MAKING YOUR FUTURE WORK BETTER – Learning from Madiba and Ma Sisulu

The official Magazine of the Parliament of the Republic of SPECIAL SONA EDITION 2019

#SONA2019: Let’s embrace and build our collective future Contents

Vision

An activist and responsive people’s Parliament that improves the quality of life of South Africans and ensures enduring equality in our society.

Mission

Parliament aims to provide a service to the people of South Africa by providing the following:

• A vibrant people’s Assembly that intervenes and transforms society and addresses the development challenges of our people; • Effective oversight over the Executive by strengthening its scrutiny of actions against the needs of South Africans; • Participation of South Africans in the decision-making processes that affect their lives;

• A healthy relationship between the three arms of the State, Provinces of Council National of Black Rod of National Assembly National of Mace that promotes efficient co-operative governance between

the spheres of government, and ensures appropriate links

with our region and the world; and • An innovative, transformative, effective and efficient parliamentary service and administration that enables Members of Parliament to fulfil their constitutional responsibilities. Strategic Objectives

1. Strengthening oversight and accountability 2. Enhancing public involvement 3. Deepening engagement in international fora 4. Strengthening co-operative government 5. Strengthening legislative capacity Contents Contents

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11 12 17 6. SONA 2019: The State must deliver 14. President addresses the state of the on its developmental agenda nation’s health care 10. President highlights progress in restoring 17. Crime and corruption threatens South policy certainty in mining sector Africa’s development, says President 11. More land will be made available 20. Members of Parliament respond to for agriculture, industrial development President’s State of the Nation Address and human settlements 23. President Ramaphosa provides 12. Early Childhood Development: further clarity on issues raised in his Investing in the future of our children Sona speech and our country State of the Nation Address

Editor Mr Brent Simons

Production editor Mr Mava Lukani Presiding Officers Design and layout Mr Angelo Lamour Copy editors of Parliament Jane Henshall, Vusumzi Nobadula

Writers Abel Mputing; Justice Molafo; Sakhile Mokoena; Sibongile Maputi; Mava Lukani

Photography Mlandeli Puzi, Zwelethemba Kostile

Distribution & subscriptions Jacqueline Zils

Publisher Parliament of the Republic of South Africa

Printer Formeset Digital Printers

Section Manager: Publishing and Production Shirley Montsho

Copyright INSESSION is a monthly publication, which is published by the Information and Content SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY: CHAIRPERSON of THE National Development Unit of the Parliamentary Communication Services of the Parliament Ms Council of Provinces: of the Republic of South Africa. All material Ms published is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.

EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES Telephone 021 403 8738 Fax 021 403 8096 E-mail [email protected] Subscriptions [email protected] Post PO Box 15, , 8000 OUR IDEALS Vision An activist and responsive people’s Parliament that improves the quality of life of South Africans and ensures enduring equality in our society. DEPUTY SPEAKER: HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: DEPUTY HOUSE CHAIRPERSON: Mr Ms Mmatlala Boroto CHAIRPERSON: Ms Masefako Dikgale Strategic Objectives Mr Raseriti Tau Strengthening oversight and accountability; enhancing public involvement; deepening engagement in international fora; strengthening cooperative government; strengthening legislative capacity.

VISIT US ON www.parliament.gov.za www.facebook.com/parliamentofrsa twitter.com/ParliamentofRSA youtube.com/ParliamentofRSA ParliamentofRSA

BOOK A TOUR To tour Parliament Telephone 021 403 2266 HOUSE HOUSE HOUSE NCOP CHIEF WHIP: Fax 021 403 3817 CHAIRPERSON: CHAIRPERSON: CHAIRPERSON: Mr Seiso Mohai E-mail [email protected] Ms Mr Mr Archibold ISSN 2227-1325 (Print) Nyambi ISSN 2227-3778 (Online) State of the Nation Address State of the Nation Address

SONA 2019: The State must deliver on its developmental agenda

his second State of the Nation Address (Sona) and in the 25th year of our democracy, President In reiterated unequivocally the need for economic growth and political renewal. This is essential if South Africa is to move away from the period of uncertainty and mistrust in the state’s capacity to deliver on its developmental agenda, reports Abel Mputing.

President Ramaphosa reemphasised being made. Over the last year, we South African and international the significance of a new social compact have begun to rebuild a durable social companies,” he explained. aimed at bringing about inclusive growth, compact for fundamental social and economic transformation and investment. economic transformation with key There was also a significant increase “We have focused our efforts on stakeholders, as we have promised.” in foreign direct investment last reigniting growth and creating jobs. We year amounting to R17 billion. These have worked together – as government, The President maintained that the investments were unprecedented for labour, business, civil society and government’s wooing of local and “the official data shows that just in communities – to remove the constraints foreign direct investment at the South the first three quarters of 2018, there to inclusive growth and to pursue far African Investment Conference last was an inflow of R70 billion. This is a greater levels of investment.” year had exceeded expectations. “[It] phenomenal achievement compared provided great impetus to our drive to to the low levels of investments in the “Our people have embraced the mobilise R1.2 trillion in investments previous years”. renewal that our country is going over five years. The investment through and their hope is not baseless; conference attracted around R300 These investments prove that this it is grounded on the progress that is billion in investment pledges from initiative was worthwhile. “To prove Continues on page 8 Δ

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Δ that our investment conference was not producing specific types of products, increasing South African exports. just a talk shop where empty promises such as clothing and textiles. were made, projects to the value of President Ramaphosa also identified R187 billion are being implemented, Part of the President’s economic growth tourism as another growth market, and projects worth another R26 billion trajectory includes the resuscitation of which could contribute positively to are in pre-implementation phase.” industrial parks in various provinces, economic growth and employment. which are lying idle. They will now be He praised government’s “concerted Part of the strategy to improve South made productive once again and it is efforts to market South Africa as a Africa’s investment profile is to be hoped that they will be a source of job prime destination” which resulted in among the top 50 global performers creation. more than 10 million tourists visiting within the next three years and to the country during the past year. improve the competitiveness of our Tied to this initiative, President According to the President, this industry exports. To bring this into effect Ramaphosa pointed out, is the need can generate an additional two million “government will complete the studies for provinces to identify growth sectors jobs in the “food and agriculture, that have begun on reducing the costs and develop their own long-term construction, transport, retail, and of electricity, trade, communications, investment books for domestic and the creative and cultural industries by transport and other costs”. The foreign investors. These initiatives are 2030”. government will also identify part of the Invest South Africa initiative. special economic zones Operation Phakisa is another initiative dedicated to Underpinning these projects is an with potential to bring about economic urgent need to reignite the domestic growth. “Since the inception of market through the Buy South Operation Phakisa in the oceans Africa Programme, which is aimed economy in 2014, we have secured at decreasing imports and investments of nearly R30 billion and created more than 7 000 direct jobs. Expected investment in the State of the Nation Address

oceans economy over the next five aim to create 275 000 additional direct unbundling of Eskom to make it a more years is estimated at R3.8 billion by jobs every year through initiatives like efficient. He said privatisation is not an government and R65 billion by the the Employment Tax Incentive.” option, but some non-core assets may be private sector,” President Ramaphosa made available for private investment in announced. A key part of the government’s the future. growth initiative is the Infrastructure The discovery of new oil reserves in the Development Fund, amounting to “In line with this plan, Eskom will need to Outeniqua Basin was welcomed by the R1 trillion. “These infrastructure take urgent steps to significantly reduce its President as a positive impetus to the investments also helped grow our costs. It will need more revenue through current initiatives that seek to stimulate economy and create many new jobs. an affordable tariff increase. We need growth and create much-needed Infrastructure development has been to take steps to reduce municipal non- employment. the flywheel of the engine of our payment and confront the culture of non- economy and has yielded tremendous payment that exists in some communities. Much of President Ramaphosa’s address benefits for the country.” It is imperative that all those who use focused on economic growth and the electricity – over and above the free basic need to create 275 000 direct jobs However, South Africa’s faltering state- electricity provided – should pay for it. to curb rising youth unemployment. owned enterprises are an obstacle to “The presidential jobs summit last the government’s growth ambitions. The “Government will support Eskom’s year resulted in concrete agreements president singled out the South African balance sheet, and the Minister of between organised labour, business, Revenue Service and Eskom as needing Finance will provide further details on the community and government. These urgent attention. this in the Budget Speech. This we will agreements, which are now being do without burdening the fiscus with implemented by our social partners, President Ramaphosa also alluded to the unmanageable debt.”

PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA 9 State of the Nation Address

President highlights progress in restoring policy certainty in mining sector the mining sector, President Ramaphosa highlighted On government progress in restoring policy certainty on mining regulation as one of the measures that will ignite economic activity, restore investor confidence and support employment, writes Justice Molafo.

In his 2018 State of the Nation Address (Sona), the President had said that mining should be seen as a sunrise industry in South Africa. To this end, he promised that the government would intensify engagements on the Mining Charter with all stakeholders, to ensure that it aids in transforming the mining industry. In 2018, President Ramaphosa also called upon all role players in the industry to work together to ensure that mine accidents are dramatically reduced. President Ramaphosa also emphasised that mining has massive unrealised potential for growth and job creation.

This year’s statements on mining followed on from these statements and others that President Ramaphosa made on 21 September 2018 at the Investing in Africa Mining Indaba that was held in Cape Town. In his 2019 address, President Ramaphosa announced that the government will request Parliament, in terms of its rules, to put a hold on the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) Amendment Bill, saying that it has contributed to uncertainty in the sector.

He also mentioned that the Department of Mineral Resources has completed the process of drafting a consultative Mining Charter, which was promulgated in the Government Gazette, number 41934, volume 639, on 27 September 2018 by Minister .

“To this end, we moved to speed up the finalisation of the Mining Charter and to provide greater clarity on the MPRDA Bill. Several companies at the inaugural South African Investment Conference announced investment of $20 billion (R280 billion), three of which came from the mining sector,” said President Ramaphosa at the Mining Indaba.

President Ramaphosa also announced that government will soon embark on a process of converting some public schools into technical schools, which will offer mining science as one of their subjects.

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More land will be made available for agriculture, industrial development and human settlements

about the role of the agricultural expanding agricultural output and Talking sector in the economy, President Cyril promoting economic inclusion. This will ensure that more land is available for Ramaphosa said during his State of the Nation (Sona) speech that agriculture, industrial development and the government needs to do more to support the approximately human settlements. “In the coming 250 000 new farmers to develop their businesses. “We will continue year, we will continue to focus on high- to prioritise targeted skills development and capacity building value agricultural products with export potential such as our fruit, wine and programmes for smallholder and emerging black farmers,” reports vegetable industries, as well as poultry Mava Lukani. and red meat.”

In his address, President Ramaphosa President Ramaphosa said South Africa the 25000 new farmers which President commended the many South Africans has large areas of underutilised or Ramaphosa said the government is who participated in the work of the unproductive land. “Agricultural exports going to support. Also, the department Constitutional Review Committee and are an important source of revenue presented its achievements on what also praised the committee members. for our economy, and developing President Ramaphosa committed the Government will support the work of the agricultural sector is key to department to do in the previous the committee to review section 25 enhancing our food security and for address. of the Constitution. In this regard, he attracting investments,” said President said the Deputy President, Mr David Ramaphosa. The department told the committee Mabusa, will lead the Inter-Ministerial that the department supported 3817 Committee on Land Reform to fast-track South Africa is fortunate to have smallholder producers in response to land reform. an agricultural sector that is well- what President Ramaphosa said the developed, resilient and diversified. department was going to do in his In his 2018 address, President “We intend to use it as a solid 2018 address. IN that address President Ramaphosa told the nation that foundation to help develop agriculture Ramaphosa said the department was the government is determined that in our country for the benefit of all,” he going to support food security initiatives expropriation without compensation emphasised. by fighting poverty through the support should be implemented in a way smallholder and households. that increases agricultural production, The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, improves food security and ensures that Fisheries and Forestry invited the Talking about the land reform land is returned to those from whom Department of Agriculture to appear programme, President Ramaphosa said it was taken under colonialism and before it to present its plans to support the government will work towards apartheid.

PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA 11 State of the Nation Address

Early Childhood Development: Investing in the future of our children and our country

South African government has undertaken to He added that ECD centres have been The drastically improve the education system, starting migrated from the Social Development at the foundation phase, writes Sibongile Maputi. In his address, Portfolio to Basic Education, and that government will be introducing a two- President Cyril Ramaphosa said the country’s history demands that year of compulsory ECD programme for we “improve the education system and develop the skills” needed to all children before they enter Grade 1. take our country into the future. According to the President, another critical priority is to substantially im- He told the nation that it was essen- must be the prioritisation of education prove reading comprehension in the tial that we equipped our children “to and the development of skills”. first years of school. “The department’s succeed in education, in work and in early grade reading studies have dem- life – and it is possibly the single most To this end, President Ramaphosa said onstrated the impact that a dedicated important factor in overcoming poverty, South Africa had “established a firm package of reading resources, expert unemployment and inequality. At the foundation for a comprehensive early reading coaches and lesson plans can centre of all our efforts to achieve high- childhood development (ECD) pro- have on reading outcomes. We will be er and more equitable growth, to draw gramme that is an integral part of the substantially expanding the availability young people into employment and to education system.” Currently more than of these early reading resources across prepare our country for the digital age, 700,000 children access ECD education. the foundation phase of schooling.”

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Education remains among government’s apex priorities and President Ramapho- sa affirmed this position when he listed education as among the five “most urgent tasks at this moment in our his- tory”. South Africa’s history demands that the country should improve the education system and develop the skills that it needs now and in the future.

“At the centre of all our efforts to achieve higher and more equitable growth, to draw young people into employment and to prepare our coun- try for the Digital Age, must be the prioritisation of education,” President Ramaphosa said.

The President outlined advances in making education technical and digital, and said in the next six years every school child would be provided with digital workbooks and textbooks on a tablet device. “We will start with those schools that have been historically most disadvantaged and are located in the poorest communities, including “Since we launched the initiative, 699 The President committed to furthering multigrade, multiphase, farm and rural schools have been provided with safe support to poor students at institutions schools. To expand participation in the and appropriate sanitation facilities, of higher learning. He said government technical streams, several ordinary and projects in a further 1 150 schools will look into the challenges brought public schools will be transformed into are either in planning, design or con- about by the current funding model and technical high schools. struction stages.” lack of accommodation.

“In line with our Framework for Skills for a Changing World, we are expanding the training of both educators and learners to respond to emerging technologies, including the internet, robotics and artifi- cial intelligence. Several new technology subjects and specialisations will be intro- duced, including technical mathematics and technical sciences, maritime sci- ences, aviation studies, mining sciences and aquaponics,” he said.

President Ramaphosa also highlighted the safety of learners, improving sani- tation facilities and the shift to digiti- sation of the classroom as important issues requiring immediate attention. “We are determined to eradicate unsafe and inappropriate sanitation facilities within the next three years,” he said. He also mentioned the Safe Initiative, through which resources have been mobilised with the intention to replace all unsafe toilets in public schools.

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President addresses the state of the nation’s health care

his State of the Nation Address (Sona), President Cyril The NHI will enable South Africans Ramaphosa promised South Africans that public health to receive free services at the point In of care in public and private quality- care is set to improve, as the government will take a significant accredited health facilities. “By applying step towards universal access to quality health care for all South the principle of social solidarity and Africans. After extensive consultations, the National Health cross-subsidisation, we aim to reduce Insurance (NHI) Bill will soon be ready for submission to Parliament, inequality in access to health care,” Mr Ramaphosa announced. In facing the writes Mava Lukani. magnitude of the challenges in health

