Baie dankie, agb Voorsitter, ons behoort nie aan dieselfde politieke party nie, maar ons kom albei van die Noord-Kaap. U sal dus seker darem so 'n bietjie meer tegemoetkomend wees met die tyd. [Thank you very much, hon Chairperson, we do not belong to the same political party, but we both come from the Northern Cape. You will therefore probably be a bit more accommodating with time.]
Chairperson, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate from Kenya, Wangari Maathai, in a recent book called The Challenge for Africa, motivated for a new vision of leadership for Africa. This leadership, according to Maathai, is not based on political leadership per se, but rather on a drive to motivation and sustainable leadership involving issues threatening the existence of our continent and the planet. I want to label it "green leadership". This Budget Vote on Environmental Affairs and Tourism deals with exactly that. To achieve the vision and mission of these departments, it is necessary to adopt the following: an attitude of preservation over exploitation; collective responsibility over industrial gain; and common feeling for the continent rather than narrow nationalism and greed.
Given the fact that South Africa as a developmental state needs development to be a competitive force to address the needs and desires of its citizens, it is imperative that all of us as leaders be labelled "green leaders". Environmental affairs and tourism are indeed at the coalface of leaving a sustainable legacy for the generations to come after us. So, it is not about a selfish today, but rather about a sustainable, sharing tomorrow.
To this end, Cope, as an alternate government, wants to propose the following: Firstly, that waste management, recycling, education, and job incentives - as announced by the Minister - be elevated to some of the top priorities. Legislation, regulations, and bylaws must be tightened and/or reinstated by the different spheres of government to protect our environment. South Africans in general have become a society of polluters. Plastic bags have become our national flower. Rivers are polluted to the extent that toxic and dangerous wastes are serious threats to the usage of many rivers, including the Vaal River and the Orange River arteries. We need green leadership to address this.
Secondly, tourism, as the number one worldwide revenue generator, must place a higher priority on saving the continent and the planet. It is suggested that tourism, the environment, and good citizenship become compulsory as part of the school curriculum up to Grade 10.
Furthermore, internal tourism for South Africans must be enhanced. Building on the successful Sho't Left initiative, more needs to be done to popularise South Africa as an internal destination. Vanuit hierdie perspektief versoek ek dan dat aandag geskenk moet word aan die prioritisering van die Gariep Dam-toerisme-inisiatief tussen die Vrystaat, die Noord-Kaap en die Oos-Kaap. Die konsolidering van die Rolfontein- en Doringkloof-reservate kan, saam met die privaatnatuurreservate, die toeristepotensiaal langs die N1 verder ontsluit.
Ter afsluiting moet ons s dit moet natuurlik gedoen word met inagneming van Maathai se pleidooie vir ware groen leierskap. Slegs dan sal ons vanuit 'n volhoubare omgewing iets nalaat waarop ons nageslag trots kan wees. Baie dankie. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follow.)
[From this perspective I then request that attention be given to prioritising the Gariep Dam Tourism initiative between the Free State, the Northern Cape and the Eastern Cape. Consolidating the Rolfontein and Doringkloof reserves, together with the private nature reserves, could further develop the tourism potential along the N1.
In conclusion, we must say that it should of course be done taking into account Maathi's pleas for true green leadership. Only then will we be able to bequeath something to our descendants from a sustainable environment of which they can be proud. Thank you very much. [Applause.]]