Hon Chairperson, the Presidency Budget Vote should be a glorious reflection of our rainbow nation - an open-opportunity society, strong leadership, sound economic growth, freedom of association and speech, job creation, quality education and a crime-free South Africa. The President had and still has a world of opportunities to lead this country like a true leader, but there is no leadership, no vision and no political will forthcoming, other than dancing and to secure and bank the votes at Mangaung.
This position of leadership has the responsibility to the people of South Africa to unite the nation, and there is no sign of it. It was the President who introduced the words "wage subsidy" in his state of the nation address in 2010, yet, he failed to hold his own against Cosatu. The rate of unemployed youth under the age of 25 is 49%. The President should protect the unemployed youth. This issue should haunt him every day until he forces the implementation of the youth wage subsidy. He holds the key that straddles a very delicate tipping point between a prosperous South Africa and widespread unrest.
The budget presented has grown at a phenomenal rate of 256% since 2003. Is any of this budget really justified? Are South Africans getting bang for their buck from their President? No. The DA will not support the Presidency Budget Vote. I thank you.