Hon Speaker, hon members, no, the President has not instructed Ministers to provide funding and a budget for the Nkandla-UMlalazi Smart Growth Centre. The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform is, however, supporting the Masakhane Rural Development Initiative with the detailed planning of the Nkandla initiative.
The department developed the model of the smart centre, which was put on exhibition at the United Nations Cop 17 Conference to showcase the concept of green development.
To date, no other national departments have made commitments to the delivery of facilities and infrastructure on the site. The smart centre is part of the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government's programme for the revival of small rural towns and the formalisation of rural unplanned towns and urban settlements. The towns include Ndumo, Manguzi, Msinga, Mbumbulu, Nkandla, Charlestown, Jozini, Ngwavuma, Dududu, Wineen and Colenso.
It is important to emphasise that even at the national level, Nkandla is not the only district that is receiving attention for rural development. There are actually 23 districts that have been identified by government for interventions due to deep levels of poverty, scientifically established through thorough investigations.
In Masia in Limpopo, a multipurpose facility is being built. In Diyatalawa and Makholokoe in the Free State, government is building community infrastructure such as schools, crches, a community hall, solar geysers, housing, two clinics and a dairy. In Jacobsdal in the Free State, a multipurpose community complex is being planned. It will include a crche and a village viewing area.
The upgrading of the Ratanang Stadium is under way. In Goedgedacht, in the Western Cape, we are building a rural leadership youth centre that will provide aftercare for small children and leadership for youth.
The Department of Rural Development is also in the process of purchasing an adjacent farm to develop, amongst others, a blacksmith museum and a tourist centre, as well as a restaurant and a market, and to develop an agri- village for the current farm residents.
In Beaufort West in the Western Cape, sports and recreational facilities for the youth will be built.
In Mbashe in the Eastern Cape, we are working with the local community and the traditional authority to develop a master plan for development projects, especially focusing on tourism and agriculture.
In Ludondolo in the Eastern Cape, the focus is on infrastructure development.
In July, I visited the area to assess progress with the building of the Dalibhunga Bridge in Mvezo and a 10 km access road that is currently under construction. The river valley catalytic project has also been started in the village.
In addition, land is being prepared for community agricultural practices.
The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform is working with the Sekhukhune District Municipality in planning a rural node similar in size and scope to the Mlalazi-Nkandla Smart Growth Centre, for the Jane Furse township.
It is envisaged that this development will consist of government offices, a recreational park, schools, a crche, a shopping complex, a clinic and sports facilities.
In Mayflower in Mpumalanga, we are revitalising the town through the provision of infrastructure such as a bridge, road paving and the upgrading of the sewers, amongst other things.
In Dysselsdorp in the Western Cape, revitalisation projects include 10 sandbag houses, 90 rainwater harvesting tanks, a crche, five renovated schools, an old age home as well as solar geysers to the homes.
In Witzenberg in the Western Cape, we are building a walkway and recreational area for the youth.
In addition, phase two is under way and includes the development of a community area and swimming pool, houses for older persons, a crche and the upgrading of the sewer system.
The government is doing a lot more throughout the country, even beyond the few districts I have mentioned.
It is a pity that only Nkandla seems to generate such interest. I thank you. [Applause.]