Chairperson, Ministers and the honourable House, at this time, when people are losing jobs left, right and centre, government's single most important priority should be saving the jobs that are still there and creating new jobs in sustainable industries. With a projected growth of 1,5% in 2010 - the year of the World Cup - very few of the unemployed will find work.
Now is the time for this government to implement a massive solar geyser programme. This will provide work, inject money into the economy, reduce electricity demand, enhance health, help households facing increased electricity bills and protect the environment. An expenditure of such a nature will help 100% of our people and prepare our nation to reach out into Africa with solar solutions for the continent.
Cope advocates an activist state, and this is the first thing we would have done. South Africa has always been identified as a diamond country, yet what are we doing in respect of setting up industries to polish the super diamonds we have in this country? The demand for super diamonds is going to grow by leaps and bounds.
Cope is satisfied with the salary adjustments which are being budgeted for to accommodate occupation-specific dispensation agreements. Our party welcomes the R12 million expenditure.
Of great concern to us, as Cope and the select committee, is the lack of spending on infrastructure in various departments. Respective Ministers and directors-general should have their travel, administrative and personnel budgets for the new year slashed by a corresponding amount. This amount should then be added to the unspent amount to double it. We take a very dim view of departments that do not prioritise spending on infrastructure. This House must find a way of censuring them.
This year, R524,9 million is being given to Public Works. About a quarter of this amount will be used to renovate houses of Ministers and to upgrade their offices. Who will believe that this is unforeseen and unavoidable expenditure? Let us be partners, please, Minister. Let us have the exact details of what is happening.
Now I come to Rural Development and Land Reform. Here the budget was sliced from R4,4 billion to R1,7 billion. As usual, rural development is taking a back seat. This government's failure to promote economic growth in our rural areas will see more people migrating into towns and cities. Most towns and cities cannot meet the service demands of these people.
Honourable House, I now come to Education. As government is pulling back from OBE, it is now going ahead with OBG. [Interjections.] Thank you. [Time expired.]