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2-3 COVID-19: Together, we will contain the Coronavirus 10 Budget 2020 Official newspaper of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa 16 State to release 700 000 hectares for Agricultural production Vol.

01 Issue 09 2020 If we work together, we will contain the Coronavirus: President Cyril Ramaphosa Coronavirus: President Ramaphosa announces a 21-day lockdown South Africa will enforce a three-week lockdown over coronavirus, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced.
The South African National Defence Force will be deployed to support the South African Police Service in ensuring that the lockdown is implemented South Africa could face a Addressing the nation, from the development of the spread of the disease.

Without “human catastrophe of President Ramaphosa said the disease in other countries, decisive action, the number immunity because of HIV and TB, and high levels of poverty and malnutrition.
“I’m concerned that a rapid rise in infections will stretch our health services beyond what we can manage, and many people will not be able to access the care that they need.
We must therefore do everything within our means to reduce the overall number of infections and to delay the enormous proportions 21-day lockdown will begin and from our own modelling, of people infected will rapidly spread of infections over a if immediate, swift and at midnight on Thursday 26 that immediate, swift and increase from a few hundred to longer period,” he said.
extraordinary action” is not March and conclude on 16 extraordinary action is required tens of thousands, and within taken to protect all South April, and that it was necessary if we are to prevent a human a few weeks to hundreds of Africans, said President Cyril to prevent “hundreds of catastrophe of enormous thousands.

Ramaphosa, as he announced thousands” of Covid-19 cases.
proportions in our country,” He called on all citizens to “urgently and dramatically escalate their response to the 21-day lockdown to he said.

“This is extremely dangerous ensure that we flatten the prevent the spread of However, he warned that the for a population like ours, curve” and prevent the spread coronavirus.

number of Covid-19 cases will “Our fundamental task at which has a large number of coronavirus.

2 continue to rise.
“It is clear this moment is to contain the of people with suppressed PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA www.parliament.gov.za parliamentofrsa 2 1 “This is a decisive to support the South African he called on all South Africans Ramaphosa informed South 21-day lockdown period, measure to save lives of South Police Service in ensuring to work with the government Africans that “emergency President Ramaphosa said Africans from infection and that the measures we are to expedite the end of this measures” announced earlier only “companies that are save the lives of hundreds announcing are implemented.
crisis.

will remain in place.

essential to the production of thousands of our people.

All South Africans will have to While this measure will have stay at home.” The following essential services They include: and transportation of food, basic goods and medical a considerable impact on will be maintained during the • travel bans on visitors from supplies will remain open”.
people’s livelihoods, and on The lockdown follows just lockdown: high-risk countries; Pharmacies, laboratories, the life of our society and on a week after President • Electricity - stable power • mandatory testing, self- banks, essential financial and our economy, the human cost Ramaphosa declared a supply with no load isolation or quarantine for payment services, including of delaying this action would “national state of disaster, a shedding South African nationals the JSE, supermarkets, petrol be far, far greater.
measure proportional to the • Water supply, sewerage returning from these stations, and healthcare severity of the threat to our and sanitation countries; and providers will remain open “The nationwide lockdown is people, to our society, and to • Information and • strengthening surveillance, during this period, while the necessary to fundamentally our economy”.
Communication Technology screening and testing at “public health management disrupt the chain of – data centres, fibre optic ports of entry into the programme will significantly transmission across society.

He had described the situation infrastructure, towers and Republic.

I have accordingly directed as “a grave emergency, far antennae.
increase screening, testing, contact tracing and medical the South African National worse than experienced over Announcing that all shops management”, President Defence Force to be deployed the last century”.

As a result, In addition, President will be closed during the Ramaphosa said.

MPs debate Parliament’s role during coronavirus pandemic The National Assembly (NA) recently held a debate on the coronavirus and South Africa’s readiness to deal with the pandemic.
The debate was sponsored by the Democratic Alliance’s Ms Sivuyile Gwarube, writes Mava Lukani.

brief the National Assembly on experienced the outbreak of the measures his department listeriosis, arising from food is taking to screen, test and contamination from two food possibly isolate and treat cases.

processed meat companies.


The NCID provided a superior Also speaking during the technical advantage and debate, the Chairperson of laboratory infrastructure the NA’s Portfolio Committee to overcome the spread of on Health, Dr Sibongiseni the disease, Dr Dhlomo told Dhlomo, told the House that MPs, and provide conclusive in fulfilling its responsibility to evidence of the source of the ensure the health of all South outbreak.
Similarly, during the Africans, the government Ebola outbreak in West Africa, established the National South Africa was the first Institute for Communicable country to offer assistance.
Diseases (NCID), a division of the National Health Laboratory In anticipation of the arrival Service, through an Act of of the coronavirus, the Committee meeting Opening the debate, Ms healthcare outside an epidemic Gwarube noted the panic that outbreak.” has set in across the world, as the coronavirus continues She called on Parliament to wreak havoc, even in to assert itself as the main countries with strong health legislative arm of the state, systems.
She mentioned that understand the role bestowed 81 countries have confirmed to it by the Constitution, and cases of COVID-19, the disease take this role seriously.

The caused by the coronavirus.

epidemic has been declared a global public health emergency “Countries have gone into by the World Health crisis mode, imposed travel Organisation, and therefore bans and enforced quarantine measures, as they try to plans to deal with this matter should be tabled in the valiantly contain this virus.
The National Assembly for scrutiny, disease indiscriminately attacks discussion and adoption.

said Ms Gwarube.

She said countries across the globe.


the fact that the President Therefore, we must understand “It doesn’t bode down well notified Parliament of the the inherent weaknesses of the for the function of this House, government’s intention after South African health system.” which is enshrined in the the story was published Furthermore, Ms Gwarube said: Constitution, that the issues of national significance are undermines accountability and oversight.
“We should never unjustifiably discussed in the press before spread fear.

However, we the oversight arm of the It should be a priority of the should prepare for the worst.

state has had an opportunity Minister of Health, Dr Zweli We know the state of our to engage these plans,” Mkhize, Ms Gwarube urged, to Parliament, the National Department of Health has Health Laboratory Service, Act embarked on important No.

37, 2000.
37, 2000.

The NCID serves preparedness measures to deal as the national resource of with the outbreak.

“The South knowledge and expertise on African government through communicable diseases, Dr the Department of Health is Dhlomo explained, not only to doing all that is possible to South Africa, but also for other strengthen its health system to countries of southern Africa.

safeguard the public from the In 2017-18, South Africa infection,” added Dr Dhlomo.
outbreak and other forms of INSESSION NEWS COVID-19 3 Patients with TB and HIV also at risk from COVID-19, say MPs Passengers disembarking at OR Tambo International March is tuberculosis (TB) awareness month in South Africa, a disease that causes hundreds of thousands of deaths every year around the world, including South Africa.

