Deputy Chairperson, hon members, delegates and everybody who is in the House, because of time I am not going to be able to finish my speech. However, I will request Hansard to print the entire speech so that people can have the opportunity to read it from the Hansard. Our time does not allow us; I have only 12 minutes.
You will understand that our theme this year is: Celebrating the legacy of freedom through strengthening the link between Parliament and the people. This year's budget is tabled just over a month after our people exercised their right to vote in a free society - that is in the local government elections.
Our budget has been drafted in terms of what we call policy imperatives. Those policy imperatives are: strengthening the oversight function; increasing public involvement and participation; strengthening co-operative government; improving and widening the role of Parliament in international co-operation and participation; and building an effective and efficient institution.
An Australian psychoanalyst once said that most people do not really want freedom because freedom involves responsibility, and most people are afraid of responsibility. I want us to analyse this, as members representing the public, as to whether we are responsible and accountable to the people that we represent.
Let me quickly come to the budget that we are talking about. We were allocated R1,59 billion to support the work of Parliament in general, not the NCOP. Administration was allocated R346,2 million to provide strategic leadership, institutional policy, administration and corporate services to support Members of Parliament.
Members' Facilities was given R168,6 million to provide for, amongst other things, the continuation of Parmed medical aid contributions for members, former MPs and the legislatures. Legislation and Oversight was given R300 million to enable Parliament to carry out its core functions. Public and International Participation was allocated R79,4 million to carry out public participation projects and participate in international relations activities. Associated Services, which provides financial support to political parties, was given R281,9 million.
Parliament spent 98,1% of its budget. This is a marked improvement when compared to the previous financial years. However, it must be noted that the underspending on the budget relates to underspending on the statutory appropriation for members' compensation. This amount is returned to Treasury as per the law.
Parliament also utilised R45,5 million of retained funds during the 2010-11 financial year to fund upgrading and improvements to committee rooms, offices, information and technology equipment and systems. These funds represent underspending of prior years and the interest earned on them. They have decreased significantly - from R322,3 million in the 2006-07 financial year to R126,6 million in the 2010-11 financial year.
These funds will further decrease in the 2011-12 financial year as Parliament continues to upgrade and improve the resources which are being utilised. The effect of all of this is that the balance of retained funds will soon be depleted. This is a good sign, as Parliament should not necessarily carry these types of funds, but rather ensure that all voted funds are spent in the year as planned.
In terms of the implementation of the Money Bills Amendment Procedure and Related Matters Act, Act 9 of 2009, the important issue that I want to raise is that we have agreed, in terms of the law, that we should establish a budget office. The budget office will assist Parliament to run its budgetary matters very efficiently and effectively. That process is under way.
We have had two study tours - I led one, and the Speaker led the other - to different international countries, as well as those on the African continent. Two workshops have already been completed. We are in the process of establishing this budget office so that we can capacitate it in order for it to assist Parliament in terms of budgetary matters.
With regard to strengthening the International Relations Section, the section has now been upgraded from a section to a division. In other words, it has been upgraded to a higher level so that it is not a section but a division. We have just completed employing a divisional head who was appointed on 1 April 2011. This divisional head is already coming up with matters of content in the international relations division, not just logistical issues that have been taking place all these years.
With regard to the implementation of the Financial Management of Parliament Act, Act 10 of 2009, we have introduced measures to support and enhance the financial management function and ensure that a financial management culture, consistent with the values of Parliament and the Act, is entrenched. We have begun to implement this Act. We are very happy that it is functioning very well currently. However, we think that there are some sections that we will have to visit or possibly amend in the future so that the Act can correlate with the work that we are doing in Parliament.
In terms of the review of the parliamentary service structure, members raised concerns regarding the service they get from the parliamentary administration. These related to, among other things, the nature of the support, its location, the role of the chairpersons of committees in securing this support, and so forth. We are reviewing the structure of the parliamentary service and the nature of support provided to members. We will, in due course, engage political parties regarding this process. The review must also ensure that the executive authority of Parliament is properly capacitated to discharge its duties as required by law.
Another very important issue is the upgrading of the NA Chamber and the NCOP Chamber. You will remember that we have been told that the acoustics and the information, communication and technology, ICT, in the NCOP and NA Chambers are not up to standard; hence the upgrading of these two Chambers to the standard required for debate. The upgrading will also assist us in enabling television coverage when we have our debates and in reporting regularly to our constituencies. The NCOP Chamber will be completed very soon; that is why we are holding all our sittings in the Old Assembly Chamber, as you are here today.
The other question is the issue of questions to the executive in the NCOP. As at the end of March this year, 540 questions for written reply and 88 for oral reply were put to the executive. In total there were 628 questions to the executive. Out of the 628, 62 questions were not replied to. While we continue to encourage the executive to answer all the questions from members of this House, it is encouraging that 566 questions were replied to during the year under review.
With regard to legislation, we passed a total of 23 Bills. Fifteen of those are section 75 Bills, five are section 76 Bills; and three are section 77 Bills.
