Hon House Chair, the DA supports the report of the Standing Committee on Appropriations; however, the DA does not support the Division of Revenue Amendment Bill. The DA welcomes the presentations made by interest groups outside of Parliament and wishes to thank our stakeholders working within government structures.
The Division of Revenue cuts across all spheres of government. Underspending, and fruitless and wasteful expenditure remain a concern while millions of people are in need of basic services. The underspending of school infrastructure grants has become an embarrassment, while learners are still making use of pit toilets. The School Infrastructure Grant is amended to replace old and outdated school buildings. Grant funding is meant to bring human dignity to learners via access to water, sanitation and electricity.
Afrikaans:
Agb lede, dit is uiters belangrik dat die Parlement aandag aan die voortdurende droogte en klimaatsverandering in die meeste van ons
provinsies gee. Nasionaal, provinsiaal en plaaslike regerings sal nouer moet saamwerk om die voortbestaan van landbou, voedselsekerheid, markte en plaasgemeenskappe te beskerm.
English:
Where necessary, municipalities and provinces must declare disaster areas and apply for national disaster relief funds.
Afrikaans:
Die Vaalrivier-stelsel verkeer in 'n noodtoestand. Die
R241,9 miljoen wat vanaf Water en Sanitasie skuif sal die Emfuleni Munisipaliteit in staat stel om ... waterwerkestelsel met 'n beoogte 28 nuwe pompstasies te verbeter. Dit sal 'n gesonde omgewing vir gemeenskappe skenk. Ons wil ook die weermag, wat die afgelope tyd ingewillig het om die Vaalrivier se infrastruktuur te beskerm, bedank.
English:
House Chair, it is our responsibility in this Sixth Parliament to ensure that accountability becomes the new norm in government. Consequence management is absent at senior level. Within the context of the Division of Revenue Act, accountability includes compliance, and to report on and evaluate performance programmes.
It is clear that the National Health Insurance has become a special project for the ANC. The conditions under which patients receive treatment has deteriorated over time. Health services need to get more attention and more funding, and universal health care must be part of our country's vision. We must fix what is not working in the Health Department before transferring money to another health state-owned entity, SOE, as envisaged by the ANC.
No consequence management exists or is applied in current SOEs or in national and provincial departments. We cannot use the word savings. We must call it underspending. Call it what it is! We do not support the Division of Revenue Amendment Bill. I thank you. [Applause.]