2006/07 by T Modise
18 May 2006
Honourable Deputy Speaker,
Honourable Members,
The Leadership of our local government,
Executive Management of the Legislature and our employees,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Once again, we are called upon by the reasons of accountability,
transparency, openness, consultation, service standards, accessibility,
courtesy, redress and value for money as enshrined in what is popularly called
the Batho Pele (âPeople firstâ) spirit to present the Legislatureâs budget to
our esteemed House.
Let me begin!
This year, our country celebrates the 10th Anniversary of our new
Constitution. As usual, the celebrations are reaching out across the length and
breadth of our country to all citizens in our beautiful country, South
Africa.
The 10TH Anniversary of our Constitution has unquestionably provided us all
with a unique opportunity to reflect on and introspection upon our
achievements, failures and challenges since the inauguration of a government
that draws its legitimacy from the popular will of its people.
As we collectively march forward into a better tomorrow than yesterday and
today, because of our unforgettable experience of ten years of government, we
all have reached the conclusion that the season upon us has ushered in a beacon
of hope for a better future.
As public representatives of our people, we are acutely aware that freedom
is about people. The past 10 years have created the necessary conditions for
those entrusted with leadership responsibilities to enhance the freedom and
improve the lives of ordinary people, so that they can, like other free
citizens of the world, be proud to be alive and be part of a people tasked to
make this world different from today and yesteryear. Whilst acknowledging the
price paid to attain this freedom, it is equally important to accept the
responsibility of citizens and their government in sustaining this freedom.
Naturally, the Legislature is expected to show the relevance of its presence
in this political conjuncture. We owe it to future generations to find a solid
foundation on which they can erect suitable structures in a country in which
the past of racist oppression and exploitation can no longer be a permanent
feature of describing their being and their abilities.
In his poem, âTo Hope,â John Keats goes further to say:
âIn the long vista of the years to roll,
Let me not see our country's honour fade:
O let me see our land retain her soul,
Her pride, her freedom; and not freedom's shade.
From thy bright eyes unusual brightness shed
Beneath thy pinions canopy my head! â
Deputy Speaker
This Legislature must uphold the confidence of the people of our country and
province, that confidence, we can only earn when we strive to do as the poet
Keats say, âO let me see our land retain her soul.â This we can do when we do
our work diligently without fear or favour; when we understand that our reason
for existence is not to sit here in wonderful outfits and English- but to
ensure that our Constitution, our national and provincial laws and all the
international laws, conventions and codes are respected, upheld, protected and
lived. We are public representatives â we represent the people. We must at all
times observe, monitor, hold to account, chide, guide and act as the voice of
the different constituencies we represent.
This is a huge responsibility that should sustain the confidence of our
people and translate that hope and confidence into actual change in our
peopleâs lives.
Within our reason for existence, entrenched within the Constitution of South
Africa, reinforced by the Rules of this House, national laws and conventions we
are required to do our work:
* to ensure the representation of the people of the North West province inside
this House and at the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).
* we must exercise control of governance and all bodies, institutions,
structures, agencies or organs over which any and all members of this House
have jurisdiction.
We are required to follow every rule, agreement and cent broadcast through
this House and disbursed by any member of this House. Indeed we are required to
all declare our personal effects over which this House cannot discuss but which
this House must be made privy to avoid any conflict of interest and/or
potential corruption and fraud.
We are mindful that any effort we engage in must be about our people
together with them. Not to do so, will only result in questions of legitimacy
and the relevance of the decisions we make must result in what Keats refers to
as âFreedomâs Shadeâ. This year must surely mark the end of âwe have always
done it this wayâ and begin to mark the beginning of a moment different to
any.
Deputy Speaker
Even though we confirm a remarkable improvement in the Legislatureâs
oversight functions, certain matters are still of concern. The portfolio and
standing committees are led by very capable men and women of this House. We
have confidence in them and in the members of the executive. It is heartening
to note that the executive members the majority of them understand that the
committees of this house must continue to critically analyse the strategic
plans, budget allocations, annual reports and policy matters related to their
portfolios.
It is also heartening to note that most MECs recognise the drive of
committees for what it is oversight, and that the tension that necessarily
emerge is constructive and positive in the legislative oversight function. In
the course of the work of the committees, they are charged with the
responsibility to enhance public and communal participation. To achieve this,
these committees must understand what they must make the public buy into,
understand and approve. These members must ask questions, - hard questions that
reflect public interest and mandates.
