Admin
23 May, 2018
The UDM’s views on Budget Vote 01: Presidency
Honourable Deputy Speaker, Honourable President and Honourable Members United Democratic Movement (UDM) supports budget vote 1. Mr President you continue to make bold statements on the economic front. The recent appointment of your special envoy on investments is encouraging. We hope that the instability, that has the ruling party at the centre, will not undermine the work of these envoys. We also need to communicate a clear message that South Africa is working hard to be an investment destination of choice. Investments in our economy must be able to create jobs for the majority of young people who constitute the large section of the 26.7% of the unemployed South Africans. In the absence of much needed improvement on the governance front, the apparent delays on the commencement of the state capture inquiry note the business and consumer confidence will remain pessimistic. Accordingly, this administration must go beyond changing board members of the various State-Owned Entities (SOEs), but ensure sector leading qualitative and efficient productivity, through the appointment of qualified and competent administrators. In the same vein, let the State Capture Commission begin with its work. Yes, to see who has been misusing state funds to line their party or private pockets. South Africa needs a significantly improved fiscal base, accelerated inclusive economic growth, with a sharp decline in wasteful and fruitless expenditure, that will also contribute to the reduction of the budget deficit. Wastage which happens across the different spheres of government and in other public institutions, must be eliminated. However, these measures must not compromise the security of the country. We want you to do more to bring an end to violent protests that have occupied our streets, day-in day-out. Our law enforcement agencies, including the intelligence, must help you put an end to the increasing cash in transit heists, the burning of trucks, and all other forms of crime and lawlessness. We agree, with you, that so-called political killings are crimes and must be dealt with accordingly. Political killings are a blatant attack on the very democracy and constitution, that many so rightly fought for. As chairperson of Southern African Development Community (SADC), you are best placed to understand the conflicts internally and externally in many African regions. We call for the revitalisation of peace programmes that were started in the Mandela administration. South Africa cannot be expected to deploy its armed forces to, maintain stability, without progressive peace negotiations running parallel. The presence of South African armed forces must be a temporary measure, with the ultimate goal of promoting peace in the continent, not to protect corrupt regimes. Currently South Africa plays host to political refugees, who are being harassed by some of the governments which they are seeking refuge from. There are cases whereby these refugees are being assassinated within South African borders thereby threatening the security of our country. Ensuring peace in other African countries may lead to many refugees wanting to return to their homes and develop their states to become prosperous whilst also reducing the financial burden for deploying our troops. Thank you
Admin
16 May, 2018
2018 Budget Vote 10 – Public Service and Administration
Address by Mr ML Filtane, MP in the National Assembly Honourable Chairperson and members It is up to the citizens of South Africa to claim their entitlement to accountable government in which, constitutionally guaranteed human and other rights are upheld. The constitution alone, however sounds it is, is insufficient, unless it is fully applied in the daily lives of all of the people and the state institutions. The continued high unemployment rate, poverty and underdevelopment, demands that the more than 1.2 million men and women in the public service must double the effort in their daily responsibilities intended to create a better life for the people of the South Africa. Governance is about the implementation of laws and the actual provisions of services. Public Service and Administration programme actions should contribute towards an enhanced quality of life for all. At the root of many of the problems facing country at present, in particular that which relates to governance, is a lack of appreciation of the difference between party and state. The governing party’s cadre deployment policy is adversely affecting public service. Evidence is that the ANC cadre deployment strategy systematically places loyalty ahead of merit and competence. Therefore, it its own serious obstacle to efficient public service. Politically and factionally connected incompetent individuals are often deployed to public positions. This results in a demoralised public service. Incompetent and unqualified people are unable to deliver services efficiently and effectively. Competency and ethical standards are critical for an effective and efficient public service. In order to realise the public administration provided, read in section 195 of the Constitution, that renders services to all people in a manner which is impartial, fair, equitable and without bias, we need, amongst others: • To run public service as a professional state service; and • An integrated and seamless single public service across all the three spheres of government. A democratic public service must uphold values of honesty; integrity and non-partisanship; prudence in the use of taxpayers’ money. There must be faithfulness to the principles of fairness, impartiality and professionalism whilst carrying out their duties; with respect for the government of the day and most importantly – PUTTING THE CITIZENS FIRST. The ruling party has taken similar or same resolutions in many of its decision-making bodies, but, implementation, DOLOLO! There is no implementation because PATRONAGE and the ANC is in the same WhatsApp group. The governing party cannot operate without patronage and patronage is an antithesis of patriotism. So, with patronage, the people of South Africa will never be at the apex of the governing party programmes. That will only remain a paper commitment. Thank you
Admin
11 May, 2018
2018 Budget Vote 39: Rural Development and Land Reform