To mark the 2020 TB awareness month, Parliament held a Joint Sitting to debate tuberculosis with the theme “United in the fight to end TB – A challenge to all”.
Members of Parliament (MPs) from both Houses of Parliament, the National Assembly (NA) and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) expressed their views on how to fight this disease, writes Mava Lukani.
Opening the debate, the arm in front of your face when Despite these achievements, Speaking on behalf of the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr coughing and sneezing, using Dr Phaahla said that TB Inkatha Freedom Party, Mr Joe Phaahla, said tuberculosis a tissue and washing your is largely a disease of Mkhuleko Hlengwa said early and coronavirus share some hands frequently with soap poverty.
This means that the diagnosis and treatment similarities, although they and water, or using hand government and Parliament must be accurate, fast and also differ in some respects.

sanitiser to halt the spread of must do everything they can effective.

“We hear of many TB is caused by a bacterium, the disease.

do to reduce poverty levels in people acquiring drug-resistant Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, the country.
The Department of TB because of inadequate while COVID19 is cause by Dr Phaahla told the MPs that Health alone cannot defeat TB.

treatment,” said Mr Hlengwa.

a virus (the coronavirus).

Dr South Africa is one of 22 high- Patients fail to adhere to Phaahla told MPs that TB is burden TB countries in the Ms Haseenabanu Ismail of the proper treatment regimes, the an ancient disease, while COVID19 was only discovered on 7 January 2020.
“Whilst world, in which 700 in every 100 000 are afflicted with the disease.

MPs were reminded Democratic Alliance likened TB wrong drugs are prescribed to a serial killer that wonders and substandard drugs are through cities, towns, squatter being used for treatment are we know a lot about TB, we that TB and HIV often go hand- camps and homes.

He said TB some of the reasons for the know little about COVID19.

in-hand and 60% of the people is fond of the poor and the poor treatment rate, he said.
We have diagnostic tools and living with HIV also have TB.

vulnerable, invading shacks drugs to diagnose TB and cure where many are gathered Mr Hlengwa called for better- it, including drug-resistant TB, According to Statistics South around their meagre meals.

quality patient support we don’t yet have a cure for COVID,” he said.

Africa, in 2016 TB accounted for 29 513 deaths out of Ms S’lindile Luthuli of the programmes at all the health centres.
Mr Hlengwa a total of 456 612 deaths Economic Freedom Fighters said the world is becoming Furthermore, Dr Phaahla said, countrywide.
But, added Dr emphasised that it is mostly more and more dangerous there is a vaccine (BCG) that Phaahla, the good news is that black people who are the in terms of new strains of prevents TB that is nearly TB is curable, as South Africa victims of TB, particularly those viruses developing, combined 100 years old, but there is no has a world-class diagnostic who work in crowded spaces, with increased international vaccine as yet for COVID19.

tool, called the GeneXpert, and such as i mines.


KwaZulu-Natal travelling.

He said the TB and COVID19 are “both drugs that are free at all public has the highest number of eradication of TB requires a spread by droplets (coughing health facilities.
people living with the disease multi-sectoral approach and and sneezing), both affect and people living in townships greater medical research Editor Brent Simons Production editor Mava Lukani Design and layout Vishaal Lalla Copy editors Jane Henshall, Vusumzi Nobadula Writers Mava Lukani, Sakhile Mokoena, Abel Mputing, Felicia Lombard, Malatswa Molepo, Brent Simons, Faith Ndenze 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 Fax 021 403 8096 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.

• • • • the respiratory system and He went on to say that South without proper sanitation are and innovation.
“Prevention both can be prevented by Africa is the world leader in most at risk of contracting the through poverty alleviation is public health measures, such as holding the crook of your several areas when it comes to TB, including research.

disease.

a good place to start in South Africa,” he stressed.
BOOK A TOUR To tour Parliament Telephone 021 403 2266 Fax 021 403 3817 E-mail tours@parliament.gov.za 4 If we work together, we will succeed: President Cyril Ramaphosa We must work together to build a better South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his optimism about South Africa’s future when he responded to points raised by Members of Parliament as they debated the State of the Nation Address (SONA), writes Mava Lukani.

During his reply, President saddened as a woman.


The use confirmed that all police the pace, quality and reach of Ramaphosa told Members of of GBV as grist for the gossip stations have sexual-assault service provision.

Parliament that South Africans mill in your Parliament is one evidence-collection kits.

have everything we need that has weighed heavily on He also welcomed the to take the country forward.

me.
me.

The weaponisation of GBV “They have prioritised backlog invitations from MPs to “We have the means to build is an insult to the millions of cases related to gender-based accompany them to see a better South Africa.

We women who are victims of this violence and established a cold instances of service-delivery have the resources.

We have national crisis.

case task team.

the capabilities.

We have the failure, but then invited MPs to also accompany him when the people.
Yet we will not succeed “I dream of a nation where Saps has analysed over 3 600 District Development Model is unless we work together.” our leaders use the platform dockets on sexual offences, implemented in various areas.
On gender-based violence to speak about solutions on and more than 60% of these (GBV), President Ramaphosa GBV, gender inequality and have been reopened for further “We must ensure that our said that since he announced femicide, as opposed to using investigation and referred to visits to areas beset by service an emergency response action it to settle political scores.
the Senior Public Prosecutor delivery challenges go hand-in- plan last year, government and civil society made some This social crisis is a reality for many women, not just in our for decision,” said President Ramaphosa.

hand with developing plans to address these challenges.
Our will be able to guide developments taking place in their areas.” He announced that the President’s Coordinating Council will meet shortly, which will bring together all the provinces, 44 districts and eight metros, to discuss the nodel and begin the process of devising one plan for the entire country.

“Through such collaboration, we will consolidate our approach to government as an interdependent and interrelated system.
We continue our efforts to change the spatial architecture of our past, promoting development in areas that have long been neglected,” he said.

Some members of the opposition discouraged the development of the new cities, as proposed by President Ramaphosa during SONA.

They urged the President to instead progress, particularly regarding country, but all over the globe.
role is not merely to observe, ensure that existing ones are access to justice for victims We have appointed 200 social but to mobilise all the capacity improved.
and survivors.President “The mention of a person workers and are training health of the state, of business and Ramaphosa also read a who has passed away in professionals and social service communities to fix people’s message he received from a Parliament yesterday evening concerned South African citizen was unjust, unnecessary and concerning an incident that very spine chilling.

It was raw practitioners on post-violence care and trauma debriefing.

problems,” said President Ramaphosa.


Under the District Development Model, occurred in the House during and inconsiderate.

I am deeply On the subject of service he said, all three spheres of the SONA debate, in which one saddened by the manner in delivery, President Ramaphosa government will coordinate MP accused another of GBV: which the events unfolded.” told MPs that he welcomed “Dear President.

I text you with a very heavy heart.


