Chairperson, hon Ministers present, Deputy Ministers, hon members, colleagues and the guests, first of all I would like to congratulate hon Minister Joemat-Pettersson on her appointment as Minister of Agriculture, as well her Deputy Minister, Dr Pieter Mulder. A big thank you to the department, as well, for briefing the committee on the budget; thank you very much.
This is a newly formed department, as it was previously the Department of Agriculture exclusively, but now includes the Forestry and Fisheries components. The vision of the Department of Agriculture is to strive for a united and prosperous agricultural sector with the aim of supporting sustainable agricultural development.
The total contribution of agriculture to the economy increased from R27 billion in 2001 to R36 billion in 2007. South Africa's duel agricultural economy comprises a well-developed commercial sector and a predominantly subsistence-orientated sector in rural areas.
About 12% of South Africa's surface area can be used for crop production. High potential arable land comprises only 22% of the arable land area. Some 1,3 million hectares are under irrigation, which amounts to about 1,5% of South Africa's agricultural land.
The most important factor, of course, limiting agricultural production is the availability of water, as rainfall is distributed unevenly across the country. Almost 50% of South Africa's water is used for agricultural purposes. Primary commercial agriculture contributes about 2,6 % of South Africa's Gross Domestic Product, GDP, and about 8% to formal employment. However, there are strong backward and forward linkages into the economy so that the agro-industrial sector is estimated to comprise some 12% of the GDP.
Although South Africa has the ability to be self-sufficient in virtually all major agricultural products, the rate of growth in exports has been slower than that of imports. Despite the farming industry's declining share of the GDP, it remains vital to the economy, development and stability of the Southern African region.
The budget for the department for 2008-09 was R2,819 billion and reduced to R2,792 billion. The major decrease in expenditure are: programme 2, production and resource management; and programme 5, food supply and viable security - which are questionable as these programmes are linked to social reform programmes increasing food security and poverty alleviation.
The DA supports a united and sustainable agricultural sector in South Africa. Land and agrarian reform requires a well placed, efficiently managed and adequately funded plan and must be implemented with minimal disruption to food security.
More field extension officers are required and better training for existing officers is necessary, as was alluded to by our Minister, particularly as the "use it or lose it" factor will no longer be applicable. We must overhaul the failure of our land reform programmes by ensuring that the new land beneficiaries have adequate financial and other support.
The issue of biofuels, if handled well, could increase income and employment in rural areas without threatening food security. Possibly sugar cane could be used for biofuels in certain areas.
The budget allocation for Water Affairs and Forestry was increased from R7 billion in 2008-09 to approximately R7,9 billion in 2009-10 financial year, an increase of 12,2% in nominal terms. Some 23% of South Africa's rivers are in poor condition and 30% of sewerage plants require immediate attention. There is a shortage of capital, skilled operational and maintenance staff at most sewerage and water installations around the country. Poor maintenance of pipes causes thousands upon thousands of litres of water to be lost annually. Sewerage continues periodically to spill into rivers and wetlands causing outbreaks of cholera from time to time. Is it not time that municipalities are made to allocate a minimum amount from their budgets for maintenance and replacement of ageing infrastructure? Some of this funding is supposedly to come via municipal infrastructure grants, local government equitable share and the capacity- building grants.
Whilst the basic free water supply programme is well-established, the eradication of the bucket system has caused problems, especially in my home province, the Free State. Many people in the rural towns will not accept the VIP toilets and insists on flush water-borne toilets.
Water is a precious commodity and every attempt must be made to conserve our water resources, particularly in view of the climate change and our ever-growing population. Thank you. [Applause.]
Hon members, the Minister of Water Affairs is out of the country on other deployments, so the Minister of Mining will stand in for the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs.
Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, hon members, ladies and gentlemen, I am speaking here on behalf of the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs.
In the manifesto that outlines the programme of the current government, the ANC has committed to the people of South Africa that we will ensure that the best quality water resources reach all our people, especially the poor, and that by 2014, all schools and health facilities will have access to basic infrastructure such as water and electricity. In carrying out this mandate, we are mindful of the expectations of the poor majority in this country and what the ANC stands for in relation to the fulfilment of that mandate. We are delighted, hon members, to repeat the achievement made: In 1996, 62% of the population had access to running water; today the figure stands at 91%.
We are committed to working together to do more to increase access, to build infrastructure, to improve the quality of our water and to embark vigorously on a campaign to reform water allocations so as to benefit poor and emerging farmers, and households. In this regard, the ANC reaffirms our objective of realising universal access to free basic water, electricity and sanitation by 2014.
Water management is becoming increasingly complex and demands an urgent review to ensure sustainable service delivery and contribution to economic growth to meet present and future needs. Water scarcity and an uneven distribution and allocation of resources make this difficult.
South Africa faces significant inequities in the allocation of water for productive purposes. Water allocation is one component of a wider government mandate to address the inequities of the past. Integrated water resources management is not an end in itself, but a means to achieve the objective of efficiency, equity and environmental sustainability in water resources management. The South African national government, as a public trustee of the nation's water resources, is required to give effect to its legal obligations to ensure equitable access to water.
In accordance with the National Water Act, there is a requirement to redress the effects of previously discriminatory legislation, while minimising the impact on existing users and the economy of the country. The right to water entitles everyone to sufficient, safe and accessible water, especially the poor. We do this so that, as government, we continue to make sure that we improve the quality of life of all our people, especially the rural poor. As a regulator, we will also play our part in ensuring the capacitating of rural municipalities to meet the required levels of service quality, as mostly the better capacitated municipalities meet the required water supply.
We will also not hesitate to act harshly against those who neglect this responsibility as enunciated in the National Water Act. Our strategic objectives for these five years are to continue maintaining existing water resources and infrastructure, and enforcing raw and drinking water quality standards. It is necessary, therefore, to ensure that we work together with municipalities in ensuring that they perform optimally in the maintenance of quality standards of good drinking water.
The role of our water boards, water users' associations and catchments management agencies, together with our Water Research Commission, will remain crucial in this regard. The Blue Drop Certification programme recognises municipalities whose drinking water quality meets the set criteria for excellence and enjoins the citizens to monitor municipal performance, and must be intensified.
Let me once again congratulate those 22 municipalities that have reportedly achieved 93,3% national compliance in terms of the Blue Drop Certification programme. I would like to clarify a potential misunderstanding with regard to those who have not achieved the standard. The 93% national achievement does not mean that the water in other areas is unsafe to drink; all it means is that the municipalities have not satisfied all of the technical specifications. Let me reiterate that our drinking water rates amongst the best in the world, and most municipalities play a significant part in this regard. I am sure that working together with municipalities and provinces, we will maintain that drinking water quality standard.
We are now on a collision course with wrongdoers. The commitment we made during our address in the National Assembly on the enforcement of "the polluter pays" principle and the fact that we are adopting a zero tolerance approach on environmental crimes is not an empty threat. We would like to add that, to achieve this, we would need to increase our efforts on public education and awareness to encourage compliance. We will not succeed, unless we educate, educate, educate.
