Thank you very much, hon Chairperson. For the record, to those hon members who have been saying something about me, Gauteng and the premiership: Even as you speak today, when Gauteng writes about its successes over the past 15 years, nine and a half of those years include me at the helm. This is history you cannot erase. [Applause.]
I was saying that this is where government should be targeting its spending. This has to be government's priority. However, as I was saying, government expenses are ballooning because of executive expenditure on luxury sedans, five-star hotel accommodation, the increase in the size of the presidential spousal office, and the expensive state visit to the United Kingdom.
I-Table Bay kanye nalelihhotela elila, lapho kuhlala khona uNyanda ... [The Table Bay Hotel and another hotel here, where Mr Nyanda resides ...]
... is a five-star hotel. [Interjections.]
Bendingahlali khona okokoko, yena uhlala apho okokoko enendlu phaya. Mna bendihlala ekhaya. [I didn't stay there all the time; he stays there all the time and has a house there. I was staying at home.]
The continued appointment of a plethora of advisers is a clear indication that making an improvement in the lives of our people, especially the poor, is not the area of focus for government. While we welcome the many announcements by Ministers on plans that will ultimately lead to sustainable jobs, the sad reality is that even more jobs are being lost daily, as we speak. This is happening despite the President's assurance during the state of the nation address that we had turned the corner. Bling is prospering, while unemployment is ravaging the lives of the people.
As infrastructure projects and buildings get completed, many more people will soon join the ranks of the unemployed. You are no doubt aware that more than a million jobs have been lost under your watch, sir.
A few weeks ago, I visited the village of Muyexe. What I saw there was shocking. Having been conditioned by ministerial assurances in this House that improvements were taking place, I could see that despite the spin, there was very little taking place that could be termed rural development. If this is what a pilot project looks like, I shudder to think what the real project will look like. If it is assumed that I visited the wrong Muyexe area, I would be happy to accompany ... ... Nkul Nkwinti na Baloyi, hi ya vona. [... hon Nkwinti and Baloyi to go and have a look.]
Better still, when next ... ... Nkul Chabane va ya ka Xikundu, ndzi nga tsakela ku va heleketa hi ya vona. [... hon Chabane goes to Xikundu, I will be happy to accompany him to go and have a look.]
I am aware that the government went to Mthatha a few months ago. We are aware of the undertakings that were made to its citizens. The sad reality is that by the time the programmes promised are undertaken, even the existing roads, which were more potholes than roads, would have turned to gravel. This is a terrible letdown for a province which diligently gave their vote to the ruling party.
It is now a matter of historical record that the President, as was pointed out, failed to declare his assets in time, and only did so after an outcry from the public. The Cabinet asked the South African public to move on as this was now water under the bridge. The truth, though, is that a new benchmark for Ministers has now been set. They too can take their time, knowing that they can get away with the proverbial murder. No wonder some of them continue to do business with state institutions even as they hold public office.
Cha, ningaya kobheka, angizange ngibe nebhizinisi ngisakuhulumeni. [Ubuwelewele.] [No, you can go and check, I've never had a business while I was still employed by the government. [Interjections.]]