Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698141850829.pdf (South Africa)
7 Pro-poor Education Policies are achieving results 9 1 000 young entrepreneurs countrywide to benefit from the Small Business and Innovation Fund Official newspaper of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa 10 Municipalities must regain the trust of the people Vol.

01 Issue 05 2019 LAW OF APPROPRIATION: Appropriation for service delivery to the people.
Parliament: Appropriation Bill will be used to hold government accountable During the course of the Appropriation Bill debate, political parties represented in the National Assembly (NA) voiced their favour and disfavour about its course, and the effect it would have on how the government dispenses its service delivery mandate, writes Abel Mputing.

The Chairperson of the Portfolio that the Bill is presented diligence and hard work in Committee on Appropriations, before Parliament.
Mr Sifiso Buthelezi, expressed ensuring that they are able to table the report in the NA his gratitude to the committee He thanked the members within the time prescribed by for the work it did to ensure of the committee for their the Money Bills Amendment Procedures and Related critical for the budget process Matters Act.

to be demystified.

The budget is about people’s lives, and our Mr Buthelezi said: “The Bill democracy is a participatory proposes to appropriate from one.
It cannot be, and it should National Revenue Fund for not be seen to be something the requirements of the state for the chosen few.” and to prescribe conditions for the spending of funds that Chief among the committee’s have been withdrawn.

For priorities is to ensure that service delivery to continue, it there is value for money in is critical that the House today all that government does.

passes this Bill.

“Economic growth is positively related to the revenue.
If the He pointed out that the economy does not perform, do Bill is one of the oversight not expect miracles from the instruments that the South African Revenue Service.

committee will utilise to hold Although revenue shrinks, the executive accountable.

The Budget Vote also serves as a means of advancing participatory democracy.

“It’s people’s needs do not shrink,” said Mr Buthelezi.
The bleak economic situation PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA www.parliament.gov.za parliamentofrsa 2 has forced the National in until the African National allows Parliament to amend Furthermore, “there is no The Appropriation Bill Treasury to borrow 4.3% of Congress decided to recall Mr the Money Bills, yet we agree consequence management authorises the allocation of our gross domestic product Zuma.” on much-needed changes for those who are implicated money from the National (GDP), he declared.
“The but all our debates end up in mismanagement of funds Revenue Fund (NRF) to various deficit of R215 billion of Furthermore, Mr Joseph said in a talk shop.

We rubber and corruption”, he claimed.

state institutions to enable GDP must be borrowed.

The that the allocation of R17.6 stamp everything tabled “If you find someone else’s its expenditure.
This is done committee is both appreciative billion to Eskom without by the Minister of Finance,” hand in your pocket, you react in line with Section 213 of and sympathetic to National conditions “is counter- emphasised Ms Mokause.

immediately.

But when it the Constitution and Section Treasury and the executive productive”.

Eskom, in his in the balancing act they view, should be unbundled, have to execute under very as should other state-owned trying economic conditions.

entities.
entities.

“State-owned The backlog of services and entities that are embedded inequalities was deliberately with corruption and created to forever make the maladministration are making majority of South Africans South Africans poorer and must spectators in the economic be restructured.” activity of their own country.
This situation was man-made.” According to Ms Mmabatho Mokause representing the A different scenario to our Northern Cape in the NCOP for country’s economic growth woes the Economic Freedom Fighters, was painted by Mr Denis Joseph, the Cabinet is too big.

“The of the Democratic Alliance for the money used to pay salaries can Western Cape, who suggested be used to deliver services.

The that “income to the state should irony is that we agree on these guide our expenditure”.
President matters in our Budget Votes, Cyril Ramaphosa’s “new dawn” but we consent to the passing is the “admission of guilt that of the Appropriation Bill without the government has failed South the smallest amendment to Africans”.

what we agreed on.” He claimed that South Africa’s She further pointed out that it economic difficulties took root took 10 years for Parliament during former President Jacob to have the powers to amend Zuma’s administration.
“We the Money Bills, but it does started the Stop the Zuma little to utilise them to conduct campaign in 2009.

South Africans effective oversight over the from all walks of life joined executive.

“The Constitution Leader of the Inkatha Freedom Party Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi said transparency should underpin government expenditure.

This is “essential in ensuring that South Africa knows exactly where its money will be spent”.
What is of concern to him are “gross amounts of irregular, fruitless, wasteful and unauthorised expenditures incurred by departments year- on-year”.

comes to someone taking from 26 of the Public Finance the state coffers, there is little Management Act (PFMA), that or no reaction – and that is a require Parliament to approve major problem.” any withdrawal of money from the National Revenue Fund for Adding to the perception allocation and expenditure by of a lack of consequence state organs.
management, Mr Steven Swart of the African Christian The Bill was tabled by the Democratic Party, alluded Minister of Finance Mr Tito to the fact that a lot has Mboweni in Parliament on since come out at the Zondo 20 February 2019 as part of Commission of Inquiry and his Budget Speech.

The Bill other commissions, and lapsed after the last sitting those implicated in acts of the National Assembly of of corruption should be the Fifth Parliament, but was prosecuted.
“With every day that passes, it becomes more difficult to reclaim lost billions revived in June 2019 following the establishment of the 6th Parliament and the revised of rands to corruption.

Those cabinet portfolios.

implicated must be arrested and prosecution must take The reconfiguration of cabinet place.

Stolen funds must be portfolios resulted in the recovered.” reorgansiation of government departments, including the The National Council of establishment of new ones.
Provinces also passed the 2019 This necessitated technical Appropriation Bill following the modifications of various budget National Assembly agreeing to votes and allocations in the Bill the Bill at its plenary sitting.

tabled in February.

Minister Tito Mboweni.


