Madam Chair, Mr Speaker and hon members, I prefer to say this is a report, and not a speech. But, with my being a politician, you cannot blame me for peppering it with some politics. [Laughter.]
It is of the utmost importance to note that this far in the history of our parliamentary democracy, when hon members of this House speak about the mission and vision of this Parliament, we do not share the same world view regarding the institution. Recently the hon Mufamadi made the cogent observation that we are not working from a common agenda. I must hasten to add that we cannot therefore claim the same purpose, the same ends or even one identity. Deliberations in most of our institutional structures and substructures often exhibit multicivilisational tendencies, nestling in individual interests, race, class, ethnicity, ideology, religion, prejudices and fears. If we fail to harness these for the common good of all, we will collapse under their weight and divisive power.
In The Clash of Civilisations and the Remaking of World Order, Huntington argued that:
The broader levels of civilisational identity mean deeper consciousness of civilisational differences and the need to protect what distinguishes us from them.
However, an organisation with a single civilisational outlook becomes more effective and achieves results more quickly.
The strategic workshop to examine the role of the Quarterly Consultative Forum, QCF, was held on 25 March this year. As a result of the specific resolutions of the workshop, the QCF's co-chairpersons wrote to the presiding officers and the Secretary to Parliament proposing a workshop to address the following: firstly, to ensure the realignment of the functions and responsibilities of the QCF, the Chief Whips' Forum, the Parliamentary Oversight Authority, Exco, and others, to ensure co-ordination and nonduplication of tasks; secondly, to clarify the decision-making powers of each so as to ensure effective implementation of resolutions taken; and lastly, to identify adequate support and resources for each and ensure proper positioning of such support units.
On Parmed, the pension fund of Members of Parliament, the parliamentary Constitutional and Legal Services Office is currently conducting a review, and a parliamentary report was tabled at the last meeting of the QCF on 27 May 2011. The Parmed AGM will be taking place on 22 June - tomorrow. The Deputy Speaker has requested that we urge Members of Parliament to attend. A final report will be tabled at the next QCF meeting on 24 June for consideration. A comparative study of Parmed and other medical aid schemes will also be tabled at the next meeting of the QCF on Friday, 24 June.
The establishment of the Parliamentary Sports and Recreation Council in both Houses is a commendable step in the right direction, in providing for the wellness of members and staff in a united activist Parliament. This augurs well, with the Health Minister's attitude towards the promotion of health among members. Parties are therefore urged to motivate their members to participate in these activities. I must say that some of us are often concerned when members do not make full use of parliamentary structures at their disposal and intended to equip and empower them to excel in the service of the people.
Members of the QCF requested that the feasibility study on alternate accommodation for Members of Parliament should be included in the final phase of the Spatial Utilisation Project. It is hoped that sporting facilities will also be included in the project. However, the project resides with the presiding officers.
On members' training, in the 2010-11 financial year training was facilitated by Parliament and undertaken by Members of Parliament. This includes workshops arranged for all members on the Money Bills Amendment Procedure and Related Matters Act and also workshops on assessing departmental performance using audit reports. A total of 215 and 202 members respectively attended the sessions. A two-day seminar was also arranged for the Portfolio Committee on Energy, to orientate members of the committee and provide them with an overview of the energy sector and key issues thereof.
Formal accredited training programmes customised to the parliamentary environment were also undertaken. These include a programme in Economics and Public Finance offered by Unisa, which was attended by 25 Members of Parliament. Another group of 22 Members of Parliament participated in the Certificate in Governance and Leadership course, also offered by Unisa under the auspices of the Speakers' Forum. There are more programmes planned for implementation in the current financial year. These include workshops, training and seminars on climate change and the Millennium Development Goals, among others. The establishment of a fully fledged members' training office will depend on the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Training for Members, which is subject to the approval of the deputy presiding officers.
