Deputy Speaker, I'm thankful for this opportunity to briefly respond to the debate.
First, I must start by saying that I would like to thank all the members who participated in the debate, for their very, very invaluable comments. We try and take each comment seriously as we plot the way forward.
I joined this House in October last year, so maybe you should have said happy anniversary to me! It was in October last year.
One of the things that I have learnt since assuming office is that the Minister of Finance is burdened with having to find resources for Eskom, for SA Airways, for SA Express, for Denel, for Alexkor, for the huge compensation of employees bill, and for the many programmes that must be funded amidst an ageing and overburdened infrastructure, within the context of declining tax revenues due to low economic growth.
So, when I hear members saying that Eskom must be funded, Eskom must be funded, I say, okay, I agree, but tell me from where I should take the money. [Interjections.] It has to be a give and take. You can't have everything at the same time.
So, some members have stood here and said Eskom this, Eskom that. They spoke about Eskom as if it is some imaginary human being somewhere. It's not. Eskom is a business. It is run by people.
It's being run into the ground!
One of the key issues that we need to solve is by appointing the correct people to run Eskom. [Applause.] That's what we need to do. We must appoint the correct board of directors. We must appoint a competent management team and we must then be in a position to hold the board of directors and the management team accountable for the operations of Eskom.
The problem at Eskom is not just financial. The problem at Eskom is not just financial. If we are going to reduce a complex problem to the lowest common multiplier - being the financial problem - we are not solving the problem. We need to approach solutions to Eskom via complex theory. We need to understand the complexity of the institution we are dealing with in order to come up with complex solutions.
Having said that, and as I take my seat, I have stood on this podium and asked members of the political parties in this House to go out to the communities and their members to mobilise them to pay for services rendered. I repeat
that message, hon Shivambu. I repeat that message: Go mobilise your people to render unto Eskom what belongs to Eskom, as a law-abiding citizen of the country.
Deputy Speaker and Deputy President, I thank all members for their contributions, and I wish you well as you pay your bills! [Applause.]
Point of order, Chairperson.
Yes, hon member? Why are you rising?
Let us pass a special Division of Revenue Bill to fund us to go the people and ... [Inaudible.]
No, hon member.
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Bill be read a first time.
Division demanded.
The House divided.