INSESSION NEWS BUDGET VOTE DEBATES 3 Parliament passes special Appropriation Bill to save Eskom The deepening financial crisis at Eskom has led to the tabling of a special Appropriation Bill before the National Assembly in July by the Minister of Finance, Mr Tito Mboweni.

This undertaking attests to the fact that Eskom is the pulse of our economy, reports Abel Mputing.

In his opening remarks, Mr Eskom financial assistance rating agencies.
“The Chief solutions, may likely have a Mboweni alluded to this in outside of the above- Restructuring Officer, who will negative systemic impact, as no uncertain terms.

“Eskom mentioned fiscal framework.

be appointed shortly, will be Eskom is the largest non-bank presents the biggest risk of This seeks the approval for mandated to test these options corporate debt issuer in South the fiscal framework because additional financial support for with the rating agencies to Africa.
Any default will result in of its financial problems Eskom of an additional R26 establish what impact each a crisis for the government and and negative impact on the billion in the 2019/20 financial will have on the fiscus, and to some South African banks, economy.” year, and R33 billion in the recommend the appropriate given that Eskom is the largest 2020/21 financial year.” one for implementation,” said exposure to some banks and Mr Mboweni told Members Mr Mboweni.
the government.” of the National Assembly According to Mr Mboweni, that given Eskom’s strategic apart from the current financial The restructuring will divide He concluded that the position in the South African assistance, Eskom’s long-term Eskom into three components: government must act boldly economy, the government is sustainability hinges on its Generation, Transmission and and precisely to save Eskom urgently working on stabilising ability to be self-sufficient.

Distribution.
Distribution.

This will “allow from sinking our economy, for the utility, while developing a “A team of officials, led by strong parts of the business to the implications of that are too broad strategy for its future.

the Directors-General of the raise funding more cheaply.

huge to bear.
huge to bear.

The current financial problems National Treasury and Public To create higher transparency facing the utility have exposed Enterprises, has considered across the value chain and “We are tabling this special it to high levels of liquidity and a number of options as the reduce opportunities for fraud, Bill to ensure the security of balance sheet risks.

solution to the company’s debt corruption and rent-seeking.
electricity supply beyond the “Without changes to Eskom’s its sustainability,” said Mr incentives in each business and consequences for the economy.

challenges in order to ensure To create clear performance medium-term, with significant business model and financial Mboweni.

to reduce systemic risk South assistance being provided by Africa faces by having one very The frequency of the power the government, the company Coupled with this, Mr Mboweni large entity.
will be unable to meet its said the structuring of Eskom shortages has risen in recent years, and government needs financial obligations through operations, an undertaking “Failure to strengthen Eskom’s to act boldly and decisively.
We the 2019/20 financial year that will be vested in the Chief balance sheet urgently while are therefore committed to a budget allocation … In effect, Restructuring Officer, will be the government is working significant reform agenda for this special Bill seeks to grant done in collaboration with on long-term sustainable the entity.” Editor Brent Simons Production editor Mava Lukani Design and layout Angelo Lamour Copy editors Jane Henshall, Vusumzi Nobadula Writers Sakhile Mokoena, Abel Mputing, Zizipho Klaas Photography Mlandeli Puzi, Zwelethemba Kostile Distribution & subscriptions Jacqueline Zils Publisher Parliament of the Republic of South Africa Printer Vision Enterprises cc Section Manager: Publishing and Production Shirley Montsho Copyright INSESSION is is published by the Information and Content Development Unit of the Parliamentary Communication Services of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa.
All material published is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.

EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES Telephone 021 403 8738 E-mail insession@parliament.gov.za Subscriptions jzils@parliament.gov.za Post PO Box 15, Cape Town, 8000 OUR IDEALS Vision An activist and responsive people’s Parliament that improves the quality of life of South Africans and ensures enduring equality in our society.
Strategic Objectives Strengthening oversight and accountability; enhancing public involvement; deepening engagement in international fora; strengthening cooperative government; strengthening legislative capacity.
BOOK A TOUR To tour Parliament Telephone 021 403 2266 E-mail tours@parliament.gov.za 4 ‘Let’s build local government that delivers services to the people’ Giving context to the Department of Cooperate Governance and Traditional Affairs’ Policy Debate in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma reminded delegates that the debate was taking place on the birthday of former President Nelson Mandela, the champion of the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) which defined the new service delivery mandate of the democratic state, reports Abel Mputing.
“Thus his name is engraved Dr Dlamini-Zuma underlined instead “focused, efficient and in history as the father of our from the onset that the policy effective, and which has centres democracy and the architect debate should avoid rhetoric and of excellence that are easily of the RDP programme that rather concentrate on fashioning accessible to the people”.
was aimed at addressing the socio-economic injustices an ideal local government sphere capable of meeting The policy debate is an of apartheid through the the service delivery demands opportunity for the department provision of houses, electricity of all South Africans.

The ideal to reflect on its challenges and and access to clean drinking local government sphere, she opportunities as a custodian water,” she said.
continued, is the one that is free from corruption and graft, and is of key national policies and legislation, she said.

“This debate will help us to assess failure to respond to its the progress made in achieving recommendations in the past.” government’s policy priorities.
For the mandate of the department is to develop and monitor the implementation of national policy and legislation aimed at transforming and strengthening key institutions and mechanisms of governance in all three spheres of government, to fulfil its developmental role.” While there has been progress made over the last 25 years, Dr Dlamini-Zuma acknowledged that challenges in local governance persist.
“We particularly note the unpalatable audit outcomes and the recommendations of the Auditor-General, as well as government’s We should act decisively on the Auditor-General’s recommendations, she said, “in defence of the working class and the poor, who are denied services as a result of inefficiencies and corruption”.
Also participating in the debate, the Chairperson of the INSESSION NEWS BUDGET VOTE DEBATES 5 Select Committee on Cooperate According to the Democratic Ms Visser blamed what she Gauteng provincial delegation Mr Bheki Stofile, reminded Governance and Traditional Alliance’s Ms Carin Visser a termed rampant corruption in echoed the concern over the delegates that municipalities Affairs, Water, Sanitation delegate representing the local government on the lack collapse of municipalities’ have not been able to raise and Human Settlements, Mr North West Province, the reality of enforcement of existing financial management.
“The their revenue or achieve self- Thamsanqa Dodovu, said: is that 25 years of democracy instruments to prevent recently released report by sufficiency.

