FIRST SESSION

FIRST - FIFTH SITTINGS		NORMAL		18 & 30 JUNE, 20, 23 & 24 AUGUST, 28 SEPTEMBER AND 2 NOVEMBER 1999

VOLUME 7

SPINE:	VOLUME 7 1999


TRANSLATION:  Hon members, I believe that after a lengthy struggle, which we had after elections, when we had fear.  But now our coalition shows reconciliation amongst us.

I believe that those who have elected us to be here have given us a great task.  We need to lead them and prepare them for the future and their lives of which I think this huge responsibility needs us to conclude it in honesty, trustworthiness and with our determination.

My main aim is that in order for us to succeed in is this burden which we have, will be the way we behave as hon members.  We have to continue our work with dignity which will give hope to those who elected us and put their trust in us.

I believe, that the way we are going to behave here, will show all the people of South Africa that we are people who are prepared to work for the people and be bound by that task.

Respect is the main key which determines the important task which we have to do.  Therefore, with these short words as I had not prepared for this, I wish to thank each and everyone who appointed me.  We must all work together as a unit.

The development of this office will be as a result of the co-operation amongst the members.  I thank you very much.  T/E
(pg 7 ln 1)

[Hon member Mr Rajbansi]?
(pg 43 ln 27)

[I request that all people who have cellular phones to switch them off].
(pg 57 ln 23)

TRANSLATION:  Food will be served in these areas.  Members of the Royal Family, Amakhosi, Izinduna are asked to go to the members of Parliament houses.  These houses are on the left when going down towards the main road.

Police and drum majorettes will go to the South basement at the back to get their food.  School children and cadets will go to the North there are marquees there.  The cadets will also be addressed by Izinduna.  T/E
(pg 61 ln 36)

TRANSLATION:  Hon members, colleagues I think we have to apologize that we had to start at this time.  We could not start on time because of problems that we encountered.

I thought that we had to solve those problems outside this House.  That is the reason for the delay and for us only starting so late.

I have no idea what the decision was that was taken but we have to start our work for the day.  Having said that I wish to apologize to all hon members.  I hope my apology has been accepted.  T/E
(pg 62 ln 26)

THE TRANSLATOR:  I believe we are now on the system.  What the hon Speaker said was to apologise for the delays that they have experienced today.  He said that they have had problems which they decided to resolve outside the House.  He is really sorry, he does not know what decision has been taken about that problem up until this very moment.  Thank you.
(pg 63 ln 14)

[Thank you, let us proceed to item 8.3].
(pg 85 ln 30)

[I think we have a problem here, could you please call the Chief Whip]
(pg 85 ln 34)

[you will find that stolen cars are being stripped]
(pg 91 ln 36)

[Nurses have suffered from swollen ankles, they only build, there is no employment, there is a moratorium on employment].
(pg 111 ln 7)

[It is not the Holy Christ which hanged on the cross]
(pg 125 ln 32)

[They fence around their houses with the fence on the road]
(pg 137 ln 34)

[So why are you looking at me]?
(pg 145 ln 20)

TRANSLATION:  Madam chair, if we talk about accidents and the infrastructure, we should talk and ask what I Samuel Mtetwa is doing.  Let us not go far, I should know what I am doing to ensure safety, not only mine, but to ensure that it does happen to other people as well.  If there are those who drink and drive, what am I doing about it.  

Ndabezitha.  The aim is to prevent that or of taking that forward.  Nowadays Madam Speaker, on our roads we see new set-ups being put up, even in townships we see buses and taxi stops which were not there before.

We now see things on pavements  which were not there, which you only find in selected areas.  What I am saying is that the results of this should be encouraged and that it should proceed.

I have said Speaker that we should forget...T/E
(pg 145 ln 29)

TRANSLATION:  I conclude by saying accidents are caused by feeling sleepy and drinking.  I wish that the driver should relax three times.   T/E
(pg 146 ln 7)

[Wow is that all]
(pg 146 ln 11)

TRANSLATION:  I thank you Mr Speaker.  Mr Mantshinga and the hon House.  Thank you for giving me this opportunity.

Firstly I wish to send my condolences to all the families of those who died in the road accidents.

Trucks like those which carry heavy wood are heavy on our roads.  I would suggest to the hon Minister of Transport to have a close look at these heavy trucks.  These trucks should be accompanied by traffic inspectors and we need to have truck rest centres where truck drivers can pull over and have a rest.

