National Assembly - 05 June 2008
THURSDAY, 5 JUNE 2008 __
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
____
The House met at 14:05.
The Speaker took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or meditation.
NOTICES OF MOTION
Dr S M VAN DYK: Madam Speaker, I hereby give notice that I intend moving the following motion:
That, in the light of the slowdown in economic growth in the first quarter to 2,1%, the House debates the effect of load shedding on the 4% annual growth rate predicated by Treasury.
Mr G G BOINAMO: Madam Speaker, I hereby give notice that I intend moving the following motion on behalf of the DA:
That the House debates the ongoing disruption of classes at high schools in Khutsong due to learners protesting against being registered for Matric examinations under the North West province despite being from Gauteng province, and government’s response to this matter.
Thank you.
SA RUGBY TEAM PLAYING FIRST TEST UNDER COACH PETER DE VILLIERS
(Draft Resolution)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Madam Speaker, I move without notice:
That the House –
1) notes that the South African Rugby team will play their first test
under the new Springbok coach, Peter de Villiers, this coming
Saturday against Wales in Bloemfontein;
2) further notes that apart from its entertainment value, the game of
rugby develops courage, loyalty, sportsmanship, discipline and
teamwork;
3) recalls that it is through discipline, ethical behaviour, fair play,
self control and mutual respect for fellow athletes that the spirit
of the game flourishes;
4) believes that our rugby team enjoys South Africa’s collective
goodwill and support; and
5) wishes the Springboks success in the upcoming series of matches
against Wales, Italy, Australia and New Zealand.
Agreed to.
Mr M J ELLIS: Madam Speaker, the Deputy Chief Whip of the ANC is very keen to lecture us when we don’t do things quite according to his book. I want to say that the motion, while we have no problem with it, is not the one that we received earlier today, in which it indicated that this House should wish the South African rugby team well on its visit to Wales. We are very pleased that the ANC have changed the wording, but we would appreciate it if, in future, the hon Deputy Chief Whip of the ANC would give us the correct wording before it comes to this House. [Applause.]
The SPEAKER: It looks like he heard you very well!
INSTALLATION OF WOMAN AS CHIEF
(Member’s Statement)
Ms C NKUNA (ANC): Madam Speaker, the Constitutional Court gave a ruling yesterday, 4 June 2008, that Tinyiko Lwandlamuni Phillia Nwamitwa-Shilubana is the Senior Traditional Leader Hosi of the Valoyi people, a community near Tzaneen, in Limpopo. [Applause.] Her title is Hosi Nwamitwa II. [Applause.]
Hosi Nwamitwa II is a South African woman who has been going through lengthy court challenges preferred against her by a member of her royal family, whose claim was mainly that Phillia should not be allowed to reign because she is a woman.
This ruling upholds the decision of the royal family and the people of Nwamitwa, further strengthening the customary position that it is the royal family that has the responsibility and authority to confirm traditional leaders according to the customary rules of succession.
The ruling is a direct reversal of the apartheid-created male primogeniture in traditional leadership succession, which used to prescribe that only male descendants of traditional leaders were entitled to inherit the throne of leadership.
It is confirmation that our democracy, under the leadership of the ANC, restores the dignity and status of women, even in the institution of traditional rule. [Applause.]
Hi tlangela xiboho xa huvo.[ Nkarhi wu herile.][We welcome the decision.][Time expired.]
DISCRIMINATORY CRITERIA FOR TEACHING BURSARIES
(Member’s Statement)
Mev D VAN DER WALT (DA): Agb Speaker, die DA vra dat die kriteria vir alle studiebeurse hersien moet word om gelyke toegang tot studiegeleenthede vir alle voornemende onderwysstudente te verseker.
Die opstel van studiebeurskriteria, sodat voornemende studente uit sekere taalgroepe nie meer aan die beursvereistes voldoen nie, is verregaande. In hierdie tydvak waarin die skaarste aan gekwalifiseerde onderwysers een van die grootste krisisse is wat die onderwys in die gesig staar, kan nie een voornemende onderwysstudent ’n studiegeleentheid geweier word op grond van moedertaaldiskriminasie nie.
Dit is veral skokkend om te let op die bepaling van die Fundza Lushaka- program, dat slegs studente wat Engels en isiXhosa saam met Wiskunde en Wetenskap neem vir onderwysbeurse kwalifiseer. Dit sal daartoe lei dat arm Afrikaanssprekende studente in die Wes-Kaap nie toegang tot leergeleenthede kan kry nie. Ons praat hier van sogenaamde bruin studente wat in arm, bruin gemeenskappe wil gaan skoolhou, waar die voertaal oorwegend Afrikaans is. Ek praat dan nog nie eers van die voornemende onderwysstudente wat graag ons ander agt landstale deur die onderwys wil laat voortleef en uitbou nie. Hierdie beursprogramme is veronderstel om die onderwys ’n aantreklike beroep te maak, nie om ons Grondwet te ondermyn deur bloot net nog deel te wees van die ANC se ras- en etniesgebaseerde nasionalisme nie.
Minister, ons is nou 14 jaar in ’n nuwe demokratriese bestel. Ons kan nie bekostig om dieselfde foute van die verlede te herhaal deur mense op grond van hul taal uit te sluit nie. (Translation of Afrikaans member’s statement follows.)
[Mrs D VAN DER WALT (DA): Hon Speaker, the DA requests that the criteria for all bursaries should be revised in order to ensure equal access to study opportunities for all prospective students in the field of education.
The drafting of bursary criteria in such a way that prospective students from certain language groups no longer meet the bursary requirements, is outrageous. In these times, when the scarcity of qualified teachers is one of the biggest challenges that education is facing, not a single prospective education student should be refused an opportunity to study based on mother-tongue discrimination.
It is especially shocking to note the stipulation in the Fundza Lushaka programme that only students who take English and isiXhosa along with Mathematics and Science qualify for education bursaries. This will lead to a situation where poor Afrikaans-speaking students from the Western Cape will be denied access to study opportunities. In this instance we are referring to so-called coloured students who would like to teach in poor coloured communities where the medium of instruction is predominantly Afrikaans.
I am not even referring yet to prospective education students who would like to ensure the continued existence and development of our other eight official languages through teaching. These bursary programmes are supposed to make teaching an appealing career, not undermine our Constitution by just being part of the ANC’s racial and ethnic-based nationalism.
Minister, we have had a new democratic dispensation for 14 years now. We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past, by excluding people solely on account of their language.]
RENAMING OF MANGOSUTHU HIGHWAY
(Member’s Statement)
Mr V B NDLOVU (IFP): Madam Speaker, South Africa’s place names reflect our history, our culture and, in many respects, our heritage. Changing existing place names must therefore be approached in a more sensitive way so as not to demean, belittle or deny any aspect of our past history.
History is history; no amount of rewriting or revision will ever change that, but that is exactly what the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal wants to do by changing the existing names to reflect only their history or heroes. One such example is the decision by the ANC-dominated eThekwini Council to change the name of the Mangosuthu Highway in Umlazi to the Griffiths Mxenge Highway. This is a glaring example of the ANC – especially in KwaZulu-Natal – attempting to undermine the achievements of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Member of Parliament, by ignoring his legitimate claims to have contributed positively to development and progress in KwaZulu-Natal.
The contribution of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi during the struggle against apartheid cannot be ignored. Even now, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, MP, refuses to condemn those that vilify him, and pities them for their small minds. This, after all, was the man who fought apartheid for more than 60 years, and steadfastly fought for the release of Nelson Mandela. Thank you. [Applause.]
DECISION BY ANC NEC ON RECENT ATTACKS
(Member’s Statement)
Ms N C MFEKETO (ANC): Madam Speaker, the recent ANC National Executive Committee meeting decided, among other things, that the ANC leadership, led by ANC President, Jacob Zuma, must visit the areas that have been affected by the recent criminal attacks.
We commend this decision by the ANC, and believe that it will assist our leadership further to deepen its appreciation of the causes underlying the attack, and also to deepen our comprehension of the difficulties resulting from the attacks.
