Adjunkminister waarsku teen nasionalisering

Die adjunkminister van Internasionale Betrekkinge, Marius Fransman, het 'n beroep op die land se jeug gedoen om vaardighede te bekom om produktief te raak, omdat nasionalisering nie hulle ekonomiese probleme gaan oplos nie.

Fransman het gisteraand (11 April) in Khayelitsha en Mitchell's Plain skoolbeheerligame toegespreek. Hy het die sowat drie-miljoen werklose jeugdiges tussen 16- en 24-jaar gemaan om nie die waarde van vaardighede te onderskat nie. Fransman sê jongmense moenie dink hulle hoef nie werk of vaardighede te hê nie. Die land het 'n produktiewe gemeenskap nodig en daarvoor is vaardighede noodsaaklik.

Hy het gesê een of ander beleid soos nasionalisering sal nie hul probleme oplos nie.

ANC MP helps herself

Metro, 12 March 2012

An ANC MP helped herself to a bag full of cold drinks and a plate of sandwiches after a portfolio committee meeting in Parliament, according to a report on Friday.

ANC MP and joint defence committee member Pamela Daniels raised her hands in the air and shouted: “I’m crazy about democracy!” after a meeting of the committee was adjourned on Thursday, the Witness reported.

Daniels then took out a plastic shopping bag and started filling it with Appletiser and Grapetiser drinks provided for the committee.

According to the report, Daniels continued shouting “democracy by the people, for the people,” as she filled the plastic bag.

The drinks and bottled water are provided by Parliament for every committee meeting.

Daniels also piled a parliamentary plate high with sandwiches, and wrapped it in plastic that she had brought with her.

“Now lunch is sorted,” she was quoted as saying.

Daniels told the newspaper that the food and drinks had been paid for, so she should be able to take it.

“If the committee meeting is over and the stuff is lying there, why should I leave it?” she was quoted as saying.

When democracy gets in the way of power

Sunday Times Editorial, 19 February 2012

THE dogs of populism are barking at the doors of freedom. The bark is getting louder and the pack is growing. Parliament is gathering ammunition before it finally hammers the first nail into the coffin of press freedom in the form of the Protection of State Information Bill.

Much has been said about this piece of legislation. Most recently, Planning Minister Trevor Manuel observed that South Africa, like any other country, needed to protect its official secrets and this was what the bill set out to do.

No one disagrees with this objective. What is troubling is the absence of protection for those who reveal such information when it is manifestly in the public interest. Click here to read more.

Minister offers insight into 'weighty' politicians

PE Herald, 17 February 2012

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi offered insight on Friday (17/02/2012) into why many politicians suffer the curse of bulging stomachs and widening waist lines.

"The problem as a public representative is that there is food everywhere,” he said during a human development cluster briefing in Parliament.

"There is always an availability of food. That is the danger of this profession. That is the nature of this job.” Click here to read more.

Infrastructure is only one part of the job-creation puzzle

Helen Zille, Leader of the Democratic Alliance
13 February 2012

President Jacob Zuma's fourth State of the Nation speech last week shows that, at last, the ANC government is coming to terms with the role of the state in facilitating job-creating economic growth.

There is a growing consensus in the centre of SA politics that sustainable job-creating growth is driven by the private sector, especially small, medium and micro enterprises. The job of the state is to create an environment that will attract and retain investment, entrepreneurship and skills.

In a globalised economy, the state must ensure that the conditions exist for SA businesses to be internationally competitive. A key component of this is the provision of excellent infrastructure, including water, energy, technology, transport and roads, sewage systems etc. It is one of the key roles of the state to lead in the development of infrastructure that creates a platform for growth.

We welcome the fact that the President focused on this aspect of the state's role in increasing South Africa's competitiveness. Without this we cannot attract investment, grow the economy and create jobs.

But infrastructure is only one aspect of the state's role in increasing a country's economic competitiveness.

There are many other roles the state must play, and this is where the President's speech fell short last week. Click here to read more. 

Breaking news: SIU head Willem Heath quits

News24
2011-12-15 17:06

Johannesburg - Newly appointed special investigating unit head Willem Heath has resigned from his post, Eyewitness News reported on Thursday.

EWN said this had been confirmed by the justice ministry.

Heath was appointed to the position by President Jacob Zuma just two weeks ago.

A storm erupted around Heath's head after he told City Press in a wide-ranging interview that he believed former president Thabo Mbeki had initiated rape and corruption charges against Zuma.

National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Secrecy Bill Committee must produce a public participation plan

The following is an extract from a statement issued by Alf Lees, DA Member of the NCOP for Finance, on 7 December 2011:

“This morning the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Ad Hoc Committee on the Protection of State Information Bill met to elect its chairperson.

I will today submit a letter to the newly elected chairperson of the Committee, Mr Raseriti Tau, to request that the Committee produce a detailed public participation plan in terms of NCOP Rule 103(1).

This rule empowers the Committee to conduct public hearings and receive testimony from the public.

