Issued by African National Congress - Parliament 5 June 2003
MAY I BEGIN BY THANKING THE MEMBERS OF THE PORTFOLIO COM FOR THE WONDERFUL WORK THEY HAVE DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO I WANT TO SINGLE OUT ONE STRONG MEMBER WHO WONT BE PARTICIPATING IN THIS DEBATE AND PASS SINCERE CONDOLENCES FROM THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE TO MISS RAMOTSAMAI WHILE THANKING HER FOR REPRESENTING US SO WELL AT THE RECENT INDABA HELD IN DURBAN WE PRAY THAT GOD GIVES YOU THE NECESSARY STRENGTH DURING YOUR BEREAVEMENT AND ALWAYS.
IT IS ALMOST TEN YEARS NOW THAT THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH AFRICA GATHERED IN LONG QUEUES TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE IN THEIR COUNTRY, FOR THE FIRST TIME. THAT VOTE DID AWAY WITH WORDS SUCH AS 'FOR WHITES ONLY' 'VIR BLANKES ALLENLIK' AT LAST SOUTH AFRICA BELONGS TO ALL WHO LIVE IN IT.
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS DEBATE COMES AT THE TIME WHEN THE ECONOMIC FUTURE OF AFRICA IS DEBATED BY THE G8 COUNTRIES. THIS MEETING CONCLUDED DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY INVOLVED THE G8 COUNTRIES, INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS THE UN, WTO, IMF AND THE SOME AFRICAN LEADERS, WORLD BANK INDIA, SAUDI ARABIA, MOROCCO, MALAYSIA AND SWITZERLAND.
WE WELCOME THEIR COMMITMENT AND SALUTE OUR LEADERS IN PARTICULAR OUR PRESIDENT FOR PUTTING AFRICA FIRST. YES WE CELEBRATED WITH VIGOUR AND VIM THE FREEDOM FROM OPPRESSION AND COLONIALISM ON AFRICA DAY BUT THE TRUTH IS OUR COUNTRIES HAVE A NEW ENEMY POVERTY. AS WE DESTROYED APARTHEID IN OUR COUNTRY WE MUST JOINTLY BLACK AND WHITE DESTROY POVERTY AND HUNGER IT MUST BE ASHAMED TO SEE ANOTHER SOUTH AFRICAN GO TO BED HUNGRY IRRESPECTIVE OF COLOUR, GENDER OR RELIGIOUS BELIEF. COUNTRIES.
WE ARE AT TWO DAYS AWAY FROM THE DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT WE ARE COMMITTED THAT THIS SUMMIT WILL SUCCEED IN;
THE ANC HAS MADE GREAT PROGRESS IN BRINGING SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT TO THE PEOPLE. WITHOUT THE CREATION OF GREATER NUMBER OF QUALITY JOBS OUR VISION OF A BETTER LIFE WILL BE HARDER TO ACHIEVE.
IN THE LAST NINE YEARS WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS IN REBUILDING OUR ECONOMY AND CREATING THE CONDITIONS FOR FASTER GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. YET WHILE THE NUMBER OF JOBS IN THE ECONOMY HAS GROWN (BY MORE THAN A MILLION), IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT THE POPULATION HAS ALSO GROWN TREMENDOUSLY THUS REQUIRING THE GOVT TO CREATE MORE AND MORE JOBS.
TRULY SOUTH AFRICAN IS A CAMPAIGN I LIKE AND SUPPORT VERY MUCH I AM VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT BEING SOUTH AFRICAN EATING SOUTH AFRICAN. I HOWEVER FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT JOBS AND FEEL IF THERE ARE THOSE THINGS SOUTH AFRICANS CANNOT DO WE ARE JUSTIFIED TO GO ELSEWHERE BUT WE HAVE THE BEST COMEDIANS IN THIS COUNTRY LIKE.