These questions are not likely to make us feel comfortable. Of course,
members of this House must read and understand the important decisions of the
executive. They must call for more information and clarification. They must be
given the information by the relevant executive members whether they do so
personally or use delegated officials and employees.
Members of the House cannot be ridiculed when they put questions or invite
the executives and their departments to provide answers and reasons for their
policies, speeches, actions and omissions.
Deputy Speaker, let we put this categorically clear: every cents disbursed
through this house will be followed, monitored and be accounted for. Whether
the executive enters into agreements, protocols or contracts of whatever
nature, this House will follow, monitor and make sure that every cent is
accounted for. Whether the executive enters into agreements, protocols or
contracts of whatever nature, this House Committee will ask questions and get
answers. This House will know.
A letter has been written to all chairpersons to review all legislation,
agreements, contracts and protocols etc, enacted by this House or entered into
on behalf of the executive of this province from April 1994. The results of
such a search will not only empower our committees and the public of this
province, but will also enable us to explain and motivate for better public
participation, tolerance and approval. This will legitimise decisions and
enhance public ownership. This will give life and voice to âTHE PEOPLE SHALL
GOVERNâ.
I will be failing in my duty if I do not categorically state that the
realisation of âthe people shall governâ will only be attributed to the dynamic
cooperation that our Committees receive from the Honourable Premier and the
ever hard-working members of the Executive Council.
This is a testimony to the call we made previously, that as the sun
continues to rise to banish forever the unfortunate past, what the new light
over our Legislature must show are Honourable Members and Members of the
Executive Council diligently at work to contribute towards pushing back the
frontiers of poverty and under-development.
Some areas need revamping, more specifically the administrative inputs in
the functioning of Committees. I remain hopeful that the clustering of
Committees, which we intend to effect soon, will bear good results in the
functioning of Committees, as it is aimed at easing unnecessary burdens on
Honourable Members in their oversight functions.
We will continue to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to refine and
review the oversight model in order to assist, through oversight, our
Provincial Government to speed service delivery in our communities.
The inclusive process of review will also ensure that the services we
provide are relevant to the dynamic environment we are working under. Added to
this, our budgeting approach for Committees will also be subjected to scrutiny
to ensure that whatever figures form part of our total budget are proportionate
to the programme of the Committees.
The tendency for thumb-sucking figures in the budget process should be
discarded. We recommend and can provide funds for all members to receive
training on the budget analysis and monitoring.
Deputy Speaker
For us to succeed with the legislative review process, we have made an
undertaking to appoint within a reasonable period a Legislative Review
Committee to drive the legislative review process to reach its logical
conclusion.
The Committee will each year target a number of bills or policies to be
reviewed and the instrument or strategies used will be reviewed continuously.
The review processes will also evaluate the public participation inputs in the
law-making process and oversight in our work.
As I stand before you, I am reminded of the story of Henry V and the âmuse
of fire,â when the Chorus asked for the âmuse of fireâ that would help the
Chorus to move beyond âthe brightest heaven of invention.â It was a call to the
imagination and a plea to the audience not to sit passively and watch but to
engage their creative faculties to help the actors âpiece out our imperfections
with your thoughts.â
Accepting the simple meaning of this story that we need people at all levels
of society to be creative, adaptable and imaginative, and not to sit around and
wait to be told what to do.
The notion of public participation was fashioned to afford our communities a
unique opportunity to positively influence the decision-making process of
government.
Through our public participation programme, we have witnessed an appreciably
increased attendance at our public hearings.
These hearings were popularly attended, the debates were lively, and the
recommendations as well as our challenges as the North West presented by each
of these sectoral parliamentary sittings were later sent to various Members of
the Executive Council and departments. We need to increase the notice periods
for public hearings and have begun to acquire more equipment for such public
hearings.
It is worth noting that provincial departments appear to have also sharpened
their skills by inviting more people to attend such public events, particularly
to the budget presentations that have just past.
This renewed enthusiasm in our budget speeches by the members of the public
should be congratulated, because it affords our communities the opportunity to
understand the limitations and potential interventions that the provincial
government will make in advancing the cause of freedom.
It should be mentioned that through this invitations to members of the
public to the sittings of the Legislature, public hearings, sectoral
parliaments for the youth, women, disabled persons, labour and many others, our
communities will start to literally see that
there is nothing so wrong that it can not be made right.
There is nothing so heavy that it can not be lifted.
There is nothing so bad, so ugly, so horrible, so heavy, so deep, that you can
not work through it, move around it, step over it or slide it into the
oblivion;
but the communities have to see in order to believe.
On behalf of the Legislature, I would like to extend a word of appreciation
to members of the public who have attended all of the budget speeches which
were presented by Members of the Executive Council. We continue to expect
members of the public to flock to our public hearings, attend sittings,
sectoral parliaments and many other events which we may deem necessary to
host.
Last year, we had a resounding success with the Peopleâs Assembly that the
Legislature hosted in Ikageng Township in Potchefstroom. Towards the end of
June this year, we will host a Peopleâs Assembly, we hope in Rustenburg.
The theme of the Peopleâs Assembly will focus on the Constitution, as we are
celebrating the 10th Anniversary of our Constitution. Matters of emphasis will
be on the achievement, or otherwise, of equality in the two defined sectors of
gender and people with disabilities.
The same vigour and enthusiasm that we always demonstrate in hosting other
events should also apply for the Youth Day in June 16 and for Womenâs Day in
August this year. Consultations continue with the relevant political
authorities to determine the venues for these events, and the public will be
informed in due course.
The Legislature also celebrated Human Rights Day in March 2005. The Human
Rights Day Celebration was attended by all sectors which constitute the North
West Provinceâs population. Delegates agreed that South Africaâs past human
rights abuses were exacerbated partly due to a lack of knowledge amongst those
who held state power.
Delegates further agreed that the atrocities committed during the apartheid
regime must be a lesson to future generations. They emphasised that a culture
of upholding human rights must be inculcated so as to ensure that future
generations do not repeat the mistakes committed by the apartheid regime.
The launch of the gender machinery, albeit years late, was also an event
worth noting. Discussions indicated the need for more seminars and training
sessions on gender. The discussions in the House on domestic violence and the
abuse of women and children brought to the fore our unwavering commitment to
condemning family killings, partners killing each other, and the rise of youth
suicide in our province.
The challenge of effective and efficient capacity building for honourable
Members of the Legislature, and the process of enhancing our Constitutional
mandate as the true voice of ordinary people will be accelerated in the year
2006.
We are pledging our commitment as public representatives who are âthe products
of a socially and politically organised communityâ to undertake to increased
public participation, by ensuring that public hearings are well advertised, and
that all relevant stakeholders are given sufficient time to prepare for public
hearings so as to ensure their meaningful participation.
We intend to further popularise the business of portfolio committees so as
to ensure maximum public participation. We will also put before our
Legislature, the North West Province Petitions Bill. It is our hope that this
will enable the masses of our people the chance to officially register their
grievances on any matter of concern.
Honourable Members
It is exceedingly important to bear in mind that our Legislature is part and
parcel of the countryâs legislative sector and that the Peer Review Mechanism
(PRM) under the leadership of Minister Fraser-Moleketi of the Department of
Public Service and Administration brought a few practical lesson. In simple
terms, the African Peer Review Mechanism is a self monitoring tool agreed upon
by the member states of the African Union (AU).
The Deputy Speaker, the Hon. Madoda, should be congratulated for having
presided over our APRM initiative, which had to be implemented within a very
limited period of time. This initiative demonstrated our willingness to open up
for public scrutiny and appraisal, and showed our commitment to transparency,
accountability and participatory governance. I believe that the Deputy Speaker
will extend our appreciation to the team of experts that was assembled to
assist in executing this complex task. We will continue, as the peopleâs
representatives, to ensure that we carry out our Constitutional mandate to the
best of our ability.
We are bound by the inescapable imperatives of the African continent to
intensify our efforts to add value to any future initiatives that may be
presented to us from the African continent through our national government.
The Deputy Speaker and Honourable Members
While there are national debates about the structure of the National Council of
Provinces, I sincerely believe that these new developments should not deter us
from pondering about better ways and means of refining coordination between the
Legislature and the NCOP. We have already commenced discussions that would
focus on, among other issues, the requirement that our Honourable Members in
the NCOP spend their parliamentary time with us as prescribed by the
Constitution, the need for their presence during our sittings to become much
more visible, and on the need for all related administrative and logistical
support to be urgently improved.
Obsolete communication systems in the House are being gradually replaced.
