House Chairperson, I said the portfolio committee was at liberty to get a progress report on our preparedness to effect this transfer. The agreement has been made. The contract was awarded in 2005. How, then, do we effect an exit strategy for Pollsmoor, which is in three phases; for Patensie in the Eastern Cape; for Umzinto; for Johannesburg Medium A and B, and all those places? I am sure you are not looking for a situation where inmates have food today and no food tomorrow. It would be irresponsible for anyone in this House to suggest that we should just do it for the sake of doing it, without being prepared.
Let us give ourselves an opportunity. In September we will submit a progress report so that all of us, reading from the same page, will know how far we are. We will know where we are by October, November, December, and so forth. No one has misled the House. The report by Minister Mapisa- Nqakula was correct and we are making progress precisely on that. There is no change of policy; it is the same ANC. [Applause.]
Proposed establishment of SADC Customs Union
213. Mr E M Sulliman (ANC) asked the Minister of International Relations and Co-operation:
(a) Why has the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Customs Union not yet been established as envisaged with the establishment of the SADC Free Trade Agreement in 2008, (b) what steps has she taken to facilitate the realisation of this goal and (c) what has been the cost of not establishing the SADC Customs Union?