It is a problem, and yet, in the same breath, we respect the rule of law. When the law is being applied, you have a problem because of certain political considerations. That's a problem. The Constitution - why didn't you see 10 years ago that this law is not aligned with the Constitution? There was no decision taken by the President at the time. You now wake up to it and think there is a problem.
Hon members, we have also noted the anxiety brought about by the Protection of Information Bill. Let me emphasise that the Bill has no malicious intent. [Interjections.] It is indeed intended to help us establish the practice and the principles of handling state information. All nation states have similar legislation, even the oldest democracies. This Bill is now before this House and the concerns and issues raised by the hon Smuts need to be debated by this House.
The hon Mufamadi and hon Fubbs reminded us of the central role of economic transformation to help us fight poverty, inequality and unemployment. We agree with hon Fubbs on the need to ensure that equity is implemented back- to-back with inclusive economic growth, using procurement effectively to broaden black economic empowerment instead of promoting narrow economic elitism. Hon Mufamadi raised the critical point that economic transformation is not just about black economic empowerment transactions or appointing women to positions. It is about what the structure of the economy should look like to meet the objectives of national unity. We should engage in this debate and not avoid it, for true economic freedom must indeed be achieved in our lifetime.
Hon Mphahlele, we thank you for your support of the Presidential Hotline and the value you see in it with regard to providing access to the Presidency for ordinary people. We have noted your concerns and are working on mechanisms to improve the operation of the hotline. We want to use it in particular as a monitoring and evaluation tool and not just as a communication and problem-solving tool. We will use lessons from cases received to improve service delivery.
Hon Godi, the African Renaissance Fund is a project of the Department of International Relations and Co-operation and still exists. That department will be able to provide the necessary information.
We have no idea where hon Lekota obtained the sums of money spent on consultants in the Presidency. The amount spent on consultants for the 2009- 10 financial year is only R58 305. [Interjections.] That is our record. I don't know where Terror Lekota gets his record from. [Interjections.]
Hon James seems to have forgotten that the salaries of office bearers, including the President, are recommended by the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers and that this House determines the President's salary. In dealing with this question, he gives the impression that the President demands to pay himself a salary. In addition, the budget of a smaller presidential office in 1994, during which the Offices of the President and Deputy President were separate departments, cannot be compared to the Presidency of 2011, where the two are now one office, which has bigger responsibilities.
A number of issues raised by the speakers in this House were raised in my recent meeting with the leaders of parties represented in this national Parliament. I informed them then that the issues needed to be raised with the ANC. The same situation applies here, when I present the Budget Vote as President of the Republic, not as the president of the ANC. It is not the ANC budget to discuss ANC matters. [Applause.] I said so, and I promised the leader of Cope that I will arrange a meeting. I was actually asking whether I had to arrange any meeting then, since he raises that issue wherever he goes. Maybe I will allow the ANC members who are here to respond to him at the right time, instead of arranging a meeting between Cope and the ANC. Really, I thought matters could be handled there if he had problems with ANC issues.
Of course, it is just like members here discussing the utterances that are made by the president of the ANC Youth League, Malema. Each time we have a discussion, members don't discuss what they say here. They discuss what Malema says, wherever he is. You seem to be very keen to have Malema. I was thinking that maybe I should encourage the ANC to co-opt Malema into this House ... [Laughter.] ... so that you can debate with him. [Interjections.]
Hon Bhoola reminded us of a key challenge we face in the battle of ideas. There is a need for a media that provides space for parties, including government, to state their views and communicate their programmes, even if the media owners and editorial managers disagree with the views expressed. Evidence of hon Bhoola's concerns is clear when one looks at Independent Newspapers today. For example, the readers of the Cape Times newspaper are not given an opportunity to know fully what was said in The Presidency Budget Vote speeches and have to make up their own minds. The lead story, "MPs launch attack on Zuma" focuses on what the opposition said, without first giving readers the opportunity to know what had been said in the first place. [Applause.]