkeling en die loods van ’n leerderprogram om 1 000 nuwe ambagspersone op te lei. Daar gaan ook op dienste om die verhoging van openbare vervoer te verbeter gefokus word.
Hierdie begroting is grootliks gefokus op gemeenskapsontwikkeling en is ook daarop gemik om ons mense in die openbare sektor in te bring, deur middel van werkskepping en ontwikkeling. Die DA-beheerde stadsraad moet ophou om op valse wyse voor te gee dat die goeie werk net deur hulle gedoen word; trouens, hulle het nog niks gedoen nie. Wie bou die skole en hospitale in hierdie provinsie? Dis die ANC. Wie bou die nuwe paaie en hou die bestaande paaie in stand? Die ANC. Hierdie provinsie word deur die ANC regeer en dit bewys net weer eens dat die ANC ’n organisasie is wat omgee vir mense, veral vir die mense van die Wes-Kaap. [Applous.] (Translation of member’s statement follows.)
[Mr J D Arendse (ANC): Chairperson, during the budget speech of the MEC for Public Works and Transport the following good news was announced: there is no increase in the vehicle licence fees for the present financial year; three district hospitals are to be built in Paarl, Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain; 17 schools are either being built or will be built; extensive maintenance programmes are to be launched for provincial roads as well as for the building of new roads.
Furthermore, our MEC, Mr Marius Fransman, also budgeted for 250 bursaries for technical training development and the launching of a learners’ programme to train 1 000 new artisans. Services to improve public transport will also be focused on.
This budget largely focuses on community development and is also aimed at bringing our people into the public sector by way of job creation and development. The DA-controlled city council must stop falsely pretending that the good work is only done by them; in fact, they have done nothing yet. Who is building the schools and hospitals in this province? It is the ANC. Who is constructing new roads and maintaining the existing roads? The ANC. This province is governed by the ANC, and this just proves once again that the ANC is an organisation that cares for people, especially the people of the Western Cape. [Applause.]]
ABSENCE OF THE MINISTER OF SAFETY AND SECURITY
(Minister’s Response)
The DEPUTY MINISTER FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Thank you, Chairperson, I would like to respond to the repeated question from the DA’s side about where the Minister might be. Well, quite frankly, the Ministers are out there doing their work. One might ask the question of the DA, where is the DA? Well, they are in the House, Chairperson, grandstanding on very sensitive issues and appearing to be doing popular things here in the house. Where will they be after this House’s sitting? You will find them in the Marks Building, in the pub. That is where you will find them. The other day I was walking to attend a meeting in the Marks Building - and I won’t mention the name of the person - the person I encountered there from the DA is a prominent person and his biggest complaint was that the pub had closed and he was looking very aggrieved by the closed pub. That is the mindset, but once here the grandstanding will happen. The DA should ask the question: What are the underlying causes of the crime that we are now trying to combat? Who is responsible for the inequality, the poverty and the misery of so many South African citizens that we are now trying to work together with all parties of integrity to address? Any party with integrity will stop their grandstanding and work together with all other parties to address these problems.
They speak about human rights. It is the very abuse of human rights that has brought about the misery, inequality and underdevelopment in our country that we are now trying with seriousness to address, but they caused it. Thank you. [Applause.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr G Q M Doidge): Order! It becomes difficult sometimes from the chair not to smile. The Secretary will read the next order of the day.
APPROPRIATION BILL
Debate on Vote No 31 – Science and Technology:
The MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Hon Chair, hon members, our guests in the public gallery, our five-year old granddaughter moved in with us recently and she keeps us on our toes in more ways than one. The other day she asked me: “Grandpa, why is your beard black and white?” She then asked if she could touch it, and I said, yes. She ran her fingers over the beard and exclaimed: “Yo, its rough!” She offered to make it nice and I asked how she planned to do that. She replied: “I will just pull it.” Needless to say, the offer was declined. She, and many others of our young, at different levels of their development, will inherit this country, its wealth and its institutions from us. We hold South Africa in trust for them.
The other day I met a young businessman who had spent six months in Malaysia undergoing some training and he said he could not help noticing how industrious the Malaysians were. He said that he had asked some of them why they work so hard. In reply they said: We do it for our children. We are building a better Malaysia for our children. Hon Chair, those are exactly our sentiments. We are doing our best to build a better country for our children so that even those who are still fascinated by the black and white beard of their grandparents will find, when the time comes, that they have opportunities to thrive.
In the 2004-05 financial year, my department spent 99,9% of its budget and received a clean and an unqualified audit from the Auditor-General. [Applause.] In the financial year ended in March this year we also managed to spend 99,84% of our budget and are anticipating another clean audit. This is a demonstration of hard work and discipline on the part of officials in my department. They try hard to stick scrupulously to plans and budgets, and the Deputy Minister and I are immensely proud of them. We hope they will continue the good work. [Applause.]
We have moved the department’s headquarters to the new state-of-the-art building within the Scientia complex, which also houses the NRF and the CSIR. We would like to thank the National Treasury, the Department of Public Works and the CSIR for their support and contribution to make the move possible. We are now part of extended science and technology precincts that include, amongst others, the South African Biodiversity Institute, the Innovation Hub and the Council for Geoscience. We hope this will provide a pleasant working environment for personnel in my department and that in the near future will please those who presently still believe they can make the scruffy black and white beard better by simply pulling it.
Speed is required to accelerate our competitiveness as a nation and alleviate the plight of the needy and the marginalised. Technological and scientific innovations lie at the heart of our hopes because they can act as accelerators for South Africa’s economic growth. The more we can innovate, the faster we can do it, the richer our lives can be, and the sooner will the goals of Asgisa be realised. Over millennia, and particularly in today’s world, speed and the capacity to innovate are what count. Those who cannot develop the necessary acceleration run the risk of being left permanently behind, and there are no prizes for those who choose not to compete.
In economic terms, our intended speed for economic growth of 6% is to a great degree dependent on innovation, on the introduction of new products and services and the mastery of key technologies by our society. My department’s view of our present and future activities can be summed up in one word: partnerships. Science, in many of its manifestations, can become self-centred to the point of obsession. As a country we cannot afford the indulgence of seeing science merely as love for exploration and discovery. Business, government and civil society share a vision for a successful future and we must share all the material and human resources that can turn that vision into reality.
The use and development of technology must address the needs and aspirations of our people. South Africa’s immediate need is to attain technological self-reliance, tailored to bring about swift and tangible improvements in the living conditions of all our people. Our scientists and technologists must always be alert to even the smallest developments that can better and make affordable South Africa’s materials, services and work processes.
My department is responsible for ensuring that South Africa maintains and strengthens its competitiveness by increasing our investment in relevant research and development initiatives. Our intermediate goal is to dedicate 1% of our gross domestic product to research and development by 2008. Indications are that national expenditure on research and development, which had declined by 1994 to 0,69% of the GDP, has now begun to pick up significantly. In 2003-04 South Africa’s public and private expenditure on research and development was 0,81% of the GDP and it is anticipated that the 2004-05 survey will show a further increase, putting us on course to reach the 1% target by 2008.
Over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, government funding for research and development to my department has increased by R1, 2 billion. This increase largely funds core science and technology infrastructure, such as the Centre for High Performance Computing, nanotechnology centre, astronomy and space science.
Attractive tax incentives to boost research and development are now being put in place. I am sure you will recall that when my colleague, the finance Minister, Trevor Manuel, addressed the House earlier this year, he announced the creation of a more favourable regime for arresting the depreciation of research and development capital and an increase in the deduction allowable for current research and development expenditure from 100 to 150%.
These are indeed welcome developments to a very positive conclusion of phase one of my department‘s efforts in this area of work. The tax incentives effectively reduce the real cost of a company’s investment in research and development, thus stimulating the investment climate by rewarding inventiveness, which in turn raises returns and bolsters the economy as a whole. When companies invest in research and development they create work for more scientists, engineers and technology experts.
Phase two, which begins this year, involves my department’s working with the South African Revenue Service to ensure that industry understands how to access the incentives and to encourage more small and medium-sized businesses to invest in research and development.
Our ageing national equipment infrastructure is rapidly becoming obsolete and our ability to timeously and routinely replace out-of-date equipment has been a cause for considerable concern. We cannot work at the cutting edge without constantly sharpening our tools. Our attempts to obtain a more substantial budget for replacing the aging equipment infrastructure have generated a commitment of R211 million to higher education institutions and science councils over the MTEF.
South Africa’s bilateral and multilateral science and technology initiatives are also experiencing spirited growth. This positive atmosphere is largely due to our resolve to keep South Africa and the continent abreast of international developments. By 2001-02 international funding of research and development in South Africa had grown to 6% from near zero in 1994 and by 2003-04 foreign funding stood at 10% of total research and development spending. International breakthroughs include South Africa’s increased participation in the European Union sixth framework programme and in the implementation of Africa’s Consolidated Science and Technology Plan of Action, in which South Africa has played a leading role.
In our subregion, South Africa is playing a key role in developing a vibrant science and technology platform. We now have a Southern African Development Community Ministers’ Council on Science and Technology, which is leading in the development of a SADC protocol. This protocol will guide the implementation of the subregional science and technology plan.
In line with our theme of speed, one of our flagship projects is the development of a high-speed broadband network in the region. This is the UbuntuNet project, which we will link through the South African National Research Network to Europe via the Geant connection, giving South Africa and its research community a high-speed network. The first phase of implementing this network has begun with total funding of R178 million over the MTEF. I am pleased to report that South Africa continues to register remarkable progress in the field of astronomy and space sciences. The astronomers of the world have discovered our top-notch resources, and the country is increasingly seen as a strategic provider and developer of next-generation, ground-based observation facilities. This should not be seen as an indulgence, but an imperative.
Working in these areas provides an excellent long-term platform that we hope to use as a training ground for our young scientists in the areas of mathematical and computational modelling. Even those who are still curious about the black and white beard of their grandparents will find, in future, that we did lay a good foundation in science and technology for them.
South Africa is also poised to be a leader in African space and astronomy programmes. We are establishing a SA Space Agency to unite the work of several institutions, and harness these capacities to leverage billions of rands through which we hope to boost the economy and create more jobs. We plan to obtain Cabinet approval to formalise this new partnership, later in the year.
These initiatives follow a number of recent high-profile and crucially important developments. The first of these developments is the construction of the most powerful optical telescope in the southern hemisphere, the South African large telescope, located at Sutherland in the Northern Cape, which was officially opened by the President in November last year. This telescope is now fully operational.
The second is establishing the high-energy stereoscopic system observatory in Namibia, the most powerful cosmic ray instrument in the world.
The third is bidding to host the $1,5 billion Square Kilometre Array radio telescope, again the largest in the world and also in the Northern Cape. If successful, this will translate into foreign investment of R9 billion with a spin-off of major contracts for engineering companies in South Africa. [Applause.]
The fourth is building the Karoo Array Telescope in the Northern Cape, which will become operational in 2009 and is a partnership between my department and the Northern Cape provincial government, operated through a dedicated innovation team.
Fifthly, we will launch South Africa’s second low earth-orbiting satellite this year. This is a R26 million project that will again expand our satellite engineering capabilities. This programme is managed by Stellenbosch University as part of a joint effort between the university, the Department of Science and Technology, DST, Sunspace and the CSIR Satellite Application Centre.
We are doing this at a time when both Algeria and Nigeria have produced such micro satellites, and are discussing with us a programme to develop a cluster of satellites called the African Resource Management Constellation. The vision is to develop and build in Africa satellites, which can assist in disaster prediction and mitigation, projection of crop yields, tracking urban and rural development, and a host of other applications. Other industrial applications are likely to spin off from this progress.
The sixth development is signing bilateral agreements with the Russian Space Agency, which has expressed an interest in launching satellites from South Africa.
The seventh is signing partnerships and co-operation agreements with the European Space Agency and the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration, amongst others.
We have also drafted a new policy on intellectual property rights from publicly funded research. This was approved by Cabinet in January for public consultation, and is intended to ensure that we derive maximum benefit from the R2,8 billion that government invests annually in research at universities and science councils.
The policy aims to unify the myriad approaches that the South African institutions have taken to protect their researchers’ ideas, and to share the benefits derived therefrom. While patenting by publicly funded institutions has grown worldwide in the past decade, this has not happened in South Africa, partly because of the lack of a coherent policy and well- defined incentives and obligations.
Public workshops have been undertaken in Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town to elicit the views of researchers, industry, universities and science councils, and once this process has been completed, the policy will be refined and legislation drafted.
In collaboration with National Treasury, my department has structured a framework for reporting on science and technology expenditure across government. This framework includes a survey instrument with internationally benchmarked definitions. It will allow science and technology expenditure reporting by all government departments to be integrated into Estimates of National Expenditure reports, after which the department will be able to analyse such expenditure and give a comprehensive review of the trends, intent and scope of science and technology spending.
Appropriately, the department has been given the lead in developing promising and emerging areas of science and technology. We also support other government departments to make informed decisions involving the sciences, innovation and technological applications to support their service-delivery initiatives.
Among the pressing national challenges we face, is the alarmingly small human resource pool in science and technology. In this regard, we note with relief that the 2005 State of Skills in South Africa released by the Department of Labour shows that the vast majority, some 95%, of engineers and medical scientists find employment within six months after graduation. This finding is a key pointer of how we can deal with the growing challenge of graduate unemployment. My department is conducting a follow-up survey of the science graduates who were not included in the earlier survey.
We continue to face a basic problem with both the quantity and quality of entrants to higher education programmes in the sciences and engineering. We also find that those who succeed at undergraduate level seldom enter postgraduate research. We have to bring larger numbers of younger researchers into the system, and ensure that they develop viable research careers. This is a key focus of my department.
We intend to work more closely with the Department of Education in building the capacity of our institutions, to produce more scientists and engineers, and improve the attractiveness of academic careers and increase the time spent by young academics on research.