With regard to the Provincial Week programme, this happened last year in September and the report was tabled in Parliament. We debated the report and could see the wonderful work that the permanent delegates did in their provinces. In November, as you might remember, we sat in Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality in the Free State for the Taking Parliament to the People programme. The report has been also tabled to Parliament. We have identified quite a number of issues that we need to follow up, and the House Chairperson of Committees is now beginning to initiate a programme that we should go back there towards the end of this year.
With regard to co-operative government or what you might call the intergovernmental relations, IGR, portfolio, you will also remember that last year the NCOP formed a new department within its House Chairpersons to get to the core of co-operative governance. We did this because we think that for the past few years we have not been doing very well in terms of dealing with integrated work of the departments, right from national government to provincial government and municipalities. Therefore, hon Mrs Magadla is in charge of that.
In terms of the communication strategy, we have completed the project. The project has been tabled before the presiding officers. What is remaining is that we should share it now with chairpersons of committees and all the Whips. This will enable the Whips to have an input and check how we can improve our communication strategy.
Within my remaining minutes, let me quickly deal with the budget of the 2011-12 financial year. We have been given R1,674 billion for the 2011-12 financial year. This allocation represents a 5,3% increase on the allocation of the 2010-11 financial year. You might be aware that it is divided according to the core functions of Parliament, which are as follows: The allocation for Legislation and Oversight, R296 million. Of this, R50 million - Tau, you must listen carefully - goes to committees, which represents a R5 million increase for this financial year. It's for you to spend, and spend correctly. [Applause.] The allocation for Public and International Participation is R109 million; the allocation for members' facilities is R222 million; the allocation for financial support to political parties is R288 million; and the allocation for members' remuneration, your salaries, is R410 million. The 2011-12 budget will be used to further pursue the strategic objectives of Parliament.
Let me come to space utilisation. You are aware that Parliament is short of space. There are no committee rooms, no boardrooms for you to use, and no facilities and offices for the staff. One of the important tasks going forward is to address the challenge of space and lack of adequate facilities for the proper functioning of Parliament.
We have started demolitions across Roeland Street - I'm sure you have seen that - and we are using our retained funds. However, Public Works has also promised that they will assist us. The first phase of this project will constitute offices for Members of Parliament and members of staff, of course. Later on we will continue with the second phase of this project.
Hon member, I would just like you to know that I'll be very lenient and give you five extra minutes.
Okay, thank you very much.
The Deputy Chairperson and the Deputy Speaker are currently dealing with the sector parliaments. These are the Youth Parliament, which we have already held in June, and Africa Day, which we held in May. We now are left with Women's Parliament in August. This year we are going to have the people's assembly. You will remember that we have not yet held the people's assembly during the Fourth Parliament, so we are going to have one this year.
Let me come to the conference on climate change, which we call Cop 17. This is the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. This will be hosted by South Africa in Durban later this year. These deliberations in our country and continent are very important, especially given that environmental sustainability is one of the Millennium Development Goals that we have to achieve.
Also, our government has identified the green economy as a potential growth area for the purposes of creating jobs. As MPs we need to be ready to participate in and follow discussions on climate diplomacy leading up to this important conference. I am sure that our people who are engaged in the preparations for this conference do attend meetings and participate. Therefore, we will be expecting reports from you soon.
Hon Deputy Chairperson, thank you for your five minutes, but let me conclude now. As we celebrate the legacy of freedom we must remember the words of former US President, Dwight Eisenhower, when he said:
Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.
Our icon, former President, Nelson Mandela, understood this responsibility very well when he said:
I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way ... But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended.
Therefore, the long walk for us to deliver to our people has not ended. There is no time to fold our arms and sit and sleep. It's time for us to roll up our sleeves, get all hands on deck, and be at work as usual. If we can all do this and work as a team in the NCOP, we will be finding or cutting ourselves a very wonderful niche that will leave indelible marks. Every person who follows after us will be able to follow our marks and read very clearly that we have been a nation at work.
Deputy Chairperson, I want to deliver to you now and propose that you vote for this R1,674 billion budget. I thank you very much. [Applause.]
I hope the extra minutes were of value to all the members of the NCOP.
Hon Deputy Chairperson, I have noticed that the hon Chair did not use all of his five minutes; therefore I will use the rest. [Laughter.] [Applause.]
I haven't given you that liberty. [Laughter.]
Hon Chairperson, hon Deputy Chairperson and hon fellow delegates, today is the eighth consecutive time that I have been privileged to address this House on the Budget Vote of Parliament. And I must, once again, pay tribute to the man at the helm, our Chairperson, hon M J Mahlangu, for his tireless and continuous efforts to enhance the image of the institution, whilst at all times considering the interests and needs of the delegates. [Interjections.] Would you please be quiet.
In the latter regard, Chairperson, I must also acknowledge the role of our Chief Whip, hon Nosipho Ntwanambi, who is probably one of the most vicious political fighters with whom I have ever crossed swords. However, when it comes to the interests of those that the Chair has been charged to lead, she is the epitome of the proverbial mother at heart.
Over the past number of years I have attempted to draw attention to the many shortcomings in the operations of the NCOP, whilst also offering suggestions to improve.
One such issue was the substandard quality of sound and video in our Chamber, coupled with the difficult seating arrangements, which the Chairperson has now, this morning, also referred to. I have observed some refurbishing activity in the Chamber for some time now and I should probably shout Hallelujah! I've won! [Laughter.] But, Chairperson, I have also observed that very little progress has been visible, and I just hope that we have not also fallen victim to an absconded contractor who had been paid too much in advance. I hope we will soon be able to move back to our home in a more user-friendly Chamber.
Today, however, Chair, I wish to concentrate on a matter that I have also raised before and which concerns the operations of our committees. I honestly feel that our select committees are overburdened with studying the strategic plans of national departments, their financial reports and vastly outdated audits - all of which is a duplication of work already attended to by the National Assembly. Even the duplicated debates on the Budget Votes, presently occupying most of our time in this House, add very little value to our work as legislators, and could be limited to those directly affecting the NCOP and those associated with our role as the link between the national and provincial spheres of government.
I maintain that the major part of our activities should be devoted to oversight, but this aspect of our duties as provincial delegates has in the past been grossly neglected. Let us just consider the situation in local government, the main artery in the lifeline of governance, which came close to total collapse in most parts of our country just before the recent municipal elections.
I maintain that we, as the NCOP, could have done more to avoid the turmoil if we had spent more time on oversight and less time in committee rooms. I recall many instances where the select committee that I serve on, which is the Select Committee on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Cogta, had planned oversight visits which were cancelled or disallowed because of other activities of the NCOP, sometimes at the very last minute.
Chairperson, the good news is that the results of the elections were announced on Saturday, 21 May 2011 and, by now, most municipalities have been constituted and should be ready to govern. So, whilst the national and the provincial departments of the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs should launch immediate strategies for a fresh start to good governance and service delivery, the NCOP must now be there on the ground to monitor the implementation of progress. Now is our chance, Chairperson. Let's grab it and do it.
This time last year we patted ourselves on the back for the wonderful progress made with updating the Rules of the NCOP, and I even expressed the hope that we could start the third term of 2010 utilising a fresh set of Rules.
The backlog caused by the Fifa World Cup and other matters requiring precedence has, however, delayed such progress. However, I trust that we will shortly be able to speed up the process. Chairperson, the process must, however, whenever dealt with, be followed by in-depth training of all members so that every delegate is properly empowered in the daily application of the Rules of our House to avoid some of the circuses that we have seen happening in the past.
As in previous years, I will once again say nothing about the actual finances of Parliament, because my party's Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip will be attending to that when addressing the National Assembly this afternoon.
I trust that you will forgive me, Chairperson, if I once again conclude with my favourite topic, namely the place and stature of the NCOP in society. I have said so many times before, and I say so again: The National Council of Provinces is an unknown entity in the world out there and a poor replacement for the once illustrious Senate of the Republic of South Africa.
So, may I remind you of my proposed solution? I propose one small change to the Constitution, to rename this House as the National Senate of Provinces. I can only imagine how exciting it would be if I could have started my speech in this debate by saying: hon Deputy President, hon President of the Senate and hon fellow Senators. Wouldn't that have been nice? [Laughter.] I thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Watson, maybe we need to have a special debate around that issue.
Okay. One day we will see to it.
Hon Chairperson, hon members, ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure and honour to be afforded this opportunity to take part in this debate on Budget Vote No 2 - Parliament. As members are obviously aware, the aims of this budget are to provide for the support services required by Parliament to fulfil its constitutional functions; to assist political parties represented in Parliament to secure administrative support and service constituencies; and to provide Members of Parliament with the necessary facilities.
In terms of Parliaments 2007-08 to 2013-14 strategic objectives, its role and ultimate objective is to represent the people of South Africa and ensure government by the people under the Constitution, as well as to represent the provinces in the national sphere of government. It achieves this by passing legislation, overseeing government action, facilitating public involvement, participating and overseeing co-operative government and participating in international relations.
The budget, therefore, covers five priorities or programmes, which are: Administration as Programme 1; Legislation and Oversight as Programme 2; Public and International Participation as Programme 3; Members' Facilities and Associated Services as Programme 4. Through these programmes the budget takes care of input flowing from the Whippery, party caucuses, chairpersons forums, quarterly consultative forums and, of course, the strategic goals of the ruling party. As the Chairman of the Council has already mentioned, much has been achieved over time, but more still needs to be done to complete our mission. My focus today will be on Programmes 2, and 3, which are Legislation and Oversight, and Public and International Participation.
Hon Chairperson, the 51st national conference of the ANC noted the need for legislatures to exercise their oversight responsibilities more comprehensively by holding government departments and organs of state accountable for both financial and nonfinancial performance.
The congress further resolved to support the need for all legislatures to improve their capacity to exercise their constitutional oversight role by providing them with adequate resources and building capacity for Members of Parliament.
