National Council of Provinces - 17 June 2004
THURSDAY, 17 JUNE 2004 __
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
____
The Council met at 14:02.
The Chairperson took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or meditation.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS - see col 000.
QUESTIONS AND REPLIES - see that book.
NOTICES OF MOTION
Mr M A MZIZI: Chairperson, I hereby give notice that at the next sitting of the Council I shall move on behalf of the IFP:
That the Council - (1) notes that -
(a) two Johannesburg suburbs, Hillbrow and Westbury, previously
described as dirty and crime-ridden, were cleaned up through a
Government clean-up programme called the Environmental
Intervention Project and through the assistance of hundreds of
volunteers;
(b) City Power repaired broken streetlights and installed lights in
dark alleys and walkways and also repaired road signs and
robots;
(2) further notes that this initiative has been given input from various stakeholders, including the SA Police Service, Pikitup, City Parks, Metro Police and the provincial department of community safety as well as the Rand Clinic and Johannesburg Sport and Recreation; and
(3) acknowledges and applauds the efforts of all stakeholders involved and the hundreds of volunteers who have contributed towards creating a safer environment.
CONGRATULATIONS TO MR V V Z WINDVO[ë]L ON HIS APPOINTMENT AS CHIEF WHIP OF COUNCIL
(Draft Resolution)
Mrs M N OLIPHANT: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the Council -
(1) congratulates Mr V V Z Windvoël on his appointment as Chief Whip of the National Council of Provinces;
(2) knows he is going to do this work with success, as he has already shown he can do; and
(3) believes that his appointment confirms that the youth of this country can participate in the process of transformation and in the reconstruction of South Africa.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
BEST WISHES TO ERNIE ELS, CAPTAIN JOHN SMIT AND THE SPRINGBOKS
(Draft Resolution)
Mr N M RAJU: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the Council extends its best wishes to -
(1) Ernie Els, in his quest to win the US Open at Shinnecock Hills, starting today; and
(2) Captain John Smit and the Springboks for another convincing win against the Irish in the second test on Saturday at Newlands in Cape Town. Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION
(Draft Resolution)
Mr Z S KOLWENI: Chair, I move without notice:
That the Council -
(1) notes that this week marks the tenth anniversary of the Convention to Combat Desertification;
(2) expresses its concern that the tenth anniversary comes at a time when the United Nations has warned that vast areas of earth are becoming desert every year;
(3) recognises that desertification is a particularly worrying phenomenon in Africa because of its impact on lowered agricultural productivity, which increases people’s vulnerability to poverty;
(4) commends the leading role South Africa is playing in fostering scientific and technological co-operation with other Southern Hemisphere countries around desertification; and
(5) believes the international community, and developing countries in particular, has an important role to play through the provision of scientific, technological and financial resources to enable developing countries to combat desertification.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon members, I have pleaded with you to insert your cards into their slots because if you do not do that you will have difficulties in operating the microphones.
SOUTH AFRICANS WHO HAVE MADE EXCEPTIONAL
CONTRIBUTIONS HONOURED BY PRESIDENT MBEKI
(Draft Resolution)
Ms P HOLLANDER: Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the Council -
(1) notes with pride the honour that has been bestowed by President Thabo Mbeki on a number of South Africans in recognition of their exceptional services in contributing to a free and democratic society;
(2) believes all the recipients are individuals who symbolise success and achievement in their respective fields and are role models and a source of inspiration for all South Africans; and
(3) expresses the hope that their achievements will not only inspire others in our society to follow their example but will also demonstrate how South Africans have found ways of overcoming adversity and are able to succeed against all odds.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
ROAD ACCIDENT BETWEEN MQANDULI AND UMTATA
(Draft Resolution)
Nksz B N DLULANE: Sihlalo, ndenza isiphakamiso ngaphandle kokukkhokelisa ngesilumkiso:Sokuba le Ndlu -
(1) ivakalisa uvelwano kwiintsapho zabantu abathe bachaphazeleka kwintlekele ethe yenzeka phakathi koMqanduli noMtata, apho kuye kwangqubana khona izithuthi ezibini, saza ke ngelishwa, kubantu abathe bachaphazeleka, sashiywa nguMhlekazi uQikani. (Translation of isiXhosa Draft Resolution follows.)
[Ms B N DLULANE: I move without notice: That the Council -
(1) expresses shock at the tragic accident between Mqanduli and Umtata in which two vehicles collided, leading to the death of, amongst others, the brother-in-law of the honourable Qikani; and
(2) expresses condolences to the families of all the deceased.]
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
REVIVAL AND RESUMPTION OF DEBATE ON BILLS
(Draft Resolution)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE NCOP: Thank you, Chair. I move the motion in the name of the Acting Chief Whip of the Council on the Order Paper, as follows:
That, subject to the concurrence of the National Assembly, the following Bills be revived and consideration thereof be resumed from the stage reached with them in the Second Parliament before lapsing, namely that the Bills had been passed by the National Assembly and were before committees of the National Council of Provinces:
South African Citizenship Amendment Bill [B 55 - 2003] (National Assembly
- sec 75); and
Films and Publications Amendment Bill [B 61B - 2003] (National Assembly - sec 75).
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Chief Whip, I thought that you may start by amending the name of the Acting Chief Whip and say the Chief Whip. As there is no speakers’ list, I shall now put the question. The question is that the motion be agreed to. As the decision is dealt with in terms of section 65 of the Constitution, I shall first ascertain whether all delegation heads are present in the chamber, to cast their provinces’ votes. Are all delegation heads present in the House? In accordance with Rule 71, I shall allow provinces the opportunity to make their declaration of votes if they so wish. We shall now proceed to the voting on the question. I shall do so in alphabetical order per province.
Delegations must please indicate to the Chair whether they vote in favour, against or abstain from voting.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Eastern Cape?
Ms B N DLULANE: Impumakoloni iyaxhasa: The Eastern Cape. (Supports.)
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Free State?
Mr B MALAKOANE: Free State votes in favour.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Gauteng?
Mr S SHICEKA: We support, Chair.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: KwaZulu-Natal?
Mrs M N OLIPHANT: KwaZulu-Natal iyasekela sihlalo. (KwaZulu-Natal supports.)
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Limpopo?
Ms H F MATLANYANE: Limpopo e a sapota modulasetulo. (Limpopo supports.)
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Mpumalanga?
Mrs N MTSWENI: Mpumalanga e a sapota. (Mpumalanga supports.)
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Northern Cape?
Mr M A SULLIMAN: Supports.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: North West?
Mr Z S KOLWENI: North West ke ya rona. (North West supports.)
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Western Cape?
Ms T ESSOP: Western Cape supports.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: All nine provinces have voted in favour and I therefore declare the motion agreed to in terms of section 65 of the Constitution.
Motion agreed to in accordance with Section 65 of the Constitution.
REVIVAL AND RECONSIDERATION OF BILL
(Draft Resolution)
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE NCOP: Thank you, Chairperson. I move the draft resolution in the name of the brand new Chief Whip of the Council on the Order Paper, as follows:
That, subject to the concurrence of the National Assembly, the following bill be revived and consideration thereof be resumed from the stage reached with it in the Second Parliament before lapsing, namely that the bill had been passed by the National Council of Provinces and was before a committee of the National Assembly:
National Environmental Management: Air Quality Bill [B62B - 2003]
(National Council of Provinces - sec 76).
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: As there is no speakers’ list I shall now put the question. The question is that the motion be agreed to, as the decision is dealt with in terms of section of 65 of the Constitution, I shall first ascertain whether all delegation heads are present, which I have satisfied myself that they are. In accordance with rule 71, I shall first allow provinces the opportunity to make their declaration of vote if they so wish. We shall now proceed to the voting on the question. I shall do so in alphabetical order. Can the delegation heads please indicate to the Chair whether they vote in favour, against or abstain from voting.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Eastern Cape?
Ms B N DLULANE: Impumakoloni iyaxhasa. (Eastern Cape supports.)
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Free State?
Mr B MALAKOANE: Free State votes in favour.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Gauteng?
Mr S SHICEKA: We support Chair
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: KwaZulu-Natal?
Mrs M N OLIPHANT: KwaZulu-Natal iyasekela sihlalo. (KwaZulu Natal supports.)
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Limpopo?
Ms H F MATLANYANE: Limpopo e a sapota modulasetulo. (Limpopo supports.)
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Mpumalanga?
Mrs N MTSWENI: Mpumalanga e a sapota. (Mpumalanga supports.)
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Northern Cape?
Mr M A SULLIMAN: Northern Cape supports.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: North West?
Mr Z S KOLWENI: North West ke ya rona. (North West supports.)
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Western Cape?
Ms T ESSOP: Western Cape supports.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: All provinces have voted in favour and I therefore declare the motion agreed to in terms of section 65 of the Constitution.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
APPROPRIATION BILL
(Policy debate)
Debate on Vote No 28 - Environmental Affairs and Tourism:
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: May I take this opportunity to welcome the Minister and wish you well for your next five years and the challenge ahead of you. You are welcome to this House. You may address the House.
The MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM: Thank you, Madam Chairperson and members of the House. We find ourselves in the unusual and reversed position this year of debating this Budget Vote in the NCOP, before we do so in the National Assembly. To some this may seem a counterconvention, but I believe it is also loaded with positive significance. There are few other portfolios in which the close partnership and the co-operation between the national, provincial and local governments is more critical for success, or in which there are greater public opportunities to deliver on the President’s injunction to grow the first economy, and to intervene decisively in the second.
As a former delegate to the NCOP, I’m greatly pleased today to have the opportunity of presenting my first Budget Vote in this Chamber. I approach the task of leading the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, both with great enthusiasm and no small amount of caution - enthusiasm, because I can think of no task more important, and more exciting. In the first 10 weeks alone of our new Government, we’ve held the biggest and most successful tourism indaba to date, and we have celebrated National Environment Week, and we have launched a new domestic tourism campaign. I also say with “caution”, because in less than a month and a half, I have experienced firsthand the passion and emotion that is unleashed on issues such as toll-road developments, beach bans on 4x4 vehicles, and of course, the culling of the tahrs of Table Mountain.
The wide-ranging nature of environmental affairs and tourism does not lend itself to complete coverage within the scope of a single Budget speech. With the understanding of the members, today I would like to focus on two areas of particular relevance and concern to this House. These focus areas are, firstly, the protection and the management of our marine resources, especially the fishing sector; and secondly, the importance of closer tourism co-operation and development, especially in our new domestic tourism growth campaign launched last week.
I would also like to request increased assistance from the representatives of the provinces here, and also the intensified partnership in these endeavours, as well as local government represented by Salga. On Monday in the National Assembly debate I shall deal with issues such as our poverty relief programmes, the expansion of our protected areas and a further regulation and the enforcement of environmental protections. But members should please feel free to raise any issues of concern to them, and I will address those in my reply. In the light of our celebrations of 10 years of democracy I would like to begin today by confirming that by next May our department will have taken possession of four new state-of-the-art environmental patrol vessels, all four to be named after prominent South African women, whose lives and deaths have become symbols of courage, dedication and singular commitment. The spirit of Lillian Ngoyi, Sarah Baartman, Victoria Mxenge and Ruth First will live on in these vessels, as they and their crews form the nucleus of what is effectively the first functional coastguard for South and Southern Africa.
As members have seen during the National Environmental Week, we have now declared another four marine protected areas, or MPAs, as part of our programme to create sustainable marine resources. The Table Mountain National Park, Bird Island, Aliwal Shoal and the Pondoland MPAs bring the stretch of South African coastline under protection, much closer to the 20% target set for 2010 at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, and also the World Parks Congress. Another major success has been the effective prosecution of environmental crimes, in the new, now not so new, specialised environmental courts in Hermanus in the Western Cape and also in Port Elizabeth. The Hermanus court has a prosecution success rate of 70%. That’s very high. An expansion of these courts to KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng should be the next step over the next 12 to 18 months. These measures are all linked to the ongoing strengthening by our department of our enforcement and compliance capacity, both in marine and coastal management and more broadly, in environmental affairs.
As the members from our coastal provinces will be able to confirm because of first-hand experience, there are few people more passionate or more vocal than a South African fisherman or fisherwoman. The allocation of fishing rights will always remain a high-profile and thorny issue because it impacts so directly and immediately on the lives of coastal families and communities. We must recall - and I would like to take your minds back - in 1994 there were only about 350 rights issued, and only to white-owned companies. Today, more than 5 830 individuals and companies have been granted fishing rights with more than 60% previously disadvantaged ownership, and more than 70% from the SMME sector.
Therefore, I’m pleased to announce that we will take the next step and that I am able to announce today that preparations are well advanced for the next round of fishing rights allocations, the long-term rights of between eight and 15 years. This process will take place next year across 19 commercial fisheries, and we anticipate receiving and evaluating more than 5 000 applications. The result of these new allocations will be much improved stability and certainty in the fishing industry, and those of you who know that industry well, will understand the stability that long-term rights will bring; and especially to our smaller operators for whom financing has been exceedingly difficult, or in some cases even impossible without long -term guarantees. We will gazette our new fisheries policy by July.
I’m also pleased to announce the new measures that we are instituting to ensure that the allocations process is raised to a level where the fairness and the legality of rights issued is assured. Independent forensic auditors, who have already been employed, will examine both officials as well as the fishing applicants. Separate and independent project management specialists and lawyers have also been retained as another level of checks and balances. These forensic auditors have been briefed to verify, not only the permit holder’s conduct in the different fisheries, but also to carry out lifestyle audits of staff members to ensure that no staff member is influenced to underreport catches, or act in any other wrongful manner.
We are also in the process of examining all our checks and balances to ensure that an even better system of fishing rights allocations is developed, in which the integrity and credibility of the allocations are beyond question. And once again, those members who intimately know and understand this industry will understand how important it is that the integrity and credibility of our systems are beyond question.
As far as holders of rights are concerned, our department issued 171 notices to those who appeared to have contravened their permit conditions, which include overfishing. In addition, together with the Scorpions and the department’s forensic auditors, we are currently engaged in two high- profile audits and investigations into illegal and unreported fishing in the abalone and pelagic industries, the results of which will be announced in the near future.
Chairperson, the last four years has shown that, on average, two working days out of every week is spent by senior officials in our department attending to queries from individual members of the fishing community. Now clearly, there is a need for better co-ordination of interests and queries within less organised fisheries. Some of the fisheries are already organised to a certain extent.
For this reason, Chairperson, our department will be looking into and encouraging, over the next 12 months, each of our commercial fishing sectors, from the net and line fisheries to the hake longline and lobster fisheries, to establish reputable and representative industry bodies to speak for their members’ interests.
Ons is absoluut daartoe verbind om met ons diverse vissersgemeenskappe - daar’s uiteenlopende belange - saam te werk, en om hulle te oortuig dat die volhoubare benutting van dié bron die enigste opsie is vir die huidige én vir die volgende geslagte. Voordat enige regte toegeken word, is ons daartoe verbind om so wyd moontlik in oorlegpleging te tree met ons vissersgemeenskappe. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[We are absolutely committed to co-operating with our diverse fishing communities - there are diverse interests - and to persuade them that the sustainable utilisation of this source is the only option for the present and for the future generations. Before any rights are allocated, we are committed to negotiating with our fishing communities as widely as possible.]
Although much has changed for the better in South African fishing, I believe that the plight of our subsistence fisherfolk is deserving of our focused attention - ons bestaansvissers. [our subsistence fisherfolk.]
To this end I will be conducting, from next month, a series of fishing imbizos in which we will travel the length of our coast, starting in Port Elizabeth on 20 July - and those times and venues will be advertised - Saldanha on 29 July, Fish Hoek and Gansbaai on 30 July, and KwaZulu-Natal, Lamberts Bay and Port Nolloth in September.
We will meet with the fisherfolk and their families. We will explain our approach to the management of resources. But also very importantly, Chairperson, we will take their advice on how best to develop our fishing policies, particularly with regard to the smaller commercial fisheries like line and net fisheries. I would like to give the assurance that we understand some - I hope most - if not all of the problems about that specific sector, and we would like to hear our fishermen and women tell us that directly and at first hand.