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care, the government has established government would take steps to better understand how the NHI is being an NHI and quality improvement war eliminate HIV, while scaling up a testing implemented at the pilot sites. In that room in the Presidency. This consists and treating campaign and adding week-long visit, the committee visited of various key departments to address an additional two million people to clinics and hospitals, but subsequently the crisis in the public health system antiretroviral treatment by December expressed its unhappiness about the while preparing for the implementation 2020. state of health infrastructure in the of the NHI. To ensure the NHI becomes province. a reality, Mr Ramaphosa said: “We President Ramaphosa emphasised have a funded national quality that the government is committed Mr Amos Mahlalela, who acted as the health improvement plan to improve to implementing universal health Chairperson of the committee during every clinic and hospital that will be coverage through the NHI. The NHI the oversight visit, remarked that contracted by the NHI.” is a health financing system that she had the perception that KwaZulu- pools funds to provide access to Natal was doing well on infrastructure By introducing the NHI together with quality health services for all South development, “but what I have seen a multipronged quality improvement Africans based on their health needs, during the oversight visit is worrying”. programme for public health facilities, irrespective of their social and class the government is working towards status. Also last year, the portfolio committee a massive change in health care. invited the Office of Health Standards “I want to personally allay fears Last year after the 2018 State of Compliance (OHSC) to provide its of any disruption to the efficient the Nation Address, the Portfolio own analysis of the state of health delivery of this critical service, and Committee on Health embarked services in the country. The OHSC will take action to ensure no person on oversight visits to assess the presented the findings of its 2016/17 in government is undermining implementation of the NHI pilot sites, Annual Inspection Report of public implementation deadlines,” Mr including sites in KwaZulu-Natal. health sector establishments to the Ramaphosa emphasised. The oversight visit provided the committee. The report showed that Mr Ramaphosa announced that the committee with an opportunity to there is some improvement in certain State of the Nation Address

areas and stagnation and decline in The OHSC has been created by the the Office must, among other things, other areas. National Health Amendment Act of 2013 advise the Minister of Health on deter- and, in terms of section 78 of the Act, mining norms and standards that are The committee welcomed the OHSC the objects of the Office are to protect to be prescribed for the national health report, but was also of the view that and promote the health and safety of system and on the review of such norms the OHSC failed to provide solutions users of health services by, monitoring and standards, inspect and certify health to the challenges identified at the and enforcing compliance by health establishments as compliant or non- health establishments. The committee establishments with norms and standards compliant with prescribed norms and noted that challenges were mainly at prescribed by the Minister of Health in standards or, where appropriate, with- a provincial level, as they deal with relation to the national health system, draw such certification and recommend human resources, and financial and ensuring consideration, investigation to the Minister quality assurance and supply chain management. and disposal of complaints relating to management systems for the national non-compliance with prescribed norms health system. The committee also expressed and standards for health establishments dissatisfaction with the OHSC’s in a procedurally fair, economical and recommendations, noting that these expeditious manner. recommendations should be directed to the provinces, not the national The functions of the OHSC are set out in department. The committee said once section 29 of the Act which states that a problem has been identified by OHSC during an inspection, remedial action should be provided to each hospital or clinic.

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Crime and corruption threatens South Africa’s development, says President

the last State of the Nation Address (Sona) of the fifth Parliament, President Delivering Cyril Ramaphosa identified corruption as the greatest deterrent to South Africa’s efforts to end poverty, unemployment and inequality. Meanwhile, state capture and its manifestations in all areas of society need to be urgently tackled, he said, in order for the country to successfully deal with the challenges facing citizens. Sakhile Mokoena reports. State of the Nation Address

President Ramaphosa reaffirmed his the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into action we take now to end corruption government’s commitment to fight State Capture, other commissions and and hold those responsible to account crime and corruption. He announced disciplinary inquiries,” the President will determine the pace and trajectory a wide range of measures to enhance said. of the radical social and economic South Africa’s law enforcement transformation we seek,” President agencies, including the establishment The new directorate will identify Ramaphosa explained. of a new directorate in the National priority cases to investigate and Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to deal prosecute, and will recover assets Delivering the last Sona of the fifth with serious cases of corruption and identified to be the proceeds of Parliament before the next general state capture in the country. corruption. The directorate will bring elections scheduled to take place on together a range of investigatory 8 May, President Ramaphosa also The new directorate will be located and prosecutorial capacity from spoke about the need to improve in the office of the newly appointed within government and the private the capabilities of public servants. To National Director of Public Prosecutions sector under an investigating director address this, the National School of (NDPP), Adv Shamila Batohi, and will reporting to the NDPP. Government will introduce compulsory deal with corruption and associated courses, covering areas like ethics and offences in accordance with section “The revelations emerging from the anti-corruption, senior management 7 of the NPA Act. “I will soon be Zondo Commission of Inquiry into and supply chain management, and promulgating a proclamation that state capture and other commissions deployment of managers in public will set out the specific terms of are deeply disturbing, for they reveal administration to strengthen service reference of the directorate. In broad a breadth and depth of criminal delivery. terms, the directorate will focus on wrongdoing that challenges the very the evidence that has emerged from foundation of our democratic state. The He also announced that government

