Chairperson, hon Ministers and members of the House, we are indeed living in exciting times with a lot of change and renewal taking place, also in our government and society at large. I share the sentiments of all who are grateful for the hard work that went into the preparation of the Adjustments Appropriation Bill. This was done in a difficult time where we have to cut, save and shave in order to tighten our belts.
Many of the so-called adjustments we saw in the Bill - I will mention but three - provided for the shifting of money to the new departments to continue uninterruptedly with their functions. This was, in particular, the case for the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries that replaced the old Department of Agriculture, which will cease to exist due to the reorganisation, and a total of almost R2,8 billion had to be shifted from Vote 23 to Vote 35. A further R487,6 million is shifted to this new department from the old Department of Water Affairs and Forestry for the same reason as the funding follows the function.
The new Department of Water and Environmental Affairs under Vote 43 get R7,4 million from the old department's Vote 34. For the same reason, due to function shift, R2,3 million shifted from the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs - the old Provincial and Local Government department - to the new Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. The whole of the former Department of Land Affairs is part of the dowry of its successor.
We welcome the changeover to the new model where essential services are clumped together under agriculture, where water had to shed forestry to agriculture, and land took over the new function. Most will continue their tasks without problems.
Under the strains of the current economic climate, we, together with our officials, have to work smarter with the money allocated in order to derive the maximum benefit for our people.
As Parliament and the relevant committees, we will have to keep an eye on developments and make sure targets are adhered to when we get to the quarterly reports.
On the roll-overs, an amount of R227 million for the construction of the De Hoop Dam was necessary. This is to be welcomed as water is such a precious commodity and we have to provide for future use under increasingly challenging conditions.
Water and the availability of high quality drinking water stay a priority and we should not run into any problems in future. Therefore, it is prudent for us to invest now in water infrastructure, not only to stimulate economic development, but to also supply those that still do not have sufficient clean running water and to prevent our country from running into any tight corners. We all know of the changes our climate undergoes. We also know how much we are dependent on this precious resource to sustain life and future growth. There are also vast sums of money rolled over to keep the agricultural sector healthy. This is vital for food security and sustainability.
A major point of focus for the future of our country is rural development. Agriculture and water will play a very important role in this. We are happy as the ANC that vast amounts of money had been contributed to the reform of agriculture. Let me remind this House that in the state of the nation address, the hon President Zuma said:
People in the rural areas also have a right to electricity and water, flush toilets, roads, entertainment and sport centres as well as better shopping centres like those in the cities. They, too, have a right to be helped in farming so that they can grow vegetables and other things; and raise livestock so that they can feed themselves.
We have developed strategic thinking around rural development, but we also have to consider many practical directions and new thinking of how we will take on this challenge against the complex background of land reform and transformation. It has to address the injustices of the past, foster reconciliation and stability, stimulate economic growth and alleviate poverty by improving household welfare.
We need all South Africans to revise their approach to rural reform. We need innovative thinking as to how we go about acquiring land, settling people with a view to succeed and be sustainable, but most important, it is vital to do it in such a way that we arrive at harmonious and sustainable solutions.
We do not need people who employ resistance tactics, but progressive ways of solving problems. In this regard there is enough expertise available to assist in negotiations and concluding the many outstanding matters. We have to work together to improve our output in this regard. This is where we should employ the innovative thinking I mentioned earlier.
From our side of the House, that is now the ANC side, we will stay on course to the goals set out in our founding documents that also followed its historic course through Polokwane into a modern and exciting state, gearing for the future that we all long for. A joint future that brings hope and a better life for all who live in South Africa. As South Africans, we are a people full of optimism and working together we can do more to stay relevant in the global village through discipline, dedication and hard work. We support the Bill. Thank you. [Applause.]