In albei dié prosesse wil ons graag ons kommunikasie met die visbedryf en die vissersgemeenskappe verbeter. Ons gaan afhanklik wees van die noue samewerking én ondersteuning van ons kollegas in die provinsiale regerings, sowel as in die plaaslike regerings. Nog ‘n gebied wat baie noue samewerking tussen ons departement en die ander sfere van regering gaan verg, is die bemarking van ons nuwe plaaslike groei-strategie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[In both these processes we would like to improve our communication with the fishing industry and the fishing communities. We are going to be dependent on the close co-operation and support of our colleagues in the provincial governments, as well as in the local governments. Another area which is going to need very close co-operation between our department and the other spheres of government is the marketing of our new local growth strategy.]
This is the first time that such a campaign has ever been attempted on this scale, binding all nine provinces and our national Government to convince our people that holiday travel in South Africa is both affordable and that it is worth exploring. The domestic tourism market is already worth about R49 billion, only 13% less than the value of our international tourism market. It is estimated that there is an emerging group of over 6,3 million South Africans with the resources and the desire to travel, but most of them never do because they believe it is unaffordable, or that there are no holiday options that appeal to them within our own country.
Driven by our department, SA Tourism and the Provincial Marketing Forum, the process to turn this situation around has already been underway since June last year. Our unique South African brand that has been the result rests on four essential South African experiences, that is adventure, urban vibe, affordable luxury and discovery. It is this identity, this South African brand, which has resulted in the Sho’t Left media campaign, launched last week in Langa. We want South Africans to travel more in our own country.
I would also like to encourage all of our provinces to play their part in nudging South Africans to explore and to discover the wonder and beauty of our own country. This campaign offers an excellent opportunity to all nine provinces to create greater awareness about what they offer in terms of leisure travel.
As with the domestic growth campaign, another aspect of tourism that is of direct importance to this House is our transformation plan. For some years Government has been encouraging transformation in the industry, and despite the many successes that we have achieved we know that no one should underestimate the hard work that remains to expand the ownership and the benefits of tourism in South Africa to include all our people.
One of the critical tourism transformation interventions of our department this year will be the development of a BEE scorecard for the tourism industry. I shall be announcing the appointment of a task team on 13 July to advise me on this process. We are doing this in partnership with the Tourism Business Council of South Africa.
The scorecard will be informed by the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, developed by the DTI, and it will provide clear targets and timeframes for the transformation of the industry. The clearer, the better, then there is no misunderstanding. Provinces will need to play an active role in this process, and we will inform and invite provinces shortly, because implementation of the scorecard will happen at provincial and local levels, and these spheres of government will also be central in monitoring the implementation of the scorecard.
Chairperson, we know that the response of many within the tourism sector to calls for transformation is that the will to transform is not met by the skills to do so. We understand that the key to future success in tourism is training and skills development of the highest order, and this is why our department will, from the end of this month, June, be taking over the funding of the Tourism Enterprise Programme. Initiated by the Business Trust over four years ago, this business linkages programme has already facilitated more than R1 billion worth of transactions, and created thousands of jobs.
Particularly in the light of the Growth and Development Summit Agreement, I am pleased to announce that we have now secured funding from the Treasury to continue this programme - R10 million this year, with a further R12 million and a further R15 million in the next two financial years. We are particularly pleased that the Business Trust will continue to assist us in a public-private partnership to the further value of R5 million this year.
We will be agreeing on specific provincial targets for the programme with our provincial co-ordinators as soon as the Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by the end of this month. The Department is also finalising a SMME training package and it will be piloted in August this year.
Ter afsluiting, alles is in plek vir omgewingsake en toerisme om van krag tot krag te groei oor die volgende vyf jaar, die volgende dekade én die volgende geslag. Die sleutel tot daardie sukses is die ondersteuning, die samewerking en die vennootskappe van die belangegroepe wat vandag hier teenwoordig is. [In conclusion, everything is in place so that environment affairs and tourism could grow from strength to strength over the next five years, the next decade and the next generation. The key to that success is the support, co-operation and partnerships of the interest groups that are represented here today.]
I would like to express my excitement to the NCOP about the team of MECs - most of them are here today - for environmental affairs and tourism with whom it will be my pleasure to work for the next five years. This is a critical portfolio, which has been blessed by skilled and dedicated men and women in every province.
My appreciation must also be recorded to the team in our department under the leadership of our Director-General, Dr Olver, our Ministry, and every statutory body for their professionalism and their unflagging energy. The transition involving a new Minister is almost never easy, but this process has been both smooth, efficient, and an accomplishment worth of recognition. I would like to thank the role-players whom I have mentioned.
I would also like to take this opportunity to convey to the House the greetings of our Deputy Minister, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, who sends her sincere regrets about not participating in this debate today. She is currently attending a very important international meeting and she will be back I believe by tomorrow morning. I would also like to thank all of the members of this House who worked with our department during the last term of government, and also to welcome those who have joined us in the new term; and I was glad to see a number of very experienced members of Parliament also from the NCOP on the select committee.
A special word of thanks must be extended to Rev Moatshe and the other members of the select committee for all of the work that has already been invested in the Budget Vote deliberations. I have no doubt that we will continue to work in close partnership in facing the challenges ahead of us. I thank you.
The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Thank you very much, hon Minister. It is no mistake that your Budget Vote starts in the NCOP. The House is actually reminding you that you were once the Rotating Chairperson of this House. You therefore have to complete your work in the NCOP.
Moruti P MOATSHE: Modulasetilo wa Khansele ya Bosetshaba ya Diporofense, Tona ya Merero ya Tikologo le Bojanala mmogo le lefapha la gago, Ditona, maloko a a emetseng diporofense, le maloko a Ntlo eno a leruri, ke le dumedisa ka pula. Ka re pula! MALOKO A A TLOTLEGANG: A e ne!
Moruti P MOATSHE: Le phaphame banna. [Setshego.]
Mo ditlhophong tsa ngwaga o tsa naga le tsa diporofense, baagi ba boletse ka bongwe jwa pelo gore, montsamaisa bosigo ke mo leboga bo sele. Ba bontshitse ditebogo ka go amogela taletso ya go tsena mo tumelanong le mokaloba o mogolo mo dipolotiking, ANC go tlhoma ditiro le go tlhasela tlala le lehuma.
Tlala e mo dipharagobeng. E kapane le dinta le dipela di fuduga. Baagi ba Afrika Borwa ba tsene mo tumelanong go tlhoma ntwa kgatlhanong le botlhokatiro le go kgatlhameletsa morago maparego a tlala le lehuma. Ponelopele ya lefapha e e khutlonne e netefatsa botshelo jo bo botoka jwa baagi ba Afrika Borwa e le ka maatla a go tlhoga, go jelwa nala, le tshireletsego ya tikologo.
Tumelano ya batho ya re go Khansele ya Bosetshaba ya Diporofense, kodumela moepathutse gonne ga go lehumo le le tswang gaufi. Bojanala ke bodirelo jo bo tlhwatlhwa. Bo na le maatla a a kwa godimo a go tlhoga mo dimarakeng tsa fa gae le tsa boditshabatshaba. Maikaelelo a lefapha ke go tlhotlheletsa kgatlhego mo go tsa bojanala mo gae le kwa mafatsheng a a kwa ntle, le go tlosa maparego otlhe a a kgoreletsang go tlhoga.
Ke bodirelo jo bo maemo a a kwa godimo mo go tlhomeng ditiro tse di ngokang dipeeletso mo lefatsheng la rona. Lefapha le ikaeletse go tshegetsa katoloso ya mafaratlhatlha, e le magato a bo tlhola ditiro, kgolo ya ikonomi ga batho bantsho, ke go re BEE, le go akofisa diphetogo. Afrika Borwa e simolotse go nna nngwe ya mafatshe a a akofileng go tlhoga mo bojanaleng le go jelwa nala ke mafatshe a boeng. (Translation of Setswana paragraphs follows.)
[Rev P MOATSHE: Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism together with your department, Ministers, members representing provinces, and permanent members of this House, I convey my greetings to you. Peace unto you! HON MEMBERS: Peace unto you!
Rev P MOATSHE: I like your spontaneous response. [Laughter.]
In this year’s national and provincial elections the nation spoke in one voice that they now appreciate what has been done for them. They conveyed their thanks by accepting an invitation to enter into a partnership with the great giant of politics, the ANC, to create jobs and eradicate poverty and hunger.
Hunger is in danger. It is facing the toughest opponent. Our South African citizens have entered into an agreement to wage war against unemployment, and to push back the frontiers of poverty and hunger. The rectangular vision of the department confirms a better life for South Africans with the power to growth, tourism and environmental awareness.
The people’s contract indicates to the National Council of Provinces that one has to work hard because nothing comes easily. Tourism is a valuable industry. It has the power to grow in the local and domestic market. The aim of the department is to generate interest in tourism locally and abroad, and to remove all barriers to growth.
It is a valued industry to create jobs that attract investments to our country. This department intends to support the expansion of networks, which are efforts to create jobs, black economic empowerment, or BEE, and to speed up change. South Africa has started to be one of the developing countries in tourism and is a foreign tourist attraction.]
SA Tourism received a government grant of R68,7 million for marketing activities and maintenance of its infrastructure. Government contributed a further R150 million for a joint international marketing initiative with the business community. The total revenue of SA Tourism in the 2002-03 budget was R130,9 million. The majority of these funds, R219 million, came from the state grant, with R68 million made by formal business contributions. Considerable progress has been made in increasing tourism activity. Despite the recent, general global slowdown, South Africa is one of the few countries where tourism has grown significantly. The increased effort to market South Africa internationally is one of the main reasons for this. In addition, through the poverty relief fund more than R232 million has been spent on tourism projects across the country, mainly on the development of infrastructure and tourism products. Initiatives to achieve transformation in the tourism industry have included the development of strong partnerships, tour-guiding training, tourism safety and an innovative tourism-grading scheme.
The implementation of the International Tourism Growth Strategy will be one of the main areas of work in the department. The campaign to market South Africa abroad has been intensified, with extra funds allocated to international marketing through SA Tourism. An increasing effort to develop domestic tourism is to run parallel with this.
Die Wêreldkongres vir Volhoubare Ontwikkeling: die wêreldkongres ten opsigte van aaneenlopende stabiele ontwikkeling, waarvan Suid-Afrika in 2002 die gasheer was, is ‘n bewys van die vaardighede waaroor Suid-Afrika beskik om die uitdaging te aanvaar ten opsigte van die integrering van maatskaplike ontwikkeling met ekonomiese vooruitgang en omgewingsbeskerming. Wêreldwye vennootskappe wat gevorm is om armoede in Suid-Afrika uit die weg te ruim sal in die volgende dekade ‘n belangrike rol speel met die ondersteuning van die implementering van die kongresooreenkoms. Suid-Afrika sal beslis aktief betrokke wees by die ontwikkeling van die program van die Kommissie vir Aaneenlopende Stabiele Ontwikkeling, om ook verantwoordelik te wees vir die monitering van die implementering van die Kongresuitsette vir die volgende 10 jaar. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[The World Congress for Sustainable Development: this world congress on continuous stable development, of which South Africa was the host in 2002, is evidence of the skills South Africa has at its disposal to accept the challenge regarding the integration of social development with economic progress and environmental conservation. Worldwide partnerships that were formed to eliminate poverty in South Africa will play an important role in the next decade in supporting the implementation of the congressional agreement. South Africa will definitely be involved in developing the programme for the Commission of Continuous Stable Development and be responsible for monitoring the implementation of Congressional outputs for the next ten years.]
Before I deal with fishing - marine and coastal management - I want to hint at the subject of aquaculture. The MCM is in those provinces where there are shores and seas. But if this Government were to take cognisance of the aquaculture concept, all the provinces would be able to have fish because they would be breeding fish in their own areas. Even in the most remote places in the rural areas, people would be able to breed fish and to have food on the table. This becomes a challenge for the Departments of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, of Water Affairs and Forestry, of Agriculture and of Land Affairs. The select committee will come to a point at which these departments will be invited to look at the issue of aquaculture. How best can it be implemented in South Africa?
We are happy to hear that there are provinces already which have embarked on an aquaculture. I learned that they are KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, the North West province and the Western Cape. The select committee will still be going out to see this project, but aquaculture is a long-term plan for South Africa. Countries like Norway which have no marine resources any longer, have resorted to aquaculture. This implies that in the future we may encounter the same problem. Therefore it will be wise for us to start now.
Die Wet op Lewende Mariene Hulpbronne, Wet 18 van 1998, sit ‘n breë raamwerk uiteen vir die bestuur van seevissery, die toegang van regte, transformasie en bemagtigingsaangeleenthede. Tesame daarmee is die toekenning van die reg op seevissery geherstruktureer. ‘n Regtetoekenningseenheid is in 2001 op die been gebring om die toekenningsproses te bestuur. Terselfdertyd is daar `n nuwe wetsontwerp in plek wat langtermynregte hanteer. ‘n Nuwe fooistruktuur is ook nou in plek. Verder is die toekenning van langtermynvissersregte ook die laaste jaar afgehandel, wat drasties gelei het tot stabiliteit, deursigtigheid en eerlikheid in die bedryf.
Die Lewende Mariene Hulpbronnefonds word gefinansier deur sy eie inkomste en ook deur toelaes vanaf die Regering soos bepaal in artikel 10 van die Wet op Lewende Mariene Hulpbronne. Die fonds se eie inkomste word verkry van heffings op visvangste, permitte, hawefooie en opbrengste uit die verkoop van gekonfiskeerde produkte. Die bedrag wat die fonds van die Regering ontvang het, is R155 miljoen. Hierdie bedrag sluit in R147 miljoen vir die aankoop van nuwe vaartuie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[The Marine Living Resources Act, Act 18 of 1998 provides a broad framework for the management of the sea-fishing industry, the access to rights, transformation and empowerment opportunities. Together with this, the allocation of sea-fishing rights have been restructured. A rights allocation unit was established to manage the allocation process. At the same time, a new Bill was implemented to regulate long- term rights. A new fee structure has also been implemented. Furthermore, the allotment of long- term fishing rights was finalised in the last year, drastically leading to stability, transparency and honesty in the industry.
The Marine Living Resources Fund is being financed by its own income and a government grant, as stipulated in section 10 of the Marine Living Resources Act. The fund derives its income from levies on fish - catches, permits, harbour fees and the proceeds from the sale of confiscated products. The fund has received R155 million from the Government. This amount includes R147 million designated for the buying of new vessels.]
The department’s objectives for the environment are to ensure the sustainable management of natural resources and to protect the environmental rights of all South Africans, particularly the previously disadvantaged. Many of the more obvious effects of pollution on health, safety and the environment have been identified in policy and are being addressed through legislative and other means, including the Integrated Pollution and Waste Management Policy, the increasingly effective environmental impact assessment process and the plastic bags agreement and regulations. The following pieces of legislation have been developed and are currently before Parliament with a view to promulgation in early 2004: the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Bill, the National Environmental Management Amendment Bill, the Environmental Conservation Amendment Bill, and the National Environmental Management Second Amendment Bill. However, much work is still required to identify and manage less obvious but undoubtedly significant issues.
Komiti ya Lefapha ya Merero ya Lefatshe le Tikologo e batla go netefaletsa Tona le lefapha gore tirisanommogo e tla nna teng. Go na le dikgwetlho di le dintsi tseo di tshwanetseng go latelwa le go akofisiwa gore di tle di gorosiwe mo go fetoleng le go tokafatseng matshelo a baagi ba Afrika Borwa. Nako ke yona e, mme e a re gwetlha. Ke rata ke leboga ke re pula! [Legofi.] (Translation of Setswana paragraph follows.)
[The committee dealing with environmental affairs and tourism wants to confirm to the Minister and the department that there will be co-operation. There are so many challenges to be faced and much to facilitate in changing and improving the lives of South African citizens. This is the time to do it. I thank everyone. [Applause.]]
Mr B MALAKOANE (Free State): Hon Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, Minister, MECs present, permanent delegates and special delegates, it is a pleasure for me to share with you what I have to say today in support of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Budget Vote. May I first begin by congratulating the Minister on his appointment to this portfolio, and I just wish and hope that our relationship with him will be showered with all the blessings for us to continue working together for the next five years.
On the environmental front, whenever composite indicators are used to show how Government has affected the lives of South Africans, the essential composite indexes worth using have always been the ones showing the social, economic and political impact, but most of all the quality of life, which is part of the social impact. This has been used to measure broader environmental impacts arising from health, education and environmental policies developed.
The inclusion of the right to environmentally sustainable development in the Constitution has emphasized the importance of the sustainable use of natural resources in the South African context. The country’s natural resources are the nation’s natural capital and they play a significant role in overall sustainable development and poverty alleviation. This is echoed by Agenda 21, which is an action plan and blueprint on sustainable development adopted by 178 governments at the United Nations conference held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
The past decade has seen natural resource management and conservation in South Africa move squarely into an arena concerned with human rights, access to natural resources, equity and environmental sustainability. The Government’s focus on the more equitable distribution of the right of access to natural resources is an assertion that with greater equity in access comes the recognition that resources can only be sustainably managed through the participation of resource users and beneficiaries in the planning, control and conservation of the resources themselves. This has to be encouraged and taken further. We support this as the Free State.
Conservation areas create opportunities for local communities to
participate in the management of protected areas, and in the process share
in the benefit of tourism, thereby improving their lives. In many parts of
the country this has not happened, yet it is an economic imperative because
it provides the basis for substantial and sustainable economic gains.
Millions of rural South Africans depend upon these biological resources for
their day-to-day survival. Therefore access to this natural capital''
provides a crucial contribution to livelihoods, which is an important
buffer against poverty and an opportunity for self-employment. It is
therefore ahidden’’ economy on its own at play.
It is estimated that in Gauteng alone the informal medicinal plant trade is worth R21 million per annum, while in KZN the trade is worth R60 million. This is a huge trade indeed. It must be pushed and nurtured. The Free State has begun and everybody is invited to join. It is for this reason that community-based natural resource management has been a particular focus for many of the rural development initiatives that put emphasis on community- based nature conservation and ecotourism.
That is why the maintenance of the rehabilitated wetlands in the Free State, in particular, is not only ensuring the availability of water to sustain the wetlands as a habitat for biodiversity and to provide much- needed ecological services to the surrounding community, but it is still providing jobs to about 120 people to the value of approximately R2,5 million to date.
The implementation of the Bioregional Strategy, which entails the expansion and consolidation of the current system of protected areas from 6% to 8%, is under way, and this is evidenced by the expansion of the Addo Elephant National Park, with the acquisition of new land for this purpose. This merely emphasizes the importance of protected areas.
Commercialisation of tourism facilities and services within protected areas is an example of efforts to improve management efficiency and revenue generation from protected areas. This is a plus for the integration of tourism and environmental awareness. The inter-provincial yellow fish conservation programme initiated by the Free State province aims at conserving rare species and promoting their tourism potential. It has achieved great success with the establishment of the informal aquatic conservation area of approximately 680 km stretching from Barrage to Bloemhof Dam. Fly-fishing of this species is increasing and this is also affecting and boosting the Free State’s tourism market.
The transfrontier conservation areas, which are cross-border conservation areas, accord with the vision of Nepad of social, economic and political integration within provinces. That’s why we have the Maluti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Project in the Free State, which is a project between the Free State and Lesotho, and the Xhariep [between the rivers] Complex, a project involving the Free State, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape. In a nutshell, the integration of environmental awareness, bio-diversity management and eco-tourism promotion have to be packaged as an economic development tool. On the tourism development and promotion front, tourism development and the formation of tourism promotion agencies play an important role in this regard. The recognition of the value of these bodies bestows unto them the crucial responsibility of marketing the country and the provinces and feeding the tourism information-seekers with accurate and useful information. The Free State will be joining the fray as from September this year.
The important partnership between provincial tourism agencies, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and SA Tourism is res ipsa loquita - it is self-explanatory - and it cannot be done without. It was described as ``sine qua non” by Mr Raju yesterday.
It therefore becomes imperative for tour packages to be developed and successfully placed in the market. We are doing it in the Free State. Media tours for domestic, national and international journalists have to be developed and continued for this is important in packaging and managing information that is so critical in enhancing the tourism thrust. It is needless to say that audio-visual media would be of major assistance in this regard.
The development and launch of tourism routes and tourism information centres, such as the Goldfields tourism route in the Free State, through partnerships between districts within provinces, is important for mutual gain and has to be encouraged. The Free State is beginning to realise the success thereof, and we are on course to developing many more.
The development and launch of cultural heritage routes through partnerships, and within regions and districts, should also be amplified and emphasised. With the rich cultural heritage prevalent in this country, cultural tourism becomes inevitable. We have to exploit it.
The training of township bed-and-breakfast aspirants should be embarked upon and promoted for the benefit of the previously disadvantaged that are entering the hospitality market. The Free State had arranged for the training of 15 people, mostly women, in the northern Free State district, by an accredited hospitality trainer from the University of Pretoria, and the individual participants received skills on how to manage bed-and- breakfast establishments. We need to train many more, because bed-and- breakfast business has to be taken back to the townships. There are friendly and professional men and women out there who are ready and willing to climb onto the bandwagon.
Through our widespread schools and colleges, and partnerships between the Education department and departments of tourism, we would be inculcating the spirit of tourism awareness and tourism value that for any one tourist visiting this country, province or any part of our local government, a few jobs are being created as a result. Come 2010, we would be having a passionate, tourist-friendly nation.
Through our vast and soon-to-be-upgraded sports facilities for 2010, and broad-based support of our local and provincial teams, the partnership between the Departments of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Sports, Arts and Culture has to be recognised and encouraged for it breeds and builds the passion for our cultural heritage and promotes sports tourism.
Through our state-of-the-art medical facilities, with various specialities available here and unavailable there, in partnerships with the departments of health in provinces, we would be indirectly promoting medical tourism. And we are aware that this is slowly and progressively emerging, as is the case with those who would like to change their faces or change their bodies, that is plastic surgery.
In conclusion, Chairperson, we, again, have to integrate tourism, leisure and heritage into an economic development tool. I thank you. [Applause.]
Mr J W LE ROUX: Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Premier Fishing for the lovely gift and I am sure we are all going to enjoy our snoek for supper tonight. Thank you very much, gentlemen.
Agb Voorsitter, Minister, LUR’e en kollegas, gedurende die afgelope aantal jare was ons baie gelukkig om uitstekende ministers van omgewingsake te hê en ons wens dan ook ons nuwe minister alles van die heel beste toe.
Veral gedurende die termyn van mnr Moosa het bewaring baie aandag en publisiteit geniet en die breë gemeenskap het al hoe meer onder die besef gekom van hoe belangrik die omgewing waarin ons leef, geword het. Die privaatsektor het ook ‘n al groter rol begin speel - hy is so groot en dan loop hy nog voor ons in ook - en veral mense soos dr Rupert en mnr Ton Vosloo, sowel as talle groot sake-ondernemings, het bewaring met woord en daad ondersteun.
Die groenes, en soos neerhalend na verwys is as die ``groenetjies’’, het al belangriker begin word. Besluitnemers besef vandag dat miljoene mense in Suid-Afrika baie trots is op ons omgewing en dat roekelose besluite net nie meer geduld sal word nie.
Die grootste uitdaging is nog steeds die botsende belange van ontwikkeling teenoor bewaring. Oor die jare het dit duidelik geword dat die ontwikkelaars feitlik altyd die oorhand gekry het. Daar is talle voorbeelde wat as bewyse kan dien oor hoe skadelik dit vir die land kan wees as verkeerde besluite geneem word.
Die vernietiging van ons geboue-erfenis is daar vir almal om te sien. Pragtige historiese geboue het plek gemaak vir glaspaleise en vulstasies. Dorpe en stede se karakters is vir ewig vernietig net omdat besluitnemers geswig het voor ontwikkelaars en stadsbeplanners. As Kapenaars net na Tafelberg kyk en die drie hoë torings teen die berg sien, weet hulle presies wat ek bedoel.
Ek wil dan ook aan die Minister voorstel dat ‘n paneel kundiges aangestel moet word om hierdie vraagstuk van botsende belange op te los. As ‘n ontwikkelende land het ons groot ontwikkeling nodig, en nuwe riglyne van hoe die ontwikkelaar, sowel as die omgewing, se belange beskerm moet word, moet neergelê word.
In baie gevalle besit grond- en geboue-eienaars bates wat vir die nageslag behoue moet bly, maar finansiële oorwegings dwing eienaars om te ontwikkel. In sulke gevalle behoort daar meganismes te wees om eienaars aan te moedig om nie te ontwikkel nie. So ‘n aksie sal ten minste talle historiese geboue van sloping red. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Hon Chairperson, Minister, MECs and colleagues, we have been very fortunate during the past few years to have had excellent ministers of environmental affairs, and we also wish our new Minister everything of the very best.
During the term of Mr Moosa, in particular, conservation received much attention and publicity, and the broad public came to realise more and more how important the environment in which we live has become. The private sector also started playing a bigger role - he is so big, and then he still crosses the floor - and especially people such as Dr Rupert and Mr Ton Vosloo, as well as many large business enterprises supported conservation by word and deed.
The greens, and those who were called “little greens” in a derogatory way, became more and more important. Decision-makers today realise that millions of people in South Africa are very proud of our environment and that reckless decisions will no longer simply be tolerated.
The greatest challenge is still the conflicting interests of development versus conservation. It has become clear over the years that developers have virtually always gained the upper hand. There are many examples which can serve as evidence about how harmful it can be for this country if wrong decisions are taken.
The destruction of our heritage as far as buildings are concerned is clear for everyone to see. Beautiful historical buildings made way for glass palaces and filling stations. The character of towns and cities has been destroyed forever, simply because decision-makers yielded to developers and town planners. Capetonians need only look at Table Mountain and see the three high towers at the foot of the mountain to know exactly what I mean.
I would therefore suggest to the hon the Minister that a panel of experts be appointed to resolve this problem of conflicting interests. We, as a developing country, need a lot of development, and new guidelines as to how the interests of the developer as well as the environment are to be protected must be established.
In many cases owners of land and buildings own assets which should be conserved for posterity, but financial considerations force the owners to develop. In cases such as these there should be mechanisms to encourage owners not to develop. Such an action would at least save many historical buildings from demolition.]
That brings me to the issue of dune mining in Pondoland. As you know, there is an Australian company that is putting tremendous pressure on Government to allow mining to take place in the Pondoland Park. To allow foreign investors to destroy our heritage is totally unacceptable.
Everybody who has had the pleasure of visiting this area will never understand how anybody can ever wish to destroy probably the most beautiful coast in the world. To use job creation as an excuse to mine here is just not true. If Government helps the ecotourism groups to develop tourism in Pondoland, many more sustainable jobs will be created and at the same time this pristine area will be saved for generations to come. I urge Minister Van Schalkwyk to visit this area as soon as possible. I am sure that once he has seen for himself what heaven on earth means, he will never allow the destruction of the dunes.
I would like to bring to the attention of the Minister what is happening in and around the Addo National Park. At Addo we have the combination of sound management, totally dedicated staff and sufficient funds. In the space of a few years this Cinderella park has been turned into the most exciting tourist destination in South Africa. I will not be surprised if the Addo Park surpasses even the Kruger National Park in time to come.
I urge members of this House to visit the Addo Park as soon as possible. Nowhere in the world can a tourist view the range of wildlife and scenic beauty as at Addo. Whale watching, visiting Bird Island, seeing elephant, lion, kudu, bushbuck and the rest in one park is an unforgettable experience.
The management of the park succeeded in creating a spirit of working together with staff, the private sector and adjacent farmers to create a better life for thousands of people in and around the park. Mr Lucious Moolman and his team deserve special mention for the way in which they have upgraded the facilities and the effort they have made to introduce new, innovative experiences for visitors. The major role that honorary rangers play in supporting the staff in our national parks also needs special mention.
I believe Minister Van Schalkwyk plans to visit the Addo Park in due course and I suggest that he should also visit the Baviaans Nature Reserve. It is my view that, in future, the Baviaans should be linked to the Addo Park. If this can happen the Eastern Cape would be well on its way to becoming the tourist destination in South Africa.
Die beoogde stortingsterrein wat nou so erg in die nuus is in die Oos-Kaap by Grasrug naby Addo-park en naby die sitrusplase wek baie groot kommer. Ek versoek u om so dringend moontlik na hierdie probleem te kyk. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[The envisaged dumping site at Grasrug in the Eastern Cape near Addo Park and the citrus farms, which is receiving so much coverage in the news at present, is cause for great concern. I request you to investigate this problem as urgently as possible.] Lastly, it has become a problem that tourists are being overcharged in many places in the country. Obviously there are many exceptions, but the perception that South Africa is not a value-for-money destination is damaging the industry. The strong rand makes us even less competitive. Added to the problem is the fact that in many cases our service and hospitality industries are not up to world standards. I visited a popular hotel in Stellenbosch frequented by tourists, and was amazed that the cheapest glass of wine was R38 and that the expensive wines were priced at over R1 000 per bottle. Tourists are very important people and must never feel that they are being cheated. I thank you. [Applause.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Hon members, may I remind you that you should not walk between the Chair and the member who is speaking.
Mr F ADAMS: Hon Chairperson, Minister, MECs, special delegates and hon members, South Africa’s biggest asset is its people: a rainbow nation with rich and diverse cultures. Although South Africans come from many cultural traditions, they belong to one nation - a dynamic blend of age-old customs and modern ways that build a South African society to create a better life for all.
The greatest challenge for South Africa and the rest of the world is to improve the quality of human life for both present and future generations without depleting its natural resources. This can only be achieved through sustaining a healthy natural environment which supplies raw material, absorbs and treats waste products, and maintains water, soil and air quality. Food security, water provision and climatic stability depend on ecosystems that function properly, stable levels of biodiversity, sustainable rates of resource extraction and minimal production of waste and pollution.
The Government, the Minister and the department have taken several steps at national, provincial and local levels which include reforming environmental policies, ratifying international agreements and participating in many global and regional sustainable development initiatives. And, from what I have heard from the Minister, these initiatives are still ongoing.
We need to bear in mind that the following aspects are essential to sustaining our growing population: equitable access to clean water, land that is able to support agriculture and air that is free from pollutants that are detrimental to our health. By giving priority to environmental and tourism issues, the Minister exercises equity and justice. It is the poor who have been denied access to natural resources or who live next to waste dumps.
Voorsitter, graag wil ek net die Minister geluk, sterkte en voorspoed toewens met die taak wat voorlê. Ek hoor die Minister noem in sy toespraak ‘n paar belangrike aankondigings oor wat gaan plaasvind in die toekoms. Ons wil die Minister bedank vir sy toegewydheid om daadwerklike pogings aan te wend om die armoede wat bestaan vas te vat, en dat hy nie soos die DA-leier en ‘n vorige lid van die Huis, mev Antoinette Versfeld, ons mense loop en kwaadmaak het met hul leë beloftes en verdraaiing van die waarheid nie.
Die DA-leier en mev Antoinette Versfeld het ons mense op Struisbaai in Augustus verlede jaar gaan besoek, en ek haal aan uit die Business Day van Augustus: ``Tony Leon says that the Government is causing coastal communities `one hardship after another’ through mismanagement.’’
Ek wil net vir die agb DA-leier en die DA-lede sê, om vir ons mense om verskoning te gaan vra vir die valse uitlating, want baie het gebeur en is nog steeds aan die gebeur vir die ontwikkeling en opbou in die visbedryf. Die Minister het aangekondig dat hy vis imbizo’s gaan hou in die vissersgemeenskappe om die visbedryf verder uit te bou, en ons verwelkom dit, Minister. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Chairperson, I would like to wish the Minister good luck, strength and success with the task ahead. I hear that the Minister mentions, in his speech a few important announcements about what is going to happen in the future. We want to thank the Minister for his dedication in making actual attempts to deal with the poverty that exists, unlike the DA leader and a former member of the House, Mrs Antoinette Versfeld, who are going around making our people angry with their empty promises and distortion of the truth.
The DA leader and Mrs Antoinette Versfeld visited our people in Struisbaai in August last year, and I am quoting from the Business Day of August: ``Tony Leon says that the Government is causing coastal communities `one hardship after another’ through mismanagement.’’
