Hon Chairperson, hon members, this is not a party political speech. It is very neutral and it deals with taking Parliament to the people.
The NCOP Chairperson conducted a follow-up visit of Taking Parliament to the People to Northern Cape Province in the Kgalagadi District Municipality from 27 to 30 August 2007. The initial visit took place from 27 to 31 March 2006. The NCOP delegation conducted various site visits to determine the progress made by the provincial departments. The delegation included local councillors and MPLs. This was conducted under the theme of "Masijule Ngengxoxo Mzansi".
Various findings were made by the delegation with regard to education. A range of secondary schools put forward their challenges, such as: no fences around schools; the schools' section 21 status; leakage of underground pipes; shortage of textbooks; shortage of computers; teacher shortages; inadequate school equipment; temporary teachers not receiving their salaries; language barriers as a medium of instruction; and inadequate transport for learners residing far from school. These issues relate to the no-school-fee system, which means no school fees are being paid at these schools.
Some of the issues have been addressed, such as: the fences have been erected; the school is in the process of appointing a qualified service provider for the leaking pipes; the Department of Education provided the school with textbooks; and additional permanent educating positions have been created to address the shortage of teachers. However, inadequate funding has resulted in the fact that the computer shortage could not be addressed. It was recommended that members of the legislature visit the relevant schools at least three times per annum. These challenges in schools are more or less the same.
With regard to the general observations and recommendations by the NCOP, the Chairperson of the NCOP, the hon Mr Mninwa Mahlangu, proposed having a meeting with the hon Premier of the Northern Cape province.
The health care issues that have been identified were a shortage of staff; inadequate medical resources, which includes the disposal of placentas after giving birth; a lack of infrastructure and equipment; poor road infrastructure; and a lack of telephone lines.
The progress made by the provincial Department of Health includes: the provision of ambulances; appointment of more staff; and the installation of telephone lines. But the current issues are problems in accessing water; an absence of medical doctors and dental surgeons; the need to train ambulance drivers as emergency care practitioners; and electric circuit cuts that impact negatively. These issues need to be looked at in most health centres, hon Chairperson.
Then we had farm visits where some issues were identified, including incomplete water reticulations; a lack of proper training in project management; and a lack of adequate watering points, resulting in the overgrazing of resources. These issues refer to the Rekopane Ostrich Agricultural Co-operative Enterprise Limited, which is an ostrich farm. There was also a lack of holding pens to enhance separation of the ostrich breeding pairs.
The response was that the Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the Nature Conservation Unit, referred members of the co-operative to an ostrich farmers training session. The Department of Agriculture provided a dam, fence and windmill to assist with water reticulation. About R120 000 was issued for purchasing a breeding machine. This money was issued by the Moshaweng Local Municipality, hon Chairperson. The co-operative is still facing financial challenges. These challenges are relevant to most developing farmers.
The issues which were raised in regard to the Expanded Public Works Programme relate to the following: a shortage of qualified personnel in certain aspects of the projects which poses a challenges; high levels of unemployment in the Kgalagadi District raise expectations of large numbers of people gaining employment from the EPWP projects; and the remuneration given to the EPWP beneficiaries has not increased since the programme was initiated. The response to this has been that the remuneration package increased from R40 per day to R50. Outstanding issues include the fact that the majority of the EPWP beneficiaries who participated in the construction of the road projects are currently unemployed and that there is no operational budget to maintain the newly constructed road. In conclusion, these are the challenges facing projects, and it needs to be given attention constantly.
I request the House to support and adopt this report.
I thank you, hon Chairperson. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Report accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.