Speech by Hon Thandi Modise, Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, on the occasion of the Parliamentary Budget Vote 2015/16
Deputy Chairperson
House Chairpersons
Chief Whip of the NCOP
Hon Members
Ladies and gentlemen
It is winter
We welcome the winter months and winter of Parliaments. We know we must contend with the challenges of these winters and like the flowers of Namaqualand, we embrace the stark reality posed by these winters. Like the flowers of the Namaqua that get weakened by the time and change, but are immortalised by their pollen, we Parliamentarians must look to our mandate and resolve to echo the call of our peoples, dead, alive and still coming.
We must join heads and the hearts in ceaseless efforts to make tomorrow better than yesterday.
Hon Members,
Our late President Nelson Mandela said “As long as many of our people still live in utter poverty, as long as children still live under plastic covers, as long as many of our people are still without jobs, no South African should rest and wallow in the joy of freedom”.
As members of this House we have a lot to do to change their lives of those who have yet to enjoy the fruits of the struggle for liberation. We are bound by the constitution.
Hon Members
Recent events shows that we can’t relax – low and slow economic recovery; accelerating global warming and the increasing world disaster have not enabled South Africa and the rest of the world the space to address the increasing levels of joblessness and the accompanying poverty and desolation, resource and skills scarcity and the escalating levels of conflict across the world.
The truth is that peace and stability are as elusive this year as they have been in the last decade. Desperation amongst citizen is affecting Parliamentary democracies to broker condition for stability and development.
The reality is that we are not structured or resourced for this role. But we are public representatives and that is why we recently had to suspend Parliament business to enable us, public representatives, to be part of our constituencies marching against xenophobia and lawlessness.
We must choose the lone voice of calling for sanity and reason to make any efforts to secure life and limb within our borders.
Hon Members,
As I stand before you to present the 2015/16 Budget of Parliament, I am conscious of the enormity of the responsibility and expectations on us by those who sent here to represent them.
Last year, in this similar occasion, we committed ourselves to a number of efforts to improve our performance in this institution. I am pleased to report that we have implemented most of what we committed to.
Parliament has completed a five Year Strategic plan for the 2014-19 term. Parliament will focus on the following objectives:
- Strengthening oversight and accountability;
- Enhancing public involvement and participation;
- Deepening engagement in international fora;
- Strengthening co-operative government; and
- Strengthening legislative capacity.
Our strategic plan will be broken into doable goals intended to empower member to build capacity to understand, interpret our mandate taking into consideration the volume of work, the limited numbers and the complicated clustering system of the NCOP.
Hon Members
The National Development Plan (NDP) epitomises the basics edicts of the Freedom Charter. In our efforts to build a developmental state, the adoption of the NDP serves as a foundation for a partnership across society to achieve our long held dreams as articulated in the Constitution.
The NDP argues that to achieve a capable state, we must amongst others “strengthen delegation, accountability and oversight and make it easier for citizens to hold public servants and politicians accountable, particularly for the quality of service delivery”.
Our people have pinned their hopes on us, as their representatives, to create the basis for them to better their lives and to make sure the NDP vision is realised.
As Parliament we must make sure that executive, SOEIS, DFI’s, different and spheres of Government show in their Strategic Plans, Annual Performance Plan (APP) what the planned activities and resources to breath to life the NDP.
Hon Members
South Africans have entrusted us with the responsibility to safe guard their interest. They expect to ensure that the executive delivers on all matter relating to their well being without fail.
Questions to the executive give us this important tool. A total of 549 questions were put to the Executive. 356 of these were for written reply and 194 were for oral reply. A total of 18 questions were put to the Deputy President and 196 directed at the Ministers. A total of 544 responses were received by 31 March 2015. The outstanding 5 questions are being responded to in the current financial year.
Hon Members,
We are spending time, focusing our strategies around the core business of Parliament. This means revisiting and reviving and even establishing business frameworks to support our core business. Parliaments own act on financial management necessitates that we move into implementation of the structures and models in this Parliamentary term.
The Parliamentary Oversight and Accountability model, the Public Participation model, Co-operative Government and Intergovernmental relations mechanism as well as legislative model of Parliament are all getting attention.
A new approach to coordination for all support services to both Houses and committees will be introduced to enhance the administration to both Houses and to the Members of Parliament. This will see a one-stop shop approach for committees where all services will be coordinated from one source.
Hon Members,
Public involvement is an essential tool for maintaining close contact with the people, and enables the promotion of an active citizenry. “Taking Parliament to the People” is a mass participatory programme which accords our people the opportunity to actively participate in our oversight activities. This programme also gives government the opportunity to account to our people. This programme affirms our commitment to the principle “The People shall govern”.
It is therefore important to review this programme as well as the “Provincial Week” to assure ourselves that the resources are utilised to ultimately increase our capacity to represent the interest of the electorate and our core business.
