BUSINESS DAY REPORT ON SA ECONOMY (Minister's Response)

UNGQONGQOSHE WEZABASEBENZI: Somlomo, ngicela ungivumele ngiphendule izitatimende ezintathu. Isitatimende sokuqala siqhamuka kuMholi weQembu eliPhikisayo, okuyiqembu elinamalungu amaningi kunamanye amaqembu amancane aphikisayo. (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)

[The MINISTER OF LABOUR: Speaker, allow me to respond to three statements. The first statement was from the Leader of the Opposition, which is a party that has many members compared to other small opposition parties.]

She said the DA fully committed itself to redressing the imbalances of the past; I just want to appeal to the DA that, if that is what they are saying, then the first thing they have to do is to implement the Employment Equity Act here in the Western Cape. [Applause.] Then we will see that they are committed to redressing the imbalances of the past.

Secondly, I would like to respond to the other statement by hon McGluwa on the issue of the arms deal. The very same members have requested the President of the Republic to establish a commission of inquiry. Now the commission of inquiry has started its work and, therefore ...

... amaLungu ale Ndlu ayekhala ngalokho awayeke ukushaya umkhulungwane kuhle kwezingcanga zikhalela ezinye esezihambile.

Okwesithathu, umhlonishwa u-Koornhof we-Cope ukhulume ngeziteleka ezenzekayo... (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)

[... members of this House who were complaining must stop howling like a pack of dogs crying after those which have died.

Thirdly, hon Koornhof from Cope spoke about strikes which happen ...]

... during the process of negotiations.

Ngiyafisa ukuthi singabhekisi iziteleka kubasebenzi kuphela, kodwa nabaqashi asibakhombe ngeminwe ngoba izizathu ezenza ukuthi abasebenzi baze baye ezitelekeni ukuthi abaqashi bafike babeke... (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)

[We shouldn't blame workers only when it comes to strikes; we should also blame employers because they put ...]

... an offer on the table and immediately withdraw it. That is unfair negotiation. Therefore, with regard to unprocedural or unprotected strikes, the Labour Relations Act is very clear on that. The employers of this country must adhere to the laws of the country, including the laws of their own companies, rather than coming here and pretending that we don't understand our labour market policies as members of this House who passed the very same labour market policies. I thank you, hon Speaker. [Applause.]