Hon Chairperson, I acknowledge the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Comrade Tina Joemat-Pettersson; hon Deputy Minister, Dr Pieter Mulder; Ministers and Deputy Ministers present; colleagues; Team Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, DAFF, led by Mr Sipho Ntombela; leaders of our state-owned entities; industrial leaders and workers of agriculture, forestry and fisheries; invited guests; and former chairperson of this committee, Mr Neo Masithela, who is seated up there. [Applause.]
We also extended an invitation to Mr Meyer, and to Dr Kraai van Niekerk, who is not here, who are former leaders of the same committee. I acknowledge iNkosi Holomisa; Ah! Dilizintaba, who is somewhere in Namibia, and Mrs Hlengetwa, who are both Members of Parliament in the National Assembly and ladies and gentlemen. I also see in the gallery Mr Mller, a leader in the agriculture industry. I saw Mr Robinson, leader of Fisheries. I cannot see many other leaders in the industry here. In this year of united action towards socioeconomic freedom, the ANC once again salutes you all.
Today our Minister has tabled her department's Budget Vote for scrutiny and for favourable consideration by this august House. I strongly believe that the budget, as presented, together with its strategic plan over the Medium- Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, period bears testimony to the resolve of the ruling party, the ANC, as mandated by the people of our country, to eradicate the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality.
It is against this background therefore that, from the onset, the ANC supports Budget Vote No 26. [Applause.] The budget referred to is R6,2 billion for 2013-14. This budget is informed by a vision that strives for a united and prosperous sector and a mission that aims to lead and support sustainable agriculture, forestry and fisheries and to promote rural development in South Africa.
We all know that this year marks the centenary of the l9l3 Natives Land Act, which basically entrenched and further perpetuated the dispossession of productive land from the black people of our country. This was a horrendous and inhumane Act and its effects are still haunting us today and will for many years still to come.
We therefore welcome the decision of our glorious movement, the ANC, at its 53rd conference that the land question can never be closed until the injustices brought upon our people are fully and comprehensively resolved. [Applause.] Therefore, the reopening of this process must not been seen in the context of seeking to create uncertainty and instability. In actual fact, the opposite must be the true.
Another historical milestone is that, in the next few months, our country will celebrate 20 years of freedom and democracy that came in April 1994.
The critical question we will have to respond to is this: How far have we travelled towards creating a nonracial, nonsexist, democratic and prosperous society? Have we, through our budgets and other developmental instruments, created an enabling environment for our people to truly enjoy the fruits of our hard-won freedom and democracy? Are we confident enough to state boldly that, indeed, the creation of a better life is unfolding, as espoused in our Reconstruction and Development Programme?
South Africa has indeed turned the tide. Against all the odds, the ANC-led government has managed to overcome, over a period of 19 years, to be precise, 361 years of the colonial subjugation of our African people by generations of European settlers, still found within our Parliament and South Africa in general today.
The ANC-led government has also managed to overcome the 65 years of apartheid rule through the institutionalisation of a system that marginalised the rightful owners of our beloved country and through many laws such as the Group Areas Act, racial education Acts, and employment Acts, among others, that segregated our country and her people.
We had done it through resistance, at first nonviolent and later violent, when deputations, boycotts, strikes and stay- aways proved to be falling on deaf ears.
Through the four pillars adopted at the Morogoro ANC conference, our country and its so-called leaders at the time had to be liberated through underground work, mass mobilisation, international isolation and, of course, bombs and AK-47s - the only language that they understood! The price our fighters had to pay was so dear. In the process a number of our fighters had to go to the gallows, through judgments by none other than Judge Leon, father of a DA leader. Know your DA! [Interjections.] The father of a DA leader hanged a number of our comrades: Judge Leon, the father of Tony Leon. [Interjections.]
Many languished in prison for simply raising a clenched fist, chanting "Amandla!"
When the ANC liberated South Africa in 1994, it liberated even our own oppressors - you - and detractors. [Interjections.]
South Africa still has remnants of white supremacists, who are now co- opting some of our black people into believing that they will protect them and bring them a better life. [Applause.]
We know the truth: that the aim is to bring you back to apartheid days, as it has already started in Cape Town and in the Western Cape. Hence a number of black people ... [Interjections. [Applause.]
Chairperson, on a point of order: I am asking you to rule on the relevance of what the hon member is saying in relation to the debate.
Hon member, I could not hear you. There is just too much noise. Can you just repeat your point of order?
I am asking you to rule on the relevance of what the hon member is saying in terms of the debate that was tabled, which is the Agriculture debate.
We know the truth and the truth is omnipresent. The aim is to bring you back to the apartheid days, as it has already started in Cape Town and in the Western Cape. [Interjections.] Hence, a number of black people, which includes Indians, coloureds and Africans, have been migrating out of Cape Town in recent days. Communities of Khayelitsha, Heideveld, N2 Freeway and De Doorns, among others, burn down now and again. These communities still live in squalor and poverty although there is an abundance of wealth. [Interjections.] You know who liberated you. [Interjections.] Yes, we still ... [Interjections.]
Order! Hon members, while we allow interjections, we cannot allow the speaker to be drowned out. Proceed with your speech, hon member.
You know who your liberators are. Yes, we still have some challenges of further liberating our country from colonial and apartheid legacies. United in our actions, we are convinced that we shall indeed bring about socioeconomic freedom in our lifetime.
Through our 2030 National Development Plan vision, we are on track with reducing inequality, unemployment and poverty in South Africa. Among others, through the Integrated Growth and Development Plan, we shall grow the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors of our economy, whilst transforming these to benefit our people by 2031. [Interjections.]
Chairperson, on a point of order: I just want to enquire whether it is parliamentary for a member on the other side to stick out their tongue at members on this side. [Interjections.]
Hon members! Hon Johnson, will you just hold on. The hon member is raising a point of order. Please let us desist from certain actions which can be viewed in a particular way. Unfortunately, I cannot ask that member to withdraw the tongue. [Laughter.]. However, let us maintain the decorum in the House, otherwise we are going to be in here for a very, very long afternoon. Continue, hon member.
Chairperson, I realise that my two minutes are gone. [Interjections.] So, assist me. Through our 2030 NDP vision, we are on track towards reducing inequality, unemployment and poverty in South Africa. Among others, through the Integrated Growth and Development Plan, we shall grow the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors of our economy, whilst transforming these to benefit our people by 2030.
In the context of the department's Budget Vote and plan that we are deliberating, the question will be whether our people are food secure, whether we are winning the war against deforestation, but also whether our people in many coastal areas also enjoy the benefits of living along our coastlines.
It is also about whether the policies and laws we have enacted are sufficient to effect the necessary transformative agenda that we are committed to. It's about whether the resources we have been allocated and spent over the past l9 years are indeed value for money, to bring about a better life for our people.
The department has again received an unqualified audit report, which in essence is a reflection of the sound political and administrative leadership prevalent in the institution and the entities under its guidance. It is also a reflection of the fact that the resources allocated were used for their intended purpose. We can therefore confidently state that, yes, there is value for the money allocated.
Accordingly, we welcome the budget allocation of R6 l78 billion, and we know, as usual, that the department will be able to account for each and every cent it received. We also note that nearly 60% of the budget is transferred to the provinces, hence, proper collaboration between the two spheres of government within the framework of our intergovernmental relations is important.
I can safely say now, as the committee, we have resolved to collaborate with the National Council of Provinces in this regard.
As reported in the past financial year, we commend the department for the 99% of its budget that was spent, but the 5l% achievement of its target must not be repeated. It is unacceptable!
Support to small-scale farmers, fishers and foresters has to be measured from now on going forward, because we believe that if you cannot measure, you cannot manage. It cannot be that, in terms of the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme, Casp, conditional grants keep on increasing, without any results to show for such support.
Provinces, working with the department, must account for the support on investments towards our small-scale fishers, farmers and foresters.
Towards the end of last year the agricultural sector experienced a major upheaval, which, if not attended to, could have brought the sector to its knees. We wish to thank the leadership of our government, in particular the Minister, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, for having played a major role in bringing stability and facilitating bringing affected parties to the negotiating table. [Interjections.] [Applause.]
Let me hasten to state that if the private sector heeded the call for intervention in improving the conditions of farmworkers, after the Human Rights Watch report and the outcome of the 2010 Farm Worker's Summit on Vulnerable Workers, the unfortunate and regrettable actions at De Doorns would not have happened.
We are, however, inspired by the ongoing dialogue, as led by His Excellency, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.
Chairperson, on a point of order: With regard to the point of order that was raised earlier, the member is continuously sticking out her tongue. If she can't take it back, she must at least swallow it.
Hon members, I have politely requested that we desist from displaying certain attitudes in the House that can impact negatively on the decorum of the House. All members are supposed behave in an honourable manner. Continue, hon member.
We are also inspired by the emerging consensus among all stakeholders that our sector is at a crossroads and that De Doorns and the new wage determination is a game changer.
At this juncture, let us salute the Agriculture department for having started a process of uniting, through Asuf, under the able leadership of Mrs Ntombi Msimang and Dr John Purchase.
We are encouraged by the prevailing spirit of collectivism in seeking to revitalise the sector onto a new developmental growth trajectory that will embrace new entrants, new innovative mechanisms and also create decent and sustainable jobs.
As a committee of Parliament, we are cognisant of the challenges presented by rising energy costs, wages, declining investment, international trade volatility, climate change, land reform and food security.
It is important to mention that, despite the challenges faced by the sector, agriculture created approximately 83 000 jobs year on year, according to the latest statistics released by Statistics South Africa.
We are hopeful that through this dialogue we shall find solutions to mitigate the challenges reflected upon and, like we mentioned earlier, put the sector onto a new growth trajectory that will ensure that all South Africans are food secure, that we will be able to contribute meaningfully to job creation as projected by our National Development Plan, and that, most importantly, we will create enterprises among our people.
Our mandate is derived from the RDP Framework of 1993, among others, that communicated a clear message for us to transform the fisheries sector, as early as then, so that there would be one Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry department, so that South Africa would move away from the year-to- year quota system of rights allocation to medium-term and long-term allocations, and so that the coastal fishing communities would be the major beneficiaries of the marine resources they wake up to and work on, on a daily basis.
In the year 2005 year-on-year allocations was done away with and we introduced the medium-to long-term allocations, but the industry remained in the hands of big industry players. That is why, as the ANC, we support the Small-Scale Fisheries Policy that advocates the forthcoming rights allocation to deliver 70% of those rights allocations to the small-scale players in the industry.
Transformation of the fishing industry is a necessity and it cannot be left to the industry to do it alone. [Applause.] Henceforth, there is a need for a strong legislative and regulatory enforcement instrument or mechanism.
A fisheries charter is long overdue, despite the measures by the Department of Trade and Industry to stop it. As part of our oversight responsibility, we have a duty to benchmark this industry, also for its own benefit, in light of the fronting that is quite rampant in this industry. [Interjections.] Accordingly, we welcome the proposed amendments to the Marine Living Resources Act in strengthening the arm of the state to drive the transformation agenda.
It is heartbreaking that, on our many oversight visits to some of our coastal communities, we find that our people yearn for an opportunity to have fishing rights in order to make a decent living for themselves and the communities they live in. Our people live in abject poverty whilst they live along a coastal area with plenty of resources that can provide a decent nutritious meal and also provide much needed jobs and business opportunities.
We wish to commend the department on the finalisation of the Small-Scale Fishing Policy and also on the integrated aquaculture strategy. These developments will enhance our ability to transform the fisheries sector in totality and bring much needed socioeconomic freedom to all our people.
We must also take note of other government support, with a special focus in the field of fisheries and aquaculture in particular. [Interjections.]
Hon Minister and your Team DAFF, what has become abundantly clear through experience is that any sustainable exploitation of our natural resources must be accompanied by the five pillars of management expertise, research, accessible and affordable finance, value addition and access to markets.
We have these pillars in our midst and it is for us to harness them and to progressively move on with our economy, united in our actions towards socioeconomic freedom in our lifetime.
As the committee, we fully support the Budget Vote and its strategic plan as presented, and we make an impassionate plea that this House should do likewise.
We are of the strong and firm belief that we have a department that fully understands its developmental mandate in ensuring that the National Development Plan, NDP, the New Growth Path, NGP, and other policy intervention instruments are implemented.
Our committee work is made easier with the assistance of our members, who conduct themselves in a manner that unites us all under a common goal of bringing about food for all our people. None of our members fight along party-political lines. We will also not experience that in this debate. That is to be seen in action.
Our co-operation with the private sector can make you or break you. I can safely say that so far it has made us through robust engagements, attesting once again that we are indeed representatives of the public, and we shall continue to represent all of you as our constituency. The department and its entities must always feel free to communicate with us without waiting for times like these. What brings us together is the achievement of that golden goal of food security for all in our country.
Lastly, we have stars that anybody would wish to have and to be surrounded with ... [Interjections.] The committee supports Budget Vote No 26. [Time expired.]
Chairperson, the Oxford Business Group lists policy uncertainty as one of the key issues constraining growth in South Africa, citing "conflicting rhetoric, confusing legislative interpretations and policy reversals" as key concerns. Uncertainty in key policy areas were also noted by rating agencies prior to the downgrading of South Africa's credit rating at the end of 2012 and beginning of 2013. Agriculture is by its very nature characterised by uncertainty.
In South Africa, the ANC government contributes to this uncertainty through the lack of cohesion between different government departments, uncertainty around the land reform policy and sketchy frameworks for the implementation of strategic plans for agriculture.
Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson is daarom baie gelukkig dat Suid-Afrika van die beste, indien nie di beste, landbouers in die wreld het. As dit nie hiervoor was nie, sou Suid-Afrika alreeds hongersnood beleef het.
Dit is waarom die DA besef dat ons landbouers 'n waardevolle bate vir ons land is. Hulle is trouens die groep wat moet verseker dat Suid-Afrikaners voedselsekerheid geniet en dat ons nie soos sommige van ons Afrika- buurlande hongersnood ly nie.
Dit maak ons dus bekommerd dat mnr Ernst Janovsky, landbou-ekonoom, voorspel dat die land teen omstreeks 2050 slegs 7 000 kommersile boere sal oorh. Die totale getal kommersile boere word tans op 35 000 geskat, maar 'n aansienlike daling word oor die volgende vier dekades verwag.
Een van die faktore wat tot die daling sal bydra, is die kosteknyptang wat die bedryf knou en tot skaalekonomie lei. Elektrisiteit, brandstof, kunsmis en arbeid is alles insette wat vinniger gestyg het as wat plaasinkomste toegeneem het. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson is therefore very fortunate that South Africa has some of the best, if not the best, agriculturists in the world. If it had not been for this, South Africa would already have been experiencing famine.
