Madam Deputy Speaker, Ministers and Deputy Ministers present, hon members, on behalf of the Ad Hoc Committee on Matters Relating to the Ex-Mineworkers Union, I submit to the House a preliminary report and the necessary recommendation thereon. This ad hoc committee came about as a result of a resolution by this House following interaction with a group of people representing ex-mineworkers. The mandate given to the committee was to investigate complaints made by the group on 31 October 2007 at the People's Assembly in Bizana.
In the process of investigating complaints, the ad hoc committee received, in the form of presentations and briefing sessions, contributions of high quality from a number of stakeholders were received. The context in which the contributions were made by involved parties assisted the investigation as complaints started to translate into pensions, death benefits, occupational injuries and diseases contracted in service.
In pursuit of these labour rights, ex-mineworkers sent representatives to various government departments, offices, labour organisations and high profile people to present their case. There were strange instances where the complainants would employ approaches like sit-ins, protest marches, disruptions of government events and even withdrawals from processes that sought to resolve the matter.
Despite all these, parties involved, the ad hoc committee included, hold a view that if more could be done, the resolution of this matter is possible. Inputs made to the committee suggested that there remain stakeholders out there with crucial information that can further assist in resolving the matter. Because of that, the ad hoc committee recommends that whilst it understands the gravity and urgency of the concerns and complaints raised, the House considers the following: ... [Interjections.]