As Minister I am in charge of sanitation. This stinking sanitation mess started here in Makhaza. That is where this thing started. To come and blow hot and cold in public about sanitation when the mess started with you shows how little people know and how misinformed some people are. [Interjections.] Hon Duncan from the DA, I appreciate your advice. I spend sleepless nights on this question of the title deeds. Director-general, we have a job to do. Let people get their title deeds or documents that say there is something going their way. [Applause.]
With reference to the corruption hotline, I want to state that I don't know how people can stand on this podium and say that the government or the Ministry doesn't have a corruption hotline. The number is 0800 201 201. Listen to this: The Department of Human Settlements occupies the number one position in the Cabinet, at 97%, in dealing with the complaints that come from the corruption hotline. [Applause.]
Then I must mention how misinformed people can be. There is no underexpenditure of R4 billion. There is no such thing. The numbers are here. You give the money, Members of Parliament. We have not underspent by R4 billion. There is no such thing. A very misinformed journalist threw out that number in January. We have just closed our books. There is no such R4 billion. Our underexpenditure is below 5%. Add 3% allowed under the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF. Therefore, to continue to propagate this R4 billion just shows how much people are not reading and not thinking.
With regard to corruption, here are the numbers - and some of you are involved in these things. There are over 5 000 cases of people that have been arrested. Monies have been recovered, lawyers struck off the roll, companies blacklisted. Where does it come from that we don't act? Anyway, congratulations for being participants in the budget debate. [Laughter.] We are not here to play political football with the lives of our people. I want to take it that most of us here - 99% of us - are committed to the struggle in respect of the poor. However, there are some who are so misinformed that they should not enjoy the privilege to stand behind this podium. I thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Debate concluded.