I just want to tell to the hon DA leader and the DA members to go and apologise to our people for these false statements, because a lot has happened and is still happening to develop and build the fishing industry. The Minister has announced that he is going to hold fishing imbizos in the fishing communities to further expand the fishing industry, and we welcome this, Minister.]
For the NNP the aim of sustainable development is to provide for the needs of the current generation in a manner that does not jeopardise the capacity of future generations. Economic activity and mismanagement could be extremely damaging and even destructive. The NNP supports the initiatives aimed at committing companies and communities to economic activities that are not harmful to nature and mankind. The NNP supports the Budget Vote. I thank you. [Applause.]
Ms S E MABE: Hon Chairperson, hon Ministers, hon Deputy Ministers, hon members and special delegates, ladies and gentlemen, I must add my small voice in congratulating the Minister for his appointment to this challenging yet exciting portfolio.
The environment is the strategic sector of our society. It is an area that brings and sustains life to living organisms. It is also an area that buries and hides the nonliving organisms.
My talk today, as I’m now becoming a veteran of this House, will focus on waste management. The banning of thin plastic bags was a good decision by Government because it assisted in enabling us to control or manage the pollution of our environment caused by plastic bag littering in our parks, veld and streets. Plastic bags were also a danger to animals, especially cows, because once they ate them they died. It also reduced the potential for filling waste disposal sites, thus, once they were regulated, more land for developmental purposes could be released.
During public hearings the industry failed to present statistics on potential job losses. Government presented its views on sustainable use of the environment and potential jobs that will be created through tourism, because tourists want to see the beauty of our landscape rather than plastic bags litter. Therefore the cost of banning the manufacture and import of thin plastic bags in relation to job losses was far outweighed by the benefits of saving our environment for future generations. Tyres are our most important instruments for transportation of goods and people from one point to another. They are recyclable as retreads. Therefore, it is important that more people and organisations are encouraged to be more involved in programmes of recycling tyres consciously. It means that the department must, in future, present programmes that encourage recycling of tyres in our country, since they take a lot of space in our landfill sites. Incentives and punitive measures must accompany the programme of recycling. The studies or research show that a lot of jobs could be created.
Glass is not biodegradable, which means that the space it occupies does not get reduced even if it has been there for decades. This is more reason for the department to develop a programme of recycling also in this area. The department and the spheres of Government must lead an overall campaign in our country that promotes the three Rs, that is to reduce, recycle and reuse. The second overall campaign should be to encourage and support municipalities in educating and providing resources to households to sort out waste from their homes. All municipalities across the length and breadth of our country should be supported by the other two spheres of Government in collecting waste on a regular basis from where people live in the townships, informal settlements, hostels, mines, villages, towns and cities of our country.
Rights also go hand in hand with responsibilities. In the implementation of the peoples’ contract, we call upon all our people from all walks of life to revive the tradition of the 80s by building the peoples’ parks in the spirit of Letsema. The process of moving the responsibility for landfill sites from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism is commendable, because it will promote an integrated waste management system. However, it should be speeded up and an audit of legal and illegal landfill sites is required. The establishment and continued funding of environmental courts by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development is therefore commended. However, the presiding officers and prosecutors need to be retrained in environmental law.
As far as the prevention of air pollution is concerned, we recognise and commend the efforts of Government, led by the Minister, in encouraging a move to a cleaner technology. Companies like Iscor in the Vaal Triangle, Sasol in Free State, Mondi in Merebank, Saiccor in uMkomaas and others have to change their way of conducting their business activities and implement the policy of Government as outlined above.
The effects of the status quo have caused serious illness to the people who reside near those companies. The highest law of the land, in Chapter 2 - Bill of Rights, puts an obligation upon the democratic and developmental state to ensure that its citizens live in a clean and healthy environment.
In the recent past, we have seen and experienced a lot of disasters such as floods in Mozambique and droughts in most parts of our country. The latter has forced our Government to declare those affected parts of our country disaster areas. We have just come out of that disaster.
We also have seen floods in some parts of the United States of America where many people were killed and a lot of property was destroyed - the list is endless. Given this real state of affairs, a programme to proactively prepare for disasters, which must include sectors of our society, must be activated, especially regarding farmers. This programme will ensure that the devastating effects of disasters are avoided or prevented.
As far as the asbestos issue is concerned, South Africa had the courage to stop the mining of asbestos in the interests of our people and their environment. However, difficulties are now arising because Zimbabwe has a thriving asbestos industry and they transport it to Durban via our rails and roads. In addition, many Zimbabwe-based industries are starting to set up businesses in South Africa. This is a complex problem that requires the intervention of Foreign Affairs.
Another problem relates to the expense of certain asbestos substitutes, which make it difficult for asbestos use to be phased out rapidly in those instances. In addition, there is a problem of secondary pollution from mine dumps, roads paved with asbestos, old township houses and rural schools with asbestos ceilings. I thank you. [Applause.]
Ms T ESSOP (Western Cape): Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, Minister, fellow MECs, special delegates, hon members, I rise to congratulate the Minister in the delivery of the budget speech today and congratulate him on a number of initiatives that he spelled out in his budget speech. Also, I want to immediately say that as the MEC responsible for this portfolio in the Western Cape we will definitely look forward to a very close partnership with you, Minister, and the initiatives that you have mentioned today - and especially with regard to your planned fishing imbizo for the month end of July. We look forward to co-operating with you in those imbizos. I am sure when you indicate that there are very few people more passionate and more vocal than the South African fishermen or fisherwomen, I am certain hon Minister that you have not yet met the taxi industry. In my previous portfolio I have had the privilege of being part of the passionate and vocal group of taxi operators in this country.
We have a lot to celebrate today. We are celebrating a very resounding victory for the ANC at a national level, but in the Western Cape we are also celebrating particularly the victory of the ANC and the deep honour of finally becoming part of the rest of South Africa. But we are also celebrating our 10 years of democracy and I think it would be useful for us to reflect on the achievements in the environmental sector over the past 10 years.
It was only a mere 10 years ago that the environment was wrongly upheld as something that had to be protected and utilised for the enjoyment of the privileged few in this country. The majority of our people had limited access to the natural wonders of our province and the rest of the country. Brown environmental issues, like pollution and waste management, and its linkages with human health, which had a direct impact on the majority of the poor, received little or no attention. It was therefore no surprise that the environmental management was not seen as the key component of economic growth and development. But since 1994 we have made significant strides and progress towards the realisation of environmental rights. The last decade has seen natural resource management and conservation in South Africa move squarely into an arena concerned with human rights, access to natural resources, equity and environmental sustainability.
When the Constitution was adopted in 1996, the Bill of Rights included a number of key environmental issues including the right to a clean and healthy environment and the right to have access to water, food and shelter. Section 24 in our Constitution enshrines our environmental rights in terms of which everybody is entitled to an environment that is not harmful to their health or wellbeing. This clause also places an obligation on government to take certain positive steps, such as legislating that pollution and ecological degradation be prevented, conservation be promoted and ecologically sustainable development be secured, while at the same time promoting economic and social development.
Although the concept of a right to an environment, which is not harmful to our wellbeing, has not been fully defined, it can be said that the use of the environment in a morally responsible way has an intrinsic value to people and therefore, needs to be preserved. We also have the obligation of safekeeping the environment for future generations. Our exposure to the global arena in the last 10 years has also led us to a paradigm shift, which recognises very clearly the role natural resources and environmental management as a foundation of economic and social development. In an increasingly global context the environment has become the key to our very survival. Climatic changes, biodiversity laws and diminishing water resources are challenges we face. Our economy is reliant on soil for agriculture; on fish for food and our biodiversity for tourism; herbs and medicinal plants that are being promoted in the Free State - I am glad to hear, hon MEC - for health care; and minerals for industry. The prime example is the dependence of our rural communities on natural resources. People living in these rural areas remain the most vulnerable if the environmental degradation is not curbed, and in South Africa sustainable development is fundamental to the transformation and growth of our new democracy.
For us in South Africa, however, poverty eradication is still one of our most critical challenges, and it is clear that our biggest priority in the next 10 years of our democracy will be addressing poverty. Job creation and empowerment initiatives in tourism, fishing, conservation and the environmental sectors have contributed as well to this war against poverty and inequality. It is in this context that the Western Cape government’s vision of building the Western Cape as a home for all is critically important and this vision is embraced by iKapa elihlumayo, the growth and development strategy for the Western Cape. In striving towards delivering on our commitment to iKapa elihlumayo, my department has focused on two critical areas: firstly, an integrated law reform process, and developing a provincial spatial development framework.
In respect of the integrated law reform process, it is the department’s aim to integrate three critically interrelated but currently nonintegrated processes and procedures related to environmental planning and heritage impacts and approvals. The objective of this law reform process is to cut the red tape. The current lengthy and unpredictable and almost certainly costly processes, is not helpful to promoting a sustainable development agenda in the Western Cape and therefore this becomes a critical priority for us in this department. It is clear that we have moved a long way in the past decade in the progressive realisation of environmental rights. We recognise this with a clear acknowledgement that still much more needs to be done.
The fundamental approach to the environment and sustainable development is a rights-based one and the notion of environmental justice is implicit in South Africa’s Constitutional environmental rights. Equal access to natural resources, social transformation, meeting basic human needs and enhancing the quality of life of all our people are key components to addressing both environmental rights and environmental justice. A critical challenge, however, in moving forward in the next decade will be to address the seeming contradictions between socioeconomic rights, the possible contestation between environmental rights on the one hand, and on the other, rights like access to water, food and shelter which pose a particular challenge. This is a challenge we need to rise to. It is a challenge that requires of us robust debates and honesty. There is a perception that certain privileged sections of our society try to maintain the privileged positions at the expense of the poor and marginalised under the guise of the green banner.
If we are truly to achieve our Western Cape government’s vision of a home for all then we need to openly address this perception. Polarisation at both ends of the environmental development debate might not be helpful. In conclusion, I want to say that this Government has certainly revolutionised their views on the environment in the last decade. We have a lot to celebrate and we have a lot to look forward to - and I believe that our hon Minister will definitely rise to the occasion. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mr M M MACKENZIE (KwaZulu-Natal): Madam Chair, hon House, namalunga ahlonishwayo [hon members], first of all I should like to congratulate the Minister on his appointment. I don’t think that he fully appreciates the exact load that he has still to carry, but it is going to be huge, let me assure you.
I wish, at the outset, to stress the importance of sound management to maintain the delicate balance between tourism and the environment. We have heard that tourism is vital for the economy of this country and that is quite true, but it must never, ever be at the expense of the environment. The importance of recognising that the dedicated people who manage the biodiversity in our parks and protected areas are normally not commercially inclined, I think, should be emphasised. But they are essential to the task of maintaining a high-quality natural environment.
Tourism, on the other hand, is a commercial operation and when it accesses our parks and protected areas it must be on the basis of a visitor or a tenant of biodiversity or conservation. As I have stressed, and I repeat again, a careful balance between tourists’ minimum requirements and the sustainability of integrity in our conserved areas is essential.
I want to tell you a short story. In order to facilitate the access of tourists to one of the major parks in KwaZulu-Natal they built a tarred road. The vehicles went faster and they didn’t bump as much and there wasn’t any dust and the tourists were very happy, until a tourist bus had a prang with a rhino. And then they put speed bumps on the tarred road. So, I think the House might see where we are going here in that Parkinson’s law starts running amok and you end up defiling the environment in order to try and appease the needs of the tourists. It is therefore unacceptable to allow degradation in order to satisfy or facilitate tourism. This is the thin edge of the wedge, or, in the words of an author in England who shall remain nameless, it’s the story of the little girl who said, ``But I’m only a little bit pregnant’’.
A large sector of our underprivileged society sadly cannot afford the high rates that are charged for our overseas tourists. This needs, Mr Minister, to be urgently addressed. It can perhaps be linked in an empowerment and growth initiative where we link it with the establishment of community conservation areas where, again, a careful structuring of joint ventures between the private sector and conservation and tourism will be needed in order to establish a lodge, but never foregoing the equity that is required by the small communities that normally abound and abut our major parks.
The systematic development of these community conservation areas has shown huge strides in KwaZulu-Natal and it is gratifying to note that all that is left to do now is to establish tourist outlets and, as always in new conservation, these should be on the periphery of a conserved area and not slap-bang in the middle, as happened in our recent past when they built huge hotels and so on inside the conserved area. That is going backwards.
If a comparison is ever made, it should be with the major parks of America
- they start in Alaska and they go all the way down to Florida - where they have learned their lesson and have gutted those parks of all human habitation and tourist destinations which used to pollute, in their own way, in that they attracted bears and all sorts of other animals to eat out of their rubbish pits, as has happened here in this country in Skukuza with baboons. We don’t need to learn that lesson; it’s been learned for us. We must be very careful in order to maintain a pristine, undisturbed environment that will carry on attracting tourists for years to come, and not spoil it today for a quick buck.
Marine and coastal management, in order to be effective, it is believed, needs more teeth against offenders and abusers, in much the same way as conserved areas. The controls on harvesting from the coastline, in all categories, can only be enforced if sufficient policing occurs and the fines for offenders are high enough to be a deterrent. Again, I have a short story. Here, in the Cape, it’s called elf; in KwaZulu-Natal it’s called shad. There’s a shad season, and it is a magnificent fish, but there is a legal limit to shad. As a result, frequently when it has been found - it is a jumping fish - in a thick line of bush up behind the fishermen and they are asked whose fish it is, they say they don’t know but they believe it’s the new species called the Natal bush-jumping bream. I am delighted to hear of the measures that you have taken with regard to, let’s say, better controls of this marine environment. The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park was an ambitious undertaking and I am very pleased to report, as a close observer, that it is becoming a positive initiative. There is a steadily growing integration of the new management with the old and it is definitely succeeding, notwithstanding the 4x4 ban.
There are, however, some clouds on the horizon here. There are planned hotels at Cape Vidal and at Perriers Rocks. Again, there are several things that need to be adhered to: firstly, the very close co-operation of the surrounding communities with regard to their equity share in these hotels; and secondly, that they are environmentally placed in such a way that they do not offend the eye or the observer with regard to their impact. The incorporation of local communities is being handled in this Greater St Lucia Wetland Park with a deft touch and here - and it’s a thing we very seldom do in our speeches - I must recognise the efforts of one Andrew Zaloumis, who has done a fantastic job, and he continues to do so. He has shown sensitivity in his arduous task and you’re lucky to have him, Mr Minister.
I am sure that your department is aware of the lessons learned, as I said earlier, by the huge American parks. They have even gone so far as saying that entry into the parks can only be on foot, horseback or by an electric bus. I think that should send a message right the way through conservation and if this message isn’t observed we will not be able to re-establish the integrity of those reserves afterwards. You will know that people pressure and vehicles always lead to downgrading the quality and the integrity of a conserved area.
Much has been said about environmental education, but not enough has been done. We’re expecting a huge population of mainly disadvantaged people to embody and embrace a modern and sophisticated thought process, which is the observance of the preservation of our biodiversity, when they haven’t enjoyed it. They have not been there and learned how it works and why it should work. If we go back in our recent history we will know that they were denied the opportunity of continuing in their traditional role of arbiters and of ombudsmen and of husband to the environment through a denial of their access to it.
Linkage with education is essential here; but not only education. I do believe that a sustained effort must be made in the exposure, in particular, of the leaders in this huge sector of disadvantaged people to the environment in order that they can have their own resonating effect in their areas of influence. [Time expired.]
Mr M A MZIZI: Chairperson, I also want to echo the sentiments of other members in congratulating the Minister on his new appointment. It means that … samewerking is baie belangrik in omgewingsake. As u u samewerking aan ons gee, doen ons dieselfde. [… co-operation is very important in environmental affairs. If you give us your co-operation, we will do the same.]
Environmental affairs and tourism seem to suggest that we are talking about two things that do not have a common ideology. An environment that is not appealing or does not offer any scenery that will attract the human mind cannot attract tourism. I believe that South Africa’s people have a knack for finding fresh solutions that are sustainable, and that this will have an impact on the lives of those who were not part and parcel of tourism. An everlasting solution will help towards building a better tomorrow for all South Africans. This will be an inspiration to anyone outside South Africa and encourage tourism.