This work will contribute to the national effort to find short and long- term solutions to the challenges we face as a country in this regard. We are also heartened by the ongoing community initiatives aimed at the integration of the displaced back into communities, as well as gestures of goodwill and material support that various organisations, public representatives, branches and individuals continue to spearhead.
We must continue to unite in the national effort to strengthen the wave of humaneness as we work together to defeat the inhumane violence pulling our communities apart. The ANC is confident that South Africans will succeed in changing our country for the better. Thank you. [Applause.]
NEED FOR NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER AND REPENTANCE
(Member’s Statement)
Rev K R J MESHOE (ACDP): Madam Speaker, at the beginning of this year, I warned many people that a storm was about to come to this nation. This storm would be in three parts. We already had a xenophobic storm, we are going into an economic storm and then there will be a political storm.
It is because of the political storm that is still ahead of us that I want to appeal to church leaders in this nation to call for a national day of prayer and repentance. South Africa urgently and desperately needs God’s intervention. We have sinned against one another, against foreign nationals and against God Almighty. We have become a nation that rapes children and burns people alive, as recently happened to foreign nationals in the xenophobic attacks.
It cannot be business as usual. Our nation is in danger, hence my appeal to church leaders to call for a national day of prayer and repentance. Those who are asleep must wake up, and those who have buried their heads in the sand and have chosen to live in denial of the reality around them must be warned that dark clouds are gathering around them.
2 Chronicles, 7:14 says:
If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Thank you.
FOURTH TOKYO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT
(Member’s Statement)
Ms D M RAMODIBE (ANC): Madam Speaker, Yokohama City hosted the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development. The conference was held under the theme ``Towards a vibrant Africa – a continent of hope and opportunity’’, and addressed three main issues, namely, boosting economic growth, ensuring human security and addressing environmental issues.
It adopted a programme of action aimed at implementing the recommendations of the conference. Amongst others, the conference agreed on the following: to help Africa to build its infrastructure, develop its agriculture, spreading access to education, access to health and issues pertaining to international trade. These are issues that present great difficulties at the World Trade Organisation. The conference agreed to put in place a joint monitoring mechanism between Japan and the African Union to look at what is being done in practical terms to implement these agreements.
The ANC supports strategic partnerships aimed at the consolidation of the African agenda. Thank you. [Applause.]
The SPEAKER: The Federal Democrats.
DEBT AND ECONOMIC SITUATION IN SOUTH AFRICA
(Member’s Statement)
Mr L M GREEN (FD): Madam Speaker, it is with great concern that we note that more and more South Africans are being caught in a debt trap.
South Africans owe R1,1 trillion in debt. Compared to the total household income of R1,4 trillion, we are faced with an economic disaster. There is no relief in sight as the SA Reserve Bank entrenches the debt trap by periodic hiking of interest rates. The Bureau of Market Research at the University of South Africa warns that, currently, interest costs alone amount to R224,4 billion without cutting into capital repayment, and should there be an interest hike of one per cent, as predicted, the annual interest cost could rise to R235,8 billion.
The situation is serious enough to demand urgent intervention to cut the debt cord that is strangling the economic life out of our struggling households. The National Credit Act may help to contain the borrowing frenzy of our people, but it cannot raise our people out of debt nor does it help to build public confidence when it seems that government and the Reserve Bank are losing control over rising inflation and interest rates.
We need a comprehensive plan that addresses debt entrapment which should not only look at how to prevent people from spending more, but should also help to minimise the risk associated with the rising cost of living. Finally, we need a new economic approach for current times, given that developed nations are overdeveloped and can diversify while economies in developing countries are in fact not moving forward. Thank you.
The SPEAKER: May I make a correction? The name of the party is the Federation of Democrats.
SANFORD AND LISBON FARMS IN MPUMALANGA
(Member’s Statement) Mr N T GODI (APC): Madam Speaker, the farms Sanford, between Marite and Hazeyview, and Lisbon, near the Huntington Kruger Gate, were bought with millions of rands and given to their claimants with high hopes and expectations. It is disappointing that a few years later these farms are deteriorating, are subject to endless disputes amongst claimants and are thus not fulfilling their set objectives. These two farms epitomise some of the serious challenges that relate to post-settlement support.
