As there is no speakers' list, I shall now put the Votes in the order in which they appear on the Schedule to the Bill.
Vote No 1 - The Presidency - put and agreed to. Vote No 2 - Parliament - put and agreed to (Democratic Alliance dissenting). Vote No 3 - Foreign Affairs - put and agreed to. Vote No 4 - Home Affairs - put.
THE ACTING CHIEF WHIP OF THE COUNCIL: Chairperson, on the declarations, we will just call the parties and they would know who their speakers are.
Declarations of vote:
Chairperson, the DA will not support the Budget Vote for Home Affairs. The Minister, during her Budget Vote debate, acknowledged that she has been misled by department officials. The person directly accountable to the Minister is the director-general. The Minister's admission is an indication that our officials are incompetent to carry out their obligations as defined by the Public Finance Management Act.
This qualifies for her to recommend to the President that they be relieved their responsibilities, in particular the director-general. Large sums of money could not be accounted for, and yet officials are still keeping their jobs. Junior officials are the ones that are going to receive the blame from those same senior officials, as they have nobody to protect them.
Most of the offices in the rural areas are still seriously understaffed and provision of services is compromised. Each year there is underspending by this department and we are told this is caused by vacancies within the department. Why is it difficult just to fill a vacancy, as a matter of urgency?
I will repeat some of the concerns raised by my colleague in the National Assembly. Does the department have competent employees within its internal audit section? If it does why could they not pick up these problems much earlier and correct them? Or is it a matter of jobs for pals that is being practised? I have to say this, because if my colleague said this in the National Assembly, there is nothing to stop me from doing the same. Thank you, Chairperson.
Chairperson, as the ANC, we actually support this budget because it will strengthen the turnaround strategy that the department is using. Currently in place are the fraud prevention and risk management strategies and the quality of service and adequate human researchers.
Our physical infrastructure, equipment and IT technology are in place. As regards the roll-out of services, even in rural areas where it was not possible for people to obtain their IDs, this will now be possible. With those few words, the ANC supports the budget.
Division demanded.
The Council divided:
AYES - 41: Adams, F; Botha, D J; Dlulane, B N; Gamede, D D; Goeieman, M C; Hendrickse, N D; Hollander, P M; Kolweni, Z S; Mabe, E S; Mack, N J; Madlala-Magubane, N M; Manyosi, A T; Masilo, J M; Matlanyane, H F; Matlhoahela, B L; Mazibuko, N F; Mchunu, A N T; Mkhaliphi, B J; Mkono, D G; Moatshe, P; Mokoena, M L; Moseki, A L J; Mzizi, M A; Ntuli, Z C; Ntwanambi, N D; Nyanda, F; Oliphant, M N; Qikani, A N D; Ralane, T S; Robertson, M O; Setona, T S; Shiceka, S; Sibiya, J; Sogoni, E M; Sulliman, M A; Tau, R J; Themba, M P; Tolo, B J; Van Rooyen, C J.
Special delegates: Moerane-Mamase, N; Phenduka, N C; Radebe, M.
NOES - 9: Chen, S S; Lamoela, H; Le Roux, J W; Robinson, D; Terblanche, J F; Thetjeng, O M; Van Heerden, F J; Watson, A; Worth, D A.
Vote accordingly agreed to.
Vote No 5 - Provincial and Local Government - put and agreed to and (Democratic Alliance and Freedom Front Plus dissenting). Vote No 6 - Public Works - put and agreed to. Vote No 7 - Government Communication and Information Systems - put and agreed to. Vote No 8 - National Treasury - put and agreed to.
Vote No 9 - Public Enterprises - put.
Declarations of vote:
Chairperson, we support the Vote, but then the SOEs have the ability to fundamentally affect our country's economy and the wellbeing of our citizens. They have vast resources at their disposal in some of the biggest sectors of the economy, such as transport, arms and electricity.
Yet, with the failure of Denel and the state needing to inject R2 billion to keep it afloat and the failure by Eskom to adequately prepare for the growth in the demand for electricity, we have to ask whether monitoring by the Minister and the Department of Public Enterprises is both adequate and continuous. If this is the case, these SOEs would not have failed in their duty to the state and the South African public.