I would like to repeat the fact that we are in the process of expanding the mandate of environmental management inspectors to include the water aspect. Together with the prosecuting authorities, the courts, the police, local government, and provinces, we'll step up our effort to clamp down on illegal activities. The role of members of this House and all our citizens in supporting us in our efforts cannot be overemphasised. We need you as partners and fellow activists to curb pollution and associated crimes.
Infrastructure remains an important contributor to the supply of water for both economic development and domestic consumption. It is also a key driver in job creation, which helps to improve the living conditions of our people. The ANC has resolved that we must increase the infrastructure construction timelines to allow for more labour-intensive construction. Our infrastructure projects continue to create work opportunities for the poor and the marginalised. With the new injection and investment into more construction work, we will contribute positively to these strategic objectives.
Accordingly, our R500 million investment in the accelerated infrastructure programme, which is aimed at intervening in high-risk areas where there are water challenges, will also assist in creating work opportunities. We will also be investing an additional R2,9 billion over the next three years in the Bulk Infrastructure Programme in order to increase access for those localities where there is dire need.
Over the next five to eight years, we will also spend in the region of R30 billion on the construction and establishment of 15 mega water resource infrastructure projects. This will increase the capacity of existing water resources infrastructure to provide water to strategic installations in the energy sector, namely Eskom; in the industrial sector, namely Sasol; in the mining sector; and for domestic purposes.
I cannot conclude this address without raising this most important matter of our behaviour towards water use. It is time that South Africans behaved appropriately, considering the fact that we are ranked amongst the 30 driest countries in the world. As a water-scarce country, South Africa can no longer afford water losses. It is imperative, therefore, to focus on strengthening water conservation and demand management measures, especially as there is a greater return on investment through water-loss control and water-use efficiency.
The draft Water for Growth and Development Framework, which was approved at the January 2009 Cabinet lekgotla, will be finalised before the end of this calendar year. However, it is important to note that some key aspects of this framework that will ensure water security initiatives, such as expanding the water mix to include desalination, expanding the use of groundwater, and recycling of effluent, amongst others, are being implemented.
The Working for Water programme has cleared and undertaken follow-up clearing of over 775 000 hectares of invasive alien plants, with significant benefits for water, biological diversity, and the productive use of land and other outcomes over the past five years. It has provided 8,6 million person days of training and employment to over 27 000 previously unemployed people, with a particular focus on opportunities for women, at 54%; youth, at over 40%, and the disabled, at almost 2%.
The Working for Water programme and other associated programmes still remains the key vehicle for job creation, poverty eradication and community empowerment. In the next five years, further work on creation of decent work, downstream beneficiation and the creation of small-scale industries, as a contribution to rural development, will be further expanded.
The ANC has committed to the building of the technical capacity of the state to engage with, understand and lead the development of dynamic and globally integrated economic sectors. Building the capacity of the state to deliver on its promises has never been more urgent than now. Accordingly, the water sector has its own set of challenges with regard to skills and capacity, especially at municipal level. The sector is hard hit in the areas of engineering services and other technical skills in water sciences.
The state of our waste water treatment infrastructure as well as our maintenance capabilities needs serious attention. To try to address this, we have established a learning academy to develop scarce high-value technical skills for the sector. Through this academy, we have provided 82 external bursaries for engineering and other scientific fields. We continue with mentorship and on the job training of graduate trainees and experiential learners. Going forward, we want to form partnerships with academic and research institutions to optimise the skills development initiative. Working together, we can make sure that the much needed skills are acquired for the performance of the sector.
In conclusion, working together as a nation, we can ensure the provision of safe drinking water for all South Africans. We will continue to play our part towards realising the government imperative of alleviating poverty, growing the economy and improving the lives of our people. I must reiterate the role of this House, provinces and municipalities in ensuring water security for the current and future generations. Chairperson, I urge the House to support this budget policy review. I thank you. [Applause.]
Chairperson, hon Ministers, hon Deputy Ministers, the department and my hon members, I will start with water. There are still towns, townships and villages in this country of ours that are being supplied with inadequate and unsafe water. This is a reality that the Ministry alone cannot address, but we are in this together and we all should play a role, especially Parliament.
Unclean water has in the recent months conduced illnesses such as typhoid in the Mpumalanga province, which, along with Limpopo, was hit hard by the cholera outbreak. The illnesses caused by unclean water killed people and that is a serious issue. Proper management of water plantations in all regions is the key to safe and healthy water. Technological advancement remains a need to be given attention to, since it is an essential part of cleaning our water if we are to provide the safest water possible to the society at large.
Municipalities should play an infrastructural and maintenance role and the department should play a management role. This separation of duties can assist with a clear focus on allocations and a decrease in the area of duties to be performed by the local government.
A R1 billion allocation for the bulk infrastructure of relieving backlogs of sanitation at schools is welcomed. The sustainability of water management is dependent on building skills and engineering capacity. The department has, in this regard, shown less consideration, because it has accepted the Treasury's decrease in its allocation to the cause and diverted it to poverty alleviation.
Let me welcome and admire the projected allocation of R8 billion for the six major water resource projects that are: the De Hoop Dam in Limpopo; the Berg Water Dam in the Western Cape; the Vaal River East and Subsystem Augmentation Scheme that supply sufficient water to Eskom power station and Sasol. The estimated R12 billion for the nine major water capital projects is also a sign of showing seriousness in infrastructural investment. The overall budget increase from R7 billion to R7,9 billion in the current financial year to the departments of water and forestry is however minimal. Considering the challenges and the plans for completing the new infrastructure projects by 2014, we will need a bigger allocation, also considering the forecasted droughts that the country will face in the future.
Masisibulele isabelo sakho samanzi kuba sihle kwaye siyancomeka, kodwa zisekhona zona iindawo ezithi zibe namadama babe abo bantu bengakwazi ukuxhamla kuwo. Umzekelo, eMpuma Koloni kuneLubisi Dam elalakhiwe ngexesha likaMatanzima kodwa libonelela abantu abakude ngaphezu kweekhilomitha ezilikhulu babe abantu abafanele ukuxhamla kumlambo babe bengazuzinto.
Ngoko ke ndicela isebe ukuba likhe liyise iso loo nto kuba la ngamanzi aba bantu kwaye nedama elo lakhiwe kumasimi abo. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[Let us welcome your outstanding budget for Water and Environmental Affairs, but there are still places with dams from which people who live nearby do not benefit. For example, in the Eastern Cape there is Lubisi Dam, which was built during Matanzima's regime, which is providing water to people as far as hundred kilometres away, leaving the rightful people without water.
I am therefore appealing to the department to take that into consideration because this water belongs to these people and the dam in question was built on their fields.]
We meet at this juncture whilst storms of the global economic recession are blowing across the globe and onto our shores. As a country, we are determined to ensure that all South Africans have a share in the unfolding South African promise of a better life for all.
While we recognise and pride ourselves on the strides and progress made, there is no doubt that the challenges remain immense, especially where our people remain without access to basic services, in particular those living in rural areas.
