Hon Deputy Speaker, this department has been a failure from the start. Firstly, small businesses are the backbone of our economy and are very important. But the fact of the matter is that all government departments should be creating a conducive environment for small businesses to strive and be developed; not only one department.
This one department does have certain incentives and certain programmes aimed at developing small businesses
and creating access to funds for those small businesses. The problem is that this department allows those programmes and funds to be misused and abused.
The Auditor-General, AG, found that there are no measures in place to prevent one beneficiary from applying more than once to these financial schemes; and that there are no measures in place to prevent government officials to also apply for these incentives, which they are not allowed to do.
So, this department is a complete failure. It's a failure that's failing our economy. It's not doing what it's supposed to do. This department should not exist; it's a black hole for tax payers' money and at the end of the day small businesses and those people that should be benefitting from these schemes are not benefitting, a small elite are benefitting.
The AG goes further to say that there's noncompliance; that the department is not complying to the measures and with the legislation and regulations in terms of the incentive schemes. This is unacceptable and this
department should be shut down immediately. I thank you. [Applause.]