[Laughter.] Deputy Chairperson, it seems we will do a lot of progress this afternoon. We were bit sleepy in the morning. Hon members, it is no secrete that our state-owned enterprises became central hubs of the state capture project. Instead of these entities serving the people of South Africa through their various mandates, they ultimately became centres of employment for the card- carrying members of the ANC. They became penetrable piggy bags for the looters and trust funds for factional battles.
Now, more than ever before, we have seen the consequences of those actions. We are now left with entities that, when put very bluntly and mildly, have collapsed and are in the intensive care unit.
Another Eskom bailout is making its way through Parliament as we speak to help the declining electricity supply despite there being no light at the end the tunnel. And you can bet that was a pun intended.
These entities have become behemoths of the industry they are often in - acting as the monopoly. This does not bode well for the economy that is already brittle with terrible conditions. The National Development Plan, NDP, aims to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030. This can only be achieved through an economy that grows by means of a free market system that allows for compensation. This will however remain a pipedream whilst Eskom looms over the energy industry albeit a bloody injured Goliath.
The national government needs to be decisive in handling these
state-owned entities, SOEs. If an entity is continuously failing, as Eskom is, you either sell it or break it up. South Africans, especially the 10 million unemployed, have had enough time and it is time for action. You might have heard hon Carrim while standing here
agreeing with Dennis Ryder. He was agreeing with everything that Dennis was saying. He stops short of telling South Africans that by the time when state capture started at the SABC he was the Minister of that department. Thank you, Chair.