Mudzulatshidulo, ndi khou livhuwa u fhiwa tshifhinga lwa u tou thoma uri ndi davhidzane na dzulo i?i malugana na zwipikwa zwa uyu Mulayotibe wa Poswo ya Afurika Tshipembe, nga maan?a ro livhana na mafhungo a ndangulo kwayo na matshimbidzele one one a itshi tshishumiswa. (Translation of Tshivenda paragraph follows.)
[Ms A F MUTHAMBI: Chairperson, I thank for you the opportunity given to me for the first time to debate at this sitting about the objectives of this SA Post Office Bill, especially in relation to the efficient management and administration of this institution.]
I need to first correct the statement made by hon Michael from the DA. I want to it on record that the DA never walked out during the processing of the Bill. The only time they walked out was when we were adopting the Department of Communications and Government Communication and Information System's reports. Therefore the statement made by the hon member is misleading and I challenge the hon member to consult the records of the committee proceedings in this regard. [Applause.]
The tabling of the SA Post Office SOC Ltd Bill seeks to strengthen existing governance mechanisms. It further not only addresses issues of company operations but also deals specifically with issues of the SA Post Office as a state-owned entity. Enabling provisions that deal with the operation of the Post Office still lie in the almost obsolete Post Office Act of 1958. As a result of these developments, it became imperative that a new law be enacted to deal with governance issues and to ensure that the SA Post Office meets the mandate of universal service obligation and universal access, in view of convergence and developments in the information and communication technology, ICT, sector, so that we can clearly define the structure of the SA Post Office as a corporate entity.
Mulayotibe uyu u dovha hafhu wa thoma matshimbidzele ane a ?o vhekanya nzudzanyo dza tshiimiswa dzine dza khwa?hisedza u shuma zwavhu?i, u khwi?isa n?isedzo ya tshumelo, na u ?u?uwedza vhu?ifhinduleli. Tshipikwa tshihulwane tsha Mulayotibe uyu ndi u vhona uri Poswo ya Afurika Tshipembe i dzule i hone tshifhinga tsho?he, hu vhe na vhulanguli kwayo na mbetshelwa ya tshumelo ya poswo ine ya swikelelea nga vho?he. Vhathu vho?he vha tea ?itika ngayo nahone ivhe na mitengo i fareaho. Hu tea u vha na mbetshelwa ya tshumelo nnzhi ya poswo u itela nyaluwo ya ikonomi na mbveledziso ya shango, khathihi na u ?u?uwedza vhashumi u guda vhukoni ho teaho kha n?owetshumo ya poswo, nga maan?a kha zwigwada zwine u ya nga ha ?ivhazwakale, zwo vha zwo siiwa thungo.
Zwenezwo, u phasiswa ha Mulayotibe uyu nga Phalamennde N?uni ino, ndi ?iga ?avhu?i kha u shandukisa na u ita uri poswo ya Afurika Tshipembe i vhe ya musalauno. Hezwi zwi ?o khwi?isa vhu?i ha tshumelo na u ?etshedza tshumelo i swikeleleaho ine vhathu vha nga ?itika ngayo, na u dovha u vhona uri poswo ya Afurika Tshipembe i ita mushumo wayo nga n?ila ine ya vha khagala, zwine zwa ?o vhuedza vhunzhi ha vhadzulapo vha shango.
Hoyu Mulayotibe u dovha hafhu wa ?o?a u shelamulenzhe nga n?ila i vhuedzaho kha vhunzhi ha vhathu, nga maan?a kha zwitshavha zwa mahayani hune poswo ya Afurika Tshipembe ya ita mushumo wayo nga u vhona uri hu na mbetshelwa ya tshumelo nnzhi dza poswo na dzi?we tshumelo dzine dza vha nn?a ha tshumelo iyi, u itela nyaluwo ya ikonomi na mbveledziso ya shango i?i ?ashu.
Ndi zwa ndeme u humbudza Nn?u nga ha mivhundu mi?uku ire mahayani kulekule na dzi?orobo, uri poswo ndi tshone tshishumiswa tsha muvhuso tshi tsho?he tshine tsha ?etshedza tshumelo dza ndeme dza poswo, tshumelo dza muvhuso na dzi?we tshumelo dzo engedzedzwaho dzine dza nga, u vusuludzwa ha mithelo ya zwiendedzi, mbadelo dza mindende, mbadelo dza mu?agasi, u vhulunga na u rumela masheleni, na zwi?we-vho. Hu na vhathu vhanzhi vhane vhutshilo havho ho?he ho ?isendeka nga tshumelo ya poswoni. Vha na fhulufhelo ?a uri kana zwa tou ita hani, tshumelo ya poswo ndi yoneyone nahone a i nga vha khakhisi kha nyito na vhubindudzi havho. (Translation of Tshivenda paragraphs follows.)
[This Bill also initiates the processes which would put in place the structures of the institution which put emphasis on good performance, improve service delivery and encourage accountability. The main objective of this Bill is to ensure that the SA Post Office is available at all times, that there is proper administration and that the provision of a postal service is accessible to all. There should be reasonable prices for the people who depend on the service. There should be provision for many services for economic growth and the development of the country as well as motivation for the workers to acquire skills required in the post office industry, especially in areas which, according to history, were marginalised.