Hon Chairperson, since 2004 Parliament has increasingly focused on improving its oversight capacity to ensure sound governance and effective service delivery by the executive. Over the past decade Parliament has developed a number of programmes and projects to educate citizens about the role and processes of Parliament and has undertaken initiatives to bring Parliament closer to citizens.
Whilst we appreciate all these noble achievements, we are worried that we seem to be slowing down, if not going back, instead of picking up the pace.
It is of great concern to note that despite our resolve to do things better and faster, the programme of Parliament still makes it difficult for members to interact and consult fully with ordinary people on the ground. Public hearings, as a platform for public participation, have become forums where only those who can afford to come to Cape Town are privileged to participate in the shaping of this country. The number of people visiting our Parliament is gradually diminishing, and this is a worrying factor.
To support my point, the number of visitors to Parliament has declined from 27 106 in 2007-08 to 18 253 in 2010-11. The number of oversight visits by committees has declined from 50 in 2007-08 to 44 in 2010-11. The number of debates for public consideration of issues per year has declined from 132 in 2007-08 to 104 in 2010-11.
If we are serious about deepening democracy and making sure that our poor, the people, have a say in their government, then this should change. We need to dispel the notion raised opportunistically by our opponents that Parliament only knows and interacts with people during the election period. We characterised this Parliament as an activist Parliament and we should become exactly that - activists.
The 7% allocated to public and international participation is too little and should be reviewed upwards. In the same breath, Parliament should review the funding model for constituency work as it is one of the areas that remain under-resourced. The current model does not take care of the reality that Members of Parliament are subjected to a lot of trouble in and around their constituencies and yet the cost thereof is borne by members from their own pockets. So, we are in a way subsidising Parliament to do our work, and that is what we are saying, hon Chairperson, should be seriously reviewed. Parliament could use unspent funds which were not returned to the National Revenue Fund to improve on the area of constituency work.
Hon Chairperson, this is a Parliament in which all should work together to weave the threads that will see us celebrating a nation which is nonracial, nonsexist and democratic; a nation dedicated to pushing back the frontiers of poverty. With less criticism and without playing the blaming game; with less cheap politicking and working together more; and without claiming any easy victories, this Parliament has done well and can do more and better. We should have one voice in calling for more resources to build members' capacity. We should, as Members of Parliament, support one another and take charge, as representatives of the people, and lead. The need to release enabling resources for Members of Parliament to fully execute their roles and responsibilities should not be a subject of ongoing future considerations, but a matter that needs to be addressed now with vigour and a sense of urgency.
By comparison, and, of course, with comparing parliaments, there is no denying that our MPs remain the most under-resourced in the world. The support members are getting is not equal to the task they do; hence our call for the speedy implementation of the budget office as well as the provision of operational facilities to all Members of Parliament. This should include the fast-tracking of the implementation of the Third Parliament's decisions on some of these matters, specifically building MPs' residences closer to Parliament, so as to free members from tiring and disabling transport and travelling time. More time should be dedicated to servicing the nation than travelling and being forced to an early night's sleep, as is the case currently. As the ANC, we support the Budget Vote. I thank you. [Applause.]
Chairperson, you can see that everybody is very happy and pleased that I am standing up.
Let me tell hon Watson that people are always addressing me as Senator Bloem. You see, in 1994, when we came here, I was the first person of my former home, the ANC, to address the Senate at that time. Go to the Hansard. You will see I am referred to as Senator Bloem. I will die as Senator Bloem. [Laughter.]
Let me first start by acknowledging the very good work that our Chairperson, hon Mahlangu, is doing. He is a very effective person. He tries to accommodate all political parties whenever he engages with them. That is why we, from the other parties, also give him the necessary co- operation. Thank you, Chairperson. [Applause.]
I want to make it very clear that I am not trying to be a praise singer or an imbongi for the Chairperson, but when it comes to the truth, you must always speak it, especially with a person like this.
I want to raise a very important issue, namely the visibility of this House. I said it last year and I will repeat it. There is a perception out there among the public that Parliament is the National Assembly. That is wrong. That is why we see the NA staff also in the gallery here today.
Even the media out there are treating us as if we do not exist in Parliament. They don't care about the fundamental issues raised by people like Mr Watson or Mr Tau. They don't take it seriously. I am saying that we in this House must make very serious efforts to bring this misperception to the attention of our people. We must imprint it in them - in schools, in churches and everywhere and to everybody - that Parliament does not consist only of the National Assembly.
Hoor! Hoor! [Hear! Hear!]
Let me raise one thing to demonstrate what I am saying. You see, our Chairperson was given now five minutes extra. The Chairperson does not even have enough time to present his own Budget Vote. Now, a Minister comes here and uses 20 minutes of his time. Our Chairperson must get five minutes extra from a good-hearted person like our Deputy Chairperson there. It is not right. When our Chairperson is on the floor, we should be able to hear what our Chairperson wants to say to us and to this House for the entire 20 minutes. [Applause.]
I am pleading with everybody in power to also make us feel that we are part and parcel of an election. We did not get here through the backdoor; we are here because of the votes of people out there. Now and then the people want to hear what Mr Tau - sorry, I am now and then making an example of you, but let me also talk about Mr Gunda - and Mr Gunda have to say.
