Hon Chair, 19 years ago this country emerged into a free, fair and democratic South Africa. We were the rainbow nation, the land of sunshine and opportunity, an example to the rest of the world, a humanity living in harmony. We were a land governed by a supreme Constitution, an independent judiciary and universal suffrage. In a phrase: The world was our oyster. Endless possibilities were before us.
Have we done all that we could have done in these last 19 years? Have we alleviated the suffering of the majority of our citizens? Have we tackled social inequalities, homelessness, substandard education and unemployment? Are we making headway in the battle against poverty? I would submit that we cannot possibly be doing all that we can do when government is beset and plagued by the scourge of corruption.
This government talks about moral regeneration. This government talks about being accountable to the people that have placed their trust in it to deliver them a better life.
Where is that moral fibre? Where is that accountability? Where is that service delivery? This government's own executive has broken rank and spoken out, effectively saying that after 19 years into democracy, some form of responsibility must be taken for nondelivery to the people of this country.
To be fair, the government has accomplished some form of redress in terms of basic services to many South Africans and the IFP would like to acknowledge that, but we cannot continue to deny the true state of the nation.
Our children are forced to use disease-ridden pit toilets in school yards, do not have textbooks and are fed like animals from buckets at our public schools. Rampant unemployment, disastrous housing policies and indirect taxes make this country a far cry from the land of milk and honey which it could and should be.
The government, for the last 19 years, has proclaimed itself to be pro-poor but it has dismally failed. The very poor it feigns to represent seem to be nothing more than voting fodder.
The IFP stands here today as an urge to the conscience of the ruling party, demanding a responsible and accountable government for the benefit of those whom they serve - the people of South Africa. Thank you.