Chairperson, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers, today we are here to debate and table in this House the Division of Revenue Bill in connection with the budget delivered by the Minister of Finance on 25 February 2015.
We are all aware of the fact that the 2015 Division of Revenue Bill comes against the backdrop of a tight economic environment. It is in this context that we acknowledge and welcome the fiscal consolidation effort to try to steer our economy on the right course. We are cognisant of the many efforts aimed at cushioning social spending and service delivery against the effect of fiscal consolidation.
Hon Chairperson, I have been listening and it appears that many members are saying, "Service delivery, service delivery, service delivery!" I have been to many parts of this country personally, and I can assure you that I have seen water being delivered in areas where nobody ever thought it would happen. I have seen electricity, I have seen houses, and I have seen service delivery. [Applause]. So, we can come here, hon Chairperson, and oppose this, but if we have the interests of the people of this country at heart, we will not oppose this but be proactive in going out there and working together to deliver. [Interjections.]
Having said that, I think it is high time that we injected practical meaning into the words, "value for money" and "efficiency". [Interjections.]