Hon Bloem, your time allocation has expired.
Deputy Chair, I want to say that Cope will support this Budget Vote wholeheartedly. Thank you. [Applause.]
Deputy Chairperson, permanent delegates to the NCOP, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Parliament is the epicentre of our democracy. It is the most significant institution and carries distinctive and unique attributes that are instrumental in measuring the functioning and strength of our democracy.
It is for this reason that the ANC regards the Parliament Budget Vote as one of the most important debates in our Parliament, because it speaks directly to the resources and systems that we put in place to ensure a functioning democracy.
The Parliament Budget Vote is significant for two reasons: Firstly, it is a statement about the administrative support that Parliament has put in place to support the constitutional mandate of Parliament and the work of the Members of Parliament, political parties and provincial delegations.
Secondly, it outlines the facilities and support that Members of Parliament, political parties and, most importantly, provincial delegates have in order to do their work as the elected representatives of our people and the representatives of our various provinces. In this regard, this Budget Vote is an expression of the investment that we are making as a nation in our democracy, particularly in building a robust and vibrant Parliament that is the voice and vanguard of our hard-earned democracy. We have declared, as the NCOP, that we are the voice of the people.
The ANC's approach to legislative matters is encapsulated in the Freedom Charter. The Freedom Charter's bold averment that the only basis for a government to justly claim authority is the will and concerns of the people it purports to govern. As such, our Parliament has evolved into a responsive and effective instrument for supporting the work of Members of Parliament. It is this support that has strengthened the oversight function of parliamentary committees and increased public participation awareness and involvement in Parliament's activities.
Over the past decade Parliament has developed a number of programmes and projects to educate citizens about the role and processes of Parliament and has undertaken initiatives to bring Parliament closer to the citizens. We can say without any fear of contradiction that we have truly built a people's Parliament that is driven by the needs of our people. We have seen a remarkable improvement in public engagement with our Parliament. Our Parliament continues to be the national forum for the representation of the needs and issues facing our people.
Hon Chairperson, we are proud of the progress you have made in building a unique institution that serves as a forum for the representation of the needs of communities. Hon Chaane talked about us putting our hands into our pockets. If we want this to happen, and really become representatives of our communities, we need to be financed so that we need not put our hands into our own pockets. Irrespective of which political party you come from, the communities out there need our assistance
The NCOP continues to define itself, its place and role through its ongoing national efforts to meet the most urgent and pressing needs of our people. Through this oversight work, in which we continue to ensure that people receive quality services, our nation remains on the national path to dismantle apartheid-engineered settlement. That is why we have programmes like Taking Parliament to the People.
As the ANC we are concerned that the allocation in the Parliament Budget Vote does not prioritise the facilitation of public involvement as it should. As an institution whose work is legislation through public consent, more should be done to find ways to capacitate ordinary South Africans to participate in the legislative and other fundamental processes. This can be done by intensifying our provincial weeks, and making them a priority of this House so that our people out there can have their week of participating in Parliament.
The support from the Whippery - and now I am going to speak about the Whippery as a member of the Whippery - in terms of support to Members of Parliament and tools of trade is one aspect on which we would like to see greater improvement. We would like to see decisive programmes to strengthen the support given to MPs to undertake their political work. As the Whippery, we would really like to request urgent attention to be given to the role of Parliament in supporting provincial weeks which, in terms of the mandate of the NCOP, have an institutional role in fostering greater interaction between the NCOP and provinces. I must say that the activities of the Whippery remain an unfunded mandate. Provincial weeks receive no support from Parliament, except for the allocation from the office of the Chief Whip. In many instances our requests to go and learn more take long to be acknowledged and received. We would like Parliament to look into that.
Administrative support to provincial weeks is not only on an ad hoc basis, but completely inadequate and often not available and nonfunctional. The work of the provincial Whips is largely supported by the office of the Chief Whip, as I have said, and by the liaison officer, which is really not acceptable. Facilities for members are unco-ordinated and scattered all over various offices, and often depend upon the discretion of officials who at times display poor understanding of the work of parliamentarians. Parliament is yet to develop a policy for the provision of facilities such as cellphones and laptops that are provided once in five years. In many cases, these cellphones and laptops last for two years, and Members of Parliament are left with no choice but to use their own funds to replace them. This cannot go on; change has to come. We need to receive the necessary support.
Hon Chairperson, we actually also need to say that, as you assist with these tools of trade, let them be modern. As Members of Parliament, we cannot keep on carrying the big laptops. We need things that are modern, like iPads and all such things that, as that will assist us a lot. [Interjections.] [Laughter.]
The Budget Vote should respond to the nature and complexity of the challenges posed by the interdependence of characters today in the global world. It caters for the expanded involvement of our Parliament in bilateral and multilateral exchanges with parliamentarians on the African continent and across the world. As we look at our interdependence with other countries and work globally, it says to me that we must be able to reach the level of those people. I am not trying to compare us with other countries, but please look into it and check if we are really on par with other countries.
