WEDNESDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER 2010 __

                PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
                                ____

The House met at 15:03.

The 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

                             NEW MEMBER

                           (Announcement)

The Speaker announced that the vacancy which occurred owing to the passing away of Dr M E Tshabalala-Msimang had been filled by the nomination, with effect from 19 August 2010, of Mr J D Thibedi.

                         SOLEMN AFFIRMATION

The member had made and subscribed the affirmation in the Speaker’s office earlier in the day.

                      QUESTIONS FOR ORAL REPLY

THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT:

Position regarding implementation of proposals outlined in speech to Energy Advisory Council

1. Mr N Singh (IFP) asked the Deputy President:

Whether the key proposals as outlined in his speech to the Energy
Advisory Council on 8 December 2009 are being implemented; if not, why
not; if so, what are the relevant details?           NO2863E

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Speaker, hon members and hon Singh, yes, there has been progress with the implementation of the key agreements made at the Energy Advisory Council meeting on 8 December last year.

The Energy Advisor Ccouncil arose out of the Energy Summit convened by the National Economic Development and Labour Council, Nedlac, in May 2008. It consists of government, business, labour and the community as represented at Nedlac. The advisory council is supported by a national electricity response team comprising all social partners.

I would like to highlight some of the key areas of implementation; more details can be obtained from the Minister of Energy. Since the last advisory council meeting, Eskom’s generator performance level has improved to the required levels.

In anticipation of increased electricity demand during the Fifa World Cup, a programme was initiated in the host cities to identify critical infrastructure that needed urgent attention. A more comprehensive strategy has since been completed to address the rehabilitation of municipal distribution infrastructure as a specific focus in the current government programme of action.

As to the policy framework for private-sector participation and the introduction of a nonconflicted independent system and market operator, since the last meeting the issues have been addressed through various processes through the Interministerial Committee on Energy that was created through a Cabinet decision. The committee comprises the Departments of Energy and Public Enterprises, the National Treasury, the Departments of Economic Development, Science and Technology, and Trade and Industry, and the Presidency.

The following has been achieved in relation to each of the elements above. The integrated resource plan will be promulgated by the last quarter of

1. The plan will indicate the generation technologies that South Africa will require over the next 20 years, in a manner that diversifies our energy mix from being coal dominated. The process to revise the regulations promulgated under the Electricity Regulation Act, No 4 of 2006, has been completed after consultation with lenders and potential investors. The draft regulations, licensing framework and standard power purchase agreement provisions, together with the evaluation criteria for independent power producers, IPPs, will be issued by the end of November 2010 to coincide with the conclusion of the integrated resource plan.

Perhaps the most critical element for private-sector participation relates to the resolution of the conflicted role that Eskom plays as both a generator and a buyer. The introduction of an independent system and market operator will address this conflicted role of Eskom.

The cost recovery mechanism, in terms of which private-sector generators are given the assurance that their costs will be recovered from the electricity tariff over the term of the power purchase agreement, has been concluded in consultation with the National Energy Regulator of SA, Nersa.

Concerning solar water heating and a standard offer incentive, one of the other initiatives introduced since the last advisory council meeting involves providing solar water heaters in place of electric geysers to all residential users of hot water.

The public consultation process for the solar water heaters financial incentive scheme was concluded in July 2010. The process will culminate in the determination of the level of the incentive in rands by Nersa and this is scheduled for later this month. I thank you for your attention. [Applause.]

Mr N SINGH: Hon Speaker, I would like to thank the hon Deputy President for that response. I must say, hon Speaker, that it was quite difficult to get information on the Net about what the council does, but I think the Deputy President has quite clearly elucidated the functioning of this council.

What I would like to ask the Deputy President is this: Given the fact that the provision of a cost-effective, uninterrupted and available supply of electricity is core to the economic development and the future growth path of this country, as well as to rural development – because there are still many rural areas that don’t have electricity – is he satisfied that the work being done by this council is going to contribute in a meaningful way towards ensuring that, 20 years from now, we not only have an alternative energy supply and sources, but will be on a positive growth path?

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Hon Singh, I am satisfied with the work that this council does. By its addressing, for instance, the control of the greed and monopoly of Eskom as a generator, buyer and distributor at the same time, I think we will be able to open up the requisite space for participation by independent power producers. That, together with the rest of the plan, as well as the imperatives of moving in the direction of renewable energy, means that we are looking, for example, at technologies that will enable us to extract gas from coal without mining the coal, and use that gas for electricity generation. I think that would also address the commitments to lower gas emissions with regard to the United Nations climate change imperatives. [Applause.]

The SPEAKER: If hon members do not intend speaking, they should please not press the “to talk” button; you should only press it when you want to talk.

Mr S C MOTAU: Mr Deputy President, with regard to the Independent System and Market Operator, ISMO, the Department of Energy has actually confirmed that this is being done, and we welcome that. However, there is a concern, as Eskom now says that this authority will initially be established as an interim body, situated at Eskom, and that it could possibly take 5 to 10 years before a permanent structure is established. Clearly, this would mean that we are operating as though it is business as usual, and that would retard the entry of the IPPs into the system. We will therefore not draw the benefit from this input.

What I would like to know, Mr Deputy President, is this: What will you do to ensure that the establishment of the ISMO, independent of Eskom, is not unduly delayed so that the participation of IPPs can be fast-tracked to relieve the pressure on the national electricity grid?

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Thank you, hon member. Hon members, that is certainly not my understanding. My understanding is that this matter is fairly urgent and that that is the attitude of the Ministry as well. The gate-keeping role of Eskom has got to be addressed so that we can, as I said, encourage and welcome the participation of independent power producers. That is my understanding. Thank you.

 Position regarding strengthening of co-operation with neighbouring
              countries on security and border control

1. Ms S T Ndabeni (ANC) asked the Deputy President:

   Whether the Government has strengthened its co-operation with neighbouring countries on security and border control; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NO2876E

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Thank you, hon Speaker. Hon members, in April 2009 Cabinet took a decision to return the responsibility of border security to the SA National Defence Force. This therefore makes Defence the principal department on border security.

Very strong defence co-operation exists with all Southern African Development Community neighbours, with whom we share a border. These are underpinned by a SADC co-operation agreement. In addition, South Africa has signed a memorandum of understanding with all our neighbouring countries. For each of our neighbouring countries we have a Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security. These ensure maximum co-operation from state to state and at the levels of affected departments, such as Home Affairs, State Security, the SA Revenue Service, Justice and Correctional Services. The commissions meet annually to review co-operation and conduct joint operations to combat crime and exchange information.

There are quarterly border forums with all our neighbouring countries, and from time to time they deal with matters that may affect our common border security.

Even though this level of co-operation has not been in existence for long, it has yielded very good results. The World Cup was not only protected by South Africa, but all our neighbouring countries stepped up security on their own borders to ensure a secure Fifa World Cup. Thank you. [Applause.]

Ms S T NDABENI: Thank you, Speaker. Hon Deputy President, does this joint commission take into consideration the financial implications of the work done on the borders; for example, the fencing that is usually cut by illegal immigrants? Thank you. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Yes it does, hon Speaker and hon members. Thank you.

Mr J H VAN DER MERWE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Mr Deputy President, we have taken note of the actions that are being taken by SADC and many departments in respect of border control, but the facts are that millions of people are streaming into South Africa from the north. That makes a mockery of the words “border control”, and it also brings into doubt the Department of Home Affairs, because people just come here without any authorisation to enter South Africa.

Why do people from elsewhere have to apply for visas and get permission to enter South Africa? My question is: Has border control not become obsolete, and the Department of Home Affairs impotent to attend to this question, because millions are just streaming into our country?

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, hon Speaker. Hon Van der Merwe, I can assure you that there are not millions of undocumented people entering our borders. Our borders are not as porous as you suggest. As I stated, the joint permanent commissions on both sides of the borders also meet to review this kind of work.

We are aware that there are a number of economic refugees from other countries. Put very bluntly, these are job seekers who find their way into South Africa. However, these are people with the requisite travel documents. The number of those who are without such documents is very small. That is why the only transit camp of note that we have is the one out in Roodepoort in the Gauteng province. For the rest, we are really dealing with pockets of refugees, mainly economic refugees. I am quite convinced that if our borders were not tightly monitored we would be having very serious problems, for instance, of drug abuse and all of that.

Every other day you read about our guards and law enforcement officers at our ports of entry impounding contraband of all manner, and that happens throughout. Also, some of our own people who hijack cars and try to export them to the neighbouring countries get arrested. I can assure you that the next time these Ministers are here, you should put the question to them. They can even give you figures with regards to the number of people who are convicted of these offences. Thank you.

Mr K S MUBU: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Mr Deputy President, my follow-up question is: To what extent does this co-operation that we have with our neighbours guarantee in particular the combating of human and drug trafficking, as well as car and stock theft? What kind of commitment have we received from these neighbours in this regard, and can we trust them to commit seriously to this co-operation?

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, hon Speaker. Yes, we do trust our neighbours, and we do trust that they will continue to work in a co- operative fashion. That is why, as I said in response to Mr van der Merwe, our experience and our information is that indeed hustlers, rustlers, car hijackers and all of those kinds of people who engage in trafficking of contraband do get arrested and convicted in our courts of law. If you need the figures, Home Affairs can give them to you, because Home Affairs keeps the entry figures into the country. That is why we are able to say that most of the people who enter the country have documents – one kind of document or the other.

Cabinet has taken a decision to do away with the special dispensation, for instance for Zimbabweans. As you know, during the special period in Zimbabwe when everything was collapsing, there was a special dispensation for Zimbabweans to be in the country for nine months and so on. That has now been done away with, because the situation in Zimbabwe is a little bit more stable, and that will reduce the number of people who come from our neighbouring countries.

President Museveni once said to me that if we really want to make progress in South Africa, we must consider finding a way of ensuring that there would be free movement of people and goods from Windhoek to Maputo. Perhaps that is food for thought - that perhaps one day we will be one country; one big happy South Africa right from Windhoek to South Africa. It is just a thought. Thank you.

Rev K R J MESHOE: Thank you, hon Speaker. Hon Deputy President, an article in The Zimbabwe Times was very critical of the South African government and accused it of failing to protect women and young girls who were terrorised by armed gangs operating on the South African side of the Zimbabwe-South Africa border. The reporter further alleged that the Zimbabwean women were raped, stripped and tied up at the side of the road, and that, at the time of writing, about 142 women had sought medical help following the rapes.

What I want to know, hon Deputy President, is whether or not this matter has been raised in the quarterly border forums that you referred to, and what has been done to stop these alleged atrocities. Thank you.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Thank you, hon Meshoe. I am not aware whether or not this matter was ever raised in the joint committee meetings. What I can say is that the veracity of the allegations, as reflected in The Zimbabwe Times, is something that may have to be checked. In the run-up to the Fifa World Cup, one British newspaper warned the British national team that was going to be based in Rustenburg that there are pythons in Rustenburg that ate five human beings every day. [Laughter.] It happens that some journalists write about these things. It is very difficult to verify the correctness of these articles.

What I do know, however, is that the police along the Zimbabwean border have been able to pick up young children who were left in the bush there by their parents in case they got arrested and so on. Those children were then reunited with their families. Thank you.

Position regarding proposal to devolve management of Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities

1. Dr A Lotriet (DA) asked the Deputy President:

Whether he has considered a proposal to devolve the management of the
Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Cultural, Religious and
Linguistic Communities from the Department of Co-operative Governance
and Traditional Affairs to the Department of Arts and Culture; if not,
what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant
details regarding the timeframes envisaged for the implementation of
the proposal?            NO2872E

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Speaker and hon Lotriet, I assume that the question you have asked refers to the proposal of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Review of Chapter 9 and sssociated institutions that was made to the National Assembly on 31 July 2007.

With regard to the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities, the ad hoc committee recommended, inter alia, the incorporation of the Pan South African Language Board, PanSALB, into the commission and the designation of the Minister of Arts and Culture as the member of the executive dealing with the commission.

The ad hoc committee further outlined a process which involved the appointment of a task team consisting of three members of the commission, three members of PanSALB and six members of the National Assembly to report to the National Assembly with a practical plan for implementing the proposal. I note that when the National Assembly dealt with the ad hoc committee’s report in the last Parliament on 21 November 2008, whilst adopting the recommendation on the establishment of a parliamentary unit on constitutional institutions and other statutory bodies, it resolved that the rest of the report, including the provisions I have referred to, be held in abeyance with a view to allow the fourth Parliament – that is this Parliament – to consider the matter in a manner it deemed fit.

It is therefore up to this Fourth Parliament to debate and discuss these issues relating to the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities, and determine whether there is a need to devolve its management to another department. Thank you.

