Chairperson, I will not ask a follow-up question to the Minister, but I will just agree with the answer that the Minister has supplied to this House and welcome the seminar that took place.
I think it is important that we have a holistic approach to this situation. There is an urgent need to finalise a national urbanisation strategy, together with a comprehensive rural development strategy. We cannot plan unless we know where our people are going to live and work in future. Thank you.
The MINISTER OF LABOUR (FOR THE MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY: NATIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION): Chairperson, I agree with the hon member on the need to strike a balance between urban and rural development. The emerging thinking - not only in this country, but globally - suggests that the urban- versus-rural approach is not a very useful one. Overplaying the differences tends to lead to inappropriate policies.
We all know how difficult this matter is; urban and rural areas are linked in a very complex way, but they provide inputs for activities taking place in the respective sectors. They provide labour, employment opportunities, as well as markets for goods and services produced in either of these sectors.
Therefore, the hon member is quite correct; we need not draw a big distinction between the two. We must link them up, otherwise the situation will be such that people will think that there are greener pastures in the cities and there is nothing in the rural areas. We need to make sure that we improve the life there so that our people also enjoy living in those rural areas. [Applause.]
Madam Chairperson, I was trying to get the service button off and then all the buttons went on.
You then have to apologise to me.
To apologise?
Yes!
I apologise. I was trying to get the service button on.
Ok, thank you. Take your seat.
Thank you, House Chairperson. Hon Minister, I just want to find out whether you took the traditional leadership into consideration in this National Planning Commission and what the discussions around the traditional leadership were. The reason I'm asking this question is that most of the problems that we experience are in the rural areas under the traditional leadership. What were your discussions with traditional leaders? Thank you.