That is why the DA has realised that our agriculturists are a valuable asset to our country. They are, in fact, the group that must ensure that South Africans enjoy food security and that we do not, like some of our neighbouring African nations, suffer famine.
We are therefore concerned when Mr Ernst Janovsky, agricultural economist, predicts that by about 2050 the country will only have 7 000 commercial farmers left. The total number of commercial farmers is currently estimated at 35 000, but a significant decrease is expected over the next four decades.
One of the factors contributing to this decrease is the cost pincer that is harming the industry and is leading to the economies of scale. Electricity, fuel, fertilizer and labour are all inputs whose costs have increased faster than revenue from farming.]
It is for this reason that Agriculture cannot afford to have a Minister who is more concerned about winning votes for the ANC than she is about ensuring food security for South Africa.
It came as no surprise to the DA when the Minister played a critical role in the Western Cape's farm worker strike at the end of last year. Not only did her department fuel the strike, but they also funded it. [Interjections.]
The department contributed R14 million during the violent strike. Not only was the strike violent and property damaged, but levels of intimidation against nonstriking farm workers and their families were very high.
Of great concern is that threats of a second wave of strikes have been made despite the increase in the minimum wage from R69 to R105 a day.
The Minister of Labour announced last week that almost 2 000 requests for exemption from the minimum wage were received from farmers.
The National Development Plan marks agriculture as a key job creator, proposing that it can create close to one million jobs by 2030. Even Microsoft founder Bill Gates agrees that investing in agriculture is essential if the fight against poverty is to succeed.
Whilst agriculture has historically been a major employer, that role is diminishing. Calculations by the SA Institute of Race Relations show that the agricultural sector has shed 331 000 jobs over the past 12 years. This figure does not include possible job losses that would occur after the increase of the minimum wage.
Agriculture will therefore lose its capacity for job creation if the growth of the sector is not supported. The need for greater support has never been higher in light of the announcement of the disappointing 0,9% GDP growth in the first quarter of this financial year.
However, government support is minuscule compared to support by other countries for their farmers. The Producer Support Estimate, PSE, a measure of government assistance to farmers, is at 3% for South Africa compared to 12% for China and 24% for Russia.
The DA therefore welcomes the Minister's acknowledgement that South African farmers, both commercial and small-scale, need more support. This support could come in the form of additional funds from the National Treasury to fund the implementation of green box policies such as infrastructure support and research and development in agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
The agricultural sector remains the most distorted industry in the world. To promote the comprehensive development of rural areas in China, the Chinese government applied many strategies, including one guided by the principle of "giving more, taking less". China even abolished the agriculture tax that had existed for more than 600 years.
According to the Free Market Foundation, South Africans pay more than four months' salary in taxes to fund government. This year the taxpayer worked from 1 January to 8 May only to be able to afford taxes. Very little tax is used to benefit farmers. Even rural roads are being fixed by farmers these days. This is why the DA in the Western Cape is spending the bulk of its Agriculture budget on its farmer support and development programme.
The DA has created expert panels for each commodity group, consisting of government and private sector experts. This means that since 2009 the Western Cape provincial government has supported a total of 252 projects through the commodity approach to the value of R410 million. This has covered all 10 commodities currently involved across the entire province.
In comparison, the leadership of Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson could best be described by the Auditor-General in the annual report of the department as follows, and I quote: Insufficient communication between those charged with governance and the Minister contributed to the lack of commitment and accountability by leadership to address repeat findings on reporting on predetermined objectives, governance and compliance.
This is the reason why this department is stumbling from one crisis to the next.
The DA has learned that Minister Joemat-Pettersson is one of the main causes of the backlog in the registration of certain stock remedies after she failed to sign a document approving the use of outsourced experts, who are crucial in the registration process. This resulted in 2 197 registrations that have not been evaluated and are waiting for approval.
The Minister has ignored calls to speed up the process to the point of flouting the law in disregard of a court order of the North Gauteng High Court instructing her to look into bringing the register up to date. In fact, the Minister has a contempt of court judgment granted against her. [Interjections.]
To further illustrate my point, while discussing the strategic plan of the department, the portfolio committee came to the conclusion that Ncera Farms should be shut down. Ncera Farms is a public company that is wholly owned by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Its mandate is to provide extension, mechanical services, training and agricultural support services to the farmers operating on Ncera Farms.
The committee had reached the conclusion that Ncera Farms was a failed enterprise that should be shut down. The entity provided no value for the money invested in it and DAFF had not developed any plans to turn it around. The state cannot continue to fund an entity that is not financially viable. The farmers reached the conclusion that DAFF was unwilling to assist them. A total amount of R34 614 000 million has been pumped into Ncera Farms since 1998.
If this is how the department treats its flagship training and development programme, just imagine what kind of assistance small-scale farmers receive through the department's comprehensive agricultural support programme.
Alita van der Walt from Farmer's Weekly sums it up perfectly, and I quote:
Until government realises that handing out land and tractors will not turn emerging farmers into commercial farmers, transformation will be stuck in its current rut.
Public-private partnerships are paying off. Why not strengthen these relationships, rather than seeing white commercial agriculture as the enemy? White and black farmers alike simply want an environment favourable to successful business. They have been telling our Ministers what they need and they have proof of what they can do under the right circumstances. When will they receive the support they need?
The time for political point-scoring has come to an end, Minister. We reiterate our call from our last Budget Vote debate for you to resign and allow more capable people to run the department. [Applause.]
To the people sticking out their tongues I want to say, it could cause blue tongue disease if you stick out your tongue. Thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Chairperson, greetings to all. In the 18th Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte, Karl Marx has this to say:
Men make their own history, but they do not make it as they please; they do not make it under circumstances chosen by themselves, but under circumstances directly encountered, given and transmitted from the past.
Amilcar Cabral had this to say: Tell no lies, claim no easy victories.
In giving an account of the work the Minister has done in the past four years, the House, the guests and the stakeholders will agree that she is the first Minister in the history of our democratic South Africa who has had six directors-general in just four years. Let me remind South Africa of the Minister's victims: Mrs Njabulo Nduli, Dr Emily Mogajane, Peter Thabethe, Dr Mono Mashaba, Langa Zitha and the current Hollywood actor, Mr Ntombela. All of them were actors from Hollywood.
This is truly history made that a Minister can declare her administration dysfunctional for four years, but still continue to survive Cabinet reshuffles. She is truly important to the ANC, more than the South Africans she continues to fail in the agricultural sector.
Let us list things the Minister has done wrong in the past four years. She has promoted officials implicated in corruption to senior management positions in her department. She has misplaced specialised vets to administrative responsibilities; she has incorrectly suspended officials and the South African public had to pay for that. She has collapsed our marine vessels. The Africana is supposed to have been collecting data in our coastal environment, but has not been sailing for no less than two years. The Ellen Khuzwayo patrol vessel has not been monitoring illegal activities in the coastal environment, leaving our coastal waters open to poaching. The recently head-hunted deputy director-general for Fisheries ran away within a period of five months.
I am talking about Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson's administration. She has failed to advance the interests of the entire agricultural sector, including farm workers, farmers, and the entire food chain. She has opted to instigate violence in the farming communities. [Interjections.] She has failed to implement the provisions of the Meat Safety Act and the nation is confused about what it consumes, whether we are eating whales, donkeys or dogs. This is all because of her inability to lead this sector correctly. [Applause.]
For this incompetence, any reasonable government would have fired her a long time ago and made her account for her wrongdoings and her incompetent administration. However, in this incompetent regime, we have become a banana republic, because people like her continue to be rewarded. [Applause.]
Truly, Minister, you are indeed a true South African story ... [Interjections.] ... that President Zuma was referring to, a failed revolutionary state, a nation that rewards nonperformers ... [Interjections.]
Hon Chairperson, I rise on a point of order: Is it parliamentary for hon Bhanga to point at another hon member with his finger? [Interjections.]
Yes, it is! Continue! Continue!
(Mrs N J Ngele): Continue, hon Bhanga.
The new ANC continues to reward nonperformers. We have become a nation that has sold its airbase to the highest bidder, the Guptas of the new ANC. Minister, you are truly a history-maker, and you deserve a wooden microphone.
During the commemoration of World Food Day in October last year, Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson promised the poor people of South Africa that government would ensure the realisation of the right to have access to sufficient food and water. She went on and said that President Zuma had challenged the Cabinet to actively take part in ending the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality by adopting policies that prioritise the basic needs of our people, particularly in rural communities. She told poor South Africans that our country is generally a food-secure country. This is far from the truth. Many South Africans experience chronic poverty and chronic food insecurity. In places like KwaZakhele, Pongolo and Bizana the food security of many South Africans depends substantially on the household income and assets or wealth status. A low-income household is more likely to suffer food shortages than a wealthier household. This means that millions of households with weak livelihoods are vulnerable to food insecurity. In statistical terms 45% of all female-headed households live below the poverty line compared to only 25% of male-headed households.
Millions of children are going to bed hungry and have no access to food and clean water. Thousands of children under the age of five years suffer from severe malnutrition. Twenty percent of children are undersized and 10% are underweight. What policies did the Minister adopt to eradicate poverty? [Interjections.] The only thing you know to do is to make a noise. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, hon Ministers, hon Deputy Ministers who are present here, hon members, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the Inkatha Freedom Party I am proud to stand in this House and deliver this speech on Budget Vote No 26.
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is tasked with the responsibility of ensuring food security in South Africa. It is tasked with the solemn obligation of keeping our population well fed.
On the note of food security, we further advise that we are totally against any kind of genetically modified food crops in South Africa. We call for the immediate banning of same from our soil. Eight national governments in the European Union have already banned the cultivation of Monsanto's MON810 maize and other forms of genetically modified organisms in their countries. There is clearly something wrong with genetically modified foods. Why do we continue to allow their proliferation in South Africa?
In addition, the department must ensure that we have surplus food products to export to our less fortunate neighbours on the continent and around the world. The department is performing its task admirably, but there are still many challenges.
Job losses due to failure of farms that were restored to emerging farmers is one such challenge. In this regard we call for additional departmental intervention in the form of training at these farms in order to ensure their future success.
The promise of providing rural communities with tractors in order to plough their fields is not meeting the current demand. The method of distribution of these tractors also remains questionable. Challenges remain in the distribution, management, servicing and monitoring of this equipment.
In KwaZulu-Natal we have witnessed many cases of tractors and equipment standing idle in the fields or at the department's regional offices as they have broken down. They have stood in this state of disrepair for such a long time that the grass has already covered them. We have seen and heard of the same thing in the Free State. Tractors are in such a state of disrepair that they are left in these departmental fields, and this results in far greater damage than just gathering dust.
Our subsistence farmers miss their ploughing seasons. In my constituency there are farms that are lying fallow. These are state farms that were providing employment to 500 workers and supporting about 5 000 dependants. These farms should have been leased to competent farmers so as to stabilise production and provide jobs to the surrounding communities.
In Makhathini Flats the entire investment in farming by the department was wasted. The infrastructure of the irrigation scheme is no longer operational. The promise of job opportunities in these areas was a dream to local communities, but now they are a recurring nightmare. The money spent was like pouring water down the drain.
I also wish to raise an issue that has recently been reported in our local and international media, namely the use of the meat of various animals that were found in the fridges our retail shops, improperly labelled and/or unlabelled. Sausages and boerewors have been found to contain meat from horses, donkeys and other animals. I am not mentioning this because I look down upon those foodstuffs, but because customers are entitled to know what they are paying for and eating.
Cross-border poaching continues to erode our livestock. Additionally, the cheap imports of chickens from Brazil, Australia and China are destroying our poultry industry and resulting in domestic job losses. Although we are a co-operative government, it seems there is no co-ordination between or oversight by national and provincial government. As such, national government is unable effectively to follow up on how funds they have allocated to provinces are spent.
Our biggest problem as the portfolio committee is that the Minister never attends our meetings. [Applause.] This limits our oversight to the administrative section only. One wonders whether the Minister has an attitude problem towards Parliament. [Applause.] Our porous borders have a negative impact on our livestock. Firstly, cross- border stock theft happens with impunity because, once the livestock cross the border into Mozambique or Lesotho, our police can no longer recover it. Secondly, livestock animals from neighbouring countries, especially those which are infected by diseases such as foot-and-mouth, are brought across our borders and they spread these diseases locally. In spite of all that I have said, the IFP would like to support the Budget Vote. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon members, distinguished guests, in debating this Budget Vote I shall focus on the public entities of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and on how this Budget Vote can assist in amplifying their role as instruments in advancing economic transformation.
For the ANC, the strategic direction with regard to the economic transformation of any public entity is to, firstly, treat these entities as drivers and agents of economic restructuring to advance the developmental objectives of the developmental state and the broader democratic society in line with policy resolutions that have been adopted by the ANC at both its 52nd and 53rd national conferences.
Secondly, we must, on continual basis, assess policies that will bring about an enforced optimum alignment and co-ordination of mandates and operations of these public entities with the broader objectives of the developmental state. The broader aim must be to restructure the economy in order to create decent job opportunities, equitable income distribution, quality service delivery and social justice.
We have to explore viable ways and means to strengthen the entities through public partnerships amongst and within the entities themselves. The department must demonstrate how it can use the strength of entities to support and direct private sector investment in agriculture and other related sectors of the economy in order to stimulate manufacturing and promote entrepreneurship development programmes that will enhance de- racialisation of the economy and the creation of new firms.
Above all, public entities as powerful development agents for economic transformation should remain firmly in the hands and under the control of the state in order to respond effectively to the development goals of the ANC government. [Interjections.] Ask yourself that question.
The first entity is the Agricultural Research Council, ARC, and its medium- term strategic goals that we have noted are to understand and promote research, to use and share its technological expertise and to establish and control facilities in the fields of research, development and technology transfer.
What will be critical in going forward is to ensure that the organisational restructuring alignment is being done to enhance the directives of the New Growth Path, NGP, and the National Development Plan, NDP, as well as the strategic orientation on agriculture. We welcome the Agricultural Research Council's strategic priorities, which include growth in agriculture, increased productivity, food security, the Zero Hunger campaign, bio- security, job creation and optimal technology platforms.
With regard to human resource capacity, it was noted that the Agricultural Research Council has not been successful in filling vacancies. We have concerns regarding the credibility of the information presented to the committee. This is because of the staff positions and vacancies in the Agricultural Research Council's business plan that differ from those in the 2013 Estimates of National Expenditure. [Interjections.]
The second entity is the Onderstepoort Biological Products, OBP. The strategic goals of this entity over the medium term are to improve manufacturing efficiency; reduce the input costs of production; ensure that vaccines remain affordable in the market; and form strategic partnerships to leverage funding, research and development capacity.
