Chairperson, the ANC supports the Budget Vote for Rural Development and Land Reform, because this Budget Vote has to deal with the objective reality of land redistribution that is driven by a reconciliatory approach to nation-building and social cohesion.
In many cases, this has resulted in speculation over high land prices which has dragged negotiations and land transactions on for too long, to the detriment of the beneficiaries and the state. The willingness to sell marginal land exists alongside clinging to large chunks of land which could radically reduce unemployment and poverty and ultimately alter the production relations and the agrarian structure of our society.
We are encouraged by the process of the department which, in its short history, has done a land audit and is opening up the land to all South Africans. It is also about to introduce institutions that will regulate land use, evaluation and management. We are also encouraged by the improvement of the organisational capacity to manage the resources and systems and the budget of the department.
We support the Budget Vote. Thank you. [Applause.]
Vote agreed to (Democratic Alliance, Congress of the People, Independent Democrats and Freedom Front Plus dissenting).
Vote No 34 - Science and Technology - put and agreed to.
Vote No 35 - Tourism - put and agreed to.
Vote No 36 - Trade and Industry - put.
Declarations of vote: