Hansard: JS: Resumption of debate on President’s State-of-the-nation Address
House: Joint (NA + NCOP)
Date of Meeting: 14 Feb 2024
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Minutes
UNREVISED HANSARD
JOINT SITTING
WEDNESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2024
PROCEEDINGS AT JOINT SITTING
Watch video here: Resumption of debate on President’s State-of-the-nation Address
RESUMPTION OF DEBATE ON PRESIDENT’S STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: The first speaker is going to be hon Mohai, the Chief Whip of the Council. [Applause.]
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE COUNCIL (Mr S J Mohai): Chairperson of the NCOP, the Speaker of the National Assembly, His Excellency; the President of the Republic of South Africa; President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Deputy President of South Africa, hon Paul Mashatile, hon members. Indeed, all of you are on a jovial mood. I do not know because it’s a Valentine’s Day today, you look great. [Laughter.]
Today, Bafana Bafana returned to the country after winning the third-place medals [Applause.] in the African Cup of Nations. They return holding South African flag high. We applaud the
team for their excellent performance. We also recognise the Ubuntu Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient hon Mohamed Dangor, who has served our nation as diplomat par excellence. [Applause.]
Chairperson, day one of the state of the nation address debate, has demonstrated what the President highlighted in the Sona that:
Just as we cannot deny the progress South Africans have made over the last 30 years of our democracy, nor should we diminish the severe challenges that we continue to face.
To create a better life for all, the second phase of our democratic transition has the primary task of significantly accelerating the fundamental task of attaining economic transformation.
As we proclaim in the Freedom Charter, that “the people shall share in the country’s wealth,” and as we maintain in the ANC 1969 Strategy and Tactics, that to leave the structure of the apartheid economy intact is to feed into white supremacy.
Transforming South Africa’s economy is a process that requires the state to mobilise its capabilities and all social partners to make a collective contribution. Thirty years into our democratic breakthrough, we continue to have high levels of inequality, which exacerbate poverty and unemployment.
Building a capable and ethical developmental state is the Sixth Administration’s first priority. As the state’s capability to implement its policies directly affects the success and challenges of changing the lives of the people for the better and including them in the economy.
The commission on allegations of state capture highlighted some of the systemic weakening of key institutions, the network industry, security institutions, the public service, and other sectors. The commission also highlighted the impact of private-sector corruption on the state’s capability, as observed in Eskom, Transnet, and SA Revenue Service, SARS.
Enhancing the capability of institutions and addressing governance challenges has improved planning and enhanced policy implementation.
The National Development Plan envisioned a capable state, through professionalization of the state. The amendment of the Public Service Amendment Bill addresses the political and administrative interface, to enable a capable and ethical developmental state through devolving administrative powers from the executive authority to heads of department.
Over the past five years, South African Revenue Service, is one of the improved institutions strengthened and supported through government support, effective leadership, and invigorated workforce. We welcome the decision of the commissioner to stay on beyond his contract and create the space for effective succession.
The Development Bank of South Africa continues to finance key infrastructure developments and operate efficiently. The opposition never talks about the DBSA - quite simply because it’s doing so well. No praise for the DBSA from the opposition either because they are hell-bent on painting state institutions as inevitably inefficient and hopeless. But the facts speak for themselves.
Your Excellency, Scholars such as Professor Mariana have highlighted that the continuous reliance on consultants infantilises the state and its ability to develop the technical capabilities required to implement policy.
The current model of outsourcing implementation has resulted in some of the current weaknesses related to infrastructure development and maintenance. We must ensure all local government municipalities have sufficient internal technical capacity to maintain roads, buildings, mechanical components, and other maintenance needs.
Infrastructure departments should also have sufficient maintenance capacity, and outsourcing should be more on built environment development. This will ensure that we employ more young people and graduates from our many, Technical and Vocational Education and Training, TVET Colleges students who else to serve to feed the industry.
In our quest to transform the economy, we should also recognize the impact of the changing wealth of artificial intelligence and the effects of climate change. We should realize that digitalization and technological innovation will
impact economic sectors that are more labour intensive. This requires our vision of economic transformation to leave no one behind as the form of production evolves.
Just transition should focused not only on energy sector, but also on other sectors impacted by technological innovation and the green transition. The rescaling of our labour force is critical to transition workers to emerging labour markets demands.
Chairperson, developing a green industrialisation value chains is important for the future competitiveness of our industries. Leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area requires us to develop green solutions for our domestic and continental markets in energy, automotive sector, and other technologies.
Despite having progressive legislation on competition and an industrial policy that promotes the involvement of the previously marginalised, barriers to entry for many small, medium, and micro enterprises, SMMEs and black people and women persist.
The black industrialist programme is a commendable intervention of the democratic government to develop black producers, and we must massify this intervention.
Over the 30 years of democracy, we have successfully used public procurement to empower businesses and local producers. One of the major achievements of the Sixth Parliament will be processing the Public Procurement Bill, which enables public institutions to determine set-asides for women, youth, and persons with disability and to support small businesses and cooperatives.
Chairperson, localization remains a key local economic development anchor and through public expenditure, we must strengthen our local supply value chain with local producers and businesses.
For example, we must ensure that our Department of Agriculture works closely with Department of Basic Education, Health Correctional Services, Trade, and Industry to develop an ecosystem where in the youth, women and cooperatives produce food supply to a captive market set aside for local producers.
The food supplied to our schools, clinics, hospitals, and prisons should be produced primarily by locals. This approach will encourage many South Africans to increase productivity and transcend subsistence farming, particularly in rural areas.
The Census 2022 outcomes reflect low land use for agricultural purposes in most provinces. Local agro-processing enterprises should also have a captive market that is set aside for their produce, as we conceptualised in the Agri-Parks model.
This model needs to ensure anchors in communities and towns working in an integrated manner that opens local markets and changes the quality of lives directly. Major retailers and producers should close the demand-supply gap. Such an ecosystem will enhance the impact of our agrarian reform programme. The state has to facilitate this, and we, as Parliament, need to monitor it.
Critical for industrialisation is ensuring the financial sector allocates sufficient capital to develop local industries to increase our manufacturing base. Key
interventions are required to increase domestic investment, including the President’s investment drive initiative.
Lowering transport costs and ensuring the efficiency of our network industry will enhance the competitiveness of our economy and lower the cost of transport for citizens. We welcome the increase in commuter rail and the support for Transnet’s turnaround strategy of bringing logistical transport back to rail.
We are aware of the false narrative by those who have benefited from the apartheid economy, who claim that affirmative action, triple, black economic empowerment, BEE, and progressive public procurement policies constitute discrimination, as they exclude whites.
Triple BEE is in all our interests, both black and white. As if we do not reduce the racial inequalities in the economy, all of us will bear the consequences.
Chairperson, as the ANC-led government, we have agreed that we have to focus on lowering the cost of living and various intervention measures are under consideration. We need to
target commuter transport and basic foods to cushion the poor and enable the real value of a working persons salary to provide for their families that subsidising transport costs. Similarly, the ongoing work towards a basic income grant must continue.
As Parliament, we are processing the Pension Fund Amendment Bill, which will enable workers to access a portion of their pension funds. This will impact the cost of living for millions of workers. The two-pot system is one of the transformative measures to improve the well-being of workers. At the same time, we have adjusted the percentage increase on the minimum wage, well above inflation, for over six million of the most vulnerable people.
To conclude Chairperson, our fiscal policy premises, as the ANC is anchored on the people, placing the people at the centre of our transformation and development agenda. The social wages and investment in the people of South Africa. It is an investment in the future of our nation. Higher education and basic education achievements, invest in our children’s future.
Throughout its history, the ANC was never naïve, that transformation of South Africa’s an equal economic relation will be smooth and straightforward.
Allow me to remind those who trivialise and vulgarise the story of Tintswalo. that their noises cannot change the trust of the vast democratic majority of the leadership of the ANC, nor will it distract us from our central task of leading socioeconomic transformation for the benefit of the poor, the weak, the marginalised and the working class. [Applause.]
For us, for us in the ANC, this represents the renewal of a democratic mandate to continue with a better life for all. Thank you. [Applause.]
The CHIF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Speaker, the President’s attempt to sanitise the lived reality of South Africans fell flat on Thursday night. His revisionist and dishonest fairytale is an insult to those who know the truth. They know the truth because they live it. They know what was told to them was a lie concocted by a bunch of speech writers – and not the daily nightmare that was touted as the new dawn.
I would like to perhaps assist the President to understand how the other side lives. I would like to introduce him to the real stories of real South Africans. His fictional character, Tintswalo, a child born with our democracy is the exception and not the rule. In this country the reality of young people is too bleak for words. Let me introduce you to Thabang, Mr President. A 29 year-old man, born in 1995. His family has lived in Alexandra all his life and his entire world view is characterised by lack and poor service delivery, joblessness and hopelessness.
None of his family members have made it out or escaped the clutches of poverty. Under the Ramaphosa presidency, there is no hope that he ever will. Despite his matric qualification, he is unlikely to ever get an opportunity to study further or get a job that will give him to live a life of dignity that he deserves.
In fact, he was there Mr President when in the heat of an election campaign, you Mr President promised the people of Alexandra 1 million new homes. He watches with dismay when you speak tough on corruption, yet your very own Deputy President Paul Mashatile has been embroiled in the looting of money
meant for the Alexandra Renewal Project. Your hypocrisy sir is not lost on him.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Just a minute, a second. Hon Radebe, on what point are you rising?
Mr B A RADEBE: Hon Chairperson, the member has just cast aspersions on the character of the Deputy President. She knows very well as the Chief Whip that she must bring a substantive motion about what she said about the Deputy President. Thank you Chair.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon members, if I may just remind all of us. If we don’t do things properly and conduct ourselves in a manner that is in keeping with the Rules, the situation turns to degenerate. To have the decorum of the House being maintained, all of us have to conduct ourselves in a particular way. This has been explained and explained over time. So, hon member, if you wish to raise allegations against any member of the House, we all know that you need a substantive motion and therefore an opportunity to do things in a way that assists and takes us forward. I will allow you
to speak but please bear what I have just said in mind. Thank you.
The CHIEF WHP OF THE OPPOSITION: Chair, Thabang watches ... [Interjections] ...
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Please proceed.
The CHIEF WHP OF THE OPPOSITION: Chair, Thabang watches with dismay when you Mr President speaks tough on corruption, when allegations of looting and corruption have been levelled against the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa and he sits right next to you. [Interjections] How do you expect young people to take you seriously when in your very own Cabinet you sit there and entertain people who have allegations levelled against them?
Your hypocrisy is not lost on him. He does not need to be sold a lie Mr President, he wakes up to a nightmare of broken promises every day. He is very likely to be persuaded to a life of crime, because quite frankly, the life that young people are living is hell in South Africa.
Allow me to also introduce you to Langalam Viki from eKomani. A three year-old child who died inside a pit toilet because your government failed to uphold basic human rights of leaners in schools. Yours Mr President, is a government that has trapped an entire generation of poor black children to a life of poverty.
IsiXhosa:
Xa izikolo zingezizo iindawo zokufundela abantwana endaweni yoko zingamangcwaba, kukhona okonakeleyo.
English:
I would like to remind you Mr President of Bongeka Buso and her children Anathi, Arabile and Oratile. Bongeka was a mother of three children from eGcuwa who decided to end her life and her children’s due to the poverty crisis that has been engulfing millions of South Africa across the country.
Bongeka, Mr President, made a choice no mother in this country should ever have to make. She decided to end her life so that she can stop looking at her children’s expectant faces everyday with no hope in sight.
South Africa is not a poor country. It is unfair and unconstitutional that anybody should go to bed hungry every night. South Africa is simply a country that is poorly led by an uncaring government. It is a crime Mr President that severe malnutrition in children under the age of five years has risen by 26%. We know that 12 000 children have died in hospitals since 2013.
Most recently, the Census has revealed that at least 2 million households in this country are experiencing hunger and forced to skip a meal a day. These are not just numbers; these are people who put their trust in you, and you have let them down.
IsiXhosa:
Eyona nto ibuhlungu yeyokuba kudala abantu benomonde, belinde lo rhulumente wawubathembise ubomi obuphuchukileyo. Kudala abantu beginya nokuba kukrakra kuba benethemba lokuba noko niza kude nikhuzane; ningabayekeleli batshatyalaliswa yindlala. Elo themba liphelile.
Bayabona ukuba lo urhulumente uphethwe ngabantu abazimisele ukutya imali yoluntu bade bayosulele entloko. Sele beyiqonda ukuba lo umbutho weANC ayisenguwo lo babewazi. Bayayazi ukuba
lona umbutho ngumbutho okhohlakeleyo. Yintoni le nto nibakhohlakalele kangaka abantu boMzantsi Afrika? Kaloku yinkohlakalo Mongameli into yokua abantu abazizigidi ezingama-
30 bangabinako ukutya umhla nezolo.
Yinkohlakalo Mongameli into youkuba abantu abatsha bangafumani misebenzi; begcakamele ilanga kumakhaya abo befumbathe izidanga ezafunyanwa ebunzimeni. Yinkohlakalo Mongameli into yobantwana abancinci abasweleka yindlala ngowama-2024.
English:
To add insult to injury, our people are gaslit by the ANC government when they hold you to account. Their loyalty is demanded and are routinely reminded to how to be grateful to the ANC. What is clear from the President’s reluctance to account recounts the key tangible deliverables of the past term is that these are few and far between. He decided to do some fancy footwork on Thursday by focusing on the past 30 years instead of focusing on his five years in government. [Applause]
You see, he too is ashamed of his record in government. He too knows that South Africans are worse off today than they were
in 2019 when he took over that office. He too knows that his government’s time is up. The people have finally seen through your sloganeering which does not translate to real change for the people who need it most. Your fudging of numbers fools no one, because people should not have to be told about your record of delivery; they should experience it.
So, as we look towards a post- ANC South African democracy, it is clear that we need a serious alternative government. A government that will not demand another 30 years in office from the people that it serves. A government that understands that it is only as good as their delivery in office. A government that is content with being on a 5-year contract to deliver against its promises.
Looking at the benches, I can tell you Mr President ... [Inaudible] ... political party. You certainly cannot be trusted with mending the very thing you once broke. I would like to turn my attention in particular to the people at home and to speak to you directly. I want to assure you that ...
IsiXhosa:
... intlungu yenu bantu baseMzantsi Afrika ...
English:
... does not fall on deaf ears. An alternative is within reach, a caring government that works for you.
IsiXhosa:
Urhulumente ozakunikhupha ebugxwayibeni; anikhuphe entluphekweni ukuze niphile ubom enanibuthenjisiwe ...
English:
... 30 years ago. [Applause.] Allowing people to languish in poverty has been one of the most spectacular failures of this government, but it does not have to be this way. A DA-led government would among other things, prioritise creating jobs and lifting people out of poverty. The seven out 10 young people at home who do not have work, I want to assure you, you will be gainfully employed. I want to assure you that we unlike hon Sylvia Lucas will not tell you that load shedding is not the end of the world. We will make sure that we solve the energy crisis, so that you can find a job and live a life of dignity. [Applause.]
To deal with crippling poverty, we would increase the Child Support Grant to the same level as the official poverty line.
This Child Support Grant would ensure that it covers pregnant mothers to support child nutrition. We would make sure that this Social Relief of Distress Grant, SRD that is in place is essentially turned into a job seekers’ fund. [Interjections]
As a caring government we would ensure that a safety net for the most vulnerable in our society is there.
These interventions are fully costed. They are sustainable. They are needed and are urgent. They will save lives.
This the pledge that I am making to the people at home. I want to assure you; help is on the way. It is not coming from this side of the House; it is coming from this side of the House. [Time expired] [Applause]
The MINISTER OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND COMPETITION: Mr President,
hon members, fellow South Africans. Two weeks ago, a freight ship left the Durban port for Ghana, with another one setting out for Kenya a few days later. They symbolise the start of trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area or the AFCFTA. The culmination of this administration's work to
translate a dream of African anti-colonial leaders into a reality.
Those ships carried grinding media balls made in Germiston helping Ghana’s industrialisation, chest freezers made in Ladysmith, cooling products in small Kenyan shops. Export ready made products displayed on the key side range from food safety boots, skin care and cosmetics to smart electricity metres, steel products and minibus taxis.
They were made in these five years by South African hands of Kamogelo Namane, a 28-year-old industrial mechanic from Germiston, a child of democracy, a Tintswalo of the steel industry. They were made by Thabiso Khumalo and Nombulelo Ngwenya, production workers from Ezakheni, by Mercy Phoza, a production manager from Midrand, by Carmel Singh, a supply manager from Tongaat, by Colin Miller, a shipping and logistics controller from Germiston. But there is history to this trade.
In June 2019, in your inaugural Sona, Mr President, you committed to the African Continental Free Trade Area, and you subsequently chaired an extraordinary summit of African
leaders to fast track its implementation. Two weeks ago, Mr President, you cut the ribbon symbolically releasing the first cargo onto that ship, and you banged the ingungu drum at the ceremony at the Durban port. It signalled the start of preferential trade, fulfilling a 2019 Sona commitment.
It is important for centuries before colonialism. Africans developed trade routes and facilitated the flow of goods among themselves, gold and salt, beads and carvings, ivory and gum, metalworks and textiles from ancient centres of learning like Alexandria and Timbuktu to the northern civilisations of Egypt and Carthage. The western kingdoms of Ghana, Mali and the Songhai, the Trans Saharan trade routes, the eastern trading centres of Zanzibar, Mombasa, and Mogadishu to the ancient southern civilisations of great Zimbabwe and Mapungubwe Africans traded with neighbours and with the world.
Colonialism broke those ties, undermining Africa's industry, and trade.
The harm to our society lasted for centuries, reducing Africans to exporters of raw materials and importers of consumer goods. This left us poor, left us vulnerable and left us dependent. With the African Free Trade Area, we're pivoting
away from that model to trade as neighbours with manufactured and digital products, with services and with food to break the bonds of neocolonialism and to reconnect with our history.
In the past 12 months, South Africa exported half a trillion rands worth of goods to other African countries, mainly manufactured goods made by South African hands. And while the hon Steenhuisen and the hon Gwarube stood here cynically rubbishing the very action by government, during this administration, we secured a Free Trade Agreement with the United Kingdom following Brexit.
We negotiated a massive tariff reduction for Rooibos tea exported to China. We gained access for our red meat to Saudi Arabia in this administration. We sold more than a million locally made cars and barkkies to Europe in this administration. We hosted the African Growth and Opportunity Act, AGOA Forum with the United States and 30 African countries, which recommended the extension of AGOA when it expires in 2030. We hosted the Brics Summit, expanding the voice of the global South. We protected our local producers with targeted tariffs on imported poultry, on steel on wheelbarrows, on tires, in this administration.
News flash hon Gwarube. Despite considerable shocks and challenges to the economy, South Africa made progress in a number of areas. Much remains to be done. Many hills still to be climbed, unemployment and poverty must be tackled with greater vigour. But while the hon Gwarube spoke here, clearly taking a vacation from reality, as part of our investment drive, hundreds of companies pledged R1,5 trillion in investment at the conferences convened by the President over the past five years.
The refrigerators we exported to Kenya and the electric boards we exported to Ghana were produced following implementation of investment pledges of R1,1 billion. Look around you hon members, you will find many other examples. The C-Class Mercedes, the Toyota Cross, the Ford Ranger bakkies were made with investment commitments in these five years creating jobs.
The undersea cables to connect Google and hold zoom meetings with West Africa and the renewable energy plant built by Aqua in the Northern Cape came from investment pledges in this administration, creating new infrastructure. Many factories were opened or expanded in the five years. Food facilities in KwaZulu Natal, the new biscuit factory in the Western Cape, a
brick making factory in Gauteng, paper pulp plants, chicken production facilities, boosting industrialisation and more will be opened in the next few months.
