Thank you, hon Speaker and hon members. The Presidential Co-ordinating Council, PCC, is a crucial co-ordinating mechanism that, once a quarter, brings together the President, premiers, representatives of the SA Local Government Association and Ministers with concurrent functions for a discussion, primarily on governance and service- delivery matters. The PCC gives effect to the provisions of Chapter 3 of the Constitution and the Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act.
In our meetings we receive reports and share ideas on the implementation of government priorities at provincial and local government levels. We also identify bottlenecks in our delivery machinery and put in place processes to unlock the challenges.
For example, the last PCC, which was held in May, focused exclusively on matters relating to human settlements. A number of obstacles were identified in the areas of planning, financing and land availability, among others. We have put in place processes to respond to each of these.
Recently, the PCC also extensively discussed the issue of legislation that hindered service delivery at provincial and local levels. This matter was introduced by the Premier of the Western Cape, supported by all premiers.
The outcomes of PCC meetings are sent to Cabinet for processing, so that outputs can become Cabinet decisions for implementation. Thank you. [Applause.]
Thank you, hon Speaker. Thank you very much, hon President, for a comprehensive response. However, can the President advise this House whether or not the delivery agreements have been finalised in order to accelerate integrated service delivery, as well as to advance government's commitment to building cohesive and sustainable livelihoods. Thank you.
Thank you, hon Speaker. Yes, we are in the process of doing so. The Ministers are indeed in discussion with their colleagues in the various areas that work together to conclude some of the delivery agreements that followed the outcomes agreements. That is being done so that everything will flow in terms of all levels of government. Thank you.
Mr Speaker, five years ago, in 2005, we passed the Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act precisely to ensure better co- ordinated and integrated service delivery. It seems to me that five years later we are still struggling with the same thing that we have been struggling with for 16 years, namely co-ordination and integration.
Mr Speaker, would the President not agree that, if you look at all the service-delivery protests we have had since the last election, at the oversight visits of Parliament and the legislatures on the ground, and at the provinces and municipalities, co-ordination and integration is in fact still lacking? And would the President perhaps be able to offer us an explanation of why, after 16 years, such basics in governance as co- ordination and integration are still a problem? Thank you.
Thank you, hon Speaker. Co-ordination in government is a permanent feature. You will always do it; you will always discuss it; you will always look at where there are weaknesses and shortcomings. You cannot say that you have completed it now; it is perfect. For example, whenever you establish a new government, you do an evaluation after the elections to see what is working and what is not working.
You ask: What can we do in other aspects to make it work better? This is what we have been doing and discussing. We have been implementing programmes on the basis of our co-ordinating system. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mr Speaker, hon President and hon members, the UDM maintains that the objective of eradicating informal settlements can only be achieved by integrating the infrastructure of the whole country and bringing the rural areas on par with the developed areas. Anything else simply perpetuates the unjust and unequal development patterns of the previous regime.
The question is: Mr President, if it is government policy to eradicate informal settlements, one assumes that such a policy is based on firm evidence. Can you indicate where we can find government's comprehensive audit of the areas that are considered informal settlements and are to be upgraded in terms of this policy? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I do not have that information on hand, but it is information that a number of departments are working on. The Departments of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs and of Human Settlements are working on matters dealing with informal settlements.
This is a matter that we discuss all the time. Even today, in Cabinet, we were discussing that issue in relation to some of the old laws that still exist and need to be dealt with. This is a challenge facing all of us; one which we believe we are tackling.
We were discussing some of the exigencies that are there and we have been responsible for dealing with these matters, in a sense. So, government is looking at this very seriously. We are very concerned, because there are a number of factors that lead to the growth of informal settlements. New information shows that instead of them decreasing, they are increasing, for a variety of reasons. But, I do not have comprehensive information in my hands at the moment. [Applause.]
Thank you, hon Speaker. Hon President, by definition the term "human settlement" encompasses a great deal more than the term "housing", which was used before. Therefore the old system and previous design of bulk infrastructure supply has been overtaken by the new development. Would the President not agree, then, that the funds that used to be in Co-operative Governance should be transferred to Human Settlements by virtue of the nature of the work that Human Settlements encompasses? If not so, why would it not be so? Would not transferring these funds to the Department of Human Settlements not be setting up that department for failure?
Thank you, hon Speaker. We are running one government. We have different departments doing different things and we do not need departments working in silos. Where there are overlaps, they work together. There is very close co-ordination between the departments you are talking about, and if such a need arises, I am sure it would not be difficult to deal with that matter. For now, these departments are co- ordinating their work in relation to the issues that you have just raised. Thank you. [Applause.]
Establishment of media tribunal
14. The Leader of the Opposition (DA) asked the President of the Republic:
Whether, with regard to his statement (details furnished) it is the government's intention to establish a media tribunal; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?