Posted on

DA to propose 405 amendments, in the amount of R10.8 billion, to the 2017/18 budget

Note to Editors: A comprehensive document, entitled “DA Main Budget Proposals 2017”, setting out the DA’s budget proposals for 2017/18, is available here.
Tomorrow, on 31 May 2017 I will, together with Dr. Malcolm Figg, DA Shadow Minister of Appropriations, propose 405 amendments to the Appropriations Bill [B5-2017], in the amount of R10.8 billion, to 2017/18 budget during a meeting of the Standing Committee on Appropriations.
The budget proposals for 2017/18 are aimed at:

  • creating jobs by allocating an additional R1.5 billion to provide 213 602 more work opportunities in the Expanded Public Works Programme;
  • fighting crime by allocating an additional R688 million to establish a stand-alone specialised unit to fight drug-related crime;
  • supporting poor students by allocating an additional R3.5 billion to provide financial assistance to 63 331 more students who are enrolled, or who would like to enroll, at technical and vocational training colleges;
  • fighting corruption by allocating an additional R174 million to boost the investigative capacity of the Public Protector;
  • assisting the poor by allocating an additional R4.5 billion to prevent malnutrition among children and assist people battling high food prices; and
  • combatting cross-border crime by allocating an additional R483 million to fund 7 more sub-units (+/- 945 soldiers) to safeguard the landward borders of South Africa.

The DA’s proposed amendments are “budget neutral” and will be funded by reprioritising expenditure, within the existing budget, and will have no effect on the fiscal deficit, which is estimated to be R149 billion, or -3.1% of GDP, in 2017/18.

Posted on

Minister Dlodlo must not become Minister of Propaganda

The following speech was delivered in Parliament today by the DA Shadow Minister of Communications, Phumzile Van Damme MP, during the Budget Vote on Communications.
Honourable Chairperson
I would like to begin my speech by again welcoming Minister Ayanda Dlodlo to the Communications Ministry.
I have said this before, and I will say it again: we want Minister Dlodlo to succeed in this portfolio.
And in particular, Chairperson, we want her to succeed in restoring good governance and public and industry confidence in her Department, something that was completely destroyed by her predecessor, Faith Muthambi.
It is a tragedy, that Muthambi has not been held accountable for a tenure that was nothing short of catastrophic, especially for the SABC.
I would like to remind this House that the 60-day deadline for the laying of criminal charges as set in the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the SABC Inquiry expires on 5 June 2017. That is in 10 days.
It was a recommendation in this report, adopted by most parties in the National Assembly, including the ANC, for Parliament to lay criminal charges against persons who misled or provided false information during the inquiry.
Minister Muthambi was indeed one of those people who misled the inquiry and as such, must be held accountable in terms of the Powers and Privileges Act and the Executive Ethics Code.
Honourable Chairperson, over the next two years, while the ANC is still in power, Minister Dlodlo has the opportunity to be the antithesis of Muthambi, or risk her legacy being that of Minister Dololo.
Over the next two years, the DA would like to see her bring much-needed stability; legislative and policy certainty; root out corruption and the deliver quality communications, educational and entertainment services to South Africa’s people.
The DA will be there, of course, at every step, to hold the Minister accountable, to ensure that she does not fail the people of this country.
I would like to devote the rest of my speech to assist her in this task.
The DA is not a party that is only about pointing out problems, but also, providing solutions.
As a first step, I think it will be very important for the Minister to be open and honest about where the problems are, and what the solutions will be.
She has done so, thus far, but I will caution her not to fall into the trap of shrouding the Department of Communications and its entities in secrecy – quite ironic – as her predecessor did.
Keep South Africa informed at all times about the work of government, and do so without being the Minister of Propaganda.
Let the people be the ultimate judge.
The role of the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) is not to disseminate propaganda, but to inform. It is also, not to send out media advisories on behalf of obscure pro-Zuma WhatsApp groups.
Honourable Chairperson, the Department of Communications is allocated a budget of R1.3 billion for the 2017/18 financial year.
By the admission of the Minister’s own officials, this amount is too little, and under severe economic pressure, the Department runs risk of running out of money before the year is done.
It was, therefore, quite alarming to hear that the Department intends to purchase new cars for the Minister and her Deputy.
I, again, urge the Minister to reject these purchases, and set the example of austerity for the rest of government.
Do not become yet another Minister Wabenzi.
Chairperson, the Minister’s biggest task is maintaining much-needed oversight over the Department’s entities, without unduly interfering.
It is imperative that the relationship between the Ministry and its entities is codified in a publicly available Shareholder Compact, so it can be subjected to constant scrutiny.
The biggest problems are obviously at the SABC.
We are pleased that the interim Board is steadfastly implementing the recommendations of the SABC Inquiry Report.
The DA commends the interim Board for the stellar work they have done so far.
It is our worry, however, that the interim Board appears to be moving rather slowly in instituting disciplinary proceedings against staff implicated in the causing the rot at the SABC, such as CFO, James Aguma and the former Company Secretary, Theresa Geldenhuys.
It is unfathomable why these two are not on suspension, and Ms Geldenhuys is said to be assisting in the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) forensic investigation. That is like asking the fox to guard the henhouse.
Both should be suspended immediately and subjected to disciplinary proceedings.
Together with the SABC Board, we would like also to see the Minister set up a panel of experts to investigate innovative means to increase the SABC’s funding.
At R173 million, the funding provided by government to the SABC, is obviously quite insufficient. The solution to this, however, is not additional license fees for mobile devices.
The DA will stand firmly in opposition to any further taxation to the already overburdened taxpayer.
Chairperson, I have had complaints from musicians that “payola” is still very much in existence at SABC radio stations. Music played on the public broadcaster’s radio stations should be chosen on merit, not based on who has the biggest bribe.
I will be submitting a formal request to the Department of Communications for a full-scale inquiry into payola at the SABC for all staff implicated in this, to be brought to book.
Restoring staff morale at the SABC is of utmost importance.
It was heart-breaking to hear talented staffers at the SABC recounting gut-wrenching accounts of being hounded and terrorised by Hlaudi Motsoeneng and his enforces because they refused not dance to his beat.
It is a disgrace that to date, SAPS’s investigations of the attacks and threats against the SABC 8 has not been finalised.
I would like to strongly suggest that the Minister personally request an update from the Police Ministry about this investigation.
How is it that our journalists are terrorised in their homes, and one shot in the face, and not a single person has been arrested?
With regards to the other, equally important entities in this portfolio, at then Film and Publication Board (FPB), it is imperative that the issues relating to its top leadership are resolved and a new CEO, COO and CFO appointed urgently.
It must never happen again, that the entities in this Portfolio table badly drafted, unconstitutional legislation in Parliament.
The FPB Amendment Bill is a legal quagmire that has taken the Committee over a year to finalise, and it will take longer still, because that is how bad it is.
The ongoing litigation between Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and the Minister of Telecommunications regarding spectrum auctioning must be resolved.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with ICASA seeking to auction off its spectrum, in order to increase wireless access in South Africa and boost the rollout of faster LTE broadband in order to boost economic growth and job creation.
Finally, Chairperson, I would like to thank you, my colleagues on the Portfolio Committee on Communications, from across the political spectrum under the Chairperson Humphrey Maxegwana.
I think this a greatly improved Committee from previous ones.
Although we have very heated debates, and we disagree often, I believe most of us are committed to fixing the problems in this Portfolio.
I look forward to vigorously maintaining oversight over the Department of Communications with you.