Our select committees and any other committees we may establish from time to time must monitor and register any progress on issues raised during the “Taking Parliament to the People” or the “Provincial Week” programmes. This means revisits and follow-ups ladies and gentleman. This means more resources for travel, lodging, administration and, yes, less time in Cape Town.
Hon Members,
We must continue to forge relations with the Provincial Legislatures. Last year, we firmly adopted intergovernmental relations as an area we must occupy in this term of Parliament.
We are work-in-progress we have not perfected our programme, we are in debates on modes, models and resources. It is important that this process is done collectively to bring all state and civil society on board. This we hope will help reposition and clarify the role of the NCOP into the future.
Part of our responsibilities is to accommodate the interest of local Government at a National platform. We must remain loyal to cooperation with local government as branches of one legislative sector, one state with one vision.
We receive five notices of interventions in terms of section 139. Four were section 139(1) (c) for Mpofana, Inkwanca and Mtubatuba Local Municipalities as well as Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality. The last one was a sec 139(1) (b) in respect of the Makana local municipality.
As the Chairperson of the NCOP I am worried about the quality and the speed with which the NCOP interacts with these interventions. The ability of the NCOP to qualitatively and independently consider these interventions will ultimately measure the maturity and impartially of this House.
Hon Members,
We have received, processed and passed nine (9) bills which come from the NA for concurrence. We also received eight (8) draft bills from the Executive.
This House, through various committees, have sent 27 resolutions that arose from recommendations to departments for the attention of the Executive.
South African Local Government Association (SALGA) complained about the negative impact of certain bills and laws on the functioning of municipalities. We have yet to tackle these matters. A mechanism to process this matter is being put in place to help the NCOP facilitate the resolutions of these matters.
We must express concern on the processing of petitions. This is a concern because there are many references but none being resolved. We intend to give better attention to this committee in this financial year.
Hon Members
Our international relations continue to be guided by the same foundations we laid 21 years ago. These are a firm commitment to a humane, just, democratic, free and equitable world.
We continue to champion human rights, pan-africanism equality, peace, reconciliation and development. This is what must continue to buttress our democracy.
We continue to participate in Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) and other inter-Parliamentary associations. We will be attending the BRICS Parliamentary forum which is still in its formatory stages.
We will host the 37th Plenary of the SADC-PF Assembly under the theme “Industrialisation and SADC Regional Integration: The Role of Parliaments” in July 2015 in Durban.
Hon Members,
Earlier on I said we have outlined our strategic objectives. We have noted our needs to achieve these. Amongst these is a serious need for space in parliament for committee work, workspaces and even the joint programme of parliament. We have had to revive the 2006 space utilisation project which did not get implemented because of budget constraints. We need to find the resources. We have as the Executive Authority began engaging treasury in this regard.
House Members,
Parliament has over the years been funded below the inflation rate. In real terms, our budget has been declining when the numbers of members have been constant and the number of oversight areas have increased with every increase of cabinet. This must be corrected in the interest of the institution.
With respect to annual expenditure, Parliament’s budget allocation for the 2015/16 financial year is R2 070.1 Billion compared to R1 989.2 Billion, in 2014/15 allocation.
This budget is divided into five programmes and there are follows:
- Programme 1- Administration is R459.6 million
- Programme 2- Legislation and Oversight is R375.5 million,
- Programme 3 - Public and International Participation is R133.2 million,
- Programme 4- Member’s Facilities is R234.2 million,
- Programme 5 – Associated Services providing support to political parties is R364.5 million;
In addition to the above budget, Parliament has a direct charge to the National Revenue Fund, as a provision for member’s remuneration which is at the equal amount to R503.1 million.
Conclusion
Today, let us reiterate what was said in Kliptown on June 26th, 1955:
South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white;
The people shall govern;
All national groups shall have equal rights;
The people shall share in the country's wealth;
The land shall be shared among those who work it;
All shall be equal before the law;
All shall enjoy equal human rights;
There shall be work and security;
The doors of learning and of culture shall be opened;
There shall be houses, security and comfort;
There shall be peace and friendship.
We reiterate this bearing in mind that we have a bright future ahead of us as South Africans united in our diversity.
As I draw to the conclusion, we should all be mindful that the winter will breath life into a spring; that the burnt, scalded veld might look grey, lost and malnourished today, that it is the very conditions which shall see us welcoming fresh, newness of the coming season. Our present and past tell us that our current challenges are not the permanent disability but, deepening on how we react, our inner strength to ensure the best on behalf of our people.
I salute Ruth Segomotsi Seitshoko Mompati for giving her life and her strength for us. May her sacrifice never be in vain. We bow our collective head to the Honourable Von Brandis. We are poorer for his passing so early in this term.
I thank you.
