Vol 02 Official newspaper of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa Issue 11 PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA www.parliament.gov.za parliamentofrsa 2 INSESSION NEWS Promoting human rights during Covid-19: National Assembly debates the issues The National Assembly (NA) hosted a debate to mark Human Rights Day on “Promoting Human Rights in the Age of Covid-19”, reports Sakhile Mokoena. In opening the debate on rights activist, Ms Charlotte Economic Freedom Fighters rollout process,” Mr Ngcobo Congress of the People human rights in the National Maxeke. Ms Didiza reminded (EFF) spoke strongly against said. accused the government of Assembly, the Minister of MPs that “serving the people police violence. She labelled failing to create jobs – and Agriculture, Land Reform is not about ourselves, but the government “repressive” Mr Adriaan van Staden of doing nothing to stop poverty. and Rural Development, Ms those who elected us into the and guilty of “black the Freedom Front Plus said He appealed to the governing Thoko Didiza, paid tribute to corridors of power. Covid-19 exploitation”. the biggest human rights party to stop stealing. “When healthcare workers for their has reminded us that this “We are faced with the violations during Covid-19 people rise and march, they role in fighting the Covid-19 work is not for ourselves, remnants of the apartheid were the government’s failure are shot and killed,” he pandemic, as well as farmers we need to kill the spirit of regime represented by a to provide personal protective proclaimed. and farm workers for ensuring self and not live above the former liberation movement equipment (PPE) to healthcare that the country’s food people, but live with them”. in government,” she argued. workers, the collapse of the security was not compromised The EFF MP also spoke economy and job losses. during the crisis. Democratic Alliance (DA) against plans for “austerity Member, Ms Nazley Sharif, and retrenchments by According to Rev Kenneth “There was no greater said the year of Covid-19- government when more than Meshoe, of the African threat to human rights than related lockdowns disrupted 12 million South Africans were Christian Democratic Party, the threat presented by lives and livelihoods. It also unemployed”. “human rights have been Covid-19, which impacted took away many rights and severely limited, particularly negatively on development freedoms from the people. The Inkatha Freedom Party’s for the churches”. Rev Meshoe and increased the burden She accused the governing Mr Siphosethu Ngcobo also condemned what he of care,” the Minister said. party of failing to protect reminded the House that called “abuse of power”, “Covid-19 further exposed human rights and citizens’ human rights in South Africa where some pastors were the existing challenges safety. came at a great cost. He arrested for conducting church of poverty, inequality urged his colleagues not to services during the lockdown. and unemployment, and Ms Sharif also raised the DA’s take constitutional rights and contributed to the corrosion of concern about the inadequate equality for granted. “The The National Freedom Party social capital.” resourcing of Thuthuzela Care pandemic has shown us how (NFP) also participated in Centres for supporting victims easy it is for government to the debate, represented by Ms Didiza also spoke about of gender-based violence abuse power. The pandemic Mr Mzwakhe Sibisi. The NFP the importance of society (GBV) and abuse. The DA is cannot be used to undermine believes that human rights in working together to help also concerned about delays that which we fought for. The South Africa are compromised people stand on their own at DNA labs, which impacts on response to the pandemic daily. “The failure to ensure feet and prevent the collapse the prosecution of GBV cases. must be based on human vaccine and the corruption of Vukuzenzele, a community “The ANC is complacent in rights. The rollout of the around PPE funds is a direct upliftment aimed at the perpetration of violence vaccine must be cemented on violation of human rights. The eradicating poverty. She urged against women and children,” human rights. Let us ensure protection of humans must go Members of Parliament (MPs) she said. that we communicate to beyond Covid-19,” he said. to follow the teachings of communities and consult all struggle stalwart and human Ms Ntombovuyo Mente of the stakeholders on the vaccine Mr Willie Madisha of the DP APPEARANCE IN NCOP 3 Deputy President answers questions in the NCOP The Deputy President, Mr David Mabuza, appeared before the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) as prescribed by the Constitution to answer questions from NCOP delegates on a variety of issues, reports Abel Mputing. Editor Brent Simons Production editor Mava Lukani Design and layout MIND TRIX MEDIA Copy editors Jane Henshall, Vusumzi Nobadula Writers Mava Lukani, Abel Mputing, Sakhile Mokoena, Malatswa Molepo, Faith Ndenze, Justice Molafo Photography Mlandeli