National Assembly - 11 August 2010
Wednesday, 11 august 2010 __
ProceedingS of national assembly
____
The House met at 14:02.
The Deputy Speaker 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
Ms E MORE: Madam Deputy Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the DA:
That the House –
1) debates the 2009 to 2010 Child Gauge Report released by the
Children’s Institute, which points to a rise in child mortality in
South Africa since 1990; and
2) comes up with solutions to reverse the negative trends articulated
in this report. Mr N J J KOORNHOF: Madam Deputy Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of Cope:
That this House –
1) discusses the tourism and environmental implications for our
national parks, particularly the Greater Kruger National Park,
against the growing poaching threat;
2) further discusses the negative effect on the fauna caused by the
polluted rivers running through it; and
3) comes up with positive solutions.
Mr K S MUBU: Madam Deputy Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the DA:
That the House debates the appropriateness of the appointment of Mr Ebrahim Rasool as South Africa’s ambassador to the United States of America.
Mrs C N Z ZIKALALA: Madam Deputy Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the IFP:
That the House – 1) debates the ongoing crisis regarding our wastewater treatment systems countrywide; and
2) further notes that –
a) billions of rands are needed to fix the systems;
b) less than 45% of the systems perform at acceptable standards;
and
c) the sector is in complete disrepair and on the verge of
collapse.
BEST WISHES TO RETIRING ARCHBISHOP TUTU
(Draft Resolution)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Hon Deputy Speaker, I hereby move without notice:
That the House -
1) welcomes the decision of Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu to retire
from public life;
2) recalls that Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu is one of the leaders
who popularised the notion of the rainbow nation and is a symbol of
peace and reconciliation, a renowned clergy and an academic of
excellence;
3) further recalls that he was the voice of the liberation movement
when its leaders were silenced, through forced exile, imprisonment,
house arrests and banning by using his clerical position and the
pulpit to expose the injustice and the inhumanity of the apartheid
regime to the international world;
4) believes that South Africa would not be what it is today without
the contribution of Archbishop Tutu and many of the leaders of his
generation;
5) acknowledges Archbishop Tutu’s selfless contribution to the
liberation of our country, South Africa, and his continental and
international campaign for peace and justice; and
6) wishes Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu well on his
retirement and that his contribution to the liberation of South
Africa will always be part of our history and will be narrated from
generation to generation.
Agreed to. CONGRATULATIONS TO MR DANNY JORDAAN
(Draft Resolution)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Hon Deputy Speaker, I hereby move without notice:
That the House -
1) welcomes the commissioning of former World Cup head Danny Jordaan
in a senior fulltime capacity to join the Fifa World Cup inspection
team to look over prospective World Cup candidates for 2018 and
2022;
2) believes that Jordaan deserves the position as he worked tirelessly
to deliver what many foreign journalists said would be impossible -
a successful 2010 World Cup , the first on African soil;
3) further believes that the choice of Jordaan is in recognition of
South Africa’s ability to host the biggest sporting event in
history as well as Jordaan’s sterling contribution to the success
and stunning achievement that has made our nation proud; and
4) congratulates Jordaan on his new appointment and wishes him well.
Agreed to.
MOTION OF CONDOLENCE
(The late Mr Tsietsi Daniel Motitjoane)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Hon Deputy Speaker, I hereby move without notice:
That the House -
1) notes with sadness the death at the Helen Joseph Hospital in
Johannesburg on 5 July 2010 of Tsietsi Daniel Motitjoane, popularly
known as "Nana Coyote","The wild dog", who was a lead singer for
Stimela, one of the country's oldest and most popular musical
groups;
2) remembers that Nana was born in Lesotho in 1955 and grew up in the
dusty streets of Sharpeville and, while at Makabelane High School
in Qwaqwa, started his musical career by forming a band with his
schoolmates;
3) further remembers that in 1980, at the height of political unrest,
as resistance against the unjust laws of apartheid intensified,
Nana went into exile in Lesotho where he joined the group Uhuru,
now Sankomota, and returned to rejoin The Black Five for a spell
and then, in 1984, headed for Johannesburg seeking to further his
professional music career;
4) recalls that Coyote featured as a lead vocalist in many renowned
songs, including "I'm suffering", "Take your love", and "Whisper in
the Deep (Phinda Mzala)", that he collaborated with many artists
such as Steve Kekana, Ray Phiri and Joe Nina and that, at the time
of his passing, he was with Stimela finalising a new album which
will be released soon;
5) believes that Nana became a beacon of hope and inspired many
artists and individuals in our country; and
6) conveys its condolences to his family, friends and fellow musicians
at this hour of great loss and assures them that the thoughts and
prayers of its Members are with them.
May his soul rest in peace.
Agreed to. SHORTAGE OF MEDICAL STAFF AT CLINICS IN KHAYELITSHA, CAPE TOWN
(Draft Resolution)
Mrs H S MSWELI: Hon Deputy Speaker, on behalf of the Chief Whip of the IFP, I hereby move without notice:
That the House -
1) notes that on Monday 2 August 2010, 15 victims of a Khayelitsha,
Cape Town, taxi crash that also claimed two lives, had to wait
almost 24 hours for medical attention at a local clinic;
2) further notes that the victims of the crash were traumatised and
suffered from severe pain but could not be treated immediately as
there is a shortage of emergency medical staff at the clinic;
3) expresses concern that shortages of emergency medical staff at
local clinics have not been addressed; and
4) requests the government to investigate the reasons for the shortage
of emergency staff at clinics and to put measures in place to
ensure that the suffering of victims in need of emergency medical
care are not further prolonged by the lack of adequate medical
care.
Agreed to.
EXTENSION OF DEADLINE OF SERVICE DELIVERY AD HOC COMMITTEE’S REPORT
(Draft Resolution)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Hon Deputy Speaker, I move:
That the House, notwithstanding the resolution it adopted on 11 May 2010, resolves to extend the deadline by which the Ad Hoc Committee on Co- ordinated Oversight on Service Delivery under the Theme: “Working together to ensure the delivery of quality service to communities” has to report, to 24 August 2010.
Agreed to.
WORKING TOGETHER FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND PROGRESS FOR ALL WOMEN
(Debate on National Women’s Day)
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Hon Deputy Speaker, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers, hon Members of Parliament, firstly, I would like to express our appreciation to the millions of South African women who are participating in various initiatives and programmes across our country to mark our national Women’s Month.
Women’s Day is a day that highlights the courage of women in our country, past and present. It was on this day in 1956 when 20 000 women, carrying 100 000 petitions, marched to the Union Buildings, protesting against the inhuman act of having to carry passes in the urban areas.
These women delivered the petitions to the office of J G Strydom. Women throughout the country had put their names on these petitions, indicating their anger and frustration at having their freedom of movement restricted. Although Strydom was not at the Union Buildings to accept the petition, the women of South Africa sent a public message that they would not be intimidated and silenced by these unjust laws.
Since 1994, this day has been commemorated every year to recognise and recall the bravery of these women who risked arrest, detention, banning and forced exile to have their voices heard. This day in the calendar of our country, serves to remind all of us that we need to review the path we have travelled and find solutions to the challenges facing us now.
Our programme for this month seeks to reach women different social backgrounds across the different geographical localities. Various legislatures are convening Women’s Parliaments to provide platforms for ordinary women to engage issues affecting them and voice their concerns and challenges. I had the honour of participating in one of these forums in Mpumalanga last week.
We have also met university students in the Eastern Cape during the past weekend to discuss issues of education and the critical role young women and men have to play in transforming the gender demographics of our economy through the careers they choose. We also gathered with women from various churches in East London and prayed together for a society free of all forms of abuse of women and girls.
It is really disturbing that even as we commemorate Women’s Month, women continue to be attacked and raped. We have to do more to protect women and children from continuing incidents of gender-based violence. In this regard, we are going to continue with our efforts to raise awareness and seek to address sexist stereotypes and attitudes that undermine the rights, dignity and wellbeing of women.
To mark the national Women’s Day on Monday, we mobilised 30 000 women who gathered at Absa Stadium in East London to celebrate this day. We received a visionary address by the President of our country, hon President Jacob Zuma. We are taking an approach that enables us to reach out to women in rural and urban areas; women who are employed and those who are unemployed; and women who are economically empowered and those who live in poverty. We are doing this because we seek to address the various limitations of patriarchy which negatively affect these women’s lives and limit their development and success.
Our country can now show many gains and achievements in promoting women’s rights and advancing gender equality. Under the leadership of the ANC, we are striving to ensure that the whole of our society accepts the principle of 50-50 gender parity. In the near future, we will be approaching this House for support and enactment of the Gender Equality Bill which is being developed by the Ministry for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities.
We acknowledge that many challenges still persist and we need to work together to overcome them if we are to achieve our dream of a truly democratic and nonsexist state. The key issues that inform our programme for the Women’s Month include intensification of poverty eradication, rural development, economic empowerment of women and an effective response to the major challenge of violence against women and girls.
Today I would also like to talk about the empowerment of women in the information and communication technologies, ICT, sector - an area which we tend to overlook quite often — and, in the process, link it to the educational and economic opportunities for the empowerment of women. We need to more strongly encourage girls to enter this previously male- dominated field of study, that is telecommunications and the world of technology in general. We must also encourage more young women to begin to enter this area at the tertiary level of education.
We do have legislation on ICT, which is encouraging in this regard. Section 5(9)(b) of the Electronic Communications Act stipulates that the Authority must, in granting a licence for provision of electronic communications network services, broadcasting services and electronic communications services, promote the empowerment of historically disadvantaged persons, including women.
Furthermore, section 6(8)(a) of the Broadcasting Act of 1999 stipulates that the corporation must develop a code of practice that ensures that the services and personnel comply with the constitutional principle of equality. It further says that the public service provided by the corporation must strive to offer a broad range of services targeting, particularly women.
The empowerment of women in terms of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa Act states that the authority may make regulations on empowerment requirements in terms of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act of 2003. Broad-based black economic empowerment, in terms of this Act, means the economic empowerment of all black people, including women, through many diverse but integrated socioeconomic strategies that include increasing the number of black people that manage, own and control enterprises and productive assets, amongst others.
Overall, the country has developed an ICT charter for the empowerment of women. I urge for the full implementation of this charter and all applicable pieces of legislation so that young women can be encouraged to enter this particular field. At the same time, I urge that women are provided with increasing opportunities to utilise the ICT sector towards their economic empowerment. I have just concentrated on this one aspect in the interest of time.
I wish to leave the House with words of wisdom from our former President and father, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, who said:
Freedom cannot be achieved unless women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression.
In line with the theme for Women’s Month this year, let us work together for equal opportunities and progress for all women.
Forward to a decade of the African woman, forward!
HON MEMBERS: Forward!
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Wathint’ abafazi! [You a strike woman!]
HON MEMBERS: Wathint’ imbokodo! [You strike a rock!]
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: I thank you. [Applause.]
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon members, we are having a very important debate. However, there are members who are even violating the code of members in the House. They stand in gangways talking, to the extent that one can hear them while there is somebody on the platform. I didn’t call the House to order because there are students seated up there, who have come to grace us with their presence. It becomes very foolish to start saying that members of this respectable House must have order. [Interjections.]
I won’t respond to that. I really won’t respond to that. The fact that I am looking in that direction is maybe because I saw people standing in the gangway in that direction, more than the other direction. [Interjections.] So you don’t have to respond. [Interjections.]
Mrs D ROBINSON: Hon Deputy Speaker, hon Ministers and members, throughout the ages women have had to fight for recognition as individuals and the right to make their own choices. I think of someone like Florence Nightingale who defied convention and revolutionised nursing during the Crimean War, of Emily Hobhouse who left a life of prosperity in England to come and work in the concentration camps during the Anglo-Boer War in South Africa to assist the woman and children who were living in appalling conditions.
I think of the militant suffragettes in England who risked their lives to earn the right to vote. And then there was our own Helen Suzman who braved ridicule and insults and asked the difficult questions exposing the evils of apartheid. She stood her ground and fought for her principles and the human rights of people like Nelson Mandela and his fellow prisoners at Robben Island.
The national Woman’s Day commemorates the 20 000 South African women who marched for justice on 9 August 1956. Fearlessly, they sang a song that has become a rallying cry: “Wathint’ abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo!” [You strike a woman, you strike a rock!] Women can be the rock on which a freer, safer and more prosperous South Africa is built. They just need the opportunities to be educated, to be given a decent health care, to make informed choices about their reproductive rights, to determine their own futures and those of their children.
Empowering women economically and giving them opportunity to be gainfully employed is key to social and economic progress. Their creativity, entrepreneurial skills and determination to provide for their families is a driving factor towards economic success and a better standard of living.
Remember that women comprise 52% of our population. How can South Africa prosper if more than half of the people are marginalised, oppressed and not economically productive? If patriarchal attitudes continue, and ignorance prevails, economic growth and prosperity will be impossible.
However, it is interesting to note that, according to the MasterCard Worldwide Index of Women’s Advancement, more women are being enrolled at universities. Their figures show that for every 100 men in the workplace there are 75 women. South Africa has many dynamic successful businesswomen, but their biggest issue is hitting the proverbial glass ceiling. However, we need to assist those grass-roots women who have their own informal businesses and projects by giving them necessary mentoring to grow their businesses, as Mrs Lillian Masebenza does so successfully through her Mhani Gingi Programme.
Mrs Masebenza is in the gallery with many of her student volunteers from Norway, and we thank them for their contribution. She provides tailor-made skills and social justice training. “Mhani Gingi” means industrious and caring women, those on whom our social stability and moral values lie. The lives of many rural women are still dominated by the need to fetch water and firewood; they eek out a meagre living.
In some areas, women are denied the right to own property and are regarded as mere chattels to be passed from one member of the family to another. So often, platitudes are mouthed about equality, but we need to make this a reality in every day. I quote Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations:
Gender equality and women’s empowerment are fundamental to the global mission of the United Nations to achieve equal rights and dignity for all. But equality for women and girls is also an economic and social imperative. Until women and girls are liberated from poverty and injustice, all our goals - peace, security, sustainable development - stand in jeopardy.
I would like to quote our former Speaker, Frene Ginwala, who said:
Education and training are vital for women and for future generations in order that women can be at the centre of restoring social and moral values, bringing back discipline and respect.
Hon Deputy Speaker, as leaders of our nation, may we all encourage all men to support this so that we work together for equal opportunities and progress for women, their families and our entire nation. Malibongwe igama lamakhosikazi! [Let the women’s name be praised!]
HON MEMBERS: Malibongwe! [Let it be praised!] [Applause.]
Ms S P RWEXANA: Hon Deputy Speaker, Monday, 9 August 2010, marked 54 years of commemoration of the women’s march to the Union Buildings. South African women from all walks of life walked to the Union Buildings to hand over a petition against pass laws. The march was a follow-up to the 1954 Women’s Charter.
On both these occasions, women came from all walks of life, irrespective of race, colour, creed or political affiliation. Women then – as they still are today - were brought together by the same problems such as poverty, violence against women, gender parity and patriarchy, and so on. These problems are the ones that bring all women together.
Therefore it is very important to understand and acknowledge that 9 August brings all South African women together. We will only be able to fight for women’s rights if we fight together as South African women. During the actions taken in 1954 and 1956, South African women came in unity to fight the same problems that we still face today. These are struggles that cannot be fought by one political party, but by the South African women at large.
The theme for this month is: Working together for equal opportunities and progress for all women. When we talk about 50-50 gender parity, Parliament should be the leading example. But, unfortunately, it is not. The reason for that is that not all political parties adhere to the 50-50 gender parity principle. It should start here. Women in Parliament should be working together to achieve 50-50 gender parity.
The struggle for women continues; it does not happen only when it suits you. Therefore, it is very important for us as women in Parliament to take on this fight and ensure that the 50-50 gender parity is legislated. As the saying goes: Charity begins at home.
As Cope we acknowledge the strides taken by the government to deal with these problems. We also acknowledge the steps taken by our government on gender mainstreaming and poverty reduction in line with the resolution of the Beijing Platform for Action taken 15 years ago. But, the problems facing women remain a major challenge. For instance, we are now in the sixteenth year of our democracy, but women are still the ones that are mostly hit by poverty in rural areas and informal settlements. Women-headed households are without employment and a basic salary. Now is the time for women’s issues to be prioritised in the government’s agenda.
Recent statistics show that every six minutes a woman is raped or sexually abused. This indicates that, instead of decreasing, violence against women is actually increasing despite the government’s efforts. The recent portfolio committee oversight visits to various provinces observed that, despite having the Domestic Violence Act, no 116 of 1998, the scourge remains a serious challenge. Therefore the above-mentioned Act needs to be reviewed.
Government programmes that are being implemented today are the same as the demands of the 1954 Women’s Charter. Women like Lilian Ngoyi, Ray Alexander nabanye [and others] would be happy in their graves if, one day, poverty- stricken women, particularly those in rural areas, could be financially independent and have access to employment. They would be happy if a gendered approach to poverty reduction would concentrate on the economic development and empowerment of poor women.
Furthermore, Lilian Ngoyi and others would be happy if resource-generating opportunities that are easily accessible and conducive to a woman’s needs are made available; indigenous women in rural areas are given access to the ownership of land; programmes that provide financial assistance and credit to women at accommodating interest rates and convenient terms of repayment are initiated so as to increase a woman’s opportunity to engage in small business activities; programmes are implemented that provide education and employment training that build the capacity of women to become economically independent and thus enable them to alter situations of violence; and functional literacy programmes are initiated, as these are a crucial step in empowering women to take control of their own lives.
In conclusion, Madam Deputy Speaker, the Multiparty Women’s Caucus and women from other political parties should work together to achieve the above. When a human being comes into existence, a woman breaks water. Water is an important component of life – we cannot live without water. Therefore, there is no life and future without a woman. I thank you. [Applause.]
Ms C N Z ZIKALALA: Malibongwe! [Praise!]
HON MEMBERS: Igama lamakhosikazi! [The name of women!]
Ms C N Z ZIKALALA: Hon Deputy Speaker, the national Women’s Day must always be the day upon which the women of South Africa – women who are the very rose petals of our society – are honoured and thanked for the untold selfless work and sacrifices that they have endured to make this great nation what it is today.
We in the IFP believe that women are truly, for the most part, the unsung heroines of our nation’s history. The mothers, the carers, the wives, the daughters, the grandmothers, in addition to being, in some cases, breadwinners are, in most cases, contributors to household income. They are truly the most precious assets of any nation and, as such, should be treasured and accorded the respect they deserve.
Yet, unfortunately, the reality remains far from the ideal. Many women still live and raise families in abject poverty. They run households with no water, no sewerage systems and no electricity. These women, especially the sole breadwinners and the single-parent mothers, must be identified and assisted by the state in their fight to provide a better future for their children.
Women remain victims of domestic violence and abuse. The Domestic Violence Act has failed women due to its poor implementation. Lack of knowledge on the part of police officers when assisting women has also contributed in this regard. Women’s groups around the country are also revealing how apathetic South Africans can be towards domestic violence within their communities. Neighbours, most often, just turn a blind eye to women who are abused by their partners, as they reason that that is none of their business.
This culture of quiet acceptance is wrong and must be changed. Children must be educated from early age as to what is acceptable behaviour in this regard. Our sons must be taught that real men don’t abuse women.
Early pregnancy is another issue that must be addressed by the departments of education and social welfare. Teen pregnancy is not in any way a desirable state of affairs for a young woman who is still at school. Once again, we must educate our children so that situations like these are minimised as in most cases both the mother and the child suffer unnecessarily because of these. The mother has to leave school or get a substandard matric while the baby is born into an unsuitable environment.
Human trafficking and forced prostitution of women is yet another sign of a decaying global culture. We in South Africa must show the world that this is totally unacceptable in our country. I therefore urge the Minister of Police and the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development to deal most resolutely with perpetrators of this heinous crime.
In conclusion, Deputy Speaker, I would like to say that we should respect a woman because you can feel her innocence in the form of a daughter; you can feel her dedication in the form of a wife; you can feel her divinity in the form of a mother; you can feel her blessing in the form of a grandmother. She is a woman, and she is life. Respect her! I thank you. [Applause.]