The IFP therefore calls on the Minister to ensure that the performance of the SOEs is closely monitored, so that they could benefit all South Africans. I thank you.
Chairperson, the ANC supports the Budget Vote. The challenge that confronts us is to spare no effort in addressing the new challenges that confront the people of our country. In this regard, therefore, we as the ANC believe that the budget for the Department of Public Enterprises is adequate to meet our economic growth objectives in terms of Asgisa.
We further believe that this budget allows the department to fulfil its obligations in respect of the state-owned enterprises and that, in turn, will add to our objectives of fighting poverty and creating jobs. It has always been the ANC's belief that these SOEs belong to the people of South Africa and should be used to make sure that all the people share in the wealth of the country, as required by the Freedom Charter. I thank you.
Vote agreed to. Vote No 10 - Public Service and Administration - put and agreed to. Vote No 11 - Public Service Commission - put and agreed to. Vote No 12 - South African Management Development Institute (SAMDI) - put and agreed to. Vote No 13 - Statistics South Africa - put and agreed to. (Democratic Alliance dissenting). Vote No 14 - Arts and Culture - put and put agreed to. (Democratic Alliance dissenting). Vote No 15 - Education - put.
Declarations of vote:
Chairperson, on 5 June 2006 the DA launched a national campaign around the constitutional right to a basic education, with the release of a document named, and I quote: "Getting the basics right: The state and the right to basic education". Eight days later, the Human Rights Commission released a damming report on the state of our education. The content of the two reports is virtually identical because they drive the same concern.
The Department of Education keeps talking and not doing anything. Our children are lagging behind by in critical standards in critical areas, in which we need more people with skills. If you check carefully, one will see a direct correlation between skills shortage and the areas highlighted as the ones in which we are performing badly as a country.
Principals of non-performing schools should be held accountable. Principalship should not be a lifetime job, but, must be based on performance, just like a Chief Executive Officer of any company would be fired for not bringing results or profits. Some of the teachers are earning what they have not worked for. Root out the nonperformers and bring back those who are willing and have the ability to teach. We have the money, so let us deliver what this nation deserves.
In the last 10 years, each Minister came up with a programme that got abandoned along the way without good explanation on its successes and failures. We were told of an outcomes-based education and there is something else today. Schools are still without libraries or resource centres. Where they exist, books are obsolete. Resources are lying unused because teachers not been trained. The DA will not support this Budget Vote. I thank you.
Chairperson, the ANC unreservedly supports the Education budget. We have no doubt in our minds that the department is on the right track. In a very short space of time of eleven years, we managed to transform education from unequal rotten and fragmented 14 apartheid departments, to one efficient and effective education system. A system that is based on the principles of the Freedom Charter, which provides quality education to all South Africans.
We want to congratulate the Department of Education for introducing for the first time, free education in some schools. This will go a long way in relieving parents of the albatross of having to worry about their kids. They will now only have to concentrate on other matters that will enable them to grow their children to proper adulthood.
The recapitalisation of FETs could not have come at a better time. This is at the centre of development of scarce skills in our country, in accordance with Jipsa. We commend the Department of Education for properly responding to the skills shortage of our country. This will propel our country to greater heights, in terms of economic development. The ANC supports the Budget Vote. I thank you. [Applause.]
Division demanded.
The Council divided:
AYES - 43: Adams, F; Botha, D J; Dlulane, B N; Gamede, D D; Goeieman, M C; Hendrickse, N D; Hollander, P; Kolweni, Z S; Mabe, E S; Mack, N J; Madlala-Magubane, N M; Manyosi, A T; Masilo, J M; Matlanyane, H F; Matlhoahela, B L; Mazibuko, N F; Mchunu, A N T; Mkhaliphi, B J; Mkono, D G; Moatshe, P; Mokoena, M L; Moseki, A L J; Mzizi, M A; Ntuli, Z C; Ntwanambi, N D; Nyanda, F; Oliphant, M N; Qikani, A N D; Ralane, T S; Robertson, M O; Setona, T S; Shiceka, S; Sibiya, J; Sogoni, E M; Sulliman, M A; Tau, R J; Themba, M P; Tolo, B J; Van Rooyen, C J; Vilakazi, J N.
