Speaker, hon President of the Republic, Deputy President, Deputy Speaker and hon members, the Freedom Charter says:
There shall be peace and friendship, South Africa shall strive to maintain world peace and the settlement of all international disputes by negotiations - not war.
At the 52nd National Conference, the ANC resolved that, through government, the ANC should ensure that the intensification of economic diplomacy leads to changes in colonial patterns of economic relations and creates possibilities for equitable and balanced North-South relations, transformation and beneficiation of African national resources, sustainability of foreign direct investment, and market access for products from the South to generate employment and contribute to poverty eradication.
The conference further realised a need for the ANC to develop a clear policy guide for Parliament in their engagement with international bodies to which they are affiliated and in the establishment of memorandums of understanding between these bodies.
Arising from the above clause of the Freedom Charter and the ANC conference resolutions, as Parliament we have established a Parliamentary Group on International Relations. The role of the Parliamentary Group on International Relations is to implement the international policy agreed to by the Joint Rules Committee by providing policy and strategic direction on and co-ordination of Parliament's international engagements, including its relations with other parliaments and its membership of and participation in international parliamentary organisations; receiving reports from parliamentary delegations and submiting proposals on their tabling, referral and scheduling for debate to the Presiding Officers or relevant parliamentary structures; and meeting with members appointed by the House to serve on international parliamentary bodies and members of all substructures of the group, as well as the chairpersons of the parliamentary committees dealing with international relations and co- operation and trade and industry, to determine strategy and evaluate international relations of Parliament.
As Parliament, we have established focus groups and strategic bilateral relations. The purpose of establishing the focus groups was: to analyse the work of that particular body and guide Parliament's engagement with that body; to assess and evaluate reports of delegations to meetings of the body and to identify matters which require further follow-up by Parliament; and to embark on information-sharing initiatives for members on the work of affiliated multilateral bodies.
Thus far the following focus groups have been established: The Focus Group on the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum, SADC-PF; and the Focus Group on the Pan-African Parliament. The following groups are still on an ad hoc status, but will soon be formalised: The Focus Group on the Inter-parliamentary Union; the Focus Group on the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association; and the Focus Group on Asseca.
Parliament will further establish friendship groups. These friendship groups will be utilised to pursue nonstrategic relations in a purposeful and focused manner in support of South Africa's foreign policy objectives.
As Parliament, we are in the process of finalising the signing of the Friendship Memorandum of Understanding with the Parliament of the Republic of China. A number of networks and voluntary associations do exist. This is indicative of the multiplicity of actors in international affairs and the changes which are taking place in society. Many of these networks and voluntary associations have members who participate in their activities. It is important that such interaction takes place in a co-ordinated manner.
As Parliament, we have agreed that when a member receives a personal invitation in his or her capacity as a Member of Parliament, the member must have the approval of the Presiding Officers for such participation.
We, as Parliament, have also established specialised groups, such as the group on South African and European Union relations, the India, Brazil, South Africa group, and the African, Caribbean, Pacific-European Union group. These specialised parliamentary groups act as consultative forums to bring about regular exchanges or lobbying by parliamentary delegations.
We have further agreed to establish focus groups on conflict management, peace and reconciliation on the African continent. During the SADC-PF meeting held in Swakopmund it was agreed that a delegation of Speakers from the SADC region, led by our Speaker, should go to Zimbabwe on a goodwill mission. This took place last year in October.
Hon members, let me briefly outline the concerns raised and resolutions taken during Parliament's participation in international forums. The IPU held the Parliamentary Conference on Democracy in Africa, which was aimed at promoting awareness of the International Day of Democracy, the fundamental principles of democracy, and major issues facing the democracy community today.
The conference was held in Gaborone in September 2009. It was agreed that it would identify particular roles and responsibilities of Parliament, promote Parliament's engagement with the African Charter on Democracy elections and governance, and encourage action to ensure ratification and implementation.
The SADC-PF noted with concern the following: individual and collective challenges facing the region in relation to a diminishing natural resource base; unfair trade practices; poverty and vulnerability; gender and development; regional integration; and HIV and Aids.
Note was also taken of the delay by member states in signing and ratifying various protocols which are critical for achieving regional integration and accelerating national and regional development; eradicating ongoing hunger and the threat of worsening poverty levels in the region; and addressing the inability to meet most of the Millennium Development Goals, particularly the first goal which seeks to eliminate extreme poverty and hunger.
The following recommendations were then made. The member parliaments must expedite the ratification of the various SADC protocols in order to realise their intended benefits and facilitate regional integration.
Parliamentarians are to engage with their respective executive arms of government and stakeholders in trade negotiations to appraise them, as representatives of the people, on the dangers and benefits of signing or not signing the Economic Partnership Agreements and its broader and profound implications for national and regional development efforts.
The SADC-PF committed itself to play a catalytic role in lobbying for negotiations with Europe from a regional rather than national perspective, and ensuring that SADC's abundant natural resources are exploited in a sustainable manner for the benefit of SADC citizens.
Hon members, hon President and hon Deputy President, I just want to appeal to the President that the relevant Minister should table the African Charter and Gender Protocol in Parliament for ratification. The reason for the appeal is that according to the report that was tabled at the SADC-PF, South Africa has implemented 95% of the African Charter and 80% of the Gender Protocol - but we have not yet ratified them.
