Mr Speaker, allow me to take my leave of this House today by telling you the real good story, that of the DA's success in governing the Western Cape.
At the end of 2013, the Western Cape's broad unemployment rate was 22%, the lowest in the country. While South Africa lost 122 000 jobs since President Zuma has taken office, the number of the unemployed shrank by 48 000 in the Western Cape. The Western Cape has the highest access to water, at 99,1%, flush toilets, at 90,5%, and electricity, at 93,4%.
In our first year in government, all 13 Western Cape departments received unqualified audits. Our Enterprise Development Fund has committed R20 million in loan funding to black-owned businesses, of which 52% are owned by women. That is real empowerment.
An amount of R1,7 billion was spent on skills development programmes to provide training opportunities to over 98 000 people. A total of 76% of the Western Cape's budget is spent in poor communities - 76%. Despite the increase in the population, the highest proportions of households receiving free basic water, electricity, and free basic sewerage and sanitation services are in the Western Cape.
In 2009 the ANC left the province with over 6 000 vacancies in the Department of Health. The vacancy rate for nurses was 34%. By 2014 the DA has brought this down to 1%. Under a national DA government, this could be the South African story. The choice is yours. [Interjections.] [Applause.]