I am just giving an example. I am not going to talk about it. Hon Chaane spoke about the salaries, for instance, and other tools, like cars. We only receive an allowance, add-on which we are also taxed.
As I conclude, let me say that we recognise and pay tribute to the tireless efforts and visionary leadership of the current and former presiding officers. Allow me again to take this opportunity to congratulate the Secretary to Parliament, Mr Zingile Dingani and his colleagues, and say that we are truly grateful to the officials that continue to ensure that this Parliament succeeds in its mandate. The ANC supports this programme. Thank you. [Applause.]
Deputy hon Chair, indeed today ...
Voorsitter M J Mahlangu, sterkte en dankie vir die dissipline en voorbeeld wat u stel, asook u leiding. Ek wil dit baie duidelik stel vandag - dis net 'n jammerte dat drie minute te min is vir 'n mens om te kan praat oor hierdie begrotingspos. Hierdie begrotingspos is so belangrik vir ons, want hierdie begroting behels nie net ons toekoms nie, maar ook die toekoms van die mense wat ons dien. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Chairperson M J Mahlangu, good luck and thank you for the discipline and the example that you have set, as well as your leadership. Today, I want to make it clear - it's such a pity that three minutes are too little to be able to deliberate on this Budget Vote. This Budget Vote is so important to us, because this Budget Vote encompasses not only our future, but also the future of the people whom we serve.]
Allow me to say that since Parliament's main objective is oversight, it is important that we do not forget our role as leaders. Our programme must be suitable so that we can do proper oversight in order for us to do justice to the electorate.
We must stop redundancy. When is this institution going to take its mandate seriously? For example, how many local municipalities have been placed under administration? Can we honestly say that we have done justice to the communities who have suffered under poor service delivery?
The restoration of this institution is long overdue. A greater level of strategic planning is needed in this institution to ensure that Members of Parliament have easy accessibility to interact with those at grass-roots levels. It is imperative that constituency work should increase visibility within the areas and provinces for which members are responsible.
For this reason, the people of South Africa can truly exercise the power of their vote and use constituency offices as a vehicle and means of communication between them and Parliament. This is an important action as it also gives them an opportunity to hold public office bearers accountable.
Hierdie instansie is nie 'n departement nie, en moet nie optree soos 'n departement nie. [This institution is not a department, and shouldn't act like a department.]
We are not a department; we are Parliament. We need to act as Parliament. We must do things as Parliament. In Taking Parliament to the People, we have to ensure that the people of the respective areas being visited are educated and informed in order to understand the visit of Parliament. We said that we were going to be an active Parliament. It is high time that we are held accountable for this. I thank you. [Applause.]
UMntwana M M M ZULU: Sekela Sihlalo wale Ndlu, Sihlalo wale Ndlu Bab' uMahlangu, amalungu ahloniphekile ale Ndlu, abafowethu bonke sebekhulumile ngezwi elilodwa. Engikubuka ngokuqiniseka kakhulu Sihlalo wale Ndlu ukuthi noma sibekelwe isabiwomali sale Ndlu, umsebenzi obaluleke kakhulu ulaphaya ebantwini, kulokhu okuthiwa ukuhlolwa kwenqubekela phambili yokusebenza. Ukuhlola inqubekela phambili yokusebenza emphakathini yikho okwenza ukuthi kunakekelwe ngokuqiniseka ukuthi uhulumeni uyakwazi ukusiza abantu.
Angisho ukuthi uma siyohlola ukusebenza kukahulumeni emphakathini kumele sizibone njengabaphathi abakhulu kuleyo Minyango kahulumeni noma kulezo zakhiwo zikahulumeni. Kungukubhekisisa ukuthi zonke izinto zisetshenziswa kahle yini, nokuthi abantu bayasizwa yini ngezinsizakusebenza zikahulumeni.
Leyo ndlela yiyona ndlela eyenza ukuthi kube khona ukuhlonipheka, futhi ngiyakuncoma ukuthi ekuphatheni kwakho - yize noma kukhona izintwana ezincane ezinokwenziwa ngabantu ngabodwana - ngeke ukwazi ukubheke bonke abantu ukuthi benza kahle yini.
Umuntu kaKhongolose kumele azi ukuthi uNobhala wePhalamende akasona isisebenzi sakwaZulu, uyisisebenzi sePhalamende laseNingizimu Afrika. Akufanele nokuthi kube khona ukugxambukela noma kanjani emsebenzini wakhe. Kuyadingeka kodwa ukuthi umuntu abuse uma kukhona lapho engamhloniphanga khona omunye umuntu eNingizimu Afrika. (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[Prince M M M ZULU: Deputy Chairperson of this House, Chairperson of this House, Mr Mahlangu, hon members of this House, and all my colleagues who have spoken with one voice.
What I look at with certainty, Chairperson of the House, is that although we are assigned a budget for this House, the important task is out there in the communities, which is called oversight of service delivery. The oversight visit in respect of service delivery is that which confirms the fact that government is able to help the people.
I'm not saying that if we go on an oversight visit on service delivery we must regard ourselves as being more important than those departments. It is only to check whether things are utilised correctly and that people are assisted with government resources.
