Hansard: Debate on Vote No 26 - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (OA)
House: National Assembly
Date of Meeting: 29 May 2013
Summary
No summary available.
Minutes
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Wednesday, 29 May 2013 Take: 1
START OF DAY
WEDNESDAY, 29 MAY 2013
PROCEEDINGS OF EXTENDED PUBLIC COMMITTEE - OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
________________
Members of the Extended Public Committee met in the Old Assembly Chamber at 15:39.
House Chairperson Mr C T Frolick, as Chairperson, took the Chair.
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES
START OF DAY
APPROPRIATION BILL
Debate on Vote No 26 - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries:
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Hon Chairperson, hon Ministers, my colleagues, hon Chairperson of the portfolio committee, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Members of Parliament, MECs, members of the diplomatic corps, captains of industry, winners of our national female entrepreneur awards, leaders of political parties, community organisations, our unions, NGOs, farmers and farm workers, fisherfolks - my apologies to those who are in the overflow room as unfortunately we could not accommodate all the people in here - our special guests, our students and leaders from our colleges of agriculture and other training institutions, thank you very much for being here.
This Budget Vote for 2013 is centred on the theme of "Unity in action towards social economic freedom". In pursuing unity in action, we will focus on fighting poverty and unemployment, with household food security as our primary success indicator. As we table this budget of R6,1 billion, we are reminded that we stood before this esteemed House on 1 May 2012 to account for our work over the previous year and to table our performance commitments for the year ahead.
This 2013-14 Budget Vote will follow the same approach. We will reflect on our achievements, followed by our commitments, and we will also reflect on some of our weaknesses. Food security is a human right and a constitutional mandate. The Bill of Rights states that "every citizen has the right to access to sufficient food and water." The state must take reasonable legislative and other measures with its available resources to achieve the realisation of this right.
I am convinced that food security for all will be the one issue on which we will be able to garner consensus in this House. A recent report that 12 million or 22,7% of South Africans have insufficient access to food has shocked our nation. For the greater number of South Africans who are gainfully employed, it was unthinkable that such huge numbers of citizens were going to bed hungry. The uncomfortable truth is that, while South Africa is food secure as a country and as a nation, an alarming number of people are not getting sufficient nutritious food.
I am pleased to report that after previous stop-start efforts, a Food Security and Nutrition Policy has been developed and is in the Cabinet process. The main objective of this policy is to ensure that there is food security and good nutrition at all levels and in all segments of our society. I will say more about this later, as the approval of the Food Security and National Policy on Nutrition is one of our priorities for the forthcoming year.
During the year under review, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, together with the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, implemented an accelerated integrated agricultural production programme in seven provinces. This initiative, while being far from perfect, mobilised additional resources from different departments across all spheres of government to such a degree that we were able to place more than 35 000 additional hectares of agricultural land under production. While the fruits of this initiative will be evident in the forthcoming harvesting season, it has already impacted positively on job creation.
The fact that the latest jobs data from Statistics SA shows that agriculture is by far the largest contributor to job creation and this - I promise - must count as one of our key success stories. The sector has been able to sustain the growth recorded in the previous financial year. Nationally, the sector created 54 000 new jobs between January and March this year alone, an increase of 7,9% and a 12,7% year-on-year increase in job creation. [Applause.]
The sector now employs 739 000 people, up from 656 000 last year. Close scrutiny of these figures shows that job growth was experienced in the provinces such as the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, where the food security intervention was implemented. If our modest attempts yielded such measurable outcomes within such a short time, it demonstrates the potential impact of large-scale agricultural production and how this large-scale production will have a positive spin-off for our economy.
We are proud of our successes in opening new markets for the sector. Our membership of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, Brics, enabled our participation in the Ministers of Agriculture and Agrarian Development mechanism, where we immediately introduced trade as an area of co-operation among members. As a result, the department has recently opened offices in India and Russia. In the current financial year a new office will be opened in Brazil.
Asia's changing consumption patterns, population growth, structural reforms and improved market access have contributed to an increase in exports from South Africa to Asian countries. China is one of the largest export destinations for South Africa's agriculture, forestry and fisheries products, followed by Indonesia, Japan and India.
However, we experienced a number of problems regarding the non-tariff barriers like phytosanitary barriers put into place by some countries in Asia. For the first time ever communities who leased their land to commercial forestry companies were compensated last year. The funds were being collected routinely from commercial companies, but not redistributed. Mindful of the impact of these funds on households, we are proud of this achievement.
The outbreak of the farm worker strikes in De Doorns towards the end of 2012 was disturbing, disruptive and significant for the industry. I must convey appreciation for the response of my Cabinet colleagues who rallied around us to find solutions. They recognised that De Doorns was not merely manifesting a local or sectoral problem; instead it was a national problem requiring an integrated national solution.
The most significant outcome was the announcement of a revised sectoral determination of R105 per day minimum wage for the entire farming sector. Although not yet a decent wage, this is a major improvement in the employment conditions of farm workers.
The 2012 strikes reminded us of the unfortunate outbreak of xenophobia in De Doorns in 2008. What was different about the 2012 strike was the unity among farm workers. Different people spoke in one voice across the previous divisive barriers in their quest for a better life for all. I want to thank the young gentleman, Braam Hanekom, for the assistance he has given us in this. [Applause.]
Also significant was that De Doorns catapulted the farmers into a new coalition. While still retaining the existing structures, farmers have also responded as a collective and recognised and want to be part of creating a new roadmap for the sector. My congratulations also go to the Agri-Sector Unity Forum, Asuf. To the leadership of Asuf congratulations are in order. [Applause.]
While there is still much work to be done in resolving the pre-and post-strike issues, the unity in action precipitated by conflict augurs well for charting a new path for the entire sector. Through a dialogue facilitated by the Deputy President and the Presidency, government is looking at the impact of the revised sectoral determination for both farmers and farm workers. We are also looking at ways and means to offset this impact.
I am proud to announce that the department sustained its record of successive unqualified audit opinions on our financial performance, and this information, for your sake, is for the entire duration of this term of office. [Applause.] In securing this external audit outcome we have again demonstrated that the department is in compliance. The department is standing tall among its peers in terms of non-negotiable ethical business practices, controls and standards.
Regrettably, we did not fare as well in respect of the management of our nonfinancial performance information. Importantly, though, we have interrogated our limitations and understand that we have to exercise greater diligence in respect of the oversight of the transfers and subsidies to provinces and our state-owned enterprises, SOEs. These account for a significant percentage of our budget. A percentage of 59,2 of our budget is a significant amount and this is the amount we spent on transfers and subsidies.
We will, going forward, strengthen our contracting obligations with provinces so that there is no ambiguity about the roles, responsibilities and the consequences if we fail to deliver what we had contracted to do. The other area in which we have not fared well is our intent to support new smallholder producers while continuing to support the existing producers. Effective and sustainable land resettlement is an area of corrective action which will receive our attention, when we will seek advice and support in the current financial year.
Another area of concern, in which we have not fared very well, is our resistance to disease, disease control and outbreaks of disease. The budget of R6,1 billion allocated to the department will go a long way towards delivering the electoral mandate of the administration. We will be creating a better life for all as we move along.
An amount of R663,9 million will be allocated to administration. Agriculture will be allocated R4,5 billion, Forestry will get R525,5 million and Fisheries will receive only R434 million.
Our 2013-14 projects, or programmes, are guided by the National Development Plan, NDP, the New Growth Path, NGP, the Industrial Policy Action Plan, Ipap, the Presidential Infrastructure Co-ordinating Commission, PICC, the PICC's Strategic Integrated Projects, SIP, in particular.
The Strategic Infrastructure Project, or SIP 11, is one of the 18 flagship infrastructure projects overseen by the PICC. It seeks to ensure enabling agro-logistics and rural infrastructure investments that would unlock the potential of rural areas to create jobs.
SIP 11 will entail the expansion of facilities for storage, transport links to main networks, fencing of farms, irrigation schemes, improved research and development on rural issues, including the expansion of colleges of agriculture. We need processing facilities, forestry and fisheries infrastructure.
The department will continue its campaign of recognising and empowering women as contributors to food security and agricultural development. Through its Premier Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and thanks to our sponsor, Total SA, for sponsoring this prestigious award, women entrepreneurs across the sector are encouraged to participate. [Applause.]
The department will continue in various trade negotiations and forums to enhance the interests of the South African agricultural sector. One of our strategic objectives is to increase intra-African trade, which is currently about 10% of the agricultural export industry. While increased trade in Africa is a challenging terrain, the growth of the African market for agricultural products will enable South Africa to increase diversification of its export markets and reduce dependence upon our traditional export markets such as the United States of America and the European Union.
The Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations has awarded the bid to South Africa to host the 14th World Forestry Congress in 2015. This is affirmation of work we have been doing well. [Applause.] It will be the first time that a congress of this magnitude will be hosted on African soil since its inception in 1923. This honour was bestowed on us because of South Africa's leading role in afforestation. It will afford our forestry colleagues an opportunity to share with and learn from their peers from all corners of the globe.
In support of the government's pro-poor forestry strategy, the department has been supporting small growers and communities in the Eastern Cape with environmental impact assessments. The results of these assessments will lead to the issuing of afforestation licences. The area under consideration is approximately 13 000 hectares. This will definitely lead to the empowerment of rural communities by making them owners of the forest plantations.
In this financial year, an amount of R109 million will be allocated to landcare programmes. This will contribute significantly to the 30 000 hectares of degraded land that we seek to rehabilitate. Through leasing of state land farms, 60 farms have already been secured, thereby contributing to food security and a better quality of life for all.
The NDP has identified fisheries as an important vehicle in achieving its vision for an integrated and inclusive rural economy. It acknowledges that marine fishing is important for coastal communities with regard to job creation. It further acknowledges that those historically involved in fishing have frequently been ignored and that many fishing rights allocated have been of small value. The current fishing rights allocation process will ensure that rights allocated are more economically viable in the future. [Applause.]
Fishing contributes approximately 0,5% to the gross domestic product, GDP and it accounts for around 2% of the GDP in the Western Cape. South Africa is a net exporter of fish and fish products and 55% of the demersal catches are exported. The agricultural production level is 3 543 tons worth R 280 million and it provides 2 000 jobs.
The department has during the past financial year supported three fish farms and is at present supporting five fish farms. With Minister Naledi Pandor and the work she started in the Department of Science and Technology we are able to capitalise on the research you did on aquaculture and fish farming. Thank you, my colleague, for that. [Applause.]
The Small-Scale Fisheries Policy was approved by Cabinet in 2012 and will be implemented during this financial year. A National Aquaculture Strategy and Action Plan was also developed, again thanks to my colleague hon member Naledi Pandor and the Department of Trade and Industry.
Recently, Cabinet approved the National Aquaculture Policy Framework. This policy provides a unified framework for the establishment and development of an industry that contributes towards sustainable job creation and increased investment. The implementation of the Small-Scale Fisheries Policy will finally give formal recognition and appropriate legal protection to a previously ignored sector by adopting a developmental approach and rights-based allocation system for small-scale fishers. [Applause.]
The allocation of rights within the small-scale sector, together with the re-allocation of long-term rights, will contribute to the further transformation of the entire fishery sector. As part of our endeavour to contribute to youth employment and entrepreneurial development within the spirit of the Youth Accord, we will be ring-fencing a certain percentage of these fishing right allocations for youth-owned companies. [Applause.]
We spearheaded the campaign to turn 10 colleges of agriculture into centres of excellence through the National Treasury-approved Colleges Revitalisation Plan. This plan focuses on improving infrastructure at colleges, curricula review and provision of information and communication technology equipment.
An amount of R380 million has been allocated over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, period to revitalise colleges of agriculture. The department is also in the process of pursuing the signing of a protocol with the Department of Higher Education and Training on issues relating to colleges and the transfer of colleges to Higher Education.
In conclusion, hon members, we table the budget of R6,1 billion which has been allocated to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries for the 2013-14 financial year. We table the 2013-14 financial year's budget of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to you, hon members, to this esteemed House for endorsement. We table this budget confident that hon members share the view that the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is a portfolio with enormous potential for growth and development. [Interjections.]
My challenge to all members who speak in this debate today is that you should mention at least one success story you have heard during your term of office. [Interjections.] [Applause.] We table this budget with an appeal for unity in action, confident that this House will support the prioritisation and the targets we have set for this year.
I would like to conclude this Budget Vote speech with the following acknowledgements. I am deeply grateful to the President and the Deputy President for leading the sector with relentless advocacy for enabling communities to rekindle their indigenous knowledge in agricultural production so as to take charge of their own food security.
Similarly, I wish to express my gratitude for the process of dialogues. I would like to thank all those stakeholders who participated in these dialogues. [Applause.] [Interjections.] Who do you represent because all these people are talking to us? Do you still have the constituency? [Interjections.] Similarly, I am indebted to all my Cabinet colleagues for their support, advice and collaboration.
I especially wish to single out the colleagues from the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, both the Minister and the Deputy Minister. I want to thank the Minister of Labour for her support and decisiveness in resolving the volatility in De Doorns. [Interjections.] [Applause.] I want to thank Minister Gigaba for allowing us to work with Transnet and giving us a dedicated team at Transnet to work on improving the road to rail transportation of agricultural products.
My deep appreciation is also extended to the hon member Mlungisi Johnson, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and all members of this committee for their oversight and guidance. I would like to thank the hon members from the opposition because without your "insightful guidance" ... [Laughter.] ... we would not have been where we are today. [Interjections.] I would also like to thank Mr Shaheen Moolla, whose blogs have kept me reading at 02:00 in the morning. I mean, really this a person who writes about me every morning at 02:00 or 01:00. This is such a compliment. Thank you very much, Mr Moolla. [Applause.]
I would also like to thank the MECs for Agriculture, sector representatives, Mr Möller from AgriSA, who will be leaving early. I would like to thank you now, along with the captains of industry who have assisted us. I am most appreciative and I am always so appreciative of your nonsense and I always learn so much from your esteemed guidance – I repeat ... [Interjections.] ... that we offered you an opportunity to have a good conversations on community radio stations.
Our Deputy Minister, the hon member Mulder, thank you very much; you have had to chart us very rough waters. Deputy Minister, they wanted to know why you are not sitting next to me today. I said the hon chairperson of the portfolio committee is very single and eligible and very welcome to come and sit next to me. [Laughter.] Unfortunately, the Deputy Minister does not fall in the category of available. [Laughter.]
The team led by Mr Andrew Bartlett, my advisers, thank you very much. Lastly, I want to give my sincere thanks to Lorna Adonis, who looks after my children, Terence and Austin, who are not here today because they are grounded, thank you for your patience and for ... [Laughter.] I would like my children to hear this. Can I just talk to my children, just for one minute please? Can I just have them, for one minute, so that my children can actually respect you? [Interjections.] They are listening. My work has required me to be elsewhere and I asked my children to appreciate that this work is what we do for the poorest of the poor.
I really offer my sincere appreciation to all the members who attended this sitting today. I did not expect to see so many of my colleagues, my comrades and my compatriots. Thank you very much. I salute you. [Applause.]
