Social cohesion and nation-building intended to enhance patriotism of citizens and opinion leaders
1. Ms N R Bhengu (ANC) asked the President of the Republic:
What leadership in respect of social cohesion and nation building does he intend to initiate with regard to measures aimed at enhancing the patriotism of (a) citizens in general and (b) opinion leaders in particular? NO475E
Speaker, social cohesion is the cornerstone of nation-building and one of the most important programmes as it promotes and emphasises individual and community participation.
We have a collective responsibility of promoting the country, harmony and togetherness. Government is playing its own part. Cabinet approved the Social Cohesion Strategy for the whole country on 13 June 2012. Thereafter, in July last year, government, through the Department of Arts and Culture, hosted a successful National Social Cohesion Summit in Kliptown, Johannesburg. This milestone event was attended by over 2 300 delegates from across the spectrum of society including government, political parties, business, civil society, labour and a host of other community- based organisations.
After exhaustive deliberations, the delegates came up with a declaration and a 12-point resolution framework that was presented to the President on 27 November 2012. As part of implementing the resolutions, government will host provincial and local summits where people will make their inputs and help to promote cohesion and unity.
A national social cohesion report back and monitoring summit will be convened next year when we will be celebrating 20 years of our freedom and democracy. Thereafter, the plan is to have summits at five-year intervals to report on progress. We urge civil society to also contribute in various ways. This would include discussions, practical action, national and provincial awards and any other interventions that would promote unity.
To enhance the social cohesion and nation-building agenda among opinion leaders, we have identified and appointed eminent persons to serve as advocates for social cohesion. This will assist to heighten awareness and highlight the role of those who represent the core values of our society. The eminent persons include Advocate George Bizos, Judge Yvonne Mokgoro and Ms Brigalia Bam. We also have men and women who serve as trustees in institutions such as Brand SA. We can utilise their expertise since social cohesion is also about building the South African brand.
Also key to the social cohesion programme is the promotion of nonracialism as one of the cornerstones of our democracy. Our Constitution states that South Africa belongs to all who live in it - black and white. We need to promote this principle and ensure that all our people feel that they truly belong to this country and that they are not alienated due to race or class, or because they are poor. [Applause.]
We urge hon members not to use this programme to score political points but to promote the country. Every contribution counts. We look forward to seeing some of the social cohesion programmes of opposition parties, for example, as part of building the nation. I will really appreciate invitations to such gatherings so that I can participate with opposition parties to promote nation-building. [Applause.]
The participants at the social cohesion summit aptly summarised the principle of working together when they said the following in the declaration issued at the end of the summit, and I quote:
In pursuit of these objectives, we wish to commit ourselves, and all sectors of society represented at this summit, to work together to realise the ideals enshrined in our Constitution, and to assert that each of our organisations and institutions will strive to contribute all we can to realise our common national objective to attain a decent and improving quality of life for all, in a society united in its diversity. We depart from this historic venue united in our commitment to building a nation that is caring, dignified and with a great sense of humility and mutual respect for one another.
We all have a responsibility to build such a society. I thank you. [Applause.]
Somlomo, ndizibulisele kuMongameli. Ndibulela ngale nkcazelo inkulu nentle kangaka. Bendiza kukuqakathisa ngemibuzo eliqela ntonje uye wayifunda imibuzo yam ndingakunikanga, waze wandiphendula wena, kuba phakathi kwemibuzo ebendiza kukubuza yona yinto yokuba zeziphi iimpawu zenkokheli ethanda ilizwe layo okanye ithandazwe ngobunkokeli, kuba abanye abantu bayalibala xa bezinkokheli zeli lizwe. Kubakho izinto abazishiyelelayo apha ekuphatheni. Ngako oko ke, Mongameli, ndiyabulela kuba umbuzo wam ubumnye kodwa impendulo yakho igcwalise iphepha, enkosi. [Kwaqhwatywa.]
UMONGAMELI WESIZWE: Somlomo, enyanisweni nangona unyanisile uba entethweni endiyenzileyo noko zikhona iimpendulo, kodwa ngokufutshane nje ndingathi, inkokeli iye ibonakale ngokuba kuyo yonke into eyenzayo neyithethayo ibeke ilizwe layo phambili, yinkokeli ke leyo. Ndiyabulela. [Kwaqhwatywa.] (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[Mr L SUKA: Hon Speaker, greetings to the President. I thank him for the clear and concise explanation. Hon President, I would have put a number of questions to you, but it looks as if you read my mind and answered them before I could even put them to you. One of the questions I would have put to you would have been, what are the characteristics of a patriotic leader or of patriotic leadership, considering that some people forget what these are once they become leaders of this country? Consequently, they fall short in their leadership. Therefore, I thank you, hon President, because I only had one question but your reply filled a whole page. Thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Speaker, actually, although the hon member has pointed out that in my reply I have covered some of the questions he might have wanted to put to me, however, briefly, I can say that a leader is characterised by putting its country first in everything it does and says - that is a true leader. I thank you. [Applause.]]