While the opposition wants to cling onto wealth gained during apartheid, we recognise that more fundamental change requires fundamental shifts, structural shifts in the economy. In this the competition authorities have been central. They ended exclusive leases for grocery stores in shopping malls. They tackled insurance firms that excluded smaller or township panel beaters from the list of approved vendors. They prohibited practices that limited franchise fast food stores from using township delivery services. They challenged exclusive supplier arrangement that resulted in unaffordable school uniforms.
After competition market probes, Vodacom, MTN and Telkom dropped their data bundle prices. Google agreed to fund black South African application developers. Tuberculosis drug prices came down and we are now challenging cancer drug prices.
Market probes are underway or planned in food and in steel. Master plans were developed in clothing and textiles, in poultry and sugar, and in furniture and steel, turning around
sectors that were in decline. Master plans support growing sectors such as car manufacturing and call centres.
We signed an agreement to bring the production of Peugeot vehicles to South Africa in a new factory in the Eastern Cape and a new steel factory is under construction in Gauteng.
Localisation hon members, promote structural change. Consider just one example, one sector. Partnerships between government and two South African companies led to the production of billions of rands of COVID-19 vaccines and new local production of anaesthetics used during medical operations. For the first time, we secured the right to produce human insulin to treat diabetes, oral vaccines for cholera and vaccines for pneumococcal meningitis.
While the opposition gives speeches about climate change, we work to green the economy, facilitating the building of new solar and wind power plants and production of photovoltaic solar panels. We assisted companies with rooftop solar, published a road map for the transition to electric vehicles, and released a strategy for green hydrogen.
While the DA equates black excellence with corruption, we promoted economic inclusion. The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, DTIC policy supported more than 1 000 black- owned firms during this administration, from small businesses to industrial champions. They now produce goods ranging from food, furniture and clothing to steel and the Mercedes-Benz body panels.
They employ well over 100 000 workers and their annual turnover is more than R100 billion, entrepreneurial and industrial Tintswalos. In the next five years, we're planning at least R80 billion in fresh investment in black-owned businesses to drive more growth and jobs.
While the DA thinks Black Economic Empowerment, BEE is for politically connected people, we change the competition laws to support worker ownership in mergers and acquisitions, broadening the shareholding, combating high inequality ... [Inaudible.] ... this administration, almost 200 000 workers are owners of shares in companies like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Imperial, Shoprite Checkers, Console Glass, and Burger King. You wanted facts, here are the facts.
The equity stake that workers hold is calculated to be worth at least R62 billion. Two hundred thousand children and adults of democracy will benefit from the dividend flows. People like Sihle Sithole and Mologadi Kodibona are the Tintswalos of the factory floor of the economy generating wealth for the nation and for their families. I thank you.
Rev K R J MESHOE: Hon President, hon Speaker and hon Deputy President, I want to comment on a few things the President referred to in his speech, particularly when he reminded this House that he was the Chairperson of the Constitutional Assembly, and that he worked with many great leaders of our country to craft the South African Constitution. He continued to say, and I quote:
As President, I see it as my primary duty to defend our Constitution, and to work every day to realise its promise.
Further, he said, and I quote him again:
We have safeguarded and promoted the basic rights in our Constitution, such as freedom of speech, association and belief. We have protected and advanced the rights of members
of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex, LGBTQI, community and continue to combat all forms of prejudice and intolerance.
Mr President, may I say that while you are protecting and advancing the rights of members of the LGBTQI communities, please ensure that this does not inadvertently infringe on other people’s constitutional right to hold a different view, a constitutional right that you also promised to uphold. Young leaders and students, for example, should not have to be indoctrinated about LGBTQI rights at schools and universities, if their own conscience or religious beliefs differ. In his concluding remarks, the President said, and I want to quote him again:
... guided by the fundamental principle of human rights and freedom, we have taken up the Palestinian cause, to prevent further deaths and destruction in Gaza.
I now want to tell this House why I don’t believe that this government’s efforts will yield any lasting fruits, or even stop the hostilities between Israel and Palestine, particularly in Gaza. However, before I tell this House what I
believe can and will help end the war in Gaza, I want to firstly express the ACDP’s sadness at the tremendous loss of innocent lives and destruction of property in Gaza. That is why I believe that this government and the international community can end the war in Gaza within three weeks to a month, if they want to. They will have to do the following if they are serious about ending the war.
Firstly, they should prevail on the Hamas to release all remaining hostages hidden in their tunnels. Secondly, the ANC and international community should order Hamas to destroy all tunnels under Gaza, particularly those leading into Israel.
Thirdly, Hamas and the international community must accept the right of Israel to exist within safe and secure borders.
Without these fundamental agreements in place, that war will never end, and the dream of a two-state solution will never materialise.
It is not possible to live in peace next to a neighbour who has vowed to remove you from the face of the earth. It is not possible for Israel to live in peace next to Hamas who has vowed to repeat the despicable atrocities they carried out on
7 October last year, which reportedly included rape, murder,
abductions and beheadings. The ACDP longs to see peace between Israel and Palestine, but this won’t be possible until the right of Israel to exist within safe and secure borders has been acknowledged and agreed to. Taking Israel to the International Court of Justice will not improve the situation there. Government ... [Interjections.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon members! Order, hon members! Heckling and so on is not such a bad idea, but if you drown the speaker, you are really going beyond the boundaries.
Please proceed, hon Meshoe.
Rev K R J MESHOE: I want to remind the ANC today that Isaiah 54:17 says that no weapon that is formed against Israel shall prosper, and every tongue that rises against her in judgement she will condemn. ANC, you have gone too far, and your judgement is imminent. When the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob said he will bless those who bless Israel, and curse those who curse her, he was not joking, but he meant every word he said. You have invited a curse on yourselves, and you will get it. Responding to the President’s letter ... [Time expired.]
The MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS: Hon Chairperson of the NCOP, His Excellency the President and Deputy President, hon members and dear South Africans, one has noticed that in this debates and in others before we are being ridiculed or even prevented from quoting our apartheid and colonial past while other nations, perhaps those which are regarded as supernations are allowed to quote their past and even use the past to fight present wars. One of the media houses recording this event has even attempted to intimidate those of us who are still to debate, by counting the numbers ANC members who have referred to colonialism and apartheid in their inputs.
The hon Chief Whip of the Opposition, in a vain and feeble attempt to hide the truth, has tried to intimidate you, Mr President, not to speak about what happened over the 30-year period. Madam, you can’t hide the truth because truth is like liquor, and you can’t hide liquor in your stomach. I want you to know that. [Interjections.] Let me advise you why the tactic won’t work. Those who came before you - philosophers and authors, have long resolved this issue. John Jay Chapman, who lived from 1862 to 1933, has this to say and I quote: “One of the deepest impulses in man is the impulse to record - to scratch a drawing on a tusk or keep a diary ... This instinct
as to the enduring value of the past is, one might say, the very basis of civilization.”
Another author said that history is who we are and why we are the way we are. That was David McCullough. Still another author, Robert Heinlein, says that a generation which ignores history has no past and no future. Lastly, Pearl Buck said that if you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday. Now, Mr President a search of yesterday reveals to me that gogos [grandmothers] are also Tintswalos.
After completing my studies at the University of Natal, I happened to work in Bushbuckridge. We were met there with an ethical dilemma. The Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, knows what I’m talking about, he also worked there. The old age SA Social Security Agency, Sassa, grants that help our people, did not exist - at least not in a systemic structured way that the ANC government has brought about. Only a few, here and there, had access to old age grants, which was also coming by monthly and in some instances, even after three months. Only white people used to get old age grants every month. [Interjections.]
Now the dilemma we face was that the social workers told us that the only way to help an black old folk out of poverty through some form of social grant is to declare them disabled – that’s when they then stand a chance. We had and I did it, unfortunately - we had to declare completely able-bodied gogos disabled just to help them to survive. In the 1990s when I opened my practice in Sekhukhune, we even have to organise all the old people to go to the former Lebowa government to March and demand their old age pension. There is a picture at SABC TV with a picture of them pointing to the sky with their walking sticks in a defiant amandla salute against the police who were trying to stop them from demanding old age grant.
Please go and check with the SABC TV because there are pictures there which have been stored.
When ANC came to power, their Tintswalo moment arrived because today, all we have to do is to fill a Sassa form when you reach a particular age, Mr President. Mr President, I, even at my age, already being a medical practitioner, became one of your Tintswalos. [Interjections.] The place where I opened my medical practice had no electricity and no running water and no system to connect to. One had to improvise with drums and lanterns and candles for lighting. My Tintswalo moment came
when the ANC rolled out electricity to rural villages and started rolling out programmes of clean running water.
We are not talking here, Chief Whip, of the individuals you are quoting one by one. Here we are talking of a whole population change - a programme that changes the whole population. Mr. President, even whole communities had their Tintswalo moment. The Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, announced here yesterday that modern medical equipment were delivered in St Ritas Hospital. This hospital is in Sekhukhune. On the Christmas Day of 1986, I was in theatre in that hospital performing a caesarean section alone. I was my own surgeon, my own anaesthetist and my own assistant surgeon, for I was the only doctor – one doctor - working in the whole hospital. Performing such a procedure was expressly forbidden by medical council, but we have to choose between obeying the rules and letting a mother and baby die. Breaking such rules in our desire to save lives became “days of our lives.”
Mr President, today, apart from the equipment Dr Phaahla mentioned, St Ritas has got 50 full-time doctors, from one doctor. [Interjections.] That is their Tintswalo moment. And we can’t hide this history.
Sepedi:
Ntate Nodada, ge o sa tsebe gore batho ba geno ba be ba phela bjang, o no ikhomolela, warra ... [Disego.]
English:
... because you grossly undermine the Tintswalo moment of matric results. Mr President, I was the first MEC for Education in Limpopo in 1983, just a year before our democratic elections. The results in the former Lebowa government for matric was 27%. You will never know that because matric results were not announced during that era. From 27% to what we’re getting today - that’s a Tintswalo moment. If you don’t believe it, go to the archives and check because the information is there.
Mr President, we have just released on the 8th, White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection towards a complete overhaul of the immigration system in the country.
This is going to be the first time since our democratic era or even before that we are going to have an overarching policy on migration. Those who don’t understand why we need to press the reset button on migration, just need to read the recent court judgments on migration, including the judgment passed
yesterday on the 8th last week by the Gauteng High Court, which is referred to by the media as a victory for the Department of Home Affairs.
Mr President, on 8 February, the Department of Home Affairs released the Government Gazette that issued draft immigration as well as new visa regulations for public comments. The visa regulations are the results of recommendations of the voluntary report which you, Mr President, commissioned. They will usher in a new era - an improved way of dealing with visa and also usher in new era of trusted employer scheme, remote working visa and a point system on awarding of certain types of visas. I also wish to explain, Mr President, a directive that is causing confusion that was issued on 21 December 2023. We are being blamed for chasing away tourists. Mr President, that directive is not being understood. It was supposed to be an internal memorandum to guide the Border Management Authority, BMA, officials at the ports of entry.
Unfortunately, it went out into the public.
We are being accused of chasing tourists out of the country. Fortunately, I had a heart-to-heart discussion with my colleague, Minister De Lille, and I want to inform you that
apart from having these things - 44 countries in Europe don’t need visas to come South Africa, 20 countries in Asia, 36 on the African continent into the Southern African Development Community, SADC, 19 in North America and 11 in South America. That is a total of 32 countries. Those who need visas are on the fast track e-visa system, so there is nothing about chasing people out of the country. Thank you very much.
The PREMIER OF THE WESTERN CAPE (Mr A Winde): Thank you very much, Chair. Mr President, hon members, citizens of South Africa, it is an honour for me to be able to address you in this debate, today. We have all heard the story of two cities. Today, I want to tell you the tale of two parties. I want to tell you a tale of the party of failure, a party called the ANC who cannot keep the lights on; a party who cannot keep trains running; and a party who cannot keep Transnet underpinning the economy, costing us a billion rand per day;
... [Interjections.] ... a party who cannot keep out ports operational, costing us R200 million per day.
This is a party that has given us the highest youth unemployment rate in the world; a party that knows not how to deal with corruption and state capture; a party who does not
know how to grow the economy and create jobs; ... [Interjections.] ... a party that cannot provide SASSA grants to vulnerable citizens of our country. This is a party of absolute failure!
Then, of course, there is another part of the tale. A party that gets things done; and a party that is busy saving South Africa. Mr President, nothing demonstrates exactly what I mean by a tale that I am going to tell you now, of real people – not a fairy tale of fictitious Tintswalos. I am talking about real people. I am talk about two young people: Mr Danver Windvogel; and Mr Denver Adonis.
These two young men, coming from a poor background and poor community, finished matric in small town called Franschhoek – not so far from here. These two young men from poor background and community, finished their matric in a province that believes in opportunity; in a province that believes in enabling people to reach their potential. These two young individuals, through a partnership with Belgium, went overseas and learned how to make chocolate. They came back here, got a R150 000 loan to get their business going, and started a
Belgian cholate company, Huguenot Fine Chocolates, in Franschhoek. Two young entrepreneurs! [Applause.]
Unfortunately, Mr President, along came a pandemic and with it a lockdown. But, these two entrepreneurs pushed through. They employed six people and they managed to get to the other side of the pandemic. Once they got to the other side of the pandemic, they battled to pay their rent, and that is when the DA-run Municipality of Stellenbosch stepped in and enabled them with a piece of property at an acorn rental with a 10- year lease in the middle of the main street of a tourism Mecca called Franschhoek. [Applause.]
However, it was not long until load shedding hit. The lights went out. Of course, that is when the DA-run provincial government stepped in. We have an SMME Booster Fund. We have a fund for small, emerging entrepreneurs to put solar panels on their roof and batteries in their systems. [Applause.] It is not a fairy tale, Mr President, I was at their business last week Saturday while the country was in Level 6 loadshedding.
The air conditioners were on; the fridges were on; the manufacturing was happening because we enable entrepreneurs in this province. [Applause.]
But the tale, continues. I asked if they sold sugar-free drop diabetic chocolates – because I am diabetic. They said to me that they normally do but, unfortunately, the special ingredients that they need have been sitting at the port system six for weeks. [Interjections.] Again, the ANC is failing those entrepreneurs – failing them dismally.
Madam Speaker, it goes further than that. The ANC doesn’t just fail entrepreneurs when it cannot provide power or an operational port, it is also failing towns. The President spoke here last week as if corruption was a thing of the past. The President spoke here as if state capture did not happen under his watch. He also spoke about it as if it was finished. Let me tell you about a town in this province that has been captured: A town called Knysna.
Knysna town is run by a coalition of the ANC, the EFF and Patriotic Alliance, PA. That town has been captured. All those entrepreneurs are now suffering. I have just heard the previous speaker speaking about places that had no water. That place had water; but today it has no water. The people of Knysna have got no water; and they had no water for five days.
They haven’t got sewerage systems. The hospital is picking up more and more diarrhoea cases. [Interjections.] This is a warning for after the 2024 general elections. That coalition has captured everyone in that town. The water system in November 2023 had a body floating for 14 days. When they tried to pull the body out, the arm fell off. That is what the ANC- EFF-PA-alliance thinks about those citizens! It gives them contaminated water to drink. The rubbish pile is bigger than this inside hall. The rats are the size of dogs. The cronies get the contracts – total capture!
Mr President, I dare you to help us put that municipality under administration, because that is exactly what needs to happen. [Applause.] Mr President, when the ANC fails, the DA steps in. The first area of stepping in I want to talk about is the piece of legislation coming out of the Western Cape, called the Western Cape Powers Bill. [Interjections.]
It is interesting how the ANC opposes this Bill like anything, when you ask those individuals standing outside with their banners: Why are you opposing the Powers Bill? It is the failure of the ANC to create jobs, give you services. That is all we are trying to do? That Powers Bill will create an
enabling economic environment, where we will go through the NCOP and the National Assembly, or even end up in the Constitutional Court when you are not able to deliver services to our citizens.
Let me talk about policing. That is the first place where the devolution of power should happen. The Minister of Police says, “Not over my dead body”? So, what do we do in the Western Cape? We go ahead and start to deliver to the citizens where the ANC fails. [Interjections.] Four years ago, today, we launched our Law Enforcement Advancement Programme offices, Leap offices, in partnership with the City of Cape Town, deploying officers in the highest crime rate areas of this region.
Five years ago, if I stood here, I would have had to admit that this region had the highest murder rate per capita in the South Africa. We were the murder capital of South Africa.
However, without the Minister of Police, we put our Leap officers in place. We deployed them to places like Delft, Hanover Park, Kraaifontein, Grassy Park, Khayelitsha, Phillipi East, Nyanga, Gugulethu, Bishop Lavis, Mitchells Plain, Lavender Hill.
Guess what, Mr President: If you look at the report from the Institute of Security Studies – an independent report - that mapped the four provinces with the highest murder rates in South Africa: Gauteng, Kwazulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and Western Cape. Of those four provinces in the last five years, murder rates went up tragically in three of them; and the murder rate came down in one of them. [Interjections.] That is the Western Cape! [Applause.]
If we can do that with a 1300 LEAP officers here, using data and evidence, imagine what we will do when we force you to give us the power of policing. [Interjections.] Mr President, you should be hanging your head in shame. Twenty-seven thousand citizens in this country were murdered last year. You should all be hanging your heads in shame. How unbelievably shocking is that?
In this province, we will show that we can make a difference. We give hope. We can do it where the DA governs, and it makes that difference.
Mr President, I also note that in your speech, you didn’t have much to brag about in your last term. Let me tell you where
the DA gets things done in this province about this last term. We can now build a school for 500 learners in just 65 days. We are the only province with the #BackOnTrack programme, where every Saturday learners and teachers are in class.
These are the primary school learners, where thousands of our teachers are in class, catching up, reading with meaning – thousands of them! [Interjections.] We are the only province with a learner retention rate of 74%. [Applause.] In your provinces, Mr President, the learner retention rate is 40% - measly!
Let me tell you about the health sector in this province. On the whole African continent, there are only three hospitals in the state that have robotic surgery, and they all happen to be in the Western Cape: One in George; and two in Cape Town. [Applause.] It is in this province, Mr President, where jobs are created. [interjections.] We have the lowest unemployment rates by far.
When the hon Chief Whip of the Opposition was here, she mentioned that number: Seven out of 10 young people in this country do not have a job. How shocking is that? Seven out of
10 people don’t have a job! In this province, eight out of 10 people have a job. [Applause.] Last year, this time, Mr President, I could talk about coming out of the pandemic and as to how many jobs were created in South Africa? It was
169 000 jobs in the whole country. The interesting number is that 167 000 of those jobs come out of this province, the Western Cape! [Applause.]
These are the facts, Mr President. That is why most of South Africans coming from ANC-run provinces are coming to this province. They are voting with their feet. When I saw the hon Mabuyane when I walked in, I thought the Premier had finally decided to move to the Western Cape like the rest of his citizens. I actually felt like asking him: Did you turn the lights up before you left? However, he didn’t have to do that because you have already done that for him.
Mr President, there is a tale of two parties: A party that dismally failed the citizens of this country; versus, a party that creates hope, gets things done, and a party that is going to make a massive difference once you announce the election date. This is a party that is going to save South Africa. We are going to do exactly what happened in the DA-run
municipalities and province across the whole country. [Applause.] So, Mr President, announce that date. Bring it on! Thank you.
The MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SCIENCE, AND INNOVATION: Hon
Chairperson Ambi Masondo, Speaker of the National Assembly, hon President of the Republic of South Africa Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy President hon Paul Mashatile, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, hon members, Premier Winde you should be ashamed because the DA is telling a false narrative here.
