Chairperson, from the onset let me say that we started very badly. We started a debate which affects the
lives of the poor, of the rich, of the aspirants and of the ones who no longer have hope. This is not only about the people of Gauteng, because Taking Parliament to the People brings other provinces on board too through out our programme during the previsits and during the main project.
I think that I have expected a discussion on the report about Taking Parliament to the People to reflect on the issues that the people of Gauteng come across, and also the experiences which were obtained from other provinces were put in front of the NCOP. I do not expect this House to degenerate into party lines. The pain of the South Africans, of those people who need help and the people that we represent, do not always find joy in the expression of the party colours.
They see this House as the House and a vehicle that would represent them when they can't represent themselves. So, I would really hope that the next discussion on the report tabled by the NCOP on any province, will not be like what we've started off today. Today, I want to take this opportunity to hope that for once, we will all come together and remember to stand close as South Africans, not only the black South Africans, on the issue that is facing Caster Semenya, because it faces us as women in a different form.
When we face this experience, we are reminded about what we went through. It says to us that, in fact, a black woman does not have a chance anywhere. We did not have a chance to express ourselves in our own country, and when we finally had it in 1994 to open up the little gates that enable us to run somewhere to express ourselves and conquer somewhere, it becomes our biological makeup that is now used against us.
Therefore, I'm one of those who will standby and scream for Caster Semenya to be allowed to do what she does best, to run. [Applause.] Also, I think that we would be united as this House, that we will remember that some of us are in semimourning. Not long ago, I lost a man I used to call my friend, Tuku, and I have just lost another big sister, Dorothy Masuku. Dorothy Masuku is that woman who composed the song with the lyrics ...
IsiXhosa:
... undibona ndinje nje, ndilinxila, kungenxa yamaBhulu.
English:
... because at that time ... [Interjections.] ... Yes, I can sing it. At that time it was necessary for us to reflect on what was happening to us and our men. Now, I don't want to get to this point
concerning the clash between the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and hon Mokwele. But I do agree, hon Mokwele, that in fact, the petitioning of Africa was done in Europe.
Its whole aim was to decimate and to destroy the Africans, to take over the mineral resources, to cut them out in ships, to put us in slavery and to rewrite the history of this continent which was rewritten in such a way that we actually believed that the first literates of African descents came after we had the colonisers in Africa, and that is not true. One should go back to looking at Europe and who, in fact, emancipated and brought education to Europe, it was black people from this country.
Yes, we want to give you the due because the Europeans were not the first colonisers and we know that. We know who first came to colonise us and we know who the second trench was, therefore, hon Mokwele, it would seem to us that before we talk about this equality of Africans, we must also talk about the impact, the repackaging, the cutting of countries, the pitching of Africans against one another and the migration down south.
We must look at all those issues because they are what we are still reeling from. Also, we need to be careful when we talk about these
issues because, I don't agree with you when you say, no African is not a foreigner in South Africa. Instead, no African must be a foreigner in Africa. I also think that we must always remember that in our different ways, even as they came to colonise this continent, we had different systems, we had different traditions, we were at different stages of development and we had different minerals.
In our own way, we were developing this country. Therefore, it is a fallacy that when we look at Africa, and South Africa in particular, the only time we got developed was when the Drommedaris came, it is not true. I am speaking as a great-great descendant of Mogale. So, I want to say that we need to really begin to work as this House because I don't ever want to debate in this way from this House. We want to use this House to reunite South Africa.
We want to use this House in order for the pains of the past to be put behind by the South Africans. We do not want to see the debates on the floor of the NCOP delivered in a manner which continues to dig the holes and the scars of the past. So, I want to thank the special delegates, you did us proud. I also want to thank permanent members of the NCOP for the respect you have shown to the special delegates, at least, you did not harass them. We want to say to Gauteng delegate members, continue doing what you're doing.
You've got the eKasi Labs, which are something that the other provinces should actually consider having; you have a promotion of young people in innovative hubs, which I think it's something that must make all South Africans feel that they are equal. The most important thing for me is that the Constitution must make us all equal. The Constitution must be about anybody living anywhere feeling as equal as anybody, whatever the race, whatever the language and whatever the colour.
We need to begin to use the NCOP in such a way that we can really talk on behalf of South Africans. So, I was a bit ashamed today, to listen to the takes from you. I am very happy that the DA wants to build one South Africa, but let us begin looking at those municipalities that you now govern, where you have taken the indigent policies and the basic services to the poorest of the poor.
So, as one South Africa, which minimally we started off by introducing free basic services to the poorest people, was in effect to ensure that the poorest of the people had minimum allocation of water and electricity. Now, let us start with the basics so that when we go, we don't talk on behalf of only those who can talk for themselves, who are literate and who earn something.