Address by Mr ML Filtane, MP in the National Assembly Subject for Discussion: Budget Vote 39: Rural Development and Land Reform Honourable Chairperson and members The Preamble of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, states: “we … believing that South Africa belongs to all who live in it…” Question is, which part of South Africa actually belongs to the landless. Please respond by providing radical action to help them get their land back. Honourable Minister, hear the cry of the millions of the so-called South African citizens. They are crying out for land. Help them get what is in reality and constitutionally theirs, LAND. They want to belong to South Africa, they want to own South Africa, they want their acre of our beloved country. To them this budget means nothing, nothing because it talks about development programmes on land, yet they own no land, yet they own no land. So desperate are their circumstances, so dire is their situation, that 11 million of them are likely to go to bed tonight without a meal. They need land, on which to build family homes, from which to produce food for their families, from which to conduct business, on which their children will play, on which their budding sportsman and women can develop their talents. The people of Baziya and Highbury are painfully waiting for the finalisation of their land claim. Please Minister we need action and we need it NOW. They need land, which they can hold and horde for future generations, on which they can keep their livestock and milk their cows and feed their children, nutritionally. Minister, Africans will not ask for even one penny from you in order to do all the above. I have personally experienced this lifestyle in rural Transkei The much spoken about radical economic transformation needs radical legislation. The Bills that are with us now come nowhere near achieving that. Just over a year ago, I questioned the then Minister of Rural Development about this weak ESTA Bill and his response was that, that can only be done with a new Bill. Will you look into that as the new Minister, please. Farm workers continue to be evicted without getting much effective protection from government. Municipalities need land to resettle these evictees. Three weeks ago, I finally cleared the myth that Isilo owns Ingonyama Trust land. I took the committee through the Act clause by clause. The Ingonyama Trust Board Chairperson, Judge Ngwenya did not rebut my statement. So your department can now move in there and carryout the programme of securing land tenure for the inhabitants of that 2.9 million hector land. We have yet to see as the committee, a departmental report that as little as 1 000 supported entrepreneurs are earning just a R1 000 monthly for 12 months on the trot. In the absence of such a report this department does not qualify to be part of the economic cluster. It should be moved to the social cluster. But we support this pittance budget. Thank you
Admin
10 May, 2018
2018 Budget Vote 38: Human Settlements – address by Ms CN Majeke, MP in the National Assembly
Honourable Chairperson and members Outcome eight of the outcome-based performance approach that speaks to the mandate of the department adopted in January 2010, places responsibility on the part of the department to provide sustainable human settlements and improved quality living environment. However, visiting ward 28 in Soweto on Sea in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) where houses were built pre-2010, you will find a totally different and devastating reality. This has resulted in the community launching a petition with the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature (ECPL). These citizens are currently registered and counted as beneficiaries of Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) houses by the human settlements department, yet, their situation can best be described as a glorifie squatter camp. In 2015, the NMBM human settlements department promised that the beneficiaries of the Zanemvula Priority Project would be temporarily removed to enable for the rectification programme to correct the defects. Three years later, these poor citizens continue to live with graves as their neighbours with absolutely no space or hope for economic, social activities and inclusion. For them, to bury their loved one, they have to rely on facilities outside from where they reside. Chairperson, many of the houses and settlements built between 1994 and 2010 are a far cry from the acceptable and current national policy, national norms and standards for housing and human settlements development. In ward 28, our people are crammed in overcrowded and dysfunctional spaces of less than 100 square meters with regular service interruptions. Chairperson, this department has to go back to basics. In this regard, we propose, that: • The department should assess all the houses and settlements that were built between 1994 and 2010, and compare it to the current policy, norms and standards. It must evaluate whether they are consistent with outcome eight, which provides for sustainable human settlements and improved quality of household life. • In the event of discrepancies, as is the case with ward 28, the minister must make policy proposals, consistent with the rectification programme and other relevant legal pre-scripts, to elaborate a plan that the department can and will implement to rectify the anomalies. • In this regard, the minister is invited to make ward 28 a pilot project. Accordingly, the minister should immediately contact the ECPL so that she may have access to the petition that carries the details of this challenge. • As part of attending to this national challenge, the minister, together with her provincial counterpart, should consider making an urgent visit to this ward to see for themselves the real circumstances defining our people in a democracy. Please Minister, consider joining the ECPL during their Public Participation Week on the 28 of May to the 1st of June in NMBM. Ward 28, is the epitome of a lack of broad national housing delivery goals, a lack of monitoring the financial and non-financial performance of provinces and municipalities. It also speaks to a lack of deliberate consultation with all the stakeholders in the housing delivery chain, including civil society and the private sector. Thank you
Admin
09 May, 2018
2018 Budget Vote 17: Social Development – Address by Ms CN Majeke, MP in the National Assembly
Subject for Discussion: Budget Vote 17: Social Development Honourable Speaker and members The United Democratic Movement (UDM) supports the report. However, the UDM feels that there are major obstacles in the way that the department must overcome, namely within social work graduates and the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). Chairperson, drugs and alcohol abuse is one of the struggles that the country is facing. Parallel to this struggle is that thousands of social work graduates are trained at huge cost to state and are languishing at home and on the street corners of our villages and townships without work. In 2018, it is projected that the number of unemployed social workers will jump to 8 600 from 3 800. This increase is from the 4 840 social work students with government bursaries mainly from this very department. The UDM agrees with the chairperson of the portfolio committee that discontinuing the funding is not the solution and will create further crisis. South Africa has not enough social workers to drive the departmental community development agenda towards a caring and inclusive society as envisaged in the National Development Plan (NDP). We therefore propose that: • The department engages with other departments like correctional service to assess the need for this skill and channel the unemployed graduates accordingly. • Train the unemployed graduates in community development and ensure that the department drives this important programme with the requisite capacity. • Extend the community development programme to non-profit organisations and non-governmental organisation so that the proper utilisation of social workers is spread and that our communities are assisted to development consistent with the 2030 vision. The UDM is also angered by fact that SASSA officials deliberately misled beneficiaries and forced them to migrate from a cash payment system to an online system which create many complications for beneficiaries who are not familiar with online cash systems. Furthermore, the lack of understanding by some beneficiaries of online systems, leave them oblivious to unlawful deductions and corruption as seen in the past. SASSA must address the problems caused by those officials have deliberately misled the beneficiaries and must take the appropriate actions: 1. They must receive a suspension without pay for a period of no less than three months. 