Chair, the proper management of the mining industry is of the utmost importance for South Africa's economic development, job creation and the eradication of poverty. One must not forget that it has always been this country's vast mineral resources that have acted, and still do act, as drivers of history.
It was the vast gold resources that provided the impetus for the Anglo-Boer War. It is the aftermath of that terrible and selfish war, especially the pain suffered by the Afrikaner in the British concentration camps - a holocaust which wiped out a third of our population - that pushed black and white into different camps during the twentieth century.
Today, a result of that history is the renewed call by young, black revolutionaries to nationalise all mines on behalf of the poor masses. Clearly, this economic sector carries a lot of historical weight, and thus needs to be treated in a responsible and economically viable manner.
Dit is om daardie rede dat die VF Plus die 434 onrelmatige mineraalregte, 713 verbrekings van die wetlike omgewingsvereistes, en 120 dubbeltoekennings van mineraalregte as 'n nasionale skande beskou.
Ons wil egter die Minister loof vir haar daadwerklike optrede om die probleme met die mineraalregtestelsel aan te pak. Die omvang van die onrelmatighede is verseker nie goed vir Suid-Afrika se beeld nie. Suid- Afrika het die vorige kommoditeitsoplewing misgeloop en kan nie weer so 'n fout bekostig nie. [Tussenwerpsels.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[It is for this reason that the FF Plus regards the 434 irregular mineral rights, the 713 violations of the legal environmental requirements, and the 120 double allocations of mineral rights as a national shame.
However, we would like to commend the Minister for playing an active part in addressing the problems within the mineral rights system. The scope of these irregularities is indeed not good for South Africa's image. South Africa missed the previous commodities boom and cannot afford another mistake like this. [Interjections.]]
You can't hear me? [Interjections.]