Hon Chair ... [Interjections.]
Ek praat altyd mooi met julle. Agb Voorsitter, Minister ... [I always speak to you in a civilised manner. Hon Chairperson, Minister ...]
... we are not merely here to oppose you, but also to act as sentinels and angels to warn you of impending problems. So, we are not all that bad. I will try to do that today. We were hoping you will bring in a new energy and focus in policies to bear on this department. Unfortunately, the state- owned enterprises leave much to be desired at this stage. Some are testimony to the fact that the government must not itself participate in the active economy.
SOEs fail for various reasons, some of which we wish to bring to your attention.
Alexkor is bewys daarvan dat die ANC se idee van die skep en bedryf van 'n suksesvolle mynmaatskappy bloot 'n hersenskim is. Alexkor was nie in staat om enige wins te toon tot die herkapitalisasie in 2012-13 nie. Die vraag is of die wins volhoubaar is. Daar is ook vrae rondom die regering se beherende aandeel in die vennootskap tussen Alexkor en die Richtersveld-gemeenskap. Die grond behoort immers aan die eerste nasie en daarom moes hulle eerder in staat gestel gewees het om 'n private maatskappy aan te stel wat hul regte meer effektief sou kon ontgin. Die regering moet ag slaan op internasionale pligte rondom eerste nasies in Suid-Afrika. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Alexkor serves as proof that the ANC's idea of the creation and operation of a successful mining company is simply a pipe dream. Alexkor was not able to show any profit until its recapitalisation in 2012-13. The question is whether this profit is sustainable.
Questions are also being raised in relation to government as the controlling shareholder in the partnership between Alexkor and the Richtersveld community. After all, the land belongs to the first nation; therefore they should rather have been enabled to appoint a private company to mine on their behalf in a more effective way. Government should heed international responsibilities with regard to first nations in South Africa.]
Minister, Eskom's importance to our economy must drive the department and the Minister to ensure on-time delivery of the Kusile and Medupi power stations. The only problem is that recurring delays have resulted in dramatic scope creeps of these projects. This plays a major part in the ongoing de-industrialisation that we are experiencing and it also undermines the government's own Industrial Policy Action Plan, Ipap.
This country needs firm delivery dates on power plants, assurances that Eskom will implement proper maintenance on power plants and distribution networks, and a commitment that Eskom will not fall prey to premium-priced coal from suppliers purely based on broad-based black economic empowerment, BBBEE, credentials or otherwise.
Die SA Lugdiens, SAL, is tans besig met 'n omkeerstrategie, maar die feit is dat die meeste nasionale lugrederye wreldwyd eenvoudig nie winsgewend is nie. Die SAL se bedryfskoste is te hoog en die belastingbetaler raak moeg daarvan om die instansie uit te help. Die regering wil ten spyte van oproepe tot privatisering niks weet nie. Dalk l die antwoord iewers in die middel, waar die SAL toegelaat word om ten dele te privatiseer in 'n openbare-private vennootskap. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[SA Airways, SAA, is currently working on a turnaround strategy, but the fact is that most of the international airlines are simply not profitable. The SAA's operational costs are too high, and the taxpayer is getting tired of bailing out the institution. However, government is not heeding calls for privatisation. Perhaps the answer lies in the middle, where the SAA would be allowed to be partly privatised to become a public-private partnership.]
Lastly, Minister, it is important to take note of the challenge looming for Transnet. Its infrastructure investment is much needed for the economy. However, Transnet's reckless management and funding of its two legacy pension funds have now led to the largest damages claim in this country's history. The claim is almost R85 billion and comes in the form of a class action against Transnet and government. It will be heard in court next Monday.
Should the pensioners succeed in their claim - and they should because their case is strong and clear - then Transnet will be downgraded to junk status. This will also have an impact on the status of national government in the end. This will in effect bring Transnet's expansion programme to a complete halt.
As such, the Minister is advised to apprise herself of the situation and urge Transnet to settle on an equitable basis before the matter harms the whole country. The Minister is in a position to mete out justice to both the pensioners and the country as a whole. You have a lot of work to do, Minister, and we wish you all the best. Thank you. [Interjections.]