Chairperson of the NCOP, hon Deputy Chairperson, hon Minister and Deputy Minister, Members of Executive Council, MECs from various provinces. Members of the NCOP, ...
Setswana:
... baagi ba rona ba ba re etetseng gompieno.
English:
Deputy Chairperson, this policy debate takes place after the international commemoration of Madela Day on 18 July. Please, allow me to quote the two articles written by the prominent international author after the passing of our struggle icon Tata Nelson Mandela, Bernadette Atuahene is a professor of law wrote a book with title: "We Want What's Ours".
He argued that and I quote:
Starting in the 18th century colonial and apartheid government systematically stole property from black South African and gave to whites at a nominal cost and when the state takes white-owned land now it pays full market value but restitution to farm owners who lost their land under apartheid mostly received a standard settlement offer with a payment calculated on the basis of the
value of the land when it was size that is far less than today's market price.
Another author, John Campbell writing for Council for foreign relation in United States said the following and I quote:
Twenty years later, only 10 percent of South Africa's land has been transferred from whites to blacks. When the state has acquired land for restitution or redistribution, it has paid the owners full market value. That means that the pace of land restitution and redistribution is determined by budgetary allocations. And the ANC government has many demands on its resources.
The importance of land reform and rural development in our country is one supreme important. Recently in March this year, hon Deputy President David Mabuza said and I quote: "a well managed land reform programme will pose no threat to agriculture sector and economy in general".
We are here reiterating this statement by the Deputy President that our land reform programme mustn't be seen as an obstacle to economy and grow development, rather, as an initiative building an inclusive
economy that will benefit everyone. We are encouraged by the some of the international authors who have take the note that our land reform program is not an easy endeavours as we have too. Amongst other things, it balances it against the national reconciliation, redress of historical injustice and ensures the growth of economic inclusive.
The ANC has also maintained that our land reform must be based on the three elements: security of tenure, land restitution, and land redistribution. The ANC National Conference that was held in Nasrec reiterated the "Ready to Govern" policy guidelines that our land reform intervention should focus on the government-owned land and prioritise the redistribution of the vacant unused and unutilised state land as well as the land held for market speculation and land that is helpless indebted.
There are many policy initiatives taken by our government that seeks to ensure a progressive and successful land reform programme and this has found explanation in the National Development Plan, the Medium-Term Strategic Framework, and annual performance plan for the department, an industrial policy action.
Your department has said that the land reform remains a critical priority for government and is one of central pillar of the comprehensive rural development. We acknowledge.
Our pace in land reform has been very slow and it has for this reason that the ANC National Conference that was held at Nasrec resolve on the acceleration of the land reform programme in our rural development as a part of radical socio-economic transformation.
As part of our strategic and tactics, the 54th National Conference further resolved that the distribution of land in its productive is used as necessary feature for programme of economic transformation and the creation of employment in the rural area as part of the agrarian transformation strategy.
Do I need to remind the Members of this House that the Freedom Charter put an emphasis that on the redistribution of the land amongst those who work for it? Do I have to do that? We have consistent policy on land reform and therefore there is no need for panic amongst our investors. They must come.
According to the department's end of term report of 2009-14, from 2009-13, the department redistributed about one million two hundred and forty three thousand one hundred and seventeen hectares out of the target of one million seven hundred and ninety six thousand eight hundred and sixty hectares and this has benefited 18 358 beneficiaries of which 44% of that was women and 33% of the beneficiary were youth because of that ...
Setswana:
... re tseile mo motlhaleng wa go re naga e e sa tlhokomeleng ba?a ga se naga.
English:
The cost of the program during the period under review was
R8 billion, which was a necessary investment. With regard to the provinces, between he years 2009-13, KZN acquired 236 farmers with 7 132 beneficiaries, Bokone Bophirima 157 farmers with 3 326 beneficiaries, Limpopo 139 farmers with 2 857 beneficiaries and Eastern Cape 196 famers with 1 443 beneficiaries.
We take note of the slow land redistribution program in Western Cape. That is the reason because this people are dragging their feet. They don't want to work together with us. They forget that ...
Setswana:
... motsogapele o rile molapo o tladiwa ke melatswana.
English:
They have to work together ...
Setswana:
... gore ba godise ikonomi ya Aforika Borwa ...
English:
... as a whole.
Setswana:
Ba ipona ba le bosi ba ka kgona go iphetsa, motho ga a iphetse wa thusiwa. Jaanong, etlang batho ba Kapa Botlhaba gore re tle go dirisana mmogo.
English:
The department has invested close to R3 billion in the period 2009- 2013 under the recapitalisation and development programme. The total of 1 357 farmers were under production with the total of 1 632 farmers receiving training abroad, and 437 strategic partners attached to the farmers as a mentor and coach.
We welcome the success of the programme, however we know that exploitation that many of our farmers in Free State, Eastern Cape, including in other provinces have experienced under strategic partners. We have commended this partner commitment to make our land reform programme work and succeed.
The department has allocated the Budget of R10,4 billion for the past financial year 2018-19 and over R33,2 billion over the Medium- Term Expenditure Framework. This allocation is meant to speed up the infrastructure development as they published Agri-parks, equitable land redistribution, transformation, land tenure and creation of job opportunities and settlement of the land claims.
With such low Budget, we understand a challenge faced by your department, as well we acknowledge the current fiscal consolidation and therefore we call for accountability of this allocation.
It is said that many of the countries rural communities have been abundance of land which is not put to adequate use and therefore not productive use in the national interest. We welcome government engagement with the traditional leaders in seeking to advance in agrarian revolution programme as part of stimulus package announced by our president Ntate Matamela Ramaphosa.
The ANC has always been sensitive to institution of traditional leaders and they remain critical in our advance of our National Development Plan and we welcome the improved relationship between government and this institution of traditional leaders.
We know that the evolution of institutions is over time. We related to this. We call for the increase of democratic transparency in the administration of Consumer Protection Act, CPA, hon Minister and all members that are here or that have interest on the CPA, Please.
Given the history of the South African land eviction and forceful removal, the land claim court is imperative in our time. We understand that importance of establishing an outcome of Commission of Restitution Land Rights and the finalisation of outstanding claim and we need to fund a new claim. There will be a requirement of a huge financial resource ...
Setswana:
... mme wena o neilwe lemmenyana fela Tona ...
English:
... including the cost of association with the appointment of permanent judges to the land claims court.
There are number of factors that have worked against the progress and amongst these is highly property market price. The Office of the Valuer- General is very important in ensuring that the state pays fair and consistent value in determining financial compensation to the land claimant. This offer must be capacitated with personnel that will ensure that efficiency and effectiveness of the work of the Office of the Valuer- General is being supported.
Setswana:
Motl Tona, fa ke tla go garela e re ke go nopolele mafoko mangwe mo lokwalong le le boitshepo go tswa ko Beibeleng, ke go fe gore o nne sekai jaaka mosadi mongwe o bidiwang Ruta.
English:
Be loyal to South Africans. Work extra miles with the South Africans. Don't quit when things get tough.
Setswana:
Tswelela pele o gate mo metlhaleng ya batsogapele boMama Ruta, boMama Lilian Ngoyi, boMama Solofelang Betrand, ba gatileng teng. Ka gonne motsogapele o rile tlhako ya morago e gata mo ya pele e gatileng teng.
English:
Lastly, I want to go to you, hon Cloete. I will never forget the exploitation that is happening in Wessels Boom Farm in Free State. Mr Cloete go and tell your brother, that wherever he is that the ancestors of the ANC ...
Setswana:
... ba ka se mo letlelele go tsena ko a tshwanetseng go tseng ...
English:
... because of the exploitation that he did. He took advantage ...
Setswana:
... ka bana ba rona ba ba dikobo di magetleng, ka bana ba rona ba bannye.
English:
Tell him that one day ...
Setswana:
... re santse re le teng, re tla mo latelela. [Legofi.] Tiriso botlhaswa [exploitation] eo ya go tsaya bana go tswa kwa Masepaleng wa Selegae wa Ratlou, koo ke tswang teng, ga re na go mo tlogela. Re
tla nna re ntse ... a ntse a tshela kgotsa a sule re tlile go mo sala morago.
Ka mafoko a makalo ...