Mrs W S NEWHOUDT-DRUCHEN: Hon Deputy Speaker, hon members in the House and invited guests, I would like to use this opportunity to add my voice and congratulate us women for hosting a successful Fifa World Cup.
As I prepared for this speech, I was thinking about two young deaf ladies who have just landed from Venezuela yesterday afternoon - an eight-year-old young girl and a young female leader. This girl-child had a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity to attend the World Federation of the Deaf children’s Camp 2010. These two women were the only deaf people from Africa to attend this camp. For this young girl it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience meeting other deaf children from around different parts of the world.
I look towards home and I think of millions of other young girls and young female adults who will never experience these kinds of opportunities. We, as Members of Parliament, are in a special position to use our contacts and our opportunity of meeting people in extraordinary positions to be able to give these kinds of opportunities for many other young women.
We can use our skills, our knowledge of Parliament and our constituency work to share our experiences so that other women can benefit and grow. We, as Members of Parliament, can also work in our constituencies with other role-players in civil society - for example, the different NGOs - to bring on the development of women and young girls.
We have just celebrated August the 9th, our Women’s Day commemoration throughout the country – a day in remembrance of women who have fought, marched and were imprisoned for the freedoms of all our women. And we also use this day to reflect on how today we can best advance the goals of working together for equal opportunities and progress for all women.
This year also marks the beginning of the decade of the African women, from 2010 to 2020, which has been adopted by the African Union, AU. Today, we continue to march forward with the theme: Working together for equal opportunities and progress for all women.
Women cannot be free, unless we are free of all discrimination against women. Women cannot be free, unless both men and women work together towards the emancipation of all women. The ANC’s 51st National Conference reaffirms the important matter of focusing on the challenges of the eradication of gender oppression and discrimination. It directed us to design a comprehensive strategy on our programme to build a nonsexist society and provide for the integration of gender in all aspects of policies and programmes.
The ANC’s commitment to eliminate racism, oppression and exploitation from our society cannot fail to address the question of the emancipation of women. The experience of other societies has shown that the emancipation of women is not a by-product of a struggle for democracy or national liberalisation or socialism. It has to be addressed in its own right within our organisation, the mass democratic movement and the society as a whole.
The majority of women who are black are the most oppressed section of our people, suffering under the yoke of oppression. The liberalisation of women is central to our people’s struggle for freedom. The ANC Women’s League and alliance partners proposed the formation of a Progressive Women’s Movement, PWM, where the key objective was to promote the transformation of the South African society into a truly nonracial and nonsexist society.
The PWM was launched in 2006, and the then Minister of Foreign Affairs in one of her speeches said:
PWM is a movement that is representative of progressive forces in our country; a movement that will stamp the issues that face women daily onto the agenda of every sphere of society in our country.
The aim of the PWM is clearly stated in its founding documents. It states:
We, as South African women, declare our aim of striving for the removal of laws, regulations, conventions and customs that discriminate against us as women and deprive us in any way of our inherent right to the advantages, responsibilities and opportunities that society offers to any one section of the population.
And, ja [yes], I’m quoting from the Women’s Charter adopted in 1954. The PWM has six main objectives, but I only have time to highlight one, which I feel is linked to the theme: Working together for equal opportunities for all women. This objective is: To deepen democracy, so as to ensure we fight patriarchy.
Some of the institutions that we have seen and have been able to exist still maintain the culture, values and norms of a patriarchal society. The movement must enable us to fight these atrocities and demons of a patriarchal society in the family, church, government institutions and in the judiciary through all forms of struggle.
To be able to work on this one objective, we need to contribute to the extension of the larger movement for a global justice with women within and outside of the PWM, younger women, mainstream NGOs, national or social movements, the state, multinational institutions and international structures that are committed to women’s issues.
The ANC has led efforts aimed at eradicating oppressive gender relations by entrenching the constitutional guarantees of the equality of women; abolishing legislation and policies that discriminate against women; establishing national gender machinery in government; and introducing policies and programmes targeting women and aimed at empowerment and poverty alleviation.
The nongovernmental sector has a role to play in the process of deepening democracy and people-centred development. Democratic forces need to continue to interact with the sector in joint programmes against poverty for social development and assist in strengthening its capacity.
On Women’s Day our hon President said: “Everyone has a role to play to ensure that we reach our targets for the benefit of our country.” So, hon members, let us continue to work for equal opportunities and the progress for all women in our society. I thank you. [Applause.]
Mr J J MCGLUWA: Hon Deputy Speaker, on Monday, 9 August, I participated in three Women’s Day events, where I joined government officials, NGOs and ordinary women in George, Mitchells Plain and Somerset West to celebrate Women’s Day. The more I sat there, listening, the more I began to hear clearly some of the massive challenges faced by women in a male-dominated society.
If women are struggling like this today, imagine what it took for 20 000 women to face the might of the apartheid regime and march defiantly to the Union Buildings in Pretoria on 9 August 1956. I also began to share the view of hon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela that we do not just need large numbers of women; we need quality women who can improve the quality of life for all other women.
I also realised that Women’s Day is as much about men as it is about women because, if men truly respected women as equals and worked with them to create equality in all spheres of our society, there would be no need for Women’s Month. Patricia de Lille and thousands of other women’s contribution towards the struggle against apartheid was no less significant than the contribution of their male counterparts. In fact, they contributed more because, after a day in the trenches, many of them still went home, fed and clothed their families. It is for this reason that all of us must embrace the continuing struggle for equality. I thank you. [Applause.]
Mr S Z NTAPANE: Hon Deputy Speaker, hon members and all hon Ministers present in the House, today we celebrate Women’s Day to honour the contribution that women made to the attainment of our democracy. In many ways, women bore the brunt of apartheid’s cruelty and pettiness. In the aftermath of that repression, we not only decided to celebrate a national Women’s Day, but also ensured that gender equality forms a central tenet of the new democratic Constitution.
So, today we can celebrate the advances in gender equality, but with a sense that there is still much more that needs to be done. Indeed, certain indicators are positive, such as the number of women who enrol for further education. However, across the spectrum of social, economic and safety issues, women continue to suffer disproportionately.
In social terms, there continues to be large numbers of women who have to fulfil multiple roles in poverty-stricken households. The burden of being the sole breadwinner and sole parent in the face of overwhelming poverty and little and or no basic services is a heavy one. We have to ask ourselves whether current government interventions, primarily by way of social grants, are having the desired outcome of helping these women.
The social factors overlap with the economic status of women. Those who are at a social advantage often find themselves at the economic disadvantage as well. We must acknowledge that one of the most important aspects to address these concerns in the long run is education. Education is the bridge that can span the gulf between socioeconomic suffering and prosperity. It is our duty to build that bridge, maintain it and help as many disadvantaged South Africans, women included, to cross over it to a better future.
Finally, allow me to emphasise the question of women and security. We live in a country with shocking high rates of abuse and violence against women. These crimes continue with sickening regularity. We - especially men in position of authority - must continuously commit ourselves to rooting out this evil; it is immoral and repressive. It makes a mockery of our attempts to build a society that is fairer and better than the one we had under apartheid. I thank you. [Applause.]
Dr C P MULDER: Agb Adjunkspeaker, die afgelope week het ons weer Vrouedag in Suid-Afrika herdenk. Dit is ’n geleentheid wat ons het om stil te staan en te evalueer, nie net hoe ons gevorder het in die proses om vroue te bemagtig nie, maar ook om gelyke geleenthede en vooruitgang vir alle vroue te bevorder.
Dis ook natuurlik nie ’n nuwe onderwerp nie. Onlangs, op 9 Maart vanjaar, het ons in hierdie Huis ’n debat gehad oor Internasionale Vrouedag, en was die onderwerp, “Gelyke regte vir almal, gelyke geleenthede vir almal”, feitlik identies aan vandag se onderwerp.
Die VF Plus is van mening dat daar die afgelope klompie jare groot vordering gemaak is om vroue nie net te bemagtig nie, maar ook om gelyke geleenthede daar te stel. Dit is goed en dit is reg. Die VF Plus sal alle maatreëls ondersteun om aan vroue gelyke geleenthede te gee. Die VF Plus besef terdeë welke belangrike rol die vrou speel en wil alle vroue daarvoor eer en respekteer, maar alles is ongelukkig nie net maanskyn en rose nie.
Die ANC wil, soos vandag, die indruk wek dat hulle aan die voorpunt is as dit kom by gelyke regte en gelyke geleenthede vir vroue. Die werklikheid in Suid-Afrika is dat daar gevra moet word of die gelyke geleenthede op kans en op vooruitgang vir vroue in Suid-Afrika vir alle vroue geld, en of daar onderskeid getref word tussen kleur en ras wat vroue betref.
In Suid-Afrika is daar ’n aanslag teen wit vroue en geniet hulle nie gelyke regte en veral gelyke geleenthede nie. Die Direkteur-generaal van Arbeid, mnr Jimmy Manyi, as president van die Black Management Forum, sê dat wit vroue uitgesluit moet word met die toepassing van regstellende aksie. Die Minister gaan netnou praat; hy kan daarop antwoord. Dit is mnr Jimmy Manyi se standpunt. Hier word dus blatant onderskeid getref op grond van ras. Wit vroue? Nee!
Indien die ANC regering werklik bedoel dat daar gelyke geleenthede moet wees vir alle vroue, waarom moes kaptein Renata Barnard, ’n wit vrou, haar tot die hof wend om haar regmatige bevordering tot superintendent in die Polisie af te dwing? Dit bewys dat die regering se beleid en toepassing van regstellende aksie inherent verkeerd en onwettig is, soos ons nog altyd geargumenteer het. Hoekom moet ’n wit vrou, naamlik kaptein Renata Barnard, vir vyf jaar ’n stryd voer om bevorder te word in die Polisie? Sy voldoen aan al die vereistes, is al twee keer goedgekeur vir die pos, daar was geen ander swart geskikte kandidate vir die pos nie, maar die Polisie weier om haar te bevorder.
As die ANC lede wat vandag hier sit sê dat hulle die beleid van gelyke regte en gelyke geleenthede vir alle vroue ondersteun, dan behoort hulle toe te tree en vir die Minister van Polisie te sê en opdrag te gee om die appèlaansoek – wat nou gebring word om daardie polisievrou se aanstelling deur die hof te verongeluk – terug te trek of te stop. Selfs die hof het gesê dat haar nie-bevordering tot in hierdie stadium neerkom op blatante rassisme.
Solank dinge soos hierdie in Suid-Afrika met verskillende mindersheidsgemeenskappe gebeur – of hulle wit, bruin of Asiër is – sal die woorde van vandag, van gelyke geleenthede vir alle vroue, geen betekenis hê nie en ’n hol propagandakreet bly met geen betekenis nie. Ek dank u. (Translation of Afrikaans speech follows.)
[Dr C P MULDER: Hon Deputy Speaker, this past week we again celebrated Women’s Day in South Africa. It is an opportunity that we have to pause and to reflect, not only on what progress we have made in the process of empowering women, but also in promoting equal opportunities and advancement for all women.
Of course, this is not a new topic. Recently, on 9 March this year, we had a debate in this House about International Women’s Day, and the topic was, “ Equal rights for all, equal opportunities for all”, almost identical to today’s topic.
The FF Plus holds the view that, in the past few years, excellent progress has been made, not only to empower women, but also in effectuating equal opportunities. This is right and this is fair. The FF Plus will support all measures that would afford women equal opportunities. The FF Plus realises completely what an important role women play and wants to celebrate and honour all women for this, but everything isn’t just moonlight and roses.
The ANC wants, like today, to create the impression that they are at the forefront when it comes to equal rights and equal opportunities for women. The reality in South Africa is that it needs to be interrogated as to whether equal opportunities to prospects and the advancement of women in South Africa are applicable to all women, or whether a distinction is made between colour and race as far as women are concerned.
In South Africa there is a plot against white women and they don’t enjoy equal rights, especially not equal opportunities. The Director-General of Labour, Mr Jimmy Manyi, as the president of the Black Management Forum, said that white women should be excluded when it comes to the implementation of affirmative action. The Minister will speak shortly; he can respond to that. This is Mr Jimmy Manyi’s position. Here brazen discrimination is applied based on race. White women? No!
If the ANC government truly has in mind that there should be equal opportunities for all women, why did Captain Renata Barnard, a white woman, have to approach the court to enforce her rightful promotion to Superintendent in the South African Police Service, SAPS? This proves that the government’s policy and implementation of affirmative action are intrinsically wrong and unlawful, as we have always maintained. Why must a white woman, namely Captain Renata Barnard, wage a struggle for five years to be promoted in the SAPS? She meets all the requirements, has been approved for the position twice already, there were no other suitable black candidates for the position, but the SAPS refuses to promote her.
If the ANC members, who are sitting here today, say that they support the policy of equal rights and equal opportunities for all women, then they should intervene and say to and instruct the Minister of Police to retract or stop the application to appeal the judgment, which has now been lodged to ruin this policewoman’s chance of being appointed as ordered by the court. Even the court stated that her nonpromotion up until now comes down to brazen racism.
As long as issues like these occur in South Africa with its various minority groups—whether they are whites, coloureds or Asians — the words that are being used today, of equal opportunities for all women, will have no meaning and remain a hollow propaganda slogan with no substance. Thank you.]
Mrs S V KALYAN: Deputy Speaker, 2010 is an important year for women in Africa. Firstly, it marks five years since the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa came into being. Secondly, it marks six years since the adoption of the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa which all heads of state and government committed to. Thirdly, it is the start of the African Women’s Decade.
Women make up 70% of those living below the poverty line and, therefore, they are most likely to bear the heaviest burden. At the same time, women are often left out of the conversation about adapting to climate change, even though they are sometimes in the best position to provide solutions.
In most poor communities, women play many roles. As providers, women usually work in agriculture or other informal sectors. They collect food, water and fuel. As caretakers, they look after the children, the sick and the elderly, the home and the family’s assets. As a result of their multifaceted roles, women have invaluable knowledge about adapting to erratic environmental changes. However, socially constructed roles and responsibilities usually put women at a disadvantage in preparing for climate change.
Women have less access to resources, are frequently unable to swim, are reluctant to leave the house unattended, and are less likely to migrate to look for shelter and work when disaster hits.
Therefore, statistically, women are more likely to die during disasters than men are. But it doesn’t have to be this way. If women are included in decision-making in their own communities, the special needs of both women and men can be met, and the survival rate of women will improve.
Article 18(3) of the Charter is aimed at protecting women in the context of the family only. Therefore the Charter needs to be completed by an addition which addresses particular problems encountered by African women. I hope, Minister, that you will spearhead the amendment.
The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights relative to the Rights of Women in Africa comprehensively enshrines civil, political, social and cultural rights, the rights to development, peace, as well as reproductive and sexual rights. It provides a legal framework to address gender inequality. Most importantly, the protocol calls for the legal prohibition of female genital mutilation, a practice which is still in use in at least 23 countries in Africa. South Africa has a responsibility to put pressure on these countries and also on those that have not ratified the protocol.
South Africa has expressed reservations with respect to article 4(j) on the death penalty because that has been abolished. Another reservation South Africa has with the protocol is with regard to article 6(h) where our laws on citizenship are more advantageous for children than the provision in the protocol.
It’s all very well to have a protocol on paper. However, for it to be effective, we need to encourage all countries to sign and ratify the protocol; to build the capacity of gender machinery and ministries; to put in place effective monitoring mechanisms to measure implementation of the protocol; to develop and include gender sensitive indicators and sex- disaggregated data on women’s rights into national statistics, national development plans and national budgets; and to confront the cultural and religious barriers to full attainment of women’s rights as per the protocol, especially in respect of customary inheritance laws and treatment of widows.
In conclusion, I wish to congratulate hon Matladi of the UCDP on her appointment as the Vice President of the Women’s Caucus of the Pan-African Parliament. Thank you. [Applause.]
UMPHATHISWA WEZEMISEBENZI: Malibongwe!
AMALUNGU AHLONIPHEKILEYO: Igama lamakhosikazi!
UMPHATHISWA WEZEMISEBENZI: Oko batsho abafazi ngowe-1955 ukuba: “Wathinta abafazi, wathinta imbokodo” umzabalazo awukapheli. Amazwi abo asankenteza ezindlebeni: “Wathinta abafazi, wathinta imbokodo”.
Umbutho wesizwe kumgaqo-siseko wawo uneenjongo. Eyona iphambili kuzo kukumanya bonke abantu boMzantsi-Afrika, ingakumbi ama-Afrika. Oko kwakuqinisekisa ukuba zonke iimeko zocalu-calulo nengcinezelo ziyatshitshiswa kwaye nokuxhasa nokuqhubela phambili idabi lenkululeko yoomama kuyaqhubeka. Kula maxesha sikuwo kukho imikhwa nemikhuba ebangela ukuba eli dabi lethu libe neziphene ezifuna ukuguzulwa nokubangulwa. Sibona ukuxhatshazwa nobundlobongela obenza ubomi babantu basetyhini bube nkene-nkene. Amantombazana aphila ubomi bentshontsho engcungcuthekiswa zizidlwengu, kungenjalo esendiswa ngetshova nangenkani. Ezi zenzo ke zibenza babe sesichengeni sokosuleleka zizifo, ingakumbi ezinje ngoGawulayo neGcushuwa.
Ngexesha sisakhula ubuye ubaluleke kakhulu xa uyindoda okanye ungumfana ongudlalani. Kule mihla sithe gqolo sibetha sibuyelela emadlakeni singcwab’ odlalani. Abantu kufuneka bazi ukuba kufuneka sithobe isantya kwizinto ezininzi ukuba sizondelele ukuphila. Kwabanye, ingathi kufuneka sibe nezinto esizichwethayo kumasiko nezithethe zethu, ingakumbi ezi zingamanyumnyezi, ukuze sikhuthaze ezi zizakwenza idabi lethu lokukhulula oomama liphumelele.
Masivume, kunjalo nje sivumelane, ukuba amaxesha ngamanye. Asisanxibi ndyilo kwaye nemicimbi yokwendiselana siyithethela ezindlini, asisayithetheli ecaleni kobuhlanti. Iyabonisa ke loo nto ukuba amaxesha ngamanye. Oomama bayaphangela. Bavuka ngonyezi. Benza imisebenzi efanayo namadoda, maxa wambi bathi xhaxhe bade bathi tyishi kumadoda amaninzi. Ngamaye amaxesha kula amadoda unga ungathi: “Khulula ibhulukhwe ezo, ntondini, sikubolek’ ilokhwe.”; ingakumbi xa ubona ukunukunezwa koomama phaya emisebenzini. [Kwaqhwatywa.] Bayatswikilwa babhantswe, kungathatyathwa manyathelo ngabaqeshi. Wathinta abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo. Iindawo zokugcina abantwana phaya emisebenzini zithe nya. Ndiva buhlungu ngakumbi xa kanti nePalamente le nayo iyindawo elolo hlobo. Kungokuba kutheni le nto kungekho ndawo zokugcina abantwana kusaziwa nje ukuba amadoda akamithi? Mhlawumbi sesi sizathu esibangela ukuba kungabikho zindawo zokugcina abantwana. Amadoda akancancisi. Mhlawumbi yiloo nto kungekho ndawo yokugcina abantwana apha ePalamente. Ukuba bebencancisa, ndiqinisekile ukuba ngeyikhona indawo yokugcina abantwana. [Intswahla.]
Imivuzo yoomama ayikalingani neyamadoda noxa besenza umsebenzi omnye ofanayo. Ewe, ukhona umnyinyiva asizukutsho ukuba awukho, kodwa kuyakrokrisa. Oomama basarhuq’ ezantsi nakwizikhundla eziphezulu. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[The MINISTER OF LABOUR: Let it be praised!
HON MEMBERS: The name of women!
The MINISTER OF LABOUR: They started chanting in 1955 that: “You strike a woman, you strike a rock” and the struggle continues. Their words are still ringing in my ears: “You strike a woman, you strike a rock”.
