Thank you House Chairperson and it is good to have you Minister after a while, and the portfolio committee misses you too. [Interjections.] It is easy ... can I be protected House Chairperson?
You are fully protected hon member. Just continue with the question.
It is easy to blame foreign nationals for our own failure to support our own businesses. Minister, have you perhaps done any study to understand the real reasons for failure of locally-owned spaza shops in the townships and what impact do you think the explosion of shopping malls in the township has had on local businesses? Thank you.
Thank you House Chairperson, and through you House Chairperson, the portfolio committee will know that they sit on the days of Cabinet and we have a responsibility to attend Cabinet. Where the Minister is required to be at a portfolio committee, the Minister is always available.