Sihlalo, Mphathiswa obekekileyo, malungu abekekileyo, namaqabane abekekileyo, ukuba besisesikolweni ngekuba ndithi ukhona lo mntu ukukrobisileyo, ngoba uninzi lweenkxalabo zethu uzichaphazele kwintetho yakho. Ngoko ke imibuzo yethu ebimininzi iyakutsho inciphe. Mhlawumbi iza kunceda namanye amaphondo ebengekaqondi. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[Ms N D NTWANAMBI: Chairperson, hon Minister, hon members, hon comrades, if we were at school, I would say that someone had allowed you to copy, because you have touched on most of our concerns in your speech. Therefore, our questions, which were many, have been reduced. Maybe, this will help other provinces, which have not yet understood.]
The Bill that is before the House now is not something new, as the Minister has said. It was debated three years ago, but it came back for amendments. Our committee agreed to the Bill with the amendments we have proposed. I must also say that of the nine provinces only seven voted in favour. Limpopo rejected the Bill, North West did not send its final mandate when we had our last mandate, and that was in North West, but constitutionally the Bill has been agreed to. We have a concern though - as I said, Minister - that even some micro loan finance banks, or "mashonisas", offer credit cards. We do not have to mention them by name.
Andizi kuba namali xa benokuthi mandibahlawule ngoku, ngenxa yokubachaza kwam apha, kodwa ke yinkxalabo yethu le yokuba nabanye oomatshonisa ngoku banamakhadi etyala. [I will not have the money, if they were to say I should pay them now, because of my mentioning them here, but it is our concern that some of the moneylenders now have credit cards.]
I must also mention that, as the committee, we are concerned about gambling, particularly, because poor people always have this hope of winning a big prize or millions of rand.
Njengabantu abacula umthandazo weNkosi yonke le mihla, sifuna ukungangeniswa ekuhendweni. Nathi masizincede singabi ngabantu abazikhohlisayo, sisinde nakwezinye izinto esingazi kukwazi ukuzenzela zona. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[As people who sing the Lord's Prayer everyday, we do not want to be led into temptation. We should help ourselves and not be people who delude themselves; and be saved from other things we would not be able to do ourselves.]
We want you, Minister, to include limits in the regulations, whether it is interactive gambling or land-based, as you have said. We also suggest that gambling sites be monitored, now and again, to caution gamblers on the dangers of gambling. We say this because many gamblers get so hooked that, sometimes, they are unable to free themselves. It might also be wise that, whenever one puts the card in the slot machines, big letters appear, informing one of the dangers associated with gambling habits.
The Select Committee on Economic and Foreign Affairs supports the Bill with amendments.
Chairperson, I want to take this opportunity to thank members of the Select Committee on Economic and Foreign Affairs for all the support and respect they gave me. I also wish to extend my gratitude to them because, when I was ill, they prayed for me. I also want to assure them that I am still a member of the committee and, though I might not be chairing it in future, I am still a member of it. I thank you. [Applause.]