2. They must commit to do community service in that time to give back to a community they deliberately misled. 3. SASSA must make every effort to communicate the situation to those who are affected and revert the migration for those who wish to make use of the cash payment points. The UDM also recommends that government quickly creates a reliable, safe and fast system to pay out SASSA beneficiaries. Long queues and offline systems slow productivity of the country and need to be mended with the utmost urgency. The Chief Executive Officer of SASSA must fill the vacancies. The high vacancy rate places stress on the current employees and need to pick up the additional responsibilities and furthermore the vacancy rate will definitely hamper the performance of the office. Thank you
Admin
30 May, 2017
Debate on Budget Vote 26 – Energy by address by Mr Lennox Gaehler, MP
Honourable Chairperson and Honourable Members Electricity is a fundamental factor in a wide range of socio-economic matters; it is the lifeblood of an economically and socially active community. Reliable electricity has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life of the poor, in particular, those in rural areas. We need to make it a priority to promote and incorporate all viable options for electricity generation. We must aim to ensure that every household has access to reliable electricity. The United Democratic Movement (UDM) calls on Government that, in rolling out solar and wind energy, we should give priority to rural communities and this programme should be conducted speedily. So far, what we have noticed that electrification does not reach to the deep rural areas in particular the Eastern Cape. An example, is wards 18 and 28 in the Mbhashe Municipality, Eastern Cape. Even after citizens took to the streets, and were promised intervention, to date, no electricity has been delivered in these areas and there is no acceptable explanation. We must agree, across the political spectrum that rural poverty constitutes a national crisis and is a grave injustice. Whilst there may be no silver bullet for the desperate conditions facing millions of the rural poor, the growing need for affordable energy has the potential to contribute to the rural socio-economic development. The wind energy provides a cheap reliable and mature source of energy and economic development; and is an integral part of South Africa’s energy mix. Lastly, and whilst it may not directly fall under your portfolio, Honourable Ministers, it is UDM’s firm position that the leadership problems at Eskom needs to fixed. Political interference needs to stop and stop now. We need a functional Eskom so that the Country’s electricity challenges can be addressed without compromise. The UDM supports the policy debate on Budget Vote 26. I thank you Address by Mr LB Gaehler, MP and UDM Eastern Cape Representative in the National Council of Provinces
Admin
26 May, 2017
Debate on Budget Vote 40 – Sport and Recreation South Africa by Mr Mncedisi Filtane, MP
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) supports the budget vote. The budget reduction in this department does not augur well for the promotion, development and transformation of sport in our Country. Already, compensation to the departmental employees had to be reduced on an escalating scale during the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period, totalling R4.9 million. The next victims of this reduction are goods and services. Regrettably, the very people who would have benefitted from the programmes of this department stand to suffer severely. When departmental officials and sport practitioners are locked in office, and therefore cannot reach-out to communities, due to budget cuts, the development of sport and recreation activities are compromised. It also, means that there will be less usage of the sporting facilities already available and this may result in such facilities being white elephants. The economic activity that is a natural by-product of sport and recreation, activism, will be lost in the process. Nevertheless, the UDM welcomes the newly appointed Minister and his team to the batting crease. Minister, you are now facing the first bouncer, which you have to deal with in the first over. The second new ball you have to face is that of provinces, which are failing to obtain data from their distant district offices. So, as technology has been targeted as a cost-saving area, the flow of information to and from district offices will be hampered. Nationally, this will impede the department’s ability to plan ahead. No data, no detailed planning. The potential result you are about to get, will be, either you are bowled out or caught at leg-off, as you try to scoop the ball for 6 runs. Also, savings on facilities means that less facilities will be accessible to the sporting bodies. Yes, the time has come for the Memorandum of Agreement between Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA) and the Department of Basic Education to be reviewed, because the relationship between the two departments has yielded minimal results, so far. A better working relationship between these departments has the potential to identify, nurture, mould and develop the young talent that this country need so dearly. In the same context, a working relationship can also be used to host those with less intellectual capacity, but excellent sports orientation, to develop their talent and ultimately make a career in sport. In that way, job opportunities will have been created. Penalising non-compliant provinces is most welcome since school sport is the foundation on which transformation can be built. The intensive support for volleyball in 2017 is much appreciated. They have been in the cold for far too long. Minister, your other challenge is the high up-and-under that you are facing in rugby, and that is sustaining as well as supporting transformation. You may not knock on that ball, or else the wings will pick it up and score under the posts, thus reversing all the yards made under the stewardship of your predecessor. Shame Mbaks, ubuzama kodwa. Bafana–Bafana are with their new coach are on the nation’s radar. We expect better from them under your stewardship. In this regard, and at the risk of contradicting my principal, I wish Orlando Pirates to show them the way on 24 June at reclaim the Nedbank Cup.
Admin
29 Apr, 2016
Debate on Budget Vote 24 – Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Address by Mr ML Filtane, MP in Parliament Honourable Speaker and members The United Democratic Movement (UDM), supports the budget vote with the following comments. Although the Department manages 64 000 hectors of category B and C of plantations, there is no budget for the revitalisation of these plantations through which process, jobs could have been created. In the meantime there is a huge national demand for sawlog timber. South Africa could soon be a net importer of sawlogs because the water shortages, change of business model as well as the state’s poor management of the category B and C forests. The consequence hereof is that building costs are going to go up. The department bosts a large number of highly qualified personnel, yet all we see is an ongoing increase in the numbers of food-less citizens and jobless people. The projected 40 000 beneficiaries of the food production initiatives is less than a drop in ocean because it accounts for less than 1% of the total population that lives below the poverty line. Truth is, people don’t care how much you know, all they want to know is how much you care, for them. The impact of your draught relief programme was so minimal that two farmers took their lives after losing hope in your endeavours, most farmers in the Eastern Cape have only heard about your efforts, instead of actually getting it. Food prices are set to rise to unprecedented levels. The effect of the drastic reduction of the Agricultural Research Council’s (ARC) budget is going to be negative that even ordinary citizens will decry your decision. This is an entity that was able to produce an effective drought tolerant maize seed. Had they had the obviously necessary financial support, the effect of drought would have been seriously minimised, thus saving the citizens from death resulting starvation. Go produce food for the starving masses such that the social grants beneficiaries can get food at farm gate prices with minimal transport costs. (transport adds 25% to the plate of food). Prioritise food production. If the department had a strong policy of maximising your position in the local market, you would not be worried about the collapsing China markets. The committee’s report is not reflective of public representatives who realise that this country is in dire-straights. I suggest the department responds much faster to the recommendations. Poverty drives more people to social security for financial relief. The numbers of food producers has declined by about 30% in the last 10 to 20 years. The current government is not being effective in stopping the haemorrhage. South Africa is going to be less food producing and have very high food costs. Minister, you are producing inflation. Most important and urgent, the agricultural sector remains lily white with no semblance or evidence of purposeful transformation that dismantles the exclusive ownership of food production in our country. It is disturbing to hear that white farmers continue to exclude the majority of citizens by using Afrikaans as the only medium of producing food. We demand a clear realistic plan on this. Thank you
Admin
29 Apr, 2016
Debate on Budget Vote 11 – Public Works
ADDRESS BY Mr ML Filtane MP in Parliament Honourable Speaker and members The United Democratic Movement (UDM), support the budget vote with the following important comments. The most common problems with this programme are: · Insufficient support by the department with no collaterals from any other source, including the beneficiaries themselves. This makes the beneficiaries to be almost totally dependent on the department; a rather too heavy a burden to bear. · Lack of Project Management skills on the part of the senior management of the department its glaring. This puts the beneficiaries, and therefore, the department in an invidious position where there is so much reliance on the Director General department as stated above. Hence the Minister recently directed that from downwards, staff members should attend a project management course. · The department is caught up in a situation where the Community Property Associations (CPAs) become a law unto themselves thus failing to maximise the opportunities presented to them by the department. In some cases courts are brought in to resolve internal issues. · Kwa Zulu Natal was beginning to see the unfortunate, but unavoidable effects of the drought that has devastated crops and livestock in most provinces of South Africa. · Most beneficiaries of the restitution programme prefer cash to land. This is a political scenario brought about by severe levels of poverty, both of the ability to develop land and make it productive, as well as lack of foresight in so far as the long term benefits of owning land are some people do not understand that land appreciates in value because of external factors not necessarily influenced by its owner. More advocacy is needed as a critical component of the restitution programme. Accordingly; we strongly suggest that this political challenge should no longer just be addressed through a simple mechanical process of qualifying people for restitution but rather that people must be offered land only. I cannot find anything contrary to the Bill of Rights therein and therefore such a policy would withstand a constitutional test. The slow pace of restitution is actually a contravention of section 25 (6) of the constitution. Government just cannot deliver on its promises of the promised land. Thank you
Admin
21 May, 2015
2015 Budget Vote 31: Small Business Development – address by Mr ML Filtane, MP
Honourable Chairperson, Minister and Members The United Democratic Movement supports the budget. • Welcome the political shift for business rescue from big business into Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME). This will help to remove the strain associated with the SMME sector so that it can be able to deliver on the expectations of the National Development Plan with regard to the creation of job opportunities. • Whilst we intensify the creation of small business, we must move with speed in creating and liberalization of access to markets for the consumption of products and services rendered. • The related area that will require immediate attention is the capacity of the SMME in meeting the market demands once the markets have been liberalized. • Currently, it is difficult to map the competitive strength of the SMME sector in SA by province and or even by municipality or locality. Most of the interventions are generic rather than focusing on niche sectors from the lowest level of our communities. • Whilst welcoming the non-financial and financial support targets and funding for small business and cooperatives, however, the department should drive an aggressive programme focusing on reaching out to communities and in particular those initiatives intended to be beneficiaries. In many instances, these policy statements and budget targets presented and adopted by parliament are not know by the would-be beneficiaries resulting to under expenditure. The personnel giving support must have business acumen. • Access to service provided by the department is therefore critical and may need either partnership with lowest levels of government like municipalities and the creation of such service centres in all municipal areas where practically possible. • Creation of critical sectors for purposes of building industries and funding must then be channelled in new developing industries and incentives must enhance the shift in that direction. • In doing so it should then be able to measure the size and success of small business to medium size industry. • The department must be able to measure the progression of designed planning. • Linkages between private sector and small business must be defined according to value chain analysis. Set asides in government procurement must be popularized and be monitored. There should be direct linkage of small business development to the black industrialist programme that is being rolled out by the Department of Trade and Industry. I thank you End
Admin
24 Jul, 2014
Eastern Cape: Budget vote Provincial Treasury