English:
... the ANC [Time expired.] supports this Budget Vote. Ke a leboga [Thank you.] [Applause.]
Hon Deputy Chairperson, hon members, hon Minister Thoko Didiza, Deputy Minister Skwatsha and fellow South Africans, it is time that we take off our gloves and talk straight and honest about the land issue in this House. South Africans have had enough of this dilly dallying around the real issues on land.
It is time for this government to hand back tribal land to its private owners as individuals. We can no longer delay this issue or try to avoid it. We cannot have two sets of rules for South Africans: One for the truly free that have the individual right to own their property; and the other that are treated like children and are not trusted to hold their own land as individuals.
I have been asking myself this question for a few years now: Why does this government not want to issue full title to tribal communities? Well let me tell you why. Firstly, because it is a great mechanism to control the masses and keep them dependent, open to manipulation and fear. Secondly, because tsotsis can hide their wealth through this system, by channelling benefits of crime towards building mansions worth millions on tribal stands. In the process, it cannot ever be taken away from them because 'it does not actually belong to them'. It is also a great measure to evade taxes as it cannot be traced back to an individual.
So, why am I so adamant that tribal communities should own at least their residential stand and the property on it? Can you imagine the door it will open for economic growth and development? People will immediately have real usable wealth at their disposal. They will be able to approach banks for loans to finance a future for them and their children.
As they usually say: You need money to make money. It will expand the South African economy with billions by allowing trade of those properties as well. Job and business opportunities will open up in the newly established real estate market, where people can sell and buy houses, as well as invest in property.
Additionally, their property will now have value and that value will grow with inflation. Government will be able to expand on its revenue basis by charging property tax and capital gain tax, as well as crack down on tax evasion and illegal gains from criminal activities like fraud and corruption.
The morale of the people will be at an all-time high as they will now be the proud owners of their own properties, empowering them to decide how they will use it to benefit their families. They will be able to transfer wealth from the one generation to the next. Businesses will open and grow in these areas due to having security of ownership with no risk of losing their capital investment.
This is the dream I have for my fellow South Africans who live in the utmost poverty. Not just a dream, but a reality that is within reach. My question to you Minister: Do you have the political will and the guts to go against both the tribal leaders who want to keep control over the people, as well as your comrades who long for socialist ideas where everything belongs to the state?
The Constitution gives you not only a mandate to do this but, in fact, instructs that this racially discriminatory practice should be stopped and reformed. If you go and look in terms of the
Constitution in section 25, subsection (5) and (6) clearly explain this.
There is this big drive to end racial divide through changing spatial planning. I heard you mentioning it earlier, as well as the previous Minister on the previous debate around spatial planning. However, on the other hand, this government maintain this apartheid- designed system to keep people separate and under control. Minister, you have an opportunity to leave an everlasting mark and a legacy by being brave and changing this system. Do it now for the sake of the poor!
Hon Minister, when I asked in the Select Committee why there are no plans or a budget allocated to President Cyril Ramaphosa's dream to transfer state owned land which is not used to the landless people, your department's officials quickly jumped to say it is not under their jurisdiction as it is dealt with by an interministerial committee.
Now, I ask you here in front of the entire South Africa, today: What is your role going to be in this process; and what plans and budgets are in place to realize this commitment? Or is it just another dream
that will remain in La-La land? If you are serious about this then show us the money!
We need to invest in infrastructure like railroads to connect rural communities to opportunities that exist in our major cities and towns. Therefore Minister, you need to collaborate with our state- owned entities to ensure that this capital investment is expedited to create a framework for economic development in rural communities.
It is time to take some these fascists in red overalls head on regarding their continuous incitement to illegally invade both state-owned land and privately-owned land. It creates chaos and causes division amongst communities and deceives the poor and the landless.
Sepedi:
Wa bona le bot?a batho maaka. Le ba dira dibhari! [Interjections.]
English:
We cannot allow this, and I encourage you to condemn both these acts of incitement and illegal land grabs.
Sepedi:
Ke kgopela le mphe sebaka; ke nyaka go bolela. [Interjections.]
English:
We need to speed up the process of ensuring that state-owned land is released to provide fully serviced stands to people who are flocking to the cities in search of work and a better life. [Interjections.] There must be a proper co-operation between your department and local municipalities, and more specifically the metros, to ensure a smooth and fast process to address the land needs for residential purposes.
Deputy Chairperson, we can sit here and dream all we want but if we do not face the facts and be honest about the issues that hold us back, time will judge us badly. Believe me: That will not be good for any of us. We came from a long hard past, each person with their own different struggles that made us who we are as a nation - the rainbow nation.
We are tough, patient and full of love for peace and humanity. The foundation has been laid by great people, like the hon Nelson Mandela and Helen Suzman. We now we have a responsibility not to mess it up, but rather to build upon their sweat, blood and tears for a better South Africa for all.
The time has come to give people hope of a better future where everyone has an equal right and opportunity to own their own home and leave something of value to the next generation. Let's take off our gloves Minister and get to work for all South Africans - and I want to focus on all South Africans; not some South Africans, like some politicians are grandstanding here. Let's Build One South Africa for all with individual freedom, fairness and opportunities that embrace our diversity. Thank You
Sesotho:
Tokoloho, tekatekano le menyetla ya bohle! Ke a leboha.
English:
Thank you! [Applause.]
Thank you hon Chairperson,Minister, hon Thoko Didiza, Deputy Minister, hon Mcebisi Skwatsha, Chairperson of the NCOP and Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP, the Chief whip of the NCOP, members of Salga, hon Members of this House, MECs, especially Bongiwe Sithole-Moloyi, Deputy General and your team, our guests in the gallery, I greet you all; hon Smit, it's funny that you stand before us and want to remind us of when you were in power three years back together with hon Cloet from the Freedom Front Plus, FF Plus, and
you talk about land. You tell our Minister to speed up the process of title deeds. Where should those title deeds come from, when you are the ones who own the land as inheritance from your forefathers? To date, you don't even consider giving a black child a chance to be in that land.
IsiZulu:
So awuzukusitshelake ukuthi ...
English
the land, do this and do that.
IsiXhosa:
Sithi esiphetheyo ngoku.
English:
We are telling you to give us that land. Chairperson, let me take this opportunity, also to welcome the reconfiguration of Agriculture together with Land Reform and Rural Development.
Without land there can be no agriculture and therefore, no life. Agriculture plays and important role in the life-blood of our economy and the society. The 2011 Planning Commission's Diagnostic
Report highlighted poverty, inequality and unemployment as challenges still faced by the country and called for bold and decisive steps to place our economy on a qualitatively different path that eliminates poverty, creates jobs and sustainable livelihoods. In 2012, the Executive Cabinet adopted a National Developmental Plan, NDP, with a target growth of at least 5% per year and this was further adopted by the ANC's 53'"National Conference held in Mangaung 2012.
The NDP provides key points for an integrated and inclusive rural economy and land reform'. It identified the importance of greater social, economic and political opportunities to overcome poverty and called for the introduction of an agrarian and land reform programmes that would ensure job creation and improve the livelihood of rural communities. Through the Industrial Policy Action Plan, IPAP, government aims to support the agricultural sector for local procurement drive, for which the NDP had targeted 75% of procurement from South African producers. The Industrial Policy action plan, IPAP, further identified opportunities with the green economy; the ocean's economy and plans to grow South African agricultural exports in order to grow African markets.
In this regard, we welcome the establishment of the Continental Free Trade Agreement, facilitated through the African Union and we are very optimistic that this agreement will boost intra- African trade, reduce poverty and help grow domestic economies of African member states.
IsiZulu:
O-Smit azange baze basinikeze lelothuba...
English:
but the African National Congress, ANC,did ...
IsiZulu:
ngokuthi isebenzise abantu abahlakaniphile abazokwazi ukuthi beze nalezi zinto ngaphandle
English:
Chairperson, our progressive government is committed to ensuring that there are no policy impediments to the private sector and this is important for our agricultural sector and for this reason our land reform programme is progressive and brings into cognizant the role of the private sector in building a thriving and inclusive rural economy. Our people need access to land in order to enhance
their productive capabilities and it is for this reason, among many others, that a comprehensive approach to land reform has been adopted by our government and we are going to adopt it.
IsiZulu:
Noze niyivume whether niyathanda noma anithandi.