Somlomo, Mhlonishwa Mongameli, neNdlu ehloniphekile, angibonge ngempendulo osinike yona. Okokuqala, umhlonishwa Mongameli ukhulume ngokuthi ezifundeni nasezifundazweni kuzoba khona ukuhlangana kuxoxiswane. Obani abajutshwe ukuba benze lowo msebenzi kulezo zifunda nezifundazwe? Okwesibili, uMongameli ukhulume ngabantu abathathu u-George Bizos noMama uBam noNksz Mokgoro... [Ubuwelewele.]... bengicela ukubuza ukuthi bakhona yini abanye ababalekelelayo ekwenzeni lowo msebenzi? Ungabanaki laba abakhulumayo Mongameli, unake mina, yimina engibuzayo. [Uhleko.] Ngenzela ukuthi Mongameli uma sikhuluma ngokubuyisana nokukhulumela izwe kungabonakali sengathi abantu babukela phansi izwe labo, kodwa kube khona ukufundisana, nalabo abaklewulayo bakwazi ukuthi ngelinye ilanga uma sebekhulile bangakwenzi lokho. Ngiyabonga.
UMONGAMELI WEZWE: Somlomo, ilingu elihloniphekileyo lesiShayamthetho libuze imibuzo emibili, kowokuqala ngithi abantu esicabanga ukuthi kubalulekile ukuthi kube yibona abagquqguzela lezo zingqungquthela kubalulekile ukuthi kube wondunankulu bezifundazwe bebambisene nalabo abahola ohulumeni basemakhaya ukuze lokhu kube yinto kawonkewonke. Yibona-ke abayokwenza ukuthi sibone ukuthi lezo zingqungquthela ziba khona.
Maqondana nabantu engibabalile ngishilo ukuthi phakathi kwabaningi, okusho ukuthi akusibo engibabalile kuphela, baningi abanye abakhethiwe. Bengingeke ngikwazi ukubabala bonke. Bengibala nje labo ukuze sibe nomfanekiso ezingqondweni zethu ukuthi ngabantu abanjani laba esithi bangakwazi ukugqugquzela ukuphilisana kahle phakathi kwesizwe sakithi. Ngiyabonga. [Ihlombe.] (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[Mr V B NDLOVU: Speaker, Hon President and the hon House, thank you for your response. First, the hon President talked about summits to be held in districts and provinces. Who has been appointed to perform that task? Second, the President mentioned three officials, namely George Bizos, Ms Bam and Ms Mokgoro ... [Interjections.] has. Anyone else been appointed to assist them with carrying out the task? Do not pay any attention to the members that are making noise, President, but please do so to me since I am the one asking the question. [Laughter.] I am doing this, President, so that everyone will respect the fact that we are discussing the reconciliation process in our country. We all need to educate ourselves about it and approach it in a mature manner instead of complaining for nothing. Thank you.
Speaker, the hon Member of the National Assembly asked two questions. My response to the first one is that premiers must work hand in hand with their local government structures so that the process includes the wider spectrum of society. It is their responsibility to ensure that the summits are held.
I did mention that the officials I mentioned earlier that are responsible for the task are only some of those appointed, and not the only ones. The list is too long and I could not mention all of them. I only mentioned the three just to give you an idea of the kind of advocates we have appointed to promote social cohesion in our nation. Thank you. [Applause.]]
Mr Speaker, the hon President often speaks about what is patriotic and what is not. However, his meaning is less clear. Just last month, he implied in his reply to the state of the nation debate that opposition co-operation and criticism of his government are unpatriotic. He said, and I quote:
This is why at times I worry that the opposition politics may go beyond the level where one can say as much as this one is in the opposition, he loves his country.
In September last year, the hon President said: You have more rights because you're a majority; you have less rights because you're a minority. That's how democracy works.
And then in January he said, and I quote:
Everything you touch will multiply. I have always said that a wise business person will support the ANC because supporting the ANC means you are investing very well in your business.
It seems to me the President believes that patriotism simply means loyalty to the ANC, not criticising the ANC. Is it true that by calling for citizens and opinion leaders to be more patriotic, the President is simply saying they must be more loyal to the ANC? Thank you.
