Ndiyazibulisela kuSihlalo wale Ndlu yoWiso-mthetho, kuMphathiswa weli sebe, kuBaphathiswa bamaphondo, kumaLungu ePalamente ahloniphekileyo akule Ndlu, kwiSebe lezoThutho nakwiindwendwe ezibalulekileyo ezilapha phakathi kwethu, kuthiwa masize kuthetha, sithethe esikwaziyo singqine esikubonileyo. Gqwidi nje, Sihlalo wale Ndlu yoWiso-mthetho, kuba bendiba ndiza kukhe ndibhekise nakumalungu alo mbutho mtsha, kodwa ndiyabona ukuba emkile ke onke. Andiwaboni apha eNdlwini. Andiwaboni amalungu athunyelwe ukuba aze kumela iimfuno nezinto abantu babo abanomdla kuzo. Awakho onke. Namhlanje ke kungoLwesihlanu. Andiyazi ukuba loo nto ithetha ukuthini na kubavoti babo.
Sihlalo, ndiza kukhe ndicaphule nalapha kwelasemlungwini namhlanje, ndixube ndivanga, ndingafani nayizolo. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[Mr L SUKA: Greetings to the Chairperson of the National Assembly, to the Minister leading this department, to MECs, to hon Members of Parliament in this House, to the Department of Transport and to our esteemed guests present here. We were told to come here and speak that which we know, and testify to that which we have seen.
It's just a pity, Chairperson, that I cannot say a few words to members of the new political party, as I had planned, because they have all left the House. I cannot see them in the House. I cannot see the members of the new party who have been sent here to look after the interests of their people. None of them is here. Today is Friday. I don't know what this tells the people who voted for them.
Chairperson, today I am also going to speak briefly in English and change back to isiXhosa to create a nice mix, unlike yesterday.] Chairperson, the central mandate of the apartheid government was to serve a small, privileged minority and to banish the rest of our society to the sidelines of mainstream economy. Transport and transport infrastructure was one such weapon, which the apartheid regime used to isolate and divide our communities, denying especially black workers and the poor communities access to economic opportunities.
This affected our country so badly that the ANC government is to this day grappling with undoing the damage the old regime created over many years of segregation, apartheid and race-based rule. The effects of apartheid were equally devastating for public transport in South Africa and the rail, maritime and aviation sectors.
For over 30 years now there has been no meaningful investment in the rail industry, leading to the decline of our rail system over this period; outdated technology which dates back to the 1950s; loss of critical skills and a fleet that has reached the end of its design life. The rail system is prone to breakdowns and failures; it is unable to cope with passenger demand during peak hours and during severe weather conditions. Our people continue to suffer in the most unimaginable ways - train delays, breakdowns, train cancellations and overcrowding, to list but a few.
The ANC and its alliance partners have since the 1950s championed the struggle for a better life, for better quality and more affordable transport for all South Africans. For the ANC, transport has always been about meeting the basic needs of the people, uniting communities and, unlike our predecessors, forging a common nationhood, facilitating greater access to jobs, education and social services. Transport is therefore receiving special attention and is today far better and more accessible to the majority of people as a direct result of key interventions the ANC has made since 1994.
Our country today speaks the language of radical economic transformation. In recent weeks, however, we have heard many of those opposed to the ANC trying to expropriate the concept and give it a narrow, reactionary and historical meaning. I wish to indicate that radical economic transformation is not simply a repeat of the old radical-sounding slogans, irrespective of the concrete material conditions of the times. It is not a commitment to form, but should be informed by a deeper understanding of the main task and content of our National Democratic Revolution in a particular time.
For us in the ANC, radical economic transformation refers primarily to the fundamental transformation of unequal power relations in society and continuously shifting the balance of political and economic power in favour of the downtrodden and marginalised in society. It is about ensuring that popular democratic forces in society, which include workers, the unemployed, the rural masses, women, youth and the intelligentsia are empowered to take control of their own lives and begin to define the agenda of our society. By its very nature, radical transformation seeks fundamental change of the structure of the economy and society, is realistic by prioritising implementable programmes and requires the central role of the masses to drive, change and take ownership of their own lives. I wanted to give those detractors from our national agenda a bit of history.
Coming back, Chairperson ... kulo mcimbi wohlahlo-lwabiwo-mali esingawo, siyabulela. Sibe nayo intlanganiso siyikomiti apho isebe lithe thaca uhlahlo-lwabiwo-mali olu uMphathiswa ebethetha ngalo olungama-R48 eebhiliyoni. Bayicakacile simamele, batsho nalapho singahambi kakuhle khona.
Siphawule ukuba ama-97% olu hlahlo-lwabiwo-mali luthiwe thaca phambi kwethu aluyi kubo, luya kumashishini karhulumente, baze bona basale ne-3%. Loo nto yenza ukuba bawe nganeno kumagosa anokuthi ongamele olu hlahlo-lwabiwo-mali abone ukuba lwenza le nto ifanelekileyo.