I am most He said the South African Police Services (Saps) has the broad support for the District Development Model as an intervention to improve and integrate their service delivery plans and budgets.
“Communities and businesses However, in his reply to the debate, President Ramaphosa said the development of a new city around Lanseria will provide a model for building new cities elsewhere in the country, in high growth areas such as Lephalale or in areas with great potential like the Northern Cape.
INSESSION NEWS SONA 2020 5 ‘Building a capable state and placing our economy on the path to recovery’ President Ramaphosa appeared before a Joint Sitting of Parliament to deliver the State of the Nation Address (SONA) where he highlighted government’s progress since last year’s address and plans for the future, writes Mava Lukani.

Delivering SONA 2020, have been deliberate in year.
These agreements will have been in place for some President Ramaphosa said rebuilding institutions and be based on targets contained time now.

The government over the course of the past removing impediments to in the Medium Term Strategic adopted the National two years of his presidency, investment.
We have acted Framework and will be made Development Plan (NDP) in government leadership, has decisively against state capture public, so that the people of 2012 to guide the national worked to “forge compacts and fought back against South Africa can hold those effort to defeat poverty, among South Africans to corruption,” he added.

who they elected into office to unemployment and inequality.

answer the many challenges account.

before us”.


One such compact SONA 2020 is about the critical However, with 10 years to go before we reach 2030, we was a jobs summit, which actions “we take this year “It is a culture where have not made nearly enough brought labour, business, to build a capable state and corruption, nepotism and progress in meeting the NDP government and communities place our economy on the path patronage are not tolerated, targets.” together to find solutions to to recovery.
This year, we fix and action is taken against the unemployment crisis.

the fundamentals.

We pursue those who abuse their power Unless this government takes “We continue to meet at the critical areas of growth and we or steal public money.

Since extraordinary measures, “we beginning of every month, ensure excellence in planning I took office, we have built will not realise Vision 2030”.

the Deputy President and and execution in government”.
capacity in the Presidency and Government has therefore myself, to remove blockages elsewhere in the state to fast- committed to prioritise.

“We and drive interventions that To strengthen the capacity track progress on a clear list of need to focus on those actions will save and create jobs ... We of the state and increase urgent reforms,” he said.
that will have the greatest have brought business, labour accountability, President impact, actions that will and government together to Ramaphosa announced In his most recent SONA after catalyse a faster movement craft master plans for those that he would be signing the 2019 general elections, forward, both in the immediate industries that have the performance agreements President Ramaphosa term and over the next 10 greatest potential for growth.” with all government ministers committed to: “... address the years,” President Ramaphosa before the end of February this fundamental challenges that emphasised.
The various spheres of government have also joined with other state entities and with business associations and community groups to form a new district development model (DDM) that “is fundamentally changing our approach to local development”.

Progress has been slow, but over the last two years “we have worked to stabilise the economy and build a foundation for growth.
We Parliament Ammends its programme due to COVID-19 At a special meeting on Tuesday 17 March 2020, between Presiding Officers, chief whips and party representatives to discuss the parliamentary programme and to receive a briefing on institutional arrangements in the light of the President’s announcement of a national state of disaster, as a result of Covid-19, Parliament amended its programme.
This meeting agreed that a sitting of the National Assembly on Wednesday, 18 March at 11:00 will consider the following matters, which have specific time-frames and require consideration by the Assembly: • • • • Division of Revenue Bill [B3 – 2020] Judicial Matters Amendment Bill [B13B – 2019] Draft notice and schedule determining the rate at which salaries are payable to magistrates annually Draft notice and schedule determining the rate at which salaries are payable to Constitutional Court judges and judges of other courts annually The Presiding Officers encouraged all members, staff and visitors to take the necessary personal precautions in order to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.
Parliament also put in place various preventative measures against the Coronavirus, including sanitisers, screening checks for members, staff and visitors as well as a medical support team.

At the conclusion of the sitting on Wednesday 18 March, the business of the Assembly, which includes sittings of the House, committees and public hearings, were suspended until further notice.
The last sitting of the National Council of Provinces was held on Thursday, 19 March and its business will also be suspended until further notice.

Parliament will also be closed to the public until further notice.

Arrangements are also being made to reduce the number of staff members in the precinct in line with the President’s declaration of a national state of disaster.
Parliament calls on all citizens to adhere to the rules and regulations governing the lockdown and to support our country in defeating this pandemic.

6 New plans to combat crime and corruption The fight against crime and corruption is one of the government’s priority focus areas, during the State of the Nation Address (SONA), the President updated the nation on the crime-fighting strategies announced by him the previous year while making new commitments, writes Sakhile Mokoena.
New plans to enhance the against state capture and the would be no bail for rapists fight against crime and fight against corruption.

“I have and murderers.

“You promised corruption included the prioritised our response to the South Africans that there will establishment of a Crime growing problem of criminal be no bail for rapists and Detection Academy, which he groups that extort money murderers, but what have you said will improve the quality of from construction and other done?

Nothing.
Nothing.

Go out there general and specialised police businesses.

Specialised units, and make sure there is no investigations.

International bringing together Saps and the bail.

80% of the crimes are benchmarking, research National Prosecuting Authority, committed by repeat offenders, and feasibility studies are are mandated to combat these so why are the repeat offender underway to identify best crimes of economic disruption.” free to roam the streets?
Leave practices, from agencies such them where they belong.” as the United States’ Federal President Ramaphosa said the Bureau of Investigation, and battle can only succeed if it is He also advised that the the police service of China, the taken on by all society.

“We government must not be United Kingdom and Algeria.
therefore welcome the work of selective when dealing with the joint government and civil corruption, and should stop In addition, to improve society working group charged focusing only on state capture the quality of general and with developing a national and the Zondo Commission.

specialised South African Police anti-corruption strategy and “You are saying nothing.
Not Service (Saps) investigations, implementation plan, which even the Minister of Finance is the government is busy is close to completion of this willing to do something about establishing a crime detection phase of its work”.

university in Hammanskraal.

the corruption where we are losing R240 billion annually,” “Following the graduation of During the debate on SONA, he said.
5 000 police trainees last year, Ms Dorries Dlakude, who is 7 000 new police trainees the Deputy Chief Whip of the Taking part in the SONA have been enlisted this year to African National Congress debate, the Minister of Police, strengthen local policing,” said (ANC), said the ANC was Mr Bheki Cele, provided more the President.

convinced that there has been details in the fight against progress in the fight against crime and corruption.

In the The President also promised to crime and corruption.
continued strife to disrupt amend the Domestic Violence the illicit economy, Mr Cele Act “to better protect victims in “During SONA 2019, the said police have conducted violent domestic relationships, President promised to successful crime-prevention and the Sexual Offences Act, to strengthen law-enforcement operations that focused on broaden the categories of sex agencies’ capabilities in order organised crime activities.

offenders whose names must to fight corruption and crime.
be included in the National We have seen the National He said millions of rands worth Scopa must deal decisively with Eskom’s debt The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) was informed by the Minister of Public Works, Ms Patricia de Lille that, from 1 April 2020, national departments and municipalities will be responsible for paying their own Eskom accounts, writes Faith Ndenze.
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure was in Parliament to brief the committee on its plan to address Eskom’s debt.