The challenges regarding these two farms revolve mainly around governance, the issues of transparency and accountability by the trustees and amongst the trustees. Despite our interaction with the then acting head of the Department of Agriculture in Mpumalanga, and promises to intervene and provide information, this has not happened. A month and numerous phone calls later, we seem no nearer to a resolution than at the beginning. In the meantime the farms are going to ruin.
We call on the Minister to exert greater political pressure on her provincial counterparts, especially in Mpumalanga, to ensure that officials act timeously, fairly and in the national interest.
Land restitution and agrarian reforms are of strategic national importance to enhance national sovereignty and food security. The APC condemns the lackadaisical attitude of the Department of Agriculture in Mpumalanga to the problems on Sanford and Lisbon farms. I thank you.
NAME-CHANGING ANOMALIES
(Member’s Statement)
Mr C M LOWE (DA): Madam Speaker, in a most insensitive, hurtful and illogical manner, ANC councillors in Durban have rammed through the renaming of 101 streets in the city. They have ignored sound expert advice, refuted local concerns and failed to take note of successful renaming exercises in Cape Town and Pietermaritzburg.
Their actions fly in the face of the sensible and measured call last week by the Minister of Arts and Culture, Pallo Jordan, for the name-changing process to be about nation-building to accommodate all sections of the population. Instead of bringing communities together and a shared history of our city, the ANC’s actions have created distress and anger and have the potential to reignite violence in the province.
They’ve renamed the Mangosuthu Highway in Umlazi as if, by a stroke of a pen, they can remove the IFP leader’s place in history. Bizarrely, Durban North’s main thoroughfare is called Broadway - and I ask you, how noncontroversial can the name Broadway be? It is to be renamed Swapo. The mind simply boggles. Perhaps the name Edith Benson is no longer acceptable because she was a white woman councillor on a whites-only Durban Council. But she was also a pathfinder, the first woman to be elected deputy mayor in 1923. So too is the name of Edwin Swales VC, a heroic fighter pilot who gave his life to save his crew, removed from history.
A road in the very suburb where Andrew Zondo planted a bomb, which killed five innocent civilians, is named after him. Now, I personally believe that he should be remembered for his role in the struggle, but it is disgraceful to do it in this manner.
Perhaps the greatest irony is that in a city that cannot fill potholes or repair traffic lights, the new signage is being quickly rolled out with little of the normal difficulty associated with service delivery in an ANC- controlled municipality. [Applause.]
ANIMAL ACTION WEEK AWARD
(Member’s Statement)
Mr P S GABANAKGOSI (ANC): Madam Speaker, the ANC wishes to congratulate hon Judy Chalmers on having won the Animal Action Week Award from the Education For All Fund for Animal Welfare (EFA) in the category of lifetime dedication award.
The EFA is an international nongovernmental organisation, which runs campaigns that educate and raise awareness about animal welfare issues, particularly amongst young people. The award recognises the sterling contribution she has made to the environmental welfare of both people and animals. She is indeed a worthy recipient and we are happy to congratulate her on receiving this prestigious award. The ANC salutes her and hopes that she’ll forever cherish this honour. I thank you.
GOLD MINING AND THE ECONOMY
(Member’s Statement)
Mr N SINGH (IFP): Madam Speaker, when the national electricity crisis turned into an emergency at the end of January this year, the hon Minister of Public Enterprises was bold enough to state that he did not expect the week-long shut down of the mining industry between 25 and 31 January to have much effect on our economy. How wrong he was.
This week the Chamber of Mines announced that South Africa’s gold production in the first quarter of 2008 fell by more than 15% compared to the last quarter of 2007. Compared to the first quarter of 2007, gold production fell by almost 17% in the first quarter of this year.