“The current reality “We must be frank and candid have been mired by service transgressions.

“The Municipal the Auditor-General showed is that municipalities are under about the challenges we are delivery discontent that has Financial Management Act is the scale of collapse in extreme cash flow constraints, faced with.
Yes, we have often turn violent, “resulting not enforced and the rule of local government.

Out of with the aggregated year made mistakes.

We are the in apocalyptic war zones of law not respected or honoured 257 municipalities, only 18 collection of 83.3%, with first to admit that we have destruction on an almost daily by those entrusted to ensure received clean audits in the more than 123 municipalities not delivered as expected and basis in South Africa.
Towns compliance with the laws.” 2017/18 financial year.

Things with less than 80% collection we have underestimated the are being looted and burnt are getting worse, not better,” levels.” magnitude of our challenges.” down and private properties Mr Kenny Motsamai he warned.

“The state of our local government is a source of serious concern.
There are no improvements in the audit outcomes; there is poor accountability and no consequences for poor performance.” Some of the reasons for this gross ineptness and financial management transgressions are: “There are numerous supply chain transgressions.
Municipal Infrastructure Grants are underspent or poorly spent by municipalities, and there is high employment of under- qualified managers.” Despite all this, Mr Dodovu said: “Under the leadership of Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, a tried and tested leader, we are going to turn the tide.
She has a good track record of succeeding in that.” vandalised.” representing the Economic Freedom Fighters in the Mr Ezra Mfayela of the Inkatha Freedom Party in the KwaZulu- Natal provincial delegation, said the solution to corruption in local municipalities is to adopt a pluralist approach to local government and dissolve the centralisation of power.

“We remain advocates of the belief that communities are best placed to address their individual needs and challenges.
They must not simply be informed of the decision taken, they must exercise their citizen power through true partnership with the state, and ultimately they must control the pace and agenda of development required in their communities,” Mr Mfayela asserted.
Also participating in the debate, the National Executive Member of the South African Local Government Association, He further asserted that the “Intergovernmental Monitoring, Support and Intervention Bill, currently mooted, will create a predictable framework of support to municipalities and eliminate subjective political factors being used to justify section 139 interventions.” The Bill will also initiate early warnings systems that “will enable appropriate and relevant support from national, provincial, to local government”.
‘Urban migration puts pressure on infrastructure development’ These are the people, she merged after the May general added, who migrate to urban elections, Minister Sisulu areas at the rate of 2.4% per was concerned about people annum, putting pressure on living far from their places infrastructure and creating the of work.

“Our people spend backlog in housing provision.

huge amounts of money on “We still continue with a transport to take them to skewed development where their places of work.
In our the developed parts of the planning, we should urgently country extract cheap labour find land and places to live from the rural areas, further under-developing these areas,” where there is work, and create work where they live, The Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu, had the support of permanent delegates to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) and the South African Local Government Association (Salga) when she called for urgent solutions to reverse apartheid spatial planning.
People flock to cities looking for jobs, which puts pressure on municipal infrastructure and threatens the sustainability of smaller towns and rural areas, writes Sakhile Mokoena.

During the department’s policy she said.

debate, Minister Sisulu told the with all amenities that you find in the cities.

NCOP plenary that South Africa The Minister said: “We need is “world-renowned for the inequalities in our society and this is graphically illustrated in the patterns of settlement.
Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) indicates that almost half of our population is living in poverty.

These are mainly in the rural areas, especially in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo.” to drastically find solutions “Unless we strike some and restructure this apartheid equilibrium, we will continue reality.
We need to take to have the problems of infrastructure, houses and jobs decaying, over-utilised and to our people where they live overburdened cities and and revive our rural towns.” decaying, under-utilised and under-serviced rural towns.

Tabling budgets for Human The faces of capital might Settlements and Water and have changed over the past Sanitation, which were 25 years, but the modes of 6 HUMAN SETTLEMENTS: Delivery of houses to the people.
production are the same, this amount, R9.417 billion Also participating in the a rising number of households apartheid and to integrate all creating under-development in is appropriated for the debate, African National in need of water and sanitation communities, new residential rural areas and small towns,” infrastructure development Congress delegate for Limpopo services.

This, in effect, means areas should be integrated said the Minister.
programme under the in the NCOP, Ms Shahidabibi that government needs to with middle-class and affluent Regional Bulk Infrastructure Shaikh, said: “Access to water keep up with a ‘moving residential areas.

This, he For the 2019/20 financial year, the Department of Grant (RBIG) and Water Services Infrastructure Grant and sanitation infrastructure and services in South Africa target’.” Human Settlements has been (WSIG).

The Minister added has improved significantly allocated R33.8 billion.
The that the lack of sufficient bulk since 1994, however, an Department of Water and and link infrastructure was increasing number of people Sanitation (DWS) has been constraining provincial housing are migrating to the bigger allocated R16.4 billion.