Kodwa ke, siyancoma kuba bakhona ookopolotyeni abafumana uncedo kolu hlahlo- lwabiwo-mali, njengoko uMphathiswa sele etshilo apha. Okwesibini esithe sakuveza siyikomiti, ngumnqweno wokuba lizinze elaa sebe ukuqala entloko ukuya ekugqibeleni. Siyamncoma uMphathiswa kuba uze naye apha uMlawuli- jikelele wesebe olibambela. Akwaba kwezi zintlu ziphezulu kungafakwa amagosa karhulumente kwizithuba ezikhoyo ukuze kubekho uzinzo. Siyazi ukuba bekungekho lula ngaphambili, kodwa phantsi kwesandla sikamama onguMphathiswa wezoThutho siyancoma.
Ndakuba andiyenzanga indima yam ukuba andinakuthetha ngomcimbi - ndiyazi ukuba sele kuthethiwe ngowo, kodwa ndifuna ukuwubeka ngesintu ukuze uvakale kubantu bethu - lo mcimbi wokuthuthwa kwabantwana bezikolo, ingakumbi abantwana basezifama nabasezilalini abahamba imigama emide. Siyayazi ukuba kukho umgaqo-nkqubo olawula olo thutho kodwa ndicinga ukuba loo mgaqo- nkqubo uyafuna ukuqwalaselwa kuba umntwana akanakho ukuhamba umgama ongangeekhilomitha ezintlanu ukuya nokubuya esikolweni yonke imihla, kuze kuthiwe uza kufumana inkxaso yezothutho xa umgama awuhambayo ungaphezulu kweekhilomitha ezintlanu. Noko, makhe ijongwe le nkqubo kuba kaloku sithetha ngoonomngqusho abancinane kwaye apha endleleni kukho imigewu nezinto ezenzekayo kule mihla ziyothusa zifune ukuba kubekho ukhuseleko. Ngako ke oko, lo mcimbi wokuthuthwa kwabantwana besikolo ndinqwenela ukuba uqwalaselwe.
Kanti ndinqwenela ukuba kuqwalaselwe nezithuthi ezi bathuthwa ngazo. Apha sithetha ngeeveni. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[... to the issue of the budget that we are dealing with, let me express our gratitude. As the committee we had a meeting in which the department tabled the R48 billion budget that the Minister presented here. They gave us a breakdown, and also indicated where we have shortfalls.
We realised that 97% of the budget tabled here does not go to them, but to public enterprises, and that only 3% goes to them. That means they cannot get the officials they require to manage their budget and also cannot see to it that these officials do the right thing.
However, we are pleased that there are co-operatives that get funding from this budget, as the Minister has indicated. The second point that we have made as the committee is a desire for stability throughout the department. We commend the Minister for bringing along the department's acting director- general. I wish that government officials could be deployed to fill vacant senior positions so that there could be stability. We know that previously things were not easy, but we commend Madam Minister of Transport for her leadership.
I would be failing in my duty if I did not touch on the issue - I know it has already been touched on, but I want to address it in the vernacular so that our people can understand me very well - of scholar transport, more especially with regard to the transportation of learners from farms and rural areas, who travel long distances to school. We know that there is a policy governing the transportation of scholars, but I think such a policy needs to be reviewed because scholars cannot be walking 5 km to and from school every day, and then it is said that the scholars will get subsidised transport if the distance to and from school is more than that. Indeed, this policy needs to be reviewed, because we are talking here about small children. So the issue of safety needs to be factored in because on the way to school they come across hooligans, and things that we see happening these days are scary. Therefore, I would like to have the issue of scholar transport reviewed.
Furthermore, I would also like to have their mode of transport scrutinised. Here we are talking about "bakkies".]
A van, by law, is not meant to transport people.
Kodwa ngenxa yokuba ayikho enye indlela yezothutho ezilalini, bakhweliswa apha kwezi veni. Ezi bhaki ke maxa wambi zenza iingozi. Loo nto ithetha ukuba nalo uhlobo lwesithuthi malujongwe. Kamnandi sinayo imizimveliso eyenza izithuthi apha ekhaya eMzantsi Afrika. Masithethathethane nazo ukuze ziphucule le nkqubo yezothutho.
Kule Ndlu yoWiso-mthetho singabenzi bemithetho, kwaye siyilindele Mphathiswa le mithetho uthetha ngayo. Mayize ukuze izise inguqu nempucuko ebantwaneni bethu khon' ukuze ngomso kungabikho mntu uza kukhala ngomthetho kuba engakwazi ukwenza izinto ezifanelekileyo.
Phaya ekomitini siwuvile umcimbi woololiwe. Hayi ingathi ukho kulo lonke. Sendifuna ukuba ndide ndifike kwelo lizwe ledinga ngonyaka wama-2015-16. Uthi phaya e-Motherwell uloliwe uza kungena. Ude uthi phaya kwincwadi yakho, uza kuhamba iikhilomitha ezi-7,86. Ndimlindile ke loo loliwe, kudala kuthethwa ngawo. Makakhawuleze, kwaye uza kuza nemisebenzi. Sikumamele, sikuve kakuhle kwaye siwubonile nasencwadini. Makakhawuleze ke kuba abantu bethu bawulindele ngamandla.