THE CHOCOLATE I HAVE HERE WAS GIVEN BY A MEMBER WHO ASKED ME TO SEE WHERE WE GET OUR CHOCOLATES SURELY WE MAY NOT HAVE THAT MUCH COCOA BUT THERE IS PLENTY IN THE CONTINENT. UNEMPLOYMENT IS OUR WORST ENEMY WHATEVER OPPORTUNITY THAT UNFOLDS MUST GO TO SOUTH AFRICANS FIRST. UNDERDEVELOPMENT AND MARGINALIZATION OF THE BLACK PEOPLE FROM THE MAINSTREAM OF ECONOMIC LIFE IN THEIR COUNTRY OF BIRTH, IS WHAT OUR BUDGETS FROM 1994 SHOULD HAVE DEALT WITH. WITH THE MESS INHERITED BY THIS GOVERNMENT WE HAVE DONE EXTREME4LY WELL UNDER TRYING CONDITIONS. THIS DEBATE BEFORE THE DECADE OF FREEDOM CELEBRATION ON 27 APRIL 2004, SERVES AS A MIRROR FROM WHERE ALL OF US HONOURABLE MEMBERS IN THIS HOUSE, WILL ASSESS AND EVALUATE OUR ROLE AS PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES AS TO WHETHER, WE HAVE HAD IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF ORDINARY SOUTH AFRICANS, THE ILLITERATE, HOMELESS, HUNGRY, DYING FROM PREVENTABLE DISEASES, VICTIMS OF UNHEALTHY WORKING CONDITIONS.
I AM PROUD TO HAVE BEEN PART OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO USED THEIR OVERSIGHT TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF MANY OF OUR PEOPLE BLACK AND WHITE SOUTH AFRICANS.
NOT ALL HAS BEEN ACHIEVED, THERE IS STILL A LOT TO BE DONE BUT WE STAND FAR ABOVE MANY COUNTRIES. SOUTH AFRICANS WITH A COMMON DESTINY AND GOAL, WITH A RESOLVE WE ALL COMMITTED TO, WE COULD NOT FAIL AND WE HAVE NOT FAILED OUR PEOPLE.
25 JANUARY 2003: SAA TAKES DELIVERY OF THE FIRST OF ITS NEW AIRBUS A340-600S. THE FIRST THREE A340-600 AIRCRAFT HAVE NOW BEEN DELIVERED, WITH THE FIRST AIRCRAFT WITH FULLY LIE-FLAT SEATS IN BUSINESS CLASS EXPECTED BY YEAR END.
MADAM SPEAKER I DO AGREE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL NGOS IN SAYING 'FOR MOST SOUTH AFRICANS WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY WHICH THE WHOLE WORLD IS CELEBRATING TODAY MAY NOT BE A CELEBRATION OF A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT FOR MANY THAT IT MAY NOT BE DIFFERENT FROM MANY OTHER DAYS OF THE YEAR AS 'SOME OF US WILL WAKE UP CHOKING ON TOXIC FUMES, BEING EMITTED FROM NEARBY INDUSTRIES, SOME CHILDREN WILL HAVE TO REACH FOR THEIR ASTHMA PUMPS, SOME FACTORY WORKERS WILL BE EXPOSED TO DANGEROUSLY HIGH LEVELS OF POISONOUS CHEMICALS SOME INDUSTRIAL PLANT SOMEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY WILL ACCIDENTALLY LEAK AN UNLAWFUL AMOUNT OF SOME CHEMICAL INTO THE ENVIRONMENT. THE PLAIN TRUTH IS THAT OR SOME OF US THE ACT OF BREATHING CAN BE KILLING US.'
