Agb Mevrou die Huisvoorsitter, die VF Plus neem kennis van die konsepwetgewing ten einde uitvoering te gee aan die allokasie van staatsinkomste na al drie vlakke van regering. Minister Gordhan het 'n ewewigtige begroting aangekondig en daar is groot planne in die pyplyn om werkskepping te bewerkstellig.
Die bekommernis wat die VF Plus egter ten aansien van hierdie regeringsfunksie het, l weer eens by die implementering van al die planne en die korrekte aanwending van die begrotings. Endemiese korrupsie, baantjies vir boeties, kaderontplooiing, regstellende aksie en swart bemagtiging is kritiese elemente wat die hele Suid-Afrikaanse projek tans van progressie beroof.
Trouens, dit vind reeds op ongekende vlakke plaas. Daar is ook 'n sterk persepsie onder burgery dat politici in die ANC net daar is om hulle eie sakke te vul, om die staat te plunder en om bloot lippediens te dien oor dienslewering. Hierdie sake sal met 'n ongekende aggressie aangespreek moet word. Die ANC-regering sal ook vir Malema moet aanspreek oor sy tenders en swak dienslewering, onder meer. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Adv A D ALBERTS: Hon Madam Speaker, the FF Plus notes of the draft legislation with the view to give effect to the allocation of state revenue to all three spheres of government. Minister Gordhan announced a balanced budget and there are major plans in the pipeline to bring effect the creation of jobs.
The concern that the FF Plus has with regard to this function of government lies once again in the implementation of all these plans and the proper employment of these budgets. Endemic corruption, cronyism, cadre deployment, affirmative action and black empowerment are critical elements that are at this time holding up the progression of the entire South African project.
As a matter of fact, this is already happening at unprecedented levels. There is also a strong perception among the citizenry that politicians in the ANC are there just to fill their own pockets, to pillage the state and to simply give lip-service with regard to service delivery. This matter will have to be tackled with unprecedented aggression. The ANC government should also speak to Malema regarding, inter alia, his tenders and poor service delivery.]
The unprecedented flare-up of service delivery protests is evidence of the uselessness of a Bill if it is not respected. The government and all its office bearers must be seen to respect the rule of law. If they do not, then the people who are paying the salaries of the government will not respect the government and its laws either.
It is a simple process of cause and effect. Therefore, when the Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs says that it is the fault of white ratepayers' associations that certain local governments are not financially viable, he is missing the point completely. If government did its job properly in the first place, citizens would not have to organise into ratepayers' associations and make use of self-help to survive. It is truly that simple.
One of the ways we can create sustainable service delivery is to bring back the lost expertise forced out of the Public Service and the free market by interventions like affirmative action and black economic empowerment. Otherwise we will have to contend with the situation aptly described by Abbey Makoe in today's The Star newspaper, and I quote him:
Never, it seems, can the ruling party rely on its rich history in order to curry favour with short-changed communities.
And then he asks: What is to be done? The FF Plus answers: Stop corruption and bring back the lost expertise from the minority communities to act as mentors for future generations. I thank you, Madam Speaker.