As with everything in life, though, there are the exceptions, and for those exceptions I want to thank you very much. However, to the rest of the members of this department that work there I say, "Shame on you!" The example of reconciliation, selfless service and genuine care set so magnificently by our former President, Nelson Mandela, has been forgotten and disrespected by most of the public servants in this department.
The DA recognises that the legacy of hundreds of years of imperialism and colonialism, and ultimately the legislation of apartheid, has left the majority of our indigenous people landless and impoverished. This legacy needs to be redressed and rural development and land reform are one of the most important vehicles to lift the yoke of dependency that weighs so heavily on our poor, rural communities.
Jou verantwoordelikheid en di van jou amptenare is om die ondraaglike stand van sake om te keer, deur die beleid van die regering deur te voer en om te sorg dat wat gedoen moet word, gedoen word. Daar is nie kortpaadjies nie; net harde werk en toewyding is nodig. [Tussenwerpsels.] Die R8,87 miljard per jaar kan baie ver gaan om regstelling, restitusie en versoening te bewerkstellig, maar slegs as dit eerlik en met integriteit gebruik word. Dit is ongelukkig tans nie die geval in hierdie departement nie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[It is your responsibility, as well as that of your officials, to turn this unbearable state of affairs around by implementing the policies of government and making sure that whatever needs to be done gets done. There are no short cuts; only hard work and dedication are needed. [Interjections.]
The R8,87 billion per annum could be stretched far enough to bring about redress, restitution and reconciliation, but only if it is used in an honest manner and with integrity. Unfortunately it is not the case in this department at the moment.]
The central objective of creating vibrant, equitable and sustainable rural environments and communities, and food security for all, cannot be opposed by any sane person. However, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. The outcomes and sustainability of this department's rural development and land reform projects more often than not flatter only to deceive.
This deception, unfortunately, also goes hand in hand with corruption. The examples and anecdotal accounts are legion.
Ngomso siza kuxoxa ngalaa meko yaseMuyexe apho umcebisi weli sebe athe watya imali yeprojekthi yoomama ezizigidi zeerandi. Eli Igosa limkile nemali, ngoku abantu bashiyeke benetyala. [Uwelewele.] Siza kuyixoxao ngomso le nto, mhlekazi. Bekufanele ukuba ixoxiwe kwiveki ephelileyo, kodwa ke siza kuyixoxa ngomso. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[Tomorrow we will be debating the Muyexe situation, in which one of the consultants of this department misappropriated millions of rand allocated to a women's project. He is gone and the people are left with a huge debt now. [Interjections.] We will debate this tomorrow, sir. It was supposed to have been debated last week, but we will debate it tomorrow.]
There are very serious allegations of major corruption in the mentorship programme, where mentors are helping themselves, and not their mentees. This, and the practice of buying productive and going concerns and then allowing them to collapse due to corrupt and nepotistic beneficiary identification, all serve to undermine the objectives of this department.
The President has identified 23 districts for priority attention.
Mphathiswa, ndothuke kule veki iphelileyo xa bendibuza ukuba kutheni kukho ikomiti enye yabachaphazelekayo eMhlontlo yabachaphazelekayo kodwa uMongameli wachongae iiwWadi ezine. Ndiye ndachazelwe ligosa ukuba uSodolophu kunye noMphathiswa wedolophu banomdla kakhulu wokuyikhokela laa nkqubo. Ndiye ndaqonda ukuba ikhona into apha engahambi kakuhle. [Kwahlekwa.] (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[Hon Minister, last week when I was enquiring about the stakeholders' committee in Mhlontlo, I was shocked to learn that there was only one such committee, whereas the President had identified four wards. I was informed by an official that the mayor and the municipal manager were very interested in leading the programme. I realised there and then that something was not right. [Laughter.]]
This situation defies the whole idea of devolving responsibility, accountability and oversight to ward level. This situation, in fact, creates an environment where "big" people end up controlling, instead of aligning the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme with local municipal integrated development plans. Controlling these programmes allows these "big" people - ...
... mamela, mhlekazi - ... [... listen, sir - ...]
... to abuse their power to their own advantage, and not use it to, the advantage of the people who should be uplifted by these programmes. [Interjections.]
HON MEMBERS: Hear! Hear! [Interjections.]