Madam Deputy Speaker, the ANC is encouraged by the recent award handed to MEC for Human Settlements, Mr Siphosezwe Masango from Mpumalanga, who was chosen as the winner of the annual Public Sector Awards for 2012 by the Southern African Institute of Government Auditors. Mr Masango received this award after his department achieved an overall score of 93,94% in the Provincial Departments category. The department was placed in sixth position in the National Departments category.
The awards are meant to encourage both national and provincial government departments to prepare annual financial statements in compliance with the statutory requirements. This is in line with the ANC's policy emphasising the important role provincial governments should play in regard to steering and upscaling regional economies, supporting municipalities and enhancing the systems of both a representative and participatory democracy. This includes achieving transparency and accountability in the public sector. The ANC thus wishes to congratulate the MEC on a job well done. I thank you. [Applause.]