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crime and corruption.” President Ramaphosa said government was implementing the recommendations of the report of the Nugent Commission of Inquiry into Sars and is in the process of appointing a new Commissioner to head this essential institution. The president also spoke strongly against the abuse of women and children, as well as the prevalence of gangsterism.

“During the course of the past year, as the Presidency, we have paid particular attention to the violence and abuse perpetrated against women and children in our society. We responded to national concerns and calls by many South Africans by convening a Summit on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide that has provided a firm basis for a coordinated national response to this crisis”, he said.

Although South Africa has made progress since 1994 in addressing certain categories of serious crime, President Ramaphosa said, communities are still plagued will process the operationalisation of “In the longer by gangsterism and section 8 of the Public Administration term, we will work violence. As part of and Management Act, which with the NPA and concerted efforts to make strengthens the outlawing of public other agencies of the country safer and servants doing business with the state law enforcement to develop more secure, the Community Policing and enables government to deal more a more enduring solution that will Strategy was launched in October last effectively with corrupt activities. strengthen the capacity of the criminal year. This strategy focuses on building This provision will see the imposition justice system to deal with corruption.” partnerships between communities of harsher penalties, including fines and the police; making more resources and prison sentences for officials that An ethics, integrity and disciplinary available for policing; and devising transgress. technical assistance unit will be ways for better communication established to strengthen the between the police and communities In response to the dire situation at management of ethics and anti- about crime prevention strategies. several state-owned enterprises, corruption, to ensure consequence President Ramaphosa said that the management for breaches of In addition, the government is government has taken decisive government processes. “We have strengthening the functioning of measures to improve governance, therefore acted to stabilise and restore various specialised units, such as the strengthen leadership and restore the credibility of institutions like Family Violence, Child Protection and stability in strategic entities. “We have the National Prosecuting Authority, Sexual Offences Unit, and improving also had to deal with the effects of the South African Revenue Service administrative and record keeping state capture on vital public institutions, (Sars), the State Security Agency and capacity at all levels. Furthermore, including our law enforcement the South African Police Service. The the South African Police Service has agencies, whose integrity and ability to appointment of the new NDPP, Adv embarked on a restructuring process fulfil their mandate had been eroded in Batohi, is aimed at reviving the NPA to shift more policing resources to the recent years. and to strengthen our fight against local level.

PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA 19 DEBATE ON STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS

Members of Parliament respond to President’s State of the Nation Address

Mr (ANC) Mr Mmusi Maimane (DA)

Mr (EFF) Mr (UDM)

recent State of the Nation Address (Sona) provided The leader of the majority party a platform for President Cyril Ramaphosa to reflect in Parliament the African National The Congress (ANC), Mr Jackson Mthembu, on government performance over the previous year and outline new commended President Ramaphosa plans and programmes for the year ahead. The two-day debate on on his concerted effort to stimulate Sona that follows is an opportunity for political parties to respond. investment and economic growth to address unemployment, inequality and Abel Mputing and Sakhile Mokoena summarise what was said. poverty in South Africa.

