Vol 03 Official newspaper of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa Issue 2 PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA www.parliament.gov.za parliamentofrsa 2 INSESSION NEWS our continent, and provides depletes and diverts deeply a good framework for our needed resources such as Africa Day - Presiding own interventions and budgets, human capital and mobilisation of international infrastructure, for support. These efforts include accelerating the Officers appreciate strengthening the execution development of the of the African Continental Free continent.” “efforts to mainstream Trade Agreement, mobilising the nations of the world to “Let us continue to practise remove patent barriers to all the health and safety Africa in the global fight the production of sufficient protocols in order to protect vaccines to fight coronavirus, ourselves and our loved against Covid-19” and financing African ones against Covid-19. Let economies to enable their us protect Africa and its The Presiding Officers of Parliament, led by the Speaker of the remodelling and recalibration. children against all enemies of development. Let’s spare National Assembly (NA), Ms Thandi Modise and the Chairperson of The Presiding Officers said: no effort to accelerate the rise the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Mr Amos Masondo, joined “We noted with appreciation of Africa as a giant so that South Africans and the world in commemorating Africa Day. the resolutions of the summit she can play her role as an of the heads of state that equal among the continents of met earlier this month in the world,” said NA Speaker France to finance African Modise and NCOP Chairperson economies, using global Masondo to mark Africa financial firepower to Day. replenish depleted coffers of the African economies and ramp up a slow vaccine rollout in the continent. We strongly believe in human solidarity across the world, driven by an understanding that we can only be safe from the pandemic when all of us are safe, and when Africa and other developing nations are enabled to access and produce requisite quantities of vaccines to protect their people.” Ms Thandi Modise, Speaker of the NA & Mr Amos Masondo, Chairperson of the NCOP The Presiding Officers also Africa Day is intended to of the African Union (AU) We expect the vaccination affirmed their confidence celebrate the formation of the who spared no effort, and programme to gain the that “other major priorities Organisation of African Unity sacrificed lives and livelihoods requisite momentum towards of the continent, as part of (OAU) on 25 May 1963. The to attain the liberation and the necessary herd immunity striving to reach the Agenda OAU’s main objectives were, freedom we now enjoy that will break the back of the 2063 development goals, amongst others, to rid the across Mother Africa. As we pandemic.” will receive critical attention. continent of the remaining celebrate this day, we are The Pan-African Parliament vestiges of colonisation and acutely conscious of the ideals Noting the just over 24 million (PAP) is meeting this week apartheid, to promote unity our forebears struggled for, doses administered on the to build greater integration and solidarity amongst the which included the battles continent, the Presiding and collective efforts to African states, and to promote against poverty, inequality, Officers expressed their hope place Africa on a higher international cooperation. wars and conflicts, and limited that AU member states’ development path. These In 2002 the African Union share of resources.” collaborative efforts on the include: (AU) was launched following drive to vaccinate their citizens a decision by the OAU to They added: “The Covid-19 against Covid-19 will place the • The mainstreaming of create a new continental pandemic continues to vaccination drive on a higher gender, anchored by the organisation, as there was ravage societies with almost trajectory. They encouraged emancipation of women a need to refocus attention five million positive cases Africans to heed the call and and children from the away from the fight for recorded and about 127 get vaccinated, as rollouts are yoke of economic exclusion, decolonisation and ridding the 000 deaths, while there is steadily gaining momentum violence and abuse. continent of apartheid, and only less than 2% of the across the continent. • Promoting good governance towards increased cooperation vaccinated world population and fighting the scourge of and integration of African in Africa. We have noted Parliament has adopted corruption and illicit states to drive Africa’s growth with appreciation efforts to the theme: “The Year of financial flows that rob and economic development. mainstream Africa in the Arts, Culture and Heritage – Africa’s peoples of billions