02 06 14 Workers Must Unite New airline on the Goldberg, a to ensure victory cards to replace fountain of against covid-19 SAA profound wisdom Vol. 02 Issue 02 2020 State resources under severe pressure due to Covid-19 pandemic The Standing Committee on Appropriations received two briefings on the 2020 drivers of economic growth. The committee believes that Appropriation Bill recently from the Public Services Commission (PSC) and the Human one of the ways to deal with Sciences Research Council (HSRC). Each presenter highlighted the potential cost-saving this challenge is to link the 30-day payment period to the measures and areas for concern that require additional funding, writes Abel Mputing. performance agreements that government officials sign. In its briefing, the PSC told the should be considered. The committee was told that highlighted once again committee that the ongoing the area of public service the failure of government In their briefing to the debate around the public wage The government’s cost of health risk assessment, done departments to utilise internal committee, the HSRC bill should include the issue doing business was raised by public financial institutions, capacity. highlighted areas most in need of excessive salaries in public as a concern and also as an is one of the areas which of additional funding, the first entities and municipalities, opportunity for cost-saving. should be revised, as these During the briefing, the of which relates to service in particular for executives According to the PSC, state assessments could also committee highlighted its delivery. The budget cuts for and board members. In light resources were already be done by government concerns with the ongoing local government support and of Covid-19, the presenter under severe pressure, healthcare practitioners. The issue of non-payment by traditional leaders remain a said, the non-payment of and this has been use of consultants, they said, government departments and growing concern, and they performance bonuses for the exacerbated by the Covid-19 also remains a large area of the effects of this on small said, this is the area where entire public administration pandemic. concern – and the briefing businesses, which are pivotal service delivery happens. PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA www.parliament.gov.za parliamentofrsa 2 INSESSION NEWS According to Prof Narnia Bohler- the infrastructure spending in The committee was told science and technology (IST). performance. The management Muller, executive director of the basic education, which remains that approximately 13.2% The HSRC’s Research Director, of public funds requires proper HSRC’s Research Programme critical. The HSRC welcomed of the population overall Dr Glenda Kruss, pointed to the accountability measures, more on Democracy, Governance the Covid-19 social assistance indicated that their chronic intensified problem of Covid-19. important now given the funds and Service Delivery, programme, but argued that its medication was inaccessible According to her presentation, made available to deal with the investment in basic services abrupt withdrawal at the end of during the lockdown, and the redirection of IST Covid-19 pandemic. infrastructure remains critical six months, without alternative 13% to 25% of those living expenditure to Covid-19-related to managing local responses interventions, may have a in informal settlements, rural priorities likely means further While the areas in need to the pandemic and general potentially destabilising impact (traditional tribal areas) and IST cuts, and that will impact of additional funds were household and/or community on the economy, poverty and farms indicated their chronic negatively on future growth highlighted in the presentation, resilience. vulnerability levels and social medications were not easily and development potential. what was not clear according stability. accessible. to the committee, are the She said the redirection of While noting the challenges programmes and measures the budget should therefore The Covid-19 pandemic has Addressing key constraints related to IST, the committee of enhancing revenue that consider the high prevalence thrust into the spotlight facing the country’s health questioned the decline in will be able to sustain these of hunger, the provision of the need for better health system, South Africa requires private sector investment in IST, areas more effectively. The water and sanitation required promotion strategies. According the reorientation of the health while encouraging the HSRC committee is determined to for personal and individual to Prof Khangelani Zuma, who system towards comprehensive to look at how schools in rural process an Appropriations Bill hygiene, and economic is HSRC’s Executive Director: primary healthcare and areas are included in IST and that is responsive to creating opportunities to protect the Social Aspects of Public Health, institutional reforms for the development. opportunities for efficiency, incomes of households. The the average growth of 5.1% implementation of the National effectiveness and value for second area of concern she Health Insurance (NHI). money. While keeping this in the health budget is With regard to cost-cutting raised relates to inclusive in mind, the committee also insufficient given the measures, the committee noted economic development. realises that budget cuts immediate and long-term The HSRC also spoke of the that this requires innovation across all areas to deal with health challenges facing South need for stronger prioritisation to facilitate effective and the current pandemic are Another area of concern was Africans. of expenditure on innovation, efficient service delivery and inevitable. Workers Must Unite to ensure victory against covid-19 - Presiding Officers The aftermath of this virus battle against this dangerous will be particularly hurtful invisible enemy will be The commemoration of the 2020 International Workers Day (May to the poor and the working required to defeat the resultant Day) takes place under an unprecedented and complex global health class, particularly the low- socio-economic challenges that wage workers. In South Africa, will remain with us after this crisis brought about by the dreaded coronavirus pandemic. Its impact the Covid-19 pandemic has pandemic. The South African on workers in South Africa, on the continent and across the world is graphically highlighted the working class has consistently depth of the triple challenges affirmed the principle that one of the most devastating health and socio-economic crisis the world facing our nation – inequality, workplace struggles cannot be of work has ever experienced. Millions of jobs are being lost globally, poverty and unemployment. separated from broader societal The global crisis has thus made developmental efforts. families are confronted with economic hardships as economies are it imperative and urgent to under major strain due to inactivity, say the Presiding Officers of confront these challenges more The unity of workers and the sharply than ever before, as working class during this time is Parliament, the Speaker of the National Assembly (NA), Ms Thandi an integral part of fighting the more paramount than ever, and Modise, and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces pandemic. The human solidarity is historically re-affirmed by the and unity that has emerged famous rallying cry, “workers (NCOP), Mr Amos Masondo. amongst South Africans in the of the world unite”. As certain INSESSION NEWS 3 sectors of our economy open and various categories of workers are set to return to workplaces following weeks of complete lockdown to slow down the rate of infections, all efforts must be made to ensure conducive environments, which are safe and hygienic for the workers. Companies are called Editor upon to ensure that workers Brent Simons are protected and regulations as well as all labour laws are Production editor Mava Lukani strictly observed. Design and layout Lazola Zantsi We commend the government for its bold and necessary Copy editors intervention, in the form of Jane Henshall, Vusumzi Nobadula R500-billion set aside for Writers injection into the economy, Mava Lukani, Sakhile Mokoena, Abel Mputing, Justice Molafo, to assist with cushioning the Sureshinee Govender, enormous socio-economic Sibongile Maputi, Brent Simons, effects of Covid-19. This Parliaments are critical Photography includes relief for people who Mlandeli Puzi, have been hit hard by the Zwelethemba Kostile virus, the unemployed and in coordinating the fight GCIS companies. Distribution & subscriptions against Covid-19 Jacqueline Zils On this day, our solidarity is Publisher with all the workers of our Parliament of the Republic of land as they toil under the South Africa The COVID-19 pandemic is not only impacting on our day-to- precarious Covid-19 conditions Section Manager: both remotely behind the gates day lives, it is also changing the way parliaments work around Publishing and Production Shirley Montsho of their residences and formal the world according to the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU), physical workplaces. Copyright writes Brent Simons. INSESSION is published by the Information and Content We particularly salute Development Unit of the essential workers who are at Parliamentary Communication Services of the Parliament the forefront of the national Parliaments have “a vital number of people infected level, but also as platforms of the Republic of South Africa. battle