Speech by Mr Mhlati, leader of the UDM in the Eastern Cape Legislature Honourable Speaker, Honourable Premier and Executive, Honourable Members and government officials I would like to express a word of appreciation to the former MEC for Finance and Treasury for the wonderful work he did during his tenure to uplift the standard of performance by Treasury as stipulated in Section 18 of the Public Finance Management Act. Treasury has succeeded in assisting the various Departments to manage the financial resources of the Province in full compliance of the provisions of the PFMA and Treasury Regulations. If the Department was a plane I would say the pilot can just put it on auto flight because it can now cruise on its own without manual assistance. The only outstanding matter which I would like treasury to take up with the office of the premier up to Pretoria is the upgrading of the salary scales of the internal auditors so that they can be attracted to work for the government. The endeavours made by treasury to assist the municipalities in their financial management issues as required by the provisions of the Municipal Finance Management Act is being hampered by the failure of the Municipalities to appoint personnel with the requisite skills and qualifications for the positions as required in terms of the provisions of the Municipal Systems Act. It is high time that the Honourable MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs working together with the Premier of the province should address the political instability in Municipalities which have a negative effect on the performance of the Municipalities. Even if we can work together without changing the working environment in Municipalities we will never move South Africa forward. They are the centres for service delivery to our people. Treasury had canvassed us to encourage civil servants to take early pension before we do that he must show us the commitment that people who exit the civil service are paid their exit benefits within a month of leaving the service. Some people have died waiting for the payment of their benefits. In every budget funds for the payment of these benefits should be ring-fenced in each Department as most of the people who are going on retirement are well known within the Department. A word of appreciation also goes to the chairperson of this committee for inviting all chairpersons to be present at the meeting of the Committee when dealing with transversal matters. I think that the exposure has opened the minds of the Honourable Members on how the funds of the Province are handled. However, there appears to be a need for a workshop to be conducted among the members on how the budget of the Province is being crafted up to the last stage to avoid unplanned requests for increases towards the end of the process. The UDM fully supports the report of the Committee and its recommendations. I thank you
Admin
23 Jul, 2014
Budget Vote 33 – Rural Development and Land Reform
Address by Mr ML Filtane, UDM Member of Parliament, in the National Assembly – Vote 33 Rural Development and Land Reform Honourable Chairperson Minister and Deputy Minister Honourable Members • Rural revitalisation and intervention in its economy is a priority matter as many rural areas remain in crisis with regard to resources and service delivery whilst the majority of people live in abject poverty after 20 years of democracy. • One major flaw of economic policy in the last 20 years has been the failure to bring infrastructure in rural areas on par with that in the cities without urbanising rural settlement. The socio economic consequences of this flaw are what we continue to witnesses; chronic housing shortages, millions forced to live in shacks and many other social ills. • The Untied Democratic Movement (UDM) supports aggressive and radical intervention in rural development, which will ensure that this matter does not become a political football. • The post settlement land programme is not producing the desired effect. • Questions raised by the public during public hearings on legislation are still outstanding and we are not clear as to when will the department submit its responses. • The department shares a vision – “to create vibrant equitable and sustainable rural communities and food security for all” with the department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. However, the latest statistics on food security reflect that over 11 % or 5.6 million South Africans still live in abject poverty, with no food security at all. What does the department propose to do to improve this situation? • That the door has been opened for more land claims to be submitted, whilst the department is currently behind with the settlement of already validated claims, leaves one wondering how and when these new ones will be accommodated. The Annual Performance Plan of the Department for the financial season 2014/15, targets to finalise 239 claims out of 983 outstanding and yet it is quite on how and when the 744 is going to be finalised. The fact that the department has reported staff shortage and limited budged, the question remains – will this just be a populist statement or are there some pragmatic plans to address this apparent problem? • The outstanding claim by the people of Baziya in the Eastern Cape leaves bitter taste in their months even to this hour. We invite the department to supply sufficient account of this prolonged delay. • Land reform – my biggest concern here is that, there is no statistical report on the socio economic achievements over the previous term and yet funds continue to flow to this function. • There is an urgent need for management to eliminate the inconsistencies between the department’s Annual Performance Plan and its own targets as well as to adhere to the prescribed reporting periods. • The department’s model for economic development is not comprehensive enough hence it is lacking in sustainability, some critical basic elements are missing from the equation. • Land acquisition by foreigners needs to be capped at a certain percentage of our land. Even so, we need to look at the value-adding factors which the acquirer will bring to the country’s broader objectives like; long term employment, skills development and provision of food security. • The UDM notes with concern the huge transfers of public funds to the Ingonyama Trust and we hope the Department will report on this matter. The UDM supports budget vote 33. Thank you
Admin
22 Jul, 2014
Eastern Cape: Budget vote Roads and Public Works
Speech by Mr Mhlati, leader of the UDM in the legislature Honourable Speaker, Honourable Premier and the Executive, Honourable Members, government officials in supporting the budget allocation of the department, the UDM would like to place more emphasis on the acute shortage of skilled personnel within the department. It is unthinkable that a government department can just literally depend on consultants for it to perform its functions. I plead with the Executive to give their full support in the recruitment drive to put the staffing of the department to the acceptable levels. As matters stand we are not sure whether the companies are forming cartels or not against this government as price escalations have become the order of the day. Although the establishment of the yellow fleet within the department is appreciated the lack of quality supervision is of great concern. Some of these yellow fleet teams are selling the diesel earmarked for the machinery to people who have trucks and tractors and you always find the employees roaming about in the rural areas and when you ask them why the machinery is standing idle, there is no diesel. It is also important that the traditional leaders should be called upon to perform their function as eyes and ears of government and to report any fraudulent activities by the members of the yellow fleet. The department should please ensure that companies awarded tenders in rural roads have the appropriate equipment for road -making not just a grader, we expect quality work for the quality money we pay out. A clear line of demarcation of responsibilities between the department and other departments such as health and education of which this department has a part to play. Clear memorandums of understanding among the parties should be drawn putting the areas of responsibility of each player up until the final product is completed and quality assured. The Government should come out in the open as to whether we want quality roads and buildings or we want to promote emerging contractors at the expense of quality work. This issue comes out of the N2 road through Mthatha to Viedgesville which has not yet finished two years but is being done patch work on a daily basis. I faced some managers for the shoddy work which they do for the Government and they put the blame on the emerging contractors they are forced to take. Stringent steps should be taken by the Department to complete the development of the asset Register of Government properties in the Province and must make use of the Surveyors to search and identify the properties. Furthermore, illegal occupants of Government properties should be prosecuted and caused to pay rental. The total budget of R4,025 444 billion for the Department is fully supported. I thank you