Having highlighted the challenges in human capital development, I would like to address some of my department’s interventions in this regard. Firstly, through the Research Chairs Programme, we intend to produce 210 new and highly relevant research professorships by 2010. These research chairs will underpin the renewal of higher education research founded on our national needs. This is intended to spawn a substantial increase in the number of new entrants into the National System of Innovation, in order to develop sufficient capacity to increase our output in the critical science and technology areas identified by the National Research and Development Strategy.
Secondly, the department has also established a common value system for the Centres of Excellence. Six centres were launched in 2004, with a budget of R25 million, and they will be funded for a 10-year cycle. A seventh centre, the SA Centre for Epidemiology, Modelling and Analysis, was recently launched. It will focus on research and human capital development in mathematical modelling of HIV/Aids, malaria and tuberculosis on the African continent.
Thirdly, we are confident that these measures, including the Research Post- Doctoral Fellowship Programme, will begin to increase the number of highly qualified South Africans in critical areas of science and technology. However, we need new efforts to ensure success.
Fourthly, we have initiated Phase 2 of the special internship programme in science and technology at our research councils and the Tshumisano Technology Stations.
Fifthly, the Youth into Science Strategy will be presented to Cabinet this year. We hope it will attract dedicated resources to implement the expansion of the Dinaledi Programme, by providing career guidance and extending the Network of Science Centres Programme. The implementation of the strategy will also provide an effective tool for tracking young people with potential, and introducing new measures to alleviate the financial burden on successful undergraduate students to enable them to pursue postgraduate research on a full-time basis.
Embedded in all these programmes are measures to ensure that the participation of blacks and women in science and technology is intensified. [Applause.]
From the technology sector’s perspective, the decisions we are required to make in the field of nanotechnology are interesting and typical of the complexities characterising the entire field of science and technology. We have now published our Nanotechnology Strategy. Nanotechnology, and its building block, nanoscience, promise to produce smaller, cheaper, lighter and faster devices with greater functionality that use fewer raw materials and consume less energy. Nanotechnology will drive the business revolution into the 21st century. We are determined to ensure South Africa joins the international competitiveness race that nanotechnology expertise promises to provide.
Possible areas in which nanotechnology can find applications include: firstly, the development of “intelligent drugs” that allow for slow release of medicine into the body for the treatment of diseases such as TB and HIV; secondly, programmable nanomachines that can clean up waste dumps, or even human arteries; and thirdly, nanosensors that can measure changes in the environment such as moisture levels and temperature.
In the area of information and communication technology, we will establish the Centre for High Performance Computing. This national resource will support a diverse base of researchers and scientists, and facilitate the collaboration and multidisciplinary approach needed to solve today’s complex computational problems. Its research objectives are to provide high- end computing and computing expertise for all research in South Africa in natural sciences, medicine, engineering and social sciences. Its first major capacity will be located at the University of Cape Town.
The centre will function as a national innovation platform and deliver a significant return on investment for the country, by harnessing the application of high-performance computing for positive social impact, particularly on research on major infectious diseases such as HIV/Aids and promoting advanced manufacturing technology.
The Centre for High Performance Computing and the SA Research Network, which I mentioned earlier, form the backbone of an emerging cyber infrastructure in South Africa. This infrastructure will support research initiated in other elements of our science and technology infrastructure, such as the Square Kilometre Array, the National Bioinformatics Network and the Global Earth Observation System of Systems.
The biotechnology sector is also attracting a fast-growing portion of research and development funding. Funding for genetic engineering grew by 360% between 2002 and 2004. Investment growth in related fields such as biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology, microbiology, genetic engineering and biotechnology exceeded 46%.
South Africa has a very high level of commitment to biotechnology, underpinned by a vibrant research sector. In this regard, we are also committed to developing biotechnology on a continental level. On 5 August 2005, the CSIR, representing South Africa, initiated a southern regional hub of the Nepad African Biosciences Initiative. Research related to agriculture, human and animal health, environment and industry, is being prioritised.
Between 1996 and 2000, South Africa produced 222 scientific articles on genetics and 459 scientific articles on microbiology. By comparison with other African countries, Kenya came closest to this level of research output with 53 and 173 scientific articles, respectively.
In terms of patents, South Africa appears on the list of countries with more than 100 European Patent Office applications during 2000. We are the only African country on the list, and 3% of our patent applications are related to biotechnology. Singapore leads the list, with 12% of its applications specifically relating to biotechnology. Biotechnology is a very promising field of activity indeed, and our successes in this area have encouraged us to bid to host the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology.
The South African candidate host institution for the centre is the Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine at the University of Cape Town, which is co-ordinating South Africa’s efforts in this network. Our national bid will be submitted next week, on 31 May. This network will provide a unique environment for research and training of African scientists on issues that have a direct impact on the wellbeing of the African population.
The Deputy Minister will dwell on some of our initiatives geared at impacting on some of the challenges we face as a developing country.
I am pleased to announce that the second biennial International Science, Innovation and Technology Exhibition, or Insite, will be hosted at the Sandton Convention Centre from 24 to 27 September 2006. [Applause.]
Insite 2006 will showcase our country’s achievements in science and technology and provide a platform for our international partners to tantalise us with theirs.
The deployment of Dr Rob Adam, after six and a half years as Director- General of Science and Technology, to the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa, has left a huge gap within the department, which will take some time to fill. However, it is pleasing to note that Dr Adam has not been lost to us, and we hope to continue to work with him to develop our national system of innovation.
We heartily welcome Dr Philemon Mphathi Mjwara as the new director-general. [Applause.] Dr Mjwara is a distinguished scientist and former member of the executive of the CSIR. As head of the CSIR National Laser Centre, he was instrumental in establishing the African Laser Centre. I am confident that Dr Mjwara possesses the right mix of skills and expertise to speed up our responses to national imperatives.
In conclusion, we wish to reiterate that speed gained equals time gained. To live in the past is to deny the existence of the future. We challenge all young people to join in the great struggle for careers in science, engineering and technology. Your parents laid the foundations for a great nation in this land. Now it is up to you to use your minds, your skills and your talents to make us a winning nation.
Fortunately, there are no speeding fines on the road to progress and prosperity. We can go as fast as we like. This includes those who still marvel at the black and white beard of their grandpas. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Mr E N N NGCOBO: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister and Deputy Minister, hon members, hon guests in the gallery, allow me to first open my speech by asserting the position of the ANC in the Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology, namely that we support Budget Vote No 18.
I support the budget on Science and Technology because I believe that there can be no viability or success of any other sector of our economy without science and technology being positioned as the engine of our national economic growth.
Developing countries today face enormous problems of poverty, hunger, malnutrition, epidemics, environmental degradation, dwindling natural resources and acute shortage of energy and potable water as a consequence of poor technological infrastructure within their states.
The global population passed a mark of 6 billion at the beginning of this century, and it is expected to touch the mark of 9 billion by 2050. About 90% of these will reside in developing countries, and South Africa’s economic population forms part of this lot.
Thus science and technology has to help find a solution to these problems, a task that has become even more difficult because of natural calamities and hazards such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc.
Science by nature is international, meaning that every nation can contribute to it. Yet much of the global population are left out of this process, thus creating a knowledge divide. Science is essential, not only for the development of knowledge but also as a basis for the development of technologies and a national innovation system for the economic growth of world nations and communities.
Furthermore, even decision-making has to be based on the best available knowledge from scientific research. This is as vital for the poorest farmer in Africa as it is for the CEOs of multinationals and political leaders around the world.
One of the major challenges of the 21st Century is reformulating science within the context of sustainable development. That is to say, we have to bring social sciences and natural sciences together in order to address issues of sustainable use of earth’s natural resources. This we can only achieve by developing a scientific agenda that is all participatory, involving different sectors of our society.
We in South Africa, like other scientific communities in the world, must begin to provide bridges over the knowledge divide. Since information is not knowledge, we must make an endeavour to bridge the digital divide, which may not, of course, necessarily be enough on its own. Nevertheless, science education must but ensure a scientifically literate population that can transform information to knowledge. Our young people must be attracted to careers in science and technology and we must strive to have at least one research university fully dedicated to science education based on a sound foundation of scientific research such as is the case with Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine in the UK, just to mention but one example. Yes, a university with such a kind of academic potential of scientific research power and intellect, as well as revolutionary social outlook, as to make it possible for this endeavour to produce a director of an aerospace research centre from the ordinary daughter of a rural peasant.
This effort should be in addition to that already in place in various universities, which the Department of Science and Technology has tasked with special functions to focus on areas of scientific research interest, as it has identified these as centres of excellence.
The latter move by the Department of Science and Technology was but one step in the right direction in the development of our science system. Indeed, to build a true knowledge economy where scientific knowledge can act as a basis for technological innovation and the development of national entrepreneurship there is no middle road but to encompass a wide interpretation of sciences, including natural, social, technological and health sciences.
Science and society are as indivisible as Juno’s swans. It is a well-known fact that science is not popular in schools and universities and not well understood by politicians and the public as well.
There is a three-body problem to be recognised within the concept of science and society, that is, the interaction of science, government and the news media. It is an odd situation in which none of the three elements is entirely compatible when each is working according to its normal standards.
This problem arises from the fact that politicians assume that science can provide definite answers to their dilemmas whilst on the other hand scientists, when asked to give guidance to politicians, back away from categorical statements and prefer to talk about an array of potential outcomes expressed in probabilities with error bars. This difficult situation between the two parties is further aggravated by the intervention of the press, which typically lobbies to provide the core information from which both groups have to make their decisions. This culminates in an unfortunate situation where politicians miss the opportunity to learn about the correct information on well established scientific consensus around some specific sections of many controversial subjects like stem cells in bio-technology, nuclear safety in nuclear power technology, climate change in environmental affairs, etc. Such are the challenges that decision-makers have to think through if science and technology has to become a component of our society. [Applause.]
What is the role of Parliament and its committees in this whole exercise? The role of Parliament and its committees is to give effect to visions and missions of various institutions of government by processing legislation that gives effect to the aforementioned objectives and goals. Subsequently, Parliament has to exercise effective oversight over the implementation of such supportive legislation to the departments and all the related institutions of the state.
According to the Public Service regulations, the executive authority of the department, in our case the Department of Science and Technology, is required to prepare a strategic plan for the department, stating amongst other things the department’s core objectives based on the constitutional and other legislative mandates, functional mandates, service delivery improvement programmes, etc, just to mention a few of these requirements. But over and above this there are also regulations issued in terms of the Public Finance Management Act of 1999, which provides for further requirements that strategic plans must relate to the medium-term expenditure framework as well as be submitted to Parliament at least seven days before the Budget Vote debate of the department.
In this regard, it comforts the Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology to submit before this House that indeed our Department of Science and Technology and the entities associated with it were able to meet these stated requirements. Presentations on strategic plans of various entities, including the Department of Science and Technology itself, were made before the Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology over the period beginning on 7 March 2006 to 29 March 2006. The portfolio committee was satisfied: Firstly, that the strategic planning process presented was clearly defined; secondly, that there was prioritisation of what would be accomplished in the future and clear identification of what would and would not be done; thirdly, that critical success factors during the strategic planning process were clearly addressed; fourthly, that the strategic plans were flexible enough to accommodate any unforeseen changes to external environmental factors and lastly, that all the components of their strategic planning process were linked and integrated from the top to the bottom, that is, from the vision and mission statements right down to performance measures and targets.
In particular, the Department of Science and Technology as the mother body in the science system was able to demonstrate to the portfolio committee how hard they had worked to steer the department to be aligned with the President’s focus arising from his state of the nation address, that is, with regard to understanding where the economy was heading and the related development needs. Furthermore, I also include here efforts such as the department’s push for an increase in expenditure and research and development in both the public and private sectors.
The Department of Science and Technology was also instigative of the tax incentive announcement that was made by the Finance Minister in his budget speech, which is that a tax reduction of 15% would be made for private sector research effort, thus enhancing the push for the projected 6% economic growth by 2014.
The department has also long been configuring itself for social delivery to address issues of poverty that can make some social impact, including being part of the processes around government machinery with regard to modernising the economy using science and technology applications.
Centres of excellence, the SA Research Chairs Initiative, the Bio-diesel Joint Initiative and many other such initiatives are but some of the inputs that the department has made to address important themes of our ANC-led government.
In terms of databases’ as raised by the President in his state of the nation address, the department has developed support programmes for internships, which are parallel to Accelerated Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa work.
With regard to the indigenous knowledge system, the department has upgraded this focus area to a sub-programme of the department, which means that it is now enjoying more attention than ever before.
Despite all the good efforts of the department as elaborated above, there were a few disappointments which the portfolio committee made a note of with regard to some of the Department of Science and Technology’s associated entities, and the necessary recommendations were made to the department and these entities to have the situation improved. Some of these include a lack of co-ordination among these entities in their similar activities with common objectives; a failure to roll out on a nationwide scale those projects that seem to be working and making a social impact; a lack of swift, responsive decision-making on those projects that seem to be working but at the same time seem to be costly to sustain due to scarcity of local skills and other related challenges - for example, the hydroponics and leather projects in Beaufort West; a lack of prioritising additional funding for strategic divisions in some departmental institutions of strategic importance to our nation’s research potential and security, such as the wind-tunnels in the aerospace division of the CSIR; ageing geo- mapping equipment in the case of the Council for Geo-science, which is at the centre of our mineral economy, which in turn forms the heart and soul of our very existence as a viable economy on the continent and in the world.
I have chosen to highlight these oversight observations of our portfolio committee not because I aim to discredit the department’s credible efforts and successes, which no doubt are unquestionable in so far as the development of our science system is concerned at this juncture of our national democratic revolution; on the contrary, my main objective here is actually to make a parliamentary appeal to the National Treasury and the Budget Committee on behalf of the department and the relevant associated entities that they be given a hearing with regard to funding in order that they may be able to meet national mandates.