Facilities of members are reviewed on an ongoing basis in response to the changing economic and operational requirements of members. A major review was concluded at the end of the third Parliament. Another comprehensive review is currently taking place to ensure that facilities fully provide for the needs of members in the Fourth Parliament.
In a remuneration review performed by the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers in 2007-08, the commission considered inputs on tools of trade and have published a concept document on tools of trade. Parliament made a comprehensive submission to the commission regarding salaries, pensions and tools of trade. Interaction with the Independent Commission is also ongoing.
Facilities are provided to enable members to perform the duties they were elected for as representatives. The facilities include, but are not limited to: air journeys for members, spouses and dependants, subject to specific eligibility criteria; travel to and from airports; travel by car, subject to policy compliance; parking at airports; telephone and related costs; relocation costs; furnished offices; and ICT equipment, including mobile phones.
Members of the QCF made a proposal that blazers should be manufactured for all Members of Parliament. The House Chairpersons have written to parliamentary management to investigate, source service providers and provide information. However, the project will require the approval of the Speaker.
A presentation on options for the upgrading of members' cellphones was presented by the ICT manager on 27 May. He also made a presentation at the Chief Whips' Forum thereafter. According to the latest information from the ICT Focus Group, the general view is that members should be allowed to purchase cellphones from their own service providers with Parliament's guidance to ensure compatibility. Parliament would then reimburse them. The ICT Focus Group is proposing certain recommendations to amend policy provisions for cellphones and other ICT equipment.
On tools of trade for Members of Parliament, the Task Team on Public Office Bearers' Remuneration met with the Seriti Commission on 7 June, and the following was reported. The commission reported that the final draft had been distributed and that the final draft would be ready in approximately six weeks; and with reference to the housing subsidy, it was agreed that three members from the task team would assist the commission to look into the matter. The names submitted to the commission were Mr Magwanishe, the Deputy Chief Whip, the hon Dr Mulder and the hon Mr Peter Smith.
June is designated as Youth Month in South Africa, and it is being commemorated by both Parliament and government. In particular, Parliament marked the commemoration with a debate in the National Assembly on 8 June on the topic, "A caring Parliament that advances youth development to achieve economic freedom". The debate was attended by youth from a number of formations.
The mounting of a youth exhibition to coincide with Youth Month and the debate in the National Assembly on 8 June gave effect to an instruction from Speaker Sisulu that an appropriate exhibition be mounted in public spaces in Parliament. We therefore communicated with the Secretary to Parliament that these and other similar occasions on the social and political calendar also be commemorated by an exhibition along the walls in Parliament.
Let me go to the villages where members reside. Residents committees were established in 2010, and the first board meeting will be held - I think - after recess. A total of 325 Members of Parliament currently occupy residences in the parliamentary villages. A total of 227 sessional officials occupy residences in the parliamentary villages.
Sessional officials' accommodation is currently being upgraded - 47 units are completed and 54 units are currently under construction in a contract of about 18 months. The project for the upgrading of the bulk water supply, repairs to the drainage system, and improvement to surface water damage and the electrical supply network commenced during March 2011 in a contract of 9 months.
The upgrading of the access control at parliamentary villages is in the planning stage. The open areas next to the bridge and Townsend Road have been maintained on a quarterly basis since 2010. The facilities management company, DSVH, is performing ongoing maintenance on the current alarm system in the parliamentary villages in order to avoid incorrect statistics being provided by the SAPS in respect of the activation of alarms. A total of 310 access cards have been issued to dependants, and a total of 147 vehicle access discs have been issued to tenants.
A new contract for members' transport commenced on 3 May this year, and the contract is valid for 24 months. The successful bidder or service provider is Springbok Atlas. The new contract for the transportation of learners also commenced on 3 May, and the contract is also valid for 24 months. The successful bidder or service provider is Ruskam-Atlantic Joint Venture.
On the security of parliamentary villages, a number of security incidents reported to the SA Police Service during 2010 ... [Interjections.]