Dr A LOTRIET: Mr Deputy President, yes, we are quite aware of the proposals that were made by this ad hoc committee, but the question is that we should have some timeframes, otherwise we are going to perhaps wait another three years before this happens. This morning we even had a presentation by this commission, indicating the tremendous problems that they have and the fact that they cannot do their work effectively because of these overlapping mandates and functions. Therefore, my question to you is the following: Could you please give a timeframe and more specifics as to how this Parliament should then go about addressing this?

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Thank you, hon Speaker. Hon members, the recommendations of the ad hoc committee were very clear that Parliament itself would have to appoint six members of this House to serve together with three from the Pan South African Language Board and three from the commission, in order to give effect to its recommendations.

The recommendations, among other things, were that the units that fell under the Pan South African Language Board would have to be integrated and migrated to the Department of Arts and Culture, as well as its portfolio committee, and that these two bodies may be merged without the need to amend the Constitution through legislation. That is why this task clearly rests with the House itself. I have brought the report – I think it is on page 144 that the recommendations spell out the steps that need to be taken, including the timeline.

The suggestion in the report was that within 12 months of Parliament considering this report such structures should be put in place. As to why Parliament is not doing that, I have no idea. I suppose this is a timely reminder of what ought to happen in order to give effect to these recommendations. Thank you.

Dr C P MULDER: Hon Speaker, the hon Lotriet has made a fundamental mistake in the question that she asked. The question refers to the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities. There is no such commission. Section 185 of the Constitution is the foundation for a different commission, namely the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities. It is about rights and social cohesion. I can understand that she has made that mistake, because the party that she belongs to does not believe in the rights of communities.

Mr M J ELLIS: Mr Speaker, on a point of order, sir: The item on the agenda is questions to the Deputy President. I was not aware of the fact that we were on statements here, and I believe that the hon member should put a question to the Deputy President, rather than stand up and talk nonsense. [Interjections.]

Dr C P MULDER: Speaker, I will ask a question to the Deputy President in a few seconds to enlighten the DA about what is in the Constitution. Hon Deputy President, the question that I would like to ask you is the following, and the fact of the matter is that … [Interjections.]

The SPEAKER: Order! Order, hon members!

Ms A M DREYER: Vier-en-twintig stemme in Carletonville! [Twenty-four votes in Carltonville!]

Dr C P MULDER: Speaker, the fact of the matter is that there is no member of the executive that deals with the commission. This commission is a Chapter 9 institution that is independent and only subject to the Constitution and the law. The executive only gets involved in terms of the Budget.

What I would like to ask is the following: Is there a possibility that government will think about, once again, looking into the mandate of this commission – what it is supposed to do and not what it is doing at the moment – because this commission is not living up to what is expected of it in terms of the rights of communities or the question of social cohesion? Thank you. [Time expired.] [Interjections.]

The SPEAKER: Order, hon members! The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, hon Mulder. The ad hoc committee report looked into all of these Chapter 9 institutions, including this one. It has made very clear recommendations, which need to be given effect to by this House. Therefore, it falls upon this House, really, to take that process forward, not so much the executive. The executive would be directed by the legislation which would come out of this House. Thank you.

Prof C T MSIMANG: Thank you, hon Speaker. Thank you, hon Deputy President, for pointing out that in the ad hoc committee there are three members from the Pan South African Language Board also serving there, because, in the first place, the linguistic communities’ rights were misplaced in these communities when we already had the Pan South African Language Board.

My concern is, since there is an outcry in this country that the Pan South African Language Board is failing dismally in promoting and developing languages in this country, how will it help should this ad hoc committee decide that linguistic communities’ interests should reside with the Pan South African Language Board? Thank you.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Thank you, hon Msimang. In fact, the recommendation of the ad hoc report is for the Pan South African Language Board to be matched with the commission. There were units, if you remember, under the board which dealt with lexicography. It was recommended in this report that those units should be located in the Department of Arts and Culture. That was the first recommendation of the ad hoc committee and, once again, I think that the next step is for this House to look at that report again – the House’s decision was to keep it in abeyance – and perhaps dust it off and select the six members and set the process in motion. Thank you.

Mrs C DUDLEY: Hon Deputy President, whilst your replies have answered me in part, I think it may still be useful for me to ask my questions, and these are: Has the work done by the commission justified its existence? Is the work of the commission adding value to the lives of people living in South Africa, and how is this effectiveness measured? What are the challenges facing the commission with regard to fulfilling their mandate and playing a meaningful role in society? Thank you.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Hon Speaker, the work of evaluating the effectiveness and relevance of these Chapter 9 institutions was done by the ad hoc committee, and these recommendations that I’ve alluded to try to address their findings, even though there was a qualification in the report to the effect that this particular commission had been in existence for a much shorter period than the others. That is why the ad hoc committee felt that there hadn’t been sufficient time to actually assess its effectiveness or lack thereof. Thank you.

     Monitoring of increase in number of child-headed households

1. Mrs J D Kilian (Cope) asked the Deputy President:

   Whether the Government is actively monitoring the increase in the number of child-headed households; if not, why not; if so, (a) how frequently is it done and (b) what are the relevant details? NO2882E

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Hon Speaker, yes, the national Department of Social Development receives reports on the number of child-headed households identified and serviced as well as on the types of services rendered to them, on a quarterly basis.

The statistics that government relies on are received from homes and from community-based care organisations which report to provincial departments of social development on the number of child-headed households identified and serviced and the types of services provided.

Government attempts to assist child-headed households through social workers at the district level who are assigned to these households and whose responsibility it is to link the children to all government services including, but not limited to: psychosocial support; linking children with relatives and extended family; facilitating access to official documents; and application and access to social grants such as the child support grant, the foster care grant, grants in aid and also social relief of distress grants and food parcels.

The reason for the continuing phenomenon of child-headed households in South Africa is primarily attributed to HIV and Aids. Other reasons identified are unemployment that results in people leaving home to seek employment elsewhere; desertion or abandonment of children, and excessive abuse of alcohol, which renders adults incapable of parenting.

We all have a collective responsibility to ensure that the hardships suffered by children who have to assume responsibility for their families are minimised so that all children in South Africa can experience the true joy and freedom of childhood. Thank you.

Mrs J D KILIAN: Thank you, Speaker. Deputy President, according to statistics, it seems that we have a particular problem in specific provinces. Does government keep a tally of the rural-urban divide as far as this serious problem is concerned? It seems that about 90% of all child- headed households are located in three provinces: Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. What additional interventions does government plan to ensure that we actually address this very serious social ill in society, so that we can help the children who come from these homes to become skilful, disciplined South African citizens? Thank you.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Speaker, yes indeed, government, through the national Department of Social Development, keeps accurate records of child-headed households. The prevalence of this phenomenon in certain provinces is a result of unemployment, when parents, tired of staring into the eyes of hungry children going to bed without food, end up migrating to urban centres in search of employment.

In certain instances, arrangements are made with relatives who, from time to time, check on the children. The net effect is that these children are left on their own, and that is why the national Department of Social Development has to keep track of all of this. Through the work done by community-based care organisations and so on, these reports filter through to the department, which is able to respond accordingly. Thank you.

Ms S P LEBENYA-NTANZI: Thank you, hon Speaker. Mr Deputy President, I am sure that you will agree with me that the issue of child-headed households is a serious issue as these children not only lose their parents or guardians, but their childhoods as well. Many are unable to afford school fees and other such expenses, even though they get grants. Deputy President, what is government doing to ensure that planning is done to address this escalating problem and to make sure that money is budgeted to address the problems faced by these children? Thank you.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Thank you, hon Lebenya. As I said, government takes steps to ensure that such children receive support, guidance and foster care, precisely because if government does not intervene decisively such children will become a burden on the social welfare system of the country. To the extent that such a problem is known and properly recorded in government departments, everything possible is done to ensure that such children grow up in an environment that is very supportive and that they receive the necessary education. That is why the general approach is that no children of school-going age should be out of school simply because they have no parents or their parents are unemployed and so on. Thank you.

Mrs S P KOPANE: Thank you, hon Speaker. Hon Deputy President, I have the government’s own costing report on the Children’s Act in my hand and it states that if we want to implement this Act properly we need 66 000 social workers in our country. Currently, we have about 11 000 social workers for 49 million South African citizens. That is a shortfall of 83%.

Given that we only have 17% of the social workers that are needed, it is impossible for your department to monitor the increase in child-headed households, let alone ensure that the children are properly cared for. Could the Deputy President kindly explain to us how the government is helping children in child-headed households in terms of foster care placement or permanent adoption?

Secondly, I really appreciate the Deputy President’s answer regarding home and community-based care, but home and community-based caregivers are not qualified people. They need supervision by qualified people. Thank you. [Applause.]

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, hon Kopane. Yes, indeed, the shortfall of qualified social workers is a problem, hence the introduction of home and community-based caregivers as a supplement to the work that would normally be done by qualified social workers. This, unfortunately, is our situation and we can’t say that we will do nothing until we have sufficient qualified social workers. It is thus a stopgap measure in an attempt to address this dire challenge.

Where cases are reported in the districts, all the necessary steps are taken by the national Department of Social Development to ensure that such children are put up for adoption if they are the appropriate age, and others receive the requisite support. I have mentioned a number of those kinds of support measures. That is not an exhaustive list. The government is able to intervene depending on the situation. The critical point here is for such situations to be reported to the relevant authorities in the district and localities and then for such problems to be attended to. Mrs C DUDLEY: Thank you, hon Speaker. Hon Deputy President, legislation, we know, allows for households to be headed by children of 15 years and older. As there is no perfect age for children to take on such a responsibility, has the legislated age of 15 been found to be useful or problematic, either blocking families being together where the older sibling is perhaps 13 or 14, or placing undue stress on 15-year-olds? Is government satisfied that the concept of child-headed households and policies around that are working and in the best interests of these children and what are the relevant details? Thank you.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, hon Dudley. As I said, it is abnormal for 15-year-olds to be heading families and what government does in those cases is to lend a supporting hand to ensure that such children are not burdened with the responsibility of adults. But that is really a stopgap measure. We should try to address all the other social ills to ensure that we don’t have many cases of 15-year-olds heading families, because a 15-year-old is still a minor and may need guidance and support, rather than being burdened with the responsibility of parenthood. Thank you.

                         PEACE AND SECURITY
                              Cluster 1

MINISTERS:

 Effect on SA Police Service of strike by private security companies
         appointed for 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup tournament

1. Ms A van Wyk (ANC) asked the Minister of Police:

   What was the effect of the strike by private security companies that were appointed for the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup tournament on the (a) number of additional SA Police Service members that needed to be deployed, (b) number of extra working days for the SAPS and (c) costs involved? NO2846E

The MINISTER OF POLICE: Mr Speaker, hon members, after the strike and other problems related to the deployment of private security bodies appointed by Fifa, a total of 1 184 additional SA Police Service, SAPS, members were deployed during the period, and performed functions on match and non-match days. Some of the functions of private security bodies were taken over by the SAPS. Members of the SAPS were deployed over a period of 31 days. The additional deployment costs for personnel have been estimated at R89,6 million. Thank you.

Ms A VAN WYK: Thank you, Speaker. Thank you, Minister, for the answer. First and foremost, I think that we need to congratulate the SAPS on the swift and professional manner in which they stepped in and assumed these extra duties. We owe each and every man and woman in blue our gratitude and appreciation. However, Minister, given that the Local Organising Committee, LOC, and Fifa have budgeted for private security at these venues, are you considering any legal avenues and taking steps to recover these costs from Fifa?

The MINISTER OF POLICE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. We have already written to the LOC to recoup this amount; it is needed very much by the Police. Thank you very much.

Mnu V B NDLOVU: Ngiyabonga Somlomo. Mhlonishwa Ngqongqoshe, kukhona ukukhala okuthi abanye bamaphoyisa abathatha umsebenzi emva kokuba onogada betelekile, abakakucoshi lokho okufanele bakucoshe. Okokuqala, izikhalo lezo ezinjalo sezafika kuwena? Okwesibili, bangakanani labo abangakucoshi okufanele bakucoshe, bayokucosha nini-ke okufanele ukuba bakucoshe? (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)

[Mr V B NDLOVU: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Hon Minister, there is a complaint from some of the members of the police service who are saying that they haven’t been paid what is due to them for stepping in when the security guards embarked on a strike. Firstly, I want to know whether such complaints have reached you and whether you are attending to them. Secondly, how many members of the police service must still be paid for that, and when are they going to be paid?]

The MINISTER OF POLICE: Madam Deputy Speaker, the answer is what we have said: that the LOC has to pay this money.