All the things you claim you have done have been made possible by the advances made by the ANC, and where you fail you blame the ANC. I want to ask you a simple thing, if you are so committed to changing the lives of ordinary people, why are you not selecting poor students from the Western Cape to go and study medicine in Cuba? You are the only province that does not do that.
I thought you were talking about the tale of two cities, what is happening in Cape Town in the predominantly white suburbs compared to Khayelitsha and Crossroads, where the schools are rotting in the name of what you are talking about?
[Interjections.] No, hon Steenhuisen, do not say that you do not have money. You are claiming that all the things that you are doing it is because you are using your resources. I am just challenging you, please answer what the hon Dugmore said to you yesterday. Hon President, all this is a distraction.
Let me also congratulate you, President, you wrote speeches for everybody this time in the state of the nation address. Everybody is talking about Tintswalo even those who are trying to distort what you meant about Tintswalo.
You clearly articulated the interventions of the ANC government to reverse centuries of colonial rule and apartheid in South Africa. Over the past 30 years, we have significantly increased access, especially for students from poor and working-class backgrounds in our post-school education and training system. In 1994, the number of enrolled students in our post-school system was 495 000. In 2013, this number more than doubled to 980 000 students.
In 2019, the total number of enrolments at universities, TVET and community colleges stood at 2,1 million students. Black university students in South Africa increased from 49% in 1994
to 71% in 2021. [Applause.] Sixty per cent of university students today in South Africa are women.
IsiZulu:
Iningi labafundi bethu basemanyuvesi abantu besifazane.
English:
Hon Chairperson of the NCOP, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS, represents one of the most progressive interventions by the ANC government. Since its inception in 1991, at the instigation of former President Mandela before he took over in 1994, NSFAS has funded over 5 million students.
Put differently, since 1991, NSFAS funding has grown from disbursing R21,4 million to almost R48 billion in 2023, and in 2024 it will reach the R50 billion mark.
Already NSFAS has transferred R4,2 billion to our universities and our colleges so that no single NSFAS bursary student will have to pay registration fees upfront. As I am talking to you, President, and the House, have already provisionally approved funding for 989 998 students and we are currently engaging with the Revenue Service for the salary verification process with the view to ensuring that no applicant is disadvantaged.
Out of those provisionally funded, 791 405 are the SA Social Security Agency, Sassa, beneficiaries. So Tintswalo is automatically approved for NSFAS because she has been a Sassa beneficiary. One of our most notable milestones is that ...
IsiZulu:
... ngo-2010 sidlulisele i-NSFAS kubafundi basema-TVET, ibikade ingekho ngaphambi kwalokho. Okunye esifuna ukusho ukuthi asimangali uma amaqembu afana ne-DA ahlasela i-NSFAS ngoba ayazi ukuthi yenye yezinto ezibalulekile kakhulu ezenziwa i-ANC lezi.
English:
What does NSFAS do? The National Student Financial Aid Scheme breaks and disrupts intergenerational poverty.
IsiZulu:
Futhi iningi labantwana abaku-NSFAS baqhamuke emindenini engakaze kubekhona umuntu oneziqu zasenyuvezi noma iziqu zasezikhungweni zama-TVET. Bangabokuqala.
English:
As the hon Malatji said, we have also introduced funding, a loan scheme for the missing middle students, those earning over R350 000 but not more than R600 000 per annum total family income, and this loan has an incentive, those students who finish their qualifications in record time, half of the loan will be converted to a full bursary. Whilst these successes are important, we are aware of the capacity challenges that are facing NSFAS. That is what I have been preoccupied with as a Minister.
We are working very closely with Minister M Ramokgopa of the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation. We are also forming strong partnerships with both public and private financial institutions to strengthen NSFAS as well as the universities and colleges and making sure that we work to stabilise the institution and ensure clean governance.
President, you recently announced the planned establishment of two new universities. The feasibility studies for those two universities are done., and very soon, Minister of Police, you will be getting your University of Detective Services in Hammanskraal. We are ready for that now.
This government also established the first two universities, post-apartheid, Sol Plaatje University, and the Mpumalanga University. Those two provinces have never had universities before. We also would like to applaud you, President, for having recently launched the Presidential PhD Programme worth R1 billion to send our brightest young minds to leading science and research institutions in various parts of the world for training and exposure so that they can come back and serve our country. This government, led by President Ramaphosa has invested a lot into infrastructure. We have built over the last five years 16 TVET college campuses, all in the rural areas ... [Applause.] ... in the poorest provinces.
At the University of Venda, we have built a brand-new Faculty of Health Sciences Building; Walter Sisulu University East Teaching Mall with 19 modern lecture halls and 13 tutorial rooms with a 314-bed student residence. We have also built New Skills Centres built by our Sector Education and Training, Setas, in Sekhukhune as well as in Richmond in KwaZulu-Natal. We also wish to say that, in 1994, there was one Trade Test centre in South Africa which was in Olifantsfontein. Today there are 35 that we have built in TVET colleges. So ...
IsiZulu:
... u-Tintswalo akusafanele asuke eKhalankomo eMpumalanga Koloni aye e-Gauteng ukuze aye ukuyohlolelwa umsebenzi ukuze abe ungcweti.
English:
We are also fighting the scourge ... Chairperson, thank you very much. [Time expired.] But I wanted to remind the DA that Israel has killed 94 professors in Gaza and shut down the 12 universities. That is what you are supporting as the DA, the I Israeli apartheid. Thank you. [Interjections.]
Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Hon Chairperson and Mr President, I hear some of my colleagues raising concerns about Hamas. Let me explain to these people what the scenario or situation is in Palestine. There are children dangling with limbs blown off or crawling, screaming with their dying breaths. Do you know what their mothers are doing, Chairperson? Their mothers are looking for the heads of the children that are so badly decomposed that they cannot even identify them. But yet we have political parties in this House that are trying to justify the massacre and the genocide that’s taking place in Palestine, particularly in Rafah right now.
Let me give a loud and clear message to the DA. If you think that the people of this country are going to allow you and take this beautiful country and the City of Cape Town of ours and hand it over to the Zionist, the City of Cape Town would be a blood bath I can assure you that. We will not allow you to take this and sell it and sell your principles, your ethics and values like you have just pawned the land in the Western Cape to the United States and others. We will not allow you to make this a Jewish state. My message to all South Africans is loud and clear. If you want another Palestine in the Western Cape, and you want to go back to the days of apartheid, then support the Zionist which we believe violate the rights. This City of Cape Town has been violating for a long period of time. So, if you want them to continue, I want to say it to you, that you will pay the ultimate price - the draconian laws that they are now introducing, the freedom of speech that they are now restricting. I hear them talking about how well things are in the Western Cape. There is no poor white in the entire Western Cape according to the latest survey, but almost 40% of blacks and coloureds are poor.
The City of Cape Town is the alcohol city of the country but they’re not talking about it. Eight rapes in schools in three
months, and they are not talking about that. What about the people in Parrow Park? Do you know what is happening there, Chairperson? The white tenants – listen to this - are paying lower rent than the coloured tenants in Parrow Park. Go have a look at it, and go and see how they are being treated.
We talk about workers’ rights, but what about the rights of those taxi drivers who work from 4:00 to 9:00 with no benefits whatsoever? What are you doing about the Khoi and San and the Cape Corps? You have totally alienated them, and no respect for them but you live on the land that belongs rightfully to them. I’m calling on the Cape Corps, I am calling on all members of the coloured community, the black community and the Khoi and San that rise and rise now against the Western Cape. Rise today before it is too late.
Many communities in South Africa continue to suffer. The Indian community in Malukazi, in Shakaskraal and in Clare Estate all have been marginalised.
We are talking about crime. Look at the state of the police officers in this country - disgraceful R13,00 danger allowance, living in shacks in shanty towns. Have any of you
done anything? But I can tell you why, more money is being given to the Western Cape to provide to their police force that they have implemented just to violate the rights of others. The time is coming, the time is coming when you will pay the ultimate price.
On the land, we are saying to you, Mr President, there is no reason why this Western Cape government cannot identify every family in this province, in every municipality and right now subdivided the land and give every one of them a piece of land. Don’t worry about the electricity, water and sanitation you can give them. Why haven’t you done that? You won’t do it because you want these people to come begging to you day in and day out. [Time expired.] Thank you very much.
Mr A G WHITFIELD: Hon Speaker, hon members and Mr President, as difficult as it is for us to acknowledge that the promise of the dream of 1994 has tuned into a nightmare, we must tell the truth. Tintswalo and her children are more likely to be raped, assaulted, kidnapped and murdered today than they were when you became President. Tintswalo, like millions of her fellow citizens live in fear, they live in fear every single day unable to trust the police. Desperate to feel safe. After
more than five years at the helm of our nation you have left a bloody trail of broken promises because you have failed to be decisive in fighting crime. [Applause.] In 2019, you promised to halve violent crime in a decade, but today at the halfway mark violent crime is up across the board. You have abdicated your responsibility to secure the safety of every South African and you have stolen the future of countless children who have known only fear since the day that they were born.
The truth is that your Presidency is a crime scene and your criminal record as President is among the worst in the world. Since you became President murder is up 28,9%, attempted murder is up 34,9, car hijackings are up by 23,1%, robberies at residential premises are up by 9,2%, common assault is up by 12% and kidnappings are up by 131,7% since you took office.
Since you were elected as President 46 414 people have been kidnapped in South Africa, 107 145 people have been murdered and 182 906 people have been raped. These are not the statistics of a constitutional and democratic state committed to upholding the rule of law, no, but they are the statistics of a violent criminal mafia state at war with itself and its citizens.
You promised to fight gangs and reduce drug related crimes, but drugs keep flooding our streets because in the last financial year your SA Police Service was able to neutralise only four out of 41 identified drug syndicates. You promised to increase visible policing and capacitate the police yet there has been a net reduction in the SA Police Service, SAPS, personnel since 2019 from 192 000 to 179 000 in 2023. The SA Police Service management has been gutted and filled with cadres promoted over specialists with decades of experience leading to resignations and early retirements.
Fellow South Africans, this President and his government cannot rescue our country and her people from violent crimes. They have proven far beyond a reasonable doubt that they are not capable.
But there is good news. A safer South Africa in which all citizens can live in peace and prosperity with one another is within reach. A South Africa where children can live and play without fear, where women can go out at night alone and know that they will be safe and a South Africa of rising opportunity for all, that rewards the law abiding and punishes the criminal and the corrupt. A South Africa where we can all
truly be safe and build a prosperous future for our children and our grandchildren. South Africa and her people can be rescued by a new government that is deliberate and decisive in fighting the criminals that have captured our communities. A new government with the DA at its centre will rescue our criminal justice system to ensure that quality investigations lead to successful prosecutions and convictions of violent criminals and corrupt politicians. A new DA-led government will abolish cadre deployment and recruit the best and brightest among us into the police service to lead this fight against violent crime. [Applause.] A new DA-led government will restore and reward professionalism, discipline and good governance within the ranks of the police so that we can rebuild trust with our communities. A new DA-led government will focus on preventing crime before it occurs by implementing a well-resourced and evidence-based crime prevention strategy. We will strengthen crime intelligence and bolster SAPs’ specialised units to dismantle organised criminal, organised political criminal syndicates and gangs such as the construction mafia and illegal mining syndicates. A new DA-led government will bring the SAPS into the 21st century through the deployment of drones, gunshot detection technology and fully integrated closed circuit television,
CCTV, networks leaving criminals have nowhere to hide. A new DA-led government will move swiftly to devolve policing powers to capable local and provincial spheres in order to enhance local accountability and responsiveness. [Applause.] Where we are piloting this right here in the Western Cape the evidence proves that it works.
Fellow South Africans, I know that South Africa will be a safer country after 2024 because you, the people of South Africa, will rescue Sout Africa when you go to the polls this year. You will stand over that ballot paper you will vote for your safety. You will vote to secure a safer future for your children and your grandchildren. You will vote for a better future not, a better past. You will vote to get these crooks out of Cabinet so that we can get the criminals off the street because your vote for the DA is a vote for a safer South Africa. I thank you.
The MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY: Madam Speaker, hon President, hon members, and the Tintswalos, for the romantics who celebrate Valentine’s Day, a day dedicated to love, red roses, chocolates and other little gestures, happy Valentine’s Day [Interjections.] It was also in this day in 1981, when the
late President Samora Machel of Mozambique pledged solidarity with the people of South Africa. So, today, I am very much in love with my country, in which President Nelson Mandela delivered his state first state of the nation address to this Parliament on 24 May 1994, when this country and the world were a very different place, when Centurion was just a small town called Verwoerdburg, where we bought taxis and second- hand cars, when Midrand of new Road, Blue Valley, Waterfall and Mall of Africa were still small suburbs called Halfway House, when Thohoyandou was still a one street town, and the V&A waterfront was just the docklands around the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront.
When Madiba addressed Parliament, he was empowered by an interim Constitution that had enabled our democratic transition. Soon after President Mandela became President, it was this President, who leads us today, Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, who was elected as the chairperson of the Conditional Assembly – the Constitutional Assembly which crafted the Constitution which governs all South Africans today. Our new constitution, which is hailed as the best in the world and the best certificate of our democracy, didn’t fall from the sky, and it wasn’t an outcome of a magical
convention on the road to Damascus on the part of the apartheid regime. It was an outcome of protracted battles between the advocates of freedom and democracy on the one hand, and those refusing to let go of white privilege, inequality, and a divided society. Unfortunately, prejudice is a chain, it holds you down. And 30 years after the dawn of democracy, some even in this House are still held by the chains of prejudice. It is a shame. [Applause.]
As we mark 30 years of freedom, we must not exercise our reflections and recollections without remembering exactly where we have come from, or without acknowledging what has confronted us as society in our journey to here. Despite the global economic meltdown of 2007-08 and the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tintswalos or the black diamonds as they are generally referred to or the national breadwinners as they call themselves during the COVID-19 vaccination period, continue to lead the installation of the digital connectivity in deep rural KwaZulu-Natal and other provinces. They continue to work as young black and women engineers at our power stations. They work side by side to create sovereign launch capable that has allowed our country to take satellite technologies into space. [Applause.] They are the bedrock of the more than 10 000
Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises, SMMEs, that are suppliers to the National School Nutrition program. They are the engineers and the contractors behind the more than 750 000 kilometres road network from the 525 000 kilometres road network in 1995. Yes, some of the provincial and municipal roads have the port rules that we are intervening in.
Currently, the SA National Roads Agency, Sanral, has taken over 3 100 kilometres of roads transferred from provinces so that we can use its road construction and maintenance capacity to deliver better roads with more under consideration. In the past five years, the Sanral has executed projects to the value of R120 billion, which translates to just under 45 000 job opportunities and the participation of almost 6 500 black- owned SMMEs in the road construction industry. Just this January, the Sanral announced another 28 billion injection into the industry with the implementation of over 70 projects. The Sanral’s work to improve the country’s road network is complemented by Operation Vala Zonke aimed at closing potholes on the municipal roads across all municipalities. We are aware that some municipalities are progressing faster than others.
Hon members, we are rebuilding the network industries to ensure it services our country more effectively. Despite the teething challenges, the Passenger Rail Agency of SA, Prasa, has restored operations on 26 out of 40 commuter rail corridors following disruptions caused by COVID-19 pandemic and the criminality that vandalized our rail infrastructure. [Applause.] Of these restored service lines, 19 of them are operating with new trains. The Prasa has received 184 new trains that have been built in Nigel, in Ekurhuleni Gauteng. In addition, 276 Metro rail coaches have been upgraded or refurbished, 97 train stations have been refurbished, and 29 co-operatives are responsible for cleaning and maintenance of these stations. Through the capital expenditure of the Prasa, we have created more than 46 000 job opportunities. Even Transnet is starting to register a turnaround at its operations with the arrival of critical equipment, irrespective of the weather, those containers can be loaded and offloaded in our ports. We appreciate the support from business under the chief executive officer, CEO, Initiative that has partnered with government in driving critical reforms necessary to rebuild our economy.
Tshivenda:
Vhathu vha hashu, ndi zwone Tintswalo na ?hama dzawe vha na mutsiko wa ku?urele kwa matshilele. Fhedzi mushumo une ra vha khawo wa u fha?ulula ikonomo u ri ?ea zwikhala zwa uri ri ?ee vhoramabindu vha?uku mishumo uri ri bveledzise themamveledziso yashu. Hezwi zwi khou engedza masheleni zwikwamani zwa vhoramabindu vha?uku na vhoTintswalo. Ro fara ro khwa?hisa kha u fha?ulula ikonomi yashu uri i kone u ?iimisa kha mafhungo a fulufulu, zwa migodi na thengiso ya zwiko zwa mavuni.
English:
We are prioritizing, in co-operation with other countries within our region, beneficiation of our minerals as we strengthen reindustrialization through localization. Yes, what about employment? Eight consecutive Quarterly Labour Force Surveys have indicated an improvement into the unemployment situation in the country with 16,7 million people in employment by the end of the third quarter of 2023 - the first to surpass the pre COVID-19 employment levels. Although
6 000 000 youth are now in employment, the challenge of youth unemployment like the world over remains. It is for that reason that President Ramaphosa led the establishment of initiatives like the Youth Employment Service, YES, in partnership with private sector partners. The YES has created
over 130 000 work experiences for young people to date. Over 1,7 million work and livelihood opportunities for unemployed South Africans have been created through the Presidential Employment Stimulus, which prioritizes predominantly youth and women. The SA Youth Mobi platform has launched, and it provides pathways for young people to employment, learning and youth enterprises. Today, over 4,8 million young people have registered on the platform and more than a million have been placed in earning opportunities.
Madam Speaker, all these achievements have been made possible by South Africans who consider it their duty to be part of transforming our country and undoing the damaging legacy of apartheid, not the revisionist. Maybe I must remind some amongst us that the President, in his address last week said:
Just as we cannot deny the progress South Africans have made over the last 30 years, nor should we diminish the severe challenges that we continue to face?
Maybe I must borrow from Bob Marley and say to the DA before we start pointing fingers, make sure your hands are clean. Hon Xwarube, the story of Tabang you were attempting to narrate,
for us is the story of a young man or a young woman from Gugulethu, Nyanga, Delft, and Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay and Mitchells Plain ... and we are starting to find them in them in the city of Tshwane under the DA administration. So, Madam Speaker, the President hasn’t closed this debate of the state of the nation address in February 2024 yet, but I am already looking forward to the second state of the nation address of 2024. I am sure hon members from the other side are looking forward to this as well as they will be able to scrutinize ... [Time expired.] ... and criticize sitting from where they are sitting. In any case, some people feel rain, and other just get wet. I love you. [Interjections.]
Mr M P GALO: Mr President, you started in your speech by reminding us about the historic democratic national and provincial elections of 27 April 1994. We agree that the 1994 general elections were a historic breakthrough, especially after decades of colonial and apartheid misrule. As we went to the polls in 1994, the black indigenous people voted with the high hopes, thinking that they were installing a servant and an ethical government, which they hoped would not compromise or betray the aspirations of the poor masses. As the people,
we didn’t know we were voting for lumpen politicians, thieves and self-centred enemies of the people.
Hon members, after three decades of the so-called constitutional democracy, South Africa is deeply divided along racial and trust lines. It is also divided into two nations state. We have urban areas on the one hand, which largely mirrors the remnants of the colonial and apartheid rule, and rural areas, on the other hand, which is under the control of the traditional leaders - the Kings and Amakhosi. This is where the vast majority of the poorest of the poor, the black indigenous people are found. The majority of our people are trapped in grinding poverty without access to adequate clean water, poor social infrastructure, and a higher rate of unemployment.