Strategic plans, which are not based on realistically available financial resources, are simply wish lists and public relations documents rather than management tools that can be used as instruments for accountability. Unless Parliament exercises meaningful and effective oversight, which must be preceded by reasonable budget allocations to departments for them to execute their national mandates, the so-called strategic planning and budgeting is most likely to degenerate into nominal compliance with formats where complex methodologies such as balanced scorecards, log-frames, etc, become substitutes for strategic thinking rather than reflections of strategic choices. Thank you very much, Chairperson. [Applause]
Me A M DREYER: Voorsitter, Suid-Afrika het ’n trotse rekord op die gebied van wetenskaplike ontwikkeling en tegnologie, vanaf die vroegste tye tot nou toe. Tegnologiese ontwikkeling het eintlik in Suider-Afrika begin. Ons kan dit terugvoer tot by die Wieg van die Mensdom in my kiesafdeling, Mohale City in Gauteng. ’n Besoek aan die lewende museum daar, Maropeng, wys duidelik dat tegnologie in die vorm van die eerste klipgereedskap, saam met die mensdom, meer as 2,5 miljoen jaar gelede in der waarheid hier ontstaan het. Sedertdien het sy prestasie Suid-Afrika wêreldwyd tussen die voorstes geplaas.
Bepaalde tekortkominge bedreig egter hierdie tegnologiese voorsprong: die groeiende energiekrisis en die gereelde kragonderbrekings in Johannesburg en Kaapstad onderstreep watter belangrike rol tegnologie in ons daaglikse lewens speel. Ek wil graag vier uitdagings noem: Eerstens, probleme met krag en riolering is dikwels te wyte aan ’n vaardigheidskrisis en die ernstige tekort aan tegnici, vakmanne en ingenieurs. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Instituut vir Siviele Ingenieurswese reken die bedryf het reeds tussen 3 000 en 6 000 bykomende siviele ingenieurs nodig om projekte vir ekonomiese uitbreiding die hoof te bied. Hierdie tekorte word dramaties geïllustreer as ons Suid-Afrika met ander lande vergelyk. Suid-Afrika het tans ongeveer een siviele ingenieur per 3 000 mense, teenoor Brasilië, wat ongeveer een siviele ingenieur per 200 mense het. Dit is die rede hoekom Brasilië besig is om ’n tegnologiese wêreldleier te word en die hoogs gesofistikeerde Embraer-vliegtuie uit te voer.
Die enigste langtermynoplossing is eenvoudig om meer siviele ingenieurs te produseer. Dit bring ons egter by die volgende uitdaging. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Ms A M DREYER: Chairperson, South Africa has a proud record in the area of scientific development and technology, from earliest times until the present. Technological development actually started in Southern Africa. We can trace it back to the Cradle of Humankind in my constituency, Mohale City in Gauteng. A visit to the living museum there, Maropeng, clearly shows that technology, in the form of the first stone implements, did in fact start here, together with humankind, more than 2,5 million years ago.
Since then its achievement has placed South Africa amongst the foremost countries in the world.
However, specific shortcomings threaten this technological lead: the growing energy crisis and the regular power failures in Johannesburg and Cape Town emphasise the important role technology plays in our daily lives. I would like to mention four challenges. Firstly, problems with power and sewerage are often due to a skills crisis and the serious shortage of technicians, experts and engineers. The South African Institute of Civil Engineering estimates that the industry already needs between 3 000 and 6 000 additional civil engineers to cope with projects for economic expansion. These shortages are dramatically illustrated when we compare South Africa to other countries. At present South Africa has approximately one civil engineer per 3 000 people, compared to Brazil, which has approximately one civil engineer per 200 people. This is the reason why Brazil is becoming a technological world leader and is exporting the highly sophisticated Embraer aeroplanes.
The only long-term solution is simply to produce more civil engineers. This, however, brings us to the next challenge.]
Science and maths, as school subjects, are essential to the later study of engineering but the teaching of these subjects faces serious obstacles. Research by the Centre for Development and Enterprise shows that in 2001, about 14% of South Africa’s maths teachers did not meet the minimum requirements of the education department. The proportion of Matric students taking maths has dropped about 20% over the last 20 years. To excel, we must improve the standard of teaching maths and increase its popularity as a Matric subject.
A third challenge is the lack of sufficient national investment in research and development. Figures released by the Organisation for Economic Co- operation and Development show that worldwide the average national investment in research and development across public and private sectors annually is about 2,1% of GDP – with Korea spending much more. South Africa is far behind with only 0,76% of GDP. That is why South Africa imports Hyundai motors from Korea. Drastic action is necessary to rectify this problem.
The DA therefore welcomes the fact that the Department of Science and Technology will receive an additional allocation of R1,2 billion over the medium term, mainly to support research infrastructure and to train scientists. Well done, Minister.
A fourth and last challenge is that of freedom of experimentation. Freedom is vital for the development of science and technology, as the collapse of the Communist countries in Eastern Europe’s economies clearly shows. History shows, time and again, how political interference and ideological motivation have stopped and even reversed technological advances. During the fifteenth century, China had treasure fleets, each consisting of hundreds of ships with crews of up to 28 000, sailing as far as the East Coast of Africa. But then the Chinese authorities stopped sending fleets, disallowed oceangoing shipping, and eventually dismantled the shipyards. Then China lost its technological lead to the formerly backward Europe. This destiny-changing event happened because of an ideological decision that was taken within a highly centralised system.
Science prospers … [Interjections.] I’ll come to that just now, but it is good to take some lessons from history. Science prospers in a free society that encourages diversity and guarantees intellectual property rights. I am sure Minister Mangena will agree with a fellow mathematician, the highly acclaimed Robert Oppenheimer, who said of the relationship between science and society: There must be no barriers to freedom of enquiry. There is no place for dogma in science. The scientist is free and must be free to ask any question, to doubt any assertion, to seek any evidence, to correct any errors. [Applause.]
Private initiative plays a crucial role in the development of science and technology. Minister Mangena argues that research and development is critical to economic development, and we agree with him. When he is concerned about the marked reduction in research and development work by the private sector, we share that concern with him. More than half of the current national spending on research and development is still conducted by the private sector. They will play an even bigger role if they are given the necessary incentives. Thus the DA welcomes the bigger tax breaks for companies.
Encouraging co-operation between state and other institutions and also joint ventures will lead to exciting developments, and I will mention two examples.
Eerstens, danksy samewerking tussen die staat en nie-staatinstellings – en die Minister het daarna verwys in sy toespraak – is Suid-Afrika, in menige opsigte, steeds op die voorpunt van tegnologiese ontwikkeling. Suid-Afrika se eerste satellite, SunSat, deur die Universiteit van Stellenbosch ontwikkel, word nou opgevolg deur Leo, met ’n skerper beelddefinisie. Leo gaan om die aarde wentel en waardevolle inligting na ons toe terugstuur, ter ondersteuning van landboudienste, die toepassing van omgewingswetgewing en die bestuur van ons waterbronne, asook oor dreigende natuurrampe, soos orkane en tsoenami’s. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Firstly, thanks to the co-operation between the state and non-government organisations – and the Minister referred to this in his speech – in many respects South Africa is still in the lead with regard to technological development. South Africa’s first satellite, SunSat, developed by the University of Stellenbosch, is now succeeded by Leo, with sharper image definition. Leo will orbit the earth and transmit back to us valuable information in support of agricultural services, the implementation of environmental legislation and the management of our water resources, as well as regarding imminent natural disasters such as hurricanes and tsunamis.]
Secondly, a South African multiparty delegation recently attended a congress of the Interparliamentary Union in Kenya. I was privileged to be part of the team, consisting of members Madikiza of the UDM – he is not here today; Lucas of the IFP; Greyling of the ID; Njikelana, Mgabadeli and Bapela of the ANC, with the NCOP Deputy Chairperson Peggy Hollander as the leader. On our last evening in Nairobi, the SA High Commissioner Memela hosted a function in honour of a South African team that is promoting a new, cleaner diesel fuel, developed from gas to liquid in a joint venture between Sasol and Chevron.
The team was driving their 4X4 vehicles throughout Africa, from Cape Town to Qatar, promoting this new fuel. Their vehicles were parked outside the hotel and attracted a lot of attention from the public and media alike. The vehicles were clearly marked, African Renaissance. I am holding this up and I hope you can see it. There is the South African team with one of our delegates and the vehicle clearly marked. The DA supports Minister Mangena, the professional officials in his departments, their objectives and this Budget Vote. The DA agrees: A South African Renaissance requires - no, indeed demands - a greater focus on science and technology. [Applause.]
Mr A MLANGENI: On a point of order: The hon Dreyer makes some very important and interesting points, which would have been appreciated if she were a member of the Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology. When has she joined it, because I don’t remember seeing her in that committee?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr K O BAPELA): I don’t think it is a point of order. Let us leave it like that.
Mr W P DOMAN: The hon member must just check his ATCs and then he’ll know. The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr K O BAPELA): Thank you. I said that it was not a point of order. I am ruling it out of order. I want to take this opportunity to recognise two guests on the gallery as being among the guests of the Office of the Speaker. They are Basetsana Ramokoka from the Fezeka High School and also Tersia Cupido, grade 10, from the Harold Cressey High School. There they are. They were just about to walk out. [Applause.] They are here as part of Parliament’s Take a Girl Child to Work. Parliament is also involved in that project. I want to acknowledge their presence.
Mnr H J BEKKER: Mnr die Voorsitter, dit is ’n voorreg om te volg op die agb Dreyer, en as die probleem van die agb Mlangeni ook ter sprake is daar, sal hy nog ’n slag weer moet dink as hy my hier sien! (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Mr H J BEKKER: Mr Chairman, it is a privilege to speak after the hon Dreyer, and if the problem of the hon Mlangeni is also under discussion there, he will have to think again if he sees me here!]
In 2003-2004 South Africa spent about R10 billion on research and development. That’s about 0,81% of our gross domestic product. That amount was already R3 billion more than the 2001 figure and shows that the country realised the importance of diverting more financial resources to research and development.
Mr Minister, your announcement today that you will endeavour to increase funds allocated to research and development to 1% of GDP is a step in the right direction. We wish you well in your crusade to change the mindset in South Africa. The IFP welcomes that recognition on the part of government. However, we still lag far behind countries such as Sweden and Finland, which spend 4% and 3,5% of their GDPs respectively.
South Africa’s research and development spend is less than that of even countries like China and the Russian Federation. In addition to the comparatively low spending of South Africa, the country has a further problem in that we have only 2,2 researchers per 1 000 employees. Even though South Africa had recently realised that more funding for research and development was needed, it financed about 30% of the country’s total research and development spending whilst the balance came from statutory bodies and the private sector.
The private sector, in particular, spends about 50% of all research and development money and performs 55% of all the research and development work in South Africa. It is therefore clear that we have a three-way problem: not enough funding, not enough scientists and researchers and not enough research and development performed by state institutions. It is therefore poignant to ask the question: What must South Africa do to advance science and technology, and research and development to create world-class technologies and products? The answer is straightforward: spend more, train more scientists and researchers, and create an enabling environment in which they can perform to the best of their ability.
Our country’s history is rich in world-class scientific and technological innovations. There is no reason why its present and its future should not be the same. If we do what the IFP proposes, we are confident that South Africa’s scientists can come up with innovative technologies and products that will not only feature on the high technology world stage but can also make a difference in the daily lives of our people, many of whom live in abject poverty and at this stage do not always benefit from scientific advances, or sometimes such advances do not reach our rural community who count amongst the poorest.
In order to achieve success in science and technology, we have to start at school level. It will be of little use if we increase funding but still have a limited number of scientists and researchers who will do something with it. We must prepare our children at school level so that they can pursue science and technology at tertiary level.
The shocking figures of Matric, regarding mathematics, also indicate the need and shortage of qualified and dedicated science and mathematics teachers in this country. South Africa must therefore concentrate more on science education of our children. Schools must be resourced fully with scientific equipment, especially computers so that the younger generation can be fully computer literate. More children should be encouraged to take science subjects and mathematics to fully prepare them for eventual careers in science and technology and also for innovation. Only if our younger generation turns to science and technology early will we be able to reap the rewards later.
Minister, your recognition of this essential switch in education priorities is indeed welcomed. Not only do we require scientists but our greatest shortage concerns technical assistance and technicians. Many of these technicians can be trained through practical training, which can even be done outside our universities and technikons.
We are proud of the positive moves that are taking place at the moment. Also, I would like to mention in this regard Denel, particularly Kentron and Denel Optronics. They should find partnerships in developing advanced surveillance and defence systems. The added benefit, particularly through partnerships with British Aerospace and Saab Gripen, will lead to financial success, which can eventually turn the financial fortunes of Denel around. In public entities, research and development - as well as worthwhile innovative projects in the private sector - should be supported.
Thank you, hon Minister, for your efforts regarding ground-to-space surveillance. That goes even far beyond the SALT at Sutherland. Should we be successful with our bid regarding the site in the Northern Cape, this will be a tremendous developmental boost for one of the poorest areas in our country. Our best wishes go with the government with regard to this particular aspect.
Mr Minister, in the few seconds that I am left with, I want to say that we, from the IFP side, support this budget indeed. We wish you and the Deputy Minister very well. You are doing outstanding work and we admire that. Thank you very much. [Applause].
Mr A R AINSLIE: Chairperson, hon Minister, Deputy Minister and colleagues, thank you very much. Chairperson, I thought the hon Mr Mlangeni made a very valuable point. If the hon Mrs Dreyer attended the portfolio meetings, she would know that the matter of science education and mathematics education at schools is being dealt with by both the Department of Science and Technology, and the Department of Education.
In fact, we had a meeting on this very question on Wednesday, at which the hon member was absent. If for whatever reason she cannot attend these meetings, she should get a briefing from her colleagues, who also ought to attend.
The ANC noted at its 51st National Conference at Stellenbosch, in 2002, that the eradication of poverty is an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. It further noted that local economic development is critical for employment-creating growth. The conference resolved to develop local economic development strategies that stimulate local production and commerce, including home industries, and to build institutions that stimulate commercial initiatives and broaden ownership.
