Hon Chairperson, hon Minister and Deputy Ministers present today, Members of Parliament, good morning to you. I extend a special welcome to the officials of the department who have been so supportive, and to all our guests I say good morning.
I would like to start by saying that the hon Fred Gona has been going through a difficult time owing to ill health, and as the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources we wish to give him our best regards and wish him a speedy recovery.
The 2012 Mangaung ANC conference gave a clear mandate with resolutions. Some of the resolutions are already being implemented by the Department of Mineral Resources and by the portfolio committee in its efforts to meet requirements related to its oversight work. This is not only the expectation of our government but also those of our commitment to building a developmental state, including economic growth in the mining industry.
Inspired by the theme of "Unity in Action towards Socioeconomic Freedom", we need to acknowledge an area where work still needs to be improved, and where work has already been done we need to compliment ourselves. We, as the ANC, therefore wish to support Budget Vote 32: Mineral Resources.
Amidst continued challenges and areas in need of improvement, I wish to give praise and show appreciation for the ANC-led government on progress made by the Department of Mineral Resources since its split from the then Department of Minerals and Energy in such a short space of time.
Accolades of praise need to be given in various ways - in areas of this ANC- led government - to hon Minister Shabangu, whom we greatly welcome, to the hon Deputy Minister Oliphant, and to all officials of the Department of Mineral Resources, led by the humble Dr Ramontja, in acknowledging that the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources has succeeded in service delivery through interactive working relations and co-ordination on various platforms.
We also need to commend our relations with entities of the department, with specific appreciation going to Mintec and Geosciences for having always shown their support for the portfolio committee by ensuring their policies and practices on mineral resources are of the best, and for also helping to remove discrepancies created in the past in our endeavours to ensure that the industry yields fruit for all South Africans.
Experiences of and encounters in our oversight work have been both good and bad, to the extent that where there were problems we had to ensure that the mining industry was called in and requested to comply with the department in ensuring that matters of compliance were adhered to.
Even though our challenges relate to our fellow opposition members - who even pass remarks on how our oversight work is a waste of time - will then be the very people who go behind our backs and do independent oversight instead of working with the collective to ensure that our work is unified and fruitful, and that more is achieved, rather than chasing individual praise. I am sure the hon Lorimer would recall this well. The mining industry will have to ensure that they now step up to the plate and stop acting like crybabies.
A lot of problems that we are still experiencing in the mining industry, including the issues of the strikes, appearances of low investments, myths, threats to the industry, and leaving the country must come to an end.
Instead, the industry should ensure that it complements the components of government and all other relevant stakeholders who are making every effort to ensure that negotiations within the mining industry are a success and that all employees in the mining industry start to benefit in all possible aspects.
It is sad to actually note that there are still mining industries which are not prepared to step up to the requirements of a social labour plan within their companies.
Since 1994, the ANC-led government pronounced its commitment to ensuring that the lives of previously disadvantaged people and conditions of employment are improved and realised. There is absolutely no reason why we should be begging them to do the same. Various platforms are there to talk. The doors within the ruling party are still and will always be open.
The portfolio committee has always shown interest in the most remote of mining companies and all efforts have been made to ensure that every stakeholder is made comfortable to participate and grow within the industry. I therefore will never understand, especially when it comes to the Chamber of Mines, why it is that we still face a bleak picture in the mining community.
To the Minister of Labour, and the Minister of Mineral Resources as well, I wish to plead with them to ensure that they continue going the extra mile, as they have always done. Firstly, the issue of the peaceful co-existence of unions and, secondly, the recruitment of union membership with violence necessitate a determination of a minimum entry level in the mining industry. Furthermore, regarding issues of payment and salaries, there has to be reclassification as a matter of urgency of, in particular, rock drill operators.
We welcome the victory achieved by the Minister of Mineral Resources in the Constitutional Court against AgriSA. AgriSA argued that the commencement of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, the MPRDA, expropriated mineral rights. This judgment puts to bed the debates about the MPRDA being unconstitutional. I think the hon Schmidt would agree with me.
The Department of Mineral Resources facilitated a programme involving Anglo Platinum in job preservation. We once again congratulate the Department of Mineral Resources. Anglo Platinum and organised labour led processes related to the restructuring. This intervention has led to jobs being saved and ensured that the company continued to operate sustainably. It has also demonstrated the need for stakeholders to work together when faced with challenges. We must compliment them as the possible retrenchment of about 14 000 employees has gone down to just below 2 000 currently. This honestly means that there needs to be more of an open mind when it comes to the mining industry. [Applause.]
We still look forward to much improved advocacy and interaction on the processes and developments concerning the royalty Act of 2010, especially with regard to the mining community. This is so that there is an improved understanding of why there is a need for the country to benefit where it is deemed necessary by the Department of Finance, and to ensure that there are no unnecessary misconceptions to stall further work of the government. This would also therefore go for taxes due, which need to be paid by the industry, especially around ensuring proper beneficiation within the country.
I also wish to commend the work done thus far in the functioning of the Mining Industry Growth Development and Employment Task Team, Migdett. This is one platform where all stakeholders are represented. They should all humbly make use of it, please. As the portfolio committee, we honestly request that a better understanding disseminate down to ground level where it can actually be understood that with the existence of Migdett there is the possibility of improving the situation in the mining industry.
Without further comment, I conclude by saying that I really do wish to say thank you for the support that you have been giving each other in the Department of Mineral Resources with the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources. Inasmuch as the Minister is all over the country, doing her work with the Deputy Minister, we feel your presence.
And, in our feeling your presence, we feel the effort that is being made, considering where we came from - pre-1994 - to the present. Dr Ramontja, you are doing a great job. Please keep it up and please maintain the contact and relations we have with the portfolio committee, because without all of you I think a lot of work would still be outstanding. Thank you. [Applause.]