Mr M JOHNSON / LN/Checked by Nobuntu / END OF TAKE
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE
Mr M JOHNSON: Hon Chairperson, I acknowledge the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Comrade Tina Joemat-Pettersson, hon Deputy Minister, Dr Pieter Mulder, Ministers and Deputy Ministers present, colleagues, Team Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, DAFF, led by Mr Sipho Ntombela, leaders of our state-owned entities, industrial leaders and workers of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, invited guests, former chairperson of this committee, Mr Neo Masithela, who is seated up there [Applause.] We also extended an invitation to Mr Meyer and also Dr Kraai van Niekerk, who is not here, who are also former leaders of the same committee. I acknowledge iNkosi Holomisa, Ah! Dilizintaba, who is somewhere in Namibia and Mrs Hlengetwa, who are both Members of Parliament in the National Assembly, ladies and gentlemen. I also see in the gallery Mr Möller, leader of the agriculture industry. I saw Mr Robinson, leader of Fisheries. I cannot see many other leaders in the industry here. In this year of united action towards socioeconomic freedom, the ANC once again salutes you all.
Today our Minister has tabled her department's Budget Vote for scrutiny and for favourable consideration by this august House. I strongly believe that the budget, as presented, together with its strategic plan over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, period bears testimony to the resolve of the ruling party, the ANC, as mandated by the overwhelming people of our country to eradicate the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality.
It is against this background therefore, that, from the onset, the ANC supports Budget Vote No 26. [Applause.] The budget referred to is R6,2 billion for 2013-14. This budget is informed by a vision that strives for a united and prosperous sector and a mission that aims to lead and support sustainable agriculture, forestry and fisheries and to promote rural development in South Africa.
We all know that this year marks the centenary of the l9l3 Land Act, which basically entrenched and further perpetuated the dispossession of productive land from the black people of our country. This was a horrendous and inhumane Act and its effects are still haunting us today and will for many years still to come.
We therefore welcome the decision of our glorious movement, the ANC, at its 53rd conference that the land question can never be closed until the injustices brought upon our people are fully and comprehensively resolved. [Applause.] Therefore, the reopening of this process must not been seen in the context of seeking to create uncertainty and instability. In actual fact, the opposite must be the true.
Another historical milestone is that in the next few months our country will celebrate 20 years of freedom and democracy that came in April 1994.
The critical question we will have to respond to is: How far have we travelled towards creating a nonracial, nonsexist, democratic and prosperous society? Have we, through our budgets and other developmental instruments, created an enabling environment for our people to truly enjoy the fruits of our hard-won freedom and democracy? Are we confident enough to state boldly that indeed the creation of a better life is unfolding, as espoused in our Reconstruction and Development Programme?
South Africa has indeed turned the tide. Against all the odds, the ANC-led government has managed to overcome, over a period of 19 years, to be precise, 361 years of colonial subjugation of our African people by generations of European settlers, still found within our Parliament and South Africa in general today.
ANC-led government has also managed to overcome the 65 years of apartheid rule through the institutionalisation of a system that marginalised the rightful owners of our beloved country and through many laws like the Group Areas Act, racial education Acts, employment Acts, among others, that segregated our country and her people.
We had done it through resistance, at first nonviolent and later violent, when deputations, boycotts, strikes and stay- always proved to be falling on deaf ears.
Through the four pillars adopted at the Morogoro ANC Conference, our country and its so-called leaders at the time had to be liberated through underground work, mass mobilisation, international isolation and, of course, bombs and AK 47s - the only language that they understood!
The price our fighters had to pay was so dear. A number of our fighters in the process had to go to the gallows, through judgments by none other than Judge Leon, father of a DA leader. Know your DA! [Interjections.] The father of a DA leader who hanged a number of our comrades. Judge Leon. Father of Tony Leon. [Interjections.]
Many languished in prisons for simply raising a clenched fist, chanting, Amandla!
When the ANC liberated South Africa in 1994, it liberated even our own oppressors ... you ... and detractors. [Interjections.]
South Africa still has remnants of white supremacists in our country, who are now co-opting some of our black people into believing that they would protect them and bring them a better life. [Applause.]
We know the truth, that the aim is to bring you back to apartheid days, as it has already started in Cape Town and in the Western Cape. Hence a number of black people ... [Interjections. [Applause.]
Mr J H STEENHUISEN: Chairperson, on a point of order: I am asking you to rule on the relevance of what the hon member is saying in relation to the debate.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, I could not hear you. There is just too much noise. Can you just repeat your point of order?
Mr J H STEENHUISEN: I am asking you to rule on the relevance of what the hon member is saying in terms of the debate which had been tabled, which is the Agriculture debate.
Mr M JOHNSON: We know the truth and the truth is omnipresent. The aim is to bring you back to the apartheid days, as it has already started in Cape Town and in the Western Cape. [Interjections.] Hence, a number of black people, that include Indians, coloureds and Africans, have been migrating out of Cape Town these recent days. Communities of Khayelitsha, Heideveld, N2 Freeway, De Doorns, among others, burn down now and again. These communities still live in squalor and poverty although there is an abundance of wealth. [Interjections.] You know who liberated you. [Interjections.] Yes, we still ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order! Hon members, while we allow interjections, we cannot allow the speaker to be drowned out. Proceed with your speech, hon member.
Mr M JOHNSON: You know who your liberators are. Yes, we still have some challenges of further liberating our country from colonial and apartheid legacies. United in our actions, we are convinced that we shall indeed bring about socioeconomic freedom in our lifetime.
Through our 2030 National Development Plan vision, we are on track with reducing inequality, unemployment and poverty in South Africa. Among others, through the Integrated Growth and Development Plan, we shall grow our agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors of our economy, whilst transforming these to benefit our people by 2031. [Interjections.]
Mrs D ROBINSON: Chairperson, on a point of order: I just want to enquire whether it is parliamentary for a member on the other side to stick their tongue out at our members on this side. [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon members! Hon Johnson, will you just hold on. The hon member is raising a point of order. Please let us desist from certain actions which can be viewed in a particular way. Unfortunately, I cannot ask that member to withdraw the tongue [Laughter.]. However, let us maintain the decorum in the House, otherwise we are going to be in here for very, very long afternoon. Continue, hon member.
Mr M JOHNSON: Chairperson, I realise that my two minutes are gone. [Interjections.] So, assist me. Through our 2030 NDP vision, we are on track towards reducing inequality, unemployment and poverty in South Africa. Among others, through the Integrated Growth and Development Plan, we shall grow our agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors of our economy, whilst transforming these to benefit our people by 2030.
In the context of the department's Budget Vote and plan that we are deliberating, the question will be whether our people are food secure, whether are we winning the war against deforestation, but also whether our people in many coastal areas also enjoy the benefits of living along our coastlines.
It is also about whether the policies and laws we have enacted are sufficient to effect the necessary transformative agenda that we are committed to. It's about whether the resources we have been allocated and spent over the past l9 years are indeed value for money, to bring about a better life for our people.
The department has again received an unqualified audit report, which in essence is a reflection of the sound political and administrative leadership prevalent in the institution and the entities under its guidance. It is also a reflection of the fact that the resources allocated were used for their intended purpose. And we can therefore confidently state that, yes, there is value for the money allocated.
Accordingly, we welcome the budget allocation of R6 l78 billion, and we know, as usual, that the department will be able to account for each and every cent it received. We also note that nearly 60% of the budget is transferred to provinces, hence, the importance of proper collaboration between the two spheres of government within the framework of our intergovernmental relations.
I can safely say now, as the committee, we have resolved to collaborate with the National Council of Provinces in this regard.
As reported in the past financial year, we commend the department for the 99% of its budget that was spent, but the 5l% achievement of your target must not be repeated. It is unacceptabl.!
Support to small-scale farmers, fishers and foresters has to be measured from now on in going forward, because we believe that if you cannot measure, you cannot manage. It cannot be that in terms of the Comprehension Agricultural Support Programme, Casp, conditional grants keep on increasing, without any results to show for such support.
Provinces, working with the department, must account for the support on investments towards our small-scale fishers, farmers and foresters.
Towards the end of last year, the agricultural sector experienced a major upheaval, which, if not attended to, could have brought the sector to its knees. We wish to thank the leadership of our government, in particular the Minister, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, for having played a major role in bringing stability and facilitating bringing affected parties to the negotiating table. [Interjections.] [Applause.]
Let me hasten and state that if the private sector heeded the call for intervention in improving the conditions of farm workers, after the Human Rights Watch report and the outcome of the 2010 Farm Worker Summit for Vulnerable Workers, the unfortunate and regrettable actions at De Doorns would not have happened.
We are, however, inspired by the ongoing dialogue, as led by His Excellency, the Deputy President, Kgalema Motlanthe.
Dr P J RABIE: Chairperson, on a point of order: On that point of order that was raised earlier, the member is continuously sticking out her tongue. If she can't take it back, she must at least swallow it.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon members, I have politely requested that we desist from displaying certain attitudes in the House that can impact negatively on the decorum of the House. All members are supposed behave in an honourable manner. Continue, hon member.
Mr M JOHNSON: We are also inspired by the emerging consensus among all stakeholders that our sector is at a crossroads, and that De Doorns and the new wage determination is a game changer.
At this juncture, let us salute the Agriculture Department for having started a process of uniting, through Asuf, under the able leadership of Mrs Ntombi Msimang and Dr John Purchase.
We are encouraged by the prevailing spirit of collectivism in seeking to revitalise the sector onto a new developmental growth trajectory that will embrace new entrants, new innovative mechanisms and also create decent and sustainable jobs.
As a committee of Parliament, we are cognisant of the challenges presented by rising energy costs, wages, declining investment, international trade volatility, climate change, land reform and food security.
It is important to mention that despite the challenges faced by the sector, agriculture created approximately 83 000 jobs year-on-year. This is according to the latest statistics released by Statistics South Africa.
We are hopeful that through this dialogue, we shall find solutions to mitigate the challenges reflected upon and, like we mentioned earlier, put the sector onto a new growth trajectory that will ensure that all South Africans are food secure, that we are able to contribute meaningfully to job creation as projected by our National Development Plan, and als, and most importantly, create enterprises among our people.
Our mandate is derived from the RDP Framework of 1993, among others, that communicated a clear message for us to transform the fisheries sector, as early as then, that there be one Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Department and that South Africa moves away from the year-to-year quota system of rights allocation, to medium-term and long-term, and that the coastal fishing communities be the major beneficiaries of the marine resources they wake up to and work on, on a daily basis.
In the year 2005, year-on-year was done away with and we introduced the medium-to long-term, but the industry remained in the hands of big industry players. That is why, as the ANC, we support the small-scale fisheries policy that advocates the forthcoming rights allocation to deliver 70% of those right allocations to the small-scale players in the industry.
Transformation of the fishing industry is a necessity and it cannot be left to the industry to do it alone. [Applause.] Henceforth, there is a need for a strong legislative and regulatory enforcement instrument or mechanism.
A fisheries charter is long overdue, despite the measures by Department of Trade and Industry to stop it. As part of our oversight responsibility, we have a duty to benchmark this industry, also for its own benefit, in light of the fronting that is quite rampant in this industry. [Interjections.]
Accordingly, we welcome the proposed amendments to the Marine Living Resources Act, in strengthening the arm of the state to drive the transformation agenda.
It is heartbreaking that on our many oversight visits to some of our coastal communities, we find that our people yearn for an opportunity to have fishing rights in order to make a decent living for themselves and the communities they live in.
Our people live in abject poverty whilst they live along a coastal area with plenty of resources that can provide a decent nutritious meal and also provide much needed jobs and business opportunities.
We wish to commend the department on the finalisation of the Small-scale Fishing Policy and also on the Integrated Aquaculture Strategy. These developments will enhance our ability to transform the fisheries sector in totality and bring much needed socioeconomic freedom to all our people.
We must also take note of other government support and have a special focus in the field of fisheries and aquaculture in particular. [Interjections.]
Hon Minister and your Team DAFF, what has become abundantly clear through experience, is that any sustainable exploitation of our natural resources must be accompanied by the five pillars of management expertise, research, accessible and affordable finance, value addition and access to markets.
We have these pillars in our midst and it is for us to harness these and progressively move on with our economy, united in our actions towards socioeconomic freedom in our lifetime.
As the committee, we fully support the Budget Vote and its strategic plan as presented, and we make an impassionate plea that this House should do likewise.
We are of the strong and firm belief that we have a department that fully understands its developmental mandate in ensuring that theNational Development Plan, NDP, New Growth Path, NGP, and other policy intervention instruments are implemented.
Our committee work is made easier with the assistance of our members, who conduct themselves in a manner that unites us all under a common goal of bringing about food for all our people. None of our members fight along party-political lines. We will also not experience that in this debate. That is to be seen in action.
Our co-operation with the private sector can makeyou or break you. I can safely say that so far it has made us through robust engagements, attesting once again that we are indeed representatives of the public and we shall continue to represent all of you as our constituency.
The department and its entities must always feel free to communicate with us without waiting for times like these. What brings us together is the achievement of that golden goal of food security for all in our country.
Lastly, we have stars anybody would wish to have and be surrounded with ... [Interjections.] The committee supports Budget Vote 26. [Time has expired.]
Mrs A STEYN / src / END OF TAKE
Mr M JOHNSON
Mrs A STEYN: Chairperson, the Oxford Business Group lists policy uncertainty as one of the key issues constraining growth in South Africa, citing "conflicting rhetoric, confusing legislative interpretations and policy reversals" as key concerns. Uncertainty in key policy areas were also noted by rating agencies prior to the downgrading of South Africa's credit rating at the end of 2012 and beginning of 2013. Agriculture is by its very nature characterised by uncertainty.
In South Africa, the ANC government contributes to this uncertainty through the lack of cohesion between different government departments, uncertainty around the land reform policy and sketchy frameworks for the implementation of strategic plans for agriculture.
Afrikaans:
Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson is daarom baie gelukkig dat Suid-Afrika van die beste, indien nie dié beste, landbouers in die wêreld het nie. As dit nie hiervoor was nie, sou Suid-Afrika alreeds hongersnood beleef het.
Dit is waarom die DA besef dat ons landbouers 'n waardevolle bate vir ons land is. Hulle is trouens die groep wat moet verseker dat Suid-Afrikaners voedselsekerheid geniet en dat ons nie soos sommige van ons Afrika-buurlande aan hongersnood lei nie.
Dit maak ons dus bekommerd dat mnr Ernst Janovsky, landbou-ekonoom, voorspel dat die land teen omstreeks 2050 slegs 7 000 kommersiële boere sal oorhê. Die totale aantal kommersiële boere word tans op 35 000 geskat, maar 'n aansienlike daling word oor die volgende vier dekades verwag.
Een van die faktore wat daartoe sal bydra, is die kosteknyptang wat die bedryf knou en tot skaalekonomie lei. Elektrisiteit, brandstof, kunsmis en arbeid is alles insette wat vinniger gestyg het as wat plaasinkomste toegeneem het.
English:
It is for this reason that Agriculture cannot afford to have a Minister that is more concerned about winning votes for the ANC than she is about ensuring food security for South Africa.
It came as no surprise to the DA when the Minister played a critical role in the Western Cape's farm worker strike at the end of last year. Not only did her department fuel the strike, but they also funded it. [Interjections.]
The department contributed R14 million during the violent strike. Not only was the strike violent and property damaged, but levels of intimidation against nonstriking farm workers and their families were very high.
