Hon Chair, the UDM supports Budget Vote No 28. We, however, feel that it is important for us to reiterate some of the issues we raised during the Budget Vote in the committee, when we said to the Minister that there is a need to tackle the issue of crippling industrial actions and their impact on the economy - I am sure this one is for the Finance Cluster as a whole, as well as the government in its entirety - including the issue of energy and Medupi, which is a constraint in the economic growth of the country.
Eyona nto siyithethayo nesiqhubekayo ukuyithetha yeyokuba nokuba ugqiba kwelokuba uthi yi-load shedding okanye i-blackout, ezilalini kuthiwa umbane ucimile. [What we are saying, and will continue to say is that, whether you decide to call this load shedding or blackouts, in rural areas they say the electricity is off or down.]
That is the bottom line.
Kufuneka siyilungise loo nto. [We must do something about that.]
The other issue, which is also very important, is about the small business development strategy which will be transferred to the Ministry of Small Business Development ...
... apho uye ufumanise ukuba amaphondo ayenamaphandle awakazuzi ngendlela eyiyo. [... where you find that the provinces that constitute the former homelands, have not yet benefited in an appropriate manner.]
The other issue that is very important, you will find that even in the IDC, to a certain extent ...
... nangona isebenza kakuhle la maphondo ayenamaphandle kudala awakazuzi ngokwaneleyo. [... although it works well, the provinces that constitute the former homelands, have not yet benefited enough.]
We also highlighted the issue that in the Competition Commission ...
... kufanele ukuba imiba yoontamnani iyomelezwa. Siyabulela. [... we must strengthen the issue of whistle blowers. We thank you.]
Thank you, Chair.