I welcome the good and visionary plan that the hon Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has tabulated on the occasion of Budget Vote No 23. Our role as the committee remains that of ensuring that we strive for the implementation of the department's strategy during this five-year term. We need to ensure that we represent and execute the mandate assigned to us by the electorate.
Last month the economist Mike Schssler commented that the agricultural sector is bigger than the mining sector. It is argued that it is more likely that the agricultural sector will create more jobs out of every R1 million of investment than any other sector. The Minister has warned in her speech on Budget Vote No 23 that as much as agriculture may seem better off in the global economic crisis, it is by no means shielded from its effects. For the first time in five years, agricultural imports have exceeded exports. This is not only unacceptable, but further vindicates our resolve to support local food production in communities; communities for communities. Already we are witnessing the blow where other sectors are suffering huge job looses. It is therefore becoming the primary responsibility of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to create jobs and contribute to poverty alleviation.
I am thrilled by and fully support the move pronounced by our President, his Excellency, Jacob Zuma, during his address at the World Economic Forum. He encouraged that there should be a conference of agricultural Ministers where these Ministers would meet to discuss and formulate strategies on food production and security. Commercial agriculture has also reacted to legislation intended to protect the rights of workers and farm dwellers by sharply reducing their number, resulting in significant job losses and painful evictions of people living on farms. Currently we have only succeeded in redistributing 4% of agricultural land since 1994, while more than 80% remain in the hands of fewer than 50 000 white farmers and agribusiness. A more equitable distribution of land is necessary, both to undo the injustices of the past, as well as to ensure higher productivity, shared growth, employment and sustainable livelihoods.
Voorsitter, die Departement van Landbou, Bosbou en Visserye is die hart van die land se ekonomie, en daarom mag ons nie fouteer wanneer dit kom by hierdie aspekte nie. [Applous.]
Ons is verantwoordelik daarvoor om te verseker dat ons mense, veral di wat in die armer dele van die land woon, die nodige dienste sowel as werk het. As ons mense werk en die nodige dienste het, sal hulle in 'n posisie wees om kos op die tafel te kan sit. Om hierdie doel te kan bereik, moet ons nie die bydrae van ons plaasboere vergeet nie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Chairperson, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is the heart of this country's economy, and therefore we may not err when it comes to these aspects. [Applause.]
It is our responsibility to ensure that our people, especially those who live in the poorer parts of our country, receive the required services, as well as jobs. If our people have jobs and receive the required services, they will be in a position to put food on their tables. In order to achieve this goal, we must not forget the contribution of our farmers.]
Chairperson, the Minister said that the broader mandate assigned to us is to ensure that government translates policy statements into practical business plans. That is why we are proud to welcome the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme.
Sihlalo, xa ndivala ndiza kucela kumphathiswa ukuba bakhe bazijonge ezi ndawo zazinamaziko okunkcenkceshela ezingakwazanga kuphila ixesha elide ngenxa yokunqongophala kolawulo. Sicela isebe ukuba lizame ukuwalawula, iindawo ezifana nooNcora Irrigation Scheme, Qamata Irrigation Scheme, wonke amaziko ukuba akhona. Ndiyabulela, siyasamakela isabelo sakho Nkosazana. Enkosi. [Kwaqhwatywa.] (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[In conclusion, Chairperson, I would like the Minister to take note of these places which had irrigation schemes, but could not survive because of maladministration. We would like the department to manage places like Ncora Irrigation Scheme, Qamata Irrigation Scheme and all other schemes if they exist. Thank you. I welcome your budget, Princess. [Applause.]]
Chairperson ...
What is wrong when a person speaks Afrikaans? It seems you are more excited.
Chairperson, let me also follow the trend of speaking Afrikaans.
Die Kongres van die Mense wil oor vyf kwessies duidelikheid h met betrekking tot die Minister se klassifisering van haar departement. Eerstens wil die Kongres van die Mense weet of die bateregisters van haar afdelings ten opsigte van die hergroepering deur die President geoudit is.
Tweedens, wat gaan die departement doen oor klimaatsverandering in Suid- Afrika?
Die derde een gaan oor die kwessie van vissery. Aan die Weskus sien ons die visbedryf soos die mynbedryf in Gauteng gesien word. Onder leiding van die ANC-regering die afgelope 15 jaar, het ons gesien hoe die visbedryf krepeer het met betrekking tot die feit dat werkgeleenthede in die bedryf gehalveer is en hoe die infrastruktuur in die visbedryf leeg staan en nie bewerk word deur gemeenskappe wat daarby moet baat vind nie.
Ons wil ook, onder meer, die volgende weet. In Doringbaai staan daar 'n visfabriek terwyl die bronne buite die dorp verwerk word. Die jongste navorsing met betrekking tot werkgeleenthede het getoon dat meer as 39% van die mense werkloos is as gevolg van die feit dat die bron in Velddrif verwerk word.
Ons wil ook van die Minister weet wat die departement gaan doen om die professionele kwotahouers uit die visbedryf te kry en die bedryf weer terug te plaas in die hande van die gemeenskappe wat 'n bestaan maak uit die storms van die water. Dankie, Voorsitter. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[The Congress of the People would like to have clarity on five issue regarding the Minister's classification of her department. Firstly, the Congress of the People would like to know whether her divisions' asset registers have been audited in compliance with the regrouping by the President.
Secondly, what is the department going to do with regard to climate change in South Africa?
The third one is regarding the issue of fisheries. On the West Coast we regard the fishing industry in the same way as the mining industry is regarded in Gauteng. Under the leadership of the ANC government in the past 15 years, we have witnessed the decline in the fishing industry due to the fact that job opportunities in the industry have been halved and because the infrastructure in the fishing industry is standing empty and is not being utilised by the communities who should be benefiting from it. We would also like to know, amongst other things, the following. Despite the fact that there is a fish factory in Doringbaai, the resources are being processed out of town. The latest research referring to job opportunities indicated that more than 39% of the people are unemployed due to the fact that the resource is being processed in Velddrif.
We would also like to know from the Minister what the department is going to do to rid the fishing industry of professional quota holders and to return the industry into the hands of the communities who make a living off the currents of the sea. Thank you, Chairperson.]
Chairperson, hon Ministers present here and hon members, agriculture is the backbone of nations in the entire world. No nation can survive without agricultural activities. It is important that our government has identified agriculture as an essential contributor to the national gross domestic product, GDP. It is an economic sector that can absorb the majority of our people to be trained to become successful farmers.
Even if they do not have a formal education, this is the time that the department must demonstrate its commitment by supporting the small commercial farmers. Chair, when I grew up as a small boy, our forefathers were engaged in ploughing and growing their own crops. They used to harvest enough to support their families and preserve some for the future. There used to be no hunger, no famine. The advent of the apartheid system, that introduced stringent measures under the pretext of a betterment scheme that was promulgated in 1952, denied our people the right to continue ploughing for themselves.
Skande! [Disgrace!]
Skande, ja. [Disgrace, yes.]
