Thank you, Speaker, the ANC supports the Budget Vote. We believe that this Budget Vote will enable us to create an environment for the rational exploration of our minerals and safe mining and that it will provide for the creation of jobs through the beneficiation strategy.
Also, we believe that this Budget Vote will enable us to provide access to electricity to all South Africans. As a result, I just want to quote for those who are confused about the debate that is emerging in the public arena around the issue of the nationalisation of mines.
I want to quote that in 1955, the people of this country, in Kliptown, converged at the real Congress of the People and proclaimed that: ''The people shall share in the country's wealth!''.
The question that we must be asking ourselves is: In what best way possible could the people of this country share in the country's wealth if we do not begin debates that enable us to make sure that people will benefit from the natural resources that are God-given in this country? Again, the people in this Kliptown congress proclaimed that: ''The mineral wealth beneath the soil shall be transferred to the ownership of the people as a whole''. [Applause.]
Today, we know that we have the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act, transferring the mineral rights to the state. Therefore, those who are calling for nationalisation are perfectly correct to raise that debate, because it was the wish of the people of this country. [Time expired.][Applause.]
Vote agreed to (Democratic Alliance dissenting).
Vote No 29 - Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, formerly Provincial and Local Government - put.
Declarations of vote: