Deputy Chairperson, I want to thank members who were participants in this debate this afternoon. A pleasing aspect concerned a suggestion on the enforcement of this law, made by the Eastern Cape. Hon Nyusile raised the issue of a specialised unit, which was supported by KwaZulu-Natal and North West. I'm pleased that hon members see the need for more resources, especially in this portfolio, so that we are able to do the kinds of things we need to do. I'm assured that there is that very formidable support as we go forward.
I think the hon Worth made the very same point about enforcement. We need to say that this process, which has involved everyone, has areas we are highlighting. And as we implement the legislation, we need to bear this in mind so that we are able to evaluate our progress as we go on. I think at this point we can't, with the resources at our disposal, commit to this matter.
Most of the speakers have raised the point that these are untested waters. All we are saying is that we need to test these waters as we go forward.
If you think about what the MEC from the Western Cape has raised with regard to the issue of emergency services, if we are to build a caring society, you can imagine the effect all this crime involving second-hand goods - which we are trying to curb - has of reversing that. When people are awaiting essential services someone will just come and take that away from society just like that, and the entire society will suffer.
It is a blow to our commitment to build a caring society. If we go to the Eastern Cape and elsewhere in the country we witness that there are all sorts of things ensuring that we deliver basic services to people, but we have people who just come and take whatever is copper, our taps, and so on. It is also a further blow to the essential work of ensuring that services are made available to ordinary and poor people.
The notion that this criminality is always associated with poor people is a fallacy because we have very poor countries, poorer than South Africa, who do not have the kind of crimes and activities we experience in our society. I don't think it's correct to justify this behaviour by saying that it is because people are poor. In fact, most of the people who are engaging in these things are syndicates, as the chairperson has said. They are syndicates who are well off as compared to poor people out there. Deputy Chairperson and hon members, thank you.
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Bill be agreed to.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Bill accordingly agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.