Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister and hon members, I would like to start by aligning myself with the Minister by complimenting the department for its improved audit report, although there were points of emphasis highlighted by the Auditor-General.
The rural areas are blessed with a natural beauty that, when used properly, could unleash South Africa's tourism potential. However, many rural areas across the country are experiencing a crisis with regard to resources and service delivery.
Historically the rural areas of South Africa were characterised by unusually high levels of poverty and joblessness, combined with very limited employment in the agricultural sphere. Sadly not much has changed in the new South Africa for rural communities, despite the few rural development advances made by government over the years. The neglect of the majority of rural communities and their needs still continues. Rural communities bear the biggest burden of poverty in South Africa. All forms of unemployment are the highest in the rural areas.
In the light of the above challenges, we welcome the department's strategy of addressing rural youth unemployment through its National Rural Youth Service Corps, which was launched in 2010. The training programme that our rural youth will undergo - that is, farming, building, discipline and life skills - will go a long way towards easing the burden of poverty among our youth. No doubt these programmes will increase the employability and self- employment capability of these young men. We hope that the department will continue with its nonpartisan approach to this programme.
However, the department seems to be moving at a slow pace in reducing the suffering experienced by people in rural areas. Why do I say this? Many of our people in rural communities still lack access to clean water and sanitation. There is also very little economic development taking place in rural communities.
Adding insult to the rural poor's injury is the extremely slow pace of land restitution. Thousands of our people have been on the list of the department's outstanding land restitution claims for years. Some have even lost hope of their claims' ever being resolved. Others are dead by now.
Actually, I cannot align myself more with Thangana, the chairperson of this portfolio committee, regarding the land issue. There is no way that we can achieve that. The UDM supports the Vote. [Time expired.] [Applause.]