Chair, on behalf of the Chief Whip of the Majority Party, I move:
That the Report be noted. Declarations of vote:
Chairperson, the removal of 395 mud schools in the Eastern Cape has long been needed and long been promised. It took the threat of court action for the Department of Basic Education to allocate appropriate funding and to make commitments to time frames for the replacement of mud schools by safe structures for learning and teaching.
The Bisho High Court order of 4 February 2011 required the first seven new schools to be completed on or before 1 May 2012. However, the department has rather badly let down the children who are accommodated in mud schools. For the children who use the following mud primary schools, the wait for safe schools has been and will be substantially longer than they were told: Matolweni; Thembeni; Sidanda; Sompa; Nkonkoni; Nomandla and Maphindela.
In November 2011, Parliament was told that some of the schools would be ready in March 2012 and others in June 2012. In February there was another announcement, in which we were told that all 49 schools that are part of the current contract would be completed by 31 August 2012. In fact, none of the schools was handed over on the promised deadline of 31 August. The children who are using mud schools will now have to wait until the end of November, at the earliest.
Why does the ANC-led government, provincially and nationally, continue to make the children suffer? The government must be charged for being in contempt of court. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, our member, hon Madisha, is ready to make our declaration.
Hon Chair, permit me to indicate that it is not feasible to separate what is happening in the Eastern Cape from what is happening in Limpopo. I will therefore say something as far as both are concerned.
Compared to other countries, such as Brazil, Russia, India and China, our country spends a higher proportion of its gross domestic product on education. This is an indication that education is an ongoing priority for the government. However, the system continues to be crippled by the following: poor administration; a lack of infrastructure; frequent policy and curriculum changes; corrupt tender practices; and the lowering of standards. The education system in South Africa is in crisis. Even before I go on with what I am raising, I want to ask the following question: Do we really have a President in this country? Do we have a President in South Africa? [Interjections.] I am going there. [Interjections.]
In the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report, South Africa is ranked at number 137 out of 139 countries for the quality of maths and science education; and number 125 for the quality of primary school education. [Interjections.]
Now, while section 100(1)(b) of the Constitution provides for an intervention by the national department, the measure has proved to be totally inadequate. The national Minister's intervention in Limpopo and the Eastern Cape has not led to the full delivery of textbooks to learners on time, in compliance with the court order. It is not only the issue of textbooks, but of classrooms as well.
The Presidential Inter-Ministerial Task Team has completed its investigations, but why is President Zuma incubating the report? The country needs answers. He is clearly an uncaring and incapable leader. Is he the President? [Interjections.]
Order! Hon Madisha, can you please take your seat? Yes, hon Sizani?
House Chair, I rise on a point of order: I did not hear you say that you were putting Order Four and Order Five at the same time. The hon member is arguing Order Five.
We have already put the two Orders together. [Interjections.] [Laughter.]
Thank you very much. You can ask your comrade "Skuurpot" to tell you if you are talking about the "black bag". [Interjections.] [Laughter.]
In any country where the education of that country's children is being severely compromised by a long drawn-out and avoidable government failure, a minister must resign or be fired. On what basis is the Minister of Education still in office, considering the extent to which she has failed to provide strategic and administrative leadership and support? Hence the question again: Do we have a President in this country? [Time expired.] [Interjections.]
Order, House Chair. Even if ... [Interjections.]
Order! Yes, I will give you a chance. Just hold on.
Let us also ... [Interjections.]
Your time has expired. [Laughter.]
As I sit down, I wish to say that Mr Zuma must go home. [Interjections.] He is not doing anything for the country. [Applause.] [Interjections.]
Please settle down, hon members. Listen, will both sides please settle down! We are addressing important topics, especially regarding education in our country. I am appealing to both sides to please give the speakers a chance to say what they want to say so that we can just get our work done. I would appreciate some assistance. [Interjections.]
Chair, when a member on the opposite side raised a point of order, you said both items were being read together, which they are not. Can you give a final ruling on that, please?