Kusho ukuthi izocoshwa kanjalo-ke mhlonishwa. I-LOC kufanele iphendule ngoba sithe siyayidinga. [This means that they will then be paid that way, hon member. The LOC must respond because we have told them that we need it.]

We need that money. Thank you very much.

Mrs D A SCHÄFER: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Apart from action against Fifa, Minister, is there a provision in the contract with the security companies themselves for damages to be paid to the state in the event of the security companies’ breaching the agreement? If not, why not? If so, what steps is the Minister planning to take to recover the wasted taxpayers’ money from the security companies? We trust that one way or the other, either Fifa or the security companies will be sued if necessary.

The MINISTER OF POLICE: Thank you, hon member. I must say that’s not our call to make, because the contract was between the LOC and those private companies. So, they must sort their stuff out; we want what is ours. OkukaKhesare kuKhesare. [Render unto Caesar what is Ceasar’s.] Thank you.

Mrs D A SCHÄFER: Madam Speaker, I would like to ask another question if there is the opportunity to do so.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Yes, you may.

Mrs D A SCHÄFER: Minister, given the fact there were already problems with procuring the services of suitable private security companies for the Confederations Cup in 2009, and given that the appointment of private security companies for the World Cup was left to very late in the day, does the Minister agree that the strike action could have been prevented with proper advanced planning? If not, why not? If so, why was this not done?

The MINISTER OF POLICE: We share that sentiment, hon member. We are at one on that matter. Perhaps that is why we have emphasised the point that those who are supposed to secure public facilities like the stadia, should indeed have gone through the processes of the PSIRA, Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority, in ensuring that they met the requirements. This is what we have been emphasising, both to Fifa and to the LOC. For them, in particular, this should have been a lesson because we raised the matter even before all the things that happened thereafter. Thank you so much.

          Particulars regarding arrest of a certain person

1. Ms D Kohler-Barnard (DA) asked the Minister of Police:

   (1) (a) What (i) are the reasons for dispatching approximately 20 SA Police Service officers and six SAPS vehicles to arrest a certain person (details furnished) and (ii) was the (aa) total cost and (bb) impact on the general duties of the SAPS of utilising this number of vehicles and officers for the arrest, (b) on what basis was the person arrested and (c) how long after the person’s arrest was he afforded the opportunity to (i) contact and (ii) consult with his attorney;

   (2) whether the national commissioner was informed of the intended arrest; if not, (a) why not and (b) on whose authority was the arrest made; if so,

   (3) whether he authorised the arrest; if not, who authorised the arrest; if so, what was the basis for his decision? NO2825E

The MINISTER OF POLICE: Madam Deputy Speaker, according to the reports I have received, the arrest was made by the local Rosebank police station after the investigating officer from Mpumalanga had waited for more than two hours at the Rosebank station for the person to hand themselves over to the police. When the suspect failed to present himself to the investigating officer, two other officers proceeded in one vehicle to this person’s place of work, where a commotion broke out and other vehicles were dispatched to establish the problem. The costs for any arrest are not calculated on an individual basis, but are part of the SAPS’s operational budget.

There was no impact on the general duties of the SAPS as the dispatched vehicles hardly spent 10 minutes at the scene after this person was arrested. The person in question was arrested on charges of fraud and forgery after a case was opened in Mpumalanga.

The person’s lawyer was present at the time of arrest and, therefore, there was no time delay in contacting his lawyer. The National commissioner is not informed every time the police effect an arrest. Therefore, on this matter it was not required for the investigating officer to first inform National Commissioner Gen Cele. As such the national commissioner was not informed and this should be an obvious thing. Every investigating officer has the powers and authority to effect an arrest after a docket has been opened, and this instance was no different. Thank you.

Ms D KOHLER-BARNARD: In January, two and half years ago, Adv Gerrie Nel who, at the time, was head of the Scorpions in Gauteng, was arrested in exactly the same manner as the Sunday Times journalist Mzilikazi Wa Afrika was arrested just one month ago.

In the first instance it was to protect the now disgraced ex-National Police Commissioner, Jackie Selebi. Then it took 20 armed police officers to serve the warrant of arrest on Adv Nel. It took the same number to swoop on Mr Wa Afrika, an unarmed journalist. Adv Nel was driven around all night in an attempt to intimidate him and his cellphone was taken. Mr Wa Afrika was driven around, and despite many of us searching throughout the night, we were unable to locate him as we faced what seemed to be deliberate obstruction on the part of the Hawks. His cellphone was also taken.

Mr Wa Afrika was one of the authors of a story published just two days before about the dodgy rental of new police headquarters. Minister, the arrest of this journalist, in many eyes, has negated gains we made during the Fifa World Cup. Would you explain who exactly was behind the extraordinary arrest and assure this House that this jackboot intimidatory policing is not making a comeback in this country? [Time expired.]

The MINISTER OF POLICE: Hon Deputy Speaker, I do not know which part of the answer the hon member does not get, because the issue here is that a human being was arrested. After that arrest, charges were levelled against the individual and, by the way, he is not the only person who was arrested on that charge for that particular incident. She chooses to omit one of the two people who were arrested and I do not know why.

The fact of the matter is that, if you are arrested and you are being charged, face the music and do not let a Member of Parliament represent your case because someone else is not represented. Thank you very much. [Applause.]

Mr G LEKGETHO: Thank you, Deputy Speaker. Hon Minister, there is a lot of fuss being made about the arrest of this Mzilikazi. Could you respond as to why there should be this sensationalism when two other people were arrested with the reporter? Why is the DA only mentioning one person, as if the others were not human beings? Thank you.

The MINISTER OF POLICE: Thank you, hon Deputy Speaker. The question posed by the member, I think, should be directed to where it comes from, not to the Minister, because I am as baffled as you are. Let me say that the individuals concerned were given bail of R5 000 each because of what they were arrested for, both of them individually. Both of them have had their passports confiscated, but we are still to hear someone representing the other individual. Maybe he is not that important. I don’t know. I am assuming, hon member.

Mr M E GEORGE: Thank you, hon Speaker. Hon Minister, this apartheid-style display of excessive power and massing of police cars to arrest unarmed civilians is not consistent with the democracy we have evolved into. My question to you is: Do you encourage that type of abuse of power?

The MINISTER OF POLICE: Your question is very simple, hon member. I am supposed to say no and sit down, because it is a very simple question. The issue here is that I explained that an investigating officer was sent and was made to wait for more than two hours. He took it to heart having had to wait two hours. But when he wanted to effect an arrest, the police were told that the person concerned would hand himself over, hence those two hours. The police then tried to effect an arrest. I hope you will agree with me, hon member: Nobody is allowed to obstruct that particular process. That is when the investigating officer called for others to come and help him because there was a commotion. There was resistance to arrest. Do you support resistance to arrest, hon member? You won’t support that, I assume. I thank you.

Mr M S SHILOWA: Hon Minister, there is a protocol, as I understand it, entered into between the police, the department and your Ministry on the one hand, and the National Prosecuting Authority and the SA National Editors’ Forum, Sanef, on the other, on the kind of processes that need to be followed as and when there are going to be arrests of media people.

So, this is not so much that they should be treated in a special way. In our view, the protocol, as outlined, was not followed in dealing with the issue. Could you indicate whether or not the protocol was followed and, if it wasn’t followed, what was the problem in following that particular protocol?

The MINISTER OF POLICE: Thank you, hon Deputy Speaker. As I explained, hon member, even after that protocol we reported in this House some two months ago that we were going to further engage Sanef. Whatever we agreed on, it does not involve forgery and fraud. So, it falls outside of that. But over and above that and keeping that protocol in mind, the police were very patient – you would agree with me – as they waited for more than two hours for a person, being shunted from pillar to post. What else were the police supposed to do? We took cognisance of everything and we were very patient and gentle with the gentleman concerned. [Interjections.] Thank you very much. [Applause.]

Position regarding compliance with procurement policies in procuring new SAPS headquarters

1. Mr L Ramatlakane (Cope) asked the Minister of Police:

   Whether procurement policies and tender requirements have been duly complied with in procuring the new SA Police Service headquarters; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NO2861E

The MINISTER OF POLICE: The SA Police Service, also known as the force, is not mandated to procure new office accommodation and does not deal with the procurement policies and tender requirements thereof as this is the responsibility of the Department of Public Works. The SAPS identifies its accommodation needs by means of a needs assessment and then takes that to the Department of Public Works. Thank you very much.

Mr L RAMATLAKANE: Thank you, Deputy Speaker. Hon Minister, following your reply to the question, it has been reported in various media outlets that Gen Cele was involved in the initial negotiations of that very same building with someone who is very close to the ruling party, a person by the name of Shabangu. Now we have seen the abrupt resignation of Gen Hlela and Gen Siwundla, as well as Gen Strydom. Has this got to do with this issue - in fact, the question has been raised by the committee itself – of the same corruption that has been reported, which is going to be investigated imminently by the Special Investigating Unit? Thank you, Deputy Speaker.

The MINISTER OF POLICE: Well, hon member, the resignations you referred to are resignations. I want us to see them that way. But, regarding your specific question related to the Special Investigating Unit it is the Ministry and the Department of Police which actually approached the Presidency, because some of the things related to what the committee raised, as you’ve said and even before that, were by and large to do with supply-chain management. So, that process is ongoing. I do not want to refer to the specific names you referred to, but the people you referred to have resigned. Thank you very much.

Mr V B NDLOVU: Ngiyabonga Sekela Somlomo. Mhloniswa uma kuthiwa umuntu wasayina ethi omunye akazange asayine, iqiniso likuphi ngempela? [Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. If it is alleged that somebody has signed for something and in return the alleged culprit denies that accusation, who is really telling the truth?]

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon Minister, did you hear the question?

Mnu V B NDLOVU: Uma mhloniswa kuthiwa wasayina omunye ethi angizange ngisayine, ngubani okufuneka aphenye ngempela ukuthi lo wakwenza lokho, iqiniso likuphi ngempela kulokho?

UNGQONGQOSHE WEZAMAPHOYISA: Lunga elihloniphekile, angazi ukuthi kusayinwa ini baba. Kodwa-ke nami ngiyayifunda lento oyifunda emaphepheni. Engikwaziyo ukuthi … (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)

[Mr V B NDLOVU: Hon Minister, if it is alleged that somebody signed for something and the alleged culprit in turn says they did not do it, who should, as a matter of fact, investigate whether the alleged culprit has really committed that crime - where does the truth really lie in that matter?

The MINISTER OF POLICE: Hon member, I do not know what it is that has been signed, sir. However, I also read what you read in the newspapers. What I do know is …]

… on the issue of procurement, the Department of Public Works is dealing with the matter because it belongs there. I have been informed by my colleague, the Minister of Public Works, that most of these procurements, across the board in government, have been frozen.

Mhlawumbe ukusayina kuyotholakala uma seliyoshona ilanga baba, angikakazi okwamanje. Siyabonga. [Maybe the signing story will be known towards the end, sir – but as of now, I know nothing. Thank you.]

Rev K R J MESHOE: Thank you, Deputy Speaker. Hon Minister, more than any other department, the SAPS is expected to set a good example for all government departments by upholding the rule of law, which is their core function. It is therefore inexcusable for the police to violate Treasury regulations. Having heard what the hon Minister said about the resignation of the Deputy National Commissioner of Police, I still want to know whether the hon Minister will consider looking into the real reasons for the resignations, particularly because these resignations were made in the middle of the probe involving contracts totalling more than R4 billion in the department. Minister, there must be something that we need to know and would you please look into that. Thank you, Deputy Speaker.

UNGQONGQOSHE WEZAMAPHOYISA: Sekela Somlomo, ubab’ umfundisi ngabe uyasisiza nje asithandazele bakwethu, sibhekene nomsebenzi onzima. Cha, ngeke ngikwazi ukuwuphendula lowo mbuzo angibuza wona kodwa engikushoyo ukuthi umsebenzi wokubheka izinto … (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)

[The MINISTER OF POLICE: Madam Deputy Speaker, the hon reverend should just assist us by praying for us good people as we are faced with this enormous task. No, I cannot answer the question he is asking but what I am saying is that the oversight functions …]

… of checking and putting things where they are supposed to be within the police will continue. But I can’t ask a member why he or she is resigning. I don’t even want to go there. I don’t wish to take that route. Thank you very much.

Mr P J GROENEWALD: Thank you, Deputy Speaker. Hon Minister, I want to say that at least the National Commissioner of Police had to complete a needs assessment, which he forwarded to the Department of Public Works. Now, my follow-up question is: Is there really a need for a second 18-storey building for police headquarters when you already utilise the present one? Is there really a need for that? Was it really a good assessment as far as that is concerned? At least you, as the Minister, must have known about this because R500 million is not a small amount. Thank you.

