It's after lunch, Chairperson. [Laughter.] This depends on what some of us do during lunch.
Chairperson, once again let me thank this House, particularly the Select Committee on Finance and the committee on appropriations, for the work they have done on this report. I want to recommit our department to ensuring that we take your recommendations seriously, as the hon Chaane has indicated.
I did indicate earlier that the short time that was given to Parliament to deal with the MTBPS is regretted, and we trust that in future we will be allowed more space. This was indeed a peculiar year. We trust that next year, once all systems are in place, we will be able to deal with this, hon Chairperson De Beer.
We are all aware of the current situation and the current economic climate in which this MTBPS was tabled - the issue of loss of jobs and the issue of the origins of the crisis that we are in. A lot of people have alluded to this. We trust that with our sound economic system, we were better placed to weather the storm. That, however, did not spare us from the wrath and the severity of the storm.
Chairperson De Beer also reminded us of the important point we made in the MTBPS - that of balancing the welfare state and whether we would have the trade-off between welfare and the creation of employment. The issue that needs to be looked at quite seriously is that of addressing the structure of the economy. We would all agree that no matter what we do, because of the skewed nature of our economy, it will continue to widen the gap between the haves and have-nots - even if it grows.
We also thank the committee for their support on Operation Clean Audit. Both Houses in Parliament agree with us and emphasise that we need to tighten oversight, monitoring and evaluation.
As the chairperson has indicated, the issue of the establishment of a budget office is a critical area, as is adequate support for parliamentarians in order for them to discharge their responsibilities.
It is very difficult to say anything after members have all indicated that they are in full support of our statement. Even though Mr Harris pretended not to agree with the MTBPS, he quoted from the statement. He was very accurate in quoting from the statement, except that he said that it is DA policy. So we are finding each other. They say no matter how right-wing you are, you will always find the left wing somewhere! [Laughter.] So, I am pleased, Mr Harris, that you have finally found the left wing.
The other question he raised is that he is not too sure how we are going to finance the deficit we find ourselves in. This is the situation we find ourselves in, and we trust that it is a counter-cyclical measure we have allowed ourselves to get into. You will recall that before we got into this situation, we were in a moderate surplus.
The promise and undertaking we make is that once the economy recovers, we will have to reduce the budget deficit which we find ourselves in. But, at the moment, the trade-off we have cannot be done by reducing the budget deficit at the current time and then compromising our priorities. So, the budget deficit is the only way out.
On the kind of growth path we are going to return to, we have all agreed that if we invest in the productive capacity of our economy, we will be better placed to benefit beyond this recession and even after the Fifa World Cup, which has spurred on a number of the infrastructure development projects we are involved in.
Baba uMageba, Mntwana, izwakele indaba yakho yokuthuthukisa izindawo zethu zasemakhaya. Ngenhlanhla nami ngiphuma khona endaweni yasemakhaya ngakho-ke usizi siyalwazi futhi asiluzwa ngendaba sikhuluma ngoba siphuma kulona thina uqobo lwethu. umehluko phakathi kwethu nabanye abantu esingaphumi nabo ndawonye kulokhu kuba yikho lokho ukuthi umangabe sikhuluma ngentuthuko eyabo iyakekela ifuna ukudla ngalapho kungakhona ukwenzela ukuthi siqhubeke nokunikeza izinsiza lapho esasizifaka khona kuqala.
Nohulumeni ulithathela phezulu udaba lokuthuthukiswa kwezindawo zasemakhaya ikakhulukazi kwezolimo njengoba usho Mageba, sivumelana nawe futhi senza konke okusemandleni. Njengoba ngishilo nakwinkulumo yami ukuthi ukubambisana phakathi koMnyango wethu kanye noMnyango kababa uNkwinti onikezwe uMnyango Wezokuthuthukiswa Kwezindawo Zasemakhaya Nezinguquko Zomhlaba kuqine kakhulu.
Ubaba uMakhubela, impela kona kuyiqiniso. Noma ungahamba uyoze ubuye ngoba phela sikhuluma ulimi olulodwa manje. (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[Mageba sir, Prince, we have heard the issues you raised with regard to rural development. Fortunately, I also come from a rural area, therefore we know about this plight first-hand. We are talking because we have experienced it as well. The difference between us and the others who have not experienced this is that whenever we talk about development, the focus is shifted to their direction so that we continue allocating resources to the same areas that have benefited previously.
The government is also very concerned about the issue of developing rural areas, especially in respect of agriculture, as you have mentioned, Mageba. We are with you there and we are doing our level best. As I have mentioned in my speech, the partnership between our department and that of Mr Nkwinti, who is the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, is very solid.
Mr Makhubela, that is indeed true. Even if you go, you will still return because we are speaking the same language.]
I fully agree with you when you say we must embark on a massive solar geyser programme. This just shows that there is no way you will ever develop policies other than the policies from where you come from. This is something that the Interministerial Committee on Energy is looking at. We are definitely going to take this, not just as your advice but also as the fact that you are on the right track. We agree with you.
You also proposed an active state. That's precisely what we are as a developmental state, so I don't understand what the difference is. You are calling for a partnership on the issue of the R524 billion for the implementation of the programme of revamping Ministers' houses and offices. That partnership is there, and your role as Parliament is to exercise oversight. The information will be available to Parliament from time to time. This won't be just a public-private partnership, PPP, but there will be a partnership. This is because if it becomes a PPP, we will then have to probe for your interest in the matter.
I must say I am encouraged by the support we have received from all parties and also the constructive criticism of the statement. We once again want to say that we take it quite seriously. Thank you very much, sir. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report on Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement be adopted.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Report on Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
Question put: That the Report on Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement be adopted.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Report on Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.