Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to respond to the two members' statements from ANC colleagues. The first one was regarding the 30th anniversary of SADC. Indeed, I think it is a great milestone and SADC has made enormous strides during that time, both in political integration and cohesion, as well as in the region of economic integration issues with which we are still seized. Hon members will remember that we signed a Free Trade Area, FTA, within SADC in 2008. That process is under way and we are busy consolidating and implementing that FTA towards even greater regional integration.
The second member statement raised was regarding the President's visit to Russia - and I think this is a very important point. Members in this House would be aware that the President had visited Brazil and India at the invitation of their presidents as well as Russia, and next week he will be visiting China. I think it is very important that those countries were very high on the list of our foreign Ministry, the Department of International Relations and Co-operation as well as the invitations from those respective Presidents. Because Brazil, Russia and China are the fastest growing developing economies in the world and South Africa is also considered to be an important angle in that.
So, as a country we are consolidating our relationship with these countries in order to further those very important rapidly growing economies in the emerging markets. I think it is a very significant step and we are very pleased that we have had a very positive response from all those other countries in our engagement with them.
I would like to ask the hon member, Mubu, where he gets his information because the SADC Summit only concluded 40 minutes ago. So, he must really be very well aware of what was decided there, because that communiqu has not yet been published. I don't know where he gets this information. Maybe he is just seeing into the future. Thank you. [Applause.]
Consideration of Report of Portfolio Committee on Water and environmental Affairs on Overview and Analysis of the Annual Reports of Water Boards, 2008-09
There was no debate.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I move:
That the Report be adopted.
Motion agreed to.
Report on Overview and Analysis of the Annual Reports of Water Boards, 2008- 09 accordingly adopted.
Consideration of Report of Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration on Oversight Visit to Thusong centres: Gauteng and Northern Cape Provinces
There was no debate.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I move:
That the Report be adopted.
Motion agreed to.
Report on Oversight Visit to Thusong centres: Gauteng and Northern Cape Provinces accordingly adopted.