The MINISTER OF POLICE: Hon member, there is no need for an 18-storey building. In fact, I do not even know where that comes from, because there is no such thing as an 18-storey building. The assessment and the needs of the police have always been raised.

Hon member, because you are a member of this committee, you should know better in that even last year the matter was raised of building headquarters for the police. That was supposed to be done as a public- private partnership option. I was told, after the assessment, that these headquarters would cost more than R4 billion. The new management then decided that if that continued, the first point of call would be the building of the police station rather than building those headquarters. Thank you very much.

Position regarding findings on how special courts aid and ensure universal access to justice

1. Mr M Gungubele (ANC) asked the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development:

   Whether he has made any findings on how special courts like the Small Claims Court and equality courts aid and ensure universal access to justice; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NO2842E

The MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Thank you, Deputy Speaker. I would like to inform the hon member that I found that the small claims courts and the equality courts are successful initiatives of government that are aimed at improving access to justice for all. However, these courts should not be seen as special courts as they are normal, permanent courts established by legislation with specific goals in mind.

The former Chief Justice, Pius Langa, stressed that access to justice becomes an empty gesture and makes a mockery of the Constitution if it is not backed by mechanisms that are adequate for the enforcement of rights. In this regard, both the small claims courts and the equality courts play a vitally important role.

These courts are powerful mechanisms in aiding the provision of civil access to justice, especially for the indigent. These courts are based on speed, simplicity and cost-effectiveness, and they eliminate time- consuming, adversarial procedures regarding the resolution of disputes up to R7 000.

No legal representatives are required or allowed to appear on behalf of litigants in these courts. One of the objectives is to ensure that there is at least one functioning and active small claims court in each and every one of South Africa’s 384 magisterial districts. We are just over the halfway mark in this regard. Currently, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has already established 211 Small Claims Courts, and the proclamation of a further three is imminent. Significantly and in keeping with our objective of ensuring access to justice for all, most of the newly established courts will be in rural areas.

Furthermore, we have initiated a campaign to familiarise various role- players with Small Claims Courts and popularise their usage amongst as many people as possible. As you would know, we have also made a call on all Members of Parliament to assist us in speeding up the establishment of Small Claims Courts by heeding the call, “One constituency, one Small Claims Court”. Thank you.

Mr M GUNGUBELE: Thank you, hon Speaker. Thank you, hon Minister. Taking into account that this is a very noble cause, the intention of which is to ensure access for the many disadvantaged South Africans and their challenges and with respect to the intention, we assume that this noble cause will be accompanied by continual capacitation. Thank you.

The MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Well, as the hon Gungubele is aware, we are also going to inform the portfolio committee from time to time on additional capacity. So your valuable assistance in procuring more funds for matters of this nature will be greatly appreciated.

Mrs N W A MICHAEL: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Minister, I hear what you say, and the DA is very pleased with the establishment of these special courts and these Small Claims Courts. However, at a presentation to the portfolio committee by the department, we were informed of large numbers of vacancies in courts ranging from clerks of the court and court officials to prosecutors and magistrates. Are these special courts adequately staffed, thus bringing and ensuring universal justice to all South Africans?

The MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: As the hon member is aware, there are always competing needs and that is why as Cabinet we take collective responsibility in terms of our budget. As and when funds become available, we fill posts. You may be aware that every year we fill posts for clerks of the court, prosecutors, magistrates and even judges. As the economy grows, I am sure that we will be able to fill all the necessary vacancies in the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. Mr J H VAN DER MERWE: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Mr Minister, I thought that you gave a very good answer. I want to know what reaction you are getting from Members of Parliament. This is because there was a call on all of us to assist in ensuring that there is a small claims court in every magisterial district. Are the Members of Parliament assisting you? How is that going?

The MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Well, I assume that Members of Parliament are responsible, so this campaign should be proceeding. I am aware that hon Van der Merwe is a lawyer as well, so he is aware that many lawyers in South Africa, from time to time, leave their offices and participate in these small claims courts, which play a very significant role in providing access to justice for all the people of South Africa.

Mr L RAMATLAKANE: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Minister, following your reply, I think all of us from this side will support the programme. In terms of the establishment, you said that a proclamation is imminent in terms of the plan that you have in the department, particularly for the rural communities. When do you envisage that all the declared municipal districts will have functioning small claims courts?

The MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Well, it is our plan that this should happen as soon as possible, but it all depends on the resources that are made available to the department. I have indicated already that we have 211 of these Small Claims Courts throughout South Africa. Our aim is that in the next three or so years, all the 384 magisterial districts of South Africa will have these small claims courts. The equality courts are functioning. All Magistrates’ Courts have been designated as Equality Courts. So it is for the public to utilise them whenever they feel some injustice has been done to them.

Position regarding (i) criteria for appointment of ambassadors and (ii) reasons for appointing a certain person

1. Mr S Mokgalapa (DA) asked the Minister of International Relations and Co-operation:

   Whether her department provides the President with any criteria and/or recommendations that assist the President with his decision to appoint ambassadors; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the relevant details and (b) what are the reasons for appointing a certain person (name furnished) as ambassador whilst there are allegations surrounding him? NO2824E

The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION: Thank you, hon Deputy Speaker. Our response to the hon Mokgalapa is, yes, heads of missions, ambassadors and high commissioners represent the head of state abroad. Therefore, according to the Constitution, their appointment is the sole prerogative of the President. The department provides the President with recommendations on the appointment of ambassadors.

In making the recommendations, the department takes into account, amongst other things, other priorities and needs at our headquarters, priorities at the missions where the proposed ambassadors will be sent, and the experience and profile of recommended designates.

On allegations against the ambassador, which we have read about in the newspapers, the allegations have not been tested and therefore the ambassador is presumed innocent until proven otherwise. I thank you.

Mr S MOKGALAPA: Thank you, Deputy Speaker. Thank you, Minister, for the response. In light of the Minister’s response indicating the high calibre she considers as a criterion for appointing ambassadors, how then, Minister, was it possible that Mr Rasool was still appointed even though the ANC secretary-general, Mr Mantashe, admitted publicly at a media briefing on 4 August 2010 that Mr Rasool had been recalled as premier, stating that: “Rasool was removed on the basis of this case.”

This was a reference to allegations detailed in an affidavit that money was paid to a former Cape Argus political reporter. Don’t you think this smacks of double standards?

The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION: Hon Mokgalapa, the allegation remains an allegation and remains to be tested through the proper processes. So, I will not take a quotation from a press conference to be the basis for me to make those considerations. [Applause.]

Mrs C DUDLEY: Thank you, hon Deputy Speaker. Hon Minister, has the question of making decisions that affect international relations, like the criteria on appointment of ambassadors, more transparent and people-friendly been discussed at Cabinet level? Is there recognition of a possible need to make this and other similar processes more transparent in order to allow the South African public to better connect with and view international relations with less suspicion and scepticism? Thank you.

The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION: Deputy Speaker, well, South Africans are being engaged at large through public diplomacy, an initiative that’s new, and we engage with all South Africans from all walks of life.

Talking about transparency in the appointment of ambassadors, one thing that has happened in this country is that the President of the Republic even considers making appointments from opposition parties. So, I don’t know what further transparency is needed. When we make such appointments, we normally get whispers of “Thank you very much” in the corridors, but never out here in the open to say: I come from this party, this number of people were appointed from our party, and they are doing a good job.

Please don’t ask us to judge people when the due process of the law is taking place. When that comes into play, we will take the necessary action. So, let’s not confuse reaching out to the public with regard to what we do in our international work with appointments of ambassadors, because when the President finds the time and space he does reach out to all political parties represented in this House. Thank you. [Applause.]

Mr J H VAN DER MERWE: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I find it very strange that the hon Minister actually rejects the statement by the secretary-general of her party - that this person was recalled. I want to ask the Minister and, through her, the President of course: Is it not wiser and better to wait until the law has taken its course before a person is appointed to such a high position?

The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION: You know, hon member, through you, Deputy Speaker, South Africa will continue to be respected in the international arena when all South Africans consider issues of international relations and national interest in this House as priorities for all of us.

Firstly, I think it is opportunistic that when a person is nominated there is no noise made, but when the appointment is confirmed and on the eve of the ambassador leaving there is a leak to the newspapers and that therefore we should make decisions based on what the newspapers say.

Secondly, I will not come into this House and wait to be taught how to listen to the leadership of the organisation I belong to. I take orders directly from the organisation I belong to, not via media conferences and third parties. [Applause.]

Mr M E GEORGE: Deputy Speaker, Mr Minister, why do you make such important positions, as you have explained, a sanctuary for party members who have done some wrong in the country, because it was made very clear by the secretary-general? You have explained the importance of these positions very well. Why do you make them a sanctuary for wrongdoers in your party? [Applause.]

The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION: Hon Mluleki George, I have never seen a “he” who looks like me, ever. [Laughter.] So I’m sure you are going withdraw that when I finish. [Interjections.]

Secondly, the President, advised by the department, looks at all South Africans, largely internally in the department because we do have very senior and professional diplomats within the department. Also, constitutionally, the President can also appoint people outside the department to represent the country. So, if you have a list of sinners, don’t just pick and choose so that we are able to focus on building the national interest and the image of South Africa truthfully. I am not about to pass judgment on a matter that has not arisen as yet. Thank you. [Applause.]

Position regarding plans to improve distribution of staff for offender management

1. Mr V G Smith (ANC) asked the Minister of Correctional Services:

   Whether, in light of the current estimated ratio of one staff member to four offenders at correctional facilities, any plans are in place to improve the distribution of staff for offender management; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what plans and (b) what are the timeframes set for completion of the process? NO2837E

The MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES: Thank you very much, Deputy Speaker. The ratio which the hon member is referring to simply reflects the calculation of the current staff complement in relation to the estimated number of offenders, including projections of growth and releases. The ratio of 1:4 is therefore based on the total number of offenders divided by the total number of members nationally - that is, 160 000 inmates to 40 000 officials.

This formula is inclusive of all components: support staff, specialised staff and security staff. Therefore, it is not a reference to the staff to inmate ratio deployed for case management and security personnel in terms of the unit management model in centres. The current ratio for the unit management model at the centres is averaged at 1:17. The international norm is benchmarked at 1:20.

Following the agreement on the occupation-specific dispensation, OSD, of 2007, the department has implemented a process of migration to ensure that all officials who are trained as correctional officers are deployed to centre levels. This was aimed at ensuring increased capacity for the provision of security and programmes to offenders at the centres.

Following the National Treasury directive that the department’s total organisational establishment should be reduced from 46 000 to 40 000, a team was established for the revision of the staffing ratios based on the alignment of structure and functions of the department. I have since also directed that an audit of our small centres be conducted to determine which one of these centres can be rationalised in order to share resources and improve the rendering of services. Some of these centres have an inmate to staff ratio of 1:1 and less.

Lastly, the project’s target date for completion of the migration process is 30 September 2010. In the meantime, the department is currently filling critical posts in the support sections to allow those correctional officers who are currently engaged in support work to be redeployed to the centre. I thank you.

Mr V G SMITH: Thank you, Deputy Speaker. Minister, if one looks at the annual report for 2006-07, the administration staff complement was 7 433; in 2007-08, it was 6 593; and 2008-09, it was more or less 6 630. The question that I would like to ask the Minister is: Does the department have the right number of properly trained staff, in the right places, doing the right thing?

My own view is that 6 000 people at head office or 6 000 office-based staff is a bit too much and top heavy. I think that we should be looking at redeploying some of those office-based staff to working in the centres. I would be interested in your views on that, Madam Minister. Thank you very much.

The MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES: Deputy Speaker, I thought the hon member understood me when I said that one of the priority areas of the department right now was that of migration, which means movement of some of the employees from head office, from doing administration work, to doing the work of custodial services. There is also a directive given to us by the National Treasury which says that we should reduce the staff numbers within the Department of Correctional Services, from 46 000 to 40 000. That is one of the things that we are doing.

I have also indicated that the last date, which is D-Day for this migration process to be completed, is 30 September 2010. Thank you.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon Mazibuko.

Mr A T FRITZ: Deputy Speaker, it is Fritz. There is something wrong with our system. It is common cause that with the introduction of the seven-day establishment and the two-shift system into correctional centres, incentives had been created for centre-based officials. This resulted in many office-based officials in critical positions in those administration posts electing to migrate to centre-based positions. I heard the Minister talking about this migration process.