Special delegates: Moerane-Mamase, N; Phenduka, N C; Radebe, M.
NOES - 8: Chen, S S; Lamoela, H; Le Roux, J W; Robinson, D; Terblanche, J F; Thetjeng, M; Watson, A; Worth, D A.
ABSTAIN - 1: Van Heerden, F J.
Vote accordingly agreed to.
Vote No 16 - Health - put.
Declarations of vote:
Hon Chairperson, can I ask for your protection? We are exercising our democratic right of allowing speakers from the committee, on which they serve, to speak. All these remarks are nearly racist.
You are protected.
Our spokesperson on health, Diane Kohler-Barnard, released a report on the worst hospital in South Africa. [Interjections.]
Hon Tau, can you please address the Chair? Can we keep order? We have a lot of work to do here. Continue your debate.
The Cecilia Makiwane was one of the hospitals described in her report as being among the worst. This was dismissed as hogwash by the representative of the Department of Health.
Recently, parents lost their dear ones when a power outage hit the hospital, rendering the machinery used to keep these babies alive nonfunctional. The standby generator, a simple but critical pieces of equipment, failed to function. Those babies are no more today, and their parents are left with great pain. This could have been avoided if only the Minister and the MEC concerned had for once listened to the DA.
People do not need ubejane but ARVs to prolong their lives, though we know they will ultimately die as there is not yet a cure for HIV/Aids. We do not need arguments as to whether or not there is a cure for HIV/Aids, but how to roll out the ARVs to prolong the lives of the infected. Children are orphaned early in life, when this could have happened later in their lives when they are able to fend for themselves because people keep on promoting ubejane.
Our facilities are decaying and yet the funds have been made available through the hospital revitalisation programme. Some provinces failed to implement this programme due to a lack of capacity, or to seek partnerships with the private sector where skills and capacity are a serious challenge. The DA will not support this Budget Vote. I thank you.
Modulasetulo, bomabina-go-tsholwa ba na le go bua fela ba sa itse gore ba tswa kae. Mathata otlhe a re nang le ona, re a tsere mo pusong ya bona e e fetileng. [Chairperson, people who like to take credit for something they did not do normally say things they know nothing about. All the problems we currently have are from the previous regime.]
The ANC supports the Health budget as it is in line with the priorities of the policy of the department, which derives its mandate from the Freedom Charter and the ten-point plan, which seeks to improve the lives of the people, through better and healthier lifestyles.
The roll-out of ARVs throughout the country is strengthening the quality of the care in our hospitals, and there is a choice between getting ARVs from hospitals or from health centres. I thank you.
Division demanded.
The Council divided:
AYES - 42: Adams, F; Botha, D J; Dlulane, B N; Gamede, D D; Goeieman, M C; Hendrickse, N D; Hollander, P M; Kolweni, Z S; Mabe, E S; Mack, N J; Madlala-Magubane, N M; Manyosi, A T; Masilo, J M; Matlanyane, H F; Mazibuko, N F; Mchunu, A N T; Mkhaliphi, B J; Mkono, D G; Moatshe, P; Mokoena, M L; Moseki, A L J; Mzizi, M A; Ntuli, Z C; Ntwanambi, N D; Nyanda, F; Oliphant, M N; Qikani, A N D; Ralane, T S; Robertson, M O; Setona, T S; Shiceka, S; Sibiya, J; Sogoni, E M; Sulliman, M A; Tau, R J; Themba, M P; Tolo, B J; Van Rooyen, C J; Vilakazi, J N.
Special delegates: Moerane-Mamase, N; Phenduka, N C; Radebe, M.
NOES - 9: Chen, S S; Lamoela, H; Le Roux, J W; Robinson, D; Terblanche, J F; Thetjeng, O M; Van Heerden, F J; Watson, A; Worth, D. ABSTAIN - 1: Matlhoahela, B L
Vote accordingly agreed to.