Mr President, you also indicated in your speech that your government is rooting out hunger by providing the Social Relief of Distress grant. We know that R350 in our country ridden of corruption and greed is an insult to our people.
Hon speaker, the ANC government has no effective and credible plans to introduce sustainable employment schemes and run
cutting-edge infrastructure investment in the rural areas. We argue that spending a lot of money on social grants is not an investment. Young people must be skilled and cannot depend on the R350 grant.
Mr President, we need a radical economic policy shift in order to address the economic imbalances of the past. Neo-liberalism is the curse to the working class and the poor. Neo-liberalism is benefiting only the ruling elite and their cronies. As a result, the democracy of three decades in South Africa has produced only 5 black billionaires and several multimillionaires within the ranks of the ruling party. The black majority, on the other hand have been kept in the continuous of fights over spoils of the ruling class.
Mr President, let’s go back to the basics. The Western liberal economic policies will never bring a better life for all in this country, whose majority are poor.
In conclusion, I wish to salute “KK” Kenneth Kaunda, the 1st President of Zambia from 1964 to 1991. [Time expired.] Give me two minutes.
Cllr B STOFILE: Speaker of the National Assembly, the Chairperson of the NCOP, President of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa; Deputy President of our country, Paul Mashatile; premiers of our provinces; hon members; fellow South Africans; our approach on the state of the nation of the President from local government perspective. As we approach 30 years of democracy, allow me to start by reminding this august House that the South African local government system, has its history and roots deeply embedded in our country's colonial past. With several scholars describing the historical role of local government, many argued that the pre-1994 local government system perpetuated racial segregation, poverty and inequity in the distribution of essential services. This history left bold imprints of social injustice, spatial injustice, racial bias and poor access to essential services for the majority of the population in the Republic.
Scholars are also in agreement that the country's local government system has emerged from subservient and illegitimate institutions to a more democratic local government system, with the Constitution of the Republic introducing a complete transformation of the local government system. Local government is now a sphere of government in its
own right and no longer a function nor an implementing arm of national or provincial government.
Whereas local government, has undergone rapid transition and transformation over the last past 30 years, there can be no doubt that it has had a profound impact on the lives of ordinary South Africans assisted by provincial and national government in expanding the provision of services to our people. The recently released outcomes of the 2022 Census attests to this reality, by confirming that the following key gains in delivery of basic services have been made. Access to electricity for lighting went from 58,1% in 1996 to 94,7% in 2022; [Applause.] 82,4% of households in the country has access to piped water either inside their dwelling or inside their yard; 98,4% households have sanitation, with 70,8% having access to flush toilets; and two-thirds of households in the country had their refuse removed by a local authority. While it is true that a number of serious and complex challenges persist in some municipalities, by and large there are extensive examples, as confirmed by Census 2022, that local government has delivered quality services and a better life for the majority of our people. And of course, local
government could have not done these without the assistant of national and provincial government. [Applause]
The Census 2022, further confirms that the South African population grew to 62 million in 2022, translating to 17,8 million households, an increase of 7,2 million additional households that must be serviced by local government. In addition, hereto the Census 2022 further confirms that 50% of our population live in the 17 largest municipalities in the country.
If we analyse these statistics, it begins to suggest that a large part of our population reside in cities. Cities which continue to face growing environmental, societal, and economic challenges with growing levels of demand for municipal basic services. It therefore means that in the absence of an acknowledgement of the importance of local government, we face the increased risk of not creating sustainable human settlements, which provide for a decent quality of life and meet the social, economic and material needs of communities in a holistic way. We must therefore, looking into the future, define an appropriate response to the picture painted by Census 2022.
Despite its most pivotal role in building democracy and promoting socioeconomic development, with the responsibility for 46% of the constitutional functions, local government still remains a big area in which we need to develop, capacitate and build capacity so that it can respond to our challenges. And we can do this through improving co-operative governance. And we are happy, President with the Minister Motsoaledi on his programme in so far as foreign nationals visiting our country but lending up in our municipalities. He is endeavour and working with us is a very important. And I must say, we are happy with Minister Godongwana. For the first time he agrees after many years that local government is underfunded. Therefore, we can go to the debate and have discussions on how we can then better fund local government. [Applause.]
Our own assessment as the SA Local Government Association, Salga, is that local government is a complex sphere of government, it requires a proper diagnosis, to develop a response that is appropriate. An appropriate response requires a distinction between the occurrences, patterns and trends versus the systemic and structural issues. Having regard to the national interventions alluded to earlier on, we tend to
react and respond to the occurrences and not the underlying causes. It is our respectful view, that in dealing with the state of local government and the challenges attendant to, consideration has to be given to a number of interventions as a package instead of wanting to deal with them one by one in isolation of a bigger picture.
As stated in a previous Sona, we fully supported President Ramaphosa view on the appointment of properly qualified municipal officials to ensure the effective management and provision of services. [Applause.] We, however, added that similar focus, President, should be placed on the political arm of local government and political parties are the one that are electing councillors and then send councillors to council. Our analysis confirms that every five years, the high turnover in local government, exacerbated by lack of proper screening of candidates, sets the sector back in terms of leadership, governance and oversight stability.
Despite numerous interventions to increase the capacity of councillors, during a term of office, the task is daunting and the gaps are blatant as recent developments particularly in coalitions have exposed serious weaknesses in the leadership
qualities of many of us in managing the coalition. If we don’t manage the coalitions, it is going to fall right in our face. We once more repeat our plea and call to all political parties to prioritise deployment of skilled and knowledgeable councillors. A more radical proposal is that, as we march towards the next elections, there should be a set of minimum criteria, coupled with the introduction of a performance management and accountability based on remuneration regime for both councillors and senior managers.
I think President, we need to consider two things, you must punish the mediocracy and reward the performance. You may recall that we stood here a year ago to draw attention to the impact of coalition governments on service delivery and municipal governance. We wish to extend our appreciation to the President of the Republic for responding positively to our call for a national dialogue on coalition government by political parties that gives us people in council. We are hopeful that following the National Dialogue held in August last year, will bring us closer towards a framework for coalition governments that can be used as a guide by political parties in structuring their coalitions in practice. Without a framework to guide political parties in structuring and
managing coalitions, political parties and independent councillors will be required to establish coalitions whilst being uncertain about the rules or mechanisms.
IsiXhosa:
Ze nincede, niyiphelise lento ka...
English:
... Kingmaker and Queenmaker because it is creating problems.
As it relates to “Municipal Financial Sustainability”, the President rightfully recognises some of the challenges that weaken local government institutions. This view must be seen in the context that the financial resources available to municipalities have fallen short of the increasing demands on municipalities for services, including non-revenue services, and infrastructure delivery needs. On safety of councillors, President, municipal officials, traditional leaders, and we see of late judges being threatened.
As stated in the Sona debate, as Salga we remain concerned about the growing number of intimidation and killing of councillors and municipal officials, and damage to municipal
property during service delivery protests. In recent times this has also been extended to traditional leaders and judges. Coupled with recent shootings and killings, there are broader questions to be asked. "What has gone wrong with the moral fibre of our society? Is it the cause of these types of death love of money or greed? Are we not making enough noise to be heard when we say that enough is enough? For how long are we going to keep quiet while the public office bearers are mamed daylight threatened their lives for rendering services. And that is why as Court President of the International local government formation, we are agree with the approach that you took in Palestine of which in Syria, you will do the same. [Applause.] This is a worrying development in the context that the occurrence is country wide, although with different intensities. These developments threaten the credibility of democracy but more so negatively impacts the credibility of local government as a potential area of opportunity for qualified and competent public representatives and prospective employees. Thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES: Madam
Speaker, the President of the Republic of South Africa, the Deputy President and the Chairperson of the NCOP, the
opposition behaves as if they have just fallen from heaven when they know that the President has been candid and honest about the successes and the challenges of our country. They do so in order not to see the successes of the governing party.
Xitsonga:
Yingiselani vana va demokirasi loko va tiyisisa hi ku vula leswaku hi vona va Tintswalo.
English:
These are the motives forces of the National Democratic Revolution. I am Tintswalo. [Applause.] Like many South Africans who started high school after 1994, I started my high school in 1995, hon President, both my parents were farm workers who could not afford my tertiary education. Luckily for my generation, the democratic breakthrough with its promise for a better life for all, changed our trajectory.
Having attended TSB Farm Primary School in Komatipoort, in Mpumalanga, I matriculated in Mchaka High school in Bushbuckridge in 2000. I can stand here in this House with great conviction that had it not been for the ANC government’s expansion of Tertiary Education Fund of South Africa, Tefsa,
and my sister paying for my university registration, I would not be standing here today. [Applause.] I would not have been an attorney of the High Court of South Africa having appeared in the highest court in the world, the International Court of Justice, ICJ, on global affairs. [Applause.] My life was predestined as a farm worker and design by the apartheid government and not by choice.
What hon Nzimande has referred to here it’s a living reality in all our townships and villages across the country. The village where I come from, Cunningmore B in Mpumalanga, had no electricity nor running water. Today there is electricity,
running water and a tarred road ... [Applause.] ... so are many villages across the country. Its results of National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS, are tangible, hon Gwarube, is one of them, you can touch it with your bare hands.
Xitsonga:
Mbuyelo wa NFSAS u nga wu khoma hi mavoko, Ximokokulu xa Vandlakulu, u wu khoma hi ndlela leyi. [Va phokotela.] [Va hleka.]
Tshivenda:
Mvelaphan?a ya NSFAS i khou vhonala.
Siswati:
Njengobe bekashilo babe Ndzimande, imiphumela yeNSFAS ungayitsintsa ngetandla.
Afrikaans:
Jy kan die uitkoms van die National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS, met jou hande ... [Onhoorbaar.].
English:
Hon President ...
IsiZulu:
... izindawo zonke zaseNingizimu Afrika zinaye u-Tintswalo.
English:
The Tintswalo, hon Steenhuisen and hon Winde refer to is the one they have created here in the Western Cape.
IsiZulu:
Lapha eKapa u-Tintswalo ...
English:
... is called a refugee in the land of her birth, just like many children in Palestine. We can conclude that the reason the DA harass the people who support Palestine here in the Western Cape is that they understand nothing about freedom and human rights. They want to create a white enclave state within the Republic of South Africa that exempts them from substantive equality. They want to destroy the future of Tintswalo. Tintswalo’s glimmer of hope is the intervention of the national government ...
IsiZulu:
... lapha njengoba uMama u-Capa eshilo izolo.
English:
She has shown it and demonstrated that all the successes here in the Western Cape is because of the intervention of the national government. [Applause.] Tintswalo will soon be free in the Western Cape, hon Winde.
Afrikaans:
Julle sal nie terugkom nie. Die mense van die Wes-Kaap sal vir die ANC stem.
English:
The Cape Metro is stone deaf to the protests of Tintswalo. The City of Cape Town is limping from one scandal to the other, almost R12 million from the Urban Waste Management Directorate cannot be accounted for. This led to a dysfunctional leachate treatment plant that is not operational. Equally, a member of the mayoral committee responsible for waste management, was implicated in corruption through a forensic report which revealed nonexistent cleaning services which almost doubled from R314 million to R514 million. Like corruption everywhere the DA’s corruption is not victimless, it has a direct impact on the future of Tintswalo, like those in Gugulethu where the provincial government has only built 23 houses out of 570 houses in five years on a budget of R105 million.
That is the DA government for you, its shenanigans laid bare in a ground up article, Sabelo Jele is losing hope that his house will ever be finished. Ncedeka Mgwele said her husband Thulani Stokwe died waiting for his home due to the delays by the City of Cape Town.
IsiZulu:
Kuphi ukuphatha okuhlanzekile nokusebenzayo kweDA? Ngoba oNgqongqoshe u-Nkadimeng beno-Gungubele basikhombisile ukuthi nase-Ekurhuleni nase-Tshwane nihlulekile.
English:
This House will soon pass the National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Bill to make the Investigative Directorate within the auspices of the National Prosecuting Authority, NPA, permanent. Like the President said that Tintswalo went through challenges, it was not perfect, it is in the context that the hon President had to lead the rebuilding of state institutions to protect the future of Tintswalo. There is no denial that had it not been for the counter revolution that was embedded in state capture, the National Democratic Revolution would be on track. It is within the context of this counter revolution, a global pandemic and global wars that our economy was disrupted and damaged. However, the opposition refuse to see this for political expediency to score cheap political goals.
However, Stats South Africa confirms that our economy is back to pre-covid levels, this means that we’ve reawakened the sleeping giant, South Africa incorporated. We’ve overcome coronavirus disease, Covid-19, the July unrest, the worst
natural disaster in our country. Just like Bafana Bafana the nation is awakening from the doldrums. [Applause.]
Hon members, it is the sixth administration that strengthened the work of law enforcement agencies like the NPA by appointing permanent leadership in the upper echelons of the NPA and the SA Police Service, SAPS, and increased the operational budget resulting in visible institutional growth and stability. Organised crime verdicts have increased by 21%, from 193 to 234, at a conviction rate that is above 80%, not what the DA is saying.
Gang leaders are behind bars or in court, whether it is Jerome Booysen, Nafik Modak, Ralph Stanfield, Mark Lifman and Vusi Khekhe, all these are behind bars. It is historic that such a huge number of gang leaders are behind bars undergoing court processes ... [Applause.] ... whereas the DA member of the mayoral committee, MMC, in the City of Cape Town is working with them claiming to be rehabilitating them. We’re doing the real rehabilitation of offenders through offenders contributing their labour through self-sufficiency and strategic framework in the Department of Correctional Services. To date, this programme has saved government
R372 million through food production and sales at correctional services workshops. An entrepreneurial state called by the President is in action ...
IsiXhosa:
... amabanjwa ayasebenza ngoku. Kuyo yonke indawo ...
English:
Wherever you go you can see them. The conviction rate on gender-based violence and femicide matters is at 74,6%, hon President. You committed to clear the deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA, backlog in the SA Police Service. The police have cleared
251 000 DNA backlog to zero, zero. [Applause.] In this current financial year, the SAPS biology laboratory, Lab, has processed 300 000 cases entries. In addition to the above, they have built the laboratory in the Eastern Cape. It is quiet by the opposition. Why? Because it is success. In the last state of the nation address DNA backlog was their trademark.
When it comes to successful prosecutions for cable theft matters the NPA has exceeded some of its targets, the conviction rate is well above 85%, 299 convictions have been
obtained from 347 cable theft verdicts. We’ve already allocated R3,2 billion from the criminal assets recovery funds to fight illegal mining and organised crime to enable the SAPS and Border Management Authority to buy state of the art equipment needed to fight organised crime and to increase the deportation capabilities of the Border Management Authority BMA. This is the work of the current administration. As of 31 December 2023, we have seen 2 996 arrests for illegal mining by the SA Police Service.
SAPS is implementing Operation Shanela, a comprehensive plan to combat crime throughout the country. The plan includes clamping down on illegal mining areas. Just at the end of last year, the asset forfeiture unit, Special Investigating Unit, SIU, and the Hawks have secured preservation orders to freeze assets which are proceeds of unlawful activities of a syndicate dealing in unwrought gold in Gauteng Province. The frozen assets include 51 properties with a value of more than R16 million. In Mpumalanga they’ve secured a preservation order assets of more than R1 billion. The message is clear, crime does not pay, and the tide is turning against crime.
Hon Groenewald’s obsession with myself and Minister Cele attending a court in Groblersdal, instead of condemning people carrying a Transvaal flag and apartheid flag, you are condemning us for going to court to prevent people from stomping inside the court, to prevent the court from doing its job. What kind of democracy is that, hon Groenewald? Such kind of behaviour must be condemned, and it cannot be allowed in a constitutional democracy. That is what we were doing.
Revered Meshoe, the Bible you have just quoted is supposed to spread love. What happened to “Thou shalt not kill?” What happened to “Thou shalt not kill” in the Bible? The apartheid government used the Bible to justify the genocide it was committing in our country. You cannot justify genocide in Palestine through the Bible. You can only spread love. You can only spread togetherness. You can only spread peace with the Bible. It cannot be used for what Reverend Meshoe wants to use the Bible for. [Applause.]
Tintswalo’s future is in capable hands with the ANC-led government after this year’s elections. The ANC government has successfully crafted a society that embraces the principles of our Constitution, the vision of the Freedom Charter, it is
unstoppable. President Ramaphosa will return here to deliver the state of the nation address. [Time expired.]
IsiXhosa:
Abayiqondi yiyo ... [Singing.]
English:
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Order, hon members, please take your seats. Hon members, business will now be suspended for 15 minutes for a comfort break. Bells will be rung to alert members of the resumption of the sitting. Business is now suspended. Thank you very much.
BUSINESS SUSPENDED AT 16:11.
BUSINESS SUSPENDED AT 16:16 and RESUMED AT 16:34
The PREMIER OF EASTERN CAPE (Mr L O Mabuyane): Hon Speaker, His Excellency President and the Deputy President, distinguished Members of Parliament, esteemed guests and fellow South Africans, good afternoon.
IsiXhosa:
Uyayibona le nto yale nkqubo yalapha, ingathi inesandla semfene. [Kwahlekwa.] Mongameli, silapha namhlanje ukuza kungqina esikubonile nokuza kuthetha esikwaziyo. Ubomi babantu butshintshe kakhulu emva konyaka we-1994 kwaye ubomi babantu bakuthi buyaqhubeka butshintsha umhla nezolo kuba umzamo omhle siyawuzama kodwa ugqatso asikalufezi.
English:
Author Angel Abraham, known as a leading voice for global social evolution, once wrote that:
After the blackness of night, earth’s star rises on the horizon spreading her gold in every direction. The light is her gift bold and free for anyone who cares to open their eyes in the dawn and watch the world awake.
This is how I would describe the current moment in our nation as we close the first three decades of our democracy, a chapter of reconstruction, rebuilding of our country that was ravaged by colonialism and apartheid for more than 300 years.
IsiXhosa:
Silapha ke sixova udaka lootat’omkhulu benu, John. Samoshwa ngabo, apha, ingakumbi eMpuma Koloni.
English:
The progress is so glaring and free to witness for everyone who cares to open their eyes in this moment and watch our nation awakes and rises to its heights. Presently, many stood here to ridicule the story of Tintswalo. A story that is a reality of millions of South Africans which you so beautifully, correctly and succinctly narrated. When they did so, Mr President, I sat there and thought of Jesus Christ when he was hanged on the cross and simply said...
IsiXhosa:
... “Bawo baxolele kuba abayazi into abayenzayo”.
English:
So, in congratulating you Mr President, in your successful delivery of the 2024 state of the nation address, that accurately reflected the true state of our country, I appeal to you that, you too, forgive our opposition sisters and brothers, for they do not know what they are doing and saying. More importantly, their hatred for the ANC is too much that it
blinds them to the sunrise moment we are in as a nation and an upward trajectory in almost every aspect of our development as proved by the empirical evidence.
To prove that they are blinded by the unguided hatred for the people’s movement, one of them, my fellow young brother here, hon Nodada, a denialist Tinstwalo, came here in this House and called for South Africans to do what they did to apartheid. As he naively puts it, “voting out the ANC”. I am sure that when he said that, it had escaped in his denialist mind that the illegitimate apartheid regime was not voted out of power but was ended through mass and popular struggle, decades of loss and sacrifice, immense suffering and international solidarity, amongst others. That is why he and other many disillusioned, the so-called revolutionaries are extremely misguided to even think of comparing 1994 to 2024.
IsiXhosa:
Azifani kwaye asoze zifane. Unyaka wama-2024 ngulo sikuye kwaye i-ANC iza kubuya ingqawuza ngeenyawo zayo zombini. [Kwaqhwatywa.]
