If you are interested, you will listen.
This comprehensive agricultural support programme has supported 36 504 beneficiaries - it's nothing for you, but it is a lot for us; created 6 303 jobs; trained 16 181 farmers in targeted training programmes; recruited 95 extension officers nationally; and registered 828 extension officers for qualification upgrading. If this is nothing, what is nothing?
There is no doubt that, through this financial commitment, the ANC government will be able to achieve the following outcomes of this grant: broadened access to agricultural support for subsistence, smallholder and previously disadvantaged commercial farmers; the creation of markets for beneficiaries; and improved knowledge of and information on farming by beneficiaries.
The Illima/Letsema projects grant is at the heart of poverty alleviation through food production. The purpose of the grant is to assist vulnerable South African farming communities to achieve an increase in agricultural production and invest in infrastructure that unlocks agricultural production. The 2013 Division of Revenue Bill makes available the massive budget of R438 million in this financial year. This budget increases to R461 million in the 2014-15 financial year and to R482 million in the 2015- 16 financial year. Indeed, this is a progressive commitment.
In terms of service delivery performance, this project has achieved the following: created 8 698 jobs; supported 110 000 beneficiaries; supported 87 889 households; managed to plant 86 000 hectares of land; and produced 371 000 tons of maize. Now, that is commitment. Of cause, there is room for progress. We will address this. The purpose of the land care programme grant is to promote sustainable development and the use of natural resources by engaging in the initiatives that support the pillars of sustainability.
The Division of Revenue Bill makes available a budget of R109 million in this financial year. At the end of the 2011-12 financial year this programme managed to score the following fundamental achievements: 2 018 work opportunities created in land care projects; 16 276 hectares of land on which alien invasive plants were eradicated; more than 3 000 hectares of grazing area improved; 153 wetlands protected; 34 water sources developed and more than 15 000 hectares of land improved in all nine provinces. With the current allocations, we will continue to build on these successes.
The budget allocated to the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform responds to the following ANC declaration in Mangaung: "The state must mobilise resources to reverse both the human and material conditions of those displaced by previous land policies." The ANC welcomes the R9,5 billion allocated to the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. We are confident that this budget will improve the implementation of the following key programmes: rural development, restitution and land reform. [Interjections.] I will come to you.
Ek gaan u nou antwoord. [I am going to reply to you just now.]
I am proud to say that this budget heeds the ANC's call that says:
Transformation imperatives dealing with the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality in the rural areas ought to be addressed without further delay.
Die afgelope tyd merk ek op dat hier sekere lede in opposisiegeledere is wat 'n boodskap van bitterheid, swaarmoedigheid en swartgalligheid uitstraal. Dit is baie jammer, want ons kry wel eensgesindheid oor die Begroting, maar sommige lede kan nog nie vrede maak daarmee dat Suid-Afrika getransformeer het nie. Dis jammer, want dis tyd dat hulle daarmee vrede maak, anders gaan hulle, wanneer hulle saans om die etenstafel sit of vleis braai, baie swaar aan die vleis eet of die aandete baie onsmaaklik vind.
Dis tyd dat sekere elemente in opposisiepartye, en daar is baie van hulle wat positief in ons komitee saamwerk, met die volgehoue negatiwiteit ophou. Dis tyd dat ons positief begin dink, hande vat en saamstaan om di mooi land van ons verder uit te bou sodat ons die armstes van die armes kan dien en hulle 'n beter lewe kan verseker.
Die program bestaan en alle komiteelede kan 'n baie duideliker, deegliker moniterende en oorsigtelike rol vervul in die komitees waarin hulle dien. Ek weet die agb lid gaan ook haar rol speel. Terselfdertyd rus daar ook 'n groot verantwoordelikheid op die bre publiek om spaarsamig te lewe en meer te doen vir die positiewe opbou en uitbreiding van Suid-Afrika. Die ANC ondersteun die Wetsontwep. Dankie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
Lately I have noticed that there is a message of bitterness, melancholy and pessimism emanating from certain members of the opposition. It is such a pity, because we reach consensus with regard to the Budget, yet some members cannot make peace with the transformation that happened in South Africa. It's a pity, because it is time for them to make peace with it, otherwise they will, while sitting at their dinner tables or having a barbeque, find it very difficult to swallow their meat or enjoy their dinners.
It is time for certain elements among the opposition parties, and there are indeed many of them who contribute positively to our committee, to put an end to their ongoing negativity. It is time for us to start thinking positively, to take hands and to stand together in building up this beautiful country even further so that we can serve the poorest of the poor and ensure them a better life.
The programme is in place, and all committee members are in a position to fulfil a clearer, more thorough monitoring and oversight role in the committees they serve. I know that the hon member will also play her part. At the same time the general public also has a huge responsibility to live frugally and do more with regard to building and developing South Africa in a positive manner. The ANC supports the Bill. Thank you.]