The replacement of the communications systems in the committee rooms will
follow in the near future. We have said on numerous occasions that as per the
provisions of the Public Finance Management Act 1 of 1999, the Speaker is and
should be the treasurer of the Legislature, and we are moving towards attaining
that objective, we now have a fully functional finance function.
By the second quarter of this financial year 2006/7, we shall have
introduced a fully integrated financial, human resource and procurement system
and therefore, some of the administrative hiccups that continue to affect the
overall management functioning of the Legislature will simply be a thing of the
past.
This approach undoubtedly will guarantee that claims and other related
procurement issues are processed without any unnecessary delays.
In other words, we will have a comprehensive system that will enable the
management of the Legislature to respond to requests by the Members in a more
efficient and effective manner.
I appreciate the on-going advice and guidance of the senior management of
the Finance and Treasury Department under the political leadership of
Honourable Modiselle for ensuring that when the Legislature begins to have its
own account, all the necessary policies and procedures that governs our finance
will be in place.
It is with a measure of satisfaction that I put before this House that after
the absence of the Performance and Development Management System (PDMS) in the
Legislature for a considerable period, training for implementing the PDMS has
started, and we expect the system to be in full swing in the second quarter of
this financial year. In addition, employees have signed their respective
performance contracts with some few exceptions. In instances where we are
confronted with delay tactics to avoid the signing of performance contracts, we
are not hesitating in soliciting appropriate advice aimed at resolving these
issues amicably.
It should be noted that after an inclusive process involving all the
stakeholders, such as the union, 35 policies were developed and approved for
implementation as from the 1st April 2006. We sincerely believe that these
policies will assist management to execute its mandates proficiently. The
policies approved include policies dealing with workplace sexual harassment,
asset disposal, and procurement. All of the policies have been subjected to the
gender lense.
Honourable Members
It should be publicly stated that the offices of all Honourable Members have
been furnished, computers and television sets have been provided and other
related appliances will be installed in the near future.
This is not to make these offices look like offices in big conglomerates,
but rather we believe in the notion that if we want Honourable Members to
explode their respective talents for the advancement of the cause of freedom,
it is important to make them feel comfortable in their offices.
We have surpassed our expectations in the implementation of our new
organisational structure which was supposed, as per our agreement with the
Treasury, to have been implemented within a period of two years. It was done
within a one- year period, and as from now onwards, any recruitment that will
take place it will be on the basis of filing a vacant position as a result of
resignation or any other relevant circumstances.
The House is informed that the NWPL seriously needs the use of a legal
drafting team as well as a protocol unit.
We strictly adhered to a commitment and resolution that was agreed upon
between the management of the Legislature and the National Education, Health
and Allied Worker's Union(NEHAWU) branch in the Legislature that during the
implementation of the new structure the following will be observed
1. All employees have the opportunity to apply for any position:
2. No one will be treated unfairly
3. No one will lose his or her current position: and
4. The panel for interviews will mostly be conducted by people with impeccable
credentials from other Legislatures, the National Parliament, or from our
provincial departments.
There were some problems that we encountered during this process of
implementing the new structure. However, after numerous interactions with the
leadership of NEHAWU in our honest endeavour to find a lasting solution, I must
say that it became acutely evident that most of these problems were as a result
of some few employees pursuing individual parochial interests at the expense of
the required stability of the entire Legislature.
With the new structure, we also discovered the necessity to downgrade a few
positions and totally abolish others in anticipation of creating a few totally
new positions in order to meet our new needs which were not clear when the new
structure was developed.
In the Office of the Secretary to the Legislature, we abolished the position
of Compliance Officer, the position of Manager: Communications is to be
downgraded after the current incumbent has resigned, and a new position will be
created for a person specifically to deal with matters of broadcasting, Master
Antenna Television (MATV), video conferencing for all Legislatures and
Parliament which is sponsored by the European Legislature Support Programme,
and communication systems that we are currently installing in this House and in
the committee rooms.
This new position will also greatly assist the Legislature regarding the
anticipated dedicated television channel for the legislative sector (including
National Parliament) that is currently under discussions within the Speakerâs
Forum and the South African Broadcasting Commission (SABC) board.
Deputy Speaker
There are a few issues that we should face up to without fear or favour,
without the usual noise, and without apportioning blame to anyone. These
matters although purely administrative, are placed for the record in the
House.
* Salary increments and related benefits (car scheme / subsidy) for the
North West Provincial Legislature staff.