Again, when we talk about a South African country which is a sovereign state, let us talk about all of us standing together to protect our sovereignty. For instance, I was very proud when the hon Julius was debating during the state of the nation address. He mentioned that we went to the borders because it was the responsibility of all of us. Therefore, there must be a time for South African politicians to recognise that we can tear into each other as much as we want, but at the end, we are South Africans.
We have a country to build, we have a nation to build and we have children that we must raise better than the way we were raised in this country. This means that the connotations of racism, the way we treat each other's dignities, and egos, is not building. So, again I want to say to the Deputy Ministers that, I do notice the support you are giving to us.
I also notice that you give as much support as we push you to give. We thank you for that. We also thank you that you have never actually said to us that you are not available for our problems. We thank you, Deputy Minister of the Police, for the commitments that you are not only following through in Gauteng, but in other provinces also.
We have privately raised the issues of the trains and the violence that is occurring in the trains of the Western Cape. In our own thinking, the violence that occurs in the trains was targeting the workers who were travelling from as far as Stellenbosch, to come to work in the city. The violence was actually disrupting the economy of the province and the economy of the country. Let's face it, the people who would revolt are not the rich people from the suburbs, it would be the poor people that are using the trains. Therefore, we thank the police for that intervention. [Applause.]
If you remember, Eldorado Park and Reiger Park communities raised the issue of the impact of drugs in their social systems. Therefore, we are also hoping for such intervention to these communities. Also, the people from the informal settlements have reported that there are people that are peddling in their areas. Therefore, we are happy that you have been working very hard to come up with a programme that will arrest the spread of drugs, which will actually make sure that the perpetrators that are destroying South Africa with drugs will spend a very long time in jail. [Applause.]
I also want to highlight that there are areas and offices where the Department of Home Affairs really excels. Therefore, we thank the people who work hard from that department. However, during the
Taking Parliament to the People, we received complaints from the public which concern the department. But we also know that there are pockets of excellence in the Department of Home Affairs. The complaints will be taken into consideration because we've heard your complaints.
Where we can, as the NCOP, we would push for more resources, and perhaps, even for different working hours also. It's a pity that the people who belong to the Department of Health are not here. In fact, one of the concerning issues which shocked us was, how the people would simply abused drugs which are given for free to the people who are living with Aids or the people that are HIV positive.
We agree with Dr Motswaledi, the Minister of Health, that in fact, South Africa cannot just distribute drugs to her citizens. He also made mention of the point that the neighbours may come into the country illegally, but in the long run, the issue of distribution helps us, because the spread affects all of us across the borders. So, in being these good neighbours, there are issues that we must remember. Just now I was writing down, trying to remember, in how many countries I've been in Africa as a refugee?
What you said hon Chohan, is true. As I arrived in Botswana I was registered. In fact, I was arrested first and then registered as a refugee. The same chance was not given to me in Zambia when I was in transit to Tanzania. As I got off the plane, the ANC was organising for my United Nations passport, but they would not release me until I could prove the address. I also knew that I was not allowed to work, allowed trade and allowed to do whatever.
So, South Africa does have these liberal of benefits which we give to the people coming to our country, and I think that the people in Gauteng and across the country are not contesting that. What we are saying as South Africans is that, by all means, one can come to South Africa illegally, but if there is anything that has brought you to come to South Africa illegally, show yourself to the authorities so that you can be processed and be protected.
We are also saying, once you are within the borders of South Africa; respect our laws so that we can protect you within the provisions of these laws. [Applause.] So, I also want to say that, migration is also not just about looking at the people who come across the borders, it is a fact. I was the Premier of the North West, therefore, I know how much the North West owed Gauteng on medical bills and I also know how much the Northern Cape owed Gauteng.
I remember that I knew because the Northern Cape was our neighbour and I know that almost all the provinces referred to Gauteng for medicals, and it carried their burden. In fact, if the health system of Gauteng collapses, we must also look at what we do across the provinces, to make sure that in fact, the proper citizens of Gauteng are not treated badly because the North West has interfered. Also, I have failed to give back to Gauteng what the citizens are contributing in the province.
I also think that at some point we need to relook at how the equitable share is allocated. The model that suggest to count the heads and thereafter an allocation can be made, is not going to help us, if we want to develop this country and if we want to push the agenda of equality. I am saying this because, the poorest people are not able to contribute to tax, and where are they found? They are found in the rural provinces. Now, if you want to equate South Africans and you do not want them to creep into Tembisa ... [Interjections.]