Thank you. In addition to that, there was also a culling of livestock, and people were forced to sell their livestock within a specified period. Failure to do so would mean going to jail. That was followed by devastating poverty, hunger and disease. That is why our people are still suffering today.
It is for these reasons that the real Congress of the People, of 1955, came with a powerful statement and declared that the land shall be shared amongst those who work it. [Interjections.] This is the time that government has to come out boldly and allocate land to our people so that they can start agricultural activities to add to food security in our country. We are encouraged that rural development is the number one priority, and it should run parallel with agricultural development.
It is a concern to see the budget allocation of the department decreasing from R3,47 billion in the 2007-08 financial year to R2,53 billion in the 2008-09 financial year. We appeal to Treasury to increase the budget of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, because it is priority number one.
Government must support emerging farmers by teaching them modern farming techniques, soil management, vaccination of their livestock, rotational farming and the employment of more extension officers. During the preceding year, farmers in the Northern Cape, in the Campbell-Papkuil area, were plagued by an animal disease called anthrax and incurred a great loss, because there were no veterinary surgeons.
Hon members, for one typical example of how our people are really neglected by the department, you must visit the Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme. It is one of the biggest irrigation schemes in the whole world, but it serves only big commercial farmers. Adjacent to it, there is a huge community, Taung, with almost 300 000 people, and they benefit nothing from this scheme.
The scheme was built specifically for the white ex-soldiers who participated in World War II. At the end of the war, in 1945, they were compensated by being given farms, implements, houses, schools for their children and finances to start farming. It is this scheme to which our people can only sell their cheap labour during the harvesting season. I am sure that we all know that our fathers, who took part in World War II, were only given a bicycle and a big, heavy solalaphi. [Laughter.]
Not far from this beautiful irrigation scheme, there is the big Spitskop Dam. The dam stretches from the front stoep of the villagers' houses, but they do not even drink water from the dam. It is built on the side of the land which was, or still is, occupied by the villagers, because it is where they used to plough their fields.
Government must build more agricultural colleges, because there is an acute shortage of skills in the department. There is a shortage of veterinary surgeons, as well as extension officers. More land should be given to those who want to farm. Women and youth must be encouraged to pursue agriculture as a career. Farmworkers must be upgraded by being allocated pieces of land so that they can become emerging farmers.
In conclusion, Chair, we call upon the department to fulfil its responsibility to assist our people and develop agriculture so that they enjoy a better life for all. Thank you. [Applause.]
Voorsitter, vir die eerste keer sedert 1994 het die Noord- Kaap twee nasionale Ministers. Een van hierdie Ministers is vandag hier saam met ons, en namens die Noord-Kaap wil ons haar gelukwens en sterkte toewens. Die Noord-Kaap het ook die president van AgriSA en die boer van die jaar, so dit s baie van landbou in en die landbouers van die Noord- Kaap.
Ek wil nie vandag oor landbou praat nie. Ek wil oor iets praat wat veel belangriker is, en dit is water. In die toekoms van die wreld gaan dit uitgewys word dat water die nuwe goue standaard gaan word. Water gaan in die toekoms die middel word waarmee welvaart en rykdom gemeet word. Juis daarom, Voorsitter, is dit nodig dat Suid-Afrika, as 'n dro en woestynagtige land, sy waterhulpbronne moet beskerm en uitbou.
Daarom wil Cope, as 'n alternatiewe regering, voorstel dat die Oranjerivierstelsel verder uitgebrei word met die twee damme wat reeds in die vooruitsig gestel word. Die een dam is by Douglas, wat bekend staan as die Torquay-dam, en die tweede dam is tussen Suid-Afrika en Namibi. Saam daarmee, agb Voorsitter, is dit nodig dat die Doringrivierstelsel tussen Ceres en Calvinia verder ontwikkel word om ook te dien as 'n ekonomiese inspuiting vir daardie deel van die wreld.
Ten slotte is dit nodig om te s dat die Uitgebreide Openbare Werke-program se tweede fase kan dien as 'n ekonomiese instrument om hierdie dambouprojekte en kanaalstelsels te bevorder. Ek dank u vir die geleentheid. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans speech follows.)
[Mr K A SINCLAIR: Chairperson, for the first time since 1994 the Northern Cape has two national Ministers. One of these Ministers is with us here today, and on behalf of the Northern Cape we want to congratulate her and wish her all of the best. The President of AgriSA and the farmer of the year also hail from the Northern Cape, and this says a lot about agriculture in and the farmers from the Northern Cape.
I don't want to talk about agriculture today, I want to talk about something that is far more important, namely water. In future it will be shown that water will become the new gold standard globally. Water will become the means whereby prosperity and wealth are measured in the future. For that very reason, Chairperson, it is necessary that South Africa, as a dry and desert country, should protect and develop its water resources.
Therefore Cope, as an alternative government, wants to propose that the Orange River system should be extended further, in addition to the two dams that are envisaged. One dam is near Douglas and is called the Torquay Dam, and the second one is situated between South Africa and Namibia. Coupled with that, hon Chairperson, it is also necessary to develop the Doring River system between Ceres and Calvinia further, in order to serve as an economic injection for that part of the world.
Lastly, it is necessary to say that the second phase of the Extended Public Works Programme could serve as an economic instrument to promote these projects for the building of dams and canal systems. I thank you for the opportunity. [Applause.]]
UMntwana M M M ZULU: Mabhoko, Sihlalo waleNdlu, amaLungu aleNdlu ahloniphekile, abaHlonishwa oNgqongqoshe beMinyango yomibili, abanewethu abaphathiswe iMinyango yesifundazwe saKwaZulu-Natali nalabo abaqhamuka eNtshonalanga Kapa naseGauteng uma bekhona.
Dadewethu, uMnyango Wezolimo yiwona mgogodla wezwe lakithi njengezakhamizi.Uyazi ukuthi umhlabathi uma ulimile uyiyona ngubo yakho, uyingubo futhi noma usuya koyihlomkhulu. Lokhu ngikushiso ukuthi abantu bakithi ukuze babhekane nendlala ngazo zonke izindlela kuzomele uMnyango Wezolimo ukwazi ukuhlinzeka abantu ngezinsiza zokulima ezinjengogandaganda.
Njengoba udadewethu waseMpumalanga Kapa ilungu elihloniphekile, kade likhuluma ngalezo zinnhlaka ezazakhiwe, noma zazakhiwe ezinhlelweni zobandlululo kodwa zazisiza. Njengakithi oSuthu Emkhontweni kwakulinywa ngabo labogandaganda. Kwakukhona abeluleki, ababeyizifundiswa kwezolimo, ezazeluleka abantu ukuthi lo mhlabathi ukulungele namhlanje ukutshala amaklabishi, otamatisi nokuthi namhlanje kungatshalwa ummbila. Yilezo zidingo-ke eziyokwazi ukufeza izidingo zabantu bakithi eNingizimu Afrika.