But this is purely on paper. In reality, at the centre level, it is not in existence. The question we want to ask is: What is the Minister going to do

• and specifically doing and implementing - in managing the flow of critical office-based officials to centre-based positions that we all know only exist on paper, as I indicated? Secondly, what has she done to remedy the situation in which the ratio of centre-based officials, in many instances, at correctional centres, is 1:200 and, in some instances, 1:300? I thank you.

The MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES: Thank you very much, Deputy Speaker. Hon Fritz, I don’t know where you get the figures from. The ratio of 1:300 I am not aware of. Nonetheless, you are a member of the portfolio committee, I expect that at any time on any day you may want to invite the department, led by me, to come and present the exact figures and the exact state of affairs in the regions.

One of the issues you raised was the 12 x 2-by-two shift system. You and I understand very clearly the reasons behind the decision to go the route of the 12 x 2 shift system. It was at a time when we were introducing the seven-day establishment. However, we later received reports that this system was not working. We issued a directive that, in fact, all heads of centres should use their discretion as to what kind of shift system they would want to embark upon. We are all aware of this.

Now, what is a problem for me is that this directive was issued in March 2010 to try to rectify the situation. After a lot of lobbying by officials, Members of Parliament, the South African public and civil society and so on, we then went back and issued a directive. To my surprise, to date, 80% of the centres continue to use the 12 x 2 shift system. When you talk to officials, they will tell you that they were satisfied with the 12 x 2 system. Yes, there are challenges of human resource capacity here and there, but, in fact, this is the ideal shift system. It is the only shift system you may want to have in a centre in order for you to meet the requirements which have been created by the seven-day establishment.

Therefore, with regard to the written question you gave us, I actually tabulated in the response all the regions and all the centres to try to prove that, in fact, it is a very strange development that people complain about the 12 x 2 shift system. We issued a directive, but people still retained the 12 x 2 shift system. Therefore, we are now at 80% at all the centres, and we are using the 12 x 2 shift system. Maybe you and I need to sit down and engage on what best we can do to turn the situation around. Thank you very much.

Mr V B NDLOVU: Thank you very much, Deputy Speaker. Minister, you said that the directives sometimes are issued and then turned by those people who are working under the two-day shift system. How do you monitor that? I ask this question because some of the people who escape from Correctional Services escape because the human resources are not equal to the numbers they were looking after. As management, how do you monitor that?

The MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES: Thank you very much. Tat’ uNdlovu, andikholelwa nakancinane ukuba into yokubaleka kwamabanjwa kumaziko ibangelwa yinto yokungabikho kwabasebenzi aboneleyo. Ewe, ikhona ingxaki esinayo yokungabikho kwabasebenzi abaneleyo kwiZiko lezoLuleko, kwaye nokuba singafaka inkqubo yamaxesha okungena amathathu, amane okanye amathandathu siyakuhlala sinayo ingxaki yabasebenzi kwisebe. Njengoko besenditshilo ngaphambili ukuba iNational Treasury sele isixelele ukuba kufanele ukuba sithoba ukusuka kuma-46 000 amasentile ukuya kuma- 40 000. Khawube nombono woko kuza kwenzeka ngenxa yaloo nto.

Into ebalulekileyo yeyokuba sibe neenkqubo ezifanelekileyo ezizakusincedisa ekubekeni iliso kakuhle, ngaphandle kokuxhomekeka kuthi bantu. Kufanele ukuba sibe neenkqubo eziza kuthi zikwazi ukusibonisa amabanjwa xa ehamba- hamba, kanti naxa ebaleka.

Ingxaki esinayo ikakhulu yeyokuba, iinkqubo esinazo apha kwiZiko lezoLuleko azisebenzi ngendlela ezifanele ukuba zisebenze ngayo. Kufuneka siphucule iinkqubo zethu sizidibanise nabo.

Ikhona enye ingxaki eyaziwa ndim nawe yokuba ngamaphuth’ ahlathinye apho abasebenzi bamaZiko ezoLuleko anceda amabanjwa ukuze akwazi ukubaleka. Yenye yezinto ezi ekufanele ukuba sizilungise kwiZiko lezoLuleko.

Abasebenzi beSebe lezoLuleko abazange benziwa uhlolo lwabaqeshwa ukuqinisekisa ukuba ababandakanyeki kulwaphulomthetho. Ngoku enye yeengxaki esijongene nazo kukuhlolwa kwabalawuli ukuqinisekisa ukuba ababandakanyeki kulwaphulomthetho.

Ukusuka kwethu kuhlolo lwabalawuli kwizenzo zolwaphulomthetho siza kuhla siye kumaziko. Sesiqalile ngabalawuli abazintloko zamaziko, kuba oku kokunye kwemimngeni yethu emikhulu. Umngeni ngowokuba likhona eli yelenqe phakathi kwamabanjwa kunye nabasebenzi bamaZiko oluLeko. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)

[Mr Ndlovu, I don’t believe at all that the escapes of prisoners from the centres are caused by a lack of human resources. Indeed, we have inadequate human resources at correctional centres and whether we introduce a three-, four- or six-shift system, we will always have the problem of inadequate human resources within the department.

As I have indicated before, the National Treasury wants us to reduce the organisational establishment from 46 000 to 40 000 warders. Imagine the consequences of that.

What is important is that we must have proper systems that will help us monitor without relying on human resources. We must have systems that will be able to show us prisoners moving from place to place and also when they escape. The major problem that we have is that the systems that we have at correctional centres are not working the way they are supposed to. We must improve our systems and consolidate them.

There is another problem that we both know about and that is that some of the warders are colluding with the prisoners to escape. This is one of the habits that we need to rectify at correctional centres.

Workers at the Department of Correctional Services have never gone through a security clearance to ascertain that they are not involved in crime. Another problem that we have now is the security screening of the managers to ascertain that they too are not involved in crime.

From screening managers for criminal acts, we will go down to the centres. We have already started with the chief executive officers because this is one of our major challenges. The challenge is that there is collusion between the prisoners and the warders.]

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, hon Minister. Hon Mnqasela?

Mr A T FRITZ: Hon Speaker, again, I am at his desk.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Are you hon Mnqasela?

Mr A T FRITZ: No, no, I am Fritz. I am at his desk; my thing does not work at the back. [Laughter.]

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Don’t do that, because there are other people here who want to speak.

Mr A T FRITZ: I pressed this button. [Interjections.]

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I said, don’t do that. You should press “Fritz” because you spoke earlier.

Mr A T FRITZ: “Fritz” does not respond.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: No, no, no, there’s “Fritz” here. Before that, there was “Fritz” who responded. So, you are not the hon Mnqasela? Hon Mnqasela, you didn’t press your button.

Mr M J ELLIS: Madam Deputy Speaker, it seems as if a lot of things are not working in Parliament at the present time. [Laughter.]

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: They are working.

Mr M J ELLIS: I can assure you that the hon Fritz is working very well; it is just his microphone that is not working. [Laughter.]

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I doubt it. [Laughter.] Mr M J ELLIS: His name is Fritz and not Mazibuko. Please give him a chance to speak.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: His microphone is working. It’s him who is not working. [Laughter.] That’s for the last time. Mr M J ELLIS: We actually think he works quite well, Madam Deputy Speaker. [Laughter.]

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I wouldn’t want to say: “Don’t touch me on my studio”. Hon Fritz, you can speak. [Laughter.]

Mr A T FRITZ: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I want to really thank the Minister for the response. I will take you up on your invitation to go on a site visit. We can go to Pollsmoor - it’s just 25 kilometres from Cape Town

• unannounced. You will find a ratio of people on duty at any time of 3:300. I want to suggest to the Minister that we should do this. We should go there unannounced. We should not tell them that we are coming.

I further want to say to the Minister that the reason why so many people say to you that they are happy with the two-shift system is because they work for four days, get two days off and then stay off three more days on sick leave. They do not come back. You have an absenteeism rate of 40% to 50% at any given time at correctional centres. This is our problem.

Hon Minister, how do we address the absenteeism rate relating specifically and directly to the two-shift system? That is the point we are making. [Applause.]

The MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES: So, finally, your thing is working? [Laughter.] I was just wondering what I was supposed to do with your thing that was not working. [Laughter.] [Applause.]

Hon Fritz, I fully agree with you that it’s good to go on unannounced visits, because that is where you get to know and understand the system better and how its managers do their work at a centre level. But … [Interjections.] I’m sorry. [Laughter.] You see now … [Laughter.] … Minister of Home Affairs. Which Minister of Home Affairs?

The hon Ellis seems to understand that his thing works better. [Laughter.] [Applause.]

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, hon members!

Mr M J ELLIS: Madam Deputy Speaker, the reason why I said Mr Fritz’s thing was working very well, was because he came to me earlier today and said, “I just want to let you know that my thing is working very well indeed.” [Laughter.]

The MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES: I am sorry, Madam Deputy Speaker. Yes, the rate of absenteeism is a big problem. I agree with you, and I am sure all members of the portfolio committee are aware of it. Actually, we have just discovered that we have officers who have been on leave for more than two years. [Interjections.] We have had to give a deadline for them to report to work; otherwise, medical boarding will be the next step. This is because most of them are said to be on sick leave. These are big numbers we are talking about; this, when in fact we could actually use the posts they have been occupying.

So, I do agree. But this is not as a result of the 12 x 2 shift system. You should remember that the 12 x 2 shift system was introduced in September last year. So the high rate of absenteeism has everything to do with a lack of management and supervision by managers who are supposed to be managing at the centres; and, secondly, with the laissez faire attitude of officials, something that all of us need to tackle. This certainly cannot be tackled by us on our own.

That is why we are also encouraging the portfolio committee to embark on unannounced visits, but not only that; individual members of the committee or MPs in their constituencies, where there are centres, have the right to go in. So whatever you pick up, you sensitise us about it, so that we can deal with it. Thank you very much. Your thing must now work. [Laughter.] [Applause.]

Position regarding impact of Zimbabwe’s refusal to comply with rulings of SADC Tribunal

1. Mr H T Magama (ANC) asked the Minister of International Relations and Co-operation:

   (1) Whether she has found that Zimbabwe’s refusal to comply with the rulings of the Southern African Development Community Tribunal has had an impact on (a) the credibility and effectiveness of SADC and (b) the regional integration process; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details in each case;

   (2) whether the Government will propose measures to SADC that will ensure that member states do not repeat such behaviour; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NO2839E

The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION: Deputy Speaker, let me say from the outset that South Africa acceded to the treaty of the Southern African Development Community Tribunal. We think it is a very useful institution.

However, SADC has realised that there are challenges in running the SADC Tribunal. These challenges make the judgments which emanate from the tribunal difficult to implement in member countries. Zimbabwe leads in this regard.

In light of these several challenges, let me just quote the decision taken at SADC’s 30th jubilee summit which was held in Windhoek, Namibia, from 16 to 17 August 2010: “A review of the role, functions and terms of reference of the SADC Tribunal should be undertaken and concluded within six months.”

This is a follow-up of an endorsement of a recommendation that was made by SADC Ministers of justice in April 2010 in Kinshasa. It was not just a meeting of Ministers of justice; the meeting included a delegation of attorneys-general of SADC.

Now, this review is necessary to give this tribunal the necessary credibility and effectiveness to which the hon member referred.

The interpretation of how the SADC Tribunal itself should have been put to use differed across SADC member countries. Many SADC countries assumed that, by acceding to the treaty, there would be no need to ratify the protocol in their respective parliaments. So, this is just one of the big challenges with which the SADC Tribunal is faced.

We truly hope that by the end of the six months, Ministers of justice and attorneys-general of SADC would have applied their minds and taken care of the many loopholes that have been identified by the learned Ministers of justice and attorneys-general. Thank you.

Mr H T MAGAMA: Thank you, Deputy Speaker. Minister, in view of the decisions of the summit that you have just outlined, what then are the implications for the tribunal in the interim and, of course, for the matter of the Zimbabwean farmers on whom the tribunal has passed judgment? Thank you.

The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION: Deputy Speaker, one of the key challenges, as I said earlier, is the enforceability of the outcomes or judgments from the tribunal, particularly on member countries that have not ratified the protocol itself.

What will happen within the six-month period to the life of the tribunal is that it will continue its work, pending the outcome of the review by the Ministers of justice and attorneys-general.

Mr K S MUBU: Deputy Speaker, I would like to thank Madam Minister for her response. It is true to say that the SADC Tribunal was known to have taken certain decisions to punish one of the member states – that is Zimbabwe, of course – but it appears now that, in turn, the summit itself decided to punish the tribunal by not reappointing the judges. Surely this raises suspicions that there must have been some kind of interference from the Zimbabwean government, because that is the government that was in breach of the decisions of the tribunal itself? Thank you.