English:
The year 2024, is 30 years of democracy. It is 30 years of six successful peaceful elections where the ANC defended the right to self-determination and did not cling to power like many other parties had done in other parts of the world. It is 30 years of coherent leadership provided by the ANC to ensure that all people reach their full potential, including those who are said to be in the opposition ranks. It is 30 years of a united, nonracial, nonsexist, democratic and a prosperous South Africa. It is not anyone’s 1994 but again I remember Jesus Christ on the cross and thought to myself that...
IsiXhosa:
... masibaxolele, kuba abayazi into abayenzayo. Bekufanele ukuba uMfundisi uthethe le nto apha kunaleya ayithethileyo ngoku ebethetha.
English:
I salute to Mr President, because we are a people who forget important things very easily. Your analogy of the Tintswalo resonated with many of our people because we have many people like here who are enjoying better life now and careers as pilots, actuarial scientists, professionals and in many other fields that our people have been denied.
All the opportunities they are enjoying today were made possible by the policies and programmes of the ANC-led government. That is why today we have got a Chief Whip from my home who is the Chief Whip of the Opposition Party. That is why we have the hon young Nodada...
IsiXhosa:
... uMsimang kwela cala. Yiyo ke le nto kufuneka i-ANC iqhubeke ikhokela, khona ukuze ubomi babantu kweli lizwe buqinisekiswe ukuba buzinzile.
English:
Mr President, your state of the nation address reminded us of our collective journey towards prosperity. This journey has seen our country ascending amidst various challenges affirming its potential as a cornerstone of economic development, poverty alleviation and job creation. Our province of the Eastern Cape, like the rest of South Africa, is on a positive social, economic recovery path. Our provincial economy has recovered to pre-COVID-19 levels, with unemployment rate being reduced by almost 10% in four years.
IsiXhosa:
Abantu baseMpuma Koloni xa besiza apha...
English:
... hon Winde, they are not refugees. This is their home, their land and this is South Africa. That must be understood and be accepted by everybody.
That decline in high unemployment that I am talking about equates to a quarter of a million permanent jobs created for our people. This has not happened by chance. It is not a fluke. It happened because we developed and implemented the Provincial Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, and we detailed meticulously on how to implement that. That is the reason why you see a lot of things happening in that province.
For those who do not know, the Eastern Cape post more Original Equipment Manufacturer, OEMs. Patel spoke at length about that, and we continue being this actual hub of auto sector in the country and we want to protect that. That is why we have got new companies coming on board and new commitment as well, from Stellantis of investing about R3 billion to create other
1 500 jobs into that space. Already the current existing OEMs
are creating about 60 000 jobs, including the component suppliers that are also operating in that space.
Whichever direction you enter the Eastern Cape, you will find workers building our provincial and national road network so that we can connect our province with neighbouring provinces for faster movement of goods and safe travelling of our people. We are proud that the Eastern Cape-led government decided to build two engineering wonders, Mthentu and Msikaba bridges, worth a combined R5,8 billion in the two most impoverished districts of O R Tambo District Municipality and Alfred Nzo District Municipality in South Africa. That investment will take the Wild Coast area of our province and improve socioeconomic status of our people.
IsiXhosa:
Abantu baseMpuma Koloni bayayibona inyaniso. Yiyo le nto kufuneka nidlalelele kude kubo. Ningayenza yonke into enifuna ukuyenza kodwa kwezinye iindawo.
English:
You will never get that province. We are engaging unemployment in youth in several skills and training initiatives in
partnership with various sectors, private sector and nongovernmental institutions. We are significantly reducing the number of young people that are not in employment, education or training in our province as hon Blade Nzimande indicated. Education and skills development are at the forefront of our developmental agenda.
Forget what our political opponents say, the ANC-led government has truly widened the doors of learning in our country. Look at the progress of the matric results in the province. I had the pleasure of talking to a couple of principals here in Gugulethu and other areas who said, they are now turning kids who come to Cape Town back to eastern Cape. This is because it is where the performance in education is coming. Education in the Eastern Cape is the heritage, you must understand that. So...
IsiXhosa:
... siqhubeleka phambili phaya ngoba ‘umzi watsha’ yinto yaphaya ephondweni. Wena, Nodada ohloniphekileyo, ndiyafuna ukuba ndithi kuwe, xa usiya kongamela phaya (oversight) musa ukujonga njee izinto ezingacacanga. Ingxaki yakho, kule ndawo uhleli kuyo, utyiswa intso nodakada kamamlambo kwaye uza kuthi
uhleli nje, ube ubona izinto ezingalunganga. Kubalulekile ukuba uvule amehlo ukuze xa uhamba phaya eQonce ubone ukuba...
English:
... there is a billion-rand investment as we speak, that is creating an interchange in both entrances of Qonce.
IsiXhosa:
Hlukana nokukhangela into ongayaziyo nokuba iphi. Ndiyakuthanda, ungumninawe wam kwaye unesakhono esihle. Ndifuna ukukhusela kwaba bantu bafuna ukudlala ngawe.
English:
You must really appreciate your potential.
IsiXhosa:
Eli bali lika Thando, uza nalo apha, libali njee elikhiwe entloko kuba kucingwa ukuba kungenzeka noba yintoni na.
English:
I invite you. You know...
IsiXhosa:
... xa ugoduka usiya kuTsolo uvela ngaseMthatha, ingaba uhamba kwindlela enjani? Mhlawumbi awuzazi nokuba useMpuma Koloni xa uphaya...
English:
... because your levels are only here in the Western Cape.
IsiXhosa:
Xa uphinde waya phaya uzukhe uhambe uyokubona ezinye izikolo kula ngingqi kanye ubuthetha ngayo...
English:
... that will be opening very soon. About four or five schools will be opening which were built to the value of R210 million in this term. There are so many schools we are building in that province. I am talking about the state-of-the-art schools which we are building.
Mr President, we are doing a lot of job in our province. We are doing a tremendous job for former mineworkers, and we are also working on the challenges of former civil servants of the homeland system.
IsiXhosa:
Ubhuti Bantu, ukuba ebekhona bendiza kumxelela ukuba naye xa ethatha umhlala-phantsi angabinaxhala, uza kufika sikhona, simncede simbeke endaweni yakhe. Ndiyafuna ke ukuthi xa ndihlala phantsi, ndiyathemba ukuba kuni nonke namhlanje yimini enkulu le. Olu suku, yimini yothando, ngethemba lokuba nizifumene iintyatyambo. Ukanti ongazifumenanga, angabinaxhala kuba ubabalo nothando lwe-ANC lumanele.
English:
Che Guevara wrote:
At the risk of seeming ridiculous, let me say that the true revolutionary is guided by a great feeling of love. It is impossible to think of a genuine revolutionary lacking this quality.
I thank you. [Applause.]
Ms K L KHAKHAU: Hon Speaker, through you, Mr President, I, like Tintswalo, I am a democracy’s child. Born in 1997, I dare say you are not a hon man. Your Presidency and leadership lack compassion.
Sesotho:
Mahlong a hao, baithuti ba naha ena ha se batho!
The SPEAKER: Sorry, hon Khakhau, take your seat. Chief Whip, yes. Hon members, order! I would like to hear the point of order. Yes, hon Radebe.
Mr B A RADEBE: Hon Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The speaker on the podium has uttered something unparliamentary. She understands very well that Members of Parliament in this House are honourable members and therefore cannot come and say that the President is not honourable. So, it is a contradiction, and she must withdraw that, Speaker. Thank you.
The SPEAKER: Yes, thank you very much, hon Radebe. Hon member, you know that this reflects the President’s personality. Will you withdraw that? Hon members, please, please. Yes. Will you please withdraw that?
Ms K L KHAKHAU: Hon Speaker ...
Sesotho:
Mahlong a hao bathuti ba naha ena ha se batho! Mme, ditiri tsa rona ha di bohlokwa, ho hang!
The SPEAKER: Hon member, you are not withdrawing, please leave the House. Yes, leave!
Hon MEMBERS: Howling.
The SPEAKER: I am the one presiding not you.
Ms K L KHAKHAU: Hon Speaker, I said I withdraw. No.
The SPEAKER: Hon Khakhau, can you please... No, no. I am presiding now, I am on the chair. No, hon member. Oh no, no, Chief Whip of the Majority Party, lower your hand, please, lower your hand. Hon Khakhau, stand up! Were you refusing to withdraw? I am talking to you, - what were you saying? Hon Khakhau, may I have you attention? Were you withdrawing or not?
Ms K L KHAKHAU: Hon Speaker, I was withdrawing.
The SPEAKER: You withdrew after I threw you out. Do not repeat that again. When the Presiding Officer orders you to withdraw just withdraw. Proceed.
Ms K L KHAKHAU: Hon Speaker, Mr President, ...
Sesotho:
... mahlong a hao, baithuti ba naha ena ha se batho. Mme, diriti tsa rona ha di bohlokwa ho hang! Bokamoso ba batho ba batjha bo tsietsing naha ena ho pota, kaofela. Ha ho letho le reng teke ho wena!
Diqeto tsa hao, ha o ya o re labile, di paka hore o a re nyatsa, ebile bohloko ba fumuna, le ho hloka monyetla, ha bo re letho ho wena! Ha e le hantle, ...
English:
... as MacG would put it, ...
Sesotho:
... o a re nyatsa!
English:
The stealing of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS, and the Department of Education, DHET, money is the stealing of money meant to fund the poor students who without state funding will not be able to study. The victims of Minister Ndzimande, Dr Khosa, their criminal syndicates, and your ANC-led government ... [Interjections.] ...
The SPEAKER: Hon member, I am sorry to interrupt you, please take your seat. Take your seat. Yes, hon member at the back, what is your point of order? Hon members, from the right of the House. You are drowning the speakers. We can hardly hear from here. Yes, proceed hon member.
Mr W T LETSIE: Hon Speaker, I wanted to check if the member at the podium would like to take a question?
The SPEAKER: Would you like to take a question, hon Khakhau?
Mr W T LETSIE: As a graduate student of NSFAS I wanted her to answer that part.
Ms K L KHAKHAU: As funded by my mother, no.
The SPEAKER: Do you want to answer that question?
Ms K L KHAKHAU: No, hon Speaker.
The SPEAKER: No. Continue then.
Ms K L KHAKHAU: ... The victims of the Minister, Dr Khosa, their criminal syndicate and your ANC-led government, Mr President are the millions of South African students who have been denied access to higher education. The Minister has the audacity and arrogance to tell this House and the country that this cannot be called a crisis, and yet it is.
Mr President, we have almost three and a half million young people between the ages of 15 and 24 who have no jobs, education or training and are therefore in a state of despair and hopelessness, with some of them having no hope but to turn to crime, prostitution, and drug abuse to survive. These are the consequences of the corruption, greed and mismanagement taking place right under your nose at NSFAS, DHET under the Post-School Education and Training, PSET, sector.
The disgusting and shameless milking of public funds by the ANC cadres and Minister Nzimande have left the state bankrupt, resulting in a billion rand less funding available for students. This translates to 87 000 less students eligible for funding. This is an addition to the over 20 000 students who were defunded in the previous financial year, who today are hopelessly sleeping in the streets and kitchen floor ... [Interjections.] ...
The SPEAKER: Hon member, I am sorry to interrupt you. Please take your seat. Yes, hon Radebe, what is your point of order?
Mr B A RADEBE: Hon Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The member knows very well that if she brings any issue against a member of the House, she must bring it through a substantive motion. She just said, “the Minister of Higher Education has milked the NSFAS funds.”
The SPEAKER: Thank you, hon remember. Hon members, you make it difficult for the Presiding Officer to even hear when a person is calling for an order. Hon members, lower your voices please. Hon Chief Whip of the Opposition.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSITION: Speaker, the hon Radebe is mistaken in my opinion. He keeps referring to rules that are not in force. This is a Joint Sitting, and in none of the interventions he has made has he referred to any of the rules of the Joint Sitting. He is badgering the member on the podium and not allowing her to speak. Could you please intervene?
The SPEAKER: Thank you, hon Chief Whip of the Opposition Party. Hon Khakhau, take the floor. And please man, just be mindful of what you say.
Ms K L KHAKHAU: ... Mr President, students are currently hopelessly sleeping in streets on kitchen floors and lecture halls across campuses unable to register for this academic year. Students have been left hungry, homeless financially and academically excluded with appeals running from January to December and some are facing critical mental health issues because of these challenges.
And as if this is not enough, they now have tuition and accommodation debts that they must settle before they register this month. So, it is not true when Minister Nzimande says that students can register irrespective of these debts because
they cannot. And the institutions are saying they cannot. So where must these concessions money that institutions are supposed to make come from? Where must students have the money to settle these debts before registrations?
Sesotho:
Ntate Ramaphosa, matsoho a hao a dutla madi a bokamoso ba setjhaba!
English:
Sir, your appointment of Minister Nzimande, your refusal to fire him and your protection of corrupt cadres not only make you a political accomplice and enabler of the acts of crime, but they make you a cruel man.
Sesotho:
Re ne lebelletse hore o tla boulela ka rona – haholoholo ...
English:
... because you should have an appreciation for what it means for poor students with their families have only lifted themselves out of poverty in order to obtain funds for higher education. The ANC and its alliance are an organisation of
vultures feasting on the poor. But all is not lost. There is hope for young people, students, and South Africa. And the solution to the cries of the students is the sacking of Minister Ndzimande with immediate effect.
Mr President, you have an obvious choice to make between championing the best interests of students and the future of South Africa and championing the interests of a syndicate of corrupt politicians and their cronies and I say choose the students, choose the future of South Africa. This can only bring a temporary political solution to the problem because the rot within DHET ... [Interjections.] ...
The SPEAKER: Hon Khakhau, please take your seat. Hon Magaxa, what is your point of order?
Mr K E MAGAXA: Hon Speaker, the member is beyond redemption. This member is continuously attacking individual Members of Parliament and there are no different rules of the NCOP and the National Assembly. Therefore, any member cannot just insult and say whatever he or she wants to a member in this joint session. This member in the first place did not even
apologise in the beginning when she attacked and cut aspersion against the Minister?
The SPEAKER: Colleagues...
IsiXhosa
Kwenzenjani na?
English:
You are loud.
IsiXhosa:
Niyangxola!
English:
You are making noise. You are very loud we can hardly hear the speakers. No, you stop it. Please stop it. Shall we please exercise discipline? Right. Hon member, if I may say this to you: Rule 21 Under Discipline of the Joint Meeting Sittings states that, and I quote:
Assembly rules apply when it comes to matters of discipline. For members of the National Assembly, the same applies to members of the NCOP.
I am now making a plea to you that if you have issues which you want to raise, such as the ones you raising as critical as they are, you please submit a substantive motion. I am appealing to you. Please take the floor and continue.
Ms K L KHAKHAU: ... So, what are these solutions look like? They start with a skills audit of all employees in the sector and the replacement of unqualified cadres with qualified non- politically appointed employees. It includes the investigation and prosecution of all acts of corruption and fraud within the sector, reforming NSFAS and creating a sustainable funding environment in partnership with the private sector, decentralising the administrative function of NSFAS to institutions of higher learning, scraping the blanket accommodation cap, a free market regulated by the Competition Commission for private student accommodation providers and public private partnership for student accommodation. These are solutions in the right step, and they will take us out of the confusion and shambles currently plaguing NSFAS. So, I
urge each and every young South African to visit check.da.org transit and registered to rescue South Africa. Thank you.
The MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: Madam Speaker, hon President and Deputy President and all members of the Joint Sitting. I would like to join the others in expressing our appreciation to His Excellency the President for his State of the Nation Address. The story of “Tintswalo” has gone very well. It is a positive story, it is a powerful story. It resonates with all of us in the House and outside the House. But I just want to say, hon Steenhuisen, that you could have been a credit even if you had chosen to build on the story that the President told instead of trying to destroy it and take the negative from it. But I would like to tell you that you did not succeed at all, out of 10 points you got zero.
To the hon Groenewald, I listened very carefully yesterday. You conveniently chose to omit COVID-19 was devastated our economy as if you were somewhere in Germany and secondly, I noticed that you asked the President what his legacy would be. You did this without putting your legacy here so that we can see what your legacy is. And you are older than the President.
Speaker, the President covered the areas of water quite well yesterday, and that is appreciated. The human rights to water and sanitation is indeed a recognised principle, emphasising that access to clean drinking water, and sanitation facilities is essential to maintaining human dignity and wellbeing. The United Nations General Assembly explicitly recognizes rights in 2010 through the resolution 64/292, which affirmed the following, and I a quote:
The right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights.
It is in this context that the denial of basic rights, including water by Israeli to Palestinians, became a violation of human rights and should move and shake the whole world. As per the provisions of our Constitution, access to water is a basic human right. Everyone has the right to have access to sufficient food and water. The state must take reasonable legislative and other measures within the available resources to achieve progressive realisation of each of these rights. As the national Department of Water and Sanitation we have been,
and we are working on realising the rights to all South Africans to access clean water.
According to Stats SA 2023, 98% of the population residing in urban areas, which includes metros and consists of about 5336 communities representing 64% of the population have access to basic water supply. And 85% of the population living in rural areas, which consists of about 22 570 communities representing 36% of the population have access to basic water supply.
Forty-eight metros in which about 42% of the total population resides virtually close to 100% have access to basic water, except for intermittent supply at given times.
In 1994, an estimated 15,2 million people lacked access to a basic water supply and an estimated 20,5 million people lacked basic sanitation. According to the 2022 Census, 82,4% of households in the country have access to piped water, either in the home or in the yard. This is our “Tintswalo” and this is a great achievement of our country. And it is undeniable.
According to our stats as a department, there has been significant progress, as 94% of the population have been provided with access to basic water supply, of which 68, 3%
can be classified as reliable, which is defined as uninterrupted supply for 90% of the time through a fully functional infrastructure system, which is operated and maintained to set standards supported by an effective governance institution that provides an acceptable quality of water supply that is basic on sustainable water security principle.
South Africa has also made great progress in eliminating sanitation backlogs. The number of households with access to improved sanitation increased from 49% in 1996 to 84,1% in 2023. This is evidence of progress. Municipalities, as water supply authorities, are mandated by our Constitution to ensure that residents and industry are provided with water and sanitation services that meet minimum national norms and standards.
It is well known that some municipalities in the country are struggling a little to fulfil their task. They lack technical support, an effective operations and maintenance, O&M, and infrastructure. These are just some of the challenges that plague them. So, there are weaknesses out there. There are challenges. May I submit that the people in Knysna are getting
water, that the problems that exist there are being solved through tankering and so on.
I would have rather heard about Tshwane from the hon Premier of the Western Cape. I believe he wanted to talk about Tshwane. When we asked the mayor to let us fix Rooiwaal after
38 people died as a result of it, he responded, “No, we want your money, not you,” which was code for me. We would have stopped all that occurred, etc. I believe that Tshwane, not Knysna, should be the focus of the entire nation.
As a department, we are assisting and engaging municipalities to deliver on their mandates. We understand that as the national Department of Water and Sanitation, we have an overall responsibility to ensuring the bulk water that we provide is ultimately consumed by citizens of the country.
Since the water and sanitation summit back in 2022, we have gradually shifted our attention to building, renewing, and in some cases, refurbishing and upgrading water and sanitation infrastructure.
In our view, various initiatives are bearing fruits with positive signs of water service authorities and the private
sector coming on board. There are legislative reforms underway in both the Water Service Act and the national Acts. Section
63 of the Water Service Act will be amended to enable the Minister to enforce the separation of water service function from the municipal administration were in persistent failures are the order of the day. So that we are able to intervene directly to deal with this matter.
