Deputy Speaker, reduction in the percentage of important tenders awarded to local businesses from the previously indicated 30% to 10% must be a matter of concern, particularly in a case like the Mitchells Plain Hospital, which I understand was a community-driven project.
It is critically important that all spheres of government - all of us in government - understand that infrastructure development becomes a major opportunity for job creation and enterprise development. It is therefore critically important that all spheres of government identify and support opportunities for local economic development.
Our challenge as a country is to address and identify opportunities for job creation. This is the fundamental imperative now. In our own work in the Department of Trade and Industry we try to do this not just in construction, but also in manufacturing.
New tender regulations will shortly be published by the National Treasury to give effect to this. Perhaps DTI needs to offer the City of Cape Town a seminar on this new policy approach. Thank you very much. [Applause.]