Whilst we acknowledged that revenue decreased between 2010-11 and 2012-13, the reasons for this were understandable. The decrease followed a significant increase in revenue in the previous year, when the vaccine was first introduced. We welcome the spending focused, over the medium term, on modernising the vaccine production facility and building personnel capacity by filling vacant research and development posts. The concerns we share relate to the sufficiency of the R2 million that has been allocated for security, given that OBP is a national key point.
The third entity is the Perishable Products Export Control Board, PPECB, whose strategic goals over the medium term are to enhance the credibility of South Africa's export certification, and contribute to South Africa's perishable product industries to become more competitive in terms of exports.
We are concerned because our exports have not grown in the past three years. The citrus black spot is a challenge that poses a threat to the entire citrus industry and also has a financial impact on the PPECB and the agricultural sector.
Politically, as the ANC, we give full support to the PPECB and the department in their negotiations to stop the European Union's market from putting a ban on South African citrus exports due to black spot. We welcome the intention to review the Perishable Products Export Control Act and the Agricultural Products Standards Act. This will have a significant impact on the modernisation of PPECB business and its financial model, including future sustainability.
We acknowledge the existing challenge, which is the conversion of a manual system to an electronic platform for the handling of data and providing more cost-effective services to customers by reducing their prices in order to become more competitive.
With regard to the fourth entity, the National Agricultural Marketing Council, NAMC, we have noted that its strategic goal over the medium term is to ensure an increased market access for all market participants and, most importantly, to bring transformation. This is in line with what the ANC expects from public entities.
As part of the transformation process, the continuing support for the development of schemes to secure markets for smallholder farmers is being advanced. [Interjections.] Heyi! [Laughter.] We are encouraged that NAMC is collaborating with the Department of Further Education and Training. The Minister has already mentioned that colleges are to render services to small-holder producers.
Ke ka fao re ratago go dira boipilet?o le go rata go leboga ge dikholet?he t?a rena t?a temo t?eo di bego di tswalet?we di bulwa ka moka go tlo t?welet?a bokgoni go baswa ba rena gore ba kgone go tseba t?a bolemi. [Legofsi.] (Translation of Sepedi paragraph follows.)
[We are so grateful that all agricultural colleges which were closed down are now to be opened again to equip the youth with agricultural skills. [Applause.]]
We commend the NAMC for their good work and for consistency in achieving clean audits for their financial performance. Our concerns are about the lack of synergy, and overlaps in the work of the department's entities.
Regarding the fifth entity, Ncera Farms (Pty) Ltd, our views here are the result of long and protracted engagement with the entity. The ANC supports the Budget Vote. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Chairperson, since 2009, we have been hoping that we would reach a point where the Minister would successfully turn the department around and place it on a path to efficiency and effectiveness, but thus far this has proven to be wishful thinking. Instead, the situation in the department has taken a turn for the worst.
For evidence, one has to look no further than the fact that the department has spent 90% of its budget, but only 51% of its targets have been reached. Two questions now come to mind: "Where did the money go? Has it been diverted to President Zuma's Zero Hunger programme?" Minister, the public deserves to know what happened to the rest of the money.
We have received numerous complaints from emerging farmers around the country regarding the department's mechanisation programme. Many of these complaints echo the UDM's sentiments. Some of these tractors are lying and rusting in different yards. The department has no policy regarding the issue of these tractors and we request the department to take this matter seriously this time around.
Monitoring and evaluation of existing projects in the department is very weak, to say the least. For example, every year the department gives money to provinces in order to ensure the success of the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme, CASP, but it does not monitor how these funds have been used and whether they have been used for the intended purposes.
To make things worse, the requests that have been sent by the stakeholders and us have not been answered, because those officials do not have the information.
Mhlekazi, Mama ... [Sir, Madam ...]
... let us be very clear. Here, we transfer money to provinces.
Imali esiyithumela emaphondweni yekarhulumente, asiyiyo imali ye-ANC kwaye ilungiselelwe ukwenza iiprojekthi ezi sithi xa sihambela amaphondo sifike singaziboni. Iya phi le mali? Ingaba yakha amasebe okanye iinkampu ze-ANC? [Uwelewele.] Yimali karhulumente le asiyiyo eyenu, niyithanda ningayithandi loo nto. Zange nifike namali apha. [Kwaqhwatywa.]
Ndithi kuni zenzeleni inkqubo nomgaqo-nkqubo we-CASP eziza kuqinisekisa ukuba le mali iyajongwa kuba ihliswa ngemilenze ngaBaphathiswa emaphondweni. Mayiphele le nto yokusetyenziswa gwenxa kwemali karhulumente yi-ANC, Mphathiswa. Le mali asiyiyo imali ye-ANC, yimali yeerhafu zethu niyithanda ningayithandi loo nto maqabane. Enkosi. [Kwaqhwatywa.] (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.) [The monies we transfer to provinces belong to government and not the ANC, and they are meant for projects, which we do not see when we visit provinces. Where do these monies go? Are they spent on building ANC branches or camps? [Interjections.] This is government's money and not yours, whether you like it or not. You did not come with money when you came here. [Applause.]
Formulate your own CASP programmes and policies which will ensure that spending is monitored, because provincial government officials are embezzling the monies. The misuse of government monies by the ANC must come to an end, Minister. Government monies do not belong to the ANC; they are part of taxpayers' money, comrades, whether you like it or not. Thank you. [Applause.]]
Hon Minister, I have something very specific on my mind and I'm hoping to get your undivided attention for the next very few minutes. [Interjections.] Hon Minister, I'm really hoping to get your undivided attention for the next very few minutes. [Interjections.] She is clearly not going to listen.
In August 2012 the ACDP submitted to Parliament a petition to overturn a government decision to allow the import of GM maize, known as Agent Orange, into South Africa. The maize is dubbed "Agent Orange" because it has been genetically modified to survive the weedkiller called 2,4-D, one of the key ingredients of the infamous defoliant chemical used in the Vietnam war. [Interjections.] Hon Minister, I have something very specific on my mind that I need your undivided attention for. [Interjections.]
The introduction of 2,4-D-resistant crops is expected to trigger a thirty- fold increase in the use of this chemical, which has been linked to cancer of the white blood cells and has produced a variety of disturbing results in studies on animals. The use of 2,4-D is banned in Norway, Sweden and Denmark.
The ACDP is of the opinion that government has been hasty in granting the approval of 2,4-D GM maize. The United States of America government last week announced that it will not grant approval for the cultivation of this crop until at least 2015, pending further research into safety. It is disturbing that our government granted approval for the consumption of this maize before it was approved in the country of origin.
The ACDP is appealing to the Minister to urgently initiate a complete review of our risk assessment and permitting process. The ACDP further calls on the Minister to review Monsanto's original research submitted for approval of maize that is already in production and being consumed in South Africa. We note that Kenya has banned GM imports as a result of this research. This matter needs to be interrogated and the public needs to be well-informed and involved.
Maize is a staple food in South Africa and the risks pose a threat to the entire nation. We should be supporting healthy food production systems that will sustain our people and the environment into the future. It is our understanding that no other government has allowed its staple food to be genetically modified.
The ACDP recognises the major considerations and implications that weigh on these issues. Decisions are not easy when provision of food in the short term cloud health risks and health threats in the longer term.
I do have to leave for another debate. However, I will follow up on this issue with you, Minister, and I will make what I said available, in case you didn't hear. Thank you. [Applause.]
Chairperson, on a point of order: It is parliamentary precedence and convention that government speaks from that side of the House and the opposition speaks from this side of the House? I ask you to advise whether it is correct that a Deputy Minister speaks from the opposition benches. Is he embarrassed by his Minister? [Interjections.]
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Dom Engelsman! Dom Engelsman. [Dumb Englishman. Dumb Englishman.]
Chairperson, on a point of order: Is it parliamentary for a Deputy Minister to refer to an hon member of this House as a "dumb Englishman"? I would like you to rule on that, please.
Hon member, I will rule later. [Interjections.] Hon Deputy Minister, I told you to start and you didn't. Now, my ruling is that you should please withdraw your statement.
Die ADJUNKMINISTER VAN LANDBOU, BOSBOU EN VISSERYE: Voorsitter, kan ek net s ek wag vir die horlosie om te kom sodat ek kan weet hoeveel tyd ek het en nie onnodig reageer op my linkerkant nie. Ek dank u vir die reling wat u gemaak het oor die situasie. Ek het hoeveel keer al my posisie vir die agb lid verduidelik. As hy dit nie verstaan nie, dan moet hy dom wees. [Tussenwerpsels.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[The DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Chairperson, may I just say that I am waiting for the clock to arrive so that I may know how much time I have and won't have to react unnecessarily to those on my left. I am grateful for the ruling you have made about this situation. I have already explained my position to the hon member numerous times. If he does not understand it, then he must be dumb. [Interjections.]]
Withdraw it!
Hon Deputy Minister ...
Die ADJUNKMINISTER VAN LANDBOU, BOSBOU EN VISSERYE: Die landbousektor is 'n primre ... [Tussenwerpsels.] DA, as julle kleinpolitiek wil maak, wag vir die verkiesing. [Tussenwerpsels.] Ek verstaan nie waarmee julle nou besig is nie. Dit is 'n landboudebat. [Tussenwerpsels.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[The DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: The agricultural sector is a primary ... [Interjections.] DA, if you wish to wage petty politics, please wait for the elections. [Interjections.] I do not understand what you are busy with right now. This is a debate on agriculture. [Interjections.]]
Hon Deputy Minister, please withdraw your remark.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: I will try my best. You must keep them silent on this side.
Hon Deputy Minister, did you withdraw it?
Die ADJUNKMINISTER VAN LANDBOU, BOSBOU EN VISSERYE: Die landbousektor is 'n primre sektor, van belang vir die ekonomie en met die potensiaal om nog meer werkgeleenthede te skep ... (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[The DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: The agricultural sector is a primary sector, of importance to the economy and with the potential to create even more job opportunities ...]
Chairperson, on a point of order: I don't think the Deputy Minister has complied with your ruling.
Agb Voorsitter, op 'n punt van orde: Ek wil weet of dit parlementr is dat dom agb lede kort-kort die agb Adjunkminister kan onderbreek. Laat hy sy toespraak hou, dat die agb dom lid kan wakker word en ... [Tussenwerpsels.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Mr P J GROENEWALD: Hon Chairperson, on a point of order: I want to know if it is parliamentary for dumb members to keep on interrupting the hon Deputy Minister. Let him deliver his speech, so that the hon dumb member can wake up and ... [Interjections.]]
You shouldn't have sent that tweet to me, my friend. You made a big mistake. Point of order, Madam Chair.
I am ruling now. Please, give me a chance. [Interjections.] No, I am ruling now. Hon Deputy Minister, please withdraw the remark.
Withdraw it!
Die ADJUNKMINISTER VAN LANDBOU, BOSBOU EN VISSERYE: Moet ek die opmerking terugtrek dat hy dom is? Dit is baie moeilik, maar ek trek terug dat hy dom is. [Tussenwerpsels.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[The DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Must I withdraw the remark that he is dumb? That is very difficult, but I withdraw that he is dumb. {Interjections.]]
Hon members, please, I am dealing with something. Give me a chance. Leave it to me. It is not your problem. Hon Deputy Minister, will you please withdraw it?
Chairperson, he has withdrawn it!
'n AGB LID: Hy het dit teruggetrek!
Die ADJUNKMINISTER VAN LANDBOU, BOSBOU EN VISSERYE: Ek het dit teruggetrek. Ek dink ons mors tyd. Hierdie is 'n landboudebat, nie kleinlike politiek nie. Ek het teruggetrek wat ek ges het, asseblief. [Tussenwerpsels.]
Die landbousektor is 'n primre sektor, van belang vir die ekonomie en met die potensiaal om nog meer werkgeleenthede te skep en sodoende landelike ontwikkeling te bevorder. Dit is egter 'n sektor ... [Tussenwerpsels.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[An HON MEMBER: He has withdrawn it!
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: I have withdrawn it. I think we are wasting time. This is a debate on agriculture, not on petty politics. I have withdrawn what I said. [Interjections.]
The agricultural sector is a primary sector, of importance to the economy and with the potential of creating even more job opportunities and thereby promoting rural development. It is, however, a sector ... [Interjections.]]
Shut up, man. [Interjections.]
Julle is kinderagtig! [You are childish!]
Madam Chair, on a point of order: It is unparliamentary for a member to tell another member in this House to shut up.
What is the point of order?
The point of order is that it is unparliamentary for a member in this House, particularly a Deputy Minister, to tell another member in the House to shut up. I ask that he withdraw that.
Agb Voorsitter, op 'n punt van orde: Ek wil weet of dit parlementr is dat 'n agb lid hier voor sit en aanmekaar tussenwerpsels maak. Tussenwerpsels is toelaatbaar, maar as dit sodanig is dat daar nie 'n behoorlike toespraak deur die agb Adjunkminister gemaak kan word nie, wil ek u as Voorsitter vra om vir die agb lid te s om hom soos 'n agb lid te gedra. [Tussenwerpsels.] "Shut up" jy ook! [Tussenwerpsels.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Mr P J GROENEWALD: Hon Chairperson, on a point of order: I want to know if it is parliamentary for an hon member to sit here in front and continuously make interjections. Interjections are admissible, but if they are of such a nature that the Deputy Minister cannot make a proper speech, then I want to ask you as Chairperson to tell that hon member to behave like an hon member. [Interjections.] You shut up as well! [Interjections.]]
Point of order, Madam Chair! Are you going to let him get away with it?
Sit down. Please sit down. You are now making things difficult. It is unnecessary.
Dis die "Chief Whip" van die Opposisie! [It is the Chief Whip of the Opposition!]
Just a minute. Wait for me to give you the ruling. It is not going to work if there is point of order after point of order. Then we are not going anywhere. Please, give me a chance to give the ruling. [Interjections.]
Deputy Minister, will you please switch off your mike. Deputy Minister, do me a favour. "Shut up" is not parliamentary. It is unparliamentary. Please withdraw it.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Madam Speaker, I will withdraw that, but I can't hear myself speaking and therefore I withdraw it unconditionally. Please, give me an opportunity and protect me to make my speech, for the sake of agriculture. [Interjections.] [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Hon Chairperson, I am asking that our Deputy Minister be given an opportunity to complete his speech. I do believe there should be some level of decorum. Could you please allow the Deputy Minister to complete his speech. [Interjections.]
This is not a portfolio meeting, Minister. [Interjections.]
That is not a point of order. Please, hon members, see that everything is going well. We cannot move on. Please, talk to your members.
Die ADJUNKMINISTER VAN LANDBOU, BOSBOU EN VISSERYE: Agb Voorsitter, hierdie is 'n landboudebat en ek wil tog h mense wat daar buite luister, moet daarvan kennis neem ... (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[The DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Hon Chairperson, this is an agriculture debate and I would really like people who are listening out there to take note ...]