I FULLY AGREE WITH WHAT THEY ARE SAYING BUT WE NEED TO MENTION THAT IT IS THIS GOVT THAT BROUGHT IN THE FIRST NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACT WHICH IS AN ENVY OF COUNTRIES WORLD WIDE TO ADDRESS THE VERY ISSUES RAISED TODAY. SOUTH AFRICA HAD NO LEGISLATION FOR POLLUTION AND AIR QUALITY SINCE 1935. NO ONE POINTED A FIGURE AT THE PAST REGIME FOR ALLOWING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE TO DIE FROM RESPIRATORY DISEASES WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED I DO AGREE THAT NO TWO WRONGS MAKE A RIGHT BUT THE EFFORTS OF THIS GOVT IN ADDRESSING THE LEGACY MUST BE ACKNOWLEDGED. THE ANC GOVT DID NOT BUILT REFINERIES WE FOUND THEM HERE AND INDEED WE ARE SAYING EMISSIONS MUST BE LOWERED SO AS TO GIVE SOUTH AFRICANS THEIR BIRTHRIGHT A CLEAN AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT. OUR RIGHT TO A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT IS PART OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS ENSHRINED IN THE CONSTITUTION. SOUTH AFRICA IS A VERY RICH COUNTRY BOTH THROUGH TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO CREATE EMPLOYMENT AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOUTH AFRICANS, THUS PROMOTING AND ENSURING A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL.
IT IS WITH THIS BACKGROUND THAT WE LOOK AT THE PROCUMBENT POLICY OF THE DEPARTMENT .I MUST EMPHASISE THAT THE ALLOCATION OF CONTRACTS ON A POINT SYSTEM IS A POSITIVE STEP MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS VERIFICATION BECAUSE HDI S ARE SOMETIMES MARGINALIZED OR MISLED BY THOSE WHO HAVE INFORMATION. THEY USE SUCH INFORMATION TO MAINTAIN THE DIVIDE BETWEEN THE HAVES AND THE HAVE NOTS. MINISTER I ALSO TRIED TO GET A GENDER BREAKDOWN OF ALLOCATED TENDERS OF THE DEPARTMENT WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS. THIS INFORMATION IS NEEDED FOR THE NATION TO NOTE THE IMPROVEMENTS OF OUR GOVERNMENT.
THE DEAT S POVERTY RELIEF PROGRAMME IS PART OF A BROADER GOVERNMENT PROJECT SET TO ALLEVIATE NEED AMONG SOUTH AFRICA S POOREST COMMUNITIES. IT DOES THIS BY CREATING SHORT AND LONG-TERM WORK OPPORTUNITIES.
I KNOW THAT WE AT TIMES REFER TO THE RECYCLING PROJECTS, BEACH CLEAN UP AND KELP FARMING AS OPPORTUNITIES I AGREE THAT WHILE THESE ARE FOUNDED ON THE PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, THESE ARE NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE THE ONLY AREAS WHERE OUR PEOPLE SHOULD CONCENTRATE. THERE MUST BE CONCERTED EFFORTS IN PLACE TO MAKE OUR PEOPLE PROPER BUSINESSMEN AND WOMEN IN THEIR COUNTRY WHILE CONSERVING THE ENVIRONMENT.
MINISTER WE CONGRATULATE YOUR DEPARTMENT FOR COMPLETING ALMOST 60 POVERTY RELIEF PROGRAMMES AND PRESENTLY DEALING WITH A FURTHER 140 BUT TO REALLY PUSH BACK THE FRONTIERS OF POVERTY WE MUST ENCOURAGE OUR PEOPLE TO THINK BIG, AIM BIG AND DREAM BIG, TO GET INTO BIG BUSINESS VENTURES. SA WHO ARE LISTENING NOW IS THE TIME.
ANOTHER POSITIVE AREA IS THE WORKING FOR THE COAST PROJECT. A MAJOR MCM PROJECT WHICH BY LATE LAST YEAR HAD PROVIDED 1500 UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE WITH JOBS MAINLY WOMEN AND THE YOUTH. CONGRATULATIONS.