Vote No 17 - Labour - put and agreed to (Democratic Alliance dissenting). Vote No 18 - Social Development - put and agreed to. Vote No 19 - Sport and Recreation South Africa - put and agreed to (Freedom Front Plus dissenting).
Vote No 20 - Correctional Services - put.
Declarations of vote:
Agb Voorsitter, Korrektiewe Dienste se fokus het verskuif van blote straf na rehabilitasie en orintering, maar die gebrek aan fondse en ander faktore maak die uitvoering van hierdie beleid egter onmoontlik.
Die gevangenisse is steeds tot barstens toe vol en daar is net eenvoudig nie genoeg ruimte beskikbaar nie. Dit blyk dat die enigste oplossing wat die Minister vir hierdie probleem het, die vroe vrylating van gevangenes is. Dit op sig self is problematies en stel die publiek nog meer in gevaar.
Wat die bou van nuwe fasiliteite betref, is dit skokkend dat die beplanning van vier nuwe gevangenisse reeds in 2002 afgehandel is, maar die bouwerk het nog nie eens begin nie. Daar is ook nog onsekerheid oor die finansieringsmodel wat gebruik gaan word, en die werklike koste vir die staat bly net 'n raaisel. Slegs een fasiliteit sal deur die staat gebou word. Die ander sal f geheel f gedeeltelik geprivatiseer word.
Ons het ook nie genoeg kundige personeel om rehabilitasie te laat slaag nie. Daar is 'n chroniese tekort aan dokters en sielkundiges en tensy hierdie probleem opgelos word, kan die plan van rehabilitasie nie slaag nie.
Derdens, as gevolg van die swak salarisse van personeel is die moraal van die werkerskorps ook baie laag en sal rehabilitasie nie op die grondvlak suksesvol kan wees nie. Hierdie lae moraal het ook daartoe bygedra dat korrupsie, bende-aktiwiteit en ontsnappings 'n alledaagse verskynsel is. Die DA kan nie die begroting ondersteun nie. (Translation of Afrikaans declaration of vote follows.)
[Mr J W LE ROUX: Hon Chairperson, the focus of Correctional Services has shifted from mere punishment to rehabilitation and orientation, but the lack of funds and other factors have, however, made the implementation of this policy impossible.
Prisons are still bursting at the seams and there is simply not enough space available. It seems that the only solution the Minister has for this problem is the early release of prisoners. This in itself is problematic and places the public in further danger.
As far as the construction of new facilities is concerned, it is shocking that the planning of four new prisons was already completed in 2002, but that construction has not even started yet. There is also still uncertainty about the financing model that will be used and the real cost to the state simply remains a mystery. Only one facility will be built by the state. The others will be wholly or partially privatised.
We also do not have sufficient skilled staff for rehabilitation to be successful. There is a chronic shortage of doctors and psychologists and the rehabilitation plan cannot succeed before this problem is solved.
Thirdly, the morale of the workforce is also very low, because of the poor salaries of staff, and rehabilitation at grass-roots level therefore cannot be successful. This low morale has also contributed to corruption, gang activity and escapes becoming everyday occurrences. The DA cannot support the budget.]
Agb Voorsitter, die ANC ondersteun hierdie begrotingspos. U weet, Korrektiewe Dienste moet met 'n fyn balans hanteer word. In die oue dae was dit tronke en ons is as bandiete beskou. Die groot verandering het al plaasgevind en dit is nou korrektiewe regstelling. Ons probeer die mense beter maak.
Gister het die portefeuljekomitee van die NA Pollsmoor gaan besoek en die regering het definitief gaan kyk wat die situasie is met die kinders in tronke, en hierdie regering het 'n menslike begrip vir hierdie probleem. Die Minister het in sy begrotingsdebat in hierdie Raadsaal verwys na 'n moeder op die galery wat vrygelaat is, op grond van mensliewendheid. Met die bou van tronke het die departement ons deeglik ingelig oor alles wat beplan word en ons het duidelik verstaan dat hierdie tronke in fases gebou gaan word.