Of great concern is that threats of a second wave of strikes have been made despite the increase in the minimum wage from R69 to R105 a day.
The Minister of Labour announced last week that almost 2 000 requests for exemptions from the minimum wage were received from farmers.
The National Development Plan marks agriculture as a key job creator, proposing that it can create close to one million jobs by 2030. Even Microsoft founder Bill Gates agrees that investing in agriculture is essential if the fight against poverty is to succeed.
Whilst agriculture has historically been a major employer, that role is diminishing. Calculations by the South African Institute of Race Relations show that the agricultural sector has shed 331 000 jobs over the past 12 years. This figure does not include possible job losses that would occur after the increase of the minimum wage.
Agriculture will therefore lose its capacity for job creation if the growth of the sector is not supported. The need for greater support has never been higher in light of the announcement of the disappointing 0,9% GDP growth in the first quarter of this financial year.
However, government support is minuscule compared to support by other countries for their farmers. The Producer Support Estimate, PSE, a measure of government assistance to farmers, is at 3% for South Africa compared to 12% for China and 24% for Russia.
The DA therefore welcomes the Minister's acknowledgement that South African farmers, both commercial and small-scale, need more support. This support could come in the form of additional funds from the National Treasury to fund the implementation of green box policies such as infrastructure support, research and development in agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
The agricultural sector remains the most distorted industry in the world. To promote the comprehensive development of rural areas in China, the Chinese government applied many strategies, including one guided by the principle of "giving more, taking less". China even abolished the agriculture tax that had existed for more than 600 years.
According to the Free Market Foundation, South Africans pay more than four months' salary in taxes to fund government. This year the taxpayer worked from 1 January to 8 May only to be able to afford taxes. Very little tax is used to benefit farmers. Even rural roads are being fixed by farmers these days. This is why the DA in the Western Cape is spending the bulk of its Agriculture budget on its farmer support and development programme.
They have created expert panels for each commodity group, consisting of government and private sector experts. This means that since 2009 the Western Cape Provincial Government has supported a total of 252 projects through the commodity approach to the value of R410 million. This has covered all 10 commodities currently involved across the entire province.
In comparison, the leadership of Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson could best be described by the Auditor-General in the annual report of the department as, and I quote:
Insufficient communication between those charged with governance and the Minister contributed to the lack of commitment and accountability by leadership to address repeat findings on reporting on predetermined objectives, governance and compliance.
This is the reason why this department is stumbling from one crisis to the next.
The DA has learned that Minister Joemat-Pettersson is one of the main causes of the backlog in the registration of certain stock remedies after she failed to sign a document approving the use of outsourced experts, who are crucial in the registration process. This resulted in 2 197 registrations that have not been evaluated and are waiting for approval.
The Minister has ignored calls to speed up the process to the point of flouting the law in disregard of a court order of the North Gauteng High Court instructing her to look into bringing the register up to date. In fact, the Minister has a contempt of court judgment granted against her. [Interjections.]
To further illustrate my point, while discussing the strategic plan of the department, the portfolio committee came to the conclusion that Ncera Farms should be shut down.
Ncera Farms is a public company that is wholly owned by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Its mandate is to provide extension, mechanical services, training and agricultural support services to the farmers operating on Ncera Farms.
The committee had reached the conclusion that Ncera Farms was a failed enterprise that should be shut down. The entity provided no value for the money invested in it and DAFF had not developed any plans to turn it around. The state cannot continue to fund an entity that is not financially viable. The farmers reached the conclusion that DAFF was unwilling to assist them. A total amount of R34 614 000 million has been pumped into Ncera since 1998.
If this is how the department treats its flagship training and development programme, just imagine what kind of assistance small-scale farmers receive through the department's comprehensive agricultural support programme.
Alita van der Walt from Farmers Weekly sums it up perfectly, and I quote:
Until government realises that handing out land and tractors will not turn emerging farmers into commercial farmers, transformation will be stuck in its current rut.
Public-private partnerships are paying off. Why not strengthen these relationships, rather than seeing white commercial agriculture as the enemy? White and black farmers alike simply want an environment favourable to successful business. They have been telling our Ministers what they need and they have proof of what they can do under the right circumstances. When will they receive the support they need?
The time for political poin- scoring has come to an end Minister. We reiterate our call from our last Budget Vote debate, for you to resign and allow more capable people to run the department. [Applause.]
For the people sticking their tongues, it could cause blue tongue disease if you stick out your tongue. Thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Mr B M BHANGA / src / TAKE ENDS AT 16:35:23.
Mrs A STEYN
Mr B M BHANGA: Chairperson, greetings all. In the 18th Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte, Karl Marx has this to say:
Men make their own history, but they do not make it as they please; they do not make it under circumstances chosen by themselves, but under circumstances directly encountered, given and transmitted from the past.
Amilcar Cabral had this to say: "Tell no lies, claim no easy victories."
In giving an account of the work the Minister has done in the past four years, the House, the guests and the stakeholders will agree that she is the first Minister in the history of our democratic South Africa who has had six directors-general in just four years. Let me remind South Africa of the Minister's victims: Mrs Njabulo Nduli, Dr Emily Mogajane, Peter Thabethe, Dr Mono Mashaba, Langa Zitha and the current Hollywood actor, Mr Ntombela. All of them were actors from Hollywood.
This is truly history made that a Minister can declare her administration dysfunctional for four years, but still continue to survive Cabinet reshuffles. She is truly important to the ANC, more than the South Africans she continues to fail in the agricultural sector.
Let us list things the Minister has done wrong in the past four years. You have promoted officials implicated in corruption to senior management positions in your department. You have misplaced specialised vets to administrative responsibilities; you have incorrectly suspended officials and the South African public had to pay for that. You have collapsed our marine vessels. The Africana is supposed to have been collecting data in our coastal environment, but has not been sailing for not less than two years. The Ellen Khuzwayo Patrol vessel has not been monitoring illegal activities in the coastal environment, leaving our coastal waters open to poaching. The recently head-hunted deputy director-general for Fisheries ran away within a period of five months.
I am talking about Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson's administration. You have failed to advance the interests of the entire agricultural sector, including farm workers, farmers, and the entire food chain. You have opted to instigate violence in the farming communities. [Interjections.] You have failed to implement the provisions of the Meat Safety Act and the nation is confused on what it consumes, whether we are eating whales, donkeys or dogs. This is all because of your inability to lead this sector correctly. [Applause.]
For this incompetence, any reasonable government would have fired you a long time ago and made you account for your wrongdoings and your incompetent administration. However, in this incompetent regime, we have become a banana republic, because people like you continue to be rewarded. [Applause.]
Truly, Minister, you are indeed a true South African story...[Interjections.]... that President Zuma was referring to, a failed revolutionary state, a nation that rewards nonperformers ... [Interjections.]
Mr G S RADEBE: Hon Chairperson, I rise on a point of order: Is it parliamentary for hon Bhanga to point at another hon member with his finger? [Interjections.]
An HON MEMBER: Yes, it is! Continue! Continue!
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON: (Ms N W Ngele): Continue, hon Bhanga.
Mr B M BHANGA: The new ANC continues to reward nonperformers. We have become a nation that has sold its airbase to the highest bidder, the Guptas of the new ANC. Minister, you are truly a history-maker, and you deserve a wooden microphone.
During the commemoration of World Food Day in October last year, Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson promised the poor people of South Africa that government would ensure the realisation of the right to have access to sufficient food and water. She went on and said that President Zuma had challenged the Cabinet to actively take part in ending the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality by adopting policies that prioritise the basic needs of our people, particularly in rural communities. She told poor South Africans that our country is generally a food-secure country. This is far from the truth. Many South Africans experience chronic poverty and chronic food insecurity.
In places like KwaZakhele, Pongolo, and Bizana the food security of many South Africans depends substantially on the household income and assets or wealth status. A low-income household is more likely to suffer food shortages than a wealthier household. This means that millions of households with weak livelihoods are vulnerable to food insecurity. In statistical terms 45% of all female-headed households live below the poverty line compared to only 25% of male-headed households.
Millions of children are going to bed hungry and have no access to food and clean water. Thousands of children under the age of five years suffer from severe malnutrition. Twenty percent of children are undersized and 10% are underweight. What policies did the Minister adopt to eradicate poverty? [Interjections.] The only thing you know to do is to make a noise. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Mr R N CEBEKHULU
Mr B M BHANGA
Mr R N CEBEKHULU: Hon Chairperson, hon Ministers, hon Deputy Ministers who are present here, hon members, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the Inkatha Freedom Party, I am proud to stand in this House and deliver this speech on Budget Vote No 26.
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is tasked with the responsibility of ensuring food security in South Africa. It is tasked with the solemn obligation of keeping our population well fed.
On the note of food security, we further advise that we are totally against any kind of genetically modified food crops in South Africa. We call for the immediate banning of same from our soil. Eight national governments in the European Union have already banned the cultivation of Monsanto's MON810 maize and other forms of genetically modified organisms in their countries. There is clearly something wrong with genetically modified foods. Why do we continue to allow their proliferation in South Africa?
In addition, the department must ensure that we also have surplus food products to export to our less fortunate neighbours on the continent and around the world. The department is performing its task admirably, but there are still many challenges.
Job losses due to failure of farms that were restored to emerging farmers is one such challenge. In this regard we call for additional departmental intervention in the form of training at these farms in order to ensure their future success.
The promise of providing rural communities with tractors in order to plough their fields is not meeting the current demand. The method of distribution of these tractors also remains questionable. Challenges remain in the distribution, management, servicing and monitoring of this equipment.
In KwaZulu-Natal we have witnessed many cases of tractors and equipment standing idle in the fields or at the department's regional offices as they have broken down. They have stood in this state of disrepair for such a long time that the grass has already covered them. We have seen and heard of the same thing in the Free State. Tractors are in such a state of disrepair that they are left in these departmental fields, and this results in far greater damage than just gathering dust.
Our subsistence farmers miss their ploughing seasons. In my constituency there are farms that are lying fallow. These are state farms that were providing employment to 500 workers and supporting about 5 000 dependants. These farms should have been leased to competent farmers so as to stabilise production and provide jobs to the surrounding communities.
In Makhathini Flats, the entire investment in farming by the department was wasted. The infrastructure of the irrigation scheme is no longer operational. The promise of job opportunities in these areas were a dream to local communities, but now they are a recurring nightmare. The money spent was like pouring water down the drain.
I also wish to raise an issue that has recently been in our local and international media, namely the use of the meat of various animals that were found in the fridges our retail shops, improperly labelled and/or unlabelled. Sausages and boerewors have been found to contain meat from horses, donkeys and other animals. I am not mentioning this because I look down upon those foodstuffs, but because customers are entitled to know what they are paying for and eating.
Cross-border poaching continues to erode our livestock. Additionally, the cheap imports of chicken from Brazil, Australia and China are destroying our poultry industry and resulting in domestic job losses. Although we are a co-operative government, it seems there is no co-ordination between or oversight by national and provincial government. As such, national government is unable effectively to follow up on how funds they have allocated to provinces are spent.
Our biggest problem as the portfolio committee is that the Minister never attends our meetings. [Applause.] This limits our oversight to the administrative section only. One wonders whether the Minister has an attitude problem towards Parliament. [Applause.]
Our porous borders have a negative impact on our livestock. Firstly, through cross-border stock theft which happens with impunity because once the livestock cross the border into Mozambique or Lesotho, our police can no longer recover it. Secondly, livestock animals from neighbouring countries, especially those which are infected by diseases such as foot-and-mouth are brought across our borders and they spread these diseases locally. In spite of all that I have said, the IFP would like to support the Budget Vote. [Time expired. [Applause.]]
Mrs R E NYALUNGU / EKS/LIM CHECKED//
Mr R N CEBEKHULU
Mrs R E NYALUNGU: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon members, distinguished guests, in debating this Budget Vote, I shall focus on the public entities of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and on how this Budget Vote can assist in amplifying their role as instruments in advancing economic transformation.
For the ANC, the strategic direction with regard to the economic transformation of any public entity is to: Firstly, treat these entities as drivers and agents of economic restructuring to advance the developmental objectives of the developmental state and the broader democratic society in line with policy resolutions that have been adopted by the ANC at both its 52nd and 53rd national conferences.
Secondly, we must, on continual basis, assess policies that will bring about an enforced optimum alignment and co-ordination of mandates and operations of these public entities with the broader objectives of the developmental state. The broader aim must be to restructure the economy in order to create decent job opportunities, equitable income distribution, quality service delivery and social justice.
We have to explore viable ways and means to strengthen the entities through public partnerships amongst and within the entities themselves. The department must demonstrate how it can use the strength of entities to support and direct private sector investment in agriculture and other related sectors of the economy in order to stimulate manufacturing and promote entrepreneurship development programmes that will enhance de-racialisation of the economy and the creation of new firms.
Above all, public entities as powerful development agents for economic transformation should remain firmly in the hands and under the control of the state in order to respond effectively to the development goals of the ANC government. [Interjections.] Ask yourself that question.
The first entity is the Agricultural Research Council, ARC, and its medium-term strategic goals that we have noted are to understand and promote research, to use and share its technological expertise and to establish and control facilities in the fields of research, development and technology transfer.
What will be critical in going forward is to ensure that the organisational restructuring alignment is being done to enhance the directives of the New Growth Path, NGP, and the National Development Plan, NDP, as well as the strategic orientation on agriculture. We welcome the Agricultural Research Council's strategic priorities, which include growth in agriculture, increased productivity, food security, the Zero Hunger campaign, bio-security, job creation and optimal technology platforms.
With regard to human resource capacity, it was noted that the Agricultural Research Council has not been successful in filling vacancies. We have concerns regarding the credibility of the information presented to the committee. This is because of the staff positions and vacancies in the Agricultural Research Council's business plan that differ from those in the 2013 Estimates of National Expenditure. [Interjections.]
The second entity is the Onderstepoort Biological Products, OBP. The strategic goals of this entity over the medium term are to improve manufacturing efficiency; reduce the input costs of production; ensure that vaccines remain affordable in the market; form strategic partnerships to leverage funding, research and development capacity.
Whilst we acknowledged that revenue decreased between 2010-11 and 2012-13, the reasons for this were understandable. The decrease followed a significant increase in revenue in the previous yea, when the vaccine was first introduced. We welcome the spending focused, over the medium term, on modernising the vaccine production facility and building personnel capacity by filling vacant research and development posts. The concerns we share relate to the sufficiency of the R2 million that has been allocated for security, given that OBP is a National Key Point.
The third entity is the Perishable Products Export Control Board, PPECB, whose its strategic goals over the medium term are to enhance the credibility of South Africa's export certification, and contribute to South Africa's perishable product industries to become more competitive in terms of exports.
We are concerned our exports have not grown in the past three years. The citrus black spot is a challenge that poses a threat to the entire citrus industry and also has a financial impact on the PPECB and the agricultural sector.
Politically, as the ANC, we give full support to the PPECB and the department in their negotiations to stop the European Union's market from putting a ban on South African citrus exports due to black spot. We welcome the intention to review the Perishable Products Export Control Board Act and the Agricultural Product Standards Act. This will have a significant impact on the modernisation of PPECB business and its financial model, including future sustainability.
