Let me just quote what the World Intellectual Property Organisation said about South Africa with regard to this Bill during the portfolio committee's consultation:
The government of South Africa ought to be congratulated for having developed the policy framework for the protection of indigenous traditional knowledge through the intellectual property system and the Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Bill of 2008. These are pioneering initiatives and will be of interest to many other countries and regional organisations.
It is therefore important that we pass this Bill. [Interjections.]
Kuyoba yihlazo nenhlekelele ... [It will be a disgrace and a disaster ...]
... if on 24 September, Heritage Day, we fail to celebrate the legal protection, the legal recognition and the legal ability of our people to benefit from the redistribution of wealth accruing from intellectual property that has been commercially exploited.
Kunezibalo ezithi uma siqhubeka singafuni ukuthi abantu bakithi bahlomule ngalo mthetho kungenzeka bangahlomuli esibalweni semali elinganiselwa ezigidigidini eziyisi-5 zamarandi ngonyaka wezi-2020 ... (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[There are statistics that show that if we continue to deny our people an opportunity to benefit from this Bill, there is a chance that they might not benefit from the budget estimated at R5 billion in 2020 ...] As the ANC, we support this Bill. [Applause.]
Bill read a second time (Democratic Alliance, Freedom Front Plus, Congress of the People and Independent Democrats dissenting).