English:
The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development derives its priorities through Medium Term Strategic Framework, MTSF, and these are aligned to the NDP. Honourable Members, the MTSF is a government strategic plan, aligned to our electoral term and reflects the commitments made in the ANC Election Manifesto. The aim is to ensure policy coherence, alignment and coordination of government plans and its budgeting. The MTSF has two over-arching strategic themes and that is radical economic transformation and improved service delivery. Departments don't work in silos in Kwazulu Natal, they compliment each other and again working in the ground and close to stake holders. That's what we do. Hon Cloet from the FF Plus ...
IsiZulu:
ake ngikukhumbuze, ngikuvivise ngesiZulu ngoba nawe ungivivisa ngesiBhunu ufuna ngingezwa. Hash tag: Asidlali, siyasebenza, siyaqhuba. Useyokutshela oseduze kwakho ukuthi ngithini.
English:
We note, Honourable Minister that you and your deputies know your story. Agriculture is a significant contributor to the country's Gross Domestic Product, GDP, and the Medium Term Strategic Framework, MTSF, had set a target of increasing GDP growth rate from 2.5% in 2012 to about 5% growth rate in 2019. The growth rate of our GDP is not anywhere near this target and we acknowledge a multiple number of challenges faced by our slow- growing economy.
IsiZulu:
Singcono ngoba siyazivuma izono zethu, kunani eningazivumiyo.
English:
We are, however, convinced that an improved land reform programme, coupled with a productively growing agricultural sector is critical for us to meet the desired growth rate for our economy.
If this sector is fully exploited, including its related value- chain, we will be able to realise our growth targets. Our rural
strategy aims to strengthen food security and agricultural competitiveness. We note that chronic underdevelopment with its social, economic and cultural dimensions, still continues in many rural areas. In order to transform our rural landscape, investment is required in infrastructure and skills development. One of the most important programmes of the department is skills development through the National Youth Service Corps, NARYSEC. This programme has benefited an impressive number of young people and women, including people with disabilities.
IsiZulu:
Sithi abo, ingabe nina nanikwenza yini ngoko?
English:
We call upon the department to reflect and address issues raised in the Budget Review and Recommendation Report, BRRR, on the compilation and submission of the training programme and an outline on the assessments standards and qualification that each graduate receive, as well as post- training and monitoring of graduates in order to ensure that they are placed within the employment market. That is what we do in KZN. We ensure that all the graduates are absorbed within the department or that they go out to the field.
IsiZulu:
Akekho umuntu ohlezi ekhaya.
English:
With this configuration of the department, we welcome progressive programmes that this department has embarked upon. Let me outline them for Freedom Front Plus, FF Plus, and the Democratic Alliance, DA, as they don't know them. When we talk about CASP, you don't know what that is, so let me tell you, it stands for Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme, CASP, and llima/Letsema which "aims to provide post-settlement support to the targeted beneficiaries of land reform and other producers who have acquired land through private means,
IsiZulu:
sisemva kwenu.
English:
The Deputy Chairperson: Sorry hon Bebee, just one moment. Hon Smit?
Mr C F B Smit: Point of Order: Thank you hon Deputy Chair, I would like to find out if the hon member would take a question and a comment now?
Ms L C Bebee: Not now bab' u-Smit, when we are done...
IsiZulu:
singadibana emnyango.
English:
I'm taking you through a workshop, we further talk about MAFISA, you don't know what MAFISA is.
IsiZulu:
Awuthi sikutsheleke thina,
English:
it stands for, Micro Agricultural Financial Institutions of South Africa, a scheme developed to address the financial services needs of smallholder farmers in the agribusinesses; we also have AgriBEE, which aims to promote the entity and participation of black people in the entire agricultural value-chain; there is also what we call, Black Producers Commercialisation Strategy and Blended Funding Model, BFM, to commercialise smallholders through loan and grant funding.
Chairperson, this blended finance model is a radical programme and we ask the department to consider the model that would be used to commercialise smallholder producers and ensure that the most marginalized producers are targeted as beneficiaries under this model. The department has told this Parliament that Government Food Procurement Model will ensure prioritization of smallholder produces as suppliers and the department has been working with partners such as the World Food Programme, Radical Agricultural Sector Economic Transformation, RASET, in KZN; North West Economic Development Cooperation, NWEDC, and Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency, MEGA,; and the Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion, SHEP, in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA. We make sure that wherever you go, we follow you, sise-Japan manje. Chairperson, the former Minister of Agriculture said that "partnerships with local and international partners have improved the extent of support to land reform beneficiaries'.
We welcome this partnership and this further serves as an expression that our strategic and local partners understand very well the importance of our land reform programme with clear policy objectives. In conclusion, we welcome the presentations made by the department to this House and we are confident that, the monies
allocated to the department will be used in the good advancement to departmental mandates.
IsiZulu:
Sesisho kuwenake mhlonishwa u-Smit nomhlonishwa u-Cloet, ukuthi nje sikhona, asigudluki futhi asiyi ndawo. Simile ku ...
English:
agriculture and the land. The ANC supports this budget.
Hon Deputy Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon members, ladies and gentlemen. Eastern Cape congratulates the Minister on her appointment to the department and welcomes you back to the sector.
The Minister's budget speech provided an overarching policy and programmatic initiatives, I quote: "making the land productive again". As the province of the Eastern Cape we have taken a decision to build the Eastern Cape we want; the green Eastern Cape.
In 2018-19 financial year, the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, DRDAR, held a Provincial Land Dialogue, which advocated for an inclusive approach to all issues with respect to
land, and supported the proposed expropriation of land without compensation.
In this context the land dialogue proposed that the land debate and its outcomes must not be seen as the exclusive and sole responsibility of government; rather it must be the collective responsibility of government, business and social partners.
Whilst delivering the budget vote speech, the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development vindicated us as the province when she said:
commercialisation of Black farmers remains an important objective if we are to transform the country's agricultural sector.
Whilst delivering the budget speech to the provincial legislature, as the department we had committed on a decision to drive commercialisation of agriculture through commodity partnerships to improve productivity and competitiveness of our smallholder farmers.
Hon Deputy Chair, similar to the country as a whole, the province of the Eastern Cape has too, been governed by racial segregation and
white supremacy as central aspects of South African policy of Apartheid. This racial segregation created western part of the province with irrigation schemes, thereby 'green', and the Eastern part of the province that remains 'brown'.
To this end, the Department has a focus of the revitalisation of the irrigation schemes. Through partnerships the Ncora, Keiskammahoek, and Shiloh schemes have commercially operational dairy units. In addition, the high potential vegetable production areas along the Umzimvubu River at Port St Johns have been provided with irrigation infrastructure to support farmer to produce vegetable at a commercial level.
Notwithstanding the progress, we are determined to turn the situation for the better for the people situated in the eastern part of the province. We shall establish irrigation support at Ingquza Hill, Port St Johns and Mbizana for the production of high value sub-tropical crops.
The feasibility assessments will be completed in 2019-20 and implementation to commence in 2020-21 financial year.
We have seen the open letter to President by the 2016 Free State Farmer of the Year and Mentor of the Year, Mr Nick Serfontein, asking the President to include commercial farmers in the plans for effective land reform. As the province, we have already issued an invitation to all commercial farmers and private sector to support the initiatives that are aimed at developing emerging farmers to be commercially viable enterprises.
The high value crops are the main drivers of agricultural exports, foreign earning and employment opportunities in the province. The citrus partnership with Citrus Growers Association provided an opportunity to increase production and enable black farmers to optimally operate their state of the art Ripplemead Packshed in Ngqushwa.
Hon Deputy Chair, on grain, the partnerships improved the average yield increased from 2 to 3 tons per hectare to 4 to 6 tons per hectare. This has led to 14 black farmers from Alfred Nzo District for the first time export their yellow maize to Vietnam through the support of Grain Farmer Development Association, GFADA.
In areas where black farmers experienced disasters, all those that formed partnership with GFADA received payment from their crop insurance.
The successes of the grain partnership have led to a huge demand and consequently, required additional funding. It is in this context that the department has initiated a partnership agreement with Rural Agro Finance Initiative, RAFI, with Argentina to promote conservation agriculture through co-funding in the prioritised districts, which are Joe Gqabi, O.R Tambo, Chris Hani and Alfred Nzo and Amathole. The partnership is expected to be concluded in the 2019-20 financial year.
