Chairperson, thank you for the opportunity to take part in this important debate today. My recollection is that this is the first time that the NCOP has debated this report. It is important to continuously debate the fiscal framework, also as a way of creating an awareness among the public of how figures are arrived at. So this is an important tool.
I hope the Chairperson will arrange further meetings, even in the provinces, to allow all of us to continue to engage in this debate, because it is important to understand what the fiscal framework entails. As I have said, it informs the figures you see in the Budget. I can see today that some of us are tempted to even discuss the Division of Revenue Bill in this particular debate.
I will refrain from doing so because it is tempting to get into figures, yet we are debating just the framework today. We need to understand it in its proper context. I want to look back a little bit, because it is important to touch on history as a way of learning. All nations learn from their past.
Before 1994, the country was in huge debt. More importantly, the Budget process was highly secretive and incremental. We need to understand where we come from. When the new government came in 1994, it did some soul- searching about how best to address the challenges facing the country.
A solid foundation was needed to deal with economic transformation and budget reform. Therefore today's debate takes place to reaffirm the ANC's commitment to addressing service delivery, particularly as it affects poor communities. In the report it is clearly stated that the economy continues to recover and a positive focus in the MTEF period has been noted.
Opportunities for further investments have been boosted by the participation of South Africa in Brics. The New Growth Path will yield many jobs opportunities for both the short and long term. This is an area that many of my colleagues have raised in today's debate.
However, we realise that our country is affected by the global economy, hence we take this opportunity to congratulate government on the measures put in place to deal with the economic meltdown. Government was prepared to take tough decisions.
When one lists achievements in this debate, I would first of all mention Parliament itself. Committees were engaged continuously in the Budget reform process to make sure that our Budget is transparent and means something to the people who are engaged in it and to the people out there.
The transparent budget process of this country is hailed as the best in the world. This is no mean feat as this demonstrates the efforts of the government working collectively. We should applaud the Minister and those civil servants who had sleepless nights making this a reality.
Greater fiscal stability allows the country to plan ahead and to implement its programmes. Huge investments in infrastructure created many jobs and we need to continue in this direction.
I just want to touch on some of the comments that were made here, particularly by the DA. I think we should appreciate that both speakers of the DA appreciated the leadership that has been shown in the Budget process itself. That is the leadership of the ANC, the governing party. They acknowledged that the process has been achieved, but all I can say to them is that they should not doubt the ANC's leadership and government.
We have done it over the past 17 years; we will continue to do it forever and ever. [Interjections.] So, basically, the DA should not fear the ANC. They should rather join us in the efforts to improve the quality of life of our people in this country.
The usage of the terms "swart gevaar" and "fight back" does not help even the DA itself because it will continue to be in the laager for ever. I once read a book by Ayi Kwei Armah titled The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born. In it there is a story about people who had lived in a cave all their lives. One of them went outside one day and saw light. He came back and told the others that he saw light. They killed him because they thought he was lying and there was no such thing. I am saying, therefore, that the DA should not fall into that trap of staying in the laager. They would kill their people, morale and development in this country if they continued to sit in the laager.