Chairperson, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, comrades and fellow South Africans, on this day, 17 June 2009, we shall salute the youth of South Africa for the bravery they demonstrated, in most instances, with bare hands, fearlessly challenging the cowardly apartheid security forces which were armed to the teeth and which maimed and killed innocent young people, the future of our country. Long live the undying spirit of the June 16 detachment. Long live!
HON MEMBERS: Long live!
It is fitting that we dedicate this Budget Vote debate to these young gallant warriors of our land for without their sacrifices, at times supreme, both enemies and friends of our liberation wouldn't be enjoying the freedoms we are enjoying today, let alone abusing them. They continue to live in squalor; unemployed, living sick lives. In short, they are heroes of yesteryears but now find themselves absolutely marginalised.
Comrades, I know that it would be better that we're late than sorry in our interventions. Together we must do something through Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Together we must prioritise this class of June 16 in all programmes that we continue to be engaged in, always and everywhere.
Lest we forget where the policies we are implementing originated from, both our enemies and friends born 54 years ago at the Congress of the People ...
Hhayi lomkokotelo esiwubonayo kulamalanga. [Ihlombe.][Not the fakes that we see these days. [Applause.]]
The Freedom Charter progressively continues to instruct us: "The land shall be shared among those who work it! ... the land redivided amongst those who work it to banish famine and land hunger."
The Commander in Chief of our country, President Zuma, in his address at the launch of the people's manifesto in January 2009, further reminded us that, I quote: "Lasting victory over poverty and hunger require the creation of sustainable livelihoods."
The Commander-in-Chief, upon being inaugurated, reminded all of us of the commitments we pledged to our people and to the world, among others, that "For as long as there are rural dwellers unable to make a decent living from the land on which they live ... we shall not rest, and we dare not falter" in our drive to eradicate poverty.
These are not scarecrows or wishful ideas, for we have already seen these messages translated into activity plans by some of us in our respective responsibilities. Indeed, the time for laziness and complacency must be over, especially among officials of government. It must be about business unusual, for we have engaged a new gear towards our drive for a better life for all. If you cannot drive, or you are hiding behind your contract of employment, you'd better think trice this time around. Ours is an oversight role that must ensure that the department delivers on its mandate, "Food for all", and that it contributes its part of creating jobs for all.
Agriculture accounts for 3% of GDP, with its role in the export of nongold products standing at 8% to 10%. In the formal employment sector, agriculture accounts for 10%. Most of these figures are derived from the grain and meat subsectors in agriculture.
Whilst this must be encouraged, we must not lose sight of the role that horticulture plays and can play in further boosting this sector of our economy. The research results of a Harvard panelist report points us precisely in this direction. The empirical evidence does show us, therefore, that for every hectare in the cut flower industry, 20 jobs are created, whilst in the seasonal citrus fruit industry, 60 to 80 jobs are created for every 20 hectares.
Comrade Minister, targets of this nature and more are critical towards achieving President Zuma's instruction of creating no less than 500 000 jobs by December this year.
Whilst all this is expected to be done without excuses, support must be readily available. With regard to the redistributed land, post-settlement support is urgent for us as a nation to address. As part of creating sustainable livelihoods, partnerships must be created across the board.
In our townships, homes and schools we must be able to harness these partnerships in making use of unused ground towards engaging in plantation activities. At the same time, especially in farming communities, each school must have agriculture as a subject, Minister, so that when these learners go on vacation, they are able to make good use of their education at these homes and schools.
Our patriotic established farmers have a role to play in partnerships and joint ventures with emerging farmers. This becomes a shift in focus from a mentoring programme.
Having interacted with AgriSA's Mr Mller and Mr Van der Merwe in the past two days, I have confidence that, together with the established sector in agriculture, we can do more in such partnerships. They are here among us. I would imagine they should be able to attest to this.
Finance remains a sore point in the agriculture industry. The capped R100 000 per project of the Micro-Agricultural Finance Initiative of South Africa's - Mafisa - remains a drop in the ocean for a hungry black farmer. Minister, a moratorium must be imposed on the Land Bank's ongoing attachments and repossessions of poor black farmers' assets as a matter of urgency. [Applause.]
Apart from such barbaric acts by the Land Bank - as if that is not enough, for a developmental finance institution - they continue to charge prime plus 4% interest expected in repayment in the first month of a loan. This puts the bank in direct competition with commercial banks, rather than serving its developmental mandate of growing this poor sector of our economy. [Interjections.] We are progressive here and we all want to be seen as progressive. Perhaps we need to engage here as to whether it isn't time that we return this fully staffed bank with all its capacities to the Department of Agriculture.
Lastly, with regard to finance, through the Co-operative Banks Act, small farmers must indeed begin to form their own co-operative banks. With a proper road and rail infrastructure, we shall indeed be faster and more efficient in delivering produce to distribution points, whether for local or export market purposes.
Whilst we cry foul about not being competitive, such basics must be put in place to avoid situations like the one we have in the Eastern Cape, where a budget has not been was approved since last year for a road from Patensie to Hankey. As we speak, the road still hasn't been built.
In conclusion, at the centre of all of these initiatives there must be an engagement of yesteryears' and today's youth, for we shall be investing in the future of our nation. I quote again: "For as long as there are rural dwellers unable to make a decent living from the land on which they live ... we shall not rest, and we dare not falter" in our drive to eradicate poverty. The ANC supports Budget Vote 23. Thank you, Chair. [Applause.]