Hon Speaker, hon members, the migrant labour system has certainly contributed to deepening rural poverty and has had dire consequences for the dependants of the migrant workers, notably women and children. Some of the consequences include broken families, limited access to education opportunities for their children and lack of work opportunities for the women, who are often solely dependent on remittances from men working in towns and cities. In addition, various academic studies have pointed out that postapartheid migration patterns have their roots in the homeland system of the apartheid government, which ensured that virtually no development took place in regions where the majority of our people were restricted.
Studies also show that migration deprives local communities of human capital as people of working age leave their communities to work in other areas, especially in the mining towns. The health consequences are also dire, as those who migrate have historically been confined to single-sex hostels and, more recently, to poorly serviced informal settlements where the risk of HIV infections is very high.
Government's response to rural poverty is multipronged and consists of the Infrastructure Development, Comprehensive Rural Development and War on Poverty programmes.
I wish to draw the hon member's attention to the Presidential Infrastructure Co-ordinating Commission, PICC, which has set itself the task to transform the economic geography of South Africa through 18 strategic infrastructure projects. This will be achieved through the building of socioeconomic infrastructure in rural communities and former homeland areas. This infrastructure will give our people access to social and economic amenities that are necessary to facilitate the creation of sustainable jobs and viable rural communities. In addition, hon Minister Nkwinti has said in this House that various projects under the Comprehensive Rural Development programme are being accelerated with the view to creating sustainable livelihoods for rural communities.
The War on Poverty programme was created to accelerate service delivery by identifying beneficiaries who are entitled to receive the existing services from government, but for some reason or another are not. Thus, the aim of the War on Poverty programme is to address service delivery gaps where an existing government service does not reach the beneficiary and, therefore, to facilitate the necessary link to the required service. In short, the combination of all these interventions should result in the reduction of rural poverty and create the conditions whereby people in rural areas migrate out of choice, and not out of necessity. I thank you for your attention. [Applause.]
Mr Speaker, the tragedy at Marikana which claimed the lives of 44 South Africans and the ongoing mine unrest, which we have witnessed over the last two months, have highlighted fundamental structural problems in our economy which continue to keep millions of South Africans on the outside. I thank the Deputy President for acknowledging that at the heart of this is the migrant labour system which continues to uproot families and to undermine the development of rural South Africa. Yet, as I am sure, the Deputy President will agree that there has not been enough done to deliver a decisive blow to the structural inequality.
If anything, the plight of the widows of the Marikana victims illustrates that it is women who bear the ultimate brunt of this burden. Does the Deputy President not agree that the time has come for this Parliament, of which he is the most senior member, to tackle the underlying causes of this ongoing socioeconomic crisis head-on? Does the Deputy President support the DA's call for the establishment of a multiparty ad hoc committee to address these problems? I thank you.
Speaker, the tragic events that have been unfolding in the mines, beginning at Marikana, are a cause for very serious worry and deserve to be tackled and eliminated. The underlying social determinant of these problems is no doubt the migrant labour system itself. One good thing that should result from this whole painful saga is the elimination of the migrant labour system. I believe it is possible to eliminate the system by ensuring that, first and foremost, the mining companies allow its workers to go home once the terms have been negotiated by the parties. For example, if the workers come to the mines and work for four or five weeks, they should be allowed to go home for two weeks and come back or whatever could finally be agreed upon so that the notion of home could be clear to all.
At the moment, due to the migrant labour system, miners are separated from their loved ones and families for 12 months. They are only able to go home at the end of the year for a week or two. It should actually be happening at regular intervals of not more than five or six weeks of absence. That way, it would then be the task of government, as I have indicated through the Infrastructure Development programme, to ensure that the areas where they come from are provided with basic infrastructure, potable water, electricity, tarred roads, proper amenities, schools, clinics and so on.
At the moment, as we all know, the President has established a judicial commission of inquiry, which is seized with the task of inquiring into what actually transpired at Marikana. It is advisable to await the report and recommendations of that commission. The processing thereof, of course, would have to involve all parties, because this is a societal problem. It does not affect only one section of the population, but all sections. I am sure that the ad hoc committee that will be established to see to the implementation would be necessarily an all-inclusive structure. Thank you.