Of development.

metropolitan areas, resulting in Ms Shaikh said in terms of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) South Africa has met its target for access to safe drinking water with moderate progress in reaching the sanitation target.
The United Nations recognised water and sanitation as human rights in 2010 and has set a goal of access to water and sanitation for all by the year 2030. claimed, would enable all people to gain access to nearby public and privately owned assets, such as schools, health and safety facilities, transport, shops, recreational facilities and places of work.
Economic Freedom Fighters (KwaZulu-Natal) NOCP delegate, Mr Moletsane Moletsane, was of the view that the budget was insufficient to deal with the housing challenges or to address the legacy of centuries of colonialism and apartheid.
Representing Salga in the debate, Councillor Xolani Sotashe, argued that “Many disenfranchised communities continue to be denied access to employment and economic opportunities by being geographically located far from such opportunities, and Another delegate to the by being structurally excluded NCOP, the Western Cape and from urban landmarks the Democratic Alliance’s, Mr in metropolitan areas, Isaac Sileku suggested that intermediary cities and small to break down the barriers of towns.” INSESSION NEWS BUDGET VOTE DEBATES 7 Pro-poor education policies are achieving results Pro-poor government policies, such as the no-fee schools, the National Leaner Transport Policy and the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), are playing a significant role in advancing the objectives of the National Development Plan (NDP), said Mr Elleck Nchabeleng, the Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture, writes Sakhile Mokoena.
Mr Nchabeleng was taking part in the policy debate of the Department of Basic Education in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).

The policy debates that took place in the NCOP follow the Budget Vote debates that took place in the National Assembly in June.

Mr Nchabeleng said the pro-poor policies have been effective in advancing the NDP’s vision for 2030 that “South Africans should have access to education and training of the highest quality, characterised by significantly improved learning outcomes”.
“The no-fee school policy has been very effective as currently we have 99.9% learners in compulsory schooling in our basic education system.

Some of these learners would not have been able to access education if they were forced to pay fees, as 90% of public schools have become no-fee paying schools, and learners are benefiting from schools, so learners have year, as we do our oversight school feeding schemes and to travel long distances to visits across the country”.

subsidised public transport.


schools.

Learners arrive at This has contributed to the school tired and do not cope Tabling the department’s R24.5 increase in school attendance in their studies.

As a caring billion budget allocation for the from 51% in 1994 to 99% government, we developed a 2019/20 financial year, Minister today,” said Mr Nchabeleng.
scholar transport policy that Angie Motshekga told the NCOP has come to the rescue of that the country’s education Another such pro-poor policy multitudes of learners.

The system was on the rise.


“Our is the Scholar Transport number of learners who are basic education system is Programme, through which benefiting from the system slowly and surely reclaiming government provides free have increased over the years” its rightful place among the transport to learners who countries and economies of live far from schools.

“Due Mr Nchabeleng added that similar size and budget.

We are to spatial planning of the “the committee will monitor definitely a system on the rise.
old dispensation, some the priorities made by the Clearly the pro-poor policies communities do not have department for this financial of the ANC-led government are yielding good results.

We have also noted that more provinces are now dedicating resources and support for the progressed learners.
We can assure this House that we will intensify our monitoring and evaluation mandate, as we are enjoined to do so by the National Education Policy Act, and intervene where it is desirable for us to do so,” the Minister said.

No-fee schools produce the highest number of distinctions, she pointed out, even in gateway subjects such as mathematics, science and accounting.
Minister Motshekga also announced a R256.7 billion 2019/20 budget allocation for the nine provincial education departments, an increase of 6.9% from the 2018/19 overall adjusted allocation.

8 The Minister said her no significant improvement department was in the in basic education.

She also process of repositioning the accused the government of entire basic education sector failing to ensure that education to effectively and speedily is enshrined as a fundamental respond to the demands of human right.
“The Constitution the “new dawn”.

The sector states that the state has an must be able to implement obligation, through reasonable with speed and effect the measures, to progressively priorities identified, while make education available and addressing the challenges accessible to all South Africans.

and weaknesses identified However, 25 years after the within the sector and by the dawn of democracy in South Auditor-General of South Africa.
Africa, the government still has “We are cooperating with the not ensured that education is Department of Public Service enshrined as a fundamental and Administration and the human right,” Ms Christians National Treasury in this critical said.

work,” she said.
work,” she said.

“It is unfortunate that despite Minister Motshekga said: “The yearly increases allocated NDP aims for a world-class to this department, no assessment system involving significant improvements have reliable measures of learning been seen.” Furthermore, for every primary school.
the department’s annual We are currently piloting a performance plan did not standardised assessment, prioritise school safety and called Systemic Evaluation, does not provide a solution with the aim of finalising its to the problem of violence first cycle in Grades 3, 6 and 9 at schools.
She proposed by June 2020.” the integration of the South African Police Service into the For the Democratic Alliance education system, adding that in the Northern Cape, a “partnered solution needs Ms Delmaine Christians, to be found to this enormous claimed that despite the problem compromising yearly increases in budget education every day.” allocations, there has been ‘Social grants should enable self-sufficiency, not dependency’ The Minister of Social Development, Ms Lindiwe Zulu, has told the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) that while social assistance programmes remain government’s most successful interventions for poverty reduction, social grants alone are insufficient to lift beneficiaries out of poverty on a sustainable basis, writes Sakhile Mokoena.
DELIVERY OF SERVICES: Grants recipients served.

The Minister of Social Development, Ms Lindiwe Zulu.

The Department of Social sustain themselves now and in Development has a duty to the future.

ensure food security, alleviate poverty and provide social “This will be fully achieved assistance to the vulnerable when every South African in our society.

However, the is able to reach their full department has been battling potential.

I would love to to achieve these goals.


see a situation where our citizens, especially our young Presenting her department’s people, graduate from the budget vote for debate in social grant system and the NCOP, the Minister said become self-sufficient, through sustainable livelihoods entrepreneurship or other means creating a conducive empowerment programmes environment for individuals, so as not to overburden the families and communities to enhance their capabilities and fiscus,” the Minister said.
She added: “This does not in any way suggest that we do not want to provide social assistance, but that we would prefer to rather have our beneficiaries graduating out of the system over time.” Supporting her comments about the success of the social grants, Minister Zulu quoted studies which she said found that social grants play a crucial role in keeping children, the girl-child in particular, in school.
Last year alone, child support grants beneficiaries obtained a pass rate of 78.2% in the National Senior Certificate, an increase of 3.1% from 2017 academic year.