Ons moenie so kortsigtig wees en dan vergeet ons van die verlede nie. In die verlede was die hele beleid - en die DA was deel van daardie ou regering - een van vang hulle en hang hulle! Daar is glad nie meer daardie beleid nie. Ons het 'n heel menslike beleid. Ons wil hierdie regering en die departement baie bedank en ons ondersteun heelhartig die mensliewendheid en die kundigheid wat in die departement bestaan. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans declaration of vote follows.)
[Mr N J MACK: Hon Chairperson, the ANC supports this Budget Vote. You know, a fine balance must be maintained in Correctional Services. In the old days there were prisons, and we were regarded as convicts. The big change has already taken place and now we have corrective measures. We are trying to reform people.
The portfolio committee of the NA visited Pollsmoor yesterday and the government definitely went to see what the situation is with regard to children in prisons, and this government has empathy for this problem. In his budget debate in this Council, the Minister referred to a mother on the gallery who had been released on humane grounds. Regarding the construction of prisons, the department has informed us thoroughly about everything that is being planned and we clearly understood that these prisons would be built in phases. We should not be so short-sighted and then forget about the past. The whole policy in the past - and the DA was part of that old government - was a matter of: Catch them and hang them! That policy no longer exists. We have a quite humane policy. We want to thank this government and the department very much and we fully support the humanity and expertise that there is in the department. [Applause.]]
Division demanded.
The Council divided:
AYES - 42: Adams, F; Botha, D J; Dlulane, B N; Gamede, D D; Goeieman, M C; Hendrickse, N D; Hollander, P; Kolweni, Z S; Mabe, E S; Mack, N J; Madlala-Magubane, N M; Manyosi, A T; Masilo, J M; Matlanyane, H F; Mazibuko, N F; Mchunu, A N T; Mkhaliphi, B J; Mkono, D G; Moatshe, P; Mokoena, M L; Moseki, A L J; Mzizi, M A; Ntuli, Z C; Ntwanambi, N B; Nyanda, F; Oliphant, M N; Qikani, A N D; Ralane, T S; Robertson, M O; Setona, T S; Shiceka, S; Sibiya, J; Sogoni, E M; Sulliman, M A; Tau, R J; Themba, M P; Tolo, B J; Van Rooyen, C J; Vilakazi, J N.
Special delegates: Moerane-Mamase, N; Phenduka, N C; Radebe, M.
NOES - 9: Chen, S S; Lamoela, H; Le Roux, J W; Robinson, D; Terblanche, J F; Thetjeng, O M; Van Heerden, F J; Watson, A; Worth, D A.
ABSTAIN - 1: Matlhoahela, B L.
Vote accordingly agreed to.
Vote No 21 - Defence - put and agreed to (Democratic Alliance and Freedom Front Plus dissenting). Vote No 22- Independent Complaints Directorate - put and agreed to (Democratic Alliance dissenting).
Vote No 23- Justice and Constitutional Development - put.
Declarations of vote:
Chairperson, at the heart of the criminal justice system is our courts and this is the core business of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.
A recent report by the Public Service Commission found that access to the courts is still unsatisfactory. The majority of court users lack basic information and processes are not explained. In addition, the condition of many buildings is poor and more than half of the 780 courts around the country are still not electronically connected or properly secured.
More than 200 prosecutors' posts are presently vacant and there are large backlogs of cases at all levels of the courts, which are not meeting their targets. Clearly the performance of our courts is below par and the Minister's much vaunted Re Aga Boswa campaign has not delivered.
Whilst there are some centres of excellence in the department, such as the asset forfeiture unit and the Scorpions, events in the department during the past year have raised serious concerns about sound administration, managerial and human resources capacity and procedural correctness. These are just some of the reasons why the DA cannot support the Budget Vote this year.
Chairperson, after the general election of 1994 South Africa changed the old order to a new order. However, judicial matters were not seen as a priority.
The IFP believes that the TRC Act sets out a clear distinction between political offenders and criminal offenders. The IFP therefore submitted almost 400 applications for presidential pardons on behalf of prisoners, whom we felt were not criminal offenders but political offenders.
