Hon Deputy Speaker, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries sector's budget is totally insufficient in relation to the importance of sustained food security at affordable prices. A budget of only R4,7 billion from a total budget of R889 billion, or only 0,53%, is far too little. It leaves many institutions, such as the Agricultural Research Council, ARC, Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute and others far short of their needs to perform optimally. In terms of the department's strategic objectives, implementation and delivery is seriously lacking. This is evident in the department's failing and handling of the outbreaks of contagious diseases like Rift Valley Fever, foot-and-mouth disease and avian flu, costing producers millions of rands and causing the closure of our borders for the export of animals and animal products.
Die Minister se uitspraak dat kommersile boere nie hulp na die verwoestende vloede vroeg vanjaar gaan ontvang nie, is onverantwoordelik en skokkend. Dit, nadat miljoene rande se hulp aangekondig is. Ek verwys na President Zuma, met R800 miljoen, en Minister Pravin Ghordan, met R600 miljoen. Uself het R200 miljoen aangekondig. Volgens u sou die eerste hulp reeds in April uitbetaal gewees het, en sou 10 000 tydelike werksgeleenthede geskep geword het deur die herstel van infrastruktuur. Minister, daar het niks van gekom nie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[The Minister's announcement that commercial farmers will not be receiving any aid after the devastating floods earlier this year is irresponsible and shocking. This, after aid to the value of millions of rands was mentioned. I refer here to President Zuma, with R800 million, and Minister Pravin Ghordan, with R600 million. You yourself mentioned R200 million. According to you the first payment in aid would have been in April and 10 000 temporary job opportunities would have been created through the reconstruction of infrastructure. Minister, nothing came of this.]
There is an obvious lack of management and control of the department's activities. The lack of understanding by the Minister and her Deputy's inability to bring about positive change to the challenges facing the industry will cost this country dearly. It will result in severe food shortages, a drastic increase in food prices and serious job losses.
Exorbitant, wasteful expenditure adds to the problems in the department. We have now been waiting for two years for the forensic reports of Marine and Coastal Management and the Land Bank. We have questioned the wasteful expenditure on certain projects. We, the DA, therefore oppose this Budget Vote. [Time expired.]
Cope will not be supporting Budget Vote 26. [Interjections.] During her reply on the Budget Vote, the hon Minister declared, "Don't bother sending me your speech." Some of the new generation of Ministers no longer believe in being accountable to Parliament, as is required by the Constitution. Does the Minister know what the Constitution demands of her? If she did, she would have already informed Parliament about who the new owners of certain farms in the North West province are, after I raised the question.
She must also inform Parliament how the Makatini cotton gin plant, now owned by the department, is progressing, and what quantity of cotton is being grown and milled there. The hon Minister must also furnish this House with a report on the Letsitele Valley farms, the Magwa tea estate in the Eastern Cape and the Zebediela estate.
The Minister has displayed a lack of commitment to the Constitution as well as to the plight of farmers and farmworkers. Farm security and food security are more compromised than ever before. Therefore, Cope cannot in good conscience support this Vote. Thank you.
My observation is that if my father was still in music, he would have seen a beautiful hymn developing out of the small, smaller and smallest DA, as represented by the liberals, Cope and the ID. [Laughter.]
The ANC wishes to further declare its support for Budget Vote No 26. We do so in view of the priorities set by our ably-led President Zuma's government. At their apex is job creation. The chief focus remains that of promoting small-scale fisheries, farmers and forestry plantation producers, while sustaining responsible commercial sectors in the respective areas of responsibility. Part of this focus is directed at empowering, among others, the military veterans of our people, the youth and the women, alongside people living with disabilities.
We shall continue to ensure that we support a department that promotes and creates an environment conducive to having enough safe food for all in South Africa. The ANC continues to support Budget Vote No 26.
Division demanded.
The House divided:
AYES - 219 (ANC - 206; IFP - 6; FF Plus - 1; ACDP - 2; UCDP - 2; PAC - 1;