The industry lays the blame for this massive reduction squarely on the week- long shut down and the 10% electricity saving forced on it from the beginning of February. According to figures supplied by the Chamber of Mines, “the gold mining industry accounted for R40 billion or 7,5% of South Africa’s merchandise exports and employed 168 860 employees or 34% of total mining employment in 2007”.
The IFP is of the view that our economy cannot afford a repeat of the late January electricity fiasco that so badly hurt exports and employment. The mining industry may be an industry in decline but it is still vital for Forex earnings, industrial output, the balance of payments and tax revenue; not to mention, employment levels.
We have no doubt as the IFP that the hon Ministers in the economic cluster are aware of what has happened in the gold production industry. Thank you very much.
STANDARDISATION OF GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES
(Member’s Statement)
Mrs T J TSHIVHASE (ANC): Madam Speaker, the ANC would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Minister of Arts and Culture on the inauguration of the new South African geographical name changes and also the announcement of a national programme of action on the standardisation of geographical names in the country. We have great confidence in both this council and the Department of Arts and Culture in taking the responsibility of processing and providing the name changes. Public hearings will be held throughout the country in all provinces as the department seeks to restore precolonial names to certain places or to replace existing names with new ones.
It is crucial to note that in terms of the United Nations Resolutions, article 4 of the first UN Conference on the Standardisation of Geographical Names, each country has the sovereign right to standardise its geographical names, to decide what the appropriate name is for each feature in that country and how that name should be written. Furthermore, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommended the renaming of geographical features as a form of symbolic reparation to address South Africa’s unjust past.
The process of name changes and renaming of geographical places should be viewed by South Africans as a national effort to build a new South Africa, which is identified by our common destiny. I thank you.
FORMER MAYOR MFEKETO AS MP
(Member’s Statement)
Mr W P DOMAN (DA): Madam Speaker, it is revealing that the ANC has rewarded an individual with a disastrous record in governance with a seat in Parliament. Hon Mfeketo’s tenure as mayor of Cape Town was characterised by allegations of corruption, financial mismanagement and controversy; all of which questions her suitability to really serve the interests of the people. Evidence of this is contained in the Auditor-General’s report into this …
The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Madam Speaker, on a point of order: I think the purpose of members’ statements really is to highlight issues. This is an unbridled attack on an individual without any substantiation.
The SPEAKER: Hon Doman, if you want to raise something that deals with the character of an hon member of the House, you know how to go about doing so. A member’s statement is not the way in which to deal with it.
Mr M J ELLIS: Madam Speaker, I am afraid to say that, while I would tend to agree with your ruling, at the same time, regrettably, there have been many precedents in the past for this kind of statement in the House. Either we go back to the drawing board and sort this matter out, or I would urge you, on this occasion, to allow the hon Doman to finish his statement.
The SPEAKER: I will do so, but I won’t allow it to continue. I will look into it and then the hon member will have to reconsider his options. The ANC.
Mr W P DOMAN: Madam Speaker, I am ready to change the statement. Mr R D PIETERSE: No, sit down.
The SPEAKER: Not on the spot. No, hon member; redo the statement. The ANC.
ACDP MEMBER ATTENDS RIGHT-WING CONFERENCE
(Member’s Statement)
Mr R D PIETERSE (ANC): Speaker, it is reported that a member of the ACDP recently took part in a right-wing conference, which sought the annexation of the West Bank by Israel. This conference was held in Washington and discussed the proposal by B Elon, which rejects the two-state solution agreed to by the international community, which includes the United States, Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
According to this ethnic cleansing plan, Israel would be annexed to the West Bank and the people who are currently living there would be given Jordanian citizenship. This member of the ACDP, as a participant at this conference … [Interjections.] … himself a victim of apartheid colonialism, social exclusion and exploitation, should be ashamed of himself. Really, he should be ashamed of himself.
It is inconceivable how he would allow himself to be associated with such a cruel plan, aimed at the violation of the human rights of people in the West Bank, as well as the internationally recognised position of the resolution of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Indeed, Mr Oliphant, he should be ashamed of himself.