Sengigoqa ngithi-ke kuleMinyango kahulumeni ekulezi zifundazwe lapha ezikhona nina ningoyise beMinyango kufanele niyibheke ngoba asinabo ohulumeni bezifunda zwe abazimele lapha. Lokhu kudliwa kwezimali kanye nokungasetshenziswa kahle kwezimali yinina belusi bayo esizonifaka isibhaxu. Kufanele ukuthi nibeluse nina uqobo ngoba kufanele kusizakale abantu bakithi abanyama baseNingizimu Afrika.
Sengibuyela kuwe dadewethu kudaba lwamanzi, mina njengomzukulu kaSolomoni ngikuthola kungemukelekile ukuthi abantu baseNgwavuma bangawatholi amanzi ngoba amanzi alaphaya eJozini ehambe ayonikezwa abathile. Ngithi amanzi ayimpilo futhi awumgogodla wesizwe kufanele ukuthi abantu bakithi abansundu bakwazi ukuzuza ngalokhu ngemuva kokuvota ngobuningi babo ngo-1994, baphinda futhi banivotela ngobuningi babo ngo-2009. Angeke sakuphika ukuthi izigidi eziyishumi nanye zazivotela kona ukuba zibe nempilo engcono eNingizimu Afrika. Ngiyabonga Sihlalo. [Ihlombe.] (Translation of isiZulu speech follows.)
[Prince M M M ZULU: Mabhoko, Chairperson, hon members, hon Ministers of the departments, and senior officials from the provincial departments of KwaZulu-Natal, as well as those from the Western Cape and Gauteng, if they are present.
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is the backbone of this country. As a community we know that when you grow crops the soil becomes your blanket, and it becomes your blanket again when you have passed on. I am saying this because people must know that in order to fight poverty the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries must be able to provide people with resources such as tractors.
As the hon member from the Eastern Cape said, the structures that were formed were very useful, even though they were formed during the apartheid era. OSuthu, at Emkhontweni, where I come from, we were using tractors for ploughing. There were advisers, specialists in farming, who advised people with regard to the condition of the soil and the type of crops that it was good for at that time; for example whether it was good for sowing cabbages, tomatoes or mielies. Those are the resources that will provide for the needs of our people here in South Africa.
In closing, I would like to say to the representatives of the provincial departments present here today that they are the heads who must monitor the departments because we do not have independent provincial governments. If there's any embezzlement and misuse of funds, you will be held accountable for it because you have to monitor them so that the black people of South Africa can be assisted.
Coming back to the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs, as King Solomon's grandchild I find it unacceptable that the people of Ngwavuma are not getting water because water from Lake Jozini is supplying other areas. Water is the life and the backbone of our nation; black people must benefit from this after voting for you in their numbers in 1994 and again in 2009. We cannot deny the fact that 11 million people voted for a better life in South Africa. Chairperson, I thank you. [Applause.]]
Chairperson, Chief Whip, House Chairs, hon members, Minister, Deputy Minister, MECs and departmental officials. This afternoon it gives me great pleasure to debate some of the policy priorities of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries as presented by Budget Vote No 23.
"Let us make agriculture a viable investment option that will open more opportunities for enhanced investment and growth of African agriculture." This statement was made by the Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union, on Monday, 29 June 2009, whilst addressing journalists at a press conference at the 13th ordinary session of the assembly of heads of state and government of the African Union in Sirte, Libya, under the theme: Investing in Agriculture for Economic Growth and Food Security.
Agriculture and, more specifically, food security is on the minds of everyone. Globally, with the economy in recession, countries are looking at internalising rising food costs by maximising food production within the limited resources that are available. Currently, Africa's food import bill is at US$33 billion. This implies that there are opportunities for South Africa to export to other African countries.
The policy issues highlighted in the department's Budget Vote include the need to increase agricultural support to emerging farmers and land reform beneficiaries whilst striving to transform the agricultural sector for the benefit of all South Africans. The inclusion of forestry and fisheries as economic drivers to develop sustainable livelihood in rural areas is an excellent way to focus on developing the economy while increasing the sector's contribution to the GDP.
This is paramount to achieving success and transformation within the broader agricultural sector, while securing an income for the rural poor. The areas of agriculture, disease control, disaster management and soil conservation are concurrent areas of competence for national and provincial authorities. Therefore, I will focus my debate this afternoon on the policy priorities that have been identified by the executive for implementation with this Medium-Term Expenditure Framework.
The allocation of agricultural grants, according to the Division of Revenue Act, to the different provinces and the spending of this grant will be closely monitored and evaluated by this committee. The department will be held accountable for depriving our communities of these services if these grants are not used properly and returned unspent.
This first programme I would like to speak about is the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme. Expansion and provision of agricultural support services to promote and facilitate agricultural development, but targeting subsistence emerging commercial farmers, are aligned with the strategic prioritise of our government. This policy priority of the department is fully supported as it speaks to achieving one of the strategic priorities of this new government.
The allocation of 60% of the department's budget for this programme is excellent; this indicates that there is a real increase of 12% after factoring in inflation. The support that was previously insufficient for land reform beneficiaries must now be prioritised and linked with the comprehensive rural development strategy of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform to achieve the goals set in the President's state of the nation address.
The agricultural disaster management programme that provides relief to farmers from the effects of drought, veld fires, cold spells, hail storms and flood via grants to the provinces is fully supported. These grants are vital for the success of the emerging farmers and land beneficiaries who need to buffer themselves from the effects of climate change that can occur in the form of these disasters. This committee is concerned about expenditures and transfers that are not made in time to the communities and will hold the department accountable on these issues. In order for the sector to be productive, grants and support need to be provided to the people and in time within growing season.
The Letsema programme provides universal access to agricultural support service and the amount allocated to the provinces will be scrutinised to ensure that the required funds are transferred to the communities that need them most. KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape and the Free State have the highest allocation of this grant and these provinces need to show success in the sector by increasing production and ensuring food security for the people.
The support that the department provides to the beneficiaries in the form of extension services and capacity-building to ensure productivity will be closely evaluated. The committee also intends to monitor the implementation of grants that provide for infrastructure development and agricultural support as the provision of these services to our communities is important for success.
Sufficient postsettlement support should be provided for land reform beneficiaries so that farms which are productive are able to make a significant contribution to decreasing poverty in rural households and are able to provide food to urban households. These linkages between rural and urban areas must not be lost and closer partnership should be forged between the spheres of government to ensure this happens. The rural divide should be decreased and the dependence on each other should be clearly illustrated.
The Mafisa Fund, a financial mechanism to provide access to funds to rural communities for agricultural projects, is commendable, but it has high interest rates, and timeous transfer of funds to the beneficiaries is required in order for the sector to grow sustainably and be productive. The Minister is urged to address the high interest rates and the transfer of funds so that emerging farmers can start contributing actively to the economy.
The focus on the youth, women and other vulnerable groups in agriculture is imperative. The committee is very supportive and excited about the department's women in agriculture and rural development and youth in agriculture and rural development programmes. The time has come for our forgotten youth and women from the rural peri-urban areas to rise and fight for their rightful place in the sector and economy of South Africa.
