Hon Speaker, hon President of the Republic, Deputy President of the Republic, hon Ministers, hon members, Director-General in The Presidency, Cassius Lubisi, distinguished guests, let me also pay tribute to an outstanding heroine of our people, Ma Albertina Sisulu, whose mortal remains we interred on Saturday, 10 June 2011, exactly four days ago. Ma Sisulu devoted her life to the liberation of our people, black and white, men and women, young and old, and the rural and urban poor. She remained committed to this cause to the end of her life and there is no doubt that she would walk the same path were she to live again. The story of Ma Sisulu's life is a lesson about what it means to be a true South African, a true African. It is the apogee of all it means to be human.
With all the pains visited upon them and the masses they were leading, the generation of leaders to which Ma Sisulu belonged taught us that our South African-ness and, indeed, our humanity could only manifest itself if the struggle had as one of its central objectives the liberation of the oppressor so that he or she too could be humanised by appreciating the humanity of "the other". All these qualities can only be fully appreciated both in contrast and in relation to our understanding of the structure of the society into which she was born, the antagonistic political forces which battled to shape that society for over 350 years, culminating in the democratic dispensation of 1994.
In its manifesto for the 2009 election, the ANC reminded us that throughout its proud history it has always been committed to the building of national unity against all forms of tribalism, racism and sexism. We moved on to embrace the unity of all South Africans, irrespective of their culture or religion. In the 1955 Freedom Charter we declared that South Africa belonged to all who live in it, both black and white.
As the ANC government assumed the reigns of political power in 1994 through one of its most distinguished and celebrated products and icons, President Nelson Mandela - who in his inaugural speech said, "Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another" - we understood that the challenges of reconstructing our society to forge common nationhood, citizenship and a more equal society will require a strong developmental state.
In addressing these challenges we must not conveniently forget that the state in our context is a South Africa emerging from its colonial and apartheid past, a developing country, and that the reality of the majority of our people is not a 17th century luxurious Marie Antoinette-style choice between bread and cake, but between bread and hunger.
The objectives and measures of The Presidency Budget Vote expressly require the improvement of long-term planning and development. This approach can only ensure that the quality of spending in programmes under National Planning will be informed expenditure that addresses the underlying causes and then matches these against costed programmes to address these challenges.
Let me take this opportunity to welcome and appreciate the release of the Diagnostic Report of the National Planning Commission by hon Minister Trevor Manuel last week. This mainly gives us an illustration of how far we have moved towards the realisation of the society envisaged 56 years ago, as well as the extent to which we are able to respond to our electoral mandate.
The tabling of the report must be seen as a critical response in addressing the main challenges confronting the Republic. It introduces Vision 2030, the ANC's response in 2007 to the need for long-term planning for a developmental state.
The importance of the report lies in the fact that it directs our national effort into issues that are relevant to long-term strategic planning and sustainable political and economic reconstruction. The report reminds us that 1994 was but the beginning of a new order that introduced the national democratic society, an organising vision for post-apartheid South Africa, which was signposted by successive generations of freedom fighters who declared in the Freedom Charter in 1955 that South Africa belonged to all who live in it.
Against this backdrop there lies once more a provision for an important platform for a national discourse regarding the post-apartheid economy. Most importantly, it identifies the persistent problems which continue to retard the development of our national economy. We are starkly reminded that, while in the period between 2005 and 2007 the South African economy experienced some budget surpluses and short glimpses of expansionist fiscal policies, it also identified the persistent problems that continue to stifle the efficiency of our national economy as a whole, as well as the obstacles towards the full realisation of our nation-building project.
Among the deficiencies identified are a shortage of critical skills, the heavy burden of diseases that continue to afflict significant sections of our society, and an education system that has failed to revolutionalise our indigenous technical abilities. This calls for serious introspection by all role-players and also that our national conversation must be subjected to a cause for common good. This is a debate that must never be allowed to suffocate under the weight of holy cows. It must provide us with the economic tools to improve the precision with which we can shape the trajectory into the future.
