Hon Deputy Speaker, hon President, hon Deputy President and hon members, the Presidency is the window through which the South African public and the world see the goings - on in government. If the Presidency shows incapacity, the obvious statement would be that the entire government is in a crisis. But if it is alive and kicking, our country will be like candlelight to moths of all types.
If someone on behalf of the government makes a controversial and provocative statement such as that made by the head of government communications on the occasion of introducing e-tolls, when he said, "The e- tolls are not a dream and no one is going to stop them", the public ascribes that to government, actually to the President.
The result is that government is left with egg on its face, and efforts are being made to win back the hearts of the people. It is understandable why the President has introduced the Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, as well as Administration in the Presidency, as he is irked by the slow pace of service delivery in government. Even this afternoon he did indicate that. He has always stood by his words to the effect that he is frustrated in so far as how government departments take too long to perform their duties. He has said this numerous times on national television. There have also been quibbles about some Ministers and Deputy Ministers leaving one department for another without handing over vehicles to their successors. This may sound petty, but this is unpleasant publicity for government and it extends to the President as head of the country. We know that government has decided to part ways with business as usual, hence some changes to the approach and outlook towards issues.
The best thing to have happened is the establishment of the National Planning Commission. This commission, unlike in the case of many government programmes such as Curriculum 2005 and the National Curriculum Statements, NCS, did their homework. They followed the standing principle of research, development and diffusion. The commission has taken time to bring all stakeholders on board. They have been to provinces and caucuses of political parties, they have addressed themselves to the general public, and members of the commission have continued to write articles in newspapers, elucidating their views on the different aspects in the country.
Government has heeded the saying "if you fail to plan, you plan to fail" and that is why the commission is focusing on where this country will be in 2030.
As against the slogan in the early 1990s when the ruling party proclaimed that they were ready to govern, they have since realised that they are preparing to govern effectively as the commission has set its eyes on a capable state by 2030. This will also address the view held in other circles that this country has no long-term plans.
We wish to thank and congratulate the chairman of the commission who, as the national executive committee member of his party, recused himself whenever the commission briefed political parties, stating that he did so to avoid being construed as pushing the agenda of his party. We in the UCDP pray for the strength of Minister Manuel and all commissioners. They are worthy sons and daughters of the mother continent.
There is a bitter pill yet to be swallowed insofar as the National Youth Development Agency is concerned. All are in agreement that the youth and such matters should form part of the national agenda, but the difference is on how things are meted out. The astronomic salaries paid to members of the board while there is very little they can show with regard to reducing youth unemployment and increasing social cohesion, are the cause of the displeasure. It has to be borne in mind that the greatest mission of this National Youth Development Agency, NDYA, is to reduce unemployment among the youth and to ensure that there is social cohesion.
Not much has been done to at least bring the youth of the country together from across the different social backgrounds, political outlooks or urban and rural divides. We have noted what the Deputy Minister in the Presidency said in this regard. This means that at least somewhere we are moving in almost the same direction of thought.
Whatever efforts are made are the results of attempts by the schools and churches, and in some cases political parties on their own initiative, to cause the youth to mingle. Government still has that mammoth task to ensure that they come together.
To borrow Martin Luther King's words, the ideal South Africa would be the one where her children will not be judged by the colour of their skin or their political affiliation, but by the content of their character. The sooner we attain this, the better it will be for the youth in this country. The issue of carrots being dangled in front of young people demeans them as they tend to do right through fear and not from a sense of justice.
Finally, we are aware of hosts of business magnates that accompany the President on some of his overseas trips and hope that, as much as the President does his utmost to invite investors to our country, they in turn will do all they can to open opportunities for the youth - be it jobs, offering bursaries and whatever it takes to make our young people prepared to look into the future without flinching, wincing or even winking. The UCDP supports the Budget Vote. Thank you. [Applause.]