Mr Speaker, Mr President, we have seen headlines about the economy recently, and it does not make good reading. We do not have control over global economic conditions, so it is important to focus on the stuff we - and especially you - can influence. Perceptions investors have about us now come into play.
South Africa faces a host of its own issues, especially with its twin deficits. In April 2013 the deficit was R41 billion - about double the forecast. The April trade deficit was R15 billion, double that of March. Foreigners are now net sellers of our equities, making the currency volatile.
It is not your speeches, Mr President, but because of that, your behaviour will be closely watched. Do you not think that it is time to send a strong message that you are on the side of saving expenditure, and that in the next reshuffle of your Cabinet you will shrink it to the levels of your predecessors? With almost 60 Ministers and Deputy Ministers, you are harbouring one of the largest Cabinets in the world. If you do shrink it, investors will take you more seriously.