Posted on

Minister Mokonyane should be criminally charged

The following speech was delivered in Parliament today by the DA’s Shadow Minister of Water and Sanitation, Leon Basson MP, during the Budget Vote on Water and Sanitation.
Chairperson,
President Zuma led South Africa into junk status and his Minister, Nomvula Mokonyane, led Water and Sanitation and the Water Trading Entity into a financial quagmire where it now owes the Reserve Bank, contractors and the Water Boards almost R5 billion.
The Water Trading Entity is technically bankrupt and does not have the ability to collect money owed to them.
It is apparent that Minister Nomvula ‘Mama Action’ Mokonyane has taken zero action to get the finances right.
Minister, while you have made it your number one priority to protect the President, the Department of Water and Sanitation is collapsing under your leadership and infrastructure projects are delayed for years whilst others are stopped or simply unfunded.
This is a direct result of poor management and political interference.
Chairperson, the downgrading to junk status will have a devastating effect on projects like the Lesotho Highlands scheme that could cost South Africa billions more due to higher borrowing costs and further government guarantees on these loans.
It is shocking to note that the budget for water infrastructure development decreased by over R500 million from R12.7 billion in the 2016/17 financial year to R12.2 billion in this financial year.
Funding pressures of R2 billion and unpaid contractors of R1.5 billion will leave the Department with only R8.7 billion for infrastructure development this year.
This while South Africans are struggling without water and with sewerage flowing in our streets, rivers and dams.
What happened to the Blue and Green Drop reports for the 2015/16 financial year?
Nothing – they were not done!
Water infrastructure is under pressure and water specialists agree that the current situation is even worse than the last Green Drop report of 2014, which indicated that 84% of sewer plants are in critical risk, high risk or medium risk.
This implies that 4200 million litres of untreated or inadequately treated sewer is illegally discharged into 82% of our rivers every day.
South Africans should not be subjected to this any longer and whilst the Water Act empowers the Minister to act on behalf of the nation, it also mandates the Minister to protect and preserve the country’s precious water resources – something she is failing at.
Furthermore, protecting and preserving South Africa’s water resources is a constitutional mandate.
Minister Mokonyane can, and should, be criminally charged for allowing the pollution of our rivers, streams and ground water.
Chairperson, let’s look at the Minister’s track record with Water and Sanitation:
• The Department underspent more than R3 billion in the last 3 financial years;
• The Department had two Director Generals in 3 years;
• The Lesotho Highlands project was delayed by 6 years;
• The Clanwilliam Dam project was stopped by the Minister. Her decision to remove the Dam Construction Unit from site, to create a tender that will delay the project between 3 to 4 years, could cost rate payers as much as R1 billion more; and
• The employee cost of the Dam Construction Unit is costing rate payers R2.5 million per month, amounting to R23 million to date, and these employees are not currently working.
Under a DA government, we will focus on the following turnaround strategies to change the critical situation within Water and Sanitation:
• We will appoint accountable management who will not politically interfere in the day to day running of the Department;
• We will protect our water resources and implement the DA’s “use it or lose it”-principle by facilitating assistance from Water Boards to underperforming Municipal Water Infrastructure;
• We will monitor pollution of our rivers and water streams by appointing more Blue Scorpions that will enforce the DA’s “polluter must pay” principle;
• We will institute a rapid response unit to provide project management interventions and to assist municipalities that do not possess the requisite technical skills;
• We will analyse the feasibility of developing and introducing legislation which allows for the National Treasury to provide emergency financial aid to municipalities, and recover the funds from the Municipal Equitable Share;
• We will create opportunities for private sector partnerships with government, in funding, managing, upgrading, maintaining and creating new infrastructure. This will assist in funding the needed R800 billion over the next 10 years; and
• We will build additional smaller dams in catchment areas and downstream existing dams to prevent access water flowing to the ocean.
Minister, you are requested to start implementing the DA’s turnaround strategy plan to prevent a full scale collapse of South Africa’s water infrastructure.
Chairperson, prior to the 2016 elections, Minister Mokonyane visited the community of Jericho in Madibeng and had a big party in a big tent, promising water to the community in exchange for votes.
Unfortunately, Chairperson, nothing came of this promise!
Every day, the community of Jericho has to walk a dangerous route through bushes to the Sandsloot river and dig for water that the community has to share with cattle.
Minister, this is a disgrace!

