Chairperson, hon members, as we heard in the debate in the Joint Sitting last week, the South African government was inspired by the enthusiasm displayed by people from all races and walks of life of this country in the build-up to and throughout the course of the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
To capitalise on the positive mood that prevailed in the run-up to and throughout the event, the South African government is in liaison with the International Marketing Council to conceptualise a programme aimed at building on the enthusiasm of South Africans, which was expressed in their cohesion as a nation united under a common flag and anthem.
This programme will seek to develop and entrench a nation brand of ubuntu, of unity through our diversity, of innovation and creativity, and of possibilities. A campaign has already been developed and will be launched within the next few weeks.
In addition, government supports other initiatives currently under way by the private sector which encourage South Africans to build on this spirit even after the World Cup.
Some private businesses continue to infuse the flying of the national flag in their campaigns and we encourage others to do likewise. We have seen the flying of the flag over the past days, especially in the build-up to and during the friendly match between our national football team, Bafana Bafana, and their Ghanaian counterparts, the Black Stars, on 11 August 2010. I thank you.
Chairperson, given the fact that we are all in agreement that we need to nurture the national pride and unity that seized our nation, specifically during the 2010 Soccer World Cup, I want to ask the hon Deputy President whether he foresees that any written commitments are going to be called for by government from all identified role-players, so that we can sustain the momentum until the task of nation-building is completed in all aspects. Thank you.
Chairperson and hon members, indeed, what is first and foremost required of us is to draw the relevant lessons from the experience of hosting the World Cup in the manner in which we did. Then we must apply those lessons to tackling the stubborn challenges that face us.
For instance, the preparations for this Fifa World Cup enabled us to co- ordinate activities between the three spheres of government - national, provincial and the host cities, which is local government - to ensure that we were able to deliver infrastructure within set timelines.
I think, if we were to tackle the challenge of providing bulk economic and social infrastructure for communities in the rural areas as well as the townships - by that I mean ensuring that the roads are tarred, potable water is available and accessible in the homesteads, a sewerage system is rolled out and mud schools are replaced with brick and mortar school buildings with sports facilities - identify them, communicate the programme, roll them out in the same spirit and mobilise the broadest cross- section of the population behind them, we would be able to deliver and, by doing so, be creating the environment for much better national cohesion. Two weeks ago I was in Bloemfontein in the Free State, and ... [Interjections.]
Vrystaat? Vrystaat, ja. Vrystaat. [Gelag] [Free State? Free State, yes. Free State.][Laughter.]
I was in the Vrystaat [Free State], and one of the places that I had to check on is an old township in Kroonstad, called Marabastad. This is an old, old township. The buildings were disintegrating. The houses there were disintegrating out of sheer old age. But new ones were being built and I was really pleased that part of the white community in Kroonstad - those of them who are homeless and without their own homes - applied for those houses. Seventy-four of them were allocated houses and they are going to be living in Marabastad.
So, that is where we are with regard to the provision of bulk economic and social infrastructure. We are advancing in terms of national cohesion. Thank you.
Chair, I would like to ask the Deputy President whether the government has instituted any programmes to ensure that we sustain the national pride and unity that arises from the continued and regular use of the five stadiums that we built at a cost of billions of rands to the South African taxpayer.
Chairperson, hon members, that is a work in progress because, as you know, these stadia belong to the local municipalities, the metros, and there are sporting associations that would like to enter into arrangements. So, it's early days. Discussions involving various associations of sport and the local municipalities are in progress.
I am also aware that the Ministries of Sport and Recreation, and Arts and Culture have initiated processes of developing programmes which would ensure that these stadia do not become white elephants. There are also plans to develop the precincts around the stadia, so that there should always be activity around them.
Therefore the utilisation of these stadia will be enhanced by the outcomes of these deliberations. As I said, this is a work in progress; we should, perhaps in the next session, be able give you much more specific answers to this question. Thank you.
Chair, Mr Acting President, one of the most effective counteractions against vigilantism is organised crime-fighting. Now, one of the best ever rural crime-fighting or crime prevention units that we have ever had in the country was the commandos. Now, we all know that there were negative associations with the commandos and we can't argue with that. But, at the same time, we must acknowledge the good work they did, especially on the farms, protecting farm workers, farm owners and farmers alike.
Has the government any plan to substitute that, over and above the Police Service reservists, which do not seem to work as well as the commandos did?
Mr Watson, we have passed that question. We are dealing with Question 15 - the 2010 Fifa World Cup. That's what we are dealing with.
[Inaudible.]
Yes.
Awareness programmes to encourage involvement of communities in the fight against crime
16. Ms N D Ntwanambi (ANC) asked the Deputy President:
(1) Whether the government has established any awareness programmes to encourage communities to name and shame persons who participate in criminal activities with the view of taking the fight against crime to community level and encouraging communities to reclaim positive values; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what is the level of involvement of the communities and (b) to what extent are communities encouraged to be part of the fight against crime beyond the community police forums;
(2) whether any measures are in place to ensure that this initiative does not encourage vigilantism; if not, why not; if so, what measures? CO351E
Hon Chairperson, there is no awareness programme that I am aware of specifically to name and shame persons who participate in criminal activities.