Our country has so much to offer in terms of tourism. Natural vegetation, as can be experienced at Kirstenbosch in the Cape, has much to offer. There are so many species of plants and trees that one can study, but who of the locals go to Kirstenbosch? Probably only a few of us go there. Hluhluwe Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal and the Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga can both boast that they have the big five there. How many of us go there? Because of finance, very few of us go there.
The Sudwala Caves in Mpumalanga also has a long history. How many of us have visited it? That history has probably been forgotten. Nobody remembers what happened when the Zulus chased Nkosi Sobhuza and he hid there. There is still a mark at the entrance from the fire made by the Zulus when they wanted to suffocate him with smoke. But nobody knows that history. Go there and find out the history.
I also want to mention Wonderboom in Pretoria in Gauteng. I don’t know how true its name is. Nobody can go close to that tree. They say that when you go to it, it just “bathi ikhala njengembuzi.” [cries like a goat.] [Laughter.] But we don’t know how true it is.
The IFP would like to see a programme that starts at school level that
encourages our children to visit their historical places without high
costs. We thank the Minister and his department for introducing the Sho’t
Left programme that suggests it’s possible: Laat waai!'' [Get going!]
This program is an eye-opener for many things to come. But to make this
happen, we should devise means of creating ways of meeting an ordinary
South African citizen's pocket. If we know our environment very well, we
will be more able to entertain our visitors from other countries. It's
possible.Laat Waai!’’ [Get going!]
It cannot be denied that South Africa has one of the richest, most biologically diverse and most oceanographically complex marine environments on earth. While we boast about our big five, let no one forget that we have the big sea five - namely the whale, shark, dolphin, marlin and tuna. But to go back - I know that I probably have very little time left - I want to appeal to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism to look into the following matter. I have heard a story about the deforestation of the Madimbo Corridor. I think I will not go into what Nkosi Khorombi Mutele of the Mutele tribe said about this. The department of environmental affairs and tourism in Limpopo says that it is unable to intervene until issues such as the land claim is settled. The nature reserve belongs to the SANDF and the Mutele tribe wants half of it.
As u, Minister, in hierdie saak kan ingryp, kan ons die natuur bewaar vir ons toekoms en vir ons kinders. Ek dank u. [Applous.] [If you, Minister, could intervene we can conserve nature for our future and that of our children. I thank you. [Applause.]]
Mrs B N DLULANE: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, MECs, hon special delegates in the House, let me first join the House by congratulating you, hon Minister. Welcome in this House. This is the House that will help take whatever decisions made by your department to the people of the nine provinces.
Firstly, our President on the occasion of the state of the nation address, committed the Government of South Africa to more active intervention on behalf of the people trapped in the second economy. Therefore, as public representatives, currently and recently mandated by an overwhelming majority of our people, by our presence here today we also commit ourselves to eradicating poverty amongst our people, especially the previously disadvantaged, so that we strengthen their confidence in the nobility of humanity and help sustain their hopes for a glorious life for all.
This, therefore, indicates that not all has been achieved. There is still a lot to be done. The fact that we are at least still far above many countries should not make us complacent. But as South Africans with a common destiny and goal, we should all be committed to the implementation of the people’s contract to create work and fight poverty. This will also serve as a mirror where all hon members in this House will assess and evaluate our roles as public representatives as to whether, in our time, we have had an impact on the lives of ordinary South Africans - the illiterate, homeless, hungry, those dying from preventable diseases and also victims of unhealthy working conditions.
I want to confine my speech to the activities of the marine and coastal management branch of the department. It was unfortunate that the Minister dealt with this sector vigorously. I will try to change my speech as time goes by. It is gratifying to note the following achievements, namely, the declaration recently of the four new marine protected areas; that we have now come to completion of the four year commercial fishery rights process; the recent opening of the second environmental court in Port Elizabeth, as well as the planned upgrading of it to regional court level; and the awarding of an additional 850 subsistence fishing rights to communities in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.
There is still the ongoing problem of the poor level of service to fishing communities - an area still in need of a lot of improvements, despite a number of changes having been made to the system a year ago. That’s why I have said that I will be changing my speech, because I have a document in front of me from the communities from my area, the Eastern Cape. It is a cry for help from the community on the Wild Coast.
Perhaps the presentation of our Minister today is aimed at us - the people of the Eastern Cape. Perhaps he will provide some answers to their complaints. Today I listened carefully when the Minister said that fishing imbizos would be held with commercial fishing in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal during next month. But I’m pleading that if they still have some time whether those areas, especially those people that have come to Parliament, can’t be included? They are not here to present to the committee - they have just come to me as the representative of that area. Could they please be included?
This imbizo will help the department and the communities, because these three areas that they will be visiting are on the other side of the Eastern Cape. So, if you can check your dates, 20, 29 and 30 July, could you also include the other side of the Eastern Cape, the former Transkei, the area of Lusikisiki where the poorest of the poor live. I’ve seen that in other areas, even in that province, you as a department have delivered.
We say, ``Halala! Huntshu!’’ to Marine and Coastal Management for the relief they created for our people in the Working for the Coast project where a considerable number of jobs for youth and women, in particular, were created. But a lot still needs to be done - and it can be done. Something has been done, even in the area where I’m from, but we cannot run away from the fact that there are those who are still not benefiting from this poverty alleviation in subsistence fishing.
The emphasis on the Centani region in the Eastern Cape and other areas in KwaZulu-Natal is commendable, as the communities along the coast now actively participate in upgrading their environment while they are improving their lives at the same time. The Working for the Coast project resulted in more than 55 teams of workers forming along South Africa’s coast to upgrade the environment, with many of them starting their own small businesses. Congratulations, please carry on with the good work, but a lot can still be done. The marine and coastal management branch is the economic hub of this department, Government and country. It is the driving force in the national economy, its products account for about 30% of the country’s national Gross Domestic Product, thus it has development potential.
We note with appreciation the achieved level of transformation in the 2001 rights allocation, unsurpassed anywhere in this country. [Interjections.] The opinion of the hon member behind me means that the select committee and standing committee must physically visit the area of Pondoland in order to assist the Ministry and the department by hearing the views of the people on the ground. [Applause.]
Mr P G MASAULLE (Eastern Cape): Thank you Chairperson, hon Ministers and hon MECs as well as hon members of this House. Many speakers before me have congratulated the Minister and I would like to join them. I may as well borrow from hon MacKenzie when he makes the observation that indeed in the department the Minister has very competent officials. He mentioned one and I would like to say that indeed there are many and I think it is a resource that will ensure that hopefully the Minister succeeds. Having said that, I wish to say that we want to table a few issues in welcoming the Budget Vote that we support. Some of these issues are under consideration already, and some we wish would receive more attention, be it by way of consolidation and acceleration.
I am aware that the Minister most recently visited our province and we welcome that. Indeed, its an indication of a commitment to consult with and engage provinces on matters that have a bearing on those provinces. We think that it is a matter that we want to hale and encourage the Minister to proceed with, and from his speech it is a very clearly elaborated commitment to that venture. We think it is welcome because it epitomises co- operative governance and that is what I want to spend time on.
I cannot agree with the Minister more in saying that the brief of that department is so wide-ranging that it cannot be a speech of tabling one Vote which would have covered all those aspects. And indeed even the commentary that I listened to in the debates does confirm the diversity of the opinion around some of the issues that have to do with the department. Surely, it is quite a mammoth task.
So far working apart does not assist but rather compromises our ability to make a very significant impact. We have observed developments that indeed through efforts of trial and error we have reached a point where, between the provinces and the national department, an effort towards integrating and aligning the vision and mission as well as the strategic objectives has been arrived at. We think that it must now be taken to a higher phase, a phase of actual implementation to ensure as we say, guided by the Constitution, that we have one Government which is able to move all of us in step in terms of ensuring delivery to our people.
If I may just pick up on the environmental sector, particularly the attempt to ensure proper funding of that sector given its contribution to the country’s GDP. We hale and welcome the attempt of the establishment of ten- by-ten between all the provinces, the national department as well as National Treasury as a way of trying to ensure that funding for these programmes in the environmental sector are indeed properly provided for. We think that we will implore the Minister to look into that and encourage and accelerate it. We think from there better rewards can be achieved.
Related to the law reform process, we have seen going through this House and through the provinces a number of pieces of legislation and amendments that have been effected. We think that attempts like the ones I have just alluded to, the ten-by-ten, etc, and other fora should be explored to ensure effectiveness of these pieces of legislation that are passed, because without appropriate funding we may not be able to ensure enforcement and compliance with all the intentions of these Bills. There are a few issues that require immediate intervention, we think. One of those, the issue of mining which hon member Le Roux has commented on, was the reason the Minister had visited us in the province. We would only want to encourage greater co-operation between national departments, particularly those that are involved such as the Department of Minerals and Energy as well as the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. And if need be, we must create an environment where our counterparts at provincial as well as local level are brought in so that Government can speak with one voice on these matters. Because it may not do us any good to have in the same government departments a difference of views on important development matters that have a bearing on a number of issues, let alone the wellbeing of our environment, we do think that there needs to be better co-ordination; and we are committed to ensuring that, indeed, we act together to realise the potential that we have.
The second matter that I want to talk about is the issue of the roads. Hon MacKenzie spoke about the road through the reserve, etc - the N2 toll road specifically. We have made our views known on the matters as a province and to the best of our recollection we share the same views with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. We think that those matters that are outstanding and the concerns that have been raised have to be listened to, considered properly and the matter be laid to rest in the best possible manner with all the views having been heard.
Lastly, let me address the issue of the proclamation of the national parks. Even there we think that we have moved closer to one another. In fact, I do not think there is as yet any other difficulty in terms of taking this matter to its logical conclusion. The Minister has our support in respect of this, particularly the Pondoland Park marine area and all the matters related to that. We want to see those things concluded as speedily as possible.
The other hon members have spoken at length on the issue of tourism and again coming from a province like ours, a very beautiful province like the Eastern Cape, it is such a critical matter that it is very much central in terms of all the endeavours to try and deal with the legacy, the challenges of development and poverty alleviation, etc.
We look forward with keen interest and I have taken note that the Minister has, through this platform, extended an invitation for participation in exploring the question of the BEE scorecard in the tourism sector. We look at that with keenness, we want to participate and thank you once again for having been invited to participate in that process.
In conclusion, I am trying to emphasise co-operation and co-ordination. I am saying that the Minister has taken the bull by the horns in this respect and we welcome that. We want to see more of that because we believe that we can only succeed in all these challenges and they become much easier when we confront them collectively. Once again we wish to support the Vote, the Minister and his department and wish them well in their endeavours.
Mnr W WATSON: Agb Voorsitter, in hierdie debat wil ek my graag rig tot die kwessie van toerisme, maar ek dink u sal my vergun om my vir ‘n enkele paar oomblike tot die Minister te rig.
Ek wil die Minister gelukwens met sy aanstelling, hierdie nuwe aanstelling van hom - ek dink hy sal verstaan as ek my nie wil uitspreek daaroor nie - maar ek wil tog hier in die Huis ‘n beroep op hom doen om nie soos sy kollegas in die ander debatte verplig te voel om net die DA aan te val nie.
Die afgelope weke, in dié Huis, is die debatte gekenmerk deur aanvalle op ons sprekers, eerder as om krities te luister na wat gesê is en om dit analities te bespreek. Tydens die vorige sitting het die agb lid Kenneth Sinclair, wat hier voor my sit en lid is van die Minister se strokiesprentparty, in die debat … [Tussenwerpsels.] … ‘n kulkunsie uitgevoer in dié Huis, mnr die Minister, deur ‘n blanko foptoespraak op te skeur toe hy … [Tussenwerpsels.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Mr W WATSON: Hon Chairperson, in this debate I would like to address the issue of tourism, but I believe you will allow me to address the Minister for a few moments.
I wish to congratulate the Minister on his appointment, on this new appointment of his - I believe he will understand if I do not wish to express an opinion on that - but I nevertheless want to appeal to him not to feel obliged to attack only the DA here in the House, as his colleagues do in other debates.
In recent weeks, debates in this House have been marked by attacks on our speakers, rather than listening critically to what was being said and discussing it analytically. In the last session the hon member Kenneth Sinclair, who is sitting here in front of me and belongs to the Minister’s cartoon strip party, in the debate … [Interjections.] … performed a conjuring trick in this House, hon Minister, by tearing up a blank, fake speech when he … [Interjections.]]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Order, Order! I am making a point of order from the Chair. Can you kindly concentrate on the debate and not make reference to the speech of the previous debate, please?
Mr W WATSON: I am delivering preliminary remarks to the Minister like all other speakers are allowed to do. [Interjections.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: I said not to make a reference to the previous debate.
Mr W WATSON. Very well, I will not mention anybody, but a speech was made and that we can’t get away from.
‘n Agb lid het ‘n foptoespraak gelewer deur ‘n blanko papier op te skeur, en toe die res van die jeugdebat gebruik om die DA aan te val. Pleks van om op die jeug te mik, was sy toespraak dus in die geheel ‘n aanval op die DA. Die enigste raakpunt tussen die onderwerp van die debat en sy toespraak was die groeiende, energieke jeudigheid van die vierjarige DA, in teenstelling met … [Tussenwerpsels.] … magbehepte, stagnerende 90-jarige … [Tussenwerpsels.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[An hon member made a fake speech by tearing up a blank piece of paper and then used the rest of the youth debate to attack the DA. Instead of addressing the youth, his whole speech was an attack on the DA. The only connection between the topic of the debate and his speech was the growing, energetic youthfulness of the four-year-old DA, in contrast to … [Interjections.] … power-hungry, stagnating, 90-year-old … [Interjections.]]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Let me take a point of order. Hon member, could you take your seat? Hon Watson, can you take your seat?
Mr S SHICEKA: Chairperson, on a point of order, I think the member is disrespectful to the Chair. You have made a ruling that no reference should be made to the previous debate in the House, which happened on the 15th, but the member continues to undermine the ruling. Now I would request that the member respects the presiding officer. Thank you.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: The order is sustained and I really want to warn the hon member that you do not make reference to the debate of the 15th. Proceed with your speech. Thank you.
Mr W WATSON: I apologise hon Chair. I thought you said I should not refer to the speaker. That is what I heard. I won’t carry on; you saw what happened. I would rather refer to the speaker from the same party earlier in this debate where, instead of focusing on the debate of tourism and nature conservation, he again attacked the DA. They have nothing else to do and I suspect they are acting on instructions.
Maar kom ons los dit daar. Blaffende honde byt nie. Ek vertrou werklik dat hierdie toesprake nie ‘n opdrag van hoër op is nie. [But let us leave it at that. Barking dogs don’t bite. I really trust that these speeches are not as a result of an instruction from higher up.] Let me get back to tourism. We are blessed with so many splendours in our wonderful country that it is no wonder that tourism is probably the industry with the biggest growth potential today. However, one of the major issues facing the industry is the availability of properly trained tourism officials and staff and it has not kept pace with the growth of the industry as such.
The DA suggests that the many training facilities lying dormant and unused all over South Africa should be utilised as centres for the training and education of tourism officials and for that matter, of rangers. My province, Mpumalanga, is the pantry, the powerhouse and the playground of South Africa alone. I can quote many examples, such as the Elijah Mengo College of Education near Gutshwa Hoek and the Ngwenya College at Kwanyamazane. Both are very close to Nelspruit where one of the soccer stadia for 2010 is to be erected. Just across the border at Bushbuckridge in Limpopo you will also find the previous college of education is now a very underutilised community centre where the massive infrastructure is falling to pieces and the roadways are not good.
A start was made in Mpumalanga in this respect with the establishment of the MTA, the so-called Mpumalanga Tourist Academy that is a joint venture between the provinces, the departments of education, economic affairs and tourism. The project was earmarked to start earlier this year, I believe, but I am informed that whilst the latter departments, the departments of economic affairs and tourism had fulfilled their financial obligations no funds have been forthcoming from the Department of Education. I realise that such actions would be provincial competencies but I am sure that the Minister, having the wellbeing of tourism in the whole of South Africa at heart, will be able to influence his colleagues and these Minmecs that he heads in this regard. Another major stumbling block in the roll out of tourism is the state of … [Time expired.]