Posted on

An activist’s prayer

The following speech was delivered in Parliament today by the DA’s Shadow Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Tarnia Baker MP, during the Budget Vote on Water and Sanitation.
“We cannot merely pray to you, O God,
To root out prejudice,
For You have already given us eyes
With which to see the good in all people
If we would only use them rightly.
We cannot merely pray to You O God, to end despair,
For You have already given us the power
To clear away slums and to give hope
If we would only use our power justly.”
Powerful words by the world-renowned Rabbi Jack Riemer.
It is in this spirit that I stand before you today and call on all South Africans to ensure that we hold those on whom we bestow power accountable.
It is no coincidence that so many religions use water as a symbol of cleansing and purity.
In South Africa we lose more than R7 billion worth of water a year – water literally flowing down the drain because of ageing infrastructure and water theft.
That is why Mayor Solly Msimanga of Tshwane has allocated R13 million for the restoration of water infrastructure.
I suggest to you, Honourable Chair, that the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has no idea just how valuable a resource water actually is, especially considering that South Africa is a water scarce country.
In 2003, the Strategic Framework for Water Services was approved by Cabinet with the target for the complete eradication of the bucket system of sanitation set for 2006, and a budget of R1.2 billion was allocated for the Free State alone.
Fast forward to 2017 and the goal has still not been met. It is ludicrous to think that the minister now stands before the National Treasury, begging bowl in hand, looking for a further R1.5 billion!
Minister, let us stop talking about concluding the long overdue Bucket Eradication Programme and just do it.
I urge you, Minister, to take a take firm stance against the scourge of corruption in our country and no longer allow companies to mine in one of our protected water catchment areas, like Mabola in Mpumalanga, particularly when names like “Gupta” appear on the Board of Directors and Zuma appears on the board of the Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) partner company.
Just do the right thing, Minister, and revoke that Water Use License granted to Atha Africa.
I will commend the Minister for one thing she has actually done and that is to advertise for the replacement of the Umhlatuze Water Board and its Chairperson, Miss Dudu Myeni.
Unfortunately, this was only after the Pietermaritzburg High Court ruled in December 2016 that the Minister had acted unlawfully by extending the contract of the Chair and Board, which expired in February 2015.
Basically, this means that the Minister broke the law.
It is for this reason that we have written to the Public Protector and asked her to investigate the Minister’s actions and hold her accountable for the court costs, including the appeal which she lodged, as well as the R1.4 million paid to Miss Myeni during her unlawful occupation of the position of Chairperson from February 2015 to date.
Another thing you can actually do, Minister, is to hold our municipalities accountable for the R3.6 billion owed to the various Waterboards.
This debt severely impacts on the provision of essential water services these Boards can deliver.
However, not all is doom and gloom, as there are some municipalities which do govern well, like the DA run Midvaal municipality which does not owe Rand Water anything, or Eskom for that matter. Well done Mayor Baloyi.
It is generally accepted that in life there are some things which are beyond our control, like the weather. However, we can control our state of preparedness to deal with natural disasters when they do occur. In South Africa, provision is made for monetary and other forms of assistance, on the declaration of a disaster, so as to minimise its effects.
But when the Minister first refused to admit that there was a drought crisis and later resisted declaring a national disaster, she robbed the people of South Africa of the support and assistance they could receive and added to the suffering of millions, leaving hundreds of towns to just dry up.
The drought intervention measures by the Department were so haphazard, the cost of which cannot be accurately counted or accounted for. It is for this reason we have written to the Auditor-General asking for an investigation into this drought expenditure, and I’m happy to report that this investigation is also underway.
Fellow South Africans, I understand that the ravages of the apartheid era cannot be reversed overnight, I appreciate the fact that millions more South Africans now have access to water, a right previously denied to them, but as a result of the high unemployment rate in our country, the number of people actively contributing to the national fiscus is limited.
