House Chairperson, hon members, the Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises is tabling seven state-owned companies' annual reports to Parliament, with the exception of SA Express, which withdrew its annual report some time back. Added to that, we also present the annual report of the Department of Public Enterprises. Considering these reports, the portfolio committee emphasised the following issues: corporate governance and stability in the SOEs; and developmental objectives, which include job creation, skills development and support to local business ventures.
Hon members are reminded that these SOEs were not set up for ornamental purposes, but to drive the developmental agenda of the state. Therefore, they are expected to act as such. We should not fail to congratulate the Department of Public Enterprises on a clean audit report for eight consecutive years. I repeat, eight consecutive years! [Applause.]
We table these reports before Parliament for adoption. Thank you! There was no debate.
House Chair, I move:
That the Report be adopted.
The motion is that the report be adopted. Again, I see that declarations of vote have been received.
Declaration from the DA, please Chair.
Declarations of vote:
House Chairperson, a very good practice in the Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises is that members are allowed, and in fact encouraged, to speak openly and frankly regarding issues and problems that we encounter at the state-owned companies. We robustly debate our observations and recommendations. More often than not, we agree unanimously on the findings.
History, however, tells us that the reports of these committees are often adopted in this House only to be filed away in a dark and dusty cabinet - never to be seen again! These recommendations and observations are simply too important not to be followed up. We need to ensure that our voices are not silenced.
Examples of some of these observations contained in this report that simply cannot be ignored or forgotten include observations that Eskom stated concerns regarding labour and race that continue to affect construction at the Medupi Power Station. Observations at Transnet stated concerns regarding the performance of some of the board members, especially one particular member, who serves on 59 other boards. Observations at SA Airways, SAA, stated that the airline has not achieved 48% of its key performance targets.
Let us not forget observations that Denel stated a high level of absenteeism and lack of commitment among some of their board members. The attendance of board meetings is truly shocking. The list goes on and on! As Members of Parliament and the voice of the South African public, we must ensure that our reports are followed up by action and that oversight work is not simply done in vain. Thank you. [Applause.]
House Chairperson, I rise in support of the report by the ANC. The portfolio committee did go to those various state-owned companies to exercise oversight. We are very happy with the breath of fresh air - the new boards that are in place.
The old people have been letting us down, committing all sorts of financial maleficence, but the Minister has been hands-on. He has now fired most of those people, who are now part of history, and the new people have come on board. For instance, you may find that the CEO of SAA, who had been playing a dual role, has now been suspended and removed from the board. That is a decisive action by the Ministry.
Moreover, there is a turnaround strategy that they have worked out which is going to be presented soon. By the way, SAA and SA Express are national airlines. They are the pride of the country and you can't sell them as if they were family silver, but you need to fix the eminent wrongs and ensure that you keep them. They are a national asset. When there are problems, you don't open the window and throw the baby out with bath water.
I think there are very few complaints from the DA, except that they are trying to engineer some election machinery. It is too early for you, but you must watch until the ANC election machinery grinds into operation in first gear. It will come down like an avalanche! It will crush the little rocks in its way and leave them pulverised like imperceptible moraine. It's too early to start electioneering.
The state-owned enterprises have a very important developmental agenda of the government. We also support the Department of Public Enterprises for its excellent leadership under the capable Ministry and the director- general. The ANC supports this annual report. Thank you. [Applause.]
Is there any other party wishing to make a declaration? If none, I put the question again: Are there any objections? No objections!
Motion agreed to.
Report accordingly adopted.