Thank you, hon Chairperson. Minister, your department's budget has increased by R20 million, which is an increase of 10% in your budget. Of this, R11,5 million goes to staff salaries or administration, and R7 million goes to the establishment of a new office for the Deputy Minister. How can you justify these amounts, given the very difficult financial situation in our country and the fact that this money could be better utilised to improve the lives of vulnerable women, children and people with disabilities?
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Hon Chair, thank you very much for the question. I think the hon member is very aware that the department has been understaffed since the beginning and, therefore, this allocation had to assist us to ensure that we had the critical staff we require in the department. The Deputy Minister was appointed last year in November and, of course, the department did not have a Deputy Minister before then. The Deputy Minister is doing valuable work in the department, but the DA has complained for a long time that we are not reaching out to the people we are mandated to serve. The President saw that we needed a Deputy Minister that would assist us. The Minister is doing valuable work in the area of HIV and Aids, reaching all three sectors in that regard; in the area of rural development; and in ensuring that we service the disability sector with the required expertise. I therefore want to assure the hon member that this amount will be spent very wisely and efficiently to the benefit of the people of South Africa. Nothing will go into anyone's pocket. Thank you, Chairperson.