ARTS COUNCIL OF NORTH WEST PROVINCE
(Member’s Statement)
Mr G LEKGETHO (ANC): Madam Speaker, the ANC takes this opportunity to congratulate …
Mrs C DUDLEY: Sorry, on a point of order: Could that not be construed as a personal attack on a member of this House?
The SPEAKER: The issue was not the personality of the member. It dealt with Israel. [Interjections.] Can I now take the last statement from the ANC?
Mr G LEKGETHO: The ANC takes this opportunity to congratulate the North West province on the establishment of the North West provincial arts and culture council. The provincial arts and culture council is meant to support and encourage the development of all facets of arts and culture.
The North West provincial arts and culture council will be responsible for the following activities: To promote the development of arts and culture in the province; to ensure an equitable allocation of funds to arts and culture activities throughout the province; to foster the expression of national identity and consciousness by means of the arts; to encourage excellence in the arts; to advise the responsible MEC on policy matters relating to the development of arts and culture in the province; to report to the responsible member on the actual disbursement of grants to artists, students, cultural organisations and other worthy causes in the field of arts and culture; to provide and encourage the provision of opportunities for persons to practise arts; to promote appreciation, understanding and enjoyment of the arts; to promote and facilitate national and international liaison between individuals and institutions in respect of arts and culture. This council will also play a leading role in the promotion of social cohesion and nation-building. I thank you.
INSTALLATION OF WOMAN AS CHIEF
XENOPHOBIA IN SOUTH AFRICA
(Minister’s Response)
The MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY: Madam Speaker, may I also, on behalf of the President and the government of South Africa, extend our warmest congratulations to Hosi Phillia Nwamitwa II on her succession. I agree with the ANC speaker that this is a significant contribution to the empowerment of women in South Africa. Secondly, with regard to the two speakers on the issue of the appalling and barbaric violence that has taken place against foreign nationals, I would like to say that the most important thing for us is to ensure that we don’t party politicise this matter. It is not a fight between political parties. This is a challenge that all of us face as South Africans. And what is clearly important right now is that we must do everything possible - working in partnership with civil society organisations, international organisations such as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, and the International Red Cross, IRC - to ensure the speedy reintegration of displaced persons back into the communities where they belong. This is the way we should approach the situation. Thank you. [Applause.]
GOLD MINING AND THE ECONOMY
(Minister’s Response)
The MINISTER FOR PUBLIC ENTERPRISES: Chairperson, it is correct, as has been reported in the statistics, that there was an impact on the output of gold and certainly we would have expected that in the first quarter there would be significant growth.
There are two points I would like to make. Firstly, I once again want to commend the mining industry for the tremendous efforts they themselves put into co-operating with us. It is regrettable, as we’ve indicated before, that, in those early stages after 24 January, the bulk of the savings burden fell on the mining industry and other big industrial users. It is for this reason - as you know - that we’ve attempted to spread the burden and then we entered into the phase of scheduled load-shedding to try to get savings in other segments of our users.
The position, as you know, is that we stopped that and the savings are still being achieved by the industrial sector and we are seeing improvements in the savings in other sectors in the economy. But, as you know, the position remains very tight. We must do everything we possibly can to continue to reduce the demands in savings, which is very, very important indeed. All of us can make that contribution because it is crucial.
With regard to the growth rate as such, I think the Minister of Finance dealt with it quite exhaustively in his recent Budget Speech and in many statements recently because, of course, the situation is more complex. It is not only the fact that we’ve had the load-shedding; we’ve got this very rapid rise in primary energy supply. We will have to expect some increase in the electricity prices and this matter is before the National Energy Regulator of South Africa, Nersa. As with other economies in the world there is a serious problem, because food prices and energy prices are rising, and these are some of challenges all economies face. But, I share the Minister of Finance’s basic confidence that the underlying strength of our economy remains positive. ANIMAL ACTION WEEK AWARD NAME-CHANGING ANOMALIES FOURTH TOKYO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT
(Minister’s Response)
The MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM: Madam Speaker, I would like to respond to the statement congratulating the hon Chalmers, then the one on the Yokohama Declaration and the two on place name changes.