The ANC has objectives in its constitution and one of the primary objectives is to unite all the people of South Africa, Africans in particular. This will ensure that all forms of discrimination and oppression are abolished and that the support drive for the emancipation of women continues.
Nowadays there are habits and tendencies that make this struggle defective and that needs to be rectified. We are witnessing the abuse and violence against women which makes them more vulnerable. Girls live in fear of rapists or being forced into marriage. These acts make them vulnerable to diseases, especially Aids and syphilis.
We used to be highly respected when we became fully fledged men or playboys, but today we are burying the playboys on a regular basis. People must know that we need to slow down on other things if we want to live longer. To some, it seems as if we have to amend some aspects within our customs and cultures, especially those that are disgraceful, and pursue those that advance our struggle for the emancipation of women.
Let us agree on the fact that times have changed. We don’t wear traditional underwear anymore and “lobola” negotiations take place indoors and not at the kraal. That is proof enough that times have changed. Mothers are employed and they wake up at the crack of dawn to go to work. They perform the same jobs as men and sometimes they do even more and do it much better than men. Sometimes you are tempted to say to these men: “Take off your trousers, you idiot, and let us lend you a dress”; especially when you witness women being harassed in the workplace. [Applause.] They are sexually harassed by being pinched and touched, but nothing is done by management. Wathint’ abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo. [You strike a woman, you strike a rock.]
There are no childcare facilities in workplaces. It concerns me a lot to learn that Parliament doesn’t have a childcare facility. Why are there no childcare facilities knowing that men do not conceive? It is probably because of that very same reason that there are no childcare facilities. Men do not breastfeed. Maybe that is another reason there is no childcare facility here at Parliament. If men were breastfeeding, I am certain that there would be a childcare facility in Parliament. [Applause.]
Women are paid far less than their counterparts although they are doing the same job. Yes, there is slight progress, but it makes one very suspicious. Women are still in the minority in respect of executive positions.]
It is clear that we require measures to address the disparities that impact on working women’s careers, namely childcare facilities that need to be provided in each and every workplace and - I want to repeat - including this Parliament. Flexible working arrangements must be introduced to enable women to balance careers and domestic responsibilities.
As a member of the ANC, the party that forms the government of the day, I take no delight in talking about how persistent racism, colour division, gender inequality and discrimination are against people with disabilities. For decades, the ANC has advocated a gospel that says South Africa belongs to all who live in it, and all shall be equal before the law. These principles found expression in the new Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Thus, compliance with the Employment Equity Act is not an option but mandatory in terms of Chapter 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
For the past 10 years, we have been knocking patiently on closed and barred doors, calling for diversity in the work place, equitable representation and the elimination of unfair discrimination. Once more, the employment equity report conveys the sad news of a people hell-bent on self destruction by resisting the reality that all South Africans have the inalienable right to equality.
I believe it is a society of the equal that can be truly democratic and prosperous. The resistance displayed thus far against the Employment Equity Act whispers an unfortunate message that persuasion is a pale and dry strategy too barren to bear fruit. If that be the case, we are forced to explore other additional methods to realize this constitutional mandate of employment equity in the workplace.
Looking back from the year 2005, when the first Commission for Employment Equity’s 5-year term ended, we are reminded of how we reported with a measure of satisfaction that the first five years have laid a solid foundation by developing the needed institutional framework, policies, regulations and codes of good practice for employment equity to prevail. Little did we know that by now, when the second commission’s term ended at the end of July 2010, we would be submitting a report as gloomy as the one we have.
There cannot be any doubt that the data presented in this 10th CEE Annual Report paints a gloomy picture of the status of employment equity in the country. More whites, both males and females, are recruited into the middle and upper management levels than any other group. The same racial recruitment profile also applies to people with disabilities.
It petrifies to note how the privileged have chosen to distort the substance of the Employment Equity Act to preserve their privileged positions. White males dominate the economy and their privileges continue to hold sway in the work place. There are employers who have chosen to equate gender equity with the exclusive focus on white women when it comes to recruitment and promotion to senior positions.
Black women remain subjected to the brutalities of historical triple oppression. At the workplace, black women can hardly claim to have taken their rightful place as equals in a free nation. This is more pronounced in the economics of our country. They continue to be looked upon and treated as inferior by virtue of being black in the colour of their skin.
Lately, there seems to be yet another distortion of this Act whereby a narrow upward mobility is opening up slowly to black males, leaving behind black women. This cannot but be unfortunate, because it perpetuates the gender inequality aspect of the triple oppression theory in practice.
In the face of all this, the question that calls for an urgent answer is: How we change this trend? I, for my part, cannot preside over this fateful venture. Change must and will come in this regard. We have no option but to revisit the Act and tighten it so that those who stand opposed to this constitutional mandate bear the consequences.
After a thorough scrutiny of the employment equity report, the question arises as to whether it is not high time we considered harsh fines linked to the turnover of the affected enterprises? Should we not revisit the form and content of our inspection work so that a combination of advocacy and injection of the sense of duty on the part of the employer to honour one’s obligation ultimately bears the desired fruit?
I will act swiftly to get this matter into the public arena so that the necessary social discourse is embarked upon towards finding the ultimate solution. I am convinced that employment equity still remains relevant in our efforts to redress inequalities in the workplace. We must act speedily to increase representation of, especially, black women and people with disabilities. The longer we take to make reasonable progress towards implementing employment equity, the more negative the impact will be on the growth of our economy and stability of our democracy.
I for one, personally … nje ngegungqayi lakuQoboqobo eZingcuka, eMzantsi ilali … [… as a rural boy from Qoboqobo, at Lower Zingcuka village …]
… do not understand why we must beg for this country to be transformed. I do no understand why the reconciliation hand of the ANC is continuously being beaten and thwarted. I do believe that the approach the ANC took to reconcile the people of this country must be taken seriously, because the opposite is too ghastly to contemplate. [Interjections.]
Once more, I implore men and women of living conscience – including the one sitting on this side, howling and very worried by what I’m saying - in every workplace, to join me in this mission to create a conducive environment for employment equity to prevail. The longer we delay, the more we subject our beautiful country to the pain brought by discrimination in whatever forms it presents itself.
If we love Nelson Rholihlahla Mandela, let us not bite the hand that is forcing us into reconciliation in this country. If we do, then it means we do not love Madiba. All that we are doing … sibhibhidla’ mazinyo, sikhwaza nje igama lakhe, singenzi le nto yena uMadiba afuna ukuba masiyenze. Malibongwe! [Kwaqhwatywa.] [… is wasting our time, chanting Madiba’s name and not doing what he wants us to do. Let it be praised! [Applause.]]
HON MEMBERS: Igama lamakhosikazi! [The name of women!]
Mrs C DUDLEY: Yes, hon Minister, there’s a lot that is very sad, and we don’t understand all these things. I myself have three white sons and a white husband. I know that two of my white sons have to leave this beautiful country to find work. It is sad, it’s complex, and it’s not as simple as it looks.
Let me now aggravate you more. Women’s Month this year for the ACDP is under a cloud as future generations of Africans continue to be labelled as unwanted and are targeted. Unscrupulous groups, largely from the Western World, used the legitimate call for a safer birthing environment at the 15th African Union Summit in Uganda to once again push for the abortion of African babies. Despite the fact that abortion - legal or otherwise - damages women’s mental and physical health, these groups continue to claim that, in sacrificing their children and their health, women will somehow gain equal opportunities and progress.
An interesting 13-year study of the entire population of women in Finland showed that deaths from suicide, accidents and homicide were almost 250% more likely in a year following an abortion. The majority of post-abortion deaths were due to suicide, a rate six times higher than that of women who had given birth to their children. This is not progress. An examination and comparison of several countries also contradicts the idea that legal abortion lowers maternal mortality rates. Instead, it confirms that countries with restrictive abortion laws are in most cases the leaders in reducing maternal mortality.
South Africa is a shocking example of the link between liberal abortion laws and skyrocketing child and maternal mortality rates. The pro-abortion NGOs’ coalition, in a statement to the recent African Union assembly, said that they were ashamed of Africa’s high maternal and child mortality. Yet, their statement failed to address the need for better-skilled birth attendants and emergency obstetric care. The impression created is that the concern about reducing maternal mortality is nothing more than a smokescreen as the abortion agenda in unscrupulously promoted.
Abortion advocates have long argued that abortion liberalisation is an unstoppable global trend. However, that is also a lie as more and more countries take a stand, and a trend toward the protection of life is taking root. Ireland, Poland, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, South Korea, Japan and Russia have all issued strong pro-natalist statements reflecting their concerns.
The birthing process is not an area of equality for the sexes, but is the crown of womanhood and produces the nation’s hope – children, the children of tomorrow. As such, women and their babies require great respect and consideration from men and women in working together for equal opportunities and progress for all. Thank you.
Mrs I C DITSHETELO: Madam Speaker, Ministers, 2010 marks the 31st anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Therefore it cannot be more fitting that, in celebrating Women’s Day, we reflect on strides and failures in ensuring that women in particular benefit from created opportunities.
South Africa has undeniably made strides as far as women representation in government and in Parliament is concerned, even though the quota has decreased with this current administration. That is a cause for concern. Forty-one percent of the working population is female, yet women constitute 19,8% of executive managers and 13,3% of directors. Is this right? A recent study shows that for every R1 men earn, women earn 75 cents. How does this justify the country’s commitment to gender equity? Only 11% of companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, JSE, have 25% or more of their directors’ positions occupied by women. I ask again: Is this right?
Women make a major contribution to household wellbeing through productive labour, but they have been largely absent in the debates on land reform or not rewarded for their contribution. Our land reform policy is unlikely to develop poor rural women as its direction prioritises promotion of commercial farming above other commitments. Yet, rural black women suffered most in colonial and apartheid history and had no rights altogether on land ownership. Where is justice?
It is encouraging to learn that 97% of women use antenatal care services, and 95% of babies are delivered in hospitals and clinics with a nurse or a doctor present. But what quality of health care are we giving our women and children if South Africa still has the highest maternal and infant mortality rate in the world? Fifty-five percent of those infected by HIV and Aids are women.
Rural women face enormous challenges in the quest to protect themselves from HIV and Aids as they are often threatened with violence at the suggestion of the use of a condom. What have we done to empower them effectively and efficiently? How many of them have even seen or heard of the female condom? What have we invested in ensuring progressive development and improvement of the femidom?
HIV and Aids treatment requires frequent visits to health care centres that administer treatment. For rural women living in poverty, access to these centres is sometimes virtually impossible. Lack of physical access to treatment centres amounts to denial of health care services. Can we pat ourselves on the back then?
One thousand four hundred women die every year at the hands of their partners. We have the Domestic Violence Act, but how have we made sure that it is implemented effectively? What purpose does it serve to have beautiful policies purporting to emancipate women when we do not implement them?
I conclude that though we have made great strides in terms of legislation and policy formulation, women, surely, will be raped in our country today. Another one is that you will be beaten by a partner today … [Time expired.] [Applause.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M B Skosana): Hon members, I have been asked to correct something here. I think earlier on hon Kalyan referred to hon Matladi as the Vice President of the Women’s Caucus of the Pan-African Parliament. Hon Matladi is in fact the President of the Women’s Caucus of the Pan-African Parliament, not the Vice President. Thank you. Ms B THOMSON: Chairperson, Minister Mayende-Sibiya, hon Ministers, Deputy Ministers present, hon members, our guests up in the gallery, and a special welcome to our guest Senator Tom Mndzebele and his delegation from the Swaziland parliament. [Applause.] The post-1994 situation has presented new democratic realities for South Africans, in general, and South African women, in particular.
Two decades have seen - from the birth of our democracy after the 1994 elections - a commitment by our government and civic organisations, as well as the development and upliftment of women. The likes of Sarah Baartman, Charlotte Maxeke, Dorothy Nyembe, Mama Winnie Mandela, Mama Shope, Mama Albertina Sisulu, Mama Bertha Xowa, Mama Lydia Ngwenya, MaNjobe and many more women in the struggle must never be forgotten.
Our Constitution entrenches gender equality and form the basis for transformation of gender relations. The equality clause in our Constitution owes its origin to - amongst other gallant struggles - sacrifices and indomitable spirits of women during the colonial and apartheid eras. It should be remembered that gender equality and women’s rights formed the axis of many demands and petitions of women activists. It did not just come on a tray.
Consequently, the current constitutional democratic dispensation bears indelible insignia of struggle against oppression and discrimination from the early 1900s to the present moments. It is worth mentioning that the national liberation struggle has, in the main, been about the creation of a nonsexist and nonracist democratic society for all.
The ANC’s Freedom Charter and constitutional guidelines and, ultimately, the Constitution of our country seek to build a caring democratic society for all. The Bantu Women’s League under the leadership of Mama Charlotte Maxeke spearheaded struggles for the rights of the oppressed people. At that time, the ANC Women’s League was also involved in campaigns against poor working conditions, pass laws and the enactment of apartheid. We would recall women from various different backgrounds who took lead in the fight against the notorious 1913 Land Act.
In 1994, the ANC women’s League played a leading role in the building of a nonracial Federation of South African Women. At its inaugural conference, it then drafted the Women’s Charter. The Women’s Charter called for equal rights with men in various relations, the right to vote and the right to full employment opportunities. It was at this period that the ANC Women’s League identified a need for a broader structure that will unite all women around issues affecting women and society.
Currently, this objective has been achieved through the successful launch of the PWM in August 2006 in Bloemfontein. The key role for the women’s movement is to build a nonracial and a nonsexist society which will result in the emancipation of women. The ANC Women’s League appreciates the current position of women and, despite challenges, supports the women’s movement as a broad front of various women’s organisations, feminist- orientated groups, researches, faith-based organisations and policy makers.
There are other women formations in different communities that should take up local struggles affecting women. Women empowerment should always respond to the fact that women are not a homogenous group, but have diverse backgrounds and interests.
As early as the 1990s, women rose up to positions of leadership within the structures of the ANC, despite entrenched structures of patriarchy. During the transition period and the post-1994 democratic breakthrough, women representation and popular participation in politics and leadership were on the agenda of the ANC and the Government of National Unity. From this period on, there was a noticeable vibrant engagement on women representation and participation, drawing from continental and global gender relations.
The ANC’s constitution provides for a quota of no less than 50% of women in all structures to ensure effective participation in the fight for the emancipation of women. The ANC is committed to the emancipation of women, hence the entrenchment of the 50-50 principle in its constitution. The 50% gender balance is a huge achievement within the Progressive Women’s Movement at present. Women have come a long way to adopt that position in the ANC’s constitution - the binding document.
Comrade Thenjiwe Mthintso’s excellent work focuses on the women’s question and gender relations within the national democratic revolution, NDR, and the state. The women question quotas or the 50-50 approach relate to women representation and the number of women in all decision-making structures. She argues that significant numbers of women facilitate access of women to decision-making structures or bodies to fight against their marginalisation, poverty and apathy. However, women need to be mobilised and empowered through education and emancipation.
Concurrently, the perspective and policy of the ANC and other feminist schools of thought advocate transformation of gender relations. This implies changing patriarchal power relations through gender conscious women and state intervention. This further implies that it is not a given fact that the presence of women in leadership and politics would open up space for more women to swell leadership ranks and overthrow patriarchy.
An ANC Today edition criticises the gender blindness of the decision of one woman in a position of power and illustrates the complex nature of the circumstances of women. It uncovers the image of the all-male Western Cape provincial cabinet appointed by a female premier with disregard to the ongoing changes in various levels of governance. A question should then be asked whether there were no capable women in the province. These are some of the contradictions that the PWM should take up in a programmatic manner to isolate and undermine patriarchy and its proponents.
The South African government is committed to the spirit of nondiscriminatory practices and equality of all persons, irrespective of gender or sex, in line with the Bill of Rights as entrenched in the Constitution. The evolution of women representation on national, regional and international level takes place within a broader gender balance of power in accordance with the international law and international instruments.
Accordingly, SADC, the AU, the UN and other protocols and instruments seek to ensure women’s representation in all decision-making structures. Data also shows the differing attitudes of various countries concerning the representation of women in their parliaments.
The Constitution and democracy have presented us with various mechanisms to advance gender transformation such as the Bill of Rights; the establishment of comprehensive national gender machinery; high representation of women in government structures; and an accelerated process aimed at the eradication of gender-based violence. Part of other widely noted achievements include the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act, which allows all women access to termination of pregnancy under certain circumstances, helping to improve the rights of women and reducing the health risks associated with illegal abortions.
Primary health care was introduced with major benefits for poor rural women. The Department of Health distributes female condoms to try to protect women from HIV infection. Thank you, Chair. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Mrs S P KOPANE: Hon Chairperson, let me first start by using words of wisdom from an unknown author who defines gender equality in the following terms:
Gender equality means that all human beings are free to develop their personal abilities and make choices without limitations set by gender roles, that the different behaviour, aspirations and needs of men and women are equally considered and favoured.
Let me also go further and define gender inequality according to my own understanding. It is an unequal and biased treatment between men and women.
Ho tloha kgolong ya ke ne ke ntse ke lora ka setjhaba seo basadi le banna ba tshwarwang ka mokgwa o lekaneng. Mme toro ena ya ka e ntse e tswela pele. Ke tumelo ya ka e tiileng ya hore ho se lekane ho pakeng tsa banna le basadi, ke taba ya kgale mme e lokela hore e be e fedile mehleng eo e fetileng. Re phela nakong ya sejwalejwale mme re se re tswetse pele haholo. Ha ho sa le nako ya menahano ena e siilweng ke nako. Ke le mosadi wa Moafrika, ke tseba hantle ka tshwaro e sa lekaneng ha ho bapiswa banna le basadi. Ke na le metswalle, basebetsimmoho le ba leloko ba ntseng ba lwantshana le taba ena bosiu le motsheare.
Re a tseba hore re bopilwe ka seriti sa Modimo mme ka pele ho sefahleho sa Hae, re a lekana.
Motsamaisi ya kgabane wa dipuisano, e re ke qale ka ho hopotsa bohle ka seabo sa basadi ba naha ya rona nakong eo ba neng ba itella ho aha demokrasi ena eo e leng hore tsatsing lena e hloleha ho ba lokolla ditlamong. Re lokela ho hopola le ho utlwisisa diketsahalo tsa 1956 tsa mokoloko wa boipelaetso o neng o lebile Union Buildings. Ho ne ho phuthehile basadi ka ho fapafapana. Ho ne ho le basadi ba dipolotiki, bodumedi, le ba mahaeng jwalojwalo.
Basadi bana bohle ba ne ba susumetswa ke ntho e le nngwe, e leng tjheseho le ho labalabela toka. Basadi bana, ho ya ka ho fapana ha bona, ba ile ba tlohela tsohle tse neng di ba arohanya mme ba tsepamisa maikutlo a bona hodima se neng se lokela ho etswa molemong wa naha ena ya rona. Basadi bana, ba ile ba ikakgela ka setotswana ntle le tshabo ya letho ho tlisa diphetoho tseo re di bonang kajeno.
Ba ile ba re neha mohlala o motle wa hore re eme mmoho re le ngatana e le nngwe ho lwantsha bobe mme re emele nnete. Sena se pakahatsa hore keteko ya letsatsi la bomme ha se ya mokgatlo o le mong hobane basadi ba bangata ba ile ba kgatha tema lebelong lena. (Translation of Sesotho paragraphs follows.)
[From my youth days my dream has always been to see a society where men and women are treated equally. It is still my dream even today. I strongly believe that the inequality between men and women is old-fashioned and belongs in the past. We live in the 21st century and we have moved forward. There is no time for these old mentalities. As an African woman, I know very well about the unequal treatment between men and women. I have friends, colleagues and relatives who are still struggling to fight this every day.
We know that we are created in God’s image and that we are all equal before Him.
Honourable Speaker, let me start by reminding everyone about the role played by women of this country when they made a sacrifice to build democracy, which today is unable to set them free. We need to remember and understand the events of the march to the Union Buildings in 1956. Women converged from different backgrounds.
There were women from politics, religions, rural areas and so forth. All these women were encouraged by one thing, courage and justice. These women, despite their differences, set aside what separated them and focused on what needed to be done in the interest of our country. These women did what was needed to be done without fear in order to bring about the changes we see today.
