Chairperson, prior to our country's democratisation in 1994, we were certainly not celebrated as a tourism destination that offered a diversity of experiences and cultures to our foreign travellers or to our own domestic tourists. We did not attract large numbers of international visitors, nor did we as South Africans travel our own country to explore our common humanity. We lived segregated lives, pitted against each other because of our divisive racial policies, and a mere two decades ago many prime tourist destinations were no-go areas to the majority of South Africans.
Since the advent of democracy, our popularity as a tourism destination has grown beyond anything we could have envisioned 15 years ago. In 1994, fewer than 600 000 tourists visited our country. Last year, we saw more than 9,5 million foreign arrivals to this country, many from our immediate neighbouring countries who were still the targets of government-sponsored destabilisation in the recent past. In fact, since 1994 we have seen 48 million foreign arrivals, which is a number larger than the total population of our country.
These visitors come to South Africa because it is a destination that offers everything from natural beauty and wildlife to authentic cultural experiences, as well as world-class facilities. All of this is showcased with contagious energy by warm-hearted South Africans who passionately believe in the product they are promoting - the country we call home.
In South Africa tourism is one of the major contributors to our GDP. It employs about half a million people directly, whilst creating even more indirect employment opportunities.
The global economic downturn and its consequences need little elaboration. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, the UNWTO, international tourist arrivals declined from 7% in 2007 to just 2% in 2008, which was the fourth consecutive year of strong international growth.
In this country our tourism sector has certainly proved to be more resilient than some other economic sectors, but we are not immune to the effects of the economic crisis. In 2008, we bucked the worldwide negative trend with 5,5% growth in our foreign arrivals. Furthermore, in 2008 foreign direct spend grew by an estimated 23,5%, amounting to more than R74 billion. Yet, even though we have thus far been spared the worst impacts, we are not complacent and cannot ignore the fact that our growth could slow down during this year as many of our primary markets remain in recession.
Fortunately, in the face of these challenges, we understand the importance of planning better and getting the fundamentals right. We will continue to grow, in a balanced way, our domestic, regional and long-haul markets. And if there are any questions in this regard, I will deal with them in the reply.
We will also enhance our stringent quality control regime that ensures value for money, as well as the unique selling points of our natural heritage. To build resilience, we understand that we can do even more through improved market analysis, product diversification, improved geographical spread, and the promotion of rural tourism as well as people and skills development.
Chairperson, tourism holds many benefits for our country. These can be measured in terms of, amongst other things, economic growth, job creation, foreign currency earnings, skills development, and infrastructure development. But there is a benefit of tourism that is very hard to quantify, and yet is one of the most valuable. It is the fact that tourism has helped us build bridges to the farthest corners of the world, and also, most importantly, between the people of our own country. The social capital unlocked by tourism should not be underestimated.
We have come a long way as a nation since we opened our towns, our cities, our homes and hearts to each other in 1994. The more we appreciated each other and understood our rich cultures and practices, the more we became tourists in our own country. The more we opened our eyes to the unseen beauty and our ears to the uncelebrated songs, the better ambassadors we became of all the variety that South Africa encompasses. As fellow citizens, we have a shared responsibility for our future, and I would like to encourage all South Africans to continue on this journey towards a better future for all.
Tourism has helped us learn about each other, and this learning has been the basis of understanding, tolerance and respect. It is this transformative power of tourism that we can now present to the world as we prepare to host the 2010 Fifa World Cup next year. It affords us a once-in- a-lifetime chance to show the best we have as a tourism destination, which is our people and their cultures, our natural heritage and our world-class infrastructure that fills all of us with pride.
The World Cup has not only resulted in huge public sector investment, but also in massive new investment by the tourism industry itself. Our government is investing more than R26 billion in stadiums and precinct development, transport, and ports of entry infrastructure.
In addition, our department has allocated more than R936 million of our expanded public works allocation for 2009 through to 2012 to further develop the tourism sector. Here, special emphasis will be placed on the development of rural tourism.
Through our Tourism Enterprise Partnership programme, we have already given a major boost to the fast-tracked development of small and medium-sized tourism enterprises. Since the inception of this programme in 2000, we have facilitated transactions worth more than R4 billion and assisted more than 5 500 enterprises.
Following the establishment of an independent Department of Tourism after the elections, we are now in the process of formulating a strategic vision and defining our key deliverables. We are building a re-energised tourism department with a renewed focus on sustainable, competitive and equitable tourism development and growth to the benefit of all South Africans.
I look forward to joining hands with an enthusiastic new department, stakeholders in the South African tourism industry, our provinces, and local governments in promoting our country as one of the most special tourism destinations in the world.
For me and Deputy Minister Thokozile Xasa, it is a privilege to work with an inspired management team, led by the director-general, Nosipho Ngcaba. I would also like to express the appreciation of our department to the chairperson and members of our select committee.
As we share our country with each other and get to know our fellow South Africans better, I have no doubt that our confidence and excitement about our destination will continue to grow. Tourism has indeed helped us to unite as a nation as we cross the divides that once separated us. I look forward to working with all South Africans in unifying our nation behind the common goal of promoting and proudly celebrating our country.
Chairperson, I will deal with the issues that members raise in my reply, as well as any questions they might have. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, hon members, our guests who are here, officials, ladies and gentlemen, we, as a department that is at the forefront of ensuring that environmental policy-making is responsive to the challenges faced by our people, feel that we must do more.
It is with this in mind that we will support rural development objectives by ensuring that the integrity of the ecosystems, on which rural economies are based, is protected. Needless to say, we are mindful of the enormity of the work to be done; hence, we call for partnerships with other spheres of government.
As the President reminded us in his state of the nation address, working together we can do more; we need to do exactly that. We call upon all provinces to work with us in designing programmes that are relevant to their social settings in this regard. This partnership will not only be confined to government, as we are convinced that participatory democracy is central to rolling out successful community-based natural resource management programmes that will focus on enterprise development and benefit- sharing from indigenous biological resources with local communities.
The policy and legislative tools provided by the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act will therefore be used to this effect. We'll make sure that the process makes sense to the affected communities, and their effective involvement will be encouraged.
With regard to the management, protection and monitoring of South Africa's marine protected areas and estuaries, our department continues to protect the country's biodiversity, build up fish stocks and regulate the activities of users.
With the establishment of the Still Bay Marine Protected Area, the total number of marine protected areas in the country is now 20. By extending the marine areas that are brought under protection, the department can ensure the effective management, monitoring and surveillance of promulgated marine protected areas, through partnerships with other conservation agencies, and the development of management plans.
Most of South Africa's estuaries are heavily impacted upon by the variety of human activities. Six estuary management plans were completed in the Cape region. The development of two estuary management plans in the Eastern Cape is under way, and a further nine management plans are being developed through co-operation with the Cape Action for People and the Environment and local municipalities.
Regarding protected areas, we feel the current system of protected areas in South Africa is under management and oversight of no fewer than 20 institutions at provincial and national level, in addition to local government institutions which manage about 229 local protected areas. This has led to significant fragmentation, overlapping in function, and duplication, and the efforts that are being made, we feel, are somewhat of a waste of resources.
It therefore makes sense in terms of good governance that rationalisation of protected areas within bioregions, where possible, should take place in order to ensure that government resources are effectively deployed and utilised economically, and that management approaches are harmonised across the board. The packaging and commercialisation of these larger iconic areas are more logical and easier. By attracting tourists, these areas will contribute both to local as well as to wider economic development.
It is in this context that a feasibility study towards the rationalisation of protected area management and world heritage sites will be undertaken by our department, in order to ensure effective and efficient institutional management of these nationally and globally significant biodiverse assets.
