QUESTION 1

1. Mr K M Mmoiemang (Northern Cape: ANC) to ask the President of the Republic:

Whether the Government has considered the magnitude and negative impact of incomplete, delayed and abandoned public infrastructure in the delivery of viable public infrastructure to communities and the Government’s objective of a more holistic and integrated approach to the delivery of infrastructure to communities; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

whether the Government has developed any plans to (a) identify and (b) address all incomplete and abandoned public infrastructure projects in all provinces; if not, why not; if so, (i) what plans and (ii) what are the further relevant details?

CO254E
 
Honourable Members,

The development of public infrastructure is necessary for effective service delivery and economic development.

That is why we are determined as this administration to massively increase the scale of investment in infrastructure. Through this investment, we will turn South Africa into a building site.

However, public infrastructure projects that are delayed or abandoned have a negative impact on the ability of communities to access services. 

To address this challenge, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure began the identification of delayed and abandoned projects within its portfolio during the 6th democratic administration. 

Through a Presidential Proclamation in 2019, the Infrastructure Development Act was moved to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure.

This enables the Minister to develop a more holistic approach to infrastructure development in all spheres of government and the private sector through Infrastructure South Africa. 

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has identified a number of key pillars to drive the infrastructure investment process such as institutional arrangements for implementation of the National Infrastructure Plan 2050.

One of the other pillars is to ensure that there is better preparation and prioritisation of infrastructure projects.

Other proposed reforms include multi-year budgeting for infrastructure planning and delivery, and speeding up permitting and approval processes.

The task of identifying incomplete and abandoned infrastructure projects is being implemented throughout all provinces.

The completion of these projects requires dedicated capacity that may not be readily available. 

To address this, the department has issued calls for various professionals in the built environment to provide expertise to the department as required.

One of the mechanisms at an executive level to monitor progress on identified projects is the Siyahlola programme. 

In this programme, site visits are conducted to check the status and plans to complete outstanding work. 

Follow up visits are also conducted after a few months to ensure that the recovery plans are being implemented.

The Siyahlola programme is bringing stakeholders, such as local and district municipalities, together to unblock any issues related to bulk infrastructure and outstanding approvals. 

The Siyahlola programme demonstrates effective interventions that can be achieved through the District Development Model as all stakeholders are brought in to work on the same goal.

I thank you.  

QUESTION 2

2. Mr N H Pienaar (Limpopo: DA) to ask the President of the Republic:
    
Whether he is taking any steps to address the concerns by stakeholders regarding the signing of the second Presidential Health Compact; if so, what steps?

CO252E

Honourable Members,

We launched the Presidential Health Compact initiative in 2019. It is a framework of cooperation between critical sectors in South Africa to improve health outcomes.

Among the sectors involved in the Presidential Health Compact are the government, business, labour, civil society, academia, traditional health practitioners, allied health practitioners and patient user groups.

In 2023, we convened the second Presidential Health Summit and produced a second Presidential Health Compact for 2024 to 2029. 

On the 22nd of August, Deputy President Paul Mashatile signed the compact on my behalf at a signing ceremony at the Union Buildings, together with signatories representing various sectors.

The compact aims to ensure multisectoral involvement in health systems, strengthen the healthcare system and prepare it for the implementation of National Health Insurance.

Some stakeholders – specifically from business – chose not to sign the second Presidential Health Compact. They cited their concerns with the National Health Insurance Act and references to NHI in the compact.

We believe there is nevertheless good reason for these stakeholders to be involved in the work needed to achieved the aims of the compact.

Through the compact, we aim to invest in a capable, compassionate, fit-for-purpose workforce in the health sector.

We aim to strengthen local manufacturing of health products and ensure health infrastructure meets the necessary quality standards.

The compact seeks to use the capabilities of the private sector to enable equitable access to quality services for all citizens.

It seeks to maintain the gains made in the National Quality Improvement Plan to ensure users experience the same quality of care whether in a state or private facility.

The compact also aims to ensure adequate community engagement and inclusivity in the health sector.

Importantly, the compact aims to ensure the NHI is implemented affordably, deriving value for money and eliminating corruption.

These are objectives which all stakeholders can support and work towards.

We therefore encourage all role players to be involved in pursuing these objectives even if they chose not to sign the compact.

The implementation of the compact is overseen by a Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Steering Committee that brings together all the stakeholders. 

All those who attended the recent meeting of the committee agreed on its terms of reference, which includes strengthening the health system in preparation for NHI implementation. 

We hope that all stakeholders will use this forum to engage.

Through continuous engagement stakeholders should be able to find each other. 

By working together on the fundamental issues on which we agree we will be able to make a significant contribution towards improving the quality of health care for all South Africans.

I thank you.
 

QUESTION 3

3. Ms J S Mananiso (Gauteng: ANC) to ask the President of the Republic:

Whether the Government is making any progress in the fight against poverty and unemployment, particularly youth unemployment; if not, what urgent measures is the Government putting in place to address unemployment and poverty crisis that are facing South Africans; if so, (a) what progress is the Presidential Employment Stimulus in creating work and livelihood support opportunities for unemployed South Africans and (b) what are the further relevant details;

whether this includes ensuring that all (a) provinces and (b) municipalities have functional and funded indigent policies that are geared towards making sure that unemployed and poor South Africans have access to basic services such as electricity and water; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

CO255E
 
Honourable Members,

Much higher levels of inclusive growth are needed to achieve sustainable employment.

That is why this 7th administration made up of the Government of National Unity has placed inclusive economic growth as its apex priority.

However, it will take time for such growth to meet the scale needed. This is why a range of complementary measures are required to address poverty and enable economic participation. 
    
The Presidential Employment Stimulus enables support to public employment, livelihood support and enterprise development. 

The Presidential Employment Stimulus has contributed to over 2 million jobs and livelihood opportunities since its inception in 2020. 

The Social Employment Fund, which is implemented by the Industrial Development Corporation under the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, has created over 100,000 jobs.

The Fund creates work that serves the common good at community level, supporting food security, informal settlement upgrading, combatting GBV, amongst many other forms of work.

Subsistence farmers have also been supported to enhance their production. This has contributed to an increase in the number of hectares under cultivation. 

Support has also been given to metros to expand their public employment programmes.

Since 2020, as many as 4.5 million young people have registered on the SAYouth.mobi network, which was established by the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention

This platform has enabled young people to access just over 1.4 million earning opportunities as potential employers now utilise that platform to source young people for employment. 

A key innovation is the Jobs Boost Outcomes Fund, currently in its pilot phase.

Jobs Boost is a programme of the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention. 

It is led by the National Skills Fund, an entity of the Department of Higher Education and Training. 

The fund is designed to incentivise effective skills training by paying training providers only when young people have been placed in jobs. 

In this way, training providers are encouraged to provide skills that employers actually need and ensure that job candidates are equipped to access and sustain employment. 

To address poverty and the high cost of living, all municipalities across the country should implement indigent policies to enable those in need to access the free basic services programme.

The indigent initiative is funded by the national fiscus through the Local Government Equitable Share. 

Around R76 billion has been allocated to municipalities for the 2024/25 financial year for the provision of free basic services to poor households. 

The national fiscus provides funds to support a total of 11.2 million indigent households.

However, according to Statistics South Africa, only 2.7 million indigent households have access to free basic services such as water and electricity. 

We are urging municipalities to implement this programme so that it does not fall short of its objectives.

The Department of Cooperative Governance is working together with provincial counterparts to support municipalities to raise awareness about the free basic services programme and intensify efforts to reach all indigent households.

I thank you.

 
QUESTION 4

4. Ms M Makesini (Free State: EFF) to ask the President of the Republic:

Whether, in light of the recent utterances by the Federal Chairperson of the Democratic Alliance (details furnished), he will outline the key constitutive ideas of the Government of National Unity in demonstrating oneness of purpose for the parties in Government; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
what is the common policy direction the government will follow regarding the need for radical transformation of the economy, including expropriation of land without compensation;
whether all parties in the Government of National Unity are in support of such policy direction; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

CO249E
 
Honourable Members,

The policy direction of the Government of National Unity was outlined in the Opening of Parliament Address on the 18th of July 2024.

The key constitutive ideas of the Government of National Unity are set out in the Statement of Intent that was signed by all the constitutive parties. 

The 10 GNU parties agreed to certain basic principles, including a firm commitment to respect the Constitution and the rule of law. 

The principles included a commitment to promote accountability, transparency, integrity and good governance. 

The parties agreed on a Minimum Programme as the foundation of the work of the Government of National Unity. These were developed into priority actions that will form the basis for the Medium-Term Development Plan of government.

As indicated in the Opening of Parliament Address, the Government of National Unity will dedicate the next five years to actions that advance three strategic priorities: 

Firstly, to drive inclusive growth and job creation. 

Secondly, to reduce poverty and tackle the high cost of living. 

Thirdly, to build a capable, ethical and developmental state. 

We will pursue growth that is inclusive and transformational. 

We have said that inclusive growth must support the empowerment of black South Africans and women. 

We will continue to pursue programmes that encourage broad-based black economic empowerment, employment equity and support to small- and medium-sized enterprises. 

We will continue to protect and uphold the hard-won rights of workers, and continually strive to improve the conditions in which they work and live.

In advancing our three strategic priorities, we will, among other things, massively increase the scale of investment in infrastructure.

We will expand the Presidential Employment Stimulus and continue the structural economic reforms underway through Operation Vulindlela.

As part of poverty alleviation measures, we will ensure that local government implements the indigent policy.

We will review existing housing policy to enable people to live closer to economic opportunity.

Importantly, we will invest in South Africa’s people.

This includes efforts to achieve universal access to early childhood development.

It includes the expansion of vocational and technical training in schools and post-school institutions.

As part of the implementation of the NHI, we will strengthen health care infrastructure, improve the training of health care personnel and use technology to improve health care management.

To improve the capability of the state, we are working with provincial governments to stabilise local government and improve the delivery of basic services.

We are strengthening law enforcement agencies to address crime and corruption.