Hon Speaker, when we said citizens must participate in social cohesion, we did not mean they must love the ANC. We meant they must love their country. That is what we are implying. Their country comes first. [Applause.]
On the occasions that the speaker has quoted, certainly, my understanding of the ANC is that it has the best policies in this country. I was saying to business people that if they appreciate them, they should support the ANC because it will take this country to its prosperity. [Applause.] There is nothing wrong with that.
In fact, all parties say it more during elections. All parties call on voters to vote for them, and do not imply that they must only be loyal to their parties. The fact of the matter is that the ANC has better policies, and that has been proven by the people who vote in their numbers. [Applause.] I was saying to business people that if they support the ANC they are investing in the future of this country, and that is highly political. It is absolutely saying this party has the policies that are known and debated every day. It has processes that are highly democratic, and to decide those policies involves the society in general.
When you go to our policy conferences, we publish our papers for everybody to participate. That is how broad this organisation is. That is the point that I was making at the dinner. Absolutely correct! It does not say: Be loyal to the ANC only.
I responded in Parliament about democracy with regard to the minorities and the majorities. That what is democracy all about - minorities and majorities. If you win elections, you win the majority. You have the right to form a government, and not the minorities. Their minority right is to be in Parliament and be in opposition benches. That is what democracy says. [Applause.] I was not inventing anything but just describing democracy. The reason why you have less speaking time is how democracy works. The majority has more speaking time. That is democracy and you cannot term it in any other way. [Applause.] If the hon member does not appreciate that very basic explanation of what democracy is all about, then I do not know. I might have to conduct some classes. [Laughter.] [Applause.] Thank you.
Through you, hon Speaker, hon President, in your reply, among other things, you said social cohesion is the cornerstone of nation- building and we agree with that. Now, one of the serious challenges to social cohesion, nation-building and all other measures aimed at enhancing patriotism of citizens in general is the perception by some in our communities that government does not have their best interest at heart.
When one looks at question six on today's Question Paper, for example, one gets the impression that there are members of our communities who believe that black economic empowerment impoverishes white people because they are denied promotions, even when they have the necessary experience and academic qualifications. [Interjections.] What I want to know is, in light of the experiences of the people with the necessary qualifications who are denied jobs that they are qualified for, how can such people be convinced to be patriotic where they feel they are being discriminated against? In some cases, you also have children from white communities who, in spite of the excellent results they have attained, are still denied access to some universities, particularly medical schools, because the quota of white students has been reached. I want to know how the President intends to convince ... [Time expired.]
Speaker, the hon member is asking about affirmative action; a question that is discussed all the time. Affirmative action did not emerge out of nothing. It's a tool to address the legacy of apartheid, wherein the majority of the people of this country were excluded from opportunities. They were, by and large, excluded from acquiring the best education and therefore did not have skills. Even if they had the skills, they were not allowed to be employed in certain positions.
Democratically, we can't just move forward without addressing the problem which affects a particular area within our country as a result of apartheid. That is why we have affirmative action. Instead of people being excluded, let them be included. As we are dealing with issues, let us therefore look closely at those who have been excluded in the past. It does not say whites, for example, will never be given an opportunity. It does not say so. There are guidelines, given the new democracy and the fact that we are addressing the problem. And I cannot imagine everybody being affected.
You have also said that, in some cases, when a job opportunity exists and there were candidates with equal qualifications, then the issue of affirmative action should be considered when a prospective candidate is decided upon. That is affirmative action. It does not say that if there are applicants who applied for the same job and one candidate is more qualified than the other, the other candidate on the basis of being black, though less qualified, should get the job. I do not think that it says so. It does not.
One problem that arises when we discuss these issues is that politicians will say some people say one thing and others say something else. There would be no concrete and real examples that would refer to individuals who have suffered differently, so that we could investigate the matters. It is always some. Politicians will at times say it is what the people said, when they are actually expressing their own views.
The lack of evidence does not help us to address the issue or to believe that it is actually true. I've debated with other people who have been advancing that kind of thing. When asked about the evidence during the real detailed discussion, it would not be available. I would be very happy if, one day, members could really provide evidence so that we can investigate and discover what has really happened. Thank you.
Hon Meshoe was also pre-empting answers to the last question by Adv Alberts, Question 6. Please, let us resist the temptation to ask all the questions on the Question Paper.
Upgrades at Nkandla
2. The Leader of the Opposition (DA) asked the President of the Republic:
Whether he was informed of the upgrades at his private home in Nkandla in November 2010; if so, (a) on what date and (b) by what means?