This evaluation will assist us in carefully managing protected areas to cope with escalating pressures and threats such as climate change and alien and invasive species. This will directly contribute towards improving protected area management by identifying critical management weaknesses, key threats, inappropriate policies, issues of capacity-building and management gaps in the protected areas network, as well as existing financial constraints.
The department will continue to work closely with the sector departments and other players also supporting land and agrarian reform and food security. This will entail integration of processes such as the management of alien and invasive species as well as strengthening the management of genetically modified organisms in light of the role of agricultural biotechnology in food security.
The department has worked very closely with key role-players in developing a national core management framework to support uniform participation and beneficiation of communities in protected areas. In order to guarantee effective implementation of this core management framework, a post- settlement support programme for protected areas will be developed in collaboration with relevant institutions, in line with the settlement implementation strategy which was developed by the Land Claims Commission in 2007.
Working together to improve the quality of the air we breathe has been one of the priorities of this government. The creation of a healthy nation includes paying careful attention to the quality of the air that we breathe. Last week, we launched the 2009 Cleaner Fires Campaign, called "Basa njengo Magogo", in Secunda. This forms part of our campaign aimed at reducing the unacceptable consequences of outdoor air pollution, which results from the burning of coal in many areas, especially in low-income settlements. This campaign must be seen as a catalyst that promotes good working relationships between government, communities and industries in collectively addressing air quality issues.
I would like to encourage all members here to learn to do it, and to go and demonstrate it and assist the communities out there. In this way we'll reduce pollution. It has been scientifically proven that it reduces pollution by 80%. Let each and every one of us go and learn. I've attended the training. So let us all go and assist our people.
We as a department aim to make 2009 a watershed year in air quality governance in South Africa, which will see 9/11 assume a new meaning for air quality management stakeholders in South Africa. The 11th of September 2009 will see the complete repeal of the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act of 1965 and the coming into full force of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act of 2004. This final change of the guard, from the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act to the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, is the product of a long transition which has been carefully steered by the department with a number of transition projects to ensure the smooth passing of the baton.
This will see powers transferred to municipalities to take full responsibility for air quality management, in particular licensing, which used to be the responsibility of the national government.
The department continues to undertake strategic environmental compliance inspections into prioritised areas, industrial sectors such as the ferroalloy sector, the production component of the cement sector, the petrochemical sector, as well as the paper and pulp sector. All major facilities in the petrochemical refinery and cement sectors have now been subjected to environmental compliance inspection.
We shall continue to ensure that our people live a healthy life. To achieve this, we shall work closely with municipalities in respect of providing training to inspectors, in order to develop a cadre of inspectors at local government level. Approximately 110 cases are being investigated by the national department for criminal and administrative enforcement, including investigations into the Airports Company SA, the fuel spill that we all know happened in 2006, and the illegal storage and dumping of medical waste by several companies.
A total of 21 finalised criminal dockets are currently with the National Prosecuting Authority for prosecution.
Enforcement resulted in the shutdown of three facilities that were operating without the requisite authorisation or contravening the conditions of their permits. This included a metal foundry in Roodepoort in Johannesburg.
Tomorrow, July 1, ushers in the new waste management Act that will strengthen us to deal with waste while we create a thousand jobs. We shall work with the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs and other departments. We shall continue to work with our partners, Buyisa- e-Bag and Indalo Yethu, and other NGOs who come to the party. We do not want to be branded as a "throw away" country, but as a recycling country, sorting waste at source. That will also support our greening programme.
We hope that the enforcement of the law will assist us, and if we do all these clean-ups we are going to have a clean South Africa and we won't be contributing to climate change.
In conclusion, it is our conviction that, working together with all spheres of government, we can do more to ensure that the quality of our people's lives is improved. This is not only to be done by us as the department or our partners, but by all members here. At work, at home and every day, ask yourself what you are doing. Are you contributing to climate change? When you throw away something, are you not contributing to making our country dirty? You should know that by recycling, you are helping to create employment and wealth wherever you stay. Members, I would like to encourage you to live by example - at home, in your constituencies and in your offices. Basa njengo Magogo! Please, recycle. I thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers, the department, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I greet you all.
Our continent's oldest liberation movement, the ANC, in its 2009 election manifesto said that, working together, we can do more. Indeed, our President, his Excellency Comrade Jacob Zuma, had this in mind when appointing his Cabinet Ministers. I commend him for his visionary intellect of drafting government Ministers in a manner that in this fourth term would work best to benefit our masses.
The subject of today's Budget Vote debate is somewhat less important to many of our people's minds. This is not because of ignorance, but rather because of a lack of information, poverty and an unwillingness to take the initiative of starting projects in relation to environmental solutions. The questions we have to ask ourselves today are: How are we going to address the situation? What measures will the Ministry take to diminish the apathy? If people were fed information about the importance of better environmental care, they would be in a better position to take the necessary steps.
The Department of Environmental Affairs, over the past five years, has done a lot to make things better, and that includes its endeavours to repeal the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act of 1965. Our duty, members of the NCOP, is to see to it that Parliament's decisions are most favourable to the citizens of the country at large. The laws are well made due to processes that are correctly followed.
Hon Minister Buyelwa Sonjica in her 2009-10 budget speech made it clear to the public that, and I quote:
The policy and legislative tools provided by the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act will therefore be used to this effect and we will make sure that the processes make sense to the affected communities and their effective involvement will be encouraged.
In the same speech provinces and local government were encouraged to come up with specific programmes that would respond to their unique challenges. It is then our duty as members of the concerned select committee to assist the Ministry with follow-ups and to encourage progress in these two spheres of government in order to speed up delivery in line with the exact timeframes.
The Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs in each programme for oversight will prioritise more time for the most environmentally endangered areas to seek solutions - together with the communities, civil society, research bodies, government, and concerned groups - and to advise the hon Minister on effective solutions to benefit the people.
I am sure that all of us will not rest as long as areas such as Mpumalanga are hit hard by massive erosion; as long as biodiversity is threatened by extinction in areas such as St Lucia; as long as fires threaten the existence of our most treasured biodiversity, especially in the Western Cape; as long as our air quality deteriorates by the day because of toxic gases produced by firms and automobiles; and as long as callous urbanisation robs our people of the green that produces oxygen for the communities. We will not rest until we are sure that the rest of our country is beautifully green.
Chairperson, in relation to the aforementioned, it is evident from news reports in the print and electronic media on 29 June 2009 that there has been a continuous trend in Port Elizabeth for the past 17 years, and that in that part of the country maritime life is at risk because toxic waste and effluent are finding its way to the sea waters from the storage facilities of Transnet. This raises serious concerns in society about how Parliament, which is us, and the Ministry will intervene to stop this hazard.
Other breaking news is that today, 30 June, we are informed that the SA Maritime Safety Authority is to take a decision on whether to continue with research into the containers that sunk, some of which carried a toxic chemical called cresol. These containers were washed overboard the Safmarine Meru on Tuesday last week, 23 June. I bring this to your attention to highlight the need for us as members of the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs to visit such areas in a bid to do urgent oversight visits in these areas so that we are able to ensure that these matters receive the urgency and care they deserve, for better environmental management and ultimately for our people's wellbeing.
Hon Chairperson, his Excellency our President and ANC president, in his January 8th Statement to the nation emphasised that the implementation of government policy does not only succeed by micromanaging all aspects of government, but also by putting in place a system of ongoing co-ordination, monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of government programmes and processes. It is in this spirit that we are going to ensure that we are seized with this responsibility. We are going to ensure that we as members have the responsibility of monitoring and evaluating progress made so that we meet expectations in accordance with the mandate entrusted to us to implement. Together with the members of the committee, we should become the bridge to close the gap between the government and its people.