Hon Speaker, with the experience that the Deputy President has of having been exposed to the situation of the migrant labour system himself, I'm sure that he is as sensitive as we are on this matter. Therefore, I want to raise the issue of the infrastructure which is lying fallow in the former homelands, where these people come from - the areas that have been declared, in the past, as cheap labour reserves - like the former Transkei, Ciskei and Bophuthatswana. That infrastructure is lying fallow, and yet we have a number of people who are moving from those areas to go and work in the mines. This is an issue that we have kept on raising within our own and the other portfolio committees, but there has never been any respectable follow-up on it.
The question of incentives should also be linked to this issue so that people would not move from those areas but remain where they reside with their families, because, as you correctly pointed out, it breaks down families. It is a serious issue, especially with regard to children and women. I would like the Deputy President to give us an idea on this issue. [Time expired.] Thank you.
Speaker, yes, indeed, that is the reason why the Ministry of Rural Development and Land Reform has been established; it was precisely to, among other functions, ensure that there is development taking place in the rural areas.
Concerning the infrastructure that is lying fallow, it is no doubt something that the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform and, of course, the Presidential Infrastructure Co-ordinating Commission, PICC, could look into and ensure that those structures be renovated to a level where they could serve as some kind of catalyst for developing the local economies. They could be renovated to that level, because the development patterns of South Africa followed three nodal points: the Reef in Gauteng, the Winelands in Cape Town here in the Western Cape, and Durban in KwaZulu- Natal.
The rest of the country remains underdeveloped. That is part of the reason why the PICC has identified the strategic infrastructure projects to try and spread nodal points for development beyond the three that serve as catchment areas today. Even the recent census confirmed that, in terms of the movement of people from one province to another, they are moving into provinces where there is development. Thank you.
Mr Speaker, there is something that is compounding the situation that the Deputy President has clarified now. In an effort to lending flexibility and freedom of choice to their employees, some mining companies are now paying their workers a monthly sleep-out allowance if they choose to stay out of the single-sex hostels. On the surface, it appears a very good and reasonable thing to do.
However, what seems to be happening now is that some of the miners established secondary homes in the mushrooming informal settlements around Marikana and other mines, to the detriment of their families in the rural areas. Clearly, this is an undesirable and unintended consequence of a good policy decision. Hon Deputy President, how is this phenomenon being factored into the Anti-Poverty Campaign to ensure that the rural families are not further impoverished? Thank you.
Speaker, well, supposedly this living-out allowance is something that was negotiated by workers themselves through their unions. The reality is that it appears appealing to ordinary workers because R1 800 seems like quite a lot of money, but that is precisely what is driving the members into informal settlements. It is, however, a perverse argument in the sense that the single-sex compounds are not desirable themselves.
We would, in fact, argue that mining companies should provide proper single quarters and apartments for their workforce, and not just these spartan single-sex compounds. Relatively speaking, the single-sex compounds are better than the informal settlements. So, in a sense, therein lies the perversity of this issue of the living-out allowance.
What we are saying is that the mining companies should rather provide the miners with decent houses and safe transport to travel to their real homes than providing or giving them living-out allowances. That would address most of the challenges which arise from the poorly serviced informal settlements. And, of course, as you have said, the consequence of establishing secondary homes would also be addressed in the process. Thank you.
Speaker, I would like to thank the Deputy President for so aptly outlining the ANC-led government's approach to the internal economic migration by highlighting the various interventions that are aimed at promoting migration by choice rather than by necessity; in other words, the pull factors rather than the push factors that drive migration.
However, through you, hon Speaker, I would like to know, Deputy President, what your response is to the DA's own approach, which is in sharp contrast, as highlighted by its leader, the hon Premier Zille. That approach views fellow citizens who migrate from other provinces to the Western Cape as refugees. In a particular tweet that she posted a few months ago, Premier Zille referred to schools that were built specifically for educating refugees. What is your response to a fellow citizen referring to other citizens as refugees and thus insulting their dignity? [Interjections.]
Well, I think it is ill-advised to refer to any fellow South African citizens as refugees in the Republic of South Africa. All should be referred to as fellow citizens or, better still, compatriots. Thank you.