The Budget Vote on The Presidency takes place less than a month after the third democratic local government elections. The election results demonstrate the overwhelming confidence the people have in the ANC's policies at local government and, more broadly, at national government level. Through the ballot box, our people expressed the confidence that the nation-building project as led by the ANC remains their choice. It remains their project and the programme they are most willing to give support to. [Applause.]
At this time let me acknowledge and show appreciation to the people of South Africa for their active participation in making the local government election a success.
Ndi khou tama u livhuwa vhadzulapo vho?he vha Afurika Tshipembe, kha thikhedzo ye vha i ?ekedza ?ihoro ?a ANC, nge vha ri tendela u vha vhusa kha mivhuso yapo lwa mi?waha mi?anu i teuhelaho. Hezwi zwi ri sumbedza uri vhathu vha hashu vha na fulufhelo kha mbekanyamaitele dza ANC, nga maan?a kha dza u ?anganya mirafho.
Ndi khou ?u?uwedza vhathu vho?he vha Afurika Tshipembe uri na matshelo vha ite ngauralo. Ndi dovha hafhu nda vha fulufhedzisa uri vhakhantselara vho?he vho imelaho ?ihoro ?a ANC kha mimasipala yo?he, vho funzwa vhukuma zwa uri maitele a demokirasi a shumisiwa hani. Vha ?ivha uri vha tea u vhea ?hodea dza vhadzulapo phan?a kha maitele o?he. Ri a ?itongisa vhukuma nga vhurumiwa he na ri thakha ngaho. Ri ?o ita zwo?he nga nungo u khunyeledza zwe ra ni fulufhedzisa zwone kha u khwi?ifhadza vhutshilo ha vhadzulapo vha Afurika Tshipembe. [U vhanda zwan?a.] (Translation of Tshivenda paragraphs follows.)
[I would like to thank all South African citizens for the support they gave the ANC, by allowing us to govern them in the local governments for the next five years. This shows us that our people have confidence in the ANC policies, especially in integrating the societies.
I encourage all people of South Africa that they should still do the same in future. Once again, I promise you that all the ANC councillors in all municipalities have been well trained regarding the functions of democratic processes. They know that they must put the needs of the citizens above all other things. We are very proud of the mandate that you gave us. We will do everything in our power to deliver what we promised you, improving the lives of South African citizens. [Applause.]]
Our people did this, pushing past negative assumptions fuelled by the media that voter turnout would decrease. This was based on the assumption that the ANC government had failed to deliver and that it had lost a significant portion of its support base. It is in this context that, as a society, we should seriously re-examine the actual role of the media and so-called independent political analysts, as well as their role in and contribution towards creating a tension-free democratic society. The guilty are always afraid. [Applause.]
I remind this House that, contrary to oppositional propaganda, much progress regarding voter participation has been made under the administration of the ruling party? In the year 2000, voter turnout recorded was 48,7%. In 2006 it was 48,4% and in 2011 a commendable 57,6% was recorded. [Applause.]
On behalf of the people I would like to thank President Jacob Zuma and his organisation, the ANC, for making it possible for people to believe in participatory democracy and for opening a pathway for people to freely participate in electing parties of their own choice. Despite the negativity, the ANC won outright control of 198 councils, which translates to almost 71% of the councils in South Africa. In any democracy, in any country, this would be defined as a landslide, a non-contest, and an overwhelming - crushing victory.
We should take note of and remember the climate under which these elections were contested. Some among us, particularly to my left, boldly professed that our democracy would be well served if the ruling party support base was reduced. To this date we await a formidable explanation to this myth.
