Motlat?asepikara, mohlomphegi Mopresidente wa Afrika Borwa, Maloko a Palamente, ke a le dumedi?a ka moka.
Set?haba ka bophara se leboga Mopresidente ka polelo ya gagwe yeo e bego e hlakile ebile e kwagala e laet?a gore maphelo a batho ba bant?i a tla t?wela pele go ba a makaone ka fase ga mmu?o wa ANC. Set?haba se tshepa gape gore hlogo ya naga ya rena, e lego Mopresidente wa rena Jacob Zuma, ke Mopresidente yo a kgonago go re swara bjalo ka set?haba le go re i?a bophelong bjo bokaone.
Re sa dut?e re na le mafolofolo le tshepo ya gore ka nnete maphelo a rena a tla ba a makaone le ka moso. Mohlomphegi George, rena re le baswa bao ba latelago ANC re tshepa gore re tla sepela ka dinako ka moka re tshepile gore ANC e tla re fa bokamoso bjo bo kaone. (Translation of Sepedi paragraphs follows.)
[Mrs M T KUBAYI: Hon Deputy Speaker, hon President of South Africa, hon Members of Parliament, I greet you all.
The nation extends a word of gratitude to the President for his state of the nation address, which clearly indicates that people's lives will improve continuously under the ANC-led government. The nation also believes that our head of state, President Jacob Zuma, is able to unify and lead us to a better life for all.
We are still enthusiastic and hopeful that indeed our lives will be better in the near future. Hon George, as the ANC youth we believe that at all times we will put our trust in the ANC for a better future.]
It is important to take a historic look at where we come from as South Africa, and at the past injustices of the apartheid government and the extent to which it went to provide services to the people. The minority in this country got services and infrastructure, while the majority of black people are left without tar roads even today.
I grew up in Soweto where we used to say, "We come from the dusty streets of Soweto." It was not by choice, but because the services were not given to us; the infrastructure was not there. Today, thanks to the ANC government, all the streets in Soweto are tarred. [Applause.]
After our democratic elections in 1994, the ANC took over government with infrastructure that was old, having been in existence for over three decades without being upgraded, and in other areas there was nothing at all.
When we took over as government, the ANC understood the challenges that it was faced with. It understood that infrastructure development is important to improve the lives of South Africans. Yes, the ANC government was aware of the challenges and geared itself to meet them and improve the lives of ordinary South Africans.
The situation had to be turned around to ensure that equality can be experienced, even in the context of services provided to our people. And yes, we heard last week Thursday of the commitment of the President, as he told all of us that this is the year of action, but all of us must be geared to work.
The ANC's 52nd conference called for the rolling out of state-led infrastructure investment programmes and the promotion of strategic investments in productive activities. The aim of this would be to diversify the economy and build towards an overall investment in a GDP ratio of 25%. Critical in the development of policy drivers is the massive infrastructure investment strategy. This strategy places the state at the centre of investment and development of infrastructure.
While private sector investment remains critical, targeted public investment is the only way to create a better life for all our people and to stimulate the economy. Public sector investment must result in accelerated growth, investment and improvement in productivity capacity within the country.
Further, it must facilitate rural development and agrarian reform, integrate the economy and foster equitable redistribution of wealth whilst continuing to expand the public works programme through the promotion of labour-intensive production methods.
Infrastructure investment for hosting the 2010 Fifa World Cup has also given the South African government an opportunity to speed up service delivery through upgrading development of the new roads that we have seen; improvement of the transport system with the introduction of other modes such as the Bus Rapid Transit, BRT; upgrading of our airports; the improvement of our railway network; building and improvement of stadia and other sports facilities; the improvement and the upgrading of the hospital sector; the revitalisation of hospitality and ICT infrastructure; the improvement of our borders for access into our country; and access to water, electricity and sanitation within a 20 km radius of the stadia.
The government of the ANC understood, when it signed the agreements and the guarantees with Fifa, that it was not only about delivering the World Cup, but also an opportunity to provide services to the people of South Africa. Therefore, there is an understanding that the infrastructure is not only going to be for 2010, but will remain as a legacy for the South African people beyond the World Cup.
Much has been achieved and more still needs to be done. There is still a need to ensure that the lives of our people in remote areas can be improved. And we also need to ensure that the people within the remote areas also get access to water, electricity and sanitation. I wish to mention the woman who was bitten by a crocodile in KwaZulu-Natal, in the Tugela River. That woman believes in the ANC and that it can provide a better life for her; and yes, through the year of action, this shall be achieved.
The role of infrastructure in improving the livelihoods of women can't be disputed, as the time that is spent trying to fetch water from rivers and wood to make fire reduces the ability to become active participants in the economy.
It is even more important that we don't deliver services that are substandard, that degrade people such as has been provided by the DA in the Western Cape - the toilets that only have a roof and nothing else. That is surely not suitable for our people; that can't be acceptable. All these men and women, young and old, are looking to the ANC to change their lives.
Understanding that His Excellency committed R846 billion for improving infrastructure over the next three years, this allocation should assist us in meeting the Millennium Development Goals. It can't be disputed that the major part of social infrastructure development happens at municipal level.
Therefore it is important to ensure that the Municipal Infrastructure Grant, MIG, funding is given more attention during this term of office, so that money allocated for infrastructure does not end up providing infrastructure for which the funds were not allocated. It is encouraging to hear government's commitment to improving capacity in municipalities to meet the demands that are there.
The majority of young people in this country are still unemployed and without skills. Therefore, there is a need to ensure that as part of the investment that government makes in South Africa we use and develop local skills. We need to ensure that we don't import skills to work on this infrastructure development, but that we further recommit ourselves to the development of artisan and engineering skills, which should be absorbed during construction.
In conclusion, there is a need to review the Development Finance Institution, DFI, so that support for government infrastructure development is adequate. The institution, among other things, must provide cheap and competitive rates for agri-business and the construction industry, especially those doing business in providing public infrastructure. I think it is important to remember, hon member George, that as you honour the memory of our former President, Nelson Rholihlahla Mandela, you've betrayed that cause yourself. [Applause.] You betrayed his memory and his honour. Therefore, I find it very strange for you to stand here and want to claim to be a part of that. You will know soon.
When you think about Comrade Nelson Mandela, you'll understand his loyalty and commitment to the ANC and to this government, hence the President's honouring him in this regard. This is because he belongs to the ANC and nowhere else. You don't have old people, acknowledge that. You can't be born on December 16 and think that you can have senior citizens in your organisation; they don't exist in Cope! Thank you. [Applause.]