Ke a leboha, Motlatsamodulasetulo. Sekamolao sena maikemisetso a sona ke ho tla beha boikarabelo ho batho ba ithaopang lebothong la sesole hore ba tlamehe ho fana ka ditshebeletso tsa bona; le ho tla theha khomishene ya ditshebeletso tsa sesole; le ho tla fana ka lohotho ya tlhaloso ho se bitswang "military command".
Mafatsheng ka bophara lebotho la tshireletso le hlomamisitswe ka batho ba banyane bao e kang ba fuwe kwetliso e boima. Mme ka mora mona ho na le bao ba fanang ka ditshebeletso tsa bona feela ka ho ithaopa.
Maemong a naha ya rona mona, batho ba ithaopang sesoleng ba fana feela ka ditshebeletso tsa ho ithaopa nakong eo ba hlokwang, mme ha ho na letho leo le ba qobellang hore ba itlalehe kwetlisong, le hore ba fane ka ditshebeletso tsa bona nakong eo ho tlamehang hore ba tlo thusa ka maemo a polokeho dinaheng tseo ho nang le dintwa le ho hloka botsitso.
Ba qobelehile feela ho fana ka ditshebeletso tsa bona nakong ya ntwa le maemong a qomatsi, le ha ba tlamehile ba fane ka tshebeletso tshireletsong ya naha. Hona ho etsa hore ho be thata ho ba apesa morwalo wa tshireletso hore ba fane ka mehlodi moo e tlamehileng hore e fanwe teng.
Sekamolao sena se etsa hore batho bao ba ithaopang sesoleng ba tlamehe ho fana ka ditshebeletso tsa bona ha ho hlokahala hore ba fane ka ditshebeletso tsa bohlokwa; ba tshehetse mafapha a mmuso; le moo ba tlamehileng hore ba tshehetse teng ho sebetsanwe le ho nyollwa ha maemo a moruo; le ho fana ka tshireletso meeding.
Ho a hlokahala hore maemong a tjena, ka ha ditekanyetso tsa lefapha di ntse di fokotseha, sekamolao sena se kenngwe tshebetsong. Komiti, ka morao hore e sekaseke sekamolao sena, e tshehetsa sekamolao sena. Ke a leboha. (Translation of Sesotho speech follows.)
[Mr T M H MOFOKENG: Thank you, Chairperson. The objects of this Bill are to make Reserve Force members accountable so that they can assist with their services; to establish a Defence Force Service Commission; and also to provide a definition for what is called "military command".
In countries around the world, the defence force comprises few people who have been trained very thoroughly. On the other hand, there are those who provide their services voluntarily.
With the situation in our country, Reserve Force members provide their services only when they are needed. There is nothing forcing them to report for training, and also to provide their services when there is a need for assistance with stability in other countries where there are wars and unrest.
They are only obliged to provide their services when there is war and during crisis situations, and also when their services are needed for protecting the country. This makes it very difficult to make them responsible for the country's defence as well as provide resources where they are needed.
This Bill will ensure that all Reserve Force members are obliged to provide their services in the best possible manner, support governmental departments, help wherever they can in developing the economy of the country, and give protection at border gates.
It is important that, under conditions where the departmental budget is being reduced, this Bill should be implemented. After a great lengthy discussion around this Bill, the committee supports it. Thank you.]
Debate concluded.
Before I actually continue with procedures, may I now announce that the Northern Cape's permission is here. So we will include your voting, and you are going to vote from now on. [Applause.] [Interjections.] I shall now put the question in respect of the Third Order.
Madam Deputy Chair, on a point of order: Could you please explain to this House, how you can, after receiving a piece of paper, declare a vote that you have already declared, changed? You cannot declare a vote and then change it again - your vote was declared!
Hon Watson, I explained earlier that, though they have voted, because we hadn't received the mandate, that is why we said we were withholding their vote. Now the mandate has come ... [Interjections.]
I beg your pardon! Can you repeat that, hon member, can you? Can you repeat what you've said? Then may people behave, because I have a very sharp ear! A very sharp ear! Sinclair, you are out of order!
The thing is now, Northern Cape, you may vote; your mandate is here.
May I continue now?
May I have a point of order, Madam?
If it's a different matter, I will listen to you, but if it's connected to this, unfortunately, hon member, I won't entertain it. They had voted, but I then had to withhold their votes, because the mandate was not in yet. Now, the mandate has come in and they had voted; we accept those votes and they are going to continue voting. [Interjections.]
Madam Deputy Chairperson, can I just plead with you to understand that the process that we are following is a very important process. And nowhere in the Rules is there a position that allows the Chairperson to withhold a vote, as you remarked now. It is not procedurally proper. So, all we are trying to do is to assist in the process.
If the Northern Cape, which only received their mandate now, wants to continue voting for specific votes, then I suppose they would be in a position to do it, but the Northern Cape couldn't partake in the process of the previous two that were presented.
Thank you, Deputy Chair. I think now ...
Is this a new matter?
I just wanted to give clarity to the House. Deputy Chair, I think the vote of the Northern Cape is with regard to the two Bills that we have passed. The following Bills that we are going to consider do not need that particular document, and that would not in any way change the outcomes because the House has already adopted the Bills. Thank you, Deputy Chair.
Thank you for the clarity. Hon Watson, is it a new matter?
Madam, I request that I may address the Chair. Can I please remind you, Madam Deputy Chair, that before we voted for the second Bill, hon Mokgobi stood up and asked if that applied also to this vote. Was there no mandate? Advocate Maine stood up and told you that there wasn't one. He then said, in that case, "I will not vote".
So, really, I do not understand how you now can declare that they have voted in favour. Voting was closed. I ask you to please investigate.
Hon Watson, I said they had voted, and we withheld those votes. But now the mandate is here, they can vote. May I continue?
I shall now put the question in respect of the Third Order. The question put is that the Bill be agreed to.
In accordance with Rule 63, I shall first allow political parties to make their declarations of vote, if they so wish. Is there any party that wants to make a declaration? None.
We shall now proceed to the voting on the question. Before I call the vote, please press button number one to confirm your presence, all hon members, not delegation heads only.
There should be lights flashing. If not, the service officers will assist you. May I draw the attention of the service officers to please be on the alert to assist members.
Could you please give everybody the voting papers, because the machines are not working? Are they? But for those that are not working, the staff will be moving around to take manual votes.
Have all members voted? In case there is any member who has mistakenly pressed the incorrect button, he or she has an opportunity to press the correct button.
Voting is closed. Could the Table staff submit the results? Have all members submitted their votes?
Forty two members have voted in favour. [Applause.] I therefore declare the Bill agreed to in terms of section 75 of the Constitution. Bill agreed to in accordance with section 75 of the Constitution.