Deputy Speaker, yes, the target date of 31 July 2012 has been met for Report 191 certificates. They have been printed and dispatched to examination centres for further distribution to all the deserving candidates. The last batch will be finalised for dispatch at the end of this month.
On the National Certificate (Vocational), NCV, we have not yet completed the process but we are, of course, in negotiations with Umalusi, the quality council on the certification of this qualification, and it will be finalised. We are waiting for a formal delegation from Umalusi to issue certificates to all the candidates affected by the current backlog, by no later than 31 October 2012. We are on course and we will meet this deadline of 31 October 2012. Thank you.
Deputy Speaker, I want to disagree with the hon Deputy Minister in terms of the Report 191 certificates, because there were certain colleges that had not yet received their certificates by 1 August. The problem with the nonissuing of the certificates is not merely an administrative issue. People's lives are severely affected by their not being able to get jobs or retain their employment because they are not receiving their certificates. As one father wrote to me:
My daughter completed her three-year course at the end of last year. She and the rest of the intake never received any certificates. Therefore, they can't apply for work. I feel like I have wasted three years of my daughter's life, besides the money I had to pay.
This was sent to me two days ago. Besides just another timeline, what assurance can the Deputy Minister give these students and the students of this year that they are not writing their exams in vain; that they are doing their bit? What can the Deputy Minister do to really assure them that they do not have to wait for another few years? [Applause.]
Deputy Speaker, I have said in my response that we did meet the deadline of 31 July but, of course, the last batch will be finalised for dispatch, by the very least, at the end of this month, which is the end of August.
What we have been doing in the process is issuing letters to those candidates who have not received certificates, so that they can take them to places of employment, and so on, while we wait for this process to conclude. We are really looking at finalising this matter and we are saying that by the end of August, at least, we will have completed the Report 191 certificates, and all candidates will be in possession of their certificates. We are really hoping to meet this deadline. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
See also QUESTIONS AND REPLIES.