I now put Vote No 30. Are there any objections? Agreed to.
Chairperson, we would like to make a declaration.
Order! May I ask political parties to inform the Table so that we can have the correct information in front of us? This is to ensure that we can recognise you as we proceed.
Chair, I rise on behalf of the DA. We support the budget. However, we have some concerns that I would like to raise.
It was interesting to hear the hon Minister of Finance talking about consultants earlier. These very consultants cost us more when we actually get less; this very system is open to the murky and grey areas that we read about continuously.
But let me not speak. Let me let the Auditor-General, AG, speak on his audit report for the Department of Environmental Affairs. He says that consultants are appointed where permanent capacity should have been created. They are appointed due to the lack of internal capacity. Skills transfers are ineffective. Competitive procurement processes are not being followed. Contracts are extended due to the lack of project management and monitoring. The list goes on and on.
Let me finally move on to the sad and emotive issue of the mass slaughtering of our treasured rhino. Currently, 408 rhinos have been killed in the last six months. The time for talking is over. We need to be decisive and clinical in dealing with the scourge.
The international negotiations with Mozambique need to be fast tracked in order to reintroduce the transfrontier park fence, not memorandums of understanding, MOU. Memorandums of understanding need to be concluded and enforced with Thailand, China and Kenya. Effective bilateral agreements need to be concluded and enforced with both Zimbabwe and Mozambique. I thank you. [Applause.]
Chair, I rise in support of this Budget Vote.
As the hon member from the DA said, he raised two important issues, but I will, on the consultancy issue, remind the member that the AG also admitted - and I think this is a weakness in our system - that when the AG is reporting on consultants, they don't distinguish between the ones that are needed where we don't have capacity, with the ones that we do.
This makes the work of the committee very difficult. In fact, even when they came and gave us a full report on this matter, it is difficult to address the issue because you don't know how much of the money is actually for consultants that you have to employ. These are consultants such as engineers and other people with professional skills, as the Minister of Finance pointed out.
I really think - and we have raised this with the AG - that if they want to help us stop this problem of consultants, they need to report differently on this matter. There is no use in just globally looking at the matter. I also want to point out that the Department of Environmental Affairs has made great stride in cutting back tremendously on the number of consultants they have had over the last two years.
On the other issue, that of the rhinos, this is probably the biggest challenge facing this department. I really think this is an issue that is getting to a stage where we will all have to put our heads together. As a committee, we are going to meet again - as we have agreed - during the recess with all the stakeholders in a workshop to actually discuss further possibilities on how to deal with this issue.
I urge that if any of you have good suggestions - I stress the word ``good'' - please pass them on to us. We support this Budget Vote. [Applause.]
Vote accordingly agreed to.
Vote No 31 - Human Settlements - put.
Declarations of vote:
House Chairperson, the Minister of Human Settlements, Mr Toyko Sexwale, in his Budget Vote speech for the financial year under review, said the following: "I urge the committee, including the select committee, to redouble its efforts in coming down hard upon those responsible." Today is such a day - to come down hard on the Minister and his department, who have certainly failed to ensure that the Human Settlements budget is spent optimally and effectively to the advantage of millions of people still waiting for houses.
It is unacceptable that the national department is unable to effectively monitor and evaluate the spending patterns of provinces and accredited municipalities. This has led to billions of rands being underspent on grants, such as the R4 billion which has been spent on the Urban Settlement Development Grant and R886 million of the Human Settlements Development Grant which has been returned to the National Treasury. The Rural Housing Infrastructure Grant, which since its inception in 2009, has been suffering chronic underspending, leaving thousands of rural people in South Africa without basic sanitation.
Further to be noted is the wasting of almost R1 billion on rectification every year, and the inability to fast track the thousands of beneficiaries who are still without title deeds and houses.
With these facts, the Minister and his department must get their house in order and deliver. Surely, South Africans deserve better.
Tot dat daar nie verantwoordelikheid geneem word nie, kan die DA nie hierdie begrotingspos ondersteun nie. Ek dank u. [Applous.] [Until responsibility is taken, the DA cannot support this budget. I thank you. [Applause.]]
Chairperson, the ANC supports Budget Vote No 31 as it aims to address challenges related to human settlements that inhibit the social transformation agenda.
