Hon Chair, hon members and members of the Cabinet who might be present, hon Minister and Deputy Minister of the Department of Communications, members of the portfolio committee, chairperson and the chief executive officers of the state-owned companies, captains of the ICT industry, senior government officials, members of the media, allow me to commence by observing a moment for Mr Luthando Namzi, a senior communications officer who is usually assigned to the Portfolio Committee on Communications. Mr Namzi passed away in a car accident on Friday, 17 May 2013. He served the committee with diligence, passion and the utmost commitment.
In the same vein, I must also join millions of South Africans who have always made sure that, together with the broadcasting fraternity, they will continue to send their messages of condolences on the loss of Vuyo Mbuli.
I also have the same problem as you, hon Steyn, in that I do not know which one I must read or present. I do not know whether to read this one or this one, or whether to go for you or to read my speech. [Laughter.] I am in a dilemma; I do not know what to do.
However, I thought that today, as we deal with the Budget Vote, it will be an opportunity for those who criticise the ANC's policies to provide alternatives, but I have not heard any alternatives. [Applause.] I think it is very dangerous when you deal with people who indicate to the right, but they then turn left. We do not have to encourage that.
If your policies differ from the ANC's policies, you must provide alternatives. It is always dangerous to deal with people who claim they will win the 2019 general elections. Why are they here? Next year, 2014, we are going to have the provincial and national elections, but they are already talking about 2019. It is a problem, because you have accepted that you are a nonfactor in the South African political environment. The ANC will continue to lead, lead you and also to lead on your behalf. [Interjections.]
The collaboration between the DA and the Sunday Times, confirmed by the editor, as it appeared in the City Press newspaper, is unfortunate and unethical. The confession that she admitted to authorising the submission of unsubstantiated information to the DA Member of Parliament is a sham and an attempt to try and hide their source behind the issue of public interest. Now the truth is becoming clear; it is becoming clear why the people have been calling for the public interest issue. It is because they want to abuse that particular clause. It has become apparent that the Sunday Times has disgraced South African journalism. The Press Ombudsman must investigate this matter, in particular the serious breach of the South African Press Code.
This confirms our assertion that some of the media houses have indeed taken a decision to be the opposition of this government. [Applause.] This further explains why the DA took it upon them to take up the plight of the big four in relation to government, and why government is spending on or advertising in The New Age. That indeed confirms their concern ... [Interjections.]
... Hayi inyani yona iyakrakra bawo. [The truth makes people uneasy.] It is either the DA that is the subsidiary of the Sunday Times or the Sunday Times that is a subsidiary of the DA. [Applause.] The DA is running out of options. They even tried to steal the South African Post Office programme of rolling out addresses. The DA claims that they are rolling out addresses in Ekurhuleni, a programme which is run by the South African Post Office. The ANC-led government came up with the programme.
The problem is that the DA do not have ideas. You do not know what to do and now you claim that the DA is rolling out addresses. Since when do you have that mandate? Who gave you that mandate? Since when are you the South African Post Office? You have really run out of ideas. Leave the Post Office to do what this ANC-led government mandated it to do, and that is to roll out addresses. [Applause.]
The problem we have here is that you think you are beyond reproach. That is the problem. When you talk, you think that you are beyond reproach.