Chairperson, on a point of order: While you have ruled that "shut up" is unparliamentary, you haven't asked the hon Groenewald to withdraw his words "shut up" to hon Hill-Lewis. [Interjections.]
It is unparliamentary. The hon member who said shut up, please withdraw your statement.
Hon Chairperson, I am going to speak just now. I will withdraw my remark on condition that the hon members will stay here so that they can listen to what I want to say to them.
No, withdraw it.
If you have guts, stay here!
Hon member, please withdraw it.
Ek het ges dat ek dit sal terugtrek; ek trek dit terug. [I have said that I will withdraw it; I withdraw it.]
Chairperson, on a point of order: Can we allow the Deputy Minister to complete his speech, starting from scratch, because he hasn't been afforded the time to speak. [Applause.] [Interjections.]
Hon members, allow the Deputy Minister to continue, please.
Die ADJUNKMINISTER VAN LANDBOU, BOSBOU EN VISSERYE: Agb Voorsitter, hierdie is 'n landboudebat, eintlik oor 'n baie belangrike saak - Suid-Afrika se landbou, wat ons almal raak. Ek dink die lede hier en die mense daar buite moet kennis neem dat die DA dit nodig ag om hier kleinpolitiek te maak. Ons sal later politieke debatte voer, maar hierdie debat gaan oor landbou en die toekoms van landbou, wat ons almal raak.
Die vraag wat ek wil vra, is dit: Wat is die grootste probleem wat landbouers tans in Suid-Afrika het? Die grootste probleem in hierdie stadium is onsekerheid - onsekerheid oor hul grond in die lig van verwarrende uitsprake, onsekerheid oor die styging van administratiewe pryse waaroor hulle geen beheer het nie. Die onsekerheid gaan oor dinge soos die koste van elektrisiteit, dinge soos water, asook die onlangse verhoogde lone, wat alles 'n effek het en die onsekerheid veroorsaak. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[The DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Hon Chairperson, this is an agriculture debate on what is actually a very important matter - South Africa's agriculture, which affects all of us. I believe the members here and the people out there should take note that the DA finds it necessary to play at petty politics here. We can have the political debates later, but this debate is about agriculture and the future of agriculture, which affects all of us.
The question I want to pose is: What is the biggest problem that currently faces South Africa's agriculturists? At this stage the biggest problem is uncertainty - uncertainty about their land in the light of confusing statements, uncertainty about the increased administrative costs over which they have no control. The uncertainty is about things such as the cost of electricity, things such as water, as well as the recent increased wages, which all have an effect and are causing the uncertainty.]
Madam, these increases pose huge threats to the sustainability of the sector. Therefore, to protect farmers, farms, farm workers and ultimately food security, critical interventions by government via direct and indirect support mechanisms are needed.
Furthermore, the diverse South African sector more than ever requires a committed partnership between the private and all the public sector organs. The support of the state-owned entities, SOEs, in the sector is a partnership that has evolved over decades. Extensive empirical evidence demonstrates that agricultural research and development investments have greatly contributed to economic growth, to agricultural development and to poverty alleviation in developing regions over the past five decades. Effectively, new technologies and crop varieties resulting from research and development investments have enhanced the quantity and quality of agricultural produce, at the same time increasing sustainability, which was possible because of this research.
Given the important challenges, such as population growth, climate change, increasing weather variability, water scarcity, and the volatility of food prices, we must recognise the value of greater investment in agricultural research and development as an essential element in increasing agricultural productivity.
Daarom mag die rol van die Landbounavorsingsraad, LNR, nooit onderskat word nie. Die kernmandaat van die LNR is om landbou se bydrae tot lewenskwaliteit te bevorder en om effektiewe natuurlike hulpbronne te verseker. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[That is why the role of the Agricultural Research Council, ARC, must never be underestimated. The core mandate of the ARC is to promote agriculture's contribution to the quality of life and to ensure effective natural resources.]
To date, the Agricultural Research Council has successfully implemented the National Livestock Improvement Scheme that is aimed at improving the performance, competitiveness and efficiency of smallholder farmers through the application of practical scientific approaches to the breeding and management of livestock. Through this scheme, we have seen an increase in the number of smallholder farmers participating in the scheme, from 920 a year ago to 4 075 livestock producers by the end of March 2013.
During the 2013-14 financial year the ARC will increase the number of farmers participating in the scheme by an additional 2 000, and this will include collaboration with other organisations such as the Industrial Development Corporation, IDC, and the Independent Development Trust, IDT. The ARC will also continue providing services such as artificial insemination and embryo transfer to smallholder farmers. Surely this is a success that we can start showing in that area.
The ARC renders innovative and smart solutions, which help farmers eliminate pests and eradicate diseases. Vaccines are a highly specialised animal health area. With it, the ARC conducts clinical trials ensuring the efficacy and effectiveness of such remedies for the livestock sector.
The 2013-14 financial year marks the beginning of a new era also for Onderstepoort Biological Products, OBP. The much needed capital injection of R492 million from National Treasury over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, period will be used to refurbish the ageing plant, to purchase new equipment and to build a good manufacturing practice, GMP, facility which will place OBP onto a new trajectory. If you visited them, you will know why they are so important, and I think this is a breakthrough.
The quality of OBP vaccines is a critical issue. The quality control system has been accredited, and this must ensure that no substandard batch of vaccines leave the plant. Onderstepoort Biological Products has also received research funding of R39 million from the Technology Innovation Agency.
Chairperson, South Africa is currently a net exporter of agricultural, forestry and fisheries products. These sectors' exports contribute R61 billion to the gross domestic product, GDP, with a R6,5 billion positive trade balance. It is, however, noteworthy that South Africa's agricultural exports decreased by 5% between 2011 and 2012. We need to acquire a positive investment climate and a high level of business confidence in order to enhance and maintain our competitiveness. Political stability and sound decision-making are key with regard to the attribution of a positive climate and the enhancement of the level of trade and investment confidence.
The goal of creating one million jobs by 2030, according to the National Development Plan, is only possible through export growth, and export growth is only possible through investment in the growing export sectors. Our department has been successful in establishing good trade relations with new markets and will continue with this initiative during the next financial year. The department and the Perishable Products Export Control Board, PPECB, are working closely together to assist South Africans - within the ambit of the law - to export their products successfully in a highly competitive global arena. As a result of some sacrifices and creative thinking, the PPECB has gone from a R16 million loss to a financial break-even situation in one year.
The PPECB has revised the Perishable Products Export Control Act, Act No 9 of 1983. This was an intensive exercise that involved consultations with many people. It is hoped that, once the new Act is promulgated, it will enable the PPECB to modernise its business offerings to the public. It should certainly put the PPECB's business model on a more sustainable footing.
The National Agricultural Marketing Council continues to successfully implement developmental schemes in wine grapes, maize, sunflower and livestock. The objectives of these schemes are to secure markets, which is of critical importance for the development of emerging farmers. We cannot have farmers who are left in the emerging phase forever. These farmers should be enabled to successfully develop into commercial producers. That is for the benefit of all of us. [Applause.] It is, however, important that there will, at such a stage, still be a commercial sector subsisting for these farmers to join.
Voorsitter, verstaan ons werklik wat dit beteken om voedselsekerheid in die toekoms vir 'n wreldbevolking van 9 miljard en 'n Suid-Afrikaanse bevolking van 60 tot 70 miljoen te probeer verseker? In Suid-Afrika se geval kan 70% van sy inwoners reeds oor 20 jaar in die stede woon. Om in voedselsekerheid te kan slaag, is 'n suksesvolle kommersile landbousektor noodsaaklik. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Chairperson, do we really understand what it means to try to guarantee food security in the future for a world population of 9 billion and a South African population of 60 to 70 million? In South Africa's case, 70% of its inhabitants could already be living in the cities in 20 years' time. In order to succeed in food security, a successful commercial agricultural sector is essential.]
Notwithstanding a concerted global effort after the 1996 World Food Summit, global food insecurity increased from 800 million people in 1996 to 925 million people in 2011, with 235 million people living in sub-Saharan Africa. It is estimated that the increase in the world population, from the current 7 billion to 8 billion by 2030, will require an additional 120 million hectares for crop production. Furthermore, by 2050 the estimated global population of 9 billion will require an increase in agricultural production to an additional 1 billion tons of cereals and 200 million tons of livestock products per annum.
Die feit is verder dat meeste van die bewerkbare landbougrond op hierdie planeet klaar in gebruik is. Daarbenewens verloor ons elke jaar omtrent 10 miljoen hektaar vrugbare grond ter wreld. In Suid-Afrika is goeie landbougrond so groot soos die Krugerwildtuin reeds permanent vir landbou verlore as gevolg van mynbou-aktiwiteite en verstedeliking.
Suid-Afrika het tans nie 'n tekort aan voedsel nie en daar kan dus geargumenteer word dat ons voedelsekerheid het. Tog bevind Statistiek Suid- Afrika in 2010 dat 23% van die Suid-Afrikaanse bevolking 'n tekort aan voedsel het en honger ly. Hierdie hongersnood en ondervoeding in Suid- Afrika word nie soseer deur 'n tekort aan voedsel, soos in ander lande, veroorsaak nie. Dit word veroorsaak deur die armoede van sekere lede van die gemeenskap, wat nie kos teen huidige kospryse kan bekostig nie.
Hoe los ons hierdie probleme op? Hoe produseer ons meer voedsel op minder grond sonder om die omgewing verder te besoedel? Dis die uitdaging. Hoe verseker ons dat hierdie voedsel goedkoop genoeg is om voedselsekerheid ook vir die armes in ons gemeenskap te verseker? Dit lyk na 'n onmoontlike probleem en 'n dilemma. Dit is vir my duidelik dat boerdery, soos ons dit vandag ken, op pad na 2050 ingrypend sal moet verander om die probleme die hoof te kan bied.
Is daar 'n antwoord? Ja! Tot op datum die afgelope eeu het ons deur tegnologie, navorsing en opleiding voorgebly met die verskaffing van voedsel. Ek s met tegnologie kan die huidige plafonne wat ten opsigte van die produksie van kos bestaan, gebreek word. Deur middel van tegnologie kan meer en meer kos geproduseer word met dieselfde en selfs minder insette. Ek s met tegnologie kan die volle potensiaal van plante verder ontsluit word, om meer te groei van minder, om ons voedselvoorraad te verdubbel en alternatiewe bronne van energie te skep sonder om die skaars waterbronne uit te put of die koolsuurgas meer te maak. Dis die uitdagings. Dis moderne landbou wat hoogs ingewikkeld is en wat hom nie tot kleinlike politiek leen, soos vandag nie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[It is also a fact that most of the arable agricultural soil on this planet is already in use. Moreover, we are losing about 10 million hectares of fertile land per year in the world. In South Africa, because of mining activities and urbanisation, good farming land as large as the Kruger National Park has already gone to waste for agriculture.
At present South Africa does not have a shortage of food, so one could argue that we do have food security. However, Statistics SA found in 2010 that 23% of the South African population was suffering food shortages and hunger. This hunger and malnutrition in South Africa is caused not so much by a shortage of food, as in other countries, but by the poverty of certain members of the community, who cannot afford food at the current prices.
How do we solve these problems? How do we produce more food on less land without further polluting the environment? This is the challenge. How do we see to it that this food is cheap enough to ensure food security for the poor in our communities as well? It seems like an impossible problem and a dilemma. It is clear to me that farming, as we know it today, will have to change dramatically on the way to 2050 for us to be able to deal with these issues.
Is there an answer? Yes! Up to now in the past century we have managed through technology, research and training to stay ahead with food provisioning. I am saying that through technology the current ceilings that exist regarding the production of food can be penetrated. Through technology more and more food can be produced with the same amount of, or even less, input. I am saying that through technology the full potential of crops can be further unlocked, to grow more from less, to double our food supplies and create alternative sources of energy without draining our scarce water resources or increasing the carbon dioxide. These issues are the challenges. This is modern agriculture, which is highly developed and does not lend itself to petty politics, such as happened today.]
Hon Deputy Minister, your time has expired.
Die ADJUNKMINISTER VAN LANDBOU, BOSBOU EN VISSERYE: Ek is jammer, Voorsitter. Ek is baie ver van klaar af. Die politieke debatte sal ons later voer, maar die DA wil kleinlike politiek maak. Ek dank u. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.) [The DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: I'm sorry, Chairperson. I am far from done. The political debates we can have later, but the DA wants to play at petty politics. I thank you. [Applause.]]
Hon Chairperson, all protocol is observed. At its 52nd national conference in Polokwane in December 2007, the ANC resolved that stronger state capacity be built and greater resources be devoted to the challenges of rural development, land reform and agrarian change. It also resolved that large-scale programmes be implemented to establish new smallholders and improve the productivity of existing smallscale and subsistence farmers and to integrate smallholders into formal value chains and link them with markets.
It called for dedicated state and private institutions to be developed for the effective and directed support to land reform beneficiaries in general and smallholder agriculture and family farms in particular, including financial support, research and extension, the provision of tools and equipment and the facilitation of market access and co-operation.
The Polokwane conference resolved that the national agricultural policies be revisited, particularly in respect of subsidies, tariffs and marketing institutions, and that the relationship between these and the ANC objectives in respect of rural development, land reform and agrarian change, as well as food security, be implemented.
Our 53rd national conference in Mangaung took this further through emphasis on the recapitalisation and development programme and the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme, Casp, including in communal areas. It called for the rationalisation of existing food security initiatives and reaffirmed the all-important and fundamental decision that land be treated as a socioeconomic right. This has major positive implications for agriculture, food security and tenure. These are the policy directives that must inform this debate.
The context in which we debate agriculture is a challenging one. The industrialised nations continue to provide lavish subsidies and other forms of protection to farmers with the aim of sustaining their agricultural sectors, maintaining social cohesion and ensuring national food security. The effect of this is to undermine rural livelihoods and exacerbate poverty in the developing world, especially in Africa.
The global recession has reduced demand for agricultural products and farmers in the developing world who depend on exports are faced with reduced orders and lower prices. Profits are lower and, as we have seen in South Africa, the debt burden of farmers is increasing. There is less investment in agriculture.
Whilst this is the situation, we are encouraged to note that, with regard to job creation and sustainable jobs over the past year, over 80 000 new jobs have been created, most of them in rural areas.
Let me deal with the challenges and then outline how the ANC government is dealing with the challenges. The challenges facing the agricultural sector are multiple. They are to be found in animal and crop diseases, with our ostrich industry still suffering from a ban on meat exports to the UK, and regaining our status as a foot-and-mouth disease-free country is not easy. Our citrus crop is currently threatened by the invasive citrus black spot, which also jeopardises our exports to Europe.