Mnr P W SAAIMAN (Noord-Kaap): Baie dankie, agb Voorsitter. Ook van die Noord-Kaap se kant af, ons gelukwense aan u as Minister, agb Minister, en die departement. Ons ervaar ‘n sterk, nuwe dinamiek van u kant af wat ons baie bemoedig, veral die wyse waarop u bereid is om op praktiese wyse sensitiewe sake te benader. Ons is dankbaar daarvoor. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Mr P W SAAIMAN (Northern Cape): Thank you very much, hon Chairperson. Also from the side of the Northern Cape, our congratulations to you as Minister, hon Minister, and the department. We are experiencing a strong, new dynamic from your side which encourages us, especially the manner in which you are prepared to approach sensitive matters in a practical manner. We are grateful for that.]
Hon Chairperson, I’m glad that the hon Minister, in introducing this debate, has referred so widely to the fishing industry, for it is an issue of much concern to the Northern Cape people and in particular to those who are making their living from the sea. South Africa’s western coastal shelf is one of the richest marine ecosystems in the world, and much of this shelf is in the Northern Cape waters. On the other hand, one can rightfully ask, is this province getting its fair share?
As ons egter kyk na die haglike lewensomstandighede van die vissergemeenskappe suid van Hondeklipbaai en daarvandaan noord tot by Port Nolloth en verder wat in dié gebied woon, is dit duidelik dat ten spyte van die visbronne in hul hinterland, min daarvan oorspoel na hul kant van die draad. Van hierdie dorpies in geheel het in die verlede hul ontstaan te danke gehad aan die visbedryf. Die bestaande viskwotabeleid het daartoe gelei dat die inwoners van dié dorpe, in ‘n groot mate, totaal geïgnoreer is en dat die visserspioniers hier in absolute hongersnood en ellende verkeer. Dít terwyl die uitkoms langs hulle in die see is, maar volgens wet mag hulle dit nie aanraak nie.
Die Noord-Kaapregering, sy politieke leiers en hierdie vissergemeenskappe het my versoek om dié geleentheid te gebruik om aan u te sê dat die Noord- Kaap beslaan bykans 380 km van hierdie Weskuskuslyn waar tonne vis, kreef en ander marinebronne geoes word, en ons dring nou aan op ons regmatige deel sodat ons armoede en werkloosheid aan dié kusgebied kan bekamp.
Selfs die maatskappye wat werk hier verskaf het in die visfabrieke in Namakwaland het hul infrastruktuur opgepak en nader aan die Kaap getrek. Gesprekke met vissermanne is deurspek met diepe ontevredenheid, selfs hartseer en teleurstelling. Hulle is veral besorg oor die min tot geen viskwotas en die nyweraars wat die bedryf na die Kaap toe trek - en dit nadat hulle klaar winste gemaak het - ongeag die nadelige invloed wat hul optrede inhou vir die plaaslike bevolking.
Terwyl daar waardering is vir die onlangse lynvispermitte vir sukkelende bestaansvissers, gaan daar ‘n roepstem op van dié gemeenskappe dat die nuwe sisteem waarvolgens kwotas toegeken gaan word ‘n beter bedeling vir die mense van die Noord-Kaap sal moet bring. Ons sien uit na die imbizo wat u in Port Nolloth gaan hou in September, want dit is belangrik dat u eerstehands by ons mense hoor wat die situasie is en hoe dit verbeter kan word.
Ons is gereed om hierdie groter kwotas te hanteer om groter tonnemaat te verwerk, maar ons is ook deeglik bewus van die werklikhede ten opsigte van ons marinebron. Die vis word minder en nie meer nie, hoewel ons almal aandring op meer. Ons verstaan dat dit goed bestuur moet word sodat dit volhoubaar kan wees, én bly, vir ons almal en vir ons kinders hierná. Ons verwelkom dus reeds die ingestelde maatreëls om ons viswaters te beskerm teen rowers.
Die wêreld se vangste het sedert 1989 van 89 miljoen ton gestyg tot 100 miljoen ton in 2000, waar dit vasgestel is, maar ons weet mos dat in 13 van die wêreldoseane of sogenaamde “global oceans’’ word daar alreeds te veel vis gevang. Daar word bereken dat die wêreld se gebruik van vis ‘n tekort van 37,5 miljoen ton teen 2010 gaan toon. Dié druk op ons marinebronne sal verlig moet word. Daar is ‘n oplossing en wêreldwyd word die bron reeds aangevul met akwakultuur, maar Afrika en Suid-Afrika lê dormant sover dit akwakultuur betref.
In hierdie Raad - en ons het dit vandag weer beleef - hoor ek die afgelope twee jaar hoe die eerwaarde Moatshe, voorsitter van die gekose komitee oor dié portefeulje, en andere, herhaaldelik pogings aanwend om ons aan boord te kry én te motiveer om betrokke te raak by die bevordering van akwakultuur, en om onder andere met vis te begin boer. Daar is sowat 262 spesies waarmee wêreldwyd reeds geboer word. China is die grootste produsent van 57% van die wêreldhoeveelheid wat geoes word; Asië 17%; Europa 11%; maar Afrika produseer net 0,4%.
Die Noord-Kaap het alles wat nodig is om ‘n noemenswaardige akwakultuurindustrie te vestig. Ons moet die leiding neem, want dit is ‘n uitstekende gereedskapstuk om nie net voedselsekerheid te verseker nie, maar ook om talle werkgeleenthede te skep en om armoede die nekslag toe te dien. In die Noord-Kaap is ons besig om ‘n taakspan te oorweeg om stukrag aan die ontwikkeling van so ‘n nywerheid in die provinsie te gee. Ons sal die projek met die agb Minister wil deel en saam met hom die pad wil loop. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[If, however, we look at the shameful living conditions of the fishing communities living in this area south of Hondeklip Bay and from there north to Port Nolloth and further, it is clear that notwithstanding the fish resources in their hinterland, very little of it flows over to their side of the fence. Some of these towns owed their existence totally to the fishing industry. The existing fishing quota policy led to the residents of these towns being largely ignored and that the fishing pioneers are living in absolute hunger and misery there. This while relief is to be found next to them in the sea, but according to law they are not allowed to touch it.
The Northern Cape government, its political leaders and these fishing communities requested me to use this opportunity to tell you that the Northern Cape covers approximately 380 km of this West Coast line where tons of fish, crayfish and other marine resources are being harvested, and we are demanding our fair share so that we can combat poverty and unemployment in this coastal area.
Even the companies that supplied work here in the fishing factories in Namaqualand packed up their infrastructure and moved closer to the Cape. Talks with fishermen are larded with dissatisfaction, even sadness and disappointment. They are especially concerned about the few or no fishing quotas and the manufacturers moving the industry to the Cape - and this after they had already made their profits - regardless of the detrimental influence their actions have on the local population.
While there is appreciation for the recent line-fishing permits for struggling existing fishermen, a cry goes up from these communities that the new system according to which quotas will be allocated must bring a better dispensation for the people of the Northern Cape. We are looking forward to the imbizo you will be having in Port Nolloth in September, because it is important that you hear for yourself what the situation is and how it can be improved upon.
We are ready to handle these bigger quotas to process more tons, but we are also thoroughly aware of the realities with regard to our marine resource. The fish are getting less and not more, even though we are all insisting on more. We understand that it has to be managed well for it to be sustainable, and remain so, for all of us and for our children after us. We therefore already welcome the established measures to protect our fishing waters against plunderers. The world’s catches increased from 89 million ton in 1989 to 100 million ton in 2000, where it has been estimated, but we know that in 13 of the world oceans, or so-called global oceans, already too much fish is being landed. It is estimated that the world’s use of fish will show a shortage of 37,5 million ton by 2010.
This pressure on our marine resources will have to be relieved. There is a solution and worldwide the resource is already being supplemented with aquaculture, but Africa and South Africa lie dormant as far as aquaculture is concerned.
In this Council - and we experienced it again today - for the last two years I have been listening to how the Reverent Moatshe, chairperson of the select committee on this portfolio, and others repeatedly attempt to get us aboard and to motivate us to get involved with the promotion of aquaculture and to, inter alia, start farming with fish. There are about 262 species already being farmed with worldwide. China is the largest producer of 57% of the world quantity being harvested; Asia 17%, Europe 11%, but Africa only produces 0,4%.
The Northern Cape has everything needed to establish an aquaculture industry of note. We have to take the lead, because this is an excellent tool not only to ensure food security, but also to create numerous job opportunities and to deal poverty a deathblow. In the Northern Cape we are busy considering a task team to give driving power to the development of such an industry in the province. We would like to share the project with the hon Minister and work alongside him.]
More research is needed to harness the full potential of aquaculture in the region, for the possibilities are enormous. The Northern Cape has numerous competitive advantages, such as unpolluted, clear and fresh water; cheap land; good infrastructure; and the will to expand our research and development base.
We are already producing oysters and are looking into expanding this industry. The demand for abalone exceeds the supply and the opportunities that exist here to export our farming technology for abalone, which is developed in South Africa, have potential. Freshwater and seawater ornamental fish production have all the potential to bloom in South Africa, given the difficulties the Asian farmers are experiencing in terms of water quality, disease and poor environmental management.
The Northern Cape is uniquely placed to enter this market on a large scale, because it has the suitable conditions for farming both marine ornamental fish on the West Coast and freshwater ornamental fish along the Lower Orange River. We are also investigating at the moment the suitable harvesting of and the adding of value to our fish source in our local dams.
With all the demands on our marine resources and the challenges, as spelt out here today, now is the time to develop an alternative marine source, like the chicken industry, an industry that will feed the multitudes with aquatic chickens. [Laughter.]
Wanneer die agb Minister oor toerisme praat, en toe hy die ``Sho’t Left”- veldtog bekendgestel het, kon ek nie anders nie as om opgewonde te raak oor die unieke toerisme, ekotoerisme, avontuurtoerisme en menige meer natuurlewetoerisme wat ons in die Noord-Kaap kan bied. Net in die Noord- Kaap bestaan dié omstandighede nog.
‘n Redelike groep mense volg reeds die son na die Noord-Kaap, maar daar’s ruimte vir meer. Die Noord-Kaap se sterreland geniet reeds internasionale erkenning, en ons edelgesteentes en diamante is alombekend. Die Noord-Kaap is net ‘n ``sho’t left’’ en ‘n ideale bestemming vir plaaslike en internasionale besoekers opsoek na die onontdekte harmonie van onaangeraakte natuur wat nog in die Noord-Kaap en min ander plekke bestaan.
Vir die toeris bied die Noord-Kaap ‘n uiteenlopende verskeidenheid. Binne 30 jaar na die eerste diamant ontdek is in Hope Town was Kimberley ‘n vooruitstrewende stad van wêreldgehalte. Dié dorp was selfs die eerste plek wat elektriese straatligte gehad het.
Jaarliks word Namakwa in sy mooiste baadjie getooi deur blomme, en ‘n hanetree verder word die prag en praal gekontrasteer met die dorre, saagtandberge van die Richtersveld - ideal vir viertrekvoertuigverkenning. Die Kalahari huisves 40 van Suid-Afrika se 67 roofvoëlspesies. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[When the hon Minister talks about tourism, and when he introduced the ``Sho’t Left’’ Campaign, I couldn’t help but get excited about the unique tourism, ecotourism, adventure tourism and many more kinds of wild life tourism that we can offer in the Northern Cape. It is only in the Northern cape that these circumstances still exist.
Quite a number of people are already following the sun to the Northern Cape, but there is room for more. The Northern Cape’s starry land is already receiving international recognition and our precious stones and diamonds are known by all. The Northern Cape is only a ``sho’t left’’ and an ideal destination for local and international visitors in search of the undiscovered harmony of untouched nature which still exists in the Northern Cape and very few other places.
The Northern Cape provides the tourist with a wide variety. Within 30 years after the first diamond was discovered in Hope Town, Kimberly was a progressive world-class city. This town was even the first place to have electric streetlights.
Every year Namaqualand is dressed in its most beautiful garment of flowers, and a stone’s throw further this pomp and splendour is contrasted by the barren, saw-toothed mountains of the Richtersveld - ideal for 4X4 expeditions. The Kalahari houses 40 of South Africa’s 67 species of birds of prey.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Hon member, your time has expired.
Mr P W SAAIMAN: Just to conclude, Chairperson.
Die bekende Kgalagadi-oorgrenspark lê knus tussen Botswana en Namibië se grense. Hier speel die groot troppe bokke en wilde katte deurgaans kat-en- muis met mekaar. Dankie, Meneer die Voorsitter. [Tyd verstreke.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[The well-known Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is nestled snugly between Botswana and Namibia’s borders. Here the large herds of buck and wild cats play a game of cat-and-mouse. Thank you, Chairman. [Time expired.]]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Hon members, I must make the following observations. As much as I don’t want to make it unpleasant for anybody, I think there must be consistency when I make a ruling that your time is up and it should be observed by everybody else. If I allow you to proceed in the way members have been proceeding, I’ll be seen to be partial by other members of the House, and that would be a legitimate claim. So I really want to appeal to members that when I make a ruling about the expiry of your time it should be strictly observed, OK? I now call the hon Rev Adolph. [Interjections.] OK, I now call the hon R Tooley.
Mr R TOOLEY (Limpopo): Hon Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, hon Minister, hon MECs and hon delegates to the NCOP, it is a privilege and honour to address this august House on this particular day, and we welcome and support the Budget Vote.
We acknowledge and commend the transformation that has taken place in this department over the past 10 years. Environment and tourism, like most other jurisdictions in our province, fall within one particular department and that is something of concern. These two structures, namely, environment and the parks board, in our province are responsible for managing, protecting and ensuring that any development that takes place is in a sustainable manner and that our biodiversity is protected for future generations.
If we consider that the Limpopo province has some 54 nature reserves, each with unique environs, the responsibility of the parks board and the department to manage them is enormous, particularly as we are a rural province. The issues of deforestation and land claims are enormous challenges.
As a committee we are very concerned about the continuous cuts in budgets in our province. There has been a reduction in both the environment section and the parks board by some R20 million. The parks board’s major task is to implement the tourism growth strategy and to continue to transform the tourism industry, create jobs and ensure that the issue of black economic empowerment is central to the development.
As the Limpopo Parks and Tourism Board is responsible for these nature reserves, we have, as a committee, requested management plans and budgets for all 54 of them. This is not micromanaging, but rather we trusted this would highlight the shortcomings of underbudgeting and in future ensure that the entities are funded appropriately, especially as tourism is one of the pillars of the province’s growth and development strategy.
As a committee we are of the opinion that the amount that is budgeted for environment may cause this particular directorate not to carry out what it is legally and constitutionally required to. The sector is understaffed and one of our major revenues is the issuing of hunting licences. We raise millions of rands by issuing hunting licences and we feel that this won’t really assist us in increasing our revenue - something that we should concentrate on. Waste management is another responsibility, but we have been assured that the department will be in a position to minimise waste and pollution through the Integrated Waste and Pollution Management Plan.
The process of commercialisation of the 15 game reserves identified by the parks board has been a long time coming. We have been informed that transaction advisers - an interesting title to have - have been appointed to fast-track the commercialisation of these reserves.
Coming to tourism, and off a very low base as the Limpopo province, considering our history, the N1 north has improved substantially. The only problem is that, perhaps because we do have an alternative, the cost of the tollgates might be something that is reducing the tourists from coming to visit us. There is an alternative - as I have mentioned - and I’m sure we will be attracting them more and more as time goes on.
We have a number of tourism icons, one of them being the Modjadji Nature Reserve, which has ancient cycads, and the Nynsvlei, which is a declared Ramsar Site. We have these waterfowl that migrate annually, and then the enormous area, Waterberg, which is one of the relatively successful biospheres.
The province has two biosphere reserves that have been established or identified by the ICUN. The second one is the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere. The Kruger to Canyons Biosphere has the biggest challenge. We are talking about the Bushbuckridge area, which all of you are aware is an extremely poor area in the east going up to the Wolkberg in the west, which is an enormous area.