Hon Minister, let me commend you for prioritising transformation of the biodiversity sector. It is one of those sectors that have been ignored for a long time. However, I think we need to advise that it needs the financial allocation to be able to deliver the desired results in the desired periods. Marine biodiversity is particularly relevant to rural people who live in coastal areas. They should be targeted, as most of them, especially black people, were never given the opportunity to venture into studies about the very nature that surrounds them. As a result, most of them are unaware of the biodiversity world, especially marine biodiversity. Considering that education is a long-term issue that requires one to invest more financial resources, I strongly recommend that the Minister considers adjusting the budget to accommodate the latter.
We are indeed facing a mammoth task ahead of us in this term, considering the importance of environmental wellness, as it relates to the Soccer World Cup tournament in 2010 and beyond. Our predecessors have laid a foundation for us, and for that we are grateful. We appreciate their contribution to the cause. We will work together with the Minister and our beloved people's movement that drives our people-governing policies in executing our role to make sure that indeed our government works for our people to make their lives better.
Ndicinga ukuba isebe lulwenze ngokufanelekileyo nangokuzimisela uhlahlo- lwabiwo-mali, kwaye siyaneliseka siyikomiti. [I think the department has prepared the budget effectively and diligently, and as a committee we are pleased.] I thank you. [Applause.]
Baie dankie, agb Voorsitter, ons behoort nie aan dieselfde politieke party nie, maar ons kom albei van die Noord-Kaap. U sal dus seker darem so 'n bietjie meer tegemoetkomend wees met die tyd. [Thank you very much, hon Chairperson, we do not belong to the same political party, but we both come from the Northern Cape. You will therefore probably be a bit more accommodating with time.]
Chairperson, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate from Kenya, Wangari Maathai, in a recent book called The Challenge for Africa, motivated for a new vision of leadership for Africa. This leadership, according to Maathai, is not based on political leadership per se, but rather on a drive to motivation and sustainable leadership involving issues threatening the existence of our continent and the planet. I want to label it "green leadership". This Budget Vote on Environmental Affairs and Tourism deals with exactly that. To achieve the vision and mission of these departments, it is necessary to adopt the following: an attitude of preservation over exploitation; collective responsibility over industrial gain; and common feeling for the continent rather than narrow nationalism and greed.
Given the fact that South Africa as a developmental state needs development to be a competitive force to address the needs and desires of its citizens, it is imperative that all of us as leaders be labelled "green leaders". Environmental affairs and tourism are indeed at the coalface of leaving a sustainable legacy for the generations to come after us. So, it is not about a selfish today, but rather about a sustainable, sharing tomorrow.
To this end, Cope, as an alternate government, wants to propose the following: Firstly, that waste management, recycling, education, and job incentives - as announced by the Minister - be elevated to some of the top priorities. Legislation, regulations, and bylaws must be tightened and/or reinstated by the different spheres of government to protect our environment. South Africans in general have become a society of polluters. Plastic bags have become our national flower. Rivers are polluted to the extent that toxic and dangerous wastes are serious threats to the usage of many rivers, including the Vaal River and the Orange River arteries. We need green leadership to address this.
Secondly, tourism, as the number one worldwide revenue generator, must place a higher priority on saving the continent and the planet. It is suggested that tourism, the environment, and good citizenship become compulsory as part of the school curriculum up to Grade 10.
Furthermore, internal tourism for South Africans must be enhanced. Building on the successful Sho't Left initiative, more needs to be done to popularise South Africa as an internal destination. Vanuit hierdie perspektief versoek ek dan dat aandag geskenk moet word aan die prioritisering van die Gariep Dam-toerisme-inisiatief tussen die Vrystaat, die Noord-Kaap en die Oos-Kaap. Die konsolidering van die Rolfontein- en Doringkloof-reservate kan, saam met die privaatnatuurreservate, die toeristepotensiaal langs die N1 verder ontsluit.
Ter afsluiting moet ons s dit moet natuurlik gedoen word met inagneming van Maathai se pleidooie vir ware groen leierskap. Slegs dan sal ons vanuit 'n volhoubare omgewing iets nalaat waarop ons nageslag trots kan wees. Baie dankie. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follow.)
[From this perspective I then request that attention be given to prioritising the Gariep Dam Tourism initiative between the Free State, the Northern Cape and the Eastern Cape. Consolidating the Rolfontein and Doringkloof reserves, together with the private nature reserves, could further develop the tourism potential along the N1.
In conclusion, we must say that it should of course be done taking into account Maathi's pleas for true green leadership. Only then will we be able to bequeath something to our descendants from a sustainable environment of which they can be proud. Thank you very much. [Applause.]]
House Chairperson, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers, hon members of this august House ...
... ek en my kollega Sinclair kom 'n lang pad saam. Die doelwit is dieselfde, die politieke voertuig het begin verskil. Ons het met 'n Maserati gery. Hulle kom met 'n klein karretjie agterna. [... my colleague Sinclair and I have come a long way together. The aim is the same, except the political vehicle has changed. We drove a Maserati. They are following in a small car.]
On 22 April, the people of South Africa went to the voting stations and gave the ANC-led government an overwhelming mandate to go forward, saying "working together we can do more".
Von Goethe said:
Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.
What does this mean? It means to live a dignified life, a purposeful life, and to improve the quality of life. This was captured in the manifesto of the ANC. A safe and healthy environment is the key to the very survival of life on this planet. Environmental sustainability can only be achieved if pollution and waste are managed and prevented, environmental impact developments are assessed and mitigated, and global issues of air quality and climate change are addressed.
I am thankful for what hon Minister Van Schalkwyk did in his capacity as the then Minister of Environmental Affairs and also in the world. Furthermore, environmental sustainability can be achieved if compliance with environmental legislation is monitored and evaluated. We are all part and parcel of this and are in this together to ensure a prosperous society that lives in harmony with its natural resources.
The utilisation of our natural resources must enhance economic growth and poverty eradication. We need to create a safe environment within the given budget of R3,4 billion by creating jobs. The department's 2009-10 budget allocations support and meet both the department's key strategic priorities identified in the strategic plans, as well as the government's priorities articulated in the 2009 state of the nation address.
South Africa's national resources represent rich and diverse national assets that provide important economic and social opportunities for the human population. This, in turn, has developed a strong reliance on these resources for commercial opportunity in food and recreation. These resources have facilitated job creation and general economic enlistment in the country. The focus must be on improving service delivery; better co- ordination between government departments and local municipalities in environmental management in terms of the Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act; and saving water, fixing broken pipes and taps and getting qualified technical people into municipalities in terms of water and waste management - thus, capacity-building. We are concerned to see that 20% of the positions in the department are vacant.
We believe that poverty eradication improves environmental management. Abject poverty forces people to place a new value on the environment as they are more concerned about living for today rather than for tomorrow. We propose a programme to create a large number of green jobs, namely employment in industries and facilities that are designated to mitigate the effects of climate change.
We welcome the increase in the budget for environmental quality and protection, marine and coastal management, biodiversity and conservation, as well as the additional funds from National Treasury for climate change research. In fact, South Africa has a high level of plastic bag littering, and we welcome the money allocated to this programme of recycling.
We call on the department to roll out the Keep my Town Clean/Keep my City Clean campaign in all areas. Rooifontein is a small town in Namaqualand in the Northern Cape. The people of Rooifontein keep their town clean. Why? It is because they want to keep it clean - I worked there during the elections. South Africa can learn a lesson from these people of Rooifontein. Why? They educate their learners to protect the environment and not to throw papers around. In spring, Rooifontein is covered with flowers - a healthy clean environment that also adds to the quality of life. They are poor people, but they are dignified.