I would like to call upon members who are in the opposition benches and to appeal to them that they must stop being mischievous and opportunistic on this matter. Why do I say that? While the portfolio committee acknowledged that the level of underexpenditure in provinces and metropolitan municipalities warrants serious attention, the ANC is confident that its own oversight over the past year remained vigilant and proactive.
During the course of the 2012 financial year, the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements held several engagements with the national Department of Human Settlements to address some of the challenges the department experienced with respect to its mandate.
Ndifuna ukuthi apha kule Ndlu isebe likwazile ukuza neqhinga lokudala inguqu ukushukuxa umba womgangatho womsebenzi. Okwesibini, isebe likwazile ukuthi emva kokuza neli qhinga ... [I want to say to this august House the department has managed to come up with a transformational plan in discussing performance levels. Secondly, the department after introducing this plan ...]
... managed to fill 78% of critical vacancies. Thirdly, with regard to the issue of improving capacity-building, the department has established a project management unit ...
... eza kuthi incedise amaphondo kunye noomasipala ukuqinisekisa ukuba ayakwazi ukusebenzisa uhlahlo-lwabiwo-mali lwawo. Ezi zinto zithethwa ngamaqela aphikisayo zizinto ezixoxiweyo kwikomiti kwaze kwavunyelwana ngazo. Yiyo loo nto ndisithi, mabangakhe balinge basebenzise eli thuba ngendlela engeyiyo kuba sele siqalisile siyile komiti ukunxibelelana noomasipala ... (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[... that will assist the provinces and metropolitan municipalities to make sure that they are able to utilise their budgets. These issues raised by the opposition parties were debated and agreed to by the committee. That is why I am saying, they must not be opportunistic and hijack this opportunity because, as this committee, we have already started interacting with the municipalities ...]
... and the MECs.
The ANC supports this Budget Vote. Thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Division demanded.
The House divided.
AYES - 244: Abram, S; Adams, P E; Baloyi, M R; Bam-Mugwanya, V; Berend, S R; Bhanga, B M; Bhengu, F; Bhengu, P; Bhengu, N R; Bikani, F C; Bonhomme, T; Booi, M S; Borman, G M; Boshigo, D F; Botha, Y R; Botha, T; Bothman, S G; Burgess, C V; Buthelezi, M G; Cebekhulu, R S; Cele, M A; Chiloane, T D; Chohan, F I; Coleman, E M; Cwele, S C; Dambuza, B N; Daniels, P N; Davies, R H; De Lange, J H; Diale, L N; Dikgacwi, M M; Ditshetelo, I C; Dlakude, D E; Dlamini, B O; Dlodlo, A; Dlomo, B J; Dubazana, Z S; Dube, M C; Duma, N M; Ebrahim, E I; Ferguson, B D; Fransman, M L; Fubbs, J L; Gasebonwe, T M A; Gaum, A H; Gcume, N P; Gcwabaza, N E; Gelderblom, J P; Gigaba, K M N; Gina, N; Gololo, C L; Goqwana, M B; Gumede, D M; Hajaig, F; Hlengwa, M; Huang, S - B; Jacobus, L; Jeffery, J H; Kekana, C D; Kenye, T E; Kganare, D A; Khoarai, L P; Kholwane, S E; Khumalo, F E; Khunou, N P; Kilian, J D; Koornhof, G W; Koornhof, N J J v R; Kubayi, M T; Landers, L T; Lekgetho, G; Lekota, M G P; Lesoma, R M M; Line-Hendriks, H; Lishivha, T E; Luyenge, Z; Mabasa, X; Mabedla, N