Mgcini-sihlalo, Mphathiswa wesebe ohloniphekileyo, nabo bonke abaPhathiswa belizwe abakhoyo kule Ndlu noosekela babo, malungu ale Ndlu ahloniphekileyo, zindwendwe ezihloniphekileyo eziquka oongqondo- ngqondo namaciko obunzululwazi asebenza kunye neli sebe lethu, manene nani manenekazi, ndiyanibhotisa.
Mandithabathe eli thuba, Mhlalingaphambili, ndibulele wena nombutho wesizwe i-ANC ngokuthi ninditefise ngeli thuba, nam ndibeke libe linye abemabini mathathu ekuxhaseni isindululo sombutho wesizwe i-ANC. Sindululo eso sithi imali eyabelwe eli sebe mayiphunyezwe yiPalamente ukuze umzabalazo wophuhliso kwilizwe lakowethu uqhubeke. Sakukhumbula ukuba eli lizwe laqalekiswa ngokubukulana kweentlanga ngeenjongo zokucinezela abantu abaninzi nabantu ababengabemi beziinzalelwane zalo. Ezentlutha zabekelwa bucala zibekelwa igcuntswana ngeli lixa abantu abaninzi bebulawa ngendlala bephila.
Amaqabane am sele ethe aphuhla kakhulu, ezathuza ngokwaneleyo ukuxhasa isindululo sokuphunyezwa kohlahlo-lwabiwo-mali lweli sebe. Xa ndidadela enzulwini nangelixhasayo, ndifuna sabelane ngoxanduva lwesebe malunga nokuzisa amandla angenabungozi nokolusa oko kusingqongileyo kungachanyelwa ziintsholongwane nezifo. Amakhumsha ayibeka ngolu hlobo: (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[Mr M NONKONYANA: Chairperson, hon Minister of the Department of Science and Technology, and all the Ministers of the Republic of South Africa who are present in this august House and their Deputy Ministers, hon members of this House, distinguished guests, including the wise and eloquent scientists who work hand in hand with our department, ladies and gentlemen, I greet you all.
Let me take this opportunity, Chairperson, to thank you and the ANC for giving me this wonderful time, to say one, two or three words to support the proposal of the people's party, the ANC. The proposal is that money which is allocated to this department must be approved by Parliament so that the struggle for the development of our country continues.
We will remember that this country was cursed with racial discrimination with the aim of oppressing the bonafide and indigenous citizens. The wealth was set aside for a minority while many people were dying of hunger.
My comrades have constructively contributed by citing reasons for supporting the Budget Vote of this department. To contribute further and in order to fully support it, I want us to share the responsibility of the department with regard to providing energy which is not harmful to our environment but will protect it from viruses and diseases. The English speaking people put it this way:]
The responsibility of the Department of Science and Technology is with regard to the supply and delivery of energy in support of continued growth and supply of power, as well as the reduction of South Africa's share of greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Kyoto Protocol and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The ANC, being the only progressive political party and the only political party given a mandate by the people of South Africa to govern our beloved country, has realised this. [Applause.] At our 52nd national conference in Polokwane - whilst the DA was confused and stuck in the mud - we noted the following, among other things:
13. There is already evidence that climate change, which is leading to the warming of temperatures in the oceans, is affecting the flow and temperature gradient of the Benguela current, which has been responsible for the nourishment of various types of fish crucial to our fishing industry on the Atlantic Seaboard. Changes in temperature are already beginning to affect the availability of traditional fish stock, such as certain types of pelagic fish and crayfish.
14. The bulk of the world's greenhouse gas emissions is generated by the developed world. However, as the pace of development increases, developing countries including China, India and South Africa are contributing an increasing amount to the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
15. South Africa is responsible for about 1% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. This is a relatively small proportion, but it means that we are the world's 14th largest producer of greenhouse gases and along with India and China we are seen as one of the "large (st)" developing countries' emitters. The reason for this is our country's heavy reliance on coal ...
... as the Deputy Minister correctly pointed out -
... as the main source of our energy. This places an obligation on South Africa, in terms of fulfilling our international responsibilities, to demonstrate our seriousness and commitment to greenhouse gas reduction.
17. The South African economy is growing rapidly. The economy is likely to reach 6% growth. In order to ensure continued growth, the supply of power will have to be doubled in the next 15 to 25 years. Coal- generated power will result in increased carbon dioxide emissions.
18. A growing economy also means that as people become more affluent private transport will increase. We are already seeing (an) increased number of cars on our roads ...
19. South Africa has huge untapped potential for renewable energy. A shift towards renewable energy will reduce our emissions, and hold substantial sustainable development benefits, including the development of sustainable livelihoods and small businesses and job creation opportunities.
Hence we resolved - whilst the DA was confused in the mud - that we needed to:
1. Recognise that climate change is a new threat on a global scale and places an enormous burden upon South Africans and Africans as a whole because we are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The risks to the poor are the greatest.
2. Recognise that the evidence for climate change is indisputable and that immediate action by all governments and the public as a whole is needed.
3. Set a target for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as part of our responsibility to protect the environment ...
Furthermore, there's a need to:
4. Support the meeting of the target through:
a) energy efficiency improvements in industry, in households and by setting vehicle fuel efficiency standards; b) diversifying energy sources away from coal, including through nuclear energy and renewables - especially solar power; c) putting a price on the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases; d) allocating significant additional resources for the research and development of innovative, clean and low-carbon technologies, including by retrofitting existing technologies; e) further exploration and development of carbon capture and storage methods; f) the introduction of a tariff system that promotes the efficient use of electricity; and g) the promotion of affordable public transport, the expansion of rail logistics and the reversal of the apartheid spatial legacy ...
7. Recognise that moving to an energy efficient economy should take due regard of the imperative to create jobs. Consideration should be given to launching a green jobs programme.
8. Mobilise the public, business and other players to act responsibly and save energy both as collectives and in their individual capacity, including through a mandatory national energy efficiency programme. Industrial and commercial buildings have particular potential for efficiency improvements. The government, as a huge consumer of electricity, has a special responsibility in this regard. Government buildings and installations must be given mandatory targets to become energy efficient. ...
11. Further integrate climate change considerations with sustainable development strategies, the science and technology agenda, integrated energy planning, transport policy and the evolving industrial policy. In this context to maximise the integration of a full cost accounted economy in which the life cycle of products is internalised and the goal of zero waste production is pursued.
12. Continue proactivey building our capacity ...
[Interjections.] Before I conclude, I want to say that the department needs money to execute its mandate. We appreciate the work and accountability of the department, and we in the ANC have no hesitation in saying that the department will use this money for the projects set out by them. In this regard, we support and will continue to support, with pride, what the department is doing.
Xa ndikhwelela kweli qonga, njengokuba sele utshilo Mhlalingaphambili, ndiyathemba ukuba ndivakele xa ndisithi umbutho wesizwe uphala phambili ekuziseni iinkonzo njengokuba nabantu baseMzantsi Afrika benze njalo kolu nyulo. Sicela ke ukuba nabantu abarhuqa emva bazeke mzekweni ukuze bakwazi ukuba bakhokelwe ngulo mbutho unjongo ziphambili zikukuzisa inkonzo engcono kubantu bonke eMzantsi Afrika. Ndisatshaya. [Kwaqhwatywa.] (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[In conclusion, as you have already said, Chairperson, I hope everybody got my point when I said the ANC is the best political party in respect of the delivery of services, as the people of South Africa have also shown in the elections. We plead with those who are still behind to imitate it so that they can be led by this political party whose aim is to provide better services to all the people of South Africa. I thank you. [Applause.]]