Chair, I rise in support of this Budget Vote.
As the hon member from the DA said, he raised two important issues, but I will, on the consultancy issue, remind the member that the AG also admitted - and I think this is a weakness in our system - that when the AG is reporting on consultants, they don't distinguish between the ones that are needed where we don't have capacity, with the ones that we do.
This makes the work of the committee very difficult. In fact, even when they came and gave us a full report on this matter, it is difficult to address the issue because you don't know how much of the money is actually for consultants that you have to employ. These are consultants such as engineers and other people with professional skills, as the Minister of Finance pointed out.
I really think - and we have raised this with the AG - that if they want to help us stop this problem of consultants, they need to report differently on this matter. There is no use in just globally looking at the matter. I also want to point out that the Department of Environmental Affairs has made great stride in cutting back tremendously on the number of consultants they have had over the last two years.
On the other issue, that of the rhinos, this is probably the biggest challenge facing this department. I really think this is an issue that is getting to a stage where we will all have to put our heads together. As a committee, we are going to meet again - as we have agreed - during the recess with all the stakeholders in a workshop to actually discuss further possibilities on how to deal with this issue.
I urge that if any of you have good suggestions - I stress the word ``good'' - please pass them on to us. We support this Budget Vote. [Applause.]
Vote accordingly agreed to.
Vote No 31 - Human Settlements - put.
Declarations of vote: