Our performance monitoring and evaluation mechanism allows us to know what is working and what needs to be fixed. In this regard, we are able to give a frank and honest account of where we are succeeding and where we must still work harder.
We know what we are doing and we know where we are going and how to get there. And as hon Mfundisi correctly stated, we have parted ways with doing business as usual. We are doing things differently and in a more hands-on manner.
Hon Mphahlele, you stated that our land restitution programme has been a sad story of failure or a set-up for failure as there is no meaningful support for government beneficiaries. In 2009, we set ourselves a target to redistribute 30% of the 82 million hectares of white-owned agricultural land to black people by 2014. This 30% translates to 24,5 million hectares.
Our midterm review has indicated that the process of acquiring and distributing a particular piece of land is often lengthy, and this escalates the cost of redistribution because the former owner stops investing in the land.
We agree with you, therefore, hon Mphahlele, that many of the farms are in a poor state of repair at the point of acquisition. In addition, there has often been a decline in productivity on the redistributed farms. In response, government adopted the recapitalisation programme in November 2010.
By December last year, 595 farms were in the process of being rehabilitated through this programme. Strategic partners and mentors, who are competent and experienced farmers themselves, are appointed through a particular system to assist beneficiaries with farming activities.
The strategic partners and mentors are required to develop the farming skills of beneficiaries, provide them with access to markets and, where possible, access to the entire value chain of that particular business. Most importantly, the strategic partners are required to share in the risks of the farming enterprise to ensure the success of the venture.
This further contributes to the objective of deracialising the rural economy. To date we are seeing drastic improvements, not only in terms of production on farms, but in the lives of the beneficiaries. We agree that more work still needs to be done and we will do this work.
Hon Shenge and hon Dikobo pointed to some serious shortcomings that we are dealing with currently, such as the shortage of medicines in some hospitals, especially ARVs, and children studying under trees.
As Minister Collins Chabane pointed out, we will continue conducting extensive monitoring nationwide. This will enable the Presidency itself to detect such anomalies timeously and correct them. No matter how critical those who are opposing us might be, we are dealing with the issues.
You might disagree with some of the issues, but at least we are dealing with issues about what needs to be done in this country to improve the quality of the lives of our people. So respect that. You may agree or disagree, but at least we are discussing the issues that confront our people. [Applause.]
Hon Manana raised the critical challenge of youth development and the imperative of investing in our youth. The Deputy President and Deputy Minister Obed Bapela touched on this subject in their presentation, underlining the importance we attach to finding a solution and working with all sectors.
In 2009 we committed to promoting decent employment through inclusive growth and to addressing the problem of youth unemployment. The response to youth unemployment has to be multipronged. It cannot be one intervention, given the magnitude of the problem.
We have a number of interventions to address youth development and employment. These interventions include improving support to small and medium enterprises, increasing opportunities in the Expanded Public Works Programme, the Community Work Programme, the National Rural Youth Service Corps and the National Youth Service programme, as well as others.
You will also recall that, through Nedlac, government recently signed a national skills accord with all the social partners. Business and state- owned enterprises made concrete commitments to significantly increase the number of apprenticeships and to take on learners and interns for practical workplace experience.
Government also undertook to develop targets for internships throughout the public sector. We also signed the Green Economy Accord with business, labour and the community sector.
One of the commitments in the accord was that young people should make up 80% of new employees in the manufacturing and installation of solar water heating systems in public and community works programmes that are directed at environmental challenges.
We have also asked all government departments to mainstream youth development and youth employment and to ensure that all programmes catering for the youth are treated as a priority sector.
Hon Speaker, we truly appreciate constructive contributions by Members of Parliament that help to improve our work. We have been addressing the matter of the youth for some time now. Some people have just discovered it now. [Laughter.] They are running around as if they were the ones who discovered it in the first place - just like someone arriving in Cape Town and claiming to have discovered a country when people had already been living here. It's the same thing; there is no difference. [Laughter.] Discover a point in Africa, arrive in Durban, and discover Durban on Christmas Day. [Laughter.] There are people staying there. Arrive at Victoria Falls and claim to have discovered a wonderful thing and name it after the discoverer. There were no people there before. Now people have discovered the youth problem. Therefore South Africa must be in trouble, because they have just discovered the youth! [Applause.]
We have been dealing with the issue of the youth all the time. All the time! [Interjections.] People have been living here on the Cape Peninsula for centuries, but then someone arrives and claims to have discovered it. They discover the people as well and do what they like with them.
Mayibabo! Why are you only discovering the youth issue now, when we have been working on it all the time? [Interjections.] You seem to be very fond of discovering things. [Laughter.]
We were happy to receive a letter from hon Holomisa on the need to revitalise the Umtata area. We believe that Members of Parliament have a duty not only to criticise but also to guide government towards action in their constituencies as they know the needs of those communities better. We would like to thank the hon member, because, as a result of that, something is happening - as he acknowledged.