Waste management, driven by municipalities, needs serious attention. The location of dumping sites too close to towns is a health hazard, as in Hartswater in the Northern Cape. Proper fencing of these sites, as well as access control, needs to be improved because people without work live on these sites and look for food. We, as Members of Parliament, have to do our work during constituency periods and visit these sites, evaluate them and follow up on issues with the department. We call on the department to do an audit of the number of experts in waste management in provincial departments who can assist municipalities with the correct advice.
To have quality drinking water will lead to an improved quality of life. The waste disposals of industries on the banks of the Vaal River in the Vaal Triangle and of mines in the catchment area of the river must not find their way into the Vaal River. If this happens, it will reduce the water quality of the river and have a negative effect on water irrigation, specifically in the Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme. The irrigation scheme actually starts at Christiana and ends at Taung. It affects the quality of production and the quality of drinking water of the people in the Vaalharts region, as well as the poor people. We call on the department to monitor the dumping of waste and sewerage in the Vaal River. It is our task as Members of Parliament to be vigilant when we visit our constituencies.
South Africa's coastline is a unique part of our environment. In the Northern Cape, we have 380 km of coastline with a small harbour at Port Nolloth. Marine and coastal management must develop and manage marine and coastal environments that ensure the sustainability of marine resources while maximising economic opportunities. Integrated coastal management is responsible for managing a variety of human impacts on the coastal environment by regulating activities along the coastline - for example, with regard to 4x4 vehicles and quad bikes in the coastal zone. We call on the department to, within the next year, improve coastal patrol through a water unit in partnership with the SA Police Service, as they are presently using a rubber duck to do law enforcement, and to indicate with clear signs where 4x4s and quad bikes are allowed to drive along our Northern Cape coast. Signboards at Port Nolloth have been put up indicating where not to drive, but not where one is allowed to drive along the coast.
Furthermore, we call on the department to assist municipalities with the development of a coastal disaster management plan; to interact with the De Beers marine unit to implement a harbour master at the Port Nolloth harbour; and to enforce access control to the coastal area between Groen River and Brak River, in partnership with the Kamiesberg Local Municipality in Namaqualand.
The Orange River flows into the sea in Alexander Bay and forms a delta. Having seen what has been done to the Richards Bay coastline in the St Lucia area, can't the same be done to Alexander Bay? I propose that the department, together with the Minister, pay a visit to our coastline up to Alexander Bay in order to familiarise themselves with the circumstances. There are also tourism possibilities in that development.
In conclusion, we have to deliver on our mandate which we received from the voters. Let us do that. The ANC supports this Vote. Thank you. [Applause.]
Thanks, Chairperson. Firstly, by way of correction to the speakers' list, I am the chairperson of the Select Committee on Trade and International Relations, which includes tourism. We shall leave this opportunity to other parties who call themselves opposition parties, who will then oppose the fact that there are two chairpersons on the other committee.
Let me congratulate you, hon Minister Van Schalkwyk and hon Deputy Minister Xasa, on your appointment. This department has lived up to the ANC policy of 50/50. We have also practised the provisions of the Freedom Charter, which says that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white.
Hon Minister, Deputy Minister and other Deputy Ministers present here, one must first admit that tourism is now part of the Select Committee on Trade and International Relations and point out that in the few days since the establishment of this committee hon members have realised that this department is one of the key departments in creating sustainable and decent jobs.
Tourism contributes a lot towards the GDP. The question is always, however, who drives and who benefits from this contribution. Are historically disadvantaged individuals part of the drivers? An honest answer would be no. The very nature of this industry requires that any historically disadvantaged individual hoping to enter this industry must have access to finance and markets.
Another issue, hon Minister, we noted is that the department is still using, to a certain extent, some consultants. Is there a possibility of cutting down on the use of such consultants? We believe that we have capable officials and leaders who can actually do this.
The Tourism BEE Charter and the scorecard are currently voluntary. If we may check, hon Minister, when will it be possible to make these compulsory, for transformation in tourism is very slow? It is actually moving at a snail's pace.
The other issue is how to expand tourism to rural areas, that is, to areas in KwaZulu-Natal, in uMgungundlovu, in Nongoma, in Msinga, Nkandla, and Maphumulo, that are beyond the game farms. When we talk of tourism, it should go beyond game farms. It is about those rural areas. Also, how do we take tourism to other townships such as Ngwelezane, eSikhawini, Umlazi, KwaMashu and Mpumalanga? Tourism is tourism by its nature.
As we speak, there are nine provinces in South Africa. That is why we have this diversity. But then, are we using this diversity to our benefit per province? Is there an integrated approach between municipalities, provinces, SA Tourism and the department? Who markets the country? Who markets events? I was happy, because earlier Minister Sicelo Shiceka was saying that we have one country, one South Africa, one Constitution, one President. This I say after what has been in the media about the City of Cape Town and its funding to another body. As a committee we shall deal with this issue. We shall deal with them separately, because we shall call them to account on this issue that we don't have a federation of the Western Cape, or of the City of Cape Town. We have one South Africa, one Constitution, and one President.
Chairperson, members of this committee are going to say a lot about 2010, about accommodation, about safety, about transport, but I need to mention that we expect to see rural areas benefiting from 2010, so that their lives will not be the same after 2010, and that there will be infrastructure and decent work after 2010.
Issues such as skills in the tourism sector, the quality of tourism products and services, and the promotion of the tourism sector are issues that are part of the key performance areas of the department. We shall be monitoring these thoroughly as we move on as a committee.
On a lighter note, we wish to say to the hon Minister and Deputy Minister and to the Department of Tourism, well done on doing excellent work during the Confederations Cup and the visit by the British and Irish Lions. We have proven that South Africa is equal to any task and that challenges that we face on organising these events will be sorted out by 2010.
Before coming to my conclusion, I won't be doing justice to this debate if I don't mention this: There is still a major challenge in the hospitality sector with regard to accommodation for people with disabilities. I recall that an international conference on disability could not be held because we could not get accommodation for plus-minus 4 000 disabled people. This is a serious challenge that we have. Hon Minister, all these hotels and B&Bs must be user-friendly and accessible, and we must place a deadline on this issue. We cannot just leave it to them.
The President of the country, his Excellency Comrade Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, said, and I quote:
... we will have to act prudently - no wastage, no rollovers of funds - every cent must be spent wisely and fruitfully.
This quotation fits the department, that we should really not have roll- over funds.
In conclusion, on a lighter note, I heard hon Sinclair asking for a few minutes, based on the fact that he and the Chair come from the same province. But he forgot to mention that he once belonged to this movement, to the ANC, which is the home of all South Africans, and that at some stage he will come back. Home is always home, and we shall welcome him back. [Laughter.] I thank you. [Applause.]
Deputy Chairperson, hon Minister Van Schalkwyk, Deputy Minister, hon members, as I have only three minutes, I shall concentrate my speech on environmental affairs.
The vision of the environmental component is "a prosperous and equitable society living in harmony with our natural resources." The strategic priorities - and I hope I don't bore you - that have been identified include addressing the climate change challenges and developing the appropriate policies and tools to address this threat; waste management systems and services; implementing an effective and efficient environmental impact management system nationally, whilst ensuring that ecosystems are sustained and resources are available to support livelihoods; and that green jobs are created to contribute to economic growth.
Deputy Chairperson, whilst there is an increase in budget allocations, in real terms, after factoring in inflation, there is only a 3,7% increase, most of which is allocated to the marine and coastal management component. This is cause for concern with regard to the enforcement of the environmental and conservation mandates. Abalone poaching has increased drastically, and not a day goes by when one does not read in the news of large consignments of poached abalone being discovered. Hake fish resources are also fast diminishing.