Prevention of abuse of state power
21. Mr M G P Lekota (Cope) asked the Deputy President:
What steps has the government taken (a) to prevent the abuse of state power and (b) against persons who have been found to have abused state power? NO3844E
Hon Speaker, the Constitution and other laws governing the conduct of public office bearers and public servants provide clear guidelines as to what public officials may and may not do in exercising state power.
Should it be alleged that a public official has broken the law, the SA Police Service, SAPS, and the National Prosecuting Authority, NPA, should investigate and, if there is enough evidence, prosecute the alleged perpetrator of the offence. We also have the Special Investigating Unit, SIU, which investigates corruption and maladministration in government and reports to the President and Parliament.
In addition, the Public Protector and the Auditor-General are provided for in Chapter 9 of our Constitution. The Public Protector has the responsibility to investigate conduct that is alleged or suspected of being improper or to result in any improper conduct or prejudice in state affairs or in public administration within any sphere of government.
In the case of the Auditor-General, there is the duty of auditing the accounts, the financial statements and the financial management of state bodies. These institutions play an important role in determining whether any member of the public or an official has abused state power.
There are also a number of other bodies who have the responsibility to investigate abuses of power by officials in specific sectors, such as the Inspecting Judge in the case of Correctional Services, the Inspector- General of Intelligence with regard to intelligence matters, and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, Ipid, in the case of the SA Police Service.
What is important is that anyone with evidence of abuse of state power must report such abuse to the bodies that I have mentioned above so that the allegations can be investigated and, if found to be true, the perpetrator can be sanctioned accordingly. I thank you.
Hon Deputy President, in spite of all the things you have said, we have witnessed situations in this country where, among others, Members of Cabinet have abused public funds to travel abroad to visit friends. We didn't see them get arrested. I thought that you would address the issue.
The issue that I really want you to address is this: If government is running its affairs, what steps, other than what everybody else knows about, have been taken to complement the information that every member of the public has?
In the case of our money that was misused by former Minister Mahlangu- Nkabinde, I still wonder what had happened. I haven't heard a report that the money that was wasted was recovered.
The money that was used by the late Shiceka, who travelled abroad ... [Interjections.] ... to visit his girlfriend, was that money ... [Interjections.]
Order, order, hon members!
... I haven't heard the report that the public funds that he misused were recovered. I don't know why they are silent. [Interjections.] It is correct for me to ask; I am here to ask about what is being done to protect public funds that are being misused. These misuses ... [Interjections.] [Time expired.]
Hon Lekota, over and above the institutions that I have mentioned, there is also the Asset Forfeiture Unit, Afu, whose mandate is to confiscate any ill-begotten gains or wealth. Yes, they do recover such, and I am sure that they report the cases where they were able to confiscate ill-begotten wealth. That is the specific structure with that specific mandate.
With regard to the specific case of the former Minister that you have alluded to, I am not aware that there was any allegation, levelled against former Minister Mahlangu-Nkabinde, of embezzlement or helping herself to public funds. If you are perhaps aware of such, I am sure that if there is a note to the head of the Asset Forfeiture Unit, the matter could be attended to.
As for the late Minister Shiceka, may his soul rest in peace! Thank you. [Applause.]
Mr Speaker, under the presidency of Jacob Zuma, South Africa has witnessed an unparalleled abuse of state power not witnessed since the end of apartheid; from the police force's abuse of power at Marikana to the unconstitutional decision by the National Prosecuting Authority, NPA, not to hand over the spy tapes as mandated by an order of the Supreme Court of Appeal. The respect of our Constitution has been eroded. This has been followed more recently by one of the most glaring examples yet, that of state-sponsored corruption.
As South Africans continue to battle for a better life, the state has spent nearly R250 million upgrading President Zuma's private home in Nkandla. Hon Deputy President, do you believe that spending that much money on a private home ... [Interjections.]
Speaker, I rise on a point of order. We have a rule in our Rules book which provides that members may not cast aspersions on institutions removal depends on this institution. [Interjections.]
Order, hon members, order!
Now, the hon member has made disparaging remarks against some of those institutions such as the NPA, and I'm not sure whether it is perfectly within her rights to do so, except by way of a substantive motion. [Interjections.]
Hon member, I will look at the matter and make a ruling in due course in that regard.