We acknowledge the existing challenge, which is the conversion of a manual system to an electronic platform for the handling of data and providing more cost-effective services to customers by reducing their prices in order to become more competitive.
With regard to the fourth entity, the National Agricultural Marketing Council, NAMC, we have noted that its strategic goal over the medium term is to ensure an increased market access for all market participants and most importantly to bring transformation. This is in line with what the ANC expects from public entities.
As part of the transformation process, the continuing support for the development of schemes to secure markets for small-holder farmers is being advanced. [Interjections.] Heyi! [Laughter.] We are encouraged that NAMC is collaborating with the Department of Further Education and Training. The Minister has already mentioned that colleges are to render services to small-holder producers.
Sepedi:
Ke ka fao re ratago go dira boipiletšo le go rata go leboga ge dikholetšhe tša rena tša temo tšeo di bego di tswaletšwe di bulwa ka moka go tlo tšweletša bokgoni go baswa ba rena gore ba kgone go tseba tša bolemi. [Legofsi.]
English:
We commend the NAMC for their good work and for consistency in achieving clean audits for their financial performance. Our concerns are about the lack of synergy and overlaps in the work of the department's entities.
Regarding the fifth entity, Ncera Farms (Pty) Ltd, our views here are the result of long and protracted engagement with the entity. The ANC supports the Vote. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Mr L B GAEHLER /sam//JN-checked(Eng) // kn(Sepedi) / TAKE ENDS AT 16:59:04.
Mrs R E NYALUNGU
Mr L B GAEHLER: Chairperson, since 2009, we have been hoping that we would reach a point where the Minister would successfully turn the department around and place it on a path to efficiency and effectiveness, but this far this has proven to be wishful thinking. Instead, the situation in the department has taken a turn for the worst.
For evidence, one has to look no further than the fact that the department has spent 90% of its budget, and only 51% of its targets have been reached. Two questions now come to mind: "Where did the money go to? Has it been diverted to President Zuma's Zero Hunger programme?" Minister, the public deserves to know what happened to the rest of the money.
We have received numerous complaints from emerging farmers around the country regarding the department's mechanisation programme. Many of these complaints echo the UDM's sentiments. Some of these tractors are lying and rusting in different yards. The department has no policy regarding the issue of these tractors and we request the department to take this matter seriously this time around.
Monitoring and evaluation of existing projects in the department is very weak, to say the least. For example, every year, the department gives money to provinces in order to ensure the success of the Comprehensive Agriculture Support Programme, CASP, but it does not monitor how these funds have been used and whether they have been used for the intended purposes.
To make things worse, the requests that have been sent by the stakeholders and us have not been answered, because those officials do not have the information.
IsiXhosa:
Mhlekazi, Mama ...
English:
... let us be very clear. Here, we transfer money to provinces ...
IsiXhosa:
... imali esiyithumela emaphondweni yekarhulumente, asiyiyo imali ye-ANC kwaye ilungiselelwe ukwenza iiprojekthi ezi sithi xa sihambela amaphondo sifike singaziboni. Iya phi le mali? Ingaba yakha amasebe okanye iinkampu ze-ANC? [Uwelewele.] Yimali karhulumente le asiyiyo eyenu, niyithanda ningayithandi loo nto. Zange nifike namali apha. [Kwaqhwatywa.]
Ndithi kuni zenzeleni inkqubo nomgaqo-nkqubo we-CASP eziza kuqinisekisa ukuba le mali iyajongwa kuba ihliswa ngemilenze ngaBaphathiswa emaphondweni. Mayiphele le nto yokusetyenziswa gwenxa kwemali karhulumente yi-ANC, Mphathiswa. Le mali asiyiyo imali ye-ANC, yimali yeerhafu zethu niyithanda ningayithandi loo nto maqabane. Enkosi. [Kwaqhwatywa.]
Mrs C DUDLEY
Mr L B GAEHLER
Mrs C DUDLEY: Hon Minister, I have something very specific on my mind and I'm hoping to get your undivided attention for the next very few minutes. [Interjections.] Hon Minister, I'm really hoping to get your undivided attention for the next very few minutes. [Interjections.] She is clearly not going to listen.
In August 2012, the ACDP submitted to Parliament a petition to overturn a government decision to allow the import of GM Maize, known as Agent Orange, into South Africa. The maize is dubbed "Agent Orange" because it has been genetically modified to survive the weedkiller called 2,4-D, one of the key ingredients of the infamous defoliant chemical used in the Vietnam war. [Interjections.]
Hon Minister, I have something very specific on my mind that I need your undivided attention for. [Interjections.]
The introduction of 2,4-D-resistant crops is expected to trigger a thirty-fold increase in the use of this chemical, which has been linked to cancer of the white blood cells and has produced a variety of disturbing results in studies on animals. The use of 2,4-D is banned in Norway, Sweden and Denmark.
The ACDP is of the opinion that government has been hasty in granting the approval of 2,4-D GM maize. The United States of America government last week announced that it will not grant approval for the cultivation of this crop until at least 2015 pending further research into safety. It is disturbing that our government granted approval for the consumption of this maize before it was approved in the country of origin.
The ACDP is appealing to you to urgently initiate a complete review of our risk assessment and permitting process. The ACDP further calls on the Minister to review Monsanto's original research submitted for approval of maize that is already in production and being consumed in South Africa. We note that Kenya has banned GM imports as a result of this research. This matter needs to be interrogated and the public needs to be well-informed and involved.
Maize is a staple food in South Africa and the risks pose a threat to the entire nation. We should be supporting healthy food production systems that will sustain our people and the environment into the future. It is our understanding that no other government has allowed its staple food to be genetically modified.
The ACDP recognises the major considerations and implications that weigh on these issues. Decisions are not easy when provision of food in the short term cloud health risks and health threats in the longer term.
I do have to leave for another debate. However, I will follow up on this issue with you and I will make what I said available, in case you didn't hear. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mr J H STEENHUISEN / Nb/Checked by Nobuntu / TAKE ENDS AT
Mrs C DUDLEY
Mr J H STEENHUISEN: Chairperson, on a point of order: It is parliamentary precedence and convention that government speaks from that side of the House and the opposition speaks from this side of the House. I ask you to advise whether it is correct that a Deputy Minister is speaking from the opposition bench, or is he embarrassed by his Minister. [Interjections.]
Afrikaans:
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Dom Engelsman. Dom Engelsman. [Dumb Englishman. Dumb Englishman.]
English:
Mr G G HILL-LEWIS: Chairperson, on a point of order: Is it parliamentary for a Deputy Minister to refer to a hon member of this House as a "dumb Englishman"? I would like you to rule on that, please.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs N J Ngele): Hon member, I will rule later. [Interjections.] Hon Deputy Minister, I told you to start and you didn't. Now, my ruling is that you should please withdraw your statement.
Afrikaans:
Die ADJUNKMINISTER VAN LANDBOU, BOSBOU EN VISSERY: Voortsitter, kan ek net sê, ek wag vir die horlosie om te kom, sodat ek kan weet hoeveel tyd ek het en nie onnodig reageer op die linkerkant nie. Ek dank u vir die reëling wat u gemaak het oor die situasie. Ek het hoeveel keer al my posisie vir die agb lid verduidelik. As hy dit nie verstaan nie, dan moet hy dom wees. [Tussenwerpsels.]
English:
An HONOURABLE MEMBER: Withdraw it!
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs N J Ngele): Hon Deputy Minister ...
Afrikaans:
Die ADJUNKMINISTER VAN LANDBOU, BOSBOU EN VISSERY: Die landbousektor is 'n primêre ... DA, as julle kleinpolitiek wil maak, wag vir die verkiesing. [Tussenwerpsels.] Ek verstaan nie waarmee julle nou besig is nie. Dit is 'n landboudebat. [Tussenwerpasels.]
English:
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs N J Ngele): Hon Deputy Minister, please withdraw.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: I will try my best. You must keep them silent on this side.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs N J NGELE): Hon Deputy Minister, did you withdraw?
Afrikaans:
Die ADJUNKMINISTER VAN LANDBOU, BOSBOU EN VISSERY: Die landbousektor is 'n primêre sektor van belang vir die ekonomie en het die potensiaal om nog meer werkgeleenthede te skep ...
English:
Mr G G HILL-LEWIS: Chairperson, on a point of order: I don't think the Deputy Minister has complied with your ruling.
Afrikaans:
Mnr P J GROENEWALD: Agb Voorsitter, op 'n punt van orde: Ek wil weet of dit parlementêr is dat dom agb lede kort-kort die agb Minister kan onderbreek. Laat hy sy toespraak hou, dat die agb dom lid kan begin wakker word en ... [Tussenwerpsels.]
Mr G G HILL-LEWIS: You shouldn't have sent that tweet to me, my friend. You made a big mistake. Point of order, Madam Chair.
English:
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs N J NGELE): No, I am ruling now. Please, give me a chance. [Interjections.] No, I am ruling now. Hon Deputy Minister, please withdraw.
An HONOURABLE MEMBER: Withdraw!
Afrikaans:
Die ADJUNKMINISTER VAN LANDBOU, BOSBOU EN VISSERY: Moet ek terugtrek dat hy dom is? Dit is baie swaar, maar ek trek terug dat hy dom is. [Tussenwerpsels.]
English:
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs N J Ngele): Hon members, please, I am dealing with something. Give me a chance. Leave it to me. It is not your problem. Hon Deputy Minister, will you please withdraw?
An HONOURABLE MEMBER: Chairperson, he did withdraw!
Afrikaans:
'n AGBARE LID: Hy het onttrek!
Die ADJUNKMINISTER VAN LANDBOU, BOSBOU EN VISSERY: Ek het teruggetrek. Ek dink ons mors tyd. Hierdie is 'n landboudebat, nie kleinlike politiek nie. Ek het teruggetrek wat ek gesê het. Asseblief. [Tussenwerpsels.]
Die landbousektor is 'n primêre sektor van belang vir die ekonomie en het die potensiaal om nog meer werkgeleenthede te skep en sodoende landelike ontwikkeling te bevorder. Dit is egter 'n sektor ... [Tussenwerpsels.]
English:
Shut up, man. [Interjections.]
Afrikaans:
'n AGBARE LID: Julle is kinderagtig.
English:
Mr J H STEENHUISEN: Madam Chair, on a point of order: It is unparliamentary for a member to tell another member in this House to shut up.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs N J Ngele): What is the point of order?
Mr J H STEENHUISEN: The point of order is that it is unparliamentary for a member in this House, particularly a Deputy Minister, to tell another member in the House to shut up. I ask that he withdraw.
Afrikaans:
Mnr P J GROENEWALD: Agb Voorsitter, op 'n punt van orde: Ek wil weet of dit parlementêr is dat 'n agb lid hier voor sit en aanmekaar tussenwerpsels maak. Tussenwerpsels is toelaatbaar, maar as dit sodanig is dat daar nie 'n behoorlike toespraak deur die agb Adjunkminister gemaak kan word nie, wil ek u vra as Voorsitter om vir die agb lid te sê om hom te gedra soos 'n agb lid. [Tussenwerpsels.] "Shut up" jy ook! [Tussenwerpsels.]
Mr J H STEENHUISEN: Point of order, Madam Chair!
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs N J NGELE): Are you going to let him get away with it? Sit down. Please sit down. You are now making things difficult. It is unnecessary.
Afrikaans:
'n AGBARE LID: Dis die "Chief Whip" van die Opposisieparty!
English:
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs N J Ngele): Just a minute. Wait for me to give you the ruling. It is not going to work if it is point of order after point of order. Then we are not going anywhere. Please, give me a chance to give the ruling. [Interjections.]
Deputy Minister, will you please switch off your mike. Deputy Minister, do me a favour. Shut up, is not parliamentary. It is unparliamentary. Please withdraw.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Madam Speaker, I will withdraw that but I can't hear myself speaking and therefore I withdraw it unconditionally. Please, give me an opportunity and protect me to make my speech for the sake of agriculture. [Interjections.] [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Hon Chairperson, I am asking that our Deputy Minister be given an opportunity to complete his speech. I do believe that there is some level of decorum and could you please allow the Deputy Minister to complete his speech. [Interjections.]
An HON MEMBER: It is not a portfolio meeting, Minister. [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs N J Ngele): It is not a point of order. Please, hon members, see that everything is going well. We cannot move. Please, talk to your members.
Afrikaans:
Die ADJUNKMINISTER VAN LANDBOU, BOSBOU EN VISSERY: Agb Voorsitter, hierdie is landboudebat en ek wil tog hê mense wat daar buite luister moet kennis neem daarvan ...
English:
Mr M WATERS: Chairperson, on a point of order: While you have ruled that shut up is unparliamentary, you haven't asked the hon Groenewald to withdraw the words "shut up" to hon Hill-Lewis. [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs N J Ngele): It is unparliamentary. The hon member who said shut up, please withdraw your statement.
Mr P J GROENEWALD: Hon Chairperson, I am going to speak just now. I will withdraw my remark on condition that the hon member stay here so that they can listen to what I want to say to them.
AN HON MEMBER: No, withdraw.
Mr P J GROENEWALD: If you have guts, stay here!
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs N J Ngele): Hon member, please withdraw.
Afrikaans:
Mnr P J GROENEWALD: Ek het gesê dat ek terugtrek. Ek trek terug.
English:
Nkosi Z M D MANDELA: Chairperson, on a point of order: Can we allow the Deputy Minister to complete his speech, starting from scratch, because he hasn't been afforded the time to speak. [Applause.] [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mrs N J Ngele): Hon members, allow the Deputy Minister to continue, please.
Afrikaans:
Die ADJUNKMINISTER VAN LANDBOU, BOSBOU EN VISSERY: Agb Voorsitter, Hierdie is 'n landboudebat oor eintlik 'n baie belangrike saak – Suid-Afrika se landbou wat ons almal raak. Ek dink die lede hier en die mense daar buite moet kennis neem dat die DA dit nodig ag om kleinpolitiek hier te maak. Ons sal later politieke debatte hê. Ons sal later politieke debatte voer, maar hierdie debat gaan oor landbou en die toekoms van landbou, wat ons almal raak.
Die vraag wat ek wil vra is: Wat is die grootste probleem wat landbouers tans in Suid-Afrika het? Die grootste probleem op hierdie stadium is onsekerheid – onsekerheid oor hul grond in die lig van verwarrende uitsprake, onsekerheid oor die styging van administratiewe pryse waar hulle geen beheer het nie. Die onsekerheid gaan oor dinge soos die koste van elektrisiteit, dinge soos water, asook die onlangse lone, wat alles 'n effek het en die onsekerheid veroorsaak.
English:
Madam, these increases pose huge threats to the sustainability of the sector. To thus protect farmers, farms, farm workers and ultimately food security, critical interventions by government via direct and indirect support mechanisms are needed.
Furthermore, the diverse South African sector more than ever requires a committed partnership between the private and all the public sector organs. The support of the state-owned entities, SOEs, in the sector is a partnership that has evolved over decades. Extensive empirical evidence demonstrates that agricultural research and development investments have greatly contributed to economic growth, agricultural development and poverty alleviation in developing regions over the past five decades. Effectively new technologies and crop varieties resulting from research and development investments have effectively enhanced the quantity and quality of agricultural produce, at the same time, increasing sustainability was possible because of this research.
