The Mining Qualifications Authority will, in the next financial year, train more than 100 mining inspectors at a cost of R4,2 million. We are also developing a tailor-made mine inspector training programme with Wits University as a long-term measure to address the department's capacity constraints. This challenge requires a revolutionary approach.
While our regulatory regime makes sufficient provisions for skills development, we shall be embarking on a more co-ordinated implementation of the provisions of the Act and the Mining Charter. The department will continue to use its regulatory framework to impact directly on the five key programmes of government relating to poverty eradication, job creation, education, rural development and skills development. The charter is instrumental in so far as the local economic development projects and education are concerned.
Despite its significant contributions to the economy, mining has also been associated with illegal activities which are becoming more sophisticated by the day. The recent and widely reported incident of unnecessary losses of lives in Welkom is a clear indication of the magnitude of the problem facing the industry. This problem is compounded by the existence of illegal markets, which thrives when they are being fed, but I must also indicate that we cannot continue to say that this illegal mining is mining; it is a criminal activity, and we have to treat it as a crime committed against our economy. [Applause.] The illegal miners in this country cannot continuously be allowed to plead poverty whilst illicit activity is continuing. We have to be decisive.
I've spoken to my colleague the Minister of Police with the intention of ensuring that we take up this matter with the Security cluster in ensuring that we develop a much more comprehensive approach and continue to ensure that this matter is elevated to a much higher level. In the police, it can also become part of a programme and they can create a specialised task team, like we used to have in the past when we had a diamond squad and a gold squad. We want to go back to that era in a much more effective way. [Applause.]
I must also indicate and appeal to the members of this House that this cannot be successful if you as Members of Parliament are not going to support this effort. It is not a matter for the industry, the department, or even an issue for the police; it is an issue for all South Africans. If we are unable to deal with this matter, we will see all industries in South Africa infested by illicit activities. We will have a country that is affected by parallel industries not paying tax, and they are going to rob this country of its economy. So we hope this House will support us in our endeavour. [Applause.]
In conclusion, Chairperson, on Friday 26 June 2009, it will be 54 years since all South Africa's racial groups gathered at Kliptown in 1955 to adopt the Freedom Charter. This historical document sets out the democratic changes required to enable all the people of South Africa to live in harmony and enjoy equal rights and opportunities without regard for colour, race, sex or belief.
Hon members, working together with our communities, mining companies and trade unions, we are on course to realise the ideals enshrined in the Freedom Charter when it says:
The national wealth of our country, the heritage of South Africans, shall be restored to the people. The mineral wealth beneath the soil... shall be transferred to the ownership of the people as a whole.
As enjoined by the Freedom Charter, we have, through the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, vested the mining and prospecting rights in the state. However, there is still a lot that needs to be done to ensure that all the people of South Africa share in its wealth. We are resolute in our determination to ensure that we fully realise the ideals of the Freedom Charter, so that all our people can have the better life that the ANC has promised. Thank you. [Applause.]