We are committed to engaging on the bill in the NCOP to ensure that it is brought in line with our Constitution and the values of an open, transparent and democratic society.

During the deliberations on the bill in the NCOP, the DA will push for the inclusion of a series of amendments, including:

• A public interest defence;
• A strengthened public interest override;
• A sufficiently limited definition of “national security”; and
• A review of sections pertaining to almost all offences (such as the possession and disclosure of classified information).

The Protection of State Information Bill has been met with widespread condemnation, and the ANC’s determination to push the bill through Parliament has seen the people of South Africa largely excluded from making their voices heard on this piece of repressive legislation. The bill has also undergone substantial amendments in the National Assembly without adequate public consultation.

The same must not be allowed to happen in the NCOP.”

Ontwikkeling by Jeffreysbaai kry 'n hupstoot

Anri Hendriks
Die Burger, 3 Desember 2011

Jeffreysbaai en omgewing kan lag-lag die derde groot nywerheidsone in die Oos-Kaap word, en daarom is ontwikkelings soos die Crossways Farm Village uiters belangrik.

Dit het mnr. Gugile Nkwinti, minister van landelike ontwikkeling en grondhervorming gister gesê by die bekendstelling van die bouwerkfases van die 'dorp' by Thornhill, naby Jeffreysbaai.

Die uiteindelike ontwikkeling [van Crossways Village Farm] sal uit 747 wooneenhede bestaan, sowel as 'n landbou-deel met 'n suiwelplaas en 'n opleidingsentrum.
Berig verkort.

Dié wet gaan min doen vir taal

Hoofartikel
Die Burger, 9 November 2011

’n Herhalende kenmerk van die ANC is dat hy vol mooi woorde en voornemens is. Maar wanneer dit kom by die dóén, die praktiese uitvoer van die pragtige planne, val hy maar te dikwels platter as ’n sleg gebakte pannekoek.

Dit geld ook vir die nasionale taalwets­ontwerp, wat pas opgestel is nadat die ANC al jare lank voete sleep en sy arm uiteindelik tot in die konstitusionele hof gedraai moes word om dit te doen. Dít ondanks die feit dat die Grondwet dit vereis.

Die wetsontwerp stel helaas teleur. Dis al weer vol mooi woorde en ideale, maar bete­ken nie veel in die praktyk nie.

Daar is veral twee besware.

Ten eerste is die dokument flouerig as dit kom by die bevordering van meertaligheid, en Afrikaans en ander inheemse tale hoef nie veel daarvan te verwag nie. Nie dat ’n mens anders vermoed het nie, want die ANC voel nou eenmaal nie veel vir Suid-Afrikaners se inheemse tale nie.

Tweedens bevat die wetsontwerp geen tande nie; geen meganisme om selfs die flou meertaligheidselemente af te dwing nie. Pansat, synde die beste instrument om meertaligheid te hanteer, bly ’n wanbestuurde en tandelose bulhond wat deesdae nie eers meer ’n hees blaf kan gee nie.

Nee, as mense wat glo in die behoud van inheemse tale – Afrikaanssprekendes van alle rasse inkluis – hul tale wil bewaar en uitbou, moet hulle helaas nie op die ANC staatmaak nie. Hulle sal dit self moet doen.

Kouga’s Elza van Lingen appointed DA leader in NCOP

Following Lindiwe Mazibuko’s recent election as the parliamentary leader of the DA, Kouga DA MP Elza van Lingen was appointed as the leader of the DA in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).

The NCOP is the upper house of the Parliament of South Africa which came into effect in 1997. It replaced the former Senate, but is very similar to that body. Its purpose is to represent the governments of the provinces.

The DA makes up 13 of the 90 members of the NCOP.

Van Lingen grew up in Willowmore. After marrying Middelburg sheep farmer, Michael, she took care of some farming activities. The couple have four children.

Since she and her husband moved to Cape St Francis to "retire" they have been running a guest house. It is also in this time that Van Lingen became involved in local politics.

She soon moved up the ranks and was elected as a Cacadu District municipal councillor in 2002, heading several internal party and organisational committees.

Since May 2009 Van Lingen has been a DA Member of Parliament as permanent delegate for the Eastern Cape in the National Council of Provinces.

Sources

Die Burger, 28 October 2011

DA website

Wikipedia

’Lê eed af dat jy nie sal steel nie’

Alicestine October

DIE BURGER, 26 Oktober 2011

Amptenare wat met miljarde rande se maatskaplike toelaes werk, behoort ’n eed af te lê dat hulle nie van armes sal steel nie, het die adjunkminister van maatskaplike ontwikkeling gister voorgestel. Lees verder ...

Hou aan om trom te slaan

Hoofartikel in BEELD
24 Oktober 2010

As verbruikers en belangegroepe ’n sterk saak het en saamstaan, kan hulle onbekookte voorstelle van die regering omkeer [munisipaliteite s'n óók, sê The Courier - Die Koerier].

Dis die bemoedigende [onderliggende] boodskap nadat mnr. S’bu Ndebele, minister van vervoer, die naweek aangekondig het dat besluite oor tolgeld landwyd tot Februarie uitgestel sal word.  Lees verder ...