Yet, after almost three years we have not heard any positive response from the hon Minister, who is responsible for processing the applications and making recommendations to the President.
The IFP believes that the hon Minister has the ability to apply the law evenly to all political prisoners of all political parties, so that the President could make a final decision. We therefore urge the hon Minister to process the applications as quickly as possible. Despite all of this, the IFP supports the Budget Vote.
Chairperson, the department has embarked on a programme called, Re Aga Boswa. This programme is aimed at bringing justice to the people. It is aimed at ensuring that the courts are accessible to our people, through building these courts in the townships and in the rural areas.
The proper management of case dockets to ensure that the cases move faster without undue delays is also taking place in our courts. The conviction rate has increased in our courts and specialised courts to deal with family and sexual violence have been established and we can say, overall, that justice is grinding faster with a caring face.
The rule of law in our country is setting in, including for those fathers who run away from their children and do not pay maintenance. People who are tracing these fathers have been employed. This means that any person who is not taking responsibility for his actions, must know that it is over.
The Department of Justice is doing very well. Anybody who can say that this is not so, must be blind. Thank you very much, Chair.
Division demanded.
The Council divided:
AYES - 44: Adams, F; Botha, D J; Dlulane, B N; Gamede, D D; Goeieman, M C; Hendrickse, N D; Hollander, P M; Kolweni, Z S; Mabe, E S; Mack, N J; Madlala-Magubane, N M; Manyosi, A T; Masilo, J M; Matlanyane, H F; Matlhoahela, B L; Mazibuko, N F; Mchunu, A N T; Mkhaliphi, B J; Mkono, D G; Moatshe, P; Mokoena, M L; Moseki, A L J; Mzizi, M A; Ntuli, Z C; Ntwanambi, N D; Nyanda, F; Oliphant, M N; Qikani, A N D; Ralane, T S; Robertson, M O; Setona, T S; Shiceka, S; Sibiya, J; Sogoni, E M; Sulliman, M A; Tau, R J; Themba, M P; Tolo, B J; Van Heerden, F J; Van Rooyen, C J; Vilakazi, J N.
Special delegates: Moerane-Mamase, N; Phenduka, N C; Radebe, M.
NOES - 8: Chen, S S; Lamoela, H; Le Roux, J W; Robinson, D; Terblanche, J F; Thetjeng, O M; Watson, A; Worth, D A.
Vote accordingly agreed to.
Vote No 24- Safety and Security - put.
Declarations of vote:
Chairperson, the problems associated with the SA Police Service are too numerous to mention. Some of the most chronic shortages are in the detective services, crime prevention, forensic science laboratories and criminal record centres. There is simply no way crime will be under control while this situation is allowed to continue.
It is estimated that some 150 women and children are raped and 51 people murdered every day in South Africa. As a result of this, the public is losing faith in the police to protect them. A large number of South Africans fear using public transport or letting their children play in public open spaces or allowing their children to walk to school.
The government's primary duty is to protect its citizens from harm. The Minister and his department have the power to prevent the ever violent and escalating crime. The hon Minister of Safety and Security says that crime victims should rather emigrate but his wife, the Minister of Home Affairs, cannot process the necessary passports. Until crime is brought down to acceptable levels and there is the certainty that criminals will be caught and punished, the DA cannot support this Budget Vote. [Applause.]
Thank you, Chairperson. I would like to remind hon Worth that the ANC has a programme and a plan for this government. To run the government is not an event but a process. I am surprised by the DA members who were there in the committee and were debating and who supported this Bill. It is only now, after they were with their bosses, that they have changed their minds. [Interjections.]
We know that we are on track as the government, if we look at the President's address on the police in 2007. The ANC is still on track in that regard, and when dealing with the police we are dealing with the legacy of the DA. They have forgotten about that. [Interjections.] The ANC supports this Budget Vote so that we can improve the working of the police. [Applause.] Division demanded.