Mr President, you mentioned the Lesotho Highlands Water Project at the State of the Nation Address when you were counting water projects. We can attest that there is mud and dust there. You mentioned other initiatives as well, but I would want to include these as well: There is mud and dust today in the Alfred zone of the Ludeke Water Scheme in the Eastern Cape. To them, the existence of the WelbeBedarf pipeline to Mangaung, we are halfway through.
The Tsomo regional system is a cross-border scheme that supplies bulk water to Tsomo town, which is surrounded by communities up to Engcobo villages. It is a centralized treatment facility and the Chris Hani District Municipality, Nqamakwe, and Butterworth is also part of this scheme. And the reason I’m bringing it up now is because it is a large scheme.
We also have another large scheme in Umkhanyakude, which was known for a long time as an area where there is the fifth largest dam, but we are not able to supply people with water. We are supplying and when the President went there, he didn’t open a tap as some sought to say. He opened that tap but there were many other taps that were there in the village. And I think the DA need to advise Mr Pappas the mayor of Umgeni Municipality to mind his business there and not to cross and go to other areas.
We support the Treasurer’s proposal to move the local government grant programme from slated five B to six B. We will investigate this further to ensure that the money allocated for water infrastructure projects is better. We are aware that the department’s allocations must be intended for direct transfers in accordance with the Constitution.
Nevertheless, in light of the numerous issues, the department plans to progressively focus on assisting and strengthening towns in order to help them develop their capability within the industry.
The department has established the water partnership office with five programmes, but we are going beyond these five
programmes. But we are working on with Development Bank of Southern Africa, DBSA, we are now engaging DBSA and other private organisations and private business to invest in the water sector. And we are seeing positive signs from them as we packaged various entry possibilities for the business to enter the sector and assist us in building infrastructure.
Lastly, the department is working with everybody in making sure that we move forward with this particular job. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Mr N M HADEBE: Hon Speaker, Your Excellency the President, IFP leader in Parliament and President hon VF Hlabisa, today we find ourselves in the midst of a political narrative that seems to have lost touch with reality. To the hon Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, thank you for finally breaking your silence. In spite of your political principal being quite the chatterbox lately, overshadowing your ceremonial duties.
We expected perhaps naively that in your response to the president’s Sona, you would have highlighted the tremendous hardship the people of KZN have recently been put through. More than any other premier, you should have spoken about the
effects of the devastating floods the hunger inducing blackouts and the ANC co-ordinated civil unrest has had on our people.
Disappointingly, you used your allocated time to weave a fictional tale that is a figment of your imagination. Instead of acknowledging the harsh truth, you claimed that the IFP has never contributed to changing the lives of the people or fought against the scourge of HIV/AIDS. Therefore, allow me to present the facts that you seem to have conveniently forgotten. As far back as 2002, the IOL has recorded that Premier Leonel Mtshali, a stalwart of the IFP, announced the provision of antiretroviral drugs to HIV positive pregnant mothers in state hospitals. This was not just a promise, it was a demonstration of the IFP’s commitment to providing real health care solutions to our people. Sadly, the same standard is not upheld in the ANC-led provinces where the public is deliberately misled with a concoction of lies.
Hon Speaker, the premier should have said in response to the President is acknowledgement of the hard work the IFP is currently doing in municipalities it governs. For example, in the Alfred Duma Local Municipality after the 2021 local
government elections, when the IFP took over, we knew that we would have to find practical solutions to the mountain of problems left by the ANC-led government. We did not shy away from the challenge, we took it head-on as a testament to the seven leadership our late founder Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi instilled in us.
Foremostly, we recognise the need for constructive community cohesion and participation in addressing their needs, which is why we have rehabilitated the all-important infrastructure in various wards. Because we travel on the same roads as our people and share the frightening lived experience on them. We prioritise the repair of roads that were beyond the normal scope of maintenance as left by a negligent ANC-led government. We recognise the difficulties faced by women in providing daily meals to their families by providing female informal traders with vouchers.
In 2023, this municipality, as well as the King Cetshwayo District Municipality, assisted 200 matriculants with registration fees, which in 2024 will increase to 300. But don’t take it from us. Ask the KZN Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs for proof as
they have listed the King Cetshwayo District Municipality as the third cleanest municipality in 2024 with the first and second cleanest also going to the IFP-run municipalities.
In the clinical trial District Municipality where our premier candidate the hon AT Ntuli is from the facts speaks for themselves. He has supplied and installed several... [Time Expired.]
Hon Speakers, the tail told by the ANC once again leaves all of us and the public to ponder what reality the ANC-led government leaves in other than to spin malicious, distasteful and false propaganda to cover up its own criminality.
The SPEAKER: Hon Radebe don’t do that. Do not repeat that. You are wrong. Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND INFRUSTRUCTURE: Thank you,
hon Speaker, hon President, hon Deputy President, and members of the House, like zionism, racism was a particular form of a system that sought to perpetuate discrimination. In our own country, this discrimination was against the blacks in a form of Coloureds, Indians, and Africans. It was meant to benefit
only the whites. So, we are on the journey to address the legacy of apartheid colonialism.
Hon Speaker, hon Khakhau spoke about the NSFAS. ... It is fine, thank you. When she spoke about NSFAS, she forgets that there was no NSFAS before and that NSFAS came with this African National Congress. But let me be quick to summarise this point. Hon Chief Whip of the Opposition, let me be honest with you. I did tell some of your colleagues who have been there before, like they treat people from the Eastern Cape in Western Cape. You, yourself they treat you, hon member like a refugee in the DA.[Interjections.] It has been so for all the others. There was once Lindiwe Mazibuko and she left, the list is long. So, I wouldn’t want to waste time except to assure you that not long, you will also be ejected. [Interjections.] Hon Hadebe, and the entire hon members who spoke about the issues of KZN, I am not going to be long on that issue.
IsiZulu:
Akengisho nje into eyodwa ukuthi uMhlonishwa uNdunankulu uyibeke kahle, wayichaza ukuthi intuthuko yabonakala ngoHulumeni we-ANC, ngoba ngesikhathi senu niphethe kusukela
ngo 1994-2004 naningafuni ukufaka ugesi, nithi ugesi uzoxhopha izinkomo. [Ubuwelewele.] Kwakuyinina ...
English:
...thanks to hon Radebe for quoting and referring to the late former Premier Mtshali, when the 4x4 led by ANC Ministers it was the former Premier Mtshali who chastised them and said...
IsiZulu:
...nigijima kangaka nje kujahweni? [Ubuwelewele.] Leyo kwakuyintuthuko elethwa u-ANC ebantwini.
English:
Hon members, the story of the children of democracy narrated by His Excellency, President Ramaphosa did not only capture the imagination of the nation but received a number of endorsements from the youth and old, urban and rural, who have witnessed the ANC-led government changing their lives. Hon President unlike the naysayers want us to believe this House is today blessed by the presence of two ladies from here in the Western Cape, the first is Zanele Ngwenya who owns Izingwenya Plant Hire. The second one is Yvonne Mokone who owns Yvonne Mokone Construction. Both are beneficiaries of our
programme, the Contractor Development Programme under the CIDB. Malibongwe!
This programme has benefited more than 1 500 young people in the construction industry who now own their own companies.
When Ms Ngwenya joined this programme, her company was in grade C1 and today it is at grade C5. When Ms Mokone joined this programme, her company was in grade C2 it is now in grade C5. This is the change that has been brought by this ANC government.
Among those who can attest to the progress and delivery of the ANC-led government is the youth of Umkhambathini Local Municipality where the President launched 11 Welisizwe Bridges build in KwaZulu-Natal. The same feeling resonates with that of the people of Limpopo, Free State, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, Northwest, who have seen the ANC connecting communities through these Welisizwe Bridges. Indeed, Mr President, we are going to complete by the end of May, the 96 bridges for this first financial year.
When the President launched the Economic Recovery and Reconstruction Plan, he underscored that infrastructure will
be the flywheel for economic recovery. Since 2020 the infrastructure project portfolio has grown from 50 to 126 gazetted projects. The infrastructure fund is now operational with an aggregate capital value of R66 billion. The projects supported by infrastructure programme do not only contribute to the provision of services but also create jobs.
A total of R139 billion has been invested in water projects. About 79 projects have been gazetted under energy amounting to R1,4 trillion. Sixteen projects have been gazetted under transport sector, six have been completed already which include N1 Polokwane East Ring Road Phase 2, the N1 Ventersburg to Kroonstad, the N3 Cato ridge in Durban, the N2 EB Cloeter interchange. Work is progressing well in packaging the project, which is project Ukuvuselela, that is about transporting vehicles from Pretoria to Coega in Eastern Cape.
On the high-speed train as mentioned by the President, while the first project will be on Johannesburg to Durban route.
There is already a plan to ensure simultaneous planning and execution of Johannesburg to Limpopo high speed train as well as the one from Tshwane to Mbombela. It is only the ANC that plans for the entire country. Let’s leave no one behind.
Under operation Pakisa, the Department of Public Works has invested more than R500 million in the repair and maintenance of fishing harbours. These are in the Easten Cape. We are working together with the Chinese government. We have offered an in-kind grant to conduct the feasibility study for the construction of small harbours in Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.
Hon members as country, we must all be intolerant of corruption and shoddy workmanship. We have to date, managed to blacklist seven companies from doing work with the state. We have recovered land to the value of more than R145 million that was transferred illegally from the state. Madam Speaker, here in Western Cape they are still hidden, and painful stories of communities who live in the forest villages, most of them have received literally no support from both the provincial government and the local government under the DA.
As the department, we are intervening to ensure that these communities living in forest villages eventually are allocated land and get proper services. As we give land back to communities, we are shocked to learn that suddenly some municipalities like Stellenbosch Municipality want to charge
those people for that land. It is the land that comes from us as the department and no municipality will be allowed to charge communities, for the land we are transferring freely.
Indeed, the life of a black person in the Western Cape is still miserable. We are continuing with optimising on the property portfolio of the department. We are rolling out operation Bring Back and ensure that all state assets including business, properties are optimised for the state to acquire more funds. Through the PPP a number of buildings will be advertised for renovate, operate and transfer before the end of February this year.
To alleviate energy, we are steaming ahead with the integrated resource efficiency and renewable energy program, wherein we are putting alternative energy in all government buildings. We are going to ensure that this programme is finalised, and the winning bidder will be announced before the end of May 2024.
Only the ANC has a plan for all the South Africans and only the ANC leaves no one behind. Let us unite in decisive action to defend the gains of freedom and advance a better life for all.
As I said, there are those who still believe that apartheid can come back. They say people from the Easter Cape are refugees when they come here. These are people who still harbour racism because they believe that the Group Areas Act was correct. They benefited from that racial system, and they still believe that they can still benefit even now. It cannot happen.
Maybe to conclude, hon leader of the IFP yesterday asked a question and made a statement that it was not only the ANC that fought for freedom. We want to accept that correct statement ...
IsiZulu:
...yiqiniso, kodwa leli qiniso aliphelele, lunga elihloniphekile. Aliphelelanga, sababona abafundisi belwela inkululeko. Sababona abazalwane nabasebenzi belwela inkululeko, abantu esingababonanga emzabalazweni yinina.
Asikaze sinibone emzabalazweni wenkululeko. Kwaze kwafika u- 1994 ... [Kwaphela isikhathi.]
Mr I S SEITLHOLO: Mr President ...
Setswana:
... ke ema mo pele ga Ntlo eno gompieno ke bua ke emetse Boitshoko Monate le Luyanda Mphandle. Makawana a mabedi ano, a latlhegetswe ke matshelo a bone morago ga go wela mo forong ya metsi e e ka fa tlase ga taolo ya Lefapha la Metsi le Kgelelolešwe kwa motseng wa Magogong/Diplankeng kwa Masepaleng wa Greater Taung, porofense ya Bokone Bophirima.
Foro eno ya lošo a gapile matshelo a bana, leruo mmogo le bagolo.
Le fa babega dikgang ba SABC le Newzroom Afrika ba begile ka ga foro eno, puso ya gago ya ANC e reteletswe ke go tsibogela le go ka kopana le baagi ba motse ono wa Magogong/Diplankeng go neelana ka matlhale a go dira gore foro eno e se ke ya gapa matshelo a mangwe gape. Kgangkgolo e le go tlisa metsi mo motseng ono, motl Mchunu.
Mme ke yone puso e baagi ba Bokone Bophirima ba e tlwaetseng mo tlase ga lekoko la ANC. Puso e e se nang sepe le tlhokomelo, tokafatso le kagoseša ya mafaratlhatlha mo metse magaeng le makeishene go ralala porofense ya Bokone Bophirima.
English:
Tragic how these communities will suddenly see the emergence of ANC politicians lavishly driving up and down the gravel and pothole-riddled roads that these communities use on a daily basis because ANC municipalities, provincial departments and national departments have continuously failed to spend their allocated budgets towards quality road infrastructure in these communities.
What is even more tragic, Mr President, is that you and your Ministers have stood before this House and have spoken about how infrastructure plays a crucial role in the development and growth of South Africa. You have spoken about how well- developed infrastructure is essential towards economic growth, social progress and overall competitiveness.
In 2023 the ANC-governed North West province allocated a paltry R5,9 billion towards infrastructure. This pales in comparison to the R32,57 billion that the DA-governed Western Cape government allocated to infrastructure over the 2023 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF. [Applause.] This, to be spent on transport infrastructure, provision of housing
opportunities as well as boost education and health infrastructure.
The reality, however, Mr President, is that South Africa’s entire infrastructure is on the verge of collapse.
Prof William Gumede attributes this to the following: lack of infrastructure maintenance, corruption in dodgy Black Economic Empowerment, BEE, companies and cadre deployment.
All this, under the watchful eye of a President who puts his party’s interests first and those of the country and its people last.
Only the removal of your ANC, Mr President, and the introduction of the DA model of good governance will rescue South Africa from complete collapse. [Interjections.] [Applause.]
With criminality the order of the day in the construction sector, can you, Mr President, care to tell our country how you decided to appoint a Minister who has fundamentally
legitimised the works of the construction mafia in Sihle Zikalala?
We know from a recent report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime that the disruption and blockages of construction sites cost the economy over
R68 billion.
This will rise even further because ...
The SPEAKER: Hon member, Seitlholo, please take a seat. Hon member, there’s a point of order.
Hon Chikunga!
The MINISTER OF TRANSPORT: Hon Speaker ...
IsiZulu:
... ... umkhulumi laphaya phambili uthi uNgqongqoshe uZikalala usebenza kanye nabenzi bobugebengu obuhleliwe. Ngakhoke ngicabanga ukuthi lokhu akufanele akusho. Kufanele alethe i- substantive motion umangabe ezosho njalo. Ukhuluma kabi ngaye. Ngicabanga ukuthi akakuhoxise lokho.
English:
The SPEAKER: Thank you very much, hon Chikunga.
Hon ... what did you say? Would you please repeat what you said, I didn’t hear you. [Interjections.]
Hon Seitlholo, did you say the Minister legitimises the work of the mafia? [Interjections.]
Mr I S SEITLHOLO: Allegedly, hon Speaker, is what I said. Allegedly, hon Speaker. [Interjections.]
The SPEAKER: Yes? You did?
Mr I S SEITLHOLO: Allegedly ...
The SPEAKER: Allegedly?
Mr I S SEITLHOLO: Allegedly ...
The SPEAKER: You did say ...
Mr I S SEITLHOLO: Allegedly, yes.
The SPEAKER: Okay. Continue then.
Mr I S SEITLHOLO: Thank you, ma’am.
The SPEAKER: Hon members, hon members. Yes, hon Dlakude!
Take your seat, hon Seitlholo.
The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF MAJORITY: Hon Speaker, the allegedly part of it, he’s adding it now. I would suggest that you go through Hansard and make the relevant decision. Thank you.
The SPEAKER: Thank you very much, hon Dlakude.
Hon Seitlholo ...
IsiXhosa:
... hlala phantsi.
English:
Hon Skwatsha!
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM AND RURAL
DEVELOPMENT (Mr M Skwatsha): Hon Speaker, I wanted to ask hon Seitlholo whether he knows about the Member of the Mayoral Committee, MMC, Booi who is involved with the mafias from the City of Cape Town? [Interjections.]
The SPEAKER: Hon Skwatsha, it’s not a point of order man ...
IsiXhosa:
... hlala phantsi, tata.
English:
On a ... [Interjections.] ... no, I won’t allow you. I see a flurry of hands at the back. Please, hon members. If these are not points of order, you can have a conversation with him outside.
Hon Seitlholo, please continue.
Mr I S SEITLHOLO: Hon Speaker, this will rise even further because Zikalala’s national forum on the construction mafia was nothing, but another ANC’s sponsored talk shop that excluded critical stakeholders. [Interjections.]
A talk shop endorsed by you, Mr President, because despite the economic damage ...
The SPEAKER: Hon Seitlholo, hon Seitlholo, hon Seitlholo ...
IsiXhosa:
... uthini manje? Uthini ngoku? Uthini manje, tata?
English:
Mr I S SEITLHOLO: I don’t know ... [Inaudible.]
The SPEAKER: No, man. Don’t do that, please. You did not even withdraw ...
Mr I S SEITLHOLO: Hon Speaker, let me rephrase. Let me rephrase. [Interjections.]
This will rise even further because Minister Zikalala’s national forum on the construction mafia was nothing but another ANC sponsored talk shop that excluded critical stakeholders.
A talk shop endorsed by you, Mr President, because despite the economic damage caused by the works of these mafias, you said absolutely nothing about them, therefore, legitimising their work.
As if that is not bad enough, after your ANC government failed to pass the disastrous 18th Constitutional Amendment Bill, that sought to amend section 25 of the Constitution to allow for expropriation without compensation, your comrades are now shamelessly trying to use the Expropriation Bill, currently before the NCOP, to bring expropriation of land without compensation in the backdoor.
By giving the Minister of Public Works the power to expropriate property and I quote “In the public interest” and that the initial offer of compensation should be made by the expropriating authority, the Expropriation Bill represents a material dilution of property rights and must be rejected in its entirety. [Interjections.] [Applause.]
Afrikaans:
Mnr die President, die wanbestuur van die Saldanhabaai hawe is welbekend. Die wanbestuur daarvan deur die Departement van
Openbare Werke en Infrastruktuur plaas 3 000 werksgeleenthede en ’n R450 miljoen ekonomie op risiko. Tog, ten spyte van hierdie risiko, het u Minister geweier om die bestuursbevoegdhede van hierdie hawe na die Saldanhabaai Munisipaliteit af te wentel; ’n munisipaliteit wat onder Burgemeester André Brahm Truter onlangs uitgesonder is as een van die beste bestuurde munisipaliteite in die land.
Teenstrydig met wat die Minister gesê het, lei u ’n party wat nie vir die beskerming van werksgeleenthede en vir ekonomiese groei omgee nie, deur bevoegde munisipaliteite toe te laat om dít te doen wat die ANC gefaal het om te doen.
English:
It is for this exact reason that the Western Cape Provincial Powers Bill was introduced ... [Applause.] ... to devolve power such as policing, public transport, energy and harbours to the province in order for government to start to actually work for the people.
It is, therefore, befitting that this is your last state of the nation address, and a DA government stands ready to get South Africa working again. [Interjections.]
We are ready to send South Africans ... we are ready to rid South Africans from a rotten ANC government and we stand ready to rescue South Africa, once and for all. I thank you. [Applause.]
Ms N GANTSHO: Hon Speaker, hon President, hon Deputy President, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, the Chief Whip of the Majority Party, Chief Whip of the National Council of Provinces, members of this House, happy Valentine’s Day.
Hon members, the ANC is the only political party that is consistent with its policy imperatives that have found expression in the Constitution of the country.