The salaries of the middle and lower levels in our Legislature are above the
salaries of government employees. For instance, a cleaner with a similar period
of service in the Premierâs Office gets far less than a cleaner in the
Legislature. A trained nurse receives a salary less than a household employee
in the legislature. It goes without saying, that we have a problem and that
with each annual increase, the situation is simply exacerbated.
It also goes without saying that the Legislature cannot withhold annual
salary increases. It is also true that we cannot, every year and accede to
whatever increase percentage point is demanded by the Unions without regard to
what the budget can afford and what the comparative market levels indicate. The
office of the Speaker and the management in the Legislature are in the process
of assembling the necessary expertise to correct this situation in the most
transparent and consultative manner.
The issue of the car subsidies has been on the negotiating table between
NEHAWU and the management for years. A transparent process was engaged in
involving those employees we identified to qualify for a car allowance or car
subsidy, the NEHAWU branch executive and management. This process included
listening to presentations made by ABSA, Standard Bank, our Provincial Treasury
and Finance Department, and finally our Provincial Transport Department. Out of
this process, the following emerged:
1. The Speaker does not have the necessary powers to sign as a surety for a
car scheme, which would be necessary in order for the scheme to be implemented.
The MEC for Finance could potentially approve such a guarantee, but the Finance
Department indicated that the policy of the Department (as is the case with
government departments generally) is not to enter into guarantees on behalf of
employees:
* employees are not likely to travel 21 000 km per annum as is required in
terms of the national governmentâs guidelines regarding vehicle subsidy
schemes
* if employees do not travel the required 21 000 km, there would be
negative tax implications for the employees on a car scheme which might be
unbearable for them
* management of pool cars is extremely burdensome, and so purchasing new pool
vehicles is not desirable
* after bench-marking with the national and provincial Legislatures, the North
West Provincial Legislature was the only one extending the car allowance to
certain categories of employees not covered by other Legislatures.
Therefore, the aggregate conclusion that was reached on this matter is
simply that a car scheme is unsustainable and âunimplementableâ. In addition,
we were reliably informed that government is also moving away from current
mechanism in respect to car subsidies or car allowances, and therefore it would
be imprudent to introduce either one of those schemes that I have already
referred to.
In the end, we resolved that where an employee requires transportation as a
tool of trade or to execute a specific task, the Legislature will ensure that
the employee is provided with all of the necessary resources to perform his or
her duties.
We have already been providing transport when the need arose for carrying
out official duties, and I am happy to say that discussions have already
commenced with service providers to enter into a Service Level Agreement, in
terms of which we will enjoy lower rates. I would therefore like to record our
appreciation to the Department of Finance for guiding us, and also the Deputy
Director General of Transport for having navigated his busy schedule to guide
and advise us in this matter.
I would like to state that we will do everything within the confines of the
laws of our country to ensure that our employees recognise and respect the
authority in the work place, and therefore, that our government is respected.
People who behave as if the there is no government and authority are generally
classified as simply anarchist. Anarchists are people who make a social and
political philosophy out of the natural and spontaneous tendency of humans to
associate together for their mutual benefit. Anarchism is in fact the name
given to the idea that it is possible and desirable for society to organise
itself without government.
The word comes from the Greeks, simply meaning âwithout authorityâ. Contrary
to this definition, in our country, there is a government that came into being
through a popular vote and draws its legitimacy from the will of the people. It
means that there is an agreement between the governed and the governor. We are
not without authority. We value spontaneity but operate within the set rules of
society and govern by the will of the majority of our people.
We are all expected to reasonably exercise that political authority to
consolidate the gains of democracy and to advance the cause of freedom. In this
spirit, we invited the Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka to our Legislature. Days
before the sitting, we heard whispers of disruptions and strikes. We then
applied to the Labour Court to seek an urgent interdict, which was granted in
the form of the interim order of 16 March 2006.
This order was eventually made a permanent order by the Labour Court on 2
May 2006.
The declaratory order states the following, and I quote:
â1. The Applicantâs non- compliance with the rules relating to service and time
periods is condoned and this application is dealt with as one of urgency.
2. The intended strike described in the notice by the Respondent to the
Applicant dated 14 March 2006 is declared to be an unprotected strike.
3. The Respondent and any employee employed by the Applicant who takes part in
the strike do not enjoy the protections conferred by Section 67 of the labour
Relations Act.