The department itself has a R2.6 billion fluctuating overdraft, that is not in compliance with the Register for Sex Offenders.
We Prosecuting Authority and the of counterfeit goods have been Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), as a result of late or will [also] pass a law to tighten Anti-Fraud Unit recovering confiscated, with the biggest non-payments from line departments and municipalities.

bail and sentencing conditions R12 billion from the proceeds proportion confiscated in in cases that involve gender- of crime.
We have also seen Johannesburg, which occupies Briefing the committee, Ms De Lille said: “When the based violence.” the conviction rate increasing the biggest slice of this illicit Auditor-General, in one of his management letters, raised in cases of organised crimes.

market.
market.

“In relation to fighting a concern about this overdraft, it is then that we said we To support the growth of the This demonstrates the the scourge of drugs that tourism industry, President undivided commitment by the continue to destroy the lives cannot as the department get a qualified audit because of other departments.

We then agreed to shift it to the Ramaphosa said Saps will government to eradicating of especially the youth, the relevant departments.
The overdraft is a concern, as it is not increase visibility at identified corruption,” she said.
Directorate for Priority Crime complying with the PFMA.” tourist attraction sites, train Investigation or the Hawks tourism safety monitors and In the same debate, Mr Ahmed in the past three-quarters establish a reserve police Shaik-Emam of the National dismantled 32 clandestine capacity to focus on the Freedom Party accused the drug laboratories, arresting 66 policing of tourist attraction President of “failing to deliver” suspects in the process,” said areas.
The President also mentioned decisive action on a promise he made in last year’s SONA that there Mr Cele.

The Director-General of the department, Adv Sam Vukela, supported this statement by adding that the department will not pay for services incurred by line departments that do not pay for services.

“We have taken a decision that all the line departments should take over the responsibility of paying for their own services to municipalities.
INSESSION NEWS NEWS 7 President calls on traditional leaders to strengthen their custodianship of culture President Cyril Ramaphosa used his address during the official opening of the National House of Traditional Leaders (NHTL) to warn against the abuse of cultural practices and urged traditional leaders to strengthen their role as custodians of culture, writes Sakhile Mokoena.
“When the Auditor-General, in one of his management letters, raised a concern about this overdraft, it is then that we said we cannot as the department get a qualified audit because of other departments.

We then agreed to shift it to the relevant departments.

The overdraft is a concern, as it is not complying with the PFMA.” Ms Patricia de Lille, Minister of Public Works Another decision that we are going to take is that if the line departments do not pay us, we are not going to pay.
The after effects will be that if Eskom or a municipality takes a decision to cut services, they will cut directly to that line department,” he said.

The department was flagged by Eskom as the biggest offender when it presented the list of entities that owe money to Eskom to the committee in December 2019.

Scopa was informed that the department owes Eskom about R3 billion.

However, the department disputes that claim and is confident that it owes much less.
Scopa member Mr Bheki Hadebe lamented the lack of consistency in the reports from the various stakeholders about the government debt owed to Eskom.

He said: “I don’t know what to make of the report from the department.

On 4 December 2018, when we met with the Inter-Ministerial Task Team (IMTT) together with Eskom and the South African Local Government Association (Salga), we took a decision to call the biggest offender, which is the department.

“Today we are told that we are crucifying the wrong Jesus.
This means that Eskom, Salga and the IMTT lied to us.

What President Ramaphosa custodians of culture, to take about their benefits, roles we were told in that meeting, and what we have been given addressed the annual opening this cultural practice back into and functions, among is very different,” he added.

of the NHTL in Parliament your hands and improve it other things.
Inkosi Mwelo when he raised concerns about accordingly.” He further called Nonkonyana, the Chairperson The Chairperson of Scopa, Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa, expressed the high number of young on traditional leaders to work of the Eastern Cape House of concern with the confusion arising from the presentations, men who die every year with the South African Police Traditional Leaders, called for but stressed the need to tread carefully while dealing with while undergoing customary Service to ensure that those the amendment of chapters this matter.
“Seated here, my challenge is what do we make initiation, which involves who are involved in these 7 and 12 of the Constitution.

of the report given to us in December last year?

Because circumcision.

unscrupulous practices are He also complained about the Eskom, Salga and National Treasury did not mention, in arrested and charged.
district model approach: “Yes listing the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure as “Customary initiation is a we have been consulted on the offender-in-chief, that there were engagements going on rite of passage for our young The Customary Initiation Bill the district model, but how can between them.

Whilst we are concerned about that, we also people to manhood and currently before the National we be weak partners?
There is need to tread carefully, so that we do not accept anything adulthood, but it has become Council of Provinces is expected no way municipal councillors including, but not limited to, what the department itself has increasingly infiltrated by to regulate the practice of can be our bosses.

We are their said as the gospel truth until such time that we have all the unscrupulous people and many customary initiation, once it bosses.

The money must go to parties together,” he said.


young men are being maimed becomes law.

He also told the traditional authorities.” or lose their lives.
We need to traditional leaders that the Mr Hlengwa stated that it is difficult for the committee to address the abuse of cultural government was implementing In the debate, the President formulate a clear picture of Eskom’s debt, because of issues practices that results in the the District Development of the Congress of Traditional of reliability that concern to Scopa.

He added that, had the IMTT fulfilled its role, the confusion could have been violation of human rights.
Model in three districts and Leaders of South Africa, Kgoshi This includes abductions to will continue to roll it out to Mathupa Mokoena, also raised prevented.

initiation schools.

cover all 44 districts and eight a concern about the role of “At the heart of this is the total collapse of the IMTT, which “It cannot be that every year metros.

traditional leaders in the district model.


“Our request was supposed to have sorted this mess out and it did not do we sit here and say the same President Ramaphosa’s speech is that our role as traditional so.

Had the IMTT had its finger on the pulse, it would have thing about more needing was later debated by the leaders be clarified in the been able to clear the wood so that the playing field and the to be done but the death traditional leaders.

They took district model.


How do we get accountability could be done.

Ultimately, that is where the failure was.

By bringing the parties together, it should have been able to deal with these things,” he said.

toll continues to rise.

We the opportunity to voice their involved as Amakhosi?” asked urge traditional leaders, as frustration and unhappiness Kgoshi Mokoena.
8 Workshop highlights Parliament’s role in International Relations Parliamentary diplomacy is one of the priority areas of any Parliament, said the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Thandi Modise, in her opening address to the Parliamentary Group on International Relations (PGIR) workshop that took place in Parliament recently, writes Abel Mputing.
In accordance with the role in overseeing and shaping Joint Rules of Parliament foreign policy, in contributing (Joint Rule 132(24)), the to a world that embraces PGIR must meet annually the principles and values of with members appointed democracy and human rights by the House to serve in culture, and in determining international parliamentary the shape and form of our bodies and members of all country’s foreign policy”.
sub-structures of the group, as well as the chairpersons This responsibility “should of the parliamentary not, as before, be seen as committees dealing with a purvey of the executive international relations and alone.