Admin
22 Jul, 2014
Budget Vote 2: Parliament
Address by Mr Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, MP in the National Assembly Budget Vote 2: Parliament Madam Speaker, Deputy President and Honourable Members, Parliament derives its power directly from the people. We are therefore all here to implement the will of the people. Once elected, our people therefore expect us to rise above ideological cleavages and narrow partisan interests to build a better South Africa for all, both Black and White. Deputy Speaker, Speaking time is essential for pluralist and representative debates that communicate the will of the people of South Africa and the constituencies the various political parties in this House represent. We are concerned that the current proportional speaking formula in Parliament does not provide us, the so-called smaller opposition parties or other parties as we prefer to call ourselves, enough opportunity to clearly articulate the will of our people and constituencies. Applying the crude principle of proportionality on speaking times does not bode well for both the reputation and image of this august Institution. For example, at times speakers’ times expire before the speakers had managed to put their points across – thus leaving the public questioning the purpose and quality of contribution. It is therefore important for Parliament to look into ways in which speaking times allow all parties to add maximum value to what are often complex parliamentary debates. We are aware that political parties have since the beginning of this term worked together to improve the situation and we appreciate the efforts. However, we believe there is still more room for improvement. Our view is that the minimum speaking time for parliamentary debates should be five minutes. Deputy Speaker, In the last term, there were instances, where people complained about the lack of proper consultation on Bills before this House. There were also a number of cases, where Bills were withdrawn to allow for further consultation. The Info Bill was example where the public consultation process was not done properly. There have also been cases, where Bills were passed by this House only to be declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court. We have to work hard to improve the quality of the legislation we pass. We also have a duty to ensure that the public is central to the lawmaking process of Parliament. Our laws should be based on and informed by the will of the people. Put differently, the People Must Govern! Deputy Speaker, We commend support systems that Parliament has been put in place, such as the Budget Office, to shore up the work of individual Members of Parliament (MPs) and the Committees. This will go a long way towards improving the effectiveness of MPs and Parliament in their oversight role and in holding Government accountable for its programmes. The UDM supports Budget Vote 2. Thank you.
Admin
22 Jul, 2014
Budget Vote 5: International Relations and Cooperation
Speech by Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP and UDM President in the National Assembly Honourable Chairperson Minister and Deputy Minister Honourable Members The United Democratic Movement believes that the national interests of South Africa should be defined and pursued strictly according to the norms and principles, expressed in the Constitution of the Republic in the execution of the country’s relations with the outside world. The recent and rapid developments in the global political landscape, demands of the South African Parliament, plays an active and central role in the conduct of foreign policy. The mandate of the Parliamentary portfolio committee for International Relations and Cooperation should stretch beyond oversight on activities of the department to include assessment and evaluation of executive decisions and commitments made in the execution of our foreign policy and actions. In this way, Parliament like in many other countries will be at the centre of foreign relations. Such an approach would allow us an opportunity to present a united front in conflicts such as in the Middle East. In this regard, a radical intervention from South Africa must seek to champion the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolutions on the Middle East. South Africa should engage all other states who tend to undermine the multi lateral decisions on this ongoing conflict. On the 9 September 2013, I penned a letter to the President of the Republic, the then Minister of Public Service and Administration and carbon copied the then and current Minister of International Relations and Cooperation; in which I alerted the President to serious and disturbing information of alleged looting of state resources by Director General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO). These concerns were also reported to the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation by the Audit Committee of the department. The audit committee held an opinion “that the management report together with the audit report (for the financial year ended 31 March 2013), are materially misleading, not true reflection of the state of affairs and are not fair presentation of the financial position” of the department. The amounts involved here exceed half a billion rands with allegations of possible executive directives leading to unauthorised and irregular expenditure. More than 10 months since I raised the matter with all the relevant offices, either than empty promises from the office of the Minister, we have no record of what has been done with these serious allegations. It is in the public interest that this matter be disposed of as soon as possible. Until this has been addressed, the United Democratic Movement cannot support budget vote 5. Thank you
Admin
21 Jul, 2014
Budget Vote 10: National Treasury
Chairperson, Honourable Minister and Deputy Minister, Honourable Members, Once more, Budget Vote 10 is delivered against the backdrop of severe economic challenges facing the world today. It takes place at a time when some economies around the world are making a slow economic recovery, while others are still in economic deepfreeze. We acknowledge that appropriate economic policy responses have been undertaken in order to place the country on a path to economic growth and prosperity. However, challenges remain. South Africa is still grappling with a chronic unemployment problem, especially among the youth. The current economic growth rate of approximately 2 per cent per annum is not sufficient to save the poor from the yoke of poverty. The low economic growth does not only negatively affect job creation, but it also means less money for Government to deliver services to our people. Hence the need for the 4 per cent budget deficit to finance the country’s development needs. To make matters worse, big businesses and wealthy individuals devise all manner of strategies to both avoid and evade tax. This needless to say erodes the same tax base from which the revenue for service delivery must come. I am aware that plans are afoot to deal with this problem. We however wish to add our voice in calling for tough sanctions to be imposed on the culprits. Mister Minister, It is going to be difficult to address spatial gaps and inequalities, when State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) seem to lack the capacity to spend funds allocated for infrastructure development. You are aware as I already indicated in the Public Enterprises Budget Vote that over the past two years, SOEs s over the past two years spent approximately 70 per cent of the funds committed to infrastructure development. In addition, in far too many cases the quality of the basic human settlements infrastructure leaves much to be desired. Drastic steps should be taken to improve the capacity of the Departments responsible for implementing Government’s job creation and service delivery. We have to double our efforts to ensure that with increased budget allocations come commensurate rises in our people’s standards of living. Mister Minister, We are concerned that Government’s debt and deficit reduction programme seems to principally depend on optimistic economic growth forecasts. Output growth in South Africa has been sluggish for quite some time and judging by Government’s failure to achieve past targets, we are not convinced that the new targets will be achieved. The UDM believes that output growth forecasts should be realistic so that we can begin the process of setting the country’s finances on a path to fiscal consolidation. The UDM supports Budget Vote 10. Thank you.
