Chairperson, Deputy President, comrades and members of the House, the South African colonial experience was based and is based on the intersection of class, race and gender relations of power. These distinctive social and biological features have been used in human history to exclude, repress and stifle the progress of individuals and communities. The struggle against colonialism of a special type sought to eliminate most of the manifestations of these unequal social relations. It sought to establish the best in human civilisation and a value system that promotes solidarity.
Even in the midst of bitter confrontation, the ANC developed moral values of human compassion and solidarity far beyond the narrow confines of its opposition to apartheid. It represented something good; it asserted the humanness of the human spirit and societies at peace within and among themselves. Those like the DA, who build open toilets in African communities, indeed, are opposed to this national democratic society that is being built by the ANC. [Interjections.]
The national democratic revolution seeks to build a society based on the best in human civilisation in terms of political and human freedoms, socioeconomic rights, value systems and a national identity. Apartheid colonialism visited such devastating consequences on black communities. It ordered the ownership and control of wealth in such a manner that these communities were deliberately excluded and neglected.
Fundamental to the destruction of apartheid is the eradication of apartheid production relations which are still persistent in our national democratic society that we are building. This is more than just an issue of social justice. It is about the fact that these relations have become a brake on the advancement of technology and competitiveness of the economy.
The ANC seeks to build a national democratic society founded on a thriving economy, the structure of which should reflect the natural environments of the country and creativity that a skilled population can offer. It should be an economy in which cutting-edge technology, labour-absorbing industrial development, a thriving small business and corporate sector, utilisation of information and communication technologies and efficient forms of production and management all combine to ensure national prosperity.
The ANC's vision finds expression in the establishment of the Jobs Fund of R9 billion announced by the President during his state of the nation address to finance new job creation initiatives. In addition thereto, the R10 billion which has been set aside by the Industrial Development Corporation, as announced by the President, for investment in such economic activities with a high jobs potential further strengthens the Jobs Fund initiative of the President.
Hon Chairperson, let me argue further that the thriving economy that the national democratic society should be founded on requires deracialisation of ownership and control of wealth, including land, management and the professions. The national democratic society will have a mixed economy with state co-operatives and other forms of social ownership and private capital.
The national democratic society should use the redistributive mechanisms of the fiscus to provide the safety net for the poor. Built into its social policy should be comprehensive social security which includes elements of a social wage such as social grants, basic services, free education, subsidised public transport, basic accommodation and free health care.
The developmental state that we are building has provided large-scale access to these services that I have mentioned. Nevertheless, poverty, joblessness, HIV and Aids and the exclusion of women from economic activity still persist. Furthermore, as stated by the President in his state of the nation address:
While many South Africans celebrate the delivery of houses, electricity or water, there are yet many others who are still waiting. The legacy of decades of apartheid underdevelopment and colonial oppression cannot be undone in only 17 years. But we are forging ahead, determined to achieve our mission of building a better life for all.
Hon Chairperson, I wonder if the DA is prepared to tell its constituency that the economy of South Africa is still only meant for the privileged minority and that the vast majority are still excluded from economic activities and opportunities. [Interjections.] Is the DA prepared to inform its constituency that the so-called service delivery protests are not about the ANC's failure, but, indeed, poverty and their dismal living conditions while the wealth of their country is in the hands of a few? The wealth of this country is still in the hands of a few. The redistribution mechanisms need to be dealt with. That is a reality that we need to face in order to address the fundamentals that, as the democratic society, we are seeking to establish.
Umlenzana usekhona. [Kwahlekwa.] [Discrimination still exists. [Laughter.]]
In conclusion, for the national democratic revolution to realise our vision of a developmental state, we should strengthen the organs of people's power. The following are the cornerstones: the community police forums in which the people should be active participants in ensuring that they protect themselves against all forms of crime; health forums; education forums; and ward committees so that they can participate in all developmental activities that are to take place in residential areas. The organs of people's power should be at the centre of ensuring participatory democracy, and a people-centred and a people-driven state.
The capacitation of these organs of people's power is fundamental to ensure cohesion and visionary leadership within our communities. These structures should not only be capable of expressing the needs of communities, but should be able to deliver on those needs. The cohesion that the national democratic society seeks to build will stand or fall by our ability or inability to successfully master and manage these organs of people's power for the realisation of our vision. I thank you.