Nor should we allow cooperation, and trade and a situation where we just industry to determine strategy rubberstamp all the treaties G20 Parliamentary Summit poverty, hunger and diseases.” foreign policies.
But the International Relations at challenge remains that we the National Assembly, Mr The task of parliamentarians, deal with complex policy Madala Ntombela, stated that Ms Modise said, is to entrench regimes that impact on our parliamentary diplomacy has the values of ubuntu around citizens with limited resources.

both an internal and external the world.

This is because What do we do?


Do we cut on focus, in that it “empowers ubuntu embodies the virtues other bilateral and multilateral Members of Parliament to and evaluate Parliament’s that the executive enters into.

international relations.

We need to scrutinise them of democracy and human activities or not?

That is learn and to understand how rights, which are mechanisms a matter that we need to other parliaments hold their The theme of the first In fact, “there is a need for a prosperity.
before they are entered into”.

of promoting peace and consider carefully.

For although there are many challenges, resources are shrinking.

That executive accountable when it comes to foreign policies”.

PGIR Workshop for the more robust oversight role by sixth Parliament was: parliamentarians over these “Strengthening the PGIR treaties, to hold our executive for effective parliamentary accountable”.

democracy”.
The main aim of the workshop was to inform This undertaking is more newly elected Members about significant in an “era in which Parliament’s international there is an escalation of threats role during the sixth term, to our wellbeing emanating including the policies and from climate change, structures established to guide deprivation, terrorism and “We want a foreign policy based on lasting solutions that would be achieved through the promotion of democracy, justice and observation of international law.” Ms Thandi Modise, Speaker of the National Assembly The greatest challenge, she is a reality we have to deal Internally, these engagements argued, is the changing of with as parliamentarians,” she “help in empowering us in the world order in a post-Cold opined.
War era.

“Now there are new dealing with domestic law- making processes.

These transnational agendas that “We want a foreign policy are imparted to us through challenge the effectiveness of based on lasting solutions that study visits and other forms the policies of nation states.

As would be achieved through of bilateral and multilateral representative of the people, the promotion of democracy, engagements”.
we can use our bilateral and justice and observation of multilateral forums and treaties international law.” He further elaborated that to safeguard the interests of the PGIR remains “a strategic our citizens,” she said.
Turning her attention to the platform in facilitating our southern African region, Ms Parliament’s engagement She also noted the significance Modise noted the progress with others and in tabling of these forums for enhancing achieved in a resolution to of diplomatic reports that relations between countries turn the Southern African need consideration by our and the parliaments of Development Community Parliament”.

nation states.
nation states.

“Through our Parliamentary Forum into a involvement in these forums, legislative body.

“This would A failure of the PGIR, however, we learn and get to understand help to domesticate our trade is that it’s work does not yet the art and practice of and legislative agreements.

“form part of Parliament’s and support it, as well as the conflicts”.
As representatives outstanding business of the of the people, Ms Modise said: fifth Parliament that requires “We should have a role in parliamentary diplomacy.

We And unlike before, we can official programme.

This needs get to embrace the system of begin, as a region, to set a to be attended to if Parliament methods that would enable us peaceful dialogue between were to play an effective role consideration.
this regard, or we would not be fulfilling our constitutional to achieve mutually satisfying our local, continental and in global arena”.

resolutions that would benefit global spheres as a collective Addressing the workshop, Ms mandate of ensuring that our citizens,” added Ms and with one united This is imperative because the Modise urged parliamentarians those who elected us live in a Modise.
voice – without any fear of “PGIR has a legacy report that to take this portfolio seriously, safe and peaceful world, and as it provides them with an opportunity to play a “valuable political systems that cushion them from the ravages of contradictions.” “We learn from them how to hold the government accountable in dealing with In his address to the workshop, the House Chairperson of it should consider, that would impact on the work of the sixth Parliament.” INSESSION NEWS BUDGET2020 9 Also speaking during the briefing, the PBO’s Deputy Director of Economics, Dr Seeraj Mohamed mentioned several constraints including, “structural, cross-cutting industrial and sectorial economic constraints, mass unemployment, widespread poverty, inequality and poor levels of investments”.
He is of the view that current economic challenges do not necessarily need continued fiscal consolidation, but a counter-cyclical stimulus.

According to him, that would “not necessarily involve cuts in tax, which could possibly go offshore, but, among other things, strategic borrowing that would inject the much-needed boost to the economy”.

The slump in the economy has led to reduced household consumption and increased debt, said PBO economic analyst, Ms Fatsani Banda.
“This has had a negative impact over time on savings, debt-servicing costs and household debt on many South Africans.” Giving us a picture of trends in South Africa’s unemployment rate, Dr Mohamed said: “the total investment growth from 2010 to 2015 was driven by services, but services investment declined from 2015 to 2018.

As a result, total investment declined from 2015 to 2018, hence the spike in the funding priorities of the 2020 Budget Speech.
Committees would therefore be expected to “approve or make recommendations for amendment thereof.

And to monitor and evaluate processes during the implementation stage thereof,” she said.

The Department of Performance Management and Evaluation is critical in this process because of its “roles and responsibilities in integrated planning and budgeting, that include, among other things, the coordination of the collection of performance information of departments.
And the standardised programme structures and performance indicators and policy directives”.

In addition, the strategic direction of planning and budgeting emanates from the unemployment rate.” State of the Nation Address (SONA), which is aimed at fixing a range of competing issues dogging the economy.
One response to these challenges, announced by The year-on-year decline in tax revenue collection is worsened by growing unemployment as more employers continue to lay off their staff, according to PBO Deputy Director of Finance, President Cyril Ramaphosa in Dr Dumisani Jantjies.

This has the address, is the proposed left us with less revenue to University of Science and Innovation in Ekurhuleni to “address the dire shortage fund service delivery priorities.
In conclusion, Ms Orlandi re- of skills in the country.
The emphasised that the “planning development of a master plan for the 2020 Medium Term for the automotive industry, Expenditure Framework marks clothing, textile, poultry, sugar the beginning of a new five- and steel plants”, Ms Orlandi year planning and budgeting Parliamentary Budget Office: tax revenue collection is worsened by growing unemployment The current economic downturn has necessitated the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) to present to the parliamentary portfolio and standing committees on finance an integrated planning and budgeting process to use resources more efficiently to realise the socio- economic priorities identified in the 2020 State of the Nation Address, writes Abel Mputing.
The PBO presented various is meant to assist these said the Deputy Director of scenarios to the two committees with the legislative Policy in the PBO, Ms Neli committees that they should element of the budget process.

Orlandi.

look out for when conducting A critical factor in the planning said.

their oversight over the cycle is the alignment of The 2019 Medium Term budget.
“Our presentation resources with policy intent,” Budget Statement provides cycle and Parliament has a critical oversight role to play in this regard”.

