Speaker, further to these allegations about the performance of our economy which were raised by the hon James, the DA likes to pretend that the world has not been living through the worst economic and financial crisis since the 1930s. They want to blame everything on the current administration here in South Africa as if the rest of the world has not also been massively impacted, and as if this administration has not performed remarkably well in the face of this grave global crisis.
For instance, the auto sector in Australia has just moved out. In Brazil, according to the most recent Economist, the auto sector is in grave trouble. Here in South Africa, as a result of government initiatives, the incentive grants to the auto sector as well as procurement policies have saved auto sector jobs. In fact, 9 500 extra auto sector jobs have been created in the midst of a global economic crisis.
What the DA has to offer is simply the market, and it's the markets that have failed gravely. It is through the active intervention of the President Zuma-led administration that we have seen at least some stabilisation. Indeed, we lost a million jobs in 2008-9, but we've regained those million jobs. Of course, more people have come into the market.
It is true that we are suffering, but we are not in denial about this serious unemployment crisis. We are determined to address it and we are doing so confidently on the basis of the interventions that this Zuma administration has carried forward in the midst of a grave crisis. Thank you, sir. [Applause.]