It is in this context of eradicating poverty and creating local economic development that we must locate the Budget Vote of the Department of Science and Technology. Science and technology impacts on every aspect of human activity, from space science and medical science to agricultural science and sports science.
The issues that the department deals with often cut across other departments, for example, issues of water, energy and sanitation. It is for this reason that there is close collaboration between the Department of Science and Technology and other departments. In South Africa, an important aspect of science is its application in meeting the needs and challenges of the second economy, poverty, unemployment, and marginalisation.
In this regard, the department, through the entities falling under its control, and in co-operation with other government departments, is making an important contribution to the elimination of poverty, the creation of employment and bridging the divide between the formal and informal economies.
The crosscutting nature of the department’s interventions, the need for departmental collaboration, and the social impact that technology can make are well illustrated by an example given by the Deputy Minister in the department’s 2004-05 annual report. The Deputy Minister reports that the Department of Science and Technology and the Buffalo City Municipality launched a pilot project focusing on the water, sanitation and energy needs of 290 homes.
The municipality’s approach to water-borne sanitation was unsustainable. Officials came up with an innovative solution, and demonstrated that dry sanitation can be placed inside the house, without odour or hygiene problems. They have also shown that the so-called grey water can be safely managed on site by the homeowner.
The result is that there will be no need for sewerage reticulation or treatment works, and the municipality will save money and the system will be more environmentally friendly. As the Deputy Minister pointed out, this project also illustrates that poverty alleviation and large innovative projects can be simultaneously managed in a complementary manner. The success of such initiatives is borne out by their wide social impact.
The department employs three key approaches in its attempt at eradicating poverty: Firstly, poverty alleviation strategies; secondly, income- generating initiatives, and thirdly, sustainable human settlement strategies, which include initiatives to improve service delivery.
I wish to spend a little time in looking at the projects, which fall under the categories of poverty alleviation and income generation.
The department has been involved in a wide range of poverty alleviation projects. Many of these are on display outside in the foyer, next to the old Assembly Chamber, and we appeal to members to spend some time there, to look at what is available.
Some of these projects include beekeeping; indigenous food; mohair in the Eastern Cape; leather in KwaZulu-Natal and North West; seeds, essential oils, plant fibre in Mpumalanga and Limpopo, and papermaking in the Free State and Western Cape, to mention a few.
It is important for Members of Parliament, especially the ANC Members of Parliament, to be aware of any projects falling in their constituencies or in their regions. Our interventions in nurturing such projects and guiding them when problems arise can mean a difference between success and failure.
This has certainly been the case in my rural constituency of Ndwendwe in KwaZulu-Natal, where we have projects linked to small-scale mining and agriculture. One gains the sense that, after two years of monitoring the success and sometimes the failure of these projects, the department now has a sense of what works and what does not work.
This is important if we are to replicate successful projects in other parts of the country. There have been some exciting successes, and I want to mention one in a little bit of detail because I believe it illustrates some important points.
The Hydroponics Project at Beaufort West in the Karoo is managed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Hydroponics is the ancient science and art of growing plants in a medium other than soil. In the case of Beaufort West, the medium used is koya. This is irrigated with water in which all essential plant nutrients have been dissolved. This results in rapid plant growth and higher yields compared to conventional cultivation.
During the portfolio committee’s oversight programme last year, we visited the project. It is a section 21 company, employing over 60 people, most of them women. The company was started in 2002 with funding from both the department and the province.
The Beaufort West Municipality has been very supportive of the project. It contributes in the form of basic infrastructure, and the provision of discounted electricity and water. The company produces a variety of vegetables and herbs, including tomatoes, spinach and coriander. Some products are sold locally. The bulk is transported in refrigerated vehicles to two up-market national food chains in Cape Town. The company aims to deliver up to 1 000 kg of fresh products per week.
The project meets certain key requirements for the success of projects of this type. Firstly, it was undertaken after in-depth research and proper feasibility studies. Secondly, workers are thoroughly trained, and the training is ongoing, and high standards of quality control are applied. Thirdly, reliable markets were identified early in the development of the project. As in any sustainable commercial enterprise, the search for new markets and production opportunities is ongoing. Fourthly, the support of local stakeholders was secured early in the project. The local municipality has played an important role in its success. The project also indicates the key developmental role that government entities falling under the department, such as the CSIR, can play.
One little cloud on the horizon with regard to this project is its cost. If we do not manage to bring the costs down, then the long-term sustainability of this project could be in question.
There can be little doubt that in the few short years of the department’s existence, it has used the application of science and technology to make an important contribution to eradicating poverty and the creation of employment.
As a country, we have set ourselves the target of halving poverty and unemployment by 2014. The Department of Science and Technology has a pivotal facilitating role to play in achieving this development goal and other development goals. The committee’s oversight visits; our numerous interactions with the department and entities under its control suggest that there are several areas where we can improve if we are going to make a meaningful contribution to the eradication of poverty.
The Human Sciences Research Council has undertaken a survey of the department’s poverty alleviation projects in agriculture, small-scale mining, and in health and energy sectors. In its preliminary findings, it has found that the existing batch of technology transfer projects is too small to have a meaningful impact on South Africa’s poverty.
Too many projects have a technology transfer strategy that is out of sync with the resources and the needs of the country, and there is a need for evidence-based technology transfer strategies. Chairperson, is this watch correct?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr K O Bapela): It is not yet time. Mr A R AINSLIE: Chairperson, following from some of our recent meetings with the department, I believe that some of these concerns are being taken care of, and it would be useful if the committee could in fact get a copy of this HSRC report, and any other reports and any audits that have been undertaken regarding the various poverty alleviation projects that fall under the department. Thank you. With that I conclude. The ANC supports the Budget Vote. [Applause.]
Mr V C GORE: Hon Minister, Deputy Minister and hon members, the Department of Science and Technology remains one of the unseen and unsung heroes, compared to other departments in South Africa.
The department continues to move ahead with intent and to make an impact on the South African society that is often disproportionate to the resources allocated. In this regard, the ID would like to pay tribute to the outgoing Director-General, Mr Rob Adams, for the excellent work he has done in establishing a solid foundation for the department, and we are looking forward to working with the new Director-General, particularly around Dr Adam’s establishment of a legacy of innovation.
In particular, the department has been able to put South Africa on the world map in terms of international research in the field of space and astronomy research, especially with the opening of the SA Large Telescope. It is hoped that this accolade, together with the Karoo Array Telescope, bodes well for the awarding of the Square Kilometre Array Telescope in South Africa.
Despite these successes, the ID has a number of concerns that we would like to table. These concerns should not be construed in any way as a lack of support for the department’s work, but I believe that if these are addressed, it will add even further to its impact on this country.
Firstly, the ID is concerned that government, in particular the Department of Science and Technology, continues to spent unnecessary amounts of money on the pebble bed modular reactor (PBMR). The ID believes that the PBMR technology is a black hole for resources, and will not have the economic and social impact as promised.
Additionally, there is a gross imbalance between the amounts of money spent on nuclear energy and research, and the amount of money spent on renewable energy resources such as solar, wind, biofuels, geothermal and wave energy.
By way of comparison, R650 million has been spent on pilot projects for internationally developed research around the PBMR while a paltry amount of R50 million has been allocated to South African homegrown solar power research.
The time has come, hon Minister, to put our money were our mouth is, particularly with making solid commitments to renewable energies, and our South African commitments to the Kyoto Protocol.
The ID is fully supportive of the department’s efforts around increasing the levels of skills in maths and science competency through programmes such as Public Understanding of Science, Engineering and Technology. However, we believe that these efforts should be doubled, if not trebled, to accelerate the use of technology in overcoming the socioeconomic challenges of this country, such as poverty eradication and job creation. [Time expired.]
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Chairperson, hon members, as government, we have set ourselves ambitious but realistic targets to achieve higher levels of economic growth. We are well on track. Most analysts say that we are likely to hit the 6% growth target well before
- And many economists say that there is no reason why we cannot achieve an even higher level of growth. But, as the Minister has stressed, we need to do a number of things with speed to get us there. I would like to add to this theme: the application of science and technological innovation will not only enable us to achieve faster growth, it will provide us with the tools to achieve greater growth and to ensure that our growth path is sustainable.
Of course, economic growth is only part of the challenge. We have always been very clear that growth is not an end in itself; it’s a means to an end, and the ultimate goal is the substantial improvement in the lives of our people. Shared growth does not mean that there will be some kind of trickle-down to the poor - it means that our programme to eradicate poverty and to provide all our people with access to clean running water, decent sanitation, better education and health services and electricity forms part and parcel of our chosen economic growth path.
All of these challenges have to be tackled with a sense of urgency and with speed, and we will need to apply the best of our country’s scientific expertise to ensure that our policies and programmes have maximum positive impact on the lives of the poor and that they are sustainable in the face of scarce and dwindling resources.
The question is: What is the role of science and technology in economic growth and in the improvement of the quality of life of our people? And what is the Department of Science and Technology doing in this regard? The short answer is: a lot! But it is for you, hon members, to satisfy yourselves that we are moving in the right direction and that we are applying our budget in the right way.
On the economic front, Minister Mangena has mentioned a number of programmes that have significant potential to make our country more competitive internationally and to achieve greater and more rapid growth. It is widely accepted that among the most serious challenges we face is the scarcity of well-trained people in certain critical areas. And along with that comes entrepreneurial ability as well as access to capital and technology at the SMME level.
A strong economy, and especially one that can achieve the goal of shared growth, requires a dynamic small business sector. It was in recognition of this, as well as the realisation that there was a serious gap in the provision of technical support to SMMEs, that the Tšhumišano Trust was set up. The programme aims to enhance the innovative capacity and competitiveness of SMMEs. The Tšhomišano Trust currently supports 10 technology stations covering a range of needs in diversified sectors, including chemical engineering, electronics materials and processing technologies, moulded plastics and clothing and textiles. These technology stations are based at technology universities and technikons around the country.
The most recently established station focuses on food processing technologies, and is based just up the road at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. I would like to give you a brief description of the work that is being done at this station. I believe this will give hon members a better appreciation of the immense potential this programme has, not only in achieving better performance of our SMMEs, but also in making these key sectors more competitive.
South Africa’s fresh produce exports account for R12 billion in foreign exchange revenue. Its growth over the past decade has been facilitated largely through supply-chain infrastructure in terms of ports, local manufacturing of tank containers and packaging materials, quality control and certification bodies.
Post-harvesting and coal chain technologies are evolving at a rapid pace. If we are to maintain and improve our competitive position in the global market, we will not only have to introduce new technologies in this industry, but we will also have to develop our own brand of innovation. If we fail to innovate, we risk losing market share to competing countries such as Chile, Brazil, Argentina and Australia. This includes post-harvest technologies for cooling, disease control, preservation, sorting, packaging and storage and freight technologies such as refrigerated tank containers.
This food processing station will also do work on packaging technologies, including biodegradable packaging, nano-silver enhanced packaging, collapsible crates and pellets, systems control and automation. This would offer significant economic opportunities to SMMEs in the manufacturing sector.
The other exciting new development is the establishment of additional technology stations in agri-food processing in Limpopo and Mpumalanga. These initiatives, emanating from the department’s izimbizo that were held in 2003 and 2004, will address an important need in these relatively underserved provinces. The first of these stations will be launched before the end of July 2006.
The department is confident that its investment in these areas of technology will make a real difference in maintaining or developing a competitive edge in these industries.
I would like to turn now to some of the work the Department of Science and Technology is doing on the energy front in partnership with the Department of Minerals and Energy. The Minister correctly said that the Department of Science and Technology is essentially about working in partnerships with a number of departments. It will not be possible for our economy to realise its full potential unless we have a reliable energy supply. Our mines depend on it, our factories depend on it, and so do our hospitals and schools. Access to a reliable and affordable supply of energy is crucial to both our economic growth targets and our social development programmes. No country in the world has managed to substantially reduce poverty without increasing its energy use.
What makes this work that we are doing in this field particularly challenging, though, is that we are not only grappling with the challenge of affordable and reliable access. Our choices are critical. Over- exploitation of fossil fuels has resulted in serious pollution and contributed largely to the disturbing changes in global climate patterns. The oilfields are fast running dry. Some 92% of our electricity comes from coal-fired generators, but the supply of coal is not infinite.
In the ANC election manifesto, we made a commitment that all South African households would have access to electricity by 2012. Huge progress has been made since 1994, and we are confident that we will meet the target, but our scientists and researchers will have to give careful thought to a number of questions: How are we going to extend the benefits of energy access to people who live in remote rural areas and to many of our poorest people who live in informal settlements? What should we do to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels? And what is the Department of Science and Technology doing to address these challenges?
Although we have a good grasp of the challenges, we need to do some hard research to identify the best solutions, given our needs and our finite resources. Much of this research will be done at the Energy Research Institute to be launched later this year by the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Minerals and Energy. SANERI, as this institute will be known, will be housed at the Central Energy Fund. A total of R20 million has already been transferred to the fund to get the work going, and we will invest more than R100 million over the next three years to develop knowledge and applications in this field.
SANERI is designed to generate new ideas and to develop practical guidelines for how we can best take advantage of what nature offers us in the form of clean and renewable energy. Every country has its own potential renewable energy resources: some have enormous hydroelectricity potential, others have biomass or wind power. Iceland, for example, gets 70% of its energy from geothermal and hydropower sources. Wind supplies 20% of Denmark’s energy. Our challenge is to identify the energy options available to us and to develop the technologies to fully exploit our own resources.
Harnessing the huge energy potential from sunlight in our own sunny country is a good starting point. Solar panels are reliable and are already cost- effective in certain applications such as provision of power to remote locations. The cost of panels has decreased more than twenty-fold over the past two decades. Present research focuses on further reducing costs to a level that will enable widespread use. It is generally accepted that this goal will be achieved through the introduction of solar panel technologies involving a variety of new materials.
Scientists from the universities of Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Pretoria are working in a consortium on this project. The successful establishment of a solar panel industry, driven by local expertise, offers tremendous potential for addressing South Africa’s economic and social challenges. Our department is contributing R13 million over the next three years.
