That is why you are able to say that. Say thanks to us! [Interjections.] Thank you, hon Chair. [Applause.]
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL
AFFAIRS: Hon House Chairperson, as I was walking to the podium, I thought they will say malibongwe [praise the name] but there was nothing ... [Interjections.] ... hon Minister Gugile Nkwinti and hon Minister Angie Motshekga, hon members, fellow South Africans, distinguished guests and ladies and gentlemen, I greet you.
It is an honour for me to stand before you today and take part in this important debate on Human Rights Day, accelerating socioeconomic transformation - the key to human rights and a better future for all.
Our Constitution lays the foundation for an open society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights and is hailed worldwide as very progressive. This means that as the supreme law in our country, everybody's actions should always be consistent to its provisions and principles. Democracy and freedom have rules and responsibilities that have to be respected and guarded by all. The rights we enjoy today have limitations as the Constitution dictates.
As a country and the people within the constitutional state, all laws, policies or codes of conduct must pass the test of
constitutionality by keeping with the latter and the spirit of the Constitution. At the dawn of a new life, our practical actions must ensure that none can challenge us when we say; we are a nation at work to build a better life.
The government of the ANC is committed to a coherent and effective approach to economic development by all South Africans, working together in partnership to free our people of poverty and unemployment. March 21 in South Africa is Human Rights Day. It is a day in which more than many others capture the essence of the struggle of the South African people and the soul of our nonracial democracy.
March 21st is the day on which we remember and sing praises to those who perished in the name of democracy and human dignity. It is also a day on which we reflect and assess the progress we are making in enshrining basic human rights and values.
We seek to build an economy in which the state, private capital, co- operatives and other forms of social ownership complement each other. Economic growth and transformation require an effective, democratic and developmental state that is able to mobilise society to take part in the implementation of a common national agenda.
Our drive for human dignity and basic rights is premised on the development of our country and the improvement of the living conditions of our people. These freedoms whose virtue we are extolling will be meaningless in the face of grinding poverty and underdevelopment unless we grow and ensure that the economy embraces all and indeed our people participate in the economic rights and activities.
The Bill of Rights in our Constitution clearly prohibits barbaric acts and humiliation that our people thus far are being subjected to. Some of the rights enshrined in the Bill of Rights are the right to life, equality, human dignity, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, freedom of association, political rights and the right to peaceful assembly and demonstration. These are normal rights that are guaranteed in most democratic countries because they ensure democracy and freedom.
The government is making real progress in accelerating the programmes for the improvement of the people's quality of life. Together, in the spirit of growing South Africa, we can make South Africa a winning nation.
There are major infrastructure gaps however, with regard to the access of distribution and levels of services. We need to almost double the scale of the current infrastructure.
The country needs to double its capacity to generate electricity, hence the building of Medupi and Kusile, so that the suffering of our people can be mitigated. The pride of every municipality also is to provide reliable services. They must supply electricity, water and sanitation.
The grass must be cut on the verges of the roads, refuse must be removed, potholes must be covered, municipal clinics must be functional and all other services must be provided continuously. That is giving dignity to our people and respecting their human rights.
A functional municipality must manage its finances prudently and efficiently. It must collect revenue and also pay its bills. Vacancies must be filled by competent, experienced and knowledgeable managers because this will be about giving dignity to our people and respecting their human rights.
Given the challenges we face in many of our municipalities, we have decided to put more effort on fixing our municipalities, and currently implementing an extensive Municipal Recovery Programme in all provinces, based on the Back to Basics programme because it is a right thing to do and also that our people deserve the dignity to enjoy their human rights.
It is estimated that 58% of South African roads are gravel. We are doing more to invest as an ANC government on the roads to deal with the backlog, in particular, in the rural areas and encouraging investors to come in and invest. Seventy percent of existing roads require urgent repair. Almost half of South Africa's rail network has low capacity due to slow growth of the economy. However, this was a result of the impact of the global economic meltdown of 2008 because our economy is linked to the global economy itself. If global economy slows down, ours will do the same.
South African rain patterns are also scarce; we are a water scarce country. We are investing on the infrastructure so as to preserve as much water as we can. This is a very important investment that we ought to do as the government of the ANC.
In the past 25 years, as we celebrate on some of the improvements on quality of life, we are encouraged and proud that the ANC-led government has built 3,5 million houses to give dignity to our people. With houses, comes access to water, electricity and roads that are also being constructed. Siyaqhuba [we moving forward] and we say that is giving dignity to our people on this Human Rights Day.
The target is moving one. In 1994, the population was just
38 million and now in 2019 it is 57,7 million, hence the ANC is now saying that, come this year's general elections, if it voted to into power, it will build more one million houses in the next five years because we can do, we have been doing and we will continue doing to deliver the houses.
The government of the ANC remains committed to building a better world that is also human, just, credible and democratic.
Our economic vision rests on the Freedom Charter's clarion call that the people shall share in the country's wealth. Through economic transformation, we intend to build an equitable society in which there is decent work for all. This means taking decisive and resolute actions to overcome the triple challenges of poverty,
inequality and unemployment, which is at the heart of South Africa's challenges.
We reiterate the conclusion of the 52nd national conference that our most effective weapon in the campaign against poverty is the creation of decent work and creating work requires faster and in more inclusive growth.
If we can work in this infrastructure aspect, we will contribute to socioeconomic aspect. We welcome the President's Investments Summit as a mitigating factor to address the backlogs on the infrastructure and growing our economy. Government's contribution to the Infrastructure Fund will be in excess of R400 billion over the next three years, with additional sources being sought from the private sector. The plan also includes investment in municipal social infrastructure improvement which includes basic services such as water, electricity and sanitation. We will be able to deal with the spillages into the rivers because we know and are aware of those challenges and are indeed doing something to improve the lives of the people.
The National Development Plan, NDP, stipulates that South Africa's energy sector will promote economic growth and development, social equity and sustainability.
Allow me to conclude the human rights debate by making a Cogta Thuma Mina pledge. I want to be there when our people turn municipalities around. Send me, when they triumph over poverty, unemployment and inequality, I want to be there, send me! [Applause.]
I want to be there for the indigent, the unemployed and those in the informal settlements. I want to lend a hand when our people fight against rigging of tenders, fraud and corruption; send me, so that we can get rid of those in society.
I want to be there when our people eliminate crime, violence and the abuse of women and children. I want to be there in the fight against HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and cancer; I want to be there, send me there! I want to be there to ensure food security and healthy lifestyles; send me!
I want to be there when our people fight for land and get involved in the agrarian revolution. I want to be there when our people clean the streets of our towns and cities to reclaim our dignity and
pride. I want to be there when our people fix the potholes, broken lights and cut the grass on the verge of the roads.
I want to be there when we save our people from natural and man-made disasters such as floods, drought, fires or vehicle accidents; send me! I want to be there when our people share in the country's wealth to be included in a growing and vibrant economy.
I want to lend a hand in the struggle to improve the lives of all South Africans. I want to be there when we build a caring, compassionate and tolerant society.
I want to be there for the nation-building, social cohesion and the protection of all human rights. The ANC can be trusted. The ANC carries the aspirations of all South Africans. Put it back into power; we are tried and tested. We assure you that whatever were the challenges, we will be able to deal with them. We are an xperienced organisation. The ANC is there for you. Vote for ANC come May 8 elections. Thank you very much. [Applause.]