10 Government to propose law to stop excessive salaries in public entities – Mboweni Mr Tito Mboweni, the Minister of Finance, has told Parliament that the government will propose a law to stop excessive salaries in public entities and accelerate plans to merge and consolidate some of these entities, writes Sakhile Mokoena.
He also reiterated his concern also announced, during his maximising the quality and about the bloated public 2020 Budget Speech, that quantity of services.

sector wage bill, which he said the government was moving would have to be adjusted by forward with reforms to the “Cabinet approved the about R160 billion over the medium term.

Mr Mboweni procurement system, with a publication of a new Public focus on value for money and Procurement Bill.
We will accelerate merging and He said the total reduction was consolidating public entities.

mainly the result of lowering We will propose a new law to programme baselines and stop excessive salaries in these the wage bill by R261 billion.

public entities, and we will “These are partially offset by also deal decisively with the additions and reallocations of excessive high cost of leasing R111 billion.

Of this, more than government buildings,” said Mr half, or R60 billion, is for Eskom Mboweni.
and South African Airways.” He said the total consolidated Mr MBoweni said while some government spending is of these savings were good for expected to grow at an the fiscus, “in many cases we average annual rate of 5.1%, are also making difficult and from R1.95 trillion in 2020/21 painful sacrifices”.

to R2.14 trillion in 2022/23.

This, he said, was mainly due “We shall undertake spending to mounting debt-service costs.

reviews to ensure that we achieve this objective.


The Non-interest spending declines second part is adjustments on on average over the MTEF the wage bill by about R160 (Medium Term Expenditure billion over the medium term.

Framework) in real terms.


Once we get wage growth, corruption and wasteful “Today we announce a net expenditure under control, downward adjustment to the we will focus our attention main budget non-interest on hiring in important areas expenditure of R156.1billion such as education, police, over the next three years, and healthcare.

We can hire relative to the 2019 budget strategically, and better match projections.

skills with opportunities,” Mr Mboweni explained.


Relief for citizens, no VAT or tax increases The South African economy is predicted to grow by a disappointing 0.9% this year, with inflation averaging 4.5%, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni told Members of the National Assembly when he delivered his 2020 Budget Speech, writes Sakhile Mokoena.
Mr Mboweni said achieving had decided against increasing the South African economy will Persistent electricity problems economic growth and higher value added tax (VAT), pay- grow by 0.9% and inflation will, however, hold back years, we expect growth to average just over 1%.

Therefore, a stable supply of electricity will be our number one task,” added Mr Mboweni.
Mr Mboweni presented the budget and also tabled the Division of Revenue Bill, the Appropriation Bill, 2020 budget review, 2020 estimates of national expenditure, as well as tax proposals for the year employment levels requires a as-you-earn (PAYE) or other will average 4.5% in 2020. growth.

Over the next three 2020. plan, and that over the next 18 personal income taxes.

months, the economy should get a number of jump-starts.
In some instances, taxpayers He said these jump-starts will will now pay even less tax.

Mr include, among other things, Mboweni added, “our income “the reform agenda led by the President, lower inflation, the tax system is progressive, and the adjustments reflect this.

interest rate reduction earlier Someone earning R10 000 a this year, the recent gains in month will pay 10% less in tax.
platinum group metals’ prices Someone earning R100 000 and the impending change a month will pay about 1.5% to the electricity regulatory less.

We are also proposing framework”.

broadening the corporate income tax base,” he said.

According Mr Mboweni “new tax increases at this time could “With growth of 3.5%, sub- harm the economy’s ability to Saharan Africa is forecast to recover”.
To this end, and to be the second-fastest growing stimulate economic activity he announced that government region in the world.

Against this backdrop we forecast that INSESSION NEWS BUDGET 2020 11 Modernisation of network industries and the restructuring of SOEs More spending on health and education Minister of Finance, Tito Mboweni, said the government will be allocating more money on learning and culture and health areas.
Learning and culture currently receives R396 billion followed by health that receives R230 billion, and social development with R310 billion, writes Mava Lukani.

Finance Minister Mr Tito Mboweni’s budget speech was presented in the context of the socio-economic challenges facing South Africa, writes Abel Mputing.

The Minister began by pointing out how the economy has contracted over the past decade.
Nonetheless, despite poor growth, Mr Mboweni said, South Africa remains the most diversified economy on the continent and he presented a strong plan for future growth.

One proposal is the SAA’s guaranteed debt and modernisation of network interest.

industries and the restructuring of state-owned enterprises Government is also committed (SOEs).
“Government will do to open up new markets, whatever it takes to ensure a promote regional integration stable electricity supply … it and contribute to economic is our number one task,” the growth in terms of the Minister said.

“To this effect, African Continental Free Trade government has allocated Agreement, which South Africa R230 billion over 10 years to is a signatory to.
achieve the restructuring of the “Government will do whatever it takes to ensure a stable electricity supply … it is our number one task.” Mr Tito Mboweni’ Minister of Finance electricity sector.” This is linked to an industrial To streamline all these strategy, which will include strategies, the minister A lasting solution to energy “an innovation fund, which advocated that the cost of challenges hinges on will be capitalised with R1.2 doing business in South “determinations to implement billion over the next three Africa should be lowered.
To the Integrated Resource Plan years, an industrial business this end, “the BIZPortal will of 2019”.

This will be finalised shortly, once the National incentive worth R18.5 billion, which will create and retain provide a streamlined way to register a new business with Energy Regulator has agreed approximately 56 500 jobs.

the CIPC, SARS, the UIF and to the plan.


In addition, the Compensation Fund in one government has announced An additional R107 million day.” that municipalities will be is reprioritised for the allowed t to buy energy from refurbishment of 27 industrial The agricultural sector will also independent suppliers.

parks in townships and rural play a critical role in boosting As for South African Airways, economies.
And R6.5 billion is allocated for small business economy and “Government has allocated R495.1 million to Mr Mboweni mentioned that incentive programmes of which the Department of Agriculture, business rescue will “lead to a R2.2 billion will be transferred Land Reform and Rural radically restructured airline”.
to the Small Enterprise Development to improve In the budget, government has allocated R16.4 billion to settle Development Agency.” compliance with biosecurity and support exports.” In his State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa said his government has noted the enthusiastic support from South Africans during the public hearings on the National Health Insurance (NHI), and based on that, the government is putting in place mechanisms for its implementation after the conclusion of the parliamentary process.
In preparation for the NHI, he said the government has already registered more than 44 million people at more than 3 000 clinics in the electronic Health Patient Registration System, and is now implementing this system in hospitals.

It is also in that context that health is identified as an area for more spending.
President Ramaphosa said: “A fundamental condition for growth and development is a healthy and productive population, with access to quality, affordable healthcare.” In the education sector, Minister Mboweni said investment will go to new schools, to replace schools that are constructed with inappropriate materials, “and providing them with water, electricity and sanitation”.
He said: “In 2020/21 the maths, science and technology grant will introduce coding and robotics to learners from Grade R to Grade 3 as announced by the President.

Transfers to provinces support schooling for 13 million children and healthcare for 49.1 million South Africans,” he added.

