Hon members, before I call upon the Deputy President, a question was raised as to why only three questions were published for the Deputy President instead of the full quota of four questions as per the Rules. Parties entitled to ask questions to the Deputy President for today were the ANC, IFP, and smaller parties in groups one and two. The political parties were informed on 25 September 2012, and again on 3 October 2012, of the deadline by which questions for oral reply to the Deputy President should be submitted.
Smaller parties in group two, namely the ACDP, UCDP, PAC, MF, Azapo, and APC did not submit any questions before the deadline. The Questions Office received an indication from the ACDP on the day of the deadline, 15 October 2012, that the party would be submitting a question. The question, however, was never received. In instances like this, where a party or group does not make use of its opportunity, the next party in the rotation with a valid additional question will have an opportunity to ask the question. Unfortunately, no additional questions were submitted by any of the parties concerned. Consequently, only the three questions received were published and those are the questions we are going to deal with.