Hon Deputy Speaker, when the mobile cellular telecommunications service companies, which are mobile operators that are commonly known as Vodacom, MTN and Cell C, were licensed by the regulator, part of the license conditions for all of them was to submit a roll-out plan and a timetable to cover the South African population, including rural areas.
Furthermore, it is a requirement that these mobile operators report on the roll-out plans annually to the regulator so that there could be measurements with regard to the progress made against the timelines that these mobile operators committed themselves to in their business plans.
One of the priorities in terms of these roll-out plans is to cover areas which previously did not have cellular coverage, specifically the rural areas or the under-serviced areas, as we call them.
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, Icasa, regulates and makes an analysis of the roll-out reports that these companies provide, and any cellphone coverage gaps that are identified for that particular period under review by the regulator is brought to the attention of these specific companies by the regulator.
Sometimes, of course, when consumers from these companies have trouble with this cellular reception they will complain to the regulator through a special complaints section, and the regulator would then raise these matters with the relevant cellular companies.
Icasa will then make the respective operators aware of these shortcomings and request them to expand the networks accordingly, so that those areas, which are normally in rural areas, can in fact get the kind of cellphone coverage that they require. Operators are then expected to report on progress separately on such specific cases, over and above their respective annual reports.
Hon Deputy Speaker, the IFP congratulates the hon Minister on his appointment to this important portfolio. Arising from of the Minister's reply, this morning we had a presentation at the portfolio committee by the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa, Usaasa, and we were startled to learn that they are still struggling to grapple with the definition of universal service access. There is also confusion as to who is responsible for the implementation of universal service access to information and communication technology, ICT, services between them and Icasa because of the lacuna that exists in the Electronic Communications Act. Now, will the hon Minister's department be taking steps to sort out this confusion, as it impedes delivery in this nature? [Time expired.]
Hon Deputy Speaker, the hon Zondi raises an important issue. It is true that there is a lacuna in the Act, which the department is currently looking at. The Usaasa is also quite right in that up until now, there hasn't been any agreement on the definition of what standards of service provision should exist from area to area. The notion of defining what is called an "underserviced area" is still a problem to be resolved and that is a task that Usaasa has to address because it is part of its mission, and it has to deal with this matter in conjunction with the regulator. So, we will be keeping a very close eye on this particular matter.
Deputy Speaker, hon Minister, I just want to know, do we have checks and balances in place in the country to ensure the progressive realisation of network coverage so that we can ensure 100% coverage in the rural areas? If yes, how far have we come to achieve this objective; and if no, what measures are in place for the development of such a framework? Thank you.
Hon member, that's precisely one of the matters that is on our agenda right now. We are about to implement serious engagements with different sectors within the ICT community, and one of them is the companies that are responsible for the provision of mobile cellular coverage.
We have been convening a series of round tables to discuss with them this particular point and to establish what their plans are to assist the country to obtain the kind of coverage that we want better than what they are able to provide just here. So, that's the first step in developing the kind of plan to get the outcome that the hon member is talking about.
Hon Deputy Speaker and hon Minister, as you all know, it is the right of all South Africans to have access to information. Does the Minister feel that 3G and broadband access is efficient; if not, what plans are being put in place to ensure that rural areas, specifically, have access to the information network, thus improving economic opportunity and equality of education? Thank you.
Deputy Speaker, hon member, I can only support you on that by saying that it is a desired outcome that we are working towards to try and get much better 3G coverage for all consumers in our country. It is central to the department's strategic plan and this is the matter that I, as a new Minister, am busy engaging in with the department to see exactly what is on the table. If there isn't any, we are certainly going to get there. Thank you.
Deputy Speaker, Minister, actually, you have a wonderful opportunity to create a new vision for this Communications portfolio. What is your vision of government's role concerning the improvement of access to communication networks in the rural areas? World surveys have found that in most cases where there was a lack of access in the further afield communities, it was as a result of regulations and lack of government actually putting forward funds for infrastructure roll-out because 47% is a lack of funding by the government. Does government, or you, see that we should invest, as South Africa, in the rural communities, to improve access to cellular and broadband facilities also in those areas? Thank you.