In both SADC-PF and the African, Caribbean, Pacific European-Union a recommendation was made that all HIV/Aids-infected people must be given access to reasonably priced antiretroviral drugs. We want to thank His Excellency the President and his team for coming up with a comprehensive programme on HIV/Aids.
The World e-Parliament Conference is an annual forum of the community of parliaments addressing, from both the policy and technical perspective, how the use of information and communication technology can help in improving effectiveness in the complex parliamentary environment.
One of the critical resolutions taken was that those parliaments that are at an advanced stage must assist others confidentially and South Africa was given a responsibility to lead in the African continent.
One of the recommendations taken at the World Food Summit held in Rome was that all parliaments must ensure that women are empowered by adopting laws that allow women to have access to land, credit and markets; and that agricultural development is given the priority it deserves.
In the African, Caribbean and Pacific meeting it was resolved that firstly, the African Caribbean Pacific, ACP, governments should promote a regional fund for the improvement and propagation of co-operation techniques amongst small-scale farmers for adaptation and mitigation programmes; and the need to reinforce education and information campaigns on the impact of climate change.
Secondly, the Climate Change Agreement should take into account the existing development processes at both international and national levels. All parties should build the necessary links between climate change and the Millennium Development Goals by incorporating mitigation and adaptation to climate change into projects and programmes aimed at achieving the Millennium Development Goals and poverty reduction strategies.
As the South African Parliament, we echoed the sentiments of the President by supporting Haiti and further request members of this House to donate whatever they can so as to reduce the pain and suffering they are experiencing as well as showing our solidarity.
Hon Speaker, allow me to assist hon member Hilda Ndude, who posed a question about how the speech relates to the state of the nation address. The President mentioned the participation of South Africa in international programmes. He further said that we need to continue to participate in respect of India, Brazil and China. It is also the role of Parliament to make sure that we monitor the implementation of those agreements. The hon member must go through the responsibilities of Parliament in terms of monitoring and oversight. Hopefully, she will understand.
I also want to say to hon Mangena that he was given an opportunity to lead as the Deputy Minister of Science and Technology. What did he do to assist the weatherman during his time as the Deputy Minister?
I want to remind the hon Zondi on the issue of the Jozini Dam. We visited Umkhanyakude while we were members of the NCOP before the elections, last year. In terms of their Integrated Development Plan, IDP, they prioritised building the airport rather than connecting water for the communities. Maybe the hon member should go and assist that district to structure its priorities according to the needs of the people.
Hon Speaker, allow me to respond to the hon Mbazima Shilowa. Hon Shilowa is the former Premier of Gauteng. During the apartheid government, hon Shilowa was not recognised to occupy any senior position. He was a security guard irrespective of his education. I think he must thank Cosatu for having recognised his talents and electing him as the secretary-general of Cosatu - by then I was a South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers' Union, SACCAWU, shop steward.
I know that it's painful when your term of office ends. Firstly, the reason for hon Shilowa to be in the benches of Cope is that his term of office was about to end. And, secondly, Cope was formed based on hatred of being led by hon President Jacob Zuma. I don't think that we have to resort to hatred and be bold when we are on this platform.
Mhlonishwa Mluleki George isiZulu sithi: "umenzi uyakhohlwa kodwa umenziwa akakhohlwa." [Hon Mluleki George, there's an isiZulu saying which goes like this: the person who does something wrong to you forgets but the victim never forgets.]
When you arrived here in 1999, you were the Whip responsible for the allocation of houses. The members who were coming from KwaZulu-Natal with Zulu surnames, you did not allow to have houses. How is it possible for you to change now, since your belief is based on ethnic issues? Your reason for being against President Jacob Zuma is based on his ethnicity.
I want to say to the hon Mazibuko, including Cope members, that, firstly, before the elections in April - hon Hilda Ndude, you must learn to listen to other people - the slogan of the DA was, "Stop Zuma". And Cope, with some leaders of the DA, said they wanted to protect the Constitution. But today they stand on this platform without respecting that Constitution, particularly Chapter 2 of the Constitution which talks about the Bill of Rights. I think hon members must carefully study the Constitution, the traditions of this House and, thereafter, they can come and say whatever they feel like saying here.
Hon members, in his state of the nation address in 2009, the President emphasised that Parliament should do oversight and monitoring. It will benefit our oversight work as Parliament if a regular exchange of information and feedback takes place regarding our country's commitment to the implementation of the International Agreement and Protocols.
Ngaphambi kokuthi ngihlale phansi, ngiyafisa ukuthi amalungu aleNdlu ake azinike isikhathi ehlezi emizini yawo ethunzini, abuke emgwaqeni ukuthi uma imoto idlula kukhona imbuzi nenja - imbuzi yenzenjani - inja yenzenjani. Uma nginganihlebela nje imbuzi ibaleka ize izephule kodwa inja ikhonkotha imoto ize iyosithela. (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[Before I sit down, I would like the hon members of this House to take the time, when they are relaxing in the shade of their trees at home, to look at the road to see what happens when a car passes and there is a goat and a dog in the road. I can tell you that the goat will run for its life but the dog will bark at the car until it disappears.]
Thank you very much. [Applause.]