We cannot ignore the challenge of protecting prime agricultural land which is under severe threat. Mining industry and other developments are competing for this land and we need a department that has the resources and authority to defend our productive farm land.
The challenge of climate change is a major issue for agriculture. Farms produce large amounts of greenhouse gases, which add to the problems of climate change. Agriculture is the sector which is worst affected by droughts, floods and other extreme weather events.
We have a declining number of commercial farmers who are carrying larger debts and investing less in their farms. Emerging farmers who are still establishing their farms are the worst affected and too often do not graduate to full commercial enterprises. Support to these farmers and providing them with access to tractors, fertilisers and seeds is critical.
When it comes to progress, we are encouraged by the fact that the department is working with a unified agricultural sector in the form of the Agri-sector Unity Forum to deal with these challenges and many other issues. We support the initiative of the department's work with agribusiness to ensure food security and the growth of the food industry to create more jobs. Working with farmers and communities and responding to their needs and to the need for the revitalisation of the agricultural sector is primary and there is much evidence of this.
The mandate of the comprehensive agricultural support programmes is to provide post-settlement support and redistribution to targeted beneficiaries of land reform and other producers who have acquired land through private means and are engaged in value-adding enterprises domestically or in export.
We have welcomed the progress in delivering on- and off-farm infrastructure support; technical and advisory assistance and regulatory services; training and capacity-building; marketing and business development; information and knowledge management as well as financial assistance to subsistence, smallholder and black commercial farmers.
We are encouraged by the spending focus of the Budget Vote on increasing support to smallholder farmers and producers through the Ilima/Letsema programme, the sustainable plant production systems and the maintenance of effective systems to manage risks associated with plant pests and diseases. Through the Ilima/Letsema programme - which is allocated R1,4 billion over the medium term for poverty alleviation - food security, job creation and plant-related commodity strategies, with a focus on indigenous food crops, will be rolled out. In terms of animal production, the programme will provide support to approximately 3 900 smallholder producers participating in animal improvement schemes. As far back as 2010, Cabinet developed and adopted a value chain financing model that caters for collateral guarantee funds, supplementary capital, technical support and risk and market analysis. The support provided includes farm planning, technical support and market access. The grants will be used for on- and off-farm infrastructure. In the case of on-farm infrastructure, partners must be sought to ensure the success of the enterprise.
In order to deal with the challenge of food security, the major focus must be on food production in the future. Our smallholder farmers must be organised to ensure our country maintains its food security in future and we must ensure that they are successful.
The positive contribution of providing comprehensive support to subsistence and smallholder producers through the food security subprogramme is encouraging. Providing infrastructure development, extension services, production interventions and improved market access to attain food security are also encouraging.
Casp, which is allocated approximately R2,9 billion over the medium term, needs to provide infrastructure to 220 000 existing and 80 000 new smallholder producers and 380 000 subsistence producers. In conclusion, the mandate that this Budget Vote gives the department is to ensure that it contributes towards the provision of food for the country, growing the economy of rural areas and promoting export opportunities for the country. In the final instance, it is our best hope of ensuring that all people have enough nutritious food on their tables every day.
Modulasetulo, ga re lebale gore gona bjale naga ya gaborena e lebane le bothata bja mebaene. Gona bjale ka kua Mpumalanga, dihekthara t?e dint?int?i di t?erwe ke mebaene. Go sa ya pele, mebaene e sa nt?e e prospecta nyaka mo e ka humanang gore ba ka epa, mola e le gore naga ya rena ke ya go lota dijo ...
... our land is for food security ...
... gore batho ba se ke ba hlaka.
Re kgopela gore kgoro, "at the same time", ka nako ye - ee, re a e nyaka mebaene ka gore e hlola - e bolele le Kgoro ya Diminerale gore ba kwane, ba seke ba no t?at?amet?a naga.Ee, re a e nyaka mebaene ka gore e hlola me?omo. Re tla ja eng? Go sego bjalo Afrika Borwa e tlo lebana ke gore e be naga ye e lego gore dijo t?a yona di t?wa ka ntle. Re a kgopela. (Translation of Sepedi paragraphs follows.)
[Chairperson, currently the mines are a problem in our country. In Mpumalanga many hectares of land are occupied by the mines and they still want more land to use for mining. The land has to be used for food security to eliminate poverty.
At the same time, we appeal to the department to work together with the Department of Mineral Resources and reach an agreement to stop digging up the land. Yes, we want mining because it brings job opportunities. What are we going to eat? South Africa will depend on imported food only. Please, we are pleading with you.
The ANC supports Budget Vote No 26. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Agb Voorsitter, landbou is 'n strategiese bedryf. Die voortbestaan van die wreld hang daarvan af. Dit is verkeerd dat die ANC die landbou as 'n politieke speelbal gebruik om stemme te werf. [Tussenwerpsels.] Dit is ook verkeerd van die DA om landbou as 'n politieke speelbal te gebruik om stemme te werf. Hulle is dieselfde! (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Mr P J GROENEWALD: Hon Chairperson, agriculture is a strategic industry. The survival of the world depends on it. It is wrong for the ANC to use agriculture as a political football to gain votes. [Interjections.] It is also wrong for the DA to use agriculture as a political football to gain votes. They are the same!]
You have the Deputy Minister!
Dit is die agb dr Pieter Mulder ... [Tussenwerpsels.] ... wat die ANC en President Zuma aan die keel gegryp en ges het dat swartes nie kan aanspraak maak op 100% van die land in Suid-Afrika nie. Dit is die DA wat saam met die ANC gestem het, en wat toe ges het ... [Tussenwerpsels.] ... dat dr Pieter Mulder sy geskiedenis moet gaan leer. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Mr P J GROENEWALD: It was the hon Dr Pieter Mulder ... [Interjections.] ... who grabbed the ANC and President Zuma by the throat, saying that blacks cannot lay claim to 100% of the land in South Africa. It was the DA who agreed with the ANC, and then said ... [Interjections.] ... that Dr Pieter Mulder should go back to study his history.]
Well, he's canvassing!
Dit is die DA wat kaderontplooiing in die Wes-Kaap doen ... [Tussenwerpsels.] ... soos die ANC kaderontplooing doen. [Tussenwerpsels.] Dit is die DA wat 'n gedeelde vriendskap met Gupta het, net soos die President van Suid-Afrika. [Tussenwerpsels.]
Dr Pieter Mulder het nog nooit by 'n lekgotla saam met ANC-lede gedans nie, maar Helen Zille dans lekker saam met Zuma op die dansvloer. [Tussenwerpsels.] Maar dt mag die mense nie sien nie ... [Tussenwerpsels.] ... want hulle wil die indruk skep dat hulle teen die ANC is.
U kan maar gaan kyk na die agb Steenhuisen se profiel op Twitter. [Tussenwerpsels.] Hy l daar op 'n bank, met 'n glas rooiwyn en 'n dik sigaar, en hy blaas rookbolletjies op die vet van die belastingbetaler se geld. [Gelag.] [Tussenwerpsels.] Hy hou een ou toesprakie per jaar in die Parlement, maar dit is hoe hy is. [Tussenwerpsels.] Ek wil vir die agb lid s daar is 'n Afrikaanse gesegde wat lui: "Hou toe jou kraan, anders sien almal jou vir 'n le een aan." As jy dit nie verstaan nie ... [Tussenwerpsels.] Dit beteken ... "shut up", want jy bly 'n dom Engelsman! (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Mr P J GROENEWALD: It is the DA that is undertaking cadre deployment in the Western Cape ... [Interjections.] ... just like the ANC is undertaking cadre deployment. [Interjections.] It is the DA that has a shared friendship with the Guptas, just like the President of South Africa. [Interjections.] Dr Pieter Mulder has never danced with ANC members at a lekgotla, but Helen Zille enjoys dancing with Zuma on the dance floor. [Interjections.] But this the people may not see ... [Interjections.] ... because they want to create the impression that they are opposing the ANC.
You can take a look at the hon Steenhuisen's profile on Twitter. [Interjections.] There he is, lying on a couch with a glass of red wine and a fat cigar, blowing smoke rings, on the fat of the taxpayer's money. [Laughter.] [Interjections.] Hy delivers one little speech per year at Parliament, but that is how he is. [Interjections.] I want to tell the hon member there's a saying in Afrikaans that goes: "Keep your tap closed, otherwise everyone will take you for an empty one." If you don't understand that ... [Interjections.] It means ... shut up, you're still a dumb Englishman!]
Haibo, haibo! [No, no!] [Interjections.]
Order, order, hon members! Let's calm down. Order, order, hon members! Hon Groenewald, take your seat! [Laughter.] [Interjections.] Order, hon members! [Interjections.] Order, hon members on both sides of the House! Yes, hon member?
Chairperson, I rise on a point of order. Firstly, the language used by the hon member was unparliamentary, and secondly ... [Interjections.] I won't repeat what he said, so don't ask me which one. And secondly, the member ... [Interjections.] Sir, may I continue?
There's no point of order!
Hon members, the hon member is addressing the Chairperson of the session, and not you!
Sir, the first point of order is that the language used was unparliamentary, and the second point of order is that, as the member went back to his bench to take his seat, he displayed threatening behaviour and gestures. [Interjections.] I maintain that it's unparliamentary and unbecoming of a Member of Parliament.
Hon Groenewald, will you please withdraw the remark you made before you left the podium.
Agb Voorsitter, ek kan nie die waarheid terugtrek nie. Ek weier om dit terug te trek en ek daag die twee lede uit om my buite die Raadsaal te kom sien. [Gelag.] [Applous.]
Agb Groenewald, ek versoek u vir 'n tweede keer om wat u ges het voordat u die podium verlaat het, terug te trek. [Tussenwerpsels.]
Agb Voorsitter, u kan my 'n derde keer vra, of 10 keer, maar ek weier om die waarheid terug te trek. [Tussenwerpsels.]
Agb Groenewald, sal u die Raadsaal verlaat, asseblief?
'n AGB LID: Ja! Uit!
Agb Voorsitter, ek doen dit met trots, en ek vra die twee lede om saam met my te kom as hulle die "guts" het. [Tussenwerpsels.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Mr P J GROENEWALD: Hon Chairperson, I cannot withdraw the truth. I refuse to withdraw it and I dare the two members to come and meet me outside the Chamber. [Laughter.] [Applause.]
Hon Groenewald, I request you a second time to withdraw what you said before you left the podium. [Interjections.]
Hon Chairperson, you may ask me a third time, or times, but I refuse to withdraw the truth. [Interjections.]
Hon Groenewald, will you please leave the Chamber?
Yes! Out!
Hon Chairperson, I will do so with pride, and I ask the two members to join me if they have the guts. [Interjections.]]
Whereupon the member withdrew from the Chamber.
Order, order, hon members! Order, hon members! Hon Kalyan, what is your point of order?
Chairperson, my point of order is this. I would like you to rule on the threats that the hon member made. While he may have left the Chamber, I would like you to give a ruling on or consider the threats that the hon member made against other members of the House. Thank you.
Chair, on a point of order.
I am still making a ruling, hon member! I will deal with the matter after this debate, since the member is no longer part of the proceedings. [Interjections.] Order, hon members! I said I would deal with the matter after this debate, since the hon member has left the House and is no longer here. There was another point of order. Yes, hon member?
Chair, I rise on the following point of order. It was not a threat, but an invitation. [Laughter.] The member would like to meet them outside. [Interjections.] [Laughter.]
Order! That is not a point of order. [Laughter.] Order, hon members! The next speaker is the hon Twala. [Interjections.] Order, hon members! Can we continue with the Budget Vote debate, please? Hon members, there are too many disturbances caused by yourselves. You are prolonging the sitting.
Hon Chairperson, hon Minister Joemat-Pettersson, hon Deputy Minister Mulder, hon members and distinguished guests, all ANC speakers who participated in their respective Budget Vote debates to date were guided in these debates by the all-embracing and rallying call that came out of our 53rd ANC national conference in December 2012, namely "Unity in action towards socioeconomic freedom".
This economic rallying call inspires the content of my speech when looking at forestry as a key and strategic economic resource of our country. This economic resource accounts for 1% of the national GDP and 15% of South Africa's trade balance. The sector employs 170 000 people and provides livelihood support for 850 000 people and the means of survival to almost 50% of South Africa's rural population.
The forestry sector makes a significant contribution to poverty alleviation in the rural areas. The key challenge for the forestry sector in respect of the theme of socioeconomic freedom is to demonstrate practically how it promotes and contributes to the country's economic growth, employment, poverty eradication and economic transformation.
There is no doubt that the consultative and participatory engagements in the formulation and implementation of the forestry sector policies and programmes in the country are primarily dealing with rural economic growth, poverty eradication and employment creation. Key amongst these policies and programmes is the Forestry Sector Transformation Charter. [Interjections.] Ask yourself!
This charter outlines targets and commitments by industry, government and labour in consultation with communities towards sustainable transformation throughout the sector. Notably, the forestry sector code incentivises higher targets on social investment. The overall progress on the charter undertakings to date indicates a reasonable improvement towards transformation.
In assessing what we mean when we say "reasonable improvement towards transformation", the indicators of funding, information-sharing, skills development and capacity-building are used when assessing progress towards the transformation targets.
With respect to the targets that we set to attain black ownership, it is important to indicate that community trusts for the three communities in KwaZulu-Natal have been established and registered. The transfer of these assets to the relevant tribal authorities was done through a community forest agreement. The transfer plan for the Rossbach Plantation in Limpopo has been developed by all the affected stakeholders, and the Small Enterprise Development Agency, Seda, is assisting with the development of a business plan. In Mpumalanga the transfer plan of Injaka Plantation has also been developed by all the affected stakeholders - three land claimant communities.
The forest sector has strived to get new afforestations started for a long time. We can celebrate the success of the Eastern Cape environmental impact assessment, EIA, that was done in the past year and which has yielded fruits. This means that the Department of Water Affairs will be issuing water licences for a minimum of 5 000 hectares. One of the tools that was helpful during this process was the afforestation protocol. In this regard, Forestry SA, FSA, has been very supportive during the EIA process. It shows that, working together, we can do more to grow the sector and improve rural livelihoods.
There has been an improvement in the number of water use licences that were issued to small growers who were previously disadvantaged, as well as to our BBBEE-compliant companies. While the first transformation report highlighted the fact that the forestry sector was not performing well in terms of skills development, we are pleased to note that the forestry industry has strengthened the participation of the forestry sector in activities of the Forest Industry Education and Training Seta. The restructuring of the Seta landscape will bring the most desired results in this area of work. Overall, there is improvement.
With respect to the collection, management and investment of the rental money collected by private commercial forestry companies that have leased the land from the state through long-term forestry lease agreements, the Forestry Laws Amendment Act mandates the Minister to establish a trust that is responsible for collection, management and investment of the rental money, as outlined.