The funding of these biospheres and the Africanisation of this particular concept continues to be a challenge. We are of the opinion, however, that biospheres can assist in improving people’s lives and be a vehicle through which funding can be channelled to implement poverty alleviation projects such as the sustainable use of natural resources. The third biosphere that I mentioned and which is still in its infancy, is the one in the Zoutpansberg.
The establishment of these particular forms of land use must remain inclusive and all communities must be part of the process, and we need to be vigilant about that. We must remember that this particular land use originates in the Northern Hemisphere.
Coming to poverty alleviation projects, the hon Minister did mention that he would be mentioning this in the National Assembly, that the national department has implemented one in the Vhembe District, particularly Lake Fundudzi. So I apologise if I jump the gun, Mr Minister. This poverty alleviation project of R5 million is having an enormously positive influence on the seven communities that live around Lake Fundudzi. These include the establishment of nurseries of contractors to build gabions to prevent the continuous silting up of this only natural lake that we have in our country.
As all of you should know, this is a mystical lake and has myths and legends; an icon that we should protect. As those of you who come from the Limpopo know, you may not look directly at this lake, but rather turn your back to the lake and look at it through your legs. The myth goes that should you look directly at the lake you would become infertile, but should you look through your legs, fertility will persist. [Laughter.] We commend the department for implementing this project and for continuing to push back the frontiers of poverty. [Interjections.]
In conclusion, we will continue to persist so that these two directorates in our province, namely, tourism and environment, continue to receive appropriate budgeting and that they continue to carry out what we stated in our election manifesto about our peoples contract to improve their lives and create wealth. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mr M N SINGH (KwaZulu-Natal): Thank you very much, Chairperson. This is my first visit here, so I need to know how to get the seat back. Firstly, I would like to congratulate the hon Minister on his appointment. We have come a long way together and I am sure that the relationship between KwaZulu-Natal, the Minister and his department is going to be a very fruitful one. I would also like to congratulate former senator, Joyce Kgoali, on her appointment. I do not think that there are very many people in this Council that can call themselves senators. There is Mohammed Sulliman there, sitting at the back. Unfortunately, we are not allowed to keep the title of senator but we served here from 1994 in this very Chamber, which was configured differently then.
I want at the outset to thank the hon Minister for his presentation and just indicate to him that I am certainly not going to follow my colleague the hon Tooley here in talking about toll plazas because enough has been said about the Wild Coast Toll Plaza. I think we as a province and a legislature have not formulated a firm position, so I will stay away from the Wild Coast Toll Plaza affair.
Having said that, I would just like to comment on a few issues that the Minister raised in his presentation here today. One relates to domestic tourism and I would like to indicate to him that I agree fully that all provinces, I think, have not as yet fully exploited the domestic tourism potential. There is still a long way to go and in KwaZulu-Natal I think half the population there has not seen the sea. I think this is an area which we can exploit by getting our children and adults down to the sea, and that will stimulate domestic tourism.
Having said that, I think domestic tourism revolves around a province being able to arrange particular events. For instance, starting from next week we have major events on the Durban beachfront, the winter events, and yesterday we also had the fantastic Comrades Marathon. I want to congratulate the Western Cape and the City of Cape Town for producing two gold medalists, Farwa Mentoor, who was the first South African home in the women’s section and the Russian, Vladimir Kotov, whom I understand is now also a resident of Cape Town. Well, not for KwaZulu-Natal to be outdone, we also had Willie Mtolo who was the first KwaZulu-Natalian and the first South African man home.
I was on the plane earlier this afternoon and I met a gentleman who has visited 132 countries already and I asked him how he found South Africa and he had very good things to say about South Africa. He said it is the paradise of Africa and it is not surprising, hon Minister, seeing that we have all the natural heritage, we have the beauty of the country, we have the heritage that my colleague from the Free State and my colleague, Mr Mzizi, have spoken about. I think these are things that we need to exploit as well if we want to attract tourists. What I believe we have to do is to ensure that we have the competitive edge in terms of attracting tourists and making South Africa a prime tourist destination for people from around the world.
Mr Minister and Chairperson, there are quite a few issues that I want to raise but time will not allow me to raise them all. But, I think that it is important that we flag some of those issues. Firstly, let me indicate that I think I am the only MEC here who has a very interesting portfolio because we configured our portfolios differently in KwaZulu-Natal. It is the portfolio of arts, culture and tourism. I found, in the last six weeks or so, that there is a wonderful nexus between arts, culture and tourism because we can use our arts and culture to bring tourists to the province and I hope that from the lessons that we can forward to other provinces that maybe they will also configure their portfolios accordingly.
One of the issues that I wish to raise is the question of safety and security. I think there is a perception, certainly in KwaZulu-Natal, that when you visit the province you are going to get mugged. Sometimes people call it a perception but it is a reality. Our own Premier’s daughter and a friend at the Tourism Indaba were mugged between the ICC and the Hilton Hotel, which is a walking distance of 200m or so. I think we have to allay this perception and reality that exists and to that end I think we need to make a concerted effort as provinces, as local government and as national Government to see how we can add to what the SA Police Service is doing.
I have requested our finance committee in the legislature to make available an amount of R1 million so that we can initiate what we call a tourist watch system where there would not be police in the sense of the word as policemen and policewomen, but we could have some synergies with the SA Police so that there is some comfort not only for domestic tourists but for international tourists also. I hope that they approve the funds and if they do not, that probably the national department for the sake of national interest would see to it that all the provinces are given some money for conditional grants, so that we can deal with this concept of a tourist watch. That is the first issue that I wish to raise.
The second issue is one that revolves around the 4x4 vehicle ban and I know that the hon Minister has indicated that he will provide more details when he addresses the National Assembly. KwaZulu-Natal, I think, is one of the provinces where one of our crown jewels is our coastline, just like the Western Cape and some of the other provinces.
I agree with my colleague the hon Maurice McKenzie wholeheartedly that we have to strike a balance between the environment and economic development just as we struck that balance when we were in Chile, South America, when it came to the issue of ivory. Some of the officials will know very well how we managed to convince international countries to support our concept of sustainable use. But, I think that in terms of tourism it has quite an impact when you completely ban the 4X4s.
At one stage I was MEC for Environmental Affairs and Agriculture and the issue of recreational use was on the table. I think this issue is something that we need to look at again in cases where we have very restricted areas with strict conditions. Working with local government on this, it will be possible for people who are disabled to get on the beach. We must work with marine biologists and others to ensure that if we allow restricted access to the beaches it is going to be in areas that are not environmentally sensitive.
I hope that at some stage, Mr Minister, before the final position is taken we could have a further consultative process so that we can have a win-win situation. It is important that we attract tourists, but it is equally important that we do not damage our environment as so many other colleagues have said.
My colleague, Maurice McKenzie, also touched on the issue of the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park, which is a wetland authority established in terms of section 9 of the Act. Whilst we have that as a world heritage site, we have the Drakensberg Ukhahlamba which is a section 8 authority, in terms of which some authority within the province should manage everything in this world heritage site. I think we need to sit and talk seriously about the management of these world heritage sites so that there is no conflict or tensions between existing authorities within a province and an authority appointed in terms of section 9. This is a further issue that I think we need to look at as we go along.
I am glad that you also touched on the issue of the BEE scorecard. You will certainly get the support of KwaZulu-Natal in whatever way we will be active participants and we welcome the formation of this task team you have spoken about. In the same vein we also welcome the fact that the department is taking over the tourism enterprise programme. And here too we in KwaZulu- Natal are in active partnership with the private sector because we do not believe that the Government on its own will be able to stimulate the economy to such a degree that we will be able to create jobs for all the people, and we know that the demand out there is quite great.
I would also like to suggest to this House and to Madam Chair that we get at least the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs and Tourism to visit all our provinces just to get a sense of what is happening. You know, I used to sit here as well and I know that sometimes you speak from what you think you know about your province, even if you come from it, and there are others who speak about the province and they do not know where the province is and these are colleagues from outside. I think it would be a useful exercise if members of the Council do visit our provinces so that we can take them around and show them some of our tourism destinations and so that they can enjoy what each of our provinces can offer. I hope that when that happens we as MECs can also be included in these visits to other provinces. It would be a very useful exercise.
With us having won the 2010 bid to host the World Soccer Cup I think it is also important for us to start working together particularly from the tourism angle. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Ms L BROWN (Western Cape): Chairperson, I want to inform the hon MEC, Singh that we don’t call the Western Cape ``the home for all’’ for nothing. That’s where we can also have Russians winning the Comrades Marathon.
Let me formally congratulate Mr Van Schalkwyk as well. In fact, this is my boss at national level who has had me working very hard already. Informally I have congratulated you, but please let me also add my voice to those who have congratulated you.
As I congratulate you formally, sir, let me also just say that you must rest assured that your initiatives in the Western Cape around creating an economically sustainable fishing industry will receive attention. They are really very important for us and they will help us to extend and start to deal with the two large areas that we have decided on in the Western Cape in order to fight poverty and create jobs. There is a whole range of initiatives that I raised in the economic development portfolio committee the other day, but I know that those are issues that we will be able to address again.
Tourism in the Western Cape has of course grown very significantly. The international tourist arrivals grew from 1,3 million in 2002 to 1,5 million in 2003. Accolades have been showered on Cape Town and it has been voted number five in the BBC’s 50 places to see before you die. It has been voted the best city in Africa by the World Travel Awards. Of course, tourism is a very untransformed industry. It’s an industry that is still largely controlled by white business, but through the new ANC/NNP Government there has been a lot of goodwill from large companies that are interested in transforming this industry.
Domestically the Western Cape received almost 25% of all local tourism expenditure. It has provided a direct injection of more than R21 billion to the provincial economy. The growth in tourism has been accompanied by a major increase in foreign direct investment in the hotel industry, and this includes the 480-room Arabella Sheraton hotel.
Last week we were very privileged to host the launch of the Sho’t Left Campaign by the Minister and South African Tourism, in Langa. It was very good for us because of the significance of Langa as the oldest African township in the Western Cape. Langa is also the home of many famous artists, jazz artists and the late Brenda Fassie. But it also demonstrates that townships within the Western Cape are not part of the overall tourism industry.
It was significant that we had an opportunity to say: ``Yes, come to the Western Cape and experience its full tourism experience. You can go to the winelands and you can listen to karaoke in Mitchell’s Plain. You can go to Table Mountain and you can listen to music and eat African food in Langa.’’ This is one of our big initiatives that we want to see happening here. The communities are vibrant. However, the only thing that gets sold is the perception that our townships are crime-ridden, disease-infested and so on. Our townships are vibrant, full and they make sense to people who live in those communities. This is an opportunity for us to use tourism as a way of creating jobs within communities.
Very soon we will be launching the Cape Flats legacy tours. This will give us an opportunity to connect those communities to the rest of the Western Cape. This will enable tourists who come to the province to experience the whole of the Western Cape. Very recently the President opened the Cape Town International Convention Centre. This was done two months ahead of schedule with a budget under R582 million. It is very significant that my predecessors in this portfolio have assured me that BEE companies did over 48% of the projects which were worth about R288 million.
Various global events have been successfully hosted here. We had the Cricket World Cup and the President’s Golf Cup. These will serve as attractions regarding tourism possibilities during the 2010 Soccer World Cup within the Western Cape. The Destination Marketing Organisation for Cape Town and the Western Cape was established to eliminate duplication of marketing activities. This will enable us to market Cape Town, the winelands and the Western Cape very broadly across the world. We see one entry point through which we will be able to market everything within the Western Cape.
The second tourism showcase was held and it showcased emerging tourism products and also exposed emerging businesses to local buyers. This was aimed at strengthening the confidence of local buyers with regard to emerging tourism products, and it was coupled with tourism awareness workshops that reached more than 400 participants.
Safety and security is a very big issue for us. As soon as one tourist experiences a safety and security problem, it creates ripples in the international community. The hon Singh raised this issue as well. We held an international conference in the Western Cape to try to address such incidents. We also looked at how we could sell the Western Cape - warts and all - because everywhere in the world one could possibly be mugged as well. This has been quite successful and I really encourage people to look at it. It’s encouraging because it helps the Western Cape and every other province to be a gateway to the rest of South Africa.
We are trying to formalise a system to register tourist guides. This will provide easy analysis of the tourist guide fraternity in terms of where guides are, the numbers of those who are registered and the area of registration. To ensure that we build a home for all in this province, we have trained deaf tourist guides. We have discovered that this is a niche market that has not been tapped. We will have to do an impact study to see what effects this would have on tourism within the Western Cape.
We strongly support the national Government’s initiatives aimed at building greater representivity in the tourism sector. We are in the process of engaging and we will continue to engage big and small stakeholders in the province to develop a strategy for tourism and black economic empowerment for this province. As I said before there is enormous goodwill. This is about creating the facilities, environment and opportunities for people to interact with one another.
A tourism human resource development strategy is aimed at trying to match skills with black economic empowerment as well as promoting excellence in tourism across the board. We need to find a way to ensure that we empower both black and white people who participate in tourism. People often talk about poor service, and this happens across the board. We have to try to get this right as well. All of that can happen in tourism. We can do very well and many people can come to our shores. However, if we as the Government do not intervene in the way tourism has been run, it will just be business as usual.
We have an integrated tourism entrepreneurship support programme that is aimed at providing targeted support to black businesses in tourism. It focuses on capital, expertise and access to markets. This programme will enable us to monitor the impact of our intervention. As I said earlier, we are going to put enormous energy into ensuring that the Cape Flats tourism route becomes a reality and that a significant number of tourists are taken to the Cape Flats. Tourists should not only experience our poor neighbourhoods, but the uniquely Western Cape wining, dining, entertainment and sightseeing. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Ms N S MTSWENI (Mpumalanga): Hon Chairperson, hon members, MECs here present, ladies and gentlemen, I want to join my other colleagues in congratulating the Minister on his new appointment and to say that I was fortunate to have worked with the Minister for a very long time. So I hope that because we have both been on the committee on Communications, we will be able to make sure that there is good communication between the department and the provinces.
This debate comes to this House at a time in our history when the people of South Africa are remembering June 16 - June 16 of 1976 being of special significance in the soul of the majority of our people. The month of June is auspicious for all South Africans, because it is not only in the month of the youth, but it is also during this time that Environment Week is celebrated.
People in cities, towns and villages are equally able to celebrate what the month of June stands for, because our people are living in very exciting times, exciting times in which villagers and city people have equal access to Government institutions that allow them to determine their own destiny. Everywhere one travels - to any corner of the country - one gets the pleasant sense that the issues of environment and tourism are beginning to touch the lives of ordinary people in a positive way.
Women in villages are now empowered to integrate their traditional knowledge of caring for the environment, passed down from generation to generation, to enrich the management of biodiversity for sustainability. The nondestructive and the nonexploitive manner in which the sensitive tourism packages are being implemented provides hope for cultural and environmental sustenance.
Not so very long ago the apartheid government was writing policies to conserve the natural environment. The apartheid policies excluded much indigenous knowledge and systems of the African majority. Naturally, the policies resulted in conflict with the indigenous leadership of the African majority. The African majority and their institutions were perceived by those in authority to be a threat to biodiversity and the growth of tourism.
It was for this reason that many African kingdoms and amakhosi were stripped of their land and possessions to make way for conservation and tourism development. Access to what became protected areas was denied to African people, even those areas that for centuries were sacred places for cultural activities and festivities like Umemo, Incwala, Ingoma, Umhlanga and many more places of spirituality.
The majority of our people who stood in long queues in 1994 to give the ANC an overwhelming mandate to govern our country came back 10 years later. They stood in queues again in 1994, 10 years into the new democracy. This time they were even more determined to ensure that the third term of our democratic Government was given a chance and the space to complete what was started in 1994.
The people of this country in their numbers saw a real change in terms of the restoration of human dignity in the policies of the Government that was led by the ANC, despite the fact that there were a great number of apolitical predictions, even from otherwise rational quarters, that the ANC- led Government had all the makings of a government that would plunge the country into an unprecedented oblivion, that the environment would be ruined and the tourism potential destroyed forever. These predictors assured those who were willing to listen that the ANC constituency was disillusioned and divided. However, contrary to these predictions the ANC- led Government has made significant strides in its efforts to uplift the standard and life of all the people of this country, particularly in the area of environmental management.
