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.