Deputy Speaker, hon member, it is a commitment in terms of government's programme that we have to ensure that our rural areas, which are underserviced, receive the kind of infrastructure that we think they should have. So, it is a priority commitment of this government to ensure that in any way possible we develop the underdeveloped areas in our country. And certainly the establishment of an effective communications infrastructure is very much a part of that particular plan.
The reality is that we have to do this within the context in which we bring various parties to the table to collaborate with the government. Government on its own is not going to be able to do this. Therefore, we will have to engage the private sector, which has the intellectual capital and the investment resources to come to the party. These series of round tables that we intend to have over the coming weeks will also have that particular item on the agenda for discussion with the private sector. We would invite the top 30 companies in the ICT sector, to discuss with them whether they are open to such an invitation to come into partnership with the department in the reconstruction of this particular sector.
We would also like to establish from them precisely what the nature of the issues are that they would like us to tackle as government to construct this agenda for engagement. One of the matters is precisely what they can provide to assist us in meeting the infrastructure backlogs in our country. Thank you. Particulars regarding any gains made by agricultural sector in relation to jobs shed in 2010
275. Mr L S Ngonyama (Cope) asked the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries:
Whether the agricultural sector has made any meaningful gains in dealing with the problems of 86 000 jobs shed in the third quarter of 2010; if not, why not; if so, (a) what has been the net increase in jobs since 1 January 2010 and (b) what is her department's outlook in this regard for the near future?NO3886E
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Madam Deputy Speaker, hon Minister, yes, the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector, including hunting, has had severe job losses between the first and third quarters of 2010. We are estimating that over 100 000 jobs have been shed in the third quarter of 2010. This can be seen in the context of the continuation of long-term declining trends in employment within primary economic sectors.
However, the agriculture value chain is one of the priority sectors of the current programme of government, both in terms of economic growth and employment creation. With the implementation of agro-processing initiatives proposed under the Industrial Policy Action Plan, as well as plans to elevate agriculture as one of the priority sectors under the New Growth Path, there is potential for the decline in employment trends to be reversed, over the medium to long term.
In conjunction with this, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has made inroads in the marketing of South African products in the Middle East, Far East and on the African continent. We have, furthermore, expanded our access to cheaper finance for both smallholder and commercial farmers. Our development of skills research and development has seen an additional development of the sector, and we hope that this will contribute towards job creation in the future. I thank you.
Deputy Speaker, has the Minister held any discussions or workshops with agriculture value-chain organisations, organised agricultural organisations like the National African Farmers Union, Nafu, AgriSA, and the Transvaal Agricultural Union, with a view to increasing the number of job opportunities in the sector? If so, what are the outcomes of such discussions or workshops?
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Hon Deputy Speaker, the question is very valid indeed, and we'd like to inform the hon member that we have signed delivery agreements with the various unions in our sector, in agriculture, forestry, as well as in fisheries. Our different commodity groups have also been consulted.
We are particularly working with Grain South Africa to address the unintended consequences of the surplus maize we have in our country. We have also consulted and are working with different commodity groups to look at job losses and the future potential of stemming the tide of job losses in the industry.
We would like to say that with the National Agricultural Farmers Union we are developing a package for the development of smallholder as well as subsistence farmers. Instead of black farmers being part of the informal industry or informal job creation sector of agriculture, we wish to graduate them from subsistence farming to smallholder farmers, and then, eventually, to commercial farmers. Thank you for that very good question, hon member.
Hon Deputy Speaker, let me come back to the Minister, as the originator of this question, and say to the Minister that if we talk empirically, currently, I share the hopes and the wishes that the Minister is referring to. However, if we look at what we now have in terms of Statistics SA and of the graph in front of us, the decline of the contribution by agriculture to the GDP of the country has reached crisis point, from 11,5% to 4,5%.