The Department of Higher Education and Training will reallocate existing funds to undertake a feasibility study for the establishment of a new university of science and innovation in Ekurhuleni.
12 Citizens want urgent implementation of NHI in all provinces The Portfolio Committee on Health has conducted public hearings on the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill in the Eastern Cape, North West, Free State, Western Cape and Gauteng.
In all these provinces, people called for the urgent implementation of NHI because they hope it will translate the constitutionally enshrined right to health of each and every South African into real access to quality healthcare services to everyone, irrespective of each person’s financial position, report Felicia Lombard and Malatswa Molepo.
the Fezile Dabi and Mangaung their pessimism for the failure Organisation, said traditional districts, the people called for of an NHI-funded healthcare healers support the Bill and the reintroduction of health system.

inspectors that will ensure that want to ensure that the traditional healthcare system healthcare facilities are up to Representatives of traditional is also included in the NHI standard and render quality healers organisations legislation.
healthcare services to the emphasised the need to people.

include the indigenous All the traditional healers’ healthcare system in the representatives emphasised Some representatives of the scheme and to recognise the the fact that traditional people living with disabilities important role of traditional emphasised that their daily healers in the NHI legislation medicine is regarded as mythical medicine, yet it helps specific needs are enshrined to ensure that the envisaged the African people.
“Powerful in the Bill of Rights but the healthcare system is inclusive.

Western countries import current public healthcare plants from Africa, produce system denies them those In the Western Cape, the medicine and export that rights.
majority of West Coast medicine to Africa in modern At all the communities where Ms Zandile Phakathi of the the Portfolio Committee Buffalo City Metropolitan on Health conducted public Municipality said she supported hearings on the National the NHI because it stands Health Insurance, people were for the achievement of clear about their frustration the progressive rights of a on the challenges facing the universal healthcare system current health system, which that are internationally they called “disastrous”.
recognised as human rights.

“We say healthcare is a human They hope the NHI will right that everyone is entitled be a good replacement.

to.

We are further saying that Furthermore, they said instead this right should not depend on of the current public healthcare a person’s financial standing,” system offering healthcare Ms Phakathi said.
services, it has become the symbol of death as people Dr Dhlomo appreciated the NHI public hearing die at the crumbling clinics commitment shown by and hospitals in gruelling long the South African Medical queues, waiting for medical Association on the Bill in attention.
Mthatha, a commitment he said makes it clear that they residents told the committee form,” said Mr Sihleli Nxasana, In the North West, the people that the NHI is much-needed in who is also a Khayelitsha- urged the committee to ensure their district.

They highlighted based traditional healer.
that the governance system their frustration with the on the implementation of current public healthcare In the Gauteng’s Ekurhuleni In the Eastern Cape, the are willing to work with the NHI is strengthened to system, which they said fails Metropolitan Municipality people told the committee the government and health deter and protect the fund to assist them, they called for region, participants in no uncertain terms that stakeholders to effectively deal against corruption.
On the the speedy implementation of emphasised the need for the time for discussions and with the teething problems creation of boards that are the NHI.

mobilisation of views on the that were experienced when envisaged in the Bill, the effective governance, as well as performance monitoring and Bill is over.

“Now is the time the NHI was piloted in the OR residents called for boards They told the committee in evaluation to ensure that the for implementation,” they said.

Tambo District Municipality.
that will be representative their oral submissions that benefits of the NHI are felt by The residents have a view In the Free State, the majority that the implementation of of those who expressed the NHI is being delayed, support for the Bill also which compromises the good emphasised the importance of the people on the ground, and boards that will promote there is a large population of farm workers in their all across the country – and to ensure that the fund doesn’t public involvement in the region who cannot afford the follow the same route as other implementation of the NHI.
expensive profit-driven medical state-owned entities because aid schemes.

They also told of corruption.

intentions of the NHI.

of a well-functioning public The people who opposed the committee that they are healthcare system, especially the NHI in the North West turned away at times at the The committee will now Making his oral submission on at primary healthcare level.
the Bill in Mthatha, Mr Paseka Nontshiza said: “Our people The residents of Mangaung District told the committee Province’s Rustenburg area usually overcrowded public engage stakeholders and cited the current problem of the failure of state-owned hospitals on the grounds of the unavailability of nurses.
organisations that made written submissions to it, and are left on the fringes of that the NHI is important for entities such as Eskom, South that will form the last phase healthcare, dying out there of ensuring universal healthcare African Airways and Prasa In the Khayelitsha leg of the of public participation on the treatable ailments and because coverage, as per the World of poverty they are unable to access quality treatment.” Health Organisation’s Alma Ata Declaration of 1978.
In as a point of reference with hearings, Ms Esther Mbanyaru, Bill at the National Assembly regard to the failed state-led intervention, as the basis of who is the Chairperson of the Khayelitsha Traditional Healers level.
INSESSION NEWS SPEAKERS FORUM 13 ‘More work still needs to be done regarding the remuneration of public office bearers’ The Speakers’ Forum, an organisation of the Speakers and Deputy Speakers of the National Assembly and all the provincial legislatures, as well as the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), recently considered a range of issues including methods to make governance, administration, oversight and public participation more effective and accountable, writes Abel Mputing.
High on the agenda was and his or her contribution to Therefore, “their jobs should and the profiling and grading will cost the National Treasury a presentation on the the sector, Dr Bussan noted.

He be seen as equally hard and thereof, as some of the matters approximately R93 million.

remuneration of public office admitted, however, that more complex”.

raised could not be resolved.


bearers, commissioned by the work still needs to be done to In his concluding remarks, the Independent Commission for address existing disparities.
A contestation on this ensued, It was thought that further chairperson of the session, the the Remuneration of Public with the Deputy Speaker of deliberation and engagement Chairperson of the National Office Bearers and undertaken The remuneration of the the National Assembly, Mr would clarify the reasoning Council of Provinces, Mr Amos by remuneration specialists 21st Century Consultants.
The commission arose because President, Deputy President, Lechesa Tsenoli, suggesting regarding the current Masondo, emphasised that the Speaker and Deputy Speaker that a working group should remuneration profiles and views expressed by various and the Chief Justice were address this issue.

It was grading of office bearers at office bearers will help to there is no standardised kept unchanged in the study.

agreed that the working group national and provincial level.
resolve existing remuneration methodology to determine the The reason for this, he said, should relay its resolutions to disparities in the sector.

remuneration of office bearers is that “the benchmarking the commission so that they According to the projections of Legislatures must collate their in the legislature.
of the correlation between can inform the basis of its the study, the entire process suggestions and send them to the four was kept, because remuneration of office bearers, of remuneration adjustment the commission.

21st Century’s Dr Mark Bussan, said: “The benchmarking of it’s a globally acceptable remuneration benchmark that profiles and grading of jobs of we should not tamper with”.
presiding officers of legislatures was to ensure that they are One fundamental principle remunerated fairly in relation should be adopted, he said, to their respective roles.” is that “there should be no He was pleased to note that disparities in remuneration updated job descriptions are between a Speaker who now available and there is a presides over a bigger or repository of 35 graded jobs.

smaller province”.
smaller province”.