The Department of Social Development’s allocation for the current financial year is R184 billion and R175 billion of this amount is a direct transfer to social grants beneficiaries.
The department will transfer R212 million to the National Development Agency (NDA) and R7.6 billion to the South INSESSION NEWS DELIVERY OF SERVICES: Grants recipients served.

African Social Security Agency terms of the ever-rising rates of (Sassa) for the administration poverty.

She claimed that we of the social assistance are nowhere near alleviating programme.

these high levels of poverty, unemployment, inequality and The Minister presented the other social ills.
budget under the theme: “Working together to empower “It is estimated that social communities for sustainable grants will grow to 18,1 million livelihoods.

The theme is beneficiaries by the end of central to the core mandate March 2022.
Social assistance of the Social Development is currently budgeted for R175 Sector, whose responsibility billion for 2019/2010 and this is to enable South Africans, includes grants for old age, particularly the poor and war veterans, disability, foster vulnerable, to become capable care, care dependency, child and self-reliant participants support, grant-in-aid and social in their own development relief of distress.

and, to secure a better life for themselves.


“While it is commendable that we look after the vulnerable The Chairperson of the Select in society, it is extremely Committee on Health and concerning that so many Social Services, Ms Maurencia people depend on these grants Gillion, said social grants and there seems to be no light must not create dependency at the end of the tunnel in and must be linked to terms of sustainable jobs” she economic activity.

People said.
People said.

must be empowered to take themselves out of poverty.

Ms Christians said a solution would be to grow the economy She said the NCOP and the and create jobs.

“Without department’s task is to sustainable work you cannot promote the construction of experience real dignity.

a socially inclusive society, Without a job you become one that prioritises the reliant on state grants, or elimination of poverty, on remittances from family inequality, unemployment and members.
Without a job you underdevelopment, elements live at the mercy of others, and that undermine the dignity of that is not real freedom, that the people.

is not an existence worthy of human dignity.” “We welcome the minister’s approach of Contributing to the budget changing the narrative vote debate, the KwaZulu- that social development Natal delegate to NCOP for the is about disbursements of Economic Freedom Fighters grants.
Rather it is about Ms S’lindile Luthuli attributed the development and the high number of people empowerment of our people, on social grants to “failing through the usage of grants.

economic policies of the The grant system must link our government”.

people to economic activity,” she said.

She also said the department “We say that social grants must be doubled with the understanding that this is not a should put mechanisms in long-term solution to poverty.
place to monitor the funds This can only be addressed in allocated to provinces, non- the long-term through land governmental and non-profit and wealth redistribution, organisation.

The minister economic development and must provide oversight to the industrialisation.

But in the monies transferred to province.

meantime our social grants cannot be so little that people NCOP delegate for the barely survive off them.
Democratic Alliance Ms Where is the dignity in feeding Delmaine Christians argued yourself and your child on that the country is facing a R430 a month?” she asked.

crisis of epic proportions in BUDGET VOTE DEBATES 9 1 000 young entrepreneurs countrywide to benefit from the Small Business and Innovation Fund Presenting the 2019/20 departmental budget to the NCOP, the Minister of Small Business Development, Ms Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, spelt out the department’s objectives for this financial year.
One of these is to ensure small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) and cooperatives contribute to economic growth, however differences emerged on how to achieve this, writes Abel Mputing.

CREATION OF EMPLOYMENT: Small businesses in action.

The SMME “sector is primed to of finance is less expensive.
The process to access the fund create employment, especially “We will introduce a blended will be announced soon, and for well over two million financing model suitable for there is a threshold of potential unemployed youth,” according SMMEs and cooperatives.

job creation for each entity, she the Minister Ntshavheni.

This model will be introduced said.

“These entities must have over the next three years, a potential to create at least However, Ms Ntshavheni, commencing in the current 10 jobs.
This will translate into warned that to achieve this the financial year.” sector needs to be resourced at least one million jobs when the programme is successful.” sufficiently.

“We are fully aware The model will initially fund that to achieve these, SMMEs 1 000 young entrepreneurs She admitted, though, that and cooperatives must have countrywide.
“They will be finance would not be a access to resources such as funded through the Small panacea to all the challenges skills, knowledge networks and Business and Innovation Fund.

facing the SMMEs.
facing the SMMEs.

According finance that will enable them Qualifying start-ups, innovators to her, “strategic public sector to nurture their innovative and SMMEs will be able to decision-making can redirect ideas and businesses.” access matched grant funding up market failure and actively A departmental priority is to R2.5 million per enterprise,” shape new markets while to make sure that the cost Ms Ntshavheni explained.
regulating existing ones.” To 10 Municipalities must regain the trust of the people The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Water and Sanitation and Human Settlements, Mr China Dodovu, told the Deputy Ministers of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) and the North West government’s MEC for Local Government and Human Settlements, that cooperation across all levels of government is the first fundamental strategic tool to ensure they meet their constitutionally required mandates, writes Zizipho Klaas.
The Deputy Ministers of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr Parks Tau and Obed Bapela and the MEC for Local Government and Human Settlements, Mr Gordon Kegakilwe, appeared before the Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Water and Sanitation and Human Settlements at Parliament recently to brief the committee on the status of the interventions in the provinces and in the North West province in particular.
“The support of the committee to Cogta and the municipalities is non-negotiable,” said Mr Dodovu in welcoming the Deputy Ministers, the MEC and the officials of the national and the provincial departments of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

Briefing the committee, Mr Tau stressed the importance of support for struggling local municipalities through section 154 of the Constitution, before the invocation of section 139.
According to him, the invocation of section 139 should be the last resort.