As a result, we have to ensure that we get excellent value for money from every cent spent on service delivery. So, when the DWS overspends its budget by R18 million and yet only achieves 43% of its targets, we should be seriously concerned.
The Portfolio Committee spent many hours interrogating the Department’s budget. The more we probed, the bleaker it looked.
The final conclusion, Chairperson, is that the finances of the national Department of Water and Sanitation are deeper, darker and messier than any of its abandoned pit latrines, and just like the Bucket Eradication Programme, can only be rescued by a competent DA-led government.
I thank you.

Posted on

ANC kom nie belofte na om gemeenskapsmedia en diversiteit te bevorder nie

The following speech was delivered in Parliament today by DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Communications, Veronica van Dyk MP, during the Budget Vote on Communications.
Honourable Chair, Members of this House
Our Government needs to stop investing in corruption.
Corruption, maladministration and wasteful expenditure can be traced back to almost every single Communications entity.
On 17 June 2015, due to the inapt action by the Department, our country failed to meet the analogue switch off date as was set by the International Telecommunications Union.
During a Committee meeting this month, we were informed that we might once again miss the 2018 deadline.
It seems as though in the ANC government deadlines are delivery dates for failure.
Vertragings in die uitrol van digitale migrasie het `n groot impak op spektrum-beskikbaarheid. Dit benadeel die uitsaaibedryf ernstig, veral met betrekking tot gemeenskapmedia.
`n Moratorium op die lisensieëring van gemeenskapsradio’s in September 2015, kan nie gelig word nie as gevelog van die feit dat daar nie voldoende spektrum is nie.
Die DA sien dat die ANC nie by hul belofte nakom om gemeenskapsmedia en diversiteit te bevorder nie.
It should come as no surprise to us, but there is also a delay in the finalisation of the media transformation and diversity policy.
According to ICASA, the White Paper on Audio -Visual and Digital Content will take another 4 years to complete. The DA knows this will have a further impact on DTT migration. Yet again, the ANC does not keep its promises.
The largest budget increase in the Department is seen in Programme 4: Entity Oversight which increased by R94.3 million. However, no amount of money thrown at this problem will rectify the widespread maladministration at entities.
There is also an increase of R33.1 million for Communication and Branding which seems rather excessive in a country where citizens are literally starving.
Ons sit met ‘n entiteit soos Brand SA wat poog om Suid-Afrika te promoveer, terwyl die ANC-President sukkel om te tel hoeveel skade hy berokken. Rommelstatus danksy `n rommelregering.
Meer geld word spandeer aan die versterking van bestaande gemeenskapmedia, in plaas daarvan om nuwe geleenthede te skep.
Die DA versoek dat die befondsingsmodel van gemeenskapsmedia ernstig hersien word.
Belastingbetalers betaal ongeveer R21 miljoen aan Brand SA om landshoofde in die Verenigde State, China en die Verenigde Koninkryk te akkommodeer met die oogmerk om die land se reputasie te bestuur en te bemark – basies ‘n duplisering van Toerisme Suid-Afrika se pligte.
Beide entiteite het elk kantore in die drie lande. Parlementêre vrae het uitgewys dat doelwitte in die Verenigde Koninkryk en die VSA nie bereik is nie, dit wil sê doelwitte vir 2 uit die 3 lande was onsukselvol.
In hierdie moeilike ekonomiese tyd waarin ons mense hulself bevind, is landshoofde werklik`n prioriteit?
In 2014 the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) had a vacancy rate of 50% and until recently the status remained unchanged; the chair of the board even appointed herself as acting CEO, and lied about it in a committee meeting.
We have nothing to show for all these increases, except a Department and entities, like the SABC, that are riddled with corruption that they have failed to serve the people in South Africa.
Die DA vra vandag, wat doen entiteite om geld te bespaar?
Muthambi, Motsoeneng … Zuma! Hoekom raak die ANC nie ordentlik van sy probleemkinders ontslae nie? Watter vertroue boesem entiteite werklik in by die publiek? Daar is net geen gevolge vir wanprestasie in hierdie regering nie.
Corruption is killing opportunities. The ANC is killing opportunities. Just ask the 9 million people in SA that cannot find a job.
We need to stop rewarding institutional failures. We need to stop investing in corruption. Come 2019 the South African public will have the opportunity to vote for change and vote against corruption and the failure of the system.
I urge every citizen to make their vote count.
Ons land verdien beter as die ANC.

Posted on

ANC has failed to develop sport in poor communities

The following speech was delivered in Parliament today by DA Shadow Minister of Sports and Recreation, Tsepo Mhlongo MP, during the Budget Sport and Recreation.
Thank you very much Chairperson.
Honourable Members.
Asikulumeni ngezomdlalo.
The purpose of the Sport and Recreation vote, and I quote “is to transform the delivery of sport and recreation by ensuring equitable access, development and excellence at all levels of participation, thereby improving social cohesion, nation building and the quality of life of all South Africans.”
The sports arena should be a place of unity and compassion, not one of division. The true essence of our great rainbow nation should be on display at every possible opportunity, not only at the national level, but at all levels.
Sport gives people hope, it allows people to look up to role models, to believe in success stories, in brighter futures and it is a place where we are all equal and every single one of us can be a champion. This is a notion that should be encouraged as far and wide as possible.
We should ensure that our focus is on making the sports arena a safe environment for our children to develop, to grow and to dream big. The fact of the matter is that sport plays a crucial role in creating hope through unity, reducing poverty and crime through employment opportunities, emotional development and through the establishment of role models.
Now, more than ever, sport must be allowed to fulfil its purpose!
Unfortunately Minister, your predecessor Razzmatazz was more interested in twitter likes and star studded photos than sports development. As a result the basics have been forgotten.
Do you want to live in a free and fair South Africa with equitable access to sports facilities for all?
As long as we have underperforming provinces that do not adequately budget for sport we cannot hope to achieve this access to sports facilities. We cannot hope to create the sports arenas our children deserve.
Only two out of 9 provinces made full use of the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) allocation, one of which is the DA-governed Western Cape, whilst the other 7 did not make use of 15% of their allocations. And it should come as no surprise that the two worst performing provinces, in relation to the use of the MIG, are the Free State and the North West, both of which are run by members of the so-called “premier league”.
Minister, how can we hope to achieve transformation in sport if our school sport system is failing the kids?
When I grew up, there was a sports day every Wednesday at the school; what has happened to this culture? What has happened to the focus on the development of school sport as the grassroots stage?
Teachers, especially in disadvantaged communities, are unable to promote and encourage sport ebantwaneni bethu, due to a lack of resources.
By not adequately facilitating school sport we are denying children the right to dream big and be champion.
Wathintha abafazi wathintha imbokodo
Sporting codes are currently not adhering to the Commission for Gender Equality and we continue to see imbalances in the participation of women vs men in different sports.
Minister, we are concerned that not enough is being done to address this.
Minister, the total Budget for the Department estimated at just over R 1 billion, for the first time since the 2013/14 financial year, it is imperative that the funds are spent on actually developing sport and not on fancy award ceremonies and other such extravagances.
The R 8.5 million decrease in the allocation to the Community Support subprogramme is concerning as this subprogramme is responsible for delivering sports promotion programmes by focusing on increasing the number of participants in sport and recreation, with an emphasis on disadvantaged communities. Clearly our priorities are not right – we should be placing greater focus on disadvantaged communities and encouraging participation.
A further concern is the miniscule increase of R0.3 million that Programme 5: Sport Support received. This programme receives funding in order to support school sport programmes and improve access to sport facilities for development.
Money that is destined to improve the access to sport must be used for that purpose, it cannot be that funds are being misused, thereby denying our people, and especially our children, the opportunity to benefit from sport.
It is disingenuous that the department would splurge money on lavish events when the bare minimum in poor communities for developing sport have not been met. Clearly our priorities are out of order.
Minister, the budget for the Sport and Recreation Facility Management subprogramme being reduced by R 3.6 million this year, this is in spite of the fact that we do not know how many facilities we have in South Africa. Minister there is no comprehensive Asset Register of sports facilities.
To highlight the question around sports facilities I would like to draw your attention to the fact that there have been no sport facilities built for the poor, by the Gauteng government over the last four years. No rugby, no cricket, no swimming facilities were built, thus denying people access to sport.
I find this lack of development truly shocking, especially given the ANC’s rhetoric on grassroots sporting development, and their continued outcry over the lack of transformation. Minister, how can you transform sport without creating equitable access?
It is the young people in poor communities who are the most affected by the lack of access to sport as their development is stymied and they are often left to be influenced by drugs and crime.
Finally, let me make an important observation on the political leadership of the Department: We had Minister of Twitter Razzmatazz, manje we have uMinister of Nkandla. At least the swimmers will be happy with the new Minister Nxesi – he knows a lot about pools!
The DA will hold the Minister and the department accountable and we will push for the support that sport needs in order fulfil its purpose, creating hope through unity!
When the DA-led national government comes into power in 2019, we will ensure that children in poor communities have equal access to sporting opportunities.

