Chairperson, hon Ministers, hon members, DGs, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I will be failing if I do not assist you, hon Walters. I was impressed that you were quoting and it is clear that you are interested in learning.
I will pose questions to you as homework. Who created the current challenges? Who created the homelands you are talking about today?
Hon Gunda, I was checking with the DG on that side and she was surprised: "Who is this one?" You are the only one from one party who has never attended our meetings. No wonder the confusion.
Hon Lees, what an insinuation about the department of Education! Yesterday, we were told here that it is a fact that there is an overhaul of these further education and training, FET, colleges. There is a serious focus on engineering.
And hon Sinclair - hopping and jumping as he spoke here! My advice to all of you is that here in Parliament you can register for a basic economics class instead of blaming the department, and Parliament will pay for that.
Chairperson, it is an honour to be afforded an opportunity to participate in this debate on this historic day. It is on this day last year that the majority of the citizens of this country gave the ANC another opportunity to lead the fourth democratic Parliament.
After going through the department's strategic plan, indeed, we agree with you, hon Minister, that the decision taken by the President in May 2009, in this fourth democratic Parliament, to have a dedicated Energy department, has imposed enormous responsibilities on you to take on your mandate with the necessary dynamism and vigour.
Chairperson, allow me to quote the President of our country, His Excellency J G Zuma, while addressing the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference. He said, and I quote:
Climate change is a practical matter for the developing world ... Developed countries are historically responsible for 80% of the current emissions in the atmosphere. Developing countries are most affected by climate change and are least capable to adapt to the impacts. As they justifiably pursue their own development paths, it is expected that developing countries' emissions will increase.
In recognition of the reality of climate change, the ANC Polokwane conference resolved to recognise that climate change is a new threat on a global scale that places an enormous burden upon South Africans and Africans as a whole.
In recognition of the undisputed reality, the conference resolved to set target reductions of greenhouse gas emissions. This is part of the ANC's responsibility to protect the environment and promote sustainable development, and to participate in sharing the burden with the global community under a common framework for action.
The Constitution makes it important for the state to "... respect, protect, promote and fulfil the rights in the Bill of Rights", thus imposing upon it the obligation to protect the rights of the citizens to a healthy and clean environment.
In that regard, government is enjoined to ensure that the impact of climate change is rolled back and that alternative forms of energy are forthwith explored and added to the energy grid in a negation tactic progressing towards the total elimination of fossil-fuel-based energy production. This should be done either through coal combustion for electricity production purposes or industrial production inventories.
In complying with that imperative, we are pleased with the strategic plan and the speech presented today in taking the country forward despite the challenges identified.
Hon members, the budget as presented is in line with what has been identified by the ANC and the Minister of Finance, to mention but a few examples: support for labour-intensive industries through policy interventions, skills development, public employment programmes and a rural development strategy.
The Minister of Finance, in taking these things forward, further highlighted the obligation to assist industries to manage scarce resources more efficiently and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the appropriate pricing of energy. He saw this as a requirement for enabling investment in sustainable technologies. In this regard, he said, and I quote:
Green economy initiatives will create new opportunities for enterprise development, job creation and the renewal of commercial and residential environments. This must play a part in our new growth path.
The demand for green energy in South Africa cannot be an opportunity for other countries to increase their exports to our country, whilst turning our economy into nothing more than a warehouse for assembling and distributing finished goods. It is incumbent upon our government not only to ensure that intermediary and final goods are produced by South African firms, but also to ensure that the skills needed to produce such inventories are produced and used locally.
In that regard, South Africa will indeed create jobs, attract investment as a result of increasing her use of clean energy and in the same vein, be able to ensure sustainable energy supply.
The ANC is committed to ensuring a sustainable economy, where all South Africans, present and future, realise the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health and wellbeing. In doing so, the question of energy utilisation should be explored further in order to ensure that posterity is neither burdened with energy liabilities nor deprived of energy reserves due to overutilisation of energy resources.
The ANC is further committed to mobilising the public, business and other players to act responsibly and save energy, both collectively and as individuals, including through a mandatory national energy efficiency programme.
Hon Minister, your strategic plan commits the department to the continuation of the electrification programme to effect socio-economic development, job creation and poverty alleviation as well as addressing the past imbalances. The strategic plan views this programme as a vehicle for the department to achieve universal access in formal households by 2014. Indeed, on the programme of Taking Parliament to the People, what we have seen and the outcry of the people of the Greater Tubatse Municipality in Limpopo, will definitely be a thing of the past.
Energy plays an important role in the lives of the people who use it in different forums for various purposes. However, the disparities in modern energy provision brought about by the lack of access to infrastructure impact largely on poor urban and rural people. In the rural areas, women are the main users of fuel wood. Woodlands have been depleted in many areas while in others they are under heavy pressure.
The campaign for communities to save energy through using few appliances will assist the communities not only through savings in energy consumption expenses, but also in lowering the demand for electricity. On the other hand, human settlements, including the rural ones, should be electrified to ensure their integration into the main economy. [Interjections.]
Chairperson, we indeed commend what has been done for the people of Ezingolweni. It is indeed important that reliance on paraffin and other such unsustainable yet expensive sources of energy should indeed be phased out and replaced with universal electrification. In this regard, a case is for the building of more production capacity by Eskom and other envisaged players in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and be responsible global neighbours. [Interjections.]
In conclusion, Chairperson, allow me to conclude by quoting the Minister on her strategic overview statement ... [Interjections.] The ANC supports the budget. I thank you. [Applause.]