QUESTION: On the outcomes of the recent International AIDS Conference held in Durban in July 2016,
REPLY BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT:
Honourable Members,
Delegates to the 21st International AIDS Conference adopted a declaration that focused on key scientific advances in the fight against HIV and identified key structural barriers to their effective implementation,
The declaration calls for:
, access to antiretroviral therapy for all people living with HIV;
, scaling up of modern combination HIV prevention packages, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis and medical male circumcision;
, treatment and management of co-infections such as TB;
, accelerated research for an HIV vaccine and cure,
In addressing the structural barriers to a more effective response, many of which affect South Africa, the conference declared that it was necessary to:
, focus on key populations which are disproportionately affected by HIV;
, empower adolescent girls and young women;
, challenge laws, policies and practices that discriminate against people living with HIV; and,
, increase investment in community-led responses,
The South African government was able to inform the conference that as of today – the 1st of September 2016 – South Africa will provide antiretroviral treatment to all those who test HIV positive regardless of their CD4 count,
Honourable Members, today marks a new era in our fight to end AIDS,
The new treatment guidelines will further broaden access and ensure that the rights of those affected are advanced,
Already, South Africa has initiated over 3,4 million on antiretroviral treatment,
In addition, almost 100% of pregnant women with HIV are offered treatment to reduce transmission in pregnancy, during childbirth and in the breastfeeding period,
In addition to the general population, special efforts are being made to reach those key populations most severely affected by HIV,
In March this year I launched a special programme that will reach 70,000 sex workers over the next three years,
Similar programmes are being planned for the LGBTI community and there is high coverage for prison inmates through the Department of Correctional Services,
The Department of Social Development is working with SANAC to address the special needs of drug users for HIV prevention and treatment,
South Africa operates its HIV response within a stringent human rights framework,
This begins with confidentiality and privacy and extends through to the rights of people living with HIV to access all services in the public and private sectors,
It includes fair access to medical and life insurance and the right to employment and fair and equal treatment in the workplace,
As Honourable Members are aware, the success of our AIDS response is guided by the targets set in the National Strategic Plan for HIV, STIs and TB 2012-2016,
As we engage in the process of drafting the new NSP, we are calling on all members of the public, NGOs and social partners to participate by making written submissions to the SANAC secretariat or the provincial departments of health,
This public participation process will make sure that the country adopts a well-balance plan informed by the aspirations and experiences of our people,
I hope that all Members of Parliament will, through their constituency offices, encourage members of the public to debate the finalisation of the National Strategic Plan through their various formations by commenting on the draft NSP,
I thank you,
QUESTION: On the establishment of the proposed co-investment fund to assist start-up business,
REPLY BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT:
Honourable Members,
As part of government, business and labour interactions, President Jacob Zuma announced on 9 May 2016, a number of short term interventions aimed at boosting economic growth and confidence in our economy,
One of these measures was the establishment, by the private sector, of a joint fund to support small businesses,
Progress with these initiatives is well-advanced: a board is in place, a chief executive has been appointed and the fund will soon open for business soon,
While the establishment of the fund is an initiative of the private sector, there are a wide range of complementary initiatives of government aimed at boosting job creation,
These include public employment programmes, the Jobs Fund, programmes of the Industrial Policy Action Plan, partnership with organised agriculture and rural development initiatives,
Understanding that most job creation takes place in the small and informal business sector, government is directing significant resources and effort towards SMME development,
Through initiatives like the Black Business Supplier Development Programme, the Cooperative Incentive Scheme and the Shared Economic Infrastructure Facility, government is providing financial and other direct support to emerging businesses,
The National Gazelles initiative is taking an innovative approach to small business development by identifying high growth businesses,
Selected businesses will be supported with an integrated package of benefits, business opportunities and incentives, combined with practical business training with strong private sector involvement,
We are also using the business incubation model to assist start-up businesses during the critical first few years of their existence so that they can become profitable and sustainable,
These remain high priority programmes of government and are contributing substantially to job creation,
We are also working actively with business, organised labour and other stakeholders to address economic growth challenges and find more effective mechanisms for creating jobs,
Other initiatives led by the Minister of Finance and Mr Jabu Mabuza from business include:
, joint road shows by government, business and labour to explain South Africa’s economic growth programme to rating agencies and the international investor community;
, measures to avert sovereign credit rating which covers areas of policy that require urgent resolution;
, exploration of co-investment options in infrastructure;
, stabilisation and reform of state-owned companies;
, recommendations for interventions in various sectors of the economy, including manufacturing, tourism, agriculture, education, and health; andthe establishment of a work stream to boost youth employment,
Significant and tangible progress has been made in all these areas,
The relevant Ministers will soon be able to provide updates on the implementation of this work,
I thank you,
QUESTION: On the Nelson Mandela International Day
REPLY BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT:
Honourable Members,
Nearly seven years have passed since the United Nations General Assembly declared 18 July “Nelson Mandela International Day” in recognition of our founding President’s contribution to the culture of peace and freedom,
