Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698832453181.pdf (South Africa)
Thursday, 17 March 2022] A 8 No 4 – 2022] FOURTH SESSION, SIXTH PARLIAMENT REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA ____________ MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES ____________ 1.

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THURSDAY, 17 MARCH 2022 The Council met at 14:02.

The Chairperson took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or meditation.

The Chairperson announced that the virtual sitting constituted a sitting of the National Council of Provinces.

[14:05] Notices of motions.
[14:10] Ms S A Luthuli moved without notice: That the Council- (1) (2) (3) (4) notes the high rise of taxi violence and shootings which continue unabated in KwaZulu-Natal; further notes that there exists a growing crisis of contract killings in the country, especially in the taxi industry, as there have been several incidents in the province, in the North of Durban in particular, Tongaat and Verulam, where either a taxi owner or a driver was gunned down; acknowledges that this has generated a series of hitmen available for hire, and when conflict in the taxi industry is sparked, it spills over to affect the safety of commuters, bystanders as well as local government officials; further acknowledge that the rights and freedoms which the Constitution entrenches for all citizens, are threatened every time a citizen becomes a victim of such crimes; MINUTES: NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES NO 4– 2022 Thursday, 17 March 2022] A 9 (5) recognises that criminals triumph in South Africa as they go by unpunished; and (6) calls on the government to display leadership and put an end to taxi violence.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.

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[14:11] Ms A D Maleka moved without notice: That the Council- (1) (2) (3) notes with appreciation the appointment of Justice Raymond Mnyamezeli Zondo as the Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa; further notes the general respect that Justice Zondo enjoys among different quarters of South Africans for his legal expertise; and congratulates Chief Justice Zondo in his appointment and wish him well in his new leadership role.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.

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[ 14:13] Mr D R Ryder moved without notice: That the Council- (1) (2) (3) notes the rise of nationalist groups in Gauteng mobilising xenophobic sentiment; notes the opportunistic populism of certain emerging political parties fuelling the xenophobia; acknowledges the long and co-operative relationship that South Africa has with our continental neighbours; (4) embraces the diversity of cultures that make up our rainbow nation; (5) (6) (7) calls upon the Minister of Home Affairs to move swiftly to eliminate red-tape, backlogs and corruption within the department; further calls on all those living within our borders, whether born here or not, to co-operate with one another and pursue a life of harmony; and condemns the xenophobes and xenophobic organisations for these senseless attacks.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.

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[14:14] Mr M Dangor moved without notice: That the Council- (1) notes the successes of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in hunting down and prosecuting corruption related cases in the Free State; MINUTES: NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES NO 4– 2022 Thursday, 17 March 2022] A 10 (2) (3) (4) also notes that according to the report by the head of the NPA in the Free State, Adv Navilla Somaru, there are currently 8 cases involving the departments of agriculture, health, education and human settlement with strong prospects for successful prosecution; and there are a number of cases already concluded with ten people found guilty and sentenced; acknowledges that this demonstrates the successful efforts of renewal of the criminal justice system; and congratulates Advocate Somaru and her team for these successes and wish them well in their further investigations.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.

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[ 14:16] Ms N Ndongeni moved without notice: That the Council- (1) (2) (3) notes with appreciation the good results achieved by the South African Women Cricket team in the World Cup currently being played in New Zealand; further notes that the South African team has won all four games they have played so far, improving their chances to play in the semi-finals; and congratulates the team for their good results so far and wish them all the best in their upcoming matches.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.

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[ 14:20] Mr A Arnolds moved without notice: That the Council- (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) notes the recent decision taken by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) to grant a 9.61% increase to the cost of electricity; further notes that South Africans have a right to access to electricity.
Electricity has become an integral part of daily life, is important for the survival of citizens and has made daily living a little more efficient; acknowledges that in the midst of high levels of unemployment, a dwindling economy and unprecedented increase to the cost of living, an increase in the cost of electricity is a cruel addition to the misery of the poor; further acknowledges that the hike in the cost of electricity, is a source of frustration for many South Africans who also have to navigate through other price increases, including the cost of food, water and petrol; recognizes that the increase comes in a context where the nation is still subjected to rolling blackouts and insecurity around electricity supply; and calls on the government to protect the ordinary citizens of South Africa, for it must not be the responsibility of ordinary people to rescue Eskom from blatant mismanagement by paying more for a basic need such as electricity.
MINUTES: NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES NO 4– 2022 Thursday, 17 March 2022] A 11 Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.

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[ 14:23] Ms M Bartlett moved without notice: That the Council- (1) (2) (3) notes that angry residents fed up with crime took the law into their own hands when they attacked three suspected robbers on Monday 14 March 2022; also notes that one suspect died on the scene and another on the way to hospital while the third was receiving medical treatment; further note that the three men were attacked in Social Distance informal settlement in Mfuleni, Cape Town after they were found with stolen items; and (4) calls on the community not to take the law into their hands but instead work with the police to fight crime in areas.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.

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[ 14:24] Ms H S Boshoff moved without notice: That the Council- (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) notes with concern the release of the quarterly crime statistics in Mpumalanga which shows a highly concerning incline of rape cases in the province; also notes that three of Mpumalanga’s police stations are now among the top 30 in the country with the most cases of rape reported; further notes that according to the quarterly report, for October to December 2021, the police stations in Masoyi, Kabokweni and Pienaar are the rape capitals of Mpumalanga; furthermore, notes that at the Masoyi police station, 45 rape cases were reported, at Kabokweni police station, 45 cases were also recorded and at Pienaar Police Station, 42 cases of rape were recorded; recognizes that the report has also placed Kabokweni, Delmas and Mkhondo amongst the top 30 Police Stations across the country which saw major increases in reported cases of rape compared with October to November 2020; (6) notes that other serious crimes in Mpumalanga have also increased; and (7) further notes that under a Democratic Alliance government, the livelihoods of the citizens would be at the forefront, and every necessary step would have been taken to rectify these problems to allow for these citizens to live in a safe and crime free country.
MINUTES: NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES NO 4– 2022 Thursday, 17 March 2022] A 12 Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.

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[14:26] The Council discussed the following subject: Debate on state capacity: Building a developmental state to take the lead in building a better life for all.

Debate concluded.

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The Council adjourned at 17:04.

P TYAWA Acting Secretary to Parliament MINUTES: NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES NO 4– 2022