Hon Chairperson, it is perhaps pleasing to note that South Africa's debt levels remain relatively low in comparison with that of developed countries and in line with those of other developing countries. It is said that we are recovering from a recession and that we are better placed to take growth opportunities.
I would like to know whether we have identified such growth opportunities and how they are translated in order to respond to the current problems that we face, such as unemployment and the escalating levels of poverty. I am pleased with the attention that is focused on investment in infrastructure projects, and concur that there is a need to develop better capital planning, more efficient budget allocations and improved capital expenditure.
I would like to point out, though, that the National Treasury has been consistently improving in their planning. However, other departments at national level and provincial level and the local sphere of government have been seriously lagging behind. I am of the opinion that unless the skills that are in the Treasury are transferred to other departments, provinces and the local sphere, there will be very little difference to what we, as citizens, experience as the end product.
I applaud the move to establish a specialised audit services unit and am of the opinion that this would enhance the Treasury's oversight role. I hope the commitment to zero tolerance of fraud and corruption will equal a commitment to stand and support principles over people. The outcry on fraud devouring state institutions is fuelled when little or nothing is done when acts of corruption have been exposed. Tender-related fraud and corruption continue to delay our progress on infrastructural development and have reached grossly unacceptable levels in all spheres of government.
I noted from the annual report that the Legal Services Unit managed more than 100 litigations, and I would be interested in knowing generally what such litigations related to. There is an interesting contradiction that I picked up in the annual report. The audit committee stated that there had been no material deviation in the functioning of controls, procedures and systems. However, there is recorded an irregular expenditure of R2,7 million relating to a tender process not being followed. I am curious to know how you can have an irregular expenditure when you have not deviated from controls and procedures.
With these inputs, the UCDP supports the Budget Vote on National Treasury (State Security). [Applause.]