Hon Speaker, hon members, no, the President has not instructed Ministers to provide funding and a budget for the Nkandla-UMlalazi Smart Growth Centre. The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform is, however, supporting the Masakhane Rural Development Initiative with the detailed planning of the Nkandla initiative.
The department developed the model of the smart centre, which was put on exhibition at the United Nations Cop 17 Conference to showcase the concept of green development.
To date, no other national departments have made commitments to the delivery of facilities and infrastructure on the site. The smart centre is part of the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government's programme for the revival of small rural towns and the formalisation of rural unplanned towns and urban settlements. The towns include Ndumo, Manguzi, Msinga, Mbumbulu, Nkandla, Charlestown, Jozini, Ngwavuma, Dududu, Wineen and Colenso.
It is important to emphasise that even at the national level, Nkandla is not the only district that is receiving attention for rural development. There are actually 23 districts that have been identified by government for interventions due to deep levels of poverty, scientifically established through thorough investigations.
In Masia in Limpopo, a multipurpose facility is being built. In Diyatalawa and Makholokoe in the Free State, government is building community infrastructure such as schools, crches, a community hall, solar geysers, housing, two clinics and a dairy. In Jacobsdal in the Free State, a multipurpose community complex is being planned. It will include a crche and a village viewing area.
The upgrading of the Ratanang Stadium is under way. In Goedgedacht, in the Western Cape, we are building a rural leadership youth centre that will provide aftercare for small children and leadership for youth.
The Department of Rural Development is also in the process of purchasing an adjacent farm to develop, amongst others, a blacksmith museum and a tourist centre, as well as a restaurant and a market, and to develop an agri- village for the current farm residents.
In Beaufort West in the Western Cape, sports and recreational facilities for the youth will be built.
In Mbashe in the Eastern Cape, we are working with the local community and the traditional authority to develop a master plan for development projects, especially focusing on tourism and agriculture.
In Ludondolo in the Eastern Cape, the focus is on infrastructure development.
In July, I visited the area to assess progress with the building of the Dalibhunga Bridge in Mvezo and a 10 km access road that is currently under construction. The river valley catalytic project has also been started in the village.
In addition, land is being prepared for community agricultural practices.
The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform is working with the Sekhukhune District Municipality in planning a rural node similar in size and scope to the Mlalazi-Nkandla Smart Growth Centre, for the Jane Furse township.
It is envisaged that this development will consist of government offices, a recreational park, schools, a crche, a shopping complex, a clinic and sports facilities.
In Mayflower in Mpumalanga, we are revitalising the town through the provision of infrastructure such as a bridge, road paving and the upgrading of the sewers, amongst other things.
In Dysselsdorp in the Western Cape, revitalisation projects include 10 sandbag houses, 90 rainwater harvesting tanks, a crche, five renovated schools, an old age home as well as solar geysers to the homes.
In Witzenberg in the Western Cape, we are building a walkway and recreational area for the youth.
In addition, phase two is under way and includes the development of a community area and swimming pool, houses for older persons, a crche and the upgrading of the sewer system.
The government is doing a lot more throughout the country, even beyond the few districts I have mentioned.
It is a pity that only Nkandla seems to generate such interest. I thank you. [Applause.]
Mr Speaker, it has been widely reported that a total of R2 billion is going to be spent on building the Mlalazi-Nkandla Smart Centre, just 3 km away from the hon President's homestead in Nkandla.
One billion rand of this amount is set to come from the government's coffers. Yet, within a 100 km radius of Nkandla in places like Amasango Amnyama, Ebizimali and Equdeni, there are still people who live without the most basic services like water and electricity.
Now, I hear the hon President talking about the rural development nodes, but we know that there have been reports of other government departments - departments like the Department of Agriculture - that have provided up to R800 million for this project. It is surprising that the hon President did not mention this in his reply. Can the President justify the spending of R2 billion in one area, an area that just happens to be 3 km away from his own homestead, while other areas within 100 km in the province of KwaZulu-Natal are without the most basic services; and why was this area identified when others are so desperately in need? Thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Speaker, well, I hope the hon member could explain to me why people at Nkandla, 3 km away from where Zuma stays, must starve. Why must they be isolated? Why should others who are in other areas be more important than those; are they different people? Should they be punished because they are neighbours to Zuma? I do not think so. I think it is not a correct approach.
Among the few areas that are well known as being poverty-stricken in the province of KwaZulu-Natal is Nkandla - counting in Msinga and KwaNongoma. There are very few places, and Nkandla is one of them. Why should it be ostracised and be made to suffer simply because Zuma comes from there? Zuma grew up in that poverty-stricken area. [Interjections.]
I do not think there can be a conference that seeks to decide to which area development must go. Development goes to where it is supposed to go at a given time. That is why I gave a list of these areas that are throughout the country so that it can assist you. [Interjections.] It is not only one place; there are many, many other places. [Interjections.] No, there are many, many other places that are being attended to. Why should this one not be developed? Why, unless you explain to me that these people are condemned to remain in poverty forever, and that it is therefore wrong and a crime to happen to be a neighbour of somebody who could become a president some day. I would then understand your argument.
I think members of this House should be encouraged when development goes to the rural areas, irrespective of the area. That is what we want. We have created these particular programmes to assist people in the rural areas. I have counted the majority of provinces where there is rural development - where money is spent. The money will never be the same. We cannot say that it should be the same - we cannot apply the one-size-fits-all principle. The developments are not the same.