In conclusion, the department is commended for consolidating all the national funding schemes into a one-stop shop to facilitate the transfer of funds to beneficiaries and to be more cost-effective. We are looking forward to seeing innovative ways of implementing the current and new agricultural policies that the department has developed. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Hon members, I just want to say this as a lesson to every one of you. I know that most of us are new in this House. When a member is addressing us from the podium, you do not walk in front of him or her. That disturbs the member. You should rather walk at the back or, if you walk on this side, you walk at the back and go and take your seat. Don't walk in front of the member. Those are the rules. I'm beginning a workshop right now, which I will do in August, actually.
Hon Chairperson, hon Joemat-Pettersson, hon Shabangu, the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs in absentia, I think we are ready as Salga to partner with the Department of Agriculture to ensure that the implementation programme as envisaged by the Minister is being effected. We would also like to call upon the Minister to, as soon as possible, investigate labour practices and the use of labour in the agricultural sector, because, invariably, it makes of our citizens domestic refugees in the use of that labour.
We would also like to highlight to the Minister the fact that there are triple bottomline requirements being implemented currently, and local government is looking at the code of good practice set by the UN, the sustainable use of natural resources within the context of climate change and food security challenges at local level.
Section 27(1)(b) of the Constitution defines water access as a right to every citizen. We could not agree more with the hon Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs in respect of this. Another important right relevant to this debate is indeed the right to an environment that is not harmful and protected for the benefit of the current and future generations, found in section 24 (a) and (b). And local government, in terms of the objects of local government, also has a responsibility to create a safe environment.
I must indicate that in this charging with the above-mentioned rights Salga and its member municipalities have been working closely and have benefited from the support and leadership provided by the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs. As an outcome of this co-operation, the recently released community survey by Statistics South Africa in October 2007 indicated that over 88% of households had access to piped water compared to just less than 85% in 2001.
Over 60% of households had access to flushing toilets compared to just under 52% in 2001. The R500 million set aside to intervene in high risk areas to deal with aging infrastructures, sewage spillages and acid management is welcomed. This is very important to local government as it addresses two political matters: Firstly, when municipalities were established and assigned with the water services function, we inherited old infrastructure - some of which was way overdue for replacement. This required huge investments. In a sense, municipalities inherited a liability rather than an asset, because by taking up the water services authority function, we accepted an alienable responsibility of replacing and refurbishing old infrastructure that was associated with the function. This infrastructure had been servicing or was consumed by a fraction of the population, which was mostly white.
The policy thrust of the new democratic government was to extend services to those not served rather than refurbishing and replacing infrastructure that benefited a minority. The effect of this was to postpone investment in infrastructure, refurbishment and replacement and further load this old infrastructure. In a sense, infrastructure replacement liability was transferred to local government without a policy solution as to how this liability was to be financed.
The absence of such a policy solution is now playing itself out in the public domain through the spectacular collapse of infrastructure in many municipal areas. Formulating this policy solution can no longer be postponed and it will be inappropriate to leave it to local government alone to solve this policy problem.
The second issue - and I'm happy that the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs, Madam Qikani, addressed this issue - is that when water services infrastructure predominantly servicing the rural areas with high levels of poverty was transferred to municipalities from the national government, there were agreements that the operation and maintenance would be financed from the national fiscus for a maximum of three years and thereafter the receiving municipalities would take over.
There are two problems that are related to the implementation of these agreements. The first one is that when the infrastructure was transferred, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Dwaf, transferred only labourers together with it and retained the relatively skilled staff and then subsidised the salaries of labourers and not the technically skilled positions. This has led to a situation where municipalities could not have the required resources to employ the required skills in addition to the difficulty of attracting skills, even in cases where some municipalities are able to finance these technical positions.
The commitment to spend R30 billion in the next five to eight years to build 15 mega water resource infrastructures is important to ensure water security and availability at all times. Increasingly municipalities have been facing bulk and rural water shortages. There was not much that municipalities could do about this as our mandate and related financing does not include the construction of dams. With the attention focusing on big national projects, small medium-sized towns that were dependent on small to medium-sized dams suffer water shortages.
Recent engagements with Dwaf and water boards around bulk water tariffs had indicated that there is a need to discuss the financing of the sector as it is apparent that the country may not be making adequate provision for infrastructure development, maintenance and rehabilitation in the water sector as a whole. There is a need to develop a medium- to long-term water sector funding and pricing model.
In the context of the above, there is an apparent untenable relationship between the role of the department as a regulator of the sector on the one hand and as sector leader on the other hand, a supporting institution to local government and a supplier of bulk, raw and purified water by virtue of being a sole shareholder of water boards and the owner of dams. The whole issue of being the regulator, or the referee and being the player at the same time is the cause of this untenable situation. This must be resolved as matter of priority.
The policy changes raised above suggest a need for a mutually supportive relationship and closer co-operation between the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs and local government. Salga would like to work with the department to find solutions to these policy challenges. Salga is very optimistic that the future in terms of infrastructure creation, especially in these bad economic times, will lead to job creation and we believe that when there is a turnaround, there would be infrastructure that has been created for us to capitalise on growth and development of mutual benefits, both in agriculture and in the water sector. As Salga we support the Budget Vote as submitted. Thank you. [Applause.]
Chairperson, I am thankful that I still have the privilege to be here and address this House.
When comparing the hon Minister Joemat-Pettersson's budget speech on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to the Western Cape's budget speech on agriculture and rural development, one cannot help but notice the many similarities and correlations between the two presentations. The hon Minister Joemat-Pettersson said that the national department will broaden and strengthen our partnership with organised agriculture and those components that still need to be organised.
Since the Western Cape contributes a significant 20,8% to the national agricultural output, this is a welcome message for organised agriculture in the Western Cape.
Hon Minister Van Rensburg - that's the provincial Minister for Agriculture - said agriculture should be a profitable occupation. His statement, together with the national Minister's hand of friendship towards commercial agriculture, bodes well for the future of agriculture in South Africa.
The hon Minister spoke of agrarian transformation, and the drive to consolidate all the national funding schemes. She included black economic empowerment in agriculture, AgriBEE, the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme, Casp, Ilima-Letsema and Land Care programmes in this regard. This is good news, as a consolidated approach could curb the co-ordination problems that are sometimes experienced when communication is lacking between individual funding schemes.
The Western Cape is eager to work together with the national department in this regard. The Western Cape Department of Agriculture has allocated 28% of its total budget towards the support and development of new farmers.
Minister Joemat-Pettersson mentioned the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme that is aimed at enabling rural people to play a meaningful role in an inclusive economy, thus dealing with rural poverty. The Western Cape has added rural development to the Ministry of Agriculture, as it believes that agriculture can play a significant role in the development of our rural areas.
Minister Joemat-Pettersson highlighted the need for young people to be attracted to the agricultural sector, and envisaged a national youth service for agriculture. The Western Cape Department of Agriculture is equally committed to attracting young talent to this sector, and Minister van Rensburg said in his provincial budget speech that, and I quote:
Landbou benodig dringend talent om die uitdagings wat voedselproduksie in die o staar, aan te pak. [Agriculture urgently needs talented individuals to tackle the challenges around food production which are staring us in the face.]
