Chairperson, in the short term the green economy will have the potential to increase demand for green jobs already existing, such as solar water heating technicians, solar energy system engineers, power distributors and dispatchers, thermal fuel technicians, gas generation system technicians, solar sales representatives, assessors and many more.
Eskom, through its expansion building programme, has employed an estimated 13 954 people, who are scattered in, for example, the Waterberg in Limpopo, Nkangala in Mpumalanga, and uThukela in KwaZulu-Natal. These are all the subsidiaries that are responding to the call of the President to ensure that job opportunities are created. Eskom is continuing to ensure that it trains many young people. Its strategy is to ensure that we have future generations that will lead Eskom and ensure that power generation does not fail.
The AU has declared 2010 to 2020 as the African Women's decade. This includes, amongst other things, fighting poverty and promoting economic empowerment of women's entrepreneurship; education; women's being involved in decision-making; and mentoring of the youth.
The solar water heater component has gone a long way, as it has spread throughout the whole country. As you go all over the provinces you can see the giant steps taken in delivery by the ANC-led government, with all the houses having solar water heaters on their roofs. Minister, this means that we must definitely make sure that there is collaboration between the Departments of Energy, of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Cogta, and of Human Settlements to ensure that the delivery of green housing to our communities becomes effective.
The above project has created massive job opportunities. However, hon Minister, the solar water project can do even more, as the department is still looking at a strategy to maintain the solar water heaters. I can confirm, that through the EWSeta, the FET colleges, and the universities of technology, there can be more collaboration in ensuring that we develop more skills for our country.
Chairperson, on 24 March 2010 the Cabinet took a decision to replace the biannual Imbizo Week with public participation programmes. They are designed to be of qualitative value for the communities. Both the Minister and the Deputy Minister are required to have 10 public participation programmes, PPPs, annually, which focus primarily on various mandates: educating communities, interaction between government and communities, and issues that relate to service delivery.
The hon Minister and Deputy Minister had 45 PPPs, which means they have delivered on the mandate that they were given by the President.
In conclusion, let me quote from one of the greatest icons, a freedom fighter, Martin Luther King Jr. [Interjections.] You wish!
Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.
With these words, I support the Budget Vote, but before I close, let me say this. It is very surprising, hon Minister, that ...
... labanye bantfu banemancendze. Emancendze-ke ngulentfo lekutsiwa ngemagcubu. Bomnumzane Greyling-ke basenemagcubu ekutsi basengakaliphatsi lelive. Manje, tinhlitiyo tabo tisacacamba, batfunukwa nanguloku lokwentekako. Labanye banetinhlitiyo letibuhlungu ngekutsi ... (Translation of Siswati paragraph follows.)
[... some people have grudges. Grudges are persistent feelings of resentment. Mr Greyling and others are still begrudging that they are not yet in power. Therefore, their hearts are throbbing; they are also aggravated by what is happening. Some are bitter because ...]
... the ID is already dead! [Laughter.] [Time expired.]