The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION: Hon Deputy Speaker, for the hon member’s information, Zimbabwe has actually withdrawn from participating in this matter. They actually had a sitting judge who they have officially withdrawn. So, the decisions were not taken or influenced by what is happening in Zimbabwe.

Member countries, who so dearly respect the tribunal and want it to continue, deemed it necessary and important to strengthen it and give it the necessary legitimacy, after having realised the shortcomings in the way in which this matter came up.

But, there is also an issue around the number of countries that have actually ratified the protocol itself, which will then have to be taken into consideration within this period of six months.

So, the decision by the Ministers of justice and the summit leaders or heads of state was not influenced by Zimbabwe at all. Mrs C DUDLEY: Deputy Chairperson, I’d like to ask the hon Minister whether South Africa was able to discuss the impact of Zimbabwe’s refusal directly with Zimbabwe, in view of the significant impact Zimbabwe has on South Africa owing to a common border. If not, why not, and is government concerned about the situation? If we have discussed it directly, what are the relevant details in terms of a one-on-one relationship? Thank you.

The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION: Madam Deputy Speaker, I don’t understand the question. Is it about the tribunal or Zimbabwe-South Africa relations in general? I need clarity, so that I’m able to respond to the question.

Mrs C DUDLEY: Deputy Speaker, it will be linked to the tribunal only in terms of the relationship we have with Zimbabwe. Are we able to discuss this sort of issue with them directly on a one-to-one basis?

The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION: Well, hon President Zuma remains the facilitator who, on behalf of SADC, monitors the full implementation of Zimbabwe’s Global Political Agreement. Now, yes, we are engaging with Zimbabweans on other matters relating to the full implementation of the Global Political Agreement. But, on the matter of the tribunal, one of the difficulties is the enforceability of judgments passed by the tribunal which actually do not consider Zimbabwe’s own national Constitution. So, we cannot choose to engage Zimbabwe on outcomes of the tribunal outside the SADC summit. If we were to do that, it would have to be within the parameters of where the matter is being discussed. We will wait for the outcome of the review by the Ministers of justice and attorneys-general. Thank you.

Mr L S NGONYAMA: Deputy Speaker, I would like to know what the hon Minister’s understanding is of this matter of Zimbabwe refusing to comply with the SADC Tribunal. Does Zimbabwe want to cherry-pick by asking for SADC to help them resolve their problems, yet refusing to honour SADC decisions when it does not suit them? If this is so, what does South Africa do generally, especially with regard to other SADC members, including Zimbabwe, when they act this way?

The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION: Deputy Speaker, I have said that member countries, starting with South Africa, have acceded to the treaty and have all acknowledged – the acknowledgement was made and confirmed by the Ministers of justice and our attorneys-general – that there are challenges within this tribunal, particularly on issues of enforceability. Enforceability is one of the key problems, particularly enforceability of the judgments taken by the tribunal itself.

Now, Zimbabwe has withdrawn from the tribunal and they were not even part of the meeting of April 2010 to which I have referred. Even the member countries that want to continue with the tribunal and strengthen it, have themselves said: Give us time to strengthen this institution.

How do we then turn around – even before we get the full review report of the Ministers and the attorneys-general of all our member states, 14 of them – and say, “No, let’s first deal with Zimbabwe and their cherry- picking”, when we ourselves are still waiting for the report that will come out of the review process of the Ministers of justice and attorneys- general?

I think we should also not cherry-pick; we should wait for the outcome of the review process so that we can duly deal with this matter accordingly. [Applause.]

See also QUESTIONS AND REPLIES.

                          NOTICES OF MOTION

Mr M S F DE FREITAS: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move:

That this House debates the impact of toll roads on the economy and alternatives that could be considered.

Mr D A KGANARE: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move: That this House debates the 36% increase in robberies in many of our cities where people are followed home from banks where they had gone to withdraw money. This unacceptable state of affairs goes against the grain of the rights of individuals to have freedom of movement and the right to protection.

Ms P BHENGU: Madam Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move:

That this House debates how to reduce the number of fatal accidents on our roads with special emphasis on public transport.

Mrs P TSHWETE: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move:

That this House debates how to strengthen the current safety nets that deal with child poverty, ongoing killings, disappearances, abuse and neglect.

Mrs F F MUSHWANA: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move:

That this House debates how to strengthen collaboration between the Departments of Basic and Higher Education and Social Development and other related departments in the provision of early childhood development. Mr P D DEXTER: Deputy Speaker, on the next sitting day of the House, I shall move:

That this House debates the massive cost of the installation by the Department of Correctional Services of 50 television sets in the New Kimberley Prison, at a cost of R31 021 each, especially at a time when the Minister for the Public Service and Administration is pleading poverty and suggesting to the unions that the envelope is not empty, but broken, and especially since when these things are put up, they end up being broken.

                         NATIONAL ARBOR WEEK

                         (Draft Resolution)

The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Madam Deputy Speaker, I hereby move without notice:

That the House -

1) notes that the first of September marks the start of National Arbor
   Week which ends on 7 September;


2) recognises that the purpose of National Arbor Day in South Africa is
   to increase public awareness of indigenous trees within this country
   by encouraging the people of South Africa to plant a rare tree and a
   common tree during the course of the week and to highlight the
   importance of preserving our environment for future generations;


3) further recognises that planting trees is one of the means by which
   carbon emissions, driver of anthropogenic climate change, can be
   offset; and


4) encourages all South Africans to honour the week, plant trees, and
   get involved in communal events that will help clean up our
   environment.

Agreed to.

      STATE-OF-THE-ART WEATHER RADAR SYSTEM LAUNCHED IN MTHATHA

                         (Draft Resolution)

The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Deputy Speaker, I move without notice:

That the House -

 1) welcomes the South African Weather Service’s launch of a new state-
    of-the-art weather radar system in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape,
    which will enhance the monitoring capability in an area of the
    country which is prone to natural disasters that often go unnoticed
    by the general public;


 2) notes that this new weather radar network forms part of the
    government’s programme to upgrade and replace current weather
    radars, many of which are over 30 years old; and


 3) believes that the new weather radars will play a vital role in
    enhancing adaptation tools and products, such as the Severe Weather
    Forecast project and the Flash Flood Guidance System that minimise
    loss of life and damage to property in events of severe weather.

Agreed to.

CONGRATULATIONS TO LEE-ANNE PACE ON WINNING FINNAIR MASTERS TOURNAMENT IN FINLAND

                         (Draft Resolution)

The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY: Madam Deputy Speaker, I move without notice:

That the House -

1) congratulates Lee-Anne Pace on winning the Finnair Masters
   tournament in Finland, to claim her third title of the season on the
   Ladies European Tour on Sunday, 29 August 2010;

2) notes that the 29-year-old South African first won the Deutsche Bank
   Ladies Swiss Open in June, and later on, a fortnight ago, she won S4C
   Wales Ladies Championship of Europe;

3) believes that she has put our country on the international map, and
   is an inspiration to other young women; and

(4) wishes her all the best for future games.

Agreed to.

The House adjourned at 17:13. ____

            ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces

The Speaker and the Chairperson

1. Classification of Bills by Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM)

(1)    The JTM in terms of Joint Rule 160(6) classified the following
     Bill as a section 75 Bill:

      a) Local Government: Municipal Electoral Amendment Bill [B 27 -
         2010] (National Assembly – sec 75).

National Assembly

The Speaker

1. Progress report on recommendations in Public Protector Report No 1 of 2010-11

   (1) A letter dated 26 August 2010 has been received from the President of the Republic, informing members of the National Assembly that – a) the Cabinet, on 21 July 2010, agreed that the sanctions in the parliamentary rules that are applied to members of Parliament who are found guilty of violating the Code of Conduct would, as an interim measure, be applied to members of the Cabinet who breach the Executive Ethics Code; and

     b) a full report on the implementation of the Public Protector’s
        recommendations will be submitted to Parliament as soon as the
        Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development has
        finalised a comprehensive report on the matter.
   
   Referred to the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional
   Development and the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’
   Interests.
   

2. Referral to Committees of papers tabled

(1)     The following papers are referred to the Portfolio Committee on
    Energy for consideration and report:

      a) Amendments to Articles VI and XIV.A of the Statute of the
         International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), tabled in terms of
         section 231(2) of the Constitution, 1996.


      b) Explanatory Memorandum to the Amendments to Articles VI and
         XIV.A of the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency
         (IAEA).

(2)     The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on
    Police for consideration and to the Portfolio Committee on Women,
    Youth, Children and People with Disabilities:

    (a)      The Report of the Independent Complaints Directorate on
         Domestic Violence for the period July – December 2009, tabled
         in terms of subsection 18(5)(c) of the Domestic Violence Act,
         1998 (Act No 116 of 1998).

(3)    The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on
    Justice and Constitutional Development for consideration and
    report:
      a) Submission of policy directives issued in terms of section
         79(13) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act No 51 of 1977),
         as amended by section 10(b) of the Judicial Matters Amendment
         Act, 2008 (Act No 66 of 2008).

TABLINGS

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson

   (a) Report and Financial Statements of Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, Vote 2, for 2009-2010, including the Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements and Performance Information for 2009-2010, tabled in terms of section 60 of the Financial Management of Parliament Act, 2009 (Act No 10 of 2009). Correction: The above entry replaces item 1(a) under Tablings (Speaker and Chairperson) on p 2544 of the ATC of 31 August 2010.

   (b) Report and Financial Statements of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) for 2009-2010, including the Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements and Performance Information for 2009-2010 [RP 167-2010].

   (c) Report and Financial Statements of the Public Protector South Africa for 2009-2010, including the Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements and Performance Information for 2009- 2010 [RP 212-2010].

2. The Minister of Finance

   (a) Report and Financial Statements of the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) for 2009-2010, including the Report Independent Auditors on the Financial Statements and Performance Information for 2009-2010 and the Report and Financial Statements of the Development Bank of Southern Africa Development Fund for 2009-2010, including the Report of the Independent Auditors on the Financial Statements and Performance Information of the Development Fund for 2009-2010.

3. The Minister of Science and Technology

   (a) Report and Financial Statements of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for 2009-2010, including the Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements and Performance Information for 2009-2010 [RP 194-2010].\

4. The Minister of Basic Education

   (a) Report and Financial Statements of the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training - Umalusi for 2009-2010, including the Report of the Independent Auditors on the Financial Statements and Performance Information for 2009-2010.

   (b) Report and Financial Statements of the Education Labour Relations Council for 2009-2010, including the Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements and Performance Information of the Transformation Fund of the Education Labour Relations Council for 2009-2010.

5. The Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs

   (a) Report and Financial Statements of Vote 25 – Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism for 2009-2010, including the Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements and Performance Information of Vote 25 for 2009-2010 [RP 181-2010].

   (b) Report and Financial Statements of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park for 2009-2010, including the Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements and Performance Information for 2009-2010.

   (c) Report and Financial Statements of the South African National Biodiversity Institute for 2009-2010, including the Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements and Performance Information for 2009-2010. (d) Report and Financial Statements of the South African Weather Service for 2009-2010, including the Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements and Performance Information for 2009- 2010 [RP 121-2010].

   e) Report and Financial Statements of the South African National Parks (SANparks ) for 2009-2010, including the Report of the Auditor- General on the Financial Statements and Performance Information for 2009-2010 [RP 208-2010].

   (f) Report and Financial Statements of the Marine Living Resources Fund (MLRF) for 2009-2010, including the Report of the Auditor- General on the Financial Statements and Performance Information for 2009-2010.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

National Assembly

1. Report of the Portfolio Committee on Transport on a Study Tour to China from 17 to 30 July 2010 dated 31 August 2010.

   The Portfolio Committee on Transport, having undertaken a study tour to China on 17th to 30th July 2010 reports as follows:

   1. Introduction

      The Portfolio Committee on Transport embarked on a fact finding mission to China to establish how the government of China responds to challenges of transport and the use of transport transformation processes to address social problems and improve the economic conditions of China.

      The committee used the report on the National Household Travel Survey on Public Transport and the National Transport Master Plan as guiding documents for engaging with the Chinese government departments and State owned companies that make up the transportation industry in China.

