Chairperson, let me take this opportunity to thank all the members who participated in this Budget Vote debate today. I especially thank the members of the portfolio committee and, in particular, members of the ANC study group for all the support they have given us. I also thank all the parties who have supported this Budget Vote.
Siyabonga kakhulu kulabo abasisekele, angikafiki kulabo abangakayisekeli. [Thank you very much to those who supported us; I am still coming to those who did not support it.] [Laughter.]
I also think that we must express our appreciation for what appears to have been a very constructive engagement from the DA today. It looks like the Lindiwe Mazibuko regime change has done something different. [Applause.] I would like to ask hon members to submit your comments about the many issues that you raised during the Green Paper process.
I want to say a few things to the hon Bosman first. The matter of the electrical association, which you raised, has been dealt with. The administrator has told me that this matter has now been dealt with because we are an administration that is developing capacity to act on matters swiftly. After all, it is not in anybody's interest to have differences around the issue of the production of artisans because that is a priority.
To hon member Lotriet, we agree with you that access without success is a problem. For that reason we have allocated different amounts of money in this budget to actually improve the through-put rate, among other things.
I also agree with hon Gina that we need to mobilise all our forces for educational transformation. It is very important that students should not see these bursaries just as gifts from government but should realise that they themselves need to work hard. That is very important.
Hon Malale, thank you very much - really. We have taken into account the very important issues you were raising. This issue of salary disparities in terms of universities might require a dedicated investigation from the department. The gap between lecturers and executives at universities is indeed an unacceptable one. It is something we need to investigate properly, I think. I am sure the Director-General is listening. We have raised this matter with the chairpersons of councils, saying let them grapple with it. However, they have not moved as fast as we have anticipated.
We have promised dedicated colleges of education and we will definitely do it. What we said today about the three colleges - we are going to do that. Also, we have asked NSFAS to investigate how we can respond to those who do not qualify for NSFAS even though they are poor and do not meet the means test. NSFAS is already working on the matter.
Of course I must also warn - the DA in particular - that at the same time as our interventions at universities, we should not be seen to be pushing for autonomy when things are good and blame government when things are bad. That is why our approach to higher-education institutions and universities is that autonomy must always be balanced with public accountability because these are public institutions.
Hon Bhanga, I am worried because it looks like what happened to you today is that you had already prepared a speech and then I covered all the issues you were raising, but unfortunately you could not change the speech that you had already written. [Laughter.] This is a sign that Cope is not streetwise. [Laughter.] I also wish that you could direct the energy that you showed today towards Cope so that it can hold its congress ... [Applause.] ... otherwise we are not sure of your mandate. Since Cope was established, it has never had a policy discussion because it has not had a congress. I am sorry about that, and also ... [Interjections.]