They set us the good example that we need to stand together as one to fight evil and to stand for the truth. This proves that the celebration of Women’s Day is not only for one party, because many women were involved in this struggle.]
Violence against women and children is a scourge in our country. It poses a significant threat to human rights and the development of women and girls. It is clear that women suffer a very high level of sexual assault, rape and domestic violence.
People cannot take advantage of opportunities if their lives are under siege; if their rights are not respected by fellow citizens or their visions are limited by fears. Yet the web of terror that crime throws over women and children is so strong and it affects everyone. The right to equality is the right of all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect and consideration in order to participate on equal basis with others in any area of economic, and political, cultural or civil life social rights.
In South Africa the Constitution emphasises the equality of men and women. However, we lack the implementation of laws that provide effective legal protection against discrimination, harassment and unequal opportunities, and the legal means to promote equality. Gender inequality is a deeply rooted and entrenched attitude by societal institutions and market forces. We need a strong leadership, political will and commitment to institute the policies that can trigger social changes and allocate the necessary resources for gender equality and women empowerment.
Re le setjhaba re tla tswela pele feela ebang basadi le bona ba tswela pele mme le bona ba fuwa menyetla le ditokelo tse lekaneng. Ho setseng feela ke hore sena se phethahatswe ka ho panya ha leihlo.
Hangata re dula re mametse bomaila diphetoho ba dulang ba fana ka envangedi e fosahetseng mabapi le kamoo basadi ba haellwang kateng le kamoo ba ke keng ba tlisa diphetoho tsa makgonthe kateng. Re lokela ho nka mehato ya nnete e netefatsang hore seabo sa basadi se a tshehetswa le hore ba phahamisetswa maemong a phahameng ho ba kgontsha hore ba etse diqeto. Re tlameha ho tshehetsa sena ka ho rupella basadi le ho ba tshehetsa ka ditjhelete tse hlokahalang, le ho ba beha tlasa batho ba ka ba rutang hore le bona ba tsebe mosebetsi ba tle ba tsebe ho ikemela. (Translation of Sesotho paragraphs follows.)
[We will only move forward as a nation if women also move forward and are given equal opportunities and rights. The only thing left is for this to be done immediately. We often hear critics of change giving misleading information about how women are lagging behind and how they cannot bring real changes. We need to take the necessary steps to ensure that the roles that women play are supported and promoted to higher positions to enable them to make decisions. We must support women by educating them and providing them with the necessary financial assistance as well as giving them mentoring so that they can be independent.]
We cannot deny the fact that the status of women in our country has improved, but we cannot afford to be complacent. The critical aspect is that women are now struggling to rise. However, without the enabling environment, it won’t be possible for the marginalised women to realise their potential.
We cannot talk about freedom or celebrate Women’s Day if women are unskilled, illiterate, unemployed, and cannot take decisions about their lives, their health, and especially their reproductive rights as part of their human rights.
Ha ke phethela, ke rata hore ho bomme kaofela ba ileng ba nka kabo letsatsing la bomme, ke re ho bona “bomme, ha re tiiseng”. Ke rata hore ho bontate ba dulang ba re tshehetsa ka nako tsohle, le tsebe hore re leboha seo le re etsetsang sona. Ka ho bua jwalo ke re ho bomme, “tshwarang le tiise”. Ke a leboha. [Mahofi.] (Translation of Sesotho paragraph follows.)
[In conclusion, I would like to say to all women who played a role in Women’s Day, “Ladies, let us hold on tight”. I would like to say to the men who always support us that we appreciate what they do for us. With that in mind I would like to say to women, “hold on tight”. Thank you. [Applause.]]
Mrs L S MAKHUBELA-MASHELE: Hon Chairperson, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers, hon members and invited guests, I greet you all. Women’s Day is a day for applauding women’s achievements and for focusing attention on tasks which lie ahead. It is a day for reflecting on how far our society has come and how far we still have to go.
The struggle for equality continues unabated. The woman warrior who is armed with wit and courage will be amongst the first to celebrate victory. In our advocacy campaign, let us not forget to take along the girl-child. There is a saying in Siswati which says: Ligotjwa lisemanti. [Discipline is instilled at an early age.]
We must, as this generation of women, take the girl-child by the hand and move with her to total emancipation of a woman. In the girl-child lies the future heroine who must take the baton in advocating women’s total liberation.
Prescribed gender roles lead to the women’s role as mothers and nurturers in the domestic sphere being seen as of less importance and value than men’s tasks. Women are said to be nurturers and domestic labourers while men are perceived to be the natural leaders and decision-makers. These roles are enforced at home, at school and throughout the media, thus restricting women’s self-perceptions, disempowering their social and economic potential and limiting the possibilities for their future.
The curriculum taught in our schools still seeks to have one gender portrayed as superior to the other. The girl-child is still seen as the weaker gender when compared to the boy-child. Our education and advocacy need to start from the foundation phase of the education system and educate equality for all genders, as well as the role that can be played by both boy- and girl-children to build a society that is tolerant and respectful of all humankind regardless of gender.
Instilling this from an early stage of development will enable young women to resist all manifestations and consequences of patriarchy, from the feminisation of poverty, physical and psychological abuse to the subjugation of self-confidence. Women must resist open and hidden forms of exclusion from all positions of authority and power.
Social and biological features have been used in human history to exclude and repress the progress of women in our communities. Critical in this regard is the creation of the material and cultural conditions that would allow the abilities of women to flourish and enrich the life of the nation. In doing so, we would place women at the centre of evolution and development in our society.
The ANC believes that we cannot say that we are progressing as people and as a nation unless the women of our country are truly liberated and until we have reached a state of gender equality and gender equity. In view of the challenges that the democratic South Africa still faces in achieving gender equality, and as revolutionaries tasked with responsibilities to lead the transformation project, it is necessary to ask ourselves: What kind of struggles do we still need to engage in? What type of organisation do we still need to lead such struggles?
Women and men always remember that we were united through the discovery of our common wounds and scars. The national democratic and nonsexist society will not come as a consequence of liberation of the white minority regime, but as a result of a collective deliberate resolve and effort to eradicate all forms of gender discrimination.
Let me remind all our male citizens here, as Susan Anthony writes: “It was we, the people, not we, the male citizens, but we, the whole people, who fought for liberation.” The mobilisation of women is the task not only of women or men alone, but all of us, men and women alike, comrades in struggle in our pursuit for gender equality. The mobilisation of the people into an active resistance and struggle for liberation demands the energies of men, not less than of men, as a system based on the exploitation of man by man can in no way avoid exploitation of woman by the male members of society.
The emancipation of women is not an act of charity or a result of a humanitarian or a compassionate attitude. The liberation of women is a fundamental necessity for the revolution, the guarantee of its continuity and precondition for its victory. The ANC will, therefore, continue to strive for the realisation of the commitment of the Freedom Charter which says: “The rights of all people shall be the same, regardless of gender, race, or colour.”
At this moment, let me quote O R Tambo in the concluding session of the conference of the women’s section of the ANC in Angola:
The women’s section is a weapon of struggle to be correctly used against all forms and levels of oppression and inequality in the interest of a victorious struggle of the people. There is, therefore, no way in which women, in general, can liberate themselves without fighting to the end the exploitation of man by man, both as a concept and as a social system. If we are to engage our full potential in this pursuit of the goals of our revolutionary struggle, then as revolutionaries we should stop pretending that women in our movement have the same opportunities as the men.
This is a clarion call for all of us to take stock of how far our society has come and how far we still have to go in our pursuit of total equality and total equity.
Women have suffered and continue to suffer from all forms of oppression. As women warriors, we will suffer, but, hon members, friends and comrades, we must rise and rise every time we face challenges.
Let me conclude by borrowing these poetic words from Maya Angelou, a well- renowned poetess, who wrote:
Out of the huts of history’s shame I rise Up from a past that’s rooted in pain I rise I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise.
I thank you. [Applause.]
Mr K J DIKOBO: Hon Chairperson, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers, hon members and guests, on Saturday, 7 August 2010, 18-year-old Mapula Makabole, a Grade 12 learner at Derek Kobe High School in Lebowakgomo, left home to visit a friend in her neighbourhood. She did not return. The following day, her father was called to identify her body at the mortuary.
We later came to know that she had visited a male friend, who allegedly strangled her. The male friend then called another male friend who had a car. They bundled Mapula’s body into the car and dumped her in the forest. After dropping Mapula’s friend at his house, the driver of the car went straight to the police to report what had happened. As we speak, the suspect is still at large.
During the same weekend in Lebowakgomo, there were reports of another three incidents where women were alleged to have been killed by people whom they knew and trusted - husbands or boyfriends. One is tempted to ask as to whether the alleged perpetrators deliberately planned those acts to coincide with the national Women’s Day because one man was once heard telling his wife that the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children would pass and then he would deal with her.
Azapo’s point is that our mothers and sisters are still vulnerable and feel unsafe in their own country. They are looking towards us and the Ministry of Women, Children and People with Disabilities to come to their rescue. I met some of them on Monday, and they had many complaints. One of their complaints was that a year after the establishment of this Ministry, they are still waiting for a White Paper, or a strategy or policy document, that sets out the vision and activities the Ministry intends to embark upon. They are looking towards this House to pass laws that promote and protect them.
As we were talking, they were very clear that transformation is not an option; it has to take place. The question that we continued asking ourselves in that meeting was: What kind of society do we have that produces young men who have no respect for human life and women? We said that, as the police continued to raid and close down factories producing drugs in our country, the society should close down those that produce angry young men.
We cannot fail our women because, if we do, history will record that this fourth democratic Parliament presided over a system that continued to oppress and marginalise women. History will be unkind to us. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Mrs P C DUNCAN: Chairperson, structures are failing dismally, and corruption is the order of the day. Service delivery is nonexistent, and the social ills affecting women are escalating. Relationships are at an all- time low, and unemployment and poverty break up the families. We have all forms of violence and abuse of such proportions that it makes one sick in the stomach.
We speak about women every year. Women’s Days come and go. We deliberate, debate, make promises and highlight weaknesses in the system of government, but - year in, year out - the same songs are sung. Some organisations and institutions only come alive during Women’s Month.
The ANC continues to claim success based on the numbers game, yet the lucky ones that make the quota race forget where they come from and dismally fail the majority of women who are so trapped in many of the social conditions described above. One wonders if indeed the end of the world is nearing us. It is definitely the end of the ANC in sight.
The ANC-led government established the Office on the Status of Women. Although this structure worked hard and endured many pressures in the early years whilst under the Presidency, a new Ministry then replaced it, with even more pressures such as a weak Minister, understaffing and underfunding. Why is it so hard to learn from these mistakes? Who are protected in this? Is it the ANC Women’s League cadres who must be deployed or maintained in jobs?
The ANC Women’s League was present on Monday at the Women’s Day celebrations in the Eastern Cape, in its full force and colours. Another ANC party turning sour as it failed to give meaning to real women’s issues. It also failed to attract women across all equality expressions of our Bill of Rights. The President had to intervene and call the gathering to order, reminding participants that it was not an ANC meeting, but a Women’s Day. The Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities is all quiet and not in charge.
Where was the Multiparty Women’s Caucus? What part did they play to ensure that that was not an ANC rally? [Interjections.] Is it because its management is clueless about the Joint Rules of Parliament in the sense that they can advise, influence and consult on women’s issues inside and outside Parliament? Are they running around not knowing what to do or where to fit in because they are also underfunded and understaffed?
Hierdie tipe flaters is onaanvaarbaar en ’n klap in die gesig van alle vroue van Suid-Afrika. Nog so ’n onaanvaarbare flater is die Konvensie oor die Uitwissing van alle Vorme van Diskriminasie teen Vroue, die Cedaw- verslag. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[These sorts of blunders are unacceptable and a slap in the face of all South African women. Another unacceptable blunder is the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women – the Cedaw report.]
This report was not tabled in Parliament before being submitted to the UN in 2008, nor was it compliant with the UN reporting requirements. But it was signed by the hon Kgalema Motlanthe when he was President and the late Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang when she was Minister in the Presidency.
Just guess who recently came to light to bring clarity on this matter three weeks ago in the year 2010? It was the Commission for Gender Equality, CGE. Why only two years later did the CGE make this important matter known? I can only think that the CGE was so trapped in the mismanagement of their own funds, getting a disclaimer of opinion for two concurrent years, that they were unable to oversee such an important report to the UN. They were also not serious about women.
In the 16 years of democracy in our country, South Africa, I had the personal opportunity, for the first time, to experience a united nation through sports, giving us moments of song, praise, rhythm and the vuvuzela sounds when the Soccer World Cup arrived on 11 June 2010. We were able to shift from our own prejudices to something new to support what is good and the will to win even after our own team, Bafana Bafana, lost. We continued to support other world teams. We felt it, saw it, and it was a success. I thought this is how I see our country using the same spirit and will to look after our people.
However, the vuvuzela sound softened, and the togetherness was no longer there. Everything is back to normal, and uncertainty prevails again. The theme chosen for the 2010 Women’s Day, namely “Working Together for Equal Opportunities and Progress for all Women” is not in sight.
Building and sustaining the kind of energy of the World Cup - the same spirit, the same will, united as a nation - is needed to change the lives of all our people, especially our women and children. We are all responsible to achieve this. [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION: Chair, Ministers and Deputy Ministers present, hon members, comrades, ladies and gentleman, allow me to join all the other speakers who spoke before me to honour and celebrate the contributions of our great women. Allow me to pause and salute the pioneers who paved the way for us - the gallant heroines who rose against colonialism, protested against the pass laws and took united action against unjust laws.
Women who, under severe conditions of poverty, oppression and exploitation, created homes, and educated, developed and produced leaders of yesterday and today. I think hon Robinson was quite right when she said that we should celebrate our Florence Nightingales and Helen Suzmans. Many will agree that the 1956 demonstrations were probably the most successful and militant of any resistance campaigns mounted at that time - a revolutionary process set in motion long before the 1950s.
It is very important for us to remember and celebrate this day so that we can preserve the memory of our heroines because memory is a weapon. By remembering the brave acts of heroines we are strengthened and encouraged to pick up the spear and take those struggles forward. Let us not use this day as an ANC Women’s League attacking platform for people who fail to mobilise their own forces on an open day, but blame us for their inability to motivate. [Applause.] We use this day to celebrate and thank our heroines. So, hon Duncan, go and get your act together and mobilise your own people. [Interjections.]
All these struggles had something in common - a process of deliberate, careful, systematic and coherent planning and organising. These struggles demonstrated and confirmed that when women have decided to undertake responsibility and not complain about other organisations, they can do that so well as these women did. More humbling about these struggles is that they were organised and executed with very little resources in a climate of political repression, setting in motion an irreversible momentum for the struggle of women’s emancipation.
Black South African women, under the leadership of Charlotte Maxeke, led the fight against exploitative social conditions even long before the day. They organised themselves for political unity across gender and racial barriers. Under her leadership, they organised an antipass movement in Bloemfontein in 1913. In 1918, Charlotte Maxeke led a women’s deputation to Cape Town to put the women’s case before the then Prime Minister, Louis Botha.
In the 1920s, following World War I, women of all races - not the ones that we have today who just complain and not come - began to slowly gravitate towards the towns and cities. Working and living conditions in these townships provided a fertile ground for the formation of trade union movements. The harsh living conditions were also felt in rural areas as political activism was experienced all over the country. During the same period, around 1928, women in Potchefstroom rose in protest against monthly fees of lodgers’ permits. And again in 1928, when the Liquor Act was introduced, women organised resistance which began in Ladysmith and spread throughout Natal, focusing on areas like Weenen, Glencoe, Howick and Dundee.
It is important to know that the period after World War II opened another difficult period with the South African economy having gradually changed from a mining agricultural economy to a flourishing industrial economy. Reserves by this time no longer provided a subsistence base for African families who lived in extreme poverty whilst, on the other hand, urban blacks in the townships lived under very difficult conditions. The cost of living rose quite sharply to an extent that economic hardships increased and women struggled to feed their families.
It is during this period that a group of young militant trade unionists, professionals, peasants and ordinary women came together to fight against these unbearable conditions. We are reminded of great names like Frances Baard, Lillian Ngoyi, Bertha Mashaba, Dora Tamane, Florence Matomela; I can list many of them.
To create a momentum for these struggles, in 1949 the ANC Women’s League elected a dynamic leader, Ida Mtwana, who took over the leadership of the women’s league. In the very same period, the youth league introduced its programme of action. In 1953, the ANC elected a very dynamic president, Albert Luthuli. The combination of these forces created a momentum which ensured that, come 1956, there would be a coherent force which would resist any imposition of unfair policies to them. This period witnessed a revival of militant spirit which filtered through the organisation. Provincial branches of the ANC Women’s League were established, incorporating township women, working class women, and women in the trade union movement.
I’m trying by this to demonstrate that the process of fighting against oppression was a protracted process, not just an event. Women became prominent in these areas, especially during the antipass campaigns. The protest which culminated in the 9 August 1956 march was sparked by rumours of the new legislation which leaked in the press in 1950. This matter was not new because - as I indicated earlier - it had been resisted under the leadership of Charlotte Maxeke and had been shelved because of women struggles. After this announcement, meetings and demonstrations were held in a number of centres, including Langa in Uitenhage, East London, Cape Town and Pietermaritzburg. These, as I said, created a base for the protest that we were to see in 1956. During this period, again, women united under the leadership of women from different races and different provinces - Lillian Ngoyi, Fatima Seedat, Dr K Goonan, Bettie du Toit, Hetty du Toit, Josie Palmer, Helen Joseph, Henrietta Ostrich, Lucy Mvubela, Amina Cachalia, Mildred Letsie; the list goes on. All of them stood up to protect the rights of women and the rights of everybody in the country.
In September 1955, the then government announced that it would start issuing reference books to black women in January 1956. According to this law, black people – now including women - were forced to carry these books and, at all times, they had to produce them. For instance, in the Western Cape, where these permits had already been issued, the law said that in certain boundaries established by government, no African would be hired unless the Department of Labour determined that no coloured person was available to do that work. Africans were declared foreigners in those areas, and they would be removed and children would be sent to the reserves.
As soon as this announcement was made, women jumped quickly and organised themselves. As I have indicated, since 1912, a momentum had already been created and that is why they were able to pull together such a successful march. I will not delve into what happened on that day, save to say that the march of August 1956 and all other activities before it were a good indication that women had thrown off the shackles of the past.
Although the majority of people there were African women, coloured, white, and Indian women also attended. The crowd was orderly and dignified throughout the proceedings. After a solemn moment of silence, organisers handed their bundles of signed petitions to Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophie de Bruyn, who in turn deposited those petitions at the Minister’s office.
Women had once again shown that the stereotype of women as politically inept, immature and tied to the home was outdated and inaccurate. Albert Luthuli, the then president of the ANC, paying tribute to these women, had this to say:
When the women begin to take an active part in the struggle, as they are doing now, no power on earth can stop us from achieving freedom in our lifetime.
It is indeed 54 years since the Women’s March, so where are we now? It is a fact that, under the democratic state, space has been provided to deepen women’s struggles for women’s emancipation, not complaints.
As a country we have made progress to improve access to the judiciary; access to resources like clean water, sanitation and electricity; and access to education and health. Indeed, the democratic government has created an environment for the empowerment of women through a progressive Constitution and an enactment of gender-sensitive legislation - hon member Duncan, these things have happened. The democratic government has established programmes for women’s development and enacted gender-sensitive laws. It has established women empowerment institutions – that is why you and I are here and we can really stand on this platform. [Applause.]
Indeed, these advances have improved the quality of life and status of women. They have created a space for women’s voices to be heard on matters of concern for their lives, their wellbeing and that of society; not complaints and insults against other parties.
In 2009, Chief Statistician, Pali Lehohla, observed in Engendering Statistics that:
The early years of the 21st century have seen great improvements … It’s not I who am saying it; it’s your Chief Statistician –
… in the absolute status of women with gender inequalities decreasing quite substantially in a number of sectoral areas such as education and health. But, indeed, we will be the first to admit that a lot more still needs to be done. For instance, in the area of education, women and children’s access to education is very critical, especially considering the world figures which say two thirds of children who have been denied primary education are girls, and 75% of the worst illiterate adults are women.
