Madam Deputy Speaker, hon President, our best wishes to you. We must not pretend that considerable work has not been done. We want to applaud you, hon President, for the work that has been done. You are slowly but steadily putting the building blocks in place internationally - India, the AU, China, Brics, Africa, and so on.
We must also give praise to the planning commission. Lots of work is going on, and the Presidential Infrastructure Committee is starting to roll. The MF welcomes the attitude of the preferred commitment of the President, not to go for a quick-fix solution but rather for long-term strategic planning. We commend you for that.
Your attempt to create poverty relief for schools in the form of directing more funding for building classrooms, nutrition programmes and so on, are abundantly welcome. However, poverty continues to grow and the pace of transformation has to be increased. There has to be a more constructive role for monitoring and evaluation.
The issue of the rollovers is unacceptable, and those officials who cannot spend funds fruitfully must be removed. The MF is concerned that this takes service delivery backwards, and funds are also returned because of the incapacity of provinces. We must put forward the best brains for the job. Indians are also blacks, and I have noticed theIR marginalisation when it comes to job opportunities in the country. The youth are disillusioned.
Hon President, we think that you are a bit too timid in the fight against crime and corruption. We urge you to take a bold and calculated approach. People want to be inspired that there is a tough, dedicated approach. The issue of the National Prosecuting Authority must be resolved; the issue of the police commissioner needs to be resolved. These few issues are critical to reaching cohesion, and a focused, dedicated approach to law and order matters is needed.
We also draw your attention to the issue of the labour equity law amendment Act, which is before the National Economic Development and Labour Council, Nedlac. Mr President, the MF strongly believes that the law should be left the way it was, which was the national and regional demographics. It forces equity, it is reasonable and it is fair. You cannot force spreading people out around the country by and large. If you take a provincial and regional approach you will get justice, but you cannot force an artificial spread of people throughout the country. We are speaking to you, hon President, on this matter, and we would like to know what your thoughts are.
We thank you, Mr President, for constantly building social cohesion. We noted with great respect that you found time to go and address the South African Hindu Maha Sabha for their hundred years' celebration. As you celebrate 100 years of the ANC, finding time to reach out to other sectors of the community undoubtedly reiterates the commitment, values and principles of our father of democracy, Mr Nelson Mandela. Mr President, you have done well building on that foundation; continue to march forward all the way.
We must develop our economy rather than allowing our economy to be developed by outside capital and our people to merely become employees to outside capital. The MF notes that it is a new game as far as the continent of Africa is concerned: that foreign investment is so high and massive investment takes place. Like India, they are making businessmen and women of their own people; these are the skills we need to develop in our market economy.
It is important that we continue to provide a leading voice and continue to fight for infrastructure development throughout the continent of Africa in particular, and in Africa in general. We know that Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is eminently the right person to represent the country and the continent with dignity and expertise. As the MF, we are equally disturbed about the attack on the dignity of the President of the country, as the prerogatives of the Constitution, insofar as they relate to the right to privacy and the right to human dignity, must be supported as rights over and above those of freedom of expression.
However, a bold step forward is undoubtedly a challenging step to the top. Weak and scattered thoughts will always be weak and scattered forces. Strong and calculated thoughts are strong and calculated forces. Mr President, you have done well, you have stood tall and you have stood the test of time.
We acknowledge your deep commitment to raising the levels of expectation in respect of service delivery, and note your spirit of humility, togetherness and brotherhood to embrace multiparty democracy, which is encouraged. However, we cherish the hope that this also happens in provinces. Hon President, the mind is a useless servant but a great master. It needs to be focused in the correct direction and your direction to deliver all our people from the shackles of poverty, black and white, united in our diversity, is the correct path and you are on the right track.
The MF supports your initiatives in advancing the country to greater heights as we all fly one flag, proudly South African. The MF will support the Budget Vote. [Applause.]