Posted on

We would promote sports tourism in a manner that creates jobs

The following speech was delivered in Parliament today by DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Sports and Recreation, Darren Bergman MP, during the Budget Sport and Recreation.
Chairperson,
Year on year, speech after speech, we speak about the same thing. We all want transformation. We all want to ensure that the citizens of our country can partake in any sport from a school and community perspective.
However, if we were to take a snap shot today and compare it to a picture of where we were three years ago, when we started out on this journey together – we would find that nothing has changed.
We are still wishing and hoping for the same things, with an ever-decreasing budget and the hopes of seeing the impact of our input diminishing too.
Our last Minister’s flair for the dramatic resulted in him attempting to take away the Rugby World Cup in what he felt was punishment to the South African Rugby Union (SARU), but it would have in fact been punishment to the thousands of rugby fans across the country.
So focused was Minister Fikile Mbalula on pomp and ceremony that we chased a Commonwealth dream that put financial burden on all three spheres of government.
The Commonwealth Games was an event that we never should have chased, knowing the budgetary constraints in which this country finds itself and the infrastructure we would have needed, to please the games committee.
It was embarrassing to see us lose the opportunity in such a thoughtless manner.
Thankfully the new Minister seems to possess a far more positive view on the Rugby World Cup and the committee seems to be coming around to the efficacy of responsible sports tourism.
I have made input on an international stage calling for South Africa to use some of the African Renaissance Fund to create an African sports tournament. These are the types of events that we should be chasing and hosting because they require less cost and generate more turnover and better returns not only in income, but in jobs and diplomacy.
It is time the headings in our budget reflect more accurately what we are trying to achieve.
We should return to generally accepted accounting terms. In one of our first committee meetings, I warned that when it came to broad term budgets we opened ourselves to broad term allocations.
Now more than ever the budgets need to align to specific long term goals in building better relationships with sporting codes; ensuring better infrastructure in schools and communities.
I hope the new broom will sweep away the left-overs of the glitter and pom-poms that were the legacy of the last Minister and look more at building sports from its foundation to its leaves.
We as the Sports Committee should worry less about attending the national games and focus more on supporting schools, clubs and provincial leagues to increase interest, attendance and of course participation. It is internationally accepted that big stars draw young kids into the games.
We need to look after our heroes and help them inspire more participation from a young level.
Our budget alone will not achieve this. It is important that we bring in at least Basic Education and Health to share ideas and innovation in increasing participation from a school level and decreasing health issues starting at a young age.
Our oversight visits have been productive most of the time. We always seem to uncover an issue or two that shows the breakdown in funding between provinces and the municipalities, or municipalities and the communities. This leads me to the premise that most of our meetings should be on the field and not in the board room.
Crossing the length and breadth of this country, we have met principles and MECs. We have met sporting codes and promoters. Without fail, I have seen people given little but make a lot and I have seen people given a lot but not ever having enough.
It proves to me that with the right people in charge, opportunities are created.
The Department of Sports and Recreation, through its provincial counterparts, should be ensuring that money ring-fenced for sports and recreation is used for that specific purpose. Teachers, coaches, and officials should be enthused and motivated through innovative funding and staffing methods that create skills, growth and competitiveness.
Finally the elephant in the room. Transformation.
No one seems to differ on the fact that we want to see teams that are fully transformed in race and gender parity. We just have different views on how to get there and who we should be monitoring to get us there.
If you rely on the unions to make the transformation and never accept any responsibility as government then you will always find excuses and make everyone else the scapegoat.
It is time we meet the sporting federations by resourcing schools, clubs and communities through Division of Revenue Act grants and Municipal Infrastructure Grant and creating and supplying talent pools to be taken through the sporting system.
We need to find accommodation between the recommendations and findings from the Eminent Persons Group and our own committee oversight evidence to ensure that transformation is fast tracked in a manner that is sustainable.
Historically it has been two sporting events that have united this country to unprecedented levels. We must never try divide this country with the only committee that has brought us together.
In a DA-led South Africa we would ensure a better working relationship between Health, Education and ourselves. We would promote sports tourism in a responsible manner that builds jobs, creates careers and grows tourism.
We would ensure that the talent in our country if found. Whether you are from the most rural areas or the most prestigious school – you will be found, you will be taken care of and you will be able to realise your dream.
Sportsmen and women that represent our country will be appreciated and treated as ambassadors and we will make sure that recreational activities are easy and safe to access and most importantly enjoyed together by all.
For in a DA-governed country we won’t divide or talk on race – we will talk and deliver on growth and opportunities. Let sports lead the way in uniting South Africa.

