You must listen. We are teaching you here. The primary task of this state-owned mining company is to amass the necessary resources to enable this developmental state to address these huge socioeconomic backlogs.
You can't wish them away. You can never wish them away. Let me give you a lecture once more ... [Interjections.] You can never have a bastion of wealth in a sea of poverty. You would never enjoy that wealth. That is granted. [Interjections.] [Applause.]
This resolution, therefore, is in line with clause 3 of the Freedom Charter that discusses the sharing of the country's wealth as follows:
The mineral wealth beneath the soil, the banks and monopoly industry shall be transferred to the ownership of the people as a whole.
The democratic government, led by the ANC, has already operationalised the relevant part of this resolution through the enactment of the MPRDA, the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, in 2002. The Ministry of Mineral Resources and the department were successfully established in a short space of time. Congratulations, hon Minister, and your department; you were able to form yourselves in a short space of time. [Applause.] The Ministry and the department are ready to further advance the fulfilment of these ideals that were declared by our people way back in 1955.
The need for job creation in the country remains a challenge. The mining industry remains an important catalyst for the attainment of this goal. In this regard, we are aware that the Department of Mineral Resources is in the process of developing at least three important strategies that the hon Minister has referred to. They are the strategy on the local beneficiation of our minerals, the strategy on the promotion of small-scale mining, and the strategy to rehabilitate the ownerless and derelict mines, which you have correctly characterised as an apartheid legacy in terms of the burden that faces this democratic government. We trust therefore that there will be buy-in and maximum co-operation by all producers within the industry.
We are seriously concerned about the apparent slow progress of transformation in the industry. Transformation in the mining industry - if we might remind all of you - is a legal imperative, as provided for in section 100 and other relevant sections of the MPRDA. We agree with you, hon Minister, that where there is no compliance, action must follow.
Patterns of ownership are reportedly remaining skewed in favour of previously advantaged South Africans and both natural and juristic persons of foreign origin. The levels of illiteracy and innumeracy are reportedly at about 67% of the workforce in the industry - a terrible situation.
The focus on skills development remains insufficient. Yet education is declared by the President of this country, by more than 60% of the country's population and also by the democratic government, as one of the five key strategic developmental priorities.
The implementation of employment equity requirements is selectively undertaken with a reported disproportionate bias towards white women. Scandalous! Scandalous! Mining communities and new entrants in the mining industry remain excluded and marginalised.
The diagnosis of occupation-related diseases, such as those the Minister pointed out, namely silicosis and pulmonary tuberculosis, reveals high levels of exposure of mineworkers to hazardous materials and unhealthy living conditions, such as single-sex hostels and the surrounding shacks.
The levels of fatalities and accidents remain unacceptably high compared to other mining countries. The portfolio committee has acknowledged and pledged its support for the efforts and attempts made by the Mine Health and Safety Council to address these challenges.
We further take serious note of the endeavours and co-ordinated efforts by Simrac, the Safety in Mines Research Advisory Committee, the Council for Geoscience and Mintek in the research and development of technological capabilities that would enable the industry to detect and receive early warnings on seismicity. This will enable us to curtail the high levels of fatalities that are mainly caused by rock falls and rock bursts. We need not remind this House that this is also among the key priorities.
Hon Minister, let me come to the challenges that we have picked up when we were deliberating on the Budget Vote. The issue of capacity in your department is one of the uppermost issues in our minds that we would like you to attend, as well as the issue of the State Diamond Trader.
The issue I want to speak to you about, Minister, before my time is up, is the matter of single-sex hostels. These hostels must go by 2014, because they are not only a legacy of apartheid but a remnant of the cornerstone of the apartheid system: the migrant labour system. They also perpetuate the ... [Time expired.] [Applause.]