Agb Adjunkminister, u moet net mooi luister, dan sal u agterkom waaroor dit gaan.
Maar geen reg is absoluut nie. Die reg om te staak sou, as fundamentele reg, in hierdie geval beperk kon word deur artikel 36, die beperkingsklousule in die Handves, in werking te stel. Agb Minister, die taak l op u skouers om te sorg dat aanbeveling 15 met groot verantwoordelikheid oorweeg word. Die sukses waarmee u departement sy mandaat in die toekoms sal kan uitvoer, is op die spel. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Dr J C KLOPPERS-LOURENS: Hon Deputy Minister, just listen carefully, then you will find out what this is about.
But no right is absolute. The right to strike, as a fundamental right, could in this case be limited by putting into force section 36, the clause of limitation in the Bill of Rights. Hon Minister, the task rests upon your shoulders to ensure that recommendation 15 is considered with great responsibility. The future success of your department in carrying out its mandate is at stake.]
One of the three priorities underlined in the National Development Plan to achieve its objectives, is "improving the quality of education, skills development and innovation". Education, skills and innovation are inseparable. Deng Xiaoping, an outstanding Chinese leader of the previous century, who contributed hugely to turning China into a fast-growing and successful economy, constantly emphasised the importance of education and the advancement of science and technology. Last year, during my Budget Vote speech, I stressed the fact that the creation of human capital and a knowledge-based economy started with the curriculum presented in our educational institutions. I called on the Minister to become involved in conversations in this regard. In her response, she agreed that we must strive to improve our performance. Too little time prevents me from elaborating on this issue, Minister, but it suffices to refer you to an extract from paragraph 4 of Chapter 2 of the White Paper on Science and Technology, which reads:
New approaches to education and training need to be developed that will equip researchers to work more effectively in an innovative society. This will require new curricula and training programmes that are comprehensive, holistic and flexible, rather than narrowly discipline- based. Education and training in an innovative society should not trap people within constraining specialities, but enable them to participate and adopt a problem-solving approach to social and economic issues within and across discipline boundaries.
Agb Minister, ek wil herhaal wat ek verlede jaar ges het. U departement behoort betrokke te raak by die kurrikulumgesprek en moet miskien selfs die voortou neem. [Hon Minister, I repeat what I said last year. Your department should become involved in the curriculum dialogue and should perhaps even take a leading role.]
During the past year, I sought clarity about the issue of government's involvement in SunSpace, a strategically important satellite manufacturing company. Despite two Cabinet decisions in 2009 and 2011 that government would acquire a majority equity stake in SunSpace and that funding would be made available through the usual budget processes of government, the management and council of this company were greatly disillusioned over a period of three-and-a-half years. In what was nothing but a 180-degree turnaround on this issue, Cabinet, in October 2012, approved that negotiations be entered into with the SA National Space Agency, Sansa, to explore the absorption of the core capability of SunSpace into Sansa. The department then proposed that SunSpace's core capability be safeguarded and absorbed into Denel Dynamics.
The process started in November 2012 and it was anticipated that it could take approximately three to four months. Minister, it is now seven months later. The lives and finances of many highly qualified SunSpace staff members are still on hold. Where does the department stand regarding the whole absorption process and at what cost will the tax-paying community have to foot the bill?
Laastens, die Africa Institute of South Africa Act Repeal Bill wil die wet herroep en die instituut ontbind, wat tot inkorporasie van die instituut in die Raad vir Geesteswetenskaplike Navorsing sal lei. Hoewel dit tans die enigste oplossing vir probleme met die instituut blyk te wees, kom die inkorporering verdag voor. Die inkorporasieproses het reeds begin voordat die Parlement die wetsontwerp goedgekeur het. Dit lyk asof daar eers op inkorporasie besluit is en toe na redes gesoek is om dit te regverdig. Dit laat 'n mens wonder of die bestuurprobleme van die instituut nie miskien aan die wortel van die ontbinding l nie. In 1999 was die salarispakket van die besturende direkteur, wat tot vroe aftrede gedwing is, 'n skrale R150 000. Vir sy opvolger is dit onmiddellik byna verdubbel en binne ses jaar versesvoudig, waarna hy moes bedank vanwe ondersoeke na wanbestuur. Di salarispakket staan tans op R1,5 miljoen. Die jaarlikse begroting van die instituut het oor 'n tydperk van 13 jaar van R3,2 miljoen na R35,2 miljoen geklim en, ten spyte van 'n veel groter personeel, is uitsette nie na wense nie. Dit het my te wete gekom dat die instituut se bydrae tot die mediese hulpfonds van sy pensioenarisse oor die afgelope twee jaar van 70% tot 30% verminder is, glo in opdrag van die departement vanwe begrotingsbeperkinge. Dit is 'n skrale besparing van R55 000 vanjaar teen 'n begroting van ongeveer R40 miljoen.
Soos met die Transnet-pensioenarisse moet pensioenarisse van die instituut nou bykans hul volle pensioen aan mediese fondsbydraes bestee. Dit is pensioene wat in 2012, sonder konsultasie met pensioenarisse, in annuteitspolisse omskep is en wat pensioenarisse nou uitlewer aan die onstabiliteit van die aandelemark. Minister, dit is ontstellend. Dit pas nie by die aansien van u departement nie.
'n AGB LID: Hoor, hoor!