Posted on

136 malnutrition-related child deaths every month

The following speech was delivered in Parliament today by DA Member of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development, Karen Jooste MP, during the Budget Vote on Social Development.    
Chairperson
Cash transfers today is considered a powerful developmental tool.
Its benefits include reducing immediate poverty, increasing the health and educational outcomes of children, stimulating the local economy, empowering women and reducing inequality.
Currently 95% of the Social Development budget is allocated to social grants. This translates to R176 billion being allocated to 18 million grant beneficiaries by 2020.
The financial value of grants have been increased by 8.2 % over the medium term.
Maar, wat beteken dit werklik vir mense wat afhanklik is van maatskaplike toelaes? Alhoewel die geld meer is, kan mense ongelukkig minder daarmee koop.
Die rede hiervoor is die swak ekonomie, die hoë werkloosheidsyfer en inflasie op kos.
The PACSA food basket costs R2 053 a month. It increased, in the last year, by R130.
This is a typical basket of food that a poor household will try to buy each month. It will keep family members alive, but it is not nutritionally complete.
The PACSA Minimum Nutritional Basket for the same family, costs R4 452. In other words, poor families are underspending on food by 54%!
So verbeel jouself ‘n bord kos en dan elke keer as jy wil eet, haal eers helfte daarvan af.
Dit is wat met arm gesinne op die oomblik gebeur. Wat meer is, die kos wat oorbly, is hoofsaaklik stysel.
Dit is nie omdat ma’s nie weet wat gesonde kos is nie, dit is doodeenvoudig omdat daar nie genoeg geld in die huis is om gesonde kos te koop nie.
This has a devastating humanitarian impact.
Earlier this month it was revealed in a parliamentary question that 46 294 children below the age of 5 have been admitted to hospital in the last three years due to severe acute malnutrition.
4 902 of these children died.
In other words, 136 children died every month in the last three years. Why? Because we expect mothers to feed their children with R380 a month.
Toe ek verlede jaar die Minister gevra het hoekom die kindertoelaag net R380 is, het sy geantwoord dit is omdat dit al geld is wat beskikbaar is.
Honourable Chairperson, that is a lie.
How can it be that there is not enough money to increase the child grant, but there is enough money for the Minister to fly overseas, to stay at the Oyster box hotel and drive a luxury car?
It is estimated that 30% of South African children are effected by malnutrition and a shocking 20% are stunted.
Ons weet ook dat as kinders in die eerste twee jaar van hulle lewe blootgestel word aan wanvoeding, die ontwikkelingsskade permanent is.
Hierdie kinders sal waarskynlik meer gereeld siek wees, sukkel op skool en uiteindelik, as volwassesnes, baie minder verdien.
The Democratic Alliance has identified savings in the budget and will propose an increase in the child grant, with a specific focus on the 0 – 2 year age group, this year because in a South Africa where the DA governs nationally, every mother will have more money to feed her child properly.
This budget, with a child grant of R380 is not a developmental tool, it limits the future benefits of cash transfers and does not protect our children against vulnerability.
South Africans should not be fooled when the Minister promises the universalisation of the child grant, the old age grant and a higher child support grant to orphans.
These promises are just political rhetoric, it is not included in the budget.
And every time there is a deduction from their grant, people should remember that that is a direct result of this Minister’s inability to read a contract.
When the DA comes into power in 2019, our children will be fed, not just our fat-cat Ministers.