      A multi-party delegation of seven members took part in the visit to China:

   a) Hon. Ruth Bhengu, leader of the delegation (ANC);

   b) Hon. Phumzile Ngwenya-Mabila (ANC);

   c) Hon. Joyce Ngele (ANC);

   d) Hon. Peter Maluleka (ANC);

   e) Hon. M. De Frietas (DA);

   f) Hon. P. Mbhele (COPE);

   g) Hon. Lucas (IFP)

   Accompanying the committee was the committee secretary Miss Dineo Martin and the Deputy Director General Dr. L Situma, who is spear- heading the development of the National Transport Master Plan (NATMAP) of the Department of Transport. The delegation focused mainly on challenges that were raised in the National Household Survey on Public Transport as well as challenges that inform the National Transport Master Plan, including; a) The high costs of travelling and transporting of goods;

   b) The long time taken in travelling a short distance;

   c) The lack of integration of different modes of transport;

   d) The unsafe and unreliable transport services;

   e) The high level of congestion on South African roads;

   f) The congestion of traffic in big cities;

   g) The degraded road and rail network;

   h) The degraded rolling stock;

   The study tour was also aimed at learning how the Chinese government uses the transportation industry to develop China socially and economically.

   1. The delegation visited specific government departments and state owned companies that make up the railway transportation industry. The South African Embassy in Beijing and the South African Consulate in Shanghai co-ordinated the programme and facilitated all visits of the delegation to government departments, state-owned companies and a university that plays a central role in science and technological skills required to develop the transportation industry in China.

      Hereunder is a list of entities visited by the delegation:

      Beijing

   a) Beijing maintenance depot;

   b) Shanhaiguan manufacturing workshop for high speed railway turnout and major bridge steel structures;

   c) Qinhaungdao offloading terminal of Jinqin Coal Railway;

   d) Tangshan Railway Locomotive Factory;

   e) The Badaling Great Wall via the Badaling Express Way.

   Shanghai

   a) Shanghai 2010 Expo;

   b) Maglev Transportation Development Company Limited;

   c) Taking High Speed trains;

   d) Maglev train;

   e) Tongi University.

   1. The Ministry for Railways

      His Excellency, Mr Wang Zhiguo, the Vice-Minister of Railways started by congratulating South Africa on the successful hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He commented that South Africa was a well developed country in Africa and acknowledged the technology he saw when visiting South Africa.

      He outlined that the Ministry of Railways is in charge of Railway Cooperation and Governance. The following departments fall under the Ministry of Railways:

   a) Department of Planning;

   b) Department of Technology;

   c) Department of Safety;

   d) Department of Bureau;

   There are eighteen Bureaus responsible for the entire Railway Transportation Industry. These Bureaus operate everyday.

   1. High Speed Rail

       The Chinese government  takes  pride  in  the  construction  and
       development of rail in China. There is a plan to develop railway
       construction to reach more than 90 000km in two years. The  main
       aspects of this plan concern  high  speed  railway  and  freight
       transportation.
      
      
      
      
       The high speed passenger train travels at  a  maximum  speed  of
       350km/h makes passengers feel safe and is convenient for them to
       reach their destinations.
      
      
      
      
       All high speed trains are on standard  gauge  and  by  2015  the
       narrow gauge will be completely phased out.
      
      
      
      
       There  are  a  lot  of  rail  projects  that  are  still   under
       construction, such as; the 1061km  rail  link  from  Beijing  to
       Shanghai that will start operating  in  2011.  Another  link  is
       Beijing to Huanguan which will also start operating in 2011.
      
      
      
      
       China started with the rehabilitation of existing railway  lines
       that  were  mostly  over  hundred  years  old.  The  process  of
       increasing the speed of trains in  China  began  30  years  ago,
       after the Chinese government adopted a policy of  “opening  up”.
       It is the implementation of this policy that gave  rise  to  the
       economy of China.
      
      
      
      
       Some trains travelled at 120km/h before  the  rehabilitation  of
       existing railway lines. After  the  rehabilitation  they  travel
       between 160-250km/h and are regarded as fast trains.
      
      
      
      
       China has been in cooperation with other countries including the
       USA and Asia  on  high  speed  rail  technologies.  It  now  has
       agreements  with  many  other  countries,   although   all   the
       technologies used are Chinese.
      

   2. Freight Traffic

       Heavy haul  freight  transportation;  10  000-20  000  tons  are
       transported daily by roads while 1, 2-million  tons  of  freight
       are transported daily by train.  Rail  lines  allow  400-million
       tons annually. 80% of coal is transported by rail. In 2009 2, 3-
       billion tons of freight was transported  while  in  2010  2,  6-
       billion has already been transported to date.
      
      
      
       China covers a large territory and is densely  populated;  as  a
       result rail is the most convenient  mode  of  transport.  1,  6-
       million people are transported daily. These  trains,  which  are
       energy and environmentally friendly, are regarded as the best in
       the world.
      

   3. Challenges

   a) Having to work day after day and night after night;

   b) Too much freight and people to be transported;

   c) Mass work accommodating ⅓ while ⅔ had to be rejected; 140 000 trains in operation, 10-million freight a day, 6-million people to be transported daily, 1000-billion tons of coal to be delivered annually including transportation of minerals;

   d) No capacity to transport by road;

   e) When the demand is more than rail can take then road is an option;

   f) Construction of rail in humid and hot coastal areas.

   1. The Ministry of Transport

   The Vice Minister of Transport reported that the Chinese transport sector experienced bottlenecking and congestion by 2008. The budget was inefficiently used at that time. The current developments are as a result of good systems and policies that had been put in place. In 2009, 60 000km of expressway and highways were developed. From then on, the total volume of cargo in mainland ports were ranked number one in the world.

   Such achievements were because of good planning and the “open policies” that were adopted by the Chinese government.

   China has a Transport Master Plan that is currently being implemented. The Central government has introduced certain taxes to be paid by all. Funding is done by government, public enterprises and the World Bank.

   All expressways are tolled. There are positive results borne out of toll roads. In future only expressways will be tolled and not provincial and local roads. China’s integrated transport system is to make available easily accessed public transport and corridors. People are encouraged to use public transport

   1. China Railway Construction Corporation Limited (CRCC)

   The CRCC is involved in design, construction and maintenance. They deal with the work of planning and design.

   The CRCC has designed 53% of China’s railway lines and has acquired all technologies for high speed rail. They are the champions of all construction groups in China. They are ranked 132 out of the Fortune 500 Companies. They are ranked number one in engineering globally. They are involved internationally in 41 countries with 191 projects. They are currently involved in projects in Africa, some include:

   a) Algeria – ongoing project 1000km

   b) Libya – ongoing project over 2000km

   c) Nigeria – Survey and design in railway

   Their turnover in 2009 was $51 billion with a staff turnover of 250 000. The most critical works in China are done by the CRCC.

   1. China Railway Group Limited (CRGL)

   The CRGL is responsible for construction, contracting, machinery and engineering. They have a personnel complement of 280 000 responsible for construction, contracting and machinery of which 160 000 who are engineers.

   They are specialists in innovation advancements from slow speed to high speed rail. Real estate development is an extension of what they do.

   1. Financial Economic Committee of the People’s Congress

   China’s economy has grown rapidly in the past year. The Committee acknowledged the fact that the South African GDP is $600 while China is $2 600. China believes they can learn a lot from South Africa.

   China’s rapid growth in development is not free from criticism. Critics believe that China is investing too much on high speed while the returns are low. Debates are still ongoing.

   Different modes of transportation are integrated though they belong to different ministries. They have seen growth in improvement of transportation and it is regarded as the safest in the entire world. The intra-relationships of government ministries are very good and their systems talk to each other. A law was passed on transportation safety to reduce technicalities and fatalities on the roads.

   1. Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport (BMCT)

   It is an administrative organization that takes charge of the management of the traffic and transportation industry in Beijing.

   Its role includes the following:

    1. Action and implementation of the laws, codes and regulations
       related to the transportation industry promulgated by the State
       and the city;
    2. Take charge of studying and drafting out the annual plan of the
       transportation industry in Beijing, and organizing
       implementation;
    3. Take charge of organizing and drafting out the local technical
       standards and operation service codes in the transportation
       industry in Beijing, and organizing implementation;
    4. Take charge of the industry administration of the transportation
       in Beijing;
    5. Take charge of the supervision and administration of the safe
       production in the transportation industry in Beijing,
       collaborate with relevant departments to investigate and deal
       with safety in the transportation industry, and the water safety
       supervision and administration;
    6. Take charge of the transportation organization and security on
       emergency;
    7. Take charge of the organization and coordination of the
       transportation in Beijing and the administration of the common
       use of the railway special lines, and joint transportation
       between roads and railways;
    8. Take charge of the of administrative in the transportation
       industry;
    9. Take charge of the administration of public parking facilities
       in Beijing;
   10. Handle other issues delivered by the municipal government and
       municipal commission of communications.
   

   1. Organisation of Public Transport Network

   Its aims are the following:

   a) Bus travel speed increased with dedicated lanes;

   b) Low taxi prices for the public transportation system with integrated ticketing. Students get 80% discount, the public gets a 40% discount and the elderly ride for free;

   c) Accelerated upgrading of existing vehicles;

   d) The promotion of the development of rail systems;

   e) Formulation of subsystems. RMB 270-billion has been allocated by the government;

   f) The reformation of the reform of subway systems in terms of security;

   g) Integrated ticketing systems;

   1. Infrastructure construction to promote services

   a) In 2008 the Beijing government upgraded taxis.

   b) Taxi drivers’ rights were improved

   c) Relations between taxis and government were improved.

   d) A socio-economic system for taxi drivers has been introduced.

       The Chinese government remains committed to promoting  a  public
       transport culture. Integration of public transport in the cities
       is highly regarded and the government is committed to reach  45%
       of the population by 2015.
   

   1. Public transport systems

       Total allocation for public transport is RMB 150- million.  This
       amount has already surpassed taking into consideration security,
       costs and capacity to integrate the rail infrastructure  system.
       By the end of 2010, five new subways will be open to the public.
      
      
      
      
       The following are China’s Transportation Departments:
      

   a) Traffic and Transport – major roads and construction, transportation of cargo and goods;

   b) Hub and Ports Administration;

   c) Railway Department – railway maintenance;

   d) Public Security – management of vehicles, traffic, lights;

   e) BMCT is in charge of strategic planning transport systems;

   f) The Department of Transport is in charge of leasing of public transportation systems;

   g) Traffic Law Enforcement.

       Vehicle inventory is very difficult  to  determine  in  Beijing,
       especially in  the  inner  city.  This  poses  a  major  problem
       especially after Beijing  had  been  declared  an  International
       City. Authorities have therefore realised that  the  development
       of public transport system is the only solution.
   

   1. Shanghai Municipal Transport and Port Authority

   The City of Shanghai is a cosmopolitan city with a population of 20- million. The City is regarded as an international Shopping Centre and therefore all development is being done taking that into consideration. It also has Executive Administration Authority over public transportation; taxis, subways, car parking, freight and cargo transport as well as shipping.

   Millions of people come to Shanghai adding to the existing population of the City; therefore public transport has to be enhanced. The City transports 15-million passengers daily. The number has risen to 16, 4- million with the Shanghai Expo currently being held. Subways are estimated to transport 5, 2-million people daily while buses transport 7, 8-million daily. Buses are regarded as a main transport mode; taxis supplement them while subways are regarded as the backbone of public transport.

   Shanghai experiences great congestion on major roads of the City. Despite government interventions, problems still exist.

   The City embarked on a curbing mechanism where supporting infrastructure connecting various modes of transport was developed; seven stations were constructed, a hub station for the airport, taxis and buses for local and longs distances as well as a subway. This makes life easier for the community to access different kinds of transport at one spot. Subway operating hours run parallel with airport and train station hours. In cases of delayed flights the Municipality puts temporary measures in place.

   1. Sea Port

       The Shanghai Port is regarded as one of the largest ports in the
       world; it is a hundred years old. It  is  also  regarded  as  an
       international shipping centre. It has experienced an increase in
       cargo in the last ten years. In 2010 there was  an  increase  in
       cargo despite the economic recession. In the beginning of  2010,
       320-million tons of cargo was carried, this is  an  increase  of
       15% while containers experienced a load of 13, 8- million  which
       means a 19% increase. The distribution systems  used  are  road,
       water and rail.
      
      
      
      
       60% of cargo use smaller vessels, while 40% seldom use  rail  to
       transport cargo. In future they plan to use water as it is  also
       regarded as environmental and energy friendly.  Rivers  will  be
       used to transport vessels to other cities and that  will  reduce
       traffic congestion.
      
      
      
      
       Although the City has similar situations to South  Africa,  some
       solutions may not work in South Africa.
      
      
      
      
       With regard to parking in the city,  there  is  limited  parking
       space. Some companies have  their  own  parking  spaces.  People
       working in the city prefer to use public transport while  others
       use the park and ride facilities outside the cities.
      

2. China Railway Signal and Communication Shanghai Engineering Company (CRSCS)

The company was established in 1954 and it is responsible for  technical
services. They plan to build 35 high speed routes by 2012.




