Chair, we have designed the accelerated infrastructure programme in such a way that we are not dependent on provinces.
We identify resources nationally and work with provinces and the Development Bank of Southern Africa, DBSA, to help us with project management. In this way we get the private sector to deliver directly to schools in the already identified priority areas.
The 2014 commitment is not dependent on provinces as such, but on our abilities with partners. As I said, we have the Coca-Cola fund, the Mvula Trust and all those people coming with to assist us to implement. We are not so dependent on the provinces.
In terms of what you correctly identify as stealing, I think stealing in schools is a major problem in communities, especially in poor communities. One of the strategies we are employing is to really work with communities to create a sense of ownership and to get them to build the schools so that they can protect them.
However, it's a major problem - not only with new infrastructure. We lose desks when schools are closed. It's just a crisis as to what is going to happen to education facilities, so it is a matter of great concern.
We are really looking at different ways of mobilising communities to support schools, because we are aware that where communities take ownership, they also protect resources which are in their communities. We, therefore, have a whole major exercise of community mobilisation to protect the assets that are there in the communities. It's a major problem in the sector. Thank you.
Position regarding departmental funding for electrification of Thokoza hostels
213. Mr K P Sithole (IFP) asked the Minister of Human Settlements:
Whether his department has provided any funding for electrification of the Thokoza hostels; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?