Both the historic and the current factors discussed have been made possible by the fact that South Africa is endowed with mineral resources. It has been confirmed by the internationally renowned financial institution known as Citigroup Inc that this country is the world's richest with regard to mineral wealth. We are home to the most vital and diversified mineral reserves in the world. [Interjections.]
This extensive mineral wealth is a common heritage to all South Africans. Section 24(b)(iii) of the Constitution of this country guarantees everyone the right to -
secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development.
Through this section and other provisions in our Constitution, we as public representatives are enjoined to ensure that benefits that accrue from the development of our minerals are enjoyed by all South Africans. Therefore, the question is: Do we all benefit equally from these mineral resources? [Interjections.]
Let us get to the matter that my learned friends on my left are in a hurry to get to. Let me remind you that we want to debunk this myth that government only acts when pressured by the opposition. That is far from the truth. It is this ANC-led government that assisted in the recent establishment of the more than R3 billion Impala Trust Fund that will benefit the workers and the mining community. It is this ANC-led portfolio committee and government that resolved the matter of Taung community in the North West Province. It is this ANC-led portfolio committee that, in conjunction with the Department of Mineral Resources and the Northern Cape government, will hand over no less than R4 million's worth of royalties owed to the community of Smithdrift this weekend. [Applause.] It is this ANC-led Parliament that is issuing a subpoena to Namaqua Development Trust for them to account for funds they have handled on behalf of the community.
It is this ANC-led government that has also taken up the issue of Aurora and brought it to the attention of Parliament. [Interjections.] It is not you, not you as the opposition. We as the portfolio committee and the Department of Labour have seen to it, and made sure that the matter of Aurora is receiving attention and closure; it was not at your instigation as the opposition. Therefore, do not claim credit for any work that you have not done. [Interjections.]
The portfolio committee discussed and unanimously adopted the Department of Mineral Resources' Strategic Plan and this Budget Vote. We are satisfied with the distribution of the available funds to the four programmes, which are Administration, Promotion of Mine Health and Safety, Mineral Regulation, and Mineral Policy and Promotion. There was nothing to the contrary. If they come and stand here and deny that they unanimously adopted the report at the portfolio committee level, they will be misleading this House. It was adopted unanimously.
We are particularly pleased with the attempts to build capacity within the department, especially the establishment of the Compliance Inspectorate Unit, which will, among other things, ensure compliance by companies with mining law. We applaud both the Ministry and the Department of Mineral Resources for the review of the licensing system, which we have mentioned here, and the resultant establishment of the SA Mineral Resources Administration System, Samrad.
However, both the Department of Mineral Resources and the National Treasury need to pay more attention to capacitating our research and development institutions such as Mintek, the Council for Geoscience and the Safety in Mines Research Advisory Committee, Simrac. In fact, South Africa as a developmental state needs to spend a greater percentage of its gross GDP, domestic product, on research and development relative to its counterparts in the world. For example, South Africa spends less than 1% of its GDP on research and development generally, while Brazil spends about 1,05% of its GDP, and Canada and Australia spend above 2% of their GDP on research and development. Hon Chairperson, let us once more debunk this myth that government will act only at the behest of the opposition parties; it is not true. In the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources, the ANC-led team is the one that brings up issues and challenges that are facing the people of this country, and we resolve them.