They have researched the South African situation and found that SA  does
not  have  to  suspend  railway  operations   while   working   on   the
improvements, should they be contracted to do the work.

1. Maglev Transportation Development Company Limited

The Maglev train system is a 20th century invention. It is a new type of
non-track bound transport  system  which  is  high  speed,  comfortable,
energy  saving  and  environmentally  friendly.  It   has   no   wheels,
transmissions or overhead wires. The wheels and rails  of  the  railroad
are replaced by a non-contact, electro-magnetic levitation, guidance and
propulsion system. The Construction of the Shanghai Maglev Demonstration
Operation Line started in March 2001.

The line begins at Longyang Road Station in the west and ends at  Pudong
International Airport station in the east. The total length of the  main
track is 30 km and is a double track turn around operation. It  has  two
stations, two propulsion substations, one operation control  centre  and
one maintenance centre.




The designed maximum speed is 430km/h. The time of a  one  way  trip  is
about eight minutes. As the first  commercial  operation  line  for  the
Maglev  train,  the  Shanghai  line  greatly  improves   the   transport
conditions from downtown to  Pudong  International  Airport  and  is  an
additional bright landscape to the modern metropolis.

1. System characteristics

a) It operates up to 400-500 km/h.

b) The non-contact and non-wearing levitation, guidance and propulsion technology is independent of friction.

c) High acceleration and braking power.

d) No contact with a track and the stepless speed control makes a ride steady and comfortable.

e) With no danger of derailment and collision means the train runs at a constant speed.

f) There are no combustion emissions or other pollutants both inside the vehicle and along the routes.

g) The magnetic field in the vehicle or outside is comparable to the earth’ residual magnetic field, far less than a hair dryer.

h) There is energy consumption and low operating costs.

i) There is a flexible route alignment of the guideway due to a small curve radii and high grade climbing ability (10%).

j) Minimal land is used for this rail link.

1. Tongji University

There is a Transport Faculty within this University with  the  following
departments; Road Transport, Rail,  Airport  Engineering  and  Logistics
Engineering. The university has signed  a  memorandum  of  understanding
with  the  Tshwane  University  of  Technology.   The   university   has
scholarship programmes that they offer to South African students,  which
covers tuition only.

1. Committee findings

2. Planning for transport development happens at national level, they have a 2020 master plan.

3. An investment in transport development is more informed by social needs and happens even if there is no economic costs recovery.

4. The Chinese government positions transport as an enabling tool for economic development.

5. Rail transportation is the backbone of transport, other modes of transport complement rail.

6. The Chinese government developed the entire value chain of the railway transportation industry including science and technological training, planning and design, equipment manufacturing, rail infrastructure development, manufacturing and assembling plants, signalling and control systems, servicing and maintenance of trains; each train is cleaned after each trip. Railway lines are integrated to other modes of transport such as road, aviation and shipping.

7. China started by focusing on skills development and partnered with developed countries where they learnt relevant skills for transport development, for that led to the establishment of a faculty at university level focussing on transport studies.

8. There is a dedicated bureau for training all employees for specific fields.

9. The Chinese transport situation was similar to the one in South Africa in terms of challenges 30 years ago

10. China adopted two approaches;

a) Rehabilitation and upgrading of existing railway lines to increase the speed of trains from 80 km/h to 200km/h;

b) Building new railway lines suitable for introducing fast trains and high speed trains. A fast train is a train that travels at a speed of 100-250km/h while a high speed train is one that travels between 250- 350km/h. A bullet train is one that travels between 350-430km/h.

1. The system of developing the whole industry created a lot of jobs.

2. High speed trains are serviced every 48hrs and 5000km travelled.

3. High speed trains connect major cities of all provinces to each other.

4. Fast trains link cities within provinces.

5. High speed trains move passengers from city centres to airports reducing travelling time; e.g 30 km in 7 minutes, the benefit of this is that space in airports is utilised to park planes. Traffic congestion between airports and the city is reduced. People travelling in private cars utilise the park and ride facilities near the train stations as was the case in SA during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

6. In cities, subways are built to integrate rail and road transportation.

7. Railway lines are also linked to shipping ports to facilitate easy transportation of goods between land and water.

8. Railway sleepers for trains are made of concrete slabs and cables are made of micro- fibre.

9. Railway tracks for fast and high speed trains are made of steel, iron ore, manganese and concrete slippers.

10. The Chinese have moved away from the use of copper cabling due to challenges similar to those in South Africa.

11. It is advisable to build new railway coaches than to rehabilitate as the latter is short term.

12. Social and Economic development imperatives relating to transport Development

The Portfolio Committee on Transport looked at the social and economic conditions China was previously at and how the Chinese reform model relates social and economical conditions in South Africa that we seek to address.

The Portfolio Committee on Transport identified that there are common social and economic conditions between South Africa and China which include the following;

1. The rural areas of both countries are poorer than the urban areas and the Chinese model of developing the entire value chain of railway transportation serves to attract economic investment to the rural under-developed poor areas. An example of that strategic approach is the location of a manufacturing plant of high speed trains at an under- developed semi rural area that is more than three hours drive from Beijing.

2. The transport infrastructural development in rural areas is central to the economic development strategies of China. China has invested in transport infrastructural development as an enabling tool for attracting investment to rural areas. A similar situation exist in South Africa where thirteen areas identified as Presidential Poverty Nodal Points have failed to attract meaningful economic investment partly due to poor transport infrastructure that would link these under-developed areas to developed cities.

3. The majority of the population in China and South Africa are poor and therefore dependent on public transport. China has chosen railway transport as the back-bone of transport because railway transport is cheaper than all other mode of transport. The cost of travelling in South Africa is high for both public transport commuters and people who use their own private transport. If railway transport is cheaper than other modes then South Africa has to emulate the model of China and reduce the cost of travelling in South Africa.

4. There are substantial number of cities and villages that are not efficiently linked to each other in China. This restricts the movement of goods and people in-between cities and villages. China has prioritised the linkage of Major cities in all provinces through high speed trains that travel at a maximum speed of 350km per hour. However, there are critical cities that are connected to villages through fast trains that travel at a maximum speed of 200kms per hour. Village to village connection is through buses and taxis. South Africa has similar conditions and we should use Chinese experience to respond to our conditions.

5. The population size of China is huge and requires the mode of transport that is able to transport high volumes of goods and people faster. A similar need exist in South Africa where huge volumes of poor public transport commuters are found in taxi ranks and bus ranks. Such commuters are forced to sleep at these ranks. Therefore high speed trains in South Africa would transport high volumes of commuters’ in-between major cities as well as routes that connect South Africa to neighbouring states.

6. There is high traffic congestion on roads in South Africa. China has reduced traffic congestion on their roads by developing the park and ride sites similar to those that were established in South Africa by the host cities of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World cup. These park and ride sites are used in China to park privately owned cars and taxis used by commuters who use such cars and taxis to get to Fast Trains that are used on daily basis, by mainly workers travelling to and from work in between cities. South Africa could emulate this approach and developing the park and ride sites next to train stations. This approach would be aimed at discouraging the daily use of private cars along train routes thereby reducing traffic congestion on South African roads.

7. The majority of goods are transported through roads in South Africa a situation that China reduced by developing an effective railway goods transportation system. The road infrastructure is degrading fast in South Africa with visibly huge potholes and high accident claims. China was able to arrest this situation by improving the speed of the goods trains as well as the tolling of roads.

8. The movement of goods on the roads is restricted to off-peak hours. This system links the railway network to ports and its shipping facilities and container terminals. China rehabilitated and upgraded railway infrastructure to increase the speed from 60km per hour to between 100km and 160km per hour. This resulted with a shift from road use to train use when transporting goods. Transport modes and networks in China were previously not interlinked.

9. Thirty years ago, China had a shortage of science and technology skills required to develop the transport industry, South Africa is faced with that same challenge today.

10. Proposals by the Chinese

11. The CRCC proposed signing a strategic partnership agreement with the Department of Transport to plan and strategise on the Department’s 2050 Plan.

12. The CRCC is also willing to contribute and share their experiences with South Africa to develop rail.

13. The CRGL is willing to have the exchange programme with South Africa which is aimed at skills development.

14. China is willing to cooperate with South Africa with regard to construction of transport projects.

15. The Chinese government and state owned companies met by the delegation proposed that a Memorandum of Understanding be signed so as to formalise the interaction between the two countries.

16. The Chinese are willing to establish cooperation with ports, such as the Port of Durban.

17. The CRSCS is willing to offer South Africa free training on the upgrading of existing rails signalisation.

18. The Chinese observed that out of the RMB200 million made available to South Africa for bursaries only RMB30 million has been utilised, therefore adviced that South Africa consider utilising the remaining RMB170 million to develop skills required for transport development in South Africa.

19. Positive assumptions

    The benefits of introducing high speed trains and adopting railway transportation as the back bone of the South African transport system is much broader than just transport services. There would be far- reaching social and economic benefits that include;

20. Reduced levels of mushrooming of informal settlements due to reduced costs of travelling to and from work.

21. Family units would not be disturbed as is the case where working members of families live closer to places of work away from their families.

22. There would be reduced queues of commuters at buses and taxi ranks.

23. There would be a reduced level of road accidents, degradation of our secondary road networks, and traffic congestion as a result of reduced transportation of goods by road.

24. Different transport systems and modes would be integrated resulting in seamless travelling for commuters from one mode of transport to the other.

25. Commuters would be able to budget time and travelling costs.

26. There would be a reduced burden on the budgets of the Health and Human Settlement Departments that are currently negatively impacted upon by the inadequate services of the department of Transport and Transnet’s transport-related services.

27. There would be increased investment in South Africa.

28. The investment opportunities in rural areas would increase.

29. The development and resuscitation of existing branch lines of the rail system would open job opportunities in South Africa.

30. South Africa would further the NEPAD objectives and position itself as the gateway for investment in Africa.

31. There would be reduced levels of carbon emission due to reduced levels of private cars. Rail uses electricity instead of diesel.

32. Conclusion

 The development of the rail industry would generate economic investment
 and be a tool for social development in South Africa.




 The rail technology used in China needs  to  be  analysed  on  a  sound
 economic  model  that  is  sustainable  suitable  for   South   African
 conditions where rail would be used  for  the  transportation  of  both
 goods and passengers.




 The Portfolio Committee on Transport will follow up on  recommendations
 made by the Chinese government in  relation  to  further  exposure  and
 participation of the  committee  in  workshops  and  conferences  where
 issues of rail transport are discussed. This would help  in  broadening
 the knowledge of the committee on international trends and debates that
 are taking place regarding transport.  The Chinese government and State
 owned companies have offered to  sponsor  some  of  the  workshops  and
 conferences that would benefit South Africa and help build the capacity
 of the Department of Transport.

1. Recommendations

   The Portfolio Committee on Transport hereby recommends as follows that:

2. The Department of Transport considers the Chinese model, taking South African conditions into account.

3. South Africa accepts the Chinese high speed rail technology to be amongst the proven state of the art worldwide. It must be noted that the Chinese technology is now patented and can only be accessed in China.

4. The offer made by the China Railway Construction Corporation regarding their technical assistance in fine tuning our National Transport Master Plan be followed through on by the Minister of Transport.

5. The South African government takes advantage of being viewed by China as a gateway for investment in Africa on transport development especially the SADC Region.

6. The structural arrangement that exist in South Africa where Transnet falls under the department of Public Enterprises yet performing transport related services be reviewed. Transnet should fall under the department of transport so as to streamline transport services, reduce duplication and contradictions in planning and prioritisation of transport services. The proposed structural change would also address the ongoing conflict that exists between PRASA and Transnet which has a huge negative impact on railway commuters. The current structural arrangement makes Transnet both the referee and a player which has a negative impact on planning and the homogeneous coordination of transport infrastructure development and provision of rail services in South Africa.

7. The South African government should adopt rail as backbone of freight and commuter transport systems in South Africa with all other modes of transport complimenting rail.

8. South Africa moves away from the rehabilitation of old rolling stock and begin with a process of investing in new and modern locomotives and coaches as a means of reducing time and cost of travel.

9. South Africa should adopt an approach of rehabilitating and upgrading the existing rail infrastructure to accommodate new technologies where appropriate.

10. South Africa should follow up on the skills development programmes offered by the Chinese government to the South African government particularly to link universities in South Africa and those in China with a view of developing the required expertise in science and technology with a specific focus on transport development.

11. South Africa should review the public transport subsidy in line with the Chinese model

12. South African government quest for social economic development be central to the planning, development and provision of transportation in all modes.

13. The Portfolio Committee on Transport recommends that the House adopts this report and approve recommendations contained herein.

Report to be considered