On the commercialisation of livestock, the partnership with University of Fort Hare led to the initiation of Vet School in the Eastern Cape. The department has allocated funding for the establishment of the project office at University of Fort Hare to mobilise support and funding for the Vet School.
Furthermore, the partnership with the University of Fort Hare Nguni Trust provided black farmers with breeding stock and animal traceability to enhance their commercial viability and access to markets.
The National Agricultural Marketing Council supported the establishment of new feedlots and maintenance of 14 custom feedlots across the province to increase the commercial beef trade in the red meat value chain.
The commodity partnership approach, hon Deputy Chairperson, has also enabled the department to support Karoo Catch, an aquaculture incubation programme in Beyers Naude. A total of 3 catfish production tunnels with the capacity of 20 tons fish per month were completed.
These tunnels will afford an opportunity to 45 people per year to participate in the incubation programme. The provincial government in partnership with Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, then, received a total of R59 million from the National Treasury and European Union, EU, funding for the implementation Marine Tilapia industry incubation programme at Amathole, Qholorha, over the next three years.
Hon Deputy Chair, the infrastructure development programme is designed to support prioritised commodities for increasing production, marketing and value chain information. In the period
under review, 167 on-farm livestock infrastructure projects were completed including fencing, stock-water systems, and dip tanks.
This resulted in 1 837 smallholder producers benefiting from the support and 863 jobs created. This includes the erection of 246km of fencing in various districts of our province, and 256km worth of fencing materials to be constructed by local labourers using Expanded Public Works Programme, EPWP, methods; further 60km for wool and mohair, 25 stock water systems, 16 dam scooping, 25 multi- purpose sheds; five on-farm small scale irrigation systems, one custom feedlot, two grow-out fish tunnel and three piggery structures.
The province has two agricultural colleges to contribute to produce the next generation of farmers with a focus on animal production, cropping, forestry and agri-business. In addition the province is also training farmers to improve their productivity and competitiveness.
The partnership with Technology Innovation Agency of the Department of Science and Technology has led to the Eastern Cape receiving 30 FibreLux wool fibre testing machine for wool producers. The FibreLux
wool fibre testing will enable farmers to increase classing, effectiveness and sale price of wool from black farmers.
The Eastern Cape Province in partnership with Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry received a total of R54m from the National Treasury European Union Funding for the implementation commercialisation of sheep production in Alfred Nzo District over the next three years.
The department will be working with the Agricultural Research Council to improve water efficient maize varieties and assist farmers in water scarce areas of the province.
Hon Deputy Chair, furthermore, the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform and Land Bank partnership attracted more than R100 million investment in the Amajingqi for Macadamia nut production, the investment for planting of 100 hectare of the 300 hectare and created more than 148 jobs for young people who are participating in the programme over three years.
During the 2018-19 financial year, the provincial department initiated agricultural economic sector business plans to leverage
funding from the provincial economic stimulus, which is expected to be implemented in 2019-20 financial year.
The Agriculture economic sector business plans mainly focusing on catalytic projects have the greatest potential to contribute to economic growth and employment. The catalytic initiatives are Rural Agro-Industry and Finance Initiative, Red Meat Value Chain through feedlots and sales pens, animal fibre through wool processing plant, crop production through establishment of innovative mechanisation centres on all districts and establishment of the fertiliser manufacturing stock blending plant.
The province has secured R54 million from General Budget Support of the EU through National Treasury to support the sheep value chain development in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality.
Funding for a marine aquaculture incubator programme to be initiated in the Qholora Aquaculture Development Zone, as I said earlier on, is from an allocation of R59 million through the European Union.
These projects will be implemented over the next three coming years, and it is the reason why we stand here to say that we support the
department because we have seen that working together, we can do more.
Hon Deputy Chair, the intensification of production, agro- processing, partnership and marketing in grain continued at the Rural Enterprise Development, RED, Hubs in Mqanduli, Ncora, Emalahleni and Mbizana to ensure food secured communities, increased household income and to create job opportunities.
The marketing outlets such as retail stores stimulated intensive processing, maize meal and animal feed processing. The Farmer Production Support Units in support of the Hubs, further support the commercialisation initiatives though logistical support in primary production, extension services and mechanization.
This enables delivery of farming inputs and transportation of harvest to local markets and to the hubs for agro-processing. We stand here as the Eastern Cape and say, the ANC has done the right thing to choose who is to be the leader of the sector and we are saying 'forward with women and forward with the leadership that has clarity'.
We support the budget that was presented by the Minister. Thank you very much.
Hon Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP, Minister, Deputy Minister, hon members, I also greet the nine strong hon members of the EFF in the House, EFF fighters, as a consequence of colonial land dispossession and apartheid forced removals, our agricultural sector has not been able to develop in the way it has developed in other countries.
Minister, for the better part of 200 years the agricultural sector in this country has been built on the dispossession of black land and cattle, and on the legalised exploitation of cheap and disposable black labour. This created two agricultural sectors, one white, highly capitalised by the state and with unlimited supply of land and labour; and the other black, with limited land, without access to capital, limited to subsistence farming.
The results of this are still evident today, there are currently only 35 O00 to 37 000 commercial farmers in South Africa, with an annual turnaround in the billions of rands and the majority of them are white. Since the opening up of markets and the economy the agricultural sector has been an aggressive accumulation of
agricultural land by a small minority, who have bought off struggling smaller farms, and consolidated these into bigger farms, and increasingly, these farms are owned by corporations.
Yet, on the flipside, we have around 2,3 million agricultural households in South Africa, the bulk of them in KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and Limpopo. They are mostly landless and engage in agriculture on a subsistence basis, with no government support. Every aspect of the agricultural industry including downstream and upstream activities are dominated by white monopolies who rely on their resources and the ANC's lack of spine to block an attempt at transforming the agricultural sector.
The agricultural sector is like a cartel, and it requires a bold state to transform this industry. The basis of this transformation must entail the radical and swift expropriation of land without compensation, for equal redistribution and use. The main beneficiaries of redistributed agricultural land must be these agricultural households already engaged in agricultural production.
Also, they must be the farmworkers who are the ones that are doing the bulk of the work on the farms and the farm dwellers who know no other life but agriculture. But the state mustn't just give people
land; it must support emerging black farmers by doing the following: Providing support to farmers by providing equipment, seeds, storage facilities, advertising and access to markets.
The state must also increase tariff and nontariff barriers to reduce the importation of agricultural products which the country can produce. We cannot allow the local agricultural industry to continue collapsing simply because of cheap imports. We need to build and support fresh produce markets in each municipality for access by small-scale food producers.
We need to reintroduce agricultural product marketing boards to ensure that farmers derive the most benefits from the sale of agricultural products while at the same time, opening up market opportunities for emerging black farmers. We need to identify agricultural development nodes and offer tax breaks to companies that invest in agricultural production in any of these nodes, provided that such investment is based on strict principles of empowering local farmers to develop into independent farmers.
Government must outlaw the use of genetically modified seed in South Africa until the health hazards of these seeds are fully understood. Government also needs to outlaw monopoly of the seed industry by a
few companies. This will allow for the local production of seeds for agricultural development. The fishing industry like the agricultural sector, is dominated by a small number of companies, and whites, at the expense of the majority of our people.
For centuries our people relied on the ocean as a means of subsistence, but over the years, this access to the ocean has been taken away from them. During colonialism and apartheid it was done through apartheid spatial planning, today the ANC government denies our people access to the ocean economy with fishing quotas and licences. While companies like I and J receive huge quotas which are destroying our oceans, local community fishermen do not receive enough fishing quotas to support themselves and their families.
Government must also upgrade the infrastructure that local fishermen are using. Harbours must be upgraded, and new ones need to be built. Storage facilities must be established and local fishermen must be given access to markets to transform the fishing industry. It is clear that this government does not have the will or capacity to transform the agricultural and fishing sectors. That is why we reject this budget. I thank you. [Applause.]
Ms B N SITHOLE-MOLOI - KWAZULU-NATAL - MEC - AGRICULTURE AND RURAL
DEVELOPMENT: Hon Deputy Chair, hon Chair of the NCOP, Minister Didiza present, Deputy Minister, hon members of the NCOP, all delegates that are present today ...
IsiZulu:
... ngiyathanda nokubulisa abakhaya, ngibulise bonke abakhona nalabo abalaphaya phezulu izichukuthwane zethu ezikhona kule ntambama lapho sizokhulumisana ngezindaba zezolimo nokuthuthukiswa kwemiphakathi engaphandle kwasemadolobheni. Ngisukuma-ke ngenkulu intobeko, ukuba yingxenye yokuba sizoxoxa ngenkulumo-mbiko yohlahlo lokwabiwa kwezimali ethulwe nguNgqongqoshe Wezolimo, Ezomhlaba Nezokuthuthukiswa Kwezindawo Zasemakhaya.
English:
I rise to address hon members during this important month of July, the month that we take highly as the month that gives us pride as South African people where we dedicate this month to Tata Mandela, our first democratically elected President of South Africa. I believe that all of us seated here we recognise and appreciate the work that Tata Mandela did before he became the President and the time he was President. Tata Mandela is synonymous with the fight against injustices and also inequality. He dedicated his life to
create a better life for the people of this country across all the racial lines. I believe that when we celebrate him this month, we will have to look back and say, how much have we done to come together as South Africans and fought the scourge of poverty, inequality and unemployment.
Because he would stand here today and say to us, "I said to you that we must reconcile." It doesn't take one party to lend a hand of reconciliation, it takes all the parties to give a hand and say, we are reconciled. And, as I am standing here, I am seeing a nation that is one- sided, where African people who have been wronged, they lend a hand of saying, let us have peace, let us reconcile. The other hand tried to explain why it has to be like that and should continue like that. I believe that Tata Mandela would not agree with us and we need to change the attitude and the way we do things so that we better the lives of our people. I believe that Tata Mandela used the public service as an instrument to transform society. He believed that the resources of the state have to be used to uplift the ordinary members of society out of abject poverty. I want to quote him:
Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man- made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the action of
human beings. Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is the protection of the fundamental right, the right to dignity and a decent life.
As I stand here before this House and before these hon members, we have been talking about the level of unemployment and the figures that we have been debating and arguing about and that also we should have been an understanding that it reflects on the issue of food insecurity. I think we have to agree on this one, to say, whilst we are saying that we want to grow the economy through the agricultural sector but at the same time we should agree that there is a need for alignment of how we are going to deal with the programmes that we have. We have to deal with the issue of saying, how can we ensure that our community out there are not going to bed without eating anything which is the food security programme that we need to look at, and also to clarify ourselves and our communities on the importance of engaging in agricultural activities in their homes so that they do not starve whilst they have a small piece of land outside of their houses. That is why in KwaZulu-Natal we have One Home One Garden programme which is meant to say that there is no house that cannot have a space at least to plant two lines of spinach, two lines of cabbage, tomatoes and others so that you have something to eat before you go to bed. These programmes must have an
impact on our societies. And I believe that, whilst we are saying that it is a start and we are moving on, the agricultural sector has not only proven to be labour absorptive but also has the potential to be expanded to strategically position KwaZulu-Natal as a leading supplier of agricultural products for domestic consumption and for export. The spatial distribution of Agricultural Colleges covers all the agro-ecological zones of our nation and is also fairly distributed in most provinces.
We have graduates that have graduated in agriculture as hon member Bebee indicated earlier on and I am not going to expand on that one and I am going to move on. The escalating fuel prices have also caused a drastic increase in food prices. These higher prices, together with high interest rates, have reduced the purchasing power of households and have exposed millions of people to food insecurity. In view of this, we undertake to work with the national government to ensure support to both fully fledged commercial and emerging farmers. I would like to say that, as KwaZulu- Natal, recently, last month, we co-ordinated all small-scale farmers to say that, when you produce, this where you can go and sell your food. And also, we have made it our responsibility that we are going to ensure that we support all the districts that have implemented the first food markets so that those people can sell their produce to
those markets and we are going to ensure that happens and people ... the value chain is being linked and aligned and is making a difference in the province and also in the country. Because when KwaZulu-Natal is striving in the agricultural sector then the nation will also strive. I think that also we want to welcome the gesture by the hon Minister that you are going to support the colleges and I think that we must also say that; we have two colleges but we are saying further that we must utilise them also to have nurseries that are going to produce seeds so that we do not go out all the time and buy seed and find that it is very expensive and then we do not see the importance of that. But the impact is not seen as well if we are doing that because we are paying more and we are unable then to produce as expected.
As KwaZulu-Natal, we have a plan and we are pleased to say that our premier is supporting our plan of saying how best can we revitalise our agricultural sector and rural development in our province. And I am sure that the Minister will know that even Isilo Samabandla has also pledged that the Ingonyama Trust land will also be utilised and the within tribal chiefs, they have pledged that they are going to give us, at least in each traditional council, 100 hectares as a start so that we start saying that to the communities out there in rural areas that, "this is the place, go and plough and do that
together." I believe that you are also going to support us. I know, hon Minister, you talked of the issues that pertain to the fight that is going on in our province between our farmers and also those farm workers and also between the Communal Property Associations CPAs, trusts and the traditional leaders, I believe that your intervention, as you have started, will need a result and also the change in the policy that will assist in training these CPAs and also train the trusts and the traditional leaders on how they will be utilised and how to work because all of these trusts have not been reviewed and have not held any annual general meetings. And I believe that the policy that you are proposing is going to assist us as well. As KwaZulu-Natal, we are also of a view that working together we can do more because we need each other to be able to pull together.
There is one government in South Africa, even if you want to deny it, in KwaZulu-Natal we cannot do better when other provinces are not doing their part. [Applause.] And also we cannot drag the whole country to be part of KwaZulu-Natal. We are saying that, let us play our part as KwaZulu-Natal but also let us pull together to say, what is the best that we can learn from Mpumalanga and what is the best that we can learn from other provinces and find a shared kind of initiatives and programmes that will prosper the country and take
our country forward. [Applause.] I am saying that because when we are given a responsibility as public representatives; we are expected to do our part. I stand here and say that, if I cannot be honest with the work and am diligent to the work that I am supposed to be doing, why should I be there? As I go towards my conclusion, I know Chair you want to ... it is a maiden speech, I am told from the other ... [Inaudible.] that when you are doing a maiden speech; you are given at least an additional second, but I think we need to have public servants that are committed. Public representatives that are committed because without that we can have any programme and any budget that we can have but if those people that are supposed to implement and those that are supposed to direct the policies are not committed and do not have the will then all what you are doing is wasting time and energy of the nation. The nation looks upon us and they trust us. Why can we not be trusted on the work that we are doing? I am taking that from the word of God in Ruth 1:16 where Ruth says to her mother-in-law, "Don't beg me" Thank you very much. I hope all of us will be Ruth and be Esthers of the day so that we change the lives of our nation. I thank you. KwaZulu-Natal supports the budget. [Applause.]
Chairperson, I would like to congratulate the programming committee for keeping the best for last because this is
the debate. [Laughter.] We have all been asleep and now we are suddenly awake so thank you very much for that. [Interjections.] I wasn't asleep. The land and land reform is a highly emotional debate and we have seen that today. But when emotions run high it is important to apply reason; and for that we need facts.
Afrikaans:
So, Minister, die Minister van Landbou se grondoudit moet nou bekendgemaak word, sodat dit bestudeer kan word. Ons kan nie toelaat dat onwaarhede oor grondbesit in Suid-Afrika en die voorlopige aanbevelings in die verslag, wat skynbaar suiwer plagiaat is uit 'n ou Verenigde Nasies, VN-verslag van wat handel oor Oos-Europa en niks met Suid-Afrika te doen nie, versprei word nie.
Ons kan nie aanhou om sondebokke te maak van di wat grond besit en hulle die skuld gee vir die regering se onvermo om grondhervormingsteikens te haal nie.
Deur aan te hou om te s dat hierdie persoon rens grond by daardie persoon gesteel het, skep ruimte vir geweld, vir aanvalle, vir moorde. En die VF Plus ag dit as deel van die landelike beveiligingsprobleem, waaroor ons baie praat. Ons kan nie meer deur mites mislei word nie. Gee vir ons feite.
