And I gave him this assurance, I told him that you know what, no party governs forever. They will fall! People will eventually see the ANC for who you are! [Applause.]
Chairperson, the loss of office gratuity fund is crippling the budget of Parliament. I am surprised that the Speaker did not mention this because this is one of the biggest problems that we are experiencing this year with Parliament's budget. Parliament will not be able to fulfil its mandate because in this year alone, millions was spent on the gratuity of ex members. Members and especially ANC Ministers have now found a new way to milk Parliament. When these Ministers found out that they would not return as Cabinet members they opt to resign. In doing so, they backdate their resignations to reflect as still salaries of Ministers.
Now for the benefit of South Africans let me just explain. This is an amount paid to nonreturning members based on their last
salary date from four months of that for each salary of that for each term that you sit in this Parliament. Now these Ministers backdate their salaries, these ex Ministers. You know the backdating of these resignations is taking millions of rand away from Parliament budget.
Why would the ANC allow these Ministers to milk this Parliament, the people's Parliament? [Applause.]
The backdating of resignations dates is clearly improper and is illegal. Those Ministers that received that money must pay it back. It is the people's money. Some are still here dating back from the last term. You stole from the people the DA will call for an investigation into this matter. I thank you. [Applause.]