Poaching of indigenous species such as cycads and rhino has, according to the environmental component, increased fiftyfold, or 5000%.
South Africa's predominantly coal-based energy makes South Africa the leading polluting country on the African continent, and the 11th worst in the world. This means high levels of carbon dioxide emissions, contributing to climate change. The adoption of strategies for alternate or renewable power supplies, such as solar, wind, hydropower and tidal waves, amongst others, must be utilised to reduce emissions and contribute to the resolution of the energy crisis. Whilst resources such as fossil fuels and water are declining, pressure is being exerted to allow mining in game reserves and parks, wetlands, and in and around world heritage sites and Wild Coast areas. More must be done, however, to eradicate poverty, as poverty eradication will uplift standards and improve environmental management.
Deputy Chairperson, the country is particularly susceptible to the effects of climate change and its effects on human and natural systems are becoming evident. Changes in weather patterns, and increases and decreases in rainfall, are all evident. Some of the major impacts of the change and increasing variability of the climate include health issues, the spread of malaria, changes in the distribution and availability of water resources, changes in agriculture, and changes to biodiversity and ecosystems. It is imperative that strategies are implemented to deal with these critical issues. One of these would be if Mr Adams would also give up smoking, as he also helps to pollute the atmosphere! Thank you, Deputy Chair. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, Ministers present here, hon members, tourism is the largest and most rapidly expanding economic activity throughout the world.
As reported by the World Tourism Organisation, travel and tourism involved 625 million people internationally and generated $425 billion in the last decade. In South Africa, it has overtaken gold mining as the country's leading earner of foreign exchange, and it has yet to reach its full potential. It has not been referred to as South Africa's new gold without reason, as for every 12 foreign tourists that arrive in the country, one new job is created in local tourism. It should therefore be striving to attract even greater investment.
It is globally accepted and acknowledged that tourism has unrivalled potential to create sustainable jobs and grow the economy faster than any other sector. It is also on record that tourists and holiday markets account for 38 million leisure and religious trips around South Africa visiting friends and relatives each year.
In recent years our government has estimated that tourism accounts for 8% of growth in GDP. It is estimated that the tourism industry is well positioned to grow its GDP contribution to 12%, with the potential to create more than 500 000 jobs by 2014. The global tourism industry is expected to grow significantly in future, as personal income and leisure time increase and as transportation networks improve.
The continued improved performance of the tourism industry depends on the success with which conditions can be created for sustainable tourism growth and development in South Africa. As a strategic driver of tourism, the tourism branch of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has now become a department in its own right, namely the Department of Tourism under the leadership of Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk. The new department's functions include the tourism industry; development through tourism research, business development and regulation; as well as tourism industry promotion through international tourism relations; human resource capacity-building; and national tourism support services.
The key objective of tourism in South Africa since the advent of democracy in South Africa 15 years ago has been to enhance its role as a driver of socioeconomic development. In this regard it has sought to develop the tourism industry and transform the sector by promoting the growth and competitiveness of the country as the tourist destination of choice, both locally and internationally.
In order to address the current challenges facing tourism and to prepare for the next five years, the department has developed a draft tourism growth strategy for 2010-2015, for managing tourism in the short, medium and long term. It has identified the tourism industry's global competitiveness as a critical success factor in growing the industry. To achieve global competitiveness, the department has been working with other departments such as Transport, Home Affairs and Public Enterprises to reduce the constraints such as limited flights, land transport limitations, and visa restrictions that might prevent potential tourists from visiting South Africa. It also aims to address challenges related to tourism safety, promote a culture of service excellence, expand the product base, and ensure quality assurance of products and services, with particular emphasis on the grading of accommodation establishments.
Tourist movement is not just hampered by air and land transport, but by delays and service delivery challenges in obtaining visas and passing through immigration points. It is therefore gratifying that Home Affairs has been able to introduce special visa arrangements which were applied during the Fifa Confederations Cup matches played in South Africa over the past two weeks. Hopefully this will be in full swing for the World Cup next year when South African tourism will reap the rewards of years of planning.
We are all aware of how important the 2010 World Cup is for South African tourism and how much it will boost the tourism industry. Tourism has also been identified as a priority area in the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa, Asgisa. The labour-intensive nature of the tourism sector facilitates its rapid growth by encouraging the creation of jobs, promoting foreign investment, and contributing to economic growth.
The increased expenditure on the tourism programme can also be attributed to the growing need for the transformation of the tourism industry. The main policy thrust in this regard has been the empowerment of small, micro and medium enterprises by facilitating access to tourism market opportunities, and also by the provision of professional assistance to them.
South Africa is a developmental state, which is faced with challenges of growing and stabilising the economy, ensuring food security, creating sustainable jobs, and eradicating poverty. The unprecedented socioeconomic benefits from tourism demonstrate that this is a strategic industry for investment and business opportunities. The growth of the tourism industry in South Africa should therefore be celebrated by all of us. This is testament to the fact that we are creating more jobs and more entrepreneurial opportunities. All South Africans should be more than 100% committed to growing the tourism industry through the work we do, through working with the industry and our partners, and through working harder with more passion and more determination.
The ANC government's focus is on developing our tourism industry to contribute to our vision of creating decent work for South Africans. It has committed itself to making the creation of decent work opportunities and sustainable livelihoods the primary focus of economic policies. Decent work embraces both the need for more jobs and for better quality jobs. The underlying factor is that all economic policies must address the challenges of poverty, unemployment, and inequality. The ANC government will use the tourism industry and all other sectors of our economy to achieve these goals. By working together to grow South Africa's tourism industry, we can all do more and much better to improve the quality of life of our people. I thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon members, Tourism is one of the departments being weaned off another department. Finally, the importance of tourism is being recognised. We acknowledge that it is one of the larger contributors to GDP, now larger than mining. It is the fastest growing industry in South Africa. Tourism is at a critical point now where it needs to do the final preparations for 2010 and ensure that there is a legacy beyond this epic event.
The question is: How tourism ready, or how 2010 ready, are we now? At Cape Town International Airport I stood in five queues for an hour and a half last Friday morning, eventually to get onto a plane. I stood amongst the Confederations Cup and the Lions tour supporters and it was one disastrous event, from the first flight to the very last flight. Is Tourism to blame? I think not. Tourism does not stand alone to promote South Africa during the Fifa World Cup next year.
The soon-to-be-completed new terminals at Cape Town and Durban airports still have to be fully tested under stressful situations. SAA flights are late and luggage often flies in different directions to the passengers. Access roads are incomplete, crime is rife, and there is practically no presence of SA Tourism at any first point of contact with our foreign tourists.
Nevertheless, the DA wishes to congratulate SA Tourism and the industry for the sustainable programmes and projects thus far implemented. The international marketing campaigns are all inspiring and although the buying power of the rand is hurting our potential to maximise our advertising slots, again we say, making a success of tourism is not only the work of the new Department of Tourism. If all the other departments, most notably Police and Transport, do not co-operate, all the good work that SA Tourism has put together for 2010 and beyond will not be fully realised. We cannot sit back and allow this. All departments must deliver and we will see to it that they are held accountable.
The 2010 Fifa World Cup is a once-off opportunity to show the world South Africa is a beautiful and affordable country to visit, where one is safe amongst our rainbow nation. This will open the doors for the tomorrows after 2010 and it will promote tourism and sustainable jobs in South Africa. I thank you, Chairperson. [Applause.]
Chairperson, may I join my colleagues who spoke earlier in congratulating all the members of the National Council of Provinces who have made their way to this spot in this term of Parliament.