“Before any step can be taken, the magnitude of the problems faced by a municipality must be established by both the national and the provincial structures of the government,” he said.

He attributed the resistance to the intervention by some of the municipalities to the hasty invocation of section 139.
He said some of the North West municipalities which resist the interventions have taken the provincial government to court, and won.

“If necessary steps can be taken before the intervention, there can be no unnecessary tension between these structures of government,” said Mr Tau.
Making the presentation on interventions, the head of the department, Mr Dan Mashitisho, highlighted political infighting, conflict between top management and councilors, fraud and misuse of municipal funds, lack of financial systems address this shortcoming, the race, gender and class barriers, and the best example of Small Enterprise Development and are the foundation for this failure is your National Agency (Seda) will increase future growth of this country.

Development Plan (NDP).


The its network in primarily rural How can we simply sit by and NDP projections have up to areas and townships.

“For this watch them go?” now remained a pipe dream.

purpose, Seda will establish The whole NDP idea was based eight incubation centres in She also believes that statistics on an annual gross domestic the under-serviced provinces show that the economy product of 5.4% and during of Free State, Mpumalanga, does not work for the youth, your decade of doing nothing, Limpopo.
Northern Cape, North which is an indictment on the we barely grew the economy West, Gauteng and Western government.

“Insanity is doing past the 1.5 % mark.

And Cape townships.” the same thing repeatedly and despite all the promises made expecting different results,” by capitalists to our President These new facilities and she said.
Furthermore, she last year at the job summit, we strategic interventions will claimed that the budget policy are seeing a blood bath of job not overshadow the existing debate and formulation is losses across all sectors of the ones, she said.

“We are also dominated by government, economy,” she said.

committed to optimise the big business, and unions, a utilisation of our already situation that supports the The Inkatha Freedom Party’s Mr existing facilities, not only status quo.
to expand our research, but Ezra Mfayela of the KwaZulu- Natal delegation pointed out to increase the return on She is also of the view that that the department is still government’s investment.” The small businesses should be preoccupied with making plans after six years of existence.

“The President himself said the rhetoric is over.

It can only be an embarrassment that the organisational structure of this department remains to be approved.” Our thinking should be youth- centred, he said.
“They are the ones who are encouraged to strive at school and university, only to find out that when they are finished with their studies, no jobs are to be found for department also plans to adopt exempt from certain black them.” an SMMEs business index to track the economic health of economic empowerment and labour regulations.

SMMEs as an aid to measuring Despite his criticism, he stressed the significance of the impact of SMME support The Economic Freedom small businesses in eliminating programmes.
Fighters’ Ms Poppy Koni poverty, unemployment and (Northern Cape delegation), inequality.

“SMMEs are critical Participating in the debate for said the government’s failure and may even go so far as to the Democratic Alliance as a to industrialise has led to play a definitive role in this delegate for Mpumulanga, poor economic growth.
She respect, but there remain Ms Sonja Boshoff claimed blamed neo-liberal economic certain barriers for them to that many highly skilled policies for the current state access finance.

The government small business owners are of the South African economy.

must address such challenges considering leaving South “The neo-liberal order this and look for innovative ways Africa.
“They are aged between government has based its to assist small business in 25 and 45 years across the economic policy on is failing overcoming them.” INSESSION NEWS BUDGET VOTE DEBATES 11 SERVICE DELIVERY PROTEST: Refuse strewn in protest.

and lack of political leadership usually deploy one person as effect to sections 100 and 139 have contributed in the section 139 of the Constitution.

in the municipalities.


an administrator instead of as contributing to a legislative same way, but unfortunately sending a resourceful team, vacuum.
most provincial departments Most of the interventions are Mr Mashitisho told the resistance from municipal responsible for local characterised by a complete committee that some of councilors and staff and Mr Mashitisho commended government are ill-equipped breakdown in communication the failures of intervention the destruction of pertinent the NCOP for its key role in and allocated far less budget between the local citizens and include weak monitoring information needed by providing objectivity, mediation to fulfil their mandate.
As a the municipality.

“An incoming systems, no resource allocation the administrator.

He also and on-site investigations in result, they are unable to fully administrator needs to regain for the implementation of mentioned the lack of a the fifth parliamentary term.

implement the provisions and the trust of the community,” the intervention, provinces regulatory framework to give He said provinces should implications of invocation of said Mr Mashitisho.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr Dodovu emphasised that section 154 of the Constitution and section 105-108 of the Municipal Systems Act are preliminary tools for assisting municipalities.

He assured the department of the committee’s support and told the Deputy Ministers that the committee will continue visiting struggling municipalities.
“We are going to continue engaging with you and continue carrying out our oversight in a manner that improves the delivery of services to the people.” 12 Committees in brief The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs urged the Department of Home Affairs, and the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) to find innovative ways to mitigate against funding pressures that the department and its entities are currently facing.
The committee highlighted that funding challenges are a reality for all departments, but also present an opportunity to innovate and find workable solutions to ensure effective service delivery.

The committee welcomed the African Express and Alexkor.
announcement by the IEC that it will conduct public hearings “Yes, there are challenges in from August 2019 to conclude state-owned enterprises (SOEs) the regulations necessary to – the balance sheet, debt – but implement the Political Party we have strategies in place.

Funding Act as signed into law The South African Airways by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

(SAA) has a long-term strategy The committee emphasised the and turnaround plan.
The need to conclude the regulation implementation of the plans and process to ensure that the Act is strategies will get SOEs back on implemented.

their feet,” he added.