English:
Chairperson, we see the ANC opening their speeches with the piece of history that means something dear to them and we all like history because in our history we learned something from our people earlier in our lives. But history is unfortunately, more complex.
Hon Minister, I am sure that you are a reasonable person so let me remind you of what happened in the Soviet Ukraine, with the Gulag camps and kulaks who were farmers, in fact they were in business at first and they became farmers. As they laboured and farmed, they became more successful and made more money. The Soviet government did not like this and expropriated the land, sounds too familiar. The Gulags were thrown in labour camps and the land was redistributed. The effect was that food and security led to famine. By the way, as much as 1 million people died in Gulags camps - innocent people - anyone who appeared to be slightly against the cause was thrown into the camps.
What is happening here is that people who are supposed to be working for the people are throwing people into camps where they need to be labouring. No one denies a black farmer becoming a successful one. In fact, more successful farmers in South Africa, the better it is for our economy but here we need to be very rational. We still don't
know much land is state-owned. We also don't know how much of that land is utilised. Let's build programmes on facts and not emotions.
Just quickly on emotions; I would like to reply to the hon Modise. I was a little late on putting on my interpretation service. So, understand that apparently there was a farmer who abused a farmer worker, am I correct? [Interjections.] That's horrible. I will condemn that, totally. [Interjections.] I will condemn that but I want you to taste your stereotypes and generalisations. I want to speak about a farmer in Frankfort Heilbron, this week ... [Interjections.] ... I have condemned that. We have issued a statement on a farm murder in Heilbron, a cattle farmer. His throat was slit and his name was Johannes Mazibuko. He was 71 and we have issued a statement about that. Where were the EFF and the ANC on that? Thank you. [Interjections.]
Setswana:
Modulasetulo, ere ke tseye t?hono e ke leboge balwantwa Aforikaborwa ka bophara. Ke tswe gape ke eleletse ...
English:
... EFF, a happy blessed 6th anniversary we will be celebrating this weekend, I thank you. Minister, it was Frantz Fanon who said:
"For a colonized people the most essential value, because the most concrete, is first and foremost the land: the land which will bring them bread and, above all, dignity."
South Africa is a country of 122 million hectares, a 25th largest county in the world. Yet, a quarter years after our first democratic elections, white people still owns 72% of all privately-owned land in the country while black Africans only owns 4%. In no country in the world you have a situation where a settler minority groups owns the majority of the land at the expense of the majority, but in South Africa, the abnormal has become normal.
The consequences of this unequal distribution of wealth we see it all around us. We see it in the poverty. We see it in mass unemployment. And, we see it in our overcrowded townships.
Setswana:
Batho ba betagane ekere ke ditlhapi ...
English:
... without access to basic services. We see it in the former homelands where our people have no economic opportunities. We see it
in the fact that farm workers continue to be exploited and abused by white farm bosses.
Setswana:
Badiri ba kwa dipolaseng fa ba patelwa, ba patelwa ka mofine. Ke gore fa ba tshwanetse go bona mogolo wa t?helete, ba duelwa ka bojalwa gore ba nne ba tagilwe gore go tsiediwa ga bona, go tswelele. [Setshego.]
English:
Minister, the question of land is central to resolving the questions of the country. That is why cardinal pillar number one of the EFF calls for the expropriation of land without compensation for equal redistribution. The very existence of the EFF is formed by the current government's failure to resolve the land question and lead the struggle for economic freedom in our lifetime.
The land was taken from our people through the barrel of a gun and through legislation, with the two often going hand in hand. There were laws such as Glen Grey Act of 1894 and the Native Land Act of 1913, which confined African majority to only 7% of the land. There was also the Urban Areas Act of 1923, the Native Trust and Land Act, 1936 and the Group Areas Act of 1950.
For the last 200 years, the law has been used to dispossess our people. The law must now be used to take back what is rightfully ours. For 25 years, willing buyer, willing seller has failed dismally. Until today, government has redistributed less than 9% of the land to black people. Section 25 of our Constitution prevents justice and economic development of our country from taking place. It protects white wealth that was built on the dispossession, blood and sweat of black South Africans.
Millions of black South Africans, especially young people and women, live in poverty without jobs and rely on grants to survive. This is the legacy and consequence of the continued unequal distribution of land in this country and it will continue as long as the land question is not resolved.
Today, the process of amending the Constitution has begun in the National Assembly and under the leadership and guidance from the EFF; this Parliament must and will fast track all efforts in this regard. No matter what the DA and the FF Plus says or does, this Parliament will change the Constitution and will begin the process of expropriation of land without compensation; they must just watch the space.
We want to remind you that it is constitutional to amend the Constitution, Minister. Once Parliament committee is established, we will then change the property clause in the Constitution to allow the state to expropriate land without compensation. But, it cannot only end here; all land must be under the custodianship of the state for equal redistribution to all. This must be done in a manner that gives maximum security of tenure to citizens and to businesses.
We must be in possession of this term to pass overarching legislations such as the Land Redistribution Act and Agrarian Reform Act, to give effort to the goals of complete restructuring of land holding in this country. This must be geared towards promoting value adding activities such as aquaculture to create millions of jobs, in vitro agricultural activities and other job including inducing land based economic activities.
The state must establish a land ombudsman to ensure that people's rights to the land are protected and not subjected to arbitrary abuse by state officials and injudicious mining companies. There needs to be a reconfiguration of the land claims courts into the people's land court with not less than 12 permanent judges to adjudicate on land matters on a full time basis.
Minister, your department is in position to fundamentally transform the South African economy and society, but that requires your government to have backbone, a revolutionary vision and then we will transform the lives of our people. But this government has allowed the elite to dictate economic policy for too long, it has been long overdue and there is little to show that things will change. Until section 25 of the Constitution is amended, unfortunately the EFF will continue to reject this Budget Vote.
Now, the MEC of the Eastern Cape, you come here and grind stand about the Expanded Public Works Programme, EPWP and calling it a job. Where is the dignity in earning R680 per month? Why don't you do yourself a favour and resign from your job and go work as an EPWP employee and earn R680 per month, then you can come back and tell us if you are able to make ends meets.
Cloete, you said we all like history - no we don't. How can you like pain and death? How can you like the splitting of blood? We don't like history at all. And, by the way, we don't need advice from you and your so-called friends, the DA. We know what we want. We know what we are going to do. And, we are going to get the land and give it back to its people and we are not going to pay any compensation. I thank you. [Applause.]
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM AND RURAL
DEVELOPMENT (Mr M Skwatsha): Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon MEC's Sithole-Moloi and Meth, hon members, Director Generals everybody present here, good afternoon. Today I would like to echo a call to action to all spheres of government. To rally behind the common course of speeding up land reform and eradicate the vestiges of oppression, colonial domination.
While undertaking this mammoth task, we must be mindful that we are a constitutional democratic state. We must act within the prescripts of the law. Our people are impatient, thank you very much Mam. Yes the task is long overdue but it is no licence to embark on land grabbing campaigns to make headlines. It is not the time to sow hatred, our country has enough of racial conflicts. To those who resisted temptation of spewing inflammatory rhetoric, only to get applause and score cheap political points. We will never encourage the contravention of the law, simply because we want to generate popular peacetime heroes.
The land dispossessed people deserve better than being used for fodder that does not even translate into concrete electoral support. Anyway, a Marxist worth his or her sword will tell you that there is no relationship indiscipline and radicalism. A famously quoted
revolutionary Falorn, never believed in illegal criminal land grabs. He really believed that land must be redistributed equally to the people.
Let us use the legal means at our disposal. We all know that the legislation that will eventually allow large scale land expropriation without compensation, is soon to be a reality. The amendment of Section 25 in our Constitution in order to speed up land redistribution, is no longer a matter of a story. It is a reality and it is actually the legislators that must make this a reality. It is common course that restoring the dignity of the land dispossessed people is an immense task.
We need trusted partners. There is no way that we can romanticise over this. No single sphere of government can carry out this task on its own. All spheres of government should enjoy cordial relations with each other in executing this mammoth task. We are all committed to upholding the Constitution while delivering on the respective constitutional mandates. Our experience in the struggle against colonialism and apartheid has taught us the importance of strong partnerships.