The national department's mandate now also includes fisheries. The Western Cape already has a strategic aquaculture plan, which is supported by civil society, business, labour and government. In this regard, we, as a province, are looking forward to working together with the national department.
The national department plans to train 1 000 extension officers and recruit another 1 000 in the near future. This is excellent news for all farmers, and is another point mirrored in the Western Cape's budget, which aims to increase its extension officer corps to 119 well-trained officials.
It seems that the table is set for good co-operation between the National Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on the one hand, and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on the other hand. I thank you.
Chairperson, hon members, hon Minister, I also extend my congratulations to the Minister on her appointment as Minister of Agriculture. Coming from the Northern Cape - a province we share - shows that she knows her business, because she was nominated as number one MEC for Agriculture in South Africa for the past two years. I also extend my congratulations to the other Ministers on their appointments to their respective positions.
I am honoured to be part of a developmental state that is committed to work with and for its people to do more and create a better life.
Nietzsche said, "He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how."
In terms of the agricultural programmes, we must give our people hope to live a purposeful and dignified life.
Agricultural land and agrarian reform have an historical significance in the struggle for freedom and find expression in the Freedom Charter, which says the people shall share in the country's wealth, and the land shall be shared among those who work on it.
The Freedom Charter became, not only in principle but also in practice, the charter of the people, the content of which has its source in their homes, in the factories, in the mines and in rural services. Hon Sinclair, hon De Beer - the other De Beer - and hon Bloem are not here; you must listen. One of the key performance areas and priorities must be to transform rural livelihoods to enable smallscale farmers to use land more productively. Improved support to farmers is important, but access to long-term finance is a critical ingredient.
Tans is die grootste uitdaging om nuwe landbouers se boerderye lewensvatbaar te maak as hulle op nuwe grond gevestig word. Dit is dus noodsaaklik dat daar 'n deeglike ondersoek gelas moet word om vas te stel waarom sekere boere wat deur die staat op grond gevestig is onsuksesvol was. Deeglike opleiding van sulke nuwe landbouers is deel van die antwoord.
Ek stel voor dat landbouhorskole, in die Noord-Kaap spesifiek, maar ook landwyd - soos die Hor Landbouskool Noord-Kaapland in Jan Kempdorp en Horskool Martin Oosthuizen in Kakamas - plus die navorsingsinstellings in die gebiede, doeltreffend aangewend word om nuwe landbouers op te lei.
Al die nodige opleidingsgeriewe en landbougereedskap is daar om ons landbouers vaardig te maak, vaardigheidsontwikkeling te gee, en ook om kommersile landbouers op te lei.
Landbouondersteuningsdienste beslaan die grootste deel van die departement se begroting en het toegeneem sedert die vorige finansile jaar. Die doel van hierdie program is om nuwe landbouers toegang tot die landbousektor te gee. Verskerpte monitering ten opsigte van die besteding van die fondse sal toegepas moet word. Tydens die begrotingsvoorlegging is aangedui dat R60 miljoen uit die CASP-fondse nie bestee is nie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[At present the biggest challenge is to make farming by new farmers feasible once they have been settled on new land. It is therefore essential that a thorough investigation is undertaken to establish why certain farmers who were given land by the state were unsuccessful. Thorough training of such new farmers is part of the solution.
I propose that, especially in the Northern Cape, but also throughout the country, agricultural high schools - like the Northern Cape Agricultural High School in Jan Kempdorp and the Martin Oosthuizen High School in Kakamas - together with research institutions in the areas, be used appropriately to train new farmers.
All the necessary training facilities and agricultural implements are available to produce skilled farmers, to offer skills development, and also to train commercial farmers.
Agricultural support services make up the biggest part of the department's budget and has increased since the previous financial year. The purpose of this programme is to provide access for new farmers to the agricultural sector. More stringent monitoring, with regard to the spending of the funds, will have to be exercised. During the submission of the budget it was indicated that R60 million from the Casp funds were not spent.]
The departments of Social Services, Health and Education give bursaries to students to study in those fields. What assistance, in terms of bursaries, is given to students to study - not only at university, but also at the FET colleges - in the field of agriculture, in the context of government's policy to empower our young people, to give them access to opportunities to improve themselves in order to enter the economy?
The Kalahari Kid project is a project in the Northern Cape and an excellent way to get our new farmers into farming with goats in order to produce good quality red meat. They must grow and expand their business to not only supply the domestic market, but also to export to eastern countries like the Emirates, China, India, Bangladesh and Malaysia, etc.
We call on the department to inform this House on the progress made in this regard, not only in the Northern Cape, but across the whole of South Africa.
We note the objectives of the Land and Agrarian Reform Project to redistribute five million hectares of white-owned agricultural land to 10 000 new agricultural producers. The question is: How is the department going to do this and what are the contingency plans to keep these new farmers on the land?
We thank the department for its financial assistance to the Vaalharts Revitalisation Programme, will run over several years. We are also thankful for the assistance of the present Minister who was then the MEC for Agriculture in the Northern Cape who assisted us with that programme. This committee and this House will monitor that project.
We request the hon Minister to ensure that the irrigation scheme starting from Groblershoop to Kakamas also be added to this programme. It is not just about the commercial farmers, but also about the new farmers and farmworkers who are responsible for producing vegetables and fruit for markets. It has an economic effect on all people along the irrigation scheme.
I believe that the lower part of the Orange River can be utilised better, from Vioolsdrift to the mouth of the river into the Atlantic Ocean. At Alexander Bay is a dairy which, many years ago, excelled in producing milk, yoghurt, cheese and butter. Today, the milk cows have been reduced because of a lack of food. No crops are produced on the banks of the river at Alexander Bay. The point is not the dairy. The point is that the extension officers did not do their work. The department will have to monitor the work done by these extension officers in each province because it affects the progress we want at grassroots level.
We call on the department to engage seriously in aquaculture farming with fresh fish. This is a food commodity that is ideal for our poor people as it is rich in protein and cheaper than chicken.
The hon Minister indicated that attention would be paid to our fishermen and quotas issued to them, specifically in the Northern Cape at Hondeklip Bay and Port Nolloth. Presently these fishermen are registered as indigents. There are 39 of them in the Kammiesberg and Richtersveld municipality. I was part of the registration process.
I believe the same situation can be found at towns along the South African coast. If fishing quotas are a problem, then bring these fishermen without quotas into mariculture, seeing that the mariculture plant at Port Nolloth is not progressing as it is supposed to. This is also an opportunity to utilise Casp funds for this purpose.
Hon De Beer, the fishing population is declining. That is why you see less activity. [Interjections.]
There was a conference in Libya a few days ago. If you had listened to the radio and television or read the newspapers you would have seen this. This department, with the departments in African countries, will have to look holistically at the fishing industry in terms of who is going to fish where. That is the point.
Dit gaan nie net oor die le geboue nie. [It's not just about the vacant buildings.]