Therefore, the passing of this Bill by Parliament in this House is a good step to transform the SA Post Office into a modern one. This will improve and provide reliable services which will be accessible to all, and ensure that the SA Post Office performs its duties in a transparent way, which would benefit most of the citizens of this country.
This Bill participates in a way which benefits most people, especially in rural areas where the SA Post Office provides more services, some of which are outside its mandate, for the economic growth and development of our country.
It is important to remind the House about the small rural villages which are far from the cities, where the Post Office is the only government institution which provides crucial postal, government and other additional services such as the renewal of vehicle licences, payments of pensions, electricity, savings, money transfers and others. There are so many people who depend on the services of the Post Office for their lives. They trust that the postal services are the best and will never disappoint them in their investment activities.]
The issue of conflicts of interest is a concern for the ANC and the country at large. It emerged as a vital part of the efforts to prevent corruption and modernise the public sector. Actual or potential conflict of interest of public officials has become a key issue of the ANC's political and public debate. There is a growing understanding that conflict of interest is harmful to public trust and can lead to corruption. We have seen this in the Auditor-General's report on government officials doing business with government, and the House has passed the resolution during the past year for accounting officers to take steps to establish strict and precise measures in this regard.
Swa nkoka hi Nawumbisi lowu wu ringeta ku lulamisa ndlela leyi khampani yi nga ta tirha na timhaka to paluxa kumbe ku pfumela ku va na xiave. Hi ndlela leyi Nawumbisi wu tumbuluxa sisiteme yo veka nandzu eka mhaka ya nkwetlembetano wa ntsakelo hi ku seketela maendlelo yo pfala leswi. (Translation of Xitsonga paragraph follows.)
[The important thing about this Bill is that it seeks to rectify the way in which the company will deal with the issue of disclosure or be allowed to be a shareholder. In this manner, the Bill will establish a system to criminalise the issue of conflict of interest by supporting the means to stop this.]
Provision is made in the Bill to provide for employees of the SA Post Office to take an oath or make affirmations before a Justice of the Peace prior to them performing the functions of their positions. In that vein, the Bill, together with other relevant constitutional, administrative and criminal legal provisions, provides a legal basis for identifying and controlling conflict-of-interest situations. The Bill therefore establishes a system to criminalise the issue of conflict of interest by encouraging the process to divest itself of such situations and avoid conflicts of interest.
Nawumbisi lowu wu kongomisa eka ku ndlandlamuxa ku tiyimisela ka mfumo ku vona leswaku switirhisiwa swa tiko swi vuyerisa Maafrika Dzonga. Nakambe nawu lowu wu ta tiyisisa leswaku ku na maendlelo lawa nga erivaleni lawa nga ta endla leswaku swi olova ku fikelela swikongomelo.
Mitirho na vutihlamuleri bya lava nga na xiave swi andlariwile. Mitirho ya lava va nga ni mikavelo yi hambanisiwile. Bodo na mitirhonkulu ya khampani yi le rivaleni. Maafrika Dzonga va ta tiva leswaku ya lawuriwa. Va ta nghenelela eka maendlelo yo hlawula swirho swa bodo. (Translation of Xitsonga paragraphs follows.)
[The Bill is aimed at enhancing the government's commitment to ensuring that state resources benefit South Africans. Again, the Bill will ensure that there are transparent processes that will ensure that it is easy to achieve the goals.
The duties and responsibilities of the shareholders are outlined. The duties of those who have shares have been distinguished. The main functions of the board and the entity are explicit. South Africans will know that it is managed. They will be involved in the nomination processes of board members.]
The Bill aims to facilitate greater efficiency and strengthen accountability within the Post Office. It therefore creates a space for transparency and openness in the reporting and disclosure of information, both operational and financial.
The Bill is crafted to ensure that the board and its employees demonstrate compliance with the following characteristics: people with knowledge, ability and commitment to fulfil their responsibilities; people who understand their purpose and whose interests they represent; people who understand what constitutes reasonable information for good governance and do everything possible to obtain it.
Provision is made for the duties of the Post Office and also for the powers of the Post Office. The Bill also makes provision for the conclusion of an annual performance agreement with the Minister of Communications, in terms of which the performance of the functions of the Post Office will be measured. Furthermore, provision is made for concurrence between the Minister of Communications and the Minister of Finance when it comes to government support to the Post Office and upon loan acquisitions.
The Bill further provides details on the Post Office board, its functions and grounds for the disqualification of members of the board. The procedure to appoint nonexecutive members to the board is outlined and the fiduciary duties are also explained. It is our submission as the ANC that the commitment of government will only be achieved when state-owned entities are well managed and directed, therefore leading to the overall development of and economic growth in the sector.
A ndzi kanakani leswaku ku pasisiwa ka Nawumbisi lowu swi ta tisa ku tsaka na nyanyuko eka Maafrika Dzonga tani hi maendlelo lawa nga erivaleni yo fambisa mabindzu ya mfumo. Tani hi xiphemu xa maendlelo swi ta endla leswaku va tiva. (Translation of Xitsonga paragraph follows.)
[I have no doubt that the ratifying of the Bill will bring joy and excitement to South Africans as a transparent process to manage state-owned enterprises. As part of the process, it will enable them to be in the know.]
?ihoro ?a ANC ?i khou tikedza Mulayotibe uyo. Ndi a livhuwa. [U vhanda zwan?a.] [The ANC supports this Bill. I thank you. [Applause.]]