In the service delivery value chain, provinces and municipalities are crucial in this battle to redress the imbalances of the past. They are the coalface of crisis and suffering of many communities in the country. Ladies and gentlemen, with the work that we been tackling in the land reform programmes, which comprises redistribution, security of tenure and restitution, some of the key interventions include the promotion of food security, the rapid release of land for urban human settlements and the importance of growing our economy. These programmes are geared to speed the resolution of land ownership patterns and tackling the triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment.
Furthermore, the NDP is instructive about its vision and I quote: "We must attack the blight of poverty and exclusion and nurture economic growth at the same time. Creating a virtual cycle of expanding opportunities, building capabilities and reducing poverty involving communities in their development, all leading to rising living standards."
Our deputy President during the President's budget debate re- iterated this crucial aspect and I quote him: "Poverty and inequality are not only a consequences of historical injustices of the past, but the continuing spewed capital and land ownership
patterns that hampered broad based participation in economic productive activities."
The acceleration of our land reform programme will continue to focus on improving access to land for Agriculture, economic developments and sustainable human settlements. On land administration we are in the process of revamping the extension of security tenure Act of 1997 to protect one of the most vulnerable groups in our society, farm workers. This piece of legislation should not be taken for granted. It could be one of the last hopes of restoring the dignity of farm workers. Most of whom still bear the brunt of oppressive conditions.
In the next few months, our department will table the relevant regulations for public comments. Another important development in this financial year will be the tabling of the Deeds Registration Amendment Act to cabinet. It will be amiss not to mention the programmes that are being implemented to strengthen the capacity of CPA's. The Minister has gone at length in speaking about CPA's, something needs to be fixed there.
In our sphere we are getting to grip the strengthening of the office of the Valuer General, which is an important aspect of delivering
land to our people. All land earmarked in our land property registrar must go through the evaluation process of the OVG. Therefore it is critical that this body should operate optimally and effectively. Top of the remedial list of the OVG, the re-alignment and approval of the new organisational structure. We are also going to set up a project management office within OVG, to help speed up service delivery and eliminate the property evaluation backlog.
We have noted that these matters adversely impact the meeting of annual targets, which in turn lead to the frustration of potential beneficiary. Strengthening the working relationships between the OVG and our commission on restitution of land rights, this help a lot in speeding up delivery of land.
Few words of caution, the issue that has been raised by speakers here, the frustrations of our people, so many people have taken advantage of our people in the processes that have unfolded before. Some of them, include those that engage in corrupt practices. Such people are to be found in the private sector and also in the public sector. Let them be warned that the law is going to be catching up with them.
Properties should not be priced unrealistically high values just because the client happens to be the government as it is mostly the case. Even the market must be sensitive to the bigger course of land reform. These greedy land owners contributed in the past to the slowing down of the pace of the land reform programme. Under our wards we handle the three prong programmes, referred to restitution, redistribution and tenure.
Let me quickly deal with how we have allocated the scarce financial resources for our provinces that are most important are our delivery agents. Collectively, our nine provinces have been allocated a total of just over 7 billion for the financial year. This is the household budget, for the implementation of various programmes. READ, RATE and all our related programme.
The breakdown for provinces is as follows: Mpumalanga 980 millions, Eastern Cape 789 million, Western Cape 575 million, Gauteng 434 million, Northern Cape 403, Free State 456 million. This programme has received more that 2.9 billion for all its national projects that are being executed by the provinces.
I want to say in closing, that this project of land reform needs sanity, no emotions. To the EFF as I live, you cannot say the DA is
our friends when you have propelled them into governing in many provinces, in Gauteng and in Tshwane. Thank you very much.
Hon Chair, rural development and land reform remains yet another unfulfilled state promise in jobs in rural economies namely: agriculture, agribusiness and sustainable tourism are yet to benefit the poor and most vulnerable in this area.
South Africa cannot be transformed until all rural areas are transformed such that they are unable to take their rightful place in the development of their country. In this country we no longer have second plus citizens, our rural citizens cannot be dead.
The first priority in our view is that rural people must be assisted to live fully positive lives. There are so many food items that we are importing simply because we have not harness the capacity of our rural people. Education and healthy provision must be improved. Land reform is crucial to the development of this country. These programmes must seek not only to correct historical matters. We live with this programme today; the descended who gained and are richer for it, the descended of those who lost land remain poor.
We are happy that the President has deemed it fit to bring you back to the department Madam Minister. Your experience in the department could help deal with the corruption and efficiency that sometimes hold the programmes back. The IFP supports this Budget Vote and we are aware of the challenges you face hon Minster. We commit to work with you to build South Africa together and achieve the department's goal. I thank you.
Hon Chairperson, Minster and the Deputy Minister, hon members, MECs present, my fellow colleagues representing local government in the NCOP, ladies and gentlemen, I firstly would like to welcome and congratulate the new Minister and the two Deputies on their appointment to such a critical portfolio, particularly at this time in the history of our country.
We have engaged with department of Agriculture and actively worked with Department of Rural Development and Land Reform in the Fifth Administration and look forward to working well with the new merged department in addressing numerous challenges and opportunities that the country currently faces. Effectively, collaboration through the various intergovernmental relations platforms will ensure that the various communities that we lead emerge victoriously.
The Minister made reference to agri-parks that were initiated by the establishment, est. wild Department of Rural Development and Land Reform has indicated that this can change the phase of agriculture in a big way if managed well. District mayors have been given the responsibility to coordinate the support of these parks and SALGA welcomes this opportunity. It will work well to re-engage with the district mayors to reaffirm the support of the local government sector regarding this initiative. It will be critical to clarify and consolidate the role that is expected from them. It is also critical to align and coordinate the various initiatives undertaken by the former Department of Agriculture noting that all the initiatives learned on the table of the one mayor in respect of a district.
Poor coordination may risk undermining otherwise potential useful initiatives. The merging of the two departments will go a long way to enhance this coordination under your leadership and we stand ready to work with you in this regard. We invite you to engage with the leadership of SALGA to explore how best the department and the sector can assist one another in pursue of our common goals.
It will be amice not recognise that a lot has achieved in the delivery of basic services since 1994 including access to housing, water and electricity as indicated in the various reports. Not
withstanding this however, as you indicated the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality remains stubbornly with us. The objectives of special justice, equality, special transformation inclusive economic growth and development remain illusive.
Many disenfranchised communities continue to be denied access to employment and economic opportunities by among others being geographically located far from such opportunities and by being structurally excluded from land markets in metropolitan areas, intermediary cities, small towns and rural areas. This denies them the opportunity to participate meaningfully in socio economic activities ranging from agricultural and food production to real estate in urban areas.
While we know the land reform process that seeks to enable more previously disadvantaged people to participate in agricultural and food production, we would also like to highlight the importance of land reform in our cities and towns. Challenges in urban land reform have compromised the ability of government in general and local government in particular to facilitate special transformation and thus more efficient urban economies.
The key sign of challenges regarding urban land reforms include but are not limited to: increasing unauthorised land or occupation in many cities and towns; urban growth patens that are driven by market forces and not aligned to long term strategic visions of inclusive growth and development as articulated in the municipalities' Integrated Development Plan, IDPs, and Spatial Development Frameworks, SDFs; and housing developments for poor people are generally located on the periphery of urban areas away from economic and employment opportunities.
It is against this background that SALGA resolved at its national conference in 2016 to undertake a process that will assist municipalities with their land acquisition and release processes in support of land reform and gear towards special transformation especially in urban areas. This must lead to sustainable integrated and inclusive development.
Research has been undertaken which has proposed recommendations in support of municipalities, land acquisition and release processes. The recommendation has been processed through various structures including the minmack on rural development and land reforms in the Fifth Administration.
A key trust of these is collaboration where municipalities are empowered to acquire and dispose of land in a manner that is anchored on their respective spatial development framework, thus enabling them to drive special transformation more effectively. In the same token the disposal process of land owned by others spheres of government and state owned entities must consider special transformation informed by the spatial development framework.
We pledge to continue working with the department to ensure the effective implementation of these objectives related to special justice, equalities, special transformation, inclusive economic growth and development. This includes the need to work together, request for the department to support municipalities in the development of such audits. When we talk about these audits, if you go to different municipalities, I would like to make an example about Buffalo City as well as Mangaung and others, they are state owned entities, they own a lot of land and there is nothing that they are doing about that.