20 PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA DEBATE ON STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS

Mr Mthembu also expressed, however, and, because of this, you can only offer The leader of his deep concern about the impact revision, while our country desperately (IFP), Prince , of Eskom’s challenges, which have needs a new vision for change”. expressed reservations about the led to load shedding and which President’s intent to attract investors. are having a negative effect on the The Leader of the Economic Freedom “It seems we have pinned our hopes country’s economy. He is hopeful that Fighters (EFF), Mr Julius Malema, opposed on unprecedented levels of investment. government will “act swiftly to arrest the President’s announcement that Eskom But will investors come? We aim to this situation, especially the current will become three separate entities. This become a top global performer in episodes of load shedding”. is the wrong solution to the problem, terms of countries to do business with, he said. “Wrong diagnosis is extremely but when we are so high up on the Mr Mthembu commended the dangerous and not different from fake corruption index, how confident will President’s fight against corruption, doctors who give wrong medication to investors be?” particularly to the setting up of patients and endanger their lives. Your various commissions of inquiry. “Most approach to Eskom is going to destroy the Prince Buthelezi was at pains to explain important among these are the Zondo, power utility and as people who will be that South Africa’s technical recession Nugent and Mokgoro commissions, as here and still active in the next 30 to 40 was self-inflicted. “Our economy well as the Commission of the Public years, we are not going to allow you to was not confronted with a technical Investment Corporation. We must destroy Eskom for quick personal gains,” recession: disastrous leadership, respect the work of these commissions emphasised Mr Malema. corruption and state capture created it.” and not have running commentary that Also participating in the debate, the second guess what they are doing.” Furthermore, the unbundling of Eskom is synonymous with privatisation for The Leader of the official opposition the EFF. “An attempt to privatise it will in Parliament, the Democratic Alliance never be accepted and you must rest (DA), Mr Mmusi Maimane, referred to assured, Mr President, that if you are the address as the State of No Action. not going to give an assurance that Sona is nothing more than “a long list you will relook into this Eskom matter, of things that sound and sound we will waste no time and we will busy, with very little meaningful go to the picket lines and defend this action”, he claimed. strategic asset of our people.”

The government makes big promises, but it is a “government of commissions, task teams and road shows for every possible problem. But when it comes to actually doing things, we are a State of No Action,” Mr Maimane claimed. Mr Seiso Mohai (NCOP: Chief Whip) Chief Whip of the National Council of The scale of corruption uncovered in Provinces (NCOP), Mr Seiso Mohai, the course of these commissions of commended the industrial policy enquiry show that “across towns, cities for economic growth outlined and provinces, our state is being looted by the President in his by your party [the ANC]”, Mr Maimane Sona speech. The claimed. success

Many South Africans would like to believe the President’s account Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi (IFP) presented at Sona, but Mr Maimane said, “I know that you are not in charge

PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA 21 DEBATE ON STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS

of the policy will depend on strong National Prosecuting Authority. He also collaboration between all three spheres commented on the situation at Eskom. of government, the private sector “The outages have already started to and labour. It should also enhance affect us all. Businesses are severely provincial investment. “We should affected. There has always been trouble look at effective ways of integrating with our national power utility and high impact provincial industrial yet there has been no consequence projects from rural provinces within the management for those who fail to do Industrial Policy Action Plan. These can their jobs properly.” be part of the provincial investment book that provinces can submit to be part of the country’s investment drive.”

The leader of the United Democratic Movement (UDM), Mr Bantu Holomisa, said South Africa needs key Mr Jomo Nyambi (NCOP: House Chairperson) interventions in order to eradicate poverty and place more citizens in The House Chairperson for Committees jobs, in particular young people, whilst and Oversight in the NCOP, Mr Jomo closing the gap between the haves Nyambi, said the unresolved land and the have-nots. “We need massive question remains a major contributor investment in the maintenance and to economic challenges. “We must, development of a well-coordinated however, welcome the fact that as and integrated socio-economic the ruling party we have introduced infrastructure that is driven by the Land Expropriation Bill to allow for Mr (APC) government.” the state to expropriate land without Mr Themba Godi of the African compensation.” The current challenges facing the People’s Convention (APC) said the higher education sector are due to fight against corruption must be He said this will go a long way in the governing party’s lack of proper consistent and decisive. “However, our redressing inequalities and further open planning for the roll-out of fee-free reality is that when corruption involves economic opportunities for the majority education, Mr Holomisa claimed. This big business, especially the banks, of black people. “Our project of nation- crisis-management style of leadership anti-corruption drums become muted. building will never be complete has to become a thing of the past. A serious crime like the manipulation without returning the land to its rightful of the rand by the banks over many owners,” he emphasised. years, to which the Standard Chartered Bank has pleaded guilty, has not drawn national outrage or action by government … What has been the economic impact for the country of this criminality? We expect government to take firm and decisive action.”

