Mr Chairman, I must start off by saying that it's actually regrettable that the hon Johnson has really impacted on the legal framework of South Africa, which has always been very highly regarded by the rest of the world. It's shocking that he's attacking the Bench in that sense.
We've heard that the principal Act provided for pension benefits to those who, amongst other things, have made sacrifices in the process of establishing a nonracial, democratic constitutional order, but who were not in a position to provide for pension benefits for a significant period.
The Act provided that only persons 35 years and older on 1 December 1996 were entitled to such a pension. Inequities, however, remain a concern to survivors and dependants and the objective of this Bill, amongst other things, is to provide benefits to a wider group of beneficiaries.
During the course of the public hearings, however, it was evident that several veteran associations still do not believe that the amending Bill goes far enough. In particular, they raised concerns over the administration of the existing benefits and suggested that deserving recipients were still being excluded. They pointed out that it has proved harder than previously anticipated to reintegrate ex-combatants into productive roles within society, giving post-traumatic stress disorders and educational gaps as reasons.
The Bill seeks primarily to extend the pension and funeral benefits to those ex-combatants who were 30, but not yet 35 on 1 December 1996. Many commentators made strong submissions to extend the pension benefits even further, but keeping in mind that the original qualifying age was 40 and that any benefit under this Bill will be retrospective to 1 April 2001, the committee and National Treasury were of the opinion that sufficient provisions had been made, based on the fact that any applicant would have had to be at least 19 years old in 1985.
The benefits deriving from this Bill also provide for surviving spouses and orphans. The Bill also provides for improved administration arrangements, including powers to the Minister to make National Treasury or any other department or public entity responsible for administering the Act.
Alhoewel die DA nie ongevoelig is vir die omstandighede van die geaffekteerdes en die meriete van hulle eise nie, is ons tog bekommerd oor die volgende: gaan die groepe nou tevrede wees of gaan ons onder 'n nuwe ANC-regering verdere eise in hierdie verband kry? Die beraamde huidige waarde van benodigde bykomende fondse is reeds R3,7 miljard, wat noodwendig in die toekoms sal toeneem.
Die huidige waarde van die konsepwetgewing se implikasies word geraam op R6,86 miljard. Dit is onseker tot wanneer voorsiening gemaak moet word en wat die impak hiervan op die fiskus in die toekoms gaan wees. Daar is ander groepe wat ook nie voorsiening kon maak vir soortgelyke pensioen- en begrafnisvoordele nie. Hoe regverdig die Regering dit teenoor diesulkes, of is die bedoeling dat slegs diegene wat deel van die struggle was, bevoordeel word?
Suid-Afrika toon l meer die karaktertrekke van 'n welsynstaat en die implikasies van hierdie wetsontwerp kan teenstrydig wees met geloofwaardige internasionale advies oor wat nodig is om ons ekonomie uit sy huidige kommerwekkende stand te red. Die vraag moet gestel word oor die volhoubare bekostigbaarheid terwyl groei in die ekonomie terselfertyd benodig word.
Suid-Afrika moet 'n land vir al sy mense wees. Hy moet oopgestel wees vir optimale geleenthede vir alle gemeenskappe ongeag hul ras, geslag en politieke affiliasies. Ons vertrou dat die meriete van 'n saak regeringsondersteuning vanuit die fiskus sal lei en nie noodwendig huidige of vervlo politieke affiliasies nie; en ook dat die volhoubare en billike finansile las op die belastingbetalers in aanmerking geneem sal word. Ongeag hierdie kwalifikasies sal die DA die wetgewing steun. [Tyd verstreke.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Although the DA is not insensitive to the circumstances of the affected persons and the merits of their demands, we are nevertheless concerned about the following: are the groups now going to be satisfied or are we going to get more demands in this regard under a new ANC government? The estimated current value of the additional funds required is already R3,7 billion, which will necessarily increase in the future.
The value of the implications of the draft legislation is currently estimated at R6,86 billion. It is not clear until when provision must be made and what the impact of this will be on the fiscus in the future. There are other groups that also could not make provision for similar pension and funeral benefits. How does the government justify its position to these people, or is the intention that only those people who were part of the struggle should benefit?
South Africa is increasingly displaying the characteristics of a welfare state and the implications of this Bill could be contradictory to credible international advice on what needs to be done to rescue our economy from its current alarming position. The question that needs to be asked deals with sustainable affordability while growth in the economy is required at the same time.
South Africa should be a land of opportunity for all its people. It should be made accessible to all communities for optimal opportunities, irrespective of race, gender and political affiliation. We trust that the merit of a case will determine the support from government via the fiscus and not necessarily current or former political affiliations; and also that the sustainable and fair financial burden on the taxpayers will be taken into consideration. Despite these qualifications the DA will support the legislation. [Time expired.]]