Question: On the National Coalition Dialogue convened by the Deputy President
REPLY BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT MASHATILE
Honourable Chairperson,
I would like to express my gratitude to all the participants of the National Dialogue on Coalition governments for their invaluable contributions, to the success of the dialogue, which was held, at the University of the Western Cape on the 4th and 5th of August 2023.
Political parties and representatives from various sectors of society came together to discuss a set of principles aimed at promoting the effective functioning of coalitions governments to serve the people especially in Local Government.
Honourable Chairperson,
Through collaborative efforts, we can establish a robust and effective stable and resilient local government that serves all citizens.
By defining the rules, procedures, and potential sanctions that would apply to political parties and independent councillors who govern together, we will ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability in our political system.
As we agreed as an outcome of the dialogue political parties and civil society are expected to enhance the declaration and process roadmap toward the development of the framework and subsequently leading into the drafting of legislation to govern coalition governments.
I thank you.
Question: On Section 154 intervention invoked in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality,KwaZulu-Natal Province
REPLY BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT MASHATILE
Honourable Chairperson,
I am unaware that Ethekwini Metropolitan Municipality has refused to cooperate with the proposed implementation of section 154 intervention as outlined in the Constitution.
However, I am aware that the Minister of COGTA, the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal are working with various Provincial and National sector departments such as National Treasury, Water and Sanitation, to assist the EThekwini Metropolitan Municipality to address its challenges such as the recent flooding disasters, and the looting which took place during the July 2021.
The collaboration aims to support and strengthen the municipality, particularly about the damaged water and electricity infrastructure. This is because, as per Section 154 (1) of the Constitution, National and Provincial Governments must bolster the capabilities of municipalities in managing their affairs and carrying out their functions.
Honourable Chairperson,
Section 154 of the Constitution is important as it serves as a constitutional mechanism that effectively bolsters and fortifies the capacity of cities. It enables National and Provincial government to support and strengthen Municipalities fulfil their responsibilities critically to provide quality services to the people.
I thank you.
Question: On Rapid response measures to fight crime
REPLY BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT MASHATILE
Honourable Chairperson
In 2020, the government passed the Border Management Authority Act into law, paving the way for the establishment of the Border Management Authority (BMA).
The BMA is mandated by legislation to;
a) facilitate and manage the legitimate movement of persons within the border law enforcement area and at ports of entry;
b) facilitate and manage the legitimate movement of goods within the border law enforcement area and at ports of entry; and
c) co-operate and co-ordinate its border law enforcement functions with other organs of state, border communities or any other persons.
In the process of its work, the BMA has intercepted thousands of individuals attempting to enter the country illegally and recovered numerous stolen items.
We are also taking additional measures to ensure public safety in cross-border communities, townships and informal settlements by increasing the number of police officers on the streets and creating specialised teams that will focus on specific types of crime.
Last year, the South African Police Service (SAPS) committed to recruiting 12,000 new police personnel, and since then, over 10,000 recruits have graduated from police academies.
As a government, we are determined to tackle the issue of violent crime and other forms of criminal activity in a proactive. We are actively pursuing national, provincial, and local measures to prevent crime and ensure that all individuals in our country feel safe and secure.
We believe that by working together as government, civil society and the private sector, we can make meaningful progress in creating safer communities.
I thank you.
Question: On Executive Accountability regarding the Phala-Phala matter
REPLY BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT MASHATILE
Honourable Chairperson,
When we have responded to a similar question in the National Assembly on 23 March 2023. In my considered view, Parliament has not refused to respond to the specific allegations. Instead, Parliament embarked on a process which was subsequently concluded in line with the rules of parliament.
It may well be that as is their right, some members of this House do not agree with the determination Parliament ultimately reached. Such reservations or unhappiness as may exist can and should be dealt with within the ambit of the Rules of Parliament.
As Honourable Members are aware, the South African Revenue Service, the Public Protector and the South African Reserve Bank have dealt with the Phala Phala allegations, and issued statements in terms of their findings.