The progress on the Kabelo Land Distribution Development Trust, which was established in 2010 to enable the transfer of rental money into the account and keeping the separate financial records that can be audited annually in line with the Public Finance Management Act, shows great progress. Payments have been made to community beneficiaries to the amount of R91 million. Importantly, the department signed a memorandum of understanding, MOU, with the different communities, wherein the MOU outlines the duties and obligations of each of the parties.
Another noteworthy achievement in forestry is approval by Cabinet of the recommissioning of the Lowveld plantation forestry areas located in the Sand River catchment area in Mpumalanga province. The approval paves the way for replanting 4 178 hectares of the initial 11 000 hectares of the Lowveld plantation forest areas situated on the state forest land in the Sand River catchment area, where there were previously clear fields, for incorporation into the proposed Blyde River National Park. We welcome the proposed business model for the ongoing utilisation of these areas in a manner that will benefit the historically disadvantaged communities of the Lowveld.
To ensure the sustainability of the sector and enhance its growth, whilst protecting the environment, major projects have been undertaken that either have or will result in the refurbishment of 23 000 hectares Category B and C plantations; the rehabilitation of degraded indigenous forest woodland and agricultural land; ensuring sustainable management of forestry and natural resources; the rehabilitation of 32 208 hectares of range land, cultivated land, weeds and invader plants through the implementation of protection and conservation measures; and the support of 1 300 small growers with capacity-building interventions, including technical advice, training and linking them to potential funders, to improve production efficiency in forestry and socioeconomic livelihoods.
We welcome initiatives and interventions to increase production within the subsistence smallholder and commercial forestry sectors in line with the implementation of the Forestry Sector Transformation Charter to ensure renewed growth, transformation and sustainability.
Let me come to the all important area of the review of the Forestry Sector Transformation Charter. The review of the charter will deal with a number of obligations that have proven difficult to achieve. These are the kind of initiatives that are needed for the sustainability of the forestry sector, especially the small, medium and micro enterprises, SMMEs. The specific needs of SMMEs will have to be addressed in this review, and this includes research.
In conclusion, our experience of the last 19 years of democracy reminds us that social and economic change is not a process that can be planned with precision. A long-term vision which sets out the type of society that we want to be is important to guide our social and economic transformation programmes. The ANC supports this Budget Vote. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, today I will be concentrating on the Minister and her department's achievements. At a fundraiser for the ANC, they successfully sold the then director-general for R100 000 and the Minister for R250 000.
They achieved a hotel bill of R1,54 million in one year. They achieved chartered flights for R1,64 million in one year. They achieved wasteful and fruitless expenditure, for example the R36 million spent on the Makhathini Cotton Gin, which still led to 62 000 jobs lost downstream. They succeeded in placing the poultry industry under serious threat due to the one million chickens imported into this country every day. They achieved placing the potato processing industry in crisis.
This department further succeeded in failing the red meat industry. They achieved doing nothing about the R430 million a year lost due to stock theft. Furthermore, they achieved nothing when it came to the R1,3 billion loss in relation to predators. They failed to monitor the high levels of brine injected into chickens that actually causes health risks. [Interjections.] I will get to you now, Chairperson.
They succeeded in ensuring that South Africa lost its foot-and-mouth disease-free status, but to the ANC government it's a joke. They also failed to establish the independent meat inspection services. I want to ask the Chairperson how it is possible that the National African Farmers' Union, Nafu, got a meeting after they paid with nine sheep and one cow.
Hon member, your time has expired. [Applause.]
Chairperson, I still have one minute left.
Hon member, your time has expired! The National Assembly Table advises me when you start and when you finish.
Chairperson, I still have a minute left. [Interjections.]
Order, hon members! Hon member, your time has expired!
Chairperson, I have 55 seconds left.
Chairperson, I rise on a point of order.
Hon member, would you leave the podium, please? Your time has expired!
Chairperson, I rise on a point of order.
Order, order! Hon member, take your seat. Yes, hon member?
Hon Chairperson, can I ask you ...
I will give you an opportunity once the hon member has taken her seat. Yes, hon member?
Chairperson, we would like to establish whether your clock at the Table is correct, because if this one here is to manage members' speaking time, I would like to ask you to grant her another minute, please. [Interjections.]
Order, hon members! Hon member, let me advise the House that I don't have a clock with me. We have two capable staff members in front of us and they indicate to me when the time for the member has expired. That is exactly what has happened and I have consistently applied that. That is the situation.
Hon Chairperson, can we then please ask ... [Interjections.]
Order, hon members!
Chairperson, we then really need to establish why it can go wrong between the NA Table and the clock that is situated at the podium where members speak from.
What is your point of order?
Order, hon members! Hon member, according to the NA Table staff, the time has expired and that is the indication that I got from them. [Interjections.] Order, hon members! The next speaker is the hon Van Dalen. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, fishing communities are suffering tremendously. My experience with them has made me realise that government is failing them dismally. Today I want to dedicate my speech to the fishing community of Paternoster. Recently two fishermen from Paternoster got lost at sea for three days. Christie and his son Brenden had to suffer this hardship and near-death experience because of the ill-defined and badly conceptualised policies of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Ek wil vandag vir Christie en Brenden Jordaan, die twee vissermanne wat weggeraak het ... [Applous.] ... en na drie angswekkende dae op see in dik misweer teruggevind is, verwelkom. By hulle is hul vrou en moeder, Brenda, wat self drie dae beproef is, en ander vissers, Peter Coraizen, Naomie en Clive.
Hierdie mense is die sout van die aarde en is hoogs gespesialiseerde vakmanne op die gebied van visvang. Hulle spandeer die grootste gedeelte van hul lewens op die see. Hulle is Suid-Afrika se vissermanne, maar in die nuwe Suid-Afrika word hulle gesien as plakkers, "poachers" en armlastig. Hierdie mense van Paternoster is moeg gebaklei om hul lewenstandaard te handhaaf. Hul kinders en families ervaar die vernietigende effek van die wetgewing van die departement.
Paternoster en sy vissermanne is 'n hegte gemeenskap wat saam bly is as die vis loop, en saam huil as hulle vissermanne en kinders nie weer van die see af terugkeer nie. Elke dag trotseer hulle die gevaarlike waters van die see om kos op die tafel te sit, om 'n ekstra geldjie te probeer verdien om hul kinders skool toe te stuur en om mediese hulp te kry as hulle siek is. Hulle het agteruit gegaan in die nuwe Suid-Afrika, en word nou geklassifiseer as "poachers" en kriminele.
Agb Minister, hoekom word hul hoogs gespesialiseerde kennis nog nie erken nie, en hoekom het u nie hul hande gevat om hul menswaardigheid terug te gee nie? Hulle vra regtig nie so baie nie. Voorsitter, u het vandag my versekering dat ek dit my missie gaan maak, en gaan baklei dat die bloed in hierdie Parlement loop, om die onreg teen hierdie vissersgemeenskappe reg te stel. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Today I want to welcome Christie and Brenden Jordaan, the two fishermen who disappeared ... [Applause.] ... and were rescued after three terrifying days at sea in thick misty weather. With them is their wife and mother, Brenda, who herself was tried for three days, and other fishers, Peter Coraizen, Naomie and Clive.
These people are the salt of the earth and are highly specialised craftsmen in the area of fishing. They spend the biggest part of their lives at sea. They are South Africa's fishermen, but in the new South Africa they are seen as squatters, poachers and as indigent. These people from Paternoster are tired of fighting to sustain their standard of living. Their children and families experience the devastating effect of the department's legislation.
Paternoster and its fishermen is a tightly knit community who laugh together when the fish is available, and cry together when their fishermen and children do not return from the sea. Every day they defy the dangerous waters of the sea to put food on the table, to try to earn an extra bit of money to send their children to school, and to get medical assistance when they fall ill. Their situation deteriorated in the new South Africa, and they are now classified as poachers and criminals.
Hon Minister, why is their highly specialised expertise not recognised, and why didn't you take their hands to give them back their human dignity? They do not really ask very much. Chairperson, today you have my guarantee that I am going to make it my mission, and I am going to fight until the blood runs in this Parliament, to rectify the injustice these fishing communities were done.]
Firstly, I will fight for these fishermen to be recognised for the highly specialised tasks that they perform. They must be recognised for the important role they play with regard to food security in South Africa. [Applause.] We need to recognise their skills and give them recognition for prior learning against existing unit standards.
We must get schooling institutions to incorporate fishing in their curriculum as a subject. Schools in coastal areas must make it interesting for learners to remain in school and the further education and training institutions that have a model focused on agriculture should be extended to cover fisheries. I will go out and engage with the industry to ensure that training and assessment are accredited and delivered locally.
Furthermore, local experts should be trained and employed as assessors in order to ensure authentic expertise. Local indigenous knowledge should be consulted in the generation and development of new and further unit standards.
Secondly, I will fight to remove the restrictions of office hours on our fishermen. Did you know that this department and yes, you, hon Minister, has made a law that you may only catch fish during office hours ... [Laughter.] ... as the inspectors only work during office hours? Hon Minister, I ask you. How is it possible to expect fishermen to work only during office hours? The tide, wind, mist and fish do not keep office hours and do not listen to your commands. The fish actually bite very early in the morning and the wind is at its calmest at two am. This is the time when fishermen all over the world usually go out to sea. Usually by the time the hon Minister wakes up, the fishermen are already on their way back home. This is now punishable with a fine of R2 000. It's a disgrace!
Thirdly, Minister, you have stopped the fishermen from catching more than one species per trip. What happens now is that the fisherman has to decide beforehand what it is that he wants to catch. If it is rock lobster, he must take his nets, while if he goes out for line fishing, he is not allowed to have his nets on board. So, if the fish don't bite during the day, he cannot drop his nets on his way home to catch some rock lobster, as he has been doing all his life. This makes it virtually uneconomical to fish for the 167 kg that you have decided they must live on. The petrol price is up and this has forced them to steal more just to survive and to pay for petrol, which incidentally includes many levies for roads and the Road Accident Fund, of which they have no benefit.
Minister, you will say that they can claim it back from the SA Revenue Service, Sars, but this 167 kg of rock lobster would translate to approximately R25 000 a year, and that wouldn't qualify them to claim back from tax. If one subtracts the cost of going to sea and buying petrol, one will be left with only R10 000. Nobody can live, and send their children to school and hospital, on such a pittance. This must be looked at again. I suggest that 500 kg per year will go some way in resolving this problem and will be sufficient in this day and age.
Dit bring my nou by die nuwe Kleinskaalse Vissersbeleid wat voorgestel word. Die Minister wil h dat daar weer teruggegaan moet word na koperasies, wat ons al telkemale in Suid-Afrika probeer het, en nie werk nie. Sy wil nie regtig na die welstand van die vissers omsien nie. Sy wil h dat hulle hul kwotas in een pot moet gooi en dan weer moet gaan baklei vir hul eie deel. Dan wil sy verder h dat hulle die bietjie geld wat hulle verdien met die hele gemeenskap moet deel om sodoende almal 'n stukkie te gee. Hierdie plan is gedoem om te faal, soos die geskiedenis ons geleer het.
Verder gaan die agb Minister regstreeks teen die bevinding en aanbeveling van die Nasionale Ontwikkelingsplan en di van hierdie komitee, soos gedoen op 16 Mei 2012 en deur hierdie Parlement bekragtig is, om nie koperasies in te stel nie. Hoe durf sy dink dat sy beter as die vissermanne en hierdie Parlement weet wat die beste is!
Die visie van die nuwe beleid is dat meer mense regte gaan kry en dat dit al die maatskaplike probleme van die land gaan oplos. Dit is beloftes wat u gemaak het, Minister, en die verwagting is nou gevestig. Die realiteit is egter dat die visvoorraad onder geweldige druk is en dat die kwotas alreeds te min is. Kan u ons miskien antwoord en meedeel waar hierdie klomp vis vandaan gaan kom wat u belowe het, of gaan u die kwotas kleiner maak as wat dit nou is?
Daar is 'n ou Chinese gesegde wat lui: Gee 'n man 'n vis, dan voer jy hom vir 'n dag. As jy hom 'n visstok gee om mee vis te vang, dan kan hy homself voer vir 'n leeftyd. Ongelukkig het die Minister, soos die meeste mense van Suid-Afrika maak sodra hulle ryk word, geleerd is en 'n magsposisie beklee, haar rug op haar eie mense gedraai en gerieflikheidshalwe vergeet waar sy vandaan kom. [Applous.]
Dit sal my missie wees om die vissermanne te bemagtig om hulself uit hulle armoede te haal en van die welsynsisteem af te haal sodat hulle na hulself en hul families kan omsien, om sodoende hul menswaardigheid te kan terugeis en soos die meeste Suid-Afrikaners trotse patriotte te wees.
Agb Minister, dit was duidelik te veel van u gevra. Indien u regtig wou, sou u met die mag wat u nou tot u beskikking het, die situasie maklik kon verander. Waarom het u dit nie verander nie? Kan u dit aan die mense van Paternoster verduidelik in plaas daarvan om van politiek te praat en almal behalwe uself te blameer? Politiek kan nie gevang word nie. Politiek kan nie verhandel word nie. Politiek kan nie geet word nie.
Ons verwelkom gister se aankondiging dat die kommentaarleweringsdatum en publieke deelnameprosesse tot 14 Junie uitgestel is. Mag ek verder vra dat die departement alle regte vissersgemeenskappe aan die kusdorpe, insluitend Paternoster, gaan besoek en uitvind wat dit is wat hulle verwag en wil h van die Kleinskaalse Vissersbeleid.
Die DA verwelkom ook die nuus dat Minister Rob Davies gestuur is om die Departement van landbou, Bosbou en Visserye te red van totale ondergang aan die hand van die agb Minister, Tina Joemat-Pettersson. Graag wil ons die hoop uitspreek dat die take wat hy reeds oorgeneem het nou beter gehanteer sal word in die belang van die vissersgemeenskappe. Ons kan u verder die versekering gee dat ons hierdie verwikkelinge met 'n valkoog gaan dophou, en ons gaan u aan u beloftes hou wat u vandag hier gemaak het. Ons soek waarborge. Ons soek vis. Ons soek kos om te eet. Dankie, agb Voorsitter. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[It brings me now to the issue of the new Small-Scale Fisheries Policy that is being proposed. The Minister wants a return to co-operations, which we have tried over and over again in South Africa and which do not work. She does not really want to look after the welfare of the fishers. She wants them to put their quotas in one pot and have them then fight again for their own portion. Then she wants to see that they share the little money they earn with the entire community, in so doing giving everyone a little bit. This plan is doomed to fail, as history has shown.
Furthermore, the Minister goes directly against the finding and proposal of the National Development Plan and that of this committee, made on 16 May 2012 and approved by this Parliament, not to establish co-operations. How dare she think that she knows better than the fishers and this Parliament what is best!