Admin
16 Jul, 2014
Budget Vote 2 – Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MTEF 2014)
Contribution made by UDM Member of Parliament, Mr ML Filtane, in the National Assembly Honourable Chairperson Minister and Deputy Minister Honourable Members The United Democratic Movement (UDM) makes the following contribution to this important debate and subject. In the previous term the department achieved very little in so far as its core business is concerned. We are talking about the business of, amongst others. • Ensuring food security for all the citizens of the country especially through agriculture and fisheries and indirectly through forestation. Statistics South Africa reported in August 2013; that 21.5% of people suffered severe inadequate access to food as of 2012. In the Eastern Cape that figure translated to 1.3 million people out of 6.2 million as at that time. 11% or 5.6 million SA citizens actually experience hunger as we speak. The department is mired in institutional operational and policy related problems. To compound the situation, it has a totally new ministry; consequently it is failing to deliver on its mandate. This has left the door wide open for established practitioners in farming, fisheries and forestry to just maintain the status quo. The charters are not being operationalised. Currently more than half of all smallholder households live below the poverty line. How can they produce food for anyone then if they themselves are starving? The department is unable to prevent the exploitation of marine reserves. Rich export markets can only be accessed by those with expert industry knowledge, none of these has been produced yet by the department. Timber products are exported with hardly any consideration for supporting local economic development initiatives, not even those supported by government itself. The Baziya Forests in the EC are a typical example here. In Baziya afforested land is the subject of a validated claim but the claimants are not benefitting in anyway, be it jobs, rent or products and the company running the forest is enjoying a recently renewed lease for another 60 years. This department is folding its arms, helpless in the meantime. The fiasco in fisheries permits is well documented and published, no solution yet, jut plans by the new minister. The department has neither bold/robust nor radical plans to change the situation. The EC has all the potential to be the food basket of South Africa but the Ncera farms programmes has collapsed right under the watchful but ineffective management of the department. It is facing either closure or transformation when either of those happens momentum is sure to be lost. The UDM responds and recommends: • Stop planning too long the past 5 years are enough, start implementing, even bit by bit. Fund communities in afforestation. • Implement your charters and thus create jobs for the surrounding and interested communities. • Fast track partnerships between community-based co-operatives and the well established practitioners and appoint dedicated mentors for at least 2 years, where it is not possible to have partnerships. • Make sure that all your programmes are developmental and food productive in nature otherwise there is no social value for money. • Lastly, ask yourself Hon Minister, Do I have the right mix of entities and do the current one speak with one voice that of addressing the core goal of the department. Thank you
Admin
15 Jul, 2014
Budget Vote 31 – Human Settlement (MTEF 2014)
– Contribution made by UDM Member of Parliament, Ms CN Majeke, in the National Assembly Honourable Chairperson Minister and Deputy Minister Honourable Members The United Democratic Movement (UDM) welcomes the strategic thrust of the policy statement by the Minister as captured in her foreword of the departmental five year strategic annual performance plans 2014/19. We believe that there can be a working relationship between the provision of houses as a basic shelter, quality accommodation and shorter delivery turnaround time. The delivery of houses through community based cooperatives as an option will make a significant intervention in creating job opportunities, transfer skills to communities whilst creating value to property ownership. UDM support community housing building programmes. Housing policy should also be located within the larger economic strategy as one mechanism of creating jobs towards combating and eradicating homelessness and poverty. Ownership of houses without jobs has proven to be unsustainable and sometimes destructive as owners tend to either sell or rent them out in exchange for a short term relief from hunger. The commitment of the Minister to “decent accommodation” is well appreciated, as UDM we believe that houses ought to be a shelter, enough to accommodate a family. This means, future human settlements should enable communities to find and or create jobs and get access to social services within their area so that we can create communities that are economically viable and self-reliant. The performance and service delivery information is raising a number of issues some of which we are concerned with and in this regard, we invite the honourable Minister to take action on those matters. Amongst those is the reported low performance by the Eastern Cape and Limpopo provinces which have high housing backlog both for urban and rural communities. Statistics shows that the backlog on sanitation is largely accounted for by rural areas, in this regard; the department cannot afford to under spend on the Rural Housing Infrastructure Grant. Traditional leaders as role players in the housing sector must be brought closer to this process and avoid repeated under expenditure when services are desperately needed by communities. The municipal human settlement capacity programme should come as a mitigating factor in the increasing substance and travel expenditure. In the same vein, the projected increase on compensation of employees for the financial season 2014/15 to 2016/17 must reverse the increase on consultants and professional expenditure as reported under programme 3. This means the department must as it reduces vacancies, targets technical skills, amongst others, to provide the required technical assistance provided to the 53 municipalities. Programme four expenditure will require dedicated monitoring and evaluation with early warning systems and we hope the Minister will ensure that such transfers are used within a specified financial season for intended purposes. Thank you
Admin
08 Oct, 2013
Parliamentary Debate: Budget Vote 28 on Economic Development
Address by Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP in the Parliamentary Debate: Budget Vote 28 on Economic Development (07 May 2013) Mister Speaker, Ministers and Deputy Ministers and Honourable Members, The UDM supports Budget Vote 28. According to Statistics South Africa’s latest Labour Force Survey the rate of unemployment in South Africa has increased to 25.2 percent during the first quarter in 2013 from 24.9 percent in the last quarter in 2012. This means that more than 100 000 South Africans are without work since the last quarter in 2012. The unemployment rate deteriorates to approximately 36.7 percent when the number of discouraged work seekers is factored in. This dismal performance regarding employment proves beyond reasonable doubt that government’s economic policies have failed to grow our economy at the levels required to reduce unemployment and eradicate poverty. This occurs against the background of the ever-increasing gap between the haves and haves-not. In addition, South Africa seems to be on a fiscal slippage. In the year 2007/2008 our budget balance declined from a surplus of 1.7 percent, to a deficit of 5.2 percent in the year 2012/2013. Our debt-to-GDP ratio