The joint meeting of The Select Committee on the Standing and Select Committees on Appropriations was briefed by the Deputy Public Enterprises and Communications heard from the Minister of Public Minister of the department, Mr Enterprises, Mr Pravin Gordhan, process, as law-enforcement Appropriation Bill.
Contained Dr Zweli Mkhize, assured the Phumulo Masualle, on progress that the department is closely agencies are pursuing cases in this report, is the proposed committee that the National amendments tabled by the Health Insurance (NHI) Bill Minister of Finance, Mr Tito is on its way to becoming a Mboweni, on 25 June 2019. reality.
The committee asked The amendments include Mr about departmental monitoring Mboweni’s authorisation of the mechanisms over the R17.652 billion to Eskom on 2 money that is allocated and April 2019.

This authorisation transferred by the department was done through section to the provinces as conditional 16 (1) of the Public Finance grants, so that such funds are Management Act (PFMA) as a used effectively to improve result of a delay in accessing patients’ lives.
In addition, the planned cash injection from the China Development the committee questioned the monitoring of NGOs that Bank, which resulted in Eskom receive funding from the not being able to meet its department.

Some committee financial obligations.

members suggested that these organisations should be In processing the Bill, the invited to appear before the committee acknowledged the committee.
challenges facing Eskom and the importance of not allowing In an another development, OVERSIGHT: Committee meeting.

with stabilising governance at monitoring SOEs’ financial against those implicated.

Eskom to fail, but registered its the Chairperson of the various entities.

Mr Masualle told and operational performance the committee that new boards through weekly and monthly have been established at Eskom, monitoring.
He said the Safcol, Denel, Transnet, South recovery of stolen money is in The Standing Committee on Appropriations has adopted its report on the 2019 displeasure over the Minister’s committee, Dr Sibongiseni authorisation.

Dhlomo, has welcomed the The Portfolio Committee on Health.

The Minister of Health, signing of the Presidential Health Compact.
“The Health INSESSION NEWS OVERSIGHT 13 action, especially considering that the lives of our people are at stake and that these actions can result in diseases.

Punitive action should be taken against anybody who intentionally pollutes our water resources,” said Mr Dodovu.
“The pollution of rivers and dams also presents a fiscal threat,” Mr Dodovu continued, “as municipalities are forced to redirect scarce financial resources towards purification of the water to ensure that it is of acceptable drinking quality.
This in turn robs municipalities of the ability to meet other service delivery requirements, which is unfair to residents.” The Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Economic Development, Small Business Development, Tourism, Employment and Labour has revived the process of processing the National Gambling Amendment Bill.

The Chairperson of the Committee, Mr Mandla Rayi, said various challenges resulted in the Bill not being finalised in the fifth Parliament.
“Three provinces, all of which have metros, objected to the Bill.

One province abstained and two supported it.

Mandates were not received from the rest of the provinces.

That has never occurred in the history of the National Council of Provinces,” he said.

On reflection, it was agreed ACCOUNTABILITY: Committee meeting.

Compact is a commitment by workers and better resources,” legal services, where the Provinces (NCOP).

The two government to deliver better said Dr Dhlomo.
committees were advised committees agreed that the healthcare services to all South Africans,” said Dr Dhlomo.

The Health Compact was signed by the President at George Mukhari Academic Hospital’s Nursing College in Ga-Rankuwa.
“The healthcare A joint meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services and of the Select Committee on Security and Justice met to consider the removal of Adv Nomgcobo that it is not for Parliament advocates will be given 10 to reopen the inquiry into working days to make written the fitness of Adv Jiba and representations to the NA Adv Mrwebi to hold office.

An and NCOP.
An and NCOP.

Furthermore, the inquiry into the matter has committees will deliberate already been concluded by the separately on the matter.

Mokgoro Commission.

The Chairperson of the Select sector needs a lot of support Jiba and Adv Lawrence Mrwebi Parliament’s legal services Committee on Cooperative to build capacity so as to from the National Prosecuting briefed the committees on Governance, Traditional provide efficient healthcare Authority (NPA).
procedural issues governing services, and this can be done by ensuring more healthcare The committees received legal advice from the parliamentary the National Assembly (NA) and the National Council of Affairs, Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Mr China Dodovu, has welcomed the announcement of an investigation into a private company that has been dumping raw sewage into the Mthatha Dam.
Pollution of dams and other sources of clean drinking water is a concern that must be REPORT UNDER SCRUTINY: Committee meeting.

addressed with urgency.

to begin the process afresh.

The Department of Trade and “It is extremely concerning Industry re-tabled the Bill and when a private business is caught doing such a despicable said it supported the decision to begin again.

14 YOU STRIKE A WOMAN, YOU STRIKE A ROCK: Protest action.
Gender-based violence undermines the gains of our hard-earned Democracy: Parliament’s Presiding Officers Parliament’s Presiding Officers, National Assembly Speaker Ms Thandi Modise and National Council of Provinces Chairperson Mr Amos Masondo, joined the nation in saluting the women and girl children of South Africa for their resilience, courage and tenacity as the nation marked Women’s Day.
“We continue to be inspired by the unwavering and bold non-racial, prosperous and free South Africa,” the Presiding pass laws, as well as 25 years Charter.

of freedom and democracy in resolve by this country’s Officers noted.

South Africa.
2019 also marks The Charter, amongst women and girl children 65 years since the founding other things, called for the towards the elimination of This year marks the 63th conference of the Federation of enfranchisement of men and any form of injustice, to bring about a non-sexist, united, anniversary of the 1956 Women’s March against the South African Women, which adopted the 1954 Women’s women of all races; for equal opportunities in employment; equal pay for equal work; equal rights in relation to property, marriage and children; and the removal of all laws and customs that denied women such equality.
Last year, Parliament hosted the Women’s Charter Review Conference as part of a national conversation to review the Women’s Charter through sustained dialogue and interactive discussions with women across the country.

