I am glad to receive a question from my adviser, and we are waiting for you to come back - all of you. You know who you are. [Laughter.]
Hon members, the PIE Act was promulgated in this House. Its intention was to assist people who were being evicted from certain places - land they occupied on farms, and so on. It doesn't apply to this case. It is actually the PIE Act upon which these judgments are based. You remember that it was hon Sisulu who mounted a challenge against the PIE Act in the famous Grootboom case, and we lost.
All these judgments, about shacks in Delft, Ekurhuleni, Gwala and now, of late, the Johannesburg judgment, are based on that Grootboom ruling. Illegality is now protected by law; therefore, it is a very serious situation. Today, any number of people can come and occupy the premises, or even this House, and you cannot evict them unless and until you have found alternative accommodation. That's how serious this matter is.
So, the essence of the problem starts with that Act, which was passed here. However, the Act was not passed for the purpose of preventing the "illegal" eviction of people who do this thing today. It was attempting to address the past - history - but unfortunately history has caught up with us.
Steps by department to have rehabilitation centres established and to prevent abuse of harmful substances
53. Mrs W J Nelson (ANC) asked the Minister of Social Development:
What steps (a) is her department taking to ensure that rehabilitation centres are established in each province and (b) is she taking in conjunction with the MECs to prevent the abuse of harmful substances in recreational facilities, schools and clubs?