Hon Deputy President, do you believe that spending so much money on the private home of the sitting Head of State is justifiable when so many South Africans continue to live in poverty? And will you take any steps to prevent the further abuse of public funds by the government? Thank you very much.
Yes, indeed, I will take steps to prevent the abuse of public funds. As to the specific matter of the work that was done at the President's residence, that is a matter that the hon Minister of Public Works is likely to clarify. I am aware that the Public Protector has been approached by your party, hon member. There is no doubt that she will bring a report back to the South African public on those matters. That is a matter that is receiving attention.
The question of the NPA and the DA has been adjudicated upon by the courts, and the court system of our democracy provides for channels of recourse for any party that is aggrieved. Unfortunately, that is a matter we cannot deal with during the debates here in the House. Thank you. [Applause.]
Deputy President, firstly, the work that is being done by the Farlam Commission, which was established by government through the President, to investigate the unfortunate events at Marikana is evidence of government's commitment to dealing with the possible abuse of state power. Secondly, the unconditional support that government affords to Chapter 9 institutions that you have alluded to, such as the Public Protector, the Auditor-General and the Human Rights Commission, is further evidence of government's commitment to addressing the abuse of state power.
However, a few days ago, we read with shock and horror in a prominent daily newspaper about how the very hon Mr Lekota, when he was still a member of Cabinet, tried to recruit a member of the DA, in this House, away from his party with a promise to make him a Deputy Minister. When asked about it, he said it was a joke. This is an example of abuse of state power at its worst. [Interjections.] Deputy President, would you agree that what government and the people of South Africa need, in order to address the problem of abuse of power, is not individuals ... [Time expired.][Applause.]
Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I don't know why such a false allegation is made because ... [Interjections.]
What is the point of order, sir? What Rule are you rising on?
On a point of order: Is it parliamentary for a member to mislead the House on information that was long tabled before the House? I could never have appointed anybody as a Minister because I was not a President. It is obviously a lie. [Interjections.]
Take a seat, hon member. That hon member, on what point of order are you rising, sir?
Speaker, I rise on the same point of order. The hon member is accusing the hon Vincent Smith as misleading the House. I do not see any point of order there because it is a point of argument. [Interjections.]
Order, hon members, order!
It's a point of argument whether he thinks that the hon member is misleading the House or not. [Interjections.]
An Hon Member: You are not the Speaker, sir!
Thank you, hon member. That wasn't a point of order; it is a point of debate. [Laughter.] Order, hon members! Hon Deputy President, I saw the look in your eyes. You are very unhappy that I did not give you a chance to respond. Please, go ahead, sir.
Hon Speaker, there was no question. You did not allow the member to reach a point where he could pose a question. He was still building up to the question. Thank you. [Laughter.]
He did take a while to build up to it until his time ran out. [Laughter.]
Deputy President, following your response, we are very worried about this issue of abuse of state power. Recently, there was a constitutionally and properly convened meeting in Marikana, where one of the members of the public by the name of Malema was invited to address that meeting. He was debarred by the police officials there from addressing that meeting. Deputy President, do you think a practice such as where a police officer just simply confers power unto himself and undermines the Constitution, freedom of speech and, of course, interaction should be allowed to continue in the democratic country? If you were to make a follow- up on the particular matter, what action are you going to take in making sure that the rights of that individual are reinstated in accordance with the Constitution?
Hon Speaker, I am really not sure as to the rights of people to participate in meetings that are arranged privately by private citizens, because one only participates in a meeting if one is part of a programme. Either one is billed to speak on some topic or has been invited specifically to speak at such a gathering by those responsible for such a gathering. I am really not clear about the case in point, whether you are suggesting that this citizen was debarred from addressing a meeting to which he was legitimately invited by those responsible for organising such a meeting or not.
Is that the nature of the question? And who stopped such a person from speaking?
Hon Members: The police.
Did the police do that? Well, I do not know the reason for that. The police are law enforcement officers, therefore, I'm not sure what judgment call they made in order to debar such a person from speaking. I am really not familiar with that matter. Thank you. [Applause.]
Right to self-determination of peoples of Africa and African diaspora
22. Mr L S Ngonyama (Cope) asked the Deputy President:
Whether the Government promotes the right of self-determination of (a) the peoples of Africa and (b) those in the African diaspora; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?