Our programmes run by the SA Police Service, SAPS, at national and provincial level and through police stations include as a consistent message in their engagement with communities that crime must be reported either at the police stations or through the Crime Stop telephone number.
In addition, the SAPS has entered into a partnership with Primedia for the establishment of the Crime Line website and sms line, which also allows members of the public to report criminal activity through these mediums.
Encouraging communities to break the silence, especially about gender-based violence and crimes against children, also forms part of the messaging used in crime awareness campaigns. Communities are also called upon to work with the police to combat crime.
Initiatives are undertaken with the community police forums, CPFs, but communication tools such as community radio, newspaper articles, door-to- door campaigns and direct engagement with stakeholder groups, for example school visits, are also used.
The awareness programmes include specific messages to encourage communities to report crime to the SAPS and not to take the law into their own hands by becoming involved in vigilantism. Our police act against vigilantism and ensure that such actions are publicised to serve as a deterrent to individuals in communities who want to take the law into their own hands.
The Ministry of Police, through the Civilian Secretariat for Police, has also established a partnership unit which explores partnerships with communities and civil society. I thank you.
My apologies once again, Chair. I misread that section 2 was part of Question 15, but will the Deputy President now consider my question as part of Question 16? [Laughter.]
Hon members, commandos were a phenomenon of a particular time and place in our country. That does not mean that the method applied by the commandos should be thrown out with the bath water. From every experience in given circumstances, we should be able to draw the relevant lessons and employ them because crime is a scourge that we must combat and defeat wherever it manifests itself. The more communities are organised to rebut crime and to work hand in glove with law enforcement units, the better for their own safety and security.
Yes, indeed, if the farming community as well as farmhands and workers come together to organise themselves into units under the guidance and supervision of the law enforcement units, that shouldn't pose a problem at all. I am absolutely certain that the Minister of Police would be more than happy to consider that and give his blessing as well as guidance to their establishment. They may go by a different name, rather than commandos; but if they are inclusive and aim at really combating crime by keeping the farmlands as safe as possible, then why not? I am sure they would be favourably considered. Thank you.
Chairperson, with regard to the question to the Deputy President, wouldn't it be a good idea to get former inmates who have now been released, and possibly with officers from Correctional Services, to speak to schools and the youth at the meetings to sensitise the youth to what can happen if they commit crime, and also to alert them to the fact that it is not nice to sit in jail? Thank you very much.
Hon members, yes, indeed there is a programme already in place. Last month, I was in KwaZulu-Natal at the Moral Regeneration Movement Conference, and one of the key speakers was a former inmate who, while in prison, furthered his studies. He studied law. He is a writer of several books and has already produced three novels. He spoke and explained to the audience and participants how he got into trouble with the law. He was sentenced to 15 years and he is now out on parole. They even had two different choirs of inmates performing musical items at that conference.
I know that such programmes exist in a number of areas; some of them play football against teams in the community and, in the process, they are able to advise particularly the young ones against the challenges of criminal activities and that, indeed, crime does not pay. That is a core message that they are spreading. Thank you.
Hon Chairperson, I would like to ask the hon Deputy President a question that is actually linked to the one on women and violence against women. We actually have a problem when people who rape are let out on bail. Regarding the second statement, that of naming and shaming in the communities, is there any programme in place that will deny rapists bail?
Okay, I will allow the linkage. I know you are taking a chance, but I will allow it.
Unfortunately, our Bill of Rights provides for all South Africans who are arrested, for one offence or the other, to be charged within 48 hours or be granted bail because it is against detention without trial. Once somebody is charged, such a person can always apply for bail. The only reason normally adduced by the state for opposing bail is when an offender is a flight risk; if there is the possibility of a person fleeing the country and never presenting himself.
In the majority of cases, there is not much that the state can do to prevent the courts from granting bail to any offender. However, where there is perhaps suspicion or even grounds for believing that such a person would interfere with the victims and witnesses, the victims could either be provided with protection - and the state can argue that if this person were released on bail, then he could interfere with witnesses. The court would rarely be persuaded by such argument, but the state is duty-bound to provide the necessary protection for that period. But once the matter is heard and finalised by the courts, there is not much that can be done about it. Thank you.
Okay, that deals with the follow-up questions on that question. Just before we move to Question 17, I see the young generation in the gallery. Welcome to the National Council of Provinces. We are dealing with questions today. I hope one of you will be a Member of Parliament in the future. I would follow that up, but I don't know from which school you are. They didn't tell me.
Impact of antipoverty community projects on poorest communities in KwaZulu- Natal
17. Prince M M M Zulu (IFP) asked the Deputy President:
(1) Whether the antipoverty community projects are making the desired impact upon the lives of the poorest communities in KwaZulu-Natal; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether commitments made by the campaign to the communities have been met; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?