4. The Respondent and any of the persons in Annexure âAâ (including officials
office bearers and members of the Respondent) are interdicted and restrained
from proceeding with, and calling, for supporting, encouraging or inciting
their members or any employee of the Applicant to engage in the strike or any
form of unlawful industrial action.
5. Any employee of the Applicant are interdicted and restrained from
participating in the strike or any form of unlawful industrial action.
6. The Respondent is directed to take all reasonable steps to advise its
members that the or any form of unlawful industrial action is unprotected and
to persuade them not to participate in the strike or any unlawful industrial
action; and
7. The Respondent is ordered to pay the costs of this application.â
We have so far paid an initial amount of R205 000.00 in legal fees to our
lawyers in connection with this application. The final cost for legal fees in
connection with the application may ultimately be higher. We should note,
however, that a substantial portion of the legal costs for this application
will be claimed back from NEHAWU and be paid into our coffers as a result of
the court order.
Five employees have been suspended for having, among other things, incited
employees to contravene the initial court order and another 37 employees have
been served with charges relating to the contravention of the said order. The
disciplinary hearings are currently under way and we will ensure that the
process is speeded up to reach its logical conclusion without delay.
The suspended employees applied to the Commission for Conciliation,
Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) for their suspensions to be withdrawn. The
ruling of the CCMA was that the Legislature has complied with the requirements
for suspending employees, and therefore their case was dismissed.
I would like to caution those that have an interest in this matter to allow
justice to take its course, as we always profess in many incidents of a similar
nature. I put my promise before the House that we will do everything in our
power to ensure that this process does not damage the reputation of the
Legislature.
It will be appropriate to indicate that some of these problems have taught
us that in our Endeavour to do better, we are always going to find obstacles.
The obstacles in our endeavour are there to make us stronger.
We are going to be challenged. Challenges make us quick on our feet. They teach
us how to bob and weave. Moving in a well-thought direction is going to make a
few people nervous. They are going to challenge our new ideas, our new approach
to doing things, and the âweâ that is emerging. However, challenges make us
think and rethink what we are doing.
Thinking strengthens the mind. The strong mind has nothing to fear when
challenged. A strong mind can weave to develop an answer for the people who
challenge it. We will succeed
Deputy Speaker
I would like to invite Honourable Members to share in our satisfaction for
having received an unqualified audit report by the Auditor- General.
It is through your cooperation and the sensitive manner in which you
presented your claims, committeesâ expenditure, secretarial and constituency
allowances and any other related matters that we were able to receive an
unqualified report. In our collective effort to further strengthen the
financial management of the Legislature, we conducted an internal audit
focusing primarily on the Members Enabling Facility and related matters. We
also conducted various internal audits of matters such as leave encashment,
financial management, and the incompatible human resources and financial
systems.
It should be emphasised that in respect of the Members Enabling Facility,
that audit was not intended to focus on any individual Honourable Member but
was merely to ensure that whatever problems we identified, appropriate
mechanisms are properly put in place to avoid recurrence.
The audit revealed the urgency to refine some aspects of the Members
Enabling Facility policy to realign it with the current imperatives that affect
Honourable Members. The report was availed to the required parties, and it has
been used to guide us in policy development. This process is nearing its
finalisation, and thereafter it will be presented to the relevant parties by
the end of June 2006. We will continue to adhere to the laws and regulations
which determine the proficient management of the Legislature.
Our Audit Committee is constituted by external people with impeccable
credentials, and it is discharging its duties expeditiously.
At the appropriate time, minor changes will be necessary in order to ensure
that we respond to some genuine criticisms in respect of its composition and
also to ensure that we align ourselves with a forthcoming piece of legislation
that intended to govern Parliamentâs affairs as well as those of the
Legislatures, which is currently before a committee of Parliament. We have also
introduced a system of supply chain management which will guide the tendering
committee that will deal with all tenders of the Legislature.
The tendering committee will be chaired by the newly appointed Executive
Manager: Finance and other employees from other units or divisions in the
Legislature.
Previously, the tender committee, which we called the Internal Supply
Committee, was constituted by Hon. Mahumapelo as the chairperson, Honourable
Gerber, Hon. Groenewald, and Hon. Molema. I would like to extend my heartfelt
appreciation to all of them for the solid foundation they have laid for the
incoming tendering committee.
There are some matters that require to be rectified for us to avoid
under-expenditure in this financial year. The following indicates the
expenditure per Programme / Sub-programme:
1. Administration
1.1 Logistics
Programme should have spent: 100%
Spent: 73%
1.2 Human resources
Programme should have spent: 100%
Spent: 68%
1.3 Legislature building extension
Programme should have spent: 100%
Spent: 58%
1.4 Internal audit
Programme should have spent: 100%
Spent: 55%
2. Membersâ salaries
Programme should have spent: 100%
Spent: 100%
3. Parliamentary operations
3.1 Speakerâs office
Programme should have spent: 100%
Spent: 55%
3.2 Logistics (members)
Programme should have spent: 100%
Spent: 39%
3.3 NCOP
Programme should have spent: 100%
Spent: 08%
3.4 Exposure to parliamentary activities
Programme should have spent: 100%
Spent: 37%
3.5 Legislative review
Programme should have spent: 100%
Spent: 0%
3.6 Public participation
Programme should have spent: 100%
Spent: 57%
3.7 Public awareness
Programme should have spent: 100%
Spent: 64%
3.8 Committee activities
Programme should have spent: 100%
Spent: 72%
The total expenditure for the legislature as at 31 March 2006 was 65%,
instead of 100%. Our total budget was R103 804 000, our expenditure was R67 921
084 and the balance was R35 882 915 (i.e. we have under-spent our total budget
by R35 882 915).
Although the Membersâ salaries programme indicates that 100% was spent,
there is an over-expenditure of R119 574 in monetary terms, this over
expenditure was expected and could be accommodated. There are many reasons that
contributed to this unpleasant situation of under-expenditure:
* much time was consumed by party political exigencies because of the local
government elections
* negotiations between management and the union meant that it took a longer
time than expected, before the new structure could be implemented
* tender processes took a longer period than expected before appropriate
services providers could be found
* the extension of the Legislature building was not yet finalised, which
resulted in payments being made only after 31 March 2006
* study tours were either cancelled at the eleventh hour or the delegation was
severely reduced in size, as per the national directive.
We have examined the approach that we took during the previous financial
year, and lessons learned from that period inform us that the following should
receive our immediate attention:
* tenders, if any should be done early at the beginning of the financial
year to avoid them overlapping into the next financial year
* consultation is a necessary process to take place between management and the
union, but the implementation of decisions ultimately is a prerogative of
management
* study tours should be planned properly, and the relevant national department
should be informed appropriately
* budgeting for Committees should be realistic and targets should be
achievable, in order to avoid thumb sucking in budgeting
* each unit or division should be held accountable for its budget expenditure,
and interventions should be made accordingly when under-expenditure is
observed;
* each chairperson of a Committee should regularly monitor the expenditure
pattern of their Committee
* NCOP expenses should be regularly monitored
* the use of the European Union funding must be properly co-ordinated with own
expenditure.
We sincerely believe that with proper management planning, evaluation and
monitoring of our performance, targets will be achieved, and where there are
problems identified, interventions will be made appropriately.
Deputy Speaker
The process for the review of the vision and mission on the North West
Provincial Legislature started in November 2005, after inputs from some members
of this House, the inputs are being solidified and refined. In due course, the
final products will be presented to this House for approval and adoption.
Honourable Members, on numerous occasions, we have examined the North West
Provincial Legislature Service Act 8 of 1997, with a view to aligning it with
the Public Finance Management Act 1 of 1999. This House has been briefed before
on the need to repeal this law. A draft bill has been tabled in this House to
this effect. We hope the portfolio committee on the Legislature and Premier
will have concluded the processing of this repeal so that the North West
Provincial Legislature can move like all Legislatures under the provisions of
the PFMA.
Deputy Speaker
I would like to put before the House that the Legislature has been allocated a
total budget of R102 435 m for the 2006/07 financial year. This amount is
divided into three (3) programmes, which are Administration, Membersâ Salaries,
and Parliamentary Operations. This is a decrease of R1, 369m of over the
previous financial yearâs budget.
Programme 1: Administration
An amount of R55,093 m has been provided for the Administration Programme.
The Programme provides funding for Logistics, Human Resources and Internal
Audit.
Programme 2: Memberâs salaries
This Programme is allocated an amount of R13,116 m for the payment of
salaries to Members of the Legislature. It is a statutory Programme, because
this money is disbursed in terms of the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers
Act 20 of 1998.
Programme 3: Parliamentary Operations
The budget allocated for this Programme is R34,226 m. This Programme
provides funding for the Office of the Speaker and Membersâ Support in the form
of the secretarial and constituency allowance, the hosting allowance, and
expenditure on committee work regarding oversight activities such as dealing
with annual reports and oversight visits, and public hearings on legislation.
