Hon Chairperson, I have decided to resign and go back to my backbench because the Chief Whip of the Majority Party has shot down my ambition of being the head of this party one day! [Laughter.] Besides, we are headless chickens. So, in protest, I have returned to my seat.
Through state-owned enterprises, SOEs, the Department of Public Enterprises is plagued by issues of mismanagement, negligence, corruption and ignorance, to name only a few. The Minister is trying to smooth-talk issues that are on the table when she should be taking the bull by the horns in addressing these pressing issues that continue to threaten the survival of our SOEs.
Our leaders, in essence, and unintentionally at times, advocate stealing from the poor to give big packages to elite officials at the expense of poor workers. This government shows it is soft on mismanagement and below- par performance by giving elite officials big packages for not performing or for leading SOEs to the brink of bankruptcy.
Every one of us should remember that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. South Africans are sick and tired of excuses for why SOEs are not performing and why money is just being thrown at them as though there is plenty where it comes from. However, Cope will support this Vote. I thank you. [Applause.]
Adv A de W ALBERTS: Mr Chair, we would like to focus specifically on Eskom in this regard.
Weens Eskom se gebrek aan beplanning; die verhoging wat toegestaan is voordat die gentegreerde energieplan gereed is; korrupsie en wanbestuur in Eskom; en die verraad van Suid-Afrikaners se verwagtinge vir energiesekuriteit, stem ons teen hierdie begrotingspos. Dankie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Owing to Eskom's lack of planning; the increase that was approved before the integrated energy plan was ready; corruption and mismanagement in Eskom; and the betrayal of South Africans' expectations for energy security, we do not support this Budget Vote.]