Bona, ga re ikoketse magetla ka maje! [Look, we don't lie about our capabilities!]
This Budget Vote is supported with a view to leveraging the company's advanced managerial capability in support of the industrialisation drive, aligned with the Industrial Policy Action Plan. To this effect, we should ensure that the SA Police Service, Department of Defence and Military Veterans and other security agencies of the state use the strategic capability of Denel in their operations.
However, we wish to caution the management of Denel about certain bloodsuckers called consultants. In this case, it would be those former employees of an organisation who resigned and became consultants because they saw a gap in their organisation as it relied on so-called project managers or consultants.
Alexkor is a very important company, particularly now, due to the strategic interests of the state and sundry in the mining sector. Certainly, Alexkor had challenges before. However, we also recognise that the current board is turning the tide and is working hard to make it a profitable entity. Ours as the portfolio committee is to ensure that we support it so that it can develop and implement financially sustainable plans.
We also want to put it on record that the privatisation of Alexkor is not an option. The state should rather diversify its operations. With the issue of beneficiation being high on the agenda, we therefore urge Alexkor to frame a new future with significant and strategic national impact. We also support all the intentions to diversify its operations, such as the focus on mining of other minerals, for example lime.
I should also mention that the ANC government is strongly opposed to corruption of any sort. We view it as a cancer that does not have a place in our society at large. [Interjections.]
Nyaa ga ba ntshse. [No, they don't scare me.]
We are happy to inform this House that the report by the trustees on the investigation into the allegations of financial mismanagement by Alexkor Development Foundation has not been ignored and that the matter has been referred to the Master of the High Court. We further recommend that the outcomes of the investigation should not gather dust but be acted upon.
The forest resources of South Africa represent a considerable natural asset for economic growth. Most of the forests exist on communal land, where a number of value-added opportunities can be explored for small growers.
We urge Safcol to intensify the implementation of the land restitution strategy for claims over the Komatiland Forests land claims settlement model to ensure meaningful benefits to the successful land claimants over the medium term.
Whereas we recognise that the forestry industry has been faced with subdued demand and slower household consumption, particularly from traditional export markets such as the US and Europe, we remain deeply concerned about declining revenues and the general performance of this entity. We urge Safcol to become bold and innovative in assessing its business model and value proposition. It should plan for its sustainability.
In conclusion, as we begin the fifth administration of the democratic government, we should learn from an idiom of the Batswana people of Southern Africa to set the pace for our programme. The saying is:
Tloga tloga e tloga kgale, modisa wa dikgomo otswa natso sakeng. [Time and tide wait for no man.]
This important lesson applies to all of us to make sure that, right from the beginning of the term, we align the mandate and strategies of the public enterprises with the programme of the government of the day and to move together on one footing with the Minister and the department, public entities and the portfolio committee to ensure accountability and improved performance.
Once again, on behalf of the ANC, we support Budget Vote No 11 of the Department of Public Enterprises.
Motlotlegi Modulasetulo, ke a leboga. [Hon Chairperson, I thank you.] [Applause.]