Question 9
Ms C Q Madlopha (ANC) to ask the Deputy President:
Whether the War on Poverty campaign provides communities with a role in uplifting themselves through a developmental approach?
REPLY
The Anti-Poverty Programme is a targeted intervention by Government to fight poverty through delivery of services to poor profiled households in identified Wards; identifying change agents who can help those poor households move out of extreme poverty; and improvement of inter-governmental co-operation and co-ordination of service delivery.
This Programme has yielded many positive results countrywide, many of which I have mentioned in this House. These positive results are due to this intergovernmental co-ordination of service delivery and working with communities.
I would like to bring some examples to your attention. Following my visit in 2011 to the Greater Taung Municipality, a joint collaborative effort has been launched between the North West Province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Agricultural Research Council and the Haldor Topsoe - a private firm in Denmark involved in research, sales,technology and plant design, as well as catalyst production, to position Taung Agricultural College as a Centre of Excellence in Irrigation Technology. In this way ensuring that communities in Taung benefit and are able to produce food to improve their socio-economic status.
The Anti-Poverty visit to Lutshaya in Lusikisiki last year and earlier this year has raised private sector interests in the schools and clinic in the area. As we speak, there is commitment to improve infrastructure.
Another example of a positive result I wish to bring to your attention is that of government at all levels, working with the community of Zwide in the Eastern Cape Province - in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, to change the life of a 94 year old double amputee Mr. Disemb aDyafta of Ward 25.
I was in that province on an Anti-Poverty campaign and this inter-governmental co-operation saw the renovation of Mr. Dyafta's house, which was in a very sorry state. Mr. Dyafta lives alone in that house.Sponsors were engaged for household contents, and groceries were also donated. The efforts of this co-operation also ensured that Mr. Dyafta receives the social grants due to him.
One community activist who deserves mention is Ms Bongiwe Morley, a young woman from the same street who volunteered to look after the old man by cooking, cleaning, washing for him and helping with the administration of his medication. She is a heroine and the country needs more like her. She volunteered to be a change agent in the true spirit of the War on Poverty Campaign which harnesses social agency combined with accelerated and coordinated government response to the immediate challenges facing our communities.
The community also needs to be commended for their compassion and tenacity, since in spite of their own poverty, they rallied together to care for this gentlemen in their midst.This is a sign that the War on Poverty Campaign sees the people as agents of their own change.
Lastly, this Friday the 23 rd of August, I will be visiting the community of Gombani village to monitor the progress that the women are making in their construction business and to provide further support for them and their community. I am glad to announce that in this initiative there are private sector partners who have joined hands with Government to ensure that these women are trained and assisted to start their business.
This is a perfect model for a working partnership between Government and the private sector partners.
This model will see this cooperative of women developing their own community as they will continue to manufacture the bricks and build houses for other community members. These women have become change agents, not only for their own families but also for their community.
It is also important to note that the sand and stones that are used for this brick-making project are found within the village. We are quite pleased with this model of women's economic empowerment in Gombani village and hope that the same model can be used to develop other needy rural communities.
I thank you
Question 10
Mr N Singh (IFP) to ask the Deputy President:
What are the details of South Africa's current oil supply security, with particular reference to our mooted continental supply from Ghana?
REPLY
The South African crude oil supply is on a very sound footing thanks in part to this government's policy approach that allowed both public and private sector players to operate in this space. Recently we have witnessed increasing diversity of sources of crude oil supply to our country. This is in keeping with the government energy policy objective of achieving security through diversity of sources.
A significant quantity of crude oil still comes from the Middle East, however, African countries have been an ever increasing source of crude oil to our country. In 2012 over 40% (56 million barrels) of South Africa crude oil needs were met by African countries, mainly from Nigeria and Angola. Imports from these countries were 23% and 18% respectively. This translates to about 200 000 barrels per day being sourced from within the Continent. This on its own has significantly boosted intra-African trade figures.
Turning to Ghana, it is a well known fact that significant crude oil reserves have been found in Ghana and South Africa believes that there is huge potential for mutual benefit between our two countries in this regard.
With South Africa as a partner, Ghana can be assured of crude oil demand and South Africa can in turn add Ghana as a source of crude oil supply. Year to date figures show that imports from Ghana have reached 6,8 million barrels, which has increased trade figures between the two countries. Members may recall that we signed a cooperation agreement with Ghana, which amongst others, facilitates energy cooperation between our two nations.
At this stage, Sasol imports more crude oil from Ghana than any other oil company in South Africa.
We expect that this pattern will change due to increased cooperation between ourselves, Ghana , Nigeria and Angola.
I thank you
Question 11
Mrs J D Kilian (Cope) to ask the Deputy President:
(1) Whether, with reference to the President's letter to Parliament dated 26 August 2010 relating to sanctioning of Ministers who violate the Executive Ethics Code (details furnished), Cabinet has received any progress reports on the implementation of the Public Protector's recommendations; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so,
(2) whether Cabinet has established a deadline for approving the final report on the matter; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
REPLY
After the President's letter of 26 August 2010, Cabinet further discussed the Public Protector's recommendations at its meeting of 24 November 2010.
The Cabinet decided at its meeting on 24 November 2010 that the guidelines in the Executive Members' Ethics Act, 1998, and the Executive Ethics Code be subjected to an ongoing review, with the view to simplifying its prescripts and application.
At its meeting on 20 April 2011, Cabinet approved that an Executive Members' Amendment Bill be published for public comment. The Bill and the invitation to comment were published in Gazette No. 34276 of 6 May 2011 and on the website of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.
After the process of consultations, a new draft of the Executive Members' Ethics Amendment Bill was submitted to Cabinet by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development at its meeting on 12 October 2011. In this instance Cabinet, after intensive discussion, referred the matter back to the Governance and Administration Cluster for further consideration.
The matter, which goes to the core of the doctrine of the separation of powers, has been further canvassed with various stakeholders through the executive arm of the state.
After recent discussions between the Presidency and the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development, agreement was reached on an amended draft of the Executive Ethics Code to be brought to Cabinet during the course of September this year. Once Cabinet has sufficiently applied its collective mind to the draft amendments, an amended Executive Ethics Code will be submitted to Parliament for consideration.
I thank you
Question 12
Mr H T Magama (ANC) to ask the Deputy President:
(1) What relations does South Africa have with Egypt at the moment;
(2) is the Government, (a) on its own and/or (b) through the African Union, involved in helping Egypt return to normality; if so, how, in each case; if not, in each case,
(3) does the Government intend to play a role in this regard?
REPLY
South Africa re-established diplomatic relations with Egypt in 1990 and both countries are important members of the African Union (AU).On the 4th of July 2013, a day after the removal of President Morsi, our Department of International Relations and Cooperation called on the Egyptian Ambassador to express South Africa's concern at the unconstitutional removal of its elected President.
South Africa, consistent with the African Union (AU) Constitutive Act and its instruments, opposes all forms of unconstitutional changes of government. South Africa continues to be guided by the AU Peace and Security Council and the AU High-Level Panel for Egypt. We are informed that the AU remains engaged with all the parties to the conflict in Egypt in finding a sustainable resolution to the present political crisis in that country.
The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation has met with Ambassador Ebrahim Ali Hassan, the Special Envoy of the current Egyptian Authority on 24 July 2013. The Minister informed Ambassador Hassan that South Africa has not and will not depart from its support for the legitimate aspiration of the Egyptian people.
I thank you