We recognise that the Government of National Unity is comprised of parties from across the political spectrum, representing a range of political and ideological perspectives.

However, we have been able to agree on a common programme of action that provides a basis for far-reaching social and economic transformation.

I thank you.  

QUESTION 5

5. Mr H J Van den Berg (Northern Cape: FF Plus) to ask the President of the Republic:

With reference to young South Africans from minority groups with critical skills and qualifications seeking work outside the borders (details furnished), when will the State abolish employment policies that allegedly discriminate against minorities based on race?

CO248E
 
Honourable Members,
A fundamental principle on which our democracy is founded is that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity. 

In making this assertion, we recognise the injustices of our painful past that unfairly treated and discriminated against the majority of South Africans based on race. 

The Constitution therefore provides for the enactment of legislation and other measures to promote the right of everyone to human dignity, the achievement of equality, and the advancement of human rights and freedoms.

The Constitution is clear that everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law. 

To give effect to the equality clause in the employment sphere, the Employment Equity Act was enacted. 

The Employment Equity Act prohibits any unfair treatment and discrimination directly or indirectly against any person based on race, gender, disability or on any of the prohibited grounds listed in the Constitution. This also applies to job applicants.

Section 5 of the Employment Equity Act prescribes that all employers must take steps to promote equal opportunity in the workplace by eliminating unfair discrimination in any employment policy or practice. 

Therefore, any employment legislation, policy or practice that unfairly discriminates against anyone based on their race, gender or on any of the prohibited grounds is illegal.

The Employment Equity Act is one of several measures we have put in place to correct the grave historical injustice of economic exclusion.

The historical discrimination against black people and women in the workplace has produced an economy that does not provide equal opportunities for all.

Not only is this unjust. It also limits the potential of our economy.

Although we have made progress since the advent of democracy, we still have some way to go.

According to the annual report of the Commission for Employment Equity for 2022-2023, whites account for 63 percent of top management positions.

Yet they comprise only 8 percent of the economically active population.

By contrast, Africans account for only 17 percent of top management positions, even though they account for 80 percent of the economically active population.

The situation is better at the professionally qualified level.

Africans account for nearly half of all professionally qualified positions. 

Whites account for a third, and Indians and coloureds account for around 10 percent each.

These figures clearly show that while there are areas of progress, we have yet to reach a situation where all people have equal opportunities in the workplace regardless of race or gender.

All people, including from so-called minority groups, should be able to have equal access to employment opportunities and to equally contribute to the economic growth of the country. 

I thank you. 

 

QUESTION  6

6. Inkosi M Nonkonyana (Eastern Cape: ANC) to ask the President of the Republic:
Whether the Government has considered the negative impact of the growing trend of protection fee and business extortion to the economy and the delivery of services such as schools and state infrastructure projects that has left many communities at the mercy of ruthless and unscrupulous gangs and criminals; if not, why not; if so, (a) what immediate measures is the Government putting in place to rid our communities of pitiless and callous extortionists and criminals who are beginning to pose the greatest threat to small business development and the delivery of services and (b) what are the further relevant details?

CO256E
 
Honourable Members,

The growth of criminal extortion in several parts of the country is contributing to a climate of lawlessness and fear.

Extortion has a great economic cost, disrupting business activity, delaying or halting the construction of infrastructure, and generally raising the cost of doing business.

The South African Police Service is directing its response to these crimes to areas where they are most prevalent.

For example, the SAPS has established the Eastern Cape Provincial Extortion Forum specifically to address extortion-related issues in the province. 

An Organised Crime Task Team has also been established to investigate all extortion cases reported in the province.

A multi-disciplinary approach has been adopted that includes Crime Intelligence and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation. 

A modus operandi and target analysis has been conducted. This has confirmed that the identified gangs are operating in syndicates to commit organised criminal activities. 

The cases are, therefore, being dealt with in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. This focuses on the identified gang leaders to neutralise the activities of the syndicates. 

The investigation is conducted in collaboration with the National Prosecuting Authority and other relevant stakeholders.

This includes cooperation with the Asset Forfeiture Unit to ensure that the proceeds of crime are recovered by the state. 

The SAPS has also deployed more uniformed police officers, including certain specialised visible policing capabilities, to identified hotspots to provide a visible policing deterrent. 

An Extortion Hotline has been established in the Eastern Cape. This will soon be established nationally.

The hotline enables community members to report any form of crime or violence perpetrated by these criminal gangs to ensure a rapid and focused response. 

The Extortion Hotline has received approximately 1,300 calls. 

These calls have resulted in 36 cases and 11 enquiries being registered for investigation by the Organised Crime Task Team. 

In addition, an Extortion and Kidnapping Task Force Forum has been established. This involves all relevant stakeholders, including business entities. 

The Task Force Forum meets monthly to identify trends regarding extortion and kidnapping, thereby ensuring a well-informed, collaborative approach. 

The growth of extortion syndicates is a great concern. 

It has therefore been prioritised by our law enforcement agencies, working together with stakeholders across government and across society.

We are confident that by working together, we will be able to defeat these criminals.

I thank you.