Chairperson, I think the hon member must appreciate that we do recognise the contribution made by the mining industry to the economy of our country and by the taxes that they are paying. We recognise that. However, he should also recognise that most of them are making massive profits out of this country as well. So, as we try to balance this and say that mining companies are making their contribution and that government must also play its role, we must not detract from that fact.
The mining companies have not complained to us about taxes because the taxes are comparable with taxes elsewhere. This is not a major concern that has been raised. Government has played its role in regard to water provision, and the statistics are very impressive. The ANC-led government has done better than any other government before in this country with regard to the provision of water, electricity and the services that the hon member has talked about. We do do what we are expected to do, and the record is there for you to see. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Programmes to uplift farm workers
185. Mrs A Steyn (DA) asked the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries:
(a) What programmes did she put in place to uplift farmworkers in each province and (b) how did these programmes improve the lives of farm workers? NO1581E
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Hon Chairperson, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries co-ordinated and is implementing the resolutions of the National Farm Workers Summit of 2010 on vulnerable workers.
The National Vulnerable Workers Delivery Forum, which is a task team working on the conditions of service of vulnerable workers, security of tenure, empowerment and training, and social determinants of service delivery to farm workers, has been convened. The training layoff schemes of the Department of Labour are working very well. The retraining of agriculture farm workers as well as vulnerable workers, through AgriSETA, is also progressing well.
In 2008 the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform established a Land Rights Management Facility which provides services to farm dwellers and labour tenants, and it continues to be one of the interventions of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform's programmes to support vulnerable workers and farm workers.
A call centre and a toll-free number are there for farm workers to report illegal evictions from farms. This toll-free number has been working very well. Line-function Setas continue to play a meaningful role in the development and capacity of vulnerable workers. The Deputy President's series of dialogues with farm workers and farmers is slowly progressing very well to bring together, and to have coherence between, farm workers and farmers. I thank you.