Chairperson, today we heard much about the President's dream. Much was said about whether the President's dream will realise or not. But we should remind ourselves that
we were elected not only to represent the dreams of our constituents, but also to tend to the nightmares our people face every day.
Chairperson, through you ... Mr President, you rightly said that a grandmother should not have to wait a whole day for medicine. But, Mr President, equally, it would be very difficult for two healthcare professionals who were raped in the Pelonomi Hospital while on duty last month, to share your dream.
Indeed, Mr President, it is unacceptable for a pregnant mother to have her own and the life of her unborn child endangered owing to slow ambulances.
But, Mr President, equally, it's not acceptable for the residents of Mangaung for the umpteenth time in a year to have no water for four days, as was the case this past weekend. As we speak, the City of Johannesburg has a similar problem.
Mr President, you committed this government to improving service delivery, but how is it possible that the Metro Police Chief had
been appointed in Mangaung more than a year ago, and there is no visible sign of any Metro Police Department as of today. How is it possible that many Free State municipalities that have been placed under section 139 administration of ANC provincial governments remain poorly managed? Again, Mr President, it will be hard for the residents of Brandfort in the Free State to share in your dream for South Africa, when having water is an exception and not a rule.
As long as government persists in appointing unable and unwilling officials to key positions, the nightmare that is the lack of service delivery will remain in South Africa.
Afrikaans:
Intussen verwag die Departement van Openbare Werke dat die privaatsektor nou moet betrokke raak in die bou en instandhouding van infrastruktuur, net om 20 jaar later dieselfde infrastruktuur wat hulle gebou het en bestuur het, aan die staat oor te dra.
Effektiewelik het die departement nou erken dat hy 'n swak staat moet bestuur waarin die regering nie meer infrastruktuur kan voorsien nie.
English:
Nothing good can come of this. As soon as governments are unable to deliver such basic needs as infrastructure, the nightmare of a failed state will begin.
We will also heard about government's plan for spatial integration. This dream is also becoming a nightmare, again for Mangaung residents, where more than R140 million has been spent, only on planning of the N8 Corridor that should bring communities together. But neither the Auditor-General nor residents can, up until today, see any planning that was done.
Mr President, we have to wake up from this nightmare before we can start dreaming. We can dream of our children being able to read at the age of 10 but, Mr President, will they be able to read in their own language? Will they and their parents have the freedom to choose whether they will have education in their
mother tongue should they wish to, or will government and MECs persist in forcing their anglophile policies on our nation?
Mr President, those modern cities you wish to build should have universities - but universities where Sotho-speaking people can learn in Sotho, Zulu-speaking students are taught in Zulu, and Afrikaans students are able to learn in Afrikaans. This is a dream worth having and endeavouring.
Afrikaans:
Agb President, vroer hierdie maand het u ges u wil graag op hoogte bly van plaasaanvalle. Mnr die President, vir Johan van Niekerk van Nigel wat met 'n piksteel aangeval is en Francois Labuschagne van Lichtenburg wat met stokke geslaan is, gaan dit moeilik wees om die droom te deel. Vir die familie van Moolman Meyer van Ermelo wat met 'n panga doodgekap is en Johan Pretorius van Nigel wat doodgebrand is tydens plaasmoorde net in die afgelope maand, sal dit moeilik wees om uit die nagmerrie van plaasaanvalle wakker te word.
English:
Mr President, more than 180 farm attacks already this year cannot be part of your dream.
Afrikaans:
Die VF Plus s ook dankie aan ons boere en hul werkers wat aanhou boer ten spyte van onsekere beleid, onveilige landelike toestande, duurder insetkoste en swak paaie.
Soos ons leier die agb Groenewald ges het, die Vryheidsfront wil saam bou aan 'n droom, maar, President, maak eers seker Suid-Afrika se nagmerries word stil; dan bou ons saam. Ek dank u.