The vision of the new policy is that more people are going to get rights and that it is going to solve all the social problems of the country. These are promises that you made, Minister, and the expectation has been created. The reality is, however, that the fish supply is under severe pressure and that there are too few quotas as it is. Can you perhaps give an answer and tell us where this huge amount of fish is going to come from which you promised, or are you going to reduce the quotas to less than they are now?
There is an old Chinese saying which goes: Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. If you give him a fishing rod to catch fish, he can feed himself for a lifetime. Unfortunately the Minister has, like most South Africans do as soon as they have become rich and educated and hold a position of power, turned her back on her own people and conveniently forgotten where she comes from. [Applause.]
It will be my mission to empower the fishermen to free themselves from poverty and from the welfare system so that they can look after themselves and their families, in so doing claiming back their human dignity and, like most South Africans, be proud patriots.
Hon Minister, clearly too much has been asked of you. If you really wanted to do so, you could easily have changed the situation with the power at your disposal. Why didn't you change it? Can you explain it to the people of Paternoster instead of talking politics and blaming everybody else but yourself? Politics cannot be caught. Politics cannot be traded. Politics cannot be eaten.
We welcome yesterday's announcement that the date for public comments and participation processes has been postponed until 14 June. May I further ask that the department from now on visit all real fishing communities in the coastal towns, including Paternoster, and find out what they expect and want from the Small-Scale Fishing Policy.
The DA also welcomes the news that Minister Rob Davies was sent to save the Department of Fisheries from total collapse while it was in the hands of hon Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson. We would like to express the hope that the tasks he has already taken over will now be handled better and in the interests of the fishing communities. We can furthermore give you the assurance that we will be watching these developments with an eagle eye, and we are going to force you to keep your promises that you have made here today. We want guarantees. We want fish. We want food to eat. Thank you, hon Chairperson. [Applause.]]
Chairperson, hon Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson of the ANC ... [Interjections.] Yes, I am smart ... Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, hon members, honourable guests in the gallery, good afternoon.
I rise to address this House in support of the Budget Vote for the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries as presented by the hon Minister. Let me start with the underlying legacy of the people's document, the Freedom Charter, which is the blueprint that defines the hopes and aspirations of our people then and now.
The basic policy document of the ruling party, the ANC, in government is the Freedom Charter, which was adopted in 1955 and which directs: "The people shall share in the country's wealth!" [Applause.] The national wealth of our country, the heritage of South Africans, shall be restored to the people.
As the ruling party, the ANC, we have declared 2013 as the year of unity in action towards socioeconomic freedom, and we remain dedicated to ensuring that the wishes of our elders and the people are achieved. Our highly lucrative living marine resources are well managed. Employment levels remain stable and our multibillion rand per annum mainstay fishery sector was recently recognised by the internationally acclaimed Marine Stewardship Council as the best managed fishery in the world. [Applause.]
The official administration and management of our fishery sector is in competent hands and we applaud the recent appointment of an experienced official to act as the deputy director-general of the fisheries branch. In order to sustain stability in management at fisheries we call for this appointment, Minister, to be made permanent to stabilise the fishery sector. [Applause.]
As we enter the second phase of economic transformation and empowerment in the fishing industry, we are aware that up to 60% of all fishing rights allocated today are allocated to the previously disadvantaged people. However, we are also aware that this industry remains confronted by serious structural challenges that come from apartheid. [Interjections.]
A handful of big companies still own and control the bulk of the industry's catch, process, marketing and infrastructure, while many post-1994 entrants have been allocated economically unviable quotas ... [Interjections.] ... coming from the apartheid regime, which are not capable of independent delivery without the existing infrastructure and marketing network of the big companies that have controlled the industry since apartheid - for 80 years. [Interjections.]
We also note that after 18 years ... [Interjections] You know nothing, because you were not there. You were very comfortable. You don't know poverty! We know that after 18 years of freedom the gender-based allocation of fishing rights to women and/or shareholding in existing fishing enterprises to females is almost nonexistent - you women!
As we usher in amendments to the Marine Living Resources Act to recognise the rights of small-scale fishers, as we move to reallocate fishing rights that expire in the traditional line fish, oyster, white mussel, hake, handline, tuna, shark, squid and prawn sectors, we are very aware of the need for us to, under the revised general ... [Interjections.] We must revise because of your apartheid laws. We need, under the revised general and sector-specific policies, to attend to the structural challenges that continue to economically undermine transformation in the real sense. [Interjections.] We had to have transformation policies because of apartheid.
We know that South Africa as a fish-producing nation of first resort is not extracting its maximum socioeconomic development potential from its natural living marine resource endowments. The wholesale value of our marine produce is estimated to be R6 billion per annum. However, its collective local and international retail value is several times this - but not to the poorest of the poor.
As the ANC-led government, we therefore need to ensure that increased financial equity, value-added processing, packaging and direct international marketing of proudly South African fish brands is achieved from our national base and not internationally by secondary fish processors and marketers ... [Interjections.]
Order! Order! Hon members! Hon members, and the member who is leaving the Chamber, you are not allowed to walk past the speaker and make remarks.
En nogal na my kant toe praat. [And indeed throwing remarks my way.]
That is unparliamentary, sir. You should not behave that way. Continue, hon member.
This simply creates wealth and employment abroad, as opposed to here at home. As a nation, we must ensure that equity in transformation and financial empowerment penetrates appropriately throughout all local and international value chains for each fishery sector.
Our President has confirmed that, working with big companies, we intend to tackle this financial disparity head-on and the National Development Plan, while it entrenches resource sustainability as paramount, also emphasises ... [Interjections.]
On a point of order, Chair.
Order, hon members. Order, hon member. What is your point of order?
Can you kindly protect the speaker, Chair. The people in the gallery are videotaping the proceedings.
Thank you, hon member. We have already asked the service officer to deal with that matter, and the person in the gallery will be asked to delete the images that have been recorded. May I just repeat that ... [Interjections.] Order, hon member Steenhuisen, I am addressing the public on the gallery. Can you please desist from making recordings and from the taking of photographs of the proceedings in the House. You are here to observe. You are not here to participate and record the proceedings. Continue, hon member.
The NDP emphasises the need to find viable ways of bringing greater benefit to our traditional artisanal fishers, whose development the National Development Plan recognises is clearly far from adequate or viable.
The NDP, in fact, challenges us to develop strategies for economic co- operation or association that give poor producers greater collective market power in value chains; create synergies and access to information, allowing them to achieve the minimum supply volumes required for participation; and allow them to negotiate improved levels of market access and/or better terms of participation. Under the revised Fishing Rights Allocations Policy we now work to collectively ensure, via direct external and indirect internal transformation, that 70% of the access to our national living marine resource base is allocated to the previously historically disadvantaged.
We are also working to ensure active rural inland and coastal community- based participation in our developing the aquaculture and fish-farming sectors, as well as community-based participation in development of our 12 nationally proclaimed fishing harbours. The Free State has shown us an example with the Lake Gariep Fisheries Research Project of fishing. [Interjections.] It is going on in the Free State. You are so jealous of the progress of the ANC government. [Applause.]
Insofar as nearshore resources are concerned, it is our ultimate objective to ensure that the ownership of all access to nearshore fishing resources for abalone, alikreukel, periwinkle, black and white mussels, oysters, and traditional line and treknet fish species, squid, all west and east coast rock lobster, octopus, sand and mud prawn, crab, limpet, red bait and any other fishing resource or right associated with the nearshore resources or the future development of any aquaculture or fish farming initiatives for any resource in the nearshore is vested exclusively for the direct benefit of small-scale fishers, because for the whole 50 years there were no small- scale fishers. [Interjections.] What are you talking about, hon Van Dalen. In your government's time there was no small-scale fishing. How can you now be sensitive to small-scale fishers and upcoming fishers? How comfortable you are now. [Interjections.]
On a point of order, Chairperson.
Order, hon member. Order, hon member! Yes, hon member, what is your point of order?
The member at the podium refers to the hon Van Dalen's "your government". Would she give clarity on what that means?
Hon member, that is not a point of order. That is a point of debate. Continue, hon member.
Our collective efforts to ensure the best gender-based socioeconomic outcome possible for our nation as a whole from our national living marine resource base is well on track, and the Freedom Charter's clarion call for all of us, male and female, "to share equitably in the natural wealth of our land" will be achieved, via the ANC government - a very good government. [Applause.]
Ten slotte wil ek van die geleentheid gebruik maak om die eensydige en ongebalanseerde mediaberiggewing teen die departement en veral teen die Minister, as 'n vrou, te verwerp. Hierdie oordrewe kritiek deur 'n groep onverteenwoordigde individue en een parlementslid, by name die agb Van Dalen, is vernietigend vir die bedryf. Dit is gebaseer op vals inligting en 'n persoonlike vendetta - juis van die agb Van Dalen wat heeltyd in die portefeuljekomitee net van die Africana praat - omdat die Minister die sektor transformeer. Hy praat verder net van Smit Amandla Marine se tender. [Tussenwerpsels.]
Vandag is ek geskok om te hoor hy het armoedige mense, armoedige vissermanne, gevat en met hulle gevoelens kom speel en nie vir hulle die waarheid vertel nie. [Tussenwerpsels.] In elke portefeuljekomiteevergadering kom daar soveel gemeenskappe van die visbedryf wat kom inluister en hulle hoor hoe hy net vir die groot maatskappye praat. Om vandag hier met ons arm mense se gevoelens te kom speel, is wragtiewaar ... [Tussenwerpsels.] ... is wragtiewaar ... Die waarheid maak seer! [Tussenwerpsels.]
Dit is wragtiewaar ... [Tussenwerpsels.] Vandag wil ek s, mnr Van Dalen praat van die Smit Amandla Marine-tender. [Tussenwerpsels.] Mnr Van Dalen vergeet van die ou infrastruktuur waarmee die Minister, Tina Joemat- Pettersson, sukkel. [Tussenwerpsels.] Dit is ou infrastruktuur wat ons van apartheid gerf het. In 1994 het ons onsself bevry deur te stem vir die ANC. [Tussenwerpsels.] [Applous.]
Hierdie tipe verdagmakery word aangedryf deur mnr Van Dalen - die agb Van Dalen - en sy handlanger en persoonlike adviseur, mnr Shaheen Moolla, wat in die departement gewerk het. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[In conclusion, I would like to use the opportunity to reject the partial and unbalanced media coverage against the department and the Minister, as a female. This exaggerated criticism from a group of unrepresented individuals and one member of Parliament, namely the hon Van Dalen, is destructive for the industry. It is based on false information and a personal vendetta - precisely from the hon Van Dalen who speaks in the portfolio committee only of the Africana the whole time - because the Minister is transforming the sector. He further only refers to Smit Amandla Marine's tender. [Interjections.]
Today I am shocked to hear that he took poor people, poor fishermen, and played games with them and did not tell them the truth. [Interjections.] Every meeting of the portfolio committee is attended by so many communities of the fishing industry who listen to him and they only hear him speaking of the large companies. To play games with the poor people's feelings today is really and truly ... [Interjections.] ... is really and truly ... The truth hurts! [Interjections.]
It is really and truly ... [Interjections.] I would like to state today, Mr Van Dalen refers to the Smit Amandla Marine tender. [Interjections.] Mr Van Dalen forgets about the old infrastructure with which the Minister, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, has to toil. [Interjections.] It is the old infrastructure we inherited from apartheid. In 1994 we freed ourselves by voting for the ANC. [Interjections.] [Applause.]
This type of suspicion-mongering is incited by Mr Van Dalen - the hon Van Dalen - and his henchman and personal advisor, Mr Shaheen Moolla, who worked in the department.]
Hon member ...
Vandag kan hy mediaberigte versprei. [Today he can spread media reports.]
Hon member, there is a point of order. [Interjections.] Order, hon members! I cannot hear the member when you make a noise.
Chairperson, firstly, on a point of order: You have asked the gallery, the audience, not to participate, ie, clap. They continue to do so ...
Nee, dit is nie 'n punt van orde nie, man! [No, that is not a point of order, man!]
... so, if you could ... [Interjections.]
Order, hon members! Hon member, what is your point of order?
Nee, die waarheid maak seer! [No, the truth hurts!] [Interjections.]
... rule that the audience ...
Hy maak jou seer. [It hurts you.]
The gallery keeps participating ...
Die waarheid maak jou seer. [The truth hurts you.]
... in the proceedings. [Interjections.]
Order!
You have made a ruling, so can you please enforce it? Thank you. [Interjections.]
Jou korrupsie! [Your corruption!] [Laughter.]
Hon Phaliso. [Interjections.] [Laughter.] Hon Phaliso! [Interjections.] Order! May I just repeat what I said earlier to the gallery? You are not allowed to participate in the proceedings. [Interjections.] You are here to observe. Continue, hon member. [Interjections.]
Sy persoonlike adviseur, mnr Shaheen Moolla, is meerendeels verantwoordelik vir die probleme in die visbedryf. Julle het nie geweet ek kan ook, net soos julle, lekker histeries praat nie! [Tussenwerpsels.]
Die DA het nog nooit ons mense op die kusdorpe geken nie. As die DA hulle geken het, dan het ons vandag in hierdie Wes-Kaap, in Khayelitsha, met Xhosa-sprekende vissermanne gesit. Vandag nog was uTata hier by my gewees. Omdat hy isiXhosa praat, word hy nie gehoor nie. Omdat hy isiXhosa praat, word sy probleme nie aangespreek nie. [Tussenwerpsels.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Ms M N PHALISO: His personal advisor, Mr Shaheen Moolla, is for the greater part responsible for the problems in the fishing industry. You never knew I could also get rather hysterical, just like you, when I speak! [Interjections.]
The DA never knew our people in the coastal towns. If the DA knew them, then we would have had in this Western Cape, in Khayelitsha, Xhosa speaking fishermen today. Just today uTata visited me. Because he speaks isiXhosa he is not listened to. Because he speaks isiXhosa his problems are not attended to. [Interjections.]]
Order, hon members!
Waarvan praat mnr Van Dalen? [What is Mr Van Dalen talking about?] [Interjections.] [Applause.]
Chairperson ...
Ons het net twee weke gelede ... [Only two weeks ago we ... ] [Interjections.]
Order, hon members!
... vir die eerste keer ... [... for the first time ...]
Order, hon Phaliso! Order! [Interjections.]
Die agb ... [The hon ...]
Hon Phaliso, order. [Interjections.] Order, hon members! You know, this is the sixth point of order I am taking during this debate. We must allow the member to continue. What is your point of order now, hon member?
Dit is die waarheid wat so seer maak! [It is the truth that hurts so much.]
Chairperson, my point of order is this: When one member refers to another member, it is normally as "hon" and not as "Mr". Thank you. [Interjections.]
