Chairperson, friends, whatever reservations we express in our report about aspects of the processing of this Bill by the department, we must be utterly clear: The committee welcomes the formation of Broadband Infraco and congratulates the Minister and the department on this novel and far-sighted intervention in the telecommunications sector.
The Minister has just presented a clear, lucid case for Infraco - though I must say that it fell on deaf ears when it comes to Manie van Dyk, but the Minister will speak for himself. It would certainly help if what the Minister said was communicated to the widest possible range of stakeholders so that the role of Infraco would be better understood and its considerable potential appreciated.
The committee's report on the Bill is carried in today's ATCs - if it is not, it will be in tomorrow's ATCs - and previous speakers have already dealt with some of the issues. I will just focus on a few aspects.
Obviously, finding the right balance between the role of the state and the market in economic growth and development is never easy and, of course, this relationship between market and state changes over time. Through our deliberations on this Bill, two key issues emerged.
Firstly, as far as possible, we should keep open in the Bills that we adopt in Parliament the option of the state being involved in key sectors of the economy, even if that option is not to be exercised at the time the Bill is finalised. For example, with hindsight - I notice the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and the Deputy Minister in the House - it is clear to us, at least, that the Electronic Communications Act of 2005 has a lacuna. It did not consider the possibility that a new state- owned entity might be created in the telecommunications sector.
Secondly, regarding SOEs that serve the national interest, we believe, as a committee, that they are entitled to rights over and above those granted to private sector role-players in the same industry. And this can be provided for in a way that is consistent with a mixed economy. It is certainly a characteristic of social democratic societies and it can be done without driving the private sector away. In fact, properly managed, the private sector can also benefit from state involvement.
In the submissions we received from private sector role-players on this Bill we didn't get a sense of this vision. We felt that most of these role- players felt unduly threatened by Infraco and we think the Ministry and the department might, at an appropriate stage, want to respond further to this even if what has emerged is much greater consensus, as he rightly said a moment ago, in respect of the role that Infraco could play. We know that much work has been done in this regard, but perhaps a bit more might be necessary.
In respect of the department's processing of the Bill before it was brought to Parliament, our report refers to certain inadequacies. But we accept there were certain unique circumstances that applied to this particular Bill. We are aware, too, that the department put in a lot of work and the comments in our report are not directed at any particular individual or indeed ultimately at the Department of Public Enterprises.
Let me refer to the salient part in our report which reads:
Our experience of this Bill raises a more general issue that parliamentary committees have referred to every now and again. The need for the executive ...
The executive generally, mind you -
... to consult effectively ...
Where am I? I am lost!
... to consult effectively with relevant stakeholders before a Bill is brought to Parliament ...
[Interjections.] I am only human - unlike the DA! [Interjections.] The report goes on to say:
What, after all, is the point of the executive gazetting Bills for public comment? It cannot just be a nominal process. Effective and widespread consultation can certainly contribute to improving the quality of a Bill and creating greater support for it even before it reaches Parliament. This will serve to ease the burden on committees which simply do not have the technical resources available that the executive has.
I would like, as I reluctantly leave this committee, to express my sincerest appreciation to all those who co-operated so helpfully with me and made it such a pleasure to chair this committee. Mostly, I want to thank the lively, engaging activistic ANC study group of this committee which found, I think, the right balance between taking our work seriously and also having a sense of fun.
In particular, I want to thank Comrade Ncumisa Kondlo, the senior chief whip of our study group, and Comrade Peter Hendrickse, the senior backbencher, as we teasingly refer to them, but all the members of the study group really.
I also express appreciation to members of the opposition parties for their constructive contribution, particularly Martin Stephens, Pierre Rabie and Eugenia Chang - and in the case of the latter, for holding her ground but seeking, in her unique way, friendships across the political and ideological divides.
I express appreciation to our committee secretary, Vhonani Ramaano, not just for his commitment but for his very pleasant manner as well, and to our two researchers including Eric Boskati.
I also want to thank Minister Alec Erwin. Of course, he's a tough Minister in his own way but he is also very accessible and amenable. It may be an odd thing for the chairperson of a portfolio committee that takes its oversight role seriously to say but it's true.
The Minister has, with his considerable understanding and experience of the economy, played a unique educational role for many of us in the committee and we express our sincere appreciation for this. He has commended the committee, but the committee has been able to be effective partly because he takes us so seriously and I thank him for that.
As I've said before, you are a very young and exciting department, lead by Portia Molefe, and I think it has enormous potential and will cope with the many tasks that it has.
I also want to acknowledge the parliamentary liaison officer, Reneva Fourie, and thank her - she is quite the best in her job that I've dealt with until now. She's not just efficient but easy to work with.
I also wish the new chairperson of the portfolio committee, Fatima Chohan- Khota all the best in her new role.
Finally, I want to stress that this Infraco project is too big and too important not to succeed. As a portfolio committee, we very much want it to work. The committee will monitor developments closely and offer whatever support it can, consistent with its oversight role. But for Infraco to succeed, all role-players have to play their full part and co-operate effectively. We urge that they do so. We will certainly play our full part.
In conclusion, I appreciate the many words of appreciation by members who have never actually come to the committee, but I do appreciate it nevertheless. What I want to say to the members, and I want to urge this House to understand, is: I am not dying, I am not moving. They ask: "Where are you going?" I say: "Just down the road." So, actually, I will very much be part of this House and very much a part of another committee but I will certainly be here and I will speak as long as I normally do. Thank you very much. [Applause.]