global fight against Covid-19, Building a better Africa and a of dollars earmarked for The Presiding Officers said with efforts to break barriers better world in the midst of development and growth. Parliament paid “homage to to access to life-saving Covid-19”, which articulates • Silencing the guns and all the founding forebears interventions and vaccines. the current challenges facing eliminating conflict that AFRICA DAY 3 AFRICA DAY – NCOP reflects on economic development, peace and stability in Africa Editor Brent Simons The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) commemorated Africa Day by hosting a lecture on Production editor the theme Pioneering Africa’s Inclusive Economic Recovery and Free Trade: Levers to building Mava Lukani the Africa we want. Sakhile Mokoena reports. Design and layout MIND TRIX MEDIA parties,” said Ms Lucas. She added that this cutting- AfCFTA brings the continent Copy editors Jane Henshall, Vusumzi Nobadula edge agreement should be closer to realising the vision recognised as the largest trade of an integrated market and Writers Mava Lukani, Abel Mputing, agreement since the World creating a basis for increasing Sakhile Mokoena, Sureshinee Trade Agreement in 1994. intra-Africa trade. However, Mr Govender, Sibongile Maputi, Majola warned that the full Rajaa Azzakani, Yoliswa Landu The Deputy Minister of Trade, potential of the continent will Photography Industry and Development, not be realised if we don’t Mlandeli Puzi, Zwelethemba Kostile Mr Fikile Majola, delivered the address the challenges posed keynote address at the lecture. by poor infrastructure, small Distribution & subscriptions He told the session that Africa and fragmented markets, Jacqueline Zils Day is an opportunity to reflect underdeveloped production Publisher on shared commitments structures and inadequate Parliament of the Republic of South Africa towards the renewal of the economic diversification. African continent for the Printer benefit of all her peoples. “We must compliment and Vision Enterprises “The theme for today’s event consolidate parallel African Section Manager: instructs us to move with Union work on infrastructure Publishing and Production speed towards building a and industrial development Shirley Montsho strong foundation for Africa’s pillars, build supply capacity to Copyright inclusive growth. And the take advantage of more open INSESSION is is published by the Information and Content African Continental Free Trade African markets,” he said. Development Unit of the Area Agreement further “The success of the ACFTA Parliamentary Communication provides us with the platform depends on our collective Services of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa. Mr Fikile Majola, Deputy Minister to advance this objective,” he efforts and coordinated action All material published is said. to effectively implement the copyrighted and cannot be Africa Day is marked on 25 for the continent, which seeks reproduced without the written programme and achieve the permission of the publisher. May each year across the to promote intra-Africa trading Mr Majola believes the vision that our forebears set African continent to celebrate and investment among African ratifying of the AfCFTA out for us decades ago.” EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES Telephone 021 403 8738 the establishment of the countries. agreement by 54 out of the Fax 021 403 8096 Organisation of African Unity 55 African countries is a Gauteng Provincial Whip E-mail [email protected] (OAU), predecessor to the Delivering opening remarks at major achievement, which in the NCOP and former Subscriptions African Union (AU). On 25 May the virtual lecture, the Deputy will connect about 1,3 billion South African Ambassador [email protected] 1963, the OAU was formed in Chairperson of the NCOP people with a combined gross to Libya, Syria and Lebanon, Post PO Box 15, Cape Town, 8000 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with Ms Sylvia Lucas said thanks domestic product of US$3,4 Mr Mohammed Dangor, 32 countries. More countries to the AfCFTA, the African trillion. addressed the lecture on OUR IDEALS joined over time, with South continent is finally on a peace-keeping in Africa and Vision An activist and responsive Africa becoming the 53rd growth trajectory and unified The promotion of intra-Africa the possible threat of conflicts people’s Parliament that member in May 1994, after under a common purpose to trade is a fundamental factor to the trade agreement. improves the quality of life of South Africans and ensures the end of apartheid. In 2002 collectively reverse the legacy for sustainable economic He said peace and stability enduring equality in in Durban, the organisation of Europe’s scramble for development, employment was crucial for economic our society.