Prof Nhlanhlakayise Khubisa (NFP) The APC is opposed to the The Member of Parliament for the unbundling of Eskom. “The (NFP), Prof proposed unbundling has no Nhlanhlakayise Khubisa, applauded rational justification. The burdening President Ramaphosa for the of Eskom with IPPs (Independent announcement of the reinstatement Power Producers) is damaging and of the fraud and corruption unit at the must be reversed.”

22 PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA president's reply

President Ramaphosa provides further clarity on issues raised in his Sona speech two days of harsh criticism of his Sona of the Scorpions, which was disbanded through an Act of Parliament. “The speech from opposition MPs (Members Following Scorpions are not back –we are setting of Parliament), and an endorsement from members of the ruling up a new unit – which was allowed party, the President had a chance to reply to the debate and by the NPA Act to deal with specific provide further clarity on some of the issues raised in the speech. investigations,” he said.

“The breakdown of six units which resulted in Stage 4 load shedding by During his reply to the debate, the The restructuring will not solve the Eskom has had an overarching impact President reiterated government’s immediate crisis at Eskom – enable the on the economy and the lives of our commitment to tackle corruption in company to stabilise in the future. people. We accept that we have not the public sector, and the plans to brought on board some of our important restructure Eskom. “The restructuring does not mean stakeholders, especially labour, and we retrenchments, and it is not a path to are going to correct that,” he said. The announcement to unbundle privatisation, we are saying in its current the electricity company into three form Eskom is too big and too difficult to A special Cabinet committee to be entities – generation, transmission and lead and we have to look at a business chaired by the Deputy President has distribution – had created fears about model which will best work – it is not a been established to look into the crisis possible retrenchments, especially from path to privatisation,” said the President, at Eskom – and will provide daily reports labour unions. adding that the restructuring will align to the President. The government was Eskom with international electricity trends. doing everything possible to secure He reassured parliamentarians and reliable energy supply for the country and the country that government had no Also, he corrected the narrative that make sure that the power supply crisis intentions of privatising the company the announcement to establish a doesn’t do damage to the economy. The and no jobs would be lost during the new investigative unit in the National role of Imbongi in the State of the Nation restructuring Prosecuting Agency (NPA) was the revival Address.

The role of Imbongi in the State of the Nation Address

Imbongi is the curtain-raiser of a a great sense of pride, by narrating significant moment of the nation, his personal history, his clan and his thus setting the mood by capturing its family lineage in song, dance and collective sentiments in with poetic narration. Imbongi does this with great fervour. He utilises this skill to master accuracy that often fills the President the immense amount of knowledge with delight and surprise. This is often and oration, in this case about the the task that illustrates the great country and the President. Imbomgi’s intellectual capability needed for one to duty is to instil within the President assume the enviable role of Imbongi. Mr Boikanyo Ramagoelelo

PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA 23 State of the Nation Address

OUR SOUTH AFRICA – THE SUN The sun heals the divisions of the past, improves the quality of life of all South Africans, frees the potential of each person and builds a united and democratic South Africa, taking its rightful place as a sovereign state in the family of nations.

OUR PEOPLE – THE PROTEA LEAVES Our people, building on the foundation of a democratic and open society, freely elect representatives, acting as a voice of the people and providing a national forum for public consideration of issues.

OUR PARLIAMENT – THE DRUM The drum calls the people’s Parliament, the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces, to consider national and provincial issues, ensuring government by the people under the Constitution.

OUR CONSTITUTION – THE BOOK Our Constitution lays the foundation for a democratic and open society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights. It is the supreme law of our country, and ensures government by the people.

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