Posted on

Minister Dlamini cares more about globetrotting than serving the poor

The following speech was delivered in Parliament today by DA Shadow Minister of Social Development, Lindy Wilson MP, during the Budget Vote on Social Development.
Chairperson,
We have debated the SASSA and CPS shambles at length. But today, let us look at other issues that the poor in South Africa should know about. Let us discuss where public money, which should be supporting the poor, is actually going.
How about the tender awarded to Azande Consulting CC?
This company is being paid R10 million per month to conduct door to door surveys in identified wards, print questionnaires and design and implement detailed project plans.
R10 million could add another 26 000 child grant beneficiaries.
Then you have Tsalena Media – a firm awarded a R44.4 million tender to provide media, events and communication services for 1 year.
That amount could provide an additional 9 700 child grants per month.
Why is the department outsourcing its functions? Why is money wasted on expensive consultants? What are the people employed in this Department doing?
And Chairperson, let’s talk travel.
R16 million on overseas travel and R105 million on local travel for the Department of Social Development in 1 year.
Our jet-setting Minister jets off with a team of no less than 7 Department of Social Development (DSD) delegates at a time, and spends 65 days in New York and Washington at a cost of R8.5 million in one year. The VIP car and transport hire for the Minister and her allies was R1.8 million alone.
I have not even started on trips to Geneva, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Venice, London and several others.
Is this conduct befitting of a Minister who is tasked with serving the poor – globetrotting with friends, while thousands of children die of starvation?
These are the priorities of our ‘Honourable’ Minister.
The Minister cannot tell us that she cares for the poor and vulnerable in this country. Nor can she claim to care about “Radical Economic Transformation” when she allegedly ensured that a Company fronting its BEE status, received a multi-billion Rand tender for grant payments.
Whose side is the Minister really on? Not on the side of the poor.
A DA-led national government will cut back on expensive and wasteful international trips for our Ministers, to ensure that the monies is spent on the people it is supposed to be spent on – the people of South Africa.

Posted on

The DA creates opportunities while caring for the environment

The following speech was delivered in Parliament today by DA Member of the Portfolio Committee on Environment Affairs, Jóhni Edwards MP, during the Budget Vote on Environmental Affairs.
Chairperson,
When it comes to waste and waste management this government will not get a gold star for effort.
You don’t have to go very far to see what I mean. Just go to any city, small town or village and see what the landfill sites look and smell like.
Believe me, I know.
I have recently started a roadshow of oversights to landfills all across the country and it is truly surprising that residents in some of these towns do not get sick on a daily basis.
This Department will be the first to say that it is not their function to take care of landfills, it is a municipal function, and therefore the Department is innocent.
However, the truth is that the Department licenses new landfill sites on an annual basis.
Why is this the case? Why are the number of sites not rapidly reduced annually?
Because the Department needs a total change in mind-set with a more proactive approach to recycling, rehabilitation and reducing waste, rather than just dumping it and mixing it into perfectly good soil.
This change in mind-set also needs to apply in the cases of many so-called legal sites that actually still burn the waste that gets delivered by the municipal waste trucks, releasing toxic fumes.
One of the many actual solutions to massive landfills is sustainable recycling.
This ANC government’s approach to recycling is closed, narrow-minded and non-inclusive. It lacks initiative, has zero incentives and creates very little jobs.
Throwing another levy at the problem won’t work either. History has proven this with the ever-failing plastic bag levy.
Talking about initiatives, in Tshwane the DA is in the process of rolling out a methane extraction project, partnering with the private sector. This will create inclusive opportunities and jobs.
On tyre recycling, Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa (REDISA) was sold to South Africa as the Holy Grail and the solution to our ever growing tyre problem.
This Department failed to effectively monitor and manage REDISA and in so doing has left the gap for the managing directors to manage a bit too much into their own pockets.
After collecting close to R2 billion, they failed to create sufficient jobs, they failed to create an open, inclusive environment and they failed South Africa, similar to what the ANC under Zuma has done.
They also failed to honour their mandate and decided to export tyres instead of dealing with it locally, creating limited jobs and opportunities for South Africans.
Luckily, the DA has a solution.
In 2019, under the DA-led government, we will change the way the Department is administrating waste. We will give waste sufficient value, which will create and aid an ever-growing recycling culture and create much needed jobs, with almost 9 million people unemployed.
We will incentivise it, so that the private sector will become involved, and if the private sector steps in and gains from waste management it will create jobs and opportunities for further jobs along the line.
In this way, the Department will create an open, inclusive environment for everyone to share in.