Chair, that was not a point of order. I can assure the hon member Bloem that I have no money in my pocket but it's a pleasure to have my hand in my pocket. [Laughter.]
Hon Chair, where is the appropriation to bring teachers' salaries to a level commensurate with their qualifications and responsibilities? Where is the appropriation of enough funds for training to bring the qualifications of teachers up to global levels?
In 2010, Kwa-Zulu Natal, my province, employed 8 317 teachers who had nothing more than a Grade 12 qualification. In fact, 20 teachers did not even have a Grade 12 and, in reply to a written question, the Minister of Basic Education stated they were not qualified to teach any grade from Grade 1 to Grade 12. One has to ask why these persons were employed as teachers at all. These are the teachers who are given the responsibility to provide, through education, the opportunity for all our children to achieve their full potential. This is certainly not fair on the teachers concerned, but is surely criminally negligent on the part of the ANC government.
It is an exercise in futility to embark on a strategy of filling vacant posts, as simplistically stated by President Zuma. Instead of giving more ANC cadres unproductive and frequently corrupt employment in the unproductive Public Service - or should I say disservice - these funds should be directed at the crisis of the shockingly low standards of education being offered to our children.
The 2011 Division of Revenue Bill looks good from afar, but in reality it is far from good. Thank you. [Applause.]