From the ANC policies we have enshrined environmental rights in section 24 of the Constitution, that guarantees a protected environment that is no harmful to the health and the wellbeing of our citizens.
The National Environmental Management Act is the cornerstone legislation that we have established to prevent pollution and ecological degradation, promote conservation and advance ecological sustainable development, and use of our natural
resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development.
Hon members, the Climate Change Bill passed by the National Assembly last year is a progressive legislation that is directly ushering a proactive and coordinated response to the realities of climate change towards a more sustainable and climate resilient future. [Applause.]
The Climate Change Bill together with the Carbon Act will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote a low-carbon economy faster than anticipated.
These instruments will help us achieve our constitutionally protected environmental rights and the commitments under the Paris agreement to transition our economic activities to net- zero by 2025 as inclusively and sustainably. [Applause.]
Hon members, while we were conducting public hearings on Climate Change Bill, communities called for the establishment of climate financing to aid the climate response.
Mr President, you have responded during the state of the nation address and announced the establishment of Climate Change Response Fund. The establishment of this fund will complement and support the climate response work in provinces and municipalities, as captured in clause 15(a) of Climate Change Bill.
Hon Speaker, funding is going to be very critical when it comes to the success of the implementation of the Climate Change Bill.
Hon President, we are concerned that developed countries are not honouring their climate finance pledges and by complicating processes of accessing these funds, which disadvantages developing countries such as ours. To a certain extend, their reluctance undermines our climate response efforts and exposes our communities to climate disasters.
Hon members, while finances are a major part of climate action, the Bill is bringing in all stakeholders through forums inclusive of all three spheres government, businesses and community representatives, to ease communication, planting, planning and coordination of climate change response
action that will mitigate disasters while building preparedness.
In April 2020, Mr President, you said that our economic strategy going forward will require a social compact among role players: business, labour, community and government to restructure the economy and achieve inclusive growth.
The Presidential Climate Commission will be very instrumental, not only as an advisory body, but an additional monitoring and oversight layer ... [Applause.] ... to ensure the country’s transitions and no one is left behind.
We’ll realise long term just transition vision and a low carbon and climate resilient economy and society. Our transition has already begun. We need to harness more renewable energy sources, we need to adopt more sustainable agriculture practices, waist reduction through re-use and recycle, and promotion of green manufacturing, echo-friendly transportation and sustainable tourism and green infrastructure development.
Hon members, the 54th national conference of the ANC emphasized expanding participation in our ocean economies’ value chain for job creation, economic growth and investment attraction.
We need to use the blend of Operation Phakisa and restructure and recovery plan to unlock the potential of our nation’s economy through strategic investment in key sectors like fisheries ...
IsiXhosa:
... ebikade uninzi ingaba bantu ...
English:
... small harbour development, governance and capacity building.
The importance of fisheries sector underscores the need for political determination to drive its transformation, including crucial investments in small harbours, local economic development, supporting fishing tourism and social economic impact.
Hon Speaker, as I conclude.
Mr President, your leadership, by prioritising these sectors and allocating resources, we will drive economic growth. We will foster innovation and ensure sustainable development.
These investments will stimulate industrialization, will meet domestic demands and link our economy to the African and global value chains. And most importantly, it will respond to poverty, unemployment and inequality. [Applause.]
IsiXhosa:
Phambi kokuba ndihlale phantsi Somlomo, ndifuna ukuza nje kwaba bandlebe zikhany’ilanga. Kudala ningxola nixela amaxoxo kweli qonga. Kudala nisingxolela ngowama-2024 nisithi makafike. Ufikile Mbhexeshi oyiNtloko ke owama-2024, siza kudibana phaya etshatshalazeni. Le ngxolo beniyenza apha ayizi kunisebenzela, iANC iza kubuya. OoTintswalo baza kunibonisa, baza kuyivotela iANC. Enkosi. [Kwaqhwatywa]
Mr T LOATE: Madam Speaker, the President’s speech indicates where our country should have been. Unfortunately, we are still very far back and worst still, we are regressing.
Hon Speaker, in 1994 apartheid was ended, but no real dent was made since then on the apartheid’s hegemonic nastiness. The spatial segregation enforced by the Group Areas Act of 1950 and the apartheid era townships are where approximately 40% of the working age population and 60% of the country’s poor and the unemployed reside. Initially designed as dormitories to meet the labour requirements of the mining industry and the apartheid economy, they continue to manifest limited economic opportunities.
Therefore, the people have to compete for a share in minibus taxis, taverns and temporary work offerings. Townships lack diverse economic activities and formal job opportunities. High unemployment rates persist there. Residents hardly have upward mobility and economic or financial stability.
Essential services such as water, sanitation and electricity are insufficient.
Poor road networks and inadequate public transportation affect mobility and the economic participation.
The production of urban sprawls and new development further away from economic centres, condemn people with low incomes to the high cost of transportation from mega wages and salaries.
Furthermore, a significant percentage of township residents lack the necessary skills for entrepreneurship and formal employment. Access to quality education and vocational education remains a challenge for township dwellers.
Broadband connectivity and entry into the Fourth Industrial Revolution remain a mirage. In many of these townships like Diepsloot, Danoon and Botshabelo and Olievenhoutbosch amongst others, high crime rate prevails. Exacerbated by gangsterism, mob justice, inadequate policing and limited community safety measures, the people have been left in the lurch by the criminal justice system.
There is overcrowding, inadequate health services and no significant effort for the revitalisation and social upliftment where the majority live.
There is no redress to most of the people living in townships from the ANC-led government. The appalling legacy of apartheid
continues to haunt the people who are forcibly dumped to these areas.
Now, what will Cope do when given a strong mandate after the elections?
[Interjections.]
We shall prioritise urgent attention to the challenges of growing urbanisation, immigration and climate change. We shall implement sustainable programmes to improve the economic conditions in townships to achieve social cohesion, employment creation and environmental improvement and sustainability.
Unlike your party, who are hauling now, keeping people trapped in poverty and underdevelopment with social grants and kospatjies.
Cope shall ensure that we increase the quality and quantity of the middle-class family. They deserve better.
As for you Mr President, you will realise that the ANC dismally failed the people of South Africa.
[Kenako.] It is time.
Change has to come now. I thank you.
Ms S J GRAHAM: My fellow South Africans, in the last 30 years of ANC-led government, we have moved from the magnificent promise of a rainbow nation to the halcyon days of the Mandela era. Via the turbid waters of the Zuma years, emerging into the black hole of the Ramaphosa Presidency. With each phase, our country became more impoverished – morally, socially and financially.
Poorly implemented policies, coupled with endemic corruption, have been instrumental in perpetuating poverty. Our education, health and social development institutions are failing. Our state-owned entities, SOE’s, are collapsing. Crime is out of control. Unemployment is escalating. And the energy crisis remains the overarching, mother of all failures. Entrenched poverty is the ANC’s legacy.
And with the pervasive moral poverty that has beset the governing party, the ANC believes that they can lie to us and get away with it.
A case in point is the ongoing lies about loadshedding being on the verge of being resolved.
Mr President, you perpetuated this lie last week. Within hours of your promises, the country was plunged back into stage 4 and in less than 24 hours we were back at stage 6.
And while we continue to lurch between stages, Minister Ramokgopa insists that loadshedding is pretty much resolved.
But you and your comrades would not fully appreciate the gravity of this as you remain unaffected in your taxpayer funded ministerial homes, using taxpayer funded generators, fuelled by taxpayer funded diesel. [Applause.]
No wonder the hon Lucas does not think that loadshedding is the end of the world.
In January, Minister Ramokgopa informed the country that Eskom had made “great strides” and that energy availability had exceeded demand. What he omitted was that this was not as a result of Eskom’s performance but was actually due to a drop in demand – mainly attributable to private rooftop solar that
was taking the pressure off the power utility. The reality was that Eskom was actually producing less electricity in January of 2024 than it had produced in January 2023 during stages 5 and 6 of loadshedding.
The ANC-led government has lied about the causes of the energy crisis. Unable to admit to their own ineptitude, short- sightedness and corruption, the ANC Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula – the quintessential pinocchio of politics – has blamed inter alia state capture, the Just Energy Transition Programme, Andre De Ruyter, and most recently, sabotage, for causing loadshedding.
Twenty-six years ago, the government was warned that there would be insufficient electricity to meet demand by 2007. They ignored the warning. Loadshedding started in 2007 and is now a permanent fixture of our lives.
And while the lies keep coming, the energy crisis is systematically destroying our economy with the cost of loadshedding for 2023 estimated to have been around R1,6 trillion.
But loadshedding does not just have a direct financial cost. There are other impacts that cannot be as easily assessed and measured.
The corner car wash that cannot operate during loadshedding so the employees cannot get paid. The spaza shop that has to close its doors during blackouts because it is too dark to monitor shoplifting. The small manufacturing businesses, reliant on electricity, that are forced to close down as they cannot meet production targets to break even. Retailers forced to spend millions on diesel for generators who have to offset that cost by passing it on to the consumer or by reducing their workforce. Cable theft that occurs during loadshedding that leaves entire communities without power for extended periods and costs local government hundreds of thousands of rands to replace – money that they could use for service delivery.
As awful as this is, there are solutions. And there is anecdotal evidence that these solutions are viable.
The DA, in its blueprint for government, has outlined a number of mechanisms – both short and long-term – that will resolve
the energy crisis. Short-term, we need to be insulating our poor and vulnerable communities against the worst effects of loadshedding. Loadshedding relief packs, such as those recently donated by the Western Cape government to gender- based violence, GBV, shelters, can assist organisations at the coalface of societal distress, to navigate through blackouts in order to protect those in their care.
By extending the R75 000 tax rebate for the installation of private solar systems, we will not only continue to reduce daytime electricity demand, but we will convert consumers into prosumers through the cash-for-electricity initiative which is already operational in the Western Cape.
The unbundling of Eskom and privatisation of electricity generation, transmission and distribution will be a primary focus of our government. The faster that we can reduce the monopoly of this monolithic ode to centralisation of state power, the faster we will address the energy crisis. Chasing megawatts in a singular entity is clearly not enough.
Mr President, it has been exactly a year since you announced your new Minister of Electricity and your government’s
commitment to ending the loadshedding crisis. It has been the worst year of loadshedding in our history.
So, I am here to tell you that, despite the ANC’s lies, South Africans are trying to remain optimistic. We want to believe in the dream of a better country for everyone. But every time the lights go out, our hope dims further and the resentment burns brighter, because you and your government have failed us all. It is time for the DA to step in to rescue South Africa before there is nothing left to rescue. I tank you. [Applause.]
The PREMIER OF THE NORTHERN CAPE (Dr Z Saul): Speaker of the National Assembly, let me also greet the Chairperson of the NCOP, His Excellency, the President of South Africa, and the Deputy President, let me greet Ministers and Deputy Ministers, I saw some of my colleagues who are here, Premiers of Provinces, hon members of the National Assembly and NCOP, ladies, and gentlemen, this is the last lab of the six administrations. But not the end of incumbency of the governing party.
In 2020, the country and the world were struck by the COVID-19 pandemic. That same year, our hon President Ramaphosa likened gender-based violence and femicide to a second pandemic confronting our country. Now today, in this House, we are struck by a third pandemic called loss of memory. ... [Laughter.] ...
Afrikaans:
In Afrikaans noem hulle dit geheueverlies.
English:
The loss of memory pandemic is due to deliberate misremembering and distortions of the South African development journey. The character Tintswalo that the President spoke about serves to remind us of the comprehensive interventions by government. The life of Tintswalo represents the cumulative impact of government policy interventions. This is a real life story of many young South Africans. To be a graduate today in South Africa is no longer an exclusive preserve of the rich and affording households.
Today I have, as our special guest, our own Tintswalo from the Northern Cape province. We’ve got Eugene ... [Inaudible.] ...
There he is. It’s our own Tintswalo from the Northern Cape. A first graduate in his family, very dynamic, upfront, and unapologetic young men. He was born in 1993. He is from a female-headed household. As a result, he was a beneficiary of the child support grant. He was raised in an RDP house. He attended a no-fee Pescodia High School that provided him with two free meals a day. He received a bursary from the premier’s office and Nsfas and, completed his Bachelor of Education at Sol Plaatje University ... [Applause.] ... Now he is a teacher at the same high school he attended and is also pursuing his honours degree. There are thousands of young people with similar accounts in the Northern Cape. The ones with loss of memory will not even recognise them.
Hon Speaker, in 2019, the provincial government articulated a vision to build a modern, growing and successful province. We remain committed to ensuring that we realise each of the three pillars of this vision, particularly focusing on health and education. The victims of false memory pandemic knows very well that in 1995 the Human Development Index of South Africa was a mere 0,66, and now it’s 0,727, which represents high Human Development Index. This is as a result of increased
access to better quality public education, increased access to healthcare, and increase in the income of poor households.
The Northern Cape is now one of the six provinces in the country with an HDI above 0,70, which is a clear indication of improvement in human development. The percentage of persons aged 20 years and older with no schooling in the Northern Cape declined from 22,7% in 1996 to 6,7% in 2022. This means that we have exponentially increased access to education with a total learner enrolment exceeding - for the first time –
300 000 in 554 schools this year. Over the past three years, our Grade 12 results cumulatively recorded 10% increase from 66% in 2020 to 76% in 2023.
We have improved access to provision of healthcare services in the Northern Cape. Life expectancy in the province increased for both males and females. Males saw an increase from 51 to
58 years, and females saw an increase from 55 to 64 years. The infant mortality rate has decreased to 16,1% per thousand live births. This is way below the SDG 3,2 which aims to achieve below 25 per thousand live births by 2030. The improvements in healthcare provision to our people can be largely attributed
to increased access to the 189 healthcare facilities across the province.
We agree with the President that infrastructure development is a flywheel for growth. Our unprecedented spending on public infrastructure, which includes new hospitals, new clinics, new schools, new libraries, new roads and human settlements since 2019 to date, stands at R14,8 billion. Despite the energy and logistics structural constraints, the economy of the Northern Cape is on a positive growth trajectory.
In 2019, the GDP per region was standing at 94 billion, and now stands at over 134 billion, just four years in a row. This has not been a jobless growth. During the second quarter of 2020, 255 000 people were employed in the province and now when we wake up tomorrow morning, there is 333 000 people that will be going to work. This number exceeds the pre-Covid figures of employment with unemployment now standing at 26,3%.
I heard my colleague from the Western Cape saying that Western Cape has got the lowest unemployment rate. But we should not be ahistorical about that. Even when the ANC was in power here, the Western Cape had the lowest unemployment in the
country. So, if we are ahistoric about it, we will continue to throw these figures and decontextualize them.
The implementation of the catalytic projects such a Special Economic Zone, Boegoebergs Bay Port, Green Hydrogen Project and the Kathu Industrial Park will permanently change the socioeconomic landscape of the province and increase job opportunities. The major contributing factor to unemployment in the Northern Cape is the low skill space. During March, in collaboration with Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority, merSETA, we will launch the skills development and bursary programme amounting to R210 million, benefiting more than 2000 young people.
Since 2019, our partnership with SETAs has benefited 14 800 young people in the province. Through the premier’s bursary refund, we have already assisted 530 deserving young people from the province that pursue studies in scarce skills areas and had written off 154 million in their outstanding debt.
The Sol Plaatje University just had its 10th anniversary celebration and is a significant landmark in Kimberley with a
student population of more than 5 200. The university is also a draw card for skills development in the province. I think it was two years back, I was listening to one of the members from the opposition benches saying that the Sol Plaatje University is not more than a decorated high school. We took that as an insult in the Northern Cape. I would invite that member just to go and witness the kind of development that is taking place in building that university. Today, it’s a significant landmark in Kimberly. ... [Applause.] ...
The provincial government has a very progressive procurement regime. The total spent on goods and services over the past four years amounts to R26 billion. Of the R26 billion,
R5 billion was spent on women and women owned suppliers,
R1 5 billion was spent on young people, R51 million, which we need to improve on, was spent on people living with disabilities. The total spent on black-owned suppliers amount to R15 billion, which is 58% of our procurement. An amount of R14 billion was spent on small businesses because we appreciate the role that small businesses play in ensuring that we’ve got vibrancy and dynamism in the provincial economy.
His Excellency, President Ramaphosa, initiated the annual Presidential Investment Conference to realise R1,2 trillion investments over a period of five years. Seventy-billion rand of this investment was made in the Northern Cape in energy and mining. Some of these major investments were Vedanta, PMG, Orion, Unigreens, Skytech and Aqua. Now, we are at the forefront of driving investment in green hydrogen, and we have launched a Green Hydrogen Master Plan.
We committed ourselves to sound financial management. We have significantly improved our audit outcomes and cut unnecessary wastages. We continue to render support to our municipalities for sound financial management and accountability.
The SPEAKER: Hon Premier, I am sorry. Your time is up.
The PREMIER OF THE NORTHERN CAPE (Dr Z Saul): The support initiatives include, amongst others, operation clean audit. Thank you very much, hon Speaker for the opportunity. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Mr M G E HENDRICKS: Hon Speaker, President Ramaphosa, minutes after your Sona, the SABC wanted a score out of 10. I had to
duck and dive. After all, in Parliament, you told the nation you will cheer for Al Jama-ah, as Al Jama-ah does not have Members of Parliament to cheer. The reporter nagged me for a score, and I gave you six out of 10. But, today, President, I give you 10 out of 10. A round of applause! [Applause.] Ten out of 10, because President Ramaphosa, you revived the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and you are giving it life by using internationally recognised institutions, in this case the International Court of Justice, ICJ, for interim measures, to put an end to the genocide in Gaza.
You went further and laid a criminal charge at another international court, the International Criminal Court, that a warrant of arrest for war crimes be laid against Netanyahu.
Yesterday, you asked the ICJ to stop genocide in Rafah. President Ramaphosa, you have done South Africa proud, more than any other South African leader, with your support for the convention and the declaration.
At this point in our history, it is befitting to pay tribute to all the Palestinian resistance movements, led by Hamas, like we paid tribute to the resistance movements, led by the ANC, for the freedoms we enjoy today. [Applause.] You talk
about arrest warrants, President. Arrest warrants for complicity must also be issued in South Africa to religious leaders like the respected rabbi and organisations like the board and the federation. These organisations, President, must be shut down.
Political parties who support genocide do not deserve space on the ballot paper. A vote for the DA, ACDP, FF Plus and their allies will be a vote for complicity and noncompliance with the Genocide Convention and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Al Jama-ah unambiguously states that it will never forget those South African political parties like the DA, ACDP, FF Plus, PA, BOSA and others for having pledged their brazen support for the Zionist state’s agenda to continue to commit the audacious acts of genocide, ...
Mr Z MLENZANA: Hon Speaker, I am rising here on a point of order, regarding the Leader of the Opposition, who indicated, through gestures that the speaker on the floor is mad. And he is still laughing at it, because he is actually denigrating. That is the order.
The SPEAKER: Thank you.
Mr W T LETSIE: The one with no matric. He is generally ...
The SPEAKER: Hon Leader of the Opposition party, did you do that? [Interjections.] No, please. Hon Leader of the Opposition party, did you do that, other than scratching your head? [Interjections.] No, hon member. Order! Hon member, I expect you to do better than that. If that is what you did, I expect you to do better than that. You are a leader of a political party. Hon member! Hon member! Hon Steenhuisen, I expect you to do better than that. [Interjections.] I did not hear. What is your response? [Interjections.] No, it is not done, hon member. Order!
Hon Steenhuisen, you know what, at times, as we grew up, when you were talking, people would use their hands, talking you down and creating an impression that what you are saying, the truth you are saying is mad, and is madness in your head.
