House Chair, Minister, Deputy Ministers in the House, our colleagues, members in the gallery and our
learners, the NFP welcomes the report of the department. However, a matter of concern, Speaker and Deputy Speaker, is the fact that you are looking for R3,003 billion, and an amount that has been allocated is R2,52 billion, which means you have a shortfall of R482 million.
The question is: How is it expected of Parliament to fulfil its mandate if it has a R482 million shortfall? This is a matter that has been discussed previously but no solution has been found.
Some of the concerns that we have as the NFP are as follows; I will start with travel: Our understanding is that we have engaged the departments on the need to have an in-house travel agency because Parliament travel has done a fantastic over the years.
For cost containment measures, we felt we should have an in- house travel agency rather than outsourcing to other travel agencies, it is costing us a hell lot of money.
Very importantly, the NFP has been very consistent in calling for control measures, particularly, if you look at half a billion rand that is spent and given to political parties for constituency allowances, and in that, there is no control measures to see whether these offices exists, the furniture exists and the staff exists.
An ideal example of looting or stealing or allegations of stealing is the one that came from the EFF members. They say that the R25 million that you gave them has been embezzled by their leadership and those allegations are all over the media.
The NFP has written to you, hon Speaker, asking you to call for a forensic auditing to establish how the EFF got an unqualified clean audit when, in fact, there are allegations of embezzlement of R25 million of taxpayer's money. [Interjections.] Surely, this matter needs urgent attention. [Laughter.] [Interjections.]