Chairperson, I am not sure what gremlins have crept into this system, but Ms Meruti will be tabling the reports on behalf of the portfolio committee. From our side, we did inform the Table earlier on.
Hon Chairperson, hon members, the portfolio committee hereby tables five reports relating to its oversight functions this year. We also table another report of the portfolio committee regarding a visit to China and Vietnam, which was undertaken on 5 August 2007, when I was not yet a member of the committee.
This report makes for fascinating reading. It states that in China, for instance, there are 159 national state-owned enterprises with 12 trillion yuan in assets and ten million employees. In China the state-owned enterprises are seen as champions of the economy and this is an attitude that we need to develop in our country, South Africa.
The committee visited some of the following public enterprises during the year. Firstly, we visited the South African Forestry Company Ltd, Safcol, in Mpumalanga. We note in the report the tremendous opportunity that the forestry industry provides for job creation and related industry development, not to mention the positive contribution forestation can make towards reversing some of the devastation caused by global warming and climate change. The quest for clean and sustainable energy has in our epoch reached urgent proportions.
In this regard, South Africa's efforts to produce fourth generation nuclear technology that can be safe, efficient and cost-effective, is recognised even by our competitors in China. It has generated much interest internationally. Having specifically sought to understand more, and being concerned about the matter of nuclear safety, the Committee on Public Enterprises took lectures on the fundamentals of nuclear physics from a nuclear scientist. Today we can adequately converse on matters such as nuclear fusion versus nuclear fission, uranium and enriched uranium.
Alexkor is an entity whose history is entwined with the Richtersveld community in the far northwest regions of the Northern Cape. The proper implementation of the settlement agreement between government and the Richtersveld community has given us, as a nation, the ability to make a fresh start. This complex agreement will not be without problems but, should all parties stay the course, a fresh history for the region and people may be written.
With regard to the meeting with the SAA, the entity was able, in a very trying economic climate, to avoid the worst-case scenario of going under. Some of the world's top airlines, such as Alitalia, have failed to avoid this. The committee is unhappy with certain aspects of the management of SAA and the committee notes that they need to get out of the starting blocks to restructure their business model if they are to avoid going under.
We also tabled the report on the budget hearings of the Department of Public Enterprises and, yet again, the department produced an unqualified audit report. I think it is an honour for them to receive an unqualified audit. I imagine that members will forgive me for not dwelling on the details.
I wish to thank al the members of the committee for their hard work and dedication and I wish all members of this House a happy festive season. Thank you.
I move on behalf of the Chief Whip of the Majority Party:
That the Reports be adopted.
Motion agreed to.
Reports accordingly adopted.