Thanks very much deputy Chairperson, the ANC supports the mineral resource budget vote. In appropriating finance to realise the vision of reviving mining, as a sign rise industry in line with the President's Sona. South Africa is blessed with world class mineral deposits and our country needs an appropriate policy regime to ensure that our minerals contribute to economic development, creating jobs, lift our people out of poverty.
This budget vote deputy Chairperson, focuses on resuscitating the green field exploration and government has focussed investing in the geosciences mapping programme through increased transfer to the department's entity, the council for geosciences. This programme will increase investment and exploration of new minerals and petroleum deposits, thus contributing to the President's drive to attract R100 billion US$ investment into our economy over the medium term.
The fruits of stable policy and regulatory framework are visible and this is key to government's growth and competitiveness strategy for
the mine. The success of this is evidenced by the significant investment totalling to 45 billion and the creation of an estimated 4. 000 permanent jobs just in the past years. This includes 21.8 billion by Vendatta resources in the Northern Cape, SASOL, 14 billion mine replacement programme in Mpumalanga, the Exaro, 3.3 billion mining investment in Belfast also in Mpumalanga.
In the medium term, department has reported that the total of 60 mineral resources projects are in the pipeline with an investment estimated value at 110 billion and projected creation of jobs deputy Chairperson of 3 2000 jobs. In order to maximize the impact and minimize the potential harm in mining, the vote makes transfer of mine health and safety. Government will also ensure that the mining industry engages proactively with the other stakeholders such as agriculture, environment and tourism sector as well as our mining communities. So that, our people can benefit. So, the ANC supports the budget vote, I thank you.
Division demanded.
The Council divided: