The hon House Chairperson, fellow committee members and MPs, Minister, Deputy Minister and officials of the two departments, boards, executives and staff from related state-owned corporations and entities, guests and members of the public, the ANC government is offering a vision and far-sighted leadership through these Budget Votes. It is a Budget that deals
with the reality of our country and the challenges we are facing on the one hand; while laying the foundation to position South Africa to be among the early takers in the digital revolution.
This is a kind of the leadership of the ANC incapable of providing. As we will be commemorating the birth of our icon, uTata Nelson Mandela a week from now, we recall the words he spoke at the ITU Telekom World in Geneva in 2009:
Communication technologies have transformed the way people live and the manner in which countries develop. They have the potential to enable us to solve many of the critical problems confronting us. If this potential is to be realised, then we must find ways of turning these technologies into a resource for all people despite the challenges they face within their communities.
If we reflect on the history of industrial revolutions, we note that the First Industrial Revolution brought us the steam engine and our colonial masters imported trains and other technologies from England. The Second Industrial Revolution brought to the
world the internal combustion engine and the motor car. More than a hundred years later, as Africans we have not invented our own car. The Third Industrial Revolution was the age of the personal computer and the internet, both invented in the United States of America.
President Ramaphosa and the African leaders have committed that this time around, we will not be late takers to digital technologies. We will be producers. [Applause.]
As producers of technology, we will be able to own our intellectual property. That is why we are encouraged that this Budget focuses on supporting the creation of digital innovation hubs. China has shown us that a developing country can lead the way in new technologies, much to the displeasure of developed countries.
The onslaught in the West against Chinese tech giants - Huawei and ZTE - is a sign that the Western colonial mentality remains alive and well. While the United States has been mired in wars
in at least seven different countries, China has been quietly and peacefully developing its industries. [Applause.]
South Africa and Africa must seize the opportunity of leapfrog the West in digital technologies, if we are to emerge out of the trap of being sellers of the raw materials and buyers of finished products. But there are the likes of the DA, who would like to hold the development of Africans back.
If you asked an ordinary South African a question, what is Ms Phumzile van Damme famous for? They would probably tell you three things: Firstly, she shares a surname with a famous action movie star. [Laughter.][Applause.] Secondly, she assaulted the racist DA voter at the V and A Waterfront as she was shocked ...
Point of order!
Hon member, would you just take your seat, please. Why are you rising, hon member?
House Chairperson, the hon member is aware that she wants to bring improper conduct for allegations about a member of this House; it must however be a substantive motion. That's out of order and she must withdraw.
Secondly, she assaulted a racist DA voter.
Hon member, now you are moving into the terrain of Rule 85. That Rule says, if you want to bring that type of attention to the House, you must do so in terms of Rule 85(1)(2). I thus requested you to withdraw that remark and continue with the rest of your speech, please.
HON MEMBERS: Point of order, Chair.
I withdraw, Chair.
I am dealing with ... Thank you.
Thirdly, Ms van Damme apparently fantasise about being Minister of communications and digital technologies. She has been trying her best to project herself to the media and her Twitter followers as a hero. She is desperately trying to imitate her famous movie star cousin by attacking the Minister. Unfortunately, hon van Damme, for now you will remain just a shadow of our beautiful young Minister. Like a shadow, you will be ignored and forgotten. [Laughter.] [Applause.]
Let me take this opportunity to affirm the position of our portfolio committee. Having considered the Annual Performance Plans, APPs, and the reports of the department and its entities, including the SABC; our portfolio committee was unanimous in asking the Minister, the SABC Board and National Treasury to engage and resolve the financial challenges faced by our Public Broadcaster. We have not appointed Ms van Damme as our spokesperson on the SABC matter. [applause.] We have a Chairperson who speaks on behalf of the committee.
Point of order, Chair.
We want to assure ...
Hon Khubheka, would you just take your seat. Why are you rising, hon member?
The hon member is misrepresenting my role. I am not here on the ANC's ticket. I am here representing the DA. She must be clear. I don't represent the ANC.
No, hon member, that's not a point of order. Please, take your seat. Take your seat; it's not a point of order. Continue hon member.