That method is one that brings about respect, and I admire your leadership style - even though there are minor things that could be done by individuals, you won't be able to monitor that everybody is working accordingly.
An ANC member should know that the Secretary to Parliament is not an employee of KwaZulu, but he is an employee of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa. There should not be any interference of any kind in his work. It is, however, necessary for a person to ask if there's someone who did not respect him in South Africa.] As the IFP we support Budget Vote No 2, because it is an important Budget Vote ...
... emphakathini wezwe lakithi, okufuneka ukuthi ibhekelele bonke abantu bakithi abanikhethile noma abasikhethele ukuba sibe khona kuleli Phalamende. Okungasho ukuthi yindaba nje okufuneka ukuthi siyidle ntshovuntshovu noma yini.
Okubalulekile wukuthi siyabheka yini ukuthi iMinyango yoNgqongqoshe laba iyakwazi yini ukuphakela izinsiza emphakathini. Uma ingakwazi, kukwazeke ukuthi batshelwe ukuthi bahambe. Akufuneki ukuthi kubhekwe ukuthi lowo muntu uqhamuka kuliphi iqembu.
Sikhulumela abantu bakithi baseNingizimu Afrika abahluphekayo nabalambileyo, nokufuneka ukuthi sikwazi ukubaqeqesha ukuze bakwazi ukuzisiza kwabona. Ngiyabonga. [Ihlombe.] (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[... in our community, which must take care of all the people who elected you or who have elected us to be in this Parliament. This doesn't mean that it's just an issue that we should discuss haphazardly.
What is important is whether we monitor if these Ministers' departments are able to provide the necessary resources to the communities. If they fail, it should be known and they must be told to leave. And it should not be a matter of which party that person is affiliated to.
We are talking on behalf of the people of South Africa - those who are suffering and are hungry - and those whom we must train so that that they can help themselves. Thank you. [Applause.]]
Deputy Chair, and the Chairperson of the NCOP, I must admit that it is not always an advantage to be speaking at this point, because the temptation is great to deal with some misconceptions that are at times projected in the debate in the House. We are enjoined to create a South Africa that is nonracial, nonsexist, democratic and prosperous. As this House, we have consistently said that our understanding of that particular prosperity that we are talking about is one that is biased to the poor, unemployed, and the downtrodden.
It is in that context that we have indicated that we need to build a state as a key site of power. Within that state, you then have the strategic branch called Parliament. This Parliament is then made up, as enjoined by the Constitution, of two Houses - the National Assembly and the NCOP. Therefore, it is important that, as we see this branch as a key site of power, it shouldn't be about us, but about those who brought us here - the downtrodden, poor, marginalised, uneducated, and those who would ordinarily not be able to improve their lives without our assistance. I just want to deal with that misconception, because sometimes we may put an issue as a joke, but people out there, who might be listening to what we are saying, might misinterpret that.
There was a need for the establishment of the NCOP. It came as a result of an understanding that in South Africa we have the three tiers - national, provincial and local government. Therefore, what is that strategic and unique institution that we can create to be able to ensure that all these spheres find expression under a particular House that is of a national nature?
Therefore, that understanding brought us to the realisation that we needed the NCOP and that we should do away with the Senate. Historically - you would know that from the Westminster system - the Senate's mandate is totally different to that of the NCOP. For instance, in the Senate you would not have had the SA Local Government Association, Salga, participating in the House referred to as the NCOP or had a platform where provinces could independently raise their issues.
Therefore it is very important that we need to ensure that we understand and avoid creating confusion as members of the NCOP, when saying we would like to build our own capacity to ensure that we profile this House and put it at the centre of development and fighting poverty. We end up confusing the NCOP with the National Assembly. The National Assembly has a distinctive role, interrelated with what we are supposed to do. It is quite important that we need to avoid raising the kind of confusion that will end up confusing our people.
I could not agree more with all the members that have raised the issue of how we should embrace the characterisation of the Fourth Parliament as an activist one; as one that is not going to sit back and call on departments and make the bulk of our oversight to be concentrated as an in-house one.
This Fourth Parliament, the activist Parliament that we have come to embrace, is one which is interventionist and should reach out, and intervene on behalf of the poor and the downtrodden. It is important that we thank the presiding officers for their resolve to increase our oversight capacity and to strengthen the committees of Parliament, in order to be able to ensure that at the point of service delivery, Members of Parliament - and NCOP members in particular - together with those of the provincial legislatures and local government are there to see to it that they do what they had promised.
Let me quickly speak about the issue of facilities for members. Without belabouring the issue, as we speak today there are systems that have already been put in place. There is a subcommittee on information and communications technology, ICT, that is practically looking at how best to improve the facilities for members. Recommendations have come through now, with the digital transformation on how to ensure that members' work is dialectically linked to the general transformation of society. It doesn't matter whether it is at an ICT level or whatever. As we speak today, those are the kind of things that are being looked into. Of course, the figures have been mentioned by the Chairperson of the NCOP.
