Chair, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers, and hon colleagues, it is good to stand here once again to debate economic development.
When we campaign, we all promise the people everything, but this government said - and I quote its slogans - "A better life for all" and "Working together we can do more". [Interjections.] When I go to the Northern Cape, specifically to my constituency, it is heartbreaking to see the unemployed youth as well as skilled and unskilled labourers. This department, with its New Growth Path, has a massive role to play in realising the vision and dream of empowering our youth for the future of our country.
The reality is that the poor can only share in economic growth and improve their lives, firstly, when growth is fast enough to create large numbers of decent, sustainable jobs and, secondly, if incomes grow in relation to the basic costs of living. That is when people will have more money to invest in their children's education and to take ownership of their own future.
The Freedom Charter says: "The people shall share in the country's wealth", but how can our people share if the inequality is still widening? If you look around South Africa, you can see the inequalities. You do not need to have a degree to see the inequalities in this country. You can easily see them! [Interjections.]
The hon Minister's vision is great. We hope its implementation will be monitored and evaluated. It is no good to have a dream and a vision that you put on the table and then you do not monitor or evaluate it. You need to do that in order to see for yourself and to answer this question: Have I been successful in implementing my vision and plan? [Interjections.]
How do we as South Africans benefit from the Brics partnership? When we were in India and in China specifically, there were memorandums of understanding which this very government signed with those countries. How does South Africa really benefit? Are we just labourers or are we becoming owners in terms of those partnerships? How effective and efficient are the memorandums of understanding that were signed with those countries? [Interjections.]