Speaker, hon President, hon Deputy President and hon members, there is every truth in the adage that "uneasy lies the head that wears the crown". The President will have to live with that knowledge as different matters, some national, some provincial and perhaps others of a personal nature - some issues like the deaths of up to 15 soldiers so far at the hands of the mutineers in the Central African Republic - will linger in the air as much as the landing of the Gupta wedding jet at the Waterkloof military Air Force Base. These issues will remain an indelible mark in the minds of South Africans.
It is regrettable that contractors saw fit to inflate prices on the construction of the residence of the President at Nkandla. Collusion by some employees cannot be ruled out in this matter, but lessons have to be learnt from that too, noting that building in the rural areas is always much more expensive than in urban areas.
Section 84(2)(e) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa enjoins the President to make some key appointments, such as that of the National Director of Public Prosecutions and others related thereto, like the head of the Special Investigating Unit, SIU. Inordinate delays in effecting such appointments have a bearing on the administration of justice. It is also not in the interest of those who are holding those positions in an acting capacity, as whatever decisions they may take may later be overturned by the appointed incumbents. Public administration calls for a minimum of three months for the filling of posts. It will be difficult to call the Public Service to order if it takes the head of state over a year to have a position filled. There is little or no movement in the Seriti Commission on the arms deal, except that it has not covered itself in glory when one takes into account the spat, and the subsequent resignation by Mr Moabi, one of its former investigators.
Recently, President Kikwete of Tanzania made a telling statement when he said that we notice the Arab Spring up north, but if governments inland and down south in Africa are not awake to it, we shall soon have a "Job Spring".
The youth are crying out for jobs, alternatively capital to set up businesses, though it is difficult without the necessary skills. But the issue is, skills or no skills, they are citizens of this country who have to be assisted. One wonders how far the Youth Employment Initiative scheme is that saw the light of day in the Presidency.
As Marius Ungerer puts it:
Jobs are created by the private sector within conditions determined by the state. In South Africa we need a renewed attempt at collaboration between the state, business and labour to place the country on a new growth trajectory away from conflict.
We hope the Deputy President, having been assigned to deal with these people in the mines, will ensure that they don't go on moving the goal posts when a solution is about to be found. The UCDP will support the Budget Vote. [Time expired.] [Applause.]