Deputy Speaker, I am not sure if that is a follow-up question, but I will leave it to your judgment. Let me restate, for the hon Van Dyk, the fact that the norms of the Employment Equity Act, which is a piece of legislation from this House, are not optional. They must be complied with. It is very important that we don't suggest in this House that state-owned enterprises be spared or that we must have different norms. If we can't meet the criteria set out in the Employment Equity Act then I think it is important that such enterprises should report to Parliament for their omissions. That is how the system should work.
In respect of the restructuring by norms - and there are comparatives available across the world - South African Airways is personnel-heavy and you can measure these personnel per aircraft. You can look at management - and you can look at it in any part of the structure - these are issues that have to be dealt with.
Nowhere in the world do people raise their hands and say that they would like to be dismissed or that they are working because they are just trying to fill the time. People are not easily separated from their places of employment. These are always difficult negotiations. There are going to be two sides of the story.
I am not directly involved as a line function but I have seen that the general manager for human resources at SAA has written pieces that have been placed in a number of newspapers. They have taken adverts and placed them in newspapers. When I fly, staff members talk to me about these issues. They have concerns but I have the sense that there is much better communication than pessimists would have us believe.
Strategies to keep maize affordable and available
312. Ms J L Fubbs (ANC) asked the Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs:
What strategies have been developed to ensure that maize as a staple food continues to remain affordable and available in sufficient quantities? NO2091E