It is worth recalling what Madiba himself said at the time, He said:
“We are humbled by the decision of the United Nations to recognise 18 July as Nelson Mandela International Day,
“It is our wish that the day be used not to honor an individual, but rather to remember the millions who have contributed to the struggle for freedom throughout the world,
“The best way to commemorate these struggles is for people everywhere to work with and within communities to make this a better world,”
This is a day for active service, in which South Africans join others across the world to perform acts of goodwill and sharing in support of people who are vulnerable or marginalised,
This year, South Africans rolled up their sleeves and became involved in a range of projects from entertaining senior citizens to painting facilities such as early childhood centres or planting food gardens,
These activities enable participants to broaden their human experience and social conscience,
As South Africa, we were particularly honoured to host the 21st International AIDS Conference in Durban on 18 July, coinciding with Nelson Mandela International Day, The International AIDS Society consciously chose 18 July 2016 for the Conference as a mark of honour and respect for our international icon,
The conference paid various tributes to President Mandela’s contribution to the national and global campaigns for prevention, treatment and the elimination of stigma,
Nelson Mandela International Day encourages the development of caring, compassionate, helpful, empathetic and ethical communities,
The values that underpin Nelson Mandela Day should form the foundation of the society we are working to build,
In this regard, we wish to commend the young girls who in the last week of Women’s Month rose against an injustice which undermines their identity and cultural rights, I am speaking here of the learners of Pretoria Girls High School, Lawson Brown High School in Port Elizabeth and other institutions of learning,
If the country is to truly honour the legacy of Nelson Mandela we must eradicate all forms of cultural chauvinism, be it black or white,
We need to make every day a Nelson Mandela Day,
I thank you,
QUESTION: On bilateral relations between South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho
REPLY BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT:
Honourable Members,
My engagements with the government and other formations in the Kingdom of Lesotho in my capacity as SADC Facilitator have been limited to the regional mandate of promoting political and security stabilisation,
I have not had discussions on matters pertaining to issues that impact on the bilateral relations between the South African government and the Government of Lesotho, as my role is that of a SADC Facilitator,
Matters pertaining to bilateral relations between South Africa and Lesotho are dealt with by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation under the umbrella of the Joint Bilateral Commission of Cooperation,
The South African Police Service, South African National Defence Force and Department of Home Affairs are involved in mutual efforts to deal with cross border crime which affects citizens in both countries,
Continued political and security instability in Lesotho has a negative impact on both our economies and it is therefore in the interests of South Africa that a lasting solution be found to the challenges in Lesotho,
I thank you,
QUESTION: On Government’s plans to achieve the objectives of the National Development Plan Vision 2030
REPLY BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT:
Honourable Members,
Government’s education and job creation programmes for addressing the challenges highlighted in the 2016 Community Survey Report are anchored in the National Development Plan and the Medium-Term Strategic Framework,
The three key levers for implementing the NDP 2030 are enhancing economic growth, enhancing the capabilities of South Africans and developing a capable developmental state and an active citizenry,
With respect to education, our matriculation pass rate has improved from 58% in 1994 to 71% in 2015,
To improve access and equity, around 70% of learners are in no fee schools,
To further enhance the quality of our educational outcomes, we are working to improve teacher development and track its effectiveness; reduce the drop-out rate in the FET phase; use technology to improve teaching; and improve oversight and support to schools by education districts,
Access to higher education and training opportunities for young South Africans almost doubled between 1994 and 2014,
Over a million students are currently enrolled in higher education institutions,
Government is building on this progress by creating greater access to quality post-school education and training through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme and monitoring changes in university fee-structure,
We are revising the policy governing the disbursement of skills levy to support the post-school training and education system more effectively,
We are strengthening the role of TVET colleges in providing theoretical training for artisans, and ensuring that key government departments continue to work with business to ensure the transition of qualifying students into the labour market,
Job creation is intricately linked to economic growth, which is driven by diverse factors, including availability of a skilled and capable workforce, labour stability and investor confidence,
Government is making important progress in the implementation of the Nine Point Plan to turn around the economy and increase employment,
Government continues to focus its incentive programmes and other support mechanisms on labour-intensive sectors, such as clothing, textiles, leather and footwear value-chain, agro-processing and business process services,
The Inter Ministerial Committee on Investment, chaired by President Jacob Zuma, is coordinating 40 priority investment projects, covering areas like agro-processing, energy and infrastructure, manufacturing and services,
These projects are expected to have significant economic impact,
The other important thing is that they can be implemented in a short space of time and will able to crowd-in further investment and community benefits,
Government is working with business and labour on a number of measures to grow the economy, create jobs especially for young people and improve investor confidence,
These include the exploration of co-investment by the public and private sectors in infrastructure, stabilisation and reform of state-owned companies, interventions in sectors of the economy like manufacturing, tourism, agriculture, education and health, and innovative measures to boost youth employment,
Date:
Thursday, September 1, 2016 - 00:00
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