Hon House Chair, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon members in the House, Chief Whip of the Majority Party, my comrades and guests in the gallery, the Department of Defence and Military Veterans derives its mandate from the Military Veterans Act, which requires it to provide national policy and standards for socioeconomic support to the military veterans and their dependents including benefits and entitlements to realise a dignified, unified empowered and self- sufficient military veterans community.
With the support from the department, more than 17 000 military veterans have been authorised for access to healthcare services across the country. The department can improve access through strengthening of intergovernmental relations and the allocation of a sufficient budget.
Afrikaans:
Ons het die samewerking van provinsiale regering sowel as munisipaliteite nodig om dit 'n werklikheid te maak.
English:
We must focus on alignment and co-ordination across all spheres of government and entities, engagement with provincial governments through the Offices of the Premiers and SA Local Government Association, Salga can assist in fast tracking veteran's desk in municipalities. Establishment of those desks will ensure that the relevant important information pertaining veterans can be accessed easily and share with the veterans and their families.
This will also assist in the speedily completion of the database as well as the monitoring of the spending budget. The department will contribute to a number of outcomes in the National Development Plan, NDP and the Medium- Term Strategic Framework through improving its services. Hon Chairperson my focus will be on the socioeconomic support. A certain amount is allocated for heritage, memorials, burials and honouring military veterans.
I am proud to be part of the ANC, a movement striving to change in ensuring a dignified lifestyle, a safe and humane and healthy environment for military veterans. Recognizing the role Military Veterans played in the democratisation of South Africa ties into NDP's aspirations to realise a developmental, capable and ethical state that treats its citizens with dignity.
Acknowledging Military Veterans for their contributions deepen social cohesion and national unity. I want to urge the department to look into the Memorandum of Understanding, MOU with the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation to speed up the process of building houses and to monitor the implementation thereof.
The department plans to provide 7 466 education and training bursaries to Military Veterans and their dependents in each year over the medium term.
Afrikaans:
Dit is weereens 'n versekering dat ons as die African National Congress baie ernstig is oor die bemagtiging van ons jeug. Ek
wil egter die department aanmoedig om deur middel van bewusmakingsprogramme veral in ons afgele plattelandse gebiede ons gemeenskappe in te lig oor die voordele van hierdie spesifieke program.
English:
The Castle Control Board, which is a Schedule 3A public entity, is responsible for the overall management, maintenance and promotion of the Castle of Good Hope as a heritage site and tourist attraction. In terms of the legislative mandate, the organization is expected to provide a range of public services on behalf of the Department of Defence and Military Veterans.
The Board's mission is to be a service orientated public entity, striving to create an environment where national pride serves to build an internationally known and recognized cultural and heritage brand for Ubuntu, dialogue, nation building and human rights recognition.
The vision is to be a globally significant, truly accessible centre that displays South Africa's shared heritage. The
objections in the Act tie in with the NDP in the same way like the promotion of tourism, because the NDP is clear on the strategic role of tourism as a driver for economic growth and job creation. My question or concern however ...
Afrikaans:
Doen ons genoeg? Hoekom is die Kasteel van Goeiehoop nog onbeken aan sommige gemeenskappe veral in ons afgele gebiede? Hoekom kanons nie enige kind op straat in die omliggende gebiede vra oor die geskiedenis van die kasteel nie. Miskien is ek verkeerd of oningelig.
Die implimentering in ons agtergeblewe skole is nodig om ons jonger generasie hul waarde te laat besef om sodoende minderwaardigheid hok te slaan. Het ons onself afgevra waaroor hierdie bendegeweld gaan. Is idt nie miskien 'n soeke na identiteit nie. im plaas van mekaar te blameer, praat ons verby mekaar, verby die werklike probleem wat wie veroorsaak het? Hoekom, wanneer ons oplees oor die kasteel, word daar nog gepraat oor Isbrand Khoski en Barnard, ...
English:
But they refer to our ancestors as Khoi burghers as people that came with the ships. Are we not worth mentioning? Through promoting and advocating, through cherishing we will revive and restore our dignity. We can reroute the negative energy for positive outcomes and dissolve the aggression. All of us here have our own heritage. Let us take ownership but respect each other. One Great Nama Gaob King, Simon Kooper:
Big things can happen when a small number of people stand together. We will survive and never surrender.
We will fail ourselves, our community and our organisation if we do not take these and bring our side to ensure that the next generation does not experience what we did. [Time expired.]