Hon House Chairperson, hon Minister Ayanda Dlodlo, hon Deputy Minister Goodenough Kodwa, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, hon members, Acting DG Jafta, all heads of the JCPS Cluster, senior leadership of State Security Agency, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. Happy birthday to Tata Mandela.
Let me also extend my words of congratulations to the Minister and the Deputy Minister on their appointments. Let me begin by saying that, as the ANC, we support Budget Vote 7, National Treasury (State Security). As the ANC, we promised our people a better for all. We characterise this better life for all as a qualitative achievement of the end state where: all have access to land; all are equal before the law; all national groups have equal rights; there is work and security; all enjoy human rights; all people share in the country's wealth; the doors of learning and culture are opened to all; there is peace, security and comfort; and there is peace and friendship with our neighbours. All of the above can easily be
undermined by a weak state, corruption, lawlessness, unemployment, inequality and poverty.
The budget before us is about the renewal of the department. It is about giving the state the necessary resources to achieve a better life for all. Without a well-capacitated state security agency, all of the above will be a flirting illusion that can be perused but never attained. We want a state security agency that is going to assist in a meaningful way the fight against crime and corruption; an agency that is going to protect South Africa's interest.
The National Development Plan, NDP outlines that high corruption levels frustrate society's ability to operate fairly and efficiently, and to deliver on its development mandate. Political will is essential to combat the scourge of corruption. The NDP correctly asserts that political will is measured by assessing the amount of money - Comrade Minister of Finance - spent on fighting corruption; the legal arsenal that corruption-busting institutions have at their disposal; the independence of the anticorruption authorities from political interference; and the consistency with which the law is applied.
The ANC noted the negative consequences corruption has on our economy and society and its impact on the integrity of our institutions. Corruption has an effect of undermining the moral and ethical basis of our young democracy. The ANC has given priority to maintaining and enhancing the integrity of public institutions and tackling corrupt practices in the private sector.
In response to the dire situation at several of our state-owned companies where mismanagement and corruption had severely undermined their effectiveness, the ANC has taken decisive measures to improve governance, strengthen leadership and restore stability in strategic entities. The ANC set up progressive institutions such as the Office of the Public Protector, the SA Human Rights Commission, the Hawks, the National Prosecuting Authority and the Special Investigating Unit as protection against state abuse.
The work done by the commission of inquiry as established by the President, shows commitment to the undertaking of promoting integrity and cleaning up our state institutions as reflected in our election manifesto and policy documents. We applaud the good work done by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) in uprooting corruption and malfeasance.
With a well-oiled State Security Agency and an efficient and effective criminal justice, we will be able to say that indeed a new dawn is upon us. Notwithstanding the prevailing peace and security challenges we face, we should remain vigilant and united in our collective effort to uphold the national security of or our young developmental state.
Chairperson, let me conclude by responding to two people because the Minister has responded comprehensively in her speech, and the Deputy Minister. Hon Ndlozi, the Minister has already indicated that she has established a committee to deal with declassification. So, listening is a skill. I believe that hon Kohler-Barnard woke up very late today. As a result, she took a wrong speech to a wrong meeting at a wrong time. Thank you very much. [Applause.]