Ke be ke rata go t?ea nako ye le sebakanyana se le mphilego sona legatong la mokgatlo wo mogolo wa set?haba go re thekgo ya lena re a e amogela ebile re a e leboga; mokgatlo wa mago?i le baruti, ke sa lebale le bona bonkadingala - bop?hatladiolele - le bona baswa, bakgekolo le bakgalabje. [Legofsi.] Re re ebile bonkgetheng ba le ba kgethilego ba swanet?e go tseba gore ba tla kwa ka lena.
Re leboga gape ge le ile la gana go theet?wa ke bo mabina go solwa. Le ge ka Sepedi re re sa ko?a ke lerole, ge e le ma?aedi wona le kgonne go a bona gomme la a tsupolla la re ge e le yo yena, ga a bine go swana le rena. [Legofsi.] (Translation of Sepedi paragraphs follows.)
[On behalf of the majority party, I would like to take the opportunity to sincerely welcome and thank you, the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa, pastors, traditional healers, youth and senior citizens. [Applause.] Your elected representatives need to pay attention to your needs.
We appreciate it that you were not discouraged by opportunists. You were not misled by their empty promises.]
When the people continue to vote for the ANC, again some among us lay the blame on the people, the custodians of our democratic process, accusing them of blind loyalty. It is unfortunate that their commitment to democracy begins to ebb when the people exercise their democratic right in the ways they do not approve of.
As the ANC, we are humbled by the overwhelming mandate that we have received in these elections. Our people have spoken and expressed their frustrations at the slow pace of delivery and their anger towards corrupt practices at certain levels. The essence of this message is in fact our people's contribution towards solutions in a collective effort towards nation-building. We should never lose sight of the fact that when we say "the people shall govern", what we mean is that our people have the right to be vocal when things are not done properly, including peaceful protests.
We take nothing for granted and, through our own introspection, we know very well that our work has been clearly cut. Together with our people we will do more.
In his January 8 Statement this year, the President of the ANC, hon President Jacob Zuma said:
Political emancipation without economic transformation is meaningless. That is why we have to commit ourselves to economic freedom in our lifetime. The ANC must continue to be in the forefront of that transformation.
The President was calling upon all South Africans to understand the magnitude and legacy of the past and the need to act together as a nation to bring about an economic transformation, in the interest of all. Economic transformation is more than black economic empowerment transactions. It is not merely about appointing women, and black women in particular, in managerial positions. Neither is it all about demographic representation. It means understanding what the structure of the economy should look like to meet the objectives of national unity. Economic transformation means that we must pay constant attention to the sustainability of our economic growth through job creation; it is about how we manage our debt; how we harness and direct gross capital formations in the areas that will have positive impacts on job creation; it is about the ability of our economy to compete globally; and it is about harnessing skills and revolutionising our indigenous technical knowledge.
Mma Tona Naledi, ge ke bolela ka tsebo ya naga ye ya gaborena, ga ke bolele ka tsebo ya rena ye nngwe ya kua magaeng. [Minister Naledi, I am not referring to the knowledge of rural areas, but to the knowledge of our country.]
These require that all role-players work from a common national agenda. In conclusion, we reached the climax of 1994 because of the conviction that people placed their confidence in the ANC. The masses yearn for a unified South Africa in which race, gender and class are not factors of exclusion. All of us in this House are obliged to remain true to this commitment of our people.
Nation-building and national unity are critical ingredients of the success or failure of all our undertakings. Seventeen years into the democratic dispensation, we still do not have much to show with respect to national identity. It is a debate we must keep returning to, regardless of the discomfort it visits on us.
It is worth noting that in the DA's view, providing services to our people is not an imperative of the state. It is an optional, big "if", an act of charity which the state can exercise if it so wishes, but one which is neither a moral nor political duty. It is not difficult to imagine where this "if" ideology leaves a woman in Bonteheuwel, Mitchells Plain, Nyanga, Langa, Masisi, Sekgosese, Mdantsane and Sekhukhune, to mention but a few. Working together, we can do more. The ANC supports this Vote. Maatla! [Power!]