We need to develop credible curricula with accredited qualifications. The only way this is achievable will be to partner with the tertiary institutions, for them to design courses in support of the National Development Plan objectives and design outcomes. In the absence of this, one must question the desirability and the justification of this budget allocation, as well as the existence of Palama.
One must also question the budgetary allocation for the involvement with the African Peer Review Mechanism. We must first correct our own Public Service in support of our growth and development needs before this can be rolled out into the rest of Africa. This budget allocation is not value for money for the taxpayers. Charity begins at home.
A big disappointment is the State Information Technology Agency, Sita, which must, amongst others, provide for effective broadband capacity and information technology to the Public Service in order to ensure effective and competitive support to the growth and development objectives of South Africa. We don't believe that taxpayers are getting value for their hard- earned taxes, so we call on Sita and the department to ensure that the turnaround strategy is urgently speedup to enable this.
An efficient Public Service is a necessary precondition for a government that works and that can provide a supporting environment for investment, economic growth, social development, and job creation. We need a public administration in which the defining priority is to develop the best service and an open-opportunity society to all South Africans.
Die DA twyfel of hierdie begroting hieraan reg kan laat geskied. Ek dank u. [The DA doubts whether this budget will be able to do justice to this. I thank you.] [Applause.]