26 May 2004
Madame Speaker
The President, and
Honourable members
As we celebrate 10 years into our democracy and entrenching our position into the beginning of this term, the position of the ANC-led Government is correctly alluded to in the message from the President in the ANC's 2004 Election Manifesto - a people's contract to create work and fight poverty, wherein I quote: -
" Throughout its 92 years of existence, the African National Congress has put the interests of all the people at three top of its agenda.
Having united the overwhelming majority of South Africans in struggle, the possibility was created in 1994 for us to work together practically t construct a society that cares.
Democracy and equality before the law are entrenched in our constitution. Women, workers, youth, professionals, people with disabilities, traditional leaders, religious communities, business people and rural communities, all have the right to utilise opportunities that have come with freedom."
This position is aptly stated again in the President's state of the nation address wherein he says, '' the two celebrations, of our 10th anniversary and the success of our bid, confirm the strength of the sentiment shared by millions across the globe, for world of peace, democracy, non-racialism, non-sexism and freedom from poverty. They speak of a shared dream for international solidarity and friendship among the peoples, and the victory of African renaissance.
These circumstances suggest that perhaps the time has come for the emergence of a united movement of the peoples of the world that would come together to work for the creation of a new world order. This would respond to the urgent need to address the concerns and interests of the billions on our universe who are poor and marginalized, as are the same masses in our country who must b3e the principal focus of our efforts to build a caring and people centred society."
Madame Speaker, in our efforts to build a caring, living and people centred society, the ANC-led government in November 2003, approved the implementation of plan for comprehensive treatment and care for HIV and Aids in South Africa. The plan amongst other things provides for Anti-retroviral treatment in the public health sector, as part of the government's comprehensive strategy to combat HIV and AIDS.
As stated in the President's state of the Nation address, that, " we have already started with the implementations of our Comprehensive plan on HIV and AIDS. 113 health facilities will be fully operational by March 2005 and 53 000 people will be on treatment by that time. At the same time, more impetus will be given to Khomanani social mobilisation campaign as we intensify home-based care:"
Madame Speaker, I endorse the sentiments as quoted above, because as at now, 31 facilities have been accredited in 7 provinces …Yes indeed the ANC is committed to the establishment and existence of a caring and people centred society, as the short term tender for the supply of drugs ahs been awarded while the process for the long term tender is underway. Beyond any doubt, the target dates as stated in the state of the nation address by the President will be met.
As the ANC and government are steadfast in building a caring and people centred society, the youth is not left behind, we all remember that the ANC-led government was given a mandate to govern in 1994, which since then the people of South Africa have twice renewed their faith in this government, with the hope that a better life will come to all.
The National department of Public works, was mandated to use its competency to improve the rural landscape of South Africa and make life better for the poorest of the poor, which projects resulted in the creation of more than 163 000 job opportunities of which 48% went to women and 30% to the youth. These projects consisted of rural roads, marketing stalls, taxi ranks etc.
A number of special projects were also funded with one, entitled, Youth working towards environmental accessibility carried out in partnership with the National Youth Commission and the Office on the Status of the Disabled.
This project, which comprised the identification of strategic government buildings that do not have adequate facilities and access for the disabled persons in both urban and rural and equipping these buildings with necessary facilities was met under the R50million budget allocated to the special projects budget. About 420 youth were three provinces were recruited, trained and employed in the modification of these structures.
Madame Speaker, as a pilot, this project was a national effort to kick-start the establishment of a National Youth service, designed among other things to recruit and train youth in various technical and other skills to render them effective to effective service to nation building, economic development, reconstruction and social transformation
While on the other hand it was also encouraging other youth to follow with and in the spirit of volunteerism, n order to inculcate in their mind the role of the youth in a country. Also for them to follow in the path of their role models, the Sisal's, Mandela's, Taboo's and also the Rita Mndzanga's, the Gxowa's and Diale's amongst the many veterans.
It is also because of the need to sustain all efforts of building and caring for a people centred society, that this ANC-led government approved the implementation plan of the National youth service programme in seven provinces which is comprised of the following programmes:-
In line with the principle of our country having economic links with almost all countries across the globe, as alluded to in our election manifesto, our country is an active member of the global community and an active party in numerous multilateral environmental agreements dealing with pollution and waste as there are now no apartheid restrictions on the right to do business.
Thinking globally but acting locally, South Africa has been at the forefront of efforts to protect our ozone layer, working to prevent the dumping of toxic waste on the poor or the powerless, working to mitigate global climate change and removing persistent organic pollutants from society. Madame Speaker, all this is done because South Africa has now a caring government and pursues peace, development and international relations that benefit all.
As we celebrate our ten years of democracy, it is pleasing to note that we are on track in meeting our environmental objective, that of ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources and protection of environmental rights of all South Africans, particularly the previously disadvantaged.
We therefore ensure a better life for all South Africans through the growth of tourism and the sound management and protection of the country's environment. The said sound management of these resources ensures the potential for economic growth in these sectors is maximised resulting in job creation and foreign investment attraction.
TOURISM
Our President, in his state of the nation address referred to three pillars that should respond to the challenges in the struggle against poverty and underdevelopment that can also be met by the impact and benefit of the tourism industry/sector in our country.
As tourism is the key industry for South Africa, with great potential for growth in international and domestic markets it is a tool to also be used to respond to the challenges posed by the Second Economy, which constitutes the structural manifestation of poverty, underdevelopment and marginalisation in our country as alluded in the President's state of the nation address, while also focussing on the growth, development and modernisation of the First Economy.
Growth and transformation in the tourism industry is a attributed to a constructive partnership between government, business, labour and communities thereby ensuring that while expanding our economic base, we also ensure that our country's wealth, business opportunities, skills training and other opportunities are more equitably shared by all our people, irrespective of race, gender, disability and age differences.
Madame Speaker, this therefore proves politically correct what Pixley ka Isaka Seme said in the founding conference of the ANC in 1912, when he said,'' We have called you….to this conference so that we can together devise ways and means of forming our national union for the purpose of creating national unity and defending our rights and privileges"
The aforementioned partnerships assisted in establishing a balance between competition and co-operation focusing on the advantages of economies of scale and the creation of synergies resulting in enhanced competitiveness and job creation.
Madame Speaker, cognisance should be taken of the fact that the most important economic feature of activities related to the tourism industry is that they contribute to the generation of income, job creation and foreign exchange earnings, thus therefore tourism plays an important role as a driving force of economic development.
SOCCER BID
South Africa's economy will definitely get a direct a boost, it is estimated that the World Cup will pump R23. 3 billion into the economy and at the same time create more than 150 000 jobs, according to Danny Jordaan.