Mnr die Voorsitter en Minister, ek stem saam met biskop Tutu; ons het 'n wonderlike land met 'n wonderlike renboognasie. Ons het 'n nuwe demokrasie en daarom het ons definitief aanpassings nodig, ook in die Wetboek. Daar is nog ander verskille. Sommige van ons is baie, baie arm. Sommige woon in stede en groot getalle woon op die platteland, waar daar klaargekom moet word met die minimum geriewe, en dit verg groot ontberings.
Hierdie wetgewing waaroor dit vandag gaan, is nodig om 'n regstelling te maak. Die klem word verskuif van vorm na inhoud, en ons steun dit heelhartig. In die verlede was daar baie klem op die oprigting van indrukwekkende, duur strukture vir die slag van diere. Hierdie wetsontwerp fokus meer op die prosesse wat ons nodig het om veilige vleis aan ons mense te verskaf. Dit is 'n absolute noodsaaklikheid in ons land met sy diverse gemeenskappe.
Baie probeer om hulle karige inkomste aan te vul deur onder meer die slag en verkoop van vleis aan die publiek, soms met verreikende gesondheidsgevolge. Ons in die DP wil hierdie entrepreneurs al die geleenthede gee wat hulle lewenstandaarde kan verbeter. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.) [Ms E C GOUWS: Mr Chairperson and Minister, I agree with Bishop Tutu; we have a wonderful country with a wonderful rainbow nation. We have a new democracy and we therefore definitely need adjustments, also on the Statute Book. There are also other differences. Many of us are very, very poor. Some live in cities and large numbers live in the rural areas, where one must make do with the minimum facilities, and this leads to a great deal of hardship.
This legislation which is at issue today is necessary to bring about a correction. The emphasis is shifting from form to content, and we support this wholeheartedly. In the past there was a great deal of emphasis on the erection of impressive, expensive structures for the slaughtering of animals. This Bill focuses more on the processes which we need to provide safe meat to our people. This is absolutely essential in our country with its diverse communities.
Many try to supplement their meagre income, inter alia, by slaughtering and selling meat to the public, sometimes with far-reaching health consequences. We in the DP want to give these entrepreneurs all the opportunities which could improve their living standards.]
There is a clause in the Bill in terms of which, in the view of the Minister, an exemption may be granted in respect of certain areas, grades of abattoirs, owners or persons, in respect of certain kinds of animals, requiring only that the relevant MEC must be consulted.
The DP rejects this clause, and thinks it is a sweetheart clause for an all- too-powerful Government. It is of no consequences while the incumbent Minister or MECs are honourable and honest, but disastrous when the reverse proves to be the case. Bills and laws must protect us, not from the honest, but from the dishonest.
We all agree to the provisions in the Bill that must ensure public health. We are horrified at the thought that a disaster may befall us such as that in the UK, where insufficient control was exercised on the composition of animal feed. This led to the shameful outbreak of mad cow disease - shameful because animal feed containing diseased carcasses was fed to the animals. It is strongly suspected that the consumption of this product can lead to a fatal disease in human beings.
The crucial issue in the MCD saga was the lack of oversight and control. This will be the crucial issue in this and other laws. The mere publication of an Act does nothing to enforce it. The Government loves the phrases ``capacity'' and ``capacity-building''. The absence of both of these was what led to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in KwaZulu-Natal. It now seems quite clear that the almost total breakdown of oversight and control over whatever happens to come from ships in harbours is what caused this outbreak.
The fact that we had legislation in place requiring the controlled destruction of such potentially dangerous products did not ensure that it was adhered to.
Ons in die DP is bekommerd oor die uitvoerbaarheid en die wil by die Regering om hierdie wetsontwerp te kan toepas. Ons s weer, in die Wetboek het dit meriete, maar gaan ons sien dat dit toegepas word? Ons kan nie dobbel met ons mense se gesondheid en die skrikwekkende finansile implikasies wat dit vir die land kan inhou nie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[We in the DP are concerned about the practicability and the will of the Government to be able to implement this Bill. We say once again, on the Statute Book it has merit, but are we going to see it implemented? We cannot gamble with our people's health and the alarming financial implications which this could have for the country.]