Yes. Originally there was the oversight visit to Limpopo and the one to the Eastern Cape. That was then compressed into one. Then there is another one ... [Interjections.] No, no, let me finish. Then there is one that deals with a report on basic education. [Interjections.] There are two, not three. So, it is correct that Mrs Malgas will actually introduce the report on basic education. [Interjections.] It was my mistake that the first two were introduced together. The Fourth Order would have been first, before the one that I have introduced. So, you are correct. We are now on the Fourth Order. Are you happy with that?
No, I am not, actually, because we are working according to the Order Paper that was issued to us, and this has not been changed. It is in accordance with this that we would like to make a declaration on the Fifth Order.
You still have a chance to do so.
We do not see these two as one single report; they are two separate reports. The one is for Libode in the Eastern Cape and the other is for Limpopo.
You still have a chance to do so.
Chairperson, just ... [Interjections.]
Can I just attend to one thing at a time, Mrs Kilian? Please sit down. Alright, I am giving you direction. If anyone wishes to give a declaration on the Fourth Order of the Day, you may do so now.
Chairperson, can I just ask you some other questions for the sake of clarity?
Yes.
It is just in relation to the status of the report: if the report is just being "noted". I am very concerned because it seems that, in respect of the Fourth Order, we had two committees that actually went on an extensive oversight visit. They came back with very valuable conclusions, first-hand knowledge, etc, and they made specific recommendations. If the report is "noted" only, does this mean that the recommendations - that the Minister of Basic Education should ensure that the department submits the report on the envisaged cost escalations and all of that - simply fall off because the House has now just "noted" the report? Does this now have no House resolution status? Can we have a better understanding of what is intended with the report just being "noted"? [Interjections.]
Right, I have been advised. That is your opinion and everybody has the right to his or her opinion. You are just one member sitting there.
What?
Yes. I have just been informed that the declarations for the Fourth Order are complete.
Right, Mrs Kilian, you want to know about what happens in terms of the Fourth Order. Are you talking about the Fourth Order? Well, if we are done with all the declarations, I am going to put the question of whether there are any objections to the report being adopted. I now put that question. Those in favour will say "Aye".
HON MEMBERS: Aye! [Interjections.]
Chair, they have not objected to the report.
They have. That is what they are saying - she is objecting. [Interjections.] Mrs Kilian, did you object to the report?
No, in fact, hon Chairperson, we actually welcome the report and we want to have the report adopted because it puts specific pressure on the Department of Basic Education to provide information on the 49 schools that should be built and on the completion date. We contend that if the House only "notes" the report, it will not put pressure on the department to actually perform and build those schools.
Hon House Chair, I plead with the Table. The House Chairperson asked the Chief Whip of the Majority Party to decide whether the report is noted or recommended and everybody said, "Yes". Then the opposition asked for declarations - after the decision was taken. Now, why are you going back?
On a point of order, Madam Chairperson: Is the member rising on the point of order or making a speech?
Alright, I have just been advised that the question should be before the House. These two reports under the Fourth Order will be "noted". So, now I am going to ask you the question again. Are there any objections to the reports being noted?
Chairperson, yes, there are objections. Will you please record Cope's objection because then the reports will, firstly, have no status. Secondly, it would mean that Parliament is making payment for considerable costs for visiting the relevant areas! Members of Parliament go on oversight trips and come back with a report that is then only "noted". That is not part of oversight.
Madam Chairman!
Table, can you please come here?
Madam House Chairman ...
Chairperson!
Chairperson, "Chairman" is actually neutral, but as you wish. May I approach you? Thank you. I wish to submit an amendment to the motion before the House: that the report be "adopted". Because this is an amendment, it needs to be voted on before the principal motion is voted on. If somebody seconds it, I will just move that the motion be amended to call for the adoption of the report.
I second that.
Hon member, I cannot take an amendment.
I have the right to put an amendment!
At this point, we are calling for any objections to this report. You have the right to accept the report to be "noted" or you have the right also to accept the report for noting. So, you have had your say, so the report will be noted. Can we please proceed.
Madam Chair, are you ruling ...
Hon Oriani-Ambrosini, I am not taking any amendments at this stage. Thank you.
I note my objection to your ruling. [Interjections.]
I request that the Table staff check - until the very last moment - the documents they provided to the Presiding Officer.
Motion agreed to (Cope and IFP dissenting).
Report accordingly noted.