Honourable Chairperson,
This government and President Ramaphosa have committed to be subjected to all processes governed by our constitutions and the laws of our country.
Lastly, we reiterate our support for the rules of the National Assembly as agreed and adopted by the house. We also reiterate our support for Chapter 9 and Chapter 10 institutions and other law enforcement agencies who continue to hold those in power accountable.
We further emphasise that State and law enforcement agencies must be allowed and be given enough space to complete their work without undue pressure or any form of interference.
I thank you.
Question: On the alleged assault incident involving members of the SA Police Service VIP Protection Unit
REPLY BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT MASHATILE
Honourable Chairperson,
On the 16th of August, 2023, the Minister of Police appeared before the Portfolio Committee on Police to brief members of the committee on this matter.
Let me reiterate what he said before the Portfolio Committee: “The convoy of the Deputy President normally has seven cars, six from the SAPS, and one from the SANDF, which is a medical car. The Deputy President was in the convoy, but not on the crime scene where two of his cars pulled off to deal with that matter”.
Apart from reiterating profound regret over the incident, I can neither add nor subtract from what the Minister said.
I thank you.
Question: On the Restoration of democracy in Niger
REPLY BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT MASHATILE
Honourable Chairperson,
Following the July 26 coup in Niger, South Africa publicly expressed its condemnation and reiterated its commitment to and support of various African Union (AU) policy decisions which expressly reject change of government by unconstitutional means.
We continue to work within the AU system, especially the continental body’s Peace and Security Council, of which we are a member, which has intervened in countries where there has been coup by suspending their membership from peace and Security Council.
There are two issues that warrant our consideration. The first is the complexity of the situation in Niger. Although it neither justifies the coup nor suggest that it is representative of the overwhelming opinion of the people of Niger, parts of the civilian population have publicly expressed support for the change.
Niger’s neighbours have also expressed themselves, some in ways that are unprecedented. For example, Mali and Burkina Faso have warned that they will consider any external military intervention in Niger as a "declaration of war" against them. For their part and even though they are not members of ECOWAS, Chad and Algeria, who both also share borders with Niger, have expressly opposed the use of force.
All this suggests that discretion is the better part of virtue — we should privilege diplomacy, diplomacy and more diplomacy.The second issue that warrants our consideration is that the phenomenon of coups is becoming more accentuated than it was at least 20 years ago on the African continent.
It is worth mentioning that since August 2020, the continent has had eight coups, these being in Mali, Guinea, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Niger and Gabon. Mali had two coups in nine months — the first on August 18, 2020, and the second on May 24, 2021. Burkina Faso also had two coups in eight months, one on January 24, 2022 and another on September 30, the same year.
This begs a fundamental question, which all of us must answer: What are the driving factors for the coups we are witnessing today? In which other countries on the continent do these factors obtain and what should be done to address them to avoid the abyss that military coups portend?
Honourable Chairperson,
South Africa is presently not engaged in peace initiatives in Sudan. We are nevertheless committed to the search for a peaceful solution to the conflict in Sudan and stand ready to provide our good offices to this end.
On July 23, 2023, President Cyril Ramaphosa met with Mr. Malik Agar Eyre Nganyoufa, the Deputy President of the Transitional Sovereign Council of Sudan, to discuss the ongoing conflict.
President Ramaphosa conveyed South Africa’s willingness to play a role in an effort towards ending the conflict and violence if requested by the East African Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the African Union or other role players.
As Honourable Members are aware, there are two Sudans – South Sudan and Sudan. As part of my responsibility duties as President Ramaphosa’s Special Envoy to South Sudan, I recently undertook a working visit to the Republic of South Sudan.
The primary objective of the visit was to conduct a comprehensive assessment of progress in the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan.
I engaged a wide range of stakeholders on the R-ARCSS and will further engage them on specific measures aimed at meeting the December 2024 election date agreed to by the parties.
I thank you.
Date:
Thursday, September 7, 2023 - 18:45
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