Whilst as a country we pride ourselves about the fact that this administration has prioritised education as an apex programme, and that we are doing very well with regard to Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, which call upon us to ensure that everybody, including girls, can complete the course of primary education, a lot still needs to be done. There is no tool for development more effective than the education of girls. No other policy other than education is likely to raise economic productivity, lower infant and maternal mortality, improve nutrition and promote health.
I agree with members who raised - Ntate Dikobo - concerns about violence against children because women, on an ongoing basis, have their movements limited, and they are in constant fear for their lives. Another area of concern which members have raised is that of poverty. Poverty is indeed being feminised. It is wearing dresses and has a woman’s face.
Statistics by World Revolution in 2007 revealed that out of the 1,3 million people living in poverty around the world, 70% of them are women. Statistics after statistics give us a sad picture about the participation of women in the economy. We are told that, whilst women do 66% of the world’s work, they earn less than 5% of its income in return. Again, indicators make startling observations that women work two thirds of the world’s working hours, and produce half of the world’s food. Yet, they earn only 10% of the world’s income, and own less than 1% of the world’s property. Women, in general, do not own the means of production and they still remain at the lowest rung in the job industry and the economy. This is part of the commitment we made in Millennium Development Goal 1, and we need to make progress.
I agree with members that our progress on the reduction of maternal mortality and child mortality is quite worrying. It is very disturbing that young women in their prime are most affected, and hence the campaign on counseling and testing launched by the President and Minister Motsoaledi is meant to address precisely that. So, hon member Dudley, we don’t say untruths. Termination has no link with maternal death. It is a burden of disease that has been scientifically proved by the Minister and statistics that it is the one that is dogging us and creating this high rate of maternal death. [Applause.]
So don’t run a campaign and spread untruths which are very dangerous for our young people. It has nothing to do with termination; it has much to do with the burden of disease, particularly HIV and diseases like high blood pressure and sugar diabetics. That is where the problem is, and that is what the Minister is trying to address. So let’s not spread untrue rumours.
Mrs Ditshetelo, it’s not true that we have high maternal deaths because of bad treatment in our hospitals. It’s again the burden of disease that is confronting us as a country, which all of us have to take responsibility for and reverse. The reason that our health system is collapsing is the burden of bad disease. We have more sick people and sick children who are crowding hospitals. It has nothing to do with that. The truth is that all of us, as South Africans, should take responsibility, encourage everyone to go for counseling and testing and confront our biggest challenge - HIV/Aids and TB. That is what we need to do. [Applause.]
Like the women of 1950, we have to work together as women. Let’s not shout at each other and ask who was at the rally and who did what. It was an open rally, you could have come. If you chose not to come, don’t make it anybody’s problem. Let’s work together as a collective and make sure that women join and participate in progressive structures. Let us also work with other women for transformation because it is in our unity that our strength lies.
We should take forward the campaigns on education; we should pay particular attention to the development of young women; and we should take the struggles to higher levels and stop bickering and saying all the unnecessary things. But, I must say, most speakers were really constructive and very encouraging. We must strengthen existing organisations, promote gender equality, and work together to ensure that the commitments made by government on the rights of women are implemented. Therefore I agree with my comrade and say, “Malibongwe!” [Praise!] [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
The House adjourned at 16:15. ____
ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces
The Speaker and the Chairperson
- Classification of Bills by Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM)
(1) The JTM, in terms of Joint Rule 160(6), classified the following
Bills as section 75 Bills:
a) Local Government: Municipal Systems Amendment Bill [B 22 –
2010] (National Assembly – sec 75).
b) Higher Education Laws Amendment Bill [B 24 – 2010] (National
Assembly – sec 75).
c) Skills Development Levies Amendment Bill [B 25 – 2010]
(National Assembly – sec 75).
(2) The JTM, in terms of Joint Rule 160(6), classified the following
Bills as section 76 Bills:
a) Sectional Titles Schemes Management Bill [B 20 – 2010]
(National Assembly – sec 76(1)).
b) Community Schemes Ombud Service Bill [B 21 – 2010] (National
Assembly – sec 76(1)).
c) Higher Education and Training Laws Amendment Bill [B 26 –
2010] (National Assembly – sec 76(1)).
National Assembly The Speaker
-
Delay with tabling of report
On 26 May 2010 the National Assembly adopted a Report of the Standing Committee on Appropriations on the Appropriation Bill (Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports, 21 May 2010 p 1615). The Report inter alia recommended that: “A detailed project plan (schedule) for the implementation of the Money Bills Amendment Procedure and Related Matters Act… be tabled in the House within 30 days by the Office of the Speaker”. In accordance with this resolution a project plan should have been tabled by July.
However, given the number of stakeholders involved in the implementation of the Act and the fact that members have been away from Parliament since mid-June, the report can only be submitted by the end of August 2010. This will allow time for the necessary consultations on the matter.
-
Government plan to deal with xenophobic threats
a) The following letter from the Minister of Police, Mr E N Mthethwa, was received on 26 July 2010 for the information of members of the National Assembly
Mr M V Sisulu, MP Speaker of the National Assembly Parliament P O Box 15 CAPE TOWN 8000 Dear Speaker Re: Government outlines plan to deal with xenophobic threats Having been appointed by the Cabinet to chair the Inter- Ministerial Committee on Xenophobia, this letter serves to advise you that we held discussions as the committee on the 8th July 2010 to formulate a strategy to deal with this matter. We further urge the Speaker to ensure that all the political parties represented in the National Assembly to participate in Government- led programmes to deal with xenophobic threats. The following were agreed to: • Proactive facilitation of a societal dialogue: This has taken place in various areas around the country, comprising police, churches, community policing forums and NGOs. Communities need to blow the whistle against any criminals that are disguised behind xenophobia. Government has always and will always discourage covering up for criminals by community members. It also needs to be noted that the 2008 attacks against foreign nationals never spread to areas within Soweto and this can largely be attributed to a critical role played by community policing forums. • Extension of the 2010 Fifa World Cup National Joint Committee: The swift police and justice approach that was witnessed during the World Cup will be adopted and continued, to respond to this issue of attacks and any form of criminality. Quick investigation, tighter sentencing and law enforcement agencies will not hesitate to act speedily and decisively against anyone found to incite violent acts against foreign nationals. • Strict monitoring of proliferation of businesses owned by foreign nationals and lack of regulation thereof: These trends have now shifted from communities and moved towards smaller towns and rural areas. Once they settle in these areas, they then get involved in the informal economic sector. Most of the foreign nationals regard South Africa as a viable economic sector. • Review and derive lessons from the May-June 2008 incidents: We will utilise all the lessons learnt during this period to inform our approach going forward. • Reinforce civic education in society and within law enforcement agencies: This is not a new phenomenon but speaks to our approach of re-skilling and re-training the South African Police Service, ensuring we have officers who defend the weak, uphold the Constitution and are committed to fighting crime. The same approach will be escalated by Government across society. • Development of a Government communication strategy: The IMC noted and adopted, with immediate effect, that Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) will spearhead an effect and aggressive communication strategy to counter and mitigate the risk posed by the unbalanced media reports which still instill fear about possible attacks. Government strategy, as outlined, is a multi-faceted plan to prevent any outbreak of violence against anyone, including foreign nationals, in South Africa. Hope you find this in order. Regards [Signed] Mr E N Mthethwa Minister of Police
TABLINGS
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces
- The Speaker and the Chairperson
(a) Report of the Auditor-General to Parliament on an investigation
at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration
(CCMA) – June 2010 [RP 193-2010].
- The Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs
a) General Notice No 654 published in Government Gazette No 33333
dated 29 June 2010: Publication of Implementation Guidelines: For
general public comments, in terms of the National Environmental
Management Act, 1998 (Act No 107 of 1998).
b) Government Notice No 579 published in Government Gazette No 33342
dated 2 July 2010: Model Air Quality Management By-law, in terms of
the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No 107 of
1998).
c) General Notice No 677 published in Government Gazette No 33348
dated 2 July 2010: Bio-prospecting Benefit Sharing Agreement, in
terms of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act,
2004 (Act No 10 of 2004).
d) Government Notice No 596 published in Government Gazette No 33361
dated 7 July 2010: Bio-prospecting, Access and Benefit Sharing
Regulations, 2008, in terms of the National Environmental
Management Act, 1998 (Act No 107 of 1998).
(e) 2009-2010 Yearly Report to Parliament in terms of section 26(1)
of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), 1998 (Act No
107 of 1998).
- The Minister of Economic Development
a) Strategic Plan of the Competition Commission for the period 1 April
2010 to 31 March 2013.
b) Strategic Plan of the Industrial Development Corporation of South
Africa (Corporate Plan) for the period 1 April 2010 to 31 March
2013.
National Assembly
- The Speaker
(a) The President of the Republic submitted the following letter
dated 30 July 2010 to the Speaker of the National Assembly,
informing members of the Assembly of the extension of the
employment of the South African National Defence Force for a
service in fulfilment of the international obligations of the
Republic of South Africa towards the United Nations (UN) and
African Union (AU) as part of the AU/UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur
(UNAMID):
EXTENSION OF THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL DEFENCE
FORCE FOR A SERVICE IN FULFILMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS
OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA TOWARDS THE UNITED NATIONS (UN) AND
AFRICAN UNION (AU) AS PART OF THE AU/UN HYBRID OPERATION IN DARFUR
(UNAMID).
This serves to inform the National Assembly that I have extended
the employment of eight hundred and fifty (850) members of the
South African National Defence Force (SANDF) for service in
fulfilment of the international obligations of the Republic of
South Africa towards the United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU)
as part of the AU/UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID).
This employment is authorised in accordance with the provisions of
section 201(2)(c) of the Constitution of the Republic of South
Africa, 1996.
Members of the SANDF were employed for service in fulfilment of the
international obligations of the Republic of South Africa towards
the UN and AU as part of UN/AU Hybrid Operation in Darfur. The
employment of these members expired on 31 March 2010.
The SANDF’s mission in the Darfur is not yet completed. The
employment of 850 SANDF members is now extended from 01 April 2010
until 31 March 2011.
I will communicate this report to members of the National Council
of Provinces and wish to request that you bring the contents hereof
to the attention of the National Assembly.
Regards
signed
J G ZUMA
(b) The President of the Republic submitted the following letter
dated 30 July 2010 to the Speaker of the National Assembly,
informing members of the Assembly of the employment of the SA
National Defence Force for service in co-operation with the South
African Police Services in the prevention and combating of crime
and maintenance and preservation of law and order within the
Republic of South Africa and to render support to government
departments during the hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup:
EMPLOYMENT OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCE FOR SERVICE
IN CO-OPERATION WITH THE SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICES IN THE
PREVENTION AND COMBATING OF CRIME AND MAINTENANCE AND PRESERVATION
OF LAW AND ORDER WITHIN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA AND TO RENDER
SUPPORT TO GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS DURING THE HOSTING OF THE 2010
FIFA WORLD CUP
This serves to inform the National Assembly that I have employed
seven thousand one hundred and twenty (7120) members of the South
African National Defence Force (SANDF), to cooperate with the South
African Police Services in the prevention and combating of crime
and maintenance and preservation of law and order within the
Republic of South Africa and to render support to government
departments during the hosting of the 2010 FIFA world cup over the
period of 26 May to 18 July 2010.
This employment is authorised in accordance with the provisions of
section 201(2)(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South
Africa, 1996.
I will communicate this report to members of the National Council
of Provinces and wish to request that you bring the contents hereof
to the attention of the National Assembly.
Regards
signed
J G ZUMA
COMMITTEE REPORTS
National Assembly
- Report of the Portfolio Committee on Water and Environmental Affairs: Overview and Analysis of the Annual Reports of Water Boards, 2008/09, dated 20 July 2010
The Portfolio Committee on Water and Environmental Affairs, received briefings from the Department of Water (an overview of the oversight of water boards annual reports), and 13 water boards, which highlighted the achievements and challenges confronted in the previous financial year. Having considered the analysis of the annual reports of water boards, 2008/09, the committee reports as follows:
- Introduction
On the 26 January 2010, the Minister of Water Affairs tabled Umgeni-, Rand; Pelladrift -, Namakwa-, Albany Coast- Amatola -Bloem-, Bushbuckridge-, Lepelle Northern-, Magalies-, Overberg-, Sedibeng, Botshelo- and Mhlathuze Water Board. The annual reports were submitted with Financial Statements to Parliament in terms of Section 65 (1) (a) of the Public Finance Management Act 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999). The Portfolio Committee requested briefings and analysis of the Annual Reports of respective Water Boards for 2008/09. The meetings were held on 4 and 5 and on 18 May 2010.
- An overview of the oversight of water boards by the department
Water boards are established and regulated by the Minister of the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs in terms of the Section 28 of the Water Services Act of 1997, the Public Finance Management Act, Treasury Regulations, Municipal Finance Management Act, the Division of Revenue Act, the Municipal Structures and Systems Act.
The department’s oversight over the performance of the water boards is underpinned by the following:
| Policy statements | Section 39 of the Water Services Act, |
| 1997. | |
| Shareholder compacts | Treasury regulation 29.2. |
| Corporate plan and | Section 52 of the Public Finance |
| projection of revenue, | Management Act, 1999 and Treasury |
| expenditure and | Regulation 29.1. |
| borrowings. | |
| Business plans | Section 40 of the Water Services Act. |
| Quarterly reports | Treasury Regulation 29.3.1. |
| Annual reports | Section 44 of the Water Services Act |
| and Section 55(1) (d) and 65 of the | |
| PFMA, 1999. | |
| Tariff increases | Section 42 of MFMA, 2003. |
| Financial misconduct | Treasury Regulation 33.3.1. |
| procedures report | |
| Materiality and | Treasury Regulation 28.3.1. |
| significant framework |
- Overview of the water boards
In providing an overview of the water boards, the department highlighted the following:
• Water boards are separate legal institutions that have their own board of governance, own assets and are required to be self funding. • They are key strategic organisations that primarily provide bulk potable water services to water service authorities (municipalities), other water service institutions and major customers within a designated service area. • There are currently 12 water boards in South Africa namely Amotola, Bloem, Bushbuckridge, Lepelle Northern, Magalies, Mhlathuze, Namakwa, Overberg, Pelladrift, Rand, Sedibeng and Umgeni. There are two water boards that have been disestablished, namely Albany Coast and Ikangala. • The water boards vary in size, activities, customer mix, revenue base and capacity. Some have been around for more than 100 years; whilst others are still considered to be new or emerging. • Most of the older and more established water boards are centred on areas where there are significant urban development nodes (for example, Rand water, Umgeni Water, Bloem Water, etc.). • Some water boards operate in more demographically diversified areas where there is considerable urban or rural mix in the customer base. • Water boards service areas typically transcend the boundaries of individual water services authorities and in a number of cases, even provincial boundaries (for example, Rand Water supplies water to Gauteng, parts of Mpumalanga, the Free State and North West Province). 2.3. Relationship with the Minister
In terms of the legal framework governing the role of the Minister over the water boards, the following input was provided:
• The Minister appoints board members and Chairpersons in terms of section 35(1) of the Water Services Act. • The board is accountable to the Minister. • The Minister signs a shareholders compact with water boards and raises issues of concern. • The Minister meets with new boards, when appointed and meets annually with the Chairpersons of water boards to discuss strategic issues. • The board members performance is assessed bi-annually via reports submitted to the Minister. • When the Minister took office in 2009, a task team to look at governance problems at the water boards and this process is expected to be complete by end of May 2010.
2.4. Responsibility for water supply: water boards vis-à-vis municipalities
• The responsibility for water and sanitation provision rests with the municipalities as the water services authority. • Water boards provide bulk treated water to municipalities (WSAs). • Water service authorities have a prerogative to either use the services of the water boards as water services providers or not. In some areas, there is no alternative, for example, in Gauteng. In other areas such as Gauteng, there is no alternative. • WSA’s determine their capacity to do this by following a process in terms of section 78 of the Municipal Systems Act. If a WSA decides to use a water board, then a contract must be signed (section 19 of the Water Services Act), with regard to quantity, quality and the delivery point of water. • A model bulk water service provider contract (fair and balanced) was developed between the South African Association of Water Utilities and the South African Local Government Association for this purpose. • In some instances, water boards act as retail water and sanitation water services providers. • The financial performance of water boards are appraised through, inter alia, the annual reports. • The officials at the department provide the Minister with comments on the annual reports. • The Minister notes the content of annual reports and approves the tabling of annual reports in Parliament. • The department provides water boards with written comments and questions, with regard to their annual reports. • Individual meetings are held with those water boards where serious matters require attention or intervention.
2.5. Qualified/Clean Audits in 2008/9 financial year
The following boards received qualified audits:
• Amatola. • Bushbuckridge Water (with emphasis of matter). • Namakwa (with emphasis of matter).
The following received unqualified audits with emphasis of matter:
• Botshelo Water received a disclaimer of opinion from the Auditor
General as it was unable to obtain sufficient evidence to provide a
basis for an audit opinion. The following boards received unqualified audits:
• Albany Coast • Bloem • Lepelle Northern • Magalies • Mhlathuze • Overberg • Pelladrift • Rand • Sedibeng • Umgeni
2.5.1. Summation of Financial Performance for 2008/9 | |Total ’09 |Total ‘08 |% | | | | |differen| | | | |ce | |Volumes (kl) |2 397 825 443 |2 311 264 |3,7% | | | |464 | | |Sales |R7,7 billion |R6,8 |12.5% | | | |billion | | |Net income |R1,3 billion |R1,4 |-5.1% | | | |billion | | |Fixed Assets |R11 billion |R10,1 |9.5% | | | |billion | | |Investment |R607 million |R1,1 |-47.2% | | | |billion | | |Current Assets |R5,3 billion |R4 billion |31.5% | |Current |R3,3 billion |R1,9 |74.5% | |Liabilities | |billion | | |Long term debt |R2,7 billion |R3,9 |-30.7% | | | |billion | | |Cash on Hand |R1,9 billion |R1,9 |0.4% | | | |billion | |
2.6. Oversight of Water Boards Performance – Financial and Non-Financial Components
2.6.1. Financial Components
• The financial performance of water boards is appraised through annual
reports.
• The Minister has noted the contents contained in the water boards
annual reports and approved their tabling in Parliament.
• The department has held individual meetings with those water boards
where there were serious matters that needed attention or
intervention.
2.6.2. Non Financial Components
• The total bulk potable water supplied by water boards amounted to 2.39
billion kilolitres per annum.
• The total authorised abstraction is 2.36 billion cubic metres.
• There was under spending on CAPEX by an average of 14.5% by water
boards, except for Rand, Sedibeng and Amatola.
• Rand contributed 60% to the consolidated turn over, followed by Umgeni
with 20% and 20% by the other 11 water boards.
2.7. Achievements and challenges The department noted the following achievements: • Most water boards are financially sound to realise their short to medium term obligations. • No state guarantees issued to support their expansion of bulk infrastructure. • Several water boards obtained Blue drop certification on drinking water quality. • An excess of 5.4% profit was achieved for the year ended in June 2009.
The following challenges were highlighted:
• The refurbishment and extension of infrastructure loan was required. • A number of water boards experience water quality problems. • Seven (7) Water Boards require additional authorizations for abstraction. • Two (2) Water Boards have debt/equity ratios exceeding 100%. • Five (5) Water Boards have surplus/revenue ratio of under 10%. • Namakwa and Pelladrift have net losses and are not financially sustainable - require solutions. • Staff retention and skills shortages are a problem at remotely located water boards. • Not all Water Services Authorities have Bulk Water Service Provider Contracts. • Trade receivables are generally high due to debt owed to water boards by some municipalities. • Failure of debtor’s collection in weaker water boards affects viability. • Poor municipalities use equitable share for other purposes, even after water services are provided.
2.8. Solutions
• Audit the CAPEX plan to ensure that service delivery is secured over
the medium to long term.