Given the important challenges, such as population growth, climate change, increasing weather variability, water scarcity, and the volatility of food prices, we must recognise the value of greater investment in agricultural research and development as an essential element in increasing agricultural productivity.
Afrikaans:
Daarom mag die rol van die Landbounavorsingsraad, LNR, nooit onderskat word nie. Die kernmandaat van die LNR is om landbou se bydrae tot lewenskwaliteit te bevorder en om effektiewe natuurlike hulpbronne te verseker.
English:
To date, the Agricultural Research Council, ARC, has successfully implemented the National Livestock Animal Improvement Scheme that is aimed at improving the performance, competitiveness and efficiency of smallholder farmers through the application of practical scientific approaches to the breeding and management of livestock. Through this scheme, we have seen an increase in the number of smallholder farmers participating in the scheme from 920 a year ago, to 4 075 livestock producers by the end of March 2013.
During the 2013-14 financial year, the ARC will increase the number of farmers participating in the scheme by an additional 2 000, and this will include collaboration with other organisations such as the Industrial Development Corporation, IDC, and the Independent Development Trust, IDT. The ARC will also continue providing services such as artificial insemination and embryo transfer to smallholder farmers. Surely this is a success that we can start showing in that area.
The ARC renders innovative and smart solutions, which help farmers eliminate pests and eradicate diseases. Vaccines are a highly specialised animal health area. With it, the ARC conducts clinical trials ensuring the efficacy and effectiveness of such remedies for the livestock sector.
The 2013-14 financial year marks the beginning of a new era also for Onderstepoort Biological Products, OBP. The much needed capital injection of R492 million from National Treasury over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, period will be utilised to refurbish the aging plant, to purchase new equipment and to build a Good Manufacturing Practice, GMP, facility which will place OBP onto a new trajectory. If you visited them, you will know why they are so important, and I think this is a breakthrough. The quality of OBP vaccines is a critical issue. The quality control system has been accredited, and this must ensure that no substandard batch of vaccines leave the plant. Onderstepoort Biological Products has also received research funding of R39 million from the Technology Innovation Agency.
Chairperson, South Africa is currently a net exporter of agricultural, forestry and fisheries products. These sectors' exports contribute R61 billion to the gross domestic product, GDP, with a R6,5 billion positive trade balance. It is, however, noteworthy that South Africa's agricultural exports decreased by 5% between 2011 and 2012. We need to acquire a positive investment climate and a high level of business confidence in order to enhance and maintain our competitiveness. Political stability and sound decision-making are key with regard to the attribution of a positive climate and the enhancement of the level of trade and investment confidence.
The goal of creating one million jobs by 2030, according to the National Development Plan, is only possible through export growth, and export growth is only possible through investment in the growing export sectors. Our department has been successful in establishing good trade relations with new markets and will continue with this initiative during the next financial year. The department and the Perishable Products Export Control Board, PPECB, are working closely to assist South Africans – within the ambit of the law – to export their products successfully in a highly competitive global arena. As a result of some sacrifices and creative thinking, the PPECB has gone from a R16 million loss to a financial break-even situation in one year. The PPECB has revised the Perishable Products Export Control Act, Act No 9 of 1983. This was an intensive exercise that involved consultations with many people. It is hoped that, once the new Act is promulgated, it will enable the PPECB to modernise its business offerings to the public. It should certainly put the PPECB's business model on a more sustainable footing.
The National Agricultural Marketing Council continues to successfully implement developmental schemes in vine grapes, maize, sunflower and livestock. The objectives of these schemes are to secure markets, which is of critical importance for the development of emerging farmers. We cannot have farmers who are left in the emerging phase forever. These farmers should be enabled to successfully develop into commercial producers. That is for the benefit of all of us. [Applause.] It is, however, important that there will, at such a stage, still be a commercial sector subsisting for these farmers to join.
Afrikaans:
Voorsitter, verstaan ons werklik wat dit beteken om voedselsekerheid in die toekoms vir 'n wêreldbevolking van nege miljard en 'n Suid-Afrikaanse bevolking van 60 tot 70 miljoen te probeer verseker? In Suid-Afrika se geval kan 70% van sy inwoners reeds oor 20 jaar in die stede woon. Om hierin te kan slaag, is 'n suksesvolle kommersiële landbousektor noodsaaklik.
English:
Notwithstanding a concerted global effort after the 1996 World Food Summit, global food insecurity increased from 800 million people in 1996 to 925 million people in 2011, with 235 million people living in sub-Saharan Africa. It is estimated that the increase in the world population, from the current 7 billion to 8 billion by 2030, will require an additional 120 million hectares for crop production. Furthermore, by 2050, the estimated global population of 9 billion will require an increase in agricultural production to the extent of an additional 1 billion tons of cereals and 200 million tons of livestock products per annum.
Afrikaans:
Die feit is verder dat meeste van die bewerkbare landbougrond op hierdie planeet wat ons reeds beplant het, klaar gebruik is. Dan verloor ons omtrent 10 miljoen hektaar vrugbare grond ter wêreld elke jaar. In Suid-Afrika is reeds goeie landbougrond so groot soos die Krugerwildtuin permanent vir landbou verlore as gevolg van mynbou-aktiwiteite en verstedeliking.
Suid-Afrika het tans nie 'n tekort aan voedsel nie. So daar kan geargumenteer word dat ons voedelsekerheid het. Tog bevind Statistiek Suid-Afrika in 2010 dat 23% van die Suid-Afrikaanse bevolking tekorte aan voedsel het en honger het. Hierdie honger en ondervoeding in Suid-Afrika word nie soseer deur 'n tekort aan voedsel, soos in ander lande, veroorsaak nie. Dit word veroorsaak deur die armoede van sekere lede van die gemeenskap wat nie kos teen huidige kospryse kan bekostig nie.
Hoe los ons hierdie probleme op? Hoe produseer ons meer voedsel op minder grond sonder om die omgewing verder te besoedel? Dis die uitdaging. Hoe verseker ons dat hierdie voedsel goedkoop genoeg is om voedselsekerheid ook vir die armes in ons gemeenskap te verseker? Hierdie lyk na 'n onmoontlike probleem en 'n dilemma. Dit is vir my duidelik dat boerdery, soos ons dit vandag ken, op pad na 2050 ingrypend sal moet verander om dit die hoof te kan bied.
Is daar 'n antwoord? Ja. Tot op datum die afgelope eeu het ons met tegnologie, met navorsing en opleiding voorgebly met die verskaffing van voedsel. Ek sê met tegnologie kan die huidige plafonne wat op die produksie van kos bestaan, gebreek word. Daarmee kan meer en meer kos geproduseer word met dieselfde en selfs minder insette. Ek sê met tegnologie kan die volle potensiaal van plante verder ontsluit word, om meer te groei van minder, om ons voedselvoorraad te verdubbel en alternatiewe bronne van energie te skep sonder om die skaars waterbronne uit te put of die koolsuurgas meer te maak. Dis die uitdagings. Dis moderne landbou wat hoogs ingewikkeld is en wat hom nie leen tot kleinlike politiek soos vandag nie.
English:
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon Deputy Minister, your time has expired.
Afrikaans:
Die ADJUNKMINISTER VAN LANDBOU, BOSBOU EN VISSERYE: Ek is jammer, Voorsitter, ek is baie ver van klaar af. Die politieke debatte sal ons later voer, maar die DA wil kleinlike politiek maak. Ek dank u. [Applous.]
Mrs M E PILUSA-MOSOANE /Mia / TAKE ENDS AT 17:26:03.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES
Mrs M E PILUSA-MOSOANE: Hon Chairperson, all protocol observed. At its 52nd national conference in Polokwane in December 2007, the ANC resolved that stronger state capacity be built and greater resources be devoted to the challenges of rural development, land reform and agrarian change. It also resolved that large-scale programmes be implemented to establish new smallholders and improve the productivity of existing smallscale and subsistence farmers and to integrate smallholders into formal value chains and link them with markets.
It called for dedicated state and private institutions to be developed for the effective and directed support to land reform beneficiaries in general and smallholder agriculture and family farms in particular, including financial support, research and extension, the provision of tools and equipment and the facilitation of market access and co-operation.
The Polokwane conference resolved that the national agricultural policies be revisited, particularly in respect of subsidies, tariffs and marketing institutions and that the relationship between these and the ANC objectives in respect of rural development, land reform and agrarian change as well as food security be implemented.
Our 53rd national conference in Mangaung took this further through emphasis on the recapitalisation and development programme and the comprehensive agricultural support programme, Casp, including in communal areas. It called for the rationalisation of existing food security initiatives and reaffirmed the all-important and fundamental decision that land be treated as a socioeconomic right. This has major positive implications for agriculture, food security and tenure.
These are the policy directives that must inform this debate. The context in which we debate agriculture is a challenging one. The industrialised nations continue to provide lavish subsidies and other forms of protection to farmers with the aim of sustaining their agricultural sectors, maintaining social cohesion and ensuring national food security. The effect of this is to undermine rural livelihoods and exacerbate poverty in the developing world, especially in Africa.
The global recession has reduced demand for agricultural products and farmers in the developing world who depend on exports are faced with reduced orders and lower prices. Profits are lower and, as we have seen in South Africa, the debt burden of farmers is increasing. There is less investment in agriculture.
Whilst this is the situation, we are encouraged to note that with regard to job creation and sustainable jobs over the past year, over 80 000 new jobs have been created, most of them in rural areas.
Let me deal with the challenges and then outline how the ANC government is dealing with the challenges. The challenges facing the agricultural sector are multiple. They are to be found in animal and crop diseases, with our ostrich industry still suffering from a ban on meat exports to the UK and regaining our status as a foot-and-mouth disease-free country is not easy. Our citrus crop is currently threatened by the invasive citrus black spot, which also jeopardises our exports to Europe.
We cannot ignore the challenge of protecting prime agricultural land which is under severe threat. Mining industry and other developments are competing for this land and we need a department that has the resources and authority to defend our productive farm land.
The challenge of climate change is a major issue for agriculture. Farms produce large amounts of greenhouse gases, which add to the problems of climate change. Agriculture is the sector which is worst affected by droughts, floods and other extreme weather events.
We have a declining number of commercial farmers who are carrying larger debts and investing less in their farms. Emerging farmers who are still establishing their farms are the worst affected and too often do not graduate to full commercial enterprises. Support to these farmers and providing them with access to tractors, fertilisers and seeds is critical.
When it comes to progress, we are encouraged by the fact that the department is working with a unified agricultural sector in the form of the Agriculture Sector Unity Forum to deal with these challenges and many other issues. We support the initiative of the department's work with agribusiness to ensure food security and the growth of the food industry to create more jobs. Working with farmers and communities and responding to their needs and to the need for revitalisation of the agricultural sector is primary and there is much evidence of this.
The comprehensive agricultural support programmes mandate is to provide post-settlement support to targeted beneficiaries of land reform and redistribution and other producers who have acquired land through private means and are engaged in value-adding enterprises domestically or in export.
We have welcomed the progress in delivering on and off farm infrastructure support; technical and advisory assistance and regulatory services; training and capacity-building; marketing and business development; information and knowledge management and financial assistance to subsistence, smallholder and black commercial farmers.
We are encouraged by the spending focus of the Budget Vote on increasing support to smallholder farmers and producers through the Ilima/Letsema programme, the sustainable plant production systems and the maintenance of effective systems to manage risks associated with plant pests and diseases. Through the Ilima/Letsema programme, which is allocated R1,4 billion over the medium term for poverty alleviation, food security and job creation and plant-related commodity strategies, with a focus on indigenous food crops, will be rolled out. In terms of animal production, the programme will provide support to approximately 3 900 smallholder producers participating in animal improvement schemes.
As far back as 2010, Cabinet developed and adopted a value chain financing model that caters for collateral guarantee funds, supplementary capital, technical support and risk and market analysis. The support provided includes farm planning, technical support and market access. The grants will be used for on-off farm infrastructure and if on-farm, partners must be sought to ensure the success of the enterprise.
In order to deal with the challenge of food security, the major focus must be on food production in the future. Our smallholder farmers must be organised to ensure our country maintains its food security in future and we must ensure that they are successful.
The positive contribution of providing comprehensive support to subsistence and smallholder producers through the food security subprogramme is encouraging. Providing infrastructure development, extension services, production interventions and improved market access to attain food security is also encouraging.
Casp, which is allocated approximately R2,9 billion over the medium term needs to provide infrastructure to 220 000 existing and 80 000 new smallholder producers and 380 000 subsistence producers.
In conclusion, the mandate that this Budget Vote gives the department is to ensure that it contributes towards the provision of food for the country, growing the economy of rural areas and promoting export opportunities for the country. In the final instance, it is our best hope of ensuring that all people have enough nutritious food on their tables every day.
Sepedi:
Modulasetulo, ga re lebale gore gonabjale naga ya gaborena e lebane le bothata bja mebaene. Gonabjale ka kua Mpumalanga, dihekthara tše dintšintši di tšerwe ke mebaene. Go sa ya pele, mebaene e sa ntše e [prospecta]nyaka mo e ka humanang gore ba ka epa, mola e le gore naga ya rena ke ya go lota dijo [our land is for food security 17:36 gore batho ba se ke ba hlaka.
Re kgopela gore kgoro at the same time [ka nako ye][ee, re a e nyaka mebaene ka gore e hlola] e bolele le Kgoro ya Diminerale gore ba kwane, ba seke ba no tšatšametsa naga.Ee, re a e nyaka mebaene ka gore e hlola mešomo. Re tla ja eng? Go se go bjalo Afrika Borwa e tlo lebana ke gore e be naga ye e le go gore dijo tša yona di tšwa ka ntle. Re a kgopela. [Nako e fedile.]
English:
The ANC supports Budget Vote No 26. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Mr P J GROENEWALD
Ms M E PILUSA-MOSOANE
Mnr P J GROENEWALD: Agb Voorsitter, landbou is 'n strategiese bedryf. Die voortbestaan van die wêreld hang daarvan af. Dit is verkeerd dat die ANC die landbou as 'n politieke speelbal gebruik om stemme te werf. [Tussenwerpsels.] Dit is ook verkeerd van die DA om landbou as 'n politieke speelbal te gebruik om stemme te werf. Hulle is dieselfde!
English:
An HON MEMBER: You have the Deputy Minister!
Afrikaans:
Mnr P J GROENEWALD: Dit is die agb Dr Pieter Mulder ... [Tussenwerpsels.] ... wat die ANC en President Zuma aan die keel gegryp het, en gesê het dat swartes nie kan aanspraak maak op 100% van die land in Suid-Afrika nie. Dit is die DA wat saam met die ANC gestem het, en wat toe gesê het ... [Tussenwerpsels.] ... dat Dr Pieter Mulder sy geskiedenis moet gaan leer.
English:
An HON MEMBER: Well, he's canvassing!
Afrikaans:
Mnr P J GROENEWALD: Dit is die DA wat kaderontplooing in die Wes-Kaap doen ... [Tussenwerpsels.] ... soos die ANC kaderontplooing doen. [Tussenwerpsels.] Dit is die DA wat 'n gedeelde vriendskap met Gupta het, net soos die President van Suid-Afrika. [Tussenwerpsels.]
