Chairperson, well, you know, these are moral issues. Some of the single parents are occasioned by the misdemeanours of adults who are taking advantage of younger people, including the learners. Our efforts should, really, be targeted at ensuring that no child in our country is denied the opportunity to develop into a wholesome and responsible human being simply because of the mistakes of the parents or parent. That should be the focus of our efforts.
The extent of the phenomenon of single parents reflects the deeper problem in our society, and I think we should address it. Let me just use an illustration. Let's say one has a toothache that causes an abscess. If the dentist tells that individual that his or her tooth is rotten and should be extracted, the dentist will first ensure that he or she treats the abscess before extracting the rotten tooth, whereas the main problem is the rotten tooth. Therefore we must also ensure that children of single parents are not prejudiced in any way.
We must address the needs of children of single parents and give them the love and support they deserve. The reason for this is that amongst them there might perhaps be someone who could be the captain of Bafana Bafana in the near future. We must deal with whatever circumstances might have occasioned the delivery of that child.
In other words, the parent should be given support as well if he or she is someone who can still be assisted in the manner I described earlier on. We should allow that because, if the single parent becomes a good citizen, we will all end up with a happier nation. I thank you.
Action taken against members of the executive who fail to respond to written parliamentary questions
12. Mr R A Lees (DA) asked the Deputy President:
(1) Whether he has taken any action against members of the executive who fail to respond to written parliamentary questions of members of the National Council of Provinces; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the relevant details and (b) when is it envisaged that responses to these outstanding questions will be received;
(2) whether the prompt and adequate response to written questions has been included in the performance contracts of members of the executive; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? CO254E