As we celebrate a decade of freedom, we want to salute all the heroes and heroines who held up the spirits of the nation under the worst and hardest of conditions in order to get us to where we are today. Women and children in impoverished rural areas and informal settlements deserve our special salute for their will and resolve to fight on. Women all over the country fight on, despite the many challenges that face them - challenges of underdevelopment, hunger and malnutrition.
We also want to salute the Government for introducing progressive and developmental legislation on the environment. The law reform process that the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has embarked upon must be applauded. The policies and legislation will see the transfer of important mandates to provinces and local government, ensuring smooth and co-ordinated environmental management and governance in these important delivery points of Government. Provinces and the local spheres of government stand to gain more during the subsequent integration of the legal instruments on the environment. The law reform process will enable there to be an even clearer role for provinces in order for them to promulgate their own regulations that will ensure proper environmental planning and compliance monitoring.
Unlike the laws and policies that were promulgated by the apartheid regime, the new laws are taking cognisance of the needs of our people, not as objects but as active participants. The current legislation puts the people at the heart of decision-making and is geared towards sustainable development. The framework of the legislation put in place seeks to ensure that what we consume today is not to the detriment of the future.
Ladies and gentlemen, our province stands together with the rest of the people of South Africa in welcoming the budget. Limited as it is, we hope that it will begin to ensure that the programmes, policies and legislation of the department are realised. We from the province also want to join Mr Singh of KwaZulu-Natal in coming up with strategies on how we are going to make sure that our visitors are looked after, because in Mpumalanga you all know that we had a situation in which some of our visitors were mugged and some killed. So now, jointly, with the Department of Safety and Security we are coming up with a strategy to make sure that this does not happen to them. And we are also finding ways to ensure that we protect our visitors. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Ms H F MATLANYANE: Deputy Chairperson, hon Minister, hon MECs, hon members, I find it very interesting that the DA takes offence when they are attacked, as they always attack other parties. But let me not dwell on that because time has attacked them.
South Africa has become one of the fastest growing tourism destinations in the world. Tourism is a key industry with the potential for growth in the international and domestic markets. As a labour-intensive industry tourism helps to create jobs and attract foreign investment.
The department’s objective is to stimulate tourism demand in both the domestic and international markets by removing obstacles to growth, and it aims to expand supporting infrastructure, and promote black economic empowerment, job creation and transformation in the industry. The majority of South Africans are not aware of the opportunities in the promotion of domestic tourism. In raising general awareness the priority is to intensify initiatives such as Tourism Month and the Welcome Campaign, the aim being to encourage South Africans to travel within the country, to make tourism products accessible to all South Africans and to create a safe and welcoming environment for visitors.
Tourism contributes about 7,1% to GDP and employs an estimated 3% of the South African workforce. It is projected that in 2010 South African tourism will employ more than 1,2 people directly or indirectly, not taking into account the fact that we will be hosting the World Cup in 2010.
The tourism branch leads and directs tourism policy formulation and implementation in terms of national tourism growth. In partnership with SA Tourism, the provincial tourism authorities, the tourism industry and other relevant stakeholders aim to ensure and accelerate the practical delivery of tourism benefits to the broad spectrum of South Africans while maintaining sustainability and quality of life.
The White Paper on Tourism provides a policy framework for tourism development and entails the following programmes: a special empowerment programme for capacity-building mostly in our bed-and-breakfast industry and in our tour guides industry, tourism infrastructure, investigation programmes, the identification of public infrastructure, and the mobilisation of funds to aggressively market South Africa.
With regard to launching a domestic and travel campaign, a collaborative tourism cluster process, which will provide the framework for taking tourism into the next millennium, has been launched. The process aims to achieve collective action amongst keen stakeholders to enhance tourism- marketing investment and skills and infrastructure development.
The Tourism Forum is an advisory body that advises the Minister, and it comprises government, business, public institutions and labour to ensure the growth and development of the tourism sector. The tourism transformation strategy places more emphasis on developing black-owned business within the industry by raising the proportion of Government expenditure going to these businesses from 30% in 2001-02, to 50% in 2004- 05.
A database of the Black Tourism Transformation Forum was established to promote black economic empowerment with representatives from the department, the DTI, the Department of Labour, the Tourism Business Council of SA, the Department of the Public Service and Administration and the Independent Development Corporation. The department also formulated an information booklet entailing the funding opportunities and assistance programmes available to SMMEs, a handbook on tourism support programmes and posters to create awareness about illegal tour guiding.
An amount of R232 million has been committed and spent on tourism development projects aimed at creating jobs and alleviating poverty in South Africa. These projects promote the development of community-owned tourism products such as lodges and the development of tourism infrastructure, including roads, information centres and tourism signage. They are categorised as product development, infrastructure development, capacity-building and training, and the establishment of SMME and business development projects.
We need to encourage the Welcome campaign, hon Minister, launched in 1999 by your predecessor. The campaign encourages all South Africans to embrace tourism and to share in South Africa’s riches and natural cultural heritage, and it is run as a national general awareness campaign through road shows and community outreach programmes.
A basic customer service training programme was introduced to educate trainers to run the programmes for learners, who, after completion, are awarded a certificate and lapel badge. This programme, which targeted the training of about 500 trainees by December 2003, is called SA Host. I think that if we could take this forward and take it to the rural areas, most especially in Limpopo, this would go a long way.
Human resource development is considered one of the pillars of the development of a new, responsible tourism culture in South Africa. The department supports the introduction of travel, tourism and hospitality studies as subjects in school. The SA Tourism Institute initiated a number of projects supporting the learning environment of teachers, high-school learners and employees in the tourism industry through the Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Education and Training Authority. As the ANC we support the budget. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM: Thank you, Chairperson. I would like to start out by conveying my appreciation to all the members, starting with the chairperson of the select committee, Rev Moatshe, the MECs and all the other members for wishing me well with this portfolio. I’m looking forward to it. I do not underestimate the challenges in this portfolio for one minute. I understand that there are a lot of tough issues that will have to be dealt with; decisions to be taken in a decisive manner; and also some controversial issues that we would like to deal with together in a spirit of co-operation and co-operative government - the words of my colleague from the Eastern Cape, the chairperson of the standing committee.
Now I must say that some of the contributions tickled my interest in terms of what some of the provinces have to offer. My colleague Mr Mzizi referred to Wonderboom; and my colleague Mr Tooley, who is out of the House at the moment, referred to the lake in Limpopo; while Mr Saaiman referred to the equatic chickens in the Northern Cape. [Laughter.] I want to see those, Mr Saaiman. I’m going to visit you soon to see what that is all about.
Then I would also like to give my assurance to colleagues that this is one portfolio in terms of which I believe we must all do our utmost in order to lift it out of the party-political arena. The environment and nature do not recognise borders that we draw on maps. They do not recognise levels of government. They do not care about different political parties. So it is good that we all work together to ensure that we achieve success.
Now, in the 10 minutes I have to speak I would like to deal with most of the issues that my colleagues raised. Regarding those issues that I will not be able to deal with now, we will answer the specific issues and questions that members directed and raised in writing.
On the issue of domestic tourism I would like to thank members for their support for the campaign that we announced last week. It is absolutely vital that we succeed with this campaign. The countries that are successful internationally with regard to tourism - France, Spain, Italy - are successful because they have built domestic tourism as the foundations of their tourism industries. The international tourism industry, however important it is, is a vulnerable industry. The exchange rate, security concerns, etc, are all issues that affect international tourism very much. Therefore, we must make sure that we develop domestic tourism as the foundation for our tourism industry in this country.
When we celebrated Youth Day yesterday we took a number of young people to one of our national parks - the Table Mountain National Park took them up the mountain. There we discussed the importance of young people in this country also taking co-ownership of the environment, because it is part of their future. We have some very innovative, creative, good programmes in the department already. The Kids in Kruger programme already makes sure that 800 young people per month get the opportunity to visit our national parks. This is something that most of them never had the opportunity to do before. Last year the People in the Environment programme numbered over 3 500 young people who had never had the opportunity before. When I was there yesterday it was conveyed to me that the cable car company in Cape Town here in the Western Cape had run a programme over the past three years, which created an opportunity for 100 000 children from certain communities who never had the opportunity before to go up the mountain.
When I stood on the other side of the mountain yesterday with one of the co- ordinators, a woman of, I suppose, 25 years plus old - now I know we should never guess the age of women - she was very emotional when we looked to the Kommetjie area where she came from. She said: “Until now I have never had the opportunity to come up the mountain; at my age this is the first time; and I never thought that I would see Ocean View from up Table Mountain.”
So what we must understand is that together we must create that opportunity for millions of our people. There’s an emerging market of over 6 million people who would like that opportunity and we must make it possible for them: children from Alexandra to see a sunset in the Kruger National Park, and many other opportunities that some of us simply take for granted. So I would like the co-operation from the provinces and from local government to make that a reality for many of our people.
Some colleagues mentioned 2010. Of course we are all immensely proud of the fact that we won the bid. But what we must never forget is that 2010 will not solve all our problems in the country. We must also plan for 2010. With regard to tourism very specifically, we must understand that there are new markets that we must now focus on for 2010. The Spanish-speaking countries of South America and those in Europe, and the Portuguese-speaking countries of Brazil and those in Europe have not, up to now, been at the top of our agenda when it came to our normal tourism. We must now shift the focus to start including those countries when we talk about 2010 and the importance of that for tourism.
The hon Minister Brown from the Western Cape remarked on the BEE scorecard. Now, our first choice is to convince the players in that market that they must take co-ownership and responsibility of that process of empowerment. We don’t want to unilaterally legislate as a first option. But if they don’t come on board willingly, then we will have no other option. We want them to take responsibility and co-ownership. Then all of us will be more successful.
A number of colleagues mentioned the issue of Pondoland. Now, that is one of the critical areas that we will have to solve on the environmental side and also on the developmental side. Some of the members here - Mr Le Roux and others - referred to the natural problem that one always has with development on the one side, and conservation on the other. This is something that we have to live with and for which we have to find a balance.
However, with regard to Pondoland, there are a number of issues that we will have to resolve there: the issue of mining, the issue of the proposed toll road; the issue of the wildlife park. We will, hopefully, over time solve all those issues. I would like to assure my colleague from the Eastern Cape, the chairperson of the standing committee, that we would like to do that in a spirit of co-operation, co-operative governance and co- ordination. That is why I went down to meet with the premier and members of the Cabinet on Monday and why I will also be visiting Pondoland on 23 July. I’m convinced that the Minister of Minerals and Energy will also join me and, hopefully, one of the other Ministers will also have an interest in what we have to do in that area. I hope that it will also be possible to meet with the king, because he has never been consulted firsthand in the past. I think it is important that we do this and pay our respects in that regard.
As a number of those issues are on appeal, are on my desk or on their way there, I believe that it is not proper to say anything now, because I would like to deal with those issues in the proper manner and with an open mind. The first thing that we will have to do with regard to Pondoland is to agree on a vision for that area. Do we want an ecotourism vision for that area? That will make all our decisions easier. If we say that we would like the traditional kind of development there, then we will take certain other decisions. So it is important that we agree on a vision for Pondoland and that area first.
With regard to the mining, I would like to say, quite frankly, that I’m opposed to mining in that area, but that decision is the decision of the Minister of Minerals and Energy. It is a unique area, because of the history of mining in this country, in terms of which that Minister also has the responsibility of deciding on EIAs, and not this Minister. When we agree on a vision I hope that we will be able to address all those issues. We are opposed to mining there for a very simple reason. The centre of endomism in that area is where the proposed mining may take place. When visiting that area on Monday I was told that there were unique animal and plant species that one found only there and nowhere else in the whole world. For instance, the Pondo Palm only grows on one side of one of the rivers there, etc. Those are all factors that we who care cannot ignore and that we must stand up for.
On the issue of fishing: the hon Minister Essop mentioned that, as did the hon MEC Saaiman and the hon member Dlulane. We will continue with those imbizos and see how many communities we can make part of that. I have no doubt in my mind that there is one category of people that we must relook at again, and they are the subsistence fishing communities in the coastal areas. Hondeklipbaai in the Northern Cape is a good example. I would like to give the MEC the assurance that we will look at ways to ensure that in the next round of allocations a whole community like that is not excluded again.
I visited Paternoster recently. We have a wonderful new fish market there that the provincial government built - costing millions of rand - but there are no fish. So those are all the issues that we must look at, making sure that the fishermen and fisherwomen also understand that it is resource that we must also manage and protect. That is the balance we must find.
In this regard I would like to inform the House that the term of office of the DDG responsible for the Marine and Coastal Management branch of the department, Mr Horst Kleinschmidt, expires shortly and that he will not continue. I would have preferred him to continue, because I think he deserves a lot of credit for turning that industry around and establishing credibility and integrity - much-needed credibility and integrity. He conveyed to me his reasons for not wanting to renew his contract and that he would like to enter into a new phase in his life. I would like to thank him on behalf of Government for the success that he has achieved on our behalf. I would like to wish him well when he leaves our service. [Applause.]
Regarding budget issues, the hon member Tooley raised that. I’m actually glad he raised that, because I did not want to raise that issue. However, because he raised it I would just like to briefly point out one or two issues. These we will discuss at the Minmecs and with the MECs. Colleagues, if we are talking about making tourism a success, then we must put our money where our mouths are. When I asked for the latest budget figures the day before yesterday I was quite disappointed to see that in one of our provinces the budget for marketing tourism had decreased by 33%. In that same province the budget for tourism development had decreased by 63%. Now we cannot say that we are serious if we do this to our budgets for marketing and for tourism development. With regard to some of the other provinces, I must say that there is one province’s budget that is up by 30%
- oh, no, it is up 23% - another is up by 11%, and so on. So that is good news. But I think we must sit down and we must also plan budget-wise.
With regard to waste management, the hon member Mabe refers. I see she’s not here now; she has left the Chamber. Maybe I should then just say that I will deal more comprehensively with issues of waste management on Monday in the National Assembly. The plastic bag ban will only make sense if it is the first step in starting to manage waste. Therefore we must also address the other waste streams, and I will refer to some of these and to pending regulations and initiatives on Monday in the National Assembly.
With regard to the marine-protected areas - an issue which was raised when we announced this, as I said in my introductory speech - there has been this very important step that has taken us closer to that 20% objective, that is 20% of our coastal area. We will only succeed if we understand that we must be able and have the ability to enforce what we announce. If we simply announce these protected areas without any enforcement capability and capacity, the poaching will just go on as it has up to now. Therefore we are going to use the patrolling vessels that we will receive shortly - the first one in October and others shortly afterwards - and other measures we have available as well as the green Scorpions. The provinces also have some enforcement and compliance capacity and capability. Colleagues, we must start using these, otherwise all our good intentions don’t mean a thing. We will work closely to ensure that we are successful in that regard.
I will then conclude by thanking all my colleagues for a good debate, a very constructive debate. There were some good proposals. Regarding some other matters, I will be dealing with those in the National Assembly on Monday. Those members who raised very specific issues and questions will receive answers in writing. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
The Council adjourned at 18:10. ____
ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
National Council of Provinces
- Membership of Committees
The following members of the National Council of Provinces have been
appointed to the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests:
Dlulane, B N Ms Eastern Cape (ANC)
Ralane, T S Mr Free State (ANC)
Shiceka, S S Mr Gauteng (ANC)
Oliphant, M Ms KwaZulu-Natal (ANC)
Ndalane, N Ms Limpopo (ANC)
Tolo, B J Mr Mpumalanga (ANC)
Tau, R J Mr Northern Cape (ANC)
Moseki, A L Mr North West (ANC)
Ntwanambi, N D Ms Western Cape (ANC)
TABLINGS
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces
- The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development (a) Strategic Plan of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development for 2004-2007.
(b) Background and Introduction to the Strategic Framework of the
Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
National Council of Provinces
-
Report of the Select Committee on Social Services on the Electoral Commission Amendment Bill [B 7 - 2004] (National Assembly - sec 75), dated 17 June 2004:
The Select Committee on Social Services, having considered the subject of the Electoral Commission Amendment Bill [B 7 - 2004] (National Assembly - sec 75), referred to it, reports that it has agreed to the Bill.