We believe in "one household, one vegetable garden" giving our people access to good food.
The department has to ask itself: what can we do better and how can we work smarter? The department will have to align its strategic plan and budget to address its priorities as well as to finalise the BEE strategy.
The department will have to anticipate challenges over the next 15 to 30 years. There must be better co-ordination between the national and provincial departments.
We wish the new Minister well in her position as Minister. This House and its committees will perform its oversight role vigorously so as to get service delivery at grassroots level. The ANC supports this budget. Thank you.
Deputy Chairperson, thank you for the privilege to respond to the Budget Vote. Firstly, I would like to thank the members for supporting this Budget Vote. Chairperson of the committee, hon Qikani, I want to assure you that issues raised by you are a reflection of the past, and we cannot afford to continue in that way. Issues of people seeing water passing through their own areas while they have no access to it will have to be corrected. This is part of the mandate for the current five years. The department of Water and Environmental Affairs will make sure that this happens; hence we are currently talking about it being multipurpose, including supply to communities in various areas. The matter you raised will be taken on board. It includes areas like the Northern Cape, where people were talking about the Taung Dam. Those issues will be addressed. So, we are on board, hon members, in making sure that we address these issues.
Mhlonishwa Bab'uZulu ngempela sivumelana nawe ngeke kwenzeke ukuthi abantu baphile ngokuthi ngaso sonke isikhathi bahlala belangazelele amanzi kodwa abe ebadlula nje engakwazi ukufinyelela kubona. Lezi ngezinye zezinto lo hulumeni kaKhongolose ozama ngakho konke ekusemandleni ukuthi zibhekwe ukuze amanzi afinyelele kubantu.
Lokho okushilo kwaseNgwavuma ngezinye zezinto ezizobhekwa uMnyango wezaManzi ukwenza isiqiniseko sokuthi wonke umuntu ngaphandle kobandlulula akwazi ukuthi athole amanzi ahlanzekile, ukuze izimpilo zabo zibengcono. (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.) [Hon Mr Zulu, we fully agree with you that the people should not always wish to have access to water when it passes through their areas and they do not have access to it. These are some of the issues which this ANC-led government is trying its best to address so that the people can have access to water. The issue you raised about Ngwavuma is part of some of the issues that will be dealt with by the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs to ensure that everybody can get clean water so that they can live better.]
I want to say to you, hon Sinclair, that the point you raised about water scarcity is a definite issue for this country and for this government; hence we raised it and want to deal with it. I agree with you fully.
But what I don't agree with is the fact that Cope is a government in waiting. That will never happen. [Laughter.] [Applause.] That is a dream that you will never fulfil in your lifetime. So, just stop entertaining the idea of being an alternative government at some point, because it will never happen. Just abandon that idea.
Hon Johnson, the issues you raised are issues that the government is looking into. We agree with you fully. As you know, currently there has been an issue through the new Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, where workshops or summits were held with the SA Local Government Association, Salga. These programmes and task teams which have been set up will need to be taken on board, and we need to make sure that co-operation between you and the national government becomes a reality in ensuring that we address issues affecting our communities. This is the only way in which we will succeed as this government. There is no way in which we can work in silos. So, it is very critical to make sure that there is always engagement and partnerships with all relevant stakeholders, including Salga. I thank you. [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Madam Deputy Chairperson, South Africa's agricultural trade values were, for some months, disturbed by increased imports of rice, wheat, oil cakes for animal feed manufacturing industries and also imports of whisky.
We know who the whisky drinkers are. When Cope lost the elections there was a sudden rise in imports of whisky. [Laughter.] They really tried to drown their sorrows with whisky but, as the ANC celebrated, there was an import of malt whisky. You can understand that there is a big difference between importing malt whisky and importing cheap whisky. [Laughter.]
So our trade balance is positive and we aim to maintain this and improve our positive tariff balance. We are convinced that by the end of the year our country will be a net exporter of food again, and that this situation would have been stabilised. We need to seek a balance between crops used for biofuel productions and those used for food security. That is why, in 2007, Cabinet took a decision that maize will not be used for biofuel production. Biofuel is used for alternative renewable energy and not for food security. But when farmers grow fuels, it also secures an income from the land and can create jobs, as well as improve their livelihoods. It therefore requires a balancing act and a structured sensitive approach to develop biofuels vis--vis food security.
South Africa has approximately six million households that spend more than 60% of their income on food alone, but do not have enough to eat. As part of the response, we are bringing in interventions, which will expand the coverage of the integrated food security and nutrition programme from 70 000 to 140 000 additional beneficiaries.
The programme will deliver through the provision of agricultural starter packs for the production of vegetables, livestock, milk and poultry. These initiatives were tested in line with the implementation of the regional indicative strategic development plan and the Dar es Salaam Declaration Plan of Action on agriculture and food security.
We should not overlook the contribution of women in food security and their role in securing livelihoods, particularly in rural areas. Forty-one per cent of South African women live in rural communities with the balance of the population in these areas made of up of children, the infirm and old people. Women have kept these poor marginalised communities afloat and they will continue to do so.
We will be convening in Polokwane again. This time the Polokwane tsunami will be about the fourth biennial National Landcare Conference and the African Regional Landcare Committee meeting with the theme: Together, caring for our land and caring for our future.
We invite members from especially Cope to get a sense of where Polokwane is actually taking this country, because that is where all their woes started when they lost hopelessly and couldn't accept defeat. [Laughter.] This time we are inviting you to a landcare programme from 12 to 16 July 2009. There will again be an overwhelming win.
South Africa has a well-established fishery sector and this is currently a net exporter of fish and marine products. South African fisheries are considered to be fully utilised and high value fisheries such as abalone, prawns and linefish are largely overexploited.
At the African Union Summit we agreed that the allocation of fishing quotas will be done throughout the continent and in Africa as a whole, instead of only allocating fisheries per country like South Africa. I think this is an important new development for us on the continent. In conclusion, I wish to thank the Deputy Minister responsible for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Director-General and the entire staff complement of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. I wish to thank the Minister of Mining for her insightful vision and comments on water development.
I also wish to thank the members who have participated in this debate. We wish to collect all the copies of your speeches, because you have made valuable contributions, which we will listen and respond to.
We are looking forward to working with the chairperson and the members of the NCOP. Thank you very much, Madam, for your visionary leadership. We are convinced that, with your leadership, we will be able to take the sector forward. We respect the kind of comments you have made as well as the guidance you are providing us with.
I would also like to thank the staff members and heads of departments as well as MECs and politicians in their provincial departments. I did not know that there was another Minister for Agriculture in the Western Cape. I thought that there was only one Minister at a national level and one Deputy Minister, but nonetheless, it seems we have the united states of the Western Cape and the independent states of the Western Cape.
I also want to thank the state-owned entities in the sector for their co- operation and support to ensure that programmes that are delivered will be successful. I depend on your oversight and know that you will call us to order and to account. We depend on you calling us to order. I thank you. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
Business suspended at 15:45 and resumed at 15:58.