With regard to agriculture, agriculture is not supporting this centre. It is misinformation. Agriculture is supporting the rural agricultural development that is done by a huge community. That is what happened. It is not done only at Mlalazi-Nkandla. It is actually doing it in the Eastern Cape and in Mpumalanga. You do not talk about those, you instead pretend as though you do not know. The question is therefore very selective. That is what is happening. Agriculture has not gone into that project, it deals with agriculture, which has helped the poor people. There have been some areas that have produced a surplus that has helped other poor people. That is the job of agriculture; that is what they must do. So there is nothing to question. We should actually be saying that we are so happy that we can see something happening - people receiving something. Absolutely. [Applause.]
Hon President, former President Nelson Mandela is from Qunu, and what we appreciate as a country is that no prejudicial development took place there. We can say the same about ... [Interjections.] ... Idutywa, where former President Mbeki hails from. Surely, Mr President, I am seeing a R2 billion development in Nkandla as being your own personal fiefdom. [Laughter.]
Yes, Mr President you are talking about poverty-stricken areas, but I think you will agree with me that we must also prioritise them. In fact, when we alerted the Deputy President in this House about the 70% of households in Mbashe Municipality, in the Eastern Cape, that do not have access to water and sanitation, his response to this House was: This is a tragedy. The size, Mr President, of Mbashe Municipality is the size of a small European country. That is how big it is. Mr President, why is it that Mbashe is suffering and does not get the same kind of funds that are allocated to Nkandla, which is 3 km from your residence?
You have mentioned places that are nodes. I am not too sure whether you have visited these places. There is very little development in these places compared to Zumaville.
Mr President, my question to you is: Are you not embarrassed by all of this? Thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Speaker, I will never be embarrassed by the development in the rural areas ... [Interjections.][Applause.] ... particularly at Nkandla, where I grew up. You do not know, you just hear about Nkandla. You do not know how underdeveloped that place is. In fact, it surprises me when people fight development in rural areas. That surprises me. I have just told you that some of the projects I am talking about are the same size as Nkandla. I have also told you that, in fact, if you deal with rural development, we have got to start somewhere. It goes both ways. At times people in areas ask for development; at times they are seen or at times study, do research.
There are many factors that lead to development of a particular area. You cannot say that you will develop all poor areas on the same day and at the same time. You have to begin somewhere. I am saying you go there because there are certain reasons that have led you to go there. [Interjections.] That is why we are counting these other areas. I have talked about underdevelopment at Nkandla. I am sure you never heard, even when I was standing here, that in my own home there was no tarred road for a long time. Nkandla is one of the areas that were scientifically researched to be poorer than many other areas that you have in mind. Why must it not be developed? [Interjections.] I am not embarrassed, but very happy that people who have never seen development before are going to see it. This is what we want and it must be extended to other areas. Thank you, Somlomo. [Speaker]. [Applause.]
Hon Speaker, on a point of order: Was it parliamentary for the hon McGluwa to use the word "Zumaville"? Is it not insulting, and is that parliamentary language? [Interjections.]
I will study the Hansard and come back to that.
Mr President, personally, I like your generous spirit and your vision for development in rural areas, but it does get you into a lot of trouble. My question is whether any public participation has taken place regarding development in Nkandla. I was also going to ask you if you will be rolling out developments on the scale of the Nkandla one. Perhaps, as you have said, there are things in the planning. How far are those plans to roll out similar developments? Will the South African public have an opportunity to make submissions regarding the plans on these projects?
Hon Speaker, I get into no trouble, my dear. No trouble at all. I don't know why you say I get into trouble. Developing that area does not give trouble to me; it makes me feel very proud. Absolutely. So, do not change it around.
First, I am talking about Rural Development. Its job is to develop rural areas, and I was counting these areas. And that is what it does. There are different processes in these different areas. As I was trying to say even before you asked the question, there are reasons why they will go to a particular area. If you take this one - we are talking about Nkandla - the community has been involved. They have had meetings and have made suggestions. In fact, they were the ones who were calling for development. You may not even be aware that there was once a huge imbizo, a few years ago, in that area where people raised issues to government. You need development in these areas.
In a sense, government is responding to people who have said that they need development. There has been participation. Thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Speaker ... [Interjections.]
Hon Speaker, just a bit of ... [Interjections.]
Just one Cope at a time, please. You have the floor, sir. [Interjections.] [Laughter.]
Hon Speaker, on a point of order: Is it parliamentary for the hon President to refer to hon Dudley as ''my dear''? [Interjections.] [Laughter.]
That is not a point of order. What is the next point of order? Continue.
Hon Speaker, I just wanted to say that, according to the list, hon Ramatlakane actually was quicker to the button than hon Sizani.
Hon member, that is not a point of order. Please take your seat.
Is it not through Comrade President that in fact the creation of a rural development department was the decision of the ANC in its comprehensive strategy to improve the conditions of rural people?
Hon Speaker, yes, it is true because this organisation cares for the poor, particularly those in the rural areas. That is why this programme had to be created, and it is now being implemented. Is it absolutely true. Thank you. [Applause.]
Lessons learnt from Marikana tragedy in relation to social cohesion and nation-building
15. Mr L N Diale (ANC) asked the President of the Republic:
Whether he has found that, following the Marikana tragedy, the Government is still on course on the issue of social cohesion and nation building; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what lessons have been learnt from the Marikana tragedy to ensure that a similar tragedy will not happen again?