Deputy Speaker and hon members, thank you for the opportunity to address the House on behalf of the ANC. The 2012 Division of Revenue Bill, together with the state of the nation address, tells a true story of a country whose future is held in most capable hands, guided by heart and modelled by astute thought. Through the New Growth Path, the National Development Plan and Industrial Policy Development Plan, the ANC- led government has overcome what President Zuma refers to as "piecemeal planning".
The creation of decent work remains the principal intervention for addressing poverty and inequality. In addition, the New Growth Path proposed a new number of complementary interventions to address the structural challenges underpinning inequality. These include: ensuring more equitable access to education and skills development; accelerating rural development; supporting land reform designed to support a more productive and inclusive agricultural economy; optimising the job-creation potential of the green economy; and upgrading financial services for small enterprises and the social economy.
Since most employment creation occurs outside of the state, accelerating it requires the consistent use of core state functions to create an environment that encourages private enterprise and other nonstate organisations to expand jobs. These include ensuring that regulations of all kinds achieve their aims as efficiently as possible, infrastructure is of adequate quality and affordability, strong efforts are made to ensure more equitable and quality education, there are targeted and sustainable subsidies to kick-start new activities that can support large-scale employment creation, local procurement by the state stimulates demand, especially in the light of the instability in international markets; and there is targeted public support research development that unlock opportunities in the private sector. To this effect, the New Growth Path and Industrial Policy Action Plan 2 provide a framework for undertaking these tasks. As a developmental state, South Africa has a vision informed by a credible plan, and the Budget contained in the 2012 Division of Revenue Bill signifies a major step towards the successful realisation of such a vision. The 2012 Division of Revenue Bill heeds the constitutional requirements for an equitable division of nationally raised revenue among the national, provincial and local spheres of government. Added to this equitable division of revenue is a range of conditional grants made available to the provincial and local spheres of government to achieve specific outcomes.
In respect of economic growth, the 2012 framework for the division of revenue takes due cognisance of the special importance of economic growth as the heartbeat of the economy of South Africa. In his state of the nation address, President Jacob Zuma placed on record that this year, and in the coming years, we have taken the decision that we should do more to grow the country's economy, in order to get rid of the problem of unemployment, poverty and inequality. The plans set in the 2012 division of revenue cannot be read outside of the broader plan to grow South Africa's economy, thereby arresting the unfortunate scourge of unemployment, poverty and inequality.
The Minister of Finance announced a total of 43 major infrastructure projects, adding up to R3,2 trillion in expenditure. Accordingly, infrastructure plans amount to R845 billion, of which R300 billion is allocated to the energy sector and R262 billion to transport and logistics projects. According to the Minister of Transport, hon Ndebele, the build programme alone will help sustain between 50 000 and 100 000 jobs in the construction sector. We welcome the R33 billion allocated to local government for infrastructure grants.
The massive infrastructure investment programme will serve as an economic stimulus against the potential effects of the global economic stress. Because of this infrastructure investment, the rich and the poor alike are assured that their future is positioned against any potential pitfalls of the ongoing global economic uncertainty posed by global events. The massive infrastructure programme will span over 20 years and will enhance the growth and job-creation potential of South Africa's economic sustainability.
Land reform is an integral part of rural development, hence the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform's policies and programmes are critical to the very existence and survival of many households in South Africa. This is a sector with high job-creation potential and, as such, is a critical avenue for poverty alleviation. A positive impact has been made in creating jobs and work opportunities through the implementation of different initiatives in rural areas. It is the youth that has benefited the most in terms of skills development programmes and jobs created. A total of 7 398 youth were enrolled in 2010, with a further 5 000 to be enrolled in 2011- 12, and 10 000 during 2012-13.
The ongoing land reform process should be seen as a golden opportunity where we, as South Africans, can put our differences to rest and focus on building a social compact for the benefit of future generations. The President could not have put it better than when he made the appeal, "the land question is one of the most emotive issues in our history and present and must be handled with utmost care". Agriculture is at the centre of food security, job creation and poverty alleviation. It is in this context that we welcome the following allocations: a total of R18,1 billion, which includes an additional R1,9 billion for the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, as well as an additional R995 million given to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries for the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme, which will continue to support newly established and emerging farmers.
Lastly, we are of the view that the R150 million made available for provincial and municipal agricultural colleges will greatly provide for and improve skills that will benefit the sector. In closing, I would like to emphasise that we welcome this Budget. A lot of work has been done up to this point. However, the collective will and effective implementation of the Budget by officials to ensure that our policy changes the lives of people is critical. So too is our relentless pursuit of effective oversight of the executive, in partnership with the executive, to create a better life for all. As former President Nelson Mandela said, a budget is not just about numbers but about people. The ANC supports the Division of Revenue Bill. [Applause.]