House Chairperson, we know by now that the concept buen vivir is based on indigenous traditions and values. Not only is it the political platform, it is a platform for the development of different visions and alternatives to modern development. A term used by many social movements, it has also become popular amongst government policies around the world and found its way into the constitutions of Ecuador and Bolivia. It is a concept that allows for a move to alternatives from a development that is without care for the environment, peoples' heritage and future generations.
The DA believes that our environment is under significant pressure from a growing economy, climate change, water scarcity and an ever increasing population.
The DA's vision of an open opportunity society in which citizens have money, power and the opportunity to develop themselves requires a healthy environment. A healthy environment is needed for the creation of a productive population. A healthy environment with access to clean water, clean energy and clean air is essential if we are to win the fight against HIV/Aids and tuberculosis, TB.
The DA has created policies in which we offer alternative ideas and many alternative solutions to ensure that we are not left with a degraded environment that will minimise opportunity for all South Africans.
We urgently need re-engineering of the energy economy to realise the global move to low-carbon economies. The DA believes that appropriate regulation and incentives can create new markets for independent power producers, particularly in the field of renewable energy. This will improve energy security while mitigating our contribution to climate change. Literally thousands of jobs can be created by unleashing these new technologies. We desperately need to move away from the focus of the production of electricity by the state and the state alone.
The DA's approach to environmental management is at all times infused with the vision of a prosperous law-abiding society, with a sensible regulated market economy, an educated and healthy population, never underestimating the need for a safety net for the poor.
The DA has a plan for growth and job creation in our country. We have developed ideas and solutions to problems that face our country while we grow not only our infrastructure, but also our economy. Some of our proposals include: Adopting a transversal approach to environmental management through integrating permitting and planning; separating Eskom's different functions to encourage competition and maximise efficiency; investing in water storage and distribution infrastructure ensuring that there are upgrades and expansion; implementing climate change adaptation programmes; and introducing measures to assist entrepreneurs and communities to participate and benefit from these environmental programmes.
The DA would replace the current industrial policy action plan with a simpler and streamlined industrial development growth strategy, the twin aims of which will be to correct market failures resulting from information constraints and co-ordination constraints. We would support related business activity, as well as the necessary infrastructure that is now absent. Our industrial development growth strategy will be based on an engagement between the state, private sector, policy forums, parliaments and Nedlac.
In his reply to the state of the nation address, Minister Malusi Gigaba proudly informed Parliament of the following: The Medupi Project was 58% complete; the Kusile Project was 19% complete; th Ingula Project was 58% complete; and only 63% of the network deployed for digital migration is in place. With statistics like these, the term used for this debate, namely "unrelenting growth", simply bears no significance.
More and more South Africans are realising on a daily basis that we need to create our own version of buen vivir. What would we call it? The Italians would call it la bella vita, the Afrikaners would call it, "die goeie lewe", the English would call it "the good life". One thing is for sure; South Africans living in the Western Cape call the DA government "the good life." [Applause.]