The Council divided:
AYES - 43: Adams, F; Botha, D J; Dlulane, B N; Gamede, D D; Goeieman, M C; Hendrickse, N D; Hollander, P; Kolweni, Z S; Mabe, E S; Mack, N J; Madlala-Magubane, N M; Manyosi, A T; Masilo, J M; Matlanyane, H F; Matlhoahela, B L; Mazibuko, N F; Mchunu, A N T; Mkhaliphi, B J; Mkono, D G; Moatshe, P; Mokoena, M L; Moseki, A L J; Mzizi, M A; Ntuli, Z C; Ntwanambi, N D; Nyanda, F; Oliphant, M N; Qikani, A N D; Ralane, T S; Robertson, M O; Setona, T S; Shiceka, S; Sibiya, J; Sogoni, E M; Sulliman, M A; Tau, R J; Themba, M P; Tolo, B J; Van Rooyen, C J; Vilakazi, J N.
Special delegates: Moerane-Mamase, N; Phenduka, N C; Radebe, M. NOES - 9: Chen, S S; Lamoela, H; Le Roux, J W; Robinson, D; Terblanche, J F; Thetjeng, O M; Van Heerden, F J; Watson, A; Worth, D A.
Vote accordingly agreed to.
Vote No 25- Agriculture - put and agreed to. Vote No 26- Communications - put and agreed to (Democratic Alliance dissenting). Vote No 27- Environmental Affairs and Tourism - put and agreed to. Vote No 28- Housing - put.
Declarations of vote:
Chairperson, South Africa has come a very long way in improving the lives of our people and communities. Housing should therefore be our main focus.
Twelve years after the advent of democracy some of the tenders awarded to developers and builders leave much to be desired. We also never had the outcome of cases of embezzlement of moneys provided to these developers and builders. The IFP believes that such cases should be referred to the assets forfeiture unit so that the properties of the guilty could be attached by court order and sold in execution to recover the department's money. Despite this, we still support the Budget Vote.
Chairperson, of course, as the ANC, with our historic mission of creating a society that is united, democratic and nonsexist, we have identified housing as one of the critical instruments that will ensure that such a society is a society in which our people will benefit. During the Budget Vote debate, as the ANC, we unreservedly supported the Budget Vote, precisely because of the issues that were raised and that the department has committed itself to.
One of the critical things that the department raised in relation to the very same questions that the IFP passed, was the 3% of the equitable share that provinces would be required to use, in order to deal with the projects with regard to housing. That is a matter that the department has reflected on in its strategic plan over this financial year.
The second aspect that comes out as important - and which the IFP has to deal with - is that the department has said that there are systems in place to deal with elements of corruption within the department. There are systems, there are people who have been arrested and there are people who will be brought before a court of law, especially those that have been given money to build houses that are nowhere to be seen. On the basis of that we, as the ANC, find the allegations - if there are any - to be quite unfounded and wasteful. We support the Budget Vote.
Vote agreed to.
Vote No 29 - Land Affairs - put and agreed to (Democratic Alliance and Freedom Front Plus dissenting).
Vote No 30 - Minerals and Energy - put.
Declarations of vote:
Chairperson, there is a looming energy crisis facing South Africa as Eskom has basically run out of base load power generation capacity. Currently the reserve capacity of electricity generation is approximately 5%, with the forthcoming winter ensuring that load shedding will be a certainty, as currently being experienced in the Western Cape.
The Minister of Trade and Industry, on the day before the local government elections on 1 March 2006, stated that the failure of the Koeberg nuclear reactor was due to sabotage and undertook to ensure that the matter would be investigated properly. Yesterday in this House the Minister said that the report would be available either next week or the week after that. We urgently await the report.
With respect to REDs it is clear that RED1 can merely be described as an outsourced function of the Cape Town Metro Council, without any assets and still in the process of restructuring, nearly a year since it was formed. In addition, the number of REDs has arbitrarily been increased by Cabinet from six to seven, whilst the boundaries have been changed to reflect the six metros, with the national metro comprising all the other municipal councils. The state of affairs in respect of the implementation and constitutionality of issues relating to this is ...
Chairperson, on a point of order: The hon member referred to Minister Erwin. He is the Minister for Public Enterprises. He is not the Minister of Minerals and Energy.
Mr Alec Erwin is not the Minister of Minerals and Energy.
I didn't refer to him as the Minister in that portfolio. I just referred to the statement he made on Koeberg.
The state of affairs in respect of the implementation and constitutionality of issues relating to this is at best disgraceful. Bad planning and a lack of foresight are evident, with its resultant collapse in the near future not being impossible.
The Oilgate saga is a clear example of the manipulation of state entities to the benefit of the ANC at the cost of the public. It is an indisputable fact that R11 million was paid to the ANC a few days before Christmas in 2003 - a nice Christmas present, I think, before the election of 2004. It was paid by Imvume that secured lucrative oil contracts from the Iraqi government due to the assistance of senior ANC members, leading to this enormous payback as thanks for their efforts.
The double payment by PetroSA to the supplier of the oil before the money was due, indicates how the ANC is prepared to muzzle public entities and unscrupulously use private companies and institutions to its own benefit. The ANC should therefore be forced to pay back this money, which it has extorted from PetroSA at the cost of the South African public. We cannot support this Budget Vote.
Chair, let me say, first of all, that the ANC supports the Budget Vote.
NgesiXhosa sithi, ithemba alibulali. Abantu bakuthi bahlala belinde utshintsho. Ngoku xa kufuneka kwenziwe, abo baxhamlayo bayalila. [In isiXhosa we say, you must not lose hope. Our people are always waiting for change. When there must be implementation, those who are benefiting are complaining.]
We do so, because this department has made sure that minerals in this country do not belong to a few white people but rather benefit South Africans, particularly those who were disadvantaged.
In as far as Eskom is concerned, it is unfortunate that the member was not present when we were briefed. Let me tell her that Eskom is now 95% functional and they are making sure that they increase capacity. A new reactor is being built very near Koeberg in Atlantis and there is another one for the southern Cape. Those are the two areas that were really affected by the outages.
The laws that govern this country stipulate clearly that in order for the country to progress, the best thing is to close the gap in the economy. In as far as energy is concerned, we know very well that the rising cost of oil is something we have to consider. It cannot be only one person's problem. It is for us all.
The issue of biofuels is something that the department and the Minister is considering. As the Congress of the People drew up the programme in 1955, we are here to do nothing else but implement that. This is in order for this country to recognise that today is better than yesterday and tomorrow will be better than today. I urge all of us, including the DA, to support this Budget Vote.
Division demanded.
The Council divided:
AYES - 43: Adams, F; Botha, D J; Dlulane, B N; Gamede, D D; Goeieman, M C; Hendrickse, N D; Hollander, P M; Kolweni, Z S; Mabe, E S; Mack, N J; Madlala-Magubane, N M; Manyosi, A T; Masilo, J M; Matlanyane, H F; Matlhoahela, B L; Mazibuko, N F; Mchunu, A N T; Mkhaliphi, B J; Mkono, D G; Moatshe, P; Mokoena, M L; Moseki, A L J; Mzizi, M A; Ntuli, Z C; Ntwanambi, N D; Nyanda, F; Oliphant, M N; Qikani, A N D; Ralane, T S; Robertson, M O; Setona, T S; Shiceka, S; Sibiya, J; Sogoni, E M; Sulliman, M A; Tau, R J; Themba, M P; Tolo, B J; Van Rooyen, C J; Vilakazi, J N. Special delegates: Moerane-Mamase, N; Phenduka, N C; Radebe, M.
NOES - 9: Chen, S S; Lamoela, H; Le Roux, J W; Robinson, D; Terblanche, J F; Thetjeng, O M; Van Heerden, F J; Watson, A; Worth, D A.
Vote accordingly agreed to.
Vote No 31 - Science and Technology - put and agreed to. Vote No 32 - Trade and Industry - put and agreed to.
Vote No 33 - Transport - put and agreed to (Democratic Alliance and Freedom Front Plus dissenting). Vote No 34 - Water Affairs and Forestry - put and agreed to.
Question put: That the Schedule be agreed to.
Schedule agreed to in accordance with section 75 of the Constitution.