This is because there is no difference Remuneration benchmarking in their job description, as they now considers the length of service of each office bearer, are both charged with tasks prescribed by the Constitution.
14 Committees in Brief The Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises expressed concern about the performance the committee an opportunity in order to protect the rail to fully scrutinise the infrastructure and all assets documents and prepare for belonging to the Passenger of state-owned enterprises the engagement with NSFAS, Rail Agency of SA (Prasa).

(SOEs).
(SOEs).

The committee and that according to them, The Chairperson of the governmental and municipal Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Ms Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba, welcomed the stakeholders responsible for the escalating debt owed to Eskom should appear before 2019 National Senior Certificate it jointly.
This is necessary (NSC) results which she said to determine an appropriate showed a pass rate of 81.3%, way forward and to verify and a percentage she said the amount of debt still confirms a great deal of hard outstanding, as there are work by learners, teachers and differences about how much is all other stakeholders within still owed.

received a presentation from is a blatant disregard of He said the amount of the sector.
money the government is losing on a daily basis due “We applaud the continued Scopa called the department hard work by all the for a briefing based on the the Department of Public accountability.

Enterprises on its third-quarter performance for 2019/20.

The committee was concerned to hear that all SOEs are loss- making, with the exception of the South African Forestry Companies Limited (Safcol).
The committee heard that Transnet’s overall shareholder compact performance has dwindled from 49% in the first quarter to 41% in the second quarter, and 32% in the last quarter of the period under review.
The Select Committee on Education and Technology, The Chairperson of the to the vandalism of the rail Sports and Arts and Culture resolved to postpone its committee, Mr Elleck infrastructure by vandals who Nchabeleng, said: “You have made it a habit to burn meeting with the National expect us to scrutinise the trains, was alarming and Student Financial Aid Scheme documents within minutes, concerning.
(NSFAS) on the grounds of the yet you took days to compile late submission of the required the presentations.

NSFAS Twenty-four trains were documents to the meeting that officials are not serious reportedly burnt in the Free was planned to take place in about addressing the many State at the beginning of Parliament.

challenges faced in the February.


He said although education sector.” there seemed to be no link The committee expressed its that has been established so extreme disappointment with The Chairperson of the far, however the Free State the management of NSFAS and said that its failure to submit the documents on Portfolio Committee on Transport, Mr Mosebenzi Zwane, has said appropriate train burning incident followed numerous train burnings in and around Cape Town.
time deprives members of measures need to be taken information received from IMTT, which claimed that the Department of Public Works is the biggest debtor, owing Eskom R3 billion in June 2019.

The department told Scopa that this amount was incorrect and that, in fact, it owes much less than this.
The Select Committee on Petitions and Executive Undertakings will soon be able to respond to Mr Votani Majola’s petition that was submitted to the National stakeholders that have Council of Provinces (NCOP) made an investment in where he claims that his the form of time and other nation, the Thembuland Royal resources in ensuring that Empire, were the original our children have a solid owners of the land covering and adequate foundation in the whole of South Africa.
relation to education, which will guarantee them a better The petition was submitted to future.

We also applaud the NCOP in 2018 and referred the successful learners and to the select committee encourage those that have for further processing and failed to try again as they have consideration.

In processing the potential to succeed,” Ms the petition, the committee Mbinqo-Gigaba said.
invited the petitioner and other stakeholders for further inputs The Chairperson of the before compiling a report, Portfolio Committee on which will soon be tabled and Higher Education, Science and Technology has called on university students to desist debated in a sitting of the NCOP.

from damaging university The Select Committee on property when they engage in protest actions.
Public Enterprises and Communications expressed its concern on governance Violent protests have occurred and brought the registration challenges that riddle the Universal Service and Access to a halt at the universities of Agency of South Africa KwaZulu Natal and the Western (Usaasa).

Cape recently.
Cape recently.

The Chairperson of the committee, Mr Philly Usaasa appeared before Mapulane, said the reports of the committee recently at the destruction of property at Parliament, to brief the the University of KwaZulu Natal committee on the South were concerning and needed African connect project and urgent attention.
the general availability, and The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) believes that all relevant accessibility of broadband services to South Africans across provinces as per the entity’s mandate.

INSESSION NEWS COVID-19 15 Regulations set out to stop the spread of the COVID - 19 virus and minimise its effects.

Parliament calls on all citizens to abide by these regulations.
16 State to release 700 000 hectares for Agricultural production, says President President Cyril Rampahosa says government must expand the agriculture and agro-processing sector by supporting key value chains and products, developing new markets and reducing the country’s reliance on agricultural imports.

In his 2020 speech, President Ramaphosa announced some of the strategies on agriculture his government has applied since his 2019 June SONA, writes Felicia Lombard.
President Ramaphosa stated and industrial users of a sugar plan has now been completed.

that agriculture is one of master plan to address job He told Members of Parliament the sectors of the economy losses in the industry.

This plan that to further support the with the greatest potential is expected to be finalised local industry, a new poultry for growth.

To accelerate this soon.

import tariff adjustment will be potential, he highlighted implemented.
some of the methods his One such strategy is the poultry government will use to address master plan to support chicken The government also hopes various challenges facing the farmers and processors, which that the implementation of key industry.

One of these is the not only saved 54 000 jobs, recommendations from the development with farmers but also created new ones.

This Presidential Advisory Panel on Land Reform and Agriculture to livestock and many livelihoods.
accelerate land redistribution, “Working with the Agricultural expand agricultural production Research Council and other and transform the industry, will scientific and agricultural yield the expected results.
bodies, we have developed drought mitigation strategies President Ramaphosa reported that focus on developing that “to date, we have drought-resistant seeds, released 44 000 hectares of planting and storing fodder, state land for the settlement removing of invasive plants of land restitution claims, and and management strategies to this year we will release about prevent soil degradation,” he 700 000 hectares of state land said.

for agricultural production”.


In doing so, priority will be He also told the Joint Sitting given to youth, women, people that hemp and cannabis with disabilities and those products for medicinal who have been farming on purposes will receive communal land and are ready government attention.

“We to expand their operations for will open up and regulate training and allocation of land.
the commercial use of This will be supplemented hemp products, providing further by a new beneficiary opportunities for small- selection policy, which includes scale farmers, and formulate compulsory training for policy on the use of cannabis potential beneficiaries before products for medicinal land can be allocated to them.
purposes, to build this industry in line with global trends.” The President also reported on the severe drought that Regulatory steps on these has hit many provinces across products are expected to be the country and which has announced very soon by the resulted in the loss of crops, relevant ministers.
WHAT IS CORONAVIRUS: Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).

A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.

Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people.
Source:: World Health Organization (WHO) PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS FROM GETTING SICK Wash your hands After coughing or sneezing, when caring for the sick, before, during and after preparing food, before eating, after toilet use, when hands are dirty after handling animals Source:: World Health Organization (WHO) 24HR NICD HOTLINE 0800 029 999 INSESSION NEWS