Puzi, Zwelethemba Kostile Distribution & subscriptions Jacqueline Zils Mr David Mabuza, Deputy President Publisher Parliament of the Republic of South Africa Asked about the efficacy Mr Stephanus du Toit asked has been slow. However, he has spoken to his counterpart of land reform, the Deputy if there is legislation that believes that the government in China to stop illegal export Printer Vision Enterprises President stated that despite holds accountable those who is now finding ways to get of vaccines. its challenges, land reform acquired productive farm land, land back to the people. The Section Manager: has restored the dignity of but who later rendered it proposed amendment of The Deputy President Publishing and Production Shirley Montsho many black people who unproductive. section 25 of the Constitution replied that law enforcement were dispossessed and more will, if passed, make it agencies are working with Copyright INSESSION is is published by people have access to land Mr Mabuza replied that there lawful to expropriate land Interpol on this. Some people the Information and Content today than ever before. Also, is not such legislation at without compensation, and have already been arrested. Development Unit of the land has been acquired for present. This is an oversight will be one such mechanism. Consignments from India have Parliamentary Communication Services of the Parliament industrial zones and various on the part of government, The government has also been confiscated, but their of the Republic of South Africa. policies have been incepted but we should also concede requested mining companies owners have disappeared. All material published is copyrighted and cannot be to advance land reform that many of them when they to donate land. The government is aware of reproduced without the written and rural development. were granted these pieces fake vaccines. The task team permission of the publisher. Government has released of land, were not given the Mr China Dodovu asked if meets on a weekly basis to EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES millions of hectares of land for necessary support to ensure there are any measures to detect them and to evaluate Telephone 021 403 8738 agricultural production, which that they remain productive. prevent acts of corruption in strategies. People should only Fax 021 403 8096 has benefited thousands of Now, we are trying to anchor the rollout of vaccines. take vaccines from vaccine E-mail [email protected] people. The government will our support from the district sites announced by the Subscriptions release state-owned land for level. Emerging farmers must Mr Mabuza said the government. [email protected] Post productive purposes. Training, be taught how to farm. We government has developed PO Box 15, Cape Town, 8000 financial and technical will put mechanisms in place a risks mitigation plan as Ms Seneanye Lehihi asked support will ensure that all to ensure that people get an oversight mechanism why there have been no OUR IDEALS Vision allocated land to beneficiaries support, to ensure that the for the vaccine rollout arrests in connection with An activist and responsive is productive. We are also pieces of lands given to them programme. Procurement corruption in the procurement people’s Parliament that improves the quality of life of mindful that land reform remain productive. risks will be eliminated when of personal protective South Africans and ensures programmes have not been there is uniformity in how equipment. enduring equality in successful. Mr Andrew Arnold noted procurement is conducted. The our society. Strategic Objectives that land ownership is still centralised procurement of the The Deputy President Strengthening oversight and However, the slow pace concentrated in the hands of a vaccine rollout will ensure that replied that the government accountability; enhancing public involvement; of land reform causes few and land reform has done there is effectively no room to has limited distribution deepening engagement in frustration and the cost of it is little to address this problem. inflate prices, for bribes and channels for the rollout of international fora; unsustainable. Expropriation He suggested that this kickbacks. The government vaccines. External capacity strengthening cooperative government; for restorative justice is indicates a lack of political will will develop an open and for distribution of vaccines strengthening legislative therefore necessary, but this on the side of government. transparent procurement will be reduced and internal capacity. should be undertaken within system to prevent any acts of distribution mechanisms will BOOK A TOUR the rule of law and within the The Deputy President fraud and corruption. be used instead. To tour Parliament constitutional prescripts of this admitted that there have been Telephone 021 403 2266 E-mail [email protected] policy. problems and the process Mr Du Toit asked if Mr Mabuza Mr Willem Aucamp pointed 4 INSESSION NEWS out that South Africans are will be monitored.