Don’t do it. Don’t do it, hon member. Don’t repeat it. There is no member, who has taken the floor that is mad in this House. No, hon member. Hon member Steenhuisen, you may take it lightly, but it is actually wrong. Yes, because you are suggesting that the member is mad; he is not mad. He is simply
addressing the House and is speaking the truth. [Interjections.] Thank you.
The DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY: Hon Speaker, we cannot have leaders of political parties misleading this House. I want to suggest that you go through the video and come back with a considered ruling. Thank you very much.
The SPEAKER: Hon Dlakude, I will go through the footage, and I will rule. Hon Dlakude, hon Steenhuisen, I will go through the footage, and I will come back, and rule tomorrow.
Mr M G E HENDRICKS: Hon Speaker, chocolates in Franschhoek are more important than genocide for the Premier of the Western Cape.
Al Jama-ah recognises that great achievements have been made over the past 30 years, considering where we are coming from. Hon Speaker, you cannot imagine what harm apartheid caused when the ANC took over in 1994, but this does not mean that Al Jama-ah does not hold the governing party accountable. Al
Jama-ah does this, despite the chair of the ANC lamenting. We voted against an ANC matter three times in a row.
Al Jama-ah wants to share its further expectations after the state of the nation address. We want President Ramaphosa to once again take the lead and call for two referendums. The first one is that there must be a referendum in Occupied Palestine, and the second referendum in the entire Palestine, from the river to the sea. [Interjections.] The referendum must answer the question if the people of Palestine want a two-state solution or a unitary state. The second referendum
must answer the question whether the Palestinians and Israelis want a unitary state with one man, one vote.
Now that that South Africa has shown its commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, by asking for an investigation by the International Court of Justice, if there is a plausible case that Israel has committed genocide, it is clear that the civilised world, foreseen by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is no more, because of the complicity of America, England, Germany and France, who are at the forefront of the civilized world.
By referring to the events in Gaza in the state of the nation address gives President Ramaphosa a moral obligation on behalf
of South Africans to launch a new humanitarian civilisation. [Time expired.] Thank you very much. [Applause.]
The SPEAKER: Order, hon members! Hon members, Rule 2 states that no member shall use unparliamentary, offensive, abusive, insulting, disrespectful, unbecoming language or sounds or offensive or threatening gestures. And I just want to make the point, hon Steenhuisen, I am reading the Rules, and I am saying to you, tomorrow, I will rule on the matter, because I will go through the video. And if it is found that you did exactly what the member is raising, you shall have used unparliamentary language, in terms of Rule 52, hon Steenhuisen, Leader of the Opposition party.
Mr M S MALATSI: Hon Speaker, so much of the hope that our country will rise to a prosperous society is located in the Bill of Rights, which obliges the government to provide basic services to all those who live in it. The painful reality of the state of our nation today is that the ANC is failing spectacularly to deliver on the mandate of the Bill of Rights.
Mr President, your administration has squandered so much public goodwill, to become the biggest disappointment of our
democracy. Many of us gave you the benefit of the doubt that you will live up to your promise of a new dawn. We all believed in good faith that your patriotism will force you to choose what is best for the country, even if it wasn’t best for your party. But what did you do? You blew it. You betrayed the public goodwill, to choose your party over our country, over and again.
While your praise singers paraded you as the Messiah who would lead South Africa into the promised land, you have turned out to be a smooth talker, high on promises, but low on delivery.
The true state of the nation is that many South Africans no longer have the patience to give your government more time to do the simplest task of delivering basic services. Your government’s mishandling of our economy is inflicting insufferable pain to millions of South Africans who are scrambling to survive.
While you squander R600 000 on feeding guests in the Presidential jet, thousands of families can’t even afford to put food on the table. When all South Africans offered their
goodwill for you to at least live up to your words about lifestyle audits for Ministers, what did you do? You blew it!
Mr President, the Sona was not the victory parade that you attempted to portray. In fact, it exposed your government as a serial underachiever that is content with mediocrity. And you have consistently proven that you are beyond rehabilitation for anyone to believe that you can perform better.
Sepedi:
Le lehono re sa beile mekganya phatleng, re ipotiiia gore naa o tla kgona bjang go phethagatia ditshephiio tieo o bolelago ka tiona mola o sa palelwa ke tia mengwaga ye e fetilego.
English:
More South Africans are unemployed today than when you first came to office. With a youth unemployment rate at 43,4%, little has changed for a lot of young people who are still struggling to find a job. For all your boasting about Tintswalo, there are thousands of young people who have never worked a day in their life and will likely never work for a day in their lifetime, as long as you are the President.
If you go to Soweto and Soshanguve, there are tens of thousands of young unemployed graduates who are struggling to find jobs because of your administration’s economic policies. These young people have been sentenced to a lifetime of despair by your government. For them, every single day in their lives is a brutal reminder that the government has left them behind.
Those of us who live in villages are witnesses of your administration’s legacy of nondelivery. Minister Nkadimeng, your legacy of failure as the Mayor of Polokwane is unforgettable for those of us who go there. In Polokwane today, from Ga-Dikgale to Moletji, we still have communities that must wait once a week for a municipal truck to deliver water to them, in this day and age. Are you not ashamed that the access to water is denied? To the Minister Mchunu, there have been water disruptions for the past five weeks in Durban North, in Phoenix, in Verulam, as we speak.
To the Minister of Social Development, more children go to bed hungry under President Ramaphosa than they did before. Just late last year, the Nelson Mandela Foundation revealed that close to five million children in our country are starving.
Minister Mantashe, it is very ironic to boast about the number of households that have been electrified since 1994, when we spend more days without electricity than we do with it, due to load shedding.
According to independent estimates, Eskom shed the equivalent of 283 days in 2023, costing the economy R1 3 trillion in lost economic activity.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSOTION: Speaker, can I please ask you to intervene. The members, in particularly, that corner, are drowning my speaker.
The SPEAKER: Hon members, order! Hon members to my right, it is true, you are, drowning the speaker. [Interjections.] Yes, hon members, especially you members at the back. You are. Hon members, please, lower your voices. We are not stopping you from heckling, but you can do it better than this. [Interjections.] No, hon members. Hon member!
IsiXhosa:
Andifuni ukukubiza.
English:
Don’t do that. Don’t do that! No, hon members, honestly, it is true that you are drowning the speaker. Thank you.
Mr M S MALATSI: The hon Dugmore tried really hard yesterday to tarnish the City of Cape Town, but facts are more powerful than opinions. The facts are that, according to Nedbank’s Capital Expenditure Project Listing for 2023: “Although the general government announced R103 billion worth of projects, 60% of those are projected by the City of Cape Town, including R45 billion for upgrading wastewater works, sewers and road infrastructure, and R24 billion towards minimizing load shedding.
Mr President, state capture is a product of your comrades’ appetite for nice things they can’t afford. It was ANC cadres who were recipients of bribes. So, while you preach zero tolerance against corruption, you can’t even fire Ministers who were identified by the state capture report to have been involved in corruption.
Mr President, when you look at yourself in the mirror, do you absolutely believe that the Deputy President is beyond
reproach? Do you absolutely believe that the Deputy President is a man of integrity? Every time you had an opportunity to show the country that you are serious about fighting corruption, all you did was to blow it.
The next election is going to be an opportunity to reset our country on the path of prosperity. South Africa, today, finds itself ...
The SPEAKER: Hon Deputy Minister, what is happening? Why are you doing that? Why are you blowing balloons and flying it? No, please, don’t do that.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSOTION: Speaker, the Deputy Minister has been blowing balloons and throwing them all over the stage. The House Chair, yesterday ... [Interjections.] Excuse me, please!
IsiXhosa:
Umdala, umdala.
The SPEAKER: Hon members, please, the speaker is on the floor and is protected.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE OPPOSOTION: The House Chair, yesterday, made a Ruling about making gestures and using symbols. The Deputy Minister is busy blowing balloons on the stage.
The SPEAKER: Not only that. I have just right now reminded everybody about that kind of conduct, when the Leader of the Opposition party made a gesture, which we are still investigating. So, hon Deputy Minister, please.
Mr M S MALATSI: If truth be told, we need to rescue our country from further destruction by the ANC. This election is a choice between the legacy of broken promises and the future of a prosperous South Africa. If there is one government that has leveraged the power of good governance to fulfil the promise of our democracy, it is DA governments.
From the provision of basic services to job creation, DA governments are doing more to fulfil the promise of our democracy. The increasing migration to the Western Cape is a massive vote of confidence in the work of the DA government here.
The Western Cape has the lowest unemployment rate in the country. Of the 27 best governed municipalities in the country, the majority are DA-run. Many of you here know that, because you live in those municipalities. [Interjections.] DA municipalities regularly outperform the national average on key metrics, such as quality of water, sanitation and refuse removal. So, if you go to Midvaal or Umgeni, life is generally better for residents under a DA government than an ANC government.
The shortcomings of the country’s education system are not only visible in the failure of children to read and write for meaning, but also in the personalities of Ministers and ANC members, who cannot read statistics. So, Minister Nzimande, it is a pity that the blade has gone blunt over time. [Interjections.] [Laughter.] There are currently 645 unemployed junior doctors in the country, who completed their community service in December, and they have not been placed. One of them, Thakgalo Thibela, comes from Violet Bank that hon Lamoela would know very well, because it is in Bushbuckridge.
Hon Motsoaledi, you have a very important job. You must focus on the provision of IDs, passports, and make sure that our
borders are secured. I know that you are still not over, not being the Minister of Health, but let us move on.
Hon Mabuyane, I understand your dilemma. The best of the Eastern Cape is part of the DA. So, you are left with the worst of it. [Interjections.] The hon Premier of the Northern Cape, keep having those bilateral meetings with the Western Cape Premier that you initiated. You will be on the right track, because best practices must be shared and executed.
So, for all of us to fully enjoy the fruits of our democracy, we must rescue our country from the clutches of further destruction. This is why a DA government will not introduce new taxes to protect the middleclass from the rising costs of living. We will introduce social grants to match the poverty line, to empower poor people to provide for their families. We will professionalise the public service by getting rid of cadre deployment.
So, South Africans, we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to vote for a government that will give true meaning to realise their freedoms that so many fought for. Thank you.
The SPEAKER: Hon member, the Deputy Minister of Higher Education ... before ... hon member, the Deputy Minister of Higher Education! Would you, please, pick up the balloons before you address the House.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND INNOVATION: Okay.
The SPEAKER: Hon Deputy Minister!
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND
INNOVATION: I was trying to blow hot ...
The SPEAKER: ... Deputy Minister! Would you, please, pick up the balloons before you address the House!
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND
INNOVATION: I was trying to ...
The SPEAKER: ... pick up your balloons before you address the House!
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND INNOVATION: Oh!
The SPEAKER: Thank you.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND
INNOVATION: Thank you. I was also trying to blow hot air, hon Speaker. You know, when I was listening to hon Malatsi here
...
The SPEAKER: ... order, hon members ...
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND
INNOVATION: ... and I would like to quote in response to your speech. If the hon Julius Malema would have been here, I would like to quote what he would have said in Moses Mabida at the stadium in response to your speech ... bvrrrr! [Laughter.]
However, throughout your speech, hon Malatsi, I slept and I dreamed that I went ...
The SPEAKER: ... hon member, hon member ...
IsiXhosa:
Hayi maan, yintoni kwenze njani?
English:
What is this language you are using?
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND
INNOVATION: It is the language that was spoken at Moses Mabida, hon Speaker.
The SPEAKER: Hon member, okay, take your sit, please. Hon members, order.
Mr J J McGLUWA: Speaker, hon Deputy Minister has made a vulgar gesture to our member. I would request you to visit the video and come back with a ruling. It is terrible for a Deputy Minister to act in this fashion.
The SPEAKER: Hon Deputy Minister, would you, please, withdraw and apologise for the gesture.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND
INNOVATION: What should I withdraw, Speaker?
The SPEAKER: That which is vulgar which we all saw you doing.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND
INNOVATION: Which is what, Speaker?
The SPEAKER: Which is blowing the nose.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND
INNOVATION: Okay. I withdraw blowing the nose ...
The SPEAKER: ... please, man. Please.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND
INNOVATION: I withdraw blowing the nose.
The SPEAKER: Thank you. Let us proceed.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND
INNOVATION: However, there was a lot of hot air that was blown here but you did not ask him to withdraw. Throughout his speech I slept and I dreamed that I died and went to hell.
Nevertheless, hon member you must not worry because when I was there I saw a satan Helen with a uniform and pitchfork wearing Prada. She greeted me with so much zeal and it was so exciting. This is how, by the way, is a spoil alert this speech will end.
Naomi Chomsky, the author of that magnum opus; Manufacturing Consent, wrote and I quote:
The whole point of good propaganda is to create a slogan that nobody’s going to be against and everybody’s going to be for. Nobody knows what it means because it doesn’t mean anything.
Over the last two years, Mr president, we have witnessed a phase of Chomsky’s Manufacturing Consent where individuals take liberties of stretching the truth in twisting facts in repurposing lies representing this as an alternative to the ANC government. The running slogan of this propaganda has been that the ANC has failed this government, that it will lose the next election, that it will manufacture lies to pull wool over the eyes of the people and that if this fails, and this is the most ridiculous part of the hypothesis, that it will steal
these elections just as the rest of their black friends throughout the continents have been doing over the years.
This slogan starts with a self-fulfilling prophecy and is accompanied by statements that instills fear in the minds of the people. If you tell a medical doctor, by the way hon Meshoe if you are still here, this medical doctor is actually gay or lesbian whether you like it or not, if you tell this medical doctor who has just graduated from Witwatersrand University, fully funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS, having evaded poverty and have an Reconstruction and Development Programme, RDP, house as part of their family intervention, have an electrified house, clean piped water and paved roads, if you tell them that the ANC has failed because they may not have a job at that particular moment they may fall into this particular propaganda.
I can go on with as many examples that the intention is that this is good propaganda. It has to be meaningless in order for it to be believable. The people will know to be careful who tells them that the ANC has failed and that their nefarious intentions are. President, this is the 7th election since 1994. In all those years there is never been even a shred of
suspicion let alone accusation that any of the elections have been stolen. This statement is meant to create doubt and suspicion but also fermenting chaos in the inevitable fate of that self-fulfilling prophecy fails.
We have seen elements of the self-fulfilling prophecy playing itself out in the state of the nation address debate with even the skinniest of political parties pitching up on this lectern with pumped up chest to lecture us about how the ANC has failed and how they have done better than the ANC ... [Inaudible.] ... to govern. I don’t know if you have seen, Mr President, hon Holomisa when he came here, announcing with so much pomposity that they will be launching their elections manifesto at Gallagher Convention Center wherever that place is. I suppose the only time you will ever see him is at the First National Bank, FNB, Stadium when his favorite team Kaizer Chiefs plays.
Nevertheless, even the IFP did not want to be left out of this party as they manufactured the truth to claim that they as part of the Government of National Unity, were the center of progress and that KwaZulu-Natal was a shining star under their leadership. How cute! How soon do they want us to forget that
they were dragged, kicking and screaming to the first National General Elections? That, all that we remember of the IFP and the hon Buthelezi - may his soul rest in peace - was when he became acting president for the day, he invaded Lesotho. That is all we remember about their role under the Government of National Unity. This was clearly a failed attempt on the part of the IFP president to join in on the propaganda slogan of the DA, where they claim that where they govern they govern better.
I don’t know if the people of Tshwane think the same because interestingly, when the hon Premier of the Western Cape was speaking about tale of two parties he forgets to mention what is happening in Pretoria, Tshwane. I will tell you why the DA in Tshwane has cancelled a free Wi-Fi programme that young people had access to, they have cancelled the Extended Public Works Programme which offered mass employment for young people. The once cleaner city in this country is now the scum of this country. The capital city of our country the DA has messed it up. Poverty levels have worsened in that city.
They will not tell you about that because it is not as easy as governing in the Western Cape. Here it is easy, you can just
walk around Camps Bay where it is already picture perfect and claim that you have delivered whilst you are hiding behind the challenges that the people are facing in places like Khayelitsha and everywhere else. When speaking as part of this debate yesterday, hon John, of the DA claimed that the dream that they held in 1994 of a better South Africa has turned out to be worse than the nightmare that we find ourselves.
Hon John lived under apartheid. Like many white men of his age all that they had to do to succeed was just to prove that they are white and then everything happens. I am still convinced that he wasn’t happy when apartheid ended because this meant an end to his privileges. Given the facts that as a politician, as a professional, as an academic, as an athlete or even as a businessman he probably wouldn’t have amounted to much. He was not the only speaker from the DA, however, who repeated this comparison with apartheid and yet wants us to keep quiet about the major changes that the ANC has made since 1994.
According to census the median age increased from 22 years in 1996 to 28 years in 2022. Median means the number of people, hon Steenhuisen, who are young and who are old are the same.
It also means that hon Nodada here under apartheid wouldn’t have survived. He looks a bit 50 years old, so he would have probably died about 22 years ago. The same census found that attendance to Early Childhood Development centers increased to almost universal level, which means hon Nodada that your uncle in the Eastern Cape would not have had this opportunity that you are having and yet you come here and say to us that you want to do to the ANC what your parents did to the apartheid government.
In fact, if the ANC were to do even an inch of the horrors that the apartheid government did, I doubt if your pants would remain clean for the rest of your life. So, we can try as much as possible to punch holes in the quality of education system but more people are completing school as compared to any other phase in our country. Therefore, we have made major changes.
In this country the people who must carry the burden of National Unity are black and African. This is not an accident of history, they are the ones who are most affected and punished by the racial barbarism of others. They were not born with a silver spoon, they do not have their pockets lined up for inheritance or a managerial post or a packet of land. They
know how racism has destroyed generations of black and African people.
Paulo Freire in his seminal work; The Pedagogy of the Oppressed, says:
Even when the contradiction is resolved authentically by a new situation established by the liberated labourers, the former oppressors do not feel liberated. On the contrary, they genuinely consider themselves to be oppressed. Any restriction on this way of life, in the name of the rights of the community, appears to the former oppressors as a profound violation of their individual rights.
Freire observes that for the oppressors’ human beings refers only to themselves and that other people are things. Things you can send dogs to, hon Groenewald, and waive the old apartheid flag in celebration. For the oppressors there exist only one right, which is their right. Yes, Nelson Mandela marched out of Robben Island this week, some 34 years ago to oversee the repeal of most of legislated racism in this Parliament but racism remains and it is institutionalised. It feeds off the privilege of a certain section of our society.
Many young people from all walks of life detest this racism. However, this racism in this House is led by the Democratic Alliance. Their support for Israel, acts of alleged genocide is nothing but a glaring perpetuation of what failed in this country, which is apartheid racism. When the DA’s hon John refers to young black people in Gauteng as drunks from Pep Store and all of that, it is the subtle racism that has captured him internally within the DA. The fact that they are now earning an income grant doesn’t matter to him, for him it only has to work if it is implemented in the DA.
They claim that they have changed from DP to DA. They even got this black chap who is now opening up a small political party they are calling it a home and that is mama [woman] from the Biko era, to come and salvage this clocked plumbing of the DA. Nevertheless, that still did not work because those who are in the DA who speak out gets chucked out before Sunday. Those who remain, remain silent in order to project and sanitise the racism that exists in there.
This racism, hon President, is even worse than that which we see in the FF Plus and the rest because, at least, the FF Plus is clear that they are just a white race party. They don’t
even pretend. Yours, DA; it is veiled, cunning, dangerous and it has a signature of the lady who wears a pitchfork and Prada, Helen herself. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
The SPEAKER: Thank you, hon member. Hon members, that concludes the business of the day’s list of speakers. The President will reply to the debate tomorrow and the joint sitting is adjourned. I thank you, hon members.
Debate concluded.
The House adjourned at 18:55.
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