This Programme will in due course be divided into Membersâ Support and
committee work. Other activities funded under this Programme are:
* expenditures towards NCOP activities
* the workshops, conferences and seminars that Members of the Legislature
attend and exploratory visits to other countries, including national and
international conferences
* the review of the effectiveness of legislation passed by the Legislature
since 1994
* sectoral Parliaments as a form of increasing public participation in the
activities of the Legislature within particular sectors of our society
* organising activities, such as the back to school campaign and the
adopt-a-school and donate a flag campaigns
* for committees such as public hearings and oversight for MPLs.
In conclusion, on behalf of the Legislature, it is my pleasure to add to the
voice of the Premier and all those who welcomed the Merafong residents into the
North West province.
We should also acknowledge the fact that humanity has a tendency of fearing
the unknown. However, the Merafong residents will adjust to the new political
developments and get to love their new province. They will be brothers and
sisters, not the ânewcomersâ nor the stepchildren.
They shall find us warm in our hearts and committed to our resolve of
bringing services closer to all citizens of our province. They shall discover
that we love them like other citizens of our country and province. They would
be expected to participate actively in all relevant activities of the
Legislature, just like all communities of our province.
We also wish the Kgalakgadi residents well in the Northern Cape. South
Africa is not and will never be a federal state.
Therefore, for any to belong to one part of South Africa, does not deny you
of any benefit which any South African rightfully enjoys. Letâs not allow our
vision to be confined to names, and let us build South Africa to higher level
in the global map.
We congratulate and wish good luck to the new local government leaders
throughout the term of office. To assist in enhancing service delivery in the
province, the office of the Speaker of the Legislature will, within the next
two months, introduce the Speakerâs Forum in the province, which will look at
strategies to assist in making local government impact positively to our
communities. Besides our ideological differences, let us exert our efforts to
ensure a better life for our people.
It is my sincere hope that the local government system and its fresh crop of
cadres, in the form of the new councillors, will take up the challenge with
enthusiasm, as doing so will influence the rapidity of service delivery and
will ultimately add value to the creation of a better life for all our people.
It is upon such a better life that the creation of a united, non-racial,
non-sexist and prosperous North West lies.
I would like to congratulate the management and employees under the
stewardship of the Secretary to the Legislature, Dr Baba Schalk, who has made
it their motto to excel in whatever they exert their respective efforts
towards. I fully agree that our employees should never be victims of
compliance, but they should be exemplary, demonstrating god-given talents and
skills acquired during testing times.
Honourable Premier
We will continue to look for your leadership when things get rough and
turbulent, and only through your guidance we will hold on and ride it out.
The Deputy Speaker
When bad times show up in the middle of good times, let us hold on to each
other, as we did in the previous financial year.
Honourable Members
We shall live to tell a tale of hard work. We shall tell stories of how from
despair we generated hope. We shall have to live to show that we stood for a
better society. Our bequest to the next generation should embody hope and
progress. It should give instructions for the next generation never to stand as
vile witnesses of dishonour to its heritage and interest when the gains brought
about by the democratic order are put at risk, but rather to tell a story of a
proud collective that loved its people and its countryâs future. My sincere
gratitude to the members of the portfolio committee that is monitoring the
legislature. Rre Baloyi, thank you.
We are aware that there are those who came before us, and contributed
massively in aligning the legislature to the programmes that address the needs
of our society. Those are individuals who tried and tested our model of
democracy, and today we have clear mandates and direction on where to take this
legislature to. Rre Thibedi, Rre Tselapedi re Lebogela motlhala.
In this context, I thought it would be appropriate to announce that towards
the end of this year, 2006, the Legislature would host a befitting occasion to
appreciate the work done by all past and present Honourable Members of our
Legislature who spent ten years and more serving our people through this
House.
I therefore present this budget before the House for its opinion. If the
House affirms this budget, I will confidently be able to tell the story that
the Legislature must unwaveringly fulfil its mandate of bringing the
Legislature closer to its people.
The story can be told by us having formed the requisite partnership with
communities to achieve the objectives which we have set for ourselves as a
province and a country.
Ladies and gentlemen; distinguished guests and Honourable Members,
Deputy Speaker thanks for your attention.
Issued by: Provincial Legislature, North West Provincial Government
18 May 2006
