Hon Chairperson, I suspect that this might be the last time in this Fifth Parliament that I rise to support this Budget Vote, but I hope I am proved wrong. I rise to support it, not because the DA believes that everything is on track in this department, and that our energy crisis is behind us. On the contrary, our country and economy are being severely constrained by an energy crisis, and resolving it must be our country's main priority.
Hon Minister, you have given some welcome indication that this government might finally implement the long overdue reform of the electricity sector that will break the monopoly stranglehold of Eskom and allow all South Africans to contribute to solving our energy crisis.
I therefore look forward to seeing the Independent Services and Market Operator Bill being reintroduced to this Parliament this year as the first step in that restructuring. The DA hopes that, though that these first welcome signs will not once again turn into the typical ANC's Rocky Horror time warp dance around electricity reform.
Hon Minister, you can therefore see the DA's support for this Vote as us putting you on notice. If you do not follow through on these reforms, then you will not get our support again. I thank you.