Dr Pieter Mulder het nog nooit by 'n lekgotla saam met ANC lede gedans nie, maar Helen Zille dans lekker saam met Zuma op die dansvloer. [Tussenwerpsels.] Maar dit mag die mense nie sien nie ... [Tussenwerpsels.] ... want hulle wil die indruk skep dat hulle teen die ANC is.
U kan maar gaan kyk na die agb Steenhuisen se profiel op Twitter. [Tussenwerpsels.] Hy lê daar op 'n bank, met 'n glas rooiwyn, 'n dik sigaar en blaas rookballetjies, op die vet van die belastingbetaler se geld. [Gelag.] [Tussenwerpsels.] Hy hou een ou toesprakie 'n jaar in die Parlement, maar dit is hoe hy is. [Tussenwerpsels.] Ek wil vir die agb lid sê daar is 'n Afrikaanse spreekwoord wat lui: Hou toe jou kraan, anders sien almal vir jou as 'n leë aan. As jy dit nie verstaan nie ... [Tussenwerpsels.] ... beteken dit, "Shut up" want jy bly 'n dom Engelsman!
IsiZulu:
An HON MEMBER: Haibo, haibo! [No, no!] [Interjections.]
English:
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order, order, hon members! Let's calm down. Order, order, hon members! Hon Groenewald, take your seat! [Laughter.] [Interjections.] Order, hon members! [Interjections.] Order, hon members on both sides of the House! Yes, hon member?
Mrs S V KALYAN: Chairperson, I rise on a point of order. Firstly, the language used by the hon member was unparliamentary, and secondly ...
... I wont repeat what he said, so don't ask me which one ...
... and secondly, the member ... [Interjections.] ... Sir, may I continue?
An HON MEMBER: There's no point of order!
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon members, the hon member is addressing the Chairperson of the session, and not you!
Mrs S V KALYAN: Sir, the first point of order is that the language used was unparliamentary, and the second point of order is that, as the member went back to his bench to take his seat, he displayed threatening behaviour and gestures. [Interjections.]
I maintain that it's unparliamentary and unbecoming of a Member of Parliament.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order!
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon Groenewald, will you please withdraw the remark that you made before you left the podium.
Afrikaans:
Mnr P J GROENEWALD: Agb Voorsitter, ek kan nie die waarheid terugtrek nie. Ek weier om dit terug te trek en ek daag die twee lede uit om my buite die Raadsaal te kom sien. [Gelag.] [Applous.]
Die HUISVOORSITTER (Mnr C T Frolick): Agb Groenewald, ek versoek u vir 'n tweede keur om dit wat u gesê het voordat u die podium verlaat het, terug te trek. [Tussenwerpsels.]
Mnr P J GROENEWALD: Agb Voorsitter, u kan my 'n derde keer vra, of 10 keer vra, maar ek weier om die waarheid terug te trek. {Tussenwerpsels.]
Die HUISVOORSITTER (Mnr C T Frolick): Agb Groenewald, sal u die Raadsaal verlaat asseblief?
'n AGB LID: Ja! Uit!
Mnr P J GROENEWALD: Agb Voorsitter, ek doen dit met trots ... en ek vra die twee lede om saam met my te kom as hulle "guts" het. [Tussenwerpsels.]
The member thereupon withdrew from the Chamber.
English:
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick: Order, order hon members! Order, hon members! Hon Kalyan, what is your point of order?
Mr S V KALYAN: Chairperson, I rise on a point of order. I would like you to rule on the threats that the hon member has made. While he may have left the Chamber, I would like you to give a ruling on or consider the threats that the hon member made against other members of the House. Thank you.
Nkosi Z M D MANDELA: Chair, on a point of order.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): I am still making a ruling, hon member! I will deal with the matter after this debate, since the member is no longer part of the proceedings. [Interjections.] Order, hon members! I said I would deal with the matter after this debate, since the hon member has left the House and is no longer here. There was another point of order. Yes, hon member?
Nkosi Z M MANDELA: Chair, I rise on a point of order. It was not a threat, but an invitation. [Laughter.] The member would like to meet them outside. [Interjections.] [Laughter.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order! That is not a point of order. [Laughter.] Order, hon members! The next speaker is the hon Twala. [Interjections.] Order, hon members! Can we please continue with the Budget Vote debate, please? There are too many disturbances by yourselves. You are prolonging the sitting.
Ms N M TWALA / TH / TAKE ENDS AT 17:43:29.
Mr P J GROENEWALD
Mrs N M TWALA: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister Joemat-Pettersson, hon Deputy Minister Mulder, hon members and distinguished guests, all ANC speakers who participated in their respective Budget Votes debates to date, were guided in these debates by the all embracing and rallying call that came out of our 53rd ANC National Conference in December 2012, namely, "Unity in action towards socioeconomic freedom".
This economic rallying call inspires the content of my speech when looking at forestry as a key and strategic economic resource of our country. This economic resource accounts for 1% of the national GDP and 15% of South Africa's trade balance. The sector employs 170 000 people and provides livelihood support for 850 000 people and the means of survival to almost 50% of South Africa's rural population.
The forestry sector makes a significant contribution to poverty alleviation in the rural areas. The key challenge for the forestry sector in respect of the theme of socioeconomic freedom is to demonstrate practically how it promotes and contributes to the country's economic growth, employment, poverty eradication and economic transformation.
There is no doubt that the consultative and participatory engagements in the formulation and implementation of the forestry sector policies and programmes in the country are primarily dealing with rural economic growth, poverty eradication and employment creation. Key amongst these policies and programmes is the Forestry Sector Transformation Charter. [Interjections.] Ask yourself!
This charter outlines targets and commitments by industry, government and labour in consultation with communities towards sustainable transformation throughout the sector. Notably, the forestry sector code incentivises higher targets on social investment. The overall progress on the charter undertakings to date indicates a reasonable improvement towards transformation.
In assessing what we mean when we say "reasonable improvement towards transformation", the indicators of funding, information sharing, skills development and capacity-building are used when assessing progress towards the transformation targets.
With respect to the targets that we set to attain black ownership, it is important to indicate that community trusts for the three communities in KwaZulu-Natal have been established and registered. The transfer of these assets to the relevant tribal authorities was done through a community forest agreement. The transfer plan for Rossbach Plantation in Limpopo has been developed by all the affected stakeholders and Small Enterprise Development Agency, Seda, is assisting with the development of a business plan. In Mpumalanga the transfer plan of Injaka Plantation has also been developed by all the affected stakeholders, that are three land claimant communities.
The forest sector has strived to get new afforestations started for a long time. We can celebrate the success that the Eastern Cape environmental impact assessment, EIA, that was done in the past year has yielded fruits. This means that the Department of Water Affairs will be issuing water licences for a minimum of 5 000 hectares. One of the tools that was helpful during this process was the afforestation protocol. In this regard, Forestry SA, FSA, has been very supportive during the EIA process. It shows that, working together, we can do more and be able to grow the sector and improve rural livelihoods.
There has been an improvement in the number of water use licences that were issued to small growers who were previously disadvantaged, as well as our BBBEE-compliant companies. While the first transformation report highlighted that the forestry sector was not performing well in terms of skills development, we are pleased to note that the forestry industry has strengthened the participation of the forestry sector in activities of the Forest Industry Education and Training Seta. The restructuring of the Seta landscape will bring the most desired results in this area of work. Overall, there is improvement.
With respect to the collection, management and investment of the rental money collected by private commercial forestry companies that have leased the land from the state through long-term forestry lease agreements, the Forestry Laws Amendment Act mandates the Minister to establish a trust that is responsible for collection, management and investment of the rental money, as outlined.
The progress on the Kabelo Land Distribution Development Trust, which was established in 2010 to enable the transfer of rental money into the account and keeping the separate financial records that can be audited annually, in line with the Public Finance Management Act, shows great progress. Payments have been made to community beneficiaries in the amount to R91 million. Importantly, the department signed a memorandum of understanding, MOU, with the different communities, wherein the MOU outlines the duties and obligations of each of the parties.
Another noteworthy achievement in forestry is approval by Cabinet of the recommissioning of the Lowveld plantation forestry areas located in the Sand River catchment area in Mpumalanga province. The approval paves way for replanting 4 178 hectares of the initial 11 000 hectares of the Lowveld plantation forest areas situated on the state forest land in the Sand River catchment area, where there were previously clear fields, for incorporation into the proposed Blyde River National Park. We welcome the proposed business model for the ongoing utilisation of these areas in a manner that will benefit the historically disadvantaged communities of the Lowveld.
To ensure the sustainability of the sector and enhance its growth, whilst protecting the environment, major projects have been undertaken that either have or will result in the refurbishment of 23 000 hectares Category B and C plantations; the rehabilitation of degraded indigenous forest woodland and agricultural land and ensure sustainable management of forestry and natural resources; the rehabilitation of 32 208 hectares of range land, cultivated land, weeds and invader plants through the implementation of protection and conservation measures; and the support of 1 300 small growers with capacity-building interventions including technical advice, training and linking them to potential funders to improve production efficiency in forestry and socioeconomic livelihoods.
We welcome initiatives and interventions to increase production within the subsistence smallholder and commercial forestry sectors in line with the implementation of the Forestry Sector Charter to ensure renewed growth, transformation and sustainability.
Let me come to the all important area of the review of Forestry Sector Charter. The review of the charter will deal with a number of obligations that have proven difficult to achieve. These are the kind of initiatives that are needed for the sustainability of the forestry sector, especially the small, medium and micro enterprises, SMMEs. The specific needs of SMMEs will have to be addressed in this review, and this includes research.
In conclusion, our experience of the last 19 years of democracy reminds us that social and economic change is not a process that can be planned with precision. A long-term vision which sets out the type of society that we want to be is important to guide our social and economic transformation programmes. The ANC supports this Budget Vote. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Ms D CARTER /Mosa//A N N(ed) / TAKE ENDS AT 17:54:30.
Mrs N M TWALA
Ms D CARTER: Hon Chairperson, today I will be concentrating on the Minister and her department's achievements. At a fundraiser for the ANC, they successfully sold the then director-general for R100 000 and the Minister for R250 000.
They achieved a hotel bill of R1,54 million in one year. They achieved chartered flights for R1,64 million in one year. They achieved wasteful and fruitless expenditure, for example, the R36 million spent on the Makhathini Cotton Gin, which still led to 62 000 jobs lost downstream. They succeeded in placing the poultry industry under serious threat due to the one million chickens imported into this country every day. They achieved placing the potato processing industry in crisis.
This department further succeeded in failing the red meat industry. They achieved doing nothing about the R430 million a year lost due to stock theft. Furthermore, they achieved nothing when it came to the R1,3 billion loss in relation to predators. They failed to monitor the high levels of brine injected into chickens that actually causes health risks. [Interjections.] I will get to you now, Chairperson.
They succeeded in ensuring that South Africa lost our foot-and-mouth disease-free status, but to the ANC government it's a joke. They also failed to establish the independent meat inspection services.
I want to ask the Chairperson how it is possible that the National African Farmers Union, Nafu, got a meeting after they paid with nine sheep and one cow.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, your time has expired. [Applause.]
Ms D CARTER: Chairperson, I still have one minute left.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, your time has expired! The National Assembly, NA, table advises me when you start and when you finish.
Ms D CARTER: Chairperson, I still have a minute left. [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order hon members! Hon member, your time has expired!
Ms D CARTER: Chairperson, I have 55 seconds left.
Mrs J D KILIAN: Chairperson, I rise on a point of order.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, would you leave the podium please? Your time has expired!
Mrs J D KILIAN: Chairperson, I rise on a point of order.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order, order! Hon member, take your seat. Yes hon member?
Mrs J D KILIAN: Hon Chairperson, can I ask you ...
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): I will give you an opportunity once the hon member has taken her seat. Yes hon member?
Mrs J D KILIAN: Chairperson, we would like to establish whether your clock at the table is correct, because if this one is here to manage members' speaking time, I would like to ask you to grant her another minute please.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order hon members! Hon member let me advise the House that I don't have a clock with me. We have two capable staff members in front of us and they indicate to me when the time for the member has expired. That is exactly what has happened and I have consistently applied that. That is the situation.
Mrs J D KILIAN: Hon Chairperson, can we then please ask ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order, hon members!
Mrs J D KILIAN: Chairperson, we then really need to establish why it can go wrong between the NA Table and the clock that is situated at the podium where members speak from.
An HON MEMBER: What is your point of order?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order, hon members! Hon member, according to the NA Table staff, the time has expired and that is the indication that I got from them. [Interjections.] Order, hon members! The next speaker is the hon Van Dalen. [Applause.]
Mr P VAN DALEN
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick)
Mr P VAN DALEN: Hon Chairperson, fishing communities are suffering tremendously. My experience with them has made me realise that government is failing them dismally. Today I want to dedicate my speech to the fishing community of Paternoster. Recently two fishermen from Paternoster got lost at sea for three days. Christie and his son Brenden had to suffer this hardship and near-death experience because of the ill-defined and badly conceptualised policies of the Department of Fisheries.
Afrikaans:
Ek wil vandag vir Christie en Brenden Jordaan, die twee vissermanne wie weggeraak het ... [Applous.] ... en na drie angswekkende dae op die see in dik misweer teruggevind is, verwelkom. By hulle is hul vrou en moeder, Brenda, wat self drie dae beproef is, en ander vissers, Peter Coraizen, Naomie en Clive.
Hierdie mense is die sout van die aarde en is hoogs-gespesialiseerde vakmanne op die gebied van visvang. Hulle spandeer die grootste gedeelte van hul lewens op die see. Hulle is Suid-Afrika se vissermanne, maar in die nuwe Suid-Afrika word hulle gesien as plakkers, "poachers" [stropers] en as armlastig. Hierdie mense van Paternoster is moeg gebaklei om hul lewenstandaard te handhaaf. Hul kinders en families ervaar die vernietigende effek van die wetgewing van die department.
Paternoster en sy vissermanne is 'n hegte gemeenskap wat saam bly is as die vis loop, en saam huil as hulle vissermanne en kinders nie weer van die see af terugkeer nie. Elke dag trotseer hulle die gevaarlike waters van die see om kos op die tafel te sit, om 'n ekstra geldjie te probeer verdien om hul kinders skool toe te stuur en om mediese hulp te kry as hulle siek is. Hulle het agteruit gegaan in die nuwe Suid-Afrika, en word nou geklassifiseer as "poachers" [stropers] en kriminele.
Agb Minister, hoekom word hul hoogs gespesialiseerde kennis nog nie erken nie, en hoekom het u nie hul hande gevat om hul menswaardigheid terug te gee nie? Hulle vra regtig nie so baie nie. Voorsitter, u het vandag my versekering dat ek dit my missie gaan maak, en gaan baklei dat die bloed in hierdie Parlement loop, om die onreg teen hierdie vissersgemeenskappe reg te stel.
English:
Firstly, I will fight for these fishermen to be recognised for the highly specialised tasks that they perform. They must be recognised for the important role they have to play with regard to food security in South Africa. [Applause.] We need to recognise their skills and give them recognition for prior learning against existing unit standards.
We must get schooling institutions to incorporate fishing in their curriculum as a subject. Schools in coastal areas must make it interesting for learners to remain in school and the further education and trainin institutions have a model that focuses on agriculture should be extended to cover fisheries. I will go out and engage with the industry to ensure that training and assessment are made accredited and delivered locally.
Furthermore, local experts should be trained and employed as assessors in order to ensure authentic expertise. Local indigenous knowledge should be consulted in the generation and development of new and further unit standards.
Secondly, I will fight to remove the restrictions of office hours on our fishermen. Did you know that this department and yes, you, hon Minister, has made a law that you may only catch fish during office hours ... [Laughter.] ... as the inspectors only work during office hours? Hon Minister, I ask you. How is it possible for one to expect fishermen only to work during office hours? The tide, wind, mist and fish do not keep office hours, and do not listen to your commands. The fish actually bite very early in the morning and the wind is at its calmest at two am. This is the time when fishermen all over the world usually go out to sea. Usually by the time the hon Minister wakes up, the fishermen are already on their way back home. This is now punishable with a fine of R2 000. It's a disgrace!
Thirdly, Minister, you have stopped the fishermen from catching more than one species per trip. What happens now is that the fisherman has to decide beforehand what it is that he wants to catch. If it is rock lobster, he must take his nets while if he goes out for line fishing, he is not allowed to have his nets on board. So, if the fish don't bite during the day, he cannot drop his nets on his way home to catch some rock lobster, as he has been doing all his life. This makes it virtually uneconomical to fish the 167 kg that you have decided they must live on. The petrol price is up and this has forced them to steal more just to survive and to pay for petrol, which incidentally includes many levies for roads and the Road Accident Fund, of which they have no benefit.
Minister, you will say that they can claim it back from the SA Revenue Service, Sars, but this 167 kg of rock lobster would translate to approximately R25 000 a year, and therefore that wouldn't qualify them to claim back from tax. If one subtracts the cost of going to sea and buying petrol, one will be left with only R10 000. Nobody can live, and send their children to school and hospital on such a pittance. This must be looked at again. I suggest that 500 kg per year will go some way in resolving this problem and will be sufficient in this day and age.
Afrikaans:
Dit bring my nou na die punt van die nuwe Kleinskaalse Vissersbeleid wat voorgestel word. Die Minister wil hê dat daar weer teruggegaan moet word na koöperasies, wat ons al telkemale in Suid-Afrika probeer het, en nie werk nie. Sy wil nie regtig na die welstand van die vissers omsien nie. Sy wil hê dat hulle hul kwotas in een pot moet gooi en dan weer moet gaan baklei vir hul eie deel. Dan wil sy verder hê dat hulle die bietjie geld wat hulle verdien met die hele gemeenskap moet deel om sodoende almal 'n stukkie te gee. Hierdie plan is gedoem om te faal, soos die geskiedenis ons geleer het.
Verder gaan die agb Minister regstreeks teen die bevinding en aanbeveling van die Nasionale Ontwikkelingsplan en dié van hierdie komitee, soos gemaak is op 16 Mei 2012, en deur hierdie Parlement bekragtig is om nie koöperasies in te stel nie. Hoe durf sy dink dat sy beter as die vissermanne en hierdie Parlement weet wat die beste is!
Die visie van die nuwe beleid is dat meer mense gaan regte kry en dat dit al die sosiale probleme van die land gaan oplos. Dit is beloftes wat u gemaak het, Minister, en die verwagting is nou gevestig. Die realiteit is egter dat die visvoorraad onder geweldige druk is en dat die kwotas alreeds te min is. Kan u ons miskien antwoord en meedeel waar hierdie klomp vis vandaan gaan kom wat u belowe het, of gaan u die kwotas kleiner maak as wat dit nou is?
Daar is 'n ou Chinese gesegde wat sê: Gee 'n man 'n vis, dan voer u hom vir 'n dag. As jy hom 'n visstok gee om mee vis te vang, dan kan hy homself voer vir 'n leeftyd. Ongelukkig het die Minister, soos die meeste mense van Suid-Afrika sodra hulle ryk word, geleerd is en 'n magsposisie beklee, hul rug op hulle eie mense gedraai en gerieflikheidshalwe vergeet waar hulle vandaankom. [Applous.]
Dit sal my missie wees om die vissermanne te bemagtig om hulself uit hulle armoede te haal, en van die welsynsisteem af te haal sodat hulle na hulself en hul families kan omsien, om sodoende hul menswaardigheid te kan terugeis, en soos die meeste Suid-Afrikaners, 'n trotse patriot te wees.
Agb Minister, dit was duidelik te veel van u gevra. Indien u regtig wou, sou u met die mag wat u nou tot u beskikking het, dit maklik kon verander. Waarom het u dit nie verander nie? Kan u dit aan die mense van Paternoster verduidelik, in plek van politiek te praat en almal behalwe uself te blameer? Politiek kan nie gevang word nie. Politiek kan nie verhandel word nie. Politiek kan nie geëet word nie.
Ons verwelkom gister se aankondiging dat die komentaarlewerings datum en publieke deelnameprosesse tot 14 Junie uitgestel is. Mag ek verder vra dat die departement nou alle regte vissersgemeenskappe aan die kusdorpe, insluitend Paternoster, gaan besoek en uitvind wat dit is wat hulle verwag en wil hê van die Kleinskaalse Vissersbeleid.
Die DA verwelkom ook die nuus dat Minister Rob Davies gestuur is om die Departement van Visserye te red van totale ondergang aan die hand van die agb Minister, Tina Joemat-Pettersson. Graag wil ons die hoop uitspreek dat die take wat hy reeds oorgeneem het nou beter gehanteer sal word in die belang van die vissersgemeenskappe. Ons kan u verder die versekering gee dat ons hierdie verwikkelinge met 'n valkoog gaan dophou, en ons gaan u aan u beloftes hou wat u vandag hier gemaak het. Ons soek waarborge. Ons soek vis. Ons soek kos om te eet. Dankie, agb Voorsitter. [Applous.]
Ms M N PHALISO / AZM MNGUNI (Eng)/ TH (Afr)// TH (Checked Eng)
Mr P van DALEN
Ms M N PHALISO: Chairperson, hon Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson of the ANC ... [Interjections.] ... yes, I am smart ... Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, hon members, honourable guests in the gallery, good afternoon. I rise to address this House in support of the Budget Vote for the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries as presented by the hon Minister. Let me start with the underlying legacy of the people's document, the Freedom Charter, which is the blueprint that defines the hopes and aspirations of our people then and now.
The basic policy document of the ruling party, the ANC, in government, is the Freedom Charter, which was adopted in 1955 and which directs that: "The people shall share in the country's wealth!" [Applause.] The national wealth of our country, the heritage of South Africans, shall be restored to the people.
As the ruling party, the ANC, we have declared 2013 as the year of unity in action towards socioeconomic freedom and we remain dedicated to ensuring that the wishes of our elders and the people are achieved. Our highly lucrative living marine resources are well managed. Employment levels remain stable and our multibillion rand per annum mainstay fishery sector was recently recognised by the internationally acclaimed Marine Stewardship Council as the best managed fishery in the world. [Applause.]
The official administration and management of our fishery sector is in competent hands and we applaud the recent appointment of an experienced official to act as the deputy director-general of the fisheries branch. In order to sustain stability in management at fisheries we call for this appointment, Minister, to be permanent to stabilise the fisherg sector. [Applause.]
As we enter the second phase of economic transformation and empowerment in the fishing industry, we are aware that up to 60% of all fishing rights allocated today are allocated to the previously disadvantaged people. However, we are also aware that this industry remains confronted by serious structural challenges that come from apartheid. [Interjections.]
A handful of big companies still own and control the bulk of industry's catch, process, marketing and infrastructure, while many post-1994 entrants have been allocated economically unviable quotas ... [Interjections.] ... from apartheid, that are not capable of independent delivery without the existing infrastructure and marketing network of big companies, that control the industry since apartheid, for 80 years. [Interjections.]
We also note that after 18 years ... [Interjections] ... you know nothing, because you were not there. You were very comfortable. You don't know poverty! We know that after 18 years of freedom that the gender-based allocation of fishing rights to women and/or shareholding in existing fishing enterprise to females is almost nonexistent – you women!
As we usher in amendments to the Marine Living Resources Act to recognise the rights of small-scale fishers as we move to reallocate fishing rights that expire in the traditional line fish, oyster, white mussel, hake, handline, tuna, shark, squid and prawn sectors, we are totally aware of the need for us to, under the revised general ... [Interjections.] - we must revise because of your apartheid laws – the revise general and sector-specific policies to attend to the structural challenges that continue to economically undermine transformation in the real sense. [Interjections.] We had to have transformation policies because of apartheid.
We know that South Africa as a fish-producing nation of first resort is not extracting its maximum socioeconomic development potential from its natural living marine resource endowments. The wholesale value of our marine produce is estimated to be R6 billion per annum. However, its collective local and international retail value is several times this - not to the poorest of the poor.
We as the ANC-led government, therefore, need to ensure that increased financial equity, value-added processing, packaging and direct international marketing of proudly South African fish brands is achieved from our national base and not internationally by secondary fish processors ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order! Order! Hon members! Hon members, and the member who is leaving the Chamber, you are not allowed to walk past the speaker and make remarks.
Ms M N PHALISO: En nogal na my toe praat. [And indeed throwing remarks my way.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): That is unparliamentary, sir. You should not behave that way. Continue hon member.
Ms M N PHALISO: ... and marketers as this simply creates wealth and employment abroad as opposed to here at home. As a nation, we must ensure that equity in transformation and financial empowerment penetrates appropriately throughout all local and international value chains for each fishery sector.
Our President has confirmed that, working with big companies, we intend to tackle this financial disparity head-on and the National Development Plan, while it entrenches resource sustainability as paramount, also emphasises ... [Interjections.]
Nkosi Z M MANDELA: on point of order, Chair.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order, hon member. Order hon member. What is your point of order?
Nkosi Z M MANDELA: Can you kindly protect the speaker, Chair. The people in the gallery are videoing the proceedings.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Thank you, hon member. We have asked the service officer to deal with that matter already, and the person in the gallery will be asked to delete the images that have been recorded. May I just repeat that ... [Interjections.] Order, hon member Steenhuisen, I am addressing the public on the gallery. Can you please resist from making recordings in the taking of photographs of the proceedings in the House. You are here to observe. You are not here to participate and record the proceedings. Continue, hon member.
Ms M N PHALISO: ... the need to find viable ways of bringing greater benefit to our traditional artisanal fishers, whose development the National Development Plan recognises is clearly far from adequate or viable.
The NDP, in fact, challenges us to develop strategies for economic co-operation or association that gives poor producers greater collective market power in value chains; create synergies and access to information, allowing them to achieve the minimum supply volumes required for participation and to negotiate improved levels of market access and/or better terms of participation. Under the revised Fishing Right Allocations Policy we now work to collectively ensure via direct external and indirect internal transformation that 70% of the access to our national living marine resource base is allocated to the previously historically disadvantaged.
We are also working to ensure active rural inland and coastal community-based participation in our developing the aquaculture and fish-farming sectors, as well as community-based participation in development of our 12 nationally proclaimed fishing harbours. Free State has shown us an example with the Lake Gariep Fisheries Research Project of fishing. [Interjections.] It is going on in Free State. You are so jealous of the progress of the ANC government. [Applause.]
Insofar as nearshore resources are concerned, it is our ultimate objective to ensure that the ownership of all access to nearshore fishing resources for abalone, alikreukel, periwinkle, black and white mussels, oysters, and traditional line and treknet fish species, squid, all west and east coast rock lobster, octopus, sand and mud prawn, crab, limpet, red bait and any other fishing resource or right associated with the nearshore or the future development of any aquaculture or fish farming initiatives for any resource in the nearshore is vested exclusively for the direct benefit of small-scale fishers, because for the whole 50 years there were no small-scale fishers. [Interjections.] What are you talking about, hon Van Dalen. In your government's time there was no small-scale fishing. How can you now be sensitive to small-scale fishers and upcoming fishers? How comfortable you are now. [Interjections.]
Mrs S V KALYAN: on a point of order, Chairperson.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order, hon member. Order, hon member! Yes, hon member what is your point of order?
Mrs S V KALYAN: The member at the podium refers to the hon Van Dalen's "your government". Would she give clarity on what that means.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member that is not a point of order. That is a point of debate. Continue, hon member.
Ms M N PHALISO: Our collective efforts to ensure the best gender-based socioeconomic outcome possible for our nation as a whole from our national living marine resource base is well on track, and the Freedom Charter's clarion call for all of us, male and female, "to share equitably in the natural wealth of our land" will be achieved, and it will, via the ANC government - a very good government. [Applause.]
Afrikaans:
Ten slotte wil ek van die geleentheid gebruik maak om die eensydige en ongebalanseerde mediaberiggewing teen die departement en veral teen die minister, as 'n vrou, te verwerp. Hierdie oordrewe kritiek deur 'n groep onverteenwoordigde individue en een parlementslid, by name die agb Van Dalen, is vernietigend vir die bedryf. Dit is gebaseer op vals inligting en 'n persoonlike vendetta – juis van die agb Van Dalen wat heeltyd in die portefeuljekomitee net van die Africana praat – omdat die minister die sektor transformeer. Hy praat verder net van Smit Amandla Marine se tender. [Tussenwerpsels.]
Vandag is ek geskok om te hoor hy het armoedige mense, armoedige vissermanne, gevat en met hulle gevoelens kom speel, en nie vandag vir hulle die waarheid vertel nie. [Tussenwerpsels.] In elke portefeuljekomiteevergadering kom daar soveel gemeenskappe van die visbedryf wat kom inluister en hulle hoor hoe hy net vir die groot maatskappye praat. Om vandag hier met ons arm mense se gevoelens te kom speel is wragtiewaar ... [Tussenwerpsels.] ... dit is wragtiewaar ... Die waarheid maak seer! [Tussenwerpsels.]
Dit is wragtiewaar ... [Tussenwerpsels.] Vandag wil ek sê, mnr Van Dalen praat van die Smit Amandla Marine tender. [Tussenwerpsels.] Mnr Van Dalen vergeet van die ou infrastruktuur waarmee die minister, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, sukkel. [Tussenwerpsels.] Dit is ou infrastruktuur wat ons van apartheid geërf het. In 1994 het ons onsself bevry deur te stem vir die ANC. [Tussenwerpsels.] [Applous.]
Hierdie tipe verdagmakery word aangedryf deur mnr Van Dalen – die agb Van Dalen – en sy handlanger en persoonlike adviseur, mnr Shaheen Moolla, wat in die departement gewerk het.
English:
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member ...
Afrikaans:
Me M N PHALISO: ... en vandag kan hy mediaberigte versprei.
English:
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, there is a point of order. [Interjections.] Order, hon members! I cannot hear the member when you make a noise.
Mr M WATERS: Chairperson, firstly, on a point of order: You have asked the gallery, the audience, not to participate, i.e., clap. They continue to do so ...
Afrikaans:
Me M N PHALISO: Nee, dit is nie 'n punt van orde nie, man!
English:
Mr M WATERS: ... so, if you could ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order, hon members! Hon member, what is your point of order?
Afrikaans:
Me M N PHALISO: Nee, die waarheid maak seer! [Tussenwerpsels.]
English:
Mr M WATERS: ... that the audience ...
Afrikaans:
Me M N PHALISO: Hy maak jou seer.