Taxpayers money falls through the cracks

Antoinette Slabbert

fin24, Oct 16 2011

The Auditor-General (AG) and National Treasury clearly keep records of municipal financial affairs, but decline to say how much wasted money is recovered from those responsible - that while municipal regulations enforce recovery.

It would seem that neglect to do so is shrugged off.

In its recent report on municipal finances from 2006/07 to 2012/13 Treasury clearly set out how city councils should handle unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasted expenditure.

Unauthorised spending may be permitted under certain circumstances. Irregular, fruitless and wasted costs may under no circumstances be sanctioned.

Unauthorised spending that is not subsequently sanctioned, as well as irregular, fruitless and wasted expenditure must be recovered from those responsible unless, after an investigation by a council committee, the council should declare it irrecoverable.

In practice this means the following: in the 2009/10 financial year, for instance, municipalities spent R5bn without authorisation. Only R1.1bn was authorised or written off.

A total of R4.14bn was irregularly spent, R77m of which was written off.

There was a total R189m fruitless and wasted expenditure, only R1m of which was written off.

Municipalities should therefore have recovered the balance - more than R8bn - from the responsible parties. This equals about a quarter of the cost of the Gautrain project.

Enquiry has revealed that Treasury has no record of this R8bn being recovered. Read more ...

Paleisgeheime van die premier is pateties

Willem Pretorius
DIE BURGER, 12 Oktober 2011

Patriotiese burgers van hier­die pragtige land wat nog redes soek om vir die val van die regering te bid, moet kennis neem van die jongste poging om die omvang van die soustrein geheim te hou.

As enigiemand nog gewonder het waarom die Wetsontwerp op die Beskerming van Inligting niks anders as ’n rookskerm is om nog van die belastingbetaler se geld te steel nie, sal hierdie nuus miskien die oogklappe ook lig.

Konserwatief bereken het die Gautengse premier, me. Nomvula Mokonyane, se huis die belastingbetaler sedert 2004 al R25 miljoen gekos.

Die veranderings aan die huis – wat nie noodwendig verbeterings was nie – het volgens berigte meer as die huis gekos. Tog weier die staat om dit bekend te maak omdat dit “haar veiligheid sal bedreig”. Lees verder ...

Census 2011

What is a Population Census?
A population census is a total count of the country's population, where demographic, social and economic information, as well as information about the housing conditions of the people who live in the country, is gathered.

Why Do We Need a Population Census?
A population census is needed in order to assist government in planning, decision-making, monitoring and evaluation of programmes and policies. The data collected includes information regarding access to facilities, services, housing and living conditions.

What are the Benefits of a National Population Census?
Information collected will assist government and the private sector in their planning for education, health care, transport and other public programmes.

Wat sê raadslid Henda Thiart daarvan?

Ons inwoners moet nie negatief staan teenoor die sensus opname nie. Die sensus word gebruik in die toekenning van verskillende regeringsfondse aan 'n munisipaliteit om sy begroting aan te vul. Hoe meer akuraat die opname in getalle van hulpbehoewend asook meer gegoede inwoners hoe beter kan fondse toegewys word.

Wanneer vind dit plaas?

Tussen 10 en 31 Oktober 2011

Nog iets?

Klik hier om meer oor Sensus 2011 te lees

SA moet bloos oor visum-blaps

Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering se hardkoppigheid oor ’n visum aan die Dalai Lama is kleinlik en ondergrawe die waardes waarop die jong demokrasie gebou is.

Watter gevaar sou ’n besoek van die 76-jarige geestelike leier van Tibet aan sy vriend en mede-Nobelpryswenner emeritus-aartsbiskop Desmond Tutu inhou? Wat is die risiko as die twee saam die 80 kerse op Tutu se verjaarsdagkoek aansteek as die Dalai Lama nie eens meer Tibet se leier in ballingskap is nie?

Tog sien die regering sy weg oop om vuige diktators soos pres. Robert Mugabe en Jean-Bertrand Aristide met ope arms te ontvang.

Pres. Barack Obama het dieselfde les geleer toe hy die eerste Amerikaanse president in Oktober 2009 geword het wat nie die Dalai Lama in die Withuis wou ontvang nie.

Waarom het Obama dan in Julie vanjaar besluit om dié geestelike leier wel te ontvang? Hy het besef die ekonomiese voordele weeg nie op teen die verwatering van die kernwaardes in die Amerikaanse grondwet nie. Hy het besef dat China op die verwatering van nog menseregte sal aandring as hy sien hoe maklik regerings onder druk swig.

Met die gesloer met ’n visum vir die Dalai Lama het die Suid-Afrikaanse regering gewys hy het weinig begrip vir die grondbeginsels van vryheid van assosiasie en spraakvryheid in die Grondwet .

Selfs lojale ANC-lede sal vandag met reg vra hoe die regering se optrede dan strook met die waardes wat die ANC in die bevrydingstryd aangehang het.
 

- Die Burger