Drivers and assistants should pull over at these rest centres and have a rest and regain their stamina to continue the journey.  I mention this because most of the accidents are caused by people who drive long distances.  Our roads have no rest centres where they can park and relax.

The hon Minister should work together with the NGOs, CBOs and businessmen to upgrade the standard of our roads so that our people can be protected.

If you take a look at the road coming from here to Ulundi, the road at Eshowe is full of potholes.  When they do the roadworks they only cover the potholes.  They do not reconstruct the whole road like the roads leading to towns.  They just patch the potholes which then re-open when the heavy trucks travel over them. 

I kindly urge the hon Minister to consider upgrading the standard of our roads which were built for the underprivileged.  If you look at the road to Ulundi there are not even road signs. 

Speaker, if you look at the road going to Pietermaritzburg they are busy reconstructing the road.  They are often busy with that road.

If we talk about transformation let us save our people who live in the rural areas.  Let us upgrade their roads.  I would even suggest to the hon Minister to start a campaign which will teach  all the people, even our pedestrians, as to how we can avoid road accidents.  They may even be taught how to cross the roads.  The same initiatives should be taken with the school children in order to teach them road safety.

Hon Speaker, if we want to be really protected, we need to construct subways leading to the houses in the rural areas, which will enable cars to go in.  Those subways help when there is an emergency because when a person falls ill he has to be taken by stretcher to the nearest main road....  T/E
(pg 148 ln 4)

TRANSLATION:  I will urge the Minister to really take a close look at upgrading the rural area roads so as to assist the sick people.  We should not only think of the people who are already privileged by the previous system and who enjoy a better life.  T/E
(pg 148 ln 35)

[We are in power now and we should enjoy a better life.  I thank you Mr Speaker]. 
(pg 149 ln 4)

[Mr Speaker, Ndabezitha, and hon members of this House]
(pg 154 ln 22)

[plastic carrier bags, plastic containers]
(pg 154 ln 30)

[as the milk cow]
(pg 155 ln 4)

[to be milked so that everybody should be filled.  But if we do not take care of our visitors they will ignore us.  People are dying here and they will tour other places]
(pg 155 ln 5)

[beehive hut
(pg 155 ln 11)

[The member has one minute left].
(pg 155 ln 21)

[Thank you very much hon member.  I will ask the hon Member Mrs B Scott who has got five minutes only].
(pg 155 ln 29)

[Hon member has one minute only].
(pg 156 ln 34)

[Time is up hon member].
(pg 157 ln 12)

TRANSLATION:  Other children end up taking injections and injecting themselves and you would not know what disease they would encounter.  They may even inject themselves with HIV/AIDS injections.  That may cause infections disease.  T/E
(pg 158 ln 36)

[Mr Mackenzie mention that when you cross Imfolozi heading for Dukuduku going past KwaMsane you end up seeing plastic bags hanging there].
(pg 158 ln 3)

[Hon member has one minute]
(pg 159 ln 17)

TRANSLATION:  Mr Speaker, hon members in fact I will stress the same point of keeping our Province as clean as possible and it is important to keep it tidy.

We have so many places here in KwaZulu-Natal which were beautiful; but which has been invaded by this untidiness which is caused by these plastic containers, which we have been speaking about.  I will mention a place there in the South which is called the South Coast.

There is a place that is called Kelso, I you happen to go there you will find a dumping site where you see plastic carrier bags flying all over the road and the children there are playing with these bags.  You will even find people eating from this dumping site, that place is a real disgrace. 

At times you will even find cows eating plastic about which, I think, we as government should do something about.  We must see what we can do.

We have got places there in the rural areas where we can teach people how to keep their places tidy and clean so that we can be a dignified Province.

Previous speakers have spoken of our visitors who visit our Province.  Therefore we should do something to upgrade our surroundings.  I think our government should embark on a campaign to teach our people about cleanliness, and as to how we can collect all the plastic bags which are all over.

What I have noticed here in Pietermaritzburg, you find these small boys digging in the bins for food and eating out of these plastic bags and even covering their faces with it which could be very dangerous for the child because he might suffocate and die.

I would be very grateful if we may stand up and work.  I do not think we should isolate areas when speaking about cleanliness.  We should tackle the whole of KwaZulu-Natal because it is found in the whole Province.

This is mostly found in rural areas.  We also find it in informal settlements where I think an initiative should be taken to upgrade the situation.

Therefore I think government should take a step forward to act on this as it is spreading like a veld fire.  I suggest that there should be campaigns to collect all those plastics which are so dangerous.

I am grateful to hon members, to get this opportunity to raise my concerns regarding this issue.  Thank you.  T/E
(pg 160 ln 24)

[Thank you hon member].
(pg 160 ln 19)

[There is nobody who likes litter and uncleanliness.  So we need to find ways of improving, which we should embark on immediately]. ( pg 162 ln 16)

[litter] (pg 162 ln 19)

[Let us build a nation of which we will be proud].
(pg 162 ln 32)

TRANSLATION:  Mr Speaker, this hon House should understand that the problem of HIV/AIDS intensifies day in and day out.  We really need to have a debate on this killer disease.  Maybe after this debate many people will be enlightened as to the serious task that we have with regards to HIV/AIDS, especially in KwaZulu-Natal.

Hon Speaker, I think the time has come where we all need to stand up and initiate campaigns to teach our people about this disease.  It will not help us if we talk about it here in Parliament only and not participate in campaigns to teach about the disease, of which other parties like the DP are less conscious.

As we all know, scientists and researchers have not been able to find a cure for HIV/AIDS we only have one weapon to avoid a multiplication of HIV/AIDS we should learn to protect ourselves.

Research has shown that 90% of contracting HIV/AIDS is to have sex.  Therefore, Mr Speaker we should change our traditional attitude like the issue of men having more than one girlfriend.  Men being popular with women is a thing of the past now.

Having sex with many people increases the possibility of contracting HIV/AIDS.  Therefore Mr Speaker, if a person cannot afford to have one sex partner it will be wise to use condoms when you have sex.

But what we say to our youth is that they should stop engaging in sexual activities until such time that they plan to have their own families, but if they fail to do so they must use condoms.

We should intensify our campaigns to notify our people about HIV/AIDS.  We as members of Parliament should make it our duty that where we deliver speeches in our communities we should not stop mentioning the problems related to HIV/AIDS.

Uganda have achieved a lot in reducing the numbers of new people contracting this disease because all their leaders speak about this disease.  I appeal to other political parties to follow suite with regard to this killer disease.

Speaker, the problem of AIDS is not only the problem of our people dying but the other problem is the orphans which are left behind because the mothers and fathers have vanished.  Whose burden are the orphans.  No-one else but the government.

Last year the estimated number of AIDS orphans was over 200 000.  But now the figures are estimated to sore over 600 000.

We all see now Mr Speaker, what task we have with regards to HIV/AIDS.  T/E
(pg 176 ln 9)

TRANSLATION:  Mr Speaker, in ending I am saying we all have pressure to know more about the killer disease so as to enlighten our people about the disease.  Let us talk about HIV/AIDS in our homes, in our political parties, in our churches, at funerals and at parties.

Knowing about the disease will even decrease the belief that if a person has already contracted this disease he will get rid of it by having sex with a three year old or a six year old.  Mr Speaker, this notion exists because people do not know about the disease.  Let us tighten up campaigns and let us heal the others and let them find a cure.   T/E
(pg 176 ln 11)

[The hon member has run out of time].
(pg 176 ln 17)

[Thank you Mr Speaker].
(pg 176 ln 19)

[We will listen to the hon member Mr Ngcobo who will speak for six minutes].
(pg 176 ln 23)

TRANSLATION:  If we talk of working closely between the government and the churches and their communities maybe we can find other ways to work closely with the TV people.  Maybe they can assist in reducing the number of programs which are shown daily showing sex and kissing.  We teach our children to reduce high sex activities amongst themselves but it is not bearing fruit because of these programs which are screened during prime time.

Although we all know that we will have obstacles before we get on to the right track, we should work closely with the churches because they stress that having sex before marriage is a sin and it is not acceptable at all.  By saying that the church has already averted the problem of HIV/AIDS.

In the older cultures, even the other nations, did follow suite but it seems if we blacks had a great respect for each other in such a way that a male and female will not engage in sexual activities before marriage.  They had a respect for each other.  They did it their own way, for example as sexual intercourse sometimes occurs between engaged couples.   