We want to assure the board and the staff members at the SABC that our parliamentary portfolio committee cares for them and the institution they serve. We believe that the Minister and the government of the ANC will never take reckless decisions with respect to the SABC or any other entity of the state.
We fully understand the strategic role played by the SABC in our democracy and we will never allow it to fall into a state of disrepair. We would like to see jobs saved at the SABC and also commend the good work the board has done. The management and board must have confidence in the real government of South Africa, not a shadow, because a shadow is not enduring; a shadow is not reliable.
The SA Post Office is a great example of the determination within the ANC government to do everything in our power preserves the irreplaceable entities such as the SABC in the hands of the state.
We know that our colleagues from the EFF are still caught in 1950s slogan of the PAC of Azania, I quote: "Land first, all else shall follow". Well, as the ANC we have always argued with the PAC that ownership of land alone does not drive the economy. Their argument is that even trade and commerce happens on land and in their logic, the one who owns the land, owns the economy. Maybe we need to take this opportunity to stretch the brains of our EFF brothers and sisters a little bit.
I want to ask the fighters to think about all the wealth that has been created in the world in the past three decades.
Hon member, would you take your seat, please. Why are you rising, hon member?
I am just checking why this member is speaking about land. We are speaking about Telecommunications here.
That's not a point of order, hon member.
What is the land all about?
No, hon member, that's not a point of order. Continue hon Kubheka.
Yes, it is not a point of order. It's a question.
No!
IsiZulu:
Uzoyibamba phambili siyaqhuba ngokuhlanganisa.
English:
How much of it has been created by farmers or land owners? How much has been created by bankers, innovators and owners of intellectual properties? Fighters, we want to assure you that as the ANC, we are fighting for land and agrarian transformation. But we also want all South Africans to participate in the high value economic activities - manufacturing, finance and insurance, innovation, and digital technologies. But unlike the neoliberal DA, we believe that the state has a major role to play in development of the industries of the future.
The government creates an enabling environment for the provision of communication services to all Africans in an inclusive manner that promotes socioeconomic development and investment. For us, inclusion means programmes to ensure that millions of young people are absorbed into sectors where demand for jobs is growing.
These sectors include global business processing services, agricultural value chains, technical installation, repair and maintenance and new opportunities provided through the digital economy and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
As announced by the President in the state of the nation address, we are looking forward to the Minister issuing the policy directive to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, Icasa, to commence the spectrum licensing process. This process must include measures to promote competition, transformation, inclusive growth of the sector and universal access, as part of bringing down the costs of data, which is essential both for economic development and for unleashing opportunities for young people.
We believe that people of South Africa trust the ANC government to manage the funds based on the department's track record of good governance and accountability. The Department of Communications and GCIS both received clean audits in previous financial years. Hon member, this department ...
IsiZulu:
... iyashesha ngempela.
This department's APPs have injected a sense of urgency in the programmes of the Fourth Industrial Revolution environment. The electoral mandate and manifesto programmes are all within the apex priorities identified and translated into the Medium-Term Strategic Framework of the department.
Minister, your programmes are responding to the ANC call on all South Africans to rededicate themselves to the task of ensuring that government must empower all South Africans especially unemployed persons, youth and women, and enhance their capacity to unleash their economic and social potential.
Last, but not least, Minister, I would like you to continue marching on, regardless of the distractions that are emerging. As you continue with the review of policies and legislation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution purposes, do not be discouraged by attention seekers, particularly the DA.
Hon Minister, there are many men, and few women and youth on the boards of your entities. We encourage you to transform the boards and to focus on gender and youth balance. [Applause.]
We support your approach on shareholder oversight, especially in line with the requirements of the Public Finance Management Act, PFMA. We respect the independence of entities in terms of the Constitution and legislation. But we also expect financial accountability for the use of public funds. That is why as the ANC we call on your Ministry, boards of entities that are struggling to engage with the National Treasury to find a lasting solution.
As the ANC, we are fully supported this Budget Vote that we are talking about today.