I would like to associate myself with the statement congratulating the hon Chalmers. I don’t see her in the Chamber now. I may just have missed her, but we know that she is a tireless worker, one of the more active members in that portfolio committee who is really committed to the cause that she has been committed to for many, many years and that award is well-deserved.
Then with regard to the Yokohama Declaration, the President represented us last week and the African Heads of State committed themselves to that declaration. We welcome the aid announced but specifically that the aid is more trade-focused and the rationale behind that is to ensure that we have more free trade between developing and developed countries. But the part of the declaration dealing with climate change was the one part where African leaders amended that declaration. Our viewpoint was unequivocal and very strongly that we are not willing to commit developing countries to the same targets that developed countries have. There is a history to climate change. The developed countries have used up to 70% of the carbon space and they must first fulfil their historical responsibility. But, obviously, we are willing to do more. [Applause.]
That TICAD Conference was a very important building block in preparing for the G8+5, and the Africa Outreach on 8 July, and that is the viewpoint that South Africa will certainly take in those meetings.
Then, with regard to the statements dealing with place name changes, let me say that whenever members raise this issue, members on this side take note of those sentiments. The President has expressed himself on more than one occasion on this issue, as has the Minister of Arts and Culture.
There are two sides to this. There is the one side that feels that we cannot go around this country willy-nilly changing place names. But there is also the strong demand that the place names in our country must reflect the history of everybody and the country as a whole.
Some of the issues raised must be debated. But when people criticise the ANC, they must first ensure that they get their own house in order. In Cape Town, we know that one party in the coalition here, has very strongly objected to the way that the DA has handled the place name issue in Cape Town. They believe that the DA wants to get rid of Afrikaans names and erase Afrikaans history. Before the DA criticises the ANC, they must ensure that they get their own house in order in this regard. [Applause.]
DISCRIMINATORY CRITERIA FOR TEACHING BURSARIES
DEBT AND ECONOMIC SITUATION IN SOUTH AFRICA
NEED FOR NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER AND REPENTANCE
(Minister’s Response)
The MINISTER OF EDUCATION: Madam Speaker, I just want to reply to the statement concerning the Fundza Lushaka Bursary Programme and say that this is a very important intervention by government in reintroducing full bursaries to young people who wish to become teachers in South Africa. The bursaries have identified key subject areas in which we lack personnel at the moment.
I am very keen that the hon Van der Walt should give me the specific name of the student that she has referred to, as well as the institution, so that I might investigate the reasons, if there are any, for the student not being given access to a bursary.
However, I would think that I might be accurate in saying her reference to exclusion on the basis of language or race is mere politicking. She should assist us with investigating exactly what happened.
Nevertheless, we will investigate and we will ask for an opportunity to come back to the House and report on this matter.
Finally, I do agree with the statement made by the hon Green that we must exert maximum effort in ensuring that we address our debt levels in South Africa.
As political parties, it is incumbent upon us, during the constituency periods, to engage in some consumer education on debt and really ensure that our people begin to take more decisions that are in accordance with their ability to manage debt levels. It is clear from the reports and from his very own statement that we are all living way beyond our means.
I think the credit Act has been an important law in terms of introducing consumer protection, education and regulation on credit access in South Africa. Therefore, it is incumbent on us as members to ensure that we go out there and, in fact, even as MPs that we ensure that our debt package is not too high.
Finally, I may say that the hon Meshoe has called for a day of prayer and repentance. I would say it should not just be a day of prayer but that we should call on all religious leaders and all leaders in society to become far more involved in educating our nation on values, in reviving the morals of our nation and supporting a national action toward moral regeneration in South Africa. I think that an active role in this regard would certainly take our country way ahead and while the day of prayer might be useful, the ongoing engagement in new values and a moral revival in our society is perhaps a more important role for all religious leaders to play. [Applause.]
The SPEAKER: Hon members are reminded that the EPCs on Vote No 14 on Health and Vote No 18 on Correctional Services will start at 15:00 in the Old Assembly Chamber and in Committee Room E249 respectively.
The House adjourned at 14:46.