English:
Mr M WATERS: ... the gallery keep participating ...
Afrikaans:
Me M N PHALISO: Die waarheid maak vir jou seer.
English:
Mr M WATERS: ... in the proceedings. [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order!
Mr M WATERS: You have made a ruling, so can you please enforce it? Thank you. [Interjections.]
Afrikaans:
Me M N PHALISO: Jou korrupsie! [Gelag.]
English:
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon Phaliso. [Interjections.] [Laughter.] Hon Phaliso! [Interjections.] Order! May I just repeat what I said earlier to the gallery? You are not allowed to participate in the proceedings. [Interjections.] You are here to observe. Continue, hon member. [Interjections.]
Afrikaans:
Me M N PHALISO: Sy persoonlike adviseur, mnr Shaheen Moolla, is meerendeels verantwoordelik vir die probleme in die visbedryf. Julle het nie geweet ek kan ook lekker histeries, net soos julle, praat nie! [Tussenwerpsels.]
Die DA het nog nooit ons mense op die kusdorpe geken nie. As die DA hulle geken het, dan het ons vandag in hierdie Wes-Kaap, in Khayelitsha, met Xhosa-sprekende vissermanne gesit. Vandag nog, was uTata hier by my gewees. Omdat hy isiXhosa praat, word hy nie gehoor nie. Omdat hy isiXhosa praat, word sy probleme nie aangespreek nie. [Tussenwerpsels.]
English:
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order, hon members!
Afrikaans:
Me M N PHALISO: Waarvan praat mnr Van Dalen? [Tussenwerpsels.] [Applous.]
English:
Mr M WATERS: Chairperson ...
Afrikaans:
Me M N PHALISO: Ons het net twee weke gelede ... [Tussenwerpsels.]
English:
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order, hon members!
Afrikaans:
Me M N PHALISO: ... vir die eerste keer ...
English:
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order, hon Phaliso! Order! [Interjections.]
Afrikaans:
Me M N PHALISO: ... dat die agb ...
English:
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon Phaliso, order. [Interjections.] Order, hon members! You know, this is the sixth point of order I am taking during this debate. We must allow the member to continue. What is your point of order now, hon member?
Afrikaans:
Me M N PHALISO: Dit is die waarheid wat so seer maak!
English:
Mr M WATERS: Chairperson, on a point of order: When one member refers to another member, it is normally as "hon" and not as "Mr". Thank you. [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Yes. Please refer ... [Interjections.] Order!
Ms M N PHALISO: Sit!
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon members, let us allow the member to complete the speech ... [Interjections.] ... and refer to hon members as "honourable", please.
Afrikaans:
Me M N PHALISO: Vir die eerste keer het die agb Van Dalen Paternoster besoek en skielik bewus geword van die armoede op ons kusdorpe. [Tussenwerpsels.] Hierdie wolhaarstories in die media sal ons mense nie flous nie. Ons is lankal nie meer dom en was nooit dom nie. [Tussenwerpsels.] Ons mense weet die DA kan en wil niks doen om die vissers se regverdige behoeftes aan te spreek nie. Ek doen 'n beroep op Paternoster se gemeenskap om te kom luister. Kom luister ... [Tussenwerpsels.] ... na die portefeuljekomiteevergaderings waar mnr Van Dalen net praat oor sportvis en tenders wat die minister uitgegee het. Hy praat niks van armoede nie. Dit is vandag vir die eerste keer dat ek hoor hy kan ook van armoede praat. Die gewoonte wen die verstand. [Tussenwerpsels.]
English:
The will of the people will prevail and we will not be sidetracked by immature and demented fishing views from the DA or their tiny group of media journalists who clearly desire that the poor in the fishing industry should remain poor. [Interjections.]
Afrikaans:
Luister nou, agb Van Dalen. [Tussenwerpsels.]
Sardiensaansoeke is gedoen in die Wes-Kaap, en ... [Tussenwerpsels.] ... ek sal nie sagter praat nie. Luister! [Tussenwerpsels.] Die vissers se sardienspermitte is afgevat in die Wes-Kaap, en tot vandag toe het die DA-regering in die Wes-Kaap nog nie 'n tak gebreek om dit aan te spreek nie. Daardie vissers sit nou al vir die afgelope ses jaar in Laingville nadat hulle hulle fabriek verloor het. Hulle het hulle fabriek verloor en die DA spreek dit nie aan nie. Ek praat van die Wes-Kaap, aan die Weskus.
Ek wil tog ook sê dat die geïntegreerde plan van die Departement van Handel en Nywerheid is dié van die ANC-regering. [Tussenwerpsels.] Daar is nie 'n manier dat mnr Van Dalen vandag hier 'n beroep op ons kan doen nie. Die agb minister Rob Davies weet wat langs die kus aangaan, want hy voorsien in ons behoeftes, en die bote het hy vir ons gegee, en vir die Noord-Kaap het hy 'n maand gelede ses bote gegee. [Tussenwerpsels.]
Mev J D KILIAN: Voorsitter, op 'n punt van orde ...
Me M N PHALISO: Hy het ...
English:
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon Phaliso, can you just hold it, please?
Afrikaans:
Mev J D KILIAN: Die punt van orde, mnr die Voorsitter is: Die horlosie het nou hier afgegaan. Die alarm het afgegaan op hierdie horlosie. Dit was dieselfde een wat by was toe Mev Carter gepraat het. [Tussenwerpsels.]
English:
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order, hon members, order!
Afrikaans:
Mev J D KILIAN: Die horlosie is nou verwyder, en die lid word toegelaat om verder te praat. [Tussenwerpsels.] Dit is werklik onaanvaarbaar, Voorsitter.
English:
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, let us allow the Table staff to do their job, alright? [Interjections.]
Afrikaans:
Me M N PHALISO: Is jy die voorsitter? [Tussenwerpsels.]
English:
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): I, as the presiding officer, take an indication from the Table staff as to ...
Afrikaans:
Me M N PHALISO: Jy is nie die voorsitter nie. [Tussenwerpsels.]
English:
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): ... when the time is over. [Interjections.]
Afrikaans:
Me M N PHALISO: Hy het net twee minute gehad. [Tussenwerpsels.]
English:
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon Phaliso! Hon Phaliso, complete your speech now, please.
Afrikaans:
Me M N PHALISO: Baie dankie, agb Voorsitter. [Tussenwerpsels.] Hierdie vissers, wat reeds 'n klomp jare gekneus is, is verder gekneus. Ek praat van vissers van die vierde generasie wat hulleself opgewerk het. Hulle het hulle eie bote, hulle het hulle eie mannekrag; hulle is tradisionele vissers. Hulle ken net die viswaters, en hier in die Wes-Kaap is hulle benadeel deur die DA-regering, wat vandag sê dat hy vir hulle omgee. [Tussenwerpsels.]
Wys my die omgee. Wys my die suksesvolle omgee. Waar het u geïmplementeer? Ons, as die ANC-regering kan wys waar ons geïmplementeer het, want ons moet nou ingryp in Laingville, in Kalkbaai. Ons moet nou ingryp in Paternoster. Dit is ons mense, want ons het in armoede grootgeword. [Tussenwerpsels.] Daardie DA-raad sal van die ANC-regering af hoor.
Ek wil ook net sê, die agterstand wat hier genoem is oor die kleinboere. Ja, dit is regtig gerieflik as 'n mens regtigwaar 'n vet salaris verdien en 'n vet bord kos elke aand het, en dan hier kom praat oor ons kleinboere. [Tussenwerpsels.] Tien kleinboere op meentgrond moet nou een plaas deel wat van een bevoordeelde, geregtigde boer af kom. Kleinboere!
As ons oor ons kiesafdelings praat, praat ons uit ondervinding. Ons suig dit nie uit ons duime nie. Ons is daar op die grond. Ons leef dáár, tussen die armoede. Ons kom noem dit nie hier ... [Tussenwerpsels.] Die ANC ondersteun begrotingspos 26. [Tyd verstreke.] [Applous.]
Mrs S V KALYAN /Robyn – eng & afr/ TAKE ENDS AT 18:29:07.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick)
Mrs S V KALYAN: Chairperson, may I address you on the issue of the timing?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, the issue of the timing is a matter that the NA Table is taking care of. I will request that in the programming committee meeting tomorrow morning, they provide the explanation with regard to the timing. I don't have a clock here in front of me, because I must follow the debate for the points of order that you raise. That is why we rely on them, but there is an explanation. Let's allow that to take place. It will happen tomorrow morning, and allow the Minister to conclude the debate.
Mrs S V KALYAN: Thank you. It is just that members ...
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order! Order!
Mrs S V KALYAN: I wish to make the point that members are guided by the timer that is there, and I understand that the NA has ...
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, let's deal with it tomorrow morning in the programming committee meeting.
Mrs S V KALYAN: Thank you.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): You can report back to your caucuses. Order! Order, hon members!
Mrs J D KILIAN: Chairperson, on a point of order.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Yes, hon member?
Mrs J D KILIAN: Chairperson, may I please also address you on the timer. I hear that you are saying that the NA Table is going to give us a report tomorrow morning in programming. But, Chairperson, with due respect, then it is too late. [Interjections.] We have been affected ...
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, the point has been made. The point has been made, and let us allow the NA Table to give an explanation tomorrow morning in the programming committee meeting. Order, hon members! Hon members! I now recognise the hon the Minister. [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES (Ms T M Joemat-Pettersson )
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick)
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES (Ms T M Joemat-Pettersson ): Chairperson and hon members, thank you to the Chief Whip of the Majority Party for spending time here. Thank you very much to the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Labour for sitting through this very lively debate. Thank you very much to the Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources. [Interjections.] My brother, I appreciate ...
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon members, you are interrupting the Minister when she's replying to your debate. [Interjections.]
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES (Ms T M Joemat-Pettersson): ... the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. I would to also like to acknowledge Comrade Van Dalen. Hon member Van Dalen has suddenly become a comrade today. I always thought that creating jobs and the small-scale fishing policy were going to be our biggest success stories in this department. I never thought that the hon member Van Dalen would actually support the small-scale fishing policy. This is amazing; this is such a wonderful achievement. Thank you very much. [Interjections.]
This means now that in the next round of quotas, which happens at the end of the year, suddenly the hon member Van Dalen agrees that I can give communities quotas. This is wonderful. This is really unity in action. This is unity in action on food security. This is the DA supporting our food security initiatives. [Applause.] Really, hon Van Dalen, for the first time in four years, I actually listened to you. [Interjections.]
Now, the community from Paternoster, Christie and Brenden Jordaan and the entire community, please do not believe this lot, because they are the very ones who, firstly, believe farm workers cannot think for themselves. So, a farm worker strike must be funded. [Interjections.] They are the ones who are completely racist, most condescending. The very same DA government in the Western Cape funded the Black Association of the Wine and Spirits Industry, Bawsi. You funded Bawsi! You funded Bawsi as well! Yes! Yes! I funded ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order, hon members!
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES (Ms T M Joemat-Pettersson): The wonderful thing is that I will continue funding nongovernmental organisations, NGOs, who work with farm workers. Do you listen to them? They don't want farm worker NGOs to be funded. I will continue funding NGOs working with farm workers. [Applause.] We will continue ... [Interjections.] I will!
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order, hon members!
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES (Ms T M Joemat-Pettersson): The next wonderful story is that the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme, CASP, has a zero completion rate in the Western Cape. Not a single project was completed in the Western Cape. [Interjections.]
Mrs A STEYN: On a point of order, Chairperson ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order, hon members! Order!
Mrs A STEYN: Chair, on a point of order: The Minister is misleading the House, because ...
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon members! Hon members! I cannot hear the member, and she is speaking into a microphone.
Mrs A STEYN: The CASP is not only run over one year.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): What is the point of order, hon member?
Mrs A STEYN: It is a three-year programme.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): That is not a point of order, hon member. That is a point for debate. [Interjections.]
Mrs A STEYN: The Minister is misleading the House!
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order! Hon member, that is not a point of order. It is a point for debate. Continue, hon Minister.
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES (Ms T M Joemat-Pettersson): Thank you very much. For their zero completion of projects, Treasury has now actually given me permission to take away 70% of their budget. Wonderful! I will give that to farm worker NGOs in the Western Cape. I will take away your CASP money, and I have permission to do it. [Interjections.]
Well, what do we have to do going from here? The Jobs Fund must be accessed. We must access the Jobs Fund for agriculture. [Interjections.] The youth employment fund must have money ring-fenced to fund the youth in agriculture. We will continue the road-to-rail initiatives. Minister of Transport, thank you for your support. The sooner we get our farmers using the rail logistics infrastructure, the sooner we will reduce the cost of doing business in agriculture.
On the tariff regime, again, we have an absolutely good relationship with the Minister of Trade and Industry, and here we will obviously be able to influence tariffs a lot better for farmers. On disease control, we are saying that disease control and our international boundaries actually need to be sharpened up, and it needs to be sharpened up so that we do not have animals walking across the borders of our country.
We are working with the Department of Trade and Industry to ensure that we re-establish ethical trade for the good – the very good – reputation we have had, especially our wines, with the European Union. So, we will go out of our way to assist farmers in market access and in improving the image we have abroad. Our image was tarnished irreparably, and we are working overtime to assist the farmers in this.
In research and development, we are looking at additional budget allocations for research and development. Minister of Labour, we would really love working with your department on collective bargaining, instead of sectoral determination for the sector.
Rural roads, I repeat, remain a challenge. AgriSA and a number of institutions, such as Agri Mega, the Industrial Development Corporation, IDC, and the Independent Development Trust, IDT, have assisted in saying that these are the roads we require; these are the rural roads that we require for development.
About the transformation of the Land Bank, Riaan, we will absolutely move in that direction. I am asking the IDC and IDT again to assist us when we talk to the Land Bank in terms of development funding institutions and the way they do business. [Interjections.] We have been able to work quite closely with the IDC and IDT, and it is beginning to bear fruit. Thank you very much. [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order, hon members! Order! Continue, hon Minister.
Mrs J D KILIAN: Chairperson, on a point of order: Will you please request the Minister to not involve the gallery? You have ruled that the gallery should not be involved. [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order! Order! Continue, hon Minister. Order, hon member! Continue, hon Minister. [Interjections.]
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES (Ms T M Joemat-Pettersson): The protection of prime agricultural land remains our collective responsibility, especially in Mpumalanga, where mines are encroaching. Minister of Mineral Resources, we are going to have this debate, much more vigorously, because prime agricultural land is lost to mineral beneficiation as well as the mining industry.
The latest jobs data from Statistics SA show that we are the largest contributor to job creation, and that we will be the success of this government. I want to thank all those members, including stakeholders, who have contributed towards this job security and job creation. It was hard work. We were not perfect. We made mistakes. We have so much more to do. We are not perfect. We have many mistakes.
HON MEMBERS: Many!
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES (Ms T M Joemat-Pettersson): We can tighten them, but nobody can take away the fact that we have just created 54 000 jobs in agriculture, and that only in the first quarter. [Applause.] So, by the end of the year, we need to look at this again. We have to vigorously implement the public-private partnerships around the extension. I'm done. Thank you very much. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
The Committee rose at 18:43.
/Mia / END OF TAKE
Audio
No related
Documents
No related documents