Chairperson and all protocol observed, the Budget Vote debate on the Department of Economic Development comes at a crucial time when all political parties are in a race to win votes.
Ke semphete ke o fete, masiyasiyane mahloka-lebelo. Ha re di tlohele di fule mmoho. Re tla di bona mohla kotulo. [It's every man for himself. Let's leave it at that. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.]
To sum this up, let me quote Thomas Jefferson: "Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude."
The green economy is one of the contributory factors to job creation. The basis of the green economy is an environment that includes the nucleus of our life: water. A clean environment is critical to South Africa's development. The drive of development is labour. Therefore, we need to create jobs. We need a healthy workforce, and this can only be sustained if we nurture our environment. An unhealthy environment has the potential to increase the risk of contracting infectious diseases and reduce workers' life expectancy. HIV and Aids have already robbed us of a valuable workforce, as research has shown the high prevalence of HIV and Aids in the educational environment. May their souls rest in peace.
An unhealthy environment also increases the infant mortality rate. It goes without saying that good management of the environment will enhance the quality of life, thus enabling the country to sustain its workforce and development.
Air pollution emanates from coal emissions, industries, littering, vehicles and illegal dumping, to name but a few causes. We must applaud the ANC-led government for practising what it preaches. Many households are now electrified, including those in urban informal settlements and, to some extent, rural areas. The use of coal stoves and fire braziers has been reduced.
The findings of the Industrial Development Corporation, IDC, are aligned with the New Growth Path. Industries which comply with environmental impact assessments are prioritised. The IDC believes that charity begins at home. In its focus area under green industries, it commits to itself to nonfuel- based renewable energy, and to emission and pollution mitigation. Polluting industries must be brought to book. Industrial emissions are the most drastic as they kill indigenous plants and the whole ecosystem. They kill agricultural produce - the livelihood of rural communities. Medicinal plants are also affected.
Dingaka tsa setso, emang ka maoto le lwane mmoho le mmuso. Difeme tse silafatsang moya ka sena sebaka di bolaya meriana ya rona eo e leng hore re e sietswe. Le ba dumelang setsong sa Bophirimela ... [Traditional healers, stand up and fight together with the government. Industries that cause pollution destroy our indigenous plants. And those that believe in the western traditions ...]
... use the same traditional medicine. Water is also contaminated owing to illegal dumping into dams and rivers. For example, the Vaal River is experiencing not only illegal dumping but sewage spillage as well. The major cause of the spillage is the old infrastructure, which is about 50 years old, too old to be repaired and which should rather be removed.
The government has poured in large amounts of money for rehabilitation, but progress has been at a snail's pace, owing to corruption by both black and white officials stripping the municipality clean, with some politicians also involved. However, let us not be held to ransom by a handful of people.
The New Growth Path is targeting 300 000 additional direct jobs by 2020. About 80 000 jobs are to be created in the manufacturing sector, whilst other jobs will be created in the construction and maintenance sectors. The realisation of these jobs depends on the infrastructure which is conducive to the environment.
Quoting from the 2011 state of the nation address, infrastructure will be at the centre of agrarian reform. This development will entail the rehabilitation of water reservoirs, windmill and irrigation schemes, the protection of livestock and grazing through the installation of irrigation schemes, and also the fencing of agricultural fields. Government believes that these projects will enhance food security and create jobs for many, especially for women in rural areas.
Recycling is another form of greening the environment whilst simultaneously creating jobs, although often on a small scale only. If all individuals who recycle could come together and form a co-operation, they could write their own cheques.
We need to mobilise local authorities, nongovernmental organisations, schools and households and the private sector to take care of the environment in order to reap the fruits of the green economy. International stakeholders must also come on board as environmental hazards are a global challenge. The New Energy Book for Urban Development in South Africa by Sarah Ward states that "Economic investment in energy efficiency repays itself many times over". For example, the installation of a ceiling in a house can save about 50% in the costs of heating the house.
It is further stated that international experience has shown again and again that changes to greater energy efficiency are strongly rooted in education and information, resulting in changed behaviour. You will also get six times the reduction in carbon dioxide by investing in energy saving rather than nuclear power.
Mmuso wa setjhaba ka setjhaba o leka kahohle ho etsa mesebetsi. A re kgaotseng ho silafatsa dibaka tseo re dulang ho tsona, re mpe re tswele pele ka ho thotha dikgwerekgwere, ditshepe, mabotlolo jwalojwalo ho eketsa mesebetsi. (Translation of Sesotho paragraph follows.) [The government of the people by the people is trying hard to do this job. Let us stop polluting areas that we live in, and rather continue collecting garbage, steel, bottles and so on in order to create more jobs.]
That is recycling.
A re ikopanyeng re etse koporasi hore mmuso wa lona o tle o tsebe ho le thusa ka ditjhelete mme re tsebe ho ikemela, re tlohele ho ruisa ba bang. Re na le diofisi tse thusang ka thupello le tjhelete ho qala kgwebo kaha dibanka di sa re sebeletse ka toka. Diofisi tseo ke IDC, Khula, SA Micro- Finance Apex Fund, Samaf, le tse ding. Hohle ka hare ho naha re na le Diofisi tsa Setjhaba tsa Palamente, ka mantswe a mang, Palamente e atameditswe pele ha lona ho sa kgathalatsehe hore o mokgatlong ofe wa dipolotiki. (Translation of Sesotho paragraph follows.)
[Let us work together to build a co-operative in order for your government to be able to assist you financially so that you can be independent. We should stop enriching others. We have offices that assist with finance and training for starting a business, because banks are not very helpful. The names of those offices are IDC, Khula, SA Micro-Finance Apex Fund, Samaf, and others. Everywhere in the country we have public parliamentary offices. In other words, Parliament has been brought closer to you, regardless of your political affiliation.] The parliamentary constituency offices are there for you. Come for any information, as you have voted for this government, and it will never abandon you. You have the right to protest if you are wronged, but please let us insist on peaceful marches. We acknowledge that there are people in government who serve themselves at your expense.
By government, we mean all parties in Parliament, the legislatures and municipalities, not only the ANC. We took a long time fighting apartheid. Let us not take the same long amount of time fighting corruption. The time is now. It is only a few individuals who are corrupt, but the impact of their theft is immeasurable.
A re se ke ra etsa tlwaelo molao empa molao e be tlwaelo. [Let us not make a habit of being the law; instead the law should be a habit.]
Let us not make a habit of being the law, especially bad habits, but instead make the law a habit and a way of life. Thank you. [Applause.]