Honourable Speaker/Deputy Speaker
Members of the Executive
Honourable Members
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
The important task of this Parliament is to continue with the powerful legacy that Tata Madiba and Mama Sisulu has entrusted to us of creating a just and fair society for all. Our work as representatives of the people must reflect and stay true to Tata Madiba’s legacy, including his unwavering commitment to progressive internationalism, justice, equality and a non-racial World.
In 2002, Madiba made one of the most profound statements:
‘What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead’.
It is in this spirit that Parliament’s participation in international relations continues to consolidate and strengthen our vision of creating a better South Africa in a Better Africa and Just World.
We will in this House agree that these leaders set the foundation for us to build a new society out of the ashes of the past apartheid regime, that was isolated by the world and declared a crime against humanity.
As we move forward to the Sixth Parliament, we need to build on this momentum and pursue efforts of previous Parliaments of prioritising our aspirations and values as enshrined in the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030.
As participants in the global arena, we participated in different platforms that enables us to influence and advance our national interests. At the IPU Assembly held in March 2018, we used our allocated votes to support the adoption of the resolution on:
“The consequences of the US declaration on Jerusalem and the rights of the Palestinian people in Jerusalem in the light of the UN Charter and resolution”.
This resolution, amongst others, calls upon all parliaments to urge their governments to recognise the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital and for the absolute rejection of the recent US Administration’s decision regarding Jerusalem and considers it null and void. This resolution Members is in line with Resolution 2334 adopted by the Security Council in December 2016. Honorable Members the 54th Conference of the ANC took a resolution that the South African Embassy in Israel be downgraded from an Embassy to a Liaison Office. In the spirit of these Resolutions, this Parliament should support our Governments withdrawal of our Ambassador in Israel.
On 7 March, the Israeli Parliament passed a law allowing the Interior Minister to revoke the residency rights of Palestinians living in Jerusalem on very vague grounds of “breach of loyalty to Tel Aviv”. This law Hon Members is the same as the Group Areas Act that was passed in our homelands and in District 6 here in the Western Cape is an example of these atrocities.
Theresa May told the British Parliament that Britain would not recognize Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem, but failed to condemn Trump’s position. As a dedication to the late Tata Madiba and Mama Sisulu let us through the adoption of a resolution in this House ensure that our suffering under the apartheid regime does not continue with the People of Palestine.
During the Apartheid years in this country – children were murdered, activists disappeared into thin air. People were displaced and forced to live under the Group Areas Act. Fertile land, either agriculture or minerals was stolen.
There is no difference. Israel is an apartheid state and should be treated as such.
At the 42nd SADC-PF Plenary Assembly in Namibia in November/December 2017, we tabled the motion Condemning the Reported Slave Trade in Libya. This motion demanded decisive action from the AU as well as its respective Regional Economic Communities. We will continue as the South African Parliament to lobby for SADC to become a full legislative body to ensure development in:
Infrastructure
Sanitation
Child marriages
Water
Land
Madam Speaker, The PAP has just elected the new Bureau. It is our commitment that the PAP must be a beacon of good practice and good governance. And, by so saying we will work hard that the principle of rotation be adhered to and respected. As Parliament, we remain concerned about the recent media reports on the governance of PAP, including the re-election of the PAP President. It is in no one’s interest to compromise the hard work that was done to bringing the PAP to its current standing. We call on all parliaments of the continent to defend the good work of the PAP and confront any behaviour that works against the development of the continental body. We urge the 6th Parliament to play a critical role in ensuring that all matters related to the wellbeing of the PAP constitute a strategic responsibility of this parliament. We will also ensure that PAP becomes a Legislative body and we implore our government to move towards finalizing the host agreement with the African Union. We congratulate the South African delegation led by the Chair of the NCOP, to allow the raising of the South African position so sharply.
Madam Speaker, We are active in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association as both Members of Parliament and the administrative leadership of Parliament. South Africa continues to champion the cause to change the status of the CPA from a Charity organisation to an International body that will meet its diplomatic responsibilities.
Honourable Members – The Freedom Charter, states “there shall be peace and friendship”. We have received numerous requests for the establishment of friendship groups and we will be prioritizing the countries that stood in solidarity with us in our struggle for freedom from our colonizers who promoted oppressive systems in our African countries. We will continue to raise the plight of the Sub-Saharan people, believing that Morocco’s readmission to the African Union will make them listen to the voice of the people around the rights of the Sahrawi people.
Parliament has started to cover its delegations activities in international forums. We will continue to engage the Public Broadcaster to take an interest in the activities of Parliament and its international work. This will allow the people an insight into the international activities of their elected representatives. We will also use mini plenaries to debate decisions and recommendations emanating from our international engagements. This in line with the ANC resolution calling for all elected representatives to communicate international engagements with the public.
Madam Speaker, we need to strengthen our representation of Women in our international engagements, in line with the 50 percent target for women representation in all areas of decision making as enshrined in the SADC protocol on Gender and Development of 2008. Honorable Members, it must be said that women’s representation in Parliament dropped from 43,3 percent in the 2009 elections to 41 percent in the 7 May 2014 polls, while that of women in provincial legislatures dropped from 41 percent to 37 percent. In addition, we have been called by the IPU to increase young parliamentarians’ participation at the IPU and other regional assemblies.
Here, I would like to make an appeal to all Chief Whips of political parties to heed these calls for 50/50 women and 25 percent youth representation in all international delegations.
Members, our international engagements continue to operate within the framework of cost cutting measures as echoed during the 2016 Budget Speech. However, these austerity measures coupled with inadequate resources that Parliament receives from the National Treasury have the potential of undermining our international efforts.
The reason why I am raising this debate today Honorable Members is that if this Parliament does not rise to the occasion and assert its authority as a separate arm of the State, it will would have failed in its constitutional mandate.
In conclusion, I would like to thank Parliament led by the Speaker – nqwetsi ya Basotho, mme o re belege ka lerato for taking the work of international relations to heart by ensuring that the International Relations and Protocol Division functions optimally. To the administration, I just want to thank the staff in all divisions of the Speaker’s Office for their dedication and passion in executing their duties and let me not forget to thank the Office of the Acting Secretary to Parliament, who continues consulting with the staff. Thank you Sesi Baby – Mmangwana O tshwara Thipa ka bogale!
The ANC supports this budget vote.
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