Tourism serves as the warp and the weft that is woven through the patchwork of our diverse communities. Indeed, it resonates with the very essence of ubuntu. Working together with our fellow South Africans, let us embrace the opportunities before us to show the world and one another what we are capable of. We as citizens of our remarkable country are ultimately the biggest proponents of our South African brand. It is our responsibility to inculcate a sense of pride that will strengthen cultural identity and raise awareness through constant advocacy campaigns. In the context of our government's focus on the fight against poverty we must not underestimate the pivotal role of the tourism sector in economic growth and job creation.
In 2008, tourism contributed an estimated R195 billion to the South African economy and helped create more than one million jobs, directly and indirectly. This constitutes a substantial contribution and positions tourism as a vital pillar of our economy. The steps outlined in our government's Medium-Term Strategic Framework have taken into account the constraints posed by the economic crisis and have set out a plan to offset them. We have made a commitment that, working together, we shall speed up economic growth and transform the economy to create sustainable livelihoods. This speaks clearly to the way tourism is also responsible for stimulating the economy, by contributing to job creation and poverty alleviation.
Our department encourages entrepreneurial spirit and a responsible tourism focus through, amongst others, what is called its Hidden Treasures programme, which supports unique arts and craft experiences, including artists, performers, tour guides, and cultural and heritage products.
Sustainable tourism therefore ensures the equitable distribution of benefits, so that the communities whose land, resources and labour, knowledge and cultures are used as the basis for tourism actually benefit from tourism. A focus on sustainability also helps us to ensure that the positive impacts of tourism are maximised at grass-roots level and enable communities to protect their cultural heritage from exploitation.
Not only has tourism facilitated the much-needed economic boost for rural communities, but it has also been a catalyst for training and development in hospitality-related fields and the improvement which, as the chairperson was indicating, still needs to be beefed up. Our local communities have experienced a revival and have developed a fresh commitment to the preservation of their natural and cultural heritage. Indeed, a new appreciation and a sense of ownership have been instilled and cultivated. In line with the country's comprehensive rural development strategy, the department will continue to prioritise the development of community and rural tourism, to ensure that tourism benefits are equitably distributed. This includes the development of infrastructure and the promotion of tourism opportunities through the implementation and success of our department's contribution to the Expanded Public Works Programme.
Rural tourism will only reap success if we continue to support tourism potential at the local sphere of government, and the role of local government in this process must be duly acknowledged. This is currently done through our annual local government indaba on tourism. The indaba provides a platform for engagement, leadership, and sharing of challenges and best practices in order to deliver the tourism mandate towards 2010 and beyond.
At this year's indaba we launched the tourism planning toolkit for local government, and engaged stakeholders on the proposed national tourism growth strategy. This strategy will help us formulate our response to the global economic recession, revitalise domestic tourism marketing and implement the sector skills plan. Consultation with provinces and municipalities is ongoing, and capacity-building for tourism planning at local level, targeting certain municipalities that have a high potential for tourism growth, will also be prioritised. We shall consult with all local municipalities and provinces continually to ensure that we have integrated and structured planning to align tourism priority projects. As a department we continue to help strengthen our country's skills and human resource base.
Various exciting projects and programmes are being implemented as South Africa gears up for the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup. From what the hon member Van Lingen was saying, if we take the positive side of what was happening, we have learnt a lot from the past Confederations Cup, and we shall build on that to ensure that come 2010 we will make improvements on what we are short of.
We remain steadfast in our promotion of service excellence and dynamic partnerships in the tourism industry. The tourism service excellence strategy, launched at the annual national tourism conference in November 2008, is focusing on the upskilling of those involved in the service delivery industry. Some of the initiatives of this strategy include behaviour and attitude alignment at service touch points, as well as appropriate training programmes and other interventions to achieve sustained changes in behaviour and attitude.
At the conference delegates and representatives of various organisations also signed a tourism service excellence pledge, committing themselves to ensuring the provision of quality service at all times. The department furthermore continues to contribute towards alleviating poverty and unemployment through training, placement programmes, capacity-building initiatives, and familiarisation programmes focused on the youth. Gender- sensitive development strategies are also being put in place to ensure social redress in the industry.
I would like to thank the select committee and our friends in the tourism industry, as well as all the stakeholders for their unwavering support thus far. Our department will continue to work with you to forge ahead and to realise the full potential of this industry in building a better life for all. Thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Chair, hon Minister, members of this House, the Western Cape has an array of offerings to foreign and local tourists. Ahead of 2010 it is our duty to ensure that our major icons are operating at their best. This involves them being safe for visitors, infrastructurally functional and informatively signed. As provincial government, it is also important that we ensure their proper protection and good management, so that generations to come will also have the opportunity to experience their beauty.
Though some of the icons do not lie within our legislative jurisdiction, we shall play a facilitating role in whatever format to ensure their sustainability, especially as it relates to the image of the destination in terms of tourism products.
Robben Island is a World Heritage Site, which along with its museum falls within the ambit of the national Department of Arts and Culture. In the recent past this island has faced several challenges relating to the culling of its rabbits, problems with its tourist transport vessels and, most worrying, the resolution of the Robben Island Museum board. All of these have made media headlines, and in some cases have resulted in the island being closed for days during peak season, causing disappointment for Cape Town tourists, as well as the loss of revenue. As previously mentioned, the provincial government is not currently being included in the management of the island as a tourist attraction, but even though it falls within the jurisdiction of the national Department of Arts and Culture, it is one of the jewels in the crown of the Western Cape, and I am afraid it is fading very rapidly.
Therefore we cannot ignore problems associated with it, and appeal to the national Minister to consider addressing this issue of the museum board as urgently as possible. It is evident that we need to forge closer links with national government to prevent future crises of such a nature from occurring at our iconic sites. The biggest infrastructure development project on which we are engaging is the attempt to bring life back into another tourism icon, the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe. We are very concerned about the fact that the train may well have run for the final time last Friday, 26 June, despite Transnet's claims that it is merely closed for maintenance. So far we have finalised feasibility studies for the commercialisation of the George-Knysna and the George-Mossel Bay lines, and they have looked at opportunities for the development of other properties that Transnet holds in this region. Within the next few days we shall meet with Transnet, the line operator, in an attempt to put together an attractive set of investment possibilities, which will help the business community and locals of the area who have a vested interest in the running of this train.
In closing, and on a positive note, we wish to report that we are in the process of investing R1,1 million in partnership with SANParks to begin building infrastructure at one of the least developed of our tourism icons, the southernmost tip of Africa at Agulhas. This will be the first time in many years that this attraction is receiving an upgrade. In the initial phase to be completed soon, we are building a boardwalk with benches and signs. Completion of phases 1 and 2 will have a very positive effect on tourism to the Overberg region.
Further developments are envisaged in the way of creating a link to the West Coast in the form of a cultural San route. The Western Cape's tourism industry is one of the province's major employers and economic drivers. We must therefore treasure our icons and ensure that they are well managed for now and for future generations. I thank you, hon Chair. [Applause.]
Agb Voorsitter, agb Minister, agb Adjunkminister, agb lede, ek weet die agb Visser kom van die Wes-Kaap, maar ek wil hom net herinner die persoon wat toerisme in die Wes-Kaap op die kaart geplaas het, was agb Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk toe hy nog die premier van die Wes-Kaap was. Toerisme is nie deur die DA op die kaart geplaas nie; dit was die agb Minister wat dit daar geplaas het.
Toerisme in Suid-Afrika bied 'n wonderlike geleentheid vir vernuftige entrepreneurs. Daar is baie kanse in die toerismebedryf om benut te word en ek dink nie Cope kan dit benut nie, alhoewel hulle beweer dat hulle die alternatief vir die regerende party is. Hulle moet maar aanhou droom, want dit is 'n droom wat nie waar sal word nie.
Voorsitter, Pieter wat op die Kaapse Vlakte woon en 'n minibus het, het 'n idee om dit vir hom te laat werk. Hy wil oorsese toeriste daarmee rondneem, en hulle besienswaardighede wys. Hy wil hulle vir 'n vleisbraai nooi, en hulle onthaal met 'n braai oor 'n wingerdhoutvuur, en hulle iets van die ware karakter van Suid-Afrika wys. Dan wil hy hulle in sy gesin se spaarkamer laat slaap en die dollars en euro's sien inrol. Maar Pieter het nie veel om te verloor as hy dit wil probeer nie. Hy het nie die wreld se geld nodig om 'n onderneming te begin nie, wat uitsonderlik is, want gewoonlik het 'n mens baie geld nodig om 'n nuwe besigheid op die been te bring. Hy kan sy energie ingooi in 'n lewenskragtige industrie wat lankal besig is om een van ons land se belangrikste industrie te word en wat allerhande nuwe geleenthede vir entrepreneurs bied.
Daar is baie geleenthede in hierdie nog betreklik nuwe mark om planne te kan uitvoer en daardie behoefte te bevredig. Vir die persoon wat bereid is om dit te doen, wag daar heelwat winste en hy of sy kan werklik voordeel daaruit trek. Ek wil h die DA moet luister.
Voorsitter, die internasionale toerismemark sorg jaarliks vir miljoene rande en dis nie verniet dat nagenoeg een uit elke tien werkers op aarde in 'n onderneming is wat daarmee verband hou nie. Suid-Afrikaners, soos Pieter op die Kaapse Vlakte, wil ook 'n deel hiervan opeis. Om jou in toerisme te begewe, is harde werk, maar ons mense het nog nooit geskrik vir harde werk nie. Die ANC is nie bang vir harde werk nie. Dit is net die DA en Cope wat daarvoor skrik.
Toeriste word amptelik van gewone besoekers onderskei in die sin dat hulle langer as een nag bly. Toerisme is vandag moontlik die grootste bedryf in die wreld en is ook verantwoordelik vir die grootste vloei van mense oor die oppervlak van die aarde. Dit is daarom belangrik om dit te benut as 'n instrument om verandering op ons planeet teweeg te bring. Dit is een van die mees sigbare manifestasies van globalisering. Reisigers uit ander lande verteenwoordig ander gemeenskappe, omgewings en ekonomie, wat probleme kan veroorsaak. Terselfdertyd is toerisme 'n bron van groot pret en genot vir miljoene mense, en bring dit mense van verskillende wrelddele en kulture bymekaar. Luister, DA en Cope.
Suid-Afrika as 'n toerismebestemming bied die wreld in een land, van die Kaapse fynbos tot by die Hoveld se grasvelde, tot by KwaZulu-Natal se piesangplantasies. Ons het 'n skouspelagtige en uiteenlopende natuurskoon, iets waarmee ander lande nie kan spog nie. Ook het ons land so 'n bonte verskeidenheid van kulture en herkomste, soveel so dat Suid-Afrikaners as die renboognasie bekend geraak het.
Voorsitter, daar is 'n noodsaaklikheid om hierdie toerisme volhoubaar te bevorder. Volhoubare toerisme kan beskryf word as 'n proses wat ontwikkeling bevorder sonder dat ons ons bronne uitput. Daar is groot kommer oor die opkomende entrepreneurs in die toerismebedryf. Toerisme moet bevorder word met inagneming van die onderlinge afhanklikheid van toerisme en die omgewing, en van toerisme en kultuurerfenis. Dit is van wesenlike belang dat die toerismebeleid goed geformuleer moet word.
Ons moet nie bekommerd wees dat Suid-Afrika se gewildheid as toerismebestemming gaan afneem nie, want ons land is gelukkig dat ons een van die voorste toeristebestemmings in die wreld is. Om die waarheid te s, daar is aanduidings dat ons in die toekoms nog van krag tot krag kan gaan, en die uitdaging is om dit binne 'n volhoubare raamwerk te laat gebeur. Ons besef dat daar 'n aantal negatiewe aspekte is, soos veiligheid, wat sal moet verander, asook Suid-Afrikaners se ingesteldheid teenoor besoekers en geldwisseling. Alle denkende Suid-Afrikaners sal saamstem dat ons land vroer of later sy regmatige plek in die galery van die wreld se top toerismebestemmings moet inneem. Mense met blink idees, soos ek dink Cope en die DA nie het nie, moet inspring en werk maak van hul planne. Die ANC steun hierdie begrotingspos. Ek dank u. (Translation of Afrikaans speech follows.)
[Mr F ADAMS: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon members, I know the hon Visser comes from the Western Cape, but I just want to remind him that it was Minister Martinus van Schalkwyk who put tourism on the map in the Western Cape when he was still the premier of the Western Cape. Tourism was not put on the map by the DA; it was because of the hon Minister's efforts.
Tourism in South Africa provides a wonderful opportunity for ingenious entrepreneurs. There are a lot of opportunities that can be taken advantage of in the tourism industry, and I don't think Cope can utilise it, although they claim to be the alternative to the ruling party. They will have to continue dreaming, because this is a dream that will not become a reality.
Chairperson, Pieter who lives on the Cape Flats and owns a minibus has an idea to make it work for him. He wants to use it to take overseas tourists on sightseeing trips. He wants to invite them over for braaivleis and treat them to a braai on a fire made from vine logs, showing them something about the true character of South Africa. Then he wants them to sleep in his family's spare room while watching the dollars and euros rolling in. But Pieter does not have a lot to lose if he were to try this. He would not need a huge sum of money to start a business, which is exceptional, as one would usually need a lot of money to establish a new business. He would be able to focus all his energy on a vigorous industry, which has become, for some time now, one of our country's most important industries offering various new opportunities to entrepreneurs.
There are many opportunities in this still fairly new market to execute plans and to satisfy that need. A lot of profit awaits the person who is willing to do this, and he or she could really benefit from it. I want the DA to listen.
Chairperson, the international tourism market is bringing in millions of rands each year and there's a reason why nearly one out of every ten employees on earth is working in an industry that is related to this. South Africans, like Pieter on the Cape Flats, also want to claim a part of this. To pursue a profession in tourism is hard work, but our people have never stood back for hard work. The ANC does not shy away from hard work. It's only the DA and Cope that shies away.
By definition, tourists are set apart from normal visitors on the grounds that they stay longer than one night. Tourism is probably the biggest industry in the world today and accounts for the biggest flow of people across the earth. It is thus important to utilise it as an instrument to bring about change on our planet. It is one of the most visible manifestations of globalisation. Travellers from other countries represent other communities, environments and economies, which could cause problems. At the same time, tourism is a source of great fun and pleasure for millions of people, and it brings together people of different cultures and parts of the world. Listen, DA and Cope.
As a tourist destination, South Africa is offering the world in one country, from the fynbos in the Cape to the grasslands of the Highveld and KwaZulu-Natal's banana plantations. We have a natural beauty that is both spectacular and diverse, something that other countries are not able to show off. Our country also has a colourful variety of cultures and origins, so much so that South Africans have become known as the rainbow nation.
Chairperson, it is necessary to promote this tourism in a sustainable manner. Sustainable tourism can be described as a process that promotes development without exhausting our resources. There is great concern regarding the emerging entrepreneurs in the tourism industry. Tourism must be promoted by taking into account the interdependence of tourism and the environment, and of tourism and cultural heritage. It is of the utmost importance that tourism policies are well formulated.
