Chairperson, as this is a debate on the IPU, please allow me at the outset to refer briefly to the establishment of the International Parliamentary Union, the IFP - not IFP, but IPU. [Laughter.]
It was established in 1881. Currently it has a membership of 157 parliaments all over the world and nine associate members. The IPU normally meets every year to discuss matters of international importance. It takes resolutions and member parliaments are then expected to forward them to their respective countries for implementation.
The wording of the IPU theme that we are debating today, puts its finger exactly on the main problem facing the IPU, namely, it speaks about ownership of the international agendas. Behind these very words is hidden the real problem facing the IPU, namely, that the resolutions it passes every year do not effectively find their way into the agendas of its various member parliaments. I think this is where we all fail. Therefore, we should seriously rethink what we, as the South African Parliament, could do to pay attention to and implement IPU resolutions effectively.
The second topic of this debate is the redistribution of power, not just wealth. This is important to the current situation in South Africa because the divide between the rich and the poor is expanding exponentially. At its current rate of expansion, South Africa could eventually be divided only into two main camps, namely the very rich and the very poor. The middle class will struggle to survive because of poor governance and excessive taxation.
As far at the IPU status is concerned, we do not think that we are taking the resolutions effectively. If we do that, we will allow the IPU to become only an international talkshop with no teeth. It may eventually only serve as a very nice holiday for Members of Parliament.
In conclusion, the rich-poor situation worldwide is a serious problem. It will require a commitment from all role-players, and specifically our government, to embark upon and embrace a wealth and power redistribution policy in favour of all South Africans and not just those who know how to organise lucrative tenders and government contracts. Thank you. [Applause.]