Yes. Please refer ... [Interjections.] Order!
Sit!
Hon members, let us allow the member to complete the speech ... [Interjections.] ... and refer to hon members as "honourable", please.
Vir die eerste keer het die agb Van Dalen Paternoster besoek en skielik bewus geword van die armoede in ons kusdorpe. [Tussenwerpsels.] Hierdie wolhaarstories in die media sal ons mense nie flous nie. Ons is lankal nie meer dom nie en was nog nooit dom nie. [Tussenwerpsels.] Ons mense weet die DA kan en wil niks doen om die vissers se regverdige behoeftes aan te pak nie.
Ek doen 'n beroep op Paternoster se gemeenskap om te kom luister. Kom luister ... [Tussenwerpsels.] ... na die portefeuljekomiteevergaderings waar mnr Van Dalen net praat oor sportvis en tenders wat die Minister uitgegee het. Hy praat niks van armoede nie. Dit is vandag die eerste keer dat ek hoor hy kan ook van armoede praat. Die gewoonte wen die verstand. [Tussenwerpsels.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Ms M N PHALISO: For the first time the hon Van Dalen visited Paternoster and suddenly became aware of the poverty in our coastal towns. [Interjections.] These stories in the media won't fool our people. We are no longer stupid and never were stupid. [Interjections.] Our people know that the DA cannot and will not do anything to address the justifiable needs of the fishermen.
I call on the community in Paternoster to come and listen. Come listen ... [Interjections.] ... to the portfolio committee meetings where Mr Van Dalen only refers to game fish and tenders which the Minister allocated. He does not mention poverty ever. For the first time today I also heard him refer to poverty. It has become a force of habit. [Interjections.]]
The will of the people will prevail and we will not be sidetracked by immature and demented fishing views from the DA or their tiny group of media journalists who clearly desire that the poor in the fishing industry should remain poor. [Interjections.]
Luister nou, agb Van Dalen. [Tussenwerpsels.] Sardiensaansoeke is gedoen in die Wes-Kaap, en ... [Tussenwerpsels.] ... ek sal nie sagter praat nie. Luister! [Tussenwerpsels.] Die vissers se sardienspermitte is afgevat in die Wes-Kaap, en tot vandag toe het die DA-regering in die Wes-Kaap nog nie 'n vinger verroer om dit aan te spreek nie. Daardie vissers sit nou al vir die afgelope ses jaar in Laingville nadat hulle hul fabriek verloor het. Hulle het hul fabriek verloor en die DA spreek dit nie aan nie. Ek praat van die Wes-Kaap, die Weskus.
Ek wil tog ook s die gentegreerde plan van die Departement van Handel en Nywerheid is di van die ANC-regering. [Tussenwerpsels.] Daar is nie 'n manier dat mnr Van Dalen vandag hier 'n beroep op ons kan doen nie. Die agb minister Rob Davies weet wat langs die kus aangaan, want hy voorsien in ons behoeftes, en die bote het hy vir ons gegee, en vir die Noord-Kaap het hy 'n maand gelede ses bote gegee. [Tussenwerpsels.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Listen, now, hon Van Dalen. [Interjections.] Applications were made for sardines in the Western Cape, and ... [Interjections.]... I won't lower my voice. Listen! [Interjections.] The fishermen's permits for sardines were withdrawn in the Western Cape, and up to today the DA government in the Western Cape has not raised a finger to address this. For the last six years those fishers have been sitting in Laingville after their factory closed down. They lost the factory and the DA does not address that. I refer to the Western Cape, the West Coast.
I also wish to say that the integrated plan of the Department of Trade and Industry is that of the ANC government. [Interjections.] There isn't a way in which Mr Van Dalen can direct a request to us here today. The hon Minister Rob Davies knows what is taking place along our coast, because he makes provision for our needs, and he gave us the boats, and a month ago he gave the Northern Cape six boats. [Interjections.]]
Voorsitter, op 'n punt van orde ... [Chairperson, on a point of order ...]
Hy het ... [He ...]
Hon Phaliso, can you just hold it, please?
Die punt van orde, mnr die Voorsitter, is dit: Die horlosie het nou hier afgegaan. Die alarm het afgegaan op hierdie horlosie. Dit is dieselfde een wat hier was toe me Carter gepraat het. [Tussenwerpsels.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Mrs J D KILIAN: The point of order, Mr Chairperson, is this: The clock indicated the time has expired. The alarm on this clock went off. It is the same one that was used when Ms Carter spoke. [Interjections.]]
Order, hon members, order!
Die horlosie is nou verwyder, en die lid word toegelaat om verder te praat. [Tussenwerpsels.] Dit is werklik onaanvaarbaar, Voorsitter. [The clock has now been removed, and the member is allowed to continue speaking. [Interjections.] It is really unacceptable, Chairperson.]
Hon member, let us allow the Table staff to do their job, all right? [Interjections.]
Is jy die voorsitter? [Are you the chairperson?] [Interjections.]
I, as the presiding officer, take an indication from the Table staff as to ...
Jy is nie die voorsitter nie. [You are not the chairperson.] [Interjections.]
... when the time has expired. [Interjections.]
Hy het net twee minute gehad. [He only had two minutes.] [Interjections.]
Hon Phaliso! Hon Phaliso, complete your speech now, please.
Baie dankie, agb Voorsitter. [Tussenwerpsels.] Hierdie vissers, wat reeds 'n klomp jare gekneus is, is verder gekneus. Ek praat van vissers van die vierde generasie wat hulleself opgewerk het. Hulle het hul eie bote, hulle het hul eie mannekrag; hulle is tradisionele vissers. Hulle ken net die viswaters, en hier in die Wes-Kaap is hulle benadeel deur die DA-regering, wat vandag s dat hy vir hulle omgee. [Tussenwerpsels.]
Wys my die omgee. Wys my die suksesvolle omgee. Waar het u iets gemplementeer? Ons, as die ANC-regering, kan wys waar ons planne gemplementeer het, want ons moet nou ingryp in Laingville, en in Kalkbaai. Ons moet nou ingryp in Paternoster. Dit is ons mense, want ons het in armoede grootgeword. [Tussenwerpsels.] Daardie DA-raad sal van die ANC- regering hoor.
Ek wil ook iets s oor die agterstand wat hier genoem is ten opsigte van die kleinboere. Ja, dit is regtig gerieflik as 'n mens 'n vet salaris verdien en 'n vet bord kos elke aand het, en dan hier kom praat oor ons kleinboere. [Tussenwerpsels.] Tien kleinboere op meentgrond moet nou een plaas deel wat van een bevoordeelde, bevoorregte boer af kom. Kleinboere!
Wanneer ons oor ons kiesafdelings praat, praat ons uit ondervinding. Ons suig dit nie uit ons duime nie. Ons is daar op die grond. Ons leef dr, tussen die armoede. Ons kom noem dit nie hier ... [Tussenwerpsels.] Die ANC ondersteun begrotingspos no 26. [Tyd verstreke.] [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Ms M N PHALISO: Thank you very much, hon Chairperson. [Interjections.] These fishermen, who have been bruised over the years, were further bruised. I refer to fishermen of the fourth generation who bettered themselves. They have their own boats, their own manpower; they are traditional fishermen. They only know the fishing waters, and here in the Western Cape they were done an injustice by the DA government, who today tells them that they care for them. [Interjections.]
Show me the care. Show me the success of that caring. Where did you implement anything? We, as the ANC government, can indicate where our plans were implemented, because we now have to intervene in Laingville, and in Kalk Bay. We must now intervene in Paternoster. These are our people, because we grew up in poverty. [Interjections.] That DA council will hear from the ANC government.
I also wish to say something about the backlog mentioned here regarding the small farmers. Yes, it is really convenient when one earns a large salary and gets a large plate of food every evening, and then you come here and speak about small farmers. [Interjections.] Ten small farmers on communal land must now share one farm which belonged to one privileged, entitled farmer. Small farmers!
When we refer to our constituencies, we talk from experience. We do not fabricate. We are there on the ground. We live there, in poverty. We don't mention it here ... [Interjections.] The ANC supports the Budget Vote No 26. [Time expired.] [Applause.]]
Chairperson, may I address you on the issue of the timing?
Hon member, the issue of the timing is a matter that the NA Table is taking care of. I will request in the programming committee meeting tomorrow morning that they provide the explanation with regard to the timing. I don't have a clock here in front of me, because I must follow the debate for the points of order that you raise. That is why we rely on them, but there is an explanation. Let's allow that to take place. It will happen tomorrow morning. Let us allow the Minister to conclude the debate.
Thank you. It is just that members ... [Interjections.]
Order! Order!
I wish to make the point that members are guided by the timer that is there, and I understand that the NA has ...
Hon member, let's deal with it tomorrow morning in the programming committee meeting.
Thank you.
You can report back to your caucuses. [Interjections] Order, hon members!
Chairperson, on a point of order.
Yes, hon member?
Chairperson, may I please also address you on the timer. I hear that you are saying that the NA Table is going to give us a report tomorrow morning in the programming committee meeting. But, Chairperson, with due respect, then it is too late. [Interjections.] We have been affected ...
Hon member, the point has been made. The point has been made, and let us allow the NA Table to give an explanation tomorrow morning in the programming committee meeting. [Interjections.] Order, hon members! Hon members! I now recognise the hon the Minister. [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Chairperson and hon members, thank you to the Chief Whip of the Majority Party for spending time here. Thank you very much to the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Labour for sitting through this very lively debate. Thank you very much to the Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources. [Interjections.] My brother, I appreciate ...
Hon members, you are interrupting the Minister when she's replying to your debate. [Interjections.]
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: ... the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. I would also like to acknowledge Comrade Van Dalen. Hon member Van Dalen has suddenly become a comrade today. I always thought that creating jobs and the small-scale fishing policy were going to be our biggest success stories in this department. I never thought that the hon member Van Dalen would actually support the small-scale fishing policy. This is amazing; this is such a wonderful achievement. Thank you very much. [Interjections.]
This means that in the next round of quotas, which happens at the end of the year, suddenly the hon member Van Dalen agrees that I can give communities quotas. This is wonderful. This is really unity in action. This is unity in action on food security. This is the DA supporting our food security initiatives. [Applause.] Really, hon Van Dalen, for the first time in four years, I actually listened to you. [Interjections.]
Now, the community from Paternoster, Christie and Brenden Jordaan and the entire community, please do not believe this lot, because they are the very ones who, firstly, believe farm workers cannot think for themselves. So, a farm worker strike must be funded. [Interjections.] They are the ones who are completely racist, most condescending. The very same DA government in the Western Cape funded the Black Association of the Wine and Spirit Industry, Bawsi. You funded Bawsi! You funded Bawsi as well! Yes! Yes! I funded ... [Interjections.]
Order, hon members!
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: The wonderful thing is that I will continue funding nongovernmental organisations, NGOs, who work with farm workers. Do you listen to them? They don't want farm worker NGOs to be funded. I will continue funding NGOs working with farm workers. [Applause.] We will continue ... [Interjections.] I will!
Order, hon members!
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: The next wonderful story is that the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme, CASP, has a zero completion rate in the Western Cape. Not a single project was completed in the Western Cape. [Interjections.]
On a point of order, Chairperson ... [Interjections.]
Order, hon members! Order!
Chair, on a point of order: The Minister is misleading the House, because ... [Interjections.]
Hon members! Hon members! I cannot hear the member, and she is speaking into a microphone.
The CASP is not only run over one year.
What is the point of order, hon member?
It is a three-year programme.
That is not a point of order, hon member. That is a point for debate. [Interjections.]
The Minister is misleading the House!
Order! Hon member, that is not a point of order. It is a point for debate. Continue, hon Minister. The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Thank you very much. For their zero completion of projects, Treasury has now actually given me permission to take away 70% of their budget. Wonderful! I will give that to farmworker NGOs in the Western Cape. I will take away your CASP money, and I have permission to do it. [Interjections.]
What do we have to do going from here? The Jobs Fund must be accessed. We must access the Jobs Fund for agriculture. [Interjections.] The youth employment fund must have money ring-fenced to fund the youth in agriculture. We will continue the road-to-rail initiatives. Minister of Transport, thank you for your support. The sooner we get our farmers using the rail logistics infrastructure, the sooner we will reduce the cost of doing business in agriculture.
Regarding the tariff regime, again, we have an absolutely good relationship with the Minister of Trade and Industry, and here we will obviously be able to influence tariffs a lot better for farmers. As far as disease control is concerned, we are saying that disease control and our international boundaries actually need to be sharpened up, and it needs to be sharpened up so that we do not have animals walking across the borders of our country.
We are working with the Department of Trade and Industry to ensure that we re-establish ethical trade for the good - the very good - reputation we have had, especially in respect of our wines, with the European Union. So, we will go out of our way to assist farmers in market access and in improving the image we have abroad. Our image was tarnished irreparably, and we are working overtime to assist the farmers in this.
We are looking at additional budget allocations for research and development. Minister of Labour, we would really love working with your department on collective bargaining, instead of sectoral determination for the sector.
Rural roads, I repeat, remain a challenge. AgriSA and a number of institutions, such as Agri Mega, the Industrial Development Corporation, IDC, and the Independent Development Trust, IDT, have assisted in saying that these are the roads we require; these are the rural roads that we require for development.
Regarding the transformation of the Land Bank, Riaan, we will absolutely move in that direction. I am asking the IDC and IDT again to assist us when we talk to the Land Bank in terms of development funding institutions and the way they do business. [Interjections.] We have been able to work quite closely with the IDC and IDT, and it is beginning to bear fruit. Thank you very much. [Interjections.]
Order, hon members! Order! Continue, hon Minister.
Chairperson, on a point of order: Will you please request the Minister not to involve the gallery? You have ruled that the gallery should not be involved. [Interjections.]
Order! Order! Continue, hon Minister. [Interjections.] Order, hon member! Continue, hon Minister.
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: The protection of prime agricultural land remains our collective responsibility, especially in Mpumalanga, where mines are encroaching. Minister of Mineral Resources, we are going to have this debate, much more vigorously, because prime agricultural land is lost to mineral beneficiation as well as the mining industry.
The latest jobs data from Statistics SA show that we are the largest contributor to job creation, and that we will be the success of this government. I want to thank all those members, including stakeholders, who have contributed towards this job security and job creation. It was hard work. We were not perfect. We made mistakes. We have so much more to do. We are not perfect. We have made many mistakes.
HON MEMBERS: Many!
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: We can tighten them, but nobody can take away the fact that we have just created 54 000 jobs in agriculture, and that only in the first quarter. [Applause.] So, by the end of the year, we need to look at this again. We have to vigorously implement the public-private partnerships around the extension. I'm done. Thank you very much. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Debate concluded.