So can we please do that so that we can enjoy that comfort?
The issues around Giyama are working very well. We are on schedule, but we note at this Parliament that when Giyama was passed, it had some reservations around the issues of local government. We are in the process of responding to all those issues. We can confirm that our custodian and user asset registers are on schedule, and we are hoping that each and every department will be done by March 2011.
The Minister spoke at length about the issues of vulnerable groups. Needless to say, we all know that we have a responsibility to the women of this country who constitute more than 51% of the population. We would like to ensure that the money we spend, the work opportunities we create as well as the experiences of women whether at the different levels of their professional experiences or at the different levels of the construction, are responsive and indeed inclusive. We will be conducting a survey that will capture the experiences of women on construction sites so that we are able, together with our entities, to improve the working conditions of women to make sure that they also find the construction industry a very welcoming one without them having to change and become men, but rather remaining feminine and working in the industry.
We have done a lot of work with the women property network - professional women within the industry who are assisting us to ensure that we make the required changes, as the Minister indicated in his speech, in terms of ensuring that women in this country become property owners as well as managers of properties.
The Minister spoke about issues of disabled persons. Even though we have a lot of vacancies, I can proudly say that we are on course to meet our 2% target. We are very clear that the vacancies that we are filling as the Department of Public Works will reflect the demographics of this country. We will meet the 2% target as allocated.
As we understand the challenges and the realities faced by young people, we are in the process of establishing the youth directorate at a chief directorate level, which is a sign that we take issues affecting young people very seriously without ghettoising the young people and putting them in a corner. This directorate's key mandate will ensure full integration of young people in all the work that we do.
We remain faithful and we are very loyal to the children of this country, because we want to ensure that we are able to close the skills gap as well be as to ensure, as I said before, that the built environmental industry and the construction industry become "cool" and that they "rock", so that more young people and children can join. We are doing that at the department. We do have mentorship programmes that expose young learners from Grade 8 to 10 to the built environment so that when they do career choices they are able to keep our skills and close the gaps. We run career expos on construction where we are able to raise the required level of interest.
Regarding the Budget Vote, our communications unit ensured that our officials in the department give us some tips on the issues that we need to work on. One of the employees indicated that we need to relook the budget to see how our incubator and property programmes work. We can proudly say to members that we have heard you on the challenges that you've raised with the CIDB. We will be relooking our property incubator programmes to ensure that we, once again, use those programmes to uplift those that are sitting at level one of the CIDB register.
This Budget Vote is taking place within the national HCT campaign. We therefore call upon captains of the industry in the property and the built environment to allow access for government to bring services onsite where employees within the site would have an opportunity to be counselled to test. As a responsible department we will even host our own department testing campaign so that we can ensure that this country meets the 15 million target, as set by the President, in the fight against HIV/Aids by June 2011.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to the ANC for the opportunity that they have awarded me, and to the President, the Minister as a partner in crime in leading this department, the portfolio committee that cracks the whip and keeps us in order and the officials in the Department of Public Works.
I would like to share one thought that I have on the wall of my office, which says: "Time slips through our fingers, through our hands like grains of sand, never to return again. Those who use time wisely from an early age are rewarded with rich, productive and satisfying lives." I would like to say to the officials that that is how I value your contribution - the work that you do and the sense of urgency that is developing in the department. And my husband who works with me as my personal guide, half of the work I do is through his guidance and all the time that he gives me; his seeing eyes enable me to perform the work that I do so diligently. To my children whom I'm raising by remote control, I hope that one day they will understand that it's a contribution I needed to make. To the team in my office led by Mathute Motumi, for the hard work and keeping up with the stress levels and the screaming and shouting that happens from time to time. This is an opportunity for us to say thank you.
By elevating the lives of others, your life reaches its highest dimension. The universe favours the brave. When you resolve to lift your life to its highest level, the strength of your soul will guide you to a magical place with magnificent treasures. I hope that is where this team of Public Works is taking South Africa. As we do that, we indeed confirm once again as a collective team that South Africa works because of Public Works. Thank you very much. [Applause.]