Electricity generation through solar panels is not the only way to capture the free energy from sunlight. Commercial solar hot water systems can be bought on the market and, in fact, it makes economic sense for all of us to convert to solar geysers. The problem, though, is that they are still far too expensive for poor people, many of whom do not have the luxury of hot water in their homes.
Our department is piloting a very low-cost solution to address this problem through the design of a simple hot water heating system. The parts needed for this newly designed system cost only about R350 and are readily available at any local hardware store. It can be put together quite simply using normal household tools. We have a pilot that is based in Kimberley. A working prototype that heats the water to 50 degrees Celsius has already been manufactured and is being tested. When the design has been finalised it will be installed in 100 households in the settlements around Kimberley. If it proves to be successful it could conceivably be rolled out to hundreds of thousands of households around the country and really make a difference to the lives of many of our poorest people. [Applause.] What is really special about this project is that the development of the technology is not taking place in a university or a design office, but in fact on the factory floor by the people who will use it – a great example of local empowerment and science and technology at work for the people.
Our search for clean energy and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels has led us in another very promising direction. One of the major hopes for alternative energy lies in the development of the potential of hydrogen in what has been termed the hydrogen economy. This is really a hypothetical future economy in which the primary form of stored energy is hydrogen, where we would effectively run our vehicles on hydrogen rather than petrol and diesel. Hydrogen is abundantly available and does not pollute.
Platinum is the key catalytic material used in hydrogen fuel cells and with 80% of the world’s known platinum deposits, it is clear that this could open up exciting new opportunities for South Africa. As we speak, the focus is on developing a research and development strategy for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. The draft strategy will in fact be finalised next month and it has been allocated an initial budget of R10 million.
Biofuels represent another potential source, as hon member Gore said, of clean and renewable energy, and excellent work is being done in partnership with the Department of Minerals and Energy. The principle is simply that organic matter can be converted directly into liquid fuels. The two most common biofuels are ethanol and biodiesel. Work has been completed on the technical standards for biodiesel and tests have been conducted on six candidate crops. The biofuels industry initiative, apart from reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, promises substantial job creation and new business development opportunities.
So far I have been emphasising expanded access to energy and the need to move towards clean, renewable sources of energy. But perhaps this is putting the cart before the horse. We should probably first consider how we can use less energy or use the energy we have more efficiently. I would like to briefly tell you what our department is doing in that regard, and that is to enhance energy efficiency in houses. Unfortunately, most of our government-provided low-cost houses are so thermally inefficient that people spend large amounts of money just to keep warm on these bitter winter nights. Yet it is perfectly feasible to use energy more efficiently in our housing design and construction.
There are many examples of good design around the country, and our department, in conjunction with the Departments of Housing and Water Affairs and Forestry, is seeking to demonstrate and integrate better design into mainstream thinking. In Buffalo City, as mentioned by hon member Ainslie, six demonstration houses have been built. These houses are correctly orientated to benefit from the warming power of the sun and make use of dry sanitation to reduce the energy required to treat and pump potable water and sewerage, and these houses will also use insulated concrete forms and ceilings that have better thermal properties than bricks or concrete blocks.
Hon member, there is much more we could tell you about. The difficulty the Department of Science and Technology has in all our budget debates is where to start and where to end. Science is everywhere – there is science in sport, science in cooking, science in music, and I guess there is also a science in ending a speech! [Laughter.]
So, Chairperson, I’ll end by firstly thanking the portfolio committee for the great support they have given us in our work - I agree there is potentially a wonderful additional member sitting over there. Secondly, I would like to extend my appreciation to the Minister for the solid leadership he provides in the sector; and thirdly, I would like to thank all members of the department who are sitting there in the gallery for the passion and dedication with which they tackle their work.
And on that note we have to commend and say goodbye to that short fellow sitting up there in the Gallery called Dr Rob Adam, who has had a huge hand in bringing our system to where it is today. [Applause.] And then we welcome Dr Phil Mjwara, our new Director-General, who we are confident will take us to even greater heights.
And finally, a special word of thanks to all of the people doing quiet work behind the scenes in the Minister’s office, in my office – the staff of the Ministry. Thank you very much, Chairperson. [Applause.]
Mr B J MNYANDU: Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, distinguished guests in the gallery, officials of the department and hon members, the theme of my speech is science and education. It is often difficult to determine where education ends and where science begins; as the Deputy Minister has indicated, there is science everywhere. The line is blurred, given the reciprocal relationship that these two should have, and the fact that education is both the carrier of knowledge and science in its own right.
At a systemic level, through schools, education should supply various faculties of institutions of higher learning with students who should be in a position to be turned into scientists. In short, schools should lay the foundation for students to succeed at universities as they pursue their scientific knowledge. Is this always the case? Do schools always fulfil this mandate? That’s a question.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Education does not always produce intended outcomes, partly because it is informed by paradigms, which sometimes contradict one another, and partly because it can be a useful tool in the hands of an ideologist, such as apartheid masters. For instance, because of years of apartheid legacy, we have seen how Matric results contradict university results and, concerning the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine, the Sunday Times last year reported an 80% dropout rate among African students. Similarly this year, two weeks ago the same Sunday Times reported a dropout rate of about 50% among African students in general at universities in this country.
This situation is in direct contradiction to passes with 75%, or 8 A’s and 7 A’s, etc, that schooling results show at the end of each year. Yes, indeed, apartheid political philosophy and practice, especially in education, is dead, but, unfortunately, its demons live on and keep on raising their heads, as the cited statistics above reflect and as cited by hon Anchen Dreyer here this morning.
Fixing the results of years of apartheid deschooling, miseducation, misdirection and deprivation has never been easy. I agree with the Minister in this regard. This trend is reflected directly by the number of African students that pursue postgraduate studies. At the moment, one learns that our system produces one PhD out of every cohort of 500 undergraduate students.
Given the fact that 80% of the population in this country is African, a situation like this cannot be allowed to continue, if the country is to give expression to the new initiatives like Asgisa. That our system should produce an adequate number of PhDs and other scientists is a must, if there should be an articulation between schooling and higher education, science and education. Educators need to be both practitioners and scientists of their own profession.
Another area of concern, when it comes to schools preparing students for the higher education world of scientific study, is the dichotomy that apartheid education created between theory and practice – a notion that said, “Do theory now and worry about practice later.” Apartheid schooling became associated with consumption of theory, which would then be practised
- if you were lucky enough to be able to go to university.
In short, there was no simultaneous synergy between theory and practice. Students studied, for instance, force of gravity without even the slightest reference to and observation of how this applies to aeronautics. Similarly, research literacy was a big word often associated with Masters and PhD students or professors, somewhere at universities.
Today, as we struggle to correct this mess, we are confronted with the situation where some fourth year students at universities write like Grade 5 learners. We are confronted with situations where most African students at universities cannot write coherently and logically, which makes them take longer to finish their research. This state of affairs has been further complicated by language problems. It is therefore not uncommon for students to say, for instance, during a lecture, “Can I say this in my own language, Mr Mnyandu?”, and those kinds of things.
The dichotomy between schooling and university studies in the apartheid system created a situation where universities were the only custodians of knowledge production. School children and teachers were viewed as consumers of knowledge. It’s only the new curriculum that addresses this. Everybody can now be both constructors and consumers of knowledge.
It was these challenges that brought the departments of science and education … [Interjections.] Shut up! It was these challenges that brought the departments of science and education together to collaborate with each other to revamp …
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms C-S Botha): Hon member Mnyandu, I found that an unacceptable way of dealing with other members.
Mr B J MNYANDU: Chairperson, I withdraw. It was these challenges that brought the departments of science and education together to collaborate with each other to revamp apartheid education and replace … [Interjections.] If only they could keep quiet, hon Chairperson, and keep their mouths closed, unless their consciences are troubling them. [Interjections.] They were here – grandmasters designing the apartheid period. We will keep on referring to it.
The collaboration agreement that was signed in 2004 by the Director-General of Education and the Director-General of Science and Technology was a milestone in this regard. This agreement set out eight objectives around which education and science would collaborate. These are: setting performance targets for all mathematics, science and technology schools, especially African and female learners; placing in every mathematics, science and technology classroom a qualified and competent teacher; improving the language of teaching and learning mathematics, science and technology; identifying and nurturing talent and potential in mathematics, science and technology; making interactive digital content on mathematics, science and technology available via satellite, television, Internet, multimedia and education portals; and, most important of all, strengthening co-operation between the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Education in delivering the above objectives.
These initiatives could not have come at a better time. Indeed, as Shakespeare would say in Julius Caesar, and we say, Minister: “Only Cassius in bondage can deliver Cassius from bondage.” This budget and that of Education are committed to the above objectives.
With such collaboration, we can now hope to have a tracking system that will ensure that the Department of Science and Technology is able to track students it is investing in, and check if it is getting value for money. These are the measurables that will tell us if we are winning the war of producing scientists in this country and whether the spirit of Asgisa will finally be realised.
There are some areas of concern, though. The logistics put forward are very exciting. Indeed, we look forward to the age of hope. Some areas of concern are the following. The mother tongue instruction study conducted in 2002 suggested that African learners from low-income groups, whose language of instruction is not their mother tongue, continue to obtain lower scores. It also suggested that, since the curriculum demanded of them to be active participants, such learners experienced disempowerment, as they could not express themselves adequately. This is something that will require that a radical political decision be taken.
As far as self-discipline and motivation are concerned, there is a saying that says, “a self-disciplined learner is also a motivated learner.” There is also another one by Foucault that says, “the more disciplined the individual is, the more one cares for oneself, the more free one will be and the better one will govern others.” Paradoxically, it continues and says, “the less disciplined one is, the less free one will be and the worse one will govern others”. I am glad that even the education budget speech acknowledged that there is a challenge of discipline in schools. It’s a challenge that not a single political party should glorify.
Regarding the study leave with pay or stipend, I am one of those who benefited, some years ago, when teachers enjoyed study leave with pay. Without benefit and privilege, I do not see how I could have advanced my studies. I know that there are many challenges, Minister, but I also know that furthering one’s study, especially for previously marginalised people at the postgraduate level, advances our country as it increases the number of researchers.
I think we should aim at making sure that all our educators reach the level of a Masters degree, so that that can create synergy between research and literacy at lower and advanced levels of education.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms C-S Botha): Hon member, your time has expired. Mr B J MNYANDU: The ANC supports the budget, Mr Minister. Thank you very much. [Applause.] [Time expired.]
Ms S RAJBALLY: Chairperson, Minister, Deputy Minister, science and technology are the forerunners in our development as global competitors and in the advancement of modernising and constructing the new-age South Africa. Science and technology influences in the various departments of government – be it in health, education or transport - are vital in bringing South Africa in line with global trends and development. Science and technology also serves greatly in developing solutions for our many challenges as there are many projects working on finding a cure for HIV/Aids.
The MF realises the benefits our scientific and technological sector holds for our nation. We further commend the hon Minister and our Department of Science and Technology for steering us in terms of development, discovery and growth. Crucial in this development are the relations we forge abroad, lending our ideas and sharing our advances that serve progress and findings and introduce new methods and machinery for various faculties.
We have much to learn from places like India, where science and mathematics geniuses are many. The MF feels that strong relationship-building and visiting places abroad will enable us to get the tools to make progress in our own development.
The MF notes the Department of Science and Technology’s endeavours to promote greater growth in gender equality in this sector. The science award is a great motivation and encouragement, but the MF feels that persons in the medical and other science fields, such as microbiology and our doctors and nurses, need also to be commended in the light of awards for their great work and contribution.
The MF calls for an intense recruitment initiative to influence female learners to pursue engineering among other fields of science in order to have a balance in gender equity. In terms of the budget, we see the department has experienced a strong increase, which we welcome. We also see that much of the budget is aimed at developing science and technology infrastructure. The MF supports the Budget. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Prof I J MOHAMED: Hon Chair, it is an honour for me to participate in the Budget Vote of the Department of Science and Technology, and I support this Vote on behalf of the ANC.
Hon Minister Mangena, hon Deputy Minister Hanekom and Director-General Mjwara, it a pleasure for me to support the Budget Vote of your department. We are confident that the Budget Vote will drive the department to meet several of the challenges of science and technology, and help to create an advanced technological base for the development of industry and the economy. We are sure that this will help to meet the social challenges of job creation, unemployment and poverty.
I shall briefly outline the programmes of the department and their dedicated allocations to meet the targets set. I shall also discuss in more detail Programme 4: Frontier Science and Technology. The five programmes dedicated to serving departmental objectives and meeting the required targets are as follows: Programme 1: Administration, which provides core support services including finance, human resources, legal services and IT; Programme 2: Science and Technology Expert Services, which provides the line programmes, the executive committee and the national system of innovation with expert content-based services; Programme 3: International Co-operation and Resources - this programme develops bilateral and multilateral co-operation in science and technology to strengthen the national system of innovation. It also establishes capacity to monitor and evaluate international science and technology trends; Programme 4: Frontier Science and Technology - provides leadership for long-term and cross- cutting research development, innovation and human capital development; and Programme 5: Government Sectoral Programmes and Co-ordination, which provides leadership and support to other government departments for sector- specific research, development and technology.
The total budget allocation is R2,614 billion and increases to R3,25 billion over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework period, an increase of 16,7%. Budget allocations by programme are as follows: Administration has R211 million but will decrease to R87 million over the MTEF period; Science and Technology Expert Services has R52 million and will increase marginally to R58 million over the MTEF period; International Co-operation and Resources has R132 million and increases to R177 million over the MTEF period; Frontier Science and Technology has R1,4 billion and increases to R1,6 billion over the MTEF period; and Government Sectoral Programmes and Co-ordination has R0,4 million, which increases to R0,6 million over the MTEF period.
We note that the amount allocated to astronomy increases from the small R8 million to R127,6 million over the MTEF period, an increase of 1 495%. This increase will put South Africa on an equal footing with Chile, our major competitor in astronomy, as a world-class observational facility of astronomy.