IsiZulu:
Manje uma sisho njalo ke bese ngithi kuwe Bab'uFana lalela ngoba usujwayele laphaya ku-Generation uma uhluphana no-Karabo.
English:
With due respect, hon member, acting in a drama on SABC does not make you an expert on SABC and broadcasting matters. [Time expired.][Applause.]
IsiZulu:
Ngifuze wena.
Hon House Chairperson, firstly...
IsiXhosa:
... mandibulise apha emhlabeni wamaMpondo kulo kaFaku njengenkosazana yamaMpondo.
English:
Hon Mackenzie you missed it; I did talk to the issue of the spectrum and the policy directive that will be allocated. It is very important as hon members that we listen carefully and not just to listen to respond. I said in seven days we will issue the policy directive in line with what the president has said. Secondly, - no you do not get into the details; you must
understand the responsibility of the policy maker. I cannot determine the method the regulator must use. Read the Acts that you are producing hon member. The second matter that you spoke about hon Mackenzie again in line with the speed that we are providing in relation to the broad banding services that we are providing, I did and I was specifically quoted on this one. You must listen when a Mpondokazi speak.
IsiXhosa:
Xa iMpondo lithetha, nceda umamele mhlonitshwa. Ndithe apha ...
English:
... during the medium term, we will review the download speed to be in line with international best practice. This will form part of the work we are currently doing with the Development Bank of South Africa, DBSA, which will be concluded by the end of the financial year. Review of the speed to meet international standard from 10 megabytes to 100 megabytes, hon Mackenzie. [Interjections.] There is nothing that I can do and you just decided to be like that. [Interjections.]
Hon members, present today here are our young e-gamers and e- sport enthusiasts from TA or Term Gaming. This is one of the fastest growing sectors enabled by the Fourth Industrial Revolution that presents an opportunity for young township entrepreneurs to enter into this multi- billion industry that refuses to transform.
IsiXhosa:
Huawei has partnered with these young entrepreneurs to ensure that young people in townships and rural communities are exposed to and capacitated to compete in its sports. The department is also working with Small Enterprise Development Agency, Seda to assist term gaming to offer training in township and rural areas. Listen carefully now as we talk about growing the economy and building on small, micro and medium enterprises, SMMEs.
One hundred SMMEs and individuals will be trained on fibre and wifi deployment skills in partnership with the Wireless Access Providers Association so that every term we put a billion in the infrastructure our people get to benefit. SMMEs of about 180
will be capacitated on cellphone repairs and other key business management skills.
IsiXhosa:
Singazi apha sifike sithi...
English:
... our people continue to consume. We have got to give them skills if we cannot produce for now the devices that must be used. [Applause.] The programme will be implemented in partnership with the Technology Innovation Agency, Namisa and Seda. Our entities and all of them under the portfolio of communications and digital technologies will spend 40% of their budgets in terms of procurement services in youth-owned SMMEs. That is a non- negotiable. [Applause.]
Let me thank the portfolio committee members for their ongoing support and robust engagements. Let me thank my beautiful sister, the Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies. Let me also thank the department as led by two directors-general for continuously making sure that they
compromise and sacrifice their lives with their partners and children making sure that the people of this country get the best they can get. [Applause.]
Let me thank again the people of South Africa who continue to pray for this country and pay their TV licenses without fail. We need it; if you love SABC, it starts there by paying your TV license. [Applause.] Of course, I have got to thank my dear husband who continues to support me through all times even though he gets to be alone most of the time. Allow me to conclude by making a clarion call under theme of "Khawuleza" which must define our work now and in future. As Mama Winnie Mandela said, "Singayisusa sithanda."
The youth of our country cannot wait anymore. The good thing about belonging to a governing party is that you cannot be removed by an opposition. Of course in dreamland they can continue as shadows, continue to wish that they can remove you. The youth of our country cannot wait anymore; we must never test their patience. Let us all khawuleza to build the South Africa we want.
IsiXhosa:
Ukwenza nje malungu ahloniphekileyo, iyabulela inkosazana yamaMpondo, enguthandiwe wamaZulu. Ndiyabulela Sihlalo weNdlu.
The mini-plenary session rose at 18:54. -----------------------