Hon House Chairperson, the IFP will support Budget Vote No 27, but we do so strongly urging resolution of the following challenges. Broadband roll-out must be expedited. In the year ahead, we cannot continue to go along the path of more empty promises and more empty rhetoric. We need real delivery and real progress.
In addition, affordable telecommunications must be an immediate priority. South Africans pay some of the highest communication costs in Africa and the world. High prices and poor penetration of broadband services prevent the majority of South Africans from effective and equitable participation in the economy and political life. It is clear that this department must champion the ordinary citizen's right to communicate.
The SABC, SA Post Office, Sapo, Telkom and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, Icasa, still face inherent and debilitating challenges. This is untenable and must change.
Moreover, we need a strong regulator, strong and effective entities and effective monitoring and oversight by this department.
We need to urgently address these challenges, failing which this department will continue to fall short in the financial year ahead in meeting its objective of bringing meaningful change to the lives of ordinary South Africans. I thank you.