E-Motherwell, kukho laa mmandla kuthiwa ngu-NU 29 okhulayo, uya eDespatch kwaye iDespatch iza kudibana neTinarha. Ndiyayibona ke neminye kwamanye amaphondo. Khawulezisani lo loliwe ukuze abantu bethu bahambe.
Ndakuba andithethanga nto xa ndinokungatsho ukuba naphaya eKSD, eMthatha nithethile ngololiwe. Mphathiswa, sakhe sakhwela uloliwe phaya ekwakusenziwa umzekelo ngawo, kodwa endaweni yokuba ithathe iiyure ezintathu, hayi mntwana kabawo kwatshona ilanga. Ndasebezela uMphathiswa wephondo lam ngelithi 'uyambona lo loliwe mfondini, ubani unokusuka akhwele nenqwelo yeedonki kodwa angaya kufika kuqala kunawo.'
Ngako oko, khawulezani naloo mizila kaloliwe noololiwe kuba phakathi kweMonti noMthatha baninzi abantu abahamba yonke imihla phaya kwaye abantu bethu bamisa ubhontsi. Abanye babo bayenzakala apha endleleni. Ndiyacela ke noko Baphathiswa bam ukuba sizikhawulezise ezi zinto. Ndiyazi ukuba nazi namaxesha ukuya phambili.
Mandiyithethe into yokuba oololiwe bangaphungula umthwalo kooduladula neengozi ezikhoyo. Kusasa nje, xa ndisendleleni eza apha emsebenzini, kukho iteksi ekubhubhe abantu abasixhenxe kuyo kwelinye lamaphondo, ndicinga ukuba yiMpumalanga okanye iLimpopo. Masothule umthwalo ezindleleni zooduladula uye koololiwe ukuze iindlela zethu zilunge.
Apha kweli phondo sithetha kulo, kuthiwa lukhona ucalucalulo kwicala leeteksi. Kukhethwa iqela elithile ngaphezu kwamanye. Ndiyanqumla ndixelisa umgqakhwe usidla ilifa labantu, ndithetha ukuthi masiwuqwalasele ke le mba weeteksi. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[But because there is no alternative mode of transport in the rural areas, they are transported in "bakkies". Sometimes these "bakkies" are involved in accidents. This means that even the mode of transport has to be reviewed. Fortunately we do have car manufacturers in South Africa. Let us talk to them so that they can improve the transport system.
As members of the National Council of Provinces we are legislators and, Minister, we are waiting for the kind of legislation you were talking about. Let the legislation come so that it can bring about change and improvement for our children, so that no one can blame the laws for his or her inability to do certain things.
In the committee we heard about the issue of trains. Man, it looks as if this issue affects the whole country. I am looking forward to the land of milk and honey in 2015-16. You said there will be trains in Motherwell. You even said in your letter that the railway line there will stretch 7,86 km. I can't wait for that day, because this issue has been on everyone's lips for a long time. I say the sooner, the better because the railway line will bring jobs. We hear you, and we get the point you made in your letter. Our people are looking forward to this railway line.
At Motherwell there is a fast-growing area known as NU 29. It is spreading towards Despatch, which in turn will combine with Uitenhage. I see that there are rail tracks in other provinces as well. Speed up the process around the railway line so that our people can travel by train.
I will not have said anything if I did not mention the fact that you also said something about a railway line around Mthatha in KSD. Minister, we once took a train which was on a trial journey there, but it instead of the promised three hours, the train took the whole day. I whispered into the MEC's ear, that: "Man, you see this train, one can reach one's destination before it does."
Therefore, speed up the process around these railway lines because there are many people travelling between East London and Mthatha who have to hitch-hike. Some of them experience misfortune on their way. Please, hon Ministers, let us speed things up. I know that you work according to timeframes.
Let me also say that rail transport can ease the pressure on land transport and help reduce road accidents. Just this morning, on my way to work, I heard about an overturned taxi in one of the provinces which resulted in seven people losing their lives; I think it was Mpumalanga or Limpopo. Let us ease the pressure on the buses by providing rail travel as an alternative so as to make our roads safer.
In this province, there are allegations of discrimination in the taxi industry. One group is favoured over others. I am rounding off now. Let us take a good look at the issue of the taxi industry.]
There is recapitalisation, but it is a very slow process. It is not up to the level we expect it to be.
Sihlalo, siyikomiti sizimamele iziphene. Andisayi kuthetha ngazo zonke kuba sixoxe kakhulu kwikomiti nesebe kwaye uMphathiswa ebekhona wathetha kamnandi. Siyavuma ukuba ngale mali nisabele yona utshintsho, inguqu kunye nokuphuculwa kobomi babantu luza kuqhubeka. Enkosi. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[Chairperson, as the committee we heard about the shortcomings. I am not going to mention all of them because we discussed them at great length in the committee and the Minister said good things there. We say that with the budget that you have given us, there will be change, transformation and a better life for our people.]