Hon Chair, the hon Minister, the hon Deputy Ministers, the hon Chair of the Portfolio Committee hon members of the portfolio committee, hon members, ladies and gentlemen. Chair, I think for the record we must state that our portfolio committee yesterday adopted the report unanimously by all political parties with no objections.
I am going to focus on the issue of African Renaissance. Africa must take its rightful place in the global politics and development of the continent. There are a number of instruments that we can use to achieve this goal of Africa taking its rightful place in global politics and development. Fortunately, for us who are now in the sixth administration, our predecessors were visionary leaders who in their wisdom established an instrument called an African Renaissance International Cooperation Fund, ARF, to take the African agenda forward. The ARF Fund was established immediately after 1994. The democratic government took a deliberate decision to establish this fund to promote the development, assistance and to consolidate peace and reconstruction in Africa and elsewhere in the world. The fund was thus established in the year 2000 pursuant to act of Parliament, the African Renaissance International Cooperation Fund Act 51 of 2000. One of the objectives of the ARF is to promote democracy and good governance.
The ARF would continue to support the Southern African Development Community, SADC, election observer missions. Minister, the holding Minister of democratic elections is
considered critical socioeconomic development of the continent and the region. There are 10 countries that are due to go for elections in the 2019/20 year. Of these, five would from the SADC region, that is, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa. Of course South Africa has just had its own elections recently. The ANC-led government believes that building strong institutions would enable South Africa to entrench the culture of good governance as well as efficiency and responsiveness, which is an integral part of Africa's renewal programme.
The ARF would continue to pursue its strategic objectives as outlined in the ARF Act 51 of 2000 with more emphasis on the provisions of loans and investment projects to fulfil these strategic objectives. The good story to tell about this RAF is that, the ARF granted its first loan to the government of Cuba, which is inline with the RAF future strategy of focussing on loans and infrastructure investment. This will aid in re- capitalising the ARF amid reduce allocations. Cuba is reported to have already and paid its loan in full. We therefore thank
and commend the Cuban government for honouring its commitment to this noble cause.
IsiXhosa:
I-ANC iyaqhuba, vumani booo!
AmaLungu ahloniphekileyo: Siyavumaaaa!
English:
The world continues to experience in natural disasters. The fund enables South Africa to be counted amongst those who strive to restore human dignity and bring relief to the people in distress as and when humanitarian situations arise.
One of the strives that we have also made as a country on behalf of the African Continent is that, South Africa is one of the largest footprints in the world when it comes to foreign policy implementation. I think this should be celebrated by all Africans across the continent. Hon Chair, the signing of free trade agreements amongst African countries creates more space and opportunities for African countries to trade amongst
themselves thus boosting the African continent's economic growth for the benefit of Africa and the world.
This positive development should be commended by all of us. Charity begins at home. Local is lekker. Furthermore, the signing of this free trade agreement also repositions Africa as one big market that can now compete with other countries and continents from a position of strength than that of weakness, making Africa a force to be reckoned with in the world.
IsiZulu:
Iyahamba le moto kaHulumeni oholwa uKhongolose. Bathi-ke imoto ehambayo izinja ziyayikhonkotha kodwa emile ziyayichamela. Manje sebethi ehlehlela emuva ziyayidunusela njenge-DA. Dunuduna!