has increased from 23 percent in 2008 to approximately 40 percent in 2012/2013. Corruption and wasteful expenditure in government have reached crisis levels. With the bleak picture I have sketched thus far, it is not difficult to conclude that South Africa is on the slippery slope to become a sub-investment grade country. We need to take decisive steps to turn the situation around and there are unfortunately no shortcuts to long-term success. To reduce unemployment, government needs to develop an environment that is conducive for small and large businesses to flourish. Not the current situation where you find companies that employ workers from neighbouring countries. So-called outside investors, that we find in every corner of South Africa, do not give work to South Africans, but exclusively employ their family and friends. We have to consider whether businesses should not be compelled to ensure that 60 to 70 percent of their staff complement is made-up of South Africans. Government can develop the aforementioned environment by, amongst other things, ensuring that there is the required level of labour flexibility in the economy. This means that the labour market framework should enable businesses to frame appropriate responses to changes in market conditions. For this to succeed, government would need to reign in its alliance partner, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), which seems to only be interested in protecting the interests of the employed at the expense of the unemployed. In the past, many raw materials were processed domestically, but today most of these factories close down in droves. The common denominator is their inability to compete with imports from countries where such products are subsidised by their governments. Government needs to root out corruption and wasteful expenditure in the system and needs to adopt policies that are aimed at reducing its deficits and debt accumulation. In conclusion, government’s proposed review of the current tax system should not see the light of day until the aforementioned measures have been taken into account and until such time that taxpayers get value for the money they pump into the fiscus. I thank you.
Admin
08 Oct, 2013
Parliamentary Debate: Budget Vote 38 on Water Affairs
Address by Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP in the Parliamentary Debate: Budget Vote 38 on Water Affairs (21 May 2013) Chairperson, honourable Minister and Deputy Minister and honourable Members, The UDM supports Budget Vote 38. The work of this Department is fairly straight forward. To see whether this Department is performing its function, one has to look no further than the number of communities that have water and those that do not. Significant progress in providing water to many communities around the country has admittedly been made since 1994, but there are still many small towns and rural communities that have no access to clean water. To increase the severity of this problem, when these communities do have access to water the supply is unreliable. This often leads to a situation where they go for weeks without water. Add to the water supply challenge the fact that the water infrastructure in small towns is not designed to support current population levels which have increased due to urbanisation. The Department of Water Affairs needs to work hard to address these problems. We have said many times that the current water delivery system is very opaque and that this opens it to political abuse, as the politically connected and the powerful continue to jump the queue willy-nilly. Last year the UDM proposed a solution to this problem. We proposed that the Department develops a National Register for all water applications. The aim of this register is to ensure that there is transparency and fairness in the delivery of water. Fairness would ensure that water delivery occurs on a first-come first-served basis and this would prevent the queue-jumping mentioned above. I am not sure if anything has been done about this proposal. Today we would like to propose that the water infrastructure delivery programme be included in the overall government infrastructure development programme. Once this is done, government should then development an infrastructure development map that citizens can use to keep track of water and general government infrastructure delivery. Then the necessary financial resources should be allocated to ensure that every aspect of infrastructure development, particularly the water infrastructure, proceeds with the requisite speed and urgency. We hope that the Department adopts some of these proposals because it is practical solutions that will help us to improve the material conditions of our people and not meaningless philosophical debates that are conducted in arcane academic language which run the risk of reducing this Budget Vote into a futile exercise. I thank you.
Admin
08 Oct, 2013
Parliamentary Debate: Budget Vote 12 Public Service and Administration
Address by Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP in the Parliamentary Debate: Budget Vote 12 Public Service and Administration (22 May 2013) Chairperson, Honourable Minister and Deputy Minister and Honourable Members, The UDM supports Budget Vote 12. We have noted the concerns of the public about the low levels of competence in our civil service and are encouraged by the Minister’s attempts to address this problem and thus professionalise the civil service. We have also noted government threats that it is going to deal decisively with civil servants who are not doing their jobs. We hope the Minister will make use of the powers given to her by the Public Service Act to turnaround public administration. In this regard, the Public Service Commission has an important role to play in ensuring that this professionalisation happens and that suitably qualified people are appointed. For some time now civil servants have been appointed into positions without regard for their competence and suitability for the jobs. These people then often use government departments as employment agencies for their ethnic groups. For example, it is not uncommon to find that when Ministers are Xhosa they turn their departments into Xhosa land and when they are Indian Ministers they turn their departments into an Indian Ocean, and so on. It is also common in the current government to appoint people who have not made it into the National Assembly list as advisers to state departments, even though they might be clueless about their work. To address this problem, the office of the President together with the Public Service Commission should ensure that Ministers do not have the final say on who becomes their Directors General and advisers. This is important if we are to win the fight against nepotism and corruption. In addition, the appointment of inappropriately qualified people discourages many who regard civil service as a career. I have come across many senior officials who lack the requisite knowledge, training and experience to run departments. Often these officials have not even undergone basic training in Induction Courses, Supervision and Management, Accounting as well as Human Resources Management. To address this problem, the Minister has to, among other things, invest in the development of suitably qualified Work Study Officers for all departments. Such a step would boost employee morale as Work Study Officers would have pertinent insight in employee performance and departmental structural issues and would also play an important role during salary negotiations. Finally, the Minister would have failed in her duties if she does not restore the powers of Directors General as accounting officers. We have seen how political directives have created mayhem in the entire tender system. Thank you.
