Speaker, the DA is not saying food parcels should not be delivered because of by-elections, but the ANC is only delivering food parcels because of by-elections. That is a clear distinction. I would like to highlight the fact that in Tlokwe in ward 9 last month, food parcels were only delivered on 6 and 7 August, the day before the by-election and the day of the by-election. If that is not abuse of state funds, then I do not know what is.
Also, Speaker, it is not coincidence that, on Friday, the Minister is having a televised outreach imbizo in Tlokwe, just five days before nine crucial by-elections, where 3 000 to 5 000 food parcels are to be distributed. That is a fact, Minister. State resources are only being pumped into wards where there are by-elections, with the poor in neighbouring wards being neglected; another fact, Minister. It is clear that if voters want a free food parcel, all they have to do is fire their incompetent ANC councillor. That is another fact, Minister.
Can the Minister inform this House when other wards in Tlokwe will receive their food parcels or do they have to wait for a by-election to be declared? Thank you. [Applause.]
UNGQONGQOSHE WEZOKUTHUTHUKISWA KOMPHAKATHI: Somlomo, akulona iqiniso ukuthi ngosuku olwalungaphambi kokhetho kwakunamaphasela okudla ayenikwa abantu. Akulona iqiniso futhi nginesiqiniseko salokho ngoba yimina owakhuluma noNgqongqoshe wesiFundazwe sase-North West, kanti futhi lawo maphasela okudla ayezokhishwa kwakungamaphasela okudla oMnyango wezokuThuthukiswa koMphakathi esifundazweni. Asinawo amandla okuwalawula singuhulumeni kazwelonke...[Ubuwelewele.] ... njengoba singenawo amandla okulawula ukukhishwa kwamaphasela okudla esifundazweni senu; kuyafana. Hhayi ukuthi asinawo amandla okulawula ukukhishwa kwamaphasela okudla esifundazweni sase- North West kuphela, kepha nasesifundazweni senu asinawo amandla okulawula ukukhishwa kwamaphasela okudla. (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[The MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: Speaker, it is not true that food parcels were distributed to the people on the day preceding the voting day. I am sure of that as I was the one who spoke to the MEC of the North West Province, and those food parcels that were going to be distributed were from the provincial Department of Social Development. We have no control over them as national government ... [Interjections.] ... as much as we do not have control over the distribution of food parcels in your province; it is the same thing. It is not that we do not have control over the distribution of food parcels in the North West Province only, but the same applies to your province as well.]
That is why ...
Nina lo josaka wenu. [Ubuwelewele.] [Uhleko.]
Enye into ukuthi kubuhlungu nje ngoba niyabona ukuthi ngeke kube kuhle kulolu khetho oluzayo, yingakho senithi aniqale ngendaba yamaphasela okudla. Uma ningahamba niyofuna abemithombo yezindaba ngenxa yokuthi abantu balaphaya baphakamisa izinkinga eziningi, sizohlala khona izinyanga eziyisithupha, asikazukuhamba. Ngakho-ke, njengoba kade silaphaya siyabuyela futhi sisazophinde sibuyele. [Ihlombe.] Nizothi senzani? Nizothi sesikhankasela ukhetho lukazwelonke! Nani aniziyekile izinhlelo zenu ngenxa yokuthi sekuyiwa okhethweni futhi nani niyaya ezindaweni noma kumawadi uma ngabe kuzoba nokhetho lokuchibiyela, akuyena uhulumeni kaKhongolose kuphela oya emawadini uma kuzoba nokhetho. (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[It also applies to your backpacks. [Interjections.] [Laughter.]
Another thing is that you know that it is not going to be nice during the next election; that is why you decided to put the food parcel issue on the table. If you go and look for the media just because the people in that area raise many concerns, we will stay there for six months; we are not going to leave yet. So, we were there, we are going back there and we will continue to go back there. [Applause.] What are you going to say it is that we are doing? Are you going to say we are campaigning for the national elections? You also did not stop working on your programmes just because the elections are coming up, and you also go to areas or wards when there is going to be by-elections; it is not only the ANC-led government that goes to the wards when there is going to be elections.]