• Water quality problems will have to be resolved with firm application
of legislation and support from the Department of Cooperative
Governance and Traditional Leaders (CoGTA), as most of the water
quality problems are, as a result of, municipal discharge
• Namakwa will be provided with grant funding of R40 million (over three
years from the current financial year) to refurbish infrastructure.
Once this is done, consideration will be given to merge Namakwa with
another water board to benefit from economies of scale.
• Outstanding water service agreement will have to be resolved with the
support of Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional
Affairs (CoGTA)
• With regards to skills shortages at remotely located water boards, the
water boards could consider pooling skills and deploying them to where
needed
• As a short term measure, get support of National Treasury and CoGTA to
mediate with municipalities for debt payment.
• In the long term, an amendment to DORA should allow for Department of
Water Affairs to withhold equitable share from municipalities in
arrears
- Summary of submissions received from the water boards
3.1 Botshelo Water
Botshelo operates and maintains water treatments in Ngaka Modiri Molema and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mmpati and Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipalities in the North West province in terms of a water services provider agreement. The board received a disclaimer with matters of emphasis, but information on the current interventions to turnaround the situation at Botshelo was presented. There had been 10 years of mismanagement in the area, but the continued support and oversight offered by the department would assist Botshelo to return to financial viability. Achievements
• Completed water services provider agreements with district
municipalities and serves as a Water Service Authorities (WSAs) to
seven local municipalities. Their turnaround strategy was accepted
by the WSAs and provincial government and the municipalities had
accepted the proposed new tariffs.
• The board successfully recruited qualified technical staff and
successfully implemented its Turnaround Strategy and Plan, and
Employee Wellness Programme.
• Despite some challenges, water services were provided. Water supply
to rural areas was achieved during the year under review with
minimal outages and accurate and timely meter readings, together
with municipalities’ acceptance of billing procedures.
Challenges
• Delayed payments by Water Services Authorities and local
municipalities, non-payment of debts and a failure by municipalities
to circulate by-laws regarding unauthorized connections.
• The non-ownership of water infrastructure by the board, insufficient
funding to properly maintain infrastructure, as well as a lack of
infrastructure to accommodate population growth.
• Increase in Eskom tariffs.
• An appraisal of facilities showed that security at most Botshelo
facilities was lacking.
Financial performance
Owing to insufficient information on a number of audit items and balances, including insufficient audit confirmation by the Auditor General to comply with IFRS, GAAP and Auditing Standards, rights and obligations for property plant and equipment, ineffective systems for processing of leave pay, Botshelo had to address these issues. This was currently in process.
The income statement showed that turnover and gross profit both increased by 17%, (R75.4 Million to R88.4 Million) and that employee costs decreased by R2 million (5%) while other expenses decreased by R 7 million (38%). BWB was solvent and had a cash balance of R26 million and its debt to the Department of Water Affairs was reduced by R16 million. Its creditor’s payment was 255 days.
- Amatola Water
Amatola is a state owned water utility established in November 1997 and in operation since 1998. Its area of operation is 45 794 sq.km. It has experienced growing regional presence with offices in East London, Queenstown, Port Elizabeth, Butterworth, Fort Beaufort and Sterkspruit. Its water production capacity was 102.74 megalitress of potable water per day. It was awarded Blue Drop certification at Peddie and Sandile Municipalities and it operates 32 works for Water Services Authorities in the Eastern Cape Province (including Amathole DM, Chris Hani DM). Following a directive by the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, the board has merged with Albany Coast. Amatola Water still operates schemes under the Department of Public Works that still need to be transferred to it.
Achievements
• A production capacity of 102.74 mega-litres of potable water per
day.
• Training of 90 female operators.
• The establishment of a SANS ISO accredited laboratory in 2009.
• The reduction of production and network losses from 5.15% to 3.76%.
• A memorandum of understanding was concluded with both Rhodes and
Fort Hare Universities.
• It was a co-sponsor of the Drinking Water Quality Conference in Port
Elizabeth in May 2009.
• Ninety-nine percent (99%) of procurement was spent on Broad Based
Black Economic Empowerment.
• It recorded a total growth in revenue of 28%, with a net surplus of
R9.72 million. Capital expenditure amounted to R21 million.
Challenges
• The board received a qualified audit due to non payment of debt by
Chris Hani District Municipality.
• A dramatic increase in business growth, a shortage of technical
skills, capital funding shortfall, high input costs (e.g. raw water
and electricity), grant dependent municipalities, low volume water
supply schemes and short term support contracts with municipalities.
• There had been a contract payment dispute, so a key account
management approach was being implemented to strengthen
relationships with municipalities. Ongoing marketing and
relationship building with all district municipalities and key local
municipalities were under way.
- Sedibeng Sedibeng Water Board was established on 1 June 1979, mainly to serve the Free State Goldfields and parts of the former Western Transvaal. In 1996, its operational area was extended to include various other districts in the North West Province, as well as Central Free State and Eastern Free State. Under Proclamation 612 of 1996, Sedibeng Water also obtained managerial responsibility regarding the provision of essential services for certain districts in the North West Province. Since then, Sedibeng’s area of responsibility increased from a mere 8,000 square km in the initial years to 86,000 square km, making Sedibeng one of the largest water services provider operating across 3 provinces (Free State, North West and Northern Cape).
Achievements
• Concluding numerous Service Level Agreements with various
municipalities, while others were still under negotiation.
• Major strategic achievements included financial viability and
sustainability. The organization was financially sound and viable.
• In some regions, revenue and surplus targets were exceeded.
• Water loss was kept to a minimum and the water quality met Class 1 and
2 requirements.
• R24 million was spent on refurbishment and maintenance of
infrastructure.
• BEEE expenditure was 81%.
• There was scientific support to water and waste water treatment
plants.
• Sedibeng co-coordinated and managed the Free State Drought Relief
Project.
• Financial assistance was given to employees and there were 14 bursary
holders.
• Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) was given to 77 employees.
• There were 25 enrolments in learnership in water purification and
process operation.
• About 80% of the unemployed learners who participated in the above
programme were absorbed within the organisation.
• Experiential training was done with 9 students. Training was conducted
according to the works skills development plan.
• Staff turnover was kept at 7.35%.
• The Free State region achieved a zero disabling injury rate for three
consecutive years.
• HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns were undertaken throughout the
organisation. Voluntary counseling and testing was made available for
employees.
• The quality control laboratory maintained its accredited status after
being audited by the South African National Accreditation Standards
(SANAS) and an international auditor from the International Laboratory
Accreditation Co-operation (ILAC).
Challenges
• Cost recovery from municipalities, a lack of willingness from Water
Service Agreements to enter into a long term contract, insufficient
funding hampering service delivery, high electricity tariffs, and
poor raw water quality from the Vaal River, high purification cost
and inadequate network capacity to some municipalities.
Financial performance
Sedibeng Water had another unqualified financial report for 2008/09. The board was solvent with R 374 194 million total revenue.
3.4 Rand Water Rand Water is an organ of state reporting directly to the Department of Water Affairs. It is the largest water utility in Africa and is one of the largest in the world, providing bulk potable water to more than 11 million people in Gauteng, parts of Mpumalanga, the Free State and North West. The areas of service provision cover 18 000 km. Rand Water’s distribution network includes over 3 056 km of large diameter pipeline, feeding 58 strategically located service reservoirs. The clients of Rand Water include metropolitan municipalities, local municipalities, mines and industries and it supplies, on average, 3 653 million litres of water daily.
Achievements
• Rand Water ploughed back a considerable amount into communities within
its service area through its Corporate Social Investment (CSI)
programme, which is managed through the Rand Water Foundation and its
Corporate Social Responsibility Division.
• Rand Water has invested in the following flagship projects:
• The Race for Victory, an initiative of the Frances Volweg School
in Johannesburg for learners with physical and learning
disabilities.
• The Vaal Echoes of Love Care Centre in Sharpeville, Vereeniging.
• The Thembisile Hani Local Municipality’s Siyathejana Project.
• Rand Water has spent R2.6 million on donations to various non-profit
organizations as part of its social responsibility initiatives this
financial year.
• Rand Water Foundation has supported nineteen Small, Medium and Micro
Enterprises (SMMEs) to a combined value of R2, 9 million.
Challenges
• Sustainable tariff structure as the new tariff structure/methodology
needed review.
• Ageing infrastructure and rolling out CAPEX programmes within
resource constraints.
• Experiencing steep increases in input costs specifically in steel
and energy.
• Raising funds effectively in financial markets that are in turmoil.
• Maintaining and improving Rand Water’s credit profile.
• Default risk by major municipalities.
• Deteriorating raw water quality as a result of poor catchment
management.
Financial performance
The board recorded revenue of R4 667 billion for 2009 and total assets of R7.9 billion. The gross margin decreased from 54% to 51%. Rand Water received an unqualified audit report. The board had a five-year CAPEX plan amounting to R8.6 billion that would focus on capacity creation and projects already in creation.
3.5 Umgeni Water
Umgeni Water was established in 1974 as a bulk water supplier in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Umgeni Water is one of the largest catchments- based water utility in Southern Africa, with an operational gazetted area of 21 555 km² and infrastructure comprising of five dams, ten water works, four waste water works and about 514 km of pipelines.
Umgeni Water supplied 403 921 22 during the year under review. Its main customers included eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, Illembe, Sisonke, Umgungundlovu and Ugu District Municipalities, and the Msunduzi and Mngeni Local Municipalities, amongst others. In addition Umgeni Water manages seven dams, of which five are on behalf of the Department of Water Affairs and two on behalf of Ugu District Municipality.
Achievements
• There were five projects under construction, including pump stations
and pipelines.
• Umgeni provided 47 schools with sanitation structures and 7 schools
with running water.
• Six thousand three hundred (6300) households were provided with
sanitation and 50 people were trained in community health.
• There were also projects in rural areas.
• The board also provided strategic support to local government and
worked with OR Tambo District Municipality to develop infrastructure
plans for local municipalities.
• Umgeni increased its profit by 34%, from R393 million in 2008 to R527
million in 2009.
• There was a 6% increase in bulk water revenue owing to a 3% growth in
volume. Umgeni also implemented a 3% tariff increase on bulk water.
• Umgeni Water achieved a positive operating performance and improved
its financial position, which resulted in an efficient water service
delivery at affordable prices. Overall, average waste water quality
compliance from four treatment works was more than 80%. The water
produced from water works and sold to municipalities complied with all
the regulated standards for drinking water (SANS 241).
Challenges
• The board experienced a number of problems associated with raising
of cash or loans under tight market conditions, water resource
inadequacy, climate change, raw water quality and the sustainable
funding of rural development.
Financial performance
The water board received an unqualified audit report and all its statutory requirements had been met. The total Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) for the year was R237 million. R219 million of this was spent on projects under the construction phase and R101 million was spent on planned maintenance of infrastructure. Umgeni Water’s total debt consisted of the bond of R974 million and Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) loans of R 964 million.
3.6 Namakwa Water
The Namakwa Water Board provides potable water for domestic consumption to the towns of Steinkopf, Bulletrap, Nababeep, Okiep, Carolusberg, Concordia, Springbok, Kleinzee, as well as to the De Beers mining operation in the Namaqualand region. The Water Service Authority (WSA) in the area is the Nama Khoi Municipality.
The Namakwa Water Board provides potable water of more than 3 000 000 kilolitres (kl) yearly, distributed by pipelines in excess of 200 km. However, the 200 km distribution pipes are very old – most have been in place for 32 years. So far only 20 km of the 200 km long pipelines have been replaced.
Achievements • Delivering water to communities, despite all the challenges facing the Board. • Contained costs notwithstanding Eskom tariff hikes.
Challenges
Short term financial assistance would help pay Eskom and other suppliers. Pumping water from the Orange River was expensive. The board also experienced challenges with high Eskom tariffs, a declining consumer base and aged and labour-intensive infrastructure. The board was unable to secure short term financial assistance to pay suppliers such as (Eskom and others) and its employees salaries. In addition, other challenges were
• The metering equipment needs to be replaced.
• The communication and telemetric control between reservoirs and pump
stations needed to be replaced.
• The housing for operators needed upgrading.
• Vehicles for technical and repair personnel needed to be replaced.
• The lifting equipment on the trucks needs to be repaired.
• Access roads need to be upgraded as the pipeline was not accessible
for repairs.
Financial performance
Owing to a loss of R1 506 461 incurred in June 2009, the boards annual report recorded a qualification from independent auditors. Although the board was still solvent, there is doubt as to the entity’s capability, while debts had increased and profitability and liquidity remained issues. Owing to a number of factors, including the cessation of mining in the area, an increase in overheads and a decrease in amounts of water sold, the board was no longer financially viable. The urgent replacement of some infrastructure was needed to continue with service delivery. The Namakwa Water Board incurred a net loss for the year ended 30 June 2009 of R15 064
- The Board’s accumulated loss as at that date was R13 835 189. There exists significant doubt on the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. The debtor’s days were sitting at 59 days in 2009.
3.7 Bushbuckridge Water
Bushbuckridge water was established in 1997 in accordance with Water Services Act to provide water services to other water service institutions. The supply area of Bushbuckridge Water includes Bushbuckridge Local Municipality and the Nsikazi area in the Mbombela Local Municipality. These areas are characterised as mainly rural comprising small and dense villages. The area has a high population growth, low economic growth, high unemployment rate, remote and scattered villages, and high poverty levels. The board supplied 60.6 l/ca to Bushbuckridge Municipality and 114.3 l/ca to Mbombela local municipality.
Achievements
• The board provided an 85% drinking water quality and there was an
improvement in organizational development, as well as 7% increase in
potable water supply.
• The board worked to strengthen the organisational capacity by
filling critical vacancies, increasing efforts in training and
educating staff.
• There were also improvements on good governance through improved
legislation compliance, and improvements in stakeholder relations
and organized labour movements. Bushbuckridge Water aimed to provide
sustainable water and sanitation services. Challenges
• There were issues of debt recovery owing to a lack of long term
Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with municipalities.
• A lack of integrated planning between stakeholders within the
sector.
• There was also a problem created by the transfer of infrastructure
not being finalised by the Department of Water Affairs.
• There was a chance of the board becoming insolvent hence Rand Water
has been requested by the Minister of Water and Environmental
Affairs to assist the board for a period of six months.
Financial performance
The external audit noted a lack of recovery of invoiced amounts. Assets were transferred to Bushbuckridge Water without the transfer of ownership. R 644 654 was outstanding, while the board had exceeded its borrowing limits by R196 000. Furthermore, the board lacked a performance framework.
3.8 Bloem Water
Bloem was established as a water board in 1991, with the mandate to provide water services to the southern and central areas of the Free State. The district municipalities serviced are Motheo and Xhariep. The local municipalities of Mangaung, Kopanong, Mantsopa and Naledi also fall under their service area. The strategic priorities and objectives included:
• Ensuring universal access to safe and affordable basic water.
• Managing financial affairs to meet current and future obligations.
• Building, operating and maintaining infrastructure.
• Ensuring sustainable and equitable water resources management.
• Transformation and alignment towards an effective institution.
• Pursuing African advancement and enhanced international cooperation
and redevelopment
Achievements
• Providing potable water on a continuous basis.
• Proper implementation of preventative maintenance programs.
• Proper and timely implementation of demand and CAPEX plans.
• Improving the ratio of assets to water provision.
• Render support services to stakeholders, including community projects.
• Rendering water supply chain services with stakeholders through
partnerships.
• Skills development initiatives – internally and externally.
Challenges
• An outstanding municipal debt of R30 and 12 million by Mangaung and
Naledi Municipalities respectively.
• CAPEX and operational demands due to a directive to reduce tariff
increase by 5% by the then Minister of Water Affairs, Ms Hendricks
in 2009 would impact on future requirements and decrease future
volume demands.
• Lack of funding to local municipalities.
• Operation and maintenance posed problems.
Financial performance
There was no qualification on Bloem Water’s external audit report. Current assets were marginally higher than the budget. There was continued solvency and ongoing liquidity. Cash positions remained stable. Debt ratios remained high due to CAPEX requirements. Water sales were lower than budgeted for. Bloem Water streamlined the pension fund in terms of funding the deficit. There was a net profit of R44.2 million, of which R42.8 million was transferred to capital replacement and development fund as well as the insurance fund.
3.9. Overberg Water
The board currently operates three water service treatments works. The area serviced by the Overberg Water Board is predominantly agricultural in nature. There are a few minor industries and mining industries among the other economic sectors serviced by the board.
Achievements
• The board was able to conduct its business on a fairly sustainable
basis.
• It has commenced a much needed refurbishment programme to modernise
its infrastructure and to minimise risks. The main pump stations at
two of its schemes have been completed. Currently, a third scheme
makes it in a position to achieve substantial energy savings as high
as 16%.
• The board has also commenced with a modernising/expansion programme by
making use of ’green’ technology. One of first, if not the first,
ultra filtration plant in the country is currently being installed at
the Rûensveld East plant.
Challenges
• Maintaining the current level of service delivery become problematic
due to the present economic state in the country.
• Rapidly rising input costs, that is, the cost of energy, chemicals,
transport and human resources as well as the declining ability of
users to pay for services.
• Agreements with municipalities limit the boards plan for the future as
they do not know how costs would be recovered.
• Some users apply for water allocations, and once it is done, they do
not use the water, causing a loss of income for the board.
• There is a need to increase the network.
• Irrigation canals are in a bad state of repair.
• Asbestos pipes are causing a major health risk and have to be
replaced.
• Racial and gender issues are problematic but are addressed.
• Cross subsidisation is being phased out and this may lead to the water
boards requesting the department to reintroduce it, if it is advisable
Financial performance
The board is financially sound. It achieved a total net income of R2.4 million for the 2008/09 financial year. From this income, however, it paid its loan of R1.2 million to the Department of Water Affairs. Changes in working capital of R1 million had to be financed and this left very little money to add to the reserve.
Its debtor’s day is at 73 days. The major portion of capital employed came from equity – 59%. The other big contributor was an interest free loan from the Department of Water Affairs. This loan was made with the initial take- over of the plants from government. The major portion of its capital employed in PPE (property, plant and equipment) amounted to 59%. The next big portion of 33% was in cash and investment.
3.10 Magalies Water
The Magalies Water Board operates in the provincial areas of North West, Limpopo and Gauteng, and its head office is based in Rustenburg in the North West Province. Its operational area covers 42 000 km2 through the Crocodile and Olifants major catchments. The Magalies Water serves more than 10 local and district municipalities, which include Moses Kotane, Kgetlengrivier, Madibeng, Moretele and Rustenburg in the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality in North West; Thabazimbi, Modimolle and Bela-bela Municipalities in the Waterberg District Municipal area in Limpopo; the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality (CoT), as well as Nokeng Tsa Taemane Local Municipality in Gauteng. Magalies Water operates 7 Water Treatment Works (WTW) and 4 Sewage Treatment Works (STW). Some of the treatment works are owned by Magalies Water while other works are operated by Magalies Water on behalf of the Rustenburg Water Services Trust (RWST) or the Roodeplaat Temba Water Services Trust (RTWST).
Achievements
• The board obtained water quality compliance of SANS 241 Class 1 = 99,
3% and SANS 241 Class 2 = 100% despite deteriorating raw water quality
in our catchments.
• Appointment of engineers for operations and maintenance of water and
waste water purification plant on behalf of municipalities.
• Appointment of a board to provide strategic support.
• Completion of Drought Relief Programmes on behalf of Department of
Water Affairs in the Municipalities.
• Reduction of plant losses to below 5%.
• Retaining ISO 14001 certification.
• Participated in 2010 water security plan for host city in Rustenburg.
• Conducting first customer service study to advance customer-centric
approach and Batho Pele principles.
Challenges
• Effecting administered prices on long term sustainability of the
board.
• Promoting affordability to end consumers. However, municipalities were
not passing the benefits to end consumers.
• Cost drivers increased by more than the government Inflation target of
3%-6%, for example, electricity, chemicals, and raw water costs.
• Meeting an increased regional domestic and industrial bulk water
demand posed a challenge.
• Refurbishment of Pilanesberg Water supply scheme (additional 70ML/day
to total value of R1.2b).
• Marikana-Mooinooi water supply scheme also needed upgrade (additional
estimated 90-120ML/day). Financial performance
The board achieved an unqualified audit report and has no current long term borrowings. Borrowings would be considered if there was a cost recovery mechanism in place. However, Magalies Water has committed to the Pilanesberg Scheme that would require additional funding requirements, for example the scheme exceeds current borrowing limits of R161m). However, an application has been made through the Department of Water Affairs to recommend increased limits from National Treasury at an additional of R400 million.The board sold 74 983 428kl volumes of water in 2009 and their debt collection days were sitting at 117 compared to 88 days in 2008.
3.11 Lepelle Northern
Lepelle Northern Water (LNW) Board was established in 1997 consistent with the provisions of the Water Service Act, 1997. The scope of the Lepelle Northern Water covers Hoedspruit and Sekhukhune in the South Mogalakwena municipal area in the west and extends to Capricorn, Vhembe and Mopani district municipal areas.
Achievements
• Provision of free basic water service to 11 949 households.
• Water demand management, continued upgrade of telemetry systems and
water losses averaging only 3.5% on bulk.
• Turnaround strategy implementation was successful on cost recovery.
• Billing and meter reading support.
• Successful re-commissioning of underground water supply.
• Water Quality compliance with SANS241:2006 (95% Class 1 and 100% Class
2)
• Yard Connections installations in rural Greater Sekhukhune District
Municipality
Challenges
• Service delivery challenges included ageing infrastructures,
exceeding abstraction permits, over laden treatment plant,
deteriorating raw water quality, outstanding bulk service contract
in Mopani, and outstanding debtors by municipalities.
• In terms of reticulation, there was a lack of effective cost
recovery, water conservation and demand management, ageing internal
reticulation infrastructure, default on payment by consumers, lack
of maintenance, and unauthorised or illegal connections.
Financial performance
Lepelle’s external audit report for the financial year 2008/09 was unqualified. Its total revenue amounted to R226 900 million and a net surplus of R40, 823 million. A way forward encompassed the following: concluding outstanding bulk water services contracts, resolving outstanding debt and late payment, rehabilitating and maintaining infrastructure, supporting municipalities (with cost recovery, water conservation, and demand management strategies), building capacity, planning retention and succession and intensifying technical support to municipalities.
- Mhlathuze Water
Mhlathuze Water Board is one of the leading water utilities in South Africa, providing a world-class service to its customers. The organisation’s commitment and focused direction in providing safe and dependable water services are indicative of its consistent success. This organisation is based in the KwaZulu-Natal Province. Its area of supply covers about 37,000km² stretching from the Thukela River in the South Coast and up the East Coast to the Mozambique and Swaziland borders, around Vryheid and back to the Thukela River. Within this region, Mhlathuze Water has built and operates an inter-basin transfer, major water treatment plants, an offshore waste water disposal pipeline and it operates treatment and sewerage plants on an agency basis for local municipalities.
While Mhlathuze Water Board’s operational area and status have changed over the years, it largely continues to perform its activities of operating an inter-basin transfer scheme, treatment plants, an off-shore waste water disposal system and bulk water supply systems focusing on the Richards Bay area.
Achievements
• Successful partnership with the Department of Education and the
Department of Water Affairs on the School Water Services Programme.
• Completion of the draft Water Regional Master Plan covering numerous
municipalities.
• A partnership with uThungulu for the Middledrift Scheme project had
been established.
• There were negotiations with municipalities to expand Mhlathuze's
water services.
• Tenders were submitted for the upgrade and maintenance of KwaDukuza
Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Challenges Mhlathuze’s area of operation is largely rural and poverty stricken, with unemployed people who are unable to pay for services. There are few big businesses operating in the area with fewer prospects in attracting skills. Challenges included debt recovery issues, and contract expiry, lack of development and ageing infrastructure, poor access to water due to low rainfall and the global recession, while poorer municipalities impacted on tariff negotiations.
Financial performance
• The audit report was unqualified with no matters of emphasis.
• In terms of revenue, there was an R34, 357(25%) increase attributable
to 3.6% (32%) mega-litres increase in raw water volumes and increased
off-take by Richards Bay Minerals.
• Debtor collection days remained at 56.7.
• Expenditure saw a 27% increase attributable to increases in staff
costs, energy and maintenance.
• Depreciation also contributed by way of the B-Line Diffuser
replacement project.
• Extraordinary expenditure was due to the Corporate Social Investment
(CSI) project.
• R12 million was used to assist uMgungundlovu District Municipality.
• An investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) was
instituted on the affairs of Mhlathuze Water as per the President’s
proclamation: (Proclamation No. R.35, 2008) A report had not been
released yet.
- Albany Coast Water
Owing to numerous challenges facing Albany Coast, a Ministerial directive was issued for Amatola Water to take over the operations, leading to its disestablishment. Challenges
• Expenditure had exceeded the income.
• There was a lack of maintenance and planning.
• Tariffs did not provide for capital needs and seasonal demand was
not met.
• Limited cash reserves impacted on operational costs.
Financial performance
• Although Albany Coast recieved an unqualified audit from the Auditor
General for 2008/9 financial period, it was insolvent. In 2008, it
had deficit of R184 125 and in 2009, this was at R1 059 050.
• Total equity and liabilities 2008- R9 847 301.
• Total equity and liabilities 2009- R10 245 435.
• Long terms debts- R 124 785.
• Short term debts- R 420 000.
3.14. Pelladrift Water
Pelladrift Water Board has been in existence since 1980. It provides bulk water to BMM and Khai-Ma: Aggeneys, Pella, Pofadder, Onseepkans and to several neighbouring farmers, such as ‘Oasis in the Wilderness’ Guesthouse and game farm.
The board was established in accordance with the provisions of Water Services Act. Its main purpose was the establishment of sustainable water supply to the Black Mountain Mine and surrounding areas. In 2007, it concluded a Service Level Agreement with Khai-Ma Local Municipality. To date, supply interruptions guaranteed to be less than 36 hours and notice to interruptions are provided at least 1-2 weeks prior, else preferably 1 month in advance.
Achievements
The board had good relations with the newly elected Khai-Ma Local Municipality Council
Financial performance
For the 2008/9 financial year, Pelladrift received an unqualified opinion from the Auditor General, and noted the following:
• The board did not plan to borrow any money in the near future.
• Revenue will increase with new tariffs.
• Black Mountain Mine accepted an 8% tariff increase in 2009.
• Khai-Ma accepted a 7% tariff increase whilst 18% was requested, due
to its indigent status.
• Municipal rates will need to be increased over the next 5 years,
and Khai-Ma is considering 20% for the next 3 years.
• Pelladrift Water would fund R19 million capital refurbishments
projects in the 2009/10 financial year.
• The board expected to achieve accounting breakeven and retain
positive cash flow by 2012.
- Submission by National Treasury
The National Treasury provided the following inputs:
• Annual reports of the water boards showed a declining profitability.
• Tariffs did not reflect costs and so costs seemed to grow more than
revenue.
• Bad debt had increased, while water volume had increased only in a
modest amount.
• Therefore there was a lower surplus to fund capital.
• Owing to high creditor fees, there was a high debt ratio.
• The majority of the water boards could not sustain high debt levels,
due to declining profitability, low reserves and weak cash flows.
• Common challenges included ageing infrastructure, the increasing
demand for water, lack of technical skills and the reduced quality of
raw water
- Submission by South African Local Government Authority (SALGA)
The South African Local Government Authority ISALGA) presented a number of challenges it faced, which included:
• Debt repayment by and performance of municipalities.
• The relationship between water boards and municipalities and their
roles, incompetent service providers, infrastructure maintenance
backlogs, inadequate financial provision for free basic services,
corruption and nepotism. Furthermore, some municipalities provided
water services, but were not viable as Water Service Authorities.
Financial performance of the water boards
With regards to financial performance of the water boards, SALGA noted that investment in fixed assets would be financed through increased debt, but there were no plans to receive further capitalisation from shareholders, thereby resulting in interest cost increases and pressure on water boards to service debt repayments. This would then affect Bulk Water Tariffs.
The boards’ funding models needed to be reviewed. It was suggested that the water boards were operating less efficiently over time which was in turn affecting the Water Service Authorities, resulting in an increase in water tariffs of +10% above PPI. Other increases included staff costs, chemical price and significant energy costs.
SALGA recommended a PPI plus 3% for both raw water and bulk potable water increases for the Department of Water Affairs and water boards requesting increases above this level. The scrutiny for this proposal should be carried out before 1 July 2010 and a pricing policy water services value chain would be completed during the 2010/11 financial year. The roles of boards’ shareholders and the water sector regulators had to be urgently established by the Minister as the department currently played both roles (regulator and implementer).
- Committees’ Response to Submissions
A number of issues, encompassing the following, were raised by the members for further consideration:
• Namakwa Water was in the same position as the previous year. This was
considered alarming, while the quality of water in that area was
exceptionally poor. Urgent intervention was required and special
attention from the department was requested. The committee would re-
examine the issues raised in six months’ time. Miscommunications
surrounding the Namakwa situation seemed prevalent.
• Appointment of councilors to serve on boards was problematic.
• Ageing infrastructure backlogs.
• There was no money collection document or policy for credit control to
guide the municipalities.
• The R23 billion backlogs in Gauteng for bulk sanitation were called
into question, as was the Minister’s announcement of the R23 billion
country-wide backlogs, which was considered to be an underestimate.
• Proposed legislative amendments to resolve disputes arising from
assignment of powers and functions between national and local
government (including basic services).
• An investigation and discussions is required regarding the apparent
duplication of activities between water boards and water service
authorities to determine best way forward.
Report to be considered.
- Report of the Portfolio Committee on Water and Environmental Affairs on the proposed water tariff increases for 2010, dated 20 July 2010
The Portfolio Committee on Water and Environmental Affairs received briefings from the Department of Water Affairs and 14 water board, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and National Treasury, and having considered the proposed water tariff increases, reports as follows:
- Introduction
On 4 and 5 May 2010, the Portfolio Committee on Water and Environmental Affairs received briefings from Department of Water and Environmental Affairs, SALGA, National Treasury and 14 water boards, comprising Amatola, Botshelo, Bloem, Bushbuckridge, Lepelle Northern, Magalies, Mhlathuze, Namakwa, Overberg, Pelladrift, Rand, Sedibeng, Umgeni and Albany Coast.
- Briefing by the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs
Water boards are established according to Section 28 of the Water Services Act, as separate legal institutions. The boards comprise board members to oversee the governance issues and assets and are required to be financially viable. The boards are also governed by other pieces of legislations such as the Public Finance Management Act, the Division of Revenue Act, the Municipal Finance Management Act and the Municipal Structures Act. Water boards are mainly mandated to provide bulk potable water to municipalities, customers and other water institutions within a designated area.
Raw water tariffs are set in terms of the pricing strategy by the water boards. According to Section 42 of the Municipal Finance Management Act, water boards must consult with the municipalities on their proposed tariffs increases and also request National Treasury and SALGA to provide written comments. Furthermore, the Act stipulates that the water boards must submit:
• Proposed amendments to water tariffs and comments received
The proposed tariff increases must be tabled in Parliament by the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs on or before 15 March of each year so as to take effect on 1 July of each year. Neither the Minister nor Parliament has the mandate to approve or reject the proposed tariffs.
- Proposed tariffs for 2010
Table 1 below provides a synopsis of the proposed tariffs by respective water boards |Name of Water |Proposed tariffs for |Average percentage | |Board |2010 |increase | |Albany Coast |R 4.96 |8 – 8.8% | |Amatola |R 4.96 |8 – 8.8% | |Bloem |R 3.92 |10.00% | |Botshelo |R 3.64 |16.00% | |Bushbuckridge |R 3.45 |12.46% | |Lepelle |R 3.38 |6.50% | |Magalies |R 2.81 |11 – 25% | |Mhlathuze |R 1.73 |18.00% | |Namakwa |R 9.11 |43.00% | |Overberg |R 3. 42 |9.95% | |Pelladrift |R 2.28 |20.00% | |Rand |R 3.97 |14.10% | |Sedibeng | R 5.86 |12.00% | |Umgeni | R3.47 |6.20% |
The department highlighted the following challenges noted by water boards during the tariff consultation process:
• There were late submissions of written comments by SALGA to the
boards.
• Stringent timeframes and lack of capacity posed problems for
municipalities to provide meaningful comments.
• Consultation processes as contemplated under section 42 of the MFMA
does not require consent, concurrence or agreement.
• In the last financial year, many municipalities did not pass on the
reduction of tariff increases to the end-users.
• Equitable share, aimed at subsidizing the indigent, was often not used
by municipalities for the intended purposes and as a result, many
municipalities did not pay their water debt on time.
In relation to the above-mentioned challenges, the department proposed that:
• A three year tariff cycle would reduce the administrative burden. Notwithstanding the difficulties experienced by the water boards during the tariffs consultation process, there had been achievements as well, which include:
• Water boards met timelines for consultation in terms of the provision
of the MFMA.
• Submissions of documentation confirming evidence of consultation by
water boards with municipalities (customers), was also provided.
• Feedback from National Treasury, SALGA and municipalities, was
timeously provided. As a result, the minister tabled tariff increases
by the set deadline of 15 March.
• All the boards were financially sound, except Namakwa and
Bushbuckridge.
The department’s analysis of the impact of the proposed tariff increases reflected the following:
• The increase would allow water boards to finance future CAPEX and be less reliant on loans. • Over the next five years, the CAPEX is estimated to exceed R10 billion, whilst the total cash reserves amounted to R4.4 billion, and the total debt was R3.9 billion. The borrowing to finance CAPEX was estimated at R5.7 billion. Partial funding of CAPEX would allow for the smooth inception of tariffs, specifically in the initial years when the newly funded infrastructure is not fully utilised. • Pressure to reduce tariffs could result in a higher level of borrowing, which would effectively increase tariffs to unaffordable levels in the future. • From an operational point of view, the increase in energy, chemicals and labour costs has resulted in tariff increases, which will ensure sustainability of water boards and lower prices to customers.
-
Submissions by the water boards The water boards provided the following information in relation to proposed water tariffs: |Water Boards|Input | |Albany |The consultation process was met with the relevant | | |organisations as prescribed by the legislation. Amatola | | |Water can absorb increases between 10% and 15%. The | | |Department of Water Affairs advanced R2.7 million to | | |assist with refurbishment. Plant refurbishment has a | | |10-year maintenance contract factored into it. | | |Furthermore, electrical power saving methodologies has | | |been implemented and there was potential to increase water| | |volumes through private eco estate and housing needs of | | |Ndlambe. | |Amatola |Amathole and Buffalo City municipalities agreed to 8.8 % | | |increase in December 2009, as well as with National | | |Treasury and SALGA in 2010. The recent merger with Albany | | |Coast Water Board (as result of non-viability of the | | |entity into Amatola could provide of the necessary | | |economies of scale. The board needs to borrow R100 million| | |for its CAPEX Programmes and explore other forms of | | |funding. | |Bloem |Municipalities agreed to a 10% increase and above which | | |was accepted by the National Treasury. Tariff increases | | |for 2010/11 reflected an increase of 7% before reduction | | |of tariffs for 2009/10 by 5%. Expected increases for | | |inflation were higher, while operational and maintenance | | |expenditure was also higher. The proposed tariff resulted | | |in the downscaling of required CAPEX projects. It also | | |impacted on National Treasury requirements regarding the | | |debt service ratios. | |Botshelo |Botshelo Water Board proposed a 16% increase on the | | |proposed tariff for 2010 to cater for electricity, | | |maintenance, security and chemical price increases. | | |Botshelo incurred what was perceived to be a relatively | | |high charge of R1.67 per kilo litre at the major plants of| | |Mafikeng and Mmabatho. In order to discuss the tariff, | | |Botshelo held a consultative meeting with its three bulk | | |water clients and the outcome was submitted to National | | |Treasury for approval. The R 3.80 tariff would enable | | |Botshelo Water to fulfil its functions, obligations and | | |duties and would ensure security and sustainability of the| | |plants and water provision. The majority of end users in | | |Botshelo jurisdiction had access to 6 kl of Free Basic | | |Water (FBW) per household per month and was likely to | | |remain unchanged. Impacts of the tariff could be off-set | | |by better control of water losses and improved cost | | |recovery on the part of municipalities. | |Bushbuckridg|In an effort to recover costs and make the Board | |e |financially viable, proposed tariffs would off-set the | | |costs of raw water charges and costs relating to staff, | | |labour, energy, chemicals and maintenance. The proposed | | |tariff for 2010 was R3.45 which consisted of a fixed cost | | |component (salaries and administration) as well as a | | |variable cost component (raw water, electricity, chemicals| | |and maintenance). This would be reviewed in 2010/11. A | | |proposed tariff increase of 12.46% would be imposed for | | |the period July 2010 -June 2011 and was lower than the | | |sector average increase. | |Lepelle |Factors for tariff increase include; Increase in raw water| | |charges, increase in electricity costs, labour costs and | | |capital investments. The board faced the following | | |challenges in tariff setting: | | |Bulk | | |Ageing Infrastructure | | |Exceeding abstraction Permits (high demands) | | |Over laden treatment plant (upgrades) | | |Deteriorating raw water quality | | |Non payment of services by WSAs | | |Reticulation | | |Poor cost recovery and water demand management | | |Ageing internal reticulation infrastructure | | |Default on payment by consumers | | |Lack of maintenance | | |Unauthorised/illegal connections | | |Insufficient Water Demand Management | |Magalies |The Board considered numerous factors in determining the | | |varying tariff increases. The operational costs were | | |determined by the costs of raw water, staff and labour | | |costs, electricity costs, cost of chemicals, maintenance | | |costs, refurbishment costs and depreciation. Challenges in| | |the tariff setting included the tumultuous economy and the| | |reduction of consumer activities, which impacted the Capex| | |programmes. Consumers opposed the tariff increases and | | |municipalities could not afford the implementation of the | | |Capex programmes. | |Mhlathuze |The department requested a 12.6% tariff to the supply of | | |bulk water. The Board approved and proposed an increase | | |to the department, as follows: | | |22% for purified water | | |18% for raw water | | |10% for effluent. | | |The department approved tariff as proposed. | | | | | |The Board encountered the following challenges during | | |consultation: | | |Negative economic conditions experienced by client played | | |a major factor during the consultative process. | | |A lower rate was expected by the Board’s clients. | | | | | |But, the tariffs were proposed due to aging infrastructure| | |which requires high capital expenditure; capital cost to | | |be recovered through tariffs over 20 years; high energy | | |cost increases, customer contracts; and unresolved | | |objections to tariff increase. | |Namakwa |The NWB requested a 43% increase on tariffs. The tariff | | |would be R9.14 and the shortfall would be 81 cents. During| | |consultation processes, the Nama Khoi Municipality | | |requested a 10% tariff increase. The Department of Water | | |Affairs approved the 43% tariff increase and urged the NWB| | |to bring the increase closer to 12%. The NWB warned that | | |the tariff increase would result in less water consumption| | |and would hinder cost recovery | |Overberg |The higher the water use, the higher the unit cost of the | | |tariff. The use on the sliding scale is based on the | | |number of households as supplied by and agreed with the | | |municipality. The effective cost of water and the water | | |tariff is therefore in the hands of the municipality – it | | |requires careful and sound planning and management from | | |their side | | | | |Pelladrift |The tariff set by the Board includes 26% increase due to | | |increases in electricity costs and 7 % increase in raw | | |water tariffs, salaries and aging infrastructure. | |Rand |The RWB proposed a tariff increment of 14.1%, which was | | |based on the cost of raw water, chemicals and other costs.| | |The increase was approved by National Treasury and | | |Department of Water Affairs, but tough negotiations with | | |customers were expected and an independent regulator was | | |requested to assist in this regard. | |Sedibeng |The 12% tariff increase is recommended for maintenance and| | |operating of the infrastructure and assets. The tariff | | |increase considers the possibility of enhancing the | | |financial viability of the organisation in order to | | |generate sufficient revenue to continue with the | | |development of water infrastructure whilst operating and | | |maintaining the existing one. The Board constantly invests| | |and considers activities that seek to acquire more assets | | |and assist in the operation and maintenance of water | | |infrastructure as it focus on developing water supply | | |services to the communities. | |Umgeni |After consulting with relevant people, Umgeni Water | | |presented two tariff options. Consultations with the South| | |African Local Government Association (SALGA) and the | | |National Treasury with a 6.5% tariff increase resulted in | | |a final submission to the Minister of Water and | | |Environmental Affairs on 25 January 2009, which was later | | |tabled in Parliament in 2010. |
-
Submission by South African Local Government Association (SALGA)
The role of SALGA is to represent, promote and protect the interests of local government in the water and environmental sectors. The following obstacles were highlighted by SALGA in relation to the role of the department and water boards in their undertaking of their work on this critical aspect:
• Late debt repayment to water boards by municipalities.
