Hon members, I've got no members for supplementary questions. No, hon members, you must press the button.
I did press the button.
No, but there is nothing on the screen, except now - except now! Then I will see hon member Duncan.
Thank you, Chairperson. Minister, your Ministry is brand- new. However, in the more than one year of existence you had a golden opportunity to ensure that you adhere to legislation, which compels you to employ 2% of persons with disabilities. How do you justify the fact that you have failed to meet the 2% target?
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, YOUTH, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Hon Chairperson, if a house is built in one day, I would wish your house, hon member, to be built in one day. There is always a process in establishing a department. You need to establish the foundation and ensure that structures and systems are put in place. For your information, hon member, we intend to have a summit on disability at the end of the year, which will look into a number of questions affecting disabilities and related problems.
Therefore my response is that we are on course with our programmes, and even in terms of developing legislation with regard to disability - we are working on that one. So, there is no failure on our part, we are on course and we are committed to ensuring that we achieve the objectives that this department was established for. Thank you. [Applause.]
Chairperson, I thank the hon Minister for her response. We, in this House, are glad that at last there is a Ministry that will focus on women, children and people with disabilities. But by your own admission, Madam Minister, I think the situation is far from satisfactory because 0,2% and 0,24% doesn't give us a whiff of a pass, or even an average performance.
We trust that, in looking at this matter seriously, your department give priority to it, and will also look at the question of facilities. In this House we have been raising the issue of the lack of facilities; not only for officials, but for people with disabilities who go to government departments and buildings, Home Affairs, and so on. This is another area, I think, which your department has got to look into. Thank you.
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, YOUTH, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Thank you, hon member, for the statement. I don't believe it's a question but a statement that supports the programme of government in ensuring that we achieve the targets that we have set ourselves.
However, I want to emphasise that it is not the responsibility of government alone; it is the responsibility of all of us as South Africans to ensure that people with disabilities access the workplace and are also part of the mainstream economy. So, all of us have got that kind of responsibility to ensure that we achieve those programmes. Thank you very much.
Chairperson, I agree with the last opinion of the hon Minister that we should all do it, but government departments should set the trend. My question to the hon Minister is as follows: During this year, has her department established what the problems are that are causing this not to happen? Is the post not available? Do they not advertise it? Are the people not applying? Have you established what the real problem is and come up with some solutions?
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, YOUTH, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Hon Chairperson, I am not sure whether the question is about the department or about the fact that we are here discussing the importance of ensuring that people with disabilities access the labour market. I thought that was the issue we were addressing.
However, I wish to say to the hon member that the department, new as it is, is on course in terms of its programmes, priorities, and strategic plan. And, hopefully, we will be having a full complement of staff members by the end of this year. The process is unfolding and ongoing, and, in due course, people will know the outcome of those processes. I thank you. [Applause.]
Hon members, can I appeal to members not to press the button knowing very well that there is no supplementary question that one is going to ask.
Chairperson, may I take that last follow-up question? My question relates to ...
I have not yet answered whether you may pose a follow-up question or not. But you may now proceed! [Laughter.]
Thank you very much, Chairperson. Hon Minister, my question relates to your department's capacity to monitor the employment of persons with disabilities by other government departments. That is what I want to know. Is the problem due to the fact that the posts are not advertised by government departments? Is it due to the fact that people with disabilities do not apply? Have you, as the department, established what the problems are, and what are you going to do about them?
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, YOUTH, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Hon Chairperson, I indicated earlier on that, as we speak, there is a process that is unfolding to ensure that measurable targets are put in place. We are working with the Ministry or Department for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation to develop such measures.
We are also in the process of putting mechanisms in place to ensure that there is compliance. We all know that we have not done well as a country. There are a number of reasons for that. Hon members know that we have not achieved our ... [Interjections.] Now, the important thing to do is to ensure that all the departments comply with the set of targets and the mechanisms that are going to be put in place soon enough. These will be announced to the country to ensure that there is compliance around the 2% target that has been set for our country to reach. Thank you.
Meetings and work timeframes of National Planning Commission
86. Mr N Singh (IFP) asked the Minister in the Presidency: National Planning Commission:
(1) How many meetings of the National Planning Commission (NPC) have been held;
(2) whether any timeframes for the work of the NPC have been implemented; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NO2520E
The MINISTER OF LABOUR (for THE MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY: NATIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION): Chairperson, to date, the National Planning Commission held three meetings on a monthly basis. The first meeting was a two-day orientation session in May 2010, which was addressed by the President, who spelled out the commission's mandate. The mandate that was given to the commission was that its vision and development plan should be finalised within 18 months after its appointment. Taking this deadline into account, the commission is in the process of finalising short-term deadlines to embark on the processes of consultation and discussions with various stakeholders in order to meet its mandate.
Furthermore, the commission is mandated to produce reports on issues relating to long-term development on an ongoing basis. Thank you, Chairperson.
Chairperson, I know I can't ask the hon Minister of Labour this question. But, in any event, I will ask the question and maybe he can give us a response through the Minister in the Presidency: National Planning Commission. I would just like to know how often Parliament will be briefed on the working of the National Planning Commission. We did have an ad hoc committee that set up the commission. But I think as Parliament we have the right to be briefed at regular intervals about what the commission is doing without us having to ask questions in the House. Thank you.
Hon Minister, you may respond to the question or refer it to the Minister.
The MINISTER OF LABOUR (FOR THE MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY: NATIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION): I can respond to the question. My understanding of Parliament is that, as Parliament requires briefings, they will be as regular as Parliament wants them.
Minister, you say that these report-backs will be as regular as Parliament would like to have them. Now, with regard to all other departments, Parliament interacts with them at various times of the year in various circles. The only department that does not have that interaction is the Presidency, where the National Planning Commission is situated. Would you not think it would be a good idea to have a portfolio committee that oversees the working of the Presidency and the two commissions that find themselves in that Presidency, especially seeing that they have a budget of R780 million in the Presidency to conduct the business that they are expected to conduct? Then there could be regular interaction with the National Planning Commission.
The MINISTER OF LABOUR (for THE MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY: NATIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION): Chairperson, according to my little experience in Parliament since 1994, if there is any need for a portfolio committee, the Rules of Parliament can decide that.
Progress made, and timeframe regarding implementation of national spatial development plan
84. Dr G W Koornhof (ANC) asked the Minister in the Presidency: National Planning Commission:
(a) What progress has been made to implement a national spatial development plan, with specific reference to (i) coordinating government action to meet social, economic and environmental objectives, (ii) striking a balance between urban and rural development and (iii) identifying areas with demonstrated economic potential most favourable for overcoming poverty and (b) in what timeframe will action plans regarding the abovementioned aspects be implemented to ensure achieving South Africa Vision 2025?