Speaker, in ending let me say as it is the right of the man to ask for sex, they do not have the right to ask for sex at any given time.  It should be a criminal offence like other offenses to ask for sexual intercourse with a woman knowing exactly that you have this disease.  You should be known as a killer like other killers.  Thank you Mr Speaker.  T/E
(pg 177 ln 22)

[The hon member has finished.  Hon member Mr Volker will follow and take only four minutes].
(pg 178 ln 1)

TRANSLATION:  I would like to urge all members in this House to make it a habit that if they come to this House or going anywhere or to their communities they should carry these condoms in their bags because each and everyone of us will need it as it is heading dark now.  T/E
(pg 186 ln 14)

[The whole nation of KwaZulu-Natal].
(pg 187 ln 1)

TRANSLATION:  Mr Speaker, I thank you for this opportunity.  I wish to thank Mrs Ngcobo for bringing up this issue which has become a deadly killer in the country.

Rapist figures in South Africa has increased significantly.  They rape our wives and our children.  We have got quite a huge number compared to the rest of the world.  South Africa has a huge rapist epidemic.  Our government should embark on a massive campaign to fight this epidemic.  

Another point which we are raising here is for the law to get tough, because the situation allows people to do as they wish because the law is not that tough with regard to this.

Unutilised brains may also cause the situation to increase because if you take note of the situation our mothers and children are not safe at all.  Women have nowadays become playing toys.

So we see it as very important that we should talk about this where we live in our communities, because the culprits who do these things are not people who come from the skies like rain, but are people who live with us in our communities and some are even our family members.  It is a very sad state of affairs.

It was going to be good of the National and Provincial Government to impose heavy sentences on culprits who do this because it is becoming very bad in our nation.

In our families and in our communities women and children are mostly affected by this epidemic.  One speaker did even mention that it could be the shame of his mind if he could see himself on his daughter.  That is disgraceful.

So we as the National Party suggest that it is wise that heavy sentences, like that of a life sentence would be the ideal sentence to bring the situation back to normal.

So what we see is because people know that they have got rights in all what they do.  We judge that as a very critical situation because they take it as a right to act wayward in the communities which they live in.

It is very disgraceful to see our nation vanishing in this manner.  What is happening in our communities is very bad.  It would be wise for our communities like in the churches, wherever, it could be in rural areas, in townships and where people have gathered, this should be discussed openly, without noting political affiliation and whatever.

It should be an open discussion because the situation concerns the whole nation regardless of political affiliation.

So we view this on a wide scope that culprits should be brought to book.  The government should do something with regard to this.  Because the cause of all this is that a human being was not given brains not to use them.  That is why we are faced with such situations.

Our country has a very high incidence of drug trafficking and that could be the another cause of this raping epidemic in our country.  So we should all stand up and do something in our communities.  T/E
(pg 225 ln 11)

[children]
(pg 227 ln 36)

[I will drink water]
(pg 246 ln 32)

[it disgusts you].
(pg 249 ln 2)

[it disgusts you]
(pg 249 ln 5)

it disgusts you]
(pg 249 ln 7)

[peace disgusts you]
(pg249 ln 7)

[peace disgusts him].
(pg 249 ln 8)

[saying that you suffer from heartburn]
(pg 249 ln 10)

[saying that you suffer from heartburn]
(pg 249 ln 11)

[We now call upon Mr Ngcobo, Mapholoba eight minutes].
(pg 252 ln 13)

[Thank you Speaker, maybe with me too you may need a dictionary as in Mr Ngcobo's case].
(pg 254 ln 7)

TRANSLATION:  In conclusion Mr Speaker, I would like to say that I wish that we should talk about what is really in our hearts and minds and we should all agree in this House.  The time as arrived that we talk and then act after that.  Even the people who elected us are tired of listening and there is no action.  As we are talking about the floods which took peoples lives and which took the roofs from their houses.  Really as we are talking now they are waiting for something which comes from us and which will help to shelter them.  Thank you.  T/E
(pg 255 ln 27)

[Even in Durban stormwater drainage pipes were either blocked or washed away because of the floods.  We could hardly drive properly].
(pg 260 ln 4)

TRANSLATION:  It is very sad hon Speaker, that when there are disasters you find that our people do not even know a single thing, they do not know how to swim, they do not know about scuba diving.  At times I see when they retrieve the black boxes from the sea, we need to learn about all those things.  T/E
(pg 260 ln 15)

[Exercises are broadcast on the radio all the time].
(pg 260 ln 18)

[Hon members did mention that at times while you are asleep you find that water has filled your house].
(pg 260 ln 19)

[We should stand by our words that a small donation is necessary to help these people find a shelter]
(pg 260 ln 23)

[Houses have been washed away.  I thank you Mr Speaker].
(pg 260 ln 24)

[continue we do hear]
(pg 260 ln 31)