Yet, in 2006 the then Minister of Agriculture, Thoko Didiza, said if we invested a R100 in the agricultural sector, we would be able to generate jobs than in any other sector. However, currently we have a situation that is reported to us by Statistics SA. I hear the Minister, and I would like to say that I share the wish and the hope of the Minister, but we need extraordinary measures to turn around the situation in the agricultural sector.
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Madam Deputy Speaker, I do not think that what the hon member Ngonyama just said was a question; it was a statement, which I agree with. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Hon Deputy Speaker, hon Minister, has the department established whether a link or correlation exists between job losses in agriculture and provinces where a high number of land claims have been completed? What combined strategy does the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development follow to address these job losses? Thank you.
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Madam Deputy Speaker, no such investigation or research exists. So I would be purely thumb sucking if I would respond to the member. And yes, we do have a very good working relationship with the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, and together we are working on addressing the job losses in the sector. Thank you very much.
Particulars regarding the number, location and status of irrigation schemes in the country and their contribution to ensuring food security and empowering people
247. Mrs M E Pilusa-Mosoane (ANC) asked the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries:
(a) How many irrigation schemes are there in the country, (b) where is each scheme located, (c) what is its status and (d) in what way does each contribute to ensuring (i) food security and (ii) empowering people? NO3841E
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Chairperson, there are 453 irrigation schemes in the country, totalling 490 787 hectares. There are 51 irrigation schemes in the Eastern Cape, covering 81 076 hectares. The Free State province has 12 irrigation schemes; Gauteng has 6; KwaZulu- Natal has 44; Limpopo has 180; Mpumalanga has 35; the Northern Cape has 26, covering 131 434 hectares; whilst the North West province has 24 irrigation schemes, which cover 45 000 hectares. The Western Cape has 75 irrigation schemes, covering 126 000 hectares.
The irrigation schemes are functional to various levels of operation. Unfortunately, a large number of the smallholder irrigation schemes are suffering reduced efficiency or have collapsed. In some instances some of the commercial irrigation schemes have been underutilised and are in need of upgrading and re-establishment. The collapsed or reduced efficiency of these irrigation schemes is due to various reasons, including conflict, lack of farmer participation, lack of markets, as well as a need for the upgrading of infrastructure and equipment. Those that are being brought to increase operation include those that are being addressed by initiatives undertaken by provinces as well as the department.
In KwaZulu-Natal, an allocation of R30 million has been made to the Makhathini Irrigation Scheme. This will be used for the replacing of pipelines and fittings, maintenance of the roads, as well as repairs. The irrigation-related projects which were identified by the KwaZulu-Natal provincial Department of Agriculture also related to the R13 million of the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme, Casp, budget, which was used mainly to address vegetable production, broilers and the refurbishment of irrigation.
We also have the Limpopo business plans of R29 million. Mpumalanga has allocated R2,7 million for the development of irrigation infrastructure, as well as R4 million for the installation of irrigation infrastructure ...
Mr Chairman, on a point of order ...
What is the point of order, Mr Ellis?
Mr Chairman, I am led to believe that questions of an oral nature should not be questions that require enormous numbers of statistics and details to be given. [Interjections.] If you note, Mr Chairman, this is an ANC question. But, Mr Chairman, an oral question is something where you are seeking information, and a written question is one where the statistics and many details are given. [Interjections.]
Hon member, the Minister has already finished.
Mr Chairman, I do not think she has finished. It looks like she has quite a few pages to go.
I take note of your point, but the Minister has already finished.
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Chairperson, you are correct, I am just about reading my last sentence. All of the former homeland irrigation schemes had a food plot section, and many of the food plots suffered the same collapse as the commercial sections of the former homeland schemes after 1994. They need to be revitalised. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Hon Ministers, I think hon Ellis is correct. Next time you ought to bear that in mind. Is there a supplementary question, hon Mosoane?
