Deputy Chair, let me first welcome all the new members. It's my first time in this House since the NCOP was formed after the elections.
I have a bit of difficulty with the questions, and let me explain why. Four of the questions - one from the Chief Whip, the hon Ntwanambi, two questions from the hon Tau and one question from the hon Harris - all presume that the structures of the planning commission are already in place, and they aren't. The position right now is that a Green Paper was published and it is being considered as we speak by an ad hoc committee of the National Assembly. They will be holding hearings on it this week. Initially Parliament had asked them to conclude their work by 22 October; clearly they haven't been able to do so. They have requested an extension, and these matters will have to be resolved before Parliament rises.
In saying that the matters must be resolved, from here the work will require us to receive the initial report from that ad hoc committee, which clearly will deal with some of the issues about structure and operations of the National Planning Commission. We will then go back and publish our responses and thereafter it will be possible to start the work of establishing the institution.
Chances are that we will only be able to advertise all these positions early in the new year and then probably only get the institution up and running by March next year. Until such time we receive the report from the ad hoc committee, it would be, in my opinion, incorrect to presume what will come from the committee. This is because if the submissions that I've seen - and I've seen about 30 submissions that have gone to the committee - are supported by detailed presentations from the institutions that have made them, then it is almost inevitable that there will be some recommendations that deal with structure and operations.
So, against that backdrop, it's not that I'm reluctant to answer the questions. I think that members will understand that it would be quite incorrect to try and anticipate what the committee will deal with when in fact the Green Paper, as it says on page 5, is a consultative document. Consultations are now being done on behalf of the Presidency by the ad hoc committee in the National Assembly, and we must allow that process to continue rather than try to short-circuit it. I plead that members understand the circumstances within which I take the position that I do. If this is approved, then I can deal with the one remaining question. Thank you.
UMBHEXESHI OYINTLOKO WEBHUNGA: Siyaxolisa Mpthathiswa. Mhlawumbi sicinga ukuba singxame kakhulu, sifuna ukude sibone umohluko phakathi kwangoku nan gokuya. Kodwa eyona nto ibalulekileyo njengokuba uthethile ngento yeGreen Paper, kukuba ungayijonga na into yokuba laa Ndlu ingaphaya ayizi kuyishiya le, ukuze le nkqubo ihambe ngokufanayo? Ndiyayiqonda into yokuba i-NCOP ilandela emva, kodwa ingashiywa ngasemva, kananjalo. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows)
[The CHIEF WHIP OF THE COUNCIL: Minister, we apologise. Perhaps we are in a big hurry because we want to see the difference between now and then. But, the most important thing is, as you have spoken about the Green Paper, whether you can see to it that the other august House will concur with this one, in order to have uniformity within this process? I understand that the NCOP is the second House, but that doesn't mean it must necessarily be left behind.]