We should not be worried that South Africa's popularity as a tourist destination is going to decline, because our country is privileged to be one of the foremost tourist destinations in the world. In fact, there are indications that we can still go from strength to strength in future, and the challenge is to make this possible within a sustainable framework.
We realise that there are a number of negative aspects, such as concerns about safety, which need to change, as well as South Africans' attitudes towards visitors and money exchange. All sentient South Africans will agree that our country needs to take its rightful place in the gallery of the world's top tourist destinations sooner or later. People with clever ideas, which I don't think Cope and the DA have, need to take action and implement on their plans. The ANC supports this Budget Vote. I thank you.]
Chairperson, thank you very much. I would like to start off where my colleague the Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs ended in his reply, and that was that the executive, and I think all of us, should at the beginning of a new term pause and ask ourselves the question: Why do we have an NCOP in this country? It is a very important question. The NCOP is not a "House of Lords", simply with powers to review. It is a very important part of our parliamentary process, with regional powers, derived from the Constitution, and I think there rests on us as the executive, apart from all the other stakeholders, a special responsibility to respect the NCOP. I would like to assure this House, but also the two Chairpersons, that that is what they can expect from the Department of Tourism. But I am also reporting back, or replying, on behalf of the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, and I am quite sure I speak on her behalf as well.
Let me quickly deal with some of the issues in the limited time I have. Issues that were raised by the chairperson, Mr Gamede, were the issue of consultants, management generally in the departments, and financial management. On the issue of consultants, I would like to assure the chairperson and this House that our department will report back to the select committee and this House. I personally feel very strongly that we cannot simply continue as government to appoint consultants when we have staff we pay to do the job that they should be doing. If we appoint consultants, it must be for a limited time, it must be to do a specific job, it must be measurable, and then it must end. And the work must be done by the department. So consultants must be used wisely. I agree with that sentiment, and our department will certainly report back to the select committee on this issue.
On the question of financial management, I would like to report back to this House that the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, which will now be split into different parts and merged with other departments, had a clean audit for the past few years. It is something that I personally am proud of. We had one this past year again, and it is something that I would like to continue in the new Department of Tourism.
There was one problematic area, and that was the Marine Living Resources Fund, the MLRF. From 2002 until about 2004-05, under the previous management, no financial statements were even submitted. We, the previous management in this department, intervened, and turned it around. I gave that undertaking in this House and moved from a situation where no financial statements were tabled, through a year or two of disclaimers, to an unqualified report in 2007-08, and I would like to report back to this House that we also expect an unqualified report for 2008-09.
Then on the issue of transformation in tourism, raised by the chairperson and other members, the codes of good practice have just been gazetted, and this means that all the different parts of the industry that will enter into contracts with the government will now know that those contracts are legally binding.
The hon chairperson remarked on the slow pace of transformation. Over the past two or three years, we have seen some major empowerment deals announced by the big companies, but we still have a challenge with regard to the small, medium and micro enterprises, SMMEs. This is because much of this industry is owned by families. So when measuring transformation, we should not only measure ownership, but the other six elements of transformation as well: procurement, social investment, and all the other elements. But we would like to have that kind of discussion with the select committee, because it is something that we are acutely aware of, and also dealing with and managing.
On the issue of access for people with disabilities, the different associations representing the disability sector had a meeting with me three years ago. We met with the grading council and the other public entities and SA Tourism. What has happened since is that for five-star establishments it is now a requirement to have access for people with disabilities. But let us say to each other that it is not yet enough. We are continuing that discussion on how we should integrate that requirement into the grading system to ensure that it becomes more widely applied.
The hon member Adams raised the issue of Pieter from the Cape Flats, who should know what he can achieve, and what kind of assistance he can get from government. I mentioned in my introduction that just over the past few years we have effected transactions of up to R4 billion from the tourism enterprise programme, just over 5 500 transactions. But my impression is that people are still not yet aware of the services, of the support structure, that we have available from the side of government, and we must certainly make sure that we continue to get that message out.
On the Confederations Cup, I think all of us took note this morning that Mr Blatter, the president of Fifa, said he gave South Africa seven and a half out of ten for the Confederations Cup, and that he was full of confidence that we would be able to host a good World Cup next year. Now I think we can be a little bit self-congratulatory, because there were so many prophets of doom who said: "Well, South Africa will not even be able to host the Confederations Cup." We surprised all of them, but seven and a half is not good enough for us. We want ten out of ten. So we take note of the problems that were experienced with transport, and with accommodation in some areas. I must just say here that I am confident that we will not see a repeat of those same problems next year.
One of those areas was Bloemfontein - there are people here from the Free State. And in Bloemfontein, next year, we shall have available all the hostels from the university, we shall have available the satellite accommodation in other towns, and special flights to Bloemfontein on the day of the matches, so I think we shall deal with that.
But let us also say to one another as South Africans, colleagues, we cannot build infrastructure and hotels in this country that we will not be able to use after 2010. Remember, in Korea they built infrastructure that they had to demolish after their World Cup. And as a developing country, and as government, we cannot now say to people, build new infrastructure and hotels and after 2010 there is nobody to use it. Then we would be wasting money that we should rather use more wisely for housing and other areas.
Let me deal with the issues on behalf of the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs. There are two issues there. The issue of air quality was raised, as well as the issue of climate change.
The chairperson of the other select committee raised an issue regarding air quality. The department has just reviewed the permits of the biggest polluters in the country. They are responsible for 80% of the pollution. I am quite sure that the new department under Minister Sonjica will now take action on the basis of that review.
The Vaal Triangle and the Highveld area have been declared hotspots with special measures to start dealing with the pollution there. The department also announced that 18 ambient air quality monitoring stations have been introduced. They are in operation already, and they will assist us to ensure that the new legislation that all of us passed in 2004 will be phased in properly and come into effect properly.
Then on the issue of climate change which the hon member Worth and other hon members mentioned, members here may be aware that Cabinet adopted the long-term mitigation strategy, certain measures that we as government have to start taking. What some of the colleagues reminded us of today is true. We have to deal with our carbon footprint, and we have to look at more sustainable forms of energy. That is why the President announced that there will be a new department of energy, which will have as one of its key functions dealing with this challenge of sustainable and renewable energy.
Chairperson, let me conclude on a very collegial note, with the issue of an alternative government that the hon member Sinclair raised here at the beginning. I must say it is quite refreshing to hear some political parties starting to refer, as the hon chairperson Mr Gamede said, to themselves not only as opposition parties, but also as alternative governments. It is really quite refreshing.
But it reminded me of a story regarding Henry Kissinger, who was probably the most famous United States secretary of state responsible for foreign affairs. Somebody asked him, "Mr Secretary of State, why don't you consult more with Europe? The United States is no longer the only superpower. Now that all these European states are coming together to form the European Union, you must really consult with them." Mr Kissinger said: "You know, it's very difficult, because when I have to speak to Germany, I know exactly who to phone. If I have to speak to China, I know who to phone. But when I want to speak to the EU, who do I phone?" Now, when President Zuma wants to speak to the ID, he knows exactly who to phone. When he wants to speak to the DA, he knows he must probably phone Mrs Zille. But if he wants to speak to Cope, who does he phone? [Laughter.]
I think if you are an alternative government, you must first decide if you have a leader, and who that leader is. So, I think, Chairperson, the benefit of that is that either Mr Bloem or Mr Sinclair can get a phone call from President Zuma. [Interjections.] I thank you. [Applause.]
Order! Mr Bloem, I allowed that to happen, but I hope it won't happen in the future again.
Debate concluded.