Yes, Chairperson, and thank you, hon Minister. Arising from the Minister's response, it is clear that we have approximately 5 700 hectares of listed irrigable land which, if all utilised, can make a major contribution to food security and the empowerment of new irrigation farmers, as well as the creation of employment. What measures does the Minister's department plan to put in place to get all schemes functional so that we can lessen our dependency on imports, and possibly even produce enough wheat, which can bring down the price of bread for the poor? Thank you.
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Chairperson, thank you very much, hon member. The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has an interministerial committee which works on on-farm and off- farm infrastructure. This infrastructure includes infrastructure development programmes, as well as the Expanded Public Works Programme, which is investing in infrastructure for irrigation schemes. We are convinced that, as you have correctly said, these irrigation schemes would lead to better food security, particularly in the rural areas. Thank you.
Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, now that we are talking about irrigation schemes, how is it possible that a former HOD of the Department of Agriculture in Limpopo can be appointed in a senior position in the department at national level, while at that time, on the recommendations of Limpopo's Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Scopa, the MEC, Mrs Letsatsi-Duba, launched an investigation into what the Auditor- General described as irregularities in three tenders worth R45 million awarded to the company Floppy Irrigations ...
Hon member, there is a point of order, please.
With all due respect Chairperson, that is a completely new question with new details that are required. The hon member cannot honestly expect the Minister to have the details available.
Order, order, please!
Mr Chairman, may I respond to that?
May I just make a ruling here, hon Ellis.
Yes, thank you, Mr Chairman.
Even if it is an entirely new question, I am going to ask the Minister whether or not she wants to reply to it.
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: It is a simple answer, the member ...
Mr Chairman, on a point of order: The truth of the matter is that the hon member has not yet finished asking the question. He has not yet put the question. He is simply making a statement leading up to a question being asked. I would urge you, sir, to allow him to finish.
Hon Ellis, I think that hon Frolick heard the member, which is why he objected. But, I did say that I was going to ask the Minister whether or not she would be prepared to answer the question. You are saying that the member had not finished.
He is not finished, Mr Chairman.
Would you finish your question, hon member?
Thank you, hon Chair. Three tenders worth R45 million have been awarded to the company Floppy Irrigations, which allegedly implicate the involvement of the same HOD. My question was: How is that possible? Thank you.
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: The particular official referred to has not been appointed in the national Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; he is simply completing his contract, which ends at the end of November.
With regard to the answer that the Minister has given on the number of irrigation schemes that are in the provinces, may I ask, in relation to the farms that the state bought for emerging farmers - more especially those that are in KwaZulu-Natal - that are currently not productive and whose pipes were vandalised, what are the department's plans to revive those farms? Thank you.
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is working with the Land Bank on a development strategy for smallholder farmers whose farms are currently under distress. Thank you.
Hon Chair, hon Minister, arising from your confirmation in your reply to the hon member that indeed the said official continues to work in the department, but only because he is finishing a contract, does it mean that the issue of corruption and the misdemeanours that officials, from time to time, get involved in is not taken seriously by the department, but rather it just continues to keep them under its employment, instead of dealing with the particular official?
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Chairperson, thank you very much, hon member. The said official was removed from the province so that the investigation could be completed unhindered. Thank you.
Particulars regarding penalty clauses in contracts signed by arms deal contractors, and recourse to be had by department in relation to these contractors
269. Mr T D Harris (DA) asked the Minister of Trade and Industry:
Whether the contracts signed with the arms deal contractors who committed to offset their deals with investments through the National Industrial Participation Programme (NIPP) contained penalty clauses related to direct job creation; if not, what recourse does his department have over contractors who, according to the NIPP Performance Review 2009, failed to produce the 65 000 jobs originally promised; if so, (a) what performance guarantees are contained in these contracts, (b) which contractors have incurred any penalties and (c) how much do these penalties amount to?