This will strengthen the South African bid as a major contender for the Square Kilometre Array project, which is of worldwide importance and will attract researchers to the Southern African region if we win the bid. This would be of tremendous importance for South Africa and the Southern African region.
There are a large number of public organisations that undertake science and technology research and activities, which are of fundamental importance to our region and to science and technology. Some of the biggest ones crucial to developing our national knowledge base are the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the National Research Foundation, which is the funder of the research, the Human Sciences Research Council, and the Medical Research Council, to name a few. The Frontier Science and Technology programme is by far the largest programme of the Department of Science and Technology’s and is allocated R1,633 billion, and some 62,5% of the DST’s Budget Vote. Of this, R833 million is spent on Frontier Science, which is crosscutting research, development and innovation for a world-class science and technology resource-serving industry, academia and research institutions.
An amount of R750 million is spent on national programmes of knowledge and human capital. Focus areas include astronomy, human palaeontology and indigenous knowledge systems. In future, this programme will also fund research chairs in South African universities in strategic areas.
The Frontier Science and Technology programme makes large transfers to centres of excellence in the universities, the Biotechnology Strategy, the National Laser Centre, the Square Kilometre Array telescope, and the Southern African Large Telescope, all of which are of international importance.
The department has made major efforts over a number of years to increase our allocation of research and development, as a percentage of the gross domestic product. It is well known that the expenditure on R&D as a percentage of GDP is an important factor in improving our global competitiveness. It enables us to be more effective players in the global market and, thus, helps us reach leadership levels in that market.
The DST and the Department of Finance have set an intermediate goal of 1% for the MTEF period. This is still far short of the levels of that of the major technologically advanced countries, but it will give our country a major boost. By comparison, some of the countries in 2003 had much higher rates. Sweden, for example, had 4,27%; Finland had 3,49%; Japan had 3,15%; Denmark had 2,62%; the USA had 2,59%; the UK had 1,89%; while in 2001 Australia reached 1,49%. At that time South Africa had 0,69%, which, of course, subsequently increased. Malaysia had 0,4%; and South Korea had 2,47%.
This means that on the international market it is harder for us to compete, unless we can provide real leadership in products or we have a geographic or natural resource advantage for certain products, such as clear night skies for astronomy, and, for example, gold and diamonds.
The budget allocations by the Department of Finance for 2006 have made major concessions to increase the capacity in science and technology. Research and development receives an additional grant of R285 million, which will increase to R430 million in 2007-08 and to R600 million in 2008- 09, giving a total of R1,355 billion.
Minister Manuel also referred to the need to increase innovation and investment in new technology capable of competing internationally. The pebble bed modular reactor and the Nuclear Energy Corporation of SA - Necsa
- will receive an additional R600 million in 2006-07, and an extra amount of R850 million over the MTEF period. The PBMR will help to cut down on electricity outages when it comes into operation, as it will take a considerable time for Eskom to build new power stations. This is important so that industrial activity can go ahead uninterrupted.
All in all, additional expenditure allocated in the budget for industrial development, science and technology over the MTEF period will be R3,015 billion. The DST is taking the lead in a satellite development project, part of a three-year integrated capacity-building initiative for the aerospace industry. The intention is to increase satellite-engineering capacity and launch South Africa’s second micro satellite.
Under policy priorities … The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms C-S Botha): Hon member, your time has expired.
Prof I J MOHAMED: I would like to just say finally that the various meetings of the Minister of Science and Technology with the Department of Finance have paid off, and I particularly would like to acknowledge Dr Rob Adam …
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms C-S Botha): Hon member, you should have done that in your allocated time. I regret your time has expired.
Prof I J MOHAMED: I particularly … [Laughter.] … acknowledge Dr Rob Adam for the work he has done. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mr P J NEFOLOVHODWE: Madam Chairperson, Minister and Deputy Minister, one of the paradoxes of science is the fact that whilst science has the potential to change human life for the better, it also poses the potential to destroy this very noble possibility. And the manner in which world history has unfolded continues to prove that this paradoxical character of science is not just imaginary but real.
We are all aware of the agonising paths that we travelled as a people and the sacrifices we had to make when we had to free ourselves. During that time, science had been turned against the people. That is why one of the primary objects of AZAPO’s struggle is to develop a world-class education system that will enable all our people to participate equally and meaningfully in the pursuit of scientific knowledge.
However, this pursuit of scientific knowledge should not be for its own sake. This pursuit must, amongst others, help our country and its people to improve their quality of life. AZAPO is fully conscious of the fact that we have not as yet reached this stage of our development.
AZAPO also wants to acknowledge the significant advances that the DST has made in many crucial areas. AZAPO is particularly pleased by the DST’s constant attempts to demystify the elitism in science through its programme in science and youth. We however, wish to add that our only hope of sustaining the possibility and multiplying these modest gains is by placing greater emphasis on the programmes that focus on the young people of our country. This we believe will help to maintain a healthy balance between science and conscience. The director of the international … The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms C-S Botha): Hon member, your time has expired.
Mr P J NEFOLOVHODWE: I thank you. AZAPO supports the Budget Vote. [Applause.]
Mr J P I BLANCHÉ: Voorsitter, alvorens ek my toespraak begin, wil ek graag aanhaal uit verlede Sondag se Sake-Rapport:
Die metaal- en ingenieursektor het in 1982 sowat 13 000 vakleerlinge in opleiding gehad. Vandag is daar skaars 3 100. Die mynbedryf se vakleerlinge het in 1975 sowat 33 000 getel en teen die jaar 2000 was net 3 000 en vanjaar slegs 1 440.
Steve Collins van die McCarthy Motor Holdings groep sê:
Die toelatingsvereistes is al jare dieselfde: graad 9 vir motorbakwerk en graad 10 vir vakmanne. Intussen het die tegnologie in die motorbedryf egter so vinnig ontwikkel, dat die toelatingsvereiste nie meer voldoende is nie. Die vakman het al die insig en begrip van ’n junior ingenieur nodig.
SIFSA sê: Die beperkte aantal vakleerlinge wat die afgelope jaar by maatskappye vir opleiding in diens geneem is, toon hoe die stadige toevloei tot ’n droogte van opgeleide mannekrag gaan lei. Daar is byvoorbeeld tans slegs sowat 444 passer en draaiers by Mersa se opleiding; 403 meulenaars; 400 gereedskapmakers en net 70 sweisers.
En dan is die ander probleem dat die gekwalifiseerde Suid-Afrikaanse vakman se gemiddelde ouderdom 54 jaar is. Dit beteken dat die land wanneer die vakmanne oor tien jaar aftree, met ‘n groot droogte aan passers en draaiers, ketelmakers en andere gaan sit. Dit is tegnologie. Die mense wat sorg vir die tegnologiese ontwikkeling van hierdie land. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Chairperson, before I start my speech I would like to quote from last Sunday’s Sake-Rapport:
Die metaal- en ingenieursektor het in 1982 sowat 13 000 vakleerlinge in opleiding gehad. Vandag is daar skaars 3 100. Die mynbedryf se vakleerlinge het in 1975 sowat 33 000 getel en teen die jaar 2000 was net 3 000 en vanjaar slegs 1 440.
Steve Collins from the McCarthy Motor Holdings group says:
Die toelatingsvereistes is al jare dieselfde: graad 9 vir motorbakwerk en graad 10 vir vakmanne. Intussen het die tegnologie in die motorbedryf egter so vinnig ontwikkel, dat die toelatingsvereiste nie meer voldoende is nie. Die vakman het al die insig en begrip van ‘n junior ingenieur nodig.
SIFSA says:
Die beperkte aantal vakleerlinge wat die afgelope jaar by maatskappye vir opleiding in diens geneem is, toon hoe die stadige toevloei tot ‘n droogte van opgeleide mannekrag gaan lei. Daar is byvoorbeeld tans slegs sowat 444 passers en draaiers by Mersa se opleiding; 403 millers; 400 gereedskapmakers en net 70 sweisers.
And then the other problem is that the average age of qualified South African tradesmen is 54 years. This means that when these tradesmen retire in 10 years’ time there will be a shortage of fitters and turners, boilermakers and others in the country. That is technology. The people in charge of the technological development of this country.] I want to appeal to the Minister and the Deputy Minister to raise the profile of the technology component of their department. Technology is what drives successful economies around the globe. Mining, which can be regarded as the pillar of South Africa’s economy, is doomed to a standstill if miners are not trained to use modern mining technology.
This newspaper article shows how the skilling of tradesmen has gone down by some 90% in recent years. Local government, we know, is in chaos because they have lost, not scientists but technologists, those people who must maintain the power supply, the fresh water supply, the roads, the traffic lights and the equipment belonging to local government.
The productive rating of a nation does not depend on its medical, its legal, or elite government officials. It depends on the technologists and the skills to use the technology in their fields. Yes, these professionals play an important role in the efficiency rating of a nation and their skills are vitally important to ensure that productivity levels stay high. But, from the farmer to the weather forecaster, technology and their skills will determine the size of the harvest.
We all know that many local governments around the country are facing bankruptcy because: (a) they fail to deliver the necessary services; (b) they fail to collect the money for the services that they are rendering, and they no longer have the skilled staff, the trained technologists, to install, operate and maintain the equipment.
Every member here is familiar with the prepaid electricity meter, an instrument that can save local government from bankruptcy; a technological innovation that can create thousands of jobs. It is an instrument that can be exported all over Africa, all over the world. It was designed and first installed in South Africa. It is a South African technological piece of equipment. If it is installed in every home in South Africa, it will create thousands of sustainable jobs in every province.
The card that is used by the prepayment meter and the distributors will create thousands of jobs at pay points, where these consumers will have to reload the card, like the lotto card. Technology is extremely important in creating sustainable jobs and growing our economy. Prepaid meters will, from my point of view, create far more sustainable jobs in every town, province and city.
If necessary, Madam Chair, the department should bring forth a report on this matter, on technology and its development in our nation. Technology is here to stay, it is the tool that will close the poverty gap. The Deputy Minister has referred to this. This department must focus more on technology than on space exploration. If a brand new motorcar’s malfunctioning airbag cannot be repaired, this is of far greater consequence for the lady behind the steering wheel than what is happening in outer space.
If a traffic light fails to signal red, only the gravediggers stay employed in our towns and cities. Only a small number of people in every nation are scientists, whilst every individual meets up with technology, from the man who paints the road markings to the pilot and the nurse, from the toddler to his grandparent.
We talk of transformation. Nothing transforms at a faster rate than technology and technology, never remains stagnant, it continues to change and improve. And for that reason, if we wish to compete in the league of developed nations we must concentrate more on technology and on how to empower our workforce to stay abreast of technological developments. I thank you. [Applause.]
Ms B T NGCOBO: Madam Chairperson, hon members, ladies and gentlemen, as we celebrate the first decade of our Constitution, we have a major task to transform the provisions of the Constitution into a living reality, particularly in this age of hope.
This year we are also celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Women’s March. Given the impressive progress and our achievements in the last decade of the Constitution, our task is to consolidate this progress. In the state of the nation address in February 2006, the President said:
We have known that it would take considerable time before we could say we have eradicated the legacy of the past. We have expected that the circumstances handed down to us by our history would indeed condemn us to a petty pace of progress towards the achievement of the goal of a better life for all.
The Beijing +5 Report declared that a fundamental and necessary component of development is to ensure that equal opportunity is afforded to women in science and technology, in line with Asgisa. Access by women to science and technology is necessary to transfer patterns of productivity, to contribute to job creation and new ways of working, and in promoting the establishment of a knowledge-based society, resulting in work creation.
Furthermore, there is a potential to positively contribute to the improvement of quality of life for women in their households. Also critical for development is the role of women in society. Women have the greatest influence on the next generation. They set standards for health and hygiene, and they form the majority of the agricultural labour force.
``When you educate a woman, you educate the next generation.’’ [Applause.] Girls in Africa, generally, and South Africa in particular, should be encouraged to take science subjects, and not only those who will pursue a scientific and technological career but also those who would then be able to apply science concepts in their daily lives. Science subjects should be seen as a means to develop the scientific and technological culture necessary for development.
The challenge faced by women in South Africa is that the role of women in the development and sharing of knowledge that contributes to the improvement of people’s economic status has been limited. The contribution of outstanding women in scientific research has not been fully recognised. The non-recognition has resulted in inequity of access by women to research professions. The lack of prominent women scientists as role models has hampered public understanding of science, engineering and technology, as well as participation of women at all levels.
Why does South Africa need women in science and technology? Africa and South Africa have a critical shortage of trained technological people. In 1980, North America had 2 679 scientists and engineers involved in research and development per million of the population. Latin America had 250, while Africa had only 49. In 1993, the US had 7 600, and Japan had 7 300. No figures are available for Africa.
Increasing the number of trained people in technology is critical for development for both men and women. Human resource disaggregated data in science and technology in 1996 shows that 26,8% are women. More disconcerting is the fact that in 1990, 15% of all scientific publications were by women. This rate has decreased to 14% over the last decade.
We are thus failing to train our best and brightest, since women account for 52% of our national population, but they are not proportionally represented in academia or in industry. This lack of progress requires strategic interventions. The reality in South Africa is that science, engineering and technology are keys to economic growth, job creation and social upliftment.
At the same time, South Africa is faced with an exodus of large numbers of science, engineering and technological graduates and an ageing research community, which is predominantly male-dominated. The country has not actively and vigorously encouraged the largest pool of expertise of women towards this. In science and technology, women are usually younger and less qualified; they receive a significantly smaller slice of research inputs, rewards and recognition. They are clustered in scientific or disciplinary areas that have traditionally been considered women’s domains.
Regarding the solutions offered by the Department of Science and Technology, it is with these challenges that the Department of Science and Technology has created various types of recognition and awards to celebrate women in science. In 2005, the awards included the following categories: Distinguished Women Scientists, Distinguished Scientist for Contribution to the Improvement of the Quality of Life of Women; Best Emerging Young Women, two L’Oreal South Africa 2006 Fellowships for Women in Science, and three scientists’ fellowships.
