Thank you very much. I would like to thank the hon member Swart. Hon member, I've been a member of the Portfolio Committee on Defence for a very long time, but I have never heard anybody from outside the ANC speak as eloquently about defence as you did. I am touched to the core. [Applause.] I'm really touched to the core. I wanted to say that in case your party is a fading party like some parties ... [Laughter.] ... please do consider, please do consider that any Minister of Defence might want an adviser such as yourself. Thank you very much for your advice.
With regard to the matter of the audit, hon Ndlovu, it would be extremely dishonest for any member not to acknowledge this. I approached the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans and they gave me two valuable hours so that I could take them through the concerns of the Auditor-General, as well as the matters that we have decided to do and change. This was also an opportunity for me to take them through all those matters that I had personally committed myself to doing; and we have done just that.
I committed myself here last year - that we would not have another qualified report. I want to emphasise that that is what we are committed to doing. My two Secretaries of Defence have been in constant contact with the Treasury department and the Accountant-General to ensure that there will not be any qualifications. Blood is coming your way, Maynier, so you had better keep quiet. [Laughter.]
I have been given the assurance that this is completely in our hands and it is possible for us to do this. We are very concerned and that was the first thing that we declared. Yes, the Department of Defence has had very bad and negative audits, but in this dispensation there will not be; not in my name. I have committed myself publicly and I came to the committee on my own to give that necessary assurance.