Chairperson ... [Inaudible.] ... this is exactly what is happening to our government ... [Interjections.] ... and I will explain. Truly the people of our country must see this. They must understand that confusion will always be created to make sure that what the people have to come up with does not take place.
I want to emphasise that we cannot support this Budget altogether. The Government Communication and Information System, GCIS, established in terms of section 7 of the Public Service Act, 1994, is meant to meet all of the demands of our democratic human rights environment.
With the loyal support that this government has had from the voters in successive elections, one would have expected a quid pro quo from this government. Unfortunately South Africans, who were made to endure an information deficit as a result of apartheid and poverty, are generally still lagging behind in that respect in 2014.
Those of us who were in that movement for almost three decades are disappointed at the kind of thing that is happening. Our people do not have the information to engage in meaningful dialogue with government. Citizens with grievances therefore have to take to the streets and, shockingly, they continue to resort to mindless vandalism in making their point.
I must emphasise that we are all pessimistic about whether the department will succeed in switching off analogue television by this time next year when the deadline arrives. Neither do we believe that the department will have succeeded in allocating the spectrum required for broadband penetration.
I also want to emphasise that we will not support this Vote because we stand for transparency, we stand for digital migration, we stand for broadband penetration, and we stand for the public broadcaster, for example, and all the other matters that we are talking about. [Interjections.] We stand for the perpetuation of what late President Nelson Mandela raised, his legacy. Where this department is headed is not acceptable to us. [Interjections.]
We cannot in good conscience support this Vote. We can't. My former comrades are lost and my former comrades are killing our people. [Inaudible.] [Time expired.]