INSESSION NEWS WOMEN’S DAY 15 our democracy and freedom Some of the key legislation enables greater sensitivity and against gender-based violence promoting the interests of vigour in the advancement and discrimination.
We owe women passed by Parliament of women’s issues through it to a better tomorrow since 1994 include laws oversight, law-making and and future generations to against discrimination and public engagement.

inculcate values of responsible inequality (the Promotion of citizenship and Ubuntu Equality and Prevention of From 124 women Members amongst boy children, in Unfair Discrimination Act), of Parliament in the first particular.
and against violence and democratic Parliament of harassment (the Domestic 1994 to 1999, the number of As the highest oversight Violence Act and the Criminal women MPs now significantly and law-making body in Law Amendment Act).

increased to 201 in the current the country, Parliament will Parliament has also passed parliamentary term.
Out of continue to use its powers laws protecting the rights of the 54 countries in Africa, enshrined in the Constitution to women, such as reproductive the South African Parliament abolish practices and acts that health (the Choice on is ranked third in women’s discriminate against women, Termination of Pregnancy representation after Rwanda devalue their humanity and Act) and customary law (the and Namibia, while globally harm them.
Recognition of Customary the Inter-Parliamentary Union Through legislative Marriages Act).

places South Africa in 10th place out of 193 countries.
interventions, Parliament will It goes without saying that the continue to protect women and battle against discrimination Although there is still so much girl children while holding the and harmful practices against to be achieved, the gains in executive to account regarding women also requires women women’s representation in the implementation of laws to fill key positions of power the national legislature over and policies promoting their in all spheres of society.
The the years is a clear indication interests.

continuing increase in women’s that Parliament takes women’s representation in Parliament issues seriously.

On Women’s Day, the nation must reflect deeply on progress achieved in 25 years of democracy, particularly in the areas of women’s empowerment, gender mainstreaming, equality and the abolition of any discriminatory practices and abuse against women.

gender-based violence.


South Africa can never claim to be free if children and women continue to die at the hands of men and boys, most of whom share close relationships with them,” the presiding officers said.

Gender-based violence undermines the gains of our hard-earned democracy and the sacrifices of gallant women activists, such as those who confronted the nerve centre of apartheid evil and brutality in 1956.
All of us must serve as active citizens who, within our homes and communities, work daily to squeeze out of our society all the perpetrators of violence and discrimination.
“As we mark this historically significant day, our country unfortunately continues to be plagued by the scourge of Men, boys, husbands and brothers have a significant role to play in safeguarding 16 MANDELA DAY Members of Parliament reach out to four schools on the Cape Flats in honour of Madiba through acts of kindness in our way of emulating Mandela’s neighborhoods, to take our values that he held dear in country forward,” they said.

his heart than to alleviate the plight of young children.
That, Members of Parliament and he would have loved and parliamentary staff spent appreciated.” their 67 minutes in honour of Madiba this year at four Handing over 200 pairs of schools around Cape Town, shoes, a computer combo namely Mseki Primary School projector and sanitary towels, in Gugulethu, Montague’s at Enkanini Primary School in Gift Primary School in Grassy Khayelitsha, the Chief Whip of Park, Enkanini Primary School the African National Congress in Khayelitsha and Cavalliera in the National Assembly, Ms Primary School in Kraaifontein.
Pammy Majodina, said they The programme entailed to the spirit of love for children engagement with educators of former President Nelson were at the school in response and learners, a handover of Mandela.

gifts that included projectors, shoes and sanitary towels, Ms Majodina encouraged the among other things.

Members learners to commit themselves of Parliament (MPs) also distributed educational to their education and to do so in the name of Tata Mandela.
material on the work of “You are the future of this Parliament to learners to country.

You are the future increase public awareness of representatives of the future Parliament.

citizens and future presidents,” said Ms Majodina.


The Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces Ms Zukiswa Ncitha, who is the (NCOP), Ms Silvia Lucas, led permanent delegate to the the delegation to Cavalleria National Council of Provinces Primary School in Kraaifontein, and who was among the where MPs donated school parliamentary delegation, shoes, a compujector from the said Mandela Day is crucial MTN Foundation and sanitary and promotes the spirit of towels.
She said the choice commitment to serve.

“We of schools was based on the are inculcating the culture fact that Tata Mandela loved of care as envisaged in the children.

“There is no better principles of ubuntu.

This is what President Mandela would have left as his legacy,” Ms Ncitha said.

Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa, who is the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, told the learners about the importance of the values of freedom, unity and patriotism for which Tata Mandela stood.
“We are proud of the life of Tata Madiba and his sacrifice,” said Mr Hlengwa.

67 MINUTES OF SERVICE: Mandela Day service.
Parliament joined South Africa and the world in observing the Nelson Mandela International Day on 18 July 2019, the day the founding President would have turned 101. relations; the promotion and Parliament to pursue the ethos protection of human rights; and the ideals of a caring, reconciliation; gender equality responsive and activist society and the rights of children and that spares neither strength other vulnerable groups; the nor effort to build a socially fight against poverty; and the just world order.
promotion of social justice.

It also acknowledges his “As South Africa marks 25 contribution to the struggle for years since the democratic democracy internationally, and breakthrough of 1994, with the promotion of a culture of President Mandela as the peace throughout the world.

founding President of a Tata Madiba’s birthday was unanimously declared the Nelson Mandela International Day, commonly known as Mandela Day, by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 2009.
This year’s celebration marked a decade since the UN declaration.

The UN resolution recognises Tata Mandela’s values and his dedication to the service of humanity in conflict resolution; race free and democratic nation, Parliament urged all South we must unite behind a Africans to undertake positive, common goal of intensifying selfless, individual or team fundamental change, including actions to donate at least 67 minutes of their time in service to their communities to change the world around them.
The Presiding Officers of Parliament, led by the National Assembly Speaker, Ms Thandi Modise, and National Council of Provinces Chairperson, Mr Amos Masondo, stressed that Mandela Day provides an opportunity for recommitting