Mevrou die Voorsitter, hierdie wetsontwerp kan beskou word as deel van die huidige boekjaar se aansuiweringsbegroting, waarvan die meeste aansuiwerings van ander departemente reeds einde verlede jaar in die Parlement aangehoor en bespreek is. Hierdie aansuiwerings ten opsigte van, onderskeidelik, Denel en die Padongelukkefonds word beskou as addisionele fondse en beredeneer as onvoorsienbaar en onvermydelik. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Madam Chairperson, this Bill could be regarded as part of the adjustments appropriation for the current financial year, of which most adjustments of other departments have already been addressed and discussed in Parliament at the end of last year. These adjustments, with regard to Denel and the Road Accident Fund, respectively, are regarded as additional funds and considered to be unforeseen and inevitable.]
The DA in principle supports the appropriation of R2,7 billion for the Department of Transport for further transfer to the Road Accident Fund in order for it to proceed with scheduled payments to successful claimants and to settle the outstanding payment to the SA Revenue Service. We base this decision purely on the knowledge of the 400 000 claims outstanding - some going back nearly three years - and the long and painful suffering these claimants have endured because of not receiving payment for injuries.
But just throwing R2,7 billion at the Road Accident Fund to bail it out of its state of insolvency is not the answer. The DA opposed the recent amendments to the Road Accident Fund Act, as did over 100 000 signatories to the Stop the Bill petition, because the Bill failed to address the real issues facing the fund, namely poor management and high costs of fees spent on lawyers, medical experts and actuaries.
In the long run the only thing that will make the Road Accident Fund sustainable is a dramatic reduction in the number of road accidents. Over 12 000 people died on our roads last year, and many more were injured and maimed. This costs the economy of the country as much as R40 billion per annum.
Die huidige toestand van Suid-Afrika se padnetwerk dra grootliks hiertoe by en die regering moet in 'n groot mate die mede-aanspreeklikheid daarvoor aanvaar. Ek het die Minister van Vervoer verlede jaar gevra hoeveel kilometer paaie op die waglys is vir onderhoud en rehabilitering. Uit sy antwoord blyk dit dat 105 627km paaie dringend aandag nodig het. [Tussenwerpsels.] Soos die agb Seremane dit stel, deesdae kyk 'n mens op sommige paaie nie meer uit vir die slaggate nie; jy soek eerder die pad wat oorgebly het tussen die slaggate! [Tussenwerpsels.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[The present state of South Africa's road network is largely contributing to this state of affairs and the government must, to a great extent, be held co-responsible. Last year I requested the Minister of Transport to provide details of how many kilometres of road were placed on the waiting list for maintenance and rehabilitation. From his answer it appears that 105 627km of roads need urgent attention. [Interjections.] As the hon Seremane puts it, these days you no longer look out for potholes on certain roads, but rather for the piece of road that has been left between the potholes! [Interjections.]]
The question needs to be asked whether any conditions have been linked to this appropriation in terms of ensuring that the fund won't end up looking for further appropriations in the future, or, for that matter, a further increase in the fuel levy.
The DA has on a number of occasions in this House asked for the Minister to commission an appropriate external task team to investigate the Road Accident Fund with a view to coming up with recommendations to restructure the fund in an appropriate way and to make it more sustainable, efficient and free of corruption.
The amendments to the Road Accident Fund have a number of controversial clauses. Amendments now take away the common-law right of the innocent motorist, whilst the offending or negligent driver carries no such burden and in many cases can walk away scot-free, despite the fact that he or she may be in a position to pay for any damages caused in excess of the Road Accident Fund's accountability.
I wonder whether the Minister took these issues into consideration when so generously bailing out the Road Accident Fund. Surely, some of this money could be well placed in campaigns to educate and provide the necessary enforcement to stop the continued loss of life of and injuries to our citizens, which is indirectly costing the economy billions. I trust the Minister will have time to ponder these areas where we seem to be robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Secondly, the DA supports the R2 billion bail-out of Denel to restructure itself, given present circumstances. We are appalled by the financial losses this company suffers year after year and we must emphasise that this drain on the fiscus cannot be allowed to continue indefinitely. Denel must shape up or be shipped out!
Nevertheless, Denel is a strategically important enterprise that should be salvaged if at all possible. It has long-term commitments to maintain and has to upgrade existing weapons systems in the Defence Force. It is the core of our valuable aerospace capability. Its internationally recognised scientific and technical expertise is a national asset that we cannot afford to lose or compromise. It has more than 10 000 employees. They cannot just be abandoned to the hardships of unemployment or the lure of emigration.
Uit voorleggings aan die Parlement blyk dit dat daar geen wanpraktyke by die organisasie voorgekom het nie. Agterlosige bestuur en die verkleining van Denel se hoofuitsetmark, die SANW, is verantwoordelik vir die organisasie se verliesgeskiedenis. Tog lyk Denel se nuwe visie en missie as internasionale vennoot vir die ontwikkeling van onderdele van wapentuig, eerder as om die volledige artikels te vervaardig, meer belowend. Die ontwikkeling van wapentuig het verreikende openbare en nasionale strategiese beleidsimplikasies.
Gevolglik is dit moeilik om Denel te privatiseer. Denel moet f herstruktureer word f, indien dit nie slaag nie, as organisasie gesloop en gelikwideer word. Die DA vertrou dat hierdie addisionele R2 miljard- inspuiting so 'n katastrofe sal voorkom en Denel eerder op die pad na herstel sal plaas. Die DA steun hierdie wetsontwerp. Dankie, Voorsitter. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[From submissions to Parliament, it appears that no irregularities occurred at this organisation. Careless management and the shrinking of Denel's main market, the SANDF, are responsible for the organisation's loss history. Though, it seems that the new vision and mission of Denel, as international partner to develop spares for armaments rather than manufacturing the complete items, is more promising. The development of armaments has far- reaching public and national strategic policy implications.
Consequently, it is not easy to privatise Denel. Denel has either to be restructured, or, if this does not succeed, dissolved or liquidated as an organisation. The DA trusts that this additional R2 billion injection will prevent such a catastrophe and will rather place Denel on the path of recovery. The DA supports this Bill. Thank you. [Applause.]]