Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, other hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers in the House, hon members, the officials of the department, ladies and gentlemen ...
Ek wil eers begin deur vir u te s dat die verkiesing nog op pad is. [Gelag.] Dit is nie nou verkiesingtyd nie. [Tussenwerpsels.] In die Wes- Kaap praat hulle van grond wat aan die nasionale departement behoort, maar die Wes-Kaap het self soveel grond net "next door" [langsaan], waar hulle 'n skool wil bou. [Tussenwerpsels.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[I would like to start by telling you that the election is still on the way. [Laughter.] It is not election time now. [Interjections.] In the Western Cape there is talk of land belonging to the national department, but the Western Cape itself has so much land just next door, where they want to build a school. [Interjections.]] South Africa is almost entering its third decade of freedom, with the strengthening of democracy and the acceleration of the programme to improve the quality of life for all South Africans. Steadily the dark night of white minority political domination is receding into a distant memory, yet we are only at the beginning of a very long journey to a truly united, democratic and prosperous South Africa, in which the value of citizens is measured by their humanity without regard for race, gender and status.
Public Works is the leading component in the provision of government building infrastructure. It plays a critical role in providing an enabling environment for the effective and efficient implementation of social and economic infrastructure.
The questions that come to mind with regard to Public Works are: How do we make sure that what is supposed to be done is done, with speed, quality, impact and value for money; and what kinds of institutional measures and regulations should we be fostering to accelerate service delivery?
We all realise that investment in Public Works is an important aspect of a successful developmental state. Our people, however, expect Public Works to be of a high standard and executed in terms of construction policy regulations that can be trusted.
To ensure that benefits of growth and the improvement in quality of life are shared by all, also at community and household levels, this government is implementing Public Works regulations and programmes designed to eliminate the construction of shoddy and dangerous structures of inferior quality. Central, therefore, to the Budget Vote must be the necessary provision for property and construction industry policy regulations, whose purpose are to promote the growth and transformation of the construction and property industries.
The board of Agrment SA evaluates and approves the fitness for purpose of non-standardised construction products. Its mandate is to facilitate the safe introduction, application and utilisation of satisfactory innovation of technology development in the construction industry. It is the internationally acknowledged centre, providing assurance of fitness for purpose of technologies that optimise resource utilisation and realise cost savings in the industry. Centrally, Agrment SA promotes the government's objective of economic development. Agrment SA has the responsibility of raising standards in the construction industry by introducing modern, more efficient and advanced construction products. Furthermore, it develops new objectives for quality management, monitoring and evaluating of all aspects of the quantity of outputs. It tests and approves construction products and systems. In this way, it brings about improved methods of construction.
Through skills transfer and training, which are part of its responsibility, it contributes to the national goal of job creation. By devising innovative technologies suitable for fast-tracking rural development, it introduces appropriate systems which have been used successfully in other parts of the world, thus improving public services, especially in rural areas. In this way, the ANC-led government delivers in terms of the development of affordable and improved housing and infrastructure in a healthier habitat.
The Agrment South Africa Bill will therefore be tabled in Parliament by March 2013, establishing it as a juristic person, thereby improving its corporate governance and accountability. Approval for the creation of a public entity in this regard would, by that stage, already have been obtained from the joint evaluation committee.
However, as far as Agrment SA is concerned, the following valid questions need to be asked: How many beneficiaries of youth development are receiving bursaries; and how is it involved in the upgrading of informal settlements, job creation, water provision and the fight against corruption and crime?
Disappointment is also being expressed at the fact that Agrment SA has not made headway in increasing the numbers of people with disabilities in its staff complement and at an explanation not being given for the increase in executive levies.
The Construction Industry Development programme creates an enabling environment for transforming the construction industry by developing appropriate regulatory mechanisms and implementing monitoring mechanisms for the sector. The Property Industry Development programme, in turn, provides leadership and guidance on the transformation of the property industry and promotes uniformity and best practice on immovable asset management in the public sector through policy development. It also sets best-practice standards for the compilation and maintenance of immovable asset registers and for the administration of rights over state and private land through its guidelines.
This programme aims to ensure effective and efficient strategic leadership in immovable asset management and the delivery of infrastructure programmes through the development of life cycle property management policies and to table in Parliament an expropriation Bill by March 2012 to ensure consistency with the Constitution and uniformity in the expropriation of property. Considering the urgency of the matter, the question of why it should take almost a year to table this important Bill is unavoidably being asked. Surely, the mechanics to fast-track a Bill do exist and should be applied in this case?
Between 2012 and 2015, amendments will be made to the legislative framework of the Built Environment Professions Bill by the tabling of the Bill in Parliament. Over the same period, there will be the development of a green building programme for government, aimed at green job creation and economic growth. Life cycle guidelines will be rolled out to national and provincial custodians. These guidelines are meant for the management of state immovable assets.
In his 2012 state of the nation address, President Zuma placed emphasis on "a massive infrastructure development drive" for the year 2012 and beyond. This will underpin economic growth and job creation and will be pivotal in supporting enterprise development and enhancing transformation of the construction industry. Key to this will be enhancing procurement and delivery management systems for all public-sector procurement.
Agrment SA and the Construction Industry Development programme will play an integral part in addressing the challenges that the industry currently faces and in the opportunities that will arise through the ANC - led government planned infrastructure investment programme. In conclusion, it is not enough to indicate an increase in the budgeted expenditure, nor is it enough to pinpoint specific actions required and proposed within the budget. Success will only be achieved when we can demonstrate that the actual expenditure has taken place together with the achievement of improved delivery targets. All indications are that the turnaround strategy of Public Works will ensure that these targets will be met. We also want to congratulate our Minister. The ANC supports this Budget Vote. I thank you. [Applause.]