On the question of strengthening the work of the NCOP with those of the provincial legislatures, I think it is a matter that we need to explore. Today, as we speak, I have come to realise that provincial legislatures have separate budgets within their budgets specifically for NCOP support. It is budgeted for, but we don't see the relationship between that budget and what the members who are representing these provinces are then able to access in order to be better empowered. As we do our work, we also strengthen our legislatures and municipalities. I think this is a matter that this particular Parliament, in this financial year, really needs to look at.
That brings me to the point that the oversight role of the NCOP over the executive requires that, as a House, we must be ready to engage with the departments, and of course, not at a sweetheart level, but at an equal level.
Sometimes we tend to confuse robustness with arrogance or with rudeness, or robustness with a lack of understanding of what departments are doing. We need to ensure that, as we strengthen our oversight work, we are also able to take into account that there are those challenges that we would be faced with. [Interjections.]
Hon Tau, can you please conclude?
Are you affording me an opportunity to summarise? [Interjections.] Nevertheless, let us live up to what is expected of us - to represent the poor, the marginalised, the working class; and not confuse that thin line by being too much of ourselves and less of the people that we are supposed to be representing in this House. I thank you. [Applause.]
Chairperson, I will not waste your time. The House must resume its business again at 14:00.
Let me take this time to thank the Secretary to Parliament, the Deputy Secretary, and all the staff of Parliament who are doing a very good job in assisting us to implement this budget. Let me also say that it would not be possible without the support of the Chief Whip, the other Whips, the chairs of committees and all members of this House. The team spirit that I find in the National Council of Provinces is what makes us go and move with vigour and vim, and that is a wonderful thing. I think we can continue with that spirit. With regard to revamping the NCOP House, I would like to say to the hon Watson we are currently procuring the services of a company that will provide vision and sound. Therefore, we are actually not being held hostage by a company that has been paid and has run away. They were doing something different. In this respect, sound and vision is being provided by another company.
I want to agree with all members who have spoken about oversight. Oversight is key for us and very important, because members of the NCOP should be hands-on. That is an important part of it. Until things are achieved, you cannot rest and say, "I have done my work; I have given a report". I have mentioned this many times. You have got to go there to make sure that the schools are built, roads are built, the bridge which has been budgeted for is built. You must make sure that a quality bridge is built, and that people are using that particular bridge. That is our work. We have got to be on the ground.
I want to thank hon Tau who approached the presiding officers and the Chief Whip to ask what we can do to increase the oversight work time. Now, in order to do that, we have taken a decision together with the Chief Whip and the presiding officers. We are going to pilot a system whereby you people have got to be on the ground, for two weeks per quarter. That is where we are going to start. [Applause.]
You are on the ground to do your work, including during the Provincial Week. We are not taking away the Provincial Week. That gives you three weeks, actually, to go and do your work. That, however, will be studied carefully by the Whips, because we have also got a parliamentary programme. We need to sit, put questions to the executive and to the Deputy President, pass laws and do all the other work. So that must be included in the framework of Parliament.
Those are the steps that we have taken. We are going to start as soon as we come back from the long recess in July and pilot that scheme. If it works, we will then possibly increase the number of weeks. We may even block three or four weeks for you to be on the ground working with your people. You would then come back and report to Parliament on what you have done and what you have achieved in your provinces.
It is quite correct, and I agree with you on the sphere of local government. I think all members who were here last year and in the previous Third Parliament looked at our job, and we said one of the focus points was that of the local government sphere, because that is where service delivery is being done. I think we should continue to do that. Go back to the report of the workshop. Go and read it. I will ask the staff to circulate it again, because that is one of the things which we identified: we must be biased towards the local government sphere so that we can assist them to deliver on the work that they are doing. In terms of the Rules, honourable House, we, in the National Council of Provinces, are the first to have completed amending all our Rules. We have amended them. We will be finishing them during the recess and in the week we come back we will table them in the House for adoption so that we can move forward.
Ms Boroto mentioned spending from your own pocket on constituency work. All I can say now is that I think it is an issue. What Parliament does now is to give money to all parties as a constituency fund. Parties have the right to use it any way they want, but they must account to Parliament as to how they use it. I am not saying the matter must not be raised, however. It might just happen that the money that we give the parties is not enough in order to support you. That is the nitty-gritty, perhaps, that we can look at to see how members can be assisted in that regard. [Interjections.]
You have all said we are not well resourced. We will continue to look into those issues. We are a very new Parliament, a very new democracy. We will go on and increase our resources so that we reach the level of what other parliaments are doing.
As for the accommodation of members closer to Parliament, that discussion was already started under the Third Parliament. We are engaging public- private partnerships, the PPPs, in the Western Cape to see whether we can accommodate members closer to Parliament. Visibility will be done during the communications strategy which we have already completed, and I think we will be able to improve with regard to our visibility.
Hon Tau has responded to some of the issues. Thank you very much.
May God bless you, and I want to ask those people who are encouraging us to work more to support us, as they are doing, so that we can respond more to the issues that our people need on the ground. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
Business suspended at 13:35 and resumed at 14:36.