Chairperson, I assume that when we speak in this House, in particular, that everyone here is motivated by the desire to realise a successful and equitable education system. The portfolio committee is currently engaged in public hearings. And Chairperson, we have engaged South Africans from all walks of life, be it teachers, principals, experts or ordinary parents and learners.
Two things have become quite clear in our engagements. Firstly, everybody acknowledges that transformation of the education system is a process and not an event.
Secondly, teachers are central to the success of the education system. The clarion call to us as public representatives is to do everything we can to support these professionals when they go about their normal duties and their noble task. They are teachers but they are also social workers, psychologists and caregivers. The burden on teachers is incredible.
Therefore, as we are in this House, to sit here and say that we will vote against this budget, is really a disgrace. And I hope that the DA will not be going out to our schools and lying to our teachers that they support them because the truth of the matter is that they are voting against this budget.
The DA is saying government must not spend R80 million on new equipment and workshops for our technical schools to help teachers to teach the subjects that they offer. We must not spend R750 million on workbooks for the poorest of our schools. There is no person with integrity that cannot support this Budget Vote, and we do! Thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]