WHILE REAL PROGRESS CAN BE DEMONSTRATED PARTICULARLY IN POVERTY RELIEF PROJECTS FOR A MORE INFORMED ASSESSMENT SOME QUESTIONS ARISE;
WHILE SEVERAL GAINS HAVE BEEN MADE ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT IN TERMS OF GENDER EQUALITY A RECENT REPORT BY THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR WOMEN (UNIFEM) ENTITLED "PROGRESS OF THE WOMEN 2002" HIGHLIGHTS THE MANY OBSTACLES THAT THE CONTINENT FACES IN ACHIEVING GENDER EQUALITY AND THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS.
IT WAS MENTIONED ON AFRICA DAY THAT FOR THIS CENTURY TO BE A TRUE AFRICAN CENTURY WOMEN MUST PLAY AND IMPORTANT ROLE .THE WHOLE CONTINENT AWAITS SOUTH AFRICA TO LEAD IN THIS REGARD NOT AS BIG BROTHER OR BIG SISTER BUT TO SHOW A WAY FOR OTHERS TO EMULATE.
SOUTH AFRICA HAS A COMPREHENSIVE GENDER MACHINERY WHICH IS COMPRISED OF VARIOUS ORGANS AND ARE SET OUT TO; ACHIEVE EQUALITY FOR WOMEN AS ACTIVE CITIZENS, DECISION MAKERS, AND BENEFICIARIES IN THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL SPHERES OF LIFE AND TO PRIORITISE THE NEEDS OF WOMEN MOST IN NEED OF SOCIAL UPLIFTMENT, WHILE PROMULGATING LEGISLATION THAT WILL PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
FOR OUTSOURCING NON-CORE FUNCTIONS LIKE FROM SANPARKS DELIBERATELY TO DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES AS PER YOUR POLICY REVIEW SPEECH ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, WE HAVE SUCCEEDED IN PRODUCING SOME SMALL BUSINESSES AROUND THE COMMUNITIES OF SUCH ENTITIES THUS GIVING PRIDE TO THE PEOPLE. FURTHER IN THAT POLITICAL REVIEW YOU MENTIONED THAT 'ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE IN THE TOURISM SECTOR IS THE NEED FOR BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT. THE OWNERSHIP PATTERNS IN THE INDUSTRY ARE PARTICULARLY SKEWED. TOO FEW BLACKS ARE INVOLVED IN SENIOR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS AS TOUR GUIDES AND FEWER BLACK PEOPLE ARE OWNERS OF TOURISM ENTERPRISES. YOU CONCLUDED BY SAYING FEW SOUTH AFRICANS ARE TOURISTS IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY. UNLESS AND UNTIL WE MAKE IT AFFORDABLE FOR THEM TO TRAVEL AND FREE THEMSELVES FROM THE CHAINS IN THE MIND THAT SAYS SOUTH AFRICA BELONGS TO A FEW PRIVILEGED PEOPLE WE WILL NOT SUCCEED TO DISPLAY THAT SOUTH AFRICA BELONGS TO ALL WHO LIVE IN IT. THUS CONFIRMING THAT THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IS THERE FOR ALL OF US TO ENJOY.
WE NEED TO TRAVEL AND TOUR OUR COUNTRY, YOUR THEME LAST YEAR WAS " GO TSAMAYA KE GO BONA". I REMEMBER ADDING TO IT THAT "LESOGANA LE LE SA ETENG LE NYALA KGAITSADI WA LONA".
OUR CHILDREN TODAY ARE TAUGHT ABOUT ROBBEN ISLAND; CRADLE OF HUMAN KIND BUT IT STILL REMAINS VERY EXPENSIVE FOR THEM TO VISIT THESE PLACES. I REMEMBER HAVING TO WRITE A 'JOURNEY BY TRAIN' ESSAY WHICH MOST MEMBERS WILL REMEMBER. THAT ONLY GOES TO PROVE THAT TRAVEL AND TOURISM EDUCATES.
I THANK YOU.