We are also inspired by the emerging consensus among all stakeholders that our sector is at a crossroads and that De Doorns and the new wage determination is a game changer.
At this juncture, let us salute the Agriculture department for having started a process of uniting, through Asuf, under the able leadership of Mrs Ntombi Msimang and Dr John Purchase.
We are encouraged by the prevailing spirit of collectivism in seeking to revitalise the sector onto a new developmental growth trajectory that will embrace new entrants, new innovative mechanisms and also create decent and sustainable jobs.
As a committee of Parliament, we are cognisant of the challenges presented by rising energy costs, wages, declining investment, international trade volatility, climate change, land reform and food security.
It is important to mention that, despite the challenges faced by the sector, agriculture created approximately 83 000 jobs year on year, according to the latest statistics released by Statistics South Africa.
We are hopeful that through this dialogue we shall find solutions to mitigate the challenges reflected upon and, like we mentioned earlier, put the sector onto a new growth trajectory that will ensure that all South Africans are food secure, that we will be able to contribute meaningfully to job creation as projected by our National Development Plan, and that, most importantly, we will create enterprises among our people.
Our mandate is derived from the RDP Framework of 1993, among others, that communicated a clear message for us to transform the fisheries sector, as early as then, so that there would be one Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry department, so that South Africa would move away from the year-to- year quota system of rights allocation to medium-term and long-term allocations, and so that the coastal fishing communities would be the major beneficiaries of the marine resources they wake up to and work on, on a daily basis.
In the year 2005 year-on-year allocations was done away with and we introduced the medium-to long-term allocations, but the industry remained in the hands of big industry players. That is why, as the ANC, we support the Small-Scale Fisheries Policy that advocates the forthcoming rights allocation to deliver 70% of those rights allocations to the small-scale players in the industry.
Transformation of the fishing industry is a necessity and it cannot be left to the industry to do it alone. [Applause.] Henceforth, there is a need for a strong legislative and regulatory enforcement instrument or mechanism.
A fisheries charter is long overdue, despite the measures by the Department of Trade and Industry to stop it. As part of our oversight responsibility, we have a duty to benchmark this industry, also for its own benefit, in light of the fronting that is quite rampant in this industry. [Interjections.] Accordingly, we welcome the proposed amendments to the Marine Living Resources Act in strengthening the arm of the state to drive the transformation agenda.
It is heartbreaking that, on our many oversight visits to some of our coastal communities, we find that our people yearn for an opportunity to have fishing rights in order to make a decent living for themselves and the communities they live in. Our people live in abject poverty whilst they live along a coastal area with plenty of resources that can provide a decent nutritious meal and also provide much needed jobs and business opportunities.
We wish to commend the department on the finalisation of the Small-Scale Fishing Policy and also on the integrated aquaculture strategy. These developments will enhance our ability to transform the fisheries sector in totality and bring much needed socioeconomic freedom to all our people.
We must also take note of other government support, with a special focus in the field of fisheries and aquaculture in particular. [Interjections.]
Hon Minister and your Team DAFF, what has become abundantly clear through experience is that any sustainable exploitation of our natural resources must be accompanied by the five pillars of management expertise, research, accessible and affordable finance, value addition and access to markets.
We have these pillars in our midst and it is for us to harness them and to progressively move on with our economy, united in our actions towards socioeconomic freedom in our lifetime.
As the committee, we fully support the Budget Vote and its strategic plan as presented, and we make an impassionate plea that this House should do likewise.
We are of the strong and firm belief that we have a department that fully understands its developmental mandate in ensuring that the National Development Plan, NDP, the New Growth Path, NGP, and other policy intervention instruments are implemented.
Our committee work is made easier with the assistance of our members, who conduct themselves in a manner that unites us all under a common goal of bringing about food for all our people. None of our members fight along party-political lines. We will also not experience that in this debate. That is to be seen in action.
Our co-operation with the private sector can make you or break you. I can safely say that so far it has made us through robust engagements, attesting once again that we are indeed representatives of the public, and we shall continue to represent all of you as our constituency. The department and its entities must always feel free to communicate with us without waiting for times like these. What brings us together is the achievement of that golden goal of food security for all in our country.
Lastly, we have stars that anybody would wish to have and to be surrounded with ... [Interjections.] The committee supports Budget Vote No 26. [Time expired.]