The winners of the awards will be announced at a function that will be held in Johannesburg on 4 August, which is Women’s Month. The department has also come up with gender mainstreaming in activities, programmes and projects of government. The DST has established an African reference group on science and technology with a vision of achieving gender equality. Women in Research was established in 1996 to deal with issues that empower women in all aspects of participating in research. Women in Science and Engineering is a dynamic association for all who support the idea of strengthening the role of women in science and engineering in the country.
The research foundation supports black women to develop and strengthen their research capacity. Science and Technology was mandated by Cabinet to play an integrating role with regard to health and technology in South Africa.
It concentrates on developing new technologies and interventions as well as advancing basic knowledge of biology and human behaviour. There are a number of innovation projects that the DST has been involved in. The malaria initiative was launched in March 2006 and it is implemented through the Africa Centre for Gene Technology, housed at the University of Pretoria for which the Department of Science and Technology, between 2006-08, will be contributing R11,95 million.
There is the tuberculosis research initiative, whose contribution is the reduction of the burden related to tuberculosis, including multidrug resistance nationally, continentally and globally. The microbicide research intends developing a low-cost, safe, effective and acceptable microbicide by 2012, to be generally available for distribution in South Africa and the region.
This would be in line with the Millennium Development Goals, which are intending to reverse the spread of HIV by 2014. In 2006, the DST funded the International Microbicide Conference that was held in Cape Town by April with an amount of R500 000. The initial amount was allocated for the 2004- 05 financial year. The concept of the Aids Vaccine Initiative was launched between 1997-98. The Department of Science and Technology’s contribution of R20 million between 2005-06 will be used for scientific and biotechnology components and the development of human capital. Regarding the Telemedicine Project 1 Workstation, an initial amount of R500 000 was allocated in 2004- 05.
There is co-operation between Brazil, India and South Africa, which is looking into a number of areas. South Africa is looking at malaria and tuberculosis. India is looking into HIV/Aids and malaria. So, this co- operation between Brazil and South Africa will help in improving all these schedules. The ANC approves the budget. [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: [Inaudible.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms C-S Botha): Switch on the mike, please.
The MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Hon Chair. [Interjections.] Yes, it’s not working in Parliament.
I wish to thank the hon members for their participation in the debate. All the inputs have been very positive and encouraging indeed, not only for us, the Deputy Minister and myself, but for officials in the department.
We will take all those inputs into consideration in our work as we go forward. We think it is very important that we know what the hon members think about our work.
There is only one regret I have, that members of this House did not recognise the fact that the Deputy Minister and myself are very handsome indeed, and no one commented. [Laughter.] [Applause.] Our officials in the office thought we were so handsome that they put flowers on our lapels, and nobody said anything about it.
Several members noted that we are a crosscutting department, and that’s very important. We work with all departments of state, be it security, be it policing, be it agriculture, etc. It is exciting and a boon, but it is also a problem. Many times we don’t know, as we negotiate with our counterparts, when is the right time to enter something and when is the right time to leave a particular thing, that is, when is a project mature to be handed over, if it has a technology element to it.
We are always negotiating and we are learning all the time, and I think in time we will be able to get to a point where we are able to recognise our limits and the limits of the other departments.
The hon Dreyer raised several points, some of which included the crisis in energy, which is not only in our country, but the world over. I think that the Deputy Minister, in his input, addressed some of those issues that hon Dreyer raised. But, the important thing is that members of the portfolio committee are waiting for you, girl, to go there. Is it parliamentary? Can I call her a girl, if it’s in a nice way? [Interjections.] She is. Okay, thank you very much.
On the freedom of scientists, our scientists are not any more restricted than others the world over, even in the well-established systems of the developed world. They are only limited by a number of factors, which are common to all countries and all societies. Firstly, we don’t have all the resources in the world to give them to do what they want.
Secondly, there are issues of safety. They are not free to dabble in issues related to weapons of mass destruction, for example. They aren’t free to do that.
Thirdly, they are embedded in this society and this society directs what is acceptable and what is not; what it wants and what it doesn’t and what it needs at a particular time. Various members, including the hon Blanché, the hon Ainslie and others, talked about the issues that confront our society at the moment relating to poverty, unemployment, etc. Those issues need to be addressed by all of us, including our scientists. That is why, in our input, we were saying that it is terribly important that scientists recognise technologies that will be useful to alleviate poverty in our society. Those are limiting aspects in their work, but nobody is telling our scientists what to do.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms C-S Botha): Hon Minister, could you please take your seat.
Mr A MLANGENI: Madam Chair, through you to the Minister, I would like to add one more factor that limits the scientists from doing as they wish, and that is, the world is overpopulated and we don’t want any human cloning, please.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms C-S Botha): Hon member, you are completely out of order. [Laughter.] Please continue, hon Minister.
The MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: I think the problem, Madam Chair, is that you didn’t allow him to speak here. May I please appeal to the ANC to put him on the list of speakers? [Laughter.] And we did miss you, hon member.
In South Africa, as I was just saying, we believe that we’ve got the correct balance between blue sky research, directed research, applied research, etc. We talk about it all the time. And in the universities and elsewhere, we believe that our scientists, subject to all these things that we have said, are really free to do as they please.
The hon Ainslie referred to issues of poverty, and I think there is a sense in which the Deputy Minister addressed that issue, not only in the previous budget speech, but even in his input. But, we agonise about these issues that you have raised, relating to alleviation of poverty, all the time.
The hon Gore bemoaned the fact that we seem to be spending too much on research, on the PBMR, on nuclear energy, and spending very little on solar power energies or technologies, etc. We, as the Department of Science and Technology, strictly speaking, enter that arena only from the point of view of human resource development. We develop the skills of scientists, etc, to engage in that debate or in that research or activity.
But, the Department of Minerals and Energy and the Department of Public Enterprises are the core departments that drive that process, and we support it 100%. If we want to be at the cutting edge of world science and technology, we should engage in research, some of which is expensive and risky; it might not succeed. However, you don’t win by not taking risks.
A few years back - I think two decades back - I went to India. The Tata was an ugly little car running around and I think nobody wanted it. But, they kept at it. I imagine that they invested billions and billions of rands. Today the Tata is running on our highways. They have invested lots of money.
So, we should identify areas of research and technology in which we can put our resources, energies, expertise and the abilities of our people, stretch their abilities and see whether we cannot produce products that will not only put us at the cutting edge of world technology, but also benefit us economically. As we know, energy is terribly important in our economic development at the moment. Hon Mahomed, thank you very much for your comments on astronomy, on the Square Kilometre Array bid, etc. In fact, next week the Premier of the Northern Cape and I will be going to inspect the site where we are proposing the bid should be.
We are very optimistic, sanguine and upbeat that we are on the right track, and that we will make a contribution towards, particularly in terms of astronomy, the economy of the Northern Cape. We are getting there and we are very upbeat, and we hope that in the near future we will be able to announce to this House that we have landed the bid.
Concerning the point raised by the hon Nefolovhodwe, indeed, science has some negative aspects. However, this depends on our ethics and orientation, and on what we want to do with science. We have, as a department, a public understanding of science, and we try and ensure that as many of our people as possible understand what science and technology is about; that they are able to embrace it; that we and our scientists are subjected to public scrutiny.
The public knows what we are doing in biotechnology, in nuclear energy and in all sorts of things. There is a need for interaction with our society so that the society knows what we are doing. We shouldn’t just disappear in our laboratories and the society that supports and funds us does not know what we are about. However, society should also be able to feel safe and be assured that its scientists are working in their interests, not against them.
Finally, concerning the contribution of hon T Ngcobo, who talked so passionately about the inclusion of women in science and technology, we couldn’t have said it better. We believe that we have a sound science system in this country. The fundamentals are correct. We have some fantastic scientists. The only problem is that it is narrowly based.
The majorities, which are women and black people, are still underrepresented in that system, and we think that in order to strengthen it we must bring in these majorities, black people and women. As you correctly pointed out, we will be able to bring more youngsters into the science system if there are more women in the system, because they are critical in bringing the young into the world and mentoring …
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms C-S Botha): Hon Minister, you have to conclude, please.
The MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Thank you very much. I have indeed concluded, but I wish to thank the hon members, once more, and the people from the science system who are up there in the public gallery. Thank you very much for a wonderful debate. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
The House adjourned at 11:57. ____
ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
National Assembly
The Speaker
- Membership of the Assembly
The following member will vacate his seat in the National Assembly with
effect from 1 June 2006:
Mngomezulu, G P.
- Appointment of Whips
The following members have been appointed as whips in the National
Assembly with effect from 28 March 2006:
Ms D M Morobi (ANC)
Mr B G Magwanishe (ANC)
Ms N D Ngcengwane (ANC)
- Membership of Committees
The following changes have been made to the membership of Portfolio
Committees, viz:
Labour
Appointed: Weber, Ms H
Justice and Constitutional Development
Appointed: Smuts, Ms M
TABLINGS
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces
- The Minister of Safety and Security
a) Report of the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) for January
2004 to December 2004, in terms of section 18(5)(c) of the Domestic
Violence Act, 1998 (Act No 115 of 1998) [RP 209-2004]
-
The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
a) Strategic Plan of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism for 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2010, 2006/07 Review.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
National Assembly
PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
CHAIRPERSON: PROF. SHEPERD MALUSI MAYATULA
ANNUAL REPORT: JANUARY to NOVEMBER 2005
- Secretariat Support to the Committee
1.1 Committee Secretary : Mr Steve Morometsi 1.2 Committee Assistant : Ms Nthabiseng Mohlomi 1.3 Secretary to Chairperson : Ms Zuraynah Van der Meulen
- Control Committee Secretary : : Mr Tenda Madima
-
Researcher (Research Unit) : : Mr Wela Manona
- Chairperson’s overview
Some of the milestones of the activities of this Committee were: • The passing of the Education Laws Amendment Bill, which among others was intended to introduce the “No-fee schools”, to allow for the poorest of the poor, free access to basic education. This was a great step towards meeting the international goal of Education for All (EFA). • The oversight visits to the Further Education and Training Colleges (FET) in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Gauteng and the Limpopo Provinces. The visit was an eye opener for the Committee. The Committee saw the importance of this phase in the skilling of the youth in our country and the need for them (FET Colleges) to be treated differently from the normal schooling system. • The international study tour to Mali and Ghana offered lessons to the Committee on how the sister countries in the continent address the educational issues.
For the first time, since the democratic dispensation, towards the end of the year under review, the link between the Committee and the provincial Departments, through the sitting of the Chairperson in the Council of Education Ministers (CEM) was discontinued. This has created a big knowledge gap, as the Committee is not aware of developments in the provinces. The only source of information is the media.
- Core Objectives
The objectives of the Portfolio Committee on Education are to: • Facilitate public participation, monitoring and oversight function over the legislative processes relating to education • Confer with relevant governmental and civil society organs on educational matters • Enhance and develop the capacity of its Members to exercise effective oversight over the Executive Authority in education • Monitor whether the Department of Education fulfil its mandate • Process and approve legislation and international protocols and conventions relating to education • Participate in National and International educational conferences • Confer with the National Council of Provinces on education legislation affecting the Provincial Legislatures, and • Engage in any activities and programmes aimed at the development and delivery of quality public education to all South Africans.
- List of public entities over which the committee exercises oversight
4.1 Council on Higher Education (CHE) This Council was established by the Higher Education Act (Act 101 of 1997) and is responsible for advising the Minister on all aspects of Higher Education, including functioning arrangements, language policy and the appropriated shape and education systems. It also holds executive responsibility for quality assurance through its permanent sub- committee, the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC).
1 Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC)
This Sub-Committee of Council on Higher Education has the mandate to
promote quality assurance in Higher Education, audit the quality
assurance of Higher Education Institutions and accredit programmes of
Higher Education.
4.3 South African Council for Educators (SACE)
This Council was established in terms of the South African Council for
Educators Act, No. 31 of 2000. It is responsible for the registration,
promotion and professional development of educators, and for setting,
maintaining and protecting the ethical and professional standards of
educators.
4.4 Education, Labour Relations Council (ELRC)
This Council is a bargaining council for education sector and it was
established in terms of the Labour Relations Act, No. 66 of 1995 as
amended by the Labour Relations Amendment Act, No. 42 of 1996. The
Council consists of equal representation of the employer (National and
Provincial Departments of Education) and the employees (Trade Unions
representing educators). It aims to create effective and constructive
labour relations in the education sector and to ensure the promotion and
transformation of education at all levels of society. 4.5 National Students Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme was established in terms of
the National Student Financial Aid Scheme Act, No. 56 of 1999. It is
responsible for allocating loans and bursaries to eligible students,
developing criteria and conditions for the granting of loans and
bursaries to students in consultation with the Minister of Education,
raising funds, recovering loans, maintaining and analysing a database
and undertaking research for the better utilisation of financial
resources. The main role is to provide access to Higher Education for
economically needy but academically able South Africans.
6. South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA)
SAQA is a statutory body established in terms of the South African
Qualifications Act, No. 58 of 1995. Its main functions are to oversee
the development and implementation of the National Qualification
Framework, by formulating and publishing policies and criteria for the
registration of bodies responsible for establishing education and
training standards or qualifications and for the accreditation of bodies
for monitoring and auditing achievements in terms of such standards and
qualifications. To oversee the implementation of the National
Qualification Framework by ensuring registration, accreditation and
assignment of functions to the bodies referred to above as well as the
registration of national standards and qualifications on the framework.
It must focus on ensuring access, quality, redress and development for
all learners through an Integrated National Framework of learning
achievements. It must also take steps to ensure that provisions for
accreditation are complied with and where appropriate, that registered
standards and qualifications are internationally comparable.
4.7 National Board for Education and Training The National Board for Education and Training’s task is to advise the Minister of Education on matters related to Further Education and Training.
4.8 UMALUSI (General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Council) Umalusi, the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training was established under the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act, No. 58 of 2001. It replaced the former South African Certification Council in April 2002. This Council is mandated to monitor the quality assurance of providers, quality assurance of qualifications and learning programmes, quality assurance of assessment and reporting on quality in education and training.
- Legislation, International Agreements and other Papers
5.1 Legislation dealt with:
The legislation on Education Laws Amendment Bill [B23-2005] was referred to the Committee on 1 August 2005. The Committee received briefings from the Department on the Bill on 5 August 2005. On 23 August 2005, the Committee held a Joint meeting between the Portfolio Committee on Education and Portfolio Committee on Sport & Recreation on the Memorandum of Understanding between the two departments on school sports. Invitations were extended to Provincial Chairperson’s of Sport, Arts and Culture. The Committee arranged for public hearings on 30 August 2005 on the Education Laws Amendment Bill [B23-2005] that seeks to amend the South African Schools Act and the Employment of Educators Act. Invitations were extended to the stakeholders through three newspapers namely, City Press, Sunday Times and Rapport to solicit inputs. On 6 September 2005, the Committee considered informal deliberations on the Education Laws Amendment Bill by Parties. Formal deliberations and inputs were considered on 13 September 2005. The Committee reported on the Bill on 13 September 2005, with amendments. The Bill was debated in the House on the 14 October 2005. Institutions that made presentations: • Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools • National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa • South African Democratic Teachers Union • Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniging • Affinity Educational Consultants • Governing Body Foundation • Institution for Health and Development Communication (Soul City). • Principal of Silversands Primary School. • National Association of School Governing Bodies • Governor’s Alliance. • South African Foundation for Education and Training. • Dr. A Motsoaledi, MEC for Education, Limpopo Province. Number of submissions received: 12 Received two written submissions: (organisations did not appear before Committee) • Centre for Education Policy and Development • Human Rights Commission made written submissions but did not appear before the Committee.
2. Number of meetings held and those cancelled
The Committee conducted 25 meetings varying from briefings made by the Department and Public Entities. Hearings were conducted on the Education Laws Amendment Bill.
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Oversights and Promotion of Public Participation
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Oversight Visits:
As part of the Committee’s oversight responsibility over the department and its institutions, the committee undertook the following visits:
Date Place visited Purpose Date of Report 25 February University of To intervene in the Report not Free State concerns raised by former completed and Vista University was deferred to incorporated into following year. University of Free State and Management of the institution August Further To assess the readiness of Reported not Education and Further Education & completed and Training Training Colleges looking was deferred to Colleges of at; governance, access, following year. Education bursaries, residences, FET Colleges) appointment of Chief Executive Officers etc. 14 October JL Zwane Centre Invitation JL Zwane Centre, Report to be & Siyaya Musical Guguletu, Cape Town. deferred to project, Siyaya HIV/AIDS Musical following year. Guguletu, Cape Project Town 15-23 October Study tour to To consult with Ministers’ Reported not Mali and Ghana of Education and Sports completed and around broad goals and was deferred to education policies. Visit following year. schools, and assessed, fee structures, funding, access to schools etc. Visit universities and assessed access to university, funding, bursaries, etc. To consult with Ministers’ of Education and Sports around broad goals and education policies. Visit schools, and assessed, fee structures, funding, access to schools etc. Visit universities and assessed access to university, funding, bursaries, etc.
6.1.1 Delegation to local visits: ❑ UFS: Prof SM Mayatula (ANC), Ms Lorna Maloney (ANC), Mr. B Mthembu (ANC), Mr. GG Boinamo (ANC), Mr. AM Mpontshane (IFP) Mr. BG Mosala (joined the delegation) and Mr. Steve Morometsi (Committee Secretary). ❑ FET Colleges (1) Prof SM Mayatula (ANC), Ms PR Mashangoane (ANC), Ms DG Nhlengethwa (ANC), Mr. JJ Maake (ANC) replacing Mr. LW Greyling (ID), Mr. AM Mpontshane (IFP) and Steve Morometsi (Committee Secretary). ❑ FET Colleges (2) Mr. B Mthembu (ANC), Ms NJ Ngele (ANC), Adv. AH Gaum (then NNP), Mr. GG Boinamo (DA) and Tenda Madima (Control Committee Secretary) Provinces visited: Limpopo, Gauteng, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu Natal FET Colleges. Report: report ready (Limpopo and Gauteng) report for EC and KZN not yet ready. ❑ JL Zwane Centre, Gugulethu: Prof. S. M. Mayatula (ANC) and Ms. J. Matsomela (ANC).
6.1.2 Delegation to International visits ❑ Prof SM Mayatula (ANC), Ms PR Mashangoane (ANC), Mr. B Mthembu (ANC), Mr. GG Boinamo (DA), Mr. AM Mpontshane (IFP) and Mr. Steve Morometsi (Committee Secretary).
- Oversight Briefings:
The Committee called the following institutions to appear before it, as part of oversight over the institutions: | | | | |Date |Instituti|Purpose of Briefing/Presentation | | |on | | |08 |Departmen|On the Matric Results 2004 with special reference to Mpumalanga | |February |t of |Province. | | |Education| | |15 |Departmen|Briefing on the infrastructure development on learners learning | |February |t of |under trees, dangerous and dilapidated buildings. | | |Education| | |2 February|Departmen|Briefing by the Department on its Strategic Plan 2005-2009. | | |t of | | | |Education| | |01 March |Departmen|Briefing on National School Nutrition programme and Draft Policy on| | |t of |School Uniform. | | |Education| | |08 March |National |Briefing on the NSFAS Scheme Review. | | |Student | | | |Financial| | | |Aid | | |15 March |Departmen|On Estimates of National Expenditure, Vote, 15, 2005/06 | | |t of | | | |Education| | |05 April |Departmen|Briefing on the National Guidelines on School Uniform. | | |t of | | | |Education| | |12 April |Mr |Briefing on the use of Java Applets and Flash Programmes in | | |Cassiem |teaching Mathematics, Science and other subjects. | | |Farouk, a| | | |former MP| | |31 May |Nelson |Briefinn a Report on Education in S.A. Rural Communities focusing | | |Mandela |on research conducted by HSRC in Kwazulu Natal, Eastern Cape and | | |Foundatio|Limpopo Provinces. | | |n | | |07 June |CHE and |On recent National Review and re-accreditation of MBA programmes | | |HEQC |and its forthcoming review and re-accreditation of Select Teacher | | | |Education programmes. | |14 June |Departmen|On a report by the Ministerial Committee on Rural Education. | | |t of | | | |Education| | |21 June |Departmen|On the re-vitalization of Further Education and Training Colleges. | | |t of | | | |Education| | |11 October|Umalusi, |Hearings on Annual Reports 2004/05 (Reports adopted on 8 November) | | |CHE and | | | |SAQA | | |12 October|SACE, |Hearings on Annual Reports 2004/05(Reports adopted on 8 November) | | |NSFAS & | | | |ELRC | | |25 October|Departmen|Hearings on Annual Report 2004/05 (Report adopted on 15 November) | | |t of | | | |Education| | |1 November|Departmen|On the Norms and Standards for public school funding. | | |t of | | | |Education| |
- Papers (International Agreements, Protocols, Reports etc) referred to the Committee: indicate the following: Papers referred: (Check content of referrals with Steve) |Name |Date referred|ATC |Action by committee | | | |page | | |Report and Financial |4 August | |Presentation made by NQF on | |Statements of the | | |11 October. | |National Qualifications | | | | |Framework (NQF) for | | | | |2004-2005, including the| | | | |Report of the | | | | |Auditor-General on the | | | | |Financial Statements for| | | | |2004-2005 | | | | |Report and Financial |26 August | |Considered by the Committee | |Statements of Umalusi | | |on 11 October. Resolved that | |for 2004-2005, including| | |the report will not be | |the Report of the | | |debated in the House. | |Auditor-General on the | | | | |Financial Statements for| | | | |2004-2005 | | | | |Report and Financial |05 September | |Considered by the Committee | |Statements of the South | | |on 12 October. Resolved that | |African Qualifications | | |the report will not be | |Authority (SAQA) for | | |debated in the House. | |2004-2005, including the| | | | |Report of the | | | | |Auditor-General on the | | | | |Financial Statements for| | | | |2004-2005 | | | | |Report and Financial |07 September | |Considered by the Committee | |Statements of the | | |on 12 October. Resolved that | |Council for Higher | | |the report will not be | |Education (CHE) for | | |debated in the House. | |2004-2005, including the| | | | |Report of the | | | | |Auditor-General on the | | | | |Financial Statements for| | | | |2004-2005 | | | | |Report and Financial |22 September | |Considered by the Committee | |Statements of the South | | |on 11 October. Resolved that | |African Council of | | |the report will not be | |Educators (SACE) for | | |debated in the House. | |2004-2005, including the| | | | |Report of the | | | | |Auditor-General on the | | | | |Financial Statements for| | | | |2004-2005 | | | | |Report and Financial |22 September | |Considered by the Committee | |Statements of the Local | | |on 12 October. Resolved that | |Government, Water and | | |the report will not be | |Related Sector Education| | |debated in the House. | |and Training Authority | | | | |(NSFAS) for 2004-2005, | | | | |including the Report of | | | | |the Auditor-General on | | | | |the Financial Statements| | | | |for 2004-2005 Annual | | | | |report 2004/05 of NSFAS | | | | |Report and Financial |25 October | |Considered by the Committee | |Statements of the | | |on 15 November. | |Department of Education | | | | |(DoE) for 2004-2005, | | | | |including the Report of | | | | |the Auditor-General on | | | | |the Financial Statements| | | | |for 2004-2005 | | | |
The Annual report of ELRC was tabled late on 11 November 2005.
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Budget Vote The budget vote 17 was referred to the Committee on 22 October 2005. The Committee arranged for briefings by the Department on 15 March 2005. There were no public hearings arranged and the no report was published.
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Other committee activities:
9.1 Workshops On 10 October 2005, the Chairperson attended a workshop on how to use annual reports as a monitoring tool.
9.2 Other Committee activities On 23 June 2005, the Portfolio Committee met held an informal meeting with the Youth, Pioneers of the Vietnamese National Assembly, at the New Wing Restaurant. The purpose was to share knowledge and experiences on the role of the Committee in conducting oversight and monitoring over the Executive.
On 1 November 2005, the Committee hosted 6 UK Parliamentarians, namely, Ms Ann Keen, MP (LP) leader of delegation, Mr. Jeffrey Donaldson, MP, MPL (DUP), Mr. Tobias Ellwood, MP, (CP), Lord Hughes of Woodside, MP, (LP), Ms Helen Southworth, MP (LP), Ms A Watkinson, MP (CP).
- Council on Education Ministers attendance by the Committee Chairperson:
In February 2005, Prof S M Mayatula attended a special Council on Education Ministers meeting in Cape Town. On 22 March 2005, Prof S M Mayatula attended a special Council on Education Ministers meeting in Pretoria. On 23 March 2005,Prof S M Mayatula was invited by the Minister of Education Hon. Mrs Naledi Pandor, to the most improved school awards 2004, at the Presidential Guesthouse, in Pretoria On 18 April 2005, Prof S M Mayatula attended a special meeting of the Council on Education Ministers (CEM) in Pretoria. On 5 June 2005, The Chairperson attended a special Council on Education Ministers meeting. In addition on the same day, he was invited by the Minister of Education Hon. Mrs Naledi Pandor to attend the Grand Opening of the Education Nutrition Centre at 14:30 at Bonareng Primary School in Attridgeville, Pretoria. On 1 August 2005, Prof Mayatula attended a Council on Education Ministers meeting in Pretoria. On 19 September 2005, the Minister of Education invited the Chairperson, Hon. Mrs Naledi Pandor to accompany the Minister to Robben Island.
10.Local Conferences On 30-31 May, a Multi-party Delegation of five Members of the Committee attended a National Consultative Conference on Education. The focus of the conference was on “Deepening the Education Policy Dialogue”. Various stakeholders presented it. There were no resolutions taken. Delegates: Prof SM Mayatula (ANC), Ms PR Mashangoane (ANC), Ms DG Nhlengethwa (ANC), Mr. GG Boinamo (DA) and Mr. AM Mpontshane (IFP)
10.1 Conferences: SADC Sub-Region (FAPED) Two Members of the Committee, Messrs, B Mthembu (ANC) and GG Boinamo (DA) attended a follow-up Forum of African Parliamentarians for Education (FAPED) in Livingstone, Zambia on the 29-30 August 2005. Agenda: Taking stock of the progress made towards “Education for All” goals after a third of mileage to 2015. SADC Countries present at the conference Angola, Malawi, Zambia, Swaziland, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Resolutions: The conference observed that South Africa had made progress in the area of Early Childhood Development. Date of the adoption of the report: to be adopted next in 2006.
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Financial Statements • Budget Allocated to Committee: R730, 556.00 Expenditure Catering: R 2,242.30 Provincial Visits: R 58,099.00 Overseas Trips: R358, 067.50 Conferences Seminars, Workshops Public Hearings: R 37,483.20 • Credit to Consolidated Fund: R181, 559.10 • Transfers to Staff Travel R 27,535.00
Balance (Funds Available) R 65,569.90
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Outstanding Matters: 12.1 Annual Report of the Committee 12.2 Minutes 1, 8, 15 November 2005 12.3 Report on the visit to SADC Sub-Region of Forum on Parliamentarians on Education. 12.4 Oversight visit to University of Free State, February 2005 12.4 Oversight visit to FET Colleges, August 2005 12.5 Study Tour to Ghana and Mali, October 2005
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Attach the following documents i. Master attendance list ii. Copies of minutes of all meetings iii. Copies of the reports of all oversight\international visits (outstanding) iv. Copy of Budget statement
- Chairperson’s Remarks on the Level of Support Received during the Session
1. Support from the Secretary to Chairperson:
2. Support from the Committee Secretary:
The lack of performance and inability to produce committee reports on
time made it impossible for the Committee to finalise and publish its
reports referred in point 12 above.
3. Support from the Committee Assistant:
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