ACDP Parliamentary newsletter - 31 October 2003
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In this issue:
1. Back the bid, says ACDP
2. Strict trucking control needed to prevent deaths
3. Call for submission on Land Rights Bill
4. Local government intervention in Mpumalanga necessary
5. ACDP Limpopo celebrates tenth anniversary
6. Clamp down on dagga production
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1. Back the bid, says ACDP
The African Christian Democratic Party has thrown its support behind South Africa's bid to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup and has called on South Africans to show their support for a tournament that will provide a positive injection of revenue into the economy and boost employment
"We call on South Africans to support the 2010 Soccer World Cup bid because winning the right to host such a tournament will have many benefits for industries and the economy of South Africa," ACDP leader Reverend Kenneth Meshoe said.
"Jobs will be created through the building and renovation of infrastructure, including new stadiums, and local industries will receive a boost as they cater for the millions of visitors coming into the country.
"Hosting this event will put South Africa on the international map, and many who do not know about South Africa and Africa's ability to host world-class events will see our capabilities," Rev Meshoe said.
Rev Meshoe called on all soccer lovers in Gauteng to attend the showcase match between Kaizer Chiefs and Ajax Cape Town to impress the Fifa technical inspection team that will be attending.
"This match will create an impression, positive or negative, and we encourage soccer lovers to go to the match in large numbers to strengthen our bid.
"We also call on the police to ensure that they are visible and make sure that the event is crime-free, so that Morocco, which claims that South Africa is dangerous because of crime, does not have leg to stand on. The police need to make a special effort to protect the delegation to ensure that they do not experience anything negative," Rev Meshoe said.
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2. Strict trucking control needed to prevent deaths
The ACDP has expressed its sympathies to the family and friends of those killed in the horrific accidents over the weekend, when truck and minibus taxi collided on the N2 near Pongola and another where a truck collided with vehicles and pedestrians in Mount Frere.
"We offer our sincerest condolences to these families and pray that God will comfort them in their time of mourning," said ACDP leader Reverend Kenneth Meshoe.
"We are very concerned about the high number of deaths recently caused by road accidents involving trucks and we believe these are partly caused by a lack of control over the trucking industry.
"Over 44 people have lost their lives in truck accidents this month alone, and as long as the current state of affairs in the transport industry continues, many more innocent lives will be lost on the roads," he said.
"The ACDP strongly objects to a reported suggestion by the road freighting industry to increase the speed limit for heavy trucks from 80km/h to 100km/h. This proposal should not even be considered at a time when so many innocent people are losing their lives on the roads because of careless drivers, drivers suffering from fatigue and unroadworthy trucks.
"South Africa has the world's largest heavy road vehicles yet trucking companies still overload vehicles because they know they will get away with it as there is not enough policing and punishment of offenders.
"The ACDP would like to see frequent testing for public transport drivers, such as bus and mini-bus drivers as well as truck drivers in order to ensure the maximum protection of commuters," Rev Meshoe said.
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4. Call for submission on Land Rights Bill
Parliament's portfolio committee on agriculture and land affairs have invited the public to make written submissions on the Communal Land Rights Bill.
One of the main objectives of the draft legislation, approved by Cabinet earlier this month, is to provide those living on communal land with greater security of tenure.
It also aims to provide protection against arbitrary deprivation of land tenure rights.
The measure has been widely criticised by traditional leaders, who last year warned of possible bloodshed if the legislation was approved.
Committee chairman Neo Masithela said interested individuals and organisations should make their submissions before November 10.
Public hearings on the bill will be held from November 11 to 14.
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4. Local government intervention in Mpumalanga necessary
The African Christian Democratic Party has welcomed action taken by the provincial executive in Mpumalanga, placing the Ermelo municipality and five other municipalities in the southern Mpumalanga region under administration.
The ACDP has consistently called for an investigation into charges concerning the Msukaligwa municipality in Ermelo, regarding misuse of council vehicles, irregularities in the awarding of tenders and questionable employment polices.
"The ACDP welcomes the announcement by Mpumalanga Provincial Government MEC Mohamed Bhaba that action will be taken to solve this matter, despite later statements by Bhaba, playing down the province's intervention. The promised intervention in the areas of finance, administration and placement of staff within the council is long overdue and we hope that the provincial government is committed to dealing with any corruption, so as to increase effective and efficient local government," said ACDP MP Mrs Cheryllyn Dudley.
"While the ACDP supports the devolution of power and is convinced that the most effective form of government is government close to the people, this misadministration is unacceptable and drastic measures are necessary to avert further crises," Mrs Dudley.
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5. ACDP Limpopo celebrates tenth anniversary
Afriacn Christian Democratic Party leader Reverend Kenneth Meshoe will address the ACDP Limpopo at a gathering to celebrate the party's tenth anniversary on 1 November 2003. New ACDP provincial party leader Dr Moses Nyamazana Shipalana, who will also represent the ACDP in the Limpopo Legislature until next year's 2004 election, will be inaugurated at the meeting. The national anniversary celebrations will take place later from 11 -13 December in Pretoria.
Details of celebration:
Date: 1 November 2003
Time: 14h00
Venue: Jack Botes Hall
Church Street
POLOKWANE
For further information, please contact:
ACDP Provincial Executive Chairman: Rev. Modiba Sedibane on 082 785 0313
ACDP National Media Director: Rev. Selby Khumalo on 082 476 4990
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6. Clamp down on dagga production
According to reports quoted in the Weekend Sunday Argus (26 October), South Africa is the world's largest dagga producer in the world with major export markets is continental Europe, the UK, Ireland and the East and is the largest exporter of cannabis within Southern Africa.
Based on the latest scientific evidence about the effects of cannabis on the individual and society as a whole, it is a curious contradiction for government to clamp down so drastically on cigarette smoking while posturing in terms of decriminalising the smoking of dagga, says ACDP MP Cheryllyn Dudley.
Evidence presented by Doctors for Life in the Constitutional Court in January 2002, showed that one joint of cannabis is the equivalent of four tobacco cigarettes in terms of the amount of tar, five tobacco cigarettes in terms of the amount of carbon monoxide produced, 10 tobacco cigarettes in respect to the amount of damage to the airways and cannabis smokers have a 9-1O times higher risk of developing lung cancer.
On a social level, studies have shown that 50% of accidents in the work place are drug related. After smoking one joint of dagga, the driver of a goods train in the USA went through three safety signals crashing into a passenger train killing 16 people and injuring 270. Economically it has been demonstrated that the proportion of those unable to work, of people on pension as well as the burden of prisoners on the taxpayer are much higher among drug addicts than among the general population. Theft at work and medical benefit claims are tripled by drug abuse. Studies in some countries have found that employees who tested positive to illegal drugs were 43% more absent from work than the rest.
High-profile dagga busts give the impression that the government is tough on drugs. This is contradictory as authorities generally turn a blind eye to the growing and selling of dagga in rural areas, knowing it is an easy income for many, Mrs Dudley says. While one understands the plight of communities that rely on income from cannabis, it is surely futile to expect drug trafficking and use to decrease when dagga growing is condoned, if not encouraged.
"Communities will need incentives to diversify and stop growing the dagga, which encourages apathy within communities. Allowing unfettered production of dagga to continue encourages disregard for the law, making the progression from dagga trafficking to the trafficking of harder drugs an easy option," Mrs Dudley said.
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