Deputy Speaker, the reply to the question is that indeed provinces have taken all reasonable and necessary steps to ensure that learning and teaching take place without disruptions in our schools. As the department, we share the concern that service delivery protests may already have impacted negatively on school activities. We advise that in areas affected by service delivery protests, provincial departments put measures in place.
For instance, in Limpopo, Moutse, two camps were established to accommodate learners. Boys were moved to the Makhado multipurpose community centre in the Vhembe region and girls were moved to the Tivumbeni multipurpose community centre in Mopane. Since the establishment of these camps the committee has also expressed its commitment to supporting learners in writing their exams. However, in case there are any disruptions, the provincial department will set up a writing centre outside Moutse and provide learners with transport to the centres.
In Mpumalanga, again, where we had reports of disruptions, the circuit managers are on high alert to move learners to other schools within the circuits in case there are any disruptions. The provincial legislature was briefed yesterday about the details of planned interventions in order to afford learners an opportunity to write their exams. Thank you.
Chairperson, there is no follow-up question. I just want to thank the Minister for all the efforts she has made. Thank you very much, Minister. [Applause.]
Chairperson, the DA is of the conviction that under no circumstances should schools be disrupted by protest action during final examinations. Learners should also not be prevented from attending school and writing their exams.
We know that the ANC leadership made promises regarding the improvement of municipal service delivery, the filling of critical vacancies, the correction of underspending and the rooting out of incompetent and corrupt officials. But, Minister, is the ANC government also prepared to keep these promises and, more importantly, take action against its alliance partners, the SACP and Cosatu, who are in most instances organising these service delivery protests or dictating the destructive and violent ways in which these protests are conducted?
Chair, I fully agree with the DA that schools should not be disrupted or disturbed. On the next matter I think the member is being opportunistic and is raising things that have nothing to do with the question - the ANC and its commitment to service delivery. I think she should refer the question to the ANC. I was asked a question as a Minister on whether we have made plans in this regard. We have indeed made plans. But on matters of what the ANC has done and wants to commit to, I can give you the address of Luthuli House. You can then refer this to the ANC because I can't answer that. [Applause.]
Hon Minister, I do concur with you about the commitment of the ANC to making sure that schools are provided with education and when education is provided to learners that no disruptions occur.
I want to draw your attention to last year's experience in Khutsong and Merafong where students were taken out of the province as a result of the protests and taken to the Northern Cape, the issue never having been resolved. Assuming that the ring leaders of the protests currently taking place may not be arrested as soon as you think they will, what measures are in place to ensure that under no circumstances will examinations be interrupted or not written as a result of the protests? Thank you.
I assume the member is referring to the North West and not the Northern Cape. I just want to correct that. For the rest -
... angithwasi. Angilona ithwasa. Angazi ukuthi yini ezokwenza ukuthi abantu bangabhali. Angikwazi ukuqinisekisa ukuthi ngeke kube nezidubedube angazi ukuthi iLungu lifunani kimina. Angikwazi ukuqinisekisa ukuthi akuzuba nezidubedube eziphazamisa izingane ukuthi zibhale ukuhlolwa ngaphandle uma ngingathwasa. Angithwasi mntanami, angithwasi nkosikazi! [Ihlombe.] (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[... I am not a sangoma. I won't know what will cause people not to write their examinations. And I cannot guarantee that there will not be any protests. I do not know what the hon member wants from me. I cannot guarantee that there will not be any protests which will disturb the learners when they write their examinations unless I become a sangoma. I am not a sangoma, my child, I am not a sangoma, madam! [Applause.]]
Hon Minister, teaching time has not only been lost through service delivery protests, but through other factors as well. For instance, prior to the 2009 elections, teachers, especially those aligned to Sadtu, abandoned their classrooms to campaign for the ruling party. Would the Minister know how much time was lost through such actions? I thank you.
That is a new question, hon Mpontshane. But I will allow the Minister to respond if she feels like responding.
I was going to ask the member to put that question to me in writing.
Bengizocela iLungu lingibhalele lo mbuzo ngizoyofuna impendulo ngoba lombuzo awuhambisani nalokhu esikhuluma ngakho. Enye into yakudala le. [I would ask the hon member to put that question in writing so that I can go and look for an answer because that question is irrelavant to what we are talking about here. That is something else that happened a long time ago.]
I will do so.
Query regarding whether calendars accord with government's plans for 2010 Fifa World Cup Soccer tournament
182. Mrs C Dudley (ACDP) asked the Minister of Higher Education and Training:
Whether calendars issued by his department to Members of Parliament indicating only one extra day of holiday during the 2010 Fifa World Cup Soccer tournament is in accordance with government's plans for school holidays around this event; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?