• Poor performance by municipalities.
• Corruption and nepotism resulting in the appointment of incompetent
service providers.
• Poor infrastructure maintenance.
• Indecisiveness and/or bad decisions, for example, long term decisions
regarding institutional arrangements for providing services.
• Legislation has become a list of suggestions with no consequences for
non-compliance.
• Inadequate financial provision for free basic services for the poor.
• The majority of Water Services Authorities operated their water
distribution businesses at a deficit or at break-even.
• Inadequate financial provision for free basic services to the poor -
providing for fewer at less than the cost of providing the service to
a household.
Following a thorough analysis conducted by SALGA in December 2009 on the proposed water boards tariffs in order to effectively represent local government, SALGA noted the following:
• The Department of Water Affairs has obtained approval for price
increases, which were significantly higher than those anticipated in
business plans of water boards. It is therefore necessary to review
the raw water tariff applied by the department, especially the Raw
Water Pricing Policy and phasing of raw water increases, specifically
the portion of increases which relate to accounting adjustments to the
value of fixed assets.
• There should be a revision of proposed pricing for 2010/11 downwards,
to PPI plus 3% and therefore phase in increases to meet the required
return on assets over a longer period.
• The investment in fixed assets was, according to the business plans,
to be financed through increased debt and there were no plans made to
receive further capitalisation or equity injection from the
shareholder. This, according to the Water Services Authority, would
result in severe increases in interest costs and it created severe
pressure on many water boards to service debt repayments going
forward. Both of these factors would create upward pressure on bulk
water tariffs. Therefore, there should be a review of the funding
models of the water boards; especially their apparent overdependence
on debt financing and these impacts on bulk water tariffs.
• In light of increases in energy, labour and chemicals, SALGA was of
the view that the regulator carefully scrutinise the operating
expenses of water boards before making decisions on the proposed
tariffs.
• Most of the water boards reported a decline in their raw water
quality due to pollution and contamination of the river systems by
industrial, agricultural, and by human waste entering the rivers.
This resulted in expensive disinfection and purification measures,
which increases the cost of potable water to the municipalities.
There was a need for the department to protect the national resource
from such degradation and local government would also assist.
Given the issues raised above, SALGA provided the following suggestions:
• A PPI, plus 3% be allowed for both raw water and bulk potable water
increases. This should be allowed for the department and all water
boards that have requested increases that are above this level.
• There should be a thorough scrutiny on proposed submissions carried
out for each water board during the 2010/11 financial year in order to
determine appropriate increases for specific water boards in the
future.
• A pricing policy for the entire water services value chain be
completed during the 2010/11 financial year.
• The minister moves speedily to establish an institutional separation
between the water boards’ shareholder role and the water sector
regulator role, which are currently both played by the department.
This makes the department both a referee and a player at the same
time.
• The department should facilitate the implementation of appropriate
long-term institutional mechanisms for sustainable service delivery.
• A need exists to clarify the role of local government in Integrated
Water Resource Management and facilitate effective participation of
municipalities in Catchment Management Areas.
• More advice and guidance is required with regards to improving local
regulation of service provision.
• Facilitate identification and implementation of priority interventions
to improve water and waste water quality management by municipalities.
• Develop a guide towards a transparent and appropriate water tariff
determination methodology.
- Input by National Treasury
National Treasury outlined the legislative framework followed by water boards when submitting their proposed water tariff process. The submission should include the following:
• Motivation for the reasons for the increase.
• The way in which inflation targets will be met.
• Other macro-economic policy considerations.
• Steps taken to improve its competitiveness or efficiency to reduce
costs.
• Other objectives or targets in any corporate or other governance plan.
National Treasury noted that in most instances, the submissions by water boards are often not detailed enough to provide for the requisite analysis. Corporate plans and Section 42 applications were often contradictory.
National Treasury submitted the following:
• National Treasury supported the decision of the Minister of Water
Affairs to merge Albany Coast with Amatola.
• Namakwa’s situation was not sustainable; therefore an alternative long
term solution needs to be considered.
• The Local Government Equitable Share (unconditional grant) should be
ring fenced to enable municipalities to provide free basic services to
poor households.
• With regards to monitoring payments for bulk water supply by
municipality, National Treasury followed Sections 41 and 44 of the
MFMA whereby water boards must, within 15 days after end of each
month, report on amounts to be paid by municipalities for bulk
resource, and arrears owing by municipalities and age profiles of such
arrears.
• National Treasury also reported that it engaged with municipalities
and water boards to facilitate settlement of disputes and payments.
National Treasury has issued guidance to all water boards on
mechanisms and processes to be followed in order to resolve disputes
of a financial nature. For example, it assisted the following boards,
Bushbuckridge, Sedibeng, Lepelle, Bloem and Rand to recoup their money
from municipalities. It suggested the following recommendations:
• Non-existence or poorly drafted service level agreement between
water boards and municipalities should be reviewed.
• Misalignment of water service authority functions, between district
and local municipalities should be corrected.
• There should be stringent enforcement credit control policy by
boards on municipalities delaying payment.
• There is a need to strengthen the roles of sector departments in a
co-ordinated manner.
• The Department of Water Affairs should provide assistance to
parties with service level agreement and technical issues related
to water meters.
• Improve oversight over water boards and enforcement of credit
control policies.
• The Department of Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs
must assist with authorisation of water services powers and
functions.
- Responses by the Portfolio Committee on Water and Environmental Affairs
• The failure by municipalities to repay the money owed to the water
boards posed concerns. There were concerns around the R1.4 billion
municipal debt that was still outstanding. There was a concern that
the figure was just getting bigger. This was problematic, as
approximately R535 million of the R1.4 billion, was a debt comprising
more than 120 days. There was a need for the department to develop
mechanisms to deal with the matter.
• The minister had issued a directive for certain water boards to take
over the provision of bulk water to municipalities. This was the case
of Amatola Water.
• In some instances, there was no consensus between SALGA and the
Department of Water Affairs, to finalise the proposed water tariffs
for 2010.
Concerns were raised around the clauses in the Municipal Finance
Management Act which deprives parliament and the minister to approve
or reject water tariffs; whereas they have a bearing to the poor
communities the members are serving.
- Recommendations
The portfolio committee recommends the following:
• There should be further engagement between the department and SALGA to reach consensus on the proposed water tariffs increases each year. • National Treasury should pay special attention on how municipalities were utilising their Equitable Share funding allocations. It seemed that the funding was being utilised for their operations, instead of prioritising infrastructure.
Report to be considered.
-
Report of the Portfolio Committee on Water and Environmental Affairs of the Water Institute of Southern Africa Conference (WISA) 20 July 2010
-
Introduction
A holistic focus on water issues is central to sustainable development and poverty reduction agendas. Members of the committee attended this conference in Durban on 18 – 21 April 2010 to achieve a greater understanding of the current issues in the field of water and sanitation. The conference comprised water service specialists, business and academia and the members gained knowledge that was current and relevant to the strategic objectives of the work of the committee.
- Objectives of the Conference
The aim of the conference was to provide a platform for:
• Discussions amongst sector policy makers, water sector professions,
government departments, state entities, civil society, educational
and research institutions on issues related to integration,
application of scientific engineering, knowledge and skills in water
sector management.
- Keynote Address by Deputy Minister Ms Mabudhafatsi
Water is high on the global agenda because it is key to social and economic development, and therefore also important on the South African agenda. All sectors are dependent on water. The Industrial Policy for South Africa also recognises the importance of water in its economic sense.
Although South Africa has not done well in achieving the Millennium Development Goals of halving the backlogs by 2015, it has succeeded in providing water and sanitation to many poor households by 2005. However, there are still people without clean and potable water, therefore service delivery efforts need to be increased to ensure universal access.
The following challenges confront the water sector:
• Water security involves diligent planning, and management of the water
cycle including the effects of climate change and monitoring. Scarce
water resources impacts on social and economic development. This
requires water use efficiency and water demand management at all
levels, as well as the re-use of water, including getting people aware
of water conservation as a way of life.
• The poor quality of the water resources impacts on our environment,
the quality of life and the economy. Various interventions were
undertaken including the Local Government Turnaround Strategy, the
Wastewater Treatment Plants Intervention Programme, improved
monitoring and auditing.
• Acid mine drainage remains a worrying factor. There is a need for
appropriate long term solutions to effectively control and manage
this, including smart technologies, improved governance and sector
accountability, ownership and commitment.
• Due to ageing infrastructure, most completed projects are not
functional or rather water is not coming out of the taps due to ageing
infrastructure and other technical problems.
There is a need to reflect on how to speed up water delivery for consumption, poverty alleviation and economic development. A realistic reflection will be achieved only if delegates were honest about the challenges faced by the sector, not wasting time pointing fingers, and by being defensive. It was important to reach a consensus about the sector challenges and that should be used as a means for future planning and turnaround strategy.
- Presentation of Research Papers
4.1 Water quality management as key component of catchment management – Mr P Wiechers This paper focused on wastewater quality management as a key component of catchment management. This concept illustrated three catchments namely, the Vaal River, the Mvoti to Mzimkulu River and the Great and Little Lotus rivers catchments. It also covered various aspects ranging from wastewater quality management, policies, legislation and enforcement, as well as the variety of catchments management practices. The presentation also highlighted lessons learnt and proposals for future priorities and needs for optimizing wastewater quality management.
There are currently 19 water management areas in South Africa. The establishment is stipulated in the National Water Act by the creation of catchment management areas. The Department of Water Affairs is primary responsible to ensure water quality management of the authorities under it and ensuring effective management, which included the following aspects namely:
• Continuous improvement of water quality management.
• Being proactive, dynamic, efficient and effective in its delivery of
Water Quality Management services to the public.
• Providing the necessary policies and systems to ensure integrated
sustainable management of water quality.
• Promoting cooperative governance across all spheres of government in
terms of Water Quality Management.
• Ensuring a fully capacitated, loyal workforce to support the DWA WQM
functions.
In order to ensure efficient and effective Water Quality Management, the following initiatives were proposed:
• Prevention of waste production and pollution of water resources
wherever possible.
• Minimisation of pollution at source by minimising unavoidable waste
production through: recycling/reuse of waste or water containing
waste; detoxifying; neutralisation; and/ or treatment of waste
streams; and/or introduction of cleaner technologies and best
management practices ("housekeeping").
• Disposal of waste and/or discharge of water containing waste
according to the precautionary principle. If there were no
alternatives to the disposal of waste and/or the discharge of water
containing waste, the precautionary principle applies.
After the Department of Water Affairs had conducted assessment studies on waste water quality management at a provincial level, the department was dissatisfied with the performance of wastewater quality management in all nine provinces.
Treated effluent discharges from sewage works and industrial wastewater treatment works had an impact on the quality of water in the receiving environment. Therefore, it was imperative for relevant authorities to closely monitor the impact posed by these discharges, to in order, ensure compliance with discharge standards. Furthermore, long term trends need to be observed to ensure that there was no significant deterioration of the receiving water over the long term. Although the immediate impact may not be significant, deterioration was foreseen over the longer term. With the global economic recession, local authorities and industries were increasingly under stress to maintain the required discharge effluent quality standards.
The presentation also highlighted challenges and opportunities posed by catchment management in South Africa, which include:
• A need for more integration in water and wastewater services, for
example, catchment management could be linked with: land use; fresh
water demand minimization, and, wastewater reuse.
• Technical catchment management solutions should inform catchment
committees’ choices, for example, with decisions on land-use changes,
and by creating multiple land-use opportunities.
• Catchment management should critically address social and
institutional processes operative in the catchment.
• Long-term sustainability for urban catchment management can be assured
by linking with quality-of life considerations, such as the provision
of recreational amenities, conservation and restoration.
Following the studies conducted in the four catchment areas, the following findings were presented:
The Vaal River Catchment
In the catchments along the Bloemhof Dam, effluents from urban, industrial and mining activities have resulted in high levels of salinity of the Vaal River, whilst in the lower catchment, irrigation return flows are the major contributor to river salinity. Furthermore, water pollution has resulted in a significant change in physico-chemical conditions in the river water. Sewage discharge destroyed the river’s ecosystem. An environmental organisation known as, Eco-Care Trust, had committed to the conservation of fish in the river.
Mvoti-uMzimkhulu River Catchments
Problems experienced in Mvoti- uMzimkhulu were related to industrial water pollution. High levels of chemical poisons were reported in the Mvoti River near KwaDukuza/Stanger, which resulted in an immediate banning on fishing activities, swimming or drinking water near the Sappi paper mill. A multi-national pulp and paper company advised fishermen not to eat any fish or other marine creatures from the river mouth until further tests have been conducted. The company also acknowledged that some of the pollutants had the potential to cause cancer and endocrine system health problems in humans and animals, depending on the dose and duration of exposure.
Great and Little Lotus River Catchments
The Great Lotus catchment has a population of about 380 000 people. Approximately 24% reside in informal settlements, while 4% live in informal housing in the site and service areas. The informal population of the Greater Lotus River catchment is growing especially rapidly, due to its desirable location near to job opportunities, and large areas of “municipal open space”. The Great Lotus River is characterized by poor water quality, with high nutrient loading, as well as very high faecal coliform counts. This is due to raw sewage effluent overflowing from blocked sewers into the storm water drains, occasional sewer pump overflows, as well as the inadequate or non-existent sanitation characteristic of the informal settlement areas. Despite recent efforts by the local authorities at sewer upgrading, the microbial counts in the storm water do not appear to be dropping.
- Municipal Regulatory Performance Management Systems (RMPS) Water Services Compliance Assessment, by Department of Water Affairs
As the custodian of the nation’s water resources and water sector leader, the objective of the Department of Water Affairs is to improve water management in the country. Local government is responsible for delivery of water services to householders and regulation of water services authorities. Therefore, the role of the Department is to regulate, monitor, evaluate, report and publish performance of water services authorities. It is against this background that the department introduced the National Water Services Regulation Strategy in 2008, in order to elucidate actual activities and performance. This meant that a performance mechanism or tool had to be developed, known as the Regulatory Performance Measurement System (RPMS), which is a regulatory initiative (such as the Blue Drop/Green Drop). It is intended to measure water services authorities on 11 key performance indicators that were initially developed in the Strategic Framework for Water Services (DWAF 2003) and expanded in the NWSRS and is being currently rolled out in the nine regions in order to promote best practice in the sector.
The objectives of the systems are as follows:
• Improve business practice in relation to water services delivery in
local government.
• Improve local government compliance with national standards and norms.
• Improve DWA regulatory processes through ensuring that response to non
compliance are standardised across the country.
• Ensure that data collected from municipalities is verifiable, accurate
and useful so that it can benefit local government through strategic
feedback on problem areas.
4.2.1 Data collection process
The data collected during the first implementation phase of the system in 2007/8 financial year, followed a bottom up approach whereby RPMS workshops were held in the five regions, namely Northern Cape, Limpopo, Gauteng, Western Cape and Free State with water services authorities. Data sheets accompanied by manuals were distributed to the municipalities prior to the workshop.
In 2008/9, a similar process was followed. It should be noted that the following challenges were noted:
• Responses from the water services authorities were slow in some
instances, and deadlines had to be extended.
• While significant progress has been made in some regions, overall,
consistency remains a problem owing to high turnover of staff at both
regional offices and more particularly at WSAs.
• Continuity is a key aspect of annual measurement, and it is important
that effective handover processes are in place for managing the system
at the regional office, and interacting with the system at WSAs.
• Most WSAs are unable to supply the data, which will allow the
measurement of their non revenue water – which, given the emphasis on
climate change and the fact that millions of South Africans currently
do not have access to water and sanitation, is a major potential area
of improvement.
In conclusion, although the RPMS was in its infancy as a system, some significant results have already been achieved.
- Progress on the Haartbeespoort Dam Integrated Biological Remedial Programme, Mr Venter
The programme was introduced by the Department of Water Affairs to address the imbalances and unhealthy biological conditions in the dam. Due to eutrophication that results in hypertrophic conditions in the dam, the dam was under severe pressure. The programme comprises 25 main projects and 18 sub projects. To date, the following initiatives have been implemented, and these include:
Biomass (Algae and Hyacinth)
• Pumps were installed in the dam that allows for the removal of algae
into allocated downstream areas of the dam wall. In addition, floating
algal booms have been installed at various locations, namely, Oberon,
Westlake and the mouth of Saartjies to prevent further movement of
algae.
• Hyacinth was removed manually. There were currently 46 local
previously disadvantaged people employed on the contract basis to
increase employment numbers around the area. Training has been
provided on the use of pumping equipment, as well as on health and
safety.
• Concerns were raised over huge amounts of litter flowing into the dam,
which hindered the removal of hyacinth.
• To date, approximately 100 tons of compost has been produced from
algae; the compost will be used for soil rehabilitation,
implementation of artificial wetlands and shoreline vegetation
establishment.
Food web restructuring
A fish harvesting project focusing on the fishing of coarse fish in the dam has been implemented. Madibeng Conservancy Holdings was contracted in 2009 to harvest the averages required to catch up with the backlogs and reach target figures by the end of March 2009. The only challenge of this project was to secure contractors, equipment, and loss of netting. The agreed average of fish harvest per month is 3.7 tons of fish per week. Should the contractor fail to meet this average, the population of coarse fish would increase. This would impact on the remedial efforts already made. The projects managers were investing in other cost effective electro-shocker options for the project.
Sediment removal
The DWA Team conducted sediment contour surveys of the dam. Preliminary indications confirmed that the phosphate amounts were between 1500-2000 tons. This implies that close to 10-years worth of nutrients were trapped in the dam. The utilisation of these sediments once removed, were currently being investigated and discussions were being held with surrounding farmers and mines within Haartbeespoort Dam area with regards to implementation of various projects at various sites. It has been discovered that the sludge has a potential to assist the remediation of the mines. There were also discussions with the mining sector to determine the potential use for the recovered sediments which may include soil care, mine tailings dams rehabilitation, compost production and landfill.
4.5. Workshop on the Review of the National Water Resources Strategy; Ms Gwala
The purpose of the workshop was to obtain inputs from the delegates when reviewing the second edition of the strategy. The first strategy was developed in 2004. According to the National Water Act, it is stipulated that the strategy should reviewed every five years.
To date, the following achievements since the implementation of the first strategy have been achieved namely;
• Equitable access to water and benefits.
• Development of water resources infrastructure.
• Forecasting and balancing of water demand and supply.
• Efficient and effective water use through the establishment of water
management institutions such as catchment agencies and water user
associations.
The department envisaged having the strategy completed in the coming 18 months. Various stakeholders participated in the review, including technical experts, policy makers, and local government. High level strategic workshops and meetings will be held in five provinces. A project steering committee and project management has been established. The review will assess the extent to which the alignment of water resources and water services provision activities has been streamlined. It will also address the gaps identified in the first strategy.
A communication strategy will also be developed in order to create an understanding of what the revision of the strategy entails. This will also communicate the importance of the revision and its role in terms of integrated water resources management and associated benefits.
With regards to the implementation plan of the strategy, the department will allocate responsibilities for the implementation of the strategy to different line functions within the department. The funding will be allocated over a period of five years. This will be followed by the introduction of a performance management framework with appropriate indicators.
- Conclusion
The knowledge gained was current and relevant to the strategic objectives of the committee.