R; Mabuza, M C; Mackenzie, G P D; Madisha, W M; Madlala, N M; Madlopha, C Q; Mafolo, M V; Magagula, V V; Magama, H T; Magubane, E; Magwanishe, G; Makasi, X C; Makhuba, H N; Makhubela-Mashele, L S; Makhubele, Z S; Makwetla, S P; Malale, M l; Malgas, H H; Maluleka, H P; Maluleke, J M; Manamela, K B; Manana, N C; Manganye, J; Mangena, M S; Manuel, T A; Mapisa-Nqakula, N N; Mashatile, S P; Mashigo, R M; Mashishi, A C; Masilo, J M; Masutha, T M; Mathebe, D H; Mathibela, N F; Matlanyane, H F; Matshoba, J M; Mavunda, D W; Mayatula, S M; Maziya, A M; Mdakane, M R; Mfeketo, N C; Mfulo, A; Mgabadeli, H C; Mjobo, L N; Mkhize, H B; Mkhulusi, N N P; Mlambo, E M; Mmusi, S G; Mnisi, N A; Mocumi, P A; Mohai, S J; Mohorosi, M; Mokoena, A D; Molebatsi, M A; Molewa, B E E; Moloi-Moropa, J C; Moloto, K A; Moni, C M; Mosimane, C K K; Moss, L N; Motlanthe, K P; Motsepe, R M; Motshekga, M A; Motshekga, M S; Mpontshane, A M; Msimang, C T; Msweli, H S; Mthethwa, E N; Mthethwa, E M; Mufamadi, T A; Mushwana, F F; Muthambi, A F; N'wamitwa-Shilubana, T L P; Nchabeleng, M E; Ndabandaba, L B G; Ndabeni, S T; Ndebele, J S; Ndlazi, A Z; Ndlovu, V B; Ndude, H N; Nel, A C; Nelson, W J; Nene, N M; Newhoudt-Druchen, W S; Ngcengwane, N D; Ngcobo, E N N; Ngcobo, B T; Ngele, N J; Ngubeni-Maluleka, J P; Ngwenya, W; Ngwenya- Mabila, P C; Nhanha, M A; Nhlengethwa, D G; Njikelana, S J; Njobe, M A A; Nkoana-Mashabane, M E; Nkomo, S J; Nkwinti, G E; Nonkonyana, M; November, N T; Ntapane, S Z; Ntuli, B M; Ntuli, Z C; Nxesi, T W; Nxumalo, M D; Nyalungu, R E; Nyanda, S; Nyekemba, E; Oliphant, M N; Oosthuizen, G C; Pandor, G N M; Peters, E D; Petersen-Maduna, P; Phaahla, M J; Phaliso, M N; Pilane-Majake, M C C; Pilusa-Mosoane, M E; Pule, D D; Radebe, B A; Radebe, J T; Radebe, G S; Ramatlakane, L; Ramatlhodi, N A; Ramodibe, D M; Schneemann, G D; Segale-Diswai, M J; Selau, G J; September, C C; Sexwale, T M G; Sibanyoni, J B; Sibiya, D; Sindane, G S; Singh, N; Sisulu, M V; Sithole, K P; Sithole, S C N; Sizani, P S; Smith, V G; Snell, G T; Sogoni, E M; Sonto, M R; Sosibo, J E; Suka, L; Sulliman, E M; Sunduza, T B; Surty, M E; Thabethe, E; Thibedi, J D; Tobias, T V; Tsebe, S R; Tseke, G K; Tsenoli, S L; Tshabalala, J; Tsotetsi, D R; Turok, B; Twala, N M; Van Der Merwe, L L; Van der Merwe, S C; van Rooyen, D D; van Wyk, A; Wayile, Z G; Williams, A J; Williams-De Bruyn, S T; Xaba, P P; Ximbi, D L; Xingwana, L M; Yengeni, L E; Zikalala, C N Z.
NOES - 58: Alberts, A D; Boinamo, G G; Bosman, L L; Coetzee, T W; Davidson, I O; De Freitas, M S F; Dreyer, A M; Du Toit, N D; Duncan, P C; Eloff, E H; Esau, S; Groenewald, P J; Harris, T; Hill-Lewis, G G; Hoosen, M H; Kalyan, S V; Kloppers-Lourens, J C; Kohler-Barnard, D; Kopane, S P; Krumbock, G R; Lamoela, H; Lee, T D; Lorimer, J R B; Lotriet, A; Lovemore, A T; Marais, S J F; Maynier, D J; Mazibuko, L D; McGluwa, J J; Michael, N W A; Mileham, K J; Mnqasela, M; More, E; Motau, S C; Mubu, K S; Mulder, C P; Ollis, I M; Rabie, P J; Rogers, F A; Ross, D C; Schafer, D A; Schmidt, H C; Selfe, J; Shinn, M R; Smiles, D C; Steenhuisen, J H; Steyn, A C; Steyn, A; Stubbe, D J; Swart, M; Swathe, M M; Terblanche, J F; Van den Berg, N J; Van Der Linde, N J; Van Der Westhuizen, A P; Van Schalkwyk, H C; Waters, M; Watson,