So, it is very important to audit this land so that there is a relationship between the department and different municipalities. The department has committed to provide the necessary report as requested; once again, I wish you and the entire leadership of the
department well on the task ahead and further pledge our commitment to work with you in pursuit of improving the lives of our communities in municipalities across the length and breadth of our country. I thank you.
Hon House Chair, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon members of the NCOP, fellow health members, fellow South Africans, ...
Afrikaans:
... dit is vir my werklik vandag 'n groot voorreg om die hor Huis van die Parlement van Suid-Afrika oor 'n belangrike aangeleentheid soos di van grondhervorming en landelike ontwikkeling toe te kan spreek.
English:
Rural development and land reform is arguably one of the most sensitive topics in our country today, and if it is not handled correctly, it will have dire and long-lasting consequences for every South African.
Hon Minister, the vision statement of your Ministry states that it wants "vibrant, equitable, sustainable rural communities". However,
should you travel the back roads into the deep rural areas of our country, you will realise how far your Ministry is from achieving the goals stated in your vision statement.
Just last week, I spoke to Mrs Koketso Paul of Batlharos in the Northern Cape, where there are many subsistence farmers that struggle to make ends meet. The only source of water for their life stock is a small natural dam that is filled in the rainy season, and usually dries up during winter time. This small filthy dam is also the only source of water available for human consumption in that specific area. It is unacceptable that people must still fetch the water for their households with old plastic paint buckets from the same small dirty dam that their cattle, sheep and goats are drinking from.
In the Kalahari, there are many medium to small-scale farmers who realised a long time ago that they are interdependent, and need each other, because government is not assisting them with the supply of a basic need such as water for their livestock.
Afrikaans:
Heelwat van hierdie opkomende boere het steeds nie 'n enkele boorgat om aan hulle water te voorsien nie. As dit nie was vir die feit dat
kommersile boere in daardie area behulpsaam was en daardie opkomende boere gehelp het om water aan hulle te voorsien nie, sou daardie opkomende boere nie water gehad het om te kan boer nie.
English:
These are but a few of the problems that people must deal with when you travel in the rural areas of our country. Hon Minister, when you reflect on this, I hope that you realise that your department is still a very long way off from achieving your vision of "vibrant, equitable, sustainable rural communities".
The facts are however letting me believe that the ANC government is not serious about rural development. At Umzimvubu in the Eastern Cape, where almost a third of South Africa's water is flowing into the Indian Ocean via the Umzimvubu River, for years, there have been plans to establish a hydro electrical scheme. Should this hydro electrical system be built, it will have huge economical benefits for that whole rural area.
The building of these dams will ensure water supply to households and the industry, as well as to irrigate agriculture and to generate a large amount of hydropower. This however raises the question why this government has not implemented this long overdue plan, but
rather opted for failures such as Medupi and Kusile power stations in order to generate power to our country.
Afrikaans:
Die droogte wat boere tans in die Noord-Kaap in die gesig staar is van die ergste en langste droogtes ooit. Hierdie droogte raak alle boere, klein of groot, wit, swart of bruin. Almal se diere vrek op strepe, en indien daar nie vinnig hulp kom nie, gaan hierdie probleem net groter word. Die geld wat daardie boere van die regering kry om hulle tydens hierdie droogte by te staan, is nie 'n druppel in die emmer van wat hulle nodig het om deur die droogte te kan kom nie. Die leier van die DA, Mmusi Maimane, het daarom in hierdie week versoek dat die Premier van die Noord-Kaap die gebied as 'n droogte rampgebied moet verklaar.
Indien daar nie spoedig bogemiddelde renval plaasvind nie, is die vooruitskatting dat daar teen Desember 2019, meer as een miljoen groot ve- eenhede soos beeste sal vrek, om nie eers van die wild te praat nie. Dit is verliese van meer as R10 biljoen wat die boere van die Noord-Kaap kan ly. Ek s weer, swart, wit en bruin boere.
Indien die regering werklik ernstig is oor die beskerming van ons boere, asook die ontwikkeling van ons landelike gebiede sal hulle
spoedig gehoor moet gee aan hierdie versoek wat mnr Maimane namens die boere van die Noord-Kaap gerig het.
Indien dit nie gedoen word nie, sal die gevolge absoluut ramspoedig wees. Buiten die meer as 'n miljoen diere wat kan vrek, is daar ook tot soveel as 62 000 werksgeleenhede wat tot niet kan gaan. Dink daaraan. Daar is 62 000 mense wat as gevolg van hierdie droogte nie meer werk sal h nie.
Die hele kwessie rondom grondhervorming is sekerlik een van die mees sensitiewe aangeleenthede in Suid-Afrika. Die agb Minister het in haar begrotingsdebat in die Nasionale Vergadering ges dat sy 'n langtermyn oplossing hieroor wil vind. Agb Minister, ek kan u die versekering gee dat die langtermynoplossing nie is om grond te onteien sonder vergoeding nie. Hierdie is 'n beleidsrigting wat die ANC skaars twee jaar gelede nog eenparig in hierdie Parlement teengestaan het en nou verander hulle hul deuntjie. Agb Minister, u weet so goed soos ek dat dit maar slegs 'n rookskerm en 'n weerligafleier is vir die feit dat hierdie ANC-regering nie grondhervorming korrek toegepas het nie.
Die probleem met grondhervorming is nie die Grondwet nie. Dit is ook nie die onwilligheid van boere in Suid-Afrika om grondhervorming te
maak werk nie. Nee, dit is die korrupsie en swak regering binne die ANC wat in die pad staan van suksesvolle grondhervorming.
English:
It is not me that says this. This statement was supported by the high-level panel under the leadership of former President Kgalema Motlanthe, which stated that the Constitution was not the reason for the failure of land reform, but that the failures were due to poor implementation of policy, corruption and a lack of urgency by this government.
The hon President said in his state of the nation address that government will rapidly release state land for human settlement and agriculture. We do however need to ask why this is only addressed now. This should have been done a long time ago.
Afrikaans:
Dit bring my by die vraag: Hoe is dit moontlik - ek sluit aan by die agb Beyers Smit - dat hierdie aankondiging deur die President gemaak is, as daar geen geld in die begroting hiervoor bewillig is nie? Kan die President werklik ernstig wees met dit wat hy in die state of the nation address [staatsrede] aan ons s, as daar geen geld daarvoor is nie?
English:
Some of the best arable land in our country is in the hands of the government, while some of the poorest people are living on this land. We need to transfer the land to that people so that they can work their own land and earn their own living.
It is furthermore of utmost importance that training and further assistance must be given to emerging farmers that get land from the government. This week, the Select Committee on Appropriations received a letter from Mr Joseph Kanyile from Melmoth in KwaZulu- Natal. In his letter, he states that in 2000, they have received land through the willing-buyer, willing- seller concept. They have however since then never received any training or further assistance from government. Hon Bebee used many abbreviations and she used the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme, Casp. If Casp was successful, then Mr Joseph Kanyile from Melmoth would have received money and assistance. I think we are setting these people up for failure, if we do not help them afterwards.
Through you, Chair, the hon Bebee used a lot of abbreviations today
- a huge lot. I wonder whether you know the abbreviation: N.O.N.S.E.N.S.E. That is what you and the hon Koni talked a lot about today. [Interjections.] N.O.N.S.E.N.S.E. stands for nonsense,
because it was a lot of nonsense that you spoke here today. [Interjections.]
Hon Minister, successful voluntary partnerships in the form of share-equity schemes can drive transformation in the agricultural sector as a celebrated act of nonracial unity, ... I am checking my time.
Chair, on a point of order: The member on the podium is misleading this House and the country that I used abbreviations. I did not use any abbreviation today. I used abbreviations yesterday. If he wants meanings to those abbreviations, I can kindly WhatsApp them to him. So, now, I can kindly give him my speech. There is no abbreviation, not even one. If speaking my mother tongue is like abbreviations to him, then, right back at him for speaking Afrikaans. Thank you.
Setswana:
Modulasetulo, ke itse Setswana.
English:
There is a saying: The fool's camouflage is silence and for the fool to remain undetected, he must remain silent.
Hon Minister, successful voluntary partnerships in the form of share-equity schemes can drive transformation in the agricultural sector as a celebrated act of nonracial unity. The divisive and corrupt rural state capture of the