Chairperson, hon Minister, the DA supports sustainable, equitable rural development and land reform to address the imbalances of the past. We believe in an open opportunity society where all citizens are equal and are given equal opportunities to accomplish their goals and realise their aspirations using sustainable rural development and land reform.
The DA is, however, concerned about the inadequate Budget allocation to the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. The R6, non-breaking space 7 billion allocated to the department is too little to fully execute its mandate. This should be viewed in the context of the department's failure to finish the restitution of land rights programme due to insufficient funds in the 2009-10 Budget.
Poor land claimants pinned their hopes on the Budget for the 2010-11 financial year to address their outstanding claims. Farmers who signed contracts with the department also hoped that they would get money in the next Budget, as the previous Budget was exhausted. The department changed its plan and forgot about commitments they made that were worth over R3 billion.
Farmers and land claimants feel betrayed and some intend going to court to force the department to honour its signed commitment to purchase farms. Some farmers are seeking legal advice against the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform.
The 2010-11 Budget was supposed to address the backlogs and move forward on a clean sheet, but unfortunately Budget constraints will continue to impede progress. People's patience is being tested dangerously by a small Budget allocation. It is unacceptable to keep people waiting for justice for too long.
The land restitution programme has been allocated a mere R1,5 billion. Effectively, the restitution programme can use only R800 million to buy farms. This budget is way below the R3 billion that is owed to farmers. The restitution of land rights is one of the constitutional imperatives to address the pertinent land rights issues of those who were forcefully removed from their ancestral land.
The DA is concerned that the department has shifted focus from restitution to rural development and land reform. Land restitution is an emotional issue, which deserves attention and needs to be addressed urgently. It should be placed as priority number one and be settled.
The DA welcomes the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and the Industrial Development Corporation's initiated programme of creating 54 business centres in rural areas. We commend their bold move, because business in the rural areas declined due to a lack of financial support. That led to young entrepreneurs moving from rural areas to urban centres. This initiative will boost the economy in the rural areas and thereby create hope for the hopeless. It will open up opportunities to millions of unemployed youth.
The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, through the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme, should embrace the NAFCOC and IDC's programmes. The department's focus on initiation and facilitation, of being the catalyst and driver of development in the rural areas, must include private sectors such as mining and agriculture.
These two private sectors are doing business in the rural areas. People in the rural areas need infrastructure upgrades and development. The creation of job opportunities will change the face of rural areas.
The department's focus on 160 wards with regard to the CRDP over the next four years poses a serious threat. It makes people lose patience because it covers a small area. It is a drop in the ocean of unemployment and underdevelopment in the rural areas.
President Zuma raised people's hopes when he announced in his state of the nation address that people in the rural areas must have a better life. They expect to be provided with basic services and have shops to buy the things they need. The President also announced that rural development and land reform is one of the government's top five priorities. The masses in the rural areas listened when the President announced that they deserved a good life and well-maintained infrastructure to lead a better life. People were happy that government finally acknowledged them.
It is our concern that it seems as if the President's announcement is not aligned to the Budget. The budget of the department does not show or confirm that this department receives the attention it deserves. People in the rural areas still share their drinking water in the rivers with animals, they have no proper roads, have fewer job opportunities and no sewerage.
Until development and upgrading is done and services are rendered in the rural areas, people will move from the rural areas to the cities and urban centres. Rural development has the capacity to make people stay where they are if allocated an adequate budget and if officials with the knowledge, skills, expertise and relevant qualifications are employed.
When appointing staff, merit and quality should be considered to ensure that we have engineers, architects and highly experienced, qualified managers and administrators. Highly qualified staff in the department will help to deliver on their mandate. People will always want to live a better life, therefore those who leave rural areas for the cities think that life will be better. They end up living in shacks and commit crime if they don't find employment.
The DA is concerned about the department's proposal to amend the Constitution. The proposed amendment to section 25 of the Constitution will scare investors and experienced farmers. It is a real threat to food production and to the right to private property.